from out of the Ocean which in those parts is very great and spacious and hauing drawne vnto it this great abundance of vapours doth suddenly dissolue them into raine and it is approued by many tried experiences that the raine and great stormes from Heauen proceed from the violent heate of the Sunne first as we haue said before it raines in those Countries when as the Sunne casts his beames directly vpon the earth at which time he hath most force but when the Sunne retires the heate is moderate and then there falls no raine whereby wee may conclude that the force and heate of the Sunne is the cause of raine in those Countries Moreouer we obserue both in Peru new Spaine and in all the burning Zone that the raine doth vsually fal in the afternoone when as the Sunne beames are in their greatest force being strange to see it raine in the morning And therefore Trauellers foreseeing it begin their iourneys early that they may end and rest before noone for they hold that commonly it raines after noone Such as haue frequented and trauelled those Countries can sufficiently speake thereof And there are that hauing made some abode there say that the greatest abundance of raine is when the Moone is at the full but to say the truth I could neuer make sufficient proofe thereof although I haue obserued it Moreouer the dayes the yeere and the moneths shew the truth hereof that the violent heaâ—e of the Sunne causeth the raine in the burning Zone experience teacheth vs the like in artificiall things as in a Limbecke wherein they draw waters from herbs and flowers for the vehemency of the fire forceth and driueth vp an abundance of vapours which being pressed and finding no issue are conuerted into liquor and water The like wee see in gold and siluer which we refine with quick-siluer the fire being small and slow we draw out almost nothing of the quick-siluer but if it be quick and violent it doth greatly euaporate the quick-siluer which encountring the head aboue doth presently turne into liquor and begins to drop downe Euen so the violent heate of the Sunne produceth these two effects when it findes matter disposed that is to draw vp the vapours on high and to dissolue them presently and turne them into raine when there is any obstacle to consume them And although these things seeme contrarie that one Sunne within the burning Zone being neere should cause raine and without the Zone afarre off should breed the like effect so it is that all well considered there is no contrarietie A thousand effects in naturall causes proceed of contrarie things by diuers meanes we drie linnen by the fire and in the aire and yet the one heats and the other cooles Pastures are dried and hardened by the Sunne and with the Frost moderate exercise prouokes sleepe being too violent it hindereth if you lay no wood on the fire it dyeth if you lay on too much it likewise quencheth for the onely proportion entertaines and makes it to continue To well discerne a thing it must not be too neere the eye nor too farre off but in a reasonable distance proportionable being too farre off from any thing we lose the sight and too neere likewise we cannot see it If the Sunne beams be weake they draw vp no fogge from the Riuers if they be violent hauing drawne vp the vapours they presently dissolue and consume them but if the heat be moderate it drawes vp and preserues it for this reason the vapours rise not commonly in the night nor at noone but in the morning when as the Sunne begins to enter into his force There are a thousand examples of naturall causes vpon this subiect which wee see doe often grow from contrarie things whereby we must not wonder if the Sunne being neere engenders raine and being farre off works the like effect but being of a moderate and proportionable distance causeth none at all Yet there remaines one doubt why the neernesse of the Sunne causeth the raine vnder the burning Zone and without when it is farthest off In my opinion the reason is that in Winter without the Tropicks the Sunne hath not force sâ—fficient to consume the vapours which rise from the Land and Sea for these vapours grow in great abundance in the cold Region of the aire where they are congealed and thickned by the extremitie of the cold and after being pressed they dissolue and turne into water Therefore in Winter when the Sunne is farthest off the dayes short and the nights long his heat hath small force but when the Sunne approcheth which is in the Summer time his force is such as it drawes vp the vapours and suddenly consumes and disperseth them for the heat and the length of the dayes grow through the neernesse of the Sunne But within the Tropicks vnder the burning Zone the farre distance of the Sunne workes the same effects that the neernesse doth without the Tropicks by reason whereof it raines no more vnder the burning Zone when the Sunne is farre off then without the Tropicks when it is neerest for that in this approching and retyring the Sunne remayns alwayes in one distance whence proceedes this effect of cleernesse But when the Sunne is in the period of his force in the burning Zone and that he cast his beames directly vpon the Inhabitants heads there is neither cleernesse nor drynesse as it seemes there should be but rather great and strange showers for that by this violent heat he drawes vp suddenly a great abundance of vapours from the Earth and Ocean which are so thicke as the winde not able easily to disperse them they melt into water which breedeth the cold raine in so great abundance for the excessiue heat may soone draw vp many vapours the which are not so soone dissolued and being gathered together through their great abundance they melt and dissolue into water The which wee may easily discerne by this familiar example roast a piece of Porke Mutton or Veale if the fire be violent and the meate neere wee see the fat melts suddenly and drops away the reason is that the violent heat drawes forth the humour and fat from the meat and being in great abundance cannot dissolue it and so it distils more away But when the fire is moderate and the meat in an equall distance wee see that it roasts handsomly and the fat drops not too suddenly for that the moderate heat drawes out the moistnesse which it consumes suddenly And therefore Cookes make a moderate fire and lay not their meate too neere nor too farre off lest it melt away The like may bee seene in anoother experience in candles of tallow or waxe if the wike bee great it melts the tallow or the waxe for that the heat cannot consume the moistnesse which riseth but if the flame bee proportionable the wax melts nor drops not for that the flame doth waste it by little and little as it riseth But this is
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
feare lest this vndertaking would cost our liues with a People so cruell The next day George Mendez and two others of our companie were carried with a band of Horse-men about the Castle to view it and then brought to the Mitaquer to whom he professeth great facilitie of effecting his purpose which so contented him that he sware by the Rice he eate to present vs to the King and to fulfill his promises presently taking off the remainder of our Irons Hee made vs to eate neere him and did vs other honour After which George Mendez as Camp-master appointed store of Chists Boxes and matterials to fill vp the ditch and three hundred large scaling Ladders able to hold each three Souldiers against the next morning to be made ready two hours before day All this was happily effected the ditch filled and Mendez with two others of vs first scaled the wall and set vp the Tartars Colours fiue thousand Tartars gallantly seconding so that with a hote skirmish the besieged were all slaine and the Castle taken the gates opened to the Mitaquer who with great ceremonies tooke thereof possession He caused George Mendez and the rest of vs to eate neere him razed the Castle and taking Mendez with him on horse-backe returned to his Tent giuing him 1000. Taeis and each of vs 100. the cause of much emulation in some of our companie who by his meanes had obtayned libertie Thence the Mitaquer marched by places desolate to a good Towne by the Riuers side called Lautimey the people whereof were fled the Towne these barbarians fired as they did other places where they came The next day they burned Bunxay a sowne field of aboue sixe leagues circuit most Wheat and came to the Hill Pommitay and the next day to the Riuer Palemzitau within two leagues of the Kings Campe. Guijay Paran sonne of the King of Persia at the Castle of Lautir by the Kings appointment stayed for him to whom Mitaquer on his knees deliuered his Scimitar hauing first kissed the ground fiue times Hee welcomed him with honourable termes and after that stepping backe two or three paces with a new ceremonie and with a voyce high and seuere as he which represented the Kings person said He whose rich border of his garment my mouth continually kisseth whose great power ruleth ouer others by Land and on the Iles of the Sea sends to tell thee by mee his Slaue that thy honourable comming is as welcome to his presence as the sweet Summer morning wherein the bathing of cold water most delights the flesh and that without delay thou hastenest to heare his voice mounted on this Horse richly furnished out of his Treasurie with mee that thou mayest be equall in honour with the principall of his Court and they which see thee thus honoured may know that thou art a strong member whose valour deserues this reward Thus with great state and pompe they went to the King and fifteene dayes after he brought vs to the Tents of the King well horsed then in the sumptuous House of Nacapirau When he came to the Trenches hee descended from his Litter wee from our Horses and asked leaue of Nautaran to enter which granted he againe went to his Litter and we followed on foot at the next passage he descended and went in leauing vs to expect him An houre after he returned with foure faire Boyes gallantly arayed in greene and white with their golden Xorâ—as on their feet to whom all the people rose vp and drawing their Scimitars laid them on the ground saying three times A hundred thousand yeeres liue the Lord of our heads Wee lying prostrate with our faces on the ground one of the Boyes said to vs with a loude voice Reioyce yee men of the Worlds end for the houre of your desire is comne in which the libertie which the Mitaquer promised you in the Castle of Nixianco shall bee granted you Lift vp your heads from the ground and your hands to Heauen giuing thankes to the Lord which made the Stars Wee answered as wee were taught Let it bee our fortune that his foot tread on our heads the Boy answered The Lord grant your request These foure Boyes with Mitaquer guided vs on thorow a Gallerie standing on sixe and twentie Pillars of Brasse from which wee entred a great Hall of timber in which stood Mogores Persians Berdios Calaminhans and Bramas thence wee came to another Hall called Tigihipau where were great store of armed men in fiue files quite thorow the Hall their Swords garnished with Gold There Mitaquer performed some ceremonies swearing on the Maces which the foure Boyes carried kneeling and kissing the ground three times Then we passed another gate and came to a square great Hall like the Cloister of a Monasterie in which stood foure files of brazen Images like Sauages with Maces and Crownes seuâ—n and twentie spannes high and sixe broad which the Tartars said were the three hundred and sixty Gods which made the dayes of the yeere which the Tartar King had taken out of a Temple called Angicamoy in the Citie Xipatom in a Chappell of the Sepulchres of the Kings of China to carrie home in triumph In this Hill was a Garden of strange herbs and flowers and therein a Tent vpon twelue turned posts of Camphire wood in which was a Throne all garnished with much curiositie of Gold and Siluer workes representing very liuely the Sunne Moone Starres Cloudes In the midst of the Throne stood a siluer great Statue called Abicaunilancor that is God of the health of Kings taken also from Angicamoy about which stood foure and thirtie Idols as big as children about sixe yeeres old in two rankes set on their knees and hands lifted vp as in veneration At the entrie of the Tent were foure Boyes gorgeously arayed which went about it with Censers and at the sound of a Bell prostrated themselues on the ground and censing said Let our crie come vnto thee as a sweet sauour that thou mayest heare vs. That Tent was guarded by sixtie Halbarders standing a pretie distance from it round about Beyond that Hill wee entred another place where were foure rich roomes in which were many great persons Thence we followed Mitaquer and the Boyes vnto a great Hall like a Church where stood sixe Porters with Maces which with new ceremonie let vs in Here was the King of Tartars accompanied with his Grandes among which were the Kings of Pafua Mecuy Capimper Raia Benam and the Anchesacotay and other Kings to the number of fourteene all in rich attire placed at the foot of the Throne two or three paces distant and a little further off stood two and thirtie faire women playing on diuers Instruments The King sate on the Throne encompassed with twelue Boyes on their knees with small Scepters of gold on their shoulders amongst which was a faire Damsell which euer and anone fanned the King This was the sister of Mitaquer who
brought to an end To the which end Cicero wisely saith God hath giuen vs some things and not all things that our Successors also might haue some-what to doe Therefore we must not leaue off nor stay our pretence in the middle of our proceedings as long as there is any commoditie to be hoped and in time to bee obtayned for that the greatest and richest Treasures are hardliest to be found I thought good to set downe in regard that I haue vndertaken to describe the three Voyages made into the North Seas in three yeeres one after the other behind Norwary and along and about Muscouia towards the Kingdome of Cathaia and China whereof the two last I my selfe holpe to effect and yet brought them not to the desired end that we well hoped First to shew our diligent and most toylesome labour and paines taken to find out the right course which we could not bring to passe as wee well hoped wished and desired and possible might haue found it by crossing the Seas if we had taken the right course if the Ice the shortnesse of time and bad crosses had not hindered vs. We haue assuredly found that the onely and most hinderance to our Voyage was the Ice that we found about Noua Zembla vnder 73.74.75 and 76. degrees and not so much vpon the Sea betweene both the Lands whereby it appeareth that not the neerenesse of the North-pole but the Ice that commeth in and out from the Tartarian Sea about Noua Zembla caused vs to feele the greatest cold Therefore in regard that the neerenesse of the Pole was not the cause of the great cold that wee felt if wee had had the meanes to haue held our appointed and intended course into the North-east we had peraduenture found some entrance which course wee could not hold from Noua Zembla because that there we entred amongst great store of Ice and how it was about Noua Zembla we could not tel before we had sought it and when we had sought it we could not then alter our course although also it is vncertayn what we should haue done if we had continued in our North-east course because it is not yet found out But it is true that in the Countrey lying vnder 80. degrees which we esteeme to be Greenland there is both Leaues and Grasse to be seene Wherein such Beasts as feed of Leaues and Grasse as Harts Hinds and such like beasts liue whereas to the contrary in Noua Zembla there groweth neyther Leaues nor Grasse and there are no beasts therein but such as eate flesh as Beares and Foxes c. Although Noua Zembla lyeth 4.5 and 6. degrees more Southerly from the Pole then the other Land aforesaid It is also manifest that vpon the South and North-side of the Line of the Sunne on both sides betweene both the Tropicks vnder 23. degrees and an halfe yet it is as hot as it is right vnder the Line What wonder then should it be that about the North-pole also and as many degrees on both sides it should not be colder then right vnder the Pole It was not the Sea nor the neerenesse vnto the Pole but the Ice about the Land that let and hindered vs as I said before for that assoone as we made from the Land and put more into the Sea although it was much further Northward presently we felt more warmth and in that opinion our Pilot William Barents dyed who notwithstanding the fearefull and intolerable cold that he indured yet he was not discouraged but offered to lay wagers with diuers of vs that by Gods helpe hee would bring that pretended Voyage to an end if he held his course North-east from the North Cape But I will leaue that and shew you of the three Voyages aforesaid begunne and set forth by the permission and furtherance of the Generall States of the vnited Prouinces and of Prince Maurice as Admirall of the Sea and the rich Towne of Amsterdam First you must vnderstand that in Anno 1594. there was foure ships set forth out of the vnited Prouinces whereof two were of Amsterdam one of Zelandt and one of Enckhuysen that were appointed to sayle into the North Seas to discouer the Kingdomes of Cathaia and China Northward from Norway Muscouia and about Tartaria whereof William Barents a notable skilfull and wise Pilot was Commander ouer the ships of Amsterdam and with them vpon Whit-sunday departed from Amsterdam and went to the Texell Vpon the fifth of Iune they sayled out of the Texel and hauing a good wind and faire weather vpon the three and twentieth of Iune they arriued at Rilduin in Muscouia which for that it is a place well knowne and a common Voyage I will make no further description thereof The nine and twentieth of Iune at foure of the clocke in the after-noone they set sayle out of Kilduin The fourth of Iuly they saw Noua Zembla lying South-east and by East six or seuen miles from them where they had blacke durtie ground at one hundred and fiue fathome William Barents tooke the height of the Sunne with his Crosse-staffe when it was at the lowest that is betweene North North-east and East and by North and found it to be eleuated aboue the Horizon six degrees and 1 â— part his declination being 12. degrees and 55. minutes from whence substracting the aforesaid height there resteth sixteenth degrees and 35. minutes which being substracted from 90. degrees there resteth 73. degrees and 25. minutes Then they woond East-ward and sayled fiue miles East and by South and East South-east and past by a long point of Land that lay out into the Sea which they named Langenes and hard by that point East-ward there was a great Bay where they went a Land with their Boat but found no people From Langenes to Cape Bapo East North-east it is foure miles From Cape Bapo to the West point of Lombsbay North-east and by North are fiue miles and betweene them both there are two Creeks Lombsbay is a great wide Bay on the West-side thereof hauing a faire Hauen six seuen or eight fathome deepe blacke sand there they went on shoare with their Boat and vpon the shoare placed a Beacon made of an old Mast which they found there calling the Bay Lombsbay because of a certayne kind of Beares so called which they found there in great abundance The East point of Lombsbay is a long narrow point and by it there lyeth an Iland and from that long point to Sea-ward in there is a great Creeke This Lombsbay lyeth vnder 74. degrees and 1 â— part From Lombsbay to the point of the Admirals Iland they sayled six or seuen miles North-east and by North. The Admirals Iland is not very faire on the East-side but a farre off very flat so that you must shunne it long before you come at it it is also very vneuen for at one casting of the Lead they had ten fathome deepe
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
to vndertake this Warre for the better assuring of his estate seeing the King of China had much gone beyond his ancient bounds He had in his Court a Christian whom he loued much and euery one greatly respected named Axalla a Genuois by birth brought vp from his youth about his person This man principally did stirre him vp vnto great Enterprizes and notwithstanding his Religion hee trusted him Now he had all Religion in reuerence so as it did worship one onely God Creator of all things He often said that the greatnesse of Diuinitie consisted in the sundry kindes of people which are vnder the Cope of Heauen who serued the same diuersly nourishing it selfe with diuersitie as the nature was diuers where it had printed his Image God remayning notwithstanding one in his Essence not receiuing therein any diuersitie This was the reason that mooued him to permit and grant the vse of all Religions within the Countreyes of his obedience alwayes prouided as I said before that they worshipped one onely God He determined to make Warre with the King of China who is called the Lord of the World and Childe of the Sunne which was no small Enterprize But before hee would begin the same hee sent vnto the said King of China for to demand right for some Countreyes which they call Hordas abiding places which this Prince of China had vsurped long before and euen the passages of a Riuer called Tachij which is beyond his limits which are Walls which are betweene the Kingdomes of the great Cham and of our Tamerlan builded of purpose by this King of China to defend him from the Roades of the Tartarians and forces of our Prince so as this was begun with the aduice of the great Cham and for his benefit as well as for the Princes Therefore to accomplish his Enterprize in the meane-time that he attended for the returne of his Embassadors he caused his forces to come forwards from all parts appointing vnto them for the place of meeting his owne at the Horda of Baschir where all his Armie assembled and other ayding troupes of the great Cham in the Deserts of Ergimul at a certayne day in which place he should joyne with all his Army The Army of the great Cham consisted of two hundred thousand fighting men wherein were all the braue men of his Court who were accustomed vnto the Wars the Emperour which then raigned and was old hauing greatly increased his limits and conquered a great Countrey so as these men were well trayned vp in the Wars and accustomed vnto trauell and paines Now then the Embassadors which were sent returne and informe the Prince of the will of this proud King of the World this King of China who was named so who puffed vp with vaine glorie was astonished how any durst denounce Warre against him making this proud Answere That Tamerlan should content himselfe that hee had left him that which hee might haue taken from him and that his Armes and Forces were of another sort then those of whom he published the victorie to bring thereby terrour vpon his Neighbours This Answere being heard our Prince marched directly vnto the Army and gaue order for the conueyance of victuals from all parts sent to hasten forward his Confederates emparted the Answere vnto the Emperour by Embassadours dispatched from him caused the boldnesse of the King of China to be published to make manifest vnto all the World the justnesse of his cause Before his departure he went to take leaue of his Father who endued with a singular and Fatherly affection said he should neuer see him againe and that he hastened vnto his last rest and hauing made solemne Prayers ouer the Prince his Sonne for his prosperitie kissing him a thousand times drew off his Imperiall Ring and gaue it vnto him not asking whether his Iourney tended and calling Odmar he bade him farewell recommending his faithfulnesse vnto his Son Then he departed and drew towards Samarcand where the Empresse his Wife remayned whom he carryed with him as is the custome of that Nation and after he had being Religious visited the Tombe of his Seruant Hally hee caused his soule three dayes to bee prayed for according to the Rites of his Law whereupon he presently departed hauing taken order for the well gouerning of his Kingdome in his absence committing the charge thereof vnto Samay a man well practised in Affaires and he who had the charge of our Prince in his youth So then he marched forward in the middest of his Army which consisted but of fiftie thousand Horse and one hundred thousand men on foot relying principally on the Forces of the great Cham his Vncle who aboue all desired this War he did not forget to giue in charge that the rest of his Forces should be readie vpon the first Commandement as soone as he should be ioyned with the forces of the great Cham and marching forwards he had stayed by the way by reason of some distemperature which had surprized him through changing of the Ayre as the Physicians affirmed But yet notwithstanding the forces which Catiles Captayne of the Army of the great Cham conducted went daily forwards Now the newes was spred into an infinite number of places of his distemperature yet did he not neglect to send vnto the great Cham and often aduertize him of the estate of his health to the end the same should not cause any alteration the which hee did fore-see by reason of his preferment vnto this Empire by the great Cham his Vncle and hee was in doubt of a certayne Lord named Calix who was discontented therewith and had not as yet neither gratified nor acknowledged him as all the other subiects had done Now concerning his delay it was by sundry diuersly interpreted some said that hee had bin aduertized of some vproare to be attempted when he should be farre seuered from thence and had passed ouer the Mountaynes of Pasanfu and that Calix stayed vpon nothing else insomuch as the Companies of the great Cham were gone forwards euen beyond the Mountaynes hauing passed the Riuer of Meau and were encamped at Bouprou the which Calix vnderstanding thought he should haue the meanes to worke his enterprize Thereupon hauing assembled great store of his most faithfull followers he tooke counsell with them that this was the meanes to ouerthrow the purposes of Zachetay who would reigne ouer and bring them vnder his Empire that seeing their Prince had bin so badly minded as to do the same of his own mind without calling of them which had interest in that election that now was the time to assure their libertie which was in doubt to be lost caused also a rumor to be spred of the sicknes of this Prince that the great Cham was old the greatest part of his forces far separated from him forthwith dispatching a Messenger vnto the great Cham their Prince to assure him that they bent not their forces
them to winne for I assure my selfe that when they shall perceiue your Souldiers to bee passed they will lose their courage and you may easily winne the passage for to fauour those men of yours which shall bee passed ouer with mee And for to shew vnto you the affection and fidelitie of that I speake I will deliuer into your hands an onely Sonne I haue and two little Daughters with my Wife I haue also one Brother who I am assured will follow mee to doe you seruice The Prince hauing heard this Lord speake receiued great ioy thereof hoping that his affaires should happily succeede and this hee kept very secret for euen the Prince of Thanais knew not the meanes that this Lord had seeing there was onely present the Prince and an Interpreter and the Prince after hee had thus spoken vnto him gratifying him with all hee could possibly this Lord retyred himselfe accompanyed with the Prince of Thanais who conducted him backe againe with all the honour that might bee So the Emperour returned from thence into his quarter and the next day after hee had imparted the whole vnto Odmar and heard Calibes concerning that which hee had learned of the departing of the King of China and of his preparation which was great This enterprise seeming hard vnto him after due reuerence yeelded vnto the Prince hee spake vnto him in this manner Know my Lord that I am your Slaue for to obey you but seeing you require mee to giue you an account of all that I know of the estate of the Kingdome of China for that I haue remayned these six moneths vpon the borders by your commandement to hinder them from passing the same whereby they might hurt your enterprises I can affirme vnto you that the King of China who raigneth at this present is of great reputation and hath increased the limits of his Kingdome more then any of his Predecessors His strength consisteth in this Wall opposed against vs the which hee hath caused to bee made by reason of the ordinarie roades of our Nation I am of opinion that there bee betweene fiftie and threescore thousand men at the guard of that Wall men for the most part trayned vp in the Garrisons of the King of China and his best Souldiers and I know no good meanes to force this Wall without great hazard and much losse of your men I haue vnderstood that towards the Lake Hogeen you may finde more easie entrance into the Kingdome after euery one had declared his opinion hee said that hee hoped the great God the Vnitie of whom hee would maintayne against such Idolaters and his iust right should answere the reasons which doe contradict his purpose and the valiant arme of his Souldiers shall quite ouerthrow whatsoeuer opposeth it selfe against the same and concealed from his Souldiers that which hee held as assured to execute it to the end the honour of a happy conducting might be ascribed vnto him onely Now our Prince hauing satisfied euery one of the Kings and Lords that did accompany him hee appointed the meeting place for his Armie to bee at a certayne place where hee meant to choose fiftie thousand fighting men and deliuer them vnto the commandement of the Prince of Thanais vnto whom he ioyned the Lord Axalla a Genuois for that hee knew him to bee discreete for to accompanie him commanding him to giue credite vnto him for his experience and fidelitie The day appointed being come the Lord with his brother came to the Emperor hauing viewed the place againe and found it to bee forceable and fit to passe assuring the Prince once againe of the happy successe of their enterprise and the Prince beeing assembled with them to conferre together resolued in the end that his person with all the army should approach vnto the walles directly ouer against Quaguifou in which meane space the fiftie thousand men should march forwards vnto the place appointed and where they were assured to passe conducted by the Chinois Lord vnder the charge of the Prince of Thanais and Axalla The Emperour hauing not failed to deliuer vnto them the best souldiers of his armie and hauing set downe the order by them to bee obserued hee willed that the Lord Axalla should leade twentie thousand of them and should march the first the rest led by the Prince of Thanais and that euery one should haue one of those Lords to guide them that by their meanes the enterprise might bee more safely directed So hauing marched ten leagues they arriued at the passage the which was won not finding any man there to resist them and hauing taken a light repast they beganne to march forward other ten leagues which yet remained where the Chinois were who suspected no such thing hauing onely an eye vnto them which marched for to force their walles assuring themselues to haue the mastry considering their aduantage But it fell out much otherwise for euen at the very same time the Chinois did perceiue the Princes armie to approach vnto their wall as soone did they discry Axalla with twenty thousand men who aduanced forward being followed by the Prince of Thanais with thirtie thousand souldiers chosen out of the whole army who without any communication set vpon the Chinois which came presently vnto them hauing left a certaine number of their Campe for the guard of the wall but they were presently won by the footmen led this day by Odmar who passed ouer so as the Chinois were cut off betweene our Armies When Axalla began the battaile he ouerthrew them in a manner all the Prince of Thanais not hazarding himself therein there was great riches gotten this day the King of China his Cousin whom he called King was taken prisoner There was a great quantity of gold amongst them as well on their armes as on their horse and furniture they shewed no great stoutnesse The newes heereof being come vnto the King of China who at that present time was at Quantou brought vnto him great astonishment for that hee iudged it a thing that could not possibly come to passe you might haue seene euery one filled with fright teares and cries bewailing the losse of their friends The King gathering together souldiers from all parts as the custome is of these people caused all the Priestes and such as had the charge of holy things to come vnto him and after exhortations vsed he as their head commanded them to offer sacrifice vnto their Gods of whom the Sunne is the principall commanding in heauen whom they hold opinion to bee the chiefest cause of their being accounting it immortall and impassible mouing it selfe onely for the benefit of liuing creatures this did hee command to bee obserued through out all his Cities and the second thing was that euery one able to beare armes should mount on horsebacke and come vnto the King at Paguinfou whither hee doubted that we would go because it was one of the
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
not one of these hath as long as hee liueth any charge or gouernment at all They giue themselues to eating and drinking and bee for the most part burley men of bodie insomuch that espying any one of them whom wee had not seene before wee might know him to bee the Kings Cousin They bee neuerthelesse very pleasant courteous and fayre conditioned neither did wee finde all the time we were in that Citie so much honour and good entertainment any where as at their hands They bid vs to their houses to eate and drinke and when they found vs not or wee were not willing to goe with them they bid our seruants and slaues causing them to sit downe with the first Notwithstanding the good lodging these Gentlemen haue so commodious that they want nothing yet are they in this bondage that during life they neuer goe abroad The cause as I did vnderstand wherefore the King so vseth his Cousins is that none of them at any time may rebell against him and thus bee shutteth them vp in three or foure other Cities Most of them can play on the Lute and to make that kinde of pastime peculiar vnto them onely all other in the Cities where they doe liue bee forbidden that Instrument the Curtizans and blinde folke onely excepted who bee Musicians and can play This King furthermore for the greater securitie of his Realme and the auoyding of tumults letteth not one in all his Countrey to bee called Lord except hee be of his bloud Many great Estates and Gouernours there be that during their office are lodged Lord-like and doe beare the port of mightie Princes but they bee so many times displaced and other placed anew that they haue not the while to become corrupt True it is that during their Office they be well prouided for as afterward also lodged at the Kings charges and in pension as long as they liue payed them monethly in the Cities where they dwell by certaine officers appointed for that purpose The King then is a Lord onely not one besides him as you haue seene except it bee such as be of his bloud A Nephew likewise of the King the Kings Sisters sonne lyeth continually within the walls of the Citie in a strong Palace built Castle-wise euen as his others Cousins doe remayning alwayes within doores serued by Eunuches neuer dealing with any matters Their festiuall dayes new Moones and full Moones the Magistrates make great banquets and so doe such as bee of the Kings bloud The King his Nephew hath name Vanfuli his Palace is walled about the wall is not high but foure square and in circuit nothing inferiour to the walls of Goa the out-side is painted red in euery square a Gate and ouer each gate a Tower made of timber excellently well wrought before the principall Gate of the foure that openeth into the high-street no Loutea bee he neuer so great may passe on horsebacke or carried in his seate Amidst this quadrangle standeth the Palace where that Gentleman lyeth doubtlesse worth the sight although wee came not in to see it By report the roofes of the towers and house are glased greene the greater part of the Quadrangle set with sauage Trees as Oakes Chesnuts Cypresse Pine-apples Cedars and other such like that wee doe want after the manner of a Wood wherein are kept Stagges Oxen and other beasts for that Lord his recreation neuer going abroad as I haue said One preheminence this Citie hath aboue the rest where wee haue beene and it of right as we doe thinke that besides the multitude of Market-places wherein all things are to bee sold through euery streete continually are cryed all things necessarie as Flesh of all sorts fresh-Fish Hearbes Oyle Vineger Meale Rice In summa all things so plentifully that many houses need no seruants euerie thing being brought to their doores Most part of the Merchants remayne in the Suburbs for that the Cities are shut vp euery night as I haue sayd The Merchants therefore the better to attend their businesse doe choose rather to make their abode without in the Suburbs then within the Citie I haue seene in this Riuer a pretie kinde of Fishing not to bee omitted in my opinion and therefore will I set it downe The King hath in many riuers good store of Barges full of Sea-crowes that breed are fed and doe dye therein in certaine Cages allowed monethly a certaine prouision of Rice These Barges the King bestoweth vpon his greatest Magistrates giuing to some two to some three of them as hee thinketh good to Fish therewithall after this manner At the houre appointed to Fish all the Barges are brought together in a circle where the Riuer is shallow and the Crowes tyed together vnder the wings are let leape downe into the water some vnder some aboue worth the looking vpon each one as hee hath filled his bagge goeth to his owne Barge and emptieth it which done hee returneth to fish againe Thus hauing taken good store of Fish they set the Crowes at libertie and doe suffer them to fish for their owne pleasure There were in that Citie where I was twentie Barges at the least of these aforesaid Crowes I went almost euery day to see them yet could I neuer bee throughly satisfied to see so strange a kinde of Fishing ⸪ PEREGRINATIONS VOYAGES DISCOVERIES OF CHINA TARTARIA RVSSIA AND OTHER THE NORTH AND EAST PARTS OF THE WORLD By English-men and others THE SECOND BOOKE CHAP. I. The beginning of English Discoueries towards the North and North-east by Sir HVGH WILLOVGHBY RICHARD CHANCELLOR and others of the Muscouie Trade as also Voyages by Russia ouer the Caspian Sea and thorow diuers Regions of Tartaria §. I. The first Voyage for Discouerie with three ships set forth vnder the charge of Sir HVGH WILLOVGHBY Knight in which he died and Moscouia was discouered by Captaine CHANCELLOR IN the yeere of our Lord 1553. the seuenth of the Raigne of King Edward the sixth of famous memorie Sebastian Cabota was Gouernour of the Mysterie and Companie of the Merchants Aduenturers for the discouerie of Regions Dominions Ilands and places vnknowne Certaine instructions were agreed on by him and the said Companie subscribed by Master Cabota the ninth of May the Kings Letters also procured vnto remote Princes in diuers languages and a fleet of three Ships set forth at that time vnder the command of Sir Hugh Willoughby Knight Captaine generall which went in the Bona Esperanza Admirall a ship of an hundred and twenty tunnes hauing with her a Pinnace and a Boat William Gefferson was Master of the said ship The Edward Bonauenture was of an hundred and sixty tunnes and had with her a Pinnace and a Boat in which went Richard Chancellor Captaine and Pilot Maior of the fleet and Stephen Burrough Master The Bona Confidentia of ninety tunnes had with her a Pinnace and a Boat of which Cornelius Durfoorth was Master The Captaines and Masters were sworne to doe
nor Siluer And therefore I besought the King that he would punish this deceiuer Tioneg that the good iustice that is vsed in China might be knowne In the time of the former Vice-roy and Capado Tioneg and his companion Yanlion deliuered this vntruth I afterward besought the King that hee would cause all the Papers of the cause of Tioneg to be coppied out and that he would send for the said Tioneg with his processes before himselfe And I my selfe saw the said Papers and caused it to appeare that all was but lyes which the said Tioneg had said I wrote vnto the King saying That by reason of the lyes which Tioneg had made the Castillians suspected that wee sought to make warre vpon them and that therefore they had slayne aboue thirtie thousand Chineses in Luzon The King did that which I besought him And so he chastised the said Yanlion commanding him to bee put to death And hee commanded Tionegs head to be cut off and to be put in a Cage The people of China which were slayne in Luzon were in no fault And I with others negotiated this businesse with the King that I might know his pleasure in this affaire and in another matter which was this That there came two English ships to these coasts of Chincheo a thing very dangerous for China That the King might consider what was to bee done in these two matters of so great importance Likewise wee wrote vnto the King that he would command the two Sangleys to be punished which shewed the Hauen to the Englishmen And after wee had written these things aforesaid to the King he answered vs thâ—t wee should learne wherefore the English ships came vnto China whether they came to robbe or no That they should dispatch from thence a Messenger immediatly to Luzon and that they should signifie to them of Luzon that they should not giue credite to the base and lying people of China And that forthwith they should put to death those two Sangleyes which shewed the Hauen to the Englishmen And touching the rest that wee wrote vnto him wee should doe as wee thought best After wee had receiued this order the Vice-roy the Capado and I sent this message to the Gouernour of Luzon That his Lordship might know the greatnesse of the King of China Seeing hee is so mightie that hee gouerneth all that the Moone and Sunne doe shine vpon And also that the Gouernour of Luzon may know the great wisedome wherewith this mighty Kingdome is gouerned Which Kingdome this long while none durst attempt to offend And albeit the Iaponians haue pretended to disquiet Corea which is vnder the Gouernment of China yet they could not obtayne their purpose but they were driuen out of it And Corea hath remayned in great peace and safety as at this day they of Luzon doe well vnderstand The Answer of Don PEDRO DE ACANNA Gouernour of the Philippinas to the Visitour of Chincheo in China THe Gouernour answered these Letters by the same Messengers that brought them vsing termes full of courtesie and authoritie Hee rehearsed the rebellion of the Sangleyes from the beginning Hee iustified the defense of the Spaniards and the punishment that was executed vpon the Offenders Hee said that no Common-wealth can be gouerned without chastising the bad nor without rewarding the good And therefore that he did not repent him of that execution because it was done for repressing of them that thought to destroy vs. That the Visitour should bee Iudge what hee would doe if the like case should happen in China That the griefe that he had was that he could not saue certaine Sangleyes Merchants Anhayes which died among the offenders But that this was vnpossible to be remedied because the furie of warre doth not giue leaue to kill some and to saue others especially being not knowne of the Souldiers in the heate of battell That vsing mercy to those that remayned aliue condemned them to rowe in the Galleyes which is the punishment which is ordayned among the Castillians for those that haue deserued death Yet if it seeme in China that it ought to be moderated hee would grant them libertie But let it be considered said Don Pedro that this may be a cause that in not chastising so great an offence they may hereafter fall againe into the same A thing that would shut vp all accesse vnto fauour That the goods of the Chineses that were slayne are in safe custodie And that it may be seene that no other affection moueth mee then that of iustice I will shortly send them to be deliuered to the right Heires or vnto such persons as of right they belong vnto None other respect moueth mee to any of these things but that of reason Whereas you tell mee That if I will not set at libertie those prisoners licence will be granted in China to the kinsfolke of those which died in the Rebellion to come with an Armie to Manila it breedeth no feare in mee For I hold the Chineses to be so wise that they will not be moued to such things vpon so weake a ground especially none occasion thereof being giuen them on our part And in case they should be of another minde wee Spaniards are a People which know very well how to defend our Right Religion and Territories And let not the Chineses thinke that they are Lords of all the World as they would haue vs thinke For wee Castillians which haue measured the World with spannes know perfectly the Countreyes of China Wherefore they shall doe well to take knowledge that the King of Spaine hath continuall warres with as mighty Kings as theirs is and doth suppresse them and putteth them to great troubles And it is no new case that when our enemies thinke that they haue vanquished vs they finde vs marching and destroying the Confines of their Land and not to cease vntill wee haue cast them out of their Thrones and taken their Scepters from them I would be much grieued with the change of the commerce But I beleeue also that the Chineses would not willingly lose it since that thereby they obtayne so great profit carrying to their Kingdome our Siluer which neuer faileth in trucke of their merchandise which are slight things and soone worne out The ships of the Englishmen which arriued on the coast of China it was determined not to receiue because they be no Spaniards but rather their enemies and Pirats Wherefore if they come to Manila they shall be punished Finally bâ—causâ— wee Spaniards doe alwaies iustifie our causes and doe boast our selues that it cannot bee said in the world that wee vsurpe other mens possessions nor inuade our friends that shall be fulfilled which is here promised And from hence forward let them know in China that wee neuer doe any thing for feare nor for threats of our enemies Don Pedro concludeth offering continuance of amitie by new bonds of peace with the Kingdomes of
Edict set vp by Co the new Vice-roy blaming the China Interpreters which had put into the heads of Stranger-priests to learne the China language and Characters and to desire some place for to erect a sacred and priuate house threatning those interpreters if they persisted In this dispayre of proceeding they had not beene a weeke gone when from Sciauquin the seate of the Vice-roy one of his guard came to Amacao and brought the Ci-fu so they call the Gouernour of that Prouince his Letters Patents by the Vice-royes authoritie inuiting the Fathers to Sciauquin there to receiue a piece of ground for a Church and dwelling house The cause hereof was an offer made by the Fathers when they were sent away from Sciauchin by the deposed Vice-roy to Canton of a summe of money to any which should procure of the New Vice-roy license for their returne One of the meanest Souldiers in name of Interpreter to the Societie had put vp a Petition to the Vice-roy who sent it to the Gouernour of the Region called Guam-puon of Cequion Prouince to bee dispatched who gaue the former Letters Patents to the Souldier which brought them himselfe to Macao They with great ioy as seeing the Diuine hand herein made ready for the iourney which the former expenses and late Ship-wrackes especially of the Iapon Ship in the I le Leuquiceo which alone hath most of the wealth of the Citie in it made difficult but Gaspar Viegas charitably bestowed the expense seconded also by others Thus full of hope they set sayle and in Canton both now and when before they were dismissed from Sciauquin they found Spaniards Then a Ship which from the Philippinas was bound for New Spaine was wracked at the I le Nan-tau on the Canton coast the men which escaped were kept in durance And now seuen or eight Franciscan Friars which had gone from the same Philippinas for Cauchinchina hearing the King was become a Christian and in their returne were wracked on the I le Hainan and taken and spoyled and presented to the Magistrates for Pirats whose libertie these Iesuites procured promising all recompence at Amacao Hence they had set foorth in the beginning of September 1583. and in the same moneth came to Sciauquin in that Souldiers companie by whom they were conueyed to the Gouernours Palace and kneeling before him made request as in the Souldiers mentioned Petition had beene contayned and were kindly answered that they should goe about the Citie and spye out some conuenient place for their purpose which hee doubted not to procure of the Vice-roy for them At the same time at Sciauquin they were erecting by the common charge of the Eleuen Cities of that Iurisdiction a Tower whereof one floore was now raysed to which they intended to adde nine others aboue it in a pleasant place by the Riuers side a myle and more from the Citie the Suburbes continuing further then it In the same place they set foorth a Temple and therein erected a Statue to the Gouernour whose sixe yeeres gouernment had well deserued of the learned and of the vulgar A piece of that field in which the flourishing Tower so they called it was building they desired which hee liked well and promised to further them with the Vice-roy The Iesuites at their former departure had left an Altar with one Ciu Nico who had placed the same in a conuenient place for want of Images inscribing aboue it Thien Chu in Cubicall letters that is To the Lord of Heauen Hee made also thereunto diuers Incenses and at set times yeelded diuine honors before it which much reioyced the Fathers seeing that there was one found which inuoked the true God And this man gaue them entertaynment till they had receiued the Vice-royes answer appâ—ouing their request and the next day the Gouernour set foorth a plot of ground for them with straight caution to obserue the Lawes of China and to admit no Strangers companions to dwell with them which they promised Much was the concourse and admiration of people much the wonder at their triangle Glasse the Image of our Ladie a wrought Handkerchiffe with which they presented the Gouernour but hee returned all afterward fearefull of Bribe-imputation Much trouble arose about that place and another was assigned them where they began to build and were forced to pawne their precious triangle Glasse to fit it for their vse they obtayned also an ample Charter from the Vice-roy and two Patents from the Gouernour which protected them from wrongs In these beginnings they made little mention of the Gospell but imployed their spare time in learning the Language and Characters by a Holy life seeking to insinuate themselues into the peoples good liking Their habite was like the modestest of the Chinois a long Gowne with large sleeues Their house had two Cells and betwixt them a Hall with an Altar in the midst on which they set the Image of the Blessed Virgin carrying her Sonne They called their God Thien-cui Lord of Heauen for the Chinois want the D. which caused that they could not giue any name more fit and this name continueth to this day although they vse others also as Highest Ruler of all First beginning of all and the like The blessed Virgin is called the Great Mother of God This Image on the Altar all which visited them both Magistrates Students Priests and common people did religiously worship kneeling and after their rite knocking lightly the ground with their fore-heads They admired the excellencie of the Picture and colours without ceasing But when it began to bee rumoured that they worshipped a Woman for God they tooke away that Picture and substituted the Image of Christ. After this they painted the ten Commandements in the China language which many approued Some brought them Incense for holy vses and some bestowed their Almes others also Oyle for the Lampe which burned before the Altar and the Fathers commended their Law as agreeing to the light of Nature The first which was Baptised was a poore diseased man cast foorth by his parents whom they instructed and a little before his death baptised The reliefe which they bestowed on him before caused a rumour amongst the vulgar that those Strangers knew by the mans complexion that hee had a precious stone in his head the cause of all that benificence The Chinois much admired the Bookes of which the Fathers had store the artificiall binding gilding cost goodlinesse of the Print and their studiousnesse in the China bookes and receiued with great applause a Booke of Christian learning which they printed Yea the Gouernour after the China rite would needs doe them publike honour which is done by sending a goodly Table with Cubitall letters in praise of them with the Magistrates name and the date inscribed in lesse letters Two of these with great pompe hee sent vnto them the one to bee set ouer the entrance with inscription
my course North-east and by North being at noone in the latitude of 59. degrees the Cape or Head land which wee saw that night bearing West South-west sixteene leagues off All this afternoone and night following it was for the most parâ— still weather this euening I found the variation 23. degrees 55. minutes The sixteenth faire weather with a fresh gale at East South-east our course as before being in the latitude of 60. degrees 20. minutes the ships way North and by East northerly twentie leagues This afternoone and the night following the wind as before we steering still North-east and by North. The eighteenth also thicke weather being forced to stand away North North-west to double a great banke with great Mountaines of Ice almost incredible to be reported yet by the helpe of God wee passed the same sayling all this day by great and huge mountainous Ilands of Ice with the winde at South-west and by South being at noone in the latitude of 63. degrees 45. minutes Wee did see our selues beset round about with mightie bankes of Ice being forced to make more saile and to lye to and againe all this night to keepe vs cleere of great and small Ilands of Ice where many times we were in such danger that we did looke for no other thing then present death if God had not beene mercifull vnto vs and sent vs cleere weather where by his assistance we kept our selues very hardly and with great difficultie cleere of the Ice The nineteenth day in the morning cleere weather with a fresh gale at South-west wee plying amongst the Ice to see if wee could get a gut to get cleere of the same at which time wee saw the Land of America about the latitude of 64. degrees it lying next hand South and North being high ragged Land couered with snow the shoare being all beset with Ice So lying off and on amongst the Ice in great perill till about noone when God of his goodnesse sent vs to espie a little gut where wee went through and stood South South-east away comming still by many Ilands of Ice Heere I did finde both by my course and reckoning the variation also of the Compasse respected that wee were carried with a mightie Current to the Westwards as both now and afterwards wee did probably prooue and see the same For I setting my course from the coast of America in the latitude of 58. degrees and a halfe for the coast of Groenland North North-east with a compasse whose wyers were placed more then two third parts of a Point to the Eastwards of the North the variation being 23. degrees 30. minutes Northwesting and 24. degrees as by obseruation I found betweene the latitude of 58. and a halfe and 54. degrees yet I did finde my selfe contrarie either to mine owne or to any of their expectations which was in the Fleet with mee carried almost foure Points with the Current to the westwards ouer our iudgements The twentieth wee still sayled to the Eastwards by many great Bankes and Ilands of Ice being still compassed in wee being forced to stand to the Southwards to get cleere where being sometimes becalmed wee did plainly see and perceiue our selues carried into the Ice to the westward very violently This Current setteth West North-west The twentieth in the euening I found the Compasse varied 23. degrees The one and twentieth day in the morning faire weather wee espyed a gut through the Ice it seeming cleere to the southwards of the same where bearing into the same about noone wee were cleere of all the Ice by the mercifull prouidence of God Here I obserued the latitude it being 63. degrees 33. minutes Now hauing the one and twentieth day at afternoone caused the Admirall to call the other Captaines and Steermen aboord with whom wee might conferre and hauing shewed briefly my reckoning with the other euents which contrarie to my expectation had happened the cause whereof at that instant they did plainly see and perceiue They confessing the Current as they did now plainly see to bee the cause of the same So hauing done I gaue to the other Steermen directions that being cleere of the Ice they should goe betweene the East and the East and by North ouer for the coast of Groenland and not to the Northwards of the East and by North because of the former euents And now at this instant by Gods helpe being cleere I called to them giuing the same directions This afternoone and the night following it was calme This euening I found the Compasse varied 23. degrees 25. minutes The two and twentieth day at noone I found vs in the latitude of 63. degrees 20. minutes The three and twentieth faire weather the ayre very cold as with vs in the moneth of Ianuarie the winde variable betweene the East North-east and the South-east and by East being at noone in the latitude of 63. degrees hauing made a South-east and by South way eleuen leagues This day at noone I cast about to the Westwards the other ships doing the like lying North-east and by North with the stemme finding this euening the Needle varied to the Westwards 23. degrees 30. minutes The foure and twentieth the winde variable betweene the South South-east and the South-east and by South with raine and fogge This day about eleuen a clocke wee did see much Ice to leeward wherefore I cast about to the Southwards the winde comming to the East North-east wee lying South-east with the stemme supposing the ship to haue made a North and by West way halfe Northerly two and twentie leagues This afternoone by reason of the fogge we lost sight of the Lion and the Gilliflowre wee looking earnestly forth for them and shooting both we and the Vrin diuers pieces of Ordnance but wee could neither see nor heare them at which time the winde came vp Southerly we standing away our course betweene the East and East and by North. The fiue and twentieth wee had sight of Groenland being about ten leagues to the Southward of Queene Annes Cape Wee standing away East South-east in wiâ—h the Land with the winde at South All this night it did blow very much wee steering North by West and North North-west The seuen and twentieth day in the morning was reasonable cleere weather with a fresh gale at South South-west This morning betweene foure and fiue of the clocke I espyed Queene Annes Cape to beare East by South next hand of mee and King Christians Foord South South-east of me being thwart of Rumels Foord Queene Sophias Cape bearing North halfe westerly about fiue leagues off Therefore I thought it conuenient to put into Cunninghams Foord where the siluer was both in regard that I had sworne to his Maiestie as concerning the same and also because wee were expressely commanded to bring home of the same So hauing a faire gale at West South-west wee came into the aforesaid Riuer anchoring in a
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
them I caused two graues to be opened wherein was nothing found but a vessell full of the graine of Maiz and a bundle of Iucca as I haue said And demanding the cause hereof of the King and the other Indians they answered that they that were 〈◊〉 there were the labourers of the ground and men skilfull in sowing of seedes and makiâ—â— of bread and seruants to the Kings father and to the end that their soules should not dye â—ith their bodies they slue themselues at the death of the King their Master to liue with 〈◊〉 heauen and to the intent that they might serue him there in the same office they reserue that Maiz and Iucca to sowe it in heauen Whereunto I answered them in this manner 〈◊〉 how your Tuyra deceiueth you and how all that he teacheth you is false You see how 〈◊〉 so long a time since they are dead they haue not yet taken away this Maiz and Iucca which is now purified and worth nothing and not like to be sowen in heauen To this the King replied saying In that they haue not taken it away nor sowen it in heauen the cause is that they chanced â— finde enough there by reason whereof they had no neede of this To this errour many thing were said which seemed of little force to remoue him from his false opinion and especially any â—uch as at that age are occupied of the Diuell whom they paint of the selfe same forme and 〈◊〉 as he appeared vnto them in diuers shapes and formes They make also Images of Gold Coâ—per and Wood to the same similitudes in terrible shapes and so variable as the Painters are aâ—â—â—stomed to paint them at the feete of Saint Michael the Archangell or in any other place 〈◊〉 they paint them of most torrible portrature Likewise when the diuell greatly intendeth 〈…〉 them he threatneth to send them great tempests which they call Furacanas or 〈◊〉 and are so vehement that they ouerthrow many houses and great trees And I haue seenâ— Mountaines full of many and great trees that for the space of three quarters of a league the â—â—â—ntaine hath beene subuerted and the tree ouerthrowne and plucked out of the earth with 〈…〉 The gulfe of Vraba is distant from the Equinoctiall line from an hundrâ—â— and twentie to a hundred and thirty leagues and three quarters of a league after that accompt of seuenteen leagues and a halfe for euerie degree from Pole to Pole thus for a little more or lesse goeth all the coast By reason wherof in the Citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena and in all that course of the foresaid gulfe of Vraba at all times of the yeere the daies and nights are in manner of equall length and if there be any difference betweene them by reason of this small distance from the Equinoctiall it is so little that in foure and twentie houres making a naturall day it cannot be perceiued but by the iudgement of speculatiue men and such as vnderstand the sphere From hence the North Starre is seene verie low Of diuers particular things as Wormes Serpents Beasts Foules Trees c. I Will first speake of certaine little and troublesome Beasts which may seeme to be engendred of nature to molest and vexe men to shew them and giue them to vnderstand how small and vile a thing may offend disquiet them to the end that they may remember the principall end for the which they were created that is to know their maker In manie parts of the firme Land by the which as wel the Christians as the Indians do trauaile there are such marishes waters in the way that they are faine to go without breeches among the hearbes weeds by reason wher of certain small beasts or wormes which they call Garapates much like vnto Ticks cleaue fast to their legs These worms are as little as the pouder of beaten Salt cleaue so fast that they can by no meanes be taken away except the place be nointed with oyle after that the legs be nointed a while with oyle or the other parts where these little Tickes are fastened they scrape the place with a Knife so take them away But the Indians which haue no oyle smoake them and burne them with fire and abide great paines in taking them away by this means Of other little Beasts which trouble men and are engendred in their heads or other parts of their bodies I say that the Christian men which trauaile into these parts haue them but seldome times and that not past one or two and this also very seldome For passing by the line of the Diameter where the compasse maketh difference of sailing by the winde called Greco that is North-east and Magistral that is South-west which is in the course of the Ilands of Azori they saile but a little way following our voiage by the West but that all the Lice which the Christians carrie with them or are engendred in their heads or other places of their bodies die and vtterly consume by little and little and are not engendred in India except in the heads of little children in those parts as well among the children of the Christians which are borne there as also among the naturall Indians who haue them commonly in their heads and sometimes in other parts of their bodies and especially they of the Prouince of Cuena which is a region containing more then a hundred leagues in length and embraseth the one and the other coast of the North Sea and of the East When these Indians are infected with this filthinesse they dresse and cleanse one another And they that exercise this are for the most part women who eate all that they take and haue herein such dexterity by reason of their exercise that our men cannot lightly attaine thereunto There is also another thing greatly to be considered and this is how the Christian men being there cleane from this filthinesse of India as well in their heads as the rest of their bodies yet when they returne to come againe into Europe and begin to arriue in that place of the Ocean Sea where we said before that these Lice died and forsooke them sodainely in their repassing by the same clime as though these Lice had tarried for them in that place they can by no meanes auoide them for the space of certaine daies although they change their shirts two or three times in a day These Lice are at the first as little as Nits and grow by little and little vntill they be of the bignesse that they are in Spaine This haue I oftentimes proued hauing now foure times passed the Ocean Sea by this voiage Beside these wormes and vermin wherof we haue spoken there is another little mischieuous worm which we may number among the kindes of Fleas this Pestilence the Indians call Nigua and is much lesse then a Flea it pearceth the flesh of a man and so
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
bones and Iewels was gathered and laid vpon a rich Mantle the which was carried to the Temple gate where the Priests attended to blesse those deuellish relickes whereof they made a dough or paste and thereof an Image which was apparelled like a man with a visor on his face and all other sorts of Iewels that the deaâ— King was wont to weare so that it seemed a gallant I doll At the foote of the Temple staires they opened a graue ready made which was square large and two fadom deepe it was also hanged with new Mats round about and a farre bed therein in the which a religious man placed the Idol made of aâ—hes with his eyes toward the East part and hung round about the wals Targets of Gold and Siluer with Bowe and Arrowes and many gallant tuffes of Feathers with earthen vessels as Pots Dishes and Platters so that the graue was filled vp with houshold stuffe Chests couered with Leather Apparell Iewels Meate Drinke and Armor This done the graue was shut vp and made sure with beâ—mes boords and flored with earth on the top All those Gentlemen which had serued or touched any thing in the buriall washed themselues and went to dinner in the Court or yard of the Kings house without any table and hauing dined they wiped their hands vpon certaine locks of Cotten woll hanging downe their heads and not speaking any word except it were to aske for drinke This Ceremonie endured fiue dayes and in all that time no fire was permitted to be kindled in the Citie except in the Kings house and Temples nor yet any Corne was ground or Market kept nor none durst goe out of their houses shewing all the sorrow that might be possible for the death of their King In Mexico were twelue Iudges who were all Noblemen graue and well learned in the Mexican Lawes These men liued onely by the rents that properly appertaine to the maintenance of Iustice and in any cause iudged by them it was lawfull for the parties to appeale vnto other twelue Iudges who were of the Princes bloud and alwayes abode in the Court and were maintained at the Kings owne cost and charges The inferiour Iudges came ordinarily once euery moneth to consult with the higher And in euery fourescore dayes came the Iudges of euery Prouince within the Mexican Empire to consult with the Iudges of Mexico but all doubtfull causes were reserued to the King onely to passe by his order and determination The Painters serued for notaries to paint all the cases which were to be resolued but no suite passed aboue fourescore dayes without finall end and determination There were in that Citie twelue Sergeants whose office was to arrest and to call parties before the Iudges Their garments were painted Mantels whereby they were knowne a farre off The Prisons were vnder ground moist and darke the cause whereof was to put the people in feare to offend If any witnesse were called to take an oath the order was that he should touch the ground with one of his fingers and then to touch his tongue with the same which signified that he had sworne and promised to speake the troth with his tongue taking witnesse thereof of the earth which did maintaine him But some doe interprete the oath that if the paâ—tie sware not true that then he might come to such extremitie as to eate earth Sometime they name and call vpon the God of the crime whose cause the matter touched The Iudge that taketh bribes or gifts is forthwith put out of his office which was accounted a most vile aâ—d 〈◊〉 reproach The Indians did affirme that Necauâ—lpincintâ— did hang a Iudge in Tezâ—â—â—o for 〈…〉 sentence be himselfe knowing the contrary The Murtherer is executed without exception The woman with childe that wilfully casteth her creature suffereth death for the same The Theefe for the first offence was made a slaue and hanged for the second The Traitor to the King and Common-weale was put to death with extreame torments The Woman taken in Mans apparell died for the same and likewise the Man taken in Womans attire Euery one that challengeth another to fight except in the warres was condemned to dye In Tezcuco the sinne of Sodomie was punished with death and that Law was instituted by Necaualpincinth and Necaualcoio who were Iudges which abhorred that filthy sinne and therefore they deserued great praise for in other Prouinces that abhominable sinne was not punished although they haue in those places common Stewes as in Panuco The end of the fift Booke AN ALPHABETICALL TABLE OF THE PRINCIPALL THINGS CONTAINED IN THE FIVE BOOKES of the third Part of PVRCHAS his Pilgrims The first Number notes the Page the second Number directs you to the number noted in the back-margent of the Pages Right against which or betwixt that and the next number the note is to bee found Obserue that whereas many words may bee well written with I. or with Y. the Reader is to looke to both Obserue also that Name of Saints or Knights are not set vnder S. but in the Alphabet of their proper Names A ABaccu is the Caspian Sea 69.60 The largenesse of it 70.1 Abaseia or Habassia is India media 106.50 in Marg. Rich in Gold ibid. Abedalcuria 252.60 Abortion caused by an Herbe 991.40 Acapulco the Prouince and Port in the West Indies the Latitude 871.60 Acias or Akas so the Tartars call the Alanian Christians 10.10 Enemies to the Tartars 12.40 Achbaluch Mangi which in Tartars Language is the White Citie of the Mangi 90.1 Acornes as big as Apples 520 50 Accents the Chinois haue fiue seuerall 384.20 Accounts cast by graines of Corne 1053.50 Accord betweene Poles and Russes about chusing their Emperour 788.789 Acquaintance the Ceremony of beginning it 374 Acacron the Armenian Prophet 49.50 Acon the Citie Arabicke and Syriack vnderstood there 13.50 Adams Sepulcher in Zeilan 106.1 More of that Fable ibid. Adams-Apples grow in Persia 71.10 Adders of India their seuerall sorts and natures 976.1 Adem the Soldan of it discomfited 106.50 Admirals Iland 474.40 Sea horses there 512 Adoration the manner of it in Mexico 1027.30 1028.1 1046.60 Adoption practised in Russia 740.40 Adulterie punished with Death in Peru 1058.40 Adultresses Dowries giuen to poore Girles 276.10 Adulterie Witaldrie the punishment 182.40 Adulterers how punished in China 204.10 Aedgar the King his mightie Nauie 619.40 Emperour of the Ocean ibid. Aegeland and Halgeland discouered 212.1 Aequinoctiall vnder it moyst and raynie and why 918.40 Not so hoâ— as the Antients held it very cold in March causes of the temperature though the Sunne bee very hote the dayes and nights equall 920. No Calmes vnder the Lane 923.60.926 The Ayre vnder or neere it swifter then the Ayre about the Poles and why 925.30 Easterne and Westerne windes continuall vnder the Lino 925.40 See Torride Zone Aequinoctiall whither healthfull liuing vnder it 889.10 Aethiopian Patriarch 327.30
Indians being deceiued of him and seeing also such effects to come certainly to passe as he hath told them before beleeue him in all other things and honour him in many places with Sacrifices of the bloud and liues of men and odoriferous Spices And when God disposeth the contrary to that which the Deuill hath spoken in Oracle whereby he is prooued a Lyer hee causeth the Tequinas to perswade the people that he hath changed his mind and sentence for some of their sins or deuiseth some such lye as liketh him best being a skilfull Master in such subtill and craftie deuices to deceiue the simple and ignorant people which hath small defence against so mightie and craftie an Aduersarie And as they call the Deuill Tuyra so doe they in many places call the Christians by the same name thinking that they greatly honour them thereby as indeed it is a name very fit and agreeable to many of them hauing laid apart all honestie and vertue liuing more like Dragons then men among these simple people Before the Inhabitants of the Iland of Hispaniola had receiued the Christian Faith there was among them a Sect of 〈◊〉 which liued solitarily in the Desarts and Woods and led their life in Silence and Abstinence more streightly then euer did the Philosophers of Pythagoras Sect abstaining in like manner 〈◊〉 the eating of all things that liue by bloud contented onely with such Fruites Herbes and 〈◊〉 as the Deserts and Woods ministred vnto them to eate The Professors of this Sect were 〈◊〉 Pâ—aces They gaue themselues to the knowledge of naturall things and vsed certaine secret â—â—gicall Operations and Superstitions whereby they had familiaritie with Spirits which they aâ—ured into their owne bodies at such times as they would take vpon them to tell of tâ—ings to come which they did in manner as followeth When any of the Kings had occasion to call any of them â—ut of the Desarts for this purpose their custome was to send them a portioâ— of their fine Bread of Cazabi or Maiz and with humble request and suite to desire them 〈…〉 them of such things as they would demand After the request granted and the place aâ— day appointed the Piaces commeth with two of his Disciples wayting on him where the one bringeth with him a Vessell of a secret Water and the other a little Siluer Bell When hee commeth to the place hee sitteth downe on a round seate made for him of purpose â—here hauing his Disciples the one standing on the one hand and the other on the other euen the presence of the King and certaine of his Nobles for the common people are not admitte◠〈◊〉 these Mysteries and turning his face toward the Desart he beginneth his Inchantâ—â—â—t and calleth the Spirit with loude voyce by certaine names which no man vnderâ—â—â—ndeth but hee and his Disciples After hee hath done thus a while if the Spirit yet 〈◊〉 his comming hee drinketh of the said Water and therewith waxeth hot and 〈◊〉 and inuerteth and turneth his Inchantment and letteth himselfe bloud with a thorne maruâ—â—â—â—usly turmoiling himselfe as we read of the furious Sybils not ceasing vntill the spirit be come who at his comming entreth into him and ouerthroweth him as it were a Greyhound should ouerturne a Squerell then for a space he seemeth to lye as though he were in great paine or in a rapte wonderfully tormenting himselfe during which agonie the other Disciple shaketh the Siluer Bell continually Thus when the agonie is past and he lyeth quietly yet without any sence or feeling the King or some other in his stead demandeth of him what he desired to know and the spirit answered him by the mouth of the rapte Piaces with a direct and perfect answere to all points Insomuch that on a time certaine Spaniards being present at these mysteries with one of the Kings and in the Spanish tongue demanding the Piaces of their Ships which they looked for out Spaine the spirit answered in the Indian tongue and told them what day and houre the Ships departed from Spaine how many they were and what they brought without failing in any point If he be also demanded of the eclipse of the Sunne or Moone which they greatly feare and abhorre he giueth a perfect answer and the like of tempests famine plentie warre or peace and such other things When all the demands are finished his Disciples call him aloud ringing the Siluer Bell at his eare and blowing a certaine powder into his nostrils whereby he is raised as it were from a dead sleepe being yet somewhat heauy headed and faint a good while after Thus being againe rewarded of the King with more bread he departeth againe to the desarts with his Disciples But since the Christian faith hath beene dispersed throughout the Iland these diuellish practises haue ceased and they of the members of the Diuell are made the members of Christ by Baptisme forsaking the Diuell and his works with the vaine curiosity of desire of knowledge of things to come whereof for the most part it is better to be ignorant then with vexation to know that which cannot be auoided Furthermore in manie places of the firme Land when any of the Kings dye all his houshold seruants aswell women as men which haue continually serued him kill themselues beleeuing as they are taught by the Diuell Tuyra that they that kill themselues when the King dyeth goe with him to heauen and serue him in the same place and office as they did before on the earth while he liued and that all that refuse so to doe when after they dye by their naturall death or otherwise their soules to die with their bodies and to be dissolued into ayre and become nothing as doe the soules of Hogges Birds Fishes or other bruite beasts and that onely the other may enioy the priuiledge of immortalitie for euer to serue the King in heauen And of this false opinion commeth it that they which sowe corne or set rootes for the Kings bread and gather the same are accustomed to kill themselues that they may enioy this priuiledge in heauen and for the same purpose cause a portion of the graine of Maiz and a bundle of Iucca whereof their bread is made to be buried with them in their graues that the same may serue them in heauen if perhaps there should lacke seedes to sowe and therefore they take this with them to begin withall vntill Tuyra who maketh them all these faire promises prouide them of greater quantitie This haue I my selfe seene in the top of the Mountaines of Guaturo where hauing in prison the King of that Prouince who rebelled from the obedience of your Maiestie and demanding of him to whom pertained those Sâ—pultures or graues which I saw in his house he answered that they were of certaine Indians which slew themselues at the death of his Father And because they are oftentimes accustomed to bury great quantities of wrought gold with