Germanie, Poland, Denmarke, Sweuqland, and other pro∣uinces, where they are in high request. There grow all sorts of pulse, great store of Saffron, and infinite quantitie of beere transported from thence into Belgia, as also pelts and sea∣coale. The Iland is so commodiously seated for the sea, that it is neuer without resort of Portugall, Spanish, French, Flemish, and Easterling merchants. The trafique betweene the Eng∣lish and the Flemish ariseth to an inestimable value for Gui••∣ciardin writeth, that before the tumults of the Low-countries they bartered for twelue millions of crownes yeerely.
There are other Ilands subiect to the crowne of England, as Ireland, Wight, Man and Anglesey, the ancient dwelling of the Druides, Syllyes, Gernsey, Iersey and Alderney.
Ireland is not much lesse then England in bignes, for it is three hundred miles long, and ninetie broad, mountainous, woodie, full of bogs, apter for pasture then corne, and aboun∣ding with milke and butter. It sendeth foorth great store of butter, ski••nes and saffron. It is full of riuers and lakes aboun∣ding with fish. It hath two Archbishoprickes, Armach and Cassels: the chiefe seat is Dublin, and that part which lieth to∣wards the East and the south is best peopled. The prouinces of Vlster, Conaught and Mounster situated to the west and north, are lesse fruitfull, and more sauage. The other three Ilands are about one bignes: of them Anglesey is the ••••st, and therefore called the mother of Wales: it is well replenished with cattell and plentie of corne. Man is fiue and twentie miles distant from England: it hath one Bishopricke and two hauens: the land is not verie fertill.
Wight is a hilly countrey: in it is Newport a towne strongly fortified: it incloseth the whole channell of South∣hampton, which is ouer against it, and the fairest hauen in that sea.
In strength of situation no kingdome excelleth England: for it hath these two properties, which Aristotle wisheth in the building of a citie: one is, that it be difficult to besiege: the other, that it be easie to co••uey in and out all things neces∣sarie: these two commodities hath England by the s••••, which to the inhabitants is as a deepe trench against hostile in∣uasions,