THIS Map next ensuing containeth and representeth the portraiture of the whole earth, and of the maine Ocean that enuirons & compasseth the same: all which earthly Globe the Ancients (who were not as then acquainted with the New world, not long since de­scried) diuided into three parts; namely, Africa, Europe, and Asia. But since that discouery of America, the learned of our age haue made that a fourth part, and the huge Continent vnder the South pole, a fifth. Gerardus Mercator the Prince of moderne Geographers in his neuer-sufficiently-commended vniuersall Table or Map of the whole world, diuides this Circumference of the earth into three Continents: the first he calles that, which the Anci­ents diuided into three parts, and from whence the holy Writ beares record, that mankinde had their first origi­nall, & first was seated: the second, is that which at this present is named America or the VVest Indies: for the third, he appoints the South maine, which some call Magellanica, as yet on very few coasts thorowly discouered. That this orbe or masse of the earthly Globe containes in circuit, where it is largest, 5400 German or 21600 Italian miles, antiquity hath taught, & late Writers haue subscribed to their opinion. And these so manifold portions of earth (sayth Plinie in the 11. booke of his Naturall historie) yea rather, as some haue termed them, the pricke or center of the world (for so small is the earth in comparison of the whole frame of the world) this is the matter, this is the seat of our glorie. Here we enioy honours, here we exercise authoritie, here we hunt after riches, here men turmoile and tire themselues, here we moue and maintaine ciuill dissensions, and by mutuall slaughter make more roome vpon the earth. And to let passe the publike tumults of the world, this in which we force the borderers to giue place and remoue farther off, and where we incroch by stelth vpon our neighbors lands: as he that extends his lands & lordships farthest, and cannot abide that any should seat themselues too neere his nose, How great, or rather how small a por­tion of earth doth he enioy? Or when he hath glutted his auarice to the full, How little shall his dead carcase possesse? Thus far Plinie.

The situation of this earth and sea, the disposition of the seuerall regions, with their inlets and gulfs, the maners and inclinations of the people, and other memorable and note-worthy matters are described by men of ancienter times, such as follow:

• PTOLEMEY of ALEXANDRIA.
• CAIVS PLINIVS 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 books of his Natural history.
• ARISTOTELES DE MVNDO written and dedicated to Ale­xander the Great.
• STRABO in 17. books.
• SOLINVS POLYHISTOR.
• POMPONIVS MELA.
• DIONYSIVS APHER and his Expositor.
• EVSTATHIVS.
• APVLEIVS in his booke of the World.
• DIODORVS SICVLVS in his fiue former books.
• MARTIANVS CAPELLA.
• PAVLVS OROSIVS in the beginning of his History.
• AETHICVS and another of that name surnamed SOPHISTA, not yet printed.
• IVLIVS the Oratour called by Cassiodore, PRIMVS.
• BEROSVS described the antiquitie of the World.
• ANTONIVS AVGVSTVS (if the title be true) set downe the Iournals of the Romane empire.
• SEXTVS AVIENVS, the sea-coasts.
• STEPHANVS, the cities.
• VIBIVS SEQVESTER, in an Alphabeticall order, the Riuers, Fountaines, Lakes, Woods, Hilles, and Nations thereof.

By new Writers, as

• RAPHAEL VOLATERANVS.
• ABILFEDE A ISMAEL, in the Arabian tongue.
• IOANNES HONTERVS; and HIERONTMVS OLIVERIVS: both in verse.
• BARTHOLIMVS in the eighth booke of Austria.
• SEBASTIAN MVNSTER, that learned Diuine, diligent Histori­an, painfull Hebrician and Linguist, well studied in all maner of learning, and vnto whom the learned Student is so much beholding.
• ANTONIVS the Archbishop of Florence, in his Historie, in the third chapter of the first Title.
• DOMINICVS NIGER.
• IOHN AVENTINE in his second booke of his Annals.
• IOHN CAMERS in his Commentaries vpon Solinus.
• GEORGE RYTHAIMER.
• IOACHIM VADIAN.
• PETRVS IOANNES OLIVARIVS vpon Mela.
• LAVRENTIVS CORVINVS NOVOF.
• ANTONIVS VERONENSIS.
• GVALTERVS LVDOVICVS in his Mirrour or Looking-glasse of the World.
• S. ISIDORE of SIVILL in Spaine.
• MICHAEL of VILLANOVA, in his Commentary vpon Ptolemey.
• ZACHARIAS LILIVS VICENT.
• HIERONYMVS GIRAVA in the Spanish tongue.
• ALEXANDER CITOLINVS, in his Typocosmia or Patern of the World written in the Italian tongue.
• VINCENTIVS BELVACENSIS in the Mirrour of Histories the second booke.
• GVILIELMVS POSTELLVS Barentonius.
• S^r. IOHN MANDEVILL and his companion in his trauels.
• ODERICVS of FRIVLY.
• MICHAEL NEANDER of Soraw.
• GAVDENTIVS MERVLA in his 5. booke of memorable things.
• FRANCISCVS MONACHI, in his Epistle to the Archbishop of Panormus.
• ANDREAS THEVETVS, FRANCISCVS BELLEFORESTIVS, and PETRVS HEYNSIVS, in French: but this latter also in Dutch rythmes or verse.
• LAVRENTIVS ANANIENSIS, in the Italian tongue.
• ANTONIVS PINETVS, in French: and he hath withall set forth many Tables and Mappes (as the title sheweth) of Coun­tries, Cities and Townes, aswell of Europe, as of Afrike, Asia and America.
• IVLIVS BALLINVS, hath put forth the Plots and drafts of the most famous Cities of the whole world, with a briefe historical discourse, written in the Tuscane tongue. The same is done by
• GEORGIVS BRVNO, in Latine, but much more beautifully and curiously.
• BENEDICTVS BORDONIVS, hath described all the Ilands of the World. So also hath
• THOMAS PORCACCIVS: both in the Italian tongue.
• WOLFGANGVS LASIVS, and
• IOANNES GOROPIVS BECANVS, the originall and shifting of the nations of the same.
• PETRVS APPIANVS, and
• BARTHOLOMAEVS AMANTIVS, haue gathered the ancient In­scriptions: and so hath
• MARTINVS SMETIVS, but with greater diligence and care than ordinary.
• IOANNES BOHEMVS, and ALEXANDER SARDVS haue writ­ten of the maners, rites and customes of all nations and people of it. The same hath
• FRANCISCVS BELLEFORESTIVS done in the French tongue.

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WHy Europe should be so called, or who was the first Authour of this name, no man as yet hath found out; vnlesse (sayth Herodotus in his fourth booke) we should thinke that the whole region borrowed this name from Europa daughter to the King of Epyrus. This Plinie calleth the Nurse of the victorious and conquering people of all other nations of the world, most beautifull and farre surpassing the rest: and so it is some­times compared to Asia and Africa, not for his greatnesse and compasse, but for his might and power. Certaine it is, that this part, being most plentifully inhabited, is for multitude of nations inferiour to neither of the other. The North and Westerne sides hereof are bathed by the Ocean; the South coast is disioyned from Africa by the Mediterranean sea. Then Eastward by the Aegaean sea (now called Archipelago) by the Euxin sea (named at this present Mar Maggiore) by the lake of Maeotis (now termed Mar delle Zabacche) by the riuer Tanais (commonly called Don) and by the Isthmus or straight of the maine land, which is from the head or fountaine of this riuer directly vnto the North Ocean; it is diuided from Asia, according to the opinion of Glarean. And thus it beares the shape of a Peninsula (which signifies a place of the earth almost disioyned and cut from the Conti­nent, and so well neere on euery side enuironed with waters) as in the Table it selfe is ma­nifest. The head hereof Rome, was whilome conqueresse of the earth.

The regions thereof (as they are now called) are Spaine, France, Germanie, Italie, Sla­uonia, Greece, Hungarie, Poland with Lithuania, Moscouia, or more significantly Russia; and that Peninsula which conteineth Norway, Sweden, and Gotland. Among the Isles thereof the first place is due to Britany conteining England and Scotland; then followes Ireland, Groenland, Frisland, and Island: all situate in the maine Ocean. In the Mediter­ran sea it hath Sicilia, Sardinia, Corsica, Candia, Maiorica, Minorica, Corfu, Negro­pont; and others of lesse note, the particular names and situations whereof are to be seene in the Table.

This our Europe, besides the Roman Empire reuerenced of all the world, hath in all (if you adde those foureteene, which Damianus à Goes reckens vp only in Spaine) eight and twentie Christian Kingdomes: whereby you may estimate the worthinesse of this region. It is a place out of measure fruitfull: and the naturall disposition of his aire is ve­ry temperate. For all kindes of Graine, for Wine, and abundance of Woods, it is infe­rior to none, but comparable to the best of the others. It is so pleasant, and so beautified with stately Cities, Townes and Villages, that for the courage and valour of the people and seuerall nations, although it be lesse in quantitie and circuit, yet might it well be ac­counted, and indeed of all ancient Writers hath it euer beene accounted superiour vnto the other parts of the World: most renowmed also hath it beene both in regard of the Macedonian Empire, and the great command and power of the Romans. The praises thereof you may reade in Strabo, who in his third booke, and seuen bookes fol­lowing, hath most learnedly and excellently described it. Peruse also other ancient Ge­ographers. Of late Writers, amongst other things by the way, Ʋolateranus, Sebastian Munster, Dominicus Niger, Georgius Rithaimerus, in their Geographies, haue en­deuoured to paint it out in his colours. But Pius the second, Christopher Cella and An­selmus his brother haue described it a part and by it selfe.

Diuers Iournals ouer all Europe in a maner, together with the distances of places, haue beene committed to writing by Cherubin Stella, John Herbacius, and George Mayerus. The like hath beene done by William Gratarolus in the end of his booke, which is entitled, De regimine iter agentium, or A direction for trauellers.

THis the Ancients haue diuersly distinguished; but at this present it is diuided by Iohn Leo of A­frica, into foure chiefe parts; Barbarie, Numidia, Libya, and the Land of Negros. BARBARIE, which is accounted the best, they circumscribe with the Atlantick & Mediterranean seas; with mount Atlas, & with the region of Barcha bordering vpon Aegypt. NVMIDIA, called by the inhabitants Biledulgerid, and abounding with Dates (for which cause the Arabians call it by no other name, but the Date-bearing region) is bounded Westward by the Atlantick Ocean; Northward by mount Atlas; it stretcheth East as farre as the citie Eloacat, which is an hundred miles distant from Aegypt; and the sandie Deserts of Libya embrace it on the South. LIBYA the third part, is named in the Arabian tongue Sarra, which word signifies a Desert. It beginnes East from Nilus, and thence runneth West as farre as the Atlantick sea; Numidia lies to the North of it, and the Land of Negros to the South. Now followeth the fourth part, which they call NIGRITARVM terra, either from the inhabitants, which are of a blacke colour, or from the riuer Niger, that runneth thorow the countrey. It is confined North by Libya; South by the Aethiopick Ocean; West by Gualata; and East by the Kingdome of Gaoga. And here we are to note, that according to this their diuision all Africa is included within the Mediterran, Atlantick, and Aethiopick seas and the riuer Nilus; wherefore Aegypt and Aethiopia are accounted parts of Asia, which we notwithstanding thinke more properly to belong to Africa: For the true Aethiopia containes at this day Presbyter Iohns Empire, which by all late Writers is ascribed to Africa. We therefore with Ptolemey iudge that it ought to be bounded by the Mediterran and Ocean seas, rather than by any riuer whatsoeuer; and so it hath the forme of a Peninsula, being ioyned to Asia by an Isthmos or small neck-land, which lies betweene the Mediterran sea and the gulfe of Arabia. The South part here­of was vnknowen to our ancestours, till the yeere 1497, whereas Vasco de Gama first doubling the Cape de buona spe­ranza or of good hope, and sailing about Africa, came to Calicut in East India. This Southern part by the Persians and Arabians is called Zanzibar.

At the foresayd Cape of good hope the inhabitants are exceeding blacke; which we thought in no wise to omit, because all men suppose the cause of blacknesse to be heat, and the nearenesse of the Sunne; wheras here the Sunne scorcheth no more, than about the Streight of Magellan (if we measure the heat of the place, according to the positi­on of the heauens and distance from the Equinoctiall line) where notwithstanding the people are reported to be maruellous white. But if we will needs ascribe this blacknesse to the scorching heat of the Sun, let vs consider, what makes the Spaniards and Italians looke so white, whenas they are equally distant from the Equinoctiall with the in­habitants of the foresayd Cape; namely the one towards the South, and the other towards the North. Presbyter Iohns people are of a browne colour; in Zeilan and Malabar the inhabitants are coale blacke, yet all in one & the same distance from the aequator, and vnder the very same parallele of the heauens. * And on the contrary, why did He­rodotus and Pindarus describe such as inhabited the same climate with themselues, namely Colchis, to be of a blacke colour, and curled haire? Herodotus in his Thalia makes the Indians blacke like the Aethiopians: which the experi­ence of our times confirmeth. I know Herodotus will haue the cause hereof to be the seed of the parents, which he sayth is not white, as that of other people, but blacke. To whom Postellus also subscribeth, and imputeth the origi­nall of this blacknesse vnto Chams curse. Against which opinion I haue nothing to allege. Let the trueth of the mat­ter rest vpon the authours credit. But this a man may thinke more strange; that in all America there were no blacke people found besides a few, only in one place called by them Quareca. What then is the efficient cause of this colour? Is it the drinesse of the heauen, or of the earth? Is it perhaps some hidden propertie of the soile? Or a kind of qua­litie inherent to the nature of men? Or is it all these vnited in one? But these things we leaue to be considered by them, who do more curiously search into the secrets of nature.

This portion of the world is called by the Greeks Libya, and by the Latines Africa, because it is not molested with extremity of colde: or (if we may credit Iosephus) from Afer one of Abrahams posteritie. Another deriuation of the name you haue set downe by Iohn Leo in the beginning of his first booke of the Description of Africa, who deriueth it from the Ara­bick theme Faraka, signifying to disioine or separate; because it is disioyned from Europe by the Mediterran sea; from Asia, as he saith, by the riuer Nilus, or rather as the best authours haue taught, by the Arabian gulfe called of the Greeks [...], Mare rubrum the red sea: of the Hebrewes [...] iam-suff, mare algosum vel iuncosum the sedgie sea: of the Arabians the neere inhabitants Bahci 'lkulzom the sea alkulzom. Vpon the like reason doth Iul. Caesar Scaliger thinke that Sicilia was so called of Seco which sig­nifieth, to cut, for that this Island was thought of the ancients to haue beene a portion cut from the maine Continent, and sometimes to haue beene ioined to Italie. Others, after their maner, nullo digno autore, nullo solido & certo argumento, do fetch the name of Africa from Africus a king of blessed Arabia, whom they affirme to haue brought colonies hither and to haue first inhabited the same.

The principall islands of this part (for here to expresse all by name, we thinke it not necessarie, because they are to be seene in the Table) are Madagascar, the Canaries, the isles of Cape verde, and S. Thomas island situate vnder the ae­quinoctiall, which aboundeth with sugar.

Among the olde Writers none haue particularly described this region. But concerning the same reade Salust his Bellum Iugurthinum; Hanno his nauigation about Africa, in Arrianus; and Iambolus his voyage, in Diodorus Siculus; and likewise Herodotus his Melpomene. Barlaams narration of the inner Aethiopia or India is extant in the Augustan Librarie. Of late Writers reade Aloysius Cadamostus, Vasco de Gama, Francis Aluarez, who trauelled Aethiopia. But of all others Iohn Leo hath most exactly described it; and Ludouicus Marmolius; and Liuius Sanutus. Iohn Barros also pron iseth a volume of Africa. Concerning the riuer Nilus, the greatest in all the world, you haue the letters of Iohn Baptista Ramusius and Ierom Fracastorius. Of Africa likewise you may reade at large in the second volume of M. Richard Hakluyts English voyages.

THat all this Hemisphere or halfe-rundle (which is called America, and in regard of the large extension, The New world) should lie concealed from our ancestours, till the yeere of Christ 1492, at what time Christopher Columbus a Genoway first discouered the same; is a matter surpassing the measure of human admiration. For considering both the diligence of ancient Geographers in describing the World, and the commodious opportunitie of most large Empires for the searching out of new Regions, then also the insatiable auarice of mankinde, leauing nothing vnattempted for the attaining of Golde and Siluer, wherewith these Countries incredibly abound; I haue often wondered, how it could so long haue beene hidden from our World. Some there are which suppose that this Continent was described by Plato vn­der the name of Atlas: my selfe also am of opinion, that Plutarch speaking of the face in the bodie of the Moone, makes mention thereof vnder the name of a Maine continent. Some thinke that Seneca rauisht with a Poeticall furie, presaged the discouerie hereof in these Propheticall verses in the very end of the 2. Act. of Medea:

In English thus:

Like to those Sibyllin verses, which (as Iacobus Nauarchus writeth) were found at the foot of the promontorie of the Moone (commonly called Rochan de Sinna) vpon the Ocean sea-shore, ingrauen vpon a foure-square pillar, in the time of Don Emmanuel King of Portugall, to this or the like purpose:

In English thus:

Howbeit, that these verses are not ancient, but grauen in our times; nor part of Sibylles Prophesies, but counterfait; I was ad­uertised (being in hand with the second edition of this my Theatrum) from Rome, by Caesar Orlando a Ciuilian, in his letters, out of some printed works of Gaspar Varerius, in which since that I my selfe haue read the same. And afterward I found it confirmed by Amil. Resende in his Antiquities of Portugale: namely, that in the time of Don Emmanuel King of Portugale, one Hermes Caiado of the same countrey, caused them to be ingrauen and buried in the earth: and when he supposed that the marble began to corrupt with the moisture of the ground; pretending some cause of recreation, he inuites his friends to a countrey-house of his, neere vnto which this fained Prophesie lay hid. Wherefore being all set at meat, in comes his Bailiffe with newes, that his Labourers had by chance digged vp a stone engrauen with letters. They all immediatly runne forth, they reade it, they admire it, they highly esteeme it, and are ready to adore it, &c. See how apt Caiado was to delude his friends. Marinaeus Siculus in his Chronicle of Spaine writes, that there was found in Gold-mines an ancient piece of coine with Augustus Caesars image vpon it, and for the more confirmation of the matter, that it was sent by the Archbishop of Consance to the Pope. But I am of opinion, that it was there lost by the same fa­milie which first found it. Iosephus Acosta in his booke De Natura noui orbis indeuours by many reasons to proue, that this part of America was originally inhabited by certaine Indians, forced thither by tempestuous weather ouer the South sea which now they call Mare del Zur. But to me it seemes more probable, out of the historie of the two Zeni, gentlemen of Venice (which I haue put downe before the Table of the South sea, and before that of Scandia) that this New world many ages past was entred vpon by some islanders of Europe, as namely of Groenland, Island, and Frisland; being much neerer thereunto than the Indians, nor disioy­ned thence (as appeares out of the Map) by an Ocean so huge, and to the Indians so vnnauigable. Also, what else may we conie­cture to be signified by this word Norumbega (the name of a North region of America) but that from Norway, signifying a North land, some Colonie in times past hath hither beene transplanted? But why in mine opinion the maine Ocean was neuer sailed by ancient Nauigatours, I haue declared in my Thesaurus Geographicus, speaking of OPHIR.

All this part of the World, (except the North tract thereof, whose Coasts are not yet discouered) hath in these last times beene sailed round about. From North to South it stretcheth in forme of two Peninsulae or Demi-isles, which are seuered by a very nar­row Isthmos or neck-land. The Northermost of the two conteineth New Spaine, the prouince of Mexico, the countrey of Florida and New-found-land. But the Southermost (which the Spaniards call Terra firma) containes Perú and Brasil. A description of all which regions the studious in Geography may reade in Leuinus Apolonius, in the Decads of Peter Martyr, and in Maximilianus Transsiluanus, who writ all in Latine. Also to this purpose you haue many things worthy the obseruation in the Iesuites Epistles, and in Maffeius his story of the Indies. Postellus also promiseth Discourses of West-Indie-matters: and so doth Fredericus Furius Caeriolanus.

These that follow haue purposely written of America, but all in their mother-languages, and for the most part in Spanish; but the better halfe of them are translated into Italian.

• PEDRO CIEçA DE LEON.
• GONSALVO FERNANDO DE OVIEDO.
• FERNANDO CORTEZ.
• PETER ALVARADO.
• DIEGO GODOYA.
• ALVAREZ NVNNEZ.
• NVNNEZ DE GVSMAN.
• FRANCIS VLLOA.
• FRANCIS VASQVEZ DE CORONADO.
• ANTONIE MENDOçA.
• FRIER MARCO DE NIZZA.
• FERNANDO ALARCHON.
• FRANCIS XERES.
• IOHN VERARZANO.
• AMERICO VESPVTIO.
• FRANCIS LOPEZ DE GOMARA.
• IEROME BENZO, in Italian.
• IAQVES CARTHIER, and
• ANDREVV THEVET, wrote in French.
• IOHN STADEN, in Dutch.

Diuerse of which Authours, and many that haue written since, are translated into English in the third volume of M. Hakluyts English Voyages.

THis sea albeit vnknowen, yet was it not vnnamed by ancient writers: for Plinie calles it Ecum, and Orosius Orientale, that is, The East sea. Ptolemey falsly termes it SINVM MAGNVM, A great bay; whereas he should haue nam'd it MARE MAG­NVM, A great sea. For of all the seas in the world it is the greatest and the widest. In Paulus Venetus it is described vnder the name of Mare Cin, (that is, as I interpret it out of Nubiensis Arabs, Bahci'ltzni vel alkini, Mare Sinarum, The sea of China) and in Haithon Armenus (whom elswhere we more truly call Antonie Curchino) by the name of Mare Cathay. Well therefore might it be named by the ancient and middle-age writers; but neuer was it fully knowen and discouered, till Fernando Magel­lan a Portugale sailed thereupon. Seene it was indeed, and as it were saluted in the yeere 1513, by Vasco Nunnez, from the coast of Perú. But Magellan in the yeere of our saluation 1520. hauing passed the streight by him found, and called after his owne name (which it hitherto retaineth, for euery common Mariner calles it The Streight of Magellan) with an heroick and Herculean courage entred this sea, which vncertaine it is, whether any shippe before his had euer stemmed. For meditating a voyage to the isles of the Moluccos, whereunto the Portugals vsually sailed from West to East; and intending to make thither a shorter cut from East to West, he came at length vnto them by this sea: in one of which isles called Machian, he was slaine in a skirmish. The course of his voyage was this: Departing from Siuil with fiue ships, whereof one being his owne, was called by a name of good presage Victoria, he came to the fortunate or Canary-isles; then to the Gorgones or Hesperides, now termed The isles of Cape verde; and thence to the Streight abouenamed: which when he had found and past thorow, he enters into this sea; where with a fresh and prosperous gale hauing sailed vpon the maine 40. dayes together, and beholding nothing but sea on all sides, and still the sea; when he had crossed the South tropick he descried two small barren and vnhabited isles: where notwithstanding, because they found good fishing, they staied two dayes & then departed, calling them the Vnfortunate isles. Now, they are knowen by the name of Tuberones, and the isles of S. Peter. Then he proceeds on his nauigation, & in the space of 3. moneths and 20. dayes, hauing sailed ouer this vast Ocean 2400. leagues, he attained at length to the Aequinoctiall, and thence to the desired Molucces. And because (as we haue said) he had for the most part a prosperous & no tempestuous wind, he named this Pacificum or The peaceable sea, now called by the common Mariner, The South sea, or Mar del Sur. Those that haue written of the New world, say, that this sea about those vnfortunate isles, is most exceeding deepe, and that neere vnto the coast of Perú it yeeldeth pearles, and that there are in it 7449. isles, so that some in our times not vnfitly haue called the Western part thereof Archipelagus or A sea thicke set with isles: seeing this, like the Aegean sea (which is planted all ouer with the Cyclades, the Sporades, and many other islands, and is called in the Italian tongue Archipelago) is also with isles most nota­bly replenished. In the bottome of this sea Francis Vlloa and Antonie Digafetta do report, that there growes a weed of 14. or 15. fathoms high within the water; and that it riseth out of the water to the height of some 4. or 5. fathom: so that sometimes you shall seeme not to saile thorow a sea, but rather thorow a greene medow. The place of Aristotle in his booke De Admirandis &c. doth not much disagree from this; where he writes of the Phoenicians which inhabited Gady­ra, that when they had sailed a while without the pillars of Hercules, they arriued at certeine regions abounding with weeds and slime, which were ouerflow­ed with the tides of the sea. The very same affirmeth Iornandes in the beginning of his Getish history; where he writes, that none could saile thorow the O­cean, being impassable in regard of weeds or turfs, and for that cause vnknowen. Yea Plinie and Antigonus out of Megasthenes haue left recorded, that all the East Ocean growes full of woods. And that the sea neere Portugale should beare Okes laden with mast, Polybius reporteth in Athenaeus. Also, that the Bay-tree growes in the Red sea, the same authour affirmes vpon the credit of Pythagoras. Hereunto you may adde that of Theophrastus in his 4. booke of the history of Plants, cap. 7.8.9. and the testimony of Aelianus, lib, 13. de Animal. cap. 3. and Strabo, lib. 16. and Plinie, lib. 2. cap. 103. lib. 6. cap. 22. and lib. 13. cap. 25. and Plu­tarch in his naturall questions concerning the face in the orbe of the Moone. All these are in some sort confirmed by Platoes fables or histories in his Timaeus concerning the isle Atlantis; whose sea he affirmes to be vnnauigable by reason of the slime or oaze remaining of the same isles inundation. But concerning the ship called La Victoria learne thus much: it is not sayd amisse: Bare names oft times things named doe resemble: Manifest it is by this ship, which vnder this happy name, the first voyage that euer she made, was the only ship that caried away the victory of sailing quite ouer the maine Ocean, for so many ages before. For departing from Spaine, by the Streight of Magellan, to the Moluccos, thence hauing doubled the Cape of Buona Esperança, and returned, whence she first put forth, she was the first of all ships and inall ages, that euer circumpassed the whole earth. The same ship made out of Spaine a second voyage as farre as S. Domingo and home againe. Thither also she made a third voyage; but in her returne she was quite lost; neither was it euer knowen what became of her. Anti­quity would haue thought she had beene taken vp into the skies, and placed among the Constellations, like another Argo. Nor had this propheticall verse of the peerelesse Poet beene vnfitly alleged in her commendation: Then comes another Tiphys, another gold-fleeced Argo. Let Plinie now cease to maruell, that out of a small hemp-seed should grow that, which was of force to cary vp and downe the globe of [his] earth. We in our age haue seene with the very same thing this world of [ours, much greater than his] nauigated round about. Ours, I say: which that you may more perfectly vnderstand, do but compare the first Table of our Theatre with the first of our Parergon or By-worke, and you shall see the difference.

And here, I suppose, I shall not bestow my labour altogether in vaine, by adding certaine particulars not commonly knowen, concerning the first discouery hereof. Which by all our late Writers is not vnworthily ascribed to Christopher Columbus. For in the yere 1492, he was the first man that laid it open, & made it knowen, and communicated the vse and benefit thereof to the Christian world. Howbeit I finde, that the North part of America (which lieth neerest vnto Europe, and to some of our European isles, namely, Groenland, Island, and Frisland; and is called Estotiland) was long since discouered by certaine Frislandish fishers, driuen by tempest vpon that coast: and afterward about the yere 1390, that it was reuisited anew by Antonie Zeno, a gentleman of Venice: and that by the authority of Zichmi, then King of the said isle of Frisland, a Prince in those times very valiant, and ouer all that sea, for his warres and victories most re­nowmed. Concerning this his expedition there are extant in Italian certaine Collections or briefe extracts drawen by Francis Marcolino out of the letters of Nicolas and Antonie Zeno gentlemen of Venice, who liued in these parts. Out of which Collections I adde this that followes touching the description of this region. Estotiland (he saith) abounds with all things necessary for mankind. In the mids therof stands an exceeding high mountaine,That you many bet­ter vnder­stand this relation, peruse our Table of America and Scan­dia. from whence issue foure riuers that water the whole country. The inhabitants are witty, and most expert in all kind of handicrafts. A language and letters they haue peculiar to them­selues. Howbeit in this Kings Library there are certeine Latine books, no whit vnderstood by them, which might perhaps before that time be there left by some of their European neighbors that had traffique with them. They haue all kinds of mettall, but specially gold, wherewith they mightily abound. They exercise trade of merchandize with the people of Greenland; from whence they fetch hides, pitch, & brimstone. The inhabitants say, that towards the South there are countries rich of gold, and replenisht with inhabitants. There are also many & great woods; out of which they haue matter for the building of their ships and cities; whereof and of fortresses there are great numbers. Of the loadstones vse in nauigation they are vtterly ignorant. They also make mention of Drogeo, a region toward the South, inhabited by Canibals, and such as are delighted to eat mans flesh; for want whereof, they liue with fishing, which they very much vse. Beyond this there are large countries and another New world; but the inhabitants are barbarous, and go naked: howbeit against the cold of Win­ter they arme themselues with beasts skinnes. These haue no kind of mettall: they liue by hunting. For weapons they vse long and sharp-pointed staues and bowes. They make warres one vpon another. Gouernours they haue, and lawes wherto they yeeld obedience. Southward of this place they liue in a more temperate climate, hauing cities and idol-temples, wherin they sacrifice liuing men, whose flesh they afterward deuoure. These haue the vse of gold and siluer. Thus much concerning this tract of land, out of the foresaid collections or extracts; wherein this also is worthy the obseruation, that euen then our Europe­an Pilots by meanes of the loadstone sailed those seas. For I am of opinion, that there is not to be found in any history a more ancient testimony touching the foresayd vse of this stone. And these things I was the willinger to adioyne to this Table, because I see none of them that haue written the histories of the world so much as once mention this matter.

But concerning the loadstone or sea-compasse you are to vnderstand, that the first inuentour therof was Iohn Goia a citizen of Melfi, whom Alexander Sardus in his booke De inuentoribus rerum calleth Flauius Campanus. For so write the Italians, and so much is confirmed by Antonie Panormitanus in this one verse of his: First Melfi Sailors taught, the loadstone how to vse, and that in the yere of our Sauior 1300. This Melfi called Amalphis in Latine, is a towne situate vpon the sea-shore of Lucania. Goropius ascribes the finding out of this secret to our Danes or Dutchmen; being persuaded hereunto, because the names of the 32. winds written vpon the compasse, are by all Pilots and Mariners, be they French, Spaniards, or of what nation soeuer, expressed in the Dutch tongue: which I confesse to be true, if you except the Italians only: for they both write and speake of these winds in their owne mother-language. Howbeit seeing all our na­uigatours of Europe, be they Spaniards, French, English, or Dutch, do expresse them in our language, I am verily of opinion, that as it was first found and vsed by the Amalfitans or Italians especially within their owne Mediterran sea: so was the knowledge therof from them deriued vnto our Netherlanders, and most of all to those of Bruges; whose city at that time (before all traff [...]que was reduced to Antwerpe) was a famous mart-towne, and frequented by Italians, especi­ally of Venice, as the foresaid Zeni report: and according to the testimony of Peter Quirini, Christopher Fiorouanti, and Nicolas Michele, who in this our Ocean suffered that horrible shipwracke which we reade of in the Italian volumes: witnesse also Lewis Cadamosta, who in his Epistles written about the yeere 1454, affirmes this city of Bruges to be a Mart inferiour to none else in all the North parts of the world. Wherefore, that the citizens of Bruges receiued the vs [...] of the sea-compasse from the Italians, and out of Italian translated the names of the winds into their owne language, and that from them the other nations be­fore mentioned borrowed this knowledge, I see not well, how it may be denied. Of the nature and admirable vertue of the loadstone you may reade many notable things in Liuius Sanutus his description of Africa, printed in Italian at Venice.

The isles or Salomon, which in this table you see described about Noua Guinea, were not long since discouered by Oliuer Mendanio, after he had conducted his fleet out of the part of Lima in Perú, & had sailed ouer this huge Ocean: as I find recorded in Iosephus Acosta his 1. book & 17. chapter De natura nouiorbis.

THis Prouince was about the yeere 1518 forcibly subdued to the Spanish gouernment, vnder the command and conduct of Fer­nando Corlez: who with the great slaughter of his owne people, but farre greater of the inhabitants fighting for their liberty, con­quered the same. It is a region rich of siluer and golde: for it hath very many riuers yeelding sands or graines of perfect gold. Vpon the coast of this countrey are many commodious fishings for pearle. Salt lakes here are diuers, the water whereof through the heat of the Sunne is conuer­ted into excellent salt. Here is great abundance of Cassia fistula, and a kind of fruit in the Mexican language called Cacao, somewhat resembling an Almond: which is with them very highly esteemed; for hereof they make a kinde of drinke, to their owne taste most delicate. The seas and riuers belonging to this countrey abound mightily with fish. Their riuers also breed Crocodiles, whose flesh is food to the inhabitants. In these places this creature is for the most part aboue twenty foot long. It is a countrey very mountainous and beset here and there with most lofty and cragged rocks. So great is the diuersity of languages in these regions, that one cannot vnderstand another without an Interpreter. The principall Colonies to be seene in this Table, which in New Spaine haue been planted by the Spaniards, are first Compostella, the seat of a Bishop, and of one of the Kings counsels. Colima, by another name called the city of the Purification. Guadalajara, a towne most fa­mous, and head of the Kingdome of New Gallicia. Mechoacan, a Bishops sea also. Sacatula, the city of Angels, a mother-towne and a Bishoprick. Mexico, a Kingly city, or rather Queene of all the cities in the New world; situate vpon the banke of a lake, or rather of a fenne: yea the very ground-plot of this city is so fenny, that you cannot come thither, nor depart thence but ouer bridges and cawseys. The lake adioyning is salt, being six leagues long and fiue broad. Fishes it hath none, but very small ones; which more aptly may be called wormes than fishes: of whose putrefaction, which is there caused by the heat of Summer, the aire is some­times so infected, that it is most vnholesome dwelling there: yet is it as much fre­quented with inhabitants and merchants, as any mart-towne in Europe. It is a large city; for in compasse it containeth about three leagues. The other lake adioining to this, is fresh water, and very plentifull of fish; wherein also stand many townes. There are likewise a great number vpon the banks of either lake. In this city (as Ierome Giraua reporteth) there was by Pope Paul the third established the seat of an Archbishop, in the yeere 1547.

This citie was taken by the Spaniards 140 yeeres after the first foundation thereof; Montezuma at the same time being King, the ninth in number. A won­der, how in so few yeeres it should grow to such largenesse and magnificence. The nature, situation, and customes of this citie and of the territory adiacent, who desires more perfectly to know, may reade the relations of Fernando Cortez. Ex­tant they are in the volume intituled Nouus orbis; and in the volume of Nauiga­tions printed at Ʋenice in Italian: but especially John Gonsaluo, who in his little booke of China hath a most large description of this region. You haue also many notable discourses hereof in the third Volume of M. Hakluyts English voyages.

THis Prouince of CVLIACAN is part of the kingdome of New Gali­cia. It was discouered vnder the gouernment of Charles the fifth, in the yeere 1530. In this region is one only colonie of Spaniards called, The towne of S. Michael. Villages here are very many, built by the inhabi­tants; all which before the Spaniards arriuall were at their owne liber­tie: yeelding obedience to no King or Gouernour. The region is in­differently furnished with things necessary. Out of the mountaines is digged great abun­dance of siluer. The inhabitants are addicted to war and robbery. They that dwell vp­on the coast, employ most of their time in fishing; but the vplandish people liue by hun­ting. They goe naked, couering only their priuities with a piece of Cotton. They haue many languages. They lodge for the most part in the open aire. They are a most beg­gerly nation.

THe Spaniards diuide the South part of America into fiue regions, namely, The golden Castilia, Popaian, Perú, Chili, and Brasil. Perú in times past before the Spaniards comming thither was much larger, vnder the gouernment of the Ingas, than at this present, as Giraua and o­thers write. Now they confine it with Quito on the North, and with Puerto de Plata on the South. It was thus named from a riuer & hauen named Perú. At this present they diuide it, according to the situation thereof, into three parts; into Sierras, Andes, and Plaines. The plaine countrey they call that which lieth next the sea; Sierras are the mountaines; and Andes a region beyond the mountaines toward the East.

The head-city of this countrey of Perú is Lima, otherwise called La ciadad de les Reges, where the Kings seat, and the Chancerie of the whole Kingdome remaines. Also it is the sea of an Archbishop, who vnder his iurisdiction hath these Bishopricks following; Quito, Cusco, Guamanga, Arequipa, Paz, Plata, Trugillo, Guanuco, Chacapoia, Puerto viejo, Guajaquil, Popajan, Charchi, S. Michael, and S. Francis.

That this is the richest of golde of all the countreys in the world, besides many other, these few arguments do euidently demonstrate. Francis Xeres writeth, that in Cusco there were houses, whose pauement, walles & roofes were couered quite ouer with plates of golde. Giraua reports, that the inhabitants of the prouince Ancerna go to warres all armed in gold from head to foot: their habergions, their brest-plates, their leg & thigh harnesse, con­sist wholly of gold. The same authour affirmes, that out of certeine gold-mines neere Quito is digged more gold than earth. Those that haue written the storie of King Atabalipa, do agree in this, that he offered so much golde to the Spaniards for his ransome, as the roome wherein he was prisoner would containe. It was two and twenty foot long, and seuenteene foot broad: this he offered to fill so high as he could reach vpon the wall with his longest finger; or if they thought better (marke also the infinite quantitie of siluer in this region) he offered to fill it twise with siluer euen to the very roofe. It is also recorded, that the Spaniards at their first entrance vpon this countrey, shod their horses with gold and siluer shoes.

This region in times past was gouerned by Ingas (which word signifieth Kings, or supreme Gouernours) of whom I finde this catalogue or pedegree in Simon Fernandez. The first was MANGOCAPA; him the Peruuians denie to haue been borne of a man, supposing that he was made out of a certaine rocke, which is to be seene nere Cusco. This man of his wife Mama Guaco begat a sonne named SICHEROCA. He being more warlike than his father, subdued many bordering nations, and enlarged the limits of his Empire. Of his wife Mama Cura he had issue LOCVCOPANGVE, the third Inga. This King thought it better to keepe that which his father had got, than with new conquests to augment his dominions. Being very aged he tooke to wife Mama Anauerque; which brought him forth a sonne, and successor, called MAYTACAPA. This successor of his ioyned the prouince of Cusco to his fathers Empire. Of his wife Mama Yacchidela he begat a sonne named CAPAC YVPANGVE who atchieued nothing worthy of memory. He had also by his wife Mama Cagna, a sonne called INGA RVCA. But neither did he in all his life any memorable act; saue that he tooke to wife Mama Micay, of whon he begat many sonnes; concerning one of which named Yaguar Guacinga Iupangue, they report this story: Being a childe of three moneths old, he was conueyed away by a certain Cacique to be murdred; but while they were consulting whe­ther they should kill him, or no; it came to passe that drops of bloud trickled from the infants weeping eyes: which they expounding as a matter prodigious, surceased their intent of murdering him. In the meane time be­ing found by a stranger, and restored to his father, he proued a most valiant and warlike Prince; insomuch that he subdued many bordering nations. He maried Mama Chiquia, of whom he had issue male VIRA COCHA, who succeeded him in his Empire, and inlarged it not a little. After him reigned PACHACOTI his sonne borne of his wife Mama Yunto Cayan. This Prince in martiall exploits surpassing all his ancestours, conquered di­uers and sundry nations. He laid the first foundations of the Castle of Cusco. After death he left behind him for his heire TOPA INGA YVPANGVE begotten of his wife Mama Anabarque; who not only finished the castle that was founded by his father, but treading also in his warlike steps, he wan from his neighbours the kingdoms of Chili and Quito, annexing the same to his crowne. These common high wayes most admirable to the world, from Cusco to Charchas, and so to Chili, he was the first author of; which being all the way built of Chasqui (or as we terme them, woodden piles) he made the iourney very short: for by the benefit hereof he marched with a com­pany of speedy footmen (a thing incredible in our eares) the space of 120 leagues in three dayes: (for before the Spaniards comming, the inhabitants neuer knew what beasts of cariage meant.) This King left behinde him a­boue 150 sonnes. But GVAINA CAPA whom he had by his wife Mama Oclo, he ordeined to be his heire: who, albeit he had a father so valourous, and so renowmed both in peace and warre; yet by his braue exploits he far surpassed him: for he extended the bounds of the Peruuian Empire a great way farther than before. The Com­mon wealth he reduced into a better forme, he reformed many lawes, and some he ordained anew. He tooke to wise Coia Pilico Vaco; by whom when he could haue no issue, he maried diuers others: of which wiues he begat sonnes not only equall, but superiour in number to those of his father; the eldest whereof was GVASCAR, whose mothers name was Raua Oclo. He had also another sonne named ATABALIPA. Betweene these two brothers some dissention arising about the gouernment of the kingdome, Atabalipa remaining in Cassamalca, and Guascar in Cusco; Atabalipa marching with an army against his brother, became Victor, tooke him, and caried him captiue to Cusco, in which place he afterward put him to death, and was there himselfe also burned by the Spa­niards. This was the end of these two brothers. Whereupon MANGO Inga a third brother tooke the gouern­ment [Page]

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[Page] vpon him (for Guaina Capa, as is aforesaid, had many wiues and sonnes.) Mango deceasing, appointed for his heire Inga XAIREMTOPA, who maried himselfe to Coio Cuxi Varcay daughter to Guascar. This man before he was crowned with Imperiall diademe changed his name, and called himselfe MANGO CAPA PACHVTI YVPANGVE. But he submitted himselfe to King Philip, and became his vassall. This was done in the yeere 1557. the sixth of Ianuary vpon the very feast of the three Kings. Concerning these Ingas, and their memorable acts Pedro Cieça de Leon promised a peculiar volume: whether he hath performed it I know not. Sufficeth thus much to haue been spoken of the Kings. Now let vs out of three worthy eye-witnesses adde somwhat concer­ning the nature and disposition of the people. Ierome Benzo of Millan, who liued many yeeres in those countries, in his booke of the New world dedicated to Pope Pius the fourth, writeth that the inhabitants of Perú are natu­rally indued with a more sharpe and subtile wit, than any other Indians subdued by the Spaniards. The same author (speaking of them in another place;) Marke my words (saith he:) I can by no meanes be induced to be­leeue that which some report of them; namely, that they are addicted to theft, and that by their lawes, the least robberies deserue hanging. But who can imagine them to be theeues, whenas they are neither couetous nor rich, esteeming nothing more base than siluer & gold? Of which, it they had a minde vnto the same, they might without controlment take as much as they would out of the Mines, like water out of the fountaine. Vnlesse per­haps they haue learned of the Spaniards to play the thieues, who haue planted their colonies in that country, &c. Bartholmew de las casas a Spaniard of the order of Dominick, and Bishop of Chiapa, a great city of the New world, in that volume which he entitled The destruction of the Indies, and dedicated to King Philip; he calleth them a peace­able, humble, gentle, and harmlesse nation: and in another place, a simple, plain-dealing people, void of all ma­lice, most obedient and faithfull, not only to their owne naturall Princes, but also to Christians that haue any command ouer them. And if there be any in all the world, then these are of a most quiet disposition, not giuen to brauling or tumults, nor greedy of reuenge. Frier Iodocus de Reijcke, by order a Franciscan, born in Mechilin, who in Quito a city of this region, erected the first monastery of his order, writeth in his letters (which I my selfe haue read) to the Guardian of the Franciscans at Antwerpe: All these Indians (saith he) thirst after the Gospell, and al­beit they are barbarous, and without learning, yet nature hath taught them an excellent kinde of gouernment, and behauior. Among them there was not a begger found, notwithstanding they are all poore in food and ap­parell. And a little after; With these people was found so great iustice and integrity of life, that therein they ex­cell euen those which abound with books and learning. The same in another letter to the Friers of his order in Flanders: It is (saith he) a witty, bold, and warlike nation, giuing vs hope of their easie conuersion to Christianity, if they be not discouraged therefrom by the Spaniards auarice. These letters, I thinke are not printed: The very originals of them, according to his singular humanity and fauor to these my studies were bestowed vpon me by the worthy citizen Adrian Marselar, Senatour of Antwerpe, being the said Iodocus his kinsman by the mothers side. Also of this F. Iodocus mention is made by Ierom Benzo, & Pedro Cieça a Spaniard, in their stories of the VVest Indies.

THE EMPIRE OF GREAT BRITAIN included within the parallels 49. and 63. and the Meridians or longitudes 9. and 26. bounded vpon the South by France, vpon the East by Germany, vpon the North & West by the Vast Ocean, disioined from the rest of the maine land as High Admirall of the seas comprehendeth that Iland which at this day conteineth the kingdomes of England & Scotland, together with Ireland ouer against it Westward, the circumiacent iles, the Orchades, Hebrides, Man, Anglesey, Wight, the Sorlings, & many others of lesse note, and were generally of the old writers with one consent called, BRITANNICAE INSVLAE, The Brittish Ilands taking their denomination, as seemeth, from the greatest of them, commander of the rest, which indeed is properly called BRITANNIA, Brittaine. So na­med (not of that fained Brutus, the bloody parricide, as the fabulous historian Geffrey of Monmouth, against all reason, authority & truth of storie, hath hitherto made the world beleeue: nor of the Welch word Prydain or Prydcain, as the learned Britaine Humfrey Lhoyd hath thought:) but of Brit, a Celticke word, which signi­fieth Painted: For these people, as Caesar and other old writers report, vsed to paint their bodies, and therefore were called of the Gaules, their next neighbours, BRITONES: as those people of the same nation, who to auoid the slauery and seruitude of the Romanes, and withdrew themselues into the North parts, (from whom they continually mole­sted their colonies heere), were of them, for the same reason, in their language called, PICTI. The Greekes called it also ALBION, not of Albion Neptunes sonne, which sometime sweied the scepter heere, as some haue most fabulously taught; but of Alphiων, the white cliffes vpon the sea coast, which first offer themselues to the eie of those which to this our land saile hither from France: and indeed the Welch poets call it Inis win, that is, as Orphaeus the most ancient poet of the Greeks doth interpret it, Nesos leu caessa, and Leucaios Chersos, The white Ile, or The whiteland.

The first Inhabitants, which seated themselues heere not long after the vniuersall Flood and Confusion of Babel, came hither from France, as by Neerenesse of place, Likenesse of language, Maners, Gouernment, Customes & Name is by the learned Clarencieux Camden, the onely light of our histories, in that his thrise renowned Britannia, euidently demonstrated. For to this day the ancient Britans, the Welchmen do call themselues CVMRI, (not Cambri) as come from Gomer, the sonne of Iapheth, (called of the Latines Cimber,) from whom are descended the Celtae or Gaules. The Romanes, a second nation, vnder the conduct of Iulius Caesar, about the yeare before the birth of CHRIST 54. entered Brittaine and planted their colonies in diuers and sundry places of this Iland. The Scottes, obseruing the Ro­man legions to grow weake and their Empire to decline, thereupon tooke occasion first to seise vpon Ireland: then a­bout the yeare of CHRIST 446. great trouble arising in France, the Emperours were constrained wholly to withdraw their forces from hence, and to leaue the Brittaines naked and open to the furie of the Pictes their enemies. From hence ensued a double mischiefe: for first the vnquiet and turbulent Pictes, thinking that now the onely opportunitie was offered them to accomplish their desires, thought to make sure worke, called in the Scottes out of Ireland; combi­ned themselues together against the poore disarmed Britans: whereupon the Britans were constrained, for safegard of their liues and liberties, to call in, about the yeare of CHRIST 440. the Angles, Saxons and Iuites, a warlike people inhabiting along the sea coast of Germany, from the riuer of Rhein, vnto Denmarke, to aid them against their violent enemies. The Normanes, lead by William the Bastard, their Duke, tooke possession of Great Brittaine in the yeare 1066. The Vandalles, Norweis and Danes, who by their piracies and robberies a long time and oft greeuously vexed these Iles, neuer seated their Colonies heere, and therefore I passe them ouer with silence.

The forme of Brittaine is triangular, like vnto that figure which the Geometers call Scalenum; or as Nubiensis the Arabian saith, to the head and necke of Alnaama, the ostrich, and therefore it may aswell as Sicilia be called TRINA­CRIA, The three-cornered Ile. The ancient Geographers did hold it, and that deseruedly, to be the greatest Iland of the Maine Ocean; wherefore Solinus saith, it may well deserue the name of ANOTHER WORLD: and Matthew Pa­ris for the same cause calleth it THE QVEEN or Empresse of the Isles of the Ocean. In respect of which large compasse it hath been in former ages diuided into many seuerall iurisdictions and kingdomes: in the time of the Saxons, England the South-east part into seuen, and Wales into three. Great Egbert, in the yeare 800. reduced the Saxon heptarchy in­to a Monarchy. The Irish Princes, Nobles, and Commons, after the incarnation 1172. vnited their Pentarchy to the crowne of Egbert, and swore alleageance to Henry the second King of England. Edward the first, to these did knit, in the yeare after the birth of Christ 1282. the triple crowne of the Pety Kings of Wales. In these our daies, the eternall wisedome of the Great King of Heauen and Earth hath cast all these, together with the crowne of Scotland, into one massie Emperiall Diademe, and placed it vpon the head of our dread soueraigne IAMES, lineally descended from those mighty Monarches, and shall (we doubt not) in time, adde to these whatsoeuer from them vnto his Highnesse do belong.

BRITANNI­CAE INSVLAE, or the Empire of Great Brit­taine contein­eth Ilands

• Greater, and of­ten mentioned in histories.
  • BRITANNIA diuided by the Romans into
    • Superior, the Higher, conteining
      • ANGLIA, England.
      • CVMERIA, Wales.
    • Inferior, the Neather, now called SCOTIA, Scotland.
  • HIBERNIA, Ireland: vpon the West of Britaine.
• Lesser, yet fa­mous, belon­ging to
  • England, from it
    • South,
      • Close to the shore of Brittaine, VECTA, Wight.
      • Vpon the coast of France
        • CAESARIA, Gersey.
        • SARNIA, Gernsey.
        • And many other lesser.
    • West,
      • From the point of Cornwall; SILLINAE, Silly, anno 145.
      • In the middest betweene England, Ireland, and Scotland, MO­NOEDA, Man.
  • Wales, MONA, called of the English Anglesey, of the Welch, Tirmôn.
  • Scotland, ly­ing from it
    • West; HEBRIDES, The West isles, in number foure and fortie.
    • North,
      • ORCHADES, Orkney-iles: about thirtie.
      • THVLE, Schetland.

Of these Brittish isles, (beside the ancient writers, Tacitus and Caesar) reade Henry Huntington, Polydore Virgill, Iohn Mayor, Paulus Iouius, Gregory Cenall in the 2. summa of his 3. booke de re Gallica, Antony Sabellicus Enne. 10. lib. 5. Wil­liam Paradine, Ieffrey of Monmouth, Ponticus Verumius, and Beda: but especially M. William Camden Clarenceux his Bri­tannia, whom when thou hast discreetly read, I doubt not but thou wilt thinke thou hadst particularly surueyed the whole ile.

SCOTLAND, the North part of Brittaine, anciently called Albanie, and is of the first inhabitants, (which they call the wilde Scots, and dwell more in within the land, retaining yet the old language,) at this day cal­led Albaine, was formerly called of the Romanes, Britannia minor and secunda, as Lhoyd doth gather out of Sextus Rufus. This country is diuided into 2. parts, by the rough & craggy mount Grampius, (now Grantz­been) whereof Tacitus maketh mention. For it begining at the German ocean, neere the mouth of the ri­uer Dee, coasting along by Aberden, through the middest of the country toward the Irish-sea, staieth at the lake Loumond. This Mountaine was sometime the bound of the kingdome of the Pictes and Scottes.

Scotland is fuller of mountaines and more barren then England: Yet euery where it hath many commo­dious ports and hauens. For so is this country embraced of the armes of the sea, that there is no house in it, as Iohn Maior affirmeth, which is aboue twentie leagues distant from the salt water. In the vallies are Lakes, meeres, pooles, riuers and fountaines well stored with sundrie sorts of fish. In the mountaines are champion plaines, yeelding great store of pasture for cattell, and woods abounding with plenty of Deere. By the meanes of which commodities it hath been so maintai­ned, that hitherto it might neuer be wholly conquered: For in any eminent danger they presentlie flie to the woods and bogges, for succour and refuge, where they haue of venison and fish sufficient store for prouision of victuall.

Scotland hath many wonders, whereof some we haue heere set downe out of Hector Boëthus. In Galloway saith he, is a lake called Myrtoun, part of whose water in the winter freezeth as other waters do, the other part was neuer knowne to haue beene frozen in the greatest frosts that euer were. In the country of Carict there are very great and large Oxen, whose flesh is verie tender and of a pleasant and delicat tast: Besides that, the fatte neuer waxeth hard, but is alway thinne in the manner of liquid oile. The Sea that washeth the coast of this prouince, is very rich of oisters, herrings, congers, cockels, and other such like fishes. In the prouince of Coyl about ten miles from the towne Aër, is a Stone, hardly twelue foot high, of 33. cubites thicke, called of the inhabitants, The deafe stone: For al­though you shall make neuer so great a noise, nay if one shall shoote off a peece of ordinance on the one side, it shall hardly be heard on the other side, except one bee a good way off from it, for then the sound may easily be perceiued. In Lennox, which Ptolemey calleth Lelgouia, (Lelannonia, as I conceiue out of Ptolemey, but I thinke our authour meant Selgouiae, which is farre from this place) there is a very great lake, which they call Loumond, aboue twenty foure miles long, and eight miles broad; It conteineth thirtie Ilands, where­of diuers haue villages well inhabited, with Churches and Chappels dedicated to the seruice of Almighty God. In this three things are especially worth the obseruation. For the fishes there, most wholesome and good, haue no sinnes. The water oft times, when the winds are most calme and still, is so boisterous and rough, that it affraieth the best experienced watermen from putting forth to crosse the same: For the wind being alaied the boates are taken in their midde-course, and are tossed with such danger, that except some com­modious hauen shall fortune to be neere hand, many times they are ouerturned and cast away. Lastly, there is an iland in it, very good pasture for the feeding of cattell, which swimmeth and moueth euery way as the winds driue. It is credibly reported, that there is a stone which groweth in Argadia (Argathelia or Argile) which if it be couered but a while with straw or flax, it will set it on fire. At Slanis, a castle in Buquhan, there is a caue of a strange nature. For the water that droppeth into it in continuance of time is turned into a very white stone; and if within a certaine number of yeares they should not be taken out, it would haue been long since filled vp with them. In this prouince there is no ratte euer seene; and if so be that any should be brought in thither, it will not by any meanes liue there. In the countrie of Fife great store of a kind of blacke stone is digged out of the earth, (we call it sea-coale) a most excellent kind of fuell. At the mouth of the riuer Forth, in the maine sea there is a very high rocke, out of whose toppe a spring of fresh water, (a great miracle of nature) doth runne abundantlie. About two miles distant from Edenburgh, is a spring, vpon the toppe of whose water, dropps of oile, do continually swimme, in such sort, that if you take none from off it, there will be neuer the more: and if you take ought from thence, there will be neuer the lesse. This oile is good against the roughnesse of the skinne. Thus farre of the strange thinges of this Realme. Scotland in the countrie of Drisdaile hath a mine of Gold, in the which also is found that which they commonly call Lazure. It hath al­so mines both of Iron and Lead.

The inhabitants which possesse the South part, on this side the mount Grampius, are more ciuill and humane: and do speake the En­glish tongue. Those which dwell in the North parts, are a rough and more hard kind of people (they call them The wild-Scottes) and do weare mantles and skirts died with Saffron after the Irish fashion, and go barelegged. They speake the Irish tongue. And as the Language of Scotland is of two sorts, so are their maners as diuers. These Marianus Scotus calleth High-land-men, the other, I meane the wild-Scottes, they call Low-land-men.

The chiefe city of Scotland is Edenburgh, there is the kings seat, and the castle of Maidens, often mentioned in histories. Saint An­drew, and Aberdon are two Vniuersities. The city Glasow is the Archbishops sea. The towne of Perth, commonly called S. Iohns-toun, is the onely towne in Scotland that is walled about. Of the wood Caledon, (whereof Ptolemey and other ancient writers haue recorded.) There is scarcely any mention to be found, onely about the towne of Sterling, there remaineth some shew of the name. Thus farre of the kingdome of Scotland: now it will not be amisse to speake somewhat of the ilands, that lie round about the same, and do belong vnto that crowne.

The HEBRIDES, (commonly called the West-iles,) both for bignesse and number do excell the rest. Hector Boëthus saith that they be in number 43. But heere he reckoneth vp the ile of Man as one of them, which is not subiect to the kingdome of Scotland, but is vn­der the allegeance of the King of England; neither do I thinke that it was euer accounted of the ancients among the Hebrides. The first of the Hebrides is Aran, (otherwise called Boëth) then Hellaw and Rothes. Not farre from these is Alize, where are great plenty of Bar­nacles, which they call Soland-geese The greatest of all and the most famous is Ile, a fertile soile for corne, and rich for veines of mettall. Then Cumber and Mule. Neere vnto these is Ione, memorable for the tombs of Kings long since buried there. Next vnto this is Lewis, last of all is Hirth situate in the 43. degree of latitude. Thus Boethus calleth them. But Iohn Maior the Scot nameth them thus, Argila, Aranea, Awyna, Butha, or Rothsaya, and Leuisora. In these ilands are those geese, which they call Clakes, (Gyraldus calleth them Berna­cles) which Boëthus affirmeth to breed of the sea and of rotten wood; and not to grow vpon trees, as the common sort beleeue and haue published in their writings. For if you shall cast, saith he, a peece of wood into that sea, in continuance of time, first wormes do breed within the wood, which by little and little become to haue heads, feet & wings: at the last being fledge and growen to their full growth, to the bignes of a goose, they attempt to flie, and do somtimes swim and sometimes vse their wings as other Sea-foule do. Beyond the Hebrides, are the ORCHADES, (or the Orkeney iles,) of which the best is Pomona, famous for the Bishops-sea, a goodly Church, and two strong castles. One of these Iohn Maior calleth Zeland, which is 50. miles in length. In these grow no manner of trees, nor any wheat, and yet otherwise of all other sorts of graine they are very fertile. It breedeth no serpent or venimous beast. In Scotland they buy the barrell'd butter: the inhabitants hauing abundance of Barley whereof they make a most strong kind of drinke, and are very great drinkers; yet, as Boëthus saith, you shall neuer see a drunken-man, or madde man, one bestraught or a naturall foole amongst them. The same authour affirmeth the like of the inhabitants of the iles of Scetland: but this is no wonder, amongst them that drinke nought but water. All the wealth and commodities of these Scetland-men consist in Stockfish, and hides of beastes. In the Hebrides they vse the Irish tongue: in the iles of Orkeney they speake the Gottish language. M. Iordanus in his mappe of Denmarke saith that the Orchades are subiect to the kingdome of Denmarke: yet we know them to belong to Scotland vnder the title of a Dukedome. But se what we haue written of this in the discourse to the mappe of Denmarke. Of Scotland and of the ilands adioining thou maist read more at large in Hector Boëthus, Iohn Maior, and Iohn Lisley, Scottish-men which haue written the histories of this their country.

THe South part of the Iland of Britaine, is, as we haue said before, diuided into two parts. That part which is toward the East, abutting vpon the German Ocean, is of the Angles, a peo­ple of the Saxons which seated themselues there, in their language called ANGLIA, or England, that is, the Angles land. The West part, which is seuered from that other by the riuers Seuern and Dee, and doth vse the ancient Brittish tongue, is of the same Angles or En­glishmen called, WALLIA or Wales: yet the Brittan or Welshman calleth himselfe Cumro; and his country Cumria; the English Saissons; and their country, Lhoëgria: neither do they know, or at least they will not acknowledge, what England or an Englishman doth meane: So great difference there is betweene the languages of the seuerall nations of this Iland.

All this South part, England, I meane, and Wales, hath their proper king, vnto whom many Dukes, Marquesses, Earles, Barons and great Noblemen are subiect and obedient. It is a countrie at all times of the yeare most kind and temperate. The Aire is thicke, and so it is much subiect to windes, clowdes and raine: and therefore in regard of thicknesse of the aire it is neither opprest with too much heat or too much cold. For it is found true by ex­perience that although it be more Northerly than Brabant, Flanders, and other forrein countries, yet heere the winter is neuer so bitter nor the frost so eger as in those parts. It hath euerie where many hilles, (without wood and water,) which notwithstanding do bring forth very small and short grasse, an excellent feed for sheepe: and therefore infinite flockes of sheepe do bespread them, which either by reason of the kindnesse of the aire, or goodnesse of the soile, do yeeld most soft wooll farre finer than those of other countries. And for that this country breedeth neither woolues nor any rauenous beast, you shall see in diuers places flocks of sheepe vpon the hilles, and dales, greene pastures, commons, fallowes, and corne fields; into which after the crop is off, euery man, by a certaine ancient custome doth put in his cattell in common, to wander heere and there without a shepheard. This indeed is that Golden fleece, in which especially the riches of the in­habitants doth consist: for an huge masse of gold and siluer, is by Merchants, which thither flocke from all quarters for such like wares, yearly brought into the Iland, and there doth continually rest, for that it is by proclamation forbidden that no man may carry any money out of the Realme. It aboundeth also with all sorts of cattell, except asses, mules, ca­mels, and elephants. There is in no place of the world greater and larger dogges, nor better.

The soile is very fatte and fertile, and naturally bringeth foorth, beside all sorts of corne and pulse, all maner of things, onely the firre-tree, and, as Caesar saith, the beech tree, although that now it hath in diuerse places plenty of beeches. The ay-green Bay tree doth in these Northren countries no where thriue better. Such abundance of Rosemary heere doth grow in all places and that so high, that they oft times do fence their gardens therewith. Wine they haue none, for the grapes seldome heere do ripen, and is amongst them planted rather for shade and pleasure, then for his fruit and profit. There is in no country in Christendome more Crowes than heere, a kind of fowle very harmefull: for it doth not onely spoile the ripe and standing corne, but assoone as it is shotte they will stocke and digge it vp with their billes, so that the husbandmen are faine at that time of the yeare to set Boies in the fields with bow and arrowes (for they are not afraid of mens voices) to skarre them away.

The Ocean or maine sea, which beateth vpon the coast of this Iland, aboundeth with all maner of Fish: of which the Lucius, or Pike, as they commonly call it, they esteeme as a deinty dish, and therefore they oft take it out of fenny pooles and riuers, and put it into their fishponds and weares; where being purged and cleared from that muddy sauour, feed with eeles and other little fishes, he groweth exceeding fatte and of a holesome and pleasing tast. This fish (which is a very strange thing) being brought aliue into the fishmarket to be sold, they open his belly with a knife, to shew how fatte he is: if he be not sold, yet of that wound he dieth not, but the slitte being sewed vp, and presently put into the pond, a­mongst the slimie tenches, it is by and by healed againe. There are no where in all the world either more daintie Oisters, or greater store.

It yeeldeth also Gold, Siluer, Copper, and Iron, although no great quantitie of either sort: but of Lead, and Tinne, (the Latines call that Plumbum nigrum, this Plumbum album) in their kind the best, is heere found in great abundaunce, and from thence is transported to forrein nations.

The people are tall of stature, well fauoured and faire countenanced, for the most part gray eied, and as in maner of pro­nunciation they much resemble the Italian, so in proportion and feature of body and maners they little or nothing differ from them. They shape their apparell much-what after the French fashion. The women most faire and beautifull, do go very decently and comlily attired. They feed most-what on flesh. The drinke which they vse, and do make of malt, is indeed very good, holesome and pleasant; much sought after in the Low countries, and therefore conueied thither in great abundance. At their meales both dinners and suppers they fare well, daintilie, liberallie, and are very merrie and pleasant. In warre they are courageous and hardie, good archers, and cannot abide delaies and lingring; and therefore when they ioine battell and come to blowes, one part shall soone be vtterly ouerthrowne, for the conqueror seiseth all in­to his hands. They build no Castles; yea those which their auncestours haue built in former ages, and now are decaied, ruinous and readie to fall, they care not for the reedifying and vpholding of them. Cities they haue, and many faire townes, goodly hamlets, streets, and villages. The chiefe City, mart-towne, and imperiall seat of their Kinges is LON­DON, situate vpon the riuer of Thames: ioined with a faire stone bridge of twenty piles, very goodly arched. Vpon this bridge are houses so built on ech side, that it seemeth almost to be a continuall street, not a bridge. This of the nature of the soile, temperature of the aire, manners and behauiour of the people, we haue for the most part gathered out of Poly­dore Virgill his historie of England: for he hath very curiously there described this Iland. In England these things are fa­mous and worth the obseruation, as this verse sheweth, Mons, & fons, & pons, ecclesia, femina, lana: Of riuers, and moun­taines, stone bridges and wooll: Faire women, and Churches, England is full.

IRELAND, is subiect to the crowne of England, so are diuers other lesser iles, as Wight, Man, Anglesey, (the ancient seat of the Druydes, the Welshmen call it, Tirmôn mam Gumry, Man the mother of Wales, the Latines, this MONA, that other MENAVIA) and those which now we call the Sorlinges (the Greeks called them CASSITERIDES.) Gernsey and Gersey with other small ilands about them, although they be hard vpon the coast of France, yet they do belong vnto Eng­land. Humfrey Lhoyd hath so curiously described England together with the Antiquities thereof, that others before him may iustlie seeme to be accused of great negligence. Him did Alexander Neuill follow in his historie of the Rebellion in Norffolke, which he intituleth Norwicus. Daniel Rogers my kinsman hath written a booke of the maners, lawes and cu­stomes of the ancient Brittans. The same author is also about to write of the command and iurisdiction that the Romanes had in Brittaine.

THe discourse of this prouince, we haue composed out of a certaine fragment of our singular good friend Humfrey Lhoyd, which not long since wee caused Birkman to imprint, for the benefit of those that are students of Geography. CAMBRIA, saith he, the third part of Britaine, is diuided from Lhoëgria, (or England if you please so to call it) by the riuers Seuern and Dee, otherwise it is on all parts confined with the Irish sea (the Geographers commonly call it Oceanus Vergiuius) it was so named (as they dreame) of Camber, the third sonne of Brute. The Welshmen call it Cymri, the English Wales, and the Latin WALLIA. This part only of this whole Brittish iland doth stil enioy the most an­cient inhabitants being indeed the true naturall Brittans: and do yet retaine the Brittish tongue, and cannot speake one word of English, which is a language made especially of the misture of the Dutch and French tongues. Wales they do at this time diuide into three prouinces, Venedoth, Powis-land, and Dehenbarth. Vnder Venedoth the ile Anglesey, (famous long since, and accounted for the ancient seat of the Druides,) is conteined. The inhabitants in course of life and fashion of apparell do follow the English: and are an idle people not willing to labour or take pains, bragging much of their gentilitie, and do giue themselues rather to the seruice of Noblemen and to follow the court, than to trades and occupations. Heere hence it is that you shall find few Noblemen through out all England, which hath not the greatest part of his followers & seruants (in which thing Englishmen do surpasse any other nation whatsoeuer) Welshmen borne: for being men that are fed with whitmeats or butter & cheese, they haue nimble & able bodies, fit for any maner of seruice. Moreouer being men of haughty minds, and in extreme penury and beggery challenging vnto themselues to be nobly descended, they delight rather to go brauein apparell (like vnto the Spaniard) then to get goods or pamper their bellies, and do soone learne courtlike behauiour, and therefore they are of the English Nobility for ser­uice preferred before the English. Yet of late heere they haue vsed themselues to dwell in cities, to learn occupations, to trade as merchants, to go to plough, and to do any maner of businesse good for the common-wealth as well as the En­glish: nay in this thing they excell them, that there is no man so poore amongst them, but for a while will set his sonnes to schole to learne to write and read, and those whom they find to be apt, they send to the Vniuersities, & cause them for the most part to giue their minds to the study of the ciuill law: Heere hence it is that the greater part of those, which in this kingdome doe professe the Ciuill or Canon law, are Welshmen borne. You shall find also very few of the common and meaner sort of people but can read and write his owne language, and after their fashion play vpon the Welsh harpe. Now also they haue the Bible, and common praier booke printed in their owne tongue, a language, as we said, vsed of their ancestors and wholly different from the English. And as in old time long since be­ing a people (as Tacitus reporteth) impatient of the least wrongs that might be offered, they were alwaies together by the eares and cutting one anothers throates; so now for feare of law, (to which they are more obedient, then any other nation) they will wrangle and contend one with another, as long as they are worth a groate. These few obseruations we haue gleaned out of Lhoyd, to whom we send the Reader that desireth more of the particulars of this country. Sylue­ster Gerrard, a Welshman hath described VVales in a seuerall treatise. Read also the Iournall of VVales. Moreouer VVilliam of Newbery in the 5. chap. of his 2. booke hath many things of the nature of this country, & maners of the people. To these you may adioine Polyd. Virg. & those things which Robert Caenalis hath written in the summe of his 2. booke, de re Gallica.

This Cymri, or (as the English call it) VVales belongeth (that we may heere by the way say something of this) by an ancient decree, to the King of Englands eldest sonne, or daughter if he faile, to the Kings heire, I meane, who is to succeed next after him: and he is called assoone as he is born, The Prince of VVales: and that in the same sense, as in Spaine and Portugall they call the Kings heire, The Prince; and in France, The Dolphin.

Ieffrey of Monmouth writeth, that in these parts of VVales neere the riuer of Seuern, there is a poole which the country peo­ple call, Linligune. This, saith he, when the sea floweth into it, enterteineth the waters like a bottomlesse gulfe, and so drinketh vp the waues that it is neuer full, nor euer runneth ouer. But when the sea ebbeth, the waters which before it had swallowed do swell like a mountaine, which then do dash and run ouer the banks. At which time if all the people of that shire should stand any thing neere the poole, with their faces toward it, so that the water shall but dash into their clothes and apparell, they shall hard be able to auoid the danger, but that they shalbe drawne into the poole. But if ones backe shalbe toward it, there is no danger at all, although he should stand vpon the very edge of the same. This is the story, I haue nam'd the authour, let him approue the truth of the same. Of Mona the iland vpon the shore of this country thou hast the opinion of Humfrey Lhoyd in his epistle which we haue adioined to the end of this booke. Of this also Iohn Leland in his Genethliacon of Edward Prince of VVales, thus writeth: This Iland saith hee, being conquered by the English, changed the name, and was called Anglesey, that is; the iland of Englishmen. Polydore Virgill, a man of great reading, and good iudgement in many matters, is of another opinion. Hee laboureth with all his forces to proue Menauia to be Mona. If the name, which yet it retaineth: If the citie Caernaruon, which is ouer against it vpon the maine, do take his denomination from hence and is called Aruon for Ar-mon: If that same very short cut ouer, of which the Roman writers do speake: If the nesse or promontorie Pen-mon, that is, as the word signifieth, The head of Mon: If the huge bodies of trees, and rootes couered ouer with sand, which daily are digged out of the shore of Tir-mon: If the firre-trees of maruailous length, which in squally grounds are heere and there found within the earth in this Iland, do not sufficiently proue that that was anciently called Mona, which now we call Anglesey, I know not what to say more then that I haue read this in the 14. booke of Cornelius Tacitus his Annales, Excisi (que) luci saeuis superstitionibus sacri, &c. Felling the woods consecrated to superstitious seruices, &c. The same Leland in another place hath these verses of this Iland:

IRELAND, which the Greekes and Latines call HIBERNIA, others IVERMA and IERNA, the Irish them­selues call Eryn. From hence strangers, taking it from the mouth of the English, which pronounce e, the second vowell with the same sound that other nations do sound i, the third vowell, haue made, as it seemeth Irynlandt, compounded, as is apparent, of the Irish Erin, and the Saxon or Dutch Landt, which after­ward was contracted, for more commodity of speach and roundnesse of pronunciation, into Irland, from whence the Latines framed IRLANDIA. The first inhabitants which seated themselues in this Iland came hither, as may be easily demonstrated from Brittaine or England, not from Spaine, as some most absurdly haue written. For the abridgement of Strabo doth flatly call these ilanders, Britaines: and Diodorus Siculus saith that Irin is a part of Britaine: wherefore it was iustly of all old writers called, INSVLA BRITANNIA, One of the Brittish iles. About the yeare of CHRIST, 400. in the daies of Honorius and Arcadius the Em­perours, at what time the Roman Empire began to decline, the Scottes, a second nation entered Ireland, and planted themselues as O­rosius writeth, in the North parts, whereupon it was of them called, SCOTLAND. Syluester Gyraldus Cambrensis about 400. yeares since described this Iland in a seuerall treatise. But because that this booke as yet is not set forth and therefore not common and euery where to be gotten, we will out of it gather so much as this narrow roome may conteine, not doubting but we shall worthily deserue great thankes at the readers hand for the same. Listen therefore to his words:

Ireland, next after England the greatest Iland of the knowne world, hath the greater Britaine vpon his East side, vpon the West on­ly lieth the vast and wide Ocean; on the North three daies saile from the coast of Ireland lieth Island, of all the Northren iles by far the greatest. Britaine is almost twice as great as Ireland: for seeing that the length of both runneth the same way from South to North; that is, about 800. miles long, and about 200. miles broad: this from Brendam hilles to the iles Columbine otherwise called Thorach, is about eight daies iourney, that is 400. miles long at the least. Ireland conteineth in all 176. Canweds. The word Canwed is a compound word, vsed aswell of the Welch as Irish, and signifieth a circuite of ground conteining within it 100. villages.

The soile of Ireland is vneuen, full of hilles and dales, soft and squally, full of woods, bogges and fennes. Vpon the toppes of the highest and steepest hilles you shall oft find great ponds and bogges: yet it hath in some places most goodly plaines and champion, but in respect of the woods they are very little. The ground is very fatte, and fertile for Corne. The mountaines abound with sheepe, the woods are full of Deere: and the whole ile generally is better for pasture, then for eareable ground, much better I meane, for grasse then corne. For the kernelles of wheat are heere so dwined and small, that they may hardly be dressed with any manner of fanne. That which the Spring-time doth bring forth and flourisheth for a while in Summer, the dripping and watery Autumne will hardly suffer kindly to ripen or tidily to be inn'd. For this Iland is more subiect to blustering winds, outragious stormes of raine and floods, then any other country vnder the cope of heauen. It is very rich of honie and milke. Solinus and Isidore affirme that it hath no Bees: but by their leaue if they had more diligently examined the matter, they might haue on the contrarie written, that it wanteth vines, but is not altogether void of Bees. For this Iland neither now hath, nor euer had any vines: But of Bees it hath, (as any other country) great plenty: which notwithstanding would heere, as I thinke, swarme in farre greater number, if it were not for the venemous and sowre ewgh-trees which in all places of the Iland do grow in great abundance.

The Iland is euery where crossed and watered with many goodly riuers; of which the principall are these: Auenliss, runneth by Dublin: Boand (or Boine) through Methe: Banna, through Vlster: Linne, by Connagh: Moad, by Kenelcunill, Slechey, and Samayr: Mo­darn and Furne, by Keneleon: There are also very many other riuers, whereof some issuing forth of the bowels of the earth and from their cleare fountaines, other immediatly rushing forth of lakes and fennes wandring heere and there diuide and part the Iland into ma­ny goodly prouinces and shires. For vnder the foot of Bladina hill (now called Bliew Blemy) three famous riuers do arise, commonly called, The three Sisters, (for they beare the names of three sisters:) Berne, (Birgus, now Barrow) which runneth by Lechlin: Eoyr, Ne­orus, they call it Nore, by Ossire: and Swyre, by Archfine and Trebagh; neere Waterford they kindly salute one another, and so falling into one channell they quietlie toward the sea. Slane, runneth by Wexford: Boand, by Meath: Auenmore, by Lismore: and Simen, by Limiricke. And indeed amongst all the riuers of Ireland, Sinnen bear'th the bell, not only for his goodly greatnesse, long and diuers wandrings through the country, but also his great plenty of dainty fish. For it ariseth out of a very large and goodly lake, which diui­deth Connagh from Munster, and spreadeth it selfe into two branches running two contrary waies: one of them tending toward the South, passeth by the city Kelleloe, and then enclosinge round the citie Limiricke, with a direct course and large streame for an hundred miles and vpward, running between the two mountaines, emptieth it selfe into the Brendan sea. The other not much lesse then the for­mer, diuiding Meath and the farther parts of Vlster from Connagh, running with a crooked course turning this way and that way, at last hideth it selfe in the Northren ocean: So that this riuer doth separate the fourth and West part of the Iland from the other three, like a midland streame running from sea to sea. For this Iland in former ages was diuided almost into fiue equall parts, namely into North Mounster, South Mounster, Leinster, and Connagh.

This country hath diuers goodly Lakes. The sea coast aboundeth plentifully with all maner of sea-fish on all sides: the Riuers and Lakes are stored with great variety of fresh-fishes: especially with these three sorts, Salmons, Trouts, and Eeles. The riuer Shynen swarmeth with Lampreyes. But there are wanting many other sorts of good fresh-fish of other countries, as Pikes, Perches, Gogeons, and almost such fish as come not from the sea or salt waters. On the contrary the Lakes of this Iland haue three kinds of fish, which are no where els to be found. For they are somewhat longer and rounder then Trouts, very white fleshed, passing sauery and pleasant, very like vnto the Hallibut, (Vmbra our authour calleth it) but that they are much bigger headed. There is another kind very like to herrings, aswell for proportion and bignesse, as also for colour and tast. There are a third sort, in all points like trouts, but that they are not spotted. Yet these sorts of fish are only seen in the Summer, in the Winter they neuer appeare. In Meath, neere Foner are three Lakes not farre distant one from another, ech of which hath certaine fish proper to it selfe, not found in any of the other two; neither do they I meane, euer come one at another, although there be most conuenient passages by reason of the riuer which runneth from one to another: nay if it shall chance that the fish of one lake be caried to another, either it dieth within a while after, or returneth vnto his own lake againe.

This Iland breedeth greater store of Falcons, Hobbies, and sparrow-hawkes, then any other countrie whatsoeuer. Heere Eagles are as common, as kites are in other countries: and they flocke together in such companies, that oft times you shall find an hundred in one companie. Heere are also great store of those fowles which they call Bernacles, which nature bringeth forth in a strange and woonder­full maner: they are like the wild goose, but somewhat lesse. For they are bredde of the firre blocks, which are tossed along by the shore in this maner: First vpon the blocks you shall see as it were a certaine gelly: then the reeds and other sea-weeds staying the logges, being inclosed in shels, (for the better fashioning and safe preseruing of them) they hang by the billes, vntill in processe and continuance of time they wax of a competent bignesse, and be couered with feathers, either they fall into the water, or by the benefit of their wings they lift vp themselues aloft into the open aire. I my selfe haue many times and often seene with these same eies many very small bodies, of these kind of birds hanging vpon on blocke on the sea coast, enclosed in shells and fully fashioned. These tread not as other fowles do, they ley no egges, they neuer sitte. And therefore in certaine places of Ireland in Lent and vpon other fasting daies, it is lawfull to eat these fowles, as if they were not flesh, nor come of flesh. There are also heere great store of a kind of fowle of a doubtfull shape, or dou­ble nature, which they call an Aurifrise, lesse then an Eagle, but greater then a hawke, hauing vpon one foot sharp talants, clouen and griping: the other whole footed, not made to cletch or carry any thing, but only fit for swimming; a strange and admirable worke of sporting nature. Heere are certein birds which they call Martiners, lesse then a blacke bird, cut tail'd like quails, but differing from them in this that their bellies are white and their backs blacke. A strange thing it is to tell of these birds: that if they being dead shalbe kept [Page] [Page]

[Page] in a drie place, they will neuer stinke: and being laid amongst apparell or other woollen things they will keepe them safe from the moth. And that which is much more admirable, being dead and hang'd vp in some drie place, euery yeare they shed their old feathers, and new come vp in their stood. In the North part of Ireland they haue great store of Swans. Storks through out all the Ile are very rare, and those which they haue are blacke. They haue no Partridges, Phesants, Magge-pies nor Nightingales. It hath almost all kind of wild beasts. The Stagges beere are so fatte, that they are scarcely able to runne: and those which are the least amongst them in bignesse of body, do excell others in statelinesse and goodly branching of their hornes. We neuer in any place saw greater plenty of Bores. They haue also many hares, badgers, and weasils. The bodies of their cattell, beasts, deere, and fowles, are in their kind lesse then in other places. Hallow deere, goates and hedgehogs they haue none at all; as also Moles, or if any, they are very rare: but of mice they haue such infinite plenty, as no where more. Of wolues and foxes they haue many; but no maner of venemous creatures. For the Spiders and Nents heere are neither venemous nor hurtfull. The country is neuer shaken with Earth-quakes, and scarce once in a yeare shall on heare it thunder.

From these naturall things let vs passe vnto those strange wonders which nature worketh in these out-countries of the world. In North Mounster there is a lake wherein are two Ilands, a greater and a lesse: the greater hath a Church, the lesser a Chappell. Into the Greater neuer any woman, or liuing creature of the female kind might euer come, but it would die by and by. This was often proued by bitches, cattes, and other creatures of that sex. In the lesser no man did euer die, or could die of a naturall death. In Vlster there is another Lake in which there is an Iland of two diuers qualities; one part of it hauing a church consecrated to the seruice of Christianity is very beautifull, goodly and pleasant. The other very rough, ouer growne and vnpleasant, is said to be bequeathed to Diuels and euill spirits. This part hath in it nine caues or trenches, in any of which if a man do chance to sleepe all night, he is presently assaulted by the euill spirits, and all the night so greeuously tormented and vexed, that by the morning hee shall scarce be able to breath and will be almost halfe dead. This place is called of the country people, The purgatory of S. Patricke. There is also a spring or fountaine in Moun­ster, with whose water if any man shall wash himselfe, he will presently become hoary or gray-headed. I my selfe saw a man who wa­shed the one halfe of his beard with this water, and the haire became white, the other remaining blacke as it was before. On the con­trary there is in Vlster a fountaine, in which if any man wash his haire, he shall neuer be horay or gray-headed. In Connagh there is a fountaine of fresh water vpon the toppe of a very high mountaine, which ebbeth twise in 24. houres, and floweth as oft, in this imita­ting the vnconstant motion of the sea. There is a fountaine in the farder and North part of Vlster, which by reason of the great cold­nesse of it, in seuen yeares space turneth sticks and wood cast into it, into stone. In Connagh there is a fountaine only kind and wholesome for men: but for cattell and other such kind of bruite beasts pestilent and dangerous. There is a fountaine in Mounster, which if any man shall touch, by and by the whole country wilbe ouerflowed by storms of raine.

The people of this countrie do weare course blacke mantles or rugges (for the sheep of this Iland are blacke) and they put them on as rudely and vnhandsomely. They vse also little hoods which hang down to their shoulders. In riding they vse no saddles, boots, nor spurres: but with a rod sharpe and tapered at one end, they pricke forward their horses, and make them runne. Their bridles are such as do serue both for bitte and reigne, so made as their horses only vsed to grasse, are neuer hindred from eating. They go into the field to warre, naked and altogether vnarmed. They vse three kind of weapons, long speares, darts, and battell-axes. The people is wild and very vnciuill: they delight in nothing more then to liue idly, and libertie they preferre before great riches. I only obserued the people to delight much in musicall instruments and in that to deserue some commendation. These briefly we haue gleaned heere and there out of the historie of Gyraldus Cambrensis, diligently retaining the tenor of his owne phrase: which we haue thought good to translate word for word as they are deliuered by our Authour, that succedent ages might see, either the credulous simplicity of former times, or how time doth alter countries, people and maners of men. And because we haue spoken before of S. Patricks purgatory, it shall not be amisse to adde to those former this discourse of it, taken out of the twelfth booke of Caesarius, his historie of Things worth the remem­bring. When as S. Patricke, saith he, conuerted this nation to Christianity, and they made a doubt and beleeued not that men should be punished for their sinnes in the world to come, hee by earnest praier obtained this place at the hand of God: the maner of the place is thus: There is a deepe pit or trench, enclosed round with a wall; there are also certaine Regular Canons: No man is so great a sinner, to whom they enioine any greater penance, then to abide all one whole night in that purgatorie. If any man be desirous to enter in, first, making his confession, they administer the sacrament vnto him, they anoint him, perfume him and instruct him, thus: Thou shalt see this night say they, the assaults of the Deuill, and the horrible paines of hell, but they shall not hurt thee, if thou haue but the name of Iesus alwaies in thy mouth: But if thou shalt yeeld to the flattering enticements, or terrible threatnings of the Deuill, and so shalt cease to call vpon the name of Iesus, thou art surely but a dead man. Then in the euening putting him into the pit, they shut vp the dore, and comming againe in the morning, if they presentlie find him not, they looke no farther for him. Many haue died there, and many haue gone home againe, whose visions haue been written of the foresaied friers, and are shewed to such as are desirous to see them.

IReland, saith M. Camden, according to maners of the people, is diuided into The wild Irish, and The English pale: but according to the ancient iurisdicti­ons and naturall situation of it, it is more fitly diuided into fiue parts, (and indeed it once conteined fiue kingdomes) Mounster in the South, Leinster in the East, Connagh in the West, Vlster in the North, and Methe almost in the middest and heart of the land. MOVNSTER, Memomia, the Irish call it Mown, (sometime diuided into West Mounster, which in Ptolemeys time the Gangani, Luceni, Velabri and Iterni did inhabit: and East Mounster, posses­sed then of the Vodiae,) comprehendeth now these seuen Shires; Kerry, Limiricke, Corke, Tiparary, Holy crosse, Waterford, and Desmond. Of which Kerry and Tipararie were sometimes county Palatines. LEINSTER, Lagenia, (they call it Leighnigls) a fertile soile, and holesome seat, possessed sometime by the Brigantes, Coriondi, Menapij, Cauci and part of the Eblani. Now it is diuided into these counties, Wexford, Caterlogh, Kilkenny, Dublin, Kildare, The Kings county, The Queenes county, Longford, Fernes, & Wicklo. METHE, (Media, the Irish call it Mijh, in the mid'st almost of the country,) the other part of the an­cient possessions of the Eblani, for his great fertility, either for corn or grasse, fish or flesh, pleasant situation & healthful aire, multitude of people, strength of castels and towns, commonly called, as Bartholomeys English reporteth, The chamber of Ireland, was lately diuided into East Methe and West Methe.

CONNAGH, Connacia, (they call it Connaughty) where long since were seated the Auteri and Nagnatae: now it containeth these shires, Clare, Le­trimme, Gallawey, Rosecomin, Maio, Sligo. The whole prouince although it be in many places fertile and pleasant, yet it is euery where full of dangerous Bogges, darke Woods, Creeks and Baies, conuenient Stations and Harborough for shippes.

VLSTER, Vltonia, (the Irish call it Cui Gully, the Welsh Wltw,) a large country, euery where full of great Lakes, thicke and huge woods, in some place resonably fruitfull, in others leane and hungry, but in all places greene and pleasant to the eie, and therefore it maintaineth great plenty of cattell. Here in Ptolemeys time inhabited the Voluntij, Darni, Robogdij, Vennicny, and Erdini, at this day it conteineth these shires, Louth, Down, Anwimme, Monalion, Tiroen, Armagh, Colrane, Donergall, Formanagh and Cauen.

On all sides round about Ireland in the sea, (as also in the baies, riuers, lakes and fresh water) are heere and there many small ilands, whereof some are fertile, others wast and barren, of which to speake seuerally would require a larger discourse then heere we are allowed.

Coelestinus Pope of Rome, in the yeare of CHRIST, 431. sent into Britaine Paladius a Bishop, as Prosper Aquitanus writeth, to purge it of the Pelagian he esie, wherewith it was but lately distained: and by this meanes also at the same time, caused Christian religion to be planted in Ireland. Palladius died in Britaine before he had brought to passe that which he came for; whereupon Patricke, a Brittaine, and of kinne to Martinus Turonensis, was by Celestine put in his place, who with such wonderfull successe did preach the Gospell in Ireland, that he conuerted the greatest part of that ile vnto Christianity, that he well deserued the name of The Irish Apostle. From hence after that at sundrie times, diuers colonies, if I may so vse the word, of learned and religious men, were sent into sundrie parts of Europe, and were not only the great patrons and planters of the Gospell there, but founders of Monasteries, cities, and towns, as schooles of that profession. In those bloudy warres of the barbarous Saxons, all scholes of learning in Brittaine were shut vp, and all reli­gion almost wholly banished, so that whosoeuer was desirous of instruction that way, was constrained to seeke for it in Ireland; and after these wars en­ded, those which returned brought with them, not only the Irish letters, (which yet the same charecters common to both nations, do plainly shew) but also liberall arts and sciences, which together with Christianity they taught the Saxons.

To these the Reader may adioine such things as Henry of Huntington, Polydore Virgill, William Newbery, Iohn Maior, and others haue written of this in their seuerall histories. Daniel Rogers hath set forth a description of this Iland in verse dedicated to Thomas Phediger. And M. William Camden in prose hath most exactly described the same in his Britannia. But Richard Stanihurst, a worthy gentleman this countrie man borne, hath this other day put forth a seueral treatise of the history and state of this iland. Baptista Boazio hath described it in a mappe apart by it selfe, dedicated to the late Queene Elizabeth: and my good friend M. Speed, with no lesse care and diligence hath done the same in his Imperium Brittannicum, or Empire of Great Brittaine, lately set forth and dedicated to his Highnesse.

SOme are of opinion, that these Isles situate in the Atlantick or West Ocean, are so named by the Spaniards, from a kinde of Hauks which they call Azor. And in the plurall number Açores. One writes, but fondlie, that they are so called from the French word Essorer, which signifieth to drie or wither. In Latin a man may call them Accipitrarias, or the Isles of Hauks, and in Greeke [...]. Our Netherlanders terme them De vlaemsche eilanden, that is, The flemish Islands, because they are thought first to haue beene discouered by certaine Flemish Marchants of Bruges. At that time (they said) they could find nothing vpon them but trees (especiallie great store of Cedars) and woods, and foules, of diuers sorts; and thither they sent inhabitants to possesse and manure the said Isles. Afterward they submitted them­selues to the Portugales, vnder whose gouernement they yet remaine. Lewes Marmolius fol. 38. reports that they were discouered about the yeare 1455. Vndoubtedly auncient writers knew them not: yet might they name them perhaps. For whether they specified them vnder the name of Cassiterides, I cannot be assured. The Spanish fleets laden with Indian commodities, doe vsually in their returne touch at these Isles, before they ariue at Lisbone, or Cales. One strange thing haue I heard concerning the soile, or the heauenly influence, or (if I may so say) the Genius of these Isles: For sailing from these parts of the world towards America, so soone as you are past the said Isles, you are freed from gnats, fleas, lice, and all kinde of noisome vermin, which beyond the Açores doe immediately die, and come to nothing. They are in number nine, and thus called by the Portu­gales. The Isle of S. Michael, Terçera, S. Georges Isle, Pico, Fayal, Flores, Cueruo, and the Isle of S. Marie: all which we will particularly entreat of.

SPAINE is resembled by Strabo vnto an Ox-hide spred vpon the ground. It is around in­uironed by the sea, saue only where it is diuided from France by the Pyreney-mountaines. On the East it hath the said Pyreney-mountaines, which from the Temple of Venus, or the Promontory stretched foorth neere Illiberis (now Colibre) runneth along to the British Ocean; and this is the very narrowest part of Spaine; insomuch (saith Vaseus) that when I trauelled thorow Biscay, I remember that from the hill of S. Adrian, if my sight deceiued me not, I saw both seas, namely the Ocean neere at hand: and as farre off as I could di­scerne, the foame-white waues of the Mediterran sea. North it is bounded by the Biscain sea; West, by the Western sea; and South, by the Streight of Gibraltar, and part of the Mediterran sea.

Spaine is diuided into three Prouinces; Baetica, Lusitania, and Tarraconensis. Baetica on the North is inclosed with the riuer Anas, now called Guadiana; West, with that part of the Atlantick Ocean, which is betweene the mouth of Guadiana, and the Streight of Gibraltar; South, with part of the Mediterran sea called of olde Mare Balearicum, extending from the Streight last mentioned, to the Promontory of Charidómus, now called Cabo de Gata; and East­ward it is bounded by an imaginary line, drawen from the said Promontory by the towne of Castulo to the riuer Guadiana. It is called Baetica of the famous riuer Baetis which cuts the whole Prouince in twaine. This riuer sprin­ging out of the wood or forest anciently called Saltus Tygensis, runneth into the Atlantick-ocean, and is at this day called by an Arabian name, Guadalquibir, that is to say, The great riuer. This prouince of later times, of the Van­dal inhabitants, was called Vandalicia, & at this present by the same word corrupted Andaluzia. Lusitania conteines Algaruc and the greater part of Portu­gale. Lusitania confineth North vpon the riuer Duero, from the very mouth thereof, to the bridge ouer against Simancas; West it bordereth vpon that part of the Atlantick-ocean which ebs and flowes betweene the outlets of Duero and Guadiana; South, vpon Andaluzia; and East it fronteth Hispania Tarraconensis, now called Castilia, &c. euen from the ancient Oretania to the foresaid bridge ouer against Simancas. Lusitania was thus named from Lusus the sonne of Bacchus, and Lysa, one of Bacchus his companions: whereupon it is somtimes called of Lusus, Lusitania; and somtimes againe of Lysa, Ly­sitania. The residue of Spaine pertaineth to the prouince called Tarraconensis, of the city Tarracona which is the head of all that prouince; a city (saith Strabo) most notably fit for princes in their trauels to retire themselues: and here the Emperors kept their chiefe iurisdiction. This prouince containeth the kingdome of Murcia, & likewise Valencia, and Arragon, with Catalonia, also Castilia Vieja, the kingdome of Nauarre, part of Portugale between the riuers Duero, and Minho, the kingdome of Gallicia, Asturia, and all Biscay. Hitherto Vaseus in his chronicle of Spaine, who in­treateth of this argument more at large. Read also Marinaeus Siculus, Marius Aretius, Damianus a Goës, Francis Taraffa, the bishop of Gerundo, Annius Viterbiensis; and in Spanish Florian del campo, and after him Ambrosio Morales: with all those other Writers of Spaine that Vaseus in the fourth chapter of his Chronicle doth recite. Stephan Garibayo in his Chronicle of Spain, diuided into twenty books, describes the kingdome of Nauarre. Iohn Mariana likewise not long since published a volume concerning Spanish matters. Among the ancient Writers you must peruse Caesar, Stra­bo, and the rest, which Damianus a Goës in his booke called Hispania doth nominate: also the Panegyrick speech of Latinus Pacatus, and Claudianus de laude Serenae. Vnto these you may adde the first booke of Laonicus. There is ex­tant also a little Trauellers Breuiate written in Spanish by Alonço de Meneses, containing almost all the ordinarie voyages in Spaine, wherein also are noted the distances of places.

Three memorable things (as writeth Nauagierus) are prouerbially spoken of Spaine: the first, A bridge, ouer which the water runneth (whereas it runnes vnder all other bridges) namely the water-conduct at Segouia: the second, a city compassed with fire, that is to say, Madrid, because the town-walles are of flint: and the third, a bridge, whereon are daily fed ten thousand head of cattel; whereby is signified the riuer Guadiana, which hiding it selfe vnder ground for the space of seuen miles, doth then breake forth againe. Albeit this last is a thing sprung rather out of the peoples vulgar opinion, than out of truth; as Don George of Austria Gouernour of Harlebeck, an eye-witnesse most worthy of credit, hath informed me, being a man conuersant in all kinde of history, and a a wonderfull searcher and admirer of naturall Philosophie.

The islands belonging vnto Spaine, wherof ancient writers haue made mention, at the Celtick promontory, or Cape Finister, are the Cassiterides, which at this present are not to be found in the ocean. Also Insulae Deorum, other­wise called Cicae, and of late times Islas de Bayona: Londobris named also Erythia, and now the Burlings: Gades in olde time dedicated to Hercules, now commonly called Cales. All these are in the Ocean. In the Mediterran sea you haue Ophiusa now called Formentera. As likewise the two Gymnesiae, or Baleares, at this present called by distinct names, the one Maiorca, and the other Minorca. The coast of Minorca is beset round about with huge mountaines: but at the entrance of the hauen the roots of these mountaines are leuelled into a plaine, till they meet, at so nar­row a distance, on the other side of the shore, that no ships can enter the harbor, but with a gentle gale of wind. The hauen is named Mahon, being a most beautifull, and commodious place; for it stretcheth almost foure miles in length, with many inlets, all which serue for the harboring of ships. From hence ariseth a perpetuall ridge of mountaines, on which the inhabitants cut downe great plenty of wood. At the vtmost part therof on the moun­tain-tops is built a city. Contrariwise the greater Island hath a plaine shore, and most high and barren moun­taines in the middest. A city there is of one and the selfe name with the Island, very large and fairly built. They vse the lawes of the Castilians, and do much resemble them both in language and maners. This description of the isles Maiorca & Minorca we haue borrowed out of N. Villagagnon his discourse of the expedition to Alger. Who desires to know more of these isles, and of the inhabitants disposition, may reade Bernardin Gomez his sixt and se­uenth books of the life of Iames T. King of Arragon. That Philip King of Spaine possesseth the greatest Empire in the world, since the worlds beginning, we haue proued in our Theatre printed in high Dutch.

PORTVGALE is vnproperly called Lusitania; for neither is all Portugale com­prehended in Lusitania, nor all Lusitania in Portugale: yet can it not be denied, that the better part of Lusitania is subiect to the King of Portugale. Portugale is diuided into three regions, Transtagana, or that which lies beyond or South of Tagus, the riuer of Lisbon, as far as Guadiana; Cistagana situate on this side or North of Tagus, as far as the riuer Douro; and Interamnis. Transtagana border vpon that part of Andaluzia, which from the riuer Guadiana extendeth to the limits of Ca­stilia Nuoua. Interamnis I call that which lies between the riuers Douro and Minho, a region no lesse pleasant than fruitfull. This Interamnis or Riuer bounded prouince, is wholly out of the limits of Lusitania; vnlesse reiecting the former description, we will rather incline to Strabo, who saith that the greatest part of Lusitania is inhabited by the Callaici. The length of this region is twelue leagues, and the bredth, where it is largest, is twelue leagues also; being in other places but six or foure leagues ouer. And in this so small a portion of ground, besides the Metropolitan church of Braga, the Cathedrall of Porto, and other fiue Collegiate churches, there are aboue 130. monasteries, the greater part whereof are endowed with most ample reuenues: and also to the number of 1460. Parish churches, as one writeth. Certaine it is, that within the peculiar Diocesse of Braga there are accounted 800. Whereby you may easily coniecture both the fruitfulnesse of the soile, and the ancient deuotion of the inhabitants. But of the pleasantnesse what need we speake, whenas within this one prouince are found aboue fiue and twenty thousand springing fountaines; bridges most sumptuously built of square stone almost two hundred; and hauens for shipping to the number of six? These things therefore I thought not vnfit to be remembred, because the goodnesse and woorth of this Prouince is in a maner vnknowen. To the East hereof adioy­neth the prouince called Transmontana, that is to say, on the other side of the mountaines; it aboun­deth with excellent Wheat, and strong Wine, and containes within it the city Bragança, which is the head of a most large Dukedome. Thus much out of Vaseus. Peter de Medina reckoneth and nameth in this Kingdome of Portugale sixty seuen cities or walled townes.

To the Kingdome of Portugale at this present belongeth the Kingdome of Algarue, which is no­thing els, but the South part of the whole Kingdome towards the sea. For the King entitles himselfe King of Portugale, of Algarue, of Guinie, of Aethiopia, Persia and India. This Kingdom first began about the yeere 1100. For vntill then, as also in ancient times, it went altogether vnder the name of Spaine. Marinaeus thus writeth of it: One Henry Earle of Loraigne, a man of most vndoubted valour, comming out of France atchieued great exploits against the Moores. In regard wherof Alonso the sixt, King of Castile gaue him in marriage his base daughter called Tiresia; and assigned for her dowry part of Gallicia contained in the kingdome of Portugale. Of this marriage afterwards was born Alphonsus, the first King of Portugale, he that recouered Lisbon from the Moores. Who hauing vanquished fiue of their Kings in one battell, left vnto posterity, as a monument of this exploit, his armes consisting of fiue scutchions. Oliuer à Marca in his Chronicle published in French, more particularly blazeth the armes of this kingdome. At first he saith, it was a plaine siluer scutchion without any portra­ture; afterwards in regard of the fiue vanquished kings there were fiue scutchions imposed; and in euery of the fiue scutchions fiue siluer circles, in remembrance of the fiue wounds of our Sauior CHRIST, which in time of the battell miraculously appeared vnto Alphonso in the skies; or (as others report) for that being wounded with fiue mortall wounds, by the prouidence of Almighty God he escaped death.

Reade also Ierome Osorius, Marinaeus Siculus, and Sebastian Munster. Of the originall of this Kingdome reade the first chapter of Iohn Barros his Decades of Asia. Athenaeus in his eighth booke and first chapter writeth somewhat of the fruitfulnesse of this Region, and the excellent tempera­ture of the aire. Lisbon the chiefe city of the Kingdome, Damianus a Goes describeth in a peculiar Treatise. Concerning the antiquities of Portugale there is a booke written by Andrew Resende.

The Portugales Dominions at this present are very large; for they extend euen from the Streights of Gibraltar, along all the Sea Prouinces, and the Islands adiacent, as farre as China, and the Isles called Lequios.

THE Diocesse of the Church of Siuill is situate in that prouince of Spaine, which in rich com­modities, and a kinde of fruitfull and peculiar brauery excelleth all the rest. This beautifull prouince the ancients, of the riuer Baetis, called Baetica: but late Writers haue named it VVandalicia, or Andaluzia of the Vandals, who about a thousand yeres past ouerran the same. The said Diocesse or territory, of all the regions and territories in Spaine, is rightly estee­med the most happy, both in regard of the multitude and ciuility of the inhabitants, and of their riches, and ouerflowing abundance of all things; this being confirmed euen by the verses of the Grecians, who attribute the Elizian pleasures and delights vnto this tract, which bordereth vpon the West Ocean. This territory containeth here & there almost 200. principall townes, besides a great number of villages; so that there are now more townes vnder the iurisdiction of this one diocesse or conuent, than there were of old in all foure together: for (as Plinie writeth) they prescribed lawes but only to 175. townes. And how small a number will these seeme to be, if those hundred thousand villages be accounted, which only in the territory of Siuill, called by the Arabians Axarafi, were by King Ferdinand receiued into loyall allegeance together with the city it selfe? which notwithstanding after the departure of the Moores, became the greatest part of them desolate: howbeit the limits of this as they differ much from the ancient precincts of Spa­nish diocesses; so do they come neerer to the forme prescribed by King Vamba vnto all the Cathedrals of Spaine. For this diocesse hath on the East the territory of Corduba; West the frontiers of Algarue; North it lieth ouer a­gainst that part of Portugale which is called The gouernment of Saint Iago: but the residue toward the South is in­closed with the diocesse of Cadiz and the Ocean sea. Principall townes here are very many, especially the royall city of Siuill, most largely and pleasantly situate vpon the banke of Baetis, and enuironed with beautifull and stately walles. This famous riuer Baetis or Guadalquibir springing out of the forest called in times past Saltus Tugi­ensis, and holding on his course by the chiefe cities of his adopted prouince, doth from this noble city, knowen of olde by the name of Colonia Romulea, continue his streames in a chanell nauigable and abounding with fish, to the Westerne Ocean, for the space of threescore miles, the banks on both sides flourishing with Oliuets, Vine­yards, and most admirable sweet Gardens, perfumed with the delectable and fragrant odour of Citrons.

Now Siuill both for churches and houses is the gallantest city in all Spaine, and for the neat attire of the Citi­zens, and a kinde of seemelinesse to them only peculiar, is inferiour to no city in all the world. Here religion, the study of liberall arts and the practise of gentlemanlike exercises are in their prime. And so infinite are the riches and treasures included within the walles of this city, as neuer the like in olde time could be found in any King­dome or Empire how great soeuer, the Roman only excepted. For this being the richest of all the cities of Europe, largely distributes ouer all Christendome that vnspeakable wealth, and before these last times neuer dream't of, which it fetcheth as it were from another world, that from hence was first discouered. Wherewith also it abun­dantly furnisheth the very barbarous and sauage nations, inhabiting the inmost part of Africa and Asia. It is most apparent, that for certaine yeeres together in the account-books of the Indies-contractation-house, there was most faithfully registred an hundred & more millions of gold. So that hence a man may coniecture, that so much more was concealed by those that brought it, for feare lest the King for some certaine time should haue borrowed it. What may we then thinke of the infinit & incredible masse of riches which from their first discouery of America till this present, hath hither been transported; two fleets yeerely returning into Spaine, laden in a maner with no other kind of merchandise, but gold and siluer, and for the most part balasted with both? But these (you wil say) are forren and far-fetcht commodities. It is so rich therefore of it selfe, that it payes for yeerely tribute vnto the King, to whom it is most loyally deuoted, a million and an halfe of golde: so much as many Princes can scarse raise out of their whole kingdomes. Here reside for traffike innumerable multitudes of strangers, besides whom of late yeres there haue been found 24000 Citizens housholders, diuided into 28. wards. The first of these wards is famous both in regard of the name, and the church of S. Mary, than which all Christendome hath not a more excellent, if you consider the large and magnificent building with the beauteous and admirable ornaments, and the steeple likewise of exceeding higth, from whence signes are giuen at certaine houres, wherein stands a lofty pinacle of most curious workmanship, out of which you may behold a most glorious prospect ouer all the city, and the fields adiacent. What should I here describe the royall magnificence of the kings castle; than which the Kings of Spaine haue none more gorgeously built, or pleasantly situate? Or to what purpose should I recount the sumptuous palaces of Dukes, Earles and Nobles; or the neat houses of Citizens, with their crystall fountains, greene arbours, and odoriferous gardens? with silence I omit the ancient water-streames disfused by arches tho­row all parts of the city; and those later ones, which by the infinit cost, and industry of the Senatours & Citizens of Siuill, haue for publicke delight beene conueyed to the place commonly called Hercules pillars; where by plan­ting of trees they haue conuerted a large fenny quagmire into a most beautifull groue, leauing faire and broad spaces for men to walke, run, and disport themselues in. Now the gardens without the city, fraught with all vari­ety of pleasures, and those stately houses in the fields, bordering vpon Baetis, who can sufficiently commend? Out of which they may dayly behold ships comming in both from the old and new world. For Siuill the queene of the Ocean, being placed as a mediatresse between both, conioines them together by prosperous nauigations, and rich trafficks. Tedious it were to set forth the maiestie of the Kings palace, or of his castle at Triana. This Triana is a faire suburbe on the farther side of Baetis, inhabited almost with three thousand Citizens, and ioyned to the city [Page] [Page]

[Page] by a bridge of timber. But whoso considers the richnesse and fertility of their fields, abounding with all kinde of graine, may iustly acknowledge it a most bountifull and prodigall worke of nature, which here aboue all other pla­ces seemes to muster; and distribute her pleasures and treasures for the solace and benefit of mankinde.

Next vnto Siuill in authority and greatnesse Caesariana, alias Xeres de la frontiera, and Iulia firmitas now called Astigi, which in old times were colonies of the Romans, do excell all other townes & cities. Carmona and Vtrera may well be termed the two granaries and storehouses of Siuill. Next followes Marchena, called out of ancient stonie monuments, I know not how truly, Martia Colonia; and Arçobriga, being the lord-ship townes of the most illustrious ducal familie of the Ponces. To these you may adde Vrsao, called of old Genua Vrbanorum, and at this present Osuna, the most hono­rable and rich dukedome of the Girones, ennobled with an Vniuersitie. For oile, corne, and wine Constantina, Caçalla, and Maronio do principally excell: Nebrisa likewise situate at the mouth of Baetis, the most happie natiue soile of Aelius Antonius, the restorer and author of the Latin tongue in Spaine, is famous for antiquity, and inferiour to none in plenty of Corne. Also in the very bay whereinto Baetis dischargeth his streames, vpon the headland called of old Luciferi Promontorium, stands the towne which we now call Solucar or Sant lucar, the rich mart-towne of the Gothish Dukes, and very commodious for the west-Indan fleets. Other principall townes of this Diocesse for breuities sake I omit.

The soile in all this tract is most miraculously plentifull of wheat, wine, and oile, and of all kinde of graine, where­with it supplieth remote and forrein countreies: and how deseruedly might Plinie haue preferred this part before Italie, had not he, an Italian, caried a greater affection to his owne countrey? yet Spaine by him: wheresoeuer it borders vpon the sea, is commended: which praise of his we vnderstand especially of that part of Andaluzia, which pertaines to the Diocesse of Siuill, because it lies open to the maine Ocean, and to the gentle blasts of the west. The skie here is most fauourable, smiling alwaies with a temperate and most amiable aspect: the people borne to piety and good arts, excelling in sharpnesse of wit, and surpassing others in a bold kinde of courage and towardlinesse of minde (which is in a manner peculiar, and hereditary to this nation) will in no case suffer themselues either in offices of curtesie, or in exploit of warre, to be excelled by any nation.

The Archbishop of Siuill, next that of Toledo, is the highest prelacy in all Spaine; whilome it had eleuen suffragan Bishops, as appeareth out of the subscriptions of councells: namely, the Bishop of Corduba, who now is vnder the Iurisdiction of Toledo: The B. of Iliberis, who after the expulsion of the Moores, remoued to the Metropolitan sea of Granada: The B. of Ilipa or Elepla, of late called Pennaflor, which towne is now destitute of a B. sea, and subscribes to the authority of the church of Siuill. The Bishopricke of Tuccitan, now called Martos, and in old time Augusta Gemella Colonia, at this present destitute of a B. and vnder the Iurisdiction of Gienna. The Bishopricke of Malaga, which now is suffragan to Siuill. The Bishopricke of Aegabria, now called Cabra: it hath no prelate, but belongeth to the church of Corduba. The bishopricke of Asindia or Asidonia, now called Medina Sidonia, subiect to the B. of Cadiz, the episcopall sea being remoued from Gadisea, others call it Asidonia; it is now said to stand not farre from that place, where Xeres is situate; vnlesse you will say, that in the same tract it retained one and the selfe-same name. It had also the Bishop­ricke of Ossonoba nere Pharo a towne in Algarue, the Moores named it Eruba, afterwards it was incorporated into the church of Siluis, which before being a member of Siuill, was by Pope Paul the third made Suffragan to Euora, which himselfe had aduanced to a Metropolitan sea. The bishopricke of Abdera, which was translated to the sea of Almeria, and is now Suffragan to Granada. The bishopricke of Astigi, which now is ingraffed into the church of Siuill. The bi­shopricke of Italica, seated in a most noble colonie of the Romans not only citizens, but also Emperors & Generals, which standing six miles from Siuill, on the other side Baetis, was in ancient times, when S. Gerontius the martyr was bi­shop, a place highly reuerenced. Out of this towne sprang Traianus, Hadrian, and Theodosius, three great and renow­med Emperors. It is commonly called Old Siuill, the vast ruines thereof being now scarse extant, a wofull spectacle of the mutability of humane things, by so much the more to be lamented, in that the forlorne fragments of that most beautifull and large Amphitheatrum, which now lie scattered and disiointed, renew a more sad memory of the ancient greatnesse and magnificence.

At this time the Archbishop of Siuill hath for suffragans the bishops of Malaga, of Cadiz, and of the Canary-isles. The maiesty, dignity & wealth of this church we cannot in few words decypher. Sufficeth that we do gather out of their own audits & accounts, that the archbishops yerely reuenues amount to aboue 100000. duckets. The princi­pall of the church vnder him haue cleerely more than 30000: the whole society of the church is allowed 120000. which are diuided among 40. Canons, 11. priuileged priests, 20. fellow-portionaries or pensioners, and so many halfe-pensioners; yet so, as the Canons and priuileged priests haue such daily allowance, as by the yeere comes to 2000. duckats a man, the pensioners haue lesse than so much by a fourth part, and the halfe-pensioners are allowed only a third part. Next vnto the Archbishop the greatest authority remaines in the Deane, whose dignity is estee­med worth 5000. duckats a yeere. Besides, here are in this church 20. masse-priests, which from their number we call Vicenarios; who for their nightly and daily orizons, are allowed euery day amongst them all 200. duckats and a­boue: also there are 200. other priests, who out of their priuate chapels do raise stipends sufficient for their mainte­nance. Rich benefices in this diocesse there are to the number of 600, many whereof are valued at 1000. some at 2000. duckats by the yeere: and of lesser cures, which are called chapels or chanteries, almost 2000. Here are like­wise many cloisters of monks and nunnes, wherein their religion and the study of their diuinity flourisheth, most of them in yeerely reuenues being able to dispend 6000. duckats. There stands a monastery of Carthusians most sumptuously built vpon the banke of Baetis within view of Siuill, which hath 25000. duckats by the yeere. Long it were to recken vp all their hospitals, whenas within Siuill only there are aboue 120. very richly indowed, many with 8000. and some with 15000. duckats of yerely income. Thus much of this region or diocesse, out of the relation of Don Francisco Pacheco. Concerning Siuill and the territory thereto adiacent you may reade at large in the Iournall of Nauagierus.

PTolemey calles the people inhabiting this part of Hispania Tarraconensis, Heditanos. Plinie names the region Edetania. It seemes that in Strabo they are called Sidetani, and in Liuy, Sedetani. (Plinie also mentions the people Sede­tanos, and the region Sedetania, but diuers from these; as appeareth out of his third booke and third chapter.) In this tract stands the city of Valentia, albeit Ptole­mey ascribes it to the Cotestani, a nation bordering not farre off. From this city, as from the principall, all the whole region is denominated, and it containes the ancient Hedetania, Cotestania, and part of Ilercaonia. This prouince put on the title of a kingdome, about the yeere of our Lord 788. as you may reade in Peter de Medina, and Peter Antonie Beuthero.

It is situate vpon the Mediterran sea, and is refreshed with the streames of Turia, a riuer so called by Salust, Priscian, and Vibius: by Pomponius Mela, Durias, and by Plinie, Turium. Now they call it Guetalabiar, which is an Arabicke name imposed by the Moores, and in English is as much to say, as pure and cleare water. It is a riuer not very deepe; but in regard of the euerflourishing banks, be­decked with roses and sundry kinds of flowers, most exceeding pleasant. It is on both sides from the very fountaine to the outlet, naturally clad with beautifull and shadie woods: euery where you may behold the Withy, the Plane, the Pine-tree, and other trees, neuer disrobed of their leaues: so that Claudian wrote most truly of it; Faire Duria, with flowers and rosie banks adorn'd. There is also the riuer Sucro, which by a new name they call Xucar. Two hilles here are among the rest, one called Mariola, and the other Pennagolosa, that is, The rocke of dainties; wherunto from other places resort great store of Herbalists & Physicians: for vpon these hilles grow great abundance of very rare plants and herbs. They haue also a siluer-mine at a place called Buriol, in the way from Valentia to Tortosa. In a place likewise named Aioder are found certaine stones interlaced with golden veines. At Cape Fini­strat there are yron-mines, and so are there by Iabea. About Segorbia, there is yet mention of a quar­rey, from whence Marble was wont to be conueyed to Rome. In Picacent they dig Alabaster, and all the countrey ouer Allume, Oker, Lime, and Plaister in great abundance. But the greatest riches of this countrey consisteth in earthen vessels, which they call Porcellan: which may perhaps be the same that ancient Writers call Vasa Murrhina. These are made in diuers places of this kingdome so curiously, and with such arte, as the best Porcellans in Italie, (whereof in all countreys such reckening is made) can hardly be preferred before them. Who desires to know more of the excellency of this region, and how fertile it is of all things, especially of Sugar, Wine and Oile; let him reade the 9. 12. and 13. books written by Bernardine Gomez, concerning the life of Iames the first, King of Aragon.

Among the cities of this kingdome, Valentia is the principall, and the sea of a bishop; which bishop (as Marinaeus Siculus and Damianus a Goes do report) may dispend 13000. duckats by the yeere. Amongst all the Valentias of Europe, this (saith Bernardin Gomez) is called by the French, Valen­tia the great: for it containeth 12000. houses, besides the suburbs & gardens, which haue as many hou­ses almost as the city it selfe. Peter de Medina writeth, that in this city there are aboue 10000. welles of fountaine water. An exact description thereof you may reade in Iohn Mariana his 12. booke and 19. chap. It is so beautifull, as the Spaniards in a common prouerbe say, Rich Barçelona, Plentifull Sara­goça, and Faire Valentia. Plinie cals it a colonie of the Romans. He saith, it is three miles distant from the sea. That this city of ancient time was called Roma of Romus the king of Spaine, Annius out of Manethon, and Beutherus out of the Annales do report: let themselues auow it. In an ancient inscription it is named COLONIA IVLIA VALENTIA. It retained the name of Rome (saith the same Beutherus) vntill the Romans subdued it. Who hauing inlarged & beautified the same, called it Va­lentia, a name signifying the quality of the place. Here was a councell held in the yere of our Lord 466. It is a city of venerable antiquity, where euen till these our dayes remaine many ancient marbles with in­scriptions of the Romans grauen vpon them, whereof some are in the custody of the said Beutherus and Ambr. Morales.

The territory of this city is for the greatest part inhabited by a people descended of the Moores, re­taining as yet the speech and conuersation of their fathers and grandfathers, which I learned of that most worthie and famous man Frederick Furius Caeriolanus naturall of Valentia.

VNder the name of Gades, Strabo, Plinie, and some other Writers giue notice of two islands. Mela, Solimus, Dio­nysius and Ptolemey make mention but of one, which together with the city, they call Gadira. They that will haue two Gades, call the one, The greater, and the other, The lesser. This (as writeth Plinie out of Philistides, Ti­maeus, and Silenus; and Strabo out of Pherecides) was named Erythia, and Aphrodisea, and they call it also Iunoes Island. By the inhabitants also it was properly called Erythia, and Cotinusa, by the Carthaginians Gadir, and the Romans named it Tartesson, as the same Plinie writeth. At this present there is but one only isle (and that verie much diminished by the oceans violent waues) which the Spaniards call Cadiz, and corruptly Caliz, and our countrymen (I know not vpon what ground) Calis-Malis. In the lesser of the two foresaid isles stood the towne of Gades; and in the greater, Iulia Gaditana Augusta; which before, as appeareth out of Strabo, was called Neapolis. Now they call both towne and island Cadiz. It is the seat of a Bishop, who also is intitled Bishop of Alger.

This Isle was first discouered and inhabited by certaine Phoenicians of Tyrus, as is euident out of most ancient records. Vpon this isle some are of opinion, that the Geryones afterward planted themselues, whose droues the Aegyptian or Tyrian Hercules forcibly draue away. At one corner of the isle stood the temple of this Hercules, famous both for builders, superstition, riches and antiquity. Why it should be holy (saith Mela) his bones there buried are a sufficient cause. Vpon the other corner Strabo affirmes the temple of Saturne to haue been ere­cted. In the said temple of Hercules, Caesar found the image of Alexander the great, as Suetonius in his life reporteth. A fountaine there was very holsome to drinke, which with a strange kind of contrariety diminished at the floud, and increased at the ebbe of the sea. In this temple (as the same author affirmeth) were certaine brazen pillars of eight cubits, wheron were ingrauen the costs bestowed in building of the same. Here also the same author out of Artemidorus acknowledgeth a temple dedicated to Iuno. Dionysius describes therein the temple of Age and of Death, and tels of certaine altars consecrated to the Yere, to the Moneth, to Arte, and to Pouerty. Hercules pillars are here extant (saith Isi­dore) and here growes a kind of tree like a palme, with the gum whereof the glasse of Epyrus being mingled, is turned into a precious stone.

The inhabitants of old were famous for their skill in nauigation, and from this their ancient trauersing of the seas, they do not as yet dege­nerate. But their principall gaine consisteth in making of Salt, and in catching of Tunies: for which they haue euery yeere an ordinary fish­ing. These fishes being cut in pieces, pouldred and barrelled, are dispersed all Europe ouer.

This isle was esteemed by antiquitie the worlds extreame Westerne limit; whereupon saith Silius Italicus in his first booke, And Gades the vtmost bounds of men, &c. Also in his 17. booke: Gades lands farthest end; And Calpe, bounding Hercules; ‘And Baetis crystall streames, That bathe Apolloes steeds.’ For here the Poets faine, that the Sun being weary of his dayes labour, drencheth himselfe in the Ocean, and takes his rest: wherefore Sta­tius also calles it, Gades the Sunnes soft bed. Yea at this very time our Netherlandish Mariners call the Westermost Cape of this isle (which by the inhabitants is named El cabo de San Sebastian) Het einde der Werelt, that is to say, The Worlds end. This ancient inscription found vpon this isle, is by Appianus in his booke of Inscriptions alleged out of Cyriacus of Ancona, as followeth: HELIODORVS INSANVS CAR­THAGINIENSIS AD EXTREMVM ORBIS SARCOPHAGO TESTAMENTO ME HOC IVSSI CONDIER, VT VIDEREM SI QVIS­QVAM INSANIOR AD ME VISENDVM, VS QVE AD HAEC LOCA PENETRARET. In English thus: I Heliodorus, a mad Carthagini­an commanded in my last will, that they should in this tombe bury me at the worlds end; to see if any more franticke than my selfe would come thus farre to visit me. But that all this inscription is counterfeit and new, I learne out of Anthony Augustinus his eleuenth chapter of ancient coines. Concerning this isle you may reade more at large in Strabo, and Philostratus. And of the city reade Brunus in his volume of cities.

ALl that tract of land from the riuer of Rhene included by the Ocean, the Pyreney mountaines, the sea Mediterran, and mount Appennine, as farre as Ancona, the an­cient Writers by one generall name called Gallia. For Westward by the Pyreney hilles it is disioyned from Spaine: North it borders vpon the French and British Ocean: East the riuer Rhene and the Alpes from sea to sea include it, in like ma­ner as the Pyreney mountaines doe West: South it is accoasted by part of the Mediterran sea ouer against Prouence. It was called Gallia, in regard of the peo­ples whitenesse: for the high mountaines and the heauens rigour exclude the heat of the Sunne from this part: hereof it comes, that their white bodies change not colour. Where­fore the Graecians name the Gaules or ancient inhabitants of France, Galatas, in regard of their milke­white colour: for [...] in Greeke, signifieth Milke; from which name the Latines haue called them Gal­los. This deriuation the greatest parts of Writers doe approue: yet some there are that deride it, sup­posing them rather to be so called of raine, which in Hebrew is Galah, and in the olde British language Glau, as who should say, A most ancient nation, rain'd vpon, and drenched in the very floud of Noah. This region of theirs was of olde diuided into Gallia Cisalpina, which in regard of vs lieth beyond the Alpes, being that part of Italie, which at this present is called Lombardie: and Transalpina, which is in­cluded within these fiue bounds, namely, the riuer Rhene, the Ocean, the Pyreney mountaines, the Me­diterran sea, and the Alpes. This Gallia Transalpina by Caesar in his Commentaries is diuided into three parts: Belgica, Celtica, and Aquitanica. Belgica which is enuironed by the Ocean sea, and the riuers of Rhene, Marne, and Senie, vsing most part the Dutch tongue, and at this present called the Low-countries. Celtica or Lugdunensis, which is comprehended within the riuers Garomne, Marne, Senie, and Rhosne. It is now called France. For the Celtae were subdued by the Francks of Germany: so that at length they were named Westerne Francks, from whom the prouince it selfe is denominated. Aquitanica before named Aremorica, which extendeth from the riuer Garomne to the Ocean, and to the Pyreney mountaines. West and by North it is confined with that part of the Ocean which is called the Bay of Aquitane. Westward. it hath Spaine: North, Celtica or France properly so called: and South, the country of Prouence. It is now called Gascoine, and the inhabitants differ both in stature, and language from the residue of France.

These are the ancient limits of the Gaules. Howbeit the countrey of the French, which at this day beares the title of a Kingdome, and is commonly called the Kingdome of France; hath not so large ex­tension: but towards the North only is so much the narower, as it is cut off by an imaginary line from Strasbourg vpon Rhene to the port of Calais; and it comprehends all that tract of land, which is con­teined within this line, the Ocean sea, the Pyreney mountaines, the sea Mediterran, and the Alpes.

Postellus in his booke of the whole world, reckons vp the peculiar Shires, or Prouinces of this King­dome in maner following: In the East it hath Prouence, Sauoie, Swisserland, Bressia, Borgogne, Lorraigne, Champanie, Henault, Cleue, and Flanders: on the North, Picardy, Normandy, and Bretaigne: on the West, Bre­taigne, Aniou, Poictou, Xantoigne, and Gascoigne: and on the South, Gascoigne, Bearne, Roussillon, Dauphnie, Vellay, Forest, Auuergne, Limosni, Perigort, and Angolesme. East of Poictou lie the prouinces of Bourges, Bour­bon, Beaioulois, Lionnois, the Countie of Burgundy, Auxerrois, Niuernois, Berry, Tours, Vendosme beyond An­iou, le Beaulse, Gastinois, Valois beyond Sens, and not farre off le Perche, Druise, and le Mans neere Bretaigne. And thus at this present are these Prouinces named. But albeit Postellus accounteth Sauoy, Swizzerland, Loraigne, Henault, Cleue, and Flanders among the Prouinces of France, yet are they not now vnder the go­uernment of this Kingdome: for all of them haue peculiar princes, not subiect to the crowne of France.

Concerning the French King, Villa Nueua reports two memorable things: First, That in the Church of Rhemes there is a vessell full of neuer-decaying oile, sent from heauen, to anoint the Kings of France at their coronation. Secondly, That the same Kings doe heale the disease called in English, The Queenes euill, only with touching the place affected.

All France is described in a large volume, by Robert Caenalis; reade also concerning the same argument Gilbert Cognatus Nazorenus; Iohannes Marius; Chassanaeus in his twelfth booke De gloria mundi; Postellus in his booke Of the whole world; Aimon in the beginning of his storie of the Franks; Sebastian Munster; Belle­forest; Theuet; and other Describers of the world. Touching this region also, and the disposition of the inhabitants, you may learne somewhat out of the second booke of Laonicus Chalcocondylas of Athens. Of ancient Writers Caesar surpasseth all. Diodorus Siculus in his fifth booke, and Ann. Marcelinus in his fif­teenth booke haue many notable things concerning this region. Likewise Claudius Champier of Lions wrote in French a Treatise of the first originals of the principall townes in all France: Symphorianus, fa­ther to this man, discourseth of the riuers, and the miracles of waters and fountaines in France. The ci­ty of Paris is described in verse by Eustathius à Knobelsdorf; and the city of Lions by Champier.

THis Table representeth that part of Gallia Lugdunensis which stretcheth toward the Westerne Ocean. The ancients named it Armorica. Heere standeth Neustria, corruptly so called of late yeeres for Vestria or rather Westria, (according to some, Westrasia) as much to say, as a Westerne region. The occasion of this errour both in pronunciation and writing, was for that the French wanting a double V, doe alwayes in stead thereof write a single V: and because u in this small forme differs not much from n, hereupon it is likely that Westria was prodigiously changed into Neustria. In which Neustria at this present are situate the regions of Bretaigne and Normandie, which in this Table we present vnto your view. NORMANDIA so called of the Northerne peo­ple that ouer-ranne it (for Nord in Dutch signifieth North, and mannen men) which Northerne people were Danes and Noruegians: who hauing by force subdued this region, planted them­selues here in the time of Lotharius the Emperour. Concerning the situation and nature of this place, these are the words of Gaguinus in his seuenth booke: Normandie is adorned and fortified with one Metropolitan, six cities, and ninetie foure strong townes and castles: most of their villages also being built citie-like: thorow which Prouince a speedie traueller shall hardlie passe in six dayes: it aboundeth with fish, cattell, and plentie of corne; being in all places so fraught with peares and apples, that the people make all their drinke of the same; and yet send great quantitie to other countreys. They exercise clothing, and are notable quaffers of cyder. They are naturally a wilie people; subiect to no forren lawes; liuing after their owne fa­shions and customes, which they most obstinately maintaine: cunning they are in sleights and sutes of law; whereupon strangers are loth to haue any dealings with them; being otherwise well addicted to learning and religion. Moreouer, they are very apt and valiant in the warres, many of whose worthy acts against strangers are recorded. Thus farre Gaguinus. Of the qualitie of this region you may more largely informe your selfe out of Henry Altissiodorensis his fifth booke of the life of S. German. It aboundeth, as Caenalis makes report, with all things necessary for mans life, wine only excepted, which the soile doth not yeeld. The chiefe city is Rouen (in English commonly called Roan) which hath a most learned Senate, or Court of Parliament, that execute iustice, and decide the controuersies of the whole Prouince. Heere are also great Mer­chants, by meanes of whose trafficke the citie is knowen farre and neere. In this citie there is a church dedicated to the Vir­gin Mary, beautified with a most lofty steeple, wherin hangs the greatest bell in all France, weighing forty thousand pounds, as these French verses grauen thereupon do testifie.

In English:

This George, after whose name the bell is called, was Archbishop of Roan, about the yeere 1500. who considering that in his Diocesse (such was the scarsitie of oile, as it would hardly be sufficient for the time of Lent) granted to his Diocessans in stead thereof the vse of butter, conditionally that they should pay six halfepence Tournois a piece: with which summe of money he caused the said steeple to be built; which thereupon is yet called Latour de beur; that is, The steeple of butter. The antiquities, and other memorable matters of this city, F. Noel Taillipied hath described in French in a peculiar Trea­tise. Thus much of Normandie.

BRETAIGNE bordering vpon the coast of Normandie, is the vtmost prouince of France toward the Ocean. Some thinke that this was of old called Aremorica. Sure I am that Caesar describeth cities which he calleth Aremericas vpon this coast. But Plinie and Sidonius do name the inhabitants Britannos, placing them vpon the riuer of Loire. The Middle-age writers call them Brittones, which name they yet retaine. Plinie most aptly calles this region, The godliest Peninsula of Gallia Lugdu­nensis. In a fragment of the Frankes history I reade that it was once called The horne of France; from the shape thereof, as I suppose. Robert Caenalis is of opinion, that the Brittons being named Hermiones, tooke occasion by way of allusion vnto this name, to make choise of those armes which they now beare, commonly called Ermines, with weasels tailes, and the natiue colour of blacke in a field argent &c. This region he saith is somewhat drie, and not very fruitfull; more apt to beare millet than wheat. Their fields (saith he) they call lands. It seemeth more properly to be named Eremorica than Aremorica. For they make larger leagues betweene towne and towne, namely of three miles; which is no slight argument of a barren soile. Hereof the coniecture seemes not improbable, that it was called Brutannia, of nourishing or feeding brute beasts. So many of their townes (as antiquity reports) are denominated from flocks and droues: as for example, Pullinaicum, à pullis equinis, from horse-coltes; Filicieriae, now called Fulgeriae, alias Foulgeres, of braky grounds; also Rhedones, à Rhedis, that is to say, of carts which cary commodities long and tedious iourneys: which I rather beleeue, than that it first borrowed the name from Brutus. Thus farre Caenalis: let the trueth thereof stand or fall vpon his credit. More concerning these countries you may reade in the same authour, and in Belleforest; but especially in Bertrard Argentré, who hath published a large volume of the same in French. Reade also Elias Vinetus vpon Ausonius his poem of Cupid crucified.

AMongst the people of Aquitaigne some there are called by Ptolemey and Plinie, Pictones; by Caesar and Strabo, Pictones with i in the first syllable; and by Ammianus Marcellinus, Pictauos: Ausonius names the countrey Pictonicam regionem: but later Writers call it in La­tine Pictauia. The inhabitants in their owne language, terme them­selues Poicteuins, the region Poictou, and the head city Poictiers, which perhaps is all one with Ptolemey his Augustoritum. The opinion of some who affirme it was thus named of the Pictes, I holde altogether fabulous: for out of Clas­sicall writers it is apparent that Pictones is an ancienter name than Picti. Poictou is now diuided into the Lower and the Vpper: The Lower Poictou we call that which ends Westward vpon the sea of Aquitaigne: and the Vpper, which lieth Eastward towards Tourain and Berry: South it confines vpon Xantoigne, Angolesme, and Limo­sin: and North vpon Brettaigne and Aniou. It is a countrey most fertile of corne and cattell; rich in wheat and wine; and abounding with fish. Wild-fowle and beasts heere are great plenty, and for that cause much hunting and hauking.

In this region are conteined 1200. Parishes vnder three Bishopricks, namely Poi­ctiers, Luçon and Maillezais. The principall places besides these, are Roch-sur-yon, Talmont, Meroil, Ʋouuant, Meruant, Bresuire, Lodun, Fontenay le Conte: All which be in the Vpper Poictou. In the Lower are situate Niort, Partenay, Touars, Moncontoul, Hernault, Mirebeau, Chalstelleraudt, &c. The head of all these is Poictiers, which next vnto Paris is the principall citie in all France, and is for the most part enuironed by the riuer Clain. The antiquity of this towne sufficiently appeareth out of the Theater (commonly called Arenas) as likewise out of Gallienus his Palace, and the Arches of Water-conducts as yet extant, which the inhabitants call Arceaux de Parignè: all which are Monuments of the Romans gouernment in this place. Howbeit before their comming, this citie was seated vpon another plot of ground, as may be gathered out of the writings of Ammonius and Ado. For they make mention of a place called Olde Poictiers, whereat (they say) was the diuision of the kingdome betweene Charle­maine and Pipin Kings of the Frankes. Also in this table vpon the very same riuer of Clain towards Chastellerault, you may see a place called Vieu Poictiers, that is to say, Old Poictiers. The towne of Talmont or rather Talon du Monde; (in English, The heele of the World) is so called by the French, because it stands vpon the vtmost border of this countrey towards the Ocean: as if therefore it were to be esteemed the extreame part of the World.

Ouer against the shore of Poictou lie these islands: Oleron, (by Plinie named Ʋlia­rius) at the mouth of the riuer Charente, called by Ausonius Charantonus fluuius, and by Ptolemey, Canentelum. L'isle de Rez, opposite to Rochell, abounding with wine, wherof it is named. The isle Noir, or Marmonstier, which yeeldeth plenty of salt. The isle Aulonne which in this Table is rather a Peninsula, this aboundeth with wine and salt: as doth another little isle called Chauet. The Mappe also represents vnto you L'isle de Dieu, or Gods isle: and that likewise which is called Nostre-dame de Bouin. By Saint Hillary the Apostle of Aquitaigne, Ecclesiasticall Writers affirme, that this region was conuerted to Christianity. A more exact description hereof you may reade in Bel­leforrest, who will referre you from himselfe to Iohn Bouchet his Chronicle of Aqui­taigne. Something you may learne out of Antony Pinetius in his description of Cities. Theuet likewise is to be perused. Concerning this region also Iohn de la Haye wrote a peculiar Treatise in French.

THe people Bituriges are mentioned in most of the ancient Geogra­phers. Plinie calles them Liberos: and saith they were also named Cubos. The country is now diuided into the Vpper & the Lower. The principall citie (called at this present Bourges) was named by Caesar (as some thinke) Auaricum. Theobald Fagotius citizen of the same, writeth that the territory adiacent is exceeding fruitfull, and wanteth nothing that all France may affoord; that the city is ancient, as appeareth by diuers notable monuments; that it is a towne of great trafficke; that they haue an Vniuersitie flourishing with all kinde of learning, insomuch as it may well be called The Honour of the liberall Arts, and A Mart of learned men. But concerning the origi­nall of this citie, and the deriuation of the name, let vs giue eare to Iohn Calmey, who writes thereof in maner following.

In the yeere of the worlds creation 1791. one Gomer of the nation of the Gaules, bringing a Colonie into this region of the Bituriges, planted the same in the chiefe citie, the name of Ogygis being by Noah his grandfather imposed for honours sake vpon the inhabitants: which by them for the fauor and loue they bare to their foun­der descended of Ogygis, was afterward changed: and they named themselues Bito­gyges, which in the Armenian tongue signifies, The posteritie of Ogygis. But as words by custome are often times corrupted, (for, to make them familiar, or more proper, we will not sticke to adde, detract, or alter some letters or syllables) so the name of this countrey and of the chiefe citie, either by the force thereof, or by the appointment of a certaine Prince named Biturix, changed the name of Bitogyges into Bituriges. A­mongst other opinions some hold that it was called Bituris quasi Biturris, of two anci­ent Towers which sometimes stood in this citie: whereupon a certaine Grammarian hath written this verse; Turribus à binis, inde vocor Bituris; that is, Of Towers twaine Bituris I was nam'd. Thus much out of John Calamaeus his booke of the originall of the Bituriges, from whence also we haue borrowed this Table.

THe people and countrey of the Andegauenses, are by Pto­lemey placed in Gallia Lugdunensi. The countrey at this present is called Aniou, and the people Angeuins. In times past it went vnder the name of an Earledome, but since the yeare 1350. it hath beene adorn'd with the title of a Dukedome. East it confineth vpon Tourain and Ʋen­dosme. West it bordereth vpon Bretaigne. Poictou bounds it Southward, and the Counties of Maine and La Ʋal on the North.

It is a country not very large, but for fruitfulnesse inferior to none other in France: the wine of Anjou excelleth all other French wines. Neither is it destitute of other commodities requisite either for the necessity or the plea­sure of mans life, being euery where beautified with Riuers, Mountaines, Woods, and Medowes. It aboundeth with cattell great and small, and with fish. All this their Riuers and Medowes affoord them. Out of their Mountaines they digge Marble, and a kinde of blew Slates, wherewith they couer Churches and houses. The common people call them Ar­doises.

This Region is watered with so many Riuers, Freshets, Fountaines, Fish-pooles, Lakes, and Pondes, that some are of opinion, it was heereto­fore called Aeguada, or Aguada, of the abundance of waters: for in the Aqui­taigne tongue they call Water, Aigues. The principall Riuers, besides o­thers, are Ligeris, which the inhabitants do name Loire, calling it likewise The Father of French riuers. Into this Riuer, within the compasse of Anjou, do fall the riuers Ʋienne, Diue, Thouets, Layon, Leure, Guiuatte, Maine, Seure, Loir (a riuer diuers from Ligeris, for it falles thereinto, and is called by late Writers Ledus) Aution, Oudon, Maienne, Brionneau, Losse, and Erdret, &c. So that there runne about fortie Riuers thorow this Pro­uince.

It hath diuers faire cities, the principall whereof is called Angiers: per­haps the same which in Ptolemey is named Juliomagus. This being the head citie of all the Region, is built on either side the riuer Meduan, and ioyned together by a stone bridge. The antiquitie hereof is euident out of certaine ancient ruines of a Theater which hang ouer the Citie, and are called by the common people Brohan. Heere sometimes are olde coines found. Lewis the second in the yeere 1389. established an Vniuersitie in this place. There be also other townes of note, as Saumur, Beufort, Bauga, &c. Most of the premisses for the illustration of this Table, we haue trans­lated out of Belleforest his French Munster. To whom, he that will, may adde Theuet.

IN a certaine Iournall of France I reade this description of the territorie of Paris. The Isle of France stretcheth from the towne of Saint Denis as far as Rossy and Mont­morency: and so it comprehends all the land within the winding nookes of Seine, towards Normandie one way, and towards Picardie another way. The occasions of this name were (as Andrew Theuet reporteth) in that the Frankes com­ming out of Germanie planted themselues first in this place, and here their Captaines tooke vpon them the title of Kings: and also for that the Riuers Marne, Seine & Oyse do in a maner compasse it around. Yet all the Region being comprized within these three Riuers pertaineth not to the said isle, but only that part which is neere vnto Paris. My opinion is, that this di­uision might be made, when the sonnes of Clouis sharing the whole King­dome, limited and included within these bounds the dominions of him who bare rule at Paris, and was only called the King of France. Howbeit, now this diuision is not obserued, seeing that certaine Cities of Picardie, Briè, and other Prouinces are comprehended within the same. But let vs heare the opinion of Belleforest also: After the death of the great King Clo­uis, France was diuided after a new maner; for out of one King sprang ma­ny, and he only was called The King of France, who gouerned at Paris: wherefore the Isle of France is the true and ancient iurisdiction of our Kings; albeit Pipins posteritie beganne to neglect it, and afterwards the Parisian territorie fell to them by inheritance, who enioyed the Crowne of all France.

THis region is not very large, being on euery side so restrained with bordering Prouinces. West thereof lieth Anjou and part of Poictou; from the first it is seuered by the confines of Saumure; and from the second by the riuer Creuse: whereupon stands the city of Chinon subiect to this Dukedome of Tourain. South also lies part of Poictou, along the riuer Creuse, to La port de Pilles, which diuides Guienne from Tourain: and Berry in like sort from whence it is separated by Chastillon situate vpon the riuer Indre. East, not far from Loire, the riuer of Cher diuides it from the prouince of Blois, and from part of Berry: and North it is seuered from the territories of Maine and Vendosmois by the riuer Loire: vp­on which riuer is built the citie of Tours, and it imbraceth the same on the part of S. Lazarus suburbs. This riuer also bends his course to the towne of S. Anne, and to the suburbe called Rich: for East, West, and South it toucheth the riuer Indre; and North, all the region to­wards Anjou and Maine. To the Dukedome and gouernment of Tourain are subiect these cities, Chinon, Lodun, Touars, Langestz, Amboise, Loches, Chastillon vpon Indre, Montrichard, besides other places and fortresses of Barons. But the cities which I haue na­med are of best note, and as it were the principall members of the whole Dukedome. Concerning euery of which I will speake more largely, hauing said somwhat of the Metropolitan: whereunto belong the third part of Bishop-townes, which in times past were vnder the ancient iurisdiction of Lugdune. For vnder the third receiued diuision of Diocesses apperteining to the Primacie of Lugdune or Lions, are comprehended Tours, La Mans, Angiers, Rhenes, Nants, Cornevaile, Vannes, S. Poll de Leon, Tregoir, Dol, S. Malo, S. Brieu. The Turones therefore of such antiquitie, and their city the head of so many Nations, Iulius Caesar recko­neth in the first rancke of the people of France: and so likewise do other ancient Writers. Pto­lemey placeth them vpon the riuer Ligeris: and Ammianus Marcellinus in Secundâ Lugdunensi. But in Caesar they are oftener mentioned, and that very plainly, especially at the end of his eleuenth booke De bello Gallico. This done (saith he) and all France be­ing at quiet, so great an opinion of this war surprized the Barbarians, that euen those nations which inhabited beyond Rhene, sent ambassadours vnto Caesar, promising to giue him pledges, and to obey his commandements. He therefore hauing ended his warres, and put his legions in garison among the Carnutes, Andes, and Turones, which were cities neere vnto these places, departed for Italie. Hence you may gather, that they were not enemies to the Romans, but rather Caesars followers. Gregory Turonen­sis often calles them Senatores Romanos, for they enioyed the libertie of Free-denizens, which was granted to none but such as were the Romans deere friends, and linked vnto them in most firme league. The Touranois are held to be one of the richest people in all France, both for the fruitfulnesse of their fields (which they deseruedly call The Kings garden) and also for their excellent maner of gouernment, and the industry of their Citizens, who are especially addi­cted to traffique, for which purpose their nauigable riuer stands them in great stead. They haue also attempted of late to make silke, than which Italie affoords no better. At the East part of Tourain, vpon the riuer Loire, stands Amboise, built in a most excellent and choise seat, and a delicate pure aire: so that this place especially, the French Kings haue chosen to retire and solace themselues in. The city of Montrichard situate on a plaine, is on the one side fortified with Rocks and Woods, and hem'd in on the other side with Medowes and delightsome Fields. Without the city are houses vnder ground with Gardens and Ʋineyards on the tops of them. Loches vpon the riuer of Indre, hath a castle both for pleasantnesse, largenesse, munition and situation, almost incomparable: for situation (I say) both by Arte and Nature impregnable. Pautruy, Chastillon, Cormery, Beaulieu, and other cities of this Dukedome, are de­scribed by Belleforest, vnto whom I referre the Reader.

THis territorie of Blois confineth East vpon Orleans and part of Gastinois; West vp­on Tourain; South vpon Salloigne and part of Berry; and North vpon Vendosmois and Le Beaulse. That portion of the citie of Blois which looketh towards Le Beaulse, stands partly vpon hilles and rocks, and partly vpon plaine ground; which vneuen situation maketh the wayes and passages somewhat vneasie. Howbeit this inconuenience is no disgrace to the Citie, nor discourageth Tra­uellers to frequent it: for the fruitfulnesse and faire beautie of the whole Pro­uince makes it amiable, and the excellent temper of the aire, populous: It be­ing for plentie of Wheat, Wine, and other necessaries for mans life, to no Prouince inferiour: for it is all shadie, and full of Woods, Vineyards, Riuers, Brooks, Pooles and Fountaines: so that Nature hath infused a wonderfull fatnesse into this soile, with such a temper of heat vpon the hilles neere about the citie, as causeth their Vineyards exceedingly to prosper. Wherefore this Prouince participating with Le Beaulse and Salloigne, excelleth them both in their owne commodities. For abounding with Wheat no lesse than Le Beaulse, it farre surpasseth thesame in Wines, in other kinds of graine, and in plenty of water. For pleasantnesse it matcheth Salloigne, from whence, though it be seuered but the bredth of the riuer Loire, yet is not the fruitfulnesse thereof empair'd by the others sandie barrennesse. Wherefore that part of Le Beaulse wherein Blois is situate, hath more abundance of wood and water than the resi­due; and the frontiers of Salloigne next adioyning may ascribe their fruitfulnesse to the good neigh­bourhood of this territory. Neither can the olde said saw, That it is best dwelling in Salloigne, and best inheriting in Le Baulse, be seuerally, but iointly applied to Blois. That the aire is most holsome and tem­perate, I appeale to multitudes of great and honourable personages, who being oppressed with most grieuous diseases, do repaire especially to this Prouince for the recouery of their health. Yea the Kings children are nursed & trained vp in the city of Blois: for which cause it is called The Kings city. Amongst the rarities of this prouince, one there is that can hardly be found in the whole Kingdome besides, namely a veine of that earth, which is commonly called Terra Lemnia or Sigillata, being of the same force and efficacie with the true earth of Lemnos. All this description we haue taken out of Belleforest.

THis Cart conteineth the description of that North-western part of France, which the English were masters of from the yere 1347. vntil the yere 1557. At what time the Duke of Guise Lieutenant for the French King tooke it by force of armes. The townes of Calais, Guisnes, and Ardres the English from time to time haue furnished with able garisons. And Calais hath heretofore beene the Staple for Woolles and other English commodities. Concerning the tract of Boulongne, thus saith Robert Caenalis, in his 2. book, and 3. Perioche De re Gallica. Of Gessoriacum, a port of the Morini, I may well say with Meierus, that it is now truely called Boulongne vpon the sea shore, from whence there is a very short cut to Douer on the English coast. But the Docke or place for building ships (called Nauale Gessoriacum, which Bilibaldus falsely affirmes to be Gaunt) I thinke rather to be Ca­stellum, now named Cassell. Some by another name call it Petressa and Scalas, com­monly Scales. Moreouer, by the situation of Boulongne one may easily coniecture, whether it were Portus Iccius or no. Wherein that no man may doubt, let vs learne this one thing out of Strabo, That the sea between Portus Iccius and England, was iust 320. stadia or furlongs ouer: which make in all 40. miles. But the later Maps containe betweene Boulongne and Douer 17. English, which are longer than Italian miles, and from Calais 18. Whereby it is manifest, that from Boulongne to Douer it is but a very short cut: wherefore Portus Gessoriacus the hauen, and Na­uale Gessoriacum the docke, are not all one: which docke whoso thinketh stood where Calais now stands, I will not greatly contradict him. Thus farre Caenalis.

This very place of Boulongne is described by Arnoldus Ferronius (who continu­ed the French history of Paulus Aemilius till his owne time) in maner following. There is (saith he) Base Boulongne, and High Boulongne. The base towne was vn­walled before the comming of the English. There stands the church of S. Nicho­las, and a cloister of Franciscans: the English sea beateth vpon this towne. Neere vnto this Frierie, which is not farre from the sea, there is a very commodious place to passe for England. It is distant from the higher Boulongne about 100. pases or somewhat more. But Boulongne the higher is inuironed with most strong walles, and with high ditches compassing the walles. All this region is full of that sand, which those that dwell on the coast call hot sand. Whereupon they will haue the name of Boulongne to be deriued of the French word that signifies such kinde of sand, notwithstanding we know it out of Ammianus Marcellinus to be an ancient name. Thus much out of Ferronius. Concerning these matters reade Diuaeus also.

THe name of Picardie, as all that write of France do affirme not to be ancient; so the originall or deriuation thereof none of them can render. Caenalis dares not say, that it was so called of the Be­gardes. Belleforest flatly denies it, supposing the Picardes to be somewhat ancienter than the Begardes. Some thinke that they were so named of the warlike weapon called the Pike; which, as they imagine, was here first inuented. Certaine it is, that the prouince of Picardy was larger in times past: for we reade that Artois, with a part of Flanders, as farre as the riuer Lis, and the countie of Boulogne, were all comprehended vnder the name of Picardy. The region which is now properly called Picardy, extends not so farre as the Map it selfe.

This Region is part of Gallia Belgica, whilom inhabited by the Ambiani, Bel­louaci, and Veromandui, or (as Ptolemey calles them) Romandui. The riuer Somme, which some thinke to be Ptolemey his Phrudis, refresheth the wole coun­trey, and makes it most fertile of all kinde of graine, and the townes and cities to abound with all necessaries: for it yeeldeth such plentie of wheat, as it is called by an vsuall prouerbe, The Barne or Granarie of Paris. It hath no vineyards; which defect some thinke is rather to be imputed to the sloth of the inhabitants, than to the intemperature either of the soile, or of the climate.

The cities here, of principall note, are Amiens, in Latine Ambianum, famous both for antiquitie and the Episcopall sea. It is enuironed around with the riuer Somme. Wherefore some fondly thinke it to be named Ambianum, ab ambitu aqua­rum, because it is compassed with waters. It is one of the strongest townes in all France. The vulgar suppose it to haue beene built by the souldiers of Alexander the great. Vnder the diocesse of Amiens is Abbeuile, the name whereof is new, as appeareth by the deriuation, which in Latine is Abbatis villa, that is, The Abbats towne: for out of an Abbey it increased at length to the greatnesse and forme of a citie. It is now the head citie of the county Ponthieu; which region is so called, à multitudine pontium, of the multitude of bridges; because it is in diuers places peste­red with Marshes and Fennes. Picquenie stands in this prouince also; built as the common sort imagine by one Pignon a principall souldier of Alexander the great. Likewise in Ʋermandois you haue the towne of S. Quintins, which many suppose to haue beene Augusta Ʋeromanduorum, being the ancient seat of the Earles of Ver­mandois, and the head of that region. Peronne so often spoiled in warres, who can be ignorant of? Guise also seemes to be a Fort against Lutzenburgh. Hence the Guisian familie deriue their name. Other cities there be of lesse moment, as Corbie, Roye, Nelle, Hen, Cattelette, Mondidier, &c.

In a little French pamphlet intitled Chemins de France, or the wayes of France, Picardy is diuided into three parts; The Lower, The Higher, and Picardy pro­perly so called: wherein are contained the Regions of Ʋermandois, Retelois, Tarte­nois, and Tirasse. Picardy properly so called is described in this our Table.

THat portion of France which ancient Writers called Narbonensem and Bracchatam, Caesar and Plinie doe comprehend vnder the name of Prouincia: part whereof is conteined within the riuers Rosne and Durance, the Alpes, the riuer Varo, and the Mediterran sea, the inhabitants as yet call by the name of PROVENCE. Petrarch writes it was some­times called Regnum Arelatense. The middle-age writers call it Prouinciam Viennensem tertiam. It bordereth West vpon Languedoc, North vpon Daulphine, East it is confined by Piemont, and South by the Mediterran sea, and the Isles Stoechades. This euer was and now is accounted the most fertile region of France: for Strabo saith it yeelds all sorts of fruits that Italie affoordeth. If we may credit Belleforest, it beareth sugar about the towne of Yeres. Manna is here gathered, as the same authour affirmeth. The principall cities of this prouince are Massilia, commonly Marseille, which was the ancient Ionica Colonia, of the Phocaean Greeks, being as Caesar 5. Ciuil. re­ports, compassed by the sea on three sides; and on the fourth side, hauing a passage to the land. Strabo writes, that the hauen is in forme of a Theater, and that within compasse thereof they haue docks for the building, and a storehouse for the furnishing of ships. Here was a temple of the Ephesian Diana, and ano­ther of Apollo Delphicus. The citizens were treble-tongued, speaking Greeke, Latine, and French, as S. Ierome reporteth out of Varro. Of this citie reade more largely in the 43. booke of Trogus Pompeius, and in a Pane­gyricke speech vttered before Constantine the great by Anonymus or one vnnamed. The citie Arelatum com­monly Arles, vpon the riuer of Rhosne; which by Ausonius is named Arelas or Gallula Roma; as likewise double Arelas, because (as learned Vinetus obserueth) it was heretofore by the said riuer diuided in twaine. Now it may well be called single Arelas, looking of a farre other shape, and all situate vpon that side of the riuer which is towards Italie. This, Ammianus makes the renowme of many cities. And Suetonius saith, that heere was a Romane colonie planted by Tiberius the Emperor his father. Procopius affirmes, that it was heretofore the head citie of the Burgundians. Next followes Aquae Sextiae, so called (saith Strabo) because that very Sex­tius which subdued Salyes, built this citie after his owne name, and after the name of certaine hot bathes in the same place. Now it is corruptly called Aix. These bathes Strabo in his time supposeth to haue turned colde, and so Robert Caenalis at this present affirmeth, that they haue lost their ancient vertue. The Parlia­ment of the whole prouince is here resident. Of this citie Gabriel Simeonius writeth, that he neuer saw either a more pleasant place, or a more courteous people. Then haue you the citie Cabellio, now called Cauaillon. Tarascon retaining still the ancient name. Carpentoracte commonly Carpentras. Vasio now Voiton: the same with Forum Vocontiorum, as some thinke. Taurentum and Telo Martius, which some now interpret to be Tou­lon. Forum Iulij, now Frejus. Olbia which perhaps is Yeres. Antipolis, Antibe. Segusteron, Cisteron. Vintium, Venze. Glanatica, Glandeues. Dinia, Digne. Tecolata thought to be S. Maximines. Grinicensis, Grasse. All famous for an­tiquitie. Moreouer, here is the towne of S. Baume, situate vpon a craggie hill, in which is a caue; where, the inhabitants hold opinion, that Mary Magdalen did penance, and ended her dayes. Likewise at the mouth of Rhosne the reader may see on the one side the field called La Craux; and on the other side La Camargo This last named (they say) is miraculously fertile of wheat. And Belleforest thinks it to be called Camargo, à castris Marij, of the campe of Marius here pitched. Whereas the other named La Craux, is out of measure bar­ren, yeelding nought but stones: for which cause it is by ancient Writers most aptly called Campus Lapideus, or The stonie field. The isles adiacent to this prouince are the Stoechades, dispersed, as Pomponius writeth, from the shore of Liguria or Genoa as farre as Marseille. Plinie makes them three in number, naming ech. And Strabo saith there are three of importance, and two small ones, not worthy to be mentioned. About these isles growes most excellent Corrall, as Plinie witnesseth, which Belleforest reporteth still to continue. In commendation of this prouince, Petrus Quinqueranus Bishop of Sens, hath written a peculiar volume.

On this side the riuer Durance, this Region bordereth vpon that part of the Popes iurisdiction, which is commonly called Conte de Venacin, in Latine Comitatus Venuxinus, and Veneticus, wherein stands the Citie and Vniuersitie of Auignon, which in times past was the Papall sea, namely from Pope Clement the fift in the yeere 1300. till Gregorie the second, for the space of 60. yeeres. Petrarch then called it The French and Westerne Babylon. Besides other notable things in this citie, seuen there are, seuen times told, right worthy the admi­ration; namely, seuen Palaces, seuen Hospitals, seuen Parishes, seuen Nunries, seuen Colleges, seuen Frie­ries, and seuen gates. Not farre from hence is the valley of Chisa at the head of the riuer Sorgues, a place so highly magnified by Petrarch, as he often calles it his Helicon and Pernassus. This he made choise of as an hermitage to weane himselfe from worldly cogitations. A man (in my conceit) not of the ordinary cast of Writers, and whom I may boldly and deseruedly call, The Christian Seneca.

THE principall places along this coast William Paradine describes in these words: Arles was a colonie of the Sextaine, as some Writers doe affirme. Standing vpon Rhosne it is enui­roned with Marshes; wherein at this present are a breed of fierce and vntamed Kine. Whi­lome it was a famous Mart-towne, as Strabo writes in maner following: Narbo (saith he) the most frequented Mart of this Region, standeth at the outlet of the riuer Araxis, by the lake Narbonensis: but vpon Rhodanus the towne of Arles, a Mart of no small importance, is situate. Neere vnto Arles are those hot bathes, where Sextius (saith Strabo) built a towne after his owne name, calling it Aquae Sextiae. The cause why he built it was to place a Ro­man garrison there. Here were the Cimbrislaine by Marius, as writeth S. Ierome. Aurasio, now called Orange, famous in times past for the gouernment of the Gabali, or Cabilonen­ses; wherin I saw the ruines of an huge Theater, and a mightie wall excellently built of square stone, the like whereof I doubt whether all France can affoord. There stands also at the gate towards Lions a triumphall arche, with a tilt or turniment of horsmen ingrauen thereupon, which we long beheld with great delight. To this citie belongeth Nemau­sum, now called Arenas, a place renowmed for the ancient Theater there extant. Heere is a most woonderfull pas­sage vnder ground, passing thwart vnder the very chanell of Rhodanus, to the citie which standeth afarre off. Heere likewise you may see the Palace of Plotina, built by Adrian the Emperour, as Spartianus reporteth, &c. Thus much out of Paradine. But of all others, most exactly Iohn Poldo d' Albena hath described this citie, and set forth the antiqui­ties in picture, with the situations and ancient names of the places adiacent. Of this argument reade Strabo in his fourth booke: and Gunterus a Poet of Genoa. The originall of this Table my friend M^r. Carolus Clusius of Arras gaue me drawen with his owne hand.

THE bounds of Lorrain in times past extended much farther, for it comprehended in a maner all the whole region lying betweene the riuer Rhene, and Scheld, and the mountaine Vogasus. All which was diuided into the higher, and the lower. The lower Lorrain contained Brabant, Haspengow, Guelders, and Cleue. In the higher were the Bishopricke of Liege, with the coun­ties of Lutzenburg, and Limburg: as likewise the duchy of Maesland, the countie Palantine vpon Sur, and the territorie of Hundsruge: together with this present Dukedome of Lorrain retaining as yet the ancient name Lotharingia, imposed by Lotharius sonne to Ludouicus Pius, vnto whose share it befell: lying in the midst between Westrasia (or as some vnskilfully call it Noastria) which fell to Charles, and Austrasia to Lewis Lotharius Brethren. This therefore I thinke not amisse more largely to describe, not in mine owne wordes, but in the wordes of Symphorianus Campeg­gius, sometimes a famous Physition of Lorrain, LORRAIN (saith he) ioineth East vpon Alsatia, commonly Elsas, South vpon Burgundy, West vpon Champaigne, & North it is bounded vpon the Forest Arduenna. This region albeit compassed with loftie Alpes, is notwithstanding so fat and fertile, as it need no supply from the neighbour-prouinces: it abounds with cattell great and small, with meadowes, corne, wine, fishpooles, high woods, healthfull bathes, saltpits, yron, copper, lead, tinne, siluer, precious stones, looking glasses, Calcidons, and is watered by sundrie riuers: foure whereof are famous aboue the rest. Mosa the first of these foure springing out of mount Vogesus (of which mountaine a great and a good part of Lorraine is named Le bois, and Le forest de Voige) and running along by Neufchasteau, a towne very commodious both for pleasant situation, and wholesome ayer: diuideth the duchie of Barre from Lorraine, and casteth it selfe into one of the chanels of Rhene, before it falleth into the sea. Mosella the second beginneth Southeast, not far from the towne of Rimere­mont; wherein is a monastery of Nunnes, all gentlewomen, endowed with large reuenues. About six miles from hence are certaine hot-bathes whereunto resort great multitudes of people to cure themselues of sundrie diseases. Then runnes it along with swift streames to the townes of Espinall, Charmes, Toul (which in olde time was called Leuca) and Mediomatrices, now called Metz: not farre from whence it falls into the Rhene, at a city of Germany called of olde Confluentia, and now Cobolentz. Betweene these two riuers neere the towne of Vitell, is a double fountaine seuered like a mans nosethrills, from whence the small riuer Vena issueth: which sometimes is sandy, and sometimes miry, and for the most part very vnseemely and forlorne: the waters whereof are commonly dried vp in Iune, except the pooles, which the swelling and violent streames haue made so deepe. Murtha the third riuer falling from certaine rockes of siluer-mines, holdeth on his course through the valley of S. Didier, wherein is S. Godeberts fountaine, which is generally reported to be medicinable for many diseases. The said riuer runnes along by the towne of S. Didier, and then by the townes of Raon and Luneuill: all which both for naturall situation, and for rampiers, and walles are places of singular defence. Then followes the towne of S. Nicholas ge­nerally famous both for abundance of marchandise, and multitudes of miracles. Lower downe the riuer stands Nancey, the principall towne of Lorraine, a place for munition, and fortification of great importance. First it is compassed with two ditches of exceeding depth, and a double wall: also it hath foure most admirable bulwarks, with plenty of warlike engins and artillery. Murtha falles into Mosell. And Sartha the fourth riuer running along the confines of Westereich, a prouince subiect to Lorraine towards the East, holdeth on his course by the townes of Sarburg, Saralben, Sarprucke, with others, and then falles into Mosell.

Now whereas Lorraine aboundeth all ouer with speciall commodities; many of them we will omit, and speake only of the most principall. First therefore the mountaines of this prouince doe in all kind of mineralls excell euen the Pyreney mountaines: wherein, not to speake of the rest, there are diuers siluer-mines, so abounding with that kinde of mettall, as it is incredible what commoditie it yeelds to the whole countrey.

There are also salt-mines, out of which is digged most pure, sauorie, and snow-white salt: which yeeldeth yerely to the Duke, all charges deducted, 100000. francks.

Heere is found likewise a kind of matter, whereof they make looking glasses and drinking glasses, the best, by all mens confession, in Europe: nor is there in any place the like to be had.

Also Calcidons of so extraordinarie bignesse, that I my selfe saw at the Bishops of Toul, a great cuppe made of one whole piece.

Item, the Lazul (or Azure stone) representing most excellent colours. A minerall out of which the miners raise exceeding gaine.

In the valley of Voige are fountaines (a matter memorable, and not to be omitted) so abounding with a kinde of pearles, and precious stones, as the greater part of Germanie doth vse them: which all Lapidaries and Iewellers of other countries do not only approue, but also preferre before the stones and pearles of the Indies.

There is a lake of foureteene miles in compasse, stored with carps of huge bignesse; for they are generally of three foot long, and a foot broad; which for pleasantnesse of taste, are (in mine opinion) to be preferred before all other standing-water-carps in Europe. The lake is fished with nets euery third yeere; the fishing whereof (as euery man knowes) yeeldeth the Duke of Lorrain 16000. francks.

Moreouer, Lorrain aboundeth with wheat, wine, cattell of all sorts, woods, excellent horses, which surpasse the Tur­kish horses in courage, the Spanish in swiftnesse, and the English in stature. In briefe, for tall men and beautifull women; and all things necessary for mans life, it is inferiour to no other countrie. Thus farre Symphorianus.

Francis Roseus very lately wrote a large volume of the pedegree, and famous acts of the Dukes of Lorraine. And I my selfe in mine Itinerarium, or Iournall, haue published some things of this Region not vnwoorthie the remembrance.

THere are two Burgundies; the lower called Regia, intitled with the name of a Dukedome; whilome the countrey of the Aedui: and the higher named Im­peratoria, adorned with the title of a Countie or Earledome, commonly called LA FRANCHE COMTE, that is to say, The free Countie. This of old the Sequani inhabited. It is represented in this Table. The confines hereof to the North are Lorraine and vpper Germany: to the South, Sauoy, and Bresse: to the West, the lower Burgundie: and to the East, part of Switzerland. It is at this pre­sent diuided into three partitions or gouernments; The Vpper, the Lower, and that of Dole. The cities of the vpper are GRAY, one of the principall of the whole gouern­ment, situate vpon the riuer Araris, or Saone, rich in sundry kindes of merchandise, and brauely built. On the one side it is endowed with most large and fruitfull fields. VESOVL. It hath strong walles, beautifull houses, and faire vineyards. MOMBOSON, IVSSEY, and PALMA standing vpon the riuer Dubis, or Doux. PORT-SVR-SAONE, vpon the riuer Araris, or Saone, with CROMA­RAY, MONTGVSTIN, and FAVLCOGNEY. The cities of the lower Burgundie are: SALINS, a large citie, so named in regard of certaine salt and high fountaines; for here is excellent white salt made, which is carried hence in carts to the neighbour countries, and yeelds great reuenue to this region: SCODINGA, situate in a long streight valley, extending in length betweene a double ridge of high mountaines, which beare vines in such places as are most open to the Sunne: it is ex­ceeding strong, being fortified with two castles, and diuers loftie turrets. ARBOIS, seated in a most pleasant soile, and abounding with all necessaries, especially with excellent and durable wine. It hath large suburbs on all sides. It is enuironed with ditches, but such as they make gardens vpon. Round about it are mountaines of most beautifull prospect, watered with cleare springs, and clad with fruitfull vines, and sightly woods. It is called Arbois ab Arboribus, because it is so planted with trees: POLIGNY a faire towne, fortified with stately walles and towers; the castle called Grimonia lying within it: and on the one side it hath mountaines of woods; and on the other side hilles set with vines, the wine whereof is principall good. PONTARLIER, situate in a low valley betweene two mountaines, on the bancke of Dubis. Not farre hence stands the strong castle of Iura or Ioux, on the top of an exceeding high hill; so that for situation it is impregnable. NOZEROY, founded vpon an open hill, in the very nauell or midst of this region. All the houses in a maner are built of stone: the Prince of the countrey hath here a castle, called The Leaden castle, because it is couered with lead. Here is a Faire kept foure times in the yere. In times past this towne, before it was walled, was named Nucillum, of the abundance of hazel-nuts that grew round about it. CHASTEL CHA­LON, built and named by the Emperour Charlemaine, both pleasantly and strongly situate. MONTMOROT, vpon a steepe mountaine planted with vines. ORGELET, abounding with merchandise. The inhabitants are industrious and painfull, and exercise themselues in clothing. Their fields are barren, for they are full of hilles and craggie rocks; whereupon is grounded a com­mon prouerbe, which saith, That Orgelet hath fields without grasse, riuers without fish, and moun­taines without woods and groues. The cities of Dole, are first, DOLE it selfe, the head citie of the prouince, a nurse of all learning, and especially of the ciuill law, most pleasantly situate vpon the ri­uer Dubis, adorn'd with bridges, walles, and inuincible forts. The houses, churches and schooles, both for greatnesse and curious building are most delightfull to the beholders. QVINGEY, a most ancient towne, situate vpon the bancke of Louë. ORNANS, standing also among high mountaines by the riuer Louë. LA LOY, a most ample village. ROCHFORT a pretie litle towne. VERCELLES with ruinous and deformed walles. In this countie stands BESANÇON, a citie Imperiall, and Metropolitan of both Burgundies: the description whereof, because I cannot con­dignly expresse in this page, being exactly performed by Gilbert Cognatus, Paradine, and George Bruno in his volume of cities; I cease here to speake any farther. For sith their books are so easie to be had, I referre all students to them. To these also you may adde Robert Caenalis. It were to be wished that Cognatus had not frustrated the hope of students: for he promised in a booke, to restore and bring to light ancient Burgundie, together with a particular Map, and the olde and new names of places. But we haue hitherto expected him in vaine. Howbeit, not long since Lewis Gollusius published concerning this Countie in French, a great and peculiar volume.

THat part of France which the Aedui whilome enioyed is now called The Dukedome of Burgundie. It is limited North by Champaigne and Gastinois: West, by Niuernois and Burbonnois: South, it borders vpon Lionnois: and East the riuer Rhosne diuides it from Sauoy and the county of Burgundy. The head citie in times past was Augustodunum: but now Diuio, or Diuionum, as Gregory Turonensis in his third booke calles it, or as the in­habitants, Digion hath gotten the superiority; for here the supreme court of Parlia­ment for the whole Dukedome is holden. It is seated on the bancke of Oscarus (com­monly Ousch) a riuer abounding with fish, in a fertile and plentifull soile, the moun­taines adiacent yeelding strong and excellent wines: as the said Turonensis reporteth, who most learnedly describes it. Some thinke it was built by the Emperour Aurelian; but others affirme it to be much ancienter. It is a citie both by arte and nature most strongly fortified against all hostile attempts, certaine new forts being lately added. Belna (commonly Beaulne) is the second citie of the Dukedome, famous for the wines of Beaulne, which all men commend. This Citie is fairely built, being impregnable in regard of a Castle which Lewis the twelfth erected here. It hath an hospitall comparable for building to any Kings Palace. Here also is the seat of the high court of Chancery. In the territorie adiacent was built by Duke Otho about the yeere of our Lord 1098. the abbey of Cistertium; in a woody and clammy soile, which some thinke was so called in regard of certaine Cisternes there digged. Vnder the iurisdiction of this Monasterie Belleforest reporteth, that there are 1800. other Monasteries of Friers, and as many of Nunnes.

Next followes Augustodunum (which some, though vpon no sufficient grounds of antiquitie, suppose to haue beene called Bibracte) now Auttun. That this citie of ancient times was most large and populous, it is euident out of sundry authours, and especially out of Caesar. Here are yet extant mightie ruines of a Thea­ter, of Statues, Pillars, Water-chanels, Pyramides, and many other monuments of antiquitie. Likewise here are dayly digged vp coines, little vessels, and other such ancient fragments. This citie hath endured two memorable ouerthrowes: one by Caesar in his French warres; and the other about the time of Galienus the Emperour. But it was afterward reedified by Constantine the sonne of Claudius, as the Panegyrick of Eu­menius, calling it Flauiam Heduorum, doth testifie. And at this very day it is adorned with stately temples, and other buildings for publicke vses.

Then haue you Matiscona Caesaris, or Matisconense castrum Antonini, where he placeth in garrison the tenth Roman legion. It is now called Mascon. Of olde it was graced with the title of an Earledome. It ioyneth the bancks of Araris by a bridge. Here, the Lords day of the Christians began first to be hallowed, as Pa­radine reporteth out of the Edict of Guntram. The relation of the citie of Mascon, Philip Bugnonius hath ele­gantly, and briefly set downe. Cabilonum, now Chalon, vpon the bancke of Araris also, anciently called Or­bandale, as reporteth Peter Sanjulian. By Antoninus the foureteenth Roman legion was here put in garrison. It was of olde the royall seat of Guntram, which notwithstanding afterward Lotharius sonne to Ludouicus Pi­us so destroyed and abolished with fire, as he left no mention at all of a citie: yet now it is very rich, and a place of great trafficke. Also toward the North you haue Semur, a faire towne built vpon an high ground. As like Castillon, Flauigni, Soloigne, Noiers, with others, the description whereof, because this page cannot well containe, I referre the Reader to Belleforest, a diligent Surueyer of these parts. Only one thing I will adde out of the foresaid Sanjulian. He against the opinion of all other Writers, deriueth this word Burgun­die, not à burgis, that is, from the boroughs or incorporate townes built in this region, but from one parti­cular place called Burg Ogne. In the territorie of Langren about the riuer Tille, betweene Luz and Tille-castle, he saith there is a plaine which the inhabitants call by no other name but Val d'Ogne: where in times past stood a famous borough or city. Hence without all question he affirmes, that the Burgundians, or as they are commonly called Burgognons, do borow their name; and holds those Writers much deceiued, that re­port them, as vagabond people, to haue come out of Sarmatia, Scandia, or the fennes of Maeotis to inhabit this region; indeuouring to persuade all men that they were the first and most ancient inhabiters of this countrey.

The limits of Burgundie were larger in times past, as appeareth out of sundrie authours. For some there are that bound it South by the Mediterran sea; East, by the Alpes and the riuer Rhene; North, by mount Vogesus; and West, by the riuer of Loire, and Seine. Then, classicke Writers record, that it was gouerned by Kings, whose royall seat was Arles. It was diuided into the Duchie and Countie of Burgundie, about the yeere 1034. as the Chronicle of Aemilius testifieth. Of the Burgundians Paradine and Nicolas Vignier haue professedly written in Latine, and Peter Sanjulian in French. Of the ancient Aedui reade Nazarius his Pane­gyricke pronounced before Constantine the Emperour.

GERMANIE, the greatest and largest countrey of Europe, is distinguished by many names: the limits whereof by authours, according to euery ones seuerall time, are so diuersly described, as they seeme, applying themselues to the pecu­liar ages wherein they liued, to giue notice of a threefold Germanie; namely, the ancient, that of middle ages, and Germanie as it is now taken. The ancient is that of Berosus, which he circumscribeth by the Rhene, the Ocean, the riuer Tanais, the Euxine sea, and the riuer Danubius. That of middle ages is the same which Taci­tus, Ptolemey, and Plinie, all of one time acknowledged: whereof, because it is suf­ficiently knowen out of the authours themselues, I hold it needlesse in this place to make any descrip­tion. But Germanie as it is now taken, we do confine by the German or Dutch tongue; which learned Goropius Becanus in his volume of the antiquities of nations, most wittily and learnedly sheweth to be the ancientest language in the world. Wherfore all those countries which at this day vse the same lan­guage, we comprehend vnder the name of Germany. And so the greatest length thereof stretcheth from Calais on the West to the riuer Vistula or VVixel Eastward: and the largest bredth from the German and Baltick seas to the Alpes. The names of the seuerall regions are these, Flanders (the most Westerly) Brabant, Zeland, Holland, Frisland, Denmarke, Meckleburgh, Pomerland, Prussia, which extendeth beyond the riuer Vistula towards the Baltick sea: as likewise the ancient and new Marquesates, Saxonie, VVestphalia, Gelders, Cleueland, Iuliers, the Bishopricke of Colen, Hessen, Turingen, Misnia, Lusatia, Silesia, Morauia, Bohe­mia, Franconia, the Bishopricke of Mentz, Lutzenburg, the Bishopricke of Triers, the Countie Palatine, Elsas, VVertenberg, Sueuia, Bauaria, Austria, Stiria, Carinthia, Tirolis, and Switzerland next vnto France. There be also more names of pettie regions, but such as are either of no great moment, or comprehended vn­der the former. And albeit Bohemia speaketh not the German but the Sclauonian tongue, yet because it is situate in the midst of Germanie, and the King thereof is one of the Prince-electours, it is also num­bred amongst the German prouinces.

This countrey of Germanie, which for the present is adorned with the title of the Roman Empire, is so replenished with beautifull and strong cities, castles, villages and inhabitants, as it is no whit inferi­our to Italie, France, or Spaine: for corne, wine, and riuers abounding with fish, it may compare with the most fruitfull regions Here are fountaines of water, hot bathes, and salt-mines in abundance: and for plentie of mettals, namely, gold, siluer, lead, tinne, brasse, and iron, no countrey shall euer go beyond it. Moreouer, you shall no where finde more courteous and ciuill behauiour, more honest and com­ly attire, more skill and furniture for the warres, nor greater store of nobilitie. This is the place that whilome (as Cornelius Tacitus affirmeth) was either darkened with woods, or drowned with fennes. Such changes can succeeding times affourd, as saith the Poet.

Of late Writers it hath beene diligently described by Beatus Rhenanus, Munster in his Cosmography, Franciscus Irenicus, Iohannes Auentinus in his Chronicle of Lyonnois: Briefly by Bilibaldus Pirkeimerus, Iohan­nes Bohemus Aubames: Gerardus Nouiomagus, Conradus Peutingerus, Conradus Celtes a Poet, Iacobus VVimfelingius of Sletstade, Aimon in the beginning of his French storie, and Henry Pantalion at the entrance of his first booke of Prosopographia. Sebastian Brand hath set downe many iourneys, distances of places, and cour­ses of riuers in this countrey. The riuer Rhene is described by Bernard Mollerus in verse, and by Mag­nus Gruberus in prose. Iohn Herold hath written two short Treatises of this region: one of the Romans most ancient stations in olde Germanie; and another of certeine colonies of theirs on the shore of Rhae­tia. Gaspar Bruschius published a volume of the monasteries of Germanie. Of ancient writers Cornelius Ta­citus most exactly described it in a peculiar Treatise: whereon Andraeas Althamerus, Iodocus VVillichius, and lately Iustus Lipsius haue written most learned Commentaries. Diuers other Writers of Germanie, which we haue not as yet seene, are reckened vp by Francis Irenicus, in the first booke and second chapter of his Exposition of Germanie. But here I thinke it not amisse to alledge the testimonie of Laonicus Chalco­condylas a stranger, namely of Athens, concerning this countrey and the inhabitants. Thus therefore he writeth in his second booke: ‘This nation is gouerned with better lawes than any other of those regi­ons or peoples that inhabit towards the North or West. It hath many noble and flourishing cities, which vse their owne lawes, most agreeable to equitie. It is diuided into sundry principalities, and is subiect to Priests and Bishops adhering to the Bishop of Rome. The most famous and wel-gouerned cities in the vpper and lower Germanie, are Norinberg a rich city, Strasburg, Hamburg, &c. The nation is very populous and mighty; ruleth farre and wide all the world ouer; and in greatnesse is second to the Scythians or Tartars. Wherefore if they were at concord and vnder one Prince, then might they well be deemed inuincible, and the most puissant of nations. As touching their bodies, they are verie healthfull, and want nothing. Nor is there any nation that I know gouerned by better lawes. Thus much and more concerning this people and countrey, who list may reade in the same authour.’

THis Table representeth not all the Lower Germanie, but only that part which King Philip, sonne to Charles the fifth, challenged by right of inheritance. And it conteineth these 17. Prouinces; the Dukedomes of Brabant, Limburgh, Lutzenburg, and Guelders; the Earledomes of Flanders, Artois, Henault, Holland, Zeland, Namur, Zutfen; the Marquesat of the sacred Empire; the Signiories of Frisland, Mechlin, Vtreight, Ouerissell, and Groemingen. Regions as ciuill and as well manured as any in the world; wherein (according to Guicciardin) are to the number of 208. cities fortified with walles, rampiers, or ditches; and villages with churches aboue 6300, besides a great number of hamlets, castles and forts. And this tract (beginning from the East maretine part at the riuer Amisus, commonly Eems, the bound hereof towards the Ocean) hath these bordering Princes: the Earle of East Friez, the Bishop of Munster, the Duke of Cleue, the Archbishops of Colen and Triers, and the French King, along the Southwesterne shore as farre as the riuer Aa, the extreame Westerne bound of these Prouinces. The aire, though it may seeme ouer-moist, is notwithstanding most healthfull, and agreeable to the constitution and digestion of the inhabitants; who are heere very long liued especially in Kempenland, the Northermost part of Brabant. It is euery where watered with riuers; and sufficiently adorned with woods and groues, either for pastime of hunting, or beautifull prospect. Mountaines it hath none, saue only about Lutzenburg, Namur, and in Henault, where it riseth in some places into hilles. It aboundeth with corne and fruits of all sorts, and medicinable herbs. Here also groweth great plentie of that graine, which commonly is called Buckwey, but the people corruptly pronounce it Bockwey; as if you would say, The Beech-herbe: for the seed or graine (albeit lesse in forme) is three-square, altogether like the nut of the Beech. So as it may truely be called Beech-mast, or if you will [...]. Whether this simple were knowen of ancient times, let Herbalists enquire. Howbeit, in some sandie places, which the inhabitants, in regard of abundance of heath or linge, call Heath-ground; as in Kempenland the North part of Brabant, it growes not in such plentie. But this kinde of heath yeeldes such excellent feed for cattell, as (by the confession of neighbour-countries) their flesh is as pleasant and delectable to a mans taste, as any other. This region I suppose, that Plinie in his 17. booke and 4. chapter most truely describeth, when he saith: What better feed than the pastures of Germanie? And yet vnder a thin flag you haue immediatly a mould of barren sand. It bree­deth no creatures hurtfull to mankinde.

All the foresaid regions, the greatest part of strangers (most ignorantly mistaking part for the whole) call by the name of Flanders, and the inhabitants Flemings, whereas Flanders is but a part only, and but one Prouince of the seuenteene; as in the Table you may plainly see. These therefore are in as great an error, as if a man, to signifie Spaine, should name Castilia, An­daluzia, or any other particular Prouince: or speaking of Italie, should mention Tuscan or Calabria &c. or discoursing of the whole kingdome of France, should nominate only Normandy or Bretaigne, &c. and so should imagine himselfe to haue spo­ken of all Spaine, all Italie, or all France.

These regions Iohn Goropius Becanus in his Becceselanis hath most learnedly described, as likewise Peter Diuaeus of Louaine, and Hubert Thomas of Liege. Iohannes Caluetus Stella, a Spaniard, writ in his owne language a Iournall of King Philips pro­gresse thorow all these Prouinces; wherein you shall finde many particulars worth the reading, that giue great light to the knowledge of these countries and cities. But whoso desires to haue more full and absolute instructions of these places, let him peruse Guicciardin; and he will then thinke, that he hath not read of these Prouinces, but seene them with his eyes. Late­ly also Dauid Chitraeus in his Saxon historie hath written both largely and learnedly of the same argument.

Whereas the inhabitants in most places speake both the Dutch and French languages, and the countrey for traffique and other occasions is frequented by Spaniards and strangers of sundry nations; hence it is that diuers cities, townes, and riuers, are called by more names than one: for euery man calles them according to his owne language, by a name much differing from the proper name vsed by the inhabitants. The ignorance of which multiplicitie of names hath made some authours (o­therwise not to be discommended) to fall into intolerable errours: and amongst the residue, Dominicus Niger in his Geogra­phie; who puts downe Anuersa in stead of Tarauanna; and Antorpia (which notwithstanding in the copie printed by Hen­rick Peterson he corruptly calles Antropicia) he placeth vpon the banke of Tabuda, thirty leagues from Tarauanna; whereas all men know, that Antorpia and Anuersa signifie one and the same citie of Antwerpe. Likewise Machelen and Malines, Leodi­um and Liege, Nouiomagum and Nieumeghen, Traiectum on the Maese and Trait (for which he falsly writes Trecia) he suppo­seth to be two seuerall townes, ech couple; whereas in very deed they signifie but one. The citie Raremutium also he most grosly affirmeth to be called Liege: and in another place he will needs haue the same Raremutium to be named Rhamon: but by his description I coniecture, that he meanes by his Raremutium and Rhamon nothing els but the towne of Ruermond. So Rhenen a citie of Guelders standing on the banke of the riuer Rhene, in regard of the affinitie of name, he takes to be all one with the Bishopricke of Rhemes in the Prouince of Champaigne in France. But being vtterly vnacquainted with the state of our countries, his errors may seeme the more pardonable. Howbeit, lest others, studious in Geography, should fall into the like absurdities, I thought good to annex vnto this page the cōmon synonymas or sundry names of certaine particular places.

• Antwerpen in Low Dutch, in Latine Antuerpia and Andouerpia; in High Dutch Antorff, whereof in Latine they call it also Antorpia; the Italians terme it Anuersa; the Spaniards and French men Enberes and Anuers.
• Aken in Dutch, in French Aix, and in Latine Aquis­granum.
• Hertoghenbosche, in Fr [...]ch Boissedue, and in Latine Silua ducalu.
• Loeuen, in Latine called L [...]uanium, and in French Louuain.
• Lisle, in High Dutch Kijsel, in Latine Insula.
• Liege, in High Dutch Luyck, in Latine Leodium.
• Coelen so called by the inhabitants, in French Co­loigne, and in Latine Colonia Agrippina.
• Dordrecht, by contraction we call Dort, in Latine Dordracum.
• Macheien, in Latine Mechlinia, and in French Malines.
• Tournay, in High Dutch Dornicke, and in Latine Tornacum.
• Arras in French, Atrecht in Flemish, and in Latine Atrebates.
• Mabeuge, in Latine they call Malbodium.
• Tienen, in French Tilemont.
• Namur, the Brabanters call Namen, in Latine Namur­cum.
• Maestricht, and by contraction Tricht, is by ancient Latine writers named Traiectum ad Mosam.
• Viset, in High Dutch Weset.
• S. Truyen, in French Centron.
• Thionuille in French, Ditenhosen in High Dutch, and in Latine Theodonis villa.
• Terrewanen and Terrenborch in Flemish, Terouenne in French: Tarnanna in ancient Latine writers. It was wont to be the seat of a Bishop, but now it hath the name only.
• Gulick, in French Iuliers, in Latine Iuliacum.
• Mons, the Flemings call Bergen.
• Geersberge, which I heare is also called S. Adrians, and in French Grammont.
• Ioudoigne, those Brabanters that speake High Dutch call Geldenaken.
• Gemblours, an abbey with a small citie, in Latine Gem­blacum.
• Soigni in French, in Flemish Senneke.
• Halle, in French Nostre Dame de Hault.
• Cortrijck, Courtray in French, Cortracum in Latine.
• Coomene, in French Comines.
• The riuer Maese, in French is called Mense, and in Latine Mosa.
• The riuer Scheldt, in French Escault, is by Iulius Cae­sar and Plinie called Scaldis.
• The riuer Liege in French, is in Flemi h named Leye.

THis region as we see many others, is so named of Lutzenburg the princi­pall citie: but why it should be thus called, we cannot easilie coniecture. At first it went vnder the title of an Earledome, and afterward was ad­uanced to the dignitie of a Dukedome, and so till this present continueth. Some say it was thus aduanced by Wenceslaus King of the Romans; others, by Charles the fourth: howbeit Conradus Vercerius ascribes it to Henry the seuenth, the first Romane Emperour of that family. I finde in ancient manu­scripts, that the first Earle of Lutzenburg was one Sigisfridus, and that he was the sonne of Tacuinus Duke of Maesland.

In former times Lutzenburg was part of Triers. It stretcheth from the wood Arduen­na to Mosella (a riuer by Ausonius much celebrated.) The countries bordering vpon this Prouince, are part of France, Loraigne, Metz, Triers, Mamure, and Liege. It is in most places mountainous and woodie; but here and there also well manured: and of late we see their woods euery where turned vp and conuerted into most fruitfull fields. The people are for the greatest part Dutch, and yet their countrie ioyneth hard vpon France, and they are accustomed to the language and fashions of the French. This Dukedome conteineth in com­passe, as saith Guicciardin, seuentie of our Flemish miles. Within it are seuen Earledomes, many Baronies, and great store of gentlemen. Cities there are with stone walles to the number of twentie three, besides those that the furie of warre hath layd desolate: with 1168. villages, and sundrie castles of importance.

The principall citie is called Lutzenburg or Lucemburg; for I find it both wayes writ­ten, but without any choice: because both the true maner of writing and the deriuation is vn­certaine. Some thinke of the riuer Elza running by this citie (which perhaps was Antoni­nus his Alizontia) that it might be called Elzenburg, and corruptly Lelzenburg. Others referre it to the fabulous historie of the Inchantresse Melusina. But my purpose is neither to proue nor disproue such opinions. Here resideth the chiefe Counsell, and the highest Court of iustice. The citie is of sufficient force, but vnequally situate: for standing partly on a hill, and partly in a lowe and steepe valley, it appeares of a very vneuen shape. Then haue you Arlune standing on the top of a hill, a towne very beautifull, where at this present are found sundry monuments of antiquitie, which Count Peter Ernestus hath caused to be transported to his stately Palace in the citie of Lutzenburg. Some are of opinion that the Moone in time past was here after a Gentilish maner adored, and that it was called Arlune, quasi Ara lunae, that is, the altar of the moone. Others imagine, that these cities following borowed their names also from the residue of the planets; as Iuosium (commonly Iuoix) from Ioue or Iupiter; Sathenacum (now Soleure) from Saturne; Virtonium (alias Verton) from Venus; Maruilla (or Maruille) from Mars; Malmedium (Malmedi) from Mercurie. Some interpret Malmedi, Montem maledictum, The accursed mountaine; saying that it was so called, because here the Emperour Valentinian lost his armie. Next followes Radema­cherne. Also Thion-uille, on the banke of Mosella: it is the fortresse of the whole region, and a towne most defensible against all hostile attempts. Grauenmachern and Conings­machern, two small townes situate vpon the same riuer. Dechrij stands vpon the riuer Saur. Echternach, containing a famous Abbey. Vinden likewise. Also the towne of Bastoigne, the principall mart of the whole region, standing neere the wood Arduenna. Here you haue in like sort, Naufchastelle, Danuiller, la Roche, and Durbis, townes not altogether vn­worthie to be mentioned: as likewise Sant Vit, Marche, Chiney, and Ferta. All which are more amply described by Guicciardin. Regino in his second booke makes mention of mount Adromare about Thion-uille, where Charlemaigne was wont to ride a hunting. More concerning this region you may reade in our Itinerarium or Iournall.

GVELDERLAND the seat of the ancient Sicambri (as most Writers are of opini­on) hath to the North thereof Frisland, together with an inlet of the German sea, commonly called Suiderzee; East it confineth vpon the Duchy of Cleue; South vpon Gulick; and West it affronteth Brabant and Holland. It is a champian coun­trey, destitute of mountaines, but all ouer replenished with woods and groues. It aboundeth with all necessaries, especially with corne; and their greene ranke medowes yeeld such plentie of feed for cattell, as euen out of the farthest part of Denmarke they bring hither their starued droues for succour. It is watered with three famous riuers, namely Rhijne, Maese, and VVaele. It conteineth the countie of Zutphen and the re­gion called De Veluvve. The Veluwe is almost an isle, which being situate betweene a branch of Rhijn that runnes by Arnhem, and the riuer Yssel, stretcheth to the Suyder sea; it is meanly fruitfull and not al­together void of woods, mountaines, and hilles. Some thinke that the inhabitants of this place were woont to be called Caninfates.

The Dukedome of Guelders hath two and twentie cities compassed with walles and ditches, and a­boue three hundred villages. Nieumegen vpon the VVaele is the Metropolitan; a citie very populous, and gallantly built, & famous in regard of the mint that is there. The greatest part of the citizens vsing trade of merchandize are exceeding rich. The territory of this citie is adorned with the title of a King­dome. Next followes Ruremonde, situate where the riuer Roer falles into the Maese. It hath in my re­membrance beene a Bishopricke. Zutphen, at the mouth of the riuer Berkel, where it dischargeth it selfe into Yssel. It beares the title of an Earledome. It hath a rich College of Canons, and is vnder the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Munster. Arnhen stands vpon the banke of Rhijne. This is the seat of the high Court of iustice, and of the Chancery. The Clergie of this towne are subiect to the Bishop of Vtrecht. HATTEM a towne well fortified vpon the riuer Yssel. ELBVRG on the shore of the Zuyder sea. HARDERVVIIK, vpon the same shore. Heere likewise you haue WAGENING, TIEL, BOMMEL, BRONCHORST, DOESBVRG, DOTECHEM, SHEERENBERG, gouerned by a peculiar prince vnder the name of an Earledome; LOCHEN, GROLL, BREDEVORD, GELRE which perhaps gaue name to the whole region; STRAELEN, VENLO, a towne vpon the banke of Maese fortified both by arte and nature; WACHTENDVNCK, of ancient times the city of Her­cules, in the Dukedome of Iuliers. Besides these there are other small townes of note; which though now either by furie of warre, or iniurie of time, they are vnwalled; yet they doe enioy the freedomes and priuileges of cities. Their names be Keppel, Burg, Genderen, Bateburg, Monteford, Echt, Culeburg, and Buren; both which haue a peculiar Lord as Bateburg also. Vnder Earle Ottho the third, this region was mightily inlarged; for he compassed with walles, and endowed with priuileges the townes of Rure­mond, Arnhem, Harderwijk, Bemel, Goch, and VVagening, which till that time had remained villages. In the Chronicle of Iohn Reigersbeg written in Dutch, I finde this region in the time of Carolus Caluus to haue beene called by the name of Ponthis; and that it was by him in the yeere 878. erected to a Signiorie. Then in the yeere 1079. this Signiorie of Ponthis was by Henrie the third adorned with the title of an Earledome, and called the Earledome of Guelders: and the first Earle thereof was Otto à Nassau. It went vnder the name of an Earledome till Reinhold the second. But whenas this Reinhold not only for his va­lour and mightinesse grew terrible to his neighbours, but renowmed in regard of his iustice, his piety and fidelity towards the Roman empire; he was at Frankford in a solemne and royal assembly by Lewes the Emperour consecrated Duke; in presence of the King of England, the French King, and the Princes Electours, in the yeere of our Lord 1339.

Some say, that in the time of the Emperour Carolus Caluus, towards that place where the towne of Gelre now standeth, there was a strange and venimous beast, of huge bignesse and monstrous crueltie, feared all the countrey ouer, which lay for the most part vnder an Oake. This monster wasted the fields, deuoured cattell great and small, and abstained not from men. The inhabitants affrighted with the noueltie and vncouthnesse of the matter, abandoned their habitations, and hid themselues in de­sert and solitarie places. A certaine Lord of Ponth had two sonnes; who partly tendring their owne e­state, and partly also the distresse of their neighbours, assailed the beast with singular policie and cou­rage, and after a long combat slew him. The said Lord therefore not farre from the Maese vpon the banke of Nierson, for the perpetuall memorie of his sonnes exploit, built a castle which he called Gelre; because when the beast was slaine, he often yelled with a dreadfull roaring noise, Gelre, Gelre: from whence they say, began the name of the Guelders. Thus much out of the Chronicle of Henry Aquilius a Guelder borne. More concerning this Prouince you may reade in Francis Irenicus; but a most large description hereof you shall finde in Guicciardin.

IT is a common and constant opinion, that those which we now call Leodien­ses or Ligeois are a German people named of old Eburones. A relique or monument of which ancient name remaineth as yet in the village Ebure, a German mile distant from the city of Liege. And this very place (as I sup­pose) is described by Dion lib. 40. vnder the name Eburonia. Howbeit certaine it is, that the iurisdiction of Liege stretcheth much farther than that of the Eburones did of olde. Of the Eburones mention is made by Strabo, Caesar, and Florus. Dion calles them Eburos: and late Writers barbarously terme them Eburonates. Themselues in their mother tongue (which is a kinde of broken French) they call Ligeois: but in high Dutch Lutticher, and Luyckenaren. The deriuation of Eburones & Leodienses, whoso desires to know, I re­fer him to the antiquities of Goropius Becanus, and to a small pamphlet of Hubert Leodius.

This region taketh vp a great part of ancient Lorraigne: for it containes vnder the name of the diocesse of Liege, the dukedome of Bouillon, the marquesat of Franckmont, the countie of Haspengow, and Loots, and many Baronies. In this region besides Maestright, halfe wherof is sub­iect to the Duke of Brabant, there are foure and twentie walled cities, a thousand seuen hundred Villages, with Churches and many Abbeys and Signiories. The names of the cities are these fol­lowing; Liege vpon Maese, the seat of a Bishop, after which all the whole countrey is named: Bouillon Franchemont, Loots, Borchworm, Tungeren, Huy, Hasselt, Dinant, Ma­sac, Stoch, Bilsen, S. Truden, Viset, Tuin, Varem, Bering, Herck, Bree, Pera, Ha­mont, Chiney, Fosse, and Couin, as Guicciardin doth both name and number them. More­ouer Placentius writeth, that part of Maestright was added to this diocesse by the donation of Pori Earle of Louaine. The territorie of this citie is called the countie of Maesland in the an­cient records of Seruatius abbey, built here by King Arnulphus in the yeere 889. Now this countie is vsually called Haspengow.

It is a region exceeding pleasant and fertile of all things, especially on the North part, where it ioyneth to Brabant; for there it aboundeth with corne and all kinde of fruits, and in some pla­ces it yeeldeth wine. But on the South frontiers towards Lutzenburg and France, it is some­what more barren, mountainous, and ouerspred with woods; here yet being some remainder of Ar­duenna the greatest forest in all France, as Caesar writeth. This is the outward hiew of the coun­try; but in the entrals and bowels thereof it is enriched with mettals and sundry kinds of marbles; as also with sea-coales, which they burne in stead of fewell; and all these so surpassing good, as in a common prouerbe they vsually say, that they haue bread better than bread, fire hotter than fire, and iron harder than iron. By their iron (than which all the prouinces around vse nei­ther better nor indeed any other) they raise a great reuenue. Nor with any other more forcible fire do the Smithes and Bearebrewers in all this part of the Low countries heat their furnaces than with these minerall coales of Liege; which are of so strange a nature, as water increaseth their flame, but oile puts it out. The smell of this fire or smoke, though it be somewhat loathsome to those that are not accustomed with it, yet salt being cast thereupon, it smelleth either but a little, or not at all. But concerning these coales, you may reade more at large in the Tables of Namur and Henault.

This region they say was conuerted to the faith by S. Materne the first Bishop of Tungeren, about the yeere of our Lord 101. For the Bishopricke which is now at Liege, was then at Tun­geren, and there continued till the yeere 498, what time it was by S. Seruatius translated to Maestright; where it remained till the time of S. Hubert the Bishop, who in the yeere 713. re­moued it to Liege, where it continueth till this present. Touching this Prouince reade more largely in Guicciardin, Hubert of Liege, and Placentius. To whom you may adde Francis Roserius his description of Loraigne.

THe Dukedome of Brabant is in such sort circumscribed by the riuers Maese, Scheld, Sambre, and Dender, as it no where ouerpasseth them; nor doth it in all places stretch so farre: for on this side the Maese lies a great part of the Prouince of Liege. But (that we may describe the bounds hereof more perfectly) it hath to the North, Holland and Guelders; East, the Bishoprick of Liege; South, the counties of Namure and Henault; and West it is diuided From Flanders by the riuer Scheld. It is a goodly and pleasant country, exceeding fertill, and abounding with come and fruits of all sorts, especially to the South of the riuer of Demer. For the North part thereof, namely Kempenland, is somewhat more barren and sandy. Howbeit, this part is not altogether fruitlesse: for Iacobus Spie­legius writing to Guntherus of Genoa, affirmeth that the husbandmen of Brabant are so industrious, as they make the driest sandes to beare wheat. Also to head-cattell and sheepe, the greatest part whereof (as we reade in Homer of those Libyan sheepe) are horned; it yeelds most pleasant and plentifull pasture. And now by the industry & vncessant labour of the husbandmen it is dayly so manured; that where in times past there was nothing but vnprofitable sand-heaps, you may at this present beholde, to the great benefit of the inhabitants, most fruitfull corne-fields. On the East part of this Prouince there is a kinde of bogge or quagmite called Peele, the ground whereof (as Plinie reporteth of the fields Gabiensis and Reatinus) trembleth vnder a mans foot; neither can it be passed by horses or wagons, but only in Winter, when the vpper crust thereof is hardened with frost.

This region containes the Marquesat of the sacred Empire (the chiefe citie whereof is Antwerpe) as likewise the Marque­sat of Bergis, the Dukedome of Arschot, the Earledomes of Hochstraten, Megen, and that of Cantecroy lately erected by Charles the fifth, &c. It hath also woods and forests, abounding with wilde beasts of sundry kindes: the principall whereof are Grootenhout, Grootenheyst, Meerdael, Zauenterloo and Soenien the greatest of all, conteining in it for the space of seuen miles compasse sundry villages & monasteries. Hunting and hawking (except in these fiue woods, which are reserued for the Princes owne game) are free for all men. The people are so iocund, as they seeme scarse to feele the inconueniences of olde age; which frolike disposition of theirs hath giuen occasion to their neighbours round about to vse this iest: The longer the Brabanter liues, the more foole he. The aire is exceeding holsome: for when the plague hath beene most vehement in all the regions adiacent, Brabant hath often most wonderfully remained free.

This Dukedome of Brabant hath six and twentie cities enuironed with walles and ditches. And they are these following: ANTVVERPE situate vpon Scheld, the most famous mart not only of Germanie, but of all Europe; and one of the strongest cities in the world; being much beautified with the steeple of S. Maries built an incredible height of white marble. The pa­lace lately built, is scarse to be matched in all Europe. BRVSSEL, abounding with sweet fountaines. Here for the most part resideth the Prince; and therefore is this towne so much frequented by Nobles and Courtiers. LOVAIN, a large city, con­teining Gardens, Vineyards, and Pastures within the walles: well may you call it The habitation of the Muses; for which purpose in the yeere 1426. Iohn the fourth Duke of Brabant established here an Vniuersitie, which flourisheth with all kind of learning. The territorie of this citie makes Brabant to glory of her vintage. Then followes MACHELEN, famous for the court of Parliament there instituted by Duke Charles of Burgundie in the yeere 1473. HERTOGENBOSCH, a towne of no small importance, conteining an excellent Grammar schoole, and inhabited in times past with a most warlike people. TIE­NEN vpon the riuer Ghette, from whence are brought great store of cheeses. Here stands the church of S. Germans, whereun­to belongs a college of Canons. LEVWE, where the noble ale is brewed. NIVELLE. In this citie there is a chanterie of Nunnes, whereinto none but ladies of great nobilitie can be admitted. The Gouernesse of this chantry the Nunnes them­selues chuse by voices, yet with the consent of the Prince, and the Bishops approbation; and she is called the ladie of Niuella. Also the temporall and ecclesiasticall iurisdiction of the towne and adioyning territory soly belongeth vnto her. ARSCHOT, situate on the riuer Demer, bearing at first the title of a Marquesat, but since by Charles the fift aduanced to a Dukedome. BERGEN ap Zoom, so named of a small riuer that runnes thorow it; a towne heeretofore of good traffique, but now by the neighbourhood of Antwerpe not so frequented of forren merchants. MEGHEN, situate vpon the Maese. BREDA, a towne most fairely built. Here stands the Palace of the Earles of Nassau, so gallantly begun by a most skilfull architect, that being once finished, it may (I thinke) be preferred before all the Princes houses in this region. MAESTRIGHT, a large, populous, and rich citie; which though it seemeth to lie without the bounds of Brabant, acknowledgeth the Duke of Brabant as her souereigne Lord. STEENBERGEN vpon the sea-shore. In times past it was a flourishing mart towne; but now it is almost brought to nothing. LIERE, so beautifull and pleasant a towne, as many noble men make choise thereof as a place of recreat and solace. VILVORDEN. Here is a strong fortresse, and the castle of the Duke. GEMBLOVRS. The Abbat of this towne beareth the greatest sway in causes both ecclesiasticall and temporall. IOVDOIGNE for the holesomnesse of the aire in times past the nurserie of the yong Princes of this region. HANVT, heretofore reported to haue beene an Earledome, situate in a most fertile place. LANDEN, esteemed of some the most ancient towne in all Brabant. HALEN, almost vtterly ruinated by warres. DIEST, built on either side the riuer Demer, a spacious citie, the inhabitants whereof gaine much by clothing. SI­CHENEN, a towne vpon the same riuer. HERENTALS, that maintaines it selfe also by clothing. EINDHOVEN, in the middest of Kempenland, vpon the riuer Dommel. HHLMONT, whereunto adioyneth a castle.

Some places here are also which in Dutch we call Vrijheden, or Free townes; which though they be not fortified with walles and ditches; yet because they enioy the priuileges and immunities of Princes, we thinke not altogether vnwoorthie the naming: Osterwijck, Orschot, Turnhout, Hoochstraten, Duffel, Walen, Merchten, Asche, Wernen, Duisbosch, Hulpen, Waure, Braine, Genappe, Gheel, Arendonce, and Dormal. Here are seuen hundred villages, with parish-churches that haue steeples and belles; a great many of which villages are adorned with titles of dignities. Also vnder the gouernment and iu­risdiction of Brabant are certaine regions beyond the Maese, as namely the duchy of Limburg, the countie of Dalem, the state of Valkenburg, &c. Besides all which, it hath many other places of importance: but it is not our purpose here to make rela­tion of all. Iohn Seruilius published a briefe treatise as touching a conspiracie of the people of Guelders against this countrey of Brabant, where you shall finde many furtherances to the better knowledge of this region. But in Guicciardin his descripti­on of the Low countries you shall not only reade of these places, but euen behold them with your eyes: so curiously hath he described them. The antiquities and memorable acts of this countrey my learned friend M. Iohn Gerard is now in hand withall. All which we earnestly expect that he will ere long publish. The ancient inhabitants of this region were called Ambiuariti and Aduatici. Concerning whom reade Iohn Goropius Becanus his Becceselanis.

THe region of Namur is at this present endowed with the title of an Earledome. Whether it was thus named of the principall citie, or that the city assumed this name from the region, remai­neth as yet vncertaine; as likewise the originall of the word it selfe. The inhabitants call it Namur, and the high Dutch Namen, but the true signification of the word they are vtterly ignorant of. For those that affirme that an Idol called Nanus, was of old worshipped, and deliuered answers and oracles vpon the same hill whereon now the castle of Na­mure is situate, and that afterward, when Christian religion began to shine, this Idol waxing mute or silent, the whole region of Namure was so named of Na­nus mutus; do (I thinke) report fables, without the authority of any approoued writers. Meierus affirmeth, that anciently it was called Neumur, as much to say in Latine as Nouus murus, a new wall.

Vpon this region do border the prouinces of Liege, Brabant, Henault, and Lut­zenburg. It is watered by Maese and Sambre, two nauigable riuers. The country is neither mountainous nor plaine; but raised here & there into little hilles, and depressed into valleys: the woods, whereof the greatest is called Marlaigne, yeeld plenty of game for Gentlemen. It abounds with things necessary for mans life. Here are many yron-mines. Here also they digge a kinde of stony or minerall coles, which in Dutch we call Steenkolen: the inhabitants, as likewise the Ligeois (for they are found with them also) terme them Hoille; the learned call them [...], as much to say as Stone-coles. The nature of these stones is most wonder­full: for whereas oyle increaseth the flame of all other fewell, these burne more vehemently by casting on water, and are quenched with oyle. With these coles the inhabitants and bordering nations (for they are transported hence into other countries) do make lusty fires: and Black-smithes do soften their yron bet­ter with this, than with any other fiering. Here are quarries also, out of which are cut marbles of exceeding hardnesse, both blacke, browne, and particoloured; wherewith the churches & houses of the regions adiacent are maruellously ador­ned. By meanes of which marbles the people of Namure reape no small benefit.

This county hath foure walled townes: Namure, Bouuignes, Charlemont, and Ʋallencure. NAMVRE, as hath beene said, is the principall city, and of late is be­come the see of a Bishop: it is right commodiously situate, namely at the conflu­ence or meeting of the riuers Maese and Sambre: it hath bridges to passe ouer both riuers. Here is the chiefe tribunall of iustice for the whole region. BOVVIG­NES stands vpon the Westerne banke of Maese, a towne in times past glorious for building, and populous for inhabitants; but now so deformed and ruined with often warres, as it hath lost the greatest part of her beauty. CHARLEMONT is a most impregnable castle, so named and built by Charles the fift, neere the banke of Maese, on the top of an hill, by a village called Giuet. Neither is VALEN­CVRE a towne of small moment. Also within this county, besides diuers Ab­bies, there are 82. villages, of which Floreu, Ʋascie, Samson, and some others, are so large and beautifull, as they may well be compared with townes. This region of old bare the title of a Marquesate: but about the yere 1200. it was conuerted into an Earledome. The people are very warlike, and most loyall to their Prince. They speake French. This region (as the rest of the Lowe countries) is exactly described by Guicciardine.

LEssabaeus writeth (vpon what ground, I know not) that this Prouince was of old cal­led Pannonia, because the rusticke god Pan was here worshipped; then Saltus carbona­rius or The cole-forest; and afterward, The lower Picardie. But at length it was na­med Hannonia of the riuer Haysne, that runnes thorow the midst of it. The inhabi­tants call it Henault, and the Germans Henegow, which in the ancient language of the place signifies The field of Hainault. For Gow in Dutch signifies a field. Another deriuation also of the name of this countrey is produced by Carolus Bouillus in his discourse of the variety of vulgar languages.

To the West of this Prouince by Flanders and Artois; on the North Brabant; and Brabant againe with part of Namure and Liege vpon the East; and South it is bounded by Champaigne a Prouince of France. A country as pleasant, and as well stored with woods, lakes, fountaines, medowes, and pastures, as any other in all these parts. The inhabitants are warlike, and towards their Prince most loyall and seruiceable. Their liber­tie or freedome they vsually boast of in a common prouerbe, saying: Pays de Hainault tenu de Dieu & du soleil, that is, The Prouince of Henault holds of God and of the sunne. Which prouerbe Nicolaus Brontius in a discourse of his published in commendation of this region, interpreteth in two Latine verses to this effect:

In length it conteineth about twenty, and in bredth sixteene miles. In which space (as Guicciardin reporteth) it comprehends foure and twenty townes, and aboue nine hundred and fiftie villages or hamlets. Robert Caenalis reckons vp in this Prouince two thousand two hundred petie villages with Churches and steeples. At this present it beareth the title of an Earledome: and it containes within it one Princedome, eight inferi­our Earledomes, twelue Peeres, two and twentie Baronies, six and twentie Abbeys, with other titles of dig­nitie, which are to be seene in Guicciardine.

The principall cities are Mons and Valenchienes: the last whereof situate vpon the riuer Scheld, where it be­gins to be nauigable for boats and barks, is a towne very large and strongly walled. The townesmen for the most part imploy themselues in trade of merchandise; and reape exceeding gaines by a kinde of cloth which they call Fussets, great quantitie whereof is wouen in this citie, and carried from hence to the furthest parts of the world. Mons standeth vpon the little riuer Trouille, almost in the very midst of all the region. A towne very sufficiently fortified against all hostile attempts. The citizens enrich themselues by a kinde of stuffe commonly called Saye, whereof great abundance is here made. Here are besides the townes of Condet, Halle, Angie, Maubeuge, Auesne, Beaumont, Chimay, Quercey, the retiring place of Mary, sister to Emperour Charles the fift, who built there a most stately and sumptuous Palace, which was then highly esteemed; but afterward by the French King Henry the second quite burned and defaced. Here also is Bauacum commonly called Bauais, which some thinke to be Baganum or Bagacum mentioned by Ptolemey. Others are of opinion, that Caesar in his commentaries calles it Belgium. Howbeit Hubert of Liege thinks it not to haue been so migh­tie in Caesars time, but rather most of all to haue flourished vnder Constantine the Emperour: which he ga­thereth by the ancient coines here dayly digged vp in great quantitie, with the said Emperours image vp­on them. In the market-place of this towne stands a pillar of stone, at the foot whereof the inhabitants say that all those wayes begin, which with an high and direct passage extend from hence to all parts of France. These wayes (they say) were made by Brunchild. And euen till this day they are called after his name. For the French commonly term them Chemins de Brune hault; albeit the high Dutch call them de Rasije. There are as yet extant in sundry places some broken remainders of these wayes. Bouillus noteth certaine wonders of them; namely, that they are higher than the fields on either side; that they lie most directly betweene the principall townes of France; and that they are paued with flint-stones, whereof all the fields adiacent are de­stitute: so that with admiration a man may imagine, that these flints either sprang out of the earth, or rai­ned downe from heauen, or by a greater force than mans hand were gathered all the world ouer for the grauelling of these wayes. Also vpon the frontiers of this region towards the riuer Maese, in the way to France, you haue Charlemont, Marieburg, and Philippeuille, most strong garrisons against the incursions of the French: being built and so named by Emperour Charles the fift, by Mary his sister, and by K. Philip his sonne.

This region aboundeth with iron and lead-mines. Heere are found also sundry kindes of marbles; as blacke, white, and particoloured; right commodious for the adorning of the palaces and sepulchres of Kings and great Nobles. Likewise here is digged great plentie of lime. Also a kinde of stony and blacke coales, hardened in the nature of pitch, which the inhabitants vse for fewell in stead of wood. And heere also are made those thin transparent panes of glasse, by meanes whereof vnseasonable windes and weather are fenced out of houses and churches; and this glasse excelleth all other that is made in any place besides. More you may reade in Guicciardine, and in a peculiar discourse that Iacobus Lessabaeus hath written of this re­gion. Also Hubert Thomas of Liege in his booke de Tungris & Eburonibus writeth thereof many memorable things.

THat the Atrebates were not the meanest people of Gallia Belgica, Caesar himselfe is witnesse. They are and haue beene a warlike nation, retaining as yet their ancient name. The head citie called in Latine Atrebatum, was of olde the Metropolitan also of Flanders; now it is named in French Arras, whereof the region adiacent and all the whole Prouince is called Artois, as if you would say Arratois, casting away the middle syllable. Hereupon by a new Latine name they call it Artesia. The whole region was by S. Lewis the French King adorned with the title of an Earledome: and the first Earle thereof was Robert the same Kings brother, as writeth Vignier. It is very large, extending from the frontiers of Cambresis, Picardie, Henault, and Flanders, euen to the Ocean sea. It was in times past subiect to the Crowne of France; but now by meanes of the peace betweene Emperour Charles the fift, and Francis the first the French King, concluded 1529, it is an absolute state of it selfe. It hath two fa­mous cities, namely, Arras and S. Omer: the principall townes be Ayre, Hesdin, Lens, Bethune, Bappames, S. Paul, Lillers, and Perne; all which places are subiect to the King Catholike. The cities of Boulogne, Calais, Guisnes, and Ardres (which are also within the bounds of this Countie) are the French Kings: for Pontieu is now abolished. It hath also diuers fortresses and strong holds, besides an incredible number of noblemens castles, which they vse for dwelling houses. It contained of olde two famous bishopricks, namely Arras and Ponthieu: but since, Ponthieu in the yere 1553. was vtterly destroyed, the iurisdiction thereof was distributed to three Episcopall seas; namely, S. Omer, and Ypre for the one halfe, and Boulogne for the residue. Bailiwicks or Hundreds, being the principall members or parts of the whole Countie, it hath nine; namely, that of Arras, of S. Omer, of Ponthieu, of Ayre, Hesdin, Lens, Bappames, Auen, Bredenard, and Aubignie. Vnder the Baili­wicke of Arras are comprized Boulogne, S. Paul, Perne, Bethune, and Lilers; but Calais, Guisnes, and Ardres doe by ancient right belong to S. Omer. Likewise the Earle of Artois had other inferiour Earles to his vassals, as namely, the Earle of Boulogne, of S. Paul, of Arcques, of Blangie, of Faukenberge, and of Syneghen. Now also it is augmented with the Princedome of Espinee, and the Marquesate of Renty. But how Boulogne first exempted it selfe from the iurisdiction of Artois, it is manifest out of histories: for after a certaine Earle of Boulogne was attainted of treason against the French King, the King vpon that occasion seizing vpon his Earldom, it euer since denied homage vnto Artois. Wherefore the Earle of Artois losing the one halfe of his right, assumed directly to himselfe homage or fealty ouer the county of S. Paul (which before was feudatarie to the Earle of Boulogne) saying often times, that he would not be depriued both of his homage and vnder-homage: so that hitherto the Princes on both sides haue vsed this custom; namely, that Boulogne no more acknowledgeth Ar­tois, nor S. Paul Boulogne. Howbeit about this point in the latter treaty of peace 1559. there was some variance; wherefore the matter being referred to Commissioners, remaines as yet vndecided, the King of Spaine hol­ding still possession. It is commonly supposed, that Calais (the next port of the continent vnto England) was by Caesar called Portus Iccius, from whence he sailed out of France thither. But if we more thorowly consider the matter, we shall finde it to haue beene another Port, namely, the towne of Saint Omer, which that it was of old an hauen and a most large inlet of the Ocean sea, euen the high cliffes, which in a maner enuironing the citie, do plainly demonstrate, besides infinit other arguments and reliques of antiquitie, which (though no man should affirme it) do most euidently conuince, that the territorie adiacent was in times past coue­red with sea; the trueth whereof is till this day also confirmed by common and constant report. Yea Sithieu the ancient name of the citie (for who knowes not that the name of S. Omer is but new) manifesteth the same. As if it were deriued of Sinus Itthius or Iccius. Also that the said haue was in the prouince of the Morini, which Virgil and Lucan doe call the farthest people. And that this is most true, an attentiue Reader may by many arguments easily gather both out of Caesar his entrance and returne from England. Neither can the space of thirtie miles or thereabout, which he sayth the island is there distant from the maine, hinder my beliefe in this point; whenas the violence of the sea (especially in so narrow a place) may easily either adde or diminish. Nor doth the distance of the sea there from the maine to the continent much differ. Sufficeth thus much to haue beene said concerning Portus Iccius. Whether we haue hit the trueth or no, let others iudge. Moreouer, this Prouince hath three Bishopricks, to wit, Arras, S. Omer, and Boulogne; one and twen­tie Abbeys, and seuen Nunries; besides many Couents and Hospitals. It hath many riuers also; the prin­cipall whereof are Lys, Scarpe, Aa, Canche, and Authy, besides others that are nauigable.

Great is the number of villages and hamlets thorowout the whole prouince. The soile is most fertile and abundant of all corne, and especially of wheat. Wherefore in the ancient French tongue some write it was called Atrech, that is to say, The land of bread. Nor is it destitute of woods and groues, especially towards the South and West. The garments of the Atrebates or Artesians S. Ierome in his second booke against Io­uinian noteth for precious. Also the Artesian mantles Vopiscus celebrateth in the life of the Emperour Cari­nus. Likewise the same Ierome and other authours affirme, that in his time it rained wooll in this prouince. This region, as others also adioyning, Guicciardin hath most notably described.

THe extreme part of Europe, opposite to England and Scotland, enuironed by France, Germanie, and the Ocean, is called by the inhabitants, The low coun­tries, or lower Germanie: but the French and all strangers in a maner call it by the name of Flanders. But in very deed Flanders hath not so great extension. For albeit Flanders properly so called was larger in times past; yet at this pre­sent it is bounded by Brabant, Henault, Artois, and the Ocean sea. This they diuide into three parts, namely, Flanders the Dutch, the French, and the Imperiall; which last part (because it neuer acknowledged any superior, besides the Prince of Flanders) they name also Flan­ders proprietarie. The Dutch Flanders hath these cities; Gant, Bruges, Yperen, Cortrijck, Oudenard with Pammele, Newport, Furnas, Bergen, Sluise, Damme, Bierflet, Dixmud, Cassel, Dunkerke, Greueling, Burburch, and Hulst. The French Flanders, L'isle, Doway, and Orchies. And Flanders Imperiall or Proprietary, Aelst, Dendermond, Geertsberg, and Ninouen. The principall riuers are Scheld, Lys, and Dender. Most part of the region is pa­sture-ground, especially towards the West: it breedeth faire oxen, and most excellent and warlike horses. It abounds with butter and cheese; and yeeldeth wheat in abundance. The inhabitants are most of them merchants: and of flax (wherof they haue in Flanders great plenty, & excellent good) and wooll (which is brought them out of Spaine and England) they make great quantity of linnen and woollen cloth, which they disperse farre and wide. This Prouince of Flanders hath 28. walled cities, 1154 villages, besides fortresses, castles, and noble mens houses. Among which Gaunt is the greatest citie. Whereof Erasmus of Roterdam in his Epistles writeth in maner following: I am of opinion (saith he) if you looke all Christendome ouer, you shall not finde a citie comparable to this, either for largenesse and strength, or for the ciuill gouernment and towardlinesse of the people. So far Erasmus. It containeth in compasse three Dutch miles. It is watered by three riuers, which diuide it into twenty inhabited isles. For multitude and beauty of houses Bruges excelleth almost all the cities of the Netherlands; so famous a mart in times past, as (saith Iacobus Marchantius) by that meanes the name of Flanders obscured all the regions round about. Yperen stands vpon the riuer of Yperlee, very commodious for Fullers. By clothing it grew in times past to an huge big­nesse, till the English and men of Gaunt besieging it, cast downe the large suburbs, and greatly dimi­nished the same.

As it is sayd in a common prouerbe, that Millan for a Dukedome excelles all Christendome; so doth Flanders for an Earledome. It hath certaine prerogatiues: for the Prince thereof writes him­selfe Earle of Flanders by the grace of God: which clause is proper to the stile of Kings. For it is giuen (saith Meierus) to no Duke, Marques, or Earle in Christendome, but only to him of Flan­ders: whenas all others vsually adde, By the clemency, or By the assistance of God, &c. He had in times past sundry officers peculiar to a King; as namely his Chancellour, his Master of the horse, his Chamberlain, and his Cupbearer; also two Marshals and ten Peeres, as in France. The armes of this region in times past were a scutcheon Azure, diuided by fiue Crosse-barres of golde with another small red scutcheon in the midst. Now it is a blacke lion in a golden field; which some are of opinion, he tooke for his armes, together with the other Netherlandish Princes, when they set forth on their expedition towards Syria in the company of Philip of Elsas: for at that time the princes of Flanders, Louaine, Holland, Lutzenburg, Limburg, Brabant, Zeland, Fris­land, Henault, &c. changing their ancient armes, assumed to themselues lions of diuers colours.

The greater part of Flanders was from the beginning vnder protection of the French Kings; but now it is at libertie, and absolute of it selfe; being released by Emperour Charles the fift, Earle of Flanders: who in the treatie of Madrid quite shooke off the French yoke. This region Guic­ciardine hath most diligently described, and Iacobus Marchantius most learnedly. You may reade also Iacobus Meierus his ten tomes of Flanders affaires.

LEuinus Lemnius of Zirichzee, in his booke De occultis naturae miraculis, Of the bidden secrets of Nature, amongst other things writeth thus of Zeland, his natiue country: That this Marine tract, saith he, was notvnknowne vnto the ancients, it may out of Cornelius Tacitus easily be gathered; although not by the same name, that at this day it is knowne by: but of a custome and common kind of salutation and speaking one to another, which acquaintance and friends of this prouince do vse at their meetings: therefore he calleth them by the name of MATTIACI, when he thus writeth: In the same iurisdiction are the Mattiaci, a nation very like the Bataui, but that those, in re­gard of the situation of their countrie, are more desperate and couragious. Whereby he giueth to vnderstand, that although they are next neighbours and do border vpon the Bataui or Hollan­ders, (so called of the hollownesse and lownesse of the ground) so that they might iustly be ac­counted one and the same people, yet are only distinguished by the name of their customary saluation; and being neerer the Sea, are more hardie and audacious; (as indeed they are,) and for manhood, witte, policy, craft, deceits, cunning in buying and selling, and diligence in getting, and waies to enrich themselues, they do farre excell them. And in that hee calleth them Mattiaci, I conceiue it, that they were not so named either of any place or captaine, but of that fellowlike salutation, as I said, and vsuall maner of speaking one to another vsuall amongst them, to witte, of Maet, which in common speach and friendly meetings, signifieth a fellow and companion in all our actions, bargaines, contracts, and dangers; of all our purposes, coun­sailes, labours and trauailles: a copartner and consort in any thing whatsoeuer we take in hand or go about, &c. For the name of Zeland is not ancient, but is lately inuented, and made of Sea and Land, as who would say Sea-land, a country or land bordering vpon the sea: for it is enclosed round with the ocean, consisting of fifteene Ilands, although it be not long since the raging Sea did great hurt in this country, by whose violence and ouerflowing, a good part of Zeland, (his dammes, walles and banks being rent and broken downe,) was ouercome of the salt-water and laid leuell with the sea: notwithstan­ding certaine of them do remaine, of which especially three do continually wrestle with the boisterous billowes of the sea, and do very hardly defend themselues with infinite costs and charges against this rude and vnruly element. Of these first Wal­cheren (Walachria) doth offer it selfe to the eie of such as do saile to these coasts; so named either of him that first entered and inhabited in it, or (as I gesse) of the Gaulls (Galli) which much frequented this country; who of the Low-countrie-men are yet called Walen; or of that part of Brittaine which lieth vpon the West side of it, and is called Wales, the most gentleman­like and brauest nation (you may beleeue him,) amongst the English, and descended also from the Gaulles, which their lan­guage as yet doth manifest &c. From hence Northward or somewhat declining toward the East is Scouwen Scaldia, the Latines call it of the riuer Sceldt, which runneth by it and heere falleth into the sea &c. Suytheuelandt, so named of the situa­tion of it toward the South (to distinguish it from another distant from it Northward and therefore called Noortheuelandt) a large and most goodly tract of ground, coasting along the shore of Flanders and Brabant, although of late yeares hauing suf­fered great dammage and losse, it is now much lesse and narrower. Thus farre Lemnius. Tritthemius in the Annalles of the Franks nameth Middleborough the chiefe city of these Ilands Mesoburgus Meyer; calleth it Mattiacum, more like a Latinist, then a true Geographer. More of these thou maist read in the forenamed Lemnius, who hath most excellently well described all the Ilands of Zeland, and the cities of the same. To these if thou wilt, thou maist adioine Lewis Guicciardine, and I know not what els thou canst seeke for further satisfaction. There are also certaine Annalles of these Ilands, written in the mother tongue by Iohn Reygersberg. But for an incomme, thou maist also to these former adde the descriptions of the cities of the Low-countries, done by Adrian Barland. Of the people of this prouince these verses are commonly spoken:

These Ilands are situate between the mouthes of the riuers Maese and Sceldt, bordering on the North vpon Holland, on the East vpon Brabant, on the South vpon Flanders; on the West vpon the Germane sea. Iames Meyer thinketh that Proco­pius calleth these Arboricas. Yet Petrus Diuaeus is of opinion that this place of Procopius is corrupt, and for Arborichas it ought to be read and written, Abroditos.

That these are those Ilands, I do verily beleeue, vnto which Caesar, in his sixth booke De bello Gallico, affirmeth that he for­ced a part of the army of Ambiorix Prince of the Eburones: which, as his owne words do giue to vnderstand, did hide them­selues in Ilands, which the continuall motion, or ebbing and flowing of the sea had made. It is also very probable that Lu­cane in his first booke aimed at these Isles, in these his verses: Qua (que) iacet littus dubium, quod terra fretum (que) Vendicat alter­nis vicibus, cùm funditus ingens Oceanus, vel cùm refugis se fluctibus aufert. Ventus ab extremo pelagus sic axe volutat, &c. — They come in troopes amaine, From where th'vncertaine shore doth lie, that is nor sea nor land, But both, by course, as raging Tethys flow'th and ebb'th againe: Or as the wind with rowling waues all calm'd doth stand, From North to South thus carrying to and fro: &c. And that which the same Authour in his ninth booke sometime did speake of the Syrtes or Quicksands, one may now not altogether vnfitly applie to these Ilands, where he thus speaketh, — Primam mun­do Natura figuram Cum daret, in dubio terrae pelagi (que) reliquit: Nam ne (que) subsedit penitus quo stagna profundi Acciperet, necse defendit ab aequore tellus: Ambigua sed lege loci iacet inuia sedes. When as this massie world by Nature first was fram'd, A doubtfull case it seem'd how God would haue it nam'd: For neither could the earth receiue the ocean deep, Nor land well able was his owne from sea to keep: The place so dangerous is, that none to it dare go; And whether sea or land it be, men skarce do know. Yet now these our Ilands are habitable, and easie and safely to be come vnto, by the industrie and labour of man, and not by the benefit and nature of the place.

THus Erasmus of Roterodam, an Hollander doth describe Holland, his natiue country: Most learned men, saith he, do agree in this, and that vpon great probabil ty, that that iland of the Rhein vpon the maine sea, which Tacitus maketh mention of in his 20. booke, is the same that now they call HOLLAND. A land that I must alwaies both highly commend & reue­rence, as to whom indeed I owe my life and natiuitie: And I would to God that it lay in my power to do it againe as great credit, as it hath done me honour and good, for the which I am much bound to praise the Lord. For in that that Martiall doth accuse this nation rusticitatis, of clownish simplicity; and that in that Lucane calleth the same trucem, rough and vnciuill, either it is nothing to vs, or els I deeme both to be interpreted as a great commendation vnto the same. For what nation in former times hath not been somewhat rude and vnciuill? or when were the Romanes more to be com­mended, then when they knew no other art or mysterie but husbandrie and discipline of warre? If so be that those things which then were said of the Hollanders, some man shall stand in they may be verified of them now; what greater praise can be attributed to Holland, my natiue country, then if it may truly be said to loath those iests of Martiall, which he himselfe calleth nequitias, knaueries? And I would to God that all Christians had such eares, as these Hollanders had, that they might either not enter­taine those pestilent conceits of that Poet, or at the leastwise would not be delighted with them. If any man please to call this clownishnesse, we do wil­lingly beare that slanderous reproch, as being a thing common to vs with the good Lacedemonians, with the old Sabines & the worthy Catoes, so much commended. And Lucane, as I thinke, called the Hollanders truces, rough, in no other sense then Virgill calleth the Romane acer, stout and hardie. Other­wise if any man do respect their homely and plaine maners, there is no nation more prone to ciuility and curteous humanity, in which there is lesse cruel­ty or surly sternnesse; they are of a good nature, plaine, void of all trechery and guile, inclined to no notorious vices: only they are a little too much giuen to their pleasure, especially in banquetting: the reason of which I iudge to be the wonderfull plenty of all maner of things prouoking them thereunto: and that partly by reason of the forrein commodities brought vnto them, for that not only it possesseth the two mouths of the goodly riuers Maese and Rhein, but also for that the greatest part of this West coast is continually washed with the maine sea: partly by reason of the naturall fertility of the countrie, which euery where is watered with many great and nauigable riuers well stored with fish, and so hath abundance of pastorage and most fatte meadowes. Moreouer the fennes and woods affoord infinite store of wild-foule: and therefore they constantly affirme that there is no country in the world, which in so little compasse and plot of ground conteineth more cities and townes, not very big in quantity and circuite, but for state of common­wealth and gouernment excellent. For cleanlinesse and near keeping of their houses, the Hollanders do beare away the bell from all other nations whatsoeuer, by the iudgement of Merchants which haue trauelled ouer the greatest part of the world. Of meane learned men there is no where greater plenty. The reason why many of them come not to the height of that exquisite learning, especially of the ancients, is their wanton and riotous life, or for that they esteeme more of honesty and vertue, then great learning: For it cannot be denied but that they haue good wits, as is manifest by many argu­ments: although indeed it doth not appeare by me, whose gift that way is not great, as in nothing els. Thus farre Erasmus in his Chiliades.

This country of Holland almost wholly enclosed like a Peninsula, with the sea, and the mouths of the riuers Maes and Rhein, is not very large, as being in compasse not more then 60. Dutch miles: yet it comprehendeth 29. walled cities, which are these, DORDRECHT, about an hundred yeares since by a deluge and ouerflowing of the sea made an iland: by this 4. riuers do runne. It is a mightie city, inhabited of very wealthy citizens, and beautified with most gallant buildings both publike and priuate. Heere is a great concourse of Merchants: for in it is held the staple of Rhenish wine, corne, timber, and other wares and merchandice which are brought downe by the Maes and Rhein into these countries to be sold. HAERLEM; this is the most stately and greatest citie of all Holland, situate in a most pleasant place. Hard without the town walls is a very fine groue, whither the citizens vpon festiuall daies, do withdraw themselues, for their pleasure and recreation, after their labour and toilesome busines. This town is famous for clothing, where it is cer­taine that there are tenne or twelue thousand clothes yearely made. Heere the citizens do perswade themselues the mysterie of printing was first inuented and practised. DELET, so named of Delft, which in their language signifieth a ditch. Heere also the townesmen vse clothing. Moreouer in this city, they brue good beere, which from hence in great plenty is transported into Zeland. This towne in the yeare 1536. suffered great losse by fire, the greatest part of it being vtterly defaced. LEIDEN, vpon the Rhein, not far from his mouth where it sometime did fall into the sea, which now you may perceiue to be stopped & choaked with sand. It is thought to be the most ancient city of this prouince: for some do thinke it to haue beene so named of a Roman legion which sometime wintered in this place. Certaine antiquities are heere yet to be seene to this day. GOVDE vpon the riuer Isel, in that place where it meeteth with the riuer Goude or Gouwe, whereof the city tooke his name. It is very populous. AMSTELREDAM, most stately built vpon the inlet or bay called Tie, the most populous and frequent Mart towne of all these parts. In euery street almost, like as in Venice, a man may passe from place to place, by boate aswell as by foot, to dispatch his businesse. Heere daily from Norway, kussia, and other Northren countries, as also from Spaine, France, England, &c. great store of shippes do arriue and ancher; so that sometimes you shall see at once two hundred or three hundred faile of Mer­chants shippes (hulks they call them) to ride heereat anchor. Therefore this city for traffique, is commonly held to yeeld to none but Antwerp. EN­CKHVISEN, vpon that sea, which they vulgarly call in their language Suyderzee. Famous euen in forren countries for the building of great shippes. HOORN, situate also vpon the same bay. Heere in May is kept a faire, where there is sold such infinite store of butter and cheese, as is wonderfull. ALKMAER; this place for plenty of butter and cheese doth excell all other cities of this prouince. PVRMERENDE, famous for the castle or palace of the Count Egmond. EDAM, for building of shippes and good cheese, deserueth also to be remembred amongst the rest. Moreouer MVNNEKENDAM, WEESP, NAERDEN, and WEERT may not be forgotten. OVDEVVATER, heere groweth great store of hemp, so that heere they make almost all the nets, ropes and cables which the Hollanders and Zelanders do vse in fishing. SCOONHOVEN; as who would say, At the faire Orchards. Here is continuall fishing for Salmons, where also is held a Staple of this commodity, as we said there was of wine at Dordrecht. Next after these do follow I­SELSTEIN, VIANEN: Item LEERDAM, ASPEREN, and HVEKELEN, three little cities round in a circle vpon the riuer Lingen, not about 500. pases one from another. GORICVM and WORICHVM, situate, vpon the banke of the riuer Wael, one ouer against another. Gorichum hath a very goodly and beautifull castle. A man may iustly call this town a city of store of all maner prouision: such a market is heere daily kept of such things as are necessary for the sustenance of mans life, which are from thence transported by shippe vnto other countries, but especially to Antwerp: Lastly, there are HVESDEN, ROTERODAM, SCHIEDAM, and both the MOVNTS, the one known by the name of S. Gertrude, the other of the number of Se­uen; Seuenbergen I meane, and Geertruydenberge, for so they call them. Other towns there are, which sometime were walled: which although at this day we do now see them to want, either by the rage of violent warre, or by reason of other misfortunes, yet they still enioy their old liberties and fredoms. Of this sort Medenblick Beuerwijck, Muiden, Neuport, Vlaerdingen, and Grauesande. Moreouer in this prouince there are aboue foure hundred villages, amongst the which the Haghe, (which they call Earls Haghe) doth farre excell the rest. This town Guicciardine thinketh for bignesse, wealth, beauty and pleasant situation to surpasse all other in Europe whatsoeuer: for it conteineth two thowsand houses: of which the Princes pallace, built like a castell for­tified with a wall and dich, where the Priuy courts of Iustice are held, is one. Neere vnto is a darke or thicke grone, which by reason of the singing of birds, and sight of Deere, is both to the eares and eies most pleasant and delightfull. I might more iustly call it Comopolis, a citie like town; and may boldly compare it with Ctesiphon a borough in Assyria, situate vpon the riuer Tigris, much magnified of all ancient writers: of which Strabo writeth, that that town is equall to a city for command and bignesse, and was the place where the Parthian kings did vse to winter, when they were desirous to spare the city of Seleucia.

Vnder the Iurisdiction also of Holland are certaine Ilands, as Voorn, (with the towns Geervliet, and Briele,) Goereden, or Goere, (with a town of the same name: Somersdijcke, Tenel, & diuers others. The diocesse of Vtrecht, gouerned not long since by a Bishop, in which were 5. cities, yeelded it selfe to be subiect to the iurisdiction of Holland, in the time of Charles the fifth Emperour of Rome. This country is so enclosed with the sea, seuered by riuers, lakes, creeks and ditches, whereby it is diuided as it were into certaine plots and quarters, that there is no city nor village heere, to which one may not go aswell by water as by waggon. Neither is there any place in the whole prouince, from whence one may not easily in three houres space, go to the sea. Chrysostomus Neapolitanus hath described this Olland, (for so he writeth it) in an eloquent letter of his directed to Counte Nugarolo. Of this read the hi­story of Holland, compiled by Gerardus Geldenhaurius and Cornelius Aurelius, as also Peter Diuey, but especially Hadrianus Iunius his Batauia. Of the wonderfull store and abundance of this country, read Lud. Guicciardine. Of the ruines of the Roman armory or storehouse of munition, which the country people call, The Brittish castle, (which is vpon the shore of the Germane ocean, at a village called Catwijcke opzee, not far from the city Leijden) and of the inscriptions in marble there found, we haue not long since set forth a peculiar treatise dedicated only to that argument.

Of the prouince of Vtrecht, which now is vnder the command of Holland, and is likewise described in this Mappe, see the history of Lambertus. Hor­tensius Monfortius.

THat the Frisij, a most ancient nation, did long since inhabit along the sea coast, neere the mouth of the riuer of Rhein, where also at this day they dwell, it is very apparant out of the records of ancient writers. For Ptolemey placeth them aboue the Busactores (or Busacteri, the people of that prouince which now is called Westfalia, as some thinke) between the ri­uers Vidrus, (they call it Regge) and Amasius, now called Eems. Tacitus, who reporteth that they were of good account amongst the Germanes, and along by the sea coast to dwell on ech side the Rhein: diuideth them according to their power and greatnes of command, into Maiores and Minores, the Greater and the Lesser: hee moreouer affirmeth that they dwell round about certaine huge Lakes, such as were capable of the Roman fleet. The same authour nameth certaine Frisios Transrhenanos, Frieslandmen, dwelling beyond the Rhein: which he saith did rather mislike the auarice of the Romanes then their command. Iulius Capitolinus in the life of Clo­dius Albinus the Emperour, saith, that these Transrhenane Frieslanders were by the same Clodius Albinus discomfi­ted and ouerthrowne. Pliny mentioneth certaine Ilands of the Frieslanders (insulas Frisiorum) in the riuer of Rhein: and the Erisciabones, a kind of people between Helium and Fleuum, two mouthes of the Rhein, where it emptieth it selfe into the maine sea.

It is manifest therefore that the Frisij, anciently did not passe the riuer Eems: but at this day they are further spred Eastward, almost as farre as the riuer Weser, (the old Geographers called it Visurgis.) Who also otherwise of them sometime, were designed by the name of the Chauci; (or Cauchi, for diuers authours write it diuersly) it is out of all doubt. And beside these vp higher, euen in Denmarke, in the confines of the little prouince Dietmarsh, there dwell a people vulgarly knowne by the name of Strandt Vriesen, that is, Frieslandmen inhabiting vpon the sea coast. These it may be were those which Ptolemey calleth Sigulones. Saxo Grammaticus, and Albertus Crantzius, calleth this Frisiam Eydorensem, (of the riuer Eider vpon which it bordereth) and Frisiam Minorem, the Lesser Friesland, both of them ma­king it a branch sprung from those ancient Frisij. Cornelius Kempius in his description of Friesland, diuideth the whole country into seuen Zelands, that is, marine shires, you may terme them. The first is vpon the West of the riuer Fleuus or Isel, and now is called Waterlandt: Then Westergoe, as who would say, The West-land: The third Oestergoe, that is, The East-land. These three he saith are commonly known and conteined vnder the name of WEST FRIESLAND. The fourth is about the riuer Isel, where the cities Dauenter, Swool, Hasselt, Steenwijck and Wollenhoue are seated. The fifth conteineth the liberties of Groeningen: The sixt that part which they call East-Friesland. The seuenth is from the riuer Weser, beyond Elbe, euen vnto the little riuer Eyder. Otherwise this country of the Frisij, is vulgarly diuided into three parts, East Friesland, West Friesland, and Middle Friesland, which of some is called Groningen.

Ptolemey nameth three towns of the Frisij, Manarmanis, Phleum, and Siatutanda: Fleum Castellum in Tacitus is the same as I thinke that Phleum is in Ptolemey: the same Tacitus also maketh mention of Cruptoricis stipendarij villa the Mannor of Cruptorix the stipendary: Item, the groue of Baduhenna, where he greatly lamenteth that 900. Romans had their throats cut, and where another supplie of 400. men, after that they had a suspicion of treason, did one kill another. The same authour writeth that in his time Hercules pillars were heere still remaining. The braue couragious minde of this nation and high conceit of their owne valour, is manifest by the history of Verritus and Malorix, two of their princes. For these (as Tacitus reporteth) going to Rome, and finding Nero the Emperour busied about other matters, amongst o­ther things which were vsually shewed to barbarous people, they came into Pompeys theatre, that they might behold the greatnesse of it. While they sate idly there vpon the scaffolds (for they were not caried away altogether with the sight of the pastimes, as if they neuer had seen such before) they question about the differences of estates, what or who was a knight, and where sate the Senatours, they obserued some to sit in the Senatours rooms in a strange habit: and demanding who they were, after they heard, that that honour was giuen to the Embassadours of those nations which for valour, and amity with the Ro­mans did excell others, they cried out with a loud voice, THERE ARE NO PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, THAT FOR PROVVES AND FIDELITY DO GO BEFORE THE GERMANES: and thereupon they left their places & placed them­selues in the Senatours roome: and it was well taken of the beholders, as a token of their ancient spirit and earnest emulation of vertue. Nero made them both freemen of the city of Rome.

Pliny writeth in the third chapter of the fifth booke of his naturall historie, that amongst the Frieslanders there grow­eth an hearb which they call Britannica, hauing long blacke leaues; and a blacke roote. The iuice of this herb is pressed also out of the roote. The flowres by a proper name they call Vibones: which being gathered before any thunder is heard, and eaten, do wholly preserue a man from that danger. This herb is not only good and medicinable for the sinews, and diseases of the mouth, but also against the Golne or Squinancy and biting of Serpents. Whether this herb be at this day certainly knowne, and by what name, I desire to be informed of our learned Herbatists.

Whether that the inhabitants of this prouince be those same Frisij, or whether happily they tooke their beginning and name from the Phrygians of Asia, as some would haue it, or from others of other places, (for Strabo acknowled­geth also certaine Phrygi in Illyria, about the Ceraunian hilles) I leaue to the learned to determine. The idle fables of those men I cannot chose but laugh at, which do thinke that these Frisij came into this country from Fresia, a prouince of India. If I were delighted with fables, I had rather with Hanibald fetch the name of this people from their king Fri­sus, the sonne of Clodio. The writers of middle age, especially the French, do call them, as I haue obserued, Frisones, by a name framed of the French word Frisons, by which the Frenchmen at this day vulgarly do call the people of this prouince. They retaine euen to this day the ancient name. For they are commonly, amongst themselues in their own language, called Friesen, by which name also they are known throughout all Germanie.

They were conuerted vnto Christianitie by S. Boniface Archbishop of Mentz, at that same time when Zacharie was Pope of Rome. There is a strange historie of Rabod Duke of Friesland, who when he should by Baptisme haue beene consecrated and adopted into the number of Christs flocke, he demanded to what place his Grandfathers and Great­grandfathers were gone before him: and when he vnderstood that they were all gone to Hell, he returned backe again saying, that he had rather be with his ancestors. Whether of this Rabod our word Rahoudt, whereby in our Mother tongue we signifie a knaue and a wicked fellow, were deriued, I cannot tell. Suffridus Petrus Frisius hath written ge­nerally of the Frisij, in a seuerall and peculiar treatise dedicated wholly to this argument: Cornelius Kempius and o­thers haue done the like: But Vbbo Emmius Frisius Gretensis of all hath done the same most learnedly.

FRiesland at this day is by the riuer Eems diuided into West-Friesland and East-Friesland. West Friesland, whose description we heere do offer vnto thy view, doth by a most ancient right chalenge vnto it selfe the name of Friesland, and was alwaies esteemed the better. For this country had his proper king, vn­till the daies of Charles the Great: after whose death this prouince was di­uersly vexed and suffered many greeuous storms of frowning fortunes ire, although indeed before that time also it had often been assaulted and batte­red by the Danes and Norweies. Yea and the raging Ocean, a continuall and most noisome enemie of this countrie, by ouerflowing, beating vpon it, tearing and rending his walls and banks hath much molested the same, and yet it will not suffer it to be quiet. Lastly, how it hath of later daies been troubled by the Bishops of Vtrecht and Earles of Holland, I thinke there is no man but doth well remember. But at length, in the daies of Charles the fifth, a very peaceable prince, it enioied peace and rest from all former troubles. At this day they do diuide it into three parts; Westergoe, Oestergoe, and Seuenwolden: which againe are distinguished into 29. Gre­tanies, (as they vulgarly call them in their mother tongue) Courts or principall places appointed for the executing of iustice. Moreouer in this mappe there is described the territory of the renow­med city Groningen: as also that tract which they call Ommeland: to these are adioined Ouerysel, Drent, and Twent, countries of a fatte and fertile glebe, well inhabited, full of villages and hamlets, bree­ding also great plenty of cattell.

The cities of West Friesland are thirteen, GROENINGEN, the more famous for that it brought forth the learned Rodolphus Agricola: DAM, LIEVVERDT with a faire castle: heere is kept the Court or place of Parliament and Chancerie, as they commonly call it: DOCKVM, the place where the famous Mathematician Gemma Frisius was borne: FRANICHER, a common palace, and place of retreit whither the Noblemen and Gentry of this country do for their pleasure retire themselues: BOLSART, SNEECK, where Ioachim Hopper a very learned and worthy man, was borne: ILST, SLOTEN, HARLINGEN, vpon an arme of the German ocean; (which they call Suyderzee,) hath a commodious hauen; garded with a strong castle to defend it from the impechment and assault of the enemie: WORCKVM and HINDELOPEN, vpon the same bay: Lastly, STAVEREN, which in time past hath been a mighty city, but now hauing endured many bitter storms and in­undations of the sea, it is nothing so renowmed nor great. There are beside these 490. villages or parishes, of which diuers are endowed with great priuiledges, and haue many rich farmours: It hath many Monasteries; so that for the beauty of their townes, husbandrie of the land, and stately Abbeies, Friesland giueth place to no other country whatsoeuer. That in this prouince are many gentlemen descended from honourable families, hauing their houses and farms in diuers places of the shire, and no Barons or free Lords, the cause is partly by reason of the foresaid casualities, and partly for that they being contented with their own estate and liberty, haue not followed the courts of forrein Princes.

Petrus Oliuarus in his annotations vpon Pomponius Mela, where he speaketh of West Friesland, wri­teth, that within so little a circuite of ground he neuer saw so many parish Churches. There were, saith he, which do alleadge this to haue been the cause of that multitude of Churches: they report that there arose a great contention amongst the nobility of this country about their places in those Churches, euery one contending for the highest seat: and when as this contention grew euery day worse and worse, they determined, as many as were able, to build them seuerall Curches, eue­ry man vpon his owne demaines: and so euery man might take the highest roome in his own seat: and heere grew the cause of building so many Churches. Thus farre Oliuarius, where also thou maist see many things els worth the reading. Moreouer read Albertus Crantzius, his Saxonia. But he that desireth a more ample knowledge of this prouince, let him haue recourse vnto the description of the Low countries done by Lewis Guicciardine. Aelsius Edouardus Leon Frisius hath described this country in Heroike verse, dedicated to D. Viglius Zwichemus: Cornelius Kempius, and Suffridus Petrus haue done the same at large in peculiar treatises. The learned Hieronymus Verrutius did this other day promise to set out the antiquities of this Country.

THat the Frisij, did not in former times inhabit this tract, but the Cauchi, there is none, I thinke, that doubt. Beside Strabo, Dion, Suetonius, Paterculus, and Ael. Spartianus, Ptolemey, (who di­stinguisheth them into The Greater, and The Lesser,) doth make mention of this people. Ptolemey placeth the Greater Cauchi, between the riuers Weiser and Elbe: the Lesser, between Eems and Weiser, where now these Frieslanders, which we call East-Frieslanders, at this day do dwell. Of the Cauchi, Pliny in the first Chapter of his sixteenth booke, thus speaketh: In the North we haue seene, saith he, the countries of the Cauchi, the Greater and the Lesser, (as they are termed) altoge­ther void of wood and trees. For by an huge in-let there, twise euery day and night by courses, the sea runneth in amaine, confusedly couering whatsoeuer generally the earth bringeth forth; leauing it doubtfull which is sea, and which is land. There the silly distressed people get them vp to the toppes of high hills, or mounts raised, by labour and industrie of men, (according to the height of the highest tide, as they find by experi­ence,) and thereon they build their poore cottages: where they dwell like sailers floting on the waters, when the ocean flowing en­closeth them round: or like those which haue suffered shipwrake, when the waters ebbing returne backe againe: and then they go out to fish about their cabbines, when they obserue the fish to follow the tide. They haue no cattell, they liue not vpon milke and whit-meats as their neighbours do, they hunt not any wild beast, as being farre from any shrubs or bushes where they may hide their heads. Of Reike, a kind of seaweed, and rushes growing vpon the washes and boggy places they twist cords, whereof they make their fishing nets: and taking vp a kind of muddy earth with their hands, drying it rather with the wind, then with the sunne, they vse it for fuell to dresse their meat, and heat their limmes, starke and stiffe with the cold blasts of the Northren winds. They haue no other drinke but raine water, which they catch and keep in ditches in the porches of their houses. Yet these nations, if they be at this day conquered by the Romanes, they count it no other but slauery and bondage. So it is indeed, fortune is fauourable to some to their owne hurt and hinderance. Thus Pliny writeth of this people; who wondereth that they preferred liberty, be­fore the tyrannous command of the Romanes, or rather, as I thinke, he enuieth that they were freed from their yoke. For neither is it yet so wonderfull a thing as he would make it, for a free nation, before all things els whatsoeuer, to maintaine their liberty: which is excellent a thing in his iudgement, ô Pliny, whom thou thy selfe doest highly commend before all other, who perswadeth vs to maintaine the same with the vttermost hazard of our life: and affirmeth it worthily to be desired and preferred not only of man, but also of brute beasts, before all things in the world beside.

This country in former times was diuided into many Signiories; which seuerally were gouerned by their seuerall and proper Princes, euen vnto the time of Fredericke the third, Emperour of Rome; who gaue this whole country vnto one Vl­ricke, and created him Earle of the same, in the yeare after Christs natiuity 1465.

The soile of this tract is so rich of all necessarie things, that it seemeth not greatly to stand in need of the help of neighbour countries. Yea it doth so plentifully abound with diuers things, as Horses, Oxen, Cattell, Hogges, Wool, Butter, Cheese, Barley, Oates, Wheat, Beanes, Pease, and Salt, that from hence euery yeare they conuey great store of these com­modities vnto forrein countries. This County hath but two walled cities, namely, Eemden and Awricke. Of which EEM­DEN, situate at the mouth of the riuer Eems, is the common Mart-towne of the whole prouince, for concourse of Merchants especially famous, which indeed is caused by the commodiousnesse and opportunity of the hauen, which doth thrust it selfe so farre vp into the heart of the city, at such a great height and depth, that it doth easily receiue and entertaine great shippes, full laden, with sailes stricken into the very middest of the same. This city is much beautified with the sumptuous palace of the Prince, a gorgeous Church, the Yeeld hall, and the goodly houses of the priuate citizens. AVRICK, by reason of the woods and groues which on all sides almost do inclose it, is inhabitd for the most part of Gentlemen and Noblemen, where they recreate and delight themselues with Hawking and Hunting. In the territorie of this city, there is, as Kempius reporteth, a place called Iyl, enclosed round with a wall, beset with bushes, a commodious dwelling for Hares and Deere: in which as in a Parke or warrein they maintaine a great number of these kind of beasts, which none dare take vnder a great penalty: but they are reserued for the Earles disport and pastime when he is disposed to recreate himselfe with hunting. In the confines also of this city Awricke, is a little hill rising somewhat high, (commonly they call it Obstalsboom or Vpstalsbom) where the seat of Iustice or Court leet for the whole shire is ordinarily held. Heere they were wont euery yeare, out of all the Zelands, to meet in the open and wild fields, and there by the most skilfull and approued lawiers, such as best knew their customs and lawes, to end and determine all controuersies arising between man and man. In this precinct also are diuen castles, villages and farms. Of hamlets and end-waies, such is the number, that oft times one doth touch another. The greatest part of which both for beauty of their houses and streets, as also for multitude of inhabitants and strangers, do so excell, that they may foe honour and greatnesse contend with diuers cities of Germany.

The people do giue themselues either to traffique as Merchants, or to get their liuings by occupations and handy-crafts, or by playing the husbandmen and tilling the ground. With their neighbours and forreners they speake in the Dutch tongue, amongst themselues they vse a peculiar language, proper to that nation and not vnderstood of strangers. They are comely apparelled, yea euen the very country people, so that a man would take them to be citizens. The women weare a kind of attire and apparell much differing from that of other nations. They bind vp all the haire of their had into one locke, and that, set out with diuers siluer and gilt spangles and buttons, they let to hang behind their backe. Their head they bind vp in Summer with a caull of red coloured silke, behung with siluer spangles, but in the Winter they weare an hood of green cloth, wherewith they do so couer their whole head, that skarsely one may see their eies: this kind of attire they call an Hatte. Their vpper garment (huick of loose gowne) which they weare abroad, from the head to the foot is pleited with many small pleits, and is so stiffe with siluer and gilt wire or plate wouen into it, that when it is put off, it will stand vpright. This some­time is made of red, sometime of green cloth. In this country of East-Friesland there are also two other counties, the one called Esens, the other Ieueren, bearing the names of their chiefe towns. Of the situation of this prouince, nature and maners of the people, read Vbbo Emmius.

SAxo Grammaticus hath thus described Denmarke: DENMARKE, saith he, parted in the middest by the boisterous sea, conteineth a few small parts of the maine continent, seuered and disioined one from another by the breaking in of the ocean winding and turning it selfe diuers waies. Of these IVTIA, Iuitland, is, in respect of the greatnesse and beginning, in the enterance of the kingdome of Denmarke. Which as it is in situation first, so running out further, it is placed in the vtmost borders of Germany. From whose company it being parted by the intercourse of the riuer Eydor, it runneth with a larger breadth toward the North, euen to the banke of the frith of Norwey (he calleth it Fre­tum Noricum.) In this is the bay of Lemwicke, (Sinus Lymicus) abounding with such store of fish, that it alone yeeldeth as much prouision of victuall to the inhabitants, as all the whole country be­side. To this is adioined FRESIA, (Strand Friesen) a prouince much lesser, which lying more low then Iuitland in plaine and champion fields, receiueth from the sea ouerflowing it, great strength and heart, and is very set­tile for come. Whose inundation or violent tide, whether it do bring to the country people more profit or dammage, it is hard to say: For in tempestuous weather the Sea breaking in through the creeks wherein the water was wont to be contained, such a world of waters oft times doth follow and come into the country, that diuers times it runneth ouer not only the fallow fields, but drowneth also whole families with their goods and cattell. After Iuitland, the ile FIONIA, (Fuinex) doth follow vpon the East, which a narrow arme of the ocean sea doth seuer from the maine land. This iland as vpon the West it looketh toward Iuitland, so vpon the East it hath the ile SEELAND, (Sialandia, he calleth it) an iland much commended for the great abun­dance of all maner of necessary things that it yeeldeth: which for pleasant situation is thought to excell all the prouinces of this kingdome, and is supposed to be in the middest of Denmarke, indifferently situate between the one end of the same, and the other. Vpon the East side of this, an arme of the ocean runneth between it and SCONE, (Scania, Scandinauia, Basilia and Baltia called by diuers authours) a part of Norwey or Swedland. This sea yearely affoordeth great gaine to the Fishermen. For this whole bay or gulfe of the sea, is so full of all sorts of fish, that the fishermen oft times do catch such store and therewith they so fraight their boats, that they haue no roome to stirre their oares: neither do they heere vse any nets or other meanes to take the fish, but many times they are taken only with the hand. Moreouer HALLAND and BLIEKER, (Blekingia he nameth it) two prouinces, issuing forth from the maine land of Scone, like two armes from one and the same body of a tree, are, by many spaces and by-corners, adioined and knitte to Gotland and Norwey. Thus farre Saxo Grammaticus. See also Albert Crantzius, Seba­stian Munster, and the Ecclesiasticall history of M. Adams.

The kingdome of NORVVAY, is subiect to the crowne of Denmarke, as also the ile GOTLAND: Item, (if you will giue cre­dit to Marke Iordane in his mappe of Denmarke) the ilands Groenland, Island, Hetland, Feroa, and the Orkneys. Yet we haue said before that the Orkney iles do belong vnto the kingdome of Scotland, vnder the name and title of a Dukedome. Olaus also saith, but falsly as I perswade my selfe, that the ile Gotland doth belong vnto the kingdome of Swedland.

GOTHIA, or the ile Gotland is a good ground for the feeding and bringing vp of cattell, horses and oxen. There is plentifull fishing, fowling and hunting. It is very rich of a kind of faire marble, as also of all maner of things necessary for the mainte­nance of mans life. In it is the goodly towne Visbui, sometime the most famous and frequent Mart of all Europe. There are yet remaining certaine ruines of marble, sufficient testimony of his ancient greatnesse and beauty: at this day it is now renowmed for the faire Abbey of Benedictine Friers; and the Library there containing about 2000. bookes of sundry authours, rare and ancient manuscripts. Thus farre out of Olaus Magnus and Iacobus Zieglerus.

OF Holstein thus Crantzius in the seuen and twentieth Chapter of his fifth booke of the history of Sa­xony: Holstatia tooke the name of a vulgar word of thar language: for that the country is woody and full of forrests, to distinguish between these parts and the other neere adioining, which are moorish and green pasture grounds. The Saxons call the inhabitants Holsaten, that is, people dwelling a­mongst the woods: on the contrary those which dwell in fenny countries they call Merstude. There­of the Latines haue formed he names Holsati, Holsatia, (Holsaten and Holstein) like as the French and Italians are from their own languages wont to enrich the Latine tongue. Vpon the East, this country is bounded by the riuer Bilene, on the West by Store, on the South by Elbe or Elue; on the North by Eydore, which in time past was the furthest bound of Denmarke. From this riuer Eastward the Wandalles or Vandalles otherwise called Wagers did inhabit: of whom that prouince was named WAGRIA, of an ancient (and sometime a populous) city of that name, now a poore village little inhabited, without wall, trench, rampart or fence: the houses are couered with reeds gathered in the fennes, homely and country like: it runneth out Eastward as farre as the riuer Trauenna. Notwithstanding that part of the country, which from the riuer Bilene by Elbe decli­neth toward the riuer Store, and of that riuer is called Stormare, leaueth but a little ground to the old Holsatia, from Store to Ey­dore. For the Dietmarshers a people inhabiting in mournish and fenny places, do claime a freedome and priuiledge from the iu­risdiction of any other Prince. This Crantzius in his time wrote of the state of Holstein then. Whereupon it is apparant that Holstein was diuided into Thietmarsh, Wagria, and Stormare. The same Crantzius and others, do also call these Holsaters, Tran­sabianos and Nordalbianos, as situate beyond and vpon the North-side of the riuer Elbe, called of the Latines Albis. Ado na­meth them also Northuidos, vnder whom are conteined, as the same authour and Helmoldus do write, the Stormaren, Holsa­ters, and Thietmarshers.

He that wrote of the warres between the Danes and Dietmarshers, (his name we know not) doth describe these countries somewhat otherwise then those forenamed writers haue done. For he affirmeth that Holstein, as now it is called, generally doth comprehend the Dukedome of Sleswicke, Wagria, Stormare, Dietmarsh, and Iuitland, with certaine other lesser countries and ilands; as namely, Angle-land, Swant-land, and Wensusset anciently called Cimbrica Chersonesus. But this limitation is somewhat too large: for the same authour doth presently after write, that Holstein properly is bounded with those foure riuers, within which Crantzius doth restrein it. Although that Annonius the Monke, as he citeth there, in steed of the riuer Eyder doth place vpon the North, the wall and trench which the country people call Denwerk. And this is that Holstein which this our Mappe presenteth vnto thy view. That the Cimbri a warlicke people did long since inhabit this tract, it is very apparant out of the writings of most approved authours.

In Wagria or Wagreland, Crantzius reckoneth vp these cities; Oldenburgh, Luthenburgh, Niestade or Nigestad, Todesto, Ze­gebergh, Plone &c. In Stormare, Hamburgh, Reinoldesborgh, Itzeho, Niemunster &c. Dietmarsh hath no cities, only there they dwell in streets and villages: and of it we haue before written at large in his proper place. Of the country of Sleswicke, read Dauid Chytraeus his Saxon history. Where also he speaketh much of Hamburgh, a city belonging to this Dukedome.

OF the MARSI, descended from Marsus, Strabo the ancient Geographer speaketh: and saith that many yeares since they went from the coasts about the Rhein, into a low and moorish country. Of these are come the THEVTOMARSI, or, as they commonlie pronounce the word, the Thietmarsi, (the Dietmarshers) who about 400. yeares agone, were gouerned by the most ancient family of Staden, many of which they treacherously slew, and so at length they made themselues free, by killing & banishing all their Nobility. Henry, surnamed the Lion, Duke of Saxony subdued them: but he being out-lawed by the Emperour Fredericke, Walemare king of Denmarke seized vpon the country, and when as he vsed their helpe against Adolph Earle of Holstein and the Lubeckers, they reuolted vnto the enemies, by whom the king was ouercome at the village Bornhouet. Thus againe being restored vnto their liberty, least they might seeme to be Anarchi, subiect to no Iurisdiction, they shrowded themselues vnder the patronage of the Arch­hishop of Breme, and him they acknowledged for their Prince: but yet they would neuer pay him tribute or sub­sidie, nor euer would be obedient to his lawes or commands. Often the Dukes of Holstein haue attempted wars against them, and alwaies they suffered the repulse. Fredericke the third, Emperour of Rome, gaue the country to Christian the first, king of Denmarke, vnder the title of a Dukedome: whose sonne Iohn, making war vpon them in the yeare 1500. lost the day, all his forces being ouerthrowen, himselfe with a very few hardly escaped by flight, leauing behind him the greatest part of the nobility of Holstein. After that, they grew more insolent by this victory, and oft greatly troubled and molested the Duke of Holstein. Adolph sonne of Fredericke king of Den­marke, heire to the kingdome of Norway, and Duke of Sleswicke and Holstein, not being able to endure their male-part insolencie, in the yeare of Christ 1559. mustereth his men, gathereth a great army, to whom Fredericke the second, king of Demnarke, and Iohn his brother, ioine their forces. These armies thus vnited, set forward, and presently take Meldorp, with all the South part of the prouince. Then after a few daies respite, they ledde their forces along by Tilenbrugge,: against whom the Dietmarshers out of Hemmingstade make head with all their pow­er, and met the enemy before the towne Heyde; entending to force the souldiers to retire being wearied with a tedious march: but oft repelled, and yet charging againe afresh, at length they are beaten downe, killed, forced to flie, and the towne is taken and fired. There were slaine that day about 3000. Dietmarshers. Duke Adolph labouring like a valiant captaine, to keep his men in aray, and to bring them on againe which began to flie, re­ceiued an hurt. This battell was fought vpon the thirteenth day of Iune. The Dietmarshers hauing receiued this ouerthrow, submitted themselues to the King and the Dukes, and obteining pardon, they were againe re­ceiued to grace: and thus Dietmarsh, which for many ages together by force of armes had defended and main­tained their liberty, became subiect to the Dukes of Holstein. This the authour of this Mappe, which heere we haue inserted into our Theater, hath written of this country. See also Albert Crantzius his Chronicle of Saxony. Christianus Silicius, a Dane, hath lately set forth a little Treatise, in which he hath described these warres between the Danes and the Dietmarshers, and other things which do much make for the better vnderstanding of this tract.

THis country seated between the riuers Weiser and Rhein, runneth out toward the South almost as farre as Hessen, his North border a­butteth vpon Friesland. The famous riuers Eems and Lippe, (Ama­sis and Lupias) besides some other of lesser note, do runne through this country. The soile is reasonably fertile; but of those things rather that do belong to the maintenance of sheep, cattell, and such like beasts, than men. It yeeldeth diuers kinds of fruits, as apples, nuts, and acorns, wherewith they feed and fatte their swine: for of these they haue great store, the gammons and legges of which, dried in the smoke, are from hence farre and neere transported and caried into forrein countries: for the gammons of Westphalen bacon are accounted for a dainty dish at great mens tables. These also that country people do sometime eat raw, and take it for a sauory meat. It is more fertile about Susate and Hammon, but most rich of all commodities, in the prouince of Pa­derborne and Lippe. The diocesse of Munster is good meadow and pasture ground: as also that tract which is about Weisser in some places. It is woody all about Surland and the coun­ty of Berg. About Collen and the county of Marche it is not without some veine of mettall. The people are goodly men, of a tall and comely stature, strong and able bodies, and courage­ous stomacke. It hath many good souldiers, well trained, and ready at an houres warning.

The Counties and Noble houses which do belong to this Countrie, are, in the iudgement of Roleuinge, the County of Benthem, Tekelenburgh, March, VValdecke, Spi­gelberg, Dinstlaken, Oldenburg, Diephold, Rauesburg, Limburg, Arnsburg, Ritburg, Lippe, Buren, Rekelinchuisen, Ludinchuyssen, Steenuord, Horst­mare, Borchlo, Brunckhorst, Gemme and Cappenberg: to these also Hammelman addeth, Delmenhorst, Lingen, and Sterneberg. The people about the tract of Collen and in March, are the Surlandi: the Bergenses, which dwell in the mountaines and such as are subiect to the Duke of Cleeueland: the Emeslandi, in the Bishopricke of Mun­ster and the inhabitants about the riuer Eems, and toward Friesland: the Slachterlan­di, in the same prouince neere Cloppenburg: and the Norlandi, (that is, the Nor­thren people) in the tract of Osnaburg: lastly, the Delbruggij, in the diocesse of Pader­borne.

The chiefe cities of Westphalen properly so called, are Munster, Dusseldorp, We­sall, Oldenburg, Osnaburg, Minde, Herworden: and of lesse note Widenbrug, and Coesueldt.

Some do account the ancient and true Saxony, to be Westfalen: and do thinke it to haue been inhabited long since by the Cherusci, whose Prince or Generall, Tacitus and Velleius do write to haue been that same Arminius, who slew Quintilius Varus the Romane, and put his three legions to the sword.

Herman Hamelman hath set out the description of this country in a seuerall treatise; out of whom we haue gathered this briefe discourse: he nameth and citeth for his authours Werner Roleuing, Gobeline, and others mo of lesse note, writers which yet I haue not knowen. The studious Reader to these may adioine Albert Crantz his Saxony. Item Dauid Chytraeus his history of Saxony, where he hath a large and learned description of this country. Of this prouince this rythme and prouerbe is commonly spoken by trauellers.

ALthough this Mappe do beare the title of Saxony, notwithstanding it conteineth not all Saxony: for the true and ancient Saxony was comprehended in former times between the riuers Elue and Rhein, according to his vttermost length: the breadth of it was restrained by the Germane sea, and the riuer Eydore, and the borders of Hessen and Thuringen. Brunswicke was almost in the center and middest of it. But now it is not bounded with those or such like naturall bounds, such as riuers and mountaines are; but it is confined by other Princes signiories and countries. Therefore Saxony at this day is diuided into the Vpper and Neather. The Vpper or High Saxony is that which this Mappe doth represent, and is graced with the title of a Dukedome: whose Duke also is one of the Princes Electours, which haue their voices in the choosing of the Empe­rour. The chiefe townes of this prouince are VVitteberg and Torga. Of Saxony and the antiquities of the same, Albert Crantz hath written a whole volume. M. Adams also in the first booke of his Ecclesiasticall history, hath some things of this country worth the reading. Hamelman hath set out the histories of Saxony and VVestfalen. They that do desire to know the situation, buttes and bounds, and famous acts, let them read VVitichinde and Sebastian Munster. Pet. Albinus Niuemontius very lately, and Dauid Chytraeus, haue written very learnedly of this prouince.

Of the Marquesate of BRANDENBVRG, LVSATIA, (Laussnitz) and VOITLAND, countries which we haue also described in this Chart, take these few lines; The Marquesate of BRANDENBVRG, one of those prouinces which in old time were inhabited of the Wandalls, is diuided at this day into the Old and the New; by this runneth the riuer Oder, by that Elue, Albis the Latines call it. In the old Mar­quesate the chiefe city is Brandenburg, whereof the whole country tooke his name. The New hath the city Franckford: vulgarly called Franckford vpon Oder, to make a difference between it and that which is situate vpon the riuer Meyn. Heere is an Vniuersitie, and a great Mart kept twise euery yeare. At Berline; is the Princes court ordinarily kept. Him, of the Marquesate they commonly call the Marquesse: he also is one of the Prince Electours.

VOITLAND is a little shire subiect to the Marquesse. This Aeneas Syluius calleth Aduocatorum terram, and Praetorianam, the Sollicitours or Controwlers land, framing a word from the Etymologie or true meaning of the Germaine name; for Voyt, in the Dutch tongue signifieth a Sollicitour or Controwler. So called for that sometime the Prince of this country was one of the foure controwlers of the Roman Empire. The townes of better note are these, as Gasper Bruschius thus reckoneth them vp in Munsters Cosmographie: Curia Regnitiana, Renitz court, commonly called Hoff, (so named of the riuers which runne by it and there falling into Sala,) a great city and very populous, beautified with the goodly and stately Church of S. Michael, a large Monastery of Nunnes, and two rich Hospitalls. Plauhenium, or Plaun; a city with a castell. Olsnitz, which the castell Voytzberg, neere adioining. Adorff, and Weidonium, (Weyda as I thinke) a faire towne, with certaine Abbeies about them, Milford and VVhite-crowne, Geraw Scletz, and whatsoeuer is between the Hoff and Cygney, standing vpon the riuer Elster, (Hallestra, the Latines call it.) Neere vnto this is Feichtelberg, that famous mountaine bearing plentifully the stately Pine-trees, out of which foure riuers do arise & runne, (a very strange worke of Nature) vnto foure quarters of the world: namely, Egre, Meyn, Nabe, and Sala. VVolfangus Iobstius hath written a curious description of the Marque­sate of Brandenburg.

LVSATIA, Laussnitz, is diuided into Ober Laussnitz, and Nider Laussnitz, the Vpper, and the Neather: it is also is a part of Saxony, as Rithaymer testifieth. It lieth between the riuers Elue and Oder, and the Bohe­mian mountaines. Sometime it was a part of Meisen, (Misnia,) and was adioined to it: but the Bohemi­ans; who laboured by all meanes to enlarge the bounds of their kingdome and command, at length seized it into their hands. The people in maners, conditions and language do not much differ from the Silesians: only they are distinct from them by name, and iurisdiction, as gouerned by seuerall Princes. The name and appellation of Lusatia, is somewhat neere in sound to the name of Elysij, or Lygij, which it is certaine, as Ioachinus Cureus writeth, sometime dwelt heere about. Their chiefe cities are Gorlitz, and Sittaw, and some others. The riuer Neiss runneth through the middest of this country. Gasper Peucer, hath this other day in Elegiacke verse, described the same in a pecular treatise. MISNIA, (Meisen) and THVRINGIA, (Thuringen) are described and set out in their seuerall tables, which we haue heereafter inserted into this our Theater of the World in their proper places. A portraiture and draught of these countries, shaddowed and counterfeited out of the Geographicall Chart of Iohn Criginger, which was imprinted at Prage in Bohemia in the yeare of Christ 1568. we haue adioined to this our worke.

MANSFIELD, a part of Old Saxonie, is thought to haue beene so called of Man­nus: the second king of the Germanes: For Mansueldt, in this country speech, see­meth to signifie nothing else, but The field of Mannus. Which deriuation Ascanien, another place not far from hence, denominated, as some men do verily beleeue, of Ascenez, the first authour of the Germane name and nation, doth seeme strong­ly to confirme. Heere also is Ascher leuben, which in their language is as much to say, as, The house of Aschenez. There is also a lake, which of Ascenez, is called A­scherslebische see. This countrie hath vpon the East, the riuer Sala, the territories of the Archbishopricke of Magdeburg, and the Diocesse of Merseburg: on the South lieth, Turingen; on the West, the Counties of Swartzburg, and Stolberg, the Principalities of Sangerhouse, Anhalt, and Asseburg. So that these Earles of Mansfield (which are also called, The noble Lords of Heldrungen) haue these princes their neere neighbours: the Archbishop of Magdeburg, the bishop of Merseburg, the Prince Electour of Saxony, the Landgraue of Thuringia, the Duke of Saxony, the bishop of Halber­stade, the Prince of Anhald, the Lord of Bernburg, the Earles of Swartzburg and Stolburg, the Lords of Werther and Asseburg.

When, or by whom, this prouince was graced with the title of an EARLDOME, Andrew Hop­penrode, in his booke, which he hath written & set forth of the Petigrees of the Saxon Princes, plainly confesseth that he is altogether ignorant. Notwithstanding this same authour, and with him Syriacus Spangeberg, do auerre it to haue beene very ancient, by this, that an Earle of this country, called Her­ger, did liue in the daies of Great Arthur, that renowmed king of the Britans, and was one of those, which together with the rest of the worthies of this king, were first made Knights of the order of the Round Table. Now this king Arthur, we know liued about 542. yeres after the incarnation of our Sauior Christ. But if there be any man that shall thinke and obiect, that this storie of the Round Table is too fabulous to confirme this our assertion, yet this is certaine and cannot be doubted of, that in England, almost in the middest of the kingdome, there is a towne called Mansfield, situate betweeene the riuers of Trent and Rotheram, not farre from the city of Nottingham.

This county containeth also foure other counties: namely, ARNSTEDT, WIPRA, WETHIN and QVERNFVRT, all which in former times had their proper and peculiar Earles, but now at this day beside the counte Mansfield they haue not any one. In this county also there is the county Palatine of Saxony. Moreouer there are beside these certaine other Lordships and Principalities, as thou maist see in the Mappe. The chiefe and principall cities are MANSFIELD, EYSLEBEN, WIPRA and LEIMBACH.

This country is very full of Mettall-mines. Heere out of the earth are digged those sleitstones, which they call Scheyffersteyn, such as scarcely are to be found, as Sebastian Munster writeth, in any other place of the world beside. It hath also certaine stones laden with Copper, which being burnt in the fire and then steeped and washed in water do yeeld the mettall, and together with it some good store of Siluer. But this is a wonderfull strange pranke, that Nature heere in sporting maner vsually plaieth, which the same authour there speaketh of well worth the obseruation: namely of a great Lake in this country well stored with diuers and sundry sorts of fish: all which kinds of fish, together with the paddockes, frogs, newts, and such other things liuing in this lake, are found so curiously expressed & shaped out in stones, as we haue to our great admiration beheld, as it is a very hard matter at the first sight vpon the sudden to discern them from the naturall liuing creatures of that kind, and that so liuelily that thou shalt be able presently to distinguish one from another and to call them by their seuerall and proper names. Some of these I haue, giuen me by Peter Ernest, the most renowmed and illustrious Earle of this country, and worthy Gouernour of the prouince of Lutzenburg.

There is a Lake in this country, which, by reason of the saltnesse of the water, they call Gesaltzen, in­to which, if the fishermen shall cast in their nets ouer deepe, they will presently be sienged & schorched euen as if they had beene burnt or drawne through the fire, as Seuerinus Gobelinus, in his history of Amber, reporteth. The same authour writeth that neere vnto Eisleben, there was not long since a piece of Amber found as bigge as a mans head.

Syriacus Spangeberg did promise to set out the history of this countrey, wherin all the cities, castles, villages, mountaines, woods, riuers, lakes, mines &c. should seuerally be described; together with the Antiquities, Records, Petigrees, and such other historicall matters of the same.

THe terrirory and precinct of the Princes of HENNENBERG, a part of East France, how large and wide it was, you may see by this our Chorographicall Mappe; the buts and bounds of it are thus: Vpon the West and North it hath Thuringen, and the great forest, which of this countrie is called Durynger Waldt; (whose head on these parts doth diuide Thuringen from Frankenland) on the South it is confined with the riuer of Meyn, and the bishoprickes of Bamberg and Wuitzburg. Moreouer the East part is enclosed with that great mountaine which the country people do call, Die Rhon, or Rosn: vpon the same side also it hath the Diocesse of Fulden, and the prouince of Hessen. This country is wonderfully stored with deere, wild fowle, fish and such other things necessary for the maintenance of mans life. It hath also some Mines of mettals, especially of iron, whereof great store is yearely from hence, to the great gaine and commodity of the inhabitants, transported into forren countries. It is watered heere and there with many and diuers fountaines, heads, or springs of the riuer Visurgis, which in these parts they call Die Werra, but mo [...]e properly, it is of some in other places called Die Wesser, which indeed the name of the Abbey Vesser doth seeme to approoue for truth: which Francis Irenicus and Wolfgangus Lazius do verily beleeue to haue beene so denominated of Wasser, which in the Ger­mane is as much to say, as water, in the English.

Of the first beginning and originall of this house or family of Hennenberg, by reason of the negligence of the writers and Historians of those times, we can determine nothing for certainty, beside this, that in the time of Attila and Charles the Great, some authours do make mention of the Princes of Hennenberg, which also were Earles of Frankland and Burggraues of Wurtzeburg. So againe in the time of Henry the first, Empe­rour of Germany, Gottwald and Otto of this house of Hennenberg, serued valiantly in defence of the Empire against the assaults and inrodes of the Vgri. Item the Boppones, two learned men of this family, in the yeares of Christ 941. and 961. were bishops of Wurtzeburg, and gouerned that sea with the great applause and praise of all men. But the true pedigree of these Princes is deriued from BOPPO, who in the yeare of our Lord 1078. following Henry the fourth, the Emperours side, in the battell fought betweene him and Rudolph the Switzer, neere to the city Mel­richstadt, valiantly fighting was honourablie slaine in the field. After him succeeded his sonne GOTTEBALD, first founder of the Abbey of Vesser, for the Monkes of the order of the brotherhood of the Praemonstratenses: After him followed his sonne BERTHOLD; then BOPPO the Second, next him BOPPO the Third, all which succeeded one after another in a right line. This Boppo the Third had by his second wife Iut­ta, of Thuringen, HERMAN, whose sonne BOPPO the Fourth died, leauing no issue behind him: But by his first wife Elizabeth, of the familie of the Princes of Saxony, he had HENRY, who had issue HENRY the Second, HERMAN the Second, and BERTHOLD the Second: Hen­ry had issue BOPPO the Fift; whose sonne BERTHOLD the Third died without issue. But after Herman these Princes, HENRY the Second, HERMAN the Third, FREDERICK the First, GEORGE the First, and lastly FREDERICK the Second lineally descended one from ano­ther, successiuely gouerned this prouince. This Fredericke had issue HERMAN, who by his wife Margaret, of the family of Brandenburg had two sonnes, BERTHOLD the Fourth, and ALBERT, both which died in the yeare of our Lord God, 1549. and left no issue behind them. Then of the line of Berthold the Second, third sonne of Henry the First, succeeded BERTHOLD the Fift, who for his singular virtues, wisedome, expe­rience, and excellent gifts other waies, was in the yeare after Christs incarnation, 1310. by Henry of Lutzelburg the Emperour, with the generall consent of the whole company of the Electours, installed one of the Princes of the Empire. And after that, for the same his virtues, and for that he was in managing all maner of businesses a most prudent, faithfull and fortunate man, by Lewis the Fourth, the next successour in the Empire, much set by and greatly esteemed. In his time, this whole prouince as it is heere set out, in this our Chorographicall Chart, was subiect to him and to o­ther Princes and Earles of Hennenberg then liuing. But HENRY his sonne dying without issue male, the greatest part of this countrey, by the marriage of his three daughters, KATHARINE, SOPHIA, and ELIZABETH, fell vnto the Marquesses of Misnia, Burggraues of Noriberg, and Princes of Wurtenburg, which two last selling their portions, the bishop of Wurtenburg did much enlarge his diocesse. IOHN, the second sonne of Berthold the first, by his wife Adelheida of the house of Hessen, had by Elizabeth of the family of Luchtenburg, a sonne named HENRY the Fourth, who by Mechtilda, or Mawd, daughter to the Marquesse of Bath, WILLIAM the First, who by his wife Anna of Brunswicke, had WILLIAM the Second, which by Katharine, Countesse of Hanaw, had issue WILLIAM the Fourth, begotten of his wife Margaret daughter to the Duke of Brunswicke. This William had by his wife Anastasia, daughter of Albert, Prince Electour of Brandenburg, seuen sonnes, and six daughters, namely WILLIAM, and CASPAR, which died in their infancy: IOHN, Abbot of Fulden: WOLFGANG and CHRISTOPHER, which two died bachelours: GEORGE ERNEST and BOPPO the Sixt: This Boppo, after the death of his first wife Elizabeth daughter to the Marquesse of Brandenburg, maried Sophia, daughter to the Prince of Luneburg; he died vpon the fourth of March in the yeere of our Lord 1574. leauing no issue behind him. He was a very godly, prudent, magnanimous and curtuous Prince. That other, George Ernest, after the death of his wife Elizabeth daughter to the Duke of Brunswicke, maried Elizabeth daughter to the Prince of Wurtenburg, and at length vpon the seuen and twentieth day of December in the yeare of our Lord God 1583. yeelded to Nature and died in the seuentie and third yeare of his age, being the last Prince of that stocke or family. The description of this prouince of Hennenberg, as heere it is set downe, at this day is subiect vnto diuers Princes: the greatest part of it, belongeth to the Duke of Saxony, the rest to the bishop of Wurtenburg and the Landtgraues of Hessen. A more large and exact description of this Stocke and Family, if any man be desirous to haue, may be learned out of the Genealogy or Pedigree of M. Se­bastian Glaser, sometime Chancellour of this Principality of Hennenberg.

THis Prouince was sometime a Kingdome, at this day it is onley graced with the title of a LANDTGRAVY. It is seated betweene the two riuers Sala and Werra. Vpon the North it is bounded with that great wood, which the Historians call Sylua Hercinia, and of them is called Hartz. On the South it hath the vast forest of Thuringia, Duringer Waldt, they call it. The length of this country, which is equall to the breadth, is about twelue Germane miles. In this narrow compasse, (as I remember not long since Hugh Brinkhorst, an Englishman, a citizen of Erford, my good friend, did tell me) there are 12. COVNTIES or Earledomes, and as many ABBEIS, which they call Gefur­stete Abtyen) 144. CITIES, with so many MARKET TOVVNS, (Mercktflecken) 2000. PARISHES, and 150. CASTLES. It is a passing fertile country, and of wheat and such like corne it yeeldeth greater plenty than any other country of Germany whatsoeuer. Whereupon George Agricola doubted not to call it Sumen Germaniae, The Sweet-bread of Germany. Heere yearely groweth great plenty of woad (Isatis, the Latines call it) which from hence is transported into other countries, to the great gaine and commodity of the inha­bitants: It is an herbe or weed much vsed of Diers, to set the more perfect and durable colour in wooll or wollen cloth. Heere some are of opinion that sometime the SORABI did inhabite. Reinerus Reyneckius in his booke, which he wrote of the Originall of the Myssen (Mysni) doth thinke these Tyringetae, to be nothing else, but as one would say Tyringotae, that is, The Gothes of Thuringia, and thereupon their city Gothen, or Gotha, he maketh no question, tooke the name. Zacharias Riuander, in the Dutch tongue hath set out a peculiar treatise containing a description of this countrie.

The Metropolitane or chiefe city of this prouince is Erford, which is held to be the greatest city of all Ger­many. The crystall and nimble streamed Gera runneth almost through euery street of this city, as we there beheld to our great delight and exceeding commodity of the people inhabiting the same. In it there is a mount vpon the which doth stand a goodly Monastery of Frier Benedictines, dedicated vnto S. Peter. Here also is a stately church, built by Boniface bishop of Mentz, and dedicated to our Lady Mary, the blessed Vir­gin. This church hath a bell, famous all Germany ouer for the huge bignesse of it and massie weight.

THe Marquesate of Brandenburg runneth out in length threescore German miles. Vpon the West it bordereth vpon Saxony, Misnia, and Meckelburg. Vpon the North it is bounded by Pomeran, Stetin, and the Cassubij. His East part resteth vpon Polonia, and Silesia. On the South it hath Bo­hemia, Lusatia, and Morauia. It is diuided into Old-march, Middle-march, and New-march. This Marquesate also conteineth within his iurisdiction the Lordship of Cothuss or Cotwitz: of Peilzen, Bescaw, and Storkaw, all in Neather Lusatia: the Dukedome of Crossen in Silesia: the Earledomes of Rapin, Stolp, and Vierad. To it also doth belong the little Prouince Prignitz. It hath three Bi­shopricks, Brandenburg, Hauelberg, and Lubusz situate in Middle-march. Moreouer beyond the riuer Oder it hath the citie and shire Sternberg. OLD-MARCH beginneth at the Desert of Lune­burg, and so extendeth it selfe vnto the riuer Elbe. It is confined with the Diocesses of Magdeburg, Halberstadt, and Meckelburg. The inhabitants long since were the Senones Sueui, and in some places also the Angriuarij, with the Teutones. In this coast are seuen cities of no small account, Tangermundt vpon the riuer Elbe, in that place where the riuer Angra or Tonagra (now Tanger) vnlodeth it selfe into Elbe, sometime the imperiall seat of the Emperour Charles the fourth. Stendal the principall citie of this shire, where there is a church of S. Nicolas (they call it Thumstift) of regular Canons of the order of S. Barnard, commonly called Ordo Cistertiensium, first founded at Gistertium (now called Citeauz) a place in Gallia Narbonensi. Soltwedel, diuided into two cities, the Old, & the New. Gardeleben, with a castle called Eischnippe. As also Oster­burg, Werben, and Senohuse now Sehausen, so named perhaps of the Senones a people that sometime dwelt here about. Arn­burg, with his castle situate vpon the riuer Elbe, Bismarch, Beuster, Bueck standing not farre from the Elbe, Kalbe, and Neflin­gen, which they otherwise also call Letzlingen. Besides these townes it hath seuen monasteries richly endowed with tempo­ralties and secular iurisdiction, and diuers Nunries, as Arntsehe, Damke, Diestorff, Crewessen, and Niendorff. The breadth of this countrey being equall to the length, is not aboue eight Dutch miles; and yet in it are at the least 465. villages of good note. MIDDLE-MARCH beginneth on the other side of the Elbe, and stretcheth it selfe vnto the riuers Oder and Spre (some­times called Sueuus.) It is watered with the riuer Hauel, and other small brooks of lesse account. In former ages it was inhabi­ted by the Sueui, or Switzers. The soile is very fertile, especially for corne. It hath many Woods, Fish-ponds, Pastures, and Medowes: as also certeine Vineyards first planted heere by Albert the Marquesse, surnamed, The beare. Brandenburg his chiefe citie; is by the riuer Hauel diuided into two parts: this is called The New citie; that The Olde: and was so named of Brandon sometime a captaine of the Franks. Here is held the generall court of iustice for the whole countrey. Many priui­leges and great liberties haue (by emperors, kings, and princes) been granted to this prouince; a token or monument where­of is the statue or image erected in the new city, holding in his hand a drawen sword, whom the citizens call Rowland. Not farre from this citie is the territory of Hauelan, so called of the riuer Hauel that enuirons it. Also the monastery of Lenin of the order of S. Bernard. After Brandeburg followes Rathenaw vpon the Hauel: Spandaw with a castle vpon the riuer Spree: like­wise Coln and Berlin seuered by the same riuer. In Berlin is the Princes court at this present. Berlin was so named either of Albert the Marques surnamed Bear, or, as others hold opinion, of wild beares that haunted this place when the foundations were first laid. Colne was so called of Colliers that in great numbers inhabited the same in times past; or rather of the Latine word Colonia. Frankford vpon Oder was anciently reckoned in the number of the Hanse-townes; in which regard at this present it payes no tribute to Lubeck, nor to any other cities of that association. It hath three marts euery yeere. Here is a College or Vniuersitie founded by Ioachim the first marques of that name in the yeere 1506. Not farre from the Abbey of Carthusians in this citie runnes a small freshet springing out of a vine-bearing hill, whereinto whatsoeuer is cast, hardeneth into the nature of a stone. Other townes there be also, as Brietzen surnamed The loyall: also Belitzen, and Bernaw, where ex­cellent beere is brewed. Bellin seated by a foord of the little riuer Rhien: Mittenwald, Monnixberg, Bisental, Blumbergen, of the diocesse of Brandeburg, Botzaw with a castle; Falkenhaghe with a castle sometimes belonging to the Templers, Frien­wald, and Oderberg. Here marques Albert the second of that name built a castle in the midst of the riuer, to constraine pas­sengers to pay tolle. Then haue you Fridland, a cloister of Nunnes, with a little borough. Frisach of the diocesse of Brande­burg, Gereswald, Grimnitz, Grunheid, Grunwalde, and Koppenick, foure parks of the Prince with castles annexed. Hochelberg a village, Landsberg, an obscure place with a castle of great antiquitie, Lichen a small towne; Liebenwald with a parke; Naw­en; Putstam a little towne with a castle; Newstadt, Eberswald, and not farre from thence Chorin a monastery of Bernardines. Mulrosa a small borough and a village; Sarmunde, Sconbeck, with a parke; Strausberg, Trebin, Bernewijck a little borough; Zendenick a cloister of Nunnes; Zossa a small borough with a castle; Stendel, Swet; Wrusen, not farre from Odera; Lietzen, Selow a small borough with many villages and hamlets. This middle marquesat containes eight and twentie Dutch miles in bredth, and so many in length.

NEVN-MARCH is diuided from the middle by the riuer Odera, about that place where the riuer Warta falles thereinto, nere the towne of Kustren. The said riuer of Warta beginnes in Poland, and watereth this region at the citie of Lansberg, and the townes of Zandock and Sonneberg. The head citie of this marquesat is Kustren, reedified by the marques Iohn, sonne to Ioa­chim the first, who to his exceeding charge fortified the same, and there established his court. Other townes there be, as Landsberg vpon Warta, Koningsberg, Bernwald, and Bernsteine, a small borough with a castle, Bernwijchen, and Berlinichen, or the towne of New Berlin. Then haue you the citie of Arnswald, the borough of Thame, Soldin whilome the principall ci­tie, Furnstenfield a small borough, Dramburg, Driesen, Falkenberg the towne and castle situate on the confines of Pomer­landt: also Himelstedt a cloister of Nunnes, Kalis a village, Kartaw, and Lepen two little boroughs, Morgenwald an Abbey, Morni a small towne, Nieuberg a village, Nurnberg, Reitz with an abbey of the knights of the Rhodes, Quartzen contain­ing the palaces of noblemen, Schiffelben a towne that beares the name for good beere and excellent Armorers. Moreouer, you haue Osmund, Sconflis, Woldenberg a small borough, Sciltberg a village, Zeden a little towne with a monasterie, and Zandock a petie borough vpon the riuer Warta. The circuit of this new marquezat is about foure and twenty Dutch miles.

Now the whole marquezat of Brandeburg, with the regions aboue mentioned thereunto subiect, containeth fiue and fifty cities of importance, threescore and foure townes, sixteene boroughs commonly called Marcktflecken, eight and thirtie castles or noble mens houses, ten parks, seuenteene monasteries of men and women. This region also yeeldeth Corall, the Eagle-stone or the Aetites, and the saffron-coloured stone called Schistus, with other gemmes of no lesse account. Thus much out of the Dutch discourse of Wolfangus Iobstius. You may reade also Munster and Irenicus, and Dauid Chytraeus his storie of Saxonie.

IN this prouince standeth the Abbey of Fuld; concerning the ori­ginall and situation whereof thus writeth Munster: FVLDA is the head city of that part of Germanie, which in times past some called Buchonia; others the forest or desert of Buchauia, namely of Beech-trees, wherefore at this present we call it Fagoniam and Fagunetum. And that this name is deriued of Fagus (a beech,) the name of a towne therein called Fag or Fach, not farre from the high hill Taurus, doth plainly import. This region is situate betweene Turingen, Frankenlandt, Hesse, and Wederau­gia, bordering on the confines of all the said regions, and lying as it were in the center of them. For townes, castles, villages, riuers, pooles, woods, fields, hortyards, sweet fountaines, and fruitfull soile (so farre forth as the asperitie of these regions may af­fourd) it is none of the meanest parts of Germanie; notwithstanding it beareth no vines at all. The riuers are Fuld (whereof the city that it runnes by is called Fuld) Hun, Guerra, and Ʋlster. The whole countrey is full of woods abounding with oaks and beeches. The little villages neere the city they call Celles, in token of the or­der of the Benedictins there dwelling in times past. But the chiefe grace and orna­ment of this region is the ancient and magnificent Church of S. Sauiour, which the memory of S. Boniface makes most renowmed, by whose meanes the city of Fulda was first built and inlarged, being before but a waste wildernesse. For this being the Church of that most ancient monastery, was before the towne anno 655. erected in the time of the Emperour Pipin, father to Charlemaigne. More you may reade in Se­bastian Munster. Sundry particulars also concerning the originall of this Abbey, and the deeds of the Abbats, you shall find in the Chronography of Valentine Muntzer published in Dutch: where he saith, that the ground-plot of this city of Fulda before the building thereof was called Eulenloch, that is, The den of Owles. And where the Ab­bey of S. Peter now standeth, it was of old named Eulenbergh, or The hill of Owles.

THese two regions are at this present subiect to one Prince. They are both named of the principall cities, Brunswijck and Lunenburg. The city of Brunswijck was about the yeere 860. built by Bruno the sonne of Ludolphus, who (as Crantzius saith) first erected a street or borough, calling it Brunonis vicus, whereupon the whole citie hath euer since beene called Brunswijck. A place of great renowme, situate in the midst of Saxonie, vpon the riuer Onadri, which falles into the Weser. The beginnings of this towne were small. Howbeit in processe of time, and by degrees, it is now growen to such state, ri­ches, and strength, as the Princes thereof are worthily called Dukes of Brunswijck. But it was very long first. For of an­cient times they bare only the title of Lords: but vnder Frederick the Emperour, in the yeere 1235, renewing their stile, they were ordained Dukes. This is one of the seuentie Hanse-townes. From which societie, by a generall Councell of all the said townes held at Lubeck anno 1381, they were excluded, in regard of a most cruell and bloudy sedition, where­in the greatest part of their Aldermen they slue, and the rest they banished. And so they were depriued of the benefit of the said societie for eight yeeres, vntill they had done publike penance and satisfaction. From which time they were ad­mitted anew into the said incorporation of the Hanse: that is to say, to be partakers of all priuileges granted by Princes and gouernours of former times to all that were free of the said societie, in those foure famous marts; to wit, London in England, Bruges in Flanders, Bergen in Norway, and Nouogrod in Rus­sia. Their tutelary saint or protectour they holde to be S. Anthor the Confessor, whilome Bishop of Triers. For the honour of whose body, because it could not be brought within their city walles, they erected a monastery vnder the title of S. Giles, then neere vnto the walles; but now (the city being in­larged) within the same. Thus much out of Crantzius his story of Saxonie and Wandalia. The praise of this citie you may finde in Aeneas Siluius his 23. chap. of Europe. The citie of LVNEBVRG, built about the yeere of Christ 1190. vpon an hill named Calcarium, was so called, not (as the ignorant imagine) from Idolum lunae the idol of the moone, which Iulius Caesar, or I wot not who, did there consecrate; for this is but an old wiues tale;) but from a place not farre off by the riuer Elmenou called Luna, where there hath for many yeeres continued a cloister of Nunnes. It is a citie of great strength, en­uironed with ditches and walles. The citizens greatest traffique is for salt: for here are most plentifull and rich salt-pits, out of which they raise exceed­ing gaines. For salt is here boiled in great quantitie, and vented from hence both by sea and land to Hamborough, Lubeck, and other places. These salt-mines were first found in the yeere of Christ 1269. This city of Luneburg with the territory adiacent, is in a peculiar Treatise described by Lucas Lossius. Of Hildesheim fiue miles distant from Brunswijck, M. Antonie Mockerus, a citizen thereof, hath written also a peculiar discourse.

In this Table vpon the riuer Weser or Visurgis stands the citie of Hamelen; concerning which, the learned and famous Physitian D. Arnold Fretaghius wrote to me in a letter the story ensuing; his words be these: I chanced of late to light vpon a Saxon, and a Chronicler of Saxonie. ‘He reports, that 130. yeres ago the citie of Hamelen, vnder the iurisdiction of Duke Ericus, being exceedingly pestered with mice, there came a iugler that offered his seruice to the townes-men to driue them away: this offer was most acceptable vnto them, because they could keepe nothing in safetie from those mischieuous vermine. Being agreed with the townes-men, by the sound of a bell he drawes all the mice out of the citie. Then he demandeth his promised hire. They denie it him. Well, in a great rage he departs the citie, and within a yeere after returneth; and sounding the same bell which before he had vsed to con­iure the mice, he drew after him vnto an hill not farre off, a great number of the citizens children; whither being come, both they and he immediatly va­nished. A girle of the company, either for wearinesse, or by Gods appointment, stayeth a good distance behinde: who returning home, and being as­ked what she saw, makes report, that her fellowes were gone vp the hill with the iugler. Then euery man runnes to seeke his childe; but in vaine: for from that time forward they could neuer know what was become of them. Hauing read this, I iudged it either to be a fable, or (as it is in very deed) a most wonderfull and strange narration. Discoursing therefore with certaine citizens of this place, I made mention heereof. They all affirmed it to be true, and sayd, that the yeere, the day, and the number of children that were lost, was registred in the records of the citie of Hamelen: and it is yet a cu­stome among them, in their bonds and couenants which they write in an ancient hand, to vse this forme or clause of speech, Don onser kinder ausgangh, that is to say, From the departure of our children. And they say, that the way or street thorow which they were led, for the perpetuall memorie of their mis­hap, was called by the inhabitants, Die Bungloese straess: and that it is not lawfull thereto ring a bell. If you haue perhaps read this storie heretofore, I doe now call it to your remembrance. If you know any thing that may stand me in stead, I pray you impart it as leasure and occasion shall serue. Fare you well, and loue your Fretaghius. From Groenninghen the ninth of Nouember 1580.’

FRANKENLANDT is partly plaine, and partly mountainous: the mountaines are not very steepe, nor the plaines very fruitfull; be­ing for the most part sandy. In many places the hilles be set with vines, do yeeld pleasant and delicate wine; especially about Wirtz­burg. There are great store of woods, and much hunting. The country is subiect to many gouernours: notwithstanding they call the Bishop of Wirtzburg Duke of Frankenlandt. The Bishops of Mentz and of Bam­berg haue many places here. And the Count Palatine enioyeth a great part. Here the Marqueses Orantes are seated. And here are many imperiall cities also.

As touching Norimberg, it is doubtfull whether it belongs to Frankenland or Ba­uaria: by the name, Bauaria should seeme to chalenge it. For Norimberg is as much to say, as Mons Noricus, The Norick hill: whereby it appeareth, that it was the city of the Norici. And after the Norici succeeded the Boiari or Bauarians: and now that portion of countrey that lies betweene Danubius and Norimberg, is called No­ricum. Howbeit the city is in the diocesse of Bamberg, which belongeth to Franken­landt. The inhabitants of Norimberg will be accounted neither Bauarians nor Frankes; but a nation differing from both. It is a stately city, with churches, castles, and houses, most sumptuously built. It stands vpon the riuer Pegnitz, in a barren and sandy place, which increaseth the peoples industry: for they are all either arti­zans or merchants: so that they are exceeding rich, and beare a great name in Ger­many. It is a place most fit for the Emperours court, a free city, and seated almost in the midst of Germany.

Betweene Bamberg and Norimberg lies Forchaim, a towne famous for snow-white bread. The inhabitants suppose that Pilate was here borne. Thus farre Aeneas Sil­uius in his description of Europe. Reade also Iohannes Aubanus, Hermannus Comes Nuenarius, Tritthemius the Abbat, and Iohn Auentinus, who thinks that the princi­pall city thereof Wirtzburg was of old called Poeonia.

IOannes Dubrauius in his Bohemian story describeth this region in maner following. Bohemia is situ­ate in Germanie. East it extendeth to Morauia and Silesia, and west to Bauaria. Austria bordereth to the South, as Saxonie and Misnia do Northward. It is in forme of a Theater enuironed around by the forest or woods of Hercynia. Wherefore there is no great difference between the length and the bredth, containing not much aboue 200. miles a piece. Charles king of Bohemia, who afterward was Empe­rour, diuided it into 12. regions, of which one only he named after the riuer Vultaw that runneth through Prage: the other eleuen he called by the names of their principall townes; some of them being so harsh of pronunciation, that a man shall hardly speake them, vnlesse he be a Bohemian borne or very skilfull in the language. The chiefe Bohemian townes lying towards Morauia are Mutha, Chrudima, Konignigretz, Pardubitz, Litomitz. Towards Bauaria you haue Glatow, Domazlitz, Misa and Tachow. On the side towards Austria the principall towne is Buduitz, with Cromlawe, Trebon, Hradeck: as likewise on the Misnian side stand Pons, Cadana, Chomutawe, Austia: and on the Silesian quarter Iaromir, Glacitz, Curia, and some others. In the heart of the countrey the principall townes of note are Cuttenberg, Kolim, Pelsin, Veron, Zateckz, Launa, Slana, Lytomerick, and Tabor. But the head citie of all is Prage, being so great, as it containeth three faire cities within it, namely, the new, the old, and the little towne, which is disioyned from the two former by the riuer Vultaw. Their Buildings both Publique and priuat are stately and magnificall. This city hath two castles; one called Vissegard, whilom the Kings palace, but now waste and almost deso­late, by meanes of ciuile warres. Again that other castle that ouer looketh the little towne, as it is named, so it well deserueth the title of the Royal or princely castle. For it resembleth rather a city then a Castle; filling vp so great a roome with the wals and buildings. Of publique edifices, the Church built by King Charles before mentioned; and the Castle erected by K. Vladislaus, late deceased, are the most memorable. And as Prage of all their Cities hath the preeminence; so hath Elbe (called by Tacitus re­nowmed and famous) of all their riuers. Howbeit concerning the fountaine of this riuer Tacitus writeth skarce soundly, namely that it springeth in the region of the Hermonduri. For it ariseth not among the Hermonduri, but rather out of certaine Bohemian mountaines lying open to the North, vpon the frontiers of Morauia, which the ancient Bohemians call Cerconessi. From which mountaines this riuer refresheth and watereth the greater and better part of Bohemia; and then hauing augmented his streames by the influence of Vultawa, Egra, Satzawa, Gitzera, and Misa his neighbour-riuers, continueth his course and name through Misnia and Saxonie to the maine Ocean, being all that way enriched with abundance of Salmons. But the smaller riuers and freshets of Bohemia yeeld in some places graines of gold, and in others shell-fishes containing pearle. Heere also you haue certaine hot bathes both pleasant and medicinable. And all the whole countrie so aboundeth with graine, as it affoordeth plenty to the neigh­bour-regions. Wines there are no great store: and those of the countrey so weake, as they last but a very small time. Howbeit they haue saffron of the best, excelling both in colour, smell, and moisture, three principall properties to chuse that commoditie by. There are siluer-mines so exceeding rich, that were it not for some small quantitie of flint that insinuates it selfe into the veine, you should haue nothing but perfect siluer: whereas in other countries those mines are esteemed of high price, that hold a quarter or a fift part, or at the vtmost one halfe of good siluer. They find also plenty of gold-ore in certaine mines which take their name of a place called Giloua. It is reported that the Kings of Bohemia haue had graines of pure gold brought from thence weighing tenne pound a piece. Neither are they destitute of baser metall: namely, tinne, lead, copper, and yron. And some­times they finde in those mineral rockes, the carbuncle, the Saphyre, and the Amethist. Next vnto their mines there is nothing of greater account to the Bohemians then their waters replenished with carps: which I haue declared more at large in a peculiar booke treating of fish-pondes. Now let vs decypher the disposition of the inhabitants. In briefe therefore, both in maners, habit, and stature of body the Bohemians resemble the Lion king of beasts, vnder whose constillation they are subiect; that is to say, if you consider either the largenesse of their limbs, their broad and mightie breastes, their yellow shag-haire hanging ouer their shoulders, the harshnesse of their voice, their sparkling eies, or their exceeding strength and courage. The Lion carries a kind of contempt and disdainefull pride ouer other beastes, and hardly shall you vanquish him, if you assaile him by force. Neither doth the Bohemian in this respect degenerate but soone shewes his contempt towards other nations both in word and deed, and dis­couers his arrogancie both in his gate, gesture, and pompe. Being set light by, he growes impatient; in any enterprize he is as bold as a Lion, and most firme and constant till he hath brought it to execution, but not without a touch of ambition and vaine glory. Moreouer like a lion he is greedie of his meat, and very curious in the dressing and seasoning thereof. And their neigh­bours the Saxons haue taught them to carouse both day and night. And by reason of their neighbourhood the Bohemians differ not much from the Germans in other qualities. Hitherto Dubrauius, by whom also the originall and ancient dwelling place of this nation is described. They brew excellent ale in this countrey, calling it Whiteale. They speake the Sclauon tongue, calling themselues Czecks, and the Germans Niemecks. Vnder the stile of this kingdome are also comprized the regions of Morauia, Silesia, and Lusatia. Likewise in the yeare 1315. the city Egra became the warehouse or principall mart towne of the Bohemians. Con­cerning the region it selfe you may read more largely in Aeneas Siluius; and of the people, in the first booke of Martinus Cro­merus his Polonian story. Vnto these you may adde Munster, Rithaimer, Crantzius in his description of Wandalia, and Sabellicus En. 10. lib. 2. Panthaleon Candidus wrote of late seuen books entitled Bohemaidos. Prage the head citie of this Kindome, is peculi­arly described by Georgius Handschius. The Map it selfe we borowed out of the Table of Ioannes Crigingerus, published at Prage 1568.

The diuers appellations of certaine cities in this Kingdome we thought good here to put downe out of Munster. For the names of all their cities, are by the Bohemian pronounced after one maner, and by the German after another.

The riuer Albis is called by the Germans Elbe, and by the Bohemians Labe.

The Bohemians call the riuer Molta by the name of Vltawa.

JOhn Crato one of the Emperours counsellers, and his principall Physician, hath for the benefit of the studious in Geography, out of his relations of Silesia, imparted thus much vnto vs.

That we may not be scrupulous about the name of the Silesians, nor (as some haue done) deriue it from the Elysian fields: we are out of ancient writers to vnderstand, that the same region which they now possesse, was formerly inhabited by the Quadi. For Quad in the Saxon or old German tongue, hath the same signification that Siletz hath in the Polonian or Sclauon. For they were a people that resorted hither out of sun­dry places, more addicted to warre than peace, destroyers rather than builders, and im­patient of all superioritie. The first King that bare rule ouer them was Boleslaus a Po­lacke. He was borne in the yeere of our Lord 967. his mother a Bohemian, neece to Duke Wenceslaus by the brothers side. A sonne of his called Mieslaus, in the yeere 1001. was married to Rixa daughter of Erenfrid County Palantine, neece to the Emperour Otho the third, by his sister Melchitis: and this man was the first that receiued the kingly diademe from Otho the third. But after his decease the Polonians hauing by sedition expelled out of their kingdome the Emperours niece and his sonne Casimire, Conradus the Emperour reseruing to himselfe a certaine tribute, annexed Silesia to the crowne of Bohemia. This Emperour was an Vratislauian borne, and perhaps gaue the name of Vratislauia to his natiue citie, which is now commonly called Breslaw. But hereof I cannot certainly affirme ought. This one thing is not to be doubted, that the Silesians had no affection towards the Polonians, whenas by the practise and industry of Iohn the first king of Bohemia father to the Emperour Charles the fourth, they vnited themselues to the Bohemians. Some there are (by what authority or opinion I know not) which affirme that in the same place where Breslaw now stands, was built in times past by a Prince called Liguis, the city of Budurgis mentioned in Ptolemey. For it is apparent out of histories, that Mieslaus Duke of Poland, who was first created King by the Emperour Otho the third, and in the yeere 965. embraced Christianitie, did anno 1048. erect a woodden church or chapel to the honour of S. Iohn Baptist. Whereby you may gather, that in those dayes there was no great matter of building at Breslaw. Moreouer, Gotefridus the first Prelate of that church being an Italian, preferred the village of Smogra before the citie of Breslaw, hauing there his Schole and College. Likewise about this time it is thought that the foundations of other the principall cities of Silesia, namely of Lignitz, Glogaw, Lu­ben, &c. were layd: for out of monuments and Annales no certainty can be gathered, whenas the ancientest wri­tings in all Silesia are the letters of the Emperour Frederick the second, which were written in the yeere 1200. all the residue being consumed and lost, either by fires or inuasions which haue beene very terrible in these parts. But by the good indeuour of Frederick Barbarossa, Silesia was both pacified, and so distributed among the sonnes of Vladislaus king of Poland, that it seemed not altogether to be dismembred from that crowne. But when the Poloni­ans perceiued that Silesia grew full of Germans, and that the Princes began to fauour them; reiecting the lawfull heires, they aduanced to the kingdome of Silesia one Vladislaus Locticus, a cruell enemy to the Germans. This was the occasion that they betooke themselues to the protection of Iohn king of Bohemia; who being sonne to the Em­perour Henry the seuenth, married the daughter of Wenceslaus king of Bohemia, and was inuested into the king­dome 1302. Wherefore after the decease of this Iohn of Lucelberg, Silesia was subiect to twelue Bohemian kings one after another, six whereof were Emperours, one a Bohemian, another an Hungarian, fiue of the house of Au­stria, two Polacks, but descended from Austria by the mothers side. Of the Polonian race remained as yet in Si­lesia the Princes of Lignitz and Teschnitz: for those of Munsterberg deriue their pedegree from George king of Bo­hemia. Vratislauia the head-city of Silesia being burnt to ashes in the yere 1341, began then so stately to be built of stone, as at this present both for order and beauty of houses and largenesse of streets, it is little inferiour to any of the cities in Germanie. Concerning other more true ornaments of a Common-wealth, I shall not need to speake, seeing it is manifest to all Germanie, that scarse in any other region there are to be found so many Schooles, such numbers of learned Professours, and of excellent wits. It beseemes me not to speake too gloriously of my coun­treymen; yet thus much I may boldly say, that there is almost no Princes court, nor any famous common-wealth, where the vertue and learning of the Silesians findes not entertainment. The gentlemen likewise albeit addicted to tillage and good husbandry, yet are they so warlike withall, that no indifferent Iudges can deny, but that by their valour the remainder of Hungarie is defended. It is a region very fruitfull of corne, especially in one place aboue the rest, which is most carefully manured by our people. It aboundeth with fish-pooles. The famous riuer Odera confineth it East and North, and South it is diuided from Bohemia by Sudetes. But the situation best appeareth in the Map. Of Silesia you haue somewhat written by Aeneas Syluius, and by others which are ignorant of the coun­trey. But Laurentius Coruinus could haue brought more certainties to light, had not the age wherein he liued been fatally ouerwhelmed in ignorance. Thus much Iohn Crato concerning his natiue countrey Silesia. It containeth twelue Dukedomes; one Bishoprick, the Bishop whereof hath his residence at Neisse, and sometimes at Breslaw: for there is a Cathedrall church and a College of Canons. Heere are foure Baronies also. In this region about Striga and Lignitz is found a kinde of medicinable earth, commonly called Terra sigillata, like that of Lemnus, and of equall force; some quantitie whereof Iacobus Manouius Citizen and Senatour of Breslaw hath often bestowed vpon me.

The Chronicles of Silesia were of late written by Ioachimus Curius, wherein he hath so curiously described the situation and the antiquity of their townes and cities, the gouernment of their state, and their memorable acts, that the studious may here finde an absolute history. I am informed by Iacobus Monauius, that Francis Faber hath described it in verse also.

MORAVIA is thus described by Ioannes Dubrauius in his Bohemian story: Morauia was called of olde Marcomania, because it confined vpon Germany at that place, where Dariubius en­treth Hungary. For Mark in high Dutch signifies a limit or confine, and thereupon Marco­manni are such as inhabit the borders of a countrey. Concerning these people Arrianus in his relation of Germany, the farthest of these nations (saith he) are the Quadi and Marcomanni, then the Iazyges a people of Sarmatia, after the Getes, and lastly a great part of the Sarma­tians. Howbeit, at this present, because it is bounded by the riuer Mora, from the same riuer the inhabitants are called Moraui, and the countrey Morauia. On three sides, as it now stands, it is diuided by mountaines, woods, forests, or riuers; on the East from Hungary, West from Bohemia, and North from Silesia: for on the South part towards Austria it is plaine, being some where separated therefrom by the riuer Thaysa, and in other places by another obscure riuer. The principall riuer in Morauia is Mora, which en­uironeth the chiefe city called Olmuntz, and from thence running into Hungary, dischargeth himselfe with his tributary streames into the chanell of Danubius. For Mora receiuing into his bosome the riuer Nigra; and that of Switta, whereon standeth the city Brin next in dignity to Olmuntz; also Thaysa, which glideth along by the city Znaim famous for the death of Sigismund the Emperour; and lastly Igla passing by the city Igla; rendreth vp his owne and his neighbours substance to the great and renowmed Danubius. But the riuer Odera springing not far from Olmuntz, retaineth his name to the Ocean sea. Some thinke it is called by Ptolemey Viadrus. Odera is so na­med of a word borrowed from fowlers, which call their watch-towers for the spying and taking of birds, Odri; and such towers you haue now in Morauia at the fountaine of Odera. Neither must we heere omit the riuer Hana, which albeit sometimes scant of water, yet doth it so moisten the neighbour-fields, being thereby the fer­tilest in all the region, as the husbandmen in regard of their plentifull increase, call them the fat of Morauia. Here also more than in other places are found the siluer and gold coines of M. Antoninus, of Commodus, and other Em­perours. Which is a manifest argument of ancient warres betweene the forces of the Empire and the Marco­mans in these parts.

This one thing is most worthy the admiration, that in Morauia there is a kind of Frankincense & Myrrhe, not distilling out of trees as in other countries, but digged from vnder the ground, in one place only called Gradisco, where till this present is found not only Frankincense called Male frankincense in regard of the resemblance it hath with the priuie parts of man; but also in the shape of other members both of man and woman. And of late VVenceslaus of the noble family surnamed à Quercu, as he was making a foundation for the banke of a fish-poole in his field of Sterenberg, he found the intire body of a man, consisting all of Myrrhe, the which distributing vnto his friends, and remembring me among the rest, bestowed on me more than halfe an arme, which I vsed often for a perfume.

The inner part of the region is arable, an exceeding fertile and fat soile, and most apt for corne: as the hilles for vines, being more fauourable to Bacchus than the hilles of Bohemia; wherefore it excelleth for abundance of good wine. And it is so generally manured, and hath such plentie of husbandmen, that vnlesse it be in forests and desert places, heere is no pasture at all for the feeding of cattell. For the rest, both in speech, fashions and customes, they are like the Bohemians. Hitherto Dubrauius.

In the yeere 895. the people of this region were instructed in the Christian faith by S. Methodius, at the pro­curement of Arnulphus the Emperour. Vnder the Emperour Henry the fourth, in the yeere 1086. this countrey, together with Lusatia and Silesia, was annexed to the kingdome of Bohemia. Their language is mixt, for the grea­test part speake Bohemian, and the high Dutch is vsed only in cities among persons of best account. This Pro­uince (as Dubrauius writeth) yeelds plentie of wine, but not of the strongest; such (saith Rithaimerus, and I my selfe haue so found it by experience) as exempteth not the drinker quite from care. Duglossus in his Polonian sto­rie saith that the name of the riuer Odera signifies in the Henetian tongue, inundation or robbery. Olmuntz the head citie of this region, and the seat of a Bishop, is described by Stephanus Taurinus in his Stauromachia. Concer­ning Morauia, besides Dubrauius, reade Aeneas Siluius in his Bohemian story.

This Map of Morauia first drawen by Fabricius, but afterward corrected by diuers gentlemen of the countrey was sent me by Iohn Crato Counseller and principall Physician to the Emperour Maximilian the second a bounti­full fauourer of these my studies. He gaue me also this catalogue of townes called both by German and Bohe­mian names.

GEORGE RITHAYMER, in his Abridgement of the situation of the world, de­scribeth Austrich vnder the name of Pannony the higher, in these words: Pannony the higher (saith he) toward the East abbutteth vpon the riuer Leyth. Ptolemey maketh the riuer Rab his Eastern bound. Vpon the West it is bounded with the riuer O­nasus, and Noricum which is a part of Bayern. Some do on that coast limit it with the mountaine Caetius: on the North with the riuer Tey and the countrey Mora­uia: for so farre at this day it doth extend it selfe on that side. Vpon the South coast it resteth vpon the mountaines of Steyri.

The soile is good and fertile of all maner of corne, and is such as is manured and tilled with small charge. In that part which is beyond Donaw and is called Marchfield, where long since the Chetuari and and Parmecampi were seated, the husbandman falloweth his land with one poore seely jade only. Marle, without which their land in Bayern is leane and barren, what it meaneth the husbandmen of Austrich know not. It beareth so good Saffron, as no other in the world may compare with it. It affoordeth Wine passing holesome and agreeable to the nature of man. Althamerus vpon Cornelius Tacitus his Ger­mania writeth that it yeeldeth plentie of Ginger in a mountaine neere the towne Hamburg in the middest of Austrich or Pannony.

It hath many ancient and famous cities: notwithstanding those of greatest note are Styre, Vadenhoff, Melck, Castell, anciently called Claudionum, Crembs, Cetro castle now called Zeisselmaur, Saint Hippolytus, the two Newberies, one surnamed of the Abbey, the other of Corne. Petronell a village now, but in old time a great citie, as his foundation, ruines, and heaps of stones and rubbish do testifie. The new city Pruck vpon the banke of the riuer Leyth and Hamburg: out of all the most famous is VVien sometime called Fla­uiana and Iuliobona, renowmed for the Vniuersitie and Schoole, than which there is none that hath brought forth more excellent and greater Mathematicians. This citie is round beset with Vineyards. The houses of the citizens are stately and beautifull, so that they may seeme to giue entertainment to Princes, and are built with large and open windowes to let the aire in and out: and therefore they are neuer pestered and offended with close and bad aire; for that euery priuate house hath either his seue­rall court-yard or back-side. Hither is great concourse of forren nations from all countreys of Europe. Here is great plentie of all maner of prouision necessary for the maintenance of mans life.

The riuers of Austrich are Donaw, sometime the vtmost border of the region, but now it runneth thorow the midst of the same; Onasus, Drawn, Erlaph, which at Cella (or Zelltal, famous for the Church of the Virgine Marie) ariseth out of a most pleasant lake: Draisn, Ypsie, Melck, Marck. These doe seuer Morauia from Austrich: Camb a notable riuer for sundry sorts of fish: Leytte, and Swegad in which are Cre­fishes or Crabs of a most pleasant taste. Thus farre Rithaymer.

Of the originall and reason of the etymologie of the name of this countrey, this report Lazius in his Commentaries of VVien doth giue. The name of Austria, (saith he) was inuented of late, about foure hundred yeeres since, of the blast of the South winde called of the Latines Auster, which winde in this country bloweth oft: or of the similitude of the German name; (which I thinke to be more likely) for the Kings of the Franks called the East border of their Kingdomes Ostenrich, like as the West part they termed Westenrich.

This region long since was first gouerned by Marquesses, then by Dukes; and lastly by Archdukes; to whom it is now subiect: as is more at large to be seene in the said Commentaries of Lazius. The an­cient armes of this countrey were fiue Larkes Ore, in a field Azure: but Lupold the Marquesse, the fift of that name, of an accident or euent that befell him, was licenced by the Emperour to alter his coat, and to beare a field Gules with a fesse argent: for that in the siege and assault of Accon he was all ouer em­brued with bloud, onely his girdle excepted. More thou maiest reade of this in Munster and Cuspinian. The description of Austrich is to be seene in Bonfinius in the end of his fourth booke fourth Decade of his historie of Hungarie. Pius the second in his description of Europe citeth an historie of his, written of this countrey: which notwithstanding as yet it was neuer our chance to see. The same authour hath in his Epistles passing well described Vienna or VVien, the chiefe citie of this Prouince.