The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary being a curious miscellany of sacred and prophane history : containing, in short, the lives and most remarkable actions of the patriarchs, judges, ... heresiarchs, ... emperors, ... and all those who have recommended themselves to the world ... together with the establishment and progress both of religious and military orders ... ; [with] The genealogy of several illustrious families in Europe ; The fabulous history of the heathen gods and heroes ; The description of empires, kingdoms ... / collected from the best historians, chronologers, and lexicographers ... but more especially out of Lewis Morery ... his sixth edition corrected and enlarged by Monsieur Le Clark ... now done into English ; to which are added by way of supplement ... the lives ... and writings of the illustrious families of our English, Scotch and Irish nobility ... clergy ; as also an exact description of these kingdoms ... by several learned men ; wherein are inserted the last five years historical and geographical collections of Edmond Bohun ... never extant till in this work.

• Asan, K. of the Bulgarians in the XIth Age, who with the assistance of the Turks, made Progress in Syria and Asia, in the unactive Reign of the Emperor Micha••l. There have been three Kings of Algier and Barbary of this name, after the death of Barberousse, and Asan, or Assan Cigal••, famous in the Turkish History in the Reigns of Mahomet III, and Ach∣met I.
• * Asan Calaffat, a famous Pirate of Argiers, was a Greek Renegado; he took a great many Prizes in the Seas of Can∣dia and Greece, but was at last met, as he was Sailing home with a very rich booty, and his whole Squadron defeated, and taken by some Christian Galleys. It's said he was a great Magician, that every day after Sun-set, he us'd to lay a Book of the Black Art upon his Table, which, he found open every morning, with directions in the first Page of what he was to do, and should happen to him that day; They add, That he knew by the motion of these, whether he was to Fight the Ships he met, or no. Mercure Francois.
• Asander, Governor of Bosphorus for K. Pharnaces, who, be∣ing overcome by Julius Caesar, fled to him for Sanctuary, but he disloyally and treacherously slew him, and carried his Head to the Conqueror, who, as a recompence, gave him Dyna∣mis, Daughter of the unfortunate King, to Wife. After the Death of Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony gave the Sovereignty of Bosphorus to Darius, Pharnaces's Brother; but he was repuls'd by Asander, who, after he had Reign'd a long time, in the 80 year of his Age he was expell'd by Scribonius, and died of Grief. Dion. Lib. 54.
• * St. Asaph, Bp. of the Diocese of that name in North-Wales, was born of Honourable Parentage in Flintshire, and liv'd in the 6th Age. Llan-Elvy in this County, afterwards call'd from him St. Asaph, is the place where he was bred under Kentigern the Scotch Bp. who had a Convent consisting of 663 Monks, some employed abroad in Husbandry, others about work at home, the rest attended Divine Service in the Convent; Asaph amongst those was eminently conspicuous for Piety and Learning, in so much, that Kentig••rn, being call'd back into his own Countrey, resign'd both his Convent and Cathedral to him, who liv'd so Religious a Life, that af∣ter his death, the name Llan Elvy was changed into St. Asaph.
• Asbamea, a Fountain of Cappadocia, thus described by Philostratus: There is, says he, in the Neighbourhood of Tyanaea, a Water which is cold at the Spring-Head, and afterw••rds boils like a Caldron over a hot Fire; immediate Death to V••llains and Perjured persons, but pleasing and wholesome to the Virtuous and Upright. Bochart.
• Asralon, a City of Judaea, in the Tribe of Dan, upon the Sea-shore; one of the strongest Forts of the Phil••stines. About the year 1153. it was taken by Baldwin K. of Jerusa∣lem, after a Siege of five or six Months, It's now so mean, that there are not above 60 Families of Moors in it, and a Garison of Turks, to prevent the Incursions of the Arabs, the Chri∣stians taking in fresh Water at the River Sor••e, which runs hard by it. This City was fam'd for a Temple dedicated to the Mother of Semiramis. It was also the birth-place of Herod the Great, call'd the Ascalonite, and a Bps See, re∣fortified by Richard I. King of England during the Holy War. Joseph. Lib. 6. c. 1.
• * Ascania, a very ancient Castle in Germany, which for∣merly gave Title to the Princes of Anhalt, and was the chief place of the County, half a League from Asbenseben, which rose from its ruines. Baudr.
• Ascanius, Son of Aeneas and Creusa, succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of the Latins, and defeated Mezentius King of the Tuscans, who refus'd to make a Peace with him. He founded Alba Longa, which he made the Capital City of his small Kingdom, and died Anno Mund. 2915. after a Reign of 38 years. Dionisius Halicarnassus. Lib. 1.
• Ascarit, a Prince of the Gauls, who, not liking the Romish Government, broke the Truce he had made with them, and joyning himself with Rhadegaisus, they were both defeated and taken by Constantine in the beginning of his Reign; who caused them to be devour'd by Dogs, says Eutro∣pius. Euseb.
• Ascension, an Island in the Bay of St. Lawrence, in North-America, 50 Leagues from Cape Briton to the N. W. and 15 from the Continent to the N E. the middle of the Island is in 49. It is a goodly Champion Land without any Hills, standing all upon White Rocks and Alablaster, the Sea Shoar abounds with Trees of all those sorts that are in France, 〈1+ pages missing〉〈1+ pages missing〉
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• ... Bavaria in 1231, & in 1252 sent Presents to St. Lewis of France then in Syria. In 1257 Haloen the Cham of Tartary took their Towns, and put their Ancient of the Mountains to death. Guillaume de Tyr. Hist. orient.
• * Asserim, a Castle well fortified upon a Mountain in the Kingdom of Cambaya, in the Dominions of the Great Mogul, 15 Spanish Leagues East of the Indian Sea, and as many South of Surat, in the possession of the Portugu••se, and by them call'd La Roche d' Asserim.
• Assideens, a sort of Jews so call'd from Chasidim or Tsadikim its Synonimon, which signifies Just; but after some time the Chasidim distinguish'd themselves from the Tsadikim, these holding precisely to the Holy Scripture, the other affecting a more eminent degree of Sanctity then was commanded by the Law. The People had great veneration for these last, who instituted Works of Supererogation, not as indifferent, but necessary to Salvation. It was from them that the Pharisees sprung, and from these the Essenes, who all preach'd, that their Traditions were more perfect then Scripture; and by little and little fell into the Errors of the Saducees, who taught, that we were not to hope for any Recompence for our good Works in the other World, nor to fear any punishment for our Crimes, and denied the Resurrection of the dead. 2 Machab. 14.
• * Association, or Portuga, an Island in America subject to the English, 14 miles West of Margarita, 4 miles long, and one broad, yielding 3 or 4 Ships load of Salt every year, abounds with Goats and Guiacum, is naturally fenced with Rocks, and hath a convenient Harbour. Heylin.
• Assumption, This City is seated 25. 00. Lat. 300 Leagues above Cape Mary, on the East Bank of the River Paraguay; it is commended for the convenience of its Scite, and the number of its Inhabitants, above any City in La Plata, of which it is the Capital. About 1630 it had 400 Spanish Fa∣milies, and some 1000 Mulattoes. The Country is very plea∣sant and fruitful, and the Air so temperate, that the Trees are ever green. It was built by Cavaza de Vacca about the year 1542. Laet. p. 529.
• Assur, or rather Ashur, the Son of Sem. He liv'd some time in Shinaar with his Kisman Nimrod, but leaving him he built Nineve and Calah.
• * Assynt, a small Country in the North of Scotland, part of the County of Rosse on the West side, lying on the Deuca∣ledon Sea to Strathnaver. The ancient Inhabitants were the Cr••ones or C••rones. It has a Lake called Loch-Assin, and on the East Mountains of Marble and Alabaster.
• Assyria, now call'd Arz••rum, a large Province of Asia, under the Grand Signior, bounded with Media, Susiana, Me∣sopotam••a, and Armenia. The chief Cities whereof are Mo∣s••l, which is the ancient Ninive, Ct••siphon the Royal Seat of the Parthians, Arbelle now a Village famous for Darius's defeat by Alexander, Schiarazur towards Persia, &c. The first Monarchy of the World began in Nimrod, who without dispute was the Assyrian Belus, and the Country was call'd Assyria from Assur or N••nus his Son, for the Dynasties of the Egyptians, & Antiquities of the Celtes, Spaniards, Cimbrians, Scythians, Arabians, &c. are but Fables. Nimrod, whom prophane Authors call Belus, was its first King A. M. 1879, 2175 years before Christ, he began his Reign at Babylon, which he built upon the Euphrates, and liv'd there 65 years. Ninus his Son succeeded, and removed the Royal Seat to Ninive, which he built upon the Tigris, Semiramis Reigned after her Husband Ninus, and Ninyas or Zames succeeded her, betwixt whom to Sardanapalus there are none famous in Hi∣story. Arbaces revolted from this last King, and oblig'd him to burn himself at Ninive in An. M. 3178, 876 before Christ, and 100 years before the first Olympiad. The Kings of Assyria are reckoned 37 from Nimrod the first, to Sardanapa∣lus the last, and the duration of the Monarchy is reckoned 1300 years. The name of K. is also given in the Scrip. to seve∣ral Governors of Nineve, as Ziglath Pilnezer, &c. Just. Clem. Alex. St. Aug. lib. 12. de Civ. Dei.
• Ast, Lat. Asta, an Episcopal County and City of Italy, in the Dukedom of Savoy, under the Archbishop of Milan. The City is situated upon Tanare, large, and well fortified, with a strong new Castle and Citadel. The County for∣merly depended upon the State of Milan, but in 1531 Charles V. gave it to Charles III. Duke of Savoy. It is 15 miles off of Casal, and 16 West of Alexandria.
• Astabar, a City of Turcomania, upon the Frontiers of Per∣sia, a League from the River Arras, not large, but very neat, containing four Caravansera's or Inns, with a Fountain to every House. 'Tis also remarkable for its excellent Wine, and the Root Ronas in great abundance, which serves to Dye Cloth Red, and generally used all over Persia for that end; more especially in the Mogul's Country. This is the only place this Root grows in, it's small, and somewhat like Liquorish; whole Caravans come to Ormus to buy and send it to the Indies. It gives such a strong and quick tincture, that an Indian Bark laden with some being spilt upon the Rocks, the Seas all along the Coast appear'd red for a long time. Tavernier Hist. de Persia.
• As••aroth, an Idol of the Philistines which Samuel com∣manded the Jews to pull down. It was also the name of the false Deity of the Sidonians, ador'd by Solomon when he turn'd Idolater. The word signifies a Flock of Sheep and Riches. And some say, that as Jupiter Ammon was ador'd under the shape of a Ram, so Juno Ammon, or the Moon, was worship'd under the form of a Sheep. But others be∣lieve that Astaroth was King of Syria, thus call'd for his great Wealth. Tho. Goodwin de ritibus Hebraeorum.
• Aster, a Citizen of Olynthus, who shot out one of Philip of Macedon's Eyes as he besieged Methon, having writ upon the Ar∣row, ASTER sends this Arrow to PHILIP. Plutarch in Philip.
• Asterius, King of Crete, Son of Apteras. He succeeded his Brother Lapithas, and continued the Syrian War which his Brother had begun, bringing away by force Europa Age∣nor's Daughter: And his Sirname being Taurus, the Poets feign'd that Jupiter in the shape of a Bull run away with her. Herodotus, l. 4.
• Asterius, an Eloquent Defender of the Arrians in the Reigns of Constantine and Constans, call'd by St. Athanasius the Arrians Advocate. Yet they durst not prefer him, for fear of exposing themselves and Cause, he having openly sa∣crific'd to Idols in the Reign of Maximianus Hercules. Her∣man vie St. Athanase.
• * Astomi, a People of India about the Fountains of Ganges, Hairy all over like the Down that grows on Leaves of Trees. Plin. Baud.
• Astorgue, or Astorga, Lat. Asturica Augusta, an Episcopal City of Spain in the Kingdom of Leon, formerly under the Archbishop of Bragua, now under the Archbishop of Com∣postella, situated in a Plain, upon the River Torto, well forti∣fied, but thinly inhabited, having nothing considerable in it, but a few Towers, a Market-Place, and a Cathedral at the end of the Town.
• Astracan, now a Province subject to the great Duke of Muscovia, though formerly a Kingdom under a King of Tar∣tary: Upon the Frontiers of the Tartarian Desert, toward the mouth of the River Volga. It was taken from the Tartars by John Basilovitz, Grand Duke of Muscovy, in 1554. 'Tis as hot there in September and October, as 'tis in France in the middle of Summer; yet in the deep of Winter (which is not above two months) the Weather is so severe, that the Ice on the River bears laden Waggons. The Inhabitants drive a great Trade in Salt, which is of a Violet Flavour, and sold very cheap. This Salt they gather in the Isle Dulgoi, and in the Deserts, where there are abundance of Veins of Salt, it swims upon the Water an inch thick like Rock Cry∣stal, and in such great quantity, that one may have as much as he pleases paying but a Half-penny Custom for a Poude, or 40 pound weight; and some say that there are Mountains 2 Leagues from Astracan, where 30000 Men may work in∣cessantly without finding the bottom of some Salt Mines that are there. From Astracan to the Caspian Sea the River is so stock'd with Fish, that the greatest Carps are sold for the 6th part of a Peny. There are also great numbers of Tortoises, because the Tartars nor Moscovites never eat of 'em. In former Ages all Nagaya was inhabited by Tartars, who had their King, and liv'd in good intelligence with those of Crim and Cazan. But the great Duke John Basilovitz having reduc'd the Tartars of Cazan under his Obedience in 1552, attack'd those of Nagaye, two years after made himself Master of Astracan, whence he drove the ancient Inhabi∣tants, and Peopled it with Moscovites, who also inhabit all the Wall'd Towns of the Country, keeping the Tartars in their Tents and Huts in the open Field lest they might rebel. In 1558 the Castle of Astracan was neither strong nor fair. but wall'd with Timber, the Czar had ordered that Wall to be pull'd down and rebuilt with Freestone, and they were then doing it. The Town was also Wall'd with Earth and Timber, but the Buildings within it left base and simple. The Air stunk by reason of the great quantity of Sturgeon taken here, on which the Inhabitants for the most part live. and there was then a Famine and a Plague in the Town, oc∣casion'd by a vast number of Naked Tartars who died about the Town of Hunger, and were left unburied. This was then the furthest Fortress the Russians had towards the South East. In the year 1596 Selim sent an Army of 25000 Horse and 30000 Janizaries against this City, to which 80000 Crim-Tartars joined themselves, the far greatest part whereof pe∣rished without doing the Russians any considerable damage. In the year 1574 this Kingdom was invaded by an Army of 70000 Turks and Tartars, but Winter and the news of a great Army from Mosco forced them to retreat without any success, after they had besieged Astracan 6 weeks. But the Crim-Tartars made themselves Masters of it in the year 1661; and it was recovered by the Russians in 1662. In 1669 it was environed with a strong thick Stone Wall, (not usual in Russia) and mounted with 500 Brass Cannon, and had a strong Garison, and Ammunition proportionable. It affords a noble prospect without, having many Towers and lofty Piles of Buildings. It is much frequented by the Tartar Na∣tions, Persians, Armenians, and Indians, who bring their Goods over the Caspian Sea in small Vessels, the chief Trade here be∣ing Silks. In 1669, June 23, the strong City of Astracan was betray'd by its own Garison into the hands of Stenco (Stephen) Radzin, a Rebellious Cossac, who with intolerable Cruelty Massacred all the great Men, and Officers that fell

• into his hands, and many of the Citizens that betrayed the City. It was retaken by the Czar in 1671. The Islands be∣low it swarm with Wild Fowl, which they catch with Hawks. It abounds with large Melons, and excellent Grapes. The City of this name is very beautiful to see to, having abundance of Towers and Steeples, but the Houses within are only of Wood, and ill built, being upon the borders of Europe and Asia; it's much frequented by Tartars, Muscovites, Persians, Armenians, and Indians, which makes it a Town of good Trade. Olcarius Voyage de Moscovie, &c.
• Astiaea, Daughter of Jupiter and Themis, and Goddess of Justice. She came from Heaven in the Golden Age to live on the Earth; but the Wickedness of the Iron Age was such, that she fled to Heaven again, and was plac'd in the Zodiack. Hesiode in Theog.
• Asturies, or Asturia, by the Spaniards, Las Asturias, a Pro∣vince of Spain, between Galicia and Biscay, divided into two parts, Asturia de Ovieda, towards Galicia, and Asturia de San∣tellano toward Biscay: The whole Province is barren, moun∣tainous, and but thinly inhabited. It formerly gave Title to the Eldest Son of the King of Castile. In the beginning of the 8th Age the Christians here were forc'd to the Moun∣tains by the Saracens, where choosing Don P••lagio, of the Royal Race of the Goths, for their King, in 717 they again beat out the Infidels, and founded their Kingdom anew. The People of this Country still retain the same name they had in the Romans time; They took this name from the River Astura now called Istura, Ystura, and Astura, which washeth Leon, and falleth into the Douro. They were then divided by the Mountain Vendius into two parts; That part which lay on the North of these Mountains was cold, bar∣ren, and very rugged, but yet was famous for fine Saddle-Horses. The Inhabitants were observed also to be a rude barbarous sort of People, so that Augustus forced them from the Mountains into the Plains, that they might be the more easily Civilized, after he had in Person conquered them in the year of Rome 727. A. M. 3924.
• Astyages, Son of Cyaxares, and Grandchild of Phraortes, the 9th and last King of the Med••s. He began his Reign in the 46th Olympiad, about the year of Rome 160. He dream'd, when his Daughter Mandana, whom he had Married to Cam∣byses King of Persia, was with Child, that a Vine sprung out of his Bosom, that spread it self over all Asia; which so troubled him, that he resolv'd, by the perswasion of the Mag••, to kill the Infant as soon as born. Accordingly when Mandana was deliver'd of Cyrus, he sent Harpagus, who, in∣stead of destroying, found a way to preserve the Child; which Astyages a long time after hearing of, he was so in∣cens'd, that he caus'd Harpagus to eat his own Son, who, in revenge, call'd in Cyrus, who dethron'd his Grandfather, in the year of Rome 196, and 56th Olympiad, and thereby put an end to the Monarchy of the Medes, after it had continued 317 years. Herodotus Cleo. Justin.
• Asyle, a Name given to Priviledged Places, whence Of∣fenders could not be forc'd without offending the Gods and Religion. Cadmus built one at Thebes, Romulus one at Rome in the Sacred Grove between the Capitol and Palace, the Messenians, Lacedemonians, and other Nations appropriated this Priviledge to their Temples. Tiberius observing that the greatest Crimes pass'd thus unpunish'd, abolish'd them. Pope Boniface V. to put a greater value upon the Christian Reli∣gion, order'd that the Churches and Altars should be places of shelter to any that could make their escape to 'em. The Asyles or Priviledged Places which God permitted among the Jews were very different from these other, because they were but for such as kill'd a Man by chance, or some unexpected accident. Suetonius, Plutarch in Romul.
• Acahalipa, a King of Peru, of the Family of the Inca's, about the beginning of the 16th Age, and one of the most magnificent Monarchs of America. He put to death one of his Brothers, and made Cusco the Capital City of his King∣dom. He liv'd in Peace (having subdu'd most of the Neigh∣bouring People) till Francis Pisaro, in 1525, made a Disco∣very of his Country, and settled in some of the best Cities thereof, occasion'd all his misfortunes; at first he offer'd him his Service, thinking thereby to entangle him, (that Bait failing) he defeated and took him, using him very cruelly, pillaging his Treasuries, and at last, contrary to his pro∣mises, strangled him Anno 1533, which God revenged in a little time. Garcilas. de la vega Hist. de Peru.