Memorabilia mundi, or, Choice memoirs of the history and description of the world by G.H.

EƲROPE.

EUrope bears the Name of the most happiest Country in the World, both for plenty of Corn, Plants, Fruits, for Rivers and Fountains of ad∣mirable vertues; For beauty as well of Cities, Castles, and Houses, as Men and Women of excellent Feature▪ For the Study of Arts, for the science in Reli∣gion, and what ever else God hath pleased to bless his Church with from the beginning.

She wants nothing but what she may well spare, Wild-Beasts which cause Desarts in the parts where they breed; hot spices which fit not our temper, and rather corrupt our manners, than mend our dyet, precious jewels and the like, which have brought in a degree of vain and useless pride, not known before by our predecessors: Yet of Gold, Sil∣ver,

and other commodious metals, she hath her portion, and in brief is of a very prosperous temper, yet of so strange va∣riety, that it is admirable to think that there is no place in this quarter, but is fit for any man to live in; Insomuch as every Country is Inhabited, as is con∣firmed by our latter Travellers, though heretofore it hath been questi∣oned by reason of the extream cold to∣ward the Pole.

In Hungaria is the Country of Soli∣ense where the Earth sends forth such a stench, that it poysoneth the very Birds which flye over it.

An Island in Danubius exceeding fer∣tile, and so indeed is the whole Coun∣try; The people are generally strong, but barbarous, their Daughters portions are only a new attyre, and their Sons e∣qually Inherit without priviledge of Birth-right; The Emperour of Germany and the Turk share it betwixt them.

Muscovia, The whole Region is sub∣ject to the Emperour of Russia: A vast

Territory and as wild a Government, for the people are very base, conten∣tious, ignorant, and sottishly supersti∣tious; they bury their dead upright, with a staffe in hand, a penny in his purse, and a Letter to St. Nicholas to procure him entrance into Heaven.