left them all to picke strawes on the ground for indeed this was one of those Serpents Their custome is as they say to put themselues in ambush among the boughes of a Tree and when they espie their prey to draw neere bee it Man or Beast they fall vpon him with open mouth and deuoure it There are also store of Lions Leopards and Tigers and there the Fruits begin to resemble those of these parts but the Fruit which aboue all others aboundeth there is the Mirabolan Thence I sent forwards to Canton the principall Citie of all China some three Moneths trauell distant beyond which there is no passage say any body what hee will to the contrary for neuer any man proceeded further except as they say sixe Iesuites who dwelled twentie yeeres at Canton as well to learne the Language perfectly as to let their hayre to grow long after the Countrey manner of whom there was neuer since heard any newes nor is their hope euer to see their returne That people is very white and apparelled as is abouesayd they are likewise Gentiles and worship the same Image with three heads Their Women of the better sort and qualitie which are able to liue of their owne without working neuer goe out of their houses but as they are carryed in a Chayre And to that effect from their Inâ—ancie they put their feete into certayne woodden Slippers to make them stump-footed and impotent in so much as they are not able to goe the reason they alleadge for it is that Women were made to no other end then to keepe at home The Christians are not permitted to lye within the Citie but as soone as Night approaches they must retire themselues to their Ships being lawfull for them to Traffâ—que wheresoeuer they please by Day-light And for their traffique what rarities soeuer there bee throughout all China are to bee had in this Citie which are diligently brought thither to wit great store of cloath of Gold and Silke Cabinets wrought Vessels Venus shells Massiue gold and many other things They will exchange or barter Gold for twice as much waight in Siluer for they haue no coyned money for when they would buy any thing they carrie with them a piece of Gold and will cut off as much as they intend to bestow on what they take They make carued Images of Siluer which they erect heere and there through the Streets and no body dares touch them The Citie is gouerned by foure Rulers and each one hath his Gouernment or Circuit apart secluded from each other those of one quarter dare not goe and labour in another and those which cause themselues to bee carryed from one part to another must change their Bearers when they come to the Gate of the next circuit those Gates are opened eury morning and shut euery night vnlesse there bee any complaint made of some misdemeanour committed within the Circuit for then they shut them suddenly or if they bee shut they open them not till the offender be found The King bestowes these commands on those who are best Learned This is a most faire Citie and well built very neare as bigge as Paris but there the Houses are arched and nothing neare so high There is so much Sugar in that Countrey that it is by them very little set by yet is Silke in faâ—re more great abundance but withall more course then ours by reason of their store being so great as they are constrayned to make it abroad in the Fields on the very Trees in this wise when the Wormes are hatched whereof the Egges are farre greater then ours They obserue what quantitie of Wormes each Tree will bee able to feede then they lay so many on it leauing them there without any more adoe except it bee to gather the cods when they are ready to bee spunne which is done as they gather Apricocks for indeed a farre off they appeare to bee so and is a very fine sight to behold they vse a strange kinde of Fishing with Cormorants They tie their neckes a little aboue their stomackes lest they should deuour the Fish they take then comming to their Master hee pulleth it aliue out of their throates Likewise for water Fowle they make vse of great Bottles with two holes which they leaue floating vp and downe the water a good while to acquaint the Fowles therewith then some fellowes will wade vp to the necke in the water thrusting their heads into those Bottles and hauing a bagge vnderneath come as neere the Fowle as they will taking them with their hands without the rest being afraid of it VOYAGES AND DISCOVERIES OF THE NORTH PARTS OF THE WORLD BY LAND AND SEA IN ASIA EVROPE THE POLARE REGIONS AND IN THE NORTH-WEST OF AMERICA THE THIRD BOOKE CHAP. I. A Treatise of Russia and the adioyning Regions written by Doctor GILES FLâ—TCHER Lord Ambassadour from the late Queene Euer-glorious ELIZABETH to THEODORE then Emperour of Russia A. D. 1588. THe Countrey of Russia was sometimes called Sarmatia It changed the Name as some doe suppose for that it was parted â—nto diuers small and yet absolute Gouernments not depending nor being subject the one to the other For Russâ— in that tongue doth signifie as much as to Part or Diuide The Russe reporteth that foure Brethren Trubor Rurico Sinees and Variâ—â—s diuided among them the North parts of the Countrey Likewise that the South parts were possessed by foure other Kia Sciâ—kâ— Choranus their and sister Libeda each calling his Territorie after his owne Name Of this partition it was called Russia about the yeere from Christ 860. As for the conjecture which I finde in some Cosmographers that the Russe Nation borrowed the name of the people called Roxellani and were the very same Nation with them it is without all good probabilitie both in respect of the Etymologie of the word which is very farre fetcht and especially for the seate and dwelling of that people which was betwixt the two Riuers of Tanaia and Boristhones as Strabo reporteth quite another way from the Countrey of Russia When it bare the name of Sarmatia it was diuided into two chiefe parts the White and the Blacke The White Sarmatia was all that part that lyeth towards the North and on the side of Liefland as the Prouinces now called Duyna Vagha Vstik Vologda Cargapolia Nouogradâ—a c. whereof Nouogrod velica was the Metropolite or chiefe Citie Blacke Sarmatia was all that Country that lyeth Southward towards the Euxin or Black Sea as the Dukedome of Volodemer of Mosko Rezan c. Some haue thought that the name of Sarmatia was first taken from one Sarmates whom Moses and Iosephus call Asarmathes Sonne to Ioktan and nephew to Heber of the posteritie of Sem. But this seemeth to bee nothing but a conjecture taken out of the likenesse of the name Asarmathes For the dwelling of all Ioktans posteritie is described by Moses to haue beene
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
sound the common people thinke the soules of the damned to be tormented heere it is certayne that diuers and horrible spirits are obserued in this Mountayne and about it for if a Battaile be fought in any place the Islanders especially they that sayle and fish in the Sea neere to Hecla know the day of the Battaile fought although they know not where it be done for they see as they report wicked spirits going forth and returning and bringing soules with them And such a storie is repâ—rted all Island ouer A Fisherman sayling by Hecla met with another ship both had a prosperous wind and when after the manner of Saylers he was demanded who hee was and of what place hee answered that hee had the Bishop of Breme in his ship whom hee would conuay to Hecla and it was knowne that the Bishop dyed the same day which notwithstanding I would not set downe for truth If any perish by Sea or otherwise dye sometimes leauing their Friends and Acquaintance they appeare very heauie being demanded whither they goe and from whence they answere they are brought to Hecla vnder a cruell Master the Deuill and so vanish And they are so bewitched of Satan that they thinke them the soules of the departed But because no man that is well in his wits will thinke that Hell is in this Mountayne yet it may be demanded whence the Hill hath this matter whereby it should bring forth so many yeeres flames so many ashes and such abundance of Pumis stones For wee see the most sollid and firme bodies and all things to be consumed by fire and for that cause some thinke that it shall come to passe that these flames shall once be extingished for the cause fayling they deny that any effects can follow But heere what I thinke I will freely speake yet sauing other mens judgements It is manifest by watry Meteors that there is a continuall generation of water by the vapours gathered together in the cauities of the Earth which issueth forth by Fountayns but the efficient and materiall causes abiding perpetually the effects also continually remayne so also in the bowels of the Earth there are certayne places which by their owne nature draw vnto them a hote and dry exhalation and that it resolues it into flames ashes and Pumis stones which may easily be done in this Mountayne by reason of the Sulphur matter which is found in Island throughout the whole Land And as Fountaynes send forth more abundance of water in the Winter time then in the Summer nay some of them are dry because matter failes so is it with this Mountayne for sometimes matter failing it hath neither flames nor smoke and all is quiet whereby it appeareth that the matter and efficient cause faile Howeuer it bee I know this that no man may come to the foot of the Mountayne without danger and feare as hereafter shall be declared The same yeere I was in Island the nine and twentieth of Nouember about midnight in the Sea neere Hecla there appeared a flame which gaue light to the whole Iland so that all of vs astonished wondred and carefully expected the issue thereof the elder sort and such as were skilfull in this matter said that this light came from Hecla an houre after the whole Iland trembled as it should haue beene moued out of the place after the Earthquake followed a horrible cracke that if all warlike Ordnance had beene discharged it had beene nothing to this terrour It cannot be thought much lesse expressed by word how horrible it was Wee thought that the whole frame of the World would fall and that the last Day was at hand but it was knowne afterwards that the Sea went backe two leagues in that place and remayned dry About the beginning of Iuly at a certayn time of the yeere great store of Ice suddenly floteth to the Iland about Hecla and there goes a rumour through the whole Iland nay it is beleeued that the damned soules are tormented in this Ice by course in the Flame in the Mountayne and after in the Ice This Ice for three whole moneths swimmeth only about Hecla If you take any part of this Ice out of the Sea and wrap it in a linnen cloth and lay it vp in a Chest it remayneth so long vnmelted as it swimmeth in the Sea but if the Ice in the Sea vanish which suddenly in one night happeneth this appeareth not nor leaueth any signe of moysture in the linnen cloth which is not a hard thing for Satan to doe to take away the Ice without moysture to increase their incredulitie Olaus Magnus maketh mention of this Ice in his eleuenth Booke But because I determined to search out all things diligently I sayled not without great feare vnto this Ice and I obserued that this Ice was violently cast against the Rockes by force of the winds and so made a mournfull sound afarre off as if miserable howlings were heard there Hereupon the Islanders thinke the soules of the damned are tormented in this Ice Of the Riches of the Islanders I Haue said that Island was a rough and snowie Countrey and besides it is full of Rockes and stones and so truly that there is not a field in the whole Iland they haue not so much as Gardens wherein they may haue Pot-herbes or Pulse they know no kinde of Corne nor Apples Peares nor Cheries nor any fruit of Trees And which is almost incredible they neither vse Bread nor Salt yet they are well liking and strong There is no Citie in the whole Iland they seldome haue two or three dwellings together They haue their Cottages on the Sea side for fishing and vnder ground by reason of the fierce windes There is no lone of money among them for wares are changed for wares Brimstone groweth on the South part and almost throughout the whole Iland which is digged out in great abundance they sell this stuffe purged for a small price Mines of Gold or Siluer nor of any other mettall they haue none They vse Iron but such as is brought vnto them You shall scarse finde a man who hath not Iron Nayles in a Bagge wherewith Horse-shooes are fastened All their houses are vnder ground for they haue no matter for building There is not a tree in the whole Iland except the Birch-tree and that in one place which also exceedeth not the stature of a man in length and that by reason of the vehemencie of the winds that it cannot grow higher This Birch-tree after the Summer Solstitium beginnes first to bud the leaues haue a most sweet smell and of so fragrant a sauour that the Germanes put them in their Tents and vpon their meats for a singular delight Yet sometimes great abundance of Firre-trees from Tartaria or else-where carried by force of the waues and the Ice arriued in Island The chiefe vse of them is in building Cabbins vnder the ground you shall scarsly find a
the same power In the Prouinces of Nicaragua and the Rich Coast one in the Iland of Cuba one Gouernour and Captaine which is resident in the Citie of Saint Christopher of the Auana there are besides the Gouernours of the Iland of Saint Iohn of Porte-rico Venezuela Soconusco Yucatan Cozuâ—el and Tabasco which is all one gouernment with authoritie to commend the Indians His Maiestie prouideth also the gouernments of Honduras the Margarite Florida new Bisquie Dorado those of the new Realme of Lion and that of Pacanoras Ygualsango which are for terme of life and the same in the Prouinces of Choco Quixos the Cynamom Ilands of Salomon Sancta Cruz of the Hill and the last is that of the new Andalusia Likewise there are prouided by his Maiestie the Rulerships following The Cuzco the Citie of the Plate and the seate of the mynes of Potosi and the prouince of Chicuito the Andes of Cuzco the citie of Truxillo Arrequipa Saint Iames of Guayaquil Guamanga the citie of the Peace Chiquiabo Saint Iohn of the Frontier Lion of Guanuco Old Hauen Zamora the inhabiting of the mynes of the Zacatecas in new Galicia Cuenca Loxa Tunja the citie of Mexico the citie of the Kings the prouince of Nicoya Chiefe Iusticeships are those of the village of Saint Sauiour of the prouince of Guatemala the inward part of Hispaniola Nombre de Dios the village of Chuluteca prouince of the Chiapa Zapotlitan the village of Nata Sancta Marie of the victorie in Tabasco And the chiefe Bayliwickes are in the citie of Saint Dominicke in Mexico in Guadalajara Saint Iames of Guatemala Panama holy Faith of Bogota Saint Francis of Quito the citie of the Kings the Plata In the Cities recited in euery one is a chiefe Bayliefe which hath a voice in Councell as a Ruler and Deputies named for the vse of his Office and in euery Court is another chiefe Bayliefe with facultie to name other two Deputies For the gouernment of the goods Royall are prouided by his Maiestie with the opinion of the supreme Councell of the Indies many Officers Factors Treasurers Tellers and Ouer-seers which all doe giue assurance in Castile and in the Indies of good and faithfull administration and because this new Commonwealth doth augment so much it seemed behoofefull to the seruice of God and of the King to ennoble and authorize it more with placing two Vice-royes one in New Spaine another in the Kingdomes of Piru that in the Kings name they should gouerne and prouide the things belonging to the seruice of God and of the King and to the conuersion and instruction of the Indians sustayning continuing inhabiting and ennobling of the said Kingdomes which experience hath shewed that it hath beene conuenient to the which Vice-royes instructions are giuen very particular of that which is recited and that they may haue in protection the holy office of the Inquisition and with their strong arme to defend and protect it that this conformitie as a fast knot may be the pure and true preseruation of the spirituall and temporall Estate which is the best and truest estate and most according to the Euangelicall estate The Vice-royes are commanded also and likewise the Iudges not to haue houses proper nor to trafficke nor contract nor be serued of the Indians neither haue any Grangeries nor meddle in Armies nor Discoueries that they receiue no guifts nor presents of any person nor borrow mony nor any thing to eate nor pleade nor receiue arbitrements That no Lawyer may plead where his father father in law brother in law cousin or sonne is Iudge That no Vice-roy President Iustice Iudge of the criminall Cases Solicitor nor their children may marry in the Indies That no Gouernours Rulers nor their Deputies may buy Lands nor build Houses nor trafficke in their iurisdiction That they may not farme the Bayliwickes nor Iaylorships nor other offices That no Gouernour Ruler nor chiefe Bayliefe during the time of his office may marry in the bounds of his iurisdiction That no Iudge be prouided for a Ruler neither shall the said Iudges or Bayliefs haue any charge in which they are to make any absence from their offices neither shall any office of iustice be giuen to the sonnes sonne in law brothers in law nor fathers in law of Presidents Iustices nor Solicitors nor to the Officers of the Courts and of the goods Royal neither to seruants nor allied of theirs and the same is commanded the Vice-royes And that none of the abouesaid Ministers doe accept warrant for recoueries nor other things nor serue themselues of the Indians without paying them That no Aduocate Scriueneâ— nor Relator doe dwell in the house of Iudge nor Bayliefe nor the Suiters serue the Iudges That the Iudges of Panama doe not accompanie themselues with the Dealers nor giue leaue to their wiues to accompanie them And that no Iustices of all the Courts shall haue much communication with the Suiters Aduocates nor Atturneys neither in body of a Court to goe to Marriages Funerals nor Spousals except it be a very weighty matter neither visite any Neighbour for any cause That they doe not meddle in matters of the Commonwealth nor any Iustice nor other minister of the Court may haue two offices in it And besides these many other Ordinances and good Lawes which are all concerning administration of iustice ANd because these Catholike Kings haue left nothing which most wisely they haue not prouided for according to their dutie the first thing they command the Vice-royes and all the Ministers in generall and particular is the good vsage of the Indians and their preseruation and the accomplishing of the Orders which are made as touching this for to punish the Offenders with great rigour and as the Indians doe learne the Castillan policie and can complaine and know in what things they receiue wrong for their greater ease it is prouided that they giue no place that the ordinarie writings be made in the suites betweene or with the Indians neither make any delayes as it is wont to happen by the malice of some Aduocates and Atturneys but that summarily they be determined keeping their vses and customes not being manifestly iniust and that by all meanes possible they doe prouide the good and short dispatch of them And hauing notice that in the interpretation of the Indians languages there were some fraudes for to preuent all it was ordayned that euery interpretation be made by two Interpreters which shall not confer both together about that which is controuerted by the Indian and that before they be receiued to the vse of the office they shall take their oath to administer it faithfully and that they receiue no guifts of the Indians suiters nor of others That they doe assist at the Agreements Courts and visitations of the Prisons That in their houses they heare not the Indians but to carry them to the Court. That the Interpreters be not Solicitors not
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
towards the water at the which they take Boate to goe where they list And although this Citie is founded vpon water yet the same water is not good to drinke whereof there is brought by conduit water from a place called Capultepec three miles distant from the Citie which springeth out of a little hill at the foote whereof standeth two Statues or couered Images wrought in stone with their Targets and Lances the one is of Mutezuma and the other of Axaiaca his Father The water is brought from thence in two Pipes or Canals in great quantity and when the one is foule then all the water is conueied into the other till the first be made cleane From this Fountaine all the whole Citie is prouided so that they goe selling the same water from streete to streete in little Boates and doe pay a certaine tribute for the same This Citie is diuided into two streetes the one was called Tlatelulco that is to say a little Iland and the other Mexico where Mutezuma his dwelling and Court was and is to be interpreted a Spring This streete is the fairest and most principall and because of the Kings Pallace there the Citie was named Mexico although the old and first name of the Citie was Tenuchtitlan which doth signifie Fruite out of stone for the name is compounded of Tetl which is Stone and Nuchtlâ— which is a Fruite in Cuba and Hispaniola called Tunas the Tree or to speake properly the Thistle that beareth this fruite is named Nopal and is nothing almost but leaues of a footebroad and round and three inches thicke some more and some lesse according to the growth full of thornes which are venemous the leafe is greene and the thorne or pricke russet After that is planted it encreaseth growing leafe vnto leafe and the foote thereof commeth to be as the body of a tree and one leafe doth onely produce another at the point but at the sides of the same leaues proceede other leaues In some Prouinces where water is scant they vse to drinke the iuice of these leaues The fruite thereof called Nuchtli is like vnto Figges and euen so hath his little kernels or graines within but they are somewhat larger and crowned like vnto a Medler There are of them of sundry colours some are greene without and Carnationlike within which haue a good taste Others are yellow and others white and some speckled the best sort are the white it is a fruite that will last long Some of them haue the taste of Peares and othersome of Grapes it is a cold and a fresh fruite and best esteemed in the heate of Summer The Spaniards doe more esteeme them then the Indians The more the ground is laboured where they grow the fruite is so much the better There is yet another kinde of this fruite red and that is nothing esteemed although his taste is not euill but because it doth colour and dye the eaters mouth lippes and apparell yea and maketh his vrine looke like pure bloud Many Spaniards at their first comming into India and eating this Fruite were in a maze and at their wits end thinking that all the blood in their bodies came out in vrine yea and many Phisitions at their first comming were of the same beliefe for it hath happened when they haue bin sent for vnto such as haue eaten this fruite they not knowing the cause and beholding the vrine by and by they ministred medicine to stanch the bloud a thing ridiculous to see the Phisitians so deceiued Of this fruite Nuchtli and Tetl which is a Stone is compounded Tenuchtlitan When this City was begun to be founded it was placed neere vnto a great Stone that stood in the middest of the Lake at the foote whereof grew one of these Nopal trees and therefore Mexico giueth for armes and deuise the foot of a Nopal tree springing from a stone according to the Cities name Mexico is as much to say as a Spring or Fountaine according to the property of the vowell and speech Others doe affirme that Mexico hath his name of a more ancient time whose first Founders were called Mexiti for vnto this day the Indian dwellers in one streete of this City are called of Mexico The Mexiti tooke name of thir principallest Idoll called Mexitli who was in as great veneration as Vitzilopuchtli god of the warre Mexico is enuironed with sweet water and hath three wayes to come vnto it by cawsie the one is from the West and that cawsie is a mile and a halfe long Another from the North and containeth three miles in length Eastward the Citie hath no entrie But Southward the Cawsey is sixe miles long which was the way that Cortez entred into the Citie The Lake that Mexico is planted in although it seemteh one yet it is two for the one is of water saltish bitter and pestiferous and no kinde of fish liueth in it And the other water is wholesome good and sweet and bringeth forth small fish The salt water ebbeth and floweth according to the winde that bloweth The sweet water standeth higher so that the good water falleth into the euill and reuerteth not backward as some hold opinion The salt Lake contayneth fifteene miles in breadth and fifteene in length and more then fiue and fortie in circuit and the Lake of sweet water contayneth euen as much in such sort that the whole Lake contayneth more then thirtie leagues and hath about fiftie townes situated round about it many of which townes doe contayne fiue thousand housholds and some ten thousand yea and one towne called Tezcuco is as bigge as Mexico All this Lake of water springeth out of a Mountaine that standeth within sight of Mexico The cause that the one part of the Lake is brackish or saltish is that the bottome or ground is all salt and of that water great quantitie of salt is daily made In this great Lake are aboue two hundred thousand little boates which the Indians call Acalles and the Spaniards call them Canoas according to the speech of Cuba and Santo Domingo wrought like a kneading trough some are bigger then other some according to the greatnesse of the body of the tree whereof they are made And where I number two hundred thousand of these boats I speake of the least for Mexico alone hath aboue fiftie thousand ordinarily to carry and bring vnto the Citie victuall prouision and passengers so that on the market day all the streets of water are full of them The Market is called in the Indian tongue Tlanquiztli euery Parish hath his Market place to buy and sell in but Mexico and Tlatelulco onely which are the chiefest Cities haue great Faires and places fit for the same and especially Mexico hath one place where most dayes in the yeere is buying and selling but euery fourth day is the great Market ordinarily and the like custome is vsed throughout the Dominions of Mutezuma This place is wide and
yeeres old when he came vnto his Empire * or Gilam Succuir and Campion mentioned by M. Polo No passing into the Countrey Succuir described Rhubarbe described The Root and Iuyce and preparing A cold climate Six Saggi make an ounce Mambroni Cini The way of the Carauan betwixt Tauris and Campion in Catai Campion described Apparell Beaâ—ded men Houses Pageants Temples and Idols Huge carriages Anchorets Friars White mourners Printing â—ortification 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 Oxen. The Ieselbas or Green-head Tartars Chimia Simia Limia Prating mountebanks and Iuggling knaues Camboia Siam Champa King of Camboia a Bramene Probar missur Pralocussur Praput prasar mitri Men aliue worshipped Twenty seuen Heauens Thirteene Hels Massanchraches Nassendeches Mitires * As this word Tame in English The Tartars rather set forth fleets from China to these Exploits as in Polo you reade Liquos an Iland Cauchin china Daman an Iland Laos or Siones Maons 1559. Muske what it is Riuer of the Laos Merus are a kind of wild Asses Badas are the Rhinocerores by the forehead vnderstand the face for the horne is lower then the fore-head Chudurmuch Loeâ—h Sistor Strange oueruer-flow a fresh Riuer running vp without Sea-force The Brames The Patanes Wall of China Tartarian rodes into China See Pinto * Here followed the diuision of the Countrey into shires or Kingdomes with their Cities c. which wee referre to later and better Intelligence The wals of Cantan The Riuer and Town-ditch The Gates Draw-bridges Gate-courts Strait streets and paued Houses of Magistrates * Or little Court Sanctitie of Courts and reuerence of high Magistrates Great Prisons Priuate houses Temple and Mesquit Suburbes Store of people Victuals Suburbes Suburb-gates Watcheâ— Here followed much of other Cities but because the Author saw them not but receiued his intelligence from Perera I referre you to him Other China Cities High-wayes Galiote Perera * Which is therefore here omitted Store of shipping Riches of China in it selfe Prouerb Iunkes for war and for trade Ship-fights No Ordnance Sudibusve praeustis They vse Oares Small ships A kinde of Gallies Dwelling in ships * The husbâ—nds merchâ—ndise and the wiues huswâ—â—â—ry Duck-weeders Artificiall broods See an example in Panâ—oia oâ— this magnificence Ships for guard Fleetâ— Industry cause of plentie Idlenesse hated Almes derided Idle Idoll-Priests punished with vniust iustice of profane busie Rulers which made their soules the least and worst part of themselues and a God of their goods that is 9d Tyrannie growes poore by seeking to grow rich Thriftie husbandrie Nothing lost Paper of diuers matters Neat filth Pomps which goe by the feet Puppet playes Prouision for impotent persons See of thâ—se things Pinto Shoomakers Almes not almes the fruit of vâ—in glorie not of mercy Chaires Silkes Porcelane Fables of it How it is made Merchants Tables Rhubarbe Kings Customes x Or Quarters y Whiâ—h amounteth to 400000. pound weight of Siluer * Which is 40000. pound weight of Siluer Very Merchants Victuals Porke store Frogs Markets Herbs Fruits Lechias Victualling houses Encereâ—â—do Dogs flesh Fishing with Cormorants Their persons The Attire of the men Long haire Courtesie Cha drinke Great eaters Feasts Birth-dayes Night feasts New yeeres day Comedies Instâ—uments Armes and quarrels Funerall rites Mourning China womens customes and cloathes I haue many China Pictures which represent the women either with their feet wrapped vp or else very small their eyes also and noâ—es little c. of the rest as in the Map is seene Womens retirednesse Marriage Adulterie Witaldrie Harlots The bondage or slauerie of some in China Sir Master or Lord. Louthias of the Court Eunuchs The Tutom Lieutenant Deputie or Vice-roy The Ponchassi or Treasurer The Anchasi or chiefe Iustice. The Aitao or chiefe Captaine His Lieutenanâ— the Luthissi Each haue ten Assistants Ensignes of dignitie girdle and canopie The Taissu or Sheriffe The Chaen or Iudge of the Circuit or Visitor The Quinchais Commissioners extraordinarie The third yeeres Visitor Commencement or Act. Of this see more in the following Relations of the Iesuits Other sorts of Louthias Their Priuiledges Publike Officers wholly maintayned of the publike Houses for Officers Publike Innes Inferiour Officers Rest in age with dignitie Reuerence Nimia seueritas parit contentum Taa Manner of their pompâ— in the street Pompe of the greater Officers Chaen and Quinchays splendour Noyse and silence Manner of inquisition No Oathes Bribe-trickes Cane-whipping Much is here written of Prisons and Executions which I haue omitted * Huge Reeds or Canes Miserable euasion of misery Store of free-people and therefore store of bond by abused libertie and store The King his wiues children and seruants Embassadours priuiledges * Lopo Soarez was sent Vice-roy An. 1515. and sent this Perez with a fleet to China and therein Thomas Perez Embassadour who were well entertayned there But some Portugals vsurping Tamus a China-Iland and exercising all outrages caused T. Perez after 4. moneths trauell from Cantan to the Court to bee taken for a Spie and sent backe to Cantan where hee died in Prison among male-factors See Maffaeus l. 5 6 who seemeth to disagree or else his peoples act was aâ—cribed vnto him For hee had left 6. ships there when he went to Canton Disguised Intelligencers Portugals called Fancui and hated Name-policy Lawes of Nauigation Couetise lawlesse China Pirats Liampo Chincheo Namqui or Nanquin Disorders of outragious Chinois and insolent Portugals Briberie Mountayne Mouse-birth Spectatum admiss risum teneatis amici Pillory Coops Damnable vanitie The Kings Iustice. Manner of examination When theeues fall out The Quinchays magnificent ostentation Cautelous industrie * It is here abridged The Kings Sentence * In China and Siam they pay Custome by measuring the ship fâ—om poop to prow how many cubits it is oâ— * Pontoos are Sea-watches Butcherly insolence * Said in his heart or conâ—ceited himself Senfu and others rewarded x Red Caps are the ensigne of men condemned to 〈◊〉 the King in his frontiers against the Enemie The Tutan by hanging himselfe preuents the Hangman or proued the Hangman rather What became of the Portugals Heauen first both God and Character Omittoffois and their offerings * A Perfume so called Lots Cruell men to their foolish Gods Offerings The Deuill worshipped Paper Offerings Two sorts of Priâ—sts Monkes Seculars Feasts Traditionall Fables No noueltie Prouisions against stay of Strangers Notes Chinois Sodomites Plagues hapning in China Tuson a terrible tempest Vinyanfu swallowed vp Another Citie quiâ—e perished Leuchimen Hien Puchio Cochue Enchinoen Inchumen Sanxi Bloudie shower * You shal haue a more full description of the Country by later Authors who yet could not so well as this tell their iudiciall proceedings seueritie prisons executions c. these 13. are to be vnderstood besides the two royall Prouinces Pachin Pochang or Paquin or Pequim * Cambalu signifieth the same and so the Mogolls call this Citie Poste Horses Their months Excellent wals and an admirable bridge Magnificent stones Wayes paued bricked or pitched Culture
excellent Spices but the poorer sort shred it and lay it in Garlicke sawce and eate it as wee doe boyled meate Departing from the Citie of Iaci hauing trauailed ten dayes iourney westward yee come to the Prouince named as is the chiefe Citie Carazan which Cogatin sonne of Cublai gouerneth The Riuers there yeeld very much gold di paiola and also that which is more solid and the Mountaines gold of the veine and they giue one stone of gold for six of siluer They spend Porcelanes for money brought thither from India The Inhabitants are Idolaters very great Serpents are bred in this Countrey whereof some contayne ten paces in length and in thicknesse ten spannes They haue two little feet before nigh the head with three talons or clawes like Lions and the eyes bigger then a Groat loafe very shining They haue their mouthes and jawes so wide that they are able to swallow a man great and sharpe teeth nor is there any man or other liuing Creature which may behold those Serpents without terror there are found lesse of eight sixe or fiue paces long which are taken after this manner In the day time they vse to lie hid by reason of the heat in holes out of the which they goe by night to seeke their prey and deuoure whatsoeuer they get Lions Wolues or others and then goe to seeke water leauing such a tract with their weight in the sands as if some piece of timber had beene drawne there Whereupon the Hunters fasten vnder the sands sharpe Iron prickes in their vsuall tracts whereon they are wounded and slayne The Crowes presenâ—ly ring his knell and by their craing cries inuite the Hunters which come and slay him taking forth his gall profitable for diuers Medecines amongst other things for the biting of mad Dogs a penie weight giuen in Wine and far women in trauell for carbuncles and pushes and they sell the flâ—sh deare as being exceeding delicate There are bred great Horses in this Prouince which by Merchants are carried into India They vse to take one bone out of the tayle lest he should bend his tayle hither and thither and esteeme it more comely that it hang downe right They vse long Stirrups as the Frenchmen which the Tartars and other Nations 〈◊〉 their shooting vse short because when they shoot they rise vp They vse Targets and Armour in the Warres made of the hides of Buffals they haue Lances and Crosse-bowes and poyson all their Arrowes Some of them which are ill minded are said to carrie poyson about them contiâ—ually that if they be taken they may suddenly swallow it and death together to preuent tâ—râ—ure For which cause the great Lords haue Dogs dung ready which they force them to swallow and that forceth them to vomit the poyson Before the great Can subiected them they vsed that when any Stranger which seemed of good presence and parts lodged with them they slue him by night supposing that those good parts of that man might abide afterwards in that house and this was the death of many Going from the Prouince Carazan after fiue dayes iourney Westward is the Prouince Cardandan which also is subiect to great Can. The chiefe Citie thereof is called Vociam The Inhabitants thereof vse Porcelanes and weighed pieces of Gold in stead of money for in that Countrey and many other lying round about Siluer mines are not found and they giue one ounce of Gold for fiue ounces of Siluer and great gayne is made by the change The men and women of that Countrey couer their teeth with thinne plates of Gold which they so fit vnto them that the teeth themselues seeme as it were to be set in the plates The men about their armes and legs make lists pricking the places with Needles and putting thereon a blacke indelible tincture And these lists or markes are esteemed with them a great galantrie They giue their minds to nothing but riding hunting hawking and exercises of Armes leauing the houshold cares to the women who are helped therein by slaues which they buy or take in Warre When a woman is brought to bed shee forsakes the bed washeth the child and dresseth it and then the husband lieth downe and keepes the child with him fortie dayes not suffering it to depart is visited meane while of friends and neighbours to cheare and comfort him The woman lookes to the house carrie the husband his brâ—ths to his bed and giues sucke to the child by him Their Wine is made of Rice and Spice their meat Rice and raw flesh dressed as is before mentioned In this Prouince there are no other Idols saue that euery familie adoreth the oldest man in the house of whom they say come themselues and all they haue They dwell for the most part in wilde and mountainous places But Forrainers come not to those Mountaines because the ayre would kill them being in Summer very corrupt They â—aue no letters but make their Contracts and Obligations by tallies of wood the halfe whereof the one keepeth and the other the other which being afterward payd the tallie is rendred There are no Physicians in this Prouince nor in Caindu Vociam and Caraian but when any is sicke they call the Magicians or Idoll Priests together and he sicke partie declareth his disease vnto them then the Magicians dance and sound certaine instruments and bellow forth songs in honour of their Gods while at length the Deuill entreth into one of them skipping and playing in the dance Then leauing the dance they consult with him that is possessed for what cause that disease hapned vnto him and what is to be done for his recouerie The Deuill answereth by him because he hath done this or that or because he hath offended this or that God therefore he fell into this disease Then the Magicians intreat that God to pardon him that offence promising that if the sicke partie recouer he shall offer a Sacrifice of his owne bloud But if the Deuill thinke the weake partie to be sicke of such a disease that he cannot be freed from the same he vseth to answere This man hath so grieuously offended that God that he cannot by any sacrifices bee appeased But if he thinke he shall recouer he commandeth to offer so many Rammes hauing blacke heads and to prepare so many Magicians with their wiues by them to offer Sacrifices and that God may then bee appeased towards him Which being heard his kinsmen quickly cause those things to be done which the Deuill commanded they kill Rammes and sprinckle their bloud in the ayre and the Magicians assembled with their Witches light great Candles and perfume the whole house with incense making fume of Lignum Aloes and sprinckle the broth of the flesh in the ayre together with the potion made of Spices all which being duely performed they skip about againe in a dance in honour of that Idoll which is supposed to haue beene fauourable to
and knew all his life and had seene that Palace flourishing into which he would needs bring me The Viceroy now resides there and the first Galleries remayne as they were wont but the Damsells Chambers are ruined the wall also which encompassed the Woods and Gardens is fallen to the ground the Beasts and Trees being gone Twentie fiue miles from Quinsai is the Ocean betwixt the East and North-east neere to which is a Citie called Gampu a goodly Port where arriue the Indian ships of merchandise Whiles M. Marco was in Quinsai account being giuen to the Grand Can of the Reuenues and the number of the Inhabitants he hath seene that there haue beene enrolled one hundred and sixtie Toman of fires reckoning for a fire the Familie dwelling in one house euery Toman contayneth ten thousand which makes sixteene hundred thousand Families of all which there is but one Church of Christians and those Nestorians Euery house-holder is bound to haue written ouer his doore the names of the whole house-hold Males and Females also the number of Horses the names added or blotted out as the Familie increaseth or decreaseth And this is obserued in Mangi and Catay Those also that keepe Innes write in a Booke the names of their Guests and the day and houre of their departure which Booke they send daily to the Lords or Magistrates which reside at the Market-places In Mangi the poore which are not able to bring vp their children sell them to the rich The Reuenues which accrew to the Can from Quinsai and the others pertayning thereto being the ninth part of the Kingdome of Mangi are first of Salt euery yeere eightie Toman of gold euery Toman is eightie thousand Sazzi of gold and euery Sazzo is more then one Florin of gold which will amount to six Millions and foure hundred thousand Duckats The cause is that that Prouince being nigh the Sea there are many Lakes where the water in Summer is coagulated into Salt wherewith fiue other Kingdomes of that Prouince are serued There is store of Sugar growing which payeth as all other Spices doe three parts and a third in the hundred The like of Rice-wine Also those twelue mysteries which we said had twelue thousand shops and the Merchants which bring goods hither or carrie any hence by Sea pay the same price They which coâ—e from farre Countries and Regions as from the Indies pay ten per cento Likewise all things there breeding as Beasts and growing out of the Earth and Silke pay tithe to the King And the computation being made in the presence of M. Marco besides Salt before mentioned yeerely amounts to two hundred and ten Toman which will bee sixteene millions of gold and eight hundred thousand FRom Quinsai one dayes iourney to the South-east are all the way Houses Villages faire Gardens plentifull of Victuals at the end whereof is Tapinzu a faire and great Citie in the iurisdiction of Quinsai Three dayes thence South-east is Vgaiu and two dayes further may you ride that way all the way finding Castles Cities and cultiuated Places in such Neighbour-hood that they seeme to Trauellers all one Citie all in the same iurisdiction of Quinsai There are great Canes fifteene paces long and foure palmes thicke Two dayes iourney further is the Citie Gengui faire and great and trauelling further South-east are inhabited places full of People and Trades And in this part of Mangi are no Muttons but Beeues Buffals Goates and Swine in great plentie At the end of foure dayes iourney is found the Citie Zengian built on a Hill in the midst of a Riuer which with her parted Armes embraceth and encompasseth it and then runne one to the South-east the other to the North-west They are in the iurisdiction of Quinsai are Merchants Idolaters haue store of Game Three dayes iourney thence thorow a goodly Countrey exceedingly inhabited stands Gieza a great Citie the last of Quinsai Kingdome after which you enter into another Kingdome of Mangi called Concha The principall Citie thereof is Fugiu by the which you trauell six dayes iourney South-east thorow Hills and Dales alway finding places inhabited and store of Game of Beasts and Fowle They are Idolaters Merchants subiect to the Can. There are stout Lions there growes Ginger and Galingale plentie with other sorts of Spices eightie pounds of Ginger for a Venetian groat There is an herbe whose fruit hath the effect and giues the colour and smell of Saffron but is not Saâ—â—ron vsed in their meates They voluntarily eate mans flesh if they die not of sicknesse as daintier then others When they goe to Warres they shaue to the eares and paint their faces with azure they are all Foot saue the Captaine which rideth and vse Swords and Launces are very cruell and when they kill an Enemie presently drinke his bloud and after eate his flesh After those six dayes trauell is Quelinfu a great Citie with three Bridges each eight paces broad and aboue one hundred long the Women faire delicate and they haue store of Silke and Cotton are great Merchants haue store of Ginger and Galingale I was told but saw them not that they haue Hennes without feathers hayrie like Cats which yet lay Egges and are good to eate Store of Lions make the way dangerous After three dayes in a populous Countrey which are Idolaters and haue store of Silke is the Citie Vnguem where is great plentie of Sugar sent thence to Cambalu which they knew not to make good till they became subiect to the Can in whose Court were Babylonians which taught them to refine it with ashes of certayne Trees they before onely boyling it into a blacke paste Fifteene miles further is Cangiu still in the Realme of Concha and here the Can keepeth an Armie in readinesse for guard of the Countrey Thorow this Citie passeth a Riuer a mile broad fairely built on both sides and stored with Ships of Sugar and other lading This Riuer disembokes from hence fiue dayes iourney South-east at Zaitum a Sea Port from whence the rich Ships of India come to this pleasant and fertile Citie as is the way betwixt in which are Trees or Shrubs of Camfire Zaitum is a famous Port where many Ships arriue with merchandise thence dispersed thorow all India There is such store of Pepper that the quantitie which comes to Alexandria to the West is little to it and as it were one of a hundreth the concourse of Merchants is incredible it being one of the most commodious Ports of the World exceeding profitable to the Can which Custometh ten of the hundreth of all merchandise They pay so much for hire of ships also that there is not aboue one halfe of their merchandise remayning entire to themselues and yet is that moitie very gainfull to them The Citie is Idolatrous giuen to pleasure in it is much embroiderie and Arras worke The Riuer is great
thing is remarkable that the Author and the next who in many Geographicall Notes agrees with him diuide Asia into two parts one called profound or deepe the other the greater and diuided in the midst by the Caspian Sea and Caucasus which our Armenian cals Cocas which Alexander passed not nor was euer well knowne to the Ancients who called all beyond that Hill Scythia as wee now call the most of it by a generall name Tartaria Strabo hath made like diuision of Asia into the inner and vtter Taurus being the Vmpire which Hill with diuers Appellations beginning at Pamphylia runnes Eastwards thorow the midst of Asia to the Indies that part to the North beeing called Asia within Taurus and that to the South Asia without Some ancient Geographers as Dionysius mentions extended Europe to the Caspian Sea which most of the Ancients thought to concurre with the Ocean as the Mediterranean Arabian and Persian doe Dionysius his Verses are worth obseruation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. They called it Taurus as there followes of the Bull-forme c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hereof we are the more curious to giue to the more curious a reason of our method in this Worke who in our former Tome haue first encompassed the shoares of Asia from the West to the East and then in the In-land parts haue in the eight and ninth Bookes principally as Voyages gaue leaue viewed Asia without Taurus and to the South of the Caspian but this Profound or Inner more vnknowne part we suruay here where we handle the Voyages and Discoueries of those parts of the World which the Ancients knew very little or not at all And indeed how little was Mangi Cataio or Tartaria knowne till the Tartars obtruded vpon the World a terrible knowledge of themselues in manner as Rubruquius and the former Friers with these Gentlemen Polo and Haiton describe Yea how were they by ignorance of following times buried againe till Portugall English and other moderne Voyages haue reuiued them as it were in a resurrection and that often in new names as if they had suffered that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so often here rehearsed and so much credited in many Religions of those Easterne Asians whence it comes that they are hardly knowne to be the same The Reader must pardon me or go to the Author himselfe if I haue here omitted some pieces of Haiton which you haue had in Polo and others before specially not so pertinent to our present Tartarian subiect The figures note the Chapters after the Latine from which Ramusios Diuision is much diuided and we therefore from both CHAP. V. The Historie of AYTON or ANTHONIE the Armenian of Asia and specially touching the Tartars §. I. Of the Kingdome of Cathay and diuers other Prouinces of Asia and of the first habitation of the Tartars and of CANGIVS or CINGIS his beginnings THe Kingdome of Cathay is the greatest that is to be found in the World and is replenished with people and infinite riches beeing situated on the shoare of the Ocean Sea In the which there are so many Ilands that their number can no wayes be knowne For neuer was there any man that could say he had seene all those Ilands But those of them which haue beene frequented are found to abound with innumerable wealth and treasures and that which is there most esteemed and deerest sould is Oyle of Oliues which the Kings and Commanders there cause to be kept with great diligence as a Souereigne Medicinable thing And moreouer in the Kingdome of Cathay are many maruellous and monstrous things which I forbeare to mention The Inhabitants of those parts are exceeding wise and subtill replenished with all kind of skill and cunning insomuch that they disdaine the endeauours of all other Nations in all kind of Arts and Sciences saying that they only see with two Eyes the Latines but with one eye and that all other Nations are blind And albeit they are exceeding sharpe-sighted in the exercise of all bodily workes and labours yet is there not amongst them any knowledge of spirituall things the men of that Countrey are not bold or couragious but more fearefull of death then befitteth such as beare Armes yet are they very ingenious and haue oftner had victorie of their enemies by Sea then by Land the money vsed in those parts is of square peeces of Paper signed with the Kings signe according to which signe or marke the pieces are of greater or smaller value and if they begin by age to be wasted or worne out hee that bringeth them to the Kings Court shall haue new for them of Gold and other Metals they make Vessels and other ornaments Of this Kingdome of Cathay it is said that it is in the beginning of the World because the head thereof is in the East and there is not knowne any other Nation to inhabit more Easterly thereabouts on the West it confineth on the Kingdome of Tarsa on the North with the Desert of Belgian And on the South-side are the Ilands of the Ocean afore mentioned 2. In the Kingdom of Tarsa are three Prouinces whose Rulers are also called Kings the men of that Countrie are called Iogour they haue alwayes worshipped Idols and yet doe except the ten Kindreds of those Kings who by the guiding of a Starre came to worship the Natiuitie in Bethleem Iuda And there are yet found many great and noble among the Tartarians of that Race which hold firmely the Faith of Christ. But the rest which are Idolaters in those parts are of no estimation in matter of Armes yet are they of a piercing wit for the learning of all Arts and Sciences They haue peculiar Letters or Characters of their owne And almost all the Inhabitants of those parts abstayne from eating of flesh and drinking of Wine neither would they by any meanes bee brought to kill ought that hath life Their Cities are very pleasant and they haue great Temples in which they worship their Idols Corne groweth there abundantly and all good kind of Graine But they are without Wine and hold it a sinne to drinke it as doe also the Agarens This Kingdome of Tarsa on the East-side confineth with the Kingdome of Cathay as aforesaid on the West it bordereth on the Kingdome of Turquestan on the North on a certayne Desert and on the South-side it adioyneth to a very rich Prouince called Sym which is situate betweene the Kingdome of India and Cathaia and in that Prouince are found Diamonds 3. The Kingdome of Turquestan on the East side is confined with the Kingdome of Tarsa on the West side with the Kingdome of the Persians on the North side with the Kingdome of the Corasmians and on the South it reacheth out to the Desart of India In this Kingdome are but few good Cities but there are large Plaines and good feeding
desired him to thinke of deliuering the Holy Land out of the hands of the Pagans wherein he promised all his best endeauour and wished the King to send messengers to the Pope and to other Princes of Christendome for their assistance So Abaga hauing ordered the affaires of Turkie returned to the Kingdome of Corazen where hee had left his familie Bendecar the Soldan of Egypt after he had receiued such damage by the Tartars was poisoned died in Damascus whereof the Christians of those parts were very glad And the Saracens very sorrowfull for they had not his like after as they themselues commonly reported For his sonne called Melechahic succeeded him who was soone driuen out of his Dominion by one called Elsi who violently vsurping made himselfe Soldan 36. The time appointed being come when Abaga was to begin his warre against the Soldan of Egypt hee appointed his brother Mangodanior to goe to the Kingdome of Syria with thirtie thousand men being Tartars and couragiously to ouercome the Soldan if he came in battell against him or otherwise to take in the Castles and Holds of the Countrey and deliuer them to the Christians if the Soldan should shun the fight When Mangodanior with his Armie setting forward was come neere the Confines of Armenia hee sent for the King of Armenia who came presently vnto him with a goodly companie of Horse so that they entred the Kingdome of Syria and went spoyling and forraging till they came to the Citie Aman now called Camella which is seated in the midst of Syria Before this Citie lieth a faire great Playne where the Soldan of Egypt had assembled his Power intending to fight with the Tartarians And there the Saracen on the one side with the Christians and Tartars on the other side fought a great battell The King of Armenia with the Christians ruled and commanded the right wing of the Armie which inuaded the Soldans left wing manfully and put them to flight and pursued them three dayes iourney euen to the Citie Aman. Another part of the Soldans Armie was also routed by Amalech a Tartarian Captaine who pursued them also three dayes iourney to a Citie called Turara When they thought the Soldans Power vtterly ouerthrowne Mangodanior who neuer had seene the conflicts of warre before being afraid without any reasonable cause of certaine Saracens called Beduini withdrew himselfe out of the field hauing the better forsaking the King of Armenia and his Captaine which had preuayled against his enemies When the Soldan which thought he had lost all saw the field cleere and all abandoned he got vpon a little hill with foure armed men and stood there The King of Armenia returning from the pursuit and missing Mangodanior in the field was much astonied and imagining which way hee should be gone followed after him But Amalech returning from the enemies whom he had pursued abode two dayes expecting his Lord supposing that he had followed after him as he ought for the further subduing of his enemies and the Countrey which they had ouercome till at last hauing heard of his retrait leauing his victorie hee made speed after him whom hee found on the banke of the Riuer Euphrates staying for him And then the Tartars returned to their owne Prouince But the King of Armenia sustained much losse and hard aduenture in his returne for the Horses of the Christians of the Kingdome of Armenia were so wearied and spent with the length of the way and want of Fodder that they were not able to trauell so that the Christians going scatteringly by vnvsuall wayes were often found out and slayne without mercy by the Saracens inhabiting those parts Insomuch that the greatest part of the Armie was lost and in a manner all the Nobility And this misaduenture of Mangodanior happened in the yeere of our Lord 1282. When Abaga vnderstood the successe hereof he assembled all his people and when hee was readie to set forward with all his power against the Saracens a certaine Saracen the sonne of the Deuill came to the Kingdome of Persia and preuayled by giuing great gifts to sâ—me that serued neere about Abaga in such sort that both he and his brother Mangodanior were poysoned both in one day and died both within eight dayes after The trueth whereof was afterwards disclosed by the mischieuous Malefactors themselues And so died Abaga Can in the yeere of our Lord 1282. 37. After the death of Abaga Can the Tartars assembled themselues and ordayned ouer them a brother of his called Tangodor who had ouergone the rest of his brethren In his youth he had receiued the Sacrament of Baptisme and was baptised by the name of Nicholas But being come to riper yeeres and keeping companie with Saracens whom hee loued hee became a wicked Saracen and renouncing Christian Religion would be called Mahomet Can and laboured by all meanes to turne all the Tartarians to that irreligious Sect of Mahomet the sonne of Iniquitie in such sort that those that hee could not compell by violence hee aâ—lured by preferments and rewards insomuch that in his time many of the Tartarians became professed Saracens as at this day appeareth This Child of perdition commanded the Churches of the Christians to be destroyed and forbade them to vse any of their religious Rites or Ceremonies Hee caused the doctrine of Mahomet to bee publikely preached the Christians to bee banished and their Churches in the Citie of Tauris vtterly to bee destroyed Hee sent Messengers also to the Soldan of Egypt and concluded a Peace and a League with him promising that all the Christians within his Dominion should become Saracens or else lose their heads which gaue the Saracens cause of much reioycing and made the Christians very sad Hee sent moreouer to the King of Armenia in Georgia and to the other Christian Princes of those parts to come vnto him without delay But they resolued rather to die in battell then to obey his commandement for other remedie they could finde none And the Christians being now in such anguish and bitternesse of heart that they rather desired to die then to liue euen God which neuer refuseth them that put their trust in him sent consolation to them all For a Brother of this Mahomet with a Nephew of his also called Argon opposing themselues and rebelling against him for his euill deeds did signifie to Cobila Can the great Emperour of the Tartarians how he had forsaken the steps of his Ancestors and was become a wicked Saracen labouring with all his might to bring the rest of Tartars to be Saracens also Which when Cobila Can vnderstood he was much displeased thereat insomuch that he sent and required Mahomet to reforme his euill wayes for otherwise he would proceed against him Which message replenished him with wrath and indignation insomuch that he being perswaded there was none that durst gainsay his proceedings but his Brother and his Nephew
on their heads hauing the same alwaies couered but he contrariwise was alwaies in a manner bare-headed and said his mother came of the race of Samson for a marke whereof shee aduised me to honour long haire This was the cause that made him respected of his men of Armes and the most part of them did beleeue there was some vertue in those haires or rather some fatall destinie the which many did beleeue to be so and verily they were of a dusky colour drawing toward a violet the most beautifull that any eye could behold His stature was of the middle sort somewhat narrow in his shoulders he had a faire leg and strong the strength of his body was such as no body did surpasse and often on the festiuall dayes he made triall of his strength with the most strong and this he did with such grace and humanitie that he whom he ouercame held himselfe therein most happie although it bee a disgrace amongst the Tartarians to bee throwne to the ground in wrastling Now as he was Martiall and desirous of glorie the first warre that hee attempted was against the Moscouite who came and spoyled a Citie which had put it selfe into his protection and had entred also into his Countrey and being retired proclaymed open warre against him gaue him battell neere to the Riuer Mascha although the Muscouite had a great Armie which hee had gathered together long before On the other side the Prince determining to resist him assembled all his forces and those of his allyes Now the Muscouite had very great forces and men well trayned vp in the warres hauing had alwaies warres with his neighbours the King of Polonia with whom hee had then friendship and the ayde of ten thousand very good Horse There were also with him many Hungarian Gentlemen led by Vdecelaus a Hungarian Gentleman who had brought with him more then eight thousand Horse the opinion was that hee had in his Armie fourscore thousand Horse and a hundred thousand foot-men Our Prince Tamerlan had in his Armie about six-score thousand Horse and a hundred and fifty thousand men on foot but not so skilfull in points of warre as those of the Moscouite for our Estate had long enioyed peace and our Souldiers were indeed trayned vp in discipline of warres but not in the practice thereof The order of Tamerlan was this that is he caused all his Armie to bee diuided into squadrons each consisting of sixe thousand Horse except his owne which was of ten thousand so as he made eighteene squadrons his owne being reckoned which made nineteene The Auant-guard was conducted by Odmar who led nine squadrons flanked with fortie thousand men on foot diuided both on the right and left sides who should shoot an infinite number of Arrowes The Battell was conducted by Tamerlan who led ten squadrons his owne being therein closed and fiftie thousand Foot-men the best and choicest Souldiers of his whole Armie Prince Thanais a kins-man vnto the Prince led the Arere-ward with fortie thousand Foot-men and sixe squadrons hee had some three thousand Horse aduenturers whom they call Oliagues in their Tongue the same which wee tearme The forlorne hope The Moscouite did not obserue that order but did fight by double Rankes with Lances and there was a space to helpe themselues therein and to breake them notwithstanding those Nations doe not breake them at all and they seemed to bee a greater number then wee making a great noyse At the length multitude and skill ouercame the force and valour of the Moscouites the victory bending to the Parthians side the which they did pursue hotly Tamerlan was hurt on the fore-head vpon the side of the left eye and had two Horses slaine vnder him in the fight Tamerlan employed himselfe in giuing God thankes for this victory after hee had pursued the enemy three leagues the next day he reuiewed his Armie and found that he had lost of his side for his part betweene seuen and eight thousand Horse-men and betweene three and foure thousand Footmen The Moscouite lost some seuen and twenty thousand Foot-men and betweene fifteene and sixteene thousand Horse-men This same day was Odmar the safegard of his Prince but he lost Hally who was slaine by the blow of an Arrow The Prince did slacke no time after so great a victory He set forward and came into the borders of the Moscouite whom he enforced to capitulations that they should become Tributaries of a hundred thousand Duckets and should pay all the charges of the War amounting vnto the summe of three hundred thousand Duckets he then would send backe againe all the Prisoners and withdraw his Armie that for securitie hereof they should giue him pledges which should be changed euery yeare vnto all which they agreed So was this Warre ended to his contentment returning with glorie vnto the Prince his Father Now Tamerlan was receiued into all his Countries with much honour and triumph The great Cham of Tartaria Brother vnto his Father sent Presents to gratifie him making offer vnto him of his Daughter in Marriage and that in marrying of her hee would cause him to bee acknowledged as Emperour throughout all his Kingdomes as his next heire himselfe being now old and out of all hope to haue any more Children Hereupon hee presently tooke his Iourney towards him being in the City of Quauicay where he was receiued with all kind of Triumph and Magnificence there did he shew himselfe braue in all manner of gallant Showes and Combats as well in jest as in earnest And as these Nations are full of vanitie and desirous to make shew of their strength and agilitie Tamerlan carryed away the Prize therein whether it were in shooting neere with his Bow or in changing Horses in the middest of the courses or in breaking an Iron in running at the Quintaine he made euery one wonder at his dexteritie and was crowned the sixt day after his comming thither with the joyfull consent of all the Subiects of the Emperour his Vncle and of all the Court. After that he married the Emperours Daughter desiring first to bee crowned before the Marriage to the intent that none should thinke that the Crowne came vnto him by meanes of her but by succession the Daughters not at all succeeding into Empires It was also to assure his estate and hauing remayned in that place by the space of two moneths hee returned from thence with his Wife to Samercand in which Citie hee delighted greatly to remayne because the situation thereof was very faire and for that the Citie is accompanied with a faire Riuer which causeth great Traffâ—que and maketh it richer then any Citie within that Countrey Odmar alone was called by him at such time as the great Cham his Vncle did impart vnto him his Affaires and amongst other matters he propounded vnto him the Enterprize of China promising him assistance and ayde and giuing him to vnderstand how necessarie it was
either glorie or meanes to encrease his reputation and profit the Common-wealth saying often that he was borne to this end and that he must take in these exercises his principall delights for euery other thing wherein he did exercise himselfe was but borrowed being appointed and called of God to punish the pride of Tyrants Neither will I here omit a dreame which our Prince had the night before hee departed from Cambalu which was that he did see as hee thought a great multitude of reuerent men who put forth their hands vnto him requiring his succour against the violence of certaine Tyrants who did afflict them with sundry kinds of torments he said that he did neuer see more reuerent countenances that some of them were apparelled in white and others in cloth of gold some hauing as it were Crowns of gold vpon their heads and it seemed vnto the Prince that he gaue them his hand and lift them very high This dreame he recited vs the next morning but no body was able to giue him the interpretation thereof himselfe thought no more of it The Prince was accompanied also with Calibes he commanded the Prince of Tanais to take vpon him the state of Colonell of the footmen which Axalla had left vnto whom he gaue the charge of Lieutenant generall within his Armie with commandement to leade his Auant-guard and Calibes the Arere-ward being accompanied with farre greater forces then euer he had in any of his Armies for they came vnto him from all parts The Chinois Lord was licenced by Odmar to goe with 20000. men of the subiects newly conquered being desirous to shew himselfe vnto the Emperour as also for to learne our manners and fashions The Prince tooke his Voyage directly vnto Samercand the place of his birth three yeeres being past since hee had beene there Zamay came to meet him and I verily beleeue a million of men blessing and praysing him in all manner of songs All the Princes of the Countrey also ranne to visite him he abode there a moneth Axalla in this meane time was already at the meeting place at Ocera who prepared all things looking for the Princes commandement for to goe vnto him aduertising him often of the doings of Baiazet We departed from Samercand for to goe vnto Ozara where was the meeting place for all the Princes troupes and hauing in that place taken aduice for his iourney that is to say for to know whether should be most expedient and fauorable either to goe by the coasts of Moscouie directly vnto Capha or rather on the other side of the Sea Bachu to passe by the skirts of Persia. It was resolued in the end after sundry opinions although the way were the longer to passe vnto Capha for to come vnto Trebisonda and to the Georgians and from thence to enter into the limits of the Ottomans Then our Armie after the accustomed ceremonies prayers made vnto God wherein our Emperor hoped to finde his principall succours we drew straight vnto Maranis where the Armie abode three dayes looking for the forces which Odmar did send whereof they receiued newes There did the Emperour cause all his Armie to be payd and a generall muster was made He had newes also there of the forces that the Moscouite did send vnto him he likewise caused an infinite quantitie of victuals and the most part of his furniture to be conuayed by the Sea of Bachu there being some twentie leagues where was want of water and victuals through the which our Armie must needs passe causing all things necessary to be carried by water the which was a great commoditie vnto vs and there was a commandement giuen at all the shoares of the Sea that they should bring all the vessels for to carrie the munition of the Armie so as this foresight did greatly ease our Armie The Prince went continually coasting the Sea-shoare passing away his time in hunting and his Armie came not neere him by ten leagues except such as came to seeke necessaries for the Armie the which did extend it selfe some twenty leagues it was so great The Prince abode at Sarasich during the time his Army passed the Riuer of Edel at Mechet and at two or three other Bridges the which they had caused to bee made there had hee ceataine newes how Baiazet marched vnto the siege of Constantinople hauing reduced vnto his obedience all Bythinia and Bursia a very noble Citie the which hee caused to bee fortified and diuers other Cities vsing all the cruelties that might be insomuch as all the adioyning Prouinces yeelded themselues his tributaries amongst the rest the noble Citie of Capha the Citie was by the Prince giuen vnto Axalla for to dispose of the same which hee did going thither to see his kins-folke and to take such order there as he thought was for the preseruation of the Citie as one not vngratefull vnto his Countrey he rather placed his hope in this little shoare of Mar Maiore then in the limits of Scythia and China and for to succeed after his Master vnto all his great conquests for that he had all the Souldiers at his commandement and great credit amongst all the people ouer whom his Prince commanded Baiazet hauing a very great and mightie Armie neither beleeued nor once thought that wee would come vpon him to exceeding barbarous was he that he would not indure any man so much as to speake onely vnto him of our Armie as despising it he was so proud and there he caused all the bordering people publikely to bee forbidden to make any vowes and prayers for our prosperitie Iustice raigned so amongst vs insomuch as if a Souldier had taken but an Apple he was put to death and this was seuerely obserued ouer all a thing vsuall and especially in this Iourney the which was the onely cause of ouerthrowing the tyrannie of the Ottomans and of this proud Baiazet So we arriued at Bachichiche where the Armie refreshed it selfe for the space of eight dayes Vnto this place came the Embassadours of Guines vnto the Emperour whom the Prince did greatly reuerence for his holinesse The Emperor after he had caused generall prayers to be published Tamerlans Armie departed from Bachichiche and they reckoned that there was in our Armie three hundred thousand Horse-men and fiue hundred thousand Foot-men of all kinds of Nations Our Armie came vnto Garga where it passed the Riuer Euphrates the Auant-guard at Chinserig and the generall meeting of the Armie was appointed to bee at Gianich the which did yeeld it selfe and there had we newes that Baiazet his Armie was neeâ—e vnto vs within some thirty leagues which caused â—s to march more close All the Cities yeelded the Emperour receiuing them graciously and those which refused obedience were cruelly punished especially such Inhabitants as were Turkes but the Christians set in full libertie vnder the name of the Greeke Emperour Emanuel whom
Wolues and Sheepe if they be poore the richer with Sables and Marterns of great price They weare black Bonets sharpe like a Sugar-loafe the men rather small then great wearing beards as we doe specially a certayne time of the yeere Their houses are of stone like ours with two or three lofts slope-roofed and diuersly painted and they haue one street onely of painters The great men for magnificence make a great Loft or Pageant and thereon erect two Tents of silke embroydered with gold siluer pearles and jewels and there stand with their friends This they cause to bee carried by fortie or fiftie Slaues and so goe thorow the Citie in solace The Gentlemen are carried on a simple Pageant by foure or six men without other furniture There Temples are made like our Churches so great that they may contayne foure or fiue thousand persons and haue in them two Statues of a Man and a Woman each fortie foot long all of one peece stretched on the ground and all gilded They haue excellent stone cutters They bring quarry stones two or three moneths iourney on shod Carts of fortie wheeles very high drawne by fiue or six hundred Horses and Mules There are also small Images with six or seuen heads and ten hands all holding diuers things one a Serpent another a Bird a third a Flower c. There are some Monasteries in which liue men of holy life immured within their houses that they cannot goe out whiles they liue and haue victuals euery day brought them There are innumerable like our Friars which goe vp and downe the Citie They haue a custome when one of their kindred dyes to clothe themselues in white many dayes made of Cotton their garments are made long to the ground with wide sleeues They vse Printing of their Books which he thought somewhat like those I shewed him at M. Thomas Giuntos printing house Their Citie is fortified with a thick wall within filled with earth able to carry fâ—ure Carts abrest with Towres and Artillery as thick as those of the great Turke The Ditch is wide and drie but they can make it runne with water at their pleasure They haue a kind of very great Oxen with long thin and with hayre The Cataians and Idolaters are forbidden to goe out of their Countries to goe on merchandise thorow the World Beyond the Desart aboue Corassam to Samarcand and till the Idolatrous Cities the 〈◊〉 rule which are Tartars Musulmans wearing greene sharpe Turbants of felt so making a difference betwixt them and the Persians which weare them red and betwixt them two for diuersitie of opinions in Religion are continual warres and disagreement about their Confines Bocara and Samarcand are two Cities of these Green-heads each a Signorie of it selfe They haue three particular sciences Chimia in the same sense as here Limia to make and cause loue and Simia to make men see that which is not The moneys which they haue are not Coyned but euery Gentleman and Merchant makes thin rods of gold and siluer as is before said of Campion and Succuir In the market place of Campion are euery day many Mountebankes which haue that science of Simia which compassed with a great multitude present strange sights as to cause a man to cut off his arme or thrust himselfe thorow with a sword and seeme to bee all bloudy with other like CHAP. X. A Treatise of China and the adioyning Regions written by GASPAR DA CRVZ a Dominican Friar and dedicated to SEBASTIAN King of Portugall here abbreuiated §. I. Of Camboia and the Bramenes there the cause of his going to China Of China and the neighbouring Regions I Being in Malaca building an house of my Order and preaching was informed that in the Kingdome of Camboia which is subiect to the King of Siam and lyeth toward the parts of China and doth confine with Champa whence commeth the most precious Calambach was great oportunitie to preach the Gospell and to reape some fruit Hauing leaue of my Prelate I tooke the iourney in hand And after the passing many troubles and hunger in the iourney with dangers and sicknesses I came a land and after I had reasonably informed my selfe by a third person conuersing with the People and with the Fathers euen before I knew it I found all to the contrary of that which they had told and that all were deceits of the simple Laytie which of light matters were mooued to presume of the people that which was not in them And besides this I found many hinderances for the obtayning of my desires and intent for first the King is a Bramene and the Bramenes are his principall men and his fauourites and most familiar because they are Witches for they are much giuen to bee pleased with witchcrafts and they doe nothing without consulting the Witches and Bramenes that are in the Kingdome for by this meanes they thriue by the Deuill And so the first thing that the King asked me was if I were a Witch The Bramenes doe worship among others one God which they call Probar missur which they said made the Heauens and the Earth and another God which they call Pralocussar this also hauing obtayned power of another which they call Praissur for to giue this licence to Probar missur and I shewed them that not onely he had not made the Heauen and the Earth but that hee had beene a very wicked man and a great sinner wherefore these Priests said that they would worship him no more hauing worshipped him thitherto with their God Praput prasar metri whereupon the hatred of the Bramenes increased towards me and from thence forward I had disfauours of the King which was mooued for the zeale of his God and the God of his Bramenes There met about these matters the Priests of the Idols and all of their troupe which goe for Priests and hold themselues for religious men and in their conuersation and life they are separated from all other people which to my thinking is the third part of the people of the Land the King thereof setting an hundred thousand men in the field This religious people or that holds it selfe for such are exceedingly proud and vaine and aliue they are worshipped for gods in sort that the inferiour among them doe worship the superiour like gods praying vnto them and prostrating themselues before them and so the common people haue a great confidence in them with a great reuerence and worship in sort that there is no person that dare contradict them in any thing and their wordes among them are held for so sacred that in no wise they will endure to be gainsayed Insomuch that it hapned sometimes whiles I was preaching many round about me hearing me very well and satisfying themselues of that which I said vnto them if there came any of these Priests and said this is good
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
sell. In like manner euery Artizan painteth out his craft the Market places be large great abundance of all things there be to be sold. The Citie standeth vpon water many streames runne through it the bankes pitched and so broad that they serue for streets to the Cities vse Ouer the streames are sundry Bridges both of Timber and Stone that being made leuell with the streets hinder not the passage of the Barges to and fro the Chanels are so deepe Where the streames come in and goe out of the Citie be certayne Arches in the Wall there goe in and out their Parai that is a kind of Barges they haue and this onely in the day time at night these Arches are closed vp with gates so doe they shut vp all the gates of the Citie These streames and Barges doe embellish much the Citie and make it as it were to seeme another Venice The buildings are euen well made high not lofted except it be some wherein Merchandize is laid It is a World to see how great these Cities are and the cause is for that the houses are built euen as I haue said and doe take a great deale of roome One thing we saw in this Citie that made vs all to wonder and is worthy to be noted Namely ouer a Porch at the comming into one of the afore-said foure Houses the which the King hath in euery share for his Gouernours as I haue before said standeth a Towre built vpon fortie Pillars each one whereof is but one stone each one fortie handfuls or spans long in breadth or compasse twelue as many of vs did measure them Besides this their greatnesse such in one piece that it might seeme impossible to worke them they bee moreouer couered and in colour length and breath so like that the one nothing differeth from the other Wee are wont to call this Countrey China and the people Chineans but as long as wee were Prisoners not hearing amongst them at any time that name I determined to learne how they were called and asked sometimes by them thereof for that they vnderstood vs not when wee called them Chineans I answered them that all the Inhabitants of India named them Chineans wherefore I prayed them that they would tell me for what occasion they are so called whither peraduenture any Citie of theirs bare that name Hereunto they alwayes answered me to haue no such name nor euer to haue had Then did I aske them what name the whole Countrey beareth and what they would answer being asked of other Nations what Countrey-men they were It was told me that of ancient time in this Countrey had beene many Kings and though presently it were all vnder one each Kingdome neuerthelesse enioyed that name it first had these Kingdomes are the Prouinces I spake of before In conclusion they sayd that the whole Countrey is called Tamen and the Inhabitants Tamegines so that this name China or Chineans is not heard of in that Countrey I doe thinke that the nearenesse of another Prouince thereabout called Cochinchina and the inhabitants thereof Cochinesses first discouered before that China was lying not farre from Malacca did giue occasion both to the one Nation and to the other of that name Chineans as also the whole Countrey to bee named China But their proper name is that aforesaid I haue heard moreouer that in the Citie Nanquim remayneth a Table of gold and in it written a Kings name as a memorie of that residence the Kings were wont to keepe there This table standeth in a great Palace couered alwayes except it bee in some of their festiuall dayes at what time they are wont to let it bee seene couered neuerthelesse as it is all the Nobilitie of the Citie goeth of dutie to doe it euery day reuerence The like is done in the head Cities of all the other Shires in the Palaces of the Ponchiassini wherein these aforesaid tables doe stand with the Kings name written in them although no reuerence bee done thereunto but in solemne Feasts I haue likewise vnderstood that the Citie Pachin where the King maketh his abode is so great that to goe from one side to the other besides the Suburbs which are greater then the Citie it selfe it requireth one whole day a horsebacke going hackney pace In the Suburbs bee many wealthy Merchants of all sorts They told me furthermore that it was Moted about and in the Motes great store of Fish whereof the King maketh great gaynes It was also told mee that the King of China had no King to wage battell withall besides the Tartars with whom hee had concluded a peace more then fourescore yeeres agoe There bee Hospitals in all their Cities alwayes full of people wee neuer saw any poore bodie beg We therefore asked the cause of this answered it was that in euery Citie there is a great circuit wherein bee many houses for poore people for Blinde Lame Old folke not able to trauell for age nor hauing any other meanes to liue These folke haue in the aforesaid houses euer plentie of Rice during their liues but nothing else Such as bee receiued into these houses come in after this manner When one is sicke blinde or lame hee maketh a supplication to the Ponchiassi and prouing that to bee true he writeth hee remaineth in the aforesaid great lodging as long as he liueth besides this they keepe in these places Swine and Hennes whereby the poore bee releeued without going a begging I sayd before that China was full of Riuers but now I minde to confirme the same anew for the farther wee went into the Countrey the greater we found the riuers Sometimes we were so farre off from the Sea that where wee came no Sea-fish had beene seene and Salt was there very deare of fresh-water Fish yet was there great abundance and that fish very good they keepe it good after this manner Where the Riuers doe meete and so passe into the Sea there lyeth great store of Boates specially where no salt-water commeth and that in March and Aprill These Boates are so many that it seemeth wonderfull neither serue they for other then to take small fish By the riuers sides they make leyres of fine and strong Nets that lye three handfuls vnder water and one aboue to keepe and nourish their Fish in vntill such time as other fishers doe come with Boates bringing for that purpose certaine great Chests lyned with paper able to hold water wherein they carrie their fish vp and downe the riuer euery day renewing the chest with fresh-water and selling their fish in euery Citie Towne and Village where they passe vnto the people as they need it most of them haue Net-leyres to keepe Fish in alwayes for their prouision Where the greater Boates cannot passe any farther forward they take lesser and because the whole Countrey is very well watred there is so great plentie of diuers sorts of Fish that it is
determining either to bring that to passe which was intended or else to dye the death And as for them which were with Master Chancelor in his Ship although they had great cause of discomfort by the losse of their companie whom the foresaid tempest had separated from them and were not a little troubled with cogitations and perturbations of minde in respect of their doubtfull course yet notwithstanding they were of such consent and agreement of minde with Master Chancelor that they were resolute and prepared vnder his direction and gouernment to make proofe and tryall of all aduentures without all feare or mistrust of future dangers Which constancie of minde in all the companie did exceedingly increase their Captaines carefulnesse for hee being swallowed vp with like good will and loue towards them feared left through any errour of his the safetie of the companie should bee indangered To conclude when they saw their desire and hope of the arriuall of the rest of the Ships to bee euery day more and more frustrated they prouided to Sea againe and Master Chancelor held on his course towards that vnknowne part of the world and sayled so farre that hee came at last to the place where hee found no night at all but a continuall light and brightnesse of the Sunne shining cleerely vpon the huge and mightie Sea And hauing the benefite of this perpetuall light for certaine dayes at the length it pleased God to bring them into a certaine great Bay which was of one hundreth miles or there about ouer Whereinto they entred and somewhat farre within it cast anchor and looking euery way about them it hapned that they espyed a farre off a certaine Fisher-boate which Master Chancelor accompanied with a few of his men went towards to common with the Fishermen that were in it and to know of them what Countrey it was and what people and of what manner of liuing they were but they being amazed with the strange greatnesse of his ship for in those parts before that time they had neuer seene the like began presently to auoyd and to flee but hee still following them at last ouertooke them and being come to them they being in great feare as men halfe dead prostrated themselues before him offering to kisse his feete but hee according to his great and singular courtesie looked pleasantly vpon them comforting them by signes and gestures refusing those duties and reuerences of theirs and taking them vp in all louing sort from the ground And it is strange to consider how much fauour afterwards in that place this humanitie of his did purchase to himselfe For they being dismissed spread by and by a report abroad of the arriuall of a strange Nation of a singular gentlenesse and courtesie whereupon the common people came together offering to these new-come ghests victuals freely and not refusing to traffâ—que with them except they had beene bound by a certaine religious vse and custome not to buy any forraine commodities without the knowledge and consent of the King By this time our men had learned that this Countrey was called Russia or Muscouie and that Iuan Vasiliwich which was at that time their Kings name ruled and gouerned farre and wide in those places And the barbarous Russes asked likewise of our men whence they were and what they came for whereunto answer was made that they were English-men sent into those coasts from the most excellent King Edward the sixt hauing from him in commandement certaine things to deliuer to their King and seeking nothing else but his amitie and friendship and traffâ—que with his people whereby they doubted not but that great commoditie and profit would grow to the subiects of both Kingdomes The Barbarians heard these things very gladly and promised their ayde and furtherance to acquaint their King out of hand with so honest and a reasonable a request In the meane time Master Chancelor intreated victuals for his money of the Gouernour of that place who together with others came aboord him and required hostages of them likewise for the more assurance of safetie to himselfe and his companie To whom the Gouernours answered that they knew not in that case the will of their King but yet were willing in such things as they might lawfully doe to pleasure him which was as then to affoord him the benefit of victuals Now while these things were a doing they secretly sent a messenger vnto the Emperour to certifie him of the arriuall of a strange Nation and withall to know his pleasure concerning them Which message was very welcome vnto him insomuch that voluntarily he inuited them to come to his Court But if by reason of the tediousnesse of so long a iourney they thought it not best so to doe then hee granted libertie to his Subiects to bargaine and to traffique with them and further promised that if it would please them to come to him hee himselfe would beare the whole charges of poste Horses In the meane time the Gouernours of the place differred the matter from day to day pretending diuers excuses and saying one while that the consent of all the Gouernours and another while that the great and weightie affaires of the Kindome compelled them to differ their answer and this they did of purpose so long to protract the time vntill the messenger sent before to the King did returne with relation of his will and pleasure But Master Chancelor seeing himselfe held in this suspense with long and vaine expectation and thinking that of intention to delude him they posted the matter off so often was very instant with them to performe their promise Which if they would not doe hee told them that he would depart and proceed in his voyage So that the Muscouites although as yet they knew not the minde of their King yet fearing the departure indeed of our men who had such wares and commodities as they greatly desired they at last resolued to furnish our people with all things necessarie and to conduct them by land to the presence of their King And so Master Chancelor began his iourney which was very long and most troublesome wherein he had the vse of certaine sleds which in that Countrey are very common for they are carried themselues vpon sleds and all their carriages are in the same sort the people almost not knowing any other manner of carriage the cause whereof is the exceeding hardnesse of the ground congealed in the Winter time by the force of the cold which in those places is very extreame and horrible whereof hereafter wee will say something But now they hauing passed the greater part of their iourney met at last with the Sled-man of whom I spake before sent to the King secretly from the Iustices or Gouernours who by some ill hap had lost his way and had gone to the Sea-side which is neere to the Countrey of the Tartars thinking there to haue found our ship But hauing long erred and wandered out
but hee gaue mee his Letter and a Horse worth seuen Rubbles And so I departed from him being glad that I was gone for he was reported to bee a very tyrant and if I had not gone vnto him I vnderstood his commandement was that I should haue beene robbed and destroyed This Sultan liued in the fields without Castle or Towne and sate at my being with him in a little round house made of reeds couered without with Felt and within with Carpets There was with him the great Metropolitan of that wilde Countrey esteemed of the people as the Bishop of Rome is in most parts of Europe with diuers other of his chiefe men The Sultan with this Metropolitan demanded of mee many questions as well touching our Kingdomes Lawes and Religion as also the cause of my comming into those parâ—s with my further pretence To whom I answered concerning all things as vnto me seemed best which they tooke in good part So hauing leaue I departed and ouertooke our Carauan and proceeding on our iourney and trauelled twentie dayes in the Wâ—ldernesse from the Sea side without seeing Town or habitation carrying prouision of victuals with vs for the same time and were driuen by necessitie to eate one of my Camels and a Horse for our part as other did the like and during the said twentie dayes we found no water but such as we drew out of old deepe Wells being very brackish and salt and yet somtimes passed two or three dayes without the same And the fift day of October ensuing we came vnto a Gulfe of the Caspian Sea againe where we found the water very fresh and sweet at this Gulfe the Customers of the King of Turkeman met vs who tooke custome of euery fiue and twentie one and seuen ninths for the said King and his brethren which being receiued they departed and we remayned there a day after to refresh our selues Note that in times past there did fall into this Gulfe the great Riuer Oxus which hath his springs in the Mountaines of Paraponisus in India and now commeth not so faâ—re but falleth into another Riuer called Ardock which runneth toward the North and consâ—meth himselfe in the ground passing vnder the ground aboue fiue hundred miles and then issueth out againe and falleth into the Lake of Kithay We hauing refreshed our selues at the foresaid Gulfe departed thence the fourth day of October and the seuenth day arriued at a Castle called Sellizure where the King called Azim Can remayned with three other of his brethren and the ninth day I was commanded to come before his presence to whom I deliuered the Emperours Letters of Russia and I also gaue him a Present of a ninth who entertayned me very well and caused me to eate in his presence as his brethren did feasting me with flesh of a wilde Horse and Mares milke without Bread And the next day he sent for me againe and asked of me diuers questions as well touching the affaires of the Emperour of Russia as of our Countrey and Lawes to which I answered as I thought good so that at my departure he gaue mee his Letters of safe conduct This Castle of Sellizure is situated vpon an high Hâ—ll where the King called the Can lieth whose Palace is built of earth very baâ—ely and not strong the people are but poore and haue little trade of merchandise among them The South part of this Castle is low land but very fruitfull where growe many good fruits among which there is one called a Dynie of a great bignesse and full of moisture which the people doe eate after meate in stead of drinke Also there growes another fruit called a Carbuse of the bignesse of a great Cucumber yellow and sweet as Sugar also a certaine Corne called Iegur whose stalke is much like a Sugar cane and as high and the Graâ—ne like Rice which groweth at the top of the cane like a cluster of Grapes the water that serueth â—ll that Countrey is drawne by ditches out of the Riuer Oxus vnto the great destruction of the said Riuer for which cause it fâ—lleth not into the Caspian Sea as it hath done in timeâ— past and in short time all that Land is like to be destroyed and to become a Wildernesse for want of water when the Riuer of Oxus shall faile The fourteenth day of the moneth wee departed from this Castle of Sellizure and the sixteenth of the same wee arriued at a Citie called Vrgence where we payed Custome as well for our owne heads as for our Camels and Horses And hauing there soiourned one moneth attending the time of our further trauell the King of that Countrey called Aly Sultan brother to the fore-named Azym Can returned from a Towne called Corasan within the borders of Persia which he lately had coâ—qâ—ered from the Persians with whom hee and the rest of the Kings of Tâ—rtaria haue continuall warres Before this King also I was commanded to come to whom I likewise presented the Emperours Letters of Russia and he entertayned me well and demanded of me diuers questions and at my departure gaue me his Letters of safe conduct This Citie or Towne of Vrgence standeth in a plaine ground with walls of the earth by estimation foure miles about it The buildings within it are also of earth but ruined aâ—d out of good order it hath one long street that is couered aboue which is the place of their Market It hath beene wonne and lost foure times within seuen yeeres by ciuill warres by meanes whereof there are but few Merchants in it and they very poore and in all that Towne I could not fell aboue foure Kerseys The chiefest commodities there sold are such wares as come from Boghaer and out of Persia but in most small quantitie not worth the writing All the Land from the Caspian Sea to this Citie of Vrgence is called the Land of Turkeman and is subiect to the said Azim Can and his brethren which bee fiue in number and one of them hath the name of the chiefe King called Can but he is little obeyed sauing in his owne Dominion and where hee dwelleth for euery one will be King of his owne portion and one brother seeketh alwaies to destroy another hauing no naturall loue among them by reason that they are begotten of diuers women and commonly they are the children of slaues either Christians or Gentiles which the father doth keepe as Concubines and euery Can or Sultan hath at the least foure or fiue wiues besides young maidens and boyes liuing most viciously and when there are warres betwixt these brethren as they are seldome without he that is ouercome if hee be not slaine fleeth to the field with such companie of men as will follow him and there liueth in the Wildernesse resorting to watering places and so robbeth and spoyleth as many Carauans of Merchants and others as they be able to ouercome continuing in this sort his wicked life vntill
here with that Trade others are laden with skuls of dead men they dreaming that all the Almes of those men whose skuls these haue beene shall belong to their soules and that the Porter of Heauen seeing them come with thus many attending will open to him as an honourable person Others haue Cages of Birds and call to men to set free those Captiues which are the creatures of God with their Almes which they which doe let loose the Bird and bid him tell God what he hath done in his Seruice others do the like with liuing fishes offering their freedome to the charitable Redeemers which themselues will not giue them much like the sale of Indulgences saying they are Innocents which neuer sinned which freed by Almes are let goe in the Riuer with commendations of this their Redeemers Seruice to the Creator Other Barkes carry Fidlers and Musicians to offer their Seruice Others the Priests sell Hornes of sacrificâ—d Beasts with promise of I know not what Feasts in Heauen others had Tents of sorrow Tombes and all Funerall appurtenances with Women-mourners to be let out for Burials others laden with Books of all sorts of Historie and these also haue Scriueners and Proctors others haue such as offer their seruice to fight in defence of their honour others haue Mid-wiues others Nurses others carry graue men and women to comfort those that haue lost Husbands Wiues Children and the like disconsolate persons others Boyes and Girles for seruice others offer Counsellors in Cases of Law or Learning others Physicians and to conclude nothing is to bee sought on the Land which is not here to be found in this Water-citie Once the cause of the greatnesse of this Kingdome of China is this easie concourse of all parts by water and Riuers some of which in narrow places haue bridges of stone like ours and some made of one only stone laid ouer sometimes of eightie ninetie or one hundred spannes long and fifteene or twentie broad All the High-wayes haue large Causies made of good stone with Pillers and Arches fairely wrought inscribed with the Founders names and prayses in golden Letters In many places they haue Wels to refresh the Trauellers And in more barren and lesse inhabited places are single women which giue free entertainment to such as haue no monie which abuse and abomination they call a worke of Mercie and is prouided by the deceased for good of their soules with Rents and mayntenance Others haue also bequeathed in the like places houses with Lights to see the way and fires for Trauellers water and Lodging I haue in one and twentie yeares vnfortunate trauels seene a great part of Asia and the riches of Europe but if my testimonie be worthy credit all together is not comparable to China alone such are the endowments of nature in a wholsome Ayre Soyle Riuers and Seas with their Policie Iustice Riches and State that they obscure all the lustres of other parts Yet such is their bestiall and Deuillish Idolatry and filthy Sodomitry publikly permitted committed taught by their Priests as a vertue that I cannot but grieue at their vngratitude Departing from this admirable Citie we sailed vp the Riuer till on the ninth of October on Tuesday we came to the great Citie of Pequim whither wee were sent by Appeale Wee went three and three as Prisoners and were put in a Prison called Gofania serca where for an entrance they gaue each of vs thirtie stripes Chifu which brought vs presented to the Aitao our Processe signed with twelue seales from Nanquiu The twelue Conchalis which are Criminall Iudges sent one of their company with two Notaries and sixe or seuen Officers to the Prison where wee were and examined vs to whom we answered as before and hee appointed vs to make petition to the Tanigores of the holy Office by our Proctors and gaue vs a Taell for almes with a caueat to beware of the Prisoners that they robbed vs not and then went into another great Roome where he heard many Prisoners Causes three houres together and then caused execution to be done on seuen and twentie men sentenced two dayes before which all dyed with the blowes to our great terrour And the next day wee were collared and manicled being much afraid that our Calempluys businesse would come to light After seuen dayes the Tanigores of the Hospitall of that Prison came in to whom we with pitifull lamentation gaue the Certificate which wee brought from Nanquin By their meanes the Conchalis petitioned the Chaem to reuoke the Sentence of cutting off our thumbs seeing there was no testimonie of theft by vs committed but only our pouertie we more needed pitie then rogour He heard the pleading for and against vs for diuers daies the Prometor or Fiscall laying hard against vs that wee were theeues but being able to proue nothing the Chaem suspended him from his Office and condemned him in twentie Taeis to vs which was brought vs. And at last we were brought into a great Hall painted with diuers representations of execution of Iustice for seuerall crimes there written very fearefull to behold and at the end a fairer gilded roome crossed the same where was a Tribunall with seuen steps compassed with three rewes of grates Iron Latten and blacke Wood inlayed with Mother of pearle hauing a Canopie of Damaske fringed with Gold and greene Silke and vnderneath a Chaire of Siluer for the Chaem and a little Table before him with three Boyes attending on their knees richly attired with chaines of gold on their neckes the middlemost to giue him his Penne the other two to receiue Petitions and to present them on the Table two other Boyes standing at his side in exceeding rich aray the one representing Iustice the other on the right hand Mercy without which conioyned the Iudge they say becomes a Tyrant The rest of the state and ceremonie I omit wee kneeling on our knees with our hands lifted vp and our eyes cast downe to the ground heard gladly our Sentence of absolution Only we were for one yeere banished to the workes of Quansy and eight moneths of that yeere ended to haue free pasport to goe home or whither we would After the Sentence pronounced one of the Conchalys stood vp and fiue times demanded aloud if any could take exception against the Sentence and all being silent the two Boyes representing Iustice and Mercy touched each others Ensignes which they had in their hands and said aloud let them be free according to the Sentence and presently two Chumbims tooke off our Collars and Manicles and all our bonds The foure moneths the Tanigores told vs were taken off the yeere as the Kings almes in regard of our pouertie for had wee beene rich wee must haue serued the whole yeere They gaue vs foure Taeis of almes and went to the Captaine which was to goe for Quansy to commend vs to his charitie which vsed vs accordingly PEquin
the South the Riuer of Nanchiun becomes nauigable which runneth into Canton and the South Sea On the other side of the Hill at the Citie Naugau ariseth another great Riuer which visiteth the Prouinces of Chiansi and Nanquin and many Cities before hee enters the Sea Eastward Thus what comes from forraine Kingdomes to Canton is this way conueyed to the in-land Kingdomes as also from those hither Horses and seates or Chayres for carriage on mens shoulders Beasts for carriage and Porters being almost innumerable euery day yet all in good order The Mountayne is common to both Prouinces which are distinguished by a Gate erected among the stonie precipices All the way is set with Trees paued with stones frequenâ— with Hostries as secure by night as by day both by the guards of Souldiers and frequencie of Trauellers neither are their ouer-flowings by raynes On the Hill top is a neate Temple and therein a Garrison both Prouinces thence offered to the view Naughan signifieth the Southerne Inne Hee went in one of the Presidents Ships till hee came to the Citie Canceu by the way often entring into his owne Ship and discoursing with him of Europaean affayres Sciences and Religion But so many visitations for Magistrates hindred all dealing with his Sonne in this iourney so that by his Father it was deferred In this Citie Canceu resideth a Vice-roy greater then the Vice-roy of that Prouince they call him the Vice-roy of foure Prouinces Chiansi Fuchien Canton and Vquam not that all those Prouinces are subiect to him but because hee gouerneth two adioyning Regions or lesse Prouinces out of each of them The cause of appointing this Vice-roy extraordinarie was the multitude of Theeues in those parts which bordering on so many Prouinces could not easily by ordinarie course of Iustice bee apprehended whence two Regions out of each were committed to one who by Militarie forces repressed those insolences And because the militarie Magistrates are subiect to that Councell of Warre at Pequin the President was heere receiued with greater State aboue three thousand men were sent to meete him a league off with their Captaynes Colours and Armes many with Hand-gunnes mixed shooting off as he passed making a faire show on both sides the Riuer which there is not very large When hee was come into the Citie the Vice-roy with other Magistrates visited him with Gifts Prouisions Banquets and some companies were set to guard the Ships which was also done euery where such is the China veneration of such Magistrates by their inferiours Heere was a Bridge of Boates opened but once a day for Ships passage which haue payd their customes After they were past this Citie another Riuer addes it selfe to this whence they come into a place called Sciepathau about thirtie miles long in which are many Rockes dispersed on which the impetuous force of the water causeth many ship-wrackes goods lost and men drowned and requireth expert Ship-men a strange thing to see a Riuer full of shelues and sharpe rockes in the midst of the continent In the entrance of this dangerous passage is an Idoll Temple wherein the passengers deuoutly commend the safetie of their fortunes to these vanities which Scilan also heere did in vaine for although with multitude and industrie of Saylers his Ship auoyded the Rockes yet was that broken in which his Wife and Children were carryed though they escaped drowning by reason of her high building euery one getting vp into the highest decke which lifted vp it selfe aboue those shallower waters They cryed pittifully and Father Matthew hauing then gotten a Boate for himselfe came first and receiued them going himselfe into another lesse which went before to conduct the way Scilan sent for another Ship presently to Canceu Father Matthew was taken into another Ship of burthen which was in a gust ouer-throwne Iohn Barradas his boy was drowned and hee hardly recouered the Commodities by dyuing were gotten againe though much hurt by the water They came to a noble and populous Citie called Chiengan where the winde by night was so violent that it dispersed all the Fleet which hardly escaped wracke Scilan terrified with this disastrous passage by water purposed to goe by land to Pequin which is done at the Kings cost in certayn places there being Horses Lighters Porters prouisions ready prouided Now thinking to send backe Ricius to Xanceum least some might accuse him in a time of warre for bringing Strangers to the Court hee shewed some the wonders of his triangle Glasse which hee was willing to giue the President if hee knew he should hold on with him in the Iourney They acquainted their Lord and hee gaue him license to goe to Nanquin and to enter those two Prouinces of Cequion or Cechien and Nanchin or Nanquin Hee was carryed thither with two of Scilans seruants still hauing Souldiers from all places to guard him they thinking that some of his Sonnes were there carryed When hee came to that Mother Citie for before hee seldome went foorth to preuent all lets which is in twentie nine degrees to the Northermost part of the Prouince hee made shew of himselfe as one of Scilans houshold seruants and not knowing whither to goe to deliuer his Letters hee first went into a Temple of note which beares name of the Iron Pillar For they fable that one Huiunsin had some hundreds of yeeres agoe brought perfect Siluer out of Quick-siluer and had deliuered this Citie from a huge Dragon whom hee ouer-whelmed in the ground and tyed to that Iron Pillar and then flew with his whole house Mice and all into Heauen The building of this Temple is worthy the view against which are perpetuall Faires in which nothing is lacking to bee sold. The Priests are those which they call Thausu which let their hayre and beards grow When hee entred that Temple much concourse of people came about him to see a Stranger a strange sight there yea reputed holy for they had thought that the fame of that Idoll had brought him thither from farre Countries But when hee did no worship thereto hee was admonished to doe that which the greatest Magistrates refused not then threatned after they would force him till one of the Ship sayd hee worshipped no Idols But seeing the multitude still flocking about him he returned to the Ship and signified that hee came with the President whom euery man knew The seruants visited their Masters friends and receiued gifts of some especially of the Vice-royes Physician Scarcely had they sayled out of the chiefe Citie when they meete with a Lake admirable for the greatnesse and other things on all the bankes as farre as a man can see are innumerable Townes Castles Villages great Houses thence they may passe into Fuchien and thence to the Sea Eastward Amongst other Townes there is one Citie called Nancan at the foot of a Hill called Liu in which Hill are diuers Anchorites each in his
is the greater the Crueltie or Intemperancie that is vsed in that Countrey I will not speake of it because it is so foule and not to be named The whole Countrey ouerfloweth with all sinne of that kind And no maruell as hauing no Law to restraine Whoredomes Adulteries and like vncleannesse of life As for the truth of his word as some say the Russe neither beleeueth any thing that another man speaketh nor speaketh any thing himselfe worthy to bee beleeued These qualities make them very odious to all their Neighbours specially to the Tartars that account themselues to be honest and just in comparison of the Russe It is supposed by some that doe well consider of the State of both Countries that the offence they take at the Russe Gouernment and their manner of behauiour hath beene a great cause to keepe the Tartar still Heathenish and to mislike as he doth of the Christian profession To the Reader I Thought good here to giue an account of my course Hauing spent much time in that other World so little known to This Tartaria and China that the parts least known might be made best known I haue comne neerer home to Russia and her neighbours the neerer or Chrim Tartars the Samoyeds and others whereof Doctor Fletchers Story being so elaborate where though the centre bee Russia yet his circumference is more generall and by men iudicious which haue in those parts enioyed most honourable employment and exactest intelligence commended I haue giuen him the first place And if some terme bee mollified or some few things omitted it is not to defraud Thee of the Historie which for substance is whole as by perùsall is found but not to defraud our industrious Countrymen in their merchandizing mysterie wherein some perhaps would hence seeke occasion of vndermining For like cause I haue giuen the next place to Captaine Edge the one our gowned Generall by Land the other in his generall Historie also by Sea as deserued by his ten yeeres Voyages and his other Merits As for the question of Willoughbies Land I list not to dispute it but I thinke neither Hollander as is also confessed by the French Booke called The Historie of Spitsberghe on the Dutch behalfe nor any other haue found any such Lands as his Storie describes but some part of those which now with a generall name wee call Greenland howsoeuer the makers of Maps and Globes may create Lands and Ilands at pleasure especially in vnknowne places and the first setled ordinary and orderly Voyages for the Whale-killing and the most for discouerie in those parts haue beene made by the English their gaynes awakening the Hollander to that enterprise and that also as elsewhere in the World by English guides That which I most grieue at in this contention is the detention of further discouery to the Pole and beyond where it is not likely to be colder then here and at the Arctike circle as in the Red Sea Ormus and the Countrey about Balsara on this side the Tropike is found greater heat then vnder the Line it selfe the desire of gayne euery where causing debate and consequently losse of the best gaine both in Earth and Heauen Merchants might get the World and giue vs the World better if Charitie were their Needle Grace their Compas Heauen their Hauen and if they would take their height by obseruing the Sunne of Righteousnesse in the Scripture-astrolabe and sounding their depth by a Leading Faith and not by a Leadden bottomlesse Couetousnesse that is if they would seeke the Kingdome of Heauen first all things should bee added they should finde World enough in the Indian and Polare Worlds and wee and they should arriue at better knowledge of the Creator and Creatures And of all men that I may a little further answere that Historie of Spitsberghe I would be glad to see agreement betwixt the English and Dutch both because I honour that Nation as hath appeared in this whole worke of Voyages in which and of which the Dutch are so great a part and because in Region Religion Originall Nation ingenious and ingenuous disposition and that which here brings both on our Stage the glory of Nauigation they are so neere vs and worthie to be honored It is true that euery where the English hath beene the elder Brother a Doctor and Ductor to the Hollanders in their Martiall feats at home and Neptunian exploits abroad that I mention not their permitted wealthie fishing on the English shoare whom had they followed with as true and due respect as with happie successe quarrels had not so distracted and distorted both sides I appeale to Dutch ingenuitie if euer they did any thing wholly New but giue names in remotest Nauigations without English lights Columbus an Italian had the honour of finding America and the Spaniards the happinesse But for the North America and the whole Northern New World Cabota borne or bred at least in England was either Actor or Author For the Dutch I haue shewed for the compassing of the World and for the East Indies before that our Drake Candish Mellis Dauis Adams c. were their Fore-runners Pilots and Guides Yea their New-found Land Voyages and all the Northerne coast of America were discouered by Sebastian Cabota and other Englishmen I adde their New Straights Southwards from those of Magelane were discouered before by Drake as in the Map of Sir Francis Drakes Voyage presented to Queene Elizabeth still hanging in His Maiesties Gallerie at White Hall neere the Priuie Chamber and by that Map wherein is Cabotas Picture the first and great Columbus for the Northerne World may be seene In which Map the South of the Magelane Straits is not a Continent but many Ilands and the very same which they haue stiled in their Straits Barneuels Ilands had long before beene named by the most auspicate of Earthly Names and let themselues be Iudges with which the other is as little worthie to be mentioned as a kind Mother and an vnkind Traitor The Name Elizabeth is expressed in golden Letters with a golden Crowne Garter and Armes affixed The words ascribed thereunto are these Cum omnes ferè hanc partem Aâ—stralem Continentem esse putent pro certo sciant Insulas esse Nauigantibus peruias earumque australissimam ELIZABETHAM à D. Francisco Draco Inuentore dictam esse The same height of 57. degrees and South-easterly situation from the Magelan Westerne Mouth giue further euidence And my learned friend Master Brigges told me that he hath seene this plot of Drakes Voyage cut in Siluer by a Dutchman Michael Mercator Nephew to Gerardus many yeeres before Scouten or Maire intended that Voyage As for Noua Zemla by Stephen Burrough and others long before discouered they also haue giuen new names which I enuie not onely I feare a vae soli and hate ingratitude both ours and theirs But too much of this Next to this more generall Discourse shall follow the
the breaking out of the ciuill warres among the Moscouites in the meane season I am of opinion that in this countrey is the beginning and the bounds of the Kingdome of Cataia which bordereth vpon China Yet I feare the Moscouites will lose their labour if they euer returne thither But time will declare the euent hereof Yet for all this by the commandement of the Gouernours euen in the time of this warre there was a voyage made into those parts many Inhabitants of Siberia being employed in the same who passing ouer the Riuer Ieniscé trauelled further on foot diuers of whom died by the way being not accustomed to hardnesse These also found many things agreeable to the relation of the former And they likewise did oftentimes heare the â—owling of brazen Bells But vpon the disswasions of the Tingoesies they durst not passe the Riuer But they stayed awhile in the Mountains out of which they saw oftentimes flames of fire ascend they brought thence some small quantitie of bâ—â—mstone and oâ— touch-stone so that some 〈…〉 those hills Moreouer the Gouernour of Siberia caused certaine 〈…〉 to bee made and commanded them to â—aile downe by the shoare of the Riuer Obi in the first beginning of the spring and to coast the same continually till they came to the Riuer of Ieniscé wherein theâ— should afterward saile certaine dayes discharging it selfe as hee thought into the sea He senâ— others likewise to trauell ouer Land giuing commandement to both of them before they went To the Land-men that they should stay by the Riuers side vntill the Boates arriued and that if they did not arriue there then after one yeere they should returne To them that were in the Boates ouer whom he made one Lucas Captayne he gaue in charge diligently to discouer the Coast and whatsoeuer thereon was worthy to bee obserued They did as they were enjoyned And the Mariners arriuing at the mouth of the Riuer Ieniscé met with certayne of them which trauelled ouer Land which were sent before in Boats and Skiffes downe the Riuer In their journey they found all things in a manner to fall out as the Gouernour had fore-told But Lucas being dead by the way and some others they thought is the best course for both of the Companies to returne the same way that they came And when they came home into Siberia they declared vnto the Gouernour the whole successe of their journey which caused the same to be sent vnto the Emperour And this Relation is layed vp among the Treasures of Moscouia vntill these Warres bee ended and then as it is thought it shall bee examined But wee feare that by this time it is perished which if it be so truly it iâ— much to be lamented in regard that they haue found so many rare and sundry Ilands Riuers Fowles and wild beasts and thaâ— farre beyond the Riuer Ieniscé Moreouer the Riuer Taes falleth into the Riuer of Obi springing as it seemeth 〈◊〉 of placeâ— neere vnto the Riuer Ieniscé and out of a great Wood in those parts out of which Wood another Riuer seemeth also to haue his Fountayne not farre from the Riuer Taes and falleth into the Riuer of Ieniscé So that euen from Obi they trauell by water along the Coast of the Samoieds and passing only two leagues ouer Lands they meet with the Riuer Torgalfe downe which with the streame they fall into the Riuer Ieniscé And this is a very easie way and lately found out by the Samoieds and the Tingoesies Doubtlesse it is to be lamented that the Hollanders haue not had good successe in passing the Streight of Way-gats but surely they know not the right way to attempt the same For if they attempt it by shippes though it were an hundred times it would hardly once take effect But if they would throughly discouer these Countreyes then they should stay two or three yeares about Petsora and Way-gats where they should not want good Hauens nor Victualls and from thence they should send out some with small Boates to 〈…〉 parts by the very example of the Russes whose Friendship if they would procure with themselues they should easily find Guides and Pilots and so at length all these Coasts would throughly bee discouered Doubtlesse goodly Countreyes would bee found out and not only Ilands 〈◊〉 the Mayâ—â— Land also Yet there is just cause to doubt whether America aboue China joyne not with some of the three parts of the old World As wee see Africa joyned vnto Asia with a narrow necke of Land vpon the Redde Sea And doubtlesse this seemeth likely to bee true For who can affirme that they bee separated Sauing that they haue found some things â—n the Writings of prophane Authors whereby it may be prooued and bring many Arguments from thence And though these parts bee not joyned together yet they must needs bee diuided with some small Streight §. III. A Note of the Trauels of the Russes ouer Land and by Water from Mezen neere the Bay of Saint NICHOLAS to Pechora to Obi to Yenisse and to the Riuer Geta euen vnto the Frontiers of Cataia brought into England by Master IOHN MERICKE the English Agent for Moscouie and translated out of the Russe by RICHARD FINCH FRom Mezen to Pechora is a thousand Verstâ— and the same is trauelled with Reyne â—eâ—re From Pechora to Montuaia Reca or The troubled Riuer and to the parts of Mongâ—sey it is trauelled in Boats called Coaches in seuen Weekes At this place is a certayne Ouer-hal where the foresaid Boats or Vessels are drawne ouer by men 〈◊〉 off Montuaia Reca or The troubled Riuer passing this Ouer-hall they enter into Zelena Reca or the Greene Riuer From Zelena Reca or the Greene Riuer to Obi is three Weekes rowing running downe with the Current but with a faire wind it is no more but three dayes and three nights Iourney From Obi to Taes Castle is a Weekes rowing From Taes Castle to the Riuer Yenissey vpon long Woodden Pattens through the Snow is three Weekes trauaile But through the deepe Channell in the aforeâ—said Vessels called Coaches is foure Weekes trauayle It bringeth them to a place called Toorou-hansko Zeemouia that is The Wintering place of one called Toorouhan Hauing trauelled to this Toorou-hansko Zeemouia they come out on the backe side to a place called The Riuer of Tingoosie being a stonie of Rocky Riuer which falleth into the Riuer Yenisey In that place liue the Tingoâ—sies and people of the afore-said Land of Tangoosi Beyond them liue a people called The Boulashees And beyond the Boulashees inhabit the people of Seelahee These people report concerning Yenisey the Great and Tenisey the Lesser That beyond this fore-said Yenisey inhabit the people Imbaki and the Ostaki which are a kind of Tartarâ— Also beyond the Tingoâ—sies is a Riuer called Geta which was trauailed by the Russes of Vasheâ— and Russes of Pechora These men by report liued in the parts
Versts ouer And after they haue vnladen their goods out of their Cayooks they draw the said Vessels ouer at times with Horses that come from Mezen of purpose lying there the most part of the Summer to that intent and they pay sixe pence Russe for drawing ouer an empty Boat Being ouer this Ouer-hall they driue with the streame in three dayes to the Towne of Oust-selma and with the streame in foure dayes they driue to a place called Pustozera and from Pustozera against the streame they come to the Boluanou and from the Boluanou to the Towne of Pechora Also many of these Boats very often in their returne home with their foresaid Cayooks carrie Furres to Vsting and diuers other places into the Countrey of Russia All which they doe in a Summers time CHAP. X. The Voyage of Master IOSIAS LOGAN to Pechora and his wintering there with Master WILLIAM PVRSGLOVE and MARMADVKE WILSON Anno 1611. THe first of Iuly William Gurdon Richard Finch and William Pursgloue went on shoare at Suatinose where two Crosses stand The second wee weighed anchor againe and stood into the Bay because of the Ice and that night wee went on shoare againe The third we weighed anchor and stood it about Suatinose The fift we stood to the Eastwards fiue leagues more and about twelue of the clocke at night wee were thwart of the Iland of Toxar The tenth at eight of the clocke at night we weighed and went ouer a Barre at two fathomes and came into Harbour where wee anchored at ten of the clocke in the morning in fiue fathoms hauing sands round about vs being land-locked The eleuenth my selfe William Gurdon and William Pursgloue with sixe of our men more departed from the ship with our Shallop to goe vp to the Towne of Pustozer The fourteenth wee arriued at the fishing house of one Euan Vasiliou sene sowhau where the people were afraid of vs and were ready to runne away but we spake to them and gaue them some Biscuit and Aqua vita and they sod vs some fish and shewed vs our way to another Fishery but they ran away from vs so we departed on our way The fifteenth day at foure of the clocke in the afternoone wee met with a Russe that was borne at Vstiug who gaue vs Milke and such things as he had and we gaue him some Biscuit and some Aqua vita and hee directed vs vnto another Fishery about some fiue miles from that place where wee arriued about sixe of the clocke the same night But comming ashoare we found not any saue one man who after some conference had with vs and giuing him some Bread and some of our Aqua vitae hee told vs that the Master of the house with three of his sonnes were hunting of Duckes and that their wiues were afraid and were runne into the Woods to hide themselues leauing a young childe behind them for haste So he brought vs into the house where by that time that we had stayed an houre because there were so many Muschitaes which are like vnto a Midge and sting most horribly so that we were not able to stay without the Master of the house and his sonnes came thither who at the first were afraid thinking we came to rob them And they were about to shoot our men in the Boat but one of our men holding vp a Biscuit cake they then came to them and spake vnto them but our men not vnderstanding them made them signes to the house where my selfe William Gurdon and William Pursgloue were who when they came into the house being yet afraid they came in one after another Now when we had saluted them after the Russe manner they asked vs of whence we were and for what cause we came thither whereunto I made answere that wee were English-men who because of the troubles in Russia came thither to seeke a Trade hauing heard diuers times of the fame of those parts Then hee replied that in times past those places had beene good for trading but now by reason of a bad Gouernour in those troublesome times vpon a spleene he had fired the Towne and burned aboue an hundred houses and so by that meanes they were fallen into pouerty and trading decayed by reason of his great exactions Yet hee said that they haue great store of Salmon and that the last yeere they got aboue 15000. Salmons and in the Winter is their chiefest Mart. For then the Samoyeds come thither from diuers places and bring Sables and Beauers white Foxes Rosamackes Feathers and some Squerrils So hauing supped with him we gaue him a gallon of our Aqua vitae and some fortie cakes of our white Biscuit and three or foure pound of Raisins for we heard that he was one of the principallest men in the Towne Then desiring his fauour he holpe vs to a man to goe with vs vp to the Towne because of the fearefulnesse of the people which they conceiue through the Warres of the Poles and so wee departed from thence that night to the Towne The sixteenth in the afternoone we arriued at the Towne of Pustozera where wee found not many people considering the number of houses there which are betwixt fourescore and an hundred being of wood built after the Russian manner and they are subiect vnto the Russe obseruing all their Rites as doe the Russes The people were all abroad some in getting of Morses Oyle and Belougaes Oyle and some fishing of a fish called Ometta which is a very sweet fish and some hunting Duckes sauing the Customers and three or foure more who were likewise afraid of vs although we had one of their owne people with vs and were ready to flee away So we seeing their fearefulnesse caused their man to goe first on shoare with vs three aboue mentioned not permitting the rest of our men to come on Land as yet then hee calling to them they stayed still peeping from behind the corners of their houses vntill at the last there was a Russe one of Colmogro that had wintred with them who knew me and had seene me some two yeeres before at Cola in Lappia at his Vncles house And so he encouraged them speaking greatly in our commendation shewing them that I was a Merchant and came to trade with them and not with any intent of harme for hee knew mee very well and told them that I was at Cola foure or fiue yeeres together and lay at his Vncles house So he came to me and tooke me by the hand asking me how I did and told me his name and how hee had seene mee with his Vncle at Cola. Then I called to mind that I had seene him there and so we grew acquainted and he went with vs to the Custome-house where staying an houre at length the Customer came and after many questions had concerning our comming thither I craued licence that foure of vs might winter with them which they denyed alledging that they
this morning about foure a thicke fogge we saw a head of vs. The one and twentieth in the morning we steered North-east and East North-east two watches fiue or sixe leagues Then it grew thicke fogge And we cast about and steered North-east and East North-east two watches sixe leagues finding wee were embayed The wind came at East South-east a little gale we tacked about and lay South All this night was a thicke fog with little wind East we lay with the stemme The two and twentieth in the morning it cleered vp being calme about two or three of the clocke after we had a prettie gale and we steered away East and by North three leagues Our obseruation was in 72. degrees 38. minutes and changing our course we steered North-east the wind at South-east a prettie gale This morning when it cleered vp we saw the Land trending neere hand East North-east and West South-west esteeming our selues from it twelue leagues It was a mayne high Land nothing at all couered with snow and the North part of that mayne high Land was very high Mountaynes but we could see no snow on them We accounted by our obseruation the part of the mayne Land lay neerest hand in 73. degrees The many fogs and calmes with contrary winds and much Ice neere the shoare held vs from farther Discouery of it It may bee objected against vs as a fault for haling so Westerly a course The chiefe cause that moued vs thereunto was our desire to see that part of Groneland which for ought that we know was to any Christian vnknowne and wee thought it might as well haue beene open Sea as Land and by that meanes our passage should haue beene the larger to the Pole and the hope of hauing a Westerly wind which would be to vs a landerly wind if wee found Land And considering wee found Land contrarie to that which our Cards make mention of we accounted our labour so much the more worth And for ought that wee could see it is like to bee a good Land and worth the seeing On the one and twentieth day in the morning while we steered our course North North-east we thought we had embayed our selues finding Land on our Larboord and Ice vpon it and many great pieces of Drift Ice we steered away North-east with diligent looking out euery cleere for Land hauing a desire to know whether it would leaue vs to the East both to know the bredth of the Sea and also to shape a more Northerly course And considering wee knew no name giuen to this Land wee thought good to name it Hold with hope lying in 73. degrees of latitude The Sunne was on the Meridian on the South part of the Compasse neerest hand Heere is to bee noted that when we made The Mount of Gods Mercie and Youngs Cape the Land was couered with snow for the most part and extreame cold when wee approached neere it But this Land was very temperate to our feeling And this likewise is to be noted that being two dayes without obseruation notwithstanding our lying a hull by reason of much contrary wind yet our obseruation and dead reckoning were within eight leagues together our shippe beeing before vs eight leagues This night vntill next morning prooued little Winde The three and twentieth in the morning we had an hard gale on head of vs with much rayne that fell in very great drops much like our Thunder showers in England wee tacked about and stood East-Northerly with a short sayle to our feeling it was not so cold as before we had it It was calme from noone to three of the clocke with fogge After the winde came vp at East and East South-east we steered away North-east with the fogge and rayne About seuen or eight of the clocke the winde increased with extreame fogge wee steered away with short sayle East North-east and sometimes East and by North. About twelue at mid-night the wind came vp at South-west we steered away North being reasonable cleere weather The foure and twentieth in the morning about two of the clocke the Masters mate thought he saw Land on the Larboord trending North North-west Westerly and the longer we ranne North the more it fell away to the West and did thinke it to bee a mayne high Land This day the wind being Westerly we steered away North and by obseruation wee were in 73. degrees nearest hand At noone we changed our course and steered away North and by East and at our last obseruation and also at this we found the Meridian all Leeward on the South and by West Westerly part of the Compasse when we had sayled two Watches eight leagues The fiue and twentieth the wind scanted and came vp at North North-west we lay North-east two Watches 8. leagues After the wind became variable betweene the North-east and the North we steered away East and by North and sometimes East we had thicke fogge About noone three Granpasses played about our shippe This After-noone the wind vered to the East and South-east we haled away North and by East This night was close weather but small fogge we vse the word Night for distinction of time but long before this the Sunne was alway aboue the Horizon but as yet we could neuer see him vpon the Meridian North. This Night being by our accompt in the Latitude of 75. degrees we saw small flockes of Birds with blacke Backes and white Bellies and long speare Tayles We supposed that Land was not farre off but we could not discrie any with all the diligence which we could vse being so close weather that many times we could not see sixe or seuen leagues off The sixe and twentieth in the morning was close weather we had our wind and held our course as afore This day our obseruation was 76. degrees 38. minutes and we had Birds of the same sort as afore and diuers other of that colour hauing red Heads that we saw when we first made the Mount of Gods Mercy in Greenland but not so many After we steered away North and by East two VVatches 10. leagues with purpose to fall with the Souther part of Newland accounting our selues 10. or 12. leagues from the Land Then wee stood away North-east one VVatch fiue leagues The seuen and twentieth about one or two of the clocke in the morning we made Newland being cleere weather on the Sea but the Land was couered with fogge the Ice lying very thick all along the shoare for 15. or 16. leagues which we saw Hauing faire wind wee coasted it in a very pleasing smooth sea and had no ground at an hundred fathoms foure leagues from the shoare This day at noone wee accounted we were in 78. degrees and we stood along the shoare This day was so foggie that we were hardly able to see the Land many times but by our account we were neare Vogel Hooke About eight of the clocke this Eeuening we purposed to
white Lime and so tough that being contriued in building it lasteth for euer The rest after the fire is out serue in stead of stones to make walls and vaults and will not dissolue or breake except with some Iron toole Their Winter lasteth nine moneths and yet there is a faire Hauen where this water falleth into the Sea not frozen by meanes whereof there is great resort of wild Fowle and Fish whch they take in infinite multitudes The Fishers Boates are made like to a Weauers shuttle of the skinnes of Fishes fashioned with the bones of the same Fishes and being sowed together with many doubles they are so strong that in foule weather they will shut themselues within the same not fearing the force either of Sea or winde Neither can the hard-hearted Rockes breake these yeelding Vessels They haue also as it were a Sleeue in the bottome thereof by which with a subtill deuice they conuey the water foorth that soaketh into them The most of these Friers spake the Latine tongue A little after this Nicolo returned and dyed in Friesland whither his brother Antonio had before resorted to him and now succeeded both in his goods and honour whom Zichmui employed in the Expedition 〈◊〉 Estotiland which happened vpon this occasion Sixe and twentie yeeres before foure Fisher-Boates were apprehended at Sea by a mightie and tedious storme wherewith after many dayes they were brought to Estotiland aboue a thousand miles West from Friesland vpon which one of the Boates was cast away and sixe men that were in it were taken and brought to a populous Citie where one that spake Latine and had been cast by chance vpon that Iland in the name of the King asked them what Country-men they were and vnderstanding their case hee acquainted the King therewith They dwelt there fiue yeeres and found it â—o bee an Iland very rich being little lesse then Iseland but farre more fruitfull One of them said hee saw Latine bookes in the Kings Librarie which they at this present doe not vnderstand They haue a peculiar Language and Letters or Characters to themselues They haue mines of Gold and other Mettals and haue Trade with Engroneland They sow Corne and make Beere and Ale They build Barkes but know not the vse of the Compasse and haue many Cities and Castles The King sent these Fisher-men with twelue Barkes Southwards to a Countrey which they call Drogio in which Voyage escaping dreadfull tempests at Sea they encountred with Canibals at Land which deuoured many of them These Fishers shewing them the manner of taking Fish with Nets escaped and for the presents which they made of their Fish to the chiefe men of the Country were beloued and honoured One of these more expert it seemeth then the rest was holden in such account that a great Lord made warre with their Lord to obtaine him and so preuayled that he and his companie were sent vnto him And in this order was hee sent to fiue and twentie Lords which had warred one with another to get him in thirteene yeeres space whereby hee came to know almost all those parts which he said was a great Countrey and as it were a new World The people are all rude and voide of goodnesse they goe naked neither haue they wit to couer their bodies with the Beasts skinnes which they take in Hunting from the vehement cold They are fierce and eate their enemies hauing diuers Lawes and Gouernours Their liuing is by hunting Further to the South-west they are more ciuill and haue a more temperate ayre They haue Cities and Temples dedicated to Idols where they sacrifice Men and after eate them and haue also some vse of Gold and Siluer Hee fledde away secretly and conueying himselfe from one Lord to another came at length to Drogio where hee dwelt three yeeres After this time finding there certaine Boates of Estotiland hee went thither with them and growing there very rich furnished a Barke of his owne and returned into Friesland where hee made report vnto his Lord of that wealthy Countrey Zichmui prepared to send thither but three dayes before they set foorth this Fisherman dyed Yet taking some of the Marriners which came with him in his stead they prosecuted the Voyage and encountred after many dayes an Iland where ten men of diuers Languages were brought vnto them of which they could vnderstand none but one of Iseland Hee told them that the Iland was called Icaria and the Knights thereof called Icari descended of the ancient pedigree of Dedalus King of Scots who conquering that Iland left his Sonne there for King and left them those Lawes which to that present they retayned And that they might keepe their Lawes inuiolate they would receiue no Stranger Onely they were contented to receiue one of our men in regard of the Language as they had done those ten Interpreters Zichmui sayling hence in foure dayes descried Land where they found abundance of Fowle and Birds egges for their refreshing The Hauen they called Cap Trin. There was a Hill which burning cast out smoake where was a Spring from which issued a certayne water like Pitch which ranne into the Sea The people of small stature wilde and fearefull hid themselues in Caues Zichmui built there a Citie and determining to inhabite sent Antonio backe againe with the most of his people to Friesland This Historie I haue thus inserted at large which perhaps not without cause in some things may seeme fabulous not in the Zeni which thus writ but in the relations which they receiued from others Howsoeuer the best Geographers are beholden to these Brethren for that little knowledge they haue of these parts of which none before had written nor since haue there beene any great in-land Discoueries The Ship-wracke of Master PIERO QVIRINO described by CHRISTOFORO FIORAVANTI and NICOLO DI MICHIEL who were present there heere contracted IT semeth to bee a conuenient dutie to make a memoriall and not suffer to bee buryed in obliuion that most lamentable and cruell Voyage full of innumerable and extreame miseries which befell a Venetian Ship wherein wee carryed aboue seuen hundred Buttes of Wine Spices Cottons and other Merchandises of great value furnished in Candia with threescore and eight men to goe towards the West The Master whereof was Master Piero Quirini a Venetian Gentleman in the yeare 1431. Who after many troubles misfortunes and wants befalne him after his departure from Candia towards the West on the sixth of Nouember in the foresaid yeere of the Lord by chance came into the mouth of the Channels of Flanders and went farre beyond them by a storme from the South towards the North-west about one hundred and fortie miles running still vpon the Iland of Vssenti where by agreement wee Christoforo Fiorauanti and Nicolo Michiel say that at noone wee founded the bottome of the Sea with the Lead and found our selues in fiue and fiftie fathome of water and afterward
Aequator that the Arctick Circle diuides it in the middest that is to say sixtie fiue degrees and a halfe The Ilands called Ebudae are obiect to the North part of this Iland But whether that be of these which Ptolemie and ancient Writers call Thule or rather Iseland that great Iland I dare neither affirme nor altogether denie because there is no Iland found where Ptolemie set Thule Now the later Writers make another manner of longitude about Scotland and the bordering Ilands then Ptolemie euer thought HONDIVS his Map of ISLAND ISLAND In these whirle-pooles and darknesse this Fleet one onely Ship excepted perished They that were preserued after many long labours and perils sayling through the Tartarian Sea came into a very hote Countrey and entring into a large Bay they went on shoare vpon the next Land And when the Inhabitants had hid themselues in secret places by reason of the great heate and scorching of the Sunne they saw Gold and other precious things set heere and there without a guard And when they had carryed away asmuch as they would and hasted to the Ship they saw some pursue them with Dogs of strange bignesse One who was hindred and laden with a prey that hee could not escape was torne in peeces of the Dogges The rest after long sayling shunning these Whirle-pooles arriued in Muscouia thence by the Balticke Sea returning vnto Breme they brought backe these tidings to Alebrand the Bishop with part of the prey Much about this time the Noruegians by example of the Heluetians in Iulius Caesars time are supposed to haue come out of Norway who then long time possessed that part of France which now also is call Normandie And when they had performed great attempts by Sea and Land against the Britaines they did not onely scoure the Sea by hostile incursions but also expelled the Saracens who at that time came into Italy and sought to seat themselues in Calabria and Apulia After they brought Colonies Northward into Hitland Ferow and Island which way they learned of the Bremians by meanes of the Nobilitie of Frisia aforesaid And euen the very proprietie of their speech doth testifie that they came out of Norway for the pronunciation of the Iselanders doth agree with the antient Inhabitants of Norway For vpon the Sea coast of Norway especially where the famous Hauen and Citie of Bergen is by reason of the resort and familiaritie with the Germaines and Danes the Language is changed Of the Iselanders Religion IN the yeere of Christ 1398. Woldemarus the second of that name gouerned the Danish Kingdome whereunto Norway was added whose posteritie held it vntill Ericus Duke of Pomerania and Christopher Banar Vnto this Waldemarus all the Arctoian Colonies obeyed so that now vnder that Woldemarus the Iselanders were first instructed in the Christian Religion when before they had worshipped strange Gods And when almost all Christian people in that lamentable darkenesse and title of a Church as it were by Witchcraft deceiued were detayned in most deepe bonds of superstition it could not bee but they who were furthest remoued from the societie of Learned men and dwelling vnder an vnciuill and barbarous Climate should fall into most foule Idolatrie when sometimes as hereafter shall bee declared they had Deuils to serue them as familiar as domesticall seruants But after Luther began to bee knowne Christianus the King of Denmarke procured purer Doctrine to himselfe and purged the Churches in the Kingdome of Denmarke Norway and all the Ilands subiect vnto him sending Ministers into Iseland to sow the seede of the Gospell there Hee sent a Printer also out of Denmarke to set forth the Bible the common places of Philip Melancthon the Workes of Vrbanus Regius and others in the vulgar Tongue to the Pastors who were ignorant of the Latine as at that time almost all of them were And also sent for fit and apt young men out of Iseland whom hee maintayned in the Haffâ—ian Vniuersitie at his owne costs and gaue them charge ouer Churches and Schooles King Woldemare as soone as they should professe Christian Religion in Iseland ordayned them two Bishops one in Scalholden in the East part and another in Hollen in the West whose Successours at this day retayne nothing but a shadow and a bare Title for they haue no other reuenues but Butter and Fish But when that reformation whereof I spake was made by King Christian in the Churches of Iseland one of the Bishops in Scalholden conspiring with the people reiects the Doctrine of the Gospell and making a rebellion they kill the Kings Lieutenant The yeere following which was 1535. the King sent a Noble man of the Order of Knighthood one Paul Hitfelt whom I saw an old man in Denmarke furnished with a Fleet Souldiers and Munition into the Iland The seditious being slaine hee renueth the reformation of the Doctrine of the Gospell and returneth into Denmarke leauing a certayne Noble man to take charge of the Church and Iland The greatest man in Iseland at that time was one Tadde Bonde Hee after the Kings Armie was departed conspiring with the principall men whom by his Authoritie hee drew to take his part reuolted from his Allegiance and perswaded the rest of the Ilanders to follow They meete together in a place called Waloe and conspiring to rebell and cast off the Kings subiection they impart their counsels together and Tadde had his possâ—ssions not in one place and many retayners and for these causes hee thought they could not easily bee suppressed The Bishop who dwelt in the East had a speciall care to acquaint the Kings Lieutenant with all that was done for the Lieutenant was absent in the West part of that Iland and the Bishop hated Tadde a long time For in that first Rebellion hee had falsly accused him to the Lieutenant as guiltie and author of the Rebellion This accusation onely brought great and extreame calamitie vpon him The Lieutenant being certified what was done hee perswadeth by fit instruments some of the Complices of the faction to continue in their Allegiance propounding rewards and punishments Then many of them when they saw the greatnesse of the danger leauing him came humbly to the Lieutenant and begge pardon and obtayne it Tadde therefore is adiudged an Enemie both of the King and of his Countrey they promise therefore by an Oath and giuing of their Faith that they will pursue him Then hee through feare of the danger with a few of his Domestickes which hee had gathered together kept himselfe at the foote of Hekelueld but being circumuented they were all slaine and hee taken They that tooke him brought him to the Bishop to commit him to Prison but hee refused to receiue him Therefore they draw him to another certaine man of those who had the chiefe place in Iustice neither would hee receiue him fearing the hatred of the people There was at that time there a certayne Iselander Ionas by name a
distemper of cold besides other vses sufficiently knowne especially in the Winter time when Hot-houses and Chimneyes are in vse heaped together of Rocks and stone through which the flame might easily breake forth which as soone as through the force of the fire they were throughly heat and when the Hot-house began now to leaue smoking the cold parts of the Chimney were besprinkled with hote glowing stones by which meanes heate vseth effectually to disperse it selfe throughout the whole house which also is very well so preserued by the wall and Roofe couered with Turfe Yet lest the Islanders might seeme through meere pouertie or want of knowledge to haue vsed rude buildings and poore houses I can cal to remembrance certayne houses of an hundred and twentie sixe foot long and some of one hundred thirie fiue as I haue before declared concerning the buildings of Ingulfus and some of one hundred and twentie feet in length and sixtie feet broad whereof we shall hereafter speake some also whose hollowed rafters and boarded seeling of the walls carued by art report the ancient Histories of worthy and memorable Acts. They therefore inclosed their habitations built after this manner with certayne spaces of fruitfull fields ordayned for tillage which spaces through toylesome labour they afterwards compassed about with a banke cast vp to keepe out the Heards of cattle Moreouer suffâ—cient huge pastures were assigned to euery Farme or plot of ground diuided by certayne limits or inclosures from others whereof we shall speake in the eight Chapter And euery Farme or Habitation for the most part and in like manner euery plot of ground receiued the name from the first Founders sometimes also from some other so Mountaynes and Riuers as hath beene aduertized before so that by this meanes the places themselues euen by their names only declared to all posteritie their first Inhabitants and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I proceede from buildings to their victuals and tillage of the field and ground which partly succeeded well to the first Inhabitants to procure Corne and fruit from thence but I know not whether euery where alike Yet in the meane space that Hiorleifus mentioned before exercised his slaues in tillage of the ground and one Gunnerus of Lidarenda sowing his Seed was wounded by the enemie on the ball of the cheeke and likewise Hoschuldus Huitarnesgode busily imployed in sowing the Seed was slaine Hence from the fields there are proper names of certayne places Hence came that Law concerning the gathering together and carrying of Corne after Haruest where they speake of the seruices which the Lawyers call praediall All which are manifest tokens of the tillage of the ground amongst the first Islanders which also euen vnto this day I heare is practised by some Inhabitants of South Island but with lesse increase the ground and temper of the Ayre degenerating from the first goodnesse thereof after so many Ages peraduenture also the care of the Husbandmen beeing lesse diligent may bee the cause since Corne comming from forreigne parts began more to be in vse And because that tillage of the ground seemed in the beginning either not vsed of all or lesse fruitfull for Corne and all manner of graine a peculiar manner of tillage of the ground presently began whereby they compassed with dunge those fields or spaces which I said they inclosed within their owne circuit especially with kowes dunge at the mowing of the best hay to the intent they may the betterfeed the Heards and especially the Kine that they might yeeld the more plenty of Milke Which tillage of the ground is yet retayned and they only exercise thesame for the most part almost by mid-land Inhabitants seeing such as dwel vpon the Sea-coast liue most by fishing whither also those more remote or mid-land people yeerely send their Seruants to fish Both Plaines that is to say the ground and the Sea was to bee ploughed after a sort by the Islanders for the comforts of life To whom besides insteed of victuals Sheep Oxen Swine and Kiddes sufficiently abounded and also fishes of diuers kindes besides Sea-fish out of the Flouds Lakes and Riuers they met with euery where so that they might take them as it were out of a certayne wee le especially in that Age also Milke and White-meate with goodly plentie of Butter from the Heards of cattle Besides Fowle in great number some tame as Hennes and Domesticall Geese or Fowle of another kind liuing in the open Ayre wandring also solitarily in Mountaynous places which the possessors marked in the feet that euery-one might more easily demand his owne They had others also not tame which they tooke by certayne ginnes as Geese and Duckes of the Medow Partridges and Swannes and very many Sea-fowle whose names and properties I doe not know But Fowle of either kind tame or wilde they either presented their Egges or themselues or both for the vse of men Besides the naturall Drinke or pressed Whay of Milke whereof the great plentie is so much the better as the Milke is more excellent so that halfe an ounce of water mixed with an ounce of Whay doth not wholly diminish the taste thereof but that it relisheth more of the Whay then of the water they also boyled Barley Flowre sometimes adding thereto the Honey Combe or Water mingled with Honey sometimes also a Liquour made of certayne Berries growing heere Moreouer the ancient Islanders brought in drinke made of Corne from forreigne parts as also all manner of graine and other things for they were furnished with ships of their owne wherewith they yeerely visited at their pleasure Denmarke Norway Suecia Scotland Saxonie England and Ireland Our ancient Islanders wanted not honest Banquetings and meetings and that surely without miserable sparing whether we respect the number of the guests or the time of the Banquets exhibited For Theodorus and Thorualdus brethren and Citizens of Hialtaedat of North Island solemnizing the Funerals of their Father Hialta made a Banquet for fourteene dayes together of twelue hundred persons presenting the men of better note with some gift And an Inhabitant of West Island surnamed Olaus Pa with his two brethren were at the charge to banquet nine hundred men euen for fourteene dayes space not sending the chiefe men away without reward I find money was not vsuall with the Islanders I meane those of ancient time but siluer was weighed by the ballance and bartering of Merchandizes was very commonly vsed Moreouer Rings of Gold and Bracelets were both often sent for tokens of remembrance from Superiours to priuate men or from one friend to another §. III. Of their Politie and Religion in old times THe Islanders going about to establish an Aristocratie or State of Nobilitie considering they dwelt scattered in the Countrey and not together first diuided their Citie into Fourths or Tetrades named from the foure principall quarters of the World and distinguisâ—ed besides by setting of bounds such also
embracements And least the miserable cry of the children in horrible torment being heard might moone the bowels of the parents the Priests of Moloch filled the ayre and skie on euery side with the harsh sound of Trumpets and striking vp of Drummes so long as the sacrifice continued Whereupon also the place was named Tophet which signifieth a Drumme This Adricomus writeth And least any might thinke that the common people onely of the Iewes became thus blinde behold Kings Ahaz 2. King 16. 2. Paralip 28. Manasses there in the 21. and 33. where also the ancient custome of the Nations may bee alleaged But that crueltie and those sacrifices of Saturne seeme not to haue continued long with the Islanders and surely they were vsed no where else saue in the two places assigned Nor yet of all the Inhabitants of that Prouince where it was exercised For it is reported of Hiâ—rleifus the companion of â—ugulfus before mentioned that he altogether abhorred the worshipping of Idols And Helgo also surnamed Biola descended from the Barons of Norway an inhabitant of the Prouince of Rialarues fauoured the Ethnick Religion but a little for he receiued an Irish man a banished Christian into his neighbourhood one named Ornulfus with his families which came with him and did not onely receiue him but also permitted him to build a Church consecrated to Saint Columbe in the Village of Escuberg A yong man also of the same Prouince called Buo destroied that most accursed Temple of humane sacrifices with fire and burned all the Gods although afterward it was repaired by the Proprietors Moreouer Torchillus surnamed Mane it may bee because hee honoured the Moone called Mane and the rest of the Starres with more Religion then the rest a man of a very vpright life and famous among the Nobilitie of Island a little before the agonie of death caused himselfe to bee set forth ouer against the Sunne and openly admiring the workmanship of Heauen and the whole World commended his Soule departing when he was readie to die to that God who created the Sunne and the rest of the Starres He liued about the yeere of Christ 970. The same or the like may be reported of very many others while Ethnicisme yet continued As of Hallerus a certaine inhabitant of South Island who because hee followed not the worship of Idols was called Godlaus that is to say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as was also his sonne Helgo The publique Offices some of them are distinguished from hence others haue their originall from some other place Those which are taken from hence are a Reppagogie that I may deuise a word and the administration of Prouinces to wit as that partition into Reppes and Prouinces ended as it were in sundrie species but both had some kinde of gouernment ioyned with it For aswell the Reppagogi for so I may call the Masters of Reppes as the prouinciall Gouernours proclaimed Assemblies established Iudgements euery one in their Court and punished the guiltie whereby it is euident that they also vsed the Law of Appeale in forren Causes for in their own euen priuate men had libertie of Appeale so that I need not doubt that the Reppagogi also were comprehended vnder the Title of a Magistrate Who is defined by Bodinus to bee Hee that hath part of a publique gouernment Metho hist. cap. 16. I added saith he the word Publique that it might be distinguished from the gouernment of a Master or a Father If therefore any would desire a more perfect distinction of a Magistrate it should be such A Magistrate is inferior or superior The inferior is a Reppagogie or Gouernour of fiue men which fiue inhabitants chosen for gouernment of the Reppes vsed in euery Reppe whom we are here compelled to call Reppagogie and The fiue men they call them Hreppflior ar appointed first for their wisedome and integritie next for the possession of immoueable goods vnlesse concerning this latter it seeme good to doe otherwise by the common opinion Moreouer the Office of the Reppagogi is limited by the care of the Poore But that which the care of the Poore required euery one within the bounds of their Reppe endeuored to attaine by these two meanes First that they should prouide that none should bee suddenly brought to extreme pouertie as much surely as consisteth in mans pollicy Secondly how they might prouide for such as were become Beggars to be maintayned by the common aide And surely they attempted the first part of their office three manner of wayes first by making Lawes against such as through their owne fault speaking after the manner of men became beggars of which sort are those titul de exhaeredandis cap. 3. Parentibus mendicis natus ipse hâ—stiatim victum quaerendo educatus nisi morbo affectus hareditatem nullam adito c. that is to say So long as he liueth from doore to doore The 18. chapter of the same and the first three yeere next from the time of begging cap. 20. Least any vnder a feigned shew of vertue should deceiue and abuse the Lawes Also Altera lex de eiusmodi mendicis impunè castrandis etiamsi cum eorundem nece coniunctum foret titul de pupillis cap. 33. to wit Lest liuing from doore to doore they might beget children like vnto the parents which afterwards should be a burden to the Commonwealth Also a third Law De ijsdem mendicis non alendis titul de mendicis cap. 39.63 not repugnant to the commandement of the Apostle Hoe that laboureth not let him not eate 2. Thes. 3. and of not receiuing them so much as into their house cap. 45. of the same a grieuous penaltie being inflicted if any offended against this Law in the same place By which Decree what other thing I pray you is meant then the custome of the Athenians in times past among whom the Areopagitae inquired of the particular Citizens by what art euery one liued and prouided to haue them called in question who gaue themselues to filthy and slothfull idlenesse What other thing I say then what was meant by the Decree of the Massilienses who forbad them to enter their Citie who knew no arte whereby to sustaine their life and lest any should practise either vnprofitable or dishonest artes they gaue no place to Players counterfeit Iesters laughing Companions sawcy Scoffers and Iugglers To conclude What other thing then what the Decree of Solon meant who ordayned a Law that the children should owe no thanks nor fauour to their parents by whom they had beene instructed in no honest arte to get their liuing The ancient World had so great and vehement prouocations vnto Vertue euen with our Countrimen which in this last age ah too degenerate you may finde wanting with griefe all these Constitutions being taken away Wherefore the number 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that I may vse the word of Paul is more abundantly increased that is to say of them
Gouernours those things being in action till May. Then came newes that the Crim Tartars had entred the borders thinking to find all things troubled with an interregne whereupon he assembled an Armie of three hundred thousand and went in person against them But the Tartars hearing how things went returned home and sent Embassadors to the Emperours Tents Hee returned with them to Mosco where the next September which is the beginning of the Russian New yeere which enters in other places with Ianuary following hee was publikely blessed by the Patriarke carrying a golden Crosse in his hand and on the fourteenth of September before the Knazeys Boiarens Bishops and other Orders had the Crowne set on his head by the Patriarke and the Scepter put in his hand with the Solemnitie in such cases accustomed Twelue dayes together all Orders were feasted in the Castle and the Magistrates and Officers had a yeeres pay giuen them Merchants also of other Countries had Immunities and Priuiledges granted The Rustickes had their payments to their Boiarens reasonably rated and their persons made more free Germane Merchants had moneyes lent them to repay seuen yeeres after without Vsurie Widdowes and Orphans and poorer persons receiued much Almes Pheodores Obsequies were solemnely performed and the Priests richly rewarded and that Empire which seemed dead with the death of the house of Beala now was as it were reuiued and receiued a glorious Resurrection Thus haue we deliuered you Thuanas his report touching Boris manner of acquiring the Empire without publike enuie and cunning wiping off the aspersions of Pheodore and Demetrius their deaths And as euery bodie is nourished by Aliments correspondent to the Principles of the Generation so did hee seeke by politike wisdome to establish that which by wise Policies he had gotten Wherein his care was not little to multiply Treasure and as at first hee had seemed popularly prodigall so after a small time of his Reigne hee became prouidently penurious the wonted allowances of the Court being much shortened from that which had beene in former times as I haue receiued from eye-witnesses Likewise he was carefull to hold good tearmes with his Neighbouring Princes and aswell by plots at home as by forreigne Aliance indeuoured to settle on his Race this new gotten Empire He is said for this end to haue sought a Wife for his sonne out of England and a Husband for his Daughter out of Denmarke His Wife was a woman of haughtie spirit who thought her too good for any Hollop so they call a slaue and such she esteemed all the subjects and on such tearmes she is said to haue beene denied to a great man his best Souldier and Commander of his Armie But while his Sunne shined now in the height of his course and with brightest and warmest beames of prosperitie there arose grosse vapours out of Demetrius his graue which grew quickly into a blacke darke cloud and not only eclipsed that Imperiall glorie but soone engendred a blondie storme which with a floud swept away that whole Family and ouer-whelmed also the whole Empire Contraries set together cause the greater lustre for which cause I will bring on the stage a Gentleman which attended Sir Thomas Smith employed in Honourable Embassage from his Maiestie of Great Brittaine to the then flourishing Emperor Boris and out of his large Relations deliuer you this which followeth in his owne words omitting the most part to our purpose not so pertinent in the Booke printed Anno 1605. §. II. Occurrents of principall Note which happened in Russia in the time while the Honourable Sir THOMAS SMITH remayned there Embassador from his Maiestie SIr Thomas Smith Knight accompanied with Sir T. Challenor and Sir W. Wray Knights diuers Gentlemen and his owne Attendants repayred to the Court on the tenth of Iune 1604. then lying at Greenwich where by the Right Honourable the Earle of Salisburie he was brought to His Majestis presence kissed his Hand c. The next day he tooke leaue of the Prince and on the twelfth being furnished with his Commission he came to Grauesend and next morning went aboord the Iohn and Francis Admirall and the two and twentieth of Iuly anchored within a mile of the Archangell The sixteenth of September hee came to Vologda the fiue and twentieth to Perislawe and there staid three dayes and then departed to Troites that faire and rich Monasterie so to Brattesheen and Rostouekin fiue versts from the great Citie of Musco The fourth of October the Prestaue came and declared the Emperours pleasure that hee should come into the Mosco that forenoone presently after came Master I. Mericke Agent with some twentie Horses to attend his Lordship which forth-with was performed Then we did ride til we came within a little mile of the many thousands of Noblemen and Gentlemen on both sides the way attended on horsebacke to receiue his Lordship Where the Embassadour alighted from his Coach and mounted on his foot-cloth Horse and so rode on with his Trumpets sounding A quarter of a mile farther met him a proper and gallant Gentleman a-foot of the Emperours stable who with Cap in hand declared to the Embassadour that the Emperour the young Prince and the Master of the Horse had so farre fauoured him as to send him a Iennet very gorgeously trapped with Gold Pearle and Precious Stone and particularly a great Chaine of plated Gold about his necke to ride vpon Whereupon the Embassador alighted imbraced the Gentleman returned humble thankes to them all and presently mounted Then he declared that they likewise had sent horses for the Kings Gentlemen which likewise were very richly adorned then for all his followers which Ceremonie or State performed and all being horsed he departed we riding orderly forward till wee were met by three great Noblemen seuered from the rest of the multitude and the Emperours Tolmache or Interpreter with them They being within speech thus began that Oration they could neuer well conclude Which was That from their Lord and Master the mightie Emperour of Russia c. they had a message to deliuer his Lordship The Embassadour then thinking they would be tedious and troublesome with their vsuall Ceremonies preuented their farther speech with this to them a Spell That it was vnfitting for Subiects to hold discourse in that kind of complement of two such mightie and renowmed Potentates on horsebacke They hereby not only put by their Ceremonious Saddle-sitting but out of their Paper instructions allighted suddenly as men fearing they were halfe vnhorsed and the Embassadour presently after them comming very courteously all three saluting the Embassadour and the Kings Gentlemen taking them by the hands Thus like a Scholer too old to learne by rote the Duke named King Volladamur Euanywich Mawsolskoy with his Lesson before him declared his message which was that he with the other two Noblemen were sent from the Great Lord Emperour and great Duke Boris Phedorowich selfe-vpholder great Lord
kinde and honourable Prestaue the Duke Vollagdemor with almost weeping on his part the Ambassador went from the Emperors sled to his coach set vpon a sled and wee â—lighted from the Emperors horses and betooke our selues to our easie and pleasant passage in 〈◊〉 such a passage as this part of the World would wonder at in which a man though hee goe a â—â—â—ckney pace may as easily reade as sleepe Thus accompanyed with Master Ioâ—â— Moricke Master William Russel sometimes Agent for the Dutch and many other Merchants we easily rode that night to Braâ—teshiâ— thirtie miles from the Mosco The next morrow taking leaue of them all we continued our iourney fiftie and sixtie versts a day easily Within few dayes after wee heard newes certainly of the Emperors sudden and vntimely death which considering neither the Prestaâ—e the Gouernour or Bishop had not or would not of ten dayes after take knowledge of we might in the meane time haue doubted of but that his Lordship had it from Master Iohn Mericke by Letter particularly His death was very sudden and as it was in it selfe very strange for within some two houres after dinner hauing as hee vsually had his Doctors with him who left him in their iudgements in health as the good meale he made could witnesse for hee dined well and fed plentifully though presently after as may be thought feeding ouer-much hee felt himselfe not onely heauie but also payned in his stomacke presently went into his chamber laid himselfe vpon his bed sent for his Doctors which alwayes speeded yet before they came hee was past being speechlesse and soone after dying Before his death as speedie as it was hee would bee shorne and new christned what the cause was otherwise then the griefe inward sorrow with diuers distractions about the warres and their bad successe fearing the worst on his part onely God knowes yet who so remembers Gods iudgements or Princes policies for Kingdomes with mans sinfulnesse and considereth the one with the other may bee satisfied if not contented For the Emperours person he was tall and well bodied teaching out of his authoritie obedience of an excellent presence black and thin haâ—red well faced round and close shaued strong limmed A Prince framed betweene Thought and Resolution as being euer in labour but neuer till death deliuered neuer acting though euer plotting but in his Closet or Councel Chamber One rather obeyed then loued being feared where hee was not serued doubtlesse vpholding a true Maiestie and gouernment in euery part but in his owne minde that it is a question whether he were more kinde to Strangers or seuere and iust to his Subiects or hatefull and terrible to his Enemies A father and a Prince whose wordes counsels obseruations policies resolutions and experiments were but the life of his deare Sonne neuer aduising entertayning no not praying without him In all Ambassies and Negotiations remembring his sonnes name with his owne louing him being louely for that himselfe would bee loued vnwilling to spare his presence desirous to haue him at all occasions before his eyes I shall not doe amisse to giue a taste of the fruit sprung from so stately a Tree Being by a learned and well trauailed Gentleman diuers times particularly aduised to let the Prince take some more then no recreation by which meanes he might aswell prolong his life as instruct his iudgement and delight his minde Oh would the Emperour answere one sonne is no sonne nay I am perswaded three sonnes to me is but halfe a sonne But had I sixe sonnes then I might safely say I had one how then should I part with that at any time I know not to bee mine for any time This may giue satisfaction to any vnderstanding both of his feares and ielousies his great loue and much care It was an vsuall speech with the Emperour vpon good reason to say hee was the Lord and father of his sonne yet withall That he was not onely his seruant but his very slaue Two policies of the said Emperour I shall willingly acquaint you with for diuers reasons One was when hee caused fire to bee kindled in foure parts of Moscoâ— whereat himselfe was noted to be very diligent with all his Nobles and Courtiers and after it was quenched he sent his bountie to them all that builded anew their houses and repaid all their losses And this was but to stop the rumour then so common of his strange gayning the Empire by which stratagem of his when his people were readie to mutinie they were created anew good Subiects yet did admire his not onely care but goodnesse towards them all A second was at that time the Land was visited with a mightie famine and as great a plague some foure yeeres since whereof a third of the whole Nation is rated to haue died and the murmuring multitude said the cause was their electing of a murderer to the Empire wherefore God did thus visit them Whereupon hee caused Galleries to bee builded round about the vtmost wall of the great Citie of Mosco and there appointed daily to bee giuen to the poore twentie thousand pounds sterling which was accordingly performed for one moneth whereupon the common peoples mouthes and bellies were well stopped Here wee lodged till the sixt of May being wearied with the inconstancie and ill-come newes of flying reports whereupon the time of the yeere requiring the Ambassador resolued to passe downe the Riuer to Colmogro as well that hee might the sooner haue newes from England as happily to bee out of feare of any disaster the rumours being innumerable and vncertaine After the suspicious death of the old Emperour Boris Pheodorowich c. by the appointment of the Prince then their expected Emperour and the Counsell Peter Basman that noble Sparke was speedily dispatched and sent as Generall vnto their ill succeeding warres as their last hope indeed hee prooued so in a contrarie sense and the onely refuge to the Commons whiâ—her being come hee with himselfe presented most of his command as many as freely would offer themselues Vnder which were all the English Scots French Dutch and Flemmings whatsoeuer and with him or rather before him as least suspected Ries Vasili Euanch Goleeche the other Generall a man of great birth and in the prioritie of place to bee receiued before Peter Basman All which the now well knowne newly opinionated Emperour very graciously receiued happily not without some ielousie of many particulars Demetrius now sent Messengers with Letters which entred the Suburbs where the Commons in infinite numbers brought them safe 〈◊〉 the spacious Plaine before the Castle gate within which as daily they did vse so now were all the Counsellors in consultation but happily not in a secret Counsaile also wherein was the Emperiall Court There these Boyerens made demand for many of the Counsellors especially for the Godonoues to come to heare their right King Dâ—metrius Euanowich speaking vnto them
fidelitie and for keeping their oath alreadie giuen Therefore after many circumstances they inferred that they would presently send their Messengers to the generall Parliament but mooued with the perswasion of the honorable Lord Generall to wit that his Maiestie would bee contented with their fidelitie once made and performed vnder oath and with their griefe for the same cause and will cheerefully forgiue them and doth not refuse to giue his Sonne to raigne ouer them Adding withall that many Kingdomes to wit the Kingdome of Hungarie the Kingdome of Bohemia and a great part of Russia doe earnestly request that he would receiue them vnder the happy gouernment of his Maiestie that they might enioy the priuiledges of Poland and Litow to which none in the whole world can be compared But because his Excellent Maiestie as a Christian Lord reiecting all other Kingdomes and Dominions will graciously receiue vnder his Rule and gouernment the said Dominions and that he is sorry for their destruction he therefore now admonisheth them if they will bee vnder his prosperous Rule and enter into an vnion together with the Kingdome of Poland and the great Duchy of Litow and liue friendly with them if they will performe and consent therevnto His Excellent Maiestie promiseth to remit their offence and to receiue them vnder his happy gouernment and authoritie and refuseth and by no meanes will alter or change their faith and conscience or places dedicated vnto God or builded for deuotion neither will impose on them any other Religion or alter their ancient Manners or Customes but will bestow on them priuiledges and offices and that the Rights and Priuiledges which the Poles with the great Duchy of Litow doe enioy shall be conferred on them and that they shall be equalled with the Kingdome and great Duchy of Litow c. which iurisdictions and priuiledges in former times their Predecessors wanted For this perswasion therefore of the honourable Lord Generall which he had in charge from his Maiestie to make they yeeld all thankes but notwithstanding they propound and plainly adde that their oath shall be so that his Maiesties sonne shall succeed in their gouernment with certaine additions to wit that they will haue none other ouer them but onely his Maiesties sonne and that the whole Land doth make it knowne and propound their iudgement and sentence by way of denunciation that by no meanes but by offering his Maiesties sonne these troubles of Moscouia can be extinguished Adding withall that at that time in the first troubles when the honourable Lord Generall came into the Country of Moscouia and required the oath for the Kings Maiesties sonne if his Maiestie had made any mention thereof it is certaine that the Commons and all the Nobilitie would not haue consented thereunto by any meanes and that greater effusion of bloud had risen thereupon And that they had taken for their Prince Klutzinsky called the Wor to whom all were not assembled who also at that time had a great power of men as well of Poles as Russes and Litowes They therefore seeing the great discord amongst the people taking counsell did freely choose for their Lord and Emperour his Excellent Maiesties sonne vnto whom they had a great affection and who had a long time before layen in their hearts assuring themselues also that by this election of his Maiesties sonne many troubles and dissentions would be pacified and so reiected the aforesaid Wor Klutzinsky As also they receiued into their chiefe Citie the chiefe Generall But when it was heard that his Excellent Maiestie would by no meanes giue vnto them his sonne for their Lord and to rule ouer them they fell into such effusion of bloud and insurrections As also the same time the whole Country of Moscouia looked and expected nothing else then his Maiesties sonne Calling to memorie for their better aduice that it was to be feared least whilest his Maiestie came too late with his sonne diuers parts of the Land should choose vnto themselues seuerall Lords As to the Southward the Castles Strachen and others to the King of Persia part of Pomerland and Siberia to the Kings of Denmarke and England Nouogrod Plesco Iuanogrod and others to the King of Sweden and that the other Cities would choose to themselues other Lords separate from the rest In the meane season they desire his Excellent Maiestie to make a speedy end of these warres according to his Obligation and promise ratified by the oath of the honorable Lord Generall and the whole Armie and that his Maiestie himselfe with his sonne would come into Moscouia They request also that his Excellent Maiestie would retayne with himselfe and his Sonne Counsellors and Messengers of their Commonwealth for the ordayning and concluding of perpetuall Conditions They request also that his Maiestie in the name of his Sonne would send vnto all the Inhabitants of the Townes and write vnto the seuerall Cities signifying his comming into their Dominions and willing that out of the seuerall Prouinces all sorts of men send their Messengers to treate and conclude of the affaires of all sorts of People and of peâ—petuall tranquillitie Promising after the said Charge and Letters to all people in generall and notifying from their said Lord that by Gods grace there may bee throughout the whole Land of Moscouia tranquillitie peace and securitie To conclude they pray heartily vnto the Lord God to grant vnto his Maiestie in this businesse begun a prosperous and speedy end Thus haue wee seene dissolute resolutions or resolute dissolutenesse men onely constant in inconstancy resolued vpon irresolution As we often see sicke persons turning euery way and no way eased in the night time longing for day and in the day for night such was now the Russian sicknesse they would and they would not and yet would againe and againe would not they scarsly knew what or why fluctuating in an inward storme of diuersifyed hopes feares desires distracted affections no lesse then in that outward broile of State For it was not long that they looked toward Poland whether for breach of conditions of that part or out of inueterate hate to the Pole or their Nationall iealousie and distrust of Strangers or a naturall inconstancy they fell off from that Prince and their Chancellor Father to the now raigning Emperour employed there with others in Embassage were detayned thereupon prisoners It is also reported that they made secret ouertures to His Maiestie of Great Britaine and that Sir Iohn Merick and Sir Willam Russel were therein employed but the strong conuulsions and sharpe agues and agonies of that State could not or would not endure the lingring of such remote pâ—isicke the wheele of Things being whirled about before such a Treatie might admit a passage of Messengers to and fro Once that Russian Head grew so heady and giddy that at last it bred innumerable Heads yea the whole Body became Heads in the worst of tyrannies a popular
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
any refined phrases and eloquent speeches Therefore briefly and as it were in the forefront I intend to shew you the whole proceeding of the voyage in a word as namely there is no passage nor hope of passage in the North of Dauis Streights wee hauing coasted all or neere all the Circumference thereof and finde it to be no other then a great Bay as the Map here placed doth truly shew wherefore I cannot but much admire the worke of the Almightie when I consider how vaine the best and chiefest hopes of man are in things vncertaine And to speake of no other matter then of the hopefull passage to the North-west How many of the best sort of men haue set their whole indeuours to proue a passage that wayes and not onely in Conference but also in Writing and publishing to the World yea what great summes of money hath beene spent about that action as your Worship hath costly experience off Neither would the vaine-glorious Spaniard haue scattered abroad so many false Maps and Iournals if they had not beene confident of a passage this way that if it had pleased God a passage had beene found they might haue eclipsed the worthy praise of the Aduenturers and true Discouerers and for my owne part I would hardly haue beleeued the contrarie vntill mine eyes became witnesse of that I desired not to haue found still taking occasion of hope on euery little likelihood till such time as we had almost coasted the Circumference of this great Bay Neither was Master Dauis to be blamed in his report and great hopes if he had anchored about Hope Sanderson to haue taken notice of the Tydes for to that place which is in 72. degrees 12. minutes the Sea is open of an vnsearchable depth and of a good colour onely the Tydes keepe no certaine course nor rise but a small height as eight or nine foote and the flood commeth from the Southward and in all the Bay beyond that place the Tyde is so small and not much to be regarded yet by reason of snow melting on the Land the Ebbe is stronger then the Flood by meanes whereof and the windes holding Northerly the fore-part of the yeere the great Iles of Ice are set to the Southward some into Fretum Hudson and others towards New found Land for in all the Channell where the Sea is open are great quantities of them driuing vp and downe and till this yeere not well knowne where they were bred Now that the worst is knowne concerning the passage it is necessarie and requisite your Worship should vnderstand what probabilitie or hope of profit might here be made hereafter if the voyage bee attempted by fitting men And first for the killing of Whales certaine it is that in this Bay are great numbers of them which the Biscainers call the Grand Baye Whales of the same kinde which are killed at Greenland and as it seemeth to me easie to be strooke because they are not vsed to bee chased or beaten for we being but one day in Whale Sound so called for the number of Whales that wee saw there sleeping and lying aloft on the water not fearing our ship or ought else that if wee had beene fitted with men and things necessarie it had beene no hard matter to haue strooke more then would haue made three ships a sauing voyage and that it is of that sort of Whale there is no feare I being twise at Greenland tooke sufficient notice to know them againe beside a dead Whale wee found at Sea hauing all her finnes or rather all the rough of her mouth of which with much labour we got one hundred and sixtie the same euening we found her and if that foule weather and a storme the next day had not followed wee had no doubt but to haue had all or the most part of them but the winde and Sea arising shee broke from vs and we were forced to leaue her Neither are they onely to be looked for in Whale Sound but also in Sir Tho. Smiths Sound Wostenholme Sound and diuers other places For the killing of Sea Morse I can giue no certaintie but onely this that our Boat being but once ashoare in all the North part of this Bay which was in the entrance of Alderman Iones Sound at the returne our men told vs they saw many Morses along by the shoare on the Ice but our ship being vnder saile and the winde comming faire they presently came aboord without further search besides the people inhabiting about 74. degrees told vs by diuers signes that toward the North were many of those beasts hauing two long teeth and shewed vs diuers pieces of the same As for the Sea Vnicorne it being a great fish hauing a long horne or bone growing forth of his forehead or nostrill such as Sir Martin Frobisher in his second voyage found one in diuers places we saw of them which if the horne be of any good value no doubt but many of them may be killed And concerning what the Shoare will yeeld as Beach finnes Morse teeth and such like I can little say because we came not on shoare in any of the places where hope was of finding them But here some may obiect and aske why we sought that Coast no better to this I answere that while we were thereabout the weather was so exceeding foule wee could not for first wee anchored in Wostenholme Sound where presently our ship droue with two anchors a head then were we forced to stand forth with a low saile The next day in Whale Sound we lost an Anchor and Cable and could fetch the place no more then we came to anchor neere a small Iland lying between Sir Tho. Smiths Sound and Whale Sound but the winde came more outward that we were forced to weigh againe neuerthelesse if wee had beene in a good harbour hauing but our Ships Boat we durst not send her farre from the ship hauing so few men as seuenteene in all and some of them very weake but the chiefe cause wee spent so little time to seeke a Harbour was our great desire to performe the Discouerie hauing the Sea open in all that part and still likelihood of a passage but when we had coasted the Land so farre to the Southward that hope of passage was none then the yeere was too farre spent and many of our men very weake and withall we hauing some beliefe that ships the next yeere would be sent for the killing of Whales which might better doe it then wee And seeing I haue briefly set downe what hope there is of making a profitable voyage it is not vnfit your Worship should know what let or hinderance might be to the same The chiefest and greatest cause is that some yeere it may happen by reason of the Ice lying betweene 72. degrees and a halfe and 76. degrees no minutes that the ships cannot come into those places till toward the middest of Iuly so that
her selfe among the Rocks till the other had told her how well wee had vsed them in giuing them pieces of Iron and such like which they highly esteeme in change thereof they giue vs Seales skinnes other riches they had none saue dead Seales and fat of Seales some of which fat or blubber afterward we carried aboord the poore women were very diligent to carry it to the water side to put into our caske making shew that the men were ouer at the Mayne and at an other small Iland something more Eastward Then making signes to them that wee would shew them our ship and set them where the men were the foure youngest came into our Boate when they were aboord they much wondred to see our ship and furniture we gaue them of our meat which they tasting would not eate Then two of them wee set on the Iland where they supposed the men to be the other two were carried to their Tents againe Those that went to seeke the men could not finde them but came as neere the ship as they could and at euening wee set them ouer to the other This place wee called Womens Ilands it lyeth in the latitude of 72. degrees 45. minutes here the Flood commeth from the Southward at nep Tydes the water ariseth but sixe or seuen foote and a South South-east Moone maketh a full Sea The Inhabitants very poore liuing chiefly on the flesh of Seales dryed which they eate raw with the skinnes they cloathe themselues and also make couerings for their Tents and Boats which they dresse very well The Women in their apparell are different from the men and are marked in the face with diuers blacke strokes or lines the skin being rased with some sharpe instrument when they are young and blacke colour put therein that by no meanes it will be gotten forth Concerning their Religion I can little say onely they haue a kinde of worship or adoration to the Sunne which continually they will point vnto and strike their hand on their breast crying Ilyâ—nt their dead they burie on the side of the Hils where they liue which is commonly on small Ilands making a pile of stones ouer them yet not so close but that wee might see the dead body the aire being so piersing that it keepeth them from much stinking sauour So likewise I haue seene their Dogs buried in the same manner Vpon the fourth day we set sayle from thence hauing very faire weather although the winde were contrary and plyed to and fro betweene the Ice and the Land being as it were a channell of seuen or eight leagues broad then on the ninth day being in the latitude of 74. degree 4. minutes and much pestered with Ice neere vnto three small Ilands lying eight miles fromth shore we came to anchor neere one of them These Ilands are vsed to be frequented with people in the latter part of the yeare as it seemed by the houses and places where the tents had stood but this yeare as yet they were not come here the tides are very small especially the floud which ariseth not aboue fiue or six foot yet the ebbe runneth with an indifferent streame the cause thereof in mine opinion is the great abundance of Snow melting on the Land all this part of the yeare The tenth day wee set sayle from thence and stood through much Ice to the Westward to try if that further from the shoare wee might proceede but this attempt was soone quailed for the more Ice we went through the thicker it was till wee could see no place to put in the Ships head Seeing that as yet we could not proceede we determined to stand in for the shoare there to abide some few dayes till such time as the Ice were more wasted and gone for we plainely saw that it consumed very fast with this resolution we stood in and came to anchor among many Ilands in the latitude of 73. degrees 45. minutes On the twelfth day at night here wee continued two dayes without shew or signe of any people till on the fifteenth day in the morning about one a clocke then came two and fortie of the Inhabitants in their Boates or Canoas and gaue vs Seale skinnes and many peeces of the bone or horne of the Sea Vnicorne and shewed vs diuers peeces of Sea Mors teeth making signes that to the Northward were many of them in exchange thereof we gaue them small peeces of Iron Glasse Beads and such like at foure seuerall times the people came to vs and at each time brought vs of the aforesaid commodities by reason thereof we called this place Horne Sound Here we stayed six dayes and on the eighteenth day at night we set sayle hauing very little winde and being at Sea made the best way we could to the Northward although the winde had beene contrary for the most part this moneth but it was strange to see the Ice so much consumed in so little space for now we might come to the three Ilands before named and stand off to the Westward almost twenty leagues without let of Ice vntill we were more North as to 74. degrees 30. minutes then we put among much scattered Ice and plyed to and fro all this month still in the sight of shoare and many times fast in the Ice yet euery day we got something on our way nothing worthy of note happening but that at diuers times we saw of the fishes with long hornes many and often which we call the Sea Vnicorne and here to write particularly of the weather it would be superfluous or needelesse because it was so variable few dayes without Snow and often freezing in so much that on Midsummer day our shrowds roapes and sailes were so frozen that we could scarse handle them yet the cold is not so extreame but it may well be endured The first of Iuly we were come into an open Sea in the latitude of 75. degrees 40. minutes which a new reuiued our hope of a passage and because the winde was contrary wee stood off twenty leagues from the shoare before we met the Ice then standing in againe when we were neere the Land we let fall an anchor to see what tyde went but in that we found small comfort Shortly after the winde came to the South-east and blew very hard with foule weather thicke and foggie then we set sayle and ran along by the Land this was on the second day at night The next morning we past by a faire Cape or head land which wee called Sir Dudley Digges Cape it is in the latitude of 76. degrees 35. minutes and hath a small Iland close adioyning to it the winde still increasing we past by a faire Sound twelue leagues distant from the former Cape hauing an Iland in the midst which maketh two entrances Vnder this Iland we came to anchor and had not rid past two houres but our Ship droue although we had two
Kingdome by the marsh of this Citie which is eight leagues from it by the Sea and afterward twelue vnto the Barranca of Malambo in the great Riuer Ocanna is also in this Gouernment which the Captaine Franciscus Hernandez inhabited 1572. and was first called Sancte Anne There is in the Coast of this Gouernment the Riuer of Buhia neere Ramada and the Riuer of Piras and that of Palomino where a Captaine of this name was drowned and the Riuer of Don Iames the Ancones of Buritaca and the Cape of Aguia neere Sancta Martha right against the hill of Bonda and the Riuer of Gayra to the West The Prouince and Gouernment of Cartagena in the Coast of Terra firme and the North Sea hath in length East and West from the Riuer of the Magdalene vnto the Riuer of Darien eightie leagues North and South and as many vnto the confines of the New Kingdome though men say it is more in Voyage The Countrie is Mountainous of Hils and Valleys of high Trees rainie and moist the seedes of Castile beare no seede there is no Wheate nor Gould but in some places There is much rozen made in some Mountaines of this Gouernment and Gums arromaticke and other liquors which they get out of the Trees and great quantitie of Sanguis Draconis and a very fragrant balme of great vertues The Citie of Carthagena Iâ—ands neare the Sea two leagues from the Point of Canoa to the West in tenne degrees of latitude and seuentie six of longitude one thousand foure hundred and sixtie leagues from Toledo of more then fiue hundred housholds among them aboue two thousand women In it is resident the Gouernour the Kings Officers treasurie Royall and the Cathedrall suffragan to the New Realme with Monasteries of Dominick and Franciscan Friers The scituation is plain and almost like an Iland the Sea compasseth it on the North side it is a rough coast and very shallow and on the land side it hath an arme of the Sea which reacheth to a Marish which is the Lake of Canapote which ebbeth floweth after the order of the Sea at the same houre and they passe from the Citie to Terra firme by a Bridge and a manner of a Causie which hath about two hundred and fiftie paces The Citie is built on Sand within two fathoms they finde fresh water though sometimes it is vnwholesome not so much as the coast of Nombre de Dios for the ayres in respect of the Marish are wont to cause diseases but for the most part it is wholsome The Hauen is one of the least of the Indies though the great Ships doe ride farre from the Citie It hath at the entrie an Iland like that of Escombrera in Cartagena of Castile whereby they called it Cartagena and the Iland was called Codego now they call it Caxes it hath two leagues in length little more then halfe a league in bredth it was wont to be inhabited with Indian Fishers it hath no water The first that saw Carthagena in the year 1502. was Roderick Bastidas the year 1504. Iuan de la Cosa or Iohn of the Thing went a shore and found Lewes Guerra and they were the first that began the warre with the Indians which were proud and bould and both men and women fought with venomed arrows Afterward returned Alonso of Oieda with Iohn of the Thing for Pilot Maior Americo Vespucio for Mariner some years after Gregorie of Obiedo took vpon him to inhabit Cartagena performed it not The year 1532. went Don Pedro of Eredia born in Madrid and inhabited it and pacified a great part of the Countrie though with labour and cunning because the people were very warlike and there was a woman that before they could take her being about eighteene yeeres old slew with her Bow eight Spaniards The Village of Saint Iames of Tolu is six leagues from the Sea to the South-west of Cartagena two leagues from it part by Sea for by Land it cannot be gone and part by the Marishes and Mountaines It is a sound Countrie of great breedings and tillage and fruits of Castile the President Don Peter of Heredia peopled it The Village of Marie thirtie two leagues from Cartagena to the South is also the inhabiting of Don Peter of Heredia in the yeare 1534. The Village of Sancta Cruz of Mopox is seuentie leagues from Cartagena by the Sea and Riuer of Magdalene neere whose border it stands whereby they goe about more then halfe the way it is not sound being among Quagmires A Captaine of Don Peter of Heredia peopled it 1535. The yeare of 1509. the Bachiller Eusico as hath been said inhabited Sancta Marie the auncient of the Darien which is in this Gouernment forsaking the Village of Saint Sebastian of Bona vista which the same Captaine Alonso de Oieda had inhabited in the furthest place of Vraba afterward the Captain Alonso of Heredia inhabited Saint Sebastian againe for the President his Brother in certaine little hils almost halfe a league from the Sea And in the yeare 1537. the Bachiller Iohn of Vadillo went out of Saint Sebastian with a good number of Souldiours and passing many troubles most rough Mountains thick woods came to the Citie of Antioquia of the gouernment of Popayan there was a Souldior that from theÌ„ce came to the Citie of the Plate in the Charcas which is 1200. leag The Barranca of Malambo which is a Custome house of the iurisdiction of Cartagena thirtie leagues from it on the border of the great Riuer and twenty from Sancta Martha six from the Sea where the Merchandize that are carried by Land to the New Realme are vnloaden from the Barranca are carried vp by the Riuer in Canooes Lower then Nopox entreth the Riuer of Cauca into the Riuer of Magdalene which also springeth about Popayan more toward Cartagena and to the West standeth the Knobbe and the point of Zamba and Butrio del gato or Arbolera and the seuen Cottages and the point of the Canowe two leagues from Cartagena and the point of Ycacos at the entrie of the port right against the Iland of Carex and the point of the Ship in Terra firme at the other lesser entrie of the port and almost to the North is a little Iland which is called Sardina and in the coast of Tolu the Ilands of Baru which are six and at the entrie of the Gulfe of Vraba the six which are called of Saint Bernard right against the Riuer Zenu and more within the Gulfe the strong Iland and the Tortoyse The port of Zenu stands fiue and twenty leagues from Cartagena it is a great Bay that hath his entrance by the East it is secure here they make store of Salt and it tooke the name of the Towne Zenu which standeth on the Riuer In the
Spanish inhabiters For in the most places of these Indies the Countrie men paie not and where the tithes are wanting it is supplied out of the goods royall and touching the tithes and first fruits that are to be paied many ordinances and rates are made according to the stile of these Kingdomes that the men of each Colony it is iust it should follow her customes And though the Kings of Castile and of Lyon are Lords of the tithes by Apostolike concession might take them to himselfe supplying where it wanteth with that which in other places doth exceede he leaueth them to the Prelates Churches prouiding of his own goods Royall with the liberality of so Catholik Priâ—ces to all the necessities of the poore Churches giuing to euery one that is built anew the greatest part of that which is spent in the building with a Chaliz a Bell and a painted Table That the distribution of that which proceedeth of the tithes and of that which is bestowed out of the goods Royall in maintenance of the Prelates Dignities and Canons of the Cathedrall Churches and Benefices Cures and persons that are occupied in the diuine Seruice and instructing of the Indians may be fruitfully imploied according to the holy intention of the Kings the supreme Counsell hath made good ordinances First that all the said persons be of an approued life and customes especially those that doe meddle in the Doctrines being first examined touching learning and after in the language of the Indians for it would little auaile that the Disciples should not vnderstand the Maister and that these do continually reside and that no Curate or Teacher may haue two Benefices and that those which shall from these parts passe to the Indies be more approued it is commanded that no Priest doe passe without licence of his Prelate and of the King and that if any be there found without it presently they should send him to Spaine And that the manner how the Royall Patronage is gouerned may better be vnderstood seeing it appertaineth to this Crowne because that it hath discouered and acquired that New World and hath also built and endowed out of the goods Royall so many Churches Monasteries as by the Apostolike concession that for no cause the said patronage nor any part of it either by custome or prescription or other title may be separated from it it is ordained what care the Vice-roies Counsels Gouernors Rulers are to haue in it and what penalties the transgressors should incur First that no Cathedrall or Parish Church Monasterie Hospitall nor votiue Church should be founded without consent of the King That when in the Cathedrall Churches there are not foure Beneficed men resident prouided by royall presentation canonicall prouision of the Prelate because the other Prebends be voide or absent for more then eight moneths though for a lawfull cause The said Prelate till such time as the King doth present may chuse to the accomplishing of the foure Clarks besides those that are prouided and resident of the most sufficient of those that shall offer themselues without that the said prouision be in Titulo to be remoueable at pleasure that they haue no seate in the Qâ—ire nor voice in Counsell That no Prelate may make canonicall institution nor giue possession of any Prebend or Benefice without presentation Royall in such a case that without delay they make the prouision and command to resort with the fruits That in all the dignities Prebends the learned be preferred before the vnlearned and those which haue serued in the Cathedral Churches of Castile and haue more exercise of the seruice of the Quire before them that haue not serued in them That at the least there be presented for euery Cathedrall Church a graduate Lawyer a Diuine for the Pulpet with the obligation that in these Kingdoms the doctoral Canons Magistrates haue another learned Diuine to read the sacred Scripture and another Lawyer or Diuine for the Cannonship of Pennance according to the sacred Counsell of Trent That all the other Benefices Cures and simples secular and regulars and the Ecclesiasticall Offices that shall be voide or prouided anew That they may be made with lesse delay and the Royall patronage may be preserued it is commanded that they be made in the forme following That any of the abouesaid Benefices or Offices being voide the Prelate shall command to make edicts with a competent tearme and of those that shall offer themselues hauing examined them and being informed of their behauior shall name of the best and the Vice-roy or Gouernor of the Prouince shal chuse one and remit the election to the Prelate that he make the prouision Collation and Cannonicall institution by way of recommendation and not in a perpetuall title so that when the King doth make the presentation and in it shal be expressed that the collation be made in a perpetuall title the Canonicall institution shall be in title and not in recommendation and the presented by the King be alwayes preferred before the presented by his Ministers That in the repartitions and Towns of the Indians and other places where they haue no benefice to elect or means to place one to administer the Sacraments the Prelates shall procure there be one to teach the Doctrine making an edict and hauing informed himselfe of his sufficiency and goodnes he shall send the nomination to the Ministers Royal that they do present him one of the two nominated and if there be but one that and in the vertue of such a presentation the Prelate shall make the prouision giuing him the instruction how he is to teach and commanding him to giue notice of the fruits That in the presentations of all the dignities offices and benefices the best deseruing and that most exercised in the conuersion of the Indians and the administration of the Sacraments shall be prouided which those that best speak the language of the Indians shall be preferred before the other That he which shall come or send to request his Maiestie to present him to some dignitie office or benefice shall appeare before the Ministers of the Prouince and declaring his petition he shall giue information of his kindred learning customes sufficiency and the Minister shall make another of his office and with his opinion to send it and that the pretendant do bring also an approbation from his Prelate for without these diligences those that come shall not be admitted That none may obtaine two Benefices or dignities in one or in sundry Churches That the presented not appearing before the time contained in the presentation before the Prelate it shall be voide and they may not make him a Cannonicall institution BEsides that which is rehearsed it is prouided that they doe not permit any Prebendary in the Cathedrall Churches to enioy the rents of it except it be seruing being resident and that the
Benefices of the Indians be Cures and not simples and that in the new discoueries and plantations that shall be made there be presently an Hospitall built for the poore and sicke persons of sicknesses that are not contagious which shall be placed neere the Temple and for a Cloyster of the same that for the sicke of contagious diseases the Hospitall shall be set that no hurtfull winde passing by it doe strike in the other inhabiting and if it be built on a high place it will be better And because the King being informed that goods of the deceassed in those parts do not come so wholly as they might nor so soone to the hands of the heyres by will of the said deceased for many causes whereby the heires receiued great damage and the testaments were not performed for a remedy it was prouided that whatsoeuer Spaniard shall come to any Village or Towne of those parts he shall present himselfe before the Clarke of the Counsell where he shall Register the name and surname of such a one with the place of his aboad or birth that his death happening it may be knowne where those that are to be his heires may be found That the ordinary Iustice with the most auncient Ruler and the Clark of the Counsell shall take charge of the goods of the persons that shall dye and shal set them in an Inuentorie before a Scriuener and Witnesses and the debts that he did owe and were owing him and that which is in Gold Siluer small Pearle and other things shall be sold and put in a Chest of three Locks whose Keyes the three persons abouesaid shall keepe That the goods be sold in a publike out-cry with the Testimony of a Scriuener that if neede be an Atturney shall be constituted That the said Iustices doe take occompt of all those that haue charge of dead mens goods and recouer all that they are behinde hand without any appeale and doe put it in the Chest of the three Keyes That hauing any Will of the deceased where he dyeth and the Heires or Executors the Iustice shall not meddle in any thing neither take the goods taking only notice who be the Heires of the said deceased That the said Iustices Rulers and Scriueners doe send also to the Contrataction-house of Seuill all that which they shall recouer of the goods of the deceased declaring the name surname and aboad of of euery one deceased with the Copy of the Inuentory of his goods that they may be giuen to his Heires by the order that touching the same is giuen That when they take accompt of those that haue had goods of men deceased it shall be sent to the supreme Counsell of the Indies with a very particular relation and reason of all That the Iustices doe with care enforme themselues carefully of those which haue in possession the goods of men deceased whether they haue done any fraude and preiudice to the goods they haue had in possession send to the Counsel notice thereof that they may giue accompt with paiment to the Iustices aboue said That accompt be giuen euery yeere and the memoriall of the dead that haue beene that yeere shall be shewed to the Gouernor of the Country of the goods they had that they may be sent to Seuill be giuen to his heires and the Testaments be fulfilled with good accompt and reason that is behoouefull For in euery Counsell one of the Iustices is Iudge of the goods of the deceased the one succeeding another from the yongest to the eldest by their turne which doth send his Commissaries through the bounds to take accompt of the houlders and there be any carelessenesse the Iustices are charged therewith in the visitations which are made of them and before when there are any Plaintifes Those Catholike Kings being informed that in the Indies were many married Spaniards which liued separated from their wiues of the which besides the offence that was done to our Lord God there followed a great inconuenience to the Plantation of those Countries for that such not liuing seated in them were not continued neither did they attend to build plant breed nor sowing nor doing other things which the good inhabiters are wont to doe whereby the Townes doe not increase as is behoofefull and as they would do if there came inhabitors with their wiues children as true Townsmen being willing to remedy the abouesaid commanded that all and euery person or persons that should be found to be married or betrothed in these Kingdomes should come vnto them for their wiues and not returne to the Indies without them or with sufficient proof that they are dead And the same order was giuen for all the Kingdomes of that new world and sundry times hath beene reiterated and commanded to be executed vpon grieuous penalties Proceeding from the yeare 1492. when the discouery of this Orbe was begun in directing and setling the spirituall gouernment as hath beene seene for greater perfection and enduring of it The Catholike King Don Phillip the second called the Prudent considering that among the great benefits that the Indians haue receiued their illumination to receiue the Euangelicall Doctrin was the greatest which hath exâ—ended itselfe and considering also the singular grace which God for his mercy hath vsed with them in giuing them knowledge of our holy Catholike Faith that it was necessary to haue a speciall vigilancy in the conseruing of the deuotion and reputation of the inhabitors and Castillane pacifiers which with so many labours procured the augmenting of the Religion and exalting of the Catholike Faith as in those parts like faithful Catholik Christians and good naturall and true Castillans they haue done seeing that those which are out of the holy Catholike Apostolike Roman Church obstinate and stubborne in their errors and heresies do alwayes procure to peruert the faithful Christians labouring to draw them to their false opinions scattering certain damned Books wherof hath followed great hurt to our sacred Religion and hauing so certain experience that the best meanes to preuent these euils consisteth in the separating the communication of heretical persons punishing their errors according to the disposition of the sacred Canons laws of these Kingdoms which by this holy means by the diuine clemency haue beene preserued from this wicked contagion and is hoped they will be preserued hereafter to the end that the Orbe doe not receiue so much hurt where the inhabiters of these Kingdomes haue giuen so good example of Christianity the Country-born haue not peruerted themselues with erronious doctrines of the hereticks It seemed good to his Maiestie with the aduice of the Cardinal D. Iames of Espinosa Bishop of Siguença Inquisitor generall in these Kingdoms a man of great prudence and of many rare parts and vertues for the which he made election of his person to help him to beare the burden of so many Kingdomes and Lordships and of the
there went a ship from Calloa in Lima to the Philippines which sayled two thousand and seuen hundred leagues without sight of Land and the first it discouered was the Iland of Lusson where they tooke Port hauing performed their voyage in two moneths without want of winde or any torment and their course was almost continually vnder the Line for that from Lima which is twelue degrees to the South he came to Manilla which is as much to the North. The like good fortune had Aluaro de Mandana when as he went to discouer the Ilands of Solomon for that he had alwayes a full gale vntill he came within view of these Ilands the which must bee distant from that place of Peru from whence hee parted about a thousand leagues hauing runne their course alwayes in one height to the South The returne is like vnto the voyage from the Indies vnto Spaine for those which returne from the Philippines or China to Mexico to the end they may recouer the western windes they mount a great height vntill they come right against the Ilands of Iapon and discouering the Caliphornes they returne by the coast of new Spaine to the Port of Acapulco from whence they parted So as it is proued likewise by this Nauigation that they saile easily from East to West within the Tropicks for that their Easterly windes doe raine but returning from West to East they must seeke the Westerne windes without the Tropicks in the height of seuen and twentie degrees The Portugals proue the like in their Nauigations to the East Indies although it be in a contrarie course Let vs now speake of that which toucheth the Question propounded what should be the reason why vnder the burning Zone we saile easily from East to West and not contrarie wherein we must presuppose two certaine grounds The one is that the motion of the first Moouer which they call Diurnall not onely drawes and mooues with him the celestiall Spheares which are inferiour vnto him as wee see daily in the Sunne the Moone and the Starres but also the Elements doe participate of this motion insomuch as they are not hindered The Earth is not mooued by reason of her heauinesse which makes it immoueable being farre from this first motor The Element of water mooues not likewise with this Diurnall motion for that it is vnited to the Earth and make one spheare so as the Earth keeps it from all circular motion But the other two Elements of Fire and Aire are more subtill and neerer the heauenly Regions so as they participate of their motion and are driuen about circularly as the same celestiall bodies As for the Fire without doubt it hath his spheare as Aristotle and other Philosophers haue held but for the Aire which is no point of our subiect it is most certaine that it mooues with a motion Diurnall which is from East to West which wee see plainly in Comets that mooue from the East vnto the West mounting descending and finally turning in the hemispheare in the same sort as the Starres moue in the firmament for otherwise these Comets being in the region and sphere of the ayre whereas they ingender appeares consum'd It should be impossible for them to moue circularly as they doe if the element of the aire doth not moue with the same motion that the first motor doth For these elements being of a burning substance by reason they should be fixt without mouing circularly if the sphere where they are did not moue if it be not as we faine that some Angell or intellectuall Spirit doth walke with the Comet guiding it circularly In the yeare 1577. appeared that wonderfull Comet in forme like vnto a feather from the horizon almost to the middest of heauen and continued from the first of Nouember vntill the eight of December I say from the first of Nouember for although in Spaine it was noated but the ninth of Nouember according to the testimonie of Writers of that time yet at Peru where I was then I remember well we did see it and obserue it eight dayes before and all the time after Touching the cause of this diuersitie some may delate vpon it particularly I will onely shew that during those fortie dayes which it continued wee all obserued both such as were in Spaine and we that liued then at the Indies that it moued daily with an vniuersall motion from East to West as the Moone and other Planets whereby it appeares that the sphere of the aire being its Region the element it selfe must of necessitie moue after the same sort We noted also that besides this vniuersall motion it had another particular by which it moued with the planets from West to East for euery night it turned more Eastward like vnto the Moone Sunne and Planets of Venus We did also obserue a third particular motion whereby it moued from the Zodiacke towards the North for after some nights it was found neerer vnto the Septentrionall signes And it may be this was the reason why the great Comet was sooner seene by those that were Southerly as at Peru and later discouered by them of Europe for by this third motion as I haue said it approached neerer the Northerne Regions Yet euery one may well obserue the differences of this motion so as we may well perceiue that many and sundry celestiall bodies giue their impressions to the sphere of the ayre In like sort it is most certaine that the ayre moues with the circular motion of the heauen from East to West which is the first ground before mentioned The second is no lesse certaine which is that the motion of the ayre in those parts that are vnder the Line or neere vnto it is very swift and light the more it approacheth to the Equinoctiall but the farther off it is from the Line approaching neere the Poles the more slow and heauie this motion is The reason hereof is manifest for that the mouing of the celestiall bodies being the efficient cause of the mouing of the ayre it must of necessitie be more quicke and light where the celestiall bodies haue their swiftest motion Alonso Sanches was of opinion that this motion of the ayre was not a winde but the ayre moued by the Sunne This is learnedly spoken yet can wee not deny it to be a winde seeing there are vapours and exhalations of the Sea and that we sometimes see the Brise or Easterly windes stronger sometimes more weake and placed in that sort as sometimes they can hardly carry all their sayles We must then know and it is true that the ayre moued draweth vnto it the vapours it findes for that the force is great and findes no resistance by reason whereof the Easterne and Westerne windes are continual and in a manner alwayes alike in those parts which are neere the Line and almost vnder all the burning Zone which is the course the Sun followes betwixt the two circles of Cancer and Capricorne
Who so would neerely looke into what hath bin spoken may likewise vnderstand that going from the West to the East in altitude beyond the Tropikes we shall finde Westerne windes for that the motion of the Equinoctiall being so swift it is a cause that the ayre moueth vnder it according to this motion which is from the East to West drawing after it the vapours and exhalations that rise of either side the Equinoctiall or burning Zone in countring the course and motion of the Zone are forced by the repercussion to returne almost to the contrary whence grow the South-west windes so ordinary in those parts Euen as we see in the course of waters the which if they be incountred by others of more force returne in a manner backe So it seemes to be like in vapours and exhalations whereby it growes that the windes doe turne and separate themselues from one part to another These Westerly windes doe commonly raine in a meane altitude which is from twenty and seuen to thirty and seuen degrees though they be not so certaine nor so regular as the Brises that are in a lesse altitude The reason is for that the South-west winds are no causes of this proper and equall motion of the heauen as the Brises are being neere to the Line But as I haue said they are more ordinary and often more furious and tempestuous But passing into a greater altitude as of fortie degrees there is as small assurance of windes at Sea as at Land for sometimes the East or North winde blowes and sometimes the South or West whereby it happeneth their nauigations are more vncertaine and more dangerous That which we haue spoken of windes which blow ordinarily within and without the Zone must be vnderstood of the maine Sea and in the great gulphes for at land it is otherwise where we finde all sorts of windes by reason of the inequalitie which is betwixt the Mountaines and the vallies the great number of Riuers and Lakes and the diuers scituations of Countries whence the grosse and thick vapours arise which are moued from the one part or the other according to the diuersitie of their beginnings which cause these diuers windes the motion of the ayre caused by the heauen hauing not power enough to draw and moue them with it And this varietie of windes is not onely found at land but also vpon the Sea coast which is vnder the burning Zone for that there be forraine or land windes which come from the land and many which blow from the Sea the which windes from the Sea are commonly more wholesome and more pleasant then those of the land which are contrariwise troublesome and vnwholesome although it be the difference of the coast that causeth this diuersitie commonly the land windes blow from mid-night to the Sunne rising and the Sea windes vntill Sunne setting The reason perhaps may be that the earth as a grosse substance fumes more when as the Sunne shines not vpon it euen as greene wood or scarse dry smoakes most when the flame is quenched But the Sea which is compounded of more subtile parts engenders no fumes but when it is hot euen as straw or haâ—e being moist and in small quantitie breedes smoake when it is burnt and when the flame failes the fume suddenly ceaseth Whatsoeuer it be it is certaine that the Land winde blowes by night and that of the Sea by day So that euen as there are often contrary violent and tempestuous windes vpon the Sea coast so doe we see very great calmes Some men of great experience report that hauing sailed many great passages at Sea vnder the Line yet did they neuer see any calmes but that they alwayes make way little or much the ayre being moued by the celestiall motion which is sufficient to guide a Shippe blowing in poope as it doth I haue already said that a Shippe of Lima going to Manilla sailed two thousand seuen hundred leagues alwayes vnder the Line or not aboue twelue degrees from it and that in the moneths of February and March when as the Sunne is there for Zenith and in all this space they found no calmes but alwayes a fresh gale so as in two moneths they performed this great voyage But in the burning Zone and without it you shall vsually see great calmes vpon the coasts where the vapours come from the Ilands or maine land And therefore stormes and tempests and the sudden motions of the ayre are more certaine and ordinary vpon the coasts whereas the vapours come from the Land then in full Sea I meane vnder the burning Zone for without it and at Sea there are both calmes and whirlewindes Notwithstanding sometimes betwixt the two Tropickes yea vnder the Line you shall haue great raine and sudden showers yea farre into the Sea for the working whereof the vapours and exhalations of the Sea are sufficient which mouing sometimes hastily in the ayre cause thunder and whirlewindes but this is more ordinary neere to the Land and vpon the Land When I sailed from Peru to new Spaine I obserued that all the time we were vpon the coast of Peru our voyage was as it was ordinary very calme and easie by reason of the Southerne winde that blowes hauing alwayes a fore winde returning from Spaine and new Spaine As we passed the gulph lanching farther into the Sea almost vnder the Line wee found the season coole quiet and pleasant with a full winde but comming neere to Nicaragua and to all that coast wee had contrary windes with great store of raine and fogges All this Nauigation was vnder the burning Zone for from twelue degrees to the South which is Lima we sailed to the seuenteenth which is Gautâ—lco a port of new Spaine and I beleeue that such as haue obserued their nauigations made vnder the burning Zone shall finde what I haue said which may suffice for the windes which raigne at Sea vnder the burning Zone It were a very difficult matter to report particularly the admirable effects which some windes cause in diuers regions of the world and to giue a reason thereof There are windes which naturally trouble the water of the Sea and makes it greene and blacke others cleere as Christall some comfort and make glad others trouble and breede heauinesse Such as nourish Silke-wormes haue great care to shut their windowes when as the South-west windes doe blow and to open them to the contrary hauing found by certaine experience that their wormes diminish and dye with the one and fatten and become better with the other and who so will neerely obserue it shall finde in himselfe that the diuersities of windes cause notable impressions and changes in the body principally in sicke parts and ill disposed when they are most tender and weake The holy Scripture calleth one a burning winde another a winde full of dewe and sweetnesse And it is no wonder if we see such notable effects of the winde in Plants
Beasts and Men seeing that we see it visibly in Iron which is the hardest of all mettals I haue seene Grates of Iron in some parts of the Indies so rusted and consumed that pressing it betwixt your fingers it dissolued into powder as if it had beene hay or parched straw the which proceedes onely from the winde which doth corrupt it hauing no meanes to withstand it But leauing apart many other great and notable effects I will onely make mention of two The one although it causeth pangs greater then death it selfe yet doth it not breede any further inconuenience The other takes away life without feeling of it The sicknesse of the Sea wherewith such are troubled as first begin to goe to Sea is a matter very ordinary and yet if the nature thereof were vnknowne to men we should take it for the pangs of death seeing how it afflicts and torments while it doth last by the casting of the stomacke paine of the head and other troublesome accidents But in truth this sicknesse so common and ordinary happens vnto men by the change of the ayre and Sea For although it be true that the motion of the Ship helpes much in that it moues more or lesse and likewise the infections and ill sauours of things in the Ship yet the proper and naturall cause is the ayre and the vapours of the Sea the which doth so weaken and trouble the body and the stomacke which are not accustomed thereunto that they are wonderfully moued and changed for the ayre is the Element by which we liue and breath drawing it into our entrailes the which we â—athe therewithall And therefore there is nothing that so suddenly and with so great force doth alter vs as the change of the ayre we breathe as we see in those which dye of the plague It is approued by many experiences that the ayre of the Sea is the chiefe cause of this strange indisposition the one is that when there blowes from the Sea a strong breath we see them at the Land as it were Sea-â—â—cke as I my selfe haue often found Another is the farther wee goe into the Sea and retyre from Land the more wee are touched and dazeled with this sicknesse Another is that coasting along any Iland and after lanching into the maine we shall there finde the ayre more strong Yet will I not deny but the motion and agitation may cause this sicknesse seeing that we see some are taken therewith passing Riuers in Barkes others in like sort going in Coaches and Caroaches according to the diuers complexions of the Stomacke as contrariwise there are some how boisterous and troublesome soeuer the Sea be doe neuer feele it Wherefore it is a matter certaine and tried that the ayre of the Sea doth commonly cause this effect in such as newly goe to Sea I thought good to speake this to shew a strange effect which happens in some parts of the Indies where the ayre and the winde that raigns makes men dazle not lesse but more then at Sea Some hold it for a fable others say it is an addition for my part I will speake what I haue tried There is in Peru a high mountaine which they call Paâ—â—acaca and hauing heard speake of the alteration it bred I went as well prepared as I could according to the instructions which was giuen me by such as they call Vaguianâ—s or expert men but notwithstanding all my prouision when I came to mount the degrees as they called them which is the top of this mountaine I was suddenly surprized with so mortall and so strange a pang that I was ready to fall from the top to the ground and although we were many in company yet euery one made haste without any tarrying for his companion to free himselfe speedily from this ill passage Being then alone with one Indian whom I intreated to helpe to stay me I was surprized with such pangs of straining and casting as I thought to cast vp my heart too for hauing cast vp meate flegme and coller both yellow and greene in the end I cast vp blood with the straining of my stomacke To conclude if this had continued I should vndoubtedly haue dyed but this lasted not aboue three or foure houres that wee were come into a more conuenient and naturall temperature where all our companions being foureteene or fifteene were much wearied Some in the passage demanded confession thinking verily to dye others left the Ladders and went to the ground being ouercome with casting and going to the stoole and it was told me that some haue lost their liues there with this accident I beheld one that did beate himselfe against the earth crying out for the rage and griefe which this passage of Pariacaca had caused But commonly it doth no important harme onely this paine and troublesome distaste while it endures and not onely the passage of Pariacaca hath this propertie but also all this ridge of the Mountaine which runnes aboue fiue hundred leagues long and in what place soeuer you passe you shall finde strange intemperâ—â—ures yet more in some parts then in other and rather to those which mount from the Sea 〈◊〉 from the Plaines Besides Pariacaca I haue passed it by 〈◊〉 and Soras in another place by Collegâ—â—â— and by 〈◊〉 Finally by foure different places going and comming and alwayes in this passage I haue felt this alteration although in no place so strongly as at the first in Pariacaca which hath beene tried by all such as haue passed it And no doubt but the winde is the cause of this intemperature and strange alteration or the ayre that raignes there For the best remedy and all they finde is to stoppe their noses their eares and their mouthes as much as may be and to couer themselues with cloathes especially the stomacke for that the ayre is subtile and piercing going into the entrailes and not onely men feele this alteration but also beasts that sometimes stay there so as there is no spurre can make them goe forward For my part I hold this place to be one of the highest parts of land in the world for we mount a wonderfull space And in my opinion the Mountaine Neâ—ade of Spaine the Pirences and the Alpâ—s of Italie are as ordinary houses in regard of hiâ— Towers I therefore perswade my selfe that the element of the ayre is there so subtile and delicate as it is not proportionable with the breathing of man which requires a more grosse and temperate ayre and I beleeue it is the cause that doth so much alter the stomacke and trouble all the disposition The passages of the mountaines Neâ—ade and other of Europe which I haue seene although the ayre be cold there and doth force men to weare more cloathes yet this colde doth not take away the appetite from meate but contrariwise it prouokes neither doth it cause any casting of the stomacke but onely some paine in the feete
and hands Finally their operation is outward But that of the Indies whereof I speake without molesting of foote or hand or any outward part troubles all the entrailes within and that which is more admirable when the Sunne is hot which maketh me imagine that the griefe wee feele comes from the qualitie of the ayre which wee breathe Therefore that is most subtile and delicate whose cold is not so sensible as piercing All this ridge of mountaines is for the most part desart without any Villages or habitations for men so as you shall scarce finde any small Cottages to lodge such as doe passe by night there are no Beasts good or bad but some Vicunos which are their Countrie Muttons and haue a strange and wonderfull property as I shall shew in his place The Grasse is often burnt and all blacke with the ayre and this Desart runs fiue and twenty or thirty leagues ouerthwart and in length aboue fiue hundred leagues There are other Desarts or places inhabited which at Peru they call Punas speaking of the second point we promised where the qualitie of the ayre cutteth off mans life without feeling In former time the Spaniards went from Peru to the Realme of Chille by this Mountaine but at this day they doe passe commonly by Sea and sometimes alongst the side of it And though that way be laborious and troublesome yet is there not so great danger as by the Mountaine where there are Plaines on the which many men haue perished and dyed and sometimes haue scaped by great hap whereof some haue remained lame There runs a small breath which is not very strong nor violent but proceeds in such sort that men fall downe dead in a manner without feeling or at the least they loose their feete and hands the which may seeme fabulous yet is it most true I haue knowne and frequented long the Generall Ierome Costilla the auncient peopler of Cusco who had lost three or foure toes which fell off in passing the Desart of Chille being perished with this ayre and when he came to looke on them they were dead and fell off without any paine euen as a rotten Apple falleth from the tree This Captaine reported that of a good armie which he had conducted by that place in the former yeares since the discouery of this Kingdome by Almagro a great part of the men remained dead there whose bodies he found lying in the Desart without any stinke or corruption adding thereunto one thing very strange that they found a yong Boye aliue and being examined how hee had liued in that place hee said that he lay hidden in a little Caue whence hee came to cut the flesh of a dead Horse with a little Knife and thus had he nourished himselfe a long time with I know not how many companions that liued in that sort but now they were all dead one dying this day another to morrow saying that he desired nothing more then to dye there with the rest seeing that hee found not in himselfe any disposition to goe to any other place nor to take any taste in any thing I haue vnderstood the like of others and particularly of one that was of our company who being then a secular man had passed by these Desarts and it is a strange thing the quality of this cold ayre which kils and also preserues the dead bodies without corruption I haue also vnderstood it of a reuerend religious man of the Order of Saint Dominicke and Prelate thereof who had seene it passing by the Desarts and which is strange â—e reported that trauelling that way by night was forced to defend himselfe against that deadly winde which blowes there hauing no other meanes but to gather together a great number of those dead bodies that lay there and made thereof as it were a rampire and a bolster for his head in this manner did hee sleepe the dead bodies giuing him life Without doubt this is a kinde of colde so piercing that it quencheth the vitall heate cutting off his influence and being so exceeding colâ—e yet doth not corrupt nor giue any putrifaction to the dead bodies for that putrifaction groweth from heate and moistnesse As for the other kinde of ayre which thunders vnder the earth and causeth earthquakes more at the Indies then in any other Regions I will speake thereof in treating the qualities of the Land at the Indies We will content our selues now with what we haue spoken of the winde and ayre and passe to that which is to be spoken of the water §. II. Of the Ocean that inuirons the Indies and of the North and South Seas their ebbing flowing Fishes fishing Lakes Riuers and Springs AMong all waters the Ocean is the principall by which the Indies haue beene discouered and are inuironed therewith for either they be Ilands of the Ocean Sea or maine Land the which wheresoeuer it ends is bounded with this Ocean To this day they haue not discouered at the Indies any Mediterranean Sea as in Europe Asia and Affrica into the which there enters some arme of this great Sea and makes distinct Seas taking their names from the Prouinces they wash and almost all the Mediterranean Seas continue and ioyne together and with the Ocean it selfe by the straight of Gibraltar which the Ancients called the Pillers of Hercules although the Red Sea being separated from the Mediterranean Seas enters alone into the Indian Ocean and the Caspian Sea ioynes not with any other so that at the Indies we finde not any other Sea then this Ocean which they diuide into two the one they call the North Sea and the other the South for that the Indies which were first discouered by the Ocean and reacheth vnto Spaine lies all to the North and by that Land thereafter discouered a Sea on the other side the which they called the South Sea for that they decline vntill they haue passed the Line and hauing lost the North or Pole-articke they called it South For this cause they haue called all that Ocean the South Sea which lyeth on the other side of the East Indies although a great part of it be â—eated to the North as all the coast of new Spaine Nuaragna Guatimala and Panama They say that he that first discouered this Sea was called Blascowunes of Bilbo the which he did by that part which we now call Maine Land where it growes narrow and the two Seas approach so neere the one to the other that there is but seuen leagues of distance for although they make the way eighteene from Nombre de Dios to Panama yet is it with turning to seeke the commoditie of the way but drawing a direct line the one Sea shall not be found more distant from the other Some haue discoursed and propounded to cut through this passage of seuen leagues and to ioyne one Sea to the other to make the passage from Peru more commodious
also other strange Countries make sumptuous buildings therewith The Indians doe draw from these flouds that runne from the Mountaines to the Vallies and Plaines many and great Brookes to water their Land which they vsually doe with such industrie as there are no better in Murcia nor at Millan it selfe the which is also the greatest and onely wealth of the Plaines of Peru and of many other parts of the Indies §. III. Of the qualitie of the Land at the Indies in generall Properties of Peru and of new Spaine and other parts Of Vulcanes and Earthquakes WE may know the qualitie of the Land at the Indies for the greatest part seeing it is the last of the three Elements whereof we haue propounded to treate in this Booke by the discourse we haue made in the former Booke of the burning Zone seeing that the greatest part of the Indies doth lye vnder it But to make it knowne the more particularly I haue obserued three kindes of Lands as I haue passed through those Regions whereof there is one very low another very high and the third which holds the middle of these two extreames The lower is that which lyeth by the Sea coasts whereof there is in all parts of the Indies and it is commonly very hot and moist so as it is not so healthfull and at this day we see it lesse peopled although in former times it hath beene greatly inhabited with Indians as it appeareth by the histories of new Spaine and Peru and where they kept and liued for that the soile was naturall vnto them being bred there They liued of fishing at Sea and of seeds drawing brooks from the Riuers which they vsed for want of raine for that it raines little there and in some places not at all This low Countrie hath many places vnhabitable as well by reason of the Sands which are dangerous for there are whole Mountaines of these Sands as also for the Marishes which grow by reason of the waters that fall from the Mountaines which finding no issue in these flat and low Lands drowne them and make them vnprofitable And in truth the greatest part of all the Indian Sea coast is of this sort chiefly vpon the South Sea the habitation of which coasts is at this present so wasted and contemned that of thirty parts of the people that inhabited it there wants twenty nine and it is likely the rest of the Indians will in short time decay Many according to the varietie of their opinions attribute this to diuers causes some to the great labour which hath beene imposed vpon these Indians others vnto the change and varietie of meates and drinkes they vse since their commerce with the Spaniards others to their great excesse and drinking and to other vices they haue for my part I hold this disorder to be the greatest cause of their decay whereof it is not now time to discourse any more In this low Countrie which I say generally is vnhealthfull ond vnfit for mans habitation there is exception in some places which are temperate and fertile as the greatest part of the Plaines of Peru where there are coole vallies and very fertile The greatest part of the habitation of the coast entertains all the traffike of Spain by Sea whereon all the estate of the Indies dependeth Vpon this coast there are some Towns well peopled as Lima and Truxillo in Peru Panama and Carthagena vpon the maine Land and in the Ilands Saint Dominique Port Ricco and Hauana with many other Towns which are lesse then these as the True Crosse in new Spain Yâ—a Arigua and others in Peru the Ports are commonly inhabited although but slenderly The second sort of Land is contrary very high and by consequent cold and dry as all the Mountaines are commonly This Land is neither fertile nor pleasant but very healthfull which makes it to be peopled and inhabited There are Pastures and great store of Cattle the which for the most part entertaines life and by their Cattell they supply the want they haue of Corne and Graine by trucking and exchange But that which makes these Lands more inhabited and peopled is the riches of the Mines that are found there for that all obeys to Gold and Siluer By reason of the Mines there are some dwellings of Spaniards and Indians which are increased and multiplied as Potozi and Gancanelicqua in Peru and Cacatecas in new Spaine There are also through all these Mountaines great dwellings of the Indians which to this day are maintained yea some will say they increase but that the labour of the Mines doth consume many and some generall diseases haue destroyed a great part as the Cocoliste in new Spaine yet they finde no great diminution In this extremitie of high ground they finde two commodities as I haue said of Pastures and Mines which doe well counteruaile the two other that are in the lower grounds alongst the Sea coast that is the commerce of the Sea and the abundance of Wine which groweth not but in the hot Lands Betwixt these two extreames there is ground of a meane height the which although it be in some parts higher or lower one then other yet doth it not approach neither to the heate of the Sea coast nor the intemperature of the Mountaines In this sort of soyle there groweth many kindes of Graine as Wheate Barley and Mays which growes not at all in the high Countries but well in the lower there is likewise store of Pasture Cattell Fruits and greene Forrests This part is the best habitation of the three for health and recreation and therefore it is best peopled of any part of the Indies the which I haue curiously obserued in many Voyages that I haue vndertaken and haue alwayes found it true that the Prouince best peopled at the Indies be in this scituation Let vs looke neerely into new Spaine the which without doubt is the best Prouince the Sunne doth circle by what part soeuer you doe enter you mount vp and when you haue mounted a good height you begin to descend yet very little and that Land is alwayes much higher then that along the Sea coast All the Land about Mexico is of this nature and scituation and that which is about the Vulcan which is the best soile of the Indies as also in Peru Arequipa Guamangua and Cusco although more in one then in the other But in the end all is high ground although they descend into deepe Vallies and clime vp to high Mountaines the like is spoken of Quitto Saint Foy and of the best of the New Kingdome To conclude I doe beleeue that the wisedome and prouidence of the Creator would haue it so that the greatest part of this Countrie of the Indies should be hillie that it might be of a better temperature for being low it had beene very hot vnder the burning Zone especially being farre from the Sea Also all the Land I haue seene at the Indies is neere
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
lancheth or cutteth the same while in the meane time it can neither be seene nor taken that from some it hath cut off their hands and from other their feete vntill the remedy was found to annoint the place with Oyle and scrape it with a Rasor In the firme Land in golden Castile or Beragua there are many Vipers like vnto them of Spaine they that are bitten of them dye in short space for few liue to the fourth day except present remedy Of these some are of lesse kinde then other and haue their taile somewhat round and leape in the aire to assaile men and for this cause some call this kinde of Vipers Tyro their biting is most venomousâ— and for the most part incurable One of them chanced to bite an Indian Maide which serued me in my house to whom I caused the Surgians to minister their ordinary cure but they could doe her no good nor yet get one drop of blood out of her but onely a yellow water so that she died the third day for lacke of remedie as the like hath chanced to diuers others This Maide was of the age of foureteene yeares and spake the Spanish tongue as if she had beene borne in Castile she said that the Viper which bit her on the foot was two spans long or little lesse and that to bite her she leapt in the aire for the space of more then six paces as I haue heard the like of other credible persons I haue also seene in the firme Land a kinde of Adders very small and of seuen or eight foot long these are so red that in the night they appeare like burning coles and in the day seeme as red as blood these are also venemous but not so much as the Vipers There are other much lesse and shorter and blacker these come out of the Riuers and wander sometimes farre on the Land and are likewise venemous There are also other Adders of a russet colour these are somewhat bigger then the Viper and are hurtfull and venemous There are likewise another sort of many colours and very long of these I saw one in the yeare of Christ 1515. in the Iland of Hispaniola neere vnto the Sea coasts at the foote of the Mountaines called Pedernales When this Adder was slain I measured her found her to be more then twenty foot long and somewhat more then a mans fist in bignesse and although she had three or foure deadly wounds with a Sword yet dyed she not nor stunke the same day in so much that her blood continued warme all that time There are also in the Marishes and desarts of the firme Land many other kindes of Lysarts Dragons and diuers other kindes of Serpents whereof I intend not here to speak much because I haue more particularly entreated of these things in my generall historie of the West Indies There are tlso Spiders of marueilous bignesse and I haue seene some with bodie and legges bigger then a mans hand extended euery way and I once saw one of such bignesse that onely her body was as bigge as a Sparrow and full of that Laune whereof they make their webbes this was of a darke russet colour with eyes greater then the eyes of a Sparrow they are venemous and of terrible shape to behold There are also Scorpions and diuers other such venomous wormes Furthermore in the firme Land there are many Toades being verie noious and hurtfull by reason of their great multitude they are not venemous they are seene in great abundance in Dareena where they are so big that when they die in the time of drought the bones of some of them and especially the ribs are of such greatnesse that they appeare to be the bones of Cats or of some other beasts of the same bignesse But as the waters diminish the moisture consumeth in the time of drought as I haue said they also consume therewith vntill the yeare next following when the raine and moisture encrease at which time they are seene againe Neuerthelesse at this present there is no such quantitie of them as was wont to be by reason that as the Land is better cultured by the Christians as well by the felling of Woods and Shrubs as also by the Pasture of Kine Horses and other beasts so is it apparant that this poison diminisheth daily whereby that region becommeth more holesome and pleasant These Toades sing after three or foure sort for some of them sing pleasantly other like ours of Spaine some also whistle and other some make another manner of noise they are likewise of diuers colours as some greene some russet or gray and some almost blacke but of all sorts they are great and filthie and noious by reason of their great multitude yet are they not venemous as I haue said There are also a strange kinde of Crabbes which come forth of certaine holes of the earth that they themselues make the head and bodie of these make one round thing much like to the hood of a Faulcon hauing foure feete comming out of the one side and as manie out of the other they haue also two mouthes like vnto a paire of small Pincers the one bigger then the other wherewith they bite but doe no great hurt because they are not venemous their skin and bodie is smooth and thinne as is the rkinne of a man sauing that it is somewhat harder their colour is russet or white or blew and walke sidelong they are verie good to be eaten in so much that the Christians trauailing by the firme Land haue beene greatly nourished by them because they are found in manner euerie where in shape and forme they are much like vnto the Crabbe which we paint for the signe Cancer and like vnto those which are found in Spaine in Andalusia in the Riuer Guadalchiber where it entreth into the Sea and in the Sea coasts there about sauing that these are of the water and the other of the land they are sometimes hurtfull so that they that eate of them dye but this chanceth onely when they haue eaten any venomous thing or of the venemous apples wherewith the Caniball archers poison their arrowes whereof I will speake hereafter and for this cause the Christians take heede how they eate of these Crabbes if they finde them neere vnto the said apple trees Furthermore in these Indies as well in the firme land as in the Ilands there is found a kinde of Serpents which they call Yuanas which some call Iuannas these are terrible and fearefull to fight and yet not hurtfull they are verie delicate to be eaten and it is not yet knowne whether they be beasts of the land or fishes because they liue in the water and wander in the woods and on the land they haue foure feet and are commonly bigger then Connies and in some places bigger then Otters with tailes like Lysarts or Eutes their skinne is spotted and of the same kinde
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
distant from the greater Some iudged it to bee a Whale with her young one which others denyed saying a Whale had no armes To my iudgement each arme might be fiue and twentie foote long and as bigge as a Butt or Pipe the head fourteene or fifteene foote high and much more in breadth and the rest of the body larger That of her which appeared aboue water was aboue fiue times the height of a meane man which make fiue and twentie paces Lorenzo Martino Canon of the Church of Golden Castile Sancio di Tudela c. were with me and we were all afraid when shee came neere our small Caruell Shee seemed to disport her selfe at a tempest approching which suddenly arose much to our purpose from the West and brought vs in few dayes to Panama In Hispaniola and the neighbouring Ilands is a strange bird of prey as bigge as a great Gauia and much like it shee preyeth on the Land on birds c. and on fish in the Water shee is footed like water-fowles and goeth like a Goose but hath talons like Hawkes and fastens therewith on the fishes which shee eates so taken either in the Water or on the Rocks or as shee flyeth in the Aire holding it betweene her feete The Christians call them Astori di acqua What scath the Ants did in Hispaniola is before mentioned in the yeere 1519. and the next following and the Citie of Saint Domingo was almost dishabited by this great Armie of little creatures as in Spaine a Citie was dispeopled by Conies and which lately happened to the I le Porto Santo in Thessalia which almost fell out to the English Colonie in Bermuda to another Citie by Rats to the Atariotae by Frogges to the Miâ—ntines by Fleas to Amicle in Italie by Serpents and to another part thereof by Sparrowes to diuers places of Africa often by Locusts so can the Great God arme the least creatures to the destruction of proud vainglorious men And this miserie so perplexed the Spaniards that they sought as strange a remedie as was the disease which was to chuse some Saint for their Patron against the Antes Alexander Giraldine the Bishop hauing sung a solemne and Pontificall Masse after the Consecration and Eleuation of the Sacrament and deuout Prayers made by him and the people opened a Booke in which was a Catalogue of the Saints by lot to chuse some he or she Saint whom God should please to appoint their Aduocate against that Calamitie And the Lot fell vpon Saint Saturnine whose Feast is on the nine and twentieth of Nouember after which the Ant-damage became more tolerable and by little and little diminished by Gods mercie and intercession of that Saint I note it the rather because the Bishop and that Saint were both Romanes and as that Martyr had made mute the Idols in Toledo as is written in the Historie of his Martyrdome so now was Idolatry and I pray what was this destroyed in Hispaniola Hee might haue said exchanged a pitifull case that when God hath sâ—nt his owne Sonne made of a woman made vnder the Law c. Who hath dyed for our yea that Martyrs sinnes risen for our Iustification ascended on high to giue gifts to men and is there and therefore set downe at Gods right hand to make intercession for vs sinners to take possession for vs mortals to accomplish as our Amen all the promises of this life and that which is to come whether against Ants or Deuils and in him it hath pleased the Father that all fulnesse should dwell yea beyond and it pleased in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily and we are compleate in him and he is all in all yesterday to day the same for euer which hath loued vs and giuen himselfe for vs which is loue which hath inuited vs Come to me all ye that labour which hath incited vs by all attractiues that after all this men Christian men should goe cast Lots for an Intercessor and neglecting Christ dreame of Romane carnall phancies or runne mad with Romish superstitious phrensies wherein if the bodie be deliuered as happened to the lusting Israelites with their Quaile-store the burthen is made double to the soule when God heareth in his anger Such Cisternes doe they digge which forsake the Fountaine of liuing waters euen broken Cisternes which can hold no waters the best of Saints like the wise Virgins hauing no more Oile then will suffice their owne Lampes and that also receiued out of anothers fulnesse of whose fulnesse wee all haue receiued grace for grace said a principall Saint There are Caterpillers which shine in the night fiftie or a hundred paces off only from that part of the bodie whence the legges issue others only haue their head shining I haue seene some a spanne long very fearefull but for any thing I haue heard harmelesse Flies are lesse but more hurtfull then in Spaine but these in kindes and colours are so diuersified that it is impossible to write them and so may be said of other small creatures in those parts In his sixteenth Booke he declareth the Conquest of the I le Borichen or Saint Iohn and the quarrels betwixt the Spaniards the learning of some breeding such dissentions that not without cause saith our Author in Golden Castile and in other parts the King forbad Law-learned men and Proctors should passe thither as men infectious by sowing strife where they ought not In this I le the people and other things are as before is said of Hispaniola there are more Birds in Saint Iohn rich Mineralls of Gold certaine Battes which the people eate and Lignum Sanctum groweth there more excellent then the Guaiacan for the French Disease and others In his seuenteenth Booke he writeth of Cuba The people and other things are much like to Hispaniola In their Mariages all the guests of the Bridegroomes ranke as Caciques if hee bee a Cacique or Principall or Plebeians as he is lye with the Spouse before he himselfe may doe it after which she with her fist bent comes crying with a loud voyce Manicato Manicato that is forced and full of force as glorying in her shame They are in vices like those of Hispaniola and will be no better Christians then other Indians whatsoeuer Peter Martyr writeth from Encises Relations For I haue seene more Indians then they both and by experience of those Nations know that none or very few of them are Christians of their owne will and accord and when any are baptized being of age he doth it more for some by-purpose then for zeale of the faith for there remaines to him nothing but the name which also soone after he forgets Perhaps there are some faithfull but I beleeue they are very rare The Creatures and Plants of Spaine prosper well there as doe the naturall which are the same which are in Hispaniola The people were exhausted when they first went
fiue or ten dayes together before any of their great Feasts and they were vnto them as our foure Ember weekes they were so strict in continence that some of them not to fall into any sensualitie slit their members in the midst and did a thousand things to make themselues vnable lest they should offend their gods They drunke no Wine and slept little for that the greatest part of their exercises were by night committing great cruelties and martyring themselues for the Deuill and all to bee reputed great fasters and penitents They did vse to discipline themselues with cords full of knots and not they onely but the people also vsed this punishment and whipping in the procession and feast they made to the Idoll Tezcalipuca the which as I haue said before is the god of penance for then they all carried in their hands new cordes of the threed of Manguey a fadome long with a knot at the end and wherewish they whipped themselues giuing great lashes ouer their shoulders The Priests did fast fiue dayes before this Feast eating but once a day and they liued apart from their wiues not going out of the Temple during those fiue dayes they did whip themselues rigorously in the manner aforesaid In Peru to solemnize the feast of the Yta which was great all the people fasted two dayes during the which they did not accompanie with their Wiues neither did they eate any meate with Salt or Garleeke nor drinke Chica They did much vse this kinde of fasting for some sins and did penance whipping themselues with sharpe stinging Netâ—les and often they strooke themselues ouer the shoulders with certayne stones This blind Nation by the perswasion of the Deuill did transport themselues into craggie Mountaynes where sometimes they sacrificed themselues casting themselues downe from some high Rocke Wee may draw all the Sacrifices the Infidels vse into three kindes one of insensible things another of beasts and the third of men They did vse in Peru to sacrifice Coca which is an hearbe they esteeme much of Mays which is their Wheate of coloured feathers and of Chaquira which otherwise they call Mollo of shels or Oysters and sometime Gold and Siluer being in figures of little beasts Also of the fine stuffe of Cumbi of carued and sweet wood and most commonly Tallow burnt They made these Offerings or Sacrifices for a prosperous winde and faire weather or for their health and to be deliuered from some dangers and mishaps Of the second kind their ordinary Sacrifice was of Cuyes which are small beasts like Rabbets the which the Indians eate commonly And in matters of importance or when they were rich men they did offer Pacos or Indian sheepe bare or with Wooll obseruing curiously the numbers colours and times The manner of killing their Sacrifices great or small which the Indians did vse according to their ancient Ceremonies is the same the Moores vse at this day the which they call Alqulble hanging the beast by the right fore-legge turning his eyes towards the Sunne speaking certayne words according to the qualitie of the Sacrifice they slue for if it were of colour their words were directed to Chuquilla and to the Thunder that they might want no water if it were white and smoothe they did offer it to the Sunne with certaine words if it had a fleece they did likewise offer it him with some others that he might shine vpon them and fauour their generation If it were a Guanaco which is gray they directed their sacrifice to Viracocha In Cusco they did euery yeere kill and sacrifice with this Ceremony a shorne sheepe to the Sunne and did burne it clad in a red Waste-coate and when they did burne it they cast certayne small baskets of Coca into the fire which they call Vilcaronca for which Sacrifice they haue both men and beasts appointed which serue to no other vse They did likewise sacrifice small Birds although it were not so vsuall in Peru as in Mexico where the sacrificing of Quailes was very ordinary Those of Peru did sacrifice the Birds of Puna for so they call the Desart when they should goe to the Warres for to weaken the forces of their aduersaries Guacas They called these Sacrifices Cuzcouicca or Conteuicca or Huallauicca or Sophauicca and they did it in this manner they tooke many kinds of small Birds of the Desart and gathered a great deale of a thorny wood which they call Yanlli the which beeing kindled they gathered together these small Birds This assembly they called Quico then did they cast them into the fire about the which the Officers of the Sacrifice went with certayne round stones carued whereon were painted many Snakes Lions Toades and Tygres vttering this word Vsachum which signifies Let the victorie be giuen vnto vs with other words whereby they sayd the forces of their enemies Guacas were confounded And they drew forth certayne blacke sheepe which had beene kept close some dayes without meate the which they called Vrca and in killing them they spake these words As the hearts of these beasts bee weakened so let our enemies be weakned And if they found in these sheepe that a certayne piece of flesh behind the hear were not consumed by fasting and close keeping they then held it for an ill Augure They brought certayne blacke Dogges which they call Appuros and slue them casting them into a Playne with certayne Ceremonies causing some kinde of men to eate this flesh the which Sacrifices they did lest the Ingua should bee hurt by poyson and for this cause they fasted from morning vntill the starres were vp and then they did glut and defile themselues like to the Moores This Sacrifice was most fit for them to withstand their enemies Gods and although at this day a great part of these customes haue ceased the warres being ended yet remaynes there some Relikes by reason of the priuate or generall quarrels of the Indians or the Caciques or in their Cities They did likewise offer and sacrifice shels of the Sea which they call Mollo and they offered them to the Fountaynes and Springs saying that these shels were daughters of the Sea the mother of all waters They gaue vnto these shels sundry names according to the colour and also they vse them to diuers ends They vsed them in a manner in all kinde of Sacrifices and yet to this day they put beaten shels in their Chica for a superstition Finally they thought it conuenient to offer Sacrifices of euery thing they did sow or raise vp There were Indians appointed to doe these Sacrifices to the Fountayne Springs and Riuers which passed through the Townes or by the their Charcas which are their Farmes which they did after Seed time that they might not cease running but alwayes water their grounds The Sorcerers did conjure to know what time the Sacrifices should be made which beeing ended they did gather of the contribution of the people what should
with heauie burthens that shewing their courage therein they might more easily be admitted into the company of Souldiers By this meanes it happened that many went laden to the Armie and returned Captaines with markes of honour Some of them were so desirous to be noted as they were either taken or slaine and they held it lesse honourable to remaine a prisoner And therefore they sought rather to be cut in peeces then to fall captiues into their enemies hands See how Noblemens children that were inclined to the warres were imployed The others that had their inclination to matters of the Temple and to speake after our manner to be Ecclesiasticall men hauing attained to sufficient yeares they were drawne out of the colledge and placed in the Temple in the lodging appointed for religious men and then they gaue them the order of Ecclesiasticall men There had they Prelates and Masters to teach them that which concerned their profession where they should remaine being destined thereunto These Mexicans tooke great care to bring vp their children if at this day they would follow this order in building of houses colledges for the instruction of youth without doubt Christianitie should flourish much amongst the Indians Some godly persons haue begunne and the King with his Counsell haue fauoured it but for that it is a matter of no profit they aduance little and proceede coldly We haue not discouered any Nation at the Indians that liue in comminalties which haue not their recreations in plaies dances and exercises of pleasure At Peru I haue seene plaies in manner of combats where the men of both sides were sometimes so chafed that often their Paella which was the name of this exercise fell out dangerous I haue also seene diuers sorts of dances wherein they did counterfait and represent certaine trades and offices as shepheards labourers fishers and hunters and commonly they made all those dances with a very graue sound and pale there were other dances and maskes which they called Guacones whose actions were pure representations of the deuill There were also men that dance on the shoulders one of another as they doe in Portugall the which they call Paellas The greatest pars of these dances were superstitions and kindes of Idolatries for that they honoured their Idols and Guacas in that manner For this reason the Prelates haue laboured to take from them these dances all they could but yet they suffer them for that part of them are but sports of recreation for alwayes they dance after their manner In these dances they vse sundry sorts of instruments whereof some are like Flutes or little Canons others like Drums and others like Cornets but commonly they sing all with the voyce and first one or two sing the song then all the rest answer them Some of these songs were very wittily composed containing Histories and others were full of superstitions and some were meere follies Our men that haue conuersed among them haue laboured to reduce matters of our holy faith to their tunes the which hath profited well for that they employ whole dayes to rehearse and sing them for the great pleasure and content they take in their tunes They haue likewise put our compositions of Musicke into their Language as Octaues Songs and Rondels the which they haue very aptly turned and in truth it is a goodly and very necessary meanes to instruct the people In Peru they commonly call Dances Tagui in other Prouinces Areittos and in Mexico Mittottes There hath not beene in any other place any such curiositie of Playes and Dances as in New Spaine where at this day we see Indians so excellent Dancers as it is admirable Some dance vpon a Cord some vpon a long and streight stake in a thousand sundry sorts others with the soles of their feet and their hammes do handle cast vp and receiue againe a very heauy blocke which seemes incredible but in seeing it They doe make many other shewes of their great agilitie in leaping vaulting and tumbling sometimes bearing a great and heauy burthen sometimes enduring blowes able to breake a barre of Iron But the most vsuall exercise of recreation among the Mexicans is the solemne Mittotte and that is a kind of dance they held so braue and so honourable that the King himselfe danced but not ordinarily as the King Don Pedro of Arragon with the Barber of Valencia This Dance or Mittotte was commonly made in the Courts of the Temple and in those of the Kings houses which were more spacious They did place in the midst of the Court two Instruments one like to a Drumme and the other like a Barrell made of one piece and hollow within which they set vpon the forme of a man a beast or vpon a Pillar These two Instruments were so well accorded together that they made a good harmony and with these Instruments they made many kinds of Ayres and Songs They did all sing and dance to the sound and measure of these Instruments with so goodly an order and accord both of their feet and voyces as it was a pleasant thing to behold In these Dances they made two Circles or Wheeles the one was in the middest neere to the Instruments wherein the Ancients and Noblemen did sing and dance with a soft and slow motion and the other was of the rest of the people round about them but a good distance from the first wherein they danced two and two more lightly making diuers kinds of paces with certayne leaps to the measure All which together made a very great Circle They attyred themselues for these Dances with their most precious apparell and Iewels euery one according to his abilitie holding it for a very honourable thing for this cause they learned these Dances from their infancie And although the greatest part of them were done in honour of their Idols yet was it not so instituted as hath beene said hut only as a recreation and pastime for the people Therefore it is not conuenient to take them quite from the Indians but they must take good heed they mingle not their superstitions amongst them I haue seene this Mittotte in the Court of the Church of Topetzotlan a Village seuen leagues from Mexico and in my opinion it was a good thing to busie the Indians vpon Festiuall dayes seeing they haue need of some recreation and because it is publike and without the preiudice of any other there is lesse inconuenience then in others which may be done priuately by themselues if they tooke away these To the Reader REader I here present vnto thee the choisest of my Iewels My trauelling fancis hath inuited many Readers to many my labours in strange births already Qâ—ae regio in terris nostri non plena laboris Iaponian and China rarities so remote from our world are neere to our worke and their characters communicated here to the Reader not their arts alone Thou hast here also Indostan Arabike Persian
Shewing the reason why the Sunne without the Tropicks causeth greatest quantitie of waters when it is farthest off and contrariwise within them it breedeth most when it is neerest l. 2. chap. 7. Exceptions to generall rules The Authors experience Various and diuersified tempers of the Torrid Zone Causes of temperatenâ—sse vnder the Line and within the Tropicks Second cause That there bee other reasons besides the former mentioned which shew that the burning Zone is temperate especially alongst the Ocean Chap. 11. Arist. 〈◊〉 Dionys. c. 15. 〈◊〉 câ—â—l â—ierar That the cold windes bee the principal cause to make the burning Zone temperate Chap. 13. It is noted by trauellers that there is a hot winde sometimes neere to Balsara and Ormus which swalloweth mens breath and suddenly kils them Linschoten obserue at Goa the wind to blow twelue houres from the Sea and other twelue constantly from the land Temper of the Indies Of the windes their differences properties and causes in generall lib. 3. cap. 2. * We haue abbreuiated and to preuent tediousnesse cut off a great part of Acostas obseruations in the two former bookes as hauing handled the same in our Pilgrimage l. 8. where we haue shewed whence men and beasts might come thither and that the opinion of the worlds vnhabitablenesse betwixt the Tropicks is false for the daily raines when the Sunne is neerest the long nights therein great dewes the breezes and constant course of the windes the great Lakes Riuers height of Hills c. make those parts not onely habitable but more temperate then others and fitter for mans life there being more heat at and on this side the Tropicks then vnder the Line We here doe but cull ouâ— choise things for better vnderstanding the naturall historie of those parts for other things referring the Reader to the Authour himselfe Occasionally our notes shall elucidate those things also which are in the Text omitted * Vulcans as Aetâ—â— Hecla c. sulphurous earth whence â—â—re issueth Generall windes Monsoâ—â— Windes receiue their qualities from the places by which they passe Psalme 134. Ieremie 10. Herera hath shewed the height of the Hills to bee the cause of the windes constancy and raines raritie Eastern winde raineth betwixt the Tropicks That the burning Zone the Brises or Easterly windes doe continually blow and without the Zone the Westerne and that the Easterly are ordinarie alwayes there Chap. 4. Iuan de Gacos in Decade 1. lib. 4. cap. 6. They goe one way to the Indies and return another why Sayling 2700. leagues without sight of Land in two moneths See Candishes voyage Cause of the Brises Motion of the Primum Mobile carrieth the inferiour aire with it The Comet 1577. seene eight dayes sooner in Peru then in Spaine The Brize or motion of the air with the heauens is a winde Why withouâ— the Zone in a greater altâ—tude we finde alwaies Westerly windes Chap. 7. 〈◊〉 windes Of the exceptions to the foresaid Rules of the winds and calmes both at Land and at Sea Chap. 8. Cause of the variety of windes Simile Note Of some maruellous effects of the windes which are in some parts of the Indies Chap. 9. Silkewormes killed with South-west windes Exo. c. 10. 14. Iob 17. Ioan 4. Osâ—e 13. Dan. 3. The like Linschoten obserueth in the Terceras Sea sicknesse whence Agitation and Sea ayre Strange passion at Pariacaca by the ayre there Height of Pariacaca 〈◊〉 too subtile for mens bodies So we see Horses to beate the water with their feete to make it more grosse and thereby more agreeable to their bodies Vicunos Great Desart Punas ayre kilâ—ing Strange Story The same confirmed by a Iesuites report and a Dominicans Such effects of cold wâ— haue obserued in Russia and other Northern parts and the like Master Kniuet will tell vs at the Maggelan Straits No Mediterranean Sea of great note in America Terra firme Straight of land but eight leag betwixt North South Seas Herodotus Iouius Experience in Drakes and Maires voyage haue found them no straights but broken Ilands to the South contrary to our Author here See of this Sir Francis Drakes Voyage to 1. l. 2 I haue omitted Sarmientoes voiage c. The supposed Straight in Florida Of the ebbing and flowing of the Indian Ocean Chap. 14. The Philosophers in searching the cause of ebbing and flowing haue easily erred following the Greekes and Latines which knew not the Ocean and could not therfore know the cause * Hernando Alonso which with Sarmiento had gone to the Straights to seeke Captaine Drake At the Downes on our coast two tides meet one from the Westerne Sea or slewe the other from the North which there cause much varietie Of sundry Fishers and their manner of fishing at the Indies The Manati a strange fish The Whales also bring forth their yong aliue and nourish them with their brests being in that huge creature scarce twice so big as the breasts of a woman and farre lesse then those of many women Their foode is also Sea weedes Sharking sharkes They haue rough heads whereby they cleaue and sticke fast to the Sharke which thus are forced to caâ—ry them with their swift motion of whose off all also they liue Crocodiles * Yet so as euer and anon hee dips it in the water his tongue being so short that otherwise he could not swallow it Tigre kils a Crocodile Indians exploit on a Crocodile Whale killed by the Sauages Of Lakes and Pooles that be at the Indies Chap. 16. Thicke water Fishes and fishing Originall of Lakes Greatest riuers flow from Lakes Hot Lake and many wonders thereof Lakes of Mexico salt and fresh Râ—ch Lake Of many and diuers Springs and Fountains Chap. 17. Hot Spring turning into Stone Fountaine of Pitch Cold and hot Springs together Salt Spring which yeeldes Salâ— without boiling Pocke-â—pring Smoak Spring Inke c. Of Riuers Chap. 18. Maragnon or Amazons Water-fall Golden thirst Riuer of Plata increasing as Nilus How they passe their Riuers Haire and Straw Bridges L. 3. C. 19 Decay of people in the Indies by the Spaniards Corn groundâ— The Indies mountainous and thereby temperate Of the properties of the land of Peru. Chap. 20 One winde onely The Plaines the hils and the Andes See sup in Herera Raine almost euer and almost neuer Diuers Beasts Their bread The reason why it raines on the Lanos along the Sea coast Chap. 21. Of the propertie of new Spaine of the Ilands and of other Lands Chap. 22. Peru wine Sugar workes and Hides Indians wasted Of the vnknowne Land and the diuersitie of a whole day betwixt them of the East and the West Chap. 23. Of the Volcans or Vents of fire Chap. 24. Terrible earthquake at Guatimala Couetous Priest Causes of this burning Basil. Psal. 28. in exaâ— Of Earthquakes Cap. 26. Great earthquakes Noyse before the earthquake Why the Sea coast is subiect to earthquakes Earthquake at Ferrara terrible Aâ— Angoango Metals grow as
plants Animalia Arist. 5. Ethic. cap. 5. Eccles. 10. Of the qualitie and nature of the earth wher the metals are found and that all these metals are not imployed at the Indies and how the Indians vsed them l. 4. Chap. 3. Plin. lib. 5. de Genes mund Euseb. lib. 8. de praepar euang cap. 9. No money of gold but of fruits c. Plin. lib. 33. c. 3. Plin. lib. 33. c. 4. Coine of leather Of gold which they digge and refine at the Indies Chap. 4. Plin. lib. 33. c. 3. Apoc. 3. 21. Cant. 3. Psal. 67. 3. Reg. 6. See before in I. dos Santos and in Herrera Plin. lib. 3. cap. 4. Of the Siluer at the Indies Chap. 5. Note Of the Mountaine or Hill of Potozi and the discouery thereof Chap. 6. Euery piece is worth thirteene Rials and a fourth part Plin. lib. 33. c. 6. Huge summes of siluer Eâ—â—aim Preciosa pericula Speciosa supplicia Intolerable paines and darknesse in the Mynes and if in the Mindes farre more intolerable remayning Euery Arobe is 25. pound Plin. in proem lib. 33. cap. 6. How they refine the metall of siluer Chap. 9. Plin. l. 33. c. 6. Sympathie with gold Plin. l. 33. c. 6 Of the place where they finde quick-siluer and how they discouered these rich mynes in Guancavilca Chap. 11. Labirinths Mines of Quick-siluer found The manner how to draw out Quick siluer and how they refine Siluâ—r Chap. 12. Dangers by Quick-siluer Force of Straw Plâ—n l. 33. c. 4. Abundance of Mettals Manner of working Fine Siluer for worke must be alloyed Mat. 3. Eccles. 2. Psal. 11. Of their Engins to grâ—nde the Mettall and of their triall of Siluer Chap. 13. Pli lib. 37. ca. 3. A pretty storie How Emeralds grow Admirable Emerald Church of Corduba Of Pearles Chap. 15. Plin. lib. 3. ca. 35. Cleopatras vaniâ—y Pearle fishings Manner thereof Long winded slaues Of the Indian Bread and of Mays Chap. 16. We call it also Virginia wheat How it groweth I haue had it ripen reasonably in my Garden in â—ssex Malt strong drinke made of it Chica good against the Stone Of Yucas Caçaui Papas Chunes and Riâ— Chap. 17. Iuice of Caçaui poison Wheat why it groweth not in those parts Papas and Chuno Of diuers roots which grow at the Indies Chap. 18. Of diuers sorts of green hearbs and Pulses and of those they call Concombres Pines or Pine Apples small fruits of Chille and of Prunes Cha. 19. Pines Pulses Melons and Pompeâ—s carried out of Europe and thriuing better there These Calibasses seeme the Guinny Gourds carried from the African coast thither Of Axi or Indian Pepper Chap. 20. Ginger Of the Plane tree Chap. 21. Plin. lib. 2. cap. 1. Pli. lib. 11. ca. 16. Of Cacao and Coca Chap. 2â— Cacao money Coca Of Maguey Tunal Cocheuille Anir and Cotton Chap. 23. Maguey Manifold commodities of the Maguey Tunall tree I thinke hee meaneth Anill or Indico of which see To. 1 l 4. in â—iâ—cheâ— Iournall Cotten Of Mameys Gâ—auyanos and Pâ—ltos Chap. 24. Chicopotes Of many sorts of fruit Trees of Cocos Almonds of the Andes and Almonds of Chachapoyas Cha 26 Cocos Almonds Of many and diuerâ—flowers and of some trees which yeelde onely a flower how the Indians doe vse them Ch. 27. Accidents produce most arts Of Balme Plin. lib. 12. c. 15 Chap. 28. Strab. lib. 16. Geograp Of Amber and other Oyles Gummes and Drugs which they bring from the Indies Chap. 29. Cas. Fistula Salceparilla Ligâ—um viâ—ae Auncient Physicians Strange trauil Great Tree Plin. lib. 12. c. 1. Of Plants and fruites which haue bin câ—rried out of Spain to the Indies Chap. 31. Natures husbandrie Of Grapes Vines Oliues Mulberries and Canes of Sugar Chap. 32. Grapes all the yeere Strange fructifying Oliues but no Oile Of beasts bearing wooll and of Kine Cap. 33. Europaean beasts Store of sheep Store of Kine Wilde herds Killed only for the hides Almost 100000 hides transported at once How rich might Virginia become if Horses Asses Camels Dogs multiplyed to noysomnesse Indian Dogs Of some beasts of Europe vvhich the Spaniards found at the Indies and how they should passe thither Cap. 34. Noâ—e * But vvhere our Nauigations beyond 80. haue shewed open and vvidâ— Seas betvvixt Lions Circles are vsed in hunting by Persians Tartars c. Tigres Beares Beâ—s Foxes and beasts of spoile Deere vvithout hornes Of Fovvles vvhich are â—ere and are at thâ— Indies and hovv they could passe thither Cap. 35. Plin. lib. 10. câ—3 â—3 Plin. l 10. c. 25. Estridges Hennes How it should be possible that at the Indies there should be any sorts of beasts whereof the like are no where else Chap. 36. The same prouidence which brought all beasts and fowles from all their natiue diuersified residencies thorow all the world to the Arke which no naturall instinct in such antipathies and at once could doe and kept them safe in the Arke did also dispose them to their designed abodes after For I hold it vnchristian with Mercator to say America was not drowned with the Floud And the same scruple might bee made for beasts c. in other parts the tâ—mper of the Arke or of the place where the Arke rested not agreeing naturally to the Zebra Elephant Riuer-horse Crocodile and many other hottâ—r creatures of Africa nor to the other peculiar creatures of many other Regions In things aboue nature as is both the historie and mysterie of the Arke we must flee necessarily to a supernaturall cause For except wee would imagine the most part of the Sea to haue beene lands or Ilands from beyond the cold Magellan to the coldest Purchas plus vltra that is from 57. South latitude to aboue 81. of North latitude all the Sea is known and voyages many in this work deliuerd which exâ—ludes al possibilitie of such passages of beasts especially such as cannot endure cold as our Author imagineth For men in boats that might happen accidentally which voluntarily hath beene attempted by Ours a little boat comming home from Bermuda to England and the Dutch open boats from Noua Zembla to Norway further and longer distances then is needfull from Iland to Iland for crossing from Europe to some parts of America that I mention not the Carthaginian and Owen Gwyneds voyages and other casuall tempests c. in which by fishing fishermen might liue long at Sea with their wiues and be carried by a higher coworking ouer-ruling prouidence to people this new World which it is likely at diuers times and by diuers meanes receiued her inhabitants God which made all men of one bloud alotting to all Adams sonnes their portions and the seuerall bounds of their habitation Act. 17.20 See Iobson Tom. 1. l. 9. of such in Guineâ— Tomineios Condores Rauens Feather pictures The like is in the East Indies Of beasts for the Chases Chap. 38. * These might come from the East parts thither by means of those Ilands which you see in Schoutens voyage
Guaturo the King whereof rebelling from the obedience of your Maiestie was pursued by me and taken Prisoner at which time I with my company passed ouer a very high Mountaine full of great Trees in the top whereof we found one Tree which had three roots or rather diuisions of the roote aboue the Earth in forme of a Triangle or Treuet so that betweene euery foot of this Triangle or three feet there was a space of twentie foot betweene euery foot and this of such height aboue the Earth that a laden Cart of those wherewith they are accustomed to bring home Corne in time of Haruest in the Kingdome of Toledo in Spaine might easily haue passed through euery of those partitions or windoores which were betweene the three feet of the said Tree From the Earth vpward to the trunke of the Tree the open places of the diuisions betweene these three feete were of such height from the ground that a Footman with a Iauelin was not able to reach the place where the said feet ioyned together in the trunke or bodie of the Tree which grew of great height in one piece and one whole bodie or euer it spread in branches which it did not before it exceeded in height the Towre of Saint Romane in the Citie of Toledo from which height and vpward it spread very great and strong branches Among certaine Spaniards which climbed this Tree I my selfe was one and when I was ascended to the place where it begunne to spread the branches it was a maruellous thing to behold a great Countrey of such Trees toward the Prouince of Abrayme This Tree was easie to climbe by reason of certaine Besuchi whereof I haue spoken before which grew wreathed about the Tree in such sort that they seemed to make a scaling Ladder Euery of the foresaid three feet which bore the bodie of the Tree was twentie spannes in thicknesse and where they ioyned altogether about the Trunke or bodie of the Tree the principall Trunke was more then fortie and fiue spannes in circuite I named the Mountaine where these Trees grow the Mountaine of three footed Trees And this which I haue now declared was seene of all the company that was there with mee when as I haue said before I took King Guaturo Prisoner in the yeere 1522. Many things more might here be spoken as touching this matter as also how there are many other excellent Trees found of diuers sorts and difference as sweet Cedar Trees blacke Date Trees and many other of the which some are so heauie that they cannot float about the water but sinke immediately to the bottome and other againe as light as a Corke As touching all which things I haue written more largely in my generall Historie of the Indies And for as much as at this present I haue entred to entreate of Trees before I passe any further to other things I will declare the manner how the Indians kindle fire onely with Wood and without fire the manner whereof is this They take a peece of wood of two spannes in length as biggeas the least finger of a mans hand or as an arrow well pullished and of a strong kinde of wood which they keepe onely for this purpose and where they intend to kindle any fire they take two other peeces of wood of the driest and lightest that they can finde and binde them fast together one with another as close as two fingers ioyned in the middest or between these they put the point of the first little staffe made of hard and strong wood which they hold in their hands by the top thereof and turne or rubbe it round about continually in one place betweene the two peeces of wood which lye bound together vpon the earth which by that vncessant rubbing and chasing are in short space kindled and take fire I haue also thought good here to speake somewhat of such things as come to my remembrance of certaine Trees which are found in this Land and sometime also the like haue beene seene in Spaine These are certaine putrified trunkes which haue lâ—en so long rotting on the earth that they are very white and shine in the night like burning firebrands and when the Spaniards finde any of this wood and intend priuily in the night to make warre and inuade any Prouince when case so requireth that it shall be necessarie to goe in the night in such places where they know not the way the formost Christian man which guideth the way associate with an Indian to direct him therein taketh a little starre of the said wood which he putteth in his cap hanging behinde on his shoulders by the light whereof he that followeth next to him directeth his iourney who also in like manner beareth another starre behinde him by the shining whereof the third followeth the same way and in like manner doe all the rest so that by this meanes none are lost or stragle out of the way And for as much as this light is not seene very farre it is the better policie for the Christians because they are not thereby disclosed before they inuade their enemies Furthermore as touching the natures of Trees one particular thing seemeth worthy to be noted whereof Plinie maketh mention in his naturall Historie where he saith that there are certaine Trees which continue euer greene and neuer loose their leaues as the Bay-tree the Cedar the Orange-tree and the Oliue-tree with such other of the which in altogether he nameth not past fiue or six To this purpose I say that in the Ilands of these Indies and also in the firme land it is a thing of much difficultie to finde two Trees that lose or cast their leaues at any time for although I haue diligently searched to know the truth hereof yet haue I not seene any that lose their leaues either of them which we haue brought out of Spaine into these regions as Orange-trees Limons Cedars Palmes or Date-trees and Pomegranate-trees or of any other in these regions except onely Cassia which loseth his leaues and hath a greater thing appropriate to it selfe onely which is that whereas all other Trees and Plants of India spread their rootes no deeper in the earth then the depth of a mans height or somewhat more not descending any further into the ground by reason of the great heate which is found beneath that depth yet doth Cassia pearse further into the ground vntill it finde water which by the Philosophers opinion should be the cause of a thinne and watery radicall moisture to such things as draw their nourishment thereof as fat and vnctuous grounds with temperate heate yeelde a fast and firme moisture to such things as grow in them which is the cause that such Trees lose not their leaues as the said thinne and waterish moisture is cause of the contrarie as appeareth by the said effect which is seene onely in Cassia and none other Tree or Plant in all these
partes Of Reedes or Canes IN the firme land there are many sorts of Reedes so that in many places they make their houses thereof couering them with the tops of the same and making their wals of them in like manner as I haue said before and among these kindes of Reedes there is one so great that the Canes thereof are as bigge as a mans legge in the knee and three spans in length from ioynt to ioynt or more in so much that euery of them is of capacitie to containe a little bucket of water In this kinde there are found some greater and some lesse of the which some they vse to make quiuers for arrowes There is found another kinde which surely is marueilous being little bigger then a Iauelin the Canes whereof are longer then two spannes these Reedes grow one farre from another as sometimes twenty or thirty paces and sometimes also two or three leagues they grow in manner in all Prouinces in the Indies and grow neere to very high Trees whereunto they leane and creepe vp to the top of their branches which they imbrace and descend againe downe to the earth Their Canes are full of most cleare water without any manner of taste or sauour either of the Canes or of any other thing and such as if it were taken out of the freshest Spring in the world nor yet is it knowne that euer it hurt any that drunke thereof For it hath oftentimes so chanced that as the Christian men haue trauailed in these regions in desolate waies where for lacke of water they haue beene in great danger to dye with thirst they haue escaped that perill by reason that they found the said Reedes of the water of whose Canes they haue drunke a great quantity without any hurt thereof ensuing Therefore when they finde these in any place they make water vessels of the Canes thereof and carry as many of them full of water as may suffice for one dayes iourney and sometime they carrie so many that they take for euery man two or three quarts of water which may serue them for many daies because it doth not corrupt but remaineth still fresh and good There are also certaine Plants which the Christians call Platani They are as high as trees and become as bigge in the trunke as the knee of a man or more From the foote to the top they beare certaine long and large leaues being more then three spans in largenesse and about ten or twelue in length the which when they are broken of the winde the stalke remaineth whole in the middest In the middest of this Plant in the highest part thereof there groweth a cluster with fortie or fiftie Plantans about it euery of them being a span and a halfe in length and as bigge as a mans arme in the small or more or lesse according to the goodnesse of the soile where they grow they haue a rinde not very thicke and easie to be broken being within altogether full of a substance like vnto the marie of the bone of an Oxe as it appeareth when the rinde or barke is taken from the same This cluster ought to be taken from the Plant when any one of the Plantans begin to appeare yellow at which time they take it and hang it in their houses where all the cluster waxeth ripe with all his Plantans This cluster is a very good fruite and when it is opened and the rinde taken off there are found within it many good drie Figges which being rosted or stewed in an Ouen in a close pot or some such other thing are of pleasant taste much like to the conserue of Hony they putrifie not on the Sea so soone as some other fruites doe but continue fifteene daies and more if they be gathered somewhat greene they seeme more delicate on the Sea then on the Land not for that they any thing encrease in goodnes on the Sea but because that wheras on the Sea other things are lacking whereof is plentie on the Land those meates seeme of best taste which satisfie present necessitie This trunke or sprig which bringeth forth the said cluster is a whole yeare in growing and bringing forth fruite in which time it hath put forth round about in ten or twelue sprigges as bigge as the first or principal and multiplieth no lesse then the principall in bringing forth of clusters with fruits likewise at their time and also in bringing forth other and many sprigges as is said before From the which sprigges or trunkes as soone as the cluster of the fruite is taken away the Plant beginneth to drie and wither which then they take out of the ground because it doth none other then occupie it in vaine and without profit They are so many and doe so marueilously encrease and multiplie that it is a thing in manner incredible They are exceeding moist in so much that when they are plucked vp from the place where they grow there issueth forth a great quantity of water as well out of the Plant as out of the place where it grew in such sort that all the moisture of the earth farre about might seeme to be gathered together about the trunke or blocke of the said Plant with the fruites whereof the Antes are so farre in loue that they are seene in great multitudes in the branches of the Plants so that for the multitude thereof it sometime so chanceth that men are enforced to take away the Plants from their possession these fruites are found at all times of the yeere There is also another kinde of wilde Plants that groweth in the fieldes which I haue not seene but in the Iland of Hispaniola although they be found in other Ilands of the Indies these they call Tunas They grow of a Thistle full of thornes and bring forth a fruite much like vnto great Figges which haue a crowne like Medlers and are within of a high colour with graines and the rinde like vnto a Figge they are of good taste and grow abundantly in the fields in many places They worke a strange effect in such as eate them for if a man eate two or three or more they cause his vrine to be of the very colour of bloud whith thing chanced once to my selfe For on a time as I made water and saw the colour of my Vrine I entred into a great suspition of my life being so astonished for feare that I thought the same had chansed to me vpon some other cause in so much that surely my imagination might haue done me hurt but that they which were with me did comfort me immediately declaring the cause thereof as they knew by experience being auncient inhabitours in those regions There groweth also another Plant which the people of the Countrie call Bihaos this putteth forth certaine straight branches and very broade leaues which the Indians vse for diuers purposes for in some places they couer their houses with the leaues thereof