A new description of the world, or, A compendious treatise of the empires, kingdoms, states, provinces, countries, islands, cities, and towns of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America in their scituation, product, manufactures, and commodities, geographical and historical : with an account of the natures of the people in their habits, customes, warrs, religions, and policies &c. : as also of the rarities, wonders, and curiosities of fishes, beasts, birds, rivers, mountains, plants, &c., with several remarkable revolutions and delightful histories / faithfully collected from the best authors by S. Clark.

The Seignory of Geneva, and the Alps Described.

GENEVA is within the Limits of the Duke∣dom of Savoy, the whole Seignory not exceed∣ing Eight Leagues in compass, Scituate on the Lake Lemanus, and devided into two parts by the Ri∣ver Rosne. The City strongly walled and fortified, as being the head of a Free state; containing a flourishing University, Governed by a Common Council, or 200 of the chief Burghers, four of which are called Sindiques: As for the Church Government it is composed of Lay-men, Elders, and Ministers founded by John Calvin 1541. and although this City has been beseiged by the Duke of Savoy, and others who have undertaken to re∣duce it, yet it has manfully defended it self against all Invasions; and as for the revenue it is reckoned 60000 Crowns per annum. The building is gene∣rally of Free-stone, and the North side of the City lies close to the South side of the Lake, where is a little Haven for Gallies, built to keep free passage on the Lake, defended by a strong Fort; a River Issu∣ing from the Lake runs through the lower part of the City, and is passed by two commodious Bridges. And although it is a Receptacle for all manner of Religions, and people that fly from Persecution, yet such is the Law, that even a Malefactor is Con∣demned there for a Crime committed in his own Country, if proved against him, and Adultry punish∣able with death; Fornication the first time with 9 days fasting or living with Bread and Water in Prison; the second time with Whipping, and the third with banishment; notwithstanding which and although the Women be more reserved here than in

any other place, those Affairs go forward in pri∣vate.

This Signory abounds with all manner of Fruits, great store of Fish; and is much Traded to espe∣cially by the Italian Merchants for Velvets, Taffatas, Musquet Barrels, and Calevers, &c.

The Alps are the greatest Ridge of Mountains in Europe, parting Germany, France, and Italy, and in some places require five days to ascend them. There being five passages through them into Italy, viz. 3 out of France and 2 out of Germany. The 1 from France is through Provence, close upon the Tyr∣renian Seas, through Liguria, being the Easiest; the 2 through the Hill Geneara, into the Marque∣sat of Zaluzzes, and so into Lumbardy: The third is over the Mount Cenis, and through the Country of Turin. As sor those out of Germany, the first is through the Country of the Grissons, by the Province of Valtoline; the last through the County of Tirol, near to the Towns of Juspurk and Trent; and as for these Mountains, they are in many parts very fruit∣ful; divers Villages and Towns, being Scituate on them, though mostly barren, and in many places the Snow and Frost continues all the year, without the Suns having power to dissolve it, by reason the assent is so near the cold Region; and through part of them Hanibal cut, dissolving, or loosening the Rocks with Fire and Vinegar, when he broke un∣expectedly into Italy and defeated the Roman Ar∣my; and indeed in some places they are dreadfull even to look on.