A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 111
The General Description of Europe.
Europe by Pliny is called Orbis domitorum genitrix, and well shee may, if we read her story in her Greek Monarchy of Alexander the great, and in her Latine Empire of the Romans, who scarce left a corner of the World, then known, unconquered. It is almost encompassed with the Sea, being as it were a Peninsula, whose Isthmus, is that part which lyes between the River Tanais, and the frozen Sea, by which it is joyned to Asia. Westward it is bounded with the Atlantick Ocean, having no land till you come to Amerrica. On the East towards Asia, it hath the Aegean Sea, called Archipelagus, and Pontus Euxinus, Palus Meotis, and the River Tanais: Southward it hath the Mediterranean Sea, and Fretum Herculeum. Northward the Pole Artick. She bears in length but three thousand and eight hundred miles, and in breadth nigh one thousand and two hundred miles: So that shee is the least, but yet the most populous part of the world, and blessed with the Gospel above all others.
The Kingdomes, and Countrys in the Continent of Europe are, Spain, France, Belgia, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Sclavonia, Greece, Dacia, Norway, Sweden, and Muscovy.
Spain, not long since consisted of three Kingdomes, Castile, Arragon, and Portugal, but lately Portugal hath rent it self from her, and chose for King, the Duke of Braganza, under the name of John the Fourth, but wee will speak of her as shee was before, and so in compass shee is about one thousand eight hundred and ninety English miles. Its begirt with the Sea on every side, unlesse on the Eastern, where it is joyned to France by a kind of Isthmus, crossed by the Pyrenaean Mountains from Sea to Sea. On the West its bounded with the Atlantick Sea: On the North with the Cantabrick: On the South with the straits of Gibraltier: and South East with the Mediterranean Sea. It yeilds all sorts of Wines, Sugar, Fruits, Oils, Mettals, Lamb-skins, Wool, Cork, Rosen, Steel, &c. The Inhabitants are not many, nor have they many great Cities, as in other parts of Europe: the poor are proud, the best superstitious, and hypocritical: yet good Souldiers, because patient to endure labor, hunger, thirst, by which means they rather weary out, than overcome their enemies.
France begins at the West from the Pyrenean Mountains, and is bounded on the East with Germany: On the North with our English Seas: Southward with the Mediterranean: and South-East with the Alpes, which divide it from Italy. The cheif Provinces are Lorraign, Burgondy, and Savoy, which have Princes of their own: the rest are Normandy, Britany, Bury, Aquitane, Picardy, Peictoires, Languedock, Anio…, Casconie, Provence, and Campaine, &c. The Country is very fruitfull, which causeth much Traffick from neighbouring Nations: their special commodities are Wine, Salt, Linnen, Paper, &c. Its well peopled, and hath many fair Cities, the Inhabitants are great Courtiers, and light of carriage.
Belgia hath France on the South: Denmark on the North: Germany on the East: and the Ocean on the West: Its called the Lowcountrys, or Netherlands. Its in compasse about one thousand miles. Its divided into seventeen Provinces: whereof four are Dukedomes: seven Earldomes: five Baronies: and one Marqueship. The Dukedomes are 1. Brabant, in which is An…werp. 2. Luick. 3. Lutzenburg, where is the vast Forrest of Ardenna. 4. Gilderland. The Earldoms are 1. Flanders. 2. Artois. 3. Heinolt. 4. Holland. 5. Zeland. 6. Zutphen. 7. Hamme. The Barronies are 1. Friezland. 2. Utrech. 3. Mecklen. 4. Overysel. 5. Grauling. The Marquisat is that of the Holy Empire. Its a good land, and affords store of Butter, Cheese, and very great Oxen. The people are industrious, and excellent Mechanicks. The men are big boned, excellent Seamen, and maintain their liberty by the sword.
Germany lyeth Eastward from Belgia, and is bounded on the West with France, and Belgia: On the East with Hungary and Poland, and the River Vistula. On the North with the German Ocean, and on the South with the Alps that divide it from Italy. Bohemia is situated in the middest, compassed with the Hyrcanian wood: whereof the Regal City is Prague. Germany comprehends many Provinces, as Saxony, Brandenberg, Pomeren, Bavaria, Silesia, Franconia, Austria, Helvetia, East-Friesland, Westphalia, Cleveland, Alsatia, Brunswick, and Hassia. The Emperor is now chosen by eight Electors, the Arch-Bishops of Triars, Ments, and Colen: the Count Palatine of the Rine: the Duke of Saxony, and Bavaria: and the Marquesse of Brandenberg, and the King of Bohemia with his casting voice. Its a rich country in Corn, Wine, Fruits, and Mines, and hath in it healthful Baths: the People are warlick, and ingenious.
Italy hath Germany on the North, the Mediterranean on the South, the Adriatick Sea on the East, and on the West Mare Terrenum. Its in length one thousand and ten miles: the greatest breadth is four hundred and twenty. Its divided into many States; the chief are the Kingdome of Naples: the territory of Rome, Lumbardy, Tuscany: The Signiory of Venice, Verona, &c. Its of admirable fertility, and called the Paradice of the world. The Inhabitants are grave but exceeding libidinous.
Denmark is joyned to Germany on the South: on the West it hath Mare Germanicum, and is a Peninsula, the two principal Provinces are Irglant and Holstein: most of the other are petty Islands, whereof Zeland is the chief, and Loitland. It breeds goodly horses, and store of Cattle.
Hungary hath on the VVest Germany, the River Tabiscus and Walachia on the East, Poland on the North, and on the South, is the River Sauri: Southward is Sclavonia. The famous River Danubius cuts her in the middle, nameing her parts Citerior, and Ulterior. The chief Provinces are Soliense, where the earth sends forth such a stink, that it poysons the birds that fly over it; and an Island in Danubius that is exceeding fertil, and so generally is the whole Country. The Inhabitants are strong, their Daughters Portions are only a new attire; and all their sons equally inherit without respect of primogeniture. The Emperor and Turk share it betwixt them.
Poland hath Silesia on the West, the River Boristhenes on the East, the Baltick Sea on the North, and Hungary on the South. Its in compasse two thousand six hundred miles. The chief Provinces are Livonia, Lituania. Volinia, Samogatia, Podolia, Russia Nigra, Mazoria, Prussia Regal, Podlasia, and the Dukedome of Opwits, and Zator, and Polonia propria. The land abounds with hony, wax, Mines of Copper, and Iron, horses fit for service: the Kingdome is elective.
Sclavonia hath Hungary on the North, the Adriatick sea on the South, Greece on the South-East, and Italy on the West. It contains in length four hundred and fourscore miles, and in breadth one hundred and twenty. Its divided into Illiricum, Dalmatia, and Croatia. The Sclavonian Language is used in many Countrys, both of Europe and Asia. Its divided betwixt the Empire of Germany, the Turk, and the Venetians.
Greece hath on the West the Adriatick sea: on the East the Aegean, Hellespont, and Propontis, Northward the Mountain Hemus, and Southward the Mediterranean. It was once the seat of the worlds Empire, and flourished above other Countries with all sorts of humane learning. It was one of the first that embraced the Gospel, and bred many Fathers of our Church. Its now miserably enslaved to the Turks. Its commonly divided into Peleponesus, Achaia, Epirus, Albania, Macedonia, Migdonia, and Thracia. It yeilds Gold, Silver, Coperas, Colours, Wines, Velvets, Stuffs, &c.
Dacia hath on the West Hungary, on the East the Euxine sea, on the South Greece, and on the North Sarmatia, from the which its divided by the Carpathian Mountains. It was formerly called Misia. The cheif regions in it are Transilvania, Moldovia, Walachia, Servia, Rascia, Bulgaria, and Bosnia.
Norway is in length one thousand three hundred miles, in breadth about six hundred. Its under the Government of the King of Denmark. Theft is counted the greatest sin amongst them. It yeilds Cables, Masts, Furrs, Stockfish, which the poor eat instead of bread. The Metropolitan City is Nidrosio, besides which there are but two of note, Bergla, and Asloia. On the North, and West, lies the populous Province of Finmark.
Sweden is on the East of Norway, from which it is divided by the Dofrine Mountains on the North and South its bounded by the seas, On the East it joynes to Muscovy. Its a fertile Country, and in some Provinces hath great plenty of Corn, Furrs, Mines of Gold, Silver, Copper, and Lead. Its divided into Gotland, quasi good land, Finland, quasi fine land, Bodia, Scrickfinia, Lapland, &c. The inhabitants often live till they bee one hundred and forty years old. Thence lately have come the two great Conquerors, Gustavus Adolphus, that conquered much of Germany, and Carolus Adolphus, that now hath conquered Poland, and most of Prussia.
Muscovy is the last country of Europe towards the East, and part of it stands in Asia. Its bounded on the West with Livonia, and part of Sweden: On the East with Tartary, on the North with the frozen seas: and on the South with Lituania. The length of it is three thousand miles, the breadth of it is three thousand threescore and five. Most of it is extream cold, but to help that, they have great store of Furrs, as sables, Martins, white Foxes, &c. It hath store of Corn, Fruit, and Cattel. The people are very base, contentious, ignorant, and sottishly superstitious. They bury their dead upright, with a staff in his hand; and a penny in his Purse, with a letter to St. Nicolas to procure him entrance into heaven. The chief Provinces are Muscovy, where stands the Regal City of Mosco. Pernia where they eat dryed stags flesh instead of bread. Rhesan full of Corn, and Horses, &c.