The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

CHAP. III.

¶ The hither or higher Spaine.

THe old forme of the hither Spaine is somwhat changed, like as of many other prouinces: considering that Pompey the great in his triumphant trophies which he erected in Pyre∣naeus, restifieth, That 846 townes between the Alps and the marches of the farther or low∣er Spain, were subdued by him and brought to obedience. Now, is the whole prouince diuided into 7 counties, the Carthaginian, the Tarraconian, Caesar Augustani, Cluniensis, Asturia, Lu∣censis, & Bracarum. There are besides Islands, setting aside which, without once naming them, [unspec C] and excepting the cities that are annexed to others, the bare prouince containeth 294 townes. In which there be 12 colonies, townes of Roman citizens thirteen, of old Latines seuenteen, of allies within the league, one; tributarie, 136. The first in the very frontiers thereof, be the Ba∣stulians: behind them in such order as shall be said; namely, those Inlanders that inhabit with∣in-forth, the Mentesanes, Oretanes, and the Carpetanes vpon the riuer Tagus. Neere to them, the Vaccaeans, Vectones, Celtiberians, and Arrebaci. The townes next to the marches, Vrci, and Barea laid to Boetica: the countrey Mauritania, then Deitania: after that Contestania, and new Carthage, a colonie. From the promontorie whereof called Saturnes cape, the cut ouer the sea to Caesaria a citie in Mauritania, is of 187 miles: In the residue of that coast is the riuer Ta∣der: the free colonie Illici, of which, a firth or arme of the sea tooke the name Illicitanus. To it [unspec D] owe seruice and are annexed the Icositanes. Soon after, Lucentum a towne of the Latines. Dra∣nium a tributarie, the riuer Sucro, which was sometime the frontier towne of Contestania. The region Edetania, which retireth inward to the Celtiberians, hauing a goodly pleasant poole bordering along the front of it. Valentia, a colonie lying three miles from the sea. The riuer Turium: and iust as far from the sea, Saguntum, a towne of Roman citizens, renowned for their fidelitie. The riuer Idubeda, and the region of the Ilergaones. The riuer Hebre, yeelding such riches of trassicke and commerce, by reason that it is nauigable: which beginneth in the Cantabrians countrey, not far from the towne Inliobrica, and holdeth on his course 430 miles: and for 260 of them, euen from the towne Varia, carrieth vessels of merchandise: in regard of which riuer, the Greekes named all Spaine Iberia: the region Cossetania, the riuer Su∣bi, [unspec E] the colonic Tarraco, built by the Scipioes, like as Carthage by the Africans. The countrey of the Illergetes, the towne Subur, the riuer Rubricatum, and from thence the Lacetanes and Indi∣getes. After them in this order following: within-forth at the foot of Pyrenaeus, the Ausetanes, Itanes, & Lacetanes: and along Pyrenaeus the Cerretanes, and then the Vascones. In the edge or marches thereof, the colony Barcino, surnamed Fauentia. Towns of Roman citizens, Baetulo, Illuro, the riuer Larnum, Blandae: the riuer Alba, Emporiae: two there be of these, to wit, of the old inhabitants, and of the Greeks, who were the off-spring descended from the Phocaeans. The riuer Tichus. From whence to Pyrenaea Venus, on the other side of the promontorie, are fortie miles. Now besides the forenamed, shall be related the principall places of marke as they lie [unspec F] in euery countie. At Tarracon there plead in court foure and fortie States. The most famous and of greatest name among them, be of Roman citizens the Dertusanes, and Bisgargitanes: of Latines, the Ausetanes and Cerretanes surnamed Iulianes: they also who are named Augu∣stanes, the Sedetanes, Gerundenses, Gessarians, Tearians, the same that Iulienses. Of Tribu∣taries,

the Aquicaldenses, Onenses, and Baetulonenses. Caesar Augusta, a free colony, on which [unspec G] the riuer Iberus floweth: where the towne before was called Salduba: these are of the region Sedetania, and receiueth 52 States: and among these, of Roman citizens the Bellitanes and Celsenses: and out of the Colonie, the Calaguritanes surnamed also Nascici. The Ilerdians of the Surdaons Nation, neere vnto whom runneth the riuer Sicoris. The Oscians of the region Vescetania, and the Turiasonenses. Of old Latins, the Cascantenses, Erganicenses, Gracchuri∣tans, Leonicenses, Ossigetdenses. Of confederats within the league, the Tarragenses. Tributa∣ries besides, the Arcobricenses, Andologenses, Arocelitans, Bursaonenses, Calaguritans surna∣med Fibularenses, Complutenses, Carenses, Cincenses, Gortonenses, Dammanitanes, Larren∣ses, Iturisenses, Ispalenses, Ilumbe•…•…tanes, Lacetanes, Vibienses, Pompelonenses and Segienses. There resort to Carthage for law 62 seuerall States, besides the Islanders. Out of the colonie Accitana, the Gemellenses, also Libisosona surnamed Foroaugustana: which two are indued [unspec H] with the franchises of Italy: out of the colonie Salariensis, the Oppidans of old Latium, Castu∣lonenses, whom Caesar calleth Vaenales. The Setabitanes, who are also Augustanes, and the Va∣lerrienses. But of the Tributaries, of greatest name be the Babanenses, the Bascianes, the Con∣saburenses, Dianenses, Egelestanes, Ilorcitani, Laminitani, Mentesami, the same that Oritani; and Mentelani who otherwise are Bastuli: Oretanes who also are called Germani, the chiefe of the Celtiberians, the Segobrigenses, and the Toletanes of Carpetania, dwelling vpon the riuer Tagus. Next to them the Viacienses and Virgilienses. To the assises or law-court Cluniensis, The Varduli bring 14 nations; of which I list to name none but the Albanenses: but the Tur∣modigi foure, among whom are the Segisamonenses, Sagisameiulienses. To the same assises, the Carietes & the Vennenses do go out of fiue cities, of which the Velienses are. Thither re∣paire [unspec I] the Pelendones, with 4 states of the Celtiberians, of whom the Numantins were famous: like as in the 18 cities of the Vaccaeans, the Intercatienses, Pallantini, Lacobricenses, & Cau∣censes: for in the foure states of the Cantabrici, only Iuliobrica is named: in the 10 states of the Autrigones, Tritium, & Vironesca. To the Areuaci the riuer Areua gaue name. Of them there be 7 townes; to wit, Saguntia and Vxama, which names be often vsed in other places: besides Segouia, and Noua-augusta, Termes, and Clunia it selfe the very vtmost bound of Celteberia. all the rest lie toward the Ocean, & of the abouenamed the Verduli together with the Canta∣bri. To these there are ioined 12 nations of the Astures, diuided into the Augustans & Trans∣montans, hauing a stately city Asturica: among these are reckned, Giguri, Pesici, Lansienses, & Zoclae. The number of the whole multitude ariseth to 240000 pols of free men, besides slaues. [unspec K] The county or iurisdiction Lucensis compriseth 16 towns (besides the Celticks and Lebuni∣ans) of base condition, and hauing barbarous names; howbeit, of free-men to the number wel∣neere of 166000: in like maner 24 cities, which affoord 275000 pols, owe seruice to the court of Bracarum: of whom besides the Bracarians themselues, the Vibili, Celerini, Gallaeci, Aequi∣silici & Quinquerni, may be named without disdain and contempt. The length of the hither Spain, from Pyrenaeus to the bound of Castulo is 607 miles, & the coast therof somwhat more The bredth from Tarracon to the shore of Alarson, 307 miles: & from the foot of Pyrenaeus, where, between two seas it is pointed with the streights, & so opening it selfe by little & little from thence, till it come to touch the farther Spain, it is as much, and addeth somewhat more. to the bredth: all Spain throughout in manner is full of metall mines, as lead, yron, brasse, sil∣uer, [unspec L] and gold: the hither part thereof aboundeth besides with stone glasses, or glasse stones: and Boetica particularly with vermilion. There be also there quarries of Marble. Vnto all Spaine throughout, Vespasianus Agustus the Emperour, tossed with the tempests and troubles of the commonweale, granted the franchises of Latium. The mountaines Pyrenaei do confine Spaine and France one from the other, lying out with their promontories into two contrary seas.