A compendious view, or Cosmographical, and geographical description of the whole world.: With more plain general rules, touching the use of the globe, then bave been yet published. Wherein is shewed the situation of the several countries, and islands: their particular governments, manners, commodities, and religions. Also a chronology of the most eminent persons, and things that have been since the creation, to this present: wherein you have a brief of the gospel, or a plain, and easie table, directing readily where to find the several things, that were taught, spoke, done and suffered, by Jesus Christ, throughout the said gospel. The which is not onely pleasant, and delightful; but very useful, and profitable; for all. But cheifly for those who want, either time, to read, or money to buy, many books. / By Tho. Porter.

Of the Isles belonging to Italy.

CORSICA, which is hard to be come at, being enclosed on all sides with cliffs; and within for the most part mountainous, and therefore yields not much grain: only in some parts where the Countrey open∣eth

it self, and is watered with Rivers, and maketh it fruitful: It hath good Wines, great store of Honey, Figs, Oyl, Rozin.

SARDINIA, the Ayr hereof is rough, and un∣wholsom; but neither Serpent nor Wolf, nor any o∣ther venomous or hurtful Beast, but the Fox only, and a little Creature like a Spider, which will by no meanes endure the Sun, except held by violence: it aboun∣deth in Fruit, Wine, Wheat, and some Mines: and af∣fords great store of hunting, because it hath good plen∣ty of Bores and Deer.

SICILIA hath a good Air, and fruitful Soyl, and the Corn yields abundance of Increase: It hath plenty of Fruits, great store of Honey, Sugar, Oyl, Wines, Saffron, Salt, Allum: It produceth precious stones, as the Emraud, Jasper, and Marble-stones; and as well stored with Mettals; for it hath Gold, Silver, and Iron: as also great Herds of Oxen, and other Cattle. And herein is the Mount Aetna, which some have taken to be Hell, and ignorant Papists Purgatory, because it sends forth continually streams of fire, which the brim∣stone there causeth: as is affirmed by good Authours. There be some other Isles of small note, which we will passe by.

GERMANY is bounded on the East with Po∣land and Hungary, on the West with France and the Low-Countries; on the South with Itaely, and on the North with part of Denmark, and the Baltick or Swe∣dish Sea: In the midst hereof, lyeth Bohemia, in which stands Prague, where the Emperour commonly keeps his Court: it hath many stately Towns well fortified, and furnished with so many Castles and Villages, such abundance of people, and such politick Government,

that she may compare with any. The Soil is fruitful in Corn and Wine: it hath many Navigable Rivers, sto∣red with plenty of Fish, most excellent Fountains, and hot Baths, Mines of Copper, Lead, Tin, Iron, and some of Silver and Gold. It hath many learned men, very skilful in all Sciences, and mechanical Arts. They were the Inventers of Gun-powder, and of the Noble Art of Printing. Their Women are of a good Complexion, but much given to eating and drinking, and so apt to fatness. The Title of the Father descends to all the Children: so that the Sonne of a Lord, is a Lord, which verifies the Italian Proverb, That the Dukes and Lords of Germany, the Dons of Spain, the Nobility of Hunga∣ry, the Monsieurs of France, the Knights of Naples, the Lairds of Scotland, the Bishops of Italy, and the younger Brethren of England, make a poor Company. In Religion they are reckoned for Protestants.

HOLLAND (or the 17 Provinces of the Low-Countries) is counted a part of Germany: the Air is now more wholsom then formerly: for through the industry of the people, it is much drained: And in it are many Rivers, (as the Rhine▪ Mosella, Mosa and the Escant) plentifully stored with Fish. Here is also plenty of Corn and Cattle, many great Towns rich and well peopled. The Inhabitants are witty; for to them we are indebted for the making of Cloth, Clocks, Chariots, Pictures in Glasse, Watches, and laying of Colours in Oyl. They perfected the Marriners Compass, and have many Pilots well practised in the Art of Navigation. They are industrious in all Sciences, and Mechanical Arts, and have had a name for the Art Military. They are said to be mindless of good turns, and injuries done unto them. The first too true, the latter I fear not true enough.

Their Women are of a good Complexion, and well proportioned, (though their Habit do not set them out so well as the French) familiar and active: for unto their good Hou••wifery are we beholden, for the making of Tapestries, Woosted and Says.

From hence are sent all sorts of Commodities; as Fl••x, Linnen-Cloth, all kind of twisted Thread, Cables, Ropes, and other Ammunition belonging to Ships; But∣ter, Cheese, Fish, Tapes, and much Drapery Ware; Scar∣let, Taffeties, Silks, Velvets, and divers others, though not many of their own growth; but most of the Stuffs fetched from other parts, and by them made up, and so carried into other Countries.

Their Religion in the general, is the reformd, though they suffer all: and in Flanders and Artois, they are Papists.

DENMARK and NORWAY we reckon both to∣gether, for that they belong to the King of Denmark: Towards the East they border upon Sweden, on the South upon Germany, and on the West and North with the Sea: That part called Norway, affords but little Corn, and the North thereof none at all: so that the poorer sort are sain to use Stock-fish dryed, instead of Bread, (as they do in Ice-land) and have no night for al∣most three moneths together. The people generally are of good stature and complexion, healthful and long lived: for though they eat and drink much, yet have they good digestions. In managing their Affairs, they are subtil, strict in executing Justice, peremptory in maintaining their Opinions, good observers of their Words and Contracts, reasonable good Souldiers, but given to vaunting.

Their Women are very fruitful in bearing Children, but not delivered without great pain. Of Complexion, they are fair, and are discreet in managing their Hous∣hold Affairs.

In Religion, they are Lutherans or Protestants, and their Church Government is by Arch-Bishops and Bi∣shops. Their Commodities are Oxen, Barley, Malt, Stock-fish, Tallow, Nuts, Tackling for Ships, as Masts & Cables; Train-Oyl, rich Furs, Deal-Boards, Pitch, Tar, and such like.