Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world: giving an account of the several religions, customs, and riches of each people; the strength and government of each polity and state; the curious and most remarkable things in every region; with other particulars necessary to the understanding history and the interests of princes. Written originally by the Sieur Duval, Geographer in Ordinary to the French King; and made English, and enlarged by Ferrand Spence.

Of England.

ENgland was so called by the English, an an∣cient People, who dwelt on the confines of Germany and of Denmark; the Name of Sax∣ony Trans-marine was given it by the Saxons. Before, it was called Lhoegria, and then Scot∣land went under the Name of Albania, and Wales that of Cambria. During the decay of the Roman Empire, the Saxons and English in∣vaded Great Brittain with main force, and near Bedford gained a signal Victory over the Insu∣laries, who were constrained to abandon their Countrey. Several Brittons retired into Wales, others passed into Brittany in France, where they setled the British Tongues by the help of

their Country Men, whom the Romans had alrea∣dy lead thither to support their pretensions to the Empire. King Arthur, one of the last Brittish Kings, who dyed in the year 542. is the same whom so many Fables be told of, and to whom is attri∣buted the institution of the Knights of the round Table. The Victors, that is to say, the Saxons and the English, raised a Wall towards the West of England, to mark the Bounds of their Conquests, and at the same time made a Law, by which all the Brittons should have a hand cut off, who were found with a Sword on this side the Wall. In the year 450. and the following, there were formed seven Kingdoms, Kent, Sussex, Essex, West-Sex, East-Anglia, Mercia, North-Humbria. A little after that Charlemagne was acknowledged Em∣perour of the West, all these Monarchies were reduced into one by King Egbert, who dyed in the year 837. The Successours of this Egbert having been troubled by the Danes, the last of them declared his Heir William Duke of Nor∣mandy, to whom the Conquest of England brought the Name of Conquerour. Thus Eng∣land has had Soveraigns of six several Nations, of the Brittons, Romans, Saxons, English, Danes and Normans. These last have established there the Principal Laws, the King who now reigns is James the 2. England is a greater Kingdom, more fertile and populous than is either Scotland or Ireland. It is the most considerable of any State in the Ocean: It produces Corn and Fruits in abundance: the best Tin in the World is transported thence; Wool, Cloaths, Hides and other Commodities both excellent and in great plenty; neither is it wanting in ex∣cellent

Liquors. The English Horses, Dogs and Cocks are in high esteem all over the World. No Wolves have been seen there since the general hunting, which destroyed them al∣most all, by the means of permission Cri∣minals had of redeeming their Lives with the Heads of those Animals. Gunners and Dogs were for sometime kept upon Frontiers of Scotland, to hinder the Wolves' which were hunted out, from returning into Eng∣land. The great respect that is paid to Ladys in this Realm, has given occasion to the saying; that England is the Paradise of Wo∣men, the Purgatory of Servants, and the Hell of Horses. The English for the most part are well proportioned, and of a generous Nature. They have had so great an Antipathy to the Scots, that Edward the 1. the same who was prefer∣red before his Eldest Brother, by reason of the Beauty of his Body, recommended, that after his Death, they should boyl him until they parted his Flesh and his Bones, that they should bury his Flesh, and carry his Bones along to the War against the Scots. The English are own∣ed Soveraigns of the Ocean, and have made those States and Potentates to repent, who have dared to dispute their Right to that Title. Their Coun∣trey is compared to the Tortoise in the shell, who has all his Defences collected. The acquisition of some Places by the allyance with Portugal, has obliged them to extraordinary expences. The Spaniards have a Proverb, with all War, and Peace with England. The general Religi∣on of the English, is the reformed, the King of England is the Head of the Anglican Church, where of the Principal Members are the Bishops,

who compose the House of Lords with the other Peers. This Parliament is very diffe∣rent from those of France; besides the House of Lords, there is that of the Commons, cal∣led the Lower House. The principal Rivers of England are, the Thames, Severn and Hum∣ber, which do not encrease by the Rains, the neighbouring Lands being sandy. There be reckoned one and fifty Counties called Shires; each of those Counties is distributed into hun∣dreds, into Tithings or Tenths. They may be considered according to the four Regions of the World; and this division is much the same with that the Romans made, when they were Masters of the Country.

The Southern part of England is along the Channel, where be the best Harbours of the Kingdom. Canterbury and Bristow be there considerable, the first upon the account of its Archbishopwrick and of its Primacy; the se∣cond for its Commerce, Ships arriving there at full Sail. Rochester is the usual Station of the Kings Ships, which are called men of War, Fri∣gats, Yachts. Salisbury has a Metropolitan Church, wherein are reckoned as many Doors as there be Months, and as many Windows as there be days in the year. Windsor is a Royal Castle near the Thames, where the Ceremonies of the order of the Garter are generally per∣formed. Dover is known for its strong Castle, for Peoples embarking there for Calice, Dun∣kirk and Ostend; for the Neighbourhood of the Downs, under whose shelter, the Ships that are bound towards the East and towards the South, may wait safely for Winds, fair for their Voyage. Hastings is a place

where in the year 1066. William the Conque∣rour gained a full Victory over Herald the 2d. the last Danish King, who was killed upon the spot with above sixty thousand of his Men. Portsmouth, Southampton, Plimouth have very good Ports.

The Eastern part has this advantage, of ha∣ving London, the Capital of all the Realm, one of the Greatest, Richest and most Populous Cityes in the World, by the means of its greatest traffick. Its Scituation is upon the River of Thames, where it receives the noblest Ships of the Universe; its Bridge is three hundred and thirty Paces in length. The Pastures and Meads round about would make a most pleasant Pro∣spect and Landskip, if the Smoak of Coals which is commonly burnt there, did not raise a continual Cloud. Norwich is one of the best Cities, and most populous of all the Kingdom. Yarmouth sees the fishing of Herrings performed in its Neighbourhood, where at Michaelmas is held a fair for that purpose. Cambridge one of the most famous Universities in the World. Harwich a famous Port. The Countrey round about was the abode of the Icenians, whose Queen Bodicea put to Death a great number of Romans in the time of Nero, and preferred a glorious Death before an Ignominious Slave∣ry.

Towards the midst of the Realm is Oxford, with one of the four most famous Universities of Europe, wherein there is thirty three Colledges, that of the University has a Library full of very curious Manuscripts; unless it be that of the Vatican, there be few in the World that have any so fine. Gloucester is commonly the appan∣age

of the third Son of the King of Great Brittain: It is near the Severn, near the Isle of Aldney, where was formerly fought a sin∣gular Combat between Edmond Ironside King of the English Saxons; and Canute the Dane, who at length divided the Kingdom between them, after having fought a long while without being able to have any advantage over one another. Chester is accompanyed with a Sea-Port, where People embark for Ireland. At Worcester was the Defeat of the Kings Army in the year 1651. by the Rebels.

York in the Northern part is the second City of the Kingdom, and the Title of the Kings se∣cond Son. Lancaster is a County Palatin, fa∣mous for its ancient Family. The two Houses of York and Lancaster gave a great deal of trou∣ble to England, during above a hundred years, by the fatal Faction of the White and Red Rose. New-Castle and Hull have the conveniency of the Sea: The Country about New-Castle is full of Mines, which afford Coals, so necessary to the Inhabitants of the City of London, and the best Crayons of Europe. The refusal that was made at Hull of receiving King Charles the 1. was one of the Principal Motives of the War between his Majesty and the Parliamentaryes. Barwick and Carlisle have some Fortifications. Penrith keeps the round Terrass, which is said to have been King Arthurs Table. Between Hull and Newcastle there be the Ports of Brilington and Scarborough.

The Principality of Wales is the Title of the Kings Eldest Son; it has few good Cities: Bangor was there formerly a famous Abby, where above twelve hundred Monks lived on

what they earn'd by working. Milford is recko∣ned one of the finest Havens of Europe, by rea∣son of its Sinuosities, which form as many good Ports. The Isle of Anglesey which is near it, was the abode of some Druids, and the re∣treat of those, who in Great Brittain would not submit to the Romans. It is called the Nursing Mother of Wales, by reason of its fer∣tility. Its City of Aberfrau served formerly for abode to the Kings of North-Wales.