CAP. I. What a Citty is , and what the greatnes of a Citty is sayd to be .

A Citty ▪ is sayd to be an assembly of people , acongregation drawen together , to the end they may thereby the better liue at their ease in wealth and plenty . And the greatnes of a Citty , is sayd to be , not the largnes o●… the ●…ite or the circuit of the walles ; but the multitude and number of Inhabitants and their power , Now , men are drawen together , vpon s●…ndry causes , and occasions therevnto them moouing ▪ ●…ome by authority ▪ some by force , some by pleasure , and some by profit , that proceedeth of it .

CAP. II. Of Authority .

_●… Ain was the first Author of Cittyes ; but , the Poets ( whome Cicero therein followed ) fable that in the old world , men scattered here and there , on the mountaines , and the plaines ; led a life little different from brute beastes , without lawes , without conformity of customes , and manner of ciuile conuersation . And that afterward there rose vp some , who , hauing with their wisdome and their eloquence , wonne a speciall Reputation and Authority aboue the rest , declared to the rude and barbarous multitude , how much & how great profit they were like to enioy : if drawyng themselues to one place , they would vnite themselues into one body , by an interchangeable communication ▪ & commerce of all things that would proceed thereof . And by this meanes they first founded Hamlets and Villages , and after Townes and Cittyes , and therevpon these Poets further feyned , that 〈◊〉 and Amphi●…n , drew after them , the beasts of the fields , the woods and stones : meanyng vnder these fictions , to signifie & shew the grossenes of the witts , and the roughnes of the manners of the same people . But ▪ besides these fables , we read of T●…eseus , that after he had taken vpon him the gouernment of the Athenians , it came into his mynd , to vnite into one Citty , all the people that dwelt in the contry there about , dispersedly in many Villages abroad : Which he easely effected , by manifesting vnto them , the great commodity & good that would ensue of it .

The like thing is daily at this time put in practise in Brasill . Those people dwell dispersed here & there Brasill . in caues & Cottages , ( not to call them houses ) made of boughes & leaues of the Palme . And for asmuch as this manner of life , to liue so dispersedly , causeth these people to remaine in that same sauage mynd of theirs , and roughnes of maner and behauiour ; and bringeth therewith much difficulty & hinderance to the preaching of the Gospell , to the conuersion of the Infidells , & the instruction of those that trauaile painfully , to conuert them , and to bring them to knowledge and ciuility : The Portugalls & Iesuits haue vsed extreame diligence and care , to reduce & draw them into some certaine place together , more convenient for their purpose ; where liuing in a ciuile conuersation , they might more easely be instructed in the christian faith , and gouerned by the Magistrate & ministers of the King . So that to this purpose I might here remember those citties that haue been built by the power , and inhabited by the authority of great Princes , or some famous common weales . For the Grecians and Phaenicians , were the authors of an infinit sight of Citties . And Alexander the great and other Kings , erected a number more besides , whereof beare witnes the Alexandriae , Tholomai●…s , Antiochiae , Lysimachiae , Philippopoles , Demetriade●… , Caesareae , Augustae , Sebastiae , Agrippinae , Manfredoniae , and in our time , Cosmopolis and the Citty of the Sonne .

But none deserueth more prayse in this kind , ( after Alexan er the great , who built more than three scoare and ten Cittyes , ) then the King Seleucus , who besides many other ▪ built three Cittyes called Apa●…iae , to the honor of his wife , & fiue called Laodiceae , in memory of his mother ; and to the honor of himselfe fiue called Seleu●…tae : and in all more than thirtie magnificent and goodly Citties .

CAP. III. Of Force .

THrough force and ineuitable necessity people are gathered other while together into one place , when as some imminent pe●…ill , especially of wars or ruine and vnreconerable wast and deuastacion , enforceth them to flye vnto it , to put in safty their liues or their goods : and such safety is most found in mountaines & craggy places , or small and little Ilands , or such other like , that are not easily to be approched or come vnto .

After the generall deluge of the world in the time Noe. of Noe , while men feared their might a fresh happen such another ruin again vpon them , they sought to secure themselues , some by building their habitations vpon the tops of high hils , & some by aduancing huge Towers of incredible height and greatnes , euen vp to the heauens ▪ And without doubt , for this respect , the Cittyes seated vpon the mountaines , are for antiquity the most noble : And the Towers are of the most ancient forme and kind of buildings that euer were vsed in this world But after the feare of a new deluge was past and gone , men began to draw them selues downe , and to erect their habitations in the plaines , vntill the Terror of Armies , and the swarme and feare of fyerce and cruell people , enforced them a fresh to saue them selues , on the steepenes of the hilles , or in the Ilands of the Seas , or in the maryshes and bogges , or other such like places .

When the Moores subdued Spaine , & brought it into miserable seruitude & bondage : Such as escaped with their liues , out of the lamentable slaughter , that was made of them : Some retyred themselues vp to the highest mountaines of Biscay and of Aragon ; and Biscay ▪ Aragon . some betaking them to their shipping , saued themselues in the Iland of the seauen Cittyes , so called , bycause seauen Bishoppes seated themselues therein with their people .

The cru●…ll Ruine that Tamberlan carryed with Tamberlan . him wheresoeuer he came , made the people of Persia , & the countryes bordering therupon , to abandon and forsake their ancient natiue countries , ( like birds that are scattered ▪ ) and to saue their liues by flyght : Some , vpon the mount Taurus , some vpon Antitaurus , and some fled into the little Ilands of the Caspian Se●… . And , as the people of Istria , at the comming of the Slaui retyred to the Iland Capraria , and th●…re built Giustinopoli . Gallia transpadana . Giustinopoli : So the people of Gallia Transpadana at the entry of the Lombards into Italie , saued themselues within the maryshes , where they built the Towne of Crema .

But , forasmuch as to the naturall strength of those places , neyther great conueniencie , either of Territory or Trafique , or good meanes to draw Trade or entercourse , lent ( for the most part ) any helpe vnto them : there was neuer seen Citty there , of any great fame or memory . But if the places whereto men are driuen of necessity to fly , haue in them besides their safety , any commodity of importance : it will be an easy thing for them to encrease , both with people , and with riches , and with buildings .

In this manner , the Citties of Leuant , and of Barbarie , became populous and great thorough the multitude of Iewes , that Ferdinando the King of Spayne , and Emanuel the King of Portingall , cast out of their Kingdomes , as in particuler , Salonica & Rhodes . And in these our dayes in England many Cittyes haue much encreased within fewe yeares , both in people and in Trade , through the resort of the lowe country people to it : and especially London , wherevnto many thousands of famylyes haue resorted themselues .

About the yeare of the Lord . 1400. while the Saracenes . Saracenes did put to fyer & sword the Genouaes , & all the country there about ; Pisa did mightily encrease : For to the strength of the place , the country yeelded also plenty of al good things , & commodity of trafique .

At the comming of Attyla into Italy , the people of Lombardy being wonderfully affrayd , thorough the horrible wast and ruine he brought with him : fled to saue themselues , into the Ilands of the Adriaticke Seas , and there built many Townes & Cittyes . And after that , in the warres that Pypin raysd against them , forsaking the places that were not secure and safe ynough , Rialto . Venice . as Ex quilinum , Heraclea , Palestin , & Malamocco , they drew themselues neere to Rialto , into one body , and so by that meanes grew Venice magnificent and great .

CAP. IIII. How the Romanes encreased the Citty of Rome , by wasting their neighbours Townes .

THe Romanes , to make their owne country in any sort great & famous , furnished themselues very carefully euer , with strength and power . For to make their neighbour people of necessity glad , and willing to draw themselues to Rome , and there to dwell : they ouer-threw their Townes euen downe to the ground . So did Tullus Alba. Cornicolo . Pometia . Veios . Hostilius cast Alba downe to the earth , a most strong Citty : Tarquinius Pris●…us laid also playne Cornicolo , a Citty abounding in mighty wealth . Seruius Tullus made Pometia desert : and in the tyme of liberty they vtterly destroyed Veios , a Citty of such strength and power , that with much a doe , after a siege of ten yeares , it was by cunning more than strength vanquished and ouerthrowen .

Now these people and such other , hauing no dwelling place to draw themselues vnto , nor to liue secure and safe , they were enforst to chaunge their countryes with Rome , which by this meanes wonderfully waxed great , both in people and in riches .

CAP. V. That some haue gotten the Inhabitants of other townes in to their owne Citties .

THe like meanes to the former , but somewhat more gentell , the Romains vsed to appopulate and make great their owne Citty : And that was , to bring the people home , whome they had subdued , or the most of them to Rome . Romulus in this manner , drew into the Citty the Seninenses , the Antennates , and the Crustumini . But no country amplified more the Citty of Rome , then the Sabines . For in a sharpe and mighty fight with them , after a longe and hard conflict , he made a peace ; And the condicion Tatius King of the Sabines . was , that Tatius the King of the Sabines , should come with all his people to dwell in Rome . Which condicion Tatius did accept , and made choyse of the Capitoll , and of the mount Quirinalis for his Seat and Pallace . The same course did An●…us Martiu●… take , who gaue the hill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Latines , when they were taken from their cittyes Politorio , Tellena , and Fic●…na .

The great Tamberlan also , he amplified & enlarged Tamberlan . Sarmacanda . Ottoman . mightely the great Sarmacanda , in bringing to it the richest and the wealthiest persons of the cittyes he had subdued . And the O●…tomans to make the citty of Constantinople rich and great , they haue brought to it many thousand families , especially artificers out of the cittyes they haue subdued : As , Mahomet the second Mahomet . Selim. from Trebisonda ; Selim the first , from Cairo ; and Soliman from Tauris .

CAP. VI. Of Pleasure .

MEn are also drawen to liue together in Society , thorough the delight and pleasure that eyther the Scite of the place , or the art of man doth minister and yeild vnto them . The Scite , by the freshnes of the ayre , the pleasant view of the valleis , the pleasing shade of the woodes , the commodity to hunt , and the abundance of good waters ; Of all which good things , Antioche in Soria , is liberally endowed , and Damascus no lesse , & Bursia in Bithinia , Cordoua and Siuill in Spaine , and many other good townes elsewhere . Vnto art , belongeth the strayte and fayre streetes of a cittye , the magnificent & gorgious buildings therein , eyther for Art or matter , the theaters , Porches , Circles , Rases for running horses , Fountaines , Images , Pictures , and such other excellent and wonderfull things , as delight and feede the eyes of the people with an admiration and wonder at them .

The citty of Thespis , was frequented for the excellent Thespis . Samos . Alexandria . Menisis . workmanship sake of the Image of Cupid . Samos , for the merualous greatnes of the temple . Alexandria , for the tower of Pharo . Menisis , for the Pyramides , Rhodes , for the Colossus . And , how many shall Rhodes . Babilon . we thinke , haue gon to Babilon , to see the wonderrous wailes that 〈◊〉 had made about it ? The Romans many times willingly went for their recreation sake to 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , Smyrna , Rhodes and 〈◊〉 , euen to take the benyfit of the ayre , and to behold the bewty of those same cittyes . To conclude , all that euer feedeth the eye , and delighteth the sense of man , and hath any exquitite and curious workmanship in it : all that euer is rare , strange , new , vnwonted , extraordinary , admirable , magnificent , great , or singular by cunning , apperteyneth to this head .

And , amongest all the cittyes of Europes Rome and 〈◊〉 , are the most frequented , for the pleasures and delightes they minister to all the beholders of them . Rome . Rome , for the exceeding wonderfull reliques of her ancient greatnes . And 〈◊〉 , for the gloriousnes of her present and magnificent 〈◊〉 . Rome , filleth the eye with wonder and delight at the greatnes of her 〈◊〉 , the rarenes of her ●…athes , and ●…enes of her o●…ossi ; a●… also at the Art of her admirable works , both in Marble and in ●…rasse , wrought by excellent 〈◊〉 ; ●…t the hei●…th and ●…enes of her Obelis●…es , at the 〈◊〉 and variety of pillers ; at the diversity and 〈◊〉 of strange marble , the exquisite & curious cutting of it ; The●… or●…ery , Alablaster , Marble , White , Black , Grey , Yellow , and mixt , and Serpentyne ; The great ruines , the hel-gates , and a number of other sorts and kinds besides which were too hard to recount , and impossible to distinguishe . What shall I say of the triumphall arches , of the seauen Zoanes or circles ? of the Temples ? and what of a number of other wonders else ? And what shall we imagyne that Citty was , when she floryshed and triumphed ; if now , while shelyeth thus defaced , & is none other then a Sepulture of her selfe , she allureth vs to see her , and feedeth vs vnsatiably with the ruynes of her selfe .

On the other side Venice , with the wonder of Uenice . her incomparable Scituation ( which seemeth the Act of nature , by giuing lawes to the waters , and setting a bridell on the Sea ) ministreth vnto vs no lesse admiration and wonder at it . The greatnes also of her inestimable Arsenall , the multitude of ships both of warre , of trafique and of Passage : The incredible number of warlike instruments , ordinance and munition , and of all manner of preparacions for the Seas : The heygth of the towers , the ryches of the Churches , the magnificency of the ●…allaces , the beautifullnes of the Streetes , the variety of Artes , the order of her gouernment the beauty of the one and other sexe , doth dazell and amaze the eyes of the beholders of them .

CAP. VII . Of Profite .

THis Profit is of such power , to vnite and tye men fast vnto one place ; as the other causes aforesayd , without this accompany them with all , are not sufficient to make any city great . Not Authority alone : For , if the place whereto men are drawen thorough the Authority of any , afford them no commodityes , they will not abyde nor tarry there .

Neyther yet necessity : For , such a congregation and collection of people encreaseth , multiplieth , and las●…eth for many yeares . And , necessity is violent ; And violence cannot produce any durable effect . So that it comes to passe , that not only citties do not encrease , but also States & Principalityes gotten with meere strength and violence , cannot be long mainteyned . They are much like Land floodes , that haue no head nor spring , as Riuers haue that minister perpetually plenty of waters to them ; But casually , and in a moment ryse and swell , and by and by asswage and fall againe . So that , as they are to trauaylers fearefull in their swellings , so do they fall againe wthin a while to fast as trauailers may soone passe away on soote againe drye .

Such were the conquests of the Tarters ▪ that haue so vast inuaded 〈◊〉 , and put it to the sword : Of Alexand●… the great , of Att●…la , of great 〈◊〉 , of 〈◊〉 the eight and of 〈◊〉 the twelueth King of france . And the reason therof is , that our nature is so great alouer , & longeth after commoditye so much , as that it is not possible to quiet & content her with that which is no more but necessary . For ▪ as Plants , although they be set deepe ynough within the ground , cannot for all that , last and be long kept without the fauour of the heauens , and the benefyt of raine : Euen so , the habitacions of men , enforst at first by meere necessity , are not maynteyned long , if profit and commodity go not companions with it ; much lesse then is pleasure and delyght of any moment . For man is borne to labor , and most men attend their businesse : and the ideler sort are of no account nor reckoning , and their idlenesse is built and founded vpon the labours and the industrie of those that worke . And pleasure cannot stand without profit and commoditie , whereof she is as it were the verie fruit .

Now , suppose that profite is the verie thing from whence , as from the principall cause , the greatnesse of citties groweth ▪ ( For the same profite is not simple and of one sort , but of diuers formes and kindes . ) It resteth therefore now , that we see what manner of commodity and profit is most fit , for the end wherof , we haue disputed all this while . We say then , that to make a cittie great and famous , the commoditie of the scite , the fertilitie of the soyle , and easinesse of conduct , helpeth sufficiently ynough .

CAP. VIII . Of the commoditie of the Scite .

I Call that a commodious Scite , that serues in such sort as many people haue thereof neede for their traffique , and transportation of their goods , whereof they haue more plenty than they need ; or for receiuing of things wherof they haue scarsitie : so that this scite standing thus betweene both , partaketh with both , and groweth rich with the extreames . I say partaketh with the extreames , because it cannot otherwise increase the greatnesse of a cittie : ●…or asmuch as it must either remaine desert , or else not serue but for a simple passage .

Derbentum , a Towne seated in the Ports of the Derben ū . Caspian Seas , is a verie necessarie place ▪ to goe from Persia into ●…artary , or from ●…artary into Persia : yet notwithstanding it neuer grew great , nor no famous cittie , and in these our dayes there is no reckoning made of it : and the reason is , for that it partaketh not of these extreames , but serueth for passage onely , and receiueth those that ttauaile too and fro , not as marchants , and men of commerce and traffique , but as passengers and trauailers ; and to speake in a word , it is seated sure in a verie necessarie place , as the case standeth , but not profitably vnto it selfe .

For the selfe ▪ same cause , in the streyts of the Alpes , which for the most part doe compasse Italy , although the Frenchmen , Swyzers , Dutch men , & Italians continually do passe by them : there neuer yet was found a meane cittie ; much lesse any great and stately one .

The like may be sayd of many other good citties Sues . and places . For Sues is a verie necessarie place for them that came out of the Indies by the red Sea , to C●…yrus . The Ilands of Saint Iames , and the Palme and Terzeras , are necessarie for the Portugals , and Spaniards to sayle to the 〈◊〉 , Brasill , and to the new World : yet neither is there , nor neuer will bee in those same places , cittie of good importance . As neither also is there in the Ilands , between Denmark , and Suetia , nor yet betweene Mare Germanicum , and Mare Balticum . And Flushing , although it be scituated in a passage of incredible necessity , for the commerce and traffique that is between the Flemings , Englishmen , and other Nations : yet neuer grewe it great , but still remaines a verie little towne . But contrarywise Geneua is a great cittie , and so is Venice , because they partake of the extreames , and serue onely for passages , but much more for Store houses , Cellerage , and Ware houses of marchandize , most plentifully brought vnto them : And so is likewise Lysborne , An●…werpe , and some other . It sufficeth not inough therefore to the making of a cittie magnificent and great , that the scite thereof be necessarie ; but it must withall be commodious to other countreys that are borderers or neere vnto it .

CAP. IX . Of the fruitfulnes of the Soyle .

THe second cause of the greatnes of a city , is the fruitfulnes of the country . For , the Sustenance of the life of man , consisting on Foode and Cloa●…hing , and both of them gotten out of those things the Earth doth produce ; the fruitfulnes of the country cannot but be a mighty helpe vnto it . And , if it fall out to be so great , as it not only well sufficeth to mantaine the Inhabitants thereof , but also to supply the wants of their bordering neighbours : It serueth our purpose so much the better . And , forasmuch as all Soyles produce not all things ; How much more rich and more able a country shal be to produce diuers and sundry things of profit and commoditie : So much the more sufficient and fyt it will be found to rayse a great citty . For , by that meanes it shall haue the lesse need of others , ( which enforceth people other while to leaue their habitations , ) and be able to afford the more to others ( which draweth our neighbors the sooner to our country . )

But , the fruitfulnes of the Land , sufficeth not simply of it selfe alone to rayse a citty vnto greatnes : For many Prouinces there are , and they very rich , that haue neuer a good citty in them . As for Example , Premont is one : And there is not a country through Premont . out all Italy , that hath more plenty of Corne , Cattell , Wine , and of excellent fruits of all sorts , than it hath . And it hath mainteined for many yeares , the Armies and forces both of Spaine and Fraunce . And in England ( London excepted , ) although the country do abound England . London . in plenty of all good things : yet is there not a city in it that deserues to be called great . As also in Fraunce ( Paris excepted ) which notwithstanding , Fraunce . Paris . is not seated in the fruitfullest country of that great kingdome . For , in pleasantnes , it giueth place to Turen ; in abundance of all things , to Xanton and Poitiers ; In varyety of Fruites , to Languedock ; incommodiousnes of the Seas , to Normandie ; In store of wine , to Burgundie ; in abundance of Corne , to Campagna ; In eyther of both , to the country of Orliens ; in Cattell , to Brittaine and the territorie of Burges .

By all which it doth appeare , that to the aduancing of a city vnto greatnes , it sufficeth not simply of it selfe alone , that the territorie be fruitfull . And the reason thereof is plaine ; For , where a countrie doth plentifullie abound with all maner of good things , the Inhabitants finding all those things at home that are fit , necessary , and profitable for their vse ; neyther care , nor haue cause to goe any where else to seeke them , but take the benefit and vse of them with ease where they grow . For , euery man loues to procure his commoditie with the most ease he may : and when they finde them with ease at home , to what end should they trauaile to fetch them elsewhere ? And this reason prooues the more stronge , where the people affect and long least after vaine and idle delights and pleasures .

It sufficeth not therefore to the gathering of a Societie of people together , to haue abundance of wealth and substance alone ; But there must be besides that , some other forme & matter to vnite and hold them in one place together . And that is , the easines and commodiousnes of conduct , the carying out and bringing in I meane of commodities of wares too and froe .

CAP. X. Of the Commoditie of Conduct .

THis commoditie is lent vnto vs , partly of the land , and partly of the water .

Of the Land , if it be plaine . For , by that meanes , it conduceth easely the marchandize and goods of all sorts and kinds , vpon Carts , Horses , Mules , & other beasts of burden . And men make their iorneys the more commodious you foote , on Horse , in Chariot , and in other such like sort and maner .

The Portugalls do write , that in some large and spacious plaines of China , they vse Coaches with Coaches with failes failes : Which some assaid not many yeares since in Spaine .

Of the water : this commoditie is lent vs , if it be nauigable . And without comparison , the commoditie is much better , and more worth far ▪ which the water doth assord vs , than which the earth doth giue vs both for ease and speedines ▪ for as much as in lesse time , and with lesse charge and labor ( without proporcion in it ) greater cariages are brought from countries most remote , by water , than by land .

Now , your nauigabl water is either of the Sea , or of the riuer , or of the lake , which are naturall helps and means : or of Chanells or of Pooles as that of Mi●… 〈◊〉 , which was 45●… ▪ miles about , made by art ▪ and mans industrie and labor .

It seemes in very truth , that God created the water , not only for a necessarie Element to the perfection of nature ▪ But more than so , for a most readie meanes to conduct and bring goods from one countrie to another . For his diuine maiestie , willing that men should mutually embrace each other , as members of one body ▪ diuided in such sort his blessings as to no nation did he giue all things , to the end that others hauing need of vs , and contrarywise we hauing need of others , there might growa * Communitie , and from a Communitie Loue , and from Loue an vnitie betweene vs .

And to worke this community the easier , he produced the water . Which of nature is such a substance , that through the grossenes thereof , it is apt to beare great burdens : And through the liquidnes , holpen with the windes , or the oares , fit to carry them to what place they list . So that by such a good meane , the West is ioyned with the East , and the South with the North. And a man might say , that what so growes in one place , growes in all places , by the easie meanes prouided to come by them .

Now without doubt , the Sea , for her infinit greatnes and grosnesse of the water , is much more profitable than the Lakes , or the Riuers . But , the Sea serues you to little purpose , if you haue not a large and safe Port to ride into : I say large , either for the greatnes , or for the depth in the entrie thereat , the middest and the extreames . And I say safe , either from all , or from many windes , or at least from the most blustering and most tempestuous .

It is held , that , amongst all windes , the Northerne is most tollerable , and that the Seas that are troubled on the Greekish coast , cease their rage and wax quiet assoone as the winde is laide , But the Southern windes trouble them , and beate them so sore ( wherof the Gulfe of Venice is an vndoubted witnes that euen after the winde is laid , they swell and rage a great while after .

Now the Port shal be safe , either by nature , as that of Messina and Marsiles ; or else by art , the Imitato●… of nature , as that of Genoua and of Palermo .

Lakes are , as it were little Seas . So that also they Lakes . for the proporcion of the place , and other respects besides , gaue a great helpe to appopulate townes and citties ; As it is found in Noua Hispania , where as Noua His pania . Mexico . is the Lake of Mexico , which extendeth nine hundred miles in compasse , and conteineth 50. faire and goodly townes in it : Amongst the which there is the Towne Themistitan , the Metropolitan seate of Themistitam . that great and large Kingdome .

The Riuers also import much ; and most of all they Riuers . that runne the longest course , especially through the richest and most merchantable Regions , such as is Po in Italie , Scaldis in Flanders , Ligeris & Sona in France , Danubius and the Rhene in Germanie . And as Lakes are certaine seuerall remembrances of the bosomes of the Gulphes of the Seas , formed and made by nature : Euen so Chanells , whereinto the water Chanell . of the Lake or the Riuer runneth , are certaine Imitations , and as it were shadowes of the same Riuers made by skill and cunning .

The ancient Kings of Egipt made a ditch that from Nilus . Heroum . Marerubrum . Nilus ranne to the city Heroum : & they assaid to draw a Chanell from the Red Sea to Mare Mediterraneum , to knit our Seas with the Indian Seas , and so to make the easier transportation too and fro of all kindes of merchandize , and by that meanes withall to enritch their owne Kingdome . And it is a thing well knowen , how ost it hath been attempted to breake vp Isthmus , to vnite the Sea Ionium with Mare Aegeum . A Cayrus . Alepo . Gant & Bruges . Souldier of Cayro drewe a Chanell from Eufrates to the cittie of Alepo . In Flanders you may see both at Gant and at Bruges , and in other places else besides , many Chanels made by art , and with an inestimable expence and charge ; but yet of much more profit for the ease they bring to merchandizing , and to the trafique of other nations . And in Lombardy many cities haue wisely procured this ease vnto them : But none more then Milan , that with one Chanell ( worthy of Milan . the Romaines glorie ) draweth the waters to it of Thesinum . Lago maggiore . Thesinum and of the Lake called Lago Maggiore , and by such meanes enricheth it selfe with infinit store of merchandizes , and with an other Chanell also benefiteth much by the Riuer Adda : through the opportunitie and meanes it hath thereby to bring in the fruites and the goods of their exceeding plentifull countrie , home vnto their houses : And they should make it much the better , if they would clense and scower the Chanell of Pauia and Iurea .

Now in Chanells and in Riuers , for their better ease of conduct and of trafique , besides the length of their courses we haue before spoken ; the depth , Depth . Pleasantnes . Thicknes . Largenes . the pleasantnes , the thicknes of the water , and the largnes thereof is of much moment to them . The depth , bycause deepe waters beare and susteine the greater burdens , and the nauigation is the more safe without perill . The Pleasantnes , bycause it makes the nauigation easie vp and downe which way soeuer , you bend your course . Wherein it seemes to some , they haue been much mistaken that had the ordering of the Chanell that comes from Thesinum , to Milan . Forasmuch as by the great fall of the water , and the great aduantage giuen to the water , it hath so strong a currant , and is so violent , that with infinit toyle , and labor and losse of time , they haue much a do to saile vpward . But as towching Riuers , nature hath shewed her selfe very kinde to Gallia Celtica Gallia . Belgica . Celtica . and Belgica : for asmuch as in Gallia Celtica , the riuers for the most part , are most calme and still , and therefore they saile vp and downe with incredible facilitie , because many of them come forth , as it were in the plaines & euen grounds : By the meanes where of their course is not violent , and they runne not between the mountaines , nor yet a short and little way , but many hundred miles through goodly and euen plaines . Where , for their recreation and their pleasure , otherwhile men take their course one way , another while another , now go on forwardes , and then turne back againe : and so , by this winding and turning too and fro , they helpe diuers cities and prouinces with water and victualls , or other such things as they need . But there is not a country in Europe , better furnished and prouided of Riuers , than that part of Gallia Belgica , that commonly we call Flanders . The Meuse , the Schelde , the Mosella , Tevora , Flanders . Ruer and Rhene , deuided into three great Armes or branches , runne pleasantly and gallantly forthright and ouerthwart the Prouince , & mightely enritch it by the commoditie of nauigation & trafique of infinit treasure , which certainly wants in Italie . For , Italie being long and strait , and parted in the middest with the Apenine Hills : the Riuers of Italie , through the shortnes of their cou●…se , cannot neither much encrease , nor yet abate the violence of their Streames .

The Riuers of Lombardy , come all as it were , either Riuers of Lombardy . out of the Alpes , as Thesinum , Adda , Lambro , Seruo , & A●…liga : or out of the Apenine hills , as Tarro , Lenza , Panarus , & Rhene , and but a short way neither , wherein they rather deserue to be called land floods , than Riuers : For , they soone find out the Po ▪ which takes his course between the Appenine hils , & the Alpes . So that he only resteth nauigable . For washing this Prouince ouer by all his whole length , he hath time to growe great , and enrich himselfe with the helpe of many Riuers , and to moderate his naturall swiftnesse by the long way he maketh . But this take withall , that forasmuch as the sayd Riuers , thorough the shortnesse of their course , enter and meet together with a mightie rage and violence , they wax great otherwhile , and swell and runne with such a raging course , as they make the strongest Citties afraide of them , much more the Country thereabout . But the Riuers of Romagna , and of other parts of Italy , Riuers of Romagna . falling like raging Land-flouds , partly on this side , and partly on that side of the Appenine hils , soone find out the Adriaticke , or the Tyrrhenian , or the Ionian Seas . So that the most of them haue no time to slake their rage , nor none of them haue so much time to grow great , as might make them nauigable . For that little that is nauigable in Arn●… , or in Tiber , it is not worth the speaking .

The thickenesse of the water , is also a verie good helpe in this case . For , it cannot be denied , that the water of one Riuer , beareth great and waighty burdens much better , than the water of some other . And in particuler , when the Obelisk ( set vp in the time of Sextus the fift ) which is to be seene at this day in Saint Peters street , was brought to Rome ; It is well knowen by good experience , the water of Tiber was of more strength and of more force and Tiber. Nilus . firmenesse , than the water of Nilus .

And Seina a meane riuer in France , beareth ships of such bulke , and carieth burdens so gr●… the that sees it not , will not beleeue it . And the●…e is not a riuer in the world , that for proportion , is able to beare the like burden . So that , although it exceede not a mediocritie , and be but a small riuer ; yet notwithstanding , it suplieth wonderfully all the necessities and wants of Paris , a citie that in people and in abundance of all things exreedeth far all other cities whatsoeuer within the scope of Christendome .

Here a man might aske me how it comes to passe , Questio . that one water should beare more burden than another ?

Some will , that this proceedeth from the nature of the earth that thickneth the water and maketh it stiffe , and by consequence firme and solide . This reason hath no other opposition but Nilus , the water Nilus . whereof is so earthie and so muddie , that the Scripture calleth it the Troubled riuer . And it is not to be dronke before it be purged and setled well in the Cesterne . And it doth not only water & mellow all Egipt ouer with its liquidnes , but more than that maketh it fertile , and mucketh as it were the ground with its satnes . And yet it is not of the fittest nor the strongest to susteine and beare shipps , boats , or barks of any good burden , wherevpon I should thinke , that for such effect and purpose , wee should not so much preferre the muddinesse of the water , as the sliminesse thereof : for that doth glew it , as it were together , and thicken it the better , and maketh it more fit , and more apt to beare good burden .

But some man might aske me here again ▪ from whence cometh this quality , this diuersity ( I mean ) of waters ? I must answere , it comes of 2. causes . First , from the very breaking or bursting of it out , and passage along thorough Resolutio . rich , rank , & fat Countreys . For , riuers participating of the nature of the grounds that make them their beds & banks , become therby themselues also fat and slimy , & of quality much like to oyle . The next cause , proceedeth from the swiftnes & the shortnes of the course . Forasmuch as the lengh of a voiage , & the rage of the Riuers maketh thin , & subtileth the substance , and breaks & cuts in sunder the slimines of the water : ( which happeneth in Nilus ) For , running in a maner as it doth , 2000. miles by a direct line , ( for by an oblique & crooked line , it would be a great deale more ) and falling from places exceeding steepe and headlong , where ( through the vehemency & violent force of the course , & by the inestimable rage of the fall , it breaketh & dissolueth all into a very small and fine raine as it were ) it waxeth so fine and subtile , and so tyreth his waters , that they loose all their slimie properties , which resteth all at the Riuers of Almaigne and of Fraunce . For , they grow and walke thorough most rich and pleasant Countreys , and they be not ordinarily swift nor violent . Now , that this is the true reason thereof : the water of Senna shall make a true proofe of it : for if you wash your hands with it , it scowreth like soape , and clenseth you of all manner of spots .

But let vs now passe to the widenesse : and that is necessarie to beginne withall in Riuers , and in Chanels of which we speake of , that they should be wide and large , that Shippes may commodiouslly winde and turne heere and there at their will and pleasure , and giue way each to other . But the widenesse of a Riuer without depth , serues not for our purpose : for it dissipateth and disperseth the water in such sort , that it maketh it vnfit for nauigation , which happeneth to the riuer of Plate , which through ouer much widenesse , is for the most part lowe , and of vneuen bottome , and full of rocks and little Ilands . And for the selfe same cause , the riuers of Spaine , are not gretly nauigable ; for they haue large bellies , but they spread wide , and vneuen they are , and vncertaine . And thus much sufficeth to haue sayd of Riuers .

Now , forasmuch as the commodities and profits are such and so great which the water bringeth to aduance the greatnesse of a Cittie : of consequent those citties must be the fa●…rest and the richest that haue the most store of nauigable Riuers . And euen such are those citties that are seated vpon good Hauens of the Seas , riuers , or lakes , that are commodious , apt and fit for sundrie nauigations

It may seeme to some , that with the easinesse of conduct , the foundation is now found out , and full complement and perfection of the greatnesse of a cittie . But it is not so , for it behoues besides that , that there be some matter of profite , that may draw the people , and cause them to repaire to one place more than to another . For where there is no commoditie of conduct , the multitude of people cannot bee great , which the Hils and Mountaines teacheth vs ; on which wee may well see many Castles and little townes , but no store of people , that we might thereby call them great . And the reason is , because of the craggidnesse and steepnesse of their scites , such things as are necessarie and commodious for a ciuile life , cannot bee brought vnto them without an infinite Fiesole . toyle and labour . And Fiesole became desert , and Florence . Florence frequented vpon none other cause , than that Fiesole standeth on too steepe , and too high a place almost vnaccessible : & Florence in a verie plaine , easie to haue accesse vnto it . And in Rome we see the people Rome . haue forsaken the Auentine and other hils there , & drawne themselus altogether downe to the plaine and places neerest vnto Tyber , for the commoditie which the plaine and the water affordeth to the conduct of goods and traffique .

But where conduct and carriage is easie , you see not for all that , a notable and famous cittie by and by . For without question , the port of Messina is farre Messina . much better ▪ than the port of Naples , that notwithstanding Naples , if you behold the people , exceedeth Naples . more than two Messinas . The port of Carthagena Carthagena . exceeds in all respects , the porte of Genoua : and yet Genoua for multitude of people , for wealth , and Genoua . for all manner of good things besides , mightily exceedeth Carthagena . What Port is more faire , more safe , or more spacious , than the Chanell of Catharo ? Catharo . And yet is there not any memorable Cittie in that place .

What shall I say of Riuers ? In Perù , there is the Riuer Perù . Maragnone a riuer in Perù . Maragnone , which ( it is sayd ) doth runne ( a marueilous thing to report ) six thousand myles in length , and is in breadth , at the mouth thereof , three score myles and more . You haue the Riuer of Plate there The riuer of Plate . by ▪ which though it giue place to Maragnone for the length of his streame and course : it beareth yet more water a great deale . And , at the mouth of it , they say it is one hundred & fiftie myles wyde . In new France , there is the Riuer of Canada , wyde at the mouth Riuer of Canada . thirtie fiue myles , and 200 fathame deepe . In Africa , there are also verie great Riuers , Senaga , Gambea , and Coanza , which last , is a riuer late found out in the Kingdome of Angola , which is thought to be Angola foce . wyde at the mouth 35 myles : And yet amongst these , there is not a famous citie to be found . Nay further , on the riuer of Coanza , the barbarous people there , Riuer of Coanza . liue in dennes , and hyde themselues in caues couered with boughes , in the companie & fellowship , as it were , of crabbes and lobsters , which through vse and custome grow wonderous familiar and secure with them .

In Asia , although Menan , which in their language Riuers . Menan . Meicon . Indus . Obuius . signifieth the mother of riuers , and Meicon , which is nauigable for more than two thousand miles , and likewise Indus , and other royall riuers be sufficiently inhabited : yet for all that Obuius , which is the greatest there amongst them . ( For , where it falleth into the Scithian Ocean , it is 80. myles broad : which makes some men think the Mare Caspium disburdeneth it selfe that way into the Ocean ) hath not any famous citie in it .

After this , another question also ryseth ; how it comes , if the commodious meanes of conduct doe at full accomplish the greatnes of a citie ; How , I say it comes to passe , where vpon the Shoare of one selfe riuer , the conduct is euen easie , and a like ; that one Citie yet , is greater than an other ? Without doubt , it sufficeth not alone that the transportation of goods too and fro , be easie and commodious : but there must be else besides that , some peculier vertue attractiue , that may draw men , and allure men more to one place than to another , whereof we shall in the next booke speake more at large .