The glory of England, or A true description of many excellent prerogatiues and remarkeable blessings, whereby she triumpheth ouer all the nations of the world vvith a iustifiable comparison betweene the eminent kingdomes of the earth, and herselfe: plainely manifesting the defects of them all in regard of her sufficiencie and fulnesse of happinesse. By T.G.

CHAP. I. The Empire of TARTARIA.

ACcording to the vaine, popular, and indeed ridiculous error of opinion, * 1.1 the world hath inuested nine seuerall Monarchs with his glory, and from strange disproportions giuen them prerogatiues to command all the Na∣tions of the earth, interdicting any petty Prince to come neere them by way of competition or comparison. First then the Empire of Tartaria laid

prostrate vnder the throne of the great Cham called Domi∣nus dominantium, and Rex regum, spreadeth it selfe with so large embracings, that it extendeth from the northren Obba, or if you will Tanais, which falleth into the great Euxinum, euen to the easterne sea; sometimes surnamed the Atlanticke, whose vast lappe is almost filled with a fry of Ilands, all Idolaters, and most of them enemies to strangers, but especially Christians.

It begirteth those Countries formerly called, and many times still collaterally named, Scithia, Sarmatia, Albania, Ieccomangall, Sumongoll, Mercat, Metrit, the vast deserts of Lop, Tangut, Cathaia, and Mangia, so that shouldring all the Northren shore of the Caspian, it runneth along with∣out controll by the high looking walles of China, and is * 1.2 ouershaded by those formidable mountaines Riphei, Hy∣perborei, Imaus, and Caucasus, all incorporated into the glorious Character of Taurus, of whom Pliny lib, 5. 27. writeth almost a whole booke, shewing that the varietie of Nations vnder this great Empire, gaue sundry names vnto the vast body of this high-looking, and high-sprea∣ding heape of earth and stones: as in the first footing you haue heard before: afterward in his larger body he is cal∣led Egidis, Paropamisus, Circius, Chambudes, Pharphariades, Cho•…•…as, Oreges, Orates Niphates, Taurus, in his glorious •…•…ozen head, and snowy crowne Caucasus, in his stretching armes Sarpedon, Coracesius, Cragus, and Taurus againe, with diuers others, and some more significantly. But if you would know how it shouldreth all other titles vnder 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and looketh vp to heauen with the swelling eyes of Tartaria, raised vp by the supportation of three principall Commaunders: you must be contented to beleeue some thing which is written to this purpose; or at least be re∣posed

to aske no further questions, but know, that from Russia to the North-east sea, all the Countries and people are now called Tartars: But we will enlarge it a litle.

The Story of BARKA and ALLAV.

IF you suppose Herodatus an Author meriting the fame, and good opinion disposed toward him: in his fourth booke you shall finde him ouermantling Scithia from the denomination of Scythe the sonne of Hercules, with his brethren Gelo, and Agathirsis, and by a woman with much adoe beleeued to be halfe a snake: but it may be the allu∣sion from the cruell condition of the people extracted * 1.3 from this linage, gaue way to the fiction. For after Aga∣thirsis had taught the Inhabitants the vse of bow and ar∣rowes, they became so expert in shooting, that from hunting and killing of beasts, they set vpon men and strangers, yea at last grew barbarous toward one another: so that the admirable report of the Amasons a principall Nation amongst them, is now esteemed a matter of pro∣babilitie, who remembring their vowes to Diana, and cu∣stomes of their Herculian Progenitors, accustomed to cut off their right pappes for the better dexterity of this mili∣tary exercise, and so their famous exploits made all the Countrey reuerence the Goddesse for their sakes, in whose memory they performed actions beyond credit, and for whose reuerence Thoas beganne an Holocaust of strangers, as by the story of Iphigenia Agamemnons daughter may appeare: so that they continued in glorious estimation, till Tomyr is conquered Cyrus, and taught all mighty Mo∣narchs and Tyrants this lesson, that the punishment of sinnes is a iudgement from heauen, and when they are in

the greatest burning heat of ambitious tumors; some •…•…lender cloude of reuenge shall ouer-shade their glories, and poure downe showers of deuastation on their heads, as you may read in the Scriptures, and other probable Au∣thors of diuers great Princes brought to ruine; yea slaine by the priuate hands of women, which also happened to these insulting Dames themselues, who grew so proude by reason they supposed the Goddesse Diana to protect them, or that some supernaturall influence made their prosperitie immoueable, that they not onely conspired a∣gainst their Husbands, but had the name of man in a kinde of hate, and vilipending, except for necessitie of procreation: wherein yet as diuers Authors haue ende∣uoured to strengthen our credulitie, they tied them to certaine conditions of commorance amongst them, vntill they were conceiued, and then compulsing them to re∣turne: so that at the time of their deliuery the •…•…aemales were reserued, and the males killed; or if you will beleeue so much for ciuilities sake, sent to their fathers; wherupon when time was weary of such degenerating inconueni∣ences, and that some secret whisperers had incited the people to remember the glory of the first Creator, or the Goddesse, Nature, in mans resemblance, the better sort conspired against the women, and by degrees ware them out of the Countrey with many slaughters, teaching the obstinate the vicissitude of things, and admitting the sub∣missiue vnder the warmth of louing embraces, by which occasion the men at last preuailed; and in time this vast Countrey was proud to be the life infuser into many va∣liant sonnes: such as Scitha with his mother Araxa, who conquered Armenia, and Scithes who married his mother in law Opaea, and performed actions beyond credit: such

as Othoman, Barka, Allau, Tamberlaine and others, whose noble exploits made Fame flie about the world to divulge how glorious valour and vertue was in some worthy spi∣rits ouer others. But amongst many hundreds, none ob∣tained so much at the hands of history and report, as Barka and Allau both named Emperors at one time. For when many battailes had filled the fieldes with the car∣kasses of as many thousands, the people weary of such slaughters, and they themselues amazed at the crueltie, it was concluded betweene them to diuide the Empire, hauing indeed a world of ground to satisfie ten Emperors: but some Authors are willing to maintaine, that they scorned such partition, and so in a noble combat deci∣ded the controuersie themselues, till the Controuler of men and kingdomes made Barka triumphant, who in the next lustrum of his gouernment had by the beautifull Tar∣tara a sonne for his mothers sake named the Author of Peace, and proclaimed besides Barka Tartarus: so that when he leauing three sonnes behinde him, gaue them al∣so leaue to diuide the Empire. The people were proude of their new name of Tartarians, and their Princes distin∣guished * 1.4 with Tartar Chrim, Tartar Mercat, and Tartar Cham: who many times standeth for all the rest, & drown∣eth the murmuring sound of inferiours with the full name of the great Emperor, and Lord of Lords. For although the Tartar Chrim would faine challenge affinitie with the Turke, expecting if the line of Othoman should faile the greatest share of the worlds magnificence: yet without question it is but a couert presumption, and the fanaticall hopes of some imposturing prediction: Otherwise hee dare not but acknowledge the Emperor Cham for his su∣preame; and is affrighted, when he heares of any com∣plaints

to his preiudice: As for his further enlarging his credit, because Tamberlaine was extracted from him, who conquered Persia, Asia minor, and Baiazet, it will stand him in litle stead to startle from his first obedience, as I said before, and helpe him as litle to intrude into Turkie. for all he diuulgeth, that the sonnes of Tamberlaine brought with them the daughters of the Persian Sophy, and Othoman familie into Tartary, from whence he is now li∣neally descended. But some will haue it thus, that Barka in remembrance of the horrible confusion of the warres, named his sonne Tartarus, as a very deciphering of Hell, and that the people should be euer after affrighted at dis∣sensions by recording the mischiefe formerly acted. But to proceede:

From Scithia to the prouince of Tangut they liue in troopes called Hordas, and remoue from place to place ac∣cording to the temperature of the season, plenty of feed∣ing, and conueniencie of accommodating one another: nor before the yeere of Redemption 1212 (as I said) did we in Europe heare of the name of a Tartar: but Scithians, Sarmatians, Albanians, and such like, who were all idola∣ters, worshipping their gods in trees, hanging vp their dead on nether boughes, and by way of auguring diuining their happines or damnation, which custome is still retei∣ned amongst the barbarous sort in the remotest places. They are generally men of square stature, broad faces, hollow eyes, thin beards, owgly countenances, and tye vp their haire to the crowne of their heads in rolles, like a Snailes shell; to which you may adde swarthnes of com∣plexion, not that the Sunne kisseth them with that feruen∣cie, but the aire and their sluttish customes corrupts both their blood and bodies: yet hath nature preuailed ouer

these outward inconueniences in the distribution of va∣lour, swiftness of footmanship, vigilancie, and patience to endure the many encombrances of trauell, hunger, and want of sleepe. They loue Horses, and from that loue accustome themselues to a sauage drinking of their blood, practising a cunning theft herein, which being vnpunisha∣ble, occasioneth many prety changes, both in keeping their owne, and purloyning from others, as if some ciuill Artist had instructed them with the Lacedemonian tole∣ration * 1.5 in this kinde, for the better animating one another in the spoyling their enemies: yet for all this, by reason they liue in tents, and haue small defences for their furni∣ture and goods, theft of petty things is seuerely punished amongst them, as also adulterie, or if you will lying with another mans wife, which is most odious vnto them, be∣cause they are tyed to the trusting of one another, as I said within dores, and no man is debarred any enter∣course: it were therefore a double treachery to deceiue the trust reposed, and either purloyne the goods which lye open, or abuse the women which admit you so friendly. They are gouerned in their trauels and remo∣uings by the starres, and obseruing the North pole settle according to her influence: They liue free from coue∣tousnes, and are thus farre happy, that the strange corrup∣tions of wealth, especially gold and siluer breed no disor∣ders amongst them: yet haue they a kinde of trafficke, and by way of exchange continue mutuall commerces, louing presents, and can be contented to be flattered euen in their barbarisme: and herein I thinke all the Easterne people are delighted, from a receiued tradition of our Patriarkes. But howsoeuer, I can assure you Tartar Chrim himselfe, who is the most likeliest to be spoken with of all

others, as being the neerest, will not admit of any Chri∣stian without a gratuitie, and present worthy of his fauour.

You must now step a litle forward toward the East, and with the Sunnes rising see their glory arise: For Tan∣gut is a wealthy Prouince, affording many things befitting Europes magnificence, especially Rheubarb, a simple of * 1.6 that prerogatiue, as if the whole world were beholding for this distribution, and had a sauing health by vertue of the same. In Cathaia amongst many others, the great Citie of Cambala will excite admiration, if you measure a quadrant of 30 mile about, and ouer-looke at euery cor∣ner a Tower 40 furlongs in circuit, erected for a Seralia or Arsenall, wherein the Emperors munition, armour, and prouision for war are secured: but he himself is sequestred to the priuacie of another stately Pallace, and is a strange Meteor amongst them seldome seene, but for some porten∣tous accident. In Mangia as Queene of the rest, is the Citie of Quinzai, hauing a circumference of a 100 mile, by reason a great Lake of 30 mile diuideth the streets into channels, ouer which are numbred 1260 bridges, some opening the arches so high and wide, that a good ship vnder saile hath a passage of ease, but things a farre off are quickly reported; yet hardly beleeued, and some∣times ouer-beleeued vpon easie report, as you may per∣ceiue by the trauels of S^r Iohn Mandeuile, the writings of Munster, and the constant asseueration of moderne Pilgrims, who all tell of so many monstrous shapes of men in these parts, that our ciuill people are affrighted at the hearing, and many times come flocking to see such Trauellers, as haue escaped the dangerous passages, and sauage immanitie. For my owne part I would per∣swade

you, that the world is a stage of variety and won∣ders, whereon are placed more strange things of truth, then the wit and policie of man can invent to seeme fabu∣lous: but as at a stage the spectators onely are a few in number to the infinite multitudes for the time excluded; so in the exploration of Countries not one amongst ten thousand either take the paines, or haue the iudgement to looke into the wonders of the world, and therefore I would be loth to exclude all enlargements of histories from the closet of truth: yet concerning those fabulous reports of Pigmies and Cranes, of men with long eares, one eye, one foote, and such like, the Iudicious take vp the bookes to read, as if they would excite laughter; and I dare be bold to maintaine, there are no such men or people in the world: but all Gods images are miraculous in this distinction of voice, reason, and an erected counte∣nance, with a proportion of shape, and what is not thus established, is meerely a monster, or a beast. But because I am sure, whether true or false, there is nothing amongst them worthy respect, or challenging any prerogatiue of happinesse, or imitation, I will leaue them to their vast territories, and desist from amasing you with the almost incredible particulars of those places, especially Cathaia, and Mangia.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The fir•…•… Monar•…•… of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as it is now made •…•…∣rious.
• * 1.2

  TAVRVS hath many names.
• * 1.3

  Amazones.
• * 1.4

  Tartarians a new name.
• * 1.5

  Theft law∣full, and vn∣lawfull.
• * 1.6

  R•…•…barb.