would breede in them many diseases but that they vse bathstoues or hote houses in steade of all Phisicke commonly twise or thrise euery weeke All the winter time and almost the whole Sommer they heat their Peaches which are made like the Germane bathstoues and their Poclads like ouens that so warme the house that a stranger at the first shall hardly like of it These two extremities specially in the winter of heat within their houses and of extreame colde without together with their diet make them of a darke and sallow complexion their skinnes being tanned and parched both with cold and with heate specially the women that for the greater part are of farre worse complexions then the men Whereof the cause I take to be their keeping within the hote houses and busying themselues about the hearing and vsing of their bath-stoues and peaches The Russe because that he is vsed to both these extremities of heat and of cold can beare them both a great deale more patiently then strangers can doe You shall see them sometimes to season their bodies come out of their bathstoues all on a froth and fuming as hoat almost as a pigge at a spit and presently to leape into the riuer starke naked or to powre cold water all ouer their bodies and that in the coldest of all the winter time The women to mende the bad hue of their skinnes vse to paint their faces with white and red colours so visibly that euery man may perceiue it Which is made no matter because it is common and liked well by their husbands who make their wiues and daughters an ordinarie allowance to buy them colours to paint their faces withall and delight themselues much to see them of fowle women to become such faire images This parcheth the skinne and helpeth to deforme them when their painting is of They apparell themselues after the Greeke manner The Noblemans attire is on this fashion First a Taffia or little night cappe on his head that couereth litle more then his crowne commonly verie rich wrought of silke and golde threede and set with pearle and precious stone His head he keepeth shauen close to the very skinne except he be in some displeasure with the Emperour Then hee suffereth his haire to growe and hang downe vpon his shoulders couering his face as vgly and deformedly as he can Ouer the Taffia hee weareth a wide cappe of blacke Fore which they account for the best furre with a Tiara or long bonnet put within it standing vp like a Persian or Babilonian hatte About his necke which is seene all bare is a coller set with peaâ—le and precious stone about three or foure fingers broad Next ouer his shirt which is curiously wrought because hee strippeth himselfe into it in the Sommer time while he is within the house is a Shepon or light garment of silke made downe to the knees buttoned before and then a Caftan or a close coat buttoned and girt to him with a Persian girdle whereat he hangs his kniues and spoone This commonly is of cloth of gold and hangeth downe as low as his ancles Ouer that hee weareth a lose garment of some rich silke furred and faced about with some golde lace called a Ferris An other ouer that of thamlet or like stuffe called an Alkaben sleeued and hanging lowe and the cape commonly brooched and set all with pearle When hee goeth abroad he casteth ouer all these which are but sleight though they seeme to be many an other garment called an Honoratkey like to the Alkaben saue that it is made without a coller for the necke And this is commonly of fine cloth or Camels haire His buskins which he weareth in stead of hose with linnen folles vnder them in stead of boot hose are made of a Persian leather called Saphian embrodered with pearle His vpper stockes commonly are of cloth of golde When he goeth abroad hee mounteth on horsebacke though it be but to the next doore which is the maner also of the Boiarskey or Gentlemen The Boiarskey or Gentlemans attire is of the same fashion but differeth in stuffe and yet he will haue his Caâ—tan or vndercoat sometimes of cloth of golde the rest of cloth or silke The Noble woman called Chyna Boiarshena weareth on her head first a caull of some soft silke which is commonly redde and ouer it a fruntlet called Obrosa of white colour Ouer that her cappe made after the coife fashion of cloth of gold called Shapka Zempska edged with some rich furre and set with pearle and stone Though they haue of late begunne to disdaine embrodering with pearle aboue their cappes because the Diacks and some Marchants wiues haue taken vp the fashion In their eares they weare earerings which they call Sargee of two inches or more compasso the matter of gold set with Rubies or Saphires or some like precious stone In Sommer they goe often with kerchieffes of fine white lawne or cambricke fastned vnder the â—hinne with two long â—assels pendent The kerchiefe spotted and set thicke with rich pearle When they ride or goe abroad in raynie weather they weare white hattes with coloured bandes called Stapa Zemskoy About their neckes they weare collers of three or foure fingers broad set with rich pearle and precious stone Their vpper garment is a loose gowne called Oposhen commonly of scarlet with wide loose sleeues hanging downe to the ground buttened before with great golde buttons or at least siluer and guilt nigh as bigge as a walnut Which hath hanging ouer it fastned vnder the cappe a large broad cape of some rich furre that hangeth downe almost to the middes of their backes Next vnder the Oposken or vpper garment they weare another called a Leitnick that is made close before with great wide sleeues the cuffe or halfe sleeue vp to the elbowes commonly of cloth of golde and vnder that a Ferris Zemskoy which hangeth loose buttoned throughout to the very foote On the hande wrests they weare very faire braselets about two fingers broad of pearle and precious stone They goe all in buskins of white yellow blew or some other coloured leather embrodered with pearle This is the attire of the Noblewoman of Russia when she maketh the best shewe of her selfe The Gentlewomans apparell may differ in the stuffe but is all one for the making or fashion As for the poore Mousick and his wife they goe poorely cladde The man with his Honoratkey or loose gowne to the small of the legge tyed together with a lace before of course white or blew cloth with some Shube or long wastcoate of furre or of sheepeskinne vnder it and his furred cappe and buskins The poorer sort of them haue their Honoratkey or vpper garment made of Rowes haire This is their winter habite In the sommer time commonly they weare nothing but their shirts on their backes and buskins on their legges The woman goeth in a red or blew gowne when she maketh the
the day is longer by an houre and a halfe then it is vnder the Equinoctiall wherefore the heate of the Sunne hauing a longer time of operation must needes be encreased especially seeing the night wherein colde and moysture doe abound vnder the Tropickes is lesse then it is vnder the Equinoctiall Therefore I gather that vnder the Tropickes is the hotest place not onely of Torrida Zona but of any other part of the world especially because there both causes of heate doe concurre that is the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames two monethes together and the longer abode of the Sunnes presence aboue the Horison And by this meanes more at large is prooued that Marochus in Sommer is farre more hote then at any time vnder the Equinoctiall because it is situate so neere the Tropick of Cancer and also for the length of their dayes Neither yet do I thinke that the Regions situate vnder the Tropicks are not habitable for they are found to be very fruitfull also although Marochus and some other parts of Afrike neere the Tropike for the drinesse of the natiue sandie soile and some aâ—cidents may seeme to some to be intemperate for ouer much heat For Ferdinandâ—â— Ouieduâ— speaking of Cuba and Hispaniola Ilands of America lying hard vnder or by the Tropike of Câ—ncer saith that these Ilands haue as good pasture for cattell as any other countrey in the world Also they haue most holesome and cleare water and temperate aire by reason whereof the heatâ—s of beastes are much bigger fatter and of better taste then any in Spaine because of the â—anke pasture whose moysture is better dâ—gested in the hearbe or grasse by continuall and temperâ—tâ— heate of the Sunne whereby being made more fat and vnctious it is of better and more stedfast nourishment For continuall and temperate heate doeth not onely drawe much moysture out of the earth to the nourishment of such things as growe and are engendred in that Clime but doeth also by moderation preserue the same from putrifying digesting also and condensating or thickning the said moyst nourishment into a gamme and vnctious substance whereby appeareth also that vnder the Tropikes is both holesome fruitefull and pleasant habitation whereby lastly it followeth that all the middle zone which vntill of late dayes hath bene compted and called the burning broyling and parched zone is now found to be the most delicate tempâ—rate commodious pleasant and delectable part of the world and especially vnder the Equinoctiall Hauing now sufficiently at large declared the temperature of the middle zone it remaineth to speake somewhat also of the moderate and continuall heate in colde Regions as well in the night as in the day all the Sommer long and also how these Regions are habitable to the inhabitants of the same contrary to the opinion of the olde writers Of the temperature of colde Regions all the Sommer long and also how in Winter the same is habitable especially to the inhabitants thereof THe colde Regions of the world are those which tending toward the Poles Arctike and Antarctike are without the circuite or boundes of the seuen Climates which assertion agreeable to the opinion of the olde Writers is found and set out in our authour of the Sphere Iohannes de Sacrobosco where hee plainely saith that without the seuenth Climate which is bounded by a Parallel passing at fiftie degrees in Latitude all the habitation beyonde is discommodious and intollerable But Gemma â—â—isius a late writer finding England and Scotland to be without the compasse of those Climates wherein hee knewe to bee very temperate and good habitation added thereunto two other Climates the vttermost Parallel whereof passeth by 56. degrees in Latitude and therein comprehendeth ouer and aboue the first computation England Scotland Denmarke Moscouia c. which all are rich â—nd mightie kingdomes The olde writers perswaded by bare coniecâ—ure went about to determine of those places by comparing them to their owne complexions because they felt them to bee hardly tollerable to themselues and so took thereby an argument of the whole habitable earth as if a man borne in Marochus or some other part of Barbarie should at the latter end of Sommer vpon the suddeine either naked or with his thinne vesture bee brought into England hee would iudge this Region presently not to bee habitable because hee being brought vp in so warme a Countrey is not able here to liue for so suddeine an alteration of the colde aire but if the same man had come at the beginning of Sommer and so afterward by little and little by certaine degrees had felt and acquainted himselfe with the frost of Autumne it would haue seemed by degrees to harden him and so to make it farre more tollerable and by vse after one yeere or two the aire would seeme to him more temperate It was compted a great matter in the olde time that there was a brasse pot broken in sunder with frosen water in Pontus which after was brought and shewed in Delphis in token of a miraculous colde region and winter and therefore consecrated to the Temple of Apollo This effect being wrought in the Parallel of fouretie three degrees in Latitude it was presently counted a place very hardly and vneasily to be inhabited for the great colde And how then can such men define vpon other Regions very farre without that Parallel whether they were inhabited or not seeing that in so neere a place they so grossely mistooke the matter and others their followers being contented with the inuentions of the olde Authours haue persisted willingly in the same opinion with more confidence then consideration of the cause so lightly was that opinion receiued as touching the vnhabitable Clime neere and vnder the Poles Therefore I am at this present to proue that all the land lying betweene the last climat euen vnto the point directly vnder either poles is or may be inhabited especially of such creatures as are ingendred and bred therein For indeed it is to be confessed that some particular liuing creature cannot liue in euery particular place or region especially with the same ioy and felicite as it did where it was first bred for the certeine agreement of nature that is betweene the place and the thing bred in that place as appeareth by the Elephant which being translated and brought out of the second or third climat though they may liue yet will they neuer ingender or bring forth yong Also we see the like in many kinds of plants and herbs for example the Orange trees although in Naples they bring forth fruit abundantly in Rome and Florence they will beare onely faire greene leaues but not any fruit and translated into England they will hardly beare either flowers fruit or leaues but are the next Winter pinched and withered with colde yet it followeth not for this that England Rome and Florence should not be habitable In the prouing of these colde
ex diametro spirantibus The words of the king of Portugall to Andro Vrdaneta a Frier touching the concealing of this Northwest passage from England to Cataia An obiection Aristotle lib. de mundo cap. 2. Berosus lib. 5. The Northwest passage assentâ—d vnto The first reason The answer or resolution Vlsus nonnunquam fallitur in suo obiecto The second reason or allegation The answer or resolution The third and last reason or assertion The answer or resolution Some doubt of this This discouery offered This discouery attempted This discouery performed The labour of this discouerie shortned by other mens trauell Why y e kings of Spaine and Portugal would not perseuer in this discouery Pereas qui vmbras times 1 By the Southeast 2 By the Southwest This is an errour 3 By the Northeast Ortel tab Asiae 3. 4 By the Northeast Ob. 1. In Theatro Ob. 2. Ob. 3. Ob. 4. Ob. 5. Ob. 6. Cic. 1. de orat Arist. pri Metaph. Lib. 1. Geog. Cap. 2. Sol. 1. Sol. 2. Ouid. â— Meta. Sol. 3. Sol. 4. Lib. Geog. Noâ—e Richard Eden Lib. 2. Meteor cap. 1. Plin. lib. â—â— capâ— 67. Sol. 5. Sol. 6â— Luc. lib. 1â— Phaâ—sal What the Easterne current is Lib. 1. Geog. Cap 2. Iune ‖ M. Matthew 〈◊〉 was Capâ—aine of the Michael Fairâ— Island Shotland * By eleuation he meaâ—eth the distance oâ— the sunne from the zâ—â—â—th S. Tronionsâ— Foâ—lay Island Latitude 59. deg 59. min. â—ere they begâ—â— to saile West and by North. Iuly the first The Compasse varying Westwards one point The Island of Friseland The variation of the needle two points and a halfe to the West A great drift of yce The latitude of 62. degrees 2. min. Sight of land supposed to haue bene Labrador August They enter the Streiâ— in the latitude of 63. deg and 8. min. Sight of the Countrey people The description of the people 5. of our men taken by the people They returne September The Sheld The Islands Orcades or Orkney The Orcadians vpon smal occasion fire their home No wood in Orkney Fisher men of â—ngland haue dailâ—â—raffike to Oâ—knâ—y In Iune and Iuly no night in those West and Northwest regions Great abundance of Firre trees floting in the sea Inquire further of this current Yce snow and haile in Iune and Iuly Friseland subiect to fogge Frobishers streight Islands of yce comparable to mountaines Captaine Frobisher his speciall care and diligence for the benefite of his Prince and Countreâ— The order of the people appearing on shoare Fierce and hold people One taken Richard Cox Master gunner Master Iackman Andrew Dier Iackmans sound Possession taken Yce needefull to be regarded of seafaring men Stones glister with sparkles like gold A common prouerbe The sea Unicorne The people fled at the sight of our men Master Philpot Master Beast A fierce assault of a few Faire meanes not able to allure them to familiarity Boates of skinneâ— Our deparâ—ure from the West shore The countrey people shew themselues vnto vs. Their vsage in traffique or exchange The people shew themselues the third time The people shew themselues againe on â—â—rme land Their â—â—râ—t meanes to allure vs to shore Their second meanes Their third and crafâ—iest allurâ—ment Compassion to cure a crafty lame man Dogges like vnto woluâ—â— They eate dogs flesh Hoods â—nd tailes to their apparâ—ll Their houses of Seale skins and Firre Their weapons of defence Three â—orts of heads to their arrowes Two sorts of darts Two sorts of boates made of leather They vse to foule fish and hunt It is to be supposed that their inhabiting is elsewhere Their vse of yron Anthropophagi Signes of gold eâ—â—e Signes of gold from other people Description of the Countreis â— signe of Earthquakeâ— or thunder No riuers but â—uch as the Sunne doth cause to come of snow A probability that there should be neither spring or riuers in the ground Springs nourish gold Our departurâ— from those Countreys How when we lost our 2. Barks which God neuerthelesse restored The conclusion Master Yorke Christopher Hall The Hopewel Captaine Carew Andrew Dierâ— Harwich Dursies Ireland Plimmouth Bristow Frizeland The curtesie of our Generall Master Kinderslie Bartholomew Bull. The Michael The Iudith M. Fenton Charles Iackman The Countesse of Wâ—rwicks sound Our entrance passage c. Barke Dionyse Narow shifts for safetie Gods prouidence A mountaine of yce appearing in sundry figures A fog of long continuance A current to the Northwest The Gabriel The people offer to traffike with vs. Warning pieces of fate passage discharged A faire sound betweene the Queenes foreland and Iackmans sound An horrible snowe fell in Iuly The time of our setting forward c. The Countesse of Sussex Iland Winters Fornace Dauids sound The policie of the people for safeâ—ie of themselues Their speedie flight at our Generals arriuall Gentlemen should haue inhaâ—ited the Countrey An house tricked and garnished with diuers trâ—â—kâ—â—s An outragious tempest Our entring the coastes dangerous The Island in length 25. leagues This Iland is in the latitude of 57. degrees and 1 second part Two harboroughs in this Island Experience to proue that Torrida Zona is habitable Marochus more hote then about the Equinoctiall Marueiloâ—s fruitfull soile vnder the Equinoctiall Great trees Commoditiâ—â— and pleasurâ—â— vnder the Equinoctiall Heat is caused by two means that is by his maner of Angle and by his continuanceâ— Note this reason Paris in France is as hote as vnder the Equinoctiall in Iune In Iune is greater heat at Paris then vnder the Equinoctial The twilights are shorter and the nights darker vnder the Equinoctial then at Paris In what proportion the Angle of the Sun beames heateth They vse and haue neede of fire vnder the Equinoctiall Colde intermingled with heate vndre the Equinoctial Ethiopâ—ans blacke with curled haire The Sunne heateth not by his neernesse but onely by reflection A black Mooreâ— sonne borne in England The colour of the people in Meta Incognita The complexion of the people of Meta incognita The cause of the Ethiopians blacknesse The Arke of Noe. Chus the sonne of Cham accursed Africa was called Chamesis Greatest temperature vnder the Equinoctial Vndre the Equinoctiall is greatest generation Greatest heate vnder the Tropicâ—â— Cuba Hispaniola 〈…〉 Under the Tropickes is moderate temperature Nine Climates A comparison betweene Marochus and England All the North regions are habitable Elephant Orange tree Two causes of heat Hote nights nere the pole Colde nights vnder the Equinoctiall One day of sixe moneths Moderate heat vnder y e poles The Sunne neuer setteth in 182 dayes Horizon aâ—d Equinoctiall all one vnder the pole London Commodious dwelling vnder the poles The nights vnder the pole The regions vnder the poles want twilights but sixe weeks Winter nights vnder the pole tolerable to liuing creatures An obiection of Meta incognita Meta incognita inhabited Captaine Frobisherâ— first voyage The Michael returned home Frobishers first entrance within â— streights Frobisherâ— strâ—igâ—tâ— Deere The first
naturally of it selfe hath neither taste nor smel yet it is likely as we haue touched before which other call per accidens that oftentimes it representeth the qualities of that earth wherein it is engendred and through the veines whereof it hath passage and issue and from hence proceed the diuers sundry smels colours and sauours of all waters Of such waters doeth Seneca make mention whereof some prouoke hunger others make men drunken some hurt the memory some helpe it some resemble the very qualitie and taste of wine as that fountaine which Plinie speaketh of in the I le of Andros within the temple of Bachus which in the Nones of Ianuary vsed to flow ouer with wine And Aristotle reporteth that in the field of Carthage there is a fountain which yeeldeth oile certaine drops smelling like Cedar Also Orens a riuer of Thessalie flowing into Peneus swimmeth aloft like oile Cardane reporteth that there is in Saxonie neere vnto the town of Brunswic a fountaine mixed with oile and another in Sueuia neere vnto the Abbey called Tergensch Also in the valley of the mountain Iurassus He supposeth the cause of this thing to bee very fattie pitch which cannot but conteine oile in it The same author saieth It is reported that in Cardia neere to the place of Daschylus in the white field there is water sweeter then milke Another also neere vnto the bridge which we passe ouer going to the towne of Valdeburg Propertius likewise in the third booke of his Elegies mentioneth certaine waters representing the sauour of wine in these words Amidst the Isle of Naxus loe with fragrant smels and fine A freshet runs ye Naxians goe fill cups carouse there 's wine This Naxus is one of the Ilands called Cyclades lying in the AEgaean sea Cardane giueth a reason hereof namely because Hydromel or water-hony in long continuance will become wine Aristotle nameth a fountaine in Sicilia which the inhabitants vse in stead of vineger The same author maketh the cause of sauours in water to be heate because the earth being hote changeth and giueth sauour vnto the water Now concerning the colours of water so saieth Cardane There is the same reason saith he of the colours of water that there is of the sauours thereof for both haue their originall froÌ„ the earth For there is white water within two miles of Glauca a town in Misena red water in Radera a riuer of Misena not farre from Radeburg in old time neere vnto Ioppa in Iudea greene water in the mountaine of Carpathus by Neâ—sola skie-coloured or blue water betweene the mountains of Feltrius Taruisius it is reported that there was water of that colour in Thermopylis cole-blacke water in Alera a riuer of Saxonie at that place where it dischargeth it self into the Weser The causes of these colours are the colours of the soile Also Aristotle saieth that about the promontorie of Iapigia there is a fountaine which streameth blood adding moreouer that Mariners are driuen farre from that place of the sea by reason of the extreme stench thereof Furthermore they say that in Idumaea there is a fountaine which changeth color foure times in a yeere for somtimes it is greene somtime white somtime bloodie somtimes muddy coloured Concerning the smels of waters thus writeth Cardane There is the like reason of difference in smels But for the most part the steames of waters bee vnpleasant because the earth doeth seldome times smel well The water of the riuer Anigris in Aelis stanke to the destruction not onely of fishes but also of men About Mâ—â—on in Messania out of a certaine pond there hath bene drawen most sweet smelling and odoriferous water I doe recite all these examples to the end that no man should make a greater wonder at the colours smels and sauours of waters that be in Island then at those which are in other countreis The fourth is altogether deadly Isidore affirmeth that there is a certaine fountaine whose water being drunke eâ—tinguisheth life And Plinie saieth That about Nonaris in Arcadia the riuer of Styx neere the mountaine of Cillene saieth Cardane it would be contained in nothing but an horse-hoofe and it is reported that Alexander the great was poisoned there withal not differing from other water neither in smell nor colour being drunke is present death In Berosus an hill of the people called Tauri there are three fountains euery one of them deadly without remedy yet without griefe And which is the strangest thing of all the rest Seneca maketh mention of a poole into which whosoeuer looke do presently die But as for this fourth fountaine of Frisius which Saxo doeth likewise mention we Islanders as alwayes heretofore so euen at this day do testifie that it is vtterly vnknowen vnto vs and therefore in this regard we render vnto God immortall thanks because he hath vouchsafed to preserue our nation from such fountains from serpents and venemous wormes from al other pestiferous contagious creatures Furthermore about the foresaid mountains there is such abundance of brimstone The three mountains called by Munster and Frisius Fierie mountains do all of them stand an huge distance from our Mines Wherefore when as neere vnto these hils they haue found out a place for foure fountains which they doe so mightily extoll for wonders they must needs haue some Brimstone Mines also standing a like distance from the said fountaines And assuredly neither about mount Hecla as Munster would haue it nor by Frisius his fountaines the report whereof how true it is hath bene hitherto declared is Brimstone digged vp at this day nor I thinke euer was within the remembrance of our fathers Neither is it true that Munster reporteth concerning the abundance of Brimstone namely that it is almost the onely merchandize and tribute of the Iland For whereas the Iland is deuided into foure partes the fourth part onely towards the North nay but euen the halfe thereof doeth vse it for merchandize and there is not one crumme of Brimstone paied for tribute of the Iland The twelfth Section There are so great store of fishes in this Iland that they are laid foorth on piles to be sold in the open aire as high as the tops of houses IN the open aire In deed we haue seen other country merchants doe so vntil they had vnladen their ships of outlandish wares filled theÌ„ againe with fishes with other of our countrey merchandize But whether our men haue done the like at any time it is not manifest Certainly that plentifull and ancient abundance of fish is now decaied and the Islanders now begin to be pinched with the want of these and other good things the Lord laying the iust scourge of our impietie vpon vs which I pray God we may duely acknowledge The thirteenth Section They haue most swift horses which wil run without ceasing a continual course for the space of 30. leagues
regions habitable I shal be very short because the same reasons serue for this purpose which were alleged before in the prouing the middle zone to be temperate especially seeing all heat and colde proceed from the Sunne by the meanes either of the Angle which his beames do make with the Horizon or els by the long or short continuance of the Suns presence aboue ground so that if the Sunnes beames do beat perpendicularly at right Angles then there is one cause of heat and if the Sunne do also long continue aboue the Horizon then the heat thereby is much increased by accesse of this other cause so groweth to a kinde of extremity And these two causes as I sayd before do most concurre vnder the two Tropicks and therefore there is the greatest heat of the world And likewise where both these causes are most absent there is greatest want of heat and increase of colde seeing that colde is nothing but the priuation and absence of heat and if one cause be wanting and the other present the effect will grow indifferent Therefore this is to be vnderstood that the neerer any region is to the Equinoctiall the higher the Sunne doth rise ouer their heads at noone and so maketh either right or neere right Angles but the Sunne carieth with them so much the shorter time and causeth shorter dayes with longer and colder nights to restore the domage of the day past by reason of the moisture conâ—umed by vapour But in such regions ouer the which the Sunne riseâ—h lower as in regions extended towards either pole it maketh there vnequall Angles but the Sunne continueth longer and maketh longer dayes and causeth so much shorter and warmer nights as retaining warme vapours of the day past For there are found by experience Summer nights in Scotland and Gothland very hot when vnder thâ— Equinoctiall they are found very cold This benefit of the Sunnes long continuance increase of the day doth augment so much the more in colde regions as they are nerer the poles and ceaseth not increasing vntill it come directly vnder the point of the pole Arcticke where the Sunne continueth aboue ground the space of sixe moneths or halfe a yere together and so the day is halfe a yere long that is the time of the Sunnes being in the North signes from the first degree of Aries vntill the last of Virgo that is aâ—l the time from our 10 day of March vntill the 14 of September The Sunne therfore during the timâ— of these sixe moneths without any offence or hindrance of the night giueth his influence vpon those lands with heat that neuer ceaseth during that time which maketh to the great increase of Summer by reason of the Sunnes continuance Therefore it followeth that though the Sunne be not there very high ouer their heads to cause right angle beames and to giue great heat yet the Sun being there sometime almost 24 degrees high doth cast a conuenient and meane heat which there continueth without hindrance of the night the space of sixe moneths as is before sayd during which time there followeth to be a conuenient moderate and temperate heat or els rather it is to be suspected the heat there to be very great both for continuance and also Quia virtus vnita crescit the vertue and strength of heat vnited in one increaseth If then there be such a moderate heat vnder the poles and the same to continue so long time what should moone the olde writers to say there cannot be place for habitation And that the certainty of this temperate heat vnder both the poles might more manifestly appeare let vs consider the position quality of the sphere the length of the day and so gather the height of the Sunne at all times and by consequent the quantity of his angle and so lastly the strength of his heat Those lands and regions lying vnder the pole and hauing the pole for their zenith must needs haue the Equinoctial circle for their Horizon therefore the Sun entring into the North signes and describing euery 24 houres a parallel to the Equinoctiall by the diurnall motion of Primum mobile the same parallels must needs be wholly aboue the Horizon and so looke how many degrees there are from the first of Aries to the last of Virgo so many whole reuolutions there are aboue their Horizon that dwell vnder the pole which amount to 182 and so many of our dayes the Sunne continueth with them During which time they haue there continuall day and light without any hindrance of moist nights Yet it is to be noted that the Sunne being in the first degree of Aries and last degree of Virgo maketh his reuolution in the very horizon so that in these 24 houres halfe the body of the Sunne is aboue the horizon and the other halfe is vnder his only center describing both the horizon and the equinoctiall circle And therefore seeing the greatest declination of the Sunne is almost 24 degrees it followeth his greatest height in those countreys to be almost 24 degrees And so high is the Sun at noone to vs in London about the 29 of October being in the 15 degree of Scorpio and likewise the 21 of Ianuary being in the 15 of Aquarius Therefore looke what force the Sun at noone hath in London the 29 of October the same force of heat it hath to them that dwell vnder the pole the space almost of two moneths during the time of the Summer solstitium and that without intermingling of any colde night so that if the heat of the Sunne at noone could be well measured in London which is very hard to do because of the long nights which ingender great moisture and cold then would manifestly appeare by expresse numbers the maner of the heat vnder the poles which certainly must needs be to the inhabitants very commodious and profitable if it incline not to ouermuch heat and if moisture do not want For as in October in England we finde temperate aire and haue in our gardens hearbs and floures notwithstanding our cold nights how much more should they haue the same good aire being continuall without night This heat of ours continueth but one houre while the Sun is in that meridian but theirs continueth a long time in one height This our heat is weake and by the coolenesse of the night vanisheth that heat is strong and by continuall accesse is still increased and strengthened And thus by a similitude of the equall height of the Sun in both places appeareth the commodious and moderate heat of the regions vnder the poles And surely I cannot thinke that the diuine prouidence hath made any thing vncommunicable but to haue giuen such order to all things that one way or other the same should be imployed and that euery thing and place should be tollerable to the next but especially all things in this lower world be giuen to man
danger he could not accomplish he deferred it vntill a more conuenient time All along the coast lie very high mountaines couered with snow except in such places where through the steepenes of the mountaines of force it must needs fall Foure dayes coasting along this land we found no signe of habitation Little birds which we iudged to haue lost the shore by reason of thicke fogges which that Countrey is much subiect vnto came flying into our ships which causeth vs to suppose that the Countrey is both more tollerable and also habitable within then the outward shore maketh shew or signification From hence we departed the eight of Iuly and the 16. of the same we came with the making of land which land our Generall the yeere before had named The Queenes foreland being an Island as we iudge lying neere the supposed continent with America and on the other side opposite to the same one other Island called Halles Isle after the name of the Master of the ship neere adiacent to the firme land supposed continent with Asia Betweene the which two Islands there is a large entrance or streight called Frobishers streight after the name of our Generall the first finder thereof This said streight is supposed to haue passage into the sea of Sur which I leaue vnknowen as yet It seemeth that either here or not farre hence the sea should haue more large entrance then in other parts within the frozen or vntemperate Zone and that some contrary tide either from the East or West with maine force casteth out that great quantity of yce which commeth floting from this coast euen vnto Friseland causing that Countrey to seeme more vntemperate then others much more Northerly then the same I cannot iudge that any temperature vnder the Pole the time of the Sunnes Northerne declination being halfe a yere together and one whole day considering that the Sunnes eleuation surmounteth not 23. degrees and 30. minuts can haue power to dissolue such monstrous and huge yce comparable to great mountaines except by some other force as by swift currents and tides with the helpe of the said day of halfe a yeere Before we came within the making of these lands we tasted cold stormes in so much that it seemed we had changed summer with winter if the length of the dayes had not remooued vs from that opinion At our first comming the streights seemed to be shut vp with a long mure of yce which gaue no litle cause of discomfort vnto vs all but our Generall to whose diligence imminent dangers and difficult attempts seemed nothing in respect of his willing mind for the commoditie of his Prince and Countrey with two little Pinnesses prepared of purpose passed twise thorow them to the East shore and the Islands thereunto adiacent and the ship with the two Barks lay off and on something further into the sea from the danger of the yce Whilest he was searching the Countrey neere the shoare some of the people of the Countrey shewed themselues leaping and dauncing with strange shrikes and cries which gaue no little admiration to our men Our Generall desirous to allure them vnto him by faire meanes caused kniues and other things to be profered vnto them which they would not take at our hands but being laid on the ground and the party going away they came and tooke vp leauing some thing of theirs to counteruaile the same At the length two of them leauing their weapons came downe to our Generall and Master who did the like to them commanding the company to stay and went vnto them who after certaine dumbe signes and mute congratulations began to lay handes vpon them but they deliuerly escaped and ranne to their bowes and arrowes and came fiercely vpon them not respecting the rest of our companie which were ready for their defence but with their arrowes hure diuers of them we tooke the one and the other escaped Whilest our Generall was busted in searching the Countrey and those Islands adiacent on the Eastshoare the ship and barkes hauing great care not to put farre into the sea from him for that he had small store of victuals were forced to abide in a cruell tempest chancing in the night amongst and in the thickest of the yce which was so monstrons that euen the least of a thousand had bene of force sufficient to haue shiuered our ship and barks into small portions if God who in all necessities hath care vpon the infirmitie of man had not prouided for this our extremitie a sufficient remedie through the light of the night whereby we might well discerne to flee from such inâ—â—luent dangers which we auoyded with 14. Bourdes in one watch the space of 4. houres If we had not incurred this danger amoÌ„gst these monstrous Islands of yce we should haue lost our Generall and Master and the most of our best sailers which were on the shoare destitute of victuals but by the valure of our Master Gunner Master Iackman and Andrew Dier the Masters Mates men expert both in nauigation and other good qualities wee were all content to incurre the dangers afore rehearsed before we would with our owne safetie runne into the seas to the destruction of our sayd Generall and his company The day following being the 19. of Iulie our Captaine returned to the ship with report of supposed riches which shewed it selfe in the bowels of those barren mountaines wherewith wee were all satisfied Within foure daies after we had bene at the entrance of the streights the Northwest and West winds dispersed the yce into the sea made vs a large entrance into the streights so that without any impediment on the 19. of Iulie we entred them and the 20. thereof our Generall and Master with great diligence sought out and sounded the West shóare and found out a faire Harborough for the ship and barkes to ride in and named it after our Masters mate Iackmans sound and brought the ship barkes and all their company to safe anker except one man which died by Gods visitation At our first arriuall after the ship rode at anker our generall with such company as could well be spared from the ships in marching order entred the lande hauing speciall care by exhortations that at our entrance thereinto wee should all with one voyce kneeling vpon our knees chiefly thanke God for our safe arriuall secondly beseech him that it would please his diuine Maiestie long to continue our Queene for whom he and all the rest of our company in this order tooke possession of the Countrey and thirdly that by our Christian studie and endeuour those barbarous people trained vp in Paganisme and infidelitie might be reduced to the knowledge of true religion and to the hope of saluation in Christ our Redeemer With other words very apt to signifie his willing mind and affection toward his Prince and Countrey whereby all suspicion of an vndutifull subiect may
61. degrees and a halfe which before was supposed to be part of the firme land of America and also al the rest of the South side of Frobishers straites are all seuerall Islands and broken land and likewise so will all the North side of the said straites fall out to be as I thinke And some of our company being entred aboue 60. leagues within the mistaken straites in the third voyage mentioned thought certainely that they had discryed the firme land of America towards the South which I thinke will fall out so to be These broken lands and Islands being very many in number do seeme to make there an Archipelagus which as they all differ in greatnesse forme and fashion one from another so are they in goodnesse colour and soyle much vnlike They all are very high lands mountaines and in most parts couered with snow euen all the Sommer long The Norther lands haue lesse store of snow more grasse and are more plaine Countreys the cause whereof may be for that the Souther Ilands receiue all the snow that the cold winds and percing ayre bring out of the North. And contrarily the North parts receiue more warme blasts of milder ayre from the South whereupon may grow the cause why the people couet to inhabit more vpon the North parts then the South as farre as we can yet by our experience perceiue they doe These people I iudge to be a kind of Tartar or rather a kind of Samoed of the same sort and condition of life that the Samoeds bee to the Northeastwards beyond Moscouy who are called Samoeds which is as much to say in the Moscouy tongue as eaters of themselues and so the Russians their borderers doe name them And by late conference with a friend of mine with whom I did sometime trauell in the parts of Moscouy who hath great experience of those Samoeds and people of the Northeast I find that in all their maner of liuing those people of the Northeast and these of the Northwest are like They are of the colour of a ripe Oliue which how it may come to passe being borne in so cold a climate I referre to the iudgement of others for they are naturally borne children of the same colour and complexion that all the Americans are which dwell vnder the Equinoctiall line They are men very actiue and nimble They are a strong people and very warlike for in our sight vpon the toppes of the hilles they would often muster themselues and after the maner of a skirmish trace their ground very nimbly and mannage their bowes and dartes with great dexteritie They go clad in coates made of the skinnes of beasts as of Seales Deere Beares Foxes and Hares They haue also some garments of feathers being made of the cases of foules finely sowed and compact togither Of all which sorts wee brought home some with vs into England which we found in their tents In Sommer they vse to weare the hairie side of their coates outward and sometime goe naked for too much heate And in Winter as by signes they haue declared they weare foure or fiue folde vpon their bodies with the haire for warmth turned inward Hereby it appeareth that the ayre there is not indifferent but either it is feruent hote or els extreme cold farre more excessive in both qualities then the reason of the climate should yeeld For there is colder being vnder 62. degrees in latitude then it is at Wardhouse in the voyage to Saint Nicholas in Moscouie being at aboue 72. degrees in latitude The reason hereof perhaps may be that this Meta Incognita is much frequented and vexed with Easterne and Northeastern winds which from the sea and yce bringeth often an intollerable cold ayre which was also the cause that this yéere our straits were so long shut vp with so great store of yce But there is great hope and likelihood that further within the Straights it will bee more constant and temperate weather These people are in nature very subtill and sharpe witted ready to conceiue our meaning by signes and to make answere well to be vnderstood againe And if they haue not seene the thing whereof you aske them they will wincke or couer their eyes with their hands as who would say it hath bene hid from their sight If they vnderstand you not whereof you aske them they wil stop their eares They will teach vs the names of each thing in their language which wee desire to learne and are apt to learne any thing of vs. They delight in Muâ—icke aboue measure and will keepe time and stroke to any tune which you shall sing both with their voyce head hand and feete and will sing the same tune aptly after you They will row with our Ores in our boates and keepe a true stroke with our Mariners and seeme to take great delight therein They liue in Caues of the earth and hunt for their dinners or praye euen as the beare or other wild beastes do They eat raw flesh and fish and refuse no meat howsoeuer it be stinking They are desperate in their fight sullen of nature and rauenous in their maner of feeding Their sullen desperate nature doth herein manifestly appeare that a company of them being enuironed by our men on the top of a hie cliffe so that they could by no meanes escape our hands finding themselues in this case distressed chose rather to cast themselues headlong down the rocks into the sea and so be bruised and drowned rather then to yeeld themselues to our mens mercies For their weapons to offend their enemies or kill their prey withall they haue darts slings bowes and arrowes headed with sharpe stones bones and some with yron They are exceeding friendly and kind hearted one to the other and mourne greatly at the losse or harme of their fellowes and expresse their griefe of mind when they part one from another with a mourneful song and Dirges They are very shamefast in bewraying the secrets of nature and very chaste in the maner of their liuing for when the man which wee brought from thence into England the last voyage should put off his coat or discouer his whole body for change hee would not suffer the woman to bee present but put her forth of his Cabin And in all the space of two or three moneths while the man liued in company of the woman there was neuer any thing seene or percâ—iued betweene them more then might haue passed betweene brother and sister but the woman was in all things very seruiceable for the man attending him carefully when he was sicke and he likewise in all the meates which they did eate together woulde carue vnto her of the sweetest fattest and best morsels they had They wondred much at all our things and were afraid of our horses and other beasts out of measure They began to grow more ciuill familiar pleasant and docible amongst vs in very
the riuer beginneth to be fresh thou shalt sayle in the midst of the riuer and thou shalt leaue the isle on the starreboord which is on the right hand and here the riuer is not past a quarter of a league broad and hath 20 and 30 fathoms water And towards the South shore there is a ledge of Isles all couered with trees and they end ouer against the point of the Isle of Orleans And the poynt of the isle of Orleans toward the Northeast is in 47 degrees and one terce of a degree And the Isle of Orleans is a fayre Isle all couered with trees euen vnto the riuers side and it is about 5 leagues long and a league and an halfe broade And on the North shore there is another Riuer which falleth into the mayne Riuer at the ende of the Island and Shippes may very well passe there From the middest of the Isle vnto Canada the Riuer runneth West and from the place of Canada vnto France-Roy the riuer turneth West Southwest and from the West ende of the Isle to Canada is but one league and vnto France-Roy 4 leagues And when thou art come to the end of the Isle thou shalt see a great Riuer which falleth fifteene or twenty fathoms downe from a rocke and maketh a terrible noyse The Fort of France-roy stands in 47 degrees and one sixt part of a degree The extension of all these lands vpon iust occasion is called New France For it is as good and as temperate as France and in the same latitude And the reason wherefore it is colder in the Winter is because the fresh Riuer is naturally more colde then the Sea and it is also broad and deepe and in some places it is halfe a league and aboue in breadth And also because the land is not tylled nor full of people and is all full of Woods which is the cause of colde because there is not store of fire nor cattel And the sunne hath his Meridian as high as the Meridian at Rochel and it is noone here when the Sunne is at South Southwest at Rochel And here the north starre by the compasse standeth Northnortheast And when at Rochel it is noone it is but halfe an houre pass nine at France-Roy From the sayde place vnto the Ocean sea and the coast of New France is not aboue 50 leagues distance And from the entrance of Norumbega vnto Florida are 300 leagues and from this place of France-Roy to Hochelaga are about 80 leagues and vnto y e Isle of Rasus 30 leagues And I doubt not but Norumbega entreth into the riuer of Canada and vnto the Sea of Saguenay And from the Fort of France-Roy vntil a man come foorth of the Grande Bay is not aboue 230 leagues And the course is Northeast and West Southwest not aboue 5 degrees and ⅓ difference and reckon 16 leagues and an halfe to a degree By the nature of the climate the lands toward Hochelaga are still better and better and more fruitfull And this land is fitte for Figges and Peares And I thinke that golde and siluer will be found here according as the people of the countrey say These landes lye ouer against Tartarie and I doubt not but that they stretch toward Asia according to the roundnesse of the world And therefore it were good to haue a small Shippe of 70 tunnes to discouer the coast of New France on the backe side of Florida for I haue bene at a Bay as farre as 42 degrees betweene Norumbega and Florida and I haue not searched the ende thereof and I knowe not whether it passe through And in all these Countreys there are okes and bortz ashes elmes arables trees of life pines prussetrees ceders great wallnut trees and wilde nuts hasel-trees wilde peare trees wilde grapes and there haue bene found redde plummes And very faire corne groweth there and peason grow of their owne accord gooseberries and strawberries And there are goodly Forrests wherein men may hunt And there are great store of stagges deere porkepicks and the Sauages say there bee Unicornes Fowle there are in abundance as bustards wilde geese cranes turtle doues rauens crowes and many other birds All things which are sowen there are not past 2. or 3. dayes in comming vp out of the ground I haue tolde in one eare of corne an hundred and twenty graines like the corne of France And ye neede not to sowe your Wheate vntill March and it will be ripe in the middest of August The waters are better and perfecter then in France And if the Countrey were tilled and replenished with people it would be as hotte as Rochel And the reason why it snoweth there oftener then in France is because it raineth there but seldome for the raine is conuerted into snowes All things aboue mentioned are true Iohn Alphonse made this Voyage with Monsieur Roberual There is a pardon to be seene fo◠the pardoning of Monsieur de Sain◠terre Lieutenant of the sayd Monsieur de Roberual◠giuen in Canada in the presence of the sayde Iohn Alphonse The Voyage of Iohn Francis de la Roche knight Lord of Roberual to the Countries of Canada Saguenai and Hochelaga with three tall Ships and two hundred persons both men women and children begun in April 1542. In which parts he remayned the same summer and all the next winter SIr Iohn Francis de la Roche knight lord of Roberual appoynted by the king as his Lieutenant general in the countreis of Canada Saguenay and Hochelaga furnished 3. tall Ships chiefly at the kings cost And hauing in his fleete 200. persons aswel men as women accompanied with diuers gentlemen of qualitie as namely with Monsieur Saine-terre his lieutenāt l'Espiney his Ensigne captain Guine-court Monsieu◠Noire fontaine Dieu lamont Frote la Brosse Francis de Mire la Salle and Roieze and Iohn Alfonse of Xanctoigne an excellent pilot set sayle from Rochel the 16. of April 1542. The same day about noone we came athwart of Chefe de boys where we were enforced to stay the night following On Munday the seuenteenth of the sayde Moneth wee departed from Chefe deboys The winde serued vs notably for a time but within fewe dayes it came quite contrary which hindered our iourney for a long space For wee were suddenly enforced to turne backe and to seeke Harborough in Belle Isle on the coast of Bretaigne where wee stayed so long and had such contrary weather by the way that wee could not reach Newfound lande vntill the seuenth of Iune The eight of this Moneth wee entred into the Rode of Saint Iohn where wee founde seuenteene Shippes of fishers While wee made somewhat long abode heere Iaques Cartier and his company returning from Canada whither hee was sent with fiue sayles the yeere before arriued in the very same Harbour Who after hee had done his duetie to our Generall tolde him that hee had brought certaine
in the others They obserue in their sowing the course of the Moone and the rising of certaine starres and diuers other cuâ—â—omes spoken of by antiquâ—ty Moreouer they liue by hunting and fishing They liue long are seldome sicke and if they chance to fall sicke at any time they heale themselues with fire without any phisitian and they say that they die for very age They are very pitifull and charitable towards their neighbours they make great lamentations in their aduersitie and in their miserie the kinred reckon vp all their felicitie At their departure out of life they vse mourning mixt with singing which continueth for a long space This is asmuch as we could learne of them This land is situated in the Paralele of Rome in 41. degrees and 2. terces but somewhat more colde by accidentall causes and not of nature as I will declare vnto your highnesse elsewhere describing at this present the situation of the foresaid Countrey which lieth East and West I say that the mouth of the Hauen lieth open to the South halfe a league broad and being entred within it betweene the East and the North it stretcheth twelue leagues where it waxeth broader and broader and maketh a gulfe about 20. leagues in compasse wherein are fiue small Islands very fruitfull and pleasant full of hie and broade trees among the which Islandes any great Nauie may ride safe without any feare of tempest or other danger Afterwards tuâ—ning towardes the South in the entring into the Hauen on both sides there are most pleasant hils with many riuers of most cleare water falling into the Sea In the middest of this entrance there is a rocke of free stone growing by nature apt to build any Castle or Fortresse there for the keeping of the hauen The fift of May being furnished with all things necessarie we departed from the said coast keeping along in the sight thereof and wee sailed 150. leagues finding it alwayes after one maner but the land somewhat higher with certaine mountaines all which beare a shew of minerall matter wee sought not to land there in any place because the weather serued our turne for sailing but wee suppose that it was like the former the coast ranne Eastward for the space of fiftie leagues And trending afterwards to the North we found another land high full of thicke woods the trees whereof were firres cipresses and such like as are wont to grow in cold Countreys The people differ much from the other and looke how much the former seemed to be courteous and gentle so much were these full of rudenesse and ill maners and so barbarous that by no signes that euer we could make we could haue any kind of traffike with them They cloth themselues with Beares skinnes and Luzernes and Seales and other beasts skinnes Their food as farre as we coulde perceiue repairing often vnto their dwellings we suppose to be by hunting fishing and of certaine fruits which are a kind of roots which the earth yeeldeth of her own accord They haue no graine neither saw we any kind or signe of tillage neither is the land for the barrennesse thereof apt to beare fruit or seed If at any time we desired by exchange to haue any of their coÌ„modities they vsed to come to the seashore vpon certaine craggy rocks and we standing in our boats they let downe with a rope what it pleased them to giue vs crying continually that we should not approch to the land demanding immediatly the exchange taking nothing but kniues fishookes and tooles to cut withall neyther did they make any account of our courtesie And when we had nothing left to exchange with them when we departed from them the people shewed all signes of discourtesie and disdaine as were possible for any creature to inuent We were in dispight of them 2 or 3 leagues within the land being in number 25 armed men of vs And when we went on shore they shot at vs with their bowes making great outcries and afterwards fled into the woods We found not in this land any thing notable or of importance sauing very great woods and certaine hilles they may haue some minerall matter in them because wee saw many of them haue beadstones of Copper hanging at their eares We departed from thence keeping our course Northeast along the coast which we found more pleasant champion and without woods with high mountaines within the land continuing directly along the coast for the space of fiftie leagues we discouered 32 Islands lying al neere the land being small and pleasant to the view high and hauing many turnings and windings betweene them making many faire harboroughs and chanels as they doe in the gulfe of Venice in Sâ—lauonia and Dalmatia we had no knowledge or acquaintance with the people we suppose they are of the same maners and nature as the others aâ—e Sayling Northeast for the space of 150. leagues we approached to the land that in times past was discouered by the Britons which is in fiftie degrees Hauing now spent all our prouision and victuals and hauing discouered about 700 leagues and more of new Countreys and being furnished with water and wood we concluded to returne into France Touching the religion of this people which wee haue found for want of their language wee could not vnderstand neither by signes nor gesture that they had any religion or lawe at all or that they did acknowledge any first cause or moouer neither that they worship the heauen or stars the Sunne or Moone or other planets and much lesse whither they be idolaters neither could wee learne whither that they vsed any kind of sacrifices or other adorations neither in their villages haue they any Temples or houses of prayer We suppose that they haue no religion at all and that they liue at their owne libertie And that all this proceedeth of ignorance for that they are very easie to be perswaded and all that they see vs Christians doe in our diuine seruice they did the same with the like imitation as they saw vs to doe it A notable historie containing foure voyages made by certaine French Captaines into Florida Wherein the great riches and fruitefulnesse of the Countrey with the maners of the people hitherto concealed are brought to light written all hauing the last by Monsieur Laúdonniere who remained there himselfe as the French Kings Lieutenant a yeere and a quarter Translated out of French into English by M. RICHARD HAKLVYT To the right honourable Sir VValter Ralegh Knight Captaine of her Maiesties Gard Lord Warden of the Stanneries and her Highnesse Lieutenant generall of the County of Cornewall R. H. wisheth true 〈◊〉 SIR after that this historie which had bene concealed many yeeres was lately committed to print and published in France vnder your Name by my learned friend M. Martine Basamer of Paris I was easily enduced to turne it into English vnderstanding that the same was no
colde yet they weare mantels thâ—reof as your honour may see by the shewe thereof and true it is that there was found â—n their housâ—s certaine yarne made of cotton wooll They weare their haire on their heads like those of Mexico and they are well nurtured and condicioned And they haue Turquâ—ses I thinke good quantitie which with the rest of the goods which they had excâ—pt their corne they had conueyed away before I came thither for I found no women there nor no youth vndâ—r fifteâ—ne â—eâ—res olde nor no olde folkes aboue sixtie sauing two or three olde folkes who stayâ—d behinde â—o gouerne all the rest of the youâ—h and men of warre There were sound in a certaine paper two poynts of Emralds and certaine small stones broken which are in colour somewhat like Granates vâ—ry bad and other stones of Christall which I gaue one of my seruaunts to lay vp to send them to your lordship and hee hath lost them as hee tâ—lleth me Wee found heere Ginnie cockes but fâ—we The Indians tell mee in all these seuen cities that they eate them not but that they keâ—pe them onâ—ly for their feathers I beleeue them not for they are excellent good and greater then thoâ—e of Mexico The season which is in this countrey and the temperature of the ayre is like that of Mexico for sometime it is hotte and sometime it raineth but hitherto I neuer sawe it raine but once there fell a little showre with winde as they are woent to fall in Spaine The snow and cold are woont to be great for so say the inhabitants of the Countrey and it is very likely so to bee both in respect of the maner of the Countrey and by the fashion of their housâ—s and thâ—ir furres and other things which this people haue to defend them from colde Thâ—re is no kind of fruit nor trees of fruite The Countrey is all plaine and is on no side mountainous albeit there are some hillie and bad passages There are â—mall store of Foules the cause whereof is the colde and because the mountainâ—s are not neere Here is no great store of wood because they haue wood for their fuell sufficient foure leagues off from a wood of small Cedars There is most excellent grasse within a quarter of a league hence for our horses as well to feede them in pasture as to mowe and make hay whereof wee stoode in great neede because our horses came hither so weake and feeble The victuals which the people of this countrey haue is Maiz whereof they they haue great store and also small white Pease and Uenison which by all likelyhood they feede vpon though they say no for wee found many stunnes of Deere of Hares and Couies They eate the best cakes that euer I sawe and euery body generally eateth of them They haue the finest order and way to grinde that wee euer sawe in any place And one Indian woman of this countrâ—y will grinde as much as foure women of Mexico They haue most excellent salte in kernell which they fetch from a certaine lake a dayes iourney from hence They haue no knowledge among them of the North Sea nor of the Westerne Sea neither can I tâ—ll your lordship to which wee bee neerest But in reason they should seeme to bee neerest to the Westeâ—ne Sea and at the least I thinke I am an hundred and fiftie leagues from thence and the Northerne Sea should bee much further off Your lordship may see howe broad the land is here Here are many sorts of beasts as Beares Tigers Lions Porkespicks and certaine Sheep as bigge as an horse with very great hornes and little tailes I haue seene their hornes so bigge that it is a wonder to behold their greatnesse Here are also wilde goates whose heads likewise I haue seene and the pawes of Beares and the skins of wilde Bores There is gaine of Deere Ounces and very great Stagges and all men are of opinion that there are some bigger then that beast which your lordship bestowed vpon me which once belonged to Iohn Melaz They trauell eight dayes iourney vnto certaine plaines lying toward the North Sea In this countrey there are certaine skinnes well dressed and they dresse them and paint them where they kill their Oxen for so they say themselues Chap. 4. Of the state and qualities of the kingdomes of Totonteac Marata and Acus quite contrary to the relation of Frier Marcus The conference which they haue with the Indiâ—â—s of the citie of Granada which they had taken which had fiftie yeres past foreseene the comming of the Christians into their countrey The relation which they haue of other seuen cities whereof Tucano is the principall and how he sent to discouer them A present of diuers things had in these countreys sent vnto the Viceroy Mendoça by Vasques de Coronado THe kingdome of Totonteac so much extolled by the Father prouinciall which sayde that there were such wonderfull things there and such great matters and that they made cloth there the Indians say is an hotte lake about which are fiue or sixe houses and that there were certaine other but that they are ruinated by warre The kingdome of Marata is not to be found neither haue the Indians any knowledge thereof The kingdome of Acus is one onely small citie where they gather cotton which is caled Acucu And I say that this is a towne For Acus with an aspiration nor without is no word of the countrey And because I gesse that they would deriue Acucu of Acus I say that it is this towne whereinto the kingdom of Acus is conuerted Beyond this towne they say there are other small townes which are neere to a riuer which I haue seene and haue had report of by the relation of the Indians I would to God I had better newes to write vnto your lordship neuerthelesse I must say the trueth And as I wrote to your lordship from Culiacan I am nowe to aduertise your honour as wel of the good as of the bad Yet this I would haue you bee assured that if all the riches and the treasures of the world weâ—e heere I could haue done no more in the seruice of his Maiestie and of your lordshippe then I haue done in comming hither whither you haue sent mee my selfe and my companions carâ—ying our victuals vpon our shoulders and vpon our horses three hundred leagues and many dayes going on foote trauailing ouer hilles and rough mountaines with other troublâ—s which I câ—ase to mâ—ntion nâ—ither purpose I to depart vnto the death if it please his Maiestie and your lordship that it shall be so Three dayes after this citie was taken certaine Indians of these people came to offer mee peace and brought mee certaine Turqueses and badde mantles and I receiued them in his Maiesties name with all the good speaches that I could
Malucos were in that part of the worlde which was allotted to the king of Spaine and that he would finde a shorter way thither then the Portugales tooke and layed before them such infallible reasons that the Councell giuing credite vnto his wordes sent him to sea with fiue ships and 400 men all very well appointed With these fiue ships setting saile from S. Lucar he came to the coast of Brasill where at that time two places were inhabited by Portugales and so sayling on along that coast he passed by the riuer of Plate which riuer was discouered a little before by Solis And notwithstanding many stormes and great mutinies among his companie he came at length vnto 48 degrees to the Southwards of the riuer of Plate where he found an harbour which he named Puerto de Sant Iulian and wintered there and there also he hanged 5 men and put on shore a Priest because they would haue made the company to stand against their captaine and so to haue returned backe againe But in the end hauing pacified his men he put to sea and within 5 dayes after he found the streights which by him were so much desired but before he entered the said streights there befell such a mutinie in one of his ships that the same ship returned backe againe And so himselfe with the other foure ships entering the streights one of the said foure with all the men therein was cast away at the very enterance which losse notwithstanding he proceeded on with the other three ships and passing many troubles and dangers in this long discouery ceased not to prosecute his intended voyage This discouery was at the first thought very profitable vnto the Spaniards but of late it hath prooued very hurtfull vnto them by meanes of certaine coasters which haue sayled the selfe same course These streights stand in 52 degrees and a halfe of Southerly latitude Also here is to be noted that it is colder to the Southward of the line then to the Northward in such wise that in forty degrees to the Southward the colde is more sharpe then in fiftie degrees to the North experience doth alwaies shew the same for it is as colde euen in the streights of Magellan as it is in sixty degrees of Northerly latitude Howbeit the colde is not the cause why nauigators frequent not the same but the Westerly and Southerly windes which blowe most furiously on that coast and that oftentimes out of the very mouth of the streightes and so continue for the most part of the yeere Also there runneth sometimes such a strong current that if the winde and it goe all one way the cables cannot holde neither can the ship withstand the force thereof For which cause and also for that there is no harbour till you be passed 30 leagues into the said streights most part of the ships that haue gone thither haue indured many troubles before they could come to the streights and being come to the mouth thereof they haue bene hindered by the current and winde and so haue beene put backe againe And to the end you may vnderstand the truth I will declare vnto you all the shippes that haue past through the said streights since Magellan first found them vnto this present yeere of 1586 when I haue once ended my discourse of Magellan his owne voyage Nowe you are by the way to vnderstande that the North side of the enterance of these streights is plaine lande without any wood or trees here are likewise some Indians though not many yet are they very mightie men of bodie of ten or eleuen foot high and good bow-men but no man-eaters neither haue they any victuals but such as they get by hunting and fishing they couer their bodies with the skinnes of beasts that they kill to defend them from the colde neither was there euer to this day any siluer or golde found among them or in their countrey These Streights they say extend in length from East to West about an hundred and twentie leagues At the middle of these streights on the North side are many mountaines couered with snow which mountaines stretch from thence along the frontiers of Chili Peru and Nueuo reino de Granada euen vnto the shore of the North sea at Santa Martha as I haue before signified It is a wonder to behold the exceeding heigth of these mountaines and the way which they continue couered with snow for euen vnder the Equinoctiall line they haue as much snowe vpon their tops as in 52 degrees Also it is worthy the remembrance that all this countrey towarde the South sea is very fruitfull and the people very discreete and gentle but all the coast towardes Brasill vpon the North sea is poore whereas neuer yet was found any commoditie of account and the people themselues are very cruell and saluage for the will of God is that good and ciuill men should inhabite fruitfull countries And for the better vnderstanding hereof you must note that all the land lying betweene the said ridge of mountaines and the South sea is called by the names of Chili Peru and Nueuo reino de Granada which are the best and richest countreys in all the world and most part of the land from the said mountaines to the North sea is called Brasiâ—l being a mountainous countrey where as yet was neuer found either golde or siluer From the said mountaines in the middle of the streights the land riseth high till you come to the end of the streights where you enter into the South sea in which place next the South sea the streights are very dangerous by reason of the sholdes rocks that lie on the North side Thus Magellan after he had entered the South seaâ— within 60 dayes came to the Iles of the Malucos without touching at any land vntill he came thither and so seeking there to lade his ships at an Iland inhabited by Moores he was by them treacherously slaine Now the Spaniards being too few for the managing of all three ships because many of them were dead partly with sicknes and partly with the hardnesse of the voiage determined to abandon one of their said ships and so manned the other two which two being laden with spices and other riches knew not what course they were best to take howbeit at length it was determined that one of these two ships should go for Nueua Espanna and the other for the cape of Buena Esperança and so for Spaine The ship that went for Spaine was called The Victorie the Pilot whereof was a Bisâ—ain named Iuan Sebastian del Cano to whom the king gaue great rewardes and appointed him the globe for his armes whereon was written Primus omnium circunde distime that is thou art the first man that euer sayled about me And albeit this voyage was so long and troublesome as is before mentioned yet many others haue attempted the same And the next that sought
generall conâ—ent chosen Emperour of Russia Duae nauâ—s aedificatae in Duina fluuio ad patefactioneâ— Orieâ—â—â—lem Dolgoia Insula Insula Vaigats Sinus inter Valgats Obam vergens per meridiem ‖ Vel Naramsey Cara reca Littus Obae incolitur ab Ostijs trium dierum itinere Yaks Olgush locus super Obam fluuiuÌ„ duodecim dierum itinere à mari Ardoh flumen influens in lacum Kitthaym de quo in itinere ad Boghariam scribit Antonius Ienkinsonus Carrah Colmak est Cathaya * Or Oliuer Two ships built vpon the riuer of Dwina for the Northeast discouerie The Island of Dolgoia The Island of Uaigats A Baie betweene Uaigats and Ob trending Southerly * Or Naramsey and Cara Reca The place vpon the riuer Ob where he was but 12. dayes iourney froÌ„ y e mouthes thereof and is called Yaks Olgush * M. Ienkinson in his voyage to Boghar speaketh of the riâ—er Ardok The great hope of the Northeasterne discouerie Commentarij duae partes Primae partis tractatio Munst. lib. 4. Cosmographâ— Bidni nauigatio ab Islandia ad Noruagiam desertam Munsterus Olaus magnus reliqui Munsteruâ— Saâ—o Snelandia 874 Glacies Aprili aut Maio soluitur Kranzius Munsterus Magnitude Islandiae Munst. Frisius Ziegler Munst. Frisius Lib. 2. cap. 20. Cardanus Annales Islandie Frisius Munst. Speculum Regale Gronlandia ChronicaIslandie Frisius Munsterus Cosmograph vniuersal lib. 1. cap. 7. Frisius Ziegleâ—us Olauus Magâ— Frisius Munst. Frius Zieglerus Saâ—o â—eâ—esiâ—iliter 〈◊〉 Lib. 3. Nat. quest Lib. de â—â—â—ab auscultâ—â— Lib. 2. de Element Sulphur in boreali Islandiae parte Munst. Frisius Munst. 1585. SecuÌ„dae panis distributio 1. Capitis huius partis diuisio Krantzius Chronologiae Isi indicae gentis antiquissimae Vetustissimi annales 874 Islandia primum inhabitata 974 Fredericus Saxo. Anno dom 1000. Gronlandie Episcopus Munst. Krantz Frisius Negotiaâ—io eum Noruagis defijt Syluae fluctibus maris delatae Munsterus Krantzius Occasio harum fabularum Prouerb 14. Krantzius Munster Munsterus Krantiziuâ— 858 1260 Margareta Krantzius â—lunâ—teâ—â—â— Krantzius Munsterus Munster Munster Krantzius Frisius Veterum gesta apud Islandos conseruata 1. Obiectio sen conuicium 2. Conuitium 3. Conuitium 4.5.6 7. Conuitia 9. Conuicium Ratio conseruandi cibos sine sale â— Conuicium Vrbes Angliae commercia olim in Islandia exercentes The errors of the writers of Island intolerable Great errors grow vpon mariners fabulous reports Munsterin lib. 4. cosmographie Seâ—en dayes â—ailing from Island to Hamburg Island but two daâ—â—s â—aâ—â—ing distant from Faar-Islands from the deserâ— shoâ—es of Norway Munsterus Olaus Magâ—us and others Island is not within the circle arctic Munsterus Saxo. Island first discouered by Naddocus in a tempest Sneland Gardasholme Island The ice of Iseland set always to the West No ice at all some yeres â—â— Island Nauigation open to Island from March till the midst of Nouember Krantzius Munsterus Island 144 Germaine miles in compasse Munsteâ— Fâ—isiuâ— Ziegleâ—â—sâ— Munster as Frisius Thrâ—â— naturall causes of firie mountaiâ—â—â— Lib. 20. cap. 20. Cardanus The chronicles of Island Fâ—isius Munsterus Speculâ—m regâ—le wâ—iâ—tâ—â— in the Noruagian tongue Whâ—nce the fâ—blâ—s of Island grâ—w Frisius Munsterus Cosmographâ— vniversalis lib. 1. cap. 7. Fâ—isius Ziâ—glerus Olaus magnuâ— Frisius and Munster Taking of Seales on the ice Westerne wind is disperse the ice Ice floateth noâ— 7. or 8. moneths about Island Frisius Ziegleruâ— Saxo. Frisiuâ— Many hote Baths in Island The causes of hote Baths Lib. 3 nat quaest Riuers of Island in sommer season luke-warme In lib. de mirab â—usculâ— The same Author saieth Island free from snakes and other venemous beasts Brimstone Mines onely in the North part of Island Munster Abundance of fish about Island diminished Prisiu◠‖ Raine deere Munster Certain letters sent by Brandan bishop of Breme to preach Christian faith in the North. Who be the Islandish witters Speculum regâ—le Uultures beares and crowes come vpon the drift Ice into Island Krantzius in praefatione suae Norwegiae The first christian king of Norway Nialus the first knowne professour of Christian faith in Island A summe of the Islanders Religion Krantzius The most ancient Chronicles of Island Island first inhabited Fridericus Saxo the first preacher of the Christian faith in Island Anno Domini 981. Anno Domini 1000. A notable testimonie of Saxo concerning the Islanders An English man Bishop in Island Munsterus Krantziuâ— Friâ—ius Traffike with the people of Norway ceaseth Drift wood not so plentifull now as in times past Krantzius Munsterus Krantzius Munsterâ—s Coâ—ne of old time growing in Island Munsterâ—s Krantzius The occasion of the first inhabiting of Island by the people of Norway Haquinus coroâ—â—tus Krantzius Munsterus The occasion of this slander Krantzius Munsterus Munsterus Munsterus Krantzius Frisius The Islanders preserue in writing the acts of their ancestors The first obiection or reproch The second reproch The third reproch The 4,5,6 7 reproches The ninth reproch Want of salt in Island The Islanders meanes of preseruing their meates without salt The tenth reproch The commodities of Island The ancient traffique of England with Island Lawes against libels Commentarius breuis de Islandia per Arngrimum Ionam Islandum editus 1593. ‖ Biarmia Gronlandia olim suos habuit Episcopos This is the briefe Commentarie of Ionas Arngrimus immediatly going before ‖ Biarmia Gronland in old time had Christian Bishops The preparation of the Spanish king to subdue England and the lowe Countreys The number and qualitie of the ships in the Spanish Fleete with the souldiers Mariners and pieces of Ordinance A description of the Galeons A description of the Galliasses The great Ordinance bullets gun-poulder and other furniture Their prouision of victuals and other things necessary A Spanish terza consisteth of 3200. souldiers The preparation of the duke of Parma to aide the Spaniards The Popes furtherance to the conquest of England and of the low Countries A treatie of peace to the end that England and the vnited prouinces might be secure of inuasion Her maiesties warlike preparation by sea Her Maiesties land-forces The preparation of the vnited prouinces The Spanish fleete set saile vpon the 19. of May. They set saile from y e Groine vpon the 11. of Iuly The Spaniards come within kenning of England Captaine Fleming The L. Admirals short warning vpon the 19. of Iuly The 20. of Iuly The 21. of Iuly The 22. of Iuly Don Pedro de Valdez with his ship company taken A great Bistaine ship taken by the English The 23. of Iuly A great Venetian ship and other small ships taken by the English The 24. of Iuly The 25. of Iuly The 26. of Iuly The 27. of Iuly The Spaniards ancre before Caleis The 28. of Iuly The 29. of Iuly The 30. of Iuly The Spaniards vaine opinion concerning their own fleet The 28 of Iuly The galliasse of Hugo de Moncada cast vpon the showlds before Caleis M. Amias Preston valiantly boordeth the galliasse The
esperanza in 19 degrees Cabo del Enganno in 30 degrees a halfe The hauen of Saint Iago The hauen of Aguaiaual These shoalds are the bottoms of ma◠〈◊〉 or the Bay of California The bottom of the Bay of California Theâ— got vp thee 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 the 26. of August We carried an interpreter with him A very good course taken to appease vnknowen Sauages Good forâ—cast Indians besmoutched with cole Pipes and bagges of Tobacco Shels and beades A notable policie Swarmes oâ—â—eoplâ— An exceeding great current of the riuer A wisâ— deâ—ise Newes of bearded and white men The Sunne worshipped as God Certaine warlike people behind a mountaine These people are greatly incâ—ined to learne the Christian faith The riuer in diuers places full of shelfes Another olde man Their ancesters told them tâ—at there were bearded and white men in the world Another nation People of 23. languages dwelling along this riuer Acuco as Gomara writteth is on a strong mountaine Great houses of stone Round 〈◊〉 Dancing and singing at mariages of the Sauages They burne their dead Pipes to 〈◊〉 Tabacco with Maiz gourds Miâ—l Grindestones earthen pots good fish This riuer ouerfloweth his banks at certaine seasons Colde and raine Ceuola 40 days iourney from thence by the riuer Turqueses in Ceuola This was the Negro that went with Frier Marco de Niza Quicoma Coama Conies and yucas Cotton A mountaine Ceuola a goodly thing Gold and siluer in a mountainâ— neere Ceuola A mighty riuer This riuer seemeth to vâ—â— Noâ—thward by the colde The Negro that went with Frier Marco de Niâ—a sâ—aine The cause wherefore Stephan Dorantez the Negro was slaine They of Ceuola haue 14. or 15. lords their enemies An olde woâ—â— called Guâ—â—â—â—â—câ— in a lake greaâ—ly woâ—shipped Antonio d'Esâ—eâ—o spraketh of such a great lake 200 limâ—es oâ— people This might be the â—tooke â—aked oâ—â— o◠〈◊〉 The sea side The Sauageâ—â—â—easonâ— to â—e taken heede of Certaine newes of the Spanyardâ— at Ceuola Ceuola tenne dayes diâ—tant â—rom this place A desert of tâ—â—â— dayes iouâ—ney Oxen of Ceuola A desert Cumana He returneth in 2. dayes and an halfe to his ships Maâ—ke â—hat 〈◊〉 â—he Spaniardes caâ—â— with tâ—â—m in newe deâ—â—oueâ—iâ—s Rio de buena Guia. Parrats in these parâ—s Two moones to Ceuola Another booke wâ—itten of the particulars of that countrey Quicama Coama Cumana Treason of the sauages An Inchanter This Riuer ran â—â—ch farther vp than â—e had tâ—aâ—â—lled He sayled 85 leagues vp the Riuer The port of Colima The Portugal Pilote set on land Sir Francis Drake sayled on the backe â—â—de of America to 43 degrees of Northerly latitude 38 degrees A description of the people and Countrey of Noua Albion These are like chaines of â—surnâ—y in Canada and Hochelage The king resignes his crowne and kingdome to Sir Francis Drake Great riches in Noua Albion Great heards of Deere Abundance of strange conies Noua Albion Golde and siluer in the â—arâ—d of Noua Albion The Isle â—â— Masbate The Bay of Manilla in 14. degrees and one quarter Canton 22â— degrees The Iland of Macao Ilha Branca As Ilhas fermosasâ— Lequeosâ— Mines of gold Firando Other Ilands Eastward of Iapon Iapon 900. leagues distant from the coast of America in 37 degrees and an halfe Seuen and thirty deg and an halfe Read Francis Vllaâ— chap. 16. Cabo de San Lucas in 22. deg Hauens lately found out Acapulco English factors in the Grand Canaria Iohn Sweeting Englishman married in Cadiz sendeth a ship of his owne into the West Indies vnder the conduct of his sonne in laws Leonard Chilton Ralph Saâ—re Many of one men died of these wormes at the taking of Puerto rico Cuerpo Santo His arriuall at Vera Cruz. Florida 300. leagues from San Iuan de Vllua Mexico Sant Iuan de Vllua The way and distance from San Iuan de â—llua to Vera Cruz is fiuâ— leagues Venta de Riâ—conado Pueblo de los Angeles Mâ—â—iâ— Don Luis de Velasco This is to be vnderstood of his second comming into Spaine Mexico conquered Anno 1519. and 1520. Cochinilla is not a worme nor a flie but a berry A new trade begun in the city of Fez by Roger Bodenham The place where Cochinilla groweth and the pâ—â—â— thereof 1568. Cadiz San Iuan de Vllua Vera Cruz. Xalapa Sixteene leagues Perota seuen leagues Fuentes de Ozumba nine leagues Pueblo de los Angeles eight leagues Tlaxcalla foure leagues northward from los Angeles Vulcan is a hill that continually burneth with fire Cochinilla Pueblo de los Angeles 20 leagues from Mexico His voyage from Mexico to Nueua Biscaiâ— New Biscay The Siluer mines of Tamaâ—caltepec The valley of S. Bartholomew The hauen where y e shipe of China the Philippinas arriue Guaxaca Aguatulco Nixapa Sapotecas Tecoantepec Soconusco Suchetepec Guasacapan Guatimala Sonsonate San Saluador Acaxutla Nicoia a port where y e ships which goe to the Philippinas are diuided Pueâ—â—o de Câ—uallos a rich place The description of Hauana at large The smal force of Haâ—ana The commodities of Cuba Nombre de Dios. Panama Potossi Cusco Paitâ— Vera Paz. Chiapa 300 leagues from Mexico Ecatepec an hill nine leagues high Tecoaâ—tepecâ— His iourney to Panucâ— Mestitlan Clanchinoltepeâ— Guâ—xutlâ— Guastecâ—n Tancuylabo Salt a principall merchandize Tampice a port towne Panuco â—â—allapa Sant Iago de los â—alles Mighty mules Don Henrico Manriques viceroy of Mexico Rio de laâ— Palmas The mines of Sacatecas The valley of S. Michael Pueblo nueuo Mechuacan Copper mines Campeche Merida Rio de Tabasâ—o Iucatan The greatnesse of the king of Spaines tribute out of the West Indies The quintaâ— The marke of siluer is 64 reals of plate The reuenue of the kings buls and pardons came yerely to three millions Rebellions in Noua Hispania by too great exactions The reasons which mooue the kings of Spaine to forbid forren traffiâ—e in the West Indies Mâ—gueis S. Iohn de Villua Spirits 〈◊〉 Cruâ— Musquitâ— Popiniayâ— Monkeys Wheat twise in a yeere Tlaxcalla a free city Mexico A way to drowne Mexico Crocodiles Nauigation to China from Puerto de Acapulco The Northwest streight The more Northward the richer siluer mines Painting earth Golde mines Mesquiquez Seuen cities by witchcraft not found of the seckers Pedro Morales Nicolas Burgignon write the like of Copalla The strange oxen of Cibola Cibola abandoned A great riuer nere Cibolâ— Water congealed to salt Dogs of India described Cacao a fruit currant as money Fruits Hot springs Hares and conies Sea fish Burning mountaines Manna Wilde hogs lions and tigres Mines discouered not sound againe The authom fiue yeeres in Nueua Espanna Sugar conserues Description of the Indians person and maners The people of Nueua Espanna great cowarde The Indians ignorance froÌ„ whence they came The Sun and Moone honored Score of cotrâ— The wilde Indians Friers in reuerence Copper mines The pompe of owners of mines Things necessary to mines of siluer and golde The plenty of cattell Sheepe Wooll Cloth Woad Alum
with them but themselues True it is that at their comming thither they doe finde in a readinesse all things necessary their â—ouse furniture seruants and all other things in such perfection and plentie that they want nothing Thus the king is well serued without all feare of treason In the principall Cities of the shires be foure chiefe Louteas 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 yeelde an accompt thereof vnto the greater officers Other do see that there be no euil rule kept in the Citie ech one as it behoueth him Generally all these doe imprison malefactours cause them to be whipped and racked hoysing them vp and downe by the armes with a cord a thing very vsuall there and accompted no shame These Louteas do vse great diligence in the apprehending of theeues so that it is a wonder to see a theefe escape away in any City towne or village Upon the sea neere vnto the shoare many are taken and looke euen as they are taken so be they first whipped and afterward layde in prison where shortly after they all die for hunger and cold At that time when we were in prison there died of them aboue threescore and ten If happely any one hauing the meanes to get food do escape he is set with the condemned persons and prouided for as they be by the King in such wise as hereafter it shal be said 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 be whipped lieth grouelong on the ground vpon his thighes the hangman layeth on blowes mightily with these canes that the standers by tremble at their crueltie Ten stripes draw a great deale of blood 20. or 30. spoile the flesh altogether 50. or 60. will require long time to bee 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 be 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 themselues with vs For this cause amongst them can there be no false witnesse as dayly 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 happeneth sometimes with vs. The Moores Gentiles and Iewes haue all their sundry othes the Moores do sweare by their Mossafos the Brachmans by their Fili the rest likewise by the things they do worship The Chineans though they be wont to sweare by heauen by the Moone by the Sunne and by all their Idoles in iudgement neuerthelesse they sweare not at all If for some offence an othe be vsed of any one by and by with the least euidence he is tormented so be the witnesses he bringeth if they tell not the trueth or do in any point disagree except they be men of worship and credit who are beleeued without any further matter the rest are made to confesse the trueth by force of torments and whips Besides this order obserued of them in examinations they do feare so much their King and he where he maketh his abode keepeth them so lowe that that they dare not once stirre Againe these Louteas as great as they be notwithstanding the multitude of Notaries they haue not trusting any others do write all great processes and matters of importance themselues Moreouer one vertue they haue worthy of great praise and that is being men so wel regarded and accompted as though they were princes yet they be patient aboue measure in giuing audience We poore strangers brought before them might say what we would as all to be lyes and fallaces that they did write ne 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 litle any aduocate or Iudge is wont in our Countrey to beare with vs. For wheresoeuer in any Towne of Christendome should be accused vnknowen men as we were I know not what end the very innocents cause would haue but we 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 shal be beheaded Somewhat is now to be said of the lawes that I haue bene 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 are condemned to die the womans husband must accuse them this order is kept with men women found in that fault but theeues and murderers are imprisoned as I haue said where they shortly die for hunger and cold If any one happely escape by bribing the Gailer to giue him meate his processe goeth further and commeth to the Court where he is condemned to die Sentence being giuen the prisoner is brought in publique with a terrible band of men that lay him in Irons hand and foot with a boord at his necke one handfull broad in length reaching downe to his knees cleft in two parts and with a hole one handfull downeward in the table fit for his necke the which they incloâ—e vp therein nailing the boord faâ—t together one handfull of the boord standeth vp behinde in the necke The sentence and cause wherefore the feston was condemned to die is written in that part of the table that standeth before This ceremony 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 do liue The bord aforesaid so made tormenteth the prisoners very much keeping them both from rest eke letting them to eat coÌ„modiously their hands being manacled in irons vnder that boord so that in fine there is no remedy but death In the chiefe Cities of euery shire as we haue erst said there be foure principall houses in ech of them a prison but in one of them where the Taissu maketh his abode there is a greater and a more principal prison then in any of the rest and although in euery City there be many neuerthelesse in three of them remaine onely such as be condemned to die Their death is much prolonged for that ordinarily there is no execution done but once a yeere though many die for hunger and cold as we haue seene in this prison Execution is done in this maner The Chian to wit the high Commissioner or Lord chiefe Iustice at the yeres end goeth to the head City where he
heareth againe the causes of such as be condemned Many times he deliuereth some of them declaring y e boord to haue bene wronfully put about their necks the visitation ended he choseth 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 yeere who so escapeth that day may be sure that he shall not be put to death all that yeere following and so remaineth at the kings charges in the greater prison In that prison where we lay were alwayes one hundred and mo of these condemned persons besides them that lay in other prisons These prisons wherein the condemned caytifes do remaine are so strong that it hath not bene heard that any prisoner in all China hath escaped out of prison for in deed it is a thing impossible The prisons are thus builded First all the place is mightily walled about the walles be very strong and high the gate of no lesse force within it three other gates before you come where the prisoners do lye there many great lodgings are to be seene of the Louteas Notaries Parthions that is such as do there keepe watch and ward day and night the court large and paued on the one side whereof standeth a prison with two mighty gates wherein are kept such prisoners as haue committed enormious offences This prison is so great that in it are streetes and Market places wherein all things necessary are sold. Yea some prisoners liue by that kinde of trade buying and selling and letting out beds to hire some are dayly sent to prison some dayly deliuered wherefore this place is neuer void of 7. or eight hundred men that go at libertie Into one other prison of condemned persons shall you go at three yron gates the court paued and vauted round about and open aboue as it were a cloister In this cloister be eight roomes with yron doores and in ech of them a large gallerie wherein euery night the prisoners do lie at length their feet in the stocks their bodies hampered in huge wooden grates that keep them from sitting so that they lye as it were in a cage sleepe if they can in the morning they are losed againe that they may go into the court Notwithstanding the strength of this prison it is kept with a garrison of men part whereof watch within the house part of them in the court some keepe about the prison with lanterns and watch-bels answering one another fiue times euery night and giuing warning so lowd that the Loutea resting in a chamber not neere thereunto may heare them In these prisons of condemned persons remaine some 15 other 20. yeres imprisoned not executed for the loue of their honorable friends that seeke to prolong their liues Many of these prisoners be shoomakers and haue from the king a certaine allowance of rise some of them worke for the keeper who suffreth them to go at libertie without fetters and boords the better to worke Howbeit when the Loutea calleth his checke roll with the keeper vieweth them they all weare their liueries that is boords at their necks yronned hand and foot When any of these prisoners dieth he is to be seene of the Loutea and Notaries brought out of a gate so narrow that there can but one be drawen out there at once The prisoner being brought forth one of the aforesaid Parthions striketh him thrise on the head with an yron sledge that done he is deliuered vnto his friends if he haue any otherwise the king hireth men to cary him to his buriall in the fields Thus adulterers and theeues are vsed Such as be imprisoned for debt once knowen lie there vntil it be paied The Taissu or Loutea calleth them many times before him by the vertue of his office who vnderstanding the cause wherefore they do not pay their debts appointeth them a certaine time to do it within the compasse whereof if they discharge not their debts being debters indeed then they be whipped and condemned to perpetuall imprisonment if the creditors be many and one is to be paied before another they do contrary to our maner pay him first of whom they last borrowed and so ordinarily the rest in such sort that the first lender be the last receiuer The same order is kept in paying legacies the last named receiueth his portion first They accompt it nothing to shew fauour to such a one as can do the like againe but to do good to them that haue litle or nothing that is worth thanks therefore pay they the last before the first for that their intent seemeth rather to be vertuous then gainefull When I said that such as be committed to prison for theft and murther were iudged by the Court I ment not them that were apprehended in the deed doing for they need no triall but are brought immediatly before the Tutan who out of hand giueth sentence Other not taken so openly which do need trial are the malefactors put to eâ—ecution once a yere in the chiefe cities to keepe in awe the people or condemned do remaine in prison looking for their day Theeues being taken are caried to prison from one place to another in a chest vpon mens shoulders hired therfore by the king the chest is 6. handfuls high the prisoner sitteth therein vpon a bench the couer of the chest is two boords amid them both a pillery-like hole for the prisoners necke there sitteth he with his head without the chest and the rest of his body within not able to mooue or tuâ—ne his head this way or that way nor to plucke it in the necessities of nature he voydeth at a hole in the bottome of the chest the meate he eateth is put into his mouth by others There abideth â—â— day and night during his whole iourney if happily his porters stumble or the chest do iogge or be set downe carelesly it turneth to his great paines that sitteth therein al such motions being vnto him hanging as it were Thus were our companions caried froÌ„ Cinceo 7. â—aies iourney neuer taking any rest as afterward they told vs their greatest griefe was to stay by the way as soone as they came being taken out of the chests they were not able to stand on their feet and two of them died shortly after When we lay in prison at Fuquieo we came many times abroad were brought to the pallaces of noble men to be seene of them their wiues for that they had neuer seene any Portugale before Many things they asked vs of our Country and our fashions did write euery thing for they be curious in nouelties aboue measure The gentlemen shew great courtesie vnto strangers and so did we finde at their hands and because that many times we
to the Sunne ascribing vnto him the honour of the victory They haue no knowledge of God nor of any religion sauing of that which they see as the Sunne and the Moone They haue their Priests to whom they giue great credit because they are great magicians great soothsayers and callers vpon diuels These Priests serue them in stead of Physitions and Chirurgions They carry alwayes about them a bag full of herbes and drugs to cure the sicke diseased which for the most part are sick of the pocks for they loue women maidens exceedingly which they call the daughters of the Sunne and some of them are Sodemites They marry and euery one hath his wife and it is lawfull for the King to haue two or three yet none but the first is honoured and acknowledged for Queene and none but the children of the first wife inherite the goods and authoritie of the father The women doe all the businesse at home They keepe not house with them after they know they be with child And they eate not of that which they touch as long as they haue their flowers There are in all this Countrey many Hermaphrodites which take all the greatest paine and beare the victuals when they goe to warre They paint their faces much and sticke their haire full of feathers or downe that they may seeme more terrible The victuals which they carry with them are of bread of hony and of meale made of Maiz parched in the fire which they keepe without being marred a long while They carry also sometimes fish which they cause to be dressed in the smoke In necessitie they eat a thousand rifraffes euen to the swallowing downe of coales and putting sand into the pottage that they make with this meale When they goe to warre their King marcheth firstâ— with a clubbe in the one hand and his bowe in the other with his quiuer full of arrowes All his men follow him which haue likewise their bowes and arrowes While they fight they make great cries and exclamations They take no enterprise in hand but first they assemble oftentimes their Councell together and they take very good aduisement before they growe to a resolution They meete together euery morning in a great common house whither their King repaireth and setteth him downe vpon a seate which is higher then the seates of the other where all of them one after another come and salute him and the most ancient begin their salutations lifting vp both their handes twise as high as their face saying Ha he ya and the rest answer ha ha Assoone as they haue done their salutation euery man sitteth him downe vpon the seates which are round about in the house If there be any thing to intreate of the King calleth the Iawas that is to say their Priestes and the most ancient men and asketh them their aduise Afteâ—ward he commaundeth Cassine to be brewed which is a drinke made of the leaues of a certaine tree They drinke this Cassine very hotte he drinketh first then he causeth to be giuen thereof to all of them one after another in the same boule which holdeth well a quart measure of Paris They make so great account of this drinke that no man may taste thereof in this assembly vnlesse hee hath made proofe of his valure in the warre Moreouer this drinke hath such a vertue that assoone as they haue drunke it they become all in a sweate which sweate being past it taketh away hunger and thirst for foure and twenty houres after When a King dyeth they burie him very solemnly and vpon his graue they set the cuppe wherein he was woont to drinke and round about the sayde graue they sticke many arrowes and weepe and fast three dayes together without ceassing All the kings which were his friends make the like mourning and in token of the loue which they bare him they cut of more then the one halfe of their haire as well men as women During the space of sixe Moones so they reckon their moneths there are certaine women appoynted which bewaile the death of this King crying with a loude voyce thrise a day to wit in the Morning at Noone and at Euening All the goods of this King are put into his house and afterward they set it on fire so that nothing is euer more after to be seene The like is done with the goods of the Priestes and besides they burie the bodies of the Priests in their houses and then they set them on fire They sowe their Maiz twise a yere to wit in March and in Iune and all in one and the same soyle The sayd Maiz from the time that it is sowed vntill the time that it be ready to be gathered is but three moneths on the ground The other 6. moneths they let the earth rest They haue also faire Pumpions very good Beanes They neuer dung their land onely when they would sowe they set the weedes on fire which grewe vp the 6. moneths and burne them all They dig their ground with an instrument of wood which is fashioned like a broad mattocke wherewith they digge their Uines in France they put two graiues of Maiz together When the land is to be sowed the King commaundeth one of his men to assemble his subiects euery day to labour during which labour the King causeth store of that drinke to be made for them wherof we haue spoken At the time when the Maiz is gathered it is all carried into a common house where it is distributed to euery man according to his qualitie They sowe no more but that which they thinke will serue their turnes for sixe moneths that very scarcely For during the Winter they retire themselues for three or foure moneths in the yeere into the woods where they make little cotages of Palme boughes for their retraite and liue there of Maste of Fish which they take of Oisters of Stagges of Turkeycockes and other beastes which they take They eate all their meate broyled on the coales and dressed in the smoake which in their language they call Boucaned They eate willingly the flesh of the Crocodile and in deede it is faire and white and were it not that it sauoureth too much like Muske we would oftentimes haue eaten thereof They haue a custome among them that when they finde themselues sicke where they feele the paine whereas we cause our selues to be let blood their Physitions sucke them vntill they make the blood follow The women are likewise of good proportion and tall and of the same colour that the men be of painted as the men be Howbeit when they are borne they be not so much of an Oliue colour and are farre whiter For the chiefe cause that maketh them to be of this colour proceedes of annointings of oyle which they vse among them
and they doe it for a certaine ceremonie which I could not learne and because of the Sunne which shineth hote vpon their bodies The agilitie of the women is so great that they can swimme ouer the great Riuers bearing their children vpon one of their armes They climbe vp also very nimbly vpon the highest trees in the Countrey Beholde in briefe the description of the Countrey with the nature and customes of the Inhabitants which I was very willing to write before I entred any further into the discourse of my historie to the end that the Readers might be the better prepared to vnderstand that which I meane hereafter to entreate of MY Lord Admirall of Chastillon a noble man more desirous of the publique then of his priuate benefite vnderstanding the pleasure of the King his prince which was to discouer new and strange Countreys caused vessels fit for this purpose to be made ready with all diligence and men to beeleuied meete for such an enterprise Among whom hee chose Captaine Iohn Ribault a man in trueth expert in sea causes which hauing receiued his charge set himselfe to Sea the yeere 1562. the eighteenth of Februarie accompanied onely with two of the kings shippes but so well furnished with Gentlemen of whose number I my selfe was one and with olde Souldiers that he had meanes to atchieue some notable thing and worthy of eternall memorie Hauing therefore sayled two moneths neuer holding the vsuall course of the Spaniards hee arriued in Florida landing neere a Cape or Promontorie which is no high lande because the coast is all flatte but onely rising by reason of the high woods which at his arriuall he called Cape François in honour of our France This Cape is distant from the Equator about thirtie degrees Coasting from this place towards the North he discouered a very faire and great Riuer which gaue him occasion to cast anker that hee might search the same the next day very early in the morning which being done by the breake of day accompanied with Captaine Fiquinuille and diuers other souldiers of his shippe he was no sooner arriued on the brinke of the shoare but straight hee perceiued many Indians men and women which came of purpose to that place to receiue the Frenchmen with all gentlenesse and amitie as they well declared by the Oration which their king made and the presents of Chamois skinnes wherewith he honoured our Captaine which the day following caused a pillar of hard stone to be planted within the sayde Riuer and not farre from the mouth of the same vpon a little sandie knappe in which pillar the Armes of France were carued and engraued This being done hee embarked himselfe againe to the ende alwayes to discouer the coast toward the North which was his chiefe desire After he had sayled a certaine time he crossed ouer to the other side of the riuer and then in the presence of certaine Indians which of purpose did attend him hee commaunded his men to make their prayers to giue thankes to GOD for that of his grace hee had conducted the French nation vnto these strange places without any danger at all The prayers being ended the Indians which were very attentiue to hearken vnto them thinking in my iudgement that wee worshipped the Sunne because wee alwayes had our eyes lifted vp toward heauen rose all vp and came to salute the Captaine Iohn Ribault promising to shew him their King which rose not vp as they did but remained still sitting vpon greene leaues of Bayes and Palmetrees toward whom the Captaine went and sate downe by him and heard him make a long discourse but with no great pleasure because hee could not vnderstand his language and much lesse his meaning The King gaue our Captaine at his departure a plume or fanne of Herushawes feathers died in red and a basket made of Palme-boughes after the Indian fashion and wrought very artificially and a great skinne painted and drawen throughout with the pictures of diuers wilde beasts so liuely drawen and portrayed that nothing lacked but life The Captaine to shew himselfe not vnthankfull gaue him pretie tinne bracelets a cutting hooke a looking glasse and certaine kniues whereupon the King shewed himselfe to be very glad and fully contented Hauing spent the most part of the day with these Indians the Captaine imbarked himselfe to passe ouer to the other side of the Riuer whereat the king seemed to bee very sorie Neuerthelesse being not able to stay vs hee commaunded that with all diligence they should take fish for vs which they did with all speede For being entred into their Weares or inclosures made of reedes and framed in the fashion of a Labirynth or Mase they loaded vs with Trouâ—es great Mullets Plaise Turbuts and marueilous store of other sortes of fishes altogether different from ours This done we entred into our Boates and went toward the other shore But before we came to the shore we were saluted with a number of other Indians which entring iâ—to the water to their armepits brought vs many litle baskets full of Maiz and goodly Mulberries both red and white Others offered themselues to beare vs on shoare where being landed we perceiued their King sitting vpon a place dressed with boughes and vnder a little Arbour of Cedars and Bay trees somewhat distant from the waters side He was accompanied with two of his sonnes which were exceeding faire and strong and with a troope of Indians who had all their bowes and arrowes in marueilous good order His two sonnes receiued our Captaine very graciously but the king their father representing I wot not what kinde of grauitie did nothing but shake his head a little then the Captaine went forward to salute him and without any other mouing of himselfe he reteined so constant a kind of grauitie that hee made it seeme vnto vs that by good and lawfull right hee bare the title of a King Our Captaine knowing not what to iudge of this mans behauiour thought he was ielous because wee went first vnto the other king or else that he was not well pleased with the Pillar or Columne which he had planted While thus he knew not what hereof to thinke our Captaine shewed him by signes that he was come from a farre Countrey to seeke him to let him vnderstand the amitie which he was desirous to haue with him for the better confirmation whereof hee drewe out of a budget certaine trifles as certaine bracelets couered as it were with siluer and guilt which hee presented him withall and gaue his sonnes certaine other trifles Whereupon the King beganne very louingly to intreate both our Captaine and vs. And after there gentle intertainments wee went our selues into the woods hoping there to discouer some singularities where were great store of Mulberrie trees white and red on the toppes whereof there was an infinite number of silkewormes Following our way wee discouered a faire