A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 142 – Subpart 151
VVales Described.
VVales is bounded with the Seas on all sides but the East, where it is separated from England by the River Dee, and a line drawn to the River VVie: or rather by that huge ditch cast up by King Offa, which begins where Wie falls into Severn, and reacheth unto Chester, even fourscore and four miles in length. The Country is very Mountainous, and barren, yet by the industry of the Inhabitants is made fruitful; their chiefest commodities are woollen Flannels, Cottons, Bays, &c. brought weekly to Oswestre, the farthest Town in Shropshire, and thence dispersed into other Countries. It is divided into North-Wales, and South-Wales, in both which are twelve shires, having in them one Chase, thirteen Forrests, thirty and six Parks, ninety and nine bridges: The chiefest Rivers are Dee, VVie, Conwy, Tivy, and Chedhidy. The Welsh Language is least mixed with forreign words of any used in Europe, but having many Consonants in it, is lesse pleasing. The People are cholerick and hasty, but very loving each to other. In VVales are one thousand and sixteen Parishes, of which fifty and six are market Towns, besides the Cities, which are four, viz. St. Davids in Pembrookshire, Bangor in Carnarvonshire, Asaph in Flintshire, and Landaff in Glamorganshire. In Cardiganshire were found some silver Mines by the industry of Mr. Thomas Middleton, that yeilded some good quantity of Silver.
The twelve shires of VVales are, Pembrookshire, Caermardenshire, Glamorganshire, Brecknockshire, Radnorshire, Cardiganshire, Moungomeryshire, Mertonethshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Caernarvonshire, and the Isle of Anglesey, which is separated from the main Land by the River Moenay, wherein are Beu-marish, and Holi-head, common passages to Ireland.
Scotland described.
Scotland is separated from England by the Rivers Tweed, and Solway, and the Cheviot-Hills, reaching from one river to the other: Its in length four hundred and eighty miles: In breadth much lesse, no place being threescore miles from the Sea: Its divided into High-land and Low-land. The people of the High-land living on the VVestern parts of Scotland, have some civility: but those in the out Isles are very barbarous: The Low-landers are in dispositions, and language almost like the English. Scotland is far more barren than England. The chief commodities are course cloathes, Freeses, Fish, Hides, Lead-oare, &c. The principal Rivers are Forth, Clada, and Tay, all navigable.
In Scotland there are four Universities, St. Andrews, Glasco, Aberdeen, and Edenburgh. The Nobility and Gentry are great affecters of Learning, and therefore do not only frequent their own Universities, but travel into forraign parts for improvement of the same. The whole Country is divided into two parts by the great River Tay: the Southern part is more populous, and fruitful, every where bestrewed with Cities, and Towns, as England is: the Northerly more barren, and rude, retaining the customes of the wilde Irish, from whence they came.
The Southren part hath in it these Counties, Tividale, Merch, Laudien, Liddesdale, Eskedale, Annandale, Niddesdale, Galloway, Carrick, Kyle, Cunningham, Arran, Cluidesdale, Lenox, Sterling, Fife, Strathern, Menteith, Argile, Cantire, and Lorn.
The Northern counties are, Loquabrea, Braidalbin, Perth, Athol, Anguse, Mer…s, Mar, Buguhan, Murrey, Ross, Sutherland, Cathnes, and Strathnavern. And these again are divided into Sheriffdoms, Stewardships, and Bailiwicks.
The chief Cities in Scotland described.
Edenburgh is the Regal City of Scotland, seated in Lothien, where is the Royal Palace, and the chief Courts of Justice. It consists principally of one street about a mile long, into which runne many petty lanes, so that the whole compasse may be about three miles: Its strengthened by a Castle that commands the Town.
Glasco in Cluidsdale, where an University was founded by Bishop Turnbull, Anno Christi. 1554.
St. Andrews in Fife.
Sterling, or Striveling, seated in Striveling hundred.
Aberdeen in Mar.
Dondee, in Anguis.
Perth, or St. Johns Town.
Scotland was once inhabited by two populous Nations, the Scots, and Picts: the former inhabited the Western parts of the land, the latter the Eastern: These two Nations at length falling out, there were great and large warres betwixt them, till at last the Scots prevailing they extinguished, not the Kingdome only, but the very name of the Picts.
Most memorable was that fortification drawn from Abercorn upon the Frith of Edenburgh, unto Dunbritton opening upon the West Sea, where Julius Agricola set the limits of the Romane Empire: At this place began the great wood Caledonia, famous for the wilde white Bulls bread therein, with Manes like Lyons, thick, and curled, of nature fierce, and cruell, so hatefull to mankind that they abhorred whatsoever was by them handled, or breathed upon. The Cattle in Scotland are but small, yet many: Fish so plentifull, that in some places men on horseback, hunt Salmons with Spears. The Islands belonging to it are, the Western, the Orknayes, and the Shetlands, in number above three hundred. Amongst the Western, the Hebrides, Skie, Mula, Ila, and Arran, are the chief: all abounding with Corn, Wood, Salmons, Herrings; and some with Conies, Deer, Horses, and Sheep. The Orknay Islands upon the North, lie in a raging Sea, about three and thirty in number, whereof thirteen are inhabited, the other replenished with Cattel. In them are no venemous Serpents, nor other ugly vermine; the aire sharp, and healthful, apt to bear Oats, and Barley, but have no wood: Of these Pomonia is the greatest, that hath six Minerals of Lead, and Tin, and twelve Parishes in it.
Ireland described.
Ireland is divided into four Provinces: Mounster, Leinster, Connaught, and Ulster. In Mounster are the Counties of Limmerick, Kery, Cork, Waterford, Dismond, and Holy Cross in Typperary. In Leinster are East-Meath, West-Meath, Kilkenny, Caterlough, Queens County, Kings County, Kildare, VVeshford, and Dublin: In Connaught are Clare, …r Towmund, Gallaway, Maio, Slego, Letrim, and Roscoman. In Ulster are Dungal, or Tyr-connel, Tyrone-upper, Tyrone-nether, Farmanagh, Cavan, Monaghan, Colrane, Antrim, Down, Armagh, and Lough.
Ireland hath on the East that tempestuous Sea that divides it from England. On the West, the Western Ocean: On the North, the Deucalidonian Sea: and on the South the Vergivian Sea: It contains in length four hundred, and in breadth two hundred miles. The air is temperate, but not so clear as ours in England; it doth not therefore ripen Corn well, but causeth grasse to grow abundantly: The Winter is more subject to wind than snow. The soil is uneven, wooddy, wilde, watrish, and boggy, full of Loghs, and Meers: yea great ponds are sometimes found upon high mountains: hence new commers are subject to Rheumes, dissenteries, and Fluxes, the usual cure whereof is Uskebah.
This Island breeds no venemous creature, neither will any live there, if brought from other places. All the breed in Ireland (except women, and Grayhounds) are lesse than in England. The commodities are cattel, and sheep, which are twice shorne in one year; but their wool is course, of which they make Mantles, Caddows, and Coverlets: their Hobbies also are of great esteem: Bees there are in great abundance. The people are generally strong, and nimble, patient of hunger, and cold, implacable in enmity, light of beleef, greedy of glory. The Kernes, or wilde Irish are extreamly barbarous, not behaving themselves as Christians, scarcely as men. The chief Rivers are, 1. Shenin, or Sinei, beginning in Ulster, and running two hundred miles till it falls into the Vergivian Sea, and is navigable threescore miles. 2. The Slane. 3. Awiduff, or Blackwater. 4. Showre, &c. of which Spencer makes these verses.
There was the Liffie rowling down the Lea,
The sandy Slane, the stony Aubrian:
The spacious Shenin spreading like a Sea,
The pleasant Boyne, the fishie-fruitful Bann,
Swift Awiduffe, which of the English man
Is call'd Blackwater; and the Liffar deep,
Sad Trowis that once his people over-run,
Strong Allo tumbling from Slewtogher steep;
And Mullamine, whose waves I whilome taught to weep.
There also was the wide embayed Mayer,
The pleasant Bandon crown'd with many a wood,
The spreading Lee that like an Island fair,
Enclosed Corke with his divided flood,
And baleful Oure, distain'd with English blood:
With many more, &c.
The principal Lakes are, Lough Earn, Lough Foile, and Lough Corbes, in length twenty, in breadth four miles, in which are three hundred Ilets abounding with Pine-trees.
Dublin the Metropolis of Ireland is seated on the Liffie in which is an University. Our King John was the first that was entituled Lord of Ireland, which title the Kings of England retained till Anno Christi 154…. at which time in an Irish Parliament, King Henry the eight was declared King of Ireland, as a name more repleat with Majesty.
The Province of Mounster described.
Mounster hath on the South the Vergivian Sea, on the North part Connaught, on the East Leinster, and on the VVest the Ocean. Its in length from Baltimore in the South unto the Bay of Galway in the North, fourscore and ten miles: Its breadth East, and West from Waterford haven, to Feriter haven, is one hundred miles. The air is mild, and temperate: the soil in some parts hilly with woods, and solitary mountains: the vallies beautified with Corn-fields: The commodities are Corn, Wood, Cattel, Wool, and Fish, especially abundance of Herring, and Cod. The principal City is Limrick, compassed about with the famous River Shannon, by the parting of the channel. Also neer unto the River Savaren, which issues out of Muskerry mountains, stands the City of Cork: and lastly in this Province is the fair City of VVaterford, having a commodious Haven for trade, and traffick.
The Province of Leinster described.
Leinster hath on the East the Irish Seas: VVestward on Connaught side, its bounded by the River Shannon: Northward with the territory of Lougth, and Southward with part of Mounster. Its in length fourscore miles: in breadth seventy▪ The airds clear, and mild: the soil generally fruitful, and plentifull both in fish, and flesh▪ stored with corn, cattel, and pastures. Its well watered with Rivers, and for the most part well wooded, except the County Dublin, where it is much wanting: It breeds excellent Hobbies that amble very easily.
It hath in it three Rivers of note, Shour, Neor, and Barraeo, which issue out of the huge Mountains Blandinae, and meet together before they empty themselves into the Ocean. In this Province are, 1. Kilkenny, a fair midland Town. 2. Kildare. 3. VVexford, which was the first English Collony. 4. Dublin, the Metropolitan City, which is strong, beautiful, and frequented by Merchants: Near to it is the beautiful Colledge consecrated to the holy Trinity, which Queen Elizabeth made an University.
The Province of Connaught described.
Connaught is bounded Eastward with part of Leinster: Northward with part of Ulser: Westward with the main Ocean, and Southward with part of Munster: Its in length one hundred six and twenty miles, and in breadth fourscore. The Air is not so pure, and clear as in other Provinces, by reason of the many Bogs. In it Twomond, or the County of Clare, is best both for Sea, and Soil. Galway commodious for shepheards. Maio replenished with Cattel, Deer, Hawks, and Hony, Slego with pasturidge. Le Trim full of rank grasse, and forrage. Roscomen, plain, and fruitful, fit for cattel, or husbandry. The principal City, and indeed the third in Ireland is Galway, built in manner much like a Tower, and is well frequented with Merchants, having a convenient Haven: near unto it is the Isle of Arran.
The Province of Ulster described.
Ulster on the North is divided with a narrow Sea from Scotland, Southward it extends to Connaught, and Leinster, and on the VVest is beaten with the vast Ocean. Its length is near one hundred miles from North to South, the breadth one hundred and thirty, and odd miles. The air is temperate, which causeth the ground to bring forth great store of several trees, both for building, and fruit-bearing, plentiful it is of grasse for Cattel, well furnished with horses, sheep, and Oxen. The Rivers carry Vessels for pleasure, and profit, furnished they are with great store of fish, especially of Salmons, abounding more in some of these Rivers, than in any other place in Europe. Indeed in some places this Country is barren, troubled with Loughs, Lakes, and thick woods, but in other places fruitful enough, if it were but well husbanded. The principal place in this Province is Armagh near unto the River Kalin, which though it make but a poor shew, yet lately was an Archiepiscopal See: wherein once sate Richard Fitz-Ralph, commonly called Armachanus, who Anno Christi 1355. wrote so sharply against the begging Friers, detesting such voluntary beggery in Christians.
Thus was the state of Ireland before the late horrid rebellion brake forth, what alterations the same hath produced, I am not able to write.
The Isle of Man Described.
Man is situated in that part of the British Sea that is called St. Georges channel: It lyes between England and Ireland, containing in length about thirty miles, the broadest place exceeds not nine miles, the narrowest is not lesse than five. Generally its an high land upon the Sea-Coasts, defended with rocks lying out into the Sea. The Harbours for shiping are, 1. Douglas the safest. 2. Rainsway, 3. Ramsey. 4. Laxie, all towards England: and Peel, a poor Harbour facing Ireland. It abounds with springs of water, which make diverse usefull Rivolets: the soil is indifferently fruitfull, yet much of it is mountainous: It yeilds Rie, Wheat, Barley, but especially Oates, of which they make their bread: Its stored with Beasts, Sheep of a course wooll, Horses of a small size, and Goates: there is no want of Fish, and plenty of Fowl. The Aire is quick and healthful: Frosts short, and seldome. Snow will soon dissolve because of the vicinity of the Sea: and its subject to extraordinary high winds. The Inhabitants are civil and laborious: their drink water, their meat Fish, their bedding generally hay, or straw: they are much addicted to the musick of the Violine, so that there is scarce a family but more or lesse can play upon it: they are ingenious in learning manifactures, and bear a great esteem, and reverence to the publick service of God: Naturally they are unchaste. Anno Christi 1649. it was given by the Parliament to Thomas Lord Fairfax, as a reward of the great services he had done for them.
The Azores Islands Described.
The Islands of Azores are nine in number: Tercera, St. Michael, St. George, St. Mary, Pico, Fayall, Graciosa, Flores, and Corvo. They are named Azores from the many Ayeries of Goshawks found there. Of these Tercera is the greatest, and fruitfullest: It abounds with Oil, Wine, Corn, Oade, Fruits, &c. Her best Town is Angra, her best Fort Brazeil, her Haven bad to Anchor in.
Pico is the highest, being (as some say) above fifteen miles to the top, which is many times seen cleerly: but about the middle of it hang the clouds. Its about ten miles in circuit: Its for the most part composed of Brimstone, so that many times from the top issue forth flames of fire, as out of Aetna: Below are umbragious shades, and cold Rivolets, into which when the vomited fire is forced, those opposite Elements eccho forth their discontents in an hideous noise.
In the Island of Tercera are some fountains, the water whereof is so hot, that it will boil an egg: There is also another fountain that turns wood into stone, and a Tree that grows by it hath that part of the root which grows in the water petrified: the other that is out, is Wood, as of other trees.