WHereas by the Necessitie of Nature, Order doth alwayes require, that Univer­sals should bee set before Parriculars, and the Whole before the Part, for the better understanding of the present Matter: I also, being bound by this Law, ought to set be­fore this first Volume of our Geographie, an universall Type of the Globe of the Earth, and of the foure Parts thereof, Eu­rope, Africk, Asia, and America, that so I may more happily follow my intended matter: and also, that in the severall following Tomes hereafter, he that shall desire to have the Delineation of his owne Country, may have a perfect Worke before him, being not deprived of this so profitable a speculation. For the contemplation of Generals is pleasant, and very necessary to him, who desireth to have the least knowledge of the World and naturall things. For if you please to consider the manner of the rising and setting of the Sunne, what is the cause of Summer or Winter, whence is the inequality of the Dayes and Nights, or lastly, what hath beene the originals, or propagations of things, what hath beene the actions, the atchievements, the mutations, and conversions happening in any place, even from the first Creation, you shall learne all this no where better, than out of these five adjoyning Tables, with­out all danger, and with honest recreation of minde. And even as it is not sufficient for any one, though hee have a large dwelling-place, to know the severall parts of his house, as the Porch, the Wine-cellar, and Butterie, the Kitchin, the Parlour, the Supping-roome, the Bed cham­ber, the Closet, the Studie, &c. whereby hee may use them conveni­ently; but also it is fit and necessary, that hee should know, in what part and street of the Citie his house standeth, and thence hee may straight­way discerne, if any fire or tumult happen in the Citie, how neare or [Page 2] how farre he is from danger: So it is no lesse necessary to know in what part of the world thou dwellest, what people are neare thee, and which are farther off, that when warre approacheth, thou mayst know when to feare, and when to be quiet in minde. Lastly, though Cosmographie be the light of all Ecclesiasticall and Politicall Historie, and that the be­holder may learne more from thence, than the Traveller by his long, tedious and chargeable labour, who often changeth his C [...]lum non animum mu­tant qui tran [...] mare currunt. Horat. Climate, onely, but not his condition; yet you shall receive little benefit there­by, if you doe not joyne the Generall Tables to the Particular. Now these Generall Tables are gathered out of the great description of the Globe of the Earth (whose beginning of Longitude, or position of the first Meridian wee have followed in every one of them) and out of my great Europa, which I published at Duysburg. In the meane time, Rea­der farewell, and enjoy this worke, and diligently consider with the Poet Buchanan, the glory of this thy habitation granted unto thee only for a time, who doth so compare it with the heavens, that he may there­by lift up those mindes which are drowned in these earthly and transi­tory things, and shew them the way to more high and Eternall mat­ters.

THis Universe, which rather presents it selfe to the con­templation of the minde of man, then to the sight of the Eyes, for the perfect elegancie, and absolute puritie there­of, is called in Latine Mundus. This Pliny, in the 11. Lib. The name by whom, & why given. Cap. 1. of his Naturall Historie, calleth, That which cove­reth all things with his Circumference. And Apuleius painting forth an admirable picture of it calleth it, That which consists in the societie of heaven and earth, and of those things which belong unto their natures. The same Apuleius more elaborately describes the world thus, or to this purpose. The world (saith hee) is a garnished ordinance of things, the just charge and custodie of the Gods, whose pole, (for so I call the Cen­ter) beeing strong and immoveable, passeth through the earth, the Mo­ther and nourisher of all living creatures. All the higher parts, as may be seene, being enclosed and hidden with the moistnesse of the aire in manner of a covering: Beyond is the house of the Gods, called Heaven, which wee see is full of divine bodies, as the faire and shining lights of the Sunne, Moone, and the other Starres, with which it is carried about by the diurnall and nocturnall motion in such a perpetuall course, as shall never have an end. Now that the forme thereof is gathered round together like a Globe, the name thereof doth declare, and the consent of men calling and painting it in manner of a Globe, besides diverse arguments that prove the same: As because such a figure is most capable, most simple, and doth bend in all parts towards it selfe, sustaines it selfe, includes and containes it selfe, wanting no joyning together, nor having any end or beginning in any of its parts: as also because where­soever you behold it, it hath a circular forme in all its parts, which can­not happen in another figure. Therefore it was a ridiculous imagination of them who supposed that it had not a Lactantius lib. 5. Institut. cap. 24. deri­deth those that say the Heaven is Sphericall. Sphericall round figure, but either an angular, or ovall, or some other forme. There be two parts of the World, the Aetheriall or heavenly, and the Elementary or sub­lunary. The Aetheriall is that cleare part which containeth all the ce­lestiall Spheeres, and is free from [...]. Aristot. de Caelo lib [...] cap. 3. alteration. The Elementary is that which is placed beneath those Orbes, and it admitteth generation and [Page 4] corruption, and containeth not onely simple Bodies, as Fire, Aire, Wa­ter, Earth: but also those which are compounded of them, whereof wise men have delivered five kindes. For some are imperfectly mixt, which we call Meteors, as Hayle, Raine, Snow, Thunder, Lightning, Winde; others perfectly mixt, but without life, as Stones, Mettalls, &c. There are others which have a vegetable soule, as Plants; and those which have a sensible soule, as Brute Creatures: Lastly, there are some in the highest and last degree of compound things, which beside all these have a reasonable soule, as Men. We, leaving those things which belong to Astronomers and Philosophers, will chiefly consider the Globe of the Earth. The whole Earth being diversly divided by Seas, Rivers, and Marshes, doth make altogether an absolute Globe. Homer for no other cause calleth it Orbicular. And Numa Pompilius for the same consideration, did consecrate a round Temple to Vesta, the mo­ther of Saturne, whom Poets take for the earth. And that the figure thereof can be no other, both Aristotle hath demonstrated by the reason of heavy things making towards one certaine point, and also Mathema­ticians prove by the Eclipses, and shadowes of Dyalls. Besides it is found out by the long and certaine observations of Travellers, that the longitudes and latitudes of places doe varie according to their severall distances, so that it is most certaine without any farther demonstration, that there are So called frō the Greek [...]. 1. ha [...]to [...]um. Perioeci, that is to say, those that dwell under the same Parallel, and So named [...] [...]. [...] adverso [...]abitare. Antoeci, that is, those that dwell alike distance from the Aequator, but the one Northward, and the other Southward, and So stiled from [...] & [...] q. d. adversa ve­stigia figentes. The compasse of the Earth. An­tipodes, that is, people dwelling on the other side of the earth, with their feet directly against ours. Antiquitie sheweth that the compasse of this Globe, where it is largest, is 360 degrees; and this latter age doth affirme the same, wherefore if to every degree you allow 15 Ger­mane miles, or 60 Italian miles, it will be easie to finde out the The circum­ference acco [...] ­ding to this ac­count is 540 [...]. Germane miles or 21600. Ita­lian miles. The qualitie of the Earth. circuit of the whole earth. All the parts whereof (as Plinie saith in his 2 ^d booke of Naturall Historie, Cap. 68. and as others also have delivered) are but a point in respect of the World, for the whole Earth is no better. This is the matter and seate of our glory, here we beare honours, here we exercise government, here wee covet riches, here men doe make tumults, and wage civill warres, thereby to make themselves roome upon the earth by slaughtering one another. And (that I may passe over the publicke furie of nations) this is it in which we drive forth our bordering neighbours, and by stealth encroach upon their Country, so that hee that hath most enlarged his territories, and driven the adjoyning inhabitants from their bounds, in how small a part of earth doth he rejoyce? or when hee hath enlarg'd it to the measure of his owne covetousnesse, what portion doth hee ob­taine for all his labour? Thus farre Plinie. And let this suffice concerning the earth as it does make one Globe with the Sea. Now as it is distin­guisht from the waters, and called in the Scriptures drie land, it is the proper habitation of men. And for the great desert thereof, we give it the name of Mother. This receiveth us at our birth, nourishes us being borne, and being once brought to light, it doth alwayes sustaine us: Lastly, when we are cast off and forsaken by nature, then chiefly like a mother shee hides us in her bosome. This also is to be added, that a The outmost end whereof is called a Cape. Promontorie is called a part of land lying out farther than the rest, and [Page 5]

[Page 6] is contrary to a Bay. Such are the Lacinian and Sephyrian in the farthest part of Italie, the Lilybaean in Sicilie, and the Sigaean in Asia. That is cal­led an Iland which is washed on every side with the Sea: such are Crete, Cyprus, Sicilie, &c. A So called, quasi Paenè In­sula. Paeninsula is that which is joyned to the Conti­nent by a narrow ridge of Land, which the Greekes call Isthmos, and the Paeninsula it selfe, Chersonesus is a compound word of [...] and [...] q. d. Insula deserta aut inculta. Chersonesus: such are the golden Chersonesus; the Cimbricke, the Dacike, the Tauricke, and others.

In this place something also is to be added concerning the Sea: one Sea is called the This Seasome Writers call Mare magnum, others Mare internum. [...]u­stathius calls it Mare Hesseri­um; and be­cause of France Spaine, Germa­nie, Brittaine, &c. it is to­ward the East, the Spaniards call it Mar de Levante. 1. The East Sea, al­though in holy Scripture it bee called Mare Occidental [...], as being West frō Hierusalem. Mediterranean, the other the The Ocean is so called from the Greek word [...]. 1. [...] as Se­linus affirmeth, and hath beene called Mare Atlanticum, or the Atlanticke Se [...] [...]s it is evi­dent in Tullies Semnium Scip. where it is said, that every Country that is inhabited, is compassed a­bout with the Atlanticke Sea▪ which we call the Ocean. Ocean. The Ocean, which the holy Scripture doth call the gathering together of the wa­ters, doth exceed all the other Seas in bignesse and largenesse, and is spread abroad through the whole earth, and wandring with a winding course by diverse coasts of the world, and by the Shoares, Iles and Pro­montories of severall Nations, it changeth its name with those places. As in one place it is called the Westerne Ocean, in other places the Easterne, Aethiopian, Spanish, Atlanticke, Scythian, French, Brittish, Germane, Nor­therne, and Frozen, and elsewhere by moderne observation it is called Mare del Sur, or the peaceable Sea, the Archipelagus of Lazarus, the Indian Sea, Lantchidol. There are many Bayes belonging to it, as the Arabian, the Persian, the Gangeticke, the Great, the Sarmaticke, the Mexican, and the Ver­milian. There are two famous Streights of the Ocean, the one of This Streight is by diverse diversly called, sometime Fretum Hereuleum: Plinie lib. 3. cap. 5. calleth it Fretum Gaditanum: Avienus, Herculis v [...]am; and Herma, Strabo, Pietum columnarum; Livie, Fretum Oceani: Florus, Ostium Oceani; Ausonius, Fretum Iberum, &c. Gibral­tar, the other of This Streight deriveth its name from one Magellanus a Spaniard, who first discovered it about the yeare of our Lord 1520. Magellan, to which may be added Ania, which lyeth between the farthest Westerne parts of America, and the Easterne parts of Tartaria. The Mediterranean Sea divideth Africke from Europe, and hath diverse names according to the situation of diverse Countries. As the Iberian, the Balearick, the French, the Tuscane, the Sicilian, the Adriatick, the Ionian, Cretian, Aegyptian, Pamphilian, Syrian, Aegean, Myrtian, Icari­an, and the Sea of Propontis. Concerning the motion of the Sea, which they call the Tide, seeing it is a matter most worthy of admiration, we are to speake something of it in this place. The Tide is said to be a mo­tion of the Sea, wherby it floweth upward, & having finished his course, ebbeth backe againe. As there is one cause thereof so there are many e­vents and effects concerning it. For in some places there is little or no Tide at all. On the Northerne Coast of the Pacificke Sea, there is none. In the Tuscan, Tyrrhene, and Narbonian Sea, in the Celtiberian Sea at Bar­chino, and in the Mexican at Cuba, with the neighbouring Islands there is none at all. But elsewhere it is great; as at Bengala in the Indies neere to Ganges, in the Gothicke, Germane, Brittish, and Portugall Ocean, and so great in the Erythrean, that the despisers of holy Scriptures have fained, that Moses used to passe over on dry-land by the opportunitie of the Ebbe, which could not be, because even to Sues, which lyeth backward, the Sea covereth that Shoare; neither going backward doth it leave it so naked as that by its ebbing it should discover the lower parts, over which the Hebrewes passed. The Tides in the Ocean are alwaies greates then those in Bayes, yet are they more discerned about the shoares, then in the deep. [Page 7] But concerning them we will speake more in another place. The commo­dities of the Sea. The Sea is not altogether barren, but bringeth forth Fish, Plants, and pretious stones, and it is to be noted how Nature, with Dedalus cunning, hath re­presented in the Sea all the chiefest things which are seene either on the Earth, or in the Aire. I let passe the Sea-Elephants, the Sea-Hogges, the Torteises, Dog-fishes, Sea-calves, Sea-horses: I omit the Falcons and Sea-swallowes, seeing Nature hath exprest even man himselfe, in the Mairman, in the Siren, and Nereides: and also in the Monke-fish: as for the Corrall, the Pearles, the Amber, Gumme, Sponges, and infinite other things. Whom do they not worthily draw into the admiration and a­doration of Gods power? But of this wee have spoken sufficiently. Let us come now to the distribution of the Globe of the Earth. The Ancients have divided the Globe of the Earth sometimes into two parts, some­times into three: the division into three parts, Europe, Asia, Africke, or Libya, is most famous among the Ancients, to whom the new World was not yet knowne. But America being found, our age hath added that for the fourth part. Our Mercator doth distinguish this Globe of the Earth into three Continents: hee calleth that the first, which the Anci­ents divided into three parts, the second that which we now call Ame­rica: the third, the Southerne, or Magellanicke land. But we will divide the whole Globe into five patts, Europe, Africke, Asia, America, and the Southerne Land.

EUROPE, though it be least of all, yet with the chiefe Delineators of the terrestriall Globe, we will describe it in the first place, either for the excellencie of the soyle, or the company of the inhabitants, or in regard of their famous acts, who have hitherto possessed it. Pliny calleth it the Nurse of a People conquering all Nations, and the most beautifull part of the Earth: besides, though other parts be greater, and larger, yet they are lesse inhabited; and therefore for these and other causes wee may justly begin first with Europe, which was the most noble inheritance of And therfore by some called Iapetia. Europe, whence so called. Iaphet (who being Noahs eldest sonne enlarged his Territories even to the Land of his brethren, Sem and Cham) so much concerning the order: in the next place we must shew the Etymologie of the name. Herodotus noteth, that the originall of this name was not knowne: some say it was called so from one Europa a Whence also called Tyria. vid. Herod. l. 4. Tyrian, the daughter of Agenor King of the Phoenicians, of whom it is an ancient Vid. O vid. l. 3. Metamorph. fable, that Jupiter having, transformed himselfe into a Bull, and having set her on his backe, carried her from Sydon into Creete, or Cyprus. Others rejecting fables, do thinke she was carried away in a ship built in the forme of a Bull: Others say it was a ship which had the protection of Iupiter, and the image of a Bull upon it. Palephatus of Creete writeth, that it was a ship called the Bull, which brought away from the Tyrian Countrie, Europa the Kings daughter as captive, with other maids: Some do suppose that it was a militarie Legion, which among other Ensignes had one Standard with the figure of a Bull in it. Some say it was so called in regard of the beau­tie of this Region which may be compar'd to a Virgine, carried away for the love of her beautie. And some (not unlikely) have said, that it was called so from Europus, who, as it is left to memory, had heretofore a Kingdome in this part of the World. Becanus, beeing unwilling to be per­suaded that Europe hath a Greeke name, seeing the Cimmerians did inha­bit it before the Greekes, & the former had a different Language from the latter, thinketh that it was so called from the excellencie of the people. For the monasyllable H [...]ylin in his Geographie. pag 29. derides this derivation with Oh the wit of man! VER, being pronoūced by the dipthong, signifies some great and excellent thing; and HOP, doth denote a multitude of men. The Asiaticans do generally at this day call the Europeans Franki­men: the Turkes call those of the Romish Religion Franki, and those Romei who are addicted to the Greeke Religion. The Abyssines in Africke, which divers Records do testifie, do call us Alfrangues, and the Christi­ans Countrie Frankia. So much for the Name: the Situation and Quan­titie followes: concerning which it is to be held, that Ptolomy, and other Ancient Writers did place Europe betweene the 4. & 9. Climes, between the 11. and 21. Parallels: betweene the Degrees of Latitude is the distance of a place, North or South from the Ae [...]uator or middle of the World. Latitude 36. and 54. and of Longitude is the distance of any place, East and West, from the chiefe Me­ridian, and is measured by the Degrees of the Aequator. Moderne Geo­graphers place the first Meri­dian, not as the Ancients in the Canaries, or [...]rtunate I [...]lands, but in the Iland of S. Michael, one of the 9. Azores in the Atlantick Sea. Longitude 17. and 61. but in our age, seeing the Declination of the Sunne, as it is observed, is changed, and many places are added to this our Europe, for they have now discovered to the 72. Degrees of La­titude [Page 9]

[Page 10] toward the North; a further description of Climes and Parallels hath beene devised, so that Europe is situated betweene the 4 ^th and 18 ^th A Clime is a space of the Earth compre­hended be­tween th [...]e [...] Pa­rallels, lesser in­nominne Cir­cles which compasse the Earth from [...]st to West. Climes serve to distin­guish the length of dayes in all places; in the first 24. from the Aequator, both North and South, eve­ry one length­ens the day halfe an houre, afterward they encrease by Weekes and Moneths, till it comes to the length of halfe a yeare. Climats; and betweene the Parallels 11. and 36. Lastly, betweene the degrees of Latitude 36. and 72. but almost betweene the degrees of Longitude 17. & 71. If it be considered from the Promontorie of Spaine, which is called at this day Cabo S. Vincentij, even to a right line drawne from the head of the River Tanais to the Northerne Ocean: but the shortest Longitude is betweene the 17 ^th and 58. degrees, counting it from the same Promontorie of Spaine, even to Malea a Promontorie of Pelo­ponesus, and excluding the Islands of the Aegean Sea, which may bee reckoned as part of Europe: so that the most Southerne parts of Europe are in the 36. degree of Latitude, as the Mountaine Calpe in Spaine, one of Hercules Pillars, the Southerne Promontory of Sicilie, heretofore cal­led Odyssia, and the head of Peloponnesus, or Morea, anciently Taenaria, and now Cabo Maini: in which places the longest day is 14. houres, and 30. minutes. But the most Northerne limits of it are in the 71 de­gree and a halfe, as the Promontory of Scandia, the farthest Land North­ward, now called Wardhuys, where the longest day is 2. moneths, 22. dayes, and 7. houres. Moreover, we make account that a line drawne straight forward from the head of Tanais to the Northerne Ocean is the Easterne limite of Europe, following the common account. For anci­ent Writers doe not agree concerning the Easterne boundes of Europe. Aristotle, Plato, Herodotus, and others who are of their opinion, doe divide Europe from Asia by the River or Isthmus of Phasis, which is be­tweene the Euxine and Caspian Sea. Dionysius, Arrianus, Diodorus, Poly­bius, Iornandes, doe divide it by the River Tanais. Abraham See Ortelius in his Thea­trum orbis ter­rarum. Ortelius makes the bounds of Europe toward the East to bee the Aegean Sea, the Euxine Sea, the Maeoticke Lake, the River Tanais, and the Isthmus which lyeth straight forward from the head Springs thereof towards the North; and others make other bounds. Ptolomaeus doth part Europe from Asia, by the same River of Tanais, and a line drawne from the head thereof toward the Northerne Sea. Now (wee subscribing unto him with other most skilfull Geographers, and descending from the Line and River of Tanais towards the South) let us with others place the Easterne bounds thereof in the Maeoticke Lake, the Cimmerian Bospho­rus, the Euxine Sea, the Thracian Bosphorus, the Propontis, and the Aegean Sea even to the Mediterranean Sea, which parts it from Africke South­ward: on the West, the great and wide Ocean beates upon it. Lastly, on the North it is encompassed with the Northerne Sea. Strabo doth attribute to it the forme of a Dragon, of which Spaine doth represent the head, France the necke, Germany the body, Italie and the Cimbrian Chersonesus the right and left winges. The tempe­ratenesse of the Aire. For the most part it enjoyes a temperate Aire, and milde Weather. Whence Europe is every where inhabited, although very incommodiously and hardly in those places which are beyond the 60 ^th degree of Latitude, in regard of cold. And it doth not onely farre excell the other parts of the World in the won­derfull temperatenesse of the Climate, temper, pleasantnesse, and great company of the inhabitants; The fertility of the Soyle. but also in the abundance of Fruits, Trees, Plants, all kinde of living Creatures, Mettals; and in the plentie of all [Page 11] other things which are necessarie to sustaine mans life. Yet it hath not vines everywhere, but where wine is wanting it supplies the defect thereof with drinke made of fruits. This (for here I cannot refraine from praising it) is the mother of the Conquerours of the World. The governmēt of the Anci­ents, and their successours. Here Ma­cedon did heretofore bring forth Alexander, Italie the Romanes: who in a certaine succession (God in his Eternall Providence so decreeing) did conquer the whole World, so farre as it was knowne: and Germany doth at this day bring forth Princes of great Prowes. Have not here beene borne many noble Heroes, which have added to their Empire America unknowne (as the most do suppose) to the Ancients, and the better and stronger parts of Asia, and Africke? Is it not the onely mother of many Kings and Princes fighting in Christs cause? This our See Ortelius in his booke before cited. Europe, besides the Romane Empire, hath above eight and twentie Kingdomes instructed in Christian Religion, if we adde the foureteene, which Damianus à Goes reckons to be in Spaine, whence wee may estimate the dignitie of this Countrie: what shall I speake of the populousnesse, and renowne of the cities thereof. Heretofore Africa hath beene proud of her Carthage, Asia hath beene puffed up with her three Cities, Babilon, Ninivie and Hieru­salem. America doth glory at this day in Cusco, and new Spaine in Mexi­co: but who seeth not in these times the like and greater, almost in eve­ry Countrie of Europe? Let any one in his minde onely walke over Italy (for this doth afford an example of all the rest) the sumptuous magnifi­cence of Rome, the Royall wealth of Venice, the honourable Nobilitie of Naples, the continuall commerce and traffique of Genoa, the happie and fertile pleasantnesse of Millaine, and the famous wonders, and com­modities of other places. So that the other parts of the World may be silent, for none are equall to Europe. The Countries in it (as they are now called) are Spaine, France, Germanie, Italie, Hungarie, Transilvania, Dalma­tia, Greece, Poland, Lithuania, Moscovie, Russia, Denmarke, Swethland, Norway: besides the Isles in the Northerne Ocean, which are, England, Scotland, Ireland, Island, Frisland, and others in other places; and those in the Me­diterranean Sea, as the Baleares, which are two Isles in the Spanish Sea cal­led Majorica and Minorica, also Corsica, Sardinia, Sicilia, with the Isles of Malta, Corfu, Creete, and many others. And as for the Lakes, The Lakes and Rivers. standing Pooles, Rivers, and Waters having diverse vertues in them, which (be­side their fish, whereof they yeeld an incredible company) are as it were a wall unto Countries, who can number them? What should I mention the Seas? The Seas. it would be tedious in this place to reckon up their commodi­ties, profits, and delights, these things shall therfore be unfolded in their proper places. Europe doth not want Mountaines, among which the Pi­renean hills, and the Alpes, are alwaies white with continuall snow, and it hath many woods and forrests, which afford pasturage for cattell, The publique & private workes. The Lawes & Institutions. and have few harmefull beasts in them. What should I speake of the private or publique workes, both sacred and profane that are in this part of the World? Here are innumerable magnificent Temples, innumerable Abbies, many famous Pallaces of Kings, innumerable faire and magni­ficent houses belonging to Noble-men and Princes: and many rare buildings, both publique and private. We have here Justice and Lawes: we have the dignitie of It is obser­vable that there is no part of Europe, whe­ther Continent or Island, that hath not long since beene Christened. Christian Religion, we have all the delights of [Page 12] mankinde, The company of Senators. we have the strength of Armes, innumerable Senators, Men venerable both for Wisedome and Learning: and if you please to com­pare famous men together, there was never so great a company of He­roes, and Noble men in other parts of the World, as in any one part of Europe. Besides, this part of the World is so studious of Arts and Sci­ences, that for the invention and preservation of many things, it may worthily be called, The Vniversi­ties the Mother and Nurse of Wisedome. In this are ma­ny excellent and flourishing Who number it no lesse then [...]8. Universities, but in other Countries there is nothing but meere Barbarisme. It would be too much to reckon up the vertues of the Inhabitants; but as for the vices (as who is without some?) they are noted in some short sayings, which I will here adde: The people of Franconia are foolish, rude, and vehement. The Bavarians are prodigall, gluttons, and railers. The Grisons are light, talkative, and braggers. The manners of the people. The Turingi are distrustfull and contentious. The Saxons dis­semblers, craftie, selfe-willed. The Low-country-men are horsemen, de­licate, and tender. The Italians proud, desirous of revenge, and wittie. The Spaniards haughtie, wise, covetous. The French eloquent, intempe­rate, and rash. The People of Denmarke and Holsteine, are great of stature, seditious, and dreadfull. The Sarmatians great eaters, proud, and stealers. The Bohemians inhumane, new-fangled and robbers. The Illyrians un­constant, envious, seditious. The Pannonians cruell, and superstitious. The Greekes miserable. And there is another saying no lesse pleasant. A Bridge in Poland, a Monke of Bohemia, a Knight of the South, a Nunne of Suevia, the Devotion of Italie, the Religion of Prutenicks, the Fasts of Germans, and the Constancie of Frenchmen are nothing worth.

AFRICKE followes: which was so called, if we beleeve Nisias, from Afer a companion of Hercules, who accom­panied him even as faire as Calis. But if we trust Iosephus, and Isidorus, The name by whom & why given. from one of the posteritie of Abraham, whose name was Afer: or (as Festus doth suppose) from the Greek word And a pri­vativum. [...], which signifies cold, for it is free from cold, because the most part of it is situated betweene the The Tropicks are two nomi­nate Circles that be Parallel to the Aequa­tor, frō which the Northerne Tropicke, called the Tropicke of Cancer, is di­stant 23. de­grees [...]/2 and the Southerne, cal­led the Tropick of Capricorne, as much. Tropicks. The Arabians doe call it Fricchia, from the word Farruca, which with them signifies to di­vide: for Africke is almost divided from the other parts of the Earth. Or else it was so called from Ifricus a King of Arabia Foelix, who (they re­port) did first inhabite this Country. The Greekes call it Libya either from Libya the daughter of Epathus, or from the Greeke word [...], which signifies stonie, or because Libs or the Southwest-wind bloweth from thence. In the Scriptures it is called Chamesia; So called, from Cham the sonne of Noah, who inhabited this Country, See Psal 105.23. the Arabians, and Aethiopians doe call it Alkebula, and the Indians Besechath. The So stiled because when the Sunne is under that Aequinoctiall Circle in the Heaven, which answers to this on the Earth, the daies and nights be of one length Ae­quinoctiall Circle doth almost cut the middle part of Africke. The [Page 13]

[Page 14] Tropicks passe not beyond it, [...] either Northward or Southward, but it is stretched out beyond either of them ten degrees and more. It is boun­ded towards the North, with the Mediterranean Sea, and the Streights of Hercules; towards the East with the Arabian Bay, or the Erythraean Sea, and with the Isthmus which is betweene the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Bay; to the South it is washed with the Aethiopian Ocean: and on the West with the Atlanticke. It hath the forme of a Peninsula, which is joyned to Asia by the Isthmus above mentioned. And though the length thereof which lyeth from West to East, is shorter then the length of Europe; yet the length thereof from the North, toward the [...] Habassia, [...] the higher Aethiopia. South is such, as Europe can hardly be compared with it: for it taketh up almost 70 degrees, but Europe scarce 35. Beside, Europe is full of windings, but Africke is uniforme and continued. Europe (as I said before in the description thereof) is every where inhabited; but this is full of Deserrs and inhabitable places. That was formerly knowne, but not this: where it is inhabited, Africke doth excell in fruitfulnesse. But for the most part, The [...]. it is not inhabited, but full of barren Sands, and Desarts, and troubled with many kindes of living Creatures. It is reported that the fruitfulnesse of the fields is very wonderfull, and doth give the tillers such a harvest, as doth requite the labour with a hundred-fold increase for that which is sowne. That is wonderfull which is spoken of the fer­tilitie of Mauritania: viz. that there are Vines which two men cannot fadome about, and bunches of Grapes a cubit long. There are very high trees neare to the Mountaine Atlas, plaine and smooth without knots, and leaved like the Cypresse tree. Africke doth bring forth Ele­phants and Dragons, which lie in waite for beasts, and kill them with winding about them: besides, it hath a great number of Lyons, Buffs, or wilde Oxen, Libbards, wilde Goates, and Apes. Herodotus repor­teth, that Asses with hornes bred here, besides Dragons, Hyenaes, rough Wolves, begotten of the Wolfe and Hiena, Panthers and Ostriches, roughtd besides many kinds of Serpents, as Aspes, & Crocondiles, to which nature hath made the O RI [...]e of India, who stealeth into the Crocodiles mouth when he g [...]p th [...] and a [...]ng his bow­els killeth him. Ichneumon an enemie, &c. But, as the same Author wit­nesseth, there is neither Stagge nor Boare in it. Africke bringeth forth the Basiliske: and although many things are thought to be fabulous which are reported of him; Yet it is certaine that Leo being Pope, there was a Basiliske which infected Rome with a great plague by his noy­some breath. There are also divers kindes of Hence came the old pro­verbe, Africa semper aliquid apportat mon­st [...]i. Monsters, whose diversi­tie and multitude they ascribe to the want of water, whereby the wild beasts are enforced to come together at a few Rivers and Springs. The Romanes divided Africke into sixe Provinces. The Proconsularie Pro­vince, wherein was Carthage; Numidia, under the jurisdictin of a Con­sull; Bizacchius, Tripolitana, Mauritania Caesariensis, and Mauritania Siti­phensis. The Division. Ptolomie in the beginning of his fourth Booke doth reckon twelve Provinces or Countries, Mauritania Tingitana, Mauritania Caesa­riensis, Numidia, Africa properly so called, Cyrenaica or Pentapolis, (for so Ptolomie calls it) Marmarica, Lybia properly so called, the Higher and Lower Egypt, the Innermost Lybia, Aethiopia under Egypt, & the Inner­most Aethiopia. Leo Africanus doth divide all Africke into foure parts, Barbarie, Numidia, Lybia, and the Countrie of Black-Mores. But in this Leo [Page 15] is deceived, because hee hath not made the Red Sea the bound of Africke, but Nilus; whereby it comes to passe that hee joynes Egypt and the Easterne part to Asia. Let us therefore, besides those foure parts reckoned up of Leo, place in Africke, Egypt, the Higher Ae­thiopia, the Lower and outermost Aethiopia, and the Islands. Egypt is stretched forth in a long tract of Land, from the South unto the North. The bounds thereof, on the West side are the Desarts of Ba­rca, Lybia and Numidia beyond Nilus, together with the Kingdome of Nubia. On the South it is bounded with the Country of Bugia and Nilus, where it runneth a little from the West Eastward. On the Eastside there are the Desarts of Arabia, which lye betweene Egypt and the Red Sea; and on the North side it is enclosed with the Mediterranean Sea; Other things concerning Egypt wee will unfold in the particular De­scription thereof. At this day they call all that part of Africke, which reacheth from Egypt to the Straits of Gibraltar, and is included with the Mediterranean Sea and the Mountaine Atlas, Barbaria: and it containes the Kingdomes of Morocco, Fesse, Tremisen, Tunis, and Barca, of which wee will speake more largely in the Description of Barbarie. At this time it shall be sufficient to shew the Reader the division and bounds thereof. The Kingdome therefore of Morocco is divided into these Pro­vinces, Hea, Susa, Guzala, the Land of Morocco, Ducala, Hoscora, and Ted­letes: it is bounded with the Atlantick Ocean, with the Mountaine Atlas it selfe, and the Kingdome of Fesse. The Kingdome of Fesse hath on the West the Atlanticke Sea, on the North the Straits of Hercules, on the East the River Mulvia, on the South the Kingdome of Morocco. The Countries therein are Temesna, the Territory of Fesse, Asgara, Elhabata, Errifa, Gare­tum and Elchausum. The Kingdome of Tremisen, is bounded on the South with the Desart of Numidia, on the East with the great River, on the North with the Mediterranean Sea. The Kingdome of Tunis doth containe the whole tract of Land from the great River, to the River of the Countrie of Mestata. The Countries thereof are five, Bugia, Constan­tina, the Territorie of Tunis, Tripolis, and Ezzaba, Barcha now called, but that it was an [...]ly called Barca is evident [...]on of Virgil when hee saith, Late­que [...]. Barca, or Barcha is stretched forth from the borders of Mestata to the confines of Egypt. Numidia is called at this day Biledulgerid; the bounds thereof are the Atlanticke Sea on the West side, the Mountaine Atlas on the North, the confines of Egypt on the East, the Desarts of Libya on the South. The Regions thereof are Tesset, Tegelmessa, Seb, Biledulgerid, Dara and Fezzen. Lybia was called by the Ancients Sarra, because it is a Desart. It begin­neth from the Kingdome of Gagoa neere Nilus, and is extended toward the West, even to the Kingdome of Gualata, which lyeth neere to the Atlantick Sea, on the North the Kingdome of Numidia doth border on it, on the South the Kingdome of the Nigritans or Blackmoores. The Nigri­tans are so called either from the blacke colour of the inhabitants, or frō the black river which glideth through their Country. They have on the East the Confines, or the Borders of Nilus, on the West the Westerne O­cean, on the South partly the Aethiopian Sea, and partly the Kingdome of Manicongus; but on the North the desarts of Libya. The Kingdomes ther­of are five and twentie, namely, Galata, Gumea, Melli, Tombutum, Gago, Guber, Agadez, Cano, Caseva, Zegzeg, Zanfara, Gunangara, Boruum, Goago, [Page 16] Nubia, Biro, Temiamo, Dauma, Medra, Gora, the Territorie of Anterot, the Territorie of Giolosa, the Coast of Guinea, the Territorie of Meligens, and the Kingdome of Benin. The Abyssines do inhabit the higher or inner­most Aethiopia, whose Prince is called Abusively so called, but rightly Preste Iohan or Gyam, which in the Aethiopian tongue signifies Great or Migh­tie Prince. Prester Iohn. His Country is large, & doth almost touch either Tropicke, and it is extended betweene the Ae­thiopian and the So called frō the rednesse of the sands Red Sea, on the North it hath the people of Nubia and Bugia that borders on Egypt; on the East the Red Sea; on the South the Mountaines of the Moone; on the VVest the Kingdome of Manicongus, the River Niger, the Kingdome of Nubia, & the River Nilus. These King­domes are subject to him, Barnagnes, Tigremaum, Tigraim, in which is the Cittie Caxumo, Angote, Amara, Xoa, Goyami, Bagamedrum, Gueguere, Fa­tiagar, Damar, Dancali, and Dobas. The lower or outermost Aethiopia is the Southerne part of Africke, unknowne unto Ptolomie. The beginning thereof on the East side is above the River Zaire not farre from the Ae­quinoctiall, and it doth contain all the littorall part of Africk, and beyond the Aequinoctiall, even to the Straits of Arabia. The Regions thereof are five, first the Country of Ajana, in which are the Kingdomes Del, and Adea Magaduzzum. Secondly, the Countrie of Zanguibara, the King­domes whereof are, Melinda, Mombazza, Quiloa, Mozambique, Manoemu­ci, Cephala, Manomotapa, Torra, and Butua; the Kingdome of Cafria, and Manicong, in which there are sixe Provinces, Sunde, Pango, Songo, Bamba, Barra & Pemba, to which are added the Kingdomes of Angola, Loangi, & Anzichi. There are some very great Lakes in Africke, which seeme rather to be Seas, thē Lakes, of which the chiefest is Zembre, which is fifty miles in compasse, & out of it there flow the Rivers, Nilus, Zaire, and Cuama. Be­sides, this part of the VVorld hath great Rivers, as Nilus, Niger, Senaga, Cambra, Zaire, Cuama, & the River called the River of the Holy Ghost, all which by their overflowing do wonderfully water it, & make it fruitfull. It hath many great mountains, The Lakes. Rivers. Mountaines. amongst which the chiefe is So called frō Atlas, in times past [...] K. of the Moores, whom the Poets same to have beene Metamorpho­sed into this Mountaine this hill is now cal­led Anchisa: the inhabitants that dwell a­bout it name it Adiris; Soli­nus, Duris; o­thers call it A­strixis, or A­stre [...]xis. but Di­oscorider calleth it Tmolus. Atlas, who rising out of the vast sands lifteth up his high head above the clouds, so that the top thereof cannot be seene. The inhabitants call it the Pillar of Heaven. It beginneth from the VVest, where it gives the name to the Atlanticke Sea, and from thence by a continued winding ridge it exten­deth it selfe towards the East: towards the borders of Egypt it is round, rugged, steepe, and unpassable by reason of steepe rockes; also wooddy, and watered with the breaking forth of springs. The top of this Moun­taine is covered even in the Summer with deepe snow: yea sometime the backe thereof (if the North wind be sharpe) is covered with a snow deeper then the highest tree, whereby both men and cattell do perish. There is another very high mountaine called This Moun­taine is called by Ptolomie, Pliny, and o­thers, Deorum cursus. Sierra Liona, whose top is alwaies hid with clouds, from whence a terrible noise is heard at Sea, so that it is called the Mountaine of Lions. The Mountaines also of the Moone, much renowned by the Ancients, are here placed under the Tropicke of Capricorne: they are very rugged, of an incredible heigth, and inhabited by wild people; and neere them there are such low and deepe valleies, that it may seeme that the Center of the Earth is there. Lastly, there are the Mountaines Cantaberes in the Kingdome of Angola, verie rich in silver mines, and other which wee will mention in our particu­lar Descriptions. The chiefe Islands about Africke are these. In the [Page 17] Atlanticke Ocean, there is the Isle called, Portus Sancti, or the Isle of the Holy Port: Madera, the Canarie Islands, and Caput Viride, or the Greene Cape. The Isle of the Holy Port was so called from the disco­verers, who having failed thither with much danger and difficultie, would have this place so called in memory thereof. The compasse of it is about fifteene miles. Madera tooke his name from the great plen­ty of trees that grew here. The circuit of it is about an hundred and forty miles. The Canaries were so called from the multitude of dogges that were found there: they were called by the Ancients, the So named either frō t [...]n fruitfulness or goodnesse of A [...]e as Stepha­nus thinketh. Fortunate Islands▪ Pliny doth mention sixe: Ombrio, Innonia the greater, and lesser, Capraria, Navaria, and Canaria. Ptolomie calls them Aprosuum, Hera, or Autolala, Pluitalia, Casperias, Canaria and Centuria, and doth place them all almost in a right Line towards the North. Ca­damustus maketh ten, seaven tilled, three desert: the names of those that are manured are the Islands of Fracta Lancea, Magna Sors, Grand-Canarea, Teneriffa, Gomera, Palma, and Ferro. Cape Verde, or the greene Cape is planted with greene Trees, and from hence it hath that name. The Isles thereof toward the West, doe lie in the midst of the Ocean: as the Islands of S. Anthony, S. Vincent, S. Lucia, S. Nicholas, the Island of Salt, Bonavista, Maggio or May, Saint Iames, and the Island cal­led Insula del fuego. In the Aethiopian Ocean are the Islands, called Insula Principis and Saint Thomas his Island. Behinde the Promontory called Caput Bonae spei, or the Cape of good Hope, there are other Islands, but none inhabited except the Island of Saint Laurence.

The name by whom & why [...]n. ASIA succeeds Africke in my division. This name was allotted it from the Nymph Daughter to [...]anus and Teth [...]. Asia (as Varro wit­nesseth) of whom and Iapetus Prometheus was borne: Others say it was so called either of Asius the sonne of Atys, or from Asius the Philosopher, who gave the Pal­ladium of Troy to the custodie of the Citie, for which, that they might gratifie him, his whole dominions (which before was called Epirus) they called Asia. And from hence afterward, as from the more noble part, all the whole tract of Land began to bee called [...] Asia. Moreover, as Lybia doth both signifie a third part of the World, and a part of this part: So it is observed, that Asia doth signifie both the whole Continent, and that part which is hem'd in with the Mountaine Taurus, wherein doe dwell the Lydians, the Carians, the Lycaonians, Paph­lagonians, Ionians, Aeolians, and others; which part, for distinction sake, is commonly called Asia the Lesse: the Turkes call it From the Greeke wo [...]d [...], wha [...]h signifieth the East, because it lyeth East­ward of Asia the Great. Natolia. There is saith Varro, Lib. 4. an Asia which is distinguisht from Europe, in which is Syria: and there is an Asia which is called the former part of Asia, in which is Ionia, and our Province. But all Asia is called in the Holy Scrip­tures From [...]m the [...]me of Noah. Semia. It is almost wholly situated in the Northerne part of the World from the Aequinoctiall Circle, to the 80 ^th degree of Northerne Latitude, except some Ilands pertaining to Asia, some whereof are stretched out beyond the Aequator Southward. Hence arises a great dif­ference through all Asia, The Situation. in the length of the artificiall dayes. For in the last Parallel, which is drawne not farre from the Aequinoctiall, the longest day is almost twelve houres. About the middle of Asia, the longest day is fifteene houres, and in the most Northerne Parallel their light continually endureth almost for foure whole Moneths in Summer. According to the Longitude, Asia is stretched forth from the Meridi­an of 52. degrees, even to the Meridian of 196. according to some: but if we follow the description of Mercator, the most Westerne Meridian thereof passeth through the 57 ^th degree neare to the furthest Westerne part of Asia the Lesse; and the most Easterne Meridian through the 178 ^th degree. On the North it hath the Scythian Sea, on the South the Indian, on the East the Easterne Sea, on the West the Bay of Arabia, or the red Sea; the Mediterranean and Euxine Seas. And as in the higher part it cleaveth to Europe, so in the Southerne part it is joyned to Africke by an Isthmus: yet Pliny and Strabo with some others doe stretch out Asia e­ven to Nilus, The tempe­ratenesse of the Aire and doe reckon all Egypt to Asia. In Asia the face of the skie is both pleasant and wholesome, the Aire milde and temperate. Yet all Asia doth not feele this temperatenesse: for the right hand and left hand parts thereof are exceeding hot and cold. The pleasantnesse of this Country is so great, that it became a Proverbe: All the Land is so renowned both for the fertilitie of the fields, The fertilitie of the So [...]le. the varietie of fruits, and large pasturing of cattell, and for the abundant plenty of those things [Page 19]

[Page 20] which are exported, that it doth easily excell all other Countries. Here is wonderfull plenty of Fruits, Spices, and Mettalls. Hence we receive Balsam, sweet Canes, Frankincense, Myrrhe, Cassia, Cinnamon, Gari­ophylus, Pepper, Saffron, sweet Woods, Rozine, Muske, and all kinde of precious stones. Here we may behold many different sorts of living Creatures. The various kindes of li­ [...]ing Creatures. For it bringeth forth a number of Elephants, Camells, and many other living Creatures both tame and wilde: we may here also admire the wits, riches, and power of the Inhabitants. Here Man was first created by God; here was the first Seat of the Church of God; here Artes were first invented; here were Lawes first made; here the Doctrine of the Gospell first granted to miserable mortall men, with the hope of Salvation through Jesus Christ the Sonne of God. Here the confusion of Languages was sent downe amongst men, in the destru­ction of the Tower of Babel. The government of th [...] Ancients. Here first Dominion over inferiours be­gan. Here Nimrod began to raigne, of whom we reade in Cap. 10. vers. 8.9.10. Genesis. But the first Monarchs of the whole Country of Asia were the Assyrians, the last whereof was Sardanapalus, a man given to wantonnesse, and effe­minate softnesse, who being found by Se [...] Iust [...]n. lib. 1. and Diodo­ [...]us Siculus, lib. 2. cap. 7. Arbactus amongst a crew of whores, and not long after being overcome by him in battaile, hee made a great fire, and cast himselfe and his riches thereinto. Afterward the Empire came to the Persians: Among whom Whom Iunius saith, the Scrip­ture calles Ah­asuerus. Either 1.4. Xerxes the sonne of This is meant of Darius the son of Histaspi [...]. Darius did maintaine a warre, begun by his father, five yeares against Greece, and he brought out of Asia into Europe an army of ten hundred thousand men, and passed them over a bridge which he built over Hel­lespont: he came also accompanied with Herodotus reckons all his forces by Sea and Land to be 2641610 men. besides Con [...]uoines, Eunuchs, wo­men bakers & [...] an [...] ten hundred thousand ships, but with a vaine endeavour; for he that durst threaten God, insult over the Sea, put fetters upon Neptune, darken the Heavens, levell Mountains, and shake the whole World, was faine, his army being put to flight, to passe over the narrow Sea in a fisher-boate, the Bridge being broken by the tempests of Winter. Darius was the last Persian Emperour, whose be­ing conquered & overcome by Alexander, made way to the Monarchie of the Macedonians, for Alexander did first translate it out of Asia into Europe. All Asia, according to the severall government thereof, may thus be divided. The first part is under the Turkes command, the origi­nall whereof is from Mahomet, and is a large Territory. The Duke of Moscovia doth possesse a second part, enclosed with the frozen Sea, the River Oby, the Lake Kitaia, and a Line drawne thence to the Caspian Sea, and to the Isthmus which is betweene this Sea and Pontus. The Great Cham Emperour of Tartarie doth possesse the third part, whose borders on the South are, the Caspian Sea, the River Iaxartes, and the Mountaine Imaus; on the East and North the Ocean: on the West the Kingdome of Moscovia. The King of Persia, called the Sophie, hath the fourth. This hath on the West side the Turke; on the North the Tartarian, on the South it is washed with the Red Sea, but on the East with the River In­dus. The fift part doth containe India, both on this side and beyond Ganges; which is not governed by one alone, but by many Rulers, for every Country thereof hath almost a severall Prince, some whereof are tributarie to the great Cham. The sixt part contayneth the large King­dome of China. The seaventh containeth all the Islands scattered up and [Page 21] downe in the Indian and Easterne Sea. Among which are Tabrobana and Zetlan, the two Iava found out not long since by the Portugalls, Bor­neo, Celebes, Palohan, Mindanao, Gilolo, with the spice bearing Moluccoes, also Iapan, with Nova Guinea lastly found out; concerning which it is not yet known whether it be an Island, or joyned to the Southern Continent. But the Ancients, as Strabo and Arrianus, have made many divisions of it. Ptolomie doth divide it into 47. Countries and Provinces, the de­scription whereof hee delivers in his fift, sixt, and seaventh Bookes of Geographic, and doth set them forth in twelve Tables. It hath three Cities famous through the whole World, Babylon, Ninivie, The Cities. and Ierusa­lem. It hath great Lakes full of fish, Lakes and the Caspian Sea in manner of a Lake, which never commeth to the Ocean. Also many Rivers, Rivers. among which the chiefest are Tigris, Euphrates, which Moses mentioneth in Ge­nesis, Iordane, Indus, Ganges, &c. Here are also great and wonderfull Mountaines, Mountaines. among which is the Mountaine Eustathius affirmeth that this Mountain was so called by the reason of its magni­tude, for, saith he, among the Ancients all great & strong things were called [...], and as it is cal­led Taurus, & many other names by hu­mane Writers so the Scripture calleth it Ara­rath, if we shall beleeve A [...]a [...] Montanus and Becanus. Taurus, which comming from the Easterne shoare, divides all Asia; on the right hand where it first riseth from the Indian Sea, it beareth Northwards: on the left hand, it is Southerne and bending toward the West, untill the Seas meet with it: as here the Phaenician, & the Ponticke. There the Cas­pian and Hyrcanian Seas, together with the Meoticke Lake; as if Nature on purpose had opposed it: But though this Mountaine bee shut as it were betweene these bounds, yet with many windings it runneth forth even as far as the neighbouring Cliffs of the Rhiphaean Mountains, being famous wheresoever it goeth; and knowne by many new names. At first it is called Imaus, and by and by Emodus, Paropanisius, Circius, Cham­bades, Pharphariades, Croates, Oreges, Oroandes, Niphates, and Taurus: where it doth as it were exceed it selfe Caucasus, where it spreadeth its armes as if it would embrace the Sea, Sarpedon, Coracesius, and Cragus, and againe Taurus. But where it openeth it selfe, it taketh its name from the Havens, which are sometimes called the Armenian, elsewhere the Caspian, and Cilician. The bredth of it in most places is three thou­sand furlongs, which is 5625. Italian Heylin saith, that reckoning its severall bendings in & out, it is 6250. miles long, & 375. miles broad p. 519. The publicke workes. miles: that is, from the Coast of Rhodes, even to the farthest bounds of China and Tartaria. But of these things enough. I passe now to the publicke workes, which have beene heretofore very stately and magnificent, and worthy to bee numbred among the seaven Miracles of the World. Amongst them the first were the walls of Babylon, which See Iustin Hist. lib. 1. Semiramis built, or at least did repaire being ruinate, with brickes joyned and laid in a pitchy kind of mortar, they were two hundred foot high and fiftie broade, so that Chariots might meet thereon; they had three hundred Towers, and should have had more, but that in some parts the Marshes were insteed of walls. It is reported that for this so great a worke three hundred thousand workemen were employed. Herodotus reporteth, that the walls of Babylon were fiftie royall cubits thicke, and two hundred high, and round about there were placed in them a hundred brazen Gates. The second was the Temple of Diana of Ephesus, which was built by all Asia in two hundred and twenty yeares, as Histories doe testifie: And it was seated in a Moorish place, least it should be endangered by Earth­quakes; And least they should place the foundation of so great a buil­ding [Page 22] upon unfirme ground, they strewed it over with coales trodden downe, and on it they laid fleeces of wooll. The length of the Temple was 425. feet, the breadth 220. The Pillars in it were an hundred and seaven and twenty, all made by severall Kings, of which 36. were car­ved: Ctesiphon was the overseer of the worke. There was also a Monu­ment which Artemesia Queene of Caria did erect in memory of her de­ceased husband, which is to bee counted among the wonders of the World; it being 25. Cubits high, and compassed about with thirty Pil­lars: it was sixe and thirty foote wide Northward and Southward. Lastly, there was that magnificent Temple, which Salomon began to build in the fourth yeare of his raigne, not unfit to be reckoned with the seaven wonders of the World. First of all, Read 1. King. chap. 5. and 6. thirty thousand men were set to cut trees, as Cedars and Cypresse in Lebanon: and there were fourescore thousand stone-cutters. The bredth of the Temple was twenty Cubits, the length sixtie, and the height an hundred and twen­ty. The matter of the nethermost building was of white stone: the largenesse of the Porch was ten Cubits, there were twenty secret cham­bers, passing one into another, and others placed under these. The beames were of Cedar, the roofes of Cedar guilded over, and the walls in like manner: The Sanctuary of the Holy place was distinguished from the body of the Temple with a wall, in which were carved gates, with drawing Curtaines enterwoven with many flowers and winding borders: besides two Cherubins of pure gold, the pavement under foot was beset with studdes of gold: the gates were twenty Cubits in height, and twelve in compasse. There was a brazen vessell of so great a big­nesse, that it was fitly called the Sea; round about which stood twelve Calves, three together, and looking severally toward the foure corners of the World. This vessell did hold three thousand measures contain­ing 72. Sextaries. There were also other figures, which it would be too long to rehearse. There was a brazen Altar of ten foot height, & double as much in length. Also one golden Table, and ten thousand golden Pots and Dishes, &c. But let these things suffice which have beene spo­ken of this part of the Word: I come now to America the fourth part of the World.

America, whence so cal­led. WHen Christophorus Columbus had In the yeare 1492. found out this fourth part of the World unknowne to the Ancients; some call it But impro­perly, for the true India is a part of Asia, & deriveth its name from the River Indus, which this Country can­ [...]ot. India, others for the largenesse of it Novus Orbis, or the new World: for it is as great and bigge as all our World, that is, Europe, Africke, and Asia, being joyned together: as it may appeare by viewing our generall Table. It is called also A­merica from Americus Vesputius a Florentine, who next after Columbus dis­covered the Easterne part of the Southerne America: in which are the Countries of Paria and Brasilia; but it is uncertaine when America began first to be inhabited: certaine it is, that for many ages it lay unknowne; [Page 19]

[Page 24] for that which some suppose concerning the Romans, is more easily said then proved, and that fiction is accurately refuted by Gasparus Varrerius. Some suppose that Venient an­ [...] s [...]la seris, quibus occanus vin [...]ula rerum laxet, & in­gens pateat tel­lus, nec sit terris ultima [...]hule. Seneca by Poeticall inspiration did sing some rap­tures concerning it in his Medea: but it is madnesse to suppose that these parts in that age were knowne either to him or any other. Christo­phorus Columbus of Borne at Nervi in the Countrie of Genoa. Genoa, after it had beene many ages unknown unto us, did first finde it out being employed by the King of Castile, after hee had learnt it out, (as some beleeve that would detract from the glory of so famous an enterprise) from a certain Spanish Marriner, who had long endured foule weather on the Atlanticke Sea; it was performed in the yeare 1492. After him Americus Vesputius did attempt the same for the King of Portugall, and brought backe the reward of his enterprise, because (as we said) the whole Continent is called from his name Ame­rica. The Situation. The whole Country from the North to the South, is stretched out in the forme of two great Peninsulaes, which are joyned together by a slender Isthmus: the one of them is called Northerne America, the other, Southerne America. The Longitude thereof is extended be­tweene the Meridionall degree 190, and the Meridionall degree 67. The terme of its Latitude towards the South, is the Straits of Magellane, that is, under the degree 52. and towards the North, it is not knowne high­er then 67. It hath therefore on the East the Atlanticke Sea, which they commonly call Del Nort; on the South, the Southerne Land of Magel­lane, disjoyned from it by a narrow Sea flowing betweene: on the West, Mare Pacificum, or the Peaceable Sea, called Mare Del Zur; and on the North it is doubtfull whether there bee Land or Sea. The whole compasse in sayling round about it, is about 32000 miles, as the most approved thinke. For it hath beene sayled round about, except that Country which lyeth Northward, whose coasts are not yet discovered. The whole Country is changeable and full of varietie; at first it wan­ted both Corne and Wine: but instead thereof it bringeth forth Read Heylin. pag 770. Maiz. a kinde of pulse, for so they call it; as they call Wine Chichia, boates Canoas, their Princes Cacicos. They do not plough the ground to reape, but having digged trenches of a small depth, they put three or foure granes in one of them, and so cover them with earth. The severall stalkes doe beare three or foure eares, and every one of the eares doe beare three or foure hundred graines and more. The stalke of Mayz doth exceed the height of a man, and in some Countries it is gathered twice in a yeare. They have also another kinde of bread, beside that which they make of Maiz, which they call Or Cassader. Cazabi. This is made of Iucca, which is a roote of the bignesse of a Turnep, which sendeth forth no seed, but certaine knottie, hard stalkes, cloathed with greene leaves like Hempe. Those stalkes when they are ripe, they cut into peeces of two hands length, which they bury in heapes under the earth; and as oft as they would make that kinde of bread, they digge up of them as much as they thinke good, because they will soone be corrupted and grow naught. Moreover, there are two other kindes of rootes, the one they call the Or Potatoes. Battata, the other the Haia, almost alike in shape, but that the Haiae are lesse and more savory: they ea [...]e the fruite of them within sixe Moneths after they are planted, which though they have a kinde [Page 25] of sweet taste, yet such as will soone cloy one; beside, they have but little juyce, and doe procure winde in the stomacke. Those Countries have also a great number of trees, which doe bring forth wilde Grapes. Their Grapes are like Sloes which grow upon thornes and bushes, and are covered with blacke leaves: but because they are more woody then juycie, therefore the inhabitants doe not make wine of them. There are in this Country Trees bearing Olives, but such as are of an unpleasant smell, and of a worse taste: and diverse other kindes of fruits in great abundance, as those which they call Hovi, Platani, Pineae, Guiavae, Ma­mei, and Guanavanae; it bringeth forth Sugar, Cotton-wooll, Hempe, and other things as with us, beside divers sorts of strange Trees and Herbes. It hath sweet Spices, Pearles and pretious stones; it aboundeth with incredible plenty of Gold and Silver, and with other Mettalls, and Mi­neralls. But it had not when it was discovered, either Oxen, Horses, Mules, Asses, Sheep, Goates, or Dogges. Wherefore it is no wonder if the inhabitants were strucken with amazement at the first sight of a Horse. Mice were first brought thither by a Ship of Antwerpe, which sayled very farre through the Straight of Magellane. Since which time either by the fruitfulnesse of the Country, or of the Creatures them­selves, they are multiplyed and increased in so exceeding a manner, that they spoyle the fruits of their harvest by knawing the hearbes and trees. It doth bring to us divers living Creatures, partly knowne to us, and partly unknowne. Among other things there is found a prodigi­ous Beast, which hath on her belly another belly placed in the likenesse of a purse: and as often as she changeth her denne, she hides and car­ries her young ones in that bagge. This Creature hath the body and snowte of a Foxe, the feete and hands of a Monkey, and the eares of a Batte. There is also another kinde of Creature (which the inhabitants doe call Cascuij) like a blacke Hogge, hairy, hard skinned, having little eyes, broade eares, cloven hoofes, armed with a short trunke or snowte like an Elephant; and having so terrible a cry or braying, that he makes men deafe: but his flesh is sweet to eate. Here is found a great com­pany of wilde Boares, and fierce Tigers; and Lyons also, but those ve­ry fearefull, and such as will runne away at the sight of a man. Here are also Peacocks, Phesants, Partridges, and divers other kindes of Birdes, but farre differing from ours: But of these wee will speake more largely in our particular descriptions. All America is divided (as wee said before) into two great Peninsulaes, whereof the one, which lyeth on this side of the Aequinoctiall, is called the Northerne America; the other the Southerne, because the greatest part of it is stretched out beyond the Aequinoctiall: although some Countries of it are neare unto the Aequi­noctiall. The Northerne America is divided into many Regions, as namely, Quivira, Nova Hispania, Nicaragua, Iucatan, Florida, Apalchen, Norumbega, Nova Francia, Terra Laboratoris, and Estotilandia. There are many parts of the Southerne America, but these are the chiefest which have already been gotten and taken from the Savages: as Castella aurea, Plopaiana, Peruvia, Chile, and Brasilia: It doth glory especially in two Cities, Cusco and Mexico. Cusco is the Metropolis or chiefe Citie of Southerne America, which, both for bignesse, strength and magnifi­cence, [Page 26] for the invincible fortification of the Castle, and the great com­pany of nobility; for the order and placing of the houses, and for plea­santnesse of situation, may worthily compare with the fairest Cities of France or Spaine. No common people are admitted into it, but it is the seate of Noble men and great Princes, who in that Country doe live in great numbers, partly within the walls of the Citie, and partly in Villa­ges neare the Citie. Here are foure especiall Pallaces of Noble men, who doe governe the Common-wealth, which are stately and with great cost built with square carved Marble stone. And all the streets being straight, in many places make the forme of a Crosse, and through every one a pleasant River runneth in a channell walled on each side with stone. The forme of the Citie is foure square, lying sweetly on the side of a hill: on the steepe ascent of a Mountaine, a wonderfull faire Tower doth adorne the Citie, whose beauty or largenesse if you consider, those which have viewed many Countries, have seene few in all Europe like unto it. Mexico or Temistitan is a rich and famous Citie in Nova Hispania, whereof wee will treate hereafter in the description of Nova Hispania: now we proceed to other things. This part of the World is watered with many famous Rivers, The Lakes & Rivers. the most whereof doe bring downe gold; and it is full of Lakes and Springs In the Lakes and Rivers there are great plenty of fish: among which there is one kinde of them of chiefe note, which by the inhabitants of Hispaniola are called Manati. This Fish is somewhat like a Trout; he is five and twenty foot long, and twelve foote thicke, in his head and tayle hee resembles an Oxe; he hath small eyes, a hard and hairy skinne, of a light blew co­lour, and two feete like an Elephant. The femalls of this kinde of fish doe bring forth their young ones, as Cowes doe, and doe let them sucke at their two dugges. The Moun­taines. Here are also very many Mountaines, a­mong which, as Benso witnesseth, is a fire-vomiting Mountaine, which out of its hollow mouth doth send forth such great flakes of fire, that the blazing of it in the night doth cast forth a light which may bee seene above an hundred miles. Some have supposed that the gold mel­ting within, doth afford continuall matter to the fire. For a certaine Dominican Frier, when he would make tryall thereof, caused a vessell of gold to bee made with an iron chaine: and afterward going to the Mountaine with foure other Spaniards, he let downe the vessell with the chaine into the hole of the hill; and there by the heate of the fire the vessell with part of the chaine was melted: and having tryed it againe with a bigger chaine, it hapned to melt againe in the same manner. Here the Cities generally are stately built, the wayes paved, and the houses very faire and beautifull. It is reported that here was a Kings garden, wherein herbes and trees, with their bodie, boughs, and fruits did stand of solid gold, and as bigge as those which grow in Orchards. And it is reported that here was a Kings Conclave, in which there were all kindes of living Creatures, made of precious stones, partly painted, and partly inlaid, and engraven. That which is reported concerning the two wayes in this Country is worthy of memory, the one whereof lyeth through the rough Mountaines, the other stretcheth through the plaine fields, from Quito a Citie of Peru, to the Citie Cusco, for the [Page 27] space of five hundred miles. The beauty of this worke is encreased, by many wonderfull heapes of stones, which were not brought thi­ther by the strength of Horses, or Oxen, (both which the inhabitants wanted) but by the hands of men. The field way is defended on both sides with walls, and it is five and twenty foote broade, within which little streames doe runne, having their bankes planted with shrubby trees, which they call Molli. The other being hewed out of stones and rockes, passeth through the middle of the Mountaines, having the same bredth: Moreover the way in the uneven and lower part of the Val­leyes, is fortified with fences, as the nature of the Country requires. These wayes King Gninacava (who lived not long since) caused to to be clensed, and the ruinous walls to be repaired and adorned, other­wise the worke is more ancient, and there were placed all along by the way side Innes both faire, and pleasant, (they call them Tambi) in which all the Kings traine were received. And let this suffice concer­ning the foure parts of the World in generall: now our method doth require that we should describe particularly the partes of Europe, which was set before in the first place.

HAving made (courteous Reader) a Generall Description of the whole Globe, and the foure parts thereof methodical­ly, and according to the order of nature; I purpose, in Imi­tation of Ptolomie the Prince of Cosmographers, to begin the Geographie of particular Countries from the Pole it selfe and the Countries lying round about it, that so descending from the higher to the lower parts, and proceeding from the left hand to the right hand, I may by degrees joyne the North with the South, and the West with the East, which I pray God may be profitable to the Com­mon-wealth. The Pole is the extremitie, or end of the Axis, which is a Line drawne through the Center of the Globe, the Latines call it vertex. There are two Poles, the Northerne, and the Southerne. The Northerne is that which is alwaies beheld towards the North, and therefore also it is called the Northerne and So called for its nearnesse to a constellation in the North Hemisphere called [...] which signifieth a Beare. Articke Pole. The Southerne, is that which appeareth to those onely which dwell toward the South, and therefore it is called the Meridionall, Southerne, and So called be­cause it is oppo­site to the Ar­ticke Pole. Greenland, whence so cal­led. Antarticke Pole. And thus much in this place shall suffice concerning the Poles. I come to the Countries situate round about the Articke Pole: which are Groen­landia or Greeneland, Frizlandia, or Freesland, Nova Zembla with some others, of which wee will entreat briefely as farre as they are knowne. The London Marchants call this Island K. Iames his new Land. The qualitie of the Aire and Soyle. Groenlandia, or Greeneland is so called from the greennesse thereof, & is an Island for the most part yet unknown, it is situate betweene the Nor­therne Circle & the Pole, the farthest paralels therof towards the South are the Degrees of 65, and towards the North the Degrees of 78. In this Island, if wee beleeve Nicolas Zenetus (who in the yeare 1480. endu­red much hard weather in the bordering Sea) there is continuall winter for nine Moneths, all which time it doth never raine there, neither doth the snow, which falleth at the beginning thereof, melt untill the end, yet is not this harmefull to the grasse, for here is a great increase both of grasse and fodder. Therefore here is great store of milke-beasts in re­gard of the great plentie thereof, so that they make store of Butter and Cheese, which they sell to those they traffique withall. There are onely two inhabited places knowne unto us in Groenland, Alba and the Mo­nasterie of Saint Thomas, of which wee will speake by and by. The Slow Sea, which is also called the frozen Icie Sea, doth touch upon Greeneland. There is in Greeneland a Monasterie of the Preaching Order: and not farre from it a fire-vomiting Mountaine like Aetna, at the foot whereof there is a fountaine of running waters, by whose great heat [Page 29]

[Page 30] they do not onely make hot all the roomes of the Monasterie like a hot­house, but also they bake their bread and dresse their meat, without the helpe of fire. The whole fabricke of the Monasterie doth consist of brit­tle sandie stones, which the Mountaine doth cast forth in the midst of the flames. This fountaine doth warme the neighbour gardens so that they continually flourish with divers kindes of flowers and herbes. And the Sea neare unto it, by the vertue of these waters, is never frozen, but lyes continually open both for the fish and the use of man: which makes so great a concurse of fish to resort hither from colder places, that not onely these Monkes, Freezland. but also the Inhabitants round about do live plentifully. Frislandia or Freezland was an Island altogether unknowne to the Auncients: being greater than Heyling saies almost as bigge as Ireland. Ireland. The Climate is very in­temperate. The Inhabitants have no fruits, but live for the most part upon fish. The chiefe Towne thereof hath the same name with the Island, and it belongeth to the King of And therefore now subject to the King of Denmarke. Norway. The Inhabitants for the most part live by fishing. For in the Haven thereof so great a plentie of all kind of fish is taken that many ships are loaded with them, and so car­ried to the Islands lying neare it, as Zieglerus writeth. The same man writeth that the Sea next to the Island on the West being full of rockes and sands, is called the Icarean Sea, and the Island in it is called by the Inhabitants Icaria. Nova Zembla. This Island in our time beginneth to be known again, & that by the Discoverie of the English. Nova Zembla is an Island si­tuated under the 76 Degree. Here the aire is very sharpe, and the cold most vehement and intolerable. It is a wild, woodie, and rugged Country, where neither leaves nor grasse grow, nor any living crea­tures, but those which live by flesh as Foxes, and Beares, whereof there is great store not onely in this Island, but in most of the Northerne Countries. There are Sea-monsters here whose bodies does exceede the bignesse of an Oxe, and are commonly called Walruschen: they are headed like a Lyon, their skin hairy, they having foure feete, and two teeth sticking forth of the upper part of their mouth beeing smooth, hard, and white, and are worth as much as Elephants teeth. The Bayes here are called Weggates Bay, Forbishers Bay, and Davises Bay; Weigates Bay is streitched out towards the East even to the place called Crucis An­gulus, toward the Aerctapelietes to the place called Dissidit Angulus, a a little enclining to the East. On the Southerne side of the Continent of Weggats Bay, William Barendson found some wild men called Samiutae. The shape of their cloathes which they use, is like that which our Painters do bestow on woodmen, or Satyres, but yet they are not wild men, but endued with a good understanding. They are cloathed frō head to foot with the skins of beasts called Rangiferi: for the most part are of Pigmies are here supposed to inhabit. low stature, broad faced, small eyed, short and splay-footed, and very nim­ble both to runne and leape. They have coaches unto which they put one or two of these Rangiferi, which will draw it with one or two men in it with more speede then any of our Horses can do. Forbishers Bay was so called from Martine Forbisher an English man, who in the yeare 1577. seeking a passage to Cathaia by the North, arrived at this Bay, in which hee found both Islands and many men, concerning which wee will adde some things. The men thereof being strangers to all civilitie, [Page 31] do eate and feed upon the raw flesh of beasts and fishes. They are cloa­thed with the skins of wild beasts taken in hunting, and they eate raw hearbes like beasts. Their Tents are covered with Whales skinnes; the cold being continually very sharpe in these parts. They use Dogges which are like unto our Wolves, and having yoked them together, they do make them draw things over the ice. Their weapons are Bowes and Arrowes, and slings. There is no wood there, but much Deere. The men do not plough the ground, as beeing content with that it bringeth forth of its own accord: they live by hunting: their drinke is the warme blood of wild beasts, or else ice water: there are no Rivers nor Springs, because the violence of the cold doth so shut up the Earth, that springs of water cannot breake forth. The men are very laborious, strong, hun­ters, and cunning fowlers: they use a certaine kinde of boate made of leather, wherein one man can but sit, who maketh use but of one Oare, his right hand holding his bow wherewith hee shoots at the birds. The like hath beene seene in England. Davises Bay also was so called from Iohn Davis an Englishman, who in the yeare 1585. and the two follow­ing yeares did search along the Coasts of America, or rather the Sou­therne Coasts of Greenland from the 53. Degree to the 75. to finde out a passage that way unto China. Concerning the foure Euripideas in the table those things which you see are taken out of the Register booke of Iames Cnoxen Buscoducensis, who doth report that a certaine English Mi­norite Frier of Oxford, being a Mathematician, did describe the Coun­tries lying neare unto the Pole, and measured them with his Astrolabe in this following shape, as Mercator hath gathered them out of Iames Cno­xeus Booke. Hee saith that these foure Seas are carried with such vio­lence to the Innermost Gulfe, that ships being once entred can never be driven backe againe with any winde, and that there is never so great a winde, as that it can drive about a wind-mill. But these things are as true as Lucians fables, seeing they who have viewed these places in which those seas are said to be, do finde no such Euripi, or swift flowing Seas at all, namely the Hollanders who have discovered the Sea even to the 81. Degree of Latitude. But concerning the habitation of the Northerne people, let us heare Iulius Scaliger in his 37. Exercitation, where he thus speaking concerning a voiage from the Northerne Sea towards China. There are (saith hee) divers arguments brought by divers men on both sides, and it is diversly judged of, whether it be possible to saile by that Sea. But these are ours. They would have us to saile from the mouth of the River Duvina, all along that Countrie which encompasses all Scythia even to the East corner: in which winding course wee are to change the Northerne wind for the Westerne. But those which speake thus, it is certaine they do not know the nature of this Sea, nor of the Windes and Coast: For the West and East windes are so rare in this Sea that they are almost scarce knowne. But so many North windes are there here that it seemes Nature hath committed the government of these parts unto them alone. There are many foards blinde and muddle. In winter, which continueth ten moneths, the superficies or upper part of the Sea, is as hard as any pave­ment. In Summer there are continuall mists, which in the afternoone as fast as one is expelled another rises. Besides, the Ice is very dangerous, the great pieces whereof floting up and downe, are like moving Islands running one amongst ano­ther. It is certaine that by the late Navigations of the Hollanders in the [Page 32] yeare 1594. and in the two following yeares, it was hoped, that wee might saile out of the Northerne Sea to the Eastern parts of the World. But very difficultly, in regard of the Ice, and long winter nights. William Barentson did denie that it was possible to saile by the Bay of Nassovia to China, not onely for the Ice, but also because hee found by divers ob­servations, that it was not a Sea but a Bay, and especially because hee found there was no Tide nor Ebbe: and yet hee was in great hope that a way might be found out by the most Northerne part of Nova Zembla. But seeing there are every day new voyages made to discover the pas­sage that way to China, experience will teach them at last whether it can be done or not. It is manifest that our ships have sailed even to the 81. Degree of Northerne Latitude, and yet found the Sea open: but yet afterward at the 76. Degree they have beene hindred with great pieces of ice, and the night comming on, so that they could proceed no further. The Sunne left them the 4. of November in the yeare 1596, and was seene again the 24. of Ianuary in the following yeare, all which time these valiant Argonantes, for so I may call them, hid themselves in a little shed which they built up in Nova Zembla, untill the 14. of Iune. For though the voyage of the Iason and his Companions, who sayled to Colche [...] to fetch the golden fleece, of whom reade Valerius Fla [...]cu [...] Lib. 1▪ Argonantes is made so famous by posteritie, yet if it be compared with this it will seeme but a toy; for who hath beene, for the space of 13. Moneths separated from the societie of men, before the Hollanders, who wanting all necessaries, and enduring extre­mitie of cold, did even under the 76. Degree of Latitude, build them­selves houses to receive them, and defend them from the violence of the weather, in which they lay buried and covered over with deepe snow almost ten whole moneths? I conceale that which they suffered in returning, being compell'd to leave their ships and betake themselves to their boate. I omit to speake of the cruell, fierce, and great Beares, and Sea-Monsters, with which they oftentimes were enforced to fight. All which troubles, labours, and difficulties they most valiantly by the pro­tection and favour of the Divine power did overcome.

ISELAND is the greatest of all those Ilands in the We­sterne Ocean, which are subject to the Kings of Norwey; it takes this name from the cold, The name by whom, and why given. wherewith it is partly fro­zen. It is also called Suelandia, from the Snow: Also Gar­dartsholme, that is, the Iland of Gardart. The most doe suppose this to bee that Thule mentioned by the Ancients, which also Ptolemie doeth call Thule; the middle whereof he placeth in the 30. De­gree of Latitude, and 63. of Longitude. Solinus placeth it five dayes and nights sayle from the Orcades. An Island the most famous of all o­ther with Poets, when by this, as being the farthest part of the World, they would intimate any thing farre distant. Whence Virgil saith, Tibi serviat ultima Thule, may the farthest Thule serve thee. But Sinesius doub­teth whether there were ever any Thule: and Giraldus writeth, that it was never seene, and the more Learned are doubtfull in their opinions. See Heylin. p 8 The most doe affirme (as wee said) that Iseland was heretofore called Thule: yet Saxo the Grammarian, Crantzius, Milius, Ionius, and Peucerus are of a contrary opinion unto them. But of this enough: I returne a­gaine to Iseland. The Situation. It is situated not under the Which is a great circle rounding the Earth from Pole to Pole, and passeth through the Islands called Azores: See marg. pag. 10. first Meridian, as one hath noted, but in the eigth Degree from thence. The length of it is an hun­dred German miles, as the common Writers have it, and Ionas addeth to these foure and fortie. The Latitude or breadth is sixe and fiftie German miles. It hath an ungentle ayre, and for the most part it is unhabited, especially towards the North, by reason of the vehement Westerne windes, which will not suffer the shrubs (as Olaus writeth) to rise up. The Land is unfit for tillage, neither doth it beare any graine; but all that have written of this Isle doe report, that it hath such abundance of grasse, that unlesse the Cattell were somtime driven from the pasture, The quality of the Soyle and Ayre. they would be in danger to die, and be choak't with their owne fatnesse. Ionas himselfe confesseth, that they have no labouring beasts, but Horses and Oxen: and here all the Oxen and Kine have no hornes, nor their Sheepe likewise. They have little white Dogs, which they very much esteeme. They have abundance of white Faulcones, and white Crowes, The varietie of living Cr [...] ­tures. which prey upon the young Lambes and Hogges. Also there are white Beares and Hares. Also (as Islandus witnesseth) there are Eagles with white traines: which Pliny (as he saith) called Pygargos. Velleius repor­teth, that this Island beareth no tree but the Birch and Iuniper trees: so that there is great scarcitie of wood through the whole Island, unlesse by chance (which somtimes happens) some great trees being rooted up by the violence of the winde, are brought out of the Northerne parts, and like wracks cast upon these moores, which the Inhabitants use in building houses and ships. It hath beene subject to the King of Norwey, (as Ionas reporteth) from the yeare 1260. in which they first did ho­mage to him: In regard whereof, the King of Denmarke and Norwey doth yearely send thither a Governour, who keepes his residence in the Castle called Bestede, whom they now obey, as heretofore they did their [Page 34] Bishops, by whom they were converted to the Christian Faith, under the reigne of Edelbert. In the time of Harald the Faire-haired, the first Monarch of Norwey, some thinke it began to be inhabited: for when hee had expell'd a great company of Noble men out of Norwey, they (forsaking their owne Countrie) came with their whole Families and dwelt here. It is likely, that these things happened a thousand yeares after Christ; but as Islandus Ionas writeth about the yeare 874, who de­clareth the succession and names of these Bishops. Crantzius nameth Islephus to be the first Bishop. But it seemeth, as we may collect out of the E [...]logues of Nicolas Zenius, that it was under the command of the Norwe­gians two hundred yeares before, where we reade, that Zichmus King of Frisland did attempt to get this Island by force of Armes, but was re­puls'd by the King of Norwey's Garrison Souldiers, placed in this Island. The whole Island is divided into foure parts. The Easterne part they call Ausilendingasiordung, the Westerne Westlendingasiordung, the Nor­therne Nortendingasiordung, the Southerne Suydlendingasiordung. They have no Cities, but Mountaines in stead thereof. Here is a Fountaine, The Fountaines. the exhalations whereof will change any thing into stone, and yet the shape thereof shall still remaine. And there is a Fountaine of pestilent water, which will poyson any one that tastes of it. There is water that tastes like beere. The Northerne Ocean, in which this Island is situate, doth afford such great plenty of fish, and is so commodious to the Com­mon-wealth of Iseland, The Sea. that all the Inhabitants doe live and maintaine their Families by it. I should want time to reckon up the severall kindes of Fish that are in the Sea, yet it will not be amisse, to remember some of the rarest. Among which there is a kind of Fish called Nahual, where­of if any one eate, he dieth presently; and he hath a tooth in the inner­most part of his head, which standeth forth 7 cubits in length, which some have sold for an Vnicornes horne, and it is beleev'd to have a great vertue against poyson. This Monster is fortie yards long. The Royder is an hundred and thirty Elles long, and hath no teeth; his flesh is most sweet and pleasant in eating, and his fat doth heale many diseases. There is the Brittish Whale, which is thirty Elles long, having no teeth, but a tongue seven Elles in length. And there is a kinde of a great Whale, which is seldome seene, being rather like an Island it selfe than a Fish. In regard of the hugenesse of his body, hee cannot follow the lesser fi­shes, yet hee takes them by cunning and craftinesse. There is also an o­ther Fish called Stantus Valur, all grisly, and something like a Thornback, but much greater; when he appeareth he seemes like an Island, and o­verturneth Ships with his Fins. There are also Sea-Oxen, called Seenaut, of a grisly colour, and divers other fishes. I come now to the Moun­taines. The Moun­taines. In Iseland (saith Georgius Agricola) there are three very high Mountaines, whose tops are alwayes white with continuall Snow, the bottomes doe burne with continuall Fire. The first is called Hecla, or Hecklfort; the second, the Mountaine of the Crosse; and the third Helga, that is, the holy Mountaine. Not farre from Hecla there are Mynes of Brimstone, which is the onely commodity of traffique, that belongs to the Inhabitants of Iseland. For Merchants doe fraight and loade their ships with it. The Mountaine when it rageth, doth send forth a [Page 35]

[Page 36] noise like thunder, casteth forth great stones, vomiteth out Brimstone, and sils all the ground with ashes round about it, so that the Countrie cannot be inhabited for two entire miles round about it. They which draw neere to this Mountaine to consider and view more curiously the causes why it burnes, are somtime swallowed up alive by some hidden breach in the Mountaine, for there are many, and those covered so with ashes, that no man can beware of them: therefore they call this place The Papists thinke that here is th [...] feined Purga­torie Carcer sordidarum animarum, the prison-house of uncleane soules. Be­sides it happeneth, that the yee being loosed, doth in great peeces for 8 moneths together beat against the shore, and maketh such an horrible sound, that the Inhabitants say, it is the crying and howling of those soules. There is an other Mountaine of the same nature called Helga: this Mountaine in the yeare 1581, (as Ionas witnesseth) did cast forth fire and stones with such a thundering noise, that foure score miles from thence, they thought some great pieces of Ordnance had beene shot off. In one part hereof, strange Spirits are seene in the liknesse of men, so that those who doe not know them to bee dead before, would thinke they were alive: nor doe they finde their errour before the ghosts doe vanish away. But these things Ionas thinkes are fabulous, or else the delusions of the Devill. Crantzius and Olaus doe write, that the Islanders, for the most part, doe dwell in Caves, which they digge in the sides of the Mountaines, especially in the Winter time. But Ionas, on the contrary, saith, that there are many Temples and houses built of wood very faire and costly. The Island hath two Cathedrall Bishopricks, as Holar, or Hallen, under which are the Monasteries Pingora, Remested, Modur, Mun­keniere; and Scalholt, under which are those Monasteries Videy, Pyrne­bar, Kirckebar, and Shieda. Yet wee understand by the writings of Vel­letus the Authour of this Table, that there are nine Monasteries in it, and three hundred and nine and twenty Churches. The Bishops are sent thi­ther out of the Universitie of Hassnia, the only University in Denmarke; one of them governeth the Northerne part of the Island, the other the Southerne. And each of them hath a free Schoole joyned to his house, in which hee is bound to be at the cost of the bringing up and teaching of foure and twentie Children. The manner [...] of the Inhabi­tants. The Inhabitants live, eate, and lodge in the same houses with their Cattell. They live in a holy simplicity, seeking nothing more than what Nature grants them, for the Moun­taines are their Townes, and the Fountaines their delight. A happie Nation, not envied by reason of their poverty, and so much the happier because it hath received the Christian Religion. Yet the English and Danish Merchants doe trouble their quiet, not suffering them to be con­tent with their owne; for they frequenting this Island, to bring away fish from thence, have brought among them their vices together with their wares. The memorable acts of their Ancestours, they doe cele­brate in Verse, and doe keepe them from oblivion by engraving them on Rocks. They live, for the most part, by Fish, which being dryed and beaten, Their foode. and so made into a kinde of meate, they use at their Table in­stead of bread. But the wealthier doe eate bread twice baked. Hereto­fore they dranke water, and the richer milke, but now they have learned to mingle corne with it, which is brought hither from other places, and [Page 37] they scorne to drinke water, since strangers have begun to traffick with them. For those of Lubeck, Hamburrough, and Rostoch comming every yeare with their ships to this Island, doe bring thither corne, bread, Th [...] Tr [...] fick o [...] [...] beere, wine, honey, English cloathes, linnen cloth, iron, steele, gold, sil­ver, womens coyfs, and wood for building houses and ships: and they doe expect for these, Iselandish cloth (commonly called Watman) great store of Brimstone, dried fish, butter, tallow, hides, skins of wilde beasts, foxes, white faulcons, horses, and the like. Here is so great plenty of fish, that they lay them in great heapes out of doores, and so sell them, the heapes being higher than the tops of their houses. There is also so great store of salt butter, that they put it up in sweet chests of fortie foot long, and five foote deepe, besides that which they barrell up. And here we will adde Erasmus Michael's Verses concerning Iseland, as hee hath them in his third Booke Of Sea matters.

BRITTAINE containeth all those Ilands which lying betweene Spaine and Germany, are stretched forth in a great quantitie of Land toward France. Lhuyddus saith that not long agoe it was called Prydanium; The name by whom & why given. S ^r Thomas Eliott would have it called Prytania, being incited thereunto through the love of contention rather then truth, against the authority of Aristotle, Lucretius, Iulius Caesar, and other ancient Writers. But because heretofore all the Brittaines did paint themselves with woade, which gave them a blewish colour, that so their faces might be more terrible against their enemies in war; and in regard that in their ancient Language they did call any thing that was painted and coloured, Brit: some doe rightly suppose that the Graecians, understanding that the in­habitants were called Brith and Briton, did adde to Brith Tania, which signifies a Country, and therefore If this bee true, then did it not receive its denomina­tion from Bru­tus. See Heylin pag. 455. The temper of the Aire. The fertilitie of the Soyle. The varietie of living Crea­tures. Brittaine was called the Country of Brittaines, that is, the Country of painted and coloured men, like as Mauritania is called so of the Moores, Lusitania from Lusus, and Aquita­nia the Region of Waters. Brittaine is endowed by Nature with all guifts both of Aire and Soyle, in which neither the cold of winter is too violent, (as the Oratour hath it, speaking to Constantine) nor the heate of Summer, and it is so fruitfull in bearing corne, that it is sufficiently stored with Bread and Drink: Here the woods are without wilde beasts, and the earth without harmefull Ser­pents. On the contrary, innumerable flockes and heards of tame cattell, full of milke, and loaden with their fleece; yea, whatsoever is necessary to life is here: the dayes are very long, so that the nights are not without some light, and the Sunne which seemeth in other Countries to goe downe and set, doth seeme here only to passe by. Among all the Iles of Brittaine, two do exceed the rest in greatnesse: Albion, The Ile of Al­bion. (under which are contained England, and Scotland,) and Ireland. The greatest of these is Albion, now alone called Brittaine, which was a name formerly common to them all: and this name is ra­ther deduced out of Books, than used in common speech, only the Scots doe yet call themselves Albinich, and their Country Albin. Concer­ning the name of Albion, the Grecians first gave it to this Ile for distincti­on sake, seeing all the neighbour Ilands were called the Iles of Brittaine: so that it did first arise from the vaine and fabulous lightnesse of the Gre­cians in faigning names. For seeing they called Italy, from Hesperus the sonne of Atlas, Hesperia; France, from the sonne of Poliphemus, Gallatia, &c. It is not unlikely that they fabulously named this Iland Albion, from Albion the sonne of Neptune, which Perottus and Lilius Giraldus [Page 45]

[Page 40] doe confirme. Others would derive it from Verstegan af­firmeth it was so called ab al­bis rupibus: the white rocks to­wards France. The figure. [...], which, as Festus witnesseth, in Greeke signifies white; whence also the Alpes are so called. The figure of it is Triangular, or three cornerd, and it runneth forth into three severall Angles. The first Promontorie, towards the West, the Englishmen doe call the Cape of Cornewall. The second in Kent, which looketh towards the East, the English call it North-forland. The third is Orcas, or Tarvisium, which lyeth farre North, the Scots call it D [...]ngisbehead: Livius, and Fabius Rusticus, have likened it to a Chee­sell. On the West side, whereon Ireland lyeth, the Which the English and French call the channell of S. George. Vergivian Sea break­eth in, on the North it is beaten with the wide and great Northerne Ocean; on the East, where it lyeth against Germany, with the Germane Sea; on the South, where it butteth upon France, it is beaten with the Brittish Sea. Diodorus in his sixt booke, writeth that the compasse of it is two and forty thousand furlongs. Martian saith, that Brittaine is eight hundred miles long, and three hundred broad, and in compasse 6000. miles. The learned and accurate Writer Camden, doth thus account it; from the Promontorie Tarvisium to Belerium, following the winding of the shoare, is eight hundred and twelve miles: from thence to Kent, 320. miles. Lastly, from Kent to Tarvisium seaven hundred and foure miles: the whole summe is 1836. miles This Iland formerly was di­vided into two parts, as Ptolomie witnesseth in his second Booke: where he parts the whole Iland into Great Brittaine and Little Brittaine. The Great he calls the This division was made by Severus the Emperor, saith Camden. p. 98. Hither part towards the South; the Lesser the Far­ther toward the North. But the Romans neglecting the farther part, be­cause, as Appian saith, it could not be commodious to them, the hither part being reduced into a Province, they at first divided into the The Romans, saith Camden, called those Provinces of any Country they conque­red which were next unto thē, Primas & su­periore, & the more remote, secundas & [...]se [...] o [...]es. p 99. Lower and Higher, as it is gathered out of Dion. For the hither part of England with Wales, he calleth the Higher, the farther and Northerne he calleth the Lower. Afterward they divided it into three parts, as appeares by Sextus Rufus, into Maxima Caesariensis, Brittania Prima, and Brittania Se­cunda. Afterward, when the forme of the Common-wealth was daily changed, they divided Brittaine in What Coun­tries these five parts contai­ned, and why they were so denominated. See in Camden pag. 98. & 99. five parts, the First, Second, Maxima Caesariensis, Valentia, and Flavia Caesariensis: And these were divisions of Brittaine when it was under the Romans. Some have written that the whole Iland was heretofore divided into three parts, Leogria, Cambria, and Albania; but Camden beleeveth that this was a later division, which seemeth to arise from those three People, the Englishmen, Welch, and Scots, who last of all divided this Iland among themselves. Afterward, the Iland was divided into two Kingdomes, namely England, and Scot­land: but at last, under the happy raigne of Iames the sixt King of Scot­land, these two Kingdomes were They were first united in in the yeare of grace 1603. The Sea. united, and the whole Iland called Great Brittaine. Brittaine, as we said before, is every where environed with the great and wide Ocean, which S. Basil. saith is a great Sea, and very terrible for those that sayle on it. Now it floweth farre into the Land, and then it returneth backe againe and leaveth the Sands naked: it feeleth the efficacy of the encreasing Moone very powerfully, and doth flow in with so great a force, that it doth not only drive backe Ri­vers, but it sometimes sweepes off cattle from the Land, casts forth the fishes on the shoare, and at the ebbe leaveth them there. In a word, so [Page 41] great a matter it was held to sayle upon this Sea, that Iulius Firmicus in his Booke concerning the errours of prophane Religions, cryeth out thus to Constantine the Emperour. In Winter (which was never heretofore done, nor shall bee done) you have passed over the swelling raging waters of the Brittish Ocean, the waves of a Sea almost unknowne to us have trembled under our Oares: and the Brittaines have beene afraid at the unlookt-for presence of the Emperour What would you more? The Elements themselves were con­quered by your valour. It doth not belong unto us to speake here of the commodities which this Sea yeeldeth, of the time when it cherishes the Earth, of the vapours with which it nourishes the Aire, and bedewes the fields, of the divers kindes of Fish, as Salmons, Playces, Crabfishes, The commo­dities. Codfishes, Herrings, &c. of which it bringeth forth infinite numbers. Yet the See Camden pag. 640 and 595. Pearles are not to bee passed over in silence, which in a round shape doe swimme in great shoales as it were following one Leader like Bees; so that Iubas calleth it the Sea of Bees: and also Marcellus makes mention of it. Suetonius doth report that Caesar did first attempt Brittaine in hope of getting these Pearles: and so much concerning Albion or England, now let us passe over to the rost. Among all of them, Ireland doth farre excell, of which wee will speake nothing here, intending to speake of it in particular Tables. The Orcades doe follow, The Orcades. now called the Iles of Orkney, which are about H [...]yler saith they are 3 [...]. pag 51 [...] thirty in number, and doe lie a little way distant one from another, which a certaine ancient record doth so call, as if it were Argath; which is there expounded as much as supra Getas, above the Getes: Camden would rather have it above Cath, for it lyeth over against Cath a Country of Scotland, which in regard of the Promontorie, they now call Cathnesse: whose Inhabitants Ptolomy, though wrongfully, doth call Carini instead of Cathini. In the time of Solinus they were not inhabited, being overgrowne with Reedes and Bullrushes, but now they are tilled and bring forth Barley enough, The fertility of the Soyle. though they want both wheat and trees: there is no Serpent or poyso­nous Creature in them. They have great numbers of living Creatures in them; as Hares, Cunnies, Cranes, and many Swans. There is good fishing in them, of which the inhabitants make great profit. Iulius Agri­cola first sayling in a Shippe round about Brittaine, did finde out and con­quer the Orcades at that time unknowne; and therefore it is unlikely that Claudius did first overcome them, as Hierom affirmeth in his Chroni­cle. Afterward, when the Romans were Commanders over Brittaine, they were the seats of the Picts; and after that they came under the power of the Norwegians and Danes: whence the Inhabitants doe speake the Go­thicke tongue. Last of all, Christiernus King of Denmarke in considerati­on of a summe of money, in the yeare 1474. did passe over all his right unto the King of Scotland. The chiefe of these is Pomonia, famous in re­gard it is the seate of a Bishop, which was called by Solinus for the con­tinuall length of the day Pomona diutina: now it is called by the Inha­bitants Mainland, as if it were a Continent. It hath abundance of Tinne and Lead, and is adorned with a Bishops See in the Towne Kirkwale, and with two Castles. Among these Ptolomie also reckoneth Ocetis, which Camden supposes should now be called Hethy. And saith the same Camden, I am not yet resolved whether I should call Hey, which is among these [Page 42] Plinies Dumna. If it bee not so, I had rather thinke Faire Ile, which hath onely one Towne called Dume, to bee that Dumna, than with Becanus to thinke that it is Wardhuys in Lappland. Iohn Major doth also call one of these Zeland, being fiftie miles in length. Moreover, the Inhabitants of these Iles doe make a very strong drinke by putting store of Barley in it, and are the greatest drinkers of all others; yet Boetius witnesseth that he never saw any of them drunke, or deprived of sense. The next to these are the Ilands called the Hebrides, The names of the Hebrides. in number foure and forty, which Beda calleth Maevaniae; Ethicus, Betoricae Insulae, Giraldus calls them the In­cades and Leucades, the Scots the Westerne Iles: Ptolomie with Pliny and Solinus calleth them Stephanus cal­leth them the Hebrides, others Ebonia [...]nsulae. Ebudae, Pliny writeth that there are thirty of them, but Ptolomie reckons onely five. The first is Ricina, which Pliny calles Rinea, and Antoninus Ridunas, but now it is called Racline, which is a lit­tle Iland just against Ireland. The next is Epedium, now called Ila, an Ile, (as Camden witnesseth) very This Iland is 24. miles long, and 16. miles broad. large, and having very fruitfull plaines: betweene this and Scotland lyeth Iona, which Beda calleth Hy and Hu, be­ing plaine ground, in which there is an Episcopall See in the Towne Sodore, whence all the Ilands were called Sodorenses: it is famous, be­cause here lie buried many Kings of Scotland. Then there is another which Ptolomie calleth Maleos, now Mula, which Pliny mentioneth when he saith that Mella of all the rest is more then 25 miles over. The Ea­sterne Hebuda, now called Skie, is stretched along by the Scotch shoare, and the Westerne Hebuda lying more towards the West, is now called Lewes, of which Maccloyd is Governour, and in the ancient book of Man­nia, it is called Lodhuys, being mountainous, stony, little manured, but yet the greatest; from which Eust is parted by a little Euripus or flowing Sea betweene them. The test, except Hyrrha, are of no note, as being rockie, unpassable, and having no greene things growing in them. The Ilands of Man and Wight doe follow, of which see those things that are spoken in the seaventh Table of England.

THE Island of Ireland followeth, which Orpheus, Aristotle, The new and ancient names, by whom, and why given. and Claudi [...]n doe call Isacius cal­leth this King­dome Britan­nia Occidenta­lis, or Westerne Brittaine, and Isidorus and o­thers call it Scotia, because the Scots com­ing from Spaine dwelt here; the Irish Ba [...]di call it Ba [...], whence Festus Av [...]enus calleth it Insu­la sacra: See Camden pag. 643. Ierna, Iuvenal and Mela Iuvernia, Diodorus Siculus Iris, Eustatius Vernia and Bernia, the Inha­bitants Erin, the Brittains Yverdhon, and the English call it Ireland. Divers opinions (as in obscure matters) doe arise concerning the originall of these names. Some would have it called Hibernia from Hiberus, a Spanish Captaine, who first possessed it, and peo­pled it: some say from the River Iberus, because the Inhabitants thereof did first inhabite this Island: some ab hiberno tempore, from the winter season, because it enclines towards the West: the Author of the Eu­logue, from Irnalphus, a Captaine. It was called without doubt Hibernia and Iuverna, from Ierna, which Orpheus and Aristotle mention; but that Ierna, together with Iris, Yverdhon, and Ireland, did proceede from the word Erin, used by the Inhabitants; therefore the Etymologie is to bee drawne from the word Erin. Here pag. 642. Camden affirmes, that hee knowes not what to conjecture, unlesse, saith hee, it bee derived from Hiere an Irish word, which with them signifies the West, whence Erin seemes to bee drawne, being as much to say as the Westerne Countrie. This Island is stretched forth from the South Northward in an ovall forme, not twenty dayes sayle, as Philemon in Ptolemie delivers, but onely 400. The Situation. miles; and is scarce 200. miles broad. On the East it hath Brittaine, from which it is parted by the Irish Sea, which is one dayes sayle: On the North, where the Deucaledon Ocean, which Ptolemie cals the Northern, breakes in, it hath Iseland: On the South it looketh towards Spaine. The Ayre of this Island is very wholsome, the Climate very gentle, The temper of the Ayre warme and temperate; for the Inhabitants neither by the heate of Summer are enforced to seeke shadie places, nor yet by cold to sit by the fire: yet the seedes in regard of the moistnesse of Autumne doe seldome come to maturitie and ripenesse. Hence Mela writeth, that it hath no good Ayre for ripening of seedes: yet in the wholsomnesse and cleernesse of the Ayre it doth farre exceede Brittaine. Here are never any Earth­quakes, and you shall scarce heare thunder once in a yeare. The Coun­trie is a fat soyle, and hath great plentie of fruits, yet it hath greater plenty of pasturage than fruits, and of grasse than graine. For here their wheate is very small, so that it can hardly bee winnowed or cleansed with a fanne. What the Spring produceth, the Summer cherisheth, but it can hardly bee gathered, in regard they have too much raine in Harvest time; for this Island hath windes and raine very often. But (as Mela saith) it is so full of pleasant sweete grasse, that when the Cattell have fed some part of the day, if they bee not restrained and kept from grazing, they will endanger the bursting of themselves. Which also So­linus witnesseth concerning this Island. Hence it proceedes, that there [Page 44] are infinite numbers of Cattell, which are the Inhabitants chiefe riches, and many flocks of Sheepe, which they sheare twice a yeare. They have excellent Horses (called Hobbies) which are not pac'd like others, but doe amble very gently. No creeping thing nor Serpent liveth here, nor also in Crete: and Serpents being often brought hither out of Brittaine, as soone as they came neere the Land, and smell'd the Ayre, they died. Beda witnesseth, that he hath seene some, who have beene stung with Serpents, that have drunk the leaves of Bookes (brought out of Ireland) in a Potion, and straight-way the force of the poyson was allayde, and the swelling of the body went downe againe. Ireland hath greater store of Faulcons and Hawkes, than other Countries. And here Eagles are as common as Kites in some places. Besides, here is so great a number of Cranes, that you shall often see a hundred in a company together. In the North part also there are abundance of Swannes, but there are few Storkes through the whole Island, and those black. There are few Par­triges and Pheasants, but no Pies, nor Nightingales. Here is such great store of Bees, that they doe not onely breede in hives, but also in hollow trees, and in the cavernes of the earth. Giraldus also writeth a strange thing concerning a kinde of Birde, commonly called a Barnacle, that out of certain pieces of wood, floating up and down in the Sea, there comes out first a kinde of Gumme, which afterward growes into a hard sub­stance, within which little Creatures are generated, which first have life, and afterward have bils, feathers and wings, with which they doe flye in the Ayre, or swim in the water, and in this manner and no other this Creature is generated. This Giraldus doth testifie, that hee hath seene some of them halfe formed, which as soone as they came to perfection did flie as well as the rest. There are also many birds of a twofold shape, (as he witnesseth) which they call Aurifrisij, lesser than an Eagle, and bigger than a Hawke; whom Nature, to delight her selfe, hath framed with one foote armed with tallents sharpe and open, the other smoothe with a plaine webbe. There are other Birdes which they call Marinetae, lesse than a Blackbird, being short like a Starling, yet differing from him by the whitenesse of the belly, and the blacknesse of the back. It is a wonderfull thing which was reported concerning these Birdes, for if when they are dead they be kept in a dry place, they will not putrifie or corrupt: and being placed among garments and other things, it will preserve them from moathes. That which is more worthy of admira­tion is that, if being dead, they be hanged up in some drie place, they will every yeare renew and change their feathers, as if they were alive. Ireland contayneth all kindes of wilde beasts. It hath Harts that are so fat, that they can hardly runne, and by how much they are lesser in body, by so much the larger are their hornes. There are great store of Bores, many Hares, &c. but the bodies of all the wilde beasts and birds are lesser here than in other places. It hath many Badgers, and Weesils. It hath few or no Goates, fallow Deere, Hedghogs, Moles; but infinite store of Mice. It hath also Wolves and Foxes. But enough of these things, I returne to other matters. Heretofore Ireland was ruled by many Earles, now it is subject to England, and is governed by the Kings Sub­stitute, The Govern­ment. who is called the Lord Deputie. It came to be under the domi­nion [Page 45]

[Page 46] of the Kings of England about the yeare Camden saith it was in the yeare 1172. p: 649. 1175, at which time Ro­derick King of Connaught stiled himselfe King of all Ireland; and striving to subject the whole Kingdome to himselfe, waged continuall warre with the other Earles; by whose sedition it came to passe, that the other Earles of their owne accord, and without any effusion of blood, did put themselves under the obedience of Henry the second, King of England, from whom all the Kings of England were called Lords of Ireland, untill the time of Henry the eigth, who by the Nobles of Ireland was declared King of Ireland, because the name of Lord grew hatefull to some sediti­ous people. The Cities. There are foure speciall Cities in this Island: First This Town was built by Harald Har­fager, the first King of Nor­way. Dub­lin, the Metropolis or Mother-Citie of Ireland, being the royall Archi­episcopall Seat, giving name to a County. The next in dignity is Water­ford, the third Limbrick, the fourth Corke. There are many other very great Townes, of which wee will speake more largely in the particular Descriptions of Ireland. This Country hath many Lakes and standing waters, Lakes among which there is a Lake in Vlster, twenty miles distant from the Lake Erne, of which wee will speake more largely hereafter. There is a little Lake beyond the Citie Armack, in which if you stick a Speare up some moneths, that part which stuck in the mudde will bee i­ron, that which is in the water stony, and that which is out of the water will remaine wood. There is also the Lake Erne, which is thirty miles long, and fifteene miles broad, being compassed about with thick woods, and so full of Fish, that the Fisher-men often breake their nets, by taking too many at one time. The Rivers. This Island is divided and watered with many faire Rivers, whose names are these: or the River Liffie. Avenliffe, running through Dublin; Boandus through Methe, Banna through Vltonia, Linu [...] through Connack, and Moadus through Kenel. cunillia, Slicheia, and Samai­ra: Besides Modarnus and Furnus through Keneleonia, and many other. But of all the Rivers of Ireland, the River or Shennin, is some interpret it, tho ancient River. Synnenus is the chiefe both for the breadth and It runneth (saith Heylin) a course of 200 miles, to the Vergician Sea, and is naviga­ble 60 miles. length of its course, and for the plenty of Fish which is in it. But in generall, the Rivers and Lakes are full of fish bred in them. This Countrie is unequall and mountainous, soft and waterish: you shall finde Lakes and standing waters on the top of the Mountaines. The Mountaines abound with Cattell, & the woods with wilde beasts. Solinus writeth thus concerning the Sea, which floweth between Ireland and England: ‘The Sea betweene Ireland and England is rough and un­quiet all the yeare, and is scarce navigable but in some part of the Summer.’ But hee erres, for it is quiet enough, unlesse it bee stirred up with windes. And not onely in Summer, but also in Winter passengers doe sayle to and fro. All the Sea shores doe abound sufficiently with Fish. Ireland hath in all three and thirty Counties, and foure Archbi­shops. The Bishop of Armach, Primate of all Ireland: the Bishop of Dub­lin: the Bishops of Cassil and Toam: and these foure have nine and twenty Suffragans or Vicegorents. Ireland (from the manners of the In­habitants) is divided into two parts. For those who refuse to obey the Lawes, and live more uncivilly, are called Irishrie, and commonly Wild Irish. But those who are willing to obey the Lawes, and appeare before the Judges, are called the English-Irish, and their Country the English Pale. they speake English naturally and uncorruptly, yet they understand [Page 47] Irish, in regard of their daily commerce with the Irish-men. The Irish-men have some certaine Lords, under whose command the most of them are: but they live under the jurisdiction of the English, but counterfeit­ly, and as long as the English Souldiers doe waste their Territories: yet they appoint Sessions to be kept at certaine times and places, to restraine and punish robberies and theft, committed by night. There those that are accused, if they be convicted, have certaine Arbitratours to judge of the cause, whom they call Brehoni: these are all of one familie, and although they have no knowledge in the Law, yet for their wisdome & honestie of life they are accounted divine. Their warre is partly on hors­back, and partly on foote. The Gentrie have horses well managed, so that without any advantage they will mount them in their armour, and taking a Javelin or dart of great weight by the middle, they will throw or brandish it against their enemie with much ease. Among the foot­men, some are Souldiers in Cassocks very strong, whom they call Gale­glacii, having Cuttle-axes as sharpe as razors, and they are the chiefe strength of the Irish warres. The next are Footmen wearing a light ar­mour, with swords in their hands, and these are called Karnes, and they thinke a man is not dead, untill they have cut off his head. In the third place are footmen, whom they call Daltines, who going unarmed, attend upon the horsmen. The footmen as well as horsmen, as oft as they come to fight with their enemies, doe crie with a great voyce The reason of this, See in Camden, p. 678. Pharro, Pharro: and they use a Bagpipe in stead of a Trumpet. The Irish doe fare sum­ptuously and magnificently: for though they have no delicate dishes, Their Diet. nor great service in their banquets, yet their Tables according to the season of the yeare are well furnished with Beefe and Porke, and other meate. In their Feasts they lye upon Beds: the first place at the Table belongs to the Mother of the Family, who weares a long Gowne or Mantell reaching to her ancles, often dyed, and also sleeved.

IRELAND being described in generall, I thinke it worth my labour, before I come to a particular descripti­on of the severall parts: first to make a division thereof, Ireland is divided into five Parts or Provinces. Into Lage­nia, which being Eastward is next to England: Connacia, or Connachtia, which lyeth toward the West: Vltonia on the North side: & Momonia which is situate in the Southerne part. The fift part is called Media, which being placed in the midst, is enclosed with the rest. In these five Provinces there are many notable Territories. As Lagenia doth include Fingal, Offal, Leis, Ossir, and Ormund. Media containeth Slani, Four, and Delvin. In Connacia is contained Clar: in Vltonia is con­tained Vril, Antrimen, Lecal, and Treconch. In Momonia are included Trippitate, Kerie, Cosmay, Desmond, Tomond, and some others. There is ano­ther division of Ireland, which wee have touched in our generall Table, which is diligently to be considered if any one desire to know the state of this Countrie, wherefore hee must observe that Ireland is divided in­to two parts: the English part, and the Irish part. The latter the native Irish do inhabit, the former the Englishmen, and that part in common speech is called the English Province, because it is as it were empaled and environed with the Territories of the English. For after that the English having supprest the Irish Rebells, had restored Dermicius to his Countrie and Kingdome, they seated themselves and built them­selves seats in the chiefest places of Ireland. Afterward seeing that as it were certaine Islands did part them from the subdued Irish, they called that part in which they placed a Colonie, the English Province. In this is contained the greater part of Lagenia, and Media, and that part of Vlto­nia which is called Vril: but the chiefest part of Lagenia, which is called Fingal, neere to Dublin on the North, hath the chiefe place, and Media is next to that. But Mercator useth the same division which wee made of it in the former Tables, describing it in foure Tables, beginning with Vltonia, Connacia, Media, and part of Lagenia. I will make a briefe descrip­tion of all these parts, in the same order as our Author placeth them. Vltonia offers it selfe in the first place. This part of Ireland was first cal­led by the Welch Vltun, by the Irish Cui-Guilli, by the Latines Vltonia, and by the English Vlster: The names of Vltonia. toward the North it is parted with the Narrow Sea: The bound [...]. toward the South it stretcheth it selfe to Connaught and Lagenia; the [Page 53]

[Page 50] East part is bounded with the Irish Sea, and the West part is beaten with the great Westerne Ocean. This Countrie beeing neere to Scotland, is reckoned one of the Scotch Islands, which are called the Hebrides, and lye scatterd in the Sea betweene both Kingdomes: which Islands the Irish-Scots, the successours of the Ancient Scythians, do inhabit. It is round in forme, and in length from the Haven Coldagh in the North, to Kilmore in the South, it is about an hundred miles; and it is in breadth from Black-Abbey in the East to Calebegh, a Westerne Promontorie, an hundred and thirtie miles and more. The whole circumference or com­passe of it is about foure hundred and twentie miles. The Forme. This Country hath seldome any intemperate weather, for the suddaine and fresh gales of winde do refrigerate and coole the heat of Summer, and soft and gentle raines do mitigate the cold of Winter. Briefly, it is neither in the Cold nor Torrid Zone. The clouds are faire and cleare, and when they are most impure, yet the winde continually driving them about doth make the aire wholsome, The Aire. and at length quite dispelleth them. The equall tem­per of the Clime is the cause that the soyle doth plentifully bring forth divers kindes of trees, some bearing fruit, and others for building. The Countrie is full of grasse and fit for pasturing: very rich in horse, and sheepe, and Oxen. The Rivers are, The Rivers. as I may say, doubly commodious, being navigable to bring up Vessels, and Barques, and also being full of fish and very convenient for the inhabitants in other uses. Among these the first is Vinderius, which is now called the Bay of Knocfergus, from the Town seated on it, & from the safety of the Haven, which the English call Knocfergus, the Irish Caregfergus, that is Fergus his rock, which name it re­ceived from A famous Scot, as Cam­den affirmeth. pag. 669. Fergusius who was drownd there: There is also Banna which (as Giraldus saith) is a very faire River as the Banna in Irish signifies faire. Camden. p. 669 The plentie of Salmons. name witnesseth, it runneth out of the Lake Eaugh, and dischargeth it selfe into the Ocean with a double Channell; it is fuller of Salmons than any River in Europe, because (as some thinke) the water is so cleare, in which Salmons do chiefly delight. And there is the River Logia, which Ptolemie mention­eth, and now is called Lough Foile, which falleth into the Sea with a great streame. There are many great Lakes in it, in which is the Lake Eaugh which spreadeth it selfe abroad from Armaugh: and on the East side are the woods Kilulto, The Lakes. Kilwarney, and Dyffrim, into which the Lake doth so insinuate and winde in it selfe, that it maketh two Peninsula's, Le­cale toward the South, & Ard toward the North: Lecale runneth out far­thest toward the East of any part of Ireland, & the farthest Promontorie therof Marriners do now call Saint Iohns Foreland, Ptolomie calls it Isani­us, perhaps from the Brittish word Isa, which signifies Lowermost. In the Isthmus therof stands Dunam, Here was bu­ried S. Patricke, who as they say, being sent by Celestinus the Bishop of Rome, An. 433. converted this Island to the Christian faith. which Ptolemie mentions, now called Down, being an ancient Towne, and the Seat of a Bishop. Ard lyeth over a­gainst it being divided frō it by a little slip of land. There are also Lakes, of which we have made mention in our generall Table. The Countrie is shadowed with great woods. To speake in a word, although it be barren in some places by reason of Lakes, Bogs, & thicke Woods, yet it is every where full of Cattell, & Grasse, & at all times it abundantly requiteth the labour of the husbandman. Nature is so little beholding here to Art or Industrie, that the flourishing bankes of Rivers embrodered with flow­ers, [Page 51] the shadie Woods, greene Medowes, bending Hills, and Fields fit to beare corne if they were tilled, do seeme to be angrie with the Inhabi­tants, because by their carelesnesse and negligence they suffer them to be rude and wilde. The Voluntii, Darni, Robogdii, The Ancient Inhabitants. and Erdini in Ptolemies time held all this Countrie, who also dispersed themselves into other parts of Ireland. The speciall place in this Countrie is Armach, neere the River Kalis, which although it be not very faire, yet it is the seat of an Archbishop, & the Metropolis of the whole Island. The Irish-men do fabu­lously report that it was called so from Queene Armacha, but See Camden. pag. 66 [...]. Camden thinkes it to be the same which Beda calleth Dearmach, which signifies in the Scotch and Irish language, the field of Redmen. There is one Arch­bishop in Vltonia, who hath his Seat at Armach, & hath these Suffraganes and substitutes under him, with the Bishop of Maeth and Deren, Ardach or Apde, Kilmore, Clogher, Doune, Coner, Klancknos, Raboo, or Ropo, and Dro­moore. For the keeping of the Inhabitants of this Country and Province in order, it was fortified with six and fiftie Castles, there are also nine Market Townes in it. And it is divided into the Hithermost and Fur­thermost. The Hithermost hath three Counties, Louth, Downe, The names of Conn [...]gh and An­trimme. The Farthermost hath seven, Monahon, Tiroen, Armack, Col­rane, Donergall, Fermanagh, and Cavon. Connacia is the second part of Ireland, some call it Connachtia, the English call it Connagh, The bounds▪ and the Irish Connaghti: it is bounded on the East with part of Lagenia, on the North with part of Vltonia, on the West it is beaten with the Westerne Ocean, and on the South it is environed with part of Momonia or Munster, which is inclosed with the River Sineo or Shennin, and lyeth over against the Kingdome of Spaine. The Figure of it is long, The Forme. and at either end both Northward and Southward it is very narrow, but towards the middle it growes longer on either side. It is an hundred and sixe and twentie miles long, from the River Shennin in the South, to Engi Kelling in the North, the greatest breadth is about foure-score miles, from Tro­mer the Easterne bound, to Barrag-Bay the Westerne limit. The whole circuit and compasse of it is about foure hundred miles. The Aire in this Region is not so pure and cleare as in the other Provinces of Ireland, The Aire by reason of some wet places bearing grasse, which are called in regard of their softnesse Bogges, being dangerous, and sending out many thicke vapours. The chiefe Citie of this Province, being the third Citie of note in Ireland, is Galway, in Irish Gallive. Built in the forme of a Towre, The Citie ha­ving a Bishops See in it, and being famous for the frequent resort of merchants thither, and also profitable to the Inhabitants by the conve­niencie of the Haven which is beneath it, and by the easie exportation of Merchandise: not far from hence on the Westerne sidely the Islands which are called Arran, of which many things are fabled, as if they were the Isles of the living, in which no man could either die or be subject to death. The Province of Connaught at this time is fortified with foure­teen Castles, it hath nine Market Towns, & it is divided into sixe Coun­ties or Shires in this manner: the Countie of Clare, of Galway, of Mago, of Slego, of Letrimme, and of Roscomen. Media is the third part of Ireland, The names whence deri­ved. which in their Countrie speech they call Mijh, the English Methe, Giral­dus Midia and Media, perhaps because it is in the very middle of the [Page 52] Island. For the Castle Killaire in these parts, which Ptolemie seemes to call Laberus, The Situation. is in the middle of Ireland, as the name Killair doth denote. The Countrie reacheth from the Irish Sea, even to the River Shennin, which river parts it from Connacia. It hath a wholsome and delightfull aire. It is fruitfull in corne, pasturage, and flocks, abounding with Flesh­meate, The fertilitie of the Soile. Butter, Cheese, Milke, and the like: and in regard of the multi­tude of people, the strength of faire Castles and Townes, and the peace arising from thence, it is commonly called the Chamber of Ireland. Here is the Towne Pontana, which is commonly called Drogheda, a faire Town, and having a convenient Haven for Ships to ride in. But there are some who thinke that the middle part of this Towne, on the other side the Ri­ver, The Townes names. is in Vltonia. There are also these Townes in Media, Molingar, Four, Delvyn, Trimme, Kelle [...], Navan, Aboy, Dulek, and Scrin.

CONNACIA is the second part of Ireland, some call it Connachtia, the English Connach, and the Irish Connachty. The names It lyeth toward the West, and is bounded with the River Sen, the River Banna, and the Ocean. This, the Auteri and Nagnatae in the time of Ptolomie did inhabite. But there is so neare an affinitie betweene these two wordes, Nagnatae and Connaghty, that they seeme one to bee derived from the other: unlesse we suppose that the word Connaghty did arise from the Haven Nagnatae, which Ptolomy mentions, and from thence the Country got this name. For a Haven is called in their native speech Cuon, to which if you adde Nagnata, it will not bee much different in sound from Connaghty. The fertilitie of the Soyle. The Country as it is in some places fruitfull and pleasant, so in some wet pla­ces covered o're with grasse, and by reason of their softnesse, called Bogs, it is very dangerous, as other parts of the Island are, and full of darke and thicke woods. But the Coasts having many Bayes, and navi­gable in-lets, doth as it were invite and stirre up the inhabitants to im­ploy themselves in navigation, yet sloath is so sweet unto them, that they had rather begge from doore to doore, then seeke to keepe them­selves from Poverty by honest labour. It is reported in the Irish Histo­ries that Turlogus O-mor O-conor, was sole Governour of this Country, The ancient government and that hee divided it betweene his two sonnes, Cabelus and Brienus. But when the English came into Ireland, Rodericke did governe it, and cal­led himselfe King of Ireland, but he being afraid of the English warres, not trying the chance or fortune of the field, put himselfe under obedi­ence to Henry the Second King of England. Who after revolting from his faith given, Miles Cogane was the first English-man who did attempt, but in vaine, to get Connachtia. Afterward, William the sonne of Adelme, whose posterity were called in Irish Bourki, Gilbert de Clare, Earle of Glo­cester, and William de Bermingham chiefe men in England, did subject this Country, and brought it to civilitie. But Bourke, or de Burgo, and his Posterity were a long time stiled and called Lords of Connach, govern­ing this Province together with Vltonia in great peace and tranquillitie, and did receive great revenewes out of it, untill the onely daughter of Richard de Burgo being sole inheretrix of Connachtia and Vltonia, was married to Lionell Duke of Clarence, the sonne of King Edward the third. But he living for the most part in England, and his successors the Morti­mers [Page 54] did neglect their Patrimonie, the Bourks being their kinsemen, to whom they had committed the overseeing of those Lands, making use of the absence of the Lords, and the troublesome times in England, con­temned the authority of the Lawes, entring into league with the Irish, and making marriages with them, and got all Connachtia to themselves, and by degrees degenerating, having left off the English habit, they followed the Irish manners It is at this day divided into sixe Coun­ties: Clare, Letrimme, Galwey, Resecomin, Maio, and Sligo. There are in it the Baron of Atterith, the Baron of Clare, and others. Here is also Galloway, a Towne much frequented by forrain Merchants. It is repor­ted that an Outlandish Merchant who did traffique with the Townes­men, did once aske an Irishman, in what part of Galloway Ireland stood? valuing this Towne as the whole Country, and the whole Country as this Towne. There are reckoned to Galloway, Anner, Clare, Sligo, Arctlo, and Alon, Townes of note.

The Auteri, whom I mentioned before, did heretofore possesse the more Southerne part of this Connacia, where is now Twomondia, or Cla­ria, the Country of Clan-Richard, and the Baronie of Atterith, which plainely intimateth whence came the name of the Auteri. Twomond, called by Giraldus Theutmonia (which though it lie beyond the River Se­nus or Shinnin, may be added to Momonia) is stretched forth into the Sea with a great Promontorie, famous for the Seat of an Archbishop which they call Toam, and for the Earles thereof, namely the O-Brennis, who de­scending from the ancient Earles of Connack, were honoured by Henry the Seaventh, with the Title of Earles of Twomond. This Country or the most part of it the English call Clare-shire, from Thomas Clare the youngest sonne of Gilbert, the first Earle of Glocester, to whom King Ed­ward the first gave this Country. Clan-Richard, that is, the Land of the sonnes of Richard, is next unto this; it tooke its name, according to the Irish custome, from one Richard an Englishman, called de Burgo, or Bur­gensis, who afterward in this Country became a man of great note and power; and out of this Family Henry the eighth created Richard de Bur­go Earle of Clan-Richard, Atterith, commonly Athenri, doth glory in that warlike Baron, Iohn de Bermingham an Englishman, out of which Family the Earles of Louth are descended: but these Berminghams of Atterith, degenerating into the Irish Wildenesse and incivilitie, will scarce acknowledge that they were once English. In this Atterith Geo­graphers doe place the mouth of the River Ausoba, which is now called the Bay of Galway: for Galway, in Irish called Gallive, is seated on it, being a faire Towne, which through the benefit of the River, is filled with many commodities brought thither, both by Sea and Land. Geographers doe also place the River anciently called Ravius, but now Trowis, in Con­nack; it is also knowne by the name of Bannus, for the inhabitants do call it Banny: This River comming out of the Lake Ernus is the bounds of Connack, and Vlster.

I returne to the Inhabitants. The rest of Connack toward the North was heretofore possessed by the Nagnatae, even to the River Bannus, which doth part Vltonia and Connack; where O-Conor, O-Rorck, and Mac-Diarmod, being wilde Irish, doe governe and rule. The shoare is [Page 55]

[Page 56] backed from Ausoban with the Isles of Arran, Inisceath, knowne hereto­fore by reason of Colmans Monasterie here seated, and Inis Bovind, which Beda translating out of Scotch, calleth Vitulae albae Insulam, or the Island of the White Calfe. Then the shoare runneth back to the mouth of the Ri­ver Libinus, which Camden bringeth unto Dublin, but the place which Ptolomie assigneth, is now called the Bay of Slegah. Here Ptolomie placeth the Citie of Nagnata, but Camden saith, hee cannot tell what that Citie should be. There is one Archbishop here who keepes his residence at Toam; under whom are these Suffragan Bishops, the Bishop of Kilmako, Olfine, Bishop Helphen, Avaughdoune, Clonfert, and Moroo.

MEDIA is the third part of Ireland, which in the Country speech is called Mijh, the English call it Methe, Giraldus Midia, and Media, Whence the names are de­rived. because perhaps it lyeth in the very middle of the Island. For the Castle of Killaire in those parts, which Ptolomie calls Laberus, is held to be in the middle of Ireland, and so much the See Camden pag. 663. name it selfe doth expresse: for Lair in the Irish speech signifies the middle. Richard Stanthurst writeth thus concerning the Etymon or signification of the word Media. In the yeare of the World 2535. five brethren possessing the Islands, they resolved to divide it equally into foure Provinces, that so they might governe in them severally. But least their younger brother whose name was Slanius, might bee without some honour, they consented together to bestow on him a share taken out of all foure partes: Which was received by him cheare­fully, and hence some suppose that it was called Media. It stretcheth and ex­tendeth it selfe from the Irish Sea, even to the River Shennin, which Ri­ver doth part it from Connack. The Situation. It hath a wholesome pleasant Aire and deligthfull Prospect. It aboundeth with corne, pasturage and cattle, ha­ving store of Flesh, The fertilitie and fruitfulnes. Butter, Cheese, Milke, and the like, and in regard of the strength of the Townes and Castles, and the peace arising thence it is called the Chamber of Ireland. The Irishmen doe write that this Country heretofore had Kings, and that Slanius afterward became sole Monarch of all Ireland. The auncient go [...]e [...]nment. But when the English had set foote in Ireland, Hugh Lacey did conquer the most part of it, and King Henry the Second King of England granted it unto him to hold in fee, and stiled him Lord of Media. He having his head on a suddaine cut off by an Irishman while he was building the Castle of Derworth, left behinde him Hugh Earle of Vltonia, and Walter Lord of Trim, the Father of Gilbert, who dyed be­fore him. But by the daughters of Gilbert, Margaret, and Matilda, the one part fell by the Ienvills of the House of Lorraine, and the Morti­mers, unto the King: for Peter of Ienvill being borne of that Matilda had issue Ioane, who was married to Roger Mortimer, Earle of March: the other came by the Verdons to many Families in England. In our fore­fathers time by an Act of Parliament it was divided into two parts, namely, into East and West Media. The River Boand or Boyne, which Ptolomie calleth Buvinda, runneth through the East side, and afterward when it hath washed Droghda, a faire and populous Town, called so from [Page 57] the bridge, it divideth that part from Vltonia. The Westerne Media hath nothing worthy of memory or note beside Laberus (which Camden seemes to call Kaillair) and the Towne of Delvin which heretofore did honour Peter Meset, and now the renowned English Familie of the No­gents, with the title of Barons. For Gilbert Nogent (as Richard Stanihurst hath it, who writ eloquently of Irish matters) having a gentlemans e­state, was rewarded by Hugh Lacy, for his service performed in the Irish warres, with the Colonies of Delvin and Four; from him are the Barons of Delvin descended. Those Irish Countries of O-Malaghlem, Mac-Cog­lan, O-Madden, and Mogoghian, whose names have a barbarous sound, we leave unto others. Among the Townes of Media, Pontana is reckoned which is commonly called Droghda, being a faire Towne and having an Haven fit for the receipt of Shippes. But there are some who place the middle part of this Towne in Vltonia, beyond the River. There are also in Media these Townes, Molingar, Four, Delvin, Trimme, Kelles, Navain, Aboy, Dulek, and Scrin. There are also in this Province neare Fonera three Lakes, not farre one from another, whereof every one con­taineth his severall sorts of fish, which never come one to another, al­though the way be passable by the River flowing betweene them: and beside if the fish be carried from one Lake to another, they either die, or returne to it againe. Here is the River Boand aforesaid, called so from the swiftnesse of it: for See Camden [...] Brit. pag. 663. Boan both in Irish and Welch, doth signifie swift, and Nechamus hath sung of it.

IN our Authors division Lagenia followes Media, being the fourth part of Ireland, The names. which the Inhabitants call Leigh­nigh, the Brittaines Leyn, the English Leynster, the Latine Writers Lagenia, and the booke called the holy lives of the Saints Lagen. It lyes all toward the Sea on the East side of Ireland, even from Momonia to the River Neorus, which it goes beyond in many places: it is divided from Conack by the River Senus or Shennin, and from Media by the bounds thereof. In Ptolemies time it was the seate of the Brigantes, the Coriondi, the Menapij, the Cauci, and the Blani, and perhaps from these Blani, their names Lein, Leinigh and Leinster were derived. It is a fertile and fruitfull Country, it hath a gentle Aire, and the Inhabitants are of a curteous disposition. It is now divided into these Counties, Weishford, Caterlogh, Kilkenny, Dublin, Kil­dare, Kings-shire, Queenes-shire, Longford, with which Fernes and Wicklo are now reckoned. These Counties wee will now view in order, with Camden, according to the people which the Geographer writeth did in­habit this part of Ireland. The Brigantes were seated betweene the mouth of the River Suirus, and the two Rivers Neorus and Barrow, which Ptolemie calls Birgus, which flow together under the Citie of Waterford. Because there was an ancient Citie of the Brigantes in Spaine, called Bri­gantia, therfore Florianus del Campo, striveth to fetch the originall of these Brigantes out of Spaine; though if there were any ground for such a con­jecture, they might as probably bee derived from the Brigantes in Brit­taine, which is a neighbour Nation and very populous. But if it bee true, as some copies have it, that they were anciently called Brigantes, then the very name doth perswade us that they were so called from the River Birgus, which they inhabited round about. The Coriondi did in­habite between the Rivers Neorus and Birgus, where is now the Coun­ty of Carleo or Caterlogh, a great part of Kilkenny, and farther even to [Page 59]

[Page 60] Ossiria the Higher, beside Ormondia, which the Irish call Vrrown, the En­glish Ormond, and vulgarly Wormewood. In both of these there is no­thing memorable, but the Earles thereof. For Ossiria the Higher hath beene renowned by the Earle Barnabie Fitzpatrick, who was dignified by Edward the sixt with that honour. And Ormond hath had, accounting from Iames the first, thirteene Earles of the famous Familie of the But­lers, whom Edward the third advanced to that honour, and whose ho­nourable Ancestors were heretofore the Butlers of Ireland, whence this name Butler was given them. That which some of the Irish, and those that would be thought men of good credit, doe affirme concerning cer­taine men in this Country that are every yeare turned into Wolves, I thinke it to be fabulous: Although it may be indeed the abundance of melancholy, wherewith they are possessed, (called by the Physitians Lycanthropia) doth stirre up such phantasies, that they imagine them­selves to bee transformed into Wolves. Neither dare I imagine any other thing of these Lycaons transformed in Livonia. At the mouth of Surius the Menapij held a Promontorie toward the Southwest, which is now the Countie Weishford, in Irish Countie Reogh. The name it selfe doth seeme to intimate that these Menapij came from the Menapij a Ma­ritime people among the Belgians. But whether that Carausius, who be­ing made King defended Britaine against the Emperour Dioclesian, was descended from the one or the other, let others determine. For Aure­lius Victor calleth him a Citizen of Menapia, and the Citie Menapia is placed by Geographers not in Holland, but in Camden thinks this Me­napia to bee that which now is called Weishford, see him pag. 659. Ireland. Ptolemie calls this Promontorie Hieron, that is, holy, and I doubt not but it was called so by the Inhabitants for the same respect. For they called in their Country speech, the farthest Towne hereof, at which the English first landed in this Isle, Banna, which signifies Holy. From this Holy Promontorie the shoare runneth forth in a large tract toward the East and North, neare to which there are shallow sands very dangerous for shipping, which Saylers call The Ground. The Cauci, who were a Maritime people of Germany, did inhabite next to the Menapij. These had that Maritime Country, which the Irish Families of the O-Mores, and O-Brins doe in­habite, together with the County of Kildare. The County of Kildare is very pleasant; concerning the pastures whereof Giraldus useth these ver­ses of Virgill.

But for the company of Gyants which Giraldus placeth in this Coun­try, I leave it to those who admire fabulous antiquities, for I would not willingly doate too much on fables. Beyond the Cauci liv'd the Eblani, where is now the Countrie of Dublin and Meth, being one of the five parts of Ireland. The County of Dublin towards the Sea is of a fertile soyle, having pleasant Meddowes, but so bare of Wood, that for the most part they use Turfe and Coale digged in England. It is full of Townes and People; where the River Liffe hideth it selfe in the Sea, Houth is almost environed therewith, from whence the Family of the [Page 61] Laurences are called Barons of Houth. On the North side of Dublin lyes Fingall, a faire Country well tilled, and is as it were the store-house or Barne of the Kingdome, in regard it yeeldeth yearely so great a quan­titie of corne, that in a manner the earth doth strive with the labour of the husbandmen, which lying in other parts of the Island, neglected and untill'd, doth seeme to complaine of their ignorant sloath. These things being unfolded, let us now passe to the Cities and Townes. Here Kilkenny meetes us in the first place, being neare to the River Neorus, The names of the Townes. Kilkenny signifies the Cell, or Chappell of Canicus, who formerly in this Country was famous for his Religious solitary life. It is a neate fine Towne, abounding with all things, and the chiefe of the innermost Townes of this Island. The Towne is divided into the English and Irish part, the Irish part is as it were the Suburbs, wherein is the Temple of Canicus, who gave the name to it, and it is the Seat of a Bishop. The English Towne is newer, being built by Ralph the third Earle of Chester, it was fortified as some doe suppose, with walls on the West side by Ro­bert Talbot a Noble man, and strengthned with a Castle by the Butlers. Below this, upon the same River of Neorus, a walled Towne is seated, called in English Thomas Towne, in Irish Bala mac-Andan, that is, the Towne of Antonius his sonne, both names were given unto it by the builder Thomas Fitz▪Antonius an Englishman, whose heires are still ac­knowledged the Lords thereof. There stood in this Country that an­cient City Rheba, mentioned by Ptolemy, which was also called Rheban, but instead of a Citie it is even [...] a Citie and no Citie, as he him­selfe saith, being a few Cottages with a Forte. It honoureth the Saint-michaells with the title of Baronet. There is Lechlinia, in Irish Leiglyn, a royall Towne, fortified with a Castle by that Noble Deputie Bellingham. The great Citie of Rosse, hath likewise here flourished in times past, as having beene full of Inhabitants, and Merchandise, and fortified with a wall of great circuit, by Isabell the daugher of Richard Strongbow Earle, which walls doe now onely remaine. For discord arising among the Citizens concerning Religion, the Towne is ruinated and fallen to no­thing: but enough of these things, The Moun­taines and Rivers. I passe to the Mountaines and Ri­vers. Beneath Ormund the hills Bliew Blemi (which Giraldus calleth the Mountaines of Bladina) doe lift up their heads with their convex tops, out of whose bowels as it were, the Rivers Suirus, Neorus and Birgus, doe arise, and running in severall channels before they come to the Ocean they joyne all in one stream, whence the Ancients did call them Tres So­rores the three Sisters. Neorus hemmeth in many Castles and Townes; Birgus, now called Barrow, flowing out of the Mountaine Bladina, and running along by it selfe with many windings, at last passeth Rheba and other Townes. Afterward Neorus and Birgus do mingle their Waters, and having for some miles runne in one channell, they resigne their name and waters to their elder sister Suirus, which by a rocky mouth dischargeth her selfe into the Ocean, where on the left hand there run­neth forth a little Promontorie with a straight necke, which beares a little Tower as a defence or marke for Shippes, built by the Rosses when they flourished that they might safely enter into the Haven. In this part Pto­lemie placed the River Or M [...]d [...]na, which Camden thinkes to bee Slane. See him pag. 569. Modanus aforesaid, and Ovoca neare the Sea, on [Page 60] the back whereof the Castle Arcklo is seated, which River as Giraldus saith, both in the flowing and ebbing of the Sea water, doth still retaine its native sweetnesse, and doth preserve its waters unstained or unmin­gled with saltnesse a great way in the Sea. Here is the River Liffie, which slideth by Dublin, Called Lifni­us▪ or Labnius Fluvius. it is not carried with any violence except after a great storme of raine, but floweth very gently. This River without doubt is mentioned by Ptolemie: but by the carelesnesse of Bookemen, it is bani­shed out of its place. For the River Liffie, is placed in Ptolemies Tables in the same Latitude toward the other part of the Island, where there is no such River. But let us call it backe again to Or Dublin, which is called by the West Brittaines Di­nas Dublin, and by the Irish Ba­lacleigh. 1. the Towne upon Hurdles, for it is reported that the foundation therof was laid upon Hurdles. Eblana its proper place, and give these verses of Necham concerning it.

I will also adde that which Giraldus hath concerning Wiclo a Porte or Haven neare to Ovoca: which he calleth Winchiligello. There is a Haven at Winchiligello, on that side of Ireland which looketh toward Wales, whose waters doe flow in when the Sea doth ebbe, and when the Sea floweth, it ebbeth. There is also another very notable one, which when the Sea ebbeth, yet still con­tinues salt and brackish in every part and creeke thereof. There is one Arch­bishop in Lagenia, which hath his seate at Dublin, and Clandelachy, hee is called, Glandeloylong, and Primate of Ireland, having these following Suffragan Bishops under him, the Bishop of Elphine, or Bishop Helphen; of Kildare, of Fernes Ossorie, and of Leighlyn called by some Laghlyn.

MOMONIA followes in our propounded method, in Irish called Mown, in English Munster: the fift and last part of Ireland, it lyeth on the South upon the Vergivian Sea, being divided in some places from Connacia by the River Shennin, and from Lagenia by the River Neorus; it was formerly divided into two parts, the Westerne, and the Southerne. The Westerne part the Gangani, Luceni, Velabri, and Vterim did ancient­ly inhabit, the Vdiae or Vodiae the Southerne part. Now it is divided into seven Counties namely Kerry, Limrick, Corck, Tripperary the Countie of the Holy Crosse, the Countie of Waterford, and Desmond. Wee purpose to runne briefly over these Counties with Cambden, according to the severall people which the Cosmographer attributeth to them. The Gan­gani whom we formerly mentioned in the first place, do seeme by the affinitie of their name to be the same with the Concani of Spaine, whose originall was from the Scythians, and Silius witnesseth that they dranke horses blood, which heretofore the Wild Irish did often use to doe, Kerri (as it is now called) at the mouth of the River Shennin, was Anci­ently their Seat. A countrie full of inaccessible and wooddy mountains betweene which there are many hollow vallies, having thicke woods in them. The Earles of Desmond were heretofore honoured with the dig­nitie of Counts Palatine hereof, but by the wickednesse of men, which would have libertie and yet knew not how to use it, it was long since converted into a sinke of impietie, and a refuge for seditious persons. A ridiculous opinion hath invaded and persuaded the mindes of the Wild Irish, that hee that doth not answer the great shouting or warlike Which is Pharich. crie which the rest make, when they joyne battell, should be suddenly taken up from the earth, and as it were flying be carried into these desart val­lies, from any part of Ireland, and there feed on grasse, drinke water, and yet know not what he is, having reason, but not speech, and at last should be taken by hunters, and brought home againe. The middle of this Countrie is cut into two parts by a River which hath now no name, but floweth by a small Towne called Trailes, now almost ruinated, where the Earles of Desmond had their mansion houses. This River, by the situ­ation of it in Ptolemies tables, doth seeme to be Dur, and saith Camden, I [Page 64] would avouch no lesse, if Duris, which at this day is reckoned among the Hauens of this Westerne Coast, be at the mouth of it, as I have un­derstood by some. Not farre from hence is the Haven Smerwick (the word being contracted in stead of S. Mary Wick,) of which, not many yeares agoe, when Girald Earle of Desmond, a man profound in trecherie towards his Prince and Countrie, did daily by severall inrodes waste the Countrie of Momonia, a mixt band or companie of Italians and Spaniards arrived, being sent unto his aide from Pope Gregory, and the Spaniards, who having engarrison'd themselves in a place, called Fort del Ore, seem­ed not to feare Heaven it selfe. But when that famous and warlike Depu­tie the Lord Arthur Gray came with his forces, hee did soone decide the matter. For forthwith they yeelded themselves, and most part of them were put to death, because it seemed most safe and fit so to doe, the affaires of the Kingdome requiring it, and the rebells being on every hand. The Earle of Desmond himselfe fled to the woods, and having hid himselfe in a Cottage was wounded by a Souldier or two who rushed in upon him, and afterward being knowne, he was beheaded for his tre­cherie and wasting of his Countrie. All Desmonia toward the South is subject to the Gangans, which the Irish call Dassown, the English, Desmond; heretofore three sorts of people dwelt in it, namely the Luceni, the Vela­bri, the Iherni, which are conceived in some Maps to be the Vterini. The Luceni seeme to have drawne both their name and originall from the Lucensii of Spaine, which held the opposite Coast. The Velabri were so called from Aber, which is as much to say as Aestuarii, because they were seated neare the armes of the Sea: hence also the Artabri and Cantabri were so called. Orosius places these at the Promontorie Notium, which Mariners at this day doe call Some call it Cabo del Mar. others Ca [...]a and Cabo de Cler. Biar-head: under this Promontorie the River Iernus is received into the Ocean, neare to which stands Dunck-eran a Bishops Seat, this Dunck-eran, which in the Scottish-Irish, is as much as to say, the Towne Eran, doth not onely expresly shew it selfe to be that Citie Ivernis which Ptolemie mentions, but the river to be that Iernus whereof hee speaketh, which hath its appellation together with the whole Island from Hier an Irish word signifying the West. For it is the farthest River of this Country toward the West, as Ireland is the farthest Island Westward of all Europe. The Iberni, who are also called Vterni, (that is according to Camdens interpretation, the High Irish) did inhabit by this River on one side of the Promontorie, where are the Havens Berebavim and Baltimore, well knowne for the plentie of Herring taken therein: neare to which dwelt Mac-Carti More, an Irish Nobleman who in the yeare 1566. did deliver & render his Lands and possessions into the hands of Elizabeth Queene of England, and received thē againe from Her, to hold thē by fealtie after the manner of England. And at the same time he was created Earle at Glencar, and baron of Valentia. A man in this Countrie of great name and power, and an enemy heretofore to the Giralds, who deprived his Ancesters, being heretofore, as he contended, the lawfull Kings of Desmond, of their ancient right. For these Giralds, or Fitz-Giralds, being descended from the house of Kildare: and having conquered the Irish, did here get themselves large possessions, and of these Giralds Maurice Fitz-Thomas was created by Edward the third [Page 65]

[Page 66] the first Earle of Desmond in the yeare of Grace 1355, & left so firme & so established an inheritance, that the aforesaid honour in a continued successiō did descend to this wretched rebel, of which I have spoken be­fore, who was the tenth Earle after him. Next to the Iberni dwelt the Vdiae who are also called Vodiae, of which names there remaineth some tokens in the Country of Kilkenni; for the greatest part is called Idou & Idouth. These did inhabit the Counties of Corke, Triperarie, Linrick, Kilkenni, and Waterford. In the Countie of Triperarie, there is nothing worthy of me­morie, but that there is a Palatinate in it, and the little Towne called Ho­ly Crosse, that hath great immunities and freedomes granted (as the Monkes have persuaded them) in honour of a piece of our Saviours Crosse which was kept there. The Rivers, Citties and Townes. The famous River Suirus, which the inha­bitants call Showr, is carried out of this Countrie of Triperarie into Kil­kenni. This River running out of the Mountain Blada through Ossiria the Lower of which the Butlers are stiled Earles, and afterward Thurles, of which they are stiled Vicounts, first passeth by the Citie Cassilia or Cas­sel, adorned by Pope Eugenius with an Archbishop, under whom are nine Suffragan Bishops. And from thence growing bigger by the re­ceipt of two other Rivers into it, neere Waterford it dischargeth it selfe into the Ocean. Hitherto I have runne over this part of Ireland with Cam­den, now it remaines to unfold some things concerning the Cities and Townes in the same. Among them the first that offers it selfe is This Citie the Irish and Brittaines call Porthlargy. Water­ford, which is the second Citie in Ireland, and alwaies faithfull and obe­dient to the English governement. For after Richard Earle of Pembroke conquered and tooke it, it alwaies continued in peacable quietnesse and obedience to the English, endeavouring to bring Ireland into subjection; whence the Kings of England did grant them many and divers immuni­ties and freedomes, which Henry the seventh did encrease and confirme, because the Cittizens did behave themselves valiantly and wisely a­gainst Perkin VVarbeck, who with the wings of impudence thought to aspire to the royall Throne. This Citie was built by Pyrats of Norway, which although it have a thick aire, a soile not very pleasant, and very narrow streets, yet such is the conveniencie of the Haven, that it is the second Ctity in Ireland for wealth & populousnes, & is filled with many wise & well behaved Citizens. It hath a safe & quiet Haven, & which is often full of outlandish & forraine ships. For there are many Merchants in Waterford, who in trading do so wisely use their stock, & so warily cast up their accoūts, that in a short time they get great store of wealth; they are not for the most part indebted, but have ready money. There are ve­ry few usurers, which by fraudulent & intolerable interest live upon the goods & spoile of the Cittizens by taking them to pawne. The Citizens are curteous, bountifull, thriftie, hospitable to strangers, and serviceable both in private and publique affaires. This Citie was anciently called Menapia, as Dublin Eblana: or rather Amellana from Amellanus, who built it, as it is reported that Sitaracus built Waterford, and Ivorus Lim­rick; They being Cosen-Germans, and heretofore of great authoritie in Ireland. There is also in this Countrie Limrick, which is the third Ci­tie, that excells the rest, for commodious situation, and for the fairenesse of the River, being watered with Shennin the chiefe of all the Irish Ri­vers; [Page 67] though this Citie bee distant from the Sea sixtie miles, yet the ship-masters doe bring shippes of great burthen even to the walls of the Citie, neither neede they feare any rockes all the way they come up. It is wonderfull to see what store and plentie of fish you shall finde there. Iohn King of England being enamoured with the pleasantnesse of this Cittie, built there a faire Castle, and a Bridge. There is also Corcagia in the Countie of Corke, which the English call Cork, and the natives Korkeach, environed with a wall, not very wide in compasse. It is stretched out so as to make but one street, yet there is a prettie and very faire market place; it hath an excellent safe harbour, but hath heretofore beene so encompassed with seditious neighbours, that they keepe continuall watch and ward, as if they were alwaies besieged, and they scarce marrie their daughters into the countrie, by reason whereof, marrying among themselves, all the Citizens are somewhat allied one to another. The Citizens are strong in Souldiers, they addict themselves to merchandise, and governe their affaires both at home and abroad very frugally. Coenalis writeth, that the holy man Briacus came from hence, from whom the Diocesse of Sanbrioch in Brittaine, common­ly called S. Brieu, tooke its name. But in this hee wandereth from the truth, because he placeth the Coriondi of Ireland in this Citie. For Ptole­mie doth not mention it at all. Yet the River which floweth by it seem­eth to be the same, which Ptolemie calls Daurona, and Giraldus calls Sau­ranus, and Saverenus by changing one letter. Learned pag. 655. Camden saith, that the affinitie which is betweene these names did intimate so much unto him, and that with greater probalitie, then if hee should call the next River Daurona, which running through the Countie Corke and Tri­perarie falls into the Ocean by Lysmor, and is called by Historians Aven­mor, that is, the Great River, of which Nechamus thus writeth:

The names THE Northerne part of the Island of Brittaine is called Scotland, heretofore Albania. The Inhabitants who keepe their ancient speech, doe call it Albain, and the Irish Al­bany, as if it were an other Ireland, which the Bardes call Banno. For Historians doe call Ireland Greater Scotland; & the Kingdome of Scots in Brittaine the Lesser Scotland: Ptolemie doth call it Little Brittaine, Rufus the Second Brittaine; Tacitus calleth it Ca­ledonia, from a certaine Forrest so called. But the Scots were so called from their Neighbours the or Scitti, a people of Ger­many that sei­sed on a part of Spaine. Scyths: For as the Dutchmen call the Scyths and Scots by one name Scutten, that is, Archers: so also the Brittains did call both of them Y-scot, as appeareth by the Brittish Writers. And 'tis manifest, that they descending from the Scyths, came out of Spaine into Anno 424. Ireland, and from thence into that part of Albain which they now possesse, and grew with the Picts into one Nation. Thus much of the Name, the Situation followes. The Southerne bounds towards Eng­land are the Rivers Tweede and Solwey, on the North is the Deucaledon O­cean, The Situation. on the West the Irish, on the East the German, other parts the Ocean and the German Sea doe compasse. It is 480 miles long, but no where a­bove 112 miles broad. The tempera­ture of the Ayre. The Country is more temperate than France, the heate and cold being more remisse, in like manner as it is in England, but yet it cannot be compared unto it in fruitfulnesse. The Earth, for the most part, The fertility of the Soyle. is full of Sulphure or moorish, which affordeth them coale and turfe for firing, especially in those places where there is want of wood. Yet here groweth as much corne as the Inhabitants can spend. The Earth also bringeth forth divers mettals, as Gold, Silver, Quick­silver, Iron, Lead, and Copper. It hath in Drisdale a Gold Myne, in which the Azure stone is found. It hath also pretious stones, especially the Gagate, which burneth in the water, and is quenched with oyle. Al­so excellent pastures, which doe feed and bring up all kinds of Heards: whence they abound with plenty of flesh, milke, butter, cheese, and wooll. When the Scots came to the Picts into Brittain, although they stil provok't the English by warres & robberies, yet the Scottish affaires grew not upon a suddain, but a long time they lay hid in that corner in which they first arriv'd; neither (as Beda noteth) for more than an hundred and seven and twenty yeares, durst they beare Armes against the Earles of Northumberland, untill at one and the same in the yeare of grace 740. time they had almost slaine all the Picts, and the Kingdome of Northumberland by domestick troubles, and by the incursions of the Dane, was almost ruined. For then all the North part of Brittaine came to be called Scotland, together with the Countrie beyond Cluide, and Edenburgh-Frith. The Scots are valiant in warre, and stout souldiers to endure hunger, watching, or cold. The chiefe Citie of Scotland is This Citie the Scotch-Irish call Dun Fa­den. [...]. the Town Eaden. Edenburgh, commonly called Edenburrow, [Page 69]

[Page 70] this royall Seate Ptolemie cals the Which the word Edenbur­row much re­sembles, for (saith Camden) Adam in the Brittish tongue signifieth a wing See pag. 6 [...]7. Winged Castell, and not onely the Me­tropolis of Lauden, but also of all Scotland; it hath its situation on the Mountaines, much like to Prague in Bohemia; the length stretched from East to West is a thousand paces, or a mile, the breadth is halfe as much. The whole Citie hangeth, as it were, on the side of a Mountaine, and is highest toward the West; toward the North it fortifies the Citie with its steepnesse, the other parts toward the East and South are envi­ron'd with a wall. On the East side of the Citie is the Kings pallace, which they call King Arthurs Chaire: on the West there is a steepe Rock, and on the Rock a great Towre, which the Scots doe commonly call the maiden Towre, which is the same which Ptolemie cals the Winged Castell. There are also other Cities and famous Townes in this King­dome, which we will describe particularly in their places. In the Valeys there are many Lakes, Marshes, Fountaines and Rivers full of Fish, the greatest part whereof arise out of the Mountaine Grampius, of which wee will make mention in our next Description. The Sea. The Scottish Sea is full of Oysters, The Ports. Herrings, Corall, and shell-fish of divers kindes. Scotland hath many Havens & Bayes, amongst which Letha is a most convenient Haven. Mountaines▪ The Country it selfe is very rugged and mountainous, and on the very Mountaines hath plaine levell ground, which doth afford pa­sturage for Cattell. Grampius is the greatest Mountaine, and doth runne through the middle of Scotland: it is commonly called Grasebaim, or Grantzbaine, Woods. that is to say, the crooked mountaine, for it bending it selfe from the shore of the German Sea to the mouth of the River Dee, and passing through the middle of this Countrey toward the Irish Sea, endeth at the Lake Lomund: it was heretofore the bounds of the King­dome of the Picts and Scots. At Aberdon there are woody mountaines. It is thought, that here was the Forrest of Caledonia, which Lucius Florus cals saltus Caledonius, very spacious, and by reason of great trees impas­sable; and it is divided by the Mountaine Grampius. Moreover not onely ancient writings and manuscripts, but also Temples, Friaries, Mo­nasteries, Publick w [...]ks. Hospitals, and other places devoted to Religion doe testifie, that the Scots were not the last The Gospel was fast p [...]a­c [...]d [...] P [...]llad [...] [...] 4 [...]1 among the Europaeans, who embraced the Christian Religion, and did observe and reverence it above others. The royall Pallace of Edenburgh, of which I spake before, is very stately and magnificent, and in the midst of the Citie is their Capitoll or Parlia­ment-house. The Dukes, Earles, Barons, and Nobles of the King­dome have their Pallaces in the Citie, when they are summoned to Par­liament. The Citie it selfe is not built of bricke, but of free squared stone, so that the severall houses may bee compared to great Pallaces. But enough of this, let us passe to other things. The people of Scotland are divided into three Rankes or Orders, the Nobility, the Clergie, and the Laiety. The Ecclesiasticall Order hath two Archbishops, one of S. Andrewes, The manner of Govern­ment. Primate of all Scotland, the other of Glasco. There are eight Bi­shopricks under the Archbishop of Saint Andrewes, of Dunkeld, of A­berdon, of Murray, of Dunblan, of Brecchin, of Rosse, of Cathanes, and of Orkney: Under the Bishop of which is also called the Bi­shop of Gallo­wa [...]. Glasgo there are three, to wit, the Bishop of Candida casa, the Bishop of or Argile Argadia, and the Bishop of the Isles, namely Sura, Mura, Yla, &c. This is the manner and order of the Nobi­litie, [Page 71] the Kings and the Kings Sonnes lawfully begotten have the first place, of which if there bee many, the eldest Sonne is called Prince of Scotland, the rest are onely called Princes; but when the King is publick­ly crowned, hee promiseth to all the people, that he will keepe and ob­serve the Lawes, Rites, and Customes of his Ancestours, and use them in the same manner as they did. The Dukes have the second place, the Earles the third, and those Nobles the fourth place, who are not known by that Title in forraine Countries, but the Scots doe call them My Lords. This name is so much esteem'd amongst them, that for honours sake they attribute it to their Bishops, Earles, and chiefest Magistrates. In the fifth place are the Knights and Barons, who are usually called Lords. They are in the sixth and last place, who having attained to no title of honour, but yet descended from a noble Familie, are therefore commonly called Gentlemen; as the Brothers, and Sonnes of Earles and Lords, the youngest Sonnes of Knights, who have no part in the Inheritance, because (by the Lawes of Scotland) that commeth unto the eldest Sonne, for the preservation of the Familie, but the common peo­ple call all those Gentlemen, who are either rich or well spoken of for their hospitality. The whole weight of warre doth depend on the No­bility of the lowest degree. The Plebeians or Citizens are partly chiefe men, who beare office in their Cities, partly Merchants, and partly Tradesmen, or Handy-craftes-men, all which because they are free from Tribute and other burdens, doe easily grow rich. And least any thing should be too heavily enacted against any Citie, the King permits that in publick assemblies or Parliaments three or foure Citizens, being called out of every Citie, should freely interpose their opinion concer­ning matters propounded. Heretofore the Clergie was governed by the authoritie of Decrees & Councels, but now (as the rest) they are ru­led by the Lawes, which the Kings have devised, or confirmed by their royall assent. The Booke which containeth the municipall Lawes, writ­ten in Latine, is entituled Regia Majestas, the Kings Majestie, because the Booke begins with those words: In the other Bookes of the Lawes, the Acts of their Councels (which are called Parliaments) are written in Scotch. There are many and divers Magistrates in Scotland, as in other Nations. Among these, the chiefe and next to the King is the Prote­ctour of the Kingdome (whom they call the Governour.) Hee hath the charge of governing the Kingdome, if the Common-wealth at any time be deprived of her King; or the King by reason of his tender age cannot manage the affaires of the Kingdome. There is also a continuall Senate at Edenburrough, so framed of the Clergie and Nobilitie, that the Clergie doth in number equall the Laiety. The Clergie have a Presi­dent over them, who hath the first place in delivering his opinion, un­lesse the Chancellour of the Kingdome bee present, for hee hath the chiefe place in all affaires of the Kingdome. Hee that sits on matters of life and death, they call The great Justice; hee that lookes to Sea-mat­ters, the Admirall: he that lookes to the Campe, the Marshall: and he that punishes offences, committed in the Court, is called the Constable. There are also in severall Provinces, which they call Viecounties, those which are Governours of them, whom by an ancient name they [Page 72] call Vicounts. Their authority in deciding those matters which belong to civill causes, doth depend on a certaine hereditary right, by which they claime also unto themselves those Vicountships. So that these Vi­counts may be said not to be created by the King, but borne unto it by right from their Parents. The Cities also and Townes have their Go­vernours, their Bailiffes, and other Magistrates of that kinde, who keepe the Citizens in obedience, and doe maintaine and defend the Priviled­ges of the Cities, whereby it comes to passe that the Common-wealth of Scotland, by the apt disposition and ranking of Degrees, by the holy Majestie of Lawes and the authority of Magistrates, doth flourish, and deserveth great praise. These are the names of the Dukedomes, Earle­domes, and Vicountships of Scotland: the Dukedome of Rotsay and Al­bania, and the Dukedome of Lennox, the Countie of Carnes, Sutherlant, Rosse, Murray, Buchquhan, Garmach, Garmoran, Mar, Mernis, Angus, Gowry, Frisse, Marche, Athole, Stratherne, Menteith, Wagion, Douglasse, Carrike, Crawford, Annandale, Ourmonth, and Huntley. The Vicountships are, Berwich, alias North-Berwyk, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Twedale, Dunfrise, Niddisdale, Wigton, Are, Lanarke, Dunbretton, Sterueling, Louthean, Lau­den, Clacmanan, Kiuros, Fisse, Perth, Angus, Mernis, Aberdone, Bamph, Fo­res, and Inuernes. There are the Universities of Saint Andrew and Aber­done, the later was adorned with many priviledges by King Alexander, and his Sister Isabel, about the yeare 1240. The former was begun to be established under King Iames, in the yeare 1411. To which is added the University of Glasgo, founded by Bishop Turnbul, anno 1554, and Edenburgh. The disposition of the Scots is lively, stirring, fierie, hot, and very capable of wisdome.

I Have ended that which I purposed to speake of Scotland in generall, our method requireth that we should run through the parts of it in speciall. Scotland is divided (by the Moun­taine Grampius, cutting it in the midst) into the Southerne or Higher part, and into the Northerne or Lower part. It is divided from England by the River Tweede, by the high Mountaine Cheviota, and, where the Mountaine faileth, by a trench made not long a­goe, and lastly by the Rivers Eske and Solway. Beyond these bounds the Countries even from the Scottish Sea to the Irish, doe lie in this manner. The first is Marcia, Merchia or March so called, because it is the limits, and lies on the Marches of Scotland, this reacheth to the left side of Tweede: on the East it is bounded with the Forth Which is an arme of the Sea, where the water ebbes & flowes. The names of Cities. Aestuarium, and on the South with England. In March is the Towne of Berwyke, Bor­wick, or Borcovicum; which the English hold. Here is also the Castle of Hume, the ancient possession of the Lords of Hume, who being de­scended from the Earles of March, became at last a great and renowned Familie. Neare to this Castle lyeth Kelso, famous by a certaine Mo­nasterie, and the ancient habitation of the Hepburni, who a long time by Hereditary right, were Earles of Bothwell, and Admiralls of Scotland, which honours by the Sister of Iames Earle of Bothwell, married to Iohn the lawfull Sonne of King Iames the fift, did descend to Francis his Son. From thence we may see Coldingham, or Childingham, which Beda calls the Citie Coldana, and Vrbs Coludi, and Ptolemie perchance calls Colania. On the West side of March on either side of Tweede is Tifedale, being so called from the River Tyfie. It is divided from England by the Moun­taine Cheviota. After this are three small Countries, Lidesdale, Eusedale, and Eskedale, so named from three Rivers of like name, Lide, Eue, and Eske. The last is Annandale, which is so called from the River of An­nan, dividing it in the midst, which runnes along by Solway into the Irish Sea. Now that wee may returne againe to the Called by Ptolemie Bode­ [...]ia by Tacitus Bodotria and by Boethius Fluvius Levi­nus. Lothiana. Forth or Scottish Fyrth it doth bound Lothiana or Lauden on the East side: the Cochurmian Woods, and the Lamirian Mountaines doe seperate it from Marcia. And then a little toward the West it toucheth upon Lauderia & Twedia: the one so called frō the Town Laudera, the other frō the River Tweede, cutting through the middle of that Country. On the South and West Lidesdale Nithesdale and Clidesdall doe touch upon Tweede, the name of Nithesdale was given unto it from the River Nyth, called by Ptolemie No­bios, which glideth through it into the Irish Sea. The Country is now called Lauden, and anciently Pict­land. The fertilitie of the Soyle. The Rivers. Lothiaria was so cal­led from Lothius King of the Scots. On the East side it is bounded with the Forth or Scottish Sea, and on the West it looketh toward the Vale of [Page 74] Clide. This Country both for curtesie and plenty of all things necessary for mans life, doth farre excell the rest. It is watered with five Rivers, Ti [...], The names of Cities both the Eskes (who before they fall into the Sea doe joyne toge­ther in one channell) Letha, and Almone. These rising partly out of the Lamirian Mountaines, partly out of the Pictland Mountaines doe runne into the Forth. It hath these Townes, Dunbarr, Hadinia, com­monly called Hadington, Dalneth, Edenburrough, Leth and Lemnuch. Somewhat more towards the West lyeth Or Cl [...]ddes­dale. The Rivers. Clydesdale, on either side of the River Clide or Glotta, which in regard of the length is divided into two Provinces. In the former Province is a hill not very high, from whence three Rivers doe discharge themselves into three divers Seas. Called Vedra by Ptolemie. Tweede into the Scotch Sea, Annand into the Irish, and Clide into the Deucalidon Sea. The chiefest Cities in it are Lanarick and Glasco. The names of Cities The latter the River Coila or Coyil runneth by on the West: beyond Coila is Gallovidia or Galloway. It is seperated from Nithesdale with the River Claudanus, almost enclining toward the South, whose bankes doe hemme in the other side of Scotland. The whole Country is more fruitfull in Cattle then in Corne. Galloway. It hath many Ri­vers which runne into the Irish Sea, as Vrus, Dee, Kennus, Cray and Lowys. It is no where raised into Mountaines, but yet it swells with little Hills. Among which the water setling doth make innumerable Lakes, The Situation. which by the first raine which falls before the Autumnall Aequinox doe make the Rivers rise, whence there commeth downe an incredible mul­titude of Eeles, which the Inhabitants having tooke up with wickar-weeles, doe salt up, and make a great commoditie of. In this Country is the Lake of Myrton, part of whose Waters doe congeale in Winter, the other is never frozen. The farthest part on this side is the Promon­torie Novantum, under which in the mouth of the River Lowys is the Bay which Ptolemy calls An [...] Camde [...] ▪ G [...]rigon [...]u [...], be­cause there is a Towne situate called [...]geny. Regrionius. On the other side there flowes into it the Bay of Glotta, commonly called the Lake Rian, which Ptolemy calls Vidogara. That Land which runneth betweene these two Bayes the In­habitants call Rine, that is the Eye of Galloway: they call it also the Mule of Galloway, or the Mules nocke. The whole Country is called Gallo­way, or Gallovid, which in the language of the Ancient Scots signifies a French-man. Beneath Vidogara on the backside of Galloway, Caricta gent­ly bendeth toward the estuarie of Glotta. Rivers Two Rivers doe cut through it: Lakes. one called Stinsianus, and the other Grevanus, on both of which many pleasant Townes are seated. Between the Rivers, in those places where it swells into little hills, it is fruitfull in pasturage, and hath some Corne. The whole Country hath not onely a sufficiency of all things, for the maintenance of men both by Sea and Land, but also doth furnish the neighbour Countries with many commodities. The River Dun doth seperate it from Coila, arising out of a Lake of the same name, which hath an Island in it with a small Castle. There are in the Coun­trie of Caricta, very exceeding great Oxen, whose flesh is tender and sweet in taste, and whose fat being once melted never hardneth againe, but alwayes runneth abroad like oyle. Coila followeth, which Galloway doth bound on the South, on the East it toucheth Clidesdale, on the West it is divided from Cunningam by the River Vrwyn, the River Aire [Page 75]

[Page 76] runnes through the middle hereof, on which is seated Ayr a faire Mar­ket Towne. For the generall, this Country hath greater plenty of va­liant men, then of fruit or cattle, for it is altogether of a light sandie soyle: which doth sharpen the industrie of the Inhabitants, and their sparing life doth confirme the strength of their mindes and bodies. In this Country about ten miles from the Towne Ayr, there is a stone al­most twelve foot high, and thirty Cubits thicke, which is called the deafe stone, for if you hollow or shoot off a Musket on the one side, hee that standeth on the other side next to the stone cannot heare it, he that stands farther off shall heare it better, and he that stands farthest off shall heare it best. After this Cunningam runneth to the North, and straight­neth Glotta, untill it become a small River. It is manifest that the name of this Country came from the Danes, and in their language signifies a Kings house, which is a signe that the Danes sometimes possessed it. Next on the East side is situated Renfroan, so called from a Towne, in which the Inhabitants kept their publike meetings, it is commonly cal­led Baronia. Two Rivers doe cut through the middle of it, which are both called Carth. After this Country is Clidesdale aforenamed, stretch­ed forth to either banke of Glotta, and poureth forth many Noble Ri­vers: on the left hand Aven, and Duglasse, which doe runne into Glotta: on the right hand another Aven, which seperates Sterling on the South from Lothiana, and on the East from the Fyrth, untill at last growing lesser, it hath a Bridge over it neare Sterling. There is one Ri­ver that cutteth through this Country, which is worthy of memory, called Carron, neare to which are some ancient Monuments. On the left side of Carron there are two little hills built by the industrie of men, which are commonly called Duni pacis. On the right side of Car­ron, there is a plaine field that at last riseth into a little hill, being in the middle betweene Duni pacis, and a little Chappell. On the side of this hill there appeareth yet the ruines or remainder of a small Citie. But the foundation of the Walls, and the description of the streetes, partly by tillage, and partly by digging forth squared stones for the building of rich mens houses, cannot be distinctly knowne. This place Beda doth call Guidi, and doth place it in a corner of the trench made by Severus the Emperour. Many famous Roman Writers have made mention of this Trench and Bulwarke. Here many tokens doe remaine, and many stones are digged up with inscriptions, which are either testimonies of ayde formerly received by the Tribunes and Centurions, or of their Se­pulchers in those places. Beyond Sterling is Levinis or Lennox, divided from Renfroan by Glotta, from Glasco by the River Keluin: It is parted from Sterling or Striveling with the Mountaines, from Taichia, by the Forth: at length it endeth at the Mountaine Grampius, at the foot there­of the Lake Lomund through a hollow Vale extendeth it selfe 24. miles in length, and 8. in breadth, which containeth above 24. Islands. Be­sides a multitude of other fishes, it hath some particular unto it selfe, which are pleasant in taste, called Pollacks. There are three things re­ported of this Lake very memorable: First the Fish have no Finnes, but otherwise are of an excellent taste. Secondly, the water when there is no winde is sometime so rough, that it would affright the boldest Mar­riner, [Page 77] from weighing Anker. Lastly, there is a certaine Island fit to feed flocks of cattle, which moveth up and downe, and is driven to and fro with every tempest. But I returne to the Lake, which at last breaking forth toward the South, doth send forth the River Levin, which giveth its owne name to the Country. This River neare to the Castle Brittano­dun, or Dun brittan, and a Towne of the same name, entreth into Glotta. The farthest Hills of the Mountaine Grampius doe somewhat raise the farthest part of Levinia, being cut through with a little Bay of the Sea, which for the shortnesse of it they call Gerloch. Beyond this is a farre larger Bay, which they call Longus, from the River Long that falleth into it. This is the bound betweene Levinia and Covalia. Covalia it selfe, Called also Argile, and Ar­gadia. Argathel or rather Ergathel and Cnapdale, are divided into many parts by many straight Bayes made by the estuarie of Glotta, or Dun-Brittan Fryth. There is one famous Lake amongst the rest; they call it Finis from the River Fin, which it receiveth, it is 60 miles long. There is in Knapdale the Lake Avus, in which there is a small Island with a fortified Castle. From hence the River Avus runneth forth, which alone in these Countries emptieth it selfe into the Deucalidon Sea. Beyond Knapdale towards the West Cantiera or Cantyre runneth out, that is, the head of the Country, over against Ireland, from which it is parted by a small narrow Sea, being longer than broad, and joyned so straightly, and in such a narrow manner to Cnapdale, that it is scarce a mile over, and even that is nothing else but sand. On Cantyre Lauria toucheth, lying neare to Argathel, and reaching neare to Abry: it is a plaine Country, and not unfruitfull. In that place where the Mountaine Grampius is some­what lower, and more passable, the Country is called Braid Albin, that is to say, the highest part of Scotland, and where it is highest it is called Drum Albin, that is the backe of Scotland; and not without reason. For out of the backe Rivers doe runne into either Sea, some into the North, some into the South: out of the Lake Iernus, it sendeth forth the River Ierna into the East, which having runne three miles falls into Taus be­neath Perth. From this River Strathierna or Stathierna, extended to either banke thereof, tooke its name. For the Scots are wont to call a Countrie which lyeth on a River, Stat.

THe Mountains of Ocellum do border upon Tachia, which for the most part, together with the Country at the foot there­of, are thought to bee in the Country of Iernia: but the rest of the Countrie even to the Forth ambition hath divided into many parts, as Clacman, Colrosse, and Kinrosse. From these and the Mountaines of Ocellum, all the Countrie which is bounded by the Forth and Tay, groweth straight in the forme of a wedge East­ward, toward the Sea. And by one name is called Fife, having sufficien­cie of all things necessarie to life: it is broadest where the Lake Levinus cutteth it, and thence gathereth it selfe into a narrow forme, even to the Towne Caralia. It sendeth forth one notable River, to wit Levinus, whose bankes are beautified with many Townes, of which the most renowned for the studie of good Arts, [...] is Fanum Andraeae, or Andrews Chappell, which the ancient Scots did call Fanum Reguli, and the Picts Rig­mud. In the middle of the Countrie is Cuprum or Cuper, whither those of Fife do come to have their causes tryed: on that side where it toucheth Iernia, there stands Abreneth the ancient Pallace of the Picts. Here Ierna runneth into Taus. But Taus runneth foure and twentie miles, having broken out of the Lake Taus which is in Braid Albin, and is the greatest River in Scotland. This River bending toward the mountaine Grampius, doth touch Atholia a fertile Region placed in the wooddie Countrie of Grampius. Beneath Atholia Caledon is seated on the right-hand bank of the River Taus an old Towne which onely retaineth a name, common-called Duncaldene, that is, Hasell-trees. For the Hasell trees spreading themselves all over, and covering the fields thereabout with their shadie boughs, gave occasion of that name both to the Towne and people. These Caledones or people of Caledon, being once reckoned among the chief Brittaines, did make up one part of the Kingdome of the Picts. For Ammianus Marcellinus divideth them into the Caledones and Vecturiones, but of their names there is scarce any memorie left at this day. Twelve miles beneath Caledon lyes the Countrie of Perth on the same right-hand banke. On the left-hand banke beneath Atholia is Gour, looking toward the East, renowned for corne-fields: and beneath this againe is Angusia stretched out betweene Taus and Eske: this the ancient Scots did call Aeneia. Some suppose it to be called Horestia, or according to the English speech Forrest. In it is the Citie Cuprum which Boethius, to gratifie his Country, ambitiously calleth This is also called Alle­ctum Dei Donum, the gift of God: but I suppose the ancient name was Taodunum, from Dunus, that is, an Hill situate by Taus, at the foot whereof there is a Towne. Beyond Taus the next foure­teene miles off, on the same banke is Abreneth, otherwise called Obrinca. After this Countrie is the Red Promontorie, very conspicuous. The Ri­ver Eske called the Southerne, cutting through the midst thereof, the o­ther Northerne Eske divideth it from Mernia. It is for the most part a [Page 79]

[Page 80] plaine field countrie, untill Grampius meeting with it beneath Fordune, and Dunotrum the Earle Marshalls castle, it somewhat remitteth its height, and soe bendeth downe into the Sea. Beyond it towards the North is the mouth of the River Deva commonly called Dea or Dee, and about a mile distant from it the River Don; by the one is Aberdon, famous for the Salmon-fishing, by the other another [...] mouth of the River Don. this Town is called by [...] De­ [...], for De­ [...], because a [...] River Don [...] Aberdon, which hath a Bishops Seat, and Publike Schooles flourishing by the studies of all Li­berall Arts. I finde in ancient monuments that the Hithermost was cal­led Aberdea, but now these Townes are called the old and new Aberdon. From this strait Foreland betweene these two Rivers beginneth Marria, which by little and little enlarging it selfe runneth 60. miles in length even to Badenacke or Badgenoth. This Countrie extends it selfe in one continued [...]dge▪ and doth send forth divers great Rivers into either Sea. [...]bria doth border on Badenacke, being somewhat enclined toward the Deucalidon Sea, and is as plentifull as any Countrie in Scotland with all Sea and Land-commoditie. For it hath good corne and pasturage, and is pleasant as well in regard of the shadie woods as coole streames, and fountaines. It hath so great plentie of fish, that it is not inferiour to any part of the whole Kingdome. For beside the plentie of river fish, the Sea storeth it, for breaking in upon the plaine ground, and there being kept in with high bankes it spreads it selfe abroad, in manner of a great Lake: whence it is called in their countrie speech Abria, [...] that is a standing water. They give also the same name to the neighbour Countrie. Northward next to Marria is Buchania or Buguhan divided from it by the river Don. This of all the Countries of Scotland doth stretch it selfe farthest into the Germane Sea. It is happie in pasturage and the increase of sheepe, and is sufficiently furnished with all things necessarie for mans life. [...] The rivers thereof do abound with Salmons. Yet that kinde of fish is not found in the river Raira. There is on the bankes of this river a Cave, the nature whereof is not to be omitted, which is, that water di­stilling drop by drop out of the hollow arch thereof these drops are straightway turned into little Pyramides of stone, and if it should not be clensed by the industrie of men, it would quickly fill up the cave even to the top. Beyond Buchania towards the North, are two small Coun­tries, Boina and Ainia, which lye by the river Spaea or Spey that separateth them from Moravia. Spaea riseth on the back-side of Badenach aforesaid, and a good way distant from its fountaine is that Lake whence Iutea breaketh forth, and [...]owleth it selfe into the Westerne Sea. They report that at the mouth thereof there was a famous Towne, named from the river Emmorluteum: the truth is, whether you consider the nature of the Countrie round about it, or the conveniencie of Navigation and trans­portation, it is a place very fit to be a Towne of traffique. And the ancient Kings induced thereunto by the opportunitie of the seat, for many ages dwelt in the Castle [...] called [...]unstphage Evon, which now many are falsly persuaded was Stephanodunum. For the ruines of that Castle are yet seene in Lorna. Moravia followes from beyond Spaea even to Nessus, heretofore it is thought it was called Varar. Betweene those two rivers the German Oce­an, as it were driving backe the Land into the West, floweth in by a great Bay, and straightneth the largenesse of it. The whole Countrie [Page 81] round about doth abound with Corne and Hay, and is one of the chiefe of the whole Kingdome both for pleasantnesse and encrease of fruits. It hath two memorable Townes▪ F [...]gina neare the River L [...]x, which yet retaineth its ancient name, and Nessus neare the River Ne [...]us. This River floweth foure and twentie miles in length from the Lake Nessus. The water is almost alwaies warme, it is never so cold that it [...]ee [...]eth. And in the extremitie of winter, pieces of ice carried into it are quickly dissolved by the warmth of the water. Beyond the Lake Nessus toward the West, the Continent is stretched forth but eight miles in length, [...]o that the Seas are readie to meete, and to make an Island of the remainder of Scotland. That part of Scotland which lyeth beyond Nessus, and this strait of Land North and West is wont to be divided into foure Provinces. First beyond the mouth of Nessus, where it drowneth it selfe in the German Ocean, is the Countrie Rossia, [...] running out with high Pro­montories into the Sea: which the name it selfe sheweth. For Ro [...] signifies in the Scottish speech a Promontorie. It is longer then broad. For it is extended from the German Sea to the Pe [...]alidon, where it becommeth mountanous and rugged, but the fields of it, are not inferiour to any part of Scotland in fertilitie and fruitfulnesse. It hath pleasant vallies watered with Rivers full of fish, and many Lakes that have fish in abundance, but the greatest of them all is [...]abrus. From the Deucalidon Sea, the Shoare by degrees bendeth in, and inclineth toward the East. From the other Shoare the German Sea, making a way for it selfe between the rocks, and flowing into a great Bay, maketh a safe & sure Haven against all tempest. Secondly, next to the farthest part of Rosse toward the North, Navernia is Naver­nia, so called from the River Navernus: and this Countrie commonly (following their Countrie speech) they call Strathnaverne. Rosse bounds it on the South, on the West and North the Deucaledon Sea washeth it, on the East it toucheth Cathanesia. [...] In the third place Sutherland is neare unto all these, and toucheth them on one side or another: for on the West it hath Strathnaverme, on the South and East Rosse, and on the North Cathanesia. The Inhabitants of this Countrie by reason of the condition of the soile are rather given to pasturage than tillage. There is nothing that I know singular in it, Mountaines▪ but that it hath Mountaines of white marble, (a [...] a [...]e miracle in cold Countries) which is not gotten for any use, because wantonnesse hath not yet invaded those parts. Lastly, Cathanesia or Cathanes is the farthest Countrie of Scotland toward the North, where Navernia meetes it, and these two Countries of Scotland do contract the bredth of it into a strait and narrow front. In this front of Land three Promontories do raise themselves. The highest was Navernia, which Ptolemie calleth Orcas, Tavedrum and Tarvisium: the two other being nothing so high are in Cathanesia, namely Vervedrum, now Hoya, and Betubium, called (though not rightly) by Hector Boethius Dame: Cathanesia. now it is commonly called Dunis Bey, others call it Duncans Bey. Out of this name by taking away some letters the word Dunis Bey seemeth to be derived. In this Countrie Ptolemie placeth the Cornavis, of whose name there do still remaine some tokens. As they commonly call the Castles of the Earles of Cathanesia, Gernico or Kernico: and those who seeme to Ptolemie and others to be the Cornavii, the Brittaines thinke to be the [Page 82] Kernes. For sith not onely in this Countrie, but in a divers part of this Island they place the Cornavii, namely in Cornewall, they call those who do still retaine the ancient Brittish speech, Kernes. Now it remaines that wee should speake somewhat of the Islands. The later Writers have made three sorts of all the Islands, which do as it were crowne Scotland, the Westerne, the Orcades, and the Zealand Islands. Those are called the Westerne Islands which are stretched from Ireland almost to the Orcades in the Deucalidon Sea on the Westerne side. These some call the Hebri­des, others the So called frō Eb. rid. which signifies in the Bruttish tongue [...], without [...], as Camden thin [...]th pag. 6 [...]. Aebudae, others the Mevaniae, others the Beteoricae. The Orcades, now called Orkney, are partly in the Deucalidon Sea, and partly in the German, and are scattered toward the Notherne part of Scotland. Concerning their names Ancient and Moderne Writers do agree, but it doth not appeare who first possessed them. Some say they had their originall from the Germans: But out of what Countrie these Germans came it is not delivered. If wee may conjecture by their speech, they used formerly, as at this day, the ancient Gothicke tongue. Some suppose them to have beene the Picts, enduced thereunto chiefly, because the narrow Sea dividing them from Cathanesia, is called from the Picts Fre­tum Picticum. And they thinke that the Picts themselves were of the Saxon race, which they conjecture by a verse of Claudians:

But seeing we have intreated of these things formerly in the Descripti­on of the Brittish Isles, thus much shall suffice concerning Scotland.

THE Southerne and greatest part of the Isle of Albion, is called in Latine Anglia: from Angria, a Countrie of Westphalia, commonly called Engern, as some would have it. Some suppose it was so called from angulus a corner, The name by who [...] it was given because it is a corner of the World. Others from Angloen a Towne of Pomerania. Goropius deriveth the word Angli, or English­men, from the word Angle, that is from a fishing-hooke, because, as he saith, they hooked all things to themselves, and were, as wee say in England, good Anglers: but this conjecture rather deserveth laughter than beleefe. Some suppose, it was so called from Anglia, a little Country of the Cimbrick Chersonesus, which was named Engelond, that is, the Land of English-men, by Egbert King of the West Saxons: or else as it were Engistland, that is, the Land of Engist, who was Captaine o­ver the Saxons. But hee that shall note the Etymologie of the words, Engelbert, Engelhard, and the like German names, may easily see, that thereby is denoted the English-men. These are people of Germany that possessed Brittaine; and, as Camden sheweth, were one Nation, which now by a common name are called English Saxons. This part of the Isle of Albion is diversly called by the Inhabitants; for they divide it into two Countries. That part which looketh to the East, and the German Sea, the natives of England, being people of Saxonie, call in their Lan­guage Because it [...] of an [...]ngular forme, for Eng in the Saxon tongue, signifieth a corner, or nooke. England. And the Westerne part, which is divided from the other by the Rivers Sabrine or Severne, and Dee, Wales. The Northerne bounds of it toward Scotland, are the Rivers Tweede and Solway: on the South lies France, and the Brittish Ocean; on the West Ireland, and the Irish Ocean; on the East the German Ocean. It is 302 English miles long, and 300 broad, that is, from the Cape of Cornwall to the Promontorie of Kent. The Ayre here at any time of the yeare is temperate and milde, for the skie is thick, in which cloudes, showres, and windes are easily generated, by reason wereof it hath lesse cold and heate. It hath a fer­tile and fruitfull Soyle, and so furnished with all kinde of fruits, that Orpheus saith, it was the seate of Ceres. With whom agreeth Mamerti­nus, who speaking a Panegyrick Oration to Constantine, said, that in this Countrie was such great plenty, as that it was sufficiently furnished with the gifts both of Ceres and Bacchus. It hath fields not onely aboun­ding with ranke and flourishing Corne, but it produceth all kinde of commodities. Heere groweth the Maple and the Beech-tree in abun­dance: and as for Laurels or Bay trees it surpasseth Thessalie it selfe. Here is such plenty of Rosemary, that in some places they make hedges with it. Here is Gold, Silver, Copresse, though but little store of it, yet here is great store of Iron. Heere is digged abundance of the best black Lead, and white Lead or Tinne, and so transported to other Nations. Heere are many Hils, on which flocks of sheep doe graze, which are esteemed, not onely for their flesh, which is very sweete and pleasant, but also for the finenesse of their wooll; and these flocks of sheepe doe prosper and [Page 84] increase through the wholsomnesse of the Ayre, and goodnesse of the Soyle, as also by reason of the scarcitie of trees on the Hils, and the freenesse of the whole Countrie from Wolves. This Countrie aboun­deth with all kinde of Cattell & living Creatures, except Asses, Mules, Camels, Elephants, and a few other. There are no where better or fier­cer Mastiffes, no where greater store of Crowes, or greater plenty of Kites, that prey upon young Chickens than here. The Romans did com­mand the better part of Brittaine, almost five hundred yeares, namely from the time of Fiftie yeares before the birth of Christ. Caius Iulius Caesar to the time of Which was An. Dom. 446. according to Bede. Theodosius the youn­ger: when the Legions and Garrisons of Rome, being called to defend France, they left the Isle of Brittaine, whereby it came to passe, that the Southerne parts thereof were invaded by the Picts and Scots, whose vio­lence, when the Brittaines could no longer sustaine, they called the Sa­xones out of Germanie, men accustomed to warre, for their Ayde. These Saxons assisted them in the beginning, but afterward being allured with the temperature of the Ayre, or perswaded by the friendship and fami­liarity of the Picts, or stirred up by their owne treacherous mindes, they made a league with the Picts against the Brittaines, and having driven out their Hosts, they themselves possessed their places. England con­taineth many Cities, The Citie and faire Townes, among which the chiefe are London, Yorke, Canterbury, Bristoll, Glocester, Shrewsbury, Winchester, Bathe, Cambridge, Oxford, Norwich, Sandwich, with many other which wee will delineate in our particular Descriptions. The chiefe Rivers are Thames, Humber, The Rivers Trent, Ouse, and Severne, of which in their places. The Ocean which washeth this Isle, The Sea. doth abound with plenty of all kindes of Fish, among which is the Pike, which with the Inhabitants is in great esteem, so that some times they take him out of moorish Lakes, into fish-ponds, where after hee hath scoured himselfe, being fed with Eeles and little fishes, hee growes wonderfull fat. Moreover there are no where more delicate Oysters, or greater plenty of them than heere. The especiall Havens of England are these: Ports, first Davernas commonly called Dover, which is the farthest part of the Countie of Kent, it is fortified with a Castle seated on a Hill, and well furnished with all kinde of Armour: secondly Muntsbay of a great breadth in Cornewall, where there is a safe harbour for ships. There is also Volemouth, or Falemouth, Torbay, South­hampton, and many others. The King of England hath supreame power, and acknowledgeth no superiour but God: his Subjects are either the Laiety or the Clergie: The manner of Govern­ment. the Laiety are either Nobles or Commons. The Nobles are either of the greater ranke, as Dukes, Marquesses, Earles, Vicounts, Barons, and Bannerets, who have these Titles by inheritance, or else are conferr'd upon them by the King for their vertues. The les­ser Nobles are Baronets, Knights, Esquires, and those which common­ly are called Gentlemen: the Gentlemen are those who are honoured by their birth, or those whose vertue or fortune doe lift them up, and distinguish them from the meaner sort of men. The Citizens or Bur­gesses are those, who in their severall Cities doe beare publick Offices, and have their places in the Parliaments of England. The Yeomen are those, whom the Law calleth legall men, and doe receive out of the Lands which they hold, at the least forty shillings yearely. The Trades­men [Page 85]

[Page 86] are those, who worke for wages or hire. All England is divided into nine and thirty Shires were first made by King Alfred, for the better administration of Justice. Shires; and these Shires are divided into Hundreds and Tithings: In each of these Counties is one man placed, called the Kings Praefect or Lievtenant, whose office is to take care for the security of the Common-wealth in times of danger: and every yeare there is one chosen, whom they call the Sheriffe, that is, the Provost of the Shire, who may bee rightly called the Questor of the Countie or Pro­vince. For it is his office to collect publick money, to distraine for tre­spasses, and to bring the money into the Exchequer, to assist the Judges, & to execute their commands: to empannell the Jurie, who are to en­quire concerning matters of fact, & bring in their verdict to the Judges (for the Judges in England are Judges of the Right, not of the Fact) to bring the condemned to execution, & to decide of thēselves small con­troversies. But in great matters those Judges do administer right, whom they call Itinerarie Judges, & Judges of Assise, who twice every year do visite most of these Shires, to determine and end matters of difference, and also to give judgement upon Prisoners. For asmuch as concernes Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction, England hath now two Provinces, and also two Archbishops: the Archb. of Canterbury Primate of all England, and the Archb. of Yorke: Under these are seven and twenty Bishops, two & twenty under Canterbury, and the other five under Yorke. The Tribunals or Courts of Justice in England are of three sorts, for some are Spirituall some Temporall, and one mixt, which they call the Parliament, consi­sting of the three Orders of England, and it representeth the body of the whole Kingdome. This Parliament the King cals and appoints accor­ding to his pleasure: Hee hath the chiefe authority in making, confir­ming, abrogating, and interpreting of Lawes, and in all things that be­long to the good of the Common-wealth. The temporall Courts are two-fold, namely of Law, and of equity. The Courts of Law are the Kings Bench, the Starre-Chamber, the Common Pleas, the Exche­quer, the Court of Wards and Liveries, the Court of the Admiraltie, and Assises; wee omit others which are obscure. The Kings Bench is so called, because the King is wont to sit in it, and it handleth Pleas of the Crowne. The Starre-Chamber, or rather the Court of the Kings Counsell is that, in which criminall matters are handled, as perjuries, impostures, deceits, and the like. The Common Pleas is so called, be­cause common pleas are tried there betweene the Subjects, by the Law of England, which they call the Common Law. The Exchequer de­riveth its name from a foure square Table, covered with a Chequer-Cloth, at which the Barons sit; in it all causes are heard, which belong to the Exchequer. The Court of Wards hath his name from Wards, whose causes it handleth. The Admirals Court handleth Sea-matters. Those which wee call the Assises, are held twice in a yeare in most Shires; in which two Judges of Assise appointed for it, with the Justices of peace doe enquire and determine of civill and criminall matters. The Courts of Equity are the Chancerie, the Court of Requests, and the Councell in the Marshes of Wales. The Chancerie draweth its name from the Chancellour, who sitteth there. This Court gives judgement according to equitie, and the extreame rigour of the Law is thereby [Page 87] tempered. The Court of Requests heareth the causes of the poore, and of the Kings Servants. The chiefe spirituall Courts are the Corporati­tion of the Clergie, the Courts which belong to the Archbishop him­selfe, and the Chancellours Courts, kept in every Diocesse. There are two famous Universities in this Kingdome Oxford and Cambridge. Eng­land doth produce happy and good wits, and hath many learned men, skilfull in all Faculties and Sciences. The people are of a large stature, faire complexion'd, and for the most part, gray-eyed, and as their Lan­guage soundeth like the Italians, so they differ not from them in the ha­bite and disposition of their body. Their foode consisteth, for the most part, of Flesh. They make Drinke of Barley, being a very savorie and pleasant drinke. It is transported often into forraine countries. They use a habite not much different from the French. And thus much shall suffice concerning England in generall, wee will declare the rest in the particular Tables following.

WEE have finished that which wee intended to speake con­cerning England in generall: Our Method doth require that wee should goe through the parts thereof in particu­lar. The Romans diversly divided the hither part of Brit­taine, being reduced into a Province. But the Saxons instead of the Pentarchie of the Romans, made an Heptarchie of it, in which are Kent, Sussex, Eastanglia, Westsex, Northumberland, Essex, and Mercia. At this day it is divided into Counties, which the English by a proper word call Shires. And first, in the yeare of Christ 1016, in the Reigne of Ethelred there were onely two and thirty. Afterward under William the Conquerour there were 36. And lastly, these being augmented by three more, came to be 39 Counties. To which are added 13 Shires in Wales; six whereof were in the time of Edward the first, the other Henry the eigth ordained by Parliamentarie Authoritie. These Counties or parts of England, with some Islands, our Mercator doth lively expresse in six Tables. Of all which Tables, wee will make a briefe Description or Delineation, in that order as our Author propoundeth them. In the first place Northumberland offereth it self, Northumber­land. commonly called Northumber­lant, The Situation. lying, in a manner, in the forme of a triangle, but not equilaterall. The Southerne side thereof Derwent flowing into Tine, and Tine it selfe doe enclose where it looketh toward the Bishoprick of Durham. The East side is beaten with the German Sea. But the Westerne side is drawn out in length from the North to the South, first by a continued ridge of Mountaines, and afterward by the River Tweede; and being opposite to Scotland, The quality of the Soyle. it is the bound of that Countrie. The Soyle it selfe, for the most part, is barren and unfit for tillage. Toward the Sea and the Tine, if tillage be used, the Husband-man receiveth sufficient increase, but in other places it is more unfruitfull, and rugged. In many places great store of Sea-cole (as the English call them) are digg'd forth. There is in Northumberland the Citie of New Castle, The Cities. famous for the Haven, which the River Tine maketh, having so deepe a chanell, that it receiveth ships of great burthen, and desends them both from tempests and sands. The last Towne in England, and the strongest in all Brittaine is Berwick, which some doe derive from a certaine Captaine, called Berengarius, Leland from Aber, which in the Brittish Language signifies the mouth of a Ri­ver, as if it were, Aberwick, a Towne at the mouth of a River. But whence soever it hath its name, it stands farre in the Sea, so that it is [Page 89]

[Page 90] compassed round about therewith, and the River Tweede. The Rivers here are the Southerne and Northerne Tines (which are so called, The Rivers. be­cause they are bound in with straight and narrow bankes, for so much Tine doth signifie in the Brittish speech, as some doe affirme:) the Sou­therne riseth out of Cumberland, neere Alstenmore, where there is an ancient Myne of Brasse; & having runne a good while toward the North, it turneth toward the East, and runneth straight forward with the Picts Wall. The Northerne Tine arising out of the bordering Mountaines, doth joyne it selfe with the River Reade, which being powred out at the Mountaine Redsquier, watereth Readsdale, that is, the Vale of Reade, which nourisheth the best Fowle. Both the Tines doe flow beneath Collerford, and growing bigger and bigger, doe hasten their journey to the Ocean in one channell. Tweede for a great way parteth England from Scotland, and is called the Easterne bound. This River breaking forth of the Mountaines of Scotland, runneth a great while in a winding course: but where it comes neere unto the Towne Carram, growing strong in wa­ters, it beginneth to distinguish the Limits of the two Kingdomes, and at last having received the River Till, it disburthens it selfe into the German Sea. There are also other Rivers, as Coquet, Alaunus, or Alne, Blithe, Wanspethel, which I omit, and so passe to the second part: and that is, Cumberland. Cumbria, commonly called Cumberland: this lieth before West­moreland on the West side; It is the farthest Shire in this part of Eng­land, The Situation. insomuch, that it toucheth Scotland it selfe on the North side, being beaten on the South and North with the Irish Ocean, but on the East side above Westmoreland it joyneth to Northumberland. It takes its name from the Inhabitants, The quality of the Soyle. who were the true and native Brittains, calling themselves in their Language Kumbri, & Kambri. Although the Coun­trey seemeth, in regard of the Northerne situation, to bee cold and ve­rie mountainous, yet it delights the beholder with much variety. For behinde the Cliffes and cluster of Mountaines, betweene which the Lakes doe lye, there are grassie Hils full of Flocks, under which againe there lye plaine and fruitfull Valleys. The Cities. There is in this Countrie an an­cient wel-seated Citie, called Carlile, being defended on the North with the deepe Channell of Ituna, or Eeden; on the East with Peterill, on the West with Cauda; and besides these fortifications of Nature, it is strengthened with strong Wals of square stone, with a Castle, and a Cittadell. There are other Townes, as Keswick, Wirkinton, Bulnesse, cal­led anciently Blatum-Bulgium, Penrith or Perith: that I may passe over Villages and Castles: This Shire hath 58 Parish-Churches. It hath also Lakes abounding with all kinde of flying Fowles: Lakes. and many Rivers, a­mong which is the little River Irton, Rivers. in which while the gaping shell-fish receive the dew, they become presently, as it were, great with childe, and bring forth pearles, which the Inhabitants when the water setleth doe seeke for. There are also the Derwent, Cokar, Olen or Elen, E­den and others, all abounding with Fish. Besides, this Ocean which beateth on the shore, doth bring forth great shoales of excellent fish, and doth seeme to reproach the Inhabitants with negligence, because they use fishing so lazily. Heere are many Mountaines close together, being full of mettall, among which there are the Mountaines called Derwent­fels, [Page 91] in which neere to Newland are found rich veines of Brasse not with­out Gold and Silver. Heere also is found that minerall-earth, The Moun­taines. or hard and shining stone, called by the English Black-lead, which the Painters use to draw their lines and proportions withall. That famous Wall, which was the limit or bound of the Roman Empire, The Wall of the Picts. being 122 miles in length, doth divide and cut through the higher part of this Country, it was built by Severus, who (as Orosius saith) tooke care that this part of the Island should be seperated by a trench from the other wilde and un­tamed people. Beda writeth, that it was eight foote broad and twelve foote high, standing in a right line from East to West, some ruines and pieces whereof standing for a good way together, but without Battle­ments, may be seene at this day, as Camden witnesseth. The Bishop­rick of Durham The Bishoprick of The Citie of Durham was called by the Saxons Dunholme▪ Dun signifieth a hill, and Holme a peece of land com­passed with a River like an Island in the Saxon tongue, and this name agreeth with the situation of the place. Durham, or Duresme bordereth upon Yorkeshire Northward, and ly­eth in a triangular or three cornered forme, the top whereof is made by the meeting of the Northerne bound, and the Fountaines of Teisis. On the Southerne part, almost where the River retreateth back againe, the Cathedrall Church is seene, being beautified with an high Steeple and many Pinnacles: on the top of a great Hill the Castle is seated, in the middle of two Bridges, made of stone, by which the two streames of the River Vedra, the one on the East side, the other on the West side are joyned together. On the North side from the Castle lyes the Market place, and S. Nicholas Church. Here are also these Market Townes Standrove or Stanthorpe, Derlington, Hartlepole or Heorteu, Binchester or Binovium, and Chester upon the streete, which the Saxons called Concester, with many Villages and Castles. In this Shire and Northumberland there are an hundred and eighteene Parishes, besides many Chappels. The Cities or Townes. Heere are many Rivers, of which the chiefe is Tees, called in Latine Tesis and Teisa; Polidorus cals it Athesis, & Camden thinkes it was called by Ptolemie Tuesis, though this name be not found in him, by reason of the carelesnesse of the Transcribers of his Booke. This River breaking out of the Quarri-pit of Stanemore, and having gathered into it selfe ma­ny torrents, running by the Marble Rocks neere Egleston, and afterward washing many places, at last by a great inlet, it casts it selfe into the O­cean, whence the basis of the Triangle beginneth. There is also the Ri­vers Vedra or Weare, Gaunlesse, Derwent, &c.

Westmoreland The situation. I Come unto the third Table, wherein Westmorland first of­fers it selfe, being bounded on the West, and North with Cumberland, The qualitie of the Soyle. and on the East with Yorke-shire and Durham. It is so called, because for the most part it is unfit for til­lage: for such places as cannot be till'd, the English call Moores, so that Westmoreland signifies in English nothing but a Morish, and, for the most part, untillable Country towards the West. The Sou­therne part being narrowly inclosed betweene the River Lone and Wi­nander Mere, is fruitfull enough in the Valleyes, (although it hath ma­ny ruffe and bare cliffes) and is called the Baronie of So called, be­cause the River Kan runneth through it. Kendale or Kandale. Afterward, above the spring heads of Lone, the Country groweth larger, and the Mountaines runne out with many crooked win­dings: In some places there are deepe Vales betweene them, which by reason of the steepnes of the Hills on both sides seeme like Caves. The chiefe Towne here is Aballaba, The Townes now called Apelby. The antiquity and situation whereof is onely worth regard: for it is so farre from elegant and neate building or structure, that if the antiquity thereof did not give it the prioritie to be the chiefe Towne of the Country, and the Assises held in the Castle, it would not differ much from a Village. There is also a Towne of great resort called Kendale, famous for Cloath-making: and in this Shire there are sixe and twenty Parishes. The Rivers are Lone, The Rivers. Ituna or Eden, and Eimot. Lancastria is commonly called Lanca­shire, Lancashire. The Situation. and the County Palatine of Lancaster, because it is a County ador­ned with the title of a Palatine. It lyeth Westward, under the Moun­taines which doe runne through the middle of England, and is so enclo­sed betweene Yorke shire on the East, and the Irish Sea on the West, that on the Southerne side where it looketh toward Cheshire (from which it is divided by the River Mersey) it is broader, and so by degrees as it goeth Northward, there where it boundeth on Westmoreland it groweth straighter and narrower; and there it is broken off with a Bay of the Sea, yet so, as a great part of it is beyond the Bay, and joyneth to Cumberland. Where it hath a levell of field ground, it hath sufficient store of Barley and Wheate, The fertilitie of the Soyle. but at the foote of the Mountaines it beareth most Oates: The Soyle is tolerable, unlesse it be in some moorish and unwholesome [Page 93]

[Page 94] places, which yet doe requite these inconveniences with greater com­modities. For the upper grasse being pared off, they afford Turfes for fuell, in digging of which trees are often found, which have laid a long time buried in the earth: & digging a little lower, they furnish thēselves with Marle, or Marmure to dung their fields. In this Country the Oxen excell all other, both for the largenesse of their hornes, and fairenesse of their bodies. The ancient government. I passe now to the Cities, among which wee meete first with the ancient Towne of Manchester, which Antoninus calleth Man­cunium, & Mannucia, this doth exceed the neighbour Towns for beautie, populousnes, the trade of Cloathing, and for the Market-place, Church, and Colledge. There is also Ormeskirke, a Towne of traffique, famous by being the burying place of the Stanleyes Earles of Derby. There is also Lancaster the chiefe Towne of the Country, which the Inhabitants doe more truly call Loncaster, & the Scots Loncastle, because it took that name from the River Lone, vulgarly called Lune. Camden supposeth this Citie to be that which the Romans did call Alona insteed of Arlone, which sig­nifies in the Brittish language, at or upon Lone. In this Shire are but 36. Parishes, The Lakes. but those very populous. Here are many Lakes and Moores, among which is the Moore Merton, and the greatest Lake of all England called Winander Mere, which hath abundance of one sort of Fish pecu­liar unto it self & Huls, Rivers. which the Inhabitants call Charre. The Rivers are Mersey, Idwell, Duglesse, Ribell, Wyre, Lack, and Lone, which flowing out of the Mountaines of Westmoreland, toward the South with narrow bankes, and an unequall channell enricheth the Inhabitants in the Summer sea­son with Salmon-fish. The Moun­taines. Here are many Mountaines, and those very high, among which is that which is called Ingleborrow Hill, which (as Camden saith) we have admired rising by degrees with a great ridge toward the West, and the farthest part of it being hightned with another Hill, as it were set upon it. The next is Penigent, so called perhaps from the white and snowie head, which is raised to a great height. Lastly Pendle Hill, which is raised with a high toppe, in manner of a race marke, famous for the dammage which it doth to the neighbour grounds under it by sending downe great streames of water, and by the certaine foreshew­ing of raine, as often as the toppe of it is hidden with clouds. Cestria followes commonly called Cheshire, Cheshire. and the Countie Palatine of Chester, because the Earles of it have the rights and priviledges of a Palatine. It is bounded on the South with Shropshire, The Situation. on the East with Staffordshire, & Derbyshire, on the North with Lancashire, and on the West with Denbigh­shire, and Flint-shire; neare Chester it runneth farre out into the Sea with a Chersonesus, which being included betweene two Bayes, doth ad­mit the Ocean to breake in on either side, and into these Bayes all the Ri­vers of this Country doe runne. The Country is barren of Corne, and especially Wheate, The qualitie of the Soyle. but abounding with cattle, and fish. Here is a faire Citie which Ptolemie calleth Deunana, Antoninus calleth it Deva, from the River Dee, The Cities. on which it standeth, the English call it Chester, and West­chester. This Citie standeth foure square, having walls two miles in compasse; toward the Northwest is seated a Castle built neare the Ri­ver by the Earles of Cheshire, where the Courts for the Palatinate are held twice every yeare. The houses are very faire, and there are as it were [Page 95] cloysters to goe in on both sides of the chiefe streetes. There are also the Townes of Finborrow, and Condate, now the Congleton: and this Shire hath about 68. Parishes. The Rivers which water this Citie, The Rivers. are Deuca, in English Dee; having great store of Salmons, and riseth out of two Fountaines in Wales: Whence it is denominated in the Brittish tongue, Dyffyr Dwy, i. the Water of Dwy, which word Dwy signifies two: Besides, there are the Rivers Wever, Mersey, and Dane. Caernarvan­shire. Th [...] S [...] The [...] of the Soyle Caernar­vanshire called, before Wales was divided into Shires, Snodon Forrest, in Latine Histories, Snaudonia and Arvonia, hath the Sea on the North and West side; Merioneth-shire boundeth the South side, and Denbigh-shire the East side, the River Conovius gliding betweene. Toward the Sea the Soyle is fertile enough, and full of little Townes: The Townes. among which is the Towne of Bangor, the Seat of a Bishop, which hath 90. Parishes under it, and is situated neare the jawes of the narrow Sea. There is also the River Conovius, commonly called Conway, which bounds this Country on the East, and bringeth forth shell-fishes, which filling themselves with the dew of Heaven, doe bring forth Pearles. The Inland Parts of this Country are Mountainous, rugged, and cliffie. The Moun­taines. Camden saith that you may worthily call these Mountaines the Brittish Alpes. Denbigh-shire is more inward from the Sea, Denbigh-shire. The Si [...]uation. The qualitie of the Soyle and runneth out toward the East, even to the River Deva. On the North side, the Sea for a while doth encompasse it, and afterward Flint-shire: on the West Merioneth and Montgomery-shire, on the East Cheshire and Shropshire, are the bounds of it. The Westerne part is barren, the middle part, where it lyeth in a Vale, is the most fruitfull, a little beyond the Vale Eastward Nature is more sparing in her benefits, but neare Deva much more libe­rall. In this Country is the Vale of Cluide, very happie in pleasant­nesse, fertilitie of Soyle, and wholesomnesse of Aire, The Townes. of which Ruthun or Ruthin, is the greatest Market Towne. After this is the Territorie, cal­led in Welch Mailor Gimraig, in English Bromfield, very fruitfull and full of Lead. The chiefe Towne in this Country is Denbigia, commonly called Denbigh, and anciently by the Brittaines, Clad Frynyn. Beyond Denbigh-shire more Northward is Flint-shire: Flint-shire. The Situation. The qualitie of the Soyle It is beaten with the Irish Sea, and the Bay of Deva, on the North; on the East it is bounded with Cheshire, and in other parts with Denbigh-shire. This shire is not Moun­tanous, but somewhat rising with swelling Hills, which are gently le­vel'd into pleasant fields, especially those toward the Sea, which every first yeare in some places doe beare Barley, in other places Wheate, which being reaped; doth yeeld a twenty fold encrease: and afterward they beare Oates foure or five yeares together. There is a Towne here which the English call S. Asaph, and the Brittaines Llanelwy, (because it stands upon the River Elwy,) where there is a Bishops Seat, under which are many Parishes: and Ruthlan, a Towne beautified with an excellent Castle. Here is also the River Alen, neare which in a hill at a place cal­led Kilken is a Fountaine, which in emulation of the Sea at set times doth ebbe and slow. Merioneth-shire, in Latine called Mervinia, Merionethshire. and in the Brittish language Sir Verioneth, doth reach from the Towne Montgo­mery, even to the Irish Ocean, with which it is so beaten on the West, The Situation. that some part thereof is supposed to have beene washt away with the [Page 96] violence of the waves. Toward the South it is bounded with the River Dee, toward the North it joyneth to Caernarvan and Denbigh-shire. By reason of the frequencie of the Mountaines, it is the ruggedst and hard­est Country of all the Shires in Wales. The Townes Townes of any note here are ve­ry scarce, yet here is the Towne of Harlech well fortified with a Castle, being the chiefe in the whole Country. And here are two famous Bayes, Traith-Maur, and Traith-Bochum: that is, the greater and the lesser Bay. It hath very high Mountaines, The Moun­taines. narrow and sharpe pointed like Towers, and so many of them joyned together by equalitie of distance, that (as Giraldus reporteth) sheepheards either conferring or brawling one with another on the toppes thereof, if they both intended to fight, yet could they hardly meet together, though they should endeavour so to doe by going from morning till evening. Great flocks of sheepe doe wander on these Mountaines, which feed not in danger of Wolves. Montgomery-shire is circumscribed on the South with Cardigan-shire and Radnor-shire, Mongomery-shire. The Site. The fruitfulnes of the Soyle. on the East with Shropshire, on the North with Denbigh-shire, and on the West with Merioneth-shire: and although it be raised with ma­ny Mountaines, yet it is happie in the fruitfulnesse of the Valleyes, Fields, and Pastures, and in times past famous for breeding of an excel­lent sort of Horses, which (as Giraldus saith) were as it were Pictures of Natures workemanship, and were commended both for their excellent shape, and incomparable speed. The chiefe Towne in this Country is Mongomery, situate upon an easie ascent of a Hill, and built by one Bald­wine President of the Marshes of Wales, The Townes. in the time of William the Con­querour, whence the Brittaines call it Trefaldwin at this day: & secondly Lanuethlin, a market Towne. Salopia, commonly called Shropshire, as it is a Countie, no lesse pleasant & fruitfull then the rest, so it is much big­ger. It is enclosed on the East with Stafford-shire, on the West with Montgomery-shire, on the South with Yorke-shire, and on the North with Cheshire. It is a Country fortified with many Castles and Townes, as bordering upon the Welch, who a long time rebelled against the English, and therefore the Saxons called it the Marches. It is divided into two parts by the River Severne: The chiefe Townes thereof are Shrewsbury (anciently called Sloppesbury, and by the Brittaines Pengwerne) Ludlow, (called by the Brittish Dinan) Bridgmorse, or Bridgnorth, Vriconium, or Viriconium, called by Nennius Caer Vrvach, but commonly by the En­glish Wreckceter or Wroxceter, Draiton, and Bewdley. The cheife Rivers that water this shire, are Sabrine or Severne, Temdus, called by the Welch Tefidianc, Colunwy or Clun, Corve, and Terne: and there are in it 170 Parish Churches for Gods sacred and divine service. The Isle of Man. The Isle of Man Caesar calleth Mona, Ptolemie Monaeda, as it were Moneitha i. the farther Mona to difference it from another Mona, Plinie calls it Mo­nabia, The names. Orosius and Beda Menavia, Gilda calls it Eubonia, the Brittaines Menaw, the Inhabitants Maning, and the English the Isle of Man. It lyeth in the middle betweene the Northerne parts of Ireland and Brittaine, and is from the North toward the South about thirty Italian miles long, The Situation. but the bredth thereof where it is broadest is scarce 15. miles, and where it is narrowest it is but 8. This Island bringeth forth Flaxe and Hempe in great abundance, it hath very faire meddowes and plowed [Page 97]

[Page 98] fields, it is fruitfull in bringing forth Barley and Wheat, but especially Oates, whence the Inhabitants doe for the most part live upon Oaten Bread. Here are great store of cattle, and great flocks of sheep, but both sheepe and cattle are of a lesser stature then those that are in England. The Inhabitants here wanting wood, use a pitchie kinde of Turfe for fireing; which, while they digge up, they doe sometimes finde trees hid in the earth, and these they convert to the same use. It is evident that the Brit­taines did possesse this Island as they did Brittaine, but when the North­erne People like a furious storme fell upon the Southerne parts, it came into the hands of the Scots. The Townes. The chiefe Towne of this Island is thought to be Russin, situated on the Southerne side thereof, which from the Ca­stle and Garrison kept therein, is commonly called Castletowne: but the most populous is Duglasse, because it hath an excellent Haven, and easie to come into, by reason of which the Frenchmen and other Forrainers come with Salt and other commodities to traffique with the Islanders for hides, raw wooll, barrell'd beefe, &c. On the West side of the Island stands Balacuri, where the Bishop liveth, who is subject to the Archbi­shop of Yorke; and the Pyle, being a forte placed on a small Island, in which there are many Garrison Souldiers. Over against the Southerne Promontorie of the Isle, there lyeth a small Island called the Calfe of Man, which is full of those Sea-foule which they call Puffins, & of those Geese that are generated of putrified wood, which the English call Bar­nacles, and the Scots doe call Clakes and Soland Geese. Toward the middle Mannia swells into Mountaines, The Moun­taines. the highest whereof is Sceafell, from whence on a cleare day both Scotland, England, and Ireland, may be dis­cerned. The manner of government. The Judges, being called Deemsters, which the Inhabitants of this Isle have amongst them, doe decide all controversies without wri­tings or other charges. For any complaint being made, the Magistrate taketh a stone, and having marked it, delivers it to the plaintiffe, by which he summons his adversary, and witnesses: And if the matter in controversie be doubtfull, and of great consequence; it is referred to twelve men whom they call the Keyes of the Island. Here also Coro­ners supply the office of Undersheriffes. The Ecclesiasticall Judge, when he cites a man to make appearance at a definite time, if hee obey not the summons within eight dayes, The manners of the people. hee is cast into prison; but neither Plaintiffe nor Defendant pay a penny either to him or his officers. The Inhabitants doe hate both lying and stealing, they are wondrous Reli­gious, and all conformable to the English Church. They hate the Civill and Ecclesiasticall disorder of their neighbours, and whereas the I­land is divided into the Southerne and Northerne part: the former speaketh like the Scots, the latter like the Irish. Now remaines the Isle of Anglesey, of which we will entreat in the fourth Table of England.

CORNWALL, Cornewall. which is also called Cornubia and in the Brittish language Kernaw, is enclosed on the South with the Brittish Ocean, on the North with the Irish, The Situation. on the West with Penwith, called by Ptolemie Bolerium, and the French Ocean, and on the East it is parted from Devonshire with the River Tamar. It is a Countrie having a fruitfull soile, The qualitie of the Soile. and a­bounding with mettall-Mines. It hath also store of fruits, which yet will not grow without the industrie of the husbandman. This Countrie is full of Towns, & especially the Sea Coasts, as namely Heuston, The Townes. called by the natives Hellas, a towne famous for the priviledge of sealing of Tinne, as also Peryn a faire market Towne, together with Arwenak, Truro, which the Cornish call Truscu, Granpound, Fowy by the, Brittaines called Foath, Lestuthiell, called by Ptolemie Vzella, Leskerd, Bodman, S. Iies, S. Colombs, Padstow, anciently called Loderick and Laffenac, Stow, Stratton, Tamerton, or Tamerworth, Lanstuphadon, vulgarly called Leuston and anciently Dune­vet, and Saltash anciently called Esse. And there are in this Countrie 161 Parishes. The Rivers are Vale, Fawey, Loo, Liver, Haile, Alan, or Camel, and Tamar. Havens. One of the famousest Havens in the Countrie is Volemouth or Falemouth, which Ptolemie calls the Bay of Cenio, being equall to Brundu­sium in Italie, as being capable of as many ships, and as safe an harbour. Devonia, commonly called Denshire, and by the natives Deunan, Devonshire. follow­eth. The bounds hereof are on the West the River Tamar, on the South the Ocean, on the East Dorcet-shire, and Somerset-shire, The Situation. and on the North the Bay of Severne. This Countrie as it is stretched out broader on both sides than Cornewall, so it is encompassed with more commodious Ha­vens, and is no lesse rich in Mines of Tinne, besides it is diapred with more pleasant meadowes, and cloathed with more frequent woods yet the soile in some places is very barren. The chiefe Citie here the English at this day do call Excester, The Latines Exonia, Ptolemie calls it Isca, An­toninus Isa of the Damnonians, and the Brittaines call it Caeruth and Pencaer, that is, the chiefe citie. There are also many other Townes as Plimmouth, anciently called Sutton, which of late daies from a little fisher-towne is become a faire Towne, The Cities and Townes. and for populousnesse it may compare with some Cities. Here was borne S ^r Francis Drake [Page 100] Knight, who for matters of Navigation was the most excellent of late times. The Rivers Here are also the Townes of Lidston or Lidford, Plimpton, Modbery or Champernouns, Dartmoth, Exminster and many other. This Countie containeth 394. Parishes. The Rivers here are Lid, Teave, Plim, Dert, Totnes, Teigne, Isca, Creden, Columb, Otterey, Ax, Towridge, Somersetshire. The Situation. The temper of the A [...]e. The f [...]rtilitie of the Soyle. Taw, O [...]k, and North Ewe. Somerset-shire followes, the bounds whereof on the East are Wiltshire, on the South Dorcetshire, on the West Devonshire, on the North the Bay of Severne, and Glocester-shire. This is a verie rich soile, being in every place exceedingly fertile in fruits and Pasturage & in some places affording many Diamonds, which do exceed those of India for beautie though they are not so hard. The chiefe Citie of this shire is Bristoll, The Cities and Townes. (called anciently by the Brittaines Caer Brito, and by the Saxons Britstow) a pleasant place, which is beautified with many faire houses, a double River and wall, a faire Haven, much traffique, and the populousnesse of Citizens. It hath also the towne of Theodo­rudunum now called Welles, from the many wells or springs that there breake forth; and Bathonia, stiled anciently by the Brittaines Caer Ba­don, by Stephanus Badiza, but commonly called Bathe. And in this coun­trie are 385. Parishes. The Rivers are Ivell, Erome, Pedred, Thon, Avon, Somer, The Rivers. Brui and Welwe. In the next place Dorcetshire, which is bound­ed on the East with Hampshire, on the VVest with Devonshire, on the South with the Brittish Ocean, and on the North with VViltshire and So­mersetshire. Dorcetshire. It is of a fertile soile, and the North part full of many woods and forrests, from whence even to the Sea coast it descendeth with ma­ny grassie hills, on which feed innumerable flocks of sheepe. Durnovaria, which Ptolemie according to divers copies calls Durnium and Duneum, & now is called Dorchester, is the chiefe towne of this Shire, yet it is nei­ther very great nor faire, her walls being ruined long since by the fury of the Danes. There are also other towns, as Birt-port, or Burt-port. Lime, Weymouth, The Townes. Poole, Warham, so called because it stands by the River Varia, Shirburne, Sturminster, & Winburne, called by Antoninus Vindogladia from the Brittish word Windugledy because it stands betweene two Rivers. Here are in this Shire 248. Parishes. The Rivers are Lim, Trent, now called Piddle, The Rivers. Carr, Ivell, Wey, Sturn, Alen, Varia, so called by the Latines, but Fraw or Frome in the Saxon tongue. Wiltonia so called by the Latines from Wilton once its chiefe Towne, VViltshire. but commonly called VVilshire, is an inland Countrie, having Oxfordshire, and South-hamptonshire to bound it on the East, The Situation. on the West Somersetshire, on the North Glocestershire, and on the South Dorcetshire, The qualitie of the Soyle. and South-hamptonshire. The Countrie is every where full of pasturage and fruits. The Townes are first VVilton, anci­ently called Ellandunum, Townes. which was heretofore the head Towne of the Shire. Secondly, Sarisbury or new Sarum, now the chiefe citie, and fa­mous for its Cathedrall Church, and for that a streame of water runneth through every street thereof. Here are also the Townes of Malmesburie, Chippenham, Trubridge, Calne, Marleburrow, &c. And this Shire contain­eth 304. Parishes. The rivers are Isis, Avon, VVilleybourne, Adderburne, Ellan and Kennet. Glocestria commonly called Glocestershire, hath on the West VVales, Glocester. on the North VVorcestershire, on the East Oxfordshire, on [Page 101]

[Page 102] the South VViltshire, it is a pleasant and fertile Countrie, lying East and West; The Townes. and hath in it many other mines. The chiefe Citie of this Coun­tie is Glocester, which Antoninus calleth Cleve, and Gleve, the Latines Glovernia, and some Claudiocestria: it is an ancient Citie built by the Ro­mans, and is seated by the River Severne, having a strong wall in those places where the River doth not wash it. There are also other Townes, as Teukesburie, Rivers anciently called Theocsburie, Deohirst, Campden or Cam­den, VVincelscombe, Cirencester or Circester, Tetburie, Barkley, &c. and 280. Parishes contained in this Countie. The Rivers which water it are Se­verne, Avon and Isis, commonly called Ouse, which afterward by the marriage of Thame unto it is called by a compounded name Thamisis or Thames. Monmouth­shire. The Countie of Monmouth, called anciently VVentset and VVentsland, The Situation. and by the Brittaines Guent, is enclosed on the North with the River Munow, which doth part it from Herefordshire, on the East with the river Vaga or VVye, which divides it from Glocestershire, on the West with Remney which disjoynes it from Glamorganshire, and on the South it is bounded with the Severne Bay, into which those former Rivers to­gether with the River Isc, which runneth through the middle of the Countrie, do rowle themselves. It hath not onely sufficient provision of things necessary for life for it, The qualitie of the Soyle. but also furnishes other Coun­tries. The chiefe Towne thereof is Monmouth, called by the Inha­bitants Mongwy: towards the North where the River doth not fence it, it was encompassed with a wall and a ditch; In the middle neare the Market-place is a Castle. The Townes. There are also the Townes of Chepstow, called Castlewent, Abergevenny, or contractly Abergenny, which Antoninus calls Gobanneum, New-port or Brunepegie, and the Citie which Antoninus called Ifa, where the second Legion named Augusta lay, now stiled by the Brittaines Caerleon, and Caer Leonar Vsk. Here the Saxon Heptarchie, obeyed the Welch Mountainers, who notwitstanding, as we may discerne by the auncient Lawes, The Govern­ment. were under the government of the West Saxons. But at the comming in of the Normans, the Captaines of the Marches did grievously afflict them, especially Hamelin Balun, Hugh Lacy, Gual­ter and Gilbert de Clare called Earles of Strigulia, and Brian of Wallingford, to whom when the King had granted whatsoever they could get in that Countrie by conquering the Welchmen, some of them reduced the Higher part of the Countrie into their power: and others the Lower part which they called Netherwent. Glamorganshire lyeth wholy by the Sea side, Glamorgan­shire. it is longer than broad, and is beaten on the South side with the Bay of Severne. But on the East side it hath Monmouthshire, on the Norrh Brecnock-shire, The Situation. and on the West Caermardenshire. The Northerne part swelleth with mountaines which descending toward the South, The quality of the Soyle. remit somewhat of their height, and at the foot of them the Countrie lyeth plaine toward the South. The Cities and Townes. In this countrie is the litle Citie of Landaffe, that is the Chappell at Taff; under which there are 156. Pa­rishes. Also Caerdiffe, or as the Britons call it Caerdid, Cowbridge, called by the Brittaines Poratuan from the stonebridge which is there, Neath, Sweinsey, and Loghor, which Antoninus calleth Leucarum. The Rivers that wash it are Ramney, The Rivers. Taff, Nide, and Loghor. The Earles of this Pro­vince [Page 103] from the first vanquishing were the Earles of Glocester descen­ding in a right line from the Fitz-hamons, the Clares, the Spencers, and after them the Beauchamps, and the two Nevils, and by a daughter of a Nevill, Richard the third King of England, who being killed, Henry the seventh enlarged the inheritance of this Countrie, and gave it to Gaspar his Unkle and Earle of Bedford, but hee dying without issue, the King tooke it againe into his owne hands. Caermardenshire is bounded on the East with Glamorganshire, and Brecknock-shire, Caermarden­shire on the West with Penbrockshire, on the North with the River Tay separating it from Car­diganshire, on the South with the Ocean. It is sufficiently fruitfull, aboun­ding with flocks of cattle and in some places with pit-coales. The Townes. The chiefe towne of the Shire is Caermarden, which Ptolemie calls Maridu­num, Antoninus Muridunum, having pleasant Meadows and woods a­bout it, it is very ancient, and as Giraldus saith, it was encompassed with a stone wall, part whereof yet standeth. There is also the aunci­ent towne of Kidwilly, which now is almost ruinated, for the Inhabi­tants passing over the River Vendraeth Vehan did build a new Kidwilly, being drawne thither with the conveniencie of the Haven, which yet is of no note. The Rivers are Vendraeth Vehan, Towy or Tobius, and Taff. Penbrokshire is on every side encompassed with the Sea, Pembrokeshire. except on the East, where part of Caermardenshire, The Situation. and on the North where part of Flintshire lyeth against it. The countrie beeing neare Ireland hath a temperate, and wholesome aire, and is plentifull in all kinde of graine. The tempera­ture of the Aire. The chiefe towne hereof is Penbro now called Penbroke, The Townes. and seated on a craggie long rocke. The other Townes of note in this Countrie are Tenby, Hulphord now called HarfordWest, and Menevia or Tuy Dewi, which the English at this day do call S. Davids. I finde but two Ri­vers in this Shire: but here is a Port called Milford-Haven, The Govern­ment. which is the fairest and safest in all Europe. Gilbert Strongbow was the first Earle of this Countie, on whom King Stephen did first conferre the title of Earle of Penbroke, and hee left it to his sonne Richard Strongbow, who subdued Ireland, from whom with his daughter Isabel, William Lord of Hempsted and Marshall of England, a man flourishing both in times of peace and warre, received it as her dowry. Concerning the other Earles read Camden. Brecnockshire is called so from the Prince Brechanius, Brecnock-shire. as the Welchmen suppose. This is bounded on the East with Hereford, The Situation. on the South with Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire, on the West with Caer­mardenshire, on the North with Radnorshire. The countrie is very full of Mountaines, yet it hath every where fruitfull vallies. The fruitful­nesse of the Soyle. The Townes. The Rivers. The chiefe towne in it is Brecnock, stiled in the Brittish tongue Aber-hodney, and placed in the midst thereof. There are also the townes of Blueth or Bealt, & Hay or Trekethle. The River Vaga called by the Brittaines Gowy, and by the Eng­lish Wye, watereth the Northerne part of the countrie: and Vsk runneth through the middle thereof. Herefordshire, Hereford-shire. called in the Brittish tongue Ereinuc, is as it were of a circular forme, it is environed on the East with Glocester-shire, on the South with Monmouthshire, The Situation. on the West with Rad­nor and Brecnock shire, and on the North with Shropshire. It is a pleasant countrie, full of fruit and cattle. Hereford or Hareford is the chiefe citie [Page 104] of this countrie, having round about it faire medowes, and fruitfull fields; it is encompassed with Rivers almost round about, on the North & West with a namelesse river: on the South with Vaga, which hasteneth its course hither out of Wales. There are also the townes of Lemster (called anciently Leonis monasterium, and by the Brittaines Lhanlieni) Webley, Ledburie, and Rosse: and there are in it 157 Parishes. The chiefe Rivers here are Vaga, The Rivers. Lug, Munow, and Dor.

THE fifth Table of England comes to be unfolded, in the which, the first that wee meete withall is Yorkeshire, Yorkeshire. the greatest Shire in all England, and called by the Saxons E­bona-y [...]yne. The Situation On the East it is bounded with the German O­cean, on the West with Lancashire, and Westmoreland, on the North with the Bishoprick of Durham, and on the South with Che­shire, Darbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lincolneshire. It is held to be tem­perate and fruitfull. If in one place it bee sandie, stony, and barren, The qualitie of the Soyle. in an other place it hath fruitfull fields, if heere it be voide of woods, there it is shadowed with thick trees, Nature being so provident, that the Countrie is more pleasant by this variety. Here is Eboracum called by Nennius Caer Ebrauc, and by the Brittaines Caer Effroc, The Townes. but commonly stiled Yorke. It is the second Citie of all England, and the fairest in all this Country, which is a great strength and ornament to all the North parts. It is pleasant, large, strong, beautified both with private and publick Buildings, and full of wealthy Citizens. The River Ouse doth, as it were, part it and divide it into two Cities, which are joyned toge­ther by a great stone Bridge. There are also the Townes of Kingston upon Hull, Dancaster, called by the Scots Doncastle, and by Antoninus Da­num, Halifax, anciently Horton, Pontfreit, Shirborne, Wetherby, Kingston, Patrington, called anciently Praetorium, and many others; for there are in this Shire 39 great Townes, and 459 Parishes, besides many private Chappels of ease, which great Parishes are faine to provide in regard of the multitude of the Inhabitants. The chiefest Rivers are Don or Dune, The Rivers. Calder, Arc, Wherfe, Nid, and Ouse, which arising out of the Mountaines, doe runne through the fruitfullest parts of the Country. There are also other Rivers, as Cokar, Fosse, Derwent, Foulnesse, Hull, Teyse, Dow, Rhie, Recal, and Wisck. Lincolneshire is a great Country, Lincolnshire. being almost three score miles long, and in some places more than thirty miles broad. On the East it is beaten with the German Ocean, on the North it toucheth the Aestuarie of Abus or Humber, in the West it looketh toward Not­tinghamshire, and on the South it is parted from Northamptonshire with the River Welland. It is a Country that produceth much fruit, The qualitie of the Soyle. and brea­deth up abundance of cattell. The chiefe Citie of this Shire is Lincolne, which Ptolemie and Antoninus call Lindum. The Townes. The Citie it selfe is large and faire, being seated on the side of a Hill, where the River Witham [Page 106] bendeth toward the East. There are also the Townes of Stanford, Gran­tham, Ancaster, anciently called Crococalana, Crowland, Spalding, Boston, rightly called Botolps towne, and others. And there are in this Shire a­bout 630 Parishes. T [...] Rivers. This Countrie is watered with many Rivers, as Wi­tham, which is full of Pikes, Lud, Trent, Welland, Idle, Pan, &c. The next Countrie that followeth is Darbyshire, Darbyshire which on the South is enclosed with Leicestershire, on the West with Staffordshire, on the North with Yorkeshire, on the East with Nottinghamshire. It is of a triangular forme, but not equilaterall, The Situation. or having equall sides. It is divided into two parts by the River Derwent. The Easterne and Southerne parts are tillable, and fruitfull, the Westerne part is all rockie, and full of craggie barren Mountaines, The Townes though they be rich in Mynes of Lead, and are commo­dious for to feede sheepe. The head Towne of the Shire is Darbie, fa­mous for the best Ale in England which is brewed there. There are al­so the Townes of Saint Diacre, Workesworth, so called from the Lead-workes there, and Bakewel. And this Shire doth containe an hundred and sixe Parishes. The Riv [...]rs. The Rivers that water it are Trent, Dove, and Der­went. The Westerne part of this Shire, which is mountainous, is called the Peake, and is very full of Lead: for in these Mountaines Lead-stones (as the Mettallists call them) are daily digged forth, which when the winde is Westward, they dissolve with a wood fire, and (having made trenches for the mettall to runne in) melt into pieces, which they call Sowes. Moreover, not onely Lead, but also veines of Antimonie, which the Grecian women were wont to use in dying, are found in these Hils. Heere also Mill-stones are cut forth, as also whet-stones, and somtimes a white substance is found in the Mynes, like to Chrystall. But of this enough: Stafford shire I passe to Stafford-shire, which is encompassed on the East side with Warwick-shire and Darby-shire, on the South with Glocester-shire, on the West with Shropshire, The Site. and on the North with Cheshire. It beareth the shape of a Rhombus, running from South to North, and being broa­dest in the middle, and narrowest toward the two ends. The Northern part is mountainous and lesse pleasant, T [...]e [...]il [...]ty of the Soy [...]e. the middle part is more delight­full, as being watered with the River Trent, cloathed with green woods, and diversified with variety of fields and meddowes. The Southerne part is rich in Pit-coales, and veines of Iron. The head Towne hereof is Stafford or Stratford, The Townes. anciently called Betheney, and is much graced by the Castle called Stafford adjoyning to it, which the Barons of Stafford built for their owne dwelling. Heere are also the Townes of Lichfield or Licidfield, Burton, Vtcester, anciently called Etocetum, Stone, Drayton Bas­set, Tameworth, Wolverhampton, or Vulfrunshampton, Theotenhall or Tetnall, and Weadesbrig or Wedsborow. And in this Shire are reckoned 130 Pa­rishes. The chiefe Rivers which glide through this Countrie are Dove, Hanse, The Rivers. Churnet, Tayn, Blith, and Trent, which arising from two spring­heads, is the third chiefe River of Brittaine. There are also Sous, Tam, and Penke. The Northerne part is somewhat mountainous, and full of hils, The Moun­taines. which beginning heere, doe runne, like the Apennine Hils of Italie, with a continued ridge through the middle of England, even to Scotland, yet often changing their name. In the midst of this Shire is Needwood a spatious wood, The Woods. in which the Nobilitie and Gentrie of the Countrie doe [Page 107]

[Page 108] daily recreate themselves with hunting. Nottingham­shire▪ Nottinghamshire is bounded on the East with Lincolnshire, on the North with Yorkeshire, on the West with Darbyshire, The Situation and on the South with Leicestershire. The Southerne & Easterne part of the Countie is fructified by the famous River of Trent, and other Rivulets that flow into it. The quality of the Soyle. The Forrest of Shirwood taketh up the whole Westerne side: this (because it is sandie) the Inhabitants call the Sand: the other (by reason the soyle consisteth of Clay) they call the Clay; and they divide their Countrie into these two parts. The chiefe Towne which gives a denomination to the Shire, is Nottingham, being pleasantly seated; The Townes for on one side faire Meddowes lye along the River side, and on an other little Hils doe raise themselves, to adde a grace thereunto: It is a Towne abounding with all things necessary to life. For besides other conveniences, it hath Shirewood, which doth furnish it with store of fuell, and the River Trent doth yeeld it plenty of Fish. The Streetes are large, having faire buildings, and two great Churches, with a spacious Market-place, and a strong Castle. Besides, heere are other great Townes, namely Suthwel, Newarke, Mansfield, Blith, Scroby, and Workensop. The R [...]s. And in this Shire there are 168 Parishes. The Rivers are Trent, Leicester [...]shire. Lin, Snite, and Idle. Leicester-shire, anciently called Ledecester-shire, The Situation. bordereth upon the South with Northampton-shire, on the East with Rutland shire and Lincoln-shire, on the North with Nottingham shire and Darby-shire, The [...]ful­nesse of the So [...] and on the West with Warwick-shire. It is all field-ground, and very fruitfull, but for the most part it wanteth wood. The chiefe Citie is Leicester, called heretofore Legecestria, Leogara, and Legeocester, more ancient than beautifull. The Townes There are also the Townes of Longburrow, Lutterworth, Hinckly and Bosworth, neere which Richard the third was slaine; and in this Shire there are 200 Parish Churches. The River Soar, running toward Trent, waters the middle of it, and the little River Wrek, which at last mingleth his waters with Soar, doth gently winde about through the Easterne part. Rutland-shire. Rutland-shire, which was anciently called Rudland and Roteland, that is, red land, is, as it were, emcompassed with Leicestershire, The Situation. except on the South side, where it lyeth by the River Wel­land, and on the East where it joyneth to Lincolne-shire: It is the least Shire in England; for it lyeth in a round circular forme, so that a man may ride quite round about it in one day. The [...] of the S [...]l [...]. This Countrie is no lesse pleasant and fruitfull than others, although it bee not so spacious. The chiefe Towne in it is Vppingham, so called, because it stands on the a­scent of an hill; The Towne [...] it hath a faire free Schoole in it, which was built for the nurture and bringing up of children to learning, by R. Iohnson, Minister of Gods word, who also built an other at the towne of Okeham, so cal­led, because it is situated in a vale, which once was very woody and full of Oakes. This Shire can reckon 47 Parish Churches. The little Ri­ver Wash or Gwash, gliding through the middle of it from East to West, doth divide it into two parts. Northfolke. Northfolke remaines yet to be described, that is to say, the Northerne people. The bounds thereof on the South are Suffolke, The Situation on the East and North the German Ocean, and on the West the River Ouse. The quality of the Soyle. The Countrie is large, & for the most part field-ground, unlesse it bee where there are some smaller hils; it is very rich, full of flocks of sheepe, and especially of Cunnies: it is watered with pleasant [Page 109] Rivers, and is sufficiently stored with wood. The soyle differs accor­ding to the diversitie of places, for in some parts it is fat and rich, in o­ther parts light and sandie, and in other clayie and chalkie. Amongst the chiefe townes in this Shire, old Thetford is the first, The Townes. which Antoni­nus calleth Sitomagus, that is, a towne situate by the river Sit. It hath now but few dwelling-houses, though heretofore it were faire and very po­pulous. There is also in this Shire the famous Citie of Norwich, called by the Saxons North, that is, the North Castle, and This Towne the Saxons cal­led Garmouth, because it is situated ad Ga­r [...] os [...]um [...]s, the mouth of Gerne. Yarmouth or Gar­mouth, a faire Haven Towne, fortified by its situation, and mans indu­strie; for it is almost entrenched with water; on the West with the Ri­ver, over which there is a draw Bridge; on other sides with the Ocean, except it be on the North side, toward the Land, and there it is encom­passed with strong wals, which with the River doe lye in a long square-sided-figure. There are also these Townes, Ashelwel-thorp, Dis or Disce, Shelton, Skulton or Burdos, Attleburgh, Wauburne, Lynne, Swaff ham, North Elmeham, Dereham, Windham, Icborow, and others. For this Coun­trie hath 27 Market Townes, and 525 Villages, and about 660 Parish Churches. The rivers that doe water it are Ouse, Thet, The Rivers. anciently called Sit, Wauency, Gerne or Yere, and Wents anciently Wentfare. There is not in the world any towne which getteth so much by taking and catching of Herrings, as the towne of Yarmouth in this Shire. The commo­dities of the Sea. For it is incredi­ble to thinke, what great Faires and Markets they have here at Michael­tide, and what a number of Herrings and other fish are carried from hence into other parts. Besides, from hence (as Varro adviseth) thou maist collect the goodnesse of the shire, the Inhabitants being well co­loured, craftie witted, and sharpely insighted into the Lawes of England. The manners of the Inhabi­tants. But of these Counties wee have entreated largely enough, I passe now to the sixth Table.

Warwick shire IN the Sixt Table of England is first Warwick shire, being bounded on the East with Leicester [...]shire, and Watling-street way, on the South with Oxford shire and Glocester-shire, The Situation. on the West with Wiltshire, and on the North with Stafford-shire. This Country is divided into two parts, Feldon and Woodland, The qualitie of the So [...] The Townes. heretofore called Arden, that is, into the Field and Wood-Country. The chiefe Towne hereof is Warwicke, called by the Brittaines [...]aer-Leon; besides the Townes of Leamington, called so from the River Leame by which it standeth, V [...]hindon, now called Long Ich­ingdon, Harbury, Mancester, called anciently Manduessedum; Coventry, called heretofore Conventria, Stratford upon Avon, and others; and there are in this County 158 Parish Churches. The Rivers are Avon, Leam, Arrow and Allen, commonly called Aln [...]. The next that followes is Northampton-shire, Northampton-shire which from the East, where it is broadest, lesseneth by degrees, and is extended Eastward. The County is bounded on the East with Redford-shire and Huntingdon-shire, The Situation on the South with Buckin­g [...]am shire, Th [...] [...] of the S [...]l [...]. and Oxford shire, on the West with Warwick-shire, and on the North with Leicester-shire, Rutland-shire, and La [...]colne-shire, which are parted from it by the River Welland. It is a field Country, of a very rich soyle, The C [...]ties [...] Towne [...] both in upland grounds and meddowes. The shire Towne hereof is Northampton, the other Townes are Frakley, Torcester, ancient­ly called Tripontium, Grafton, Daventr [...], W [...]d [...]n, Higham, Oundale, rightly Avondale, Peterborow, called anciently Pe [...]urg [...], Welledone, &c. A [...] to this Shire there appertaines 326 Parishes: The Rivers Huntingdon shire▪ the Rivers are Ouse, Avon, and Welland. In the third place is Huntingdon-shire, being so situated, that on the South it looketh toward Bedford shire, on the West toward Northampton-shire, on the North where it is parted with the River Avon, The Situation. The fertilitie o [...] the Soyle. and on the East, toward Cambridge-shire. It is a Country fit for tillage, and feeding of cattle, and toward the East where it is low ground it is very fruitfull, having every where pleasant hills and shadie woods. The chiefe Towne of this Country is Huntingdon, called heretofore Huntesdune, to which it gives the name of Huntingdon-shire. Here are [Page 111]

[Page 112] also the Townes of S. Ives, which the Saxons anciently called Slepe, Saint Needes, or Saint Neotifanum, and Cunnington; here are 78. Parishes. The two Rivers Ouse, The Rivers. and Avon doe water the Country. In the fourth place is Cambridge-shire, Cambridg-shire. The Situation. The qualitie of the Soile. which lying toward the East, doth butte upon North-folke and Suffolke, on the South on Essex and Harford-shire, on the West on Huntingdon-shire, and on the North on Lincolne-shire, and the River Ouse, which running through it from East to West, doth divide it into two parts. The Townes. The Lower and Southerne part is more tilled and plan­ted then the rest, and therefore more pleasant; it lyeth in the manner of a bending plaine, being a Champion Country, and yeelding excellent Barley, except where it beareth Saffron: the farther and Northerne part flourishes more with greene Meddowes. The chiefe Towne in this Shire is Cambridge, anciently called Camboritum, and by the Saxons Grantcester, The Universi­tie. this is one of the Universities of England, yea the Sunne and Eye thereof, and a famous Nurserie of good learning and pietie, it is seated upon the River Cam. Besides, here are these Townes, Roiston, Rech, Burwell, Ely, and here are 163 Parishes in this Countie, and the Rivers are Cam and Stour. Suffolke followes in the next place, having on the West Cambridge-shire, Suffolke. and on the South the River Stour, which di­vides it from Essex, The Situation. on the East the Germane Ocean, and on the North the two little Rivulets, The fertilitie of the Soyle. Ouse the lesse, and Waveney, which arising as it were from one spring head, and running a diverse course, doe part it from North-folke. The Country is large, and of a fat soyle, except it be toward the East, for it is compounded of clay and marle, so that the fields doe flourish every where; here is fruitfull pasturage for fatting of cattle, The Townes. and great store of cheese made. The Townes in this County are Sudbury, that is the South-Towne. Ixning, Saint Edmunds-bury, called anciently Villa Faustini, Bretenham, Hadley, Ipswich, called anciently Gipp­wic, Debenham, Oreford, and many others. The Rivers are Stour, Breton, Gipping, Rivers. Oxford-shire. Deben, Ore, Ouse, Waveney, and Gerne or Yere. Oxford-shire, which commeth next to be spoken of, on the West is joyned to Gloce­ster-shire, and on the South it is parted from Barke-shire by the River Isis or Ouse, on the East it is bounded with Buckingham-shire, and on the North with Northampton-shire and Warwick-shire. The Situation. The fertilitie of the Soyle. It is a fertile and rich Country, the plaines thereof being adorned with faire fields and med­dowes, and the hills crowned with many woods, filled with fruits, and all sorts of cattle which graze thereon. In this Shire the Citie of Oxford, anciently called Ousford from the River Ouse, lifteth up her head, being the other Universitie of England, The Univer­sity. the other Sunne, Eye, and Soule there­of, and a most famous Nurserie of Learning and Wisedome, from whence Religion, Humanitie, and Learning are plentifully diffused and dispersed into other parts of the Kingdome. The Townes. Here are also the Townes of Bablac, Burford, which the Saxons called Beorford, Minster Lovell, Whitney, Woodstocke, Banbury, Burcester, or Burencester, Tame, Dorchester, called by Bede Civitas Dorcinia, and by Lelandus Hydropolis, Watlington, and 280. Parishes in it: the rivers here are Isis, Cherwell, Windrush, and Evenlode. Buckingham-shire. Buckingham-shire so called, because it is full of Beech-trees, commeth to be viewed in the seaventh place, which being but narrow, doth runne length-wayes from Thamisis Northward. On the South it [Page 113] looketh towards Berk-shire, being parted from it by Thamisis, The Situation▪ on the West toward Oxford-shire, on the North toward Northampton-shire, The fertilitie of the Soyle. and on the East it looketh first toward Bedford-shire, afterward toward Hart­ford-shire; and last of all toward Middlesex. It hath a plentifull soyle, and the fruitfull meddowes thereof doe feed innumerable flockes of sheepe. The head Towne is Buckingham, The Townes. besides which it hath also the Townes of Marlow, Colbroke, Amersham, Crendon or Credendon, so called from the Chalke or Marle, by which the Inhabitants thereof manure their Land, High-Wickam, Stony-Stratford, Oulney, Newport-Pannell, &c. and in this Shire are reckoned 185 Parishes: the Rivers are Thame, Colne and Ouse. Bedford-shire followes, Bedford shire The Situation The quality of the Soyle. being joyned on the East to Cambridg-shire, on the South to Hartford-shire, on the West to Buckingham-shire, and on the North to Northampton-shire, and Huntingdon-shire; it is divi­ded into two parts by the River Ouse. That part which is Northward is more fruitfull and woody, the other part toward the South which is larger, is of a meaner soyle, but yet not barren: for it hath great store of very excellent Barley. In the middle of it there are thicke Woods, but Eastward it is more bare and naked of trees The chiefe Towne is Lacto­dorum, now called Bedford, which communicates its name to the Shire. It hath also other Townes, as Odill, Bletnesho or Bletso, Eaton, Dunstable, The Townes built by Henry the first for suppressing of the robberies of the rebell Dun and his companions: it containeth 116 Parishes, and is watered with the River Ouse. Hertford-shire Next to Bedford-shire on the South side lyeth Hartford-shire, the West side thereof is enclosed with Buckingham-shire, the Northerne side with Middlesex, and the East side with Essex, The Situation. and partly with Cambridge-shire. It is very rich in corne-fields, pastures, med­dowes, and woods. The chiefe Towne in the Country is Herudford, The fertilitie of the Soyle. now called Hertford, which doth impart its name to the whole Shire. There are also the Townes of Watling-street, Fane, S. Albane, or Verula­mium, Roiston, called anciently Crux Roisiae, Ashwell, Bishops-Stortford, and many others: and this Shire hath an 120. Parishes. The Rivers are Lea or Ley, Stort, Mimer and Benefice. Now come we to Essex, The Townes Essex. which the River Stour on the North divideth from South-folke, on the East the Ocean beateth it, The Situation on the South the River Thames now growne very wide, doth part it from Kent, on the West the River Lea divideth it from Middlesex, and the little River Stour or Stort, from Hertford-shire. The fertilitie of the Soyle. It is a large Country, fruitfull, abounding with Saffron, being full of woods, and very rich: here is Camalodunum, now called Maldon. The Townes Also Colchester, which the Brittaines call Caer Colin, Leyton, Bemflot, Leegh. Rochford, Angre, Ralegh, anciently called Raganeia, Dunmow, Plaissy or Plessy, called anciently Estre, Chelmesford, now called Chensford, Ithance­ster, Earles Colne, Barlow, Walden, called likewise Saffron▪ Walden, &c. the Parishes are 415. the Rivers are Ley, Thames, Chelmer, Froshwell, an­ciently called Pante and Colne. In the next place followes Berroc-shire, Berk-shire. now called Berk-shire, the Northerne part whereof Isis, which is after­ward called Tamisis, doth compasse with a winding pleasant streame, The Situation. and doth divide it from Oxford-shire and Buckingham-shire: the South­erne part the River Kennet doth seperate from Hampshire, the Westerne part is held in by Wiltshire and Glocester-shire, and the Easterne part is [Page 114] confined with Surrey. This County on the West side where it is broad­est, and in the middle thereof is very rich, and full of corne, especially in the Vale of White Horse, and on the Easterne side which is lesse fruit­full, The Townes. there are many long and spacious woods. The Townes are Faren­don, Abington, called anciently Abandune, and by the Saxons Sheoverham, Wantage, Wallingford, Hungerford, Widehay, anciently called Gallena, New­bery, Reading, Bistleham, or Bisham, Southealington, now called Maidenhead, and Windsore, called by the Saxons Windlesora. This Country hath 140 Parishes: the Rivers which water it are Isis, Thames, Ocke, Cunetio or Ke­net, Middlesex. and Lambo [...]. Middlesex is divided on the West side from Buckin­gham-shire with the River Colne, on the North side from Hertford-shire, with the knowne bounds, The Situation. on the East side from Essex with the River Lea, and on the South side from Surrey and Kent with the River Thames. It is every where very pleasant by reason of the temperatenesse of the Ayre, The tempera­ture of the Aire. The Townes. and goodnesse of the Soyle, besides the faire Townes and buildings. The Townes here are Vxbridge, Draiton, Stanes, Radclisse, and others: but above all London, called also Londinium, Longidinium, Augusta, and by Stephanus Lindonion, which is an Epitomy of all Brittaine. It is seated by the River of Thames, having a fertile Soyle and temperate Ayre: it is distant from the Sea threescore miles, it hath a stone Bridge over the River, being three hundred and thirty paces long, adorned on both sides with magnificent and faire buildings. It hath also a strong Tower, which is the chiefe Armory of England, and in this the Mint is kept. Neare to London is Westminster, anciently called Thorney, famous for the Abby, the Courts of Justice, and the Kings Pallace. The Abbey is most renowned by reason of the Coronation, and buriall of the Kings of Eng­land, The Rivers. and in this Countie are 73 Parishes, besides those in the Citie. The Rivers that water it are Lea, Ham [...]shire. The Situation. Colne, and Thames. Hampshire or Hant­shire toucheth on the West Dorsetshire and Wiltshire, on the South the Ocean, on the East Sussex and Surrey, and on the North Berk-shire. It is fruitfull, having pleasant thicke woods and flourishing pastures: it hath two Cities, the one Southampton, so called, because it stands on the Ri­ver Test, The Townes anciently called Ant or Hant: the other Winchester, called here­tofore Venta Belgarum. There are also these Townes, Regnwood or Ring­wood, Christ-church, Whorwell, Andover, Rumsey, Portsmouth, Kings-cleare, Odiam, Silcester, called anciently by the Brittaines Caer Segente, and o­thers, Surrey. and it hath 253 Parishes: the Rivers are Avon, Stour, Test and Hamble. Surrey, called by Bede Suthriona, joyneth on the West partly to Berk-shire, The qualitie of the Soyle. and partly to Southampton-shire, on the South to Sussex, on the East to Kent, and on the North it is watered by the River Thames, and divided by it from Middlesex. It is a Countrie not very large, yet very rich: The Townes. The Townes are Godelminge, Aclea, or Ockley, Effingham, Kingstone, Merton, Cradiden, or Croydon, Beddington, Wimbandune, or Wimbledon, Wandlesworth, The Rivers. and the Borrough of Southworke, called by the Saxons South werke, and this Country hath 140 Parishes: The rivers are VVey, Mole, (so called, because for a certaine space it runneth under ground like a Mole) Wandale, and Thames aforesaid. Now followeth Cantium or Kent, a Country so called from the situation, Kent. for it looketh toward France with a great corner, The Situation. which the word Canton in the French signifies, [Page 115] environed round about with the mouth of Thames and the Sea, unlesse on the West side where it joyneth to Surrey, The qualitie of the Soile. and on the South side to part of Sussex. It is unlevell, yet plainest toward the West, and shaded with woods, on the East it is raised with high hills. The chiefe Citie is Durovernum, which Ptolemie calls Darvernum, and in English is called Canterbury. There are also the Townes of Dover, The Townes. anciently called Dur­bis, and by the Saxons Dufra, Hith or Hide, Rumney, anciently called Ru­menal, Sandwich or Sondwic, Gravesend, &c. The Rivers are Thames, Rivers. Da­rent, Medway, anciently called Medwege, Stoure, called by Bede Wantsome, &c. Sussex toward the South bordereth upon the Brittish Ocean, Sussex The Situation. and that part of the Country which is toward the Sea is full of high white hills, which because they consist of a fat kinde of Chalke are very fruit­full: the middle of it hath goodly meddowes, pastures, fields, and many pleasant groves. The hither part hath many woods, and it hath many veines of Iron. The Townes here are Chichester, or rightly Cissanceaster, The Townes. so called from one Cissa a Saxon that built it: Arundal, so called, because it stands upon the River Arun, and other. It hath many Rivers, and 312 Parishes.

THe seventh and last Table of England containeth these foure Islands which belong to England: the former two whereof namely Anglesey and Wight, The Isle of An­glesey. do lye neare the English shoare, the latter Garsey neare the French shoare. The first is Anglesey, The names. which the Brittaines call Mon, Tirmon, and Ynis Dowyl, (that is) the darke Island, the Saxons call it Moneza, be­ing divided by a slender Bay from the Brittish Continent. It is a brave Island, and the ancient seat of the Druides, the length whereof 22 English miles, The Situation the breadth 17, and the whole compasse of it 60 miles. This Island, although Giraldus saith, it was in his time, drie, stonie, unpleasant, and deformed, yet now it is delectable, and being tilled yeeldeth so much wheat, The fruitful­nesse of the Soyle. that it is commonly called the Mother of Wales. It hath milstones, and in some places aluminous earth, out of which they have lately begun to make Alum. It is also rich in cattell. It was first subje­cted to the Romane Empire by Paulinus Suetonius, and Iulius Agricola as Camden out of Tacitus a learned Writer. Many yeares after being con­quered by the English, it came to be called Anglesey, as it were, the English Island, Camden addeth, that when the Romane Empire in Brit­taine began to decrease, the Scots crept out of Ireland into this Island. For besides the hills which are entrenched round, and called the Irish cotta­ges: The Govern­ment. there is a place which the Irish call Y [...] Hericy Guidil, where being lead by their Captain Sirigi, they gave the Brittaines a great overthrow, as it is mentioned in the booke of Triads. Neither hath this Island beene invaded by the English, but likewise by the Norwegians. For in the yeare 1000. The navie of Aethelred sailing about it did wast it in hostile man­ner. Afterward two Norman Hughs, one Earle of Cheshire, the other of Shropshire did most grievously afflict it and built the Castle Aber-Lienioc to restraine the Inhabitants, but Magnus a Norwegian arriving at this Island kild Hugh Earle of Cheshire with an arrow, and having tooke boo­tie on the Island departed. Afterward also the English often attempted it, untill Edward the first reduced it into his power. Heretofore it had 363 Villages, and at this day it is full of Inhabitants, but the chiefe Towne is Bellus Mariscus, The Townes. commonly called Beaumarish, which Edward the first built in the East part of that Island in a moorish place; and in re­gard of the Situation, he gave it this name, and fortified it with a Castle. The second Towne to this is Newburge, in Welch Ressur, because it was [Page 117]

[Page 118] much troubled with the sands which were continually cast upon it. Here is also Aberfraw heretofore the chiefe Citie of Wales. Also the holy Promontorie which the English call Holyhead: the Inhabitants call it Caer Guby from Kibius a holy man who was Scholler to Hilarius Pictaven­sis. The Inhabitants are very rich and strong, and they use the Brittish language having no skill in English, albeit they, together with the rest of Wales, have beene subject to the Kings of England these three hundred yeares. The Isle of Wight. Now followeth Vecta or Vectis, the Isle of Wight, which the Brit­tains call Guith. The names. It is broken off frō the Continent of Brittaine by so small an Euripus running betweene, called heretofore Solent, that it seemeth to cleave unto it, and hence that Brittish name Guith, which signifies a sepa­ration, seemes to be derived: even as Sicilie being divided from Italie, tooke his name, (as learned Iulius Scaliger pleaseth to derive it,) à secando, that is, from cutting. From this vicinitie of situation, and affinitie of the name, wee may conjecture that this Vecta was that Icta, which when the Sea Flow'd did seeme an Island, but when it Ebd againe, the shoare be­ing almost drie, the ancient Brittaines were wont to carrie Tinne thither in Carts to be transported thence into France. I suppose it cannot be that Mictis of Pliny, which joyneth close to Vecta, because out of that there came white lead, and in this (saith Camden) there is no mettall veine so farre as I know. The Situation. This Island betweene East and West lyeth twentie miles in length in an ovall figure, the breadth thereof in the middle where it is broadest is twelve miles over, the one side lyeth toward the North, the other toward the South. It hath a fruitfull soyle, and very profitable to the husbandman, The fruitful­nesse of the Soyle. so that it exporteth and sendeth forth divers commodities, it is every where full of Cunnies, Hares, Partridges and Pheasants, it hath also a Forrest and two Parkes full of Deere for hunting. The varietie of the living Cre­atures. Through the middle of this Island there runneth a long ridge of hils, on which flockes of sheepe securely graze, whose fleeces are held to be the best wooll, except that of Lemster and Cotteswold, and therefore being chiefly bought up by Clothiers, the Inhabitants do make a great gaine and commoditie thereby. The Northerne part hath greene me­dowes, fields, and woods: the Southerne part is all corne-fields, en­closed every where with ditches and hedges. The Sea At either end the Sea on the North side doth so penetrate and winde into it, that it maketh al­most two Islands, and the Inhabitants do call them Islands, namely that which looketh toward the West the Fresh-water Isle, that which lyeth toward the East Binbrydge Isle. Vespasian serving under the Empe­rour Claudius did first reduce this Island to the obedience of the Romans, as [...]n Vespasian [...] [...]ap. 4. Suetonius writeth in the life of Vespasian. The first Saxon that made it his owne was Cerdicius which gave it to Stuffa, and Whitgarus, who carri­ed away the Brittish Inhabitants to Caresbrok, and put them to death; af­terward Wolpherus being of the Mercians, brought Vecta or Wight under his power, The ancient government. and gave it to Edelwalch King of the South Saxons. After that Caedwalla King of the West- Saxons, (the aforesaid Edwalch being slaine, and Arnaldus Governour of the Island being made away) adjoyned it to his territories. But see more concerning these things in Camden. The In­habitants by nature are warlike, The nature of the Inhabi­tants. bold, and forward, and the Souldiers very stout. In Bedes time there were thought to be in this Island a thou­sand [Page 119] and two hundred families, but now it hath sixe and thirtie Townes besides Villages and Castles. The chiefest Townes are New-port, the chiefe Market-towne of the Island, heretofore called Medena, and Novus Burgus de Meden, from whence the whole Countrie is divided into East-Meden, and West-Meden, according as it lyeth East or West. Also Brading, The Townes. Newton, & Yarmouth which have their Majors, and do send up their Bur­gesses to the Parliaments of England. This Yarmouth and another also called Sharpnore have Castles, which together with the Fort Worsteys doe defend the coast on the West side. Over against which scarce two miles off standeth the Fort Hurst on a little tongue of ground in Hampshire. Here is also the Towne Quarre where a litle Monasterie was built in the yeare 1132 for vailed Virgins or close Nunnes, and Gods Hill where I. Worseley founded a Schoole for the nurture of children. Here is situate Westcow and Eastcow, now ruinated, which Henry the eight built in the very jawes and entrance of New-port. And on the East is Sandham a Ca­stle fortified with great Ordinance, as the rest are, beside the fortifica­tions of nature, for it is encompassed about with ragged cliffes, un­derneath which are hidden rocks. As these two Islands lye neare to the English shoare, somewhat more toward the West, some Islands do ap­peare in the Sea neare to France, and yet belong to England, among which are Gerzey and Garnzey, and first Gerzey, called Caesarea by Anto­ninus, lyeth neare to Normandie, or the shoare of Lexobii, whom our Brit­taines do call Lettaw, that is, dwellers on the shoare, or coasters: this word Caesarea the Frenchmen have contracted into Gersey, Gersey. even as Caesaris Bur­gus, a towne in Normandie is by them contractly called Cherburgh and Caesar Augusta a Towne in Spaine is by the Spaniards called Saraggosa. The names. Into this Island condemned men were heretofore banished, The Situation. for the Bi­shop of Lyons was banished hither. Papirius Massonius calleth it the Isle of Constantine shoare, because it lyeth over against the ancient citie of Constantia, which Ammianus thinketh was heretofore called Castra Con­stantia, and in former times Muritonium. This Island is about 20 miles in compasse, being defended by rockes and such sands as are dange­rous to sea-men. The earth is sufficiently fertile, abounding with divers fruits and with flockes of cattell; it hath many sheepe, and most of them such as have foure hornes, is beautified with so many greene Or­chards and Gardens, and those so fruitfull that the Inhabitants make a kinde of drinke of apples, which they call Sisera and the English Side [...], therewith; but in regard they have little fuell, instead of wood they use Sea weeds (by them called Vraic) which seemes to be that sea-grasse which Pliny mentions, and they grow so plentifully on these rocks, The fertilitie of the Soyle. that they seeme a farre of to be thicke woods. These being dryed in the Sun and after burnt for fuell, they make use of the ashes for manuring their fields, and making them fruitfull. This Island is likewise full of Villages, having twelve Parishes. It is fortified with a strong Castle seated on the hill Montorguel, and hee that governes it for the English is also gover­nour of the whole Island. Twentie miles hence towards the West is another Island, which Antoninus named Sarnia, the English at this day call it Garnsey, lying from East to West in the forme of a harpe, Garnsey. it is not to be compared either for largenesse or populusnesse with the afore­said [Page 120] Gersey, for it hath onely tenne Parishes. Yet in this it is to be pre­ferred before it, because it hath no venemous thing in it: beside it is more fortified by nature, as being encompassed on every side with bro­ken cliffes among which the Smyris an hard and rough stone is found, which the English call an Emrall, with which Jewellers do cut their stones, The qualitie of the Soyle. and Glaziers do cut their glasse. This Island also, as the former, hath greene Gardens and Orchards planted with divers trees, whence for the most part, the Inhabitants use the drinke made of apples called Cider, as the Gersey people doe, in regard of the convenience of an Ha­ven, The Haven. and the traffique of Merchants it is more famous than Gersey. For on the farthest part toward the East, on the Southerne side, it hath a Haven like an halfe Moone, neare which is seated the Towne of Saint Peter, being one long narrow streete, S. Peters Town. full of warlike provision, and frequented much with Merchants when warres begin in other places. The entrance into the Haven is fortified on either side with Castles, on the left hand is an anciēt Castle, & on the right hand another which they call Cornet, sea­ted on a high rock, & environed with the Sea. The Inhabitants of either Isle are originally either Normans or Brittaines, and do speake French. ▪ In both Islands they use that which they call Vraic instead of fuell, or pit­coales digged in England, & both of them have great store of fish. These Islands with other adjacent and lying neare unto them did heretofore belong to Normandie, but when Henry the first had overthrowne his bro­ther Robert in the yeare of Christ 1108, he adjoyned Normandie & these Islands to the Kingdome of England, The ancient Government. since which time they have conti­nued in faithfull obedience to England, although the French (banishing King Iohn) possessed Normandie and Henry the third sold his right in Nor­mandie, and yeelded up the possession of Aquitaine in consideration of a certaine summe of money. 'Tis true that the French in the raigne of Hen­ry the fourth, did hold Garnsey, but by the industrie of Richard Harleston, Valectus de Carona (as they then called him) they were driven out, in re­ward whereof the King did conferre and bestow upon him the govern­ment of the Island and Castle. And let so much suffice to have beene spoken concerning these foure Islands, and also concerning England, both in generall and particular.

BRITTAINE being described as faithfully as wee could, that Northerne part of the world now followeth in our method, which the Ancients did call Scandia and Scandi­navia, Pliny calleth it the Nurser of Nations, and the recepta­cle of people of a great stature. That part which is neerest to the farthest Northerne shore of Germanie, is distinguished at this time into the three Kingdomes of Norwey, Swethland, and Denmarke. Norwey Norwey or Norwegia commeth in the first place to be viewed. Whence so called. The Etymologie whereof is easie to be knowne; for it is so called from Nord which sig­nifieth the North, and Weg which signifies a way, as if wee should say, the Northway, or Northerne Countrey. It hath on the South Denmarke, on the West the Sea, on the East Sweth-land, and it is bounded on the North with Lapland, from which it is parted with high and rugged Mountaines, covered over with continuall snow. All the Countrie to­ward the West is unpassable by reason of rocks and sharpe cliffes, and it is also stony toward the South, especially in that part which lyeth a­gainst the Cimbrick Chersonesus, from whence it is 250 miles distant. But all the Countrie both toward the West and South hath a gentle Ayre, for the Sea is not frozen, neither doe the Snowes lye long. The qualitie of the Soyle. And though the Countrie it selfe bee not so fertile, that it is able to furnish the Inha­bitants with foode: yet it aboundeth with cattell and wilde beasts, as white Beares of an unusuall bignesse, Beavers and innumerable other. The variety of Creatures. Norwey was somtime a very flourishing, Kingdome, under the jurisdicti­on whereof were Denmarke and the Isles of the Sea, untill it came to be govern'd by hereditarie succession. Afterward in the Interregnum it was agreed upon by the consent of the Nobles, that the Kings should bee chosen by election. From Suthdager the second to Christierne the last, there were 45 Kings. Now it is under the command of Denmarke. There are at this time in it five royall Castles, and so many speciall Pro­vinces, whereof the first and farthest toward the South is Bahusia, or Bay. The Townes subject unto it are Marstand, The Cities and Townes. seated on a rocky Penin­sula, and famous for herring-fishing; and the Townes of lesser note, are Koengeef or Congel, neere Bahus and Oddewold, otherwise called Odwad. The second Castle is Aggerhusia, out of the Province whereof high Masts of ships, oaken and maple plankes and wood fit for building houses, is yearely carried into Spaine and other Countries. The Townes subject unto it are Astoia, the Seat of a Bishop, to which strangers doe [Page 122] chiefly resort, because there is held the Court whither causes are brought for triall out of all parts of Norwey. Also Tonsberg or Konnings­berg, Fridrichstad, Saltzburgh, and Schin or Schon, where there are Mynes of Coppresse and Iron, also Hammaria the Greater and the Lesser, hereto­fore being Bishopricks, but now committed to the care of the Asloian Bishop, and divided by the Bay of Mosian, gliding betweene them. The third is the Castle Bergerhusia, under which are the Cities of Bergen, or Berga, and Staffanger. But Berga is the most famous Citie of all Norwey for traffique, and as it were the Barne thereof: heere resideth the Kings Lievtenant, and a Bishop; and heere that delicate fish is sold, which being taken neere the shore of Norwey, is called the fish of Bergen, being transported from hence by Merchants into divers Countries. Heere lye the Factors of the Vandals & the Sea Townes, who continuing heere all the yeare, for traffique sake, doe take up one part of the Citie, which the Inhabitants call the Bridge. Heere is also an excellent and safe Ha­ven. The Citie Staffanger, although it have the same Governour with Bergen, yet it hath a Bishop peculiar to it selfe, and living therein. The fourth Castle is Nidrosia, called so from the River Nideros & Rosa, which is the name of a Temple, commonly called Trundtheim, and heretofore Trondon; it is the Metropolis of all Norwey, and now reduced into the forme of a Towne. It was the chiefe seat heretofore of the Archbishop, and of the whole Kingdome. It hath a large Jurisdiction, in which much fish and pretious skins are gotten, and afterward carried to Bergen to be sold. And heere is at this day a Cathedrall Church, and such a one as there is scarce an other like it in the Christian world, both for the largenesse of the stones, and for the carved worke. The Border and ground-worke about the Altar in this Church was burnt with fire, in the yeare 1530, and the losse redounding thereby was valued at seven thousand Crownes. The fifth and last Towre toward the North of Norwey is Wardbuise, standing on the little Island Ward; it is now very small, and almost decayed, having neither castle nor munition, yet hath it a little Towne adjoyning unto it, which consists all of fisher-mens houses. In this Towre or rather Cottage, the Kings Praefect liveth in Summer, and governeth this cold Northerne part of Norwey, even to the borders of Russia. Moreover the Westerne shore of Norwey (because it is of an unsearchable depth) in the Spring time is much troubled with Whales, The Sea to prevent whose violence, the ship-men use a kinde of Oyle made of Beavers stone, which is a present remedie, for assoone as it is cast into the Sea, and mingled with the water, straight-way that great Sea-monster maketh away and hideth himselfe in the deepe. Heere is good fishing in the neighbouring seas, The Commo­dities. & especially of Stock-fish, which being dried and hardened in the cold and hung up upon poles, they send into other Kingdomes of Europe. The Merchan­dise. The best taking of them is in the Moneth of Ianuary: for as then in regard of the cold, they are more ea­sily dried, so the sea doth yeeld more plenty of them and fatter. The commodities of this countrie in generall, are pretious Skins, Tallow, Butter, Hides, the fat of Whales, Tarre, Oake timber, Masts, and Planks and Boards of all sort, to the great commoditie of those who sell them. The Inhabitants are honest, The manners of the people. loving and hospitable to strangers, neither [Page 123]

[Page 124] have they robbers, theeves or Pirates among them.

[...]The Kingdome of Swethland is an ancient Kingdome, as Pliny witnes­seth. [...] It hath on the West Norwey, on the North Lapland and Botnia, on the East [...]land, seperated from it by the Botnian Bay, or Finnish Sea, & L [...]onia [...] L [...]sland, [...] disjoyned from it by the Baltick Sea, called by Ta [...] ­ [...]us Mar [...] p [...]grum, [...] by the Suc [...]ians Mare Su [...]vicum, and on the South Go­thia It is a com [...] the most fruitfull of all the North parts: it hath a plentifull soyle▪ and seas, lakes, and rivers abounding with fish of divers [...]ndes it hath also Mettals, as Lead, Iron, Brasse, and Silver, which is digged up in very p [...]e oa [...]e neere Sl [...]burg: and likewise woods full of wilde beasts and honey. It is thought that it doth doubly exceede Nor­wey, both in largenesse, fruitfulnesse, and goodnesse of soyle, yet in some places it is [...]ugged and moorish. This Countrie being for some ages valiantly and happily defended & enlarged by the native Kings there­of, afterward came to the Kings of Denmarke: and having beene subject to them more than an hundred yeares, at last did shake them off, under colour, that the Lawes wh\ich they were sworne unto at their Corona­tion, were not observ'd, and hence it stood a while in a very uncer­taine condition. But now it is returned againe to the natives, out of which it chooseth it selfe a King. There are divers Provinces of this [...]ingdome, some belonging to the Gothes, as Ostgothia, whereof Lincop is the Metropolis: [...] Westgothia seperated with an ancient Lake from Ost­gothia, whereof Scara is the Bishops seate: Also Southerne Gothia or S [...]alandia, [...]u [...]s [...]ia, Verendia, in which Vexio or Wexo is the chiefe Town. Also Meringia, and the Isle of O [...]land, fortified with the Castle Borgholm. Other Provinces there are that belong to Swethland, specially so called, as Oplandia, in which is Vpsal in the very centre of Swethland; heere are an Archbishops seat, publick Schooles, and many sepulchres of the Kings of Swethland, magnificently and fairely built. Also Stocholm, a fai [...]e Mart Towne, and one of the Kings places of residence, being for­tified both by Nature and Art. It is seated in a marshie fenny place like Venice, and is named, as aforesaid, because it is built upon stakes. There is a passage to it out of the Easterne Sea, by a deepe channell through the jawes of M [...]lerus; and it doth let the sea flow so farre into it, that ships of great but then may easily come with full sayles into the Haven. But the towre Waxholme on the one side, and Digna on the other side doe so straighten the entrance, that no ships can come in or goe forth a­gainst the Governours will, who keepe watch there. On the Southerne banke of M [...]le [...] lyeth Sudermannia, whose townes are Tolgo, Strengenes the seate of a Bishop, and the Castle Gripsholme. In the third place is N [...]ct [...] in which is the castle Orebo, & toward the West the countrie of Westmannia, and the cities Arosia, neere to which there is such excel­lent silver, that Artificers can extract out of fifteene pounds of silver one pound of gold and Arboga doe lye neere unto a Lake. From thence toward the West doe lye Westerne Dalia, the Easterne and Sol [...]es Dalia, so called from the Lake Sol [...]on; which three Provinces together with the greater part of the mountainous Provinces, are under the Bishop of Sa­ [...]s [...]. Heere are minerall veines, which stretch themselves Eastward to the Baltick Sea, and to the Bay of Helsing [...]a, and toward the West they [Page 125] runne almost without interruption through Wermeland to the Westerne Ocean, so that in every part there is digged up some kinde of mettall, as Silver, Coppresse, Lead, Iron, Steele, or Sulphure. Toward the North neere unto Opland are these Countries, first Gestricia, then Helsing, after that Midelpadia, and beyond that the Northerne and Southerne Anger­mannia. Then is there North-Botnia, divided into West-Botnia and East-Botnia, both of them being large Provinces: and after these towards the North lye So called from the sli­ding & leaping gate of the F [...]nn [...] which are the Inha­bitants thereof. Scricfinnia, So called from the bloc­kishnesse of the Inhabitants, [...]o [...] L [...]p [...]n sig­nifieth F [...]olish. Lapland, and Biarmia. These or most of these ancient Provinces of the Kingdome of Swethland, the Botnick Bay stret­ched forth from the Balthick straight Northward to Toronia, & beyond the Artick Circle, doth divide from Finland a large Peninsula: at the Southward point whereof are the Islands of Alandia or Alant, and Abo a Bishops Seate, and on the North point Withurgeum. Finland is divided into the Northerne & Southerne Finland, to which the higher and lower Natagundia, Savolosia, Tavastia, all very large countries are adjoyned. From thence beyond the Finnick Bay is Which with Biarmia afore­said, belongeth to the Duke of Rus [...]a. Corelia, the Metro­polis whereof is Hexholme or Kexholme: and toward the West Woticho­nia, in which is the mouth of the River Lovat, that glideth by Novogar­dia, which the Inhabitants call Ny: above Copora is Ingria, in which standeth the Forts Iamagrod and Solonseia, wherein standeth Ivanogrod, over against Nerva or Narva; confining upon these toward the South are the provinces of Lieflandia or Civonia, extended even from Nerva to Revalia or Revel, and Prenovia or Parniew, as first Allantacia wherein Nerva is a Bishops See; then Wiria, whereof Wesemberg is a Bishops See: besides Wichia, wherein Habsay is a Bishops seate, and the Isle Dagen or Dachlen, most of which Countries beyond the Finnick Bay were added to the Kingdome of Swethland, in the yeare 1581; by the valour and good successe of King Iohn the third, after that Revalia had willingly yeelded it selfe to Ericus the fourteenth King of Swedes, Anno 1561. Swethland hath many fishing-waters, The Rivers. and many rivers gliding through it. The Countrey it selfe is rugged, being full of mountaines and woods. Mountaines. Woods. The subjects are partly Church-men, partly Lay-men; The Senators. the Lay-men are either Nobles or Commons. The chiefe title of Nobility is Knight­hood, which is solemnly conferr'd by the King as a reward of vertue. The Manners. The provinces are governed by the natives. If the Inhabitants be com­par'd with the Germans, they have lesse civilitie, but are more industri­ous and witty, so that every countrey-fellow with them hath skill al­most in all trades, and all mechanick Arts.

DENMARKE is a large and populous Kingdome, commonly called Danemarch, as it were the Countrie of the Danes. But whence the originall of the Danes came, they them­selves doe not know: Some doe fetch it from Danus, their first King, and some from the Dahi, a people of Asia. Dudo de S. Quintino, an ancient Writer (as Camden reporteth) doth af­firme, that they came out of Scandia into the ancient seats of the Cimbri­ans. But they seeme to be so called from the waters, because AHA with them signifies a River, and they doe call themselves Daneman (that is) as it were, River-men, or Water-men. All Denmarke is a Peninsula, as the Description sheweth, and is divided into 184 Prefectships or Pro­vinces, which they call Horret, and they are governed by so many Pre­fects skilfull in the Danish Lawes. It hath a King rather by election of the Nobles, than by succession of birth: the ancient manner of chusing him was, that when they gave their voyce, they stood in the open field upon stones, devoting by the firme stabilitie of the stones under them, the constancy of their election. The Kings are crowned at Hafnia in the Church of the blessed Virgine Mary before the Altar, and are led into the aforesaid Church by the Senatours of the Kingdome, the ensignes of regality being carried before them, as the Sword, Globe, and Crown. Neither are these things attributed to speciall Families, as it is in most Countries, but as every one excelleth in vertue and dignitie, so is hee chosen to that place. First the King is compelled to sweare that he will observe certaine written Articles, and that hee will strictly defend the Christian Religion, and the Lawes and Customes of the Kingdome. Afterward hee is anoynted by the Bishop of Roeschild, and first the Crowne is set upon his head by all the Senatours, who then take their oath to his Majestie, if they have not done it before the Coronation, and then the King maketh out of the Gentry some Knights by the light stroke of a sword, for some service done either in peace or warre. Thus the ancient Danes did establish an excellent Politicall State and Monar­chie, neither hath any Nation ever brought them into subjection, or tooke away their Country Rites and Priviledges. But on the contrary the Northerne people, as the Danes, Swedens, Norwegians, have wasted almost Europe, and in some places have established Kingdomes. For the expedition of the Cimbrians against Italie is knowne unto all Historio­graphers, [Page 127] as also the Gothes subjecting of Spaine, the Longobards establish­ing of a Kingdome in Italie, the Normans seating themselves in France, the erecting of the Kingdome of Naples and Sicilie, and the attempt of Godfride upon Freseland against Charles the Great. To these may bee added the late King of Swedens prospe­rous victories in Germany. Canutus the Great, his holding five Kingdomes a long time. For he was King of Denmarke, Swethland, Norwey, England, and Normandy, and sonne in law to Henry the third Emperour, of whom these verses are yet extant.