A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 113 – Subpart 114
The Jonian Isles described.
Cythera is in compasse threescore miles: It was formerly called Porphyris, from the abundance of that sort of Marble called Porphyrie, which the Mountains yeeld.
The Strophades are two Islands, wherein there is nothing remarkable, but a spring of fresh water in one of them, which hath his fountain in Peloponesus, above five miles distant, which passing under the Sea, ariseth there.
Zacinthus: now Zant, is threescore miles in compasse. Its wonderfully stored with Wine, Oil and Currans, of which last ordinarily they make yearly one hundred and fifty thousand Chekins for their own Coffers, besides eighteen thousand Dolars, which they pay for custome to the State of Venice: when the English first traded thither, the inhabitants were very poor, and when the English bought so many Currans of them, they asked our Merchants whether they dyed cloaths, or fed their Swine with them; which uses themselves put them to, but now they know better, and grow rich by the trade. This Island is much troubled with earthquakes, commonly once a week, whereupon they build their houses low. The chief City is Zant, not big, the streets rugged and uneven, and the houses low for the cause aforesaid. Over the Town-hall door in this City is this Distich inscribed.
Hic locus odit, amat, punit, conservat, honorat,
nequitiam, pacem, crimina, jura, probos.
The Echinades Islands are five in number, being but like Rocks, and are famous for nothing, but for the famous battel of Lepanto fought near them, betwixt the Turks, and the Christians.
Cephalenia is in compasse one hundred sixty and six miles, and contains two hundred Towns: the chiefest commodities it yeelds, are Wheat, Hony, Currans, Powder for dying Scarlet, Oil, and Wooll, &c.
Corcyra, now Corfu, is neer Epyrus, in length, four and fifty miles, in breadth, four and twenty: Its seated in the midst of the Venetians Lordships by Sea: The chief City is Corfu, where the Turks have received sundry repulses. Its very fruitful in Hony, Wax, Wine, Oil, &c.
The Adriatick Isles have nothing of note in them, and therefore I proceed to the Mediterranean Isles, the principall whereof is 1 Scicily, in compasse seven hundred miles. The people are ingenuous, eloquent, and pleasant, but very unconstant, and talkative. The soil is incredibly fruitful, in Wine, Oil, Hony, Saffron, Sugar, Salt: in Mines of Gold, Silver, Allom, having also Agates, and Emeraulds, with such abundance of Corn, that it was called, The Granary of the Romane Empire. In this Country is the Hill Hybla, so famous for Bees, and Hony: and Aetna, which continually sendeth forth flames of fire: Here was once the famous City of Siracuse two and twenty miles in compasse: but now Palermo is the seat of the Spanish Vice-Roy.
In this Island lived those two great Tyrants, Dionysius the elder, and Dionysius the younger, who were so odious for their cruelty, that all the people hated▪ and continually cursed them, only one old woman prayed for the life of the latter; and being asked the reason, shee answered, that shee knew his Grand-Father to bee very bad, and when at the prayers of the people, hee was taken away, his son succeeded, that proved far worse than his Father; and after their curses had prevailed also for the removal of him, came this present Tyrant, worse than either: for whose life shee was resolved to pray, least after his decease the Devil himself should come amongst them.
Malta is in compasse about threescore miles; Its seated on a Rock, over which the earth is not above three foot thick; yet have they abundance of Pomegranats, Citrons, Orenges; and other excellent fruit: there is also great store of Cotton-Wooll, wh…ch they sow as wee do Corn: In the Acts this Island is called Melita: It consists of four Cities▪ and threescore Villages. It was by Charles the fifth given to the Knights of the Rhodes, newly expelled by the Great Turk: they are a thousand in number, whereof five hundred must bee alwayes resident in the Island: the others upon summons must make their appearance. None are admitted into their order, unlesse they bring a testimony of their Gentry for six descents. But some make this Island to belong to Africk, where you may see more of it.
3 Corsica is just against Greece in the Ligurian Sea, and is in length one hundred and twenty miles: in breadth threescore and ten: the whole circuit being three hundred twenty and five. Its a fine Country, yeelds excellent Dogs for game, good horses, fierce Mastiffs, and a beast called Musoli, found no where in Europe, but here, and in Sardinia: horned like Rams, and skinned like Stags, of incredible hardnesse. It produceth the best VVines, Oil, Figs, Raisons, and Hony, but bitter, and unwholesome. It abounds also with Allom, Box-trees, Iron-Mines, &c. Its under the Government of Genoa. The people are churlish, stubborn, poor, and illiterate.
4 Sardinia, which is seven miles distant from Corsica. It contains in length one hundred and fourscore miles, in breadth fourscore and ten, in circuit five hundred and threescore. It abounds in Corn, and Cattel, but wants Oil. Their Bulls do naturally amble, and therefore the Country Peasants usually ride upon them. Here is the Beast Musoli, of whose skins carryed to Corduba, and there dressed, is made our true Cordovan Leather. The Inhabitants are little of stature, and prone to Rebellion, and therefore the Spaniard suffers neither Smith, nor Cutler to live there. The chief City is Calearis, just opposite to Africk, having a goodly haven much frequented by Merchants, and is the seat of the Spanish Vice-Roy.
The Baleans Islands described.
The chief of these Islands are, 1. Majorca, about threescore miles distant from Spain, and is three hundred miles in compasse; the chief Cities are Majorca, wherein is an university, and Palma.
2. Minorca, distant from the former nine miles; and is in circuit one hundred and fifty miles: the inhabitants are effeminate: the soil for the most part fruitful.
Nigh to these are two lesser Islands. 1. Ebuisa, one hundred miles in circuit; the chief commodity in it is salt. 2. Olhiusa, threescore and ten miles about. The men and women in both of them are excellent swimmers.
The lesser Islands scattered up and down, have nothing in them remarkable, but only in one of them called Ischia, is a fountain so hot, that in a short time it will boil any flesh or fish put into it.
Somewhat without the mouth of the Straits of Gibralter, is the Island of Gades, or Cales, in length thirteen miles. Anno Christi 1596. it was suddenly taken by the English under the conduct of Charles, Earle of Nottingham, Robert Earle of Essex, and Sir Walter Rawleigh: at which time they burnt the Spanish Indian fleet, consisting of forty ships, whose lading was worth eight millions of Crowns. They overthrew also the Spanish fleet, consisting of fifty seven men of war: they took two great Gallions with their luggage: they spoiled and carryed away abundance of warlike amunition: they slew and took prisoners four thousand foot, and six hundred horse: whence one made this Distich.
Alcides yeelds to Devereux; hee did see
Thy beauties, Cales, but Devereux conquer'd thee.