A geographicall description of all the countries in the known vvorld as also of the greatest and famousest cities and fabricks which have been, or are now remaining : together with the greatest rivers, the strangest fountains, the various minerals, stones, trees ... which are to be found in every country : unto which is added, a description of the rarest beasts, fowls ... which are least known amongst us / collected out of the most approved authors ... by Sa. Clarke ...

A more particular description of the Kingdomes, and Countries contained in the continent of Europe. Spain Described.

Spain was seized upon by the Sweves, Goths, and Vandals, Anno Christi▪ 168. who remained in possession thereof more than four hun∣dred years, till their King Rodrigues, with almost all his Nobility, was defeated by the Saracens, who were brought in by a certain Earl in revenge of the dishonour of his daughter, whom the King had ravish∣ed. These Saracens maintained themselves there, above seven hun∣dred years, as well against the French, as the Spaniards themselves, who endeavoured to expell them. It was formerly divided into twelve Kingdomes, which were all reduced to one by Ferdinand, and Isabel Anno Christi 1474, except that of Portugal, which was subjugated by Philip the second, and peaceably possessed by him, and his heirs, till the year 1640 as above. It was in the reign of the aforesaid Ferdinand, that the Indies and many other Islands were found out, the riches whereof hath much augmented the potency of Spain, and made her to aspire to the Monarchy of the world.

The chief Rivers in Spain are 1. Tagus, formerly famous for his golden sands: It riseth in the mountain of Seira Molina, running by the City of Toledo, and then smoothly gliding by the walls of Lis∣bon in Portugal, it pays his tribute to the Western Ocean. 2. Ana (now Guadiana) which rising about the same place, afterwards runs under¦ground for the space of fifteen miles, as our Mole in Surrey doth. 3. Baetis (now Guadalquiver) 4. Duerus, that runneth from its head in the hills of B••iscay, Westward: 5. Iberus, which having his head in the same Mountains, runs Eastward almost four hundred miles, of which two hundred is navigable.

The chief hills are 1. Aurentius Saltus, stretching from the Pyrene∣an Mountains towards Portugall. 2. Siera Morena, declining from the middest of Spain towards the straits of Gibraltar. 3. Seira Nevada, which crosses the Kingdome of Granata from East to West: steep hills, amongst which the people speak the Arabick tongue perfectly.

Whilst the Saracen Moors possessed Spain, they divided it into twelve Principallities, as

1. Leon and Oviedo, having on the East Biscay, on the South Castile, on the North the Ocean, on the West Gallicia: It yeildeth little, yet swift horses called Hobbies. The chief Towns are 1. Aviles on the sea side. 2. Palenza. 3. Oviedo. 4. Astorga. 5. Leon.

2. Navarre, having on the East the Pyrenean mountains, on the West Iberus, on the North Biscay, and on the South Aragon. The chief Ci∣ties are 1. Victoria. 2. Viana. 3. Sanguessa. 4. Pampelune, the Metro∣tropolis

of the Country, Anno Christi. 1512. in the reign of Queen Katherine, who was married to John of Albert: the King of Spain raising an Army under pretence of rooting out the Moors, suddenly surprized this Kingdome, unprovided for resistance, and keeps it till this day, though the French have often attempted the recovery of it.

3 Corduba, comprehending Andaluzia, Granada, and Estrema∣dura.

Andaluzia, is the richest, and fruitfullest Country in all Spain: the chief Towns are, 1. Corduba, the Metropolitan, whence comes our true Cordovan Leather, made of the skins of a Sardinian Beast. Neer this City is a wood thirty miles long, consisting all of Olive trees. 2. Marchena, where are the best Jennets in all Spain. 3. Medina Sidonia, the Duke whereof was General of the Armado in eighty eight. 4. Lucar di Barameda, an haven Town. 5. Xeres, a haven Town also, whence come our Xeres Sack, commonly called Sherry-Sacks. 6. Tariffa, seated at the end of the Promontory towards Af∣frick. 7. Sevil, the fairest City in all Spain, in compasse six miles, environed with beautiful walls, and adorned with many magnificent buildings of Palaces, Churches, and Monasteries, and hath under its jurisdiction twenty thousand small Villages: Its also divided into two parts by the River Baetis, yet both are joyned together by a beautifull and stately Bridge. Hence come our Sevil Oranges, and from hence go∣eth the Indian Fleet.

Analuzia in Spain, as well for plenty of all blessings of the Earth, as for the pleasures, and delights of the fields, is a meer terrestrial Paradise. The horses which shee produceth are so swift in course, that they seem (according to the Proverb) to be engendred by the Wind. Spain feeds an infinite number of Sheep, especially in Castile, where is made most excellent Cloath, and the wooll for the superlative finenesse thereof, is transported into other Countries: In other parts it is barren, through the lazinesse of the people (as some think) who love much better to put their hands to the Sword than to the plough. The people are me∣lancholy and cholerick: sober, and content with a little, spending more upon the back than upon the belly: They are very ambitious, and good Souldiers, knowing as well how to use a victory, as to gain it; and are more exactly observant of Discipline than any other Nation in the world. The Kingdome is hereditary, and for want of an heir male it falls to the distaff.

Granada, which is bounded with Murcia on the East, Andaluzia on the West, Castile on the North, and the Mediterranean Sea on the South. The chief Cities are 1. Granata, a neat and stately Town, the houses being all built of freestone with curious workmanship: It hath many wholsome Springs about it, and is fenced about with a strong wall, in which are twelve Gates, and one hundred and thirty Turrets. 2. Alamia, famous for her Baths. 3. Malaga, whence comes our Malaga sacks. 4. Almeria, a great Port-Town. 5. Osuna.

1. Estremedura, watered with the River Batis: the chief Cities are

1. Merida. 2. Guadalo••nal, famous for her Mines of Gold and Sil∣ver.

4. Gallicia, a very mountainous Country: In it the chief Cities are, 1. Compostella, in which is an University. 2. Baiona, at the mouth of Minius. 3. Coronna, called the Groine, a place often spoken of in our wars with Spain in Queen Elizabeths time.

5. Biscaie, having Navarre on the East, Old Castile on the South, Leon on the West, and the Cantabrian Ocean on the North. The chief Cities are, 1. Tholosa. 2. St. Sebastian. 3. Fontaraby. 4. Bilbo. It abounds with good Wines, store of cattel, and the best sword-blades: Its mountainous, and woody; out of the hills arise one hundred and fifty Rivers, of which Iberus and Duerus are the chief. It yeelds plen∣ty of Iron, and good Timber for ships. They admit no Bishops a∣mongst them; and the women at all meetings drink first.

6. Toledo, the chief City is of the same name, standing upon the River Tagus, beautified with many Palaces of rare and admirable ar∣chitecture, and fortified with good walls, on which stand one hun∣dred and fifty Towers: its seated almost in the midst of Spain, and is well inhabited by Noble men for pleasure, by Merchants for pro∣fit, and by souldiers, it being garrisoned. The Arch-Bishop hereof is the chief Prelate of Spain, President usually of the Inquisition, whose revenues amount to three hundred thousand Crowns per an∣num. It hath in it an University. 2. The next City is Calatrava, on the River Ana. 3. Talbora, on the River Tagus, a very neat City.

7. Murcia, The chief Cities whereof are, 1. Alicante, whence comes our true Ali••ant Wine, made of the juice of Mulberries grow∣ing here in great plenty. Murcia, on the River Segourg. 3. Cartagena, a brave haven upon the Mediterranean Sea.

8. Castile, bounded on the East with Navarre, Arragon, and Tole∣do: on the West with Portugal, on the North with Asturias, and on the South with Andaluzia, and Granada. Its now divided into the new, and old: the Old is on the North side, wherein the chief Ci∣ties are, 1. Soria. 2. Segovia, famous for Wooll, and cloathing 3. Validolid, a neat Town, and an University. 4. Avila. 5. Burgos. 6. Sa∣lamanca; the chiefest University in Spain.

New-Castile is on the South of the old: The chief Cities are, 1. Ma∣drid, the Kings seat, and the most populous City in all Spain, though it bee seated in a barren Country. 2. Alcara de Henares, formerly Complutum, an University. 3. Alcantara. 4. Signeuca, a small Aca∣demy. 5. Cuenca, nigh to which is the Escurial, or Monastery of St. Lawrence, built by King Philip the second. A building of that magni∣ficence, that no building, either in times past, or present is comparable to it. The Front towards the VVest is adorned with three stately Gates, the middlemost whereof leadeth into a very sumptuous Tem∣ple; and into a Monastery wherein are one hundred and fifty Monks, of the order of St. Jerom, and a Colledge. That on the right hand openeth into divers offices belonging to the Monastery: That on the left into Schools, and out-houses belonging to the Colledge. At

the four corners are four Turrets of excellent workmanship, and for height Majestical: towards the North is the Kings Palace: On the South part are diverse beautiful, and sumptuous Galleries. And on the East side, sundry Gardens, and walks very pleasing, and de∣lightful. It contains in all eleven several Quadrangles, every one Cloistered about.