¶Of Siria, chap. 148.
SIria hath the name of Sirus, Abra∣hams neuely, got on Cethura, as Isi∣dore saieth libro. 9. & 15. This lande endeth at the riuer Eusrates in the East side: and at the great sea and Egipt, in the West side: and stretcheth from, the North to Armenia and Cappadocia: and from the South to the sea Arabicum, as he, saith. The space thereof stretcheth in great length, and is more narrowe and straight in bredth, and containeth manye prouinces, as Comagines, Fenicia, & Iu∣dea is a part thereof, besides Saracens, Nabathes. And it is a region most full of people, and most plentifull of corne & fruite, neate, shéepe and great horses, As∣ses, and Camells, and is most rich of waze and swéete spicerie, and of metall, most strong with cities & castles, moyst with most noble riuers, lakes, & pondes, and hath noble hauens of the sea, name∣ly in Palestines, Maritimie and Feni∣cis. The men be sterne and great war∣riours, and occupie in diuers countreyes and lands with diuers chaffer and mer∣chaundises: therein be diuers Nations, the which as they differ in faces, so they varie in language, minde, and manners, of the which, some dwell, in Desart, as Nabathei and Saraceni: some dwell in mountaynes, and some in woodes, and greaues, of the which there are full ma∣ny, among the nations of those Regions and lands, as Herodotus telleth.
(* 1.1Siria, a great Realme in Asia, which hath on the East, the riuer Euphrates on the West, the middle sea, & the Realme of Aegypt: on the North, Cilicia and Cappadocia: on the South, Arabia.
Syria, called also Assyria, a great Coun∣trey in the East, hauing on the North part, Armenia: on the West, Mesopo∣tamia: on the South, Susiana: on the East, Media. It also containeth, Phoe∣nicia, Palestina, and Babilonia.