also other strange Countries make sumptuous buildings therewith The Indians doe draw from these flouds that runne from the Mountaines to the Vallies and Plaines many and great Brookes to water their Land which they vsually doe with such industrie as there are no better in Murcia nor at Millan it selfe the which is also the greatest and onely wealth of the Plaines of Peru and of many other parts of the Indies §. III. Of the qualitie of the Land at the Indies in generall Properties of Peru and of new Spaine and other parts Of Vulcanes and Earthquakes WE may know the qualitie of the Land at the Indies for the greatest part seeing it is the last of the three Elements whereof we haue propounded to treate in this Booke by the discourse we haue made in the former Booke of the burning Zone seeing that the greatest part of the Indies doth lye vnder it But to make it knowne the more particularly I haue obserued three kindes of Lands as I haue passed through those Regions whereof there is one very low another very high and the third which holds the middle of these two extreames The lower is that which lyeth by the Sea coasts whereof there is in all parts of the Indies and it is commonly very hot and moist so as it is not so healthfull and at this day we see it lesse peopled although in former times it hath beene greatly inhabited with Indians as it appeareth by the histories of new Spaine and Peru and where they kept and liued for that the soile was naturall vnto them being bred there They liued of fishing at Sea and of seeds drawing brooks from the Riuers which they vsed for want of raine for that it raines little there and in some places not at all This low Countrie hath many places vnhabitable as well by reason of the Sands which are dangerous for there are whole Mountaines of these Sands as also for the Marishes which grow by reason of the waters that fall from the Mountaines which finding no issue in these flat and low Lands drowne them and make them vnprofitable And in truth the greatest part of all the Indian Sea coast is of this sort chiefly vpon the South Sea the habitation of which coasts is at this present so wasted and contemned that of thirty parts of the people that inhabited it there wants twenty nine and it is likely the rest of the Indians will in short time decay Many according to the varietie of their opinions attribute this to diuers causes some to the great labour which hath beene imposed vpon these Indians others vnto the change and varietie of meates and drinkes they vse since their commerce with the Spaniards others to their great excesse and drinking and to other vices they haue for my part I hold this disorder to be the greatest cause of their decay whereof it is not now time to discourse any more In this low Countrie which I say generally is vnhealthfull ond vnfit for mans habitation there is exception in some places which are temperate and fertile as the greatest part of the Plaines of Peru where there are coole vallies and very fertile The greatest part of the habitation of the coast entertains all the traffike of Spain by Sea whereon all the estate of the Indies dependeth Vpon this coast there are some Towns well peopled as Lima and Truxillo in Peru Panama and Carthagena vpon the maine Land and in the Ilands Saint Dominique Port Ricco and Hauana with many other Towns which are lesse then these as the True Crosse in new Spain Yâa Arigua and others in Peru the Ports are commonly inhabited although but slenderly The second sort of Land is contrary very high and by consequent cold and dry as all the Mountaines are commonly This Land is neither fertile nor pleasant but very healthfull which makes it to be peopled and inhabited There are Pastures and great store of Cattle the which for the most part entertaines life and by their Cattell they supply the want they haue of Corne and Graine by trucking and exchange But that which makes these Lands more inhabited and peopled is the riches of the Mines that are found there for that all obeys to Gold and Siluer By reason of the Mines there are some dwellings of Spaniards and Indians which are increased and multiplied as Potozi and Gancanelicqua in Peru and Cacatecas in new Spaine There are also through all these Mountaines great dwellings of the Indians which to this day are maintained yea some will say they increase but that the labour of the Mines doth consume many and some generall diseases haue destroyed a great part as the Cocoliste in new Spaine yet they finde no great diminution In this extremitie of high ground they finde two commodities as I haue said of Pastures and Mines which doe well counteruaile the two other that are in the lower grounds alongst the Sea coast that is the commerce of the Sea and the abundance of Wine which groweth not but in the hot Lands Betwixt these two extreames there is ground of a meane height the which although it be in some parts higher or lower one then other yet doth it not approach neither to the heate of the Sea coast nor the intemperature of the Mountaines In this sort of soyle there groweth many kindes of Graine as Wheate Barley and Mays which growes not at all in the high Countries but well in the lower there is likewise store of Pasture Cattell Fruits and greene Forrests This part is the best habitation of the three for health and recreation and therefore it is best peopled of any part of the Indies the which I haue curiously obserued in many Voyages that I haue vndertaken and haue alwayes found it true that the Prouince best peopled at the Indies be in this scituation Let vs looke neerely into new Spaine the which without doubt is the best Prouince the Sunne doth circle by what part soeuer you doe enter you mount vp and when you haue mounted a good height you begin to descend yet very little and that Land is alwayes much higher then that along the Sea coast All the Land about Mexico is of this nature and scituation and that which is about the Vulcan which is the best soile of the Indies as also in Peru Arequipa Guamangua and Cusco although more in one then in the other But in the end all is high ground although they descend into deepe Vallies and clime vp to high Mountaines the like is spoken of Quitto Saint Foy and of the best of the New Kingdome To conclude I doe beleeue that the wisedome and prouidence of the Creator would haue it so that the greatest part of this Countrie of the Indies should be hillie that it might be of a better temperature for being low it had beene very hot vnder the burning Zone especially being farre from the Sea Also all the Land I haue seene at the Indies is neere
is the Realme of Chille which is without the generall rule of these other Prouinces being seated without the burning Zone and the Tropicke of Capricorne This Land of it selfe is coole and fertile and brings forth all kindes of fruits that bee in Spaine it yeelds great abundance of bread and wine and abounds in Pastures and Cattell The aire is wholsome and cleere temperate betwixt heat and cold Winter and Summer are very distinct and there they finde great store of very fine gold Yet this Land is poore and smally peopled by reason of their continuall warre with the Auricanos and their Associates being a rough people and friends to libertie There are great coniectures that in the temperate Zone at the Antartike Pole there are great and fertile Lands but to this day they are not discouered neither doe they know any other Land in this Zone but that of Chille and some part of that Land which runnes from Ethiopia to the Cape of Good Hope as hath beene said in the first Booke neither is it knowne if there bee any habitations in the other two Zones of the Poles and whether the Land continues and stretcheth to that which is towards the Antartike or South Pole Neither doe we know the Land that lyes beyond the Straight of Magellan for that the greatest height yet discouered is in fiftie sixe degrees as hath beene formerly said and toward the Artike or Northerne Pole it is not known how farre the Land extends which runnes beyond the Cape of Mendoçin and the Caliphornes nor the bounds and end of Florida neither yet how farre it extends to the West Of late they haue discouered a new Land which they call New Mexico where they say is much people that speake the Mexican tongue The Philippines and the following Ilands as some report that know it by experience ranne aboue nine hundred leagues But to intreat of China Cochinchina Siam and other Regions which are of the East Indies were contrarie to my purpose which is onely to discourse of the West nay they are ignorant of the greatest part of America which lyes betwixt Peru and Bresil although the bounds be knowne of all sides wherein there is diuersitie of opinions some say it is a drowned Land full of Lakes and waterie places others affirme there are great and flourishing Kingdomes imagining there be the Paytiti the Dorado and the Caesars where they say are wonderfull things I haue heard one of our companie say a man worthy of credit that he had seene great dwellings there and the wayes as much beaten as those betwixt Salamanca and Villadillit the which he did see when as Peter d'Orsua and after those that succeeded him made their entrie and discouerie by the great Riuer of Amazons who beleeuing that the Dorado which they sought was farther off cared not to inhabit there and after went both without the Dorado which they could not finde and this great Prouince which they left To speake the truth the habitations of America are to this day vnknowne except the extremities which are Peru Bresil and that part where the Land begins to straighten which is the Riuer of Siluer then Tucuman which makes the round to Chille and Charcas Of late we haue vnderstood by Letters from some of ours which goe to Saint Croix in the Sierre that they goe discouering of great Prouinces and dwellings betwixt Bresil and Peru. Time will reueile them for as at this day the care and courage of men is great to compasse the World from one part to another so we may beleeue that as they haue discouered that which is now knowne they may likewise lay open that which remaynes to the end the Gospell may bee preached to the whole World seeing the two Crownes of Portugal and Castile haue met by the East and West ioyning their discoueries together which in truth is a matter to be obserued that the one is come to China and Iapan by the East and the other to the Philippines which are neighbours and almost ioyning vnto China by the West for from the Ilands of Lusson which is the chiefe of the Philippines in the which is the Citie of Manille vnto Macaeo which is in the I le of Canton are but foure score or a hundred leagues and yet we finde it strange that notwithstanding this small distance from the one to the other yet according to their account there is a dayes difference betwixt them so as it is Sunday at Macao when as it is but Saturday at Manille and so of the rest Those of Macao and of China haue one day aduanced before the Philippines It happened to father Alonse Sanches of whom mention is made before that parting from the Philippines hee arriued at Macao the second day of May according to their computation and going to say the Masse of Saint Athanasim he found they did celebrate the feast of the Inuention of the holy Crosse for that they did then reckon the third of May. The like happened vnto him in another voyage beyond it Some haue found this alteration and diuersitie strange supposing that the fault proceedes from the one or the other the which is not so but it is a true and well obserued computation for according to the difference of wayes where they haue beene we must necessarily say that when they meet there must be difference of a day the reason is for that sayling from West to East they alwayes gaine of the day finding the Sunne rising sooner and contrariwise those that saile from East to West doe alwayes lose of the day for that the Sunne riseth later vnto them and as they approach neerer the East or the West they haue the day longer or shorter In Peru which is Westward in respect of Spaine they are aboue sixe houres behinde so as when it is noone in Spaine it is morning at Peru and when it is morning here it is mid-night there I haue made certaine proofe thereof by the computation of Eclipses of the Sunne and Moone Now that the Portugals haue made their nauigations from West to East and the Castillans from East to West when they came to ioyne and meet at the Philippines and Macao the one haue gayned twelue houres and the other hath lost as much so as at one instant and in one time they finde the difference of foure and twentie houres which is a whole day Although we finde vents of fire in other places as Mount Aetna and Vesunio which now they call Mount Soma yet is that notable which is found at the Indies Ordinarily these Volcans be Rocks or Pikes of most high Mountaines which raise themselues aboue the tops of all other Mountaines vpon their tops they haue a Playne and in the midst thereof a pit or great mouth which descends euen vnto the foote thereof a thing very terrible to behold Out of these mouthes there issues smoake and sometimes fire some cast little smoake and haue in a manner no force
to the dangerous Passage of twentie there were two which had Habergions And I demanded whence they had them They said they had gotten them of the Alani aforesaid who are good Worke-men for such things and excellent Smiths Whereupon I thinke they haue small store of Armour but Quiuers and Bowes and Leather Iackes I saw them presented with Iron Plates and Iron Sculls capillos out of Persia. And saw two also who presented themselues to Mangu armed with Coats made of Hogs skins bent inward of rough Leather which were very vnfit and vnwildy Before we came to Porta ferrea we found one Castle of the Alani which was Mangu Chans for hee had subdued that Countrey There we first found Vineyards and drunke Wine The day following wee came to Porta ferrea which Alexander the Macedonian King made And it is a Citie whose East end is vpon the Sea shoare and there is a little Plaine betweene the Sea and the Mountaines through which the Citie is stretched forth in length vnto the top of the Mountaine which bordereth vpon it on the West so that there is no way aboue for the roughnesse of the Mountaines nor below for the Sea but forth-right through the middest of the Citie ouerthwart where there is an Iron gate from whence the Citie hath the name And the Citie is more then a mile long and in the top of the Hill a strong Castle and it is as much in bredth as a great stones cast it hath very strong walls without Trenches and Turrets of great polished stones But the Tartars haue destroyed the tops of the Turrets and the Bulwarkes of the Walls laying the Turrets euen with the Wall Beneath that Citie the Countrey was wont to bee like a Paradise Two dayes iourney hence we found another Citie called Samaron wherein there were many Iewes And when we past it we saw walles descending from the Mountaines to the Sea And leauing the way by the Sea by those walles because it bent towards the East wee went vp into the high Countries towards the South On the morrow wee passed through a certaine Valley wherein the foundations of walles appeared from one mountaine to another and there was no way through the tops of the Mountaines These were sometimes the Inclosures or walles of Alexander restraining the fierce Nations to wit the Shepheards of the Wildernes that they could not inuade the inhabited Countries and Cities There are other walles or Inclosures where Iewes are The next day we came vnto a certaine great Citie called Samag And after this we entred into a great Plaine called Moan through which the Riuer Cur floweth of the which the Curgi haue their name whom we call Georgians And it runneth through the middle of Tiflis which is the Metropolis of the Curgines and in comes directly from the West running to the East to the foresaid Caspian Sea and it hath excellent Salmons In that plaine wee âound Tartars againe Also by that plaine comes the Riuer Araxes which commeth from the greater Armenia from betwixt the South and West of which it is called the Land Araxat which is Armenia it selfe Whereupon in the booke of the Kings it is said of the Sonnes of Sennacherib that hauing slaine their Father they fled into the Land of the Armenians And in Esay it is said that they fled into the Land of Ararat To the West then of that most beautifull Plaine is Curgia In that Plaine the Crosmini were wont to be And there is a great Citie in the entrance of the Mountaines called Ganges which was their Metropolis stopping the Georgians that they could not come downe into the Plaine Then wee came to the Bridge of Ships which were fastened together with a great Yron chaine stretched forth crosse the Riuer where Cur and Araxes meet together But Cur loseth his name there AFter that wee went alwayes vpward by Araxes whereof it is said Pontem dedignatur Araxis Araxes disdaines a Bridge Leauing Persia and the Caspian mountaines on the left hand towards the South on the right hand Curgia and the great Sea toward the West going Southwest betweene the South and the West We passed through the meadows of Bacchu who is Generall of that Armie which is there within Araxis And hee hath made the Curgi and Turkes and Persians subiect to him There is another Gouernour in Persia at Taurinum ouer the Tribute called Argon Both which Mangu Chan hath called home to giue place to his Brother comming into those Countries That Countrey which I haue described to you is not properly Persia but was sometimes called Hyrcania I was in Bacchues house and hee gaue vs Wine to drinke and he himselfe dranke Cosmos which I would willingly haue drunke if he had giuen it me yet it was the best new Wine but Cosmos is more wholsome for an hunger-staruen man Wee went vp therefore by the Riuer Araxes from the Feast of Saint Clement vnto the second Sunday in Lent till we came to the head of the Riuer And beyond that Mountaine where it riseth there is a goodly Citie called Arserum which belongeth to the Soldan of Turkie And neare thereabout Euphrates ariseth towards the North at the foot of the Mountaines of Curgia to whose Spring I had gone but the Snow was so great that no man could goe out of the trodden path on the other side of the Mountaines of Caucasus towards the South ariseth Tigris When we departed from Bacchu my Guide went to Taurinum to speake with Argon carrying my Interpreter with him But Bacchu caused me to bee brought to a certaine Citie called Naxnan which sometimes was the head of a certaine great Kingdome and the greatest and fairest Citie but the Tartars haue made it a Wildernes And there were sometimes Eight hundred Churches of the Armenians there now there are but two little ones for the Saracens haue destroyed them In one of the which I held the feast of Christmas as I could with our Clerke And the next day following the Priest of that Church dyed to whose buriall came a certaine Bishop with twelue Monkes of the high Countries For all the Bishops of the Armenians are Monkes and of the Greekes likewise for the greater part That Bishop told me that there was a Church neere that where Saint Bartholmew and likewise Saint Iudas Thaddaeus were martyred but there was no way open for Snow He told me also that they haue two Prophets The first or chiefe is Methodius the Martyr who was of their Country and plainely Prophesied of the Ismaelites Which Prophesie is fulfilled in the Saracens The other Prophet is called Acacron who when hee dyed Prophesied of a Nation of Archers that should come from the North saying That they should Conquer all the Countries of the East and should spare the Kingdome of the East that he might giue them the Kingdome of the West But he saith our Friers the Frankes being Catholikes beleeue them not
name which among vs signifieth some small matter The Chinois doe not distinguish them by great or small and so their Villages are bigger then others which wee call Townes All the Cities and Townes are very well enclosed with high walls And because as I said I deferre this vntill another time I will only speake of Nanquin whereof I had some sight This Citie standeth in two and thirtie degrees and an halfe eight or ten leagues from the Sea vnto which it hath a mouth and a mightie Riuer It hath three walls of Bricke very high and faire with very great and beautifull gates which they shut vp very timely before night This Citie of old time two hundred yeeres past was the habitation of the Kings of China and so it continueth in very good condition The streets are very broad and all paued with very great square stones or set with brickes It hath exceeding long streets of two leagues and two leagues and an halfe and in the middest of the Citie are the Kings Palaces which are very great The Chinois declare the circuit of this Citie that two Horsemen going in the morning both out of the same gate and one going on the one side and the other on the other going all the day they meet at night in the gate opposite to that which they went out at The very truth is that it is at least eleuen or twelue leagues in circuit and seemeth to haue aboue two hundred thousand houses of people It seemed to all of vs that were there that Nanquin and this Citie of Paquin each of them haue as many people or more then foure of the most famous and populous Cities of all our Europe as Rome Lisbon and others of the greater sort For whereas these two whereof I speake are in themselues so great Cities not one nor two streets but the greater part of the Citie euery day doth swarme with people There are about this Citie many others within one or two dayes iourney and very famous for greatnesse and trafficke among which there are two one named Hancheo the other Sucheo and this is very great and like to Venice whose streets are halfe water and halfe land The Chinois call these Cities Paradise to expresse the goodnesse abundance and cheapnesse of all things that are in this Kingdome and come from other places And Sucheo is so full of people merchandise and trafficke that a Booke which is printed wherein all things are set downe which the Prouinces and Cities pay to the King saith that this only payeth one yeere with another in Siluer Gold Rice and Silke and other things wherewith it doth greatly abound twelue millions so that there be whole Prouinces that amount not to so much by a great deale which though it seeme an incredible thing yet they write it for a certaintie and hee which knoweth what these Cities are will beleeue it Yet for all this these Cities haue no notable things neither sumptuous Temples nor buildings which are wont to be those things which doe beautifie a Citie for the houses are not beautifull outwardly nor they vse no great Porches as they doe in our Countrey And he that hath seene the things of our Countrey and is skilfull in architecture shal find it here very little For the houses are low and without galleries lofts windowes or sight into the street yet they haue faire yards and are very neate within and painted with diuers colours with that Charan or liquid Gumme whereof I made mention before And that which I speake of Nanquin touching the abundance of people trafficke and manner of houses is after the same manner in the other Cities which we saw For the Chinois are so like and so vniforme in all naturall and artificiall things that he that hath seene one of the principall Cities findeth no new thing to bee seene in the others And albeit that other Cities are not comparable to these in bignesse yet in multitude of people proportionally there is little difference This Kingdome is commonly very fertile of all things that are necessarie for the vse of man and a great cause of the fertilitie and abundance thereof proceedeth of the great number of exceeding great Riuers which it hath which besides the profit that the Riuers yeeld by the fishing and besides the profit in watering of the grounds wherein they stand the Chinois in great stead they are occasion of great trafficke and communication of one Prouince with another with great ease by water which is an enriching to them that vse it and of great plentie in euery Citie of all things that are in the Kingdome From our departure from Macao till within a little of Paquin which is as I said sixe hundred leagues wee trauelled not past one day by Land because wee would not fetch too great a compasse about by water wee trauelled a great part of this way vnto Nanquin by the greatest Riuer that euer I saw in my life which in some parts is aboue three leagues broad and very deepe which the Chinois for the greatnesse thereof doe call The little Sea and that with good reason For though it were an hundred leagues from the Sea where I entred into it yet there is great abundance of fish of those kindes which breed in the Sea as Porposies fishes with sharpe beakes and others which I haue seene I saw in this Riuer neere the bankes thereof men fish with certaine Fowles as bigge as small Geeâe like vnto Rauens with a long beake and bending downeward like a crooked hooke which the Chinois teach to fish They haue a very long necke which they binde in such sort that the fishes cannot goe downe into their stomacke but they fill their throat with them if they be small fishes and when they come out of the water they make them cast them out and if the fish bee great hee fighteth with him and beateth him with pecking assaulting him with his bill vntill hee driue him vp that the Fisher may see him which commeth quickly with a small Net like a Wheele vpon a staffe and hee taketh him vnder the water And after this sort wee saw this Fowle take Fishes sometimes of a pound and a pound and halfe weight and they say they take bigger And because this fishing is so gainfull and so certaine they pay a certaine Tribute to the King for euery one of these Rauens or Cormorants Wee met with another Riuer as great as this which seemed to bee rather of mudde then water because the water was alwaies mingled with earth which whence it should come for so many yeeres I wot not They cannot drinke the water without they clarifie it which they doe with Alume Besides these two Riuers all the rest is made by hand for vessels to passe to Paquin The Vessels which we saw in all the Cities which we passed is one of the greatest things
a great streame and by the Marsh and Sea standeth a great Church on which the Holy Crosse is drawne of colour white it belongeth to Eâelnesse de Hokesong and the Land to Peters Wike Item by Peters Wike lyeth a great Dorpe called Wartsdale by which lyeth a water or Sea of twelue miles or leagues ouer in which is much Fish And to Peters Wike Church belongeth Wartsdale Boy or Towne and the Villages Item neere this Boy or Towne lyeth a Cloyster or Abbey in which are Canons Regular it is Dedicated to Saint Olafes and Saint Augustines name And to it belongeth all the Land to the Sea side and toward the other side of the Cloyster Item next Godosford lyeth a Ford called Rompnes Ford And there lyeth a Cloyster of Nuns of Saint Benedicts Order Item this Cloyster to the bottome of the Sea and to Wegââ Kerke was Dedicated to Saint Olafe the King In this Ford lye many small Iles. And to this Cloyster belongeth halfe the Ford and the Church In this Sound are many warme Waters In the Winter they are intollerable hot but in the Summer more moderate and many Bathing in them are cured of many diseases Item betweene Râmpnââ and the next Sound lyeth a great Garden called Vose belonging to the King There is also a costly Church dedicated to Saint Nicolas This Church had the King before this Neere it lyeth a Sea of Fresh water called in which is great abundance of Fish without number And when there falleth much Rayne that the Waters doe rise therewith and after fall againe there remayneth vpon the Land much Fish drie Item when you sayle out of Emestnes Ford there lyeth an Inlet called South-woders Wike and somewhat higher in the same Sound and on the same side lyeth little Cape called Blâming and beyond that lyeth another Inwike called Gronwike and aboue that lyeth a Garden called Daleth which belongeth to the Cathedrall Church And on the right hand as you sayle out of the same Sound lyeth a great Wood which pertayneth to the Church where they feede all their Cattell as Oxen Kine and Horses And to the Church pertayneth the Sound of Emestnes Ford. The high Land lying by Emestnes Ford is called The Ramos hayth So called because that on those Hills doe runne many Roe Deere or Reyne Deere which they vse to Hunt but not without the Bishops leaue And on this high Land is the best Stone in all Groneland They make thereof Pots because fire cannot hurt it And they make of the same stone Fattes or Cisternes that will hold ten or twelue Tunnes of water Item West from this lyeth another high Land called The long high Land and by another called whereon are eight great Orchards all belonging to the Cathedrall Church But the Tenths thereof they giue to Warsedall Church Item next to this Sound lyeth another Sound called Swalster Ford wherin standeth a Church called Swalster This Church belongeth to all this Sound and to Romse Ford lying next it In this Sound is a great Garden belonging to the King called Saint Heâlestate Item next to that lyeth Ericks Ford and entring therein lyeth an high Land called Ericks Hought which pertayneth the one halfe to Deuers Kerke and is the first Parish Church on Groneland and lyeth on the left hand as you sayle into Ericks Ford and Deuers Kerke belongeth all to Meydon Ford which lyeth North-west from Ericks Ford. Item farther out then Ericks Ford standeth a Church called Skogel Kerke which belongeth to all Medford And farther in the Sound standeth a Church called Leaden Kerke To this Church belongeth all thereabout to the Sea and also on the other side as farre as Bousels There lyeth also a great Orchard called Grote Lead in which the Gusman that is a chiefe or Bayliffe ouer the Boores doth well And farther out then Ericks Ford lyeth a Ford or Sound called Fossa which belongeth to the Cathedrall Church and the sayd Fossa Sound lyeth as men sayle out towards Ericks Ford and to the North of it lye two Villages the one called Eâer-boy and the other Forther-boy because they lye so Item from thence farther North lyeth Breda Ford and after that Lormont Ford from that West and from Lormont Ford to the West is Ice Dorpe All these are places built and in them dwell people Item from the Easter builded Land to the Wester Dorpe is twelue miles or leagues and the rest is all waste land In the Dorpe in the West standeth a Church which in times past belonged to the Cathedrall Church and the Bishop did dwell there But now the Skerlengers haue all the West Lands and Dorps And there are now many Horses Oxen and Kine but no people neither Christian nor Heathen but they were all carryed away by the Enemie the Skerlengers All this before Written was done by one Iuer Boty borne in Gronland a principall man in the Bishops Court who dwelt there many yeeres and saw and knew all these places He was chosen by the whole Land for Captayne to goe with Ships to the West land to driue away their Enemies the Skerlengers But hee comming there found no people neither Christian nor Heathen but found there many Sheepe running being wilde of which Sheepe they tooke with them as many as they could carrie and with them returned to these Houses This before named Indo Boty was himselfe with them To the North of the West Land lyeth a great Wildernesse with Clifes or Rockes called Hemel Hatsfelt Farther can no man sayle because there lye many Swalgen or Whirle-pooles and also for the Water and the Sea Item in Groneland are many Siluer Hills and many white Beares with red patches on their heads and also white Hawkes and all sorts of Fish as in other Countries Item there is Marble stone of all colours also Zeuell stone or the Load stone which the Fire cannot hurt whereof they make many vessels as Pots and other great vessels Item in Groneland runneth great streames and there is much Snow and Ice But it is not so cold as it is in Island or Norway Item there grow on the high Hills Nuts and Acornes which are as great as Apples and good to eate There groweth also the best Wheate that can grow in the whole Land This Sea Card was found in the Iles of Fero or farre lying betweene Shot-laât and Island in an old reckoning Booke written aboue one hundred yeeres agoe out of which this was all taken Item Punnus and Potharse haue inhabited Island certayne yeeres and sometimes haue gone to Sea and haue had their trade in Groneland Also Punnus did giue the Islanders their Lawes and caused them to bee written Which Lawes doe continue to this day in Island and are called by name Punnus Lawes The Course from Island to Groneland IF men bee South from the Hauen of Bred Ford in Island they shall sayle West till they see Whitsarke vpon Groneland and then sayle
Riuers which after become great flouds Vpon the way from Arequippa to Callao there are two Lakes vpon the Mountaines of the one and other side the way from the one flowes a brooke which growes to a floud and fals into the South Sea from the other they say the famous Riuer of Aporima takes her beginning from the which some hold that the renowned Riuer of Amazons otherwise called Maragnon proceedes with so great an assembly and abundance of waters which ioyne in these Mountaines It is a question may be often asked why there is so many Lakes in the tops of these Mountaines into the which no riuer enters but contrariwise many great streames issue forth and yet doe we scarce see these Lakes to diminish any thing at any season of the yeare To imagine that these Lakes grow by the Snow that melts or raine from heauen that doth not wholly satisfie me for there are many that haue not this abundance of Snow nor raine and yet wee see no decrease in them which makes me to beleeue they are Springs which rise there naturally although it be not against reason to thinke that the Snow and raine helpe somewhat in some seasons These Lakes are so common in the highest tops of the Mountaines that you shall hardly finde any famous riuer that takes not his beginning from one of them Their water is very cleere and breedes little store of fish and that little is very small by reason of the cold which is there continually Notwithstanding some of these Lakes be very hot which is another wonder At the end of the Vallie of Tarapaya neere to Potozi there is a Lake in forme round which seemes to haue beene made by compasse whose water is extreamely hot and yet the Land is very cold they are accustomed to bathe themselues neere the banke for else they cannot endure the heate being farther in In the midst of this Lake there is a boiling of aboue twentie foote square which is the very Spring and yet notwithstanding the greatnesse of this Spring it is neuer seene to increase in any sort it seemes that it exhals of it selfe or that it hath some hidden and vnknowne issue neither doe they see it decrease which is another wonder although they haue drawne from it a great streame to make certaine engines grinde for mettall considering the great quantitie of water that issueth forth by reason whereof it should decrease But leauing Peru and passing to new Spaine the Lakes there are no lesse to be obserued especially that most famous of Mexico where we finde two sorts of waters one salt Lake like to that of the Sea and the other cleere and sweete by reason of the Riuers that enter into it In the midst of this Lake is a rocke very delightfull and pleasant where there are bathes of hot water that issue forth the which they greatly esteeme for their health There are Gardens in the middest of this Lake framed and fleeting vpon the water where you may see plots full of a thousand sorts of hearbes and flowers they are in such sort as a man cannot well conceiue them without sight The Citie of Mexico is seated in the same Lake although the Spaniards haue filled vp the place of the scituation with earth leauing onely some currents of water great and small which enter into the Citie to carrie such things as they haue neede of as wood hearbs stone fruites of the Countrie and all other things When Cortez conquered Mexico hee caused Brigandins to be made yet afterwards he thought it more safe not to vse them therefore they vse Canoes whereof there is great store There is great store of fish in this Lake yet haue I not seene any of price notwithstanding they say the reuenue of this Lake is worth three-hundred thousand Duckets a yeere There are many other Lakes not farre from this whence they bring much fish to Mexico The Prouince of Mechonacan is so called for that it aboundeth greatly with fish There are goodly and great Lakes in the which there is much fish and this Prouince is coole and healthfull There are many other Lakes whereof it is not possible to make mention nor to know them in particular onely wee may note by that which hath beene discoursed in the former Booke that vnder the burning Zone there is greater abundance of Lakes then in any other part of the world There is at the Indies as in other parts of the world great diuersitie of Springs Fountaines and Riuers and some haue strange properties In Guancauilica of Peru where the Mines of Quick-siluer be there is a Fountaine that casts forth hot water and in running the water turnes to rocke of which rocke or stone they build in a manner all the houses of the Village This stone is soft and easie to cut for they cut it as easily with Iron as if it were wood it is light and lasting If men or beasts drinke thereof they dye for that it congeales in the very entrailes and turnes into stone and for that cause some Horses haue died As this water turnes into stone the which flowes stoppes the passage to the rest so as of necessitie it changeth the course and for this reason it runnes in diuers places as the rocke increaseth At the point of Cape Saint Helaine there is a Spring or Fountaine of Pitch which at Peru they call Coppey This should be like to that which the Scripture speakes of the sauage Valley where they did finde pits of Pitch The Marriners vse these Fountaines of Pitch or Coppey to pitch their ropes and tackling for that it serues them as Pitch and Tarre in Spaine When I sailed into new Spaine by the coast of Peru the Pilot shewed me an Iland which they call the I le of Wolues where there is another Fountaine or Pit of Coppey or Pitch with the which they anoint their tackling There are other Fountaines and Springs of Gouliranrozen which the Pilot an excellent man in his charge told me he had seene and that sometimes sailing that waies being so farre into the Sea as he had lost the sight of Land yet did he know by the smell of the Coppey where he was as well as if he had knowne the Land such is the fauour that issues continually from that Fountaine At the Bathes which they call the Bathes of Ingua there is a course of water which comes forth all hot and boiling and ioyning vnto it there is another whose water is as cold as Ice The Ingua was accustomed to temper the one with the other and it is a wonderfull thing to see Springs of so contrarie qualities so neere one to the other There are an infinite number of other hot Springs specially in the Prouince of Charcas in the water whereof you cannot indure to hold your hand the space of an Aue Maria as I haue seene tried by wager In a Farme neere to Cusco
Shewing the reason why the Sunne without the Tropicks causeth greatest quantitie of waters when it is farthest off and contrariwise within them it breedeth most when it is neerest l. 2. chap. 7. Exceptions to generall rules The Authors experience Various and diuersified tempers of the Torrid Zone Causes of temperatenâsse vnder the Line and within the Tropicks Second cause That there bee other reasons besides the former mentioned which shew that the burning Zone is temperate especially alongst the Ocean Chap. 11. Arist. ãâã Dionys. c. 15. ãâã cââl âierar That the cold windes bee the principal cause to make the burning Zone temperate Chap. 13. It is noted by trauellers that there is a hot winde sometimes neere to Balsara and Ormus which swalloweth mens breath and suddenly kils them Linschoten obserue at Goa the wind to blow twelue houres from the Sea and other twelue constantly from the land Temper of the Indies Of the windes their differences properties and causes in generall lib. 3. cap. 2. * We haue abbreuiated and to preuent tediousnesse cut off a great part of Acostas obseruations in the two former bookes as hauing handled the same in our Pilgrimage l. 8. where we haue shewed whence men and beasts might come thither and that the opinion of the worlds vnhabitablenesse betwixt the Tropicks is false for the daily raines when the Sunne is neerest the long nights therein great dewes the breezes and constant course of the windes the great Lakes Riuers height of Hills c. make those parts not onely habitable but more temperate then others and fitter for mans life there being more heat at and on this side the Tropicks then vnder the Line We here doe but cull ouâ choise things for better vnderstanding the naturall historie of those parts for other things referring the Reader to the Authour himselfe Occasionally our notes shall elucidate those things also which are in the Text omitted * Vulcans as Aetââ Hecla c. sulphurous earth whence ââre issueth Generall windes Monsoââ Windes receiue their qualities from the places by which they passe Psalme 134. Ieremie 10. Herera hath shewed the height of the Hills to bee the cause of the windes constancy and raines raritie Eastern winde raineth betwixt the Tropicks That the burning Zone the Brises or Easterly windes doe continually blow and without the Zone the Westerne and that the Easterly are ordinarie alwayes there Chap. 4. Iuan de Gacos in Decade 1. lib. 4. cap. 6. They goe one way to the Indies and return another why Sayling 2700. leagues without sight of Land in two moneths See Candishes voyage Cause of the Brises Motion of the Primum Mobile carrieth the inferiour aire with it The Comet 1577. seene eight dayes sooner in Peru then in Spaine The Brize or motion of the air with the heauens is a winde Why withouâ the Zone in a greater altâtude we finde alwaies Westerly windes Chap. 7. ãâã windes Of the exceptions to the foresaid Rules of the winds and calmes both at Land and at Sea Chap. 8. Cause of the variety of windes Simile Note Of some maruellous effects of the windes which are in some parts of the Indies Chap. 9. Silkewormes killed with South-west windes Exo. c. 10. 14. Iob 17. Ioan 4. Osâe 13. Dan. 3. The like Linschoten obserueth in the Terceras Sea sicknesse whence Agitation and Sea ayre Strange passion at Pariacaca by the ayre there Height of Pariacaca ãâã too subtile for mens bodies So we see Horses to beate the water with their feete to make it more grosse and thereby more agreeable to their bodies Vicunos Great Desart Punas ayre kilâing Strange Story The same confirmed by a Iesuites report and a Dominicans Such effects of cold wâ haue obserued in Russia and other Northern parts and the like Master Kniuet will tell vs at the Maggelan Straits No Mediterranean Sea of great note in America Terra firme Straight of land but eight leag betwixt North South Seas Herodotus Iouius Experience in Drakes and Maires voyage haue found them no straights but broken Ilands to the South contrary to our Author here See of this Sir Francis Drakes Voyage to 1. l. 2 I haue omitted Sarmientoes voiage c. The supposed Straight in Florida Of the ebbing and flowing of the Indian Ocean Chap. 14. The Philosophers in searching the cause of ebbing and flowing haue easily erred following the Greekes and Latines which knew not the Ocean and could not therfore know the cause * Hernando Alonso which with Sarmiento had gone to the Straights to seeke Captaine Drake At the Downes on our coast two tides meet one from the Westerne Sea or slewe the other from the North which there cause much varietie Of sundry Fishers and their manner of fishing at the Indies The Manati a strange fish The Whales also bring forth their yong aliue and nourish them with their brests being in that huge creature scarce twice so big as the breasts of a woman and farre lesse then those of many women Their foode is also Sea weedes Sharking sharkes They haue rough heads whereby they cleaue and sticke fast to the Sharke which thus are forced to caâry them with their swift motion of whose off all also they liue Crocodiles * Yet so as euer and anon hee dips it in the water his tongue being so short that otherwise he could not swallow it Tigre kils a Crocodile Indians exploit on a Crocodile Whale killed by the Sauages Of Lakes and Pooles that be at the Indies Chap. 16. Thicke water Fishes and fishing Originall of Lakes Greatest riuers flow from Lakes Hot Lake and many wonders thereof Lakes of Mexico salt and fresh Râch Lake Of many and diuers Springs and Fountains Chap. 17. Hot Spring turning into Stone Fountaine of Pitch Cold and hot Springs together Salt Spring which yeeldes Salâ without boiling Pocke-âpring Smoak Spring Inke c. Of Riuers Chap. 18. Maragnon or Amazons Water-fall Golden thirst Riuer of Plata increasing as Nilus How they passe their Riuers Haire and Straw Bridges L. 3. C. 19 Decay of people in the Indies by the Spaniards Corn groundâ The Indies mountainous and thereby temperate Of the properties of the land of Peru. Chap. 20 One winde onely The Plaines the hils and the Andes See sup in Herera Raine almost euer and almost neuer Diuers Beasts Their bread The reason why it raines on the Lanos along the Sea coast Chap. 21. Of the propertie of new Spaine of the Ilands and of other Lands Chap. 22. Peru wine Sugar workes and Hides Indians wasted Of the vnknowne Land and the diuersitie of a whole day betwixt them of the East and the West Chap. 23. Of the Volcans or Vents of fire Chap. 24. Terrible earthquake at Guatimala Couetous Priest Causes of this burning Basil. Psal. 28. in exaâ Of Earthquakes Cap. 26. Great earthquakes Noyse before the earthquake Why the Sea coast is subiect to earthquakes Earthquake at Ferrara terrible Aâ Angoango Metals grow as
before 1605. Captaine of a Pinnasse of the King of Denmarke for the Discouery of the North-west passage begunne the eighteenth of Aprill 1606. H. pag. 827. CHAP. XVII The fourth Voyage of Iames Hall to Groaneland wherein he was set forth by English Aduenturers Anno 1612. and slaine by a Greenelander Written by William Baffin H. pag. 831. CHAP. XVIII A true Relation of such things as happened in the fourth Voyage for the Discouerie of the North-west Passage performed in the yeere 1615. written by William Baffin H. P. pag. 836. CHAP. XIX A briefe and true Relation of Iournall containing such accidents as happened in the fift Voyage for the discouery of a passage in the North-west set forth at the charges of the right Worshipfull Sir Thomas Smith Knight Sir Dudly Digges Knight Master Iohn Mostenholme Esquire Master Alderman Iones with others in the goodship called the Discouery of London Robert Bileth Master and my selfe Pilot performed in the yeere of our Lord 1616. pag. 844. CHAP. XX. A briefe Discourse of the probability of a passage to the Westerne or South Sea illustrated with testimonies and a briefe Treatise and Map by Master Brigges H.P. pag. 848. The Contents of the Chapters and Paragraphs in the Fifth Booke of the second part of Purchas his PILGRIMS CHAP. I. A Description of the West Indies by Antonio de Herrera his Maiesties chiefe Chronicler of the Indies and his Chronicler of Castile H. P. pag. 855 The Presidents Counsellors Secretaries and Attourneys which vnto this present day haue serued and doe serue in the supreme Councell of the Indies from their first Discouerie pag. 916. The Gouernours and Vice-royes which haue gouerned vntill this time the Kingdomes of New-Spaine and of Peru. pag. 917. CHAP. II. Obseruations gathered out of the First Second Third and Fourth Bookes of Iosephus Acosta a learned Iesuite touching the naturall historie of the Heauens Ayre Water and Earth at the West Indies Also of their Beasts Fishes Fowles Plants and other remarkeable rarities of Nature pag. 918. § 1. Of the fashion and forme of Heauen at the new-found World and of the Ayre and Winds ibid. § 2. Of the Ocean that inuirons the Indies and of the North and South Seas their ebbing flowing Fishes fishing Lakes Riuers and Springs pag. 928. § 3. Of the qualitie of the Land at the Indies in generall Properties of Peru and of new Spaine and other parts of Vulcanes and Earthquakes pag. 935. § 4. Of Metals in the Indies and especially of the Gold and Siluer and Quick-siluer pag. 941. § 5. Of Emeralds Pearles Indian Bread Trees Fruits Flowers naturall and carried thither from Spaine pag. 952. § 6. Of Beasts and Fowles in the Indies pag. 962. Of Fowles that are proper to the Indies and Venison pag. 965. CHAP. III. Extracts of Gonzalo Ferdinando de Ouiedo his Summarie and the generall Historie of the Indies pag. 970. Of the Mynes of Gold and the manner of working in them ibid. Of the manner of fishing for Pearles pag. 972. Of the familiaritie which certaine of the Indians haue with the Deuill and how they receiue answere of him of things to come and other superstitions pag. 973. Of diuers particular things as Wormes Serpents Beasts Fowles Trees c. pag. 975. Of Trees Fruits and Plants pag. 981. Of Reedes or Canes pag. 983. Of venemous Apples wherwith they poyson their Arrowes pag. 985. Of Fishes and of the manner of fishing p. 986. Of the increase and decrease that is rising and falling of our Ocean Sea and South Sea called the Sea of Sur. pag. 989. Of the straight or narrow passage of the Land lying betweene the North and South Sea by the which Spices may much sooner and easilier be brought from the Ilands of Molucca into Spaine by the West Ocean then by that way wherby the Portugals saile into the East India ibid. How things that are of one kinde differ in forme and qualitie according to the nature of the place where they are engendred or grow and of the beasts called Tigres pag. 990. Of the manners and customes of the Indians of the Firme Land and of their Women pag. 991. Of the chiefe Ilands Hispaniola and Cuba pag. 993. CHAP. IIII. Mexican Antiquities gathered out of the writings of Iosephus Acosta a learned Iesuite pag. 1000. § 1. Of the ancient Inhabitants of new Spain and of the sixe Linages of the Nauatlacas Of the Mexican Exodus and aduentures by the way the foundation of Mexico their first King and Tribute ibid. § 2. Of the second King Vitzilouitli and of his successours and their Acts vntill the reigne of Motezuma their last King pag. 1009. § 3. Of the election of great Motezuma the last King of Mexico his pompe and manner of gouernment prodigious fore-warnings of his ruine and the Spanish conquest pag. 1018. CHAP. V. Of the ancient superstitions of the Mexicans and Indians of America gathered out of the fifth booke of Iosephus Acosta pag. 1026. CHAP. VI. Ciuill Customes and Arts of the Indians taken out of Acostas 6. Booke pag. 1050. CHAP. VII The Historie of the Mexican Nation described in pictures by the Mexican Author explained in the Mexican language which exposition translated into Spanish and thence into English together with the said Picture-historie are heere presented H. pag. 1066 § 1. The Mexican Chronicle ibid. § 2. The second part of this Booke contayning the particular Tributes which euery Towne subdued payed vnto the Lords of Mexico pag. 1080 § 3. The third part of this Booke contayneth the priuate behauiour in Marriages education of Children and Trades with the Martiall Ecclesiasticke and Ciuill policie of the Mexican people pag. 1102. CHAP. VIII Conquest of Mexico and New Spaine by Hernando Cortes pag. 1118. CHAP. IX Larger Relations of things most remarkeable obserued by the Spaniards at their first comming Cholallas holies Popocatepecs ashes Mutezumas multiforme Magnificence and Maiestie Mexican Citie and Temple with other Antiquities gathered out of the Third part of the Historie of Francis Lopez de Gomara pag. 1123. The Hill called Popocatepec ibid. Description of Mexico as it flourished in those times pag. 1131. Other Mexican Antiquities Letters Numbers Yeeres Dayes Weekes c. pag. 1135. Their reckoning by numbers ibid. The Contents of the Chapters and Paragraphs in the sixth Booke of the Second part of Purchas his PILGRIMS CHAP. I. A Briefe Relation of the seuerall Voyages vndertaken and performed by the Right Honourable George Earl of Cumberland in his owne person or at his owne charge and by his direction collected out of the Relations and Iournals of credible persons Actors therein pag. 1141. CHAP. II. The Voyage to Saint Iohn de Porto Rico by the Right Honourable George Earle of Cumberland written by himselfe H. pag. 1150. CHAP. III. A large Relation of Port Ricco Voyage written as is reported by that learned man and reuerend Diuine Doctor Eglambie his Lordships Chaplaine and Attendant in that Expedion very much abbreuiated H. pag.
may remayne in this Land which request Baatu cannot satisfie without the knowledge and consent of Mangu-Can Wherefore you and your Interpreter must of necessitie goe vnto Mangu-Can Howbeit your associate and the other man shall returne vnto the Court of Sartach staying there for you till you come backe Then began the man of God mine Interpreter to lament esteeming himselfe but a dead man Mine Associate also protested that they should sooner chop off his head then withdraw him out of my company Moreouer I my selfe said that without mine Associate I could not goe and that we stood in need of two Seruants at the least to attend vpon vs because if one should chance to fall sick we could not be without another Then returning vnto the Court he told these Sayings vnto Baatu And Baatu commanded saying let the two Priests and the Interpreter goe together but let the Clerke returne vnto Sartach And comming againe vnto vs hee told vs euen so And when I would haue spoken for the Clerke to haue had him with vs he said No more words for Baatu hath resolued that so it shall bee and therefore I dare not goe vnto the Court any more Goset the Clerke had remayning of the Almes money bestowed vpon him twentie sixe Yperperas and no more ten whereof he kept for himselfe and for the Lad and sixteene hee gaue vnto the man of God for vs. And thus were we parted asunder with teares he returning vnto the Court of Sartach and our selues remayning still in the same place VPon Assumption Euen our Clerke arriued at the Court of Sartach And on the morrow after the Nestorian Priests were adorned with our Vestments in the presence of the said Sartach Then wee our selues were conducted vnto another Host who was appointed to prouide vs house-roome victuals and Horses But because wee had not ought to bestow vpon him hee did all things vntowardly for vs. Then wee rode on forward with Baatu descending along by the bancke of Etilia for the space of fiue weekes together Sometimes mine Associate was so extreamly hungry that hee would tell mee in a manner weeping that it fared with him as though hee had neuer eaten any thing in all his life before There is a Faire or Market following the Court of Baatu at all times but it was so farre distant from vs that wee could not haue recourse thereunto For wee were constrained to walke on foote for want of Horses At length certaine Hungarians who had sometime beene after a sort Clergie men found vs out and one of them could as yet sing many Songs without booke and was accounted of other Hungarians as a Priest and was sent for vnto the Funerals of his deceased Countrey-men There was another of them also pretily well instructed in his Grammar for he could vnderstand the meaning of any thing that we spake but could not answere vs. These Hungarians were a great comfort vnto vs bringing vs Cosmos to drinke yea and sometimes flesh for to eate also who when they requested to haue some Bookes of vs and I had not any to giue them for indeed we had none but onely a Bible and a Breuiary it grieued me exceedingly And I said vnto them Bring me some Inke and Paper and I will write for you so long as we shall remaine here and they did so And I copied out for them Horas beatae Virginis and Officium defunctorum Moreouer vpon a certaine day there was a Comanian that accompanied vs saluting vs in Latine and saying Saluete Domini Wondering thereat and saluting him againe I demanded of him who had taught him that kind of salutation He said that he was baptized in Hungaria by our Friers and that of them he learned it Hee said moreouer that Baatu had enquired many things of him concerning vs and that he told him the estate of our Order Afterward I saw Baatu riding with his company and all his Subiects that were housholders or Masters of families riding with him and in mine estimation they were not fiue hundred persons in all At length about the end of Holy-rood there came a certaine rich Moal vnto vs whose Father was a Millenary which is a great Office among them saying I am the man that must conduct you vnto Mangu-Can and we haue thither a iourney of foure moneths long to trauell and there is such extreame cold in those parts that stones and trees doe euen riue asunder in regard thereof Therefore I would wish you throughly to aduise your selues whether you be able to indure it or no. Vnto whom I answered I hope by Gods helpe that we shall be able to brooke that which other men can indure Then hee said if you cannot indure it I will forsake you by the way And I answered him it were not iust dealing for you so to do for we go not thither vpon any businesse of our owne but by reason that we are sent by our Lord. Wherefore sithence we are committed vnto your charge you ought in no wise to forsake vs. Then he said all shall be well Afterward he caused vs to shew him all our garments and whatsoeuer he deemed to bee lesse needfull for vs he willed vs to leaue it behind in the custodie of our Host. On the morrow they brought vnto each of vs a furred Gowne made all of Rams skinnes with the Wooll still vpon them and breeches of the same and boots also or buskins according to their fashion and shooes made of felt and hoods also made of skins after their manner The second day after Holy-rood we began to set forward on our iourney hauing three guides to direct vs and we rode continually East-ward till the feast of All-Saints Throughout all that Region and beyond also did the people of Changle inhabite who were by parentage discended from the Romans Vpon the North side of vs wee had Bulgaria the greater and on the South the foresaid Caspian Sea HAuing trauelled twelue daies iourney from Etilia we found a mightie Riuer called Iagac which Riuer issuing out of the North from the land of Pascatir descended into the foresaid Sea The language of Pascatir and of the Hungarians is all one and they are all of them Shepheards not hauing any Cities And their Countrey bordereth vpon Bulgaria the greater on the West frontier From the North-East part of the said Countrey there is no Citie at all Out of the said fore-named Region of Pascatir proceeded the Hunnes of old time who afterward were called Hungarians Next vnto it is Bulgaria the greater Isidore reporteth concerning the people of this Nation that with swift Horses they trauersed the impregnable walls and bounds of Alexander which together with the Rockes of Caucasus serued to restraine those barbarous and blood-thirstie people from inuading the Regions of the South insomuch that they had tribute paid vnto them as farre as Aegypt Likewise they wasted all Countries euen vnto France Whereupon
Idol-temple I found the Priests of the said Idols there For alwaies at the Kalends they set open their Temples and the Priests adorne themselues and offer vp the peoples Oblations of Bread and Fruits First therefore I will describe vnto you those rites and ceremonies which are common vnto all their Idol-temples and then the superstitions of the foresaid Iugures which be as it were a sect distinguished from the rest They doe all of them worship towards the North clapping their hands together and prostrating themselues on their knees vpon the earth holding also their foreheads in their hands Whereupon the Nestorians of those parts will in no case ioyne their hands together in time of prayer but they pray displaying their hands before their breasts They extend their Temples in length East and West and vpon the North side they build a Chamber in manner of a Vestrie for them selues to goe forth into Or sometimes it is otherwise If it be a foure square Temple in the midst of the Temple towards the North side thereof they take in one Chamber in that place where the Quire should stand And within the said Chamber they place a Chest long and broade like vnto a Table and behind the said Chest towards the South stands their principall Idoll which I saw at Caracarum and it was as big as the Idoll of Saint Christopher Also a certaine Nestorian Priest which had beene in Catay said that in that Countrey there is an Idoll of so huge a bignesse that it may be seene two daies iourney before a man come at it And so they place other Idols round about the foresaid principall Idoll being all of them finely gilt ouer with pure gold and vpon the said Chest which is in manner of a Table they set Candles and Oblations The doores of their Temples are alwaies open towards the South contrary to the customes of the Saracens They haue also great Bels like vnto vs. And that is the cause as I thinke why the Christians of the East will in no case vse great Bells Notwithstanding they are common among the Russians and Graecians of Gasaria ALl their Priests had their heads and beards shauen quite ouer and they are clad in Saffron coloured garments and being once shauen they leade an vnmarried life from that time forward and they liue an hundred or two hundred of them together in one Cloister or Couent Vpon those daies when they enter into their Temples they place two long Formes therein and so sitting vpon the said Formes like Singing-men in a Quire namely the one halfe of them directly ouer against the other they haue certaine bookes in their hands which sometimes they lay downe by them vpon the Formes and their heads are bare so long as they remaine in the Temple And there they reade softly vnto themselues not vttering any voice at all Whereupon comming in amongst them at the time of their superstitious deuotions and finding them all sitting mute in manner aforesaid I attempted diuers waies to prouoke them vnto speech and yet could not by any meanes possible They haue with them also whithersoeuer they goe a certaine string with an hundred or two hundred Nut-shels thereupon much like to our bead-roll which wee carrie about with vs. And they doe alwaies vtter these words Ou mam Hactani God thou knowest as one of them expounded it vnto me And so often doe they expect a reward at Gods hands as they pronounce these words in remembrance of God Round about their Temple they doe alwaies make a faire Court like vnto a Church-yard which they enuiron with a good wall and vpon the South part thereof they build a great Portall wherein they sit and conferre together And vpon the top of the said Portall they pitch a long Pole right vp exalting it if they can aboue all the whole Towne besides And by the same Pole all men may know that there stands the Temple of their Idols These rites and ceremonies aforesaid be common vnto all Idolaters in those parts Going vpon a time towards the foresaid Idoll-temple I found certaine Priests sitting in the outward Portall And those which I saw seemed vnto mee by their shauen beards as if they had beene French men They wore certaine ornaments vpon their heads made of Paper The Priests of the foresaid Iugures doe vse such attire whithersoeuer they goe They are alwaies in their Saffron coloured Iackets which bee very straight being laced or buttened from the bosome right downe after the French fashion and they haue a Cloake vpon their left shoulder descending before and behind vnder their right arme like vnto a Deacon carrying the houssel-box in time of Lent Their letters or kind of writing the Tartars did receiue They begin to write at the top of their paper drawing their lines right downe and so they reade and multiply their lines from the left hand to the right They doe vse certaine papers and characters in their Magicall practices Whereupon their Temples are full of such short scrolls hanged round about them Also Mangu-Can hath sent letters vnto your Maiestie written in the language of the Moals or Tartars and in the foresaid hand or letter of the Iugures They burne their dead according to the ancient custome and lay vp the ashes in the top of a Pyramis Now after I had sate a while by the foresaid Priests and entred into their Temple and seene many of their Images both great and small I demanded of them what they beleeued concerning God And they answered Wee beleeue that theâe is onely one God And I demanded farther Whether doe you beleeue that he is a Spirit or some bodily substance They said Wee beleeue that hee is a Spirit Then said I Doe you beleeue that God euer tooke mans nature vpon him Then they answered No. And againe I said Sithence yee beleeue that hee is a Spirit to what end doe you make so many bodily Images to represent him Sithence also you beleeue not that hee was made man why doe you resemble him rather vnto the Image of a man then of any other creature Then they answered saying we frame not those Images whereby to represent God But when any rich man amongst vs or his sonne or his wife or any of his friends deceaseth he causeth the Image of the dead partie to be made and to be placed here and we in remembrance of him doe reuerence thereunto Then I replyed You doe these things onely for the friendship and flatterie of men No said they but for their memorie Then they demanded of mee as it were in scoffing wise Where is God To whom I answered Where is your soule they said In our bodies Then said I Is it not in euery part of your bodie ruling and guiding the whole bodie and yet notwithstanding is not seene or perceiued Euen so God is euery where and ruleth all things and yet is he inuisible being vnderstanding and wisedome it selfe Then being desirous to
to him what answere I made when he demanded whether I would giue them to Sartach Then hee answered you say true and none can resist the truth I left your goods with my father who remayneth neere Sarai which is a new Towne Baatu hath made vpon Etilia on the East shoare but our Priests haue some of the vestments If any thing like you said I keepe it so my Bookes be restored Then he told me he would report my words to Sartach I must haue Letters said I to your Father to restore mee all But he was readie to bee gone and said vnto mee The traine of the Ladies followeth vs neere at hand Yee shall alight there and I will send you Sartachs answere by this man I was very carefull he should not deceiue me yet I could not contend with him Late in the euening the man came vnto me whom he shewed me and brought two Coats with him which I thought had beene all of Silke vncut and he said vnto me Behold two garments the one Sartach hath sent to you and the other if it seeme good to you you shall present to the King on his behalfe To whom I answered I weare no such garments I will present them both vnto my King in honour of your Lord. Then said hee doe wiâh them what you please but it pleased me to send them both vnto you and I send them to you by the bearer of these presents He deliuered him Letters also to the Father of Coiac to restore mee all which appertayned vnto me because he had no need of any thing which was mine So wee came to the Court of Baatu the same day I departed thence the yeere past the second day after the Exaltation of the blessed Crosse. And I found our young men in health yet much afflicted with penurie as Gosset told me And if the King of Armenia had not comforted them and recommended them to Sartach they had perished for they thought I had beene dead The Tartars also demanded of them if they could keepe Oxen or milke Mares For if I had not returned they had beene brought into their seruitude After this Baatu caused me to come vnto him and made the Letters which Mangu Chan sends vnto you to be interpreted vnto me For so Mangu wrote vnto him that if it pleased him to adde any thing or leaue out or change hee should doe it Then said hee yee shall carrie these Letters and cause them to bee vnderstood Hee demanded also what way I would goe whether by Sea or Land I said the Sea was shut because it was Winter and I must goe by Land For I thought you had beene yet in Syria so I directed my iourney towards Persia. For if I had thought you had passed into France I would haue gone into Hungarie so I should sooner haue come into France and by a more easie way then into Syria Then wee trauelled a moneth with him before wee could haue a Guide At length they appointed mee a certaine Iugur who vnderstanding I would giue him nothing and that I would goe forth-right into Armenia caused Letters to be made to conduct me to the Soldan of Turkie hoping he should receiue gifts of the Soldan and that he should gayne more that way Then we tooke our iourney speedily fifteene dayes before the Feast of Al-Saints towards Sarai going forth right Southward descending neere to Etilia which is diuided into three Armes there below euery one whereof is almost twice as big as the Riuer of Damiata It maketh foure other lesser Armes so that we passed that Riuer in seuen places by Boat Vpon the middle Arme is the Village called Sumerkent without a wall but when the Riuer ouerflowes it is compassed with water The Tartars were eight yeeres about it before they could take it and the Alani and the Saracens were in it There we found one Dutch-man with his wife a very good man with whom Gosset stayed in the Winter for Sartach sent him thither to ease his Court. About those parts was Baatu on the one side of the Riuer and Sartach on the other about Christmas and they goe no further downe And it falleth out that all the Riuer is frozen so they passe ouer Here is great store of grasse and there among the Caues theeues hid themselues till the Ice melt Coiacks father receiuing Sartachs Letters restored my vestments vnto mee except three Albes and an Amice trimmed with fine Silke and a Stole and a Girdle and a Tualia adorned with golden embroyderie and a Surplice He restored also vnto me the siluer Plate except the Censer and the little Boxe where the Chrisme was All which the Priests which were with Sartach had Hee restored my Bookes except our Ladies Psalter which hee kept with my leaue because I could not denie it him for he said Sartach tooke much delight in it Hee also requested me that if it happened that I returned vnto those parts againe I would bring them a man that knew how to make Parchment for he made a great Church by the Commandement of Sartach vpon the West side of the Riuer as he said and a new Towne Yet I know that Sartach meaneth no such matter Sarai and the Palace of Baatu are vpon the Easterne side of the Riuer And the Valley through which the Armes of the Riuer are spread abroad contayneth more then seuen leagues in bredth And there is great store of fish there A Bible also in verse and a certaine Booke in the Arabian worth thirtie Sultanies and many other things I neuer recouered SO departing from him on the Feast of All-Saints alwaies going toward the South in the Feast of Saint Martin we came to the Mountaines of the Alani Betweene Baatu and Sarai in fifteene dayes we found no people but one of his sonnes who went before him with Falcons and his Falconers who were many and one litle Village From the Feast of All-Saints for fiue dayes we found not a man and wee were almost in great danger by reason of thirst one whole day and a night finding no water till about three of the Clocke the next day the Alani in those Mountaines yet hold out so that of ten of the Subiects of Sartach two must come to guard the straight and narrow passages of the Hills left they come forth of the Mountaines and steale their Cattell in the Playne Betweene the Alani and Porta Ferrea which is two dayes iourney thence where the Playne of Arcacci beginneth betweene the Caspian Sea and the Mountaines there are certaine Saracens called Lesgi betweene the Mountaines who likewise resist so that those Tartars who dwell at the foot of the Mountaines of the Alani were faine to giue vs twentie men to bring vs beyond the Iron gate or Porta Ferrea And I was glad because I hoped to see them armed For I could neuer see their Armour though I had beene very desirous And when we came
of their Iewels and seeing they pleased him freely bestowed them on him He loth to be exceeded in liberalitie caused twice the value to bee giuen them and besides great and rich gifts Hauing stayed one yeare in the Countrey of the said Prince whiles they thought to returne to Venice there suddenly arose Warre betwixt the said Barcha and another named Alau Lord of the Easterne Tartars These Armies fighting together Alau had the Victorie and the Armie of Barcha receiued a great ouerthrow By reason whereof the wayes beeing not secure they were not able to returne that way which they came And hauing consulted how to returne to Constantinople they were aduised to goe so farre to the East that they might compasse the Realme of Barcha by vnknowne wayes and so they came to a Citie called Ouchacha which is in the Confines of the Kingdome of this Lord of the Tartars on the West and passing further they went ouer Tigris one of the foure Riuers of Paradise and after that a Desart of seuenteene dayes Iourney without Citie Castle or Fort finding only Tartars which liue in the fields in certayne Tents with their beasts Beeing past the Desart they came to a good Citie called Bocara the name also of the Prouince in the Region of Persia which was subiect to a King called Barach in which place they stayed three yeares before they could goe forward or backward by reason of great warres betwixt the Tartars At that time a certayne Wiseman was sent Ambassador from the said Prince Alau to the Great Can who is the greatest King of all the Tartars residing in the Confines of the Earth betwixt the North-east and the East called Cublai Can who being comne to Bocara and finding there the said two brethren which had now well learned the Tartarian Language he reioyced aboue measure and perswadeth these Westerne men or Latines to goe with him to the presence of the Great Emperour of the Tartars knowing that hee should gratifie him in this and the men notwithstanding should be entertayned with great honour and rewarded with large gifts especially seeing through the manifold conference had with them he now perceiued their pleasing behauiour Those men therefore considering that they could not easily returne home without danger consulting together ioyne with the said Ambassadour and iourney with him to the Emperour of the Tartars hauing certayne other Christians in their Company whom they brought with them from Venice and departing towards the North-east and the North were a whole yeare in going to the Court of the said chiefe King of the Tartars The cause of their long time in this Iourney was the Snowes and Riuer Waters much increased so that they were forced in their trauell to stay the wasting of the Snow and decreasing of the flouds Being therefore brought before the presence of the Great Can they were most courteously receiued of him He questioned them concerning many things as of the Countries of the West the Romane Emperour and other Kings and Princes how they carried themselues in Gouernment and in Warlike affaires how Peace Iustice and Concord continued among them also what manner of life and customes were obserued with the Latines and especially of the Pope of the Christians of the things of the Church and the Religion of the Christian Faith And M. Nicolo and M. Maffeo as Wisemen told him the truth alway speaking well to him and orderly in the Tartarian Tongue Insomuch that hee often commanded they should bee brought to his presence and they were very acceptable in his sight Hauing well vnderstood the Affaires of the Latines and resting satisfied with their answers the Great Can intending to send them his Ambassadours to the Pope first consulted with his Barons and then calling to him the two Brethren desired them for his loue to goe to the Pope of the Romans with one of his Barons called Chogatall to pray him to send an hundred Wisemen and learned in the Christian Religion vnto him who might shew his Wisemen that the Faith of the Christians was to bee preferred before all other Sects and was the only way of saluation and that the Gods of the Tartars were Deuils and that they and others the people of the East were deceiued in the worship of their Gods Hee gaue them also in charge to bring in their returne from Ierusalem of the Oyle of the Lampe which burneth before the Sepulchre of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom hee had great deuotion and held him to bee true God They therefore yeelding due reuerence to the Great Can promise that they will faithfully execute the charge commited vnto them and present the Letters which they receiued from him written in the Tartarian to be deliuered to the Bishop of Rome He according to the custome of his Kingdome commanded a Golden Tablet to bee giuen them ingrauen and signed with the Kings marke carrying the which with them throughout his whole Empire in stead of a Passe-port they might bee euery-where safely conueyed through dangerous places by the Gouernours of Prouinces and Cities and receiue expenses from them and lastly how long soeuer they would stay in any place whatsoeuer they needed to them or theirs should be ministred vnto them Taking their leaue therefore of the Emperour they take their Iourney carrying the Letters and Golden Tablet with them And when they had rid twentie dayes Iourney the Baron aforesaid associated vnto them began to fall grieuously sicke Whereupon consulting and leauing him there they prosecute their intended Iourney beeing euery-where courteously receiued by reason of the Emperours Tablet Yet in very many places they were compelled to stay by occasion of the ouer-flowing of Riuers so that they spent three yeares before they came vnto the Port of the Citie of the Armenians named Giazza From Giazza they goe to Acre to wit in the yeere of our Lord 1269. in the moneth of Aprill But hauing entred into the Citie of Acre they heard that Pope Clement the fourth was lately dead and that no other was substituted in his place for the which they were not a little grieued At that time there was a certaine Legate of the Apostolicall Sea at Acre to wit Master Tibaldo de Vesconti di Piacenza to whom they declared all they had in commission from the Great Can and he aduised them to expect the Creation of a new Pope In the meane space therefore departing to Venice to visit their Friends purposing to remayne there vntill another Pope were created Master Nicolo found that his wife was dead whom at his departure hee had left great with child but had left a sonne named Marco who was now nineteene yeeres of age This is that Marco which ordayned this Booke who will manifest therein all those things which he hath seene Moreouer the Election of the Pope of Rome was deferred two yeeres They fearing the discontentment and disquieting of the Emperour of the Tartars who they knew expected
Imperiall Dignitie which Commandement they obserued and from thenceforth vntill this day haue euer continued to call on the Immortall God in all their occasions Secondly Hee willed that all the men that were able to beare Armes should be numbred and that ouer euery ten should be one appointed and ouer euery ten thousand a great Commander and that also ouer euery thousand should bee a Colonell or Conducter of a Regiment and he called an Armie of ten thousand Souldiers a Regiment He commanded also the seuen Rulers ouer the Nations of the Tartarians that they should forthwith dismisse themselues of their former dignities which they relinquished immediatly But another of his Ordinances was very strange and admirable in which he commanded those seuen chiefe Rulers to bring euery of them his eldest sonne and each with his owne hand to cut off his head Which Commandement appearing to bee most cruell and vniust yet was there none that would any way gainsay it because they knew him to be set ouer them by Gods prouidence and therefore they presently fulfilled it When Changius Can had seene that they were readie to obey him euen vnto death he appointed them all a certaine day in which they should be readie to fight And then they rode against them which bordered next vnto them and subdued them Whereby they which had beene Lords ouer them were brought into subiection vnder them After hee inuaded diuers other Nations which hee conquered with great celeritie For hee did all his exploits with a small troupe of men and was successefull in his enterprises Yet one day it fell out that being accompanied with a small number he was encountred with a great troupe of his Enemies in such sort that the fight being begun betweene them whiles he valiantly defended himselfe his Horse was slaine vnder him And the Tartarians seeing their Lord ouerthrowne betooke themselues to flight so that the Enemies being all busied in pursuing of those that fled and hauing no knowledge of the Emperour whom they had vnhorsed and ouerthrowne he runne and hid himselfe among certaine shrubs for safety of his life Whither when the Enemies were returned with purpose to spoile the dead Carkasses and to seeke out such as were hidden it happened that an Owle came and sate vpon those little trees or shrubs which he had chosen for his couert which when they perceiued they sought no further in that place supposing that the said Bird would not haue sate there if any man had beene hidden vnderneath By which meanes in the dead time of the night he found meanes to escape thence and came by diuers vnfrequented wayes vnto his owne people and discoursed vnto them what had befallen him For which the Tartarians rendred thankes vnto the Immortall God And that Bird which vnder God was held to be the meanes of his escaped hath euer since beene held in such reuerence amongst them that happie is he that can get but a Feather of an Owle which they weare in their heads with great reuerence Which I thought fit to set downe in this Booke that the cause might be knowne for which the Tartarians vse commonly to weare Feathers on their heads But their Emperour Changius Can hauing giuen great thankes to God for his deliuerance out of so great a danger gathered his Armie together and fiercely assaulted his former Enemies againe and brought them all vnder subiection and so became Emperor of all the Countries lying on that side of the Mountaine Belgian and possessed them quietly without disturbance vntill it happened him to haue another Vision as shall after be declared Neither is it any maruell that in these Histories I haue not set downe the certaine time because albeit I haue sought of many to know the certaintie thereof yet could I neuer finde any to instruct me fully therein the reason thereof I take to be because the Tartarians at the first were ignorant of all Learning and knew no letters and so passed ouer the times and memorable accidents without any Record or Register thereof kept whereby they came afterwards to be forgotten §. II. Of CHANGIVS Can his second Vision and Conquests Of HOCCOTA and his three Sonnes expeditions of GINO Can of MANGV Can who was visited by the King of Armenia and baptised of the expedition of his Brother HALOON 17. AFter that Changius Can had subdued all the Kingdomes and Countries on that side of the Mountaine Belgian he saw another Vision in the night For the selfe-same Horsman armed in white Armour appeared vnto him againe saying Changius Can it is the pleasure of the Immortall God that thou passe ouer the Mountaine Belgian and direct thy course Westwards where thou shalt possesse Kingdomes and Countries and subdue many Nations And that thou mayest be assured that the words which I speake vnto thee are from the Immortall God Arise and goe with thy people to the Mountaine Belgian to that part thereof which ioyneth to the Sea there thou shalt alight from thy Horse and kneeling downe nine times towards the East thou shalt worship nine times the Immortall God and he which is Almightie will shew thee the way by which thou mayest easily passe ouer the Mountaine At this Vision Changius reioyced exceedingly and arose without farther doubt or delay because the trueth which he had found in the first Vision gaue him assurance of the other in such sort that he forthwith speedily assembled his people and commanded them to follow him with their wiues and children and all that they had And so they went forwards vntill they came to the place where the great and deepe Sea did beate against the Mountaine so that there appeared no way nor passage for them There presently Changius Can as had beene commanded him by God alighted from his Horse and all his followers in like manner worshipping nine times on their bended knees towards the East they beseeched the Almightie and euerliuing God that of his infinite mercy and grace he would vouchsafe to shew them the way and passage thence where they continued in prayer all that night And in the morning arising they saw that the Sea was departed from the Mountaine and had left them a way of nine feet in bredth to passe Whereat they being all astonished exceedingly and rendring thankes to the Immortall God most deuoutly they passed on the way which they saw before them and directed their steps towards the West But as the Histories of the Tartarians doe mention after they had passed ouer those Mountaines they indured some hunger and thirst for certaine dayes because the land was Desart and the waters were bitter and salt which they could not by any meanes drinke vntill at length they came where they had all necessaries aboundantly In which place they abode many dayes And there it happened by the will of God that Changius Can grew dangerously sicke in such sort that the Physicians despaired of his recouerie By reason
were either taken or slaine albeit they thought in their Pride they could haue ouer-runne the whole Kingdome of Armenia and deuoure all âhe Christians there at a morsell This was performed on the Lords Day being the eighteenth of Iuly after which conflict the Saracens durst no more enter into the Kingdome of Armenia But the Soldan sent to the King of Armenia to make truce with him which was agreed betweene them 46. I Frier Haython hauing beene present at all the said proceedings had purposed long before to haue taken a Regular Habit vpon me and to haue entred into Religion But by reason of many impediments and difficulties in the Affaires of the Kingdome of Armenia I could not with my honour forsake my friends and kindred in such extremities But seeing that Gods goodnesse had beene so gracious vnto me as to leaue the Kingdome of Armenia and the Christian people there after my manifold labours and trauels in quiet and peaceable estate I then tooke the time to performe that Vow which before I had vowed Therefore hauing taken my leaue of my Lord the King and of the rest of my kindred and friends euen in that field where God gaue the Christians Victorie ouer their Enemies I beganne my Iourney and comming to Cyprus in the Monasterie of Episcopia tooke a Regular Habit of the Order Premonstratensis to the end that hauing serued the World as a Souldier in my youth I might spend the rest of my life in the Seruice of God forsaking the pompe of this World which was in the yeere of our Lord 1305. Therefore I render thankes vnto God that the Kingdome of Armenia is at this day in a good and peaceable estate and well reformed by the Moderne King Liueno Sonne to King Haython who is a Looking-glasse or patterne to all other Kings in all kinde of eminent vertue Moreouer the Compiler of this Worke affirmeth that he hath come three manner of wayes to the knowledge of those things which hee declareth and writeth in this Booke For from the beginning of Changius Can who was the first Emperour of the Tartars vntill Mango Can who was their fourth Emperour I faithfully deliuer what I gathered out of the Histories of the Tartarians But from Mango Can to the death of Haloon I write that which I receiued of an Vncle of mine who writ the same by the commandement of Haiton King of Armenia and was present then at all the foresaid occurrences and with great diligence did often discourse make rehearsall of them to his Sonnes and Nephewes that they might remayne the better to Posteritie and from the beginning of Abaga Can to the end of this third part of this Booke the Author relateth those things which hee knew of himselfe as hauing beene present at them aâl whereby he is enabled to giue testimonie of the truth Now albeit we haue hitherto treated of the Histories and Deeds of the Tartarians there remayneth yet somewhat to be said concerning their Power and Dominion especially of those that are now liuing that it may the better bee knowne 47. The great Emperor of the Tartars which now holdeth the Empire is called Tamor Can being their sixt Emperour who keepeth his Residence in the Kingdome of Cathay in a very great City called Iong which his Father caused to be built as is aboue declared his power is very great For this Emperour alone is able to doe more then all the Tartarian Princes together and the Nations vnder his gouernment are reputed more noble and rich and better stored of all necessaries because that in the Kingdome of Cathay in which they now liue there is great abundance of riches Besides this great Emperour there are three other great Kings or Princes of the Tartars which rule each of them ouer many Nations yet are they all subiect to the Emperour and acknowledge him their naturall and Leige Lord. And the differences which happen betweene them are decided in the Emperours Court and determined by his Iudgement The first of these Kings is called Chapar another Hochtay and the third Carbanda This Chapar hath his Dominion in the Kingdome of Turquestan being the neerest to the Emperour It is thought that he is able to bring into the field foure hundred thousand Horsemen and these are bold and good Warriours but not so well furnished of Horse and Armour as were expedient The Emperours subiects doe many times make warre vpon them and they on the other side doe often inuade the people of Carbanda The Dominion of this Chapar was in ancient time subiect for the greatest part to a Lord called Doay Hochtay keepeth his Seat of Residence in the Kingdome of Cumania in a Citie called Asaro or Sara and it is said that he is able to bring six hundred thousand Horsemen to the fight yet are they not so much commended in Feats of Armes as the men of Chapar albeit they haue better Horses These make warre sometimes on the Subiects of Carbanda sometimes against the Hungarians and sometimes amongst themselues But Hochtay who ruleth at this present holdeth his Dominion peaceably and quietly Carbanda hath his Dominion in the Kingdome of Asia the Great and maketh his chiefe abode in the Citie of Tauris beeing able to bring three hundred thousand Horsemen to the field But these are gathered out of diuers parts being rich and well furnished with necessaries Chapar and Hochtay doe sometimes make warre vpon Carbanda but hee neuer medleth first with them neither moueth warres against any but that he sometimes inuadeth the Soldan of Egypt against whom his Predecessors haue fought many Battailes Chapar and Hochtay would willingly take from Carbanda his Dominion if they were able to effect it The reason whereof is this Asia is diuided into two parts the one part whereof being called the Lower or Deepe Asia is inhabited by the Emperour and those two Kings called Chapar and Hochtay The other part being the higher is called Asia the Greater in which Carbanda inhabiteth and hath Dominion Now there are only three wayes by which men may passe out of the Deeper or Lower Asia vnto the high Countrey called Asia Maior The one is out of the Kingdome of Turquestan to the Kingdome of the Persians another way there is called Derbent which lyeth neere the Sea where Alexander built the Citie called the Iron Gate as in the Histories of Cumania appeares the other way is to goe ouer the Sea called Mare maius which way lyeth through the Kingdome of Barca By the first way the subiects of Chapar cannot passe to the Territories of Carbanda without great danger and difficultie because they should find no feeding for their Horses in many dayes trauailes the Land being so dry and barren that before they could come to any fruitfull inhabited Countrey their Horses would be starued or at least so faint and wearied that they might be easily ouercome and therefore that way they
fellowship both Men and Women There are certaine old women which get their liuing by selling Bels of gold siluer brasse of the bignesse of Nuts which they put in mens yards betwixt the skin and flesh when they are of age to vse Women and in short time cure the place and the men much please themselues to heare the sound of them as they goe Here the Copy is defectiue Mangi is full of Elephants of which the King nourisheth ten thousand they serue him in the warre and carrie Castles in which stand eight ten or twelue men with Lances Bowes and Slings They take them with a tame female Elephant vsed to feed in a place encompassed with a wall with two gates to goe in and out into which in the coupling season the male enters at one gate and shee flees out at the other many men attending with deuices to take him both gates being shut and with fasting and accustoming other tame Elephants to him tame him in few dayes The men of this Countrey haue but one wife and all both men and women paint or embroider their skinnes with Iron pennes putting indelible tinctures thereunto They worship Idols yet when they rise in the morning they turne to the East and with hands ioyned say God in Trinitie keepe vs in his Law This Countrey produceth Serpents as grosse as a man sixe cubits long without feet which they eate for great dainties as they doe also certaine red Ants. There is a beast headed like a Swine tayled like an Oxe with a horne in the forehead like an Vnicorne a cubit long of the colour and stature of an Elephant with whom hee continually fighteth The horne is much esteemed against poyson In the furthest parts of this Countrey towards Cataio are white and blacke Kine some haired and tayled like Horses some with haires like feathers of which they make Fannes Beyond Mangi is the greatest Prouince in the World called Cataio the Lord whereof is called the great Can which signifieth Emperour and the chiefe Citie is called Cambalu which is foure square and hath eight and twenty miles in circuit In the midst thereof is a Fortresse and in it a Palace for the King and at euery of those foure corners is a Castle each foure miles about in which are Armouries of diuers sorts and Engines for battery From the Palace is a way on the wall to all those Castles that if the people rebell he might betake himselfe thither Beyond this Citie fifteene dayes iourney is Quinsai another great Citie which within this little while hath beene new made by this King It hath thirty miles compasse and is more peopled then the former In these two Cities it was told him that the Houses and Palaces are after the manner of Italie and the men richer and wiser then in other places After he was gone from Aua alongst the Riuer to the Sea in seuenteene dayes he arriued at Zaiton a great Port where he tooke Sea and in ten dayes came to a great and populous Citie called Pauconia which is of twelue miles compasse where he stayed foure moneths There are a few Vines which runne vpon Trees and they make no Wine of them There grow Abrecockes white Sanders and Camphire c. I am loth to returne into India with this Author whose defects and corruptions haue made him so little seruiceable together with the changed names of places since his time It is remarkable that hee sayth that the Indian Mariners sayled by the Starres Antartike and not by the compasse vsing certaine measures and rules in that Starre-obseruation Hee also relateth the huge greatnesse and treble sheathing of their Ships But of India whereof all his Relations are wee haue already giuen you better that is more punctuall methodicall and credible Authors Yet before we leaue him let vs obserue what Aeneas Syluius or Pope Pius Secundus hath cited out of him Hee sayth that hee sayled the Indian Sea a moneth beyond Ganges and then came to the Riuer Ratha which being sayled in sixe dayes hee found a Citie called by the same name And thence after seuenteene dayes passing desart Hills he came into champaine Countries which hauing passed in a fortnight with great labour hee found a Riuer greater then Ganges called Daua and hauing sayled therein a moneth came to a famous Citie fifteene miles in circuit named Dua where the women are exceedingly libidinous the men contented with one wife The Prouince is called Macin full of Elephants ten thousand of which the King keepes for his warres and is himselfe carried on a white Elephant wearing a golden Chayne distinguished with gemmes and hanging to his feet The men and women rase themselues c. as before but of the Kine he sayth that the same Kine haue tayles long and hairy to the feet the haires subtile like Feathers of much esteeme and vsed on the tops of Lances as Ensignes These things hath this Nicholas sayth Siluius of Macin noting without doubt the Region Serica For our age placeth the Easterne Scythians in Cathay That of Dua greater then Ganges and that of ten thousand Elephants nourished by a King not knowne by fame are hard to be beleeued but longinquitie cannot easily be confuted TO THE READER REader I here present thee a piece of a Historie so much as abuts on Tartaria and China Alhacen a learned Mahumetan was the Authour whether an exact Historian euery where literally to be vnderstood or whether in some part he be parabolicall and presents a Tamerlane like Xenophons Cyrus in some things rather what he should haue beene and what the Authour could say then what he was I vndertake not to determine The Abbat of Mortimer takes it for a iust Storie and so doth Master Knolls in his Turkish Historie If it be an Historie partly parabolicall yet doth the decorum exact of the Authour a verisimilitude euery where of actions and places sufficient to procure our pardon if not thankes the veritie of a great part being euident in other Stories It is true that some things seeme false for want of truth in our intelligence rather then in themselues And so hath it fared with all the subiect of this Booke Tartarian and Chinesian affaires of which we had as little knowledge as of Tameâlan fârther then terrors of Tartarian Armes and some mens speciall occasions and trauels haue giuen vs light Euen the Sunne riseth in those parts whiles it is not day-breake with vs and hath attayned almost his Noon-point before we see him and worthy wee are still to abide in a blacke night of ignorance if we welcome not what light we can get if we cannot get what wee would from so remote an East Once Tartarian affaires as it happens in Conquests were changeable and their New Moone was quickly at the full diuers chances and changes succeeding after Poles dayes to these such wealth whetting the Tartars to get and hold and no lesse the
yeere also the company furnished and sent out a Pinnesse named the Serchthrift to discouer the Harborowes in the North coast from Norway to Wardhouse and so to the Bay of Saint Nicholas There was in her Master and Pilot Stephen Borough with his brother William and eight other Their discouerie was beyond the Bay toward the Samoeds people dwelling neere the Riuer of Ob and found a sound or sea with an Island called Vaigats first by them put into the Card or Map In that place they threw Snow out of their said Pinnesse with shouels in August by which extremitie and lacke of time they came backe to Russia and wintred at Golmogro Anno 1557. The companie with foure good Ships sent backe the said Russe Ambassadour and in companie with him sent as an Agent for further discouerie Master Antonie Ienkinson who afterward Anno 1558. with great fauour of the Prince of Muscouia and his letters passed the riuer Volga to Cazan and meaning to seeke Cathay by Land was by many troupes and companies of vnciuill Tartarians encountred and in danger but keeping companie with Merchants of Bactria or Boghar and Vrgeme trauelling with Camels he with his companie went to Boghar and no further whose entertainment of the King is to be had of Master Ienkinson which returned Anno 1559. to Muscouie And in Anno 1560. hee with Henrie Lane came home into England which yeere was the first safe returne without losse or shipwracke or dead fraight and burnings And at this time was the first trafficke to the Narue in Liuonia which confines with Lituania and all the Dominions of Russia and the Markets Faires Commodities great Townes and Riuers were sent vnto by diuers seruants the reports were taken by Henrie Lane Agent and deliuered to the companie 1561. The trade to Rie and Reuel of old time hath beene long since frequented by our English Nation but this trade to the Narue was hitherto concealed from vs by the Danskers and Lubeckers Anno 1561. the said Master Antonie Ienkinson went Agent into Russia who the next yeere after passing all the riuer of Volga to Astracan and ouer the Caspian sea arriued in Persia and opened the trade thither Also betweene the yeeres of 1568. and 1573. sundry Voyages after Master Ienkinsons were made by Thomas Alcock Arthur Edwards Master Thomas Banister and Master Geffrey Ducket whose returne if spoyle neere Volga had not preuented by rouing Theeues had altogether salued and recouered the Companies called the old Companies great losse charges and damages But the saying is true By vnitie small things grow great and by contention great things become small This may bee vnderstood best by the Companie The frowardnesse of some few and euill doing of some vniust Factors was cause of much of the euill successe Arthur Edwards was sent againe 1579. and dyed in the voyage at Astracan About which matters are to bee remembred the Voyages of Master Thomas Randolph Esquire Ambassadour Anno 1567. And late of Sir Ierome Bowes Anno 1583. both tending and treating for further Discoueries Freedomes and Priuiledges wherewith I meddle not But in conclusion for their paines and aduentures this way as diuers doe now adayes other wayes as worthie Gentlemen sent from Princes to doe their Countrey good I put them in your memorie with my heartie farewell From Saint Margarets neere Dartforth in Kent To the Reader I Haue had much trouble to giue thee this Authour both for his Language being Portugall which for this and some other parts of this worke I was forced to get as I could and for the raritie of his Relations seeming both in themselues so stupendious and not seconded in many things that I say not contraried by other Authours Besides his booke came not out till himselfe was gone out of the world I answere that Ricius the Iesuite his Relations came not to vs till himselfe was likewise gone and that that might rather plead not onely for the Maturitie but the sinceritie by that Cassian rule Cui bono for whom should a dead man flatter or for what should hee lye Yea hee little spares his owne companie and Nation but often and eagerly layeth open their vices and which is more I finde in him little boasting except of other Nations none at all of himselfe but as if he intended to expresse Gods glorie and mans merit of nothing but miserie And howsoeuer it seemes incredible to remember such infinite particulars as this Booke is full of yet an easie memorie holdeth strong impressions of good or bad Scribunt in marmore laesi is said of one and of the other Omnia quae curant senes meminerunt Neither is it likely but that the Authour wrote Notes which in his manifold disaduentures were lost otherwise but by that writing written the firmer in his memorie especially new whetted filed forbushed with so many companions of miserie whom in that state Haec olim meminisse juuabat their best musicke in their chaines and wandrings being the mutuall recountings of things seene done suffered More maruell it is if a lyar that he should not forget himselfe and contradict his owne Relations which somtimes he may seeme to doe in the numbers of the yeere of the Lord yea and other numbers but his leaues were left vnperfect at his death and those numbers perhaps added by others after and besides mine owne experience hath often found figures mistaken from my hand which being by the Compositor set at large haue runne at large by ten times so much and girt in otherwhiles as narrow with the tenth place diminished or one figure set for another And none but the Authour or he which knowes the subiect can easily amend that fault being so great by so small and easie a lapse The graduations of places I doe confesse otherwise then in the Iesuites and as I suppose not so truely as theirs for I thinke that he neither had Arte or Instrument to calculate the same but contented himselfe in the writing of this Booke to looke into the common Maps of China and to follow them in setting downe the degrees and so the blind led the blind into errour no printed Map that I haue seene being true And perhaps the Chronicler to whom the papers were brought vnfinished might out of those Maps doe it erring either of ignorance or which we haue often seene in Cards of remote places East and West purposely to conceale from others that which they haue found sweet and gainfull the Mariner and Merchant not looking with the generous eyes of the ingenious ingenuous Scholer For his repute at home it was dedicated to King Philip the Third of Spaine which impudence would not haue obtruded if altogether a tale on such Maiestie licenced by the Holy Office and printed at Lisbon translated into the Spanish by the Licentiate Francisco de Herrera Maldonado Canon of the Church Riall of Arbas and dedicated to a Clergie-man Senerin de Faria
encounters with Hils which are all Chanfred and made so that it is stronger then the wall it selfe the wall being only in the spaces twixt Hill and Hill the Hils themselues making vp the rest In all that way are but fiue entrances caused by the Tartarian Riuers which with impetuous force cut the Countrey aboue fiue hundred leagues entring the Sea of China and Cauchin-china And one of them more forcible then the others enters the Kingdome of Sornau commonly called Siam by the Barre of Cuy At euery of those fiue entrances the King of China hath one Fort and the Tartar another in euery of the China Forts there are seuen thousand men six thousand foot and one thousand Horse in continuall pay most of them Strangers Mogors Champaas Pancrus Coracones and Gizares of Persia the Chinois being but meane Souldiers In all the space of this wall are three hundred and twentie Regiments each of fiue hundred men in all one hundred sixty thousand besides Ministers Commanders and their retinue which the Chinois said made in all two hundred thousand men allowed by the King only sustenance all or most of them being condemned to that seruice and therefore receiuing no pay And in Pequim is a great and admirable Prison-house in which are Prisoners continually for the Fabricke of this wall of three hundred thousand men and vpwards most of them from eighteene to fiue and fortie yeares old whereof some are men of good qualitie which for their ill behauiours and enormities are hither sentenced expecting to be remoued hence to the seruice of the wall whence they may haue returne according to the Statutes thereof made and approoued by the Chaens which therin dispense the Regall power with meere and mixt Empire There are twelue of them which may pay to the King a Million of Gold for Rent §. IIII. Mindo Salt-pits Mines of Coretumbaga Copper-workes Idolatry and Christianitie China Trades and Riuer Faires their comming to Pequin tryall and sentence Rarities of Pequin TO returne to our Voyage from Pacan and Nacau wee passed vp the Riuer to Mindoo a greater Citie then either of the former which on the Land side had a great Lake of Salt-water with great store of Salt-pits therein which the Chinois said did ebbe and flow like the Sea from which it is aboue two hundred leagues distant and that this Citie Rents to the King yearely one hundred thousand Taeis of the thirds of the Salt and as much more of the Silkes Sugars Porcelane Camfire Vermillion Quick-siluer which are there in great quantitie Two leagues aboue this Citie were twelue long Houses in which many men were sounding and purifying Copper making such a noyse with the Hammers that this place if any on Earth may resemble Hell In each House were fortie Furnaces twentie on a side with fortie great Anuiles on each whereof eight men were hammering round with such quicknes as scarce permitted the eyes obseruance so that in each house there were three hundred and twentie continuall Labourers besides Workmen of other kinds Wee asked how much Copper they might make yearely and they answered betwixt one hundred and ten and one hundred and twentie thousand Pikes of which the King had two parts because the Mynes were his the Hill where the Mine was is called Coretumbaga that is Riuer of Copper which in two hundred yeares so long was since the Discouery was not emptied Aboue these Houses one league neere the Riuer wee saw on a Hill encompassed with three rewes of Iron Grates thirtie Houses in fiue rankes very long with great Towres of Bels of Metall and Cast-Iron with gilded Pillars and carued workes and artificiall Frontis-pieces of stone Here we went on Land by Chifus leaue because hee had so vowed to that Pagode which is called Bigaypotim that is the God of one hundred and ten thousand Gods Corchoo Fungane ginato ginaca strong great say they aboue all the rest For they hold euery thing hath a particular God which made it and preserues it in its nature that this Bigaypotim brought forth all of them at his arme-pits and that of him they all hold their being as of a father by filiall vnion which they call Bijaporentesay In Pegu where I haue beene sometimes there is a Pagode like this there called Ginocoginana the God of all greatnesse whose Temple was built by the Chinois when they ruled in India which was after their Computation accorded with ours from Anno Dom. 1013. till 1072. conquered by Oxiuagan whose Successor seeing how much bloud was payd for so little good voluntarily relinquished it In those thirtie Houses stood a great quantitie of Idols of gilded wood and as many more of Tinne Copper Latten Iron Porcelane so many that I dare not mention the number Wee had not gone thence sixe or seuen leagues when we saw a great Citie ruined with the houses and wals on the ground seeming a league in circuit The Chinois said that it had beene called Cohilouzaa that is Flowre of the field sometimes prosperous and that one hundred fortie two yeares since as is written in a Booke name Toxefalem there came in company of Merchants from the Port of Tanaçarini a man which wrought Miracles in a moneths space raising vp fiue dead persons the Bonzos saying he was a Witch and because they could not hold dispute with him prouoking the people against him saying that if they did not kill him God would punish them with fire from Heauen The inraged multitude killed one Iohn a Weauer where he sojourned and his two Sonnes in Law and his Sonne which sought to defend him and when they had gone about to burne him in vaine the fire being extinct the Bonzos stoned him preaching Christ vnto them which had come from Heauen to dye for Sinners and to giue life to all which professed his Law with Faith and Works They say that the bodie was cast into the Riuer which for the space of fiue dayes would not runne lower and thereby many were moued to professe that Religion and as wee doubled a point of Land we saw a Crosse of stone on a little Hill enuironed with Trees Chifus Wife falling into trauell of which she dyed we stayed there nine dayes and did our Deuotions thereto prostrate on the Earth The people of the Village called Xifangu maruelling came running to the place and falling on their knees kissed the Crosse often saying Christo Iesu Iesu Christo Maria Micau late impone Moudel that is was a Virgin in his Conception Birth and after it They asked if they were Christians and we affirming it had vs to their Houses and vsed vs kindly being all of that Weauers Posteritie and Christians They also confirmed that which the Chinois had told vs and shewed vs the Booke printed of his Miracles which they said was named Matthew Escandel an Hungarian by Nation an Heremite of Mount Sinay borne
may be called the Mother Citie of the Worlds Monarchie for the wealth gouernment greatnesse iustice prouisions It stands in the height of 41. degrees to the North it contayneth in circuit as the Chinois and as I after heard read in a little Booke written of the greatnesse thereof called Aquesendoo which I brought with mee into this Kingdome thirtie leagues ten in length and fiue in bredth all which space is enuironed with two Walls and innumerable Towers and Bulwarkes Without is a larger space which they say was anciently peopled which now hath but Hamlets and scattered Houses and Garden-houses of which sixteene hundred are of principall note in which are the sixteene hundred Proctors for the sixteene hundred Cities and Townes of note of the two and thirtie Kingdomes of this Monarchie which reside there three yeeres for the said Townes Without this circuit or wall there are in the space of three leagues broad and seuen long foure and twentie thousand Sepulchres of Mandarines with their little gilded Chappels encompassed with grates of Iron and Latten with rich Arches at their entries Neere to them are Gardens Groues Tankes Fountaines the walls lined within with fine Porcelane adorned also with Lions and Pinacles of diuers paintings There are in that space fiue hundred Lodgings called Houses of the Sonne of the Sunne for entertainment of Souldiers maimed in the Kings warres besides many others for the old and sicke euery of which receiue their monethly allowance and haue in them as they said two hundred men in all one hundred thousand Wee saw another street very long where liued foure and twentie thousand Rowers for the Kings shipping and another aboue a league long where liued fourteene thousand Tauerners for prouision for the Court and another where were infinite Curtesans freed from tribute which those of the Citie pay for seruice of the Court many running from their husbands and here protected by the Tutan of the Court which is supreme in cases of the Kings house In that compasse also liue the Landerers of the Citie which were as they told vs aboue one hundred thousand there being many Tankes or Ponds compassed with stone and Riuers There are therein as that Booke sayth thirteene hundred Noble houses of Religious men and women which professe the foure chiefe Sects of the two and thirtie which are in that Kingdome some of which they say haue aboue one thousand persons within them besides seruitors There are other houses store with great walls in which are Gardens and Groues with game for hunting and are as it were the Halls of Companies where many resort to see Playes and the great men make their feasts there with incredible costs Some of these houses cost aboue a million maintayned by Companies of rich Merchants which are said to gaine much thereby And when any will make a feast he goeth to the Xipatom of the house who sheweth him a Booke wherein is contayned the order of feasts and seruices which Booke I haue seene and heard read of all sorts and of what prices they are whether Sacred to their Idols or Secular of which our Authour hath a large Chapter here omitted Now for Pequin it hath three hundred and sixtie Gates each hauing a Castlet with two Towers and a Draw-bridge a Notarie and foure Warders to take notice of those which goe in and out and an Idoll proper according to the dayes of the yeere euery of which is festiuall in one of them The Chinois reported that there are therein three thousand eight hundred Temples or Pagodes in which are continually sacrificed birds and wilde beasts which they say are more acceptable then tame those especially very faire which are of the Menigrepos and Conquiais and Talagrepos the Priests of the foure chiefe Sects of Xaca Amida Gizon and Canom The streets are long and large the houses faire of one or two lofts encompassed with Iron and Latten grates and at the streets end are triumphall arches closed at night in the chiefe are Watch-bells Euery street hath a Captaine and foure Quarter-masters or Corporals which euery ten dayes acquaint the Lonchacys or Chaems with occurrents That Booke reports of one hundred and twentie water-passages sixe fathome deepe of water and twelue wide with many stone bridges which are said to be eighteene hundred rich and faire with arches pillars and chaines it tels also of one hundred and twentie Market-places each of which haue their monethly Faires which make some foure faires a day thorow the yeere of which we saw ten or twelue in our two moneths free abode very full of horse-men and foot-men with all commodities to be sold. There are one hundred and sixtie Shambles each hauing one hundred blockes for Flesh of all sorts the price set downe on euery blocke and besides the shop-weights are weights at euery Gate to examine the weight againe And besides those generall shambles euery street hath fiue or sixe shops which sell all kinde of Flesh houses also for Poultrie and for Bacon and hanged Beefe §. V. Foure Buildings incredibly admirable in Pequin and diuers of their superstitions their Hospitals and prouisions for the Poore The Kings reuenues and Court their Sects BVt nothing seemed to me more admirable then the Prison called Xinanguibaleu that is the Prison of the exiled whose compasse contayneth about two leagues square as well in length as breadth walled high and ditched deepe with draw-bridges hanged on Iron cast pillars very great It hath a high arch with two towers whereon are six great watch-Bels at the sound whereof the rest within answer which are sayd to bee one hundred In this Prison are continually three hundred thousand men from sixteene to fiftie yeers of age all condemned to banishment for the fabrike of the wall betwixt Tartaria and China whom the King findes maintainance onely without other pay After they haue serued sixe yeares they may goe out freely the King freely remitting their sentence in satisfaction of their labour And if in the meane time they kill an enemie or haue beene thrice wounded in sallies or performe any worthy exploit he is also freed There are two hundred ten thousand employed in that seruice of which yeerly in those that dye are maimed or freed one third part is set off and supplyed from that Prison which was builded by Goxiley the successor of Crisnagol the founder of the wall brought thither from all parts of the Realme and sent to the Chaem of the wall at his appointment These prisoners are sent from other prisons being loose saue that they weare at their necke a board of a spanne long and foure fingers broad inscribed with their name and sentence of exile such a time In this Prison are two Faires yeerely one of which wee saw kept in Iuly and Ianuarie franke and free without payment of tolls to which are thought to assemble three millions of persons the
vnto the Sunne and vnto the Saints of heauen adding thereunto many words of prayers but principally they did request that the comming of their new ghests might be profitable vnto them all and that the friendship which they did pretend to establish might be for good both vnto the one and to the other This their prayer being done they did spill out the Wine making a great courtesie then were they straight-wayes filled againe and making reuerence vnto their ghests euery one by himselfe they set the Cups downe vpon the Tables whereas the Fathers should dine whereas they were set euerie one by himselfe This being done the first seruice was set vpon the boards and the Captaynes were set at other Tables The time which the banquet indured which was very late there was great store of musicke of diuers Instruments as of Vials Gitterns and Rebuckes and with them many Iesters did make them merrie at their dinner The which being done the sayd Captayns did beare their ghests companie out of the Palace whereas they did anew inuite them to dinner for the next day in the same Hall they obeying their request did come whereas was made vnto them a banquet more notable than the first This day at the banquet was present the Totoc In this second banquet they had as the day before very much musicke and a Comedie that indured long with many prettie and merrie iests there was also a Tumbler who did his feates very artificially as well in vauting in the ayre as vpon a staffe that two men did hold on their shoulders Before the Comedie did begin by their Interpreter the signification thereof was told them that the better they might content themselues in the conceiuing The next day they sent the present and those who carryed it in did afterward giue our people to vnderstand that in opening the present there was a note thereof taken before a Noâarie and straight-wayes put in againe where it was taken out before the sayd Notarie and other witnesses the which being done hee sealed it vp and sent it vnto the Citie of Taybin vnto the King and his Counsell for that they haue a rigorous Law in that Kingdome that doth prohibite all such as haue any office of Gouernment to receiue any present of what qualitie soeuer it bee without licence of the King or of his Counsell This is conformable vnto that which the Gouernour of Chinâheo did in the presence of our people The next day following the Vice-roy did âend to visite them and to aske of them a Sword a Harquebusse and a Flaske for that hee would cause others to bee made by them the which they did send and afterwards vnderstood that they had counterfeited the same although not in so perfect manner Then afâer a time our people seeing that their being in that Citie seemed to be long and like to be longer they did procure to driue away the time in the best manner they could and went abroad into the Citie and did by either of them that which they thought best Whereof they found great abundance and of so small price that they bought it almost for nothing They bought many Bookes that did intreat of diuers matters which they brought with them to the Ilands The next day they went to see the Gates of the Citie and all such curious things as were to bee seene so farre as they could learne or vnderstand which were many But amongst them all they saw a sumptuous Temple of their Idols in whose chiefe Chappell they counted one hundred and eleuen Idols besides a great number more that were in other particuler Chappels all were of carued worke very well proportioned and gilded but in especiall three of them that were placed in the midst of all the rest the one had three heads proceeding out of one bodie the one looking on the other in full face the second was the forme of a Woman with a Child in her armes the third of a Man apparelled after the forme and fashion that the Christians doe paynt the Apostles Of all the rest some had foure armes and some had sixe and other eight and other some maruellous deformed monsters Before them they had burning Lamps and many sweet perfumes and smels but in especiall before the three aboue specified But when that the Vice-roy did vnderstand that our people did goe viewing the Citie gates and Temples and perceiueth that they that gaue him the notice did suspect it that it was to some ill intent therewith hee straight-wayes commanded that they should not goe forth of their lodging without his licence and likewise commanded the Captayne that was their guard not to consent thereunto as he had done and likewise that none should carrie them any thing for to sell for he that did it should be punished with whipping Yet notwithstanding they had euery day very sufficient necessaries for their personages in such ample wise that there did always remayne and not lacke In this closenesse and keeping in they suffered many dayes with much sadnesse and oppressed with melancholicke humours to see that their purpose wherefore they went thither seemed to be long and euery day was worse and worse Yet notwithstanding they did passe it ouer in the best wise they could in committing it with heartie zeale vnto God for whose honour and glory they did attempt that voyage and prayed vnto him for to mooue their hearts to consent that the religious Fathers might remayne in that Countrey for to learne the language as they had begun many dayes before by which meanes their soules might be saued and clearely deliuered from the tyrannie of the Deuil who of truth had them in possession So after many dayes that they had remayned in that close estate as aforesayd they determined for to goe and talke with the Vice-roy and to bee fully resolued either to tarrie or returne from whence they came but were not permitted In this order they remayned in the Citie certayne dayes and for to conclude either to stay there or depart the Kingdome they were resolute and determined to write a Letter vnto the the Vice-roy They could finde none that would write this letter for them although they would haue payed them very well for their paines Till in the end by great request and prayings the Captayne Omoncon did write it for them and straight-wayes departed vnto the Citie of Ampin that was not farre off to put away the suspition they might conceiue that hee did write the letter if that peraduenture the Vice-roy would take it in ill part Their letter being written they found great difficultie in sending the same for that there was none that would carrie it neither would they consent that our men should enter into the Palace to deliuer it But in conclusion what with requests and gifts they perswaded their Captayne of their guard to carrie it who did deliuer the same vnto the Vice-roy in name of
great care and discretion and appeased the Admirall or Hai-tao which hath the command of Strangers who hereby had an opinion of his vertue and delighted to see him studious of the China bookes He therefore permitted him to stand at his side when others kneeled and freed him also from the going aboard at night and allowed him a place in the Palace where the Ambassadours of the King of Siam were vsually entertayned bringing their present or tribute such as you haue heard in Goez to the King There hee studied night and day the China bookes and on Sundayes and Holy-dayes the Portugals came thither to him to Masse and to receiue the Sacraments This continued whiles they continued for when the Mart ended hee was commanded to returne with them The Father procured acquaintance also with the chiefe Captayne of the Souldiers of that Prouince the Chinois call him Zumpim to whom hee gaue a watch By this meanes many of those which came to Amacao began to shake off their Ethnike darknesse and the deuout Portugals erected a House for the Catechumeni new Conuerts to bee instructed in Christian mysteries before Baptisme where hee instructed them and more freely followed his China studies by helpe of Interpreters One businesse hindred another and his Marts absence which tooke vp neere halfe the yeere this Catechising and a tongue is hardly learned by studie without vse and therefore the Visitor sent for Matthew Ricius out of India which had come out of Europe with Ruggerius and now had finished his Diuinitie course at Goa to bee his yoake fellow one to whom the China expedition is most indebted Anno 1582. Valignanus the Visitor carryed certayne Iaponian Princes sent to Rome to yeeld subiection to the Pope in the name of those Kings which sent them as you shall heare He staying for the Monson at the Colledge of Amacao tooke great paines to aduance the China businesse And to that purpose hee instituted the Fraternitie or fellowship of Iesus in our House with lawes fitting to New Conuerts forbidding any Portugals to bee therein admitted but onely Chinois and Iaponians and those which were newly conuerted of other Nations alway to bee gouerned by one of those Fathers which should bee assigned to the China Expedition called The Father of the new Conuerts taking care not onely of their saluation but their other affaires and pouerty The Vice-roy of Canton Prouince is one of the chiefe Vice-royes because his Prouince is farre from Pequin and coasting on the Sea infested therefore with often Piracies especially Iaponian Hereupon the Canton Vice-roy exerciseth iurisdiction also in the adioyning Prouince Quamsi if occasion require to leuie more Souldiers although Quamsi hath also a Vice-roy of her owne For this cause the Canton Vice-roy resideth not at Canton but at Sciauquin a Citie bordering on both Prouinces At this time Cinsui borne in the Prouince of Fuquien was Vice-roy a couetous man who to get money of the Amacaons sent thither his Writ for the Bishop and Captaine to come to his Court vnderstanding that they commanded all there They thought it not agreeing to the Portugall honour to goe nor to their safety to neglect his summons and therefore by Valignanus his aduise Ruggerius was sent in the name of the Bishop to see if hee could get a perpetuall Station in that Kingdome and Penella the Auditor in place of the Captaine And to obtaine his fauour that he should not disturbe their merchandising a Present was sent him at publike charge of such things as the Chinois most regard as waued garments of silke Damaske which the Chinois then knew not how to make Crystall Glasses and other things valued at 1000. Duckets The Vice-roy receiued them in great pompe more to terrifie then honour them but at the sight of the Presents the scope of his purpose hee became gentle and courteous and decreed that they might liue in his Port in manner as hitherto they had done obeying the Lawes of the China Magistrates which words seeme formall the Portugals liuing there after their owne Lawes and other Nations yea the Chinois themselues which are Christians in habite and religion being subiect to them The other Chinois are subiect to common Officers sent thither from Canton The Vice-roy would haue nothing but hee would pay for it which hee did because bribes and gifts are there seuerely punished but priuily hee sent to them that money was giuen them to procure him as many other like Ruggerius desired that which he came for saying he learned the China Tongue and read their Bookes which he seemed much to like and gaue him hopes at his next returne to obtayne it And hauing giuen them weight of Siluer with prouision great attendance of Magistrates and Souldiers much Musicke of Hoybuckes and other Instruments hee sent them pompously thorow the publike streets of the Citie to their shipping So weighty is hope of gaine In August had comne as they vse Portugall ships to Amacao in them of our Society not a few and amongst others Father Matthew Ricius wâo brought with him an artificiall Watch from the Prouinciall for the aduancing this China businesse About that time the Captaine of Amacao hauing made readie those things which the Vice-roy prescribed sent backe the Auditor to Sciauquin but Ruggerius vnseasonably or seasonably rather as the euent manifested fell sicke yet sent word to the Vice-roy that he could not come to him as he had promised and withall that he had a Clocke-watch which did without any striker sound the houres a thing euen still of much wonder to the Chinois Hearing of his sicknesse hee seemed sorrowfull but this Watch awaked him and caused him to make his Secretarie presently write a Licence for the Father to come to him with that admirable worke as soone as he should bee able When this Charter was read at Amacao it contayned more for the Fathers were inuited by publike Authoritie to erect a publike and priuate house in that Citie which caused great ioy But the Visitor was afraid as yet to send Ruggerius as not furnished fully for that designe the beginning of a thing being the greatest part The other Iesuites perswaded and Father Francis Pasius bound for Iapon a man well qualified for gouerning was sent and Ruggerius adioyning his Colleague Ricius was made Gouernour of the Colledge of the Catechumeni and appointed to follow the other two if occasion serued And if the businesse proceeded not Pasius was to proceed to Iapon and the other two to attend better opportunitie in their China businesse Those two Iesuites went to Sciauquin and offered their Watch with a triangle Glasse presenting variety of colours a thing admired of the Chinois as a precious Iewell both which were exceeding welcome to the Vice-roy who assigned them a conuenient station in a Suburbian Temple called Thien-min-zu whither he often sent them diuers viands and often admitted them in
Edict set vp by Co the new Vice-roy blaming the China Interpreters which had put into the heads of Stranger-priests to learne the China language and Characters and to desire some place for to erect a sacred and priuate house threatning those interpreters if they persisted In this dispayre of proceeding they had not beene a weeke gone when from Sciauquin the seate of the Vice-roy one of his guard came to Amacao and brought the Ci-fu so they call the Gouernour of that Prouince his Letters Patents by the Vice-royes authoritie inuiting the Fathers to Sciauquin there to receiue a piece of ground for a Church and dwelling house The cause hereof was an offer made by the Fathers when they were sent away from Sciauchin by the deposed Vice-roy to Canton of a summe of money to any which should procure of the New Vice-roy license for their returne One of the meanest Souldiers in name of Interpreter to the Societie had put vp a Petition to the Vice-roy who sent it to the Gouernour of the Region called Guam-puon of Cequion Prouince to bee dispatched who gaue the former Letters Patents to the Souldier which brought them himselfe to Macao They with great ioy as seeing the Diuine hand herein made ready for the iourney which the former expenses and late Ship-wrackes especially of the Iapon Ship in the I le Leuquiceo which alone hath most of the wealth of the Citie in it made difficult but Gaspar Viegas charitably bestowed the expense seconded also by others Thus full of hope they set sayle and in Canton both now and when before they were dismissed from Sciauquin they found Spaniards Then a Ship which from the Philippinas was bound for New Spaine was wracked at the I le Nan-tau on the Canton coast the men which escaped were kept in durance And now seuen or eight Franciscan Friars which had gone from the same Philippinas for Cauchinchina hearing the King was become a Christian and in their returne were wracked on the I le Hainan and taken and spoyled and presented to the Magistrates for Pirats whose libertie these Iesuites procured promising all recompence at Amacao Hence they had set foorth in the beginning of September 1583. and in the same moneth came to Sciauquin in that Souldiers companie by whom they were conueyed to the Gouernours Palace and kneeling before him made request as in the Souldiers mentioned Petition had beene contayned and were kindly answered that they should goe about the Citie and spye out some conuenient place for their purpose which hee doubted not to procure of the Vice-roy for them At the same time at Sciauquin they were erecting by the common charge of the Eleuen Cities of that Iurisdiction a Tower whereof one floore was now raysed to which they intended to adde nine others aboue it in a pleasant place by the Riuers side a myle and more from the Citie the Suburbes continuing further then it In the same place they set foorth a Temple and therein erected a Statue to the Gouernour whose sixe yeeres gouernment had well deserued of the learned and of the vulgar A piece of that field in which the flourishing Tower so they called it was building they desired which hee liked well and promised to further them with the Vice-roy The Iesuites at their former departure had left an Altar with one Ciu Nico who had placed the same in a conuenient place for want of Images inscribing aboue it Thien Chu in Cubicall letters that is To the Lord of Heauen Hee made also thereunto diuers Incenses and at set times yeelded diuine honors before it which much reioyced the Fathers seeing that there was one found which inuoked the true God And this man gaue them entertaynment till they had receiued the Vice-royes answer appâouing their request and the next day the Gouernour set foorth a plot of ground for them with straight caution to obserue the Lawes of China and to admit no Strangers companions to dwell with them which they promised Much was the concourse and admiration of people much the wonder at their triangle Glasse the Image of our Ladie a wrought Handkerchiffe with which they presented the Gouernour but hee returned all afterward fearefull of Bribe-imputation Much trouble arose about that place and another was assigned them where they began to build and were forced to pawne their precious triangle Glasse to fit it for their vse they obtayned also an ample Charter from the Vice-roy and two Patents from the Gouernour which protected them from wrongs In these beginnings they made little mention of the Gospell but imployed their spare time in learning the Language and Characters by a Holy life seeking to insinuate themselues into the peoples good liking Their habite was like the modestest of the Chinois a long Gowne with large sleeues Their house had two Cells and betwixt them a Hall with an Altar in the midst on which they set the Image of the Blessed Virgin carrying her Sonne They called their God Thien-cui Lord of Heauen for the Chinois want the D. which caused that they could not giue any name more fit and this name continueth to this day although they vse others also as Highest Ruler of all First beginning of all and the like The blessed Virgin is called the Great Mother of God This Image on the Altar all which visited them both Magistrates Students Priests and common people did religiously worship kneeling and after their rite knocking lightly the ground with their fore-heads They admired the excellencie of the Picture and colours without ceasing But when it began to bee rumoured that they worshipped a Woman for God they tooke away that Picture and substituted the Image of Christ. After this they painted the ten Commandements in the China language which many approued Some brought them Incense for holy vses and some bestowed their Almes others also Oyle for the Lampe which burned before the Altar and the Fathers commended their Law as agreeing to the light of Nature The first which was Baptised was a poore diseased man cast foorth by his parents whom they instructed and a little before his death baptised The reliefe which they bestowed on him before caused a rumour amongst the vulgar that those Strangers knew by the mans complexion that hee had a precious stone in his head the cause of all that benificence The Chinois much admired the Bookes of which the Fathers had store the artificiall binding gilding cost goodlinesse of the Print and their studiousnesse in the China bookes and receiued with great applause a Booke of Christian learning which they printed Yea the Gouernour after the China rite would needs doe them publike honour which is done by sending a goodly Table with Cubitall letters in praise of them with the Magistrates name and the date inscribed in lesse letters Two of these with great pompe hee sent vnto them the one to bee set ouer the entrance with inscription
Students and some of the Royall bloud of which that Citie hath very great store which were glad of his acquaintance and when he had once mentioned his staying there the Physician was so eager in desire thereof that he feyned that the President Scilan had written to him to procure him residence there because in the former abode he had not his health The Chinois esteeme such lyes to bee wisedome Hee soone got credit amongst them by Mathematicall lectures and instruments and by his artificiall memorie especially For the Chinois aboue all others commit whole bookes to memorie with vnwearyed paynes and in the first yeeres of their studies doe nothing else He repeated the most confused and independant Characters in order yea backwards as well as forward Many desired to learne it and some hee entertayned Physicians being of no great authoritie he sought to insinuate into fauour of the Magistrates but a certayne Student had counselled him to neglect their license and thereupon enquirie being made by the Vice-roy this his friend and landlord very friend-like would needs throw him suddenly out of doores and hee was forced by force to defend himselfe But the Vice-roy hauing receiued a Libell from him testifying who he was greatly reioyced hauing heard of him and when hee came to his Court arose from the Tribunall to meete him would not suffer him to kneele and gaue him good vsage and magnificent Titles inuiting him also to reside there Whose affections were after kindled into a greater flame by his Physicians magnifying his Mathematickes Memoratiue Bookes three square Glasse and other nouelties The Vice-roy would haue him make him a Dyall and teach his Sonnes but for that admirable Glasse hee would by no kinde force accept the gift And whereas time out of minde many of the Royall bloud are there two of them hauing the tytle of Kings Chiengan and Longan sent their principall Seruants or Courtiers to inuite Father Matthew to the Palace which is fitting to Royall Maiestie both for Greatnesse magnificence of Building pleasure of Gardens and other furniture of houshold and attendance Chiengan first inuited and entertayned him attyred with a Royall vesture and Diadem Father Matthew gaue him a Dyall with the Signes of the Zodiacke and a Globe with China characters and other Europaean commodities which hee recompenced with Silkes weight of Siluer and diuers viands Nothing gaue him such content as two Bookes of Iapon paper smooth and hard bound in Europaean manner one contayning Maps and other Mathematicall representations with an explication in their Language the other was a tractate of Friendship wherein Dialogue-wise as Cicero in his Laelius hee bringeth in the King questioning what the men of Europe thought of Friendship and set downe the sentences of Philosophers Doctors and other Authors a worke to this day read there with great applause and admiration Printed in diuers Prouinces Chiengan continued his friendship and left it as a legacie to his Sonne who vsed when the Father visited him to pay the Porters and to giue money to his seruants a token with them of great welcome The Societie also of Learned men grew acquainted with him and the chiefe of them hearing him complayne of multitude of visitors wished him to command his Seruants to say hee was not at home which officious lye he affirming to bee by our Law vnlawfull bred in him and the rest much wonder In the meane while at Xauceo they sustayned abuses and Sebastian Fernandus was vsed ignominiously by the calumnies of their quarrelsome neighbours and sentence of a partiall Iudge which caused two Seruants to bee whipped vnheard and Fernandus to stand as in a Pillorie with his head in a board an ell and halfe square therein a hole fitted for the necke to bee opened and shut so that a man cannot put his hand to his mouth and this forsooth for beating the Bachellors This was written as the cause of his punishment Hee afterwards sought the Iesuites fauour ashamed of his fact inuited them and set vp an Edict for their safetie Fernandus was sent herevpon to Ricius and Cataneus continued alone without any Father till the yeere 1597. and fell sicke then going to Amacao Father Iohn Aroccia was sent in his place hee returned with Father Nicholas Longobard a Sicilian Father Matthew was appointed superiour of the China mission by the Visitor Valignanus without subjection to the Rector of Amacao To him precious watches were sent and Images with other things which might further their China proceedings the Portugals of Amacao continuing their liberalitie herein Father Matthew minding to trie all meanes to peerce to the Court assayed Chiengan in vaine who feared to raise any suspicion of himselfe Hearing therefore that Guan which had as you heard visited the house of Xauceo in his way to Hainan was thence called by the King to Nanquin to bee President of the first Councell called Li Pu that is the Councell of Magistrates in his way at Nancian they visited him with a present in which nothing so pleased him as the trigone Glasse and tooke opportunitie to signifie to him their desire of presenting the King with some Europaean rarities Hee approued thereof and sayd they should not onely goe with him to Nanquin but to Pequin also whither within one moneth of his comming hee was to goe Ricius with Cataneus attend him leauing two of the company at Nancian with two brethren of the company Seb. Fernandus and Emanuel Pererius of China parentage in Amacao who of their God-fathers take vsually both Christian name and Sir-name vsing also their China names in dealing with Chinois They set foorth from Nancian on Midsummer day 1598. and when they were come to Nanquin they found all full of feare by reason of the Iaponian warre in Corai so that none durst giue vs entertaynment grieuous Proclamations hauing lately forbidden to receiue men any way suspicious by occasion of Iaponian Spyes taken Euen the President himselfe feared to bee author in so troublesome time of bringing Strangers and Ricius when he visited him vsed his Gestatorie seate They gaue eight pieces of Gold to a cunning Clerke to write their Petition so deare doe Learned men there prize their labour which when they gaue the Chancellour which sends Petitions from Nanquin to the Kingâ hee would not meddle with it but put it off to the President that hee should carrie them with him to Pequin He being to bee there to gratulate the King at his Birth day in name of the sixe Tribunals or Counsels sent his goods by water and the Iesuites with them but went himselfe by land When this President came to Nanquin other Magistrates visited him with presents after the manner and one the Vice-roy of that Prouince with a Map of Ricius his inuention concealing the name of the Author in a new impression which hee shewed to Ricius who soone knew and challenged his owne
Snowes from the Hills whence they spring By the heate in that Iourney of a moneth and sometimes two moneths the viands which they carrie are often corrupted before they come to Pequin for which cause they coole them with Ice and in all those wayes much Ice is preserued for that purpose and distributed to the passengers and so all things are carryed fresh to the Court. The Eunuches of those Ships sell emptie roomes to the Passengers for their gayne for the Chinois thinke it a glory to send that which goeth to the King in many ships not to giue them their full lading which is also profitable for that sterilitie of Pequin Merchants by these conuenient fraights making nothing to want there where nothing growes Ours hyred a roome in like manner for their ease By reason of the great heat they all fell sicke yet by Gods helpe recouered When they were to passe out of the Riuer in the Prouince of Sciantum they met with a hand-made Riuer which runnes out neere Pequin to the Tower Tiensin Another Riuer from Pequin or rather from Tartaria meetes it and runnes together with it into the Sea or into that Bay betwixt Corai and China after they haue runne together one day In this Tower there was a new Vice-roy extraordinary by reason of that inuasion of Corai from Iapon Hee prouided a huge Fleet for defence of Corai by which meanes that whole Riuer was full of Ships of warre and militarie tumult Ours went thorow the thickest of them without let and at length came to the Port or Banke rather of Pequin which banke is a dayes journey from the walls of Pequin And although by Art they haue made a huge Channell to the walls yet lest it should bee filled with multitude of Ships they suffer none but the Kings burthens to goe that way the others being carryed by Carts Beasts and Porters They came to Pequin on a festiuall day the Eeuen of the Virgins Natiuitie The chiefe Mart Townes in this way were Iamcheu in Nanquin Prouince in thirtie two degrees thirtie minutes Hoaingan in thirtie foure not all so much Sinceu in thirtie foure degrees thirtie minutes In Sciantum Prouince Zinim in thirtie fiue degrees fortie minutes Lincin in thirtie seuen degrees fortie minutes In Pequin Prouince Tiencin in thirtie nine degrees thirtie minutes Pequin in fortie large They are deceiued which eleuate it to fiftie Now from Canton which is two dayes from Amacao are of China furlongs fiue of which make a mile and fifteene a league by Riuer to Nanhiun one thousand one hundred and seuentie Thence to Nancian eleuen hundred and twentie From that to Nanquin one thousand foure hundred and fortie And thence to Pequin three thousand three hundred thirtie fiue in all seuen thousand sixtie fiue which makes of miles one thousand foure hundred and thirteene PEquin is situated in the Northerne border about one hundred miles from the wall against the Tartars Nanquin exceeds it in greatnesse composition of the Streets hugenesse of Buildings and Munitions but Pequin exceedeth it in multitude of Inhabitants and of Magistrates To the South it is compassed with two walls high and strong so broad that twelue Horses may easily runne abrest oin the breadth without hindering one the other They are made of Brickes saue that on the foot it stands all on huge stones the midle of the wall is filled with Earth the height farre xceeds those in Europe To the North is but one wall On these walls by night is kept as vigilant watch as if it were time of warre in the day Eunuches guard the gates or rather exact Tributes which is not done in other Cities The Kings Palace riseth within the inner Southerne wall neere the City gates and extends to the Northerne walls seeming to take vp the whole Citie the rest of the Citie running forth on both sides It is some-what narrower then the Palace of Nanquin but more goodly and glorious that seeming by the Kings absence as a carkasse without soule Few of the Streets are paued with Bricke or Stone so that in Winter dirt and dust in Summer are very offensiue and because it raineth there seldome the ground is all crumbled into dust and if any wind blow it enters euery Roome To preuent which they haue brought in a custome that no man of whatsoeuer ranke goeth on foot or rideth without a Veile or Bonnet hanging to his brest of that subtiltie that he may see and yet the dust not annoy him which also hath another commoditie that he may goe any whither vnseene so freed from innumerable tedious salutations and also he spares attendance and cost For to ride is not magnificent enough with the Chinois and to bee carried in their Seats is costly with Attendants especially and in that time of Warre it fitted with ours to passe vnknowne being Strangers Muletters stood at the Palace and City gates and in euery Street to let Mules themselues also attending the Hirers whether they would in the City which leading the beasts by the bridle in that frequencie made way being also skilfull of the wayes knowing most of the great mens Houses all at a reasonable rate There is a Booke also which truly relateth all the Streets Lanes Regions of the City Porters also with Seats to carrie Men and Horses are euery-where found but dearer then at Nanquin or other places All things are to bee had in abundaace but brought thither and therefore dearer Wood is scarce but supplied with Mine-coles we call them Sea-cole necessary to that Region cold beyond what the Glimate vsually exacteth their Beds are so made with Brick-workes that they by a new kind of Stones admit the heate of those Coles a thing vsuall in all those Northerne Regions These Northerne Chinois are some-what more dull but better Souldiers then the other Here they learned that this Kingdome is Cataio and the King of China the great Can and Pequin Cambalu For the nine Kingdomes of Mangi are those Southerly Prouinces which are vnder the great Riuer Iansuchian and sixe vpon it make vp the fifteene so great that some one of them is as great as all Italy Anno 1608. whiles we write it is fortie yeares since two Turkes or Moores out of Arabia brought to China a Lion a beast seldome here seene by Land which had an Office giuen by the King to them and theirs to keepe the Lion and that they should carry no Tales thence They in conference called this Kingdome great Catay and this City Camhalu the like we heard of others which had comne from Persia. The Chinois also haue heard of that name and still call the Tartars Lu and the North parts Pa and Pe to which Can the Tartarian Title added easily makes Canpalu or Cambalu with others for the Chinois seldome vse B. and Marco Polo comming in with the Tartars called it by their name And at
Letter of Taiso to Ricci hee addeth thus inscribed Thaiso younger Brother which stand at the side to learne doe submit my head to the ground and exhibite honour and reuerence to the elder Brother Master and Father Matthew Ricci a famous Peere and Master of the most choise flowers of the great Law and cast downe my selfe at the feet of his Seat and Chaire The Letter followeth After our departing it being foure yeeres since sight of each other there hath not beene a day in which I haue not set before mine eyes the excellent vertue of your Worship I gaue two yeeres since to Sciauchin my Countreyman a Merchant Letters to your Worship thereby to learne where and what it did I know not whether they haue attayned that to come to your magnificent hands c. When I went from your Worship I said it must goe into the North parts if it would behold the splendour and magnificence of this Kingdome that my Countrey had nothing singular that Nanquin Court was troublesome and mixed of all sorts that Chiansi Prouince was fit onely for dwelling because there were learned men in it of excellent vertue and of a true and solid spirit to receiue the Law This yeere gathering together those things which your Worship taught mee I made a Booke and exhibited it to the Society of learned men of which there was none which did not admire and subscribe saying your Worship was Scingin that is a Saint of these times Those things which I haue added haply may be erroneous and I feare lest they contradict its sounder and higher learning and therefore haue sent my seruant to bring it to your Worship to reade which I most humbly entreat and to correct to approue the trueth to blot out the false to illustrate the obscure writing all in another Booke and sending it by the same seruant in few dayes because I would presently commit it to the Presse that your Worships learning might be knowne thorow the World In these places are of greatest reckoning the Bookes of Hothu Coscui Pequa Queuscieu Thaiquitu and other like which haue written of a Point Line Extremitie and Thicknesse All these learned make of a Line a Circle but according to your Worships teaching of a Line is made the termination of a Circle and a Circle consists therein From which principles the conclusions brought of Thaiquu that is of God doe farre exceed the Commentaries of all our learned men And they are enough to illustrate a thousand obscurities of antiquitie which hitherto haue not beene pierced This one thing afflicts mee that my writing and stile is meane and abiect and most vnfit to illustrate and enlarge the most excellent conceits of its mind Meane while I much long and as it were on tiptoes looke about euery where if haply I may see your face From Suceo the two and twentieth of the fourth Moone and the foure and twentieth of the Raigne of Vanlia Subscribed Thaiso younger Brother againe bends his head to the ground c. Lombard proceedeth in his Letter and sheweth the commodiousnesse of one King which ruleth all of one Mandarine Tongue of the common industrie and cheapnesse of prouisions not as in the pouertie of Iapon where the worke-mens maintenance must come from other parts all fitting to bring in the Gospell There are sayth he almost infinite houses of Bonzi maintayned by the King besides gifts which they receiue of others which yet repose no great confidence in Idols what would these doe if they beleeued to receiue a hundred for one and eternall life Their composition of bodie complexion condition rites no vse of weapons not so much as a Knife carried but by Souldiers in Garrison not in the way or at home their habite long and anciently vsed with their hands alway hidden in their long sleeues except in vse of their fanne which all euen the meanest carrie with them their quarrels if any happen in the vulgar ended in a few boxes or brawles their seemely behauiour equall to the European yea in some things to the Religious there their studiousnesse of learning the onely foundation of dignitie and greatnesse as many Athens there as great Cities each hauing a Schoole or Vniuersitie without mixture of other Regions their politike and morall Rules and Lawes all these might be furtherances to the Gospell Their tenacitie also of their owne customes and jelousie of Strangers might better secure them from Heresies Hee commends also their workes of Piety and Charity Almes Hospitals for poore voluntary chastisements of the bodie to subdue the affections as fastings in which they abstaine from Flesh Fish Milke and Egges but eate other things as oft and as much as they will liberties and gifts by Magistrates to Widowes which contayne themselues from second marriages triall of a mans selfe in all his actions commended in their Bookes especially of those things which other men cannot know and herevpon the liking of a solitary and contemplatiue life in the Countrey and restoring themselues to the first state as they say wherein the Heauen created them for which purpose are congregations of learned men together in Villages addicted to contemplation and fleeing publike Offices as the ancient Fathers had their conferences in woody and mountainous places in which also their women are as forward as the men many of them liuing in Nunneries gouerned by an Abbesse and all China women liue so enclosed as if their owne houses were Cloisters These he commends in them as also that of all vertues they giue the first place to Obedience to Parents as in which consists a mans perfection And that no man may be ignorant of his duty if they cannot reade of which there are but few they haue a short Summe or Catechisme for publishing whereof there is a man appointed at publike charge euery full and change to publish the same in euery street of the City so that on the same day houre a little before Sun-rising the same doctrine is propounded in all the Cities of China and thorow all their streets This is sixe Articles or Principles which are First Obey Father and Mother Secondly reuerence Betters and Elders Thirdly make peace among Neighbors Fourthly teach Children and Nephewes Fifthly let euery man well discharge his office Sixthly commmit no offence that is not to kill steale fornication c. which in manner comprehend the second Table of the Decalogue As for the first Table the Chinois especially the learned are Atheists little regarding Idols whereof their Houses and Temples are full little minding the rewards or punishments of the life to come or the soules immortalitie which yet are easily found in their bookes touching the punishments at least of Holy Pao so they call God in Hell Of rewards of blessednesse there is not such euidence as Thaiso affirmed And although many difficulties happened to ours in the Bonzian habite yet is it now farre otherwise As for Canton Prouince
the Mandarines which come this way aske vs why we stay amongst these Mangines that is Rusticks and Barbarians We must say they leaue the Barke and pierce to the pith and marrow of the Kingdome if we would see the China splendor and politie He writes for Labourers Bookes Images and Pictures for consolation of new Conuerts the Ethnicks worship that of the Virgin and call her Scin mu nian nian that is holy Mother and Queene of Queenes and ends with imploring the patronage and intercession of all the heauenly Quire specially of the blessed Virgin the Apostles the Angels guardians of China to obtaine of the holy Trinitie happy successe to their endeuours c. But wee will returne to our best acquainted in China Ricius whom we left newly arriued at Nanquin The case was now altered at Nanquin they went on foot without impediment to their lodging which was in a huge Monastery called Cinghensu in which is great resort of guests which there hire lodgings being built in the centre of the Citie The Iaponians were now beaten from Corai and Quabacondono was dead which had so terrified that vnwarlike Nation He heard that they had heard of his going to Pequin and that the Corai warre was the frustrating of his designes in that vnseasonable time The President was verie glad of his comming and exhorted him to buy a house there and sends two of his followers to looke out for one Scarsly had he and Chiutaiso gotten home to their lodging when the President followeth to visit them which hee did with the solemnest Rites And when they were set in the Hall the Abbot came to offer them the wonted potion kneeling to all three to the President hee was bound as supreme gouernour of Temples and the President inuited the Father to spend two or three daies in his house to see the Fire-workes which that full Moone the first of the yeere would bee to bee seene which strange deuices of lights that and the following nights which he did and beheld that which without wonder cannot be beholden the Nanquiners herein exceeding as may be thought the whole world When it was reported that the President had visited him all the Maiestie of Magistrates did the like yea some whom he had not visited The President of the Court of Criminall Causes and the President of the Treasury which is the second Tribunall came with rites gifts as also did others yea hee which a little after was the High Colao at Pequin which all vrged him to buy a house and he now went thorow all Streets and Palaces without gainesaying which he knew from a vision hee before had had thereof and procured a house which the President helped to furnish So much admiration and respect had the opinion of Europaean science acquired to him these being to the China wits baits for the Gospels fishing Now first did they heare that the Earth was round for they conceited the Heauen round and the Earth square that the Centre drew all heauie things to it that the Vniuerse was inhabited round that there were Antipodes that the Earths interposition caused the Moones eclipse some saying that the Moon opposite to the Sunne was dazled or amazed others that there was a hole in the Sunne against which the Moone opposed lost her light that the Sunne was greater then the Earth and that the Starres also this was out of measure paradoxicall the like was the soliditie of the Orbes and their number the fixed posture of the Starres the Planets wandrings the eleuation and depression of the Pole according to the various Climates and likewise the inequalitie of the daies without the Tropikes Geographicall Maps in plano and Globes Meridians Parallels Degrees the Line Tropikes Poles Zones Spheres Sun-dialls they had not at all vnderstood with other points of Europaean learning A Doctor of theirs confessed himselfe ashamed For said hee you may thinke of me as wee doe of the Tartars and barbarous out-lawes for you begin where wee end which hee spake of the studie of eloquence which takes vp our childhood their whole life They numbred fiue Elements Metall Wood Fire Water Earth one of which they said was procreated of the other the Aire they did not acknowledge for one because they see it not placing a vacuum or emptinesse where wee place the aire as incredible it was that the fierie Element was the highest and that Comets and Exhalations were there with fired Father Matthew writ a booke of the Elements in their language much applauded and often by them reprinted Diuers became his Schollars one sent from his Master in Hanlin Colledge in Pequin the chiefe place for China learning to be admitted into which is a great dignitie Hee was very wittie and without any Master attained the first booke of Euclide and exacted of Father Matthew Geometricall demonstrations And when hee added some things of Christianitie you need not saith he confute that Idolatrous Sect it is enough to teach the Mathematikes For these Bonzi would also be Philosophers and Mathematicians They said the Sunne hid himselfe by night behinde a Hill called Siumi rooted in the Sea foure and twentie miles deepe And for the eclipses they said that the God Holochan caused that of the Sun couering it with his right hand and that of the Moone with his left Not at Pequin alone but at Nanquin also is a Colledge of China Mathematicians of better building then Astrologicall Science They do nothing but bring their Almanacks to the rules of the ancients when they mis-reckoned they ascribed it to irregularitie of nature not theirs deuising some prodigious euent to follow These at first were afraide that Father Matthew would haue depriued them of their dignitie and freed of that feare they visited him friendly and he them where hee saw a strange sight There is an high Mountaine on the top whereof is an open Plaine or Floore fit to contemplate the Starres In this open space one euery night is appointed to watch and obserue if any Comets or other alterations be in the skie thereof to giue the King notice and what it portends In this place of cast mettall are Mathematicall Instruments admirable for their greatnesse and neatnesse the like whereof wee haue not seene in Europe They haue continued there in all chance and change of weather neere two hundred and fiftie yeeres without damage Of them were foure greater the one a huge Globe distinguished by degrees with Meridians and Parallels as great as three men can fadome it stood on a huge Cube of brasse likewise vpon his Axel-tree in the Cube was a little doore sufficient for it to passe when need was On the vtter superficies was nothing grauen neither Stars nor Regions whereby it appeares that it was either vnfinished or purposely so left that it might serue both for a Celestiall and a Terrestriall Globe The second was a huge
tooke an house in the chiefe situation of this Citie all that which they gaue vs at the Kings cost in that place which was sufficient for our sustentation after wee were gotten out they gaue vs the same allowance in like manner Many Mandarins of this Court heard great fame of vs and of our things and vnderstanding that we were come out of that place bâgan to come in great numbers and concourse with much honour and respect courtesie and presents to visite vs and to enquire diuers things which they desired to know For the fame that went of vs that wee knew all Countries and the things and customes of the World and the materiall and spirituall things of Heauen was great and therefore euery one came to enquire that which hee desired And though our knowledge be but little in comparison of the knowledge which is in our Countrey yet being compared with theirs of China which knoweth nothing of the world saue their owne Kingdome which by a common name thy call The World of God and of the things of Heauen nothing and of other things little it was somewhat and was sufficient to send them home amazed and alwayes with a desire to returne They saw a very faire and great Map of the world which wee brought with vs and we shewed them how bigge the world was which they thought to bee so little that they imagined that there was not so much more in all the same as their Kingdome And they looked one vpon another and sayd wee are not so great as we imagined seeing heere they shew vs that our Kingdome compared with the world is like a grayne of Rice in comparison of a great heape They also thought that there was no other Writing nor no other Bookes in the world but theirs and when they saw ours which at the least they saw in outward appearance to bee much better then their owne they were astonied and put out of their errour doing vs alwayes more and more honour and chiefly they were astonied when wee shewed vnto them certayne things in the Mathematickes which they knew not giuing Clockes to certayne persons which for this end we made of purpose and by these and other meanes and principally by discoursing with them of Morall vertues whereof they write speake and haue many Bookes and of Gods matters there ranne so great a fame that the greatest Mandarins of all this Kingdome which are the greatest persons neât the King sought to conuerse with vs and to seeke our friendship and so many sent vs presents and others came to visite vs with great numbers of people others with much courtesie inuited vs to their houses so that in foure moneths space wee had gotten the greatest Mandarins of Pequin to be our friends and readie to fauour vs is all things And he which at this time particularly doth fauour and honour vs iâ the President of that Audience which hath the charge of vs and at the first approoued vs so that wee remayne Inhabitors of this Citie with all libertie that wee can desire to deale with all such as are willing to heare the things that belong to our holy Law and their saluation And by this good successe our Lord hath made vs forget all that is past And though it bee true that hitherto wee haue gotten no dispatch nor resolution of the King yet wee content our selues in that hee letteth vs stay heere although he neuer grant vs more For albeit by this our Iourney we haue not obtayned all that wee desired yet we hope that this our firme abode heere shall tend greatly to the seruice of our Lord and the good of this Mission They bee commonly of good vnderstandings so that easily they fall into reason and are capable they haue not in the gouernment of this Kingdome any thing that forbiddeth them to follow what Law they list nor any Law nor Obligation which is contrarie to our holy Law They haue none which effectually and with authoritie doth exhort them vnto other Lawes and with-draw them from the truth For the Bonzi which are dedicated for this purpose to Idols are in the common conceit of all men the most base contemptible and worst people in all China whose least care is to exhort them to any thing more then to giue them somewhat and thus they doe not onely not exhort them to follow Idols but also with their bad manner of liuing perswade them as wee haue often heard of men of good iudgement that it is not good to serue them since their Ministers bee such And so in this matter of worshipping of Idols though there be many that worship them and haue many of them and vse their Ministers for their Funerals and other things yet with very small affection and deuotion thereunto we easily make them say that they are naught and that it is not fit to worship them Yet though these things and others which I ãâã doe helpe them with ease to follow the Law of God the counterpois is great and commonly it weigheth downe the ballance on that side For first because the matter of Strangers is so odious in China and the dealing with them so suspicious one sort because they disdayne it as the Princes who albeit they now conceiue better of vs yet to learne of Strangers and to receiue a Law which is not of their owne meanes they hardly perswade themselues others for feare as the base people The second difficultie and perhaps the greatest iâ a naturall obliuion that all this Nation hath of another life and of immortalitie and of saluation or condemnation of the Soule and not onely an obliuion but also an auersion from all these things wherein wee haue likewise found them to differ from all other Nations And it is a thing to be noted that since it is a thing so naturall to Man to reuerence some God either false or true and to feare or loue him and to conceiue or imagine what shall follow after this life Those Chinois which on the other side are of so good capacities in humane things and so wittie therein bee as though they were depriued thereof for they are almost all Atheists not knowing nor worshipping neither false nor true God nor neuer thinking what shall follow after this life And those which a man would thinke are most bound hereunto which are the Learned men are they which haue least knowledge hereof yea rather one of the chiefest things that they commend is not to beleeue any thing that concerneth another life Hell nor Paradise which they wholly place in this life The Bookes which they studie from their Child-hood doe them much hurt which are of certayne Philosophers aboue two thousand yeeres old whom they esteeme little lesse then if they were their God to whom euery yeere they offer Sacrifices of whom they hold so great an opinion that they thinke not that any thing
spoken of the situation and heigth of China I will note for their sakes which would bee glad to learne and also it may serue to mend two notable errours which our newest Maps haue The one is That they make China a third part bigger then it is placing this Citie of Paquin in fifty degrees being in very deed but in forty onely as we saw which twice tooke the heigth thereof with a very good Astrolabe And the limits and end of this Kingdome which are three dayes iourney or lesse distant from this City of Paquin are at the most but two degrees more And so those great walls so famous in our Europe are in two and forty degrees and this is the greatest heigth of the Kingdome of China The second errour is that our Maps make a Kingdome aboue China which they call Catayo whereas indeed it is none other but this selfe same Kingdome of China and the Citie of Cambalu which they put for the head thereof is this Citie of Paquin wherein wee are Wee finde this here to be true very plainely by occasion of certaine newes which lately were spred ouer diuers parts by the way of Mogor which gaue out many things and great matters of Catayo which seemed to be so peculiar and proper to this Kingdome of China that they made vs doubt that it was not a seuerall Kingdome After wee were come to this Citie of Paquin wee met with two Cafilas or Carauans one of Moores of certaine small Kingdomes bordering vpon China another of Turkes with their Turbants of the Countries of Mogâr and of the great Ismael Sophi for with this very name they call him and of other parts which had knowledge by fame of Spaine Italie Venice India and Portugall These Turkes and Moores are wont to come hither euery fiue yeeres by Land in the name of their King to acknowledge and pay Tribute to the King of China for which purpose they counterfeit certaine Letters wherewith they easily deceiue the Chinois which thinke and hold that all the Kings of the World doe acknowledge obedience vnto theirs But the trueth is that they come to vse their trafficke and merchandise and therefore the Chinois admit them willingly howbeit many now doe know that their paying of Tribute is a fayned thing In which their trafficke they speed very well For the King doth maintayne them very plentifully from the time that they come into his Kingdome vntill their departure and they tooke all their Chists of them whereof this yeere they brought a thousand The King tooke of them at an easie price a great part of the merchandise which they brought and afterward hee gaue them rewards The thing of greatest bulke of merchandise are a kinde of stones which themselues call Iasper stones which is white yet somewhat duskish so that it enclineth to grey which seemeth to bee that Iasper which so often times in the holy Scriptures is called Precious stone It commeth in pieces vnhewen but whole like peeble stones which stone for many ornaments the Chinois esteeme much especially the King and they buy euery pound of the best at eightie Duckets and of that which is worse at fiftie or sixtie Duckets whereby they gaine greatly I haue seene these stones of other colours in our Countrey but not of this which the Chinois esteeme When these men come to this Citie of Paquin they put them into a great house which there is for this purpose wherein wee were two moneths and suffer them not to come forth Wee asked these men certaine questions and one was this of Catayo enquiring of them How they called this Kingdome of China in their Countrey They answered Catayo and that in all the Countries of Mogor Persia and other parts it had none other name and that they knew none other Kingdome that was called so Wee asked them how they called this Citie of Paquin They said Cambalu which as I haue said is that which our men set downe for the head Citie of Catayo Whereby it appeareth that there can no doubt bee made but that wee are heere resident in the Countrey which must bee Catayo if there were no fault in the Maps and wee know that there is no such Countrey nor Cities but a few contemptible Moores and Gentiles Wee vnderstood also of their Ciuet or Muske whereof they brought some which is as it were the maw or stomacke of a Beast somewhat bigger then a Cat which they kill to cut away this maw They breed wilde in the field and in a Countrey very neere to China though not of this Kingdome I had read when I departed out of Spaine a Booke which is printed of the things of China which writeth of this Ciuet and of other things which I haue seene with mine eyes it reporteth many errours by halfe informations which hee which wrote it should haue beene better informed in although in many things hee tell the trueth They brought also great store of very good Rhubarbe which heere wee bought of them of the choice at ten Marauedis the pound it is a wilde root like vnto Nauewes whereof they say the fields are full These men say That there is a Sea of sand which our Maps doe place in Arabia neere vnto China which diuideth it from Mogor and other Kingdomes And this should seeme to bee the cause why these Kings which heare great fame of this Kingdome of the greatnesse thereof and of the weakenesse of the people doe not seeke to inuade the same being not very farre off because it would bee very difficult to passe ouer the same sandie Sea with a great Armie The Chinois diuide this Kingdome into thirteene Prouinces and two Courts which are as it were two Prouinces Euery one of them haue their Metropolitane Citie and euery Citie her diuision of so many Townes It is knowne very particularly by Chinish Bookes which are written of this argument how many Cities Townes and places there are in all the Kingdome how many houses euery one hath and commonly what numbers of people what euery Countrey seuerally yeeldeth and how much Tribute it payeth to the King and many other things but I doe not set it downe here because I could not get those Bookes these few dayes past to take a view thereof At some other time God granting mee life I will doe it more at large Onely I say in generall that all the way which wee trauelled wee met with so many Cities Townes and Villages that to beleeue their greatnesse it was necessarie to see them For your Worship will hardly beleeue that wee spent two or three houres in sayling still by the walls of one Citie After which there still followed many Townes and Villages one within sight of another And after this manner all this way continueth euen to Paquin Yea the Villages are very great and full of people and of much trafficke For though wee giue them this
and in such plentie that besides all the Kingdome of China doth furnish it selfe thereof they send forth as many ships ladings as they will For their Apparell though they haue great abundance and cheapnesse yet in goodnesse they may not compare with our Countrey There is much Silke and that very good but they know not how to dresse it They make good Damaskes razed Veluets Taffataes and other sorts but the colours though at the first sight they seeme reasonable are quickly lost and fade away The ordinary apparell of the common people is of blacke cloth made of Cotton or of certayne shags of Silke which are very great farre greater then a flocke which only serue for this purpose and are very warme Persons of Honour weare commonly an outward Garment of Silke which they vse in Visitations and other like Actions And there are many which alwayes goe abroad apparelled in Silke but not in such great number as that Booke setteth downe whereof I made mention before All men euen to the very Souldiers weare their apparell long downe to the in-step of the foot with very broad sleeues open before and fastened to the sides beneath the arme They be so well contented and pleased with their manner of apparell that they think there is none in the World comparable to theirs And in very truth they bee graue and modest and especially those of the Mandarins which differeth from all others sauing the Bonzi which shaue their Beards and Heads All the men and women let their Hayre grow long and the men trusse it vp and wind it on a knot on the top of their crowne They weare certayne Nets on their heads like Coyffes made very cunningly of Horse-hayre and in the Summer time many weare Caps and Hats of the same There are many sorts of Caps or Hats for I know not what their seuerall names are according to the state of euery one The basest sort which the common people vse ordinarily is round Their shooes are of the same stuffe that their Garments are of very commonly of Silke made with many faire borders and knots It is a discourtesie for a man to be seene especially before any man of Worship without a Cap on his head They greatly esteeme for the most part things of our Countrey and they are very deare And some pieces of Silke which the Portugall Merchants brings especially Veluets of three Piles are far more dearer then their owne All woollen cloth is much esteemed and very deare likewise Chamblets and fine Linnen-cloth which they bring from India are very deare Looking-glasses and all things made of Glasse and many other things which in our Countrey are very good cheape are here deare and in great estimation The Chineses haue commonly little Beards small Eyes and Noses and all of them haue black Eyes so that they much maruelled at the colour of mine which are of Gray or Iron colour which they neuer saw and they find many secrets in them and very commonly they say that these eyes of mine know where stones and precious things are with a thousand other Mysteries so that they thinke they haue Letters in them To paint an euil-fauoured man they paint him in short apparell with a great Beard Eyes and Nose They are commonly all white yet not so white as those of Europe and therefore to them we seeme very white The Learned men are very graue of very good capacitie and appeare outwardly very modest and graue There are Arificers of all Arts that are in our Countrey and very many with the selfe-same manner forme of Instruments Euery man is free to follow what Trade he will without being bound to follow his Fathers Trades as diuers times I haue heard it spoken when I was in Europe and those which will may study forsake or change that course of life They worke very good cheape but in cunning and excellencie ours most commonly excell them much though in some things they be very skilfull The seruice of young men and maydes is easie and good cheape because there is great store of people so that a yeares wages is not aboue two Duckets and meate and drinke without apparell As there are many poore people that haue many Sonnes and Daughters it is a very ordinary thing to sell them and this the cheapest thing in China For a youth of twelue or fifteene yeares without any naturall blemish will cost not past twelue or fifteene Rials of Plate and in time of Dearth much lesse and it is a common thing to buy them for seruice though they vse them well and marry them at their time Although the abundance and riches of this Kingdome be very great as the people also is yet there is no body that is very rich neyther in any state of people may they compare in this point with our Countrey You shall not find in China which is able to spend twenty thousand Duckets of Rent how neere of Kinne soeuer he be to the King and very few and those easie to bee numbred that can spend ten thousand Duckets and the ordinary is no more which they possesse then that which their Lands and Offices yeeld them which is not great But though it bee true that those of our Countrey possesse much more Siluer considering the cheapnesse of things in their Countrey all commeth to one account There are very few of the poore people idle because all of them commonly take paines and earne their liuing Though the multitude of the Nation be so many and the Kingdome so great yet the surnames of all the Kingdome are not aboue three hundred and all of one syllable There are some though very few which may be called Knights which for seruice to the Kings in some necessities haue giuen them Offices in succession but the common vse is not to haue any Nobilitie by Descent in China neyther can any man say I am of a better House then you But the honour and Nobilitie dependeth wholly vpon Learning and to obtayne degrees and Offices of Mandarins And therefore an House which now is in Office and his Father bee one if he haue a Sonne a Doctor which is made a Mandarin he is honourable and the honour continueth as long as the Learned men and Mandarins doe liue There is no man neyther Kinsman nor not Kinsman of the King which hath euer a Village of his owne that payeth him Tribute but all men pay it to the King and hee giueth stipends and wages to the Mandarins so that they receiue nothing of particular men by right though they extort much continually by oppression Commonly the Chinois doe marry from fifteene to eighteene and twentie yeares and all of them doe marrie one Wife that is chiefe and this is their lawfull Marriage On the day of their Marriage when the Bride doth passe to the House of her Husband shee carrieth openly before her through the streets all
is to buffet one another to pull them by the hayre of the head and to draw them by the coller and in two words to become friends againe Our men make no great matter of giuing buffets and such like for they kill one another The Chinois are greatly giuen to Learning and studie for all their honour and riches dependeth thereupon They haue aboue fortie thousand sundry Letters though many of them bee made one of another They haue no A B C nor any thing like thereunto as among vs. But to signifie euerie thing they haue one Letter and all diuerse Their words are of one syllable and no more though their Letters bee so many Those which are commonly vsed euery day are eight or ten thousand They begin to learne to write and reade commonly when they be seuen yeeres old they write with Pensils They haue many little Bookes which encourage Children to studie exhorting them to take paines with the reward that they shall grow to bee Mandarines They know not nor studie any Science neither Mathematickes nor Philosophie nor any such thing but onely Rhetoricke for all the substance of their knowledge and fame of Learned men consisteth in nothing else but to know how to make a very elegant Discourse and Oration vpon a theame like as in our Europe the Oratours vsed anciently And as the Chinois haue good wits and by hope of reward are verie appliable hereunto they doe it with great excellencie and occupie themselues with nothing else and haue no other knowledge to distract them from it Euery Doctor after hee hath obtained his degree setteth vp in his Countrey before the doores of his House a Title of verie great letters which saith This is the House of a Doctor which all men haue in regard And before the doore they set vp many high Poles like masts which euerie Mandarin of that Citie where hee dwelleth sendeth him with a Banner hanged vp and alwaies they remaine there They make a verie excellent Arch triumphall to him that hath the first degree at the gate of his House The Chinois esteeme more then we doe the skill to bee able to write well and Print euerie yeere a great number of Bookes whereof there is no examination nor choise and euerie man Printeth what hee list good or bad and so they make a booke of nothing The best which come foorth are of no Science for as I haue said they know none but they are onely of Morall sentences to the aduancement of good Customes and Gouernment Their manner of Printing is not like ours for they joyne not their Letters but for euerie leafe they make a table which hath letters on both sides it would seeme to bee very hard but with the custome which they haue gotten they doe it with great ease speed and cheapenesse I will send you some Booke well printed that your Worship may see it They also print Letters in white I say white letters and the ground blacke And though in the former they come not neare vs yet in this they goe far beyond vs. They vsually print these letters in Stones and the letters stand not in the Stone vpward to touch the Paper directly but in the paper and the stone they stand all one way and this is the order whereby they doe this They wet the Paper and laying it vpon the toppe of the Stone they gently beate it with some verie gentle thing wherby the Paper which lyeth vpon the Stone sinketh into the hollownesse of the Letter and resteth lower then the other then with a kind of Inke which they haue for this purpose they finely lay it ouer whereby the Letters remaine white because they bee deeper and the rest remaineth blacke I send you with this Letter certaine papers thereof that your Worship may reioyce in beholding the excellencie wherewith it is done One of our Bookes of equall volume with one of theirs containeth much more for our letter is lesser then theirs Though in China it be harder to learne to reade and write then in our Country yet there be few but know ordinarie Letters to deale betweene man and man Likewise they make great account of Poetrie and also the grauer sort giue themselues much vnto it It is verie ordinarie with them to send vs some Poâsie in praise of vs when wee enter into friendship with any Also they make much account of Paintings and playing vpon Instruments And albeit they know but little in the first because they haue no Art nor paint the things with shadowes and know not how to paint in Oile yet in the second they are verie readie on their Instruments and play grauely and leasurely I heard certaine sorts of Musicke especially in the Palace of the King to welcome me the Eunuches his Musicians played vnto me awhile and they pleased me although in this little it seemeth vnto me they may compare with our Countrey yet it is certaine that they thinke they doe farre excell vs. They haue not aboue one kinde of Instrument which the grauer sort vse and make much account of which is like vnto our Harpe although the fashion and manner of playing vpon it differeth from ours and from all our other Instruments As in China there is no sort of people more honourable then the Learned men and Doctors so there is no people of better condition and of more Honourable and more Noble manner of proceeding And albeit before they were Doctors and Mandarins they were verie poore and base people and many of their Fathers officers of vile Offices as it is verie ordinarie neuerthelesse after they haue obtayned the Degrees they put vpon themselues a more honourable spirit And therefore albeit in China wee indured much trouble at the base peoples hand yet the Mandarins did alwaies vse vs honourably and with much respect especially now for which cause now no man dare trouble vs. And if there bee any which in title are like our Lords Knights and Courtiers they are these There are among them men of much excellencie and sinceritie in their Office which doe seeke the common good And without doubt they make vs wonder that seeing they bee but Gentiles which doe nothing for the zeale of Gods honour nor for his sake they be of such sinceritie which they shewed of late more then at other times in hauing to doe with this wicked vicious and couetous King which they now haue who though hee be so absolute a Lord that with the same libertie and in a manner with the same facilitie hee doth what he list with the greatest Mandarins of his Kingdome as well as with the basest people thereof Yet for all this of late yeeres there were many who with great libertie and courage reprehended his faults by writing which is the manner of speaking most publikely with him that all men might read it And though they might feare some
of Canes of foure or sixe fingers broad and thicke wherewith oftentimes they dye when it is layd on soundly Whipping is as common as it is to whip Children in the Schoole And sometimes for nothing they giue a dozen stripes as well to the Plaintiffe as to the Defendant and therewith they end the Suites and they stay to giue none other sentence but say Giue him twentie stripes Vsually when the Mandarins of any State goe through the streets men goe before them crying or making a noise with Instruments for the people to giue place And in particular Cities when a great Mandarin passeth through the streets all men hide themselues and goe into houses and the Handicrafts-men cease from their worke and that in such sort that I saw once in a Citie in a street of great trafficke a Mandarin appeare and in a moment euery bodie got away euen the very Dogges with exceeding great silence so greatly they bee reuerenced of all men And many carrie Chaines trayling them before them and other Instruments But in the Courts though the Mandarins bee greater the people runne not away they doe no more but giue way that thy may passe In the Courts many Mandarins though they be great ride on Horsebacke and others in Chaires but besides them all goe in Chaires carried on mens shoulders which according to their Offices are two or foure or eight Euery Prouince hath a Visitor which publikely visiteth the same euery yeere and taketh information of the Mandarines There are secret and priuie Visitors Sometime one is sent But it is no vsuall thing and as I haue heard it is long since it was left off I speake this because I alwaies heard when I was in Spaine that the Chinois vsed this manner of Visitation The Visitor onely may giue sentence of death They be not cruell in punishments by death Onely the King vseth some cruell execution and namely this King that now raigneth which is a very wicked man One of them is that which lately hee caused here to bee executed vpon eight men by the great frosts of Winter for no great offence for so cruell a punishment and as they say falsely imputed And this it was Hee caused their neckes to be put through a thicke planke which taketh a great part of the head and they set the plankes to stand vpon Formes so that the man standeth vpon his feet day and night in the middest of the street with men to watch him Hee condemned them to this punishment for three moneths but they died before fifteene dayes with their legs all rotted and burst with standing alwaies on foot I my selfe saw them stand on this fashion which pitied me extremely I neuer saw nor heard of any other cruell punishments though as I haue said often times the Mandarines kill them with whipping which is a very cruell thing The Chinois are very curious in writing of newes which vsually they set out in Print and in a very short space disperse them through all the Prouinces There are alwaies Bookes wherein all the Mandarines of the Kingdome are written as well their names as their Countries And because they be changed euery foot from one place to another they blot out and put in the names as soone as they know them with great facilitie One thing among the rest is wherein they bee very dutifull and prolixe in their manifold courtesies which are of many sorts according to the estate of him with whom they haue to doe The vsuall fashion is when they visite one another the stranger is set on the most honourable hand which in some places is the right hand and in the Northerne Prouinces the left and putting one hand in the sleeue of the contrarie arme which is very long and wide they lift vp their hands so fastned together then bending their head and body downe to the ground saying Zin zin which is of no signification but an interiection of vrbanitie their bowing veneration they call Zo ye they change places to repay courtesies After this the Guest sitteth downe in the Chaire of the Master of the house and the Master of the house another besides that which the Guest hath and each of them setteth them in their due place which is the strangers Chaire in the highest place distant from the wall and the Chaire of the Master of the house is set in the midst of the lowest place one ouer against another After this when they haue ended their salutations they straightway cause a drinke to be brought which they call Cha which is water boyled with a certaine herbe which they much esteeme for this is a want of ciuilitie and courtesie and at the least they must drinke of it twice or thrice He bringeth forth some Fruit or Sweet-meat and a Spoone to take it vp If the Guest stay any time straight without faile they will bring out some thing to eate but with some preparation answerable to the occasion and person whereon they eate very little vnlesse it be at the ordinary houres of feeding and then they eate somwhat more When they visite one another vnlesse they be very great friends and familiars a Boy goeth alway before which carrieth a Libell or Booke of visitation which they call Paytre which is as much as A Paper of visitation And this name neuer faileth for alwaies they vse it wherein his name with modest epithets as many perhaps as Visitors are written according as the quality is of them that visite and those that are visited so is the manner most different whereafter they write the same to wit with more humility either as our better or as an equall or as an inferiour as a scholer or as a master for as the relations are many and particular so the fashions and manners which they vse are diuers Of these things and of all that hereafter I shall say touching this point I will send you the examples in their owne papers of visitations which great Mandarins and ordinary men brought vnto vs setting down in our tongue vpon euery letter the declaration thereof And I doubt not but your Worship our most deare Fathers and Brethren and as many others as shall see the same will reioyce thereat And when that Paper is brought they carrie newes into the house to him that is visited which prepareth himselfe to receiue his Guest which commeth within a while after When they be not people which they see euery day they vse not ordinary apparell in their visitations but they haue garments proper for this purpose of a farre different fashion And if by chance one come so apparelled and another be not he sayth that he durst not salute him nor receiue him before he had put on his apparell so he getteth him away in great haste to put on his apparell and then they begin to performe their complements When the Guest departeth hee alwaies goeth before and at their going out of
wee all thinke it necessarie to eate after this fashion and to vse their customes to obtayne more free accesse vnto them and to winne them to Christ. There is a Turke heere a dweller in this Citie which aboue fortie yeeres agoe brought one or two Lions to the Father of this King who partly because hee knoweth no Learning nor Sciences and partly because hee sought not to apply himselfe to the habite customes and manner of China there is none that will deale with him nor come neere his house And through the grace which God hath giuen vs and because they see vs apply our selues to their Apparell Fashion and Courtesies all the grauest Mandarins come home to our house to visite vs and doe vs the fauour to hold vs publikely for their Friends which they vse not to doe to their owne Countrey-men of our qualitie and condition praysed bee our Lord alwayes Amen I will not omit to declare the great pleasure wherewith these learned Chinois heare the great consent of the things and ceremonies of our holy Faith in Europe and that wee haue Bishops and as we call them heere Mandarins and superiours in Spirituall things and aboue all they reioyce exceedingly to heare of our Pope that being so great a personage they preferre a Learned and Holy man by way of Election and not by Succession and likewise the obedience and subjection which other Kings doe yeeld vnto him and that there haue beene many as wee told them who being chosen Popes refuse it in good earnest and by no meanes will accept the same and that we haue all things which concerne the Law of God and good manners set downe in writing with all other Bookes concerning him or his Ministers And although that which I haue spoken hitherto of our high Priest is a thing very apparent and true and wee deliuered it for such and they so vnderstand it yet oftentimes they haue giuen vs occasions of laughter The first was That when wee told them that some refused so great an Office straight-way they aske where you say that they refuse it is it not euident that their excuse will not bee accepted As who should say if they would accept of it who is there that would make an excuse And thus they say because they doe so themselues for when great Offices are bestowed vpon them eftsoone they offer vp a Petition making a thousand excuses to the King not to receiue them and they desiâe nothing lesse neither can any thing happen so grieuous vnto them as to accept their excuse But vsually they be not admitted though sometimes they bee to their great griefe of heart as I my selfe haue seene But to excuse themselues or to refuse with some danger is the vse so common that they will not fayle to doe so for if they should not doe so it were more certayne that they should goe without the Office The second thing that made vs more to laugh is that many of them tell vs that if wee would returne into our Countrey without doubt they would make vs Popes The reason though not openly which they yeeld is that wee haue a great aduantage aboue other men of our Countrey to wit that wee haue seene and studied and vnderstand their Bookes because that they onely in their opinion can make a man perfect and generally seene in all things Such is the high conceit and reputation which they hold of their Bookes §. VII Of their Women Of the Tartars Conquest Acts and Expulsion The greatnesse of the King and neighbouring States Of the Queenes Eunuches I Will conclude this Letter with two points the one concerning the Women whereof I haue little to say and the last is of the King and of his Palaces and Seruices Euery man as I said before may keepe as many Wiues as hee will and so they doe which is the cause of many tumults quarrels and disorders in their houses among their wiues and among the Sonnes of diuers Mothers and therefore when wee tell them that in our Countrey no man marryeth but one Wife they neuer are satisfied in praising it in words though neuerthelesse they doe not follow it nor put it in practise And the discontentment which the Women haue among themselues and with their Husbands for this occasion is like to prooue a great encouragement vnto them to make them desirous to receiue our holy Faith and to perswade their Husbands to embrace the same seeing that it doth not permit any more but one lawfull Wife onely Of their other Conuersation Customes and other things wee know nothing neither is any thing to bee learned for they keepe house all their life time and goe out of doores exceeding seldome to visite either their Mother or Sisters or nearest kinswomen for they goe not to any else no not in thought And therefore as they haue no conuersation but alwayes to keepe home I can speake nothing of their behauiour Their Apparell seemeth vnto mee honest and comely for sometimes I haue seene the Wiues of Officers and of the poore people for many of them doe goe abroad In some parts of the Countrey wee haue met many women vpon the high way in short garments like to the men of our Countrey without any difference saue on their heads and their feete for all the rest is all one kinde of Apparell but these are the common people onely One of the greatest ornaments that the Women haue is to haue verie little feete and they are so little that they goe verie badly and alway they seeme to goe as though they would fall I could not know the cause nor the Chinois themselues know not the originall occasion why this is counted for a beautie albeit some say it began not for a comelinesse but onely with a purpose to cut off all occasion from them of going abroad The Chinois haue beene very carefull in their Histories and therefore they haue histories of their Kings of aboue foure thousand yeeres And if credit bee to be giuen to that which their Bookes report touching those times and is gathered by diuers of their Histories There are many more yeeres from the Flood to our dayes whereof they also haue some knowledge in their Bookes then the most followed and allowed Calculation among vs which trâate of that matter doe allow of for they say it is sixe thousand yeeres at the least They say that they haue continued Histories But I leaue this because I haue not well conferred the truth and foundation of the Chinish histories At the least it is certaine that they haue knowledge of their matters and certaine Kings within a little after the Flood whensoeuer it was They had many ancient Kings which were verie good men which it may bee were saued in the law of Nature because the heroicall workes of Vertue which they report of them were great and there is no record that they worshipped Idols but
some that they worshipped the Lord of Heauen and Earth There were some that sought not to leaue their lawfull Sonnes to bee their Heires because they thought them not fit for Gouernment but choose the wisest and best man that they could finde and left the Kingdome vnto him This Kingdome in old time was diuided into many small Kingdomes vntill by little and little it was vnited It is some foure hundred yeeres as I said before since a Tartar King possessed it whollie and two hundred since a Bonzo or Religious man of China recouered it This Mahumetan Tartar King left some tokens of himselfe in things that he did Hee left in Nanquin certaine Mathematicall instruments of Copper the like whereof for goodnesse peraduenture are not in all Europe at least not better The Chinese Bonzo which expelled him out of the Kingdome was a very valiant and wise man and there bee many Histories of his wisedome and sentencious sayings and iudgement in hard matters and the manner and forme of Gouernment which hee ordayned in this Kingdome which continueth inuiolable doth greatly declare the same Hee made new Offices and gaue new Names to all of them An vsuall thing when one house beginneth to Raigne to change all euen the name of the King as also of all Offices and also of many Cities I omit the diuision of the Gouernment into so many heads and so good distribution that it seemeth and so the Chinois say it is like to continue thousands of yeeres so that no man of the same Kingdome is able nor hath any power to make any Rebellion of importance For those which in former time reuolted were the Vice-royes of the Prouinces and other great Mandarins in whose power were the Gouernment the Souldiers and the treasure But hee diuided it in such sort that those which had power ouer the Souldiers should haue no money at all neither should the pay of the Souldiers depend vpon them and those which keepe the Treasure must haue no superintendencie and dominion ouer the Souldiers Others which were mightie and rich hee impouerished and diuided their Authoritie and Reuenues among many and so there is no man that can call himselfe Great I remember that I had read in a Booke set out in the Spanish tongue of the great power of certayne Captaynes and because the King did not trust them hee sent one of his house to will them to come vnto him All which relation with many other things which hee reporteth of the prouidence of the King how hee diuideth his Authoritie among diuers Princes is not so in truth neither in truth neither is there any apparence thereof neither haue the Captayne 's much authoritie neither are they very rich for though they haue many people yet the gouernment of them is diuided into diuers heads so that they can hardly assemble to raise any Rebellion especially because they remaine alwayes in the Kingdome and neere about the King The Reuenue of this King without doubt is exceeding great and vntill wee haue gotten it out of their Bookes wherein euery thing is set downe very particularly I will not presume to publish the same not as though I knew not that it is so since whilest a man knoweth more of this Kingdome he doubteth lesse Yet because I feare for all this that it will bee hard to make one beleeue the same which knoweth it not of a certainty making the Accounts not very large his Reuenues are one yeare with another an hundred Millions in Siluer Gold Rice and an infinite number of other things although the greatest part is Siluer And he that considereth the greatnesse of the Kingdome and that euery man payeth Tribute to the King of their Persons Lands Trees and other things without carrying any Tribute out of the same that which I speake wil not seeme excessiue But as his Reuenue is very great so his Expenses are many For those which in this Kingdome doe liue at the Kings charge are many to wit all the Mandarins to whom the King giueth Wages all the Souldiers all the Kinsfolkes of the King his Eunuches and an infinite number of people whereby his charges are exceeding great although alwayes there remayneth a good deale for him to lay vp and there is no doubt but hee hath it in store in exceeding great quantitie Many small Kingdomes round about acknowledge the King of China and pay him Tribute as Corea and others whose names I know not on this Northerne part and on the side of Malaca and Macao many others And sometimes on these Northerne parts they trouble him somewhat in robbing and killing of people It may be that your Worship or some bodie else may demand why the King of China being so great subdueth not these small Kingdomes that lye about him to deliuer himselfe of trouble I answere that he wanteth no abilitie but I will say one sure thing a Paradoxe to the people of our Europe which is That neither the Chinois nor their King doe seeke nor dreame of dilating their Empire more then it is And this their resolution is such that although they would giue them all these Kingdomes they would not take them much lesse if they were farther off For they hold it for one of the greatest miseries especially the Mandarins graue sort of people to go out of their Kingdome to any other part There is one of the best Examples hereof that may be giuen which fell out of late and that was that as by the danger which might grow to his Kingdome if the people of Iapon should winne the Kingdome of Corea which is joyned to China by the mayne Land as they began to doe the Chinois ayded the Coreans with many men and the people of Iapon by the death of their King called Quabacondono did wholly abandân it The Kingdome remayned in the power of the Chinois and so continued two or three yeares After which they wholly gaue it ouer without any other greater respect then that there were none that were willing to goe thither to gouerne it nor that the King had any need to annexe it vnto his Estate And without doubt it seemeth that he would doe the like with any other although they would put it into his hands And touching those Kingdomes which pay him Tribute there is no great account made whether they come or no and their continuall comming is more for the profit of those which come then that the King doth desire it And therefore the Philippine Ilands which in former times paid Tribute to the Kings of China were made none account of when they ceased to pay it This King hath one lawfull Wife as other men haue in choice whereof they haue regard to nothing else but to her good qualities and externall beautie for there is no Nobilitie to be sought for Besides her hee hath a great number of Concubines chosen after the same manner
as Beefe here as also that this is the Region Serica or Silken forasmuch as there is no Kingdome of the East where Silke is found in that quantitie and the Portugals ship it thence for Iapon and all India the Spaniards also of the Philippina Ilands fraight their ships therewith for all the American World Moreouer I find in the China Chronicles that this Silke-worke was there two thousand six hundred thirtie six yeares before the Birth of Christ whence it passed to the rest of Asia to our Europe and to Africa But in this varietie nothing seemes so strange to me as that all these names are so strange to them not knowne or once heard of although the change of names be not strange to that Countrey For as often as the Empire passeth from one Family to another according to the vicissitude of humane Affaires He which attayneth the Throne imposeth a name at his pleasure So hath it beene sometimes called Than which signifieth exceedingly large another while Yu that is Rest after that successiuely Hia or Great Sciam Adorned Cheu Perfect Han The Milkie way in Heauen c. And since this Family called Ciu which now holdeth the Souereigntie hath reigned it is called Min which intimateth Splendour and by vsuall addition of one syllable Ta-min that is the Kingdome of Great Splendour Brightnesse or Glory Yet doe few of their Neighbour Nations obserue these changes of Names whereby each of them almost stile it by seuerall appellations Those of Cocin Cauchin-china and the Siamites call it Ciu the Iapanders Than the Tartars Han the Westerne Saracens Catay Also amongst the Chinois themselues besides that arbiârary name so imposed by their Kings it hath some common to all Ages Such are Ciumqââ that is the Kingdome and Chiumhoa which signifieth a Garden a name arising from their Geography beleeuing indeed the roundnesse of the Heauen but a squarenesse of the Earth and their Kingdome in the midst thereof a conceit growne out of conceit now by better instruction of the Iesuits Their King is called Lord of the World and they supposed accordingly that their Kingdome contayned the principall part thereof not deeming the Neighbour Kingdomes worthy to bee called Kingdomes which yet before their Commerce with Europeans were all they knew And not vnworthily is the name Great prefixed to their Kingdomes appellation beeing the greatest Kingdome in the World which at this day carrieth One Name or hath done in former times For Southward it beginneth in the nineteenth degree at the Ile which they call Hainam that is the South-Sea and runneth into the North to the two fortieth euen to those wals which diuide the Chinois from the Tartars The longitude beginneth from the one hundred and twelfth reckoning from the Canaries in the Prouince Yunan and extends East-ward to the Sea in one hundred thirtie two These Dimensions wee haue obserued in diuers places of the Kingdome where we haue passed by Astrolabes and other Mathemâticall Instruments adding also the obseruation of Eclipses in their Almanacks where the Moones Change and Full are iustly described and specially by authoritie of Cosmographicall Plaines Yet if others which shall come after vs shall more exactly obserue the longitude which I dare say will be no great matter I shall not vnwillingly yeeld Hence may be obserued that this ample Kingdome is for the most part within the temperate Zone neither doth it extend so farre North-ward as some Maps haue described by many degrees And lest any should thinke that some great parts of so large a Dominion be desert I will here translate out of a China booke entituled The Description of that Kingdome there printed 1579. that which followeth In the Kingdome of China there are two Prouinces Royall Nanquin the Southerne Court and Pequin the Northerne and thirteene others In these fifteene Prouinces you might call them Kingdomes by another diuision are numbred one hundred fiftie eight Regions or lesse Prouinces called by them Fu the most of which haue twelue or fifteene Cities of reasonable quantitie besides Villages Hamlets Castles and Townes In these Prouinces are two hundred fortie seuen greater Cities called Cheu howbeit sometimes distinguished from other Cities rather in dignitie then largenesse of vulgar Cities which they call Hien 1152. Of men growne to ripe age which pay tribute or poll money to the King were then fiftie and eight millions fiue hundred fiftie thousand 801. In all which the female sexe is not reckoned and of the Masculine are omitted Boyes Youths Eunuchs Souldiers the Royall kindred Magistrates Students and very many others And of the Souldiers although there be a Supine peace except some Tartarian assault sometimes there are maintained in the Kings pay and in perpetuall Armes aboue ten hundred thousand For the three Northern Prouinces are almost halfe in pay In that booke are numbred Kingdomes adioyning to that of China and tributarie to the East three to the West fiftie three to the South fiftie fiue to the North three Yet I obserue that nothing so many doe in these dayes pay tribute and those which doe carry more from China then they bring thither and therefore the Chinois care not much whether they continue loyall or no. To the worth of this Kingdome may bee added the fortification by Nature or Art round about it To the South and East the Sea washeth it and so many Ilands guard it that hardly can a Fleet of Ships approach the Continent To the North steepe praecipices are ioyned together with a continued Tract of 405. leagues and exclude the Tartars assaults To the North-west is a sandy desart of many dayes iourney which prohibite passage of an Armie or minace their burialls The South-west hath great Mountaines and little Kingdomes to preuent feare on that side From this largenesse of Territories proceeds such diuersified varietie of things growing in that Kingdome some in the torrid others in the colder or in the temperate Zones whatsoeuer is required to the necessitie or delicacie of food or raiment being there naturall nothing being here in Europe but either is there or a better supply Wheat Barley Panike and other Corne Rice Pulse in some Prouinces two or three haruests yeerely fruits and Apples of the best Nuts and Almonds excepted Figs and others vnknowne in our world as the Licyas and the Longanas in Canton Prouince onely the Sucusina or China Figge or Apple so called because they may dry it as they do Figs liker to a Peach red without hoarinesse or stone in Oranges Citrous Limons they exceed all places So doe they in goodnesse and varietie of Gardens Herbs as being there much vsed some for religion others for pouertie eating nothing else Flowers haue there taken vp their bowers admirably varied more respected for sight then sent the Art of distilling sweet-waters being there vnheard of In the foure Southerne Prouinces grow Betre or Betele leafe and the tree Arequa or Arequeira so much
fight two yeeres For Mechanicall Arts they are not comparable to our mens Architecture whether yee regard the beautie or continuance of their buildings they not so much as conceiuing or crediting the stately magnificence or long durance of some in these parts They either make no foundation or verie sleight and thinke a mans age to be age enough for a house and that scarcely without reparations their houses being also of Timber and where the walls are Stone they haue Timbers to beare vp the roofe that the wall may easily be repaired or renewed without meddling with the supporters Printing is ancienter there then here some thinke before the Incarnation and most certaine aboue fiue hundred yeeres old much differing from ours because of the multitude of their Characters They graue or cut these Characters in a table of Peare-tree Apple-tree or Zizyphus In this Table they lightly glue on a whole leafe written and then cunningly shaue the drie paper that they make very little transparence after which they cut the wood that onely the prints or lineaments of the Characters are eminent which done with great facilitie and celeritie they print off leaues at pleasure one Printer often 1500. in one day so ready also in cutting that to mee Ours seeme to spend as much time in composing and correcting This course is more accommodated to their great Characters then to ours whose little letters are not easily cut in woodden Tables They haue this commoditie also that keeping these Tables by them they may with little labour adde or take away words or sentences and need not at once print off any more Copies then present vse or sale requireth Wee doe this with Bookes of our Religion or European Sciences printing them at home by our China seruants They haue another way of printing Characters or Pictures printed before in Marble or Wood laying on a leafe of Paper moist and on that a woollen Cloth whereon they beate with a Hammer till the Paper insinuates it selfe into the voide spaces and lineaments of the Characters or Picture after which they lightly colour that leafe with Inke or other colour those delineations onely remayning white and retayning the Prototype-figure But this is for grosser Pourtraitures They are much addicted to pictures but nothing so cunning in painting founding grauing as Europeans They make magnificent Arches with figures of men and beasts and adorne their Temples with Idols and Bells but their Genius otherwise generous and ingenious enough for want of commerce with other Nations is herein rudely artificiall Shadowes and Oyle in picturing are to them vnknowne and their Pictures therefore haue no more life of Art then Nature In Statues themselues seeme Statues for all rules of Symmetry any further then by the eye and yet will be doing in huge indeed Monsters of this kinde in Earth Brasse and Marble Their Bells haue all woodden Hammers which yeeld a woodden sound not comparable to ours nor seeming capable of those of Iron They haue variety and plenty of Musicall Instruments yet want Organs and all that haue Keyes Their Strings are made of raw Silke and know not that any can be made of Guts The Symmetrie of their Instruments is answerable to ours All their Musike is simple and single-toned vtterly ignorant of consort in discord-concord yet much applaud they themselues in their owne Harmonie howsoeuer dissonant to our eares But this pride seemes to grow as vsually it doth from ignorance and it is likely they would preferre ours if they knew it They haue scarcely any Instruments for measuring of that which measures all things Time such as they haue measure by water or fire but very imperfectly as is also their Sun-diall which they know not to fit to differing places They are much addicted to Comedies and therein exceed ours some practising the same in principall Townes others trauelling thorow the Kingdome or roguing if you will being the dregs of the Kingdome buying Boyes whom they frame to this faigning facultie Their Commedies are commonly antient whether Histories or deuices and few new written They are vsed in publike and in priuate Solemnities as also in Feasts whereto being called they offer to the Inuiter a Booke in which to take his choise the Guests looking eating drinking together and sometimes after ten houres feasting they will spend as much succeeding time in a succession of Interludes one after another Their pronunciation is with singing accent and not with the vulgar tone Seales are of great vse with them not onely for Letters but for their Poems also Pictures Bookes and many other things These contayne the name sur-name dignitie and degree neither content they themselues with one but haue many inscribing sometimes the beginning and end of their workes not imprinting them in Waxe or such like substance but onely colour them red The chiefe men haue on the Table a Boxe full of Seales which containe their diuers names for euery Chinese hath many names and those of Wood Marble Iuorie Brasse Crystall Corall and better stones There are many workemen of that Seale-occupation their Characters differing from the vulgar and sauouring of Antiquitie and Learning There is another Art not vnlike of making Inke for all writing made into little Cakes or Balls of the smoke of Oyle For their estimation of exact writing makes the making of Inke also to be holden an Art not illiberall They vse it on a Marble smooth stone with a few drops of water rubbing those Balls and colouring the stone thence taking it with a Pensill of Hares haires wherewith they write Fannes also are in much vse by both Sexes for the causing of winde to coole them in Summer No man may goe abroad without a Fanne although the weather be cold and the winde already bee importunate the vse being rather for ornament then necessitie They are made of Reeds Wood Iuorie Ebonie together with Paper or Silke and a certaine odoriferous Straw in round ouall or square forme The chiefe men vse them of Paper gilded with plaits to be let in or out and therein inscribe some pithie sentence or Poeme These are the most common gifts or presents as Gloues in Europe and we haue a Chist full of them sent vs by our friends In other things the Chinois are liker ours vsing Tables Stooles and Beds which the adioyning Nations doe not but sit on Carpets on the floore to eate or sleepe §. II. Of their Characters and writing downward their studies Ethikes Astrologie Physike Authentike Authors Degrees how taken both Philosophicall and Militarie NOw for their more liberall Arts and Literate-degrees this Kingdome differs from all others in which their Learned beare principall sway The China words are Monosyllables not one otherwise howsoeuer two or three Vowels sometimes are conioyned into one Diphthong to speake after our manner for they haue not Consonants nor Vowels but diuers Characters for so many things and as many of them
cause to bee written in great Cubitall Letters in a huge Table which they expose about the end of the eighth Moone in great concourse of Magistrates and applause of the new Elects Friends and Kindred The Priuiledges and Ornaments of this Degree are more then of the former and if they intend to proceed no further they are hereby capable of very good Magistracies After the Act the Kings Examiners publish a Booke of their proceedings the names of the Graduates and their principall Writings especially his which is as the Elder Brother they call him Quiayuen and whose Theames were best liked The Bachelors of other Prouinces may not here be admitted some only except of the Kings Schoole in Pequin and Nanquin The third Degree is like our Doctorship called Cin-su which is conferred euery third yeare also but onely at Pequin and alway is the next yeare after that Commencement of Licentiates Only three hundred chosen ouâ of the whole Kingdome obtayne it although the Licentiates of euery Prouince are admitted to the Examination This Act is in the second Moone on the same dayes that the former and in like forme sauing that the diligence is greater as for a greater degree and the Colai the chiefe Magistrates of the Kingdome are Examiners The Doctors being pronounced in the same Palace where the Licentiates vse to bee all of them in the Kings Palace before the chiefe Magistrates of the Court yea anciently the King was wont to bee present make a Theame according to the iudgement whereof the order of the Magistracies which they are to beare is declared being distributed in three Rankes Hee that in Examination of Doctors had the first place hath in this second Examination the third place without question but hee which hath the first or second enioyeth a great dignitie during his life besides the greatest Offices in the Common-wealth and might compared with ours bee as a Duke or Marquesse if it were Hereditary These Doctours presently haue their peculiar Vest Cap Bootes and other Ensignes of Magistrates and are preferred to the best Offices such as the Licentiates may not attayne and are as the prime men of the Kingdome Those Licentiates which are rejected from the Doctorship if they meane to proceed no further are preferred to Magistracie but if they list still to stand for that degree they betake themselues home to their Bookes afresh till the third-yeare-examination returnes so that some stand ten times continuing so long priuate to become more publike A Booke is also published of them and of their successe Another is yearely set forth contayning the Names Countrey Parents Offices of all the Doctors and where they gouerne whereby a man may know how any hath risen or descended all his life as is there vsuall after their merits It is remarkable also how the Licentiates and Doctors of the same yeare respect one the other as Brethren euer after and loue the Friends also of their Colleagues and honour their Examiners as Fathers They vse to grant at the same times and places the same Titles in the Moone following to Military Professors but with lesse pompe because Souldierie is of no such reckoning with them and few stand for them This Military tryall is three-fold in the first they shoot nine Arrowes on Horse-backe running in the second they shoot as many at the same maâke standing and hee which hath hit the Marke with foure on Horke-backe and two Arrowes on foot is admitted to the third tryall wherein they haue some Theame of Military matters propounded and the Iudges examining this Triple tryall out of the whole number pronounce about fifty Licentiates in euery Prouince And when the Doctorall Act is at Pequin one hundred of the choice of these after a Triple Examinaâion are made Military Doctors These Doctors are more easily admitted to Military Prefectures but scarcely without Bribes then the Licentiates Both the Philosophicall and Military ouer their doores set vp in great Letters this their new attayned dignity All the Examiners whether of Mathematicall or Military or Philosophicall degrees are of those Philosophers without assistance of any Captaine Mathematician or Physician as if thereby they were inabled to all things §. III. Of the Tartarian Conquest Of HVMVV the Establisher of the present Gouernment The Reuenues Magistrates in the Courts Royall Prouinces Cities Orders Exaltations Visitations Depriuations THe Gouernment of China is Monarchicall In times past there haue beene Lords of Title as are Dukes Marquesses and Earles in Europe but taken away eighteene hundred yeares since It was neuer subdued by any Forreiners before the Tartarian Conquest The Iesuites âhinke that that Conquerour was Tamberlane for the Chinois call him Tiemor and say that he had before subdued Persia and Tartaria Hee whosoeuer hee was conquered all the Chinois and left them to his Posterity till the yeare 1368. At that time the Tartarians growing weaker diuers Captaynes arose in diuers parts of the Kingdome which shooke off that yoke Amongst them all the most famous was of the Family Ciu whom afterwards the Chinois called Humvu a famous Captayne or rather a Floud of Armes He of a common Souldier grew to such greatnesse that hee first expelled the Tartars and then repelled the Rebels thorow all the Kingdome and possessed that Souereigntie which still continueth in his Line For the Crowne there goeth by Inheritance only two or three of the Ancient Kings haue commended it to others their owne Sonnes seeming vnworthy and the people haue by Rebellion sometimes raysed a new Family diuers yet losing their liues rather then acknowledging that Faction this being Prouerbiall in their Philosophie An honest Woman hath but one Husband and a faithfull Seruant but one Lord. There are no ancient Lawes but the first Founder of any Royall family makes new Lawes which his Posteritie are not easily permitted to transgresse So the present Lawes of China are no ancienter then Humvu who either made new or confirmed the old Out of ignorance of other parts of the world they thinke their King Lord of the World and call him Thiencu the Sonne of Heauen or which is all one in their Theologie of God His vsuall title yet is Hoamsi that is supreame Monarch whereas they stile other Kings Guam an inferiour title To preuent Rebellions and Factions Humvu ordayned tâat none of the Royall bloud should intermeddle with Gouernment Those Captaynes which had ayded him in expulsion of the Tartars hee gaue militarie Commands with reuenues and titles to descend to their Heires The Royaâl race hee gaue the titles of Guam as pettie Kings with large reuenues to bee yeerely payed out of the Exchequer and commanded all Magistrates to reuerence them Their Posteritie hee honoured with inferiour Honours and reuenues so much lesse as further from the originall and after certaine generations to haue no more then might well maintayne them without labour The like in Marriages and Titles were prouided for the Royall
some things out of our Philosophers For they hold foure Elements and manifold Worlds and transmigration of Soules and other things Somewhat it seemes to acknowledge the Trinitie fabling of three Gods becomming one it acknowledgeth iust rewards to the good in Heauen to the bad in Hell It extols Single life so as it may seeme to reject Marriage They leaue house and friends and trauell into diuers places Begging The Rites of this prophane Sect haue great affinitie with our Romish Ecclesiasticall the Singings of men saying their seruice may seeme nothing to differ from our Gregorian they haue Images also in their Churches their Priests Garments are altogether like ours which with an Ecclesiasticall terme wee call Pluuialia In their Seruice they often recite the name Tolome which themselues confesse to be ignorant of But they denie eternitie in their Heauen and Hell ascribing a new birth after I know not what reuolutions of time in some other of their conceited Worlds then and there to be penitentially purged with other fooleries They prohibite to eate of liuing creatures but few impose on themselues this abstinence and they finde easie absolution from this and other sinnes if they giue to the Priests who professe to deliuer from Hell by their Prayers or Recitations whom they will This Sect came in at first with great applause as clearely professing the Soules immortalitie but nothing more disgraced it then that that King and these Princes which first embraced it which the Literate often obiect died miserably with violent death and publike losse and misfortune followed By writing of many Bookes they haue entangled it in inextricable Labyrinths The notes of Antiquity appeare in the multitude of their Temples and most of them sumptuous in which huge Monsters of Idols of Brasse Marble Wood and Earth are seene with Steeples adioyned of Stone or Bricke and in them huge Bells and other ornaments of great price The Priests of this Sect are called Osciami they shaue their head and beard against the fashion of the Countrey some trauell as is said some leade a very austere life in Mountaines and Caues but the greatest part which amount to two or three millions liue in Monasteries sustayned with their antiently-giuen Reuenues and Almes and also by their owne industry These Priests are accounted and iustly the most vile and vicious in the whole Kingdome sprung of the basest plebeians sold in their childhood to the elder Osciami and of Slaues made Disciples succeed their Masters in Office and Benefice a course which they haue found for their propagation For few are found which voluntarily by desire of sanctitie doe adioyne themselues to those Monkes Ignorance also and illiberall education makes them liker their Masters few of them learning Letters or ciuill rites and daily growing worse And although they haue no wiues they are much addicted to women and cannot but by grieuous penalties be kept from them The Colledges of the Osciami are diuided into diuers Stations in euery of which is one perpetuall Administrator to whom his seruants or as many as he brings vp succeed They acknowledge no Superior in those Cells but euery one in his owne Station builds as many Lodgings as he can most of all places in the Court which after they let to strangers so that they are rather Innes then Monasteries as full of tumults as empty of deuotion Although they bee of base esteeme yet are they employed to Funerals and other Rites by which wilde beasts and fowles and fishes are set at liberty by the professors of this Sect with opinion of great merit In this our age this Sect hath much reuiued and many Temples are built and repaired by Eunuches Women and the rude vulgar and especially by the Ciaicum or Fasters which all their liues abstayne from Flesh Fish Egges and Milke and worship a multitude of Idols with set prayers at home and are by hire to be called to any other mans Nunnes also obserue the same Monasticall rules being single and shaued they call them Nunnes nothing so many as the Monkes The third Sect is called Lauzu deriued from a Philosopher which liued at the same time with Confutius whom they fable to haue beene carried 80. yeeres in his parents wombe before he was borne and therefore called Lauzu that is the Old Philosopher He left no Bookes of his Opinion nor seemes to haue intended any new Sect but certaine Sectaries called Tausa made him the head of their Sect after his death and wrote diuers elegant Bookes gathered out of diuers Sects These also liue single in their Monasteries and buy disciples base and wicked as the former They weare their haire as the Lay-men differing herein that where they weare their haire tyed on a knot these haue a Cap on the crowne of Wood. Some also are married and say ouer their Holies in their owne houses They say that with other Idols they worship also the Lord of Heauen whom yet they imagine Corporeall and to haue suffered many things They tell that the King of Heauen which now raigneth is called Ciam and he which before ruled was named Leu. This Leu came one day to the Earth riding on a white Dragon and Ciam a Wizard entertayned him with a Feast where whiles Leu was eating Ciam gat vp on the white Dragon and was carried to Heauen and excluded Leu from that soueraignty only he obtayned of this new King that he might rule ouer a certaine Mountaine in his Kingdome where they say he still liueth thus confessing as the Greekes of Ioue themselues to worship an Vsurper and Traitor Besides this Deity of Heauen they acknowledge three others one of which they say Lauzu is hauing some dreame also as the former of the Trinitie They also speake of places of rewards and punishments but differing from the former for they promise a Paradise for soule and body together and haue Images of some in their Temples which haue so gone thither To obtayne this they prescribe certaine exercises of sitting in diuers postures set Prayers Medicines by which the life is lengthned if not made immortall Their Priests exorcise Deuils and driue them out of houses by painting horrible shapes of them in yellow Paper on the walls and making horrible cryes as if themselues were become Deuils They arrogate also to bring downe or to stay Raines and other publike and priuate fortunes most impudent impostors either Lyars or Magicians They assist the Kings sacrifices in those Temples of Heauen and Earth thereby acquiring much authority being Masters of the Musike therein and are called to Funerals to which they goe in precious vestments with diuers musicall Instruments making a pompous-procession showe thorow the streets The like pompes they vse at the streets ends on certaine times hired by the dwellers They haue a Prelate called Ciam which dignity he transmitted to his posterity 1000. yeeres since by hereditary successions and seemeth to haue taken
of Warre 13 The Prouince Cuaâsa hath 12. great Cities 45. small and 51. Townes and Castles it is 260. leagues broad and hath great Houses that pay Tribute 1306390. and men of Warre both Horsemen and Footmen 100100. 14 The Prouince of Vanam hath 14. great Cities and 36. small and 34. Townes and Castles and is 88. leagues broad and hath great Houses that pay Tribute 589296. and 15100. men of Warre 15 The Prouince of Fuguien hath eight great Cities and one principall Citie and 54. Towns and Castles and two great Cities of Garrison to keepe watch vpon the Iapons and is 200. leagues broad and hath 5009532. great Houses that pay Tribute and 4003225. men of the Kings Guard 16 The Prouince of Canton hath 40. great Cities and seuen small and 77. Townes and Castles and a Citie that putteth forth hundreds of ships for the keeping of Cauchin-china and is 380. leagues in breadth and hath 483383. great Houses which pay Tribute and 39400. men of Warre 17 The Prouince of Enam hath seuen great Cities and 13. small and 90. Townes and Castles and is 88. leagues broad and hath 589296. great Houses that pay Tribute and 15100. Souldiers The Spanish Friers of the Philippinas as Mendoza recordeth thus out of the China Bookes relate the names of the Prouinces Paguia Foquiem Olam Sinsay Sisuan Tolanchia Caâsay Oquiam Aucheo Honan Xanton Quicheu Chequean Susuam and Saxij tenne of which are seated on the Sea-coast He also addes that Paguia or Pequin hath forty seuen Cities stiled Fu and one hundred and fiftie others termed Cheu Canton hath thirtie seuen of the one and one hundred and ninetie of the other and so proceedeth with somewhat differing account reckoning in all fiue hundred ninety one Cities entituled Fu and 1593. of the Cheu Cities which he makes Townes whereas the Iesuits haue taught vs that Fu is the Title of a Region or Shire in each Prouince which are sub-diuided into Ceu and Hien those the more these the lesse principall but yet equall to our Cities as before is obserued Againe in a Dialogue printed at Macao in the Confines of China 1590. by the Portugals these Prouinces are thus reckoned Sixe vpon the Sea Coantum Foquien Chequiam Nanquin Xantum Paquin the other nine In-land Prouinces Quiansi Huquam Honam Xiensi Xansi Suchuon Queichen Iunan Coansi Perera reckons them thus Fuquien in which Cinceo is the best knowne City Cantan Chequeam Xutiamfu Chelim Quianci Quicin Quanci Confu Vrnan Sichiua c. all which diuersity proceedeth partly from ignorance partly from different Language and Dialect in the expounding these Characters And it must needs be so the Chinois wanting vse of and Characters to expresse b.d.r. and all their Characters being of things not Letters in proper names is very great difficulty to expresse ours in their Characters or theirs in our Letters insomuch that one Iesuite doth not perfectly agree with another nay often dissents from himselfe as in Ianseu Yamceu Hianceu for their great Riuer which Polo cals Quian and Chi and Ci and Qui I find often confounded in their syllables as also x and sci as Xauchin Sciauchin and the like Yea such is the difficulty that the Iesuits can scarsly deuise to expresse in China Characters the forme of Baptime to put the Latine words thereof into China Characters that Baptisme might vniformely bee administred after the Romish Rite as themselues confesse Touching their Souldiers I thought good to adde this note for their Peeces whose Barels Pantoia sayth are but a span long that Captayne Saris beeing asked told mee hee saw many of them and they were as long as Pistols but the Cocke such as makes them of little seruice I haue added these Pictures of a Man and Woman of China not by ghesse but out of certayne in China Pictures made also in China in very good Colours but with Arte meane enough fine cloth inserted in strong Indian Paper of which Captayne Saris communicated many to me Their little Eyes and Noses long Hayre bound vp in knots womens feete wrapped vp long wide-sleeued Garments Fannes c. I haue taking diuers parts out of diuers presented to thee A taste of the China Characters thou hast in the Title That of Ricius I haue added from the Iesuits in thankes for his great paines and to shew the habit of the head c. The names of the Prouinces I haue hunted out of the Iesuites Iourneyes and other Relations In the most I am sure I am right in the other you haue my coniecture for neyther know we their Characters nor haue any giuen vs a particular Geography or Chorography but only the names of the Prouinces I haue added names also to some Cities and Riuers of principall note As for the truth of the Map I finde well to agree with the Iesuites Iourneyes but it hath not European Art it being neyther graduated nor Hils nor Woods or other differing places presented to the view only hauing Characters Lines Lakes and Riuers I haue aduentured to adde Degrees to helpe such Readers as cannot doe it better themselues following the Iesuits prescripts in generall although I cannot but maruell at that longitude so farre differing from the generall opinion and could almost doubt that herein these Portugals are minding that diuision agreed on betwixt the Spaniards and them which hath anciently caused such contentions and wherein you haue read some Offices of the Iesuits in these China Discourses But I will not contend where themselues speake faintly Now for Quian which Polo hath mentioned as the greatest Riuer in the world it is here called Iansu or Hiansu or Yamsu that is the Sonne of the Sea and Iansuchian and another called Caramoran Cara signifieth blacke and this great Northerne Riuer is alway thicke and troubled and their Marriage by Art is here viewed and more then two hundred Cities one of Polos Wonders communicating their Merchandizes by that Quian or Chian as they now terme it Iansuchian chian signifying the chiefe Riuer For the name Cathay to bee giuen by the Tartars to China Goez his Iourney hath made it out of doubt also that Pequin is Cambalu that is the Citie of the King I doe conceiue that Polos Mangi was the nine Southerne Prouinces of China the Northerly before conquered was knowne by the name of Cathay a name by the Tartars giuen to diuers Countreyes as Cara Catay and Catay Calay and Great Catay This Great Catay is China Polo and other Authors speake of Cathay and Mangi as two perhaps the Tartars so accounting them the one to wit the North parts being formerly subject to them and called by their ancient name the other called Mangi in contempt as the Romanes called the subiect Britaines of this Iland by their former name and the others Picts and Barbarians and as our Ancestors called those Britons which withstood them Walsh or Welch in a kind of disgrace Nay still the Northerne Chinois
call the Southerne Mangines that is rude or barbarous as the Iesuites haue taught vs. But neither Cathay nor Mangi was then the name which they assumed but was giuen them by the Tartars as China is a name vnknowne to them now If any will find no other Cambalu nor Cathay but Pequin and China I will not contend though my Reasons elsewhere giuen out of Polo and Chaggi Memet and others with the former Relations of Pinto and Alhacen make me scrupulous and still to beleeue some greater Prince or Can with his Cambalu or Court in the more Northerly parts of Asia then the Iesuits could learne of which the China iealousie admitting no entercourse of Strangers and the many quarrelling Tartar Princes in the way haue concealed from vs hitherto The great blacke space on the North-west hath in the Originall certayne Characters in it which expresse it whether it intendeth Mountayns which their Art could no better expresse and the Riuers thence running may import or that sandy Desert on the North-west I cannot so well determine The Iesuits say that ab occasu qui Aquiloni vicinior est conterminus visitur arenae sitientis ager qui multorum dierum penuria aduenarum exercitus ab Sinarum Regno aut deterret aut sepelit I rather thinke that it is Cara Catay or Blacke Catay before often mentioned both Mountaynous and Desert and perhaps coloured blackish as the name intimates by black sands or as health grounds with vs it was the first Tartarian Conquest and beginning of the greatest greatnesse which this World hath yeelded the Countrey before of Presbyter Ioannes Asiaticus The wall is in this forme in the original not in the Picture made vp of Mountaynes wherein I thinke they had not art to imitate Nature the Art in the whole Map much resembling our old Maps of wooden prints saue that I see not one Mountaine presented in swelling fashion to the Eye The Ilands are very many with their Characters but poorely delineated their names here omitted for their vncertaynties so little and yet how much more then any other doe wee giue you of China till Time giue vs more The degrees are not so perfectly accommodated to the Map by reason that we must at once follow the Chinian Map which had no degrees nor could their Art without degrees giue euery place his iust longitude or latitude and the Iesuits Rules yet we haue comne somewhat neere as may be seene Other things appeare in the History CHAP. VIII A continuation of the Iesuits Acts and Obseruations in China till RICIVS his death and some yeares after Of Hanceu or Quinsay An Extract of MONâARTS trauell THus hauing with Pantogias eyes taken some view of the Kings Palace and with Ricius of their whole Gouernment I hold it fit not to leaue this China Apostle so Ricius is called till wee haue seene some fruits of his labours vntill and after his death He tels vs that three dayes after they had beene shut vp in the Palace of Strangers as yee haue read they were brought forth into the Kings Palace so performe the wonted Rites to the Kings Throne This is done in a large and glorious Court or Porch where 30000. men might be contayned at the end whereof is a high Chamber vnder which by fiue great doores is a passage to the Kings Lodgings in that Chamber is the Kings Throne where anciently he sate to heare and dispatch businesses and Embassages and to receiue the Rites of Magistrates rendring thankes for their Preferments But in the present solitarinesse of the King those Rites are done to the Empty Throne many there gratulating the King euery day In this Court enuironed with stately Workes 3000. Souldiers watch euery night besides others watching in Towres without a stones cast from one another In each of the fiue Gates is an Elephant which with the Souldiers goe forth when it is day and those are admitted which come to gratulate the King These come in a peculiar Habit of Red with an Iuory Table in their hand to couer their mouth and exhibit their kneelings and bowings to the Throne as they are taught by Officers of Rites or Masters of Ceremonies one crying out to that purpose at the performance of each gesture The Gouernour of Strangers hauing shut them vp first petitioned the King sharply against Mathan the Eunuch and them but seeing no answere he petitioned more gently but would haue them sent from Pequin which the King liked not yet without Petition from the Magistrates would not detayne them The Eunuches also laboured their stay for feare the Clockes should miscarry beyond their skill The Kings Mother hearing of a selfe-striking bell sent for it and the King sent it but to preuent her asking it caused the Wheeles to be loosed so that not seeing the vse she sent it againe When the Rituall Magistrates could get no answere to their Petitions for not touching their stay at Pequin the Praefect sent to Ricius that he would make a Petition to giue him leaue to stay there in pretence of Sicknesse and Physicke which hee did and the other presently answered giuing him libertie to hyre a House continuing also his former allowance with foure seruants to bring it euery fifth day Flesh Salt Rice Wine Hearbs Wood and another seruant in continuall attendance so that now they recouered libertie and credit The Eunuches also told them of the Kings approbation of their stay and they had out of the Treasurie eight Crownes a moneth which their goeth much further then heere and the Captayne of Strangers by open Sentence gaue them full libertie One of the Colai and then the onely became their great friend with his Sonne after some European Presents which hee bountifully rewarded likewise the supreame President of the Court of Magistrates and other of the Grands besides the Eunuches of the Palace and some of the Queenes and Royall family Amongst others was Fumochan a great man who for withstanding the Eunuches capacitie in Vquam Prouince was depriued whipped and three yeeres Imprisoned but by others honored with Temples Odours Images and Bookes in prayse of him as a Saint and the King wearyed by multitude of Petitions for him granted him againe his libertie Also Lingoson a great Magistrate and Mathematician as they accounted became Ricius his Scholler and was baptised Leo borne at Hanceu the chiefe Citie of Cechian of which afterward Yet had Ricius a great enemy of a great Learned man of Hanlin Colledge who in zeale of the Idol-sect had put away his Wife and professed himselfe one of their Votaries or Shauelings drew many Disciples after him and writ many Bookes against the Literate Sect and writ also against Ricius his bookes One of the Kings Admonishârs accused him to the King by Petition and the King rescribing seuerely hee slue himselfe yea the King ordayned that if the Magistrates would become Apostata shauelings they should leaue
account that are naturall and proper to that Countrey as the fish tooth which they call Ribazuba which is vsed both among themselues and the Persians and Bougharians that fetcht it from thence for Beads Kniues and Sword-hafts of Noblemen and Gentlemen and for diuers other vses Some vse the powder of it against poyson as the Vnicornes Horne The fish that weareth it is called a Morse and is caught about Pechora These fish teeth some of them are almost two foot of length and weigh eleuen or twelue pound a-piece In the Prouince of Corelia and about the Riuer Duyna towards the North Sea there groweth a soft Rocke which they call Slude This they cut into pieces and so teare it into thin flakes which naturall it is apt for and so vse it for Glasse-lanthornes and such like It giueth both inwards and outwards a cleerer light then Glasse and for this respect is better then eyther Glasse or Horne for that it neyther breaketh like Glasse nor yet will burne like the Lanthorne Salt-peeter they make in many places as at Ouglites Yaruslaue and Vstug and some small store of Brimstone vpon the Riuer Volgha but want skill to refine it Their Iron is somewhat brittle but a great weight of it is made in Corelia Cargapolââ and Vstug Thelesna Other Myne they haue none growing within the Realme Their beasts of strange kinds are the Losh the Ollen the wilde Horse the Beare the Woluering or wood Dogge the Lyserne the Beauer the Sable the Matron the blacke and dunne Foxe the white Beare towards the Sea coast of Pechora the Gurnstale the Laset or Mineuer They haue a kind of Squirrell that hath growing on the pinion of the shoulder bone a long tuft of haire much like vnto feathers with a far broader tayle then haue any other Squirrels which they moue and shake as they leape from tree to tree much like vnto a wing They skise a large space and seeme for to flie withall and therefore they call them Letach Vechshe that is the flying Squirrels Their Hares and Squirrels in Summer are of the same colour with ours in Winter the Hare changeth her coate into milke white the Squirrell into gray whereof commeth the Calabar They haue fallow Deere the Roe Bucke and Goats very great store Their Horses are but small but very swift and hard they trauell them vnshod both Winter and Summer without all regard of pace Their Sheepe are but small and beare course and harsh wooll Of Fowle they haue diuers of the principall kinds First great store of Hawkes the Eagle the Gerfaulcon the Slightfaulcon the Gos-hawke the Tassell the Sparhawke c. But the principall Hawke that breedeth in the Countrey is counted the Gerfaulcon Of other Fowles their principall kinds are the Swanne tame and wilde whereof they haue great store the Storke the Crane the Tedder of the colour of a Feasant but farre bigger and liueth in the Firre woods Of Feasant and Partridge they haue very great plenty An Owle there is of a very great bignesse more vgly to behold then the Owles of this Countrey with a broad face and eares much like vnto a man For fresh water Fish besides the common sorts as Carpe Pike Pearch Tench Roach c. they haue diuers kinds very good and delicate as the Bellouga or Bellougina of foure or fiue elnes long the Ositrina or Sturgeon the Seueriga and Sterledy somewhat in fashion and taste like to the Sturgeon but not so thicke or long These foure kinds of fish breed in the Volgha and are catched in great plenty and serued thence into the whole Realme for a great food Of the Roes of these foure kinds they make very great store of Icary or Caueary as was said before They haue besides these that breed in the Volgha a fish called the Ribabela or white Salmon which they account more delicate then they doe the red Salmon whereof also they haue exceeding great plenty in the Riuers Northward as in Duyna the Riuer of Cola c. In the Ozera or Lake neere a Towne called Perislaue not farre from the Mosko they haue a small fish which they call the fresh Herring of the fashion and somewhat of the taste of a Sea-herring Their chiefe Townes for fish are Yaruslaue Bealozera Nouogrod Astracan and Cazan which all yeeld a large Custome to the Emperour euery yeere for their trades of fishing which they practise in Summer but send it frozen in the Winter time into all parts of the Realme THe chiefe Cities of Russia are Mosko Nouograd Rostoue Volodomer Plesco Smolensko Iaruslaue Perislaue Nisnouograd Vologda Vstiuck Golmigroe Cazan Astracan Cargapolia Columna The Citie of Mosko is supposed to bee of great antiquitie though the first Founder bee vnknowne to the Russe It seemeth to haue taken the name from the Riuer that runneth on the one side of the Towne Berosus the Chaldean in his fifth Booke telleth that Nimrod whom other profane Stories call Saturne sent Assyrius Medus Moscus and Magog into Asia to plant Colonies there and that Moscus planted both in Asia and Europe Which may make some probality that the Citie or rather the Riuer whereon it is built tooke the denomination from this Moscus the rather because of the climate or situation which is in the very farthest part and list of Europe bordering vpon Asia The Citie was much enlarged by one Euan or Iohn sonne to Daniel that first changed his title of Duke into King though that honour continued not to his posteritie the rather because he was inuested into it by the Popes Legate who at that time was Innocentius the fourth about the yeere 1246. which was very much misliked by the Russe people being then a part of the Eastern or Greeke Church Since that time the name of this Citie hath growne more famous and better knowne to the World insomuch that not only the Prouince but the whole Countrey of Russia is termed by some by the name of Moscouia the Metropolite Citie The forme of this Citie is in a manner round with three strong walls circuling the one within the other and streets lying betweene whereof the inmost wall and the buildings closed within it lying safest as the heart within the bodie fenced and watred with the Riuer Moskua that runneth close by it is all accounted the Emperours Castle The number of houses as I haue heard through the whole Citie being reckoned by the Emperour a little before it was fired by the Chrim was 41500. in all Since the Tartar besieged and fired the Towne which was in the yeere 1571. there lieth waste of it a great bredth of ground which before was well set and planted with buildings specially that part on the South side of Moskua built not long before by Basilius the Emperour for his Garrison of Souldiers to whom he gaââ priuiledge to drinke Mede and Beere at the drie or prohibited times when other Russes
Realme This Tagla and Podat bring in yeerely to the Offices of the Chetfirds a great summe of money as may appeare by the particulars heere set downe The Towne and Prouince of Vobâko pay yeerely for Tagla and Podat about 18000. Rubbels Nouogrod 35000. Rubbels Torshocke and Otfer 8000. Rubbels Razan 30000. Rubbels Morum 12000. Rubbels Colmigroe and Duyna 8000. Rubbels Vologda 12000. Rubbels Cazan 18000. Rubbels Vstiug 30000 Rubbles Rostoue 50000. Rubbels The Citie of Mosko 40000. Rubbels Sibierskoy 20000. Rubbels Castrome 12000. Rubbels The totall amounteth to 400000. Rubbels or Markes a yeere which is brought in yeerely the first of September that is reckoned by them the first day of the yeere The third that is called the Bulsha Prechod or great Income receiueth all the Customes that are gathered out of all the principall Townes and Cities within the whole Realme Besides the fees and other duties which rise out of diuers smaller Offices which are all brought into this Office of Bulsha Prechod The Townes of most trade that doe yeeld greatest Custome are these here set downe Mosko Smolensko Vobsko Nouogrod Velica Strararouse Turshocke Otfer Yaruslaue Castrome Nesua Nouogrod Cazan Vologda This Custome out of the great Townes is therefore more certaine and easie to bee reckoned because it is set and rated precisely what they shall pay for the Custome of the yeere Which needs must bee payd into the said Office though they receiue not so much If it fall out to be more it runneth all into the Emperours aduantage The Custome at Mosko for euery yeere is 12000. Rubbels The Custome of Smolensko 8000. Vobsko 12000. Rubbels Nouogrod vâlica 6000. Rubbels Strararouse by Salt and other commodities 18000. Rubbels Torshock 800. Rubbels Otfer 700. Rubbels Yaruslaue 1200. Rubbels Castrome 1800. Rubbels Nesna Nouogrod 7000. Rubbels Cazan 11000. Rubbels Vologda 2000. Rubbels The Custome of the rest that are Townes of trade is sometimes more sometimes lesse as their trafficke and dealings with commodities to and fro falleth out for the yeere This may bee said for certaine that the three Tables of Receits belonging to this Office of Bulsha Prechod when they receiue least account for thus much vz. The first table 160000. Rubbels The second table 90000. Rubbels The third 70000. Rubbels So that there commeth into the Office of Bulsha Prechod at the least reckoning as appeareth by their Bookes of Customes out of these and other Townes and maketh the summe of 340000. Rubbles a yeere Besides this Custome out of the Townes of trade there is receiued by this Office of Bulsha Prechod the yeerely Rent of the common Bath-stoues and Cabacks or drinking houses which pertayne to the Emperour Which though it be vncertaine for the iust summe yet because it is certaine and an ordinary matter that the Russe will bathe himselfe as well within as without yeeldeth a large Rent to the Emperours Treasurie There is besides a certaine Mulct or Penaltie that groweth to the Emperour out of euery Iudgement or Sentence that passeth in any of his Courts of Record in all Ciuill matters This Penaltie or Mulct is twentie Dingoes or Pence vpon euery Rubbel or Marke and so ten in the hundred Which is payd by the partie that is conuict by Law He hath besides for euery name contayned in the Writs that passe out of these Courts fiue Alteens An Alteenâ is fiue pence sterling or thereabouts This is made good out of the Office whence the Writ is taken forth Thence it goeth to the Office that keepeth the lesser Seale where it payeth as much more to the Emperours vse This riseth commonly to three thousand Rubbels a yeere or thereabouts Farther also out of the Office of Roisbonia where all felonies are tryed is receiued for the Emperour the halfe part of Felons goods the other halfe goeth the one part to the Informer the other to the Officers All this is brought into the Office of Bulsha Prechod or Great income Besides the ouerplus or remainder that is saued out of the Land-rents allotted to diuers other Offices as namely to the Office called Roserade which hath Lands and Rents assigned vnto it to pay the yeerely salaries of the Souldiers or Horsemen that are kept still in pay Which in time of peace when they rest at home not employed in any seruice is commonly cut off and payd them by halfes sometimes not the halfe so that the remainder out of the Roserade Office that is layd into the Emperours treasurie commeth for the most part euery yeere to 250000. Rubbels In like sort though not so much is brought in the surplus out of the Strelletskoy Offices which hath proper Lands for the payment of the Strelsey men or Gunners as well those at Mosko that are of the Emperors Guard 12000. in ordinary as on the borders and other garrison Towns and Castles Likewise out of the Office of Prechase Shisiuoy Nemshây which hath set allowance of Lands to maintayne the forraine mercenary Souldiers as Poles Sweadens Dutches Scots c. So out of the Office of Pusharskoy which hath Lands and Rents allowed for the prouision of munition great Ordnance Powder Shot Saltpeter Brimstone Lead and such like there is left somewhat at the yeeres end that runneth into the Treasurie All these bring into the Office of Bulsha Prechod that which remayneth in their hand at the yeeres end Whence it is deliuered into the Emperours Treasurie So that the whole summe that groweth to this Office of Bulsha Prechod or the great Income as appeareth by the Bookes of the said Office amounteth to 800000. Rubbels a yeere or thereabouts All these Offices to wit the Office of the Steward the foure Chetfirds and the Bulsha Prechod deliuer in their receipts to the head treasurie that lyeth within the Emperours house or Castle at the Mosko Where lye all his Moneys Iewels Crownes Scepters Plate and such like the Chests Hutches and Bags being signed by the Emperours themselues with their owne seale Though at this time the L. Borris Federowich Godonoe his seale and ouer-sight supplieth for the Emperour as in all other things The vnder Officer at this time is one Stepan Vasilowich Godonoe Cousin germane to the said Borris who hath two Clerkes allowed to serue vnder him in the Office The sum that groweth to the Emperors Treasury in money onely for euery yeere 1. Out of the Stewards Office aboue the expence of his house 23000. Rubbels 2. Out of the foure Chetfirds for Soake and Head money 400000. Rubbels 3. Out of the Bulsha Precod Office or great Income for Custome and other Rents 800000. Rubbels Sum 1430000. Rubbels cleere besides all charges for his house and ordinary salleries of his Souldiers otherwise discharged But besides this reuenue that is paid all in money to the Emperors treasurie he receiueth yeerely in Furres and other duties to a great value out of Siberia Pechora Permia and other places which are sold or bartred away for other forraine
from Rustene wee found certaine Relikes of the plankes and ribs of our Skiffe whereby we plainly knew that our companions which were in it were perished and drowned the first night that they departed from vs. The nine and twentieth of May 1432. we arriued with the said Barke at Trondon vpon the Coast of Norway the Princely Seate of the King of Denmarke where the Honourable bodie of glorious Saint Olaus resteth There wee stayed ten dayes to waite for passage and a fit time for our Voyage but not finding it because we would lose no more time wee tooke leaue of our beloued Host his Sonnes and the rest to proceed on our journey by Land The ninth of Iune we departed from Trondon trauelling on foot going towards Vastena a place subject to the King of Denmarke within the Prouince of Sweden where the cheek-bone and part of the bone of the head of Saint Bridget remayneth Being there wee vnderstood by the Venetians that the Inhabitants for the reuerence of their glorious King Saint Olaus vnto whom as they well knew our Signiorie of Venice did great fauour in his going and returning from his Voyage to Hierusalem were disposed with deeds to prouide for vs by their counsell helpe and money And first they aduised vs not to goe the direct way into Dacia by reason of the dangers of wilde beasts which might befall vs but to addresse our selues to goe directly to Stichimborgi to find out a valiant Venetian Knight called M. Giouan Francho from whom wee should receue fauour and helpe in plentifull manner for loue of our Countrey although the way were thirtie dayes iourney quite contrary to our direct way On the eighteenth day we came to the Court of the said Cauallier M. Giouan Francho an Honourable Baron and highly esteemed of the Crowne of Dacia where with great joy we found our two straggling companions The valorous Knight being now informed of our comming with a cheereful conntenance declared well vnto vs how great the loue of his Countrey was and especially knowing the calamitie and penurie of vs his Countrey-men and being easily able to releeue it And therefore he could not sufficiently satisfie himselfe in honouring clothing and feeding vs but gaue vs money for our necessities and furnishing vs afterward with good Horses in his owne proper person together with his only Sonne M. Mapheo with an hundred and twentie Horses of his owne Seruants he accompanied vs many dayes journeyes through his Territories trauelling alwayes at his owne charge Afterward vpon his limits and bounds wee tooke our leaue to depart thanking him with the most reuerent and kind speeches that possibly we could Whereupon he being departed left vs for our Guide his said sonne M. Mapheo with twentie seruants on Horse-backe who kept vs company vnto Vastena the place from whence about fortie dayes before we had departed vnto the which place for the auoyding of two monethes trauell wee were faine to returne so that on the thirtieth day of Iuly wee entred into Vastena where wee abode vntill the second of August being alwayes accompanied and our charges borne by the said M. Mapheo On the second of August we tooke our leaue of the foresaid M. Mapheo yeelding him such thankes as we could And being departed from him wee went to Lodese where wee arriued the eleuenth of the said moneth in which place we found two passages the one for England and the other for the Low Countries and there we voluntarily diuided our selues into two parts The two and twentieth of August 1432. we Christophoro Fiorauante one of the Councell of the vnfortunate ship together with Girardo da Lione the Sewer and Nicolo di Michiel of Venice the Notarie now Writer of this present Discourse departed from the other eight of our companions they going towards London and we to Venice by the way of Rostoch pretending to goe to Rome for a Pardon and after many troubles and molestations passing ouer Mountaynes Valleyes Riuers sometimes on foot and sometimes on Horse-backe through the helpe of the Omnipotent God we came vnto our so much desired Countrey of Venice on the twelfth of October 1432. safe and sound leauing the said Girardo da Lion at Vasenâch who from thence went vnto his Countrey and those that went into England were these Master Francesco Quirini Sonne of Master Iacomo a Venetian Gentleman being Merchant of the vnhappie ship Master Piero Gradenico Sonne of Master Andrea of the age of eighteene yeeres a young Merchant Bernardo da Caghire Pilot of the ship whose Wife being young aswell through the long delay of time passed as for that it was many times certainly reported that the said ship with all them that were therein were in great danger and no token at all appearing to the contrary being aduised more hastily then vpon mature consideration as is the manner of needie women she married her selfe at Triâiso But hearing of our comming and the certayne newes of her liuing and true Husband she presently separated the bond of the second Marriage and shut her selfe vp in an honest Monasterie aswell to declare the Integritie of her minde as to expect the returne of her true Husband who about some three moneths after came to Venice safe and sound and tooke her againe vnto him c. CHAP. XIX Ancient Commerce betwixt ENGLAND and NORWAY and other Northerne Regions GReat Alexander is said in âearing a Flatterers Historie of his conquestâ making them how great soeâer in themselues farre greater theâ they were to haue caused that booke to bee throwne into the Sea with iust indignation exclaiming that those incredibilities would make that which hee had indeed done seeme incredible to posteritie And a Liar said Alexanders Master Aristotle gets this by lying that when he speakes truth he cannot be beleeued So hath it fared with that Brittish worthy King Arthur whose Great Acts by great Flatterers seeking to light candles to the Sunne haue made others suppose it to be night and his worth to be a worke of darknesse and lyes Neither doth the later posteritie know how to distinguish the one from the other and the Writers for and against the truth of three British storie as Ieffery of Moumouth and William of Newbridge of old and others since haue seemed to me to let the truth as in altercation is vsuall to fall downe betwixt them for others more moderate spirits to take vp Although therefore many things related of Artâââ are absurd ãâã so are not all nor that altogether which is spoken of his Northerne conquests eleuen hundred yeeres since and of commerce a ãâ¦ã not some kind of ãâã acknowledgment of ãâã the King of Ireland ãâã of the Orcades Maluâsius of Island Doldaâiâ of Gotâand Ascâilââ of the Danes and Loâ King of Norway Some adde that King Arthur left people to inhabite the Ilands and that the Norwegian Nobles tooke them Brittish wiues and that the Norwegians ãâã their Brittish ãâã and
vp the ground But Ingulfus arriued not where he cast in the postes but at the Promontorie of the South shoare else-where erroniously the West shoare called by his name Ingulfhofde Yet notwithstanding wanting the postes of the houses three whole yeers at length he found them in that place which is named Reychiarwich and there he erected his Habitation But Hiorleifus more estranged from Ethnick superstition seated himselfe in the Promontorie Hirleifshofda so called likewise from his name There he built great houses one of one hundred twentie six and another of one hundred thirtie fiue feet long who the first yeere being ended began to till the ground and sow seed In which worke when he had exercised ten seruants or slaues which hee brought with him out of Island they fayned that Hiorleifus his labouring beast was slaine by a wilde Beare for it was afterwards manifestly knowne that Island hath no Beares but such as came thither by chance which when Hiorleifus with a purpose of reuenge sought in the next neighbouring Wood he was deceitfully slaine by these slaues lying in ambush together with some other companions which he tooke with him the Seruants aswell rauishing the Wiues as spoyling the goods of the slaine and flying into the Ilands not very farre distant from the shoare which after of the same slaues were called Westmafyar because they were of Ireland The Norwegians call the Irish English and Scots Westmen that is men of the West seeing those Countries are distant from Norway to the West Ingulfus pursuing these Murtherers set vpon them suddenly and destroyed them euery man in the same Ilands being much grieued in minde for the vntimely and cruell death of his deere friend and allyes But Ingulfus found and possessed Island altogether barren and desolate on euery side beset with very thicke Woods and scarsly fertile of any but Birches so that hee was faine euerywhere to open the Woods with the Axe for journeyes and habitation Yet in the meane space we might gather by certayne signes I know not what Mariners had sometimes touched vpon certayne shoares of the Countrey but not inhabited them For Ingulfus found little sacring Bels and wooden Crosses and other things made by the workmanship and arte of the Irish and Britaynes but no tokens of culture or habitation Whereupon it is likely that Irish or Scottish Fishermen as also the English at this day accustomed to fish neere Island as sometimes it commeth to passe went ashoare and so by chance left sacring Bells and Crosses the Vtensils of Christian Religion For at that time the Irish were instructed in Christianisme as they saâ And those whosoeuer were the ancient Islanders they called Papa or Papas from whom as seemeth probable to me the Iland of East Island called Papey deriued the name because they were often wont to touch there or their Monuments such as I sayd were chiefly found there This side of Island to such as sayle from England Ireland and Scotland is most exposed towards the North-west Moreouer what and from whence these Papae or Pappae came I cannot sufficiently speake vnlesse peraduenture from the Ilands of Scotland whereof one is named Pappa and another Westrapappa as we may see in the Mappes vnto which conjecture let euery one giue what credit he pleaseth Furthermore very many of the Norwegians afterwards boldly following the steps of Ingulfus going into Island with their wiues and children and great multitudes of their Kindred and friends restored themselues to libertie Whose names and large Families are recited in the Chronicles as by the second Booke is vnderstood Besides it is there recounted what coasts what shoares what middle-land places euery one possessed and at what time and also how the first Inhabitants gaue name to Straights Bayes Hauens narrow straights of Land Ferryes Clyffes Rockes Mountaines Hills Vallies rough and inaccessible Places Fountaines Flouds Riuers Villages Farmes or Habitations whereof at this day many are yet retained and in vse Which Topography supposing it would bee tedious especially to a forraine Reader I haue here omitted applying my selfe rather to the description of the Inhabitants who in sixtie yeeres space so replenished with their multitudes the habitable parts of Island now possessed Concerning the language of the Islanders the matter it selfe speaketh that it is the Noruegian I say that old and naturall speech deriued from the ancient Gothish which onely the Islanders now vse vncorrupted and therefore we call it Islandish Of the letters of which tongue we will first speake somewhat and afterwards in the Chapter following there shall be a short discourse of the originall thereof And surely that language seemeth to haue double letters to wit the Old and New The New which commonly wee vse at this day are common almost to all Europe together with vs. Which when they first began to bee vsed is not certainely knowne Surely as yet some crosses written in ancient letters are yet seene among our Country-men which letters also many yet know and both reade and write and this naturall language it selfe is contained in the same nothing at all changed Moreouer it seemed good to mee thus to present the name and shape of the ancient Characters such surely as was offered vnto mee placing the New or Common ouer against them expressing the validitie thereof adding also the agreement and discrepancie of ours with those of Vlphila the Bishop of the Gothes whom Iohannes Theodorus and Iohannes Israel brethren and Citizens of Francofurt report to haue inuented these letters by whose relation hee agreeth with vs in all things saue where the disagreement shall bee noted here Moreouer also I thought it not amisse to set downe in writing the letters of certaine other Nations to some of our Country letters out of the same Francofurt copie which the Types or Figure subscribed will demonstrate A Ar b Biarkan z Knesol d Stunginntyr or and Vlphila thus e Stunginn Is f Fe g Stunginn kaun h Hagall i Is k Kaun l Langur or Vlphila thus it is also the Moscouit L. m Madur n Nand Vlphila thus o Os p Plastur Vlphila thus r Reid s Sol Vlphila thus t Tyr Vlphila thus u Vr Vlphila thus y Yr Vlphila thus th tha of the Arabians p Puss the aethiopian d. dha of the Arabians Here wee see twentie one Characters but the ancient numbred onely sixteene And the third they would not acknowledge for theirs because z. of the Greekes that is to say t s or ds as they would haue it they might write it in their language with distinct letters But the fourth from the eighteenth they distinguish with some point or an ouerthwart line almost thus otherwise it is altogether the same in shape and name Tyr but d. Stungiun tyr that is to say pointed Tyr as P kaun k. and pointed kaun P. g. So Is pointed for e. but Plastur resembleth B. with both the bellies open aboue and beneath Besides these the rest are
destructions of their fellowes besides what hee got in Siberia and from the Pole Sweden Prussian extending his Conquests East West North and South yea his memorie is sauourie still to the Russians which either of their seruile disposition needing such a bridle and whip or for his long and prosperous reigne or out of distaste of later tragedies hold him in little lesse reputation as some haue out of their experience instructed me then a Saint His loue to our Nation is magnified by our Countrimen with all thankfulnesse whose gaineâ there begun by him haue made them also in some sort seeme to turne Russe in I know what loues or feares as if they were still shut vp in Russia to conceale whatsoeuer they know of Russian occurrents that I haue sustayned no small torture with great paines of body vexation of minde and triall of potent interceding friends to get but neglect and silence from some yea almost contempt and scorne They alledge their thankfulnesse for benefits receiued from that Nation and their feare of the Dutch readie to take aduantage thereof and by calumniations from hence to interuert their Trade This for loue to my Nation I haue inserted against any Cauillers of our Russe Merchants though I must needs professe that I distaste and almost detest that call it what you will of Merchants to neglect Gods glorie in his prouidence and the Worlds instruction from their knowledge who while they will conceale the Russians Faults will tell nothing of their Facts and whiles they will be silent in mysteries of State will reueale nothing of the histories of Fact and that in so perplexed diuersified chances and changes as seldome the World hath in so short a space seene on one Scene Whiles therefore they which seeme to know most will in these Russian Relations helpe me little or nothing except to labour and frustrated hopes I haue besides much conference with eye witnesses made bold with others in such books as in diuers languages I haue read and in such Letters and written Tractates as I could procure of my friends or found with Master Hakluyt as in other parts of our storie not seeking any whit to disgrace that Nation or their Princes but onely desiring that truth of things done may bee knowne and such memorable alterations may not passe as a dreame or bee buried with the Doers Sir Ierome Horsey shall leade you from Iuans Graue to Pheodores Coronation The most solemne and magnificent coronation of PHEODOR IVANOVVICH Emperour of Russia c. the tenth of Iune in the yeare 1584. seene and obserued by Master IEROM HORSEY Gentleman and seruant to her Maiestie WHen the old Emperor Iuan Vasilowich died being about the eighteeenth of April 1584. after our computation in the Citie of Mosco hauing raigned fiftie foure yeares there was some tumult vprore among some of the Nobilitie and Comminaltie which notwithstanding was quickly pacified Immediately the same night the Prince Boris Pheodorowich Godonoua Knez Iuon Pheodorowich Mesthis Slafsky Knez Iuan Petrowich Susky Mekita Romanowich and Bodan Iacoulewich Belskoy being all noble men and chiefest in the Emperours Will especially the Lord Boris whom he adopted as his third son and was brother to the Empresse who was a man very well liked of all estates as no lesse worthy for his valour and wisedome all these were appointed to dispose and settle his Sonne Pheodor Iuanowich hauing one sworne another and all the Nobilitie and Officers whosoeuer In the morning the dead Emperour was laid into the Church of Michael the Archangell into a hewen Sepulchre very richly decked with Vestures fit for such a purpose and present Proclamation was made Emperour Pheodor Iuanowich of all Russia c. Throughout all the Citie of Mosco was great watch and ward with Souldiors and Gunners good orders established and Officers placed to subdue the tumulters and maintaine quietnesse to see what speede and policie was in this case vsed was a thing worth the beholding This being done in Mosco great men of birth and accompt were also presently sent to the bordering Townes as Smolensko Vobsko Kasan Nouogorod c. with fresh garrison and the old sent vp As vpon the fourth of May a Parliament was held wherein were assembled the Metropolitane Archbishops Bishops Priors and chiefe Clergie men and all the Nobility whatsoeuer where many matters were determined not pertinent to my purpose yet all tended to a new reformation in the gouernement but especially the terme and time was agreed vpon for the solemnizing of the new Emperours coronation In the meane time the Empresse wife to the old Emperour was with her childe the Emperours son Charlewich Demetrie Iuanowich of one yeares age or there abouts sent with her Father Pheodor Pheodorowich Nagay and that kindred being fiue brothers to a towne called Ouglets which was giuen vnto her and the yong Prince her sonne with all the Lands belonging to it in the shire with officers of all sorts appointed hauing allowance of apparell iewels diet horse c. in ample manner belonging to the estate of a Princesse The time of mourning after their vse being expired called Sorachyn or fortie orderly dayes the day of the solemnizing of this coronation with great preparations was come being vpon the tenth day of Iune 1584. and that day then Sunday he being of the age of twenty fiue years at which time Master Ierom Horsey was orderly sent for and placed in a fit roome to see all the solemnity The Emperour comming out of his Pallace there went before him the Metropolitane Archbishops Bishops and chiefest Monkes and Clergie men with very rich Coapes and Priests garments vpon them carrying pictures of our Lady c. with the Emperors Angell banners censers and many other such ceremonious things singing all the way The Emperour with his nobility in order entred the Church named Blaueshina or Blessednes where prayers and seruice were vsed according to the manner of their Church that done they went thence to the Church called Michael the Archangell and there also vsed the like prayers and seruice and from thence to our Lady Church Prechista being their Cathedrall Church In the middest thereof was a chaire of maiestie placed wherein his Ancestors vsed to sit at such extraordinary times his roabes were then changed and most rich and vnualuable garments put on him being placed in this Princely seate his nobilitie standing round about them in their degrees his imperiall Crowne was set vpon his head by the Metropolitane his Scepter globe in his right hand his sword of Iustice in his left of great riches his six crowns also by which he holdeth his Kingdomes were set before him and the Lord Boris Pheodorowich was placed at his right hand then the Metropolitan read openly a booke of a small volume with exhortations to the Emperour to minister true Iustice to inioy with tranquility the Crowne of his ancestours which God had giuen him and vsed these
Gouernours those things being in action till May. Then came newes that the Crim Tartars had entred the borders thinking to find all things troubled with an interregne whereupon he assembled an Armie of three hundred thousand and went in person against them But the Tartars hearing how things went returned home and sent Embassadors to the Emperours Tents Hee returned with them to Mosco where the next September which is the beginning of the Russian New yeere which enters in other places with Ianuary following hee was publikely blessed by the Patriarke carrying a golden Crosse in his hand and on the fourteenth of September before the Knazeys Boiarens Bishops and other Orders had the Crowne set on his head by the Patriarke and the Scepter put in his hand with the Solemnitie in such cases accustomed Twelue dayes together all Orders were feasted in the Castle and the Magistrates and Officers had a yeeres pay giuen them Merchants also of other Countries had Immunities and Priuiledges granted The Rustickes had their payments to their Boiarens reasonably rated and their persons made more free Germane Merchants had moneyes lent them to repay seuen yeeres after without Vsurie Widdowes and Orphans and poorer persons receiued much Almes Pheodores Obsequies were solemnely performed and the Priests richly rewarded and that Empire which seemed dead with the death of the house of Beala now was as it were reuiued and receiued a glorious Resurrection Thus haue we deliuered you Thuanas his report touching Boris manner of acquiring the Empire without publike enuie and cunning wiping off the aspersions of Pheodore and Demetrius their deaths And as euery bodie is nourished by Aliments correspondent to the Principles of the Generation so did hee seeke by politike wisdome to establish that which by wise Policies he had gotten Wherein his care was not little to multiply Treasure and as at first hee had seemed popularly prodigall so after a small time of his Reigne hee became prouidently penurious the wonted allowances of the Court being much shortened from that which had beene in former times as I haue receiued from eye-witnesses Likewise he was carefull to hold good tearmes with his Neighbouring Princes and aswell by plots at home as by forreigne Aliance indeuoured to settle on his Race this new gotten Empire He is said for this end to haue sought a Wife for his sonne out of England and a Husband for his Daughter out of Denmarke His Wife was a woman of haughtie spirit who thought her too good for any Hollop so they call a slaue and such she esteemed all the subjects and on such tearmes she is said to haue beene denied to a great man his best Souldier and Commander of his Armie But while his Sunne shined now in the height of his course and with brightest and warmest beames of prosperitie there arose grosse vapours out of Demetrius his graue which grew quickly into a blacke darke cloud and not only eclipsed that Imperiall glorie but soone engendred a blondie storme which with a floud swept away that whole Family and ouer-whelmed also the whole Empire Contraries set together cause the greater lustre for which cause I will bring on the stage a Gentleman which attended Sir Thomas Smith employed in Honourable Embassage from his Maiestie of Great Brittaine to the then flourishing Emperor Boris and out of his large Relations deliuer you this which followeth in his owne words omitting the most part to our purpose not so pertinent in the Booke printed Anno 1605. §. II. Occurrents of principall Note which happened in Russia in the time while the Honourable Sir THOMAS SMITH remayned there Embassador from his Maiestie SIr Thomas Smith Knight accompanied with Sir T. Challenor and Sir W. Wray Knights diuers Gentlemen and his owne Attendants repayred to the Court on the tenth of Iune 1604. then lying at Greenwich where by the Right Honourable the Earle of Salisburie he was brought to His Majestis presence kissed his Hand c. The next day he tooke leaue of the Prince and on the twelfth being furnished with his Commission he came to Grauesend and next morning went aboord the Iohn and Francis Admirall and the two and twentieth of Iuly anchored within a mile of the Archangell The sixteenth of September hee came to Vologda the fiue and twentieth to Perislawe and there staid three dayes and then departed to Troites that faire and rich Monasterie so to Brattesheen and Rostouekin fiue versts from the great Citie of Musco The fourth of October the Prestaue came and declared the Emperours pleasure that hee should come into the Mosco that forenoone presently after came Master I. Mericke Agent with some twentie Horses to attend his Lordship which forth-with was performed Then we did ride til we came within a little mile of the many thousands of Noblemen and Gentlemen on both sides the way attended on horsebacke to receiue his Lordship Where the Embassadour alighted from his Coach and mounted on his foot-cloth Horse and so rode on with his Trumpets sounding A quarter of a mile farther met him a proper and gallant Gentleman a-foot of the Emperours stable who with Cap in hand declared to the Embassadour that the Emperour the young Prince and the Master of the Horse had so farre fauoured him as to send him a Iennet very gorgeously trapped with Gold Pearle and Precious Stone and particularly a great Chaine of plated Gold about his necke to ride vpon Whereupon the Embassador alighted imbraced the Gentleman returned humble thankes to them all and presently mounted Then he declared that they likewise had sent horses for the Kings Gentlemen which likewise were very richly adorned then for all his followers which Ceremonie or State performed and all being horsed he departed we riding orderly forward till wee were met by three great Noblemen seuered from the rest of the multitude and the Emperours Tolmache or Interpreter with them They being within speech thus began that Oration they could neuer well conclude Which was That from their Lord and Master the mightie Emperour of Russia c. they had a message to deliuer his Lordship The Embassadour then thinking they would be tedious and troublesome with their vsuall Ceremonies preuented their farther speech with this to them a Spell That it was vnfitting for Subiects to hold discourse in that kind of complement of two such mightie and renowmed Potentates on horsebacke They hereby not only put by their Ceremonious Saddle-sitting but out of their Paper instructions allighted suddenly as men fearing they were halfe vnhorsed and the Embassadour presently after them comming very courteously all three saluting the Embassadour and the Kings Gentlemen taking them by the hands Thus like a Scholer too old to learne by rote the Duke named King Volladamur Euanywich Mawsolskoy with his Lesson before him declared his message which was that he with the other two Noblemen were sent from the Great Lord Emperour and great Duke Boris Phedorowich selfe-vpholder great Lord
is yet more admirable wherein appeares the power and greatnesse of the Creator to giue so base a Nation as be the Indians the industrie and courage to incounter the most fierce and deformed beast in the world and not onely to fight with him but also to vanquish him and not to triumph ouer him Considering this I haue often remembred that place of the Psalmes speaking of the Whale Draco iste quem formasti ad illudendum eum What greater mockerie can there be then to see an Indian leade a Whale as bigge as a Mountaine vanquished with a cord The manner the Indians of Florida vse as some expert men haue told me to take these Whales whereof there is great store is they put themselues into a Canoe which is like a barke of a tree and in swimming approach neere the Whales side then with great dexteritie they leape to his necke and there they ride as on horse-back expecting his time then he thrusts a sharpe and strong stake which he carries with him into the Whales nostrill for so they call the hole or vent by which they breathe presently he beates it in with another stake as forcibly as he can in the meane space the Whale doth furiously beate the Sea and raiseth Mountaines of water running into the deepe with great violence and presently riseth againe not knowing what to doe for paine the Indian still sits firme and to giue him full paiment for this trouble hee beates another stake into the other vent or nosthrill so as he stoppeth him quite and takes away his breathing then he betakes him to his Canoe which he holds tied with a cord to the Whales side and goes to Land hauing first tied his cord to the Whale the which he lets run with the Whale who leapes from place to place whilest he finds water enough being troubled with paine in the end he comes neere the Land and remaines on ground by the hugenesse of his body vnable any more to moue then a great number of Indians come vnto the Conquerour to gather his spoiles they kill him and cut his flesh in peeces the which is bad enough this doe they dry and beate into powder vsing it for meate it doth last them long wherein is fulfilled that which is spoken in another Psalme of the Whale Dedisti eum escam populis Aethiopum Peter Mendez the Adelantade did often speake of this kinde of fishing Whereof Monardes makes mention in his Booke There is another fishing which the Indians doe commonly vse in the Sea the which although it be lesse yet is it worthy the report They make as it were faggots of bul-rushes or dry sedges well bound together which they call Balsas hauing carried them vpon their shoulders to the Sea they cast them in and presently leape vpon them being so set they lanch out into the deepe rowing vp and downe with small reedes of either side they goe a league or two into the Sea to fish carrying with them their cords and nets vpon these faggots and beare themselues thereon They cast out their nets and doe there remaine fishing the greatest part of the day and night vntill they haue filled vp their measure with the which they returne well satisfied Truely it was delightfull to see them fish at Callao of Lima for that they were many in number and euery one set on horse-backe cutting the waues of the Sea which in their place of fishing are great and furious resembling the Tritons or Neptunes which they paint vpon the water and being come to Land they draw their barke out of the water vpon their backes the which they presently vndoe and lay abroad on the shoare to drie There were other Indians of the Vallies of Yca which were accustomed to goe to fish in leather or skins of Sea-wolues blowne vp with winde and from time to time they did blow them like bals of winde lest they should sinke In the vaâe of Canete which in old time they called Guaroo there were a great number of Indian fishers but because they resisted the Ingua when he came to conquer that Land hee made shew of peace with them and therefore to feast him they appointed a solemne fishing of many thousand Indians which went to Sea in their vessels of reeds at whose returne the Ingua who had laid many Souldiers in ambush made a cruell butcherie of them so as afterward this Land remained vnpeopled although it be aboundant and fertile I did see another manner of fishing whereunto Don Francis of Toledo the Viceroy did leade me yet was it not in the Sea but in a Riuer which they call great in the Prouince of Charcas where the Indians Chiraquanas plunged into the water and swimming with an admirable swiftnesse followed the fish where with darts and hookes which they vse to carry in their right hand onely swimming with the left they wound the fish and so hurt they brought them forth seeming in this more like vnto fishes then men of the Land But now that we haue left the Sea let vs come to other kinde of waters that remaine to be spoken of In place of the Mediterranean Sea which is in the old world the Creator hath furnished this new with many Lakes whereof there are some so great as they may be properly called Seas seeing the Scripture calleth that of Palestina so which is not so great as some of these The most famous is that of Titicaca which is at Peru in the Prouince of Callao the which as I haue said in the former booke containes neere fourescore leagues in compasse into the which there runs ten or twelue great Riuers A while since they began to saile in it with Barkes and Ships wherein they proceeded so ill that the first Ship was split with a tempest that did rise in the Lake The water is not altogether sower nor salt as that of the Sea but it is so thicke as it cannot be drunke There are two kindes of fishes breede in this Lake in great abundance the one they call Suches which is great and sauorous but phlegmaticke and vnwholesome and the other Bogos which is more healthfull although it be lâsse and fuller of bones there are great numbers of wilde-ducks and Wigens When as the Indians will feast it or shew delight to any one that passeth along the two bankes which they call Chuouyto and Omasugo they assemble a great number of Canoes making a circle and inuironing the fowle vntill they take with their hands what they please and they call this manner of fishing Chaco On the one and the other banke of this Lake are the best habitations of Peru. From the issue thereof there growes a lesser Lake although it be great which they call Paria vpon the bankes whereof there are great numbers of cattell especially Swine which grow exceeding fat with the grasse vpon those bankes There are many other Lakes in the high Mountaines whence proceede Brookes and
with all his power where he vanquished them and ruined all their kingdome and passing beyond the Mountaine Menade he conquered still euen vnto the North Sea Then returning towards the South Sea he subdued many Prouinces so as he became a mighty King all by the helpe and counsell of Tlacaellec who in a manner conquered all the Mexican Nation Yet he held an opinion the which was confirmed that it was not behoouefull to conquer the Prouince of Tlascalla that the Mexicans might haue a frontier enemy to keepe the youth of Mexico in exercise and allarme and that they might haue numbers of Captiues to Sacrifice to their Idols wherein they did waste as hath beene said infinite numbers of men which should be taken by force in the wars The honor must be giuen to Moteçuma or to speak truly to Tlacaellec his Generall for the good order and pollicy setled in the Realme of Mexico as also for the Counsels and goodly enterprises which they did execute and likewise for the number of Iudges and Magistrates being as well ordered there as in any Common-weale yea were it in the most flourishing of Europe This King did also greatly increase the Kings house giuing it great authoritie and appointing many and sundry Officers which serued him with great pompe and ceremony He was no lesse remarkable touching the deuotion and seruice of his Idols increasing the number of his Ministers and instituting new ceremonies whereunto he carried a great respect He built that great Temple dedicated to their god Vitziliputzli whereof is spoken in the other Booke He did Sacrifice at the dedication of this Temple a great number of men taken in sundry victories finally inioying his Empire in great prosperitie he fell sicke and died hauing raigned twentie eight yeares vnlike to his successor Ticocic who did not resemble him neither in valour nor in good fortune The foure Deputies assembled in counsell with the Lords of Tescuco and Tacuba where Tlacaellec was President in the election where by all their voices Tlacaellec was chosen as deseruing this charge better then any other Yet he refused it perswading them by pertinent reasons that they should choose another saying that it was better and more expedient to haue another King and he to be his instrument and assistant as he had beene till then and not to lay the whole burthen vpon him for that he held himselfe no lesse bound for the Common-weale then if he were King seeming to him though he were not King yet in a manner that he commanded Kings suffering him to carry certaine markes as a Tiara or ornament for the head which belonged onely to themselues as in a Comedie he deserues most commendation that represents the personage that imports most In recompence of his modesty and for the respect which the Mexican Electors bare him they demanded of Tlacaellec that seeing he would not raigne whom hee thought most fit Whereupon he gaue his voyce to a Sonne of the deceased King who was then very young called Ticocic but they replied that his shoulders were very weake to beare so heauie a burthen Tlacaellec answered that his was there to helpe him to beare the burthen as he had done to the deceased by meanes whereof they tooke their resolution and Ticocic was chosen to whom were done all the accustomed ceremonies They pierced his nosthrils and for an ornament put an Emerald therein and for this reason in the Mexican Bookes this King is noted by his nosthrils pierced Hee differed much from his Father and Predecessor being noted for a coward and not valiant He went to make warre for his Coronation in a Prouince that had rebelled where hee lost more of his owne men then hee tooke captiues yet he returned saying that he brought the number of captiues required for the Sacrifice of his Coronation and so hee was crowned with great solemnitie But the Mexicans discontented to haue a King so little disposed to warre practised to hasten his death by poison For this cause he continued not aboue foure yeeres in the Kingdome But this losse was well repaired by a Brother of the deceased who was also sonne to great Moteçuma called Axayaca who was likewise chosen by the aduice of Tlacaellec wherein hee happened better then before Now was Tlacaellec very old who by reason of his age was carried in a chaire vpon mens shoulders to assist in counsell when businesse required In the end he fell sicke when as the King who was not yet crowned did visit him often shedding many teares seeming to loose in him his Father and the Father of his Countrey Tlacaellec did most affectionately recommend his children vnto him especially the eldest who had shewed himselfe valiant in the former warres The King promised to haue regard vnto him and the more to comfort the old man in his presence hee gaue him the charge and ensignes of Captaine Generall with all the preheminences of his Father wherewith the old man remained so well satisfied as with this content he ended his dayes The Mexicans made his Funerall as the Founder of that Empire more sumptuous and stately then they had done to any of their former Kings And presently after Axayaca to appease the sorrow which all the people of Mexico shewed for the death of their Captaine resolued to make the voyage necessary for his Coronation He therefore led his Armie with great expedition into the Prouince of Tequantepec two hundred leagues from Mexico where he gaue battell to a mighty Army and an infinite number of men assembled together as well out of that Prouince as from their Neighbours to oppose themselues against the Mexicans The first of his Campe that aduanced himselfe to the combate was the King himselfe defying his enemies from whom he made shew to flye when they charged him vntill hee had drawne them into an Ambuscadoe where many Souldiers lay hidden vnder straw who suddenly issued forth and they which fled turned head so as they of Tiquantepec remayned in the midst of them whom they charged furiously making a great slaughter of them and following their victorie they razed their Citie and Temple punishing all their Neighbours rigorously Then went they on farther and without any stay conquered to Guatulco the which is a Port at this day well knowne in the South Sea Axayaca returned to Mezico with great and rich spoiles where he was honourably crowned with sumptuous and stately preparation of Sacrifices Tributes and other things whither many came to see his Coronation The Kings of Mexico receiued the Crowne from the hands of the King of Tescuco who had the preheminence Hee made many other Enterprises where he obtained great victories being alwayes the first to leade the Armie and to charge the enemie by the which he purchased the name of a most valiant Captaine and not content to subdue strangers he also suppressed his Subjects which had rebelled which neuer any of his Predecessors
led to the King who presently caused him to bee strangled and then then did he put his resolution in practice forcing a channell whereby the water might passe to Mexico whereby he brought a great current of water into the Lake which they brought with great Ceremonies and Superstitions hauing Priests casting Incense along the bankes others sacrificed Qâailes and with the bloud of them sprinkled the channell bankes others sounding of Cornets accompanied the water with their Musicke One of the chiefe went attired in a habit like to their Goddesse of the water and all saluted her saying that she was welcome All which things are painted in the Annalls of Mexico which Booke is now at Rome in the holy Library or Vatican where a Father of our Company that was come from Mexico did see it and other Histories the which he did expound to the Keeper of his Holinesse Library taking great delight to vnderstand this Booke which before hee could neuer comprehend Finally the water was brought to Mexico but it came in such abundance that it had wel-neere drowned the Citie as was foretold and in effect it did ruine a great part thereof but it was presently preuented by the industry of Autzol who caused an issue to bee made to draw forth the water by meanes whereof hee repayned the buildings that were fallen with an exquisite worke being before but poore Cottages Thus he left the Citie inuironed with water like another Venice and very well built he reigned eleuen yeeres and ended with the last and greatest Successor of all the Mexicans §. III. Of the Election of great MOTEZVMA the last King of Mexico his pompe and manner of gouernment prodigious fore-warnings of his ruine and the Spanish Conquest WHen the Spaniards entred New Spaine being in the yeere of our Lord 151â Moteçuma second of that name was the last King of the Mexicans I say the last although they of Mexico after his death chose another King yea in the life of the same Moteçuma whom they declared an enemy to his Countrey as wee shall see hereafter But he that succeeded him and he that fell into the hands of the Marquesse de Valle had but the names and titles of Kings for that the Kingdome was in a manner all yeelded to the Spaniards so as with reason we account Moteçuma for the last King and so hee came to the period of the Mexicans power and greatnesse which is admirable beeing happened among Barbarians For this cause and for that this was the season that God had chosen to reueale vnto them the knowledge of his Gospell and the Kingdome of Iesus Christ I will relate more as large the Acts of Moteçuma then of the rest Before he came to be King hee was by disposition very graue and stayed and spake little so as when he gaue his opinion in the priuy Counsell whereas he assisted his speeches and discourses made euery one to admire him so as euen then he was feared and respected He retyred himselfe vsually into a Chappell appointed for him in the Temple of Vitzliputzli where they said their Idoll spake vnto him and for this cause hee was held very religious and deuout For these perfections then being most noble and of great courage his elâction was short and easie as a man vpon whom all mens eyes were fixed as worthy of such a charge Hauing intelligence of this election he hid himselfe in this Chappell of the Temple whether it were by judgement apprehending so heauy and hard a burthen as to gouerne such a people or rather as I beleeue through hypocrisie to shew that hee desired not Empery In the end they found him leading him to the place of Councell whither they accompanied him with all possible joy he marched with such a grauity as they all said the name of Moteçuma agreed very well with his nature which is as much to say as an angry Lord. The Electors did him great reuerence giuing him notice that hee was chosen King from thence hee was led before the hearth of their Gods to giue Incense where he offered Sacrifices in drawing bloud from his eares and the calues of his legs according to their custome They attyred him with the Royall ornaments and pierced the gristle of his nosthrils hanging thereat a rich Emerald a barbarous and troublous custome but the desire of rule made all paine light and easie Being seated in his Throne hee gaue audience to the Orations and Speeches that were made vnto him which according vnto their custome were eloquent and artificiall The first was pronounced by the King of Tescuco which being preserued for that it was lately deliuered and very worthy to bee heard I will set it downe word by word and thus hee said The concordance and vnitie of voyces vpon thy election is a sufficient testimonie most noble young man of the happinesse the Realme shall receiue as well deseruing to be commanded by thee as also for the generall applause which all doe shew by meanes thereof Wherein they haue great reason for the Empire of Mexico doth alreadie so farre extend it selfe that to gouerne a World as it is and to beare so heauie a burthen it requires no lesse dexteritie and courage then that which is resident in thy firme and valiant heart nor of lesse wisdome and iudgement then thine I see and know plainly that the mightie God loueth this Citie seeing hee hath giuen vnderstanding to choose what was fit For who will not beleeue that a Prince who before his Reigne had pierced the âine Vaults of Heauen should not likewise now obtaine those things that are earthly to relieue his people aiding himselfe with his best iudgement being thereunto bound by the dutie and charge of a King Who will likewise beleeue that the great courage which thou hast alwayes valiantly shewed in matters of importance should now faile thee in matters of greatest need Who will not perswade himselfe but the Mexican Empire is come to the height of their Souereigntie seeing the Lord of things created hath imparted so great graces vnto thee that with thy looke onely thou breedest admiration in them that behold thee Reioyce then O happie Land to whom the Creator hath giuen a Prince as a firme Pillar to support thee which shall bee thy Father and thy defence by whom thou shalt be succoured at need who will bee more thân a brother to his subiects for his pietie and clemenciâ Thou hast a King who in regard of his estate is not inclined to delights or will lye stretched out vpon his bed occupied in pleasures and vices but contrariwise in the middest of his sweet and pleasant sleep he will suddenly wake for the câre he must haue ouer thee and will not feele the taste of the most sauourie ãâã hauing his spirits transported with the imagination of thy good Tell me then O happie Realme if I haue not reason to say that thou oughtest reioyce
hauing found such a King And thou noble young man and our most mightie Lord be confident and of a good courage that seeing the Lord of things created hath giuen thee this charge hee will also giue thee force and courage to manage it and thou mayest well hope that hee which in times past hath vsed so great bountie towards thee will âpt now deny thee his greater giftâ seeing he hath giuen thee so great a charge which I wish thee to enioy many yeeres King Moteçuma was very attentiue to this Discourse which being ended they say hee was so troubled that endeuouring thriâe to answere ãâã hee could not speake being ouercome with teares which joy and content doe vsually cause in signe of great humility In the end being come to himselfe he spake briefly I were too blind good King of Tescuco if I did not know that what thou hast spoken vnto me proceeded of meere fauour is pleaseth you to shew me seeing among so many noble and valiant men within this Realme you haue made choice of the least sufficient and in truth I find my selfe so incapeable of a charge of so great importance that I know not what to doe but to beseech the Creatour of all created things that hee will fauour mee and I intreate you all to pray vnto him for me These words vttered hee beganne againe to weepe He that in his election made such shew of humility and mildnesse seeing himselfe King began presently to discouer his aspiring thoughts The first was hee commanded that no plebeian should serue in his house nor beare any Royal Office as his Predecessors had vsed til then blaming them that would be serued by men of base condition commanding that all the noble and most famous men of his Realme should liue within his Palace and exercise the Offices of his Court and House Whereunto an old man of great authoritie who had somtimes bin his Schoolemaster opposed himselfe aduising him to be careful what he did and not to thrust himselfe into the danger of a great inconuenience in separating him selfe from the vulgar and common people so as they should not dare to looke him in the face seeing themselues so reiected by him He answered that it was his resolution and that he would not allow the Plebeians thus to goe mingled among the Nobles as they had done saying that the seruice they did was according to their condition so as the Kings got no reputation and thus he continued firââ in his resolution Hee presently commanded his Counsell to dismisse all the Plebeians from their charges and offices as well those of his Houshold as of his Court and to prouide Knightâ the which was done After hee went in person to an enterprize necessary for his Coronation At that time a Prouince lying farre off towards the North Ocean was reuolted from the Crown whither he led the flower of his people well appointed There he warred with such valour and dexteritie that in the end hee subdued all the Prouince and punished the Rebels seuerely returning with a great number of Captiues for the Sacrifices and many other spoyles All the Cities made him solemne receptions at his returne and the Lords thereof gaue him water to wash performing the offices of seruants a thing not vsed by any of his Predecessors Such was the feare and respect they bare him In Mexico they made the Feasts of his Coronation with great preparations of Dances Comedies Banquets Lights and other inuentions for many dayes And there came so great a wealth of Tributes from all his Countreyes that strangers vnknowne came to Mexico and their very enemies resorted in great numbers disguised to see these Feasts as those of Tlascalla and Mechonacan the which Moteçuma hauing discouered he commanded they should be lodged and gently intreated and honoured as his owne person He also made them goodly Galleries like vnto his owne where they might see and behold the Feasts So they entred by night to those Feasts as the King himselfe making their Sports and Maskes And for that I haue made mention of these Prouinces it shall not be from the purpose to vnderstand that the Inhabitants of Mechonacan Tlascalla and Tapeaca would neuer yeeld to the Mexicans but did alwayes fight valiantly against them yea sometimes the Mechoâacans did vanquish the Mexicans as also those of Tapeaca did In which place the Marquesse Don Ferrand Cortes after that hee and the Spaniards were expelled Mexico pretended to build their first Citie the which hee called as I well remember Segure dela Frontiere But this peopling continued little for hauing afterwards reconquered Mexico all the Spaniards went to inhabite there To conclude those of Tapeaca Tlascalla and Mechonacan haue beene alwayes enemies to the Mexicans although Moteçuma said vnto Cortes that hee did purposely forbearâ to subdue them to haue occasion to exercise his men of warre and to take numbers of captiues This King laboured to bee respected yea to be worshipped as a God No Plebeian might looke him in the face if he did he was punished with death he did neuer let his foot on the ground but was alwayes carried on the shoulders of Noblemen and if he lighted they laid rich Tapistrie whereon hee did goe When hee made any Voyage hee and the Noblemen went as it were in a Parke compassed in for the nonce and the rest of the people went without the Parke enuironing it in on euery side hee neuer put on a garment twice nor did eate or drinke in one vessell or dish aboue once all must be new giuing to his attendants that which had once serued him so as commonly they were rich and sumptuous Hee was very carefull to haue his Lawes obserued And when he returned victor from any warre hee fained sometimes to goe and take his pleasure then would hee disguise himselfe to see if his people supposing hee were absent would omit any thing of the feast or reception If there were any excesse or defect hee then did punish it rigorously And also to discerne how his Ministers did execute their Offices hee often disguised himselfe offering gifts and presents to the Iudges prouoking them to doe in-justice If they offended they were presently punished with death without remission or respect were they Noblemen or his Kinsmen yea his owne Brethren Hee was little conuersant with his people and seldome seene retyring himselfe most commonly to care for the gouernment of his Realme Besides that he was a great Iusticier and very Noble he was very valiant and happy by meanes whereof hee obtayned great victories and came to this greatnesse as is written in the Spanish Histories whereon it seemes needlesse to write mere I will onely haue a care hereafter to write what the Books and Histories of the Indies make mention of the which the Spanish Writers haue not obserued hauing not sufficiently vnderstood the secrets of this Countrey the which are things very worthy to
which is the tropike neerest vnto them I know not whether the one or the other haue obserued any Bisexte although some hold the contrarie The weekes which the Mexicans did reckon were not properly weekes being not of seuen daies the Inguas likewise made no mention thereof which is no wonder seeing the count of the weeke is not grounded vpon the course of the Sunne as that of the yeare nor of the Moone as that of the moneth but among the Hebrewes it is grounded vpon the creation of the world as Moyses reporteth and amongst the Greekes and Latins vpon the number of the seuen Planets of whose names the daies of the weeke haue taken their denomination yet was it much for those Indians being men without bookes and learning to haue a yeare seasons and feasts so well appointed as I haue said LEtters were inuented to signifie properly the words we doe pronounce euen as words according to the Philosopher are the signes and demonstrations of mans thoughts and conceptions And both the one and the other I say the letters and words were ordained to make things knowne The voice of such as are present and letters for the absent and such as are to come Signes and markes which are not properly to signifie words but things cannât be called neither in truth are they letters although they be written for we cannot say that the picture of the Sunne is a writing of the Sunne but onely a picture and the like may be said of other signes and characters which haue no resemblance to the thing but serue onely for memorie for he that inuented them did not ordaine them to signifie words but onely to noate the thing neither doe they call those characters letters or writings as indeede they are not but rather ciphers or remembrances as those be which the Spherists or Astronomers doe vse to signifie diuers signes or planets of Mars Venus Iupiter c. Such characters are ciphers and no letters for what name soeuer Mars may haue in Italian France or Spanish this character doth alwaies signifie it the which is not found in letters for although they signifie the thing yet is it by meanes of woâds So as they which know not the thing vnderstand them not as for example the Greekes nor the Hebrews cannot conceiue what this word Sol doth signifie although they see it written for that they vnderstand not the Latine word so as writing and letters are onely practised by them which signifie words therewith For if they signifie things mediately they are no more letters nor writings but ciphers and pictures whereby we may obserue two notable things The one that the memorie of Histories and Antiquities may be preserued by one of these three meanes either by letters and writings as hath beene vsed amongst the Latines Greekes Hebrewes and manie other Nations or by painting as hath beene vsed almost throughout all the world for it is said in the second Nicene Counsell Painting is a Booke for fooles which cannot reade or by ciphers and characters as the cipher signifies the number of a hundred a thousand and others without noting the word of a hundred or a thousand The other thing we may obserue thereby is that which is propounded in this Chapter which is that no Nation of the Indies discouered in our time hath had the vse of letters and writings but of the other two sorts Images and figures The which I obserue not onely of the Indies of Peru and New Spaine but also of Iappon and China It is difficulâ to vnderstand how the Chinois can write proper names in their tongue especially of strangers being things they haue neuer seene and not able to inuent figures proper vnto them I haue made triall thereof being in Mexico with the Chinois willing them to write this proposition in their language Ioseph Acosta is come from Peru and such like whereupon the Chinese was long pensiue but in the end hee did write it the which other Chinois did after reade although they did vary a little in the pronuntiation of the proper name For they vse this deuise to write a proper name they seeke out some thing in their tongue that hath resemblance to that name and set downe the figure of this thing And as it is difficult among so many proper names to finde things to resemble them in the prolation so is it very difficult and troublesome to write such names Vpon this purpose Father Allonso Sanchez told vs that when hee was in China being led into diuers Tribunall Seates from Manderin to Manderin they were long in putting his name in writing in their Caphas yet in the end they did write it after their manner and so ridiculously that they scarce came neere to the name and this is the fashion of Letters and Writings which the Chinois vsed That of the Iapponois approached very neere although they affirme that the Noblemen of Iappon that came into Europe did write all things very easily in their Language were they of our proper names yea I haue had some of their Writing shewed me whereby it seemes they should haue some kinde of Letters although the greatest part of their Writings bee by the Characters and figures as hath beene said of the Chinois An Indian of Peru or Mexico that hath learned to read write knowes more then the wisest Mandarin that is amongst them for that the Indian with foure and twentie Letters which hee hath learned will write all the words in the World and a Mandarin with his hundred thousand Letters will be troubled to write some proper name as of Martin or Alonso and with greater reason he shall bee lesse able to write the names of things hee knowes not So as the writing in China is no other thing but a manner of painting or ciphering WE find among the Nations of New Spaine a great knowledge and memorie of antiquititie and therefore searching by what meanes the Indians had preserued their Histories and so many particularities I learned that although they were not so subtill and curious as the Chinois and those of Iappon yet had they some kind of Letters and Bookes amongst them whereby they preserued after their manner the deeds of their Predecessors In the Prouince of Yucatan where the Bishopricke is which they call de Honduras there were Bookes of the leaues of Trees folded and squared after their manner in the which the wise Indians contained the distribution of their times the knowledge of the Planets of beasts and other naturall things with their Antiquities a thing full of great curiositie and diligence It seemed to some Pendant that all this was an Inchantment and Magicke Arte who did obstinately maintayne that they ought to be burnt so as they were committed to the fire Which since not onely the Indians found to be ill done but also the curious Spaniards who desired to know the secrets of the Countrey The like hath happened in other things for
Turkish add other Letters and not onely the transcript from their languages As for translations and collections thou hast them here also out of the Hebrew Auncient and Moderne Greeke Abassine Tartarian Russian Polonian Aegyptian and innumerable other Nations Christian Iewish Mahumetan Ethnike Ciuill Barbarian and Sauage innumerable wayes diuersified Yet all these in letters or characters In hieroglyphicall mysticall pictures the ancient Aegyptians and Ethiopians haue by way of Emblemes obscurely and darkly deliuered their obscure mysteries vncertaine waxenly pliant conceits to the world some of which our Pilgrimage hath mentioned But a Historie yea a Politicke Ethike Ecclesiastike Oeconomike History with iust distinctions of times places acts and arts we haue neither seene of theirs nor of any other Nation but of this which our light and slight apprehensions terme not barbarous alone but wilde and sauage Such an one we here present a present thought fit for him whom the senders esteemed the greatest of Princes and yet now presented to thy hands before it could arriue in his presence For the Spanish Gouernour hauing with some difficultie as the Spanish Preface imports obtained the Booke of the Indians with Mexican interpretations of the Pictures but ten daies before the departure of the Ships committed the same to one skilfull in the Mexican language to be interpreted who in a very plaine stile and verbatim performed the same vsing also some Morisco words as Alâaqui and Mezquitas for Priest and Temples import This Historie thus written sent to Charles the fifth Emperour was together with the Shippe that carried it taken by Fâenchmen of war from whom Andrew Theuet the French Kings Geographer obtained the same after whose death Master Hakluyt then Chaplaine to the English Embassadour in France bought the same for 20. French crownes and procured Master Michael Locke in Sir Walter Raleighs name to translate it It seemes that none were willing to be at the cost of cutting the Pictures and so it remained amongst his papers till his death whereby according to his last will in that kinde I became possessour thereof and haue obtained with much earnestnesse the cutting thereof for the Presse The rather was I eagerly vehement herein as being a thing desired by that most industrious Antiquary iudicious Scholler Religious Gentleman our Ecclesiastike Secular the Churches champion Sir Henry Spelman Knight whom for honors sake I name that his name may honour our ruder lines a name so fitting to the Man as one which âan in regard of his wise spell and science in diuine humane learning and is ready with maine courage and alacritie to shew himselfe the Churches Man and to exhibit himselfe in deede whatsoeuer any man can spell out of Spel-man The commending from such a friend let the Muses impetrate pardon for so bold a name was a commanding vnto me which here I againe commend to Him and thee It is diuided into three parts the first being the Annales and Mexican Chronicle the second their Exchequer or the Accounts of their seuerall Tributes paid them from the Nations and peoples tributary whereby may be seene the Naturall riches of those parts peculiarly sorted the third the Mexican Oeconomie and Policie in warre and peace religious and secular their priuate and publike rites from the graue of the wombe to the wombe of the graue Obscure places I haue explained besides what before in Acosta thou hast read comparing the translation with the originall adding many of mine owne and perhaps there is not any one History of this kinde in the world comparable to this so fully expressing so much without Letters hardly gotten and easily lost that thou maist here finde it CHAP. VII The History of the Mexican Nation described in pictures by the Mexican Author explained in the Mexican language which exposition translated into Spanish and thence into English together with the said Picture-historie are here presented §. I. The Mexican Chronicle HEre beginneth the Historie and foundation of the Citie of Mexico founded and inhabited by the Mexicans who at that time were called Meçiti whose originall beginning of being Lords and their acts and liues are declared briefely in this Historie according as it is signified and set out successiuely by the pictures and paintings following In the yeare 1324. after the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ the Mexican people first arriued at the place of the Citie of Mexico and because they liked well the greatnesse and the scituation of that place after that they had trauailed in their Iournies and wandered many yeares from Country to Countrey in some of them had made their abode for some yeares being come from far Countries in following their Iournies and not being contented with the other places where they had made their abode they came and setled themselues in the place of Mexico The which place at that time was all drowned with water and was couered with great bogs and bankes of moorish shegs and bulrushes which they call Tuli and it had Carrizales and great plats of dry ground couered with shrubbes bushes and briars like woods And through all the space of that place there went a spring streame of fair cleere water which was free from all segges and bushes which water streame went through it crossewise in manner of Saint Andrewes crosse as it is shewed in the picture and about the middle of that place of that water-streame the Meçiti found a great rocke of stone and growing thereon a great Tree or bush called Tunal wherein a great Eagle Candal had her haunt and abode for her foode so as all about that place was scattered full of bones and feathers of diuers Birds and Foules of diuers colours And they hauing gone throughout all that place and Countrie thereabout and finding it very fruitfull and full of wilde beasts wilde Foules Birds and Fishes and things of the water wherewith to sustaine themselues and to profit themselues in their businesse in dealing with the Townes thereabouts and finding the water-courses of that place so commodious and that their Neighbours could not trouble nor hurt them and for other things and causes to their good liking they determined to passe no further on their iourneyes in trauelling but to settle themselues and dwell still And according to their determination they did settle themselues there effectually And made themselues a strong Citie of defence with bankes and walles about the waters and on the plats of ground among the âegges and Bushes of Tulis and Carrizales And for a beginning of that their seate and habitation it was determined by them to giue name and title to that place calling it Tenultitlan By reason and cause of the Tunal growing out of the Rocke for Tenuchtitlan interpreted in our Castilian Spanish Tongue is Tunal growing vpon a Rocke The armie of the Mexican people had with them for chiefe Gouernours ten persons named Ocelopan Quapan Acacitli Ahuexolt Teâuch Tâcincuh ãâã Xocoyol Xuihcaqui Atototl as it is
with wildernesse for euerie sort To these places the Lords of Mexico vsed to goe and sport themselues such and so many were the houses of Mutezuma wherein few Kings were equall with him He had daily attending vpon him in his priuate Guard sixe hundred Noblemen and Gentlemen and each of them three or foure seruants and some had twentie seruants or moe according to his estate and in this manner he had three thousand men attendant in his Court and some affirme more all the which were fed in his house of the meate that came from his table The seruing men alwaies abode below in the Court all the day and went not from thence till after Supper It is to be thought that his Guard was the greater because the strangers were there although in effect of truth it is most certaine that all the Lords that are vnder the Mexicall Empire as they say are thirtie persons of high estate who are able to make each of them a hundred thousand men There are three thousand Lords of Townes who haue many vassals These Noblemen did abide in Mexico certaine times of the yeare in the Court of Mutezuma and could not depart from thence without especiall licence of the Emperour leauing each of them a sonne or brother behinde them for securitie of rebellion and for this cause they had generally houses in the Citie such and so great was the Court of Mutezuma There is not in all the Dominions of Mutezuma any subiect that paieth not tribute vnto him The Noblemen pay their tribute in personall seruice The Husbandmen called Maceualtin with body and goods In this sort they are either Tenants or else heires to their possessions Those which are heires doe pay one third part of all their fruite and commoditie that they doe reape or bring vp as Dogges Hennes Foule Conies Gold Siluer Stones Salt Waxe Honie Mantels Feathers Cotten and a certaine fruite called Cacao that serueth for money and also to eate Also all kinde of Graine and Garden Hearbes and Fruites whereof they doe maintaine themselues The Tenants doe pay monethly or yearely as they can agree and because their tribute is great they are called slaues for when they may haue licence to eate Egges they thinke it a great fauour It was reported that they were taxed what they should eate and all the residue was taken from them They went verie poorely cloathed yea and the most of their treasure was an earthen Pot wherein they boiled their Hearbes a couple of Milstones to grinde their Corne and a Mat to lye vpon They did not onely paie this Rent and Tribute but also serued with their bodies at all times when the great King should command They were in such great subiection to their Prince that they durst not speake one word although their daughters should be taken from them to be vsed at pleasure All the aforesaid rents they brought to Mexico vpon their backes and in Boates I meane so much as was necessarie for the prouision of the House and Court of Mutezuma all the rest was spent among Souldiers and bartred for Gold Plate Precious stones and other rich Iewels esteemed of Princes all the which was brought to the Treasurie In Mexico was large and great Barnes and Houses to receiue and keepe the Corne for prouision of the Citie with Officers and vnderofficers who did receiue the same and kept account thereof in Bookes of painted figures And in euery Towne was a Receiuer who bare in his hand a rod or a bush of Feathers and those gaue vp their accounts in Mexico If any such had beene taken with deceit and falshood death was his reward yea and his kinred punished with penalties as of a linage of a traitour to his Prince The Husbandmen if they paid not well their Tribute were apprehended for the same and if they were found to be poore through sicknesse and infirmitie then they were borne withall but if they were found to be lazie and sloathfull they should be vsed accordingly but in conclusion if they paied it not at a day appointed then they should be sold for slaues to pay their debt or else be sacrificed There were many other Prouinces which paid a certaine portion and reknowledged seruice but this Tribute was more of honour then profit In this sort Mutezuma had more then suffitient to prouide his house and wars and to heape vp great store in his Treasury Moreouer he spent nothing in the building of his houses for of long time he had certaine Townes that paid no other Tribute but onely to worke and repaire continually his Houses at their owne proper cost and paid all kinde of workemen carrying vpon their backes or drawing in sleds Stone Lime Timber Water and all other necessaries for the worke Likewise they were bound to prouide all the firewood that should be spent in the Court which was a great thing and did amount to two hundred and thirty weight a day which was fiue hundred mens burdens and some dayes in the winter much more And for the Kings Chimneys they brought the barke of Oake trees which wes best esteemed for the light thereof for they were great Sorcerers Mutezuma had one hundred Cities with their Prouinces of whom he receiued Rents Tributes and Vâssalage where he maintained Garrison of Souldiers and had Treasurers in each of them His dominion did extend from the North sea to the South sea and six hundred miles in longitude within the maine Land although in very deede there were some Townes as Tlaxcallon Mechuacan Panuco and Teocantepec which were his enemies and paid him neither Tribute nor Seruice but yet the Ransome was much when any of them was taken Also there were oâher Kings and Noblemen as of Texcuto and Tlacopan which were not in subiection vnto him but onely in homage and obedience for they were of his owne linage vnto whom Mutezuma married his Daughters Description of Mexico as it flourished in those times MExico at the time when Cortes entred was a Citie of sixtie thousand houses The Kings house and oâher 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 vpon the water euen in the same order as Venice is All the body of the Citie standeth in a great large Lake of water There are three sorts of streetes very broad and faire the one sort are onely water with many Bridges another sort of onely earth and the third of earth and water that is to say the one halfe earth to walke vpon and the other halfe for Boates to bring prouision of all sorts These streetes are kept alwayes cleane and the most part of the houses haue two doores the one towards the Cawsey and the other
no secular man may touch that holy Image no nor yet come into his Chappell nay-scarsly religious persons except they were Tlamacaztli who are Priests of order They doe renew this Image many times with new dough taking away the old but then blessed is he that can get one piece of the old raggs for reliques and chiefly for Souldiers who thought themselues sure there with in the warres Also at the consecration of this Idoll a certaine vessell of water was blessed with many wordes and ceremonies and that water was preserued very religiously at the foot of the Altar for to consecrate the King when he should be crowned and also to blesse any Captaine generall when he should be elected for the warres with onely giuing him a draught of that water Without the Temple and ouer against the principall doore thereof a stones cast distant standeth the Charnell house onely of dead mens heads prisoners in warres and sacrificed with the knife This monument was made like vnto a Theater more larger then broad wrought of lime and stone with ascending steps in the walls whereof was grafted betwixt stone and stone a Scull with the teeth outwards At the foot and head of this Theater were two Towres made onely of lime and sculls the teeth outward and this wall hauing no other stuffe seemed a strange sight At and vpon the top of the Theater were seuentie Poles standing the one from the other foure or fiue foot distant and each of them was full of staues from the foot to the top Each of these staues had others made fast vnto them so that euery of them had fiue sculs broched ãâã the Temple Andrew de Tapia did certifie me that he and Gonçalo de Vmbria did reckon them in one day and found a hundred thirtie and sixe thousand sculls on the poles staues and steps The other Towres were replenished out of number a most cruell custome being onely mens heads slaine in sacrifice although it hath a shew of humanitie for the remembrance there placed of death There are also men appointed that when one scull falleth to set vp another in his place so that the number may neuer want Other Mexican Antiquities Letters Numbers Yeeres Dayes Weekes c. THere hath not beene found Letters at any time in the West India onely in new Spaine were vsed certaine figures which serued for letters with the which they kept in memorie and preserued their Antiquities The figures that the Mexicans vsed for letters are great by reason whereof they occupie great Volumes they engraue them in stone or timber and paint them vpon walls and also vpon a paper made of cotton wooll and leaues of the tree Metl Their bookes are great and folded vp like vnto our broad cloathes and written vpon both sides There are some bookes rolled vp like a piece of flannell They pronounce not v g r s y therefore they vse much p c l x. This is the Mexican speech and Nahual which is the best playnest and the most eloquent in all new Spaine There are some in Mexico that doe vnderstand each other by whistling which is ordinarily vsed among Louers and Theeues a speech truly to wonder at and none of our men could come to the knowledge thereof Their reckoning by numbers was in this sort Ce One Ome Two Ei Three Naui Foure Macuil Fiue Chicoace Six Chicome Seuen Chicuei Eight Chiconaui Nine Matlac Ten Matlactlioce Eleuen Matlactliome Twelue Matlactlomei Thirteene Matlactlinaui Fourteene Matlactlinacui Fifteene Matlactlichicoace Sixteene Matlactlichicome Seuenteene Matlactlichicuei Eighteene Matlactlichiconaui Nineteene Cempoalli Twentie Euery number is simple vntill you come to sixe and then they count sixe and one sixe and two sixe and three Ten is a number by himselfe then you must count ten and one ten and two ten and three ten and foure ten and fiue Then you count ten fiue and one ten fiue and two ten fiue and three Twentie goeth by himselfe and all the greater numbers The Mexican yeere is three hundreth and sixtie dayes for they haue in their yeere eighteene moneths and euery moneth contayneth twentie dayes They haue other fiue odde dayes which goeth by themselues in the which they vsed to celebrate great feasts of cruell and bloudy sacrifice with much deuotion And reckoning after this sort they could not choose but erre for they could not make equall the punctuall course of the Sunne Yea the Christian yeere is not perfect although wee haue learned Astronomers But yet these simple Indians went neere the marke The names of the moneths Tlacaxipeualiztli Tozcutzli Huei Tozeuztli Toxcalt Ecalcoaliztli Tocuilhuicintli Hueitecuilhuitl Miccailhuicintli Veymiccailhuitl Vchpaniztli Pachtli Huei Pachtli Quecholli Panquecaliztli Hatemuztli Tititlh Izcalli Coa Vitleuac The names of Dayes were Cipactli A Spade Hecatl Aire or Winde Calli A House Cuez Pali A Lizzart Coualt A Snake Mizquintli Death Macatl A wilde Hart Toohtli A Cony Atl Water Izcuyntli A Dogge Ocumatli An Ape Malinalli A Broome Acatlh A Caue Ocelotl A Tigre Coautli An Eagle Cozcaquahutl A Buzzard Olin A Temple Tepatlh A Knife Quiauitl Raine Xuchitl A Rose Although these twentie names serue for the whole yeere and are but the dayes of euery moneth yet therefore euery moneth beginneth not with Cipactli which is the first name but as they follow in order and the fiue odde dayes is the cause thereof And also because their weeke is of thirteene dayes which changeth the names as by example Cecipactli can goe no further then vnto Matlactlomeiacatl which is thirteene and then beginneth another weeke and we doe not say Matlactlinaui Ocelotl which is the fourteenth day but wee say Ceocelotl which is one and then reckon the other sixe names vnto twentie And when all the twentie dayes are ended begin againe to reckon from the first name of the twentie but not from one but from eight And because yee may better vnderstand the matter here is the example Cecipactli Omehecatl Ei Calli Naui Cuezpali Macuilcouatl Chicoacen Mizquinth Chicome Macatl Chicuâi Tochtli Chiconauiatl Matlaciz Cuintli Mailactlioce Ocumatli Matlactliome Malinalli Matlactlomei Acatlh The next weeke following doth begin his dayes from one And that one is the fourteenth name of the moneth and of the dayes and saith Ceotelotl Omecoautli Eâcozcaquahutli Naui Olui Macuil Tecpatl Chicoacen Quiauitl Chicome Xuchitl Chicoei Cipactli In this second weeke Cipactli came to fall on the eight day being in the first weeke the first day Cemacatl Ometochtli Eiatl Naui Izcuintli Macuil Ocumatli And so proceede on to the third weeke in the which this name Cipactli entreth not but Macatl which was the seuenth day in the first weeke and had no place in the second and is the first in the third The reckoning is no darker then ours which we haue in a b c d e f g. For they also change with time and run in such sort that a which was the first letter of this moneth commeth to be the fift day of the
bones and Iewels was gathered and laid vpon a rich Mantle the which was carried to the Temple gate where the Priests attended to blesse those deuellish relickes whereof they made a dough or paste and thereof an Image which was apparelled like a man with a visor on his face and all other sorts of Iewels that the deaâ King was wont to weare so that it seemed a gallant I doll At the foote of the Temple staires they opened a graue ready made which was square large and two fadom deepe it was also hanged with new Mats round about and a farre bed therein in the which a religious man placed the Idol made of aâhes with his eyes toward the East part and hung round about the wals Targets of Gold and Siluer with Bowe and Arrowes and many gallant tuffes of Feathers with earthen vessels as Pots Dishes and Platters so that the graue was filled vp with houshold stuffe Chests couered with Leather Apparell Iewels Meate Drinke and Armor This done the graue was shut vp and made sure with beâmes boords and flored with earth on the top All those Gentlemen which had serued or touched any thing in the buriall washed themselues and went to dinner in the Court or yard of the Kings house without any table and hauing dined they wiped their hands vpon certaine locks of Cotten woll hanging downe their heads and not speaking any word except it were to aske for drinke This Ceremonie endured fiue dayes and in all that time no fire was permitted to be kindled in the Citie except in the Kings house and Temples nor yet any Corne was ground or Market kept nor none durst goe out of their houses shewing all the sorrow that might be possible for the death of their King In Mexico were twelue Iudges who were all Noblemen graue and well learned in the Mexican Lawes These men liued onely by the rents that properly appertaine to the maintenance of Iustice and in any cause iudged by them it was lawfull for the parties to appeale vnto other twelue Iudges who were of the Princes bloud and alwayes abode in the Court and were maintained at the Kings owne cost and charges The inferiour Iudges came ordinarily once euery moneth to consult with the higher And in euery fourescore dayes came the Iudges of euery Prouince within the Mexican Empire to consult with the Iudges of Mexico but all doubtfull causes were reserued to the King onely to passe by his order and determination The Painters serued for notaries to paint all the cases which were to be resolued but no suite passed aboue fourescore dayes without finall end and determination There were in that Citie twelue Sergeants whose office was to arrest and to call parties before the Iudges Their garments were painted Mantels whereby they were knowne a farre off The Prisons were vnder ground moist and darke the cause whereof was to put the people in feare to offend If any witnesse were called to take an oath the order was that he should touch the ground with one of his fingers and then to touch his tongue with the same which signified that he had sworne and promised to speake the troth with his tongue taking witnesse thereof of the earth which did maintaine him But some doe interprete the oath that if the paâtie sware not true that then he might come to such extremitie as to eate earth Sometime they name and call vpon the God of the crime whose cause the matter touched The Iudge that taketh bribes or gifts is forthwith put out of his office which was accounted a most vile aâd ãâã reproach The Indians did affirme that Necauâlpincintâ did hang a Iudge in Tezâââo for ãâ¦ã sentence be himselfe knowing the contrary The Murtherer is executed without exception The woman with childe that wilfully casteth her creature suffereth death for the same The Theefe for the first offence was made a slaue and hanged for the second The Traitor to the King and Common-weale was put to death with extreame torments The Woman taken in Mans apparell died for the same and likewise the Man taken in Womans attire Euery one that challengeth another to fight except in the warres was condemned to dye In Tezcuco the sinne of Sodomie was punished with death and that Law was instituted by Necaualpincinth and Necaualcoio who were Iudges which abhorred that filthy sinne and therefore they deserued great praise for in other Prouinces that abhominable sinne was not punished although they haue in those places common Stewes as in Panuco The end of the fift Booke AN ALPHABETICALL TABLE OF THE PRINCIPALL THINGS CONTAINED IN THE FIVE BOOKES of the third Part of PVRCHAS his Pilgrims The first Number notes the Page the second Number directs you to the number noted in the back-margent of the Pages Right against which or betwixt that and the next number the note is to bee found Obserue that whereas many words may bee well written with I. or with Y. the Reader is to looke to both Obserue also that Name of Saints or Knights are not set vnder S. but in the Alphabet of their proper Names A ABaccu is the Caspian Sea 69.60 The largenesse of it 70.1 Abaseia or Habassia is India media 106.50 in Marg. Rich in Gold ibid. Abedalcuria 252.60 Abortion caused by an Herbe 991.40 Acapulco the Prouince and Port in the West Indies the Latitude 871.60 Acias or Akas so the Tartars call the Alanian Christians 10.10 Enemies to the Tartars 12.40 Achbaluch Mangi which in Tartars Language is the White Citie of the Mangi 90.1 Acornes as big as Apples 520 50 Accents the Chinois haue fiue seuerall 384.20 Accounts cast by graines of Corne 1053.50 Accord betweene Poles and Russes about chusing their Emperour 788.789 Acquaintance the Ceremony of beginning it 374 Acacron the Armenian Prophet 49.50 Acon the Citie Arabicke and Syriack vnderstood there 13.50 Adams Sepulcher in Zeilan 106.1 More of that Fable ibid. Adams-Apples grow in Persia 71.10 Adders of India their seuerall sorts and natures 976.1 Adem the Soldan of it discomfited 106.50 Admirals Iland 474.40 Sea horses there 512 Adoration the manner of it in Mexico 1027.30 1028.1 1046.60 Adoption practised in Russia 740.40 Adulterie punished with Death in Peru 1058.40 Adultresses Dowries giuen to poore Girles 276.10 Adulterie Witaldrie the punishment 182.40 Adulterers how punished in China 204.10 Aedgar the King his mightie Nauie 619.40 Emperour of the Ocean ibid. Aegeland and Halgeland discouered 212.1 Aequinoctiall vnder it moyst and raynie and why 918.40 Not so hoâ as the Antients held it very cold in March causes of the temperature though the Sunne bee very hote the dayes and nights equall 920. No Calmes vnder the Lane 923.60.926 The Ayre vnder or neere it swifter then the Ayre about the Poles and why 925.30 Easterne and Westerne windes continuall vnder the Lino 925.40 See Torride Zone Aequinoctiall whither healthfull liuing vnder it 889.10 Aethiopian Patriarch 327.30
last discourse with Frier William 43. His letters to the French King 45.50 Mangu or Mango-Chan 114.10 Baptized 115.60 Dyeth 117.20 Mangani what 97.1 Mangu-Chans Iustice done vpon his owne Wife 44.50 45.1 Manguslane a Port 235.30 The people described ibid. Mânilla the Iland 286.10 A Bishops Sea there ibid. Mânna-hota the Riuer in Virginia 599 Manse and Taute Ilanders of Cathaya 34.10 Mansflesh eaten in the Siege of Mosco 780.20 Map-makers and Globe-makers create Lands and Ilands at pleasure 461.10 Map of China the best with notes 401.402 c. Mappes of China their Errour 168.10 Maps purposely made false by the Spaniards 853.30 Maragnon or the Riuer of Amazones in the West Indies the chiefest of the World 933.60 Seuenty leagues broad at the mouth 934.20 Marble a kind of it much esteemed in China 315.312.1 Like to Iaspar ibid. Gotten out of the Riuers and forced with Fire 313.1 Marchpane in China 292.50 298.40 Marcopia or Mangat the Citie 634 30 Marcus Paulus Venetus made one of Cublai Chaâs Clerkes 67.40 He learnes foure Languages ibid. Sent Ambassadour by him to Carahan ibid. 50. Writes a Iournall of his trauels ibid. Continues a long time with the Great Chan ibid. Goes to Argon in India 68.30 To Trebesonde Constantinople Negroponte and to Venice againe ibid. 40. Where no body knew him ibid. 50.60 Taken Prisoner by the Genowayes might not be redeemed 69.1 He writes his trauailes ibid. Marcus Paulus Venetus his Booke 65.40 Mares tayle the Tartars Ensigne 643.1 Mares white all Consecrated in Tartarie when and how 44.10 Much like to the Papists fashion saith Rubruquis ibid. Magarita Iland in the West Indies the distance from Hispaniola and Trinidad the Villages in it Pearle-fishing there the Latitude 866.20 Margarites Sound in Orkney 827.20 Marienberg by Danske the Lutheran and Romane Religions exercised there 626.20 Built by whom ibid. Market-wares of Mexico 1132. c. Mermalades of West Indian fruit 957.60.958.20 Marriages of the Chinois 367.50 One Wife and many Concubines which they buy and sell againe their Children inherite ibid. They Marry not any of their owne name ibid. Marriages publicke Vtensiles for them in China 99.10 Marriages of the Mamâses of Curland 628. Of the Lithuanians 628.60 Marriages in China 182.30 Marriages of the Chinois 393.60 See Weddings Marriages of the Mexicans 1009.40 Marriages of the Samoieds 555.40 Marriages the third or fourth not well allowed in the Greeke Church 435.30 The manner of Solemization in Russia 453. Held vnlawfull without consent of Parents 454.1 Large Dowries and no Ioynters ibid. 10. They goe on Horsebacke to Church ibid. The Ceremonies at Church like ours ibid. Performed at the Altar with Ring and ioyning of hands shee knockes her Head vpon his Shooe and he throwes the lappe of his Garment ouer her ibid. The Cermony of the Loafe and Meade and Corne flung vpon them and the Brides silence ibid. The Marriage Feast and the Bridegroome and Bride called Duke and Duchesse 456.1 Marriages of the Crim Tartars what degrees are forbidden them their Dowries 441.30 Marriages of the West Indians 991.40 993.40 998.40 Of the Mexicans 1044 Marriages incestuous of the Kings of Peru 1054.50 Marriage Solemnities 1058 Marriage Rites of Mexico 1107. c. Martauan in Pegu 281.40 Santa Martha Prouince in the West Indies the Extent Site natiue Commodities Mines precious Stones Latitude Martyrs of the Diuels making 70.50 Maskes c. at the Coronation of the Kings of Mexico 1019.40 Masking in China 349.40 Massis the Mountaine where Noahs Arke rested 50.20 Masuaga the Iland 285.20 Mathematickes first taught in China 329.60 339.20 30 The meannesse of their former skill that way 344.20 Their Instruments 346.20 Matriga the City where 2.10 Matrimony the forme in Russia 229.50 230.1 Matepheone or Mathewes Land 805 Mattuschan Y ar in Russia the way thence to Ob 805.30 Maudlen Sownd in Greenland the latitude 721.40 Maundy Thursday the Russian Emperour receiues the Sacrament vpon 227.50 May-feasts and May Flowers brought by the Indians to their houses 1045.30 May-pole of snow 492.10 Mays or Indian Wheate makes men scabbie how it growes differences of the graine how drest and eaten malted for Beâre 953 It serues for Butter Bread Wine and Oyle and for man beast 954.1 Meani are Temples in China 201.40 Meades of seuerall sorts 231.1 Meates some holyer then others in Russia 453. Their superstitious abstinence ibid. Meates prepared for Idols in Mexico 104.60 Meate-forkes of Gold 242.50 Mechoacan the Bishopricke Prouince in the West Indies the Extent Altitude of the Citie other Townes vnder it 874.40 875 Mechouacans forsaken by their kinsmen of Mexico how 1002.60 They hate the Mexicans therefore 1003.1 Mecriti or Meditae a Tartarian people of Bargu 79.40 Media now called Sheruan 245.40 Conquered by the Turkes ibid. Possessed by the Turkes 244.20 Mediator the Russes errour about him 452 Meditae or Mecriti in Tartaria 79.4 Mediterranean Sea none of note in all America 926.50 Mâgoa in China spoyled by fiftie Iaponians 299 Melons of West India described 955.30 Men with tayles 104.1 Men beasts and fowle how they came into America a discourse of it 964 Men-eaters 101.20 103.50 eating their owne kindred 103.60 Mendez his designe and performance 278.20 Merchants poore in Russia 432.50 Merchants Feast of Mexico the manner of it 1048. c. They eate the Man which they had Sacrificed 1049.20 Merclas so the Tartars call the Merdui 12.30 Merdui a people in Tartarie ibid. Mergates Straights 488.50 Merida Citie in the West Indies the Latitude 875.30 The description ibid. Meridin the Prouince where 69.50 Sir Iohn Mericke Agent in Russia 748.749 Sent Ambassadour thither 791. Makes the Peace betwixt Russia Sweden 792.50 Merites onely aduance in China 388 1 Merkit or Crit Nestorian Christians in Catay 15.10 Mermayd seene and described 575.60 Mesopotamia the bounds 110.50 Mestizos or Children gotten by Spaniards vpon Indian women 3. thousand in one Prouince 902.10 Meta incognita discouered by Sir Martin Frobisher 463.30 Metall held by the Chinois for an Element 345.50 Metals grow like Plants a Philosophicall discourse of their production 941.942 Their diuersities and vseâ of the qualitie of the earth where they grow in barren places the finest Metals on the top of the Mine 946.40 All Metals but Gold swimmes in Quickesiluer 948.1 Metempsychosis or the transmigration of Soules in China 368.60.369 Metempsychosis the opinion of it causes Mothers to kill their Children 396.20 Metempsychosis the Iudge for it 408.10 Methodius the Armenian Prophet 49.50 Metropolitan of Muscouia his State hee sits while the Emperour stands 226.50 The Emperour leades his Horse 227.30 The people spreads their garments vnder him Hee blesseth them ibid. The Emperour dines with him on Palme-sunday 227.40 All matters of Religion the Emperour referres to him 228.1 Metropolitan of Mosco made a Ptatriarch 445.40.50 The maner ibid. His imagined Iurisdiction oueÌr the whole Greeke Church 446.20 Metropolitans of Nouogrod and Rostoue vnder the Patriarch of Mosco ibid.
windes ibid. And by Westerly 925.50 Raines euer and neuer where 936. The reason 937 Rainebow with both ends vpwards 222.50 Rainebow the fable of it 275.40 Raine-Deere backnyed out 537.20 They feed vpon white Mosse 548 10. The chiefe riches of the Samoieds 555 Reasons of a Northwest Passage 848 849 Rebaptization vsed by the Russe 451. 786.40 Their Catechising and other Ceremonies ibid. Rebat the Kingdome 311.1 Rebellion how preuented in China 376.30 Records of the Peruuians kept by knots 1053.20 Red the King of Chinaâs Colour 208 20 Red Painting forbidden to priuate Houses in China 407.60 The peculiar Colour wherein Visitors come to the Kings throne 405.10 Red Sea or the Straight of Mecca 252.50 in marg Redemption of wilde Creatures 398.30 Reedes exceeding hard and great 382.20 Reedes or Canes of the West Indies Houses and Qâiuers made of them their knots full of pure water 983.50 Refining of Gold wherewithall 943 50. Of Siluer 944.1.10 947 The manner 950.20 Region of Darkenesse where the Sunne appeares not in Winter 107.10 110.40 Religion in Muscouia 217. 218. 227. 228.217.30 Religion of Musconia 444.445 c. According to the Greeke Church ibid. Religion of Mugalla like the Russes 800.1 Religion of the Crim Tartars 441 10. Their opinions of Christ ibid. Their Idols Religion of the Mexicans 1026. c. Religion in Peru the vniformitie of it euery where 1057.1 Remission of sentence is Almes-deedes 272.10 Rendacalem the Citie 281.30 Renkanes Promontory in East Iseland 654.60 Reobarte the Countrey 71.30 Resurrection an inckling of it in China 274.20 And after that all shall remaine in the Moone ibid. Reidarfiall Mountaine in Island 654.20 Reidarfiard Bay in Island 654.30 Reuelation not read in the Russian Church 452.30 Reward after Death the Chinois opinion of it 201 Rheâorike the Fauorite-study of China 370 Rhinocerotes where called Badas their Horne good against the Piles 169.10 Vsed to Carriages 277 60 Rhubarb 362.40 Where it growes 76.50 In China 97 50 Rhubarb described 164.40 The price of it there ibid. Called Rouen Câni 165 Rialarnes Prouince in Island 665 Ribbes of the Examined broken or pincht 434 Rica or Rie in Liefland 627.10 Or Rigaâo Rice the King of Chinaes tribute payed in 364. The chiefe food of China ibid. Rice growes in Marishes 178. â0 Rice Bread 91.40 Richard Relâe a debauched Englishman rebaptized by the Russe 451.50 Richest Prouince in the World is Malabar 104.30 Ricius the Iesuit sent for into China 320.50 Carries a fiâe Watch with him Is made Gouernour of the Colledge in Amacao 321.40 Disappointed of his purpose and returnes to Amacao ibid. Returnes into China 327.30 He and Ruggierus sent to the Aitao ibid. Commanded away by him ibid. Gets leaue to build 328.40.50 Their Bookes admired 329.1 How honoured ibid. Slundered and conspired against and freed ibid. 20. Hee prints a Mappe in the China Characters ibid. Makes Spheares Globes and Dyals reades vpon them and is admired ibid. A proposition for an Embassie from Spaine to China crossed 330.10 He is troubled in Sciauchin salues all with bribes 333.30 But is after banished ibid. Builds another Station or house at Xauceum 334.50 Teaches Mathematickes 335.1 His house abused and the Offenders punished ibid. 10. A Conspiracy against him ibid. Taken for a Boâzi and infamous whereupon he alters his habite 336.1 Goes further into China 337.1.10 c. Arriuer at Nanquin 338.10 Is skared thence and goes to Nanciân his vision ibid. 50. He hath the Art of memory 339.10 Gets into great credite writes a Booke of friendship ibid. Goes to Nanquin againe but not suffered to stay 340.1.10 His Iourney to Pâquin the Citie Royall 341. Pâsses the streets vnknowne 34â 10. Makes a China Dictionary and Grammar 342. 34â Returnes againe to Nanquin 343 Ricius honoured againe at Nanquin 345.20 Teaches Mathematickes ibid. 346. Beleeued to haue liued some Ages 347.39 Disputes with the famous Chinois and is admired 348. His Presents to the King and the losse of their Ship ibid. 50. 352. His China name iâ Sithai 349.1 In danger of an Eunuch ibid. 1. Is befriended and feasted by that great Eunuch ibid. 353.10.20 His Iourney to Court ibid. His Petition vnanswered 354.1.40.60 Pillâged by an Eunuch and petitioned against 355.20.30.40 c. Is sent for by the King 356.20 Exceeding welcome ibid. Vrged to be made a Mandarine 357.40 Is shut vp some Moneths and petitioned against 358.10 Hath leaue to hire a House and hath allowance of the Kings purse and honoured againe ibid. 359. His Booke of the description of China begins page 380. The Iewes offer to make him Ruler of their Synagogue 400.60 Hath liberty to stay at Peqâin and maintenance 405.40 One writes against him falls sicke and dyes 407.1 Ring vsed in Marriage by the Russes 454.20 Rings the Chinois weare in their Eares but not on their Fingers 349.30 Worne in the Nosthrils by the Indians 992.30 Ripening of greene Nuts in a Vessell a Philosophicall way 956.30 Riphaean Mountaines where 53.30 The fables of them 220.40 Risalandia a Prouince in Norway the Etymon 661.30 Riuer made by hand in China 97.30 Riuer changing his Course 236.20 Aâd why 236.40 Riuer lost in the Earth ibid. 20. 237.40 Riuer sinking vnderground and rising againe 873.50 Riuers yeelding Gold 874.10 Riuer Quian in China the greatest in the World 97.10 Much traded vpon ibid. Riuers of Russia the chiefe 415.30 Riuer of Mosca hallowed 225.10 226. And the Volga 244.10 Riuer of Plate the Voyage distance and seasons of Nauigation from Spaine thither 859.50 Riuer of Salt in Chile the Latitude 898 Riuers in China all frozen in Winter 343.1 Riuers frozen for fiue moneths in Russâa 414.50 Riuers of Podolia 632.20 Riuers of Siberia 525.526 c. Riuers of Saint Lucar Nicardo and Zedros in the West Indies their distance from the Aequinoctiall 891.40 Riuers Mountaines c. worshipped in India 1028.20 Their Sacrifices 1036.50 Roâes most exceeding rich in Russia 741 Robais or Edessâ the Citie 110.50 Rocke artificiall one 346.60 c. Rocke of Diamonds 253.40 Rogations imitated by the Diuell in Mexico 1047.20 c. Rogaelandia Prouince in Norway 654.40 Roman fortitude of a Mexican Captiue 1015 Romish rites found in China 397.60 As single Life Singing Seruice long Robes Purgatory and Absolution vpon money giuen to the Priest his shauing Monkery and base esteeme 398.1.10 Romish Pilgrimages held a protection for tyrannous vsurpation 622. marg Rootes whereof the Indians make Bread or Meate 954.955 Rope-tumblers in China 349.40 Rope-walking admirably in the West Indies 1065.10 Rose Iland in Russia by Archangell Castle an English house there 744.10 The way thence to Mosco 747.10 Ressomakka a strange Beast described 220 Rost Ilands where 212.10 222.50 Rosting the Examined on a Spit 434.50 Rouerso a Fish vsed to catch other Fishes described where inuented 999.10 Roxani and Roxolani in Scrabo are the Russians 633.30 Roxellani are not the Russes 413.50 Rubarb vsed in a Iugling cure
I leaue to bee scanned by Falconers themselues Great expense of Wooll Chap. 8. Of the fashion which the Tartars vse in cutting their haire and of the attire of their women Chap. 9. Of the duties inioyned vnto the Tartarian Women and of their labors and also of their marriages Chap. 10. Of their execution of Iustice and Iudgment and of their deaths and burials Sepulchres Chap. 11. Of our first entrance among the Tartars and of their ingratitude Duke Sartach Chap. 12. Of the Court of Scacatai how the Christians drinke no Cosmos A caue at right worthy the noting Superstition the Kingdom â of God is not meate and drinke Chap. 13. How the Alanians came vnto vs on Pentecost or Whitson Eââe * Or Akas Cloth is the chiefe Merchandise in Tartarie Chap. 14. Of a Saracen which said that he would be baptized and of certaine men which seemed to bee Lâpers Salt-pits Ten dayes Iourney Valani The length of Comania Russia Chap. 15. Of our afflictions which wee sustained and of the Comanians manner of buriall Prussia Extreame heate in Summer Tanaiâ The breadth of Tanais He is much deceiued About the beginning of August the Tartars returne Southward Chap. 16. Of the Dominion of Sartach and of his Subiects The people of Moxel are Pagans The people called Merdui being Saracens The circuit of the Caspian Sea Kergis or Aas The Saracens called Lesgi He returneth by Derbent Chap. 17. Of the Court of Sartach and of the magnificence thereof Coiat the Nestorian No good consequence Chap. 18. How they were giuen in charge to goe vnto Baatu the Father of Sartach They are come as farre as Volga The Tartars will be called Moal Chap. 19. How Sartach and Mangu-Can and Ken-Can doe reuerence vnto Christians This Historie of Presbyter Iohn in the North-east is alleaged at large by Gerardus Mercator in his generall Mâp From whence the Turkes first sprang An Ocean Sea Nayman Presbyter Iohn The place of Ken Kan his aboad Vut Can or Vuc Can. The Village of Cara Carum Crit Merkit Moal in old time a beggerly people The place of the Tartars Cyngis Mangu-Can Mancherule Chap. 20. Of the Russians Hungarians and Alanianââ and of the Caspian Sea Oâ Berâa Changlâ Frier Andrew Chap. 21. Of the Court of Baatu and how we were entertayned by him The North Ocean He descendeth downe the Riuer Volga in a Barke Aââracan The description of Baatu his Court. Horda signifieth the midst Iohn de Plano Carpini The Letters of the French King Chap. 22. Of our iourney towards the Court of Mangu-Can They trauell fiue weekes by the banke of Etilia Hungarians A Comonian A iourney of foure moneths from Volga The sixteenth of September Forty six daies Or Kangittae Chap. 23. Of the Riuer of Iagac Or Iaic and of diuers Regions or Nations Iaic twelue daies iourney from Volga Pascatir The Hungarians descended from the Bascirdes Valachians Deut. 32. v. 21. Rom. 10. v. 19. Cangle an huge plaine Countrey Chap. 24. Of the hunger and thirst and other miseries which we sustained in our iourned Certaine Riuers Eight daies iourny South-ward Asses swift of foot High Mountaines Manured grounds Kenchat a Village of the Saracens The seuenth day of Nouember A great Riuer Many Lakes Vines Chap. 25. How Ban was put to death and concerning the habitation of the Dutch men A Cottage The Mountaynes of Caucasus are extended vnto the Easterne Sea The Citie of Talas or Chincitalas Frier Andrew The Village of Bolac He entreth into the Territories of Mangu-Can Certaine Alpes wherein the Cara Catayans inhabited A mightie Riuer Ground tilled Equius A Lake of fifteene daies iourney in compasse Coilaâ a great Citie and full of Merchants Contomanni Chap. 26. How the Nestorians Sâracens and Idolaters are ioyned together The people called Iugureâ Idolaters Frier William was at Caracarum Chap. 27. Of their Temples and Idols and how they behaue themselues in worshipping their false gods Bookes Paper So doe the people of China vse to write drawing their lines perpendicularly downeward and not as we doe from the right hand to the left Chap. 28. Of diuers and sundry Nations and of certaine people which were wont to eate their owne parents The Countrey of Presbyter Iohn Tangut Strange Oxen. The people of Tebet Abundance of gold The sâature of the people of Tangut and of the Iugures Langa and Solanga The people of Solanga resemble Spaniards A table of Elephants tooth The people called Muc. Great Cataya * From hence is supplyed by Master Hacluits industrie as he told me out of a Manuscript in Bennet Colledge in Cambridge the other part hee had out of an imperfect Copie of my Lord Lumlies The Chapters disagree as being I thinke rather some Transcribers diuision then the Authors Yet haue I followed the numbers I found euen where they are obscurest The Friers Latin for some barbarous words and phrases hath beene troublesome to ãâã The worke I hold a Iewell of Antiquitie now first entirely publike Idolatry Nestorians Segni a Citie of Cathay They are so at this day The euill qualities of the Nestorians Hence by corruption of manners and ignorance of faith seemeth the Apostacy of the greatest part of Asia to haue happened furthered by Tartarian inuasions and Saracenicall All Priests * Consider our Author a Frier whose trauels we rather embrace then in such passages his diuinitie They were later Fathers which made such Decrees contrary to the Father of truth which ordained marriage in Leuies Priest-hood and chose married men to the Apostleship and forewarned of another Father who with Doctrines of Deuils should prohibite meate and marriage vnder colour of Priests chastitie making the Temple stewes to carnall and spirituall whoredome Chap. 26. Of such things as befell them departing from Cailac to the Country of the Naymannes Nouemb. 30. Decemb. 6. Extreme cold Decemb. 7. A dangerous passage Chap. 27. Of the Country of the Naymans and what befell the stock of Ken-Chan his sonne wiues Bâatu Stichin and Ken kill one another Chap. 28. Of their comming to the Court of Mangu Chan. Onam Kerule the proper Country of the Tartars Chap. 15. Tartars pride Decemb. 28. Chap. 29. Of a Christian chappell and of the conference with Sergius the counterfeit Armenian Monke and of the sharpnes and continuance of the Winter An Armenian Monke Their conference with the Armenian Monke Monkish Re ue lation Toes frozen S. Francis Order not Catholike Vniuersally fitting all places and seasons Frost vntill the moneth of May. Easter in the end of the end of Aprill And great Snow in the end of Aprill Shauing Respect of Priests Chap. 30. Of the Admitting of the Friars to Mangu Chan and his description and their conference with him The description of Mangu Chan. Drinke of Rice is cleere and sauoury and like to white Wine The Indians call it Racke The Oration of Frier William to Mangu Chan. The like Letters you haue of King Edw. 2. before l. 8. c. 7.
or penaltie of nine fold The maâkes of the heards of Cattell Bargu Meditae Strange Falcons This is either a coniecture or by relation hardly credible Night walking Spirits Ergmul Cathai Wilde Oxen of the bignesse of Elephants Muske Beautie preferred before Nobilitie and riches Feasants Egregaia Gog and Magog The Citie Sindicin Idifa Cianganor Fiue sorts of Cranes Xandu Hunting with Leopards A goodly house of pleasure A solemne Sacrifice Mares milke The Kings Magicians Shauings Austeritie Heère begins the second Booke of Marco Polo of which I thoght good to aduertise the Reader as for the Chapters the Latine and Remusio so differ that I haue leât both and obserued our owne diuisionâ Cingis or Chingis Can. Naiamâ rebellion Caydu Cublaiâ person described His Wiues and Concubines Vngut His children Temur The greene Mountaine Two Lakes Cambalu * The long storie of this rebellion is omitted Taidu Palaces The equalitie of the streets Suburbs large Burial without the Citie Haâlots of the Suburbs The number of the horse-men of the Courtiers The Guard Solemn feasts The order of them that sit downe Threshold threshing The Noblemen that carry dishes couer their mouthes The ceremonies while the King drinketh Consorts of Musicke The birth day of Cublai New Moone feast The presents of the men of Dignitie subiect vnto him The like Custome is still vsed by the Mogull as also the New-yeares day The twelue Barons The prayers of diuers Religions New-yeres day The white colour accounted ominous New-yeares gifts See Sir T. Roe of the presents to the Mogull The Kings Elephants The Feast A tame Lion The office of the Prouincial Hunters Tame Leopards and Lions Eagles The Masters of the Game Hawking 1â000 Falconers The Kings Horse litter Toscaol The markes of the Hawkes The number and order of the Pauilions The huge price of Armelines and Sables Hunting forbidden Barke or Paper money Cambalu the Mint of money Postes and Innes The Romans also had publike Stables as appeares by Constantine Zos. l. 2. and Palladius who in three dayes would ride from the Confines of the Empire to Constantinople Soc. l. 7. c. 19. Foote-postes Die Post bâden Their Priuiledges Prouisions against dearth Fatherly Royaltie Hence perhaps the walk from Lahor to Agra was occasioned Their Rice-wine Coales taken out of mines a thing strange to Polo an Italian but common with vs called Sea-cole because they are brought by Sea from New-castle c. Aeneas Syluius and the China Iesuites haue told wonders of these black stones a wonderfull diuine bounty indeed to this Land and specially to this Citie Cans charitie to the Poore The Tenths paid to the Can. Weekly labour for him The Deuill an Angell of light Astrologers Tartarian computation of times Their Religion * Shattendo identi Opinions of the soule Their Customes Court reuerence An admirable Bridge Ramusio hath giuen a picture London more The Citie Gouza Parting of the way Tainfu Armes Dor and his Damsel-court The King of Achen and the Mogol doe likewise in part Caramoran Carianfu Quenzanfu King Mangalu Cunchin Achbaluch Mangi Mangi Sindânfu Quian The greatnesse of the Prouince of Tebeth The subtill deuise of Trauellers Iustine in his 18. booke mentioneth the like of the Cyprians Aelianus V.H. the 4. booke chapter 1. Whose glorie is in their shame Corall money Eight Kingdomes of Tebeth Caindu Gadderi Cloues Ginger Cinamon The Inhabitants are Idolaters and Bawdes Money of Salt The Riuer Brius yeelding Gold The seuen Kingdomes of Caraian King Sentemur The Citie Iaci. Money of Stones Raw flesh Carazan Riuers yeelding gold di paiola that is washed in vessels from the sand earth Great Dragons The taking of them * Poyson and Dogs dung A wicked custome Cardandan Vociam The rarenesse of Siluer Golden couerings for the teeth * Strabo in his third booke mentioneth the same to be done with the Spaniards in some places Apollânius reporteth the like custome with the Leâusâf âf the Brasilians Tallies of contracts The deceitfull medicine of the Magicians * This by relation for they vse not to carry aboue three or foure His stratagem Fight flight of Elephants Market in a dis-habited Playne Change of gold and siluer Vnicornes or Rhinocerotes Mien The pietie of the Tartars towards the dead Bengala Oxen as bigge as Elephants Eunuches Cangigu The Kings many wiues Embroidred Gallants Amu. Tholoman Cintigui Cloth made of Barkes which are now vsed in Congo Great and hardie Dogs Sidinfu Cingui Pazanfu Cianglu The Salt of Canglu Great Peaches Ciangli Tudinfu Singuâmatu Caramoran Fanfur King of Mangi which is now called China Chinsan Baian another Argus in the signification of his name Quinsai the Kings Court. The flight of King Fanfur * This name Mangi and China are so different that they may seem diuers Regions But the Reader is to obserue that China is a name to the Chinois vnknowne and that Kingdome hath appellations diuersly diuersified either from the Familie reigning which now is called Ciu and the Kingdome Min and Min Ciu are not farre from Mangi and by the Tartars when they reigned it was called Han and before Cheu which both put together make Han Cheu without any great dissonance from Mangi Or else by generall appellations common to all ages c. See our following relations of Ricci and Trigantiâ Coiganzu The Salt of Conigangui * Terraglio Paughin Caim Phesants Tingui Salt pits Cingui Iangui Head of 27. Cities M. Polo Gouernour of Iangui Nanghin Mangani a kind of Engines It hereby appeares that they had not the vse of the Cannon Singui Quian Cayngui Hand-made Riuer Cinghianfu Tinguigui Singui Physicians and Philosophers Rhubarbe Quinsaâ the Earthly Citie of Heauen O how much better is the heauenly Citie on Earth in grace more then most incomparable that heauenly Citie of Heauen in glorie ap 21. 22. The situation 12000. bridges The Ditch Ten Market places The high street The mayne Chanell The Markets Peares of ten pound Trades of diuers sorts A saucy Citie The Quinsaian Citizens and their conditions Great neighbourhood Pleasures Stone wayes Astrologers Funerals Warders Clocks Hospitals Larums Nine Viceroyââ in Mangi 12000. Cities and their garrisons Fanfurs Palace Feasts 1000. Women in 1000. chambers Great Parke The Sea Gampu 1600000. housholds in Quinsai Reuenues of Quinsai the appurtenances twentie three Millions of Duckats and 200000. Customes Tapinzu Vgâiu Gengui Zengiaen Gieza Concha Fugiu Mân eaters Quelinfu Hayrie Hens Vnguem Sugar Cangiu Zaitum Tingui where Porcelane is made Here begins the third book of M. Polo Ships of India Zipangu De magnis maiora golden fâbles and make difference betwixt his owne Relations and those which he had at the second hand although it be true of much gilding in Edoo sup l. 4. c. 1. 3. This punishment the Mogol vsed to Corsâroons Captaines and in many things you shall see Sir T. Roe and our Mogol Relations agree with these of Polo the Mogol being of Tartar originall Note for China
The variation of the Compasse 10. deg 40. min. Zere Iland The English suffer shipwracke The Armenian Village The latitude of Derbent 41. degrees 52. minutes The variation of the Compasse Nezauoo The particulars of their returne are omitted A strange accident of prouision for their reliefe Trauell vpon the Ice Chetera Babbas The English ship cut in pieces with Ice December Assaulted by Tartars Their returne to Astracan The breaking vp of the Ice Anno 1553. Master William Burrough was thân young and with his brother in this first voyage Newnox is from the road of S. Nicholas Westward 35. miles Note Anno 1554. Anno 1555. The King and Queenes letters Entertainment by the Duke Master Killingworths beard of a maruellous length Anno 1556. the disastrous voyage Serchthrift Stephen Borough Anno 1557. Boghar voyage Muscouie trade long vnfortunate 1560. The first trade to the Narue 1560. Alcock slaine in Persia. Banister dyed in Media Edwards dyed at Astracan Note for numbers if great care bee not had how easily how dangerously mistaken * So it seemes by those words of his fol. 122. Aind a que confesso que me falta o milhor que be saber engenho para dar a entender o clima a Altura dâs graos c. False graduations a common thing in Maps of East and West Indies Valignanus a great Iesuite wrote a booke with that title * See of Gama tom 1. pag. 26. Straight of Mecca or the Red Sea Portugall Fortresse in Socatora before the Arabs Conquest A Martyr of Mahomet Martyrem non poena sed causa Xael or Iaâl insurrection Bralapisaon Tosa Span Lossa A strange answere Pullo Cambim Catimparù Lake Pinator Quitiruan Xincaleu 22. Millions Duckets Gold mines iron minds Rocke of Diamonds Similau a Pirate taken Tinacoreu or Taurlachim or Varella Truck for gold Pilaucacem Bird-wonder Cunebetee or Chiammay Pullo Champeiloo * Gauias Quiay Taiam a Pirate Thomas Mastangue his aduentures Pearle-fishers Guamboy and other Coast Cities of China Sonne of the Sunne title of the King of China Aynam or Hainam a great Iland S. from China Tanauquir Xicaulem another Pyrate A Renegado China Robber Mutipinan Benan Quangepaaru Hinimilau an Ethnike-ChristianâMoore Pyrate Quangiparu âlha dâs ladrones Miserable wracke and their fortnights miseries Reliefe almost miraculous * Milhano Wonderfull prouision Admirable escape Quoaman Comhay New Moone Tempests in China Guintoo Pullo Quirim Quiay Panian a China Pyrate Chincheo Goto Newes of Coia Acem Lailoo Opima spolia Coia Acem slaine The Caciz hatred of Christians Faria wracked the second time Violent wind Nouday China perillous Coast. Nouday assaulted Thomas Perez The Mandarine slaine Prisoners loosed The Towne sacked Comolem Ilands Premata Gundel a Pirate Another sea-fight Panians Iunke and another sunke Farias victorie 120000 Cruzados Buncalon Liampoo a Portugall Towne on the coast of China seuen leagues from Liampoo Ciuill warres in âhina Fabulous âumour Quouasy Farias triumph Calempluy Currents in in the Bay of Nanquin Angitur Nanganfu Sileupaquim Bay of Nanquin Buxipalem Strange Fishes Calnidan Moscumbia Alimania * A leste à lessueste Paatebenam Botinafau Gangitanou Giants Their wilde dance A Corge is 20. Sileupamor Tanamadel The wonderfull wall Statues 360. Hermitages Steples-pinacles He goeth on land Iesus made a patron of theeues He enters an Hermitage The speech betwixt Faria and an Hermit Absolons vowes Compleat hypocrisie The Hermitages Hermits attendants as Lay brethren Papall power They are discouered Xalingau Conxinacau Faria drowned and âoth the Barkes wrâcked Foure other drowned An Hospitall * Malaca is said to stand in the Kingdome of Siam though now not yeelding subiection Siley iacau Suzanganee Strange oath Xiangulee hard vsage Chautir Taypor Nanquim Talagrepos The Iesuites place this Citie in 32. and in other places they likewise disagree in their calculation The reason I suppose is that Pânto neuer obserued the height by Instâument nor perhaps had skill thereby this he confesseth cap 105. pag. 222. but followed the Maps which at his returne he saw which haue placed Nanquin in that height falsly as I conceiue to keepe others from the true knowledge of these parts a thing vsuall in the old Maps of the East and West parts of the World and sometimes they did graduate places falsly of ignorance Nanquin described See of it in Pantoia Their iourney by water from Nanquin to Pequin * This gilding perhaps is but a kind of earth which the Chinois haue looking like gold Pocasser The Tartar Prisoner A pensile Palace 360. Pillars to the 360. dayes of the yeere Queens siluer Chappell and the riches and ãâ¦ã The Iesuits say his armes are golden Dragons Monstrous statues Xinligau Leuquinau God of Sea fish Silke-loomes Huge pastures Iunquileu Alboquerque See tom 1. lib. 2. pag. 32. The Spanish hath the Palsy and it seemes a kind of Palsie gotten by stroke or blasting of the Aire Two monstrous statues and their deuotions Frequenâie of China people Sampitay See Maff. l. 6. these Portugall Rebels had possessed Tamus and raised a Fort in the Iland whence followed that out rage to Perez after foure moneths trauell from Canton to the Court Lopez Soarez which sent Peirez to China went Vice-roy A. 1515. China Christians and Christianitie Loquimpau Mynes of Tuxenguim * 1000. Picoes is a Million of Taeis Pacan and Nacau China Chronicles and Legends Beginning of thâ ãâ¦ã Legend of Pequim No stranger may enter China The wall of China Seis brasas dalto quarenta palmos de largo Vâion todas chanfradas ao picao Fiue Riuers interrupting the wall Wall-forts Thus in Spaine Malefactors aâ sentenced to the Gallies or Garrisons of Oran Penon c Huge Prison Chaens of the wall Mindoo The customes 300000. Cruzados 3840. Hammer-men A Pico is 1000. Taeis Bigaypotim China ruled ouer India Cohilouzaa A Christian martyred Lucena hath this storie A Crosse. Mat. Escandel an Hungarian Earthquake The China Pluto Iunquilânau Sem colares nem algemas How such infinite numbers liue Sugar-houses Infinite prouisions and store houses Pastures of beasts Dogs for meat Moueable Cities on the water Beauties and glories of this Riuer-Citie Bridges and high-wayes admirable Filâhy charity The Authors opinion Pequim Their hard vsage Their Cause heard The Fiscall set on worke it seemes by the Iudge which had senâenced them punished Tribunal and pompe Quansy works The Kings almâs Description of Paquim or as the Chinois call it Pequim Aquesendoo a Booke written of Pequin 1600. houses for Deputies 24000. sepulchers Hospitals 500. 24000. Bargemen 14000. Purueyors Curtesan street 100000. Landerers 1300. Monasteries * By letting the houses to other men 360. Gates and Castles 3800. Temples Foure chiefe Sects 120. Riuerets 1800. Bridges 120. Market-places 160. Shambles Prison of the exiled to the Tartarian wall almost eight leagues compasse * Or 18. to 45. Multitudes of Prisoners and men employed in the wall * Before hee sayd 200000. Huge Faires Another admirable Fabrike * Terreyro and so after Fire-blowers of Hell
the state Iesuites banished Iesuites house cost 600. pieces of Gold which in Châna is a great summe Nanhâum Xauceum 1589. Nanhoa Monasterie of 1000. Monkâs Lusus Lâgend Bodily exercise profiteth little 1. Tim. 4.8 Pilgrimage China hypocrisie Monstrous Idolatry Bels. Lusus Shrine Folly of Selfe-pleasing Apply to Images Originall of Idols Contesse and be hanged Xauceum described Nanhium Iesuits new Seat Chiutaiso Scholer of Ricius China Arithmeticke An Image sent from New Spaine Seuere Iustice. Fran. de Petris· Vice-roy depriued Taicho China abstinence Nanhiun Theeues Their sentence Queenes pardoner Rioters Theft ignominious Pequin President Bonzi infamous Popish and Ethnike priests like in shâuing and habite Iesuites alter their habite Scilan Mount Muilim or Moilin See sup Ex. Almeida Naughan Canceu Great Vice-roy and Greater President Stately entertaynment Boat-bridge Sciepathau that is 18. streames It seemes so many in that space flow into it Lying vanities Chiengan Kings Posts The Glasse esteemed a great Iewell giuen to Scilan Nancian Metropolis of Chiansi This seemes to agree with Pintos Muchiparom sup pagâ 274. Admirable Lake see the new Map Mount Liu this perhaps so that Calemplui in Pinto 262. or some like place Riuer Yamsu or Seas Sonne beyond the Lake Nanquin which Polo calls Quinsay described It was then greater as being the Royall residence which remoued and warres together haue diminished it perhaps also that Lake decaying and dâying vp or not rebuilt after the Tartars expelled Second Wall twelue Gates Third Wall Citie wall two dayes iourney on horsebacke Garrison 40000. In 32. or 32. degrees 15. min. Large Suburbs Miserable Churle Nancian Fast from flesh fish egges and milke Many of the Royall bloud at Nancian China lying is prudence Ricius his artificiall memorie Fortune friend Chiengan and Longan Kings titular Ricius his China Booke of friendship Token of welcome Cauils Pillorie board Aroccia and Longobardus The Counsâll Li Pu so called of creating Maiestrates Custome of Conuerts names in Baptisme Anno 1598. Writing well in China brings credit and gaine Vice-roy of Nanquin a louer of Geographie Honour to an Image Chappell Chian or Quian See Polo sup 90 Riuer of Nanquin one cut from it for Pequin Yellow Riuer see the Map * Such coniectures as this and those in Pinto of this Lake seeme ill grounded Lake of Constellations Magistrates sacrifice to the Riuer 10000. Ships of the Kings for fiue Prouinces Cranes to draw ships Tempestuous seas and Pyrats on that coast See Pinto Timbers for the Kings buildings Two thirds of the Kings house burnt by Lightning Bricks preferred to stone Swifter shipâ called Horses Heat and cold Hand-made Riuer Tiensin They come to Pequin Iamcheu Hoaingan Sieucen Zinim Licin Length of the way Pequin deâcâibed compared with Nanquin The walls Watch and Ward Palace Streets All goe and ride veiled Commoditie of Mules and Mulletters Booke of Pequin See Polo sup 88. China Cathay See Pantoia Camhalu the great Tartar of the North. Goez sup cap. 4. Alchymie and base couetise Coozening Merchant China Language and Accents Riuers frozen Ric. goeth by Land Siuceu and Yamceu Coach of one wheele Suceu described Another Venice Huge Tribute Tanian Glasse glazed New yeares day Letter of F. Nic. Lombard China Learning This comparison with that time of the Romanes seemeth pârhâps not the best thât being the best of Heathen Rome Varro and Cicero and Virgil as the Romane Trium viri for Learning besides Saââsâ Caesar c. * Thaisos Letter To their superiours and equals they write not in the first person but the name for the pronoune I * This as to sit at the feet with the Iewes signifieth to be a mans scholer taken from their sitting at the side in Lectures Suceo North of China the best Scingin is the greatest title of honour amongst the Chinois intimating a holy birth greatest learning that he may be Master of all as was their Confusias such an one they ãâã comes euery 500. yeere and now Ricius Probabilities for the Gospel China Monasteries Vniuersities in our sence with Professors and publik Schools are not in China but for taking degrees as in our Vniuersities a mans priuate studies and the Cities publike examinations haue some resemblance Many things in which the Iesuites and Chinois concurre A fornight Sabbath Sixe precepts of China Cantonians Mangines Blessed Virgin honoured Nanquin Cingensu a great Abbie The President supreme gouernour of Full Moone fire-workes Mathematikes baits to the Gospell China learning how vnlearned Hanlin Colledge in Pequin Wit of a Chinese Bonzis dotages Eclipses Colledge of Astrologers Mathematicall huge Instruments A Globe A Sphere A Diall Astrolabes The Chinois number 24. constellations of the Zodiake The like Instruments at Pequin * This time agreeth with the time of Tamerlane which giueth authority to Alhacens former story of him besides the Chinois call the last Tartar which ruled them Temor Cuiceu Quocum the Nobilitie of China Artificial rock Captaine of the Citie Garrison Chiefe Eunuch Thousands of Eunuchs at Nanquin Van van siu as to the Babyâonian Monarâhs liue for euer Dan. 5.10 A principall Doctor a Preacher A Mandarine becomes a Bonzi Epigrams Confutius his holiday Musike of China Temple royall and magnificenâe thereof Iesuits habit Societies of Learned Conference or disputation twixt an Idol-Priest and Ricius Oppression Mines of Gold and Siluer stopped by ancient Kings forbidden to be opened to preuent robberies Didacus or Iacobus Pantoia Zinin High Admiral Liciu killeth himselfe Mathan a great and base Eunuch Treacherie Great and glorious ship * Turnings Thiensin China Players and Feat-workers * This Booke I haue both in Spanish printed 1606. in Valencia and in Latine at Mentz 1607. Colledge of Iesuits Entrance into China difficult Meanes sought to enter China Embassage Present 100000. Garrison Souldiers in Nanquin Ricius saith 40000. perhaps the other 60000. are for the Countrey adioyning or for the Nauie and Sea-guard or Ricius might speake of the ordinary at other peaceable times Pantogia of this troublesome time while the Iaponian warre continued Mandarins houses are publike House possessed Iesuits Patent for China habitation Fame of Iesuits sanctitie Fame of their Learning Watches admired Their credit good vsagâ Three Iesuits Leaue for Paquin granted The Riuer of Nanquin ouer-frozen all the Winter The particulars of the Kings Present Gilded Dragons or Serpents so Cruz cals them the Kings Armes Pinto saith a Lion perhaps his coniecture for the frequencie mentioned also by Polo sup p. 89. c. or perhaps this might then be and Serpents since the Royall Ensigne Besides a Lion is the Armes of Canton Prouince and perhaps of some others which might be mistaken for the Kings Armes They began their iourney from Nanquin 1600. the 20. of May stilo nouo 300. leagues as it were one pathway of shipping Lincin Mathan the Kings Eunuch his pompe Eunuchs base minded Not subiect to ordinary Magistrates Conceit of gemmes He dismissetâ them Silence of deniall Eunuchs pompous
Barge Glorious Varnish Abundance of all colours in Iapon and China Painted Figures Very great Oares and the excellent vse of them Musike Manner of petitioning the King Eunuch estranged They stayed three months Lincin This was the thirteenth of October Couetousnesse iniurious Images A Crosse and Reliques A Chalice A Crucifixe Suspicion Dying dreadfull The force of Winter This was till the bâginning of Ianuarie 1601. The King sends for them Their iourney They came to Paquin in 4. dayes trauell The present is deliuered to the King Clockes and Pictures admired They are sent for to the Court. Eunuches are taught to vse the Clockes The Pictures The King of China his questions Three kindes of Kings The Escuriall Saint Markes Sepulchers Death of King Philip the 2. The King neuer suffereth himselfe to be seene of the common people Bad Picture-drawers Eunuches preferred Iesuites offered to be Mandarins A Moneth Mandarin offânded They are shut vp some three moneths Mandarins Petition A Turke kept there They hyer an House Visited by Mandarins China ignorance oâ the worâd Vse of Maps Ill Cosmographie Ignorance mother of arrogance Mathematicks Ethikes Foure months Hopes of Christianitie The basenesse of the Bonzi Indeuotion Almost Atheists Bookes of Philosophers aboue 2000. yeeres old Sacrifices to Philosophers Some Christians made there Closensse of Women Some relations of Conuersions are heere for breuitie omitted Multitude of people Desire of Learning and Morall vertue Marke this zeale China foure square The Description Two notable errours of our newest Maps Paquin in 40. degrees The Kingdom of China goeth not past 42. degrees North-ward China and Catayo are all one Cambalu and Paquin aâe all one Very Merchants It is so in Moscouie Iasper stone a great merchandise· x Almizcte Span. the Latin hath Muske y Como buche Span Latin Stomachum Rhubarb See before in Chaggi Memet p. 164 A Sea of sand Diuision Chorographicall Bookes Chinâ populous Villages as great as Townes Walls Nanquin in 32. degrees and an halfe Three walls Streets long Palaces Circuit 200000. houses Hancheo and Sucheo Quinsay Ciuitas coeli Reuenue Building not beautifull compared with European Vniformitie in China Cities Fertilitie Commodious Riuers In 600. leagues but one day by land This is more exactly measured by Ricius a more exact and mature obseruer of all things sup §. 5. cap. 5. Mighty Riuer perhaps Quâân mentioned by Polo Fishing with a kinde of Rauens or Cormoraâts Muddy Riuer Alume vsed in clarifying of water Shipping Ship-houses Multitude of ships The excellent beauty of the Mandarines Barges Tributes in money and in kinde 10000. Vessels at Nanquin for Tribute of Victuals and 1000. for other Tributes and others many for workes Path-way of ships Sluces or locks Silkes and perfumes Vessels for workes Siluer in greatest request in China The great store of merchandise in China Cheapnesse A caution for strange Merchants Victuall store and cheape Sixe pence One halfpeny Herbs Two and three Haruests in one yeere Plaine Countrey Plaine of 100. leagues Spare feeding Herb-eaters Horses eaten Wines diuers Neatnesse Iesuites Benefit of hot drinke Oile made of an herbe Cold Prouinces Timber plenty Much Gold to be bought in China Brasse money vsed in China * Sarcos laâ ferruginei Trades Seruants cheape Sale of children vile None very rich Yet as rich as ours very rich Few idle Surnames Knights Nobilitie only in Learning No Lord but the King Extortion Marriage Polygamie Inheritance Funerals and mournings Three yeares mourning in white Linnen Keeping the dead at home Other Funerall Rites Funerall day Funerall Figures Coffân Buriall place Vnluckie to burie in the Citie Transition of soules Metempsuchicall Superstion Idolatrie Of Hell See in Pinto Lots Wicked Bonzi Diuiners and diuinations Studies to prolong life Bookes of Alchimie Souldiers many and few Basenesse Armour and Armes The barrels of their Pieces but a span long The causes of bad Souldiers dis-respect dis-use and their choise from the tonââe Exercises Militarie No Ordnance Tartarian conquest Feare of Tartars Mahometans No weapons in houses Not bloudie Studious Many Characters Monosyllable language Pensil-writing Rhetorike sole Art Here followed of their Degrees which is more exact in Trigantius and therefore here omitted Glory of Doctors They Print yeerely great store of bookes in China Easie Printing Printing white Most can write and reade Pootrie Painting and Musicke Noble Spirit of the Mandarins Sinceritie of some The present Kings disposition Heroike zeale Kings Wiues and Children Question of the Successor Thousands of Court Mandarins The Prince Proclaimed Gouernment good if well executed Lawes lawlesse Bribes Dance in a Net naked Court Mandarins Chiefe Mandarin or of Heauen See or these after in the diâcourse of Riccius and Trigantius The second The third c. Counsell of State or the Colai Their wealth and wages meane Whipping State and pompe Visitors Punishment by death rare The great frosts of Winter in Paquin Bookes of newes Complements of courtesie and entertainment That which is in a little letter is added out of Trigautius * When they salute in the street they turne to the North side to side at home to the head of the house which is against the doore Northward also their Temples and Halls for entertaynment being made with the doore to the South Cha or Chia a drinke made with a certaine herbe Paytre or visiting paper These Libels consist of 12. pages of white paper a palme and halâe long c. see Ric. pag. 66. Salutation or visitation-garments Taking leaue Head place of the house Great Letters for great persons First acquaintance Sending Presents Banquetting Inuitations Feasts to taste and bride it Chinois Complemental and almost all complement New-yeere A Turke dis-respected The Hierarchy applauded by Chinois Ridiculous nicetie Palace Polygamie litigious Closenesse of Women Apparell Small feet Histories of their Kings Knowledge of the Flood Moralitie made a King and Nature made a Mandarine contrary to innumerable Scripture c. Mathematicall Instruments The China vindex New Lords new Lawes Rebellion preuented by the policie Reuenue 100. Millions others say 150. Expences Nâighbour Kingdomes Corea or Corai A Paradoxe Contentednes Corea ioyned to the Continent of China Queenes closenesse Eunuches The yard and all cut away Their numbers and choice Seruice Ignorance Couetousnesse The common people neuer see nor speake with the King Law of Nations contemned Embâassages Royall Palace Yellow is the Kings Colour Riuer and Bridges Fire from Heauen No peace to the wicked Mounts and Groues Third partâtion King a home Prisoner Temple of Heauen and Earth Barbarous vsage of the Kings Children Kings Affinitie and Consanguinitie little worth Maps of China Here in the author begins l. 1 cap. 2. the first being a place The diuers names of this Kingdome The China custoââ of changing names yet this name China Sina or Cathay vnknowne to them Conceit of the Earths forme The Kings Title Largenesse of the Kingdome of China The temperate Climate * Some say many more see the Map and notes Chap. 3.
others Countries New Ambassadors in case of new successors Place of Ambassadors meeting Case of Shipwracke Neither party to aide the Pole e. Confirmation Names of the CoÌmissioners Ambassadour from Catay and from the King of Altine See sup pag. 527. 552. None able to translate the China Characters Easterne Tartar Nations Russian Presents Tarchan of Labaia Sirgos Three Leopards c. for a Present His requests Relation of two Russe trauellers of their Voyage to Catay Tomo a new Castle beyond Ob. See sup pag. 527. Kirgis Mutalla Sheromugola Q. Manchika Wall of Catay The gate and guard See for better vnderstanding hereof Goes other Iesuites Relations in the second Booke * Such are the Tartars dwellings or fleetings rather with their beasts Their Iournal or daily iourneyes from place to place Huge Lake King Altine Vlusses or Tartarian Hords Yellow Mugals or Moal-Tartars Mugalla or Taâtaria Orientalis from Bughar in Bactâia to the Sea Their buildings Friers Idols Candles Candle burning withouâ flame Rites of Religion Corne. Fruits People and attyre Distilled wine Cutuffs or Patriarkes Lobas or Friers Continencie shauing Three Kingdomes Ortus Talguth Shar Blacke Mugols or Cara Catay Shrokalga in Catay Walls of Catay Tower-becons Cara Catay But fiue gates in the wall Shirocalga Short Ordnance Yara Tayth Shirooan White Castle Catay greatest Citie of Catay If Catay be the same with China as before in Goes and the Iesuites is obserued many difficulties arise But this Russian Relation and that of Chaggi Memes seeme to agree to place some Catay North from China if this did not speake of the wall The Tartar names so differ from those of the Portugalls that it is hard to reconcile them And the Iesuitâ make foure moneths trauell from the wall to Pequin which is here but a few daies except we say the Russes entred the wall at the North East part of it which the shortnesse of their iourney admits not Perhaps this chiefe Citie was but the chiefe of that Prouince where the Vice-roy resided and they were willing to make the most of their trauells Russiâa fide Yet the neerenesse of the Sea there also causeth scruple I suppose rather that these Russes entred China but a little way and receiued the Vice-royes Letter only there obserued with Ragall Rites and had much by Relation of that little which they tell How euer I haue here offered this to thy view at more leisure to vse thy more iudgement Merchants Kartalla Riuer Ob. This doth cleer the doubtfull passages pag. 760. Sealed with the Golden Seale How to finde out Ob from Pechora Ouson Riuer Vgorskdi and Sibierskie A shipwracke at the mouth of Ob. An Island neere the mouth of Ob. The way to discouer Ob by Sea Mattpheone or Matthewes land Aâter our stile 1584. Caninos Medemske Carareca Carska Ob. Caninos Colgoieue Noua Zembla Naromske Mattuschan Yaâ The Sands The two Seas that is the North and the East Sea The bignes of the Cliffe or Isle of Mattuschan Anthonie Marsh sent two of his men vpon the discouery of Ob by land with foure Russes Bodan Master Marsh his man brought to Mosco Russian iealousie of discouery A warme Sea beyond Ob. Mastâr Thomas Linde Third Volume of English voyages pag 446. See of these voââges Hak. Tom. 1. Some thinke that the Mexican Kings Mutezuma the last professed that they were strangers were hence deriued D. â Colon de vita patris Chrisâoph Col. 6.13 See Hak. tom 3. pag. 5. This Map some say was taken out of Sir Seb. Cabots Map by Clem. Adams 1549. Ramus Tom. 2. See Hak. Tom. 3. pag. 7 All the Coast to Florida discouered by the English from 67. deg 30. min. as he writ to Ramusio R. praefat Tom. 3. as likewise he was cause of the Russian and Greenland discoueries See sup l. 2. c. 1. W. Purchas Thorn and Eliot first finders of America Mosc and Turkie Companies Master Cartwright had bin in Persia and Turkie See the former Tome Buquhamnes Orkney The Start 59. degrees 30. minutes Faire I le Two small Ilands 57. degrees 55. min. no variation Variation eleuen degrees Westward No variation Guls and Pigions 59. deg 51. min. A great Iland of Ice Groneland A maine bank of Ice Black water as thick as puddle The Cape of desolation 60. deg 37. min. Store of Guls. America descried ân 6â degr and 30. min. Warwicks Foreland supposed to be an Iland The greatest hope of the North-west passage A current Westward in sixtie one degrees A current likely to set to the West A maine bank of Ice in 60. degrees The North coast of America seemeth to be broken land Blacke puddle water America againe discried in 63. deg 53. min. The loathsome noyse of Ice Sayles ropes and tackling frozen Thick fogge freezing as fast as it fell Mutinie 68. deg 53. min They returne froÌ the North. Mutiners punished A great Iland of Ice cracked like a thunder-clap and was ouerthrowne Great store of Sea Foule vpon the Ice An Inlet in 61. degrees 40. minutes The return out of the Inlet The variation 35. degrees Westward An Iland on the coast of America in 55. deg 30. min. The Godspeedâ stroke vpon a piece of Ice Many Ilands The variation 22. degrees to West A Storme 55. deg 31. min. Variation 17. degr 15. min. They discrie the land again â5 deg 20. min. A pleasant low land being all Ilands 55. degrees The variation 18. deg and â2 min. Westwardâ Temperate ayre Grâat hope of a passage ãâã three places ãâ¦ã Rocks strangly vanishing A great Rocke A Whirlwinde taking vp the Sea They were entred 30. leagues into an Inlet in 56. degrees They returned for England This Book was also subscribed by W. Cobreth and Iohn Drew The lands end May 1605. Iohn Cunningham Iohn Knight of whom after Flecârie Variation obserued A race of a tide Variation obserued Busse Iland wrong placed First sight of Groenland Cape Christian. The shoare full of Ice Cape Desolation Compasse varied Black water Sight of the Lion Iune 1605. Ilands of Ice Mightie incumbrance of Ice A mightie current setting North North-west A huge high Iland of Ice Noyse by the fall Our people determined to returne backe againe Former discoueries A mightie banke of Ice Another banke of Ice The Lions departing from vs. A mightie current Sight of Land Mount Cunningham Queene Annes Cape Queene Sophias Cape Christians Foord Our anchoring Our first landing in Groinland Our first sight of the people Boat of Seale skins Our entring into their Tents Eaters of Dogs Of the other sort of Boats There is one of these Boats in Sir T. Smiths Hall The manner of killing of their great fish or Seales Their comming to our ships Obseruation of the latitude Obseruation of the tides Our departing in the Pinnasse from the ship The Sauages begin to sling stones at vs. They sling stones againe Denmarks Hauen The people come againe The subtiltie of the Sauages My Boy shot with a Dart.
Of the great ordâr and diligence the Mexicans vsed to instruct their youth Chap. 27. See the picture story Colledges Their employments and trials The baine of Plantations is expectation of present and externall gain Plaies and dances Military games Idoll gamâs Exo. 32. a thing vsuall to Heathens as their Comedies c. maniâest Musicke Curious Dancers Great agility Sir Hen. Spelman Tenuchtitian Mexican Lords Tenuch chosen chiefe Lord. Mexico Colhuacan and Tenayncan subdued See the storie before in Acosta Tlatilulco subdued bâfore as Acosta saith the Mexicans were subiect to them Ticocicatzi Title Tlacatecatl that is Great Captaine Motezuma His weale and greatnesse Maiestie Conquests Wisdome and learning Lawes Many women some wiues some Concubines See before in Acosta and after in Gomâra morâ large relaâions of Mutezuma in a wilde kinde of state and maiestie equalling in many things in some exceeding most Princes of the elder world First notice of the Spaniards Mutezumas death Turkey stones Cold. Turkey stones Cochinilla Gold Target of gold Emerald stones Amber Cristall Amber Cotton wooll Cristall Amber A kinde of Baptisme with the naming of their children Presentation in the Temple a Gomara his third part of the Conquest of the West Indies translated into English by T. Nicolas b Of this voyage Reade P. Martyrs fourth Decade and Gomara part 1. of all which followes in this Chapter P. Maât Dec. 5. Gom. vbi supra and Cortes his owne large narration to the Emperour ap Ramus Vol. 3. Indian simplicitie Potonchon called Victory Spanish incurable sicknesse Note for fashion-mongers Zempoallan Panuco Vera Crux Bloudy Sacrifices Tlaxcallan a great Citie Chololla Store of Temples and deuotions Popocatepec a burning Hill Mutezumas religion a The like speech he had made at first to Cortes who easily wrought on that aduantage applying this Tradition to the Spaniards Cortes Narrat Mutezumaâ death b N. di Gus. ap Ram. vol. 3. c Lit. P. Aluarado Dieg. Godoy ap Ram. vol. 3. d Relat. del Temistitan ca. * This part of Lopez was long since translated and published by Tho. Nichols I haue here in diuers places ameÌded it by the Italian translation of Agostino di Craualiz for the Spanish originall I haue not Purgatory The solemne pompe wherewith Cortes was receiued into Mexico Mutezumas state and Maiestie Spaniards giue gawdy glasâe for gold and glory The Oration of Mutezuma to the Spaniards A strange opinion A louing answerâ Mutezuma described Cin. Title Cin. Change of Apparell His Wardrobe His dietârites Magnificent attendance His wiues Bare-foot seruice Musicke Iesters Plate Mans flesh State ceremonies Iesters and Players Games The Tennis play in Mexico God of the Ball. His Palace Twentie doores Three Courts Hals chambers wals c. Multitude of women His Armes hee after saith a Conie was his armes but this Eagle was generall to all the Mexican Kings Gryffon-tale A house of fowle which were only preserued for their feathers A house of fowle for hawking and other strange things White men Wild beasts Snakes c. Foules of prey Deuils den Store-houses Officers The Armory of Mutezuma Wood for Armes Wodden Swords with stone edges The Gardens of Mutezuma Note of a magnificent minde Houses of pleasure The Court and Guard of Mutezuma Great Vassals State-caution Tributes and subiection of the Indians to their King Pouerty of the Tenants See our picture booke Receiuers Tribute of mens labours Three sorts of Streetes It groweth also in Bermuda The name of Mexico Two Lakes one sâlt the other fresh Eâbing and flowing by the winde Some as Pairitius hence moued deriue the cause of the Seas flowing from the saltnesse Cause of the saltnesse 200000. Canoas The Market place of Mexico Order of Sellers The diuers wares Indian workemanship Gold-smiths artifices Victuall of diuers sorts Bartering The great Temple of Mexico Chiefe Temple described Two Altars Fortie towres Seuerall Temples to seuerall gods A strange doore Temple-halls Idoll-holes Bloudie walls Deuillish Priests 5000. residents The Idols of Mexico 2000. gods A wicked attyre A mad offering The Charnell house or place of ãâã mens Sculls Terrible spectacle The accounting of yeares The Indians beleeued that fiue ages were past which they called Sunnes The Coronation of the Kings of Mexico The ointment The opinion of the Mexicans concerning the Soule Nine places for Soules The buriall of Kings in Mexico The order of buriall of the Kings of Michuacan Iudges Painters Sergeants Prisons Witnesses and oathes Bribery Murther Theft Disguise of seâe Duels capitall
more may bee knowne then They knew And oftentimes they haue asked vs whether wee had not these Bookes in our Countrey What other Bookes might we haue that might compare with them And as these Philosophers as Gentiles spake nothing of the other life but onely of good Gouernment and Morall vertues they thought they might attayne so farre without beleeuing that there could bee another life By reason hereof and of the common vices which Paganisme draweth with it which in this Countrey increase exceedingly by reason of the fatnesse abundance and fruitfullnesse thereof they feele great difficulties to vndergoe the yoke of Christ though it be so sweet so contrarie to their appetite which taketh from them the libertie which they haue in keeping as many Wiues as they are able and in a thousand other things These later yeeres in the residencies of Canton Nanquin and heere in Paquin were made some true Christians which ouercame all these difficulties and goe on forward with great integritie constancie and feruour In the Prouince of Canton in a residencie which wee haue in Xaucheo a principall Citie haue beene Baptised within this two yeeres about three hundred persons which according to the Letters which euen now wee receiued doe all continue with great example and zeale And the Mandarins and grauer sort of people mooued by the good example which they giue doe fauour them much and especially our Lord hath shewed many tokens of his fauour in hauing shewed great plagues vpon such men as persecuted them for becomming Christians And aboue all God hath shewed his ayde vpon the Women who besides the men are very hard to bee wonne to receiue our holy Law which is the great priuatenesse which they vse because it is not lawfull to see them no not for their kinsfolkes But as I say herein the grace of our Lord God shewed it selfe very mightie seeing it ouercame this difficultie and so many of them were Baptised after they had beene very well Catechised by the Fathers On Sundayes and Holy-dayes because they cannot come to Masse with the Men yet at least in this beginning they meete in places appointed for that purpose and there they Pray and reason and intreat of Diuine matters The men for the exhortations that they make vnto them haue dayes appointed of themselues and with their owne consent to conferre and repeate that which they haue told them which going home they repeate to their Wiues and Daughters Euery day some bee Conuerted in Nanquin graue and learned men doe enter Heere in Pâquin while wee haue beene heere we haue Baptised some and some great Mandarins come to heare If our Lord doe helpe them and shed his bloud vpon these Chinois as hee hath done in Iapon and in other places there will bee setled one of the most famous and learned foundations of Christianitie that is in all the world For the greatnesse of this Kingdome their Lawes and Gouernment conformable to reason their being so studious as they are and giuen to Learning and to know so much as they know of Morall vertues and their good capacities gentle docile and ingenious and the great peace and quietnesse which they enioy without hauing any bodie to trouble them with warre promise much and giue great hope that the vântage which they haue ouer other Nations lately discouered in the gifts of Nature being assisted by the grace of God will helpe them in Gods matters And I assure your Worship that if the doore were opened to Preach freely and to Baptise I say not that the Fathers and Brethren of our Companie which might bee spared but without any amplification at all halfe the Religious men of all Europe were needfull to attend so many Cities Townes and places and so infinite numbers of people as there are albeit when Christianitie is once begun indeed there is such abundance of graue people and of much estimation that many of them might bee made Priests Preachers and Bishops without feeling any want of those of Europe since as now they bee Gentiles and their hope goeth no further then to this life there be many very great Mandarins âhose chiefe delight is to discourse of things concerning Vertue and oftentimes they meete together as it were in Fraternities to treate thereof And the grauer sort doe make Orations and Conferences together perswading one another and deliuering the meanes to gouerne well and to follow vertue And without doubt the more wee see of this and the more zeale in these Christians so much the more our heart is readie to burst to see them so destitute and to haue so few meanes to obtayne necessarie remedie and helpe §. III. The description of the Kingdome of China of Catay and Musk the diuision into Prouinces Cities and Townes described Riuers Shipping Commodities Diet and feeding NOw by the helpe of our Lord I will say somewhat that I remember touching the Customes Policie and Gouernment of this Kingdome but not in such order as were requisite because I haue no leasure and therefore I will onely write as things come vnto my minde though things bee not lincked well together because I cannot first write one Copie and afterward dispose it in order with such distinction as were needfull reseruing that as I sayd in the beginning vntill our Lord grant me a better opportunitie This great Kingdome of China is almost foure square as the Chinois themselues describe the same it runneth North and South from the Prouince of Canton which is the most Southerly part of it beginning seuenteene or eighteene degrees vnder the burnt Zone vnto fotrie two degrees which is the most Northerly part of it it contayneth from Canton by water aboue sixe hundred leagues but in a right line it is foure hundred and fiftie on the East it confineth with Corea which ioyneth with the same and with Iapon and with the Ocean Sea by which they come from Peru and Nucua Espana to Manilla On the West with certayne small Kingdomes which lye betweene Bengala the Lands of Mogor and Persian On the South with the Iles called Philippinas and the Malucaâ and others and more South-westerly it hath Sion Pegu and other Kingdomes On the North part it hath those people which in our Countries wee commonly call Tartars with whom they haue alwayes had Warre and once they wanne all the Kingdome from the Chinois For the Readers better satisfaction I haue here presented him Hondius his Map of China not to shew it but the erroneous-conceits which all European Geographers haue had of it A more complete Map of China I shall present after as by comparison will appeare HONDIVS his Map of China CHINA This Kingdome standeth in an excellent climate and situation for besides the things which it hath in it selfe it standeth very neere vnto India and other Kingdomes from whence commeth with great facilitie that which it desireth and wanteth And before I passe any further because I haue