before whom are brought all matters of the inferiour Townes throughout the whole Realme Diuers other Louteas haue the managing of Iustice and receiuing of Rents bound to yeeld an account thereof vnto the greater Officers Other doe see that there be no euill rule kept in the Citie each one as it behoueth him Generally all these doe imprison Malefactors cause them to be whipped and racked hoysing them vp and downe by the armes with a cord a thing very vsuall there and accounted no shame These Louteas doe vse great diligence in the apprehending of the Theeues so that it is a wonder to see a Thiefe escape away in any Towne Citie or Village Vpon the Sea neere vnto the shoare many are taken and looke euen as they are taken so be they first whipped and afterward laid in Prison where shortly after they all dye for hunger and cold At that time when we were in Prison there dyed of them aboue threescore and ten Their whips be certaine pieces of Canes cleft in the middle in such sort that they seeme rather plaine then sharpe He that is to bee whipped lyeth groueling on the ground Vpon his thighes the Hangman layeth on blowes mightily with these Canes that the standers by tremble at their crueltie Tenne stripes draw a great deale of bloud twentie or thirtie spoyle the flesh altogether fiftie or threescore will require long time to be healed and if they come to the number of one hundred then are they incurable The Louteas obserue moreouer this when any man is brought before them to bee examined they aske him openly in the hearing of as many as be present be the offence neuer so great Thus did they also behaue themselus with vs. For this cause amongst them can there be no false witnes as daily amongst vs it falleth out This good commeth thereof that many being alwayes about the Iudge to heare the Euidence and beare witnesse the Processe cannot be falsified as it hapneth sometimes with vs. The Moores Gentiles and Iewes haue all their sundry Oathes the Moores doe sweare by their Mossafos the Brachmans by their Fili the rest likewise by the things they doe worship The Chineans though they be wont to sweare by Heauen by the Moone by the Sunne and by all their Idols in judgement neuerthelesse they sweare not at all If for some offence an Oath be vsed of any one by and by with the least euidence hee is tormented so be the Witnesses he bringeth if they tell not the truth or doe in any point disagree except they bee men of worship and credit who are beleeued without any farther matter the rest are made to confesse the truth by force of Torments and Whips Besides this order obserued of them in Examinations they doe feare so much their King and he where he maketh his abode keepeth them so low that they dare not once stirre Againe these Louteas as great as they bee notwithstanding the multitude of Notaries they haue not trusting any others doe write all great Processes and matters of importance themselues Moreouer one vertue they haue worthy of great praise and that is being men so well regarded and accounted of as though they were Princes they bee patient aboue measure in giuing audience Wee poore strangers brought before them might say what we would as all to be Lyes and Falaces that they did write nor did we stand before them with the vsuall Ceremonies of that Countrey yet did they beare with vs so patiently that they caused vs to wonder knowing specially how little any Aduocate or Iudge is wont in our Countrey to beare with vs. For wheresoeuer in any Towne of Christendome should bee accused vnknowne men as we were I know not what end the very Innocents cause would haue but wee in a Heathen Countrey hauing our great Enemies two of the chiefest men in a whole Towne wanting an Interpreter ignorant of that Countrey Language did in the end see our great Aduersaries cast into Prison for our sake and depriued of their Offices and Honour for not doing Iustice yea not to escape death for as the rumour goeth they shall bee beheaded Somewhat is now to be said of the Lawes that I haue beene able to know in this Countrey and first no Theft or Murther is at any time pardoned Adulterers are put in Prison and the fact once proued condemned to dye the womans Husband must accuse them this order is kept with men and women found in that fault but Theeues and Murtherers are imprisoned as I haue said where they shortly dye for hunger and cold If any one haply escape by bribing the Iaylor to giue him meate his Processe goeth farther and commeth to the Court where hee is condemned to dye Sentence being giuen the Prisoner is brought in publike with a terrible band of men that lay him in Irons hand and foot with a board at his necke one handfull broad in length reaching downe to his knees cleft in two parts and with a hole one handfull downe-ward in the Table fit for his necke the which they enclose vp therein nayling the board fast together one handfull of the board standeth vp behind in the necke the sentence and cause wherefore the fellon was condemned to dye is written in that part of the Table that standeth before This Ceremonie ended he is laid in a great Prison in the company of some other condemned persons the which are found by the King as long as they doe liue The board aforesaid so made tormenteth the Prisoners very much keeping them both from the rest and eke letting them to eate commodiously their hands being manicled in Irons vnder that board so that in fine there is no remedie but death In the chiefe Cities of euery shire as we haue beforesaid there be foure principall Houses in each of them a Prisoner but in one of them where the Taissu maketh his abode there a greater and a more principall Prison then in any of the rest and although in euery Citie there be many neuerthelesse in three of them remayne onely such as bee condemned to dye Their death is much prolonged for that ordinarily there is no execution done but once a yeere though many dye for hunger and cold as we haue seene in this Prison Execution is done in this manner The Chian to wit the high Commissioner or Lord Chiefe Iustice at the yeares end goeth to the head Citie where hee heareth againe the causes of such as bee condemned Many times he deliuereth some of them declaring that board to haue beene wrongfully put about their neckes the visitation ended he chooseth out seuen or eight not many more or lesse of the greatest Malefactors the which to feare and keepe in awe the people are brought into a great Market place where all the great Louteas meete together and after many Ceremonies and Superstitions as the vse of the Countrey is are beheaded This is done once a yeare who
Chesmacoran are thirteene Kingdomes India minor is from Ziambi to Murfili in which are eight Kingdomes besides Ilands many The second or middle India is called Abascia The chiefe King is a Christian there are six other Kings three Christians and three Saracens subiect to him there are also Iewes Saint Thomas hauing preached in Nubia came to Abascia and there did the like and after to Malabar They are great Warriors alway in Armes against the Soldan of Adem and the people of Nubia I heard that An. 1288. the great Abissine would haue visited Ierusalem but being disswaded by reason of Saracen Kingdomes in the way he sent a Bishop of holy life to doe his deuotions who in his returne was taken by the Soldan of Adem and circumcised by force whereupon the Abissine raysed a power discomfited the Soldan with two other Mahumetan Kings tooke and spoyled Adem Abascia is rich in gold Escier is subiect to Adem fortie miles distant South-east where is store of white Frankincense very good which drops from small Trees by incision of the barke a rich merchandise c. Some in that Countrey for want of Corne make Bisket of Fish whereof they haue great plentie They also feede their beasts with fishes They take them in March April and May c. Hauing spoken of the Prouinces on the Coast I will now returne to some Prouinces more to the North where many Tartars dwell which haue a King called Caidu of the Race of Cingis Can but subiect to none These obserue the customes of their old Progenitors dwell not in Cities Castles or Fortresses but abide with their King in the Fields Playnes Valleyes and Forests and are esteemed true Tartars They haue no sort of Corne but liue of Flesh and Milke in great peace They haue store of Horses Kine Sheepe and other beasts There are found great white Beares twentie palmes long black Foxes very great wilde Asses and little beasts called Roudes which beare the Sable Furres and Vari arcolini and those which are called Pharaos rats which the Tartars are cunning to take The great Lakes which are frozen except in a few moneths of the yeere cause that the Summer is scarse to bee trauelled for myre And therefore the Merchants to buy their Furres for fourteene dayes iourney thorow the Desart haue set vp for each day a house of Wood where they abide and barter and in Winter they vse Sleds without wheeles and plaine in the bottome rising with a semi-circle at the top or end drawne easily on the Ice by beasts like great Dogs six yoked by couples the Sledman only with his Merchant and Furres sitting therein In the end of the Region of these Tartars is a Countrey reaching to the furthest North called Darknesse because the most part of the Winter moneths the Sunne appeares not and the Ayre is thicke and darkish as betimes in the morning with vs. The men there are pale and great haue no Prince and liue like beasts The Tartars oft rob them of their Cattell in those darke moneths and left they should lose their way they ride on Mares which haue Colts sucking which they leaue with a Guard at the entrance of that Countrey where the Light beginneth to faile and when they haue taken their prey giue reynes to the Mares which hasten to their Colts In their long continued day of Summer they take many the finest Furres one occasion of the Tartars going to rob them of which I haue heard some are brought into Russia Russia is a great Countrey in that Northerne Darknesse the people are Greeke Christians the Men and Women faire and pay Tribute to the King of the Tartars of the West on whom they border on the East There is store of Furres Waxe and Minerals of siluer It reacheth as I was told to the Ocean Sea in which are store of Gerfalcons and Falcons To the Reader IN this admirable Voyage of Polo I confesse Inopem me copia fecit the Translation which I had of Master Hakluyts from the corrupted Latine being lesse then nothing nimirum damno auctus fui did me no steed but losse whiles I would compare it with the Latine and thought to amend it by the Italian and was forced at last to reiect both Latine and English and after much vexation to present thee this as it is out of Ramusio I haue not giuen thee word for word as an exact Translator but the sense in all things substantiall with longer Relations then I haue admitted in others because many which haue read M. Paulus neuer saw M. Polo nor know the worth of the worthiest Voyage that perhaps any one man hath written a man credible in that which hee saw himselfe in some things receiued by Relation rather telling what he heard then that which I dare beleeue and specially toward the end of his third Booke which I haue therefore more abridged Pitie it is that time hath so gnawne and eaten some-where and some-where deuoured vtterly many his names and Tracts which new Lords and new Lawes the Saracenicall Conquests especially euer since his time in those parts haue caused And farre easier by the Cans greatnesse then and his employments vnder him might hee know the World in those times then in the combustions long since begunne and still continued in diuersified and quarrelling States is possible the Saracens quarrelling with Ethnikes Christians and other Saracens the Tartars diuided and sub-diuided into so many quarrelsome Serpentine heads whereby that hugenesse is broken in pieces the Chinois and others prohibiting ingresse of strangers egresse of their owne that I mention not Ethnike and Moorish Diuisions amongst themselues In the same time with Polo liued this following Armenian of whom Ramusio relateth and this Discourse intimateth that the Holy Land being quite lost Pope Clement the Fift minding to recouer it was giuen to vnderstand of helpes which might be gotten from the Tartars and withall of this Haiton or Antonie a Kinsman of the King of Armenia then liuing a Monke or Frier of the Order Premonstratensis in Episcopia in Cyprus who in his young time had beene exercised in the Warres betwixt the Tartars and Egyptian Soldans by whom he might receiue the best Intelligence of Tartarian Affaires He therefore as hee first remoued the Court from Rome to France where it abode seuentie yeares caused the said Hayton to be brought from Cyprus to France with all his Memorials and Writings of that subiect and being comne to Poitiers caused one Nicolo di Falcon a Frenchman to write in French which the other dictated in Armenian which was done Anno 1307. A Copie of this Storie written aboue two hundred yeares since came to Ramâ—sioes hand whereto I here that I say not you are beholden whence hee tooke that which concerned the Tartars omitting the rest or remitting rather his Reader to M. Polo Betwixt which two some difference may seeme but so little that Wisemen need no aduertisement thereof One
Ilands de los Reyes thence to make for the Philippinas After eight dayes the ship called Saint Luke was missing the Captayne whereof was Alfonsus de Arellano suspected to haue maliciously with-drawne himselfe The Fleet continuing their course in nine and ten degrees after fiftie dayes had sight of an Iland of Fishermen and many other small Ilands not inhabited which they passed by It was agreed that they should heighthen their course to thirteene degrees in which way they came on Monday the seuenteenth of Ianuary 1566. to one of the Ilands of Theeues called Goean and sayling toward it sixe miles off fiftie or sixtie Paraos swift sayling Barkes with eight or ten men quite naked met them and inuited them to their Habitations where at night they anchored The next morning sixe hundred of their Paraos came about them with victuals to sell Rice Honey Sugar-canes Plantans Fruits of diuers kinds and Ginger whereof there groweth great store naturally Their principall desire in barter was Iron Nailes giuing a large sacke of Rice for a Naile their sackes deceitfully filled with grauell and chaffe with Rice in the top These people are well proportioned and strong They fought with the Spaniards which were watering and in the time of fight would be trucking with the ships as senslesse of their danger A Mariner which stayd behind was slaine whose death they reuenged with many of the Sauages slaine in the night one of them being taken and sent into New Spaine Their name fits their Theeuish disposition Eleuen dayes after the fleet renewed their Voyage and course in thirteene degrees eleuen dayes longer and then had sight of the Philippinas hauing sailed from the Port of Natiuitie eight thousand miles They anchored in a faire Bay called Baia de Sibabas and there rode seuen dayes whiles two Boats went to discouer one to the North the other Southward A Gentleman of one of them was slaine by an Indian rashly leaping on shoare These Indians haue Iron Launces with a head or tongue a handfull and halfe long They haue also shields Bowes and Arrowes In making peace each man takes two or three drops of bloud of his arme or brest and mixe both in some Vessell together which is drunke with Wine and Water Many Paraos came to the Spaniards with a white flag in the Prow in token of peace and the Admiral erected the like in her Poope to signifie their leaue to enter These Indians are clothed but barefoot The Spaniards demanded prouision which the other promised but gaue only to the Captayne a sucking Pigge and an Egge These people are very timorous perfidious and therefore suspicious The Ilands beare Hogges Goats Hennes Rice Millet Potatoes Pome-citrons Frisoles Cocos Plantans and many sorts of Fruits They weare Bracelets and Earings and Gold Chaines and whithersoeuer the Fleet went was shew of Gold in the Land whereof they digge but for necessary vses the Land is their Money bagge The Fleet departed hence and two dayes after came to the Port of the I le Tandoia where a small Riuer enters vp which they went in Boats and came to a Towne called Camungo There they were well entertayned and had victualls set them which whiles they were eating an Indian spake some Spanish words and asked for Antonie Baptista Villalobos and Captaine Cabeça de Vaca for which the Lord of the place was angrie with him and hee appeared no more The next day the Spaniards returning found them armed threatning them if they came on shoare They minding not to deale cruelly Martin de Goyte was sent to discouer some conuenient harbour who saw the Citie Tandaya and other Townes of other neere Ilands and hauing gone sixtie miles found the great Bay where was Cabalia a Towne well inhabited Thither went the Fleet and the Inhabitants fled Onely Camatuan the sonne of Malataque a blind man chiefe of that place came to them whom they detayned thinking thereby to get some prouision but in vaine He sent forth Souldiers which brought him fiue and fortie Hogs leauing in lieu somwhat for exchange and dismissing Camatuan who had taught the Captaine the names of the neighbouring Iles and of their Gouernours Hee brought them to Mesagua two and thirtie miles off and then was sent away apparelled and ioyfull The Iland Masagua hath beene frequent but then had but twentie Inhabitants which would not see the Spaniards They went to another Iland where the people were fled with their goods Then went they to Butuan which is subiect to the I le Vindena or the Ilands Corrientes The winde draue them to Bohol where they anchored The next day they saw a Iunke and sent a Boat to it which wounded some of their men They had Arrowes and Lances and a Base and two brasse Peeces They cryed to the Spaniards abordo abordo The Spaniards sent out another Boat better fitted which tooke eight the rest were slaine or fled hauing fought valiantly In the Iunke they found white sheets painted Silke Almayzarez Callicos Iron Tin Brasse and some Gold The Iunke was of Borneo and so were these Moores All was restored their intent being to get friends and the Burneois satisfied The Captaine sent the Saint Iohn to discouer the Coast of Butuan and learne where the Cinamon was gathered and to find some good Port in fit place to build The Burneois told the Captaine the cause of the Indians flight that about two yeeres before some Portugals bearing themselues for Spaniards had comne thither from the Molucas and hauing made peace with them set on them and slue aboue a thousand Indians the cause of that depopulation This the Portugals did to make the Spaniards odious that if they came thither they might not be admitted The Captaine sent a well furnished ship to search the Coast which came to a place where the Borneo Gouernour said he had friends and leaping on shoare hee was slaine of the Indians The Saint Iohn returned from Buthuan which said they had seene the King and two Iunkes of Moores in the Riuer at anker and that the Iland was great and rich and exchanged with them fine Gold for Testons one for six in equall weight They bought Wax of the Moores but had Earth inclosed in the Cakes they also incensed the Indians against the Castilians which would haue made purchase of them but were forbidden by the King They said they had there seene Wax Cinamon Gold and other precious things On Easter Euen the other ship returned to their great ioy which had thought her lost hauing staid twentie dayes longer then her limited time They had sailed about the Iland Igla the space of six hundred miles and in their returne came to Subo a well peopled Iland and plentifull of all things The Captaine determined to goe thither to buy prouision or else to force them For Magelane had beene there and the King and most of the Inhabitants were baptised
the partie whom hee meaneth to implead Who vpon the arrest is to put in Sureties to answere the day appointed or else standeth at the Sergeants deuotion to be kept safe by such meanes as he thinketh good The Sergeants are many and excell for their hard and cruell dealing towards their prisoners commonly they clap Irons vpon them as many as they can beare to wring out of them some larger fees Though it be but for sixe pence you shall see them goe with Chaines on their legs armes and necke When they come before the Iudge the Plaintiffe beginneth to declare his matter after the contents of his Supplication As for Attorneys Counsellors Procurators and Aduocates to plead their Cause for them they haue no such order but euery man is to tell his owne tale and plead for himselfe as well as he can If they haue any witnesse or other euidence they produce it before the Iudge If they haue none or if the trueth of the Cause cannot so well bee discerned by the plea or euidence on both partâ— then the Iudge asketh either partie which hee thinketh good Plaintiffe or Defendant whether hee will kisse the Crosse vpon that which hee auoncheth or denyeth Hee that taketh the Crosse being so offered by the Iudge is accounted cleare and carrieth away the matter This Ceremonie is not done within the Court or Office but the partie is carried to the Church by an Officer and there the Ceremonie is done the money in the meane while hanging vpon a naile or else lying at the Idols feet ready to be deliuered to the partie as soone as he hath kissed the Crosse before the said Idoll This kissing of the Crosse called Creustina chelouania is as their corporall Oath and accounted with them a very holy thing which no man will dare to violate or prophane with a false allegation If both parties offer to kisse the Crosse in a contradictorie matter then they draw Lots The better Lot is supposed to haue the right and beareth away the matter So the partie conuicted is adiudged to pay the debt or penaltie whatsoeuer and withall to pay the Emperours fees which is twentie pence vpon euery Marke as before hath beene noted When the matter is thus ended the partie conuicted is deliuered to the Sergeant who hath a Writ for his warrant out of the Office to carrie him to the Praneush or Righter of Iustice if presently he pay not the money or content not the partie This Praneush or Righter is a place neere to the Office where such as haue sentence passed against them and refuse to pay that which is adiudged are beaten with great cudgels on the shinnes and calues of their legs Euery fore-noone from eight to eleuen they are set on the Praneush and beate in this sort till the money bee payd The after-noone and night time they are kept in chaines by the Sergeant except they put in sufficient Sureties for their appearance at the Praneush at the houre appointed You shall see fortie or fiftie stand together on the Praneush all on a rew and their shinnes thus becudgelled and bebasted euery morning with a piteous crye If after a yeeres standing on the Praneush the partie will not or lacke wherewithall to satisfie his creditor it is lawfull for him to sell his wife and children either outright or for a certaine terme of yeeres And if the price of them doe not amount to the full payment the Creditor may take them to be his bond-slaues for yeeres or for euer according as the value of the debt requireth Such kind of Suits as lacke direct euidence or stand vpon coniectures and circumstances to be weighed by the Iudge draw of great length and yeeld great aduantage to the Iudge and Officers If the Suit be vpon a Bond or Bill they haue for the most part good and speedy iustice Their Bonds or Bills are drawne in a very plaine sort after this tenour I Iuan Vasileo haue borrowed of Alphonasse Dementio the summe of one hundred Rubbels of going money of Mosko from the Kreshenea or hallowing of the water vntill the Saburney Voscreshenea or Counsell Sunday without interest And if this money rest vnpayed after that day then hee shall giue interest vpon the said money after the common rate as it goeth among the people vz. for euery fiue the sixt Rubbell Vpon this there are Witnesses Micheta Sydroueskoy c. Subscribed This Bill haue I written Gabriel Iacouelesni in the yeere 7096. The Witnesses and Debter if hee can write endorse their names on the backeside of the Bill Other signing or sealing haue they none When any is taken for a matter of Crime as Treason Murder Theft and such like he is first brought to the Duke and Diack that are for the Prouince where the partie is attached by whom hee is examined The manner of examination in such cases is all by torture as scourging with whips made of sinowes or whitleather called the Pudkey as big as a mans finger which giueth a sore lash and entreth into the flesh or by tying to a Spit and rosting at the fire sometimes by Breaking and wresting one of their ribs with a paire of hot Tongs or cutting their flesh vnder the nayles and such like The examination thus taken with all the proofes and euidences that can bee alleaged against the partie it is sent vp to the Mosko to the Lord of the Chetfird or Fourth part vnder whom the Prouince is and by him is presented to the Counsell-table to be read and sentenced there where onely Iudgement is giuen in matter of life and death and that by euidence vpon information though they neuer saw nor heard the partie who is kept still in prison where the fact was committed and neuer sent vp to the place where hee is tryed If they finde the partie guilty they giue Sentence of death according to the qualitie of the fact which is sent downe by the Lord of the Chetfird to the Duke and Diack to bee put in execution The Prisoner is carried to the place of execution with his hands bound and a Waxe candle burning held betwixt his fingers Their Capitall punishments are hanging heading knocking on the head drowning putting vnder the Ice setting on a stake and such like But for the most part the Prisoners that are condemned in Summer are kept for the Winter to be knockt in the head and put vnder the Ice This is to bee vnderstood of common persons For theft and murder If they bee committed vpon a poore Mousick by one of Nobilitie are not lightly punished nor yet is hee called to any account for it Their reason is because they are accounted their Kolophey or Bond-slaues If by some Sinaboiarskey or Gentleman Souldier a murder or theft bee committed peraduenture hee shall bee imprisoned at the Emperours pleasure If the manner of the fact be very notorious hee is whipped perchance and this is commonly all
Archbishop of Larissa who is now in England and pretendeth the same cause of their banishment by the Turke to wit their not admitting of the Popes new Kalender for the alteration of the yeere Which how vnlikely it is may appeare by these Circumstances First because there is no such affection nor friendly respect betwixt the Pope and the Turke as that hee should banish a Subject for not obeying the Popes ordinance specially in a matter of some sequel for the alteration of Times within his owne Countries Secondly for that hee maketh no such scruple in deducting of times and keeping of a just and precise account from the Incarnation of Christ whom hee doth not acknowledge otherwise then I noted before Thirdly for that the sayd Patriarch is now at Naples in Italy where it may be ghessed he would not haue gone within the Popes reach and so neere to his nose if hee had beene banished for opposing himselfe against the Popes Decree This office of Patriarchship now translated to Mosko beareth a superiour Authoritie ouer all the Churches not onely of Russia and other the Emperours Dominions but thorow out all the Churches of Christendome that were before vnder the Patriarch of Constantinople or Sio or at least the Russe Patriarch imagineth himselfe to haue the same authoritie Hee hath vnder him as his proper Diocesse the Prouince of Mosko besides other peculiars His Court or Office is kept at the Mosko Before the creation of this new Patriarch they had but one Metropolite that was called the Metropolite of Mosko Now for more state to their Church and new Patriarch they haue two Metropolites the one of Nouogrod velica the other of Rostoue Their office is to receiue of the Patriarch such Ecclesiasticall orders as hee thinketh good and to deliuer the charge of them ouer to the Archbishops besides the ordering of their owne Diocesse Their Archbishops are foure of Smolenso Cazon Vobsko and Vologda The parts of their office is all one with the Metropolites saue that they haue an vnder Iurisdiction as Suffraganes to the Metropolites Superiors to the Bishops The next are the Vladikeis or Bishops that are but sixe in all of Crutitska of Rezan of Otfer and Torshock of Collomenska of Volodemer of Susdalla These haue euery one a very large Diocesse as diuiding the rest of the whole Countrey among them The matters pertayning to the Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction of the Metropolites Archbishops and Bishops are the same in a manner that are vsed by the Clergie in other parts of Christendome For besides their authoritie ouer the Clergie and ordering such matters as are meere Ecclesiasticall their jurisdiction extendeth to all Testamentarie causes matters of Marriage and Diuorcements some Pleas of iniuries c. To which purpose also they haue their Officials or Commissaries which they call Boiaren Vladitskey that are Lay-men of the degree of Dukes or Gentlemen that keepe their Courts and execute their Iurisdiction Which besides their other oppressions ouer the common people raigne ouer the Priests as the Dukes and Dyacks doe ouer the poore people within their Precincts As for the Archbishop or Bishop himselfe hee beareth no sway in deciding those causes that are brought into his Court. But if hee would moderate any matter he must doe it by intreatie with his Gentleman Officiall The reason is because these Boiarskey or Gentlemen officials are not appointed by the Bishops but by the Emperour himselfe or his Councell and are to giue account of their doings to none but to them If the Bishop can intreat at his admission to haue the choice of his owne Officiall it is accounted for a speciall great fauour But to speake it as it is the Clergie of Russia aswell concerning their Lands and reuenues as their Authoritie and Iurisdiction are altogether ordered and ouer-ruled by the Emperour and his Councell and haue so much and no more of both as their pleasure doth permit them They haue also there Assistants or seuerall Counsels as they call them of certayne Priests that are of that Diocesse residing within their Cathedrall Cities to the number of foure and twentie a piece These aduise with them about the speciall and necessarie matters belonging to their charge Concerning their Rents and Reuenues to maintayne their dignities it is somewhat large The Patriarchs yeerely rents out of his Lands besides other fees is about 3000. Rubbels or Marcks The Metropolites and Archbishops about 2500. The Bishops some 1000. some 800. some 500. c. They haue had some of them as I haue heard say ten or twelue thousand Rubbels a yeere as had the Metropolite of Neuogrod Their Habit or Apparell when they shew themselues in their Pontificalibus after their solemness manner is a Mitre on their heads after the Popish fashion set with Pearle and Precious Stone a Coape on their backes commonly of Cloth of Gold embroydered with Pearle and a Crosiers Staffe in their hands layed ouer all with Plate of Siluer double gilt with a Crosse or Sheepherds Crooke at the vpper end of it Their ordinary habit otherwise when they ride or goe abroad is a Hood on their heads of blacke colour that hangeth downe their backes and standeth out like a Bon-grace before Their vpper Garment which they call Reis is a Gowne or Mantell of blacke Damaske with many Lists or Gards of white Sattin layed vpon it euery Gard about two fingers broad and their Crosiers staffe carried before them Themselues follow after blessing the people with their two fore-fingers with a maruellous grace The Election and appointing of the Bishops and the rest pertayneth wholy to the Emperour himselfe They are chosen euer out of the Monasteries so that there is no Bishop Archbishop nor Metropolite but hath beene a Monke or Frier before And by that reason they are and must all bee vnmarried men for their Vow of Chastitie when they were first shorne When the Emperour hath appointed whom he thinketh good hee is inuested in the Cathedrall Church of his Diocesse with many Ceremonies much after the manner of the Popish Inauguration They haue also their Deanes and their Arch-deacons As for preaching the Word of God or any teaching or exhorting such as are vnder them they neither vse it nor haue any skill of it the whole Clergie being vtterly vnlearned both for other knowledge and in the Word of God Onely their manner is twice euery yeere viz. the first of September which is the first day of their yeere and on Saint Iohn Baptists day to make an ordinary speech to the people euery Metropolite Arch-bishop and Bishop in his Catherall Church to this or like effect That if any bee in malice towards his Neighbour hee shall leaue off his malice if any haue thought of Treason or Rebellion against his Prince hee beware of such practice if hee haue not kept his Fasts and Vowes nor done his other Duties to the Holy Church hee shall
vnlawfull for all the Clergie men except the Priests onely and for them also after the first Wife as was sayd before Neither doe they well allow of it in Lay-men after the second marriage Which is a pretence now vsed against the Emperours onely Brother a childe of sixe yeeres old who therefore is not Prayed for in their Churches as their manner is otherwise for the Princes bloud because hee was borne of the sixt marriage and so not legitimate This charge was giuen to the Priests by the Emperour himselfe by procurement of the Godones who make him beleeue that it is a good policie to turne away the liking of the people from the next successour Many other false opinions they haue in matter of Religion But these are the chiefe which they hold partly by meanes of their traditions which they haue receiued from the Greeke Church but specially by ignorance of the holy Scriptures Which notwithstanding they haue in the Polonian tongue that is all one with theirs some few words excepted yet few of them reade them with that godly care which they ought to doe neither haue they if they would Bookes sufficient of the old and new Testament for the common people but of their Lyturgie onely or Booke of common seruice whereof there are great numbers Which notwithstanding it is not to bee doubted but that hauing the Word of God in some sort though without the ordinarie meanes to attaine to a true sense and vnderstanding of it God hath also his number among them As may partly appeare by that which a Russe at Mosko sayd in secret to one of my Seruants speaking against their Images and other superstitions That God had giuen vnto England light to day and might giue it to morrow if hee pleased to them As for any Inquisition or proceeding against men for matter of Religion I could heare of none saue a few yeeres since against one man and his wife who were kept in a close Prison the space of eight and twentie yeeres till they were ouer-growne into a deformed fashion for their hayre nayles colour of countenance and such like and in the end were burned at Mosko in a small House set on fire The cause was kept secret but like it was for some part of truth in matter of Religion though the people were made to beleeue by the Priests and Friers that they held some great and damnable Heresie THe manner of making and solemnizing their Marriages is different from the manner of other Countries The man though hee neuer saw the woman before is not permitted to haue any sight of her all the time of his wooing which hee doth not by himselfe but by his Mother or some other ancient woman of his kinne or acquaintance When the liking is taken as well by the Parents as by the parties themselues for without the knowledge and consent of the Parents the contract is not lawfull the Fathers on both sides or such as are to them in stead of Fathers with their other chiefe friends haue a meeting and conference about the dowrie which is commonly very large after the abilitie of the parents so that you shall haue a Market man as they call them giue a thousand Rubbels or more with his Daughter As for the man it is neuer required of him nor standeth with their custome to make any joynter in recompence of the dowrie But in case hee haue a Child by his Wife shee enioyeth a third deale after his decease If he haue two Children by her or more she is to haue a courtesie more at the discretion of the husband If the husband depart without issue by his wife shee is returned home to her friends without any thing at all saue onely her dowrie if the husband leaue so much behind him in goods When the agreement is made concerning the dowrie they signe Bonds one to the other as well for the payment of the dowrie as the performing of the Marriage by a certayne day If the woman were neuer married before her Father and friends are bound besides to assure her a Maiden Which breedeth many brabbles and quarrels at Law if the man take any conceit concerning the behauiour and honestie of his wife Thus the contract being made the parties begin to send tokens the one to the other the Woman first then afterwards the Man but yet see not one another till the Marriage bee solemnized On the Eue before the marriage day the Bride is carryed in a Collimago or Coach or in a Sled if it bee winter to the Bridegroomes house with her marriage Apparell and Bed-stead with her which they are to lye in For this is euer prouided by the Bride and is commonly verie faire with much cost bestowed vpon it Heere she is accompanied all that night by her Mother and other women but not welcommed nor once seene by the Bridegroome himselfe When the time is come to haue the marriage solemnized the Bride hath put vpon her a kinde of Hood made of fine Knit-worke or Lawne that couereth her head and all her body downe to the middle And so accompanied with her friends and the Bridegroome with his they goe to Church all on Horsebacke though the Church be neare hand and themselues but of very meane degree The words of contract and other ceremonies in solemnizing the Marriage are much after the order and with the same words that are vsed with vs with a Ring also giuen to the Bride Which being put on and the words of contract pronounced the Brides hand is deliuered into the hand of the Bridegroome which standeth all this while on the one side of the Altar or Table and the Bride on the other So the marriage knot being knit by the Priest the Bride commeth to the Bridegroome standing at the end of the altar or table and falleth downe at his feet knocking her Head vpon his Shooe in token of her subjection and obedience And the Bridegroome againe casteth the lappe of his Gowne or vpper garment ouer the Bride in token of his dutie to protect and cherish her Then the Bridegroome and Bride standing both together at the Tables end commeth first the Father and the other friends of the Bride and how themselues downe low to the Bridegroome and so likewise his friends bow themselues to the Bride in token of affinitie and loue euer after betwixt the two kindreds And withall the Father of the Bridegroome offereth to the Priest a loafe of Bread who deliuereth it straight againe to the Father and other friends of the Bride with attestation before God and their Idols that hee deliuer the dowrie wholly and truely at the day appointed and hold loue euer after one kindred with another Whereupon they breake the Loafe into pieces and eate of it to testifie their true and sincere meanings for performing of that charge and thenceforth to become as graines of one Loafe or men of one Table These ceremonies
rumours and reports hee had beene their Captayne to doe that which God the disposer of Kingdomes by the successe had approoued so that now they were freed from a cruel Tyrant nor had they any Sorcerer or Impostor to mock them that it remayned now seeing the Imperiall Family was extinct they should now seeke one of noblest bloud of wisest experience of most religious zeale who might esteeme his peoples hearts his strongest Forts such an one as either is or is thought to bee the best man to become their Prince Thus was himselfe chosen Emperour the thirteenth of the Kalends of Iune A writing was published to justifie the killing of Demetrius a runnagate Fryer called Grishkae or Gregorie Strepy professed in the Monasterie in the Castle which therefore hee would neuer enter lest hee should bee knowne with other aspersions of Heresie Sorcerie affectation of inducing Popery the Popes Letters also challenging his promise produced to giue the Iesuites Temples Colledges and other necessaries with other ouer-tures to the Palatine Sandâ—mersko for Smolensko and Nouogrod his bringing in Poles in Russian Roomes his luxurie riot pompe reseruing Boris his Daughter in a Nunnerie with intent of incestuous lust hauing murthered her Mother and Brother making a siluer Throne with sixe Lions on each side and other pride abusing Nunneries to lust and lasciuiousnesse c. But wee shall giue you hereof more authenticke testimonie then this of Thuanus in Suiskeys Imperiall Letter to His Majestie Meane-while touching this Demetrius we will produce a few English Testimonies extracted out of their Letters and Relations wherein if some circumstantiall discrepance appeare in things done both so farre and so foule in tumultuous furie where men had rather hide themselues then become witnesses lest whiles they would bee Spectators they should bee forced to bee Actors and haue their parts acted in that bloudie Tragedy it is no maruell I produce all Witnesses I can in a cause of so remarkeable consequence and choose rather to bee prolixe then negligent that the Reader out of so much euidence may better weigh and examine the truth THe late Emperour of Russia called by the name of Demetry Euanowich is now credibly said as some of them say to haue beene the Sonne of a Russe Gentleman named Gregorie Peupoloy and that in his younger yeeres he was shorne a Frier into a Monasterie from whence hee afterwards priuily got away trauelled into Germanie and other Countreyes but had his most abiding in Poland in which time he attayned to good perfection in Armes and Military knowledge with other abilities of sufficiencie Afterwards finding a conceit taken by the Russes of a secret conueying away of Demetry Euanowich brother and heire to Pheodore Euanowich Emperour and that some other should be made away in his steed And finding also the generall distaste of the gouernment of Boris then Emperour who after a faire beginning did in his latter yeeres vphold himselfe and his house with oppression and crueltie And hauing also many circumstances and oportunities of time and age and such other likelihoods to aduantage and second his pretence began first to broach his Title as before and by degrees found such a generall acceptation of all sorts of people that it so daunted Boris that as it was then rumoured about hee first and afterwards his Wife and his Sonne succeeding him made themselues away by Poyson Though now it goeth for certayne that the poysoning of them was procured by the Pretender to make the easier way to the Empire which thereby he obtayned entring and continuing the same with all the State and greatnesse that such a place required Vntill at length the Russes moued rather by other certainties then by any thing discouered by himselfe the sixt day after his marriage which was kept with very great pompe and solemnitie being the seuenteenth of May last past taking a time when the Poles stood least on Guard came to the Court with one consent of Nobilitie and Commons about three of the clocke in the morning and mastring the Guards drew the Emperour out of his bed from the Empresse and charging him that hee was not the true Demetry Euanowich but a false Pretender he confessed the Deceit and was forthwith hewed in pieces by the multitude Peter Basman resisting was likewise slaine and both brought into the Market place where their bodies lay for a time to bee viewed of euery man The old Queene denied him to bee her Sonne excusing her former acknowledgement to haue proceeded from feare and the generall acceptance which he found amongst the people As many Poles as made resistance were slaine to the number of seuenteene hundred The new Empresse her Father his brother with the other Poles were committed to safe keeping to the number of eight or nine thousand And then proceeding to a new Election they chose Emperour Vassiloe Euanowich Shoskey who not long before was at the Blocke to haue beene beheaded for reporting that hee had seene the true Demetry Euanowich after he was dead and did helpe to burie him But the Emperour did recall him and afterwards aduanced him to the chiefest place of dignitie about his person He is the next of bloud liuing descended of the Race of the old Emperour Iuan Vasilowich of the age of fiftie yeeres or thereabouts neuer married but kept vnder during Boris time a Prince of great wisdome and a great fauourer of our Nation as did specially appeare by the care hee had to guard the English House from rifling when the late Demetry was brought in by the Poles The late Pretender was oâ— stature low but well set hard fauoured and of no presence howsoeuer otherwise of a Princely disposition executing Iustice without partialitie And not remitting the insolencie euen of the Poles well seene in martiall practises and trayning his Nobilitie to the Discipline of warre to make them the readier against the Tartar not giuen either to women or drinke but very liberall and bountifull which occasioned some grieuous Exactions to maintayne the same And to conclude a man in the opinion of such as knew him not vnworthy of a better gotten and longer continued Empire which hee lost chiefly through the greatnesse of his minde supposing that none of his Subjects durst attempt any such matter against his person when as in the meane time the practice went on with such a generall Conjuration that the Russes were summoned by the ringing of a Bell to bee readie to enter the Court. And to shake off that Gouernment which would haue made them a more noble Nation then formerly they haue beene IT is reported by some of Ours that hee the rather was inclinable to our Nation in the respect he bare to his Majestie hauing read that his worthy Worke dedicated to Prince Henrie Hee is said also to haue beene a resolute man of his hands to haue delighted in fighting with the Beare actiue and strong I haue likewise heard that
nor stand for him as one himselfe nor any other Prince for him shall not practise or seeke any thing against the King of Sweden Those Lands and Castles which belongeth to the Kingdome of Sweden of old or those which now the Emperours Maiesty hath yeelded to the Kings Maiesty by this conclusion of peace he shall not seeke to get them vnder him or haue possession of them In like manner the Kings Maiesty of Sweden shall not stand against the Emperours Maiesty c. to assist the King of Poland and Lettow and all the Dominions of Poland and Lettow neyther with men nor treasure and not to be with him as one Neyther shall the Kings Maiesty by himselfe or other Princes and Gouernours seeke any practise against the Emperours Maiestie and his Lands and Castles which belong to the Emperour of Russia hee shall by no meanes seeke to get vnder him or possesse the same It is also agreed and concluded betweene vs that those Ambassadours which the Emperours Maiesty shall send to the Kings Maiesty and the Kings Maiesty to the Emperours Maiesty for the confirmation of this conclusion of peace shall haue full authority to conferre betweene the Emperours Maiesty and the Kings Maiesty of Swethland for a vnion and ioynt assistance against Sigismond King of Poland and the Crowne of Poland and the great Dukedome of Lettow in such manner as shall be thought fit and requisite by both the Princes 33. And for more certaine and firme assurance that all this here hath bin concluded and agreed on betweene vs the above said Emperours Maiestie and Kings Maiesties great ample and powerfull Ambassadours by the mediation and intercession of the great Lord King Iames his Maiesties great Ambassadour in his presence this conclusion is made established and finished and shall by our great Lord and great Duke M.F. of all Russia Sam. and by his successours and hereafter being great Lords Emperours and great Dukes be kept faithfully firmely and vnmoueable and shall be followed in all points and finished without all falshood or deceipt and our great Lords Emperours and great Dukes c. by his commandment wee his great Commissioners Ocholuech and Namestincke of Susdall Knese Dannyll Euanowich Mezetskey I the Emperours Maiesties Dwarenni and Namestincke of Shatskey Olexsey Euanowich Zuzen I the Emperours Maiesties Duke Michcola Meketesin Nouokseno I the Emperours Maiesties Duke Dobrenia Semenou haue confirmed this conclusion of peace with the kissing of the Crosse and thereunto set our hands and Seales also the Kings Maiesties of great Brittaines great Ambassadour Sir Iohn Merricke Knight Gentleman of his Maiesties priuie Chamber for the more witnessing of the same that this is also concluded here betweene vs hath firmed with his owne hand and Seale both these obligations and a confirmation which wee the Emperours Maiesties ample Ambassadours haue giuen to the Kings Maiesties great Commissioners and against that we haue taken the like writing of confirmation from the Kings Maiesties great Ambassadours Written at Stalbo in the yeare from the creation of the World 7125. the seuen and twentieth day of February HAuing here presented the fruits of his Maiesties mediation betwixt the Muscouite and Sweden I thought good also to adde this other testimonie of Bâ—ati Pacifici in the peaceable fruits of his endeuours betwixt the said King of Sweden and the King of Denmarke after bloudy warres betwixt them in which the English voluntaries were so great a part of whom if I mistake not foure thousand serued the Daâ—e vnder the command of the right honorable the Lord Willoughby The Articles of agreement betwixt them are these six concluded January 16. 1613. translated out of the Dutch Copie Printed at Copenhagen first and after at Hamburge 1. That the King of Sweden shall haue againe the Citie of Calmar with all that belongeth vnto it excepting Artillery which shall be restored to the King of Denmarke or to be sold for his profit 2. That the King of Denmarke shall haue Elsborch and Orland with all the forces and strength of Arensborch in pawne for the space of twelue yeares ensuing for the sum of fifteene Tâ—n of Gold the which sum of money the King of Sweden shall pay vnto the King of Denmark within the foresaid twelue yeares at certaine times in consideration of his charges during the said warres 3. That the Nauigation and passages by Seas and Land to Norway shall be vsed free without any hinderance of those of Sweden 4. That Lapland shall be free without giuing of any contribution 5. That the King of Denmarke shall haue Grone-land free without paying of any contribution vnto the King of Sweden 6. That the King of Denmarke shall beare the three Crownes without any gaine-saying or contradiction of the King of Sweden which was the first and principall cause of these aforesaid bloudy and vnneighbourly warres and continuall irruptions Both Kings subscribing hereto CHAP. XI A relation of two Russe Cossacks trauailes out of Siberia to Catay and other Countries adioyning thereunto Also a Copie of the last Patent from the Muscouite A Copie of a Letter written to the Emperour from his Gouernours out of Siberia TO our Lord Emperour and great Duke Michaile Fedrâ—wich of all Russia your Maiesties Vassals Euan Kâ—â—rakiâ— and Euan Kâ—bâ—â—litiâ— doe knocke their heads c. Lord this present 7127. yeere or 1619 we writ vnto your Maiestie by a Cozack of Tobolsko Clement Oboshkin that there were come to Tobolsko Ambassadours out of the Dominions of Catay and from the King of Altine with the people of Tobolsko Euashâ—â— Petlin and Andrashko Madiegene And with them together doe go to you great Lord Ambassadours out of the Dominions of Labin and the Altine Char from Skiâ—gia with presents the which we dispatcht to your Maiestie with Burnash Nikâ—â—â—â—e the sixt of Iuly and before them wee dispatcht to your Maiestie Euashkâ— Pettlin and Patoy Kizall by whom we sent vnto your Maiestie a Letter from Tambur King of Cathay and a Copie of the King Altines Letter translated with a Card and description of the places which way Euashkâ— Petlin Andrushko Madigene passed from the Castle of Tomao into the Dominions of Catay as also in what other Dominions they were The Letter it selfe which came from Altine Char Labatharshan doth carrie to your Maiestie but as for the Letter out of Catay there is none in Tobolsko to translate it The Copie of the Altine Chars or golden Kings Letter to the Emperour of Russia TO the Lord Emperour and great Duke The golden King receiued your Letter In former times Lord it came to my hearing that your Princely good Ambassadours did seeke a way or passage to come to me since which time it is now thirteene yeeres but then the people of 〈◊〉 Tubâ—ntâ— Maâ—tà ra black Kolmaks did not suffer your Princely good Ambassadors to come to me but did rob and spoile them Now since ten of your Maiesties people are come to me
vnto them that I would not offer any violence vnto them for so doing And indeede they had drawn in writing the causes of their bearing vp of the helme and thereunto set their hands and would haue left them in my Cabin but by good chance I vnderstood their pretence and preuented them for that time The twentieth day I called the chiefest of my Company into my Cabin before Master Iohn Cartwright our Preacher and our Master William Cobreth to heare what reasons they could alleadge for the bearing vp of the Helme which might he an ouerthrow to the Voyage seeing the Merchants had bin at so great a charge with it After much conference they deliuered mee their reasons in writing Concluding that although it were granted that we might winter betweene 60. and 70. degrees of latitude with safetie of our liues and Vessels yet it will be May next before wee can dismore them to lanch out into the Sea And therefore if the Merchants should haue purpose to proceede on the discouerie of these North-west parts of America the next yeare you may be in the aforesaid latitudes for England by the first of May and so be furnished better with men and victuals to passe and proceede in the aforesaid action Seeing then that you cannot assure vs of a safe harbour to the Northward wee purpose to beare vp the Helme for England yet with this limitation that if in your wisedome you shall thinke good to make any discouery either in 60. or 57. degrees with this faire Northerly winde we yeelde our liues with your selfe to encounter any danger Thus much we thought needefull to signifie as a matter builded vpon reason and not proceeding vpon feare or cowardise Then wee being in the latitude of 68. degrees and 53. minutes the next following about eleuen of the clocke they bare vp the Helme being all so bent that there was no meanes to perswade them to the contrary At last vnderstanding of it I came forth of my Cabin and demanded of them who bare vp the Helme They answered me One and All. So they hoysed vp all the sayle they could and directed their course South and by West The two and twentieth I sent for the chiefest of those which were the cause of the bearing vp of the Helme and punished them seuerely that this punishment might be a warning to them afterward for falling into the like mutinie In the end vpon the intreatie of Master Cartwright our Preacher and the Master William Cobreaths vpon their submission I remitted some part of their punishment At twelue of the clocke at noone wee came hard by a great Iland of Ice the Sea being very smooth and almost calme wee hoysed out the Boates of both our Shippes being in want of fresh water and went to this Iland to get some Ice to make vs fresh water And as wee were breaking off some of this Ice which was verie painefull for vs to doe for it was almost as hard as a Rocke the great Iland of Ice gaue a mightie cracke two or three times as though it had bin a thunder-clappe and presently the Iland began to ouerthrow which was like to haue sunke both our Boates if wee had not made good haste from it But thankes be to God we escaped this danger very happily and came aboord with both our Boates the one halfe laden with Ice There was great store of Sea Foule vpon this Iland of Ice The fiue and twentieth and six and twentieth the winde being at East did blow a hard gale and our course was West and by South with fogge This day in the afternoone I did reckon my selfe to be in the entering of an Inlet which standeth in the latitude of 61. degrees and 40. minutes The seuen and twentieth the winde was at South South-east and blew very hard our course was West The eight and twentieth and nine and twentieth our course was West and by South the winde blowing very hard at East South-east with fogge and raine The thirtieth the winde came vp in a showre by the West North-west blowing so hard that wee were forced to put a fore the Sea Now because the time of the yeare was farre spent and many of our men in both Shippes sicke wee thought it good to returne with great hope of this Inlet to bee a passage of more possibilitie then through the Straight of Dauis because I found it not much pestered with Ice and to be a straight of fortie leagues broad Also I sayled an hundred leagues West and by South within this Inlet and there I found the variation to be 35. degrees to the Westward and the needle to decline or rather incline 83. degrees and an halfe The fifth of August the winde all that while Westerly wee were cleare of this Inlet againe The sixth the winde was at East South-east with fogge The seauenth eight and ninth we passed by many great Ilands of Ice The ninth day at night we descried the land of America in the latitude of 55. degrees and 30. minutes This Land was an Iland being but low land and very smooth then the night approaching and the weather being something foggie and darke we were forced to stand to the Northward againe This night we passed by some great Ilands of Ice and some bigge peeces which did breake from the great Ilands and we were like to strike some of them two or three times which if we had done it might haue endangered our Shippes and liues Our consort the Godspeede strooke a little piece of Ice which they thought had foundred their Shippe but thankes be to God they receiued no great hurt for our Shippes were very strong The tenth day the winde was at North-east and by North with fogge and raine and our course was to the South-eastward for we could by no meanes put with the shoare by reason of the thicknesse of the fogge and that the winde blew right vpon the shoare so that we were forced to beare saile to keepe our selues from the land vntill it pleased God to send vs a cleare which God knoweth we long wanted At sixe of the clocke in the afternoone it was calme and then I iudged my selfe by mine account to be neere the Land so I founded and had ground in 160. fathomes and fine grey Osie Sand and there was a great Iland of Ice a ground within a league of vs where we sounded and within one houre it pleased God to send vs a cleere Then we saw the land some foure leagues South-west and by South from vs. This land lyeth East and by South and West and by North being good high land but all Ilands as farre as wee could discerne This calme continued vntill foure of the clocke in the afternoone of the eleuenth day the weather being very cleere we could not discerne any Current to goe at all by this Land This day the Sea did set vs in about a league
which they did thinke wee would come leauing no more but about ten men and Boates about vs who rowed alongst the space of an houre with vs making signes of friendship to vs. At length perceiuing that wee were not minded to goe forth amongst these Ilands vpon which the rest of their folke were they threw certaine shels and trifles into the Boat making signes and tokens to fetch them the which my Boy called William Huntries did He being in the Boat they presently shot him through both the buttockes with a Dart at which time they rowed from vs they mustering vpon the Ilands to the number of three hundred persons keeping themselues farre enough from our danger About sixe a clocke this Euening it began to blow a faire gale Easterly we getting off to Sea stood all this night North and by East alongst the Land A Topographicall Description of the Land as I did discouer the same NOw hauing proceeded for the discouerie of the Coast and Harbours so farre and so long time as the time limited to me therefore I thinke it conuenient to make a briefe description of the same according as by my short experience I found the same to be The Land of Groenland is a very high ragged and mountainous Countrey being all alongst the Coast broken Ilands making very goodly Sounds and Harbours hauing also in the Land very many good Riuers and Bayes into some of which I entred sayling vp the same the space of ten or twelue English leagues finding the same very nauigable with great abundance of fish of sundrie sorts The Land also in all places wheresoeuer I came seemed to be very fertile according to the Climate wherein it lyeth for betweene the Mountaynes was most pleasant Plaines and Valleyes in such sort as if I had not seene the same I could not haue beleeued that such a fertile Land in shew could bee in these Northerne Regions There is also in the same great store of Fowle as Rauens Crowes Partridges Pheasants Sea-mewes Gulles with other sundry sorts Of Beasts I haue not seene any except blacke Foxes of which there are very many Also as I doe suppose there are many Deere because that comming to certaine places where the people had had their Tents we found very many Harts Hornes with the bones of other beasts round about the same Also going vp into the Land wee saw the footing and dunging of diuers beasts which we did suppose to be deere and other beasts also the footing of one which wee found to be eight inches ouer yet notwithstanding we did see none of them for going some two or three miles from the Pinnasse we returned againe to goe aboord Moreouer in the Riuers we found sundry sorts of Fishes as Seales Whales Salmons with other sorts of fishes in great abundance As concerning the Coast all alongst it is a very good and faire Land hauing very faire shoalding of the same for being three English leagues off the same I found very faire shoalding in fifteene fathomes and comming neerer the same fourteene twelue and tenne fathomes very faire sandie ground As concerning the people they are as I doe suppose a kinde of Samoites or wandring Nation trauelling in the Summer time in Companies together first to one place and hauing stayed in that place a certayne time in hunting and fishing for Deere and Seales with other fish streight they remoue themselues with their Tents and baggage to another They are men of a reasonable stature being browne of colour very like to the people of the East and West Indies They be very actiue and warlike as we did perceiue in their Skirmishes with vs in vsing their Slings and Darts very nimbly They eat their meate raw or a little perboyled either with bloud Oyle or a little water which they doe drinke They apparell themselues in the skinnes of such beasts as they kill but especially with Seales skins and fowle skins dressing the skins very soft and smooth with the haire and feathers on wearing in Winter the haire and feather sides inwards and in Summer outwards Their Weapons are Slings Darts Arrowes hauing their Bowes fast tyed together with sinewes their Arrowes haue but two feathers the head of the same being for the most part of bone made in manner and forme of a Harping Iron As concerning their Darts they are of sundry sorts and fashions What knowledge they haue of God I cannot certainly say but I suppose them to bee Idolaters worshipping the Sunne The Countrey as is aforesaid seemeth to be very fertile yet could I perceiue or see no wood to grow thereon Wee met all alongst this Coast much Drift-wood but whence it commeth I know not For coasting all this Coast alongst from the latitude of 66. degrees and an halfe vntill the latitude of 69. degrees I found many goodly Sounds Bayes and Riuers giuing names vnto diuers of them and purposing to proceed further the folke in the Pinnasse with me did earnestly intreate me to returne to the ship againe alleaging this that if we came not in conuenient time the people in the ship would mutinie and so returne home before we came the which indeed had fallen forth if the Captaine as an honest Gentleman had not by seuere meanes withstood their attempts who would needes contrarie to their promises haue beene gone home within eight dayes after my departure from them But the Captaine respecting his promise to mee would by no meanes consent but withstood them both by faire meanes and other wayes So that vpon the seuenth day of Iuly I returned again into the Kings Foord which they in the ship had found to be a Bay and comming to the place where wee had left the ship hoping to haue found them there I saw vpon a certaine point a Warlocke of stones whereby I did perceiue that they were gone downe the Ford. So the tide of ebbe being come it being calme we rowed downe the Foord finding in the mouth of the same amongst the Ilands many good Sounds and Harbours The tenth day of Iuly the wind being at North North-west I beeing in a certaine Sound amongst the Ilands it being high water I weighed stood West forth of the Foord going to Sea on the South side betweene a little Iland and the Maine which Iland at our first comming we called Frost Iland after the name of the ship we espied on the South sides certaine Warlockes set vp whereupon I suspected that the Frost might be there commanded the Gunner to shoot off a Peece of Ordnance they presently answered vs againe with two other We seeing the smoake but heard no report bore in to them comming to an Anchor in a very good Sound by them and found them all in health the Captaine being very glad of our comming forasmuch as hee had very much trouble with the company for the cause aforesaid Also in the time of our absence the people
was in the Citie of Saint Dominicke in the Iland Hispaniola with one President a learned man though now because of the warre he is a Souldiour with title of Captaine Generall and foure Iustices that beare rods like an Alcalde and deale in ciuill and criminall matters in a degree of apeale and in the instance in matter of Court and the Gouernment is onely commended to the President which now is in Don Antonio Ossorio and the limits thereof The second Court was established in the Citie of Mexico in New Spaine the first President which was Nunyo of Guzman had no authoritie for he was placed but for a season with the second Court the Bishop D. Sebastian Ramirez for he was so in the Court of Hispanyola he had the Gouernment of the Kingdomes and the supreame authoritie and hee left that established that which belonged vnto it and vnto iustice as at this present it is The President of this Court is the Vice-roy which now is the Earle of Monterrey there are eight Iustices which doe iudge in ciuill matters and in the appeale of the cases of gouernment which the Vice-roy establisheth There are three Iustâ—ces of criminall cases which beare rods and deale in criminal cases and two Atturnies one of ciuill another of criminall causes and hee prouideth the Rulers charges that are not reserued to the King and the other Officers anâ— helpes of cost in releases and vacacions in the limits of this Court of Mexico and in that Counsell of new Galicia The third Court was that of Panama in Terra firme for this name was giuen to it because it was the first place where from the Ilands the Castillanes went to inhabit and as their common speech was to say that they went and came from the Firme Land though other Prouinces were found in the firme land of that Orbe this Prouince continued this name loosing that of Castilla del Oro wherewith the Kings commanded it should be called and when the affaires of Peru grew greater in the yeare 1542. It was thought good that this Court should be remoued to the Citie of The Kings where the Vice-roy which now is Doâ— Lewis of Velasco hath at his charge the gouernment of these limits and that of the Courts of the Charcas and Quito There is in this Court of the Kings eight Iustices three Iustices of Court and two Atturneys in the same order as in Mexico and the Vice-roy is resident in the Citie of the Kings and is the President of this Court and shall be in the other two when he is present in them and doth diuide all the repartitions of Indians that are voide in the bounds of them The fourth Court was established in the Prouince of the Confines and seeming it was needlesse it was dissolued and the yeare 1570. it was established againe in the Citie of Saint Iames of the Kingdome of Guatemala in it is one President which is the Doctor Criaâ—â— of Castile foure Iustices with rods and one Attorney They sit on ciuill and criminall cases in appeales and in the first instance in matters of Court the President onely hath the Gouernment and assigneth the Indians prouideth the Rulerships and other Offices temporall The fift Court was established in the Citie of Sancta Fe de Bogata in the new Kingdome of Granada with one President which now is the Doctor Francisco de Sande foure Iustices with rods and one Atturney with the same authority that the former The sixt was established in the Citie of Guadalaiara of the new Kingdome of Gallâ—cia with one Regent three chiefe Iustices which dispatched a great while without Seale and the matters increasing the Seale was giuen and a Register and a President was placed which now is Doctor Sanctiago de Vera and three Iustices with rods one Atturney and the Viceroy of New Spain hath the Gouernment The seuenth Court was placed in the Citie of Saiâ—t Francis of Quito of the Prouince of Piru where there was also a Regent chiefe Iustices without Seale and afterward the Court was established with a President which now is the Licentiat Miguel de Vuarar with three Iustices with rods one Atturny with the same faculty of Guadalaiara the gouernment the rest remaining to the Vice-roy of Piru as abouesaid The eight Court was in the Citie of the Plate in the Prouince of the Charcas with a Regent and chiefe Iustices after there was placed a President foure Iustices with rods Atturney Seale and Register and now is President the Licentiat Cepeda with reseruation of the prouiding the charges and the rest to the Vice-roy of Piru The ninth Court is that which was established againe in the Citie of Panama with a President of Sword and Cloake because of the matters of warre which is now Don Alonso de Sotomayor with the title of Captaine Generall of Terra firme there are three Iustices with roddes which doe deale in Appeales of ciuill and criminall cases and at first instance in matters of Court and it hath onely the Gouernment In the Citie of Saint Iames of the Prouince of Chile was placed the tenth Court and because it seemed needelesse it was dissolued and a Gouernour was prouided which dependeth on the Viceroy of Piru In the Citie of the Philippinas called Manila was a Court and it was dissolued because it seemed needelesse a few yeares since it was established againe with a Captaine Generall which is Don Peter of Acunya which is President and foure Iustices and one Atturney with the same authoritie that the other Courts For the Catholike Kings of Castile with the aduise of the supreme Councell of the Indies doe alwayes prouide with a sincere and iust minde that which is conuenient for the preseruation and augmenting of the spirituall and temporall things of those parts without any spare of expences or labor and euery Court hath according to the vse of these Kingdomes Secretaries Relators Sergeants Porters and the Officers which are necessarie THe harmonie and agreement of this great Monarchie is such that to euery Minister hath beene giuen the authoritie that as well by reason of estate as for the reputation of iustice hath seemed to be conuenient reseruing to the supreme Maiestie that which hath beene iudged to be necessarie to his authoritie For to the Vice-royes and Presidents that they may haue to reward the well-deseruing and they be more respected there are Offices assigned which they may prouide and matters wherein they may gratifie and to the prouiding of the Person Royall haue remayned with consultation of the supreme Councell of the Indies the offices following For the Kingdome of Chile a Gouernour and a learned Iustice with facultie to incommend or authorise the Indians another for Tucuman with the same facultie another for the Prouinces of the Riuer of Plate for Popayan Sancta Martha Cartagena and Veragua with their Gouernour in euery one with
see no speciall matter at the Indies which is not in other Regions vnlesse some will say that the manner to strike fire in rubbing two stones one against another as some Indians vse or to boile any thing in gourds casting a burning stone into it other such like things are remarkable whereof I haue written what might bee spoken But of those which are in the Vulcans and Mouthes of fire at the Indies worthy doubtlesse to be obserued I will speake in their order treating of the diuersitie of grounds whereas they finde these fires or Vulcans Therefore to begin with the windes I say that with good reason Salomon in the great iudgement which God had giuen him esteemes much the knowledge of the windes and their properties being very admirable for that some are moist others drie some vnwholsome others sound some hot others cold some calme and pleasant others rough and tempestuous some barren and others fertile with infinite other differences There are some windes which blow in certaine Regions and are as it were Lords thereof not admitting any entrie or communication of their contraries In some parts they blow in that sort as sometimes they are Conquerors sometimes conquered often there are diuers and contrarie windes which doe runne together at one instant diuiding the way betwixt them somtimes one blowing aboue of one sort and another below of an other sort somtimes they incounter violently one with another which puts them at Sea in great danger there are some windes which helpe to the generation of Creatures and others that hinder and are opposite There is a certaine winde of such a qualitie as when it blowes in some Countrie it causeth it to raine Fleas and in so great abundance as they trouble and darken the aire and couer all the Sea-shoare and in other places it raines Frogs These diuersities and others which are sufficiently knowne are commonly attributed to the place by the which these windes passe For they say that from these places they take their qualities to be cold hot drie or moist sickly or sound and so of the rest the which is partly true and cannot be denyed for that in a small distance you shall see in one winde many diuersities For example the Solaâ—â—â— or Easterne winde is commonly hot and troublesome in Spaine and in Murria it is the coolest and healthfullest that is for that it passeth by the Orchards and that large champaine which wee see very fresh In Carthageâ—e which is not farre from thence the same winde is troublesome and vnwholsome The Meridionall which they of the Ocean call South and those of the Mediterranean Sea Mezo giorâ—o commonly is raynie and boysterous and in the same Citie whereof I speake it is wholesome and pleasant Plinie reports that in Africke it raines with a Northerne winde and that the Southerne winde is cleere He then that shall well consider what I haue spoken of these windes he may conceiue that in a small distance of Land or Sea one winde hath many and diuers qualities yea sometimes quite contrarie whereby wee may inferre that hee draweth his propertie from the place where it passeth the which is in such sort true although we may not say infallibly as it is the onely and principall cause of the diuersitie of the windes It is a thing we easily find that in a Riuer contayning fiftie leagues in circuit I put it thus for an example that the winde which blowes of the one part is hot and moist and that which blowes on the other is cold and drie Notwithstanding this diuersitie is not found in places by which it passeth the which makes me rather to say that the windes bring these qualities with them whereby they giue vnto them the names of these qualities For example we attribute to the Northerne winde otherwise called Cierco the propertie to be cold and drie and to dissolue mists to the Southerne winde his contrarie called Leuasche we attribute the contrarie qualitie which is moist and hot and ingenders mists But it is needfull to seeke further to know the true and originall cause of these so strange differences which we see in the windes I cannot conceiue any other but that the same efficient cause which bringeth forth and maketh the winds to grow doth withall giue them this originall qualitie for in truth the matter whereon the winds are made which is no other thing according to Aristotle but the exhalation of the interior Elements may well cause in effect a great part of this diuersitie being more grosse more subtill more drie and more moist But yet this is no pertinent reason seeing that we see in one Region where the vapours and exhalations are of one sort and qualitie that there rise windes and effects quite contrarie We must therefore referre the cause to the higher and celestiall Efficient which must be the Sunne and to the motion and influence of the Heauens the which by their contrarie motions giue and cause diuers influences But the beginnings of these motions and influences are so obscure and hidden from men and on the other part so mightie and of so great force as the holy Prophet Dauid in his propheticall Spirit and the Prophet Ieremie admiring the greatnesse of the Lord speake thus Qui profert ventos de thesauris suis. Hee that drawes the windes out of his Treasures In truth these principles and beginnings are rich and hidden treasures for the Author of all things holds them in his hand and in his power and when it pleaseth him sendeth them forth for the good or chastisement of men and sends forth such windes as he pleaseth not as that Eolus whom the Poets doe foolishly feigne to haue charge of the windes keeping them in a Caue like vnto wilde beasts We see not the beginning of these windes neither doe we know how long they shall continue or whither they shall goe But wee see and know well the diuerse effects and operations they haue euen as the supreme Truth the Author of all things hath taught vs saying Spiritus vbi vult spirat vocem eius audis neseis vnde venit aut quò vadit It is true that the Northerne winde is not vsually cold and cleere there as here In some parts of Peru as at Lima and on the Playnes they finde the Northerne windes troublesome and vnwholsome and all along the Coast which runnes aboue fiue hundred leagues they hold the Southerne windes for healthfull and coole and which is more most cleere and pleasant yea it neuer raines contrarie to that wee see in Europe and of this side the Line Yet that which chanceth vpon the coast of Peru is no generall rule but rather an exception and a wonder of Nature neuer to raine vpon that coast and euer to haue one winde without giuing place to his contrarie whereof we will hereafter speake our minde It is no generall rule there that the Northerne winde is neither hot nor
their Canoes which are Boates made of one piece They bring into Spaine from the Hauana excellent timber In the Iland of Cuba there are infinite numbers of like trees as Ebene Caouana Grenadillâ— Cedars and other kindes which I doe not know There are great Pine trees in new Spaine though they be not so strong as those in Spaine they beare no pignous or kernels but emptie apples The Oakes as they call them of Guayaquil is an excellent wood and sweet when they cut it yea there are Canes or most high Reeds of whose boughs or small reedes they doe make Bottles and Pitchers to carry water and doe likewise vse them in their buildings There is likewise the wood of Maâ—sle or Firre whereof they make masts for their ships and they hold them as strong as Iron Molle is a tree of many vertues which casteth forth small boughes whereof the Indians make wine In Mexico they call it the tree of Peru for that it came from thence but it growes also in new Spaine and better then those in Peru. There are a thousand other Trees which were a superfluous labour to intreat of whereof some are of an exceeding greatnesse I will speake onely of one which is in Tlaco Chauoya three leagues from Guayaca in new Spaine this tree being measured within being hollow was found to haue nine fadome and without neere to the roote sixteene and somewhat higher twelue This tree was strooke with lightning from the toppe to the bottome through the heart the which caused this hollownesse they say that before the thunder fell vpon it it was able to shaddow a thousand men and therefore they did assemble there for their dances and superstitions yet to this day there doth remaine some boughes and verdure but not much They know not what kinde of tree it is but they say it is a kinde of Caedar Such as shall finde this strange let them reade what Plinie reporteth of the Plaine of Lidia the hollow whereof contained fourescore foot and one and seemed rather a Cabbin or a House then the hollow of a tree his boughes like a whole wood the shaddow whereof couered a great part of the field By that which is written of this Tree we haue no great cause to wonder at the Weauer who had his dwelling and Loome in the hollow of a Chesnut tree and of another Chesnut tree if it were not the very same into the hollow whereof there entered eighteene men on Horsebacke and passed out without disturbing one another The Indians did commonly vse their Idolatries in these Trees so strange and deformed euen as did the auncient Gentiles as some Writers of our time doe report The Indians haue receiued more profit and haue bin better recompenced in Plants that haue bin brought from Spaine then in any other Merchandise for that those few which are carried from the Indies into Spaine grow little there and multiply not and coâ—trariwise the great number that haue beene carried from Spaine to the Indies prosper well and multiply greatly I know not whether I shall attribute it to the bountie of the Plants that goe from hence or to the goodnesse of the soyle that is there Finally there is at the Indies any good thing that Spaine brings forth in some places it is better in some worse as Wheate Barley Hearbes and all kinds of Pulses also Lettuce Coleworts Radishes Onions Garlike Parsley Turneps Parseneps Becengenes or Apples of loue Siccorie Beetes Spinage Pease Beanes Fetches and finally whatsoeuer groweth here of any profit so as all that haue voyaged thither haue beene curious to carry Seedes of all sorts and all haue growne although diuersly some more some lesse As for those trees that haue most abundantly fructified be Orenge-trees Limons Citrons and other of that sort In some parts there are at this day as it were whole Woods and Forrests of Orange trees tha which seeming strange vnto me I asked who had planted the fields with so many Orange trees they made me answer that it did come by chance for that Oranges being fallen to the ground and rotten their seedes did spring and of those which the water had carried away into diuers parts these Woods grew so thicke which seemed to mee a very good reason I haue said that this fruite hath generally increased most at the Indies for that I haue not beene in any place but I finde Orange trees for that all their soile is hot and moist which this tree most desires There growes not any vpon the Sierre or Mountaine but they carrie them from the vallies or Sea coast The conserue of Oranges which they doe make at the Ilands is the best I haue seene any where Peaches Presses and Apricockes haue greatly multiplied especially in new Spaine At Peru there growes few of these kindes of fruites except Peaches and much lesse in the Ilands There growes Apples and Peares yet but scarcely there are but few Plumbs but aboundance of Figges chiefly in Peru. They finde Qâ—inces in all the Countrie of the Indies and in new Spaine in such aboundance as they gaue vs fiftie choice ones for halfe a riall There is great store of Pomegranats but they are all sweete for the sharpe are not there esteemed There are very good Melons in some parts of Peru. Cherries both wilde and tame haue not prospered well at the Indies the which I doe not impute to want of temperature for that there is of all sorts but to carelesnesse or that they haue not well obserued the temperature To conclude I doe not finde that in those parts there wants any daintie fruite As for grosse fruites they haue no Beillottes nor Chesnuts neither doe I finde that any haue growne there to this day Almonds grow there but rarely They carry from Spaine for such as are daintie mouthed both Almonds Nuts and Filberds but I haue not knowne they had any Medlers or Seruices which imports little There growes no Wine nor Grapes in the Ilands nor firme Land but in new Spaine there are some Vines which beare Grapes and yet make no Wine The cause is for that the Grape ripens not well by reason of the raine that fals in the Moneths of Iuly and August which hinders their ripening so as they serue onely to eate They carâ—y Wine out of Spaine and from the Canaries to all parts of the Indies except Peru and the Realme of Chille There are some places where the Vines are not watered neither from heauen nor earth and yet they increase in great abundance as in the Valley of Yca and in the ditches that they call Villacuzi in which places they finde ditches or th' earth sunke downe amongst the dead Sands which are thorowout the yeare of a wonderfull coolenesse and yet it raines not there at any time neither is there any manner of meanes to water it artificially the reason is because the soile is spongious and sucks vp the water of the riuers that
two three or foure leagues at the most on a day Those that guide those troupes haue their ordinarie lodgings where they are assured to haue water and pasture and there they vnlade and set vp their Tents making fire and dressing their meates which is not painfull although it be a flegmatike and slow manner of trauell When there is but one dayes iourney one of these sheepe will beare eight Arrobes in weight or more and beares this burthen eight or ten leagues in a day as the poore Souldiers were wont to doe when they marched through Peru. This kinde of Cattell delights most in a cold aire and for this cause they liue vpon the Sierre and die in the Lanos by reason of the heate Sometimes these sheepe are all couered with Ice and frost and yet they continue sound and well The bare sheepe are pleasant to behold for they will stay vpon the way raysing vp their necks and will looke vpon any one very wistly and so they remaine a long time without moouing or any shew of feare which giueth occasion of laughter seeing them thus to stand And yet sometimes they doe grow amazed sodainly and runne away with their burthens euen to the highest Rocks so as not being able to come vnto them they are constrayned to kill them with an Harquebuze lest they should lose their barres of Siluer which they sometimes carry The Pacos will grow reastie vnder their burthens lying down and will endure to be cut in a thousand pieces before they will rise when this humor takes them wherof the prouerb growes in Peru to say that one is reastie to signifie he is obstinate for that when any of these beasts is moodie it is with excesse the remedie they haue is to stay and sit downe by the Paco making much on him vntill the fit be past and that he rise and sometimes they are forced to stay two or three houres They haue a disease like to scabs which they call Carache whereof they commonly die The Ancients had a remedie to burie them quicke that had the Carache lest they should infect the rest being a very contagious disease and goes from one to another An Indian that hath one or two of these sheepe is not reputed poore for one of them is worth sixe or seuen pieces of assay and more according to the time and places The Bezaars stone is found in all these beasts before mentioned which are proper to Peru whereof some Authors of our time haue written whole bookes which they may reade that desire to haue a more particular knowledge For the present subiect it shall be sufficient to say that this stone which they call Bezaar is found in the stomacke and belly of this beast sometimes one alone sometimes two three and foure They are very different in forme greatnesse and colour for that some are small like Filberds and lesse others like Walnuts some like Pidgeons egges and others as bigge as a Hens egge and I haue seene some as bigge as an Orange in forme some are round others in fashion like to Lentils and many other formes For their colour some are blacke some white some grey darke greene and others as if they had beene gilded It is no certaine rule to iudge the best and most fine by the colour or forme All these stones are made and fashioned of diuers films and skins one vpon another In the Prouince of Xaura and other Prouinces of Peru they finde these stones in diuers kindes of beasts both wilde and tame as in the Guanacos Pacos Vicugnes and Tarugues some adde an other kinde which they say are wilde Goates which the Indians call Cypris These other kindes of beasts are very well known in Peru whereof we haue alreadie discoursed The Guanacos or Countrie sheepe or Pacos haue commonly the lesser stones and blacke neither are they so much approued for the vse of physicke They draw the greatest Bezaar stones from the Vicugnes and they are grey or white or of a darke greene which are held for the better They esteeme those of the Tarugues for the most excellent whereof there are some reasonable bigge they are commonly white inclining to grey and they haue the filmes commonly bigger and thicker then the rest They finde the Bezaar stone equally both in Male and Female All beasts that ingender it chaw the cuid and commonly feede vpon the Snow and Rocks The Indians report and teach by tradition from their Fathers and Ancients that in the Prouince of Xaura and in other Prouinces of Peru there are many herbs and venemous beasts which poison the water and the pastures where they eate and drinke and where they breathe amiddest which venemous herbs there is one very well knowne of the Vicugne by a naturall instinct and of other beasts that ingender the Bezaar stone which eate this herbe and by meanes thereof they preserue themselues from the poisoned waters and pastures and they say that of this herbe the stone is compounded in the stomacke whence it drawes all the vertue against poison and other wonderfull effects This is the opinion and tradition of the Indians discouered by men of great experience in the Kingdome of Peru which agrees with reason and with that which Plinie reports of the Mountaines Goats which are nourished and fed vpon poison without suffering any harme The Indians being demanded why the Sheepe Kine Goats and Calues such as are in Castile haue not the Bezaar stone seeing that they feede on the same Rocks their answere is That they beleeue not that those beasts of Castile eate of that herbe or that they haue found the Bezaar stone in Stags and fallow Deere This seemes to agree with our knowledge for that in new Spaine they finde the Bezaar stone although there be no Vicugnes Pacos Tarugues nor Guanacos but onely Stags in some of which they finde these stones One thing is worthy admiration that they grow and are fashioned vpon very strange things as vpon the tagge of a Point vpon a Pin or a piece of Wood which they finde in the centre of this stone and yet doe they not hold it false for that the beast might swallow it and the stone thicken vpon it and growes one vpon another and so it increaseth I did see in Peru two stones fashioned vpon Pignons of Castile which made vs to wonder much for that in all Peru wee had not seene any Pines or Pignons of Castile if they were not brought from Spaine which seemes to mee very extraordinarie This little may suffice touching the Bezaars stone They bring other physicall stones from the Indies as the stone of Hyiada or of Rate the bloud stone the stones of Milke and of the Sea Those which they call Cornerinas for the Heart whereof there is no neede to speake hauing nothing common with the subiect of beasts whereof wee haue intreated which giues vs to vnderstand how the great Master and Author of all hath imparted his benefits
that this fish is one of the best in the world to the taste and the likest vnto flesh especially so like vnto beefe that who so hath not seene it whole can iudge it to be none other when hee seeth it in pieces then very Beefe or Veale and is certainly so like vnto flesh that all the men in the world may herein be deceiued the taste likewise is like vnto the taste of very good Veale and lasteth long if it be powdred so that in fine the Beefe of these parts is by no meanes like vnto this This Manate hath a certaine stone or rather bone in his head within the braine which is of qualitie greatly appropriate against the disease of the stone if it be burnt and ground into small powder and taken fasting in the morning when the paine is felt in such quantitie as may lye vpon a peny with a draught of good whiâ—e wine For being thus taken three or foure mornings it acquieteth the griefe as diuers haue told me which haue proued it true and I my selfe by testimonie of sight doe witnesse that I haue seen this stone sought of diuers for this effect There are also diuers other fishes as bigge as this Manate among the which there is one called Vihnella This fish beareth in the top of his head a sword being on euery side full of many sharp teeth this sword is naturally very hard and strong of foure or fiue spans in length and of proportion according to the same bignesse and for this cause is this fish called Spada that is the Sword fish Of this kinde some are found as little as Sardines and other so great that two yokes of Oxen are scarsly able to draw them on a Cart. But whereas before I haue promised to speake of other fishes which are taken in these Seas while the ships are vnder saile I will not forget to speake of the Tunny which is a great and good fish and is oftentimes taken and kild with Trout speares and hookes cast in the water when they play and swim about the ships In like manner also are taken many Turbuts which are very good fishes as are lightly in all the Sea And here is to be noted that in the great Ocean Sea there is a strange thing to be considered which all that haue beene in the Indies affirme to bee true And this is that like as on the Land there are some Prouinces fertile and fruitfull and some barren euen so doth the like chance in the Sea So that at some windes the ships saile fiftie or a hundred or two hundred leagues and more without taking or seeing of one fish and againe in the selfe same Ocean in some places all the water is seen tremble by the moouing of the fishes where they are taken abundantly It commeth further to my remembrance to speake somewhat of the flying of fishes which is doubtlesse a strange thing to behold and is after this manner When the ships saile by the great Ocean following their viage there riseth sometimes on the one side or on the other many companies of certaine little fishes of the which the biggest is no greater then a Sardine and so diminish lesse and lesse from that quantitie that some of them are very little these are called Volatori that is flying fishes they rise by great companies and flocks in such multitudes that it is an astonishment to behold them Sometimes they rise but little from the water and as it chanceth continue one flight for the space of an hundred paces and sometimes more or lesse before they fall againe into the Sea sometimes also they fall into the ships And I remember that on an euening when all the companie in the ship were on their knees singing Salue Regina in the highest part of the Castle of the poope and sailed with a full winde there passed by vs a flocke of these flying fishes and came so neere vs that many of them fell into the ship among the which two or three fell hard by mee which I tooke aliue in my hand so that I might well perceiueâ— that they were as bigge as Sardines and of the same quantitie hauing two wings or quils growing out of their sinnes like vnto those wherewith all fishes swim in Riuers these wings are as long as the fishes themselues As long as their wings are moist they beare them vp in the aire but assoone as they are drie they can continue their flight no further then as I haue said before but fall immediatly into the Sea and so rise againe and flie as before from place to place In the yeere 1515. when I came first to enforme your Maiestie of the state of the things in India and was the yeere following in Flanders in the time of your most fortunate successe in these your Kingdomes of Arragon and Castile whereas at that voyage I sayled aboue the Iland Bermuda otherwise called Garza being the furthest of all the Ilands that are found at this day in the world and arriuing there at the depth of eight yards of water and distant from the Land as farre as the shot of a piece of Ordinance I determined to send some of the ship to Land aswell to make search of such things as were there as also to leaue in the Iland certaine Hogs for increase But the time not seruing my purpose by reason of contrarie winde I could bring my ship no neerer the Iland being twelue leagues in length and sixe in breadth and about thirtie in circuit lying in the three and thirtieth degree of the North side While I remayned here I saw a strife and combat betweene these flying fishes and the fishes named Gilt heads and the fowles called Sea-mewes and Cormorants which surely seemed vnto me a thing of as great pleasure and solace as could be deuised while the Gilt heads swam on the brim of the water and sometimes lifted their shoulders aboue the same to raise the flying fishes out of the water to driue them to flight and follow them swimming to the place where they fall to take and eate them suddenly Againe on the other side the Sea-mewes and Cormorants take many of these flying fishes so that by this meanes they are neither safe in the Aire nor in the Water In the selfe same perill and danger doe men liue in this mortall life wherein is no certaine securitie neither in high estate nor in lowe Which thing surely ought to put vs in remembrance of that blessed and safe resting place which God hath prepared for such as loue him who shall acquiet and finish the trauailes of this troublesome world wherein are so many dangers and bring them to that eternall life where they shall finde eternall securitie and rest Of the increase and decrease that is rising and falling of our Ocean Sea and South Sea called the Sea of Sur. I Will now speake of certaine things which are seene in the
their bloud and purgation ceasseth immediately And when after this they haue a few dayes absteined from the company of men they become so streight as they say which haue had carnal familiaritie with them that such as vse them cannot without much difficultie satisfie their appetite They also which neuer had children are euer as Virgins In some parts they weare certaine little Aprons round about them before and behind as low as to their knees and hammes wherewith they couer their priuy parts and are naked all their bodie beside The principall men beare their Priuities in a hollow Pipe of Gold but the common sort haue them inclosed in the shells of certaine great Welkes and are beside vtterly naked For they thinke it no more shame to haue their Cods seene then any other part of their bodies and in many Prouinces both the men and women goe vtterly naked without any such couerture at all In the Prouince of Cueua they call a man Chuy and a woman Ira which name is not greatly disagreeable to many both of their women and of ours These Indians giue great honor and reuerence to their Caciques that is their Kings and Rulers The principall Cacique hath twelue of his most strong Indians appointed to beare him when he remoueth to any place or goeth abroad for his pleasure Two of them carrie him sitting vpon a long peece of wood which is naturally as light as they can finde the other ten follow next vnto him as footemen they keepe continually a trotting pase with him on their shoulders When the two that carrie him are wearie other two come in their places without any disturbance or stay And thus if the way be plaine they carry him in this manner for the space of fifteene or twenty leagues in one day The Indians that are assigned to this office are for the most part slaues or Naboritâ— that is such as are bound to continuall seruice I haue also noted that when the Indians perceiue themselues to be troubled with too much bloud they let themselues bloud in the calfe of their legges and brawnes of their armes this doe they with a very sharpe stone and sometimes with the small tooth of a Viper or with a sharpe reede or thorne All the Indians are commonly without Beards in so much that it is in a manner a maruell to see any of them either men or women to haue any downe or haire on their faces or other parts of their bodies Albeit I saw the Cacique of the Prouince of Catarapa who had haire on his face and other parts of his body as had also his wife in such places as women are accustomed to haue This Cacique had a great part of his body painted with a blacke colour which neuer fadeth and is much like vnto that wherewith the Moores paint themselues in Barbarie in token of Nobilitie But the Moores are painted specially on their visage and throate and certaine other parts Likewise the principall Indians vse these paintings on their armes and breasts but not on their visages because among them the slaues are so marked When the Indians of certaine Prouinces goe to the battaile especially the Caniball Archers they carrie certaine shels of great welkes of the Sea which they blow and make therewith great sound much like the noise of Hornes they carrie also certaine Timbrels which they vse in the stead of Drummes also very faire Plumes of Feathers and certaine armour of gold especially great and round peeces on their breasts and splints on their armes Likewise other peeces which they put on their heads and other parts of their bodies For they esteeme nothing so much as to appeare gallant in the warres and to goe in most comely order that they can deuise glistering with precious Stones Iewels Gold and Feathers Of the least of these welkes or perewincles they make certaine little Beades of diuers sorts and colours they make also little Bracelets which they mingle with gandes of Gold these they roule about their armes from the elbow to the wrest of the hand The like also doe they on their legges from the knees to the soles of their feete in token of Nobilitie especially their Noble Women in diuers Prouinces are accustomed to weare such Iewels and haue their neckes in manner laden therewith these Beades and Iewels and such other trinkets they call Caquiras Beside these also they weare certaine Rings of Gold at their eares and nostrels which they bore full of holes on both sides so that the Rings hang vpon their lippes Some of these Indians are poulde and rounded albeit commonly both the Men and Women take it for a decent thing to weare long haire which the women weare to the middest of their shoulders and cut it equally especially aboue their browes this doe they with certaine hard Stones which they keepe for the same purpose The principall Women when their teates fall or become loose beare them vp with barres of Gold of the length of a spanne and a halfe well wrought and of such bignesse that some of them weigh more then two hundred Castelans or Ducades of Gold these barres haue holes at both the ends whereat they tye two small cords made of Cotton at euery end of the barres one of these cords goeth ouer the shoulder and the other vnder the arme holes where they tye both together so that by this meanes the barre beareth vp their teates Some of these chiefe Women goe to the battaile with their Husbands or when they themselues are regents in any Prouinces in the which they haue all things at commandement and execute the office of generall Captaines and cause themselues to be carried on mens backs in like manner as doe the Caciques of whom I haue spoken before These Indians of the firme Land are much of the same stature and colour as are they of the Ilands they are for the most part of the colour of an Oliue if there be any other difference it is more in bignesse then otherwise and especially they that are called Coronati are stronger and bigger then any other that I haue seene in these parts except those of the Iland of Giants which are on the South side of the Iland of Hispaniola neere vnto the coasts of the firme Land and likewise certain other which they call Iucatos which are on the North side All which chiefly although they be no Giants yet are they doubtlesse the biggest of the Indians that are known to this day and commonly bigger then the Flemings and especially many of them as well women as men are of very high stature and are all archers both men and women These Coronati inhabit thirtie leagues in length by these coasts from the point of Canoa to the great riuer which they call Guadalchiber neere vnto Sancta Maria de gratia As I trauersed by those coasts I filled a butt of fresh water of that riuer six leagues
in the Timber of a Ship 626.10 Toades as bigge as Cats not venemous their singing and noises 976.20 Tobaccho the benumming qualitie of it vsed by the Mexicans in their Diuellish vnction and Physicke 1043.40 Tobacco lighted by the Sunne at mid-night in Greeneland 737.50 Tobacco Pipes of Earth and Copper 587.50 Cape Cod ibid. 30 Grapes and Roses and Tobacco grow neere it ibid. Discouered when 588.10 Tobalsko Castle in Siberia neere to the Dominions of the King of Alteene 798.1 How farre thence through Alteene to China ibid. 60. The Commodities and Trading there 544.50 The way from Pechora thither ibid. See 552 Tocoatican the Iland 308.40 Tocci the Mexicans Idoll a Young-man worshipped in a Womans skin 1004.1 1031.30 Tococ what in Chinese 306.10 Toera the Riuer nauigable after a Thawe 525 Toes with two Nayles 394.20 Tolle and Customes payed at Bridges in China 330 Toll taken at Bridges in Russia 754 40 Tombe a strange one 265. 266. Inscriptions vpon them in China ibid. 50 Tome Mastangue an Armenian his aduentures 254 Tomineios an Indian Bird as small as a Bee or Fly 965.20.977.10 Tomo Castle in Siberia how farre from the Dominions of Altine and Cathaya 798. 527 Tongue of a Bird like a Quill 980.20 Tooles made of Cowes bones where 877.40 Tooles that cut Stone made of a Ciment of sand and blood 1129.40 And of Flint for Goldsmiths and Grauers 1132.50 Tooma the new Citie where 527.1 Tooth of a Giant found as bigge as a mans first 1002.10 Torchillus the Islander his last Will 665.50 Tortoises of India which take fifteene men to draw them out of the water the manner of taking them they lay Egges and feede on shore 987.10 Tortoises of the West Indies described when good Meate and when Poyson 976.40 Tortuga I le in the West Indies 866.30 Tosa an Iland 253.20 Towers wonderfull ones in China 204.60 Tower of ten Stories high 328.30 Trades giuen ouer in Russia and why 432 Trades none bound vnto in China 367.20 Tradesmen in Tartarie worke one day in the Weeke for the Prince 88.20 Trading in Muscouie granted to the English 221 Traditions made equall with Scriptures 452 Traditions in China 196.50 Traditions learned by heart in Mexico 1052. And in Peru 1053.10 Trauaile the difficulties of it in the North and North-Eastern parts 66.20.60 Trauailing fifteene dayes together vpon Bushes 960 Trauailing by the Compasse in Iseland 649.50 Trauellors out of Russia punisht with losse of Life and Goods and why 433.10 Trauellors in Russia what they must carry 224.20 Transubstantiation imitated by the Deuill in his Idoll-Ceremonies 1041.10 in marg Trapesunda the Citie 2.20 Traytors punishment in China 406.40 Treason forfeits all Priuiledges 388.1 Treason vnheard of in Peru 1055.10 Treasurer of the bones of the Dead 274.20 Treatie of a League betwixt Russia Denmarke and Sweden against the Pole 757.1 Tree borne in Procession 227.20 Tree of the Sunne where 72.20 Tree whose pith is Meale for Bread 104. The wood sinkes in the water Lances made of it c. ibid. Tree of Siluer a most Artificiall one in Tartarie 35.50 Described ibid. Trees that haue lyen since Noahs Flood 223.60 Trees none in the frozen Countryes of Noua Zembla Lapland c. 517.40 Trees in Peru halfe of which yeelds fruits for one sixe Moneths and the other side another 961.50 Trees taken vp by the rootes carried by Elephants to the Great Chams Gardens 83.30 Trees of the West Indies loose not their Leaues 983.30 Not deepe rooted ibid. Trees and Thickets of the West Indies 960.10 Huge Trees ibid. Trees Fruites and Plants of West India 981 Trees hollow that will hold a hundred men 982.20 Tribunals stately ones 272.1 Tributes payed to the King of Mexico see page 1080. c. Some pretie Story about that 1006.20 Tribute of the Russe payed in Commodities 428 Trigautius his discourse of China 380 Trimecau a strange Sect 277.1 Trinidad Iland discouered the shape c. 866.1.10 Trinity Harbour in Greenland our Kings Armes set vp there 722.40 And possession taken for him ibid. The Latitude and Variation ibid. Trinitie some mention of it 397.60 Trinitie imitated by the Deuill in Peru 1045.20 Trondon the Towne in Norway 618.20 The King of Denmarkes seate ibid. Saint Olaus the King buryed there ibid. Tropickes the causes of temperature and habitablenesse betwixt them 921.922 Constant Brises betwixt the Tropickes 924. Westerne windes without them alwayes and why 925.40 Tropickes when most rayne within or without them and the reason 918.50 in margin 919.20.30 Causes of temperature there 920. c. Truth well rewarded 194.30 Trumpa the kinde of Whale that yeelds the Sperma Caeti Amber Greece 471.50 Trumpets of the Cannibals of shels of Weelkes 992.20 Tsaritzna the Iland 243.60 Tucaman Prouince in the West Indies bounds of its Iurisdiction Townes in it and their Latitudes Mines Wooll Gilt-leather Husbandry Riuers c. 897.40 Tudinfu a noble Kingdome 95.10 Great trading there ibid. Tufaune a Tempest vsuall in China 197.40.263.50 Tuinians a people of Cathay 24.20 Tuinians opinion that the Soule of euery thing is the God of it 41.40 They will not haue the secrets of their Religion searched into 41.60 They are Manichees 42.10 Tumblers in China 302.40 Tumen in Tartarie the trade there the way thither from Pechora in Russia 556.20 Tumen a Tartarian money worth ten Markes 34.10 Tumultuous multitude an example of them in Russia 753.20 Tunall Tree of India the strange growing of it which beares fruit and Cochinell 957.30 One in Mexico growing out of a Mans heart the strange storie of it 1003.40 1004.40.50 Tunall Tree againe described with his fruit 1131.30 Tunas a West Indian fruit makes the vrine like Blood 984.40 Tundi or Bishops in Iapon 324.20 Turffes in stead of Morter in Island 662. Two sorts of Turffes inuenter of Turffes ibid. Turkes their manner of liuing 69.40 Turkes trade into China 362.10 Their Commodities and gulling the China King with a feyned tribute ibid. Turkie wasted by the Tartars 119.1 The Kingdome of it refused by the Armenian 119.20 The weake Estate of it in Rubruquis his time 51.60 52.1.10 Turkemannia the Countrey 237.1 Their manner of liuing and feeding ibid. Turkemannia inhabited by Turkes Grecians and Armenians 69.40 All vnder the Tartars when ibid. Turkish Armie ouerthrowne by the Russe 740 Turkie Carpets 69.40 Turkisses where found 71.1 Turlock Hauen in Island 647.50 Turquestan the Kingdome 109.20 Wonne by the Tartars 114.20 Tusce what in Chinese 312.60 Tutelare Gods respected in China 396.60 Tutia and Spodio where made and how 72.10 Tutia good for the Eyes ibid. Twelfe-dayes-solemnities 498.60 Kept Ianuary the fourth in Russia 225 V VAchen the Countrey Gentiles 232.30 Vaigats Straights and Iland Discouered 463.20 Inhabited by the Somoeds ibid. Impassible for Ice 463.40 It is an Iland 250.30 Vaigates Straights whence so full of Ice and floting Wood 527.50 Sometimes open from the Ice 526.40 The Riuers and Inlets about it 545.1 The way thence to the
Empire Wee straightly command our Nobles in generall and all other our authorized peopl that according to this our Imperiall letters of priuiledge they suffer the foresaid Merchants to passe without all manner of hindrance or lets without taking any manner of customâ— of them for themselues or for their goods and into what place soeuer they shall come or 〈◊〉 with their Merchandize and shall not desire to buy nor sell with our people those our authorized 〈◊〉 shall freely let them passe without taking any manner of customes according to this our Imperiall gracious priuiledge And wheresoeuer the English Merchants shall happen to sell or barter â—ny of their 〈…〉 with our Merchants they are to barter and sell them in their owne house by grosse sale and not by 〈…〉 small measure and weight as by the yard pound and ounce that is to say their Cloath by whole Cloathes and Packs Damaske and Veluets by the Pocce and all other wares that are to be sold by weight accordingly Also the Wiâ—es by the great viz. by the Butt the Pipe the Hogshâ—â—d and by the Aâ—me and not by small measure as Veders or Pots And the said English Merchants are to sell and barter their owne Commodities themselues in our Empire But the Russe Merchants shall neither sell nor barter for them neither shall the English carry or transport to or from any place any Wares belonging to other Strangers by way of their owne goods And if the said English Merchants shall be desirous to sell any of their commodities at Cylmogro or vpon the Riuer of Dwina or at Vologda or Yeresâ—aue or other the Townes and Cities of our Empire they may sell at their plesures 〈◊〉 likewise at their owne choise and pleasure they may transport their goods into all or any part of our Dominions and hire Carriers Boats and men aâ— such price as they themselues can agree Also when the English Merchants themselues or any of their Factors doe trauell out of our Dominions into their owne or other forraigne Kingdomes and that wee shall be pleased to deliuer them of our Treasure they shall take it with them and sell and barter it for such commodities as wee shall thinke fit and necessarie for our vse and Treasury our Gouernours and all other our Officers in all our Cities and Dominions shall suffer them and their people freely to passe without taking any custome of them but when the English Merchants haue done their trafficke and are going from our Citie of Mosco they shall giue notice thereof vnto the Chancellour of our Office of Ambassadours Further when any English Merchants shall come with their Shippes and Vessels by Sea into our Dominions and that any misfortune happen vnto them by shipwracke 〈◊〉 any of our shoares or coasts our Gouernours and Officers shall cause search to be made for their goods and shall aide and helpe them faithfully therein and the goods gathered together shall be restored to the English Merchants who shall be at that time in our Kingdomes and if there shall be at that time none of the English Merchants or people in our Kingdomes the said goods shall be taken and laid vp in safety and deliâ—ered without delay to the English Merchants when they shall câ—me into our Countrey and shall challenge the same Further of our gracious goodnesse we gaue free leaue to the English Merchants and Company to keepe the house in Mosco by Saint Maxsime behinde the Market place and shall remaine after their old manner and therein shall haue one housekeeper a Russe or else one of their owne Seruants but no other Russe people the houses which the English Merchants haue in other places of our Dominions aâ— at Yereslaue Vologda Collm and at Saint Michaell Archangell they shall keepe and vse at their pleasure according to our former gracious fauour without paying any duetie rent taxe or any manner of custome whatsoeuer neither shall the people of the said Townes take any thing of them of theirs for any duetie whatsoeuer belonging to their houses and the said English Merchants shall enioy their said houses peaceably to themselues without the annoyance of any Stranger or other to lodge in them whether in time of their being there or in their absence And in their houses at Yereslaue Vologda Collmogro and Archangell they shall likewise haue a housekeeper of their owne people or of our Subiects a man or two of the meaner sort but so that those our people be no merchants Their Housekeeper being a Russe shall not vndertake to meddle or sell any of their wares without themselues be present and they the English Merchants by vertue of this our gracious Letters of priuiledge shall lay their wares and commodities in their owne houses and sell them to whom they please And it shall be lawfull for the said Merchants when they shall arriue at our Sea Port to lade and vnlade their Merchandizes as in times past at their pleasures and when they lade or vnlade their Shippes it shall be lawfull for them to hire any of our Subiects to helpe them and shall haue leaue to carry their goods to and fro with their owne Vessels and howse them in their owne Ware-houses onely they shall giue a note vnder their hand to our Gouernours Customers or sworne men what goods they bring in and Shippe out Whereby it may be knowne what goods commeth in and goeth out of our Kingdomes but in no wise our Officers shall open or vnpacke any of their Wares or Merchandize in any place wheresoeuer Also when the English Merchants shall Shippe or transport any of their Countrie Commodities from Saint Michaell Archangell to our royall Citie of Mosco or Russe Commodities into their owne Countrie our authorised Officers and Customers by vertue of this our Imperiall Letters of priuiledge shall suffer them to passe with their goods in and out without doing them any manner of hindrance And whensoeuer any of the said English Merchants or Factors shall haue occasion to send ouerland out of our Dominions any of their people or Seruants into their owne Countrie ouerland they shall freely passe by this our speciall command onely they are to take a passe letter from our Chancellour of the Office of Embassie And whosoeuer in any of our Cities shall haue any matter against the English Merchants by way of coâ—tention we command that none of our Gouernours nor other of our Officers doe iudge the English Merchants their Factors or people neither shall they send Officers for them except for matter of murther or theft and thâ—â— also not to be done but by manifest tâ—ken thereof but the English Merchants their Factors and people shall onely haue triall and be iudged in our Imperiall Citie of Mosco by vertue of this our gracious Letters of priuiledge before our Chancellour in this Office of Embassie and in no other place or Towne and he to heare their causes and to giue iustice betweene both parties according to
equitie and right and where the truth cannot be found out by Law it shall be referred to oath and lot and on whom soeuer the lot fals to him shall the right be adiudged And if any of the English Merchants in any of our Citie within our Kingdomes doe complaine of any wrong offered them by our people for debts growing by trade or otherwise we command our Gouernours and all other our authorised people that they presently minister true iustice vnto them And for any wrong or other matter of controuersie that the English Merchant shall haue against any of our Subiects our Gouernours and other our authorised people vpon their complaint for all controuersies matters of debt excepted shall giue our Subiects so offending vpon suretie setting them time to appeare at Mosco to answere the same with the English Merchants face to face before our Chancellour in the Office of Embassy and in these matters our Chancellour shall truely examine the businesse and minister true iustice and what by examination cannot be found shall be referred as before to oath and lot the Iudges and Iustices through our Dominions shall take no kinde of duetie of the English Merchants for their matters of Law We will and command that those our Imperiall gracious Letters of priuiledge be strictly obserued in all points in all parts of our Dominions and by all our Subiects Gouernours Secretaries and other Officers without disobeying in any thing And whosoeuer shall not obey this our Princely and gracious Letters of priuildge but shall offer wrong to the English Merchants those our Subiects shall be with vs in our high displeasure Thâ—se our gracious Letters of priuiledges are sealed with our Imperiall Seale of Gold in our Princely Pallace of our Imperiall Citie of Mosco in the yeare from the Worlds creation 7129. in the moneth of May the eleuenth day Subscribed by our Imperiall Maiesties Chancellour of our Office of Embassy and our priuie Chancellour Euan Corbatouesin Gramotin BVt it is now high time to leaue Russia and all that Barbarous shoare of Samotees and Tartars onely we will borrow helpe of some Barbarians to shippe vs thence to Sea And although Finch Gourdon and others haue in the former Booke inserted so great light yet seeing Master Marsh hath entertained other guides we will take Sea by Ob and thence set forth on further discoueries CHAP. XII Notes concerning the discouery of the Riuer of Ob taken out of a Roll written in the Russian tongue which was attempted by the meanes of ANTONIE MARSH a chiefe Factor for the Moscouie Company of England 1584. with other notes of the North-east FIrst he wrote a Letter from the Citie of Mosco in the yeare 7092. after the Russe accompt which after our accompt was in the yeare 1584. vnto foure Russes that vsed to trade from Colmogro to Pechora and other parts Eastward whose answere was By writings receiued from thee as also by reports wee vnderstand thou wouldest haue vs seeke out the mouth of the Riuer Ob which we are content to doe and thou must giue therefore fiftie rubbles it is requisite to goe to seeke it out with two Cochimaes or companies and each Cochima must haue ten men and wee must goe by the Riuer Pechora vpwards in the Spring by the side of the Ice as the Ice swimmeth in the Riuer which will aske a fortnights time and then we must fall into Ouson Riuer and fall downe with the streame before we come to Ob a day and a night in the spring Then it will hold vs eight dayes to swimme downe the Riuer Ob before we come to the mouth therefore send vs a man that can write and assure thy selfe the mouth of Ob is deepe On the Russe side of Ob soiourne Samoeds called Vgorskai Sibierskie Samoeds and on the other side dwel another kinde of Samoeds called Monganet or Mongaseisky Samoeds We must passe by fiue Castles that stand on the Riuer of Ob. The name of the first is Tesuoi Gorodok which standeth vpon the mouth of the Riuer Padon The second small Castle is Nosoro-gorodock and it standeth hard vpon the side of Ob. The third is called Necheiour-goskoy The fourth is Charedmada The fift is Nadesneà a that is to say The Castle of comfort or trust and it standeth vpon the Riuer Ob lowermost of all the former Castles toward the Sea Heretofore your people haue bin at the said Riuer of Obs mouth with a Ship and there was made shipwracke and your people were slaine by the Samoeds which thought that they came to rob and subdue them The Trees that grow by the Riuer are Firres and a kinde of white soft and light Firre which we call Yell. The bankes on both sides are very high and the water not swift but still and deepe Fish there are in it as Sturgeons and Cheri and Pidle and Nelma a dainty fish like white Salmons and Moucoun and Sigi and Sterlidi but Salmons there are none Not farre distant from the maine at the mouth of Ob there is an Island whereon resort many wilde beasts as white Beares and the Morses and such like And the Samoeds tell vs that in the winter season they oftentimes finde there Morses teeth If you would haue vs trauell to seeke out the mouth of Ob by Sea we must goe by the Isles of Vaygats and Noua Zembla and by the Land of Matpheone that is by Matthewes Land And assure thy selfe that from Vaygats to the mouth of Ob by Sea is but a small matter to sayle Written at Pechora the yeare 7092. the twenty one of February Master MARSM also learned these distances of places and Ports from Caninos to Ob by Sea FRom Caninos to the Bay of Medemske which is somewhat to the East of the Riuer Pechora is seuen dayes sayling The Bay of Medemsky is ouer a day and a halfe sayling From Medemske Sanorost to Carareca is sixe dayes sayling From Carska Bay to the farthest side of the Riuer Ob is nine dayes sayling The Bay of Carska is from side to side a day and a nights sayling He learned another way by Noua Zembla and Matthuschan Y ar to Ob more North-eastward From Caninos to the Iland of Colgoieue is a day a nights sayling From Colgoieue to Noua Zembla are two dayes sayling There is a great Osera or Lake vpon Noua Zembla where wonderfull store of Geese and Swannes doe breede and in moulting time cast their feathers which is about Saint Peters day and the Russes of Colmogro repaire thither yearely and our English men venter thither with them seuerall shares in money they bring home great quantitie of Doune-Feathers dried Swannes and Geese Beares skinnes and Fish c. From Naromske Reâ—a or Riuer to Mattuschan Y ar is sixe dayes sayling From Mattuschan Y ar to the Peronologli Teâ—pla that is to say To the warme passage ouer-land compassing or sayling round
the moneth of May. This day we saw great store of Gulles which followed our Ship sundry dayes The eight and twentieth the winde being at North and by West wee directed our course to the Westward and about twelue of the clocke the same night we descried the land of America in the latitude of 62. degrees and 30. minutes which we made to be Warwicks foreland This Headland rose like an Iland And when we came neere the Foreland we saw foure small Ilands to the Northwards and three small Ilands to the Southward of the same Foreland The Foreland was high land all the topâ— of the hils were couered with Snow The three small Ilands to the Southward were also white that we could not discerne them from Ilands of Ice also there was great store of drift Ice vpon the Eastside of this Foreland but the Sea was altogether voide of Ice the Land did lye North and by East and South and by West being six leagues of length The nine and twentieth at sixe of the clocke in the morning wee were within three leagues of this Foreland then the winde came vp at North-east and by East a good stiffe gale with fogge and wee were forced to stand to the Southward because wee could not wether the Land to the Northward and as wee stood to the Southward along by Warwicks Foreland we could discerne none otherwise but that it was an Iland Which if it fall out to be so then Lâ—â—leys Inlet and the next Southerly Inlet where the great Current setteth to the West must of necessitie be one Sea which will be the greatest hope of the passage that way The thirtieth the winde was at North-east with fogge and Snow This day wee came into a great whirling of a Current being in the latitude of 61. degrees and about twelue leagues from the coast of America The first day of Iuly the winde was at West with fogge and Snow the ayre being very cold This day wee came into many Ouerfals which seemed to runne a great current but which way it did set wee could not well discerne The greatest likelihood was that it should set to the West But hauing contrary windes some sixteene or seuenteene dayes we alwayes lay in trauerse among these ouerfals but could neuer finde any great current by our courses wee sounded sometimes but could get no ground in one hundred and twentie fathomes The second day wee descried a maine Banke of Ice in the latitude of 60. degrees the winde was at North North-west and very faire weather Wee wanting fresh water did sayle close to this Land of Ice and hoysed out our Boate and loaded her twice with Ice which made vs very good fresh water Within twenty leagues of the coast of America wee should oftentimes come into many great ouerfals Which doth manifestly shew that all the coast of America is broken Land The third the winde was at South-west very foggie and as wee stood toward the coast of America wee met with another maine Banke of Ice The fogge was so thicke that we were hard by the Ice before wee could see it But it pleased God that the winde was faire to put vs cleare from this Ice againe and presently it began to cleare vp so that wee could see two or three leagues off but we could see no end of the Ice Wee iudged this Ice to be some tenne leagues from the coast of America We found the water to be very blackish and thicke like puddle water The eight the winde was at North North-west very faire weather wee standing to the Westwards met with a mighty maine Banke of Ice which was a great length and breadth and it did rest close to the shoare And at eleuen of the clocke in the forenoone wee descried againe the Land of America in the latitude of 63. degrees and 53. minutes being very high Land and it did rise as Ilands the toppes being couered with Snow This Land was South-west and by West some fiue leagues off vs we could come no neerer it for the great quantitie of Ice which rested by the shoare side The ninth the winde being at North-east and by Last blew so extreamely that we were forced to stand to the Southward both to cleare our selues of the Land and of the Ice for the day before we passed a great banke of Ice which was some foureteene leagues to the Eastward of vs when the storme began but thankes be to God we cleared our selues both of the Land and of the Ice This day in the afternoone the storme grew so extreame that we were forced to stand along with our forecourse to the Southward The seuenteenth was very foggie the winde being at East and about two of the clocke in the afternoone wee saw foure great Ilands of Ice of a huge bignesse and about foure of the clocke we came among some small scattered Ice and supposed our selues to be neere some great Banke The fogge was very thicke but the winde large to stand backe the same way wee came in or else it would haue indangered our liues very much And at nine of the clocke at night we heard a great noyse as though it had bin the breach of some shoare Being desirous to see what it was we stood with it and found it to be the noyse of a great quantity of Ice which was very loathsome to be heard Then wee stood North North-west and the fogge continued so thicke that wee could not see two Shippes length from vs whereupon we thought good to take in some of our sayles and when our men came to hand them they found our sayles ropes and tacklings so hard frozen that it did seeme very strange vnto vs being in the chiefest time of Summer The eighteenth day the winde was at North-east and by North the ayre being very cleere and extreame cold with an exceeding great frost and our course was North-west This day in the forenoone when we did set our sayles we found our ropes and tacklings harder frozen then they were the day before which frost did annoy vs so much in the vsing of our ropes and sayles that wee were enforced to breake off the Ice from our ropes that they might runne through the blockes And at two of the clocke in the afternoone the winde began to blow very hard with thicke fogge which freezed so fast as it did fall vpon our sayles ropes and tackling that we could not almost hoyse or strike our sayles to haue any vse of them This extreame frost and long continuance thereof was a maine barre to our proceeding to the Northward and the discouraging of all our men The nineteenth day the winde was at North and by East and our course to the Eastwards The same night following all our men conspired secretly together to beare vp the helme for England while I was asleepe in my Cabin and there to haue kept mee by force vntill I had sworn