the Gouernours seruant stayed for them to bring them to the Temple or Monasterie of Nanhoa part of which the Vice-roy had giuen them if they liked it This Monasterie they found in a goodly Plaine enuironed with pleasant Hills enriched with hand-set fruit-bearing trees watered with a Riueret in the midst the goodliest Hill graced with a plentifull Fountaine was the Seat of the Temple a great pile nigh which was the Monasterie wherein a thousand Priests by the impious piety of the Ancestrie Lords of that ground had their abode The originall thereof was a man which liued about eight hundred yeeres since called Lusu who is reported to haue flourished in great reputation of holinesse by reason of his austere course of life with a chaine girded to his bare flesh wonted to sift Rice and to beate it lightly after their manner as much as serued for the daily food of a thousand Monasteries With that chaine his flesh putrified so that wormes bred therein of which if any happened to fall to the ground he placed it there againe saying Hast thou nothing to eate why doest thou runne away There is his carkasse preserued and that famous Temple built to his worship to which is concourse of Pilgrimes out of all the Kingdome euery-where he and all his being much reputed These Ministers of the Deuill are diuided into twelue Stations each hauing his Superiours and ouer all an Abbot When the Father came thither sent by the Vice-roy they supposed hee had come to be their Abbot and to reforme their abuses for they not only had their Concubines and Bastards but robbed by the high-wayes Now all the Idoll Priests are as subject to the Magistrates as other men perhaps because their Learned esteeme not Idols nor account these their Priests Yet with China dissimulation they gaue the Fathers faire entertainment with much pretended joy and officiously offered all at their Seruice making them also a Solemne Feast and then shewing them the chiefe places of their Monastery They were full of great Idols of Brasse and other Metals and of wood gilded In one Station were told fiue hundred There were also many Steeples and Bels of Metall cast one such as they had neuer seene in Europe to their remembrance The bodie also of their Saint Lusu was shewed all shining with that their China bituminous Vernish so vulgarly thought and preserued with incredible veneration though many deny it to be his bodie In the midst of the Temple is an eminent place to which they ascend by neate steps in which hang about fifty Lampes but not all burning except on set dayes The Chinois maruelled at the Fathers doing no worship a thing vsually performed by those Chinois which otherwise repose no confidence in those Idols They both agreed the Chinois Monkes to bee rid of their feare and the Fathers to goe to the Citie At their departure Father Almeida went by water and F. Matthew by Land with the Gouernours Seruant the Abbot bearing him companie He there told the Magistrate that he liked not of the Temple because the men had an ill report as vnsafe Neighbours and hee worshipped one God and not Idols This amazed the Gouernour perswaded before that there was in the World no other Law nor Characters then theirs till Father Matthew pulled forth his prayer-Prayer-booke The Abbot also testified that hee had worshipped none of the Idols no not Lusus selfe At last the Gouernour was perswaded by him that that of Idol-worship was a later Sect amongst them yea the Abbot affirmed that they deserued no worship but that former Magistrates had obserued that without Idols the vulgar would not keepe Religion and therefore set vp these to be worshipped They visited all the Citie Magistrates which vsed them with more courtesie then those of Sciauchin They went also to another Temple or Monasterie called Quamhiao on the other Westerne side of the Riuer and carried their goods thither till they were prouided of a House The Citie Xauceum is seated betwixt two Nauigable Riuers which here met the one which passeth by Nanhium on the East the other running out of the Prouince of Vquam on the West But the Citie wals and Houses are builded in the midst of the field but they are forced by the straitnesse to build also on the other-side the Riuer joyned with a Bridge on Barkes It contayneth fiue thousand Housholds is fertile but vnholsome the third or fourth part of the Inhabitants being sicke of a Tertain from October to December which takes away many and leaues a pale Impression on the rest Strangers also are no lesse arrested by it when they come thither on businesse And the Iesuites had almost lost themselues in this new purchase where being recouered they had a Charter from the Vice-roy to build their House in ground belonging to the Monasterie Thither the Visitor sent them Sebastian Fernandus and Francis Martinez which had beene trayned vp in the Schoole of Amacao the first Probationers in China They to auoid expense built this House of one Storie after the China manner and soone liked better of this then their former Residence Chiutaiso the sonne of one of the second ranke of Magistrates called Sciansciu a man famous as being the first named of the three hundred Doctors made euery third yeare and Author of Learned Workes had spent his Patrimony after his Fathers death with Prodigalitie and experiments of Alchymie and now was forced to shift with his Wife and Seruants wandering thorow the Kingdome to his Fathers Friends and becomming a Sollicitor for other men to the Magistrates of his acquaintance Hee hauing obtayned of the Vice-roy a Roome in that Monasterie became Neighbour to the Fathers and one day with set Pompe after the China custome and precious Gifts came to Father Matthew and chose him for his Master It was not safe for the Father to refuse though he requited his gifts lest he should seeme to haue beene brought thither by couetousnesse and first taught him Arithmeticke For that which the Chinois haue is with a Linnen Instrument whereon Beads are put by wires and shifted hither and thither to reckon their numbers certayne but subiect to Error and vnprofitable to high Sciences He read to him also the Sphere of Clauius and the first Booke of Euclides Elements and taught him to make Sun-dials of many sorts and Geometricall Rules to measure Altitudes He being of subtile wit committed these things to writing in elegant stile and shewed them to Magistrates of his Acquaintance so procuring great opinion and admiration to the Iesuits His wit and exceeding industry brought him to great skill that hee made Spheres Astrolabes Quadrants Compasses Dials and other like very artificially and some of siluer withall so setting forth his Master and the European Learning that it proued of no small consequence By his meanes the Fathers had acquaintance with Pimpithan a Military Commander with
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
other base Offices The Captayne 's onely haue some authoritie Their armes are worthlesse for offence or defence and onely make a shew the Captayne 's being also subject to the Magistrates whippings Their Alchimisticall vanitie and study of long Life with precepts and huge bookes of both I omit The founders forsooth of these Sciences haue gone body and soule to Heauen The making of Siluer hath made many spend their siluer wits and credit cheated by professing Artists and the great Magistrates few in Pequin free are taken vp with the other Study some shortning their life to make it longer They write of one of their Kings which had procured such a potion of immortalitie whom a friend of his was not able to disswade from that conceit enraged by his sudden snatching drinking his prepared potion which he seeking by death to reuenge the other answered how can I be killed if this draught cause immortalitie and if I may then haue I freed thee of this errour Touching the China Sects I read in their Bookes that the Chinois from the beginning worshipped one God which they call the King of Heauen or by another Name Heauen and Earth Beneath this Deitie they worshipped diuers tutelare Spirits of Mountaynes Riuers and of the foure parts of the world In all actions they held Reason to bee obeyed which light of Reason they confessed they had from Heauen Of that supreame Deitie and his administring Spirits they neuer had such monstrous conceits as the Romans Greekes Aegyptians whence the Iesuites hope that many of them in the law of Nature were saued Their Sects are reckoned three The first of the Learned the second of Sciequia the third Laucu One of these is professed by all which vse their Characters That of the Learned is most proper to China and most ancient and all their Learned learne it in the course of their studies Confutius is the Prince therof This Sect hath no Idols worships one God beleeuing all things to bee conserued by his prouidence They worship in inferiour sort the Spirits The best of them teach nothing of the Creation rewards and punishments they confine in this life to a mans selfe or his posteritie Of the immortalitie of the Soule they seeme to make no doubt for they speake of the deceased liuing in Heauen but of Hell they make no mention The later Learned deny both with the soules immortalitie yet some say that the soules of good men are corroborated with vertue and made able to hold out others dying with the body The principall opinion seemeth borrowed of the Idoll Sect fiue hundred yeeres agoe which holds that this whole Vniuerse consists of one matter and that the Creatures are as so many members of this huge body so that euery one may attayne to the similitude of God being one with him which we confute out of their owne ancient Authors Though the Literate acknowledge one supreame Deitie yet they erect no Temple to him nor any other place proper to his Worship nor any Priests persons or rites peculiar nor haue precepts thereof nor any which prescribeth or punisheth defect of Holies nor any which priuately or publikely recite or sing ought to him Yea they affirme that the Office of Sacrificing to the King of Heauen and his worship belongs to the King and if any should take on him that Office hee should vsurpe the Kings and be thereby a Traytor For this purpose the King hath two stately Temples in both Royall Cities one dedicated to the Heauen the other to the Earth in which sometime hee vsed to Sacrifice but now in his place certayne Magistrates haue succeeded which there sacrifice many Oxen and Sheepe with many Rites To the Spirits of Mountaynes Riuers and of the foure Regions of the world onely the chiefe Magistrates Sacrifice nor are the people admitted thereto The precpts of this Law are contayned in the Tetrabiblion and fiue Bookes of Doctrines nor are any other Bookes allowed but onely some Commentaries thereon Nothing in this Sect is more of note then their yeerely Obits or parentations to their deceased Parents common to all from the King to the meanest obseruing their dead Ancestrie as if they were liuing Neither yet doe they suppose that they eate of the meate which is set them or need it but they haue no better meane to expresse their loue The Literate haue a costly Temple to Confutius in euery Citie by Law appointed in that place where the Schoole is and adjoyning to the Magistrates Palace which is set ouer the Bachelors or Graduates of the first degree In a principall place of that Temple his Image is erected or else his Name in golden Cubitall letters written in a curious Table Hither the Magistrates assemble euery New-moone and Full also the Bachelors with wonted kneelings Odours and Wax-lights to acknowledge their Master On his Birth-day and on other set times they offer festiuall Dishes thankefully confessing his learned workes whence they haue attayned their Degrees and Offices but pray not to him nor looke for ought from him but as is obserued of their dead Parents Other Temples also are seene of the same Sect to the Tutelare Spirits of each Citie and to the Magistracie of each Tribunall wherein they solemnly binde themselues by solemne Oathes to obserue Law and Iustice when they first enter into their Office In these they offer Dishes and Odours but in differing Worship for in these they acknowledge there is a Diuine power to punish the perjurious and reward the good The scope of this Literate Sect is the peace and good of the Common-wealth and of Families and of each persons their precepts agreeing with Nature and Christianitie Fiue Relations or Societies are obserued by them comprehending all duties of humanitie of Father and Child of Husband and Wife of Master and Seruant of elder and younger Brethren of Fellowes and Equals They condemne Single life permit Polygamie and in their Bookes largely explaine that precept of Charitie to doe to another as a man would be done to They deny this to bee a Sect but a certayne Acadamie instituted for the gouernment of the Common-wealth and because it prescribes not nor prohibiteth any thing touching the Life to come many adjoyne the other two Sects to this The second Sect is called Siequia or Omitose and by the Iaponians Sciacca and Amidabu Both haue the same Characters and the same Totoqui or Law It came to the Chinois from the West brought from the Kingdome of Thienscio or Scinto now called Indostan betwixt Indus and Ganges about the yeere of Christ 65. It is written that the King of China warned in a Dreame sent Legats thither which brought Bookes and Interpreters from thence the Authors of them being dead And therefore I see not how truely the Iaponians affirme that Sciacca and Amidaba pierced thither and were Natiue of Siam The Authors of this Sect haue taken
seuerall sorts of Whales with the manner of killing them Whereto is added the description of Greenland p. 470. The description of Greenland pag. 472. CHAP. III. The first Nauigation of William Barents alias Bernards into the North Seas Written by Gerart de Veer pag. 473. CHAP. IIII. A briefe declaration of Barents his second Nauigation made in Anno 1595. behind Norway Muscouia and Tartaria written by Gerart de Veer pag. 478. Chap. V. The third voyage Northward to the Kingdoms of Cathaia and China in Anno 1596. Written by Gerart de Veer pag. 482. § 1. What happened to them at Sea before they came to build their House ibid. § 2. Their cold comfortlesse darke and dreadfull winter the Sunnes absence Moones light Sunnes vnexpected returne with miraculous speed Of Beares Foxes and many many wonders p. 492. § 3. Their preparation to goe from thence they depart in a Boat and Scute both open and come to Cola 1143. miles Their many dangers by Beares Ice Famine Scorbute in the way pag. 505. This was written by William Barentson in a loose Paper which was lent mee by the Reuerend Peter Plantius in Amsterdam March the seuen and twentieth 1609. pag. 518. CHAP. VI. A Treatise of Iuer Boty a Gronlander translated out of the North language into High Dutch H. ibid. The Course from Island to Groneland p. 520. CHAP. VII A description of the Countries of Siberia Samoieda and Tingoesia Together with the Iourneyes leading vnto the same Countries toward the East and North-east as they are daily frequented by the Moscouites pag. 522. § 1. Discouerie of Siberia and the subiecting of the same to the Russes ibid. § 2. A briefe description of the Wayes and Riuers leading out of Moscouia toward the East and North-east into Siberia Samoiedia and Tingoesia as they are daily frequented by the Russes with further discoueries towards Tartaria and China pag. 525. § 3. A Note of the trauels of the Russes ouer Land and by water from Mezen neere the Bay of Saint Nicholas to Pechora to Obi to Yenisse and to the Riuer Geta euen vnto the Frontiers of Cataia brought into England by Master Iohn Mericke the English Agent for Moscouie and translated out of the Russe by Richard Finch H. pag. 530. CHAP. VIII A voyage made to Pechora 1611. Written by William Gourdon of Hull appointed chiefe Pilot for discouerie to Ob c. H. ibid. CHAP. IX A Letter of Richard Finch to the Right Worshipfull Sir Thomas Smith Gouernour and to the rest of the Worshipfull Companie of English Merchants trading into Russia touching the former voyage and other obseruations H. pag. 534. The names of the places that the Russes sayle by from Pechorskoie Zauorot to Mongozey with the manner of their trauell and distance betweene each place or time of Sayling Halling and Rowing vnto the same pag. 539. CHAP. X. The Voyage of Master Iosias Logan to Pechora and his wintering there with Master William Pursglone and Marmaduke Wilson Anno 1611. H. pag. 541. Extracts taken out of two Letters of Iosias Logan from Pechora to Master Hakluyt Prebend of Westminster pag. 546. CHAP. XI A briefe relation of a Voyage to Pechora and wintering there began in the yeere 1611. Written by William Pursglone H. pag. 547. Other obseruations of the said William Pursglone pag. 550. The trauell from Pechora to Permia Ougoria and to the Riuer Ob and the Townes situated thereupon ouer Land pag. 551. Commodities for Pechora Siberia Permia Ougoria and among the Tingussies pag. 552. Commodities for the Tingussies ibid. CHAP. XII Later obseruations of William Gourdon in his wintering at Pustozera in the yeeres 1614. and 1615. with a description of the Samoyeds life H. pag. 553. CHAP. XIII Diuers Voyages to Cherie Iland in the yeeres 1604 1605 1606 1608 1609. Written by Ionas Poole H. pag. 556. CHAP. XIIII Diuers Voyages and Northerne discoueries of that worthy irrecouerable Discouerer Master Henrie Hudson His Discouerie toward the North Pole set forth at the charge of certaine Worshipfull Merchants of London in May 1607. Written partly by Iohn Playse one of the Companie and partly by H. Hudson H. pag. 567. CHAP. XV. A second voyage or employment of Master Henrie Hudson for finding a passage to the East Indies by the North-east written by himselfe H. pag. 574. CHAP. XVI The third voyage of Master Henrie Hudson toward Noua Zembla and at his returne his passing from Farre Ilands to New-found-Land and along to fortie foure degrees and ten minutes and thence to Cape Cod and so to thirtie three degrees and along the Coast to the Northward to fortie two degrees and an halfe and vp the Riuer neere to fortie three degrees Written by Robert Iuâ—t of Lime-house H. pag. 581. CHAP. XVII An Abstract of the Iournall of Master Henrie Hudson for the discouerie of the North-west passage begun the 17. of Aprill 1610. ended with his end being treacherously exposed by some of the Companie H. pag. 596. A larger discourse of the same voyage and the successe thereof written by Abacuk Pricket pag. 597. A Note found in the Deske of Thomas Widhouse Student in the Mathematikes he being one of them who was put into the Shallop pag. 609. CHAP. XVIII The discoueries of M. M. Nicolo and Antonio Zeni gathered out of their Letters by Francisco Marcolino whereto is added Quirino his shipwracke H. P. pag. 610. The shipwracke of Master Piero Quirino described by Christophoro Fiorauanti and Nicolo di Michiel who were present there here contracted H. P. pag. 611. CHAP. XIX Ancient commerce betwixt England and Norway and other Northerne Regions pag. 619. CHAP. XX. A briefe Memoriall of the great trauels by Sea and Land of Master George Barkley Merchant of London in Europe Asia Africa and America and their Ilands pag. 625. CHAP. XXI Collections out of Martin Broniouius de Biezerfedea sent Ambassadour from Stephen King of Poland to the Crim Tartar Contayning a description of Tartaria or Chersonesus Taurica and the Regions subiect to the Perecop or Crim Tartars with their Customes priuate and publike in peace and warre pag. 632. CHAP. XXII Dithmar Blefkens his Voyages and History of Island and Groenland pag. 643. Of the Islanders Religion pag. 645. The Life and Manners of the Islanders ibid. Of the wonderfull standing Pooles Lakes and Fountaines in Island pag. 647. Of the wonderfull Mountaines in Island pag. 648. Of the Riches of the Islanders pag. 649. Of the Iudgement of the Islanders pag. 650. Of Groneland pag. 651. CHAP. XXIII Extracts of Arngrim Ionas an Islander his Chrymogaea or History of Island published Anno Dom. 1609. H. P. pag. 654. § 1. Of Island the Situation Discouerie Plantation and Language ibid. § 2. A discourse of the first Inhabitants of the Northerne World supposed to be Giants expelled from Canaan Of the Islanders Houses Fewell Victuall pag. 659. § 3. Of their Politic and Religion in old times pag. 664 The Contents of the Chapters and Paragraphs in the fourth Booke
of Brasill ibid. § 2. Of the Warre Battailes Fortitude and Weapons of the Barbarians and of their Religion pag. 1333. § 3. Of their Marriages Education of Children Policie Hospitalitie Diseases Physitians Funerals and Lamentations pag. 1341. CHAP. IIII. The Trauels of Hulderike Schnirdel in twentie yeeres space from 1534. to 1554. abbreuiated H. P. pag. 1347. § 1. His Voyage vp the Riuer of Plate foundation of Townes their expedition vp the Riuer of Parana and Parabol the people of these parts ibid. § 2. Martin-Eyollas made Generall Gabreros comming Scherues Voyage Nunner his insolence Diuers people and accidents described pag. 1354. § 3. A long and troublesome March from Assumption into Peru. The Authors returne p. 1362 CHAP. V. The Obseruations of Sir Richard Hawkins Knight in his Voyage into the South Sea An. Dom. 1593. once before published now reuiewed and corrected by a written Copie illustrated with Notes and in diuers places abbreuiated pag. 1367. § 1. What happened in this Voyage before they came neere the Aequinoctiall Line with diuers accidentall Discourses vsefull for Nauigators pag. 1367 § 2. Considerations of Currents the Scorbute fire in Ships Fishes which attend them Sea-hawking and Hunting their comming to Brasill and obseruations thereof pag. 1372. § 3. Tharltons treacherie Discouerie of Land vnknowne Entrance of the Straits accidents therein and description thereof Diuers occasionall discourses for the furtherance of Marine and Naturall knowledge pag. 1382 § 4. Entrance into the South Sea Discouerie of the South parts of the Straits to bee but Ilands by Sir Francis Drake which the Hollanders ascribe to Maire and Schouten Of the Iland Mocha and the parts adioyning pag. 1391. § 5. The Vice-roy sends an Armado against the English which vieweth them and returneth is againe set foorth their fight the English yeeld vpon composition diuers Martiall discourses pag. 1398. CHAP. VI. A briefe Note written by Master Iohn Ellis one of the Captaines with Sir Richard Hawkins in his Voyage through the Strait of Magelan begun the ninth of Aprill 1593. concerning the said Srait and certaine places on the Coast and Inland of Peru. pag. 1415. CHAP. VII A briefe Relation of an Englishman which had beene thirteene yeeres Captiâ—e to the Spaniards in Peru c. H. pag. 1418. CHAP. VIII The Relation of Alexandro Vrsino concerning the Coast of Terra Firma and the secrets of Peru and Chili where hee had liued foure and thirtie yeeres H. ibid. CHAP. IX Notes of the West Indies gathered out of Pedro Ordonnes de Ceuallos a Spanish Priest his larger Obseruations pag. 1420. CHAP. X. Relation of the new discouerie in the South Sea made by Pedro Fernandez Giros Portugez 1609. with his Petitions to the King one Englished another in Spanish pag. 1422. The Copie of a Petition presented to the King of Spaine by Captaine Peter Ferdinand de Quir touching the discouerie of the fourth part of the World called Terra Australis Incognita and of the great riches and fertilitie of the same Printed with license in Siuill An. 1610. ibid. A Note of Australia del Espiritu Santo written by Master Hakluyt pag. 1432. CHAP. XI The Historie of Lopez Vaz a Portugall taken by Captaine Withrington at the Riuer of Plate Anno 1586. with this discourse about him touching American places discoueries and occurrents abridged ibid. CHAP. XII Briefe extracts translated out of Ierom Benzos three bookes of the New World touching the Spaniards cruell handling of the Indians and the effects thereof pag. 1448. CHAP. XIII Obseruations of things most remarkable collected out of the first part of the Commentaries Royall written by the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega Naturall of Cozco in nine bookes Of the Originall Liues Conquests Lawes and Idolatries of the Incas or ancient Kings of Peru. pag. 1454. CHAP. XIIII The suppliment of the Historie of the Incas briefly collected out of the Authors second part or Generall Historie of Peru. pag. 1485. CHAP. XV. Briefe Notes of Francis Pizarro his conquest of Peru written by a Spanish Captaine therein employed pag. 1489. CHAP. XVI The Conquest of Peru and Cusco called New Castile and directed to the Emperour by Francisco de Xeres Secretarie to Captaine Francis Pizarro which conquered them pag. 1491. CHAP. XVII Relations of occurrents in the Conquest of Peru after Fernand Pizarros departure written at Xauxa Iuly 15. 1534. by Pedro Sancho Notarie Generall in the Kingdoms of New Castile and Secretarie to the Gouernour Fr. Pizarro subscribed by the said Gouernour himselfe and others and sent to his Maiestie pag. 1494 The Contents of the Chapters and Paragraphs in the Eight Booke of the Second part of Purchas his PILGRIMS CHAP. I. A True Relation of Aluaro Nunez called Capo di Vacca concerning that which happened to the Fleet in India whereof Pamphilo Naruaez was Gouernour from the yeere 1527. vntill the yeere 1536. who returned vnto Siuill with three of his Companions onely Translated out of Ramusio and abbreuiated H.P. pag. 1499. § 1. Their Fleet and admirall and vnheard of Tempest their entrance into Florida the Lakes troublesome passages incounters disastrous successe building Boates for returne ibid. § 2. Misery pursues them at Sea and betrayes them to the Indians their miserable Liues and Death pag. 1506. § 3. Their flight from the Indians to others wonderfull cures backe and belly cares their trauels thorow the Countrey and hungry aduentures Diuers peoples and their Customes pag. 1514. § 4. They come to the South Sea and trauell through a plentifull Countrey till they meet with Spaniards whose crueltie manner of conuerting Sauages is related pag. 1524. CHAP. II. Ferdinando de Soto his Voyage to Florida and Discouerie of the Regions in that Continent with the Trauels of the Spaniards foure yeeres together therein and the accidents which befell them written by a Portugall of the Companie and heere contracted pag. 1532. § 1. Sotos entrance into Florida taking of Iohn Ortiz one of Naruaz his Companie comming to Paracossie and diuers other Caciques with accidents in the way ibid. § 2. Sotos further Discoueries in Florida and manifold Aduentures till hee came to Tulla pag. 1528. § 3. His departure to Autiamque Ortiz his Death and disasters following Soto takes thought and dyeth Moscosco succeedeth They leaue Florida and arriue at Panuco pag. 1550. CHAP. III. Diuers expeditions from Mexico and other parts of New Spaine and New Biskay especially to the more Northerly parts of America by diuers Spaniards in a hundred yeeres space pag. 1556. § 1. The Relation of Nunno di Gusman written to Charles the fift Emperour translated out of Ramusios third Tome and abridged ibid. § 2. The Voyage of Frier Marco de Nica Don Fr. Vasquez de Coronado Don Antonio de Espeio and diuers into New Mexico and the adioyning Coasts and Lands pag. 1560. § 3. Extracts out of certaine Letters of Father Martin Perez of the Societie of IESVS from the new Mission of the Prouince of Cinoloa to the Fathers of
the English and Spanish Fleets the Sea flight of the Spanish and miserable disasters in their returne Their lyes The Queenes religious triumph pag. 1895. Squadron of the Galeons of Portugall p. 1898. Don Alonso Peres de Gusman the good Duke of Medina Sidonia Countie of Nebla Marquesse of Casheshe in Africa Lord of the Citie of Saint Lucar Captaine Generall of the Occian Sea of the Coast of Andaluzia and of this Armie of his Maiestie and Knight of the honorable Order of the golden Fleece pag. 1902. The true relation of the successe of the Catholike Armie against their Enemies by the Letters of the Post-master of Logrono of the fourth of September and by Letters from Roan of the 31. of August and by Letters from Paris of the Kings Embassadour there wherein hee declareth the imprisonment of Francis Drake and other great Nobles of England and how the Queene is in the field with an Armie and of a certaine mutinie which was amongst the Queenes Armie with the successe of the said Catholike Armie since they entred in the Groyne till they came on the Coast of England with two Ballets compounded by Christouer Brauo a blinde man of Cordowa printed with licence by Gabriel Ramos Beiarano printer pag. 1913. CHAP. XII A discourse of the Portugall voyage Anno 1589. Sir Iohn Norris and Sir Francis Drake Generalls written as is thought by Colonell Antonie Wingfield imployed in the same voyage formerly published by his friend to whom it was written and here abbreuiated pag. 1914. CHAP. XIII A briefe and true report of the Honourable voyage vnto Cadiz 1596. of the ouerthrow of the Kings Fleet and of the winning of the Citie with other accidents gathered out of Meteranus Master Hackluyt and others pag. 1927. CHAP. XIIII The voyage to the Iles of Azores vnder the conduct of the Right Honorable Earle of Essex 1597. pag. 1935. § 1. The relation thereof by the said Earle and other Commissioners ibid. § 2. A larger relation of the said Iland voyage written by Sir Arthur Gorges Knight collected in the Queenes ship called the Wast Spite wherein he was then Captaine with Marine and Martiall discourses added according to the occurrences pag. 1938. The Conclusion of the Worke with some later aduertisements touching his Maiesties care for Virginia pag. 19â—0 Maps and Peeces cut in Brasse or VVood in the last ten Bookes AMerica p. 857 America Meridionalis p. 882 America Septentrionalis p. 853 Map of the Arctike Pole p. 625 Borussia or Prussia p. 626 Hondius his Map of China p. 361 Purchas his Map of China p. 402 Denmarke p. 622 England p. 1980 Florida p. 689 Great Britaine and Ireland p. 1981 Greenland p. 468 Vlphilas Gottick letters p. 658 Hispaniola p. 861 Island p. 644 Lithuania p. 629 Liuonia p. 627 Magellan Streight p. 900 Mexican hieroglyphic histor cut in 65. peeces p. 1067 c. to 1117. Moscouia p. 778 Norwegia p. 620 Polonia p. 630 Russia p. 220 Noua Scotia p. 1874 New Spaine p. 871 Tartaria p. 234 Taurica Chersonesus p. 632 Virginia p. 1692 PEREGRINATIONS AND DISCOVERIES IN THE REMOTEST NORTH AND EAST PARTS OF ASIA CALLED TARTARIA AND CHINA THE FIRST BOOKE CHAP. I. The Iournall of Frier WILLIAM DE RVBRVQVIS a French-man of the Order of the Minorite Friers vnto the East parts of the World Anno Dom. 1253. TO the most Excellent and most Christian Lord Lewis by Gods grace the Renowmed King of France Frier William de Rubruk the meanest of the Minorites Order wisheth health and continuall Triumph in Christ. It is written in the Booke of Ecclesiasticus concerning the Wiseman He shall trauell into forreine Countries and good and euill shall hee try in all things The very same Action my Lord and King haue I atchieued howbeit I wish that I haue done it like a wise man and not like a Foole. For many there bee that performe the same Action which a wise man doth not wisely but more vndiscreetly of which number I feare my selfe to bee one Notwithstanding howsoeuer I haue done it because you commanded mee when I departed from your Highnesse to write all things vnto you which I should see among the Tartars and you wished me also that I should not feare to write long Letters I haue done as your Maiestie enioyned me yet with feare and reuerence because I want words and Eloquence sufficient to write vnto so great a Maiestie Bee it knowne therefore vnto your Sacred Maiestie that in the yeare of our Lord 1253. about the Nones of May wee entred into the Sea of Pontus which the Bulgarians call the great Sea It contayneth in length as I learned of certayne Merchants one thousand and eight miles and is in a manner diuided into two parts About the midst thereof are two Prouinces one towards the North and another towards the South The South Prouince is called Synopolis and it is the Castle and Port of the Soldan of Turkie but the North Prouince is called of the Latines Gasaria of the Greekes which inhabit vpon the Sea shoare thereof it is called Cassaria that is to say Caesaria And there are certayne head-lands stretching forth into the Sea towards Synopolis Also there are three hundred miles of distance betweene Synopolis and Cassaria Insomuch that the distance from those points or places to Constantinople in length and breadth is about seuen hundred miles and seuen hundred miles also from thence to the East namely to the Countrey of Hiberia which is a Prouince of Georgia At the Prouince of Gasaria or Cassaria wee arriued which Prouince is in a manner three square hauing a Citie on the West part thereof called Kersoua wherein Saint Clement suffered Martyrdome And sayling before the said Citie wee saw an Iland in which a Church is said to be built by the hands of Angels But about the midst of the said Prouince toward the South as it were vpon a sharpe Angle or Point standeth a Citie called Soldaia directly against Synopolis And there doe all the Turkie Merchants which Traffique into the North Countries in their Iourney outward arriue and as they returne home-ward also from Russia and the said Northerne Regions into Turkie The foresaid Merchants transport thither Ermines and gray Furres with other rich and costly Skinnes Others carrie Clothes made of Cotton or Bombast and Silke and diuers kinds of Spices But vpon the East part of the said Prouince standeth a Citie called Matriga where the Riuer Tanais dischargeth his streames into the Sea of Pontus the mouth whereof is twelue miles in breadth For this Riuer before it entreth into the Sea of Pontus maketh a little Sea which hath in breadth and length seuen hundred miles and it it is in no place thereof aboue sixe paces deepe whereupon great Vessels cannot saile ouer it Howbeit the Merchants of Constantinople arriuing at the foresaid Citie of Materta send their Barkes vnto the Riuer of Tanais to buy dryed fishes Sturgeons Thosses Barbils
for the Hawkes of which are there mewed aboue two hundred Gerfalcons which he goeth once a weeke to see and he often vseth one Leopard or more sitting on Horses which hee setteth vpon the Stagges and Deere hauing taken the beast giueth it to the Gerfalcons and in beholding this spectacle he taketh wonderfull delight In the middest in a faire Wood hee hath built a royall House on pillars gilded and vernished on euery of which is a Dragon all gilt which windeth his tayle about the pillar with his head bearing vp the loft as also with his wings displayed on both sides the couer also is of Reeds gilt and varnished so that the rayne can doe it no iniurie the reeds being three handfuls thicke and ten yards long split from knot to knot The house it selfe also may be sundred and taken downe like a Tent and erected againe For it is sustained when it is set vp with two hundred silken cords Great Chan vseth to dwell there three moneths in the yeare to wit in Iune Iuly and August On the eight and twentieth day of August he departeth to make a solemne sacrifice He hath an herd of white Horses and white Mares about ten thousand of the milke whereof none may drinke except hee be of the progenie of Cingis Can except one family called Boriat priuiledged hereto by Cingis for their valour And these beasts as they goe vp and downe feeding are much reuerenced nor dare any goe before them or hinder their way The Astrologers or Sorcerers tell Chan that on the twentie eight of the Moone of August he should disperse that milke heere and there for the honour of all spirits and his Idols that they might be carefull preseruers of all those things which he possesseth There are two sorts of Idolaters Sorcerers called Thebeth and Chesmir which in the midst of stormes ascend the Palace and suffer no rayne to fall thereon which they make the people beleeue comes to passe by their sanctitie and therefore they goe slouenly and regardlesse of their persons neuer washing nor combing themselues They also haue a horrible custome to dresse and eate such as are comdemned to death but not those which dye naturally They are called also Bachsi which is the name of their Order as Friers Predicants or Minors with vs. They seeme by Magicke to doe what they list when the great Can in his Hall sits at his Table which is eight yards high and in the midst of the hall a good distance from the table is a great Cupboard of plate furnished They cause that the peeces full of Wine or Milke or other viands of themselues fill the goblets without any hand touching them and goe ten paces in the ayre into the great Cans hand and when he hath drunke returne to their place This they doe in the presence of any man when their Lord commands These Bachsi also when they will make feasts to their Idols goe to the Can and say Sir know that if our Idols be not honoured with Sacrifices they will bring plagues to Corne and Beasts And therefore wee pray you to giue the flesh of so many Sheepe with blacke heads and so many pounds of Incense and Lignum aloes that we may make them due sacrifice and honour This they spake not to him themselues but by certaine Lords deputed to that Office who speake to the Can and obtaine it On the feast day they sacrifice the said beasts and sprinkle the broath before the Idols They haue great Monasteries some of the bignesse of a Citie in some of which are about two thousand Monkes which serue Idols sequestred from the Laitie in their shauing and garments For they shaue their heads and beards and were a religious garment These in the solemnities of their Idols sing with solemne songs and lights some of them may marry There are some of great abstinence called Sensim leading an austere life for they eate nothing but Meale mingled with water till all the Flower be gone and eate the branne without any sauour These worship the Fire and the men of other rules say that these which are so austere are Heretikes against their Law because they worship not Idols as they doe and there are great differences betwixt them and these marry not in any case They shaue their Head and Beard they weare blacke hempen garments and bright yellow They sleepe in thicke Mats and liue the seuerest life in the world §. V. Of CVBLAI CAN his Raigne and Acts Magnificent feasts and Huntings Court and Counsell His Citie Cambalu and glorious Palace IN this Booke I purpose to write of all the great and maruellous Acts of the present Can called Cublai Can which is in our Tongue Lord of Lords the greatest Prince in peoples Cities and Treasures that euer was in the world Hee being discended from the Progenie of Chingis the first Prince of the Tartars is the sixth Emperour of that Countrey beginning to raigne in the yeare of our Lord 1256. being twentie seauen yeares old and ruling the people with great wisedome and grauitie He is a valiant man exercised in Armes strong of bodie and of a prompt minde for the performance of matters before he attained to the dignitie of the Empire which by his wisdome he did against the will of his Brethren he often shewed himselfe a valiant Souldier in the warres and carryed himselfe like a wiser and bolder Captaine then euer the Tartars had But since he swayed the Kingdome he went but once into the Field but sends his Sonnes and other Captaines in expeditions In the yeare of our Lord 1286. his Vncle named Naiam being thirtie yeares of age and hauing the command of many people and Countries so that hee was able easily to bring together foure hundred thousand Horse Being puffed vp through youthfull vanitie would now no longer be subiect but would needs take away the Kingdome from his Lord Cubai and sent to another great Lord named Caydu Lord of the parts towards great Turkie who was nephew of the Emperour Cublai yet hated him who yeelding consent to Rebellion promised to come in proper person with an hundred thousand Horse Both of them began to gather Forces which could not bee done so secretly but Cublai heard of it and presently tooke order to set guard to the wayes that no intelligence might passe that way and then assembled all the Forces within ten dayes iourney of Cambalu with great speed so that in twentie dayes were gathered together three hundred sixtie thousand Horse and one hundred thousand Foot a great part of them Falconiers and men of his Houshold With these hee made all haste day and night towards Naiams Countrey where at the end of twentie fiue dâ—yes he arriued altogether vnlooked for and rested his men two dayes Then hee called his Astrologers and caused them before all the Armie to diuine who should haue victorie a thing they alway vse to incourage
not one of these hath as long as hee liueth any charge or gouernment at all They giue themselues to eating and drinking and bee for the most part burley men of bodie insomuch that espying any one of them whom wee had not seene before wee might know him to bee the Kings Cousin They bee neuerthelesse very pleasant courteous and fayre conditioned neither did wee finde all the time we were in that Citie so much honour and good entertainment any where as at their hands They bid vs to their houses to eate and drinke and when they found vs not or wee were not willing to goe with them they bid our seruants and slaues causing them to sit downe with the first Notwithstanding the good lodging these Gentlemen haue so commodious that they want nothing yet are they in this bondage that during life they neuer goe abroad The cause as I did vnderstand wherefore the King so vseth his Cousins is that none of them at any time may rebell against him and thus bee shutteth them vp in three or foure other Cities Most of them can play on the Lute and to make that kinde of pastime peculiar vnto them onely all other in the Cities where they doe liue bee forbidden that Instrument the Curtizans and blinde folke onely excepted who bee Musicians and can play This King furthermore for the greater securitie of his Realme and the auoyding of tumults letteth not one in all his Countrey to bee called Lord except hee be of his bloud Many great Estates and Gouernours there be that during their office are lodged Lord-like and doe beare the port of mightie Princes but they bee so many times displaced and other placed anew that they haue not the while to become corrupt True it is that during their Office they be well prouided for as afterward also lodged at the Kings charges and in pension as long as they liue payed them monethly in the Cities where they dwell by certaine officers appointed for that purpose The King then is a Lord onely not one besides him as you haue seene except it bee such as be of his bloud A Nephew likewise of the King the Kings Sisters sonne lyeth continually within the walls of the Citie in a strong Palace built Castle-wise euen as his others Cousins doe remayning alwayes within doores serued by Eunuches neuer dealing with any matters Their festiuall dayes new Moones and full Moones the Magistrates make great banquets and so doe such as bee of the Kings bloud The King his Nephew hath name Vanfuli his Palace is walled about the wall is not high but foure square and in circuit nothing inferiour to the walls of Goa the out-side is painted red in euery square a Gate and ouer each gate a Tower made of timber excellently well wrought before the principall Gate of the foure that openeth into the high-street no Loutea bee he neuer so great may passe on horsebacke or carried in his seate Amidst this quadrangle standeth the Palace where that Gentleman lyeth doubtlesse worth the sight although wee came not in to see it By report the roofes of the towers and house are glased greene the greater part of the Quadrangle set with sauage Trees as Oakes Chesnuts Cypresse Pine-apples Cedars and other such like that wee doe want after the manner of a Wood wherein are kept Stagges Oxen and other beasts for that Lord his recreation neuer going abroad as I haue said One preheminence this Citie hath aboue the rest where wee haue beene and it of right as we doe thinke that besides the multitude of Market-places wherein all things are to bee sold through euery streete continually are cryed all things necessarie as Flesh of all sorts fresh-Fish Hearbes Oyle Vineger Meale Rice In summa all things so plentifully that many houses need no seruants euerie thing being brought to their doores Most part of the Merchants remayne in the Suburbs for that the Cities are shut vp euery night as I haue sayd The Merchants therefore the better to attend their businesse doe choose rather to make their abode without in the Suburbs then within the Citie I haue seene in this Riuer a pretie kinde of Fishing not to bee omitted in my opinion and therefore will I set it downe The King hath in many riuers good store of Barges full of Sea-crowes that breed are fed and doe dye therein in certaine Cages allowed monethly a certaine prouision of Rice These Barges the King bestoweth vpon his greatest Magistrates giuing to some two to some three of them as hee thinketh good to Fish therewithall after this manner At the houre appointed to Fish all the Barges are brought together in a circle where the Riuer is shallow and the Crowes tyed together vnder the wings are let leape downe into the water some vnder some aboue worth the looking vpon each one as hee hath filled his bagge goeth to his owne Barge and emptieth it which done hee returneth to fish againe Thus hauing taken good store of Fish they set the Crowes at libertie and doe suffer them to fish for their owne pleasure There were in that Citie where I was twentie Barges at the least of these aforesaid Crowes I went almost euery day to see them yet could I neuer bee throughly satisfied to see so strange a kinde of Fishing ⸪ PEREGRINATIONS VOYAGES DISCOVERIES OF CHINA TARTARIA RVSSIA AND OTHER THE NORTH AND EAST PARTS OF THE WORLD By English-men and others THE SECOND BOOKE CHAP. I. The beginning of English Discoueries towards the North and North-east by Sir HVGH WILLOVGHBY RICHARD CHANCELLOR and others of the Muscouie Trade as also Voyages by Russia ouer the Caspian Sea and thorow diuers Regions of Tartaria §. I. The first Voyage for Discouerie with three ships set forth vnder the charge of Sir HVGH WILLOVGHBY Knight in which he died and Moscouia was discouered by Captaine CHANCELLOR IN the yeere of our Lord 1553. the seuenth of the Raigne of King Edward the sixth of famous memorie Sebastian Cabota was Gouernour of the Mysterie and Companie of the Merchants Aduenturers for the discouerie of Regions Dominions Ilands and places vnknowne Certaine instructions were agreed on by him and the said Companie subscribed by Master Cabota the ninth of May the Kings Letters also procured vnto remote Princes in diuers languages and a fleet of three Ships set forth at that time vnder the command of Sir Hugh Willoughby Knight Captaine generall which went in the Bona Esperanza Admirall a ship of an hundred and twenty tunnes hauing with her a Pinnace and a Boat William Gefferson was Master of the said ship The Edward Bonauenture was of an hundred and sixty tunnes and had with her a Pinnace and a Boat in which went Richard Chancellor Captaine and Pilot Maior of the fleet and Stephen Burrough Master The Bona Confidentia of ninety tunnes had with her a Pinnace and a Boat of which Cornelius Durfoorth was Master The Captaines and Masters were sworne to doe
very great each hauing a woman sitting thereon with a Sword in her hand of the same metall and a siluer Crowne on the head so many had sacrificed themselues at her death to doe her seruice in the next World Another compasse environed that of the Giants all of triumphant Arches gilded with a great quantitie of siluer Bels hanging on siluer chaines which by the motion of the Aire continually yeelded a strange sound Without those Arches in the same proportion stand two rankes of Latten grates encircling the whole worke set in spaces with Pillars of the same and thereon Lions set on balls which are the Armes of the Kings of China At the foure corners were placed foure Monsters of Brasse one which the Chinois call the Deuouring Serpent of the deepe Caue of the House of smoke in the figure of a dreadfull Serpent with seuen Serpents comming out of his brest sported with greene and blacke with many prickles more then a span long quite thorow the bodie like Hedge-hogges each hauing in his mouth a woman ouerthwart with disheuelled haires looking deadly The old or great Serpent holds in his mouth a Lizard halfe out of aboue thirty spans in length as bigge as a Pipe with nose and lips full of bloud and in his hands he holds a great Elephant so forcibly that his entrailes seeme to come out of his mouth all so naturally represented that it is most dreadful to behold The folds of his tayle were aboue twentie fathome long enfolding therein another Monster the second of the foure called Tarcamparoo which they say was the Sonne of that Serpent which stands with both his hands in his mouth which is as bigge as a gate the teeth set in order and the blacke tongue hanging out aboue two fathomes Of the two other one was the Figure of a woman named Nadelgau seuenteene fathomes long and sixe about from whose waste issued a beake or face aboue two fathomes which cast smoake out of the nosthrils and flames of fire out of the mouth which they make therein continually saying shee is the Queene of the Fierie Spheare and shall burne the Earth at the end of the World The fourth is like a man set cowring with cheekes puffed like ships sayles so monstrous that a man could not endure the sight The Chinois call him Vzanguenaboo and say that it is hee which makes Tempests in the Sea and throwes downe Houses by Land to which the people giue much Almes not to hurt their Iunkes The second day we went from Pocasser and came to another Citie called Xinligau very great well built walled with Tyles ditched about with two Castles at the end hauing their Towres Bul-warkes and Draw-bridges in the midst of each Castle was a Towre of fiue Lofts with many workes painted in which the Chinois said were fifteene thousand Picos of siluer of the Rents gathered in that Archipelago which this Kings Grand-father there layd vp in memory of his Sonne Leuquinau which signifieth the ioy of all holden for a Saint because he dyed a Religious man and lyes there buried in the Temple of Quiay Varatel the God of all the Fishes in the Sea of whom they haue large Legends In that Citie and another fiue leagues from it is made the greatest part of the Silke of that Kingdome the waters there giuing quicker colours they say then in other parts The Weauers Loomes of these Silkes which they affirme thirteene thousand pay yearely to the King three hundred thousand Taeis Going further vp the Riuer wee came the next day Euening to a great Champaigne continuing ten or twelue leagues in which were many Kine Horses and Mares pastured for the shambles as well as other flesh and kept by many men on Horse-backe These Champaignes past wee came to a Towne called Iunquileu walled with Tyles but without Towres or Bul-warkes Here wee saw a stone Monument with an Inscription Heere lyeth Trannocem Mudeliar Vncle to the King of Malaca who dyed before hee was reuenged of Captayne Alboquerque the Lion of Sea Robberies We enquiring hereof an old Chinese said that about fortie yeares agoe the man there interred had come Embassadour from a King of Malaca to sue to the Sonne of the Sunne for succour against a Nation of a Land without name which had comne from the end of the World and taken Malaca with other incredible particularities printed in a Booke which hee made thereof Hauing spent three yeares in this Suite and brought it to some maturitie hee sickned of the Aire one night at Supper dyed in nine dayes and left this Memoriall Wee proceeded on our way the Riuer growing lesse but the Countrey more peopled scarsly a stones cast free of some House eyther of a Pagode or Labourer And two leagues higher on a Hill compassed with Iron grates were two Brasse Statues standing on their feete one of a man the other of a woman both seuentie foure spans long with their hands in their mouthes and puffed cheekes fastned to Cast-Iron Pillars seuen fathomes high The Male was named Quiay Xingatalor the woman Apancapatur The Chinois told vs that the man was Fire-blower in Hell to torment such as in this life gaue them no Almes the woman was the Hell-Porter which suffered the Almes-giuers to flye by a Riuer of cold water called Ochileuday and hid them their from the Deuils hurting them One of our company laughed at this Tale whereat a Bonzo was so offended that hee set Chifu in rage with vs who bound vs hand and foot and gaue vs one hundred stripes a-piece Twelue Priests were incensing these Monsters when wee were there with Siluer-censours full of sweet Odours Saying as wee serue thee helpe thou vs another company of Priests answering So I promise thee as a good Lord. And thus went they on Procession about the Hill an houres space sounding certayne Bels causing a dreadfull noyse Hence wee passed vp the Riuer eleuen dayes all peopled with Cities Townes Villages Castles in many places scarsly a Calieuer shot distant one from another and all the Land in compasse of our sight had store of great Houses and Temples with gilded Steeples which amazed vs with the sight Thus wee came to the Citie Sampitay where wee stayed fiue dayes by reason of the sicknesse of Chifus Wife There by his leaue wee went thorow the streets a begging the people wondering at vs and giuing vs largely One woman amongst others which busily questioned with vs shewed vs a Crosse branded on her left arme asking if we knew that signe and wee deuoutly answering yes shee lifted vp her hands to Heauen and sayd Our Father which art in Heauen hallowed be thy Name in Portugues and could speake no more but proceeded in China speech and procured leaue to lodge vs at her House those fiue dayes telling vs she was named Inez de Leiria and was the Daughter of Thomas Perez which came Embassadour to China
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
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 bâ—gan 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 neâ—t 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 〈◊〉 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
left them all to picke strawes on the ground for indeed this was one of those Serpents Their custome is as they say to put themselues in ambush among the boughes of a Tree and when they espie their prey to draw neere bee it Man or Beast they fall vpon him with open mouth and deuoure it There are also store of Lions Leopards and Tigers and there the Fruits begin to resemble those of these parts but the Fruit which aboue all others aboundeth there is the Mirabolan Thence I sent forwards to Canton the principall Citie of all China some three Moneths trauell distant beyond which there is no passage say any body what hee will to the contrary for neuer any man proceeded further except as they say sixe Iesuites who dwelled twentie yeeres at Canton as well to learne the Language perfectly as to let their hayre to grow long after the Countrey manner of whom there was neuer since heard any newes nor is their hope euer to see their returne That people is very white and apparelled as is abouesayd they are likewise Gentiles and worship the same Image with three heads Their Women of the better sort and qualitie which are able to liue of their owne without working neuer goe out of their houses but as they are carryed in a Chayre And to that effect from their Inâ—ancie they put their feete into certayne woodden Slippers to make them stump-footed and impotent in so much as they are not able to goe the reason they alleadge for it is that Women were made to no other end then to keepe at home The Christians are not permitted to lye within the Citie but as soone as Night approaches they must retire themselues to their Ships being lawfull for them to Traffâ—que wheresoeuer they please by Day-light And for their traffique what rarities soeuer there bee throughout all China are to bee had in this Citie which are diligently brought thither to wit great store of cloath of Gold and Silke Cabinets wrought Vessels Venus shells Massiue gold and many other things They will exchange or barter Gold for twice as much waight in Siluer for they haue no coyned money for when they would buy any thing they carrie with them a piece of Gold and will cut off as much as they intend to bestow on what they take They make carued Images of Siluer which they erect heere and there through the Streets and no body dares touch them The Citie is gouerned by foure Rulers and each one hath his Gouernment or Circuit apart secluded from each other those of one quarter dare not goe and labour in another and those which cause themselues to bee carryed from one part to another must change their Bearers when they come to the Gate of the next circuit those Gates are opened eury morning and shut euery night vnlesse there bee any complaint made of some misdemeanour committed within the Circuit for then they shut them suddenly or if they bee shut they open them not till the offender be found The King bestowes these commands on those who are best Learned This is a most faire Citie and well built very neare as bigge as Paris but there the Houses are arched and nothing neare so high There is so much Sugar in that Countrey that it is by them very little set by yet is Silke in faâ—re more great abundance but withall more course then ours by reason of their store being so great as they are constrayned to make it abroad in the Fields on the very Trees in this wise when the Wormes are hatched whereof the Egges are farre greater then ours They obserue what quantitie of Wormes each Tree will bee able to feede then they lay so many on it leauing them there without any more adoe except it bee to gather the cods when they are ready to bee spunne which is done as they gather Apricocks for indeed a farre off they appeare to bee so and is a very fine sight to behold they vse a strange kinde of Fishing with Cormorants They tie their neckes a little aboue their stomackes lest they should deuour the Fish they take then comming to their Master hee pulleth it aliue out of their throates Likewise for water Fowle they make vse of great Bottles with two holes which they leaue floating vp and downe the water a good while to acquaint the Fowles therewith then some fellowes will wade vp to the necke in the water thrusting their heads into those Bottles and hauing a bagge vnderneath come as neere the Fowle as they will taking them with their hands without the rest being afraid of it VOYAGES AND DISCOVERIES OF THE NORTH PARTS OF THE WORLD BY LAND AND SEA IN ASIA EVROPE THE POLARE REGIONS AND IN THE NORTH-WEST OF AMERICA THE THIRD BOOKE CHAP. I. A Treatise of Russia and the adioyning Regions written by Doctor GILES FLâ—TCHER Lord Ambassadour from the late Queene Euer-glorious ELIZABETH to THEODORE then Emperour of Russia A. D. 1588. THe Countrey of Russia was sometimes called Sarmatia It changed the Name as some doe suppose for that it was parted â—nto diuers small and yet absolute Gouernments not depending nor being subject the one to the other For Russâ— in that tongue doth signifie as much as to Part or Diuide The Russe reporteth that foure Brethren Trubor Rurico Sinees and Variâ—â—s diuided among them the North parts of the Countrey Likewise that the South parts were possessed by foure other Kia Sciâ—kâ— Choranus their and sister Libeda each calling his Territorie after his owne Name Of this partition it was called Russia about the yeere from Christ 860. As for the conjecture which I finde in some Cosmographers that the Russe Nation borrowed the name of the people called Roxellani and were the very same Nation with them it is without all good probabilitie both in respect of the Etymologie of the word which is very farre fetcht and especially for the seate and dwelling of that people which was betwixt the two Riuers of Tanaia and Boristhones as Strabo reporteth quite another way from the Countrey of Russia When it bare the name of Sarmatia it was diuided into two chiefe parts the White and the Blacke The White Sarmatia was all that part that lyeth towards the North and on the side of Liefland as the Prouinces now called Duyna Vagha Vstik Vologda Cargapolia Nouogradâ—a c. whereof Nouogrod velica was the Metropolite or chiefe Citie Blacke Sarmatia was all that Country that lyeth Southward towards the Euxin or Black Sea as the Dukedome of Volodemer of Mosko Rezan c. Some haue thought that the name of Sarmatia was first taken from one Sarmates whom Moses and Iosephus call Asarmathes Sonne to Ioktan and nephew to Heber of the posteritie of Sem. But this seemeth to bee nothing but a conjecture taken out of the likenesse of the name Asarmathes For the dwelling of all Ioktans posteritie is described by Moses to haue beene
name of Flokawogur and there the deepest part of the Sea where Geirhilda the daughter of Floco by chance was drowned was caled Geirhildarwata from her no otherwise then that Sea was called Hellespontus wherein by misfortune Phryxus lost his sister Helle. There was yet no vse of the Mariners Compasse wherefore Floco leauing Hietlandia tooke certayne Rauens vnto him and when hee thought hee had sayled a great way he sent forth one Rauen which flying aloft went backe againe to Hietlande which she saw behind Whereupon Floco perceiuing that he was yet neerer to Hietland then other Countryes and therefore couragiously going forward he sent forth another Rauen which because she could see no Land neither before nor behind light into the ship again But lastly the third Rauen was sent forth by Floco and hauing for the most part performed his Voyage through the sharpnesse of her quicke sight attayning the Land which the Mariners desired she speedily flew thither whose direction Floco following beheld first the Easterne side of the Iland as his Predecessors did and from thence directing his course to the South found a very wide and open Bay twelue Islandish miles broad betweene the two Promontories or high Lands afterwards called Renkanes and Snaefelsnes And hearing by a certayne Mariner whom he had with him a Scot borne named Faxa that the Bay they now met with was the huge mouth of a Riuer or Floud Floco to reproue the folly of Faxa supposing so huge a Bay of the Sea to be the mouth of a Riuer called the name of the Bay inclosed betweene the foresaid Promontories Faxaos which signifieth the mouth of Faxa This Bay by reason of the multitude of Hauens was afterwads called Hafnafiordur which name Hafnafiordur at this day is more specially vsed of a most safe Hauen of the same Bay After this Floco sayling along the West side of the Iland entred somewhat within the Bay Breidafiord remaining in a certaine Hauen of the Prouince Bardestraund called Watnsfiordur for I vse the names giuen them afterwards and there preparing wintering places he liued very commodiously and well with fish of diuers kindes wherewith that Bay doth abound But hauing the Spring time here very vntemperate through cold hee found a Bay which entreth this part of the Land on the North to be filled with Ice of the Sea which wee call Gronelandish Ice From which Ice Floco deuised the third name for the Iland and called it Island Moreouer also Floco turning to the South side passed another Winter in Island and returning into Norway from the Rauens which hee vsed in stead of the Mariners Compasse he allotted it the surname of Rafnafloke And Island surely obtained these names consequently from the finders or discouerers thereof For as touching the fourth Thule imposed vpon this Land by some I cannot bee perswaded to beleeue it is true chiefly by this argument That Thyle or Thule among the ancient Writers was often in the mouth and writings not onely of Pliny in his second booke of Naturall Histories 75. Chapter and fourth booke and sixteenth Chapter and Pliny flourished about the eightieth yeere of Christ and of him who was more ancient then Pliny Pythias Massiliensis buâ— also of Pub. Virgilius who liued not aboue fourteene yeeres after Christ but Island till the yeere of Christ 874. remained altogether desert as hereafter I shall speake Thule therefore which Virgil said should serue Augustus Geor. 1. tibi seruiat vltima Thule where euen euery child knoweth that Thule is Synecdochically spoken for the Inhabitanes of Thule not onely inhabited in the times of Augustus and Virgil but also knowne to the Romanes is not Island which many ages after began first to be inhabited Besides Plinie himselfe seemeth in the later place recited to reckon Thule with the Ilands of Britaine for saith hee Vltima omnium quae memorantur est Thule to wit of the Brittish Ilands for hee speaketh of them It is likely also that Virgil meant the same who said Thule was the last in the place before recited and likewise Penitus toto diuisos orbe Britannos that is to say the last Let me yet vrge the same argument further from the age of Claudianus Alexandrinus and Pub. Papinius Statius farre more ancient then he For Claudianus about the yeere of Christ 390. writeth thus concerning the successe of the Getick Wars atchieued by Theodosius Famaque ingrantes succincta panoribus alas Secum cuncta trahens à Gadibus vsque Britaâ—â—um Terruit Oceanum nostro procul axe remotam Insolito Belli tremefecit murmure Thulen Then blackwing'd Fame Feare girt frights all the World with Warre From Cades to Britaine from Our World shakes Thule farre But did Report and Fame cause Island not inhabited and desert to tremble And Statius more ancient by three hundred yeeres then Claudian in his third Booke Sylua writeth thus Quanquam etsi gelidas irem mansurus ad Arâ—tos Velsuper Hesperia vada caligantia Thules Though I should dwel in Artike frosts Or mystie shelues of Thules West coasts You heare not onely a slight report of Thule came to Statius eares but that the shallow places quicke sand or shelues found in approching to the Iland were sufficiently knowne vnto him by the often relation of Nauigators of which sort in the circuit of Island there are none that I know which experience speaketh but in comming to the Ilands of Britaine they are very ordinarie and common as they say The Longitude thereof from the East vnto the West hath not hitherto beene expressed by any certaine or assured measure that I know nor yet the Latitude from North to South saue that in an ancient Codicall or Writing I found that the Longitude was twentie dayes iourney and the Latitude where it is broadest foure dayes but the iourneyes as elsewhere so also with vs are not alike yet here I vnderstand Pyngmanualeid twentie in the Authors owne hand-writing it is Dagleider nor is it expressed whether of Horse-men or Foot-men But the Latitude it selfe is not euery where the same by reason of Bayes on both sides to wit from the Sotth and North entring the Land it selfe with vnequall distances The Easterly bound is Austurhorn the Westerne Randesandur for the Promontory Sua-felloues lyeth more toward the South-west but the North bound is Langanes and the South Reikranes The Iland also from the foure quarters of the World is diuided into North South East and West and the Promontorie Langanes diuideth North Island from East Island from West Island the Bay Rutafiordur from South Island the vast and huge deserts of rough and inaccessable places extended the whole length of the Iland But Soutâ— Island opposite to the North through these rough and inaccessable places lying betweene the Riuer Ioculsu running through the deserts of Solseimasande diuideth from East Island from West Island also a famous Riuer named Albis emptying it selfe into the Bay Borgarfiord So that if it pleased me
the excellency of his beautie was called Halogie so named of the Prouince of Halogalandâ— in Norway That is to say Sâ—â—we surnamed the Ancient because hee is reported to haue liued three hundred yeeres he left one sonne and three daughters Dryfa. A snowy shower Porre King of Gothland Kuenland and Finland Goe A daughter Nor. Of whom Norway is named and the first Monarch Gor. Beiter-Geiter Gylui The said Asian immigration happened in the time of this Gylui Fanun Signifieth Snowe gathered together in thicke heapes by a Tempest Miol Is thin Snowe descending without winde From this Norus Haraldus Pulcriconâ—us is the twelfth of them that descended from the right Line whom some make the first Monarch of Norway but amisse being ignorant of Antiquitie seeing hee was the third Restorer of the Monarchy of Norway for betweene him and Norus Hemngus the sonne of Odinus obtayned the Monarchy also These I say besides many other things are the manifest tokens of the Inhabitants of the Northerne World farre more ancient then the immigration of Odinus of whose originall notwithstanding there is not one word But because it is most repugnant to a Christian man knowing the Bookes of Moses concerning Originals to affirme themselues to be Autochâ—â—â—a as both others but especially the Greekes did concerning their Ancestors yet with better leaue then the rest of the people of Europe who next to the Chaldoes Egyptians and Iewes might worthily boast of Antiquitie in comparison of other people It were better truly to confesse the vnknown originall of Ancestors then to be carried away with the opinion and error of Earth-bred men left surely wee should heare some such thing as sometimes one wittily vpbraided the Grecians with so much boasting by reason of their pretended selfe-originall to wit that Moses the Law giuer of the Iewes was more ancient then the Gods of the Grecians In the meane space because through the onely confession of ignorance or doubt truth doth not so soone appeare some what is to be alleaged touching the proposed question that the historicall Reader may haue some thing here which hee may either confuâ—e or confirme Wee are therefore by probable reasons to inquire who were the first inhabitants of the Northerne World and from whence they came then when they began to inhabit this our World that from hence some coniecture may arise concerning the originall of the language And that I may here acquit my selfe without circumstances I thinke the first inhabitants of the Northerne World were of the number of Giants nay mere Giants men that inhabited the mountaines of an huge and sometimes a monstrous body and of monstrous and exceeding strength and that they were the posteritie and remnant of the Canaanites expulsed from the Territories of Palestina about the yeere of the World 2500. by Iosua and Caleb remoouing into Palestina through Gods pleasure and direction and that this Countrey of the World euen vntill those times or peraduenture longer remayned altogether not inhabited For thus Saxo Grammaticus argueth in the Preface of his Dania But sayth he the stones of exceeding bignesse fastened to the Tombes and Caues of the ancient testifie that the Countrey of Denmarke was sometimes troubled with the inhabiting of Giants But if any doubt that it was done by monstrous strength let him looke vp to the high tops of certayne Mountaynes and say if he know it well who hath brought Rockes of such huge greatnesse to the tops thereof For euery one that considereth this Miracle shall perceiue that it is beyond common opinion that the simple labour of mortalitie or vsuall force of humane strength should rayse so huge a weight hardly or not at all moueable vpon the plaine ground to so high a top of mountaynous sublimitie This Saxo writeth who shall be a sufficient Author vnto vs concerning the first Inhabitants of Denmarke that is to say his owne Countrey So concerning Norway and Suecia and the bordering Countreyes as whatsoeuer is most ancient so it most resembleth a Giant-like disposition and nature Whereof examples are to be taken out of Histories which would bee tedious here For that I may omit ancient examples those things are knowne of late memory to haue beene done Concerning the Giant Doffro inhabitant of the Mountayne Doffraefiall in Norway and Foster-father of Haraldus Pulcricomus King of Norway Also concerning Dunubo who liued in the time of Droffon from whom the Bay Boddick or Bothnicke in time past was called Dumbshaff who in a Sea-fight encountring eighteene Giants alone sent twelue of them first to Hell before he himselfe was slaine Of thirtie Giants at once destroyed by fire by Dumbos Sonnes left in reuenge of their Fathers death There is yet a later example of certayne Giants of Norway destroyed by authoritie of Olaus Triggo King of Norway about the yeere of Christ 995. But the latest in the yeere 1338. Magnus the Sonne of Ericus being King of Norway that a Giant of fifteene Cubits was slaine by foure men as it is found recorded in the Chronicles Hereunto adde that a certayne Prouince of Norway or bordering vpon Finmauchia in ancient time was called Risalande that is to say the Land of Giants for En Râ—se and Rese signifie a Giant from whence Iotum Heimar that is the habitation of Giants is not farre dissonant whereupon as yet En Iaet is said to be a Giant that I may speake nothing heere of Iotumland by which name that which at this day is called Iijtland was sometimes called by our Countrey men and very many other also the Land of the Cimbri or Chersonesus the same name also being giuen it of Kemper that is fighting Giants of Nephilheimar and Karnephill else-where and peraduenture by others shall be spoken as also of the Gotthes and Getts peraduenture also Ietts and such like others Moreouer the remnant of the Giants came into Island whose Names Habitations worthy Acts and Enterprizes are sufficiently knowne and before our eyes Seeing therefore Giants first inhabited this our World it is demanded when or whence they came Gilb. Genebrand Chronol Lib. 1. The first Age sayth hee from the Creation of the World vnto the Floud seemeth to haue beene passed and spent within the mid-lands of the World and that they came not to the borders of Asia Africa and Europe Bodinus sayth that Moses wrote the Historie of the whole World he meaneth inhabited euen to the yeere of the World 2450. And Genebrand againe Lib. 1. Chronol pag. 11. As the first Originall of Mankind was in Armenia Mesopotamia Chaldaea and Syria and men before the Floud dwelt only there so other Countreyes themselues were first inhabited after the Floud Also Genebrand sayth yet further ibid. pag. 35. Before three thousand yeeres for hee wrote in the yeere of Christ 1597. almost all Europe was emptie that is about the yeere of the World 2541. which is chiefly to bee vnderstood of the Northerne World if of the rest of Europe
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
Pilot from Venice dated the 20. of Nouember 1596. which came not to his hands And also another Letter dated the 24. of Ianuarie 1596. which came to his hands And thereof he wrote me answere dated the 28. of May 1597. which I receiued the first of August 1597. by Thomas Norden an English Merchant yet liuing in London wherein he promised still to goe with me into England to performe the said voyage for discouerie of the North-west passage into the South Sea if I would send him money for his charges according to his former writing without the which money he said he could not goe for that he said he was vndone vtterly when he was in the ship Santa Anna which came from China and was robbed at California And yet againe afterward I wrote him another Letter from Venice whereunto he wrote me answere by a Letter written in his Greeke language dated the 20. of October 1598. the which I haue still by me wherein he promiseth still to goe with me into England and performe the said voyage of discouerie of the North-west passage into the South Sea by the said streights which he calleth the Streight of Noua Spania which he saith is but thirtie daies voyage in the streights if I will send him the money formerly written for his charges The which money I could not yet send him for that I had not yet recouered my pension owing mee by the Companie of Turkie aforesaid And so of long time I stayed from any furder proceeding with him in this matter And yet lastly when I my selfe was at Zante in the moneth of Iune 1602. minding to passe from thence for England by Sea for that I had then recouered a little money from the Companie of Turkie by an order of the Lords of the Priuie Counsell of England I wrote another Letter to this Greeke Pilot to Cefalonia and required him to come to me to Zante and goe with mee into England but I had none answere thereof from him for that as I heard afterward at Zante he was then dead or very likely to die of great sicknesse Whereupon I returned my selfe by Sea from Zante to Venice and from thence I went by land through France into England where I arriued at Christmas An. 1602. safely I thanke God after my absence from thence ten yeeres time with great troubles had for the Company of Turkies businesse which hath cost me a great summe of money for the which I am not yet satisfied of them A Treatise of the North-west passage to the South Sea through the Continent of Virginia and by Fretum Hudson THe noble plantation of Virginia hath some very excellent prerogatiues aboue many other famous Kingdomes namely the temperature of the aire the fruitfulnesse of the soile and the commodiousnesse of situation The aire is healthfull and free both from immoderate heate and from extreme cold fo that both the Inhabitants and their Cattell doe prosper exceedingly in stature and strength and all Plants brought from any other remote climate doe there grow and fructifie in as good or better manner then in the soile from whence they came Which though it doe manifestly prooue the fruitfulnesse of the soile yeelding all kindes of Graine or Plants committed vnto it with a rich and plentifull increase yet cannot the fatnesse of the earth alone produce such excellent effects vnlesse the temperature of the aire be likewise so fauourable that those tender sprouts which the earth doth abundantly bring forth may bee cherished with moderate heate and seasonable moisture and freed both from scorching drought and nipping frost The North part of America Gerardus Mercator a very industrious and excellent Geographer was abused by a Map sent vnto him of foure Euripi meeting about the North Pole which now are found to bee all turned into a mayne Icie Sea One demonstration of the craftie falshood of these vsuall Maps is this that Cape Mendocino is set in them West North-west distant from the South Cape of California about seuenteene hundred leagues whereas Francis Gaule that was imployed in those discoueries by the Vice-roy of New Spaine doth in Hugo Linschotten his booke set downe their distance to be onely fiue hundred leagues Besides this in the place where Sir Thomas Button did winter in 57. degrees of latitude the constant great Tydes euery twelue houres and the increase of those Tydes whensoeuer any strong Westerne winde did blow doe strongly perswade vs that the mayne Westerne Ocean is not farre from thence which was much confirmed vnto them the Summer following when sayling directly North from that place where they wintered about the latitude of 60. degrees they were crossed by a strong Current running sometimes Eastward sometimes Westward So that if we finde either Hudsons Bay or any Sea more neere vnto the West wee may assure our selues that from thence we may with great ease passe to any part of the East Indies And that as the World is very much beholding to that famous Columbus for that hee first discouered vnto vs the West Indies and to the Portugal for the finding out the ordinarie and as yet the best way that is knowne to the East Indies by Cape Bona Speranza So may they and all the world be in this beholding to vs in opening a new and large passage both much neerer safer and farre more wholesome and temperate through the Continent of Virginia and by Fretum Hudson to all those rich Countries bordering vpon the South Sea in the East and West Indies And this hope that the South Sea may easily from Virginia be discouered ouer Land is much confirmed by the constant report of the Sauages not onely of Virginia but also of Florida and Canada which dwelling so remote one from another and all agreeing in the report of a large Sea to the Westwards where they describe great ships not vnlike to ours with other circumstances doe giue vs very great probabilitie if not full assurance that our endeuours this way shall by Gods blessing haue a prosperous and happy successe to the encrease of his Kingdome and Glorie amongst these poore ignorant Heathen people the publique good of all the Christian world the neuer-dying honour of our most gracious Soueraigne the inestimable benefit of our Nation and the admirable and speedie increase and aduancement of that most noble and hopefull Plantation of Virginia for the good successe whereof all good men with mee I doubt not will powre out their prayers to Almightie God H. B. VOYAGES AND TRAVELS TO AND IN THE NEW WORLD CALLED AMERICA RELATIONS OF THEIR PAGAN ANTIQVITIES AND OF THE REGIONS AND PLANTATIONS IN THE NORTH AND SOVTH parts thereof and of the Seas and Ilands adiacent THE FIFTH BOOKE CHAP. I. A Description of the West Indies by ANTONIO De HERRERA his Maiesties Chiefe Chronicler of the Indies and his Chronicler of Castile To the Licentiate PAVL of Laguna President of the Royall and Supreme Councell of the Indies THe
Residencie with facultie to take the gouernment and by his death the Licenciate Marcus of Aguilar naturall of the Citie of Ezija was subrogated his Deputie and because of his death succeeded within two moneths hee substituted his authorities in the Treasurer Alonso of Estrada borne in Citie Royall and the death of Lewis Pance being knowne in Castile it was prouided that Marcus of Aguilar should gouerne and in defect of him Alonso of Estrada till the first Court came with order that Nunne of Guzman Knight of Guadalajara Gouernour of Panuco a President did come and because it was conuenient to take away those Iudges others were sent in their places and for President in the gouernment vniuersall of New Spaine Don Sebastian Ramirez of Fuenleal Bishop of Saint Dominicke and of the Conception late President of the Court of Saint Dominicke a man of great learning and that after many dignities died in Castile Bishop of Cuenca and then the charge of Captaine generall was giuen anew to the Marques Don Hernando Cortes that he might gouerne the matters of warre with the aduise of Don Sebastian Ramirez The first that had title of Vice-roy and Captaine generall of New Spaine was Don Antonie of Mendoça brother of the Marques of Mondejar Don Lewis of Velasco a Gentleman of the House of the high Constable of Castile Don Gaston of Peralta Marques of Falces Don Martine Enriquez of Almansa brother of the Marques of Alcannizes the Kings Steward Don Laurence Xuarez of Mendoça Earle of Corunya which deceased being prouided for Piru and by his death Don Peter Moya of Contreras Archbishop of Mexico gouerned in the meane while Don Aluaro Manrique of Zunniga Marques of Villamamuque brother of the Duke of Bojar Don Lewis of Velasco sonne to the abouesaid Don Lewis of Velasco which passed to gouerne the Kingdomes of Piru where at this present hee is Don Gaspar of Zunniga and Fonseca Earle of Monterrey which gouerneth at this day In the Kingdomes of Piru DOn Franciscus Piçarro Marques of the Charcas Gouernour chiefe Iustice and Captaine generall The Licenciate Vaca of Castro of the habit of Saint Iames of the supreme Councell of Castile carried Title of Gouernour generall Blasco Nunnez Vela a Gentleman of Auila was the first that carried the Title of Vice-roy and Captaine generall of the Kingdomes of Piru The Licenciate Iames de la Gasca of the Councell of the holy and generall Inquisition carried the Title of President of the new Court that was sent to the Citie of The Kings and of Gouernour generall with facultie to giue the gouernment of Armes to whom hee thought best He died Bishop of Siguença and his Funerall and Trophees are seene in Magdalene Church in Valladolid and in his absence the gouernment remayned to the Court of the Citie of The Kings The second that carried Title of Vice-roy and Captaine generall was Don Antonie of Mendoça that gouerned the Kingdoms of New Spaine Don Andrew Hâ—rtado of Mendoça Marques of Caâ—yete Don Iames of Zunyga and Velasco Earle of Nieua The Licenciate Lope Garcia of Castro of the Royall and supreme Councell of the Indies caried title of President and Gouernor general Don Franciscus of Toledo brother to the Earle of Oropesa Steward to the King Don Martin Enriquez from the charge of New Spaine passed to gouerne the Kingdomes of Piru Don Garcia of Mendoça Marques of Cauyete Don Lewis of Velasco from the charge of New Spaine passed to the Kingdomes of Piru where now he is and at the instant of the impression of this Worke is prouided for Vice-roy and Captaine generall of those Kingdomes Don Iohn Pacheco Duke of Escalona Printed at Madrid by Iuan Flamenco Aâ— 1601. CHAP. II. Obseruations gathered out of the First Second Third and Fourth bookes of IOSEPHVS 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 remarkable rarities of Nature §. I. Of the fashion and forme of Heauen at the new-found World and of the Ayre and Windes MAny in Europe demand of what forme and fashion Heauen is in the Southerne parts for that there is no certaintie found in ancient Books who although they grant there is a Heauen on this other part of the World yet come they not to any knowledge of the forme thereof although in truth they make mention of a goodly great Starre seene in those parts which they call Canopus Those which of late dayes haue sayled into these parts haue accustomed to write strange things of this Heauen that it is very bright hauing many goodly Starres and in effect things which come farre are commonly described with encrease But it seemes contrarie vnto me holding it for certaine that in our Region of the North there is a greater number and bigger starres finding no starres in these parts which exceede the Fisher or the Chariot in bignesse It is true that the Crosse in these parts is very faire and pleasing to behold we call the Crosse foure notable and apparant starres which make the forme of a crosse set equally and with proportion The ignorant suppose this crosse to be the Southerne Pole for that they see the Nauigators take their heigth thereby as wee are accustomed to doe by the North starre But they are deceiued and the reason why Saylers doe it in this sort is for that in the South parts there is no fixed starre that markes the Pole as the North starre doth to our Pole And therefore they take their heigth by the starre at the foote of the Crosse distant from the true and fixed Pole Antarticke thirtie degrees as the North starre is distant from the Pole Articke three degrees or little more And so it is more difficult to take the heigth in those parts for that the said starre at the foote of the Crosse must be right the which chanceth but in one houre of the night which is in diuers seasons of the yeere in diuers houres and oftentimes it appeareth not in the whole night so as it is very difficult to take the height And therefore the most expert Pilots regard not the Crosse taking the height of the Sunne by the Astrolabe by which they know in what height they are wherein commonly the Portugals are more expert as a Nation that hath more discourse in the Arte of Nauigation then any other There are also other starres in these Southerne parts which in some sort resemble those of the North. That which they call the Milken way is larger and more resplendent in the South parts appearing therein those admirable blacke spots whereof we haue made mention Considering with my selfe oftentimes what should cause the Equinoctiall to bee so moist as I haue said to refute the opinion of the Ancients I finde no other reason but the great force of the Sunne in those parts whereby it drawes vnto it a great abundance of vapours
springs a Fountaine of Salt which as it runnes turnes into Salt very white and exceeding good the which if it were in another Countrie were no small riches yet they make very small account thereof for the store they haue there The waters which runne in Guayaquel which is in Peru almost vnder the Equinoctiall Line are held to be healthfull for the French disease and other such like so as they come from many places farre off to be cured And they say the cause thereof is for that in that Countrie there is great aboundance of rootes which they call Salepareille the vertue and operation whereof is so knowne that it communicates her propertie to the waters wherein it is put to cure this disease Bilcanota is a Mountaine the which according to common opinion is in the highest part of Peru the top whereof is all couered with Snow and in some places is blacke like coale There issueth forth of it two Springs in contrary places which presently grow to be very great brooks and so by little and little become great flouds the one goes to Calloa into the great Lake Tâ—â—caca the other goes to the Lands and is that which they call Yucay which ioyning with another runnes into the North Sea with a violent and furious course This Spring when it comes out of the rocke Bilcanota as I haue said is of the colour of lie hauing an ashie colour and casts a fâ—me as a thing burnt the which runs far in this sort vntil the multitude of waters that run into it quench this smoak and fire which it drawes from the Spring In new Spain I haue seene a Spring as it were Ink somewhat blew in Peru another of color red like blood where vpon they cal it the red Riuer Amongst all Riuers not onely at the Indies but generally through the world the Riuer Maragnon or of Amazons is the chiefe whereof we haue spoken in the former Booke The Spaniards haue often sailed it pretending to discouer the Lands which by report are very rich especially those they call Dorado and Paytiti Iean de Salnies the Adelantade made a memorable entrie though of small effect There is a passage which they call Pongo one of the most dangerous in all the world for the Riuer being there straightned and forced betwixt two high steepe Rocks the water fals directly downe with so great a violence that comming steepe downe it causeth such a boyling as it seemeth impossible to passe it without drowning yet the courage of men durst attempt to passe it for the desire of this renowmed Dorado they slipt downe from the top to the bottome thrust on with the violence and currant of the floud holding themselues fast in their Canoes or barkes and although in falling they were turned topsie turuie and both they and their Canoes plunged into the deepe yet by their care and industrie they recouered themselues againe and in this sort the whole armie escaped except some few that were drowned And that which is more admirable they carried themselues so cunningly that they neither lost their Powder nor Munition In their returne hauing suffered many troubles and dangers they were forced in the end to passe backe that same way mounting by one of those high Rocks sticking their Ponyards in the Rocke Captaine Peter d'Orsua made another entrie by the same Riuer who being dead in the same Voyage and the Souldiers mutinied other Captaines followed the enterprise by an arme that comes into the North Sea A religious man of our company told vs that being then a secular man he was present in a manner at all that enterprise and that the tides did flow almost a hundred leagues vp the Riuer and whereas it enters into the Sea the which is vnder the Line or very neere it hath seuenty leagues breadth at the mouth of it a matter incredible and which exceeds the breadth of the Mediterranean Sea though there be some others who in their descriptions giue it but twenty fiue or thirty leagues breadth at the mouth Next to this Riuer that of Plata or of Siluer holds the second place which is otherwise called Paraguay which runs from the Mountains of Peru into the Sea in thirty fiue degrees of altitude to the South it riseth as they say like to the Riuer of Nile but much more without comparison and makes the fields it ouerflowes like vnto a Sea for the space of three moneths and after returneth againe to his course in the which Shippes doe saile many leagues against the streame There are many other Riuers that are not of that greatnesse and yet are equall yea they surpasse the greatest of Europe as that of Magdalaine neere to Saint Marthe called the great Riuer and that of Aluarado in new Spaine and an infinite number of others Of the South side on the Mountaines of Peru the Riuers are not vsually so great for that their current is not long and that many waters cannot ioyne together but they are very swift descending from the Mountaines and haue sodaine fals by reason whereof they are very dangerous and many men haue perished there They increase and ouerflow most in the time of heate I haue gone ouer twenty and seuen Riuers vpon that coast yet did I neuer passe any one by a foord The Indians vse a thousand deuises to passe their Riuers In some places they haue a long cord that runnes from one side to th' other and thereon hangs a basket into the which he puts himselfe that meanes to passe and then they draw it from the banke with another cord so as he passeth in this basket In other places the Indian passeth as it were on Horse-backe vpon a bottle of straw and behinde him he that desires to passe and so rowing with a peece of a boord carries him ouer In other places they make a floate of gourds or pompions vpon which they set men with their stuffe to carry ouer and the Indians hauing cords fastned to them goe swimming before and draw this floate of pompions after them as Horses doe a Coach others goe behinde thrusting it forward Hauing passed they take their barke of pompions vpon their backe and returne swimming this they doe in the Riuer of Saint at Peru. We passed that of Aluarado in new Spain vpon a table which the Indians carried vpon their shoulders and when they lost their footing they swamme These deuises with a thousand other wherewith they vse to passe their Riuers breede a terrour in the beholders helping themselues with such weake and vnsure meanes and yet they are very confident They doe vse no other bridges but of haire or of straw There are now vpon some Riuers bridges of Stone built by the diligence of some Gouernours but many fewer then were needefull in such a Countrie where so many men are drowned by default thereof and the which yeeldes so much Siluer as not onely Spaine but
that no people of the West Indies haue beene more apt to receiue the Gospell then those which were most subiect to their Lords and which haue beene charged with the heauiest burthens as well of Tributes and Seruices as of Customes and bloudie Practises All that which the Mexican Kings and those of Peru did possesse is at this day most planted with Christian Religion and where there is least difficultie in the Gouernment and Ecclesiasticall Discipline The Indians were so wearied with the heauy and insupportable yoke of Satans lawes his sacrifices and ceremonies whereof wee haue formerly spoken that they consulted among themselues to seeke out a new Law and an other God to serue And therefore the Law of Christ seemed vnto them and doth at this day seeme iust sweet cleane good and full of happinesse And that which is difficult in our Law to beleeue so high and soueraigne Mysteries hath beene easie among them for that the Deuill had made them comprehend things of greater difficultie and the selfe-same things which hee had stolen from our Euangelicall Law as their manner of Communion and Confession their adoration of Three in One and such other like the which against the will of the Enemie haue holpen for the easie receiuing of the Truth by those who before had embraced Lyes God is wise and admirable in all his workes vanquishing the Aduersarie euen with his owne weapon hee takes him in his owne snare and kills him with his owne sword Finally our God who had created this People and who seemed to haue thus long forgot them when the houre was come hee would haue the same Deuils enemies to mankinde whom they falsly held for gods should giue a testimonie against their will of the true Law the power of Christ and the triumph of the Crosse as it plainly appeares by the presages prophesies signes and prodigies here before mentioned with many others happened in diuers parts and that the same ministers of Satan Sorcerers Magicians and other Indians haue confessed it And wee cannot denie it being most euident and knowne to all the World that the Deuill dareth not hisse and that the Practises Oracles Answers and visible Apparitions which were so ordinarie throughout all this Infidelitie haue ceased whereas the Crosse of Christ hath beene planted where there are Churches and where the Name of Christ hath beene confessed And if there be at this day any cursed minister of his that doth participate thereof it is in Caues and on the tops of Mountaines and in secret places farre from the name and communion of Christians The Soueraigne Lord be blessed for his great mercies and for the glorie of his holy Name And in truth if they did gouerne this people temporally and spiritually in such sort as the Law of Iesus Christ hath set it downe with a milde yoke and light burthen and that they would impose no more vpon them then they can well beare as the Letters Patents of the good Emperour of happy memorie doe command and that they would imploy halfe the care they haue to make profit of these poore mens sweats and labours for the health of their soules it were the most peaceable and happy Christian part of all the World c. CHAP. V. Of the ancient superstitions of the Mexicans and Indians of America gathered out of the fifth Booke of IOSEPHVS ACOSTA FIrst although the darknesse of Infidelitie holdeth these Nations in blindnesse yet in many things the light of Truth and Reason workes somewhat in them And they commonly acknowledge a supreme Lord and Author of all things which they of Peru called Vnachocha and gaue him names of great excellence as Pachacamac or Pachayachachic which is the Creator of Heauen and Earth and Vsapu which is admirable and other like names Him they did worship as the chiefest of all whom they did honor in beholding the Heauen The like wee see amongst them of Mexico and China and all other Infidels Which accordeth well with that which is said of Saint Paul in the Acts of the Apostles where he did see the Inscription of an Altar Ignoto Deo to the vnknowne God Whereupon the Apostle tooke occasion to preach vnto them saying Hee whom you worship without knowing him doe I preach vnto you In like sort those which at this day doe preach the Gospell to the Indians finde no great difficultie to perswade them that there is a High God and Lord ouer all and that this is the Christians God and the true God And yet it hath caused great admiration in mee that although they had this knowledge yet had they no proper Name for God if wee shall seeke into the Indian tongue for a word to answere to this Name of God as in Latin Deâ—s in Greeke Theos in Hebrew El in Arabike Alla but we shall not finde any in the 〈◊〉 or Mexican tongues So as such as preach or write to the Indians vse our Spanish name Dios fitting it to the accent or pronunciation of the Indian tongues the which differ much whereby appeares the small knowledge they had of God seeing they cannot so much as name him if it be not by our very name yet in truth they had some little knowledge and therefore in Pâ—ru they made him a rich Temple which they called Pachacamac which was the principall Sanctuarie oâ— the Realme And as it hath beene said this word of Pachacamac is as much to say as the Creator yet in this Temple they vsed their Idolatries worshipping the Deuill and Figures They likewise made Sacrifices and Offerings to Viracocha which held the chiefe place amongst the worships which the Kiâ—gâ— Iuguâ—â— made Hereof they called the Spaniards Virâ—cochas for that they hold opinion they are the 〈◊〉 of Hâ—auen and diuiâ—e eâ—en as others did attribute a Deitie to Paul and 〈◊〉 calling the one Iupiter and the other Mercurie so would they offer sacrifices vnto them as vnto gods and as the Barbarians of Mâ—litâ— which is Maltè seeing that the Viper did not huâ—â— the Apostle they called him God NExt to Viracocha or their supreme God that which most commonly they haue and doe adore amongst the Infidels is the Sunne and after those things which are most remarkâ—able in the celestiall or â—lementarie nature as the Moâ—ne Starres Sea and Land The Guiâ—cas or Oratories which the Iâ—guas Lords of Peru had in greatest reuerence next to Viracocha and the Sunne was the Thunder which they called by three diuers names Châ—â—â—â—illa Catuillâ— and Iâ—tiillapa supposing it to be a man in heauen with a Sling and a Mace and that it is in his power to cause Raine Haile Thunder and all the rest that appertaines to the Region of the Aire where the Cloudes engender It was a Guacâ— for so they called their Oratories generall to all the Indians of Peru offering vnto him many sacrifices and in Câ—scâ— which is the Court and Metropolitan Citie they did sacrifice children vnto him
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 cannâ—t 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 woâ—ds 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
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 bâ—ginning 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 offâ—nded They are shut vp some three moneths Mandarins Petition A Turke kept there They hyer an House Visited by Mandarins China ignorance oâ— the worâ—d 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 aâ—e 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 Quâ—â—n mentioned by Polo Fishing with a kinde of Rauens or Cormoraâ—ts 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 Coffâ—n 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 tonâ—â—e 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 diâ—course 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 halâ—e 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 Nâ—ighbour 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 Embâ—assages Royall Palace Yellow is the Kings Colour Riuer and Bridges Fire from Heauen No peace to the wicked Mounts and Groues Third partâ—tion 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 custoâ—â— 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.