4 DALMATIA.
DALMATIA is bounded on the East with Albania from which parted by the River Dris••, on the East with the Titius (now Variecha) which divides it from Liburnia, on the North with Bosnia, on the South with the Adriatick Sea. This only of all the Provinces of Sclavonia, retaineth its ancient name and bounds. So called from Dalminium the chief town hereof in the time of the Romans, from which the people were called Dalmatae, and the Countrie Dalmatia.
The Countrie in the time of the Romans was full of woods, and those woods of Robbers, who from thence issued out to make spoil and bootie. Dalmatae sub sylvis agunt, inde ad latrocinia promptissim, saith the Historian. And by the advantage of these woods, they intercepted and discomfited Gabin••••, one of Caesars Captaines, marching through their Countrie with 1000 horse and 15 Companies of foot towards Ma••edonia, to the aid of his Generall against Pompey. But their woods being destroyed they became more peaceable; and in stead of Robberies by Land, began to exercise themselves at Sea in the way of Merchandizing, to which their large Sea-coasts and commodious Havens served ex∣ceeding fitly.
Places of most consideration in it, 1 Sebenic on the Sea side, not far from the influx of Titius or Var••echa: by Ptolemie called Si••um, in whose time a Colonie of Roman Souldiers, sent hither by the Emperour Claudius. 2 Salona, a Roman Colonie also, one of the Juridicall Resorts for these parts of the Province, and the ordinarie Arsenall for their Navies. Renowned in ancient stories for the retreat of Dio••letian, a Native of this Countrie, who having governed the Roman Empire 20 years with much felicity, but a great deal of crueltie, deposed himself, and retired to this Citie, where he fol∣lowed the trade of a Gardener, working with his own hands and observing with great content the productions of nature. Insomuch that when Maximianus Herculius his associate (who at his per∣swasion had done the like) invited him to resume the Empire, he returned this answer, Vtinam possi∣tis visere olera nostris manibus plantata, &c. that if he would come unto Salona and see how well the Worts which he had planted with his own hands, did thrive and prosper, he would never trouble his head with Crowns, nor his hands with Scepters: a rare expression of a settled and contented minde. The name, and some of the ruines doe still remain to preserve the memorie of so remarkable a place. 3 Spalato, East of Sebenic, a Sea town, and an Archbishops See, who writes himself Primate of Dabna∣tia. Of note for many learned Prelates, but for none more then for Marcus Antonius de Dominis, who seeming to loath the Romish superstition, came for refuge in England, anno 1616. and having here both by preaching and writing laboured to overthrow the Church of Rome, upon I know not what pro∣jects, he declared himself to be of another mind, anno 1622. and returned again to Rome, where he writ as reproachfully of the Church of England. So that we may say of him, as Socrates in his Ecclesiasticall Historie saith of Ecebolius, who under Constantius, was a Christian; under Julian a Pa∣gan; and a Christian again under Jovinian: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 So wavering and unconstant a turn-coat was Ecebolius, from his beginning to his end. But Ecebolius sped bet∣ter then Antonius did, he being received into the Church upon his repentance, but this infatuated man imprisoned in the Castle of Angelo, and his dead bodie burnt to Ashes. A just reward for so great le∣vity, and so grosse Apostasie, as he had shewed unto the world in his going hence. 4 Almissa, the Pi∣guritium of Ptol••mie, mounted on an high rock, and defended with an impregnable Castle. 5 Stagn••, upon the point of a long and spatious Chersonese, not far from which the River Naron (or Narento) falls into the Adriatick 6 Castle Novo, a strong Fortresse within the Gulfe of Catharo, now in possessi∣on of the Turks. 7 Antibari, on the further or Eastern side of the Bay, an Archbishops See; but that and the Sees of his Suffragan Bishops, being 7 in number, now in possession of the Turks. 8 Cath••••, on the same side of the Bay, by Ptolemie called Ascruvium, inhabited in his time by Roman Citizens; now a strong hold for the Venetians against the Turks, and giving name unto the Gulfe, which formerly called Sinus Rhizonis••us, from Rhizana (now Rhizius) situate at the bottome of it, is at this time cal∣led from this Town Golfo de Catharo. 9 Dolcigno, by Ptolemie called Vleinium, originally founded by the Colchians. 10 Scutari, more within the land, (the Scodra of Ptolemie and Antoninus) strongly sea∣ted on a steep Rock, memorable for the stout resistance which it made for a whole year, against the whole puissance of Mahomet the 2. battered for the most part of that time with 70 pieces of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of wondrous bignesse, especially that called the Princes piece, which carried a stone or bullet of 1220 l. weight; and taken at the last, anno 1578. Not far from this Town is the great Lake, called by S••••••∣bo, Labeates; now the Lake of Scutari, 130 miles in compasse, and environed on all sides with Moun∣tains, except towards the North, out of which issueth the Drinus, now called Driana, which partina Sclav••nia from Macedon and Servia, passeth into the Savus. 11 Alesio, the Lissus of Ptolemie, the furthest town of all Dalmatta, towards Greece: memorable for the Grave of Scanderbeg, who was buried her••∣whereof more hereafter. 12 Medon, raised out of the ruines of Dioclea, an ancient and famous Citie, the birth-place of the Great Emperour Diocletian, spoken of before. 13 Dalminium, once the Metro∣polis of this Province, situate on the River Drinus, first sacked by Marcius Figulus a Roman Consul, 〈◊〉〈◊〉