Batman vppon Bartholome his booke De proprietatibus rerum, newly corrected, enlarged and amended: with such additions as are requisite, vnto euery seuerall booke: taken foorth of the most approued authors, the like heretofore not translated in English. Profitable for all estates, as well for the benefite of the mind as the bodie. 1582.

Of Boemia, chap. 30.

BOeme is a part of Messis, towarde the East side and West by Germa∣nie in Europe, and is cloased about, with most greate Mountaynes and thicke, and high woodes, and is depar∣ted from Germany and Pannonia, and other nations, with mountaines, woods, and Riuers, and is full straunge in ma∣ny places, with high mountaines, and is full faire in Plaines of fieldes, and of meedes, and most wholesome in the as∣pect of euery blessed land to beare corne, and fruite. And hath plentie of Wiues, and Uineyardes of Corne and of fruite, and most rich of golde, of siluer, and of Tinne, and of other mettalls: moyst with Welles and with Riuers, for a Riuer watereth and moysteth the lande that is called Albia, a most noble Ri∣uer that riseth out of the mountaines of Boemia, and also many Riuers, which runne together to Praga, that is a roy∣all Citie.

In the mountaines thereof, are plen∣tie of trées of Pines and of Fyrre. And there bée hearbes without number, not of Pasture, onelye and of léese, but also of swéete Spiceries and medicinable hearbes. These be many beasts of diuers kinde, as Beares, Hartes, Capreole, Tragollaphi, Bubali and Bisontes. And among these wilde beasts, ther is one as much as an Oxe, and this beast is strong and fierce, and hath great hornes, and large, and defendeth himselfe with them, and hath vnder the thinne a great bag, and gathereth water therein, and heat∣eth that water in that bagge wonder∣fullye, and in his running he throweth that water vpon hunters and houndes, that come too nigh him, and that water scaldeth off their haire, and burneth hor∣ribly all thing that it toucheth. And this Beast is called Bom in the language of Boeme. And this lande is compassed with Morauia and Panonia in y^e East side, and with Polonia in the North, & with Austrich in the South, and is com∣passed with Bauaria Germanica, and with the matche of Misseneme in the West.

(* 1.1Boemia, a Realme called Beme, inclosed with the boundes of Germany, hauing on the East side, Hungarie: on the South Bauier: on the West the Countrey Noricum: on the Northeast, Polonia. It is equall in length & bredth, each of them being about thrée dayes iourney. It is inuironed with the fa∣mous Forest, Sylua Fierc••••. Through the middle thereof, passeth the great Ri∣uer Albia, and the riuer Moltania: vp∣on the riuage whereof, is set the chiefe citie Braga or Praga: the language there is y^e Slauone tongue. Notwithstanding in the churches, y^e people are taught in y^e Dutch tongue; in the churchyardes, they are taught in y^e ••eme tongue: they vary from the Romane Church, in sundrye opinions, and do scorne all Ceremonies. In some places it is sayd, they priuelye obserue the sect of the Adamites, and Waldenses, in the act of lecherie. These Heretiks tooke their beginning of a Pi∣rard that came into the land of Bo••ine, & said that he was y^e son of God, & named himselfe Adam: he commanded all men & women to go naked, & as they liked in iust, so to goe together, &c. This horrible and most filthy sect began. Anno. 1412. Read Thesaurus.)

Notes

• * 1.1

  Additiō.