The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

¶ The Forces.

[ XXIX] ••He Estates of the king of Spai•••• at the New world are so great and powerful, as they need not to feare any enemie. The Spaniards haue good places in euery 〈…〉〈…〉 seised vpon the mouthes of riuers, of sea ports, of [ B] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of impo••••••••••••, & in a word of all places fit to command countries, ei∣••her abounding in victualls or rich in mines, or fit to keep warlike people & ••owns of con∣se••••en•••• in awe▪ towards the South, they haue not any enemie that can annoy them: to∣ward•• the Nor••h, they h••ue recei••ed some ••osse ••y the English, who haue lyen vpon that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to surprise their fleets, and to sack their sea towns. The greatest losse they haue 〈…〉〈…〉, whe••as si•• Francis D••ake sackt the town of Saint Dominico in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & Ca••thagena vpon the firmeland. But this attempt of the English made the 〈…〉〈…〉 to prouide for the safetie of these Prouinces, which seeme to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 towa••••••he Nor••h by na••u••e; ••irst by a great number of Islands which serue as a 〈…〉〈…〉 d••••en••e fo•• New Spaine, and ••ortifie it with many shelfes which cause di∣••ers [ C] c••••••ents, and among others with one current which is wonderfull swift, whi••h 〈…〉〈…〉 the g••lfe of Paria (where they haue called it the Dragons mouth) then passing betwixt Iucatan and Cuba, ••eturnes backe betwixt Cuba and the point of Florida, with such violence as a ship with all her sailes cannot passe. This current together with the di∣uersitie of windes, and other dangers at sea, will alwaies amase them that shall haue no port of retreat. Moreouer the king of Spaine (making vse of this benefit of nature) hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a fort of import••n••e to •••• built in an Isl••nd nere to the True Crosse, a towne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vpon the ban•••• o•• Mexi••o, ••nd another •••• Hauana in the Island of Cuba right against 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the first 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from 〈…〉〈…〉 to auoid the current, and the se∣cond of meanes to mak•• vs•• ••f i•• ••oreou••r •••• hath caused an excellent good fort to be [ D] built at Saint Dominico, a towne which seemes to be made for to commaund that sea, by reason of the commoditie of the scituation. A••d to conclude, as the scituation of Italie seemes to haue beene made by nature to commaund the Mediterranean sea, so that of Spaine seem•••• to b•• ••ramed to ••ule ouer the Oc••an; and ••xperience teacheth, that the Spaniards are of a compl••ction f••t to endure all ••limats and countries.