A Brief Description of the Whole World, Part 28
Of the Ilands in the Mediterranean Sea.
THere be many Ilands in the Mediterranean, renowned in all the old Writers; but the chiefe of them onelyonly shall be touched. From the Pillars of Hercules going East-ward, are two Islands not fa…re from Spaine, which in times past were called Insulae Baleares, for that the people ofInsulae Baleares. them did use (both for their delight and armor) s…ings▪ which they continually (almost) carried about with them: and whereunto, as Pliny writeth, they did traine up their Children from their youngest years, not giving them any meat, till they had from some post or beam cast it down with a s…ing. Of these were those Fonditors, or Sling-casters, which the Carthaginians and Spaniards did use in their wars against the Romans. The lesser of these, which lyeth most West, was called in the old time Minorica; The bigger, which lyeth more East, was called Majorica; and now Minorica and Majorica are both under the domi…ion of the King of Spaine.
More Eastward in the Sea, called Mare inferum, or Tyrrhenum, …iethThe Iland of Corsica. the Iland of Corsica, over against Genua: and direct Southward from thence lieth the great …sland Sardinia, The Iland of Sardiniafor the quiet possession of which two, the warres were oftentimes revived between the old Carthaginians and the Romans: for these two Islands lie in the middle very fitly.
The Island of Corsica is subject to the state of Genua; whither the Genoes do transport things out of the Maine; and are ruled by their Governours, as the Venetians do Candy.
This Island is but barren, either in respect of some other that lye neere unto it, or of the Country of Italy; but yet yeeldeth profit, ease, and honour unto the States of G… nua, which hath little land besid… it.
The Island of Sardinia also is n… way so fruitful as Sicily, but it is under the government of the King of Spain, and was the same which was promised to Anthony the King ofNote. Navarre, father to Henry the fourth King of France, in recompence of … ▪ and the rest of the Kingdome of Navar, then and now detained from him and his heires by the Spaniard. But this was the device onelyonly of the Cardinall of Lorain, who intending to draw him to Papistry, and to order his politick purposes, did make shew of this, which was no way meant by the Spaniard.
Further to the East, at the very point of the South p…rt of Italy, lyethThe Iland of Si…lia. the great Iland Sicilia, which some have supposed to have been heretosore a part of the continent: but by an earth-quake and inundation of water, to have been rent off, and so made an Iland. The figure of this Country is Triquetra, triangle, or three square.
Justin in his 4 Book doth seem to suspect that Sicily was in times past fastned unto Italy. But Seneca in consolatione ad Martian, cap 97. doth say plainly, that it was sometimes a piece of the continent.
There was also a great contention for this Countrey between the Carthaginians and the Romans: but the Romans obtained it, and had from thence exceeding store of Corn yearly: whereupon Sicily was called Horreum Pope Rome. Here stood the goodly City called Siracusa, whichThe City Siracusa. was destroyed and sac…ed by Marcellus the Roman. When, as Livy writeth of him, he being resolvedNote. to set on fire that City, which was then one of the goodliest places of the world, could not choose but breake forth into teares, to see how vain and transitory the glory of worldly things is here.
At that time lived Archimedes, Arthimides the famous Enginemaker.who was a most admirable ingenious Engine-maker, for all kind of fortifications: of whom it is said that by burning glasses which he made, he did set on fire divers ships which the Romans had lying in the Haven. When the City was taken, he was making plots, and drawing figures on the ground, for to prevent the assaults of the Romans, and being unknown, he was slaine by some of the Souldiers which did break in upon him. Some think that it was he, and not Architas, which made the dove, of which it is written, that it was so equally poised, that being thrown up into the aire, it would hover or flutter there, and in a good space not fall down.
This was in times past a Kingdome,Sicily once a Kingdom▪ two famous Tyrants in it. where the two Tyrants, the elder and the younger Dyonisius did reigne; where Gelo also, that great friend to the Romans, did remain.
It was afterward made a province, and gover…ed by a Praetor, or Deputy of the Romans: whereof Verres was one, who was so inveighed against by Tully.
It grew afterward to be a Kingdome again, in so much that Tancredus was King of Sicily, which entertain'd our Richard the first, when with Philip the King of France, he went to the conquest of the Holy Land. Here was likewise Phalaris The tyrant. Phalaris.the Tyrant so famous, King of Agragentum.
The tyrannies which were used inThe tyrannies of Sicily were very famous. Sicily, were in times past so famous, that they grew into a Proverb; as, Invidi â Siculinon invenêre Tyranni tormentum majus; but they who were the causes of all, did oftentimes speed very ill themselves; as appeareth by the elder Dionysius, who being driven out of his Dominion, did flee into Italy, and was glad there to teach children, that so he might supply his necessity. His son grew more tyrannous then the father, and stood so farre in fear of his own people, that many times he caused himself to be shut up in a Tower, and his guard to keep the door, that nobody might come at him; He durst not trust his barber to shave or clip him, for fear of cutting of hisNote that cruelty is alwaies attended with scar. throat; but that which was done he caused his Daughters to do, who with the thin innet skin of walnuts being set on fire, are said to have taken off the hair of his face.
This was he, whose felicity when Damocles a flatterer did seem marveloustyDamocles the flatterer to admire, he caused him to be set one day at dinner in his royall seat, with dainty fare before him; Plate, rich Hangings, Musick, and all other matters of delight; but withall, a naked sword, which was onelyonly tyed with a single haire of a horses mane, to be hanged directly over him; the feare whereof did so feare the flatterer left it should fal upon him, that he continually looked upwards, and about him, and took no joy of that which was before him: whereby Dyonisius did evidently teach him, that the state of some Princes, howsoever it seem glorious unto others, yet it doth bring little contentment unto themselves, by reason of the continual dangers which hang over them.
It is reported of this man, that when all the people of this Country did for his cruelty continually curse him, there was one woman which daily did go to the Churches, and prayed the gods to lengthen his life; where withall when Dionysius was acquainted, marvelling himself at the reason of it, he sent for her, and asked what good thing he had done unto her, that she was soNote how the poor woman prayed for this Tyrant. careful evermore to pray for him? But the woman answered, that it was not for love, but for feare, that she begged these things of the gods: For (said she) I am an old woman, I do remember when your Grandfather lived, who being very hard unto his people, was much maligned by them, and they prayed that they might be rid of him: which falling our, afterward your father came in place, and he was worse than the former: which when the subjects could not endure, they prayed also that he might dye, hoping that the next would be better: Then came your self in place, who have much exceeded the cruelty of your father: And whereas others wish that you were gone also trusting for amendment in the next, I that have lived so long, and see that things grow worse and worse, do pray that you may continue▪ because that if we should have one that should succeed you, if he walke in the steps of his predecessors, he must needs be as bad as the Devill himself; for none else in tyranny can go beyond you.
Phalaris of Agrigentum was he who proposed rewards unto him who invented new torments: which caused Perillus to make a Bull of Brasse, into the which if offenders should be put, and fire should be set under, then it would make them roare like a Bull: But when upon theA good note for all inventers of tortures & cruelty, and likewise for time flatterers. terror thereof none would so offend as to deserve that torment, Phalaris took Perillas, the Authour thereof, and to try the experience, put him into it, whereby Perillus lost his life.
This Countrey is now also under the King of Spaine, who among other titles was wont to call himself King of both Sicilies, reckoning this Island for one, and that part of Italy for another, which is now called Calabria, and was in the Romane H stories named Magna Graecia.
There is nothing more renowned▪ in all Sicilia, either with new or old Writers, then the mountain Aetna: which being on the outside oft coveredThe mountian Aetna with snow, yet by a sulphurous or brimstony matter, doth continually burn within: yea, so that whereas it was supposed in the ages last before us, that the matter being consum'd, the fire had ceased, twice in our age it hath broke forth again, to the incredible loss of all the country adjoining, the ashes thereof destroying vines and fruits, which were within the compass of many m…les about.
Agatheas in his History doth tell, that in his one time there was an incredible deale of ashes which did fall about Constantinople, and the places neer adjoining, insomuch that the ground was covered with the same: which he reputeth to have been brought from the hill in Sicily: But B…din in his Method. Hist. doth reprove this as a fable, which can have no shew of truth, by reason of the great distance of the place: notwithstanding it is certaine, that sometimes when it doth strongly break out, the fields and vineyards, and all the fruits within the compasse of some miles, àre much hurt therewithall.
The reason of this Fire was laidThe reason of the fire in the mountain Aeina▪ down by Justine in his 4. Books; and is since approved both by Historians and Philosophers: which is, that within the ground there is great …ore of Sulphu…e & brimstony matter, which having once fire in it, is apt to keep it. And whereas all the whole Country is full of chinks and chaps, and hollowness within the ground, the matter which entreth there, doth minister substance to the continuance of that …me: as we see that water cast on coales in the Smiths Forge, doth make them burn more servently: and then into the Chin…es▪ and Ch…ps the wind doth also enter, which by blowing and …, d…th both cause the fire never to extinguish; and sometimes (according unto the strength of the blast) doth make flames break out either more or lesse.
There are in the Hill Aetna, two principal places which are like unto two Furnaces with Tunnels on the top of them, where divers times (but especially in the Evening and night) the flame doth appear, mounting upwards; and it is so strong, that oftentimes it brings up with it burnt & scorching stones & pieces of hard substances, which seem to be rent out of some rocke, to the great terrour and danger of any that do come near.
This is that place whither Empedocles Note.threw hims…lf, that he might be reported a god.
This was it whereof Virgil doth make his Tract called Aetna: which the Poets did report to be the shop of Vulcan, where Cyclopes did frame the Thunder-bolts for Jupiter.
And to conclude, that is it which some of our grosse Papists have not feared to imagine to be the place of Purgatory: As they have been so foolish to think, that there is also another place, called the Mount Vidu in Iseland, where soules have another Purgatory to be punished in, but there by cold, which Surius in his Commentaries is so absurdly grosse as to report an …allow.
The Papists have shew for theirThe Papists Purgatory is the fiery Aeana Purgatory in Aetna, out of that Book which is commonly called by the name of the Dialogues of Gregory the Great; For in that Booke there are divers things to that purpose. But our best Writers of late have discovered that that same Treatise is a counterfeit, being made by a later Pope Gregory, and not by the first of that name, ordinarily called Gregorius Magnus: who although he have in his Works divers things tending to superstition; yet he was never so absurd as to write things so unprobable, foolish, and grounded upon so bare reports as these were.
Such another Hill as the Mountain of Aetna is, was in time past. Vesuvius, a Hill in Campania, which is part of Italy; but this never had the like continuance as that of Aetna, although in the time of Pliny the fire did breake forth there, and so strongly, as that the elder Pliny, who spent all his time in discovering the secrets of Nature, pressing neer to behold it, was stifled with the flame, smoak, ashes or that he diedThe death of Pliny the elder. in the place, as is most excellently described in the Book of his Epistle … his Nephew the yonger Pliny.
Not farre from Sicily on the …outh lieth the little Isle called in old …ime Melita: whence those dogs come which are so much desired under the names of Canes Melitenses.
This was the place where S. Paul Note.was cast up after his ship-wrack in his journy to Rome, where the Viper hanged on his hand, and did not hurt him.
This Country is now called Malta, Malta the only place for repelling the Turks.and is one of the places most renowned in the world for repelling of the Turks: When Soliman the Emperour of them did send against it a most mighty arm; it was then defended by them, who are called the Knights of Malta, which by sea do great spoile to the Gallies of the Turk that passe that way▪
There were in times past diver… Orders of Knights, and men that …ad vowed themselves to adventure their lives and whole state, for the maintenance of Christs Religion and some places of the earth, against the Infidels and Sarazens.
The most ancient of all thoseThe society of the Knights Templers. were called the Templers, who were a great corporation or society, consisting of divers Gentlemen yonger. brothers for the most part, out of all the Realms of Christendome: Their chiese charge was to defe…d the City of Jerusalem, and the Reliques or remainder of the Temple there, and Sepulchre of Christ: for the preservation of which places, together with the rest of the Holy Land, they had given unto them▪ and purchased for their mony, very rich and ample possessions, in England, France, Spaine, Italy, and other places of Europe; insomuch that in the daies of Matthew Paris, he reporteth that they had under them many thousands of Mannors.
They had also in every Kingdome where their Order was permitted a great and ample house, where some chief of their company did lye, who received the Rents within that Kingdome. and caused the money to be transported into the Holy Land, and other Ordinances to be made and executed belonging unto their Order: of which Houses the Temple, that is now in London was a chiefe one, which had in former times belonged to the Jewes, but was afterwards translated to that use, when the Holy Land was quite taken by Saladine, and could never be recovered into the hands of the Christians since the society of these Templers ceased: the Pope and the KingThe Pope & the King of France. conspiring their ruine. of France conspiring their ruines, and their Land, were dispersed into divers mens hands.
In the same time when the Timplers were in their strength, there was another sort called the Hospitallers, Hospitallerswhose condition and im ployment was very like unto the other; both of them fighting for the preservation of Palestina,
We read that sometimes these two companies had great jarrs between themselves, whereby grew much hinderance to the wars against the Infidels.
All these were accounted as Orders of Religion, and therefore it was forbidden them at any time to marry, without dispensation from the Pope; because not being entangled to Wife and Children, they might be more resolute to adventure their lives.
After them grew up the Order of▪ The Knights of Rhodes.the Knights of Rhodes, who since they could not live in the Holy Land, yet would abide as near unto it as possibly they might: and therefore partly to preserve Pilgrims which should go to visit the Sepulcher of Chirst, and partly to infest the Turke and Saracens; but especially to keep the enemies of Christs faith from encroaching further upon Christendome, which most earnestly they did, and do desire, they placed themselves in the Island of Rhodes, where daily doing grea f…th to the Turk Soliman the great Warriour could not endure them, but with a mighty Army so ove l…id them, that he won the Island from them.
After the losse of Rhodes, the Iland of Malta was given unto these Knights by Charles the 5. Emperour; whereupon they are now called the Knights of Malta: for theThe Knights of Malta. great Master after he came from Rhodes went into Candy, and from thence into Sicily, and so into Italy, from thence he made a voyage into England and then into France, and hastly in…o Savoy, from whence he departed with the Religion into this Island, and there they continue and behave themselves as in the former Iland; and offering no violence unto Christians; they much hinder the courses of the Turkes from Graecia and Asia, and of the other Sarazens from Fez and Morocco. They are very valiant men, fit to do great service, either by Land or Sea, as appeared when Soliman did think to have surprised them and their Iland; the description of which war is dilipently laid down by Caelius s…undus Curio, in a Treatise dedicated to Elizabeth Queen of England.
There have been divers other Orders of Knights, yea, and some of them reputed to be a kinde of Religion, in Portugal, France, England Burgundy, and some other places of Christendome; but because their service hath not been emploi'd purposely, as these, which are before mentioned, we do not touch them in this place.
Neer unto Graecia and Peloponnsus, on the West side towards Italy, is the Isle of Corcyra, now termedThe Isle Corsu. Cephalenia. Zon. Corfu: and not far South from that, is Cophalenia; & from thence South is Zon, called by Virgil Nemerosa Zacynthus: all which Ilands are at this day under the Venetians.
The greatest commodity whichThe commodities of the Countrey. that Countrey doth yield, are Corans, which are gathered of a kind of small Grapes; and for the making whereof, they commonly one time every summer, for the space of three weekes, have a continuall drought day and night, in which time the Currans are laid abroad in the open aire, and may not be taken in; insomuch that if the season do continue hot and dry, their merchandize is very good; but if there fall any raine untill the time be expired of their full drying, the Currans are not good, but do mould and change their colour to be somewhat white like meale. The State of Venice, under whom this Iland is, doth make a great commodity of the impost, or taxation, which is laid upon this Merchandize, calling the Tribute which is paid for them, the Revenue of Saint Mark: for untoThe Impost laid on this Island, called, the Revenue of St Mark. that Saint is the City of Venice dedicated, and they hold him for their Patron.
In this Iland (besides the Merchants who repaire thither) are divers Italians, who be there in Garison for the Venetians, in one special Castle, which commandeth the whole Iland.
There are also divers Fryars of that Nation, who perform nnto their Country men such exercises of Religion as are convenient.
They will not fuffer any of our Merchants to have Christian buriall among them, unlesse at his death he be confessed after the Romish fashion: whereupon some have been forced to convey over some of their dead bodies into Morea, (which is not farre distant) to be buried there among the Greekes, and after their fashion.
The naturall Inhabitants of Zant Zant the Inhabitants Greeks.are Greeks, both by Language and Religion, and observe all fashions of the Greekish Church: in whose words (being now much corrupted & depraved) there may yet be found some tokens and remainders of the old, pure, and uncorrupted Greek.
There are in this Countrey great store of Swine kept, whereof the Inhabitants do feed, and carry them into Morea: but the Turks there (by their Mahumetane profession) will taste no Swines flesh.
In Zacynthus our English Merchants have an house of abode for their Traffick. South-East from Moreah, lyeth the great Island Creta, Creta▪where Minos sometimes did reign, so famous for his severity.
This Countrey was then called Hec…tompolis, as having in it a hundred Towns and Cities.
Here stood the labyri…th whichThe labyrinth of De dalus. was the work of Dedalus, who conveighed the house so by the manifold turnings, infiniteness of Pillars and Doors that it was impossible to find the way; yet Theseus (by the help of Ariadne the Daughter of King Minos) taking a bottome of thred, and …ing the one end at the first doore, did enter and sl…y the Minotaur which was kept there, and afterwards returned safe out again.
The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were such noted lyars, thatThe most noted lyars. (beside the Proverbs which were made of them, as, Crettenscmendacium, & Cretisandum est cum Cretensibus) the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to Titus, who was left there by him as Bishop of that Island, doth cite a verse out of the Heathen Poet Epimenides, that the Cretians are ever lyars, evil beasts, & slow bellies.
This Island is in our daies calledThe Island Candy. Candy, being the place from whence our Sugar of Candy is brought. It is under the Venetians, and repute a part of their Seigniory; although the Turks, when they had taken Cyprus, did think also to have surprised it, but that it pleased God by the meanes of Don John of Austria, in the behalf of his brother the King of Spaine, and the Venetians to give the Turke that great overthrow at sea, in the sight near unto Lepanto. Yet since that time (no doubt) the Turks have a greedy eye upon the sland of Canay.Cithera, where was the siue Temple of Venus.
Between Creta and Peloponnesus lyeth Cithera: There was the fine Temple of Venus; who thereof by the Poets is called Citherea. The Islands, are many which lye in the Sea called Mare Aegeum, from the bottome of Greece, unto the top of the Hellespont, as all the Cyclades, Euboia, and the great Iland Samos, and Chios; so Seyres, where Achilles was born, and was King of thatDivers smal Islands. Coutrey; There is also Lesbos, and Cemnos, Mytilene, and Ithaca, (where Ulysses was King, and Andnos, whither Themistocles was sent by the Athenians for Tribute, as Plutarch layeth down the History:Note. Themistocles did tell them, that he came to demand Tribute, or some great imposition upon them, being 'accompanied with two godd…sses; the one was Eloquence, to perswade them; and the other, Violence, to enforce them. Whereunto the Andr…ans made answer, that they had on their side two goddesses as strong; whereof the one was Necessity, whereby they had it not; and the other was Impossibilitie, whereby they could not part with that which they never possessed. Of these places something may be read in the old History of the Greekes. Divers of these did strive that Homer was borne in them; but of certain many of those Kings which Homer saith came with Agamemnon to the siege of Troy, were Kings but of those small Ilands.
Eastward from thence, not farre from some part af Natolia, or Asia the lesser, is the Iland of Rhodes, theThe Island of Rhodes. friendship of the inhabitants, whereof was in ancient time very much desired by the Princes that had to do that way: so that Alexander first, and the Romans afterwards, did embrace their league.
Here was that huge and mighty Image of the Sun, which was called Colossus Rhodius.
This Country was long defended by those who were called the Knights of Rhodes, against the power of the Turke; and it was a great bulwarke to defend Christendome, till that in the yeare one thousand five hundred twenty and one, Soly…an the Great Turke did win it from the Christians by force.
From thence Southward is the Isle Carpathus: but in the farthestThe Isle Carpathus. The Isle Cyprus. end of the East part of the Mediterranean is Cyprus, which about 300. yeares since was a Kingdome, and did afford great aide unto the Christians▪ that went to conquer the Holy Land; but it is now under the Turke. The chief City thereof isThe City …amogusta. …amogusta, which is an Archbishops sea: for Christians for their tribute do yet live there. In this Countrey in old time was Venus much honoured, and therefore she was called Cypria▪ as also Paphia, because she had a temple in a CityThe City Paphos. The Island Tyrus. there called Paphos.
Neer unto Syria stood the Island Tyrus; against the pride whereof the Prophets doth much speak: this was a rich City for Merchandise and Navigation in old time; and is the place from whence Dido and the builders of Carthage did come.
The destruction of it is most famous by Alexander the great. Of the rest of the small Islands we do say nothing.