Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

The CIMBRICK CHERSONESE.

The CIMBRICK CHERSONESE, hath on the East the Baltick Sea; on the West the main German O∣cean; on the North the narrow Strait of Fretum which they call the Sunde; on the South-west the great river of Albis; on the South-east the small River of Trave; betwixt which is the neck or I••thmus which unites it to Germante. I know that some contract it into narrower bounds, and limit it upon the South with the river Eydore: but I have drawn it down to the E••ve and the Trave, which give it more resem∣blance to the Chersonese or Demy-Island then the other doth▪ diffenting in this point from the common opinion. It had the name of Chersonesus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a terra & insula, it being the same with a Pe∣ninsula in the Latine: of which name there were five most famous, that is to say, 1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Greece, which is now called Morea; 2 Thracia Chersonesus in Thra••••, near the Sea Propontis; 3 ••aurica Gherso∣nesus in the ••uxine Sea, now a part of T••rtarie; 4 Aure•• Chersonesus in India, which we now call Ma••••∣ca; of all which we shall speak in their proper places) and 5 Cimbric•• Chersonesus, where now we are. This ••ast so called from the Cimbri, the first inhabitants hereof, originally descended from Gomer the sonne of Japhet, thence called Gomerii, and Cimmeri••, by contraction Cimbri•• Leaving the plains of Phrygia, as too narrow for them, they sought out new dwellings, and are said to have first dwelt in the banks of Palus 〈◊〉〈◊〉, where they gave name to Bosphorus Cimmerius, there being. Being overcome by the Scythians, they removed their seats more Northward into a Countrey bounded, ac∣cording to Plutarch, by the great Ocean, on the one side; and the forest of Her••••in, on the other; with∣in

in which bounds is the Peninsula or countrey where we now are.* 1.1 They were a people of extraordinary big stature, having blew and red eyes, and lived most upon theft: so that for their sakes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Germans called all theeves Cimbers. It hapned that the Ocean over∣flowing a great part of their Countrey, compelled them to seek new seats: whereupon in great multitudes abandoning their dwellings, they petitioned the Romans, then lording over a great part of the World, for some place to settle in. This request being denyed, they proceeded in another manner, winning with their swords, what their Petitions could not obtain. Manlius, Sillanus, and Cepio, all Roman Consuls perished by them; so that now (saith Florus) Actum esset de Imperio Romano nisi ille seculo Marius contigisset: for he, as we have elsewhere told you, utterly overthrew them. The next Inhabitans hereof were the Saxons, Iuites, and Angles, upon whose removall into Brittaine the greatest part of it was peopled by the Danes, who still possesse it.

It containeth in length about 100 Italian miles, and 80 of the same miles in the breadth; and com∣prehendeth in that tract or extent of ground, 30 walled townes, 6 Episcopall Sees, (besides those of Hamburg and Lubeck, which are under the Archbishop of Bremen) and 20 Royall Castles and Pa∣laces, as well for the reception of the Nobles and great men of the Countrey, as the private retire∣ments of the King. The soil naturally more fit for pasturage then tillage; feeding such multitudes of Oxen, that from hence no fewer then 50000 are sent yearly to Germanie. Divided at the present into the Dukedome of Holstein, and the Province of Iuitland.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Wagerland.