Cyprus

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

CYPRUS is one of the greater Ilands of the Mediterranean Sea, which was so called either from Cyprus the Daughter of Cynica, or from the Cyprus tree, which is proper to this Iland. It lyeth in the middle of the Issican Bay betweene Silicia and Syria: on the East it hath the Syrian Sea, and the Issican Bay, which is commonly called Golfo de Lajazzo, on the West the Pamphilian Sea: on the South the Aegyptian Sea: on the North it looketh toward Cylicia, which is now called Turcomannia, according to others Caramania. The compasse of it is 427. miles, the length of it 200. as Bordonius witnesseth. It hath for the most part an unpleasant, and unwholesome ayre, in regard of the exhalations and uprores which arise from the Lakes. Yet the whole Iland is very fruitfull. For it produceth all things necessary both for necessity and delicacies: as Wheate, Barley, and other kindes of Graine: also excellent Wine that may compare with Crete Wine: also Oyle, Sugar, Honey, Salt, Oranges, Citrions, Lemmons, Dates, and other excellent fruit. Also Gold, Cotton, Wooll, Saffron, Coriander seed, Silke, and what not? also Emralds, Chrystall, Iron, and Allome: and especially such great store of Brasse, which it is thought was first found there, so that it was called Brazen Cyprus. There is also a kinde of stuffe made of Goates haire, which is called Chamlot. Diodorus Siculus. Lib. 16. writeth that 9. Kings did governe this Iland, which were all subject to the King of Persia. It had also Greeke Tyrants. We read that heretofore it had 15. famous Citties, which are now for the most part decayd and ruinated. The chiefest of them were Paphos, now called Bapho: also Palae Paphos, where the Inhabitants doe affirme that Venus came first out of the Sea: there is also Sali•i•• which is seated in a pleasant Bay of the East shore, from whence there is a convenient passage to Syria. It was afterward called Constinople and Epiphanius was Bishop thereof. There were also the Citties Amathus and Ceraun•a. But now the chiefest are Nicotia and Famag•••. But out of the Mountaine Olympus, there doe runne two great Rive•s Ly•us and L•pethus, the former runneth Southward, the latter Northward. The other streames may be rather called Torrents than Rivers, because they are sometimes dry, and then the Inhabitants doe want water extremely. There are divers Mountaines in this Iland, but the highest of them all is Olympus, which they call Trohodon▪ which is beautified with all kinde of trees, and hath many Monasteries on it, in which the Calojerians dwell. The compasse of it is 54. miles.

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of CIPRUS Iland, and the trade thereof.

THe Iland of Ciprus is accounted also belonging to Asia, and scituated in the Syrian Sea; in length 200 miles, in bredth 65; and is 60 miles distant from the shoare of Cilicia, and 100 from the maine land of Syria.

This Iland is said to afford materialls to build a Ship from the keele to the topsaile, and fitted for the Sea, either •…s a Merchants vessell for transportation of goods, or as a Princes •…or warfare.

It affordeth also these commodities, as wine, oyle, corne, sugars, cot•…ns, honey, wool, turpentine, allum, verdigrace, salt, grograms, and o•…her commodities.

The chiefe Cities of this Iland are Paphos, Famagusta, Nicosia, Lescara, Salines, and some others; in which Iland the English have a factorie, for the onely trade of cottons here in use; and the English consull resident in Aleppo carryeth the title of consull of Syria and of Ciprus, in which place hee hath a vice consull to supply his occasions for the preservation and maintenance of the English trading hither; which are onely the Company of Merchants called the levant or Turkey Company, as included within their priviledges.

The moneys of this Iland currant I need not mention, nor yet their accounts, as being the coines of the Grand Signiors, and their accounts kept after the same denomination as in Constantinople.

The weight in use through this Iland is the dram, 750 whereof is the Rotolo, and 100 whereof makes a cantar, which is accounted 4 per cent. greater than the common cantar of Aleppo; and is by calculation of such as have resided there 80 ounces haberdepois, or 5 li. the Aleppo rotolo yeelding by this computation 4 li. 13 ounces, or 77 ounces: and the quintall or Cantar of Ciprus by this account should be 500 li. sotile; but I find some observations made, that upon some commodities that the 100 Rotolos of Ciprus have made in London 510 and 512 li. The Rotolo of Ciprus containes 750 drams: and the Rotolo of Aleppo is accounted 720 drams, and 62½ drams makes 1 ounce, & 6½ ounces make here an Oake: but note that the cantar of Famagusta, is 4 per cent. greater then this generall cantar of the Iland, which is above 1½ ounces per Rotolo.

This common cantar of Cyprus, I find thus to respond with the Citie of Venice and other places.

Rotolos 100 of Cyprus, makes sotile U•… 780 li. and of gross 480 li. which by this computation should bee about 522 li. English: but I imagine this is accompted the c•…tar of Famagusta, which is 8 per cent. greater then that of Aleppo, which deducted, being 42 li. there resteth 480 li. haberdepois, the weight rendred of Aleppo; so that Rotolo 21 in circa, makes 100 li. gross, and Rotolo 13½ doe make 100 li. sotile; and Rotolo 1 is 7½ sotile or 4 li. 8 ounces gross of Uenice weight.

Againe, I find these observations made on the weights of Cyprus, for cottons, viz. 100 Rotolos of Cyprus cottons, hath made in Venice 750 li. which is 30 li. lesse then the aforesaid notes which are meant of Famagusta, and hath made in

Naples	671 li.
Bollonia	627 li.
Montpelier	678 li.
Barcelona	564 li.
Sivill	589 li.
Paris	448 li.
Marselia	567 li.
Genoa	710 li.
Florence	656 li.
Milan	678 li.
Avignon	570 li.
Bridges	555 li.
Rome	631 li.
London	506 li.

The truth whereof, I referre to the triall of the experienced.

Measures of length are heere two sorts: first, the pico, by which is sold all woolen cloth, and silke accounted 26½ ynches, and the brace, by which is sold linnen, being 〈◊〉 longer then the pico abovesaid.

The 100 picos rendring in Venice 125 woolen braces and 116 of silke braces.

Wine is sold here by the Cusse, 7 cusses makes 6 fetches of Venetia, which is a candie barrell, so that a cusse and a halfe, and a Zant jarre, are of one and the same bignesse.

Oyle is sold by the Rotolo, which weighs 2½ oakes which is accompted for 1000 drams.

Graine is sold by a measure called the moose, which weigheth 40 oakes, and 2½ mooses, or 100 oakes makes one staio in Venetia.

Salt is sold by the Moose; 1000 mooses heere of salt, makes 14 Mooses in the accompt of Uenetia.

Also some graine is sold by the coffino, 100 whereof making 24 in 25 steras of Venetia, which is () bushels English.

In this part of Asia (following the opinion of Authors) is the Iland of RHODES seated, formerly the habitation of the Knights of S•…. IOHN, now a Beylque of the Turkes, and where for the commodiousnesse of the Port, there is maintained a squadron of his Galleys yearely imployed, to cleare and protect those Seas: matter of trade presenting heere, I have heere willingly omitted, and placed the same amongst the Ilands of the Archipelago; to which place I referre the Reader, and who desires to see further thereof.

1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.

CYPRVS is situate in the Syrian and Cilician Seas, extended in length from East to West two hundred miles, in breadth, sixty, the whole cumpass reckoned five hundred and fifty: distant about sixty miles from the rocky shores of Cilicia in Asia Minor, and about an hundred from the main Land of Syria, towards which it shooteth it self out with a long sharp Promontory, extending heretofore to the main land, from which rent in former time by a Violent Earthquake, as is said by Pliny; and worn unto this narrowness by the continuall working of the Sea upon it.

No place hath oftner changed its name, or at lest had more names on the By than this. Called at first Cethin, or Cethinia, from Ketim the sonne of Javan, who first planted in it; 2. Cerastis, from the abundance of Promontories, thrusting like horns into the Sea, (as the word intimates in the Greek.) 3. Amathusia. 4. Paphia. 5. Salaminia; these three last from the principall Towns in those parts hereof. 6. Macaria, from the fruitfulness and felicities of it. Besides these it hath in some times had these By-names also, as 7. Asperia, from the roughness of the Soyl. 8. Collinia, from the frequency of Hills, and Mountains. 9. Aerosa, from the Mines of Brass, which abound therein. 10. And finally, all those forgotten or laid by, it setled at the last in the name of Cyprus. So called, say some, from the abundance of Cypress Trees, with which most plentifully provided; as others from Cryptos a Greek word, signifying Concealed or hidden, because sometimes concealed by the Surges from the eye of Saylers; but most improbably said by others to take name from Cyrus, who founded here the City of Aphrodisia, whereas indeed six hundred years before Cyprus his birth, we find it by this name in Homer; more rightly Stephanus, who deriveth it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from Cyprus daughter of Cinyras, one of the Kings hereof, living before the Troian Warres: though in my mind the first comes neerest to the truth, the Cypress Tree, not onely growing here in so great abundance, but being antiently peculiar in a manner to this Iland onely.

But on what ground soever it was called Cyprus, certain I am it had the name of Cerastis upon very good reason: no Iland or Region that I know of (for the bigness of it) thrusting out so many sharp Promontories. For on the West, there is 1. the Promontory called Acamas, now Capo S. Pisano. 2. Drepanum, now Trapano and Melechia. 3. Zephyrum, or Caput Calidoni, now Punta Malota. On the South, 4. Phrurium, now Capo Bianco. 5. Curias, or Capo della Gatte. 6. Gades, or Capo Chitt. 7. Throni, or Capo Pilae. On the East, 8. Pendaliun, now Capo di Griego. 9. Clides, now Capo S. Andrea. And on the North, 10. Cronyon, now Capo Cornochiette; besides some others of less note. Some of the Poets give another reason of this name, as that Venus offended with the People of Amathus for sacrificing their guests, should turn them into horned Cattell: Vinde ettam nomen traxere Cerastae, as it is in Ovid. But that meerly fabulous; somewhat of kind unto the Legend of Thomas Becket, and the Kentish Long-tailes. Yet so far we may join with Ovid, that the Island was not only called Cerastis; but that the People were also called Cerastae, of which there wants not proof from some other Authors; with which we need not trouble our selves, that name being altogether worn out of use, and no other but that of Cyprus given it in common speech. Nor is it a matter of more strangeness that Cyprus should be called so by the Grecians, from its abundance of Cypress Trees, antiently and originally peculiar to this Iland, as before was noted: than that the same Grecians should give unto the neighbouring Iland the name of Rhodes, from its great plenty of Roses; or to the neighbouring Continent the name of Phoenicia, from its great plenty of Palme-trees; the words so signifiying in that Language.

It is situate under the fourth Climate, so that the longest day in summer is no more than 14. hours and an half: and for that cause the air in summer time exceeding hot and swelthry: the soyl moystned with some few brooks, meriting rather the name of torrents, than rivers; which being generated for the most part by rain water, are not seldome dried up by the heat of the Sun: insomuch that in the reign of Constantine the Great, this Iland was for 36 years together almost utterly forsaken; no rain falling all that time. These inconveniences notwithstanding, it is stored with such plenty of all things, that without the help of any forreign Nation, it is of it self able to build a tall ship from the keel to the top-sail, and so put it to Sea furnished with all things needful for a voyage, or a Sea-fight. It also aboundeth in Wine, Oyl, Corn, Sugar, Cotton, Honey, Wooll, Turpentine, and Allum; Verdegreece, all sorts of Metals, store of Salt, Grograms, and other commodities: whereupon this Iland was once called Macaria (i.e. happy.) By reason of which wounderful affluence of all necessaries, and that variety of pleasures (even to sensuality) which the place afforded, it was antiontly consecrated unto Venus, who is hence

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called Venus Cypria, and Dea Cypri, Sic te diva potens Cypri, in Horace; and in Ovid,

Festa dies Veneris, tota celeberrima Cypro,

Venerat; ipsa suis aderat Venus aurea festis.

Venus feasts hallowed through all Cyprus came;

And Venus with her presence grac'd the same.

The people hereof are warlike, strong and nimble; of great civility, hospitality to their neighbours, and love to strangers of all Nations, Jewes onely excepted. For in the Empire of Trajan, the Jewes inhabiting Egypt and the adjoining Countreys, drew themselves together, and chose one A exanaer for their Captain: under whose conduct they entred into this Island, and laid it desolate, killing in it 240000 persons of all sexes and ages; not without much bloodshed vanquished and slain by Lucius the Emperours Lieutenant. Since which time the Cypriots permit no Jew to enter into the Iland: but come he hither voluntarily or by force of tempest, they lay hands on him, and lead him presently to execution. A hated Nation, that neither innocence can protect, or equity reprieve from that cruel custome.

The women in former times much noted for their Unchastity, to which their worshipping of Venus was no small incentive; it being the custome of these women to prostitute themselves on the shores to the passers by: their very Virgins not refusing to be hanselled there, before their mariage; either to raise their portions by the sale of their bodies, or else to please their Godess with such beastly sacrifices. And if Volaterranus may be credited (as I think he may) the Ladies which attended on Queen Carlotte, when she came to Rome to seek for aid against James the bastard, who had dispossessed her of this Kingdome, shewed themselves little chaster than those antient Cypriots. Somewhat more fortunate in the men, Aes•lepiades the Author of the verse so named. 2. Xenophon, an old Poet. 3. Zeno, and 4. Apollonius, the Philosophers. 5. Epiphanius, the learned Bishop of Salamis; and 6. above all, Saint Barnabas, the dear Associate of Saint Paul, being all natives of this Countrey.

The Christian faith was first here planted by Saint Paul, and Barnabas, as the very first fruits of their Apostleship, after they had been separated to the work of the Ministry by the Imposition of hands; as appeareth Acts 13. v. 4. &c. The Church hereof, by reason of the Antiquity of it, and the honour of this joint foundation, so privileged in the best ages of Christianity, that the Arch-Bishop of this Island had all prerogatives of a Primate; consecrated by his own Suffragan Bishops, and acting in all sacred and Ecclesiastical affaires, without dependance on, or relation to, the See of Antioch, whereunto all other Bishops in the Eastern Diocese were either subordinate or subject. Which privilege being questioned in the Council of Ephesus, was by the Fathers there assembled, on a full hearing of the cause, approved and ratifyed; confirmed by the Civil sanction of the Emperour Justinian, whose wife was a native of this Island; and by the name of Jus Cyprium, the privilege or exemption of the Cyprian Church, transmitted to the Prelates of succeeding times. Which notwithstanding, they continued in good correspondence with the Eastern Churches of the Greek Communion, and officiated all Divine Acts after the rites and forms thereof; till the Venetians became Lords of it, who brought in the Latine Service into some of their Churches, and appointed Bishops and other Ministers of the Papall party, for execution of the same. And for the Government of these Churches, they had at first fourteen Bishops and Arch-Bishops, to gratify Queen Alice, (who had a mind to enrich her friends with some of the spoiles of them) reduced by Innocent the third to four only, that is to say, the Arch-Bishoprick of Nicosia, the Bishopricks of Famagusta, Paphos, and Amathus; but each See furnished with two Prelates, the one for the Greeks, the other for the Latines, of which the Bishops for the Latines have all the Lands and annual Revenues, which of right belong to those Cathredrals, the Greek Bishops living upon stipends, leavyed on the Priests and Deacons of their jurisdiction.

Rivers, as formerly was said, here are very few: and of those few, the principall are called Lycus, and Lapithus; the first running towards the South, the last towards the North; both not seldome so dried up, that they leave their empty Channels without any water. Both also have their Source from the hill O'ympus (the highest Mountain of the Iland) garnished with Trees and fruits of all sorts; in compass about eighteen Leagues (which make four and fifty Italian miles) and at the end of every League a Monastery of Greek Monks or Caloires, and a fountain of fresh water for the use of the house. Here are also two other little Rivers, the one called 3. Bodeus, the other 4. Tolius, but of the same nature as the former.

By Ptolomy, or in his time, divided into four parts or Provinces, but since it fell into the hands of the Lusignan family, distributed into twelve Counties or Cantrades; most of them called by the names of their Principal Towns, viz. 1. Nicosia. 2. Famagusta. 3. Paphia. 4. Audima. 5. Limissa. 6. Masorum. 7. Salines. 8. Messoria. 9. Crusocus. 10. Pentalia. 11. Carpassus. 12. Cerines. The whole containing, besides these Cities and great Towns, 805 Villages, or thereabouts, which they called Casales; whereof the one half antiently belonged unto the Crown; the other half divided betwixt the Lay-Nobility, and the Ecclesiasticks: the Patrimony of these last being computed at 80000 Crowns of annual rents, besides casualties, and the vails of the Altar. But because the tracing out of these Cantrades will be very difficult (as a way which none have gone before me) I will adhere to the division made hereof in the time of Ptolomy, into the Provinces of 1. Paphia, 2. Amathusia, 3. Lapethia, and 4. Salamine.

1. PAPHIA, so called of Paphos the chief town thereof, taketh up the West part of the Iland: in which the Townes of most importance and observation, are, 1. Pa•hos, on the Sea-side, by Pliny called Pala-paphos, or old Paphus, built as some say by Cyniras, the Father of Myrrha, and so named in memory of Paphus his father: but as others say, by Paphos, the Sonne of Pygmalion, Kings

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of Phoenicia and Cyprus: to which last Ovid doth agree, who speaking of Pygmalions statue, turned into a woman by the power of Venus (or rather of his beautiful wife, fabled, for the surpassing whiteness of her skin, to be made of Ivorie) he addes this of her,

Illa Paphum genuit de quo tenet insula nomen.

She Paphus bare, from whom the name

Of Paphia, to the Iland came.

Here Venus had her so much celebrated Temple; hence the name of Paphia; and here her Votaries of both sexes in their natural nakedness did perform her sacrifices. Both Town and Temple ruined by a fearfull Earthquake; or as the Legends have it, by the prayers of Saint Barnabas; the ruins of it still remaining. 2. Paphos Nova, or New Paphos, Now called Basso, five miles from the old, built by Agapenor, one of the Nephews of Lycurgus the Spartan Law-giver, after the sack of Troy forced hither by a violent tempest: consecrate to the same impure Godess, and much frequented, but without injury to the other; those which here offered, not thinking they had done her sufficient service, unlesse they went in a solemn manner of procession, and paid their vowes also at the other. 3. Arsinoe, situate betwixt both; built by, or called so in honour of Arsinoe daughter of Ptolomy the first King Egypt, and Lord of Cyprus, of that house. 4. Drepanun, now called Trepano, under the Promontory so named, a well-traded Port, but miserably defaced by the Turks, when they took this Iland. 5. Connelia, one of the richest of the Iland, by reason of the plenty of Sugar, and Cotton, and Wooll, growing thereabouts. Built in the place of 6. Cithera, dedicated to Venus also, but differing from the Iland of that name in the Aegean Sea, rather in pronunciation than the purity of her oblations: the last syllable save one, in the name of that Iland, being short in verse, but this of Cyprus sounding long, as in this of Virgil.

Est Amathus, est celsa mihi Paphos, at{que} Cithera.

Cithera, Amathus divine,

And lofty Paphos, are all mine.

2. On the South-East of Paphia lieth the Province or District of AMATHƲSIA, taking up the South parts of the Island which look towards Egypt. Chief Towns hereof, 1. Amathus, giving name unto this division, then of most note, and much frequented for the annuall sacrifices made unto Adonis the darling of Venus, who had here another of her Temples: the ruins of both hardly now discerned. Built as some say by Amasis King of Egypt, when he conquered this Iland; but as others say by some of the Anathites, descended from Anath one of the Sons of Canaan. 2. Cetium, or Citium, (for I find it called by both names) the birth-place of Zeno the Stoick, hence called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Citiensis; and memorable for the death of Cimon the Athenian Generall, a Town wherein the memory of Cittim, the Son of Javan, is most apparently preserved. 3. Episcopio, one of the chief of all the Island, built on the place, or out of the decay, of 4. Curias, not far from the Promontory of the same name, founded by the Argives, where Apollo had both a Grove and a Temple, by the name of Apollo Hylates: his Altars in those times held so sacred, that whosoever presumed to touch them, was thrown into the Sea from the Promontory or rocks adjoining. 5. Salines, or Salinae, so called from the rich Saltpits, one of the chief Towns of this part; and giving name to one of these twelve Cantrades, into which the whole is now divided.

3. LAPETHIA, the third part of the Iland, lyeth on the North thereof, opposite to Cilicia in Asia Minor. Places of most importance in it, 1. Nicosia, the Regall City of the Kings, and the See of the Arch-Bishop, and the chief of the Iland: antiently called Ledronsis, and Lenteinis; but those mames long ago laid by. Situate in the midest of the Isle; and in a plain and champain Countrey, obundantly fertile and delightfull. Environed with a fair wall, so exactly round as if it had been drawn with a pair of compasses; in circuite about five miles, and both for situation, numbers of people, and magnificent buildings of all sorts both publick and private, compared by some to the most beautiful City of Florence. Fortified by the Venetians, when in their possession, with new walls, deep ditches, and eleven strong Bullwarks, with three great Out-works, all of them built according to the Art of modern fortification. But notwithstanding all these works, and the help of 250 peece of Cannon planted on the walls, and about the City, it was by the Turks taken at the second or third assault, Septemb. 9. Anno 1570. So evident a truth it is, that Fortifications are more strengthened by the gallantry and courage of the Defendants, than the Defendants are by their Fortifications. 2. Cerines, situate neer the Sea, strong by art and nature, and furnished with all things necessary to endure a siege; but yielded to the Turks by Alfonsus Palacius the unwarlike Governour, terrified with the great slaughter made at the sack of Nicosia, before the enemy came neer it. At first called Ceurania, and said to have been built by Cyrus the great Persian King, when he first subdued the nine Kings hereof, and united the Iland to that Crown; blest with a more temperate and wholsome air, than any other in the Countrey. 3. Tremitus, the birth-place of Spiridion, a Bishop of the Primitive times, renowned for miracles, many of which reported by Sozomen, lib. 1. cap. 10. and other Ecclesiaaesticall writers. Wholly decaied, the ruine of it much contributing to the rise of Nicosia. 5. Lapithus (by Pliny called Lapeto) on the banks of a small Riveret of that name. Of so great note in former times, that it gave to this Division the name of Lapethia. In this part standeth the hill Olympus (now the Mountain of the holy Cross) described before.

4. SALAMINE, the fourth and last Province of this Iland, taketh up the whole East-parts hereof: So named from 1. Salamis, once the chief City of the Isle, and the Sea of the Primate, or Metropolitan hereof, in the Primitive times. Destroyed by the Jewes in the reign of Trajan, and re-built again; but being after that taken, sacked, and razed unto the ground by the Saracens, in the time of Heraclius, it never could again recover: the Metropolitan See after that subversion, being removed to Nicosia.

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It was sometimes, and by some writers, called Constantia also; but that name could give it no more perpetuity than the other of Salamis. Memorable whilest it stood for the founder of it, being Teucer the sonne of I elamon King of Salamis, an Isle of the Aegean Sea; banished his Countrey by his Father, and setled in this Iland by the power of Belus, King of Phoenicia: as also for a famous Temple sacred unto Jupiter, hence called Salaminius. Out of the ruins hereof arose 2. Famagusta, now the prime City of rhese parts; built as is said by Costa, the Father of Saint Catharize; but that uncertain. Situate ate at the East end of the Iland, in a plain and low ground betwixt two Promontories, the one called the 〈◊〉 of Saint Andren, and the other Cap o di Griego, or the head of Groecia. In compass not above two miles, in form four square, but that the side towards the East stretcheth out more in length than the other three. On two parts beaten on with the Sea, the other parts towards the Land defended with a Ditch not above fifteen foot in breadth, an old stone wall, and certain Bulwarks. The Haven (opposite to Tripolis a Town of Syria) openeth towards the South-east, defended from the injury of the Sea by two great Rocks, betwixt which the Sea cometh in at a narrow passage not above forty paces broad, but after opening wider and wider, maketh a convenient Harbour, rather safe than large, assured both by the difficult entrance, and a chain crossed over it. The whole Town, when the Turks appeared before it, but meanly fortified: the works of it of the old fashion, generally decaied except one Bulwark, which was built according to the modern Arts of Fortification, with Palisadoes, Curteins, Casemates, and all other Additaments: most gallantly defended by Bragadine the noble Generall, to the wonder and envy of the Turks, who spent no lesse then 118000 great shot upon it; and at last yielded upon honourable terms, had they been as punctually performed. 3. Aphrodisium, so named of Venus, whom the Greeks called Aplrodite, who had here another of her Temples. 4. Arsinoe, built also by one of the Arsinoes Queens of Egypt (there being two others of this name, and the same foundation,) now called Lescare, and antiently renowned for the Groves of Jup•ter. 5 Tamassus, of good note in the time of Strabo, for rich Mines of Brass, as afterwards for abundance of Verdegreece and Vitriol, found plentifully in the fields adjoyning. 6. Idalium, neer a Mount of the same name, so called by accident. For Chalcenor the founder of it being told by Oracle, that he should seat himself, and build a City where he first saw the rising Sun: one of his followers, seeing the Sun begin to rise, cried out 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to say, behold the Sun. Which omen taken by Chalcenor, he here built this City. But whether this were so or not (as for my part I build not very much upon it) certain it is, that Venus had here another Temple, neighboured by the idalian Groves, so memorized and chanted by the antient Poets. So strong an influence had lust and sensuality on this wretched People, that every corner of the Iland was defiled with those brutish Sacrifices which day by day were offered to that impure deitie: though to say truth, it was no marvail if having made their Belly their God, they made also in the next place their glory their shame.

The first Inhabitants of this Iland were the posterity of Cittim the Sonne of Javan, and grand-sonne of Japhet: who having seen his brother Tarshish setled in Cilicia, (where his memory is still preserved in the City of Tarsus) planted himself and his retinue in this opposite Island. The City of Cetium as Ptolemy, or Cuium as Pliny calleth it, one of the antientest of the Iland; which with the authority of Josephus and others of the antient writers, put it out of question. But being this Iland was too narrow to contain his numbers, and willing to seek further off for a larger dwelling, he left here so many of his followers as might serve in time to plant the Countrey; and with the rest passed into Macedon, where we have already spoken of him. Made tributary first to Amasis King of Egypt, from which distant about three or four daies failing. Subjected afterwards to the Phoenicians, a neer neighbour to them, who being a Sea-faring people, made themselves masters of the Sea-coasts and maritime places. Cinyras the Father of Myrrha (by whom both Father and Grand-Father to Adonis) is said to have been King of both. The like affirmed of Belus one of his Successsors, who is said to have been the founder of the City of Citium, named so (if not rather repaired than new built by him,) with reference no doubt to •ittim, the first Progenitor of this People. By the power and favour of this Belus, Teucer the Sonne of Telamon banished his Countrey, accompanied with many followers from Salamis, Athens, and Arcadia, was settled in the East-parts hereof, where the City of Salamis, by him built, was his first plantation. Yet so, that the Phoenicians kept their former hold: it being evident in Story that Eluloeus one of the Successors of this Belus, (but a King of Tyre,) and a Co-temporary with Salmanassar King of Assyria, passed over into Cyprus with a puissant Navy to reduce the Citioeans to obedience, who had then rebelled. The Iland at first comming of Teucer hither so infinitely overgrown with woods, that the people were not able to till the land. Insomuch that notwithstanding the great wast made of them, both in building ships, and casting metals, a law was made that every one which would should fell them, and take as much ground in severalty for his own inheritance, as he could overcome and make fit for tillage. Encourged herewith, the natural Cypriots, together with the Colonies of Grecians, Phoenicians, and Aegyptians, so bestirred themselves, that at last they brought it unto Champagn: parcelled out in succeeding times amongst nine Kings, for so many Cyrus the great Persian Monarch found at his comming hither. But Cyrus, though he did subdue all those petit Princes, yet he took not from them their estates, or titles: contented with the conquest of it, and an annual tribute. For after this, in the time of Artaxerxes Mnemon, we find Evagoras, and Nicooles, to whom Isocrates inscribed two of his Orations, to be Kings hereof. And in the time of Alexander the Great, Citium it self (such was the honour born unto the Mother-City) had a King apart, not subject unto any other. The King whereof to indear himself with the Conquerour, gave him a sword, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, saith Plutarch, an admirable sword, both for colour and lightness, which he after used in all his fights. And after the death of Alexander, his great Commanders cantoning his estates amongst them, the Princes and people of this Iland were in great distractions; not knowing to whom

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they might submit for their best advantage. But Ptolomy who had seized on Egypt for his part of the spoil, being strong in shipping, settled them by a personal visit; and fortifying some of the best pieces in it, assured the Countrey to himself. To him and his posterity it continued subject till the time of Ptolomy Auletes the nineth King of this line in our Accompt, who gave it for a portion to one of his Brethren: in whose time, the Romans, without any colour or pretence of quarrell, but only to enrich themselves with the spoil of the Iland, sent Portius Cato to subdue it. And he at first assayed to get it with die Kings consent, offering him, in the name of the Roman Senate, the Priest-hood of the Temple of Paphos, being a rich and gainful Office, and of high esteem among that people. But when Ptolomy for fear of a worse mischief had made away himself by poison, Cato without more ceremony takes possession of it. And because Ammianus Marcellinus the Historian, hath so significantly expressed this business, and withall described so punctually the estate of this Iland; we will adde to this discourse from him; though somewhat be repeated which was said before. Cyprum insulam procul à Continente distantem, & protuosam, &c.

The Isle of Cyprus, farre distant from the Continent, and well stored with Harbours, is famous, besides many Municipall Towns, by two principall Cities, that is to say, Salamis, and Paphos, the one sacred to Jupiter, and the other to Venus. An Isle so admirably fruitful, and with all things furnished, that without the help of any forrein Nation, it is able of it self to build and rig forth a ship from the very keel unto the top-sail, and trim it with all tackle necessary for a present voyage. Nor do I shame to say, that with greater avarice than justice, the Romans did invade this Iland; King Ptolomy, our old Consederate and Ally, being unworthily proscribed, for no other reason but that our treasury was bare, our Exchequor empty. And he no sooner had prevented this dishonour by a quick and voluntary death, making away himself by poison, but the Iland was forthwith made tributary, and the riches of it, velut hostiles exuvioe classi imposit oe & in urbem adduct oe per Catonem, as the spoils of so re conquered enemy were brought on Ship-bord, and conveyed by Cato unto Rome.

So far and to this purpose he.

I know there is another cause alleged for the sending of Cato on this Errand, viz. that Clodius who was then Tribune and sped the Edict, might have opportunity by his absence to revenge himself on Cicero and some others of the opposite faction: but the main business was the money, as before was said; the prey amounting to 7000 Talents, which comes to two Millions, and one hundred thousand Crowns, of coin now currant. Which money and moveables, amounting unto so vast a sum, he fearing to lose by Sea, divided it into many small portions, which he put into several boxes, viz. in every box two Talents and fifty Drachms. At the end of every box he fastened a long rope with a piece of Cork; by which floating above the water, the money, if by Shipwrack lost, might be espied again: which was not much unlike the buoyes which Mariners fasten by long ropes to their Anchors, that they may be the sooner found. We see by this that the pretence of the Romans to this Countrey was very weak: Avariùs magis quam justius sumus assecuti, are the words of Sextus Rutus also. But being made a Roman Province, it was in the division of the Empire assigned to the Constantinopolitan Emperours: under whom it suffered, as all other parts of the Empire did, by the violent invasion of the Saracens, who spoiled and ransacked it in the time of Constans the second, destroying then the City of Salamis or Constantia. But that tempest being overblown, they returned again unto that Empire, governed by a Succession of Dukes, till the year 1184. At which time Androuicus Comnenus usurping the Greek Empire, compelled Isaacibus 〈◊〉 one of the bloud Royal, to shift for himself: who seasing on this Iland made himself King thereof, and ruling till the year 1191. when Richard the first of England, being denyed the Common courtesie of taking in fresh water, and seeing his Souldiers abused by the Cypriots, not only took the King Prisoner, but subdued the whole Iland. And as Paterculus telleth us, that when Marcus Antonius had captivated Aramasdes King of Armenia; Catenis, sed ne quid honori deesset, aureis vinxit; So did our Richard keep a decorum towards this Prisoner, binding him not in bonds of Iron, but silver. King Richard having thus possessed himself of this Countrey, sold it for ready money, (which for his mannaging of his intended wars against the Turk, he most needed) unto the Templers: and taking it, upon I know not what discontent, again from them, he bestowed it on Guy of Lusignam, the titulary and miserable King of Hierutalem; receiving in way of exchange, the title of that lost and shipwracked Kingdome; with which title be and some of his Successours for a time were honoured.

In the posterity of this Guy, this Iland continued free and absolute till the year one thousand foure hundred twentythree when Melechella (or Melechnaser) Sultan of Egypt, invaded this Countrey, took John King hereof Prisoner, ransomed him for 150000 Sultanies, restored him to his Kingdome, and imposed on him and his Successours, the yearly tribute of 40000 Crowns. This John was Father to another John, whose two Children were Carlotte a legitimate daughter, and James a bastard Sonne. James, after the death of his Father, dispossessed his Sister Carlotte of the Crown, by the consent and help of the Sultan of Egypt. and the better to strengthen himself against all opposition, he took to wife Catharine Cornari, daughter by adoption to the Venetian Senate; whom at his death he made his heir, if the child she went withall (having then none by her) should die without issue, as it did, not long after it was born: and she seeing the factious Nobility too head-strong to be bridled by a female authority, like a good child resigned her Crown and Scepter to the Venetian State, Anno 1473. These defended it against all claims, (paying only as tribute to the Aegyptian, and after to the Turkish Sultans, the 40000 Crowns before mentioned;) till the year 1570. when Mustapha, Generall of the Turks, wrested it from the Venetians, to the use of his Master Selimus the second, who pretended title to it as Lord of Aegypt. The governour of the Venetian Forces at the time of this unfortunate loss, was Signior Bragadino: who as long as hope of succours, meanes of resistance, or possibility of prevailing continued,

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with incredible valour made good the Town of Famagusta, in whose defence consisted the welfare of the whole Island. At last he yielded it on honourable conditions, had they been as faithfully kept, as punctually agreed on. But Mustapha the Turkish Generall inviting to his Tent, the principall men of worth in the Town, caused them all to be murdered: and as for Bragadin himself, he commanded his ears to be cut off, his body to be flead alive, and his skin stuffed with straw, to be hanged at the main yard of his Gally. The chief of the prisoners and spoiles were in two tall ships, and one Gallion, sent unto Se•mus; but he never saw them. For a Noble Cyprian Lady destinated to the lust of the Grand Signeour, fired certain barrels of powder; by the violence whereof both the vessels and the booty in them, were in part burned, in part drowned. A famous and heroick act; inferiour unto none of the Roman Dames, so much commended in their Stories, though more to be commended in a Roman than a Christian Lady.

Thus having summed up the affaires of this Iland from the first plantation of it, till this last sad conquest, I will lay down the succession of the Cyprian Kings of the Noble Lusignam Family, in this ensuing Catalogue of

The Kings of Cyprus.

1. Guy of Lusignam, the titulary King of Hierusalem, estated in the Kindome of Cyprus by Richard the first of England.

2. Almericus, the brother of Guy.

3. Hugh, the Sonne of Almericus.

4. Henry, the Sonne of Hugh.

5. Hugh II. Sonne of Henry.

6. Hugh III. Sonne of Hugh the second.

7. John, Sonne of Hugh the third.

8. Henry II. the Brother of John.

9. Hugh IV. Sonne of Guido, the younger brother of John, and Henry the second.

10. Peter, the Sonne of Hugh the fourth.

11. Petrinus, the Sonne of Peter.

12. James, younger brother of Peter, and Uncle to Petrinus.

13. James, the Sonne of James, made Tributary by Melechnaser, to the Kingdome of Aegypt.

14. John II. the Sonne of Janus.

15. Carlotte, sole Daughter and heir of John the second, first maryed to John the Prince of Portugal, and after to Lewis Prince of Savoy; outed of her estate and Kingdome, by

16. James II. the bastard Sonne of John the second, who by a strong hand seized upon it; and by help of the Venetians kept it during life.

17. James III. born after the decease of his Father, whom he survived not very long. After whose death, being the last of this Family, the Venetians possessed themselves of Cyprus: which they invaded with no better title than the Romans had done in former times; and not likely to be blest with a long fruition of that which they had so unjustly got into their hands. But of that already.

And here it is to be observed that these Cyprian Kings retaining the title of Hierusalem (towards which they sometimes cast an eye) bestowed upon their greatest Subjects, and deserving Servitors, both titles of Honour and Offices of State, belonging antiently to that Kingdome. So that we find amongst them a Prince of Antioch, a Prince of Galilee, a Count of Tripoli, a Lord of Caesarea, and a Lord of Mount Tabor; a Seneschall of Hierusalem, a Constable, Marshall, and High Chamberlain of that Kingdome also. With better reason, though no doubt with as little profit, as the Pope gives Bishopricks, and Arch-Bishopricks in Greece or Aegypt. But those titular Offices are now quite extent, though possibly some of the titles of honor which were took from thence, may be still remaining.

But to return unto the Turks, having thus taken Famagusta, and Nicosia, on which the whole Iland did depend, all other Cities of it, and the whole by consequence, were forced to submit to the Turkish Tyranny. The Noble men, and Citizens of principall quality, either most cruelly massacred in the sack of those Towns, or banished for ever their native Countrey, as men whose living there might possibly endanger their new conquest. But the Countrey people, Artificers, and persons of inferiour rank, permitted to enjoy both their lives and livelyhoods; together with their severall and respective religions, in the same manner as before: paying such ordinary taxes as were laid upon them. And so this goodly Iland came into the hands of the Turks, who have hitherto enjoied the possession of it: For notwithstanding that the 〈◊〉 in the year next following, with the help of the Pope and King of Spain, gave the Turks that great and memorable overthrow, at the famous battel of Lepanto: yet did they nothing in pursuit of so great a victory for the recovery of this Iland; and indeed they could not: the confederates returning home, and dissolving their Fleet, as soon as they had secured their own estates by the overthrow of the Tnrkish Navy. And though the Venetians, to put the best face they could on so great a losse, so highly pleased themselves with the following Victory, that they put the same in balance with the losse Cyprus: yet an ingenious Turk to let them see the folly of so vain a boasting, compared the losing of Cyprus, to the loss of an Arme, which could not without a miracle be recovered; and the loss at Lepanto to the shaving off of ones beard, which growes the thicker for the cutting, as indeed it proved: For the next year

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the Turks armed out another Navy, no lesse formidable than the other had been before, braving therewith the whole Christian Forces, not as then disbanded.

What the Revenues of it were to the Kings hereof, I cannot certainly determine. The profits of Salt only, and that of the Custome-house yielded yearly to the Signcury of Venice, when it was in their hands, a million of Crowns. For the Customes and profits of the Salt were farmed for 500000 Crowns 〈◊〉, which being turned into the Chief Cyprian Commodities, were counted double worth that money, when unladed at Venice. To which if we should adde the lands of the former Kings, and other waies of raising money on the Subject, I cannot see, but the Intrado of the Crown must needs amount constantly to a million and an half yearly, if it were not more.

The Armes hereof were quarterly, first Argent, a Cross Potent between four Crosses Or; secondly Barre-wise of eight pieces, Arg. and Azure, supporting a Lion Passant Azure, Crowned, Or; thirdly, a Lion Gules; and fourthly, Argent, a Lion Gules; as Bara a French Herald hath given the Blazon.

On the East of Cyprus towards Syrialy four small Ilands, which Ptolomy calleth by the name of Clides, not far from the Promontory of that name; both Promontory and Iland now called Saint Andrews: and towards the West another little knot of Islets, which he calls Carpasiae; but nothing memorable in either. So I passe them over.

There are in Cyprus Arch-Bishops 2. Bishops 6.

And so much for CYPRVS.

1676. A most exact and accurate map of the whole world by Donald Lupton.

Cyprus

550 miles round on the Cilician and Syrian Seas, from each main Land above 60 miles, having 10 Promontories, and having had 10 names, as famous for Cypresses as Rhodes is for Roses, under the 4^th Climate, hot, abounding with Wine, Oyl, Corn, Sugar, Cotton, Honey, Wool, Turpentine, Allom, Verdegreese, all sorts of Mettals, store of Salt, Grograins; besides Lycus and Lapithes small Torrents, and some springs running from Olympus, which is here 54 Italian miles round, loaded with Trees and Fruits of all sorts, where is

1. ruined Paphos, now called new Paphos and Baffo, on the Sea side.
2. Arsino.
3. Trepano, a well seated, and traded port.
4. Connelia rich in Sugar, and Cotton Wool.
5. Cithera.
6. Amathus.
7. Episcopio a considerable place neer the Promontory Curias.
8. Salines and its rich Salt-pits.
9. Strong Nicosia, in the midst of the Isle, both pleasantly and fruitfully scituated, and exactly round.
10. Wholesome Cerines neer the Sea;
11. Famagusta raised out of the Ruines of Salamis in the E. end of the Island in a plain and low ground, between two Promontories, Cape St. Andrew, and Capo de Griego 4 square, 2 miles about, with a haven (opposite to Tripolis in Syria) opening towards the South-East, defended from the injury of the Sea by twogreat Rocks, betwixt which the Sea cometh in at a narrow passage, not above 40 paces broad, but after opening wider and wider, to a conveniency of safety and capacity assured both by the difficult Entrance, and a Chain crossed over it.
12. Arsinoe, now called Lescare.
13. Tamassus, eminent for brasse mines, and a great quantity of Verdegreese, and Vitriol found neer it.
14. Idalium, the yearly custome upon Salt is here 500000 Crowns.

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Cyprus, one of the greatest Islands of the Mediterranean Sea, has Title of a Kingdom. It was formerly consecrated to Venus; who, if we believe what Poets say, was born in this Island, perhaps because the Inhabitants were much given to Love. Cyprus has Syria to the East, and is but about 20 Leagues from firm Land. Formerly it was divided but into four parts; but the Turks generally count eleven. As the Country has no Rivers, but instead of them great Ponds, the Air is very thick and charged with Vapours which render it very often unhealthfull, especially for those that are not used to it. Setting this Inconveniency aside, the Island is fertil enough, bearing great quantities of Corn, Fruits, and other good Provisions; especially its Wines are excellent, which was the chiefest reason Selim had to take it, as will be said hereafter. It was always so considerable for it Mines, that the Graecians called it Macaria, that is, Fortunate. After which it was called Cyprus, either for the great Quantity of Brass found there, or from a certain Tree, which the Graecians called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and is found in great abundance in this Island. It's not Cypress, but the Ligustrum of the Latins, the Ligustro of the Italians, and is called Arbel de la Alhenna by the Spaniards, which is a Shrub that bears a white Flower with a very pleasant smell. Its chief Towns now are Nicotia capital of the Kingdom, Famagousta that has a good Port, Limisso, Sirori, Musolo, Lascara, Cerines, &c. and formerly had Paphos, now Baffo, Cythera, Amathunte. It had its particular Kings before it became subject to the Romans, whereof Evagoras, Ally to the Athenians, is most spoken of, the same that was killed by the Eunuch Nicocles in 380, 374 before the Christian Aera. After this the Persian Empire being destroyed, the Isle of Cyprus was under the Ptolomies, Kings of Egypt, from Alexander's death, in the 430th. year of Rome, until 697, or 98, that the Romans usurped it. Ptolomy, the last King, killed himself upon the rumour of their approach. Cato, sent by the Senate into Cyprus, gathered and brought off all the Wealth which furnished the Exchequer or Treasury far more than the Spoils of any other Conquest. For some affirm that it amounted to above thirty thousand Talents. From Constantine the Great's time it always was under the Graecian Emperors, until all the Island revolted, and Isaac Commenes, a cruel Man, given to all manner of Wickedness, made himself the Master. Richard King of England, going in 1191, to fight the Saracens in the Holy-land, driven hither by a Storm, re-took it from this Commenes, who instead of helping his Men, so miserably beaten in the Tempest, came and plundered them. Richard left it to Guy of the Family of Leziguen, or Lusignan, of France, whose Successors held it till 1473. Then John, or Janus, the last King, left it to Charlotte, who married Lewis of Savoy, but James, Janus's Bastard-son and a Clergy-man, usurped it from her, and married Catharine, Daughter to Marc Cornaro, a Venetian, whom the Senate had adopted and appointed a Dowry for. This James died and left Catharine big with a Son that lived but two years; whereupon Catharine made the Kingdom over to the Venetians, though Charlotte was then still alive and reclaimed her Right. This Common-wealth kept it until 1571, that the Turks made themselves Masters of it under Selim II. It's said that this Prince, being a great Lover of Wine, though prohibited by Mahomet's Law, would have this Island for that good Liquor's sake. He was also willing to revenge a particular Quarrel, and to please them that were about him, amongst others there was one John Miches, a Native of Portugal, and descended from those Hebrews, who rather than be forced to quit a Country, do not stick to renounce their Ancestors Religion. This Man, banished his Country for some ill thing he did, retired to Venice, where being punished for a certain Crime, resolved to be revenged, and so went to Constantinople; there he married a rich Jew, and having access by his Wealth to Selim, put him upon the Conquest of Cyprus. It's said that this Turkish Prince one day half drunk, struck Miches upon the Shoulder, crying, You are King of Cyprus, if Heaven favours my Designs. In the mean time, the Venetians fortified the Isle, especially the Towns of Famagousta and Nicotia. The Turks made their Descent under Piuli and Mustapha, in August, 1570, and took the last of these Places after a Siege of forty eight days. Afterwards they invested Famagousta the 22d. of September; but Winter coming on, the Siege was put off to the next year, when it surrender'd after it was bartered fo• 7• days with above 1500000 Cannon shot. This being thus taken the Turks made themselves Masters of the whole Island, wher• they kept a Beglerbeg. The Church of Cyprus was established by St. Paul, who preached there with St. Barnabas; which last was said to be martyr'd here, and his Body found, under the Empire of Z•n• in 385, with St. M•tthew's Gospel lying on his Breast. St. Epiphanius, Bishop of Salumina, held a Council here in 399 at Theophilus Patriarch of Jerusalem's request, who had himself condemned the Origenists. They were also anathematiz'd in this Synod, and Origen's Books forbidden.

1695. Thesaurus geographicus a new body of geography by Abel Swall and Tim. Child.

The Isle of Cyprus is one of the biggest Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, lying between the 64 D. and 67 D. 30 min. Longitude, and 35 D. of Northern Latitude. The extent of it from South to North is about 20 leagues, and from West to East 50. It was consecrated to Venus, which the Poets say was born in this Isle. The Air is unwholsome, because of the abundance of Lakes which send forth noisome Vapours. The Soil is fruitful in all sorts of Grain, delicious Fruits, and excellent Wines; and produces an abundance of Lemons, Citrons, Oranges, Pomgranates, Figs, Honey, Sugar, Oyl, Silk, Cotton, Saffron, Rhubarb, Colliquintida, Scammony, Turpentine, black and white Allum, Rosin, Bay, and Mineral Salt, Agates, Emeralds, Crystal, White and Red Coral. It feeds abundance of Beasts; Snipes and Linnets are there common. They have excellent Gammons of Bacon. The Vitriol and Brass of Cyprus are highly valued. The Inhabitants are clownish and rustical; they are Mahometans, or Protestants. After the Fall of the Roman Empire, this Isle came under the Dominion of the Greeks, and after it was governed by the Posterity of Guy of Lusignan, whose Daughter Charlotte, the last of his Line, married Lewis Duke of Savoy; whose Posterity having the Inheritance of it by that means, assumed the Title of the King of Cyprus. James, the Natural Son of John the 2d, last King of Cyprus, invaded it by the help of the Sultan of Aegypt, and got it into his Power; he married Katherine, the Daughter of Marcus Cornaro the Venetian, who being left a Widow, brought forth a Son, who lived but two years. After which she put it into the Protection of the Senate of Venice; Charlotte claimed it as her Right, but all in vain. Selim 2d, Emperor of the Turks, conquered it in 1571, and put in a Beglerbeg to govern it, who ordinarily resides at Nicosia, and sometimes at Famagusta, where there is a very good Port. The Knights of Malta have made their Residence at Limosa; they have a Greek Archbishop, whose Seat is without the City Nicosia; and 3 Bishops, of which the first hath his See at Paphos, the 2d at Cerines, and the third at Lar•eca.

The City Nicosia, or Leucosia, stands almost in the midst of the Isle, in the large Plain of Massera, ••th 11 Bastions, and very wide Ditches about it.

Famagusta is famous for the Siege it maintain'd against the Turks in 1570. The Port is large and convenient, encompassed with Rocks; the Walls are built with hewn-stone, 28 foot thick, and •ledge•nked with Bastions all round, with a large Ditch •ledge•t thro a Rock.