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CORNELL  STUDIES  IN  ENGLISH 

EDITED   BY 

JOSEPH  QUINCY  ADAMS 

CLARK  SUTHERLAND  NORTHUP 

MARTIN  WRIGHT  SAMPSON 


530462. 

/.    //•  51 


GEOGRAPHICAL    DICTIONARY 
OF  MILTON 


BY 

ALLAN  H.  GILBERT,  PH.D. 

INSTRUCTOR   IN   ENGLISH   IN   CORNELL   UNIVERSITY 


ITHACA  •  NEW  YORK 
CORNELL  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 

LONDON:  HUMPHREY  MILFORD 
OXFORD  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 


GEOGRAPHICAL    DICTIONARY 
OF  MILTON 


BY 

ALLAN  H.  GILBERT,  PH.D. 

INSTRUCTOR   IN   ENGLISH   IN   CORNELL   UNIVERSITY 


NEW   HAVEN 
YALE  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 

LONDON  •  HUMPHREY  MILFORD  •  OXFORD  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 

MDCCCCXIX 


COPYRIGHT  1919 
BY  YALE  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 


First  published,  April,  1919 


6* 


Profuit  et  varies  mores  hominumque,  locorumque 
Explorasse  situs;  multas  terraque  manque 
Aut  videsse  ipsum  urbes,  aut  narrantibus  illas 
Ex  aliis  novisse,  et  pictum  in  pariete  mundum. 

(Vida,  De  Arte  Poetica.) 


PREFACE 

In  the  present  work  I  endeavor  to  furnish  the  basis  for  an 
understanding  of  Milton's  use  of  geography.  He  gave  that  sub 
ject  an  important  place  in  his  writings  on  education,  and  to  it  alone 
among  the  natural  sciences  he  devoted  a  separate  work — A  Brief 
History  of  Moscovia  and  of  Other  Less-known  Countries  Lying  East 
ward  of  Russia  as  Far  as  Cathay;  this  is  geographical  rather  than 
historical  in  the  present  sense  of  the  word.  In  the  poetry  of 
Milton  geography  is  rivaled  in  importance  by  none  of  the  sciences 
except  astronomy.  Hence,  a  knowledge  of  Milton's  geography 
is  necessary  to  a  full  appreciation  of  his  work. 

In  a  monograph  originally  intended  as  an  introduction  to  this 
Dictionary,  and  now  complete  in  manuscript,  I  have  treated 
various  matters  relating  to  the  poet's  use  of  geography,  such 
as  the  sources  of  his  knowledge  of  the  subject,  his  theory  of  its 
value  in  education,  the  function  of  place-names  in  his  verse,  and 
the  cosmography  of  Paradise  Lost.  The  publication  of  that 
work  at  the  present  time  seems  inadvisable;  yet  I  hope  without 
too  long  delay  to  publish  it  in  a  separate  volume. 

In  the  Geographical  Dictionary  now  presented,  I  have  given 
in  alphabetic  order  the  place-names  in  Milton's  prose  and  poetry 
(except  the  addresses  of  the  Letters  of  State  and  the  Biblical 
quotations  in  De  Doctrina  Christiana),  and  have  endeavored  so 
to  explain  these  names,  especially  those  occurring  in  the  verse,  as 
to  reveal  something  of  what  they  meant  to  the  poet  himself.  To 
this  end,  I  have  drawn  the  quotations,  so  far  as  possible,  from 
books  he  actually  read.1  When  this  has  been  impossible,  I  have 
quoted  from  representative  books  accessible  to  him. 

Approximately  the  first  half  of  the  Dictionary  was  accepted 
as  a  doctoral  dissertation  by  the  Graduate  Faculty  of  Cornell 
University  in  the  year  1912.  The  subject  was  suggested  by 
Professor  Lane  Cooper,  of  that  faculty,  and  the  work  was  done 
under  his  supervision;  I  wish  to  record  here  my  gratitude  for 
his  assistance  and  encouragement.  I  desire  also  to  thank  the 

1  I  have  collected  a  considerable  amount  of  evidence  on  Milton's  use  of 
books,  which  I  hope  later  to  make  the  basis  of  an  inclusive  work  on  the  subject. 


viii  PREFACE 

editors  of  the  Cornell  Studies  in  English,  in  particular  Professor 
Joseph  Q.  Adams,  for  their  aid  in  preparing  the  manuscript  for 
publication. 

I  trust  that  the  work  is  sufficiently  thorough  and  exact  to 
be  of  service  to  students.  However  imperfect  it  may  be,  I 
believe  that  in  purpose  at  least  it  would  gain  the  approval  of 
Milton  himself,  for  in  his  youth  he  advised  his  fellows  at  Cam 
bridge  to  travel — in  their  studies — "through  the  regions  made 
famous  by  the  narratives  of  illustrious  poets": 

Et  etiam  illustrium  poetarum  fabulis  nobilitatas  regiones  percurrere. 

ALLAN  H.  GILBERT 


ABBREVIATIONS 

I.    MILTON'S   WORKS 

AD  Rous.     Ad  Joannem  Rousium. 

AD  SAL.     A d  Salsillum  Poetam  Romanum. 

ALBUM.     An  entry  in  an  Autograph  Album.     (Masson,  Life  of 

Milton  1.  833.) 
ANIMADV.     Animadversions    upon    the    Remonstrant's    Defense 

against  Smectymnuus. 
APOLOGY.     Apology  for  Smectymnuus. 
AREOPAG.     Areopagitica. 
BUCER:  DIVORCE.     The  Judgment  of   Martin  Bucer  concerning 

Divorce. 

CARRIER.     On  the  University  Carrier. 
CHURCH-GOV.     The  Reason  of  Church-government  Urged  against 

Prelaty. 

CIRCUMCISION.     Upon  the  Circumcision. 
CIVIL    POWER.     A    Treatise    of    Civil    Power  in    Ecclesiastical 

Causes. 

COLAST.     Colasterion. 
COMMONPLACE.     A  Common-place  Book  of  John  Milton.     (Ed. 

Alfred  J.  Horwood,  The  Camden  Society,  1877.) 

CONTRA  HISP.  Scriptum  Dom.  Protectoris  Reipublicae  Ang- 
liae  .  .  .  in  quo  hujus  Reipublicae  Causa  contra  Hispanos  Justa 
esse  Demonstraretur. 

CROMWELL.     To  the  Lord  General  Cromwell. 

CYRIACK.     To  Mr.  Cyriack  Skinner  upon  his  Blindness. 

DAMON.     Epitaphium  Damonis. 

DECL.  POLAND.  A  Declaration  .  .  .  for  the  Election  of  this 
Present  King  of  Poland,  John  the  Third. 

1  DEFENS.     Pro  Populo  Anglicano  Defensio. 

2  DEFENS.     Defensio  Secunda  pro  Populo  Anglicano. 
DIVORCE.     The  Doctrine  and  Discipline  of  Divorce. 

l 


2  ABBREVIATIONS 

DOCT.  CHRIST.  De  Doctrina  Christiana.  (References  to  book 
and  chapter,  and  to  volume  and  page,  of  Sumner's  trans.,  first 
and  only  separate  edition.) 

EASY  WAY.  The  Ready  and  Easy  Way  to  Establish  a  Free 
Commonwealth. 

EDUCATION.     Of  Education. 

EIKONOCL.     Eikonodastes. 

ELEG.     Elegia. 

1  ENG.  LET.     Letter  accompanying  the  sonnet  On  Arriving  at 
the  Age  of  Twenty-three.     (Masson,  Life  of  Milton  1.  323-5.) 

2  ENG.  LET.     Letter  to  Bradshaw.     (Ib.  4.  478-9.) 
EPISCOPACY.     Of  Prelatical  Episcopacy. 

FAIRFAX.  On  the  Lord  General  Fairfax  at  the  Siege  of  Col 
chester. 

FORCERS  OF  CONSC.  On  the  New  Forcers  of  Conscience  under 
the  Long  Parliament. 

GRAMMAR.     Accedence  Commenct  Grammar. 

HIRELINGS.  Considerations  Touching  the  Likeliest  Means  to  Re 
move  Hirelings  out  of  the  Church. 

HIST.  BRIT.  The  History  of  Britain,  that  Part  Especially  Now 
Called  England. 

IDEA  PLATON.  De  Idea  Platonica  Quemadmodum  Aristoteles 
Intellexit. 

IL  PENS.     II  Penseroso. 

INFANT.     On  the  Death  of  a  Fair  Infant. 

KINGS  &  MAG.     The  Tenure  of  Kings  and  Magistrates. 

L'ALL.     U  Allegro. 

1-3  LEONOR.     Ad  Leonoram  Rom<z  Canentem.     (Three  poems.) 

LIT.  OLIV.     Liter (B  Oliverii  Protectoris  Nomine  Scripts. 

LIT.  REST.  PARL.  Litercz,  Richardo  Abdicate,  Restituti  Parlia- 
menti  Nomine  Scriptce. 

LIT.  RICH.     Liter CB  Richardi  Protectoris  Nomine  Scriptce. 

LIT.  SENAT.     Liter  a  Senatus  Anglicani. 

LOGIC.     Artis  Logicce  Plenior  Institutio. 

MARCHIONESS.     An  Epitaph  on  the  Marchioness  of  Winchester. 

MONK:  COM.  The  Present  Means  and  Brief  Delineation  of  a 
Free  Commonwealth  .  .  .  In  a  Letter  to  General  Monk. 

MOSCOVIA.     A  Brief  History  of  Moscovia. 


ABBREVIATIONS  3 

MS.     Subjects  for  Dramas  from  the  Cambridge  Manuscript. 

(Masson,  Life  of  Milton  2.  106-15.     Cf.  the  Facsimile  of  the 

Manuscript  of  Milton's  Minor  Poems,  Cambridge,  1899.) 
NATIVITY.     On  the  Morning  of  Christ's  Nativity. 
NAT.  NON.     Naturam  non  Pati  Senium. 
NOTES:    ARAT.     Annotations  on  Aratus.     (Sotheby,  Ramblings 

in  the  Elucidation  of  the  Autograph  of  Milton,  p.  105.) 
NOTES:  EURIP.     Annotations  on  Euripides.     (Ib. ,  p.  108.) 
NOTES:    GRIP.     Brief  Notes  on  a  Late  Sermon  .  .  .  Preach1  d, 

and  Since  Published,  by  Matthew  Griffith. 
ORMOND.     Observations  on  the  Articles  of  Peace  between  James 

Earl  of  Ormond  .  .  .  and  the  Irish. 
PASSION.     The  Passion. 
PETIT.  COUNCIL.     Petition  of  John  Milton,  Gent.,  to  the  Council. 

(Hamilton,  Original  Papers  Illustrative  of  the  Life  and  Writings 

of  John  Milton,  Camden  Society,  1859.) 
PETIT.  SEQUEST.     Petition  of  John  Milton  to  the  Commissioners 

for  Sequestration.     (Ib.) 
P.  L.     Paradise  Lost. 
P.  R.     Paradise  Regained. 
PR^SUL.  EL.     In  Obitum  Prcesulis  Eliensis. 
PROCANCEL.     In  Obitum  Procancellarii  Medici. 
1-4  PROD.  BOMB.     In  Proditionem  Bombardicam.     (Four  poems.) 
1-8  PROLUS.     Auctoris  Prolusiones  Qucedam  Oratories. 
PRO  SE  DEFENS.     Auctoris  pro  Se  Defensio  contra  Alexandrum 

Morum. 

Ps.     Psalm.     (Translated  by  Milton.) 
QUINT.  Nov.     In  Quintum  Novembris. 
KAMI  VITA.     Petri  Kami  Vita  .  .  .  Descripta. 
REFORMATION.     Of  Reformation  Touching  Church  Discipline  in 

England. 

RESPONS  .     A  uthoris  ad  A  lexandri  Mori  Supplementum  Responsio . 
RUPT.  COM.     A  Letter  to  a  Friend  concerning  the  Ruptures  of  the 

Commonwealth . 
SAFE-COND.     A  Letter  of  Safe-conduct  to  the  Count  of  Oldenburg. 

(Thurloe,  State  Papers  1.  385-6.) 
SAMSON.     Samson  Agonistes. 
SHAKESP.     On  Shakes  pear. 
SIXTEEN  LET.     Sixteen  Letters  of  State  .  .  .  Now  First  Published. 

(Hamilton,  Original  Papers  Illustrative  of  the  Life  and  Writings 

of  John  Milton,  Camden  Society,  1859.) 


4  ABBREVIATIONS 

TETRACH.     Tetrachordon. 

TRUE  RELIG.     Of  True  Religion,  Heresie,   Schism,    Toleration, 

and   What  Best  Means  May  Be    Us'd  against  the  Growth  of 

Popery. 

VACAT.  Ex.     At  a  Vacation  Exercise  in  the  Colledge. 
VANE.     To  Sir  Henry  Vane  the  Younger. 

II.   WORKS  BY  AUTHORS  OTHER  THAN  MILTON 

ADRICHOMIUS.  Christianas  Adrichomius,  Theatrum  Terra  Sanctce 
et  Biblicarum  Historiarum  cum  Tabulis  Geographicis,  Delft, 
1628. 

BEDE.  Bede,  Ecclesiastical  History  of  England,  trans.  A.  M. 
Sellar,  London,  1907. 

BLAEU.  America,  Quce  Est  Geographies  Blaviance  Pars  Quinta, 
Amsterdam,  1662. 

BOCHART.  Samuel  Bochart,  Geographia  Sacra,  Frankfort-on- 
the-Maine,  1674  (first  ed.  1646). 

CAMDEN.  William  Camden,  Britannia,  London,  1789,  trans. 
R.  Gough  from  ed.  of  1607. 

CHRONICLE.  The  Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle,  in  Two  of  the  Saxon 
Chronicles  Parallel,  Earle  and  Plummer,  Oxford,  1892-9. 

DAVITY.     Pierre  Davity,  Les  Estats  .  .  .  du  Monde,  Rouen,  1625. 

DIODORUS.  Diodorus  Siculus,  Bibliotheca  Historica,  trans.  G. 
Booth,  London,  1814  (but  references  in  the  present  work  are 
to  the  usual  divisions  of  the  Greek  text). 

DIONYSIUS  PERIEGETES.  Dionysii  Orbis  Descriptio,  in  Miiller, 
Geographi  Greed  Minores,  Paris,  1861. 

FULLER.  Thomas  Fuller,  A  Pisgah  Sight  of  Palestine,  London, 
1651,  reprinted  1869. 

HAK.  Richard  Hakluyt,  The  Principal  Navigations,  Voyages, 
Traffiques  and  Discoveries  of  the  English  Nation,  London, 
1598-1600,  reprinted,  Glasgow,  1903.  (References  in  the 
present  work  are  to  volume  and  page  of  the  first  edition, 
indicated  in  the  reprint  by  marginal  figures.) 

LEO  AFRICANUS.  Leo  African  us,  The  History  and  Description  of 
Africa,  trans.  Pory,  London,  1600,  reprinted  1896. 

MERCATOR.  Gerhard  Mercator,  Atlas  (French  text),  Amster 
dam,  1628. 

ORTELIUS.  Abraham  Ortelius,  Theatrum  Orbis  Terrarum,  Ant 
werp,  1592. 


ABBREVIATIONS  5 

PHILLIPS.  Edward  Phillips,  Life  of  Milton,  in  Of  Education, 
...  by  John  Milton,  ed.  Laura  E.  Lock\vood,  Riverside  Lit 
erature  Series. 

PILGRIMAGE.     Purchas  his  Pilgrimage,  second  ed.,  London,  1617. 

PILGRIMES.  Purchas  his  Pilgrimes,  London,  1625,  reprinted 
Glasgow,  1905-7.  (References  in  the  present  work  are  to 
volume  and  page  of  the  first  edition,  indicated  in  the  reprint 
by  marginal  figures.) 

SANDYS.     George  Sandys,  Travels,  seventh  edition,  London,  1673. 

SIMEOX  OF  DURHAM.     Historic,  Regum,  London,  1885. 

STOW.  John  Stow,  Survey  of  London,  London,  1603,  reprinted, 
Oxford,  1908. 

Two  CHR.     See  CHRONICLE,  supra. 

TRANSLATIONS  QUOTED 

(OTHER  THAN  THOSE  MENTIONED  IN  THE  PRECEDING  LIST) 

APOLLONIUS  RHODIUS,  Argonautica,   tr.   Edward   P.   Coleridge, 

London,  1889. 

ARIOSTO,  Orlando  Fiirioso,  tr.  Sir  John  Harington,  London,  1607. 
ASSER,  Life  of  King  Alfred,  tr.  Albert  S.  Cook,  Boston,  1906. 
EURIPIDES,  Tragedies,  tr.  Arthur  S.  Way,  London,  1894. 
HERODOTUS,  History,  tr.  G.  C.  Macaulay,  London,  1904. 
HOMER,  Odyssey,  tr.  S.  H.  Butcher  and  A.  Lang,  New  York,  1906. 
JOSEPHUS,   Works,  Whiston's  Translation,  ed.  The  Rev.  A.  R. 

Shilleto,  London,  1889. 

LUCAN,  Pharsalia,  tr.  Edward  Ridley,  London,  1896. 
OVID,  Metamorphoses,  tr.  Arthur  Golding,  London,  1567,  facsimile 

reprint,  1904. 

PINDAR,  Odes,  tr.  Ernest  Myers,  London,  1904. 
PLATO,  Works,  tr.  B.  Jowett,  London,  1892. 
PLINY,  Natural  History,  tr.  Philemon  Holland,  London,  1601. 
PLUTARCH,  Lives,  the  Translation  Called  Dryden's,  revised  by  A. 

H.  Clough,  Boston,  1891. 

POLO,  MARCO,  Travels,  tr.  Colonel  Henry  Yule,  London,  1903. 
SOPHOCLES,  Tragedies,  tr.  Sir  Richard  Jebb,  Cambridge,  1905. 
SOZOMENUS,  Church  History,  tr.  Hartranft,  New  York,  1890. 
STRABO,  Geography,  Books  1  and  2  tr.  Horace  L.  Jones,  London, 

1917;  Books  3  ff.,  with  some  exceptions,  trans.  Hamilton  and 

Falconer,  London,  1892-3. 
VIRGIL,  Works,  tr.  Lonsdale  and  Lee,  London,  1903. 


In  this  Dictionary  all  of  Milton's  references  to  one  place,  without  regard 
to  any  variations  in  the  name  or  names  used,  are  brought  together  under 
one  form.  For  example,  all  references  to  Anglia  appear  under  England, 
and  Anglia  and  other  equivalent  forms  used  by  Milton  are  given  in 
parenthesis.  In  their  alphabetical  positions  in  the  Dictionary  these  variants 
appear  with  cross-references  only.  Proper  adjectives  which  would  obvi 
ously  be  sought  under  nouns  are  often  omitted  from  the  alphabetical  list. 
Forms  of  place-names  now  common,  but  not  used  by  Milton,  are  given  with 
cross-references  to  the  Miltonic  forms.  For  the  poems,  references  are  made  to 
The  Poetical  Works  of  John  Milton,  Edited  after  the  Original  Texts,  by  H.  C. 
Beeching,  Oxford  University  Press.  For  the  prose,  references  are  made,  so 
far  as  possible,  to  the  volume  and  page  of  The  Works  of  John  Milton  .  .  . 
Printed  from  the  Original  Editions,  published  by  William  Pickering,  London, 
1851;  exceptions  are  indicated  in  the  List  of  Abbreviations.  In  order  to 
facilitate  the  use  of  other  editions  of  the  prose,  I  give,  within  marks  of  paren 
thesis,  references  to  the  sections  of  such  works  as  are  commonly  divided  into 
parts.  For  example,  "Reformation  (2)  3.38"  is  a  reference  to  Reformation, 
chapter  2,  found  in  the  Pickering  edition,  volume  3,  page  38;  "Tetrach. 
(Gen.  1.  28)  4.263"  refers  to  the  section  of  Tetrachordon  dealing  with  Genesis 
1.  28,  and  to  volume  4,  page  263,  of  the  Pickering  edition;  "Lit.  Oliv.  (57) 
7.  306"  refers  to  the  fifty-seventh  letter  of  the  Litera  Oliverii  Protectoris, 
volume  7,  page  306,  of  the  Pickering  edition.  These  and  other  letters,  and 
the  Prolusiones,  have  been  numbered  as  they  stand  in  that  edition. 


A 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DICTIONARY 
OF  MILTON 

Abana.     See  Abbana. 

Abarim.     P.  L.  1.  408.     (See  also  Aroer.) 

The  name,  meaning  "the  parts  beyond,"  given  to  the  plateau 
east  of  the  Dead  Sea,  as  seen  from  western  Palestine,  from  whence 
the  western  cliffs  of  the  plateau  present  the  appearance  of  a 
chain  of  mountains.  In  Milton's  day  this  was  not  understood; 
Fuller,  for  example,  describes  Abarim  thus:  "Let  us  now  request 
the  reader  to  climb  up  the  hills  of  Abarim,  Nebo,  and  Pisgah. 
These  are  a  ledge  of  mountains  rising  by  degrees  from  east  to 
west,  so  that  some  have  compared  Abarim  to  the  chancel,  Nebo 
to  the  church,  and  Pisgah  to  the  steeple."  (P.  70.)  Milton, 
however,  probably  had  in  mind  Ije-Abarim  ("the  heaps  of 
Abarim")  which  appears  on  Fuller's  maps  at  the  eastern  extre 
mity  of  the  chain,  in  harmony  with  Numbers  21.  11:  "They 
pitched  at  Ije-Abarim,  in  the  wilderness  which  is  before  Moab, 
toward  the  sunrising."  Adrichomius,  on  the  other  hand,  repre 
sents  "  Jeabarim"  as  on  the  southern  border  of  Moab  (cf.  Num 
bers  33.  44),  far  from  the  mountains  of  Abarim,  as  he  represents 
them,  and  in  the  desert.  (P.  126,  map.)  This  is  in  harmony 
with  Milton's  "the  wild  of  southmost  Abarim."  Nothing  is 
known  of  Ije-Abarim  in  addition  to  what  is  told  in  the  passages  of 
Scripture  mentioned  above. 

Abassin.     See  Negus. 

Abbana.     P.  L.  1.  469.     (See  also  Damascus,  Pharpar.) 

Commonly  Abana,  a  small  river  rising  in  the  Anti-Lebanons 
which  waters  the  city  of  Damascus.  Naaman  the  Syrian  men 
tions  it  in  2  Kings  5.  12:  "Are  riot  Abana  and  Pharpar,  rivers  of 
Damascus,  better  than  all  the  waters  of  Israel?  may  I  not 
wash  in  them  and  be  clean?"  With  Milton's  "lucid  streams" 
cf.  Ariosto's  "fiumi  cristallini."  (Orlando  Furioso  17.  19.) 
2  7 


8  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Abra.     See  Humber. 

Abyssinia.     See  Negus,  Empire  of. 

Academe.     Eleg.  7.  107;  Idea  Platon.  35;  P.  R.  4.  244. 

The  Academy  was  one  of  the  suburbs  of  ancient  Athens, 
northwest  of  the  city.  In  the  garden  there  Plato  and  his  suc 
cessors  taught.  The  spot  was  in  ancient  times  celebrated  for  its 
beauty.  Plutarch  says  of  Cimon:  "The  Academy,  which  was 
before  a  bare,  dry,  and  dirty  spot,  he  converted  into  a  well- 
watered  grove,  with  shady  alleys  to  walk  in."  (3.  217.)  Aristo 
phanes  mentions  the  olive-trees  which  grew  in  the  Academy. 
(Clouds  1005.) 

Academy.     See  Academe. 

Accaron  (Ecron).     P.  L.  1.  466;  Samson  981. 

Ekron  (Vulgate,  Accaron)  was  the  most  northern  of  the  five 
cities  of  the  Philistines  (1  Samuel  6.  17),  about  twenty-five  miles 
west  of  Jerusalem.  As  was  usual  in  the  time  of  Milton,  Fuller 
places  it  on  the  coast.  (P.  202.)  Beelzebub  is  the  god  espe 
cially  assigned  to  Ekron  by  the  Bible  (2  Kings  1.  1-6),  as  Milton 
doubtless  remembered  when  he  wrote  that  Beelzebub  was  "long 
after  known  in  Palestine."  (P.  L.  1.  80.) 

Achaemenius.     See  Persia. 

Achelous.     3  Leonor.  2;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  8. 

The  name  of  three  rivers  in  Greece,  the  most  famous  of  which 
is  in  Acarnania. 

Acheron.     Quint.  Nov.  7,  72;  Comus  604;  P.  L.  2.  578;  Hist. 

Brit.  (1)  5.  8. 

The  name  of  two  rivers  in  Greece,  one  in  Elis  (Strabo  8.  3.  15), 
and  one  in  Epirus  (Ib.  7.  7.  5),  both  of  which  were  believed  to 
communicate  with  the  Lower  Regions.  Cf.  JEneid  6.  295. 

Actaeus.     See  Attick. 

Addlegate.     Colast.  4.  370.     (See  also  Algate.) 

A  name  coined  by  Milton  on  the  analogy  of  Algate  as  a  thrust 
at  an  opponent  whom  he  considered  a  dunce. 

Adiabene.     P.  R.  3.  320. 

A  district  in  Assyria.  Strabo  refers  to  it  as  one  of  "the  plains 
about  Nineveh"  (16.  1.  1),  and  adds:  "We  have  said  that  Media 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  9 

and  Armenia  lie  to  the  north,  and  Adiabene  and  Mesopotamia 
to  the  west  of  Babylonia.  The  greatest  part  of  Adiabene  con 
sists  of  plains."  (16.  1.  18,  19.) 

Adonis.     P.  L.  1.  450. 

The  modern  Nahr  Ibrahim,  a  river  rising  in  the  Lebanons  and 
flowing  into  the  Mediterranean  south  of  Djeba'il,  the  ancient 
Byblos.  Milton  refers  to  the  ancient  belief  that  on  one  day 
annually  the  river  flowed  red  with  the  blood  of  Adonis,  beloved 
of  Venus,  who  had  been  killed  by  a  boar  on  Mount  Lebanon. 
Lucian  tells  the  story,  and  explains  that  the  river  really  was 
colored  with  dust  carried  by  the  winds.  (De  Dea  Syr.  6-8.) 
The  modern  explanation  is  that  the  river  gets  its  red  color  from 
the  earth  at  time  of  high  water. 

Adonis,  Garden  of.     Comus  999;  P.  L.  9.  440;  2  Defens.  6.  257. 

(See  also  Alcinous,  Hesperian,  Solomon.) 

The  garden  of  Adonis  apparently  belongs  to  post-classical 
mythology,  the  only  classical  reference  being  the  following  in 
Pliny:  "Ab  his  superest  reverti  ad  hortorum  curam  et  suapte 
natura  memorandum  et  quoniam  antiquitas  nihil  prius  mirata 
est,  quam  Hesperidum  hortos  ac  regum  Adonidis  et  Alcinoi 
itemque  pensiles,  sive  illos  Semiramis  sive  Assyriae  rex  Syrus 
fecit."  (19.  4.)  Milton  may  have  gained  from  Pliny  his  idea 
of  associating  the  garden  of  Adonis  with  that  of  Alcinous  and 
that  of  the  Hesperides.  Jonson  associates  it  with  the  gardens 
of  the  Hesperides,  the  Insulae  Fortunatae,  and  Tempe.  (Every 
Man  out  of  his  Humor  4.  6.)  Milton's  identification  of  the  gar 
den  of  Adonis  with  that  of  the  Hesperides  in  Comus  was  an 
afterthought,  for  in  the  Cambridge  MS.  "Adonis"  is  substituted 
for  an  earlier  "cherub."  In  this  identification  he  does  not  fol 
low  Spenser,  who  writes: 

Whether  in  Paphos,  or  Cytheron  hill, 

Or  it  in  Gnidus  be,  I  wote  not  well; 

But  well  I  wote  by  tryall,  that  this  same 

All  other  pleasant  places  doth  excel!, 

And  called  is  by  her  lost  lovers  name, 

The  Gardin  of  Adonis,  farre  renowmd  by  fame.     (F.  Q.  3.  6.  29.) 

Spenser's  elaborate  description  is  doubtless  Milton's  chief  source, 
and  is  the  most  important  account  of  the  garden  known.  The 


10  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

anonymous  author  of  the  Libellus  Observationum  at  the  end  of  the 
Mythologia  of  Natalis  Comes  fed.  1651)  mentions  the  garden  of  the 
Hesperides  and  that  of  Adonis,  and  says  that  the  belief  in  them 
was  founded  on  vague  knowledge  of  the  garden  of  Eden,  and  that 
the  King  Adonis  mentioned  by  Pliny  was  really  Adam.  In  the 
Mythologia  itself  we  read:  "In  his  sacrificiis  fructus  cuiusuis 
generis  adhibebantur  .  .  .  consueverunt  praetereaet  hordedum 
et  triticum  serere  in  locis  suburbanis,  atque  ea  loca  in  quibus 
haec  sata  fuissent,  multseque  essent  fructiferae  arbores,  hortos 
Adonios  appellare;  quia  locis  hujusmodi  Adonis  delectaretur." 
(5.  16.)  Bentley  omitted  the  reference  to  the  garden  of  Adonis 
from  his  edition  of  Paradise  Lost  because  there  never  had  been 
such  a  garden.  A  controversy  on  the  subject  is  reviewed  in 
Steevens'  edition  of  Johnson's  Shakespeare  in  the  note  on  1  Henry 
VI  1.  6.  6.  Fletcher  probably  had  Spenser  in  mind  when  he 
wrote : 

Adonis  garden  was  to  this  but  vayne, 

Though  Plato  on  his  beds  a  flood  of  praise  did  rayne. 

(Christ's  Victorie  on  Earth  40.  7-8.) 

He  could  hardly  have  been  familiar  with  the  passage  in  Plato 
(Ph&drus  276  b),  for  it  is  but  a  brief  incidental  reference,  not 
to  a  real  garden,  such  as  we  have  been  discussing,  but  to  the 
little  vessels  in  which  plants  were  forced  so  that  they  sprang 
up  in  eight  days  for  the  festival  of  Adonis.  Some  account  of 
these  gardens  is  the  source  of  Shakespeare's  reference: 

Thy  promises  are  like  Adonis'  gardens, 

That  one  day  bloom'd  and  fruitful  were  the  next. 

(1  Henry  VI  1.  6.  6-7.) 

The  ritualistic  gardens  of  Adonis  are  discussed  by  Frazer, 
Golden  Bough,  part  4,  bk.  1,  chap.  10. 

Adria  (Adriatic).     P.  L.   1.  520;  3  Prolus.   7.  429;  Hist.  Brit. 

(1)  5.11. 

The  Adriatic  Sea.     The  "sestuantem  Adriam"  of  the  Pro 
lusion  suggests  the  epithets  of  Horace,  for  example: 

Fractisque  rauci  fluctibus  Hadrise.     (Odes  2.  14.  14.) 

Adriatic.     See  Adria. 
^Eaea.     See  Circe's  Hand. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  11 

.     See  ^Egean. 

(^ggeus).     Nat.  Non  23;  P.  L.  1.  746;  P.  R.  4.  238. 
The  ^Eean  Sea. 


jEgelands.     Moscovia  (5)  8.  503. 

The  islands  on  the  coast  of  the  province  of  Helgeland,  Norway. 
Milton's  account  of  them  is  from  the  following:  "The  land  was 
all  full  of  little  Islands,  and  that  innumerable,  which  were  called, 
as  we  learned  afterwards,  ^Egeland  and  Halgeland,  which  lieth 
from  Orfordnesse  North  and  by  East,  being  in  the  latitude  of 
66  degrees."  (Hak.  1.  235.) 

^Egypt.     See  Egypt. 
-3£mathia.     See  Macedon. 
<32mathia  Urbs.     See  Philippi. 

JEmilian  Road.     P.  R.  4.  69. 

The  Roman  military  highway  from  Placentia  to  Ariminium, 
where  it  joined  the  Flaminian  road.  See  Livy  39.  2. 

JEnon.     P.  R.  2.  21. 

A  place  in  Palestine,  near  the  River  Jordan,  where  John 
baptised.  (John  3.  23.)  Fuller  places  it  on  the  western  bank 
of  the  river.  (P.  159,  map.) 

jEthiops.     See  Ethiop. 

^Etna.  Procancel.  46;  Quint.  Nov.  36;  Ad.  Patrem  49;  P.  L.  1. 
233;  3.470;  1  Prolus.  7.  413;  3  Prolus.  7.  429;  7  Prolus.  7.  450. 
Milton's  suggestion  in  3  Prolus.  that  his  hearers  should  visit 
^Etna  calls  to  mind  his  own  desire  to  visit  Sicily  (2  Defens.  6.  288), 
where  JEtna  probably  was  one  of  the  sights  he  wished  to  see. 
In  Procancel.  46  he  uses  "^Etnseus"  to  mean  Sicilian.  ^Etna 
has  frequently  been  described  in  poetry;  for  example,  Lucretius 
6.  640-703,  Pindar,  Pyth..l,  and  the  Latin  poem  entitled  ^Etna. 
Milton's  reference  in  P.  L.  3.  470  is  almost  a  translation  from 
Horace: 

Deus  immortalis  haberi 

Dum  cupit  Empedocles,  ardentem  frigidus  ^Etnam 
Insiluit.     (Ars  Poetica  464-6.) 

Afene.     See  1.  Avon. 


12  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Africa.     Comus  606;   Vane  4;    P.  L.  1.  585;    P.  R.  2.  199,  347; 

Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  11;   Decl.  Poland  8.  463. 

Sometimes  the  continent  of  Africa,  and  sometimes  the  Roman 
province  of  Africa,  corresponding  to  the  modern  Tunisia.  In 
P.  R.  2.  347  Milton  refers  to  the  fisheries  on  the  coast  of  Africa, 
made  well-known  by  the  story  of  the  Roman  glutton  Apicius, 
whom  he  mentions  in  7  Prolus.  7.  451.  An  ultimate  source  for 
the  reference  to  the  monsters  of  Africa  in  Comus  606  is  perhaps 
Diodorus  3.  50.  The  idea  appears  in  Fairfax's  Tasso: 

All  monsters  which  hot  Africke  doth  forthsend 
Twixt  Nilus,  Atlas,  and  the  southern  Cape, 
Were  all  there  met.     (15.  51.) 

Compare  also,  e.  g.,  Ben  Jonson,  Vision  on  the  Muses  of  his 
Friend  M.  Dray  ton,  Donne,  Satyr  e  4.  22,  and  Camoens,  Lu- 
siads  10.  92.  African  harpies  are  mentioned  in  the  Orlando  Fu- 
rioso  33.  111.  For  similar  phenomena  in  the  desert  of  Gobi 
see  Sericana. 

Agatha.     Tetrach.  (Fath.)  4.  268;  (Canon)  4.  282. 

Agde  (Latin,  Agatha)  is  a  town  ninety  miles  west  of  Marseilles 
on  the  Mediterranean. 

Agde.     See  Agatha. 
Agned.     See  Edinburgh. 

Agra.     P.  L.  11.  391. 

A  city  in  northwestern  India,  formerly  one  of  the  capitals  of 
the  Great  Mogul.  The  following  descriptions  are  found  in 
Purchas:  ''Agra,  a  principall  and  great  Kingdome,  the  Citie  so 
called,  the  heart  of  the  Mogolls  Territorie,  in  North  latitude 
about  twentie  eight  degrees  and  an  halfe.  It  lyeth  most  on  the 
Southwest  side  of  Jemvi,  the  Citie  upon  the  River,  where  one  of 
the  Emperours  Treasureries  are  kept.  From  Agra  to  Lahor, 
which  is  not  lesse  than  seven  hundred  miles,  it  is  all  a  plaine, 
and  the  highway  planted  on  both  sides  with  trees  like  a  delicate 
walke.  It  is  one  of  the  great  workes  and  wonders  of  the  World." 
(Pilgrimes  1.  579.)  "Agra  is  spacious,  large,  populous  beyond 
measure,  that  you  can  hardly  passe  in  the  streets.  .  .  .  Upon 
the  banke  of  the  River  stands  the  Castle,  one  of  the  fairest  and 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  13 

admirablest  buildings  of  the  East,  some  three  or  foure  miles  in 
compasse,  inclosed  with  a  faire  and  strong  wall  of  squared  stone. 
.  .  .  King  Acabars  Sepulchre  is  3  C.  distant  from  Agra  in  the 
way  to  Lahor,  nothing  neere  finished  as  yet,  after  tenne  yeares 
worke.  It  is  placed  in  the  midst  of  a  faire  and  large  Garden, 
inclosed  with  brick  walls,  neere  two  miles  in  circuit;  is  to  have 
foure  Gates  (but  one  of  which  is  yet  in  hand)  each,  if  answerable 
to  this  foundation,  able  to  receive  a  great  Prince  with  a  reason 
able  traine.  ...  In  the  Center  of  this  Garden  stands  the  Tombe 
foure  square,  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  in  compasse.  The 
first  inclosure  is  with  a  curious  rayle,  to  which  you  ascend  some 
six  steps  into  a  small  square  Garden  quartered  in  curious  Tankes, 
planted  with  variety  of  sweets,  adjoyning  to  which  is  the  Tombe, 
rounded  with  this  gardenet,  being  also  foure  square,  all  of  hewne 
stone,  with  faire  spacious  Galleries  on  each  side,  having  at  each 
corner  a  small  beautifull  Turret,  arched  over  head,  and  covered 
with  various  Marble.  Betwixt  corner  and  corner  are  four  other 
Turrets  at  like  distance.  Here  within  a  faire  round  coffin  of 
Gold  lieth  the  body  of  this  Monarch,  who  sometimes  thought  the 
World  too  little  for  him.  ...  At  my  last  sight  thereof,  there 
was  only  over  head  a  rich  Tent,  with  a  Semaine  over  the  Tombe. 
But  it  is  to  be  inarched  over  with  the  most  curious  white  and 
speckled  Marble,  and  to  be  seeled  all  within  with  pure  sheet- 
Gold  richly  inwrought.  These  foure  last  Turrets  also  inclosing 
the  Sepulchre  are  of  most  rich  curious  Marble,  and  the  ground 
underfoot  paved  with  the  like."  (Ib.  1.  440.) 

Aialon.     P.  L.  12.  266. 

A  broad  valley  of  the  Shephelah,  Palestine,  about  fourteen 
miles  west  from  Jerusalem.     See  Joshua  10. 

Ailsbury.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  217. 

A  town  in  the  Vale  of  Ailsbury,  Buckinghamshire. 

Ailsford.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  116. 
A  town  in  Kent,  on  the  Medway. 

Akalon.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  8. 

An  unidentified   river  of  Greece,  mentioned   by  Geoffrey  of 
Monmouth  1.5. 

Ak-lea  (Oak-lea).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  193. 

Ockley  in  Surrey,  on  the  River  Mole.     (Camden  1.  168.) 


14  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Aladule,  Realm  of.     P.  L.  10.  435.     (See  also  Bactrian.) 

The  mountainous  country  of  Armenia.  Purchas  remarks  of 
it :  "  Betweene  Orpha  and  Caramit  was  the  Paradise  of  Aladeules, 
where  he  had  a  fortresse  destroyed  by  Selim.  This  his  Paradise 
was  like  to  that  which  you  shall  find  in  our  Persian  Historic. 
Men  by  a  potion  brought  into  a  sleep  were  brought  into  this 
supposed  Paradise,  where  at  their  waking  they  were  presented 
with  all  sensuall  pleasures  of  musike,  damosels,  dainties,  etc., 
which,  having  had  some  taste  of  another  sleepie  drinke,  after 
came  againe  to  themselves.  And  then  did  Aladeules  tell  them 
that  he  could  bring  them  when  he  pleased  to  Paradise,  the  place 
where  they  had  beene,  and  if  they  would  commit  such  murders 
or  haughty  attempts,  it  should  be  theirs.  A  dangerous  device. 
Zelim  the  Turke  destroyed  the  place."  (Pilgrimage,  p.  75.) 
Heylyn  mentions  the  stout  resistance  of  King  Aladeules  against 
the  Turks.  (Cosmography  3.  141.) 

Alaunus.     Damon.  175. 

The  united  mouth  of  the  Stour  and  the  Avon,  flowing  into 
the  Solent,  Hampshire.  (Camden  1.  115.) 

Alba  Julia.     Rami  Vita  7.  185. 

Wissenburg,  in  Transylvania  on  the  River  Marosch. 

Albania.     See  Scotland. 
Albany.     See  Scotland. 
Albion.     See  Britain. 

Albracca.     P.  R.  3.  339. 

A  fortress  of  Cathay,  the  siege  of  which  is  related  by  Boiardo 
in  the  Orlando  Innamorato  1.  10  ff.  With  Milton's  reference  to 
the  numbers  at  Albracca  compare:  "We  shall  see  more  armed 
Knights  than  were  at  the  siege  of  Albracca,  to  conquer  Angelica 
the  faire."  (Don  Quixote,  trans.  Shelton,  2.2.) 

Alcairo.     See  Memphis. 

Alcinous,  Garden  of.     Eleg.  3.  44;    P.  L.  5.  341;    9.  441;  2  De- 
fens.  6.  257.     (See  also  Adonis,  Garden  of.) 
Alcinous,  king  of  the  Phseacians,  had  near  his  palace  a  garden 
described  by  Homer  as  follows:    "Hard  by  the  door  is  a  great 
garden,  of  four  ploughgates,  and  a  hedge  runs  round  on  either 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  15 

side.  And  there  grow  tall  trees  blossoming,  pear-trees  and 
pomegranates,  and  apple-trees  with  bright  fruit,  and  sweet  figs, 
and  olives  in  their  bloom.  The  fruit  of  these  trees  never  perisheth 
neither  faileth,  winter  nor  summer,  enduring  throughout  all  the 
year.  Evermore  the  West  Wind  blowing  brings  some  fruit  to 
birth  and  ripens  others.  Pear  upon  pear  waxes  old,  and  apple 
on  apple,  yea  and  cluster  ripens  upon  cluster  of  the  grape,  and 
fig  upon  fig.  There  too  hath  he  a  fruitful  vineyard  planted, 
whereof  the  one  part  is  being  dried  by  the  heat,  a  sunny  plot  on 
level  ground,  while  other  grapes  men  are  gathering,  and  yet 
others  they  are  treading  in  the  wine-press.  In  the  foremost  row 
are  unripe  grapes  that  cast  the  blossom,  and  others  there  be  that 
are  growing  black  to  vintaging.  There  too,  skirting  the  furthest 
line,  are  all  manner  of  garden  beds,  planted  trimly,  that  are 
perpetually  fresh,  and  therein  are  two  fountains  of  water, 
whereof  one  scatters  his  streams  all  about  the  garden." 
(Odyssey  7.  112-30.) 

Alclud.     See  Edinburgh. 
Alcluith.     See  Dunbritton. 
Aldgate.     See  Algate. 
Aldra.     See  Aulre. 

Aleian  Field.     P.  L.  7.  19. 

The  field  near  Ale  in  Lycia  where  Bellerophon  wandered  and 
perished,  after  he  "came  to  be  hated  of  all  the  gods."  (Iliad 
6.  200.) 

Alexandria.     Reformation  (2)  3.  38;  Church-gov.  (1.  Pref.)  3.  96; 

Tetrach.  (Path.)  4.  263;   Education  4.  390;   Areopag.  4.  413; 

1  Defens.  (2)  6.  32;   (4)  6.  90;  Lit.  Oliv.  (57)  7.  306. 

A  city  of  Egypt  at  the  northwest  extremity  of  the  Delta,  in 
ancient  times  "judged  by  most  to  be  the  second  if  not  the  first 
city  of  the  whole  world."  (Diodorus  1.  50.) 

Algate.     Colast.  4.  370.     (See  also  Addlegate.) 

Commonly  Aldgate,  a  gate  in  the  east  part  of  the  wall  of 
London,  which  gave  its  name  to  the  adjacent  ward. 


16  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Algiers  (Argiers).     P.  L.  11.  404;  Eikonocl.  (27)  3.  508.     (See 

also  Almansor.) 

A  country  of  North  Africa,  between  Tunisia  on  the  east  and 
Morocco  on  the  west.  Its  chief  city  is  a  seaport  of  the  same 
name,  described  by  Leo  Africanus  as  follows:  "It  is  a  large 
towne,  containing  families  to  the  number  of  fower  thousand,  and 
is  environed  with  most  stately  and  impregnable  walles.  The 
buildings  thereof  are  very  artificial  and  sumptuous,  and  every 
trade  and  occupation  hath  here  a  severall  place.  Innes,  bath- 
stoves,  and  temples  here  are  very  beautifull,  but  the  stateliest 
temple  of  all  standeth  upon  the  sea-shore.  Next  unto  the  sea 
there  is  a  most  pleasant  walke  upon  that  part  of  the  town  wall 
which  the  waves  beat  upon.  In  the  suburbs  are  many  gardens 
replenished  with  all  kind  of  fruits."  (P.  682.) 

Allen.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  106.     (See  also  Maes  German.) 

A  river,  tributary  to  the  Dee,  which  waters  the  southern  part 
of  Flintshire. 

Allobroges.     See  Sabaudia. 

Almansor,  Kingdoms  of.  P.  L.  11.  403.  (See  also  Algiers, 
Bocchus  (Realm  of),  Fez,  Marocco,  Sus,  Tremisen.) 
Almanzor,  or  Mansur  (939-1002),  was  a  Mohammedan  ruler 
of  Andalusia  and  North  Africa,  of  whom  Leo  Africanus  says: 
"Certaine  it  is  that  the  foresaid  Mansor,  whom  we  have  so 
often  mentioned,  was  a  most  puissant  and  mightie  prince,  for  it 
is  well  known  that  his  dominion  stretched  from  the  town  of 
Messa  to  the  kingdome  of  Tripolis  in  Barbary,  which  is  the  most 
excellent  region  of  Africa,  and  so  large  that  a  man  can  hardly 
travell  the  length  thereof  in  fourescore  and  ten  daies,  or  the 
bredth  in  fifteen.  This  Mansor  likewise  was  in  times  past  Lord 
of  all  the  kingdome  of  Granada  in  Spaine."  (P.  270.)  Ariosto 
gives  a  su'rvey  of  North  Africa  as  seen  by  Astolfo  on  an  aerial 
journey.  (Orlando  Funoso  33.  99—100.) 

Almany.     See  Germany. 

Alney  (Olanege).     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  260.     (See  also  Deorhurst.) 
In  putting  the  island  of  Alney  in  the  River  Severn  near  Deor 
hurst,  Milton  follows  Camden  (1.  261),  to  whom  he  refers  in  a 
note. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  17 

Alpheus.     Arcades  30;   Lycidas  132.     (See  also  Arethuse.) 

A  river  rising  in  Arcadia,  and  flowing  past  Olympia  into  the 
Ionic  Sea.  It  more  than  once  disappears  in  caverns  in  the  lime 
stone,  and  flows  underground  for  a  space.  Virgil  gives  the  fable 
of  the  Alpheus  as  follows :  "  Stretched  in  front  of  the  Sicaniari  bay 
lies  an  island ;  .  .  .  men  called  the  place  of  old  Ortygia.  Fame 
says  that  hither  Alpheus,  river  of  Elis,  forced  his  hidden  way 
beneath  the  sea,  who  now  through  the  mouth  of  thy  fountain, 
Arethusa,  mingles  with  the  waves  of  Sicily."  (JEneid  3.  692-6.) 

Alpinae  Valles.     See  Alps. 
Alpine  Mountains.     See  Alps. 

Alps  (Alpinae  Valles,  Alpine  Mountains).     Sonnet  15.2;    Quint. 

Nov.  48;    Damon.  114;    P.  L.  2.  620;    Samson  628;    Church- 

gov.   (2.  Pref.)  3.  144;    Tetrach.   (Gen.  2.   18)  4.   158;    Hist. 

Brit.  (2)  5.  47,  85;  (5)  5.  227,  231;   2  Defens.  6.  289;    Lit.  Oliv. 

(9)  7.  248;    (11)  7.  250;    (15)  7.  255;    (32)  7.  276;  (36)  7.  282; 

(44)  7.  293;    (69)  7.  320;    Contra  Hisp.  7.  367;   Epist.  Fam. 

(8)  7.  381;   Moscovia  (3)  8.  485;   Sixteen  Let.  1,  16.  . 

In  his  return  from  Italy  Milton  crossed  the  Pennine  Alps. 
(2  Defens.  6.  289.)  These  lie  between  Haute  Savoie  and  Wallis 
on  one  side,  and  Turin  and  Novara  on  the  other,  and  include 
Mont  Blanc.  Masson  thinks  Milton  may  have  gone  by  the 
Pass  of  Great  Saint  Bernard.  (Life  of  Milton  1.  831.)  Possibly 
Milton's  reference  to  the  disease  of  goitre,  common  among 
"those  in  Italy  that  live  under  the  Alps"  (Moscovia  (3)  8.  485), 
is  the  result  of  observation.  However,  it  has  long  been  the  sub 
ject  of  remark  (e.  g.  Juvenal  13.  162).  In  his  poetry  Milton  never 
refers  to  the  Alps  without  using  some  adjective  such  as  "cold," 
or  "snowy."  His  reference  in  Tetrachordon  is  ultimately  based 
on  the  story  in  Livy  (21.  37)  how  Hannibal  softened  the  rocks 
of  the  Alps  with  vinegar,  in  order  to  cut  them  away  in  making  a 
road  for  his  army.  The  "Alpine  Mountains"  of  Sonnet  15, 
and  the  "Alpine  Valleys"  of  the  Letters  of  State  refer  to  the 
dwellings  of  the  Waldenses  in  high  valleys  in  Piedmont.  "Alp" 
(P.  L.  2.  620;  Samson  628)  is  a  common  noun  meaning  mountain. 

Alteen   (Alty).     Moscovia   (3)   8.  485,  486   (twice).     (See  also 

Tooma.) 

The  part  of  Siberia  near  the  headwaters  of  the  River  Ob. 
The  passage  of  the  Pilgrimes  to  which  Milton  refers  in  a  note 


18  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

describes  it  as  ten  and  a  half  days'  journey  beyond  "Tomo,  a 
new  castle  beyond  Ob,"  on  the  way  to  Cathay.     (3.  798.) 

Alty.     See  Alteen. 

Alvetheli.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  192. 

Apparently  in  Northumbria.  The  battle  there  is  described 
by  Roger  of  Wendover.  (A.  D.  844.) 

Amara.     P.  L.  4.  281. 

One  of  those  masses  of  rock,  known  as  ambas,  found  on  the 
broken  plateau  of  Abyssinia.  They  sometimes  rise  3,300  feet 
above  the  surrounding  country.  Mount  Amara  is  to  be  identi 
fied  with  the  amba  described  as  follows:  "On  a  sandstone  amba 
whose  terminal  escarpment,  some  100  feet  high,  can  be  scaled 
only  by  means  of  ropes,  lies  the  monastery  of  Debra-Damo,  one 
of  the  most  celebrated  in  Abyssinia.  Here  all  the  surrounding 
populations  come  to  deposit  their  wealth  on  the  least  indication 
of  war.  The  summit  of  this  rock,  covered  with  a  vegetable  soil 
and  provided  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  perennial  wells,  is 
carefully  cultivated.  Formerly  the  younger  members  of  the 
reigning  house  were  banished  to  this  amba."  (Reclus,  The 
Universal  Geography  10.  175.)  In  Milton's  day  Samuel  Purchas 
described  it,  in  part,  as  follows:  "  Nothing  indeed  in  all  Ethiopia 
more  deserveth  mention,  whether  we  respect  the  naturall  site, 
or  the  employment  thereof.  .  .  .  This  hill  is  situate  as  the  navil 
of  that  Ethiopian  body,  and  centre  of  their  Empire,  under  the 
Equinoctiall  line,  where  the  Sun  may  take  his  best  view  thereof, 
as  not  encountering  in  all  his  long  journey  with  the  like  Theatre, 
wherein  the  Graces  and  Muses  are  Actors,  no  place  more  graced 
with  Natures  store,  or  furnished  with  such  a  Store-house  of 
Bookes,  the  Sunne  himself  so  in  love  with  the  sight,  that  the  first 
and  last  thing  he  vieweth  in  all  those  parts  is  this  hill ;  and  where 
Antiquitie  consecrated  unto  him  a  stately  Temple.  The  gods  (if 
ye  believe  Homer,  that  they  feasted  in  Ethiopia)  could  not  there, 
nor  in  all  the  world,  find  a  fitter  place  for  entertainment,  all  of 
them  contributing  their  best  store,  if  I  may  so  speak,  to  the 
banquet,  Bacchus,  Juno,  Venus,  Pomona,  Ceres,  and  the  rest, 
with  store  of  fruits,  wholesome  aire,  pleasant  aspect  and  prospect, 
secured  by  Mars,  lest  any  sinister  accident  should  interrupt  their 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  19 

delights,  if  his  Garrisons  of  Souldiers  were  needful  where  Nature 
had  so  strongly  fortified  before.  .  .  .  Once,  Heaven  and  Earth, 
Nature  and  Industrie,  have  all  been  corrivals  to  it,  all  presenting 
their  best  presents,  to  make  of  it  this  so  loving  presence,  some 
taking  this  for  the  place  of  our  Forefathers  Paradise.  ...  It 
is  situate  in  a  great  Plaine  largely  extending  it  selfe  every  way, 
without  other  hill  in  the  same  for  the  space  of  30  leagues,  the 
forme  thereof  round  and  circular,  the  height  such  that  it  is  a 
daies  work  to  ascend  from  the  foot  to  the  top.  Round  about  the 
rock  is  cut  so  smooth  and  even,  without  any  unequall  swellings, 
that  it  seemeth  to  him  that  stands  beneath  like  a  high  wall 
whereon  the  Heaven  is  as  it  were  propped.  And  at  the  top  it  is 
over-hanged  with  rocks,  jutting  forth  of  the  sides  the  space  of  a 
mile,  bearing  out  like  mushromes,  so  that  it  is  impossible  to 
ascend  it,  or  by  ramming  with  earth,  battering  with  Canon, 
scaling  or  otherwise  to  win  it.  It  is  above  twenty  leagues  in 
circuit,  compassed  with  a  wall  on  the  top,  well  wrought,  that 
neither  man  nor  beast  in  chase  may  fall  downe.  The  top  is  a 
plaine  field,  onely  toward  the  South  is  a  rising  hill,  beautifying 
this  plaine,  as  it  were  with  a  watchtower,  not  serving  alone  to 
the  eye,  but  yeelding  also  a  pleasant  spring  which  passeth  through 
all  that  Plaine,  paying  his  tribute  to  every  garden  that  will 
exact  it,  and  making  a  Lake,  whence  issueth  a  River,  which 
having  from  these  tops  espied  Nilus,  never  leaves  seeking  to 
finde  him.  .  .  .  The  way  up  to  it  is  cut  out  within  the  Rocke, 
not  with  staires,  but  ascending  by  little  and  little,  that  one  may 
ride  up  with  ease;  it  hath  also  holes  cut  to  let  in  light,  and  at  the 
foote  of  this  ascending  place,  a  faire  gate,  with  a  Corpus  du 
Guarde.  Halfe  way  up  is  a  faire  and  spacious  Hall  cut  out  of 
the  same  rocke,  with  three  windowes  very  large  upwards:  the 
ascent  is  about  the  length  of  a  lance  and  a  halfe :  and  at  the  top 
is  a  gate  with  another  gard.  The  aire  above  is  wholesome  and 
delectable:  and  they  live  there  very  long,  and  without  sicknesse. 
There  are  no  Cities  on  the  top,  but  palaces,  standing  by  them 
selves,  in  number  foure  and  thirtie,  spacious,  sumptuous,  and 
beautifull,  where  the  Princes  of  the  Royall  bloud  have  their 
abode,  with  their  Families.  The  Souldiers  that  gard  the  place 
dwell  in  Tents.  I  should  lose  both  you  and  my  selfe,  if  I  should 
leade  you  into  their  sweet  flourishing  and  fruitfull  Gardens, 
whereof  there  are  store  in  this  Plaine,  curiously  made,  and 


20  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

plentifully  furnished  with  fruits  both  of  Europe  plants  there,  as 
Peares,  Pippins,  and  such  like;  and  of  their  own,  as  Oranges, 
Citrons,  Limons,  and  the  rest;  Cedars,  Palme-trees,  with  other 
trees,  and  varietie  of  herbs  and  flowers,  to  satisfie  the  sight, 
taste  and  sent.  But  I  would  entertaine  you  onely  with  rarities 
no  where  else  to  be  found ;  and  such  is  the  Cubayo  tree,  pleasant, 
beyond  all  comparison,  in  taste,  and  whereunto  for  the  vertue 
is  imputed  the  health  and  long  life  of  the  Inhabitants;  and  the 
Balme  tree,  whereof  there  is  great  store  here.  .  .  .  The  plenty 
of  Graines  and  Corn  there  growing,  the  charms  of  birds  alluring 
the  ear  with  their  warbling  Notes,  and  fixing  the  eye  on  their 
colours,  joyntly  agreeing  in  beauty,  by  their  disagreeing  varietie, 
and  other  Creatures  that  adorn  this  Paradise,  might  make  me 
glut  you  with  too  much  store."  After  a  description  of  the 
library,  and  the  rich  treasures  on  Mount  Amara,  Purchas  con 
tinues:  "But  greater  Jewels  than  those  are  kept  in  Amara,  the 
Princes  of  the  bloud  Royall,  which  are  sent  to  this  hill  at  eight 
yeers  old,  and  never  returne  thence,  except  they  be  chosen 
Emperours."  (Pilgrimage,  pp.  843-6.)  Heylyn  gives  a  descrip 
tion  similar  to  that  of  Purchas.  (Cosmography  4.  64.)  See 
also  Mercator,  p.  623,  map. 

Purchas'  description  should  be  compared  especially  with  P.  L. 
4.  281-4,  543-8. 

Amathus.     Eleg.  7.  1. 

A  place  in  Cyprus  famous  for  its  temple  of  Venus,  who  was 
thence  called  Amathusia. 

Amboyna.     Lit.  Senat.  (45)  7.  236.     (See  also  Moluccas.) 

One  of  the  Moluccas,  or  Spice  Islands,  especially  famous  for 
its  cloves. 

America  (American,  Americanus).  P.  L.  9.  1116;  Reform.  (2) 
3.  45;  Apology  3.  262;  Contra  Hisp.  7.  345,  347,  353,  354, 
363,  364,  367;  8  Prolus.  7.  467.  (See  also  India  (West),  Peru- 
ana.) 

Milton's  Reformation,  in  which  he  speaks  of  the  "savage 
deserts  of  America"  as  the  refuge  of  those  who  fled  from  the 
fury  of  the  bishops,  appeared  in  1641,  only  twenty-one  years 
after  the  founding  of  the  colony  of  Plymouth,  and  eleven  years 
after  the  founding  of  the  Puritan  colony  of  Massachusetts.  In 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  21 

Church-gov.  (2)  3.  139  the  clause,  "they  abuse  the  people,  like 
poor  Indians  with  beads  and  glasses,"  refers  to  the  practices 
of  traders  in  America,  and  in  8  Prolus.  7.  467  "American" 
indicates  a  barbarous  and  unintelligible  language.  The  most 
elaborate  reference  to  America  is  that  telling  of  Columbus  in 
P.  L.  9.  1116-9.  The  forests  on  the  shores  of  America  especially 
attracted  the  attention  of  Columbus.  In  a  letter  describing  his 
first  voyage  he  writes:  "The  lands  .  .  .  are  all  most  beautiful, 
of  a  thousand  different  shapes,  accessible  and  covered  with  trees 
of  a  thousand  kinds  of  such  great  height  that  they  seemed  to 
reach  the  skies.  I  am  told  that  the  trees  never  lose  their  foliage, 
and  I  can  well  understand  it,  for  I  observed  that  they  were  as 
green  and  luxuriant  as  in  Spain  in  the  month  of  May.  Some 
were  in  bloom,  others  bearing  fruit,  and  others  otherwise  accord 
ing  to  their  nature.  .  .  .  There  are  palm-trees  of  six  or  eight 
kinds,  wonderful  in  their  beautiful  variety;  but  this  is  the  case 
with  all  the  other  trees  and  fruits  and  grasses;  trees,  plants,  or 
fruits  filled  us  with  admiration.  It  contains  extraordinary  pine 
groves."  (Major's  trans.,  pub.  Hakluyt  Soc.,  p.  4.)  Similar 
accounts  of  the  forests  occur  in  the  Journal  of  Columbus,  and 
have  since  appeared  in  many  places,  as  the  Pilgrimes  1.  2.11. 
The  "feathered  cincture"  of  P.  L.  9.  1118  is  not  mentioned  by 
Columbus.  His  descriptions  are  all  similar  to  the  following  from 
a  letter:  "The  inhabitants  of  this  and  all  the  other  islands  I 
have  found  or  gained  intelligence  of,  both  men  and  women,  go 
as  naked  as  they  were  born,  with  the  exception  that  some  of  the 
women  cover  one  part  only  with  a  single  leaf  of  grass  or  with  a 
piece  of  cotton  made  for  the  purpose."  (Major's  trans.,  p.  6.) 
However,  the  girdle  of  feathers  is  conventional  in  early  European 
representations.  The  allegorical  figure  of  America  on  the  title- 
page  of  the  Geography  of  Bertius  (1616)  wears  such  a  cincture 
and  head-dress,  and  they  also  appear  on  Blaeu's  map  of  1605. 
In  an  Italian  book  of  1493,  now  in  the  British  Museum,  a  wood 
cut  of  the  landing  of  Columbus  represents  part  of  the  savages 
as  cinctured  with  feathers  or  leaves.  (Ruge,  GesMclite  .  .  . 
der  Entdeckungen,  p.  247.)  Cf.  Spenser,  F.  Q.  3.  12.  8. 

Ammonite.     P.  L.  1.  396;   Samson  285.     (See  also  Basan.) 

The  Ammonites  were  a  people  dwelling  on  the  eastern  'border 
of  Palestine,  with  Rabba  (q.  v.)  as  their  capital.     According  to 


22  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Fuller,  "Ammon  had  Midian  on  the  east,  Moab  on  the  south, 
Gad  on  the  west,  and  Syria  on  the  'north ;  a  circular  country, 
extending  about  sixty  miles  every  way."  (P.  459.) 

Amorrean  Coast.     See  Seon's  Realme. 
Amstelodamensis.    See  Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam  (Amstelodamensis,  Amsterodamensis,  Amsterodam- 

us).     Animadv.   (2.  25)   3.   207;    2   Defens.   6.  313;    Pro  Se 

Defens.  6.  340,  345,  394,  401;   Respons.  6.  413,  417,  419;   Lit. 

Oliv.  (26)  7.  269;    (37)  7.  283;  Lit.  Rich.  (6)  7.  337  (twice). 

In   1622  Amsterdam  numbered   100,000  inhabitants.     Later 

in  the  century  it  attained  its  greatest  prosperity.     When  Milton 

wrote  the  Animadversions  it  was  a  refuge  for  all  whose  religious 

opinions  were  not  tolerated  in  England,  above  all  for  the  Brown  - 

ists,  and  hence  was  regarded  as  a  hotbed  of  heresy  by  all  friends 

of  the  religious  opinion  established  by  law.     Thomas  Hill,  a 

Presbyterian,  was  as  bitter  against  the  city  as  was  Bishop  Hall. 

In  1644  he  said  in  a  sermon  that  "to  set  the  door  so  wide  open 

as  to  tolerate  all  religions"  would  make  London  an  Amsterdam. 

(Masson,  Life  of  Milton  3.  163.) 

Andover.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  236;   (6)  5.  243. 
A  town  in  Hampshire. 

Andred  (Andreds  Leage,  Andreds  Wood).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  120; 

(4)  5.  175;  (5)  5.  207. 

An  ancient  forest  in  Kent,  described  in  Chronicle  893  as  a 
hundred  and  twelve  miles  long,  and  thirty  miles  broad. 

Andredchester  (Newenden).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  120.     (See  also 

Pevensey.) 

An  ancient  fortress  in  Kent.  A  passage  in  Camden  to  which 
Milton  refers  in  a  note  runs  thus:  "It  [the  Kentish  coast]  has 
Newenden,  which  I  am  almost  apt  to  believe  is  the  long  sough t- 
for  harbor  which  the  Notitia  calls  Anderida,  .  .  .  the  Saxons 
Andredchester,  because  of  its  situation  on  the  forest  of  Andreds- 
wald."  (1.  223.) 

Andreds  Leage.     See  Andred. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON  23 

Andreds  Wood.     See  Andred. 

Anglen.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  112. 

According  to  Bede  1.  15,  the  country  between  that  of  the 
Saxons  and  that  of  the  Jutes,  being,  as' Milton  says,  the  region 
"by  the  city  of  Sleswich,"  the  modern  Schleswig  in  the  province 
of  that  name. 

Anglesey  (Mona).     Lycidas  54;    Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  57,  65;    (3) 
5.  133;   (4)  5.  148;  (6)  5.  244.     (See  also  Man.) 
An  island  on  the  northwest  coast  of  Wales,  also  known  as 
Mona.     If  Milton  referred   to  Anglesey  when   he  wrote   "the 
shaggy  top  of  Mona  high,"  the  word  "  shaggy"  evidently  refers 
to  the  forests  with  which  the  island  was  covered.     (Cf.  a  similar 
use  of  the  word  in  P.  L.  4.  224;   6.  645.)     In  his  description  of 
Anglesey,  Drayton  writes  of  these  forests,  and  of  the  Druidic 
rites  conducted  in  them,  as  follows: 

Sometimes  within  my  shades,  in  many  an  ancient  wood, 
Whose  often-twined  tops,  great  Phoebus  fires  withstood, 
The  fearelesse  British  Priests,  under  an  aged  Oake,  .  .  . 

from  that  Jove-sacred  tree 
The  Missleto  cut  down.  .  .  . 

To  dwell  in  my  blacke  shades  the  Wood-gods  did  delight, 
Untroden  with  resort  that  long  so  gloomy  were, 
As  when  the  Roman  came,  it  strooke  him  sad  with  feare 
To  looke  upon  my  face,  which  then  was  call'd  the  Darke. 

(Polyolbion  9.) 

Yet  what  does  Milton  mean  by  calling  Mona  "high?"  The 
island  nowhere  rises  to  any  great  elevation.  "High"  might 
properly  be  applied  to  the  Isle  of  Man,  also  sometimes  called 
Mona,  of  which  we  read  in  Camden:  "In  the  middle  it  has 
many  mountains,  from  the  highest  of  which,  Sceafell,  may  be 
seen  in  a  clear  day  Scotland,  England,  and  Ireland."  (3.  697.) 
Yet  Camden  also  says  that  the  island  lacks  wood.  Moreover, 
the  vessel  in  which  Edward  King  perished  was  wrecked  off  the 
coast  of  Wales,  and  hence  nearer  to  Anglesey  than  to  the  Isle  of 
Man.  Possibly  Milton  is  giving  a  composite  picture  made  up 
from  accounts  of  both  Anglesey  and  Man,  neither  of  which  he 
had  ever  seen. 

The  steep 
Where  your  old  Bards,  the  famous  Druids,  ly 


24  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

has  not  been  surely  identified.  Masson  suggests  Penmaenmawr, 
a  mountain  of  Carnarvonshire,  and  Kerig-y-Druidion  in  South 
Denbighshire.  Camden,  to  whom  he  refers,  mentions  no  sepul 
chres  at  the  latter  place,  but  merely  makes  the  name  equivalent 
to  Druids'  Stones.  Milton's  reference  to  the  Druids,  so  close 
to  a  reference  to  Mona,  suggests  that  he  was  thinking  of  Mona's 
ancient  connection  with  the  Druids,  mentioned  in  Hist.  Brit. 
(2)  5.  57.  If  this  be  true,  perhaps  the  small  island  of  Holyhead, 
close  to  the  western  shore  of  Anglesey,  is  the  place  of  burial 
referred  to.  Holinshed  describes  sepulchres  there  as  follows: 
"Herein  likewise  is  a  promontorie  .  .  .  called  Holie  head  .  .  . 
from  whence  the  readiest  passage  is  commonly  had  out  of  North- 
wales  to  get  over  into  Ireland.  .  .  .  The  Britons  named  it  ... 
holie  He,  of  the  number  of  carcasses  of  holie  men,  which  they 
affirm  to  have  beene  buried  there."  (1.  64.)  Therefore,  since 
Holyhead  may  be  described  as  a  " steep,"  is  famous  as  a  place  of 
burial,  though  of  Christian  saints,  in  a  region  associated  with 
the  Druids,  and  is  connected  with  the  passage  of  the  Irish  Sea, 
it  may  well  be  the  place  Milton  had  in  mind. 

Angleterre.    See  England. 
Anglia.    See  England. 

Angola.     P.  L.  11.  401;   Sixteen  Let.  13.     (See  also  Congo.) 

A  district  in  southeast  Africa,  now  under  Portuguese  rule. 
The  following  is  given  in  Purchas:  "The  King  of  Angola,  being 
in  times  past  but  a  Governour  or  Deputie  under  the  King  of 
Congo,  .  .  .  made  himselfe  a  free  and  an  absolute  Prince,  and 
usurped  all  that  Quarter  to  his  owne  Jurisdiction.  .  .  .  And  so 
afterwards  in  time  conquered  other  Countries  thereabouts,  inso 
much  as  he  is  now  growne  to  be  a  great  Prince  and  a  rich,  and  in 
power  little  inferior  to  the  King  of  Congo  himselfe."  (Pil- 
grimes  2.  995.)  Purchas'  map  of  Congo  shows  Angola  as  the 
most  southern  division  of  the  country,  a  fact  to  which  Milton 
probably  refers  by  the  words  '"Angola  fardest  South." 

Angronia.     Sixteen  Let.  1. 

Angrogna,  a  valley  and  town  of  the  province  of  Turin,  Italy, 
in  Milton's  day  part  of  Savoy. 

Anguilla.     See  Ely. 

Antarctic.     See  Zone,  The  Frozen. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  25 

Antilles.     See  Caribiae  Insulae. 

1.  Antioch  (Theopolis).     P.  R.  3.  297;    Reformation  (1)  3.  14, 
20;    Episcopacy  3.  74,  78  (twice),  79  (twice);    Church-gov. 
(1.  Pref.)  3.  96;     Hirelings  5.368,  376;    1   Defens.   (4)   6.   90. 
(See  also  Daphne.) 

A  city  of  Syria  on  the  River  Orontes,  about  twenty  miles  from 
the  Mediterranean.  It  was  a  very  early  centre  of  Christianity 
(Acts  11),  and  its  bishops  had  jurisdiction  over  the  churches  of 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  Roman  Empire.  The  city  was  the 
capital  of  the  Seleucids,  and  was  made  magnificent  by  them. 
Livy  says  that  Antiochus  Epiphanes  built  at  Antioch  a  temple 
which  had  a  ceiling  of  fretted  gold,  and  all  the  walls  of  which 
were  covered  with  plates  of  gold.  (41.  20.)  He  went  beyond 
all  his  predecessors  in  the  splendor  of  the  entertainments  of  all 
sorts  which  he  provided,  and  introduced  gladiatorial  combats 
after  the  Roman  fashion,  which  were  at  first  a  terror  to  the  citi 
zens.  Justinian  rebuilt  the  city,  after  its  destruction  by  an 
earthquake,  under  the  name  of  Theopolis. 

2.  Antioch.     Hirelings  5.  369. 

A  city  of  Asia  Minor,  on  the  confines  of  Pisidia.  (Acts  13. 
14-52.) 

Antona.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  51. 

A  name,  of  doubtful  meaning,  occurring  in  Tacitus,  Annals 
12.31,  to  which  Milton  refers. 

Aonian  Mount  (Helicon).     Marchioness  56;   Eleg.  4.  29;    6.  17; 

Procancel.  32;   Ad  Patrem  75;   P.  L.  1.  15;   6  Prolus.  7.  444. 

(See  also  Aracynthus,  Cirrha,  Dirce.) 

Aonia  is  the  name  of  a  plain  in  Bceotia  (Strabo  9.  2.  31),  from 
which  the  whole  country  came  to  be  called  Aonia  by  the  poets. 
For  example,  Ovid  speaks  of  "Aonian  Thebes."  (Met.  7.  763.) 
Hence,  Mount  Helicon,  in  Boeotia,  was  called  the  "Aonian  peak." 
(Virgil,  Georg.  3.  11.)  Helicon  is  a  range,  with  several  summits 
(note  the  plural  in  Eleg.  6.  17),  not  far  from  Parnassus.  Strabo 
describes  it  as  covered  with  snow,  and  rocky.  (9.  2.  25.)  It 
was  a  haunt  of  the  Muses,  who  were  sometimes  called  Aonides. 
(Ovid,  Met.  5.  333.)  Orgiastic  worship  was  celebrated  on  the 
mountain. 


26  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Milton  thinks  of  the  universities  of  England  as  haunts  of  the 
Muses.  Cambridge  he  calls  Helicon  (6  Prolus.  7.  444),  and  at 
Oxford  he  puts  the  fountain  of  the  Aonides  (Ad  Rous.  21),  a 
spring  on  Mount  Helicon. 

Aonidum  Fontes.     See  Aonian  Mount. 

Apeltre.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  207. 
Appledore,  on  the  coast  of  Kent. 

Apenninus   (Appenninus).     Quint.    Nov.   50;     P.   R.   4.    29;    2 

Defens.  6.  289. 

Milton  crossed  the  Apennines  on  his  way  north  from  Florence 
in  1639.  His  route  may  have  been  by  the  pass  of  Futa,  or  Pie- 
tramala,  3002  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  on  the  direct  road 
from  Florence  to  Bologna. 

Aphrodisia.     Apology  3.  267. 

An  imaginary  region  described  in  the  Mundus  Alter  et  Idem 
(2.  5)  of  Bishop  Hall. 

Appenninus.     See  Apenninus. 

Appian  Road.     P.  R.  4.  68. 

A  great  Roman  road  running  from  Rome  southward  to  Brun- 
disium,  where,  according  toStrabo,  travelers  from  the  East  were 
accustomed  to  land.  (6.  3.  7.) 

Appledore.    See  Apeltre. 

Apulia.     Commonplace  189. 
The  southeastern  part  of  Italy. 

Aquaria.     Lit.  Rich.  (8)  7.  339. 

Yvorie,  a  village  in  France,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Geneva. 

Aquitain  (Aquitania).     Hist.   Brit.   (1)   5.    11,   12;    (5)   5.   227; 

Commonplace  185. 

The  part  of  southwestern  France  between  the  Loire  and  the 
Garonne. 

Aquitania.     See  Aquitain. 

Arabia  (Araby).  Eleg.  4.  99;  5.  59;  Damon.  186;  P.  L.  3.  537; 
4.  163;  P.  R.  2.  364;  3.  274;  Samson  1700;  Episcopacy  3.  85; 
Apology  (11)  3.  314;  Eikonocl.  (17)  3.  464.  (See  also  Sabean.) 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  27 

Purchas,  depending  on  Pliny  and  Strabo,  divides  Arabia  into 
three  parts :  "The  name  Foelix,  or  Happy,  is  given  to  the  Southerly 
parts  of  Arabia,  for  the  fertilttie  thereof,  the  name  Petrsea  to  a 
second  part.  .  .  .  The  Desart  Arabia  hath  a  name  answerable  to 
the  nature  thereof."  (Pilgrimage,  p.  256.)  When  Milton  writes 
of  Arabian  or  "Sabean  Odours"  he  refers  to  a  characteristic  of 
the  country  well  known  in  antiquity.  Pliny  thus  explains  it: 
"There  is  no  region  in  the  whole  world  that  bringeth  forth 
Frankincense,  but  Arabia,  and  yet  it  is  not  to  be  found  in  all 
parts  thereof,  but  in  that  quarter  onely  of  the  Atramites.  Now 
these  Atramites  inhabite  the  very  heart  of  Arabia,  and  are  a 
countie  of  the  Sabsei.  Saba  is  the  only  countrey  that  yeldeth 
such  plentie  of  the  said  incense.  ...  As  for  Saba,  which  in  the 
Greeke  tongue  signifieth  a  secret  mysterie,  it  regardeth  the  Sunne 
rising  in  Summer,  or  the  Northeast;  enclosed  on  every  side 
with  rockes  inaccessible,  and  on  the  right  hand  it  is  defended  with 
high  cliffes  and  crags  that  beare  into  the  sea.  .  .  .  The  forests 
that  carie  these  Incense  trees  lie  in  length  twenty  Schcenes,  and 
beare  in  bredth  half  as  much.  .  .  .  Setting  this  people  of  the 
Sabeans  aside,  there  be  no  Arabians  that  see  an  Incense  Tree 
from  one  end  of  the  yeare  to  another.  .  .  .  The  common  voice 
is  that  there  bee  not  above  three  thousand  families  which  can 
claime  and  challenge  by  right  of  succession  that  priviledge  to 
gather  Incense.  And  therefore  the  race  of  them  is  called  Sacred 
and  Holy.  .  .  .  By  which  religion,  and  ceremonious  observation 
the  price  is  raised  and  the  Incense  is  the  dearer."  (12.  14.) 
P.  L.  4.  159-65  was  apparently  suggested  by  the  following  in 
Diodorus:  "The  Sabeans  possess  Arabia  the  Happy,  exceeding 
rich  in  all  those  things  which  we  esteem  most  precious,  and  for 
breeding  of  cattle  of  all  sorts  the  most  fertile  country  in  the 
world,  for  the  whole  country  is  naturally  perfumed  all  over, 
every  thing  almost  growing  there  sending  forth  continually  most 
excellent  odors.  On  the  seacoasts  grow  balsam  and  cassia,  and 
another  herb  of  a  strange  and  peculiar  property,  which  while 
it  is  fresh  is  delightful  and  strengthening  to  the  eyes,  but  kept  a 
while,  presently  loses  its  virtue.  Higher  in  the  heart  of  the 
country  are  shady  woods  and  forests,  graced  and  beautified  with 
stately  trees  of  frankincense  and  myrrh,  palm-trees,  calamus,  and 
cinnamon,  and  such  like  odoriferous  plants,  for  none  can  enumer 
ate  the  several  natures  and  properties  of  so  great  a  multitude,  or 


28  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

the  excellency  of  those  sweet  odors  that  breathe  out  of  every 
one  of  them.  For  their  fragrancy  is  such  that  it  even  ravishes 
the  senses  with  delight,  as  a  thing  divine  and  unutterable;  it 
entertains  them  that  sail  along  by  the  coast  at  a  great  distance 
with  its  pleasures  and  delights.  For  in  spring-time  the  winds 
from  off  the  land  waft  the  air,  perfumed  with  the  sweet  odors 
of  myrrh  and  other  odoriferous  plants  to  those  parts  of  the  sea 
that  are  next  to  them.  And  those  spices  have  nothing  of  a 
faint  and  languishing  smell,  as  those  that  come  to  our  hands,  but 
a  strong  and  vigorous  odor  that  strongly  pierces  all  their  senses 
to  the  utmost  of  their  capacity,  for  the  wafts  of  air  dispersing 
the  perfumes  of  these  odoriferous  plants,  abundance  of  pleasant, 
healthful,  and  strange  variety  of  scents,  proceeding  from  the 
richest  spices,  are  conveyed  unto  them  that  sail  near  unto  the 
coast.  For  this  sweet  smell  comes  not  from  fruit  bruised  in  a 
mortar,  whose  strength  is  in  a  great  measure  decayed,  or  from 
spices  made  up  in  divers  sorts  of  vessels  for  transportation,  but 
from  the  ripeness  of  the  fruit,  as  it  grows,  and  from  the  pure 
divine  nature  of  the  plant  itself.  So  that  they  that  have  the 
advantage  of  those  sweet  odors  seem  as  if  they  were  entertained 
with  that  feigned  meat  of  the  gods  called  Ambrosia,  since  those 
excellent  perfumes  cannot  have  a  name  ascribed  them  transcend 
ing  their  worth  and  dignity."  (3.  45.) 

Among  the  balm  trees  of  Arabia  lives  the  Phcenix  (Damon.  186; 
P.  L.  5.  272;  Samson  1700),  described  thus  by  Pliny:  "The 
Phcenix  of  Arabia  passeth  all  others.  Howbeit,  I  cannot  tell 
what  to  make  of  him,  and  first  of  all  whether  it  be  a  tale  or  no 
that  there  is  never  but  one  of  them  in  the  whole  world,  and  the 
same  not  commonly  seen.  By  report  he  is  as  big  as  an  Eagle, 
for  colour,  as  yellow  and  bright  as  gold,  namely  all  about  the 
neck;  the  rest  of  the  bodie  a  deepe  red  purple;  the  taile  azure 
blew,  intermingled  with  feathers  among  of  rose  carnation  colour; 
and  the  head  bravely  adorned  with  a  crest  and  pennache  finely 
wrought,  having  a  tuft  and  plume  thereon  right  faire  and  goodly 
to  be  scene.  .  .  .  Never  man  was  known  to  see  him  feeding. 
In  Arabia  he  is  held  a  sacred  bird,  dedicated  unto  the  Sunne. 
He  liveth  660  years,  and  when  he  groweth  old,  and  begins  to 
decay,  he  builds  himselfe  a  nest  with  the  twigs  and  branches  of 
the  Canell  or  Cinamon,  and  Frankincense  trees,  and  when  he 
hath  filled  it  with  all  sort  of  sweet  Aromaticall  spices,  yeeldeth 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  29 

up  his  life  thereupon.  Moreover,  of  his  bones  and  marrow  there 
breedeth  at  first  as  it  were  a  little  worme,  which  afterwards 
proveth  to  bee  apretie  bird.  And  the  first  thing  that  this  yong 
Phoenix  doth  is  to  performe  the  obsequies  of  the  former  Phoenix 
late  deceased,  to  translate  and  carie  away  his  whole  nest  into 
the  citie  of  the  Sunne  neere  Panchsea,  and  to  bestow  it  full 
devoutly  there  upon  the  altar."  (10.  2.)  See  also  Thebes, 
Egyptian. 

Araby.     See  Arabia. 

Arachosia.     P.  R.  3.  316. 

A  region  west  of  the  Indus  River,  comprising  part  of  the 
modern  Beluchistan.  See  Strabo  11.  10.  1.  Arachosia,  indicat 
ing  the  eastern  boundary  of  Parthia,  corresponds  to  "Indus 
East"  (P.  R.  3.  272)  in  the  description  of  Assyria. 

Aracynthus.     Quint.  Nov.  65. 

A  mountain  on  the  boundary  of  Attica  and  Boeotia. 

Araxes.     P.  R.  3.  271. 

A  river  of  Armenia  which  rises  near  Erzerum  and  flows  east 
into  the  Caspian.  Mela  describes  it  as  here  flowing  silently  and 
placidly,  and  there  rushing  over  the  rocks  in  rapids  and  cataracts. 
(3.  5.)  Virgil  refers  to  the  force  of  the  river  in  the  words, 
"Araxes  that  spurns  a  bridge"  (sEneid  8.  728),  which  occur  in  a 
historical  and  geographical  passage  like  that  of  Milton. 

Arcadia.     Arcades  28,  95;   Comus  341;   P.  L.  11.  132. 

A  region  of  central  Peloponnesus.  Milton's  references  are 
usually  to  the  conventional  Arcadia  of  pastoral  literature. 

Archangel  (Arkania).     Moscovia  (1)  8.  472,  473;  Lit.  Senat.  (22) 

7.  207. 

A  seaport  of  northern  Russia,  on  the  east  shore  of  the  River 
Dwina,  near  the  White  Sea,  where  there  was  a  house  for  the 
convenience  of  English  merchants.  It  was  named  after  the 
monastery  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel  situated  there.  When 
Milton  refers  to  it  as  northeast  of  Saint  Nicholas,  he  is  following 
Jenkinson's  map  of  Russia.  (Ortelius,  p.  99.)  In  reality  the  place 
is  not,  as  Jenkinson  indicates,  close  to  the  sea,  but  at  the  head 
of  the  estuary  of  the  Dwina,  and  hence  east  of  Saint  Nicholas. 


30  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Arkania  is,  as  Milton  suggests,  evidently  identical  with  Arch 
angel.     He  took  the  name  from  Pilgrimes  3.  546. 

Archenfield.     See  Irchenfield. 

Arenne.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  259. 

Probably  a  misprint  for  Arewe,  a  river  in  Suffolk  now  called 
Orwell. 

Arethuse.     Arcades  31;  Lycidas  85.     (See  also  Alpheus.) 

A  fountain  on  the  island  of  Ortygia,  part  of  the  city  of  Syracuse, 
described  by  Cicero  as  a  "fountain  of  fresh  water,  of  incredible 
magnitude."  (Verr.  4.  118.) 

Arewe.     See  Arenne. 

Arezzo.     Areopag.  4.  413. 

A  city  of  Valdarno,  Italy,  mentioned  by  Milton  as  the  birth 
place  of  the  satirist  Pietro  Aretino. 

Argentina.     See  Strasburgh. 
Argiers.     See  Algiers. 

Argob.     P.  L.  1.  398.     (See  also  Basan.) 

A  region  in  Bashan  not  surely  identified,  described  in  Deute 
ronomy  3.  4-5  as  part  of  the  kingdom  of  Og.  Fuller  represents 
Argob  as  near  the  Jordan,  some  distance  north  of  the  Sea  of 
Galilee.  (P.  91,  map.) 

Argos.     Eikonocl.  (28)  3.  522;   Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  4;   1  Defens.  (4) 
6.  75. 
An  ancient  city  of  Argolis,  Greece. 

Arimaspian.     P.  L.  2.  945.     (See  also  Cronian  Sea.) 

One  of  a  mythical  race  dwelling  in  Scythia,  toward  the 
north.  They  are  sometimes  placed  near  the  Volga.  Milton 
refers  to  the  story  that  the  Arimaspians  purloin  the  gold  guarded 
in  the  mountains  by  the  griphons.  See  Herodotus  3.  116;  4.  13, 
27;  Pliny  7.  2. 

Arimathea.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  75. 

A  city  of  Palestine  in  the  hill  country  of  Ephraim.     (Matthew 

27.  57.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  31 

Ariminium.     Reformation  (1)  3.  14;    Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  85;   Hire 
lings  5.  376. 
Rimini,  a  city  of  Emilia,  Italy,  near  the  Adriatic.     A  council 

was  held  there  in  359.     Milton  indicates  as  his  source  Sulpicius 

Severus,  Church  History  2.  41. 

Arkania.     See  Archangel. 
Arkiko.     See  Ercoco. 

Aries.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  91,  92;    (3)  5.  115;   (4)  5.  140. 

A  city  of  France  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Rhone,  near  its  mouth. 

Armagh.     Episcopacy  3.   72;    Church-gov.   (1.  3)  3.   107,   108; 

(1.5)  3.  117. 

A  city  of  Ulster,  Ireland,  seat  of  an  Anglican  archbishop, 
Primate  of  Ireland. 

Armorica  (Britain  in  France).     Damon.  165;  P.  L.  1.  581;  Hist. 

Brit.  (2)  5.  30,  81,  89;  (3)  5.  115  (twice). 

That  part  of  France  between  the  Loire,  the  Seine,  and  the 
Ocean. 

Arno  (Arnus).     Damon.  129;    Sonnet  3.  10;   Epist.  Fam.  (8)  7. 

380.     (See  also  Valdarno.) 

A  river  of  Tuscany.  The  chief  cities  on  it  are  Pisa  and 
Florence.  When  Milton  went  from  Pisa  to  Florence  he  perhaps 
took  a  boat  on  the  river,  which  is  usually  navigable. 

Arnon.     P.  L.  1.  399.     (See  also  Seon's  Realm,  Moab.) 

A  river  flowing  westward  into  the  central  part  of  the  Dead 
Sea.  It  is  represented  in  Numbers  21.  13  as  the  northern 
boundary  of  Moab.  The  Moabites  had  formerly  occupied  land 
north  of  it,  but  had  been  driven  out  by  Sihon  (Numbers  21.  24). 
According  to  recent  geography,  the  river  is  so  far  away  from  the 
country  of  the  Ammonites  that  it  is  impossible  to  see  why  Milton 
made  it  one  of  their  limits.  But  according  to  the  maps  of  his 
time  the  passage  is  clear,  for  they  represent  Arnon  as  rising  near 
"Rabba"  (q.  v.),  and  flowing  southwest  into  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  Dead  Sea,  apparently  by  confusion  with  other  streams. 
Fuller  writes:  "The  rivers  of  Arnon  and  Jabbok,  though  running 
contrary  ways,  arise  not  far  asunder,  according  to  the  exact 
observation  of  Josephus,  who  saith  that  the  land  of  Sihon,  king 
of  the  Amorites,  lay  in  nature  and  fashion  like  an  island,  betwixt 


32  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

the  three  rivers  of  Jordan,  Arnon,  and  Jabbok,  so  near  are  the 
fountains  of  the  latter  together.  .  .  .  Arnon  is  notoriously  known 
to  be  the  eastern  bound  of  Canaan."  (Pp.  77,  574.)  Hence 
Milton  may  properly  have  thought  of  the  Arnon  as  the  western 
boundary  of  the  southern  part  of  the  country  of  the  Ammonites. 

Arnus.     See  Arno. 

Aroer.     P.  L.  1.  407.     (See  also  Arnon.) 

A  city  of  Palestine,  now  ruined,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  River 
Arnon.  It  was  taken  from  the  Amorites  by  the  children  of 
Israel  (Deuteronomy  2.  36),  but  had  formerly  belonged  to  Moab 
(cf.  Jeremiah  48.  19).  There  is  another,  less  famous  Aroer 
(Joshua  13.  25;  Judges  11.  33),  apparently  situated  not  far  from 
Rabba  (q.  z>.).  In  Milton's  time  the  two  were  considered  as  one, 
which  was  placed  near  Rabba,  but  still  on  the  Arnon,  which  was 
mistakenly  supposed  to  rise  near  Rabba.  Hence  Milton,  whose 
reference  properly  indicates  the  more  famous  Aroer,  supposed 
it  to  lie  far  northeast  of  its  true  site,  and  thought  that  in  writing 
Aroer,  Nebo,  and  Abarim  in  succession  he  was  passing  from  north 
to  south,  when  as  a  matter  of  fact  Aroer  is  south  of  Nebo. 

Arras.     Eikonocl.  (21)  3.  483;   Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  31,  34,  43. 
The  capital  of  the  department  of  Pas-de-Calais,  France. 

Artaxata.     P.  R.  3.  292. 

The  ancient  capital  of  Armenia,  on  the  River  Araxes.  In  his 
Life  of  Lucullus  Plutarch  thus  tells  of  the  origin  of  the  city: 
"Lucullus  rose  up  and  marched  to  Artaxata,  the  royal  city  of 
Tigranes,  where  his  wives  and  young  children  were  kept,  judging 
that  Tigranes  would  never  suffer  that  to  go  without  the  hazard 
of  a  battle.  It  is  related  that  Hannibal  the  Carthaginian,  after 
the  defeat  of  Antiochus  by  the  Romans,  coming  to  Artaxas 
king  of  Armenia,  pointed  out  to  him  many  other  matters  to  his 
advantage,  and  observing  the  great  natural  capacities  and  the 
pleasantness  of  the  site,  then  lying  unoccupied  and  neglected, 
drew  a  model  of  a  city  for  it,  and  bringing  Artaxas  thither, 
showed  it  to  him,  and  encouraged  him  to  build.  At  which  the 
king  being  pleased,  and  desiring  him  to  oversee  the  work,  erected 
a  large  and  stately  city,  which  was  called  after  his  own  name 
and  made  metropolis  of  Armenia."  (3.  268.) 

Arundel.     Commonplace  178. 
An  earldom  in  Sussex. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL    DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON  33 

Arzina.     Moscovta  (5)  8.  504. 

Warzina,  a  river  of  the  peninsula  of  Cola,  Lapland.  Milton 
refers  in  a  note  to  Hakluyt:  "The  other  two  shippes  attempt 
ing  further  Northwards,  as  appeared  by  pamphlets  found  after 
written  by  Sir  Hugh  Willoughbie,  were  in  September  encountred 
with  such  extreame  colde  that  they  put  back  to  seeke  a  wintring 
place,  and  missing  the  said  baye  fell  upon  a  desert  coast  in  Lappia, 
entring  into  a  River  immediately  frozen  up,  since  discovered, 
named  Arzina  Reca,  .  .  .  from  which  they  never  returned,  but 
all  to  the  number  of  70  persons  perished."  (Hak.  1.  464.) 

Ascalon  (Askalon).     P.  L.  1.  465;  Samson  138,  1187;  Animadv. 

(16.  148)  3.  241  (4  times). 

One  of  the  five  cities  of  the  Philistines,  on  the  shore  of  the 
Mediterranean.  See  Judges  14.  19;  2  Samuel  1.  20. 

Ashdod  (Azotus).     P.  L.  1.  464;  Samson  981. 

In  the  Vulgate  Azotus.  One  of  the  five  cities  of  the  Philistines, 
near  the  Mediterranean,  about  half-way  between  Gaza  and 
Joppa.  It  was  a  centre  of  the  worship  of  Dagon.  (1  Samuel 
5.  1-7;  1  Maccabees  10.  83-4.) 

1.  Ashdown  (Ashdune,  Escesdunc,  Eskesdun).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5. 
161;  (5)  5.  201,  247. 

An  unidentified  battlefield  in  Berkshire,  England. 

2.  Ashdown  (Assandune,  Assehill,  Assendune).     Hist.  Brit.  (6) 
5.  260,  264. 

Ashington,  Essex.  Camden,  to  whom  Milton  refers  in  a  note, 
speaks  of  "Ashdown,  formerly  Assandon,  which  Marianus  trans 
lates  the  Mount  of  Asses."  (2.  42.) 

Ashdune.     See  1.  Ashdown. 

Asia  (Asis).     Quint.  Nov.  170;  P.  L.  10.  310;  P.  R.  3.  33;  4.  73; 

Reformation  (1)  3.  18  (twice),  27;  Episcopacy  3.  79;  Animadv. 

(13.  76)   3.  226;    Eikonocl.   (27)   3.  507;    Education  4.  390; 

Areopag.  4.  421,;  Kings  &  Mag.  4.  459;  Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  110; 

Hirelings  5.  371;   1  Defens.  (2)  6.  31;   8  Prolus.  7.  464;   Decl. 

Poland  8.  463,  464. 

Usually  the  continent  of  Asia,  but  sometimes  the  Roman 
province  of  that  name  in  Asia  Minor. 

Asis.     See  Asia. 


34  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Askalon.     See  Ascalon. 

Asopus.     Quint.  Nov.  66. 

A    river  of    Boeotia,  having  some  of  its   sources   in   Mount 

Cithaeron,  and  flowing  into  the  Euripus. 

\ 
Asphaltic  Pool  (Asphaltis,  Bituminous  Lake,  Dead  Sea).     P.  L. 

1.411;   10.562;   Church-gov.  (2)  3.  183;  Eikonocl.  (24)  3.  492. 

(See  also  Sodom.) 

The  Dead  Sea,  the  body  of  water  into  which  the  River  Jordan 
empties,  without  an  outlet  and  1300  feet  below  the  level  of  the 
Mediterranean.  It  was  called  Lake  Asphaltis  because  of  the 
masses  of  asphalt  or  bitumen  now  and  in  ancient  times  found 
floating  in  it.  The  following  is  the  description  of  Josephus: 
"It  is  ...  bitter  and  unfruitful,  and  so  light  that  it  bears 
up  the  heaviest  things  that  are  thrown  into  it,  nor  is  it  easy  for 
any  one  to  make  things  sink  to  the  bottom  of  it,  if  he  tries  to  do  so. 
For  example,  when  Vespasian  went  to  see  it,  he  commanded 
that  some  who  could  not  swim  should  have  their  hands  tied 
behind  them,  and  be  thrown  into  its  depths,  when  it  happened 
that  they  all  floated  on  the  top  as  if  a  wind  forced  them  upwards. 
Moreover,  the  change  of  color  in  this  lake  is  wonderful,  for  it 
changes  its  appearance  thrice  every  day,  and  its  light  is  variously 
reflected  according  to  the  rays  of  the  sun.  And  it  casts  up  black 
clods  of  bitumen  in  many  parts  of  it,  which  float  on  the  top  of 
the  water,  and  resemble  both  in  shape  and  size  headless  bulls. 
And  when  the  laborers  that  belong  to  the  lake  come  on  it,  and 
catch  hold  of  it  as  it  is  in  a  composite  mass,  they  drag  it  into 
their  boats;  but  when  the  boats  are  full  it  is  not  easy  to  detach 
it,  for  it  is  so  tenacious  as  to  make  the  boat  adhere  to  its  mass. 
.  .  .  This  bitumen  is  not  only  useful  for  the  calking  of  ships, 
but  also  for  the  cure  of  men's  bodies,  so  it  is  mixed  in  a  great 
many  medicines.  The  length  of  this  lake  is  five  hundred  and 
eighty  furlongs,  as  it  extends  as  far  as  Zoar  in  Arabia,  and  its 
breadth  is  a  hundred  and  fifty.  The  country  of  Sodom  borders 
upon  it,  which  was  of  old  a  happy  land,  both  for  the  fruits  it 
bore  and  the  riches  of  its  cities,  although  it  is  now  all  burnt  up. 
They  say  that  it  was  burnt  by  lightning  for  the  impiety  of 
its  inhabitants.  And  there  are  still  vestiges  of  that  divine 
fire,  and  the  traces  of  five  cities  are  still  to  be  seen,  as 
also  ashes  growing  on  the  fruits,  which  fruits  look  as  if  they 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL    DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON  35 

were  fit  to  eat,  but  if  people  pluck  them  with  their  hands,  they 
dissolve  into  smoke  and  ashes.  And  thus  what  is  related  about 
the  land  of  Sodom  is  borne  out  by  our  eye-sight."  (Jewish  War 
4.  8.  4.)  Josephus  obviously  depends  on  Genesis  19.  23-5. 
Strabo  gives  a  vivid  account  of  the  destruction  of  the  cities  by 
earthquake,  fire,  and  deluge.  (16.  2.  44.)  The  belief  that  the 
Dead  Sea  covers  the  sites  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  is  a  common 
one.  For  example,  Adrichomius,  on  his  maps  of  the  Dead  Sea 
(p.  38,  etc.)  shows  the  cities  in  the  midst  of  the  lake.  Milton 
alludes  to  it  in  Church-gov.  and  in  P.  L.  10.562.  The  apples  of 
Sodom  are  spoken  of  by  a  recent  traveler  in  the  following  manner : 
"Here  and  elsewhere  abounds  the  apple  of  Sodom,  described  by 
Josephus.  It  has  the  appearance  of  a  beautiful  fruit,  but 
collapses  and  contains  nothing  but  a  little  smoke-like  dust  and 
some  smoke-like  fibre."  (Geog.  Journal  39.  1.  39.)  With  P.  L. 
10.  547-70  and  Eikonocl.  (24)  3.  492,  compare  Phineas  Fletcher's 
reference : 

So  Sodom  apples  please  the  ravisht  eye, 

But  sulphure  taste  proclaims  their  root  's  in  hell. 

(Purple  Island  7.  37.) 

Vida  also  tells  of  the  Dead  Sea  and  its  fallacious  fruit.  ( Chrisliad 
2.  374  ff.)  Cf.  Tasso,  Jerusalem  Delivered  10.  60-1. 

Asphaltis.     See  Asphaltic  Pool. 

Aspramont.     P.  L.  1.  583. 

Aspremont,  now  Aspromonte,  a  mountain  in  Reggio  di  Cala 
bria,  Italy,  where,  according  to  Aspremont,  a  popular  chanson  de 
geste  of  the  Middle  Ages,  was  fought  a  battle  between  the  forces 
of  Charlemagne  and  those  of  the  pagan  Agolant.  In  the  battle 
Roland  distinguished  himself,  killing  Helmont,  son  of  Agolant, 
with  a  staff.  Charlemagne  rewarded  him  with  Veillantif,  the 
horse  of  Helmont,  and  Durandal  his  sword.  An  Italian  poem 
entitled  Aspramonte,  dealing  with  the  story,  was  first  printed 
between  1487  and  1490,  and  often  reprinted,  as  late  as  1620. 
(L.  Gautier,  Les  Epopees  Francises  3.  70-94.)  The  victory  of 
Charlemagne  and  the  exploits  of  Orlando  at  Aspramont  are 
mentioned  in  the  Orlando  Furioso  12.  43  and  27.  54,  in  Pulci's 
Morgante  Maggiore  1.  13,  and  in  Boiardo's  Orlando  Innamorato 
2.  11.8.  3-8. 


36  A   GEOGRAPHICAL    DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Aspromonte.     See  Aspramont. 
Assandune.    See  2.  Ashdown. 
Assehill.    See  2.  Ashdown. 
Assendune.     See  2.  Ashdown. 
Asshur.    See  Assyria. 
Associatio.     See  Tortuga. 

Assyria  (Asshur).     Comus  1002;  Ps.  83.  29;  Eleg.  4.  114;  Mansus 

11;    Idea  Platon.  29;   P.  L.  1.  721;   4.  126,  285;   P.  R.  3.  270, 

436;  5  Prolus.  7.  437;   Decl.  Poland  8.  464. 

A  district,  sometimes  in  the  Old  Testament  called  Ashur,  in 

the  upper  part  of  Mesopotamia,  along  the  shores  of  the  Tigris. 

The  chief  city  was  Nineveh.     The  word  is  also  used  in  a  wider 

sense,  as  applied  to  the  whole  Assyrian  Empire.     Strabo  extends 

its  bounds  as  far  as  Cilicia,  Phoenicia,  and  Judea.     In   P.  R. 

3.  270-4  Milton  gives  the  bounds  of  the  Empire.     He  sometimes 

uses  the  word  in  the  sense  of  Phoenician:  in  Comus  1002  he  has 

reference  to  the  story  of  Thammuz,  in  Mansus  he  alludes  to  // 

Adone  of  Marino,  and  in  Idea  Platon.  29  he  probably  indicates 

Sanchoniathon.     A  precedent  for  this  usage  is  found  in  Virgil, 

Georg.  2.  465. 

Assyrian  Flood.  See  Euphrates. 
Assyrian  Garden.  See  Paradise. 
Assyrian  Mount.  See  Niphates. 

Asta.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  89. 

A  city  of  Liguria  on  the  River  Tanarus,  now  called  Asti. 

Astracan.     P.  L.  10.  432;   Moscovia  (1)  8.  471,  475  (twice);   (4) 

8.492;  (5)  8.  512,  518. 

A  city  on  the  River  Volga  not  far  from  the  Caspian  Sea. 
Milton  refers  in  a  note  to  the  following  description  by  Jenkinson: 
"Passing  by  an  old  castle,  which  was  Old  Astracan,  and  leaving 
it  upon  our  right  hand,  we  arrived  at  New  Astracan,  which  this 
Emperour  of  Russia  conquered  sixe  yeeres  past,  in  the  yeere 
1552.  It  is  from  Mosco  unto  Astracan  sixe  hundred  leagues,  or 
thereabout.  The  towne  of  Astracan  is  situated  in  an  Island 
upon  a  hill  side,  having  a  castle  within  the  same,  walled  about 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  37 

with  earth  and  timber,  neither  faire  nor  strong.  The  towne  is 
also  walled  about  with  earth,  the  buildings  and  houses,  except 
it  be  the  captaines  lodging,  and  certaine  other  gentlemens,  most 
base  and  simple.  The  Hand  is  most  destitute  and  barren  of 
wood  and  pasture,  and  the  ground  will  beare  no  corne.  The 
aire  is  there  most  infected,  by  reason,  as  I  suppose,  of  much  fish, 
and  specially  Sturgion,  by  which  onely  the  inhabitants  live, 
having  great  scarsitie  of  flesh  and  bread.  They  hang  up  thier 
fish  in  their  streets  and  houses  to  dry  for  their  provision,  which 
causes  such  abundance  of  flies  to  increase  there,  as  the  like  was 
never  scene  in  any  land,  to  their  great  plague.  And  at  my 
being  at  the  sayd  Astracan,  there  was  a  great  famine  and  plague 
among  the  people.  .  .  .  This  Astracan  is  the  furthest  hold  that 
this  Emperour  of  Russia  hath  conquered  of  the  Tartars  towards 
the  Caspian  Sea,  which  he  keepeth  very  strong,  sending  thither 
every  yere  provision  of  men,  and  victuals,  and  timber  to  build 
the  castle.  .  .  .  This  foresaid  Island  of  Astracan  is  in  length 
twelve  leagues,  and  in  bredth  three,  and  lieth  East  and  West  in 
the  latitude  of  fortie  seven  degrees,  nine  minutes."  (Hak.  1. 
326.)  The  following  passage  is  probably  one  of  the  sources  of 
P.  L.  10.  431-3:  "In  this  towne  of  Astracan  they  were  somwhat 
hindered  of  their  journey,  and  staied  the  space  of  sixe  weekes  by 
reason  of  a  great  army  of  70,000  Turkes  and  Tartars  which  came 
thither  upon  the  instigation  of  the  great  Turke,  hoping  either  to 
have  surprised  it  suddenly  or  by  continuance  of  siege  to  win  the 
same.  But  in  the  end  by  reason  that  the  winter  approached, 
as  also  because  they  had  received  newes  of  a  great  expedition 
which  the  Emperour  of  Russia  was  in  providing  for  the  defence 
of  the  said  place,  they  were  constrained  to  raise  their  siege,  and 
to  leave  the  town  as  they  found  it."  (Hak.  1.  395.)  As  Milton 
suggests  by  his  reference  to  "Snowie  Plaines,"  the  winters  at 
Astracan  are  severe.  For  example  we  read  in  Purchas:  "The 
nineteenth  of  November  the  winde  being  northerly,  there  was  a 
great  frost  and  much  Ice  in  the  River.  The  next  day  ...  the 
Ice  stood  in  the  River,  and  so  continued  untill  Easter  day." 
(Pilgrimes  3.  244.) 

Athelney  (Edelingsey).      Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  205,  206;  MS.  2.  114. 

A  hiding-place  of  King  Alfred,  in  Somersetshire  at  the  conflux 

of  the  Thone  and  the  Parret.     Asser  describes  it  thus:   "This  is 


38  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

a  place  surrounded  by  impassable  fens  and  waters  on  every  hand, 
where  no  one  can  enter  but  by  boats,  or  by  a  bridge  laboriously 
constructed  between  two  fortresses."  (Chap.  92.) 

Athenae.     See  Athens. 

Athens  (Athenae).     Infant  9;  Sonnet  8.  14;   P.  L.  9.  671;   P.  R. 

4.  240;   Church-gov.  (2.  Pref.)  3.  145;  Animadv.  (1.  2)  3.  188; 

Eikonocl.  (28)  3.  522;   Divorce  (2.  11)  4.  90;  Areopag.  4.  398, 

400;    Easy  Way  5.  436,  437,  450;    1  Defens.  (5)  6.  106,  107; 

2  Defens.  6.  310;    Logic  (1.  25)  7.  81  (twice);    (1.  27)  7.  89 

(twice);    Epist.  Fam.    (8)  7.   379,  380;    (12)    7.   388;    (15)  7. 

392;  6  Prolus.  7.  443;  8  Prolus.  7.  464.     (See  also  Attica.) 

Athens  was  to  Milton  the  place  "where  Books  and  Wits  were 

ever  busier  then  in  any  other  part  of  Greece."     (Areopag.  4.  400.) 

In  P.  R.  4.  237-80  are  brought  together  the  aspects  of  Athens 

that   most    interested    him,    with    the    exception    of    the    legal 

(Eikonocl.  (28)  3.  522;    Easy  Way  5.  436-7),  and  the  military 

(Divorce  (2.  11)  4.  90).     The  clear  air  of  Attica  (P.  R.  4.  239)  was 

in  antiquity  often  commented  on.     Euripides  refers  to  it  as 

follows  : 

O  happy  the  race  in  the  ages  olden 

Of  Erechtheus,  .  .  . 

Ever  through  the  air  clear-shining  brightly 

As  on  wings  uplifted  pacing  lightly.     (Medea  824  ff.) 

Plato  puts  in  the  mouth  of  an  aged  Egyptian  priest  this  descrip 
tion:  "She  chose  the  spot  of  earth  in  which  you  were  born, 
because  she  saw  that  the  happy  temperament  of  the  seasons  in 
that  land  would  produce  the  wisest  of  men."  (Timczus  24.) 
Cicero  brings  out  the  effect  of  the  air  suggested  by  Milton :  "The 
air  is  fine  at  Athens,  from  which  cause  the  Athenians  are  thought 
to  be  keener."  (De  Fato  7.)  Milton's  "light  the  soil"  is  a 
translation  from  Thucydides  1.2.  It  is  perhaps  also  influenced  by 
Plato's  Critias  111.  With  "Athens  the  eye  of  Greece"  compare 
the  following:  "Oxford,  which  Cambden  calleth  Our  most  noble 
Athens,  the  Muses  seat,  the  Sun,  the  Eye,  and  the  Soul  of 
England."  (Edward  Phillips,  The  New  .World  of  Words,  ed. 
1671,  s.  v.  Oxford.)  See  also  Cambridge. 

Milton  perhaps  learned  something  of  Athens  and  her  environs 
from  his  friend  Leonard  Philaris,  who  was  in  London  in  1654. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  39 

In  letters  to  him  Milton  expresses  great  admiration  for  the  city. 
(Epist.  Fam.  (12,  15)  7.  388,  392.) 

Athos.     Quint.  Nov.  174. 

A  mountain  at  the  extremity  of  the  easternmost  peninsula  of 
Chalcidice,  said  by  Strabo  to  be  so  high  that  those  on  its  summit 
see  the  sun  rise  three  hours  earlier  than  those  at  its  foot.  (7. 
Frag.  33.) 

1.  Atlantic.     Lycidas  168,  191;    Comus  4-5  (in  the  fifteen  can 
celed  lines  found  at  this  point  in  the  Cambridge  MS.),  97; 
P.  L.  3.  559;  9.  80.     (See  also  Azores.) 

Milton  refers  to  the  Atlantic  in  classical  fashion  as  the  western 
water  in  which  the  setting  sun  seemed  to  disappear.  In  Lycidas 
191  the  "Western  bay"  is  probably  the  Atlantic,  and  the  word 
"bay"  is  used  for  the  sake  of  the  rime.  Compare  the  reference 
to  the  rising  sun  in  Nativity  231. 

2.  Atlantic.     See  Atlas. 

Atlas  (Atlantic).     Idea  Platon.  24;  Ad  Patrem  40;  Mansus  72; 

P.  L.  2.  306;    4.  987;    10.  674;    11.  402;    P.  R.  4.  115;  Epist. 

Fam.  (20)  7.  398. 

A  system  of  mountains  in  northwestern  Africa.  They  are 
often  mentioned  in  the  description  of  the  "Kingdoms  of  Alman- 
sor"  (P.  L.  11.  403)  given  by  Leo  Africanus,  because  those  king 
doms  lay  north  of  Atlas.  Pory,  in  the  Introduction  to  his  trans 
lation  of  Leo,  describes  them  in  the  following  manner:  "Africa 
hath  very  many  and  most  exceeding  great  mountaines,  the 
principall  whereof  is  Mount  Atlas,  whose  tops  of  incredible 
height  rising  out  of  the  midst  of  sandy  desertes,  exalt  themselves 
above  the  cloudes.  This  mountaine  beginneth  westward  at  that 
place  where  it  distinguisheth  the  Ocean  by  the  name  of  Atlan- 
ticus,  from  whence  by  a  perpetual  ridge,  after  many  windings 
and  turnings,  it  extendeth  east  toward  the  confines  of  Egypt. 
Moreover  it  is  in  most  places  rounde,  hard  to  ascend,  craggie, 
steepe,  impassable,  cold,  barren,  shadie,  and  everywhere  full  of 
woods  and  fountaines,  with  clouds  alwaies  hovering  about  the 
tops  thereof,  being  forlorn  and  desolate  toward  the  Ocean,  but 
over  against  Africa  minor  most  fertile."  (P.  16.)  Virgil  thus 
pictures  Atlas  as  it  appeared  to  the  flying  Mercury:  "He  descries 
the  crest  and  steep  sides  of  hardy  Atlas,  who  props  the  heaven 
4 


40  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

on  his  top,  Atlas,  whose  piny  head,  ever  encircled  with  black 
clouds,  is  lashed  by  wind  and  rain;  snow  pours  down  and  covers 
his  shoulders;  besides,  torrents  flow  headlong  down  the  old  man's 
chin,  and  his  beard  is  bristling  and  stiff  with  ice."  (JEneid 
4.  246-51.)  In  Epist.  Fam.  (20)  7.  398  Milton  puns  on  the  name 
Atlas,  meaning  a  book  of  maps.  Sometimes  he  refers  to  the 
giant  Atlas  more  than  to  the  mountain.  The  comparison  of  the 
archetypal  giant  to  Atlas  in  Idea  Platon.  24  suggests  that  of 
Satan  to  Mount  Atlas  in  P.  L.  4.  985-9.  The  words  "Atlantic 
stone"  in  P.  R.  4.  115,  perhaps  mean  "Stone  from  Mount 
Atlas;"  see  Jerram's  note  in  his  edition  of  P.  R. 

Atropatia.     P.  R.  3.  319.     (See  also  Media.) 

Atropatia,  or  Media  Atropatia,  was  the  extreme  northwest 
part  of  Media,  south  of  the  Araxes  River.  (Pliny  6.  13.) 

Attica  (Acteeus).  II  Pens.  124;  Sonnet  17.  10;  Ad  Rous.  60; 
P.  R.  4.  245;  Areopag.  4.  402;  2  Defens.  6.  310;  Pro  Se 
Defens.  6.  374;  Epist.  Fam.  (8)  7.  380;  (12)  7.  388;  6  Prolus. 
7.  444.  (See  also  Athens.) 

Augsburg.     See  1.  Augusta. 

1.  Augusta.     Rami  Vita  7.  184. 

Augsburg  (Latin,  Augusta  Vindelicorum) ,  Bavaria. 

2.  Augusta.     See  London. 

Aulre  (Aldra).  Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  206.  (See  also  Athelney.) 
A  place  near  Athelney.  (Chronicle  878.) 

Auran.     P.  L.  4.  211.     (See  also  Eden.) 

Auranitis  in  Babylonia  on  the  Euphrates,  given,  for  example, 
on  the  map  of  Bochart.  (P.  1.)  Purchas,  following  the  com 
mentator  Franciscus  Junius,  says  that  the  name  Auranitis  or 
Audanitis  is  '*  easily  declined  from  Heden  (Eden)  mentioned  after 
Moses'  time  in  2  Kings  19. 12  and  Isaiah  37.  12."  (Pilgrimage,  p. 
19.)  Annotate rs  sometimes  explain  Milton's  Auran  as  Hauran 
(Vulgate,  Auran)  a  region  of  northeast  Palestine.  This  is,  how 
ever,  improbable,  for  the  desert  intervenes  between  Hauran  and 
Mesopotamia,  and  there  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  Milton 
intended  to  make  Eden  of  so  great  extent.  He  was,  it  may  be 
assumed,  well  aware  of  the  association  of  Auranitis  with  Eden. 

Ausonian  Land.     See  Italy. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  41 

Austria.     Ad  Patrem  94;  Divorce  (2.  2)  4.  61;  Hirelings  5.  385; 
Lit.  Oliv.  (36)  7.  282;    (44)  7.  293.     (See  also  Peru.) 
In  Milton's  time  one  of  the  chief  Roman  Catholic  powers  of 
Europe.     The  unusual   adjective  "Austriacus"  in   Ad    Patrem 
94  refers  to  the  house  of  Austria,  the  reigning  family  in  Spain 
in  Milton's  day.     South  America,  mentioned  in  the  context  as 
"Peruana  regna,"  was  its  chief  source  of  treasure. 

Auxerre.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  105. 

A  town  of  France  on  the  River  Yonne,  a  tributary  of  the 
Seine. 

Aven.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  123.     (See  also  Kerdicsford.) 

The  East  Avon,  a  river  of  Wilts  and  Hants  which  flows  into 
the  English  Channel. 

Aventinus.     Quint.  Nov.  109. 

The  most  southern  of  the  seven  hills  on  which  Rome  is  built. 

Avernus.     Eleg.  2.  17;   7  Prolus.  7.  450. 

A  lake  in  Campania,  not  far  from  Naples.  It  was  anciently 
believed  to  be  the  entrance  of  the  infernal  regions.  Milton 
undoubtedly  visited  it  when  in  Italy. 

1.  Avon    (Afene).     Hist.   Brit.    (4)    5.    157;    (5)    5.    216.      (See 
also  2.  Avon. 

A  river  of  England  rising  in  Northamptonshire  and  flowing  into 
the  Severn.  It  is  the  longest  of  the  English  rivers  of  the  name. 

2.  Avon.     Vacat.   Ex.   97;    Hist.   Brit.    (4)    5.    157.     (See  also 
Bradford.) 

The  Bristol  Avon,  a  river  of  Wilts  and  Somerset  emptying 
into  the  Bristol  Channel.  Keightley  thinks  it,  rather  than  the 
Avon  of  the  preceding  article,  the  Avon  of  Vacat.  Ex.  97,  and 
refers  to  the  following: 

But  Avon  marched  in  more  stately  path, 
Proud  of  his  Adamants,  with  which  he  shines 
And  glisters  wide.     (F.  Q.  4.  11.  31.) 

3.  Avon.     See  Aven. 
Aylesbury.     See  Eglesburn. 


42  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Azores.     P.  L.  4.  592.     (See  also  Atlantic.) 

A  group  of  islands  in  the  Atlantic,  eight  hundred  miles  west 
of  Portugal.  They  were  made  prominent  in  English  history  by 
the  "  Island  Voyage,"  an  expedition  undertaken  by  the  Earl  of 
Essex  in  1597.  (Pilgrimes  4.  1935.)  Milton  uses  them  as  a  figure 
for  the  extreme  west,  where  the  sun  sets.  Compare  a  similar  use 
of  the  Cape  Verde  Islands  in  P.  L.  8.  631,  and  of  the  "Ocean 
lies,"  which  may  be  the  Azores,  in  P.  L.  4.  354.  Cf.  Comus  97, 
which  is  an  obvious  imitation  of  the  classics,  not  modified  by  a 
knowledge  of  modern  geography,  as  are  the  passages  in  P.  L. 

Azotus.     See  Ashdod. 
Azza.     See  Gaza. 

Babel.     See  Babylon. 

Babylon  (Babel).     Sonnet  15.  14;   Ps.  87.  13;   Quint.  Nov.  156; 

P.  L.  1.  694,  717;   3.  466,  468;   12.  44,  51,  73,  343,  348;   P.  R. 

3.  280;  4.  336;   Reformation  (1)  3.  6;    (2)  3.  49;   Church-gov. 

(2.  Conclus.)  3.  176;    Animadv.  (14.  139)  3.  23,9;    Eikonocl. 

(28)  3.  518,  527  (4  times);    Divorce  (1.  13)  4.  53;    Tetrach. 

(Deut.  24.  1,  2)  4.  185;  Education  4.  381 ;  True  Relig.  5.  412; 

Easy  Way  5.  426;    1  Defens.  (2)  6.  36  (twice);    (4)  6.  83;    2 

Defens.  6.  258;   Logic  (1.  24)  7.  78. 

An  ancient  city  on  the  Euphrates.  The  direct  references  of 
Milton  to  Babylon  are  all  dependent  on  the  Bible.  He  identifies 
the  Tower  of  Babel  with  Babylon,  e.  g.,  in  P.  L.  12.  343,  which 
refers  to  the  narrative  in  P.  L.  12.  38-47,  partly  founded  on 
Genesis  11.  1-9.  On  the  authority  of  Genesis  10.  10  Milton 
makes  Nimrod  the  builder  of  the  Tower,  and  hence  the  founder 
of  Babylon.  In  making  him  the  builder  of  the  Tower,  Milton 
follows  the  common  opinion  of  the  Middle  Ages,  recorded  thus 
by  Dante:  "I  saw  Nimrod  at  the  foot  of  his  great  toil,  as  though 
bewildered,  and  the  nations  looking  on  who  were  proud  with 
him  inShinar."  (Purgatory  12.  34-7.)  Modern  travelers  whose 
narratives  were  accessible  to  Milton  believed  that  they  saw  the 
ruins  of  the  Tower  of  Babylon ;  for  example  we  read  in  Purchas 
the  following:  "  In  this  place  stood  the  olde  mighty  city  of  Baby 
lon,  many  olde  ruines  whereof  are  easily  to  be  seene  by  day-light, 
which  I  John  Eldred  have  often  beheld  at  my  good  leasure.  .  .  . 
Here  also  are  yet  standing  the  ruines  of  the  olde  tower  of  Babel, 
which  being  upon  a  plaine  ground  seemeth  a  farre  off  very  great, 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  43 

but  the  nerer  you  come  to  it,  the  lesser  and  lesser  it  appeareth. 
Sundry  times  I  have  gone  thither  to  see  it,  and  found  the  rem 
nants  yet  standing  above  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  compasse,  and 
almost  as  high  as  the  stoneworke  of  Pauls  steeple  in  London, 
but  it  sheweth  much  bigger.  The  bricks  remaining  in  this  most 
ancient  monument  be  halfe  a  yard  thicke,  and  three  quarters  of 
a  yard  long,  being  dried  in  the  Sunne  onely,  and  betweene  every 
course  of  bricks  there  lieth  a  course  of  mattes  made  of  canes, 
which  remaine  sound  and  not  perished,  as  though  they  had  bene 
layed  within  one  yeere"  (Hak.  2.  269).  Many  opinions  of  con 
temporary  scholars  on  Babylon  and  the  Tower  of  Babel  are  given 
by  Bochart  (pp.  27-72).  Milton  sometimes  disagrees  with  him. 
For  example,  Bochart  supposes  that  the  builders  of  Babel  came 
from  Mount  Ararat,  while  Milton  says  that  they  came  from  Eden 
(P.  L.  12.  40),  a  statement  for  which  no  source  has  been  found. 

P.  L.  12.  41-3,  telling  of  the  lake  of  asphalt  near  Babylon, 
and  of  its  use  in  building  (cf.  P.  L.  10.  298),  depends  first  on 
Genesis  11.  3,  yet  there  are  later  possible  sources.  Servius,  for 
instance,  gives  the  following:  "Bitumen  is  said  to  be  produced 
from  the  thunderbolt,  for  which  reason  near  Babylon,  where 
thunderbolts  often  fall,  a  lake  of  it  overflows  to  such  a  degree 
that  they  build  walls  of  it."  (On  Eclogues  8.82.)  A  traveler  at 
the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century  thus  describes  what  he  saw: 
"By  the  river  Euphrates  two  dayes  journey  from  Babylon  at  a 
place  called  Ait,  in  a  field  neere  unto  it,  is  a  strange  thing  to 
see:  a  mouth  that  doth  continually  throwe  foorth  against  the 
ayre  boyling  pitch  with  a  filthy  smoke,  which  pitch  doth  runne 
abroad  into  a  great  field  which  is  alwayes  full  thereof.  The 
Moores  say  that  it  is  the  mouth  of  hell.  By  reason  of  the  great 
quantitie  of  it,  the  men  of  that  country  doe  pitch  their  boats 
two  or  three  inches  thicke  on  the  outside,  so  that  no  water  doth 
enter  into  them."  (Hak.  2.  251.)  Marlowe  refers  several 
times  to  the  lake  of  asphalt  in  2  Tamburlaine  (e.  g.,  4129),  but 
apparently  confuses  it  with  the  Dead  Sea  (see  Asphaltic  Pool). 

Milton  sometimes  uses  the  word  Babylon  figuratively  for 
Rome,  as  the  seat  of  the  Pope.  (Cf.  Revelation  14.  8.) 

Baca.     Ps.  84.  21. 

Probably  not  an  actual  place.  Fuller's  discussion  runs  thus: 
"Some  render  it  appellatively  'the  vale  of  weeping,'  .  .  .  but 


44  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

if  you  be  pleased  to  take  this  vale  for  a  proper  place,  I  embrace 
the  opinion  of  the  learned  Ainsworth  on  the  text,  that  this  Vale 
of  Baca,  or  mulberry  trees,  for  so  it  also  signifieth,  was  near  to 
Jerusalem;  out  of  the  tops  of  which  trees  God  sounded  the 
alarm  to  David  when  he  conquered  the  Philistines  (2  Samuel 
5.  23)."  (Pp.  599-600.) 

Bactra.     P.  R.  3.  285.     (See  also  Boghar.) 

Modern  Balkh,  the  capital  of  the  district  of  Afghanistan  of 
the  same  name.  Strabo  mentions  the  city  several  times,  e.  g., 
in  15.  2.  8.  The  district  was  anciently  called  Bactria. 

Bactrian.  P.  L.  10.  433.  (See  also  Bactra,  Casbeen,  Tauris.) 
By  "Bactrian"  Milton  means  Persian,  for  Tauris  and  Casbeen 
were  capitals  of  Persia,  and  the  Sophy  was  the  ruler  of  Persia. 
Bactria  was  once  subject  to  Persia  and  Persian  was  spoken  there. 
Davity  says  that  it  is  a  province  of  Persia  not  entirely  under  the 
rule  of  the  sophis.  (P.  939.)  Anthony  Jenkinson  thus  describes 
the  retreat  of  the  Sophy:  "This  Sophie  that  now  raigneth  is 
nothing  valiant,  although  his  power  be  great,  and  his  people 
martiall,  and  through  his  pusillanimitie  the  Turke  hath  much 
invaded  his  countreys,  even  nigh  unto  the  Citie  of  Teveris, 
wherein  he  was  wont  to  keepe  his  chiefe  court.  And  now  having 
forsaken  the  same,  is  chiefly  resiant  at  Casbin  aforesaide,  and 
alwayes  as  the  said  Turke  pursueth  him,  he  not  being  able  to 
withstand  the  Turke  in  the  fielde,  trusting  rather  to  the  moun- 
taines  for  his  safegard,  then  to  his  fortes  and  castles,  hath  caused 
the  same  to  be  rased  within  his  dominions,  and  his  ordinance 
to  be  molten,  to  the  intent  that  his  enemies  pursuing  him,  they 
should  not  strengthen  themselves  with  the  same."  (Hak.  1. 
351.)  Knolles  describes  the  same  circumstances  as  follows: 
"Tamas  [the  "Bactrian  Sophy"]  understanding  that  Solyman 
was  coming  against  him  with  a  world  of  men,  thought  it  not  good 
to  abide  the  coming  of  so  puissant  an  enemy,  but  with  delay  to 
weary  him  out,  that  drew  such  a  multitude  of  people  after  him; 
and  by  taking  him  at  all  advantages,  to  cut  off  his  people,  spent 
with  long  travell,  wanting  victuall,  and  falling  into  divers  dis 
eases,  as  it  commonly  chanceth  to  populous  armies  in  strange 
countries,  where  the  change  of  the  aire,  with  the  inevitable 
necessity  alwaies  attending  upon  a  great  army,  most  times 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  45 

causeth  grievous  and  contagious  diseases.  Wherefore  Tamas 
to  shun  the  comming  of  Solyman,  retired  further  off  into  Sul- 
tania,  about  six  daies  journy  from  Tauris.  .  .  .  Solymans  army 
being  mightily  increased  .  .  .  departed  again  toward  Tauris. 
.  .  .  But  Tamas  advertised  of  his  comming,  and  knowing  him- 
selfe  to  weak  to  give  him  battel,  forsook  the  City,  and  fled  into 
the  mountains  of  Hyrcania,  destroying  all  the  Country  before 
him  as  he  went,  and  carrying  away  the  inhabitants,  leaving 
nothing  to  relieve  the  Turks  souldiers,  if  they  should  pursue  him. 
Solyman  understanding  that  Tamas  was  again  fled,  sent  Ulemas 
with  all  the  choice  horsemen  of  his  Army  to  overtake  him  if  it 
were  possible,  and  to  fight  with  him.  But  when  he  had  followed 
him  two  or  three  dayes  journy,  and  still  found  the  Country 
desolate  as  he  went,  yeelding  neither  forrage  for  his  horses,  nor 
relief  for  his  men,  and  saw  no  hope  to  overtake  the  King,  he 
began  as  a  provident  General  to  forecast  the  extremities  like 
to  befall  in  his  return  thorow  those  desolat  Countries  with  the 
Enemy  at  his  heels,  and  therupon  in  time  retyred  backe  again 
to  Solyman,  declaring  unto  him  what  had  happened."  Then 
follows  the  account  of  the  disastrous  retreat  of  the  Turks,  in 
which  is  the  sentence:  "The  fierce  mountain  people  also,  who 
had  formerly  suffered  great  injuries  of  the  Turkes,  after  the 
death  of  Aladeules  their  King,  had  now  joyned  themselves  to 
the  Persians,  and  notably  revenged  their  wrongs;  to  whose  share 
all  the  baggage  of  the  Turks  camp  fel  for  a  prey."  (History  of 
the  Turks,  pp.  649-51.)  We  do  not  wonder  that  the  ruler  of 
Persia  shunned  the  "homes  of  Turkish  Crescent"  when  we  read 
of  "the  manner  of  the  entring  of  Soliman  the  great  Turke,  with 
his  armie,  into  Aleppo  in  Syria,  marching  toward  Persia  against 
the  Great  Sophie,  the  fourth  day  of  November,  1553,"  in  Hak. 
2.  1.  112,  where  the  formidable  appearance  of  the  Turkish  army 
is  fully  described. 

Badburie.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  214.     (See  also  Winburne.) 
A  place  near  Winburne.     (Chronicle  901.) 

Badencester.     See  Bath. 

Badon.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  123,  125,  126  (thrice),  129  (twice),  131, 
133. 

A  battlefield  of  unknown  situation,  in  southwest  England. 


46  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY    OF    MILTON 

Bagdad.     See  Baldac. 
Baiae.     See  Beiana. 

Bajona.     Lit.  Oliv.  (59)  7.  308. 
Bayonne,  in  southwestern  France. 

Bakewell.     See  Bedecanwillan. 

Baldac.     Commonplace  12. 

Explained  by  Villani,  in  a  quotation  from  whom  the  name 
occurs,  as  "the  city  of  Baldac,  which  anciently  was  called  the 
great  Babylon"  (Hist.  Florence  6.  60),  that  is,  the  modern 
Bagdad,  on  the  Tigris,  which  was  formerly  identified  with 
Babylon. 

Balearicus.     Nat.  Non  59. 

Pertaining  to  the  Balearic  Islands,  in  the  Mediterranean,  east 
of  Spain. 

Balesham  Hills  (Gogmagog  Hills).     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  250. 

Hills  near  Cambridge  of  which  Camden  says:  "Near  to  Cam 
bridge  to  the  southeast  are  high  hills  called  by  the  students 
Gogmagog  hills;  by  Henry  of  Huntington  'the  pleasant  hills  of 
Balsham'  from  the  village  below."  (2.  125.)  Milton  must 
often  have  seen  these  hills  when  at  Cambridge. 

Balkh.     See  Bactra. 

Balsara.     P.  R.  3.  321.     (See  also  Teredon.) 

Bassora,  a  city  of  Asiatic  Turkey,  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Chatt-el-Arab,  or  united  Tigris  and  Euphrates.  It  is  now  a 
port  of  importance,  though  inferior  to  the  city  of  the  time  of 
Milton,  which  numbered  perhaps  200,000  inhabitants.  (Geog 
raphic  Universelle,  s.  v.)  The  city  was  not  built  at  the  time  of 
the  action  of  P.  R.,  for  it  was  founded  by  the  Caliph  Omar  in 
636  A.  D.  However,  in  Milton's  time  it  was  identified  with 
ancient  Teredon;  for  example,  Ortelius  gives  the  name  "Balsara, 
olim  Teredon."  (P.  103,  map.)  It  is  so  far  to  the  south  that 
"to  Balsara's  hav'n"  corresponds  with  "to  South  the  Persian 
Bay"  (P.  R.  3.  273)  in  the  description  of  the  bounds  of  Assyria. 
The  following  describes  the  journey,  late  in  the  sixteenth  century, 
of  John  Eldred  down  the  Tigris  from  Bagdad  to  Balsara:  "We 
departed  in  flat  bottomed  barks  more  strong  and  greater  then 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  47 

those  of  Euphrates,  and  were  eight  and  twenty  dayes  also  in 
passing  down  this  river  to  Balsara,  but  we  might  have  done  it 
in  eighteen  or  lesse,  if  the  water  had  bene  higher.  .  .  .  Before 
we  come  to  Balsara  by  one  dayes  journey,  the  two  rivers  of 
Tigris  and  Euphrates  meet.  .  .  .  The  two  rivers  joyned  together 
begin  to  be  eight  or  nine  miles  broad :  here  also  it  beginneth  to 
ebbe  and  flow,  and  the  water  overflowing  maketh  the  countrey 
all  about  very  fertile  of  corne,  rice,  pulse,  and  dates.  The  town 
of  Balsara  is  a  mile  and  a  halfe  in  circuit:  all  the  buildings,  castle, 
and  walls,  are  made  of  bricke  dried  in  the  Sun.  The  Turke  hath 
here  five  hundred  Janisaries,  besides  other  souldiers  continually 
in  garison  and  pay,  but  his  chiefe  strength  is  of  gallies,  which  are 
about  five  and  twenty  or  thirty,  very  faire  and  furnished  with 
goodly  ordinance.  To  this  port  of  Balsara  come  monethly  divers 
ships  from  Ormuz,  laden  with  all  sorts  of  Indian  marchandise, 
as  spices,  drugs,  Indico  and  Calecut  cloth.  These  ships  are 
usually  from  forty  to  threescore  tunnes,  having  their  planks 
sowed  together  with  corde  made  of  the  barke  of  the  Date  trees, 
and  in  stead  of  Occam  they  use  the  shiverings  of  the  barke  of  the 
sayd  trees,  and  of  the  same  they  make  their  tackling.  They 
have  no  kinde  of  yron  worke  belonging  to  these  vessels,  save  only 
their  ankers.  From  this  place  six  dayes  sailing  downe  the  gulfe, 
they  go  to  a  place  called  Baharem  in  the  mid  way  to  Ormus; 
there  they  fish  for  pearles.  .  .  .  My  abode  in  Balsara  was  just 
sixe  moneths  ...  I  and  my  companion  William  Shales  having 
dispatched  our  business  at  Balsara,  imbarked  our  selves  in  com 
pany  of  seventy  barks  all  laden  with  marchandise,  having  every 
barke  14  men  to  draw  them,  like  our  Westerne  bargemen  on  the 
Thames,  and  we  were  forty  foure  dayes  comming  up  against  the 
stream  to  Babylon."  (Hak.  2.  1.  270.)  Cf.  Marlowe: 

And  this  is  Balsera  their  chiefest  hold, 

Wherein  is  all  the  treasure  of  the  land.     (2  Tamburlaine  3351-2.) 

Baltic  (Balticum  Mare).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  202;   Lit.  Oliv.  (36) 

7.  282;   Lit.  Rich.  (4)  7.  336;    (6)  7.  337,  338;    Moscovia  (1) 

8.  476;  Sixteen  Let.  14. 
The  Baltic  Sea. 

Balticum  Fretum.     Lit.  Oliv.  (21)  7.  263  (twice). 

The  straits  leading  from  the  Baltic  to  the  North  Sea. 


48  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Bamborrow.     See  Bebbanburg. 
Bampton.     See  Beandune. 
Banbury.     See  Beranvirig. 

Banda.     Lit.  Senat.  (45)  7.  236.     (See  also  Amboyna,  Pularonis 

Insula,  Ternate.) 

A  group  of  the  Moluccas  or  Spice  Islands,  in  the  East  Indies. 
They  were  the  scene  of  rivalry  between  the  English  and  the 
Dutch  traders  in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century. 

Bangor.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  142,  143;   MS.  2.  113. 

A  famous  monastery  once  situated  at  what  is  now  the  town  of 
Bangor-is-Coed,  Flintshire.  (Bede  2.  2.) 

Banias.     See  Paneas. 

Bantamus.     Lit.  Senat.  (45)  7.  235. 

A  seaport  on  the  north  coast  of  the  Island  of  Java. 

Bara.     Decl.  Poland  8.  466. 

The  city  of  Bar  in  Podolia,  Poland,  on  a  southern  tributary 
of  the  Bug. 

Baram  Down.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  34. 

Mentioned  by  Camden  in  connection  with  Deal,  the  landing- 
place  of  Caesar  in  Kent,  as  "a  neighboring  plain  fit  for  horse." 

Barbados.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  360. 

The  most  westerly  of  the  Windward  Islands,  in  the  West  Indies. 

Barbury.    See  Beranvirig. 

Barca.     P.  L.  2.  904.     (See  also  Cyrene.) 

The  district  of  North  Africa  between  the  Gulf  of  Sidra  and 
Tunis.  Leo  Africanus  describes  the  desert  of  Barca  as  follows: 
"This  desert  beginning  at  the  utmost  frontier  of  Mestrata,  and 
extending  eastward  as  farre  as  the  confines  of  Alexandria,  con- 
taineth  in  length  a  thousand  and  three  hundred  and  in  bredth 
about  two  hundred  miles.  It  is  a  rough  and  unpleasant  place, 
being  almost  utterly  destitute  of  water  and  corne.  Before  the 
Arabians  invaded  Africa,  this  region  was  void  of  inhabitants, 
but  now  certaine  Arabians  lead  here  a  miserable  and  hungrie  life, 
being  a  great  way  distant  from  all  places  of  habitation :  neither 
have  they  any  corne  growing  at  all.  But  corne  and  other 
necessaries  are  brought  unto  them  by  sea  from  Sicilia,  which 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  49 

that  everie  of  them  may  purchase,  they  are  constrained  to  lay  their 
sonnes  to  gage,  and  then  goe  rob  and  rifle  travellers  to  redeeme 
them  againe."  (Pp.  775-6.) 

Barcham.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  299. 

Identified  with  Great  Berkhamstead,  Herts,  and  also  with 
Berstead,  Kent. 

Barking.     Lit.  Oliv.  (25)  7.  268. 

A  town  of  Essex  on  the  river  Roding. 

Barkshire  (Berkshire).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  198,  200,  211;    (6)  5. 
247. 
A  county  of  England,  south  of  the  Thames. 

Barnwell.     See  Barwellianus. 

Barwellianus.     7  Prolus.  7.  449.     (See  also  Sturbridge.) 

Barnwell  was  the  name  of  a  priory  within  the  limits  of  the 
town  of  Cambridge,  England.  The  Eastern  or  Barnwell  Fields 
included  the  land  belonging  to  the  town  of  Cambridge  east  of 
the  old  walled  town,  and  south  of  the  River  Cam.  In  the  time 
of  Milton  they  were  not  fully  enclosed,  and  consisted  partly  of 
common  lands.  The  most  northern  portion  of  these  fields  was 
known  as  Sturbridge  Field. 

Basan.     P.  L.  1.  398. 

Bashan  (Vulgate,  Basan)  is  a  tract  of  country  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Jordan  Valley,  stretching  from  the  River  Yarmuk  on 
the  south  toward  Mount  Hermon  on  the  north.  It  is  usually 
spoken  of  in  the  Old  Testament  in  connection  with  Og,  King  of 
Bashan,  whom  the  children  of  Israel  defeated  and  deprived  of 
his  land.  (Deuteronomy  3.  1-13.)  Apparently  the  only  Scrip 
tural  reason  for  connecting  Bashan  with  the  Ammonites,  as  does 
Milton,  is  to  be  found  in  that  passage. 

Basel.    See  Basil. 
Bashan.     See  Basan. 

Basil.     Eikonocl.  (28)  3.  521;    Bucer-    Divorce  (Parl.)  4.  295; 

Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  396  (twice). 

Basel,  a  city  of  Switzerland,  on  the  Rhine,  where  was  held  a 
great  council  of  the  Church  (1431-49).  It  early  sided  with  the 


50  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Reformation,  and  was  long  noted  as  a  centre  of  literary  activity, 
being,  in  the  words  of  Milton,  "a  City  for  Learning  and  Con 
stancy  in  the  true  Faith,  honorable  among  the  first." 

Basing.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  201. 

A  town  in  Hampshire.     (Chronicle  871.) 

Bassora.    See  Balsara. 
Batavia.    See  United  Provinces. 

Bath  (Badencester,  Caerbadus).     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  16;   (3)  5.  134; 

(5)  5.  233;  (6)  5.  253;  Commonplace  74,  109,  150,  191. 

A  town  in  Somersetshire,  on  the  River  Avon,  famous  for  its 
medicinal  springs. 

Batow.     See  Batto. 

Battle-Bridge.     See  Stamford  Bridge. 

Batto.     Decl.  Poland  8.  465. 

Batowitz,   or  Batow,   a  place  on   the   River  Bug  in   Lower 
Volhinia,  Poland. 

Bavaria  (Noricum).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  227  (twice);    Common 
place  109. 
A   state   in   southern   Germany.     Part   of  its    territory   was 

included  in  the  Roman  province  of  Noricum,  with  which  Milton 

identifies  it. 

Bayona.  Lycidas  162.  (See  also  Guarded  Mount,  Namancos.) 
A  seaport  of  southwestern  Galicia,  Spain.  On  a  high  hill  is 
the  fortress  of  Bayona,  or  Castle  of  Montereal.  Bayona  is 
south  of  Cape  Finisterre,  which  interrupts  direct  vision  from 
"the  guarded  Mount"  to  Bayona.  However,  Porthcurno,  near 
the  "Mount/'  is  the  point  of  departure  of  a  submarine  cable  to 
Vigo,  a  town  on  the  same  arm  of  the  sea  as  Bayona.  Bayona 
had  been  brought  to  the  attention  of  Englishmen  by  the  expedi 
tions  of  Sir  Francis  Drake  against  Spain.  An  account  of  the 
expedition  of  1589  runs  as  follows:  "The  reasons  why  we  at 
tempted  nothing  against  Bayon  were  before  shewed  to  be  want 
of  artillery,  and  may  now  be  alleged  to  be  the  small  number  of 
our  men,  who  should  have  gone  against  so  strong  a  place,  manned 
with  very  good  souldiers,  as  was  shewed  by  Juan  de  Vera  taken 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON  51 

at  the  Groine,  who  confessed  that  there  were  sixe  hundred  olde 
Souldiers  in  garrison  there  of  Flanders,  and  the  Tercios  of 
Naples,  lately  also  returned  out  of  the  journey  of  England.  .  .  . 
Also  he  sayth  there  be  18  pieces  of  brasse,  and  foure  of  yron 
lately  layed  upon  the  walls  of  the  towne,  besides  them  that  were 
there  before."  (Hak.  2.  2.  150.)  The  Isles  of  Bayona,  not  far 
from  the  fortress,  are  also  frequently  mentioned  in  narratives 
of  expeditions  to  Spain.  There  was  much  English  commerce 
with  Bayona. 

Bayonne.     See  Bajona. 

Bealozera.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  474. 

Bjeloje  Osero,  a  lake  of  the  province  of  Novgorod,  Russia. 
Milton,  as  he  indicates  by  notes,  learned  of  this  lake  from  the 
following:  "This  river  [Volga]  taketh  his  beginning  at  Beal 
Ozera."  (Hak.  1.  377).  "Besides  these  rivers,  are  also  in 
Moscovie  certaine  lakes,  and  amongst  them  all  the  chiefest  and 
most  principall  is  called  Bealozera,  which  is  very  famous  by 
reason  of  a  very  strong  towre  built  in  it,  where  the  kings  of 
Moscovia  reserve  and  repose  their  treasure  in  all  time  of  warre 
and  danger."  (Hak.  1.  248.) 

Beamflet.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  208. 
Benflet,  Essex. 

Beandune  (Bindon).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  145. 

Usually  identified  with  Bampton,  Oxfordshire.  In  identifying 
it  with  Bindon,  Dorsetshire,  Milton  follows  Camden  (1.  44),  to 
whom  he  refers  in  a  note. 

Bebba.    See  Bebbanburg. 

Bebbanburg  (Bamborrow).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  128;    (4)  5.  159, 
177;  (6)  5.  242,  257. 
Bamborough,  a  castle  on  the  coast  of  Northumberland. 

Bedanford.     See  Bedford. 

Bedanhafde.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  163. 
Bedwin,  Wiltshire. 

Bedecanwillan.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  219.     (See  also  Pictland.) 

Bakewell  in  Derbyshire,  "on  a  rivulet  which  opens  itself  a 
way  among  the  hills  into  the  Derwent."  (Camden  2.  303.) 


52  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

1.  Bedford  (Bedanford).    Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  134;  (5)  5.  217  (thrice). 
The  chief  town  o'f  Bedfordshire,  on  the  River  Ouse. 

2.  Bedford.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  250. 

A  county  of  England  east  of  Buckinghamshire. 

Bedwln.     See  Bedanhafde. 

Beersaba.     P.  L.  3.  536. 

A  town  of  southern  Palestine,  often  used  to  indicate  the 
southern  limit  of  the  country.  (Judges  20,  1,  et  a/.) 

Beianus.     2  Defens.  6.  256. 

Pertaining  to  Baiae,  a  city  of  Campania,  noted  for  the  licen 
tiousness  of  its  inhabitants. 

Belfast.     Ormond  4.   555   (twice),   567   (twice),   568,   571,   580 

(twice). 

The  capital  of  County  Antrim,  in  northeastern  Ireland.  A 
rampart  was  raised  around  the  town  in  1643.  In  1662  there 
were  within  the  wall  one  hundred  and  fifty  houses.  (Encyclo 
pedia  Britannica,  eleventh  edition.) 

Belgia  (Belgium).     See  Netherlands. 

Bella-Insula.     Sixteen  Let.  2  (twice). 

Belle-Isle-en-Mer,  an  island  off  the  south  coast  of  Brittany, 
France. 

Belle-Isle.    See  Bella-Insula. 

Bellerus,  Fable  of.     Lycidas  160.     (See  also  Langoemagog.) 

Bellerium  is  the  Latin  name  of  Land's  End,  England.  Bellerus 
is  usually  supposed  to  be  an  eponymous  hero  invented  by  Milton 
to  explain  the  name  Bellerium.  The  phrase,  "fable  of  Bellerus, " 
would  then  apply  to  the  land  with  which  the  story  of  Bellerus  dealt. 

Benflet.    See  Beamflet. 

Bengala.     P.  L.  2.  638. 

Davity  writes  of  Bengal  in  glowing  terms,  saying  that  it  is 
a  great  kingdom  containing  many  cities,  that  the  city  of  Bengal 
is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  in  the  Indies,  and  that 
the  country  produces  abundantly  all  things  necessary  to  human 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON  53 

life,  and  has  an  excellent  climate.  (Pp.  910-11.)  In  Hakluyt  we 
read  of  Bengala:  "In  this  place  is  very  much  Rice,  and  cloth 
made  of  cotton,  and  great  store  of  cloth  which  is  made  of  grasse, 
which  they  call  Yerva;  it  is  like  a  silke.  (2.  1.  257.) 

Benson  (Besington).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  134;  (4)  5.  177. 
A  town  of  Oxfordshire. 

Beorford.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  174,  175. 
Burford,  Oxfordshire. 

Beranvirig  (Banbury).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  128. 

Milton  identifies  this  place  with  Banbury  in  Oxfordshire. 
Camden,  to  whom  he  refers  in  a  note,  makes  a  different  iden 
tification:  "Upon  Barbury  hill,  the  next  ridge  overlooking  the 
north  part  of  Wilts,  is  another  camp  called  Barbury  castle,  .  .  . 
round,  double-ditched,  the  inner  ditch  very  deep,  the  rampart 
high,  entrances  east  and  west,  defended  by  half-moons,  the 
inner  rampart  at  the  west  entrance  retiring  inwards  a  little,  as 
the  outer  ditch  at  the  east,  turning  round  with  a  semi-circular 
sweep.  This  great  fortification,  the  barrows  on  the  adjoining 
plains,  and  the  similitude  of  names,  seem  to  point  out  this  place 
as  the  scene  of  the  battle  in  which  Cenric  king  of  the  West  Saxons 
and  his  son  Ceaulin  defeated  the  Britans,  A.  D.  556.  The  modern 
name  comes  much  nearer  to  Beranbyrig  than  Banbury  in  Oxford, 
where  this  battle  has  been  fixed."  (1.  112.)  Camden 's  opinion 
is  at  present  accepted.  (Two  Chr.  2.  15.) 

Berga.     Sixteen  Let.  5. 

Bergues,  a  town  of  northern  France,  southeast  of  Dunkirk, 
in  Milton's  day  part  of  the  Spanish  Netherlands. 

Bergamo.     See  Bergomum. 

Bergomum.     Commonplace  242. 

Now  Bergamo,  a  city  of  Italy  twenty-eight  miles  northeast  of 
Milan. 

Bergues.     See  Berga. 
Berkshire.     See  Barkshire. 

Bern.     Tetrach.  (Canon)  4.  281;   Rami  Vita  7.  183. 
The  chief  city  of  the  canton  of  Bern,  Switzerland. 


54  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Bernicia.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  128,  129,  134;    (4)  5.  146,  153;   MS. 

2.  113. 

One  of  the  divisions  of  Anglo-Saxon  Britain,  defined  by  Camden 
as  that  part  of  the  kingdom  of  Northumberland  extending  "from 
the  Tine  to  the  Firth  of  Edenborough."  (3.  2.) 

Bernwood.     See  Birnwud. 
Berstead.     See  Barcham. 
Besington.     See  Benson. 

Bethabara  (Ford  of  Jordan).     P.  R.  1.  184,  328;  2.  20;  4.  510. 

The  scene  of  the  baptism  of  Jesus  by  John,  in  the  River 
Jordan.  (John  1.  28.)  It  is  placed  by  tradition  at  the  ford  of 
Makhadet  Hajla.  Adrichomius,  who  assigns  it  to  the  territory 
of  the  tribe  of  Reuben,  says  the  word  means  house  of  crossing, 
"either  because  there,  when  the  river  had  been  dried  up,  the 
Israelites  crossed  over  into  Canaan,  or  because  there  was  a  ford 
of  the  Jordan."  (P.  126.)  Milton  seems  to  have  accepted  the 
latter  interpretation,  for  he  twice  refers  to  John  as  baptising  at 
the  "Ford  of  Jordan."  (P.  R.  1.  328;  4.  510.) 

Bethany.     Areopag.  4.  432. 

A  village  of  Palestine,  a  short  distance  southeast  of  Jerusalem 
on  the  road  to  Jericho.  (Mark  11.  12-14.) 

Bethel  (Luz).  P.  L.  1.  485;  3.  513;  P.  R.  3.  431;  Reformation 
(2)  3.  35;  Eikonocl.  (24)  3.  491  (twice);  Hirelings  5.  352; 
MS.  2.  110. 

A  town  of  Palestine  twelve  miles  north  of  Jerusalem;  also 
called  Luz.  Here  Jacob  had  the  vision  of  the  angels  ascending 
and  descending  upon  a  ladder  reaching  up  to  heaven,  and  vowed 
the  tenth  of  his  substance  to  God.  (Genesis  28.  11-22.)  Milton 
describes  the  dream  of  Jacob  in  P.  L.  3.  510-515.  Here,  too, 
Jeroboam  set  up  a  golden  calf  which  Israel  worshipped,  (i 
Kings  12.  28-9.)  Amaziah,  the  sycophantish  priest,  belonged 
to  the  shrine  at  Bethel.  (Amos  7.  10-13.) 

Bethesda.     Colast.  4.  347. 

A  pool  in  Jerusalem  by  which  the  impotent,  blind,  halt, 
and  withered  lay,  until  an  angel  moved  the  waters;  the  one 
who  then  first  stepped  into  the  pool  was  healed.  The  word  means 
house  of  mercy.  (John  5.  1-4.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  55 

Bethlehem  (Bethleem).     Nativity  223;    P.  R.   1.  243;    2.   78; 

4.  505;  Hirelings  5.  366. 

A  town  of  Palestine,  some  six  miles  south  of  Jerusalem. 
Sandys,  who  visited  Bethlehem  in  1610,  describes  it  as  "seated 
on  the  utmost  of  the  Ridge  of  a  Hill,  stretching  East  and  West, 
in  a  happy  soil,  and  a  most  delicate  prospect."  (P.  137.)  The 
references  of  Milton  to  Bethlehem  all  have  to  do  with  it  as  the 
birth-place  of  Christ,  and  are  all  taken  from  the  Scriptures. 

Bethshemesh.     Church-gov.  (1.  1)  3.  100. 

A  town  in  Palestine,  southeast  of  Jerusalem,  to  which  the  Ark 
was  brought  upon  its  return  from  among  the  Philistines.  (1 
Samuel  6.) 

Beverege.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  272. 

An  island  in  the  River  Severn  near  Worcester.  Milton  takes 
his  account  from  Florence  of  Worcester.  (A.  D.  1041.) 

Beverstan.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  279. 
Beverstone,  Gloucestershire. 

Bindon.     See  Beandune. 

Birnwud.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  217. 

Bernwood  Forest,  Buckinghamshire,  on  a  plain  overlooked 
by  the  Chiltern  Hills.  (Camden  1.  314.) 

Biscay.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  23. 

One  of  the  Basque  provinces  of  Spain,  bordering  on  the  Bay 
of  Biscay. 

Biserta.     P.  L.  1.  585. 

A  seaport  of  Tunis,  formerly  of  much  more  importance  than 
at  present.  Ariosto  describes  the  position  of  the  town  as  follows: 

Biserta  hath  this  manner  situation, 
Two  parts  thereof  with  water  are  enclosed, 
Two  parts  with  goodly  wall  of  ancient  fashion, 
But  not  so  strong  as  one  would  have  supposed. 

(Orl.  Fur.  40.  14.) 
He  tells  how  Orlando  planned 

so  to  raze  Biserta  towne, 
That  it  might  never  noy  th'  Imperiall  crowne. 

(Orl.  Fur.  40.  8.) 


56  A   GEOGRAPHICAL    DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

These  lines  suggest  the  use  of  Biserta  as  a  place  of  embarkation 
for  an  army  going  to  France,  as  is  related  in  Orlando  Innamorato 
2.  29.  1-22,  where  Boiardo  tells  at  length  of  the  size  of  the  host 
of  Saracens  that  set  out  for  France. 

Bituminous  Lake.     See  Asphaltic  Pool. 

Bizance  (Byzantinus,  Constantinople).     P.  L.  11.  395;  Animadv. 

(16.  148)  3.  241;    1  Defens.  (4)  6.  90;   Lit.  Oliv.  (17)  7.  258; 

(57)  7.  306;   Moscovia  (4)  8.  488;   Commonplace  112,  249. 

Byzantium,  since  the  time  of  Constantine  called  Constanti 
nople.  Sandys,  who  in  1610  spent  four  months  in  the  city,  gives 
a  long  description  of  it,  illustrated  by  many  pictures,  part  of  which 
is  as  follows:  "This  city  by  destiny  appointed,  and  by  nature 
seated  for  Soveraignty,  was  first  the  seat  of  the  Roman  Emperors, 
then  of  the  Greek,  as  now  it  is  of  the  Turkish.  ...  It  stands  on 
a  Cape  of  Land  near  the  entrance  of  the  Bosphorus.  In  form 
triangular,  on  the  East-side  washed  with  the  same,  and  on  the 
North-side  with  the  Haven,  adjoyning  on  the  West  to  the 
Continent.  Walled  with  brick  and  stone,  intermixed  orderly; 
having  four  and  twenty  Gates  and  Posterns,  whereof  five  do 
regard  the  Land,  and  nineteen  the  Water;  being  about  thirteen 
miles  in  circumference.  Than  this  there  is  hardly  in  nature  a 
more  delicate  object,  if  beheld  from  the  Sea  or  adjoyning  moun 
tains;  the  lofty  and  beautiful  Cypress  Trees  so  intermixed  with 
the  buildings,  that  it  seemeth  to  present  a  City  in  a  Wood  to  the 
pleased  beholders.  Whose  seven  aspiring  heads,  for  on  so  many 
hills  and  no  more,  they  say  it  is  seated,  are  most  of  them  crowned 
with  magnificent  Mosques,  all  of  white  Marble,  round  in  form, 
and  coupled  above;  being  finished  on  the  top  with  gilded  spires, 
that  reflect  the  beams  they  receive  with  a  marvellous  splendour; 
some  having  two,  some  four,  some  six  adjoyning  Turrets,  exceed 
ing  high,  and  exceeding  slender,  tarrast  aloft  on  the  out-side 
like  the  main  top  of  a  Ship  and  that  in  several  places  equally 
distant.  .  .  .  But  that  of  Sancta  Sophia,  once  a  Christian 
Temple,  twice  burnt,  and  happily,  in  that  so  sumptuously  re- 
edified  by  the  Emperor  Justinian,  exceedeth  not  only  the  rest, 
by  whose  pattern  they  were  framed,  but  all  other  Fabricks 
whatsoever,  throughout  the  whole  Universe.  A  long  labour  it 
were  to  describe  it  exactly,  and  having  done, 'my  eyes  that  have 
seen  it  would  but  condemn  my  defective  relation.  The  principal 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON  57 

part  thereof  riseth  in  an  oval,  surrounded  with  Pillars,  admirable 
for  their  proportion,  matter,  and  work-man-ship.  Over  those 
others,  thorough  which  ample  Galleries,  curiously  paved,  and 
arched  above,  have  their  prospect  into  the  Temple.  .  .  .  The 
Roof  compact  and  adorned  with  Mosaick  painting.  An  antique 
kind  of  work,  composed  of  little  square  pieces  of  Marble,  guilded 
and  coloured  according  to  the  place  that  they  are  to  assume  in  the 
figure  or  ground,  which  set  together  as  if  imbossed  present  an 
unexpressible  stateliness,  and  are  of  marvellous  durance,  num 
bered  by  Pancirollus  amongst  things  that  are  lost.  .  .  .  Sophia 
is  frequented  by  the  Sultan,  being  near  unto  the  fore-front  of 
his  Seraglio,  which  possesseth  the  extreamest  point  of  the  North- 
East  Angle,  .  .  .  divided  from  the  rest  of  the  City  by  a  lofty 
Wall,  containing  three  miles  in  circuit,  and  comprehending  goodly 
Groves  of  Cypresses  intermixed  with  Plains,  delicate  Gardens, 
artificial  Fountains,  all  variety  of  Fruit-trees,  and  what  not  rare? 
Luxury  being  the  steward,  and  the  Treasure  unexhaustible. 
The  proud  palace  of  the  Tyrant  doth  open  to  the  South,  having 
a  lofty  Gate-house  without  Lights  on  the  outside,  and  engraven 
with  Arabick  Characters,  set  forth  with  Gold  and  Azure,  all  of 
white  Marble.  This  leadeth  into  a  spacious  Court  three  hundred 
yards  long,  and  above  half  as  wide.  On  the  left  side  thereof, 
stands  the  Round  of  an  ancient  Chappel,  containing  the  Arms 
that  were  taken  from  the  Grecians  in  the  subversion  of  this 
City;  and  at  the  far  end  of  his  Court  a  second  Gate,  hung  with 
Shields  and  Cymiters,  doth  lead  into  another  full  of  tall  Cypress- 
trees,  less  large,  yet  not  by  much  than  the  former.  The  cloisters 
about  it  leaded  above,  and  paved  with  stone,  the  Roof  supported 
with  Columns  of  Marble,  having  Copper  Chapiters  and  Bases. 
.  .  .  Between  the  East- wall,  which  also  serveth  for  a  Wall  to 
the  City,  and  the  water,  a  sort  of  terrible  Ordnance  are  planted, 
which  threaten  destruction  to  such  as  by  Sea  shall  attempt  a 
violent  entry  or  prohibited  passage."  (Pp.  23-5.)  The  haven 
is,  says  Sandys,  "throughout  the  world  the  fairest,  the  safest, 
the  most  profitable."  (P.  29.) 

Bjeloje  Osero.     See  Bealozera. 

Blackmoor  Sea.     P.  R.  4.  72. 

The  part  of  the  Mediterranean  bordering  on  Mauritania,  the 
land  of  the  Moors  or  Blackamoors.     It  is  called  Africum  Pelagus 


58  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

by  Ortelius.  (Par ergon,  p.  22.)  Jerram  in  his  edition  of  P.  R. 
refers  to  Horace  (Odes  2.  6.  3),  where  this  part  of  the  Mediter 
ranean  is  called  "Maura  unda." 

Blois.     Ormond  4.  559,  564;   Commonplace  182,  183. 
A  city  of  France  on  the  Loire. 

Bocchus,  Realme  of  (Mauretania,  Mauritanus,  Maurusius). 
Ad  Patrem  40;  P.  R.  4.  72;  Bucer:  Divorce  (15)  4.  317; 
Contra  Hisp.  7.  352;  Epist.  Fam.  (20)  7.  398.  (See  also 
Almansor.) 

Bocchus  was  king  of  Mauretania,  that  part  of  north  Africa 
bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Mediterranean  and  the  Atlantic, 
and  on  the  east  by  the  River  Ampsaga,  which  divided  it  from 
Numidia;  it  is  now  Morocco  and  western  Algeria.  When  the 
region  became  a  Roman  province  the  eastern  part  was  called 
Mauretinia  Csesariensis.  The  region  is  the  same  as  that  which 
Milton  elsewhere  refers  to  as  "the  Kingdoms  of  Almansor." 
Bocchus  is  a  prominent  character  in  the  Jugurtha  of  Sallust. 

Bodotria.     Hist.  Brit.   (2)   5.  67,  68   (twice).     (See  also  Dun- 

britton.) 

The  Firth  of  Forth.  It  is  called  Bodotria  by  Tacitus.  (Agri- 
cola,  Sect.  23.) 

Bceotia.     Grammar  (2)  6.  480.     (See  also  Aonian.) 
The  division  of  Greece  north  of  Attica. 

Boghar.     Moscovia  (3)  8.  486,  487.     (See  also  Bactra.) 

Bokara,  capital  of  the  country  of  the  same  name  in  central 
Asia.  Jenkinson  writes:  "We  arrived  at  the  citie  of  Boghar  in 
the  land  of  Bactria.  The  Citie  is  very  great,  and  the  houses 
for  the  most  part  of  earth,  but  there  are  also  many  houses, 
temples,  and  monuments  of  stone  sumptuously  builded,  and  gilt, 
and  specially  bath  stoves  so  artificially  built,  that  the  like  thereof 
is  not  in  the  world.  .  .  .  This  Countrey  of  Boghar  was  sometime 
subject  to  the  Persians,  and  do  now  speake  the  Persian  tongue, 
but  yet  now  it  is  a  kingdome  of  itselfe.  .  .  .  There  is  yerely 
great  resort  of  Marchants  to  this  Citie  of  Boghar,  which  travaile 
in  great  Caravans  from  the  countries  thereabout  adjoining,  as 
India,  Balgh,  Russia,  with  divers  others,  and  in  times  past  from 
Cathay."  (Hak.  1.  331.) 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY    OF   MILTON  59 

Bohemia.     Eikonocl.  (17)  3.  464;  1  Defens.  (1)  6,  22. 

An  ancient  kingdom,  now  part  of  the  Czecho-Slovak  state. 

Bokara.     See  Boghar. 
Bologna.     See  Bononia. 

Boloigne  (Bononiensis  Portus,  Gessoriacum) .     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5. 
82,  84,  86,  87;  (6)  5.  278;  Lit.  Rich.  (11)  7.  342. 
Boulogne,  the  Roman  Gessoriacum,  a  port  of  France. 

Bononia.     2  Defens.  6.  289;  Rami  Vita  7.  183,  185. 

Bologna  (Latin,  Bononia},  a  city  of  Tuscany,  famous  for  its 
university. 

Bononiensis  Pontus.     See  Boloigne. 
Bordeaux.    See  Burdeaux. 

Boristhenes.     Moscovia  (4)  8.  489,  492. 

Now  usually  called  Dnieper,  a  river  of  western  Russia  flowing 
into  the  Black  Sea. 

Borussia.     See  Prussia. 

Boscham.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  289. 
A  seaport  of  Sussex,  England. 

Bosporus.     P.  L.  2.  1018.     (See  also  Justling  Rocks.) 

The  strait  connecting  the  Sea  of  Marmora  and  the  Black  Sea. 
Dionysius  Periegetes  (11.  142-3)  calls  it  the  "narrowest  of  all 
the  straits  of  the  stormy  sea." 

Boston.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  199. 

A  seaport  of  Lincolnshire,  on  the  River  Witham. 

Boulogne.     See  Boloigne. 
Bourne.     See  Brunne. 

Braclavia.     Decl.  Poland  8.  462. 

A  part  of  Poland  lying  between  the  Dniester  and  the  Bug. 
The  name  survives  in  that  of  the  city  of  Braclaw. 

Bradford  (Bradanford).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  157. 

Camden,  to  whom  Milton  refers  in  the  text,  writes:  "The 
Avon  .  .  .  washes  Bradford,  antiently  called  from  its  broad 


60  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

ford  Bradanford,  situate  on  the  slope  of  a  hill,  and  built  intirely 
of  stone,  where  Kenilwalch,  king  of  the  West  Saxons,  fought  a 
bloody  battle  with  his  kinsman  Cuthred.  Here  the  Avon  takes 
its  leave  of  Wilts,  and  enters  Somersetshire."  (1.  89.)  Cam- 
den's  identification  is  now  accepted.  (Two  Chr.  2.  24.) 

Brandenburg   (Brandenburgicus   Ducatus).     Lit.   Oliv.    (20)    7. 

262;   Decl.  Poland  8.  468. 

A  dukedom  of  Germany,  corresponding  in  part  to  the  present 
Prussian  province  of  Brandenburg. 

Branford.     See  Brentford. 

Brasil.     Animadv.  (3.  37)  3.  213;    Lit.  Oliv.  (23)  7.  265;    (28) 
7.  271;    (41)  7.  287,  288  (twice);   Lit.  Rich.  (10)  7.  341;   Six 
teen  Let.  13. 
In  Milton's  time  a  Portuguese  possession. 

Brecknock.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  216.     (See  also  Bricnam-Mere.) 
The  capital  of  Brecknockshire,  Wales,  on  the  Usk. 

Bremensis  Civitas  (Brema).     Lit.  Oliv.  (5)  7.  242;   (6)  7.  243. 

Bremen,  the  German  state  whose  capital  is  Bremen,  on  the 
Weser. 

Brentford  (Branford).     Eikonocl.  (18)  3.  469;   Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5. 

259,  260;   MS.  2.  114. 

A  village  of  Middlesex,  England,  at  the  junction  of  the  Brent 
with  the  Thames.     It  was  sacked  by  Prince  Rupert  in  1642. 

Brestensis  Portus  (Brivatis).     Lit.  Oliv.  (50)  7.  300. 
Brest,  a  port  of  Brittany,  France. 

Bricnam-Mere.  Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  216.  (See  also  Brecknock.) 
Camden,  to  whom  Milton  refers  in  a  note,  writes:  "Two 
miles  east  from  hence  (Brecknock)  a  lake  spreads  itself.  .  .  .  The 
English  call  it  Brecknock-mere.  It  is  two  miles  long,  and  about 
as  many  broad.  .  .  .  Marianus  Scotus  seems  to  call  this  lake 
Bricenau-mere,  when  he  relates  that  Edelfleda  the  Mercian, 
A.  D.  913,  entered  the  country  of  the  Britons  to  take  the  castle 
at  Bricenaumere,  where  she  made  the  wife  of  the  British  king 
prisoner.  Whether  this  castle  was  Brecknocke  itselfe  or  Castle 
Dinas,  which  commands  this  lake  on  a  rock  tapering  as  it  rises 
is  by  no  means  clear."  (2.  470.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  61 

Bridgenorth.     See  Quatbrig. 

Bridge-Street.     Apology  (6)  3.  293;  (8)  3.  297. 

Referred  to  as  a  street  in  heaven  by  Bishop  Hall  in  his  Satires 
2.  7.  36.  He  took  the  name  from  a  street  in  Cambridge. 

Bristol.     See  Bristow. 

Bristow  (Eristow).     Eikonocl.  (18)  3.  469;  Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  281, 
287. 
Bristol,  in  Gloucestershire,  on  the  Avon. 

Britain  (Albion,  Britannia,  Samothea).  Comus  27;  Eleg.  1.  71; 
Praesul.  El.  9 ;  Ad.  Rous.  8 ;  1  Prod.  Bomb.  1 ;  3  Prod.  Bomb.  5 ; 
Quint.  Nov.  96,  202;  Mansus  84;  Damon.  165;  Sonnet  18.  2; 
P.  L.  1.  581;  P.  R.  4.  77;  Church-gov.  (2.  Pref.)  3.  145; 
Eikonocl.  (1)  3.  343;  (28)  3.  521;  Areopag.  4.  437;  Kings 
&  Mag.  4.  473;  Ormond  4.  557;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  4  (4  times), 
5,  6,  8,  12  (twice),  20,  21,  22;  (2)  5.  30  (twice),  31  (4  times), 
32,  42,  46,  47  (twice),  50,  52,  53,  57,  66,  67  (twice),  69,  72 
(twice),  73  (thrice),  74,  76,  77,  80  (twice),  81,  82,  84,  85,  87, 
88  (twice),  89  (4  times),  90,  92,  93;  (3)  5.  100,  101,  103 
(twice),  110  (twice),  115,  119,  120,  121,  127,  133,  135;  (4)  5. 
141  (twice),  181;  (5)  5.  220;  Hirelings  5.  376;  1  Defens.  (1)  6. 
15;  (5)  6.  114;  (8)  6.  139,  140,  149;  2  Defens.  6.  249,  301, 
318;  Epist.  Fam.  (10)  7.  386;  Moscovia  (Pref.)  8.  470; 
Commonplace  245.  (See  also  Utmost  Isles.) 

Britain  in  France.     See  Armorica. 
Britannia.     See  Britain. 

Brittenburgh.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  115. 

An  ancient  fortress  described  by  Ussher  as  a  Roman  work  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Rhine.  (Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Anti- 
quitates,  pp.  418  ff.)  Milton,  as  he  indicates  in  a  note,  took  his 
description  from  Ussher. 

Brivatis.     See  Brestensis. 

Bruges.     Tenure  4.  487;    Hist.  Brit.   (6)   5.  271   (twice);    Lit. 
Senat.  (41)  7.  231. 
A  city  of  Belgium. 

Brunanburg  (Bruneford,  Wendune).  Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  220,  223, 
224.  (See  also  Glendale.) 


62  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

The  site  of  the  famous  battle  of  Brunanburh  is  unknown .  ( Two 
Chr.  2.  140.)  It  is  called  also  Wendune  and  Bruneford. 

Bruneford.     See  Brunanburg. 

Brunne.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  199. 

Bourne,  a  town  of  Lincolnshire. 

• 

Brussels.     See  Bruxellae. 

Bruxellae.     Lit.  Senat.  (9)  7.  195. 
Brussels,  the  capital  of  Belgium. 

1.  Buckingham.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  217. 
The  chief  town  of  Buckinghamshire. 

2.  Buckingham.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  250. 

A  county  of  England  bounded  on  the  north  by  Northampton, 
on  the  east  by  Bedford,  Hertford,  and  Middlesex,  on  the  south 
by  Berkshire,  on  the  west  by  Oxfordshire.  The  Thames  flows 
along  the  southern  side  of  the  county.  In  this  county,  Milton 
lived  at  Horton  from  1632  to  1638,  and  at  Chalfont  St.  Giles  in 
1665-6. 

Buelth.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  119. 

Builth,  in  Brecknockshire,  on  the  Wye.  , 

Bug.     See  Hypanis. 
Builth.     See  Buelth. 

Bulendun.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  284. 
An  unidentified  place. 

Burdeaux  (Bordeaux,  Burdegala).     Animadv.   (13.  76)  3.  225; 

Lit.  Oliv.  (18)  7.  260;   (50)  7.  300,  301. 

A  city  of  southwestern  France,  on  the  Garonne.  It  was 
famous  for  its  varnish,  hence  Milton's  reference  to  a  "Burdeaux 
glosse."  Vizards,  which  he  proceeds  to  mention,  were  often 
varnished.  Compare  the  following  from  Shelton's  translation 
of  Don  Quixote:  "Hee  pulled  out  a  pasted  nose,  and  a  varnisht 
vizard."  (Part  2,  Chap.  14.) 

Burdegala.    See  Burdeaux. 
Burford.     See  Beorford. 
Burgondy.     See  Burgundie. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  63 

Burgundie    (Burgondy).     Eikonocl.    (21)    3.   483    (twice),   484; 

Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  83. 

Formerly  an  independent  kingdom,  with  its  capital  at  Dijon, 
later  a  province  of  eastern  France. 

Bury.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  195;   (6)  5.  253,  265. 
Bury  St.  Edmund's,  Suffolk. 

Buttingtun.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  208. 

A  town  on  the  Severn  in  Montgomeryshire. 

Byzantium.     See  Bizance. 

Caerbadus.     See  Bath 

Caer-Caradoc.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  53. 

Milton  refers  to  Camden,  who  writes  as  follows  of  the  River 
Clun,  Shropshire:  ''Where  it  joins  the  Temd,  among  uncertain 
shallows  rises  a  hill  famous  in  ancient  times,  called  Caer  Caradoc, 
because  about  A.  D.  53,  Caratacus  the  renowned  British  king 
fortified  it  with  a  rampart  of  stone,  and  held  it  out  obstinately 
with  his  subjects  against  Ostorius  and  the  Roman  legions." 
(2.  395.) 

Caerebranc.     See  York. 
Caerguent.     See  Winchester. 
Caerkeynt.     See  Canterbury. 
Caerlegion.     See  Caerleon. 
Caer-Legion.     See  Chester. 
Caerleir.     See  Leicester. 

Caerleon  (Caerlegion,  Caerose).     Hist.  Brit.   (1)   5.  22,23;    (2) 

5.84. 

Caerleon-upon-Usk,  in  Monmouthshire,   England,   famous  as 
the  capital  city  of  King  Arthur.     Milton's  information  is  from 
Geoffrey  of  Monmouth.  (3.  10.) 
Caerlud.     See  London. 


Caerose.    See  Caerlegion. 

Caesarea.     Church-gov.  (2.3)  3.  164. 
A  seaport  of  Palestine. 

Caesarea  Philippi.    See  Paneas. 


64  A   GEOGRAPHICAL    DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Cairleil.     See  Carlile. 
Cairo.     See  Memphis. 
Caithness.     See  Cathness. 
Calabria.     P.  L.  2.  661. 

The  southwest  peninsula  of  Italy,  extending  toward  Sicily. 
Calater  (Calaterium).     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  21,  24. 

A  forest  which  Holinshed  says  is  "neare  unto  Yorke"  (3.  7), 
and  also  puts  in  Scotland.  (3.  2.) 

Caledonius.     See  Scotland. 

1.  Cales.     P.  R.  4.  117. 

A  city  of  Campania,  now  called  Calvi,  the  territory  of  which 
adjoined  the  celebrated  "Talernus  ager,"  and  was,  like  it,  famous 
for  its  wine.  Horace  mentions  the  wine  of  Cales.  (Odes  1.  20. 
9,  etc.) 

2.  Cales.     See  Gades. 

Cain.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  238. 
Calne,  Wiltshire. 

Calvi.     See  1.  Cales. 
Cam.     See  Camus. 

Cama.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  475.     (See  also  Nagay.) 

A  river  of  Russia,  one  of  the  largest  tributaries  of  the  Volga. 
In  describing  his  journey  down  the  Volga  from  Cazan,  Jenkinson 
says:  "We  passed  by  a  goodly  river  called  Cama,  which  we  left 
on  our  left  hand.  This  river  falleth  out  of  the  countrey  of  Permia 
into  the  river  of  Volga,  and  is  from  Cazan  15  leagues."  (Hak. 
1.  325.) 

Camalodunum  (Colchester,  Colnchester) .     Fairfax,  Title;  Hist. 

Brit.  (2)  5.  47,  50,  52,  58,  59  (twice),  84;   (5)  5.  218.     (See  also 

Maldon.) 

Colchester,  a  town  of  Essex  on  the  River  Colne.  In  identifying 
it  with  Maldon  Milton  seems  to  be  following  Camden,  who 
writes:  "The  Chelmer,  .  .  .  changing  its  name  to  Blackwater 
or  Pant,  visits  the  antient  Roman  colony  of  Camalodunum, 
which  has  made  this  shore  famous.  ...  In  tracing  this  city  how 
some  writers  have  betrayed  their  ignorance,  when  its  name 
discovers  it  to  the  blindest  observer.  Many  have  sought  it  ... 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  65 

at  Colchester,  when,  with  scarce  any  alteration  in  the  name,  it  is 
now  called  Maldon."  (2.  44.)  Colchester  was  besieged  by 
Fairfax  from  June  15  to  August  28,  1648,  when  the  town  fell. 

Cambalu  (Cathaia,  Paquin).     P.  L.  11.  388,  390;  Moscovia  (3)  8. 

487.     (See  also  Cathay.) 

Cambalu  is  an  alternative  name  for  Pekin,  the  capital  of  China. 
It  is  the  same  as  the  city  of  Cathaia,  described  in  Moscovia.  So 
long  as  Cathay  and  China  were  supposed  to  be  separate  countries, 
instead  of  the  same  country  under  two  names,  Cambalu  was 
believed  to  be  the  capital  of  Cathay,  and  Paquin  of  China. 
Milton's  lines  preserve  for  us  the  belief  that  Cambalu  and  Paquin 
were  distinct.  Yet  before  the  date  of  Paradise  Lost  some  Eng 
lishmen  knew  that  the  two  were  one;  for  example,  Bacon  writes 
in  the  Ne~w  Atlantis,  a  work  known  to  Milton:  "Paguin  (which 
is  the  same  with  Cambaline  [Cambalu])." 

Marco  Polo  tells  of  Cambalu  as  follows:  "Now  there  was  on 
that  spot  in  old  times  a  great  and  noble  city  called  Cambaluc, 
which  is  as  much  as  to  say  in  our  tongue  'The  City  of  the 
Emperor.'  But  the  Great  Kaan  .  .  .  caused  the  present  city 
to  be  built  beside  the  old  one,  with  only  a  river  between  them. 
...  As  regards  the  size  of  this  (new)  city  you  must  know  that 
it  has  a  compass  of  24  miles,  for  each  side  of  it  hath  a  length  of 
6  miles,  and  it  is  four-square.  And  it  is  all  walled  round  with 
walls  of  earth  which  have  a  thickness  of  full  ten  paces  at  bottom, 
and  a  height  of  more  than  10  paces;  but  they  are  not  so  thick 
at  top,  for  they  diminish  in  thickness  as  they  rise,  so  that  at  top 
they  are  only  about  3  paces  thick.  And  they  are  provided 
throughout  with  loop-holed  battlements,  which  are  all  white 
washed.  There  are  12  gates,  and  over  each  gate  there  is  a  great 
and  handsome  palace,  so  that  there  are  on  each  side  of  the  square 
three  gates  and  five  palaces ;  for  (I  ought  to  mention)  there  is  at 
each  angle  also  a  great  and  handsome  palace.  In  these  palaces 
are  vast  halls  in  which  are  kept  the  arms  of  the  city  garrison. 
The  streets  are  so  straight  and  wide  that  you  can  see  right  along 
them  from  end  to  end  and  from  one  gate  to  the  other.  And  up 
and  down  the  city  there  are  beautiful  palaces,  and  many  great 
and  fine  hostelries,  and  fine  houses  in  great  numbers.  .  .  . 
Moreover  the  established  guard  at  each  gate  of  the  city  is  1000 
armed  men;  not  that  you  are  to  imagine  this  guard  is  kept  up 


66  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

for  fear  of  any  attack,  but  only  as  a  guard  of  honor  for  the 
Sovereign,  who  resides  there,  and  to  prevent  thieves  from  doing 
mischief  in  the  town.  .  .  .  You  must  know  that  the  city  of 
Cambaluc  hath  such  a  multitude  of  houses,  and  such  a  vast 
population  inside  the  walls  and  outside,  that  it  seems  quite  past 
all  possibility.  There  is  a  suburb  outside  each  of  the  gates, 
which  are  twelve  in  number;  and  these  suburbs  are  so  great  that 
they  contain  more  people  than  the  city  itself.  .  .  .  To  this 
city  also  are  brought  articles  of  greater  cost  and  rarity,  and  in 
greater  abundance  of  all  kinds,  than  to  any  other  city  in  the 
world.  For  people  of  every  description,  and  from  every  region, 
bring  things  (including  all  the  costly  wares  of  India,  as  well  as 
the  fine  and  precious  wares  of  Cathay  itself  with  its  provinces), 
some  for  the  sovereign,  some  for  the  court,  some  for  the  city 
which  is  so  great,  some  for  the  crowds  of  Barons  and  Knights, 
some  for  the  great  hosts  of  the  Emperor  which  are  quartered 
round  about;  and  thus  between  court  and  city  the  quantity 
brought  in  is  endless.  As  a  sample,  I  tell  you,  no  day  in  the 
year  passes  that  there  do  not  enter  the  city  1000  cart-loads  of 
silk  alone,  from  which  are  made  quantities  of  cloth  of  silk  and 
gold,  and  of  other  goods.  And  this  is  not  to  be  wondered  at; 
for  in  all  the  countries  round  about  there  is  no  flax,  so  that 
everything  has  to  be  made  of  silk.  It  is  true,  indeed,  that  in 
some  parts  of  the  country  there  is  cotton  and  hemp,  but  not 
sufficient  for  their  wants.  This,  however,  is  not  of  much  conse 
quence,  because  silk  is  so  abundant  and  cheap,  and  is  a  more 
valuable  substance  than  either  flax  or  cotton.  Round  about  this 
great  city  of  Cambaluc  there  are  some  200  other  cities  at  various 
distances,  from  which  traders  come  to  sell  their  goods  and  buy 
others  for  their  lords;  and  all  find  means  to  make  their  sales  and 
purchases,  so  that  the  traffic  of  the  city  is  passing  great."  (Pp. 
374-415.)  "You  must  know  that  for  three  months  of  the  year, 
.  .  .  the  Great  Kaan  resides  in  the  capital  city  of  Cathay,  which 
is  called  Cambaluc  (and  which  is  at  the  north-eastern  extremity 
of  the  country).  In  that  city  stands  his  great  Palace,  and  now 
I  will  tell  you  what  it  is  like.  It  is  enclosed  all  round  by  a  great 
wall  forming  a  square,  each  side  of  which  is  a  mile  in  length; 
that  is  to  say,  the  whole  compass  thereof  is  four  miles.  This 
you  may  depend  on;  it  is  also  very  thick,  and  a  good  ten  paces 
in  height,  whitewashed  and  loop-holed  all  round.  At  each  angle 
of  the  wall  there  is  a  very  fine  and  rich  palace.  .  .  .  Also  midway 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF    MILTON  67 

between  every  two  of  these  Corner  Palaces  there  is  another  of 
the  like.  .  .  .  Inside  of  this  wall  there  is  a  second.  .  .  .  This 
enclosure  also  has  eight  palaces  corresponding  to  those  of  the 
outer  wall.  ...  In  the  middle  of  the  second  enclosure  is  the 
Lord's  Great  Palace,  and  I  will  tell  you  what  it  is  like.  You 
must  know  that  it  is  the  greatest  palace  that  ever  was.  .  .  .  The 
roof  is  very  lofty,  and  the  walls  of  the  Palace  all  covered  with 
gold  and  silver.  They  are  also  adorned  with  representations  of 
dragons  (sculptured  and  gilt),  beasts  and  birds,  knights  and  idols, 
and  sundry  other  objects.  And  on  the  ceiling  too  you  see  nothing 
but  gold  and  silver  and  painting.  .  .  .  The  Hall  of  the  Palace 
is  so  large  that  it  could  easily  dine  6000  people ;  and  it  is  quite  a 
marvel  to  see  how  many  rooms  there  are  besides.  The  building 
is  altogether  so  vast,  so  rich  and  so  beautiful,  that  no  man  on 
earth  could  design  anything  superior  to  it.  The  outside  of  the 
roof  also  is  all  colored  with  vermilion  and  yellow  and  green  and 
blue  and  other  hues,  which  are  fixed  with  a  varnish  so  fine  and 
exquisite  that  they  shine  like  crystal,  and  lend  a  resplendent 
lustre  to  the  Palace  as  seen  for  a  great  way  round.  .  .  .  More 
over  on  the  north  side  of  the  Palace,  about  a  bow-shot  off,  there 
is  a  hill  which  has  been  made  by  art,  ...  it  is  a  good  hundred 
paces  in  height  and  a  mile  in  compass.  This  hill  is  entirely 
covered  with  trees  that  never  lose  their  leaves  but  remain  ever 
green.  And  I  assure  you  that  wherever  a  beautiful  tree  may 
exist,  and  the  Emperor  gets  news  of  it,  he  sends  for  it  and  has  it 
transplanted  bodily  with  all  its  roots  and  the  earth  attached  to 
them,  and  planted  on  that  hill  of  his.  No  matter  how  big  the 
tree  may  be,  he  gets  it  carried  by  his  elephants;  and  in  this  way 
he  has  got  together  the  most  beautiful  collection  of  trees  in  all 
the  world.  And  he  has  also  caused  the  whole  hill  to  be  covered 
with  the  ore  of  azure,  which  is  very  green.  And  thus  not  only 
are  the  trees  all  green,  but  the  hill  itself  is  all  green  likewise; 
and  there  is  nothing  to  be  seen  on  it  that  is  not  green ;  and  hence 
it  is  called  the  Green  Mount;  and  in  good  sooth  'tis  named  well. 
On  the  top  of  the  hill  again  there  is  a  fine  big  palace  which  is  all 
green  inside  and  out;  and  thus  the  hill,  and  the  trees,  and  the 
palace  form  together  a  charming  spectacle;  and  it  is  marvellous 
to  see  their  uniformity  of  color!  Everybody  who  sees  them 
is  delighted.  And  the  Great  Kaan  has  caused  this  beautiful 
prospect  to  be  formed  for  the  comfort  and  solace  and  delectation 
of  his  heart."  (Pp.  362-6.) 


68  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Milton's  description  of  Cathaia,  or  Cambalu,  in  Moscovia 
is  taken  from  the  relations  of  those  Russian  travelers  whom  he 
commends  in  the  Preface.  Their  report  follows:  "From  this 
white  Citie,  or  Castle,  to  the  greatest  Citie  of  all  Cataya,  called 
Catay,  is  two  daies  journey,  where  the  King  himselfe  dwelleth. 
It  is  a  very  great  Citie,  built  of  white  stone,  foure  square,  and 
in  compasse  it  is  foure  days  journey;  upon  every  corner  thereof 
are  very  great  Towres  high  built,  and  white,  and  alongst  the 
wall  are  very  faire  and  high  Towres,  likewise  white  and  inter 
mingled  with  Blue  or  Azure,  upon  the  Gates,  Wall,  and  Towres; 
the  Loop-holes  or  Windowes  are  well  furnished  with  Ordnance, 
and  a  strong  Watch.  In  the  midst  of  this  white  Citie  standeth  a 
Castle  built  of  Magnet,  or  Loadstone,  wherein  the  King  himselfe 
dwelleth,  called  Tambun;  this  Castle  standeth  so  in  the  midst 
of  this  Citie,  that  every  way  you  have  halfe  a  dayes  going  to  it 
from  the  Gates,  through  the  streets  which  hath  stone  shoppes 
on  both  sides  with  all  manner  of  Merchandizes;  upon  their 
shops  they  have  their  houses  built  of  stone,  cunningly  painted 
more  than  the  former  Cities.  The  Castle  of  Magnets  is  curiously 
set  forth  with  all  manner  of  artificiall  and  precious  devices,  in 
the  middest  whereof  standeth  the  Kings  Palace,  the  top  whereof 
is  all  gilt  over  with  Gold.  .  .  .  The  Citie  of  Catay,  where  the 
King  dwelleth,  is  built  upon  an  even  plaine  ground,  and  is  in- 
compassed  round  about  with  a  River  called  Youga,  which  falleth 
into  the  blacke  Sea,  which  is  from  the  Citie  Catay  seven  dayes 
travell,  so  that  there  come  no  ships  neerer  the  City  Catay,  then 
seven  dayes  travell  off,  but  all  things  are  transported  in  small 
Vessels  and  shipboats.  The  Merchandizes  the  King  doth  send 
into  all  parts  of  his  Dominions  of  Catay,  and  from  thence  are 
carried  over  the  borders,  into  the  Land  of  Mugalla,  to  the  King 
Altine,  to  the  blacke  Kollmakes,  to  the  Iron  King,  into  Boghar 
and  other  Dominions.  Their  Patriarkes  and  Friers  travell  with 
the  commodities,  as  Velvets,  Sattens,  Damaskes,  Silver,  Leopard 
Skinnes,  Turkesses,  and  blacke  Zenders,  for  which  they  buy 
Horses  and  bring  them  into  Catay,  for  in  Catay  are  but  few 
horses,  .  .  .  and  Cloth  they  have  none.  .  .  .  The  people  are 
very  faire  but  not  warlike,  timorous  and  most  their  endeavor  is 
in  great  and  rich  traffick."  (Pilgrimes  3.  801.) 

A  friar  who  had  travelled  to  Pek'n  from  India  by  sea  writes: 
11  Pequin  may  be  called  the  Mother  Citie  of  the  Worlds  Monarchic 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  69 

for  the  wealth,  government,  greatnesse,  justice,  provisions.  It 
stands  in  the  height  of  41  degrees  to  the  North;  it  contayneth 
in  circuit  .  .  .  thirtie  leagues,  ten  in  length,  and  five  in  bredth, 
all  which  space  is  environed  with  two  Walls,  and  innumerable 
Towers  and  Bulwarkes."  (Pilgrimes  3.  272.) 

Cambria.    See  Wales. 

1.  Cambridge  (Cantabrigia,  Grantbrig,  University).  Carrier 
8;  Sonnet  11.  14;  Eleg.  2.  Title;  Apology  3.  264;  Bucer: 
Divorce  (Test.)  4.  290  (thrice),  292;  (Parl.)  4.  298;  Hist. 
Brit.  (4)  5.  156;  (5)  5.  203,  218;  (6)  5.  250;  2  Defens.  6.  284 
(twice),  287;  Epist.  Fam.  (3)  7.  372;  (4)  7.  373. 
The  seat  of  the  University  of  Cambridge,  in  Cambridgeshire. 
Thomas  Fuller  describes  it  as  follows:  "Cambridge  is  the  chief 
credit  of  the  county,  as  the  University  is  of  Cambridge.  It  is 
confessed  that  Oxford  far  exceeds  it  for  sweetnes  of  situation,  and 
yet  it  may  be  maintained  that  though  there  be  better  air  in 
Oxford,  yet  there  is  more  in  the  colleges  of  Cambridge,  for  Oxford 
is  an  university  in  a  town,  Cambridge  a  town  in  an  university, 
where  the  colleges  are  not  surrounded  with  the  offensive  embraces 
of  streets,  but  generally  situated  on  the  outside,  affording  the 
better  conveniency  of  private  walks  and  gardens  about  them." 
(Worthies  1.  224,  ed.  1840.)  Camden  says:  "This  city,  which  is 
the  second  university,  the  second  eye,  and  the  second  support  of 
England,  famous  for  being  the  magazine  of  religion  and  learning, 
is  situated  on  the  Cam,  which  after  sporting  among  the  islands  it 
has  formed  on  its  west  side,  turns  east  and  divides  the  town  into 
two  parts,  united  by  a  bridge,  whence  the  modern  name  Cam 
bridge  arose.  Beyond  the  bridge  is  a  large  old  castle,  which 
seems  to  have  lasted  its  time,  and  the  college  of  St.  Mary  Mag 
dalen.  On  this  (the  eastern)  side  the  bridge,  where  lies  the  largest 
part  of  the  town,  it  makes  an  handsome  appearance  by  the 
disposition  of  the  streets,  the  number  of  the  churches,  and  16 
beautiful  residences  of  the  Muses,  or  Colleges,  in  which  many 
learned  men  are  supported.  .  .  .  Nor  is  any  requisite  of  a  most 
flourishing  university  wanting  here  except  that  the  marshiness 
of  the  situation  renders  the  air  less  wholesome."  (2.  123.) 

The  number  of  dwellings  in  Cambridge  was  less  in  the  time  of 
Milton  than  in  1749,  when  there  were,  according  to  Professor 
Maitland,  1636.  He  writes:  "In  the  days  of  Elizabeth  and  her 


70  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

two  next  successors  there  was  a  scare  at  Cambridge,  as  elsewhere, 
about  overcrowding.  Some  minute  statistics  were  collected  at 
Cambridge.  .  .  .  The  outcome  is  summed  up  in  a  document 
written  in  1632.  .  .  .  The  general  impressions  left  upon  my  mind 
by  these  curious  returns,  .  .  .  are  that  the  number  of  houses 
on  a  given  area  had  been  rapidly  increasing  during  the  past  sixty 
years."  (Township  and  Borough,  pp.  102-5.)  Since  Milton 
spent  seven  years  at  Cambridge,  he  must  have  been  familiar 
with  the  town  and  the  surrounding  country. 

2.  Cambridge.     See  Cantbrig. 

Cambridgeshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  214;   (6)  5.  250. 

An  eastern  county  of  England,  part  of  the  Fen  Country. 

Came.     See  Camus. 

Camelford  (Gasulford).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  187. 

Galford,  Devonshire.  (Two  Chr.  2.  384.)  Milton's  identi 
fication  with  Camelford,  or  Gafulford,  in  Cornwall  on  the  River 
Alan,  is  probably  from  Camden  (1.6)  to  whom  he  refers  in  a  note. 
The  spelling  Gasulford  is  a  misprint  for  Gafulford. 

Camenick.     Decl.  Poland  8.  463. 

Kamenetz-Podolsk,  the  capital  of  Podolia,  in  southeastern 
Russia.  Described  by  Cromerus  as  strong  by  nature  and  forti 
fication.  (Polonia,  ed.  of  1587,  reprinted  1901,  p.  43.) 

Campania.     P.  R.  4.  93;   Divorce  (2.  3)  4.  69. 

A  district  of  Italy  on  the  west  coast,  south  of  Latium. 

Camus.     Marchioness  59;  Lycidas  103;  Eleg.  1.  11,  89. 

Camus  is  the  Latin  form  of  Cam,  the  name  of  the  river  flowing 
through  Cambridge,  called  also  Granta.  Milton  describes  the 
river  as  " reed-bearing,"  and  as  having  "rushy"  pools,  and  his 
lines, 

Next  Camus,  reverend  Sire,  went  footing  slow, 

His  Mantle  hairy,  and  his  Bonnet  sedge, 

suggest  his  frequent  observation  of  the  sluggish  course  of  the 
stream,  between  banks  where  water-plants  grow.  The  appearance 
of  Camus  resembles  that  of  the  aged  god  of  the  Tiber.  (Aeneid 
8.  31-4)  Masson  gives  the  following  note  on  Lycidas  103-7: 
"The  garb  given  to  Camus  must  doubtless  be  characteristic, 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  71 

and  is  perhaps  most  succinctly  explained  by  a  Latin  note  which 
appeared  in  a  Greek  translation  of  Lycidas  by  Mr.  John  Plumptre 
in  1797.  'The  mantle,'  said  Mr.  Plumptre  in  this  note,  'is  as 
if  made  of  the  plant  river-sponge,  which  floats  copiously  in  the 
Cam;  the  bonnet  of  the  river  sedge,  distinguished  by  vague 
marks  traced  somehow  over  the  middle  of  the  leaves,  and  ser 
rated  at  the  edge  of  the  leaves,  after  the  fashion  of  the  ai  ai  of 
the  hyacinth.'  It  is  said  that  the  flags  of  the  Cam  still  exhibit, 
when  dried,  these  dusky  streaks  in  the  middle,  and  apparent 
scrawlings  on  the  edge;  and  Milton  (in  whose  MS.  'scrawled 
o'er'  was  first  written  for  'inwrought')  is  supposed  to  have  carried 
away  from  the  'arundifer  Camus'  this  exact  recollection." 

Canaan  (Holy  Land,  Palestinus,  Promis'd  Land).     Ps.  114.  3; 

Ad  Patrem  85;   P.  L.  1.  Arg.;   3.  531,  536;   12.  135,  156,  172, 

215,  217,  269,  309,  315,  339;   P.  R.  3.  176,  366;  Samson  380; 

Apology  3.  266;    (12)  3.  323;    Divorce  (Pref.)  4.  7;    Hirelings 

5.  352.     (See  also  Israel,  Palestine.) 

Milton  gives  two  general  surveys  of  the  Land  of  Canaan,  one 
of  which,  P.  L.  3.  536-8,  is  based  on  the  Biblical  expression 
"from  Dan  even  to  Beersheba"  (e.  g.,  Judges  20.  1),  these  two 
cities  being  the  most  northern  and  the  most  southern  in  the 
country.  The  other,  P.  L.  12.  137-46,  is  much  more  elaborate, 
and  seems  to  contain  elements  from  many  passages  of  Scripture, 
such  as  Numbers  34.  1-15;  Deuteronomy  34.  1-4;  Joshua  13; 
1  Kings  8.  65;  Ezekiel  47.  13-21. 

Canada.     Areopag.  4.  413. 

Milton  uses  the  word  to  mean  the  northern  part  of  the  con 
tinent  of  North  America  (cf.  "Dominion  of  Canada"  as  used 
to-day).  In  his  time,  however,  the  name  seems  to  have  been 
restricted  to  the  country  along  the  St.  Lawrence  River  (Blaeu, 
p.  26),  a  usage  which  long  persisted  in  the  application  of  the 
name  only  to  the  provinces  of  Quebec  and  Montreal. 

Canariae  Insulae.     Lit.  Senat.  (21)  7.  206;  Contra  Hisp.  7.  356. 
(See  also  Azores,  Hesperides,  Palma,  Teneriffe.) 

The  Canaries,  a  group  of  islands  in  the  Atlantic,  off  the  north 
west  coast  of  Africa. 

Canary  Islands.     See  Canariae  Insulae. 
Candahar.    See  Candaor. 


72  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Candaor.     P.  R.  3.  316.     (See  also  Arachosia.) 

The  modern  Candahar,  a  province  of  Afghanistan,  and  a  city 
of  the  same  name,  on  the  highway  from  Persia  to  India.  Canda 
har  is  a  more  modern  name  than  some  of  those  associated  with 
it  by  Milton,  and  is  partly  synonymous  with  Arachosia,  a  name 
which  has  gone  out  of  use.  Purchas  writes:  "Candahar  is  a 
Citie  of  importance,  which  is  frequented  with  Merchants  of 
Turkic,  Persia,  and  the  parts  of  India."  (Pilgrimes  1.  236.) 

Candinos.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  472. 

Now  Cape  Kanin.  It  marks  the  eastern  entrance  to  the  White 
Sea,  in  northern  Russia. 

Cantabrigia.    See  1.  Cambridge. 

Cantbrig.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  215. 

Cambridge  in  Gloucestershire.  Ethelwerd  (A.  D.  909),  to  whom 
Milton  refers,  calls  it  a  place  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  River 
Severn  where  there  was  a  bridge. 

Canterbury  (Caerkeynt,  Cantuariensis,  Doroverne).  Reforma 
tion  (1)  3.  7,  12;  (2)  3.  60;  Church-gov.  (1.  5)  3.  119;  Eikonocl. 
(9)  3.  406;  Colast.  4.  357;  Ormond  4.  564;  Hist.  Brit.  (1) 
5.  15;  (4)  5.  139,  141,  162,  181;  (5)  5.  192,  193,  231 
(twice);  (6)  5.  241  (twice),  249,  251  (twice),  252,  278  (twice), 
279,  280,  283,  290;  1  Defens.  (8)  6.  141;  Commonplace 
179. 
A  city  in  Kent,  on  the  River  Stour.  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth 

ascribes  its  foundation,  under  the  name  of  Kaerlem,  to  Hudibras. 

(2.  9.)     Nennius  gives  the  name  Cairceint.      Bede  refers  to  it 

in  his  Ecclesiastical  History  by  the  Roman  name  Doruvernis. 

Cantuariensis.     See  Canterbury. 
Cape.    See  Cape  of  Hope,  Green  Cape. 

Cape  of  Hope.     P.  L.  2.  641;  4.  160.     (See  also  Ethiopian.) 

The  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  An  English  captain  who  circum 
navigated  the  globe  in  1587  writes  as  follows  of  the  trade  winds 
met  by  ships  when 

they  on  the  trading  Flood 
Through  the  wide  Ethiopian  to  the  Cape 
Ply  stemming  nightly  toward  the  Pole. 
(P.  L.  2.  640-2.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  73 

"From  the  19  day  of  March  unto  the  20  day  of  May,  we  found 
the  windes  for  the  most  part  betweene  the  South  and  the  East- 
southeast,  being  then  between  the  Hands  of  Maluco,  and  the 
cape  of  Buena  Esperanza,  in  the  latitude  of  34  degrees  to  the 
South  of  the  Line."  (Hak.  3.  836.) 

Cape  Verde.    See  Green  Cape. 

Caphtor.     Samson  1713. 

The  land  from  which  the  Philistines  came  (Deuteronomy  2.  23; 
Jeremiah  47.4;  Amos  9.7),  variously  identified  with  Crete,  the 
Delta  of  the  Nile,  and  Cilicia.  In  the  time  of  Milton  Cappadocia, 
the  form  used  in  the  Vulgate,  was  also  suggested.  (Bochart,  p. 
329.) 

Capitol  (Tarpeian  Rock).     Eleg.  1.  69;  P.  L.  9.  508;  P.  R.  4.  47, 
49;    Eikonocl.  (26)  3.  501   (thrice);    (28)  3.  517.     (See  also 
Quirini.) 
The  Capitoline  or  Tarpeian  Hill  is  the  smallest  of  the  seven 

hills  of  Rome,  and  one  of  those  nearest  the  Tiber.     It  was  the 

Citadel  of  Rome,  and  on  it  stood  the  temple  of  Jupiter  Capito- 

linus. 

Cappadocus.     1  Defens.  (2)  6.  30. 

Of  Cappadocia,  a  country  in  the  eastern  part  of  Asia  Minor, 
west  of  the  Euphrates.  Milton  is  quoting  from  Martial's  lines: 

Civis  non  Syriaeve,  Parthiaeve, 
Nee  de  Cappadocis  eques  catastis. 

(10.  76.) 

Capreae.     P.  R.  4.  92;   1  Defens.  (2)  6.  27. 

An  island  on  the  coast  of  Campania,  of  which  Sandys  writes 
thus:  "We  passed  between  this  cape  [of  Minerva]  and  Caprae,  an 
island  distant  three  miles  from  the  same,  small  and  rocky,  having 
no  Haven  nor  convenient  station.  But  the  air  is  there  mild, 
even  during  the  Winter,  being  defended  from  the  bitter  North 
by  the  Surrentine  Mountains,  and  by  the  West-wind,  to  which 
it  lies  open,  refreshed  in  the  Summer;  possessing  on  all  sides  the 
pleasure  of  the  Sea,  and  the  delicate  Prospects  of  Vesuvium, 
Naples,  Cuma,  and  the  adjoyning  Islands.  .  .  .  Tyberius  made 
Caprse,  by  his  cruelty  and  lusts,  both  infamous  and  unhappy; 
who  hither  withdrawing  from  the  affairs  of  the  Common-wealth, 
for  that  the  Island  was  unaccessible  on  all  sides  by  reason  of  the 


74  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

upright  clifts,  except  only  at  one  place,  no  man  being  suffered  to 
land  but  upon  especial  admittance,  hence  sent  his  Mandates  of 
death."  (Pp.  196-7.)  Milton  perhaps  visited  Capreae  when  in 
Naples. 

Caribiae  Insulae.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  361. 
The  Lesser  Antilles,  in  the  West  Indies. 

Carisbrooke.    See  Withgarburgh. 

Carlile  (Cairleil).     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  15;  (2)  5.  73. 
Carlisle,  in  Cumberland,  England. 

Carlisle.     See  Carlile. 

1.  Carmel.     P.  L.  12.  144. 

A  hilly  promontory  breaking  the  coast  of  Palestine,  with  its 
ridge  extending  to  the  southeast.  Milton's  "on  the  shore  Mount 
Carmel,"  is  perhaps  from  Jeremiah  46.  18,  where  are  the  words 
11  Carmel  by  the  sea." 

2.  Carmel.     MS.  2.  110. 

A  town  of  Judah  about  ten  miles  southeast  of  Hebron.  (1 
Samuel  25.) 

Carpathian.     Comus  872. 

Pertaining  to  Carpathus,  an  island  in  the  ^Egean  Sea,  south 
east  of  Rhodes,  where  Proteus  was- fabled  to  dwell. 

Carr.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  191,  192;   (6)  5.  264. 

The  River  Char,  Dorsetshire.     (Chronicle  833,  840.) 

Carron.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  82. 

A  river  of  Stirlingshire,  Scotland,  which  flows  into  the  Firth 
of  Forth. 

Carthage.     See  1.  Carthago. 

1.  Carthago.     P.  R.  3.  35;  1  Defens.  (10)  6.  169;  5  Prolus.  7.  437. 
Ancient  Carthage,  on  the  shore  of  what  is  now  Tunisia. 

2.  Carthago.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  358. 

Cartagena,  a  seaport  of  Colombia  on  the  Caribbean  Sea, 
founded  in  1583. 

Casan.    See  Cazan. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  75 

Casbeen.     P.  L.  10.  436.     (See  also  Bactrian,  Hispahan,) 

Kasbin,  a  city  some  distance  south  of  the  Caspian  Sea,  formerly 
a  capital  of  Persia.  We  find  the  following  in  Purchas:  "  Casbin, 
a  citie  very  wealthy,  by  reason  of  the  Kings  Palace,  and  the  great 
concourse  of  Merchants  which  resort  thither.  ...  This  Citie 
is  seated  in  a  goodly  fertile  plaine  of  three  or  foure  daies  journey 
in  length,  furnished  with  two  thousand  Villages,  to  serve  the 
necessary  uses  thereof.  .  .  .  It  is  now  one  of  the  seats  of  the 
Persian  Kings  Empire,  which  was  translated  by  King  Tamas, 
this  Kings  Grand-father,  from  Tauris.  .  .  .  The  gate  of  the 
Kings  Palace  is  built  with  stone  of  divers  colours,  and  curiously 
enamuled  with  Gold :  on  the  seeling  within  is  carved  the  warres 
of  the  Persian  Kings,  and  the  sundry  battels  fought  by  them 
against  the  Turkes  and  Tartars;  the  pavements  of  the  rooms 
beneath,  and  Chambers  above  are  spread  with  most  fine  Carpets, 
woven  and  tessued  with  Silke  and  Gold,  all  Ensignes  and  Monu 
ments  of  the  Persian  greatnesse."  (Pilgrimes  2.  1430.) 

Casius,  Mount.     P.  L.  2.  593.     (See  also  Serbonian  Bog.) 

The  summit  of  a  range  of  hills  on  the  borders  of  Egypt  and 
Arabia  Petraea,  south  of  the  Mediterranean.  Sandys,  after 
giving  an  abridgment  of  the  account  of  the  Serbonian  Bog  by 
Diodorus,  continues:  "Close  to  this  standeth  the  Mountain 
Cassius,  no  other  than  a  huge  mole  of  sand,  famous  for  the  Temple 
of  Jupiter,  and  Sepulchre  of  Pompey."  (P.  107.) 

Caspian.  Quint.  Nov.  20;  P.  L.  2.  716;  P.  R.  3.  271;  Moscovia 
(1)  8.  474,  475,  476  (twice).  (See  also  Hyrcanian.) 
Mela  writes  of  the  Caspian  Sea:  "Altogether  raging,  savage, 
without  ports,  exposed  to  winds  on  all  sides."  (3.  5.)  Anthony 
Jenkinson  says:  "Thus  sailing  sometimes  along  the  coast,  and 
sometimes  out  of  sight  of  land,  the  13  day  of  May,  having  a 
contrary  winde,  wee  came  to  an  anker,  being  three  leagues  from 
the  shoare,  and  there  rose  a  sore  storme,  which  continued  44 
houres,  and  our  cable  being  of  our  owne  spinning,  brake,  and 
lost  our  anker,  and  being  off  a  lee  shoare,  and  having  no  boate  to 
helpe  us,  we  hoysed  our  saile,  and  bare  roomer  with  the  said 
shoare,  looking  for  present  death,  but  as  God  provided  for  us, 
we  ranne  into  a  creeke  ful  of  oze,  and  so  saved  our  selves  with 
our  barke.  .  .  .  Thus  when  the  storme  was  seased,  we  went  out 
of  the  creeke  againe.  .  .  .  Within  two  dayes  after,  there  arose 


76  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

another  great  storme,  at  the  Northeast,  and  we  lay  a  trie,  being 
driven  far  into  the  sea,  and  had  much  ado  to  keepe  our  barke  from 
sinking,  the  billow  was  so  great."  (Hak.  1 .  334.)  Jenkinson  gives 
a  similar  account  of  a  storm  which  lasted  seven  days.  (Hak. 
1.  345.)  Marlowe  calls  the  Caspian  "ever-raging."  (1  Tambur- 
laine  176.) 

Cassibelauni  Jugera.     Damon.  149.     (See  also  Colnus.) 

Frequently  interpreted  as  St.  Albans,  Hertfordshire,  the  capital 
city  of  Cassivellaunus.  (Masson,  Milton1  s  Poems  3.  358.)  There 
seems,  however,  to  have  been  no  association  of  either  Milton  or 
Diodati  with  St.  Albans.  Perhaps  the  words  refer  to  the  same 
territory  as  that  mentioned  in  the  remainder  of  the  same  line, 
"ad  aquas  Colni,"  and  mean  the  neighborhood  of  Horton, 
Buckinghamshire,  for  the  realm  of  Cassivellaunus  lay  north 
of  the  Thames,  and  included  that  county.  (Camden  1.  313.) 
It  is  so  placed  in  Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  39,  where  Milton  refers  to 
Camden. 

Castalian  Spring.     P.  L.  4.  274. 

A  fountain  at  Daphne  (q.  v.),  named  after  that  mentioned 
under  Castalis. 

Castalis.     Eleg.  4.  32;  5.9. 

The  Castalian  Spring  is  a  fountain  at  Delphi,  the  water  of 
which  was  used  for  purification  in  connection  with  the  worship 
of  Apollo  there.  It  was  supposed  to  impart  poetic  inspiration 
to  those  who  drank  its  waters. 

Casteel.     See  Castile. 

Castile   (Casteel).      Church-gov.    (2.   1)  3.  152;    Commonplace 

185. 

Formerly  a  kingdom  in  the  northern  and  central  parts  of  the 
Spanish  peninsula. 

Cataio.     See  Cathay. 

Cataracta.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  177. 

Catterick,  in  northwestern  Yorkshire,  on  the  River  Swale. 
(Camden  3.  24.) 

Catelina.    See  Providentia. 
Cathaia.     See  Cambalu. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  77 

Cathaian.     See  Cathay. 

Cathay  (Cathaian,  Cataio,  China,  Sinaean).     P.  L.  3.  438;    10. 

293;    11.  388,  390;   Animadv.  (3.  37)  3.  213;   Areopag.  4.  413; 

Epist.  Fam.  (18)  7.  396;    Moscovia  (Pref.)  8.  469,  470;    (1) 

8.  471;   (3)  8.  484,  485  (thrice),  486  (thrice),  487  (thrice),  488. 

(See  also  Cambalu,  Sericana,  Vaiguts.) 

Now  known  to  be  the  same  as  the  northern  half  of  China. 
The  name  Cathay  was  applied  to  China  by  those  who  obtained 
their  knowledge  from  travelers  who  went  overland,  while  the 
name  China  was  used  by  those  who  went  by  water.  The  Rus 
sians  still  know  China  by  the  name  of  Cathay.  (Yule,  Marco 
Polo,  p.  12.)  Though  direct  intercourse  between  Cathay  and  the 
West  ceased  about  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century,  the  name 
still  remained,  with  all  the  associations  which  had  been  given  it 
by  accounts  of  the  power  of  Chingiz  Kaan  and  other  mighty 
Mongol  emperors.  When  in  the  sixteenth  century  China  was 
rediscovered  from  the  south  by  the  Portuguese,  the  name  Cathay 
continued  to  be  used.  It  was  applied,  however,  not  to  northern 
China,  but  to  an  empire  supposed  to  lie  farther  north  in  what  is 
now  eastern  Siberia.  The  Chinese  policy  of  exclusion  made  it 
difficult  for  strangers  to  learn  much  of  their  country,  and  the 
impression  made  on  the  traders  and  missionaries  of  the  period 
of  discovery  was  unlike  that  made  on  travelers  who  visited  the 
land  at  the  time  of  the  brilliant  rule  of  the  house  of  Chingiz. 
Consequently,  even  to  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century,  China  and 
Cathay  were  thought  of  as  different  regions,  and  were  so  repre 
sented  on  maps.  Mercator,  for  example,  shows  Cathay  north 
of  China,  and  locates  Cambalu  in  latitude  58°,  longitude  160°, 
and  Davity  distinguishes  between  them.  Samuel  Purchas  was 
much  interested  in  the  question  of  the  possible  identity  of 
China  and  Cathay,  of  which  he  gives  a  long  discussion  in  the 
Pilgrimage.  (Pp.  461—6.)  An  excellent  historical  review  of  the 
subject  is  made  by  Colonel  Henry  Yule  in  Cathay  and  the  Way 
Thither.  Whether  or  not  Milton  knew  China  and  Cathay  to  be 
the  same,  he  accepts  them  as  geographically  distinct  in  P.  L. 
11.  388-90.  Perhaps  he  retains  the  older  belief  for  the  sake  of 
poetic  effect.  The  ideas  which  a  reader  is  likely  to  associate 
with  Cambalu,  and  Cathay,  and  the  military  power  of  the  Great 
Kaan  are  unlike  those  called  up  by  the  commercial  renown  and 


78  A  GEOGRAPHICAL  DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

exclusive  policy  of  Peking  and  China.  On  occasion  Milton  was 
willing  to  identify  the  Chinese  with  the  inhabitants  of  Cathay, 
which  had  been  earlier  known  as  Serica  (see  Sericana),  as  is 
shown  by  the  following  passage : 

the  barren  plaines 
Of  Sericana,  where  Chineses  drive 
With  Sails  and  Wind  their  cany  Waggons  light. 

(P.  L.  3.  437-439.) 

Henry  Hudson  and  other  Englishmen  who  early  attempted  to  find 
the  Northeast  Passage  were  in  search  of  Cathay  rather  than  China, 
which  they  supposed  to  lie  far  to  the  south.  (Cf.  Areopag.  4.  413.) 
Milton  alludes  to  their  search  for  Cathay  in  P.  L.  10.  291-3. 
The  following  is  part  of  a  commission  given  certain  Englishmen 
who  set  out  to  find  a  way  to  China  by  the  northeast:  "A  voyage 
by  them  to  be  made  by  Gods  Grace,  for  search  and  discoveries 
of  a  passage  by  sea  from  hence  by  Boroughs  streights,  and  the 
Island  Vaigats,  Eastwards,  to  the  countries  or  dominions  of  the 
mightie  Prince,  the  Emperour  of  Cathay,  and  in  the  same  unto 
the  Cities  of  Cambalu  and  Quinsay,  or  to  either  of  them.  .  .  . 
We  hope  that  the  continent  or  firme  land  of  Asia  doth  not  stretch 
it  selfe  so  farre  Northwards,  but  that  there  may  be  found  a  sea 
passable  by  it,  between  the  latitude  of  70  and  80  degrees.  .  .  . 
Passe  Eastwards  alongst  the  same  coast,  keeping  it  always  in 
your  sight,  if  conveniently  you  may,  untill  you  come  to  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Ob,  and  when  you  come  unto  it,  passe  over 
the  said  rivers  mouth  into  the  border  of  land,  on  the  Eastside 
of  the  same  .  .  .  and  being  in  sight  of  the  same  Easterly  land, 
doe  you  in  Gods  name  proceed  alongst  by  it  from  thence  East 
wards,  keeping  the  same  alwayes  on  your  starboardside  in  sight, 
if  you  may,  and  follow  the  tract  of  it,  whether  it  incline  Southerly 
or  Northerly  .  .  .  untill  you  come  to  the  Countrey  of  Cathay, 
or  the  dominion  of  that  mightie  Emperour."  (Hak.  1.  433- 
434.)  Such  a  voyage  seemed  the  easier  to  the  men  of  that  time, 
because  they  did  not  realize  how  far  Asia  extends  to  the  northeast, 
and  placed  Cathay  far  to  the  north. 

Cathness.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  19;  (5)  5.  222. 

Caithness,  a  county  of  northern  Scotland,  bordering  on  the 
Atlantic  and  the  North  Sea. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON  79 

Catterick.    See  Cataracta. 

Caucasus.     P.  R.  3.  318;    Logic  (2.  Praxis)  7.  175;    3  Prolus. 

7.  427;  8  Prolus.  7.  457.     (See  also  Hyrcanian.) 

The  great  chain  of  mountains  between  the  Black  and  the 
Caspian  Seas,  supposed  to  have  been  the  scene  of  the  punishment 
of  Prometheus.  Milton's  reference  to  the  "Hyrcanian  cliffs  of 
Caucasus,"  though  somewhat  conventional,  is  perhaps  dependent 
on  the  lines  of  Virgil  quoted  in  the  Logic.  They  may  be  trans 
lated:  "Neither  was  a  goddess  your  mother,  nor  Dardanus  the 
founder  of  your  race,  traitor!  but  Caucasus  bristling  with  rugged 
rocks  begot  you,  and  Hyrcanian  tigresses  gave  you  suck." 
(MnM  4.  365-7.) 

Cazan  (Casan).     Moscovia  (1)  8.  475  (twice);    (4)  8.  492;    (5) 

8.  512,  518. 

Kazan,  a  city  of  eastern  Russia,  on  the  Volga.  In  a  passage 
to  which  Milton  refers  in  a  note,  Jenkinson  writes:  "We  came 
unto  an  Island  one  league  from  the  citie  of  Cazan,  from  which 
falleth  downe  a  river  called  Cazanka  reca,  and  entreth  into  the 
foresaide  Volga.  Cazan  is  a  faire  town  after  the  Russe  or  Tartar 
fashion,  with  a  strong  castle,  situated  upon  a  high  hill,  and  was 
walled  round  about  with  timber  and  earth,  but  now  the  Emperour 
of  Russia  hath  given  order  to  plucke  downe  the  old  walles,  and 
to  builde  them  againe  of  free  stone.  It  hath  bene  a  citie  of  great 
wealth  and  riches,  and  being  in  the  hands  of  the  Tartars  it  was  a 
kingdome  of  itselfe,  and  did  more  to  vexe  the  Russes  in  their 
warres,  then  any  other  nation,  but  9  yeres  past,  this  Emperour  of 
Russia  conquered  it,  and  tooke  the  king  captive,  who  being  but 
young  is  nowe  baptised,  and  brought  up  in  his  court  with  two 
other  princes,  which  were  also  kings  of  the  said  Cazan,  and 
being  ech  of  them  in  time  of  their  raignes  in  danger  of  their 
subjects  through  civil  discord,  came  and  rendred  themselves  at 
several  times  unto  the  said  Emperor,  so  that  at  this  present 
there  are  three  princes  in  the  court  of  Russia,  which  had  bene 
Emperours  of  the  said  Cazan,  whom  the  Emperour  useth  with 
great  honour."  (Hak.  1.  324.) 

Celtica.     See  Gaul. 

Celtick  Fields.     See  France. 


80  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Ceraunia.     Nat.  Non  31. 

A  name  applied  to  mountains  in  Epirus,  and  also  to  part  of 
the  Caucasus.  Milton  when  writing  of  them  perhaps  had  in 
mind  the  following  passage  in  an  account  of  a  storm  by  Virgil: 
"The  god  with  his  blazing  bolt  casts  down  either  Athos  or 
Rhodope,  or  high  Ceraunia."  (Georgics  1.  332.) 

Cerdic's  Ley.     See  Kerdics  Leage. 
Cestrensis.     See  Chester. 

Chseronea.     Sonnet  10.7. 

A  town  of  Bceotia,  on  the  River  Cephissus,  where,  in  B.C.  338, 
Philip  of  Macedon  defeated  the  forces  of  the  Athenians  and 
Boeotians. 

Chalcedon.     Church-gov.  (1.  Pref.)  3.  96. 

A  town  in  Bithynia,  opposite   Byzantium,  on  the    Bosporus. 

Chalcidica  Ripa.     Damon  182;  3  Leonor.  4. 

The  region  of  Cumae,  Campania,  was  called  Chalcidicae  because 
it  was  settled  by  colonists  from  the  Greek  Chalcidicae.  Virgil 
uses  the  word  in  this  sense.  (&neid  6.  17.) 

Chaldea.     P.  L.  12.  130. 

A  part  of  ancient  Babylonia.     (See  Genesis  11.  31.) 

Chalybean.     Samson  133. 

The  Chalybes  were  a  race  living  south  of  the  Black  Sea, 
famous  as  workers  in  iron.  Dionysius  Periegetes  says  of  them: 
"The  Chalybes,  who  understand  the  tasks  of  toilsome  iron, 
inhabit  a  hard  and  rough  land,  who,  standing  by  the  loud-roaring 
anvils,  never  cease  toil  and  grim  hardship."  (LI.  768-72.) 

Channel  Islands.    See  Norman  Isles. 
Chardford.     See  Kerdicsford. 
Charibdis.     See  Charybdis. 

Charing- Cross.     Animadv.  (5.  50)  3.  223.     (See  also  Queene 

Hithe.) 

A  cross  of  stone  in  Westminster,  one  of  those  erected  by  King 
Edward  I  in  memory  of  Queen  Eleanor.  (Stow  2.  100.) 

Charmouth.     See  Carr. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  81 

Charybdis  (Charibdis).     Comus  259;    P.  L.  2.  1020;   Animadv. 

(4.  45)  3.  216.     (See  also  Scylla,  Sicily.) 

A  famous  whirlpool  in  the  Straits  of  Messina,  on  the  side 
toward  Sicily.  The  Circe  of  Homer  describes  it  as  follows: 
"But  that  other  cliff,  Odysseus,  thou  shalt  note,  lying  lower, 
hard  by  the  first:  thou  couldest  send  an  arrow  across.  And 
thereon  is  a  great  fig-tree  growing,  in  fullest  leaf,  and  beneath  it 
mighty  Charybdis  sucks  down  black  water,  for  thrice  a  day  she 
spouts  it  forth,  and  thrice  a  day  she  sucks  it  down  in  terrible  wise. 
Never  mayest  thou  be  there  when  she  sucks  the  water,  for  none 
might  save  thee  then  from  thy  bane,  not  even  the  Earth-shaker!" 
(Odyssey  12.  101-7.)  When  Odysseus  actually  sees  Charybdis 
she  appears  as  follows:  "Mighty  Charybdis  in  terrible  wise 
sucked  down  the  salt  sea  water.  As  often  as  she  belched  it 
forth,  like  a  cauldron  on  a  great  fire  she  would  seethe  up  through 
all  her  troubled  deeps,  and  overhead  the  spray  fell  on  the  tops 
of  either  cliff.  But  oft  as  she  gulped  down  the  salt  sea  water, 
within  she  was  all  plain  to  see  through  her  troubled  deeps,  and 
the  rock  around  roared  horribly  and  beneath  the  earth  was 
manifest  swart  with  sand,  and  pale  fear  gat  hold  of  my  men. 
Toward  her,  then,  we  looked  fearing  destruction."  (Ib.  12.  235- 
44.)  The  roar  of  Charybdis  explains  Milton's  "hoarce  Tri- 
nacrian  shore."  Sandys,  who  sailed  by  Charybdis,  writes :  "This 
Whirle-pit  is  said  to  have  thrown  up  her  Wracks  near  Tauro- 
menia,  which  is  between  it  and  Catania.  Then  surely  by  much 
more  outragious  than  now,  and  more  dangerous  to  the  Sailer, 
by  reason  of  their  unskilfulness.  As  now,  during  our  passage, 
so  heretofore,  it  was  smooth  and  appeased  whilst  calm  weather 
lasted;  but  when  the  winds  began  to  ruffle,  especially  from  the 
South,  it  forthwith  runs  round  with  violent  eddies,  so  that  many 
Vessels  by  the  means  thereof  do  miscarry."  (P.  192.) 

Chebar.     Passion  37. 

Now  identified  with  a  large  canal  east  of  Nippur,  Babylonia. 
Adrichomius  thinks  it  to  be  the  Euphrates.  (P.  97.)  There 
the  prophet  Ezekiel  saw  his  visions.  (Ezekiel  1.1.) 

Chebron.     See  Hebron. 

Cheila.     1  Defens.  (4)  6.  78. 

A  town  of  Judah,  the  Keilah  of  the  Authorized  Version.  (1 
Samuel  23.  1-13.) 


82  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Chelmar.     See  Idumanius. 
Cherith.     P.  R.  2.  266. 

A  brook  of  Palestine,  placed  by  the  Bible  "before  Jordan." 
(1  Kings  17.  3,  5.)  Fuller  says  that  it  flows  into  the  Sea  of 
Galilee  from  the  east  (p.  91,  map),  and  Adrichomius  makes  it 
a  tributary  of  the  Jordan  from  the  west.  (P.  14,  map.) 

Chersonese  (Chersoness).     P.  L.   11.  392;    P.  R.  4.  74.     (See 
also  Ophir.) 

A  region  east  of  India,  usually  identified  with  the  peninsula 
of  Malacca.  (Ortelius,  Par  ergon,  p.  1.)  Purchas  writes:  "The 
Kingdome  of  Siam  comprehendeth  that  Aurea  Regio  of  Ptolemy 
by  Arrianus  in  his  Periplus  .  .  .  called  Aurea  Continens;  nigh 
to  which  is  placed  that  Aurea  Chersonesus,  then,  it  seemeth,  by 
a  necke  of  land  joyned  to  the  Continent;  since  supposed  to  be 
by  force  of  the  Sea  separated  from  the  same,  and  to  be  the  same 
which  is  now  called  Sumatra."  (Pilgrimage,  p.  557.)  Purchas 
knew  of  the  claims  of  Malacca,  for  in  a  marginal  note  he  says: 
"This  reason  is  alledged  why  Sumatra  should  be  Aurea  Chersone, 
and  Ophyr,  and  not  the  Continent  of  Malacca  which  hath  no 
Gold."  (Ib.,  p.  697.)  The  reason  appears  in  the  following  passage, 
which  follows  an  account  of  a  marvelous  banquet  given  by  the 
king  of  Sumatra:  "This  King  sent  to  his  Majestic  a  Present,  and 
a  Letter  in  forme  for  painting  and  writing  very  curious,  the  words 
thus  interpreted.  Pedrucka  Sirie  Sultan,  King  of  Kings,  Re- 
nowmed  for  his  warres,  and  sole  king  of  Samatra,  and  a  King 
more  feared  than  his  predecessors;  feared  in  his  Kingdome,  and 
honoured  of  all  bordering  Nations;  in  whom  there  is  the  true 
image  of  a  King,  in  whom  raignes  the  true  methode  of  Gouverne- 
ment,  formed  as  it  were  of  the  most  pure  me  tall,  and  adorned 
with  the  most  fine  colours;  whose  seate  is  high  and  most  com- 
pleate,  like  to  a  Chrystall  River,  pure  and  cleere  as  the  choicest 
glasse;  from  whom  floweth  the  pure  stream  of  Bounty  and 
Justice;  whose  presence  is  as  the  finest  Gold;  King  of  Priaman, 
and  of  the  Mountaine  of  Gold,  viz:  Solida,  and  Lord  of  nine 
sorts  of  Stones ;  King  of  two  Sumbreroes  of  beaten  Gold ;  having 
for  his  Seates  Mats  of  Gold;  His  furniture  for  his  horses,  and 
Armour  for  Himselfe  being  likewise  of  pure  gold;  His  Elephant 
with  teeth  of  Gold,  and  all  his  provisions  thereunto  belonging; 
His  Lances  halfe  Gold,  halfe  Silver;  his  small  shot  of  the  same; 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  83 

a  saddle  also  for  another  Elephant  of  the  same  metall;  a  Tent 
of  Silver;  and  all  his  Scales,  halfe  Gold,  halfe  Silver;  his 
Sepulchre  of  Gold,  whereas  His  Predecessors  had  all  these  halfe 
Gold,  halfe  Silver;  his  services  compleat  of  Gold  and  Silver." 
(76.,  p.  697.) 

Chersoness.    See  Chersonese. 

Cheshire.     Eikonocl.  (12)  3.  438;    Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  219,  221; 

Rupt.  Com.  5.  401. 

A  county  of  western  England,  bordering  on  Wales  and  the 
Irish  Sea. 

Chester  (Caer-Legion,  Cestrensis,  Westchester) .  Eleg.  1.3;  Lyci- 
das,  sub-title;  Eikonocl.  (8)  3.  391;  Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  144 
(twice);  (5)  5.  209,  233;  (6)  5.  240,  276,  286.  (See  also 
Wirheal.) 

A  city  in  Cheshire.  Camden  explains  that  its  various  names 
''are  all  undoubtedly  derived  from  the  20th  legion  called  Victrix" 
which  was  quartered  there.  (2. 423.)  The  prefix  West  in  the  form 
Westchester  means  not  west,  as  Camden  and  Milton  thought  (Hist. 
Brit.  (5)  5.  209,  based  on  Chronicle  894),  but  waste.  (Two  Chr.  2. 
110.)  Milton's  friend  Diodati  lived  for  a  time  in  Chester. 

Chesters.     See  Scilcester. 
Chichester.    See  Cichester. 

Chiitern.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  249. 

A  range  of  hills  extending  across  the  central  part  of  Bucking 
hamshire  from  southwest  to  northeast,  south  of  the  Vale  of 
Aylesbury.  Florence  of  Worcester,  one  of  the  authorities  men 
tioned  by  Milton  in  connection  with  them,  speaks  of  Chiitern 
Forest.  Holinshed  writes:  "Why  should  I  speake  of  ...  our 
Chiitern,  which  are  eighteen  miles  at  the  least  from  one  end  of 
them,  which  reach  from  Henlie  in  Oxfordshire  to  Dunstable  in 
Bedfordshire,  and  are  verie  well  replenished  with  wood  and 
corne?  not  withstanding  that  the  most  part  yeeld  a  swetet  short 
grass  profitable  for  sheep."  (1.  184.)  The  hills  are  some  dis 
tance  north  of  Milton's  home  at  Horton,  and  we  have  no  evidence 
that  he  had  visited  them. 

China.     See  Cathay. 


84  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Chios.     P.  R.  4.  118. 

An  island  of  the  ^Egean  Sea,  about  five  miles  from  the  coast 
of  Asia  Minor.  The  wine  of  Chios  is  often  mentioned  by 
Horace.  (Epod.  9.  34;  Serm.  1.  10.  24;  2.  3.  115,  etc.) 

Chippenham.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  204. 

A  town  in  Wiltshire,  on  the  River  Avon. 

Chirchester.     See  Circenester. 

Choaspes.     P.  R.  3.  288.     (See  also  Severn,  Susiana.) 

A  river  of  southern  Persia  emptying  into  the  Schatt  el  Arab. 
The  story  to  which  Milton  refers  in  the  words,  "The  drink  of 
none  but  Kings"  is  told  by  Herodotus  as  follows:  "Now  the 
great  king  makes  his  marches  not  only  well  furnished  from  home 
with  provisions  for  his  table  and  with  cattle,  but  also  taking 
with  him  water  of  the  Choaspes  boiled,  which  flows  by  Susa, 
of  which  alone  and  of  no  other  river  the  king  drinks :  and  of  this 
water  of  the  Choaspes  boiled,  a  very  great  number  of  waggons, 
four-wheeled  and  drawn  by  mules,  carry  a  supply  in  silver 
vessels,  and  go  with  him  wherever  he  may  march  at  any  time." 
(1.  188.)  Todd  endeavors  to  explain  why  Milton  says  that  only 
kings  drink  of  the  water  of  this  river.  Among  his  references  is 
one  to  Solinus,  who  writes:  "The  Choaspes  is  so  sweet  that  the 
Persian  kings,  as  long  as  it  flows  between  banks  of  the  soil  of 
Persia,  arrogate  to  themselves  drafts  from  it."  (38.  4.)  Todd 
refers  also  to  a  "golden  water"  of  which  none  but  the  kings 
drank,  but  says  that  this  is  not  known  to  be  the  same  as  Choaspes. 
He  also  quotes  from  Heylyn  (Cosmography,  p.  3)  as  follows: 
"Eulseus  (another  name  for  Choaspes),  the  chief  river  of  Susiana, 
emptying  itself  into  Sinus  Persicus,  a  river  of  so  pure  a  stream 
that  the  great  Persian  kings  would  drink  of  no  other  water." 

Jerram,  in  his  edition  of  P.  R.,  explains  the  adjective  "amber," 
which  Milton  applies  to  the  river,  as  clear,  and  quotes  from  Virgil: 

purior  electro  campum  petit  amnis. 

(Georg.  3.  522.) 

This  is  translated:    "stream  that  rolls  .  .  .  clearer  than  amber, 
in  its  course  to  the  plain."     He  also  refers  to  the  passage: 

And  where  the  river  of  Bliss  through  midst  of  Heavn 
Rowls  o'er  Elisian  Flours  her  Amber  stream. 

(P.  L.  3.  358-9.) 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  85 

Since  this  stream  is  apparently  the  "pure  river  of  water  of  life, 
clear  as  crystal"  (Revelation  22.  1),  the  application  of  the  words 
"amber  stream"  to  Choaspes  is  high  praise.  The  word  amber 
is  used  by  Milton  in  connection  with  light  or  brightness  in  the 
following  passages : 

Where  the  great  Sun  begins  his  state, 
Rob'd  in  flames,  and  Amber  light. 

(L'All.  60-1.) 

thou  fair  Moon 

That  wontst  to  love  the  travailers  benison 
Stoop  thy  pale  visage  through  an  amber  cloud. 

(Comus  331-3.) 

Over  thir  heads  a  chrystal  Firmament, 
Whereon  a  Saphir  Throne,  inlaid  with  pure 
Amber,  and  colours  of  the  showrie  Arch. 

(P.  L.  6.  757-759.) 

The  last  is  from  Ezekiel  1.  26-28.  Cf.  also  Ezekiel  1.  4  and  8.  2. 
These  passages  suggest  the  association  of  the  Latin  and  Greek 
equivalents  of  amber,  electrum  and  TJXeKTpov,  with  the  word 
i7\€KTcop,  the  beaming  sun  or  fire.  A  similar  idea  appears  in 
Pliny's  account  of  amber,  part  of  which  is  as  follows :  "Commend 
able  it  is  in  Amber,  and  sheweth  it  to  bee  rich,  if  it  represent 
fire  in  some  sort,  but  it  must  not  be  too  fierie.  But  the  excellent 
Amber  is  that  which  is  called  Falernum:  and  the  same  is  clear 
and  transparent,  with  a  gay  lustre  that  pleaseth  and  contenteth 
the  eye  very  well."  (37.  3.)  In  his  account  of  the  metal, 
amber  or  electrum,  composed  of  four  parts  of  gold  and  one  of 
silver,  he  writes:  "This  white  gold  also  hath  been  of  great 
account,  time  out  of  mind,  as  may  appear  by  the  testimonie  of 
the  Poet  Homer,  who  writeth  that  the  palaice  of  prince  Menelaus 
glittered  with  gold,  electrum,  silver,  and  yvorie.  .  .  .  This 
propertie  hath  Electrum  naturally:  To  shine  by  candle  light, 
more  clear  and  bright  than  silver."  (33.  4.)  Of  the  gem 
choaspites,  named  from  the  River  Choaspes,  he  says:  "Greene 
it  is  and  resplendent  like  burnished  gold."  (37.  10.)  Cf.  the 
word  "amber-dropping"  (Comus  863)  applied  to  the  hair  of 
Sabrina,  goddess  of  the  River  Severn,  whose  waves  are  called 
"glassy,"  "translucent,"  and  "silver,"  and  referred  to  as  "molten 
crystal."  Liddell  and  Scott  give  an  instance  of  the  word 


86  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

r)\6KTpwos  applied  to  water  (Callimachus,  Cer.  29)  with  the 
meaning  shining  like  amber,  perhaps  the  meaning  which  Milton 
had  in  mind. 

Cichester.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  209. 
Chichester,  Sussex. 

Cilicia.     Eleg.  4.  102;  Hirelings  5.  369. 

A  district  of  northwestern  Syria,  bordering  on  the  Mediter 
ranean.  Tarsus,  the  city  of  Paul,  was  in  Cilicia. 

Cilix.     See  Cilicia. 

Cimbricus.     Eleg.  4.  16. 

Pertaining  to  the  Cimbri,  a  German  tribe,  inhabiting  Jut 
land,  Schleswig,  and  Holstein. 

Cimmerian  Desert.     Quint.  Nov.  60;    L'All.  10;    1  Prolus.  7. 

421.     (See  also  2.  Pontus.) 

Milton  has  in  mind  no  definite  place.  His  reference  is  ex 
plained  by  the  following:  "She  [the  ship  of  Odysseus]  came  to 
the  limits  of  the  world,  to  the  deep-flowing  Oceanus.  There  is 
the  land  and  the  city  of  the  Cimmerians,  shrouded  in  mist  and 
cloud,  and  never  does  the  shining  sun  look  down  on  them  with 
his  rays,  neither  when  he  climbs  up  the  starry  heavens,  nor  when 
again  he  turns  earthward  from  the  firmament,  but  deadly  night 
is  outspread  over  miserable  mortals."  (Odyssey  11.  12-19.) 
The  ancients  placed  the  Cimmerians  also  in  the  region  of  the 
Crimea.  (E.  g.,  Herodotus  4.  11.) 

Circassia.     Moscovia  (5)  8.  518. 

A  district  of  Russia,  in  the  Caucasus,  directly  east  of  the 
Black  Sea. 

Circe's  Hand.     Comus  50. 

The  Island  of  ^Eaea  (Odyssey  10),  where  Circe  dwelt,  was 
supposed  to  lie  off  the  coast  of  Campania,  and  was  associated 
with  the  promontory  of  Circeii.  Sandys  says  of  his  voyage 
along  that  coast:  "And  now  we  are  come  to  the  Circaean  Promon 
tory,  once  being  an  Island,  the  Marishes  not  then  dryed  up  that 
divided  it  from  the  Continent."  (P.  239.) 

Cirencester  (Chirchester) .     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  134;    (4)  5.  152; 
(5)  5.  206;   (6)  5.  264. 
A  town  in  Gloucestershire. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON  87 

Cirrha.     Procancel.  31.     (See  also  Aonian.) 

A  seaport  of  Greece,  near  Delphi  and  Parnassus,  associated 
with  Apollo.  Milton  applies  the  name  figuratively  to  Cam 
bridge. 

Cithaeron.     Quint.  Nov.  67. 

A  range  of  mountains  separating  Boeotia  from  Megaris  and 
Attica.  It  was  sacred  to  Bacchus,  in  connection  with  whom, 
under  the  name  of  Bromius,  Milton  mentions  it.  Virgil  refers 
to  it  as  follows:  "Bereft  of  sense  she  [Dido]  raves,  and  fired  with 
madness  rushes  wildly  all  through  the  city,  like  a  Thyad  roused 
by  the  moving  of  the  sacred  mysteries,  when  the  cry  of  Bacchus 
is  heard,  and  the  triennial  orgies  goad  her  to  frenzy,  and  Cithaeron 
by  night  invites  her  with  its  din."  (^Eneid  4.  300-3.) 

City.     See  London. 

Clandeboy.     Ormond  4.  576. 

A  place  in  County  Antrim,  northeastern  Ireland,  the  seat  of 
the  O'Neals. 

Cleves.     Divorce  (2.  21)  4.  123;  Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  81. 

An  ancient  duchy  of  Germany,  lying  along  the  lower  Rhine 
below  Cologne. 

Clink.     Apology  (1)  3.  286. 

A  prison  in  the  Liberty  of  the  Clink,  in  Southwark,  on  the 
bank  of  the  Thames,  spoken  of  by  Stow  as  "a  Gayle  or  prison 
for  the  trespassers  in  those  parts,  Namely  in  olde  time  for  such 
as  should  brabble,  frey,  or  breake  the  Peace  on  the  saide  banke, 
or  in  the  Brothell  houses,  they  were  by  the  inhabitants  there 
about  apprehended,  and  committed  to  this  Gayle,  where  they 
were  straightly  imprisoned."  (2.  53,  55.) 

Cnidos.     Eleg.  1.  83.     (See  also  Paphos.) 

A  city  of  Caria  famed  for  its  temple  of  Venus.  For  example, 
Horace  writes  of  Venus: 

quae  Cnidon 

Fulgentisque  tenet  Cycladas,  et  Paphon 
lunctis  visit  oloribus. 

(Odes  3.  28.  13-15.) 
Cocytus.     P.  L.  2.  579. 

A  tributary  of  the  Acheron  in  Epirus,  which,  like  the  Acheron 
itself,  was  transferred  to  the  lower  regions.  Its  name  means 
lamentation. 


88  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF    MILTON 

Colchester.     See  Camalodunum. 

Colchis.     Eleg.  4.  10. 

A  region  east  of  the  Black  Sea,  the  native  land  of  Medea. 

Colebrook.     Eikonocl.  (18)  3.  468,  472;    Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  208. 

(See  also  Colnus.) 

A  town  of  Buckinghamshire  at  the  junction  of  the  Colne  with 
the  Thames.  The  passage  in  Camden  to  which  Milton  refers  in 
Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  208  is  as  follows:  "The  Cole  falls  into  the 
Thames  dividing  Bucks  from  Middlesex  at  a  town  called  from 
it  Colebrook.  .  .  .  Here  the  Cole  is  divided  into  four  channels. 
.  .  .  By  these  divisions  the  Coin  forms  several  pleasant  islands, 
to  which  the  Danes  retired  before  Alfred  A.  D.  894."  (1.  314.) 
Colnbrook,  as  the  place  is  now  called,  must  have  been  well 
known  to  Milton,  for  it  is  distant  from  Horton  but  a  mile. 

Colgoieve.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  472. 

An  island  of  the  Arctic  Ocean,  north  of  Russia.  The  account 
to  which  Milton  refers  in  his  note  is  as  follows:  "We  had  sight 
of  Colgoieve  Hand,  and  took  the  latitude,  being  on  the  North 
side  of  the  Hand  which  was  69  degrees,  20  minutes;  and  at  night 
I  went  on  shoare  to  see  the  Land,  which  was  high  clay  ground: 
and  I  came  where  there  was  an  airie  of  Slight-falcons,  but  they 
did  flie  all  away  save  one,  which  I  tooke  up,  and  brought  aboord. 
This  He  of  Colgoieve  is  but  thirtie  leagues  from  the  Barre  of 
Pechora."  (Pilgnmes  3.  533.) 

Colmogro.  Moscovia  (1)  8.  473,  4?4;  (5)  8.  510,  511  (twice). 
A  town  of  northern  Russia,  southeast  of  Archangel  on  the 
River  Dwina.  The  name  is  now  written  Kholmogory.  The 
account  of  Randolph,  to  which  Milton  refers  in  a  note,  is  as 
follows:  "Upon  this  river  (Dwina)  standeth  Colmogro,  and  many 
prety  villages,  well  situated  for  pasture,  arable  land,  wood  and 
water.  The  river  pleasant  between  hie  hills  of  either  side  in 
wardly  inhabited,  and  in  a  maner  a  wildernesse  of  hie  firre  trees, 
and  other  wood.  At  Colmogro  being  100  versts,  which  we 
account  for  three  quarters  of  a  mile  every  verst,  we  taried  three 
weeks.  .  .  .  Colmogro  is  a  great  towne  builded  all  of  wood, 
not  walled,  but  scattered  house  from  house.  The  people  are 
rude  in  maners,  and  in  apparell  homely,  saving  upon  their 
festivall  and  marriage  dayes.  ...  In  this  towne  the  English 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  89 

men  have  lands  of  their  owne,  given  them  by  the  Emperour, 
and  faire  houses,  with  offices  for  their  commodity,  very  many." 
(Hak.  1.  376.) 

Coin.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  208.     (See  also  Camalodunum.) 
A  river  of  Essex  flowing  into  the  North  Sea. 

Colnbrook.    See  Colebrook. 
Colnchester.    See  Camalodunum. 
Colne.     See  Colnus. 

Colney.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  208.     (See  also  Colebrook,  Coin.) 

The  island  in  the  River  Colne  where  the  Danes  encamped  in 
the  year  894.  (Chronicle.)  Milton  seems  to  prefer  to  locate 
this  island  in  the  Coin  in  Essex,  but  the  opinion  of  Camden,  who 
locates  it  at  Colebrook  in  Buckinghamshire,  is  now  accepted. 

Colnus.     Damon.  149.     (See  also  Colebrook.) 

The  River  Colne,  dividing  Middlesex  and  Buckinghamshire. 
Since  this  river  is  on  the  outskirts  of  the  village  of  Horton, 
Milton  must  have  been  familiar  with  it.  His  reference  indicates 
that  its  banks  had  been  one  of  his  favorite  haunts. 

Cologne.  See  Cullen. 
Colonia.  See  Cullen. 
Coloniensis.  See  Cullen. 

Colossi.     True  Relig.  5.  415. 
A  city  of  Phrygia,  Asia  Minor. 

Coluga.     Moscovia  (4)  8.  498. 

The  town  of  Kalouga  in  central  Russia,  southwest  of  Moscow. 
(Pilgrimes  3.  765,  770.) 

Comgoscoi.  Moscovia  (2)  8.  483;  (3)  8.  484.  (See  also  Tooma.) 
Apparently  a  misprint  for  Comgof-scoi,  the  form  in  Pil 
grimes  3.  527,  to  which  Milton  refers  in  a  note.  The  place  is 
probably  to  be  identified  with  Tooma,  to  which  it  corresponds  in 
location,  being  above  Narim  on  an  eastern  tributary  of  the 
River  Ob.  Both  cities  are  represented  as  starting  points  for 
expeditions  to  the  east,  and  Tooma,  the  first  settlement  in  the 
region,  was  founded  in  1604,  the  year  before  the  first  expedition 
from  Comgof-scoi. 


90  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Congo.     P.  L.  11.  401;   Commonplace  114. 

In  the  time  of  Milton  this  word  had  a  wider  application 
than  at  present.  Congo  included  most  of  western  Africa  south 
of  Guinea.  Purchas  describes  it  as  follows :  "It  is  distinguished 
by  foure  borders:  The  first,  of  the  West,  which  is  watered  with 
the  Ocean  Sea.  .  .  .  And  to  beginne  with  the  border  lying  upon 
the  Sea,  the  first  part  of  it  is  in  the  Bay  called  Seno  della  Vacche, 
and  is  situate  in  the  height  of  thirteene  degrees  upon  the  Antarc- 
ticke-side,  and  stretcheth  all  along  the  Coast  unto  foure  degrees 
and  a  halfe  on  the  North-side,  neere  to  the  Equinoctiall." 
(Pilgrimes  2.  989.)  Mercator  gives  the  other  boundaries  as 
follows:  "On  the  south  the  Mountains  of  the  Moon,  on  the  east 
the  mountains  where  are  the  sources  of  the  Nile,  and  on  the 
north  the  kingdom  of  Benin."  (P.  636.)  Purchas  gives  a  long 
account  of  the  conversion  of  the  people  to  Christianity,  to  which 
Milton  refers  in  the  Commonplace  Book.  A  portion  of  it  is  as 
follows:  "  All  the  Portugals  put  themselves  on  their  way  towards 
the  Court,  to  baptise  the  King,  who  with  a  most  fervent  longing 
attended  the  same.  And  the  Governour  of  Sogno  took  order 
that  many  of  his  Lords  should  wait  upon  them  with  musicke, 
and  singing,  and  other  signes  of  wonderfull  rejoysing;  besides, 
divers  slaves  which  he  gave  them  to  carrie  their  stuffe,  com 
manding  also  the  people,  that  they  should  prepare  all  manner 
"of  victuall  to  bee  readie  in  the  streets  for  them.  So  great  was  the 
number  of  people  that  ranne  and  met  together  to  behold  them, 
as  the  whole  Champaigne  seemed  to  bee  in  a  manner  covered 
with  them,  and  they  all  did  in  great  kindnesse  entertaine  and 
welcome  the  Portugall  Christians,  with  singing  and  sounding 
of  Trumpets  and  Cymbals,  and  other  Instruments  of  that 
Countrey.  And  it  is  an  admirable  thing  to  tell  you,  that  all  the 
streets  and  high- ways,  that  reach  from  the  Sea  to  the  Citie  of 
Saint  Saviours,  being  one  hundred  and  fiftie  miles,  were  all 
cleansed  and  swept,  and  abundantly  furnished  with  all  manner 
of  victuall  and  other  necessaries  for  the  Portugals.  Indeed,  they 
doe  use  in  those  Countries,  when  the  King  or  the  principall 
Lordes  goe  abroad,  to  cleanse  their  wayes  and  make  them  hand 
some.  .  .  .  And  so  great  was  the  multitude  of  people,  which 
abounded  in  the  streets,  and  that  there  was  neither  Tree  nor 
Hillocke  higher  than  the  rest,  but  it  was  loden  with  those  that 
were  run  forth  and  assembled  to  view  these  Strangers,  which 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  91 

brought  unto  them  this  new  Law  of  their  Salvation.  .  .  .  Many 
other  Lords,  being  addicted  rather  to  the  sensualtie  of  the  flesh, 
then  the  puritie  of  the  minde,  resisted  the  Gospel,  which  began 
now  to  be  preached,  especially  in  that  Commandement,  wherein 
it  is  forbidden  that  a  man  should  have  any  more  Wives  but  one." 
(Pilgrimes  2.  1010-1.) 

Constance.     Eikonocl.  (28)  3.  521. 

A  city  on  the  River  Rhine,  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden. 
From  1414  to  1418  a  council  of  the  Church,  known  for  its  con 
demnation  of  John  Huss,  was  held  there. 

Constantinople.    See  Bizance. 

Corallaei  Agri.     Eleg.  6.  19. 

The  territory  of  the  Coralli,  containing  the  city  of  Tomi,  on 
the  western  shore  of  the  Black  Sea,  to  which  Ovid  was  banished. 

Corfe  (Corvesgate).     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  238. 

A  castle  in  the  Island  of  Purbeck,  Dorsetshire,  described  by 
Camden,  to  whom  Milton  refers,  as  in  ruins.  (1.  44.)  It  is 
identified  with  Corvesgate.  ( Chronicle  979.) 

Corinth.     Church-gov.  (1.  6)  3.  131;   Eikonocl.  (27)  3.  507. 
A  city  of  Greece,  on  the  Isthmus  of  Corinth. 

Cornucopia.    Apology  (6)  3.  294. 

An  imaginary  region  invented  by  Milton,  on  the  analogy  of 
those  mentioned  by  Bishop  Hall  in  Mundus  Alter  et  Idem,  in 
derision  of  the  horns  (cornua)  pedantically  mentioned  by  the 
author  of  A  Modest  Confutation  of  the  Animadversions  upon  the 
Remonstrant  against  Smectymnuus. 

Cornwall.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  12,  14,  17,  20,  27;    (3)  5.  103,  132 
(twice);   (4)  5.  185,  187;  (6)  5.  240,  243. 
The  most  southwestern  county  of  England. 

Corvesgate.    See  Corfe. 

Cosham.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  256. 

Identified  by  Milton  with  Cosham,  Wiltshire,  now  Corsham. 
(Camden  1.  88.)  It  is  usually  identified  with  Cosham,  Hant- 
shire.  (Two  Chr.  2.  356.) 


92  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Cossack.     Decl.  Poland  8.  462  (4  times). 

The  Cossacks  of  the  Ukraine,  then  part  of  Poland. 

Cotimia  (Chocimum).     Decl.  Poland  8.  461  (twice),  463,  464. 

Khotin  or  Chocim,  a  town  in  Bessarabia  on  the  River  Dniester, 
where  Sobieski  defeated  the  Turks  in  1673. 

Coway  Stakes.     See  Oatlands. 

Cracovia.     Rami  Vita  7.  185;  Decl.  Poland  8.  458  (thrice),  464, 

466  (twice),  467. 

Cracow,  once  the  capital  of  Poland,  at  the  head  of  navigation 
on  the  Vistula. 

Cracow.     See  Cracovia. 

Craford  (Creganford).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  117. 

Cray  ford,  Kent,  the  Crecganford  of  Chronicle  457. 

Crapulia.     Animadv.  (3.  37)  3.  213. 

An  imaginary  region  described  in  Bishop  Hall's  Mundus  Alter 
et  Idem  1 . 

Crayford.     See  Craford. 

Crecklad  (Creclad).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  214,  256. 
Cricklade,  Wiltshire. 

Creet  (Crete).     P.  L.  1.  514;   P.  R.  4.  118;   Animadv.  (13.  76) 
3.  225   (twice);    Areopag.  4.  401;    Rami  Vita  7.   184.     (See 
also  Cydonius,  Dictaean,  Ida.) 
An  island  southeast  of  Greece.     Cretan  wines  are  mentioned 

by  Pliny  (14.  9). 

Creganford.     See  Craford. 

Cremona.     Passion  26. 

A  city  of  Italy,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Po.  It  was  the  birth 
place  of  Vida,  author  of  the  Christiad. 

Cressy.     Commonplace  242. 

A  village  in  the  department  of  the  Somme,  in  northern  France, 
where  the  English  under  Edward  III  defeated  the  French  under 
Philip  VI. 

Crete.    See  Creet. 
Cricklade.    See  Crecklad. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL    DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON  93 

Grim.     Decl.  Poland  8.  463;    Moscovia  (1)  8.  471,  475.     (See 

also  Nagay.) 

The  name  is  preserved  in  the  name  of  the  Crimea,  the  peninsula 
of  southern  Russia.  Formerly  it  was  applied  to  the  region  north 
of  the  peninsula,  inhabited  by  Tartars.  It  is  so  used  on  Jenkin- 
son's  map  of  Russia.  (Ortelius,  p.  99.) 

Croiland.     See  Croyland. 

Cronian  Sea  (Glacialis  Oceanus,  Northern  Ocean).     P.  L.   10. 

290;    Reformation  (2)  3.  69;    1  Defens.  (5)  6.    99;  Moscovia 

(5)  8.  502. 

The  Arctic  Ocean.  Dionysius  Periegetes,  who  makes  it  the 
northern  division  of  the  circumfluent  ocean,  says  of  it:  "Toward 
the  north,  where  are  the  children  of  the  Arimaspians,  full  of 
warlike  frenzy,  some  call  the  sea  the  frozen,  and  Cronian,  and 
others  indeed  call  it  also  dead,  because  of  the  powerless  sun,  for 
tardily  over  that  sea  he  shines,  and  always  he  is  magnified  in 
shady  clouds. "  (LI.  30-35.)  The  voyages  described  in  Moscovia 
5  were  all  to  the  Arctic  Ocean,  which  was  at  that  time  the  only 
part  of  the  ocean  bordering  upon  Russia.  For  the  "mountains 
of  ice"  on  the  Cronian  Sea,  see  the  article  Vaiguts. 

Croyland  (Croiland).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  199,  225,  233. 
A  monastery  in  Lincolnshire. 

Ctesiphon  (Tesiphon).     P.  R.  3.  292,  300. 

An  ancient  city  on  the  River  Tigris.  Pliny  writes  of  it:  "The 
Parthians  in  despight  againe  of  this  citie  [Seleucia],  and  for  to 
doe  the  like  by  it,  as  sometime  was  done  to  the  old  Babylon,  built 
the  Citie  Ctesiphon  within  three  miles  of  it,  in  the  tract  called 
Chalonitis,  even  to  dispeople  and  impoverish  it,  which  now  at 
this  present  is  the  head  citie  of  the  kingdome. "  (6.  26.)  Strabo 
says  of  it:  "Near  this  [Seleucia]  is  a  very  large  village  called 
Ctesiphon,  in  which  the  kings  of  the  Parthians  spend  the  winter, 
to  spare  the  inhabitants  of  Seleucia,  lest  they  should  be  annoyed 
by  a  Scythian  and  warlike  people.  But  on  account  of  the  Par 
thian  power,  it  is  a  city  rather  than  a  village,  because  it  receives 
such  a  great  multitude,  and  is  provided  by  them  with  supplies, 
and  has  the  trades  and  arts  needful  for  them.  There  the  kings 
of  the  Parthians  are  in  the  habit  of  spending  the  winter  because 
of  the  mild  air."  (16.  1.  16.) 


94  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Cullen  (Colonia,  Coloniensis).     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  80;    Hirelings 
5.  357;  Commonplace  112;  Sixteen  Let.  3  (twice). 
Cologne,  a  city  of  Germany  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Rhine. 

Culma.     Decl.  Poland  8.  467. 

Kulm,  a  town  on  the  Vistula,  now  included  in  West  Prussia. 

Cumanagota.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  360. 

In  the  seventeenth  century  a  town  of  northern  Venezuela, 
on  the  River  Neveri,  a  few  leagues  from  the  sea.  It  is  represented 
as  on  the  coast  on  Blaeu's  map  of  Venezuela.  (P.  277.)  In  1671  it 
was  united  with  Barcelona  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  latter. 
(J.  J.  D.  Lavaysse,  Voyage  .  .  .  dans  Diver ses  Parties  de  Vene 
zuela,  Paris,  1813,  vol.  2,  p.  238;  Leonard  V.  Dalton,  Venezuela, 
London,  1912,  p.  199.) 

Cumberland.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5. 175;  (5)  5. 196,  219,  223,  228,  233; 
(6)  5.  244. 
The  most  northwestern  county  of  England. 

Cusco.     P.  L.  11.  408.     (See  also  India  West,  Peru.) 

Cuzco,  the  capital  of  Peru,  conquered  by  Pizarro  in  1533. 
Purchas  gives  the  following  account  of  it:  "One  of  the  prin- 
cipallest  Idols  of  that  Empire  was  Cosco,  the  Imperial!  Citie, 
which  the  Indians  worshipped  as  a  thing  sacred,  .  .  .  because 
it  was  the  house  and  court  of  the  Incas  their  gods.  If  an  Indian 
in  the  way  met  another  which  came  from  Cozco,  though  other 
wise  equall,  and  now  he  himselfe  were  going  thither,  he  gave  him 
respect  therefore  as  his  superiour  for  having  been  there;  how 
much  more  if  he  were  a  neere  dweller,  or  Citizen  there!  ...  To 
hold  it  still  in  reputation,  the  King  adorned  it  with  sumptuous 
buildings,  of  which  the  principall  was  the  Temple  of  the  Sunne, 
every  Inca  increasing  it.  The  Chappell  or  shrine  of  the  Sunne 
was  that  which  is  now  the  Church  of  Saint  Domingo  .  .  . 
wrought  of  polished  stone.  .  .  .  All  foure  wals  were  covered 
from  the  top  to  the  bottome  with  Plates  of  Gold.  In  the  East  or 
high  Altar  stood  the  figure  of  the  Sunne,  made  of  one  planke  or 
plate  of  Gold,  twice  as  thicke  as  the  other  plates  on  the  wals; 
the  face  round,  with  rayes  and  fl-ames  of  fire,  all  of  a  peece.  It 
was  so  great  that  it  tooke  up  all  the  end  from  one  wall  to  the 
other.  .  .  .  This  Idoll  fell  by  lot,  in  the  Spanish  Conquerours 
sharing,  to  one  Mancio  Serra.  .  .  .  By  such  a  share  falling  to 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  95 

one  may  may  be  guessed  the  exceeding  riches  of  that  Citie  .  .  . 
Without  the  Temple,  on  the  top  of  the'wals  ran  all  alongst  a 
chamfred  worke  of  gold  in  forme  of  a  Crowne,  above  a  yard 
broad,  round  about  the  Temple."  (Pilgrimes  4.  1464.) 

Cyclades.     P.  L.  5.  264.     (See  also  Delos.) 

A  group  of  islands  in  the  ^Egean  Sea.  Strabo  gives  them  as 
twelve  or  fifteen  in  number.  (10.  5.  3.) 

Cydonius.     Eleg.  7.  37.     (See  also  Greet.) 

Of  Cydonia,  a  town  on  the  north  coast  of  Crete.  Milton  uses 
the  word  to  mean  Cretan.' 

Cyllene.     Arcades  98. 

A  mountain  in  Arcadia,  sacred  to  Hermes,  who  was  called 
Cyllenius.  (Eleg.  2.  13.)  With  Milton's  adjective  "hoar," 
or  snow-covered,  cf.  Virgil's  "gelidus  vertex."  (Mneid  8.  139.) 

Cymenshore.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  120. 

Shoreham,  Sussex.  (Two  Chr.  2.  11.)  Camden  puts  it  near 
Wittering.  (1.  188.) 

Cypros  (Cyprus).     Eleg.  1.  84;  Eikonocl.  (17)  3.  464.     (See  also 

Paphos.) 

An  island  south  of  Asia  Minor.  It  was  associated  with  the 
worship  of  Venus,  sometimes  called  Cypris.  (Eleg.  3.  20;  7.  11; 
Nat.  Non  63.) 

Cyprus.     See  Cypros. 

Cyrene.     P.  L.  2.  904;    Education  4.  390;    Areopag.  4.  401. 

(See  also  Barca.) 

An  ancient  city  of  northern  Africa,  in  the  country  now  called 
Tripoli.  It  was  a  seat  of  Greek  learning.  The  name  Cyrenaica 
was  applied  to  the  district,  nearly  corresponding  to  the  modern 
Barca,  under  the  rule  of  Cyrene.  The  immediate  neighborhood 
of  the  city  was  fertile,  but  to  the  south  were  deserts.  Lucan 
describes  a  sand-storm  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cyrene  as  follows : 

Then  with  fresh  might  he  [Auster]  fell  upon  the  host 
Of  marching  Romans,  snatching  from  their  feet 
The  sand  they  trod.     Had  Auster  been  enclosed 
In  some  vast  cavernous  vault  with  solid  walls 
And  mighty  barriers,  he  had  moved  the  world 
Upon  its  ancient  base  and  made  the  lands 


96  A   GEOGRAPHICAL    DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 


To  tremble:   but  the  faci 


Libyan  soil 


By  not  resisting  stood,  and  blasts  that  whirled 
The  surface  upwards  left  me  depths  unmoved.  .  .  . 
Fearing  the  storm,  prone  jell  the  host  to  earth 
Winding  their  garments  tirht,  and  with  clenched  hands 
Gripping  the  earth:  for  not  their  weight  alone 
Withstood  the  tempest  which  upon  their  frames 
Piled  mighty  heaps,  and  thbir  recumbent  limbs 
Buried  in  sand.     (Pharsali\  9.  463-86.) 

Czenstochowa.     See  Sieciethovij 

Czerniechovia.     Decl.  Poland  8. 

Czernichowce,  a  village  of  Galicia,  in  the  region  of  Tarnopol. 

Dacor  (Dacre).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  223. 

A  place  in  Cumberland,  on  the  River  Eamont. 

Damascus  (Damasco).     Eleg.  4.  116;   P.  L.  1.  468,  584;   Notes: 

Grif.  5.  391.     (See  also  Abbana.) 

An  ancient  city  of  Syria,  east  of  the  Anti-Lebanons,  on  the 
edge  of  the  desert,  for  ages  celebrated  for  its  beauty  and  pros 
perity.  William  Biddulph,  who  visited  it  in  the  year  1600, 
writes:  "Damascus  is  a  most  ancient  city,  and  as  Esay  spake  of 
it  in  his  time:  'The  head  of  Aram  is  Damascus'  (Isaiah  7.  8),  so 
Damascus  is  the  chiefest  Citie  of  Syria  to  this  day.  The  situation 
thereof  is  most  pleasant,  being  built  on  a  plaine  ground,  strongly 
walled  about,  and  a  strong  Castle  therein,  with  many  fine  Rivers 
running  on  every  side  of  it,  especilly  Abanah  and  Pharpar,  men 
tioned  2  Kings  5,  which  are  now  divided  into  many  heads.  The 
Turkes  say  that  their  Prophet  Mahomet  was  once  at  Damascus, 
and  that  when  he  saw  the  pleasant  situation  of  it,  and  beheld 
the  stately  prospect  of  it,  excelling  all  others  that  ever  hee  saw 
before,  refused  to  enter  into  the  Citie,  lest  the  pleasantnesse 
thereof  should  ravish  him,  and  move  him  there  to  settle  an 
Earthly  Paradise,  and  hinder  his  desire  of  the  heavenly  Paradise. 
It  hath  also  many  pleasant  Orchards,  and  Gardens  round  about 
the  Citie,  and  some  wayes  for  the  space  of  a  mile  and  more  about 
the  Citie  there  are  many  Orchards,  and  great  variety  of  fruits. 
.  .  .  Damascus  is  called  .  .  .  the  Garden  of  Turkic,  because 
there  is  no  place  in  all  the  Turkes  Dominions,  that  yeeldeth  such 
abundance  of  Fruit."  (Pilgrimes  2.  1347.)  Ariosto  describes 
Damascus,  and  tells  of  a  tournament  held  there : 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  97 

These  three  unto  Damasco  came  togither, 
The  fair'st  and  richest  towns  of  all  the  East, 
What  time  great  lords  and  knights  repaired  thither, 
Allured  by  the  fame  of  such  a  feast. 
I  told  you  from  the  holy  citie  thither, 
Was  five  or  sixe  dayes  journey  at  the  least : 
But  all  the  townes  about  both  small  and  great, 
Are  not  like  this  for  state  and  fruitfull  seat. 

For  first,  beside  the  cleare  and  temprat  aire, 
Not  noid  with  sommers  heat  nor  winters  cold, 
There  are  great  store  of  buildings  large  and  faire, 
Of  carved  stone  most  stately  to  behold, 
The  streets  all  pav'd  where  is  their  most  repaire, 
And  all  the  ground  is  of  so  fruitfull  mold, 
That  all  the  yeare  their  spring  doth  seeme  to  last, 
And  brings  them  store  of  fruits  of  daintie  tast. 

Above  the  Citie  lies  a  little  hill, 

That  shades  the  morning  sunne  in  erly  hours, 

Of  waters  sweet  (which  here  we  use  to  still) 

They  make  such  store  with  spice  and  juyce  of  flowrs 

As  for  the  quantitie  might  drive  a  mill, 

Their  gardens  have  faire  walks  and  shady  bowrs, 

But  (that  which  chief  maintaineth  all  the  sweets) 

Two  christall  streames  do  runne  amid  the  streets. 

(Orlando  Furioso  17.  12-14.) 

Milton  refers  to  Damascus  in  connection  with  the  following 
Biblical  narratives:  the  story  of  Naaman  the  leper  (2  Kings  5); 
the  obtaining  of  the  pattern  of  an  altar  of  the  Syrian  fashion  by 
King  Ahaz  (2  Kings  16.  10-16);  the  invasion  of  Palestine  by 
Benhadad  king  of  Syria  (1  Kings  20). 

Damiata.     P.  L.  2.  593. 

Damietta,  a  city  near  the  Mediterranean,  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  eastern  branch  of  the  Nile.  Matthew  Paris,  who  mentions 
it  often  in  his  accounts  of  the  Crusades,  calls  it  "the  key  of  all 
Egypt."  (A.D.  1219.)  A  traveler  who  visited  it  in  1580  writes: 
"More  within  the  lande  by  the  rivers  side  is  Damiata  an  auncient 
citie  environed  with  walles  contayning  five  miles  in  circuit.  .  .  . 
This  citie  is  very  large,  delightfull,  and  pleasant,  abounding  with 
gardens  and  faire  fountaines."  (Hak.  2.  1.  200.) 

Damietta.     See  Damiata. 

1.  Dan.     P.  L.  1.  485:    P.  R.  3.  431;    Reformation  (2)  3.  35. 
(See  also  Paneas.) 


98  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

A  former  city  of  northern  Palestine  at  the  headwaters  of  the 
Jordan.  Its  site  is  now  usually  said  to  have  been  at  Tell  el- 
Kadi,  though  in  Milton's  day  it  was  thought  to  have  been 
at  Paneas.  (G.  A.  Smith,  ityst.  Geog.  of  the  Holy  Land,  p. 
473.)  See  1  Kings  12.  28-30  fcr  its  connection  with  the  idola 
trous  worship  established  by  Jeroboam. 

2.  Dan.     P.  L.  9.  1059;  Samsol  332,  976,  1436;  MS.  2.  110. 

One  of  the  tribes  of  Israel  wjiose  territory  was  northwest  of 
that  of  Judah,  and  extended  tot  the  sea.  See  Judges  13.25  for 
the  "Camp  of  Dan." 

Danaw.    See  Danubius. 
Dania.    See  Denmark. 

Dantiscus.    Lit.  Oliv.  (21)  7.  263. 

Danzig,  a  port  of  Prussia  on  the  Vistula.     Cf.  Lit.  Senat.  (15). 

Danubius  (Danaw).     P.  L.   1.  353;    P.  R.  4.  79;    Hist.  Brit. 

(5)  5.  198,  202. 

A  river  rising  in  southern  Germany  and  flowing  southeast  into 
the  Black  Sea.  It  was  for  a  long  period  a  boundary  of  the 
Roman  Empire.  Mela  makes  it  one  of  the  boundaries  of  Sar- 
matia.  (3.  4.) 

Danzig.    See  Dantiscus. 

Daphne.     P.  L.  4.  273. 

A  place  on  the  river  Orontes,  near  Antioch  in  Syria,  where  there 
was  a  famous  temple  of  Apollo.  Sozomen  describes  it  as  follows: 
"Daphne  is  a  suburb  of  Antioch,  and  is  planted  with  cypresses 
and  other  trees,  beneath  which  all  kinds  of  flowers  flourish  in 
their  season.  The  branches  of  these  trees  are  so  thick  and  inter 
laced  that  they  may  be  said  to  form  a  roof  rather  than  merely 
to  afford  shade,  and  the  rays  of  the  sun  can  never  pierce  through 
them  to  the  soil  beneath.  It  is  made  delicious  and  exceedingly 
lovely  by  the  richness  and  beauty  of  the  waters,  the  temperate- 
ness  of  the  air,  and  the  breath  of  friendly  winds.  The  Greeks 
invent  the  myth  that  Daphne,  the  daughter  of  the  river  Ladon, 
was  here  changed  into  a  tree  which  bears  her  name,  while  she 
was  fleeing  from  Arcadia,  to  evade  the  love  of  Apollo.  The 
passion  of  Apollo  was  not  diminished  they  say,  by  this  trans- 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  99 

formation;  he  made  a  crown  of  the  leaves  of  his  beloved  and 
embraced  the  tree.  He  afterwards  fixed  his  residence  on  this 
spot,  as  being  dearer  to  him  than  any  other  place.  Men  of 
grave  temperament,  however,  considered  it  disgraceful  to  ap 
proach  this  suburb,  for  the  position  and  nature  of  the  place 
seemed  to  excite  voluptuous  feelings,  and  the  substance  of  the 
fable  itself  being  erotic,  afforded  a  measurable  impulse  and 
redoubled  the  passions  among  corrupt  youths.  They  who  fur 
nished  this  myth  as  an  excuse  were  greatly  inflamed  and  gave 
way  without  constraint  to  profligate  deeds,  incapable  of  being 
continent  themselves,  or  of  enduring  the  presence  of  those  who 
were  continent.  Any  one  who  dwelt  at  Daphne  without  a  mis 
tress  was  regarded  as  callous  and  ungracious,  and  was  shunned 
as  an  abominable  and  abhorrent  thing.  The  pagans  likewise 
manifested  great  reverence  for  this  place  on  account  of  a  very 
beautiful  statue  of  the  Daphnic  Apollo  which  stood  here,  as  also 
a  magnificent  and  costly  temple,  supposed  to  have  been  built 
by  Seleucus,  the  father  of  Antiochus,  who  gave  his  name  to  the 
city  of  Antioch.  Those  who  attach  credit  to  fables  of  this  kind 
believe  that  a  stream  flows  from  the  fountain  Castalia  which 
confers  powers  of  predicting  the  future,  which  is  similar  in  its 
name  and  powers  to  the  fountains  of  Delphi."  (5.19.)  Libanius 
gives  a  detailed  description  of  this  garden,  part  of  which  is  as 
follows:  " It  never  has  been  nor  will  be  spoken  worthily  concern 
ing  Daphne,  unless  it  should  come  into  the  mind  of  the  God  and 
the  Muses  to  sing  of  the  place.  .  .  .  The  beholder  is  dazzled  by 
the  sight  of  the  temple  of  Apollo,  the  temple  of  Zeus,  the  Olympic 
stadium,  the  theatre  of  every  delight,  the  multitude  and  thick 
ness  and  height  of  the  cypresses,  the  shady  paths,  the  places  of 
singing  birds,  the  moderate  breezes,  the  courteous  men  moving 
slowly  toward  banqueting  halls,  gardens  of  Alcinous,  the 
Sicilian  table,  the  horn  of  Amalthea,  a  complete  banquet, 
Sybaris.  .  .  .  The  fountains  of  Daphne  are  the  chief  of  the 
beauties  not  only  of  the  grove,  but  of  the  whole  world."  (Oration 
11,  Antiocheus,  Sect.  235  ff.)  Purchas  also  gives  an  account  of 
Daphne.  (Pilgrimage,  ed.  1626,  p.  71.)  For  other  references 
see  the  Latin  poem  of  ^Etna,  ed.  H.  A.  J.  Munro,  p.  41. 

Darby  (Derby).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  216,  228;   (6)  5.  276. 
The  chief  town  of  Derbyshire. 


100  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Darbyshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  51  203. 

Derbyshire,  a  county  of  central  England. 

Dardania.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  8Jt. 

A  district  in  the  southwestern  part  of  ancient  Moesia,  now 
southern  Serbia. 
Dardanius.     Eleg.  1.  73;   Damon.  162.     (See  also  Troy.) 

Pertaining  to  Dardanus;  poetical  for  Trojan. 

Darien.     P.  L.  9.  81. 

The  Isthmus  of  Panama.  In  the  words  "the  Ocean  barr'd 
at  Darien  "  Milton  refers  to  the  Isthmus  as  blocking  the  way  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  The  Spaniards  brought  the  product 
of  the  mines  of  Peru  across  the  Isthmus  for  shipment  to  Spain, 
instead  of  sending  them  around  Cape  Horn.  Sir  Francis  Drake 
visited  Darien  in  his  attacks  on  the  Spanish.  Purchas  refers 
to  Drake's  first  view  of  the  Pacific  as  follows :  "When  he  travelled 
over  those  Mountaynes  hee  beheld  thence  the  South  Sea,  and 
thereby  inflamed  with  desire  of  glory  and  wealth,  was  so  rapt 
with  desire  of  sayling  therein,  that  he  fell  there  on  his  knees, 
and  begged  of  God,  and  besought  the  favour  of  God  to  assist 
him  in  that  exploit,  and  made  a  solemne  vow  to  that  purpose, 
one  day  to  sayle  on  that  Sea,  which  every  day  and  night  lay 
next  his  heart,  pricking  him  forwards  to  the  performance." 
(Pilgrimes  4.  1180.)  The  project  of  a  canal  to  remove  this  bar 
was  early  suggested.  Heylyn  writes:  "Certain  it  is  that  many 
have  motioned  to  the  Councel  of  Spain,  the  cutting  of  a  navigable 
channel  through  this  small  Isthmus,  so  as  to  shorten  their  com 
mon  voyages  to  China,  and  the  Moluccoes.  But  the  Kings  of 
Spain  have  not  hitherto  attempted  it."  (Cosmography  4.  102.) 

Dartmouth.     See  Dertmouth. 

Darwen.     Cromwell  7. 

"Not  the  Derwent  in  Derbyshire,  as  some  commentators  have 
imagined,  but  the  Darwen  in  Lancashire,  which  falls  into  the 
Ribble  near  Preston.  It  was  in  that  neighborhood,  and  over 
the  ground  traversed  by  the  Ribble  and  its  tributaries,  that 
Cromwell  fought  his  famous  three  days'  battle  of  Preston,  Aug. 
17-19,  1648,  in  which  he  utterly  routed  the  Scottish  invading 
Army  under  the  Duke  of  Hamilton.  The  stream,  and  a  bridge 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  101 

over  it  where  there  was  hard  fighting,  are  mentioned  in  Crom 
well's  own  letter  of  Aug.  20,  1648,  to  Speaker  Lenthall,  describing 
the  battle;  and  Mr.  Carlyle,  in  a  note  to  that  letter,  has  given  a 
list  of  the  various  tributaries  to  the  Ribble,  the  Darwen  included, 
in  illustration  of  the  range  of  the  battle.  As  the  Darwen  is  not 
marked  in  ordinary  maps  of  Lancashire,  commentators  have 
denied  the  existence  of  such  a  Lancashire  stream,  and  supposed 
that  Milton  meant  the  Ribble,  but  forgot  its  name  and  put  that 
of  the  Derbyshire  Derwent  instead.  Here  again  one  sees  that 
it  is  unsafe  to  doubt  Milton's  accuracy."  (Masson,  Milton's 
Poems  3.  291.)  The  Darwen  is  shown  on  the  map  preceding 
the  Seven  and  Twentieth  Song  of  Drayton's  Polyolbion,  and  he 
puts  in  the  mouth  of  the  River  Ribble  the  words : 

whereat  my  going  downe, 
Cleere  Darwen  on  along  me  to  the  Sea  doth  drive. 

1.  Darwent.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  116.     (See  also  Craford.) 

A  river  of  Kent,  uniting  with  the  Cray  to  flow  into  the  Thames. 
Near  the  junction  of  these  streams  was  fought  the  battle  of 
Cray  ford. 

2.  Darwent   (Derwent).     Hist.    Brit.    (4)    5.    148;     (6)    5.    296. 
(See  also  Stamford  Bridge.) 

A  river  of  Yorkshire,  flowing  into  the  Ouse,  on  the  banks  of 
which  was  fought  the  battle  of  Stamford  Bridge. 

Daunius.    Ad  Rous.  10. 

Daunia  is  a  poetical  name  of  Apulia.  Milton  evidently  uses 
the  adjective  to  mean  Italian. 

Davenport.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  221. 
A  town  in  Cheshire. 

Dead  Sea.     See  Asphaltic  Pool. 

Deal.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  32. 

A  seaport  of  Kent,  eight  miles  northeast  of  Dover.  Camden, 
to  whose  account  of  Deal  Milton  refers  in  a  note,  writes:  "At 
Deal,  which  Nennius,  and  I  believe  rightly,  calls  Dole,  a  name 
still  given  by  our  Britans  to  an  open  plain  on  a  river  or  the  sea, 
tradition  affirms  Caesar  landed.  .  .  .  Caesar  himself  gives  it 
weight  when  he  says  he  landed  on  an  open  plain  shore."  (1.  218.) 


102  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Decan.     P.  L.  9.  1103.     (See  also  Malabar.) 

Deccan,  a  name  now  applied  to  the  peninsula  of  Hindustan. 
Linschoten  defines  it  as  the  country  "lying  behind  Goa"  (Pil- 
grimes  2.  1764),  that  is,  inland  from  Goa,  a  port  on  the  western 
coast. 

Dee.     See  Deva. 
Deerhurst.     See  Deorhurst. 
Degsastan.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  141. 

An  unidentified  place  in  northern  England  or  southern  Scot 
land. 

Deira.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  128,  134;  (4)  5.  137,  146,  153,  157,  160; 
MS.  2.  113. 

The  southern  part  of  ancient  Northumbria.  Holinshed  bounds 
Deira  on  the  north  by  the  Tyne,  and  on  the  south  by  the  Hum- 
ber.  (1.  584.) 

Delf.     Areopag.  4.  414. 

Delft,  a  town  in  South  Holland. 

Delius.    See  Delos. 

Dell.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  15. 
An  unidentified  place  in  Hainaut,  Belgium. 

Delmenhorst.     Safe-cond. 
A  town  of  the  grand  duchy  of  Oldenburg,  Germany. 

Delos.     Mansus  45;  Ad  Rous.  65;  P.  L.  5.  265;   10.  296.     (See 

also  Cyclades.) 

The  smallest  of  the  Cyclades,  in  antiquity  famous  as  a  centre 
of  the  worship  of  Apollo,  who  was  often  called  Delius  (as  in 
Eleg.  5.  13,  14).  Delos  was  believed  to  have  been  a  floating 
island  until,  that  it  might  be  the  birthplace  of  Apollo  and  Diana 
(called  Delia  in  Nat.  Non  49) ,  Zeus  fixed  it  to  the  bottom  of  the 
sea  with  chains  of  adamant.  Hence  it  was  believed  to  be  firmer 
than  other  islands,  never  shaken  by  earthquakes.  Pindar,  for 
example,  calls  it  "wide  earth's  immovable  marvel/'  (Fragment 
in  Honor  of  Delos.) 

Delphi.     See  Delphos. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  103 

Delphinatus.     Lit.  Oliv.  (8)  7.  245. 

The  Dauphinate,  one  of  the  old  provinces  of  France,  between 
Provence  and  Savoy. 

Delphos  (Delphi,  Pythian  Vale).     Nativity  178;   Ad  Rous.  59; 

P.  L.  1.  517;    10.  530;    P.  R.  1.  458;   2  Defens.  6.  269.     (See 

also  Pythian  Fields.) 

A  town  in  Phocis,  famous  for  its  oracle  of  Apollo.  Milton's 
words  "steep"  and  "cliff"  probably  refer  to  the  steep  cliffs 
rising  above  Delphi.  The  word  "hollow"  (Nativity  178)  may 
refer  to  the  cave  or  subterranean  chamber  which  formed  the 
inner  part  of  the  shrine  (Ovid  calls  it  "antrum"  in  Met.  3.  14),  or 
to  the  chasm  from  which  arose  intoxicating  vapors  (Diodorus 
16.6),  which  had  caused  the  place  to  be  chosen  for  the  oracle; 
or  perhaps  Milton,  when  he  wrote 

With  hollow  shreik  the  steep  of  Delphos  leaving, 

had  in  mind  the  words  of  Strabo  about  Delphi,  "a  rocky  place, 
shaped  like  a  theatre,  having  at  the  highest  point  the  fane  and 
the  city"  (9.  3.  3),  and  intended  to  express  the  effect  produced 
upon  the  voice  in  a  rocky  amphitheatre,  rather  than  in  cave  or 
chasm,  as  would  be  the  case  if  the  first  conjectures  are  correct. 
The  birth  of  the  monster  Python,  apparently  at  Delphi  (P.  L. 
10.  530),  where  it  was  killed  by  Apollo,  is  described  by  Ovid. 
(Met.  1.  416-51.) 

Demetia.    See  Wales. 

Denbigh-Shire.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  219. 

A  county  of  north  Wales,  bordering  on  the  Irish  Sea. 

Denisburh.    See  Eeav'n  Field. 

Denmark  (Dania).  Eikonocl.  (10)  3.  410  (twice);  (21)  3.  483; 
Tetrach.  (Canon)  4.  280;  Bucer:  Divorce  (Parl.)  4.  295; 
Kings  &  Mag.  4.  487;  Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  Ill,  112,  120;  (4) 
5.  179;  (5)  5.  189,  202;  (6)  5.  254,  255",  264,  265  (twice),  266, 
267,  269,  271  (twice),  275,  276  (twice),  284;  Lit.  Senat.  (30) 
7.  218  (twice);  (30)  7.  219  (thrice);  Lit.  Oliv.  (21)  7.  264; 
(49)  7.  299;  (55)  7.  304;  (65)  7.  315;  Lit.  Rest.  Parl.  (1) 
7.  343;  Moscovia  (4)  8.  494;  (5)  8.  504. 
In  the  time  of  Milton  Denmark  was  more  important  politically 

than  now,  and  its  king  ruled  part  of  the  Scandinavian  peninsula. 

It  was  one  of  the  Protestant  powers  of  Europe. 
8 


104  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Deomed.     See  Wales. 

Deorhirst.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  260.     (See  also  Alney.) 

Deerhurst,  near  Tewkesbury,  Gloucestershire.  (Camden  1. 
261.) 

Deorrham.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  134. 

Dyrham,  Gloucestershire.     (Camden  1.  263.) 
Deptford.     See  Detford. 
Derby.     See  Darby. 
Derriensis  Portus.     See  Londonderry. 

Dertmouth.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  277. 
Dartmouth,  Devonshire. 

Derwent.     See  2.  Darwent. 
Desert.    See  Wilderness. 

Desvergonia.    Apology  3.  267. 

An  imaginary  city  described  by  Bishop  Hall  in  his  Mundus 
Alter  et  Idem  2.5. 

Detford.     Apology  (6)  3.  294. 

A  place  in  Kent,  near  London,  of  which  Camden  says:  "The 
Thames  .  .  .  leaving  Surrey,  and  by  a  winding  course  almost 
returning  back  on  itself  again,  first  visits  Deptford,  a  noted  dock 
where  the  king's  ships  are  built  and  repaired,  and  where  is  a 
noble  store-house,  and  a  kind  of  college  for  the  use  of  the  navy." 
(1.  210.) 

Deva  (Dee).     Lycidas  55;  Vacat.  Ex.  98;  Eleg.  1.  3;  Hist.  Brit. 

(5)  5.  233. 

The  River  Dee,  flowing  northward  into  the  Irish  Sea,  was  the 
ancient  boundary  of  Wales  and  England.  Giraldus  Cambrensis 
writes:  "As  the  river  Wye  towards  the  south  separates  Wales 
from  England,  so  the  Dee  near  Chester  forms  the  northern 
boundary.  The  inhabitants  of  these  parts  assert  that  the  waters 
of  this  river  change  their  fords  every  month,  and  as  it  inclines 
more  towards  England  or  Wales,  they  can,  with  certainty,  prog 
nosticate  which  nation  will  be  successful  or  unfortunate  during 
the  year."  (1  tinerarium  2.  11.)  Spenser  writes  as  follows: 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  105 

And  .  .  .  Dee,  which  Britons  long  ygone 
Did  call  divine,  that  doth  by  Chester  tend. 

(F.  Q.4.  11.  39.) 

Devonshire.     Divorce  (Pref.)  4.  11;    Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  12;    (3) 
5.  132,  193,  205,  208,  216,  234;    (6)  5.  240,  241,  243,  244,  246, 
253,  282;   MS.  2.  114. 
A  county  of  southwestern  England,  bordering  on  the  Channel. 

Dictaean.     P.  L.  10.  584.     (See  also  Greet,  Ida.) 

Dicte  is  a  mountain  in  eastern  Crete,  associated  with  legends 
of  Zeus,  whom  Virgil  calls  the  "Dictaean  king."  (Georgics  2. 
536.) 

Diepa.     Lit.  Oliv.  (38)  7.  285  (thrice). 

Dieppe,  a  French  city  on  the  English  Channel. 

Dike.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  214. 

The  great  rampart  of  earth,  called  Rech  Dyke,  Devil's  Dike, 
etc.,  stretching  across  Newmarket  Heath,  which,  as  Dray  ton 
says,  "beginneth  at  Rech  and  endeth  at  Cowlidge."  He  gives  a 
full  description  of  it,  and  mentions  the  other  dykes  in  the  vicinity, 
in  Polyolbion  21.  Uncertainty  about  the  situation  of  this  and 
the  other  dykes  in  the  region  implied  in  the  sentence,  "The  King 
with  his  powers  makeing  speed  after  them,  between  the  Dike 
and  Ouse,  suppos'd  to  be  Suffolk  and  Cambridge-shire,  as  far 
as  the  Fenns  Northward,  laid  waste  all  before  him,"  can  hardly 
be  attributed  to  Milton.  His  doubt  must  lie  in  uncertainty 
about  the  translation  of  the  Old  English  word  dicum  in  the 
Chronicle  905,  from  which  he  takes  his  account.  He  translates 
the  word,  though  it  is  plural,  by  a  singular  noun.  The  dyke  is 
described  by  contemporary  writers  besides  Dray  ton,  and  is 
to  this  day  a  striking  feature  of  the  country  which  it  crosses. 

Dircaeus.     2  Leonor.  7;   Idea  Platon.  26.     (See  also  Aonian.) 

The  Dirce  is  a  small  stream  just  west  of  Thebes.  The  adjec 
tive  is  used  to  mean  Theban  or  Boeotian  (e.  g.,  Horace,  Odes  4.  2. 
25).  The  "Dircaean  augur"  is  Teiresias.  Cf.  P.  L.  3.  36;  2 
Defens.  6.  267. 

Ditmarsia.     Safe-cond.  (thrice). 

A  district  of  Germany  on  the  North  Sea,  bounded  by  the  Elbe 
on  the  south  and  the  Eider  on  the  north. 


106  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Dodona.     P.  L.  1.  518;   8  Prolus.  7.  469. 

A  town  in  Epirus  celebrated  for  its  oracle  of  Zeus.  The  will 
of  the  god  was  supposed  to  be  ascertained  by  observing  the 
rustlings  of  the  leaves  of  a  sacred  oak-tree.  Homer  writes  of 
Odysseus  that  he  had  gone  "to  Dodona  to  hear  the  counsel  of 
Zeus,  from  the  high  leafy  oak  tree  of  the  god."  (Odyssey  19. 
296.) 

1.  Don.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  181. 

A  river  flowing  into  the  Tyne  at  Jarrow,  Durham. 

2.  Don.     See  Dun. 

Dorchester.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  155,  179;   (6)  5.  278. 
The  chief  town  of  Dorsetshire,  on  the  River  Frome. 

Doric  Land.     See  Greece. 
Doroverne.     See  Canterbury. 

Dorsetshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  145;   (5)  191,  192,  193,  214;   (6) 
5.  243,  244,  256,  258,  282. 
A  county  of  southwestern  England,  bordering  on  the  Channel. 

Dothaim.     See  Dothan. 

Dothan  (Dothaim).     P.  L.  11.  217;  MS.  2.  111. 

An  ancient  city  of  Palestine,  on  a  mound  about  ten  miles 
north  of  ancient  Samaria.  See  2  Kings  6.  17. 

Dover.     Apology  (1)  3.  277;  Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  278,  289. 
A  seaport  of  Kent,  on  the  Straits  of  Dover. 

Drepanum.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  361. 
A  town  on  the  west  coast  of  Sicily. 

Dublin.     Ormond  4.  555,  561,  566;    Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  224,  234. 
The  capital  of  Ireland. 

Duina.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  472  (3  times),  473,  474  (twice);    (4) 

8.  501.     (See  also  Colmogro,  Pinega.) 

A  river  of  northern  Russia,  flowing  into  the  White  Sea.  It  is 
described  in  Hakluyt  thus :  "  The  river  is  called  Dwina,  very  large, 
but  shallow.  This  river  taketh  his  beginning  about  700  miles 
within  the  countrey."  (1.  376.)  Jenkinson  describes  as  follows 
the  boats  on  the  River  Dwina  mentioned  by  Milton:  "These 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  107 

vessels  called  Nassades  are  very  long  builded,  broade  made,  and 
close  above,  flat te  bottomed,  and  draw  not  above  foure  foote 
water,  and  will  carrie  two  hundred  tunnes:  they  have  none  iron 
appertaining  to  them  but  all  of  timber,  and  when  the  wind  serveth, 
they  are  made  to  sayle.  Otherwise  they  have  many  men,  some 
to  hale  and  drawe  by  the  neckes  with  long  small  ropes  made  fast 
to  the  sayd  boats,  and  some  set  with  long  poles.  There  are  many 
of  these  barks  upon  the  river  of  Dwina."  (Hak.  1.  312.) 

Dulichium.     Eleg.  6.  72. 

Frequently  mentioned  in  the  Odyssey  as  one  of  the  islands 
subject  to  Odysseus.  It  is  not  surely  identified,  but  must  have 
been  near  the  island  of  Ithaca. 

Dumbarrensis.     See  Dunbar. 
Dumbarton.     See  Dunbritton. 

Dun.     Vacat.  Ex.  92. 

The  Dun,  or  Don,  is  a  river  of  England,  an  affluent  of  the 
Ouse,  which  is  a  tributary  of  the  Humber.  Drayton  puts  in 
the  mouth  of  the  West  Riding  of  Yorkshire  the  following  address 
to  the  Don  : 

Thou  first  of  all  my  Floods,  whose  Banks  doe  bound  my  South, 

And  offrest  up  thy  Streame  to  mightie  Humbers  mouth,  .  .  . 

From  thy  cleare  Fountaine  first  through  many  a  Mead  dost  play,  .  .  . 

tow'rds  Doncaster  doth  drive,  .  .  . 

when  holding  on  her  race, 
She  dancing  in  and  out,  indenteth  Hatfield  Chase. 

(Polyolbion  28.1 

He  also  speaks  of  the  Don  as  "lively,"  and  calls  her  course 
"lusty." 

Dunbar  (Dumbarrensis).     Cromwell  8;   2  Defens.  6.  308. 

A  seaport  in  Haddingtonshire,  Scotland,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Firth  of  Forth,  where  the  Scotch  under  Leslie  were  defeated 
by  Cromwell,  September  3,  1650. 

Dunbritton  (Alcluith).     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  67;   (3)  5.  102  (twice); 

(4)  5.  175;   (5)  5.  196.     (See  also  Wall.) 

Dunbritton,  the  ancient  Alcluith,  now  called  Dumbarton,  is 
a  town  of  Scotland  on  the  northern  shore  of  the  Firth  of  Clyde, 
at  the  influx  of  the  Leven.  The  Firth  itself  was  formerly  known 
as  the  Firth  of  Dunbritton,  and  to  the  Romans  as  Glota. 


108  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Dunedham.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  277. 

Apparently  a  place  in  Gloucestershire  between  the  Rivers 
Wye  and  Severn.  Florence  of  Worcester,  from  whom  Milton, 
as  he  indicates  in  a  note,  takes  the  name  of  the  place,  calls  it 
Dymedham.  (Freeman,  Norman  Conquest  2.  571.) 

Dunfeoder.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  222. 

Now  Dunfother  or  Dunnotar,  Kincardineshire, Scotland.  ( Two 
Chr.  2.  364.)  Milton  refers  in  a  note  to  Simeon  of  Durham,  A.  D. 
934. 

Duni.     Lit.  Senat.  (22)  7.  207;   (32)  7.  220. 

The  Downs,  the  waters  between  the  mainland  of  Kent  and 
the  Goodwin  Sands. 

Dunkirka.     Lit.  Oliv.   (25)   7.  268   (twice);    (43)   7.  290;    (72) 
7.  323;   (73)  7.  323;   (75)  7.  326;  Contra  Hisp.  7.  359  (thrice); 
Sixteen  Let.  5,  6. 
Dunkirk,  a  seaport  of  France  on  the  Straits  of  Dover. 

Dunnotar.    See  Dunfeoder. 

Durham.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  172;    (6)  5.  242,  257  (thrice),  292. 
The  chief  city  of  the  County  of  Durham. 

Dyrham.     See  Deorrham. 

East -Angles.     Hist.    Brit.    (4)    5.    156,    160    (twice),    180,    186 
(twice),  187;    (5)  5.  192,  195,  200,  206  (twice),  208,  209,  210 
(twice),    214,    217,    218    (twice);     (6)    5.    238    (twice),    250, 
260. 
East  Anglia,  the  ancient  English  kingdom  comprising  what  is 

now  Norfolk  and  Suffolk. 

East  Cheap.    Apology  (6)  3.  294. 

A  street  in  London,  thus  described  by  John  Stow:  "The 
streete  of  great  Eastcheape  is  so  called  of  the  Market  there  kept, 
in  the  East  part  of  the  Citie,  as  West  Cheape  is  a  Market  so 
called  of  being  in  the  West.  This  Eastcheape  is  now  a  flesh 
Market  of  Butchers  there  dwelling,  on  both  sides  of  the  streete; 
it  had  sometime  also  Cookes  mixed  amongst  the  Butchers,  and 
such  other  as  solde  victuals  readie  dressed  of  all  sorts.  For  of 
olde  time  when  friends  did  meet,  and  were  disposed  to  be  merrie, 
they  went  not  to  dine  and  suppe  in  Taverns,  but  to  the  Cookes, 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  109 

where  they  called  for  meat  what  them  liked,  which  they  alwayes 
found  ready  dressed  at  a  reasonable  rate."     (1.  216-217.) 

East-France.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  206. 

The  Carolingian  kingdom  which,  after  the  death  of  Charle 
magne,  was  made  up  of  the  eastern  part  of  his  empire.  It  in 
cluded  part  of  the  Netherlands  and  extended  south  into  Italy. 

East-Saxons.     See  Essex. 
Eboracum.     See  York. 

Eburones.     Rami  Vita  7.  178. 

The  Eburones  of  the  time  of  Caesar  occupied  what  is  now 
Liege,  the  home  of  the  family  of  Ramus,  in  Belgium. 

Ecbatana  (Ecbatan).     P.  L.  11.  393;   P.  R.  3.  286. 

An  ancient  city  of  Media,  now  generally  called  by  the  Persian 
name  of  Hamadan.  Milton  incorrectly  identifies  it  with  the 
modern  Tabriz  (Tauris,  q.  v.).  Herodotus  gives  the  following 
description  of  the  city:  "Deiokes  was  much  put  forward  and 
commended  by  every  one,  until  at  last  they  agreed  that  he  should 
be  their  king.  .  .  .  And  when  he  had  obtained  the  rule  over  them, 
he  compelled  the  Medes  to  make  one  fortified  city  and  pay  chief 
attention  to  this,  having  less  regard  to  the  other  cities.  And 
as  the  Medes  obeyed  him  in  this  also,  he  built  large  and  strong 
walls,  those  which  are  now  called  Agbatana,  standing  in  circles 
one  within  the  other.  And  this  wall  is  so  contrived  that  one 
circle  is  higher  than  the  next  by  the  height  of  the  battlements 
alone.  And  to  some  extent,  I  suppose,  the  nature  of  the  ground, 
seeing  that  it  is  on  a  hill,  assists  towards  this  end;  but  much 
more  was  it  produced  by  art,  since  the  circles  are  in  all  seven  in 
number.  And  within  the  last  circle  are  the  royal  palace  and  the 
treasure-houses.  The  largest  of  these  walls  is  in  size  about 
equal  to  the  circuit  of  the  wall  round  Athens;  and  of  the  first 
circle  the  battlements  are  white,  of  the  second  black,  of  the  third 
crimson,  of  the  fourth  blue,  of  the  fifth  red:  thus  are  the  battle 
ments  of  all  the  circles  colored  with  various  tints,  and  the  last 
two  have  their  battlements  one  of  them  overlaid  with  silver  and 
the  other  with  gold."  (1.  98).  Xenophon  says  that  Ecbatana 
was  the  summer  residence  of  the  kings  of  Persia.  (Cyrop&dia 
8.  6.  22.) 


110  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Ecbryt  Stone.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  205.     (See  also  Selwood.) 

The  situation  of  this  place,  mentioned  in  the   Chronicle  878, 
is  uncertain.     (Two  Chr.  2.  373.) 

Echionius.     See  1.  Thebes. 
Ecron.    See  Accaron. 
Edel.     See  Volga. 
Edelingsey.    See  Athelney. 

Eden.  P.  L.  1.  4;  4.  Arg.,  27,  132,  210,  223,  275,  507,  569;  5. 
143;  6.  75;  7.  65,  582;  8.  113;  9.  54,  77,  193,  341;  10.  89; 
11.  119,  342;  12.  40,  465,  649;  P.  R.  1.  7;  Logic  (1.  24)  7.  78. 
(See  also  Alcinous,  Amara,  Auran,  Daphne,  Euphrates,  India, 
Nysean  Isle,  Pontus,  Punic  Coast,  Seleucia,  Telessar,  Tigris.) 
A  large  tract  of  country  in  which  the  Earthly  Paradise  was 

situated.     Milton  defines  it  as  follows: 

Eden  stretched  her  Line 
From  Auran  Eastward  to  the  Royal  Towrs 
Of  Great  Seleucia,  built  by  Grecian  Kings, 
Or  where  the  Sons  of  Eden  long  before 
Dwelt  in  Telassar. 

(P.  L.  4.  210-214.) 

That  is,  Eden  extends  from  the  Euphrates  eastward  to  the 
Tigris;  the  Tigris  flows  beneath  a  mount  on  which  the  Earthly 
Paradise  is  situated.  (Genesis  2.  8;  P.  L.  4.  208-10;  9.  71.) 

Edinburgh  (Agned,  Alclud,  Edinborrow,  Castle  of  Maydens). 
Eikonocl.  (4)  3.  367  (twice);  Ormond  4,  578;  Hist.  Brit.  (1) 
5.  14,  15,  24;  (2)  5.  67,  74;  (3)  5.  102. 

Edinburrow,  Firth  of.     See  Bodotria. 

Edindon  (Ethandune).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  205. 

A  town  in  Wiltshire  where,  according  to  Camden,  Milton's 
authority,  King  Alfred  overthrew  the  Danes.     (1.  89.) 

Edom  (Edomseus,  Edomite).     P.  R.  2.  423;  Animadv.  (14.  139) 
3.  239;   (15.  141)  3.  240;  Eikonocl.  (13)  3.  441;  Colast.  4.  349; 
1  Defens.  (3)  6.  71. 
A  country  of  Syria  south  of  Judea  and  the  Dead  Sea.     (Psalms 

60.  8;   108.  9.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  111 

Eely.     See  Ely. 

Eglesburh.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  134. 

Aylesbury,  in  the  Vale  of  Aylesbury,  Buckinghamshire. 

Eglesthrip  (Episford).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5. 116.     (See  also  Ailsford.) 
Probably  a  place  near  Ailsford,  Kent.     (Two  Chr.  2.  11.) 

Egypt  GEgypt,  ^Egypticus,  ^gyptus,  Pharian  Fields).     Ps.  80. 

33;   81.  19,  42;   87.  11;    114.   3;    136.  38;   Comus  676;   P.  L. 

1.  339,  421,  480,  488,  721;   3.  537;  4.  171;   5.  274;  9.  443;  12. 

157,  182,  190,  219;  P.  R.  2.  76,  79;  3.  379,  384,  417;  Animadv. 

(4.  45)  3.  216,  221;   Apology  (12)  3.  323,  324;   Eikonocl.  (17) 

3.465,468;  Divorce  (Pref .)  4.  7 ;  (2. 13)  4.  94  (twice);  Tetrach. 

(Deut.  24.  1,  2)  4.  180;   (Matt.  19.  7,  8)  4.  215  (twice);   Rupt. 

Com.  5.  401;   Easy  Way  5.  452,  454;   1  Defens.  (2)  6.  30,  44; 

(3)  6.  62;    (5)  6.  101,  103,  106;    (12)  6.  185;    Lit.  Oliv.  (57) 

7.  306.     (See  also  Memphis,  Nile.) 

Milton's  references  to  Egypt  are  almost  all  dependent  on  the 
Bible,  and  many  of  them  figurative.  He  refers  most  often  to 
the  sojourn  of  the  children  of  Israel  in  the  land,  and  their  escape 
from  it,  related  in  the  Pentateuch  and  mentioned  in  many  other 
parts  of  the  Bible. 

Eidora.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  111. 

The  River  Eider,  the  northern  boundary  of  Holstein. 

Ekron.     See  Accaron. 
Elbe.     See  Elve. 

El  Dorado.     P.  L.  1 1 .  41 1 .     (See  also  Guiana.) 

A  fabulous  city,  in  the  time  of  Milton  believed  to  exist  in 
the  northern  part  of  South  America.  It  is  shown,  about  two 
degrees  north  of  the  equator,  on  Blaeu's  map  of  Guiana  published 
in  1662.  (P.  25'9.)  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  who  made  an  expedi 
tion  in  search  of  El  Dorado  in  1595  and  another  in  1616,  writes: 
"I  have  bene  assured  by  such  of  the  Spaniards  as  have  scene 
Manoa  the  Imperial  Citie  of  Guiana,  which  the  Spaniards  call 
El  Dorado,  that  for  the  greatnesse,  for  the  riches,  for  the  excellent 
seat,  it  farre  exceedeth  any  of  the  world,  or  at  least  of  so  much 
of  the  world  as  is  knowen  to  the  Spanish  nation:  it  is  founded 
upon  a  lake  of  salt  water  of  200  leagues  long  like  unto  Mare 


112  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Caspium."  (Hak.  3.  634.)  Raleigh  then  describes  the  splendor 
of  Peru,  which  he  says  is  far  surpassed  by  that  of  El  Do 
rado,  and  gives  the  following  narrative  of  a  Spaniard  who  was 
supposed  to  have  been  in  the  city:  "He  avowed  at  his  death 
that  he  entered  the  city  at  Noon  .  .  .  and  that  he  travelled  all 
that  day  till  night  thorow  the  city,  and  the  next  day  from  Sun 
rising  to  Sun  setting  yer  he  came  to  the  palace  of  Inga.  .  .  . 
This  Martinez  was  he  that  Christened  the  city  of  Manoa  by  the 
name  of  El  Dorado,  .  .  .  upon  this  occasion :  Those  Guianians, 
and  also  the  borderers,  and  all  other  in  that  tract  which  I  have 
scene  are  marvellous  great  drunkards,  in  which  vice  I  think  no 
nation  can  compare  with  them :  and  at  the  times  of  their  solemne 
feasts,  when  the  emperour  carowseth  with  his  captaines,  tribu 
taries,  and  governours,  the  maner  is  thus:  All  those  that  pledge 
him  are  first  stripped  naked,  and  their  bodies  anointed  all  over 
with  a  kind  of  white  balsamum,  by  them  called  curca,  of  which 
there  is  great  plenty,  and  yet  very  deare  amongst  them,  and  it 
is  of  all  other  the  most  precious,  whereof  wee  have  had  good 
experience:  when  they  are  anointed  all  over,  certeine  servants 
of  the  emperour,  having  prepared  golde  made  into  fine  powder, 
blow  it  thorow  hollow  canes  upon  their  naked  bodies,  untill  they 
be  all  shining  from  the  foot  to  the  head :  and  in  this  sort  they  sit 
drinking  by  twenties  and  hundreds,  and  continue  in  drunkenness 
sometimes  sixe  or  seven  dayes  together.  .  .  .  Upon  this  sight, 
and  for  the  abundance  of  golde  which  he  saw  in  the  city,  the 
images  of  golde  in  their  temples,  the  plates,  armours,  and  shields 
of  gold  which  they  use  in  the  warres,  he  called  it  El  Dorado." 
(Hak.  3.  636.) 

Eldune.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  176. 

Milton  follows  Simeon  of  Durham  (chap.  43)  in  placing  Eldune 
near  Melrose,  Scotland.  The  Eildon  Hills  are  supposed  to  pre 
serve  the  name. 

Eleale.     P.  L.  1.  411. 

A  town  of  Moab,  always  associated  in  the  Bible  with  Heshbon. 
Eusebius  places  it  one  Roman  mile  north  of  Heshbon.  (Onomas- 
ticon,  Numbers  32.  3.)  See  Numbers  32.  3,  37;  Isaiah  15.  4. 

Eleus.     Eleg.  6.  26. 

Elis  is  a  country  on  the  western  coast  of  Peloponnesus,  where, 
on  the  bank  of  the  River  Alpheus,  was  the  temple  of  Olympian 
Zeus,  made  famous  by  the  Olympian  games. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  113 

Eleusinus.     Eleg.  4.  12. 

Pertaining  to  Eleusis,  a  city  of  Attica  famous  for  the  celebra 
tion  of  the  Eleusinian  mysteries,  of  which  Triptolemus  was  the 
hero. 

Eliberis.     Tetrach.  (Path.)  4.  265. 

Elliberis,  a  ruined  city  in  Spain,  not  far  from  Granada. 
Elie.     See  Ely. 
Elis.     See  Eleus. 
Ellandune.     See  Wilton. 
Elliberis.     See  Eliberis. 

Elsenora.     Lit.  Oliv.  (21)  7.  263  (twice),  264. 

Elsinore,  a  seaport  of  Denmark,  on  the  island  of  Zealand. 

Elve.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  111. 

The  Elbe,  a  German  river  flowing  into  the  North  Sea,  called 
Albis  and  Elve  by  Ortelius.  (P.  51,  map.) 

Elversham.     Hist.   Brit.    (1)   5.    15.     (See  also  Renault.) 
An  unidentified  place  in  Hainaut. 

Ely  (Anguilla,  Eely,  Elie).     Prsesul.  El.  14;  Apology  (1)  3.  277; 

Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  167  (twice);   (5)  5.  200;   (6)  5.  269,  273. 

A  city  (Latin,  Anguilla)  in  the  northern  part  of  Cambridge 
shire. 

Emathia.    See  Macedon. 

England  (Anglia,  Angleterre,  Inghilterra).  Sonnet  10.  2;  13. 
2;  Eleg.  3.  4;  4.  52;  Quint.  Nov.  4,  122,  128,  197,  211;  Refor 
mation  (1)  3.  1,  5,  6,  7,  25;  (2)  3.  35,  37,  39,  40  (twice),  41 
(3  times),  45,  48,  49,  54  (twice),  57,  60,  66;  Church-gov.  (1. 
Pref.)  3.  96  (twice);  (1.6)  3.  125,  127;  (2.  Pref.)  3.  145;  (2. 
Cone.)  3.  181;  Animadv.  (1.  2)  3.  190;  (1.  4)  3.  192  (twice); 
(1.  7)  3.  194;  (2.  25)  3.  207  (twice);  (3.  35)  3.  212;  (5.  50) 
3.  223;  (13.  76)  3.  226;  (13.  127)  3.  232,  233,  239;  (16.  38) 
3.  241;  (17.  149)  3.  242,  243;  Apology  3.  275;  (1)  3.  277; 
(11)  3.  315  (twice),  316;  Eikonocl.  (1)  3.  339,  340;  (2)  3.  348 
(twice);  (3)  3.  356,  357;  (4)  3.  367  (twice),  368;  (5)  3.  372; 
(6)  3.  379,  383;  (10)  3.  412;  (11)  3.  417.  418,  419  (twice), 


114  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

422;  (12)  3.  429,  430  (twice),  431,  432,  433,  436,  438,  439; 
(13)  3.  441,  443,  445;  (14)  3.  446;  (15)  3.  452;  (17)  3.  466; 
(20)  3.  478;  (22)  3.  486;  (23)  3.  487;  (26)  3.  502;  (27)  3.  503, 
504,  506,  507,  513,  515;  Divorce  (Parl.)  4.  1,  3,  11  (twice), 
13;  (1.  Pref.)4.  16,17;  (2.21)4.123;  Tetrach.  4.  133;  (Parl.) 
4.  135,  138,  139,  143;  (Gen.  2.  23)  4.  161;  (Deut.  24.  1,  2) 
4.  195;  (Canon)  4.  274,  278  (twice),  283,  284;  Bucer:  Divorce 
(Test.)  4.  287,  289  (twice),  291  (twice),  292;  (Parl.)  4.  293 
(twice),  298,  299,  301,  303;  (15)  4.  306;  (PS.)  4.  341  (twice), 
342;  Colast.  4.  346  (3  times),  351,  376;  Education  4.  388; 
Areopag.  4.  395,  396,  417,  426,  428  (twice),  436;  Kings  &  Mag. 
4.  467  (twice),  471,  472  (twice),  476,  477  (twice),  482,  495 
(twice);  Ormond  4.  557  (4  times),  558  (twice),  559,  560,  561, 
563,  565,  569  (twice),  570,  575  (twice),  577  (4  times),  580 
(3  times);  Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  123;  (4)  5.  140,  164,  171,  181,  183; 
(5)  5.  196,  223,  232,  233;  (6)  5.  240  (twice),  245  (twice),  246, 
247,  248  (twice),  253  (twice),  254  (twice),  263,  264,  265  (twice), 
266,  270,  271  (twice),  273,  274,  277,  279,  281,  282,  285,  291, 
292,293,296;  Civil  Power  5.  302  (twice);  Hirelings  5.  337,  338, 
358,  363;  Notes:  Grif.  5.  391,  396,  399;  True  Relig.  5.  407, 
412  (twice) ;  Easy  Way  5.  421,  422  (twice),  436,  448;  Moscovia 
(1)  8.  475;  (5)  8.  502,  505,  508,  514;  1  Defens.  (Prsef.)  6.  9; 
(1)  6.  24;  (5)  6.  116;  (8)  6.  136,  139  (twice),  140,  141  (twice), 
142,  144,  145,  146,  149,  152;  (9)  6.  153,  156  (twice),  157,  158, 
162  (twice),  163;  (10)  6.  164  (twice),  167,  171;  (11)  6.  172, 
174;  (12)  6.  178,  180,  182,  184;  1  Defens.  6.  277,  288,  296,  298, 
301,  315,  316,  320  (twice);  Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  338,  339;  Kami 
Vita  7.  184;  Lit.  Senat.  (16)  7.  201;  (18)  7.  202;  (19)  7.  204 
(twice);  (25)7.210;  (28)7.214;  (30)7.218,219;  (31)7.219; 
(33)  7.  222;  (35)  7.  223;  (37)  7.  224;  (39)  7.  227,  228;  (41) 
7.  232  (twice);  (42)  7.  233;  (43)  7.  233;  Lit.  Oliv.  (1)  7.  238; 
(59)  7.  309;  (78)  7.  329;  (79)  7.  330;  (80)  7.  331;  Lit.  Rich. 
(1)  7.  333;  (7)  7.  338;  Contra  Hisp.  7.  349,  350,  356,  357,  359, 
363,  367;  Epist.  Fam.  (9)  7.  383;  (21)  7.  399;  (28)  7.  407;  Com 
monplace  109  (5  times),  178,  181,  183  (twice),  185,  186,  220, 
242,  244,  245,  249;  Sixteen  Let.  3,  10,  16;  Safe-cond.  (twice). 
(See  also  Britain,  Logres.) 

Englefield.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  200. 
A  village  in  Berkshire,  near  Reading. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  115 

Enna.     P.  L.  4.  269. 

A  city  of  central  Sicily.  Milton's  description  of  the  Garden 
of  Eden  is  similar  to  classical  descriptions  of  the  region  of  Enna, 
and  he  doubtless  borrowed  directly  from  them.  Ovid  writes: 

Neare  Enna  walks  there  standes  a  Lake;   Pergusa  is  the  name. 

Cayster  heareth  not  mo  songs  of  Swannes  than  doth  the  same. 

A  wood  environs  everie  side  the  water  round  about, 

And  with  his  leaves  as  with  a  veyle  doth  keepe  the  Sunne  heate  out. 

The  boughs  do  yeelde  a  coole  fresh  Ayre:  the  moystnesse  of  the  grounde 

Yeeldes  sundrie  flowres:  continuall  spring  is  all  the  yeare  there  founde. 

While  in  this  garden  Proserpine  was  taking  hir  pastime, 

In  gathering  eyther  Violets  blew,  or  Lillies  white  as  Lime, 

And  while  of  Maidenly  desire  she  fillde  her  Maund  and  Lap, 

Endeavoring  to  outgather  hir  companions  there,  by  hap 

Dis  spide  hir.  (Metamorphoses  5.  385-95.) 

The  following  passage  in  Diodorus  may  also  be  compared  with 
Milton's  whole  description:  "The  rape  [of  Proserpina],  they  say, 
was  in  the  meadows  of  Enna,  not  far  from  the  city,  a  place 
decked  with  violets,  and  all  sorts  of  other  flowers,  affording  a 
most  beautiful  and  pleasant  prospect.  It  is  said  that  the  fra- 
grancy  of  the  flowers  is  such  that  the  dogs  sent  out  to  hunt  the 
game  thereby  lose  the  benefit  of  their  sense,  and  are  made  in 
capable  by  their  scent  to  find  out  the  prey.  This  meadow- 
ground,  in  the  middle  and  highest  part  of  it,  is  champaign  and 
well  watered,  but  all  the  borders  round  are  craggy,  guarded  with 
high  and  steep  precipices,  and  is  supposed  to  lie  in  the  very  heart 
of  Sicily,  whence  it  is  called  by  some  the  navel  of  Sicily:  near  at 
hand  are  groves,  meadows,  and  gardens,  surrounded  with 
morasses,  and  a  deep  cave,  with  a  passage  under  ground  opening 
towards  the  north,  through  which,  they  say,  Pluto  passed  in  his 
chariot  when  he  forced  away  Proserpine.  In  this  place  the 
violets  and  other  sweet  flowers  flourish  continually  all  the  year 
long,  and  present  a  pleasant  and  delightsome  prospect  to  the 
beholders  all  over  the  flourishing  plain."  (5.  3.)  Descriptions 
of  Enna  are  also  given  by  Claudian  (Rape  of  Proserpina  2)  and 
Cicero  (In  Verrem  4.  48.) 

Epeirot.     See  Epirot. 

Ephesus.    Episcopacy  3.  76  (thrice),  86;  Church-gov.  (Pref.)  3.  96; 
Animadv.  (13.  76)  3.  225;  Ormond  4.  567;  Moscovia  (4)  8.  489. 


116  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

A  seaport  of  Lydia,  Asia  Minor,  on  the  River  Cayster.  The 
passages  of  Scripture  on  which  some  of  Milton's  references 
depend  are  1  Timothy  1.3;  Acts  18.24-5;  20.28. 

Ephraim.     Samson  282,  988. 

Mount  Ephraim  is  that  portion  of  the  central  highlands  of 
Palestine  inhabited  by  the  tribe  of  Ephraim. 

Epidaurus.     P.  L.  9.  507. 

An  ancient  town  on  the  eastern  coast  of  the  Peloponnesus, 
famous  for  its  temple  of  Asclepius,  who  was  believed  frequently  to 
appear  in  the  form  of  a  serpent. 

Epirot  (Epeirot).     Vane  4;  Areopag.  4.  439. 

An  inhabitant  of  Epirus,  a  country  of  Greece  west  of  Macedon, 
on  the  Adriatic.  The  "Epirot"  is  Pyrrhus,  king  of  Epirus. 

Epirus.     See  Epirot. 
Episford.    See  Eglesthrip. 

Equinoctial  Line  (Ethiop  Line).     P.  L.  4.  282;    9.  64;    10.  672. 
The  Equator.     In  P.  L.  3.  617,  and  perhaps  in  P.  L.  10.  672, 
Milton  refers  to  the  celestial  equator. 

Ercoco.     P.  L.  11.  398.     (See  also  Negus,  Empire  of.) 

Arkiko,  a  port  on  the  western  shore  of  the  Red  Sea,  which 
formerly  belonged  to  Abyssinia.  Milton's  reference  to  the  city 
as  the  "utmost  Port"  of  the  empire  of  the  Negus  suggests  the 
following  passage  in  Purchas:  "It  hath  no  other  Port  on  the  red 
Sea,  but  Ercocco.  Neither  hath  the  Prete  any  other  Port  but 
this  in  all  his  dominion,  being  Land-locked  on  all  sides."  (Pil 
grimage,  p.  838.) 

Eristow.     A  misprint  for  Bristow. 

Erminia.     Commonplace  12. 

Armenia,  the  country  between  the  upper  Euphrates  and  Media. 

Erymanth.     Arcades  100. 

A  lofty  range  of  mountains  on  the  frontiers  of  Arcadia,  Achaia, 
and  Elis. 

Erythraean.    See  Red  Sea. 
Escesdunc.     See  1.  Ashdown. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  117 

Eshtaol.     Samson  181.     (See  also  Zorah.) 

A  town  of  Palestine  in  the  territory  of  Dan.     (Joshua  19.  41.) 

Eskesdun.     See  1.  Ashdown. 

Essex  (East-Saxons).  Eikonocl.  (4)  3.  361;  Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5. 
118;  (4)  5.  160,  187;  (5)  5.  191,  197,  207,  208  (twice),  209 
(twice),  210,  216,  218;  (6)  5.  243,  249,  250,  260  (twice),  277, 
282. 

A  county  of  eastern  England,  bordering  on  the  Thames  and 
the  North  Sea.  Milton  usually  employs  the  word  to  indicate 
the  Anglo-Saxon  kingdom  of  Essex,  the  boundaries  of  which 
extended  somewhat  beyond  those  of  the  county  (Camden  1. 
cxxx),  though  all  the  places  which  he  mentions  as  in  Essex 
are  included  within  the  present  limits  of  the  county. 

Esthambruges.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  15.     (See  also  Renault.) 

Estaimbourg  is  a  town  in  Hainaut,  near  the  River  Scheldt. 
Ortelius  on  his  map  of  Hainaut  shows  a  forest  near  Estam- 
bruge,  northeast  of  the  junction  of  the  Haine  and  the  Scheldt. 
(P.  38.)  See  also  Mercator,  p.  393,  map. 

Estotiiand.     P.  L.  10.  686. 

A  fabulous  island  near  the  northeastern  part  of  North  America. 
Hakluyt  gives  the  following  narrative  of  certain  sailors  who  were 
shipwrecked  in  that  region:  "They  discovered  an  Island  called 
Estotiiand,  lying  to  the  Westwards  above  1000  Miles  from  Fris- 
land,  upon  the  which  one  of  the  boats  was  cast  away,  and  sixe 
men  that  were  in  it  were  taken  of  the  inhabitants  and  brought 
into  a  faire  and  populous  citie.  .  .  .  They  dwelt  five  years  in 
the  Island,  and  learned  the  language,  and  one  of  them  was  in 
divers  partes  of  the  Island,  and  reporteth  that  it  is  a  very  rich 
countrey,  abounding  with  all  the  commodities  of  the  world,  and 
that  it  is  little  lesse  than  Island,  but  farre  more  fruitfull,  having 
in  the  middle  thereof  a  very  high  mountaine,  from  the  which 
there  spring  foure  rivers  that  passe  through  the  whole  countrey. 
The  inhabitants  are  very  wittie  people,  and  have  all  artes  and 
faculties,  as  we  have;  and  it  is  credible  that  in  time  past  they 
have  had  trafncke  with  our  men,  for  he  said,  that  he  saw  Latin 
bookes  in  the  kings  Librarie,  which  they  at  this  present  do  not 
understand.  They  have  a  peculiar  language,  and  letters  or 


118  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

caracters  to  themselves.  They  have  mines  of  all  maner  of  met- 
tals,  but  especial  they  abound  with  gold.  They  have  their 
trade  in  Engroneland,  from  whence  they  bring  furres,  brimstone 
and  pitch;  and  he  saith  that  to  the  Southwards  there  is  a  great 
populous  countrey  very  rich  of  gold.  They  sow  corne,  and 
make  beere  and  ale.  .  .  .  They  have  mighty  great  woods, 
they  make  their  buildings  with  wals,  and  there  are  many  cities 
and  castles.  They  build  small  barks  and  have  sayling,  but  they 
have  not  the  load  stone,  nor  know  the  use  of  the  compasse." 
(Hak.  3.  124.)  Hakluyt  adds:  "I  have  heere  annexed  judge 
ment  of  that  famous  Cosmographer  Abraham  Ortelius,  or 
rather  the  yealding  and  submitting  of  his  judgment  thereuhto, 
who  .  .  .  boroweth  proofe  and  authoritie  out  of  this  relation, 
to  shew  that  the  Northeast  parte  of  America  called  Estotiland, 
and  in  the  original  always  affirmed  to  bee  an  Islande,  was  about 
the  yeere  1390  discovered,  .  .  .  above  100  yeeres  before  ever 
Christopher  Columbus  set  saile  for  those  Westerne  Regions,  and 
that  the  Northern  Seas  were  even  then  sayled  by  our  European 
Pilots  through  the  helpe  of  the  loadstone."  (Ib.  3.  127.)  Mer- 
cator  applies  the  name  to  the  northeastern  coast  of  Labrador. 
(P.  689,  map.)  Heylyn  speaks  of  the  "extream  cold"  of  the 
country.  (Cosmography  4.  103.) 

Etam.    See  Etham. 

Etham.     Samson  253. 

Properly  Etam,  a  rock  of  unknown  situation  in  the  territory 
of  Judah.  (Judges  15.  8,  11.) 

Ethandune.     See  Edindon. 

Ethiop  OEthiopa).     Eleg.  5.  31;    II  Pens.  19;   Ps.  87.  15;   P.  L. 

4.  282.     (See  also  Equinoctial  Line,  Negus.) 

The  ancients  considered  the  Ethiopians  to  possess  that  part 
of  Africa  south  of  the  desert  and  of  Egypt.  (Mela  1.  4.)  Hence 
the  "Ethiop  Line"  is  the  equator. 

Ethiopian  Sea.     P.  L.  2.  641;  P.  L.  4.  161,  165. 

That  part  of  the  circumfluent  ocean  south  of  the  known  world 
was  in  antiquity  called  the  Ethiopian  Sea.  (Mela  1.  4.)  A 
survival  of  this  conception  iis  found  on  modern  maps  (e,  g., 
Mercator,  p.  49)  which  mark  as  Ethiopian  the  portion  of  the  ocean 
between  southern  Africa  and  South  America.  The  Ethiopian 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  119 

Sea  of  Dionysius  Periegetes,  according  to  the  following  passage, 
includes  at  least  the  Indian  Ocean:  "Where  first  the  sun  shines 
on  men,  they  call  it  the  eastern  and  the  Indian  swell  of  the  sea, 
and  close  by  they  name  the  Erythraean,  and  toward  the  south, 
where  is  spread  out  a  great  hollow  of  land  without  a  dwelling, 
consumed  by  fierce  suns,  the  Ethiopian."  (LI.  36-40).  Pur- 
chas,  in  describing  the  east  coast  of  Africa,  speaks  of  it  as  the 
shore  of  the  Ethiopian  Sea.  (Pilgrimes  1.  116.)  His  concep 
tion  is  the  one  accepted  by  Milton,  for  a  ship  sailing  from  the 
Indies  "through  the  wide  Ethiopian  to  the  Cape"  would  pass 
through  the  midst  of  the  Indian  Ocean. 

Etruria.     See  Tuscany. 

Euboic  Sea.     P.  L.  2.  546. 

The  water  between  Eubcea  and  the  mainland,  at  the  foot  of 
Mount  (Eta,  Thessaly. 

Euphrates  (Assyrian  Flood).  P.  L.  1.  420;  12.  114;  P.  R.  3.  272, 
384,  436.  (See  also  Assyria,  Balsara,  Tigris.) 
A  great  river  of  Asia,  rising  in  the  mountains  of  Armenia, 
and  flowing  southward  until  it  unites  with  the  Tigris  to  empty 
into  the  Persian  Gulf.  It  forms  the  western  boundary  of  Mesopo 
tamia.  Milton  twice  mentions  the  Euphrates  as  the  northeastern 
limit  of  the  realm  of  the  Jews  (P.  L.  1.  419-421;  P.  R.  3.  384). 
Both  passages  suggest  the  verse:  "Unto  thy  seed  have  I  given 
this  land,  from  the  river  of  Egypt  unto  the  great  river,  the  river 
Euphrates."  (Genesis  15.  18.)  The  adjective  "old,"  which 
Milton  applies  to  Euphrates,  is  probably  equivalent  to  the 
"great"  of  this  and  other  verses.  Spenser  calls  the  Euphrates 
"immortal."  (F.  Q.  4.  11.  21.)  Compare  "that  ancient  river, 
the  river  Kishon."  (Judges  5.  21.)  The  Euphrates  is  one  of 
the  four  rivers  of  Eden.  (Genesis  2.  14;  P.  L.  4.  231-5.)  The 
two  rivers  of  P.  R.  3.  255  are  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates.  In 
describing  them  as  flowing  from  the  side  of  one  mountain  Milton 
.suggests  the  tradition  recorded  by  Dante  in  the  words:  "In 
front  of  them  meseemed  I  saw  Euphrates  and  Tigris  issue  from 
one  fount,  and,  like  friends,  separate  slowly."  (Purgatory  33. 
112-114.)  Strabo  describes  them  as  having  their  origin  141  the 
same  mountain,  by  which  he  means,  not  a  single  peak,  but  the 
range  of  Taurus,  for  the  sources  of  the  streams  are,  he  says, 
9 


120  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

2500stades  distant  from  one  another.  (11.  12.  3.)  He  also  tells 
of  the  winding  course  of  the  Euphrates,  as  do  Solinus,  and  Mela; 
the  latter  says  that  if  it  were  not  for  the  mountains  in  its  way  it 
would  flow  into  the  Mediterranean.  (3.  8.)  The  picture  given 
by  Milton  of  Mesopotamia,  the  "Fair  Champaign  with  less  rivers 
interveind"  (P.  R.  3.  257),  is  a  composite  of  many  descriptions, 
the  chief  of  which  among  the  ancients,  in  addition  to  the 
geographers  already  named,  are  the  Bible,  Herodotus  (1.  178- 
200,  etc.),  Xenophon  (Anabasis  1  and  2),  Diodorus  (2  and  17), 
and  Pliny  (6.  26,  27).  The  "less  rivers  interveind"  are  the 
canals  of  which  Pliny  writes,  and  the  "barren  desert  fountainless 
and  dry"  is  described  in  the  Anabasis  1.  5.  One  may  also  com 
pare  with  P.  R.  3.  259-60,  and  with  the  descriptions  of  the  rivers, 
the  following  from  Dionysius  Periegetes:  "Eastward  from  the 
craggy  mountains  the  stream  of  the  huge  Euphrates  River 
appears,  which  indeed  from  the  Armenian  mountain  first  goes 
far  southward,  but  again  having  bent  its  spirals  and  having 
passed  eastward  through  the  midst  of  Babylon,  disgorges  into 
the  swelling  of  the  Persian  Gulf  its  swift  foam,  passing  by 
Teredon  at  its  very  mouth.  Beyond  this  to  the  east,  the 
Tigris,  fair-flowing,  swiftest  of  all  rivers,  hurries  along  in 
its  course  its  equal  stream,  distant  as  great  a  space  as  in 
journeying  seven  days  a  strong  and  agile  traveler  would  accom 
plish.  ...  It  goes  down  in  a  sharper  current  than  Euphrates, 
and  no  other  river  seems  swifter  than  it.  All  the  land  between 
Tigris  and  Euphrates  the  inhabitants  call  Mesopotamia.  Surely 
a  herdsman  of  cattle  would  not  blame  that  country,  nor  he 
who,  celebrating  with  the  syrinx  goat-footed  Pan,  follows  sheep 
which  dwell  in  the  open,  nor  would  a  gardener  contemn  the 
material  of  every  kind  which  it  offers  for  crops;  of  such  sort  is 
the  corn-land  of  it,  in  fostering  grass,  and  flowry  pastures,  and 
of  men  a  race  most  beautiful  and  like  the  gods."  (LI.  976-1000.) 
With  P.  R.  3.  258  cf.  Eldred's  narrative,  s.  v.  Balsara. 

Euripus.     2  Defens.  6.  297;  Logic  (1.  20)  7.  66. 

The  channel  between  Euboea  and  the  mainland,  famous  for 
its  tides  and  currents.  Milton's  use  of  the  word,  like  that  of 
Cicero  in  the  passage  (Pro  Murena  17)  which  he  quotes,  is 
figurative.  For  a  literal  reference,  see  Euripides,  Iphigenia  in 
Tauris  6. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  121 

Europe.  Fairfax  1;  Cyriack  12;  Quint.  Nov.  171;  P.  L.  10. 
310;  11.  405;  Tetr^ch.  (Canon)  4.  273;  Areopag.  4.  437; 
Kings  &  Mag.  4.  458,  475;  Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  74;  (3)  5.  Ill,  127; 
Hirelings  5.  371;  Notes:  Grif.  5.  399;  Easy  Way  5.  426;  2 
Defens.  6.  251;  Lit.  Oliv.  (32)  7.  276,  277;  (44)  7.  292;  Lit. 
Rich.  (10)  7.  341;  Contra  Hisp.  7.  346,  349,  351  (twice),  354, 
359;  8  Prolus.  7.  460;  Decl.  Poland  8.  463;  Moscovia  (Pref.) 
8.470;  Commonplace  53 ;  Sixteen  Let.  15. 

Eurotas.     Infant  25. 

A  river  of  Laconia,  flowing  by  Sparta. 

Exe.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  244. 

A  river  in  Somerset  and   Devon,   flowing  into   the   English 
Channel. 

Exeter.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  11;    (5)  5.  204  (thrice),  208  (twice), 

209  (thrice),  226;   (6)  5.  244  (twice),  246. 

A  city  of  Devonshire  near  the  mouth  of  the  River  Exe,  often 
mentioned  in  the  Chronicle. 

Eynesham.    See  Ignesham. 

Faesulanus.    See  Fesole. 

Falerne.     P.  R.  4.  117. 

A  district  in  northern  Campania,  celebrated  for  its  wines. 
(Horace,  Odes  1.  20.  10;  2.  3.  8,  etc.) 

Farendon.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  220. 
Faringdon,  Berkshire. 

Faringdon.     See  Farendon. 

Farnham.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  208. 
A  town  in  Surrey  on  the  River  Wye. 

Fedridan.     Misprint  for  Pedridan. 
Fehmarn.     See  Femarn. 

Femarn.     Safe-cond. 

Fehmarn,  an  island  in  the  Baltic  off  the  coast  of  Schleswig- 
Holstein. 

Fenns.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  214. 

The  Fens,  the  district  in  the  east  of  England  west  and  south 
of  the  Wash. 


122  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Ferrajo,  Porto.     See  Ferrari!  Portus. 

Ferrara.     2  Defens.  6.  289. 

A  city  of  Italy  on  the  Po  di  Volano.  Milton  visited  the  city 
in  the  course  of  his  travels  in  Italy,  but  tells  nothing  about  it. 
The  city,  then  past  its  time  of  greatest  prosperity,  was  under  the 
rule  of  the  popes. 

Ferrari!  Portus.     Lit.  Oliv.  (74)  7.  325. 

Porto  Ferrajo,  the  chief  port  of  the  Isle  of  Elba. 

Fesole  (Faesulani  Colles).     P.  L.  1.  289;   Epist.  Fam.  (8)  7.  380. 

(See  also  Florence,  Valdarno.) 

Fiesole  is  a  small  city  of  Italy  about  three  miles  northeast  of 
Florence.  The  hill  which  formed  its  citadel  is  about  a  thousand 
feet  above  the  valley  of  the  Arno.  Milton  seems  to  have  become 
familiar  with  the  place  during  his  sojourn  in  Florence.  I  am 
unable  to  discover  any  reason  why  he  associates  it  with  the 
astronomical  activity  of  Galileo. 

Fethanleage.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  134. 

Milton  indicates  by  a  note  that  his  account  of  a  battle  at  this 
place  comes  from  Henry  of  Huntington  2.  25.  Its  site,  in  western 
England,  is  unidentified. 

Fez.     P.  L.  11.  403.     (See  also  Almansor.) 

A  part  of  northern  Africa,  now  included  in  Morocco,  south  of 
the  Straits  of  Gibraltar.  Leo  Africanus  bounds  it  as  follows: 
"The  kingdome  of  Fez  beginneth  westward  at  the  famous  river 
Ommirabih  and  extendeth  eastward  to  the  river  Muluia;  north 
ward  it  is  enclosed  partly  with  the  Ocean  and  partly  with  the 
Mediterran  sea."  (P.  393.)  His  "exact  description  of  the  city 
of  Fez  "  is  as  follows :  "A  World  it  is  to  see,  how  large,  how  popu 
lous,  how  well-fortified  and  walled  this  citie  is.  ...  Of  Mahume- 
tan  temples  and  oratories  there  are  almost  seven  hundred  in  this 
towne,  fiftie  whereof  are  most  stately  and  sumptuously  built, 
having  their  conducts  made  of  marble  and  other  excellent  stones 
unknowen  to  the  Italians,  and  the  chapiters  of  their  pillars  be 
artificially  adorned  with  painting  and  carving.  .  .  .  The  chiefe 
Mahumetan  temple  in  this  towne  is  called  Caruven,  being  of  so 
incredible  a  bignes,  that  the  circuit  thereof  and  of  the  buildings 
longing  unto  it,  is  a  good  mile  and  a  halfe  about."  (P.  419  ff.) 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  123 

In  his  Commonplace  Book  57  Milton  gives  a  reference  to  the 
following  passage  in  Leo:  "  In  Fez  there  are  divers  most  excellent 
poets,  which  make  verses  in  their  owne  mother  toong.  Most  of 
their  poems  and  songs  intreat  of  love.  Every  yeere  they  pen 
certaine  verses  in  the  commendation  of  Mahumet,  especially 
upon  his  birthday,  for  then  betimes  in  the  morning  they  resort 
unto  the  palace  of  the  chief  judge  or  governor,  ascending  his 
tribunall-seat,  and  from  thence  reading  their  verses  to  a  great 
audience  of  people;  and  hee  whose  verses  are  most  elegant  and 
pithie  is  that  yeere  proclaimed  prince  of  the  poets.  But  when 
as  the  kings  of  the  Marin-familie  prospered,  they  used  to  invite 
all  the  learned  men  of  the  citie  unto  their  palace,  and  honorably 
entertaining  them,  they  commanded  each  man  in  their  hearing 
to  recite  their  verses  to  the  commendation  of  Mahumet,  and  he 
that  was  in  all  mens  opinions  esteemed  the  best  poet  was  rewarded 
by  the  king  with  an  hundred  duckats,  with  an  excellent  horse, 
with  a  woman-slave,  and  with  the  kings  own  robes  wherewith 
he  was  then  apparelled;  all  the  rest  had  fiftie  duckats  apeece 
given  them,  so  that  none  departed  without  the  kings  liberalitie." 
(P.  455.) 

Fiesole.    See  Fesole. 

Fifa.     2  Defens.  6.  324. 

Fife  (Latin,  Fifa)  is  a  maritime  county  of  Scotland,  between 
the  firths  of  Forth  and  Tay. 

Fife.     See  Fifa. 

Finmark.     Moscovia  (5)  8.  504. 

The  most  northern  land  of  Europe,  now  a  part  of  Norway,  but 
in  the  time  of  Milton  ruled  by  the  king  of  Denmark. 

Fisburg.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  252. 

A  name  applied  in  Simeon  of  Durham,  Sect.  126,  to  the  Five 
Danish  Boroughs  (Chronicle  1013),  Lincoln,  Nottingham,  Stam 
ford,  Derby,  and  Leicester.  (See  Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  228.) 

Flanders  (Flandria).  Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  206,  227,  232;  (6)  5. 
269,  271,  276,  277,  281,  288,  293;  Hirelings  5.  366;  Lit. 
Senat.  (9)  7.  194;  (41)  7.  232;  Lit.  Oliv.  (43)  7.  290;  (72) 
7.  323;  Commonplace  191. 


124  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

A  part  of  modern  Belgium,  described  as  follows  by  Ortelius: 
"True  Flanders,  though  sometimes  given  more  extended  boun 
daries,  is  to-day  bounded  by  Brabant,  Hainaut,  Artois,  and  the 
Ocean."  (P.  40.) 

Flintshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  106. 
A  county  of  north  Wales. 

Flissinga.     Lit.  Oliv.  (23)  7.  265,  266  (twice). 
Flushing,  a  seaport  of  Walcheren,  Netherlands. 

Florence  (Florentia,  Thusca  Urbs).  Damon.  13;  Areopag.  4. 
405  (thrice);  2  Defens.  6.  288  (twice),  289;  Lit.  Senat.  (17) 
7.  201;  (20)  7.  205;  (34)  7.  222;  (37)  7.  225;  Lit.  Oliv.  (64) 
7.  313;  Epist.  Fam.  (9)  7.  383;  (10)  7.  385.  (See  also  Arno, 
Fesole,  Tuscan,  Valdarno,  Vallombrosa.) 

A  city  of  Tuscany  on  the  Arno,  in  the  time  of  Milton  under 
the  rule  of  Duke  Ferdinand  de'  Medici.  Milton  spent  two 
months  in  Florence  in  the  year  1638,  and  two  more  in  the  follow 
ing  year.  The  appearance  of  the  place  to  an  English  traveler 
can  be  learned  from  Evelyn's  Diary  (Oct.  22  ff.,  1644). 

Florida.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  356,  358. 

Now  the  southeast  peninsula  of  the  United  States  of  America. 
In  the  time  of  Milton  it  included  a  great  extent  of  country  to 
the  north,  where  it  adjoined  Virginia,  and  to  the  west. 

Flushing.     See  Flissinga. 
Fcederatae  Provinciae.     See  United  Provinces. 
Fons  Belaqueus.    See  Fountain  Bleau. 
Fontainebleau.    See  Fountain  Bleau. 

Fontarabbia.     P.  L.  1.  587. 

Fuenterrabia,  a  town  of  northern  Spain,  on  the  French  frontier, 
between  the  mountains  and  the  Bay  of  Biscay. 

Forth.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  196. 

A  river  of  Scotland,  flowing  into  the  Firth  of  Forth. 

Forth,  Firth  of.     See  Bodotria. 

Fountain  Bleau  (Fons  Belaqueus).     Church-gov.  (2.  1)  3.  152; 
Rami  Vita  7.  183. 
Fontainebleau,  a  town  thirty-seven  miles  southeast  of  Paris. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  125 

Foy.     Lit.  Senat.  (41)  7.  231;   (42)  7.  232,  233. 
A  port  on  the  south  coast  of  Cornwall. 

France  (Celtica,  Celtic  Fields,  Francia,  Gallia,  Gaul).  Comus 
60;  Sonnet  18.8;  Eleg.  6.  12;  Ad  Patrem  82;  P.  L.  1.  521; 
P.  R.  4.  77;  Reformation  (1)  3.  16;  (2)  3.  39,  41,  53,  66; 
Eikonocl.  (17)  3.  464;  Divorce  (Pref.)  4.  11;  Bucer:  Divorce 
(Test.)  4.  289;  Ormond  4.  559,  564,  565;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  2,  3, 
4  (twice),  12,  14,  18,  19,  21  (thrice),  22;  (2)  5.  30  (twice),  31, 
35,  37,  42,  43,  46  (twice),  47,  48,  49,  59,  66,  76  (twice),  81 
(twice),  82  (twice),  85,  89,  91  (4  times),  92;  (3)  5.  101,  105, 
110,  115;  (4)  5.  140,  146  (twice),  155,  156,  170,  181,  183;  (5) 
5.  195,  206,  207,  211  (twice),  217,  220,  227  (twice);  (6)  5.  297; 
Hirelings  5.  385;  Rupt.  Com.  5.  402;  1  Defens.  (4)  6.  87,  123; 
(7)  6.  126  (thrice);  (8)  6.  136,  141  (twice);  (12)  6.  179;  2 
Defens.  6.  284,  287,  289,  310,  313,  316;  Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  369, 
381,  383,  401;  Respons.  6.  407  (thrice),  408,  417;  Logic 
(1.  29)  7.  91;  Lit.  Oliv.  (18)  7.  260;  (25)  7.  268;  (43)  7.  290 
(thrice);  (50)  7.  300,  301;  (69)  7.  321;  (70)  7.  321;  (71) 
7.  322;  (80)  7.  332;  Lit.  Rich.  (6)  7.  337;  (9)  7.  340;  Epist. 
Fam.  (12)  7.  388;  Decl.  Poland  8.  468;  Moscovia  (1)  8.  481; 
2  Eng.  Let.,  Masson  4.  479;  Commonplace  53,  61  (4  times), 
109  (thrice),  110  (thrice),  112,  177,  182,  183,  186  (6  times),  244; 
Sixteen  Let.  7,  8. 

In  the  time  of  Milton  France  was  ruled  by  Louis  XIII  and 
Louis  XIV,  and  cardinals  Richelieu  and  Mazarin  were  powerful. 
In  1638  Milton  traveled  through  France,  by  way  of  Paris  and 
Marseilles,  on  his  way  to  Italy.  In  the  following  year,  on  his  way 
home,  he  again  passed  through  France,  after  a  visit  to  Geneva. 

Franciscopolis.     See  Newhaveri. 

Francofurtum.     Rami  Vita  7.  184. 

Frankfort,  a  city  of  Germany  on  the  River  Main. 

Franekera.     Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  383. 

Franeker,  a  town  in  Friesland,  the  seat  of  a  university  from 
1585  to  1811. 

Frankfort.     See  Francofurtum. 
Freesland  (Frisia).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  127;   (4)  5.  168. 

The  district  northeast  of  the  Zuyder  Zee,  bordering  on  the 
North  Sea.  Hither  or  Western  Frisia  is  the  Frisia  Major  of 
Tacitus.  (Mercator,  p.  417.) 


126  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Frisia.     See  Freesland. 

Frome.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  256. 
A  river  of  Dorsetshire. 

Fuenterrabia.     See  Fontarabbia. 

Fulford.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  295. 

A  town  in  Yorkshire  "on  the  northern  shore  of  the  River 
Ouse,  near  York."     (Simeon  of  Durham,  Sect.  149.) 

Fulham.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  206. 

A  place  in  Middlesex,  on  the  River  Thames.     (Chronicle  879.) 

Gades  (Cales,  Gadier).  P.  R.  4.  77;  Samson  716;  Eikonocl.  (9) 
3.  400.  (See  also  Hercules'  Pillars,  Tarsus,  Tartessus.) 
Cadiz  is  a  very  ancient  city  built  on  an  island  on  the  southern 
coast  of  Spain,  west  of  Gibraltar.  Gades  is  the  Latin,  and  Gadier 
the  Greek  form  of  the  name.  "Cales"  is  common  in  English 
books  of  the  time  of  Milton.  Dionysius  Periegetes  writes  of  it: 
"Verily  in  the  midst  of  the  western  columns,  on  the  utmost  border 
Gadire  appears  to  men,  on  a  sea-girt  isle,  at  the  limits  of  Ocean. 
There  live  the  race  of  the  Phoenicians,  venerating  Hercules  son 
of  great  Zeus.  The  island,  by  earlier  men  named  Cotinusa,  the 
inhabitants  call  Gadire."  (LI.  450-456.)  Similarly,  Cadiz  ap 
pears  as  the  most  western  city  of  the  world  in  P.  R.  4.  77.  Its 
name  was  sometimes  applied  to  the  Iberian  Peninsula,  of  which 
it  was  the  chief  city,  for  in  the  time  of  Augustus  it  had  more 
inhabitants  than  any  other  place  in  the  Empire  except  Rome, 
and  was  of  great  commercial  importance.  (Strabo  3.  5.  3-10.) 
Though  Cadiz  does  not  appear  in  Scripture,  it  is  fittingly  intro 
duced  in  Samson  716  because  of  its  ancient  commercial  impor 
tance,  its  connection  with  the  Phoenician  merchants  so  often  men 
tioned  in  the  Bible,  and  its  association  by  scholars  with  Tarshish, 
which  was  sometimes  identified  with  it.  (Bochart,  p.  193.) 

Gadier.     See  Gades. 

Gaditanum  Mare.     Lit.  Senat.  (33)  7.  221. 
The  Gulf  of  Cadiz. 

Gafulford.    See  Camelford. 

Gainsburrow.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  252. 

A  town  in  Lincolnshire  on  the  River  Trent. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  127 

Galford.    See  Camelford. 
Galicia.    See  Gallaecia. 
Galilean  Lake.    See  Genezaret. 

Galilee.     P.  R.  1.  135;  3.  233;  Reformation  (2)  3.  36. 

The  northern  part  of  Palestine,  lying  between  Phoenicia  and 
the  Jordan  Valley,  famous  as  the  home  of  Jesus. 

Gallaecia.     Lit.  Senat.  (14)  7.  199. 

A  province  occupying  the  northwest  corner  of  Spain. 

Gallia.    See  France. 
Gallilean.    See  Galilee. 

Ganges  (Gangetis).     Eleg.  3.  49;   P.  L.  3.  436;  9.  82. 

A  great  river  of  India,  flowing  into  the  Bay  of  Bengal.  In  the 
Elegy  the  Ganges  represents  the  extreme  east.  Cf.  Dante, 
Paradiso  11.  51,  etc. 

Garamanti.     Grammar  (2)  6.  487. 

In  the  widest  application  of  the  word,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
eastern  Sahara. 

Gardens.    See  Adonis  (Garden  of),  Hesperian,  Solomon. 

Gascoine.     Commonplace  221. 

Gascony,  a  province  of  southwestern  France. 

Gascony.    See  Gascoine. 
Gasulford.    See  Camelford. 

Gate-House.     Apology  (1)  3.  286. 

A  prison  in  Westminster,  of  which  Stow  speaks  thus:  "The 
Gate-house  is  so  called  of  two  Gates,  the  one  out  of  the  Colledge 
court  toward  the  North,  on  the  East  side  whereof  was  the  Bishop 
of  Londons  prison  for  Clarkes  convict,  and  the  other  Gate, 
adionyning  to  the  first  but  towards  the  west,  is  a  Gaile  or  prison 
for  offenders  thither  committed."  (2.  122.) 

Gath.     P.  L.  1.  465;   Samson  266,  981,  1068,  1078,  1127,  1129; 

Animadv.  (16.  148)  3.  240,  241. 

One  of  the  five  cities  of  the  Philistines.  Josephus  puts  it 
"not  far  off  the  borders  of  the  country  of  the  Hebrews"  (Antiqui 
ties  7.  12.  2),  but  its  site  has  not  been  certainly  identified.  Mil- 


128  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

ton's  expression  "the  towers  of  Gath"  is  a  figure  for  Philistia, 
like  that  in  the  verse:  "Tell  it  not  in  Gath,  publish  it  not  in  the 
streets  of  Askelon;  lest  the  daughters  of  the  Philistines  rejoice, 
lest  the  daughters  of  the  uncircumcised  triumph."  (2  Samuel 
1.  20.)  Milton  makes  Gath  the  home  of  the  giant  Harapha, 
whose  name  is  derived  from  the  word  translated  "giant"  in  the 
verse:  "These  four  were  born  to  the  giant  in  Gath."  (2  Samuel 
21.  22.)  The  word  "pile,"  in  the  statement  that  the  look  of 
Harapha  is  "haughty  as  is  his  pile  high-built  and  proud  "  (Samson 
1069) ,  is  often  taken  to  refer  to  the  stature  of  the  giant.  Possibly 
it  means  that  Milton  thought  the  dwelling  of  the  giant  at  Gath 
was  in  an  elevated  position.  Adrichomius  says  the  city  was  on  a 
hill,  and  his  maps  show  it  in  such  a  place.  (Pp.  14,  22.)  One  of 
the  places  now  thought  to  be  the  site  of  Gath,  Tell  es-Safiyeh  in 
the  Valley  of  Elah,  is  a  cliff  about  two  hundred  feet  high,  on  the 
summit  of  which  are  the  ruins  of  a  massive  wall.  (Encyclopedia 
Biblica.) 

Gaul.     See  France. 

Gaza  (Azza).     P.  L.  1.  466;  Samson,  Arg.,  41,  147,  435,  981, 

1558,  1729,  1752. 

The  southernmost  of  the  five  cities  of  the  Philistines,  called 
Azzah  in  Deuteronomy  2.  23,  still  a  place  of  some  importance, 
a  few  miles  from  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  Since  Gaza  is  the 
place  of  the  death  of  Samson,  Milton  has  there  laid  the  scene  of 
Samson  Agonistes.  When  he  speaks  of  "Gaza's  frontier  bounds" 
he  perhaps  alludes  to  2  Kings  18.  8,  where  Gaza  is  the  limit  of 
Philistia,  or  to  1  Kings  4.  24,  where  it  is  the  limit  of  the  kingdom 
of  Solomon.  Cf.  also  Judges  6.  4;  Deuteronomy  2.  23;  Joshua 
10.  41;  15.  47.  Sandys,  who  in  1610  visited  Gaza  on  his  way 
from  Egypt  to  Jerusalem,  describes  it  as  follows:  "But  now 
return  we  unto  Gaza,  one  of  the  five  Cities,  and  that  the  principal 
that  belonged  to  the  Palestines,  called  Philistins  in  the  Scrip 
tures,  a  warlike  and  powerful  people,  of  whom  afterwards  the 
whole  land  of  Promise  took  the  name  of  Palestine.  Gaza  or 
Aza  signifieth  strong.  First,  famous  for  the  acts  of  Samson, 
who  lived  in  the  time  of  the  Trojan  Wars,  an  Age  that  produced 
Worthies,  whose  force  and  fortunes  are  said  to  have  given  to  the 
Poets  their  inventions  of  Hercules,  who  lived  not  long  before 
him;  and  afterwards  famous  for  the  two  wounds  there  received 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  129 

by  Alexander  the  Great,  then  counted  the  principal  city  of  Syria. 
It  stands  upon  a  Hill,  environed  with  Vallies,  and  those  again 
well-nigh  closed  with  Hills,  most  of  them  planted  with  all  sorts 
of  delicate  fruits.  The  buildings  mean,  both  for  form  and 
matter.  .  .  .  Yet  there  are  some  reliques  left,  and  some  impres 
sions  that  testifie  a  better  condition.  For  divers  simple  Roofs 
are  supported  with  goodly  Pillars  of  Parian  Marble;  some  plain, 
some  curiously  carved.  A  number  broken  in  pieces  do  serve  for 
Threshods,  Jaums  of  doors,  and  sides  of  Windows  almost  unto 
every  beggarly  Cottage.  On  the  North-East  Corner  and  sum- 
mity  of  the  Hill  are  the  ruines  of  huge  Arches  sunk  low  in  the 
Earth,  and  other  foundations  of  a  stately  Building.  .  .  .  The 
Jews  do  fable  this  place  to  have  been  the  Theatre  of  Sampson 
pulled  down  on  the  heads  of  the  Philistines.  Perhaps  some 
Palace  there  built  by  Ptolomy  or  Pompey,  who  re-edified  the 
City,  or  Christian  Temple  erected  by  Constantine,  or  else  that 
Castle  founded  by  Baldwin  the  third  in  the  year  1148.  .  .  . 
Out  of  sight  and  yet  within  hearing  is  the  Sea,  seven  furlongs  off, 
where  they  have  a  decayed  and  unsafe  Port,  of  small  avail  at 
this  day  to  the  Inhabitants.  In  the  Valley  on  the  East-side  of 
the  City  are  many  straggling  Buildings,  beyond  which  there  is 
a  Hill  more  eminent  than  the  rest,  on  the  North-side  of  the  way 
that  leadeth  to  Babylon,  said  to  be  that,  and  no  question  the 
same  described  in  Scriptures,  to  which  Samson  carried  the 
Gates  of  the  City,  upon  whose  top  there  standeth  a  Mosque, 
environed  with  the  Graves  and  Sepulchres  of  Mahometans." 
(Pp.  116-17.)  Like  Sandys,  Milton  speaks  of  the  building  in 
which  Samson  met  his  end  as  "a  spacious  theatre."  He  does 
not  accept  Sandys'  identification  of  the  hill  to  which  Samson 
carried  the  gates  of  Gaza,  for  he  says  that  the  hill  was  "by 
Hebron  "  many  miles  distant,  and  hence  "no  journey  of  a  Sabbath 
day"  (Samson  148-9),  while  the  hill  mentioned  by  Sandys  is 
one  mile,  little  more  than  a  Sabbath-day's  journey,  from  Gaza. 
( Encyclopedia  Biblica . ) 

Gehenna.    See  Hinnom. 

Geloni.     Nat.  Non  54. 

A  Scythian  tribe  on  the  Boristhenes,  the  modern  Don. 

Geneva.     Episcopacy  3.  82;  Animadv.  (13.  127)  3.  239;  Tetrach. 
(Canon)   4.   280;    Areopag.  4.  443;    Kings   &  Mag.  4.  495 


130  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

(twice);   2  Defens.  6.  256,  257,  289  (twice),  296,  311;   Pro  Se 

Defens.  6.  353,  374,  376,  377,  391  (twice),  397,  398;   Respons. 

6.  408,  421,  423,  424,  425  (twice) ;  Rami  Vita  7.  184;  Lit.  Oliv. 

(8)  7.  245;  (19)  7.  260. 

A  city  of  Switzerland  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Lake  Geneva. 
In  the  time  of  Milton,  as  for  some  hundred  years  before,  Geneva 
was  an  independent  city,  famous  for  its  support  of  the  doctrines 
of  the  reformed  Church.  When  Milton  returned  from  Italy, 
he  traveled  by  way  of  Geneva,  where  he  spent  some  time  con 
versing  daily  with  the  learned  professor  of  theology  John  Diodati, 
uncle  of  his  friend  Charles  Diodati.  (2  Defens.  6.  289.)  The  date 
of  the  visit  is  fixed  by  the  following  entry  in  an  autograph  album : 

"if  Vertue  feeble  were 
Heaven  itselfe  would  stoope  to  her. 
Coelum,  non  animum,  muto  dum  trans  mare  curro. 
Junii  10,  1639.         Joannes  Miltonius,  Anglus." 

(Masson,  Life  of  Milton  1.  833.) 

Milton  refers  to  the  city  as  a  famous  seat  of  learning  (Animadv. 
(13.  127)  3.  239),  and  as  a  refuge  for  Englishmen  oppressed  be 
cause  of  their  religious  belief  (Kings  &  Mag.  4.  495). 

Geneva,  Lake.    See  Lemannus. 

Genezaret  (Galilean  Lake).     Lycidas  109,  173;  P.  R.  2.  23. 

The  Sea  of  Galilee,  or  Lake  of  Gennesaret,  a  body  of  water 
formed  by  the  expansion  of  the  upper  course  of  the  River  Jordan. 

Gennesaret.    See  Genezaret. 
Genoa.     See  Genua. 
Genounia.    See  Wales. 

Genua.     2  Defens.  6.  288;  Sixteen  Let.  10. 

Genoa,  a  seaport  of  northwestern  Italy.  On  his  Italian  journey 
Milton  passed  through  Genoa,  then  an  independent  city  of  con 
siderable  importance. 

Gergessa.     Eleg.  4.  103. 

An  unidentified  town  on  the  Sea  of  Galilee.  Fuller  puts  it  on 
the  southeastern  shore.  (P.  75,  map.)  See  Matthew  8.  28. 

Germany   (Almany,   Germania,  Teutonici  Agri).     Ad  Sal.   24; 
Eleg.  4.  2,  13;    P.  R.  4.  78;    Eikonocl.  (11)  3.  428  (twice); 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  131 

(20)  3.  478;  Divorce  (Pref.)  4.  11;  Tetrach.  (Canon)  4.  278, 
280;  Bucer:  Divorce  (Parl.)  4.  295,  297,  300;  Kings  &  Mag. 
4.  490,  495;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  15;  (3)  5.  Ill,  113;  (4)  5.  168; 
Hirelings  5.  372;  Easy  Way  5.  452;  2  Defens.  6.  306,  310; 
Rami  Vita  7.  183  (twice),  184;  Lit.  Oliv.  (10)  7.  249;  (45) 
7.  295;  Epist.  Fam.  (7)  7.  378;  Moscovia  (4)  8.494,497; 
Commonplace  114;  Safe-cond.  (thrice);  Sixteen  Let.  3. 

Gessoriacum.     See  Boloigne. 
Giant's  Leap.     See  Langoemagog. 

Gibeah.     P.  L.  1.  504;  Animadv.  (13.  105)  3.  227. 

A  city  of  Palestine  in  the  territory  of  Benjamin.  See  Judges 
19. 

Gibeon.     P.  L.  12.  265;  MS.  2.  110. 

An  ancient  city  of  Palestine  in  the  territory  of  Benjamin. 
Milton's  reference  is  to  the  verse:  "Then  spake  Joshua  to  the 
Lord  in  the  day  when  the  Lord  delivered  up  the  Amorites  before 
the  children  of  Israel,  and  he  said  in  the  sight  of  Israel,  Sun, 
stand  thou  still  upon  Gibeon;  and  thou,  Moon,  in  the  valley  of 
Ajalon."  (Joshua  10.  12.) 

Gibraltar.     P.  L.  1.  355.     (See  also  Hercules'  Pillars.) 

A  promontory  and  rock  on  the  southern  coast  of  Spain  at  the 
entrance  to  the  Mediterranean. 

Gilboa.     MS.  2.  110. 

A  mountain  on  the  southern  side  of  the  Valley  of  Jezreel, 
Palestine.  See  1  Samuel  28-30. 

Gilgal.     1  Defens.  (2)  6.  38.      . 

A  city  of  Palestine,  near  Jericho,  where  Saul  was  crowned  king. 
(1  Samuel  11.  15.) 

Gillingham.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  258. 

A  place  in  Dorsetshire,  said  by  Camden  to  be  a  forest  near  the 
River  Stour.  (1.  45.) 

Glacialis  Oceanus.     See  Cronian  Sea. 

Glamorgan.     Eikonocl.    (12)    3.    439;  Hist.    Brit.    (3)    5.    116, 
135. 
A  county  of  southern  Wales,  bordering  on  the  Bristol  Channel. 


132  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Glastbrig.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  286. 

An  unidentified  place,  perhaps  Glasbury  on  the  borders  of 
Brecknockshire  and  Radnorshire.  (Two  Chr.  2.  354.) 

Glaston.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  125;   (5)  5.  229,  233;   (6)  5.  241,  261. 
At  Glastonbury,  in  the  Isle  of  Avalon,  Somersetshire,  is  a 
famous  abbey  where  many  of   the  Saxon  kings  were  buried. 
(Camden  1.  59.) 

Glendale.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  223.     (See  also  Brunanburg.) 

The  valley  of  the  River  Glen,  in  Northumberland,  which 
Camden  gives  as  the  place  of  the  battle  of  Brunanburh.  (3.  239.) 

Gloster.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  75;  (3)  5.  134;  (5)  5.  226;   (6)  5.  277, 
279,  284,  286,  287;   Commonplace  178. 
Gloucester,  the  chief  town  of  Gloucestershire. 

Glostershire.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  134;   (5)  5.  215,  229;   (6)  5.  260. 
Gloucestershire,  a  county  of  southwestern  England. 

Glota.     See  Dunbritton. 
Gloucester.    See  Gloster. 

Gluckstadium.     Lit.  Senat.  (30)  7.  218. 
A  town  of  Holstein,  on  the  River  Elbe. 

Gnavewic.    See  Swanswich. 

Gnesna  (misprinted  "  Guesna  ").     Decl.  Poland  8.  468. 
Gnesen,  or  Gniezno,  a  town  of  Posen,  Prussia. 

Gogmagog.    See  Bale  sham. 

Golgotha.     P.  L.  3.  477. 

The  place,  also  called  Calvary,  near  Jerusalem,  where  Christ 
was  crucified.  Though  the  exact  spot  is  not  surely  known, 
tradition  says  that  the  cross  stood  on  a  rock  later  enclosed  by 
the  Church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  which  has  been  for  centuries 
a  place  of  pilgrimage.  Sandys,  who  in  1611  visited  the  spot, 
tells  of  the  church  and  the  pilgrims  he  saw  there.  (Pp.  125  ff.) 

Goshen.     P.  L.  1.  309. 

A  part  of  Egypt  near  the  eastern  frontier,  where  the  children 
of  Israel  lived  during  their  sojourn  in  Egypt.  (Genesis  47.  6.) 

Graecia.     See  Greece. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  133 

Grampius.     Hist.  Brit."  (2)  5.  69. 

Perhaps  the  Grampian  Hills,  Scotland.  Milton's  words  "the 
Mountaine  Grampius"  are  apparently  a  translation  from  Tacitus 
(Agricola  29).  The  exact  place  to  which  Tacitus  refers  is  un 
known. 

Grantbrig.    See  1.  Cambridge. 

Gratianopolis.     Lit.  Rich.  (8)  7.  339  (twice). 

Grenoble,  a  city  of  southeastern  France,  formerly  the  capital 
of  the  province  of  Dauphiny. 

Grave.     Bucer:  Divorce  (Test.)  4.  291. 
A  fortified  town  of  North  Brabant  on  the  Meuse. 

Great  Berkhamstead.    See  Barcham. 
Great  River.    See  Tigris. 

Greece  (Doric  Land,  Grsecia).  Comus  439;  P.  L.  1.  519,  739;  4. 
212;  9.  19;  10.  307;  P.  R.  3.  118;  4.  240,  270,  338,  360;  Apology 
(3)  3.  287;  Eikonocl.  (28)  3.  522  (twice);  Education  4.  390; 
Areopag.  4.  398,  400,  401;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  7,  8,  9;  (2)  5.  28; 
Easy  Way  5.  450;  1  Defens.  (5)  6.  106,  108;  2  Defens.  6.  288, 
310;  Epist.  Fam.  (12)  7.  389.  (See  also  Javan.) 

Green  Cape.     P.  L.  8.  631.     (See  also  Verdant  Isles.) 

Cape  Verde,  on  the  western  coast  of  Africa.  An  early  voyager, 
in  describing  Africa,  says:  "On  the  westside  of  these  regions 
toward  the  Ocean,  is  the  cape  or  point  called  Cabo  verde,  or 
Caput  viride,  that  is,  the  greene  cape,  to  the  which  the  Portugals 
first  direct  their  course  when  they  sail  to  America,  or  the  land  of 
Brasilie."  (Hak.  2.  2.  20.) 

Greenwich  (Grenovicus) .     Hist.  Brit.   (6)  5.  253  (twice),  254; 

Lit.  Senat.  (9)  7.  194;  Moscovia  (5)  8.  503. 

A  town  of  Kent,  on  the  River  Thames  below  London.  In 
Moscovia  (5)  8.  503  Milton,  quoting  from  Hak.  1.  245,  refers  to 
the  palace  at  Greenwich,  of  which  Camden  writes:  "The  place 
is  now  famous  for  the  royal  palace  built  by  Humphrey  duke  of 
Gloucester,  .  .  .  enlarged  in  a  magnificent  manner  by  Henry  VII 
who  .  .  .  finished  the  tower  that  duke  Humphrey  began  on  a 
high  hill,  which  commands  an  extensive  and  beautiful  prospect 
over  the  meandering  river  and  the  verdant  meads."  (1.  211.) 


134  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Grenoble.     See  Gratianopolis. 
Grenovicus.     See  Greenwich. 

Groningham.     Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  383. 

Groningen,  a  seaport  of  the  Netherlands,  the  seat  of  a  univer 
sity. 

Guarded  Mount.     Lycidas  161.     (See  also  Bayona.) 

St.  Michael's  Mount,  a  rock  in  Mount's  Bay,  on  the  coast  of 
Cornwall.  Camden  writes:  uln  the  very  corner  is  Michael's 
Mount  (which  gives  name  to  the  bay).  ...  It  is  a  craggy  rock 
surrounded  by  the  water  at  high  tides;  but  when  the  tide  is 
out  joined  to  the  main  land.  ...  On  the  summit,  within  the 
castle  was  a  chapel  dedicated  to  Michael  the  archangel,  where 
William,  Earl  of  Cornwall  and  Moreton,  .  .  .  founded  a  cell 
for  a  monk  or  two,  who  gave  out  that  Michael  had  appeared  on 
the  mount."  (1.  4.)  Carew,  in  his  Survey  of  Cornwall,  gives 
a  description  of  the  Mount.  See  also  the  references  given  by 
Verity  in  his  note  on  the  passage.  The  most  famous  literary 
allusion,  after  Milton's,  is  that  of  Spenser: 

St.  Michel's  Mount  who  does  not  know, 
That  wardes  the  westerne  coste? 

(Shepherds'  Calendar,  July  41-2.) 

Guesna.     See  Gnesna. 

Guiana.     P.  L.  11.  410.     (See  also  El  Dorado.) 

A  region  in  the  northern  part  of  South  America,  of  greater 
extent  than  the  country  now  called  Guiana.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh, 
who  made  two  expeditions  to  Guiana,  writes  as  follows:  "What 
soever  prince  shall  possesse  it,  that  Prince  shall  be  Lord  of  more 
golde,  and  of  a  more  beautifull  Empire,  and  of  more  Cities  and 
people,  then  either  the  King  of  Spaine,  or  the  great  Turke.  But 
because  there  may  arise  many  doubts,  and  how  this  Empire  of 
Guiana  is  become  so  populous,  and  adorned  with  so  many  great 
Cities,  townes,  temples,  and  treasures,  I  thought  good  to  make 
it  knowen,  that  the  Emperour  now  reigning  is  descended  from 
those  magnificent  princes  of  Peru,  of  whose  large  territories,  of 
whose  policies,  conquests,  edifices,  and  riches  Pedro  de  Cieza, 
Francisco  Lopez,  and  others  have  written  large  discourses,  for 
when  Francisco  Pizarro,  Diego  Almagro  and  others  conquered 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON  135 

the  said  Empire  of  Peru,  and  had  put  to  death  Atabalipa  sonne 
to  Guaynacapa,  .  .  .  one  of  the  yonger  sonnes  of  Guaynacapa 
fled  out  of  Peru,  and  tooke  with  him  many  thousands  of  those 
souldiers  of  the  Empire  called  Orejones,  and  with  those  and 
many  others  which  followed  him,  hee  vanquished  all  that  tract 
and  valley  of  America  which  is  situated  betweene  the  great  river 
of  Amazones,  and  Baraquan,  otherwise  called  Orenoque  and 
Marannon.  The  Empire  of  Guiana  is  directly  East  from  Peru 
towards  the  Sea,  and  lieth  under  the  Equinoctial  line,  and  it 
hath  more  abundance  of  golde  then  any  part  of  Peru,  and  as  many 
or  moe  great  Cities  then  ever  Peru  had  when  it  flourished  most." 
(Hak.  3.  634.)  Milton's  words,  "yet  unspoiled  Guiana"  suggest 
the  following  passage  in  the  narrative  of  Raleigh:  "To  conclude, 
Guiana  is  a  countrey  that  hath  yet  her  maydenhead,  never 
sackt,  turned,  nor  wrought;  the  face  of  the  earth  hath  not  bene 
torne,  nor  the  vertue  and  salt  of  the  soyle  spent  by  manurance; 
the  graves  have  not  bene  opened  for  golde,  the  mines  not  broken 
with  sledges,  nor  their  Images  puld  downe  out  of  their  temples. 
It  hath  never  been  entered  by  any  armie  of  strength,  and  never, 
conquered  or  possessed  by  any  Christian  Prince."  (Hak.  3.  661.) 
Compare  the  following  from  Spenser,  probably  also  influenced 
by  Raleigh: 

Rich  Oranochy,  though  but  knowen  late; 

And  that  huge  River,  which  doth  beare  his  name 

Of  warlike  Amazons,  which  doe  possesse  the  same. 

Joy  on  those  warlike  women,  which  so  long 

Can  from  all  men  so  rich  a  kingdome  hold! 

And  shame  on  you,  O  men!  which  boast  your  strong 

And  valiant  hearts,  in  thoughts  lesse  hard  and  bold, 

Yet  quailein  conquest  of  that  land  of  gold. 

But  this  to  you,  O  Britons!  most  pertaines, 

To  whom  the  right  hereof  it  selfe  hath  sold, 

The  which,  for  sparing  litle  cost  or  paines, 

Loose  so  immortall  glory,  and  so  endlesse  gaines. 

(F.  Q.  4.  11.  21,  22.) 
Guid  Crue.     See  Maes  German. 

Guildford.     See  Guilford. 

Guild  Hall.     Eikonocl.  (3)  3.  357. 

The   building   in   London   where   is   transacted   the   business 
relating  to  the  government  of  the  city.     Stow,  in  his  account  of 
10 


136  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

"Cheape  Warde,"  describes  the  Guild  Hall  of  the  period  of 
Milton.     (1.  271.) 

Guilford.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  269. 
Guildford,  a  town  in  Surrey. 

Guinea  Nigritarum.     Lit.  Oliv.  (30)  7.  273. 

Guinea,  the  name  given  to  a  large  part  of  the  west  coast  of 
Africa. 

Guinethia.     See  Wales. 
Gulf.    See  Persian  Bay. 

Guorthigirniaun.  Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  118,  119.  (See  also  Tiebi.) 
Described  by  Camden  as  "a  vast  desart  with  dreary  irregular 
paths  and  frightful  mountains"  (2.  465),  in  Radnorshire,  Wales. 
The  account  by  Milton,  as  he  indicates  in  a  note,  is  from  Nennius, 
Sect.  47. 

Habor.     P.  R.  3.  376. 

A  river  of  Gozan,  tributary  to  the  Euphrates.  In  the  Author 
ized  Version,  as  in  Milton,  it  is  represented  not  as  a  river,  but  as 
a  country;  for  example:  "The  king  of  Assyria  took  Samaria, 
and  carried  away  Israel  into  Assyria,  and  placed  them  in  Halah 
and  in  Habor  by  the  river  of  Gozan."  (2  Kings  17.  6.) 

Haddington.     Commonplace  19. 

A  fortified  town  in  Lothian,  Scotland.     (Camden  3.  303.) 

Haemonius.    See  Thessalian. 

Haemus.     Nat.  Non  29. 

A  ridge  of  mountains  in  Thrace. 

Hafnia.     Lit.  Senat.  (35)  7.  223;    Lit.  Oliv.  (21)  7.  263;    (44) 
7.  291. 
Copenhagen,  the  capital  of  Denmark. 

Hague  (Haga  Comitis).     Eikonocl.  (27)  3.  512;  Kings  &  Mag.  4. 

476;  ProSe  Defens.  6.  340,  341,  344,  345  (twice),  377,  394,  401; 

Respons.  6.  413  (twice),  421;   Epist.  Fam.  (27)  7.  406. 

Haga  Comitis  (the  Garden  of  the  Count)  is  the  Latin  name  of 
The  Hague,  a  city  about  three  miles  from  the  North  Sea,  now  the 
capital  of  the  Netherlands.  In  the  time  of  Milton  it  was  the 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  137 

meeting-place  of  the  States  General  of  the  United  Provinces, 
and  the  centre  of  European  diplomacy. 

Hagustald.     See  Hexham. 
Hainaut.     See  Renault. 
Haine.     See  Hania. 

Halberstad.     Tetrach.  (Canon)  4.  276. 

A  city  in  the  province  of  Saxony,  central  Prussia,  mentioned  by 
Milton  in  connection  with  the  philosopher  and  physician  Henning 
Arnisseus  (1580-1636). 

Hamath.     P.  L.  12.  139. 

A  city  of  Syria  on  the  River  Orontes.  It  is  frequently  men 
tioned  in  the  Bible  as  the  northern  boundary  of  the  land  of 
Canaan,  as  in  the  passage:  "Solomon  held  a  feast,  and  all 
Israel  with  him,  a  great  congregation,  from  the  entering  in  of 
Hamath  unto  the  river  of  Egypt."  (1  Kings  8.  65.)  Fuller 
(p.  429,  map)  and  Bochart  (p.  347)  wrongly  identify  it  with 
Antioch. 

Hamble.    See  Kerdic  Shoar. 

Hamburga  (Hamburgum).     Eleg.  4.  Title,  14;    Lit.  Senat.  (26) 
7.  211;  (35)  7.  223. 
Hamburg,  a  port  of  Germany,  on  the  River  Elbe. 

Hampshire  (Hantshire,  Southampton).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  117, 
121,  125;   (4)  5.  164,  175;   (5)  5.  192,  205,  210,'  (6)  5.  243,  244, 
246,  247,  251,  258.     (See  also  Southampton.) 
A  county  of  England,  bordering  on  the  English  Channel. 

Hania.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  15  (twice).     See  also  Renault. 

The  Haine  is  a  tributary  of  the  Scheldt,  flowing  through 
Hainaut,  which  takes  its  name  from  the  river. 

Hanseaticae  Civitates.     Lit.  Senat.  (26)  7.  211. 

The  Hanseatic  League  was  a  commercial  federation  of  North 
German  cities,  Liibeck,  Cologne,  Brunswick,  Dantzic,  and  many 
others. 

Hantshire.     See  Hampshire. 


138  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Haran.     P.  L.  12.  131. 

A  city  of  northwestern  Mesopotamia,  on  the  Belikh,  a  tributary 
of  the  Euphrates.  See  Genesis  11.  31-32. 

Harefield.     Arcades,  sub-title. 

Harefield  House  at  Harefield  in  Middlesex,  on  the  borders  of 
Bucks.  Masson  writes:  "The  site  of  the  house  is  still  to  be 
identified  by  two  low  mounds,  an  old  garden,  and  a  large  old 
cedar  of  Lebanon,  on  a  fine  grassy  slope,  crowned  with  trees, 
close  behind  Harefield  Church,  on  the  side  of  the  road  going 
from  Uxbridge  to  Rickmansworth.  The  scenery  is  charming,  the 
Colne  flowing  here  through  ground  more  hilly  than  that  about 
Horton,  and  as  richly  wooded."  (Life  of  Milton  1.  600.)  The 
place  is  but  ten  miles  from  Horton,  and  Milton  may  have  visited 
it,  but  there  is  no  proof  of  this.  Verity  thinks  the  reference  to 
a  "mount"  in  Arcades  55  in  harmony  with  Masson's  description. 

Harewood.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  235. 

A  forest  in  Yorkshire.  See  Freeman,  Historical  Essays,  First 
Series,  p.  24. 

Harfleur.     See  Harflew. 

Harflew.     Commonplace  243. 

Evidently  Harfleur,  a  seaport  of  northern  France  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Seine. 

Harwich.     Moscovia  (5)  8.  503. 

A  seaport  of  eastern  England  at  the  confluence  of  the  Stour 
and  the  Orwell*  In  the  account  from  which  Milton  drew  this 
part  of  his  narrative  (Hak.  1.  234),  the  name  Orwell  is  used  where 
Milton  uses  Harwich. 

Hassia.     See  Hessen. 

Hastings.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  277,  296,  297  (twice);   1  Defens.  (8) 

6.  140. 

A  seaport  of  Sussex.  On  a  plain  near  by,  William  the  Norman 
defeated  Harold. 

Hatfield  Chase.    See  Hethfeild. 

Havana.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  358,  360. 

The  chief  city  of  the  island  of  Cuba,  on  the  north  shore. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  139 

Heav'n  Field  (Denisburn).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  154. 

A  battlefield  in  Northumbria  near  an  unidentified  tributary  of 
the  Tine  called  Denisburn.  Milton's  source  is  Bede  3.  1. 

Hebrew.     See  Israel. 

Hebrides.     Lycidas  156.     (See  also  lies.) 

A  group  of  islands  on  the  western  coast  of  Scotland. 

Hebron  (Chebron).     Samson  148;   1  Defens.  (2)  6.  38. 

An  ancient  city  of  Palestine  about  twenty  miles  south-south 
west  of  Jerusalem.  To  "the  top  of  an  hill  that  is  before  Hebron  " 
(Judges  16.3)  Samson  carried  the  gates  of  Gaza.  Milton's 
description  of  the  city  as  a  "seat  of  Giants  old"  comes  from 
Numbers  13.  22,  33 :  "And  they  ascended  by  the  south,  and  came 
unto  Hebron,  where  Ahiman,  Sheshai,  and  Talmai,  the  children 
of  Anak,  were.  .  .  .  And  there  we  saw  the  giants,  the  sons  of 
Anak,  which  come  of  the  giants;  and  we  were  in  our  own  sight 
as  grasshoppers,  and  so  we  were  in  their  sight."  Cp.  Joshua 
11.  21;  21.  11. 

Hebrus.     Lycidas  63. 

A  river  rising  in  northwestern  Thrace,  near  Mount  Rhodope, 
and  flowing  into  the  ^Egean.  The  words  of  Milton  suggest  those 
of  Virgil:  "Then  too,  while  his  native  Hebrus  carried  down  the 
midst  of  its  rolling  flood  his  head,  rent  from  the  marble  rock, 
the  voice  and  chilled  tongue  of  themselves  called  'Eurydice.'  ' 
(Georgics  4.  524  ff.) 

Hecatompylos.     P.  R.  3.  287.     (See  also  Hispahan.) 

A  city  of  Parthia,  the  name  of  which  means  "of  a  hundred 
gates";  the  site  is  unknown.  .  Pliny  says  that  it  is  the  capital 
of  Parthia,  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  miles  from  the  Caspian 
Gates.  (6.  15.) 

Heidelberga.     Rami  Vita  7.  182  (twice). 

Heidelberg,  a  city,  with  an  ancient  university,  in  Baden,  on 
the  River  Neckar. 

Helicon.     See  Aonian. 

Hellespont.     P.  L.  10.  309. 

The  strait  separating  Asia  and  Europe,  and  joining  the  y£gean 
Sea  and  the  Sea  of  Marmora,  now  usually  called  the  Dardanelles. 


140  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

The  event  mentioned  by  Milton  is  told  by  Herodotus:  "Mean 
while  they  were  bridging  over  the  Hellespont  from  Asia  to  Europe. 
Now  there  is  in  the  Chersonese  of  the  Hellespont  between  the 
city  of  Sestos  and  Madytos,  a  broad  foreland  running  down  into 
the  sea  right  opposite  Abydos.  ...  To  this  foreland  they  on 
whom  this  work  was  laid  were  making  their  bridges,  starting 
from  Abydos,  the  Phenicians  constructing  the  one  with  ropes  of 
white  flax,  and  the  Egyptians  the  other,  which  was  made  with 
papyrus  rope.  Now  from  Abydos  to  the  opposite  shore  is  a 
distance  of  seven  furlongs.  But  when  the  strait  had  been  bridged 
over,  a  great  storm  came  on  and  dashed  together  all  the  work  and 
broke  it  up.  Then  when  Xerxes  heard  it  he  was  exceedingly 
enraged,  and  bade  them  scourge  the  Hellespont  with  three 
hundred  strokes  of  the  lash  and  let  down  into  the  sea  a  pair  of 
fetters.  Nay,  I  have  heard  further  that  he  sent  branders  also 
with  them  to  brand  the  Hellespont.  However,  this  may  be, 
he  enjoined  them,  as  they  were  beating,  to  say  Barbarian  and 
presumptuous  words  as  follows :  '  Thou  bitter  water,  thy  master 
lays  upon  thee  this  penalty,  because  thou  didst  wrong  him  not 
having  suffered  any  wrong  from  him :  and  Xerxes  the  king  will 
pass  over  thee  whether  thou  be  willing  or  no;  but  with  right,  as 
it  seems,  no  man  doeth  sacrifice  to  thee,  seeing  that  thou  art  a 
treacherous  and  briny  stream.'  .  .  .  Meanwhile  other  chief  con 
structors  proceeded  to  make  the  bridges."  (7.  33-6.)  The 
bridge  is  mentioned  briefly  by  many  other  writers,  such  as  Mela 
(2.  2),  Solinus  (12.1),  and  Pliny  (4.  12). 

Helligelandt.     Safe-cond. 

An  island  in  the  North  Sea,  belonging  to  Schleswig-Holstein. 

Helvetia.    See  Swizzerland. 

Renault.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  15  (thrice).     (See  also  Dell,  Elvers- 
ham,  Estambruges,  Hania,  Scaldis.) 
Hainaut  is  now  a  province  of  Belgium.     Milton's  account  of 

the  wars  there  was  perhaps  taken  from  Stow's  Annales  (ed. 

1631,  p.  9)  in  which  Bergomas  and  Lessabeus  are  cited.     The 

passage  quoted  from  Spenser  is  F.  Q.  2.  10.  24.     Spenser's  source 

is  unascertained. 

Herculean  Pillars.    See  Hercules'  Pillars. 
Herculeis  Columnae.     See  Hercules'  Pillars. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  141 

Hercules*     Pillars     (Herculean    Pillars,    Herculeis    Columnae). 

Areopag.  4.  432;   Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  11;   2  Defens.  6.  251.     (See 

also  Cales,  Gibraltar.) 

The  two  rocks  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  Straits  of 
Gibraltar,  of  which  the  one  in  Europe  is  called  Gibraltar,  and  the 
one  in  Africa  Jebel-el-Mina.  They  were  known  to  the  ancients 
as  Calpe  and  Abyla.  (Mela  2.  6.)  They  were  believed  to  form 
a  limit  to  the  west  beyond  which  no  mortal  could  pass.  Pindar, 
for  example,  writes  as  follows:  "No  further  is  it  possible  for  him 
to  sail  untraversed  sea  beyond  the  pillars  of  Herakles,  which  the 
hero-god  set  to  be  wide-famed  witnesses  of  the  end  of  voyaging : 
for  he  had  overcome  enormous  wild-beasts  on  the  seas,  and  tracked 
the  streams  through  marshes  to  where  he  came  to  the  goal  that 
turned  him  to  go  back  homeward,  and  there  did  he  mark  out 
the  ends  of  the  earth."  (Nem.  3.  19-26.)  Milton  contrasts 
the  Pillars  of  Hercules  with  the  farthest  point  reached  by  Diony 
sus  in  the  east,  and  uses  these  two  places,  for  the  ancients  the 
extremities  of  the  known  world,  to  denote  the  limits  of  the  world 
as  known  to  him.  (2  Defens.  6.  251.)  The  same  thought  ap 
pears  in  the  following: 

From  India  and  the  golden  Chersoness, 

And  utmost  Indian  Isle  Taprobane, 

Dusk  faces  with  white  silken  Turbants  wreath'd: 

From  Gallia,  Gades,  and  the  Brittish  West. 

(P.  R.  4.  74-77.) 

The  Columns  of  Hercules  were  sometimes  supposed  to  be  actual 
pillars  in  the  temple  of  the  Phoenician  Hercules  at  Cadiz.  Still 
another  phase  of  belief  appears  in  the  following  lines  of  Dionysius 
Periegetes:  "You,  O  Muses,  tell  of  the  winding  paths,  beginning 
in  order  at  the  western  ocean  where  verily  at  the  limits  of  Her 
cules,  at  Gades  on  the  utmost  border,  stand  the  pillars,  a  great 
marvel,  under  the  high  headland  of  wide-spreading  Atlas,  where 
a  brazen  pillar,  enormous,  concealed  in  dense  clouds,  extends 
to  the  sky."  (LI.  62-8.) 

Hercynian  Wildernes.     Areopag.  4.  437. 

Milton  thinks  of  this  region  as  lying  west  of  Transylvania,  the 
eastern  part  of  Hungary.  It  is  usually  called  the  Hercynian 
Forest.  Mercator  describes  it  as  the  largest  forest  of  Germany, 
spoken  of  by  all  the  most  famous  of  the  Greeks  and  Latins,  among 


142  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

whom  he  names  Mela,  Strabo,  Pliny,  and  Csesar.  Parts  of  it 
were  called  the  Black  Forest  and  the  Hartz  Forest,  and  it  was 
also  known  as  Thuringian  or  Bohemian,  from  the  lands  containing 
part  of  it.  Finally  Mercator  quotes  Pandulf  Collenuccio,  who 
describes  it  as  stretching  to  the  country  of  the  Tartars,  where 
it  is  called  the  black  or  obscure  forest,  without  boundaries,  path 
less,  the  haunt  of  ferocious  beasts  and  powerful  supernatural 
beings,  and  wholly  inaccessible  to  men.  (P.  415.) 

Hereford.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  226;    (6)  5.  282,  286  (thrice),  289. 
A  town  of  Herefordshire,  on  the  River  Wye. 

Herefordshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  216  (twice);    (6)  5.  277,  279, 
282,  286. 
A  county  of  southwestern  England  on  the  Welsh  border. 

Hermon  (Senir).     P.  L.  12.  141,  142,  146. 

The  highest  mountain  of  Palestine,  a  southern  spur  of  Anti- 
Lebanon,  called  Shenir  by  the  Amorites.  (Deuteronomy  3.9.) 
Fuller  describes  it  as  "a  branch  of  Lebanon  bended  southward, 
a  stately  strong  mountain  fixed  on  firm  foundations";  and  as 
"a  chain  of  continued  hills."  (P.  92.)  The  maps  of  the  time 
(e.  g.,  Adrichomius,  p.  74)  represent  it  as  a  "long  ridge  of  Hills" 
(P.  L.  12.  146)  northeast  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee.  The  idea  is 
accentuated  by  such  a  passage  as  Canticles  4.  8,  "From  the  top 
of  Amana,  from  the  top  of  Shenir  and  Hermon,"  because  of  the 
use  of  more  than  one  name.  The  words  "From  Hermon  East 
to  the  great  Western  Sea"  suggests  the  verses:  "And  the  land 
of  the  Giblites,  and  all  Lebanon,  toward  the  sun  rising,  from  Baal- 
gad  under  Mount  Hermon  unto  the  entering  into  Hamath :  and 
all  the  inhabitants  of  the  hill  country,  from  Lebanon  unto  Mis- 
rephoth-maim,  and  all  the  Sidonians,  them  will  I  drive  out 
from  before  the  children  of  Israel."  (Joshua  13.  5-6.)  In 
making  Hermon  or  Senir  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  tribes 
dwelling  east  of  the  Jordan,  Milton  agrees  with  the  cartographers, 
such  as  Ortelius  (Par ergon,  p.  18),  and  with  Fuller,  who  writes: 
"Manasseh  had  Mount  Hermon  and  Gilead  on  the  east."  (P. 
92.)  At  present  such  passages  as  Deuteronomy  3.8  are  inter 
preted  as  referring  not  to  the  eastern  but  to  the  northern  and 
southern  boundaries  of  the  tribes  east  of  the  Jordan. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON  143 

Hertford.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  216. 

The  chief  town  of  Hertfordshire,  built  on  both  sides  of  the  River 
Lea.  (Chronicle  913.) 

Hertfordshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  216;   (6)  5.  250. 

A  county  of  southern  England,  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Cambridge,  and  on  the  south  by  Middlesex. 

Hesdena.     Lit.  Oliv.  (73)  7.  324. 

Hesdin,  a  town  of  Pas  de  Calais,  France. 

Hesdin.    See  Hesdena. 

Hesebon.     P.  L.  1.  408.     (See  also  Seon's  Realme.) 

Heshbon  (Vulgate,  Hesebon}  was  a  city  beyond  Jordan,  five 
miles  northeast  of  Mount  Nebo.  It  is  often  mentioned  in  the 
Bible  as  the  capital  of  Sihon,  king  of  the  Amorites.  It  had 
formerly  been  a  city  of  Moab.  (Numbers  21.  21-31 ;  Isaiah  15.4; 
16.6-9;  Jeremiah  49.3.) 

Heshbon.    See  Hesebon. 
Hesperia.     See  Spain. 

Hesperian  (Hesperides) .  Eleg.  3.  46;  5.  82;  Comus  4-5  (fifteen 
canceled  lines  appear  at  this  point  in  the  Cambridge  MS.), 
393,  981;  P.  L.  3.  568;  4.  250;  8.  632;  P.  R.  2.  357.  (See 
also  Spain.) 

The  mythical  garden  of  the  Hesperides  was  the  cause  of  much 
speculation  among  the  ancients.  Pliny  puts  it  in  Mauretania, 
where  a  grove  of  wild  olives  was  said  to  be  a  remnant  of  it.  (5.  1 .) 
See  also  Virgil,  jEneid  4.  486.  According  to  another  view  the 
Islands  of  the  Hesperides  lay  off  the  desert  shore  of  Africa. 
(Pliny  6.  31;  Mela  3.  10.)  In  his  description  of  Cyrenaica, 
Scylax  writes  as  follows:  "There,  in  an  elevated  place,  is  the 
garden  of  the  Hesperides.  The  place  is  sixteen  fathoms  high, 
circular,  and  with  precipitous  sides,  nowhere  having  a  way 
down.  In  breadth  and  length  it  extends  two  stades,  not  less, 
in  every  direction.  It  is  thickly  shaded  with  trees  crowded  in 
among  each  other  in  the  densest  fashion.  The  trees  there  are  the 
lotus,  apples  of  all  kinds,  pomegranates,  pears,  arbutuses,  mul 
berries,  vines,  myrtles,  laurels,  ivy,  olives,  wild  olives,  almonds, 
and  walnut-trees."  (Periplus,  Sect.  108.)  In  the  elevation  of 


144  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

the  garden,  and  other  points,  this  description  is  of  the  same 
type  as  Milton's  description  of  the  Garden  of  Eden,  and  shows 
why  Milton  could  think  of  his  garden  as  Hesperian.  In  P.  L. 
8.  632,  and  Eleg.  5.  82,  Milton  uses  the  word  "Hesperian" 
after  the  Latin  fashion  to  mean  western,  and  possibly  also  in 
P.  L.  3.  568.  There  he  perhaps  refers  to  the  mythical  Islands 
of  the  Blest,  or  Fortunate  Islands,  which  might  easily  be  asso 
ciated  with  the  Islands  of  the  Hesperides,  for  they  lay  far  to  the 
west,  beyond  the  bounds  of  human  habitation.  "There  round 
the  islands  of  the  blest  the  Ocean-breezes  blow,  and  golden 
flowers  are  glowing,  some  from  the  land  on  trees  of  splendor,  and 
some  the  water  feedeth,  with  wreaths  whereof  they  entwine  their 
hands."  (Pindar,  Olymp.  2.  70-4.)  Milton's  other  references  are 
unambiguous,  for  they  mention  the  tree  bearing  golden  apples 
which  was  the  centre  of  the  garden  of  the  Hesperides.  (Ovid, 
Met.  4.  621  ff.;  Euripides,  Hercules  Furens  394  ff.)  In  P.  R. 
2.  357  the  word  Hesperides  perhaps  means  the  garden  itself 
rather  than  the  women  who  possessed  it.  With  P.  L.  8.  631-2, 
where  the  Cape  Verde  Islands  (see  Verdant  Isles)  are  associated 
with  the  Hesperides,  should  be  compared  Milton's  other  refer 
ences  to  western  islands,  such  as  the  Azores  (q.  v.).  The  Canaries 
(see  Teneriff)  were  often  identified  with  the  Fortunate  Islands. 

Hesperian  Fields.    See  Italy. 
Hesperides.     See  Hesperian. 

Hessen    (Hassia).      Kings    &    Mag.    4.    473;     Commonplace 

110. 

Hesse  (Latin,  Hessia)  was  a  landgraviate  of  the  German  em 
pire  which  lay  along  the  Main  and  the  middle  Rhine. 

Hethfeild.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  153. 

Hatfield  Chase,  near  Doncaster,  Yorkshire. 

Hetruria.     See  Tuscan. 
Hetrusca  Ditio.     See  Tuscan. 

Heworth  Moore.     Eikonocl.  (10)  3.  412. 

Heworth  is  a  village  on  the  River  Tyne,  below  Newcastle. 

Hexham  (Hagustald).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  179. 

A  town  upon  the  River  Tyne,  once  the  seat  of  a  monastery. 

Hibernia.     See  Ireland. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL    DICTIONARY    OF   MILTON  145 

Hierapolis.     Animadv.  (PS.  168)  3.249. 

An  ancient  city  of  Phrygia,  the  seat  of  an  episcopal  see  pre 
sided  over  by  Apollinarius  in  the  latter  part  of  the  second  century. 

Hierosolymae.     See  Jerusalem. 

Himerides.     Damon.  1. 

The  nymphs  of  the  River  Himera,  Sicily.  There  were  two 
rivers  of  the  name  in  the  island,  one  flowing  north,  the  other 
south.  The  name  is  often  mentioned  by  Theocritus.  (5.  124, 

etc.) 

Hinnom  (Gehenna,  Tophet).  P.  L.  1.  404,  405.  (See  also 
Opprobrious  Hill,  Siloa,  Solomon,  Garden  of.) 
A  valley  west  and  south  of  Jerusalem,  joining  with  the  Kidron 
Valley  south  of  Siloam.  Milton  calls  it  "the  pleasant  Vally  of 
Hinnom,"  doubtless  having  in  mind  some  such  description  as 
that  of  Jerome,  who  speaks  of  it  "as  watered  by  the  Fountains 
of  Siloam,  pleasant  and  shady,  and  presenting  the  delights 
of  gardens."  (In  Jeremiam  7.  31.)  Cf.  P.  L.  3.  30-32.  His 
account  of  the  place  as  the  scene  of  the  worship  of  Moloch 
depends  on  such  passages  as  Jeremiah  7.  31-32,  and  2  Kings  23. 
10.  The  grove  in  this  valley,  sacred  to  Moloch,  is  shown  by 
Adrichomius  on  his  map  of  Jerusalem.  (P.  145.)  Selden  ex 
plains  that  according  to  the  etymology  of  the  name  in  Hebrew 
the  valley  was  said  to  be  called  the  valley  of  the  Sons  of  Hinnom 
"from  the  outcry  or  lamentations  of  the  children,  while  they  were 
being  burned"  as  offerings  to  Moloch.  In  like  manner  Tophet 
is  derived  from  the  Hebrew  name  for  drum,  "because  a  noise  of 
drums  was  made  in  the  place  that  no  lamentations  and  outcries 
however  loud  might  be  heard  by  the  parents  "  (De  Diis  Syriis, 
London,  1726,  p.  314)  who  were  sacrificing  their  children  to  the 
god.  The  word  Gehenna,  applied  to  hell,  comes,  he  says,  from 
the  same  source. 

Hispahan.     P.  L.  11.  394.     (See  also  Tauris,  Hecatompylos.) 

Ispahan,  a  city  in  the  central  part  of  Persia.  John  Cart- 
wright,  who  in  1603  traveled  in  Persia,  described  it  as  follows: 
"This  Citie  in  times  past,  was  called  Ecatompolis,  the  Citie  of 
a  hundred  gates,  and  well  it  may  keepe  that  name  still,  since  the 
huge  walls  of  the  same  containe  in  circuit  an  easie  daies  journey 
on  horsebacke,  and  is  become  the  greatest  Citie  in  all  the  Persian 


146  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Dominions,  which  is  so  much  the  more  magnified  and  made 
populous  by  reason  of  the  Kings  resiance  therein.  Very  strong 
is  this  Citie  by  situation,  compassed  about  with  a  very  great 
wall,  and  watered  with  deep  Channels  of  running  Springs,  con- 
veighed  into  it  from  a  part  of  the  Coronian  Mountains,  which 
are  as  a  wall  inaccessible  about  it.  On  the  North  side  is  erected 
a  strong  Fort  or  Castle,  being  compassed  about  with  a  wall  of  a 
thousand  and  seven  hundred  yards,  and  in  the  midst  thereof  is 
built  a  Tower,  or  rather  a  strong  keepe,  sundry  Chambers  and 
lodgings  therein,  but  stored  with  little  Ordnance.  On  the  West 
side  of  this  Citie  standeth  two  Seraglios,  the  one  for  the  King, 
the  other  for  his  Women,  Palaces  of  great  state  and  magnificence, 
far  exceeding  all  other  proud  buildings  of  this  Citie;  the  wals 
glister  with  red  Marble  and  pargeting  of  divers  colours,  yea,  all 
the  Palace  is  paved  with  Checker  and  Tesseled  worke,  and  on 
the  same  is  spread  Carpets  wrought  with  Silke  and  Gold;  the 
windowes  of  Alabaster,  white  Marble,  and  much  other  spotted 
Marble,  the  Poasts  and  Wickets  of  massie  Ivory,  checked  with 
glistering  blacke  Ebony,  so  curiously  wrought  in  winding  knots, 
as  may  easier  stay  then  satisfie  the  eyes  of  the  wondering  be 
holder.  Neere  unto  this  Palace  is  a  Garden  very  spacious  and 
large,  all  flourishing  and  beautifull,  replenished  with  a  thousand 
sundry  kinds  of  grafts,  trees,  and  sweet  smelling  Plants,  among 
which  the  Lilly,  the  Hyacinth,  the  Gillyflower,  the  Rose,  the 
Violet,  the  Flower-gentle,  and  a  thousand  other  odoriferous 
flowers,  doe  yeeld  a  most  pleasant  and  delightful  sight  to  all 
beholders.  There  are  a  thousand  Fountaines,  and  a  thousand 
Brookes;  among  them  all,  as  the  father  of  them  all,  a  pretie 
River,  which  with  his  milde  course  and  delightsome  noyse,  doth 
divide  the  Garden  from  the  Kings  Palace.  .  .  .  Since  King  Abas 
came  to  the  Crowne,  full  twentie  yeares  and  upwards,  the  Persian 
Empire  hath  flourished  in  sacred  and  redoubted  Lawes,  the 
People  demeaning  themselves  after  the  best  manner  they  can, 
abundance  of  Collections  comming  plentifully  in,  the  Rents  of  his 
Chamber  were  increased  more  than  ever  they  were  in  his  Grand 
father  Tamas  his  time,  Armes,  Artes,  and  Sciences  doe  wonder 
fully  propser,  and  are  very  highly  esteemed."  (Pilgrimes  2. 
1432.)  The  change  of  the  seat  of  the  king  mentioned  by  Milton 
is  thus  explained  by  Cartwright:  "[Casbeen]  is  now  one  of  the 
seats  of  the  Persian  Kings  Empire,  which  was  translated  by 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  147 

King  Tamas,  this  Kings  grandfather,  from  Tauris,  .  .  .  though 
the  King  that  now  raigneth  makes  most  of  his  abode  in  Hispaan, 
fourteen  daies  journey  farther  towards  the  East."  (Ib.  2.  1430.) 

Hispania.     See  Spain. 

Hispaniola.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  354,  356,  361  (twice). 

Otherwise  known  as  Haiti  or  San  Domingo;  the  second  largest 
island  of  the  West  Indies. 

1.  Holland  (Rowland).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  199. 
A  wet,  low  part  of  Lincolnshire  on  the  Wash. 

2.  Holland.     Eikonocl.  (8)  3.  390,  393;   (10)  3.  411,  412  (twice); 
(11)  3.  419;    Kings  &  Mag.  4.  476;    Hist.  Brit.   (3)  5.  115; 
1  Defens.  (Prasf.)  6.  6,  7,  14;    (1)  6.  21;   2  Defens.  6.  257,  258, 
284,  305,  310;    Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  341,  369;    Respons.  6.  408, 
414,  416;    Lit.  Oliv.  (26)  7.  269;    (27)  7.  270;    (79)  7.  330; 
Epist.  Earn.  (14)  7.  391;  (27)  7.  406;  Commonplace  54;  2  Eng. 
Let.,  Masson  4.  479.     (See  also  Netherlands.) 

North  and  South  Holland  are  two  provinces  of  the  Netherlands 
lying  between  the  North  Sea  and  the  Zuyder  Zee.  In  the  time 
of  Milton  Holland  was  the  most  influential  division  of  the  United 
Provinces,  and  a  refuge  for  exiled  Englishmen  of  every  party. 

Holmby  (Holmeby).     Eikonocl.  (25)  3.  493;  (26)  3.  498. 

Holmby  House,  a  mansion  near  Northampton,  was  the  place 
of  imprisonment  of  Charles  I  in  the  year  1647.  Camden  de 
scribes  it  as  an  "unparalleled  pattern  of  magnificent  building." 
(2.  165.) 

Holme.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  214. 

The  passage  in  which  this  name  occurs  is  almost  a  translation 
from  Roger  of  Hoveden  (A.  D.  904),  whom  Milton  mentions. 
The  place  is  unidentified.  (Two  Chr.  2.  124.) 

Holmeby.     See  Holmby. 
Holsatia.     See  Holstein. 

Holstein  (Holsatia).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  Ill,  120;  Safe-cond. 

The  region  bounded  by  the  Eider  on  the  north  and  the  Elbe 
on  the  south,  now  a  part  of  Germany. 

Holy  Hand.     See  Lindisfarne. 
Holy  Land.     See  Canaan. 


148  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Horeb.     See  Oreb. 

Horonaim.     P.  L.  1.  409. 

A  city  of  Moab,  of  unknown  site.     It  is  mentioned  in  Isaiah 
51.  5,  and  Jeremiah  48.  3,  5,  34,  as  one  of  the  chief  places  of  Moab. 

Horsted.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  116. 

A  place  near  Ailsford,  Kent,  supposed  to  be  named  after  Horsa 
the  Saxon,  who  was  buried  there.     (Camden  1.  213.) 

Hounds-Low.     Eikonocl.  (18)  3.  472. 

Houndslow  is  a  village  of  Middlesex,  west  of  London,  con 
nected  by  a  road  with  Colnbrook. 

Rowland.     See  Holland. 

Hull.     Eikonocl.  (8)  3.  390  (thrice),  391  (thrice),  393  (thrice), 

394,  396;  (10)  3.  411  (twice),  412,  416;  1  Defens.  (10)  6.  170; 

Moscovia  (1)  8.  473;  2  Eng.  Let.,  Masson  4.  479. 

A  town  of  Yorkshire  of  which  Camden  says:  "The  river  Hull 

falls  into  the  Humber,  having  near  its  mouth  a  town  of  its  own 

name.  ...  At  present  it  is  the  most  considerable  port  in  these 

parts  for  handsome  buildings,  strong  walls,  good  ships,  resort  of 

merchants,    and    plenty   of   all    things.  .  .  .  The   citizens  .  .  . 

fortified  their  city  with  a  brick  wall  and  a  number  of  towers  on 

the  sides  not  defended  by  the  river."     (3.  14.)     At  the  outbreak 

of  the  Civil  War,  Hull,  under  the  command  of  Sir  John  Hotham, 

was  of  importance  because  munitions  of  war  were  stored  there. 

Humber  (Abra).     Vacat.  Ex.  99;    Damon.  176;   Hist.  Brit.  (1) 
5.  13,  19,  21;    (3)  5.  120,  135;    (4)  137,  147,  152,  171,  179; 
(5)  5.  198,  203,  221,  223  (twice);   (6)  5.  242,  252,  280,  295. 
An  estuary  of  the  eastern  coast  of  England,  separating  York 
shire  and  Lincolnshire.     In  the  line: 

Or  Humber  loud  that  keeps  the  Scythians  Name, 

Milton  refers  both  to  a  striking  characteristic  of  the  river,  the 
noise  made  by  its  eagre  at  flood  tide,  and  to  the  story  about  its 
name  which  he  tells  in  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  13  as  follows:  "Humber 
King  of  the  Hunns,  who  with  a  Fleet  invaded  that  Land,  was 
slain  in  fight,  and  his  people  driv'n  back  into  Loegria.  Locrine 
and  his  Brother  goe  out  against  Humber;  who  now  marching 
onward,  was  by  them  defeated,  and  in  a  River  drown'd,  which 
to  this  day  retains  his  name."  Spenser  tells  the  story  thus: 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  149 

Then  came  those  sixe  sad  brethren,  like  forlorne, 
That  whilome  were  (as  antique  fathers  tell) 
Sixe  valiant  Knights  of  one  faire  Nymphe  y borne, 
Which  did  in  noble  deedes  of  armes  excell, 
And  wonned  there  where  now  Yorke  people  dwell; 
Still  Ure,  swift  Werfe,  and  Oze  the  most  of  might, 
High  Swale,  unquiet  Nide,  and  troublous  Skell; 
All  whom  a  Scythian  king,  that  Humber  hight, 
Slew  cruelly,  and  in  the  river  drowned  quight. 

But  past  not  long  ere  Brutus  warlike  sonne, 

Locrinus,  them  aveng'd,  and  the  same  date, 

Which  the  proud  Humber  unto  them  had  donne, 

By  equall  dome  repayd  on  his  owne  pate; 

For  in  the  selfe  same  river,  where  he  late 

Had  drenched  them,  he  drowned  him  againe, 

And  nam'd  the  river  of  his  wretched  fate 

Whose  bad  condition  yet  it  doth  retaine, 

Oft  tossed  with  his  stormes  which  therein  still  remaine. 

(F.  Q.  4.  11.  37,  38.) 

He  them  encountred,  a  confused  rout, 
Foreby  the  River  that  whylome  was  hight 
The  ancient  Abus,  where  with  courage  stout 
He  them  defeated  in  victorious  fight, 
And  chaste  so  fiercely  after  fearfull  flight, 
That  forst  their  chieftain,  for  his  safeties  sake, 
(Their  Chiefetain  Humber  named  was  aright,) 
Unto  the  mighty  streame  him  to  betake, 
Where  he  an  end  of  batteill  and  of  life  did  make. 

(F.  Q.  2.  10.  16.) 
Cf.  also: 

Ne  storming  Humber,  though  he  looked  stout. 

(F.  Q.  4.  11.  30.) 

Dray  ton  speaks  of  the  noise  made  by  Humber: 

What  Flood  comes  to  the  Deepe, 
Then  Humber  that  is  heard  more  horribly  to  rore? 
For  when  my  Higre  comes,  I  make  my  either  shore 
Even  tremble  with  the  sound,  that  I  afarre  doe  send. 

(Polyolbion  28.) 

The  Humber  is  the  "  vorticibusque  frequens  Abra"  (Damon.  176), 
of  which  Camden  says:  "The  Ouse,  now  grown  broader  and 
swifter,  falls  with  great  violence  into  the  Abus  ^stuarium,  as 
Ptolomy  calls  what  the  Saxons  and  we  call  Humber.  .  .  .  Both 
names  seem  derived  from  the  British  Aber,  which  signifies  the 


150  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

mouth  of  a  river,  and  was  given,  as  I  suppose,  by  way  of  eminence 
to  this,  because  the  Ure  or  Ouse  empties  into  it  the  many  rivers 
it  has  received,  and  other  very  considerable  rivers  fall  into  it. 
It  is  certainly  the  largest  aestuary  in  Britain.  Being  increased 
by  the  tides  of  the  foaming  ocean,  it  drives  back  their  and  its 
own  waters  at  time  of  ebb  with  great  force  and  noise  and  great 
hazard  to  seamen."  (3.  13.) 

Hungary.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  263,  285,  286;  Moscovia  (4)  8.  490. 
In  Milton's  time  the  Turks  controlled  most  of  Hungary. 

Huntington.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  217,  218;    (6)  5.  251. 
A  town  of  Huntingtonshire  on  the  Ouse. 

Hydaspes.     P.  L.  3.  436;   1  Defens.  (2)  6.  30. 

A  river  of  India,  the  modern  Jehlam,  rising  in  Kashmir  and 
flowing  south  into  the  Chenab,  a  tributary  of  the  Indus.  In 
1  Defens.  Milton  quotes  Virgil.  (Georg.  4.  211.) 

Hymettus.     Eleg.  5.  52;   P.  R.  4.  247. 

A  mountain  range  of  Attica,  bounding  the  plain  of  Athens  on 
the  southeast.  Milton's  adjective  "flowrie"  may  have  come 
from  Ovid,  who  applies  that  epithet  to  it.  (Met.  7.  702;  Ars 
Am.  3.  687.)  The  mountain  was  famous  for  its  honey. 

Hypanis.     Decl.  Poland  8.  462. 

The  Latin  name  of  the  Bug,  a  river  of  Podolia,  Poland, 
emptying  into  the  estuary  of  the  Dneiper. 

Hyperboreus.     Quint.  Nov.  95;  Mansus  26. 

The  Hyperboreans  were  a  mythical  people  living  in  the  far 
north.  Hence  the  adjective  means  northern. 

Hyrcanian.     P.  R.  3.  317.     (See  also  Caucasus.) 

Hyrcania  is  a  region  southeast  of  the  Caspian  Sea,  often  called 
the  Hyrcanian  Sea.  Milton's  words  "the  Hyrcanian  cliffs  of 
Caucasus"  perhaps  refer  to  the  proximity  of  the  sea  to  the 
Caucasus  Mountains,  since  the  country  of  Hyrcania  is  not  near 
them.  Compare  Marlowe's  line: 

Through  rocks  more  steepe  and  sharp  than  Caspian  cliftes. 

(2  Tamburlaine  4634.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  151 

Hyrcania  is  frequently  associated  with  the  Caucasus  and  repre 
sented  as  a  wild  and  savage  country  abounding  in  fierce  animals, 
especially  tigers  (e.  g.,  JEneidk.  366;  Merchant  of  Venice  2.  7.  41). 

Iberian  Dales.     P.  R.  3.  318. 

Iberia  is  the  country  between  the  Black  and  Caspian  Seas, 
corresponding  to  the  modern  Georgia.  Strabo  describes  it  as 
lying  among  the  Caucasus,  and  difficult  of  access.  (11.  3.) 
The  following  suggests  Milton's  "dark  Iberian  dales":  "In  this 
Kingdome  of  Georgia  is  a  marvellous  strange  Wonder  or  Miracle, 
which  I  durst  not  have  reported  or  beleeved,  if  I  had  not  scene 
it  with  my  eyes.  ...  In  those  parts  there  is  a  Province  or 
Countrey  called  Hansem,  being  in  circuit  about  three  dayes 
journey,  whose  whole  extent  is  all  covered  over  with  such  thicke 
and  palpable  darknesse  that  none  can  see  anything  therein, 
neither  do  any  dare  to  goe  into  that  Land,  because  they  know  not 
the  way  out  againe.  Those  that  inhabit  neere  about  it  affirme 
that  they  have  often  heard  the  sound  of  mens  voices  crying,  of 
Cockes  crowing,  and  the  neighing  of  Horses  in  the  Wood,  and 
by  the  course  of  a  River  that  runneth  out  from  that  place,  there 
appear  certaine  signes  that  there  are  people  inhabiting  therein." 
(Pilgrimes  3.  110.) 

Iberian  Fields.     See  Spain. 

Iccius.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  38. 

Usually  called  Itius.  A  port  of  France,  not  identified,  upon 
the  Straits  of  Dover.  Camden  thought  it  to  be  Whitsan. 

(1.  221.) 

Iconium.     Hirelings  5.  369. 

A  city  of  the  ancient  district  of  Lycaonia,  Asia  Minor. 

1.  Ida.     II  Pens.  29;  P.  L.  1.  515.     (See  also  Greet.) 

A  mountain  in  central  Crete,  connected  with  legends  of  Zeus. 
Dionysius  Periegetes,  for  example,  writes  of  it:  "Honored  Crete, 
nurse  of  great  Zeus,  wide,  and  rich,  and  stocked  with  cattle, 
above  which  is  Ida,  Ida  luxuriant  with  oaks  of  beautiful  foliage, 
and  vast  in  size."  (LI.  500-4.)  See  also  Diodorus  5.  70. 

2.  Ida.     Eleg.  5.  62;   P.  L.  5.  382. 

A  range  of  mountains  encircling  the  territory  of  Troy,  and 
hence  often  mentioned  in  the  Iliad.     Milton  refers  to  the  worship 
11 


152  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

on  this  mountain  of  Cybele,  whom  Virgil  calls  "Idaean  mother 
of  the  gods."     (jEneid  10.  252.) 

Idle.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  147. 

A  river  of  Nottinghamshire  flowing  from  Sherwood  Forest 
into  the  Trent.  (Camden  2.  284.) 

Idumanius.     Damon.  90. 

According  to  Camden  (2.  45),  Idumanus,  identified  with  the 
Blackwater  River,  or  Bay,  Essex. 

Ignesham.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  134.     (See  also  Benson.) 
Eynesham,  Oxfordshire. 

lies.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  223,  233. 

The  Hebrides  (q.  v.)  and  part  of  western  Scotland,  once  a 
Danish  kingdom. 

Iliacus.    See  Troy. 
Ilion.    See  Troy. 

Ilissus.     P.  R.  4.  249;  Epist.  Fam.  (8)  7.  380. 

A  small  stream  rising  on  Mount  Hymettus  and  flowing  through 
Athens  into  the  Phaleric  Bay.  Plato  tells  of  the  pleasant  scenes 
along  the  Ilissus.  The  stream  itself  he  refers  to  only  as  "clear 
and  bright,"  but  he  speaks  of  "the  summer  sounds"  of  the  place, 
and  of  the  "sound  in  the  air  shrill  and  summerlike."  (Ph&drus 
229.)  This  may  have  suggested  to  Milton  the  words  "his  whis 
pering  stream." 

Illiricum.     See  Illyria. 
Illium.     See  Troy. 

Illyria  (Illiricum).     P.  L.  9.  505;   Tetrach.  (Canon)  4.  273. 

In  its  widest  extent,  Illyria  included  the  country  extending 
from  Italy  to  Macedonia,  and  from  the  Danube  on  the  north  to 
Epirus  on  the  south.  Milton  refers  to  the  story  told  by  Ovid  in 
Met.  4.  562-602. 

Imaus.     P.  L.  3.  431.     (See  also  Scythia,  Tartaria.) 

A  name  sometimes  applied  to  the  Himalayas  or  part  of  them, 
but  more  often  to  mountains  extending  north  from  the  Himalayas 
to  the  Arctic  Ocean,  and  cutting  in  two  the  northern  part  of 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  153 

Asia,  known  as  Tartaria  or  Scythia.  The  Scythians  on  the  west 
and  east  of  the  chain  were  known  respectively  as  those  intra  and 
extra  Imaum,  as  appears,  for  example,  on  Mercator's  map  of 
Tartaria.  (P.  665.)  This  is  what  Milton  had  in  mind  when  he 
wrote : 

a  Vultur  on  Imaus  bred, 
Whose  snowie  ridge  the  roving  Tartar  bounds. 

The  description  of  the  mountain  as  snow-covered  suggests  the 
words  of  Pliny:  "Imaus,  which  signifieth  in  that  country  language 
full  of  snow."  (6.  17.) 

Ind.     See  India,  East. 

India.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  352,  363.     (See  following  articles.) 

In  the  time  of  Milton,  India  was  the  "  name  given  to  all  remote 
countries  East  and  West."  (Pilgrimage,  p.  859.) 

India,  East  (Ind,  India  Orientalis).     Nat.  Non  45;   Comus  139, 

606;    P.  L.  1.  781;    2.  2;    3.  436;    5.  339;    9.  81,  1102,  1108; 

P.  R.  4.  74,  75;   Divorce  (1.  13)  4.  54;   Tetrach.  (Gen.  1.  27) 

4.  148;  Lit.  Senat.  (44)  7.  234;   (45)  7.  236  (twice);  Lit.  Oliv. 

(26)  7.  269;    (30)  7.  273;    (31)  7.  274;   Grammar  (2)  6.  487; 

Moscovia  (3)  8.  485.     (See  also  Agra,  Banda,  India  (West), 

Malabar,  Tidore.) 

The  peninsula  of  Hindustan  and  the  other  lands  and  islands 
in  that  quarter,  especially  to  the  eastward.  Milton  seems  to 
have  been  especially  attracted  by  descriptions  of  Indian  fruits, 
as  he  indicates  in  the  following: 

From  each  tender  stalk 
Whatever  Earth  all-bearing  Mother  yeilds 
In  India  East  or  West,  or  middle  shoare 
In  Pontus  or  the  Punic  Coast,  or  where 
Alcinous  reign'd,  fruit  of  all  kindes,  in  coate, 
Rough,  or  smooth  rin'd,  or  bearded  husk,  or  shell 
She  gathers,  Tribute  large,  and  on  the  board 
Heaps  with  unsparing  hand;   for  drink  the  Grape 
She  crushes,  inoffensive  moust,  and  meathes 
From  many  a  berrie,  and  from  sweet  kernels  prest 
She  tempers  dulcet  creams,  nor  these  to  hold 
Wants  her  fit  vessels  pure.  (P.  L.  5.  337-348.) 

Some  of  this  perhaps  came  from  the  writings  of  Linschoten,  and 
at  least  is  illustrated  by  his  description  of  the  cocoanut:  "The 


154  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Nuts  are  as  great  as  an  Estridge  Egge,  some  smaller,  and  some 
greater,  and  are  outwardly  covered  with  a  huske  or  shell  which 
as  long  as  it  groweth  on  the  tree  is  greene  without  like  an  Acorne 
with  his  huske  or  cup.  This  huske  being  dry  and  pulled  off  is 
haire  like  Hempe.  ...  It  happeneth  oftentimes  that  by  con 
tinuance  of  time  the  water  within  the  Cocus  doth  convert  and 
congeale  into  a  certaine  kind  of  yellow  Apple,  which  is  very 
savourie  and  sweet.  The  huske  being  taken  off,  the  shell  serveth 
for  many  uses,  as  to  make  Ladles  with  woodden  handles,  and 
also  certaine  little  pots,  which  being  fastened  to  a  sticke,  they 
doe  therewith  take  and  lade  water  out  of  their  great  pots.  .  .  . 
Of  the  white  of  these  Nuts  in  India  they  make  pottage,  and 
dresse  meate  withall,  strayning  and  pressing  out  the  Milke, 
wherein  with  many  other  mixtures  they  seeth  their  Rice." 
(Pilgrimes  2.  1778.)  Compare  the  lines: 

The  savourie  pulp  they  chew,  and  in  the  rinde 
Still  as  they  thirsted  scoop  the  brimming  stream. 

(P.  L.  4.  335-336.) 

Fruits  of  Palm-tree  pleasantest  to  thirst 
And  hunger  both. 

(Ib.  8.  212-13.) 

Small  store  will  serve,  where  store, 
All  seasons,  ripe  for  use  hangs  on  the  stalk. 

(76.  5.  322-323.) 

The  last,  though  it  may  have  come  from  some  such  source  as 
Homer's  description  of  the  garden  of  Alcino\is  (q.  v.),  resembles 
a  passage  by  Linschoten:  "The  trees  whereon  the  Jambos  doe 
grow  are  as  great  as  Plum  trees,  and  very  like  unto  them;  it  is 
an  excellent  and  a  very  pleasant  fruit  to  looke  on,  as  big  as  an 
Apple;  it  hath  a  red  colour  and  somewhat  whitish,  so  cleare  and 
pure,  that  it  seemeth  to  be  painted  or  made  of  Wax;  it  is  very 
pleasant  to  eate,  and  smelleth  like  Rose  water;  it  is  white  within, 
and  in  eating  moist  and  waterish;  it  is  a  most  dainty  fruit,  as 
well  for  beauty  to  the  sight,  as  for  the  sweet  savour  and  taste. 
.  .  .  The  blossoms  are  likewise  very  faire  to  the  sight,  and  have 
a  sweet  smell;  they  are  red  and  somewhat  whitish  of  colour. 
This  tree  beareth  fruit  three  or  foure  times  every  yeere,  and, 
which  is  more  wonderfull,  it  hath  commonly  on  the  one  side  or 
halfe  of  the  tree  ripe  Jambos,  and  the  leaves  fallen  off,  and  on  the 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  155 

other  side  or  halfe  it  hath  all  the  leaves,  and  begtnneth  againe  to 
blossome,  and  when  that  side  hath  fruit,  and  that  the  leaves  fall 
off,  then  the  other  side  beginneth  againe  to  have  leaves,  and  to 
blossome,  and  so  it  continueth  all  the  yeere  long."  (Pilgrimes 
2.  1776.)  Linschoten  tells  also  of  a  fig-tree  which  "beareth  fruit 
and  so  continueth  all  the  yeere  long,  and  never  leaveth  bearing." 
The  lines, 

Save  what  by  frugal  storing  firmness  gains 
To  nourish,  and  superfluous  moist  consumes 

(P.  L.  5.  325-326), 

suggest  Linschoten's  account  of  certain  figs:  "They  are  cut  off 
when  they  are  but  halfe  ripe,  that  is  to  say,  when  they  are  as 
yet  halfe  greene  and  halfe  yellow,  and  hanged  up  in  their  houses 
upon  beames,  and  so  within  foure  or  five  dayes  they  will  be  fully 
ripe  and  all  yellow. ' '  Cf .  also  the  account  of  the  cocoanu t  already 
quoted. 

Milton's  reference  to  the  Indian  deity  (Divorce  (1.-13)  4.  54) 
which  brings  upon  its  worshipers  misery  instead  of  blessing 
suggests  that  he  had  read  the  numerous  accounts  given  by 
Purchas  of  the  horrible  religious  rites  of  India,  such  as  the  follow 
ing:  "Some  are  said  to  be  so  zealous  in  their  Idol-service  as  to 
sacrifice  their  lives  in  their  honour;  whereunto  they  are  per- 
swaded  by  the  preachings  of  their  Priests,  as  the  most  acceptable 
devotion.  Many  offer  themselves,  which  being  brought  upon  a 
scaffold,  after  certaine  ceremonies  put  about  his  necke  an  iron 
collar,  round  without,  but  within  very  sharpe,  from  which 
hangeth  a  chaine  down  his  brest  into  which,  sitting  downe,  he 
putteth  his  feet,  and  whiles  the  Priest  muttereth  certaine  words, 
the  partie  before  the  people  with  all  his  force  stretcheth  out  his 
feet,  and  cuts  off  his  head;  their  reward  is  that  they  are 
accounted  Saints."  (Pilgrimage,  p.  616.)  On  the  same  page 
he  writes  of  the  "Indian  Catharists"  (Tetrach.  (Gen.  1.  27)  4. 
148):  "If  Lice  doe  much  annoy  them,  they  call  to  them  certaine 
Religious  and  holy  men,  after  their  account;  and  these  Obser 
vants  will  take  upon  them  all  those  Lice  which  the  other  can 
finde,  and  put  them  on  their  head,  there  to  nourish  them." 

"That  Pigmean  Race  beyond  the  Indian  Mount"  (P.  L.  1. 
781)  is  thus  described  by  Pliny:  "Higher  in  the  countrey,  and 
above  these,  even  in  the  edge  and  skirts  of  the  mountaines,  the 
Pygmaei  Spythamei  are  reported  to  bee;  called  they  are  so, 


156  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

for  that  they  are  but  a  cubite  three  shaftments,  or  spannes,  high, 
that  is  to  say,  three  times  nine  inches.  The  clime  wherin  they 
dwell  is  very  holesome,  the  aire  healthie,  and  ever  like  to  the 
temperature  of  the  Spring,  by  reason  that  the  Mountaines  are 
on  the  North  side  of  them,  and  beare  off  all  cold  blasts."  (7.  2.) 
Pliny  continues  with  an  account  of  the  battles  of  the  pygmies  and 
cranes  mentioned  by  Milton  in  P.  L.  1.  575.  Cf.  also  Iliad  3. 
6.  The  Catalan  map  pictures,  in  the  region  just  beyond  the 
borders  of  India,  the  pygmies  and  cranes  in  battle.  (Ruge, 
Geschichte  .  .  .  der  Entdeckungen,  p.  78.)  In  Nat.  Non  45  India 
means  the  extreme  east.  (Cf.  Eleg.  3.  49.)  The  adjective 
"  odoratus  "  refers  to  the  spices  of  the  country.  (Cf .  P.L.I.  640.) 

India,  West  (India  Occidentalis).  P.  L.  5.  339;  Church-gov. 
(2)  3.  139;  Contra  Hisp.  7.  345  (twice),  347,  348  (twice),  349 
(twice),  350,  352  (twice),  353,  354  (twice),  357,  362,  365,  366 
(thrice),  367,  368;  1  Prolus.  7.  418.  (See  also  America,  Cusco, 
India  (East).) 

The  whole  of  the  continents  of  the  western  hemisphere,  or  at 
least  the  tropical  portions  of  them.  Books  of  travel  of  the  time 
of  Milton  contain  many  accounts  of  the  trees  and  fruits  of  Amer 
ica,  as  for  example:  "Cabueriba  is  very  great  and  esteemed  for 
the  Balme  that  it  hath ;  to  get  this  Balme  they  prick  the  barke 
of  the  tree,  and  lay  a  little  Cotton  wooll  to  the  cuts,  and  from 
certaine  to  certaine  dayes  they  goe  to  gather  the  Oyle  that  it 
hath  distilled.  The  Portugals  calle  it  Balme,  because  it  is  very 
like  to  the  true  Balme  of  the  Vineyards  of  Engedi ;  it  serveth  for 
greene  wounds,  and  taketh  away  the  scarre ;  it  smelleth  very  well, 
and  of  it,  and  of  the  barke  of  the  tree  they  make  Beades,  and 
other  smelling  things.  The  Woods  where  they  growe  doe  smell 
well,  and  the  beasts  doe  goe  and  rubbe  on  this  tree,  it  seemeth  to 
bee  to  heale  them  of  some  diseases."  (Pilgrimes  4.  1308.) 
Compare  the  line: 

Groves  whose  rich  Trees  wept  odorous  Gummes  and  Balme. 

(P.  L.  4.  248.) 

The  worship  of  the  sun  in  America,  to  which  Milton  alludes 
in  1  Prolus.  7.  418,  is  frequently  described.  Purchas  gives  the 
following  account  of  the  great  image  of  the  sun  in  a  temple  at 
Cuzco  in  Peru:  "In  the  East  or  high  Altar  stood  the  figure  of 
the  Sunne,  made  of  one  planke  or  plate  of  gold,  twice  as  thicke 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  157 

as  the  other  plates  on  the  wals,  the  face  round  with  rayes  and 
flames  of  fire,  all  of  a  peece.  It  was  so  great  that  it  tooke  up  all 
the  end  from  one  wall  to  the  other.  Neither  had  they  any  other 
idols  in  that  or  any  other  Temple  but  this,  for  indeede  they 
worshipped  no  other  gods  but  the  Sunne. "  (Pilgrimes  4.  1464.) 
Another  account  he  gives  of  the  same  image  is  as  follows:  "In 
this  same  house  was  the  Pinchao,  which  was  an  Idoll  of  the  Sunne, 
of  most  fine  Gold,  wrought  with  great  riches  of  Stones,  the  which 
was  placed  to  the  East  with  so  great  Art  as  the  Sunne  at  his  rising 
did  cast  his  beames  thereon ;  and  as  it  was  of  most  fine  mettall 
his  beames  did  reflect  with  such  a  brightnesse  that  it  seemed 
another  Sunne."  (Ib.  3.  1032.) 

Indicum  Mare.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  363.     (See  also  Ethiopian.) 

The  Indian  Ocean,  or  possibly  the  waters  surrounding  the 
Indies  both  East  and  West.  See  India. 

Indus.     P.  L.  9.  82;   P.  R.  3.  272.     (See  also  Ganges.) 

A  river  of  India,  rising  in  the  Himalayas  and  flowing  into  the 
Arabian  Sea.  Since  it  was  the  western  boundary  of  India,  it 
was  known  in  Europe  at  an  early  date. 

Inghilterra.     See  England. 

Ionia.     Eleg.  1.  23;   P.  L.  1.  508;  Areopag.  4.  401;   8  Prolus.  7. 

464. 

The  part  of  the  shore  of  Asia  Minor  inhabited  by  Greeks, 
extending  from  Phocaea  in  the  north  to  Miletus  in  the  south. 
Milton  three  times  mentions  Ionia  in  connection  with  Homer. 
(See  Melesigenes.) 

Ipres.     Lit.  Senat.  (9)  7.  195. 

Ypres,  a  town  of  West  Flanders,  Belgium. 

Ipswich.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  241,  250. 
A  town  on  the  River  Orwell  in  Suffolk. 

Irassa.     P.  R.  4.  564. 

"The  name  Irassa,  of  the  city  of  Antaeus,  seems  to  have  been 
taken  by  Milton  from  Pind.  P.  9.  106:  'There  went  up  suitors 
to  the  city  of  Irasa  to  woo  Antaios'  lovely-haired  daughter  of 
great  renown.'  The  scholiast  on  Pindar  says,  however,  that  the 
Antaeus  living  in  the  city  Irassa  was  not  the  one  who  strove  with 


158  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Heracles,  but  he  adds  that,  among  others,  Pherecydes  says  that 
the  latter  Antaeus  came  from  Irassa  (neut.  plur.)  on  Lake  Tri- 
tonis  [see  Triton]  in  Cyrene.  Herodotus  mentions  Irassa  (neut. 
plur.)  as  a  locality  of  Libya.  (4.  159.)  That  Milton  says  lin 
Irassa'  indicates  reference  to  a  region  as  the  home  of  Antaeus, 
for  which  he  has  the  scholiast's  authority."  (Osgood,  Classical 
Mythology  of  Milton,  s.  v.  Antaeus.  He  quotes  the  Greek  of 
Pindar.) 

Irchenfeild.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  216. 

Archenfield,  on  the  borders  of  Herefordshire  and  Gloucester 
shire,  called  in  the  time  of  Milton  Irchenfeld.  (Camden  2.  442.) 

Ireland  (Hibernia).  Reformation  (2)  3.  54;  Church-gov.  (1.  7) 
3.  132,  137  (twice);  Apology  3.  275;  (8)  3.  303;  Eikonocl.  (1) 
3.  339;  (2)  3.  348;  (4)  3.  360;  (8)  3.  391;  (12)  3.  429  (twice), 
432,  437,  438,  439;  (13)  3.  441;  (18)  3.  470;  Ormond  4.  555 
(twice),  556,  558,  559,  567,  575;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  23;  (2)  5.  52, 
67,  77,  89;  (4)  5.  162,  167  (twice);  (5)  5.  217,  223  (twice),  224, 
234  (twice);  (6)  5.  281,  285;  Notes:  Grif.  5.  396;  Easy  Way 
5.  421;  1  Defens.  (6)  6.  122;  (10)  6.  167;  (12)  6.  178,  181; 
2  Defens.  6.  320;  Lit.  Oliv.  (59)  7.  308;  Contra  Hisp.  7.  363; 
Moscovia  (5)  8.  503;  Commonplace  74  (twice),  188  (twice), 
242;  MS.  2!  113;  Sixteen  Let.  16. 

Ireland  was  important  in  the  politics  of  England  during  the 
Civil  War  because  of  the  support  it  gave  to  Charles  I.  The 
reconquest  of  the  island  by  the  Parliament  of  England  was 
begun  in  1649,  under  the  leadership  of  Cromwell. 

Irish  Sea  (Vergivium  Salum).     Lycidas,  Sub-title;    Eleg.  1.  4; 
Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  89  (twice). 
The  body  of  water  between  Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 

Irtis.     Moscovia  (2)  8.  483. 

The  Irtish,  a  river  of  western  Siberia,  a  western  tributary  of 
the  Ob.  Milton  refers  in  a  note  to  the  following  passage:  "The 
Citie  Tobolsca  is  situated  on  the  River  Yrtis,  which  with  a 
most  forcible  stream,  and  as  it  were  another  Danubius,  rising 
from  the  South,  taketh  his  course  toward  the  Oby,  through  which 
it  seemeth  to  run  with  the  same  course.  On  the  other  side  is 
the  River  Tobol,  of  which  the  Citie  taketh  her  name."  (Pil- 
grimes  3.  526.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  159 

Ismenian  Steep.     P.  R.  4.  575.     (See  also  1.  Thebes.) 

The  rock  near  Thebes  from  which  the  Sphinx  hurled  herself 
when  her  riddle  was  guessed  by  (Edipus.  The  Ismenus  is  a 
small  river  flowing  past  Thebes.  Hence  the  word  "  Ismenian  " 
is  used  to  mean  Theban. 

Isna.     Bucer:  Divorce  (Test.)  4.  292. 

Isny,  a  small  city  of  Swabia  on  the  border  of  Bavaria. 

Ispahan.     See  Hispahan. 

Israel  (Hebrew,  Palestinus).  Ps.  114.  5,  6;  136.  42,  73;  80.  1; 
81.  14,  35,  47,  55;  83.  15;  Ad  Patrem  85;  P.  L.  1.  413,  432, 
482;  12.267;  P.  R.  1.  217,  254;  2.36,42,89,311,442;  3.279, 
378,  406,  408,  410,  411,  413,  441;  4.  336,  480;  Samson  39, 
179,  225,  233,  240,  242,  285,  342,  454,  1150,  1177,  1319,  1428, 
1527,  1540,  1560,  1663,  1714;  Episcopacy  3.  91;  Animadv. 
(16.  148)  3.  240;  Divorce  (1.  Pref.)  4.  15;  (2.  14)  4.  98;  (2.  22) 
4.  131;  Tetrach.  (Parl.)  4.  14.0;  Kings  &  Mag.  4.  453,  462,  467; 
Civil  Power  5.  322;  True  Relig.  5.  413.  (See  also  Canaan, 
Judah.) 
Though  sometimes  used  in  the  sense  of  Land  of  Israel,  the 

word  Israel  usually  refers  to  the  Israelitish  nation  rather  than 

to  the  land  occupied  by  them. 

Italy  (Ausonia,  Ausonian  Land,  Hesperian  Fields,  Italia).  Son 
net  15.  11;  Eleg.  1.  70;  Quint.  Nov.  49;  Ad  Patrem  83;  Ad 
Sal.  14;  Mansus  12,  29;  Ad  Rous.  7;  P.  L.  1.  520,  739; 
P.  R.  3.  102;  Reformation  (1)  3.  20,  24;  (2)  3.  39  (thrice), 
46,  53;  Church-gov.  (1.  6)  3.  124;  (2.  Pref.)  3.  144,  145 
(twice);  Tetrach.  (Canon)  4.  273;  Bucer:  Divorce  (Test.) 

4.  289;    Education  4.  390;    Areopag.  4.  402,  421;    Hist.  Brit. 
(1)  5.  4,  6,  8,  11  (twice),  15,  22;    (2)  5.  28,  37,  53,  90,  91,  92 
(twice);    (3)  5.  109;    (4)  5.  184;   Hirelings  5.  376;    Easy  Way 

5.  452;  2  Defens.  6.  268,  284  (twice),  285  (twice),  287  (thrice), 
289,  331;  Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  392;  Logic  (1.  19)  7.  63;  (1.  20) 
7.  65  (twice);  Rami  Vita  7.  183,  185;  Epist.  Fam.  (9)  7.  382; 
5  Prolus.  7.  437  (twice);  Moscovia  (3)  8.  485;  Commonplace 

110,  181,  183,  189  (twice),  193;    2  Eng.  Let.,  Masson  4.  479. 

(See  also  Florence,  Rome.) 

Italy  was  known  in  mythology  as  the  abode  of  Saturn  during 
the  golden  age.     (P.  L.  1.  520;    5  Prolus.  7.  437;    2  Defens.  6. 


160  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON 

285.)  Before  1633  Milton  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  language 
and  literature  of  Italy.  (Ad  Patrem  83.)  His  classical  studies 
made  him  familiar  with  its  earlier  history  and  its  geography. 
When  he  went  abroad  he  desired  to  visit  Italy  above  all 
other  countries  because  there  humane  letters  and  learning  of 
every  sort  were  especially  cultivated.  (2  Defens.  6.  285,  287). 
He  entered  the  country  in  1638,  and  remained  nearly  a  year. 
His  sojourn  and  his  visits  to  the  academies  did  not  dispel 
his  high  opinion  of  Italian  culture.  (Church-gov.  (2.  Pref.)  3. 
144.)  For  the  poets  of  Italy  he  expresses  great  admiration, 
ranking  them  with  those  of  Athens, '  Rome,  and  Palestine. 
(Reformation  (1)  3.  24;  Church-gov.  (2.  Pref.)  3.  145;  Animadv. 
(2)  3.  189.)  But  in  spite  of  the  pleasure  which  Milton  took  in 
the  society  of  the  learned  men  of  Italy,  the  opportunity  to 
buy  books  (2  Defens.  6.  289),  and  his  admiration  for  the  "three 
famousest  men  for  wit  and  learning  that  Italy  glories  in,"  he 
could  say:  "I  have  sat  among  their  lerned  men,  for  that  honor 
I  had,  and  bin  counted  happy  to  be  born  in  such  a  place  of 
Philosophic  freedom,  as  they  suppos'd  England  was,  while 
themselves  did  nothing  but  bemoan  the  servil  condition  into 
which  lerning  amongst  them  was  brought;  that  this  it  was  which 
had  dampt  the  glory  of  Italian  wits;  that  nothing  had  been  there 
writt'n  now  these  many  years  but  flattery  and  fustian."  (Areo- 
pag.  4.  428.)  "If  to  bring  a  num  and  chil  stupidity  of  soul,  an 
unactive  blindnesse  of  minde  upon  the  people  by  their  leaden 
doctrine,  or  no  doctrine  at  all,  if  to  persecute  all  knowing  and 
zealous  Christians  by  the  violence  of  their  courts,  be  to  keep 
away  schisme,  they  keep  away  schisme  indeed;  and  by  this 
kind  of  discipline  all  Italy  and  Spaine  is  as  purely  and  politickly 
kept  from  schisme  as  England  hath  beene  by  them."  (Church- 
gov.  (1.  6)  3.  124.)  "I  have  heard  many  wise  and  learned  men 
in  Italy"  say  that  the  Jesuits  were  "indeed  the  onely  corrupters 
of  youth,  and  good  learning."  (Reformation  3.  46.)  In  spite 
of  the  inspiration  which  Milton  drew  from  Italy,  he  came  away 
with  a  greater  hatred  of  that  tyrannous  Inquisition  which  im 
prisoned  investigators  (Areopag.  4.  428),  subjected  books  to  the 
licenser  (ib.  4.  404),  and  which  had  even  raised  in  the  mind  of  his 
friends  fears  for  the  safety  of  his  own  person.  (2  Defens.  6.  288.) 
See  Allodoli,  Milton  e  I' Italia;  Masson,  Life  of  Milton,  vol.  1. 

Itius.     See  Iccius. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  161 

Ivronia.     Animadv.  (3.  37)  3.  213. 

An  imaginary  province  described  by  Bishop  Hall  in  Mundus 
Alter  et  Idem  1.  2.  1. 

Jabesh-Gilead.     Eikonocl.  (12)  3.  436. 

A  city  of  Palestine,  in  Gilead,  beyond  the  Jordan,  said  by 
Fuller  to  be  "  sweetly  seated  at  the  bottom  of  balm  bearing  moun 
tains."  (P.  85.)  Milton  refers  to  the  narrative  of  Judges  21. 
8-14. 

Jactura.     See  Joccatra. 
Jakatra.     See  Joccatra. 

Japan.     Animadv.  (3.  37)  3.  213. 

In  1613  Japan  was  visited  by  an  Englishman,  Captain  John 
Saris,  who  gave  an  account  of  the  country.  (Pilgrimes  1.  366 
ff.)  He  found  Portuguese  Jesuits  already  established  there.  In 
1618  Hondius  made  a  map  of  the  country. 

Jarosslawl.    See  Yeraslave. 

Javan,  Isles  of.     Samson  716.     (See  also  Tarsus.) 

The  country  of  the  Ionian  Greeks,  descended  from  Javan, 
grandson  of  Noah.  The  name  is  also  applied  to  the  Greeks  in 
general,  as  in  P.  L.  1.  508.  Javan  is  often  mentioned  in  the 
Bible  in  connection  with  Tarshish  and  the  Isles,  as  in  Isaiah 
66.  19  and  Ezekiel  27.  12-15.  It  is  not  necessary  to  think  of 
actual  islands  ("the  isles  of  Javan  and  Gadier"),  for  in  the  Bible 
"isles"  is  a  term  applied  to  lands  bordering  on  the  sea  as  well  as 
to  islands.  Gadier  (q.  v.)  is  an  island. 

Jenissey.     Moscovia  (3)  8.  485  (twice). 

The  Yenisei,  a  river  of  Siberia  flowing  into  the  Arctic  Ocean 
east  of  the  River  Ob.  Milton's  sources  read  as  follows:  "Jenisce 
being  a  River  farre  bigger  than  Obi,  hath  high  mountaines  on  the 
East,  among  which  are  some  that  cast  out  fire  and  brimstone. 
The  countrey  is  plaine  to  the  West,  and  exceeding  fertile,  stored 
with  plants,  flowers,  and  trees  of  divers  kmds.  Also  many 
strange  fruits  do  grow  therein,  and  there  is  great  abundance  of 
rare  Fowles.  Jenisce  in  the  spring  overfloweth  the  fields  about 
seventie  leagues,  in  like  manner  as  they  report  unto  us,  as  Nilus 
doth  Egipt.  Wherwith  the  Tingoesi  being  well  acquainted,  doe 
keepe  beyond  the  River,  and  in  the  mountaines,  untill  it  decrease, 


162  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

and  then  returne,  and  bring  downe  their  heards  of  Cattell  into 
the  plaines."  (Pilgrimes  3.  527.)  "From  the  mouth  of  Ob  to 
the  great  River  Jenisce,  as  a  Russe  told  mee,  is  four  dayes  and 
foure  nights  sayling.  Betwixt  Ob  and  Yenisce  is  high  blacke 
Land."  (Ib.  551.)  "The  great  River  Yenisce  .  .  .  should 
seeme  not  farre  from  China."  (Ib.  546.) 

Jerico.     P.  R.  2.  20;   Doct.  Christ.  (1.  11)  1.  343. 

Jericho,  a  city  of  the  plain  of  Jordan,  on  the  western  side 
of  the  river,  about  five  miles  from  the  Dead  Sea.  It  is  called  the 
"city  of  palm  trees"  in  Deuteronomy  34.  3. 

Jerusalem  (Hierosolymae,  Salem,  Salymon).  Passion  39;  P.  L. 
12.  340;  P.  R.  3.  234,  283,  373;  4.  544;  Church-gov.  (1.  1) 
3.  98;  (2.  3)  3.  164;  Animadv.  (4.  45)  3.  219;  Eikonocl.  (16) 

3.  457;    (17)  3.  464;    (26)  3.  499,  500  (twice);   Divorce  (1.  13) 

4.  55;  Areopag.  4.  432;   Kings  &  Mag.  4.  500;  Hist.  Brit.  (5) 

5.  213;    (6)  5.  278,  283;   Civil  Power  5.  326;   Hirelings  5.  368; 
True  Relig.  5.  409;    1  Defens.  (4)  6.  82;   Decl.  Poland  8.  464; 
Moscovia  (4)  8.  489;  Doct.  Christ.  (1.  3)  1.  41;   (1.  31)  2.  187, 
194;    (2.  4)  2.  286;   (2.  5)  2.  303;   MS.  2.  111. 

Called  Salem  in  Psalms  76.  2.  Milton's  description  of  the 
Temple  at  Jerusalem  "appearing  like  a  mount  of  albas ter"  was 
perhaps  suggested  by  Josephus,  who  tells  of  the  white  stones  of 
the  Temple  of  Herod,  the  one  of  the  time  of  Christ.  (Antiq. 
15.  11.  3.)  He  also  says  that  the  hill  on  which  it  was  built 
"was  a  rocky  ascent,  that  sloped  gradually  towards  the  east  of 
the  city  up  to  its  topmost  peak."  He  mentions  no  "golden 
spires,"  but  does  tell  of  a  splendid  golden  vine  running  around 
under  the  cornices,"  with  its  clusters  hanging  down  from  a  great 
height,  the  size  and  fine  workmanship  of  which  was  a  surprising 
sight  to  the  spectators  to  see,  such  vast  materials  were  there, 
and  with  such  great  skill  was  the  workmanship  done."  Of  one 
of  the  porticoes  he  writes:  "This  portico  deserves  to  be  men 
tioned  better  than  any  other  under  the  sun.  For  as  the  valley 
was  very  deep,  and  its  bottom  could  not  be  seen  if  you  looked 
from  above  into  the  depth,,  the  high  elevation  of  the  portico  stood 
upon  that  height  that  if  any  one  looked  down  from  the  top 
of  the  roof  to  those  depths,  he  would  be  giddy,  while  his  sight 
could  not  reach  down  to  such  an  abyss."  (Ib.  15.  11.  5.)  Milton 
was  also  familiar  with  the  Biblical  description  of  the  Temple  of 
Solomon. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  163 

Jew.     See  Judah. 

Joannis  de  Luz,  Fanum  Divi.     Lit.  Oliv.  (59)  7.  308. 
St.  Jean  de  Luz,  in  the  extreme  southeast  of  France. 

Joccatra  (Jactura).     Lit.  Senat.  (44)  7.  235;  (45)  7.  236. 

Jakatra  was  a  native  town  on  the  northwest  coast  of  Java; 
its  site  is  now  occupied  by  Batavia.  It  is  mentioned  by  Purchas 
in  Pilgrimes  1.  700,  etc. 

Jordan.     Ps.  114.  9,  14;   1  Prod.  Bomb.  8;  P.  L.  3.  535;  12.  145; 

P.  R.  1.  24,  119,  280,  329;   2.  2,  25,  62;  3.  438;  4.  510;   MS.  2. 

109.     (See  also  Paneas.) 

The  chief  river  of  Palestine,  rising  in  the  Anti-Lebanons  and 
flowing  south  into  the  Dead  Sea.  Milton's  reference  to  Jordan 
as  the  ^double-founted  stream"  probably  depends  ultimately 
on  Jerome,  who  writes:  "Dan  is  one  of  the  fountains  of  Jordan. 
For  the  other  is  called  Jor  .  .  .  that  is  brook.  Hence,  when  the 
two  springs,  which  are  not  distant  from  one  another,  unite  in 
one  stream,  it  is  called  Jordan."  (On  Genesis  14.  14.)  This  was 
the  view  held  in  the  time  of  Milton;  see,  for  example,  the  map  of 
Adrichomius.  (P.  100.)  The  reeds  mentioned  by  Milton  in 
P.  R.  2.  26  may  be  accounted  for  by  the  words  of  Jerome  on 
Zechariah  11.  3  where  he  speaks  of  "arundineta"  (thickets  of 
reeds)  and  "carecta"  (places  covered  with  sedge)  by  the  Jordan. 
Cf.  also  the  "marish  of  Jordan."  (1  Maccabees  9.  42,  45.)  The 
question  of  Jesus  about  John  the  Baptist,  who  taught  by  the 
Jordan,  is  also  suggestive:  "What  went  ye  out  into  the  wilder 
ness  to  see?  A  reed  shaken  with  the  wind?"  (Matt.  11.  7.) 
Compare : 

Or  whistling  reeds,  that  rutty  Jordan  laves, 
And  with  their  verdure  his  white  head  embraves. 

(Fletcher,  Christ's  Triumph  over  Death  2.  4-5.) 

The  reference  to  Jordan  as  the  "true  limit  eastward"  of  the 
Holy  Land  indicates  it  as  the  ideal  boundary,  though  the  Jews 
occupied  land  beyond  it.  Cf.  Numbers  34.  10-15  and  Deut. 
30.  18.  For  the  "Ford  of  Jordan"  see  Bethabara. 

Jougoria.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  473;   (2)  8.  484. 

The  name  survives  as  attached  to  the  strait  separating  the 
island  of  Vaiguts  from  the  northern  shore  of  Russia.  It  was 


164  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

applied  to  the  country  to  the  south  inhabited  by  Samoids. 
Merchants  from  Perchora  often  went  there  to  trade;  see  Pil- 
grimes  3.  548,  to  which  Milton  refers  in  a  note. 

Judah   (Jew,  Judea).     Nativity  221;    P.   L.    1.  457;    P.    R.   2. 

424,  440;  3.  118,  157,  282,   359;  Samson  252,  256,  265,  976; 

Reformation  (2)  3.  60;    Eikonocl.  (13)  3.  441;    (28)  3.  517; 

Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  13;    Civil  Power  5.  322,  323;    1  Defens.  (3) 

6.  70;    Doct.  Christ.  (1.  31)  2.  193;    (2.  3)  2.  271.     (See  also 

Israel.) 

Judah,  now  Judea,  was  the  land  in  southern  Palestine,  west  of 
the  Dead  Sea,  occupied  by  the  tribe  of  Judah.  The  word  Jew 
means,  etymologically,  an  inhabitant  of  Judah. 

Judea.     See  Judah. 

Juga.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  474.     (See  also  Ustiug.) 

A  river  of  northern  Russia,  tributary  to  the  Dwina,  now  called 
Jug.  "The  river  Jug  hath  his  spring  in  the  land  of  the  Tartars 
.  .  .  joining  to  the  countrey  of  Permia."  (Hak.  1.  312.) 

Juliers.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  81. 

Also  called  Jiilich,  a  town  in  the  Rhine  Province,  Prussia. 
Formerly  also  a  district  surrounding  the  city,  between  the  Meuse 
and  the  Rhine. 

Justling  Rocks.     P.  L.  2.  1018.     (See  also  Bosporus.) 

The  Symplegades,  two  rocks  at  the  entrance  of  the  Euxine 
into  the  Bosporus,  said  to  crush  vessels  between  them.  Mil 
ton's  adjective  "justling"  is  a  translation  of  the  word  "Symple 
gades."  Juvenal  calls  them  " concurrentia  saxa."  (Sat.  15.  19.) 
Apollonius  Rhodius  writes:  "  [The  Argonauts]  came  to  the  strait 
of  the  winding  passage,  walled  in  with  beetling  crags  on  either 
side,  while  an  eddying  current  from  below  washed  up  against 
the  ship  as  it  went  on  its  way;  and  on  they  went  in  grievous  fear, 
and  already  on  their  ears  the  thud  of  clashing  rocks  smote  un 
ceasingly,  and  the  dripping  rocks  roared ;  in  that  very  hour  the 
hero  Euphemus  clutched  the  dove  in  his  hand,  and  went  to  take 
his  stand  upon  the  prow,  while  they,  at  the  bidding  of  Tiphys,  son 
of  Hagnias,  rowed  with  a  will,  that  they  might  drive  right  through 
the  rocks,  trusting  in  their  might.  And  as  they  rounded  a  bend, 
they  saw  those  rocks  opening  for  the  last  time  of  all.  And  their 
spirit  melted  at  the  sight;  but  the  hero  Euphemus  sent  forth 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  165 

the  dove  to  dart  through  on  her  wings,  and  they,  one  and  all, 
lifted  up  their  heads  to  see,  and  she  sped  through  them,  but  at 
once  the  two  rocks  met  again  with  a  clash;  and  the  foam  leapt 
up  in  a  seething  mass  like  a  cloud,  and  grimly  roared  the  sea, 
and  all  around  the  great  firmament  bellowed.  And  the  hollow 
caves  echoed  beneath  the  rugged  rocks  as  the  sea  went  surging 
in,  and  high  on  the  cliffs  was  the  white  spray  vomited  as  the 
billow  dashed  upon  them.  Then  did  the  current  spin  the  ship 
round.  And  the  rocks  cut  off  just  the  tail-feathers  of  the  dove, 
but  she  darted  away  unhurt.  And  loudly  the  rowers  cheered, 
but  Tiphys  himself  shouted  to  them  to  row  lustily,  for  once  more 
the  rocks  were  opening.  Then  came  trembling  on  them  as  they 
rowed,  until  the  wave  with  its  returning  wash  came  and  bore  the 
ship  within  the  rocks.  Thereon  most  awful  fear  seized  on  all, 
for  above  their  head  was  death  with  no  escape;  and  now  on  this 
side  and  on  that  lay  broad  Pontus  to  their  view,  when  suddenly 
in  front  up  rose  a  mighty  arching  wave,  like  to  a  steep  hill,  and 
they  bowed  down  their  heads  at  the  sight.  For  it  seemed  as  if 
it  must  indeed  leap  down  and  whelm  the  ship  entirely.  But 
Tiphys  was  quick  to  ease  her  as  she  laboured  to  the  rowing,  and 
the  wave  rolled  with  all  his  force  beneath  the  keel,  and  lifted  up 
the  ship  herself  from  underneath,  far  from  the  rocks,  and  high 
on  the  crest  of  the  billow  she  was  borne.  Then  did  Euphemus 
go  amongst  the  crew,  and  call  to  them  to  lay  on  to  their  oars 
with  all  their  might,  and  they  smote  the  water  at  his  cry.  So  she 
sprang  forward  twice  as  far  as  any  other  ship  would  have  yielded 
to  rowers,  and  the  oars  bent  like  curved  bows  as  the  heroes 
strained.  In  that  instant  the  vaulted  wave  was  past  them,  and 
she  at  once  was  riding  over  the  furious  billow  like  a  roller, 
plunging  headlong  forward  o'er  the  trough  of  the  sea.  But  the 
eddying  current  stayed  the  ship  in  the  midst  of  'the  Clashers,' 
and  they  quaked  on  either  side,  and  thundered,  and  the  ship- 
timbers  throbbed.  Then  did  Athene  with  her  left  hand  hold 
the  stubborn  rock  apart,  while  with  her  right  she  thrust  them 
through  upon  their  course;  and  the  ship  shot  through  the  air 
like  a  winged  arrow.  Yet  the  rocks,  ceaselessly  dashing  together, 
crushed  off,  in  passing,  the  tip  of  the  carved  stern."  (Argonau- 
tica  2.  549-602.) 

Jutland.     Areopag.  4.  398;  Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  112;   (5)  5.  189. 
The  continental  part  of  Denmark. 


166  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Kalouga.    See  Coluga. 

Kalussia.     Decl.  Poland  8.  463. 
Kalusz,  a  town  of  Galicia,  Poland. 

Kalussien.     Decl.  Poland  8.  466. 

Probably  Kaluszin,  a  village  of  the  government  of  Warsaw, 
Poland. 

Kamenetz-Podolsk.     See  Camenick. 
Kanin.    See  Candinos. 
Kasbin.     See  Casbeen. 
Kazan.     See  Cazan. 

Kegor.     Moscovia  (5)  8.  5Q4. 

Cape  Nemitsky.  Anthony  Jenkinson  writes:  "From  Ward- 
house  we  sailed  Southsoutheast  ten  leagues,  and  fell  with  a  Cape 
of  land  called  Kegor,  the  Northermost  part  of  the  lande  of 
Lappia"  (Lapland).  (Hak.  1.  311.) 

Keilah.    See  Cheila. 
Kempsford.>    See  Kinneresford. 

Kenet.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  200;  (6)  5.  247. 
A  river  of  Berkshire,  tributary  to  the  Thames  at  Reading. 

Kent.  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  27;  (2)  5.  32,  38,  42;  (3)  5.  114  (twice), 
11.6,  117  (thrice),  120  (twice),  128  (twice),  129;  (4)  5.  136 
(twice),  141,  146,  147,  153,  155,  156,  162  (twice),  163,  165,  168, 
170,  174,  176,  177,  181  (twice),  182,  185,  187;  (5)  5.  191 
(twice),  192  (twice),  194,  197,  198,  207,  210,  215,  218;  (6) 
5.  243  (twice),  247,  249  (twice),  260,  269,  272,  282  (twice), 
286. 
The  most  southeastern  county  of  England. 

Kerdicsford  (Chardford,  Nazaleod).  Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  121,  123. 
In  speaking  of  Hampshire  Camden  says:  '  'On  the  west  bounds 
of  the  county  Avon  gently  flows;  and  at  its  entrance  into 
Hampshire  is  Cerdic's  ford,  afterwards  called  Cerdeford,  now  by 
contraction  Chardford,  from  the  brave  Saxon  Cedric."  (1.  115.) 
Henry  of  Huntingdon  (A.  D.  508)  says  that  the  country  "now 
called  Cerdichesforde  was  then  named  Nazaleoli"  from  Nazaleod. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  167 

Kerdic  Shoar.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  121,  122. 

Now  doubtfully  identified  with  Hamble,  Hampshire.  Camden 
locates  it  in  Norfolk,  saying:  "The  shore  being  left  without 
defence,  Cerdic,  a  warlike  Saxon,  landed  here  (whence  the  place 
is  called  by  the  inhabitants  Cerdick's  sand,  and  by  historians 
Cerdic's  shore)  and  waging  a  fierce  war  with  the  Iceni,  set  sail 
from  hence  westward,  where  he  founded  the  kingdom  of  the 
West  Saxons. "  (2.  96).  Milton  seems  to  be  doubtful  about  it, 
for  he  calls  it  "a  certain  place,"  and  gives  no  modern  equivalent. 

Kerdics  Leage.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  123,  126  (twice). 

Cerdic's  ley,  an  unidentified  battle  field,  apparently  in  the 
south  of  Dorsetshire.  (Chronicle  527.) 

Kesteven.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  199. 

The  most  western  of  the  three  divisions  of  Lincolnshire.  See 
Dray  ton,  Polyolbion  25. 

Kholmogory.    See  Colmogro. 
Khotin.     See  Cotimia. 
Kief.     See  Kiow. 
Kilwa  Kisiwani.     See  Quiloa. 

Kingston.     Eikonocl.   (10)  3.  411;    Hist.  Brit.   (5)  5.  221,  230 
(twice);   (6)  5.  239. 
A  town  in  Surrey  on  the  Thames. 

Kinneresford.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  183. 
Kempsford  in  Gloucestershire. 

Kinsalensis.     Sixteen  Let.  2. 

Of  Kinsale,  a  seaport  of  County  Cork,  Ireland. 

Kinwith.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  205. 

An  unidentified  castle.  Milton's  knowledge  comes,  as  he  indi 
cates  by  notes,  from  Simeon  of  Durham  and  from  Asser,  chap.  54. 

Kiow  (Kyovia).     Decl.  Poland  8.  466;   Moscovia  (4)  8.  489. 

The  city  of  Kief,  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Russia,  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Dnieper. 

Kiriathaim.     Samson  1081. 

A  town  east  of  Jordan,  in  territory  disputed  between  Moab 
and  Reuben.     It  is  described  as  the  abode  of  the  giant  Emims  in 
Genesis  14.  5. 
12 


168  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Kishon.     Ps.  83.  37. 

A  river  of  Palestine  rising  near  Mount  Tabor  and  flowing  along 
the  Plain  of  Esdraelon  into  the  Mediterranean. 

Komarno.     See  Konarnum. 

Konarnum.     Decl.  Poland  8.  463. 

Komarno,  a  town  of  Galicia  southwest  of  Lemberg. 

Kulm.     See  Culma. 

Kyle.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  174. 
The  western  part  of  Ayrshire. 

Kyovia.    See  Kiow. 

Lacedaemon.    See  Sparta. 
Lachish.     See  Lachisus. 

Lachisus.     1  Defens.  (4)  6.  82. 

Lachish  (Vulgate,  Lachis)  is  a  city  of  southwestern  Palestine 
on  the  borders  of  Philistia.  (2  Kings  14.  19.) 

Ladiscay.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  476. 

The  largest  lake  in  Europe,  now  called  Ladoga,  in  northwestern 
Russia.  Milton's  statement  that  it  is  longer  than  Onega  comes 
from  Hak.  1.  367,  where  appears  also  the  incorrect  statement, 
omitted  by  Milton,  that  it  is  not  so  broad  as  Onega. 

Ladon.     Arcades  97. 

A  river  of  Arcadia,  tributary  to  the  Alpheus.  Ovid  speaks 
of  it  as  sandy.  (Met.  1.  702.) 

Lahor.     P.  L.  11.  391.     (See  also  Agra.) 

Now  the  capital  of  the  Punjab,  India.  It  was  formerly  one 
of  the  capitals  of  the  empire  of  the  Moguls.  Purchas  writes: 
"  Lahor  is  one  of  the  greatest  Cities  of  the  East.  .  .  .  The  castle 
or  Towne  is  inclosed  with  a  strong  bricke  wall,  having  thereto 
twelve  faire  gates,  nine  by  land,  and  three  openings  to  the  River: 
the  streets  faire  and  well  paved.  .  .  .  The  buildings  are  faire 
and  high,  with  bricke  and  much  curiositie  of  carved  windowes 
and  doores.  .  .  .  Within  the  Citie  on  the  left  hand,  you  enter 
thorow  a  strong  gate;  and  a  Musket  shot  further  another 
smaller,  into  a  faire  great  square  court,  with  Atescanna  for  the 
Kings  guard  to  watch  in.  On  the  left  hand,  thorow  another 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  169 

gate  you  enter  into  an  inner  court,  where  the  King  keepes  his 
Darbar.  .  .  .  From  hence  you  go  up  to  a  faire  stone  Jounter  or 
small  court.  .  .  .  On  the  walles  is  the  Kings  Picture  sitting 
crosslegged  on  a  chaire  of  State.  .  .  .  From  hence  passing  thorow 
a  small  entrie  to  the  West,  you  enter  another  small  Court,  where 
is  another  open  Chounter  of  stone  to  sit  in,  covered  with  rich 
Semaines.  From  hence  you  enter  into  a  small  Gallery.  .  .  .  On 
the  wall  of  this  Gallery  is  drawne  the  Picture  of  Acabar  sit 
ting  in  his  State.  .  .  .  The  Kings  lodgings  very  sumptuous, 
the  walles  and  seelings  all  overlaid  with  pure  gold;  and  round 
alongst  the  sides,  about  a  mans  height,  some  three  foote  distant 
are  placed  faire  Venice  Looking-glasses,  three  and  three  each 
above  another:  and  below  these  alongst  the  walles,  are  drawne 
many  pictures  of  this  mans  Ancestors,  as  of  Acabar  his  Father." 
(Pilgrimes  1.  432.) 

Lambeth.     Animadv.  (1.  7)  3.  195;    (3.  36)  3.  212;   Areopag.  4. 

406;  Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  273. 

A  district  south  of  the  Thames,  and  opposite  Westminster. 
Lambeth  Palace,  the  residence  of  the  Archbishops  of  Canter 
bury,  is  situated  there. 

Lampas.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  472. 

A  city  of  northern  Russia  on  the  bank  of  the  River  Mezen, 
which  empties  into  the  White  Sea.  The  modern  representative 
of  the  city  is  Semsha.  Milton  quotes  the  passage  to  which  he 
refers  in  his  note,  Hak.  1.  284. 

Lancashire  (Lancaster).     Eikonocl.  (Pref.)  3.  333;    Hist.  Brit. 
(4)  5.  180,  182. 
A  county  of  northwestern  England,  bordering  on  the  Irish  Sea. 

Landaff.     Eikonocl.  (28)  3.  521;   Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  135. 

Llandaff,  a  city,  the  seat  of  a  bishop,  in  Glamorganshire, 
Wales,  on  the  River  Taff.  Milton  mentions  it  once  in  connec 
tion  with  the  "regest"  or  "Book  of  Llandaff,"  a  collection  of 
records  of  the  see,  perhaps  compiled  by  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth. 

Land's  End.     See  Bellerus. 

Langho  (Whaley).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  182. 

In  his  description  of  Lancashire,  Camden  writes  that  near 
the  Ribble  is  "  Whaley,  .  .  .  where  duke  W7ada  fought  an  un- 


170  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

successful  battle  against  Ardulph  king  of  Northumberland  at 
Billangho,  now  called  by  contraction  Langho."  (3.  129.) 

Langoemagog  (Giant's  Leap).     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  13. 

In  his  description  of  Plymouth,  Devonshire,  Camden  writes: 
"I  shall  take  the  liberty  just  to  mention  the  fabulous  combat  of 
Corinceus  with  the  Giant  Gogmagog  here.  .  .  .  The  rock  whence 
the  Giant  is  reported  to  have  been  hurled  is  now  called  the  Haw, 
a  hill  between  the  town  and  the  sea."  (1.  25.)  Spenser  writes 
as  follows: 

He  [Brutus]  fought  great  batteils  with  his  salvage  fone; 

In  which  he  them  defeated  evermore, 

And  many  Giants  left  on  groning  flore; 

That  well  can  witnesse  yet  unto  this  day 

The  westerne  Hogh,  besprincled  with  the  gore 

Of  mightie  Goemot,  whom  in  stout  fray 

Corineus  conquered,  and  cruelly  did  slay. 

(F.  Q.  2.  10.  10.) 

In  the  first  draft  of  Lycidas  Milton  wrote  "  Corineus  "  in  line 
160,  and  then  altered  it  to  "Bellerus"  (q.  v.).  Cornwall  was 
supposed  to  be  named  after  Corineus. 

Languedoc.     Kings  &  Mag.  4.  477;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  4. 

Part  of  southern  France,  shown  by  Mercator  as  extending 
from  the  upper  waters  of  the  Garonne  to  the  Rhone,  and  south 
to  the  Mediterranean.  (P.  265.) 

Laodicea.     Doct.  Christ.  (2.  6)  2.  319. 
A  city  of  Asia  Minor  on  the  River  Lycus. 

Laodun.     Epist.  Fam.  (29)  7.  408. 

Now  Loudun,  a  town  of  the  department  of  Vienne,  France. 

Laopolis.     See  Leopolis. 
Lapis  Tituli.     See  Stonar. 

Lapland.     P.  L.  2.  665;    Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  127;    Moscovia  (1) 

8.471;  (5)  8.  504,  505. 

The  northern  part  of  Europe,  comprising  the  upper  part  of  the 
Scandinavian  peninsula  and  the  adjoining  regions  of  Russia. 
"On  the  North  side  of  Russia  .  .  .  lieth  the  countrey  of  Lappia. 
.  .  .  The  whole  nation  is  utterly  unlearned,  having  not  so  much 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  171 

as  the  use  of  any  Alphabet,  or  letter  among  them.  For  practise 
of  witchcraft  and  sorcerie  they  passe  all  nations  in  the  worlde. 
Though  for  enchanting  of  ships  that  saile  along  their  coast, 
(as  I  have  heard  it  reported)  and  their  giving  of  winds  good  to 
their  friends,  and  contrary  to  other,  whom  they  mean  to  hurt 
by  tying  of  certaine  knots  upon  a  rope  (somewhat  like  to  the 
tale  of  ^Eolus  his  windbag)  is  a  very  fable,  devised  (as  may  seeme) 
by  themselves,  to  terrific  sailors  for  comming  neere  their  coast." 
(Hak.  1.  492.) 

La  Rochelle.     See  Rochel. 

Lateran.     Hirelings  5.  365. 

A  palace  in  Rome  connected  with  the  Church  of  St.  John 
Lateran.  It  was  for  over  a  thousand  years  the  residence  of  the 
popes,  and  several  councils  met  there. 

Latialis.     See  Latium. 

Latium  (Latialis).     3  Prod.  Bomb.  3;    Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  6;    2 

Defens.  6.  285. 

The  part  of  Italy,  on  the  shore  of  the  Mediterranean,  south  of 
Etruria  and  north  of  Campania.  The  name  is  applied  by  Virgil 
to  the  kingdom  of  Evander. 

Latmus.     1  Eng.  Let.,  Masson  1.  324. 

A  mountain  of  Caria,  at  the  head  of  the  Latmic  Bay,  famous 
because  of  the  story  of  Endymion,  the  beloved  of  Luna.  Ovid 
calls  Endymion  "Latmius  heros."  (Trist.  2.  299.)  Cf.  8 
Prolus.  7.  457. 

Laudian.    See  Lothian. 

Lausanna.     Rami  Vita  7.  184. 

Lausanne,  capital  of  the  canton  of  Vaud,  Switzerland. 

Lebanon.     P.  L.  1.  447.     (See  also  Adonis.) 

A  lofty  range  of  mountains  in  Syria,  extending  parallel  with 
the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean.  They  are  often  mentioned  in 
the  Bible. 

Lee.     Vacat.  Ex.  97;  Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  209,  210  (twice),  216. 

A  small  river  flowing  into  the  Thames  from  the  north,  near 
London.  Spenser  speaks  of  it  as  "the  wanton  Lee,  that  oft 


172  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

doth  lose  his  way."  (F.  Q.  4.  11.  29.)  Drayton,  depending 
probably  on  John  of  Brompton,  Sect.  30,  and  on  the  Chronicle, 
tells  of  Alfred's  operations  against  the  Danish  ships,  and  speaks 
of  the  "winding  course  of  Lee's  delightful. Brook."  (Polyolbion 
12  and  16.) 

Leeds  (Loydes).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  160. 

Camden,  to  whom  Milton  refers  in  a  note,  writes  in  his  descrip 
tion  of  Yorkshire:  "The  Are  visits  Leedes,  Saxon  Loydes,  .  .  . 
where  Oswy  king  of  Northumberland  routed  Penda."  (3.  5.) 

Leghorn.     See  Liburnum. 

Leicester  (Caerleir).  Eikonocl.  (Pref.)  3.  333;  Hist.  Brit.  (1) 
5.  16  (twice),  19,  25;  (5)  5.  216,  217,  228  (twice).  (See  also 
Lestershire.) 

In  his  description  of  Leicestershire  Camden  writes:  "The 
River  Sora  .  .  .  washes  the  north  and  west  sides  of  the  chief 
town  of  the  country,  called  .  .  .  Leicester.  ...  I  take  it  to  be 
called  in  Ninnius'  Catalogue  Caer  Lerion."  (2.  194.) 

Leida.     See  Leiden. 

Leiden   (Leida,   Lugdunum).     Hist.   Brit.    (3)   5.    115;    Pro  Se 
Defens.  6.  341,  377;    Respons.  6.  413  (twice),  415,  416,  421; 
Commonplace  54. 
Leyden,  Holland,  on  the  Old  Rhine.     It  was  for  some  years 

the  residence  of  Salmasius,  who  held  a  position  in  the  university. 

Lemannus.     2  Defens.  6.  289. 

Lake  Geneva,  the  largest  lake  of  Switzerland. 

Lemberg.     See  Leopolis. 

Lemnos.     Eleg.  7.  82;   Nat.  Non  23;   P.  L.  1.  746. 

One  of  the  largest  islands  of  the  Aegean  Sea,  about  midway 
between  Mount  Athos  and  the  Hellespont.  An  account  of  the 
fall  of  Hephaestus  on  Lemnos  is  given  in  the  Iliad  1.  590  ff. 

Lenbury.     See  Liganburgh. 

Lennox.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  175. 

"  On  the  other  side  of  the  Clyde  above  Glasgow,  Lennox 
extends  a  great  way  north  among  chains  of  mountains."  (Cam 
den  3.  349.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  173 

Leogecia.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  10. 

Described  by  Geoffrey  as  a  "certain  island,  which  having  been 
of  old  laid  waste  by  pirates,  was  inhabited  by  no  one."  (1.  11.) 
The  words  of  Milton,  "now  unknown,"  are  still  true. 

Leopolis.     Decl.  Poland  8.  459,  463. 
Lemberg  in  Galicia,  Poland. 

Lerna.     8  Prolus.  7.  466. 

A  marsh  of  Argolis,  the  mythological  abode  of  the  Hydra.  It 
appears  in  the  proverbial  expression,  "  a  Lerna  of  ills." 

Lesbian  Shore.     See  Lesbos. 

Lesbos  (Lesbian  Shore).      Ad  Sal.  22;  Lycidas  63.      (See  also 

Hebrus.) 

Lesbos  is  an  island  of  the  ^Egean  off  the  coast  of  Mysia,  to 
which  the  head  of  Orpheus  was  said  to  have  been  borne  by  the 
waves,  after  having  floated  down  the  River  Hebrus, 

Lestershire.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  257. 

Leicestershire,  a  county  of  central  England. 

Lethe.     Quint.  Nov.  132;    Idea  Platon.  20;    Damon.  201;    Ad 
Rous.  45;  P.  L.  2.  583,  604. 
One  of  the  rivers  of  the  underworld.     (sEneid  6.) 

Lettow.     See  Lituania. 
Leyden.    See  Leiden. 
Libia.     See  Libya. 

Liburnum.     2  Defens.  6.  288;   Lit.    Senat.  (27)  7.  212;    (31)  7. 

219;    (34)  7.  222;    (37)  7.  225  (twice);   Lit.  Oliv.  (57)  7.  306; 

(66)  7.  316  (twice);  (74)  7.  324  (twice);  Sixteen  Let.  10,  11,  12. 

Leghorn,  a  seaport  of  Tuscany,  south  of  the  mouth  of  the 
Arno.  Here  Milton  landed  at.  the  end  of  his  journey  from 
France  to  Italy.  The  city  was  then  under  the  rule  of  Florence. 

Libya  (Libia,  Lybia).     Nativity  203;   Sonnet  5.  4;   Eleg.  4.  26; 

Quint.  Nov.  89;   P.  L.  1.  355;  4.  277;    12.  635;   Logic  (1.  31) 

7.  97;  4  Prolus.  7.  430. 

Among  the  ancients  Libya  was  the  name  for  the  continent  of 
Africa,  so  far  as  it  was  known,  excluding  Egypt.  In  the  time  of 
Milton  it  was  applied  to  the  Sahara.  (Mercator,  p.  63,  map.) 


174  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Milton  refers  to  "Libyan  Jove"  ("Libyc  Hammon")  because  of 
the  famous  temple  of  Jupiter  Ammon  in  the  desert  west  of  Egypt. 
He  refers  also  to  the  desert  (cf.  Barca,  Cyrene),  of  which  Purchas 
writes:  "Men  may  travell  eight  dayes  or  more  in  the  Libyan 
Desarts  ordinarily,  without  finding  any  water.  The  Desarts 
are  of  divers  shapes,  some  covered  with  gravell,  others  with 
sand;  both  without  water:  heere  and  there  is  a  lake,  sometime 
a  shrub,  or  a  little  grasse.  Their  water  is  drawne  out  of  deepe 
pits,  and  is  brackish,  and  sometimes  the  sands  cover  those  pits, 
and  then  the  travellers  perish  for  thirst."  (Pilgrimage,  p.  804.) 
Cf.  Chaucer's  reference  in  The  House  of  Fame  488. 

Libyc.     See  Libya. 

Lichfeild.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  181. 

Lichfield,  a  cathedral  city  of  Staffordshire,  England. 

Liganburgh.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  134. 
Lenbury,  Buckinghamshire. 

Ligeris.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  11. 

The  Loire,  the  longest  river  of  France,  emptying  into  the  Bay 
of  Biscay. 

Limen.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  207. 

Now  Lymne  Harbor,  Kent.     Milton  follows  Chronicle  893. 

Lincoln.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  116;   (4)  5.  152;   (5)  5.  199,  228;   (6) 

5.  283;   Commonplace  183. 

A  cathedral  city  of  Lincolnshire,  standing,  as  Camden  says, 
"on  the  brow  of  a  hill  where  the  Witham  turns  east."     (2.  228.) 

Lincolnshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  113;   (5)  5.  199,  203. 

A  county  of  England  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  North  Sea, 
and  on  the  north  by  the  Humber. 

Lindisfarne  (Holy  Hand).  Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  154,  173,  180,  182. 
An  island  off  the  coast  of  Northumberland.  Of  the  foundation 
by  Aidan  of  the  abbey  there  Bede  writes  thus:  "On  the  arrival 
of  the  bishop,  the  king  appointed  him  his  episcopal  see  in  the 
island  of  Lindisfarne,  as  he  desired,  which  place,  as  the  ticfe 
ebbs  and  flows,  is  twice  a  day  enclosed  by  the  waves  of  the  sea 
like  an  island;  and  again,  twice,  when  the  beach  is  left  dry, 
becomes  contiguous  with  the  land."  (3.  3.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  175 

Lindsey.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  152,  163  (twice);   (5)  5.  192,  199;  (6) 
5.  242,  252,  254  (twice),  294. 
The  northern  part  of  Lincolnshire,  England. 

Lions.     See  Lyons. 
Lisbon.     See  Olissipo. 

Liternum.     Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  333. 

A  city  of  Campania,  now  called  Patria,  where  Scipio  Africanus 
had  a  villa. 

Lituania  (Lettow).     Decl.  Poland  8.  459  (twice),  461,  466,  467, 
468  (thrice);  Moscovia  (1)  8.  471;   (4)  8.  492,  498. 
Lithuania,  a  district  of  western  Russia,  formerly  an  indepen 
dent  grand  duchy,  and  later  part  of  Poland. 

Livonia.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  202;   Decl.  Poland  8.  466;  Moscovia 
(1)  8.471;   (4)  8.492;   (5)  8.  509. 
A  district  on  the  Baltic  Sea,  once  an  independent  kingdom. 

Llandaff.     See  Landaff. 

Locris.     Procancel.  16. 

A  district  of  eastern   Greece,   extending  from   the   pass   of 
Thermopylae  to  the  River  Cephissus. 

Loegria.    See  Logres. 
Lofoden.     See  Lofoot. 

Lofoot.     Moscovia  (5)  8.  504,  508. 

A  group  of  islands  off  the  coast  of  Norway,  usually  called 
Lofoten  or  Lofoden.     Milton  takes  his  account  from  Hak.  1.  235. 

Logres  (Loegria).     P.  R.  2.  360;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  13  (twice),  20. 
The  name  applied  by  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth  to  Britain  east 
of  the  Severn  and  south  of  the  Humber.     (2.  1 ;  4.  19.) 

Loire.     See  Ligeris. 

Londino-derriensis  Portus.     See  London-Derry. 

London  (Augusta,  Caerlud,  Londinum,  Luds  Town,  The- Town, 
Trinovant,  Troia  Nova).  Sonnet  11.  3;  Eleg.  1.  73;  Ad.  Sal. 
9;  Church-gov.  (1.  1)  3.  101;  Apology  3.  266;  Eikonocl.  (3) 
3.  356;  (4)  3.  359,  360  (twice);  (5)  3.  370;  (6)  3.  377,  378;  (9) 


176  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

3.398,407;   (10)  3.  411  (thrice) ;   (12)3.431;   (22)3.485;   (26) 

3.  501 ;  Colast.  4.  344;  Areopag.  4.  433,  437,  438,  441 ;  Ormond 

4.  570;  Hist.  Brit.   (1)   5.   13  (twice),   16,  21,  22,  24,  25,  26 
(twice),  27;  (2)  5.  59,  83,  86,  87  (twice),  88;  (3)  5.  117;  (4)  5.  142, 
163,  174,  183;    (5)  5.  192,  193  (twice),  203,  207,  208,  209,  215; 
(6)  5.  240,  242  (twice),  244,    249    (thrice),  251,  252  (twice), 
253,  256,  257  (twice),  258  (twice),  259  (twice),  261,  263  (twice), 
264,  269  (twice),  271  (thrice),  278,  280,  282,  283  (twice),  285, 
286,  291,  293,  295,  297,  299  (twice),  300;   Rupt.  Com.  5.  403; 
Easy  Way  5.  452;    Monk  5.  456;    1  Defens.  (5)  6.  99;    (6)  6. 
122;    (8)  6.  149;    (10)  6.  166,  168;    (12)  7.  177;    2  Defens.  6. 
260,  300,  303,  315;    Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  355;    Grammar  (2)  6. 
480  (twice),  487;    Lit.  Rich.  (6)  7.  337  (twice);    (10)  7.  341 
(twice);    Lit.   Oliv.    (21)    7.   263    (twice);     (25)    7.   267,   268; 
(26)  7.  269;    (30)  7.  273;    (33)  7.  278,  279;    (37)  7.  283;    (38) 
7.  285;    (43)  7.  290;    (59)  7.  308.;    (66)  7.  316;    (78)  7.  329; 
Contra  Hisp.  7.  352,  355,  356;    Epist.  Fam.  (5)  7.  374;    (6) 
7.  375;    (15)  7.  392;    (17)  7.  396;  Moscovia  (1)  8.  474;  (5)  8. 
502,   510;  Commonplace   183;  MS.  2.  114;  Sixteen  Let.   10, 
11,  13. 

Milton  was  born  in  London,  and  lived  most  of  his  life  there. 

London-Deny     (Derriensis,    and     Londino-derriensis    Portus). 

Ormond  4.  571;   Lit.  Oliv.  (50)  7.  300  (twice). 

A  city  of  north  Ireland,  originally  known  as  Derry.  In  1613, 
when  under  the  control  of  the  Irish  Society  of  London,  it  was 
incorporated  as  Londonderry,  and  became  one  of  the  chief 
Protestant  cities  of  northern  Ireland. 

Longonis  Portus.     Lit.  Senat.  (33)  7.  221  (twice). 

Porto  Longone,  on  the  ea&tern  shore  of  the  Isle  of  Elba. 
Loporovient.     Decl.  Poland  8.  466. 

An  unidentified  place,  probably  a  fortress,  in  Poland. 

Loretto.     Areopag.  4.  431. 

A  city  of  the  Marches,  Italy,  where  is  a  famous  shrine  of  the 
Virgin,  much  resorted  to  by  pilgrims. 

Lorrain  (Lotharingia).     Commonplace  112,  186. 

Ortelius  bounds  Lotharingia  on  the  east  by  Alsace,  on  the 
south  by  Burgundy,  on  the  west  by  Champagne,  and  on  the 
north  by  the  Forest  of  Ardennes. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  177 

Lotharingia.     See  Lorrain. 

Lothian  (Laudian).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  234;   (6)  5.  264. 

The  eastern  part  of  the  lowlands  of  Scotland,  comprising  the 
three  counties  of  Linlithgow,  Edinburgh,  and  Haddington. 

Loudon.     See  Laodun. 

Louvain.     Episcopacy  3.  78. 
A  city  of  Brabant. 

Low  Countries.     See  Netherlands. 
Loydes.     See  Leeds. 

Luca  (Lucomnis  Urbs).     Damon.  Arg.,  128;   2  Defens.  6.  289. 

Lucca,  a  city  of  Tuscany  on  the  River  Serchio,  in  the  time 
of  Milton  an  independent  republic.  Milton  visited  the  city, 
which  was  the  home  of  the  ancestors  of  his  friend  Charles  Diodati. 

Lucca.     See  Luca. 
Lucerne.    See  Luserna. 
Lucomnis  Urbs.     See  Luca. 

Lucrine  Bay.     P.  R.  2.  347. 

A  lagoon  adjoining  the  gulf  of  Baiae,  Campania.  It  was 
famous  for  its  oysters  and  shell-fish.  (Horace,  Epod.  2.  49; 
Serm.  2.  4.  32;  Martial  6.  11.  5,  etc.)  Probably  Milton,  like 
Sandys  (pp.  215-6)  and  Evelyn  (Diary,  Feb.  7,  1645),  visited 
the  place. 

Ludgate.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  27. 

One  of  the  two  western  gates  of  the  city  of  London,  described 
by  Camden  as  "lately  rebuilt  from  the  ground."  (2.  4.) 

Ludlow.     Comus  958  (stage  direction). 

A  village  of  Shropshire  on  the  Teme,  a  tributary  of  the  Severn. 
Ludlow  Castle  is  to-day  one  of  the  largest  and  best  preserved  in 
England. 

Lud's  Town.     See  London. 
Lugdunum.     See  Leiden. 

Luserna.     Sixteen  Let.  1. 

A  town  of  the  province  of  Turin,  Piedmont,  Italy,  in  Milton's 
day  part  of  the  dukedom  of  Savoy. 


178  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Lusitania.    See  Portugal. 
Lutetiae.     See  Paris. 
Luz.    See  Bethel. 
Lybia.     See  Libia. 

Lycaeus.     Arcades  98. 

A  mountain  in  Arcadia,  a  haunt  of  Pan.  (Theocritus  1.  123.) 
Lyceum.  P.  R.  4.  253. 

A  gymnasium  east  of  Athens,  famous  as  the  place  where 
Aristotle  taught. 

Lycia.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  283;   1  Defens.  (2)  6.  39. 
A  region  on  the  southwest  coast  of  Asia  Minor. 

Lydia.     Damon.  138;    L'All.  136;    1  Defens.  (2)  6.  30;    Epist. 
Fam.  (2)  7.  371. 

A  country  of  western  Asia  Minor,  the  chief  city  of  which  is 
Sardis. 

Lymne.     See  Limen. 

Lyones.     P.  R.  2.  360. 

Lyonesse,  a  legendary  country  often  mentioned  in  Arthurian 
story.  It  was  thought  to  have  been  west  of  Cornwall,  and  to 
have  been  covered  by  the  sea. 

Lyonesse.     See  Lyones. 

Lyons.     Episcopacy  3.  81;  Kings  &  Mag.  4.  477;  Hist.  Brit.  (2) 

5.  76;  Hirelings  5.  366. 

A  town  of  France  on  the  River  Rhone,  the  seat  of  a  bishop. 
It  was  in  the  twelfth  century  the  centre  of  the  movement  of  the 
Waldenses  or  Poor  Men  of  Lyons. 

Lystra.     Hirelings  5.  369. 

A  city  of  Lycaonia,  Asia  Minor. 

Macedonia  (^mathia,  Emathia).     Sonnet  8.  10;    Eleg.  4.  102; 

Procancel.  12;   P.  R.  3.  32,  290;  4.  271;   Notes:   Grif.  5.  394; 

Lit.  Oliv.  (20)  7.  262;   5  Prolus.  7.  437;   6  Prolus.  7.  447. 

That  part  of  Greece  north  of  Thessaly.  The  portion  of  Mace 
donia  including  Edessa  and  Pella,  west  of  the  River  Axius,  was 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF    MILTON  179 

called  ^mathia,  a  name  applied  also  to  the  whole  country  by 
poets.     (E.  g.,  Ovid,  Trist.  3.  5.  39.) 

Macherus.     P.  R.  2.  22. 

An  ancient  fortress  east  of  the  Dead  Sea.  Josephus  describes 
it  as  follows:  "What  was  defended  by  a  fort  was  itself  a  rocky 
hill,  rising  to  a  very  great  height,  which  circumstance  alone 
made  it  very  difficult  to  capture  it.  It  was  also  so  contrived  by 
nature  that  it  could  not  be  easily  approached ;  for  it  is  intrenched 
by  ravines  on  all  sides,  so  deep  that  the  eye  cannot  reach  their 
bottoms,  nor  are  they  easy  to  cross  over,  and  it  is  quite  impossible 
to  fill  them  up  with  earth.  For  the  ravine  which  hems  them  in 
on  the  west  extends  threescore  furlongs,  and  does  not  end  till 
the  lake  Asphaltis  (and  it  is  on  the  same  side  also  that  Macherus 
has  its  highest  peak  elevated  above  the  rest) ;  and  although  the 
ravines  that  lie  on  the  north  and  south  sides  are  not  so  large  as 
that  just  described,  yet  it  is  similarly  impracticable  to  think  of 
storming  them.  As  for  the  ravine  that  lies  on  the  east  side,  its 
depth  is  found  to  be  no  less  than  a  hundred  cubits,  and  it  extends 
as  far  as  a  mountain  that  lies  opposite  Macherus.  .  .  .  When 
Herod  came  to  be  king,  he  thought  the  place  to  be  worthy  of  the 
utmost  regard,  and  of  being  fortified  in  the  strongest  manner. 
.  .  .  He  therefore  surrounded  a  large  space  of  ground  with  walls 
and  towers,  and  built  a  city  there,  from  which  a  way  led  up  to 
the  very  top  of  the  hill.  Moreover,  he  built  a  wall  round  the 
top  of  the  hill,  and  erected  towers  a  hundred  and  sixty  cubits  high 
at  the  angles.  And  in  the  middle  of  this  walled  area  he  built  a 
magnificent  palace,  wherein  were  large  and  beautiful  rooms." 
(Jewish  War  7.6.  1-2.)  John  the  Baptist  was  executed  there. 

Madian.     Samson  281. 

Midian  (called  Madian  in  Acts  7.  29)  was  a  nomadic  Arabian 
tribe.  (See  Judges  6-8.)  Fuller  says  in  part:  "It  is  as  difficult 
precisely  to  define  the  bounds  as  impossible  completely  to  de 
scribe  the  country  of  Midian.  For  besides  the  mixture  and  con 
junction  (not  to  say  confusion)  of  these  eastern  people,  interfering 
amongst  themselves  in  their  habitations,  the  Midianites  especially 
led  erratical  lives,  and  therefore  had  uncertain  limits.  They 
dwelt  most  in  tents,  which  we  may  call  moving  towns  and 
extempore  cities,  set  up  in  a  few  hours,  and  in  fewer  taken  down 
and  dissolved.  Next  morning  oft-times  found  them  many  miles 


180  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

off  from  the  place  where  last  night  left  them.  .  .  .  For  the 
general,  we  dare  avouch  they  had  Reuben  and  Gad  on  the  west, 
Moab  on  the  south,  Ammon  on  the  north,  the  Ishmaelites  or 
Hagarens  on  the  east.  Some  place  them  more  south,  hard  by 
the  Dead  Sea,  but  therein  surely  mistake.  For  when  Gideon 
had  the  Midianites  in  chase  out  of  the  land  of  Canaan,  they 
betook  not  themselves  southward  (and  surely  such  foxes  when 
hunted  would  haste  home  to  their  own  kennels),  but  ran  through 
the  tribe  of  Gad,  full  east,  to  their  proper  habitations."  (Pp. 
450-1.) 

Maelstrom.     See  Malestrand. 

Maenalus.     Eleg.  5.  125;  Arcades  102;   Grammar  (1)  6.  438. 

A  mountain  of  Arcadia,  sacred  to  Pan,  who  is  called  "  Msenalius 
Deus."  (Ovid,  Fast.  4.  650.) 

Maeonides.     P.  L.  3.  35.     (See  also  Melesigenes.) 

A  Mseonian  or  Lydian,  especially  Homer,  who  was,  according 
to  some,  born  at  Smyrna  in  Lydia.  Mseonia  was  a  district  of 
Lydia,  yet  its  name  was  often  applied  to  the  whole  country. 

Mseotis  (Tauric  Pool).     P.  L.  9.  78;    P.  R.  4.  79.     (See  also 

Pontus.) 

The  Sea  of  Azof,  opening  into  the  Black  Sea  on  its  north  side. 
"Poole  Maeotis"  is  a  translation  of  the  Latin  palus  M&otis. 
Milton  refers  to  the  sea  as  the  "Tauric  Pool"  because  it  bounds 
ofi  one  side  the  Tauric  Chersonese,  the  modern  Crimea. 

Maes  German  (Guid-crue).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  106. 

Ussher,  in  a  passage  which  Milton  indicates  in  a  note,  writes  as 
follows:  "In  a  field  of  Flintshire,  near  a  town  which  the  English 
call  Mold,  and  the  Welch  Guid-cruc,  this  is  said  to  have  happened, 
on  account  of  which  the  place  has  kept  the  name  of  Maes  Garmon, 
which  means  the  Field  of  Germanus.  The  army  was  baptized 
by  this  holy  man  in  the  Alyn,  a  little  river  which  flows  near." 
(Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Antiqiiitates ,  p.  333.) 

Magellan.     P.  L.  10.  687. 

The  region  of  the  Straits  of  Magellan,  which  separate  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  continent  of  South  America  from  Tierra 
del  Fuego.  Voyagers  who  were  there  in  1599,  in  midsummer, 
reported  as  follows:  "The  hills  on  both  sides  are  steep  and  high, 
all  the  yeere  long  covered  with  store  of  Snow.  .  .  .  On  the 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  181 

second  of  Januarie  they  made  search  of  Maurice  Bay,  which 
they  observed  to  extend  far  re  to  the  East,  and  to  receive  store  of 
Rivers  flowing  into  it,  at  the  mouthes  whereof  they  found  great 
store  of  Ice  in  their  judgement  never  melted.  For  sounding  ten 
fathomes  they  could  not  reach  the  bottome  thereof,  this  their 
Midsummer  season  notwithstanding."  (Pilgrimes  1.  73.) 

Magnesia.     Episcopacy  3.  74. 

A  city  of  Ionia  on  the  River  Meander. 

Mahanaim.     P.  L.  11.  214. 

A  city  of  Palestine  east  of  the  Jordan  and  north  of  the  Jabbok. 
Milton's  reference  is  to  Genesis  32.  1-2. 

Maidulfsburg.     See  Malmsbury. 
Mainz.     See  Ments. 

Malabar.     P.  L.  9.  1103.     (See  also  Decan,  India  (East).) 

The  Malabar  Coast  is  the  western  coast  of  Hindustan,  espe 
cially  the  southern  part.  Linschoten  writes:  "The  Malabares 
are  those  that  dwell  on  the  Seacoast,  between  Goa  and  the  Cape 
de  Comorin  Southward  from  Goa."  (Pilgrimes  2.  1766.)  And 
in  his  account  of  the  country:  "There  is  a  tree  in  India  called 
Arbore  de  Rays,  that  is  to  say,  a  Tree  of  Roots;  this  tree  is  very 
wonderfull  to  behold,  for  that  when  it  groweth  first  up  like  all 
other  trees,  and  spreadeth  the  branches,  then  the  branches  grow 
full  of  roots,  and  grow  downwards  againe  towards  the  Earth, 
where  they  take  root  againe,  and  so  are  fast  againe  within 
the  ground,  and  in  length  of  time,  the  broader  the  tree  is,  and 
that  the  branches  do  spread  themselves,  the  more  rootes  doe 
hang  upon  the  branches,  and  seeme  afarre  off  to  be  Cordes  of 
Hempe,  so  that  in  the  end  the  tree  covereth  a  great  piece  of 
ground,  and  crosseth  one  root  within  the  other  like  a  Maze. 
I  have  seene  trees  that  have  contayned  at  the  least  some  thirty 
or  fortie  paces  in  compasse,  and  all  out  of  the  roots  which  came 
from  above  one  of  the  branches,  and  were  fast  growne  and  had 
taken  root  againe  within  the  Earth,  and  in  time  waxed  so  thicke 
that  it  could  not  be  discerned  which  was  the  chief  or  principall 
trunke  or  bodie  of  the  tree;  and  in  some  places  you  may  creep 
betweene  the  roots,  and  the  more  the  tree  spreadeth,  so  much  the 
more  doe  the  roots  spring  out  of  the  same  branches,  and  still 


182  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

grow  downe  till  they  come  to  the  Earth,  and  there  take  roote 
againe  within  the  ground,  and  still  increase  with  rootes,  that  it  is 
a  wonder.  This  tree  hath  no  fruit  that  is  worth  the  eating,  but 
a  small  kind  of  fruit  like  Olives,  and  good  for  nothing  but  for 
Birds  to  eate."  Purchas  gives  a  marginal  note  on  the  passage  as 
follows:  "Mordents,  a  great  traveller  which  had  dwelt  some 
yeeres  at  Goa,  told  Clusius  that  some  of  these  trees  by  reason  of 
this  multiplication  contained  a  miles  compasse,  and  that  the 
Indians  made  galleries  and  chambers  by  cutting  part  away,  and 
that  it  yeelded  an  eccho,  and  he  had  scene  sometime  800  or  1000 
shadowed  under  one,  able  to  receive  3000."  (Pilgrimes  2.  1780.) 
Part  of  Milton's  description  of  the  fig-tree  also  obviously  comes, 
directly  or  indirectly,  from  Pliny,  whose  account  was  much 
copied:  "First  and  foremost,  there  is  a  Fig-tree  there,  which 
beareth  very  small  and  slender  figges.  The  propertie  of  this 
tree  is  to  plant  and  set  itself  without  mans  helpe.  For  it 
spreadeth  out  with  mightie  armes,  and  the  lowest  water-boughes 
underneath  do  bend  so  downe  ward  to  the  very  earth,  that  they 
touch  it  againe,  and  lie  upon  it;  whereby,  within  one  yeares 
space  they  will  take  fast  root  in  the  ground,  and  put  foorth  a  new 
Spring  round  about  the  Mother-tree;  so  as  these  braunches 
thus  growing  seeme  like  a  traile  or  border  of  arbours  most 
curiously  and  artificially  made.  Within  these  bowers  the  sheep- 
heards  use  to  repose  and  take  up  their  harbour  in  Summer  time; 
for  shadie  and  coole  it  is,  and  besides  well  fenced  all  about  with  a 
set  of  young  trees  in  manner  of  a  pallaisado.  A  most  pleasant  and 
delectable  sight,  whether  a  man  either  come  neare,  and  looke  into  it, 
or  stand  afarre  off;  so  faire  and  pleasant  an  arbour  it  is,  all  greene, 
and  framed  arch-wise  in  just  compasse.  Now  the  upper  boughes 
thereof  stand  up  on  high,  and  beare  a  goodly  tuft  and  head  aloft 
like  a  little  thicke  wood  or  forrest.  And  the  bodie  or  trunke 
of  the  Mother  is  so  great,  that  many  of  them  take  up  in  compasse 
threescore  paces;  and  as  for  the  foresaid  shaddow,  it  covereth 
in  ground  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  The  leaves  of  this  Tree  are  very 
broad,  made  in  form  of  an  Amazonian  or  Turkish  Targuet; 
which  is  the  reason  that  the  figges  thereof  are  but  small."  •  (12.  5.) 

Maldon.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  47;    (5)  5.  216,  217,  218;    (6)  5.  241. 
(See  also  Camalodunum.) 
A  town  in  Essex. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  183 

Malestrand.     Moscovia  (5)  8.  508. 

The  Maelstrom,  a  famous  whirlpool  on  the  coast  of  Norway. 
Milton  takes  his  account  almost  verbatim  from  Hak.  1.  311,  to 
which  he  refers  in  a  note. 

Malmsbury  (Maidulfsburg).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  124;    (4)  5.  161, 

172;  (5)  5.  194, 196,  226  (thrice),  230,  231;  (6)  5.255,  293,300. 

A  town  of  Wiltshire  near  the  Avon.     At  the  abbey  there  lived 

the  historian  William  of  Malmesbury,  whom  Milton  thought 

"for  stile  and  judgment"  the  best  of  the  early  English  historians. 

Mamre.     Doct.  Christ.  (2.  17)  2.  456. 

A  name  of  all  or  part  of  Hebron,  a  city  of  Judah. 

Man.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  148;    (6)  5.  244.     (See  also  Mevanian 
Islands.) 
An  island  in  the  Irish  Sea. 

Manchester.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  219. 
A  city  of  Lancashire. 

Mangat.     See  Nagay. 

Mantua.     Logic  (1.  22)  7.  73;   Commonplace  112. 

A  city  of  Lombardy,  on  an  island  in  the  Mincio,  a  tributary  of 
the  Po.  It  was  the  home  of  Virgil. 

Mareotis.     Quint.  Nov.  171. 

A  shallow  lake  in  Egypt,  west  of  the  Nile,  near  Alexandria. 
It  probably  is  used  figuratively  to  mean  Egypt.  (Cf.  "Mareoti- 
caque  arva,"  Ovid,  Met.  9.  773.)  See  Gilbert,  The  Tower  of 
Fame  in  Milton,  Modern  Language  Notes  28.  30. 

Margiana.     P.  R.  3.  317.     (See  also  Arachosia.) 

A  large  district  in  the  western  part  of  central  Asia,  southeast 
of  the  Caspian  Sea,  now  called  Khorasan.  Strabo  represents  it 
as  very  productive  of  grapes.  (11.  10.  2.) 

Marleborow  (Marlbrigia).     1  Defens.  (8)  6.  144;   Commonplace 

179. 

Marlborough,  a  town  of  Wiltshire  on  the  River  Kennet,  in 
Camden's  time  ruined.  (1.  94.) 

Marocco.     P.  L.  1.  584;    11.  404;    Animadv.  (16.  148)  3.  241. 
(See  also  Almansor.) 
13 


184  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

A  country  of  northwestern  Africa,  and  its  capital  city.  "This 
region  is  in  a  manner  three  square,  being  a  most  pleasant  country, 
and  abounding  with  many  droves  and  flockes  of  cattell;  it  is 
greene  every  where,  and  most  fertile  of  all  things  which  serve  for 
food,  or  which  delight  the  senses  of  smelling  or  seeing."  (Leo 
Africanus,  p.  256.)  The  chief  city  is  described  as  follows:  "This 
noble  citie  of  Maroco  in  Africa  is  accounted  to  be  one  of  the 
greatest  cities  in  the  whole  world.  .  .  .  Here  you  may  behold 
great  abundance  of  temples,  of  colleges,  of  bath-stoves,  and  of 
innes,  all  framed  after  the  fashion  and  custom  of  that  region. 
...  In  this  citie  .  .  .  was  built  a  Temple  by  him  that  was  the 
second  usurper  over  the  kingdome  of  Maroco :  after  whose  death 
his  nephew  Mansor  enlarged  the  said  Temple  fiftie  cubites  on 
all  sides,  and  adorned  the  same  with  many  pillars,  which  he 
.  commanded  to  be  brought  out  of  Spain  for  that  purpose.  .  .  . 
Such  monuments  of  antiquity  as  are  yet  extant  in  Maroco, 
albeit  they  are  but  few,  do  notwithstanding  sufficiently  argue 
what  a  noble  citie  it  was  in  the  time  of  Mansor."  (/£.,  p.  262.) 

Marseilles.  See  Massilia. 
Martigny.  See  Octodurus. 
Maserfeild.  See  Oswestre. 

Massicus.     Eleg.  6.  31. 

Pertaining  to  Massicus,  a  mountain  in  Campania  famous  for 
its  wine.     (Horace,  Odes  1.  1.  19;   2.  7.  21.,  etc.) 

Massilia  (Marseilles).     Logic  (1.  20)  7.  66;  Decl.  Poland  8.  468. 

Marseilles,  a  city  of  France,  on  the  Gulf  of  Lyons. 
Mauritania.     See  Bocchus,  Realm  of. 
Maurusius.    See  Bocchus,  Realm  of. 
Maydens,  Castle  of.     See  Edinburgh. 

Mazovia.     Decl.  Poland  8.  466. 
A  district  in  Poland. 

Meander.     Comus  232. 

A  river  of  Asia  Minor  rising  in  Phrygia  and  flowing  into  the 
Icarian  Sea  near  Miletus.     It  is  proverbially  famous  for  its 
winding  course.     Strabo   tells  of  the  rich   soil  with   which   it 
-  fertilizes  its  plains.     (15.  1.  16.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  185 

Meanesborow.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  164. 

Camden,  whom  Milton  indicates  as  one  of  his  sources  here, 
says  (1.  120)  that  the  district  of  the  Meanvari,  "with  the  name 
very  little  altered,  is  at  present  divided  into  the  three  hundreds 
of  Meansborow,  Eastmean,  and  Westmean,"  in  Hampshire. 

Mecca.     Eikonocl.  (10)  3.  413. 

A  city  of  western  Arabia,  the  birthplace  of  Mahomet.  Milton 
refers  to  the  belief  that  the  tomb  of  Mahomet — really  at  Medina 
— was  suspended  in  the  air  at  Mecca.  Cf.  Marlowe: 

By  sacred  Mahomet,  .  .  . 
Whose  glorious  body,  when  he  left  the  world, 
Closde  in  a  coffyn  mounted  up  the  air, 
And  hung  on  stately  Mecas  Temple  roofe. 

(2  Tamburlaine  2462-6.) 

See  also  the  last  sentence  under  Rome.  Purchas,  in  describing 
the  tomb  of  Mahomet  at  Medina,  refutes  this  belief,  saying  that 
Mahomet's  body  is  "not  in  an  yron  Chest,  attracted  by  Adamant, 
at  Mecca,  as  some  affirme."  (Pilgrimage,  p.  307.)  Barthema 
also  writes:  "Opportunitie  now  serve th  to  confute  the  opinion  of 
them  which  thinke  that  the  Arke  or  Tombe  of  wicked  Mahumet 
in  Mecha  to  hang  in  the  Ayre,  not  borne  up  with  any  thing.  I  ... 
saw  the  place  where  Mahumet  is  buried,  in  the  said  Citie  of 
Medina."  (Pilgrimes  2.  1486.) 

Media.  P.  L.  4.  171;  P.  R.  3.  320,  376.  (See  also  Atropatia.) 
Now  the  northwest  part  of  Persia,  south  of  the  Caspian  Sea 
and  the  River  Araxes.  It  was  divided  into  two  parts,  Media 
Magna  and  Media  Atropatia.  Strabo  describes  Media  Magna 
as  follows:  "It  is  bounded  toward  the  east  by  Parthia  and  the 
mountains  of  the  Cosssei,  .  .  .  toward  the  north  by  the  Cadusii 
who  live  beyond  the  Hyrcanian  Sea,  and  by  others,  .  .  .  toward 
the  south  by  Apolloniatis,  .  .  .  toward  the  east  by  the  Atro- 
patians  and  certain  of  the  Armenians.  The  greater  part  of 
Media  is  elevated  and  cold,  and  such  are  also  the  mountains 
situated  above  Ecbatana,  and  near  the  Rhagian  and  Caspian 
gates  and  generally  the  northern  places  as  far  as  Matiana  and 
Armenia.  But  the  ground  below  the  gates  of  the  Caspian,  which 
lies  low  and  in  a  valley,  is  very  fruitful  and  abounding  in  every 
thing  except  the  olive.  .  .  .  This  region  and  Armenia  excel  in 


186  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

raising  horses,  for  which  reason  a  certain  plain  is  called  Hippo- 
botus,  through  which  they  pass  who  travel  from  Persia  and 
Babylonia  to  the  gates  of  the  Caspian,  in  which  in  the  times  of  the 
Persians,  fifty  thousand  horses  were  pastured;  these  were  in  fact 
the  regal  droves."  (11.  13.  6-7.) 

Medioburgena.     See  Middle  -Burrough. 
Mediolanum.     See  Millan. 

Mediterranean.     P.  L.  1.  451;    5.  339;    12.  141,  142,  159;    Lit. 

Oliv.  (18)  7.  259;    (57)  7.  306;  Sixteen  Let.  11. 

To  the  Jews  it  was  the  "great  Western  Sea."  By  "middle 
shore"  Milton  means  Mediterranean  shore. 

Medway.     Vacat.  Ex.  100;  Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  259. 

A  river  of  southeastern  England,  flowing  into  the  Thames  at 
Sheerness.  It  has  received  much  attention  from  English  poets: 
Spenser  devotes  a  canto  of  The  Faerie  Queene  (4.  11)  to  the 
description  of  the  marriage  of  the  Medway  and  the  Thames, 
and  Dray  ton  speaks  of  it  in  the  Polyolbion  (17  and  18).  The  fol 
lowing  (PSpenserian)  line  suggests  Milton's  "Medway  smooth": 

The  Medwaies  silver  streames,  that  wont  so  still  to  slide. 

(The  Mourning  Muse  of  Thestylis  157.) 

Melesigenes.     P.  R.  4.  259.     (See  also  Maeonides.) 

A  name  applied  to  Homer  because  he  was  said  to  have  been 
born  at  Smyrna,  in  Ionia,  on  the  banks  of  the  River  Meles. 

Meliboea.     P.  L.  11.  242. 

A  maritime  town  of  Thessaly,  now  called  Kastri,  at  the  foot 
of  Mount  Ossa.  After  it  was  named  a  purple  dye  mentioned  by 
Virgil:  "A  cloak  with  tissue  of  gold,  round  the  hem  of  which  in 
deep  hue  ran  Meliboean  purple  with  a  double  wavy  edge." 
(JEneidS.  250-1.) 

Melind.     P.  L.  11.  399.     (See  also  Mombaza.) 

A  town  on  the  coast  of  British  East  Africa.  Purchas  gives  the 
following  description:  "A  little  beyond  [Mombaza]  is  the  King- 
dome  of  Melinde,  which  being  likewise  but  a  little  one,  extends 
itselfe  upon  the  Sea  Coast.  .  .  .  Neere  unto  the  Sea  .  .  .  there 
is  a  great  deale  of  Countrey  inhabited  by  Pagans  and  Mahome 
tans,  of  colour  almost  white.  Their  houses  are  built  after  our 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  187 

fashion.  .  .  .  The  Women  are  white,  and  sumptuously  dressed, 
after  the  Arabian  fashion,  with  Cloath  of  Silke.  About  their 
neckes,  and  hands,  and  armes,  and  feet,  they  use  to  wear  Jewels 
of  Gold  and  Silver.  When  they  go  abroad  out  of  their  houses, 
they  cover  themselves  with  Taffata,  so  that  they  are  not  known 
but  when  they  list  themselves.  In  this  Countrey  there  is  a  very 
good  Haven,  which  is  a  landing  place  for  the  Vessels  that  sayle 
through  those  Seas.  Generally,  the  people  are  very  kind,  true, 
and  trustie,  and  converse  with  Strangers.  They  have  alwaies 
entertained  and  welcomed  the  Portugals,  and  have  reposed  great 
confidence  in  them,  neither  have  they  ever  offered  them  any 
wrong  in  any  respect."  (Pilgrimes  2.  1024.)  Melinde  is  promi 
nent  in  the  Lusiads  of  Camoens.  (2.  57-6.  5.) 

Melros.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  176. 

Old  Melrose,  near  Mel  rose,  Roxburghshire,  Scotland. 

Melun.     Commonplace  244. 
A  city  of  France,  on  the  Seine. 

Memphis   (Alcairo).     Nativity   214;    P.   L.    1.   307,   694,    718; 

Lit.  Oliv.  (57)  7.  306. 

The  ancient  capital  of  Egypt,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Nile, 
south  of  Cairo.  Diodorus  writes:  "Uchoreus  built  Memphis, 
the  most  famous  city  of  Egypt.  For  he  chose  the  most  conven 
ient  place  for  it  in  all  the  country,  where  the  Nile  divides  itself 
into  several  branches,  and  makes  that  part  of  the  country  called 
Delta.  .  .  .  The  city  being  thus  conveniently  situated  at  the 
head  of  the  river,  commands  all  the  shipping  that  sail  up  it.  He 
built  it  in  circuit  a  hundred  and  fifty  furlongs,  and  made  it 
exceeding  strong  and  commodious.  .  .  .  This  place  was  so  com- 
modiously  pitched  upon  by  the  builder,  that  most  of  the  kings 
after  him  preferred  it  before  Thebes,  and  removed  the  court 
thence  to  this  place."  (1.  50.) 

At  Memphis  Osiris,  or  Apis,  was  worshiped.  The  "un- 
showered  grass"  of  Nativity  expresses  the  common  opinion  of 
Egypt;  for  example  Sandys  writes:  "The  earth  then  burnt  with 
the  violent  fervour,  never  refreshed  with  Rain,  (which  here  falls 
rarely,  and  then  only  in  the  Winter)  hath  help  from  Nilus." 
(P.  75.)  The  fruitfulness  of  the  place  is  often  mentioned; 
Diodorus  says:  "Here  are  divers  sorts  of  trees,  amongst  which 


188  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

those  called  Persica,  whose  fruit  is  of  wonderful  sweetness. 
The  sycamore  (or  Egyptian  fig-tree);  some  of  them  bear  mul 
berries,  others  a  fruit  like  unto  figs,  and  bear  all  the  year  long; 
so  that  a  man  may  satisfy  his  hunger  at  any  time."  (1.  3.) 

The  "Monuments  of  Fame"  of  the  Memphian  kings  are  the 
pyramids.  Sandys  introduces  his  account  of  them  with  the 
words:  "Full  West  of  the  City,  close  upon  those  Desarts,  aloft 
on  a  rocky  level  adjoining  to  the  Valley,  stand  those  three 
Pyramides  (the  barbarous  Monuments  of  prodigality  and  vain 
glory)  so  universally  celebrated."  (P.  99.)  His  translation  from 
Martial  a  few  pages  later  also  suggests  P.  L.  1.  692-6: 

Of  her  Pyramids  let  Memphis  boast 

No  more  the  barbarous  wonders  of  vain  cost. 

Though  not  built  on  the  site  of  ancient  Memphis,  Cairo  is  near, 
and  is  the  successor  of  the  ancient  city.  Milton  identifies  it 
with  Memphis  in  his  reference  to  Alcairo  (P.  L.  1.  718),  and  in 
his  use  of  the  adjective  "Memphiticus"  to  indicate  Cairo.  (Lit. 
Oliv.  (57)  7.  306.)  Cairo  itself  was  founded  in  970  A.D.  On  this 
topic  Sandys  writes:  " Here  also  stood  the  Fane  .  .  .  ofSerapis, 
beset  with  Sphinxes,  adjoining  to  the  Desart,  a  City  great  and 
populous,  adorned  with  a  world  of  Antiquities.  But  why  spend 
I  time  about  that  that  is  not,  the  very  ruines  now  almost 
ruinated?  Yet  some  few  impressions  are  left,  and  divers  thrown 
down,  Statues  of  monstrous  resemblances,  a  scarce  sufficient 
testimony  to  shew  unto  the  curious  seeker,  that  there  it  had 
been.  .  .  .  This  hath  made  some  erroneously  affirm  old  Memphis 
to  have  been  the  same  with  New  Cairo,  new  in  respect  of  the 
other."  (P.  103.)  The  Septuagint  identifies  Memphis  with  the 
Biblical  Noph.  (Isaiah  19.  13,  etc.) 

Menapia.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  81. 

The  country  of  the  Menapii,  partly  corresponding  to  the 
modern  Belgium. 

Ments.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  170,  176. 

Mainz,  a  city  near  the  junction  of  the  Rhine  and  the  Main. 

Merantum.     See  Merton. 

Mercia.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  134;   (4)  5.  147,  152  (twice),  160,  161, 
163,  164,  169,  171,  173,  175,  181,  185,  187;  (5)  5.  199,  203,  204, 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  189 

207,  215  (thrice),  218,  219  (thrice),  228;    (6)  5.  242,  247,  248,  , 

256,  259,  260,  272,  280. 

The  Old  English  kingdom  occupying  central  England.  Cam- 
den  includes  in  Mercia  the  shires  of  Gloucester,  Hereford,  War 
wick,  Worcester,  Leicester,  Rutland,  Northampton,  Lincoln, 
Huntingdon,  Bedford,  Buckingham,  Oxford,  Stafford,  Derby, 
Salop,  Nottingham,  and  part  of  Hertford.  (1.  cxxx.) 

Mercreds-Burnamsted.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  120. 

Mentioned  by  Florence  of  Worcester,  to  whom  Milton  refers, 
under  the  name  of  Mearcredes-burnan.  Its  situation  is  unknown. 

Meresig.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  209  (twice). 

Mersea  Island,  Essex,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Blackwater.  Milton 
takes  the  name  directly  from  Florence  of  Worcester  or  from  the 
Chronicle,  without  apparent  attempt  at  identification. 

Mereswar.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  192. 

Through  a  misunderstanding  of  Chronicle  838  Milton  uses  this 
name  as  that  of  a  place,  when  in  reality  it  means  "marshmen," 
that  is,  the  inhabitants  of  Romney  Marsh,  Kent.  A  correct 
explanation  is  given  by  Camden.  (1.  222.) 

Meriba.     Ps.  81.  32. 

Meribah,  the  place  where  Moses  brought  water  out  of  the  rock 
for  the  children  of  Israel,  near  Mount  Horeb.     See  Exodus  17.7;  : 
Numbers  27.  14.     Milton's  word  ''steep"  suggests  the  "rock  in 
Horeb"  of  the  first  passage. 

Meroe.     P.  R.  4.  71. 

A  region  in  the  basin  of  the  Nile,  partly  surrounded  by  the 
waters  of  the  Nile,  the  Blue  Nile,  and  the  Atbara;  it  was  sup 
posed  by  the  ancients  to  be  an  island.  With  Milton's  words 
compare  Pliny:  "In  the  Hand  Meroe,  which  is  the  capitall  place 
of  the  ^Ethiopian  nation,  and  is  inhabited  5000  stadia  from  Syene, 
upon  the  river  Nilus,  twice  in  the  yeere  the  shadowes  are  gone, 
and  none  at  all  seene,  to  wit,  when  the  summer  is  in  the  18  degree 
of  Taurus,  and  in  the  14  of  Leo."  (2.  73.)  He  gives  also  the 
report  of  certain  men  who  in  the  time  of  Nero  went  up  the  Nile : 
"They  made  relation  of  the  truth  upon  their  certaine  knowledge, 
that  it  is  874  miles  from  Syene.  .  .  .  They  reported  moreover, 
that  about  Meroe  (and  not  before)  the  grasse  and  hearbes  ap- 


190  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

peared  fresh  and  greene;  yea,  and  the  woods  shewed  somewhat 
in  comparison  of  all  the  way  besides,  and  that  they  espied  the 
tracts  of  Elephants  and  Rhinocerotes  where  they  had  gone. 
As  for  the  towne  it  selfe  Meroe,  they  said  it  was  within  the  Island 
from  the  very  entrie  therof  70  miles'.  ...  As  for  the  building 
within  Meroe,  there  were  but  few  houses  in  it:  that  the  Isle  was 
subject  unto  a  ladie  or  queene  named  Candace,  a  name  that  for 
many  yeeres  alreadie  went  from  one  queene  to  another  succes 
sively.  Within  this  towne  there  is  the  temple  of  great  holinesse 
and  devotion  in  the  honour  of  Jupiter  Hammon :  and  in  all  that 
tract  many  other  chappels.  Finally,  so  long  as  the  ^Ethyopians 
swaied  the  scepter  and  reigned,  this  Island  was  much  renowned 
and  very  famous.  For  by  report,  they  were  wont  to  furnish 
the  ^Ethyopian  king  with  armed  men  250000,  and  to  maintain 
of  Artisanes  400000.  Last  of  all  there  have  been  counted  45 
kings  of  the  ^Ethyopians,  and  so  it  is  reported  at  this  day." 
(6.  29.)  Meroe  was  the  most  southern  land  in  Ethiopia  known 
to  the  Romans.  Beyond  it  was,  according  to  Pliny,  a  region 
of  marvels.  (6.  30.) 

Meroz.     Kings  &  Mag.  4.  483,  489  (twice). 

Of  unknown  situation.  Fuller  writes :  "For  the  exact  position 
whereof  we  refer  the  reader  to  those  our  learned  divines,  which 
in  these  unhappy  dissensions  have  made  that  text  (Judges  5.  23) 
so  often  the  subject  of  their  sermons.  We  have  placed  it  in  this 
tribe  [Naphtali]  not  far  from  Kedesh,  whence  Barak  first  went 
forth  with  his  men,  in  the  place  where  Mercator's  maps  have  a 
city  called  Meroth."  (P.  113.) 

Merton  (Merantun).  Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  178;  1  Defens.  (8)  6.  143. 
Camden,  to  whom  Milton  refers  in  a  note,  says  in  his  account 
of  Surrey:  "The  clear  little  river  Wandle  leaves  on  its  west  bank 
Merton,  situate  in  a  most  fruitful  spot;  and  called  by  the  Saxons 
Meredune,  antiently  famous  for  the  death  of  Kinulphus  king  of 
the  West  Saxons,  killed  here  by  Kinehard  Clito  in  the  small  hut 
of  an  insignificant  harlot."  (1.  170.) 

Mertun.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  201. 

Identified  sometimes  with  Merton,  Oxfordshire,  and  some 
times  with  Marden,  Wiltshire.  Milton  attempts  no  identifica 
tion. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  191 

Mesopotamia.     P.  R.  3.  254.     (See  also  Euphrates.) 

The  region  between  the  rivers  Tigris  and  Euphrates,  strictly, 
that  part  of  it  north  of  the  Median  Wall,  above  Bagdad. 

Messena.     1  Defens.  (4)  6.  75. 

Messenia,  the  southwestern  part  of  the  Peloponnesus,  bordering 
on  the  sea. 

Messina,  Straits  of.     P.  L.  2.  660.     (See  also  Scylla.) 

The  straits  separating  Calabria  from  Sicily  ("the  hoarce 
Trinacrian  shore"). 

Meuse.     See  Mosa. 

Mevanian  Islands.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  148. 

Anglesea,  or  Mona,  and  the  Isle  of  Man.     (Camden  3.  697.) 

Mexico.     P.  L.  11.  407. 

The  city  of  Mexico,  the  capital  of  the  country  of  the  same 
name.  When  it  was  the  seat  of  "Mutezumas  multiforme  magni 
ficence  and  majestic, "  Mexico  was  described  by  Francis  Lopez 
de  Gomara  as  follows:  "Mexico  at  the  time  when  Cortes  entered 
was  a  Citie  of  sixtie  thousand  houses.  The  Kings  house,  and 
other  Noblemens  houses  were  great,  large,  and  beautifull,  the 
other  were  small  and  meane,  without  either  doores  or  windowes, 
and  although  they  were  small,  yet  there  dwelleth  in  some  of  them, 
two,  three,  yea,  and  ten  persons,  by  reason  whereof  the  Citie 
was  wonderfully  replenished  with  people.  This  Citie  is  built 
upon  the  water,  even  in  the  same  order  as  Venice  is.  ...  Mexico 
hath  one  place  where  most  dayes  in  the  yeere  is  buying  and 
selling,  but  every  fourth  day  is  the  great  Market  ordinarily.  .  .  . 
This  place  is  wide  and  large,  compassed  round  with  doores,  and 
is  so  great  that  a  hundred  thousand  persons  come  thither  to 
chop  and  change,  as  a  Citie  most  principall  in  all  that  Region. 
.  .  .  All  the  braverie  of  the  Market  is  the  place  where  gold  and 
feathers  joyntly  wrought  is  sold,  for  any  thing  is  in  request  there 
lively  wrought  in  gold  and  feathers,  and  gallant  colours.  The 
Indians  are  so  expert  and  perfect  in  this  science,  that  they  will 
worke  or  make  a  Butterflie,  any  wild  Beast,  Trees,  Roses, 
Flowers,  Herbs,  Roots,  or  any  other  thing,  so  lively,  that  is  a 
thing  marvellous  to  behold.  .  .  .  The  Art  or  Science  of  gold 
smiths  among  them  is  the  most  curious,  and  very  good  workman- 


192  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

ship  engraven  with  tooles  made  of  flint,  or  in  mold.  They  will 
cast  a  platter  in  mold  with  eight  corners,  and  every  corner  of 
severall  metall,  that  is  to  say,  the  one  of  gold,  and  the  other  of 
silver,  without  any  kind  of  soldar.  They  will  also  cast  in  mold 
a  fish  of  metall  with  one  scale  of  silver  on  his  backe,  and  another 
of  gold.  They  will  make  a  Parret  or  Popinjay  of  metall,  that 
his  tongue  will  shake,  and  his  head  move,  and  his  wings  flutter. 
They  will  cast  an  Ape  in  Mold,  that  both  hands  and  feet  shall 
stirre,  and  hold  a  spindle  in  his  hand  seeming  to  spin,  yea  and  an 
Apple  in  his  hand,  as  though  he  would  eat  it.  Our  Spaniards  were 
not  a  little  amazed  at  the  sight  of  these  things.  For  our  Gold 
smiths  are  not  to  be  compared  unto  them.  They  have  skill  also 
of  Amell  work,  and  to  set  any  precious  stone.  .  .  .  All  their 
Temples  are  of  one  fashion,  therefore  it  shall  bee  now  sufficient 
to  speake  of  the  principall  church.  This  Temple  is  square,  and 
doth  contayne  every  way  as  much  ground  as  a  Crossbow  can 
reach  levell.  It  is  made  of  stone,  with  foure  doores  that  abutteth 
upon  the  three  Cawseys,  and  upon  .another  part  of  the  Citie 
that  hath  no  Cawsey  but  a  faire  street.  In  the  middest  of  this 
Quaderne  standeth  a  mount  of  earth  and  stone,  square  likewise, 
and  fiftie  fathom  long  every  way,  built  upward  like  unto  a 
Pyramide  of  Egypt,  saving  the  top  is  not  sharpe,  but  plaine  and 
flat,  and  ten  fathom  square.  Upon  the  West  side,  were  steps 
up  to  the  top,  in  number  an  hundreth  and  fourteene,  which 
being  so  many,  high,  and  made  of  good  stone,  did  seeme  a 
beautifull  thing.  It  was  a  strange  sight  to  behold  the  Priests, 
some  going  up,  and  some  downe,  with  ceremonies,  or  with  men 
to  be  sacrificed.  Upon  the  top  of  this  Temple  are  two  great 
Altars,  a  good  space  distant  the  one  from  the  other,  and  so  nigh 
the  edge  or  brim  of  the  wall,  that  scarsly  a  man  may  goe  behinde 
them  at  pleasure.  The  one  Altar  standeth  on  the  right  hand, 
and  the  other  on  the  left.  They  were  but  of  five  foot  high,  each 
of  them  had  the  back  part  made  of  stone,  painted  with  monstrous 
and  foule  figures.  The  Chappell  was  faire  and  well  wrought  of 
Masons  worke  and  timber,  every  Chappell  had  three  lofts,  one 
above  another,  sustayned  upon  pillars,  and  with  the  height 
thereof  it  shewed  like  unto  a  faire  Towre,  and  beautified  the  Citie 
afarre  off.  From  thence  a  man  may  see  all  the  Citie  and  Townes 
round  about  the  Lake,  which  was  undoubtedly  a  goodly  pros 
pect."  (Pilgrimes  3.  1131-3.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  193 

Mezen.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  472.     (See  also  Slobotca.) 

A  town  of  northern  Russia,  at  the  head  of  the  estuary  by  which 
the  Mezen  River  empties  into  the  White  Sea.  In  telling  of  the 
route  from  St.  Nicholas  to  the  River  Pechora,  Hakluyt  writes: 
"They  come  at  length  into  the  river  Mezen,  and  from  thence 
in  the  space  of  six  dayes  to  a  village  of  the  same  name,  standing 
in  the  mouth  of  the  river  Pieza."  (1.  493.)  There  are  several 
accounts  of  trade  by  way  of  Mezen,  e.  g.,  Pilgrimes  3.  537. 

Middle-Angles.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  157. 

The  Middle-Angles,  or  South  Mercians,  occupied  the  present 
county  of  Leicestershire.  Camden  says  Staffordshire.  (2. 

375.) 

Middle -Burrough  (Medioburgena).     Kings    &  Mag.  4.  495;    2 
Defens  6.   257,   313    (twice);    Pro  Se    Defens.   6.   340,  401; 
Respons.  6.  409  (twice),  410  (twice),  413,  426. 
Middelburg,   the    ancient    capital    of   Zeeland,   Netherlands, 

situated  in  the  island  of  Walcheren.     In  the  time  of  Milton  it 

was  a  prosperous  commercial  city. 

Middlesex.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  118. 

The  shire  of  England  in  which  London  is  situated. 

Middleton.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  207. 

Identified  by  Camden  with  "Midleton  now  Milton"  in  Kent. 

(1.  214.) 

Milan.     See  Millan. 

Mile-End  Green.     Sonnet  11.7. 

A  district  of  London  about  a  mile  east  of  the  centre  of  the  city. 
In  Milton's  day  it  was  an  open  space,  and  troops  were  exercised 
there.  (Stow  1.  103.) 

Miletus.     2  Defens.  6.  256. 

A  city  of  Caria,  famous  for  its  luxury  and  the  wantonness  of 
its  people.  Cf.  with  Milton's  words  the  "Milesia  carmina"  of 
Ovid.  (TV.  2.  413.) 

Millan  (Mediolanum) .    Reformation  (2)  3.  63 ;  Tetrach.    (Canon) 

4.  282;   1  Defens.  (4)  6.  89;   2  Defens.  6.  289. 

Milan,  in  Lombardy.  In  the  time  of  Milton,  who  passed 
through  on  his  way  home  from  Italy,  it  was  under  Spanish  rule. 


194  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

The  famous  Ambrosian  Library  had   then  been  founded  about 
thirty  years. 

Milton.     See  Middleton. 
Mincius.     Lycidas  86. 

Mincio,  a  river  of  Lombardy  tributary  to  the  Po.  Virgil, 
who  dwelt  on  its  banks,  wrote  of  it:  "Herewith  waving  [tender] 
rushes  Mincius  fringes  his  verdant  banks."  (Ed.  7.  12-13.) 
And  also:  "Mighty  Mincius  wanders  on  with  slowly  winding 
curves,  fringing  the  bank  with  waving  [tender]  reed."  (Georg. 
3.  14-15.) 

Mispa.     1  Defens.  (2)  6.  38. 

Mizpah,  a  place  in  Palestine  near  Jerusalem,  probably  Nebi 
Samwil,  four  and  a  half  miles  northwest.  Milton  refers  to  the 
narrative  in  1  Samuel  10. 

Mizpah.     See  Mispa. 

Moab.     Ps.  83.  23;    P.  L.  1.  406;    Kings   &  Mag.  4.  467.     (See 

also  Seon's  Realme.) 

The  country  east  of  the  Dead  Sea  and  south  of  the  Arnon. 
At  one  time  it  extended  so  far  north  as  to  embrace  land  on  the 
Jordan,  which  was  taken  from  the  Moabites  by  the  Amorites. 

Modena.     See  Modona. 

Modin.     P.  R.  3.  170. 

A  city  of  Judea,  the  exact  position  of  which  is  not  now  known. 
It  is  often  mentioned  in  the  books  of  Maccabees,  for  it  was  the 
home  of  the  sons  of  Mattathias. 

Modona.     Animadv.  (13.  76)  3.  225. 

Probably  a  misprint  for  Modena,  a  city  of  Emilia,  Italy. 

Mogila.     Decl.  Poland  8.  468. 

Mogilev,  a  city  of  Russia,  on  the  Dnieper. 

Moldavia.     Moscovia  (4)  8.  491. 
The  northeast  portion  of  Rumania. 

Mole.     Vacat.  Ex.  95;  Animadv.  (5.  50)  3.  223. 

A  river  of  Surrey,  which  empties  into  the  Thames  opposite 
Hampton  Court.  Camden  writes:  "The  Mole  hastens  to  the 
Thames,  having  crossed  the  whole  county  from  the  south, 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  195 

and  meeting  with  obstruction  from  some  hills,  opens  itself  a 
subterraneous  passage  like  a  mole,  whence  it  seems  to  take  its 
name.  .  .  .  The  Mole  coming  to  a  hill  called  from  its  color  White 
Hill,  .  .  .  hides  itself,  or  rather  is  swallowed  up  at  its  foot,  .  .  . 
and  after  about  a  mile  or  two  bubbles  up  again  near  Letherhed 
bridge."  (1.  168.)  Drayton  also  tells  of  this.  (Polyolbion  17.) 
And  Spenser  writes : 

And  mole,  that  like  a  nousling  mole  doeth  make 
His  way  still  under  ground,  till  Thamis  he  overtake. 

(F.  Q.  4.  11.  32.) 

The  map  of  Surrey  by  John  Speed,  dated  1610,  shows  the  under 
ground  course  of  the  Mole,  marked,  "The  River  runeth  under." 

Molgomsay  (Mongozey).     Moscovia  (2)  8.  482,  483.     (See  also 

Tawze.) 

The  part  of  Siberia  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Arctic  Ocean, 
and  on  the  west  by  the  lower  course  of  the  Obi  River,  and  the 
Gulf  of  Ob.  "This  Tawze  Gorodoc,  or  Tawze  little  Castle,  with 
the  Villages,  Townes,  and  all  other  places  thereto  belonging,  is  by 
all  the  Russes  generally  called  Mongosey.  At  this  place  are  two 
Gentlemen  or  Governours,  with  three  or  foure  hundred  Gunners, 
and  small  Castles  in  severall  places  of  these  parts  of  Mongosey. 
Moreover,  the  men  of  Mezen  .  .  .  told  me  that  in  the  Winter 
time  there  went  men  from  Siberia  to  Mongosey,  to  buy  Sables: 
delivering  unto  mee,  that  the  Sables  taken  by  the  Samoyeds 
about  Mongosey  are  richer  in  Furres  then  those  that  come  from 
Siberia."  (Pilgrimes  3.  540.) 

Moluccas  Insulae.     Lit.  Senat.  (45)  7.  236.     (See  also  Amboyna, 

Ternate,  Tidore.) 

The  Moluccas,  or  Spice  Islands,  include  the  part  of  the  Malay 
Archipelago  lying  between  New  Guinea  and  Celebes. 

Mombaza.     P.  L.  11.  399.     (See  also  Melind,  Quiloa.) 

Mombasa,  now  the  chief  town  of  British  East  Africa.  "Next 
is  the  Kingdome  of  Mombaza,  in  the  height  of  three  degrees  and 
a  halfe  towardes  the  South,  which  taketh  the  name  from  an  Hand 
inhabited  with  Mahometans,  which  is  also  called  Mombaza, 
where  there  is  is  a  faire  Citie,  with  houses  that  have  many  Sellers, 
furnished  Pictures,  both  graven  and  painted.  The  King  thereof 


196  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON 

is  a  Mahometan,  who  taking  upon  him  to  resist  the  Portugals, 
received  the  same  successe  that  hapned  to  the  King  of  Quiloa, 
so  that  the  Citie  was  ransacked  and  spoyled  by  his  enemies,  who 
found  therein  good  store  of  Gold,  and  Silver,  and  Pearle,  and 
Cloath  of  Cotton,  and  of  Silke,  and  of  Gold,  and  such  other 
Commodities.  This  Kingdome  lyeth  between  the  borders  of 
Quiloa,  and  Melinde,  and  is  inhabited  with  Pagans  and  Mahome 
tans."  (Pilgrimes  2.  1024.)  The  place  is  described,  and  plays 
a  part,  in  the  Lusiads  of  Camoens.  (1.  103-2.  69.) 

Mona.    See  Anglesey. 
Mongozey.     See  Molgomsay. 

Monmouth.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  6,  22;    (2)  5.  82;    (3)  5.  104,  109, 

124,  125,  127. 

The  chief  town  of  Monmouthshire,  mentioned  by  Milton  only 
in  connection  with  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth. 

Monmouthshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  288. 
A  county  of  Wales  north  of  the  Severn. 

Montalban.     P.  L.  1.  583;  Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  383. 

Montauban,  a  city  of  France  on  the  River  Tarn,  a  tributary 
of  the  Garonne.  It  was  a  stronghold  of  Protestantism  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  sixteenth  and  the  beginning  of  the  seven 
teenth  century.  In  the  Orlando  Furioso  it  is  often  mentioned 
as  the  home  of  Rinaldo  (e.  g.,  30.  93-5).  Verity,  in  his  edition  of 
P.  L.,  refers  to  combats  described  in  The  Foure  Sonnes  of  Aymon. 
Boiardo  tells  at  length  of  a  battle  there  between  the  forces  of 
Charlemagne  and  the  Saracens.  (Orlando  Innamorato  2.23-3.4.) 

Montauban.     See  Montalban. 

Montgomeryshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  208. 
A  county  in  the  north  central  part  of  Wales. 

1.  Morea.     Eikonocl.  (10)  3.  409. 

The  Peloponnesus,  the  peninsula  forming  the  southern  part 
of  Greece. 

2.  Morea.     MS.  2.  108. 

Moriah,  an  unidentified  region  mentioned  in  Genesis  22.2. 
Fuller,  conforming  to  custom,  considers  it  the  region  around 
Jerusalem.  (P.  268.)  Cf.  2  Chronicles  3.  1. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  197 

Moreh.     P.  L.  12.  137. 

The  plain  of  Moreh  is  the  place  where  the  city  of  Shechem 
afterwards  stood,  between  Mounts  Ebal  and  Gerizim.  (Genesis 
12.  6.) 

Moriah.     See  2.  Morea. 

Morine  Coast.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  21. 

The  Morini  were  a  people  of  Gaul  from  whose  country  the 
passage  to  Britain  was  shortest,  according  to  Caesar  (Gallic  War 
4.  21),  to  whom  Milton  refers  in  a  note;  hence  they  lived  about 
Boulogne. 

Mosa.     Respons.  6.  409. 

The  Meuse,  a  river  of  northeast  France,  and  of  Belgium  and 
Holland,  reaching  the  sea  after  joining  the  Waal,  the  left  arm 
of  the  Rhine. 

Mosco.  P.  L.  11.  395;  Moscovia  (1)  8.  474  (thrice),  475  (twice), 
476  (twice);  (2)  8.  482;  (4)  8.  490,  491,  492,  495  (thrice),  498, 
500  (thrice),  501;  (5)  8.  504,  506,  508  (twice),  509,  510,  511 
(twice),  512,  515,  516. 

Moscow,  the  former  capital  of  Russia,  in  western  Russia  on  the 
River  Moskva.  Jenkinson,  whose  excellent  narratives  Milton 
used  in  Moscovia,  first  took  the  latitude  of  Moscow.  Mercator 
writes  in  introduction  to  his  new  map:  "The  true  observation  of 
the  latitude  of  the  city  of  Mosco,  made  by  the  foresaid  English 
men,  hath  yeelded  me  an  infallible  rule,  for  the  correcting  of  the 
situation  of  the  inland  countries:  which  notable  helps  being 
ministered  unto  me,  I  thought  it  my  dutie  to  exhibite  to  the  world 
this  Mappe,  more  exact  and  perfect  than  hitherto  it  hath  bene 
published."  (Hak.  1.  513.)  Richard  Chancellor  writes  as  fol 
lows:  "The  Mosco  it  selfe  is  great:  I  take  the  whole  towne  to 
bee  greater  than  London  with  the  suburbs:  but  it  is  very  rude, 
and  standeth  without  all  order.  Their  houses  are  all  of  timber 
very  dangerous  for  fire.  There  is  a  faire  Castle,  the  walles  whereof 
are  of  bricke,  and  very  high :  they  say  they  are  eighteene  foote 
thicke,  but  I  doe  not  beleeve  it,  it  doth  not  so  seeme,  notwith 
standing  I  doe  not  certainly  know  it;  for  no  stranger  may  come 
to  viewe  it.  The  one  side  is  ditched,  and  on  the  other  side 
runneth  a  river  called  Moscua,  which  runneth  into  Tartarie  and 
so  into  the  sea  called  Mare  Caspium:  and  on  the  North  side 


198  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

there  is  a  base  towne,  the  which  hath  also  a  brick  wall  about  it, 
and  so  it  joyneth  with  the  Castle  wall.  The  Emperour  lieth  in 
the  castle,  wherein  are  nine  fayre  Churches,  and  therein  are 
religious  men.  Also  there  is  a  Metropolitane  with  divers  Bishops. 
I  will  not  stand  in  description  of  their  buildings  nor  of  the  strength 
thereof  because  we  have  better  in  all  points  in  England.  They 
be  well  furnished  with  ordinance  of  all  sortes.  The  Emperours 
or  Dukes  house  neither  in  building  nor  in  the  outward  shew,  nor 
yet  within  the  house  is  so  sumptuous  as  I  have  scene.  It  is  very 
lowe  built  in  eight  square,  much  like  the  olde  building  of  England, 
with  small  windowes,  and  so  in  other  poynts."  (Hak.  1.  238.) 
Jenkinson's  description,  which  Milton  combines  with  the  pre 
ceding,  and  to  which  he  refers  in  a  note,  is  as  follows:  "The  citie 
of  Mosco  is  great,  the  houses  for  the  most  part  of  wood,  and  some 
of  stone,  with  windowes  of  yron,  which  serve  for  summer  time. 
There  are  many  faire  Churches  of  stone,  but  more  of  wood, 
which  are  made  hot  in  the  winter  time.  The  Emperors  lodging 
is  in  a  faire  and  large  castle,  walled  foure  square  of  bricke,  high 
and  thicke,  situated  upon  a  hill,  2  miles  about,  and  the  river  on 
the  Southwest  side  of  it,  and  it  hath  16  gates  in  the  walles,  and 
as  many  bulwarks.  His  palace  is  separated  from  the  rest  of  the 
Castle  by  a  long  wall  going  north  and  south,  to  the  river  side. 
In  his  palace  are  Churches,  some  of  stone  and  some  of  wood,  with 
round  towers  fairly  gilded.  In  the  Church  doores  and  within 
the  Churches  are  images  of  gold.  .  .  .  The  chief  markets  for  all 
things  are  within  the  sayd  Castle,  and  for  sundry  things  sundry 
markets,  and  every  science  by  its  selfe.  And  in  the  winter  there 
is  a  great  market  without  the  Castle,  upon  the  river  being  frozen." 
(Hak.  1.  313.)  Milton's  mention  of  the  unpaved  streets  and 
the  latticed  windows  of  the  palace  is  from  Hak.  1.  248—9. 
Hakluyt  gives  a  large  plan  of  the  city.  (1.484.)  In  a  marginal 
note  (Moscovia  (4)  8.  492)  Milton  refers  to  "  Horsey 's  Observa 
tions"  as  the  source  of  his  reference  to  the  burning  of  Moscow, 
in  the  time  of  "Juan  Vasiliwich."  The  passage  in  question  is  as 
follows:  "Hee  [Juan]  countenanced  the  Rascalitie  and  the  most 
desperate  Souldiers  against  the  chiefe  Nobility.  .  .  .  Many  of 
the  Nobilitie  he  put  to  shamefull  deaths  and  tortures.  .  .  .  The 
Crim  Tartar  his  ancient  Enemy  invaded  him,  incited  by  his 
*  Nobilitie  as  he  found  out.  .  .  .  Upon  Ascention  day,  the  Enemy 
fires  the  high  steeple  of  Saint  Johns  Church,  at  which  instant 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  199 

happened  a  tempestuous  wind,  whereby  all  the  Churches,  Houses, 
Monasteries,  and  Palaces  within  the  City  and  Suburbs  thirty 
miles  compasse,  built  most  of  Firre  and  Oke  were  set  on  fire  and 
consumed  in  sixe  houres  space  with  infinite  thousands  of  Men, 
Women,  and  Children  burnt  and  smothered  to  death  by  the 
fierie  aire;  few  escaping,  without  and  within  the  three  walled 
Castles.  The  River  and  Ditches  about  Musco  were  stopped  and 
filled  with  multitudes  of  people  laden  with  Gold,  Silver,  Jewels, 
Earings,  Chaines,  Bracelets,  Rings  and  other  Treasure,  which 
went  for  succour  to  save  their  heads  above  water.  All  which 
notwithstanding,  so  many  thousands  were  there  burnt  and 
drowned,  that  the  River  could  not  with  all  meanes  and  industry 
that  could  bee  used,  bee  in  two  yeeres  after  cleansed;  those 
which  were  left  alive,  and  many  from  other  places  being  daily 
occupied  within  great  circuits  to  search  and  dragge  for  Jewels, 
Plate,  bags  of  Gold  and  Silver.  I  myself  was  somewhat  the 
better  for  that  fishing.  The  streets  of  the  City,  Churches, 
Sellers  and  Vaults  lay  so  thicke  and  full  of  dead  carkasses  as  no 
man  could  passe  for  the  noysome  smels  long  after."  (Pilgrim 
age,  ed.  1626,  p.  975.) 

Moscovia.     See  Russia. 

Moscua.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  475  (twice).     (See  also  Mosco.) 

A  river  of  the  Volga  system  which  flows  through  the  city  of 
Moscow.  It  formed  part  of  the  water  route  from  Moscow  to 
the  Caspian,  given  by  Jenkinson  in  Hak.  1.  324. 

Mountain,  A.     P.  R. .3.  252,  253.     See  Niphates. 

Mozambic.     P.  L.  4.  161. 

A  district  of  Portuguese  East  Africa,  and  its  chief  town, 
situated  on  a  coral  island.  We  read  in  Purchas:  "Suddenly 
starteth  up  in  sight  the  Kingdome  of  Mozambique,  situate  in 
foureteene  degrees  and  a  halfe  towards  the  South,  and  taketh  his 
name  of  three  Hands,  that  lie  in  the  mouth  of  the  River  Meghin- 
cate,  where  there  is  a  great  Haven  and  a  safe,  and  able  to  receive 
all  manner  of  ships.  The  Realme  is  but  small,  and  yet  aboundeth 
in  all  kind  of  Victuals.  It  is  the  common  landing  place  for  all 
Vessels  that  sayle  from  Portugall,  and  from  India  into  that 
Countrey.  In  one  of  these  lies,  which  is  the  chiefe  and  principally 
called  Mozambique,  and  giveth  name  to  all  the  rest,  as  also  to 
14 


200  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF    MILTON 

the  whole  Kingdome,  and  the  Haven  aforesaid,  there  is  erected 
a  Fortresse,  guarded  with  a  Garrison  of  Portugals,  whereupon  all 
the  other  Fortresses  that  are  upon  the  Coast  doe  depend,  and 
from  whence  they  fetch  all  their  provision.  All  the  Armadas 
and  Fleetes  that  sayle  from  Portugall  to  the  Indies,  if  they  cannot 
finish  and  performe  their  Voyage,  will  goe  and  Winter,  I  say,  in 
this  Hand  of  Mozambique,  and  those  that  travell  out  of  India  to 
Europe  are  constrained  of  necessitie  to  touch  at  Mozambique 
to  furnish  themselves  with  Victuals.  That  Hand  when  the 
Portugals  discovered  India,  was  the  first  place  where  they  learned 
the  language  of  the  Indians,  and  provided  themselves  of  Pilots  to 
direct  them  in  their  course.  The  people  of  this  Kingdome  are 
Gentiles.  Rusticall  and  rude  they  bee,  and  of  colour  blacke. 
They  goe  all  naked.  They  are  valiant  and  strong  Archers,  and 
cunning  fishers  with  all  kind  of  hookes."  (Pilgrimes  2.  1023.) 
The  place  is  mentioned  in  the  Lusiads  of  Camoens  (1.  54-95),  as 
the  scene  of  a  fight  between  the  Portuguese  and  the  inhabitants. 

Mugalla  (Sheromugaly) .     Moscovia  (3)  8.  486  (twice). 

This  word  probably  means  the  country  of  the  ''Mongols, 
or  rather,  as  called  in  Western  Asia,  Moghols."  (Yule,  Cathay 
3.147.)  Purchas  explains  Mugalla  as  Tartaria  Orientalis.  (Pil 
grimes  3.  799.)  It  is  called  also  Sheromugaly.  On  a  map  of  1710 
reproduced  by  Nordenskiold,  Grande  Mugalie  is  situated  north 
west  of  China,  and  west  of  Cathay,  which  is  distinguished  from 
China.  (Periplus,  Plate  LIX.)  The  passage  to  which  Milton 
refers  in  a  note  is  as  follows:  "From  thence  to  an  Ulusses  of  the 
yellow  Mugalls  called  Mugolchin,  wherein  is  a  Dutchesse  called 
Manchika,  ...  it  is  within  two  dayes  journey  of  the  Land  of 
Mugalla,  a  very  dangerous  passage  through  the  cliffes  of  the 
Rockes,  which  being  past  they  came  into  the  Land  of  Mugalla. 
.  .  .  The  Land  of  Mugalla  is  great  and  large  from  Bughar  to  the 
Sea;  all  the  Castles  are  built  with  stone  foure  square:  at  the 
corners,  Towers,  the  ground  or  foundation  is  layd  of  rough,  grey 
stone,  and  are  covered  with  Tiles,  the  gates  with  counterwards 
as  our  Russe  gates  are,  and  upon  the  gates  alarum  Bels  or  Watch- 
bels  of  twentie  poode  weight  of  metall,  the  Towers  are  covered 
with  glazed  Tiles;  the  houses  are  built  with  stone  foure  cornered 
high,  within  their  Courts  they  have  low  Vaults,  also  of  stone, 
the  seelings  whereof,  and  of  their  houses  are  cunningly  painted 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  201 

with  all  sorts  of  colours,  and  very  well  set  forth  with  flowers  for 
shew.  In  the  said  Countrey  of  Mugalla  are  two  Churches  of 
Friers,  or  Lobaes,  built  of  square  stone,  and  stand  betweene 
the  East  and  the  South ;  upon  the  tops  of  them  are  made  beasts 
of  stone,  and  within  the  Church  just  against  the  doore  are  set 
three  great  Idols  or  Images,  in  the  forme  of  women  of  two  and 
a  halfe  fathome  long,  gilt  all  over  from  the  heads  to  the  feet,  and 
sit  a  fathome  high  from  the  ground  upon  beasts  made  of  stone, 
which  beasts  are  painted  with  all  manner  of  bravevcolours.  .  .  . 
As  for  bread  in  the  Land  of  Mugalla  there  groweth  all  manner  of 
Graine,  as  Prosso,  or  Russe  Rice,  Wheate,  Oats,  Barley,  and  all 
sorts  of  other  Graine  in  abundance.  ...  As  for  fruit  in  Mugalla 
they  have  of  all  sorts,  as  Apples,  Melons,  Arbuses,  Pompeons, 
Cheries,  Lemons,  Cucumbers,  Onions,  Garlicke.  .  .  .  They  have 
no  Horses,  only  Mules  and  Asses  in  abundance."  (Pilgrimes 
3.  799.) 

Muscovia.     See  Russia. 

Mycale.     Mansus  22. 

A  mountain  in  Lydia,  forming  a  promontory  now  called  Cape 
Saint  Maria.  Homer  speaks  of  the  "lofty  crests  of  Mycale." 
(Iliad  2.  869.) 

Nagay  (Mangat).     Moscovia  (1)  8.  471,  475. 

The  country  northeast  of  the  Caspian  Sea,  as  represented,  for 
example,  on  Mercator's  map  of  Tartaria.  Jenkinson  describes 
as  follows  his  voyage  down  the  Volga  from  Cazan:  "Thus  pro 
ceeding  forward  .  .  .  we  passed  by  a  goodly  river  called  Cama, 
which  we  left  on  our  left  hand.  This  river  falleth  out  of  the 
country  of  Permia  into  the  river  of  Volga,  and  is  from  Cazan 
15  leagues:  .  .  .  and  all  the  land  on  the  left  hand  of  the  said 
Volga  from  the  said  river  unto  Astracan,  and  so  following  the 
North  and  Northeast  side  of  the  Caspian  sea,  to  a  land  of  the 
Tartars  called  Turkemen,  is  called  the  countrey  of  Mangat  or 
Nagay,  whose  inhabitants  are  of  the  law  of  Mahomet.  .  .  . 
The  Nagayans  when  they  flourished  lived  in  this  maner:  they 
were  divided  into  divers  companies  called  Hords,  and  every 
Hord  had  a  ruler,  whom  they  obeyed  as  their  king,  and  was 
called  a  Murse.  Towne  or  house  they  had  none,  but  lived  in  the 
open  fields,  every  Murse  or  King  having  his  Hords  or  people 


202  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

about  him,  with  their  wives,  children  and  cattell,  who  having 
consumed  the  pasture  in  one  place,  remooved  unto  another.  .  .  . 
They  delight  in  no  art  or  science,  except  the  warres,  wherein 
they  are  expert,  but  for  the  most  part  they  be  pasturing  people, 
and  have  great  store  of  cattel,  which  is  all  their  riches.  .  .  .  All 
the  countrey  upon  our  right  hand  the  river  Volga,  from  over 
against  the  river  Cama  unto  the  towne  of  Astracan,  is  the  land 
of  Crimme,  whose  inhabitants  be  also  of  the  lawe  of  Mahomet, 
and  live  for  the  most  part  according  to  the  fashions  of  the 
Nagayes,  having  continual  war  with  the  Emperour  of  Russia, 
and  are  valiant  in  the  fielde,  having  countenance,  and  support 
from  the  great  Turke."  (Hak.  1.  325.)  Cf.  P.  L.  10.  431. 

Naisus.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  84. 

Nish,  a  city  of  Serbia  on  the  Nishva  River. 

Namancos.  Lycidas  162.  (See  also  Bayona,  Guarded  Mount.) 
A  district  in  Galicia,  Spain,  one  of  the  archpresbyteries  into 
which  the  archbishopric  of  Santiago  de  Compostella  is  divided. 
It  is  the  most  western  part  of  the  country,  terminating  in  Cape 
Finisterre.  For  a  discussion  of  the  place  see  Albert  S.  Cook,  in 
The  Modern  Language  Review  2.  124.  To  the  many  references 
given  there  to  various  editions  of  Ortelius,  Mercator,  and  others, 
may  be  added  one  to  the  map  of  Gallaecia  in  Mercator 's  Atlas 
of  1628  (p.  218),  where  '  Namancos  T.'  (i.  e.,  Tierra)  is  prom 
inently  marked.  Milton  imagines  the  angel  on  St.  Michael's 
Mount  to  look  toward  the  south,  in  which  direction  there  is  no 
land  between  the  Mount  and  Spain.  Masson  in  his  note  refers 
to  a  passage  in  Dray  ton : 

Then  Cornwall  creepeth  out  into  the  westerne  maine, 
As  (lying  in  her  eye)  shee  poynteth  still  at  Spain. 

(Polyolbion  23.) 

The  "Narrow  Seas,"  where  the  English  claimed  sovereignty,  and 
exacted  salutes  from  foreign  vessels,  extended,  some  say,  south 
as  far  as  Cape  Finisterre. 

Nantes.     Tetrach.  (Fathers)  4.  266. 
A  city  of  France,  on  the  River  Loire. 

Naples  (Neapolis).     3  Leonor.  1;   Mansus,  Arg.;    Reformation 
(2)  3.  39;    Church-gov.  (2.  1)  3.  152;    Kings  &  Mag.  4.  487; 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  203 

2  Defens.  6.  288;  Grammar  (1)  6.  440  (thrice);  Lit.  Oliv.  (74) 

7.  325,  326.     (See  also  Parthenope.) 

In  the  time  of  Milton,  Naples  and  the  surrounding  country 
were  under  the  rule  of  Spain,  and  governed  by  a  Spanish  viceroy. 
Milton  tells  almost  nothing  of  his  visit  to  Naples,  in  1638, 
except  the  courtesy  shown  him  by  Manso,  the  friend  of  Tasso 
and  Marini,  to  whom  he  addressed  the  poem  entitled  Mansus. 
Manso  conducted  him  about  the  city,  took  him  to  the  palace 
of  the  viceroy,  and  visited  him  at  his  inn.  Masson  quotes  the 
following  description  of  Naples  written  by  Manso:  "On  the  right 
are  the  shores  and  rocks  glorious  by  the  sepulture  of  Virgil  and 
Sannazaro,  by  the  grotto  of  Lucullus,  the  villa  of  Cicero,  the 
still  and  the  bubbling  waters  of  Cumse,  and  the  fires  of  Pozzuoli, 
all  protected  by  the  mountains  of  Baise,  the  promontory  of 
Miletus,  and  the  island  of  Ischia,  dear  no  less  for  the  fable  of 
Typhceus  than  for  its  own  fertility ;  on  the  left  are  the  shores  no 
less  famous  by  the  tomb  of  Parthenope,  by  Arethusa's  subter 
ranean  streams,  by  the  gardens  of  Pompeii,  by  the  fresh-running 
streams  of  Sebeto,  and  by  the  smoke  of  burning  Vesuvius,  all 
equally  shut  in  by  the  mountains  of  Gaurus,  the  promontory 
of  Minerva,  and  the  isle  of  Capri,  where  Tiberius  hid  at  once 
his  luxury  and  his  vices."  (Life  of  Milton  1.  814.)  Part  of  the 
description  of  Sandys  is  as  follows:  "Her  beauty  is  inferior  unto 
neither.  The  private  Buildings  being  graceful,  and  the  publick 
stately;  adorned  with  Statues,  the  work  of  excellent  Workmen; 
and  sundry  preserved  Antiquities.  .  .  .  Naples  is  the  pleasantest 
of  Cities,  if  not  the  most  beautiful,  the  buildings  all  of  free-stone, 
the  streets  are  broad  and  paved  with  Brick,  vaulted  underneath 
for  the  conveyance  of  the  sullage,  and  served  with  water  by 
Fountains  and  Conduits.  Her  Palaces  are  fair;  but  her  Temples 
stately,  and  gorgeously  furnished;  whereof  adding  chappels  and 
Monasteries  within  her  Walls  and  without,  (for  the  Suburbs  do 
equal  the  City  in  Magnitude)  she  containeth  three  thousand. 
It  is  supposed  that  there  are  in  her  three  hundred  thousand  men, 
besides  women  and  children."  (Pp.  198-202.)  Evelyn  visited 
Naples  about  six  years  after  Milton;  part  of  his  description 
follows:  "First  we  went  to  the  Castle  of  St.  Elmo,  built  on  a 
very  high  rock,  whence  we  had  an  in  tire  prospect  of  the  whole 
Citty,  which  lyes  in  shape  of  a  theatre  upon  the  sea  brinke.  .  .  . 
This  Fort  is  the  bridle  of  the  whole  Citty,  and  was  well  stor'd 


204  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

and  garrison'd  with  native  Spanyards.  The  strangenesse  of  the 
precipice  and  rarenesse  of  the  prospect  of  so  many  magnificent 
and  stately  Palaces,  Churches,  and  Monasteries,  with  the 
Arsenall,  the  Mole,  and  Mount  Vesuvius  in  the  distance,  all  in 
full  com'and  of  the  eye,  make  it  one  of  the  richest  landskips  in 
the  world.  .  .  .  Then  we  went  to  the  very  noble  Palace  of  the 
Viceroy,  partly  old  and  part  of  a  newer  work,  but  we  did  not 
stay  long  here.  Towards  the  evening  we  tooke  the  ayre  upon  the 
Mole,  which  is  a  streete  on  the  rampart  or  banke  rays'd  in  the 
Sea  for  security  of  their  gallys  in  port,  built  as  that  of  Genoa. 
Here  I  observed  a  rich  fountaine  in  the  middle  of  the  Piazza, 
and  adorn'd  with  divers  rare  statues  of  copper  representing 
the  Sirens  or  Deities  of  the  Parthenope,  spouting  large  streames 
of  water  into  an  ample  shell,  all  of  cast  metall,  and  of  great  cost; 
this  stands  at  the  entrance  of  the  Mole,  where  we  mett  many  of 
the  Nobility  both  on  horseback  and  in  their  coaches  to  take  the 
fresco  from  the  Sea,  as  the  manner  is,  it  being  in  the  most  advan 
tageous  quarter  for  good  ayre,  delight,  and  prospect.  Here 
we  saw  divers  goodly  horses  who  handsomly  became  their  riders, 
the  Neapolitan  gentlemen.  This  Mole  is  about  500  paces  in 
length,  and  paved  with  a  square  hewn  stone.  .  .  .  Courtisans 
.  .  .  swarm  in  this  Citty  to  the  number,  as  we  are  told,  of 
30,000,  registred  and  paying  a  tax  to  the  State.  .  .  .  Indeed  the 
towne  is  so  pester'd  with  these  cattell,  that  there  needes  no  small 
mortification  to  preserve  from  their  enchantment,  whilst  they 
display  all  their  naturall  and  artificiall  beauty,  play,  sing,  feigne 
compliment,  and  by  a  thousand  studied  devices  seeke  to  inveigle 
foolish  young  men."  (Diary,  Jan.  31 -Feb.  6,  1645.)  Evelyn's 
whole  account  of  the  city  and  its  surroundings  should  be  read. 

Naramzie,  Sea  of.     Moscovia  (3)  8.  485. 

The  name  does  not  appear  on  modern  maps.  It  is  equivalent 
to  Kara  Sea,  the  body  of  water  south  and  southeast  of  Nova 
Zembla,  into  which  the  point  of  Naramzy  projects. 

Naramzy,  Point  of.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  473. 

The  northern  extremity  of  Janmal  Land,  or  the  Samoyed 
Peninsula.  The  first  passage  to  which  Milton  refers  describes 
the  coast  as  far  as  Naramzy  (Pilgrimes  3.  545),  and  the  second 
tells  of  the  "great  store  of  Morsses  about  the  point  of  Naramzei," 
and  how  the  Russians  went  by  river  and  portage  to  the  Obi,  to 
avoid  the  point.  (Ib.  3.  551.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  205 

Narim.     Moscovia  (2)  8.  483  (twice) ;  (3)  8.  484. 

The  modern  Narym,  a  city  of  western  Siberia  on  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  Obi  River.  "Beyond  Obi  are  Narim,  Tooma,  and 
divers  other  Cities."  (Pilgrimes  3.  527.) 

Narulum.     Decl.  Poland  8.  463. 

An  unidentified  town  in  Galicia,  probably  near  Niemicrovia 
(q.  ?.), 

Narv.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  476;   (5)  8.  509. 

Narv,  or  Narva,  is  a  town  of  Russia  on  the  River  Narva, 
eighty-six  miles  southwest  of  St.  Petersburg.  Milton  draws 
his  information  from  Hak.  1.  466. 

Narym.     See  Narim. 

Naseby.     Eikonocl.  (21)  3.  481. 

A  village  twelve  miles  north  of  Northampton,  England,  where, 
on  June  14,  1645,  the  Parliamentary  army  under  Fairfax  and 
Cromwell  defeated  the  forces  of  Charles  I. 

Nazaleod.     See  Kerdicsford. 

Nazareth.     P.  R.  1.  23;   2.  79. 
A  town  of  Galilee. 

Neapolis.     See  Naples. 

Nebo.     P.  L.  1.  407.     (See  also  Abarim.) 

A  projecting  headland  of  the  plateau  of  Moab  east  of  the 
north  end  of  the  Dead  Sea.  From  the  west  it  appears  like  a 
mountain.  In  the  Bible  Nebo  is  described  as  "in  the  land  of 
Moab,  that  is  over  against  Jericho,"  and  as  near  the  plains  of 
Moab.  (Deuteronomy  32.  49;.  34.  1.)  Milton's  words,  "from 
Aroer  to  Nebo,"  suggest  1  Chronicles  5.  8:  "Who  dwelt  in  Aroer 
even  unto  Nebo." 

Negus,  Empire  of  (Abassin).     P.  L.  4.  280;    11.  397.     (See  also 

Amara,  Ethiop.) 

The  modern  Abyssinia,  a  highland  country  of  eastern  Africa, 
containing  the  source  of  the  Blue  Nile ;  its  territory  was  part  of 
ancient  Ethiopia.  Ortelius  begins  his  account  of  Abyssinia  as 
follows:  "He  whom  the  Europeans  call  Prester  John  is  called 
...  by  his  Abyssinian  subjects  .  .  .  Negus,  that  is,  Emperor 
and  King."  (P.  107.)  Purchas,  on  the  authority  of  Ortelius, 


206  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

says:  "The  Abissine  Empire  is  by  our  late  writers  intended 
further,  receiving  for  the  Southern  limits  the  Mountains  of  the 
Moone;  and  for  the  Westerne,  the  Kingdome  of  Congo,  the 
River  Niger  and  Nubia."  (Pilgrimage,  p.  824.) 

Nemitsky.     See  Kegor. 

Neocaesarea.     Tetrach.  (Fathers)  4.  265. 

A  city  of  Pontus,  Asia  Minor,  where  a  great  council  of  the 
Church  was  held  in  the  year  315. 

Neoportus.     Lit.  Senat.  (9)  7.  195. 
Nieuwpoort,  on  the  Yser,  in  Belgium. 

Netherlands  (Belgia,  Belgium,  Low  Countries).  Eleg.  3.  12; 
Animadv.  (13.  127)  3.  239;  Kings  &  Mag.  4.  476,  487  (twice); 
Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  37  (twice),  81,  82,  90;  (3)  5.  Ill;  Easy  Way 
5.  452;  2  Defens.  6.  258,  316;  Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  395  (twice), 
396  (twice);  Respons.  6.  413  (twice),  418,  419,  423;  Lit. 
Senat.  (2)  7.  189;  (27)  7.  212,  213  (twice);  (30)  7.  219;  (31) 
7.  219;  (44)  7.  234;  Lit.  Oliv.  (1)  7.  238;  (32)  7.  278;  (36) 
7.  282  (twice);  (44)  7.  292;  (63)  7.  313;  (74)  7.  325;  Contra 
Hisp.  7.  367;  Moscovia  (5)  8.  515;  Safe-cond.  (twice);  Com 
monplace  112. 

The  Low  Countries,  on  the  shore  of  the  North  Sea,  now  the 
Netherlands  (Holland)  and  Belgium,  were  in  Milton's  time 
taken  together  as  Belgium  (e.  g.,  Mercator,  p.  357)  or  the  Nether 
lands. 

Neva.     Decl.  Poland  8.  466. 
An  unidentified  place,  probably  a  fortress,  in  Poland. 

Newburgh.     See  Niwanbirig. 

Newcastle.     Eikonocl.  (10)  3.  410;   Kings  &  Mag.  4.  482. 
A  city  of  Northumberland  on  the  River  Tyne. 

Newenden.    See  Andredchester. 

New  England  (Nova  Anglia).     Animadv.  (1.  2)  3.  189;    (3.  37) 

3.  213;  Contra  Hisp.  7.  359. 

The  northeast  section  of  the  United  States.  When  the 
Animadversions  were  written,  there  were  settlements  in  the 
present  states  of  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  and  Connecticut. 
As  a  Puritan,  Milton  regarded  the  settlers  there  as  his  "poo re 
expulsed  Brethren." 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON  207 

New  Haven  (Franciscopolis) .     Commonplace  245. 

A  seaport  in  Sussex,  on  the  English  Channel  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Ouse. 

Newmarket.     Hirelings  4.  558. 
A  town  on  the  borders  of  Suffolk  and  Cambridgeshire. 

Newport.     Kings  &  Mag.  4.  483.     (See  also  Neoportus.) 

A  town  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  according  to  Camden  "the 
principal  sea-port  in  the  island."  (1.  123.) 

Nicaea.     2  Defens.  6.  287. 

Nice,  a  city  of  southern  France,  on  the  Mediterranean  Sea. 
It  has  been  for  centuries  a  commercial  city  and  point  of  departure 
for  Italy.  When  Milton  passed  through  it  on  his  journey  to 
Italy  in  1638,  it  was  under  the  rule  of  the  Duke  of  Savoy. 

Nice.     See  Nicaea. 

Nicea.     Reformation  (1)  3.  15,  27. 

A  town  of  Bithynia,  Asia  Minor,  where  the  first  general 
council  of  the  Church  met  in  325. 

Niemicrovia.     Decl.  Poland  8.  463. 

Niemirow,  a  town  of  Galicia,  northwest  of  Lemberg. 
Niger.     P.  L.  11.402. 

A  river  of  western  Africa,  emptying  into  the  Gulf  of  Guinea. 
The  general  direction  of  its  course  is  at  first  east  and  then  south. 
In  the  time  of  Milton,  and  for  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  after, 
it  was  little  known,  and  was  confused  with  the  Senegal.  Mer- 
cator  (p.  622)  represents  the  Niger  as  rising  in  central  Africa 
and  flowing  westward  into  the  Atlantic.  Leo  Africanus  writes  as 
follows:  "The  fourth  part  of  Africa  is  called  the  land  of  Negros. 
...  The  north  part  thereof  is  inclosed  with  the  desert  of  Libya, 
and  the  south  part,  which  is  unknowen  unto  us,  with  the  Ocean  sea. 
This  land  of  Negros  hath  a  mightie  river,  which  taking  his  name 
of  the  region  is  called  Niger:  this  river  taketh  his  originall  from 
the  east  out  of  a  certaine  desert  called  by  the  foresaide  Negros 
Sen.  Others  will  have  this  river  to  spring  out  of  a  certaine  lake, 
and  so  to  run  westward  till  it  exonerateth  itselfe  into  the  Ocean 
sea.  Our  Cosmographers  affirme  that  the  said  river  of  Niger  is 
derived  out  of  Nilus,  which  they  imagine  for  some  certaine  spa  c 


208  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

to  be  swallowed  up  of  the  earth,  and  yet  at  last  to  burst  foorth 
into  such  a  lake  as  is  before  mentioned.  Some  others  are  of 
opinion  that  this  river  beginneth  westward  to  spring  out  of  a 
certaine  mountaine,  and  so  running  east,  to  make  at  length  a 
huge  lake:  which  verily  is  not  like  to  be  true;  for  they  usually 
saile  westward  from  Tombuto  to  the  kingdome  of  Guinea,  yea 
and  to  the  land  of  Melli  also;  both  which  in  respect  of  Tombuto 
are  situate  to  the  west :  neither  hath  the  said  land  of  Negros  any 
kingdomes  comparable,  for  beautiful  and  pleasant  soile,  unto 
those  which  adjone  unto  the  banks  of  Niger."  (P.  124.) 

Nijni-Novogorod.     See  Nysnovogorod. 

Nile  (Nilus).  Nativity  211;  P.  L.  1.  343,  413;  4.  283;  12.  157; 
P.  R.  4.  71;  Eng.  Let.,  Masson  1.  324.  (See  also  Negus.) 
The  importance  of  the  Nile  in  Egypt  was  well  known  to  the 
ancients;  its  seven  mouths  have  been  celebrated  for  ages  (e.  g., 
in  JEneid  6.  800).  Fuller  writes:  "Nilus  venteth  itself  into  the 
Mediterranean  Sea  with  seven  mouths,  nothing  being  more 
famous  in  human  poetry  and  prose  than  this  septemfluous 
river."  (P.  506.)  Milton's  placing  of  the  Abyssinian  Mount 
Amara  (q.  v.)  "by  Nilus  head"  reminds  us  that  only  within 
the  last  century  has  the  geography  of  the  Nile  become  known. 
Knowledge  of  it  in  the  time  of  Milton  is  represented  by  the 
following  from  Purchas:  "There  are  many  fish  in  Nilus  in  the 
end  of  the  Province  of  Goyama  [in  Abyssinia],  where  is  a 
bottomless  Lake  .  .  .  whence  continually  springs  abundance  of 
water,  being  the  head  of  that  River,  little  at  the  first,  and  after  a 
daies  journey  and  a  halfe  running  to  the  East,  and  then  entreth 
a  Lake  supposed  the  greatest  in  the  world,  passing  swiftly  through 
the  midst  thereof  without  mixture  of  waters,  and  casting  it 
selfe  over  high  Rockes,  takes  freer  scope,  but  presently  is 
swallowed  of  the  earth,  so  that  in  some  places  it  may  be  stepped 
over.  After  five  dayes  journey  towards  the  East,  it  windes 
itselfe  againe  to  the  West,  and  so  passeth  on  his  way  towards 
Egypt."  (Pilgrimage,  p.  852.)  The  stream  here  described  is 
apparently  the  Blue  Nile.  The  map-makers  of  the  time  (e.  g., 
Mercator,  p.  623)  represent  the  Nile  as  rising  not  in  Abyssinia, 
but  in  lakes  far  to  the  south,  much  farther  than  those  in  which 
the  Nile  is  now  known  to  rise.  Purchas  writes  of  this  belief: 
''Let  us  take  view  of  the  more  inland  and  Easterly  borders, 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  209 

which  abutte  on  Congo:  where  we  shall  find  ...  a  Lake, 
called  Zembre,  great  Mother,  and  chief  Ladie  of  the  Waters  in 
Africa.  .  .  .  There  is  indeed  another  Lake,  which  Nilus  maketh 
in  his  course,  but  standeth  Northwest  from  the  first  Lake 
Zembre.  .  .  .  Neyther  doth  Nilus  (as  some  affirme)  hide  it  selfe 
under  the  ground,  and  after  ryse  againe,  but  runneth  through 
monstrous  and  Desart  Valleyes,  without  any  settled  channel, 
and  where  no  people  inhabited,  from  whence  that  fabulous 
opinion  did  grow.  This  Lake  is  situate  in  twelve  degrees  of 
Southerly  Latitude,  and  is  compassed  about  like  a  Vault  with 
exceeding  high  Mountaines.  .  .  .  The  River  Nilus  runneth  north 
wards  many  hundred  myles,  and  then  entreth  into  another  great 
Lake,  which  the  Inhabitants  doe  call  a  Sea.  It  is  much  bigger 
than  the  first,  and  contayneth  in  breadth  two  hundred  and 
twentie  myles,  right  under  the  Equinoctiall  Lyne.  .  .  .  This 
seemeth  to  be  in  Goiame,  where  the  Abassine  entitleth  himselfe 
King,  and  in  his  title  .  .  .  calls  it  the  Fountaine  of  Nilus,  which 
Alvares  also  mentioneth."  (Pilgrimage,  p.  878.) 

Ninevee  (Ninos).     Eleg.  1.  66;  P.  R.  3.  275. 

Nineveh,  an  Assyrian  city  whose  ruins  are  near  Mosul,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Tigris.  Diodorus  writes  as  follows :  [Ninus]  "having 
got  a  great  number  of  his  forces  together,  and  provided  money 
and  treasure,  and  other  things  necessary  for  the  purpose,  built 
a  city  near  the  Euphrates,  very  famous  for  its  walls  and  fortifica 
tions;  of  a  long  form;  for  on  both  sides  it  ran  out  in  length 
above  an  hundred  and  fifty  furlongs;  but  the  two  lesser  angles 
were  only  ninety  furlongs  apiece;  so  that  the  circumference  of 
the  whole  was  four  hundred  and  fourscore  furlongs.  And  the 
founder  was  not  herein  deceived,  for  none  ever  after  built  the  like, 
either  as  to  the  largeness  of  its  circumference,  or  the  stateliness 
of  its  walls.  For  the  wall  was  an  hundred  feet  in  height,  and 
so  broad  as  three  chariots  might  be  driven  together  upon  it 
abreast:  there  were  fifteen  hundred  turrets  upon  the  walls, 
each  of  them  two  hundred  feet  high.  He  appointed  the  city 
to  be  inhabited  chiefly  by  the  richest  Assyrians,  and  gave  liberty 
to  people  of  any  other  nation  (to  as  many  as  would)  to  dwell 
there,  and  allowed  to  the  citizens  a  large  territory  next  adjoining 
to  them,  and  called  the  city  after  his  own  name  Ninus,  or  Nine 
veh."  (2.  3.)  Diodorus  then  proceeds  to  describe  the  splendors 


210  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

of  this  "first  golden  Monarchy."  Milton's  phrase,  "of  length 
within  her  wall  several  days  journey,"  suggests  Jonah  3.  3: 
"Now  Nineveh  was  an  exceeding  great  city,  of  three  days' 
journey."  The  reference  to  Salmanassar  is  founded  on  2  Kings 
17.  3-6,  18.  9-11,  where  is  given  the  account  of  the  captivity  of 
Israel,  also  mentioned  in  2  Esdras  13.  40,  and,  with  a  reference 
to  Nineveh,  in  Tobit  1. 

Ninos.    See  Ninevee. 

Niphates  (Assyrian  Mount,  Specular  Mount).  P.  L.  3.  Arg.,  742 ; 
4.  126,  569;  11.  381;  P.  R.  3.  252,  253,  265;  4.  26,  236.  (See 
also  Taurus.) 

A  mountain  range  of  western  Asia,  part  of  the  Taurus  range, 
thus  described  by  Strabo:  "To  the  south  across  the  Euphrates, 
running  east  from  Cappadocia  and  Commagena,  the  mountains 
which  separate  Sophena  and  the  rest  of  Armenia  from  Mesopo 
tamia  are  called  Taurus,  and  by  some  Gordyseus.  Among  these 
mountains  is  Masium,  a  mountain  above  Nisibis  and  Tigrano- 
certa.  Then  the  range  rises  higher  and  is  called  Niphates ;  here 
are  the  springs  of  Tigris  on  the  southern  part  of  the  mountain. 
Then  the  ridge  of  the  mountain  extending  farther  and  farther 
from  Niphates  makes  Mount  Zagrius,  which  separates  Media 
from  Babylonia."  (11.  12.  4.) 

The  mount  of  the  vision  of  Jesus  in  Paradise  Regained  is 
Niphates  or  some  adjoining  part  of  Taurus.  (See  Euphrates.) 
It  was  well  chosen  for  a  wide  prospect,  because  Ararat,  the 
exceedingly  high  mountain  on  which  the  Ark  rested,  was  sup 
posed  to  be  in  this  region.  In  the  Latin  Bible  of  Tremellius  and 
Junius  the  note  on  Genesis  8.  4  identifies  Ararat  with  Gordyaeus. 

Nish.     See  Naisus. 
Nisibis.     P.  R.  3.  291. 

A  city  of  northwestern  Mesopotamia,  still  surviving  under  the 
name  of  Nisibin.  Pliny  locates  it  in  Adiabene,  distant  from 
Artaxata  seven  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  (6.  13.)  Plutarch 
writes  that  Lucullus  "crossing  Taurus  by  another  road,  came 
into  the  fruitful  and  sunny  country  of  Mygdonia,  where  was  a 
great  and  populous  city,  by  the  barbarians  called  Nisibis,  by 
the  Greeks  Antioch  of  Mygdonia."  (3.  270.)  The  city  was 
important  in  the  wars  of  the  Romans  and  Parthians.  (Tacitus, 
Annals  15.  5.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  211 

Niwanbirig.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  175. 

The  name  is  from  Simeon  of  Durham,  Sect.  42.     The  place  is 
probably  Newburgh  on  the  Tay. 

Norfolk.     Reformation  (1)  3.  7;  Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  246. 

A  county  on  the  east  coast  of  England,  part  of  the  old  kingdom 
of  East  Anglia. 

Noriberga.     Rami  Vita  7.  184. 

Niirnberg,  a  city  of  Bavaria,  on  the  River  Pegnitz. 

Norica.     Commonplace  189. 

A  town  in  Perugia,  Italy,  in  the  time  of  Milton  under  the  rule 
of  the  popes. 

Noricum.     See  Bavaria. 

Normandy.     Reformation  (2)  3.41;  Tetrach.     (Canon)  4.274; 
Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  211;   (6)  5.  244  (twice),  245,  253  (twice),  267, 
269  (twice),  270,  273  (twice),  274  (twice),  281  (twice),  284,  289, 
290  (twice),  292,  297;  Commonplace  179,  191. 
A  dukedom  of  ancient  France,  on  the  English  Channel. 

Norman  lies.     Divorce  (Pref.)  4.  11. 

Usually  called   the   Channel   Islands,   a  group  belonging  to 
England  off  the  coast  of  Normandy. 

North.     See  Scotland. 

Northampton.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  216,  217,  228;    (6)  5.  250,  266 
(twice),  268,  288. 
A  town  of  Northamptonshire. 

Northamptonshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  217;   (6)  5.  250. 
A  county  of  central  England. 

Northern  Ocean.     See  Cronian  Sea. 

North  Sea.     Mansus  33. 

The  "Oceanus"  of  this  line  is  the  North  Sea. 

Northumberland  (Northumbria).  Reformation  (1)  3.  7,  8;  (2) 
3.  61;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  21;  (3)  5.  114,  128,  129,  135;  (4)  5. 
137,  152,  153,  154,  162,  163,  167,  169,  170,  171,  173  (twice), 
174,  176,  177,  178,  180,  181,  182,  185;  (5)  5.  192,  195,  204,  207, 
208,  209,  210,  215,  221,  223,  228,  230  (twice);  (6)  5.  255,  257 
(thrice),  264,  272,  284,  287,  296;  MS.  2.  113  (twice);  Common 
place  72,  181. 


212  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

The  extreme  northeast  county  of  England.  The  Saxon  king 
dom  was  of  greater  extent;  Camden  assigns  to  it  the  following 
counties:  Lancashire,  Yorkshire,  Durham,  Cumberland,  West 
moreland,  Northumberland,  and  the  parts  of  Scotland  to  the 
Frith  of  Edinburgh. 

North  Wales.     See  Wales. 
Norumbega.     P.  L.  10.  696. 

According  to  the  Atlas  of  Blaeu  (pp.  21,  36,  maps)  Norumbega 
is  the  land  in  the  region  of  the  River  Penobscot,  Maine.  His  map 
of  America  gives  it  a  somewhat  wider  extent.  The  name 
usually  appears  on  the  maps  of  the  period.  The  fabulous  or 
semifabulous  town  of  Norumbega  is  of  uncertain  situation,  and 
various  sites,  from  the  Hudson  to  the  Penobscot,  have  been 
proposed.  The  name  has  been  revived  in  Norumbega  Park,  on 
the  Charles  River,  and  Norumbega  Cottage,  at  Wellesley  College. 
For  recent  study  of  the  subject  see  the  references  in  the  Encyclo 
pedia  Americana,  especially  that  to  John  Fiske,  The  Dutch  and 
Quaker  Colonies  in  America,  pp.  69  ff.  Purchas  writes:  " More 
over,  towards  the  North  (sayth  the  Authour,  after  hee  had 
spoken  of  Virginia)  is  Norombega,  which  is  knowne  well  enough, 
by  reason  of  a  faire  Towne,  and  a  great  River.  ...  At  the 
mouth  of  this  River  there  is  an  Hand  very  fit  for  fishing.  The 
region  that  goeth  along  the  Sea  doth  abound  in  fish,  and  towards 
New  France  there  is  great  number  of  wilde  beasts,  and  is  very 
commodious  for  hunting;  the  inhabitants  doe  live  in  the  same 
manner  as  they  of  New  France.  If  this  beautifull  Towne  hath 
ever  been  in  nature,  I  would  faine  knowe  who  hath  pulled  it 
downe:  for  there  is  but  Cabines  heere  and  there  made  with 
pearkes,  and  covered  with  barkes  of  trees,  or  with  skinnes,  and 
both  the  River  and  the  place  inhabited  is  called  Pemptegoet." 
(Pilgrimes  4.  1625.)  Heylyn  deals  with  it  as  follows:  "Norum 
bega  hath  on  the  North-east  Nova  Scotia,  on  the  South  West 
Virginia.  The  air  is  of  a  good  temper,  the  soil  fruitful,  and  the 
people  indifferently  civil;  all  of  them,  as  well  men  as  women, 
painting  their  faces.  The  men  are  much  affected  to  hunting; 
and  therefore  never  give  their  daughters  to  any,  unless  he  be  well 
skilled  in  that  game  also.  The  Women  are  here  very  chast, 
and  so  well  love  their  husbands  that  if  at  any  time  they  chance 
to  be  slain,  the  widows  will  neither  marry  nor  eat  flesh,  till  that 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  213 

the  death  of  their  husbands  be  revenged.  They  both  dance 
much;  and  for  more  nimbleness,  sometimes  stark  naked.  The 
Sea  upon  the  coasts  so  shallow  and  so  full  of  sands,  that  it  is 
very  ill  sailing  all  along  these  shores.  The  towns,  or  habitations 
rather,  so  differently  called  by  the  French,  Portugals,  and  Span 
iard,  that  there  is  not  much  certainty  known  of  them.  Yet  most 
have  formerly  agreed  upon  Norumbegua,  or  Arampec,  as  the 
Natives  call  it;  said  to  be  a  large,  populous,  and  well-built  town, 
and  to  be  situate  on  a  fair  and  capacious  River  of  the  same  name 
also.  But  later  Observations  tell  us  there  is  no  such  matter; 
that  the  River  which  the  first  relations  did  intend,  is  called 
Pemptegonet,  neither  large  nor  pleasant;  and  that  the  place 
by  them  meant  is  called  Agguncia,  so  far  from  being  a  fair  City, 
that  there  are  only  a  few  Sheds  or  Cabins  covered  with  the 
barks  of  trees  or  the  skins  of  beasts.  Howsoever  I  have  let  it 
stand  on  the  first  reports,  it  being  possible  enough  that  the 
Town  might  fall  into  decay,  deserted  on  the  coming  of  so  many 
several  Pretenders;  and  that  the  Sheds  or  Cabins  which  the 
last  men  speak  of  may  be  the  only  remainders  of  it."  (Cos 
mography  4.  107.) 

Norway  (Norwegia).     P.  L.  1.  203,  293;  Tetrach.  (Canon)  4.  280; 

Areopag.  4.398;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  21;  (3)  5.  127;  (5)  5.  227,  234; 

(6)  5.  240,  242,  255,  265  (twice),  266,  276  (twice),  287,  295; 

Lit.  Senat.  (30)  7.  218  (twice),  219  (thrice) ;  Safe-cond.  (thrice). 

In  the  time  of  Milton  Norway  was  politically  united  with 
Denmark.  One  of  the  chief  products  of  the  country  has  for 
centuries  been  timber  for  shipbuilding.  (P.  L.I.  293.)  Milton's 
assignment  of  Leviathan  to  the  coast  of  Norway  is  probably 
sufficiently  explained  by  the  following:  "About  Zeinam  they 
saw  many  Whales  very  monstrous  hard  by  thir  Ships;  whereof 
some  by  estimation  sixty  feet  long;  they  roard  hideously,  it 
being  then  the  time  of  thir  engendring."  (Moscovia  (5)  8.  508.) 
The  source  is  Hak.  1.  311.  The  description  of  the  monster 
does  not,  however,  depend  on  the  accounts  of  sailors  who  had 
become  familiar  with  whales,  but  on  such  passages  as  Job  41; 
Hak.  3.  138;  Ariosto,  Orlando  Furioso  6.  37-42;  and  Sylvester's 
Dubartas,  Weeks  and  Works,  Day  5,  line  110.  Cf.  P.  L.  7. 
412-16. 

Norwich.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  246. 
A  town  of  Norfolk. 


214  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Nottingham.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  199  (twice),  219  (twice),  228. 

A  town  of  Nottinghamshire,  at  the  conflux  of  the  Leen  and 
the  Trent. 

Nottinghamshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  147. 

A  county  of  central  England,  watered  by  the  River  Trent. 
Nova  Anglia.     See  New  England. 
Novgorod.     See  Novogrod. 

Novogardia.     Moscovia  (4)  8.  491. 

A  district  of  Russia,  south  of  Petrograd,  formerly  an  inde 
pendent  state.  Milton's  source  is  Hak.  1.  223. 

Novogrod.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  476  (twice);   (4)  8.  488,  491. 

Novgorod,  a  city  of  Russia  one  hundred  miles  south-southeast 
of  Petrograd.  "Next  unto  Mosco,  the  Citie  of  Novogorode  is 
reputed  the  chiefest  of  Russia:  for  although  it  be  in  Majestic 
inferior  to  it,  yet  in  greatness  it  goeth  beyond  it.  It  is  the  chiefest 
and  greatest  Marte  Towne  of  all  Moscovia:  and  albeit  the 
Emperours  seate  is  not  there,  but  at  Mosco,  yet  the  commodious- 
nesse  of  the  river,  falling  into  that  gulfe,  which  is  called  Sinus 
Finnicus,  whereby  it  is  well  frequented  by  Marchants,  makes  it 
more  famous  than  Mosco  itselfe.  This  towne  excels  all  the  rest 
in  the  commodoties  of  flaxe  and  hempe:  it  yeelds  also  hides, 
honie,  and  waxe."  (Hak.  1.  251.)  Ivan  Vasilowich  "brought 
under  his  subjection  .  .  .  Novogrod.  .  .  .  The  treasure  of  Novo 
grod  was  so  exceeding  that  the  great  Duke  is  reported  to  have 
carried  home  from  thence  300  carts  laden  with  gold  and  silver.'* 
(Hak.  1.  223.)  Milton's  account  of  the  way  from  St.  Nicholas 
to  Novgorod  is  from  Hak.  1.  365,  to  which  he  gives  a  reference. 
The  latitude  is  from  Hak.  1.  335. 

Niirnberg.    See  Noriberga. 

Numidia.     Commonplace  57. 

The  Roman  name  of  a  district  of  north  Africa,  in  part  corre 
sponding  to  the  modern  Algiers. 

Nyseian  He.     P.  L.  4.  275.     (See  also  Triton.) 

Nysa  was  a  city  of  north  Africa,  on  an  island  in  the  River 
Triton.  Diodorus  describes  it  as  follows:  "Ammon  fearing  the 
rageful  jealousy  of  Rhea,  concealed  his  adultery  [with  Amalthea] ; 
and  privately  sent  away  the  child  [Bacchus]  afar  off  to  the  city 


I 

A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON  215 

Nysa,  which  lies  in  an  island  almost  inaccessible,  surrounded 
by  the  river  Triton,  into  which  there  is  but  one  strait  and  narrow 
entrance,  called  the  Nysian  gates.  The  land  there  is  very  rich, 
abounding  with  pleasant  meadows,  watered  on  every  side  with 
refreshing  streams ;  wherein  grow  all  sorts  of  fruit-trees  and  vines, 
which  grow  of  themselves,  for  the  most  part  running  up  on 
the  sides  of  trees.  A  gentle,  cooling  and  refreshing  wind  pierces 
through  the  whole  island,  which  makes  the  place  exceeding 
healthful,  so  that  the  inhabitants  live  much  longer  here  than  any 
in  the  surrounding  countries.  The  first  entrance  into  the  island 
runs  up  a  long  vale,  shaded  all  along  with  high  and  lofty  trees, 
so  thick  that  only  a  dim  and  glimmering  light  passes  through; 
but  the  fiery  beams  of  the  sun  enter  not  in  the  least  to  offend  the 
passenger.  In  passing  along,  issue  many  sweet  and  crystal 
springs,  so  that  the  place  is  most  pleasant  and  delightful  to  them 
that  have  a  desire  there  to  divert  themselves.  When  you  are 
out  of  this  vale,  a  pleasant  and  very  large  grotto,  of  a  round  form, 
presents  itself,  arched  over  with  an  exceeding  high  and  craggy 
rock,  bespangled  with  stones  of  divers  resplendent  colours;  for, 
being  chequered,  some  sparkled  with  purple  rays,  some  with 
azure,  and  others  darted  forth  their  refulgent  beauty  in  divers 
other  colors,  no  color  being  ever  known  but  might  be  seen  there. 
At  the  entrance  grew  trees  of  a  strange  and  wonderful  nature, 
some  bearing  fruit,  others  always  green  and  flourishing,  as  if 
they  had  been  created  by  nature  to  delight  the  sight:  in  these 
nested  all  sorts  of  birds,  whose  colour  and  pleasing  notes  even 
ravished  the  senses  with  sweet  delight:  so  that  all  the  place 
around  imparted  a  sort  of  divine  pleasure,  not  only  to  the  eye, 
but  to  the  ear;  the  sweetness  of  natural  notes  far  excelling  the 
artificial  harmonies  of  all  other  music  whatsoever.  Passing 
through  this  appears  a  large  and  spacious  grotto,  in  every  part 
enlightened  by  the  bright  rays  of  the  sun :  here  grow  various  sorts 
of  flowers  and  plants,  especially  cassia,  and  others  that  per 
petually  preserve  their  sweet  odours  in  their  natural  strength. 
Here  are  to  be  seen  the  many  pleasant  apartments  of  the  nymphs 
(composed  of  various  flowers,  planted  in  that  order  by  wise 
nature's  hand,  and  not  by  man's  art)  fit  to  receive  even  the  gods 
themselves.  Within  all  this  pleasant  round  is  not  a  flower  or  a 
leaf  to  be  seen  withered,  or  in  the  least  decayed;  so  that  the 
spectators  are  not  only  delighted  with  the  sight,  but  even  trans- 
15 


216  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

ported  with  the  pleasures  of  the  fragrant  smells  and  sweet  odors 
of  the  place."  (3.  67.)  As  Milton  suggests,  this  place  somewhat 
resembles  his  own  Garden  of  Eden. 

Nysnovogorod.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  475. 

Nijni-Novgorod,  a  city  of  central  Russia  at  the  junction  of  the 
Oka  and  the  Volga.  Jenkinson,  to  whom  Milton  refers  in  a 
note,  calls  it  a  "faire  town  and  castle."  (Hak.  1.  324.) 

Oak-Lea.    See  Ak-Lea. 

Oatlands  (Coway  Stakes).     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  41. 

Camden,  to  whom  Milton  refers  in  a  note,  writes:  "At  the 
spot  where  [the  Wey]  falls  into  the  Thames  by  two  channels, 
stands  Oatelands,  a  beautiful  palace  in  a  park,  near  which  Caesar 
crossed  the  Thames  into  Cassivelaun's  territories;  this  being 
the  only  place  where  the  Thames  could  be  forded,  and  that  with 
great  difficulty,  which  themselves  in  a  manner  discovered  to 
Caesar.  On  the  other  side  this  river  was  drawn  up  a  large  army 
of  Britans,  and  the  bank  itself  defended  with  sharp  stakes  driven 
into  it,  and  some  of  the  same  were  concealed  under  water  in  the 
bed  of  the  river.  Remains  of  these,  says  Bede,  are  still  to  be 
seen.  ...  I  cannot  be  mistaken  in  this,  the  river  being  scarce 
six  feet  deep  hereabouts,  and  the  place  called  from  these  stakes 
Coway  stakes."  (1.  168.)  Milton  had  doubtless  often  passed 
this  place  in  his  journeys  from  Horton  to  London. 

Ob.     P.  L.  9.  78;  Moscovia  (1)  8.  471,  473;   (2)  8.  482  (4  times), 

483  (thrice);  (3)  8.  485,  487. 

A  river  of  Siberia,  flowing  north  into  the  Gulf  of  Ob,  which 
empties  into  the  Arctic  Ocean.  Josias  Logan,  describing  the 
coast  of  Russia  east  of  Pechora  (q.  z>.),  writes,  in  an  account  to 
which  Milton  refers  in  a  note:  "From  thence  [the  '  Streight  of 
Vaygats  ']  still  keeping  your  course  North-east,  untill  you  come  to 
a  long  Point  on  the  Starboord  side,  with  a  sand  lying  off  into  the 
Sea  three  miles.  .  .  .  Which  when  you  have  gotten  about,  you 
must  hold  your  course  somewhat  more  enclining  to  the  South, 
five  or  six  dayes  more:  and  then  you  shall  come  to  the  River  of 
Ob;  against  the  mouth  whereof  lieth  an  Hand:  but  you  must 
keepe  the  Sea-boord  of  it,  by  reason  it  is  shoald  betwixt  it  and  the 
Mayne.  The  Land  all  alongst  the  shoare  is  a  fine  lowe  Land, 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  217 

and  the  going  into  the  River  is  on  the  East  side  of  the  Hand. 
The  river  is  reported  to  be  a  Summer  dayes  sayling  over  in 
bredth,  and  is  full  of  Hands."  (Pilgrimes  3.  543.)  In  an  account, 
used  by  Milton,  of  the  river  route  from  Pechora  to  Siberia, 
we  read:  "In  the  River  of  Ob,  are  neither  Woods  nor  In 
habitants,  till  they  sayle  so  farre  up  the  same  that  they  come 
neere  to  Siberia.  But  there  are  Woods."  (Ib.  3.  540.)  The 
following  is  the  source  of  Milton's  knowledge  of  the  extension  of 
Russian  dominion  beyond  the  Ob :  "They  drew  unto  their  purpose 
the  good  will  of  many  of  the  people  on  the  West-side  of  Obi, 
who  of  their  own  accord  subjected  themselves  to  the  authority 
of  the  Muscovites,  and  suffered  them  to  lay  a  taxation  upon  them, 
promising  yeerely  of  every  head  (not  excepting  the  Boyes  that 
were  but  learning  to  handle  the  Bow)  two  skinnes  of  Sables; 
which  to  themselves  were  of  no  value,  but  esteemed  of  the 
Muscovites  as  precious  as  Jewels.  These  they  promised  to 
deliver  to  such  a  Treasurer  as  the  Emperour  should  ordayne. 
Neither  did  they  faile  to  performe  the  same."  (Ib.  3.  523.) 
The  Ob  was  supposed  to  be  not  far  from  Cathay.  The  experience 
of  sailors  with  ice  near  its  mouth  did  not  keep  from  circulation 
such  reports  as  the  following,  part  of  which  Milton  quotes: 
"It  is  a  common  received  speech  of  the  Russes  that  are  great 
travailers,  that  beyond  Ob  to  the  South-east  there  is  a  warme  Sea 
...  so  warme  that  all  kinde  of  Sea  fowles  live  there  as  well  in 
the  Winter  as  in  the  Summer,  which  report  argueth  that  this 
Sea  pierseth  farre  into  the  South  parts  of  Asia."  (Ib.  3.  806.) 

Occa.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  475  (twice). 

A  river  of  central  Russia,  joining  the  Volga  at  Nijni-Novgorod. 

Ocean  Isles.     See  Azores. 
Ockley.     See  Ak-Lea. 

Octodurus.     1  Defens.  (4)  6.  87. 

Martigny,  a  town  in  Valais,  Switzerland,  near  the  Rhone. 

Odrysius.     See  Thrace. 
Oealia.     See  Oechalia. 

Oechalia  (Oealia).     P.  L.  2.  542. 

Printed  "Oealia"  in  1667  and  corrected  in  1674.     A  town  in 
Euboea  conquered  by  Hercules,  from  which  he  was  returning 


218  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

when  he  met  his  death.     See  Sophocles,  Trachiniae  478;  Ovid, 
Met.  9.  136. 

Oeta(TrachiniaRupes).  Procancel.  12;  Mansus66;  P.  L.  2.545. 
A  mountain  in  the.  southern  part  of  Thessaly,  between  which 
and  the  sea  is  the  pass  of  Thermopylae.  It  is  famous  in  my 
thology  as  the  scene  of  the  death  of  Hercules.  (Sophocles, 
Trachiniae]  Ovid,  Met.  9.  134  ff.)  It  was  sometimes  called  the 
Trachinian  Rock  from  Trachis,  a  town  at  its  foot. 

Offa's  Dyke.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  181. 

An  ancient  rampart,  perhaps  constructed  by  King  Offa,  still 
traceable  through  Hereford,  Shropshire,  Mongtomery,  Denbigh, 
and  Flint,  from  the  Wye  to  the  Dee. 

Offensive  Mountain.     See  Opprobrious  Hill. 
Ogygius.     See  1.  Thebes. 
Olanege.     See  Alney. 

Oldenburg.     Lit.  Oliv.  (2)  7.  239  (twice);  Safe-cond.  (thrice). 
A  former  grand  duchy  of  Germany,  on  the  North  Sea. 

Olissipo  (Ulyssipo).     Lit.  Senat.  (10)  7.  196;    Lit.  Oliv.  (22)  7. 
265;   (23)  7.  265;   (33)  7.  278,  279;   (41)  7.  288. 
Lisbon,  the  capital  of  Portugal,  on  the  Tagus. 

Olympia.     P.  L.  2.  530;   Grammar  (2)  6.  481. 

A  town  in  Elis,  where  the  Olympian  games  were  held. 

Olympian  Hill.     See  Olympus. 

Olympus   (Olympian  Hill).     Infant  44;    Eleg.   5.   19,   79,   117: 

Eleg.  7.  21;  Quint.  Nov.  8;   Praesul.  El.  63;   Nat.  Non  21,  46; 

Ad  Patrem  30;  Mansus  100;  Damon.  190;  P.  L.  1.  516;   7.  3, 

7;  10.  583;  Logic  (1.  18)  7.  56. 

A  mountain  on  the  borders  of  Macedonia  and  Thessaly,  9750 
feet  high.  Milton  sometimes  means  not  the  mountain,  but 
heaven  itself.  (Infant  44;  Quint.  Nov.  8;  Prcesul.  El.  63;  Ad 
Patrem  30;  Mansus  100;  cf.  Comus  1.) 

Olyssipo.     See  Olissipo. 

Onega.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  476  (twice). 

The  second  largest  lake  in  Europe,  in  northwestern  Russia. 
"The  towne  of  Povensa  standeth  within  one  mile  of  the  famous 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  219 

lake  or  Ozera  of  Onega,  which  is  320  miles  long,  and  in  some 
places  70  miles  over.  But  where  it  is  narrowest  it  is  25  miles." 
(Hak.  1.  367.) 

Oose.     See  Ouse. 

Ophir.     P.  L.  11.  400;   Reformation  (2)  3.  70.     (See  also  Cher 
sonese,  Sofala.) 

A  place  of  unknown  situation  whence  King  Solomon  is  said 
to  have  obtained  gold.  (1  Kings  10.  11,  etc.)  Purchas  discusses 
various  regions  identified  with  Ophir,  in  the  Pilgrimage,  p.  859. 

Ophiusa.     P.  L.  10.  528. 

The  name  means  "abounding  in  snakes";  it  was  applied  to 
several  islands,  the  most  important  of  which  is  now  Formentara, 
near  Minorca. 

Opprobrious  Hill.     (Hill  of  Scandal,  Offensive  Mountain).     P.  L. 

1.  403,  416,  443. 

A  peak  of  the  Mount  of  Olives,  east  of  Jerusalem.  Its  oppro 
brium  is  explained  by  the  following  passages :  "Then  did  Solomon 
build  an  high  place  for  Chemosh,  the  abomination  of  Moab, 
in  the  hill  that  is  before  Jerusalem;  and  for  Molech,  the  abomina 
tion  of  the  children  of  Ammon."  (1  Kings  11.  7.)  "The  high 
places  that  were  before  Jerusalem,  which  were  on  the  right 
hand  of  the  mount  of  corruption,  which  Solomon  the  king  of 
Israel  had  builded  for  Ashtoreth  the  abomination  of  the  Zidon- 
ians,  and  for  Chemosh  the  abomination  of  the  Moabites,  and 
for  Milcolm  the  abomination  of  the  children  of  Ammon,  did  the 
king  defile."  (2  Kings  23.  13.)  Adrichomius  represents  two 
peaks,  the  Mount  of  Offense  near  the  Valley  of  Hinnom,  at  the 
southern  end  of  the  Mount  of  Olives,  and  the  Hill  of  Scandal  at 
its  northern  end.  The  temple  of  Ashtoreth  he  places  on  the 
Mount  of  Olives  itself.  (P.  145,  map;  pp.  170,  171.)  Fuller 
shows  two  peaks,  included  under  one  name,  the  Mount  of  Scandal. 
(P.  268.)  Selden  writes :  ' '  The  Mount  of  Olives,  after  it  was  de 
filed  by  idols  ...  is  called  the  Mount  of  Corruption."  (De  Dis 
Syriis,  p.  376.)  Quaresmius,  after  discussion,  makes  the  Mount 
of  Offence  and  the  Hill  of  Scandal  one,  identifying  it  with  the 
most  southern  peak  of  the  Mount  of  Olives,  near  the  fountain 
of  Siloa  (q.  v.}  and  the  vale  of  Hinnom  (q.  v.),  where  pleasant 
surroundings  made  the  place  suitable  for  voluptuous  worship. 


220  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

(Terra  Sanctcz  Elucidatio  4.  7.  19.)  This  identification  is  still 
accepted  by  the  Latin  Church.  The  form  "Opprobrious  Hill" 
seems  to  be  Milton's  own  version  of  the  name. 

Orcades  (Orkney).     Damon.  178;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  23;  (2)  5.  67, 
72;   (3)  5.  114;   (6)  5.  265,  296;   2  Defens.  6.  324. 
A  group  of  islands  off  the  northern  coast  of  Scotland.     Milton 
thinks  of  them  as  a  northern  limit,  writing:  "Orcades  extremse;" 
"extremis  .  .  .  Orcades  undis;"  "  eev'n  to  the  Orcades."     Com 
pare  the  lines  of  Juvenal  to  which  Milton  refers  in  telling  of  the 
conquest  of  the  Orcades  by  the  Romans : 

Arma  quidem  ultra 

Littora  Juvernae  promovimus,  et  modo  captas 
Orcades,  ac  minima  contentos  nocte  Britannos. 

(Sat.  2.  159-61.) 

Chaucer  writes:    "betwixen  Orcades  and  Inde."     (Troilus  and 
Criseyde  5.  971.) 

Oreb.     See  Sinai. 

Orgilia.     Animadv.  (3.  37)  3.  213. 

A  dukedom  in  Mundus  Alter  et  Idem  (3.  5),  the  Utopia  of 
Bishop  Hall. 

Orkney.     See  Orcades. 

Orleans.     Hirelings  5.  362. 

A  city  of  France,  in  the  department  of  Loiret. 

Ormus.     P.  L.  2.  2.     (See  also  Balsara.) 

A  city,  now  in  ruins,  on  an  island  at  the  mouth  of  the  Persian 
Gulf.  In  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries  it  was  of 
great  commercial  importance,  and  often  mentioned  by  travelers. 
For  example,  we  read:  "Hormuz  being  a  barren  and  un- 
habited  Hand,  and  a  Mountaine  of  Salt,  is  among  the  richest 
Countries  of  India  one  of  the  richest,  for  the  many  and  great 
merchandize  that  come  to  it  from  all  places  of  India,  and  from 
all  Arabia,  and  from  all  Persia,  even  of  the  Mogores,  and  from 
Russia  and  Europe  I  saw  Merchants  in  it,  and  from  Venice. 
And  so  the  Inhabiters  of  Hormuz  doe  say  that  all  the  world  is  a 
ring,  and  Hormuz  is  the  stone  of  it.  Whereby  it  is  commonly 
said  that  the  Custome  house  of  Hormuz  is  a  channel  of  Silver 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  221 

which  alwaies  runneth.  The  last  yeere  that  I  was  in  Hormuz, 
having  continued  there  three  yeeres,  the  Officers  affirmed  to 
mee  that  the  Custome  house  did  yeeld  150,000  Paradaos  to  the 
King  of  Portugall,  besides  that  which  is  presumed  the  Moores 
and  Goazill  did  steale,  which  are  Officers  of  the  Custome  house. 
And  although  this  Hand  yeeldeth  no  fruit,  neither  hath  water 
nor  victuals,  yet  it  hath  great  abundance  of  flesh,  bread,  rice, 
and  great  store  of  fish,  and  many  and  good  fruits,  whereof  it  is 
provided  from  many  places."  (Pilgrimes  2.  1787.)  We  read 
in  Hakluyt:  "Here  is  a  very  great  trade  of  all  sorts  of  spices, 
drugs,  silk,  cloth  of  silk,  fine  tapestry  of  Persia,  great  store  of 
pearls,  which  come  from  the  isle  of  Bahrim,  and  are  the  best 
pearls  of  all  others."  (2.  1.  252.)  Note  Andrew  Marvell's  line: 

Jewels  more  rich  than  Ormus  shows.     (Bermudas  20.) 

Camoens  mentions  Ormus.     (Lusiads  10.  40-1,  101.) 

The  description  of  Ormus  as  a  "mountain  of  salt"  suggests  the 
description  of  the  ruined  Mount  of  Paradise  as  a  barren  island 
in  the  Persian  Gulf.  (P.  L.  11.  825-31.) 

Orontes.     P.  L.  4.273;    9.  80.      (See   also   Antioch,    Daphne, 
Hamath.) 

The  chief  river  of  Syria,  rising  in  the  Anti-Lebanons,  and 
flowing  into  the  Mediterranean. 

Orwell.     See  Arenne. 
Osca.     See  Usk. 

Ossa.     Quint.  Nov.  174.     (See  also  Pelion.) 

A  mountain  in  Thessaly,  on  the  coast  of  Magnesia,  separated 
from  Olympus  by  the  Vale  of  Tempe. 

Ostend.     Lit.  Senat.  (41)  7.  231,  232;  (42)  7.  232;  Lit.  Oliv.  (25) 
7.  268;   (43)  7.  290;  (73)  7.  324. 
A  seaport  of  Belgium. 

Oswestre  (Maserfield).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  156. 

Camden,  to  whom  Milton  refers  in  a  note,  writes  as  follows 
in  his  account  of  Shropshire :  "On  the  western  edge  of  the  county 
lies  Oswestre  ...  a  small  town  surrounded  with  a  ditch  and 
wall,  and  defended  with  a  small  castle,  but  a  place  of  great 


222  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

trade.  ...  It  has  its  name  from  Oswald,  king  of  Northumber 
land  (having  before  been  called  Maserfield)."     (2.  399.) 

Otford  (Ottanford).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  177;  (6)  5.  260. 
A  place  on  the  River  Darwent  in  Kent. 

Ottanford.     See  Otford. 

Ouglitts  (Ouglets).     Moscovia  (4)  8.  495,  498,  501. 

A  city  of  central  Russia,  on  the  Volga.  Milton  in  a  note 
refers  to  Pilgrimes  3.  750. 

Ouse  (Oose,  Usa).     Vacat.  Ex.  92;   Damon.  175;  Hist.  Brit.  (5) 

5.  214,  217  (twice),  218;   (6)  5.  295  (twice). 

In  Hist.  Brit.  Milton  refers  to  two  rivers  named  Ouse.  The 
first  four  references  are  to  the  river  which  rises  in  Oxfordshire, 
and  flows  through  Buckingham,  Bedford,  Huntingdon,  Cam 
bridge,  and  Norfolk,  into  the  Wash.  The  last  two  references  are 
to  the  Ouse  of  Yorkshire,  one  of  the  principal  tributaries  of  the 
Humber.  It  is  probably  one  of  these  which  is  to  be  understood 
by  the  Ouse  of  the  poetry,  for  the  other  English  rivers  of  the 
same  name  are  less  considerable.  The  first  of  the  two  was 
perhaps  better  known  to  Milton,  since  it  flows  through  Bucks, 
where  he  so  long  resided ;  however,  it  is  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
county  and  Horton  is  in  the  south.  He  must  also  have  seen  this 
river  in  Cambridgeshire,  for  the  Cam  is  a  tributary  of  the  Ouse. 
Dray  ton  has  much  to  say  of  both  streams.  (Polyolbion  22,  28.) 
Spenser  refers  to  the  Ouse  of  Yorkshire  as  "Oze  the  most  of 
might."  (F.  Q.  4.  11.  37.  6.)  Of  the  southern  Ouse  he  writes: 

Next  these  the  plenteous  Ouse  came  far  from  land, 

By  many  a  city,  and  by  many  a  towne, 

And  many  rivers  taking  under  hand 

Into  his  waters,  as  he  passeth  downe, 

The  Cle,  the  Were,  the  Grant,  the  Sture,  the  Rowne. 

Thence  doth  by  Huntingdon  and  Cambridge  flit, 

My  mother  Cambridge,  whom  as  with  a  Crowne 

He  doth  adorne,  and  is  adorn'd  of  it 

With  many  a  gentle  Muse,  and  many  a  learned  wit. 

(F.  Q.  4.  11.  34.) 
Oustzilma.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  473. 

A  town  on  the  River  Pechora,  of  which  Pursglove,  in  a  passage 
to  which  Milton  refers  in  a  note,  says:  "Oust-zilma  is  a  pretie 
Town  of  some  sixtie  Houses:  and  is  three  or  foure  dayes  sayling 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  223 

with  a  faire  wind  against  the  streame  from  Pustozer."     (Pil- 
grimes  3.  549.) 

Owiga.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  476. 

The  Wyg,  a  river  of  northern  Russia,  flowing  into  the  White 
Sea.  Southam  and  Sparks,  on  whose  account  of  the  route 
by  water  from  St.  Nicholas  to  Novgorod  Milton  drew,  call  the 
river  "dangerous,"  and  say  further:  "At  a  place  where  the 
water  falleth  from  the  rocks,  as  if  it  came  steepe  downe  from  a 
mountain,  we  were  constrained  to  take  out  our  goods  and  wares 
out  of  the  said  boats,  and  .caused  them  to  be  caried  a  mile  over 
land,  and  afterwards  also  had  our  boats  in  like  sort  caried  or 
drawen  over  land  by  force  of  men  which  there  dwelled."  (Hak. 
1.  366.) 

Oxford   (Oxonia).     Ad  Rous.  Title,  64;  Epist.  Fam.  (9)  7.  383; 

(19)  7.  397;    Church-gov.  (1.  5)  3.  113;   Eikonocl.  (4)  3.  368; 

(12)  3.  433;   (18)  3.  469;    (19)  3.  475;   (22)  3.  487;   Hist.  Brit. 

(5)  5.  213,  215;    (6)  5.  252,  254,  261,  264,  268,  271;    Notes: 

Grif.  5.  396,  399;   Easy  Way  5.  422;   Commonplace  179;   MS. 

2.  114. 

A  city  of  Oxfordshire,  seat  of  the  University  of  Oxford,  of 
which  Camden  speaks  as  follows:  "At  the  conflux  of  the  Cherwell 
with  the  Isis,  and  where  their  streams  being  interrupted  form  a 
number  of  very  pleasant  islands,  stands  in  a  plain  the  famous 
University  of  Oxford,  ...  our  most  noble  Athens,  the  seat  of 
the  Muses,  the  support,  or  rather  the  sun,  the  eye,  the  soul  of 
England,  the  most  famous  source  of  learning  and  wisdom,  whence 
religion,  politeness,  and  learning  are  copiously  diffused  all  over 
the  kingdom.  The  city  is  handsome  and  neat;  whether  we 
regard  the  beauty  of  the  private,  the  noble  magnificence  of  the 
public  buildings,  or  the  healthiness  and  pleasantness  of  the 
situation."  (1.  287.) 

Oxfordshire.  Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  174;  (5)  5.  216;  (6)  5.  249,  250. 
"The  county  of  Oxfordshire  ...  is  on  the  west,  where  it  is 
broadest,  divided  by  the  river  Isis  from  Berkshire,  bounded  on 
the  east  by  Buckinghamshire;  on  the  north,  where  it  ends  as  it 
were  in  a  cone,  by  Northamptonshire  on  one  hand,  and  by 
Warwickshire  on  the  other.  It  is  a  fruitful  rich  county,  the  level 
parts  diversified  with  corn  fields  and  meadows ;  the  hills  covered 
with  woods;  and  it  abounds  not  only  with  corn  but  all  kinds  of 


224  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

game,  and  is  watered  by  rivers  well  stocked  with  fish."  (Camden 
1.  285.)  Milton  spent  some  time  in  Oxfordshire  at  the  time  of 
his  marriage  with  Mary  Powell,  whose  home  was  at  Forest  Hill. 

Oxonia.     See  Oxford. 

Oxus.     P.  L.  11.  389.     (See  also  Sogdiana.) 

Now  called  Amu-Daria,  a  large  river  of  central  Asia,  flowing 
into  the  Aral  Sea.  It  has  been  known  since  the  expedition  of 
Alexander  the  Great.  Jenkinson  saw  it  in  1558.  (Hak.  1.  331 
if.)  The  maps  of  the  time  of  Milton  represent  it  as  flowing  into 
the  Caspian. 

Padan-Aram.     P.  L.  3.  513. 

A  place  of  unknown  situation,  apparently  northeast  from 
Palestine.  Milton  mentions  it  in  connection  with  events  nar 
rated  in  Genesis  28.  Bochart  thinks  the  name  indicates  the 
cultivated  part  of  Mesopotamia.  (P.  86.) 

Padlachia.     Decl.  Poland  8.  466. 

Podlachie,  a  province  of  Poland,  bounded  to  the  north  and 
east  by  Lithuania,  and  watered  by  the  Bug,  an  eastern  tributary 
of  the  Vistula. 

Padolia.     See  Podolia. 
Paladur.     See  Shaftsbury. 

Palatinate.     Bucer:  Divorce  (Test.)  4.  292. 

A  district  of  Germany,  in  1648  divided  into  the  upper  Palati 
nate,  attached  to  Bavaria,  and  the  Rhine  Palatinate,  of  which 
the  chief  city  was  Heidelberg. 

Palatine.     P.  R.  4.  50. 

The  most  central  of  the  seven  hills  on  which  Rome  was  built. 
On  it  stood  the  palace  of  the  Roman  Emperor. 

Palestine  (Philistia).     Nativity  199;  Ps.  87.  14;  P.  L.  1.  80,  465; 

Samson    144,    1099,    1714;     Commonplace    109.     (See    also 

Philistines.) 

In  his  poetry  Milton,  following  the  Scriptural  usage  (e.  g., 
Joel  3.  4),  applies  the  name  Palestine  to  the  land  now  usually 
called  Philistia,  the  strip  of  country  lying  between  the  highlands 
of  Judea  (q.  v.),  and  the  sea,  bounded  on  the  south  by  the  desert, 
and  on  the  north  extending  to  Carmel.  The  adjective  "Pales- 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTOX  225 

tinus"  (Ad  Patrem  85)  means  Hebrew.  Sandys  correctly  ex 
plains  the  name  thus-  "The  Palestines  (called  Philistines  in  the 
Scriptures)  ...  of  whom  afterwards  the  whole  Land  of  Promise 
took  the  name  of  Palestine."  (P.  116.) 

Palestinus.     See  Israel. 
Palestrina.     See  Praeneste. 

Palma.     Lit.  Oliv.  (30)  7.  273.     (See  also  Canaries.) 
One  of  the  Canary  Islands. 

Pamphagonia.     Animadv.  (3.  37)  3.  213. 

A  province  in  Mundus  Alter  et  Idem  (1.  2),  the  Utopia  of 
Bishop  Hall. 

Paneas.     P.  L.  3.  535.     (See  also  Dan,  Jordan.) 

Banias,  in  northern  Palestine,  where  is  one  of  the  sources  of 
Jordan.  The  town  of  Paneas  is  identified  now,  as  in  Milton's 
aay,  with  Caesarea  Philippi,  which  was  then  supposed  to  stand 
dt  the  junction  of  Jor  and  Dan,  two  streams  forming  the  Jordan 
(Adrichomius,  p.  100,  map) .  However,  it  is  now  known  that  Caes 
area  Philippi  was  situated  not  at  such  a  junction,  but  at  the 
great  spring  at  Banias.  Paneas  was  also  identified  with  Dan,  as 
by  Saint  Jerome,  who  says  that  Dan  is  a  town  of  Phoenicia,  now 
called  Paneas.  (On  Genesis  13.  14.)  Milton  substitutes  Paneas 
for  Dan  in  the  expression  "from  Dan  even  to  Beersheba,"  in 
which  Dan  is  the  most  northern  city  of  Palestine.  Fuller  writes: 
"Amongst  the  mountains  of  Libanus,  we  meet  with  one  of  eminent 
note,  not  only  having  a  name  peculiar  to  itself,  but  from  which 
it  hath  also  denominated  the  adjacent  country.  This  is  Mount 
Paneas,  wherein  there  is  a  deep  hole  or  cave.  And  though  places 
of  this  kind  commonly  have  more  horror  than  pleasure  in  them, 
this,  besides  its  natural  beauty,  was  adorned  with  artificial 
structures  in  and  about  it.  Herein  also  was  an  unsoundable 
spring  of  water,  conceived  by  some  to  be  the  primitive  spring  of 
Jordan."  (P.  103.)  On  his  map  he  identifies  Dan  and  Caesarea, 
and  places  them  at  the  j  unction  of  the  streams  Jor  and  Dan.  Xear 
"  Jor  fons  "  (the  source  of  Jor)  is  "Antrum  Paneas,"  which  he  in 
correctly  makes  the  western  instead  of  the  eastern  source  of  Jordan. 
Adrichomius  shows  the  town  of  Paneas  (Dan,  Caesarea)  at  the 
junction  of  Jor  and  Dan,  and  calls  the  mount  from  which  the 


226  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF    MILTON 

river  springs  Panius.     Milton  refers  to  the  fountain  of  Paneas 
rather  than  to  the  city  incorrectly  separated  from  it. 

Pannonia.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  46;   Rami  Vita  7.  185. 

A  province  of  the  Roman  Empire,  bounded  on  the  north  and 
east  by  the  Danube,  on  the  south  by  Mcesia  and  Illyricum,  and 
on  the  west  by  Noricum;  now  mostly  included  in  Hungary. 

Paphos.     Eleg.  1.  84;   Eleg.  5.  60;   Eleg.  7.  2;  Mansus  92. 

A  city  of  Cyprus,  famed  for  its  temple  of  Venus,  to  which 
Horace  refers: 

O  Venus,  regina  Cnidi  Paphique. 

(Odes  1.  30.  1.) 
Paquin.     See  Cambalu. 

Paradise  (Garden,  High  Seat,  Hill,  Mountain).  (See  also  Eden.) 
P.  L.  3.  66,  527,  632,  733;  4.  Arg.,  132,  143,  172,  208,  209, 
215,  224,  226,  230,  241,  274,  282,  285,  371,  379,  422,  529,  542, 
752,  789,  991;  5.  143,  226,  260,  275,  368,  446,  749;  7.  45,  538; 
8.  171,  299,  319,  321,  326;  9.  71,  206,  406,  476,  619,  660,  662, 
796;  10.  2,  17,  98,  116,  326,  398,  484,  551,  585,  598,  742,  746, 
1065;  11.  29,  48,  97,  104,  118,  123,  210,  222,  259,  261,  269,  342, 
378,826;  12.586,642;  P.  R.I.  1,52;  2.141;  4.604,608,611; 
Divorce  (1.  4)  4.  29,  30;  (2.  11)  4.  91  (twice);  (2.  13)  4.  95. 
The  Earthly  Paradise,  the  Garden  of  God  in  the  east  of  Eden. 

Paris  (Lutetia  Parisiorum,  Parisii).     Apology  (Introd.)  3.  275; 

(8)  3.  310;  Tetrach.  (Deut.  24.  1,  2)  4.  176;  Education  4.  393; 

Kings  &  Mag.  4.  487;  Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  86;  2  Defens.  6.  260, 

287,  310;   Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  355;  Grammar  (2)  6.  469;  Rami 

Vita  7.  178  (twice),  179  (thrice),  182  (twice),  183,  185  (twice); 

Lit.  Oliv.  (43)  7.  290;  (80)  7.  331,  332;  Lit.  Rich.     (8)  7.  339; 

Epist.  Fam.  (15)  7.  392;  (25)  7.  404;  Commonplace  53,  61,  186. 

Milton  passed  through  Paris  on  his  journey  to  Italy  and  on 
his  return  thence. 

Parnassus.     Eleg.  4.  30;    5.  9;    Ad  Patrem  3,  16;    Mansus  92; 

Ad  Rous.  66;  3  Prolus.  7.  426;   6  Prolus.  7.  444. 

A  mountain  in  Phocis,  celebrated  as  a  haunt  of  Apollo  and 
the  Muses.  At  its  foot  were  the  Castalian  Spring  and  Delphi, 
where  was  the  famous  oracle  of  Apollo.  Ovid  writes  of  it: 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  227 

Mons  ibi  verticibus  petit  arduus  astra  duobus, 
Nomine  Parnasus,  superantque  cacumina  nubes. 

(Met.  1.  316-7.) 
.  Parnasusque  biceps. 

(Met.  2.  221.) 

The  two  peaks  are  often  mentioned,  as  by  Dante  (Pamdiso  1.  17), 
and  Quarles.     (Funeral  Elegies  2.) 

Parrett.     See  Pedridan. 

Parthenope,  Tomb  of.     Comus  879.     (See  also  Naples.) 

Supposed  to  be  at  Naples,  which  was  in  early  days  named 
Parthenope.  Strabo  remarks  in  his  account  of  Naples:  "Here 
is  pointed  out  the  tomb  of  [the  siren]  Parthenope."  (5.  4.  7.) 
Milton  refers  to  the  story  in  3  Leonor. 

Parthia.      Eleg.  7.  36;    P.  R.  3.  290,  294,  299,  362,  363,  369; 

4.  73,  85. 

At  the  time  of  its  greatest  extent  the  Parthian  Empire  was 
bounded  by  the  Euphrates,  the  Caspian  Sea,  the  Indus  River, 
and  the  Indian  Ocean. 

Pasham.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  218. 

Also  called  Passenham,  a  village  of  Northampton,  on  the  River 
Ouse  at  the  border  of  Buckinghamshire. 

Pauls.     Areopag.  4.  406. 

St.  Paul's,  the  cathedral  of  London.  The  present  building 
is  on  the  site  of  that  to  which  Milton  refers,  burned  in  the  great 
fire  of  1666.  By  "  the  west  end  of  Pauls"  Milton  may  refer  either 
to  the  palace  of  the  Bishop  of  London,  who  was  appointed  a 
licenser  of  books  by  a  decree  of  the  Star-Chamber  in  1637,  or  to 
Stationers'  Hall,  where  books  were  registered,  both  of  these  being 
at  the  west  end  of  the  cathedral.  (Stow  2.  20.) 

Pausilipum.     3  Leonor.  6. 

Posilipo,  a  mountain  between  Naples  and  Puteoli.  It  is  pene 
trated  by  a  tunnel  connecting  the  two  places.  Evelyn  tells  of 
passing  through  the  tunnel,  and  mentions  the  fruitfulness  of 
the  mountain.  (Diary,  Feb.  7,  1645.)  Sandys  writes:  "This 
mountain  doth  stretch  from  Northeast  to  Southwest  in  form  of  a 
prostrated  Pyramis,  and  although  flat  on  the  top,  on  each  side 
steeply  declining,  Southeastward  bordering  with  the  Sea,  and 
Northwestward  with  the  Country.  I  will  not  now  speak  of  the 
delicate  Wine  which  it  yieldeth,  neat  and  fragrant,  of  a  more 


228  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

pleasing  gust  and  far  less  heavy  than  those  of  Vesuvium;  nor 
of  those  Orchards  both  great  and  many,  replenished  with  all 
sorts  of  almost  to  be  named  Fruit-trees,  especially  with  Oranges 
and  Lemons,  which  at  once  do  delight  three  senses;  nor  how 
grateful  the  soil  is  (though  stony)  to  the  Tiller."  (P.  205.) 
Probably  Milton  visited  the  mountain  while  he  was  at  Naples. 

Pavia      Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  184;   Commonplace  53. 
A  city  of  Venetia,  Italy. 

1.  Pechora  (Petsora,  Petzora).     P.  L.  10.  292 ;  Moscovia  (1)  8.  472 
(twice),  473  (twice);   (5)  8.  519  (twice).      (See  also  Pustozera, 
Vaiguts.) 

A  river  of  northeastern  Russia,  flowing  into  the  Arctic  Ocean. 
William  Gourdon  writes:  "At  noone  we  came  by  Gods  direction 
into  one  of  the  chiefest  entrances  of  the  River  Pechora.  .  .  . 
We  came  to  a  Sari  or  Ferme  house  of  one  of  the  principall  men 
of  the  Towne.  .  .  .  He  lay  there  at  this  time  to  take  Duckes, 
Swannes,  Geese,  and  other  Fowles :  for  then  was  the  time  of  the 
yeere.  Their  feathers  they  sell,  and  their  bodies  they  salt  for 
winter  provision.  ...  A  great  part  of  the  goods  which  come  to 
Colmogro  upon  Dwina  doe  passe  in  one  place  or  other  by  the 
River  Pechora,  which,  they  say,  runneth  through  Siberia;  and 
how  much  farther  they  themselves  know  not."  (Pilgrimes  3. 
533.)  Richard  Finch  writes:  "After  our  getting  over  the  Barre 
of  the  Pechorskoi  Zavorot  and  that  we  were  come  to  an  anchor, 
we  rode  in  great  danger  by  the  abundance  of  Ice,  and  the  strong 
tide  both  of  the  ebbe  and  floud,  which  drove  the  same  so  forcibly 
against  our  ship.  For,  the  eleventh  of  July,  lying  in  foure 
fathoms  water,  a  piece  of  an  Island  of  Ice  set  with  such  power 
against  our  ship,  that  it  drove  us  out  of  our  riding  into  eight  foot 
and  an  halfe,  and  nine  foot  water."  (Ib.  3.  534.)  "The  River  of 
Pechora  runneth  through  great  Permia;  and  the  head  thereof  is 
five  weeks  travell  from  Pustozera."  (Ib.  3.  552.)  "Out  of  the 
Mountaines  of  Jugoria  issueth  the  River  Petsora,  which  falleth 
into  the  Ocean  Sea  on  this  side  the  Streight  of  Waygats  [Vaigatz]." 
(Ib.  3.  525.) 

2.  Pechora.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  473.     (See  also  Pustozera.) 
Shown  on  Jenkinson's  map  of  Russia  as  a  town  on  the  left 

bank  of  the  River  Pechora,  in  northern  Russia,  very  near  the 
sea,  some  distance  below  Pustozera.  In  Purchas  it  is  described 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  229 

as  small.     (Pilgrimes  3.  536.)     The  name  does  not  appear  as 
that  of  a  town  on  modern  maps. 

Pedemontanae  Valles.    See  Piemont. 

Pedridan.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  161;   (5)  5.  193. 

The  River  Parrett,  rising  in  Somersetshire  and  flowing  into 
the  Severn. 

Pelion.     Quint.  Nov.  174. 

A  lofty  mountain  of  Thessaly,  extending  along  the  coast  of 
Magnesia.  It  is  famous  in  mythology  because  of  the  attempt 
of  the  giants  to  scale  heaven  by  piling  Mount  Ossa  upon  it. 

Pellean.     P.  R.  2.  196. 

Pella  was  an  ancient  city  of  Macedonia,  now  called  Apostolus,  the 
capital  of  Philip  and  the  birthplace  of  Alexander  the  Great.  The 
adjective  is  often  applied  to  Alexander.  (E.  g.,  Juvenal  10.  168.) 

Pelorus.     Nat.  non  56;   P.  L.  1.  232.     (See  also  ^Etna.) 

The  promontory  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Sicily.  Diodorus 
says  that  some  believed  that  Sicily  was  once  a  peninsula,  and 
"that  the  narrow  neck  of  the  continent  was  rent  asunder  by  an 
earthquake,  and  by  that  means  the  sea  burst  into  that  part 
where  the  convulsion  was  made."  (4.  85.)  Milton's  explana 
tion  of  earthquakes  is  like  that  in  Lucretius  6.  535-607. 

Pen.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  161;    (6)  5.  258. 

Probably  Pen-Selwood,  on  the  confines  of  Wiltshire,  Somerset, 
and  Dorsetshire. 

Peneus.     Eleg.  5.  13;  Eleg.  7.  33;  Mansus  62. 

A  river  of  Thessaly,  flowing  into  the  ^Egean  through  the  Vale 
of  Tempe.  It  is  described  by  Ovid  in  Met.  1.  567-73. 

Penho.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  244. 
Pinho,  Devonshire. 

Penuel.     Samson  278. 

A  city  of  Palestine,  east  of  the  Jordan.  Its  exact  site  is  un 
known.  Milton  takes  the  name  from  Judges  8.  5-17. 

Perea.     P.  R.  2.  24. 

Peraea,  the  region  east  of  the  Jordan,  defined  by  Josephus  as 
extending  from  Macherus  to  Pella,  and  from  Philadelphia  to  the 
Jordan.  (Jewish  War  3.  3.  3.) 


230  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Pereslave.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  474;   (5)  8.  511. 

Pereiaslave,  a  city  of  southwestern  Russia,  at  the  confluence 
of  the  Alta  and  the  Troubeje.  Milton's  description  comes  di 
rectly  from  Hak.  1.  312,  a  passage  to  which  he  refers  in  a  note. 

Pergamum.     Respons.  6.  426. 

A  city  of  Mysia,  Asia  Minor,  on  the  River  Caicus,  now  called 
Bergama. 

Pergamus.     See  Troy. 

Permia.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  473,  475. 

A  part  of  eastern  Russia,  bordering  on  Siberia.  We  read  in 
Hakluyt:  "The  Permians  and  Samoits,  that  lie  from  Russia 
North  and  Northeast  are  thought  likewise  to  have  their  begin 
nings  from  the  Tartar  kinde.  .  .  .  The  Permians  are  accounted 
for  a  very  ancient  people.  They  are  nowe  subject  to  the  Russe. 
They  live  by  hunting  and  trading  with  their  furres,  as  also  doth 
the  Samoit,  that  dwelleth  more  towardes  the  North  Sea." 
(1.491.) 

Persepolis.     P.  R.  3.  284. 

An  ancient  city  of  southern  Persia,  now  ruined.  Diodorus 
writes  as  follows:  Alexander  "then  called  the  Macedonians 
together,  and  told  them  that  Persepolis,  the  metropolis  of  the 
kingdom  of  Persia,  of  .all  the  cities  of  Asia  had  done  most  mischief 
to  the  Grecians,  and  therefore  he  gave  it  up  to  the  plunder  and 
spoil  of  the  soldiers,  except  the  king's  palace.  This  was  the 
richest  city  of  any  under  the  sun,  and  for  many  ages  all  the 
private  houses  were  full  of  all  sorts  of  wealth,  and  whatever  was 
desirable.  The  Macedonians,  therefore,  forcing  into  the  city, 
put  all  the  men  to  the  sword,  and  rifled  and  carried  away  every 
man's  goods  and  estate,  amongst  which  was  abundance  of  rich 
and  costly  furniture  and  ornaments  of  all  sorts.  In  this  place 
was  hurried  away  here  and  there  vast  quantities  of  silver,  and 
no  less  of  gold,  great  numbers  of  rich  garments,  some  of  purple, 
other  embroidered  with  gold,  all  which  became  a  plentiful  spoil 
to  the  ravenous  soldiers:  and  thus  the  great  seat-royal  of  the 
Persians,  once  famous  all  the  world  over,  was  now  exposed  to 
scorn  from  top  to  bottom.  ...  So  that  by  how  much  Persepolis 
excelled  all  the  other  cities  in  glory  and  worldly  felicity,  by  so 
much  more  was  the  measure  of  their  misery  and  calamity. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  231 

Then  Alexander  seized  upon  all  the  treasures  in  the  citadel, 
which  was  a  vast  quantity  of  gold  and  silver  of  the  public  revenues 
that  had  been  there  collected  and  laid  up,  from  the  time  of  Cyrus, 
the  first  great  king  of  Persia,  to  that  day.  For  there  was  found 
a  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  talents,  reckoning  the  gold 
after  the  rate  of  silver."  He  describes  the  palace  as  follows: 
"This  stately  fabric,  or  citadel,  was  surrounded  with  a  treble 
wall:  the  first  was  sixteen  cubits  high,  adorned  with  many 
sumptuous  buildings  and  aspiring  turrets.  The  second  was  like 
to  the  first,  but  as  high  again  as  the  other.  The  third  was  drawn 
like  a  quadrant,  foursquare,  sixty  cubits  high,  all  of  the  hardest 
marble,  and  so  cemented  as  to  continue  for  ever.  On  the  four 
sides  are  brazen  gates,  near  to  which  are  gallowses  of  brass  twenty 
cubits  high;  these  raised  to  terrify  the  beholders,  and  the  other 
for  the  better  strengthening  and  fortifying  of  the  palace.  On  the 
east  side  of  the  citadel,  about  four  hundred  feet  distant,  stood  a 
mount  called  the  Royal  Mount,  for  here  are  all  the  sepulchres  of 
the  kings,  many  apartments  and  little  cells  being  cut  into  the 
midst  of  the  rock;  into  which  there  is  made  no  direct  passage, 
but  the  coffins  with  the  dead  bodies  are  by  instruments  hoisted 
up,  and  so  let  down  into  these  vaults.  In  this  citadel  are  many 
stately  lodgings,  both  for  the  king  and  his  soldiers,  of  excellent 
workmanship,  and  treasury  chambers  most  commodiously  con 
trived  for  the  laying  up  of  money."  (17.  70.) 

Persia  (Achcemenius,  Persis).     Eleg.  1.  65;   P.  L.  11.  393;   Hist. 

Brit.  (2)  5.  45;    Lit.  Senat.  (44)  7.  235;    (45)  7.  237;    Doct. 

Christ.  (2.  11)  2.  382.     (See  also  Bactria,  Ecbatan,  Hispahan, 

Tauris,  Casbeen.) 

A  country  of  Asia  extending  from  the  Caspian  Sea  to  the 
Indian  Ocean.  In  the  time  of  Milton  it  had  been  visited  and 
described  by  a  number  of  Englishmen,  and  their  accounts  are 
given  by  Hakluyt  and  Purchas.  The  reign  of  Shah  Abbas  (1586- 
1628)  was  a  period  of  prosperity. 

Persian  Bay  (Gulf).     P.  L.  11.  829;  P.  R.  3.  258,  273.     (See  also 

Ormus.) 

The  great  inlet  of  the  Indian  Ocean  separating  Arabia  from 
Persia,  and  receiving  the  waters  of  the  Tigris  and  the  Euphrates. 

Persis.     See  Persia. 

16 


232  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Pertha.     2  Defens.  6.  301. 

Perth,   a   city  of   Perthshire,   Scotland,    on    the   River  Tay. 

Peru  (Peruana  Regna) .  Ad  Patrem  94 ;  P.  L.  1 1 .  408 ;  Animadv. 
(3.  37)  3.  213.  (See  also  Austria,  Cusco,  Guiana,  India  (West).) 
A  country  of  western  South  America,  bordering  on  the  Pacific 
Ocean.  In  Milton's  time  writers  often  applied  the  name  to  all 
of  South  America,  as  he  seems  to  do  in  Ad  Patrem.  The  fol 
lowing  is  one  of  the  accounts  of  the  capture  of  the  Inca  by  the 
Spaniards:  "Atabalipa  the  Indian  Prince  sent  unto  them  to 
know  what  they  did  in  his  Land,  and  what  they  sought  for. 
The  Spaniards  made  answer  that  they  were  the  messengers  of  a 
great  Lord,  and  that  they  came  to  speak  with  the  Prince  himself e, 
who  sent  them  word  that  they  should  come  with  a  very  good 
will,  and  so  Atabalipa  stayed  for  them  at  a  Citie  called  Caxa- 
malca,  being  thirtie  leagues  distant  from  the  Sea  side.  Whither 
being  come,  they  found  the  Indian  Prince  sitting  in  a  Chariot 
of  Gold,  carried  upon  mens  shoulders,  and  accompanied  with 
above  sixtie  thousand  Indians  all  ready  armed  for  the  warres. 
Then  the  Spaniards  told  them  that  they  were  sent  from  an 
Emperour  unto  whom  the  Pope  had  given  all  that  Land,  to 
convert  them  unto  the  Christian  Faith.  .  .  .  Now  while  they 
were  thus  in  talke,  the  Spaniards  discharging  their  two  Field- 
pieces,  and  their  Calivers,  set  upon  the  Indians,  crying  Sant  lago. 
The  Indians  hearing  the  noise  of  the  Ordnance  and  small  shot, 
and  seeing  the  fire,  thought  that  flames  of  fire  had  been  come 
downe  from  Heaven  upon  them;  whereupon  they  fled,  and  left 
their  Prince  as  a  boo  tie  for  the  Spaniards,  whom  they  at  the 
first  intreated  very  gently,  wishing  him  not  to  feare,  for  that  their 
comming  was  onely  to  seeke  for  Gold  and  Silver.  .  .  .  Atabalipa 
told  the  Spaniards  that  if  they  would  release  him,  he  would  give 
them  all  that  they  should  demand.  This  communication  having 
continued  a  whole  day,  at  length  a  Souldier  named  Soto  said 
unto  Atabalipa:  What  wilt  thou  give  us  to  set  thee  free?  The 
Prince  answered:  I  will  give  whatsoever  you  will  demand. 
Whereto  the  Souldier  replied :  Thou  shalt  give  us  this  house  full 
of  Gold  and  Silver,  thus  high,  lifting  up  his  sword,  and  making 
a  stroke  upon  the  wall.  And  Atabalipa  said  that  if  they  would 
grant  him  respite  to  send  unto  his  Kingdome,  he  would  fulfill 
their  demand.  Whereat  the  Spaniards  much  marvelling  gave 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  233 

him  three  moneths  time,  but  hee  had  filled  the  house  in  two 
moneths  and  a  halfe,  a  matter  scarce  credible,  yet  most  true,  for 
I  know  about  twentie  men  that  were  there  at  that  time,  who  all 
affirme  that  it  was  above  ten  millions  of  Gold  and  Silver." 
(Pilgrimes  4.  1445.)  Spenser  twice  mentions  uth'  Indian  Peru." 
(P.  Q.  2.  Pr.  2.  6;  3.  3.  6.  8.) 

Peruana  Regna.     See  Peru. 

Petra.     Tetrach.  (Matt.  19.  3)  4.  207. 

A  city  of  Arabia  Petrsea,  situated  in  the  region  between  the 
Dead  Sea  and  the  ^Elanitic  Gulf. 

Petsora.     See  Pechora. 

Pettislego.     Moscovia  (5)  8.  508. 

Pitsligo,  a  seaport  of  northern  Aberdeenshire,  Scotland. 

Petzora.     See  Pechora. 

Pevensey.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  276,  277,  297.     (See  also  Andred- 

chester.) 

In  describing  the  coast  of  Sussex  Camden  writes:  "We  come 
to  Pevensey,  formerly  the  castle  of  Robert  earl  of  Moreton, 
maternal  brother  to  William  the  Conqueror.  ...  At  present 
only  the  walls  of  the  castle  remain."  (1.  189.)  Pevensey  is 
sometimes  identified  with  Anderida. 

Pharian  Fields.     See  Egypt. 

Pharpar.     P.  L.  1.  469.     (See  also  Abbana,  Damascus.) 

A  river  flowing  from  Mount  Hermon,  south  of  Damascus,  and 
emptying  into  a  lake. 

Philippi   OEmathia   Urbs).     Eleg.   4.    102;    Animadv.    (13.    76) 

3.  225. 

A  city  in  the  eastern  part  of  Macedonia,  where  Saint  Paul 
founded  a  church.  He  was  there  beaten  and  imprisoned.  (Acts 
16.  12-40.) 

Philistean.     See  Philistian. 
Philistia.     See  Palestine. 

Philistian.     P.  L.  9.  1061;    Samson  39,  42,  216,  482,  722,  831, 
1371,  1655,  1714. 
Pertaining  to  Philistia,  or  the  Philistines  (q.  v.). 


234  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Philistines.     Samson  238,  251,  434,  577,  808,  1099,  1189,  1192, 
1363,  1523.     (See  also  Palestine,  Philistian.) 
The  inhabitants  of  Philistia,  neighbors  of  Israel  on  the  west. 

Phlegra.     P.  L.  1.  577;   1  Prolus.  7.  412. 

The  westernmost  of  the  three  headlands  of  the  peninsula  of 
Chalcidice,  in  the  ^Egean.  It  is  said  by  Pindar  to  have  been 
the  scene  of  the  conflict  between  the  gods  and  the  earthborn 
giants.  (Nem.  1.  67.) 

Phoenicia.     P.  L.  1.  438.     (See  also  Assyria.) 

The  country  on  the  east  coast  of  the  Mediterranean,  between 
the  Lebanons  and  the  Sea. 

Phrygia.     Eikonocl.  (17)  3.  466;  ProSe  Defens.  6.  349;  Respons. 

6.  426;  Decl.  Poland  8.  464. 

A  district  of  Asia  Minor,  of  varying  boundaries.  It  bordered 
on  the  Hellespont,  and  extended  into  the  interior. 

Pictland.     Civil  Power  5.  333;   Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  219. 

The  word  in  the  Chronicle  924  that  Milton,  in  Hist.  Brit., 
renders  "Pictland"  is  Peaclond,  that  is,  Peakland,  the  hilly  region 
in  Derbyshire  known  as  the  Peak.  The  land  of  the  Picts  would 
be  the  western  highlands  of  Scotland.  Milton  was  doubtless 
misled  by  the  mention  of  the  Scots  in  the  passage  in  the  Chronicle 9 

Piedmont.     See  Piemont. 

Piemont  (Pedemontanae  Valles,  Piedmont).  Sonnet  15.  7; 
Eikonocl.  (17)  3.  464  (twice);  Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  89;  Hirelings 
5.  371;  Lit.  Oliv.  (16)  7.  257;  (19)  7.  261.  (See  also  Savoy.) 
A  part  of  northwestern  Italy,  partly  mountainous,  bordering  on 

France  and  Switzerland.     In  Milton's  time  it  was  ruled  by  the 

Dukes  of  Savoy. 

Pierus.  Eleg.  4.  31;  2  Leonor.  5;  Ad  Patrem  1;  Mansus  2. 
A  mountain  in  Thessaly  sacred  to  the  Muses,  the  Pierides. 

Pinarolium.     Lit.  Oliv.  (67)  7.  317;   (68)  7.  319. 

Pinerolo,  a  town  of  Piedmont,  Italy. 
Pinega.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  472,  474.     (See  also  Duina.) 

A  river  of  northern  Russia,  tributary  to  the  Dwina.  Jenkinson 
writes  thus:  "I  departed  in  a  little  boate  up  the  great  river  of 
Dwina,  which  runneth  very  swiftly,  and  the  self  same  day  passed 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  235 

by  the  mouth  of  the  river  called  Pinego,  leaving  it  on  our  left 
hand  fifteene  versts  from  Colmogro.  On  both  sides  of  the  mouth 
of  this  river  Pinego  is  high  land,  great  rocks  of  Alablaster,  great 
woods,  and  Pineapple  trees  lying  along  within  the  ground,  which 
by  report  have  lien  there  since  Noes  flood."  (Hak.  1.  312.) 

Pinerolo.     See  Pinarolium. 
Pinho.     See  Penho. 
Pirene.     See  Pyrene. 

Pisa.     Tetrach.  (Canon)  4.  273;   2  Defens.  6.  288. 

A  city  of  Tuscany,  on  the  Arno,  seven  miles  from  the  sea. 
Milton  passed  through  Pisa,  then  under  the  power  of  Florence, 
on  his  way  to  the  latter  city. 

Pisida.     Moscovia  (3)  8.  485. 

A  river  of  Siberia  east  of  Yenisei,  perhaps  the  Lena  or  some  of 
its  tributaries. 

Pisidia.     1  Defens.  (4)  6.  83. 

A  district  of  southern  Asia  Minor. 

Pitsligo.     See  Pettislego. 

Plesco  (Vobsco).  Moscovia  (1)  8.  476  (twice);  (4)  8.  488,  491. 
Pskof,  a  city -of  northwestern  Russia  near  the  lake  of  the 
same  name.  Vobsco  is  another  form  of  the  name,  used  in  the 
time  of  Milton.  (Early  Voyages  to  Russia,  Hakluyt  Soc.,  p. 
cxliv.)  Since  Milton,  in  a  list  of  cities,  gives  both  forms,  with 
"Smolensko"  intervening,  he  seems  to  have  thought  them  the 
names  of  distinct  cities.  He  was  not  alone  in  this  error,  for 
Heylyn,  in  his  Cosmography,  describes  the  town  once  as  Pskow, 
and  again  as  Vobsco.  Milton  was  perhaps  misled  by  his  sources 
(e.  g.,  Hak.  1.  252,  480).  Yet  in  Horsey 's  Observations,  to  which  he 
refers  in  Moscovia  (4)  8.  492,  and  which  he  apparently  had  read, 
we  find  "  Plescoue  (alias  Vobsco)."  (Pilgrimage,ed.  1626,  p.  974.) 

Plimouth.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  356. 

Plymouth,  a  seaport  of  Devonshire,  England. 

Plymouth.     See  Plimouth. 

Podhajecy.     Decl.  Poland  8.  462. 

Podhayce,  a  town  of  Galicia  southeast  of  Lemberg. 

Podlachie.     See  Padlachia. 


236  A  GEOGRAPHICAL    DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Podolia  (Padolia).     Decl.  Poland  8.  462,  466. 
A  part  of  Poland,  watered  by  the  Dniester. 

Poland    (Polonia).     Hirelings   5.   385;    Lit.    Oliv.    (20)    7.    262; 

Decl.  Poland  8.  459,  460  (thrice),  461,  465  (twice),  466,467; 

Moscovia  (1)  8.  471;   (4)  8.  490,  491,  494,  497,  498,  500. 

In  the  time  of  Milton  Poland  extended  from  the  Baltic  to 
the  Black  Sea,  but  its  outlying  territories  were  subject  to  fre 
quent  invasion,  and  often,  especially  in  the  south,  out  of  Polish 
control. 

Polar  Circles.     P.  L.  10.  681. 

The  Arctic  and  Antarctic  Circles. 

Pole.     P.  L.  2.  642;   9.  66;   10.  669. 

In  the  first  reference  the  South  Pole,  in  the  others  both  Poles. 
Where  Milton  elsewhere  uses  the  word  he  refers  to  the  celestial 
poles. 

Pomerania.     Lit.  Rich.  (6)  7.  337;   Decl.  Poland  8.  458. 
A  province  of  Prussia,  on  the  Baltic  Sea. 

Pomisania.     Decl.  Poland  8.  467. 

Pomesania,  part  of  the  present  West  Prussia,  bounded  on  the 
north  and  east  chiefly  by  the  Palatinate  of  Marienburg,  on  the 
south  mainly  by  the  Palatinate  of  Culm,  on  the  west  partly  by 
the  Vistula. 

Pontesbury.     See  Possentesburg. 
Ponthieu.     See  Pontiew. 
Pontic.    See  1.  Pontus. 

Pontiew.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  289. 

Ponthieu,  a  district  of  northern  France,  on  the  Channel. 

1.  Pontus  (Pontic).     P.  L.  5.  340;    P.  R.  3.  36.       , 

A  district  of  Asia  Minor  extending  along  the  shore  of  the  Black 
Sea  from  Colchis  in  the  east  to  the  River  Halys  in  the  west. 
Milton's  reference  to  the  fruits  of  Pontus  suggests  the  following 
in  Strabo's  description  of  the  region:  "The  country  at  the  foot 
of  the  mountains  produces  so  large  an  autumnal  crop  of  spon 
taneous-grown  wild  fruits,  of  the  vine,  the  pear,  the  apple,  and 
hazel,  that,  in  all  seasons  of  the  year,  persons  who  go  into  the 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  237 

woods  to  cut  timber  gather  them  in  large  quantities;  the  fruit 
is  found  either  yet  hanging  upon  the  trees  or  lying  beneath  a 
deep  covering  of  fallen  leaves  thickly  strewn  upon  the  ground." 
(12.  3.  15.) 

2.  Pontus.     P.  L.  9.  77;  P.  R.  2.  347. 

Properly  Pontus  Euxinus,  the  Black  Sea,  the  great  body  of 
water  north  of  Asia  Minor.  For  the  word  Pontus  used  alone 
see  Solinus,  Geography  10.  23.  In  antiquity  fish  caught  in  this 
sea  were  sometimes  pickled  (Athenaeus  3.  116);  Aulus  Gellius 
gives  a  list  of  imported  dainties,  of  which  one  is  young  tunny-fish 
from  Chalcedon  on  Pontus.  (6.  16.  5.)  Dionysius  Periegetes 
describes  the  sea  as  follows:  " Pontus  lies  open  to  men, 
great  and  stretching  toward  the  east  its  great  recess.  Verily, 
its  paths  run  obliquely,  ever  looking  toward  the  north  and  the 
east.  On  this  side  and  on  that  two  promontories  jut  into  the 
midst,  one  on  the  south  which  they  call  Carambis,  the  other  on 
the  north  over  against  the  land  of  Europe,  which  the  dwellers 
nearby  call  the  headland  of  Krion.  These  two  look  toward  one 
another  from  opposite  sides,  though  they  are  not  near,  but  as 
far  asunder  as  a  ship  can  go  in  three  days.  From  this  you  may 
see  that  Pontus  is  a  double  sea,  resembling  the  round  of  a  bow 
and  its  cord.  The  right  of  Pontus  would  present  the  bow-string, 
drawn  straight  along,  if  it  were  not  for  Carambis  alone,  within 
the  string,  and  looking  toward  the  north,  for  the  lefthand  way 
it  presents  the  shape  of  horns,  in  a  double  curve  like  the  horns  of 
a  bow.  Toward  the  north  of  it  the  waters  of  the  Mseotic  Lake 
pour  in.  Round  about  this  the  Scythians  dwell,  numberless 
men,  who  call  it  the  mother  of  Pontus,  for  from  this  the  infinite 
water  of  Pontus  is  taken  straight  through  Cimmerian  Bosporus, 
by  which  many  Cimmerians  live  under  the  cold  foot  of  Taurus." 
(LI.  146-68.)  In  making  Satan  go  north  from  Eden  over  Pontus, 
Milton  may  have  had  in  mind  Xenophon's  account  of  the  retreat 
of  the  Ten  Thousand,  who  went  north  from  Mesopotamia  to  the 
Euxine. 

Portascith.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  288. 

Camden,  to  whom  Milton  refers,  writes  in  his  account  of 
Monmouthshire:  "On  the  sestuary  near  the  mouth  of  the  Wye, 
stands  Portskeweth,  called  Portscith  by  Marianus."  (2.  478.) 
The  name  is  now  Portskewet. 


238  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Porto  Longone.     See  Longonis  Portus. 
Portoricus.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  360  (twice). 

Porto  Rico,  one  of  the  greater  Antilles,  in  the  West  Indies, 
lying  east  of  San  Domingo. 

Portskewet.     See  Portascith. 

Portsmouth.     Eikonocl.  (2)  3.  350,  355;    Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  121; 

(5)  5.  192. 

A  seaport  of  Hampshire,  on  the  English  Channel.  Since  the 
thirteenth  century  it  has  been  one  of  the  chief  harbors  of  England. 
Camden  writes  of  it:  "In  our  time  Queen  Elizabeth  at  great 
expense  fortified  it  so  strongly  with  new  works  that  nothing 
is  wanting  to  make  it  a  place  of  the  greatest  strength."  (1.  120). 
The  account  of  the  origin  of  the  name  from  the  invader  Port  is 
taken  by  Milton  from  Henry  of  Huntingdon.  (1.  12.) 

Portugal  (Lusitania).     Eikonocl.  (9)  3.  403;    (10)  3.  411;    Lit. 

Senat.  (6)  7.  192  (twice);   (10)  7.  196;   (14)  7.  199;   (16)  7.  200; 

Lit.  Oliv.  (30)  7.  273;    (33)  7.  279;    (35)  7.  281;    (39)  7.  286; 

(78)  7.  329;    Lit.  Rich.  (10)  7.  340;   Sixteen  Let.  13  (twice). 

(See  also  Spain.) 

The  country  occupying  the  western  portion  of  the  Iberian 
Peninsula.  In  1640  it  recovered  the  independence  it  had  lost 
to  Spain  in  1580. 

Posilipo.     See  Pausilipum. 

Posnania.     Decl.  Poland  8.  459. 

A  city  of  Poland  on  the  Varta,  a  tributary  of  the  Oder.  Thu- 
anus  (1553—1617)  ranked  it  next  to  Cracow  in  importance. 

Possentesburg.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  161. 
Pontesbury,  Shropshire. 

Poulo  Rhan.     See  Pularonis  Insula. 

Povensa.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  476. 

Povienetz,  a  town  near  the  north  end  of  Lake  Onega  in  north 
west  Russia.  "At  Povensa  there  are  many  warehouses  to  be 
hired,  so  that  if  there  were  as  many  goods  as  ten  ships  could 
carry  away,  you  might  have  warehouses  to  put  it  in."  (Hak.  1. 
368.)  Milton's  description  of  the  town  is  from  Hak.  1.  367. 

Povienetz.     See  Povensa. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  239 

Praeneste.     Grammar  (1)  6.  434. 

A  town  of  Latium,  mentioned  by  Virgil  and  Horace,  now 
Palestrina. 

Promised  Land.     See  Canaan. 
Provence.     See  Provincia. 
Providence.     See  Providentia. 

Providentia  (Catelina).     Contra  Hisp.  7.  358  (twice),  365.     (See 

also  Tortuga.) 

Providence,  or  Old  Providence,  an  island  off  the  Mosquito 
Coast,  now  belonging  to  Colombia.  It  was  occupied  by  the 
English  Providence  Island  Company  from  1629  to  1641.  The 
name  Catelina,  instead  of  Providence,  appears  on  Blaeu's  map 
of  Insulse  Americanae.  A  small  island  north  of  Providence  is 
now  called  Catalina. 

Provincia.     Lit.  Rich.  7.  339. 

Provence,  an  old  province  of  southeastern  France. 

Prussia  (Borussia).     Hist.  Brit.   (5)5.  202;  Lit.   Senat.   (15)   7. 

200;  Decl.  Poland  8.  462,  466;  Moscovia  (4)  8.  488. 

Now  the  largest  division  of  Germany.  According  to  Ortelius 
the  region  bordering  on  the  Baltic,  and  included  between  the 
Vistula  and  the  Niemen.  (P.  94.) 

Pskof.     See  Plesco. 

Puclekerke.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  229. 

Camden,  to  whom  Milton  refers  in  a  note,  writes:  "The  Avon 
falling  into  the  Severn,  parts  the  counties  of  Gloucester  and 
Somerset,  and  not  far  from  its  bank  is  Pucklechurch,  formerly  a 
royal  vill  called  Pucklekerke."  (1.  262.) 

Puerto  Rico.     See  Portoricus. 

Pularonis  Insula.     Lit.  Senat.  (44)  7.  234.     (See  also  Banda.) 

Poulo  Rhan,  one  of  the  isles  of  Banda,  in  the  Moluccas.  It  is 
described  in  Pilgrimes  1.  689  under  the  name  of  Poolaroone. 

Punic  Coast.     P.  L.  5.  340;   P.  R.  3.  102. 

The  modern  Tunisia,  the  ancient  territory  of  Carthage.  Pliny 
says  of  one  part  of  it:  "Exceeding  fertile  and  plenteous,  where 


240  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

the  ground  sowne  yeeldeth  againe  to  the  husbandman  100  fold 
encrease."  (5.  4.)  The  Latin  term  for  pomegranate  is  malum 
Punicum,  which  Milton  may  have  had  in  mind  when  mentioning 
the  Punic  Coast  in  connection  with  fruit.  It  is  true  that  the 
coast  is  the  fertile  part  of  the  country,  the  interior  being  less 
productive. 

Purbeck.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  238. 

A  peninsula  called  the  Isle  of  Purbeck,  part  of  Dorsetshire. 

Pustozera.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  473. 

Pustozersk,  a  city  not  far  from  the  mouth  of  the  Pechora 
River,  in  northern  Russia.  Gourdon  tells  how,  in  going  up  this 
river,  he  "came  to  the  Towne  of  Pustozera,  which  standeth 
upon  a  lake."  (Pilgrimes  3.  533.)  The  map  of  Russia  by 
Jenkinson  shows  Pustozera  some  distance  upstream,  on  "the 
river  spreading  to  a  lake."  (Ortelius,  p.  99.) 

Pyrene.     Eleg.  5.  10. 

The  fountain  of  Pirene,  at  Corinth,  which  Pindar  calls  the 
city  of  Pirene.  (01.  13.  86.)  The  fountain  was  connected  with 
the  Muses  by  Roman  poets,  since  it  was  said  to  have  been  the 
place  where  Bellerophon  caught  Pegasus. 

Pythian  Fields.     P.  L.  2.  530.     (See  also  Delphos.) 

The  Crissaean  Plain,  below  Delphi,  where  the  Pythian  Games 
were  held.  The  plain  was  the  property  of  the  Delphic  priest 
hood. 

Pythian  Vale.     See  Delphos. 

Quatbrig.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  210. 

Bridgenorth,  on  the  River  Severn,  Shropshire. 

Queene-Hithe.     Animadv.   (5.  50)  3.  223.     (See  also  Charing 

Cross.)     ^ 

A  haven  in  the  city  of  London  where  ships  landed  their 
cargoes.  Stow  calls  it  "a  large  receptacle  for  shippes,  lighters, 
barges  and  such  other  vessels."  (2.  6.)  Milton's  reference  is 
explained  by  the  ballad  entitled  The  Lamentable  Fall  of  Queen 
Eleanor,  in  which  we  read  that  the  queen  sank  into  the  ground  at 
Charing  Cross  and  rose  up  at  Queen-Hithe.  (The  Roxburghe 
Ballads,  Hertford,  1874,  vol.  2,  p.  73.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  241 

Quiloa.     P.  L.  11.  399.     (See  also  Mozambique.) 

Kilwa-Kisiwani,  a  seaport  on  an  island  off  the  coast  of  Ger 
man  East  Africa.  In  Purchas  it  is  described  after  Mozambique : 
"Another  Hand,  called  Quiloa,  in  quantitie  not  great,  but  in 
excellency  singular,  for  it  is  situate  in  a  very  coole  and  fresh 
Ayre.  It  is  replenished  with  Trees  that  are  alwaies  greene,  and 
affordeth  all  varietie  of  Victuals.  .  .  .  This  Hand  is  inhabited 
with  Mahometans  also,  which  are  of  colour  something  whitish. 
They  are  well  apparelled,  and  trimly  adorned  with  Cloath  of 
Silke  and  Cotton.  Their  Women  doe  use  ornaments  of  Golde, 
and  Jewels  about  their  hands  and  their  necks,  and  have  good 
store  of  household-stuffe  made  of  Silver.  They  are  not  altogether 
so  blacke  as  the  men  are,  and  in  their  limbs  they  are  very  well 
proportioned.  Their  houses  are  made  of  Stone,  and  Lime,  and 
Timber,  very  well  wrought,  and  of  good  Architecture,  with 
Gardens  and  Orchards,  full  of  Hearbs  and  sundry  Fruits.  Of  this 
Hand  the  whole  Kingdome  tooke  the  Name,  which  ...  is 
situate  in  nine  degrees  toward  the  South.  ...  In  old  time  the 
Kingdome  of  Quiloa  was  the  chiefest  of  all  the  Principalities 
there  adjoyning,  and  stood  neere  to  the  Sea.  But  when  the 
Portugals  arrived  in  those  Countries,  the  King  trusted  so  much 
to  himselfe,  that  he  thought  he  was  able  with  his  owne  forces 
not  onely  to  defend  himselfe  against  them,  but  also  to  drive  them 
from  those  places  which  they  had  already  surprised.  Howbeit 
the  matter  fell  out  quite  contrary.  For  when  it  came  to 
Weapons,  he  was  utterly  overthrowne  and  discomfited  by  the 
Portugals,  and  so  fled  away.  But  they  tooke  and  possessed  the 
Hand,  and  enriched  themselves  with  the  great  spoyles  and  booties 
that  they  found  therein."  (Pilgrimes  2.  1023.)  Quiloa  is  men 
tioned  in  the  Lusiads  of  Camoens.  (1.  99;  10.  26.) 

Quirini  Arx.     Quint.  Nov.  53. 
The  citadel  of  Rome,  on  the  Capitol  (q.  v.). 

Rabba.     P.  L.  1.  397. 

A  city  of  Palestine,  later  known  as  Philadelphia,  in  the  land 
east  of  Jordan,  on  the  River  Jabbok.  It  was  such  an  important 
city  of  the  Ammonites,  that  its  name  stands  for  the  whole  country 
in  Jeremiah  49.  When  Milton  wrote  of  the  "watry  plain,"  he 
probably  had  in  mind  the  fourth  verse  of  this  chapter:  "Where- 


242  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

fore  gloriest  them  in  the  valleys,  thy  flowing  valley,  O  backsliding 
daughter?  that  trusted  in  her  treasures,  saying,  Who  shall  come 
unto  me?"  Cf.  also  2  Samuel  12.  27.  The  maps  of  the  period 
place  Rabbah  as  far  north  as  the  southern  end  of  the  Sea  of 
Galilee.  Milton  uses  the  Vulgate  form,  that  in  the  Authorized 
Version  being  Rabbah  or  Rabbath.  Fuller  says  the  name  means 
"great  or  spacious,"  which  perhaps  accounts  for  Milton's  word 
"plain."  There  are  plains  in  the  region  of  the  city,  but  it  was 
itself  situated  on  a  high  hill. 

Radnorshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  115. 

A  county  of  central  Wales,  bordering  on  England. 

Ramah.     Doct.  Christ.  (2.  11)  2.  380. 

An  ancient  city  of  Palestine,  in  the  land  of  Zuph,  in  the  hill 
country  of  Ephraim.  It  is  not  certainly  identified. 

Ramath-Lechi.     Samson  145;  MS.  2.  110. 

A  place  in  southern  Palestine,  the  exact  situation  of  which  is 
not  known.  Milton's  reference  is  to  the  account  in  Judges  15. 
His  spelling  of  the  second  component  is  that  of  the  Vulgate. 

Ramoth.     P.  R.  1.  373. 

One  of  the  Israelitish  cities  of  refuge  in  Gilead.  Milton's 
reference  is  to  2  Chronicles  18. 

Ravenna.     Reformation   (2)   3.  39  (twice);  Hist.    Brit.    (3)    5. 

103. 

A  city  of  northeast  Italy, .near  the  Adriatic.  It  gave  its  name 
to  the  surrounding  territory,  called  the  Exarchate  because  ruled 
for  a  time  by  an  exarch  from  Byzantium. 

Reading.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  200;   (6)  5.  247. 

Asser,  to  whom  Milton  refers  in  a  note,  speaks  of  "the  royal 
vill  called  Reading,  situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Thames 
in  the  district  called  Berkshire."  (Chap.  35.) 

Reana.     See  Rhee. 

Red  Sea  (Erythrean  Sea,  Rubrum  Mare).     Ps.  136.  48;  Damon. 

185;  P.  L.  1.  306;  12.  195,  212;  P.  R.  3.  438. 

The  gulf  of  the  Indian  Ocean  lying  between  Arabia  and  Africa. 
Milton  may  derive  his  reference  to  the  "scattered  sedge  afloat" 
from  the  name  of  the  sea  in  Hebrew,  which  means  "sedgy  sea." 
The  idea  of  "fierce  winds"  may  come  from  Exodus  14.  21,  or  1 
Kings  22.  48,  where  the  ships  mentioned  may  be  supposed  to 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  243 

have  been  broken  by  a  storm.  In  Damon.  185  the  "Rubrum 
Mare"  is  probably  to  be  understood  in  the  ancient  sense  as  the 
Arabian  and  Persian  Gulfs  together. 

Remnis.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  116. 

The  Remny,  a  river  separating  Monmouthshire  from  Glamor 
ganshire.  The  site  of  the  monastery  mentioned  by  Milton  was 
unknown  to  Camden. 

Remny.     See  Remnis. 
Reno.     See  Rheno. 

Rependune  (Repton).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  203  (thrice). 
Repton,  a  village  in  Derbyshire  on  the  Trent. 

Repton.     See  Rependune. 

Revel.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  476. 

A  seaport  of  Russia,  on  the  southern  shore  of  the  Gulf  of 
Finland.  It  has  been  an  important  commercial  city  since  1238, 
when  merchants  of  the  Hanseatic  League  settled  there.  The 
English  hoped  to  divert  trade  from  Revel  to  their  own  establish 
ments  on  the  White  Sea.  (Hak.  1.  300.) 

Rezan.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  475. 

Riazan,  a  city  of  Russia  on  the  River  Oka,  a  tributary  of  the 
Volga.  Jenkinson  writes,  in  describing  his  journey  by  water 
from  Moscow  to  Astracan:  "We  came  unto  the  place  where  old 
Rezan  was  situate,  being  now  most  of  it  ruined  and  overgrowne." 
(Pilgrimes  3.  231.) 

Rhee  (Reana).     Eikonocl.  (9)  3.  400;   7  Prolus.  7.  455. 

An  island  opposite  La  Rochelle,  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  to  which 
in  1627  the  English,  commanded  by  the  Duke  of  Buckingham, 
made  an  unsuccessful  expedition. 

Rheims.     See  Rhemes. 

Rhemes.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  31. 

Rheims,  a  city  of  the  department  of  the  Marne,  France. 

Rhene.     See  Rhine. 

Rheno.     Sonnet  2.  2. 

The  Reno,  a  river  of  northeastern  Italy,  which  flows  near 
Bologna  and  empties  into  the  Po. 


244  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Rhine.     P.  L.  1.  353;   Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  86;   (3)  5.  111. 

A  river  of  Europe  rising  in  Switzerland  and  flowing  into  the 
North  Sea.  Milton's  form  "  Rhene  "  is  close  to  the  Latin  Rhenus. 

Rhodes.     Areopag.  4.  398;   Grammar  (2)  6.  480;   Logic  (1.  14) 
7.46. 
An  island  off  the  coast  of  Smyrna,  Asia  Minor. 

Rhodope.     P.  L.  7.  35. 

A  mountain-chain  on  the  boundary  of  Thrace  and  Macedonia, 
on  which  there  was  a  great  sanctuary  of  Dionysus.      Milton 
refers  to  the  story  told  by  Ovid  in  Met.  10.  77  ff. 
Riazan.     See  Rezan. 

Ribla.     MS.  2.  111. 

A  city  on  the  River  Orontes  in  Syria;  it  is  mentioned  in  2 
Kings  25.  6.  The  geographers  of  the  time  of  Milton  (e.  g.,  Ful 
ler,  p.  100,  map)  placed  it  near  the  Waters  of  Merom,  on  the 
course  of  the  Jordan. 

Rical.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  295. 

A  towne  on  the  Ouse  below  York. 

Richborrow.     See  Rutupiae. 

Riga.     Sixteen  Let.  14  (thrice). 

A  city  on  the  Gulf  of  Riga,  Russia;  in  Milton's  day  it  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  Swedes. 

Ringmere.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  250. 

Of  unknown  situation.  Milton  depends  on  Florence  of 
Worcester,  A.D.  1010. 

Riphaean  Mountains.     1  Defens.  (5)  6.  99;   Moscovia  (1)  8.  473. 
The  Riphaean  Mountains  were  considered  by  the  Greeks  the 
northern  limit  of  the  world  and  fabulous  tales  were  told  of  them. 
(Aristotle,  Meteorology  1.  13.)     We  read  in  Virgil: 

Mundus  ut  ad  Scythiam  Riphaeasque  arduus  arces 
Consurgit. 

(Georg.  1.  240-1.) 

The  geographical  writers  (e.  g.,  Mela  1.  19)  placed  these  moun 
tains  in  the  unknown  north,  beyond  babarous  Scythia,  and  made 
them  the  source  of  the  Tanais  (Don) .  The  confidence  of  travelers 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON  245 

of  the  sixteenth  century  in  the  ancient  geographers  is  shown 
by  the  attempt  of  Chancellor  to  discover  these  mountains  in 
Russia.  He  says,  in  a  passage  partly  quoted  by  Milton: 
"Touching  the  Riphean  mountaines,  whereupon  the  snow  lieth 
continually,  and  where  hence  in  times  past  it  was  thought  that 
Tanais  the  river  did  spring,  and  that  the  rest  of  the  wonders  of 
nature,  which  the  Grecians  fained  and  invented  of  olde,  were 
there  to  be  scene:  our  men  which  lately  came  from  thence 
neither  sawe  them,  nor  yet  have  brought  home  any  perfect  rela 
tion  of  them,  although  they  remained  there  for  the  space  of 
three  moneths,  and  had  gotten  in  that  time  some  intelligence 
of  the  language  of  Moscovie.  The  whole  Countrey  is  plaine 
and  champion,  and  few  hills  in  it."  (Hak.  1.  248.) 

In  1  Defens.  Milton  uses  the  Riphaean  Mountains  in  connection 
with  the  Arctic  Ocean  to  indicate  a  remote  and  uncivilized  land. 
Virgil  uses  them  in  much  the  same  way : 

Solus  Hyperboreas  glacies  Tanaimque  nivalem 
Arvaque  Rhipaeis  numquam  viduata  pruinis 
Lustrabat. 

(Georg.l.  517-9.) 
Ripon.     See  Ripun. 

Ripun.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  182. 

Ripon,  a  cathedral  town  in  Yorkshire. 

Roan  (Rothomagus).     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  253;  Commonplace  245. 
Rouen  (Latin,  Rotomagi),  a  city  of  France  on  the  Seine,  once 
the  capital  of  Normandy. 

Rochel.     Eikonocl.  (2)  3.  353.     (See  also  Rhee.) 

La  Rochelle,  a  seaport  of  France  on  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  It  was 
a  stronghold  of  the  Huguenots,  taken,  in  spite  of  an  English 
expedition  for  its  relief,  by  Richelieu  in  1628. 

Rochester  (Rotchester).     Reformation  (2)  3.  41;   Hist.  Brit.  (4) 
5.  142,  146,  153,  164;   (5)  5.  192,  206;   (6)  5.  240,  243. 
A  city  of  Kent,  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Medway. 

Rome  (Roma,  Roman  Empire).  Eleg.  6.  27;  2  Prod.  Bomb.  8; 
4  Prod.  Bomb.  1;  1  Leonor.,  title;  Quint.  Nov.  155;  Ad  Sal. 
21;  Damon.  115;  Vane  3;  P.  L.  9.  510,  671;  11.  405;  P.  R. 
1.  217;  3.  158,  362,  368,  385;  4.  45,  80,  81,  91,  360;  Ref 
ormation  (1)  3.  6,  12,  17  (twice),  18,  27;  (2)  3.35,38,39, 


246  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

49,  53;  Episcopacy  3.  75  (twice),  76,  78  (twice),  79,  82  (twice), 
86  (twice),  87  (twice),  91;  Church-gov.  (1.  Pref.)  3.  96;  (1.  6) 
3.  125,  129;  (2.  Pref.)  3.  145;  (2.  3)  3.  158,  160  (twice); 
Animadv.  (1.  4)  3.  192;  (13.  127)  3.  232;  (PS.  166)  3.  245 
(twice);  Apology  (11)  3.  315  (thrice),  316,  317,  318;  (12)  3. 
321  (twice);  Eikonocl.  (7)  3.  389;  (9)  3.  403;  (12)  3.  432; 
(15)  3.  452;  (27)  3.  507  (twice);  (28)  3.  521,  522;  Divorce 
(Pref.)  4.  11  (twice);  (2.  2)  4.  61;  (2.  11)  4.  90;  (2.  21)  4.  120, 
124;  Tetrach.  (Gen.  1.  28)  4.  152;  (Gen.  2.  18)  4.  160;  (Matt. 

5.  31,  32)  4.  201;  (Matt.  19.3)4.  207;  (Fathers)  4.  263;  Bucer: 
Divorce  (15)  4.  307;  (22)  4.  313;  (24)  4.  317;  Colast.  4.  363;  Areo- 
pag.  4.  402,  440;  Kings  &  Mag.  4.  472,  491;  Ormond  4.  561; 
Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  19,  22  (twice) ;    (2)  5.  29,  43,  48  (twice),  50,  53 
(twice),  73  (twice),  75,  76,  77,  79  (twice),  84,  92,  93;  (3)  99, 
101,  102  (twice),  106;    (4)  5.  137,  138,  142,  143,  161,  162,  164, 
167,  169,  171  (twice),  174,  186;    (5)  5.  194  (twice),  196,  203, 
213,  221,  231;    (6)  5.  265  (twice),  267  (twice),  277,  284,  287, 
294;   Civil  Power  5.  308,  317;   Hirelings  5.  387;   Easy  Way  5. 
426,  436,  437  (twice),  438;    1  Defens.  (3)  6.  57,  68;    (5)  6.  108 
(twice);   110  (twice);  (6)  6.  124;  2  Defens.  6.  288  (thrice),  289; 
Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  383,  391;    Respons.  6.  419;    Grammar  (2) 

6.  480  (twice),  485;   Logic.  (1.  18)  7.  56;   (1.  20)  7.  65  (twice); 
(1.  22)  7.  73  (twice);    (1.  27)  7.  89;    Epist.  Fam.  (8)  7.  380; 
(9)  7.  382,  383;  5  Prolus.  7.  437,  438;   7  Prolus.  7.  451  (twice); 
Moscovia  (4)  8.  499;   Doct.  Christ.  (1.  29)  2.  146,  149;   Com 
monplace  179,  197  (twice),  248. 

Milton's  description  of  Rome  in  Paradise  Regained  may  be 
supposed  to  depend  on  his  own  observation,  for  he  spent  in  all 
about  four  months  in  Rome,  two  before  going  to  Naples,  and  two 
on  his  return.  Of  his  first  visit  he  writes:  "The  antiquity  of 
that  city  and  its  ancient  renown  held  me  almost  two  months; 
and  there  I  enjoyed  the  society  of  the  most  refined,  both  Lucas 
Holstenius,  and  other  men  as  learned  as  they  were  able."  (1 
Defens.  (3)  6.  288.)  One  of  his  Familiar  Letters  is  addressed  to 
Holstenius,  who  was  librarian  of  the  Vatican,  and  showed  Milton 
some  of  the  rare  books  under  his  charge.  He  also  introduced 
the  poet  to  Cardinal  Barberini,  who  showed  Milton  attention  at 
a  concert  given  at  his  palace,  and  later  granted  a  private  inter 
view.  Here,  or  elsewhere  in  Rome,  Milton  heard  the  singing  of 
Leonora  Baroni,  to  whom  he  addressed  three  short  Latin  poems. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  247 

Another  acquaintance  was  the  Roman  poet  Salsillus,  to  whom 
he  addressed  a  Latin  poem,  and  with  whom  he  seems  to  have 
walked  about  the  city.  Of  his  visit  after  his  return  from  Naples 
Milton  writes:  "The  merchants  warned  me  that  they  had 
learnt  by  letters  that  snares  were  being  laid  for  me  by  the 
English  Jesuits,  if  I  should  return  to  Rome,  on  the  ground  that 
I  had  spoken  too  freely  concerning  religion.  For  I  had  made 
this  resolution  with  myself:  not,  indeed,  of  my  own  accord  to 
introduce  in  those  places  conversation  about  religion,  but  if 
interrogated  respecting  the  faith,  then,  whatsoever  I  should 
suffer,  to  dissemble  nothing.  To  Rome,  therefore,  I  did  return, 
notwithstanding  what  I  had  been  told.  What  I  was,  if  any  one 
asked,  I  concealed  from  no  one;  if  anyone,  in  the  very  City  of 
the  Pope,  attacked  the  orthodox  religion,  I,  as  before,  for  a  second 
space  of  nearly  two  months,  defended  it  most  freely."  (2  Defens. 
6.  288,  trans.  Masson.)  One  incident  of  his  visit  is  given  by 
the  following  entry  in  the  Travellers'  Book  of  the  English  College 
at  Rome:  "The  30th  of  October  there  dined  in  our  college,  and 
were  hospitably  received,  the  following  English  gentlemen:  the 
most  distinguished  Mr.  N.  Cary,  brother  of  Lord  Falkland,  Dr. 
Holding  of  Lancaster,  Mr.  N.  Fortescue,  and  Mr.  Milton,  with 
his  servant."  (Masson,  Life  of  Milton  1.  800.)  On  the  life  of 
the  city  Milton  speaks  but  once,  mentioning  the  quacks  and 
venders  of  nostrums  he  saw  in  the  streets.  (Pro  Se  Defens.  6. 
383.) 

What  Milton  was  likely  to  have  seen  can  be  learned  from 
the  Diary  of  John  Evelyn,  who  visited  Rome  six  years  later. 
Perhaps  Milton,  as  a  Puritan,  would  have  been  more  hostile 
than  Evelyn  to  much  that  he  saw.  The  following  is  Evelyn's 
description  of  a  visit  to  the  Vatican  Library:  "This  Library  is 
the  most  nobly  built,  furnish'd,  and  beautified  of  any  in  the 
world;  ample,  stately,  light,  and  cherefull,  looking  into  a  most 
pleasant  garden.  The  walls  and  roofe  are  painted,  not  with 
antiques  and  grotescs,  like  our  Bodleian  at  Oxford,  but  emblems, 
figures,  diagrams,  and  the  like  learned  inventions,  found  out  by 
the  wit  and  industry  of  famous  men,  of  which  there  are  now  whole 
volumes  extant.  There  were  likewise  the  effigies  of  the  most 
illustrious  men  of  letters  and  fathers  of  the  Church,  with  divers 
noble  statues  in  white  marble  at  the  entrance,  viz.  Hippolitus 
and  Aristides.  The  Generall  Councils  are  painted  on  the  side 
17 


248  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

walls.  As  to  the  ranging  of  the  bookes,  they  are  all  shut  up  in 
presses  of  wainscot,  and  not  expos'd  on  shelves  to  the  open  ayre, 
nor  are  the  most  precious  mix'd  amongst  the  more  ordinary, 
which  are  show'd  to  the  curious  onely;  such  as  are  those  two 
Virgils  written  in  parchment,  of  more  then  a  thousand  yeares  old ; 
the  like  a  Terence;  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  in  golden  capital 
letters;  Petrarch's  Epigrams,  written  with  his  owne  hand;  also 
an  Hebrew  parchment  made  up  in  the  ancient  manner,  from 
whence  they  were  first  call'd  Volumnia,  with  the  Cornua;  but 
what  we  English  do  much  enquire  after,  the  booke  which  our 
Hen.  VIII  writ  against  Luther.  The  longest  roome  is  100  paces 
long;  at  the  end  is  the  gallery  of  printed  books:  then  the  gallery 
of  the  D.  of  Urbans  librarie,  in  which  are  MSS.  of  remarkable 
miniature,  and  divers  China,  Mexican,  Samaritan,  Abyssin,  and 
other  Oriental  books.  In  another  wing  of  the  edifice,  200  paces 
long,  were  all  the  bookes  taken  from  Heidelburg,  of  which  the 
learned  Gruter  and  other  greate  scholars  had  been  keepers. 
These  walls  and  volto  are  painted  with  representations  of  the 
machines  invented  by  Domenico  Fontana  for  erection  of  the 
obelisqs;  and  the  true  designe  of  Mahomet's  sepulchre  at  Mecca." 
(Jan.  18,  1645.) 

Rose  Island.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  472. 

Rose  Island,  in  the  estuary  of  the  Dwina,  "was  separated 
from  the  mainland,  on  which  stood  the  monastery  of  St.  Nicholas, 
by  the  narrow,  southernmost  mouth  of  the  Dwina,  called  in  old 
documents  Malokurje."  (Early  Voyages  to  Russia,  Hak.  Soc., 
p.  191.)  Milton's  description  is  quoted  with  little  change  from 
the  passage  to  which  he  refers,  Hak.  1.  365. 

Rost  Islands.     Moscovia  (5)  8.  503. 

The  name  is  now  applied  to  a  single  small  island,  the  southern 
most  of  the  Lofoten  chain,  off  the  western  coast  of  Norway,  south 
of  the  Maelstrom.  Milton's  source  is  Hak.  1.  235,  310. 

Rostove.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  474. 

Rostow,  a  city  of  Russia  northeast  of  Moscow.  It  is  mentioned 
in  Hak.  1.  312,  to  which  Milton  refers  in  a  note. 

Rotchester.     See  Rochester. 
Rothomagus.     See  Roan. 
Rouen.     See  Roan. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  249 

Rubrum  Mare.    See  Red  Sea. 

Russia  (Moscovia,  Muscovy).     P.  L.  10.  431;   11.  394;  Areopag. 

4.  437;   Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  127  (twice);    Lit.  Oliv.  (46)  7.  296; 

Decl.  Poland  8.  462,  465,  466;  Moscovia  (Pref.)  8.  470  (thrice); 

(1)  8.  471,  474,  481;    (2)  8.  482,  484;    (3)  8.  488;  (4)  8.  488, 

489    (twice),  490,  491  (thrice),  492    (4  times),  498,  499,  500 

(twice),  501;  (5)  8.  502   (twice),  505,  507,  510,  511,  512,  515; 

Commonplace  112. 

Milton  gives  the  bounds  of  Russia,  considerably  less  than 
those  of  the  present  Russia  in  Europe,  at  the  beginning  of 
Moscovia. 

Russian  Sea.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  481. 

The  reference,  as  a  note  indicates,  is  from  Hak.  1.  252.  The 
Russian  Sea  is  the  part  of  the  Arctic  Ocean  adjoining  the  "North 
parts  of  Russia." 

Rutupiae  (Richborrow,  Haven  Trutulensis).     Damon.  162;  Hist. 

Brit.  (2)  5.  72,  86,  87. 

Camden,  to  whom  Milton  refers,  says  in  his  description  of 
Kent:  "At  the  southern  mouth  of  the  Wantsum  .  .  .  stood 
a  city  called  by  Ptolomy  Rhutupise,  by  Tacitus  Portus  Trutu 
lensis,  .  .  .  now  Richborow.  .  .  .  The  greatest  consequence  of 
this  place  was  in  the  time  of  the  Romans.  From  hence  was  the 
most  usual  passage  into  Britain,  and  the  Roman  fleets  made  this 
port."  (1.  217.)  Camden  quotes  from  Juvenal: 

Rhutupinove  edita  funda 
Ostrea.  (Satires  4.  69.) 

Also  from  Lucan: 

Aut  vaga  cum  Thetis  Rhutupinaque  littora  fervent. 

(Pharsalia  6.  67.) 
Ruvo.     Commonplace  189. 

A  town  in  Apulia,  Italy. 

Sabaean.    See  Sabean. 

Sabaudia  (Allobrogum  Ducatus).  Lit.  Oliv.  (9)  7.  248;  (10)  7. 
249  (twice);  (11)  7.  250,  251  (twice);  (12)  7.  252  (twice);  (13) 
7.  253  (twice),  254;  (15)  7.  255,  256;  (16)  7.  257;  (67)  7.  317; 
(68)  7.  319;  (69)  7.  320;  Sixteen  Let.  1  (4  times),  16.  (See 
also  Piemont.) 


250  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Savoy,  a  mountainous  region,  now  part  of  France,  bordering 
on  Italy.  In  the  time  of  Milton  it  was  ruled  by  the  dukes  of 
Savoy,  also  called  the  dukes  of  the  Allobroges,  from  the  Latin 
name  of  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  the  region.  The  Waldenses 
or  Vaudois  had  their  home  there. 

Sabean   (Sabaean).     Comus  996   (according  to  the  Cambridge 
MS.  "Sabaean"  was  first  written,  then  "Elysian"  substituted) ; 
P.  L.  4.  162.     (See  also  Arabia.) 
Pertaining  to  Sheba,  the  land  of  the  Sabeans,  in  Arabia  Felix, 

usually  identified  with  Yemen,  in  southeast  Arabia.     For  the 

fame  of  its  spices  see  2  Chronicles  9.  9. 

Sabini.     Quint.  Nov.  50. 
An  ancient  Italian  people  living  north  of  Latium. 

Sabrina.     See  Severn. 

Saint  Albanes.     See  Verulam. 

Saint  Angelo.     Areopag.  4.  427. 

The  Castle  of  Saint  Angelo,  or  Mole  of  Hadrian,  is  a  great 
circular  building  at  Rome,  near  the  Vatican,  for  years  a  papal 
fortress. 

Saint  Croix.     See  Sancta  Crux. 

Saint  Hugh.     Areopag.  4.  433. 

Apparently  a  reference  to  a  church,  but  there  was  never  a 
church  of  that  name  in  London.  See  Hales'  note  in  his  edition 
of  the  Areopagitica,  pp.  131,  153. 

Saint  Jean  de  Luz.     See  Joannis  de  Luz. 

Saint  Martin.     Areopag.  4.  433. 

Saint  Martin  le  Grand,  a  church  in  London.  Cheap  articles, 
such  as  beads  and  lace,  were  manufactured  in  its  neighborhood. 

Saint  Nicholas.     Moscovia  (1)   8.  472,  473,  474  (twice);    476 

(thrice);  (5)  8.  505,  510,  511,  515. 

A  town,  seldom  represented  on  modern  maps,  situated  on  the 
shore  of  the  White  Sea,  at  the  west  side  of  the  estuary  of  the 
Dwina,  as  is  shown  by  Jenkinson's  maps  of  Russia.  (Ortelius, 
p.  99.)  The  White  Sea  was  called  by  Jenkinson  the  Bay  of  Saint 
Nicholas.  (Hak.  1.  311.)  Milton,  as  he  indicates  by  a  note, 
took  his  account  of  the  Abbey  of  Saint  Nicholas  from  Hak.  1.  376. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  251 

1.  Saint  Thomas.     Areopag.  4.  433. 

The  older  name  of  the  Mercers'  chapel  in  Cheapside,  London. 

2.  Saint  Thomas.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  213. 

The  shrine  of  St.  Thomas  the  Apostle  is  at  Myalpur,  three 
miles  south  of  Madras,  India.  William  of  Malmesbury,  Milton's 
authority,  gives  two  accounts  of  the  journey  of  Sigelm,  both  of 
which  are  in  Hakluyt.  One  of  them  is  as  follows:  "Sighelmus 
being  for  the  performance  of  the  kings  almes  sent  beyond  the  seas, 
and  travailing  unto  S.  Thomas  of  India,  very  prosperously  (which 
a  man  would  wonder  at  in  this  age)  passed  through  the  sayde 
countrey  of  India,  and  returning  home  brought  with  him  divers 
strange  and  precious  stones,  such  as  that  Climate  affourdeth. 
Many  of  which  stones  are  as  yet  extant  in  the  monuments  of  the 
Church."  (2.  1.  5.)  Marco  Polo  also  gives  a  description  of 
the  shrine. 

Saint  Valerie.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  295,  296. 

A  seaport  of  France,  on  the  English  Channel  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Somme. 

Salamanca.     Apology  (10)  3.  310. 

A  city  of  western  Spain,  famous  for  its  university,  which  in 
the  Middle  Ages  gave  the  city  the  name  of  "mother  of  virtues, 
sciences,  and  arts." 

Salamis.     Divorce  (2.  11)  4.  90;  Logic  (1.  33)  7.  102  (thrice). 

An  island  of  Greece,  in  the  Saronic  Gulf,  opposite  the  harbor 
of  Athens.  The  bay  between  Salamis  and  Attica  was  the  scene 
of  the  battle  of  Salamis. 

1.  Salem.     P.  R.  2.  21. 

A  place  west  of  Jordan  near  ^Enon,  where  John  the  Baptist 
baptised.  (John  3.  23.)  The  name  is  usually  given  as  Salim. 
Milton's  spelling  may  be  explained  by  an  identification  of  the 
place  with  the  Salem  of  Genesis  14.  18  (Adrichomius,  p.  74), 
mentioned  in  Hirelings  5.  348. 

2.  Salem.     Hirelings  5.  348;   MS.  2.  109.     (See  also  3.  Salem.) 
Of  unknown  situation;    sometimes  identified  with  Jerusalem. 

It  is  mentioned  in  Genesis  14.  18. 

3.  Salem.     See  Jerusalem. 
Salim.     See  1.  Salem. 


252  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Salisbury.     See  Salsbury. 

Salmurium   (Saumur).     Epist.  Fam.   (24)   7.  403  (twice);    (25) 

7.  404;   Doct.  Christ.  (1.  5)  1.  162. 

The  Latin  form  of  Saumur,  a  town  of  France  on  the  Loire, 
celebrated  for  its  trade  in  wines. 

Salonica.    See  Thessalonica. 

Salsbury    (Sarum,   Searesbirig).     Animadv.    (PS.    164)    3.    245; 

Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  128;  (6)  5.  246;  MS.  2.  112. 

Old  Sarum,  two  miles  north  of  modern  Salisbury.  It  was 
once  an  important  city,  but  now  only  ruins  remain.  Camden 
calls  it  "  a  small  village."  (1.  90.) 

Salymon.    See  Jerusalem. 

Samarchand.     P.  L.  11.  389. 

A  city  of  central  Asia,  now  under  the  rule  of  Russia.  It  is 
situated  on  the  Zerafshan,  which  flows  into  the  basin  of  the 
Oxus  (Amu  Daria)  and  loses  itself  in  the  sand  without  joining 
the  Oxus.  The  city  is,  as  Milton  says,  famous  as  the  capital 
of  Temir,  or  Tamburlaine.  Purchas  presents  the  following 
narratives:  "Tamburlane  returned  to  Samercand,  in  which 
citie  he  delighted  greatly  to  remayne,  because  the  situation 
thereof  was  very  faire;  and  for  that  the  citie  is  accompanied 
with  a  faire  River,  which  causeth  great  Traffique,  and  maketh  it 
richer  than  any  Citie  within  that  Countrey."  (Pilgrimes  3.  142.) 
"We  arrived  at  the  last  at  Samarcand  with  all  our  spoyles  in 
very  great  magnificence,  where  after  we  had  been  the  space  of 
one  moneth  or  two  in  Feastings  and  Magnificences,  the  Emperour 
with  his  accustomed  Devotion  having  vowed  a  Church  and 
Hospitall  unto  his  God,  the  most  magnificent  that  might  bee 
devised.  Whereupon  to  performe  the  same,  he  began  to  search 
out  all  sorts  of  Handicraftsmen  for  to  honour  this  Citie,  the  which 
hee  had  a  desire  to  make  one  of  the  stateliest  Cities  in  the  World. 
And  in  one  of  the  corners  thereof  he  began,  and  did  build  there 
his  Temple  and  Hospitall,  making  an  account  to  increase  yet 
this  Citie  as  large  againe  as  it  was,  and  to  people  the  same  with 
so  many  severall  kinds  of  people  and  Nations  as  he  had  brought 
with  him,  giving  libertie  unto  them  all  to  frame  and  build  their 
Houses,  causing  money  to  be  distributed  to  do  the  same,  and 
giving  all  kinds  of  Priviledges  and  Freedomes  unto  the  Prisoners, 
for  to  give  them  a  greater  desire  to  build,  and  settle  themselves 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  253 

there,  and  having  caused  the  streets  and  places  to  be  plotted, 
and  having  appointed  a  place  for  every  one  to  build  upon." 
(Ib.  3.  160.)  The  map-makers  of  Milton's  time  often  put  on 
their  maps  some  such  legend  as  "Samarchand  magni  Tamberlanis 
regia."  If  "Samarchand  by  Oxus"  means  on  the  Oxus,  Milton 
seems  to  have  no  justification  in  the  geography  of  his  time, 
though  the  city  often  appears  on  a  tributary  of  the  Oxus.  Sebas 
tian  Munster  places  it  on  the  Jaxartes.  (Cosmography,  Basel, 
1628,  p.  1456.)  The  same  thing  is  done  by  Marlowe,  in  a  passage 
showing  the  fame  of  the  city  of  Temir  in  Europe;  Tamberlaine 
speaks : 

Then  shal  my  native  city,  Samarcanda, 

And  cristall  waves  of  fresh  Jaertis  streame, 

The  pride  and  beautie  of  her  princely  seat, 

Be  famous  through  the  furthest  continents, 

For  there  my  Pallace  royal  shall  be  placed, 

Whose  shyning  Turrets  shal  dismay  the  heavens, 

And  cast  the  fame  of  Ilion's  Tower  to  hell. 

Thorow  the  streets  with  troops  of  conquered  kings, 

lie  ride  in  golden  armour  like  the  Sun  .  .  . 

So  will  I  ride  through  Samarcanda  streets. 

(2  Tamburlaine  4086-4109.) 

Samaria  (Samaritidce  Orae).     Eleg.  4.  115;    P.  R.  3.  359;    Hire 
lings  5.  368;  Doct.  Christ.  (1.  29)2.  147;  (1.30)2.  175,  178; 
(1.  31)  2.  182;  MS.  2.  111. 
The  portion  of  Palestine  north  of  Judea  and  south  of  Galilee, 

and  its  chief  city.     The  reference  in  Eleg.  4  is  to  1  Kings  20. 

Samaritidae  Orae.     See  Samaria. 

Samoedia  (Samoed  Shore).     P.  L.  10.  696;  Moscovia  (2)  8.  482 

(twice). 

The  part  of  northeastern  Russia,  and  the  neighboring  part  of 
Siberia,  inhabited  by  the  Samoeds,  extending  south  from  the 
Arctic  Ocean  to  the  region  of  settled  habitation.  Milton's 
knowledge  of  the  Samoeds,  as  he  indicates  by  notes,  came  from 
Pilgrimes  3.  522,  546,  555.  On  Jenkinson's  map  of  Russia, 
Samoedia  extends  from  the  White  Sea  eastward. 

Samoed  Shore.     See  Samoedia. 

Samogitia.     Decl.  Poland  8.  466. 

A  part  of  Poland  on  the  Baltic,  south  of  Livonia  and  north 
of  the  Niemen  River. 


254  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Samos.     Eleg.  6.  59;  P.  L.  5.  265.     (See  also  Delos.) 

A  large  island  of  the  ^Egean  Sea,  one  of  the  Sporades.     Ovid 
connects  it  with  Delos  in  the  lines : 

Et  jam  Junonia  laeva 
Parte  Samos,  fuerant  Delosque  Parosque  relictae. 

(Met.  8.  220-1.) 

Masson  comments  on  P.  L.  5.  265  as  follows:  "The  construction 
is  'or  pilot  kens  Delos  or  Samos  first  appearing  from  amidst  the 
Cyclades  as  a  cloudy  spot.'  Keightley  pointed  out  (Life  of 
Milton,  p.  430)  that  Milton  has  here,  by  a  slip  of  memory,  fallen 
into  a  geographical  error,  Samos  not  being  one  of  the  Cyclades, 
but  one  of  the  Asiatic  group  at  a  distance  from  them  in  the 
same  archipelago.  Nor  will  this  error  be  obviated  by  the  reading 
which  would  interpret  as  follows :  '  or  pilot,  coming  from  amidst 
the  Cyclades,  kens  Delos  or  Samos  first  appearing  as  a  cloudy 
spot;'  for,  though  that  might  suit  for  Samos,  it  would  not  for 
Delos,  which  is  one  of  the  Cyclades.  The  only  reconciliation 
would  be  by  supposing  that  Milton  used  the  name  Cyclades 
generally  for  all  the  islands  of  the  archipelago."  If  it  is  necessary 
to  try  to  save  the  accuracy  of  the  poet,  it  might  be  possible  to 
take  the  phrase  "from  amidst  the  Cyclades"  as  referring  only 
to  "Delos,"  the  noun  nearest  it.  The  island  was  the  birthplace 
of  Pythagoras. 

Samothea.     See  Britain. 

Sancta  Crux.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  360. 

Saint  Croix,  one  of  the  Virgin  Islands,  now  belonging  to  the 
United  States. 

Sanctum  Dominicum.     Contra  Hisp.  7.  355,  356,  361. 

San  Domingo,  the  one  of  the  Greater  Antilles  just  east  of 
Cuba;  in  Milton's  time  under  Spanish  rule. 

Sandimer.     Decl.  Poland  8.  459. 

Sandomierz,  Sandomir,  or  Sedomierz  is  a  town  of  Poland  on 
the  Vistula. 

San  Domingo.     See  Sanctum  Dominicum. 

Sandwich.  Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  72;  (5)  5.  193;  (6)  5.  247,  248,  249, 
252,  254,  255,  256,  276  (twice),  277  (twice),  282  (twice),  283, 
293,  294,  295.  (See  also  Rutupise.) 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  255 

Camden  says  of  Sandwich,  a  city  of  Kent  near  the  site  of  the 
Roman  city  of  Rutupiae:  "This  is  one  of  the  cinque  ports,  as 
they  are  called,  and  is  defended  on  the  north  and  west  by  walls, 
on  the  other  sides  by  a  rampart,  river,  and  ditch.  It  formerly 
felt  the  ravages  of  the  Danes,  and  in  the  last  age  the  fire  of 
the  French.  It  is  now  sufficiently  populous,  though  the  harbour 
.  .  .  is  not  capable  of  admitting  large  ships."  (1.  218.) 

Sardis.     Church-gov.  (1.  6)  3.  127. 

A  city  of  Lydia,  Asia  Minor,  on  the  River  Pactolus.  Milton 
is  referring  to  Revelation  3.  1. 

Sarepta.     Doct.  Christ.  (2.  16)  2.  443. 

A  city  of  Sidonia  between  Tyre  and  Sidon.  See  1  Kings  17. 
8-24. 

Sarmatians.     P.  R.  4.  78. 

Inhabitants  of  the  region  defined  by  Mela  as  east  of  Ger 
many,  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Vistula,  on  the  south  by  the 
Danube. 

Sarra.    See  Tyre. 

Sarum.     See  Salsbury. 

Saumur.    See  Salmurius. 

Savoy.     See  Sabaudia. 

Saxon  Shore.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  110. 

The  coast  of  Britain  from  the  Wash  to  the  Isle  of  Wight 
was  known  to  the  Romans  as  the  Saxon  Shore.  The  Notitia 
Dignitatum,  to  which  Milton  refers  in  a  note,  gives  a  list  of 
fortresses  built  on  the  coast. 

Saxony.     Eleg.  4.  74;   Mansus  84;   Kings  &  Mag.  4.  473;   Hist. 

Brit.  (3)  5.  Ill,  113,  120,  127;   Commonplace  112. 

The  name  in  Hist.  Brit,  is  always  qualified  with  the  adjective 
"old."  Milton  defines  it  as  "all  that  Coast  of  Germany  and 
the  Nether-lands,  .  .  .  lying  between  the  Rhene  and  Elve, 
and  from  thence  North  as  far  as  Eidora,  the  River  bounding 
Holsatia."  He  also  speaks  of  it  as  "at  this  day  Holstein  in 
Denmark."  The  Saxony  of  the  time  of  Milton  was  a  district 
in  Thuringia  and  the  lands  to  the  eastward,  with  its  capital  at 
Wittenberg. 


256  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON 

Scaldis.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  15  (twice). 

The  River  Scheldt,  which  rises  in  northeast  France,  flows 
through  Belgium  and  the  Netherlands,  and  empties  into  the 
North  Sea. 

Scandal,  Hill  of.    See  Opprobrious  Hill. 

Scarborow.     Eikonocl.  (18)  3.  469. 
A  seaport  of  Yorkshire,  England. 

Scheldt.     See  Scaldis. 
Schleswig.     See  Sleswich. 
Schmalkalden.     See  Smalcaldia. 

Scilcester.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  179. 

Identified    with    Chesters,    near    Chollerton,    Northumbria. 

Scorastan.     See  Sheraston. 

Scotch  Borders.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  223. 

The  land  along  the  boundary  of  England  and  Scotland. 

Scotland  (Albania,  Albany,  Caledonia,  North,  Scotia).  Forcers 
of  Consc.  12;  Fairfax  7;  Quint.  Nov.  4;  Mansus  48;  Reforma 
tion  (1)  3.  7,  14  (twice);  (2)  3.  54,  55;  Animadv.  (1.  2)  3.  189; 
(1.  8)  3.  195;  Eikonocl.  (1)  3.  339;  (2)  3.  348;  (4)  3.  360 
(twice),  367;  (8)3.390;  (12)  3.  430,  432  (thrice) ;  (13)3.441 
(twice);  (13)  3.  444;  (15)  3.  452;  (28)  3.  529;  Kings  &  Mag. 
4.  474,  475  (twice),  476,  482,  493;  Ormond  4.  575,  576,  577 
(thrice);  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  13,  14,  17,  20,  21;  (2)  5.  78, 
82,  89;  (3)  5.  103;  (4)  5.  147,  153;  (5)  5.  195,  196  (twice), 
220,  222,  223,  224,  234;  (6)  5.  266,  284,  285;  Hirelings  5.  387; 
Notes:  Grif.  5.  396,  399;  Easy  Way  5.  422,  427;  1  Defens. 
(1)  6.  24;  (8)  6.  141;  (10)  6.  166;  (11)  6.  172,  174;  Moscovia 
(5)  8.  508;  Commonplace  186  (twice),  188,  245;  Sixteen 
Let.  16. 

Scylla  (Whirlpool).     Comus  257;    P.  L.  2.  660,  1020;  Animadv. 

(4.  45)  3.  216.     (See  also  Charybdis.) 

A  rock  on  the  Calabrian  shore  of  the  Straits  of  Messina. 
Homer  writes:  "'On  the  other  part  are  two  rocks,  whereof  the 
one  reaches  with  sharp  peak  to  the  wide  heaven,  and  a  dark 
cloud  encompasses  it;  this  never  streams  away,  and  there  is 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  257 

no  clear  air  about  the  peak  neither  in  summer  nor  in  harvest  tide. 
No  mortal  man  may  scale  it  or  set  foot  thereon,  not  though  he 
had  twenty  hands  and  feet.  For  the  rock  is  smooth  and  sheer, 
as  it  were  polished.  And  in  the  midst  of  the  cliff  is  a  dim  cave 
turned  to  Erebus,  towards  the  place  of  darkness,  whereby  ye 
shall  even  steer  your  hollow  ship,  noble  Odysseus.  Not  with  an 
arrow  from  a  bow  might  a  man  in  his  strength  reach  from  his 
hollow  ship  into  that  deep  cave.  And  therein  dwelleth  Scylla, 
yelping  terribly.  Her  voice  indeed  is  no  greater  than  the  voice 
of  a  new-born  whelp,  but  a  dreadful  monster  is  she,  nor  would 
any  look  on  her  gladly,  not  if  it  were  a  god  that  met  her.  Verily 
she  hath  twelve  feet  all  dangling  down,  and  six  necks  exceeding 
long,  and  on  each  a  hideous  head,  and  therein  three  rows  of  teeth 
set  thick  and  close,  full  of  black  death.  Up  to  her  middle  is  she 
sunk  far  down  in  the  hollow  cave,  but  forth  she  holds  her  heads 
from  the  dreadful  gulf,  and  there  she  fishes,  swooping  round  the 
rock,  for  dolphins  or  sea-dogs,  or  whatso  greater  beast  she  may 
anywhere  take,  whereof  the  deep-voiced  Amphitrite  feeds  count 
less  flocks.  Thereby  no  sailors  boast  that  they  have  fled  scathe 
less  ever  with  their  ship,  for  with  each  head  she  carries  off  a 
man,  whom  she  hath  snatched  from  out  the  dark-prowed  ship. 
But  that  other  cliff,  Odysseus,  thou  shalt  note,  lying  lower, 
hard  by  the  first:  thou  couldest  send  an  arrow  across.  And 
thereon  is  a  great  fig-tree  growing,  in  fullest  leaf,  and  beneath 
it  mighty  Charybdis  sucks  down  black  water.  .  .  .  But  take 
heed  and  swiftly  drawing  nigh  to  Scylla's  rock  drive  the  ship 
past,  since  of  a  truth  it  is  far  better  to  mourn  six  of  thy  company 
in  the  ship,  than  all  in  the  selfsame  hour.'  ...  I  paced  the  ship 
and  cheered  on  my  men,  as  I  stood  by  each  one  and  spake  smooth 
words:  .  .  .  'Do  ye  smite  the  deep  surf  of  the  sea  with  your 
oars,  as  ye  sit  on  the  benches,  if  peradventure  Zeus  may  grant 
us  to  escape  from  and  shun  this  death.  And  as  for  thee,  helms 
man,  thus  I  charge  thee,  and  ponder  it  in  thine  heart  seeing  that 
thou  wieldest  the  helm  of  the  hollow  ship.  Keep  the  ship  well 
away  from  this  smoke  and  from  the  wave  and  hug  the  rocks,  lest 
the  ship,  ere  thou  art  aware,  start  from  her  course  to  the  other 
side,  and  so  thou  hurl  us  into  ruin.'  .  .  .  Next  we  began  to  sail 
up  the  narrow  strait  lamenting.  For  on  the  one  hand  lay 
Scylla,  and  on  the  other  mighty  Charybdis.  .  .  .  Toward  her, 
then,  we  looked  fearing  destruction;  but  Scylla  meanwhile 


258  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

caught  from  out  my  hollow  ship  six  of  my  company,  the  hardiest 
of  their  hands  and  the  chief  in  might."  (Odyssey  12.  73-246.) 
Odysseus,  who  was  going  south  from  Circe's  Island  (q.  v.), 
steered  to  the  larboard,  thus  shunning  Charybdis  by  going  close 
to  Scylla.  Sandys,  who  passed  through  the  straits,  says:  "We 
came  unto  Scylla,  which  is  not  past  twelve  miles  distant  from 
Messina:  seated  in  the  midst  of  a  Bay,  upon  the  neck  of  a  narrow 
Mountain  which  thrust  it  self  into  the  Sea;  having  at  the  upper 
most  end  a  steep  high  Rock  whereon  there  standeth  a  Castle.  .  .  . 
And  no  doubt  but  the  Fable  was  fitted  to  the  place ;  there  being 
divers  little  sharp  Rocks  at  the  foot  of  the  greater  (the  Dogs  that 
so  bark  with  the  noise  that  is  made  by  the  repercussed  waters) 
frequented  by  Lamprons,  and  greater  fishes  that  devoured  the 
bodies  of  the  drowned."  (P.  193.)  See  also  Strabo  1.  2.  15-6. 

The  reference  to  Scylla  as  a  whirlpool  (P.  L.  2.  1020)  is  un 
usual;  Professor  Cook,  in  his  edition  of  P.  L.  1  and  2,  refers  to 
Ovid,  Met.  14.  51,  where  it  is  said  that  Scylla  was  wont  to  visit 
a  small  whirlpool,  where  her  transformation  took  place. 

Scythia.     Vacat.  Ex.  99;  Eleg.  4.  11;  P.  R.  3.  301;  4.  78;  Hist. 

Brit.  (2)  5.  74,  82;   (3)  5.  110;  Decl.  Poland  8.  462,  463.     (See 

also  Imaus.) 

Scythia  is  an  ill-defined  term  applied  to  the  parts  of  Europe 
and  Asia  inhabited  by  nomads,  extending  from  the  plains  of 
Russia  to  China.  See  Mela  1.2,  etc. 

Searesbirig.     See  Salsbury. 

Seav'nburg.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  254.     (See  also  Fisburg.) 

The  Five  Danish  Boroughs  with  the  addition  of  York  and 
Chester. 

Secandune.     See  Seckinton. 
Sechem.     See  Shechem. 

Seckinton  (Secandune).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  175. 

A  place  in  Warwickshire.  Camden  says  it  flourished  in  Saxon 
times,  but  was  in  his  time  almost  gone.  (2.  331.) 

Seeland.    See  Selandica  Castra. 

Seinam  (Zeinam).     Moscovia  (5)  8.  504,  508. 

The  island  of  Senjen,  off  the  west  coast  of  Norway.  Jenkinson 
writes:  "We  fell  with  an  Island  called  Zenam,  being  in  the  latitude 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF    MILTON  259 

of  70  degrees.  About  this  Island  we  saw  many  whales,  very 
monstrous,  about  our  ships,  some  by  estimation  of  60  foot  long: 
and  being  the  ingendring  time  they  roared  and  cried  terriblie." 
(Hak.  1.  311.)  The  information  that  Seinam  is  under  the  king 
of  Denmark  is  from  Willoughby's  narrative.  (Hak.  1.  235.) 

Selandica  Castra.     Lit.  Oliv.  (65)  7.  314. 

Seeland,  or  Zealand,  a  large  island,  part  of  Denmark,  lying  at 
the  entrance  of  the  Baltic.  In  1658  Charles  X  of  Sweden  occu 
pied  it  with  his  army. 

Seletune.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  177. 
Now  Silton,  Yorkshire. 

Seleucia.     P.  L.  4.  212;   P.  R.  3.  291.     (See  also  Telassar.) 

An  ancient  ruined  city  on  the  Tigris,  below  Bagdad.  Pliny 
writes  as  follows:  "Babylon  is  now  growne  into  decay  and  lyeth 
waste  and  unpeopled,  by  reason  that  Seleucia  the  cittie  standeth 
so  neere  it,  which  hath  drawne  from  it  all  resort  and  traffick: 
and  was  for  that  purpose  built  by  Nicator  within  40  myles  of  it, 
in  the  verie  confluent  where  the  new  arme  of  Euphrates  is  brought 
by  a  ditch  to  meet  with  Tigris:  notwithstanding,  surnamed  it  is 
Babylonia,  a  free  state  at  this  day  and  subject  to  no  person: 
howbeit  they  live  after  the  lawes  and  manners  of  the  Mace 
donians.  And  by  report,  in  this  citie  there  are  600,000  citizens. 
As  for  the  walls  thereof,  by  report  they  do  resemble  an  Eagle 
spreading  her  wings:  and  for  the  soile,  there  is  not  a  territorie  in 
all  the  East  parts  comparable  to  it  in  fertilitie."  (6.  26.)  In 
6.  14  he  speaks  of  it  as  "Great  Seleucia,"  to  distinguish  it  from 
other  lesser  cities  of  the  same  name. 

Selwood.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  205. 
A  forest  of  Somersetshire. 

Senaar.     P.  L.  3.  467. 

Explained  by  Bochart  (p.  27)  as  an  alternative  form  for  Shinar. 
It  is  usually  identified  with  Babylonia.  See  Genesis  11.  2. 

Senir.     See  Hermon. 
Senjen.     See  Seinam. 


260  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF    MILTON 

Seon's  Realme  (Amorrean  Coast).     Ps.  136.  36;  P.  L.  1.  409. 

(See  also  Arnon.) 

Spelled  Sehon  in  the  Vulgate  and  Sihon  in  the  Authorized 
Version.  According  to  Numbers  21.  24,  the  land  of  Sihon,  king 
of  the  Amorites,  stretched  along  the  east  side  of  the  Dead  Sea 
and  the  Jordan  from  the  River  Arnon  on  the  south  to  the  Jabbok 
on  the  north.  The  land  directly  north  of  the  Arnon  had  formerly 
been  in  the  possession  of  the  king  of  Moab,  and  had  been  taken 
from  him  by  Sihon.  Milton  writes  as  if  "Seons  Realme" 
(Hesebon  and  Horonaim)  were  still  part  of  Moab,  as  is  suggested 
in  Jeremiah  48,  and  Isaiah  15.  "Seons  Realme"  was  the  more 
easily  included  in  Moab  because  the  Israelites,  while  encamping 
on  land  taken  from  Sihon,  worshipped  Baal-peor,  identified  in 
P.  L.  1.412  with  Chemosh  the  god  of  Moab.  Fuller  writes  of  the 
part  of  the  kingdom  called  the  plains  of  Moab,  as  follows: 
"Nor  need  any  wonder  why  the  plain  is  so  called,  seeing  Moab 
had  nothing  on  the  north  of  Arnon  (after  the  time  of  Moses), 
when  they  recollect  how  lately  all  this  land  was  possessed  by  the 
Moabites,  before  Sihon  forcibly  expelled  them  (Num.  21.  26)." 
(Pp.  71-2.)  If  Milton  in  P.  L.  1.  399  makes  the  Arnon  (q.  v.)  the 
southern  boundary  of  Ammon,  he  includes  "Seons  Realme"  in 
its  territory.  Fuller  explains  that  the  Ammonites  had  occupied 
the  land  until  driven  out  by  Sihon  when  he  dispossessed  the 
Moabites.  (P.  76.)  After  Sihon  was  conquered  the  land  passed 
to  the  tribe  of  Gad.  Fuller  elsewhere  adds:  "We  must  not 
forget  that  after  the  tribe  of  Gad  was  carried  away  captive  by 
Tiglath-pileser,  the  Ammonites  seized  on  and  dwelt  in  the  cities 
of  that  tribe.  For  which  reason  so  many  of  them  are  set  down 
in  this  our  map.  This  caused  the  complaint  of  the  prophet: 
'Hath  Israel  no  sons?  Hath  he  no  heir?  Why  then  doth  their 
king  inherit  Gad,  and  his  people  dwell  in  his  cities?'  (Jer.  49.  1)." 
(P.  461.)  Perhaps,  however,  Milton  merely  had  in  mind  the 
usual,  but  incorrect,  representation  of  the  Ammonites  as  near 
the  head  of  the  Arnon. 

Septonia.     See  Shaftsbury. 

Serbonian  Bog.     P.  L.  2.  592. 

A  morass  with  a  lake  in  its  centre,  lying  between  the  eastern 
angle  of  the  delta  of  the  Nile,  Mount  Casius,  the  Isthmus  of 
Suez,  and  the  Mediterranean.  It  is  now  smaller  than  in  an 
tiquity.  Diodorus  gives  the  most  important  description  of  it: 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON  261 

"Those  parts  [of  Egypt]  towards  the  east  are  partly  secured  by 
the  river,  and  partly  surrounded  by  the  deserts  and  by  the 
marshes  called  the  Barathra.  For  there  is  a  lake  between  Ccelo- 
Syria  and  Egypt,  very  narrow,  but  exceeding  deep,  even  to  a 
wonder,  two  hundred  furlongs  in  length,  called  Serbon:  if  any 
through  ignorance  approach  it,  they  are  lost  irrecoverably;  for 
the  channel  being  very  narrow,  like  a  swaddling-band,  and  com 
passed  round  with  vast  heaps  of  sand,  great  quantities  of  it  are 
cast  into  the  lake  by  the  continued  southern  winds,  which  so 
cover  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  make  it  to  the  view  like  dry 
land,  that  it  cannot  possibly  be  distinguished;  and  therefore 
many,  unacquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  place,  by  missing 
their  way,  have  been  there  swallowed  up,  together  with  whole 
armies.  For  the  sand,  being  trod  upon,  sinks  down,  and  gives 
way  by  degrees,  and  like  a  malicious  cheat,  deludes  and  decoys 
them  that  come  upon  it  till,  too  late,  when  they  see  the  mischief 
they  are  likely  to  fall  into,  they  begin  to  support  arid  help  one 
another,  but  without  any  possibility  either  of  returning  back,  or 
escaping  certain  ruin;  for  sinking  into  the  gulf,  they  are  neither 
able  to  swim  (the  mud  preventing  all  motion  of  the  body)  nor 
in  a  capacity  to  wade  out,  having  nothing  firm  to  support  them 
for  that  purpose;  for  sand  and  water  being  mixed  together,  the 
nature  of  both  is  thereby  so  changed  that  there  is  neither  fording 
nor  passing  over  it  by  boats.  Being  brought  therefore  to  this 
pass,  without  the  least  possibility  of  help  to  be  afforded  them, 
they  go  together  with  the  sand  to  the  bottom  of  the  gulf,  at  the 
very  brink  of 'the  bog;  and  so  the  place,  agreeable  to  its  nature, 
is  called  Barathrum."  (1.  86.)  Compare  P.  L.  2.  939-42. 

Sericana.     P.  L.  3.  438.     (See  also  Cathay,  Imaus.) 

The  usual  form  of  this  word  is  Serica;  the  form  Sericana  is 
used  by  Ariosto  and  Boiardo.  The  latter  writes  of  Gradasso, 
king  of  Sericana:  "There  was  reigning  in  the  parts  of  the  east, 
near  India,  a  great  king  in  royal  dignity,  in  state  and  in  riches 
so  abounding,  and  so  powerful  of  body  that  all  the  world  was 
not  sufficient  for  him."  (Orlando  Innamorato  1.  1.4.)  The  basis 
of  later  accounts  of  Serica  is  Ptolemy.  Purchas  writes:  "They 
have  this  name  of  Sera  the  chiefe  Citie,  by  Ptolemy  placed  in 
177.15  and  38.36.  This  Region  he  limiteth  on  the  West  with 
Scythia  extra  Imaum:  on  the  East  with  Terra  incognita  and 
likewise  on  the  North  (here  some  place  the  Promontorie  Tabin, 


262  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

there  the  Easterne  Ocean) ;  on  the  South  with  part  of  India 
extra  Gangem.  Our  silkes  have  the  name  of  this  Region,  where 
it  is  made  of  a  most  fine  wooll,  growing  on  the  leaves  of  trees. 
.  .  .  This  Serica  Castaldus  calleth  Cataio:  and  so  doe  most  of 
our  new  writers."  (Pilgrimage,  p.  452.)  The  ''barren  plains  "are 
perhaps  the  desert  of  Lop  or  Gobi,  of  which  Marco  Polo  writes: 
"The  Desert  of  Lop  ...  is  situated  between  east  and  north 
east.  It  belongs  to  the  Great  Kaan,  and  the  people  worship 
Mahommet.  Now,  such  persons  as  propose  to  cross  the  Desert 
take  a  week's  rest  in  this  town  to  refresh  themselves  and  their 
cattle;  and  then  they  make  ready  for  the  journey,  taking  with 
them  a  month's  supply  for  man  and  beast.  .  .  .  The  length  of 
this  Desert  is  so  great  that  'tis  said  it  would  take  a  year  and  more 
to  ride  from  one  end  of  it  to  the  other.  And  here,  where  its 
breadth  is  least,  it  takes  a  month  to  cross  it.  'Tis  all  composed 
of  hills  and  valleys  of  sand,  and  not  a  thing  to  eat  is  to  be  found 
on  it."  .  .  .  There  is  a  marvelous  thing  related  of  this  Desert, 
which  is  that  when  travelers  are  on  the  move  by  night,  and  one 
of  them  chances  to  lag  behind  or  to  fall  asleep  or  the  like,  when 
he  tries  to  gain  his  company  again  he  will  hear  spirits  talking, 
and  will  suppose  them  to  be  his  comrades.  Sometimes  the 
spirits  will  call  him  by  name;  and  thus  shall  a  traveler  ofttimes 
be  led  astray  so  that  he  never  finds  his  party.  And  in  this  way 
many  have  perished."  (Pp.  196-7.)  Cf.  the  reference  to  this 
phenomenon  in  Comus  205-9.  Cf.  Pliny  7.  2.  Stories  of  airy 
monsters  in  the  Sahara  (see  Africa)  are  of  the  same  nature. 

Dionysius  Periegetes  writes  of  the  "barbarous  nations  of  the 
Seres,  who  spurn  cattle  and  goodly  sheep  and,  preparing  the 
variegated  flowers  of  the  uninhabited  land  as  other  nations 
prepare  wool,  make  garments  of  many  colors,  costly,  like  in  color 
to  the  flowers  of  the  plants  of  the  meadows,  and  no  work  of 
spiders  may  vie  with  them."  (LI.  752—7.) 

The  quotation  from  Purchas  shows  how  the  vulture  flying 
from  Imaus  to  India  "in  his  way  lights  on  the  barren  plaines  of 
Sericana."  Mela  represented  the  Seres  as  inhabiting  the  middle 
portion  of  the  east,  with  the  Indians  to  the  south,  and  the 
Scythians,  often  associated  with  Mount  Imaus,  to  the  north. 
Since  Milton  mentions  "Chineses"  as  riding  on  the  plains  of 
Sericana,  he  must,  if  he  thought  Sericana  the  same  as  Cathay, 
have  here  identified  Cathay  and  China,  which  elsewhere  he 
distinguishes. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  263 

Wagons  driven  by  the  wind  are  often  mentioned  in  works  on 
China.  Mendoza  writes  thus:  "They  have  amongst  them 
many  coches  and  wagons  that  goe  with  sailes  and  made  with 
such  industrie  and  policie  that  they  do  govern  them  with  great 
ease:  this  is  crediblie  informed  by  many  that  have  seen  it:  besides 
that  there  be  many  in  the  Indies,  and  in  Portugall,  that  have  scene 
them  painted  upon  Clothes,  and  on  their  earthen  vessell  that  is 
brought  from  thence  to  be  solde."  (History  of  China,  Hak. 
Soc.,  1.  32.)  Masson,  in  his  note  on  the  passage,  cites  Bertius 
and  Heylyn,  and  Pierre  Davity  twice  mentions  the  wagons 
driven  by  the  wind.  A  passage  in  Ortelius  may  be  translated: 
"This  people  is  very  ingenious,  so  much  so  that  they  plan  and 
make  wagons  which  they  know  very  well  how  to  guide,  with  sails 
and  wind,  like  boats  through  the  sea,  through  fields  and  level 
places."  (P.  101.)  On  his  map  of  China  he  represents  four  of 
these  wagons,  under  full  sail,  and  loaded  with  passengers. 
Mercator,  on  his  map  of  China,  shows  one  of  them,  and  beneath 
the  picture  puts  the  same  words  as  are  given  by  Ortelius. 

Sermoneta.    See  Sulmo. 

Serraliona.     P.  L.  10.  703. 

Sierra  Leone  is  a  cape  on  the  west  coast  of  Africa,  in  about 
eight  degrees  of  north  latitude.  In  the  time  of  Milton  it  was  a 
common  stopping-place  for  ships  on  the  voyage  to  the  East 
Indies  or  to  South  America.  A  sailor  who  went  to  Brazil  in 
1586  writes:  "We  were  sailing  between  England  and  the  coast 
of 'Guinea  from  the  21  day  of  July  unto  the  26  day  of  August 
unto  the  haven  called  Sierra  leona,  where  we  watered  and  stayed 
untill  the  6  day  of  September."  (Hak.  3.  833.)  Milton's 
spelling,  especially  in  making  one  word  of  the  two,  is  unusual. 

Setia.     P.  R.  4.  117. 

An  ancient  city  of  Latium,  famous  for  its  wine.  (Martial 
13.  23,  etc.) 

Severia.     Decl.  Poland  8.  458,  466. 

Severia,  or  Tchernigov,  is  a  government  of  southwest  Russia  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  Dnieper. 

Severn  (Sabrina).     Comus  825,  842;  Vacat.  Ex.  96;   Hist.  Brit. 

(1)  5.  14;  (2)  5.  51;   (4)  5.  185;   (5)  5.  208  (twice),  210,  215, 
216  (twice);   (6)  5.  243,  260,  272,  277,  282. 
18 


264  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

A  river  of  southwest  England,  flowing  southward  into  the 
Bristol  Channel.  It  was  part  of  the  ancient  boundary  between 
England  and  Wales,  though  now  the  boundary  is  west  of  Severn. 
Milton  mentions  the  river  in  poetry  only  with  a  reference  to  the 
maiden  Sabrina,  whose  story  he  tells  in  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  14, 
closely  following  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth.  The  story  as  used  in 
Comus  is  unlike  that  in  the  History,  and  the  two  versions  may 
profitably  be  compared.  Spenser's  version  is  still  different. 
(F.  Q.  2.  10.  18,  19.)  He  uses  the  words  "flying  through  a 
brooke,"  which  suggest  Milton's 

the  flood 
That  stay'd  her  flight  with  his  cross-flowing  course. 

Dray  ton  writes  of  Sabrina  and  her  mother : 

Your  corses  were  dissolv'd  into  that  crystal  streame, 
Your  curies  to  curled  waves,  which  plainlie  still  appeare 
The  same  in  water  now,  that  once  in  locks  they  were: 
And,  as  you  wont  to  clip  each  others  neck  before, 
Yee  now  with  liquid  armes  embrace  the  wandring  shore. 

(Polyolbion  6.) 
Compare  Comus  928-9: 

Summer  drouth,  or  singed  air 
Never  scorch  thy  tresses  fair. 

Milton  calls  the  Severn  " swift"  (Vacat.  Ex.  96),  and  Spenser 
calls  it  a  "  rolling  river."  (F.Q.2.  10.  19.  7.)  Camden,  however, 
writes:  "Immediately  after  its  rise  it  forms  so  many  meanders 
that  one  would  often  think  it  was  running  back,  though  it  is  all 
the  while  advancing,  or  rather  slowly  wandering  through  this 
county  (Montgomeryshire),  and  those  of  Salop,  Worcester,  and 
last  of  all  Gloucester,  greatly  enriching  the  soil  as  it  passes, 
and  at  last  calmly  emptying  itself  into  the  Severn  sea."  (2.  531.) 
In  Comus,  on  the  other  hand,  Milton  speaks  of  the  river  as 
"smooth,"  a  "glassie,  cool,  translucent  wave,"  a  "silver  lake," 
but  yet  as  a  "headlong  wave."  Cf.  Shakespeare: 

On  the  gentle  Severn's  sedgy  bank,  .  .  . 
He  did  confound  the  best  part  of  an  hour 
In  changing  hardiment  with  great  Glendower. 
Three  times  they  breath'd  and  three  times  did  they  drink, 
Upon  agreement,  of  swift  Severn's  flood, 
Who  then,  affrighted  with  their  bloody  looks, 
Ran  fearfully  among  the  trembling  reeds, 
And  hid  his  crisp  head  in  the  hollow  bank. 

(1  Henry  IV  1.  3.  98-106.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  265 

In  its  reaches  below  Newnham  the  river  is  swift,  and  subject  to 
tidal  waves. 

Compare  with  the  references  to  jewels  in  Comus  893-5,  932-3 
the  description  of  the  River  Choaspes  (q.  v.)  by  Dionysius  Perie- 
getes:  "By  its  sides  one  may  see  the  agate  fair  to  behold,  lying 
like  a  cylinder  on  the  ground,  which  from  the  rock  the  torrents 
of  the  wintry  stream  roll  down  with  them."  (LI.  1075-7.) 
Without  any  special  reference  he  writes:  "Some  seek  out  by  the 
rocks  of  mountain-torrents  either  the  gleaming  stone  of  the 
beryl  or  adamant  sparkling,  or  the  green  shining  jasper,  or  the 
blazing  stone  of  the  pure  topaz,  and  the  sweet  amethyst  some 
what  softly  gleaming  purple,  for  the  earth,  irrigated  here  and 
there  by  ever-flowing  streams,  produces  for  men  all  sorts  of 
worldly  wealth."  (LI.  1118-24.) 

Sevil.     Areopag.  4.  421. 

Seville,  a  city  of  southern  Spain  on  the  River  Guadalquivir; 
in  1481  it  became  the  centre  of  the  Inquisition. 

Shaftsbury  (Paladur,  Septonia,  Skepton).     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  16; 

(6)  5.  239,  266. 

In  his  description  of  Dorsetshire,  Camden  writes:  "Shaftes- 
bury,  situate  on  a  high  hill,  called  by  the  Britans,  according  to 
the  erroneous  opinion  of  the  vulgar,  Caer  Paladur  and  Septonia." 
(1.  45.)  Milton  probably  had  Camden  in  mind  when  he  said 
that  the  identification  "by  others  is  contradicted."  The  narra 
tive  of  the  founding  of  Paladur  is  from  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth 
2.  9. 

Sharstan.     See  Sheraston. 
Sheba.     See  Sabean. 

Shechem  (Sechem).     P.  L.   12.   136;    Eikonocl.   (4)   3.  359;    1 
Defens.  (4)  6.  79;   Doct.  Christ.  (2.  4)  2.  277;   (2.  9)  2.  370. 
A  city  of  Palestine,  now  Nablus,  in  the  valley  between  Mount 
Ebal  and  Mount  Gerizim.      Sechem  is  the  Vulgate  form.     At 
Shechem  Abram  camped  on  his  entrance  into  the  land  of  Canaan 
(Genesis  12.  6),  and  the  northern  tribes  threw  off  their  allegiance 
to  Rehoboam.     (1  Kings  12.) 

Sheppey.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  191,  193,  194;   (6)  5.  260. 

An  island  in  the  Medway,  where  it  empties  into  the  Thames. 


266  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Sherastan  (Scorastan,  Sharston).     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  255,  258,  259 
(twice) . 
Sherston  in  Wiltshire. 

Sherburn  (Shirburn).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  187;    (5)  5.  196,  197, 

198,  213. 

A  town  in  Dorsetshire,  described  by  Camden  as  near  the  Forest 
of  the  White  Hart,  at  the  head  of  the  Frome.  (1.  45.) 

Sheromugaly.     See  Mugalla. 
Sherston.     See  Sherastan. 

Shetland.     Moscovia  (5)  8.  503. 

A  group  of  islands  north  of  Scotland,  about  fifty  miles  north 
east  of  the  Orkneys. 

Shilo  (Silo).     Samson  1674;   MS.  2.  110. 

A  town  of  Palestine,  on  the  road  from  Bethel  to  Shechem.  The 
tabernacle  was  set  up  there  after  the  conquest  of  Canaan. 

Shinar.    See  Senaar. 
Shirburn.     See  Sherburn. 

Shirokalga.     Moscovia  .(3)  8.  487. 

An  unidentified  city  of  China,  within  the  Great  Wall.  The 
Cossack  travelers  commended  in  the  Preface  of  Moscovia  report 
thus:  "  In  the  wall  to  Catay  are  five  gates,  both  low  and  straight 
or  narrow,  a  man  cannot  ride  into  them  upright  on  horsebacke, 
and  except  these  five  gates  there  is  no  more  in  all  the  wall; 
there  all  manner  of  people  passe  into  the  Citie  of  Shirokalga. 
Within  the  borders  or  wall  is  a  Citie  or  Castle  of  Catay,  called 
Shirokalga,  built  of  stone,  .  .  .  the  Castle  is  very  high  walled 
and  artificially  built;  the  Towres  are  high  after  the  manner  of 
Mosco  Castle,  in  the  Loope-holes  or  Windowes  are  Ordnance 
planted,  as  also  upon  the  Gates  or  Towres;  their  Ordnance  is 
but  short,  they  have  also  great  store  of  small  shot,  and  the 
Watchmen  everywhere  upon  the  Gates,  Towres,  and  Wals,  well 
appointed ;  and  as  soone  as  they  perceive  the  Sunne  going  downe, 
the  Watch  dischargeth  their  Peeces  or  Ordnance  thrice,  as  also 
at  the  break  of  day  in  the  morning,  they  shoot  out  of  their 
Pieces  thrice.  .  .  .  Within  the  Castle  are  shops  built  of  stone, 
and  painted  cunningly  with  divers  colours,  wherein  they  have 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  267 

all  manner  of  Merchandizes,  as  Velvets,  Damaskes,  Dorogoes, 
Taffataes,  Cloth  of  Gold,  and  Tissue  of  divers  colours,  sundry 
sorts  of  Sugars,  Cloves."  (Pilgrimes  3.  800.) 

Shirooan.     Moscovia  (3)  8.  487. 

An  unidentified  city  of  China,  described  thus  by  the  Cossacks 
mentioned  in  the  Preface  of  Moscovia:  "From  Shirokalga  to  a  Citie 
of  Catay  called  Shirooan  is  a  dayes  journey:  this  Citie  is  built 
of  stone  high  walled,  and  large  in  compasse,  it  is  a  dayes  travell, 
it  hath  twelve  Towres;  whereupon,  as  also  on  the  Citie  Gates  is 
planted  Ordnance  and  small  shot  great  store,  with  a  continuall 
Watch  or  Guard,  night  and  day;  at  the  first  comming  are  five 
Gates  well  furnished  with  Ordnance  and  War-like  Munition; 
and  from  one  gate  to  the  other  through  the  Citie  is  halfe  a  dayes 
going.  .  .  .  For  Victuals  and  Merchandizes,  here  is  more  then 
in  the  Cities  mentioned,  all  their  shops  very  full,  and  the  Citie 
so  populous  that  one  can  hardly  passe  the  streets  for  the  throng 
of  people.  The  Ambassadors  Houses  are  also  faire  built  of 
stone,  their  Wals  covered  with  Brasse,  so  that  this  Citie  is 
adorned  more  with  precious  things  then  the  former  mentioned 
and  much  more  populous."  (Pilgrimes  3.  801.) 

Shoberie.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  208. 

Shoebury,  a  village  of  Essex,  on  a  point  of  land  extending  into 
the  estuary  of  the  Thames.  (Camden  2.  42.) 

Shoreham.     See  Cymenshore. 

Shropshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  53;   (4)  5.  156;   (6)  5.  247,  257. 

Otherwise  known  as  Salop,  a  county  of  England  on  the  Welsh 
border. 

Siber.     Moscovia  (2)  8.  483. 

Formerly  a  city  of  Siberia  on  the  Irtish,  a  tributary  of  the  Ob, 
about  ten  miles  above  Tobolsk.  Its  site  has  now  been  washed 
away  by  the  river. 

Siberia.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  473;    (2)  8.  482,  484;    (4)  8.  494;    (5) 

8.  518. 

In  Milton's  time  the  name  was  applied  to  the  upper  basin  of 
the  Ob.  We  read  in  Purchas:  "It  was  further  ordayned  by  the 
Moscovites  that  there  should  be  places  chosen  by  the  River 
Oby,  and  in  the  fields  adjoyning  unto  it,  fortified  by  the  naturall 


268  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

situation  for  the  building  of  Castles  thereon,  and  furnishing 
them  with  Garrisons,  and  that  there  should  be  sent  thither  a 
chief  Governour,  principally  for  further  discovering  the  Countrey, 
and  bringing  it  under  subjection.  These  things  so  ordayned, 
did  likewise  take  effect.  And  first  of  all  there  were  builded 
certaine  Castles  enclosed  with  certaine  strong  beames,  cut  out 
of  the  Woods  thereby,  and  fastened  one  in  another  in  double 
rewes,  filled  between  with  earth,  and  fortified  with  Garrisons; 
and  so  great  a  multitude  of  men  is  duely  sent  thither,  that  in 
some  places  there  are  Cities  assembled,  consisting  of  Poles, 
Tartars,  Russes,  and  other  nations  mingled  together.  For  unto 
these  parts  are  sent  all  that  are  banished,  Murtherers,  Traitors, 
Theeves,  and  the  scumme  of  such  as  deserve  death:  some  of 
which  are  for  a  time  kept  in  prison,  other  enforced  to  continue 
there  for  certaine  yeeres,  every  one  according  to  the  rate  of  his 
offence.  .  .  .  The  whole  country  is  called  Siberia."  (Pilgrimes 
3.  524.) 

Sibma.     P.  L.  1.  410. 

A  place  beyond  Jordan,  where  there  were  extensive  vineyards; 
Jerome  (on  Isaiah  16.  8)  states  that  it  was  hardly  five  hundred 
paces  from  Heshbon  (q.  v.).  The  vines  and  fruits  of  Sibma  are 
mentioned,  figuratively,  in  Isaiah  16.  8—10,  Jeremiah  48.  32. 
The  term  "flowry  Dale"  seems  to  be  Milton's  own.  Fuller's 
map  of  the  tribe  of  Reuben  shows  a  grape-vine  near  "Shibmah." 
(P.  61.) 

Sicania.     See  Sicily. 

Sicily   (Sicania,  Sicilia,  Trinacria).     Lycidas   133;    Eleg.  4.   5; 

Eleg.  5.  66;  Quint.  Nov.  36;   Nat.  Non  56;   Damon.  3;   P.  L. 

2.   661;   Reformation    (2)    3.    39;  Tetrach.    (Canon)    4.   273; 

Areopag.   4.  428;   2   Defens.  6.   288;  Pro  Se  Defens.  6.   376; 

Contra  Hisp.  7.  361.     (See  also  ^tna,  Enna,  Scylla.) 

A  large  island  in  the  Mediterranean,  southwest  of  Italy;  its 
triangular  shape  caused  it  to  be  called  Trinacria.  For  explana 
tion  of  "the  hoarce  Trinacrian  shore"  (P.  L.  2.  661)  see  Charyb- 
dis.  Milton  tells  us  (2  Defens.  6.  288)  that  when  in  Italy  he 
intended  to  continue  his  journey  to  Sicily,  then  under  Spanish 
rule.  He  was  interested  in  its  natural  features,  such  as  Mount 
^Etna,  and  in  its  association  with  pastoral  poetry,  as  the  home 
of  Theocritus. 


\ 

A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  269 

Sidon.     Eleg.  4.  100;  P.  L.  1.  441. 

An  ancient  seaport  of  Phoenicia,  often  mentioned  in  the  Bible, 
and  by  classical  writers. 

Sieciethovia.     Decl.  Poland  8.  468. 

Czenstochowa,  a  town  in  Poland,  near  the  River  Warta, 
containing  a  celebrated  monastery. 

Sierra  Leone.     See  Serraliona. 

Sigeius.     Eleg.  7.  21. 

Pertaining  to  Sigeum,  a  promontory,  with  a  town  of  the  same 
name,  in  Troas,  where  was  the  tomb  of  Achilles. 

Sihon's  Realm.     See  Seon's  Realme. 

Silesia.     Moscovia  (4)  8.  490. 

A  region  of  central  Europe,  mainly  in  the  upper  basin  of  the 
Oder. 

Silo.     See  Shilo. 

Siloa.     P.  L.  1.  11.     (See  also  Solomon,  Garden  of.) 

On  the  west  side  of  the  Kidron  Valley,  the  deep  valley  east  of 
Jerusalem,  is  a  spring  known  as  Gihon.  Its  waters  are  conducted 
through  a  tunnel,  cut  through  the  rock  on  the  summit  of  which 
Jerusalem  stands,  to  a  pool  southeast  of  the  modern  city,  called 
the  Pool  of  Siloam  (Siloa).  The  overflow  from  this  pool  flowed 
farther  south  down  the  valley  and  watered  the  King's  Garden, 
a  place  of  great  fertility.  Hence,  though  Siloa  is  near  the  city, 
and  not  far  from  the  Temple  ("the  oracles  of  God")  it  is  not 
properly  a  brook.  It  is  called  a  pool  in  Nehemiah  3.  15  and 
John  9.  7,  11,  but  in  Isaiah  8.  6  there  is  a  reference  to  "the 
waters  of  Shiloh  that  go  softly."  Jerome  calls  Siloam  a  fountain 
at  the  roots  of  Mount  Zion.  Milton  undoubtedly  had  Siloam 
and  the  King's  Garden  in  mind  when  he  wrote : 

Sion  and  the  flowrie  Brooks  beneath 
That  wash  thy  hallowd  feet,  and  warbling  flow. 

(P.  L.  3.  30-1.) 

Silton.     See  Seletune. 
Simmern.     See  Symmeren. 

Simois.     Eleg.  1.  83. 

A  small  river  in  the  Troad,  anciently  a  tributary  of  the 
Scamander.  It  is  often  mentioned  in  the  Iliad. 


270  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Sinaean.     See  Cathay. 

Sinai  (Horeb,  Oreb).     Nativity  158;  P.  L.  1.  7,  484;   11.74;   12. 

227;   P.  R.  1.  351;   2.  15;   Church-gov.  (2.  3)  3.  167;  Apology 

(8)  3.  307;   Divorce  (2.  3)  4.  65;    (2.  11)  4.  91;    (2.  22)  4.  129; 

MS.  2.  109. 

Mount  Sinai,  otherwise  called  Horeb  and  Oreb,  is  usually 
placed  in  the  Sinaitic  peninsula.  Milton's  references  are  based 
on  Exodus  19-34.  A  comparison  of  P.  L.  11.  73-76  with  P.  L. 
12.  227-30  suggests  that  he  identified  the  two,  though  P.  L.  1.  7 
gives  the  opposite  impression.  Adrichomius,  after  giving  the 
opinion  of  Jerome  that  one  mountain  is  known  by  two  names, 
concludes  that  the  two  are  distinct,  but  connected  at  their  bases, 
Sinai  being  higher  than  Horeb.  On  his  map  he  shows  two  moun 
tains  so  joined.  On  the  summit  of  Oreb  is  Moses,  his  hands 
supported  by  Aaron  and  Hur,  while  the  Israelites  and  Amalekites 
fight  on  the  plain.  Farther  down  the  slope  is  the  scene  of  the 
burning  bush,  and  at  the  foot  Moses  bringing  water  from  the 
rock.  Near  at  hand  is  the  cave  of  Elijah.  (1  Kings  19.  8-9.) 
On  the  summit  of  Sinai,  Moses,  kneeling,  receives  from  the 
hand  of  God,  who  appears  in  glory,  the  tables  of  the  law,  and  at 
the  foot  he  casts  them  on  the  ground.  (Pp.  116,  122.)  Various 
opinions  about  Oreb  and  Sinai,  as  represented  in  the  accounts 
of  travelers,  are  given  by  Purchas.  (Pilgrimes  2.  1376  ff.) 

Sion.     Ps.  2.  13;   84.  28;   87.  5,  18;    Eleg.  4.  113;   Damon.  219; 

P.  L.  1.  10,  386,  442,  453;  3.  30,  530;  P.  R.  4.  347;  Episcopacy 

3.  91;    Animadv.   (PS.   161)   3.  244;    Eikonocl.   (15)   3.  451; 

Areopag.  4.  437;   Kings  &  Mag.  4.  489,  499. 

Sion  or  Zion  is  one  of  the  hills  on  which  Jerusalem  is  built, 
traditionally  that  to  the  southwest,  though  the  matter  is  now 
considered  debatable.  Milton  employs  the  word  as  equivalent  to 
Jerusalem. 

Sittim.     P.  L.  1.  413. 

The  last  camp,  east  of  the  Jordan,  opposite  Jericho,  of  the 
Israelites  on  their  journey  from  Egypt.  Josephus  identifies  the 
place  with  Abila,  which  he  says  is  seven  and  a  half  Roman  miles 
east  of  the  Jordan.  (Antiquities  4.  8.  1;  5.  1.  1.)  The  reference 
of  Milton  is  to  Numbers  25.  1-5. 

Skepton.     See  Shaftsbury. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  271 

Sleswich  (Slesvicus).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  112;  Safe-cond.  (thrice). 
Schleswig,  the  district  north  of  the  Eider  River,  and  south  of 
the  present  boundary  of  Denmark. 

Slesvicus.    See  Sleswich. 

Slobotca.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  472.     (See  also  Mezen.) 

This  name  does  not  appear  on  modern  maps,  though  it  is 
given  on  Mercator's  map  of  Russia.  It  occurs  several  times  in 
the  narratives  of  travelers,  once  in  the  form  Mezemske  Sloboda. 
(Hak.  1.  364.)  Since  Slaboda  means,  in  Russian,  suburb  or 
village,  the  place  in  question  was  doubtless  either  a  suburb  of 
Mezen,  set  apart  for  trade,  or  perhaps  the  town  of  Mezen  as 
distinguished  from  the  province  of  the  same  name. 

Smalcaldia.     Kings  &  Mag.  4.  490. 

Schmalkalden  or  Smalkald  is  a  city  of  Hesse-Nassau,  Prussia, 
where  in  1537  a  league  was  made  by  the  Protestants  of  Germany 
against  Charles  V. 

Smirna.     See  Smyrna. 

Smithfield.     Hirelings  5.  367. 

A  famous  cattle-market  of  London,  north  of  St.  Paul's. 
Milton's  reference  may  be  compared  with  a  few  words  in  Stow's 
description  of  Smithfield:  "Then  be  the  pens  or  folds  so  called 
of  sheep  there  parted,  and  penned  up  to  be  sold  on  the  market 
days."  (2.  29.) 

Smolensko.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  476;   (4)8.492,500;  Decl.  Poland 

8.  466. 

Smolensk,  a  city  of  Russia  on  the  River  Dnieper.  In  the 
sixteenth  century  it  was  powerfully  fortified,  and  of  great  im 
portance. 

Smyrna  (Smirna).     Episcopacy  3.  80,  81,  84  (twice),  85  (thrice), 

86  (twice),  92;  Lit.  Oliv.  (57)  7.  306. 

A  city  of  Asia  Minor  on  the  Gulf  of  Smyrna.  It  is  mentioned 
in  Revelation  2.  8-11. 

Soar.    See  Sora. 

Sodom.  P.  L.  1.  503;  10.  562;  Church-gov.  (2.  Conclus.)  3.  183 
(twice);  Apology  (11)  3.  316;  Eikonocl.  (Pref.)  3.  332;  Doct. 
Christ.  (2.  9)  2.  368;  MS.  2.  108.  (See  also  Asphaltic  Pool.) 


272  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

A  city  near  the  Dead  Sea ;  its  exact  site  is  not  known.  Milton's 
references  depend  on  Genesis  14  and  19. 

Sofala.     P.  L.  11.  400.     See  also  Ophir. 

A  seaport  and,  formerly,  a  district  in  Portuguese  East  Africa. 
We  read  in  Purchas :  "  It  is  but  a  small  Kingdome,  and  hath  but  a 
few  Houses  or  Townes  in  it.  The  chief  and  principall  head  whereof 
is  an  island  that  lyeth  in  the  River  called  Sofola,  which  giveth 
the  name  to  all  the  whole  Countrey.  It  is  inhabited  by  Mahome 
tans,  and  the  King  himselfe  is  of  the  same  sect,  and  yieldeth 
obedience  to  the  Crowne  of  Portugall.  .  .  .  And  thereupon  the 
Portugals  there  doe  keepe  a  Fort  in  the  mouth  of  the  River  Cuana, 
and  doe  trade  in  those  Countries  for  Gold,  and  Ivory  and  Amber, 
which  is  found  upon  that  Coast,  and  good  store  of  Slaves,  and 
instead  thereof,  they  leave  behind  them  Cotton  Cloath,  and 
Silkes  that  are  brought  from  Cambata,  and  is  the  common  ap- 
parell  of  those  people.  The  Mahometans  that  at  this  present  doe 
inhabit  those  countries  are  not  naturally  borne  there,  but  before 
the  Portugals  came  into  those  quarters,  they  Trafficked  thither 
in  small  Barkes,  from  the  Coast  of  Arabia  Fcelix.  And  when 
the  Portugals  had  conquered  that  Realme,  the  Mahometans 
stayed  there  still,  and  now  they  are  become  neither  utter  Pagans, 
nor  holding  the  Sect  of  Mahomet.  From  the  shoares  and  Coast, 
.  .  .  within  the  Land  spreadeth  the  Empire  of  Monomotapa, 
where  there  is  very  great  store  of  Mines  of  Gold,  which  is  carried 
from  thence  into  all  the  Regions  thereabouts,  and  into  Sofola, 
and  into  the  other  parts  of  Africa.  And  some  there  be  that  will 
say  that  Solomon's  Gold,  which  he  had  for  the  Temple  of  Jerusa 
lem,  was  brought  by  Sea  out  of  these  Countries.  A  thing  in 
truth  not  very  unlikely,  for  in  the  Countries  of  Monomotapa 
there  doe  remain  to  this  day  many  ancient  buildings  of  great 
work,  and  singular  Architecture,  of  Stone,  of  Lime,  and  of  Timber, 
the  like  whereof  are  not  to  bee  scene  in  all  the  provinces  adjoyn- 
ing."  (Pilgrimes  2.  1022.) 

Sogdiana.     P.  R.  3.  302. 

A  country  of  central  Asia,  in  the  region  of  the  Rivers  Oxus  and 
Jaxartes.  It  was  the  farthest  conquest  of  Alexander.  Dionysius 
Periegetes  writes:  "To  the  north  are  the  Chorasmians,  and  next 
the  land  of  Sogdiana,  through  the  midst  of  which  flows  the  sacred 
Oxus,  which,  leaving  the  Emodus  Mountains,  falls  into  the 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  273 

Caspian.  After  this,  by  the  course  of  the  Jaxartes  live  the  Sacse, 
carrying  bows,  which  no  other  bowman  may  disgrace,  for  they 
are  not  accustomed  to  shoot  in  vain."  (LI.  746-51.) 

Soissons.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  31. 

A  city  of  France,  in  the  department  of  Aisne. 

Solofky.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  476. 

The  monastery  of  Solovetsky,  on  an  island  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  White  Sea.  Milton's  source  is  the  following:  "We 
arrived  at  a  monasterie  named  Solofky.  .  .  .  We  had  here  de 
livered  us  by  the  chiefe  monkes  of  the  monasterie  their  letter 
and  house  seale,  and  a  servant  of  theirs  to  conduct  us  safely 
through  the  dangerous  river  of  Owiga.  The  people  of  all  those 
parts  are  wild,  and  speake  another  kind  of  language,  and  are 
for  the  most  part  all  tenants  to  the  monasterie.  The  effect  of  the 
letter  was  that  they  should  be  ready  to  help  and  assist  us  in  all 
dangerous  places,  and  carie  our  boats  and  goods  over  land  in 
places  needfull,  as  in  deed  they  did.  .  .  .  The  number  of  monkes 
belonging  to  the  monasterie  are  at  the  least  200."  (Hak.  1. 
366.) 

Solomon,  Garden  of.     P.  L.  9.  442.     (See  also  Hinnom.) 

The  garden  mentioned  in  Solomon's  Song.  Quaresmius  sug 
gests  a  place  "inclosed"  (Solomon's  Song  4.  12)  by  mountains 
near  Bethlehem,  and  also  a  situation  just  east  of  Jerusalem, 
where  was  the  King's  Garden.  (Nehemiah  3.  15.)  He  refers  to 
Adrichomius,  whose  words  may  be  translated:  "The  King's 
Garden,  which  is  called  the  garden  shut  up,  was  a  garden  in  the 
suburbs  of  Jerusalem,  shut  in  on  all  sides  by  walls,  and  made 
strong,  and  like  a  paradise,  pleasant  with  a  profusion  of  trees, 
shrubs,  herbs,  spices,  flowers,  and  fruits,  fit  for  softening  and 
heating  the  passions,  and  suited  to  voluptuous  retirement.  In 
this  was  included  that  fountain  Rogel  .  .  .  where  he  im 
molated  the  victims  of  Adonis,  when  he  had  established  that 
worship,  and  feasted  with  his  parasites."  (Pp.  170,  140,  map.) 
The  fountain  Rogel  is  perhaps  the  same  as  Gihon.  (See  Siloa.) 
Quaresmius  believes  that  the  king  had  many  gardens,  referring 
to  Ecclesiastes  2.  4-6.  (Terrce  Sanctce  Elucidatio  6.  7.  1.) 

Solovetsky.     See  Solofky. 
Solway.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  73. 


274  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

A  firth  on  the  west  coast  of  Great  Britain,  partly  dividing 
Scotland  from  England. 

Somerset   (Somersetshire,  Summerset).     Hist.   Brit.    (3)  5.   125 
(twice);   (4)  5.  161,  193,  195,  205  (twice);    (6)  5.  244,  256,  282 
(twice) . 
A  county  of  England  south  of  the  Bristol  Channel. 

Somerton.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  173. 
A  town  in  Somersetshire. 

Sonderborg.     See  Sunderburg. 

Sora.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  16. 

The  Soar  is  a  river  of  Leicestershire,  tributary  to  the  Trent. 
Sorec.  Samson  229. 

Sorek,  a  valley  of  Palestine  extending  from  the  coastal  plain 
eastward  to  the  neighborhood  of  Jerusalem.  It  is  mentioned 
in  Judges  16.  4  as  the  home  of  Delilah. 

Southampton.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  192. 

A  seaport  of  Hampshire  at  the  head  of  Southampton  Water. 
Milton  also  applies  the  name  to  the  county  of  Hampshire. 
(Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  198;  (6)  5.  251). 

Southern  Sea.     See  Tyrrhen  Sea. 
South  Saxons.     See  Sussex. 
South  Wales.    See  Wales. 

Southwark.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  280,  283. 

A  part  of  London  south  of  the  Thames,  described  by  Camden 
in  his  account  of  Surrey  as  "that  most  famous  market  town  in 
the  county  called  now  the  Borough  of  Southworke  .  .  .  from  its 
south  situation  opposite  to  London,  of  which  it  seems  a  kind  of 
suburb,  but  so  large  and  populous  as  not  to  be  inferior  to  many 
cities  in  England."  (1.  170.) 

Spain  (Hesperia,  Hispania,  Iberian  Fields).  Quint.  Nov.  102, 
103,  126;  Comus  60;  P.  R.  2.  200;  Church-gov.  (1.  6)  3.  124; 
Eikonocl.  (20)  3.  481;  Tetrach.  (Fathers)  4.  265;  Kings  & 
Mag.  4.  467  (twice),  476;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  4,  23;  (2)  5.  46,  91 
(thrice);  2  Defens.  6.  305;  Lit.  Senat.  (4)  7.  190;  (7)  7.  193; 
(23)  7.  208;  (28)  7.  214;  (33)  7.  221;  Lit.  Oliv.  (4)  7.  241 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL    DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  275 

(twice);    (74)  7.  325  (twice);    Contra  Hisp.  7.  346,  350,  351 

(thrice),  352  (thrice),  353  (twice),  358,  361  (thrice),  362,  363, 

367;  Moscovia  (5)  8.  515  (twice);  Commonplace  109,  114,  189; 

2  Eng.  Let.,  Masson  4.  479;  Sixteen  Let.  9. 

The  Iberian  Peninsula  (Spain  and  Portugal)  was  poetically 

called  Hesperia  by  the  Romans  because  situated  at  the  western 

end  of  the  Mediterranean.     In  the  time  of  Milton  the  height  of 

Spanish  power  had  passed,  though  Spain  was  still  powerful,  and 

ruled  other  parts  of  Europe,  such  as  Sicily  and  Flanders,  and 

possessed  great  dominions  in  the  New  World.     Englishmen  still 

retained  some  of  the  feeling  toward  Spain  so  keen  in  the  time  of 

the  Armada,  in  1588,  thinking  of  it  as. a  great  Roman  Catholic 

power  which  was  a  menace  to  Protestant  England,  and  also  as 

continually  annoying  English  trade  in  the  New  World.     During 

the  Protectorate  England  declared  war  on  Spain  for  the  causes 

set  forth  in   Contra  Hisp.,  written  by  Milton  in   the  name  of 

Cromwell. 

Spalatto.     Animadv.  (PS.  166)  3.  245. 
A  city  of  Dalmatia,  on  the  Adriatic  Sea. 

Sparatinum.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  8  (twice). 

An  unknown  tpwn  said  by  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth  to  be  in 
Greece.  (1.  5.)  Milton's  parenthesis,  "  I  know  not  what  Towne, 
but  certain  of  no  Greek  name,"  shows  that  he  had  endeavored  to 
identify  it. 

Sparta  (Lacedaemon,  Spartan  Land).  Infant  26;  P.  L.  10.  674; 
Church-gov.  (2.  Con.)  3. 178;  Eikonocl.  (28)  3.522;  Education  4. 
390;  Areopag.  4.  401;  Easy  Way  5.436,437;  1  Defens.  (4)  6.  75. 
A  city  on  the  River  Eurotas  in  Laconia. 

Spartan  Land.     See  Sparta. 
Specular  Mount.    See  Niphates. 

Spire.     Lit.  Senat.  (18)  7.  203;  Lit.  Oliv.  (42)  7.  289. 

Spires,  a  town  of  Bavaria,  on  the  Rhine;  famous  as  the  meet 
ing-place  of  the  Diet  of  Spires,  in  1529. 

Stafford.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  257. 

A  town  of  Staffordshire,  on  the  River  Sow. 

Staffordshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  215. 

A  county  of  western  England,  watered  by  the  River  Trent. 


276  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Stamford.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  113;    (5)  5.  219,  228. 

A  town  on  the  border  of  Lincolnshire  and  Northamptonshire, 
on  the  Welland  River. 

Stamford  Bridge  (Battle  Bridge).     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  296. 

A  bridge  over  the  River  Derwent,  in  the  East  Riding  of  York 
shire,  where,  in  1066,  Harold  defeated  the  Norwegians. 

Stanes.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  250;   Commonplace  183. 

In  his  account  of  Middlesex  Camden  writes  of  Stanes,  a  village 
west  of  London:  "Stanes  presents  itself  .  .  .  with  a  wooden 
bridge  over  the  Thames.  It  takes  its  name  from  a  boundry 
stone  formerly  placed  here  to  mark  the  jurisdiction  of  the  city 
of  London.  .  .  .  Near  this  stone  is  the  famous  Runningmead 
.  .  .  where  the  barons  of  England  assembled  in  a  body,  1215, 
to  demand  their  liberties  of  King  John."  (2.  2.)  Milton 
must  often  have  seen  this  place  in  his  journeys  from  Horton  to 
London. 

Steep.     See  Anglesea. 

Sterlinbridge    (Sterling,    Sterlinium).     Kings  &    Mag.    4.    474; 

Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  195,  196;  2  Defens.  6.  324. 

In  his  description  of  Sterlingshire,  Scotland,  Camden  writes: 
"Where  Forth  rolls  its  meanders  and  passes  under  the  bridge 
stands  Sterlin,  .  .  .  where  on  the  brow  of  a  steep  rock  rises  a 
very  strong  royal  castle,  which  King  James  VI  has  enlarged  with 
new  buildings."  (3.  356.) 

Stetinum.     Lit.  Rich.  (6)  7.  337. 

Stettin,  a  port  of  Pomerania  on  the  River  Oder. 

Stettin.     See  Stetinum. 

Stoa.     P.  R.  4.  253. 

The  Stoa  Poecile,  or  Painted  Porch,  at  Athens,  fronting  on  the 
market-place.  The  paintings  with  which  its  walls  were  adorned 
were  celebrated.  The  Stoic  philosophers  taught  there,  and  derive 
their  name  from  it. 

Stockholma.     Lit.  Senat.  (19)  7.  203. 
Stockholm,  the  capital  of  Sweden. 

Stonar  (Lapis  Tituli).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  116.     (See  also  Tanet.) 
Now  a  parish,  and  formerly  a  town,  in  the  island  of  Thanet. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  277 

Stormaria.     Safe-cond.  (thrice). 

Stormarn,  part  of  Schleswig-Holstein,  in  southern  Holstein 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Elbe. 

1.  Stour.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  206. 

A  river  dividing  Essex  and  Suffolk. 

2.  Stour.     See  Stowre,  Sture. 

Stowre.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  38. 

The  Stour,  a  river  of  Kent  which  flows  by  Canterbury  and 
separates  Thanet  from  the  mainland. 

Straddale.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  286. 

A  district  on  the  border  of  England  and  Wales,  reckoned  with 
Herefordshire  in  the  Domesday  book.  See  Freeman's  Norman 
Conquest  2.  393. 

Strasburgh  (Argentina).     Tetrach.  (Canon)  4.  278;   Bucer:   Di 
vorce  (Test.)  4.  289  (twice),  292;   (Parl.)  4.  296  (twice);  Rami 
Vita  7.  184. 
Strassburg  (Latin,  Argentina),  the  capital  of  Alsace-Lorraine; 

in  the  sixteenth  century  one  of  the  imperial  cities  of  Germany, 

and  a  centre  of   Protestantism.     Martin  Bucer  lived  there  for 

many  years. 

Strat-Cluid.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  219. 

A  valley  in  Denbighshire,  described  by  Camden,  to  whom 
Milton  refers,  as  follows:  "We  come  now  to  the  heart  of  the 
county,  where  nature  has  formed  a  most  beautiful  vale.  .  .  .  The 
river  Cluyd  .  .  .  runs  through  the  middle  of  the  vale  from  its 
source,  whence  it  was  called  Strat  Cluyd."  (2.  575.) 

Strya.     Decl.  Poland  8.  466. 

Stry  or  Stryj,  a  town  of  Galicia,  Poland. 

Sturbridge.  Animadv.  (3.  32)  3.  210.  (See  also  Barwellianus.) 
Sturbridge  Green  is  that  part  of  the  Barnwell  Fields,  Cam 
bridge,  where  was  held  the  renowned  Sturbridge  Fair.  Fuller 
writes  of  it:  "This  Sturbridge  Fair  is  so  called  from  Stur,  a  little 
rivulet  (on  both  sides  whereof  it  is  kept)  on  the  east  of  Cam 
bridge;  whereof  this  original  is  reported:  A  clothier  of  Kendall, 
.  .  .  casually  wetting  his  cloth  in  that  water  in  his  passage  to 
London,  exposed  it  there  to  sale,  on  cheap  terms,  as  the  worse 


278  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

for  the  wetting;  and  yet,  it  seems,  saved  by  the  bargain.  Next 
year  he  returned  again,  with  some  other  of  his  townsmen,  proffer 
ing  drier  and  dearer  cloth  to  be  sold;  so  that  within  few  years 
hither  came  a  confluence  of  buyers,  sellers,  and  lookers-on,  which 
are  the  three  principles  of  a  fair.  .  .  .  It  is  at  this  day  the  most 
plentiful  of  wares  in  all  England ;  most  fairs  in  other  places  being 
but  markets  in  comparison  thereof;  being  an  amphibion,  as 
well  going  on  ground  as  swimming  by  water,  by  the  benefit  of 
a  navigable  river."  (Cambridge,  p.  101.)  It  has  been  suggested 
(Brown,  Bunyan,  p.  270)  that  from  this  fair  Bunyan  derived  ideas 
for  his  description  of  Vanity  Fair,  of  which,  among  other  things, 
he  says:  "At  this  Fair  there  is  at  all  times  to  be  seen  Jugglings, 
Cheats,  Games,  Plays,  Fools,  Apes,  Knaves,  and  Rogues,  and 
that  of  every  kind."  (Pilgrim's  Progress,  Oxford  ed.,  p.  108.) 
Milton's  "mystical  man"  is  one  of  these  jugglers.  Milton  un 
doubtedly  visited  this  fair  while  a  student  at  Cambridge. 

Sture.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  14. 

Perhaps  the  River  Stour,  rising  in  Wiltshire  and  flowing 
through  Dorsetshire  and  Hamshire  to  join  the  Avon  not  far 
from  the  Channel;  it  is  mentioned  by  Spenser  in  F.  Q.  4.  11.  32. 

Styx.     Comus  4-5  (canceled  lines  intervening  here  in  the  Camb. 
MS.);  Eleg.  2.  9;  4  Prod.  Bomb.  2;  P.  L.  2.  577;   1  Prolus.  7. 
416;  4  Prolus.  7.  430. 
A  river  of  Arcadia,  transferred  to  the  lower  regions. 

Sucana.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  474. 

A  river  of  northern  Russia,  tributary  to  Dwina.  It  is  now 
called  Suchona,  and  Vologda.  "Succana  hath  his  head  from  a 
lake  not  farre  from  the  citie  of  Vologda."  (Hak.  1.  312.) 

Succoth.     Samson  278. 

A  place  in  Palestine  east  of  Jordan.  Its  exact  situation  is 
not  known.  Milton  takes  the  name  from  Judges  8.  5-17. 

Suchona.    See  Sucana. 
Suecia.     See  Sweden. 

Suevia.     Notes:  Grif.  5.  394. 

Swabia,  an  ancient  duchy  of  Germany,  corresponding  in  general 
to  Wiirtemberg,  Baden,  and  southwestern  Bavaria,  and  at  times 
including  other  regions. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  279 

Suffolk.     Reformation  (2)  3.  61 ;  Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  214;  Common 
place  221. 
A  county  on  the  east  coast  of  England,  bounded  on  the  north 

by  Norfolk,  and  on  the  south  by  Essex. 

Sulmo.     Grammar  (1)  6.  434. 

An  ancient  city  of  Latium,  probably  the  modern  Sermoneta. 

Sumatra.     See  Summatra. 

Summatra.     Commonplace  13.     (See  also  Chersonese.) 

An  island  of  the  Dutch  East  Indies,  southeast  of  the  Malay 
Peninsula.  Milton's  reference  to  it  occurs  under  the  heading 
Gula  (Gluttony),  and  is  as  follows:  "The  Indians  in  Summatra 
great  gluttons  renew  thire  stomach  by  chewing  an  hearb  call'd 
Arecca  betula.  Purchas  torn.  1.  132."  The  passage  in  Purchas 
is  as  follows:  "The  King  is  called  Sultan  Aladin,  and  is  an  hun 
dred  yeares  old,  as  they  say,  yet  hee  is  a  lustie  man,  but  exceeding 
grosse  and  fat.  .  .  .  The  wals  and  covering  of  his  house  are 
Mats,  which  sometime  is  hanged  with  cloth  of  Gold,  sometime 
with  Velvet,  and  sometime  with  Damaske.  Hee  sitteth  upon 
the  ground  crosselegged  like  a  Taylor,  and  so  must  all  those  doe 
that  be  in  his  presence.  He  alwayes  weareth  foure  Cresis,  two 
before  and  two  behind,  exceeding  rich  with  Diamonds  and  Rubies; 
and  hath  a  Sword  lying  upon  his  lap.  He  hath  attending  upon 
him  fortie  women  at  the  least,  some  with  Fannes  to  coole  him, 
some  with  Clothes  to  dry  his  sweat,  some  give  him  Aqua  vitae, 
others  water:  the  rest  sing  pleasant  Songs.  He  doth  nothing 
all  the  day  but  eate  and  drinke,  from  morning  to  night  there  is  no 
end  of  banquetting:  and  when  his  belley  is  readie  to  breake,  then 
hee  eateth  Arecca  Betula,  which  is  a  fruit  like  a  Nutmeg,  wrapped 
in  a  kind  of  leafe  like  Tabacco,  with  sharpe  chalke  made  of 
Pearle  Oyster-shels :  chawing  this  it  maketh  the  spittle  very  red, 
draweth  the  Rhume  exceedingly,  and  procureth  a  mightie 
stomacke:  this  maketh  the  teeth  very  blacke,  and  they  be  the 
bravest  that  have  the  blackest  teeth.  By  this  means  getting 
againe  his  stomacke,  he  goeth  with  a  fresh  courage  to  eating. 
And  for  a  Change  with  a  Cracking  Gorge,  hee  goeth  into  the 
River,  where  he  hath  a  place  made  of  purpose,  there  getting  a 
stomacke  by  being  in  the  water.  Hee,  his  great  men  and  women 
doe  nothing  but  eate,  drinke,  and  talke  of  Venerie.  If  the  Poets 
19 


280  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Fables  have  any  shew  of  truth,  then  undoubtedly  this  King  is 
the  great  Bacchus.  For  he  holdeth  all  the  Ceremonies  of 
Gluttonie."  (Pilgrimes  1.  3.  121-2.)  Milton's  reference  to  page 
132,  instead  of  122,  is  the  result  of  a  misprint  in  the  Pilgrimes. 

Summerset.    See  Somerset. 

Sunderburg.     Lit.  Oliv.  (21)  7.  263. 

Sonderborg,  a  town  of  Schleswig-Holstein,  on  the  south  coast 
of  the  island  of  Alsen. 

Suratta.     Lit.  Senat.  (45)  7.  236. 

Surat,  a  port  in  Bombay  Presidency,  India. 

Surgoot.     See  Zergolta. 

Surrey.     Animadv.  (5.  50)  3.  223;    Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  187;    (5) 
5.  193,  194,  197,  208,  218;   (6)  5.  250,  258,  282. 
A  county  of  England  south  of  the  Thames. 

Sus.     P.  L.  11.  403.     (See  also  Almansor.) 

A  province  of  southwestern  Morocco.  "Now  comes  the  region 
of  Sus  to  be  considered  of,  being  situate  beyond  Atlas,  over 
against  the  territorie  of  Hea,  that  is  to  say,  in  the  extreme  part  of 
Africa.  Westward  it  beginneth  from  the  Ocean  sea,  and  south 
ward  from  the  sandie  deserts:  on  the  north  it  is  bounded  with 
the  utmost  towne  of  Hea ;  and  on  the  east  with  that  mightie  river 
whereof  the  whole  region  is  named."  (Leo  Africanus,  p.  248.) 

Susa.     Eleg.   1.  66;    P.  L.   10.  308;    P.  R.  3.  288.     (See  also 

Choaspes.) 

The  modern  Sus  or  Shush,  and  the  Scriptural  Shushan,  the 
chief  city  of  ancient  Susiana,  on  the  River  Choaspes.  Strabo 
writes:  "A  famous  city;  for  the  Persians  and  Cyrus,  after 
the  conquest  of  the  Medes,  because  they  saw  that  their  own  land 
was  situated  on  the  borders,  but  Susa  was  near  to  Babylon  and 
the  other  peoples,  settled  there,  because  they  esteemed  both  the 
situation  of  the  region  and  the  importance  of  the  city,  and 
because,  what  was  of  more  importance,  the  inhabitants  of  Susa 
never  had  attempted  great  enterprises  on  their  own  behalf,  but 
had  ever  been  subject,  and  been  part  of  some  greater  whole, 
except  in  the  times  of  the  heroes.  Susa,  in  circuit  a  hundred 
and  twenty  stades,  and  oblong  in  shape,  is  said  to  have  been 
founded  by  Tithonus,  father  of  Memnon,  for  whom  the  citadel 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  281 

is  called  Memnonian.  .  .  .  The  structure  of  the  walls  of  the  city, 
of  the  temples,  and  of  the  palace,  is,  some  say,  like  that  of  those 
at  Babylon,  of  sun-dried  brick  and  bitumen."  (15.  3.  2.) 
Herodotus  refers  to  Susa  as  the  "palace  of  Memnon,"  and  tells 
of  the  joy  in  Susa  when  news  of  Xerxes'  capture  of  Athens  was 
received,  and  of  the  lamentation  over  the  news  of  the  defeat  at 
Salamis.  (5.  53;  8.  99.) 

Susiana.     P.  R.  3.  321. 

A  province  in  what  is  now  the  extreme  southwest  part  of  the 
kingdom  of  Persia,  watered  by  the  Choaspes  (q.  v.).  Strabo 
says:  "Susiana  is  part  of  Persia,  between  it  and  Babylon.  .  .  . 
It  stretches  to  the  sea.  Its  coast  reaches  from  the  limits  of  the 
coast  of  Persia  to  the  mouth  of  Tigris,  almost  three  thousand 
stadia."  (15.  3.  2  ff.)  Susiana,  touching  the  shore  of  the 
Persian  Gulf,  represents  for  Milton  the  southern  limit  of  the 
Parthian  Empire.  In  his  description  of  the  Assyrian  Empire, 
which  occupied  about  the  same  territories  as  Parthia,  he  gives 
as  the  southern  boundary  "the  Persian  Bay."  (P.  R.  3.  273.) 

Sussex  (South  Saxons).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  118,  120;    (4)  5.  161, 
177,  187;   (5)  5.  192,  197,  209;   (6)  5.  243,  247,  282,  289,  297. 
A  county  of  England  bounded  on  the  north  by  Surrey  and 

Kent,  and  on  the  south  by  the  Channel. 

Swabia.     See  Suevia. 

Swanswich    (Gnavewic,    Swanwine).     Hist.    Brit.    (5)    5.    204 

(twice). 

Swanage  or  Swanwich,  a  port  in  the  Isle  of  Purbeck,  Dorset 
shire. 

Sweden   (Suecia).     Sonnet   18.8;    Hist.   Brit.    (6)   5.   255,   263; 
Notes:    Grif.  5.  394;    2  Defens.  6.  280,  283;    Lit.  Oliv.   (3) 

7.  240;    (29)  7.  272;    (32)  7.  275,  277  (4  times);    (44)  7.  292 
(twice);  (53)  7.  303;  Lit.  Rest.  Parl.  (2)  7.  344;   Decl.  Poland 

8.  462;   Moscovia  (4)  8.  494,  500. 

In  the  time  of  Milton  Sweden  was  the  leading  Protestant 
power  of  the  Continent,  possessing  a  great  amount  of  territory 
in  what  is  now  Russia  and  Germany.  In  1661  the  area  of  its 
territories  was  more  than  twice  as  great  as  at  the  present 
time.  During  the  period  of  the  official  connection  of  Milton 


282  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

with  the  government  of  England,  Sweden  was  ruled  by  Chris 
tiana,  daughter  of  Gustavus  Adolphus. 

Swire.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  476. 

A  river  connecting  Lakes  Onega  and  Ladoga,  part  of  the  water 
route  followed  by  Southam  and  Sparke  from  St.  Nicholas  to 
Novogrod.  (Hak.  1.  367.) 

Switzerland.     See  Swizzerland. 

Swizzerland  (Helvetia).     Animadv.  (13.  127)  3.  239;    Tetrach. 

(Canon)  4.  281;    Lit.  Oliv.  (36)   7.  283.     (See  also  Geneva, 

Alps.) 

Ortelius  describes  Switzerland  (Latin,  Helvetia)  as  the  highest 
region  of  Europe,  between  the  Rhine,  the  mountain  of  St. 
Claudius,  Lake  Geneva,  and  Italy.  He  says  that  the  country  is 
an  "anarchy,"  subject  to  no  prince,  but  made  up  of  thirteen  in 
dependent  cantons,  joined  in  alliance.  (P.  66.) 

Syene.     P.  R.  4.  70.     (See  also  Merope.) 

The  modern  Assouan.  It  was  the  frontier  town  of  Egypt  to 
the  south,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Nile  at  the  lower  end  of  the 
Great  Falls.  Pliny  speaks  of  it  as  the  limit  of  the  Roman 
Empire.  (12.  4.) 

Symmeren.    Sixteen  Let.  3. 

Simmern,  a  former  dukedom  of  Germany,  now  a  department 
in  the  administrative  district  of  Coblenz,  west  of  the  Rhine. 

Syria.     Marchioness  63;   P.  L.  1.  421,  448,  474;    11.218;   Hist. 
Brit.  (1)  5.  4;  Hirelings  5.  369;   1  Defens.  (4)  6.  83,  84;    (7)  6. 
128;   Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  333;   Doct.  Christ.  (2.  5)  2.  313. 
Palestine  and  the  country  north  of  it  to  the  Taurus  Mountains. 

Syrtis.     P.  L.  2.  939. 

The  Syrtis  Major  and  the  Syrtis  Minor  are  two  gulfs  in  the 

region  of  Tripoli  on  the  north  coast  of  Africa,  now  known  as  the 

Gulfs  of  Sidra  and   Cabes.     They  are  pictured  by  Lucan  as 

follows : 

When  Nature  gave  the  universe  its  form 
She  left  this  region  neither  land  nor  sea; 
Not  wholly  shrunk,  so  that  it  should  receive 
The  ocean  flood;  nor  firm  enough  to  stand 
Against  its  buffets — all  the  pathless  coast 
Lies  in  uncertain  shape;  the  land  by  earth 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  283 

Is  parted  from  the  deep;  on  sandy  banks 
The  seas  are  broken,  and  from  shoal  to  shoal 
The  waves  advance  to  sound  upon  the  shore. 
Nature,  in  spite,  thus  left  her  work  undone, 
Unfashioned  to  men's  use.  (Pharsalia  9.  304-11.) 

The  quicksands  of  the  Syrtes  were  much  dreaded  in  antiquity; 
in  the  account  of  the  shipwreck  of  St.  Paul  we  read  that  the 
sailors  feared  "lest  they  should  fall  into  the  quicksands."  (Acts 
27.  17.) 

Taenarus.     Eleg.  5.  66;  4  Prod.  Bomb.  2;  Procancel.  5. 

A  promontory  in  Laconia,  where  was  a  cave  reputed  to  be  the 
entrance  of  the  infernal  regions. 

Tagus.     Eleg.  3.  46;   Lit.  Senat.  (6)  7.  192;    (10)  7.  196. 

A  river  of  Spain  and   Portugal,   flowing  into  the  Atlantic. 
It  was  known  for  its  golden  sand,  mentioned  by  Ovid: 

Quodque  suo  Tagus  amne  vehit  .  .  .  aurum.     (Met.  2.  251.) 

Tamar  (Tamara).     Damon  178;   Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  226. 

A  river  of  southwestern  England,  emptying  into  the  English 
Channel.     Spenser  writes : 

There  was  the  speedy  Tamar,  which  divides 
The  Cornish  and  the  Deyonish  confines. 

(F.  Q.  4.  11.  31.  1-2.) 

According  to  Camden:  "Tamar  passes  at  the  bottom  of  a  range 
of  very  high  mountains.  .  .  .  This  was  antiently  rich  in  tin 
mines."  (1.7.) 

Tamara.    See  Tamar. 
Tamigi.     See  Thames. 

Tamira.     Lit.  Oliv.  (78)  7.  329,  330  (twice). 

Probably  Tavira,  a  port  on  the  south  coast  of  Portugal. 

Tamworth.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  219. 

A  town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Staffordshire,  on  the  Tame. 
Tanais.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  473. 

The  Don,  a  river  of  Russia  flowing  into  the  Sea  of  Azov.     It 
was  once  considered  the  boundary  between  Europe  and  Asia. 


284  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Tanet.     Hist.   Brit.    (3)   5.   112,   116   (twice);    (4)   5.   138,   163; 

(5)  5.  194,  198;   (6)  5.  249. 

Thanet,  the  northeastern  part  of  Kent,  once  an  island, 
now  part  of  the  mainland.  Camden  writes:  "The  Stour 
runs  ...  to  Sturemouth,  where  its  divided  waters  taking  two 
courses  lose  their  first  name,  and  take  that  of  Wantsume,  making 
Thanet  an  island  on  the  west  and  south;  the  other  sides  being 
washed  by  the  ocean.  .  .  .  The  whole  of  it  consists  of  white 
chalk,  with  fruitful  wheat  fields  and  rich  pasture.  It  is  eight 
miles  in  length,  four  in  breadth."  (1.  217.) 

Tangut.     Moscovia  (3)  8.  485. 

Approximately  the  modern  province  of  Kansuh,  China.  Mil 
ton  refers  to  Pilgrimes  3.  543,  where  Purchas  gives  the  following 
marginal  note:  "Tangut  mentioned  by  Polo,  a  large  Kingdom, 
Northward  from  Cathay,  of  China." 

Taprobane.     P.  R.  4.  75.     (See  also  Summatra.) 

Probably  Milton  thought  of  Taprobane  as  Ceylon,  as  do 
modern  geographers.  It  has  also  been  identified  with  Sumatra. 
(Purchas,  Pilgrimage,  p.  658.)  It  frequently  appears  on  old  maps 
as  the  last  island  toward  the  east.  (Ortelius,  Parergon,  p.  1.) 
Among  the  ancients  Pliny  gives  the  most  complete  account: 
"It  hath  beene  of  long  time  thought  by  men  in  auncient  dayes 
that  Taprobane  was  a  second  world,  in  such  sort  as  many 
have  taken  it  to  be  the  place  of  the  Antipodes,  and  called  it 
the  Antichthones  world.  But  after  the  time  of  Alexander  the 
Great,  and  the  voyage  of  his  armie  into  those  parts,  it  was 
discovered  and  knowne  for  a  truth  both  that  it  was  an  Island, 
and  what  compass  it  bare.  ...  It  beginneth  at  the  Levant  sea 
of  Orientall  Indians,  from  which  it  stretcheth  and  extendeth 
between  the  East  and  West  of  India.  .  .  .  Wee  come  to  farre 
better  intelligence  and  more  notable  information,  by  certaine 
Embassadours  comming  out  of  that  Island  in  the  time  of  Claudius 
Caesar  the  Emperour.  .  .  .  By  these  Embassadours  we  were 
informed  of  the  state  of  that  Island,  namely,  that  it  contained 
five  hundred  great  towns  in  it ;  and  that  there  was  a  haven  therin 
regarding  the  South  coast,  lying  hard  under  Palesimundum  the 
principall  citie  of  all  that  realme,  and  the  kings  seat  and  pallace; 
that  there  were  by  just  account  200,000  of  commoners  and 
citizens.  .  .  .  But  even  this  Island  Taprobane,  as  farre  off  as 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  285 

it  is,  seeming  as  it  were  cast  out  of  the  way  by  Nature,  and 
divided  from  all  this  world  wherein  we  liv.e,  is  not  without 
these  vices  and  imperfections  wherewith  we  are  tainted  and 
infected.  For  even  gold  and  silver  also  is  there,  in  great  request 
and  highly  esteemed:  and  marble,  especially  if  it  be  fashioned 
like  a  tortoise  shell.  Jemmes  and  precious  stones;  pearles  also, 
such  as  be  orient  and  of  the  better  sort,  are  highly  prised  by  them. 
.  .  .  Moreover,  these  Embassadours  would  say  that  they  had 
more  riches  in  their  Island  than  wee  at  Rome."  (6.  22.) 

Tarpeian  Rock.     See  Capitol. 

Tarsus.     P.  L.  1.  200;  Samson  715;   Colast.  4.  357;   Hist.  Brit. 

(4)  5.  162. 

A  city  of  Cilicia  on  the  River  Cydnus.  Not  far  away  was  the 
den  of  Typhon,  of  whom  Pindar  writes :  "  Typhon  of  the  hundred 
heads,  whom  erst  the  den  Kilikian  of  many  names  did  breed." 
(Pyth.  1.  31-2.)  Legends  are  told  of  the  ancient  foundation  of 
the  city,  to  which  Milton  refers  as  "ancient  Tarsus."  Strabo 
says  that  it  was  founded  by  Argives  who  went  with  Triptolemus 
in  search  of  lo.  (16.  2.  5.)  Josephus  derives  its  name  from 
Tarshish,  grandson  of  Noah,  whom  he  calls  Tharsus,  explaining: 
"The  names  are  spelled  here  after  the  manner  of  the  Greeks,  to 
please  my  readers,  for  our  own  language  does  not  so  spell  them: 
but  the  names  in  all  cases  are  one  and  the  same."  (Antiq.  1.6.  1.) 
He  identifies  with  Tarsus  the  Biblical  city  of  Tarshish.  (Antiq. 
8.7.  2;  9.  10.  2;  cf.  Jonah  1.3,  etc.)  The  form  used  by  the  Vulgate 
for  Tarshish  is  Tharsis,  and  elsewhere  Tarsis  is  found  (e.  g., 
Bochart,  p.  375).  In  Samson  715  Milton  apparently  makes  Tarsus 
the  same  as  Tarshish,  since,  when  he  wrote  of  a  "ship  of  Tarsus," 
he  had  in  mind  the  frequent  Biblical  mention  of  "ships  of 
Tarshish."  (2  Chr.  9.  21,  etc.)  In  the  Bible  Tarshish  is  often 
associated  with  Javan,  as  in  Isaiah  66.  19.  Bochart  identifies  it 
with  Tartessus  (q.  v.)  or  Gadier  in  Southern  Spain,  after  dis 
cussing  the  question  at  length,  and  rejecting  the  identification 
with  Tarsus.  (Pp.  195  ff.,  662  ff.)  The  expression  "ships  of 
Tarshish"  is  often  thought  to  refer  to  no  particular  place,  but 
to  mean  merchant  vessels  suitable  for  long  voyages;  Tremel- 
lius  and  Junius  translate  "Tarshish"  by  "  Oceanus."  (Biblia 
Sacra,  London,  1585.) 


286  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Tartaria.     II  Pens.  115;   P.  L.  3.  432;    10.  431;   Decl.  Poland  8. 

462  (twice),  463,  465;    Moscovia  (1)  8.  475,  480;    (4)  8.  490, 

491;   (5)8.518;   Commonplace  12. 

The  land  of  the  Tartars.  According  to  Jenkinson's  map, 
Tartaria  is  the  region  north  and  northeast  of  the  Caspian  Sea. 
Mercator,  on  his  map  of  Tartaria,  includes  all  the  region  east  of 
the  Volga  and  north  of  Persia  and  China.  Purchas  understands 
as  Tartaria  Asiatica  "all  the  North  parts  of  Asia"  (Pilgrimage, 
p.  447),  and  adds:  "They  have  no  limitation  of  lands,  nor  tillage, 
nor  house,  but  always  wander  thorow  places  not  inhabited, 
feeding  their  Heards  and  Flocks."  Cf.  P.  L.  3.  432. 

Tartessus.     Eleg.  3.  33;   Eleg.  5.  83;   Comus  97  (cancelled  and 
"Atlantick"  substituted).     (See  also  Gadier,  Tarsus.) 

A  region  in  southern  Spain  to  the  west  of  Gibraltar.  The  city 
of  Tartessus  was  sometimes  identified  with  Cadiz.  Roman 
writers  often  employ  the  adjective  to  mean  western  (e.  g.,  Ovid, 
Met.  14.  416),  as  Milton  first  planned  to  do  in  Comus. 

Taunton.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  170. 
A  town  of  Somersetshire. 

Taurica  (Tauric  Fields).     Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  372;    Decl.  Poland 
8.  465.     (See  also  Crim.) 
The  Crimea  and  the  adjoining  region. 

Tauric  Pool.     See  Maeotis. 

Taurini.     Lit.  Oliv.  (68)  7.  319. 

Augusta  Taurinorum  was  the  ancient  name  of  Turin,  a  city 
of  Piedmont  especially  important  under  the  Dukes  of  Savoy. 

Tauris.     P.  L.  10.  436.     (See  also  Bactrian,  Casbeen,  Ecbatan, 
Hispahan.) 

Tebriz  or  Tabriz,  a  city  of  Persia  on  a  tributary  of  Lake 
Urmiah.  This  city  was  commonly,  but  incorrectly,  identified 
with  Ecbatana;  for  example,  Thomas  Coryat  says:  "I  entered 
Armenia  the  greater;  after  that  Media  the  lower,  and  resided 
sixe  dayes  in  the  Metropolis  thereof,  heretofore  called  Ecbatana, 
the  Summer  seate  of  Cyrus  his  Court,  a  Citie  oft-soone  mentioned 
in  the  Scripture,  now  called  Tauris."  (Pilgrimes  1.  4.  593.) 
Davity  also  says  that  some,  among  them  Ortelius,  were  of  the 
same  opinion.  (P.  937.)  Milton  uses  Ecbatan  as  equivalent 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  287 

to  Tauris  in  P.  L.  11.  393,  for  Tauris  was  a  capital  of  Persia 
before  Hispahan.  John  Cartwright  describes  the  appearance 
of  Tauris  in  1603:  "We  spent  six  daies  travell  to  Tauris,  passing 
over  the  River  Araxis,  leaving  Media  Atropatia,  and  entring  into 
Media  the  great.  The  chiefe  of  this  Country  is  Tauris,  memor 
able  for  the  resiance  once  of  the  Prophet  Daniel,  who  neere  unto 
the  same  builded  a  most  magnificent  Castle,  which  many  yeeres 
remained  a  marvellous  Monument;  the  beauty  whereof  was  so 
lively  and  perfect  that  continuance  of  time  did  little  deface  it, 
being  very  fresh  and  flourishing  in  the  time  of  Josephus.  In  this 
Castle  were  all  the  Kings  of  Media,  Persia,  and  Parthia  for  many 
yeeres  together  in  tombed.  But  now  time  hath  worne  it  out.  .  .  . 
Nevertheless,  Ecbatana,  now  called  Tauris,  remains  in  great 
glory  unto  this  day.  It  is  seated  at  the  foot  of  the  Hill  Orontes, 
eight  dayes  journey  or  thereabouts  from  the  Caspian  Sea,  and 
is  subject  to  Windes,  and  full  of  Snow;  yet  of  a  very  wholesome 
ayre,  abounding  with  all  things  necessary  for  the  sustentation  of 
man:  wonderfull  rich,  as  well  by  the  perpetuall  concourse  of 
Merchandises,  that  are  brought  hither  from  the  countries  of  the 
East,  to  bee  conveyed  into  Syria,  and  into  the  countries  of 
Europe;  as  also  of  those  that  come  thither  out  of  the  Westerne 
parts,  to  be  distributed  over  all  the  East.  It  is  very  populous, 
so  that  it  feedeth  almost  two  hundred  thousand  persons;  but 
now  open  to  the  fury  of  every  Armie  without  strength  of  wals, 
and  without  Bulwarkes,  saving  a  Castle  built  of  late  by  the 
Turkes.  The  buildings  are  of  burnt  Clay,  and  rather  low  then 
high.  On  the  South  side  of  this  Citie  is  a  most  beautiful  and 
flourishing  Garden  large  and  spacious,  replenished  with  sundry 
kinds  of  Trees,  and  sweete  smelling  Plants,  and  a  thousand 
Fountaines  and  Brookes,  derived  from  a  pretie  River,  which  with 
his  pleasant  streame  divides  the  Garden  from  the  Citie;  and  is 
of  so  great  beautie  that  for  the  delicacy  thereof  it  is  by  the 
Countrey  Inhabitants  called  Sechis-Genet,  that  is  to  say,  the 
eight  Paradises,  and  was  in  times  past  the  standing  house  of 
the  Persian  Kings,  whilst  they  kept  their  residence  in  this 
Citie,  and  after  they  with-drew  their  seate  from  thence,  by 
reason  of  the  Turkish  warres,  to  Casbin,  became  the  habitation 
and  place  of  abode  for  the  Persian  Governors."  (Pilgrimes  2. 
1429.) 


288  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Taurus.     8  Prolus.  7.  468.     (See  also  Niphates.) 

The  name  Taurus  was  sometimes  applied  by  the  ancients  to 
the  series  of  mountains  stretching  from  the  Mediterranean  across 
Asia  to  the  eastern  ocean  (Pacific),  as  by  Strabo  (2.  5.  31),  but 
usually  to  the  mountains  of  Asia  Minor  and  Armenia. 
Taus.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  66. 

An  unidentified  estuary.     (Tacitus,  Agricola,  Sect.  22.) 
Tavira.     See  Tamira. 

Tavistoc.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  243. 

Tavistock,  a  town  in  Devonshire. 
Tawze.     Moscovia  (2)  8.  482. 

The  Taz  is  a  river  of  northern  Siberia,  flowing  into  the  east 
side  of  the  Gulf  of  Ob.  Part  of  a  description  of  a  journey  from 
"Pechora  [q.  v.}  eastward"  is  as  follows:  "They  enter  into  the 
River  of  Ob;  and  having  rowed  a  little  way  up  the  same,  they 
come  to  a  place  which  they  likewise  call  Zavorot;  which  signifieth 
a  turning,  winding,  or  entring  into  a  place.  .  .  .  They  turn  into 
the  Tawze  Reca,  stirring  away  South  to  Tawze  River;  but  it  is 
foure  and  twentie  houres  sayle,  or  fortie  leagues  from  the  River 
of  Ob,  before  they  come  into  any  part  of  the  Tawze  Reca.  .  .  . 
When  they  are  entred  into  this  Tawze  River,  they  have  foure 
dayes  and  foure  nights  sayling  to  Tawze  Castle,  with  a  faire 
wind  and  a  stiffe  gale."  (Pilgrimes  3.  539.) 

Tayth.     Moscovia  (3)  8.  487. 

An  unidentified  city  of  central  Asia  on  the  route  from  Siberia 
to  China.  Milton's  knowledge  of  the  city  comes  from  the 
accounts  of  Cossack  travelers,  of  which  he  speaks  with  approval 
in  the  Preface  of  Moscovia:  "Tayth  ...  is  built  of  stone, 
large,  and  high  walled,  and  is  in  compasse  two  daies  travel 
about.  At  the  first  comming  to  it  are  five  gates  barred  and 
bolted  with  Iron,  very  thicke  and  close,  fastned  with  Nails; 
the  houses  and  shops,  or  Ware-houses  are  all  built  of  stone, 
wherein  are  all  manner  of  Merchandizes,  Spices,  or  grocerie,  and 
precious  things  more  abundant  then  in  the  aforesaid  Cities.  .  .  . 
There  we  saw  Sinamon,  Anniseeds,  Apples,  Arbuzes,  Melons, 
Cucumbers,  Onions,  Garlicke,  Radish,  Carrets,  Parsenips,  Tur- 
nops,  Cabbage,  Limons,  Poppiseeds,  Nutmegs,  Rice,  Almonds, 
Pepper,  Rubarbe,  and  many  other  Fruits,  which  we  know  not; 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  289 

so  that  they  want  nothing  whatsoever  groweth  in  the  World." 
(Pilgrimes  3.  800.) 

Taz.     See  Tawze. 
Tebriz.     See  Tauris. 

Teia.     Eleg.  6.  22. 

Teos  was  a  town  in  Ionia,  the  birthplace  of  Anacreon,  called 
by  Ovid  the  Teian  Muse.  (Tr.  2.  364.) 

Telassar.     P.  L.  4.  214.     (See  also  Eden,  Seleucia.) 

A  place  in  Mesopotamia  not  exactly  identified.  Milton's  refer 
ence  depends  on  2  Kings  19.  12  and  Isaiah  37.  12,  and  he  puts  the 
place  on  the  eastern  border  of  Eden,  apparently  identifying  it 
with  Seleucia  on  the  Tigris.  This  is  in  accord  with  Tremellius 
and  Junius,  who  write  of  Telessar:  "Quae  postea  Seleucia  dicta 
est,  Hhedenis  metropolis."  (Biblia  Sacra,  London,  1585,  note 
on  2  Kings  19.  12.) 

Telta.     Moscovia  (2)  8.  483.     (See  also  Comgoscoi.) 

An  unidentified  river  of  Siberia,  probably  the  Tom,  a  tributary 
of  the  Ob.  "Above  Narim  as  men  travaile  toward  the  East, 
they  meete  with  the  River  Telta;  on  the  banke  whereof  they  have 
builded  a  Castle,  named  Comgof-scoi."  (Pilgrimes  3.  527.) 

Temesa.     Quint.  Nov.  207. 

An  ancient  city  on  the  western  coast  of  Calabria,  supposed  to 
be  the  Temesa  mentioned  by  Homer  as  a  place  where  copper  was 
obtained.  (Odyssey  1.  184.)  See  also  Ovid,  Met.  15.  707. 

Temsford.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  217,  218. 

A  village  in  the  northeast  part  of  Bedfordshire,  on  the  River 

Ouse. 

• 

Teneriff.     P.    L.   4.    987;     Lit.   Oliv.    (30)    7.    273.     (See   also 

Canaries.) 

Tenerife,  one  of  the  Canary  Islands,  on  which  is  the  Peak 
of  Tenerife.  Sir  John  Hawkins  writes:  "In  this  Hand  of 
Teneriffe  there  is  a  hill  called  The  Pike,  because  it  is  piked, 
which  is  in  height  by  their  reports  twentie  leagues,  having  both 
winter  and  summer  abundance  of  snowe  in  the  top  of  it.  This 
Pike  may  bee  scene  in  a  cleere  day  fiftie  leagues  off,  but  it  sheweth 
as  though  it  were  a  blacke  cloude  a  great  height  in  the  element. 


290  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

I  have  heard  of  none  to  be  compared  with  this  in  heigth."     (Hak. 
3.  502.)     Cf.  Donne: 

Doth  not  a  Tenarif  or  higher  Hill 

Rise  so  high  like  a  Rocke,  that  one  might  thinke 

The  floating  Moone  would  shipwracke  there  and  sinke? 

(The  First  Anniversary  286-8.) 

It  is  also  described  in  Tasso  (trans.  Fairfax) : 

Far  off  a  hill  and  mountain  high  they  spied, 
Whose  top  the  clouds  environ,  clothe  and  hide; 

And  drawing  near,  the  hill  at  ease  they  view, 
When  all  the  clouds  were  molten,  fallen  and  fled, 
Whose  top  pyramid-wise  did  pointed  show, 
High,  narrow,  sharp,  the  sides  yet  more  outspread, 
Thence  now  and  then  fire,  flames  and  smoke  outflew. 

(15.  33-4.) 

He  mentions  also  the  snow  on  the  mountain.     (15.  46,  52,  53.) 
Teos.     See  Teia. 

Teredon.     P.  R.  3.  292.     (See  also  Balsara,  Euphrates.) 

An  ancient  city  near  the  mouth  of  the  stream  formed  by  the 
junction  of  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates.  (Strabo  16.  3.  2,  4.) 
Dionysius  Periegetes  says  that  the  River  Euphrates  "at  its 
very  mouth  flows  near  Teredon."  (Line  982).  The  exact  con 
dition  at  the  time  of  Alexander  the  Great,  when  Nearchus, 
one  of  his  officers,  visited  Teredon,  is  unknown.  It  changes 
because  of  the  great  amount  of  silt  brought  down  by  the  rivers, 
and  the  ease  with  which  they  alter  their  channels.  The  city  did 
not  occupy  the  site  of  the  modern  Busra  (Balsara)  though  it 
fulfilled  the  same  function.  There  is  a  tradition  that  Teredon 
was  built  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  though  it  is  "of  later  fame"  in 
that  it  first  became  known  in  the  time  of  Alexander.  (Smith, 
Diet.  Classical  Geog.,  s.  v.) 

Ternate.     P.  L.  2.  639.     (See  also  Banda,  Tidore.) 

Ternate  and  Tidore  are  two  islands  of  the  Moluccas  in  the 
East  Indies.  The  following  is  given  by  Purchas:  "The  Hands  of 
the  Spicerie,  which  properly  are  called  so,  because  all  the  Pepper, 
Cloves,  Sinamon,  Ginger,  Nutmegs,  and  Masticke  that  is  spent 
in  Europe  is  brought  from  them,  are  many,  though  the  most 
famous  of  that  Gulfe  are  five  small  Hands  under  the  Equinoctiall 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  291 

in  one  hundred  nintie  foure  degrees  from  the  Meridian  of  Toledo, 
included  in  the  morgage  which  the  Emperor  Charles  the  fift 
made  of  them  to  the  King  of  Portugall  for  three  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  Duckets,  which  are  Terrenate  of  eight  or  nine 
leagues  compasse,  with  a  Port  called  Talangame,  and  in  it 
raigned  Corala,  which  yielded  himself  for  subject  to  the  King  of 
Castile,  when  the  Shippes  that  remained  of  Magilanes  fleete 
found  these  Hands.  The  Hand  of  Tidore  stands  one  league  from 
Terrenate  to  the  South;  it  hath  tenne  leagues  compasse." 
(Pilgrimes  3.  904.)  Elsewhere  we  read:  Of  the  Hands  of 
Molucca  "Tarenate  is  the  chiefest;  and  the  King  thereof  was 
sometime  Lord  of  them  all.  .  .  .  The  Clove-trees  are  as  bigge 
as  a  man  about,  tall;  the  Boughes  large  in  the  midst,  and  pointed 
at  the  top ;  the  Leaves,  as  of  Bay-trees ;  the  Barke  of  Olive  colour. 
The  Cloves  grow  ten  and  twentie  together,  in  the  tops  of  the 
Boughes;  first  white,  red  at  ripenesse,  black  by  the  drying. 
They  gather  them  twice  a  yeere,  in  June  and  December.  The 
Leafe,  Barke,  and  Wood  being  greene,  is  as  strong  as  the  Clove. 
If  they  take  them  not  in  their  time,  they  grow  great  and  hard. 
Every  man  hath  his  owne  Trees,  and  bestowes  little  Husbandry 
on  them."  (Ib.  1.  244.)  The  value  of  the  spices  produced  in 
these  islands  made  them  the  scene  of  much  strife,  among  both 
the  natives  and  the  various  European  traders.  Milton  mentions 
some  of  the  Spice  Islands,  though  not  Ternate  and  Tidore,  in  his 
papers  setting  forth  the  claims  of  the  English  for  satisfaction 
for  injuries  inflicted  by  the  Dutch.  (Lit.  Senat.  (44,  45)  7.  234, 
235.)  Camoens  writes  of  them  in  the  Lusiads: 

Here  see  o'er  Oriental  seas  bespread 
Infinite  island-groups  and  alwhere  strewed: 
Tidore,  Ternate  view,  whose  burning  head 
Lanceth  the  wavy  flame  and  fiery  flood: 
There  see  the  groves  the  biting  clove -bud  shed, 
Bought  with  the  price  of  Portugheze's  blood. 

(10.  132,  trans.  Burton.) 
Tesiphon.     See  Ctesiphon. 

Tetnal.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  215. 
Tettenhall,  in  Staffordshire. 

Tettenhall.     See  Tetnal. 


292  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Teumesius.     Eleg.  6.  23. 

Pertaining  to  Teumessus,  a  range  of  mountains  separating 
the  plain  of  Thebes,  Bceotia,  from  the  valley  of  the  Asopus. 

Teutonic!  Agri.    See  Germany. 

Thames  (Tamigi,  Thame,  Thamesis).     Sonnet  3.  10;  Vacat.  Ex. 

100;   Eleg.  1.  9;    Mansus  32;    Damon.  3,  177;   Ad.  Rous.  18; 

Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  22;    (2)  5.  40,  41,  49,  50;    (4)  5.  187;    (5)  5. 

193  (twice),  200,  203,  206,  207,  208  (twice),  209,  214,  221,  231; 

(6)  5.  242,  249  (twice),  250,  251,  253,  256,  259,  263,  271,  283; 

Lit.  Oliv.  (25)  7.  268;   (43)  7.  290;  Lit.  Rich.  (11)  7.  342. 

The  "Royal  Towred  Thame"  (i.  e.,  Thames)  of  Vacat.  Ex. 
100  is  celebrated  by  Spenser: 

On  his  head  like  to  a  Coronet 
He  wore,  that  seemed  strange  to  common  vew, 
In  which  were  many  towres  and  castels  set, 
That  it  encompast  round  as  with  a  golden  fret. 

Like  as  the  mother  of  the  Gods,  they  say, 
In  her  great  iron  charet  wonts  to  ride, 
When  to  loues  pallace  she  doth  take  her  way: 
Old  Cybele,  arayd  with  pompous  pride, 
Wearing  a  Diademe  embattild  wide 
With  hundred  turrets,  like  a  Turribant. 
With  such  an  one  was  Thamis  beautifide; 
That  was  to  weet  the  famous  Troynouant, 
In  which  her  kingdomes  throne  is  chiefly  resiant. 

(F.  Q.  4.  11.  27-8.) 
Drayton  writes  in  the  same  strain : 

The  faire  and  goodly  Tames  .  .  . 

With  Kingly  houses  Crown 'd,  of  more  then  earthly  pride, 

Upon  his  either  Banks,  as  he  along  doth  glide 

With  wonderful  delight,  doth  his  long  course  pursue, 

Where  Otlands,  Hampton  Court,  and  Richmond  he  doth  view, 

Then  Westminster  the  next  great  Tames  doth  entertaine ; 

That  vaunts  her  Palace  large,  and  her  most  sumptuous  Fane: 

The  Lands  tribunall  seate  that  challengeth  for  hers, 

The  crowning  of  our  Kings,  their  famous  sepulchers. 

(Polyolbion  17.) 

In  Eleg.  1  Milton  speaks  of  London  as  "urbs  reflua  quam 
Thamesis  alluit  unda"  ("the  city  which  Thames  washes  against 
with  its  refluant  stream").  Probably  he  means  that,  as  Drayton 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF    MILTON  293 

says  in  a  marginal  note,  "Tames  ebbes  and  flowes  beyond  Rich 
mond."  Dray  ton  explains  it  as  follows: 

When  Tames  now  understood,  what  paines  the  Mole  did  take, 
How  farre  the  loving  Nymph  adventur'd  for  his  sake; 
Although  with  Medway  matcht,  yet  never  could  remove 
The  often  quickning  sparks  of  his  more  ancient  love 
So  that  it  comes  to  passe,  when  by  great  Natures  guide 
The  Ocean  doth  returne,  and  thrusteth  in  the  Tide; 
Up  tow'rds  the  place,  where  first  his  much  lov'd  Mole  was  seen, 
He  ever  since  doth  flow,  beyond  delightful  1  Sheene. 

(Polyolbion  17.) 

In  preceding  verses  Drayton  represents  Thames  as  having  been 
in  love  with  the  Mole  before  his  espousals  with  the  Medway. 
Milton  does  not  refer  to  this  theme,  so  fully  treated  by  Spenser 
(F.  Q.  4.  11),  though  his  linking  of  "Medway  smooth,"  and 
"Royal  Towred  Thame"  in  one  line  suggests  it.  The  "caeruleis 
patris"  ("dark-blue  father")  of  Ad  Rous.  18  suggests  ^Eneid 
8.  64,  where  Father  Tiber  is  called  "cseruleus."  The  affection  of 
Milton  for  the  Thames  appears  in  the  words  "Thamesis  meus." 
(Damon.  177.)  Masson  translates  as  follows  lines  30-4  of 
Mansus: 

We  also  think  that  we  have  heard  the  swans  in  our  river 
Making  music  at  night  through  all  the  shadowy  darkness, 
Where  our  silver  Thames,  at  breadth  of  her  pure  gushing  current, 
Bathes  with  tidal  whirl  the  yellow  locks  of  the  Ocean. 

They  suggest  the  Prothalamion  of  Spenser,  with  its  mention  of 
swans,  and  such  expressions  as  "silver  streaming  Themmes." 
(Line  11.)  In  that  day  Thames  could  more  properly  be  called 
"silver"  than  now. 

Thanet.     See  Tanet. 

1.  Thebes  (Echionius,  Ogygius,  Thebae).     II  Pens.  99;   Eleg.  6. 

68;  Quint.  Nov.  65;  P.  L.  1.  578;  P.  R.  4.  572;  Tetrach.  (Matt. 

5.  31,  32)  4.   202;    Logic   (1.   25)    7.   81    (twice).     (See  also 

Ismenian.) 

An  ancient  city  of  Bceotia,  famous  in  Greek  history  and  litera 
ture.  The  adjective  Echionius,  derived  from  the  name  of  Echion, 
one  of  the  heroes  who  sprang  from  the  dragon's  teeth  sown  by 
Cadmus,  means  Theban. 


294  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

2.  Thebes,  Egyptian.     P.  L.  5.  274.     (See  also  Arabia.) 

An  ancient  city  of  Upper  Egypt,  on  the  Nile.  Diodorus 
speaks  of  it  as  "not  only  the  most  beautiful  and  stateliest  city 
of  Egypt,  but  of  all  others  in  the  world."  (1.  50.)  He  describes 
it  at  length,  mentioning  among  other  things  the  knowledge  of 
astronomy  possessed  by  the  inhabitants.  Herodotus  tells  the 
story  of  the  phcenix  as  follows:  " There  is  also  another  sacred 
bird  which  I  did  not  myself  see  except  in  painting,  for  in  truth  he 
comes  to  them  very  rarely,  at  intervals,  as  the  people  of  Heliopolis 
say,  of  five  hundred  years ;  and  these  say  that  he  comes  regularly 
when  his  father  dies;  and  if  he  be  like  the  painting,  he  is  of  this 
size  and  nature,  that  is  to  say,  some  of  his  feathers  are  of  gold 
color  and  others  red,  and  in  outline  and  size  he  is  as  nearly  as 
as  possible  like  an  eagle.  This  bird  they  say  (but  I  cannot 
believe  the  story)  contrives  as  follows :  setting  forth  from  Arabia 
he  conveys  his  father,  they  say,  to  the  temple  of  the  Sun  (Helios) 
plastered  up  in  myrrh,  and  buries  him  in  the  temple  of  the  Sun; 
and  he  conveys  him  thus :  he  first  forms  an  egg  of  myrrh  as  large 
as  he  is  able  to  carry,  and  then  he  makes  trial  of  carrying  it, 
and  when  he  has  made  trial  sufficiently,  then  he  hollows  out  the 
egg  and  places  his  father  within  it  and  plasters  over  with  other 
myrrh  that  part  of  the  egg  where  he  hollowed  it  out  to  put  his 
.father  in,  and  when  his  father  is  laid  in  it,  it  proves  (they  say) 
to  be  of  the  same  weight  as  it  was ;  and  after  he  has  plastered  it 
up,  he  conveys  the  whole  to  Egypt  to  the  temple  of  the  Sun." 
(2.  73.)  It  is  to  be  observed  that  Herodotus  here  refers  to  the 
city  of  Heliopolis,  in  Lower  Egypt,  and  not  to  Thebes.  Various 
reasons  for  what  seems  Milton's  mistake  may  be  suggested.  In 
the  Bible  Heliopolis  is  called  "On"  and  Thebes  "No."  Diodorus 
says  that  the  Egyptians  called  Thebes  Heliopolis,  and  Herodotus 
begins  the  chapter  following  that  describing  the  phcenix  with  the 
words:  "There  are  also  about  Thebes,"  etc.  Verity,  however, 
in  his  edition  of  P.  L.,  says  that  Milton  probably  "is  following 
some  version  of  the  legend — and  there  are  many — which  has 
not  been  traced." 

Thebez  (Thesbitis  Terra).     Eleg.  4.  97;   P.  R.  2.  16,  313. 

Thebez  was  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Ephraim.  (Judges  9.  50.) 
Milton  is  apparently  without  authority  for  making  this  city, 
rather  than  Thisbe  across  the  Jordan,  the  city  of  Elijah  the 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON  295 

Tishbite  (Thisbite),  of  whom  it  is  said  that  he  "was  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Gilead."  (1  Kings  17.  1.)  The  name  of  his  city 
is  given  by  Josephus  as  Thesbe  or  Thesbon.  (Antiq.  8.  13.  2.) 

Thelwel.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  219. 
Thelwall,  in  Cheshire. 

Theopolis.     See  Antioch. 

Thermodoon.     Quint.  Nov.  105. 

Thermodon  is  a  river  of  Pontus,  on  which  the  Amazons  were 
fabled  to  dwell.  (MnM  11.  659.) 

Thesbetis  Terra.    See  Thebez. 

Thessalia  (Haemonia).     Eleg.  2.  7;  P.  L.  2.  544. 

Thessaly,  the  northeast  part  of  Greece,  bordering  on  the 
.rEgean;  called  by  the  poets  Haemonia  (e.  g.,  Ovid,  Met.  1.  568). 
It  was  famous  for  magic  (Lucan,  Pharsalia  6.  413-830),  and 
hence,  apparently,  the  magic  herb  of  Comus  638  is  called 
Haemony. 

Thessalonica.     Decl.  Poland  8.  468;  Commonplace  181. 

Modern  Salonica,  a  city  at  the  head  of  the  Gulf  of  Salonica, 
Greece. 

Thetford.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  200,  230;   (6)  5.  246,  250. 
A  town  of  Norfolk  on  the  Ouse. 

Thisbite.     See  Thebez. 

Thorney.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  281. 

An  island  of  the  coast  of  Wiltshire  and  Hampshire,  named 
from  the  thorns  growing  on  it.  (Camden  1.  120.) 

Thrace  (Odrysia,  Thressa).     Eleg.  4.  65,  77,  78;   6.  37;   P.  L.  7. 

34;  Moscovia  (4)  8.  489. 

The  country  north  of  the  ^Egean  Sea,  sometimes  called 
Odrysia  by  the  poets  (e.  g.  Ovid,  Met.  6.  490.) 

Thressa.    See  Thrace. 

Thule.     Reformation  (2)  3.  69.     (See  also  Utmost  Isles.) 

An  island  thought  of  by  the  ancients  as  the  limit  of  inhabited 
land  to  the  north.  Camden  writes  as  follows:  "Thule,  more 
famed  than  any  other  island  by  the  poets,  when  they  would 
express  the  most  distant  country  as  the  remotest  part  of  the 
world.  Thus  Virgil: 


296  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Tibi  serviat  ultima  Thule. 

While  utmost  Thule  shall  thy  nod  obey. 

(Georg.  1.  30.) 
Seneca : 

terrarum  ultima  Thule. 

Thule  remotest  portion  of  the  globe. 

(Medea  2.  378.) 
Claudian  : 

Thulem  procul  axe  remotam. 

Thule  most  distant  from  the  pole. 

(DeBel.  Goth.  204.) 

ratibusque  impervia  Thule. 

Thule  to  seamen  inaccessible. 

(Cons.  Hon.  3.  53.) 
Silius  Italicus: 

ignotam  vincere  Thulam. 

To  conquer  Thule  yet  unknown. 

(3.  597.) 

And  Amm.  Marcellinus  quotes  as  a  proverb,  'Though  he  lived 
in  Thule.'  (18.  6.)  ...  Thule  is  put  for  Britain  in  these  lines  of 
Silius  Italicus: 

Caerulus  haud  aliter  cum  dimicat  incola  Thule; 
Agmina  falcifero  circumvenit  acta  covino. 

Thus  Thule's  blue-stain'd  native  fights, 
And  with  the  scythe-arm'd  car  the  ranks  surrounds. 

(17.  416-7.) 
And  so  in  the  Sylvce  of  Statius : 

refluo  circumsona  gurgite  Thule. 

Thule  whom  ebbing  tides  surround. 

(5.  1.  91.)."    (3.  726.) 

After  referring  to  many  authorities,  among  them  the  Jovius 
whom  Milton  mentions  in  the  Preface  of  Moscovia,  Camden 
comes  to  the  conclusion  that  Thule  is  Shetland. 

Thusca  Urbs.     See  Florence. 
Thuscus.     See  Tuscany. 

Thyatira.     Animadv.  (13.  76)  3.  227;   Civil  Power  5.  325. 

A  city  of  Lydia,  Asia  Minor,  mentioned  in  Revelation  2.  18-24. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  297 

Tiber.     3  Leonor.  5;   Ad  Sal.  36;   Quint.  Nov.  52;    P.  R.  4.  32; 

Grammar  (2)  6.  487. 

A  river  of  Italy,  rising  in  the  Apennines,  and  flowing  past 
Rome  into  the  Tyrrhene  Sea.  Milton's  references  are  possibly 
influenced  by  the  familiarity  with  the  river  he  gained  during  his 
visits  to  Rome. 

Tiberias.     Divorce  (Pref.)  4.  11. 

A  city  of  Palestine  on  the  west  shore  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 
Early  in  the  Christian  era  Tiberias  was  a  centre  of  Jewish  scholar 
ship,  and  as  late  as  the  twelfth  century  the  best  manuscripts  of 
the  Torah  were  to  be  found  there. 

Tibur.     Grammar  (1)  6.  434. 

An  ancient  town  of  Latium,  now  Tivoli. 
Tidore.     P.  L.  2.  639.     See  Ternate. 

Tiebi.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  118. 

Towy,  a  river  of  Carmarthenshire,  Wales.  Milton  puts  the 
river  in  North  Wales,  though  Nennius,  whom,  according  to  his 
note,  he  is  following,  says  it  is  in  the  country  of  the  Demeti, 
South  Wales. 

Tigris  (Great  River).     P.  L.  9.  71;   11.  829;   P.  R.  3.  256.     (See 

also  Euphrates.) 

A  great  river  of  Asia,  rising  in  Armenia,  and  joining  with  the 
Euphrates  near  the  Persian  Gulf.  Milton,  following  Josephus, 
makes  the  Tigris  one  of  the  rivers  of  Paradise,  identifying  it  with 
the  Scriptural  Hiddekel.  (Genesis  2.  14.)  Josephus  writes: 
"Tigris  is  also  called  Deglath,  which  denotes  swift  with  narrow 
ness."  (Antiq.  1.  1.  3.)  It  is  often  contrasted  with  the  winding 
Euphrates,  as  by  Mela  (3.  8),  and  Dionysius  Periegetes  (for  the 
quotation,  see  Euphrates).  It  is  the  "strait"  river  of  P.  R. 
3.  256.  With  a  similar  idea  Spenser  wrote: 

And  Tygris  fierce,  whose  streames  of  none  may  be  withstood. 

(F.  Q.  4.  11.  20.  9.) 
Tiinna.     Samson  219,  383,  795,  1018. 

Timnah,  a  town  "on  the  north  frontier  of  the  tribe  of  Judah 
between  Bethshemish  and  Ekron.  (Joshua  15.  10.)  At  one 
time  it  was  counted  in  the  territory  of  Dan  (Joshua  19.  43), 
but  at  another  it  was  in  Philistine  possession  (Judges  14.  1).  .  .  . 
It  is  now  identified  with  Tibneh,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Wady 


298  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Sarar,  2  miles  west  of  Beth-shemish."     (Hastings,  Dictionary  of 
the  Bible,  s.  v.) 

Timolus.     Epist.  Fam.  (2)  7.  371. 

Tmolus,  a  mountain  in  Lydia,  the  scene  of  a  contest  in  musi 
cal  skill  between  Pan  and  Apollo.  (Ovid,  Met.  11.  157-71.) 

Tine.     Vacat.  Ex.  98;  Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  73;  (4)  5.  154,  179;  (5)  5. 

199,203;  (6)  5.  295. 

The  Tyne,  a  river  of  north  England,  flowing  into  the  North 
Sea.  Newcastle  on  the  Tyne  is  celebrated  for  its  coal.  Dray  ton 
represents  Tyne  as  saying: 

those  mighty  ships,  that  in  my  mouth  I  beare, 
Fraught  with  my  country  Coale,  of  this  Newcastle  nam'd, 
For  which  both  farre  and  neere,  that  place  no  lesse  is  fam'd, 
Then  India  for  her  Mynes. 

(Polyolbion  29.) 
Tingoesia.     Moscovia  (3)  8.  484. 

The  country  of  the  Tunguses,  in  eastern  Siberia. 
Tinna.     Moscovia  (2)  8.  483. 

Probably  Tiumen,  a  town  in  the  government  of  Tobolsk, 
Siberia.  "Here  is  used  much  buying  and  selling  of  costly 
Furres,  betweene  the  Muscovites,  Tartars,  and  Samoieds." 
(Pilgrimes  3.  526.) 

Tinterne.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  135. 

Tintern,  a  place  in  Monmouthshire,  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
River  Wye,  famous  for  the  ruins  of  the  monastery  there. 

Tithonia  Arva.     Eleg.  5.31. 

The  Tithonian  Fields  are  the  lands  in  the  extreme  east  where 
the  Dawn,  wife  of  Tithonus,  is  supposed  to  dwell. 

Tiumen.    See  Tinna. 
Tivoli.     See  Tibur. 
Tlemcen.     See  Tremisen. 
Tmolus.     See  Timolus. 

Tobol.     Moscovia  (2)  8.  483. 

A  river  of  western  Siberia,  tributary  to  the  Irtish. 

Tobolsca.     Moscovia  (2)  8.  483;   (3)  8.  486. 

Tobolsk,  a  town  of  western  Siberia,  near  the  junction  of  the 
Rivers  Irtish  and  Tobol.  Tobolsca  is  "the  chiefe  of  all  the 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  299 

Townes  of  Siberia;  wherein  is  the  seat  of  the  chiefe  Governour  of 
Siberia,  and  of  the  Moscovites  that  are  in  the  same.  To  this 
place  yeerely  are  brought  from  the  other  Townes  of  the  whole 
Countrey,  as  well  on  this  side  as  beyond  Oby,  the  tributes,  which 
being  brought  together,  and  guarded  with  Souldiers,  are  after 
carried  into  Moscovia  to  the  Emperour."  (Pilgrimes  3.  526.) 

Toledo.     Colast.  4.  357  (twice). 
A  city  of  Spain  on  the  Tagus. 

Tolga.    See  Volga. 

Tolouse  (Tolosa,  Toulouse).     Tetrach.   (Canon)  4.  276;    Hist. 
Brit.  (2)  5.  90;  2  Defens.  6.  309;  Commonplace  191. 
A  city  of  France  on  the  Garonne. 

Tomitanus  Ager.     Eleg.  1.  22.     (See  also  Corallaeus.) 

Tomis,  or  Tomi,  is  a  town  of  Mcesia,  on  the  Euxine,  to  which 
Ovid  was  banished. 

Tomsk.     See  Tooma. 
Tooina.     See  Tooma. 

Tooma  (Tooina).     Moscovia  (2)  8.  483;    (3)  8.  486  (thrice). 

Tomsk,  a  city  of  western  Siberia  on  the  River  Tom,  an  east 
ern  tributary  of  the  Obi.  "Tooina,"  a  misprint,  appears  once 
in  the  first  edition  of  Moscovia.  "Having  sayled  two  hundred 
leagues  up  the  River  Oby,  they  lighted  upon  a  Country  very 
fruitful  and  pleasant.  .  .  .  They  took  occasion  ...  to  send 
word  of  these  things  into  Moscovia.  Boris  Godonova  was  then 
Emperor  there,  who  .  .  .  commanded  the  Governour  of  Siberia, 
that  with  all  speed  hee  should  cause  a  Citie  to  bee  builded  there. 
The  Governour  obeyed,  and  there  was  a  Castle  builded  upon 
his  commandement,  with  certaine  houses  adjoyned;  so  that  now 
it  is  a  large  Citie.  .  .  .  The  name  thereof  is  Tooma.  .  .  .  And 
now  this  citie  is  so  mightie  that  in  processe  of  time  some  reason 
able  great  Kingdome  is  likely  to  grow  out  off  it."  (Pilgrimes 
3.  526-7.) 

Tophet.     See  Hinnom. 

Torchester  (Tovechester) .     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  217,  218. 

Towcester,  Northamptonshire.  The  form  "  Torchester "  is 
from  Camden's  description  of  the  county.  (2.  166.) 


300  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Torksey.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  203. 
A  town  in  Lindsey,  Lincolnshire. 

Tortuga  (Association).     Contra  Hisp.  7.  355,  356,  357  (twice), 

358  (thrice),  365.     (See  also  Providence.) 

A  small  island  north  of  Haiti.  It  was  granted  by  Charles  I 
to  the  Providence  Island  Company  in  1631,  and  by  them  called 
Association.  The  Spanish  recaptured  it  in  1636.  References  to 
the  history  of  the  island  are  given  by  Violet  Barbour,  in  The 
American  tlistorical  Review  16.  538,  note. 

Totness.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  12. 
A  town  in  Devonshire. 

Toulouse.     See  Tolouse. 
Touraine.     See  Turon. 

Tournay.     Reformation  (2)  3.  41. 

Tournai,  a  city  of  Hainaut,  Belgium,  on  the  Scheldt. 

Tours.     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  12. 

A  city  of  France  on  the  Loire.  The  fabulous  account  of  the 
origin  of  the  name  given  by  Milton  is  from  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth 
1.  15. 

Tovechester.     See  Torchester. 
Towcester.    See  Torchester. 

Towerhill.     Eikonocl.  (8)  3.  396  (twice). 

Tower  Hill,  an  elevated  spot  near  the  Tower  of  London,  of 
which  Stow  writes:  "From  and  without  the  Tower  ditch  West 
and  by  North  is  the  saide  Tower  hill,  sometime  a  large  plot  of 
ground,  now  greatly  streightned  by  incroachments  (unlawfully 
made  and  suffered)  for  Gardens  and  Houses,  some  on  the  Banke 
of  the  Tower  ditch,  whereby  the  Tower  ditch  is  marrd.  .  .  . 
Upon  this  Hill  is  alwayes  readily  prepared  at  the  charges  of  the 
cittie  a  large  Scaffolde  and  Gallowes  of  Timber,  for  the  execution 
of  such  Traytors  or  Transgressors  as  are  delivered  out  of  the 
Tower,  or  otherwise  to  the  Shiriffes  of  London  by  writ  there  to  be 
executed."  (1.  129.) 

Tower  of  London.     Reformation  (2)  3.  41;  Eikonocl.  (2)  3.  350; 
(6)3.377;    (8)3.391;    (9)3.403;   (10)3.411. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  301 

A  fortress  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  wall  of  the  city  of 
London,  on  the  River  Thames,  described  by  Camden  as  "a 
noble  citadel,  encompassed  with  an  extensive  wall,  with  lofty 
towers,  a  rampart  and  wide  ditch,  a  noble  armoury,  and  several 
houses  like  a  town."  (2.  4.)  In  the  time  of  Milton  it  was  the 
usual  prison  for  important  political  offenders. 

Town.     See  London. 
Towy.     See  Tiebi. 
Tracinia  Rupes.     See  (Eta. 

Transylvania.     Areopag.  4.  437;   Decl.  Poland  8.  462. 

Formerly  an  independent  principality,  now  the  eastern  part 
of  Hungary.  Lit.  Oliv.  (9)  7.  247  is  addressed  to  the  prince  of 
Transylvania,  a  Protestant. 

Treanta.     See  1.  Trent. 

Trebisond.     P.  L.  1.  584. 

Trebizond,  an  ancient  city  on  the  southeast  shore  of  the  Black 
Sea,  the  capital  of  a  Greek  Empire  in  the  thirteenth,  four 
teenth,  and  fifteenth  centuries.  Verity,  in  his  edition  of  P.  L., 
quotes  from  Fallmerayer,  the  historian  of  Trebisond,  the  state 
ment  that  the  city  "'became  in  popular  romance  and  in  the 
imagination  of  the  Italians  and  Provengals  one  of  the  most 
famous  empires  of  the  east,  and  the  rallying  point  of  the  youth 
and  flower  of  Asia.' '  He  states  that  it  is  often  mentioned  in  the 
heroic  novel  by  Marini  entitled  //  Caloandro,  published  in  1640- 
1,  which  had  a  wide  circulation  in  the  seventeenth  century,  and 
refers  also  to  an  occurrence  of  the  name  in  Imnhoe,  chap.  44. 
Trebizond  and  its  king  are  often  mentioned  in  Marlowe's  2 
Tamburlaine;  the  following  is  the  most  striking  passage: 

From  Trebizon  in  Asia  the  lesse, 

Naturalized  Turks  and  stout  Bythinians 

Came  to  my  bands  full  fifty  thousand  more, 

That  fighting,  knowes  not  what  retreat  doth  meane, 

Nor  ere  returne  but  with  the  victory. 

(LI.  3542-6.) 

Still  more  light  is  shed  on  the  romantic  meaning  of  the  word  by 
the  following:  "Come  (said  Picrochole)  let  us  go  joyn  with  them 
quickly,  for  I  will  be  Emperour  of  Trebezonde  also."  (Rabelais, 
trans.  Urquhart,  Gargantua  1.  33.)  Picrochole  has  been  per- 


302  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

suaded  to  make  great  conquests.  Similarly  we  read  of  Don 
Quixote  in  his  chivalrous  dreams:  "The  poor  poore  soule  did 
already  figure  himselfe  crowned  ...  at  least  with  the  Empire 
of  Trapesonda."  (Don  Quixote,  1.  1,  trans.  Shelton.)  It  also 
appears  as  a  common  name  in  romances  in  the  following:  "So 
many  Emperours  of  Trapisonda,  such  a  number  of  Felixmartes 
of  Hyrcania."  (Ib.  4.  22.)  The  second  suite  of  .the  romance 
entitled  Les  Quatres  Fits  Aimon  (first  ed.,  1517)  is  La  Conqueste 
de  Trebizonde.  The  Italian  version  was  called  Trabisonda  Istor- 
iata.  (See  L.  Gautier,  Les  Epopees  Francises  2.  628-31,  Bib 
liography,  p.  162.)  One  may  refer  also  to  The  Historic  of  Trebi 
zonde,  by  Thomas  Gainsford,  a  collection  of  romantic  stories 
published  in  London  in  1616.  (Diet.  Nat.  Biog.)  The  name 
often  appears  in  the  Orlando  Innamorato,  e.  g.,  1.  11.  19.  2. 

Tremisen.     P.  L.  11.  404.     (See  also  Almansor.) 

Now  represented  by  the  city  of  Tlemcen,  in  western  Algeria. 
"This  kingdome  beginneth  westward  from  the  rivers  of  Zha  and 
Muluia,  eastward  it  bordereth  upon  The  great  river,  southward 
upon  the  desert  of  Numidia,  and  northward  upon  the  Medirer- 
ran  sea.  This  region  was  called  by  the  Romans  Caesaria  (Mauri 
tania  Csesariensis) ....  This  kingdome  stretcheth  in  length  from 
east  to  west  380  miles,  but  in  bredth  from  north  to  south,  that  is, 
from  the  Mediterran  sea  to  the  deserts  of  Numidia  not  above 
five  and  twenty  miles.  .  .  .  Telensin  (Tremizen)  is  a  great 
citie  and  the  royall  seate  of  the  king."  (Leo  Africanus,  pp.  659- 
67.)  Milton,  refers  in  Commonplace  57  to  a  passage  in  which 
Leo  writes  of  the  Numidians  south  of  Tremisen:  "They  take 
great  delight  in  poetrie,  and  will  pen  most  excellent  verses,  their 
language  being  very  pure  and  elegant.  If  any  woorthie  poet  be 
found  among  them,  he  is  accepted  by  their  governours  with 
great  honour  and  liberalitie:  neither  would  any  man  easily 
believe  what  wit  and  decencie  is  in  their  verses."  (P.  158.) 

1.  Trent  (Treanta).     Vacat.  Ex.  93;    Damon.  176;    Hist.  Brit. 

(4)  5.  161,  166;    (5)  5.  203;   (6)  5.  252. 

A  river  of  England  rising  in  northern  Staffordshire,  and  finally 
uniting  with  the  Ouse  to  form  the  Humber.  Milton  had  good 
authority  for  associating  the  number  thirty  with  Trent.  Spenser 
writes: 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON  303 

And  bounteous  Trent,  that  in  him  selfe  enseames 
Both  thirty  sorts  of  fish,  and  thirty  sundry  streames. 

(F.  Q.  4.  11.  35.  8-9.) 

Dray  ton  says  of  the  Trent : 

A  more  usuall  power  did  in  that  name  consist, 
Which  thirty  doth  import;  by  which  she  thus  divin'd, 
There  should  be  found  in  her,  of  Fishes  thirty  kind; 
And  thirty  Abbeys  great,  in  places  fat  and  ranke, 
Should  in  succeeding  time  be  builded  on  her  banke; 
And  thirtie  several  1  Streames  from  many  a  sundry  way, 
Unto  her  greatnesse  should  their  watry  tribute  pay. 

(Polyolbion  12.) 

He  repeats  this  idea  in  a  later  description  of  the  Trent,  where  he 
writes  also,  in  words  that  suggest  Vacat.  Ex.  94: 

I  throw  my  Cristall  Armes  along  the  Flowry  Vallies, 
Which  lying  sleeke,  and  smooth,  as  any  Garden-Allies, 
Doe  give  me  leave  to  play,  whilst  they  do  Court  my  Streame. 

(Polyolbion  26.) 

2.  Trent  (Tridentum).     Forcers  of  Consc.   14;    Eikonocl.   (11) 

3.  425;  (17)  3.  462;  (28)  3.  521;  Divorce  (2.  5)  4.  75;  Tetrach. 

(Matt.  5.  31,  32)  4.  200;  Areopag.  4.  421;  Hirelings  5.  361,  363; 

Commonplace  109  (3  times),  112  (4  times),  179,  184,  189. 

A  city  of  Tyrol  on  the  River  Adige.  Milton  mentions  it  only 
in  connection  with  the  famous  ecumenical  council  held  there 
from  1545  to  1563. 

Treves.    See  Trevir. 

Trevir.     Commonplace  112. 

Treves,  a  city  of  southwestern  Prussia,  on  the  Moselle. 

Tridentum.     See  1.  Trent. 
Trinacrian  Shore.     See  Sicily. 
Trinovant.     See  London. 

Triton.     P.  L.  4.  276.     (See  also  Irassa,  Nyseian  He.) 

The  River  Triton  is  at  present  represented  by  a  salt  lake,  not 
connected  with  the  sea,  known  as  the  Chott  el-Djerid,  in  modern 
Tunis.  Its  outlet  has  been  blocked,  perhaps  by  an  upheaval 
of  the  coast.  It  should  be  noted,  however,  that  the  ancients 
(e.  g.,  Dionysius  Periegetes,  line  267)  sometimes  refer  to  it  as  a 
lake  rather  than  a  river.  On  the  map  of  Africa  Propria  in  the 


304  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Parergon  of  Ortelius  the  Triton  is  a  river  of  considerable  length 
flowing  into  Syrtis  Minor.  A  lake  some  distance  from  the  sea  is 
Tritonis  palus,  and  in  it  is  Phila  insula,  on  which  is  the  city  of 

Nysa. 

Troas.     Doct.  Christ.  (2.  7)  2.  338. 

A  seaport  of  northwestern  Asia  Minor,  opposite  the  southeast 
extremity  of  the  island  of  Tenedos. 

Troia.     See  Troy. 

Troia  Nova.     See  London. 

Troitsko.     See  Trojetes. 

Trojetes.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  479. 

Troitsko-Serguyevsjaya,  a  monastery  at  Sergiyevo,  a  town 
north-northeast  of  Moscow.  Milton's  information  is  from  Hak. 
1.  320. 

Trophonii  Antrum.     3  Prolus.  7.  425;   6  Prolus.  7.  445. 

The  cave  of  Trophonius,  at  Lebadea,  Boeotia,  was  the  seat  of 
a  celebrated  oracle. 

Troy  (Ilion,  Ilium,  Pergamus,  Troia).     II  Pens.  100;  Eleg.  1.  68; 

Eleg.  2.  13;  Procancel.  14;  Quint.  Nov.  30;  P.  L.I.  578;  9.16; 

Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  7,  11,  13,  27;    Notes:    Grif.  5.  395  (twice); 

2  Defens.  6.  269,  331;   Grammar  (1)  6.  437;    (2)  6.  487;  Logic 

(1.  27)  7.  88.     (See  also  Dardanius.) 

.  A  city  of  the  Troad  besieged  and  taken  by  the  Greeks  in  the 
Trojan  war. 

Troyes.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  105. 
A  city  of  France,  on  the  Seine. 

Trutulensis.     See  Rutupise. 
Tunguses.     See  Tingoesia. 

Turchestan.     P.  L.  11.  396. 

A  part  of  central  Asia  in  the  region  of  the  Sir-Daria  (Jaxartes 
River),  now  ruled  by  Russia.  Writers  of  the  time  of  Milton 
give  it  somewhat  wider  limits.  (Pilgrimes  3.  137.)  By  calling 
the  sultan  "Turchestan  born"  Milton  refers  to  the  origin  of  the 
Turks  in  central  Asia;  as  Knolles  puts  it:  "This  barbarous 
nation  took  their  first  beginning  out  of  the  bare  and  cold  country 
of  Scythia."  (History  of  the  Turks,  p.  2.) 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  305 

Turin.     See  Taurini. 
Turkestan.     See  Turchestan. 

Turkish  (Turci,  Turks).  P.  L.  10.  434;  Eikonocl.  (27)  3.  508, 
509;  Lit.  Oliv.  (64)  7.  314  (thrice);  Decl.  Poland  8.  460,  462, 
463  (twice).  (See  also  Bizance.) 

In  the  time  of  Milton  the  Turks,  with  their  capital  at  Con 
stantinople  (q.  v.),  were  a  powerful  nation,  occupying,  in  addition 
to  much  of  eastern  Asia  and  northern  Africa,  the  southeastern 
part  of  Europe  far  beyond  their  recent  limits.  John  Sobieski, 
whose  earlier  exploits  are  mentioned  in  Decl.  Poland,  aided  in 
the  rescue  of  Vienna  from  the  Turks  in  1683. 

Turon.     Reformation  (1)  3.  16. 

Touraine,  a  division  of  France  traversed  by  the  River  Loire; 
its  chief  city  is  Tours. 

Tuscany  (Etruria,  Hetruria,  Hetrusca  Ditio,  Thuscus).     Quint. 

Nov.  51;  Mansus  4;  Damon.  Arg.,  13,   126,  127;    Comus  48; 

Sonnet  17.  12;  P.  L.  1.  288,  303;  Lit.  Senat.  (17)  7.  202;   (20) 

7.  205.     (See  also  Florence.) 

A  division  of  northwest  Italy  bordering  on  the  Tyrrhenian  Sea. 
Milton  spent  some  time  in  Tuscany  during  his  travels  in  Italy. 
In  his  time  it  was  ruled  by  a  grand  duke. 

Tusculum.     Divorce  (2.  3)  4.  69;  Epist.  Fam.  (4)  7.  373. 

A  city  of  Latium,  about  fifteen  miles  southeast  of  Rome, 
where  there  were  many  villas  of  wealthy  Romans,  among  them 
that  of  Cicero. 

Tweed.     Vacat.  Ex.  92;   Divorce  (Pref.)  4.  11. 

A  river,  on  the  boundary  of  England  and  Scotland,  flowing 
into  the  North  Sea.  Spenser,  like  Milton,  finds  little  to  say 
about  it  except  that  it  is  "the  limit  betwixt  Logris  land  and 
Albany."  (F.  Q.  4.  11.  36.  6-7.) 

Tyne.     See  Tine. 

Tygurus.     See  Zuric. 

Tyral.     See  Tyras. 

Tyras  (Tyral).     Decl.  Poland  8.  462,  463,  464. 

Now  called  Dniester,  a  river  flowing  into  the  Black  Sea  north 
of  the  Danube.  "Tyral"  is  a  misprint  at  least  as  early  as  the 
edition  of  1698. 


306  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Tyre  (Sarra).     Nativity  204;    Comus  342;    Ps.  83.  27;    87.  15; 

P.  L.  11.  243. 

An  ancient  seaport  of  Phoenicia,  famous  especially  for  the  dye 
called  Tyrian  purple. 

Tyrrhen  Sea  (Southern  Sea,  Tyrrhenus  Pontus).     Comus  49; 

Quint.  Nov.  108;    P.  R.  4.  28;    Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  11  (twice). 

(See  also  Circe's  Hand.) 

The  Tyrrhenian  Sea,  that  part  of  the  Mediterranean  south 
west  of  Italy. 

Ucalegonium.    Animadv.  (3.  37)  3.  213. 

A  city  in  Mundus  Alter  et  Idem  (1.  8),  the  Utopia  of  Bishop 
Hall. 

Uladislau.     Decl.  Poland  8.  458. 

Wladyslawow,  a  town  in  the  government  of  Kalisz,  Poland. 

Ulster  (Ultonia).     Eikonocl.  (28)  3.  529;  Ormond  4.  567,  569;   1 
Defens.  (5)  6.  99. 
The  province  occupying  northeast  Ireland. 

Ultonia.     See  Ulster. 
Ulyssipo.    See  Olissipo. 

United  Provinces  (Batavia,  Foederatae  Provinciae).     Reformation 
(2)  3.  46;   Rupt.  Com.  5.  402;   Easy  Way  5.  426,  436,  451;    1 
Defens.  (5)  6.  98;   Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  338,  365,  366,  377;   Lit. 
Oliv.  (36)  7.  283.     (See  also  Netherlands.) 
The  seven   provinces  of  the   Low   Countries,   which   to-day 
constitute  the  kingdom  of  the  Netherlands.     In  1579  they  laid 
the  foundation  of  the  Dutch  Republic  by  forming  the  Union  of 
Utrecht.     The  seventeenth  century,  when  they  were  the  com 
mercial  rivals  of  England,  was  the  time  of  their  greatest  pros 
perity.     For  evidence  of  their  rivalry  see  Lit.  Senat.   (44,  45) 
7.  234,  235. 

University.     See  Cambridge. 

Ur.     P.  L.  12.  130. 

Now,  as  in  the  time  of  Milton,  usually  placed  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Euphrates,  below  Babylon.  It  has  also  been 
identified  with  the  Greek  city  of  Edessa,  in  Mesopotamia. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON  307 

This  would  be  in  harmony  with  Acts  7.  2,  where  Abraham  is 
said  to  have  dwelt  beyond  the  River,  before  he  dwelt  in  Haran, 
and  seems  to  be  accepted  by  Milton  in  P.  L.  12.  114,  where 
Abraham  is  said  to  reside  "on  this  side  Euphrates,"  that  is,  on 
the  eastern  side,  toward  the  Garden.  But  in  line  130  Abraham 
is  represented  as  "passing  the  Ford  to  Haran,"  which  would  not 
be  possible  if  Ur  were  on  the  east  side  of  the  Euphrates,  for  Haran 
is  also  on  the  east  side.  If  Ur  is  on  the  west  bank,  Abraham 
would  have  crossed  the  Euphrates  on  his  way  to  Haran.  Such 
a  route  is  represented  by  Ortelius  on  his  map  of  the  Journeys  of 
Abraham.  (Parergon,  p.  24.)  It  seems  as  though  Milton  wrote 
first  with  one  site,  then  with  the  other,  in  mind. 

Usa.    See  Ouse. 

Usk  (Osca).     Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  22;   (2)  5.  84. 
A  river  of  Monmouthshire,  flowing  into  the  Bristol  Channel. 

Ustiug.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  474. 

Ustiug  Weliki,  a  town  of  northern  Russia.  Jenkinson  tells  of 
coming,  on  his  way  up  the  Dwina,  to  Ustiug,  "an  ancient  citie." 
(Hak.  1.  312.)  The  distance  of  five  hundred  versts  from  Col- 
mogro  to  Ustiug  is  given  in  Hakluyt  1.  363. 

Utmost  Isles.     P.  L.  1.  521.     (See  also  Thule.) 

The  islands  beyond  France,  perhaps  as  far  as  Thule,  especially 
the  British  Isles.  The  wanderings  of  Comus,  which  end  in 
Wales,  are  much  the  same  as  those  of  the  false  gods: 

Comus  .  .  . 

Roaving  the  Celtick,  and  Iberian  fields, 
At  last  betakes  him  to  this  ominous  Wood. 

(Comus  58-61.) 
Uxbridge.     Eikonocl.  (18)  3.  468,  470. 

A  town  of  Middlesex  on  the  River  Colne,  where,  in  1645, 
commissioners  of  Charles  I  and  Parliament  made  an  unsuccessful 
attempt  to  conclude  a  treaty. 

Uzzean.     P.  R.  1.  369;  3.  94. 

Living  in  the  land  of  Uz.  As  Milton  suggests  by  the  words 
"land  .  .  .  obscure,"  the  situation  of  this  country  where  Job 
dwelt  (Job  1.  1),  is  uncertain.  It  is  usually  placed  east  of 
Palestine.  Fuller  represents  it  as  east  of  Edom,  in  Arabia 
Deserta.  (Pp.  449,  map,  467.) 


308  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON 

Vaigatz.     See  Vaiguts. 

Vaiguts.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  473.     (See  also  Pechora.) 

Vaigatz  or  Waigatz  is  an  island  off  the  north  coast  of  Russia, 
east  of  the  mouth  of  the  Pechora,  and  separated  from  the  con 
tinent  by  the  straits  of  Vaigatz,  to  which  Milton  refers.  The 
straits,  often  mentioned  in  the  narratives  of  the  search  for  the 
Northeast  Passage,  were  sometimes  also  called  Borroughs' 
Straits,  after  one  of  the  early  voyagers.  The  instructions  given 
by  the  Moscovy  Company  to  Pet  and  Jackman  when  they  went 
in  search  of  the  Passage  are  in  part  as  follows :  "The  said  Gouver- 
nours  and  company  have  hired  the  said  Arthur  Pet  .  .  .  and 
likewise  the  said  Charles  Jackman  for  a  voyage  by  them  to  be 
made  by  Gods  grace,  for  search  and  discoveries  of  a  passage  by 
sea  from  hence  by  Boroughs  streights,  and  the  Island  Vaigats, 
Eastwards,  to  the  countries  or  dominions  of  the  mightie  Prince, 
the  Emperour  of  Cathay.  .  .  .  And  when  you  come  to  Vaigats, 
we  would  have  you  to  get  sight  of  the  maine  land  of  Samoeda, 
which  is  over  against  the  South  part  of  the  same  Island,  and 
from  thence  with  Gods  permission  to  passe  Eastwards  along  the 
same  coast,  keeping  it  always  in  your  sight  untill  you  come  to 
the  mouth  of  the  river  Ob."  (Hak.  1.  433.)  The  explorers  went 
beyond  the  island  of  Vaigatz,  but,  because  of  the  ice,  were  unable 
to  reach  the  Ob.  This  is  not  strange,  for  Purchas  says :  "Neither 
hereafter  will  I  marvell,  though  the  Streight  of  Waygats  bee 
stopped  up  to  the  North-east  with  such  huge  Mountaines  of  Ice, 
since  the  Rivers  Obi  and  Jenisce,  and  very  many  more,  whose 
names  are  not  yet  knowne,  powre  out  so  huge  a  quantitie  thereof, 
that  in  a  manner  it  is  incredible.  For  it  commeth  to  passe 
in  the  beginning  of  the  spring,  that  in  places  neere  unto  the 
Sea  the  Ice  through  the  excessive  thicknesse  and  multitude 
thereof  doth  carrie  downe  whole  floods  before  it.  ...  And 
whereas  in  that  Streight  neere  unto  Nova  Zembla  it  is  extreme 
cold,  it  is  no  marvell  if  in  regard  to  the  narrownesse  of  the  Streight 
so  huge  heaps  of  Ice  are  gathered  and  frozen  together,  that  in 
the  end  they  grow  to  sixtie,  or  at  least  to  fiftie  fathoms  thick 
nesse.  .  .  .  For  I  am  readie  to  prove  that  this  is  no  passible 
way,  that  thay  will  still  lose  their  labour,  whosoever  shall  attempt 
the  same."  (Pilgrimes  3.  527.)  The  masses  of  ice  are  called 
"mightie  mountains"  in  the  relation  of  Frobisher's  voyage  to 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON  309 

the  northwest,   and   similar  expressions   are   frequent   in   early 
narratives  of  Arctic  exploration.     Cf.  P.  L.  10.  289-93. 

Valdarno.     P.  L.  1.  290.     (See  also  Arno,  Florence.) 

The  upper  part  of  the  valley  of  the  River  Arno,  where  Florence 
is  situated.  It  is  noted  for  its  beauty  and  fertility.  During  his 
stay  in  Florence  Milton  probably  visited  various  parts  of  it. 
At  Arcetri,  in  the  villa  called  II  Giojello,  he  visited  Galileo, 
then  a  prisoner  of  the  Inquisition.  (Areopag.  4.  428.) 

Valentinia.      Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  88.     (See  also  Wall  of  Severus.) 
The  district  of  Roman  Britain  north  of  the  Wall  of  Severus 
and  south  of  the  Wall  of  Antoninus. 

Vallombrosa.     P.L.I.  303. 

A  celebrated  convent  of  Tuscany,  in  a  small  valley  opening 
at  Tosi  into  the  Vicano-Baches,  a  right-hand  tributary  of  the 
Arno.  The  fidelity  of  Milton's  description  is  attested  by  Words 
worth  in  his  lines  entitled  At  Vallombrosa,  and  in  the  note  on 
them.  He  writes  in  part: 

The  Flood, 

That  lulled  me  asleep,  bids  me  listen  once  more. 
Its  murmur  how  soft!  as  it  falls  down  the  steep, 
Near  that  Cell — yon  sequestered  Retreat  high  in  air — 
Where  our  Milton  was  wont  lonely  vigils  to  keep 
For  converse  with  God,  sought  through  study  and  prayer. 

The  Monks  still  repeat  the  tradition  with  pride, 
And  its  truth  who  shall  doubt?  for  his  Spirit  is  here; 
In  the  cloud-piercing  rocks  doth  her  grandeur  abide, 
In  the  pines  pointing  heavenward  her  beauty  austere; 
In  the  flower-besprent  meadows  his  genius  we  trace 
Turned  to  humbler  delights,  in  which  youth  might  confide, 
That  would  yield  him  fit  help  while  prefiguring  that  Place 
Where,  if  Sin  had  not  entered,  Love  never  had  died.  .  .  . 

And  now,  ye  Miltonian  shades!  under  you 

I  repose,  nor  am  forced  from  sweet  fancy  to  part, 

While  your  leaves  I  behold  and  the  brooks  they  will  strew, 

And  the  realized  vision  is  clasped  to  my  heart. 

The  note  is  as  follows:  "The  name  of  Milton  is  pleasingly  con 
nected  with  Vallombrosa  in  many  ways.  The  pride  with  which 
the  Monk,  without  any  previous  question  from  me,  pointed  out 
his  residence,  I  shall  not  readily  forget.  It  may  be  proper  here 


310  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF    MILTON 

to  defend  the  Poet  from  a  charge  which  has  been  brought  against 
him  in  respect  to  the  passage  in  Paradise  Lost  where  this 
place  is  mentioned.  It  is  said  that  he  has  erred  in  speaking  of 
the  trees  there  being  deciduous,  whereas  they  are,  in  fact,  pines. 
The  fault-finders  are  themselves  mistaken;  the  natural  woods 
of  the  region  of  Vallombrosa  are  deciduous,  and  spread  to  a 
great  extent;  those  near  the  convent  are,  indeed,  mostly  pines; 
but  they  are  avenues  of  trees  planted  within  a  few  steps  of  each 
other,  and  thus  composing  large  tracts  of  wood ;  plots  of  which 
are  periodically  cut  down.  The  appearance  of  those  narrow 
avenues,  upon  steep  slopes  open  to  the  sky,  on  account  of  the 
height  to  which  the  trees  attain  by  being  forced  to  grow  upwards, 
is  often  very  impressive.  My  guide,  a  boy  of  about  fourteen 
years  old,  pointed  this  out  to  me  in  several  places." 

Vardo.    See  Wardhouse. 
Variana.     Animadv.  (3.  37)  3.  213. 

A  part  of  the  country  of  Moronia,  in  Mundus  Alter  et  Idem 
(3.  3),  the  Utopia  of  Bishop  Hall. 

Vatican.     Epist.  Fam.  (9)  7.  382.     (See  also  Rome.) 

The  palace  of  the  Pope  on  the  Vatican  Hill  in  Rome.  Milton 
visited  the  Library,  housed  in  the  Belvedere.  Perhaps  some  of 
the  Greek  manuscripts  he  saw  were  those  presented  by  Urban 
VIII  in  1624. 

Vectis.     See  Wight. 

Venice  (Veneta  Res  Publica,  Venetiae).  Rupt.  Com.  5.  402,  436, 
440;  2  Defens.  6.  289;  Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  383;  Lit.  Senat. 
(22)  7.  207;  (36)  7.  224;  Lit.  Oliv.  (17)  7.  258,  259;  (60)  7.  310. 

Venice,  situated  at  the  head  of  the  Adriatic,  was  in  the  time 
of  Milton  a  maritime  power,  frequently  waging  war  with  the 
Turks.  These  Turkish  wars  are  prominent  in  the  four  letters 
that  Milton,  in  his  capacity  as  Latin  secretary,  wrote  to  the  Doge 
and  Senate  of  Venice.  Just  before  leaving  Italy  Milton  spent  a 
month  at  Venice,  and  despatched  for  England  the  books  he  had 
collected  in  Italy.  The  only  reference  to  what  he  saw  there  is 
in  Pro  Se  Defens.  6.  383,  where  he  tells  of  the  beggars  and  venders 
of  nostrums  and  salves  on  the  streets. 

Verdant  Isles.     P.  L.  8.  631.     (See  also  Azores,  Green  Cape.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  311 

The  Cape  Verde  Islands,  west  of  Cape  Verde,  on  the  west 
coast  of  Africa.  They  were  often  attacked  by  the  English  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  sixteenth  century.  (Hak.  3.  599.) 

Vergateria.     Moscovia  (2)  8.  483. 

Verkhotowrie,  a  city  of  eastern  Russia  on  the  River  Toura,  a 
tributary  of  the  Tobol.  Vergateria  "is  the  first  Towne  of  the 
Countrey  of  Siberia,  and  was  begun  to  be  builded  with  some  other 
Townes  within  these  one  and  twenty  yeeres."  (Pilgrimes  3.  515.) 

Vergivium  Salum.     See  Irish  Seas. 
Verkhotowrie.    See  Vergateria. 

Vermandois    (Vermanduiorum    Agrum).     Rami    Vita    7.    178; 

Commonplace  183. 

A  province  of  old  France,  to-day  divided  between  the  depart 
ments  of  Aisne,  Somme,  and  Oise. 

Verona.     2  Defens  6.  289. 

A  city  of  northern  Italy,  on  the  River  Adige,  at  the  foothills 
of  the  mountains  of  the  Tyrol.  When  Milton  passed  through 
the  city  in  1638,  on  his  way  to  Switzerland,  it  was  included  in 
the  territories  of  Venice. 

Verulam  (Saint  Albanes).    Tenure  4.  459;  Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  42,  60, 

84;  (3)  5.  105;  Commonplace  179. 

St.  Albans  is  a  city  of  Hertfordshire,  twenty  miles  from 
London,  very  near  the  site  of  the  Roman  city  of  Verulamium. 
See  Dray  ton,  Polyolbion  16,  and  Spenser,  The  Ruines  of  Time. 

Vienna  (Vienne).     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  91;    1  Defens.  (4)  6.  85; 
Commonplace  109. 
A  city  of  France  on  the  Rhone. 

Vigornium.     See  Worcester. 

Villafranca.     Sixteen  Let.  10. 

A  French  port  of  the  Gulf  of  Nice.  In  Milton's  time  it  was 
included  in  the  territories  of  the  dukes  of  Savoy. 

Vincennae.     Rami  Vita  7.  183  (twice). 

Vincennes,  a  town  of  France  about  two  miles  east  of  Paris. 
Viraginia.  Apology  (Introd.)  3.  267;  (6)3.292. 

An  imaginary  region  mentioned  by  Bishop  Hall  in  Mundus 
Alter  et  Idem,  Book  2. 
21 


312  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Virginia.     Animadv.  (3.  37)  3.  213;   Contra  Hisp.  7.  356. 

A  part  of  North  America,  including  the  present  state  of  Vir 
ginia,  but  of  much  greater  extent.  Blaeu  defines  it  as  the  country 
between  the  parallels  of  thirty-six  and  forty-four  degrees  of 
north  latitude,  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  ocean  and  New 
Netherlands,  on  the  south  by  Florida,  on  the  north  by  New 
France,  on  the  west  by  regions  unknown.  (P.  39.)  Milton 
wrote  his  Animadv.  in  1641,  thirty- four  years  after  the  settlement 
of  Jamestown.  Hakluyt  describes  at  length  the  English  voyages 
to  Virginia. 

Vistula.     See  Wixel. 
Vladimir.     See  Wolodimiria. 
Vobsco.     See  Plesco. 

Volga  (Edel,  Tolga).     Moscovia  (1)  8.  471,  474,  475  (thrice),  476. 

(See  also  Astracan,  Nagay.) 

A  river  of  Russia,  flowing  into  the  Caspian  Sea.  Milton 
refers  in  a  note  to  the  following  passage :  "At  Yeraslave  we  passed 
the  river  of  Volga,  more  than  a  mile  over.  This  river  taketh  his 
beginning  at  Beal  Ozera,  and  descendeth  into  Mare  Caspium, 
portable  thorow  of  very  great  vessels  with  flat  bottomes,  which 
farre  passe  any  that  our  countrey  useth."  (Hak.  1.  377.)  "To 
the  Caspian  sea  are  2700  versts  from  Yeraslave."  (Hak.  1.  364.) 
Anthony  Jenkinson  gives  a  narrative,  from  which  Milton  drew 
largely,  of  his  voyage  down  the  Volga  to  the  Caspian.  He  thus 
describes  his  entrance  into  the  Sea:  "The  same  day  departed  I, 
with  the  said  two  Johnsons  having  the  whole  charge  of  the 
Navigation  downe  the  sayd  river  Volga,  being  very  crooked, 
and  full  of  flats  toward  the  mouth  thereof.  We  entred  into  the 
Caspian  sea  the  tenth  day  of  August  at  the  Easterly  side  of  the 
sayd  river,  being  twenty  leagues  from  Astracan  aforesayd,  in  the 
latitude  of  fortie  six  degrees,  twentie  seven  minutes.  Volga  hath 
seventie  mouths  or  falls  into  the  sea."  (Hak.  1.  326.)  The  mis 
print  "Tolga"  occurs  once  in  the  Pickering  edition. 

Volhinnia.     Decl.  Poland  8.  466. 

Volhynia,  a  government  of  southwest  Russia. 

Volhusky.     Muscovia  (1)  8.  476. 

Volkhof,  a  river  flowing  into  Lake  Ladoga.     See  Hak.  1.  367. 

Volhynia.     See  Volhinnia. 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  313 

Volkhof .     See  Volhusky. 
Vologda.     See  Wologda. 

Wales  (Cambria,  Demetia,  Deemed,  Genounia,  Guinethia,  North 
Wales,  South  Wales).  Eikonocl.  (12)  3.  438;  (27)  3.  503;  (28) 
3.  521  (twice);  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  13  (twice),  19,  20;  (2)  5.  73 
(thrice);  (3)  5.  115,  118,  119,  132  (twice),  133;  (4)  5.  169, 
171  (twice),  188;  (5)  5.  205,  209,  216,  217,  219,  225,  229,  233 
(twice);  (6)  5.  243,  277,  282,  284,  285,  286,  287,  288;  1  Defens. 
(8)  6.  148. 

Geoffrey  of  Monmouth  explains  the  origin  of  the  Latin  name 
Cambria:  "Brutus  had  three  famous  sons,  whose  names  were 
Locrin,  Albanact,  and  Kamber.  These,  after  their  father's  death 
.  .  .  divided  the  kingdom  of  Britain  among  them.  .  .  .  Kamber 
had  that  part  which  lies  beyond  the  river  Severn,  now  called 
Wales,  but  which  was  for  a  long  time  named  Kambria."  (2.  1.) 
According  to  Giraldus  Cambrensis,  Wales  was  anciently  divided 
into  three  parts,  Venedotia  (Genounia,  Guinethia)  or  North 
Wales,  Demetia  (Deomed)  or  South  Wales,  and  Powys,  the 
middle  or  eastern  district.  (Description  of  Wales,  chap.  2.) 

Wallingford.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  247,  253. 
A  town  of  Berkshire  on  the  Thames. 

Wall  of  Antoninus.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  74,  75;    (3)  5.  102. 

A  Roman  wall,  still  visible  in  places,  extending  from  the  Clyde 
to  the  Forth. 

Wall  of  Severus  (Adrian).  Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  73,  77,  78,  82,  89; 

(3)  5.  103,  104  (twice);   (4)  5.  154,  179;   (5)  5.  196. 

A  Roman  wall,  built  by  Severus  and  repaired  by  Hadrian, 
extending  from  Newcastle  on  the  Tyne  to  the  Sol  way  Firth. 
It  is  mentioned  by  Spenser  (F.  Q.  4.  11.  36),  and  described  by 
Dray  ton  (Polyolbion  29). 

Waltham.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  299. 
A  town  in  Essex  on  the  River  Lea. 

Wanading.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  211. 

Wantage  in  Berkshire,  as  Camden  says  (1.  148). 

Wansborough.     See  Wodensbeorth. 
Wanswell.     See  Wodensfield. 


314  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY   OF   MILTON 

Wantage.     See  Wanading. 

Wardhouse.     Moscovia  (5)  8.  504,  505,  508. 

Vardo,  an  island  in  the  Arctic  Ocean  off  the  north  coast  of 
Norway.  Jenkinson  writes :  "  This  Wardhouse  is  a  Castle  stand 
ing  in  an  Island  2  miles  from  the  maine  of  Finland,  subject  to 
the  king  of  Denmarke,  and  the  Eastermost  land  that  he  hath. 
.  .  .  The  inhabitants  .  .  .  live  onely  by  fishing,  and  make  much 
stocke-fish,  which  they  dry  with  frost:  their  most  feeding  is 
fish;  bread  and  drink  they  have  none,  but  such  as  is  brought 
them  from  other  places.  They  have  small  store  of  cattell  which 
are  also  fed  with  fish."  (Hak.  1.  311.)  Willoughby  speaks  of 
it  as  "the  strongest  holde  in  Finmarke,  and  much  resorted  to  by 
report."  (Hak.  1.  235.) 

Warewell.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  281. 
A  monastery  in  Hampshire. 

Warham  (Werham).     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  204;   (6)  5.  239. 

In  Dorsetshire,  "near  the  mouth  of  the  Frome  ...  is  Ware- 
ham,  ...  a  town  well  defended  on  all  sides  (except  the  west) 
by  the  rivers  Trent  and  Frome  and  the  sea."  (Camden  1.  45.) 

Warsaw.     Decl.  Poland  8.  459,  468  (twice). 

A  city  on  the  Vistula,  formerly  the  capital  of  Poland. 

Warwickshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  175;   (6)  5.  256. 
A  county  of  central  England,  watered  by  the  Avon. 

Warzina.     See  Arzina. 
Waste.    See  Wilderness. 

Watling  Street.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  228;  (6)  5.  252. 

A  Roman  road  crossing  Britain  from  Dover  to  Chester. 

Wedmore.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  206. 

A  town  in  Somersetshire,  a  royal  vill  of  King  Alfred. 

Welland.     See  Weolud. 
Wendune.     See  Brunanburg. 

Weolud.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  218. 

The  form  used  in  the  Chronicle  for  the  river  of  Northampton 
shire  now  called  the  Welland.  Apparently  Milton  did  not 
know  the  modern  equivalent  of  the  name. 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  315 

Werham.     See  Warham. 
Wertermore.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  222. 

Milton  takes  this  name  from  Simeon  of  Durham,  Sect.  83.  It 
has  not  been  surely  identified. 

Wessex.    See  West  Saxons. 
Westchester.    See  Chester. 
Western  Bay.     See  1.  Atlantic. 
Western  Empire.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  88. 

The  western  part  of  the  Roman  world,  i.  e.,  western  Europe 
and  the  western  part  of  north  Africa. 

Western  Sea.    See  Mediterranean. 
West  Kingdom.     See  West  Saxons. 

Westmaria.     Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  74. 

Westmoreland,  a  county  of  northwest  England  bordering  on 
the  Irish  Sea. 

Westminster.     Eikonocl.  (6)  3.  376,  377;  Areopag.  4.  446;  Hist. 

Brit.  (4)  5.  145,  172;   (6)  5.  277,  291,  300;   Commonplace  181. 

One  of  the  boroughs  of  London,  west  of  the  city  proper  on  the 
banks  of  the  Thames.  Camden  writes:  "Westminster,  once 
above  a  mile  distant,  now  joining  to  London  so  as  to  seem  part 
of  it,  ...  is  a  city  itself,  governed  by  its  own  magistrates  and 
laws.  It  is  called  .  .  .  Westminster  from  its  westerly  situation 
and  minster.  It  is  eminently  distinguished  by  this  church,  the 
hall  of  justice  and  the  king's  palace.  The  church  is  famous  for 
being  the  place  where  the  kings  of  England  are  crowned  and 
buried.  .  .  .  The  remains  of  [the  ancient  palace]  are  that  cham 
ber  where  the  kings,  lords,  and  commons  assemble  in  parliament, 
and  the  adjoining  one  where  our  ancestors  used  to  open  the 
sessions,  called  the  painted  chamber  of  St.  Edward.  ...  To 
these  adjoins  White  Hall,  where  is  now  the  Court  of  Requests, 
and  to  that  the  greatest  of  all  halls,  the  Prsetorium  of  all  England. 
In  this  are  held  the  law  courts."  (2.  7,  8.)  The  city  of  West 
minster  was  the  abode  of  Milton  from  1649  to  1660.  He  lived 
there  that  he  might  be  near  the  offices  of  the  government  in 
order  to  perform  more  easily  his  duties  as  Secretary  for  Foreign 
Tongues  to  the  Council  of  State.  For  a  part  of  this  time  he 
had  lodgings  in  the  palace  of  Whitehall.  In  1652  he  removed 


316  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

to  a  house  in  Petty  France,  Westminster,  where  he  lived  until 
the  Restoration.  Many  of  his  familiar  letters  are  dated  at 
Westminster. 

Westminster  Hall.     Eikonocl.  (4)  3.  361. 

Part  of  the  palace  of  Westminster,  remaining  from  the  fire  of 
1512,  occupied  by  the  courts  of  law.  St.  Stephen's,  the  meeting- 
place  of  the  House  of  Commons  in  the  time  of  Milton,  was  part 
of  the  same  palace.  For  an  account  of  the  hall,  and  its  history, 
see  Stow's  Survey  2.  113-9. 

Westmoreland.     See  Westmaria. 

West-Saxons  (West  Kingdom,  West  Sex).    Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  134; 

(4)  5.  136,  137,  161,  173,  179,  183;  (5)  5.  193,  215;  (6)  5.  247, 

250,  259. 

The  territory  of  the  West  Saxons,  having  at  different  times 
various  limits.  Camden  includes  in  "Wessex,  or  the  West- 
Saxons"  Cornwall,  Devon,  Dorset,  Somerset,  Wilts,  Hants,  and 
Berks.  (1.  cxxx.)  In  using  the  form  West-Saxons,  instead  of 
Wessex,  Camden  and  Milton  follow  the  Chronicle. 

Wey  (Wye).     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  135;   (5)  5.  226;  (6)  5.  277. 

A  river  of  Wales  and  England  emptying  into  the  Severn. 
Whaley.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  182. 

A  town  in  Lancashire,  near  the  River  Ribble. 
Whirlpool.     See  Scylla. 

Whitehall.     Eikonocl.  (Pref.)  3.  333;    (4)  3.  359,  361,  364,  368 

(twice);    (6)  3.  376;    (9)  3.  402;   (12)  3.  431. 

A  royal  palace  in  Westminster  (q.  v.),  of  which  little  but  the 
Banqueting  House  now  remains.  In  the  time  of  Milton  the 
palace  was  large,  extending  from  the  present  Scotland  Yard  to 
Cannon  Row.  It  was  used  during  the  Commonwealth  by  the 
officers  of  the  government,  and  Milton  himself  lived  there,  in 
the  end  nearest  Scotland  Yard,  from  1649  to  1652.  (Masson, 
Life  of  Milton  4.  153.)  Whitehall  was  the  residence  of  Charles 
I,  until  he  left  London  to  begin  war  with  Parliament.  From  the 
Banqueting  House  he  was  led  to  a  scaffold  outside,  on  which  he 
was  beheaded. 

Wibbandun.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  129. 

Identified  by  Camden  with  Wimbledon,  Surrey,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Wandle.  (1.  170.) 


A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON  317 

Wigganbeorch.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  193. 

An  unidentified  place.  Milton  takes  the  name  from  the 
Chronicle,  to  which  he  refers  in  a  note. 

Wight  (Vectis).     Eikonocl.  (9)  3.  406;    (10)  3.  411;    (15)  3.  451; 

Hist.  Brit.  (2)  5.  51,  83;    (3)  5.  117,  126;    (4)  5.  161,  164,  165; 

(5)  5.  210;    (6)  5.  243,  244,  247,  249,  253,  283,  293,  295;    1 

Defens.  (12)  6.  177;  2  Defens.  6.  315  (twice),  316  (thrice),  317. 

"To  this  county  of  Hants  belongs  an  island,  which  stretches 
for  a  considerable  length  opposite  to  its  south  coast,  called  by 
the  Romans  .  .  .  Vectis,  .  .  .  by  us  at  present  the  isle  of  Wight. 
It  is  separated  from  the  main  land  by  a  channel  formerly  called 
Solent.  .  .  .  The  island  is  of  an  oval  figure,  20  miles  in  length 
from  east  to  west,  and  its  greatest  breadth  in  the  middle  12  miles. 
The  soil  (not  to  mention  that  the  sea  is  well  supplied  with  fish) 
is  very  rich  and  profitable  to  the  cultivators.  .  .  .  Through  the 
middle  of  the  island  runs  a  long  ridge  of  hills  which  yield  plenteous 
pasture  for  sheep."  (Camden  1.  123.)  Carisbrooke  Castle,  in 
this  island,  was  the  place  of  imprisonment  of  Charles  I. 

Wigingmere.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  217,  218. 

In  speaking  of  the  Wye,  in  Hertfordshire,  Camden  says: 
"Near  the  river  is  Wigmore,  Saxon  Wiginga-mere."  (2.  443.) 

Wigmore.     See  Wigingmere. 

Wilderness  (Desert).     P.  L.  11,383;    12*.  139,  216,  224;    P.  R. 

1.  7,  9,  156,  193,  291,  296,  331,  354,  501;   2.  109,  232,  241,  271, 

304,  307,  384,  416;  3.  23,  166;  4.  372,  395,  416,  465,  523,  543, 

600. 

The  deserts  of  Arabia,  lying  to  the  east  and  south  of  Palestine, 
and  extending  to  the  border  of  Egypt,  and  also  the  Wilderness  of 
Judea,  west  of  the  Dead  Sea.  Adrichomius  puts  the  Temptation 
of  Christ  in  the  Desert  of  Quarentana,  between  Jerusalem  and 
Jericho.  (Pp.  18,  19.)  Mount  Quarentana  was  traditionally 
the  mountain  from  which  Christ  saw  the  kingdoms  of  the  world, 
but  Milton  does  not  follow  the  tradition.  See  Niphates. 

Wilton  (Ellandune).     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  186;    (5)  5.  202;    (6)  5. 

246;   Commonplace  19. 

Milton's  identification  of  Ellandune  with  Wilton,  in  Wiltshire, 
was  probably  taken  from  Camden  1.  89.  It  is  usual  now  to 
identify  it  with  Wroughton,  Wiltshire. 


318  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Wiltshire.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  135;   (4)  5.  157,  169,  183;   (5)  5.  204, 
205  (twice);   (6)  5.  238,  246,  250,  251,  256,  258. 
A  midland  county  of  England. 

Wimbledon.     See  Wibbandun. 

Wimborne.    See  Winburne. 

Winandermere  (Wonwaldermere) .     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  180. 

Camden,  Milton's  source  for  this  passage,  according  to  his  note, 
writes,  in  describing  Lancashire :  "Among  these  hills  is  the  largest 
lake  in  England,  called  Winander  mere,  .  .  .  probably  from  its 
windings  on  a  bed  of  almost  one  stone  continued  for  near  ten 
miles  with  crooked  banks,  and,  according  to  the  report  of  the 
inhabitants,  of  an  immense  depth."  (3.  132.) 

Winburne.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  202,  214. 
Wimborne,  Dorsetshire. 

Winchester  (Caerguent,  Wintonia).  Eleg.  3,  title,  14,  53; 
Praesul.  El.  6;  Reformation  (2)  3,  41;  Church-gov.  (1.  5)  3. 
115;  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  15;  (4)  5.  163;  (5)  5.  191,  196  (thrice), 
198,  205,  210,  211,  220,  230,  231;  (6)  5.  238,  252,  266,  269,  271, 
273,  275,  281  (twice),  284,  285. 
A  city  of  Hampshire,  in  Saxon  times  the  seat  of  the  kings. 

Windsor.     Hist.  Brit.  (6)  5.  289;   Commonplace  183. 

A  town  in  Berkshire,  on  the  Thames,  famous  for  the  royal 
castle  there.  Though  across  the  Thames,  it  is  but  a  short  dis 
tance  upstream  from  Milton's  home  at  Horton;  hence  the  castle 
is  sometimes  thought  to  be  referred  to  in  L' Allegro  77. 

Wintonia.     See  Winchester. 

Winwed.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  160  (twice). 

An  unidentified  river  whose  name,  as  Milton  says,  is  taken 
from  Bede.  (3.  24.) 

Wippedsfleot.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  117. 

An  unidentified  place  mentioned  in  Chronicle  465.  The  con 
text  shows  that  Milton  thought  it  to  be  in  Kent,  near  the  sea. 

Wirheal.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  209. 

A  part  of  Cheshire,  in  which  Chester  is  situated.  Camden 
writes:  "The  narrow  point  running  from  the  city  to  the  south, 
inclosed  by  the  Dee  on  the  one  side  and  the  Mersey  on  the  other, 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF    MILTON  319 

is  called  by  us  Wirral."  (2.  424.)  The  form  of  the  name  used 
by  Milton  is  taken  from  the  Chronicle.  He  wrongly  makes  it  a 
city  near  Chester,  probably  through  a  misunderstanding  of 
Chronicle  894-5. 

Wirral.     See  Wirheal. 

Wirtemberg.     Tetrach.  (Canon)  4.  280. 

Wiirtemberg,  a  state  of  southern  Germany,  bounded  on  the 
south  by  Lake  Constance.  In  Milton's  time  it  was  a  duchy. 

Wissenburg.     See  Alba  Julia. 

Witgeornesbrug.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  161. 

An  unidentified  place,  mentioned,  as  Milton  says,  by  William 
of  Malmesbury  1.  19. 

Witham.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  216. 

A  town  in  Essex,  on  the  Blackwater. 

Withgarburgh.     Hist.  Brit.  (3)  5.  127. 

According  to  Camden  this  place  was  named  from  the  Saxon 
Whitgar,  ''and  now  by  contraction  Caresbrook"  (1.  124),  that 
is,  Carisbrooke,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight. 

Wittenberg.     Tetrach.  (Canon)  4.  280. 
A  town  of  Saxony,  on  the  Elbe. 

Wixel.     Moscovia  (4)  8.  488. 

The  Vistula,  a  river  rising  in  Silesia  and  flowing  northward  into 
the  Baltic. 

Wladyslawow.     See  Uladislau. 

Wodensbeorth  (Wodens  Mount,  Wodnesburg).     Hist.  Brit.  (3) 

5.  135;    (4)  5.  137,  169. 

Wansborough,  Wiltshire.  The  form  Wodens  Mount  is  from 
Florence  of  Worcester. 

Wodensfeild.     Hist.  Brit.  (5)  5.  215. 
Wanswell  in  Berkeley,  Gloucestershire. 

Wodnesburg.     See  Wodensbeorth. 

Wolodimiria.     Moscovia  (4)  8.  491. 

Vladimir,  a  former  dukedom  of  central  Russia. 

Wologda  (Vologda).     Moscovia  (1)  8.  474  (twice);    (5)  8.  508, 
511. 


320  A  GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

A  city  of  north  Russia,  on  the  Suchona  or  Vologda,  a  tributary 
of  the  Dwina.  Jenkinson  writes:  "Vologhda  ...  is  a  great 
citie  and  the  river  passeth  through  the  midst  of  the  same.  The 
houses  are  builded  with  wood  of  Firre  trees,  joyned  one  with 
another,  and  round  without :  the  houses  are  foure  square  without 
any  iron  or  stone  work,  covered  with  birch  barkes,  and  wood 
over  the  same.  Their  Churches  are  all  of  wood,  two  for  every 
parish,  one  to  be  heated  for  Winter,  and  the  other  for  Summer. 
On  the  toppes  of  their  houses  they  laye  much  earth,  for  feare  of 
burning:  for  they  are  sore  plagued  with  fire.  This  Vologhda  is 
in  59  degrees,  eleven  minutes,  and  is  from  Colmogro  1000 
versts."  (Hak.  1.  312.) 

Wonwaldermere.    See  Winandermere. 

Worcestershire.     Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  142. 

A  midland  county  of  England,  in  the  basin  of  the  Severn. 

Worster  (Vigornium).     Cromwell  9;  Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5.  145,  172; 

(6)  5.  248,  272  (twice),  276,  277  (thrice),  299;  2  Defens.  6.  320. 

Worcester,  a  town  of  Worcestershire,  on  the  River  Severn, 
known  for  an  ancient  monastery  and  cathedral.  Here,  on  Sep 
tember  3,  1651,  the  forces  of  Charles  II  were  totally  defeated  by 
Cromwell.  See  Carlyle's  Cromwell,  Letters  182,  183. 

Wiirtemburg.     See  Wirtemberg. 
Wye.     See  Wey. 
Wyg.     See  Owiga. 

Xanthus.     Logic  (2.  6)  7.  126;   (2.  13)  7.  159  (twice). 

An  alternative  name  for  the  Scamander,  a  river  of  the  Troad, 
rising  in  Mount  Ida,  flowing  past  Troy,  and  uniting  with  the 
Simois.  Milton  quotes  from  Ovid,  Heroides  5.  29-30. 

Yara.     Moscovia  (3)  8.  487. 

An  unidentified  city  of  China,  of  which  the  Cossack  travelers 
whom  Milton  commends  in  the  Preface  of  Moscovia  write: 
"This  Citie  is  large,  built  of  stone,  and  the  circuit  of  it  is  two 
dayes  travell,  with  many  Towres,  and  foure  Gates  to  come  in  it; 
the  Markets  in  the  Citie  are  well  and  richly  accommodated,  with 
Jewels,  Merchandizes,  Grocerie,  or  Spices,  the  Citie  well  in- 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL  DICTIONARY  OF  MILTON  321 

habited,  having  no  place  void  or  waste  in  it.  The  houses  and 
shops  are  built  with  stone,  with  streets  betweene;  .  .  .  their 
Markets  have  a  very  odoriferous  smell  with  Spices."  (Pil- 
grimes  3.  800.) 

Yenisei.    See  Jenissey. 

Yeraslave.     Moscovia  (1)  8.  474  (twice);   (5)  8.  511. 

Jarosslawl,  a  city  of  central  Russia.  Chancellor  writes  as 
follows,  in  a  passage  to  which  Milton  refers  in  a  note:  "Yeraslave 
also  is  a  Towne  of  some  good  fame,  for  the  commodities  of  hides, 
tallow,  and  corne,  which  it  yeelds  in  great  abundance.  Cakes  of 
waxe  are  there  also  to  be  solde,  although  other  places  have  greater 
store:  this  Yeraslave  is  distant  from  Mosco  about  two  hundred 
miles:  and  betwixt  them  are  many  populous  villages.  Their 
fields  yeeld  such  store  of  corne  that  in  convaying  it  towards 
Mosco,  sometimes  in  a  forenoone  a  man  shall  see  seven  hundred 
or  eight  hundred  sleds,  going  and  comming,  laden  with  corne 
and  salt  fish.  The  people  come  a  thousand  miles  to  Mosco  to 
buy  that  corn."  (Hak.  1.  252.) 

York  (Caerebranc,  Eboracum).  Eikonocl.  (9)  3.  398;  (10)  3.  412 
(twice);  Hist.  Brit.  (1)  5.  14,  25;  (2)  5.  44,  79,  84;  (4)  5.  152, 
153,  173,  180  (twice),  182,  188;  (5)  5.  198,  199  (thrice),  221, 
227,  228,  230;  (6)  5.  271,  285,  287,  288,  295  (4  times),  299,  300; 
2  Defens.  6.  315. 

The  chief  city  of  Yorkshire,  called  Eboracum  by  the  Romans. 
Camden  writes:  "This  city,  the  second  in  England,  the  finest  in 
this  country,  is  a  singular  defence  and  ornament  of  the  whole 
North.  Pleasant,  large,  strong,  embellished  with  handsome 
private  as  well  as  public  buildings,  wealthy,  populous,  and  the 
see  of  an  archbishop.  The  Ure,  now  called  Ouse,  gliding  gently 
from  the  north  to  the  south  through  the  city  .  .  .  divides  it 
into  two  cities."  (3.  9.) 

Yorkshire.     Eikonocl.  (8)  3.  393;    (10)  3.  411;   Hist.  Brit.  (4)  5. 
148,  160,  177;   (6)  5.  242,  281. 
A  county  of  northern  England,  the  largest  in  the  country. 

Youga.     Moscovia  (3)  8.  487. 

An  unidentified  river  at  the  city  of  Pekin  or  Cambalu  (q.  v.). 

Ypres.     See  Ipres. 


322  A   GEOGRAPHICAL   DICTIONARY  OF   MILTON 

Yvorie.     See  Aquaria. 

Zeeland.    See  Zelandia. 
Zeinam.    See  Seinam. 

Zelandia.     Lit.  Oliv.  (27)  7.  270  (twice). 

Zeeland,  the  most  southeastern  province  of  the  Kingdom  of 
the  Netherlands. 

Zergolta  (Surgoot).     Moscovia  (2)  8.  483;    (3)  8.  485. 

Surgut,  in  western  Siberia,  on  the  River  Ob.  Milton  took  his 
information  from  Pilgrimes  3.  552,  526. 

Zion.     See  Sion. 

Zone,  The  Frozen  (Antarctic).  P.  L.  9.  79;  Apology  (6)  3.  293. 
The  South  Frigid  Zone.  In  Milton's  day  it  was  very  little 
known.  Maps  represented  a  huge  Antarctic  continent,  called 
Terra  Australis  Incognita.  In  it  Bishop  Hall  put  his  Utopia, 
the  Mundus  Alter  et  Idem. 

Zora.     Samson  181. 

Zorah,  the  home  of  Samson,  a  town  of  Palestine,  on  the  north 
ern  side  of  the  Valley  of  Sorek.  In  Joshua  15.  33  it  is  said  to 
be  "in  the  valley,"  and  Fuller  puts  it  near  the  brook  of  Eschol 
(Numbers  13.  23-4)  famous  for  its  fruits.  (P.  198.)  This  per 
haps  explains  Milton's  word  "fruitful." 

Zuric  (Tygurus).     Tetrach.  (Canon)  4.  279;    Lit.  Oliv.  (19)  7. 
260. 
Zurich,  the  capital  of  the  canton  of  Zurich,  Switzerland. 


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