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.

12 VALENTIA.

VALENTIA hath on the East, the Mediterranean; on the West, parts of Castile and Ara∣gon; on the North, Catalogne; and Murcia upon the South. It is watered with the Rivers 1 Xucar, called of old Sucron and Surus. 2 Guadalander, signifying a River of pure water; and 3 Millar.

This Countrie standeth in the most temperate and pleasing Air of all Spain, full of Gardens, and places of wonderfull delight, where groweth abundance of Rice, Sugar, Corn, and Fruit; garni∣shed all the yeer long with sweet-smelling flowers, and miraculously fruitfull of Pomgranats, Li∣mons, and other delicacies. It hath also mines of Silver at Buriol, of Gold at Lodar, of Iron at Fi∣nistrat, of Alabaster at Piacent, and of Allom, Lime, and Plaister in many places. From thence also come the best Silks in the World, Cotton of Marcia, Crimson, Scarlet, and other precious co∣lours, and rich perfumes. Finally, all the senses of man may be delighted and refreshed with that which comes from this happy Region; in quality and sweetness much like that of Naples. The delicacie and great pleasures whereof have made the Inhabitants of it to be thought less warlike than the other Spaniards. The Sheep of this Countrie also bear the finest Fleeces of any in Spain; first stocked with Cotswold sheep from England, at the request of Iohn King of Aragon, An. 1465. by the imprudent curtesie of K. Edward the 4th.

Places of most note in it are, 1 Alicante, a noted Port on the Mediterranean, whence come our true Alicant Wines, made of the juyce of Mulberies; by Ptolomie called I••••cias, by Mela, Ilice; from whence the Bay adjoyning is called Sinus Ilicitanus, now the Bay of Alicante. 2 Orivela, a Bishops See, on the River Segura, which divides this Province from Murcia. 3 Sergorvo, a Bi∣shops See, by Ptolomie named Segobriga, the chief Citie in old times of the Celtiberi. 4 Xelva, supposed to be the Incibilis of Livie, where Scipio defeated Hanno and his Carthaginians. 5 Valen∣tia, a fair, pleasant, and well-traded Citie, the See of an Archishop, and giveth name to the whole Province: in its first glorie, one of the chief Roman Colonies in these parts of Spain; in its last, the Royall seat of the Moorish Kings of this Countrie. Situate three miles from the Mediter∣ranean, not far from the mouth of the River Dureas, now called Guadalander: and is by some said to have been heretofore named Roma, which signifieth strength. But when the Romans mastred it, to distinguish it from their Rome, it was called Valentia: which in the La••••••e tongue, is of the the same signification, with the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Here is an University in which S. Dominick, the Father of the Dominicans, studyed. 6 Laurigi, now a small village, once a Town of great strength, called Lauron, which Sertorius besieged, took and burned, even then when Po••p••y, whose confederates the Lauronites were, stood with his whole Army nigh enough unto the flame to warm his hands; and yet durst not succour it. 7 Cullera, a Sea Town standing at the mouth of the Ri∣ver Xucar. It was formerly named Sucron, after the name of the River; and is famous in Plu∣tarc••, for the victory which Sertorius here got of Pompey, Pompey's Army being not only over∣thrown, but himself with life hardly escaping. 8 Morvedre, situate in or neer the place of the old Sagu••tum•• the People whereof when besieged by Annibal, continued so obstinate in the expecta∣tion of aid from Rome, that they chose rather to burn themselves, than yield up the Town: the oc∣casion of the second War betwixt Rome and Carthage. First Founded by the Zacynthians, and after this destruction of it, repaired, or re-edified by the Romans, (they could not possibly do less) by whom made a Colonie. 9 Gandia, which gives the title of a Duke to the house of Borgia, and was the stile of the eldest Sonne of Pope Alex. the sixt (of this noble Family) called commonly in Guic∣c••••rdine by the name of the Duke of Gandi••: 10 Denia, seated on the brin•• of the Mediterranean, over which it hath a goodly Prospect; the Marquisate of the Duke of Lerma: first Founded by the Massil••an••, by whom called Dianium. Not far from which is the Promontorie Ferraria, of old called Promontorium Dianium, the Refuge of Sertorius in his Wars against Pompey and Metel∣lus, both of great renown: the one aged, and of much experience; the other young and of high re∣solutions. And yet Sertorius found himself more troubled with the old mans gravitie, than the yong

mans gallantrie: insomuch as he was used to s••y, That 〈…〉〈…〉▪ he would have 〈…〉〈…〉 Pompey home with 〈◊〉〈◊〉. For he had twice 〈…〉〈…〉 Great Pompey, before 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was joyned in the Action with him: the first time dangerously wounding, and the second time driving him out of the Field. But fighting against both he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 over-matched; and yet seemed rather to retire than flie before them: the 〈…〉〈…〉 very valiantly in the time of these Wars under him, to which Florus alludeth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Nec nunquam magis a paruit Hispani militis Vigor, quam Romano duc••. At the last when he had a long time upheld the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 faction, he was traiterously murdered by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one of his Ass••∣ciates; for which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Pompey had a Triumph at Rome. So high an estimate did they set upon the casuall death of this poor Proscript.

The Antient ••nhabitants hereof were the Bastitani, the Ed••tani, Co••testa••i, and some part of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉: originally of the Province of Tarraco••ensis, afterwards (in the sub-dividing of that Province by Constan••ine) of Carth••ginensis. In the declining of the Empire first subdued by the A••ani, who were scarce warm in their new dwellings, when disseized by the G••thes. From the G••••hes taken by the Moores, of whom reckoned as a Province, till the fatall overthrow gi∣ven to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ena•••• at t••e battell of Sierra 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the departure of the Moores of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to their own County, which followed presently upon it. By ••••it Ab••n-••eit, the Brother of this Mahomet, made a distinct Kingdom of it self, Anno 1214. but taken from him by one Z••e•• a Prince of the M••ores of Spain, under colour that he had a purpose of turning Christian, and making his Kingdom subject to the Crown of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (as indeed he did) Anno 1228. Conquered from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the new King, before he could enjoy the sweets of a new raised Kingdom, by I••m••s King of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Anno 1238. Since reckoned a Member of that Kingdom, never dismem∣bred from the bodie of it since the first uniting. But still so overgrown with Moores (not to be blamed for loving such an excellent seat) that at the final expulsion of that people be King P••i∣lip the third▪ there were reckoned no sewer than 22000 Families of them in this little Coun∣trie.

The Armes hereof were Gules, a Tower embattelled Argent, purssed (or pennond) Sable.

Notes

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