THe countries of Europe , as we now call them are Spaine , France , Germanie , Italie , Slauonia , Graece , Hungarie , Polonia , Lituauia , Moscouie , or more significatly the countrie of Sarmatia , and the Peninsula in which is Norwey , Swethen , and Gothland . Among the Iles , Albion , conteyning England & Scotland is the chiefest , next vnto it haue ye Ireland , then more northerly is Island , Frisland , & lastly Groonland , all in the Ocean sea . In the Mediteraneum sea it hath Sicilia , Sardinia , Corsica , Candie , Maiorica , Minorica , Corphum , Nigropont , and others of lesse fame , whose seueral names , and situations do appeere in the Mappe .

This our Europe ( besides for the Romaine Empier ) honorable throughout all the world hath aboue 28 Christian Kingdoms , yf you adde the 14 which some recon only in Spaine . It is passing fertil , naturally temperate , and of a milde aier . And inferior to no other parte in plentie of all kinde of fruit , wyne , and plants , but to be compared with the most exellent , beeing made pleasant with most faire Citties , Villages and Throughfares . And although it be in compas lesser then the other , yet for the woorthinesse of the people it is preferred before all other partes of the world , & euer hath bin by all auncient writers , hauing both for the Empier of the Macedonians and mightynesse of the Romaines bin moste renowmed .

ASIA being the second parte of the world , hath on the west syde to deuyde it from Europe , the riuer Tanais , from the head whereof the deuision is made ( as it were by a lyne ) & extended vnto Sinus granduicus . It is moreouer denyded by Mare Magiore , & a pece of the Mediteraneum sea . On the south syde it hath the sea of India . On the east the Ocean called Eous , otherwise , the east sea , And on the north the icy sea of Sithia .

Asia by estimation seemeth as great as Europe and Affrica , yet is it not taken to bee so populus as Europe having many wonderfull great deserts , huge mountaines , & spatious sandy regions , & the mount Taurus stretcheth it self very farr & through the middest thereof .

Some haue deuyded this parte of the earth into fyue portions , The first is that which ioyneth vnto Europe , & obeyeth vnto the great Duke of Muscouy . The second that which is vnder the great Cham Emperor of the Tartars . The third that which is occupied by the race of the Ottomans , vnder the fowrth is comprehended the kingdome of Persia , gouerned by the Sophie . And the fift & last parte is that which as of old so yet at this present it retayneth the name of India , beeing denyded vnder the comaund of many pety Kinges , whereof diuers are tributaries to the great Cham. And in this parte is also conteyned the great & mighty kingdome of China . This parte of the earth is not only famous among prophane authors , for the first monarchies of the world , as of the Assyrians , Persians , Babilonians , & Medes , but it is more illustred aboue other partes in sacred scripture , wherein not only appeereth that in the same mankynde was first created , by Almighty God , but our Lord & sauiour Iesus Christ coming into this world for the redemption of man , did choose to make herein his birth place . It is also to bee considered that the most pretious thinges that the world doth yeild are fonnd in this noble parte thereof , as besydes great varietie & diuers kyndes of beastes , & birds , excelent sortes of spices , frutes , medicinall herbes , rootes , & other thinges , As also the moste pretious metalles , pretious stones , and pearles .

THis third parte of the world , the auncient writers haue diuersty deuided , But as Ioannes Leo witnesseth it is now deuyded into fowre partes , to witt Barbaria , Numedia , Libia , and the country of the Negroes or moores . The first of these beeing Barbarie is the best and moste frutefull , enclosed with the Atlantike , and Mediterraneum seas , the mount Atlas , and the region called Barcha , which confyneth on Egipt . Numedia which yeildeth dates & is of the Arabies called the date countrie , is otherwise called Biledulgerid , this beeing the second parte bordereth on the Atlantike sea in the west , and the mount Atlas in the north , in the east it reatcheth vnto the citie Eloacat , and southward vnto the sandie deserts of Libia .

Libia the third parte is in the Arabeck tongue called Sa●ra , which signifieth wildernesse , it beginneth at the riuer Nilus and reatcheth to the Atlantyke sea , having on the south the Negroes or Moores , and on the north Numedia .

The fourth and last parte is that which is called the country of the Negroes or Moores ( for that they are black people ) it hath Libia on the north . The AEthiopian sea towardes the south , the Gualates towardes the west and on the east syde the kingdome of Goaga .

It is further to be considered that all Africa is enuyroned with the Mediteraneum , Atlantyke and Aethiophian seas and the riuer Nilus .

Some haue accompted Aegipt and Aethivpia to bee of Asia , but with more reason all moderne Cosmographers do recon them to belong to Africa .

The south parte or coaste of Africa was vndiscouered vnto the yeare of our Lord 1497 that Vasca de Gama passed the promontorie or cape de Bona speranza , and sailing round about all the south coast of this parte of the world arryued at Calecut in the east Indies .

Africa hath great and dry deserts wherein many strange beastes and serpents are nowrished , and in some partes there of ( as about the riuer Nilus sundry new creatures or monsters are often produced .

THis fowrth parte of the world for the exceeding largenesse thereof is called the new-world altogether vnknowne vnto all Consmographers vntil the yeare of our Lord 1492 , in which it was discouered by Christopher Columba of Genua , who for that discouery was employed by Ferdinand King of Castille & Queene Isabel his wyf . It seemeth moste strange that so great a parte of the world should so long remaine vnknowne , considering the dilligent search of Geographers to describe the whole earthe , the oportunitie to search out countries , & the insatiable desyre that man hath of gold & siluer , wherewith this America aboundeth , & yet could neuer before bee found out . Some think it was decyphered by Plato vnder the name of Atlas , others affirme a pece of coyne to bee found there having on it the Image of Augustus the Emperor , about the which there are diuers opinions and disputes .

This parte of the world hath bene all sailed about except on the north syde , which coast is yet vndiscouered . It seemeth to forme it self into two peninsulaes , whereof the one which is northerly conteyneth new Spaine , the prouince of Mexico , the landes of Florida , & Terra noua , etc. That which is southward called Terra firma conteyneth the regions of Peru , Bresilia , and others .

America had not in tymes past either wheat or wyne , kyne , shepe , gotes , asses or dogges , but it hath since the discouery there of bene enriched from Europe with all these and sundry other comodities .

THe whole I le of Albion called also Britannie beeing the greatest Ile of this parte of the world , is at this day by two seueral names called England and Scotland , because it contayneth those two kingdomes . The Meridional greatest & best parte thereof is called England , of Englishmen ( somtyme a people of Germaine ) whose ofspring doth stil possesse the same vnder their owne King . It contayneth together with the country of wales , 52 Shyres , 29 Cities and 25 Bishoprykes . On the east syde it hath the Germaine Ocean , On the west the Irish sea . On the south the narrow seas which deuyde it from France . And on the north it is seperated from Scotland by the riuer of Twede & the Cheuiot hilles .

It aboundeth chiefly in cattel , for which cause the inhabitants are more giuen to grafing then to tillage of the ground , desyring rather pasture then corne land . This region is very temperate , and without great extremitie of cold . The soile is exceeding frutefull , howbeit it yeildeth not wyne . There are many hilles , which beeing without trees do yeild a kynde of shorte and sweete gras for the best nowrishing of sheepe , which are heere in all aboundance , and whose fyne fleeces do excel those of other countries , which is caused either by the temperature of the ayre , or the goodnes of the pasture . This fyne english wooll , may wel be calleth the Golden fleece , for that thereby so great plenty of gold & siluer from so many & so remote regions of the world is brought into this Realme . Here are also great store of mynes of Tinne , Lead , & Iron , as also of Copper , neither are the mynes voyd of Gold and Siluer . In brief England aboundeth with plenty of all sortes of victuals , & is furnished with all store of thinges necessary for the vse of man .

THe realme of Scotland hath England on the south syde therof & on all other sydes els , it is enuyroned with the maine Ocean , on the north syde it hath the Iles called the Orcades & on the west the Hibrides , all subiect vnto Scotland . And albeit it bee not so frute full as England , yet is the land aboundantly furnished with cattel , & the sea with fish , & in it are many thinges very strange & wounderfull .

In Glasco is a lake , one parte whereof frieseth in winter but the other parte doth neuer frise . In Carik are Oxen whose far is neuer hard , but alwayes soft & oily .

In the prouince of Coyl or Kyle about ten myles from the towne of Aer here is a stone 12 foote in height & 30 in length called the deaf stone , for albeit neuer so great noise bee made on the one syde , on the other syde it cannot bee heard , vnlesse a man stand farr of , for so may it bee descerned , or els not .

In Lennox is a lake called Lowmond beeing about 24 myles in length & 8 in bredth having in it thirty Iles , in this lake are three thinges woorthy of note . There are finlesse fishes , & of a good taste . There are fleeting Iles that with thee wynde are moued & driuen to & fro , And somtymes no wynde blowing , the water becometh so rough that the passengers are in great danger to bee drowned yf they cannot speedely get to land . In Argadia ( as is reported ) groweth a stone which beeing put to straw or stubble wil kindle & set the same on fyre .

In Burquham is a cane wherein water falling it turneth into whyte stones , & in this prouince no rattes are found . In the sea at the mouth of the riuer of Forth is a high rock out of the top whereof issueth a fountaine of fresh water . About 10 myles from Edenbourgh is a fountaine , on the water whereof drops of oyle are found , the which oile is medicinable . In Clidisdale is a myne of Gold , & another of azure , and in the muscles and shelfish on the shore of Scotland pearles are found .

IReland is a soile vneuen & hilly and the highest hilles haue standing lakes on the tops , It hath also many bogges and quagmyres & is generally watry woodie , & moorish , yet hath it notwithstanding in diuers places moste faire plaines , which yet are but few in respect of the woodes . It is a fat soile , & apt to bring foorth corne . The hilles abound with cattel , and the woodes with wyld beastes . This I le is more plentiful of pasture then of corne , of gras then of graine yea the wheat-corne is small & withered , and not easy to bee wynoed with a fan . In tyme of haruest the raine scarsly permitteth the corne to bee gotten into the barne , somuch is this I le subiect vnto raine . It is plentifull of milk & hony . Solinus and Isidorus affirme it to haue no bees , but they might more truly haue written the contrary . No toade , adder , spider or venemous beast is nowrished in this countrie , nor can liue therein beeing brought thether from any other place .

THis I le is called Tercera , because that of the Iles called Acores , it is the third as the ly in order , to such as come out of Spaine to saile westward . It is plentifull of corne and frute , and not without wyne .

Madder which diers vse for the dying of cloth red ; doth yeild great comoditie to the inhabitants of this I le , for that it groweth heere aboundantly .

The Oxen of this I le excede in fairnesse & largenesse all others in Europe . Ceder groweth here in such aboundance that it serueth for fuel .

The chief towne of this I le is called Angra which hath a promontorie whereon lieth a strong forte called Brazil .

The Spagniards do also call this Ile Isola del buen Iesu . The ships coming from the west Indies are accustomed heere to take harbor in their retourne to Spaine .

Of these Iles of Acores there are seauen in number , to wit Tercera , S. Mighel , S. Marie , S. George , Gratiosa , Pico , and Fayal but the chiefest of name is Tercera .

SPaine beeing greater then France , & lesser then Germanie , is enuironed with the great Ocean and the Mediteraneum sea , except on the north-east syde , for there it is continent with France , from the which it is deuyded by the mountaines called the Pirenes , It is now one entire monarchie but in former tyme hath bene deuyded into fourteene Kingdomes . By authors thus recounted vid. The old and new Castilia , Leon , Arragon , Catalonia , Nauarre , Asturia , Granada , Valentia , Toledo , Galicia , Murcia , Cordoua , Portugal , & Algarbe .

Spaine albeit it bee not in all places manured because of the stonynesse of sundry partes thereof , yet is it far more fertil then Africa , & in very many places it yeildeth aboundantly whatsoeuer is necessary for the vse of man , As very faire Wheat , Rice , Wyne , Oyle , Hony , Saffran , Suger , Limons , Capers , Citrons , Orenges , Pomgranades , & other fruytes . Rosmary groweth there in the fieldes in such plenty that it serueth for fuel . It hath also great store of beastes both wild & tame , & yeildeth horses of such swiftnes that it was said of them in old tyme ( as a prouerb ) that they were engendred of the wynde .

It hath also diuers mynes , as of Gold , Siluer , Copper , Tin , Iron , and Lead , & gold is not only found in mynes , but euen in sand on the sydes of the riuer Tayo . In sundry maritime places it yeildeth great store of Salt . The ayre is pure and helthfull , it is litle subiect vnto tempestes , & is free from foule & contagious mistes . According to a vulgar saying three thinges in Spaine are for the rarety of them very memorable , to wit , A bridge ouer the which water runneth , which vsually runneth vnder bridges , entending thereby the aquaduct of Segouia . A towne enuyroned with fyre , meaning Madrid , the walles whereof are of flint . And a bridge whereon ten thowsand beastes are continualy pastured , which is vnderstood by the riuer Guadiana , which running into the earth hydeth it self the length of seauen leagues , & then coming foorth againe holdeth his course as before .

THis country of Portugal is enuyroned about with other countreys of Spaine , except on the west syde , for their it bordereth vpon the great westerne Ocean .

It is in Latin called Lusitania , taking this name ( as is said ) from Lusus sonne vnto the nynteenth King of Spaine . Sundry faire riuers do take their courses through this region , of which the riuer Tagus now called T●lo is the principal , & was of old tyme more famous , for that his sandes along by the banck sydes were mingled with gold .

The whole country is wel inhabited , and albeit Portugal hath litle or no wyne yet Algarbe which is ioyned & reconed with it , yeildeth very good wynes . Mountanous it is not , neither reported to haue mynes .

This kingdome began about the yeare of our Lord 1100 , in this sorte . Henry an Earle of Loraine coming into Spaine , shewed himself very valiant , & had many victories against the Saracins , for the which Alfonsus the sixt King of Castilia gaue him his base daughter Tyresia in mariage , & bestowed with her this country vpon him .

Of these twaine came Alfonsus the first King of Portugal , the first that gat out of the handes of the Saracins the citie of Lisboa . He also ouercame in one battaile fyue Kinges , in memorie whereof he bore in his armes fyue shieldes , as in the armes of Portugal do yet appere . This kingdome albeit but litle yet hath it enlarged it self in glory & fame euen to the farthest boundes of the world , & by the great trade of spices & other pretious wares from the east Indies hath bin moste mightely enriched . This trade began in the raigne of King Iohn he second , and hath continued with exceeding comodite , & the augmentation of sundry tytles of other crownes & kingdomes . This realme of Portugal after the death of Henry first Cardinal & lastly King ( who succeeded Sebastian that was slaine in Africa ) became with whatsoeuer belonged vnto it , to bee vnder the obeysance of Philip the second King of Spaine , & so remaineth ioyned with the other kingdomes of Spaine , in one entyre monarchie .

THis countrie hath on the east syde Granada , on the west Algarbe , on the north the prouince called Magistratus S. Iacobi , & on the south the straight & begining of the Mediteraneum sea , comonly called the straight of Gibraltar .

On either syde this straight are two moste high mountaines , to wit , Gibraltar in Andaluzia whereof that straight taketh name , and Abyla in Mauritania . These two mountaines are of many called the columnes of Hercules , yet there are that affirme the columnes of Hercules to haue bin two pillers of brasse in the temple of Hercules , which was in the I le of Gades , now called Cadiz or Cales in which they say was grauen the charges which the building of the said temple did coste , howbeit the certainty is altogether vncertaine , whether the two pillers of Hercules were these two mountaines , or two artificial pillers of brasse .

This countrie of Andazulia is the moste fertil parte of all Spaine , for aboundance of all sortes of fruits , & great plenty of other necessary thinges .

The inhabitants are courteous & ciuil , & very opulent . It is replenished with almoste 200 syne townes , but the great & ritch citie of Siuil is the Chiefest citie of all this prouince .

The name it hath of Andazulia is growne but by corruption , for the right name is Vandazulia , of the Vandules , that heere made there habitation , when by the Gothes they were chased out of other partes .

THe Kingdome of Valencia bordereth on the east syde vpon the Mediterraneum sea , & is on all other sydes enuyroned with other countries of Spaine . The chief citie of this realme is also called Valencia , & of this citie the whole country taketh name . Some authors do witnes it receaued the name of a Kingdome in the yeare of our Lord 162. There are two principal mountaines in this country , the one called Mariola , the other Penna G●lofa , which do produce many sortes of medicinal herbes , for which cause diuers phisitions & apothecaries repaire thether for simples . There is in this country at a place called in the spanish tongue ●uriol , a myne of siluer . And in a place called Aioder there are stones found stryped with golden vaines . At the promontorie of Finistrat are certaine mynes of Iron , though of no aboundance . About Segorbia is a quarry out of which marble in tymes past was taken & sent to Rome . In Piacent Alablaster is found , & in sundry places great store of Allum , Red-Oker , Lyme & Chalk . This country yeildeth fyne wool , which ( as is said ) cometh of the race of cotsold sheepe transported out of England into Spaine by licence of King Edward the fowrth in the fift yeare of his raigne . There is great comoditie made in this country by the making of certaine earthen vessels which the Spagniards call Procellana .

This country was long inhabited of the Moores , vntil at last King Iames after a long siege constrayned them to leaue the citie of Valencia , out of the which there departed at once more then fyfty thowsand in number , who caried with them all their riches , & left the citie voyd , both of people and welth . There is not ( as is thought ) any corner of the world so replenished with goodly gardens , abounding with such rare & excellent flowres & herbes , as is this countrie of Valencia .

THe Spagniards call at this present this Ile Cadiz & corruptly it is called Caliz . It is as deuyded into two partes , & so seemeth two Iles. In the lesser is now the Citie of Cales , & in the greater was Iulia Gaditana Augusta , which as Strabo saith , was called Naples . The Citie of Cales is now a Bishops sea . By moste auncient authors it appeereth that this I le was found out by the Phenitians , & others hold that after them the Geryons inhabited heere , whose cattel was taken away by Hercules . In this I le was a temple of this Hercules , which for the founder & for Antiquitie , religion , & riches , was very famous . This Church saith Mela is become holy because the bones of Hercules are here buried . In the Temple of Hercules Ceasar did behold the picture of Alexander the great , as Sueton telleth vs . There was a well which at ful sea yeilded salt water , and at the ebbe fresh . Sundry temples the pagans buylded in this I le , as a temple of Iupiter , a temple of Iuno , a temple of Saturne , a temple of old age , & a temple of death . In these temples alters were erected to the Gods of the yeare , to monethly Gods , & to Arte & pouertie .

The inhabitants of this prouince did in tymes past excel in nauigation , & they do not now degenerate from their anceters . Their chief comodities rise of salt , & fish . This was the last I le knowne in the world , as antiquitie belieued . And there ( they said ) the Sunne beeing weeried with running his dayly race descended into the Ocean sea , & tooke rest , & therefore this I le is of Statius called the Sunnes bed .

THe realme of France ( as now it is limitted ) hath on the north syde the narrow seas that deuyde it from England , westward it hath the west Ocean , in the southwest it ioyneth to Spaine , & directly south it bordereth vpon the Mediterraneum sea . On the Eastsyde to begin from the south downward vnto the north , it bordereth first vpon Sauoy , then on the Countie of Burgundie otherwise called La Franche Countè , & so along by Lorraine , vpon Luxembourg , Heualt , & Årtois .

This goodly kingdome is aboundant in corne and wyne & al sortes of frutes , hauing plenty of cattel and foule & wanteth not all other necessarie thinges , mynes it is not renowmed to haue , yet is it moste ritch & opulent , beeing situate in the middest of the chief countries of Europe , & hauing trafike on all sydes .

It shal not be needful to shew the three parts wherein Ceasar recounteth it to haue bene deuyded of oldtyme , seeing both the limitts and inhabitants are since altered . At this present it is deuyded into eight prouinces , which are vnder eight continual courtes of Parlament . The first is the prouince of France otherwise called the I le of France , wherein the citie of Paris is situate , In which citie the first courte of parlament resideth .

The second prouince is Languedoc , the parlament whereof is in Tholouse . The third Guienne , whose parlament is in Bourdeaux . The fowrth is Normandie , whose parlament is in Roan . The fist is Burgundie , whose parlament is Dijeon . The sixt is Dauphinè , whose parlament is in Grenoble . The seauenth is Prouence , whose parlament is in Aix . The eight is Britannie , whose parlament is in Renes , and vnder these eight prouinces all France is conteyned , & limitted for recours of iustice vnto these parlaments .

THis prouince of Gasconie is situate on the southwest syde of France reatching on the said syde vnto the Pireney mountaines by the which France & Spaine are deuyded . On the east syde it hath Languedoc and on the north Guienne and Arminac .

The people are valiant & warlyk . The country is very plentiful of all thinges , but it chiefly aboundeth in wyne , where with it not only serueth it self , but sundry other countryes in Europe besydes .

In the tyme of Carolus Magnus it was called the kingdome of Gascony . In this country the said Charles the great marching against the Saracins of Spaine did lose in a battaile forty thowsand men , in which battaile his noble nephew the Earle Roland was slaine . This country was first subdued vnto France by Dagobert the first of that name . In the yeare of our lord 1155 both it and all Aquitaine came to bee subiect vnto the crowne of England , through the mariage of King Henry the second of that name , with Elinor daughter and heyr vnto William Duke of Aquitaine . And it was lost in the yeare of our lord 1453. in the 31 yeare of the raigne of King Henry the sixt , so as it remayned vnder the obeisan●e of England about 300 yeares .

THis prouince of Poitou , called in Latin Pictauia is detryded into two partes , to wit the Superior & Inferior . The vpper Poitou is that which stretcheth east-ward towards the countries of Towrs & Berry , the nether Poitou is that parte which westward extendeth it self to the Ocean sea .

It is a country frutefull in Corne & Cattel rich in wynes & furnished with great store of fish , And the great aboundance of wyld beastes & fowle , doth cause the delightfull sportes of hunting & hauking to bee here much vsed .

The chief citie of this prouince is called Poitiers , having a notable vniuersitie chiefly for study of the Ciuil law , this citie is of great antiquitie as appeereth by the Theatre , Aquaduct , & monuments , which are there yet remaining .

BRitannie ( called in tyme past Armorica ) bordereth eastward vpon the country of Maine and a parte of Aniou , towards the north it hath the narrow sea & a parte of the country of Constantin , towards the west the maine Ocean , & towards the south the country of Poitou . It is reconed in two partes , to wit the higher & the lower Britany . There are in it nyne Bishoprykes which are deuided into three distinckt quarters . Three of these which are , Cornuaille , S. Paul & Treguiers , do speake the British tongue , & the inhabitants are called Cornubians , Other three , to wit , those of Dol , Renes & S. Malo , do speake the French tongue . The third beeing those of Nantes , Vannes and S. Brieu , do speak both French and British .

The principall townes in Britannie are Nantes and Renes , but in Renes resydeth the courte of Parlament for the whole prouince . The chief hauen of all Britany is that of Brest . It is not to bee omitted that the hauen of S. Malo is garded with mastiues , which beeing thereto trayned do there kepe diligent night ▪ watch .

It is generally a pleasant & fertile country , the earable land beeing as good as can be desyred , hauing also plenty of wood & pasture , & exceeding great store of medow ground . There are in it mynes of Iron & lead , & in some places siluer ▪ fyne salt is there boyled through the heat of the Sun . And the country through the many comodities thereof , & the sea trafike , is very welthy .

NOrmandie hath on the north syde thereof the narrow seas , that seperate England & France , & on all sydes els ir is enuyrond with seuerall countries & prouinces of France .

From whence this Duchie taketh name , the name it self of Normandie doth declare , to wit , North-mandie , that is the dwelling or region of the men of the North , for from Norway othewise North-way , came Rolo ( afterward called Robert ) with his Northmen , and of Charles the simple King of France hee and his people obtayned heere there habitation , about the yeare of our Lord . 9 12.

This prouince of Normandie is a moste pleasant & fertil soile , so wel furnished of all necessaries as sildome any place better . It hath great store of flesh and fish , of corne , and wood , much wyne it hath not there growing , but is furnished with great store by the riuer of Scine , which coming through Paris passeth by Roan the chief citie of this prouince . All the corne feilds , as also the high wayes & passages , are set & planted about with frute-trees , espitially aples & peares , which yeildeth great aboundance of tider & perry , The riuer of Seine ( as a foresaid ) passing by Roan falleth into the sea at Haure de grace , or newhauen , where ships arryuing do come vp the riuer to Roan , which maketh the citie of great trade & trafique of marchandise .

THe Dukedome of Aniou lieth ( northward ) in the west parte of France ioyning vpon Britannie . It is not great , howbeit very good , for that there is not any country in France that exceedeth it in fertillitie of soile . It hath plenty of wyne , store of corne , and aboundeth in kyne , & sheepe , & hath great store of fish through the many fishpondes therein , & aboue 36 riuers , whereof the Loyre and the Mayne are the principal . It is beautified with pleasant medowes , woods , forests & mountaines , & in the mountaines are quarries of freestone , marble & slate .

The principall towne of this Duchie is Angiers , situate on either syde of the riuer of Mayne . It is of great antiquitie , which is witnessed by the ruynes of a Theatre not farr from it . It hath a very faire bridge ouer the riuer of Mayne all buylt of free stone , It hath also a famous vniuersitie which was founded in the yeare of our Lord 1387.

BErry , otherwise called the country of Bourges , so taking name of this the chief citie thereof , lieth in the middest of the realme of France .

The inhabitants of this country were in tymes past a free people , but in proces of tyme became with other lyke prouinces to bee vnder the Kinges of France .

Bourges ( as is aforesaid ) is here the chief citie , in old tyme very famous , and by Ceasar called Auaricum , & it is by few cities in France exceeded in greatnes .

In this citie is a famous vniuersitie , wherein the liberal sciences are taught , which vniuersitie was erected in tyme past by a Duke of this duchie , who greatly fauoured good letters .

It hath in many places marrish ground & chiefly about this citie , by reason of the sundry riuers & brookes , that pas by & about it , neuerthelesse it is very frutefull , & aboundant in all thinges that are generally els where found in other partes of France .

LImousin called in Latin Lemouicum , lieth in the west parte of France betwene Berry and Xanctoigne , The chief citie of this Vicontie is called Limoges , the inhabitantes are called Limosins or Limosians a very ancient people , and there name having neuer bene changed they are of some authors called Aborigines . The chief citie ( aforesaid ) of this prouince is of great antiquitie , it was first spoyled by the Romaines , after that by the Gothes , then by the French , afterward againe by Charles Martel , and lastly by Englishmen .

The soile about this citie is fruteful & the citie is not inferior to any in all Aquitaine , in regard of trafike .

The country is woody & hilly , & therefore lesse fruteful then other prouinces of France , Chestunt trees are heere very plentifull , & their frute is a great sustinance for the comon people , & great store therof is sent from hence to other places and prouinces of France .

The riuers that pas through this country are exceedingly stored with fish .

THis Prince-dome of Orange taketh name of the principal citie thereof , whith is so called , & it is reconed ( of some ) to bee within the limittes of Prouence .

It is of great antiquitie & of Ptolomey called the Colonie of the Aurasians . It was in tymes past the heritage of the Princes & familie of Chalon , & often allied with the hows of Burgundie .

It is since falne vnto the hows of Nasau throwgh aliance made with the hows of Chalon .

There is seene at the Citie of Orange the ruynes of one of the moste faire Theaters in the world & a wall of squared stone such as is scarsly found in any place and at one of the gates standeth a moste goodly Triumphal-arck .