Castile

Sources from old books

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

THE OLD AND NEW CASTILE. (Book Castile) CASTILIA or Castella, which taketh its name from the Castle, that King Pelagius (having recovered Legion from the Moores) did build, was heretofore called Bardulia. The describers of Spaine doe make it twofold, the Old and the New. Asturia and Biscay doe compasse the Old Castile on the North: on the West, Portugall; on the South, New Castile; (the Mountaines which runne through the length of Spaine, lying betweene them) and on the East Aragon and Navarre. The Country is very fertile, full of wine, and all kinde of Fruits, Saffron, and all kinde of living Creatures: and this was the beginning of the Kingdome. Pelagius having taken againe Legio from the Moores, built a Castle as a defence against the violence of the Barbarians, the Governours wherof were called Earles of Castile, and did acknowledge the King of Legio a long time as their Prince, even to Ordonius the second, the fourteenth King of Asturia and Legio; who having called the Earles and Nobles of Castile unto him under the colour of parley, beheaded them. This wicked act the Castilians stomacking, and having cast off their obedience to the Kings of Legio, they choose two Judges out of themselves, Nunius Rasura, and Lainus Calvus, (one to give Judgement, and the other to oversee matters of warre) whose children and posteritie were afterward called Earles of Castile, even to Sanctius Major King of Navarre, who (when by his warlike valour hee had taken Corduba and Toledo from the Saracens, and had thrust out all the Moores out of Navarre, Aragon, Castile, 〈◊〉, Portugall, and other parts of Spaine) restored all Spaine to the Christians; and having married Eluira the daughter of Sanctius, Earle of Ca•, and sister to the last Earle of Garsia, writ himselfe in the right of her d••y, not Earle, but King of Castile, and left the Kingdome to his Son 〈◊〉, who was enriched with the Kingdome of Legio by his wife 〈◊〉 Sanctius the sonne did succeed Ferdinand, and after him his brother 〈◊〉; whose daughter V•raca (for the heire male died) when after the decease of Ra•mundus Berengarius Earle of Tolosa (her former husband) shee had married Alphonsus King of Aragon; the Kingdomes of Aragon, Castile, and Legio, came to be united. The Metropolis of 〈◊〉 Castile is the Citie of Burges, commonly called Burgos: Ptolemie thinketh it should bee called Bravum. It is an ancient Citie, famous for many things, and deserveth to be accounted one of the chiefe Cities of Spaine; for it hath an hundred and fiftie lesser Townes under it, every where beautified with great, faire, and convenient houses, adorned with market places, streetes, bridges, Temples, Friaries, and Rivers, and is very notable for the incredible diligence of the Inhabitants of whatsoever age, sexe, or condition. Round about the Metropolis divers Towns are pleasantly and commodiously seated, as Palentia situated on the banke of Carion, Pliny calls it Palantia, as also Mela, Ptolemy, and Appianus: Strabo calls it Pallantia, and Antoninus corruptly Peralantia. Also the Towne Valdoletum, heretofore a Royall Seate, and one of the seven Ancient Universities of Spaine. It is the fairest and most delightfull place, not onely in Spaine, but also in all Europe, as being seated on the most pleasant banke of Pesuerga: neither is there any Citie which can be preferr'd before it, for the fertilenesse of the soyle round about it. It hath a faire and large market-place, the circuit wereof is seven hundred paces; and whereas this Towne is very famous for many respects, yet it is especially honoured by the birth of Philip the second King of Spaine. It is commonly called Valladolid, which some doe interpret the Vale of Oletus: Ptolemie calls it Pintia, and Antoninus Pin••a, as Cusius thinketh. Also Simanca, called by Antoninus Septimanca; and Camora which Ptolemy calls Sarabris, as Clusius thinketh, but Antoninus corruptly Sabaria. Yet Florianus del Campo, and Gomer•us doe thinke that Sarabris was that Town, which is commonly called Tora, and in Latine Taurus, neare to the River Durius. Salmantica is not the last in account which Pylaenus calls Salmatis, but is commonly called Salamanca. Not farre from hence, neare the River which is commonly called Gada, is the Citie of Count Rodoricke, called anciently Ciudad Rodrigo, which (as Vasaeus and Clusius thinke) Ptolemy would have to bee Myrobriga. From hence Southward is Coria, heretofore called Caurita, as Clusius writeth: Andraeas Schottus doth affirme that by the Moderne Latine Writers it was called Cauria. About nine leagues on the East from Cauria is Placentia, a faire Citie; whose Cittrons and other Fruites, as also their white bread, are chiefly commended and desired: it is commo••• called Plazentia. Placentia hath many pleasant Townes und• jurisdiction, among which is Xavahicium proud of her woods▪ and lying in a Valley like an Altar, (as Marinaeus noteth) in the innermost part of a Church. The Mountaines adjacent and lying neare to Placentia, are named from the Citie Verade Placentiae. Also Avila, called by Ptolemie Olbula, as Clusius would have it. Not farre from the Fountaines of Areva lyeth Segobia, which Pliny and Antoninus call Segovia, and Ptolemie Segubia: it is a Citie famous for Cloath-making, and wherein, as Vasaeus writeth, this is memorable, that no man is seene idle, neither are there any beggars, unlesse it be those who are impotent through age or sicknesse: seeing none doe want meanes how to get a living or how to employ themselves. That Citie which is now called Aranda neare the River Durius, Ptolemie would have to be Rhanda of the Vaccaeans in Tarraconia: Antoninus calleth it Rhanda by the correction of Hyeronimus Surita; for heretofore it was called Randachunia. That Towne which an uncertaine Writer calleth Exoma, Pliny calls Vxoma, who often addeth that this name is often used in other places; it is read Vxsama, with an S. in an ancient Marble: and now it is called Osma. But let so much suffice concerning the Cities and Townes: wee passe to New Castile. New Castile on the North cleaveth to the Old Castile, on the other sides it is enclosed with Portugall, Extremadura, Andaluzia, Granada, and Valentia: It aboundeth with corne and other graine, being situated on either side of the River Tagus. The Metropolis of this Country is Toletum, as the Latines call it; Ptolemy calls it Toleton, now it is called Toledo: and Villanovanus in Ptolemy saith that it was once called Serezola: it is the Center and Navell as it were of Spaine; it hath a very cliffie, rugged, and unlevell situation, and the ascents are so steepe, that it is very difficult travelling through it. The River Tagus doth wash the greater part of it, and doth fence it against enemies: it is fortified with 150 watch-Towers. There are a great number of Noblemen in this Citie: The Citizens are very industrious. It is beautified with many faire Edifices and buildings, as also with a rich and stately Church. There have beene 18 nationall Councells held here, when as so many have not been held in any other place. Madritum, commonly called Madrid, doth reverence Toletum as her mother and Queene: it hath an wholesome aire and situation. It aboundeth with all things, and the Kings of Spaine have an house of residence in it. Not farre from hence is Villamanta, which (as Montanus and Villonovanus, and Tarapha would have it,) is that Town which Ptolemy calls Mantua in Tarraconia. That Town which by an Arabicke word the Spaniards do now call Alcala de Henares, Ptolemy beleeveth so certainly to be Complutum, that it is called so in Latine in all publique acts. It is seated on a plaine, neare the River which they call Henares, and aboundeth so with all things necessary for mans use, that it needes no supply from other places. Antoninus placeth Segontia betweene Complutum and Caesar-augusta: it is at this day called Siguensa. Now I returne to Hispalis, and from thence passing by the Pallace, the bridge of Alcantarilla, and the Townes Cabeca and Nebrissa, I come now to the Towne Fanum Luciferi, for so the Latines doe name it, and Strabo in his fourth Booke, where he addeth that it was heretofore called Lux Dubia, now they call it Saint Lucar de Barrameda. Not farre from hence almost foure leagues toward the Northeast, there is a Towne which hath a famous ancient Bridge, now called Talavera, and as Beuterus and Moralis do suppose, named by Livy Aebura. Here are also the Townes Cuenca, which Pliny calls Cacenses: Lebazuza, which Antoninus calls Libisosa; and Castola veja, which the same Antoninus calleth Castulo. The River Tagus doth water New Castile, together with other Rivers and Rivulets which run into it, and the Spring-head of the River Anas or Guadiana is in this Countrie. But enough of these things, I come now to the publique workes. Five leagues from Madrid toward the West, you may behold the magnificent and sumptuous Monasterie of Saint Laurence, who was of the order of Saint Ierome. It was the worke of Philip the second King of Spaine, and may compare with the Egyptian Pyramides, the Graecian and Roman Temples, Theaters, Amphitheaters, or other famous places for the structure: for there is scarce any thing equall or second to it. The Frontispice of it looking toward the West, hath three stately gates; the middlemost and chief wherof leadeth you into a Church, a Friery, and a Colledge: that on your right hand bringeth you into the Offices belonging to the Monasterie, & that on the left hand bringeth you into the Schooles. The foure corners are adorned with foure curious Towers, which are exceeded by two other Towers placed one by another at the foot of the Church. Above the gates of the Church doe stand the Statues of the sixe Kings of Israel cut out in Marble, and being 17 foot high: on the North side there is a Pallace adjoyned to the Church, which is able to receive the King and all his traine. On the South side there are divers sumptuous Galleries, and on the East side a garden set with all kinde of hearbes and flowers, and enriched with many other ornaments. Also an Hospitall for the Sicke, a Roome for an Apothecarie, and other places. Lastly, every thing doth so amaze the beholder, that it is better for me to be silent with modestie, than to make a meane description of those things which remaine. There is also in this Countrie the famous Pallace of Toledo, (reedified by Charles the fifth) adorned with new buildings and Royall furniture: in which, besides many other singular things, there is a water-worke made by the wonderfull invention of an Italian, which by the helpe of a great wheele, draweth up water out of the River Tagus; and so imposing an artificiall violence upon nature, doth force it to ascend through Pipes into the highest part of the Castle, where it being received into one large Cisterne, is dispersed againe by Pipes, and serveth for the use of the Castle and the whole Citie: for it doth water gardens, and serveth for Noble mens houses, Stewes, Fullers of cloath, and other necessary uses of the Citie. Here are two Universities, Complutum a famous Academie for all Arts, which was instituted by Francis Ximenius Cardinall, and Archbishop of Toledo. The other is the Academie or Universitie of Toledo, being a famous nurserie of Learning and Wisedome. All disciplines and Mechanicke Arts are greatly esteemed in the Citie Toledo; and ten thousand men doe live thereby, dressing Wooll and Silke.