A prospect of the most famous parts of the vvorld Viz. Asia, 3 Affrica, 5 Europe, 7 America. 9 With these kingdomes therein contained. Grecia, 11 Roman Empire, 13 Germanie, 15 Bohemia, 17 France, 19 Belgia, 21 Spaine, 23 Italie, 25 Hungarie, 27 Denmarke, 29 Poland, 31 Persia, 33 Turkish Empire, 35 Kingdome of China, 37 Tartaria, 39 Sommer Ilands, 41 Civill Warres, in England, Wales, and Ireland. You shall find placed in the beginning of the second booke marked with these [3 asterisks in triangle formation] and (5) together with all the provinces, counties, and shires, contained in that large theator of Great Brittaines empire. / Performed by John Speed.

¶ The Description of AFRICA.

AFRICA as it lay neerest the seat of the first people, so questionlesse it was next inhabited: and therefore requires the second place in our Division. It is generally agreed upon, that the North parts were possest by the sons of Cham not long after the confusion. And so indeed the Kingly Prophet in the 78. Psalme, useth the Tents of Cham for the Land of Egypt, which is the part of Africa which joynes upon the South west of Asia, and is divided from the holy Land but by a small Isthmus. Give the people their owne asking, and they will have the glory of the first Inhabitants of the World: and prove it too both from the temperature of their aire, and fertility of their soyle, which breeds and nourisheth not onely Plants and fruits, but sends forth, of its owne vertue, living creatures in such sort, as amaseth the beholder. We have a re∣port (if you will beleeve it) that in a ground neere the River Nilus, there have been found Mice halfe made up, and Nature taken in the very nick, when she had already wrought life in the fore-parts, head and brest, the hinder joynts yet remaining, in the forme of earth. Thus I suppose they would have man at first growne out of their soyle, without the immediate hand of God in his Creation. And it hath been the opinion of some vaine Philosophers, that for this cause have made the Ethiopians to be the first people: for that there the Sunne by his propinquitie, wrought soonest upon the moisture of the ground, and made it fit for mortality to sprout in.

(2) But to leave these, without doubt Africa is of great an∣tiquity, and so is allowed by all Historians of credit; In the yeare 1566. the people were increased to an exceeding multitude; and therefore were inforced to enlarge their bounds, upon their neighbouring Countries. For as it was of a most rare fertilitie: so it lay not any long way, and had free accesse to it by land from the garden of our first Parents.

(3) In the time of Abraham we have better assurance from the word of God, that it was then a place of fame, and the Inha∣bitants of some growth, for they were able to supply the wants of the Countries adjoyning by their store: and thither went A∣braham out of the Land of Canaan, to avoyd the great famine, Gen. 1••. She had then her Princes, Pharaoh and his mighty men, that feared not to resist God, and were afterward made the in∣struments of his punishments upon the children of Israel: for they kept them in bondage foure hundred years, as was foretold to Abraham in the 15. of Genesis.

(4) But this proofe of Ancientry concerns not the whole Countrey: onely those Regions which lye under the temperate Zone. The rest for a long time after were unknowne to our Geo∣graphers, held not habitable, indeed beyond Mount Atlas, by reason of the extreme heat. The reports which passe of it be∣fore Ptolemyes time were but at randome, and by guesse of such as had never sayled it round, or scarce come within sight of it, but at a great distance, and by this means, either out of their owne errour, or else a desire of glory more then they had deser∣ved: or perhaps a Travailors trick, to cheat the ignorant world that could not confute their reports, they spread many idle fa∣bles of monstrous people without heads, with their eyes and mouthes in their breasts, maintained to this day by some Au∣thours of good esteeme. But for my part I hold it most reason∣able to credit S. Augustine, who was born and died in Africa. That he in his eighth book De Civitate Dei, acknowledgeth no such creatures, or if they be, they be not men; or if men, not borne of Adam. And our later discoveries joyne in with him that report not (upon their owne experience) of any other peo∣ple then such as our selves are; and yet I suppose they have seen more of the Countrey, then ever any heretofore did. For they passe not now to sayle it round once a yeare, by the Cape of good Hope to the East-side of the very Isthmus toward the Red-Sea.

(5) This course by the South was discovered by one Vasco de Gama, in the yeare 1497. and a way found to the East Indies, by which the Princes of Portugall receive an infinite gaine, both in Spices, and other Merchandize. The hope of which first set them upon the adventure. And in this one thing we owe much to our owne Countrey, otherwise a detestable plague, that the insatiate desire of wanton commodities hath opened to us a large part of the world before not knowne, and which we hope may hereafter increase the light of the Gospel, and the number of the Elect.

(6) If we compare Her to the two other portions of the same Hemisphere▪ she is situated wholly South, and in part West-ward. It is divided on the North from Europe by the Me∣diterraneum Sea. On the South where it runnes into a kind of poynt at the Cape of good Hope, it is bound with the vast Ocean, which in that part hath the name of the Aethiopicke Sea; on the East with the Red Sea; and on the West with the Atlantike Ocean, called there in our common Maps, Mare del North. So that in briefe we reckon both Her Longitude and Latitude in the largest parts, to be neere upon 4200. English miles.

(7) Notwithstanding this Vast extent of ground, yet we still of Europe keepe our owne, and by authority of the most and best Geographers, exceed as much for number, as either this or Asia do for roome. Cause enough there is why Africa indeed should come short of both: for in most parts, she hath scarce plenty suf∣ficient to maintaine Inhabitants: and where there is, we shall meete with multitudes of ravening beasts, or other horrible monsters, enough to devoure both it and us. In a word, there is no Region of the world so great an enemy to mans commerce: there is such scarcity of water, that no creature almost could live, had not Nature provided thereafter, that the greater part of them endures not drinke in the very middest of Summer. So Pliny reports. And if (as sometimes they be inforced by such as take them) they suddenly perish. Thus we see how God gives a propertie to each place, that may make up her defects, lest it should be left as well by beast as men. Their Land is full of sandy deserts, which lye open to the windes and stormes, and oft times are throwne up into billows like waves of the Sea, and indeed are no lesse dangerous. Strabo writes that Cambyses his army was thus hazzarded in Aethiopia. And Herodotus, that the Psitti an ancient but foolish Nation (it seems) in Africa, as they marched towards the South, to revenge themselves upon the windes for drying up their Rivers, were overwhelmed with sand, and so dyed in their graves. Besides these annoyances it is so full of a venomous kind of Serpent, that in some places they dare not dresse their Land, unlesse they first fence their legs with bootes against the sting. Other wild creatures there are which range a∣bout, and possesse to themselves a great portion of this Coun∣trey, and make a Wildernesse of Lions, Leopards, Elephants, and in some places Crocodiles, Hyenas, Basilisks, and indeed monsters without either number or name. Africa now every yeare pro∣duceth some strange creature before not heard of, peradventure not extant. For so Pliny thinks, that for want of water, creatures of all kinds at sometimes of the year gather to those few rivers that are, to quench their thirst: And then the Males promiscu∣ously inforcing the Females of every species which comes next him, produceth this variety of formes: and would be a grace to Africa, were it not so full of danger to the Inhabitants, which as Salust reports, dye more by beasts then by diseases. For those traits about Barbary are every tenth year, 15. or 25. visited with a great plague, and continually infected with the French disease in such violence, that few recover, unlesse by change of ayre in∣to Numidia, or the Land of Negroes, whose very temper is said to be a proper Antidote against those diseases.

(8) But among all these inconveniences, commodities are found of good worth: and the very evils yeeld at last their be∣nefit, both to their owne Countrey and other parts of the world. The Elephant a docible creature and exceeding usefull for battel: The Camel which affords much riches to the Arabian. The Barbaric horse, which we our selves commend: The Ram, that be∣sides his flesh gives twenty pound of wooll from his very tayle: The Bull, painfull, and able to do best service in their tillage. And so most of their worst, alive or dead, yeeld us their medicinall parts, which the world could not well want.

(9) In her division we will follow our latter Masters in this Art, whom time at least and experience, if no other worth, have made more Authentike, and those divide it into seven parts. (1) Barbarie or Mauritania. (2) Numidia. (3) Lybia or A∣frica propria. (••) Nigritarum terra. (5) Aethiopia superior. (6) Aethiopia inferior. (7) Aegypt: and to these we adde the (8) Ilands belonging to Africa.

(10) Barbari•• is the first. The bounds of it are North-ward the Mediterraneum, West-ward the Atlantike: On the South the Mountaine Atlas, and on the East Aegypt. It is esteemed the most noble part of all Africa: and hath its name from an Ara∣bick word Barbara, that signifies a kind of rude sound, for such the Arabians tooke their Language to be: and thence the Greci∣ans call them Barbarians that speake a harsher Language then themselves. After the Latines, and now we, esteeme the people of our owne Nation barbarous, if they ever so little differ from the rudenesse either of our tongue or manners. The Inhabi∣tants are noted to be faithfull in their course: but yet craftie in promising, and performing too. For they are covetous, ambiti∣ous, jealous of their wives beyond measure. Their Countrey yeelds Oranges, Dates, Olives, Figges, and a certaine kinde of Goate, whose haire makes a stuffe as fine as silke. It contains in it the Kingdomes of Tunnis, Algeires, Fesse, and Morocho. (1) Tunnis, is famous for severall places mentioned of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Here was Dona where Augustine was Bishop, and Hippo his birth-place. And Tunnis a Citie five miles in compasse, and old Carthage built by Virgils Dido, Romes emula for wealth, valour, and am∣bition of the universall Empire. It was twentie two miles in

[illustration] map of Africa

[illustration]

AFRICAE, described the manners of their Ha∣bits, and buildinge: newly done into English by I.S. and published at the cha∣rges of G. Humble Ano 1626

circuit: And Vtica, memorable for Catoes death. (2) Algeires containes in it a strange Harbour for the Turkish Pyrats: and is of note for the resistance it made Charles the fifth; who received before the chiefe Townes in this Region, an innumerable losse of Ships, Horses, Ordnance and men. (3) Fesse hath a Citie in it with seven hundred Churches, and one of them a mile and halfe in compasse (Stafford): And in this Countrey was our English Stukeley slaine. (4) Morocho, where the chiefe Town of the same name hath a Church larger then that of Fesse, and hath a Tower so high, that you may discerne from the top of it the Hills of Az••si at an hundred and thirty miles distance. Here is likewise a Castle of great fame, for their Globes of pure gold that stand upon the top of it, and weighing 130000. Barbarie Dukets.

(11) Numidia was the second part in our Division of Afri∣ca, and hath on the West the Atlantike, on the East Aegypt, on the North Atlas, and the deserts of Lybia on the South. It is called likewise regio dactylifera, from the abundance of Dates; for they feed upon them onely; a people, Idolaters, Idiots, Theeves, Murderers, except some few Arabians that are min∣gled among them of ingenious disposition, and addicted much to Poetry. They seldome stay longer in one place then the eating down of the grafle: and this wandring course makes but few Cities, and those in some places three hundred miles distant.

(12) Lybia the third is limited on the East with Nilus, West∣ward with the Atlantike, on the North with Numidia, and the South with terra Nigritarum. It was called Sacra, as much as Desert: For so it is, and a dry one too, such as can afford no water to a travellor sometimes in seven dayes journey. The Inhabi∣tants are much like to the Numidians, live without any Law al∣most of Nature. Yet in this place were two of the Sibyls, which prophecied of Christ, and Arrius the Hereticke. About Lybia were the Garamantes, and the P••illi mentioned before for their simple attempts against the South winde.

(13) Terra Nigritarum, the Land of Negroes is the fourth, and hath on the West the Atlantike, on the East Aethiopia supe∣rior, on the North Lybia, on the South the Kingdome of Mani∣longo in the inferior Aethiopia. It hath the name either from the colour of the people which are black, or from the River Niger, famous as Nilus almost, for her overflowing, insomuch, that they passe at some times in Boats through the whole Countrey. It is full of Gold and Silver, and other Commodities: but the Inhabitants most barbarous. They draw their originall from Chus, and have entertained all Religions that came in their way. First their owne, then the Iewes, the Mahumetans, and some of them the Christian. For the most part they live not as if reason guided their actions. Maginus numbers twenty five Provinces of this Countrey, which have had their severall Governours. Now it knoweth but foure Kings, and those are (1) The King of Tombulum, and he is an infinite rich Monarch, hates a Iew to the death of his subject that converseth with him: keepes a guard of three thousand Horsemen besides Foote. (2) Of Bor∣naum, where the people have no proper Names, no Wives pe∣culiar, and therefore no Children which they call their owne. (3) Of Goaga, who hath no estate but from his Subjects as he spends it. (4) Gualatum, a poore Countrey, God wot, not worth either Gentrie or Lawes, or indeed the name of a King∣dome.

(14) Aethiopia Superior the fifth, and is called likewise the Kingdome of the Abissines. It is limited on the North with Ae¦gypt, on the South with the Montes Lunae, on the East with the Red Sea, and on the West with the Kingdome of the Nigers and Manilongo. It is distinct from the Aethiopia so often men∣tioned in Scripture: For by all probability, that was in another quarter of the world, and reacheth from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulfe. It is governed by one of the mightiest Empe∣rours in the world: For his power reacheth almost to each Tro∣picke, and is called by us Presbyter Iohn. He is the onely white man amongst them, and drawes his Line from Solomon, and the Queene of the South. His Court rests not long in any one place, but is moveable as well for housing as retinue. For it consists of Tents onely to the number of sixe thousand, and in∣compasseth in, about twelve or thirteene miles. He hath under him seventy Kings, which have their severa••l Lawes and Cu∣stomes; Among these the Province of Dobas hath one, that no man marry till he hath killed twelve Christians. The Inhabi∣tants of the whole Region are generally base and idle: the bet¦ter sort have the modestie to attire themselves, though it be but in Lions and Tygers skinnes. Their Religion is Mixt. Christi∣ans they have, but yet differ from us; For they Circumcise both sects. Their oath is by the life of their King, whom they never see but at Christmas, Easter, and Holy Rood. Their Com∣modities are Oranges, Lemmons, Cittrons, Barley, Sugar, Ho∣ny, &c.

(15) Aethiopi•• inferior the sixth part of Africa, is on every side begirt with Sea except toward the North; that way it is severed from the Abissines by the Montes Luna. The government of this Region is under five free Kings, (1) Of Aiana, which con∣taines in it two petty Kingdomes of Adel and Adia, and abounds with Flesh, Hony, Wax, Gold, Ivorie, Corn, very large Sheepe. (2) Zanguebar, in this stands Mesambique, called by Ptolemie, Prassum Promon••orium, and was the utmost part Southward of the old world. The Inhabitants are practised much in So••th-saying, indeed Witch-craft. (3) Of Monomolopa, in which is reported to be three thousand Mines of Gold. Here there lives a kind of Amazons as valiant as men. Their King is served in great pompe, and hath a guard of two hundred Mastives. (4) Cafraia, whose people live in the Woods without Lawes like brutes. And here stands the Cape of good Hope, about which the Sea is alwaies rough and dangerous: It hath beene especially so to the Spaniard. It is their owne note, in so much, that on•• was very angry with God, that he suff••red the English Hereticks to passe it so easily over, and not give his good Cathol••k••s the like speed. (5) Manicongo, whose Inhabitants are in some parts Christians, but in other by-Provinces Anthropophagi, and have shambles of mans flesh, as we have for meat. They kill their own children in the birth, to avoyd the trouble of breeding them, and preserve their Nation with stolen brats from their neighbouring Countries.

(16) Aegypt, is the seventh and last part of the African Con∣tinent, which deserves a larger Tract then we can here afford it: But for the present be content with a briefe Survey; and satisfie your selfe more particularly in the many severall Authours that write her story. It hath on the East the Red Sea, Barbarie on the West: on the North, the Mediterraneum, and Aethiopia Superior on the South. It was first possest by Cham, and therefore called Chemia in their owne antique Stories: Or at least by Mitzraim his Grand-childe, and is so agreed upon by most. For plenty it was called Orbis horreum, yet it had very seldome any raine, but that defect was supplied by the River Nilus: The places of note are, Caire and Alexandria. The first was heretofore Mem¦phis: Some say Babylon, whither the Virgin fled to escape. He∣rods tyranny intended to our Saviour: and blush not to shew the very Cave where she had hid her Babe. In a desert about foure miles distant stand the Pyramides, esteemed rightly one of the seven wonders of the world. Alexandria was a magnificent Citie, and the place where Ptolemie tooke his Observations, and was famous for the rarest Library in the World. To the In∣habitants of this Countrey, we owe the invention of Astro∣logie, Physicke, Writing on Paper. Their Kings names were Pharaoh toward the beginning: Now what the Turke plea∣seth.

(17) And this is as farre as we may travell by Land: it re∣mains that we loose out into the bordering Seas, & descry what Ilands we can, neere those parts of Africa which we have here mentioned. And these lye either Southward in the Aethiopicke Sea, or else Westward in the Atlantick Ocean.

(18) The Aethiopicke Ilands are onely two. (1) The Iland of S. Laurence or Magadassar, four thousand miles in compasse, and the length more then Italie, rich in all Commodities almost that man can use. The Inhabitants are very barbarous, most of them blacke, some white there are, supposed to have been trans∣planted out of China. (2) Zocatrina at the mouth of the Red Sea, in length sixtie, in bredth twenty five miles. It lyeth open to sharpe Windes, and by that meanes is extreame drie and bar∣ren. Yet it hath good Drugges, and from hence comes the Aloe Zocatrina. The people are Christians and adore the Crosse most superstitiously, and give themselves much to Inchant∣ments.

(19) The Atlanticke Ilands are (1) Sir Thomas Iland, and lyeth directly under the Aequator, it was made habitable by the Portugalls, which found it nothing but a wood. It is full of Su∣gar, little other commodities. (2) Prince Iland, betweene the Aequator and Tropicke of Capricorne: It is rich enough for the owner, though I finde no great report of it. (3) The Gorgades of old the Gorgons where Medusa and her two sisters dwelt; I forbeare the fable, they are nine in number, and because neere to Cape Virido, in the Land of Negroes, they have a second name of Insulae Capitis Viridis. They abound with Goates, and the chiefe of them is called Saint Iames. (4) The Canaris called for their fertilitie The fortunate Ilands, and was the place of the first Meridian, with the ancient Geographers, to divide the world into the East and West, and from thence to measure the earths Longitude: but now it is removed into the next Ilands more North, which are the Azoris, and belong properly to Europe, as lying neerer Spaine then any other Continent. The num∣ber of the Canaris are seven. The chiefe Canarie; next Palus, where our Shippes touch to refresh themselves in their voyage toward America. Then Tanariffa, which hath no water but from a cloud, that hangs over a tree, and at noone dissolves, and so is conveyed into severall parts. The other foure are Gomera, Hieiro, Lansarat, and Fuerte ventura, some few other not worth note or name. The men lend their Wives like Horses or any o∣ther Commoditie. (5) Lastly, the Hesperides not farre from the Gorgades, they are often mentioned by our ancient Poets in the fable of Atlas his Daughters. It was supposed to be the seat of their blessed, which they called the Elizian field. And indeed it is a very happy soyle, the weather continually fayre, the seasons all temperate, the ayre never extreame. To conclude, Africa af∣fords not a sweeter place to rest in.