THE FOURTH OBSERVATION.
COncerning Spain,* 1.1 we are to note that the Romans at first divided it into two Provinces, which they called the Nearer and the Further; or according to Strabo, the Utter and the Inner; and they were separated asunder by the river Ibe∣rus, now Ebro: And thence also they were called Cis Iberum, & ultra Iberum, Spain on this side Ebro, and Spain beyond. The Nearer Province, being the lesser, continued without alteration during the Roman's government, and was some∣times called Tarraconensis Provincia, of Tarra∣eo, the principall town of the same. But the Fur∣ther, in processe of time was divided into two parts; the one called Betica, and the other Lusi∣tania: and so the whole Region of Spain came to be divided into three Provinces. It was first entered by the Romans, by occasion of the no∣table siedge of Saguntum: upon which, P. Scipio having subdued the Carthaginians, reduced Spain into a Province, and left it governed by Procon∣suls, unto the time of Cornelius Lentulus and Lucius Stertinius.* 1.2 Afterwards it was governed by Propraetors, and sometimes by Praetors, ac∣cording as the Empire came to be inlarged; and had thereby many governments, for the prefer∣ment of such as had supplied the better places of dignitie in the State. Neverthelesse, in the times of trouble the Governours had alwaies Consularie power; as, in the warre against Scrtorius, Quin∣tus Metellus Proconsul,* 1.3 and Cn. Pompeius Questor, cum Consulari potestate missi sunt, were sent with consular power. And at this time, Pompey governed it by two Deputies or Legates. Touching the form and figure of the Countrey, Strabo likeneth it to an Oxe hide; the neck whereof joyneth to the Pyrenean hills, which rise in towers from one Sea to another, as limits and bounds between France and Spain; taking their name (as some think) from Pyrene, the Maid that Hercules deflowred, whom Sil. Ital. mentioneth, lib. 3.
Pyrene celsa nimbo si verticis arce Divisos Celtis late prospectat Iberos; Atque aeterna tenet magnis divortia terris. Nomen Bebrycia duxere à virgine colles. Hospitis Alcidae crimen: qui sorte laborum Gerionis peteret cum longa tricorporis arva, Possessus Baccho, saeva Bebrycis in aula Lugendam ••ormae sine virginitate reliquit Pyrenen—and a little after, Defletum{que} tenent Montes per secula nomen. The lofty tower of Pyren's cloudy head O're looks th' Iberi, whom it parts from Celts, For aye dividing those two spacious lands. From Bebryx daughter first these hills took name, Ravish'd by Hercules: who as he went The triple-bodied Gerion's land to seize, Drunk at the time, and lodg'd in Bebryx Court, Pyrene left to be bewail'd by beauty, No more a Virgin— And her lamented name the Hills still keep.
But according to the opinion more generally re∣ceived, they are so called of the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; for that Shepheards and Heardsmen set them once on fire,* 1.4 as witnesseth Diodorus Siculus. And A∣ristotle,* 1.5 In Hiberia inquit combustis aliquando pastoribus Sylvis, calenteque ignibus terra, ma∣nifestum argentum defluxisse: cumque postmo∣dum terrae-motus supervenisset, eruptis hiati∣bus, magnam copiam argenti collectam; atque inde Massiliensibus proventus non vulgares obti∣gisse: He saith that on a time in Spain the Shep∣heards having set fire on the Woods, the ground was so heated thereby, that plain rills of silver flowed from the hills; and that afterwards by rea∣son of earthquakes, severall gapings being made in the said place, they gathered great plenty of sil∣ver; which the Marscillians made no small bene∣fit of. The Countrey of Spain is commended for many things, as may appear by divers Elogies: a∣mongst which, that of Claudianus the Poet is written, as though the Author had been a Pen∣sioner to the Kingdome.