of instruction made benefit of some relations and going to sea to Alexandria there were both Indians Iewes Arabians and Armenians aboord from whom I catched what I could supplying my desire of nouelties with their discourses of whom concerning the purpose in hand I learnt that China was a great and oppulent countrey in continuall warres with the Tartars ielous one of another and an enemy in the highest degree to all strangers yea so farre from hospitalitie and pious inclination to entertainment and commiseration that they studie to circumuent their passengers and come aboord with hypocriticall desire of satisfaction in nouelties and then at aduantage either surprize the ships or endanger the weaker company by ouer-mastring them as many of our English both at the Philippines and landing in Iapan haue had cause of testification nor amongst themselues is there any such appearance of happines or plenty For though they boast of mines and many pretious stones yet doe they vent no commodities or merchandice but for ready money and we are faine to carry siluer into India from whence we receiue such things as curious stuffe and trifling toyes as they are disposed to vtter But if you come neerer them and to our purpose indeed as by the Indians discourses may be collected they are ielous malitious want prouision take little rest are in tumultuous vprores terrified with theeues for all there is nothing so seuerely punished dare not displease their Emperor who is in a manner adored amongst them liue on rootes and kernels of nuts and troubled with serpents and many venemous wormes distempred with strange tempests and windes terrified with apparitions and illuding visions kill their old men if they liue too long make no conscience of selling their virgins for money and filthy prâ—…stitutions are carelesse of any orders and glory in nothing but going to warres with the Tartars and keeping all Nations out of their countrey Besides they are diuers times subiect to famine of bread and liue vpon herbes and fruit nor doe they conuerse one with another with cheerefull meetings but are enuious if any grow richer than themselues as for the country-man his only maintenance consists in keeping a few Bees silke wormes filling his gardens with gowrdes and rootes and making a kinde of drinke of berries and the fruit of certaine trees preserued for the same purpose but in all things so short of our example of happinesse as he would be of reaching heauen with a stretched-out arme that goeth of purpose to the top of the Alpes with supposition of attaining his purpose because the mountaine seemeth so exalted aboue the inferior ground CHAP. IV. INDIA compared and her defects manifested ALthough as I said before concerning these idolatrous countries I might with Iehu cast out the Priests of Baal breake downe the altars and ouerthrow the idols of the heathen and so neede not once name them for want of true religion and acknowledging the mysterie of saluation yet will I ouerpasse that principall point and come to their Citie walls and plenteous fields with neerer approches of confutation nor shall their two summers double increase of fruit plentifull riuers temperature of aire strange wolly and tailed sheepe great fowle and vnheard of wormes with rindes of trees silkes pretious stones canes and many other trifling marchandice which they receiue for the most part by commutation out of China terrifie me from my assertions considering if God send temporall blessings and they are either not wrought vpon with comfort and orderly profit or abused in their vse and seruice it were better for a kingdome not to enioy the same at all If then in India and the many countries and kingdomes marching vnder the flourishing colours of her prosperitie be as many filthy customes of incontinency that they prostitute their daughters for money and are contented to sell their chastitie for reward nay in sundry places to bring their virgins before beastly idols and cause them to fill their wombe with the priapus of the same whereat if so be the tender maide seemeth terrified or ashamed the mother shall stand behinde and thrust her most violently forward with diuers other lamentable customes tending to abomination how can it come neere our example when adultery was punished with death in Israel and there was not a whore to be found especially by toleration amongst the daughters of Iuda If then in India the Kings and Princes swell against one another with tyranous ambition and reuenges raising violent hostilitie against their neighbours and confederates and practising horrible cruelty in their slaughters and victories how can it come neere our example when Salomon was denominated the Prince of peace and confirmed a league of amitie and confederation with all adioyning Princes If then in India the Kings and Princes suppose it a glory to bee sequestred from their people to terrifie them with cruell lookes and imperious controuling not to be seene abroad but in times of feares and terrors to deny them orderly accesse for their complaints and greeuances and to liue as commanding obedience by tyranny rather than loue How can it come neere our example when Salomon made a porch before his Pallace to determine the controuersies of his people in person offred sacrifice in publike vpon an Altar and for seuen daies feasted all commers with cheerefulnes admitted the harlots to plead before him and aduanced his mother on a throne by his right side in the open view of the congregation and proclaimed free audience and accesse for all commers that had cause of complaint and oppression If then in India theft and intrusion by strong hand be common matters and howeuer there is great punishment inflicted on offenders in this kinde as also in China yet do they liue in continuall feare one of another and the rich are hard-hearted against the poore not onely suffering them to sterue without releefe but in a manner hastning their deaths by authoritie if either they grow aged or impotent and haue not of their owne to releeue their necessities How can it come neere our example when in Israel there was neither vagabond or begger no man durst remoue the marke in his neighbours field no man oppressed his brother with vsury and euen contrary families were entertained with mutuall entercourses yea when nature came to challenge her due and sent her harbinger death to demand the same they brought the body to the graue in peace and solemnized the exequies with a fashionable ceremonie If then in India there is a maine want both of flesh fish and other prouision for the sustenance of man especially to feede any multitude or satisfie the meaner sort of people who know not what orderly feasting and neighbourly meetings meane How can it come neere our example when Salomon spent 30 oxen with infinite other acates euery day and the people met in abundance eating and drinking euery man vnder his vine fig tree and sent presents and gifts to one another with
for horse-men neere Ierusalem when hee went in person to Hamah Zobah and ouercame it and re-edified Bethoran the vpper and Bethoran the nether cities defenced with walls gates and bars when he built the cities of store in forraine parts and walled in all places expugned and depopulated by the wars of Saul and his father or if you will the house of Beniamin and Iuda contending for the Diadem When hee had 40000. stalls of horses for his chariots 12000. horse-men for his guard and fortified diuers places of garison maintaining martiall discipline and by example of Dauids Princely rewarding men of merit not permitting the vertue of well-deseruers to mourne for want of acceptation Then was Salomon in his royalty when he built a nauy of ships by the red sea when King Hiram sent him mariners and they were entertained for their experience industry and knowledge when they went to Ophir and brought from thence 400. tallents of gold when hee ioyned the nauy of Tharsus with the nauy of Hiram which once in three yeeres brought gold siluer iuory apes and peacocks when he had horses out of Aegypt and fine linnen which the Kings Marchants receiued at a price when he went to the red sea to view his nauy when he mustred his chariots and horse-men marching with his armies like an Emperour indeede and making his peaceable progresses like a magnificent Prince Then was Salomon in his royalty when the King of Tyrus contracted a league with him when the Aegyptians and Moores sent him presents and all the neighbouring Princes combined amity and were as it were either emulous of his greatnesse or proud of his friendship Then was Salomon in his royalty when the cities of his Kingdome were populous opulent and full of delight when Iuda and Israel dwelt without feare euery man vnder his vine and figg-tree when they were many as the sand of the sea eating drinking and making merry when the people reioyced in mutuall entercourses liuing with reciprocall obseruations no man repining no man malicious no man iealous no man elated no man oppressing no man insulting no man ambitious no man an Vsurer or traduced for such raging sinnes as commonly are supported in all gouernments by Princes fauours conniuency of Magistrates power of authoritie corruption of officers and wilfulnesse of offenders not that the times were so cleere and free from abuses as if men were Angels on earth without errours or imperfections but that they liued in a more modest fearefulnesse for offending God then in these presumptuous times and durst embolden one another to make a pastime of iniquity and vex the honest neighbour with a violent prosecution of wickednesse otherwise in all ages times and nations as you endure at natures hands frosts thunders tempests vnseasonable weather barren yeeres and raging invndations her hereditary defects so must you tolerate the vaine-glory and prodigality of Courtiers the couetousnes of Magistrates the legall dissembling of Citizens the cunning of Artificers the idlenesse of Gentle-men the stubbornnesse of Pesants the contumacy of Souldiers and such like offences as inconueniences of life and somtimes nationall vices or customary sinnes And thus much for example CHAP. II. Countries compared to Canaan and Salomons glorious happinesse and first of all the Tartars NOw must wee take out our other clothes to the light by laying them together iudge of their finenesse or at least how neerely they can match our example and although to this purpose wee neede not once name the countries of prophanation or fill our discourses with the vnsauoury particulars of such beastly filthy and abominable gouernment so farre from the method of true maiesty and established blessednesse as their workes of mens hands I meane their Idols from the omnipotency of the Creatour or blasphemous ignorance from the translucent light of inestimable truth yet will I not bee so partiall or preiudicate to cast them off without reason or sufficient cause of disparity To beginne therefore with those vast and huge territories of the great Emperor Cham now including infinite nations vnder the name of Tartarians Vntill you come to Tangut and Mangia all the North Western parts are stil rude vnciuill without fashionable cities or any formall handsomnesse and liue in a manner as barbarously as the ancient Scythians who to their frozen climate and distempered aire added as frozen harts to morality and charitable workes nay in truth liued in all inhumane bestiality vnder the couert of valour and being a fierce nation to strangers and in battell against their enemies so that what with their vast desarts remote countries from Europes concourses and want of such things which we either desire or stand in neede of they are sildome visited by strangers but for curiosity and as sildome entertaine such as come amongst them with affability and orderly welcome Besides according to that absolute principle that barbarous people are best obseruers of ceremonies customs they wil neither reform any thing which is amisse nor conform thēselues to the decencies of our Christian cities nay in a manner either out of scorne or hate their next neighbors the Turks are distasting vnto them after a strange fashion of derision they mock at their formality although as I sayd in my first book the Tartar Chrim challengeth a kinde of affinity with the race of Ottoman and euer since Tamberlaine conquered Persia and Baiazet haue entermingled some of their women amongst them wherby they keep correspondency and confederation so that when the Turke hath occasion to supply his running army either against Persia or Christendome they send him 100000. at a time but so rude naked vnprouided and vndisciplined that I speake confidently and out of some experience a hundred well trained and ordered souldiers will beat a thousand of them especially if they can be first staggered with any vnacquainted sight or strength I meane our battalions of pikes strong squadrons of horse firme standings of muskets and martiall cheerefulnesse from trumpets and drums for they are presumptuous of nothing but their bowes and arrowes swiftnesse of horse-manship in pursuits and running after preyes or spoiles and clamorous noyse of horse and miserable out-cries so that at one word neither in warre or peace they cannot be graced with one word of our example or Salomons happinesse As for Tangut and Mangia the very cause of his pride and elated titles if there can be any pride in bestiality or shew of magnificence in a Princes sequestration from his people they are mighty prouinces indeed and extend to the circling about 1500. English mile of ground haue many and great cities and that part toward China is walled 800. mile for feare of excursions of the common aduersary but neither is their gouernment tending to the true vse of iustice in generall nor their conuersation admitting of happy and sociable meetings in particular for hee that is most mighty ouerswaies the weaker and he that is most friendly will cut your throat
they were the best obseruers of religious secrets and ceremonies and boasted of true deuotion to their gods for the example of all Nations That they were very warlike and obedient to their EMPEROR in all things and so populous that the Emperor seldome went without a 1000000. into the field That they were sold to all the Nations of the world for slaues and seemed contented with such seruitude as being glad to go out of their owne Countries That they were wont to plight their haire in knots and winde it with intricate diuisions That the great and high mountaines of the Moone ouerlooketh their territories and vnburtheneth Nilus from her wombe sending it abroad as farre as the middle-land sea 1500. mile like a timely birth to the comfort of his mother and with ioy to all good kinsfolk neighbours That the nature of the Riuer Niger fluuius is so strange that as ashamed of his imperfections and abrupt breakings out vnder sandy hills it hideth his head 60. mile together and then bursteth out with horrible and impetuous violence That whole Countries haue beene ouerwhelmed with sand when the hills make a noyse and the Sun hath enflamed his heate and anger against them departing in that fury that in breaking the sides of Mountaines the aire and winde maketh a rupture and so the drie ground first parched presently crumbleth to pouder and is quickly tossed with forcible blasts That the Kingdomes of Damutego and Manuongo as farre as Caput bonaespei with all the shore Cities and harbours are numbred parcell of this Empire and expose many stories and plentifull relations That infinite Ilands full of drugges mineralls gold pretious stones pearle spice c. are the handmaides of this Mistris especially the great Iland of Saint Laurence in times past called Madagascar which now compareth with Britaine for magnitude as containing 600. mile in length but say what deuises can ours is the greatest Iland of the world Many other particulars are inserted by Authors with addition of their manners and customes but because all absolute things are worne out of date and that it would vex a Traueller to read one thing and finde another I will trouble antiquitie no longer but content my selfe with some probabilities and the best receiued opinions of this Monarchy You must then vnderstand that those limited Garisons of Aegipt vnder the Turke are here very strong to keepe backe the excursions of the Aethiopians who from Nilus to the South-sea make one Countrey and are all reputed Christians boasting of their conuersion from Candauce the Queene in the Actes of the Apostles whom by another name they call Iudith and so afterward submitted to the obedience of one principall to whom they afforded the significant title of Preste Iehan not that he is a Byshop or Priest as some superstitiously conceiue but that those words signifie in the Aethiopian tongue Great PRINCE or EMPEROR Amongst them are many Monasteries both of men and women but strictly prohibiting any entercourse betweene them or wanton show of prophanation their fasts are 50. daies with bread and water and some slender fruit as for fish they haue litle store or lesse skill to take them or make vse of them by way of sustenance they are so carefull in the obseruation of their customes concerning this religious fasting and prayers that they will sleepe no longer then they hold their heads ouer water that the nodding downe may giue them warning to be more vigilant their bells are of stone for the most part their Priests marry and celebrate the masse allowing in their procession crosses censors tapers and lampes the retired monkes maintaine their haire the common Priests shaue and both are bâ—…refoote especially in the Church wherein no man enters with prophanation but putteth off his sandalls and laieth them apart as the Turkes doe who are very carefull in such deuout obseruations adding withall a ceremonious washing taken from the Iewish purifying as in his proper place shall appeare The Sabbaoths and Eues are festiuals and celebrated accordingly circumcision is added to their baptisme both in men and women vnto which they are not admitted vntill 40. daies and then the three persons of the Trinity haue a reuerent exaltation and the Eucharist is administred by custome at the same time according to the credit of the Greeke Church which they resolutely confirme to haue priority before the Latine their names are all significant and the religion ariseth from a certaine booke which they confidently maintaine was approued by the Synode of the Apostles congregated at Ierusalem The very common people haue plurality of wiues according to their sufficient ability to support their estates and content their desires suffering diuorses either for naturall imperfections or iust causes of incontinencie but such men and women thus scandalized are debarred intermedling with spirituall matters some say not admitted into the Church at all Their Nobility are in great estimation and according to actions correspondent to their professed vertue preserue the wealth and credit of their Auncestors Their greatest Cities are few in number but such as stand by the sea shore are of good strength and eminence with stupendous Castels and workes of antiquity The common heape of houses are poore sluttish all on the ground open without chimnies and sutable to the dispersed manner of their villages In all the Empire is no money but pure gold salt and pepper are excellent marchandize through Africke but here so richly valued that slaues are redeemed with them but the commodities of the Countrey soone and easily exchanged it affordeth many thing as you haue heard especially Eliphants Tyger Linkes Taxos Apes Lions and Harts against an absolute opinion that there was no Venison in Africke but Beares Cunnies Corduels and Cuckowes are not seene amongst them The custome of their huntings raising their armies order of diet with ciuet and muske washing and noâ—…ting with precious balmes and perfumes feasting burials and superstitions would fill seuerall relations either to pacifie ignorance or strengthen their knowledge who are entred a little into the Schoole of experience but because there is nothing amongst them fit for our example I will make my iourney as cursory as I can and study for no commorance but where there is possibility of thriuing Their Cabalisticall Arts and secrets from certaine wise men named Gymnosophists with the Indians called also or some the Easterne Aethiopia would make as tedious disputation especially when I must name the Trogiodite Garamaulis Atlantides Libera interior Synega the further plaines of Monte nigro and some others and cannot tell you whether they be Idolaters or no onely I can assure you they allow of the immortality of the soule on which they are besotted so diabolically that they will murther themselues vpon small enforcement either to honor their lords dye with their husbands preuent the discommodities of old age helpe their friends or pleasure their best beloued after their barberous credulity But because I would
the Princes be so many so mighty so beloued that they attend in Court at pleasute raise their forces at pleasure contest with the Emperor in many cases at pleasure and supply his wants and demands for impositions at pleasure The Townes againe are so strong so priuiledged so populous that out of obstinate finding fault with taxes and imperious restraints they many times oppose against their principall lords and in hostile manner exclude them from the benefit of commaunding like royall Princes indeed witnesse the many contentions of Colleine with the Noble men and Byshops and at last with the Byshop and the people the power of the DVKE of Saxony in maintaining of LVTHER against both Pope and Emperor the repining of diuers Cities and Princes when the Lantsgraue of Hesse was imprisoned vnder Charles the 5. The last contention betweene the Duke of Brunswicke and the Citie and the generall cause of the Protestants protected in euery place inuita fortuna yea against Ecclesiasticall curses and temporall menaces Of all Europe it is the greatest Countrey with the best and richest store of Cities Townes Castels and religious places in that decorum and order for in a manner view one Towne and view all as if there were a vniuersall consent to raise our admiration from their vniformity To which is added a secret of Nature that the people generally for honesty of conuersation probity of manners assurance of loyaltie and confidence of disposition setting apart their imperfect customes of drinking exceede our beliefe as being vnoffensiue conuersable maintainers of their honours and families wherein they step so farre as if true Gentry were incorporate with them and had his principall mansion in Germany And although they repine at any strangers intrusion and will not suffer new Nations to bring in new customes no not artificers and seeme withall fantastique in apparrell and gaudy with deuises yet doe they hate formalitie of Courtiers and of all other things beware of that horrible deceit of vaparous promises common protestations open embraces palpable flattery and hypocriticall bindings of obseruation from inferiours when the heart is corrupted yea ready to leape into his Masters mouth and tell him that he lies when it heares him sweare what he neuer meant thus can they with Lucan exclaime Exeat aula Qui vult esse pius virtus summa potestas non coeunt and thus doe they endeauour themselues in all honest courses to liue of themselues which questionlesse proceedes from some worthy caution concerning their miserie who eate meate vnder the repining eyes of another and herein no doubt they lay a great imputation on many English whose profession of libertie by base and seruile attendancy is ouerthrowne or if they seeme glorious in casting off the yoake of obedience yet are they besmeered with the frothy corruptions of verball vaine-glorious Courtiers who haue with the viciousnesse of time so abused this profession of moralitie that an honest and vnsubiected heart is afraid to come neere them For although Liberalitie and Charity haue equall properties to the opening if it were possible the gates of heauen although the fauour of Kings must be purchased by duty and obsequiousnesse and although the maiestie of a Court must not be depressed by admitting euery man at pleasure yet hath the errors of life so traduced worthy men for swelling too bigge with wealth and aduancement that their power and authoritie growes tedious and the depending on another is a very excruciation of minde which made the Poet exclaime against the protraction of good deedes with Gratia ab officio quod mora tardat abest which made the Italians murmure with Dono molto aspettato è venduto è non donato which made Berzelay say vnto the King I am old I will go a litle way ouer Iordan but returne to my owne house liue with my people and be buried in the sepulchre of my fathers In these things are the Germans worthy of all commendation yet me thinkes wanting an hereditarie succession of Princes and hauing an Emperor sometimes by partiality of election sometimes by factious strength and sometimes by the absolute commaund of the Pope they should a little abate their ostentation concerning his MAIESTIE or their owne glory As for their formall custome of denominating all the sons of Arch-Dukes Dukes Earles Barons according to their fathers titles and paternall honours it keepes corespondencie with the name of Caesar amongst them and the Italians hold it so ridiculous that in their facetiae as we terme it they ieast it thus The Earles of Germany the Dons of Spaine the Monsiers of France the Byshoppes of Italy the Knights of Naples the Lardes of Scotland the Hidalgos of Portugall the Noblemen of Hungary and the younger brethren of England make a very poore company But if you are curious indeed and would search in natures storehouse for the furniture that Germany holds or know in what manner she distributeth her blessings you shall finde corne vines riuers of fish fruite hot waters bathes minerals mines of all sorts and very good cattle If ambition transport you to view the palace of Honour they can bring you into well fortified Cities wherein you shall haue munition armor and the very Burgers trained with martiall discipline they can cary you into the fields of Bellona and delight you with a beautifull sight of 20000. horse diuided into seuerall batalions and squadrons with cornets penons and sufficient equipage they can conduct you into the very walkes of Princelines and show stately palaces pleasant hunting and hawking turniaments iusts riding horses and other exercises befitting a Gentleman If you descend to more moderate expectations you shall then haue notice how most men eate vnder their owne vines how the Citizen liueth in quiet how the women are blessed in their children how faults are pardoned scandals remooued and euery man appeares like a faire shining Planet in his owne Orbe without disturbance On the north from Callis to Dantske in Prussia lieth part of the seuenteene Prouinces and Pomerania On the East Brandenburg and Silesia I might haue named Hungarie and Transiluania to the South as farre as the Alpes Austria Bauaria Sweuia and Heluetia on the West â—…ranconia Hessia and Munsterland as a core in the midst Westphalia Saxonia Brunswicke Thuringia Misina the well compacted kingdome of Bohemia circumcepted with â—…gra Silua and Morauia with many other diuisions of Principats Dukedomes Lordships and Clergie men that to number them would be more tedious then satisfactorie consider Munster their owne Countrey-man hâ—…th described them at full and taken so much paines thereâ—…n as if he studied nothing more then to set out the honour and dignitie of the Nation wherein hee was borne Amongst these are seuen Princes sequestred to a speciall lifting vp the Emperor into his throne the three Byshops of Colleine Ments or as some will haue it â—…agunse and Treuers the three Seculars Duke of Saxony Marquâ—… of
mens Cosmography who tell you of Turwin and Tornay and those noble endeuours of Hen. 8. when the King of France claimed Artois and Flanders as well as Picardy The Prouince of Gelderland is altogether champaine yet intermingled with woods and stored with euery thing to satiate our desire especially if wee looke after plenty of corne and pasture which both stuffeth full their garners and fatteth their cattle insomuch that they bring them leane in great heards from the furthest part of Denmarke to receiue here as it were a more seemely forme It is visited with the three riuers of Rhene Mase and Whale it hath 22 walled townes attended on by the care and diligent seruice of 300 villages amongst whom Numegam is metropolis and indeed boasteth not onely of antiquitie but the royaltie of a King had not time worne out the shining brightnes of his Crowne or some boistrous hand pull'd the scepter out of his arme and shouldred him quite aside from his Throne or else it was as the Kings of Cities in Mesopotamia Reges à regendo when nine of them made battaile together and the preuailers spoiled Lot and tooke him prisoner Herein is also contained the country and Earledome of Zutphen and the delicate Iland of the Betto how euer Holland would challenge her of disobedience if shee should call another mother For Goricum Worchum and many other townes are reputed hers onely Arnham on the other banke of the Rhene with the sweet fields of the Vellwe will still belong vnto Gelderland and could tell you of a sconce builded ouer against it of another on the banke of Icell of another before Numegen where that valiant German Sir Martin Skinck lost his life and was tossed from graue to graue vntill a military ceremonie laid him in an honorable place of rest and of another at the point of the Iland diuiding the riuer into the Rhene and Whale which saies you can scarce shew such another and is proud of nothing more than her founder and title For it is called still Skinck sconce and could affright you with the relation of many strange designes and changes of military seruice as if the Armies chose these parts of the country to play at base in and as it were dance a mattachene in armour For I my selfe knew the leaguer one yeere in Gelderward within two mile of Eltam another yeere at Bommel a third at Berck a fourth in Cleueland c. It flourished vnder Otho the third Earle of Gelderland who walled in Ruremond Arnham Harderwick Bomell Gooch and Waggenhen and so held the title of a Countie vntill Rheinaldus the second whom for his valour iustice piety and other vertues the Emperor Lodwick lifted vp to the dignitie of a Duke in the presence of the Kings of England France and the Princes Electors 1339. Zeland is a new name and not read of in ancient histories as if a man should say a countrey compounded both of land and sea For it is euery where distinguished with Ilands which are environed with water and knowne by 15 seuerall names against whom the sea hath much preuailed and not long since with violent invndations swallowed 300 of their inhabited townes so that now you may saile by the steeples of Churches and not knowing the reason wonder to what purpose the Towres were so erected There remaine now three principall which are preserued against the rage of the Ocean with exceeding cost and powerfull industry namely Walcheren Schouen and South-Beueland and foure inferior Diuelant Tolen North-Beuelant and Woolfersdike which are graced with the prerogatiues of eight walled townes whereof six continue their Estates Deputies for the whole County Midelborough Flushing Camphere and Armenden which hath no voice although it cry out neuer so loud that it standeth with the rest in Walcheren In Schouen Sirexee and Bucers hauen which hath likewise no voice In South-Beueland which is the greatest and fertilest Iland the towne of Tergowse and in the land of Tolen the towne of Tertolen and Martins dike which hath also no voice These Ilands are preserued by the downes which be certaine bankes of sand cast vp with the tides and where there are no sands as toward the south the dikes are raised by the industry of man and proportioned with equall height to the rest all so rammed with mats casses of fagots 6 or 7 foote long that it not only performeth the effect of their securitie but seemeth an artificiall gracefulnes and being so neere England is worthy the ouer-viewing In times past the Marquis of La Vere and Flushing were onely at the Generall Councels of the countrey now the places are supplied with Deputies and new times haue giuen way vnto new orders For these inheritances and titles are incorporated in Prince MAVRICE of NASSAV and the Abbot of St Martins in the towne of Midlebourgh which at this instant is the Court of Zeland As for the Prince he is the seruitor of the States and can doe nothing absolute of himselfe without their direction And for the Abbot his name is extinguished with his superstition and the reformation of religion hath also reformed his very title and authoritie so that the Estates make the Democratia a princely gouernment and assume to themselues the power of life death controuling punishing rewarding and resolute ordering all their affaires except in cases of necessitie wherein there is no disputing nor interiecting any cause of imputation either of negligence or improuidence For so great Princes either diminish or augment their illustrious royaltie and Monarks whose pride at the first swelled ouer the banks of preuailing haue in one age bin left bare on the sands of an ebbing fortune The cheefest trade of the inhabitants is nauigation fishing and making salt yet within the land they imploy themselues to tillage and feeding of cattle The people doe so multiply and increase that they are compelled to inlarge their Townes as well for their owne inhabitants as frequentation of strangers who since the troubles of Antwerpe resort hither extraordinarily but if I should adde the brauery of fortifications I should do them no wrong nay I might augment their glory For Flushing is one of the strongest Townes of Europe and Midleborough so ramparted and guarded that a very militarie renowne is attributed vnto them and the Burgers themselues deserue well of all good reports The prouince of Holland is as it were a Peninsule circumuironed with water For the sea the Rhene and the meeting riuers open their doores in such a manner that you may goe as it were round about the house except in one corner toward Gelderland and although it containeth not in circuit aboue two hundred English mile yet lifteth vp the wals ramparts and warlike ports of thirty townes of such receipt wealth and shipping that the pride of Tyrus and Sidon exclaimed vpon by so many Prophets had not greater occasion of raging and oftentation howeuer they are yet blessed with
paths or if you will dangerous quagmires of their mountaines where a 100 shot shall rebate the hasty approch of 500 and a few muskets if they durst carry any well placed will stagger a pretty Armie not acquainted with the terror or vnpreuenting the mischeefe The Prouince of LEMSTER is more orderly than the rest as being reasonable well inhabited and hauing some forme of a Common-wealth so that I finde no mislike either for delight or profit but that the want of wood abridgeth their computation of happinesse yet questionles was the principall cause of our reducing them to ciuilitie and the place wherein we first setled many English families Some vnite and some diuide the kingdome of Meth from Lemster and make it a Prouince of it selfe containing East-Meth West-Meth and Longford wherein O Roorck is resident supposing himselfe the greatest Gentleman in the world yea contesting many times with Oneal how euer with much adoe he afforded him precedencie The countrey is very fruitfull and pleasant not so mountanous but ill inhabited For the warres and their owne bestialitie haue not onely made a separation of all good order but euen terrified both beast and fowle from commorance amongst them in many places The Prouince of MVNSTER hath some Townes well aduanced by the sea coasts and many excellent harbours wherein Ireland may boast ouer all the countries of Europe The grounds adiacent are very fertile and in many places afford cause of ostentation but more inward they are very barren and mountanous full of boggs wood and other remote places whose fastnes hath incited the people to ouer-great presumption yet because of the spatiousnes with men desiring good order it might be reduced and reformed as enioying plentifull and sweet riuers full of fish and some of sufficient depth to transport reasonable boates into the land The Prouince of CONACH is diuided from the rest by a goodly riuer called the Shanon being as I take it the greatest of any Iland in the world For it fetcheth a course of 200 mile and filleth his channell along the shores of Longford Meths Ormond Limrick and Kerry yet serueth them in no great stead For their shipping commeth no further than Limrick where it is fiue mile broad fresh water and 60 mile from the maine sea from thence small cotts as they tearme their boates carry their wood turff fish and other commodities but for fish as Salmon Breame Pike and diuers other sorts I shall not be beleeued to relate the numbers and hugenes by such as are enemies to obseruation or the beleefe of the blessings of other countries Within 20 mile of Limrick as I take it a litle beyond the praecinct of Caher-Castle a strange rock hath taken her lodging euen crosse the riuer and filleth the roome in such a manner that almost the nauigation is hindred thereby but what cannot men and money doe and why should not these idle people be industriously imployed to remoue the same so free the passage to Athlone As for an obiection of impossiblitie the iudgement of men hath yeelded to suruey and many examples haue confirmed the effects of more laborious attempts The south part namely Tomond for by reason of the riuers interposing it selfe I see no reason why it should be disiointed from Conach with Galloway and Clenricard is very stonie full of marble alablaster and iett and hath better order both for number and good building in their Castles than other parts of Ireland The north from Athlone to the Abbey of Aboile and so beyond the Curlewes as farre as Slego is of excellent temperature and goodnesse These Curlewes are mountaines full of dangerous passages especially when the Kern take a stomach and a pride to enter into action as they terme their rebellion and tumultuary insurrections On the other side the County of Maio consorteth with the pleasingest place in the Kingdome by whose beaten banks lye those famous Ilands of life of whom a ridiculous tale is fathered that nothing dies in them so that when the inhabitants grow old they are caried else where which custome they haue of late superstitiously obserued both in these Ilands of Aran and some other adioyning of the same condition as they suppose The Prouince of VLSTER and called the North is very large and withall mountanous full of great Loughs of fresh water except Lough Cone which ebbeth and floweth as the Sea shouldreth aside the streites at Strangford and with that violence at the ebb that a ship vnder saile with a reasonable gale of winde cannot enter against the tide These lakes nature hath appointed in steed of riuers and stored with fish especially Trowt and Pike of such strange proportion that if I should tell you of a Trowt taken vp in Tyrone 46 inches long and presented to the L Montioy then Deputie you would demand whether I was oculatus testis and I answer I eat my part of it and as I take it both my L Dauers and Sir William Goodolphin were at the table and worthy Sir Iosias Bodley hath the portraiture depicted in plano Here are no Townes or at least very few but diuers Castles dispersed and the inhabitants remoue their cabbins as their cattle change pasture somewhat like the Tartarians except in times of warre and troubles then doe they retire vnder the couett of Castles and order their houses wonde with rods and couered with turffs as well as they can bringing their cattle euen within their houses lying altogether in one roome both to preuent robberies of Kern and spoile by Wolues Amongst these euery country is subiect to the Law Tanist which is he which is best able to maintaine the reputation of their familie is the great O and commander Through the Kingdome generally the winter is neither so cold nor the summer so hot as in England by reason whereof Haruest is very late and in the North wheat will not quickly ripen nor haue they acornes once in a dozen yeere their principall corne is oates which are commonly burnt out of the straw and then trod from the husks with mens feete of this they make their bread in cakes being first grownd by calliots and drudges very naked and beastly sitting on the ground with the mill like our mustard quernes betweene their legs and then vpon broad yron presses they bake the meale when it is kneaded which custome the best obserue in Munster with their cheefest corne The continuall showers and mists make the countrey more dangerous to our Nation debarring the absolute assurance of wholesome aire and the consequent health seldome any frost continues or snow lieth long but on the mountaines in which are great store of Deere both red fallow The abundance of Wolues compels them to house their cattle in the bawnes of their Castles where all the winter nights they stand vp to the bellies in durt another reason is to preuent theeues and false-harted brethren who haue spies abroad will come 30 mile
than a plaine demonstration of my owne endeuors oportunity and obseruations concluding with that excellent Seneca Quicquid patimur mortale Quicquid facimus venit ab alto And because my first purpose and intent promised to approue that of all the former recited countries England had the prerogatiue enioyeth most of those blessings wherewith God euer marked any kingdome in this booke I would faine perswade you to the same and by reason or comparison bring you the sooner to distinction knowledg wherby you shall be the abler to conclude with iudgment confidence in the truth I must therfore giue you an instance of a time cuntry King which had a prerogatiue in happines ouer all nations either before or since then contract our sophistry thus that that kingdome which commeth neerest to the example shall haue the precedency The raigne of Salomon and country of Canaan euen the best part of terrestiall paradice shall be the lanterne to light vs out of this contention For although Ahashuerosh preuailed from India to Aethiopia ouer 127 Prouinces and made a feast in the Pallace of Sushan to all his Princes and subiects which lasted 180 daies vnder a hanging of white greene and blew cloth the beds of gold and siluer vpon a pauement of porphyrie marble and alablaster the drinking vessels of gold with change after change and the Queene Vashti likewise kept the same correspondency with the women in the royall house of the King Although Nabuchadnezar by lifting vp his eyes toward the Pallace of Babylon elated also his heart with vaine ostentation because he not onely had triumphed ouer Israel tooke Iehoiachim King of Iuda prisoner sacked Ierusalem and caried the Princes of the Tribes into captiuitie but might now establish the glory of the Chaldean Monarchy and celebrate his magnificent feasts in the great Citie Although Beltashar banqueted with the vessels of gold wherein his Princes his wiues and concubines dranke before a 1000 and with magnificent brauery was aduanced on a throne to command their prostitution when he had cause of imperiousnes Although another Nabuchadnezar was invested in Nineuie and after the conquest of Arphaxad and his Cities returned to that great Towne Pallace with a wondrous multitude celebrating a feast 120 daies with insulting iollity appointed Holophernes to conduct 120000 foot 12000 horse with all the glory of an Emperors armie against Siria and Iudea Although Alexander the Macedonian preuailed against the forces of Asia conquered Darius King of Medes and Persians and compelled the tributary nations of the East to a slauish prostitution rewarding his endeauours with an assumpted reputation of a god-head all the effects of wanton peace and magnificence when hee returned to Babylon to celebrate the triumphs of his victories Although Antiochus surnamed the Great established his Kingdome from India to Aethiopia and satisfied his ambition with the spoyles of Iuda Ierusalem and Aegypt whereby he exposed a wonder of honourable court-ship and illustrious gouernment And although Octauius for his happy successe in all his actions was surnamed Augustus and had those Halcion dayes as an Emperour of peace wherein abundance state and prosperity played the wantons with one another Yet questionlesse must all instances of Emperours Kings maiesty and gouernment giue place to the time and royalty of Salomon whose prosperity ouerflowed like a swelling riuer and filled euery empty place with fulnesse gladnesse and encrease so that if you will examine me vpon interrogatories I thus put in mine answer and according to the true vse of an affidauit affirme nothing but truth and plainenesse Then was Salomon in his royalty when the Temple was built the Priesthood confirmed the Prophets set at liberty and the Saints of God were had in estimation when he erected a brazen scaffold in the midst of the court fiue cubits long fiue broad and three in height on which hee stood and kneeled before all the congregation of Israel when hee offered a sacrifice of 22000. bullockes and 120000. sheepe making a feast of seuen dayes and all Israel with him when he serued God truely and permitted Nathan the Prophet Ahiah the Silonite and Ieddo the Seer to pronounce the iudgements of God against the reprobate and obstinate and divulge his mercy toward the penitent and true conuertist Then was Salomon in his royalty when hee made a porch of fifty cubits long and thirty broad in which hee sat to determine the controuersies of his Kingdome whereby all sorts had accesse to the throne of Iustice and very harlots leuiated in their greeuances Then was Salomon in his royalty when his owne palace was finished after thirteene yeeres labours of 160000. worke-men to which he brought his wife euen Pharaohs daughter when hee was aduanced on a throne of iuory and gold and caused a seat to bee placed for the Kings mother rose to meet her setling her on his right hand when his throne had six steps and twelue Lyons of gold when all his drinking vessels were of gold and siluer was nothing esteemed when hee made two hundred targets and three hundred shields of gold a throne of precious stone and couered the Ibony with the best gold when his prouision for one day was 30. measures of fine floure and 60. of meale 10. fat oxen and 20. out of the pastures 100. sheepe besides harts buckes bugles and fat foule Then was Salomon in his royalty when he asked wisdom at the hands of God and distributed equity to all his people when hee spake 3000. prouerbs and 1000. songs when he related the nature of trees plants beasts fowle fishes and creeping things when he appoynted the Officers of his houshold and Commanders ouer Prouinces first 3300. then 300. lastly 250. as Princes and principall ouer the other when the Queene of Sheba came to prooue him with hard questions and brought him odours golde and precious stones when she saw his wisdome the house he had built the prouision of his table the sitting of his seruants the ordering of his ministers and their apparrell his drinking-vessels and burnt offerings when there came of all people to heare his wisdome when hee excelled all the Kings of the earth in riches and administration of equity when hee blessed the people and praised God in publike giuing the Priests and Prophets liberty to maintaine the cause of the Lord of hosts and not permitting the corruption of the world to transferre them beyond the limits of true deuotion and religious piety and when he so ouer-looked ouer-awed all Officers of the Kingdome that neither the mighty made their greatnesse a bar to descend to the practise of charitable actions nor the better sort tooke ill example by the higher to practise vnbefitting policy or oppressions of the poore nor the inferiour had cause of clamorous repinings or tumultuary insurrections against the gouernment abusing the people Then was Salomon in his royalty when he had built cities of store cities of chariots cities
mutuall conuersation reciprocall loue If then in India neither are the Cities hansomly contriued nor well furnished with houses want ciuill gouernment and administration of iustice if the country villages are rude and disordered liuing in suspition of one another for spoile and robbery if they faile in all comelines and morall fashioning themselues to hansomnes and good order How can it come neere our example where Salomon reedified the Cities of store the Cities of fortification the Cities of refuge the Cities of pleasure when Salomon had his orderly officers of visitation and gaue commandment to ouer-looke the manifold disturbances of the kingdome and redresse the same with a strong hand against the mighty insolent and with a supporting arme for the poore and afflicted If then in India they care not to visit other countries sell their people for slaues make marchandice of one another barbarously scorne to gratifie other Princes and will in no sort practise the exploration of remote countries How can it come neere our example when Salomon built a Nauie at the red sea had another to ioyne with Hiram and sent abroad for gold and other prouision into forreine nations when he liued in peace and amitie with Pharaoh contracted a mariage with his daughter and maintained all the honorable customes to inlarge the glory and happines of a kingdom And so in diuers other particulars senting from Salomons prosperity and happinesse So that to conclude in a word neither are they to defend their owne glories which so spred abroad former estimation not to come neere our comparison in this her moderne diâ—…unction For in their wants they are almost vnwilling to make triall of any fortune considering they haue had such disastrous euents as both the Turkes haue mightily encroached and preuailed against them The Arabians with diuers roads and ouer-watchings haue dilacerated their gouernment and the other countries adiacent to the Caspian sea stood at defiance with them so that they not onely liue in continuall feare of further mischeefe but are compelled to maintaine frontire garisons to preuent finall ouerthrow and extirpation and this they doe with extraordinary charge on all sides and want indeed the martiall brauery and forcible possibility of their former armies In their best peace which is now still poysoned with the dregs of mischeeuous insurrections they are deficient in orderly traphique of marchants in well-rigged nauies for exploration of other countries or maintaining confederacy with remoter Princes in pleasant and secure passages and wayes to trauell in in cities or townes of entertainment to lodge and repose the wearied company in prouision of the countrey to sustaine nature according to the blessing exposed in that kinde in the countrey-mans honest vocation who is heere worse then a miserable slaue in the honourable liberty of women and conuersable meetings who are heere debarred friendly entercourses except wantons and strumpets whom they inuite against festiuals to lengthen out their pleasure and lasciuious delight in voluptuousnesse all which with diuers other as there are diuers others to bee brought to the triall if wee should dispute the matter more forcibly come so farre short of our example that they are rather meer contraries and by reason of opposition vtterly to bee excluded from any fulnesse of reputation or true example of a Kingdomes prosperity CHAP. VI. TVRKY compared and her imperfections layd open ALthough the Grand Signeur is the onely absolute Prince in the world as hauing the liues lands and wealth of his subiects liable to his wilfulnesse and imperious controling of whom hee please yet commeth hee farre short of a Kingdomes happinesse religious administration or generall blessings of a countrey especially our example where Salomon established his Princes and Nobles in propagato sanguine where the Israelites pitched euery man vnder the tents of their fathers houses and armes of their family where Israel eat and dranke in mirth and all sorts were ouer-shaded with their vine-yards and figg-trees in quiet where the marchant trauelled in peace and grew rich without repining where many marchants were entertained from forraine countries and well-commed with noble hospitality where neither witch begger whore or vsurer were permitted and where plenty opened her lap affoording equall distribution to all commers who were either marked with merit labour vertue or valour and because you shall haue pleasure in a little variety we will thus search the wounds of this gouernment and discouer those defects which must needes exempt her from exemplary happinesse how euer she may swell with a big swolne face of territories and conquests and first concerning the cruelty and tyrannous slaughters amongst themselues To begin with the fundamentall firmnesse of their gouernment and greatnesse and the cheefe cause of expatiating the Empire it consisteth all in aduancing of slaues and cutting off any one whether brother sonne and sometimes the fathers who are either a barre in the pleasant walke of their soueraignty or giue the least cause of suspition through competition or popularity As for the name of slaue the greatest Viceer must acknowledge it as the infallible position of establishment a law ratefied by Mahomet confirmed by custome and strengthned through the obedience of all his vassals as you may collect by that famous history of Mustapha the principall Bashaw vnder Mahomet the first who when hee saw the great Emperour effeminately ouercome with the loue of Hyrena the faire Greeke and that there was suspition of ill successe in the warres by this retardance and ouer-passionate satisfaction of pleasure he aduentured to reclaime him from such neglect of his army and tooke vpon him by some formall aduice to diuert him from vilipending the Otthoman glory but how he proceeded with what prostitution with how many tearmes of slaue and miserable wretch and how vnlookt for hee escaped with life after hee lay groueling on the ground as resolued to die our common stages can relate and the story hath pregnant authority from many famous authours who all conclude that how euer he remembred himselfe and with a sterne repining at Mustapha's audaciousnesse with much a doe pardoned him from cruell execution yet the beautifull Grecian shrunke vnder the stroak of a sauage hand â—…e the next day after a glorious shewing her with admiration to the whole armie strucke off her head and most barbarously as he inferred to satisfie the army deliuered him and them from further suspition of his effeminatenesse in which fury he approached Adrinopolis neuer desisted till he had laid it prostrate before him But if you would be acquainted with the true condition of their tyranny imperiousnes then looke vpon the new admission of their Emperours into the sublime chaire of Maiesty and you shall heare him commanding all his brethren to bee strangled before him except one reserued if the time allow it for propagation of children who likewise vpon the Turkes suppliment that way shall miscarry by one meanes or other
yea sometimes it happens that when the aged father or eldest brother is contented to admit of his sonne or yonger to the coparcinary of administration or if you will absolute power in the Empire by reason of impotency age lunacy or other naturall defects they are most inhumanly rewarded with death as Zelimus poysoned his father Baiazet and the sonnes of Soliman the Magnificent shouldred one another into the pit of destruction Concerning the subiect nobility they neuer suffer in continuall discents nor permit any man to grow rich mighty or popular otherwise then may stand with the pleasure of the Emperour which is apparant by the destruction of many worthie Bashawes and Seruitours who when the Doctors of the Law haue concluded the matter by priuate conference are commonly carried by a confessing that Mordecai had not bin rewarded but secret politicians supplied the roome intimating still and still matter against him which kindled the fire of the Emperors ielousie to such a blaze that nothing but his personall appearance could quench the same When the Viceer perceiued the danger of such ouer-watchings and began to be acquainted with too many princely messages he absented himselfe a while and with dilatory excuses laid as it were open his suspition of the Emperors ielousie against him whereupon followed an obstinate deniall of comming lest the affaires of the kingdomes might be intermitted and when that serued not the turne he determined to stand on his guard till at last the Gran Signeur was aduised not to regard him at all whereupon the Mufti was called to councell which is their principall Churchman who together with diuers Doctors of their law resolued that he was too dangerous to liue and yet policie must be vsed in cutting him off When the foundation of this building was laid letters were contriued from the Prince vnto him deceitfully importing thus much That he had great cause to be thankfull to the great Prophet Mahomet for his indulgent care ouer the house of Ottoman euen in these suspitious times to prouide that a man of such courage wisdom and magnanimity gouerned the sterne of the ship of his affaires like a discreet pilot knew how to conduce the barke of the Common-wealth to safe harbour He accordingly assumeth the glory to himselfe with full resolution that either the yong Prince durst not finde fault or nothing was fault-worthy like Aesops asse who supposed that the Lyon would be terrified with his braying For at last he came to the Emperors presence into the Seralio who was taught to entertaine him with a politicall acceptation which lasted a while and with the continuance of 14 daies seemed to wipe out the print of former vnkindnes But when the day of his fatall destruction approched after the yong Prince had bin a hawking and meeting with certaine inhabitants of Bogdonia and the borders of Russia who made petition vnto Him for diuers redresses gaue them a kinde of audience hee was sodenly sent for to a priuate conference which he verily supposed according to some speciall inferences tended to that purpose nor did he once rebate the glory of his former iollity but went at least with 300 Ianisaries and his other officers toward the gates of the Seralio where by the way the Haga or Captaine of the Ianisaries met him to tell him how the Prince was retired to a Caska by the sea side and he must goe through the garden and enclosure of Roe-bucks vnto him which he performed accordingly and neuer seemed once staggering in his resolutions till he came to the yron gate and saw his company prohibited to enter and the gate fast barred as soone as he was admitted Here he must needs passe through a guard of Capogies who demanded his Semiter which he furiously denied and with increase of rage and choller railed vpon them all But they being too well instructed to forbeare any such opprobrious speeches spared a reply of words and tooke an opportunitie to ouer-master him with the company who most cruelly cut him all to peeces yet some would raise the Emperors ielousie from a suspition of loue to his mother who taking a fitting opportunitie as was imagined came with him to admonish her sonne from his pederastria or accompanying with boyes but belike they performed it with vnseasonable wisdome for in his furie he spurned her away and bad him remember he was but a slaue Some report that the first motiue of the Emperors displeasure was occasioned by reason of his buildings which ouer-looking some priuate walkes in the Seralio was both irkesome to the maiestie of the Prince and a dore to let in his euerlasting hate to which there wanted not the seuerall suggestions of many flatterers and temporizers But let his death and the cause be what it will there is no gaine-saying their wilfulnes nor moderating their rage and tyrannie witnes his fathers killing of his elder brother a Prince of great expectation but comming one day though he did it with reuerence and teares in his eyes to put him in remembrance of the Ottoman glory and inlarging the Empire which euery Prince had done sauing himselfe the admonition was so vnsauoury or the ielousie of his vertues so forcible that he beat him to death with his owne hands to the amase of all the Ianisaries and soldiers insomuch that the grandmother a woman of excellent parts who is yet liuing had like to haue perished in the hurly-burly To which may be added this yong Princes dislike of one of his Concubines whom he shot to death in his gardens I could here insert many other stories of their cruelty and tyrannous supplanting one another murthering Bashawes destroying Princes and letting loose the streames of all rage wilfullnes and distemperature but you will say I gleane but out of anothers haruest and time is too pretious to spend it in idle relations I will therefore leaue you to the originall and only for the strangenes make a breuiate of Mustapha's tragedy who was so cruelly murthered by an intemperate Prince intoxicatedby the cunning of a malitious strumpet The famous historie of MVSTAPHA SVltanus Soliman surnamed the Magnificent amongst many others had one beautifull Concubine called Rozza or Roxalana but more properly Hazathia on whom he so doted in his later times that all amarous dalliance with the rest was neglected for her sake as if pleasure and delight attended her though shee were but his slaue Thus he so followed the humors of this wanton woman that at last the noble Prince Mustapha his eldest sonne was prohibited his presence and his former children slightly regarded in respect of hers which when shee had fully apprehended and politikely entertained the next businesse was to make vse of the same yea such vse as cunning fauourites and newly aduanced officers contriue who suspecting some sudden alteration and perceiuing the Prince cannot last long care not by what meanes they enrich themselues and many times runne in the race of indirect courses
credit to ouerbeare mischances But our glory abroad is truely expatiated when you shall know how helpefull wee haue beene to other nations both with purse and forces yea contrary to the opinion of the world concerning our penury opened the enclosures of riches and hononrably supplyed the defects of other Kingdomes Wee haue made peace betweene Denmark and Sweden and pacified those troubles long agoe We haue releeued the Estates of Holland with men money and munition vnderpropping them as if a man should vndershore a ruinous wall vntill the foundation were repaired We haue assisted the Protestant Princes of of France in their first ciuill warres and beene auxiliary to many noble houses of Germany we setled the last King in his greatnesse and lifted him vp to that honour that none of his Predecessours had their crownes shining with such a lustre We playd the Physician with Geneua and administred her such an antidote that no aconite of Pope or Sauoy could envenom her to death or contriue her destruction We brought the distressed Prince Antonio to knock at the gates of Lisbone and had he not found a fatall vicissitude of times and occasions yea the minds of inconstant men corrupted with by-respects and priuate following the stronger side we might questionlesse haue preuailed in the proiect and vpon the least filling the sailes of our expectation with the winde of home assistance brought recouery to receiue the fulnesse of life Wee haue made Spaine weary of the warres and at last desire a peace which I would be loth to resemble to still waters wherein are the deepest gulphs and most dangerous places to aduenture We returned the Polish Ambassadour with admiration at our Princes greatnesse and magnanimity We haue setled the good opinion of the Muscouite Wee haue emboldned the Venetians in their last dissentions against the Pope Wee haue accorded the Arch-Duke who not onely admitteth vs into entertainment but giueth way vnto such as yet maintaine the cause of the contrary We haue welcomed the Prince of Moldauia and as farre as policy or charity could goe brought him along into the faire fields of expectation to regaine his enheritance We haue lately ouerlooked the fields of Sweden and Russia yea thought it befitting to send a martiall supply into Denmarck and howeuer the Polander repine must in the end I beleeue determine those controuersies To conclude though it shall be no cause of ostentation wee haue prospered in so many glorious thriuings that the Spanyard in his prophanation hath sworne IESVS CHRIST to become a Lutheran and railed on report for filling the world with the sound of so many memorable actions Concerning our glory at home lay abroad our example and spare not and marke the emptiest place which we will not fill vp with comparison First the best manner of gouernment from Gods own mouth which is monarchal and philosophicall principles which is a King and morall enstructions which is a distributer of Iustice and peoples desires which is an honourable preseruer of Common-wealths all vnited in one person from a continuall descent of princely ancestours gaining the loue and obedience of many nations by excelling induments of nature as wisdom learning iudgment peaceable desires honorable liberality magnanimity such like And did it please him to add some glorious repairing or rather magnificent quadrant to his palace at White-hall being the principall place of entertainement and the eye to ouerlooke such a city as is not in the world it would come neere our example indeede For the Kings house in Ierusalem was thirteene yeere a building and no one thing addes more honour to a nation then regardable edifices and eminent workes of Maiesty being the very fruit of peace and as it were the birth-right of prosperity whether it bring forth sumptuous structures or adorning monuments And if it were not a pride elation of hart to number the people looke how many nations and languages are vnder subiection namely English Scottish Irish Welch Cornish Ments Ilanders both Hebrides and Orchades the French of Gersy and Iersy so that if the honour of a King consisteth in the multitude of his subiects what Prince hath more and such variety If you looke on his palaces where are so many and so good belonging to any Kingdome in the world If you will behold his court I hope for state good order expences entertainment and continuall attendancy other places come farre short If you will view his shipping and nauies I am sure you passe away with astonishment when you are enstructed in the secrets of their seruice and strength If you will behold his armours and munition they exceede report and the Arsenalls of other countries haue neither such equipage nor sufficiency but when you shall finde euery Noble-man and Gentle-mans house so well furnished euery Hall and Company so well prouided euery Shire so willing to continue their preparation euery Master so cheerefull in storing himselfe and euery man so ready to giue eare to any martiall summons and prepare with ioy to attend the seruice you must needs returne not louing vs with feare and trembling but affecting vs with triumph and well wishes for our preuailing against the proudest aduersary If you will number vs at sea I know there is not so many good Mariners and Saylours in Europe excepting the Low Countries If you will muster vs at land who can shew such companies of foot such troopes of horse so many worthy seruitours and so well appoynted Insomuch that I know diuers Gentle-men of England who can conduct 3000. men into the field in their King and Countries name of their owne tenants seruants and friends If you will examine our Nobility I confesse they doe not boast of factious greatnesse as in France the Princes of Germany but their number noble disposition willingnes to be obedient may passe in the best items of Fames account If you would see our Councellors prepare a reuerence and settle your estimation toward them for their orderly life probity of manners integrity in deciding controuersies affability in admitting suters though you come from the Grandes of Spaine the Principalities of Italy the Electors of Germany the Dukes of France the States of other Countries yea the ostentous pomp of Cardinals yet bee not too preiudicate nor transported with selfe-conceited wilfulnes for you shall see as great brauery retinue obseruation amongst vs as any subiects in the world dare challenge or put in practise for outward glorious ostentation nay more the order of our Garter and the ceremonies of enstalling are continued with that triumph and maiesty that no one celebration of petty Princes dare lift vp a countenance of such iollity regardable honor And if you will behold the other Courtiers they are generally so many so handsome so seruiceable of their own retinues so well prouided that I protest they so farre exceede other places both for gracefull shewes and sufficient estates that I
haue in London those that be faire beautifull and cleanely kept insteed of foggy mists and clowds ill aire flat situation miry springs and a kinde of staining clay you haue in London a sunne-shining and serene element for the most part a wholesome dwelling stately ascension and delicate prospect insteed of a shallow narrow and sometimes dangerous riuer bringing onely barges and boats with wood coale turff and such countrey prouision you haue at London a riuer flowing twenty foot and full of stately ships that flie to vs with marchandize from all the ports of the world the sight yeelding astonishment and the vse perpetuall comfort so that setting the vnconstant reuolutions of worldly felicity aside who shall oppose against our nauy and if wee would descend to inferiour roomes the riuer westward matcheth Paris euery way and supplieth the city with all commodities and at easier rates In steed of ill fauoured woodden bridges many times endangered with tempests and frosts you haue in London such a bridge that without ampliation of particulars is the admirablest monument and firâ—… erected structure in that kinde of the Vniuerse whether you respect the foundation with the continuall charge and orderly endeauours to keepe the arches substantiall or examine the vpper buildings being so many and so beautifull houses that it is a pleasure to beholde them and a fulnesse of contentment to vnderstand their vses conferred vpon them Insteed of an olde Bastill and ill-beseeming Arsenall thrust as it were into an outcast corner of the City you haue in London a building of the greatest antiquity and maiesticall forme seruing to most vses of any Citadle or Magazin that euer you saw For the Tower containeth a Kings palace a Kings prison a Kings armoury a Kings mint a Kings ward-robe a Kings artilery and many other worthy offices so that the Inhabitants within the walls haue a Church and are a sufficient parish Insteed ofan obscure Louure newly graced with an extraordinary gallery the onely palace of the King neere Paris In London his Maiesty hath many houses parkes and places of repose and in the countries dispersed such a number of state receipt and commodity that I protest I am driuen to amaze knowing the defects of other places nor doe I heere stretch my discourse on the tenter-hookes of partiality or seeme to pull it by the by-strings of selfe-conceit or opinion but plainely denotate what all true hearted English-men can auerre that to the crowne of our Kingdome are annexed more castles honors forrests parkes houses of State and conueniency to retire vnto from the encombrances of the hurliburly of cities then any Emperor or King in Europe can challenge proprio iure Insteed of an old ruinous palace as they terme their house of Parliament Hall of Iustice concourse of Lawyers or meetings of certaine Trades-men or Milleners like an Exchange and as it were promiscuè confounding all together we haue in London such a Circo for Marchants with an vpper quadrant of shops as must needs subiect it to forraine enuy in regard of the delicacy of the building and statelinesse in the contriuing We haue in London a second building for the ease of the Court profit of the Artizan and glory of the city which for any thing my outward sence may iudge of can equall the proudest structure of their proudest townes though you should name St. Marks Piazza in Venice for so much building We haue in London a Guild Hall for a State-house and Westminster for generall causes of the Kingdome two such roomes that without further dispute maketh strangers demand vnanswerable questions and gently brought to the vnderstanding particulars lift vp their hands to heauen and exclaime O happy England ô happy people ô happy London and yet I must confesse that the hall at Padoa and great counsell-chamber in Venice be roomes of worthy note and sufficient contentment We haue in London diuers palaces for resort of Lawyers their Clients other offices appropriate all workes rather of ostentation to our selues then imitation to others Insteed of narrow dirty streets neither gracefull to themselues nor beautified with any ornament wee haue spacious large and comely streets exposing diuers workes of peace charitie and estimation Insteed of obscure Churches we haue first the goodliest heap of stones in the world namely Pauls next the curiousest fabricke in Europe namely Westminster chapple and generally all our Churches exceede for beauty handsomnesse and magnificent building as framed of hard stone and marble and exposed with a firme and glorious spectacle as for the Dona of Florence St. Marcks in Venice St. Marcks in Millane the Noterdame at Paris and some others in Germany the steeple onely at Strasborough except which is denominated Beautifull for the height and handsomnesse they are either buildings of bricke or conceited structures like a fantasticall bird-cage of a little inlayd or mosaijcke worke worthy of applause from such as respect new dainties and not to bee ouerpassed for curious pictures and paintings where yet by the way you must obserue that in those daies of superstition and particulars of ostentation concerning rich hangings imageries statues altar-cloths roods reliques plate pictures and ornaments other Churches and monasteries of Europe come farre short of our glory and Popish brauery Insteed of Gentle-men on dirty foot-clothes and women in the miry streets the one with an idle Lacquey or two the other with no company of respect wee haue fashionable attendancy handsome and comely going either in Carosse Coatch or on horsebacke and our Ladies and women of reputation sildome abroad without an honourable retinue Insteed of a confusion of all sorts of people together without discouery of qualitie or persons as Citizens Lawyers Schollers Gentlemen religious Priests and Mechanickes that you can scarse know the one from the other nor the master from the man In London the Citizen liues in the best order with very few houses of Gentle-men interposed and in our suburbs the Nobility haue so many and stately dwellings that one side of the riuer may compare with the Gran Canale of Venice But if you examine their receipt and capacity Venice and all the cities of Europe must submit to the truth Nay ' in London and the places adioyning you haue a thousand seuerall houses wherein I will lodge a thousand seuerall men with conueniency match vs now if you can Insteed of a poore Prouost and disorderly company of Marchants and Trades-men we haue a Podesta or Maior that keepeth a Princely house wee haue graue Senatours comely Citizens seuerall Halls and authorized Corporations all gouerned by religious Magistracy and made famous by triumphant solemnities so that our best Gentry are delighted with the spectacle and strangers admire the brauery To conclude if you looke on and in our London truly as it is composed of men following trades occupations there is not such a city such a gouernment such a method of conuersation such a vnity of good fellowship such a
practised Diabolicall arts Pithonisticall incantations Cabalisticall secrets Hieroglyphicall representations imposturing deuises and all dangerous sacrifices belonging to the formall perfecting the same This that is alleaged might be sufficient to vnderstanding men to affright them from affecting either idoll image or church-painting But I will goe a litle further and wade in the foord of this swelling streame which from the springs of the Prophets ouerflow the fields of all countries but how euen by shouldring aside the proud cast-vp-banks of opposition and threatning Gods vengeance against such as dare perpetrate such â—…llicit actions So that if I store this discourse with some collected abstracts intimating nothing from enuy or malice against the greatnes and wealth of other Kingdomes which are Idolaters I hope we shall thereby auoide in our selues the least sauouring of those monstrous customes of India China or other dangerous Kingdomes and adulterate excuses of misled Christians who thus farre agree with the grossest idolaters that their images are but representations of more excellent spirits and no man is so senselesse to kneele to or adore the dumbe and dead things but onely to resuscitate our stupide memories either of God or his Saints in regard the nature of man is so slender of it selfe and the condition of the Diety so gentle to giue way to any thing which may further the adoration of his glory and the confirmation of our saluation in both which how grosse and palpably they abuse the great and wise God and deceiue ignorant and simple men shall here appeare In the 17. of Deuteronomie there is as it were a solemne quest of enquiry against the peruerters of true religion in this kinde and the conclusion tendeth to the punishment of stoning to death and because we should haue no starting hole or tricke to deceiue our selues God is contented in the 28 to establish to his people a contract of blessing and cursing all tending to discouer the vses and reasons of either following it so farre that he plainely nameth idolatry or if you will erecting of images for any cause to exasperate his displeasure that plagues punishment and vtter extirpation must follow to which end and purpose Iosua's exhortation for the worshipping the onely true and wise God and after his owne onely true and wise way was so enlarged commended and applauded after his so many and great victories and established quietnes How neere to vtter destruction and desolation were the Israelites in the time of the IVDGES when the Angell rebuked the people for liuing wickedly in the sight of the Lord and seruing Baalam wherevpon followed a casting them away by God and the hands of Midian fettred them in chaines seuen yeere nor could the Princes of Iuda deliuer them although Gedeon began well and set vp preuailing on his strongest legs to stand vpright for their behoofe But what followed He and all his house fell into the pit of destruction and wherefore for making an ephod wherein hee presumed yet to doe well but it was the step and staire of idolatry and that the cause of a following vengeance then if you looke into Micahs story you shall finde that euery man did what was good in his owne eyes whereby ensued murthers rapes robberies and such like intolerable enormities all hauing their current from this spring that his mother made him images of siluer and he consented to the wicked worke If you ouerlooke the story of Sampson howeuer hee lost his strength and was inflicted with a seuere punishment of being bereaued of his sight and disgracefull captiuity yet you saw as the Eagle casts her bill to renew her youth for the punishment of Idolaters God raised vp another wall of fortification and when his vigour was restored he pulled downe the prophane temple vpon the heads of two thousand soules when the Philistins brought the arke of God into the house of Dagon the Idoll fell downe before it and the men of Ashdod were plagued for abusing the same Did not Salomon reioyce in all worldly felicity and was not the mantle of pleasure and happinesse spred before him vntill he fell to idolatry then did his priuate enemies cast it out of sight and God diuided ten Tribes from his sonne which was a strange disparity considering his father built the Temple consecrated the same and blessed the people Wherein was God so offended with Ieroboam that he made him the capitall authour of the sins of Israel but by reason of his golden calues the punishment whereof was thus farre extended His sonne died his hand was dried vp with leprosie the seduced Prophet was killed by a Lyon and the same Abiah that made him King confirmed the extirpation of his family and for all his wife went to delude him yet she heard the iudgement of terrour which she could not preuent In the story of Ahab what was the cause of so many troubles in Israel tyranny in the Common-wealth murthering of Gods Prophets vsurpation of other mens inheritances wickednesse of Iezabel witchcrafts whoredomes and in the end a generall defection from his obedience and coniuration against his house was it not idolatry wherupon followed the slaughter of the King the casting the Queene out of a window the killing of Baals Prophets first by Eliah then by Iehu and an vtter confusion in Iuda and Israel Wherein was Iehoiada so acceptable to God as when he destroyed the altars of Baal and layd his images on a heape looke amongst all the Kings of Iuda or Israel and whereas you finde some of them murthered some of them deposed some of them taken away in the pride of their yeeres some of them lepers and some of them carried into captiuity it was all by reason of idolatry transfounding the adoration of the onely true God with the infectious leprosie of mens traditions thus Azariah of Iuda became a Leper Zacharia of Israel was slaine by Shallum Shallum by Menahen and Menahen purchased his peace of Assyria by money The wicked idolatry of Ahas and that horrible consecration of his sonne in fire was a motiue of trouble and desolation to all Ierusalem Hosea King of Israel was ensnared and he and his realme caught in the net of Assyrian policy by reason of their confidence in Idols that euery one worshipped the God of his nation contrary to Moses Law but what ensued curses plagues vtter desolatenesse adumbration of the sunne-shine of heauenly fauours and when they presumed of well-doing in making a hotchpotch of religion in Samaria the Lyons of the forrest came into the city and deuoured both Priests and people When Manasses restored idolatry giuing life to filthy prophanation which viper-like abused the curtesie of him which warmed her and stung him to death I will bring sayes God an euill vpon Iuda and Ierusalem that who heareth of it both his eares shall tingle I will stretch ouer Ierusalem the line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab and I will wipe
crownes of the sunne that they thought it the best part of their securitie to absent themselues The yeere 35. Sir Iohn Dudley Vicount Lisle high Admirall of England with a Nauy of 200 saile passed the seas into Scotland in despight of all the power the confederates could raise and not onely performed actions beyond expectation but taught them the true knowledge of English shipping and mariners The next yeere the French Nauy came into Sussex but vpon very short warning were dissipated and in a sudden encounter felt the smart of presumption Presently as in diuers aduantages of such petty roades and excursions they landed at Portsmouth and the I le of Wight but with what successe or satisfaction I cannot compare it better than to a bowle of water spilt irrecouerably to be gathered vp againe For they neuer durst aduenture when our ships looked bigg vpon them but vnderstanding of their imployment abroad and sequestration farre off then hurried they suddenly vpon vs yet I hope neither found vs vnprouided nor returned backe againe with true cause of insulting In the 3. of Edw 6. the French Kings gallies and Caricks invaded Gernsey and Iersey but with what face fortune looked vpon them the losse of a 1000 men with the spoile of their greatest ships and gallies suddenly discouered Why may I not name here our iourney to Newhauen in the 4. of Queene Elizabeth when through the power of our Nauy at which both French and Spaniards began to repine the Earle of Warwicke made the seas wanton with iollity and affrighted the land with those small troopes of old souldiers from the Garison at Barwick vnited to others raised from the willing musters of our country and although some enuious hand would stop the mouth of report from ecchoing our applause at this time yet I am sure Count Ringraue and his armie felt the smart of affliction and the sorrow of many defeatures and dare auouch that the seas lay open vnto vs in despight of opposition or any encounter our enemies durst or could prepare to invite vs to In the 18. yeere was Forbishers first voyage and by reason that this glorious Queene had as it were tied the obseruation of all Nations to her actions and gouernment a peace being generally contracted diuers presumptuous persons tooke aduantage of the same and filled the narrow seas with rouers and pirats who ranne vp and downe without controll like vntamed colts scorning all enclosures and bounds ' vntill Captaine Holstock with 4. good ships and two pinaces was appointed the reformer of these abuses who presently brought into the schoole of correction 200 rouers 8 Flushingers diuers Barks and Pinaces and pacified the outragiousnes of these petty thefts The 19. Forbishers second voyage The 20. Forbishers third voyage with many other of famous memory amongst whom Hawkins Drake Candish and such worthy sea-men preuailing in all their explorations as they attempted great matters deserue as great commendation About the 23. that famous busines of Desmonds rebellion breathed insolencie into those people by reason the Pope and Spaniard had fortified themselues in Smirwick in Ireland and with a sufficient number of ships blocked vp the hauen vntill certaine of her Maiesties Nauie and the Deputies forces at land being then the forward Lord Grey behaued themselues with such good order and successe that all the passages of victory to vs and miserable discomfiture to them were set open and we triumphed with a plenary satisfaction to our endeuours In the 24. Monsieur returned into the Low-countries to bee invested with the Duchy of Brabant but when he beheld our glorious fleete and iudiciously looked vpon their strength and brauery he burst out into a passionate applause and sware that howeuer men were enemies to our peace they were enemies to truth if they did not acknowledge it without comparison The yeere following Captaine Borough with one ship and a small Barke went to sea against Rouers and although the Councell at that time suspected vs ouer-weake to withstand an vnited desperatenes yet the fight continued against 7 or 8 and all men can witnes our memorable successe in that encounter The triumphs of 88 are of such renowne and worthy celebration that the world still remembers our illustrious Nauy and admirable victory but this secret was not fully reuealed that wee were not prouided nor throughly furnished so that as true hearts praied for vs the great God of heauen fought for vs. The yeere following the Portingall voiage and as it were set on degrees Cales voiage the Iland voiage Sir Richard Leusons noble exploits and his place since supplied by Sir William Mounson haue set forward our reputation to runne the race of vnresistable preuailing and hold vp our glorious countenances in despight of any confronting looke or repining eyes Nor doe I heare reckon vp our Merchant Aduenturers and the sundry times encountring with greater and more aduantagious forces witnes the Marchant Royall in those times when Iohn King was Master which alone encountred with 3 ships and 10 gallies and came off with such iollity as they fretted to be so disappointed and we triumphed to welcome home so well deseruing a man Since when although those of Malta Florence the confederates of the Arches and many desperate Pirats haue conspired against our traphique and made our iourney into the Leuant somewhat dangerous yet we haue still gone forward and could not bee pull'd backe by any wrenching arme whatsoeuer especially in those daies of tryall when we stood on our guard and made our warlike preparation a very paire of tarriers to the Spaniard For in those daies the Conuoy for his westerne treasure was so toilesome troublesome chargeable and dangerous vnto him that one million defraied but the charges of another and by that time it came to distribution there was a strange account cast vp of losses and defatigable expences Thus had our hopes still life and our spirits grew stronger and stronger with honorable expectation and noble implâ—…t And now it hath pleased his Maiestie to shut vp the brazen dores of contention and we haue reason to sound out his excellent Motto of Beati pacifici CHAP. XXVI An other excellencie of ENGLAND consisteth in the number riches endeuours and extraordinary worth of our Marchant IN the ouer-looking as it were the map of the worlds busines I must needes confesse that neuer Monarchy was established or inlarged but by the power of the sword yet alas when I consider the inconveniences impending the affrightings of people the demolition of Cities the deuastation of Countries the slaughters of Armies the rapes murthers and terrors of the world in the best conquests and victorie I cannot but lament the condition of man that doth extract his glory from tyrannie and curses from confusion and turmoyle from blood and death For thus doe wee boast of our auncestors and the very women doe esteeme no man noble or worthy that cannot relate the victories of his forefathers and dare
vpon the least susption or cause of reuenge as for their best fortified cities their temples wals store-houses and Emperors or Gouenors palace are structures to be looked vpon and onely worthy of commendation but the rest of the houses low vnfashionable builded most of turffe and canes which they buy from India and China and in winter full of smoke and stincke as in other remooueable cabbins or tents of the Tartars so that except the Emperour himselfe and his customes which are rather tyrannous then princely there is nothing amongst them worthy imitation of ruder people For such marchandies as passe reciprocally betweene them and the Chinesses or those of Iapan except Rheubarb which commonly commeth 〈◊〉 neerer way into Europe through the Caspian sea and so into Armenia are euer in hazard to be lost by the most powerfullest fraud either of the buyer or seller so that sometimes you shall haue 20000. marchants of Iapan China and the other Ilands stayd at a time in Quinzay Cambâ—…lu and Tangut whereupon the vnkindnesse bursts out into open hostility and to be reuenged of one another armies of 200000. and more of a side fill their fields with terror and death to which if you adde the aduantagious lying in wait on the wall raised vnder mount Taurus betweene them vpon sudden excursions of the inhabitants or breaches in the time of inuasion it will adde a feare and terror to your attention from the report of so many sauage slaughters and wilfull command of the Emperours for whose sake whole families will not care to die nay striue to shew their duty in this kinde yet there is one thing most commendable amongst them that except the warre is at it were publikely proclaimed betweene their Emperors the people of themselues liue peaceably from offending one another and dare not touch a stone on either side of the wall with a cunning purpose to weaken the same Amongst other things their strife about their Emperours titles is so ridiculous for Cham will be called Dominus Dominantium and he of China Filius Coeli as in my first book may appeare that the least derogation is breach of the peace and a small comparison casteth vp the dust of contention in both their eyes For although China be not so big as Tartary by two parts yet being better inhabited and adorned with Townes and Cities it presumeth for competition of glory and dare aduenture to maintaine their honorable bestialitie and idolatrous wretchednes both waies with force of armes To conclude if you come to gouernment loue dyet conuersation hansom apparell attendancie friendship honest meetings peaceable trafficke and all such things whereby the temporall blessings of God are manifested to men that looke no further nor enioy the happines to search for happines more deeply there is not any thing otherwise than the pride and state of their Emperor some herbes and drugs for physicke their northern race of horses and certaine skins furres which couer their houses and keepe their bodies warme worthy the looking after or indeed fit to come neere the borders of the kingdome of true felicitie CHAP. III. CHINA compared and her deficiency manifested BEfore I proceede any further in the description of these remote countries I must by way of Apologie excuse my pouertie in knowledge and breuity in bringing either par-'ticular or substantiall matter before the barre of examination For first I dare not meddle with ancient Authors because times haue altred all things and there is a kinde of vicissitude of gouernment and kingdomes attending the highest prouidence nor will I once read ouer moderne writers lest I be tempted to a cunning theft and can but shew you indeed the countenances of other men so that if the first were now to view their owne handy-works and either saw how warres or antiquitie had ouer-mantled those delicate strong and magnificent Cities and countries with deuastation misery and wretched affliction which they had so much commended and laboured by great arte and industry to delineate or decipher Or could consider how peace and ingenious endeuours had manured and made exuberant euen barren soiles vnfashionable grounds had clothed naked men with royall ornaments had inlarged poore Townes and Cities to stately and princely structures had taught despised people to march arme in arme with honorable renowne and glorious victories with infinite such like they would questionles stand amased to see now such a change and alteration or confounded to suppose themselues vnhappy for not liuing in this happines and these times of peace and plenty yea such peace and plenty as if they had learned an arte of gracefulnes and cunning of adornation like a curious and expert Ieweller who though a diamond be a diamond and stone of inestimable valew yet can by his skill adde a brauery and extraordinary lustre to the same As for the newer sort of Historiographers first for my selfe they shall haue no such aduantage ouer mee as to challenge mee for felony in stealing any wealth or riches from them or exprobrate me of ingratitude for being beholding vnto them and not acknowledging the same Next concerning themselues I wonder they are not ashamed to fill vp their leaues with the lines of falshood and maruell they are so litle acquainted with honest trauellers that may tell them the truth or at least instruct them in an arte of seeming probabilitie as for example in plaine honestie I wonder how Munster that learned man and famous Chronologer could be so deceiued or abused to talke of Pigmeies of men with long eares and one foote and such like I could name many others as Sir Iohn Mandeuill the description of India diuers pamphlets of voyages and peraduenture histories of acceptation in which not onely absurdities passe for current but vntruths and impossibilities carry the sway of licence and approbation Therefore as I said for my owne part I disclaime them all and either tye my selfe to my poore endeuours or aduenture on such passages of ciuill authoritie as come neere probabilitie and religion onely in this I will play the truant with others that as in vnknowne countries they fill vp the Map with gyants beasts monsters and some strange battailes and in writing of Chronicles they passe ouer the liues of their first Princes with only names and peraduenture suppositions because they would say some thing so in these or of these remote Nations I will onely tell you what I haue seen my self in some cursory trauels or learned of others with whom by an Interpreter I haue of purpose entertained communication As when I was in Turky I saw the Armie of the Tartars mustred by the fields of Scideret and had the priuiledge of a Ianizarie to protect me from wrong and be my interpreter for such things as my wit and memory incited me to make vse of At my L Embassadors againe I presumed on a conference with the Persian Embassador and as farre as my memory and vnderstanding was capable