Who so would neerely looke into what hath bin spoken may likewise vnderstand that going from the West to the East in altitude beyond the Tropikes we shall finde Westerne windes for that the motion of the Equinoctiall being so swift it is a cause that the ayre moueth vnder it according to this motion which is from the East to West drawing after it the vapours and exhalations that rise of either side the Equinoctiall or burning Zone in countring the course and motion of the Zone are forced by the repercussion to returne almost to the contrary whence grow the South-west windes so ordinary in those parts Euen as we see in the course of waters the which if they be incountred by others of more force returne in a manner backe So it seemes to be like in vapours and exhalations whereby it growes that the windes doe turne and separate themselues from one part to another These Westerly windes doe commonly raine in a meane altitude which is from twenty and seuen to thirty and seuen degrees though they be not so certaine nor so regular as the Brises that are in a lesse altitude The reason is for that the South-west winds are no causes of this proper and equall motion of the heauen as the Brises are being neere to the Line But as I haue said they are more ordinary and often more furious and tempestuous But passing into a greater altitude as of fortie degrees there is as small assurance of windes at Sea as at Land for sometimes the East or North winde blowes and sometimes the South or West whereby it happeneth their nauigations are more vncertaine and more dangerous That which we haue spoken of windes which blow ordinarily within and without the Zone must be vnderstood of the maine Sea and in the great gulphes for at land it is otherwise where we finde all sorts of windes by reason of the inequalitie which is betwixt the Mountaines and the vallies the great number of Riuers and Lakes and the diuers scituations of Countries whence the grosse and thick vapours arise which are moued from the one part or the other according to the diuersitie of their beginnings which cause these diuers windes the motion of the ayre caused by the heauen hauing not power enough to draw and moue them with it And this varietie of windes is not onely found at land but also vpon the Sea coast which is vnder the burning Zone for that there be forraine or land windes which come from the land and many which blow from the Sea the which windes from the Sea are commonly more wholesome and more pleasant then those of the land which are contrariwise troublesome and vnwholesome although it be the difference of the coast that causeth this diuersitie commonly the land windes blow from mid-night to the Sunne rising and the Sea windes vntill Sunne setting The reason perhaps may be that the earth as a grosse substance fumes more when as the Sunne shines not vpon it euen as greene wood or scarse dry smoakes most when the flame is quenched But the Sea which is compounded of more subtile parts engenders no fumes but when it is hot euen as straw or haâ—e being moist and in small quantitie breedes smoake when it is burnt and when the flame failes the fume suddenly ceaseth Whatsoeuer it be it is certaine that the Land winde blowes by night and that of the Sea by day So that euen as there are often contrary violent and tempestuous windes vpon the Sea coast so doe we see very great calmes Some men of great experience report that hauing sailed many great passages at Sea vnder the Line yet did they neuer see any calmes but that they alwayes make way little or much the ayre being moued by the celestiall motion which is sufficient to guide a Shippe blowing in poope as it doth I haue already said that a Shippe of Lima going to Manilla sailed two thousand seuen hundred leagues alwayes vnder the Line or not aboue twelue degrees from it and that in the moneths of February and March when as the Sunne is there for Zenith and in all this space they found no calmes but alwayes a fresh gale so as in two moneths they performed this great voyage But in the burning Zone and without it you shall vsually see great calmes vpon the coasts where the vapours come from the Ilands or maine land And therefore stormes and tempests and the sudden motions of the ayre are more certaine and ordinary vpon the coasts whereas the vapours come from the Land then in full Sea I meane vnder the burning Zone for without it and at Sea there are both calmes and whirlewindes Notwithstanding sometimes betwixt the two Tropickes yea vnder the Line you shall haue great raine and sudden showers yea farre into the Sea for the working whereof the vapours and exhalations of the Sea are sufficient which mouing sometimes hastily in the ayre cause thunder and whirlewindes but this is more ordinary neere to the Land and vpon the Land When I sailed from Peru to new Spaine I obserued that all the time we were vpon the coast of Peru our voyage was as it was ordinary very calme and easie by reason of the Southerne winde that blowes hauing alwayes a fore winde returning from Spaine and new Spaine As we passed the gulph lanching farther into the Sea almost vnder the Line wee found the season coole quiet and pleasant with a full winde but comming neere to Nicaragua and to all that coast wee had contrary windes with great store of raine and fogges All this Nauigation was vnder the burning Zone for from twelue degrees to the South which is Lima we sailed to the seuenteenth which is Gautâ—lco a port of new Spaine and I beleeue that such as haue obserued their nauigations made vnder the burning Zone shall finde what I haue said which may suffice for the windes which raigne at Sea vnder the burning Zone It were a very difficult matter to report particularly the admirable effects which some windes cause in diuers regions of the world and to giue a reason thereof There are windes which naturally trouble the water of the Sea and makes it greene and blacke others cleere as Christall some comfort and make glad others trouble and breede heauinesse Such as nourish Silke-wormes haue great care to shut their windowes when as the South-west windes doe blow and to open them to the contrary hauing found by certaine experience that their wormes diminish and dye with the one and fatten and become better with the other and who so will neerely obserue it shall finde in himselfe that the diuersities of windes cause notable impressions and changes in the body principally in sicke parts and ill disposed when they are most tender and weake The holy Scripture calleth one a burning winde another a winde full of dewe and sweetnesse And it is no wonder if we see such notable effects of the winde in Plants
from out of the Ocean which in those parts is very great and spacious and hauing drawne vnto it this great abundance of vapours doth suddenly dissolue them into raine and it is approued by many tried experiences that the raine and great stormes from Heauen proceed from the violent heate of the Sunne first as we haue said before it raines in those Countries when as the Sunne casts his beames directly vpon the earth at which time he hath most force but when the Sunne retires the heate is moderate and then there falls no raine whereby wee may conclude that the force and heate of the Sunne is the cause of raine in those Countries Moreouer we obserue both in Peru new Spaine and in all the burning Zone that the raine doth vsually fal in the afternoone when as the Sunne beames are in their greatest force being strange to see it raine in the morning And therefore Trauellers foreseeing it begin their iourneys early that they may end and rest before noone for they hold that commonly it raines after noone Such as haue frequented and trauelled those Countries can sufficiently speake thereof And there are that hauing made some abode there say that the greatest abundance of raine is when the Moone is at the full but to say the truth I could neuer make sufficient proofe thereof although I haue obserued it Moreouer the dayes the yeere and the moneths shew the truth hereof that the violent heaâ—e of the Sunne causeth the raine in the burning Zone experience teacheth vs the like in artificiall things as in a Limbecke wherein they draw waters from herbs and flowers for the vehemency of the fire forceth and driueth vp an abundance of vapours which being pressed and finding no issue are conuerted into liquor and water The like wee see in gold and siluer which we refine with quick-siluer the fire being small and slow we draw out almost nothing of the quick-siluer but if it be quick and violent it doth greatly euaporate the quick-siluer which encountring the head aboue doth presently turne into liquor and begins to drop downe Euen so the violent heate of the Sunne produceth these two effects when it findes matter disposed that is to draw vp the vapours on high and to dissolue them presently and turne them into raine when there is any obstacle to consume them And although these things seeme contrarie that one Sunne within the burning Zone being neere should cause raine and without the Zone afarre off should breed the like effect so it is that all well considered there is no contrarietie A thousand effects in naturall causes proceed of contrarie things by diuers meanes we drie linnen by the fire and in the aire and yet the one heats and the other cooles Pastures are dried and hardened by the Sunne and with the Frost moderate exercise prouokes sleepe being too violent it hindereth if you lay no wood on the fire it dyeth if you lay on too much it likewise quencheth for the onely proportion entertaines and makes it to continue To well discerne a thing it must not be too neere the eye nor too farre off but in a reasonable distance proportionable being too farre off from any thing we lose the sight and too neere likewise we cannot see it If the Sunne beams be weake they draw vp no fogge from the Riuers if they be violent hauing drawne vp the vapours they presently dissolue and consume them but if the heat be moderate it drawes vp and preserues it for this reason the vapours rise not commonly in the night nor at noone but in the morning when as the Sunne begins to enter into his force There are a thousand examples of naturall causes vpon this subiect which wee see doe often grow from contrarie things whereby we must not wonder if the Sunne being neere engenders raine and being farre off works the like effect but being of a moderate and proportionable distance causeth none at all Yet there remaines one doubt why the neernesse of the Sunne causeth the raine vnder the burning Zone and without when it is farthest off In my opinion the reason is that in Winter without the Tropicks the Sunne hath not force sâ—fficient to consume the vapours which rise from the Land and Sea for these vapours grow in great abundance in the cold Region of the aire where they are congealed and thickned by the extremitie of the cold and after being pressed they dissolue and turne into water Therefore in Winter when the Sunne is farthest off the dayes short and the nights long his heat hath small force but when the Sunne approcheth which is in the Summer time his force is such as it drawes vp the vapours and suddenly consumes and disperseth them for the heat and the length of the dayes grow through the neernesse of the Sunne But within the Tropicks vnder the burning Zone the farre distance of the Sunne workes the same effects that the neernesse doth without the Tropicks by reason whereof it raines no more vnder the burning Zone when the Sunne is farre off then without the Tropicks when it is neerest for that in this approching and retyring the Sunne remayns alwayes in one distance whence proceedes this effect of cleernesse But when the Sunne is in the period of his force in the burning Zone and that he cast his beames directly vpon the Inhabitants heads there is neither cleernesse nor drynesse as it seemes there should be but rather great and strange showers for that by this violent heat he drawes vp suddenly a great abundance of vapours from the Earth and Ocean which are so thicke as the winde not able easily to disperse them they melt into water which breedeth the cold raine in so great abundance for the excessiue heat may soone draw vp many vapours the which are not so soone dissolued and being gathered together through their great abundance they melt and dissolue into water The which wee may easily discerne by this familiar example roast a piece of Porke Mutton or Veale if the fire be violent and the meate neere wee see the fat melts suddenly and drops away the reason is that the violent heat drawes forth the humour and fat from the meat and being in great abundance cannot dissolue it and so it distils more away But when the fire is moderate and the meat in an equall distance wee see that it roasts handsomly and the fat drops not too suddenly for that the moderate heat drawes out the moistnesse which it consumes suddenly And therefore Cookes make a moderate fire and lay not their meate too neere nor too farre off lest it melt away The like may bee seene in anoother experience in candles of tallow or waxe if the wike bee great it melts the tallow or the waxe for that the heat cannot consume the moistnesse which riseth but if the flame bee proportionable the wax melts nor drops not for that the flame doth waste it by little and little as it riseth But this is
raynie there as the South winde is on this side but contrariwise it raines when as the South winde blowes there as wee see in all the Sierre or mountaine of Peru in Chile and in the Countrie of Congo which is on the other side of the Line and farre aduanced into the Sea And in Potozi likewise the winde which they call Tomahani which is our North if my memorie faile me not is extremely cold drie and vnpleasant as it is here with vs. Yet doth not the Northerne winde disperse the cloudes vsually there as it doth here but contrariwise if I be not deceiued it doth often cause raine There is no doubt but the windes doe borrow this great diuersitie of contrarie effects from the places by which they passe and the neere Regions where they are bred as wee see by daily experience in a thousand places But speaking in generall of the qualitie of the windes we must rather looke to the coasts or parts of the World from whence they proceede then to obserue whether they be on this side or beyond the Line as it seemes the Philosopher held opinion These capitall windes which be the East and West haue no such vniuersall qualities nor so common in this Continent nor in the other as the two former The Solanus or Easterne winde is commonly here troublesome and vnwholsome and the Westerne or Zephirus is more milde and healthfull At the Indies and in all the burning Zone the Easterne winde which they call Brise is contrariwise very healthfull and pleasant Of the West I cannot speake any thing certaine or generall for that it blowes not at all or very seldom in the burning Zone for in all the nauigation betwixt the two Tropicks the Easterne winde is ordinarie And for that it is one of the admirable workes of Nature it shall bee good to vnderstand the cause and the beginning thereof The wayes at Sea are not as at Land to returne the same way they passe It is all one way saith the Philosopher from Athens to Thebes and from Thebes to Athens but it is not so at Sea for wee goe one way and returne by another The first which discouered the East and West Indies laboured much with great difficultie to finde out their course vntill that Experience the Mistresse of these secrets had taught them that to saile through the Ocean is not like the passage in Italie through the Mediterranean Sea where in their returne they obserue the same Ports and Capes they had sight of in their passage attending still the benefit of the winde which changeth instantly and when that failes they haue recourse to their Oares and so the Gallies goe and come daily coasting along the shoare In some parts of the Ocean they may not looke for any other winde then that which blowes for that commonly it continues long To conclude that which is good to goe by is not fit to returne with for in the Sea beyond the Tropicke and within the burning Zone the Easterly windes raine continually not suffering their contraries In the which Region there are two strange things the one is that in that Zone being the greatest of the fiue into the which the World is diuided the Easterly windes which they call Brises doe reigne not suffering the Westerne or Southerne which they call lower winds to haue their course at any season of the yeere The other wonder is that these Easterly windes neuer cease to blow and most commonly in places neerest to the Line where it seemes that Calmes should be more frequent being a part of the World most subiect to the heat of the Sunne but it is contrarie for you shall hardly finde any Calmes there and the winde is cold and continues longer which hath beene found true in all the Nauigations of the Indies This is the reason why the voyage they make from Spaine to the West Indies is shorter more easie and more assured then the returne to Spaine The Fleetes parting from Siuil haue more difficultie to passe the Canaries for that the guife of Yegues or of Mares is variable being beaten with diuers windes but hauing passed the Canaries they saile with a Westerne winde vntill they come to the burning Zone where presently they finde an Easterly winde and so they saile on with full windes so as they haue scant any need to touch their sailes in the whole voyage for this reason they called this great gulfe the gulfe of Dames for the calmnesse and pleasantnesse thereof Then following their course they come to the Ilands of Guadelupe Dominique Desired Marigualante and the rest which in that place be as it were the Suburbs of the Indies There the Fleetes separate and diuide themselues whereof some which goe to new Spaine take to the right hand towards Hispaniola and hauing discouered Cape Saint Anthony they passe vnto Saint Iohn Delua alwayes vsing the same Easterly windes Those for the mayne Land take the left hand discouering the high mountaine of Tayrone then hauing touched at Carthagene they passe vnto Nombre de Dios from whence they goe by Land to Panama and from thence by the South Sea to Peru. But when the fleetes returne to Spaine they make their voyage in this sort The fleete of Peru discouers Cape Saint Anthony then they enter into the Hauana which is a goodly Port in the Iland of Cuba The fleet of new Spaine doth likewise touch at the Hauana being parted from Vera Cruz or from the Iland of Saint Iohn Delua the which is not without difficultie for that commonly Easterly windes blow there which is a contrarie winde to goe to the Hauana These fleetes being ioyned together for Spaine they seeke their height without the Tropicks where presently they finde Westerly windes which serue them vntill they come in view of the Acores or Terceres and from thence to Siuil So as their voyage in going is of a small height not aboue twentie degrees from the Line which is within the Tropicks But the returne is without the Tropicks in eight and twentie or thirtie degrees of height at the least for that within the Tropicks the Easterne windes continually blow the which are fittest to goe from Spaine to the West Indies for that their course is from East to West and without the Tropicks which is in three and twentie degrees of height they finde Westerly windes the which are the more certaine and ordinarie the farther you are from the Line and more fit to returne from the Indies for that they are windes blowing from the South and West which serue to runne into the East and North. The like discourse is of the Nauigation made into the South Sea going from new Spaine or Peru to the Philippines or China and returning from the Philippines or China to new Spaine the which is easie for that they saile alwayes from East to West neere the Line where they finde the Easterly windes to blow in their Poope In the yeere 1584.
bones and Iewels was gathered and laid vpon a rich Mantle the which was carried to the Temple gate where the Priests attended to blesse those deuellish relickes whereof they made a dough or paste and thereof an Image which was apparelled like a man with a visor on his face and all other sorts of Iewels that the deaâ— King was wont to weare so that it seemed a gallant I doll At the foote of the Temple staires they opened a graue ready made which was square large and two fadom deepe it was also hanged with new Mats round about and a farre bed therein in the which a religious man placed the Idol made of aâ—hes with his eyes toward the East part and hung round about the wals Targets of Gold and Siluer with Bowe and Arrowes and many gallant tuffes of Feathers with earthen vessels as Pots Dishes and Platters so that the graue was filled vp with houshold stuffe Chests couered with Leather Apparell Iewels Meate Drinke and Armor This done the graue was shut vp and made sure with beâ—mes boords and flored with earth on the top All those Gentlemen which had serued or touched any thing in the buriall washed themselues and went to dinner in the Court or yard of the Kings house without any table and hauing dined they wiped their hands vpon certaine locks of Cotten woll hanging downe their heads and not speaking any word except it were to aske for drinke This Ceremonie endured fiue dayes and in all that time no fire was permitted to be kindled in the Citie except in the Kings house and Temples nor yet any Corne was ground or Market kept nor none durst goe out of their houses shewing all the sorrow that might be possible for the death of their King In Mexico were twelue Iudges who were all Noblemen graue and well learned in the Mexican Lawes These men liued onely by the rents that properly appertaine to the maintenance of Iustice and in any cause iudged by them it was lawfull for the parties to appeale vnto other twelue Iudges who were of the Princes bloud and alwayes abode in the Court and were maintained at the Kings owne cost and charges The inferiour Iudges came ordinarily once euery moneth to consult with the higher And in euery fourescore dayes came the Iudges of euery Prouince within the Mexican Empire to consult with the Iudges of Mexico but all doubtfull causes were reserued to the King onely to passe by his order and determination The Painters serued for notaries to paint all the cases which were to be resolued but no suite passed aboue fourescore dayes without finall end and determination There were in that Citie twelue Sergeants whose office was to arrest and to call parties before the Iudges Their garments were painted Mantels whereby they were knowne a farre off The Prisons were vnder ground moist and darke the cause whereof was to put the people in feare to offend If any witnesse were called to take an oath the order was that he should touch the ground with one of his fingers and then to touch his tongue with the same which signified that he had sworne and promised to speake the troth with his tongue taking witnesse thereof of the earth which did maintaine him But some doe interprete the oath that if the paâ—tie sware not true that then he might come to such extremitie as to eate earth Sometime they name and call vpon the God of the crime whose cause the matter touched The Iudge that taketh bribes or gifts is forthwith put out of his office which was accounted a most vile aâ—d 〈◊〉 reproach The Indians did affirme that Necauâ—lpincintâ— did hang a Iudge in Tezâ—â—â—o for 〈…〉 sentence be himselfe knowing the contrary The Murtherer is executed without exception The woman with childe that wilfully casteth her creature suffereth death for the same The Theefe for the first offence was made a slaue and hanged for the second The Traitor to the King and Common-weale was put to death with extreame torments The Woman taken in Mans apparell died for the same and likewise the Man taken in Womans attire Euery one that challengeth another to fight except in the warres was condemned to dye In Tezcuco the sinne of Sodomie was punished with death and that Law was instituted by Necaualpincinth and Necaualcoio who were Iudges which abhorred that filthy sinne and therefore they deserued great praise for in other Prouinces that abhominable sinne was not punished although they haue in those places common Stewes as in Panuco The end of the fift Booke AN ALPHABETICALL TABLE OF THE PRINCIPALL THINGS CONTAINED IN THE FIVE BOOKES of the third Part of PVRCHAS his Pilgrims The first Number notes the Page the second Number directs you to the number noted in the back-margent of the Pages Right against which or betwixt that and the next number the note is to bee found Obserue that whereas many words may bee well written with I. or with Y. the Reader is to looke to both Obserue also that Name of Saints or Knights are not set vnder S. but in the Alphabet of their proper Names A ABaccu is the Caspian Sea 69.60 The largenesse of it 70.1 Abaseia or Habassia is India media 106.50 in Marg. Rich in Gold ibid. Abedalcuria 252.60 Abortion caused by an Herbe 991.40 Acapulco the Prouince and Port in the West Indies the Latitude 871.60 Acias or Akas so the Tartars call the Alanian Christians 10.10 Enemies to the Tartars 12.40 Achbaluch Mangi which in Tartars Language is the White Citie of the Mangi 90.1 Acornes as big as Apples 520 50 Accents the Chinois haue fiue seuerall 384.20 Accounts cast by graines of Corne 1053.50 Accord betweene Poles and Russes about chusing their Emperour 788.789 Acquaintance the Ceremony of beginning it 374 Acacron the Armenian Prophet 49.50 Acon the Citie Arabicke and Syriack vnderstood there 13.50 Adams Sepulcher in Zeilan 106.1 More of that Fable ibid. Adams-Apples grow in Persia 71.10 Adders of India their seuerall sorts and natures 976.1 Adem the Soldan of it discomfited 106.50 Admirals Iland 474.40 Sea horses there 512 Adoration the manner of it in Mexico 1027.30 1028.1 1046.60 Adoption practised in Russia 740.40 Adulterie punished with Death in Peru 1058.40 Adultresses Dowries giuen to poore Girles 276.10 Adulterie Witaldrie the punishment 182.40 Adulterers how punished in China 204.10 Aedgar the King his mightie Nauie 619.40 Emperour of the Ocean ibid. Aegeland and Halgeland discouered 212.1 Aequinoctiall vnder it moyst and raynie and why 918.40 Not so hoâ— as the Antients held it very cold in March causes of the temperature though the Sunne bee very hote the dayes and nights equall 920. No Calmes vnder the Lane 923.60.926 The Ayre vnder or neere it swifter then the Ayre about the Poles and why 925.30 Easterne and Westerne windes continuall vnder the Lino 925.40 See Torride Zone Aequinoctiall whither healthfull liuing vnder it 889.10 Aethiopian Patriarch 327.30
Shewing the reason why the Sunne without the Tropicks causeth greatest quantitie of waters when it is farthest off and contrariwise within them it breedeth most when it is neerest l. 2. chap. 7. Exceptions to generall rules The Authors experience Various and diuersified tempers of the Torrid Zone Causes of temperatenâ—sse vnder the Line and within the Tropicks Second cause That there bee other reasons besides the former mentioned which shew that the burning Zone is temperate especially alongst the Ocean Chap. 11. Arist. 〈◊〉 Dionys. c. 15. 〈◊〉 câ—â—l â—ierar That the cold windes bee the principal cause to make the burning Zone temperate Chap. 13. It is noted by trauellers that there is a hot winde sometimes neere to Balsara and Ormus which swalloweth mens breath and suddenly kils them Linschoten obserue at Goa the wind to blow twelue houres from the Sea and other twelue constantly from the land Temper of the Indies Of the windes their differences properties and causes in generall lib. 3. cap. 2. * We haue abbreuiated and to preuent tediousnesse cut off a great part of Acostas obseruations in the two former bookes as hauing handled the same in our Pilgrimage l. 8. where we haue shewed whence men and beasts might come thither and that the opinion of the worlds vnhabitablenesse betwixt the Tropicks is false for the daily raines when the Sunne is neerest the long nights therein great dewes the breezes and constant course of the windes the great Lakes Riuers height of Hills c. make those parts not onely habitable but more temperate then others and fitter for mans life there being more heat at and on this side the Tropicks then vnder the Line We here doe but cull ouâ— choise things for better vnderstanding the naturall historie of those parts for other things referring the Reader to the Authour himselfe Occasionally our notes shall elucidate those things also which are in the Text omitted * Vulcans as Aetâ—â— Hecla c. sulphurous earth whence â—â—re issueth Generall windes Monsoâ—â— Windes receiue their qualities from the places by which they passe Psalme 134. Ieremie 10. Herera hath shewed the height of the Hills to bee the cause of the windes constancy and raines raritie Eastern winde raineth betwixt the Tropicks That the burning Zone the Brises or Easterly windes doe continually blow and without the Zone the Westerne and that the Easterly are ordinarie alwayes there Chap. 4. Iuan de Gacos in Decade 1. lib. 4. cap. 6. They goe one way to the Indies and return another why Sayling 2700. leagues without sight of Land in two moneths See Candishes voyage Cause of the Brises Motion of the Primum Mobile carrieth the inferiour aire with it The Comet 1577. seene eight dayes sooner in Peru then in Spaine The Brize or motion of the air with the heauens is a winde Why withouâ— the Zone in a greater altâ—tude we finde alwaies Westerly windes Chap. 7. 〈◊〉 windes Of the exceptions to the foresaid Rules of the winds and calmes both at Land and at Sea Chap. 8. Cause of the variety of windes Simile Note Of some maruellous effects of the windes which are in some parts of the Indies Chap. 9. Silkewormes killed with South-west windes Exo. c. 10. 14. Iob 17. Ioan 4. Osâ—e 13. Dan. 3. The like Linschoten obserueth in the Terceras Sea sicknesse whence Agitation and Sea ayre Strange passion at Pariacaca by the ayre there Height of Pariacaca 〈◊〉 too subtile for mens bodies So we see Horses to beate the water with their feete to make it more grosse and thereby more agreeable to their bodies Vicunos Great Desart Punas ayre kilâ—ing Strange Story The same confirmed by a Iesuites report and a Dominicans Such effects of cold wâ— haue obserued in Russia and other Northern parts and the like Master Kniuet will tell vs at the Maggelan Straits No Mediterranean Sea of great note in America Terra firme Straight of land but eight leag betwixt North South Seas Herodotus Iouius Experience in Drakes and Maires voyage haue found them no straights but broken Ilands to the South contrary to our Author here See of this Sir Francis Drakes Voyage to 1. l. 2 I haue omitted Sarmientoes voiage c. The supposed Straight in Florida Of the ebbing and flowing of the Indian Ocean Chap. 14. The Philosophers in searching the cause of ebbing and flowing haue easily erred following the Greekes and Latines which knew not the Ocean and could not therfore know the cause * Hernando Alonso which with Sarmiento had gone to the Straights to seeke Captaine Drake At the Downes on our coast two tides meet one from the Westerne Sea or slewe the other from the North which there cause much varietie Of sundry Fishers and their manner of fishing at the Indies The Manati a strange fish The Whales also bring forth their yong aliue and nourish them with their brests being in that huge creature scarce twice so big as the breasts of a woman and farre lesse then those of many women Their foode is also Sea weedes Sharking sharkes They haue rough heads whereby they cleaue and sticke fast to the Sharke which thus are forced to caâ—ry them with their swift motion of whose off all also they liue Crocodiles * Yet so as euer and anon hee dips it in the water his tongue being so short that otherwise he could not swallow it Tigre kils a Crocodile Indians exploit on a Crocodile Whale killed by the Sauages Of Lakes and Pooles that be at the Indies Chap. 16. Thicke water Fishes and fishing Originall of Lakes Greatest riuers flow from Lakes Hot Lake and many wonders thereof Lakes of Mexico salt and fresh Râ—ch Lake Of many and diuers Springs and Fountains Chap. 17. Hot Spring turning into Stone Fountaine of Pitch Cold and hot Springs together Salt Spring which yeeldes Salâ— without boiling Pocke-â—pring Smoak Spring Inke c. Of Riuers Chap. 18. Maragnon or Amazons Water-fall Golden thirst Riuer of Plata increasing as Nilus How they passe their Riuers Haire and Straw Bridges L. 3. C. 19 Decay of people in the Indies by the Spaniards Corn groundâ— The Indies mountainous and thereby temperate Of the properties of the land of Peru. Chap. 20 One winde onely The Plaines the hils and the Andes See sup in Herera Raine almost euer and almost neuer Diuers Beasts Their bread The reason why it raines on the Lanos along the Sea coast Chap. 21. Of the propertie of new Spaine of the Ilands and of other Lands Chap. 22. Peru wine Sugar workes and Hides Indians wasted Of the vnknowne Land and the diuersitie of a whole day betwixt them of the East and the West Chap. 23. Of the Volcans or Vents of fire Chap. 24. Terrible earthquake at Guatimala Couetous Priest Causes of this burning Basil. Psal. 28. in exaâ— Of Earthquakes Cap. 26. Great earthquakes Noyse before the earthquake Why the Sea coast is subiect to earthquakes Earthquake at Ferrara terrible Aâ— Angoango Metals grow as
pleasure of God he came into these parts wherefore we would willingly stay with him because wee are Monkes and wee would pray together for the life of Chan. Then he held his peace and departed And we went vnto our house which we found very cold and without any Fuell as yet fasting and it was night Then he to whom we were recommended prouided vs Fuell and a little meate Our Guide was now to returne to Baatu who desired a Carpet of vs which by his Commandement we left in the Court of Baatu which we gaue him and he peaceably departed so kissing our right hand and confessing his fault if he suffered vs to indure hunger and thirst vpon the way We pardoned him crauing pardon of him and his whole Family if we had giuen them any euill example A Certaine Woman of Mentz in Lotharingia called Pascha found vs who made vs great cheere according to her power who belong to the Court of that Lady which was a Christian of whom I spoke before who told vs of her strange pouertie which she indured before she came to the Court but now she was well to liue for she had a young Husband a Rutenian by whom she had three very faire Children who was skilfull in building which amongst them is an excellent Art Moreouer she told vs that at Caracarum there was a certaine Goldsmith called William borne at Paris whose surname was Bouchier and his Fathers name Lawrence Bouchier and she thinketh he hath a Brother yet vpon the Great Bridge called Roger Bouchier And she told me that he had a certaine young man which he brought vp whom hee accounted as his Son who was an excellent Interpreter But Mangu Chan deliuered to the foresaid Gold-smith three hundred Iascots that is three thousand Markes and fiftie Worke-men to make a piece of worke so that she feared he could not send his Sonne vnto me For she heard some say vnto her in the Court The men which came from your Countrey are good men and Mangu Chan would willingly speak vnto them but their Interpreter is nothing worth therefore she was carefull for an Interpreter Then I writ vnto the foresaid Gold-smith certifying him of my comming hither and requesting him that if he could he would send me his sonne And he wrote me answere that he could not that Moone but the next his worke should bee perfected and then he would send him vnto me We stayed therefore with other Messengers And it is otherwise with Messengers in Baatu's Court then in the Court of Mangu Chan. For in the Court of Baatu there is one Iani on the East side who receiueth all such as come from the West and so of other Countries of the world But in the Court of Mangu they are all together vnder one Iani and they may see and visit one another In Baatu's Court they know not one another and know not one of another whether hee be a Messenger or no because they know not one anothers lodging nor see one another but in the Court and when one is called perchance another is not called For they goe not to the Court vnlesse they bee sent for Wee found there a certaine Christian of Damascus who said he came in behalfe of the Soldan of Mons Regatis and of Crac who desired to become friend and tributarie to the Tartars THE yeare also before I came thither there was a certaine Clerke of Acon who called himselfe Raimund but in truth his name was Theodolus and he tooke his iourney from Cyprus with Frier Andrew and went with him into Persia and got him certaine Instruments of Amoricus there in Persia who abode there after Frier Andrew Frier Andrew returning hee went forward with his Instruments and came to Mangu Chan who being demanded wherefore he came said That he was with a certaine holy Bishop to whom the Lord sent Letters from heauen written in golden Characters and commandeâ— him to send them to the Emperour of the Tartars because he should bee Lord of the whole Earth and that he should perswade men to make peace with him Then Mangu said vnto him If thou hadst broughâ— those Letters which came from heauen and the Letters of thy Lord then hadst beene welcome Then he answered That he brought Letters but they were with other things of his vpon a certaine wilde and pampered Gelding which escaping fled from him through the Woods and Mountaines so that he had lost all And it is very true that many such chances often happen wherefore a man must very warily hold his Horse when he alighteth for necessitie Then Mangu demanded the name of the Bishop He said he was called Odo Whereupon he told him of Damascus and Master William who was Clerke of the Lord Legat. Then Chan demanded in whose Kingdome it was To whom he made answer That it was vnder a certaine King of the Frankes called Moles for he had heard of that which happened at Mallora and he would haue said that they were of your Seruants moreouer hee told Chan that the Saracens were betweene the Frankes and him who hindred his way But if the way had beene open he would haue sent Messengers and willingly haue made peace with him Then Mangu Chan asked him If hee would bring his Messengers to that King and that Bishop He told him he would and also to the Pope Then Mangu caused an exceeding strong Bow to bee made which two men could scarse bend and two Arrowes whose heads were of Siluer full of holes which sing when they are shot like a whistle And he inioyned Moal whom hee should send with the said Theodolus Thou shalt goe to that King of the Frankes to whom this man shall bring thee and thou shalt present him with these in my behalfe And if he will haue peace with vs we will winâ—e the Countrey vpon the Saracens euen home to him and will grant him the rest of the Countrey vnto the West If otherwise bring backe the Bow and Arrowes vnto vs and tell him we shoot farre and smite strongly with such Bowes Then he caused Theodolus to goe forth whose Interpreter Master Williams Sonne was and in his heaâ—â—â—ing he said vnto Moal Thou shalt go with this man marke well the Waies the Countries and their Castles Men and Munition Then the young man blamed Theodolus saying He had done ill in conducting the Messengers of the Tartars with him for they went for no other cause but to spy Then hee answered That he would set them on the Sea that they should not know whence they came or which way to returne Mangu gaue also vnto Moal his golden Bâ—ll or Tablet to wit a plate of Gold of an hand-breadth and halfe a cubit long wherein his commandement is ingrauen Who so carrieth that may command what he will and it is done without delay So then Theodolus came to Vastacius determining to passe ouer to the Pope that he might
season of the yeere for hee perceiueth that our Armie which is there is not sufficient for offence but onely for defence You shall receiue double pay the better to furnish you against the iniurie of cold and as wee shall bee clothed with double garments I hope wee shall bee also apparelled with double glorie Let vs march on merrily I my selfe will goe with you and bee companion of your glorie After hee had thus spoken vnto his Souldiers they all cryed One God in Heauen and one Emperour on the Earth and bowing downe all their heads in token of humilitie they shewed how agreeable they were to obey that which he commanded Thus euery one returned into his Tent where they abode yet eight dayes more The Prince sent back againe Zamai vnto Sachetay with some fiue and twentie thousand Horse and fiftie thousand Foot-men for the safetie of his estate in those parts Thus after prayers were said all the Armie being assembled together in the presence of the Prince according to the custome of our Emperours our Armie began to march forward Hee forgat not likewise to dispatch one vnto the Emperour his Vncle to giue him vnderstanding of all this resolution the which hee very well liked of The Prince by the same Messenger did beseech him to send vnto him in the Spring of the yeere some fiftie thousand men to repayre his Armie and certayne money also for the payment of his men of Warre which hee granted him Moreouer the conducting of good store of warlike munition and plentie of victuals for to renew ours for this warre was principally enterprised for the profit and greatnesse of the Tartarians and for the importance which the losse of the Lordships of Paguin and Quifu was vnto them whereby the King of China had greatly strengthened and assured his estate in so much as hee might at his pleasure enter vpon the Tartarians and the Tartarians could not enterprise against him without great forces for that hee had caused a wall to bee made betweene the spaces of the Mountaynes which was fortie leagues long so as they were defended hereby from the ordinarie incursions the which continually did greatly enrich them because they brought much Cattell through the same wherein the Countrey of China doth greatly abound by reason it is situated in a temperate ayre being neither too hot nor cold This was the cause that made the Emperour his Vncle to desire this warre whom our Prince according to his dutie would to the vttermost of his power gratifie as also his new Subiects So wee began to march and in thirtie eight dayes wee arriued at Cipribit the Armie hauing found great discommodities there had wee newes of Calibes who was very glad to vnderstand how the affaires had passed hee came to visit the Prince who shewed vnto him a very good countenance and gaue him particular vnderstanding of his determination and vnderstood at large of Calibes all that had passed within the Kingdome of China The next day the Prince mounted on horse-back and came vnto Pazanfou where the forces commanded by Calibes were aâ— that present the which had often fought with and tryed the forces of the Chinois but found them much interiour vnto their owne The Emperour caused a generall reuiew to bee made of all the forces which were vnder Calibes and after he beheld the countenances of these Souldiers throughout all their rankes he caused them to muster and to receiue money euery one crying God saue the victorious and inuincible Emperour according to their custome The Prince of Thanais who commanded the Armie in Calibes absence going to meet Tamerlan with great diligence had marked the Wall and the places by the which hee might enter by force and sent many Spyes into the Country of China by certayne little wayes that were within the Mountaynes who aduertised him of all Hee had also gayned through his courtesie a Lord of the same Mountaynes called the Lord of Vauchefu who ruled a great Countrey with whom he had so well profited that he made him desirous of a new Master and to submit himselfe vnto the Emperour receiuing daily great discommoditie by the warres which the Tartarians and Chinois made so as he comming to visit the Prince of Thanais hee assured him of his desire to doe the Prince seruice and to helpe him in the warre against the Chinois the which the Prince of Thanais had wisely concealed from Calibes But as soone as the Prince was arriued he imparted the same vnto him the which made Tamerlan desirous to haue some speech with him so that as soone as the Prince had receiued commandement from the Emperour hee sent vnto Vauchefu to aduertise him of the Princes arriuall and of the commandement which hee had receiued whereof the other was very glad and hauing appointed a day the Prince tooke his iourney without stirring of the Armie into the campe of the Prince of Thanais which was neere vnto the Riuer of Languenne whither hee had caused this foresaid Lord to come who met him there Then the Prince after he had heaped vpon him gifts of faire Horses rich Furres and other rare things he willed him to vtter that which he had to say vnto him This Lord spake then in this manner Know my Lord that it is but losse of time to thinke that with your Armes you should bee able to force the Wall which the Chinois haue built against the incursions of your subiects the Defendants haue too much aduantage therein I doubt not of your Souldiers stoutnesse and of their courage I know you haue conquered many Nations with them and that whatsoeuer you command them they will die or doe the same I know you haue great and wise Captaines with you that your Person is onely of all the World worthy to command them but all this will bee but in vaine against the Wall of the Chinois where I assure you there are fiftie thousand men to keepe it and you cannot stay there so short a time but there will come thither fiftie thousand more led by the Xianxi who hath such a commandement The King of China will himselfe march forward also who will giue you battell with two hundred thousand Horse and as many Footmen After you haue fought I beleeue that the fortune and valour of your men may obtayne the victorie the which will cost you deare but for to shew vnto you how much the reputation and mildnesse of your men hath bound mee vnto them I will shew you a meanes by the which you may cause fiftie thousand men to enter into the Kingdome of China whom I my selfe will conduct and they shall bee on them which keepe the Wall in a manner as soone as they shall perceiue it In the meane time you shall cause your men to goe vnto a place that I will tell you which will bee very discommodious vnto the Chinois by reason of a Mountayne ouer against them which you must cause
marrieth and at such time as he marrieth them they are lodged in some of the Cities that he best liketh where they are well prouided of all things necessarie for their maintenance as sonnes to the King But they neuer see the Kings face any more after they are married All the Embassadours that come to China with Embassages from Kings or Princss receiue of the King great rewards and fauours and they giue him Cap and signes of Lothia whereby he hath great priuiledges in the Countrey They may whip and punish the Chinaes themselues so that they touch not any Louthia small or great for to meddle with these would breed great inconueniences This was the cause that Fernando Perez of Adrade going for Embassadour to China that the Chinaes did rise against him and hee escaped with his hands on his head losing some ships because hauing done vnaccustomed Iustice in China and vpon the Chinaes and they forbearing him he would stretch his hand to the Louthias The goods of the Embassadour and of his is free from customes and to him and to his they giue lodgings to dwell in and all things necessarie while they are in the Countrie No man no not a Louthia may disturbe him in any thing nor any thing of his One Lothia would haue whipped one of Siam for hauing carried a message to the Prison to certaine Portugals that were in Prison One of the Officers said vnto him that was present that he was of Siam of the Embassage wherefore being satisfied therewith he let him goe in peace desiring him he would not doe so againe With the Chinaes being so great as at the beginning we said and declared the King hath such meanes and industrie in the gouernement thereof that euery moneth he knoweth all that passeth through all the Realme and he knoweth it in this manner All matters of Iustice and of Warre and all annuities with all that is worth the knowing in euery one of the Prouinces is referred by the Louthias and by other persons to the Ponchasi and the Ponchasi maketh a relation of all by writing to the Tutan The Tutan is bound to send a Post euery moneth to the Court which carrieth the information in writing to the King of all things that passed in that moneth They count their moneths by the Moones and they are to be dispatched in such sort that at the beginning of euery Moone the Posts from all the Prouinces are to bee at the Court that the first day of the Moone it may be presented to the King as relations of all things happened in euery Prouince And although some Prouinces are farre distant from the Court that the Posts cannot come within a moneth to the Court notwithstanding in such manner they agree that euery Moone the King is to haue the relation of euery Prouince though the one be of more time then another because of the one Prouince being farre and the other neere The manner of the Posts is as among vs they carrie a Horne which they winde when they come neere to any Towne that they may haue a Horse ready in euery Towne within a certaine distance They are bound when they heare the Horne to haue a Horse ready for him which is done with such diligence as all the other seruices of the Officers And where hee is to passe a Foord as soone as he windeth his Horne with great speed they carrie him a Boat as I saw once going to the Citie of Cantan in a Towne that was in the way called Caaman Sometimes it hapneth by the malice of some Louthias when they haue any interest in it to keepe some things concealed that the King knoweth not but woe to them if the King come to know it for they are grieuously punished as wee shall see in a case hereafter following Being in India and also in China I was enformed that sometimes the King of China doth send some men of great confidence disguised through diuers parts of China that they might see how his Officers did serue him And if there were any nouelties or changes whereof they made him not priuie or some things that were necessarie to prouide § V. Of the Portugall commerce with the Chinois of the seuere Iustice executed vpon certaine Magistrates for wrongs done to the Portugals BEcause we spake many times before of Portugals captiues in China it will bee a conuenient thing that the causes of their Captiuitie be knowne where many notable things will be shewed Yee are to know that from the yeere 1554. hitherto the businesses in China are done very quietly and without danger and since that time till this day there hath not one ship beene lost but by some mischance hauing lost in times past many Because as the Portugals and the Chinaes were almost at warres when the Armies came vpon them they weighed anchor and put for the Sea and lay in places vnsheltered from tempests whereby the stormes comming many were lost vpon the coast or vpon some shelues But from the yeere 1554. hitherto Lionell of Sosa borne in Algarue being chiefe Captaine and married in Chaull made a couenant with the Chinaes that they would pay their duties and that they should suffer them to doe their businesses in their Ports And since that time they doe them in Cantan which is the first part of China and thither the Chinaes doe resort with their Silkes and Muske which are the principall goods the Portugals doe buy in China There they haue sure Hauens where they are quiet without danger or any one disquieting them and so the Chinaes doe now make their merchandise well and now both great and small are glad with the trafficke of the Portugals and the fame of them runneth through all China Whereby some of the principall of the Court came to Cantan onely to see them hauing heard the fame of them Before the time aforesaid and after the rising which Fernando Perez of Andrade did cause the businesses were done with great trouble they suffered not a Portugall in the Countrey and for great hatred and loathing called them Facui that is to say Men of the Deuill Now they hold not commerce with them vnder the name of Portugals neither went this name to the Court when they agreed to pay customes but vnder the name of Fangin which is to say People of another Coast. Note also that the law in China is that no man of China doe sayle out of the Realme in paine of death Onely it is lawfull for him to sayle along the coast of the same China And yet along the coast nor from one place to another in China it selfe it is lawfull to goe without a certificate of the Louthias of the Countrey whence they depart in which is set downe whither they goe and wherefore and the markes of his person and his age If he carrieth not this certificate he is banished to the Frontiers The Merchant that carrieth goods carrieth a
Kings of Malaca he perswaded them in the end because hee promised to vse them better then the rest and therewith he prouoked them And finding among the cloathes that hee tooke a Gowne and a Cap and asking of one of those Chinaes that were taken with the Portugals what habit that was they put in his head that it was the habit of the Kings of Malaca wherefore he commanded presently to make three Gownes by that patterne and three Caps and so he apparelled them all foure in one sort to make his fayning true and his victory more glorious To this was joyned the couetousnesse of the Luthissi to see if hee could detayne the many goods that hee had taken in ships And to doe this more safely not to be taken in a lye he did great executions vpon the Chinaes which he tooke with the Portugals and killing some of them determined to kill the rest These things comming to the eares of the Aitao which was his superior he disliked greatly that which hee had done and sent to him presently that hee should kill no more of those which remayned but that he should come to him presently bringing with him all the prize as well of the men that were yet aliue as of the goods The Luthissi ordering his Iourney for to goe to the Aitao as he was commanded he commanded foure Chaires to be giuen to them to whom hee had giuen title of Kings to be carried in them with more honour And the other Portugals were carried in Coopes with their heads out fast by the neckes betweene the boards that they could not pull them in but hauing some wounds in their heads they went bare headed to the Sunne and to the Dew and were carried on mens shoulders The Luthissi went with this Prize through the Countrey with great Majestie he carried before him foure Banners displayed on the which were written the names of the foure Kings of Malaca And when he entred into the Townes he entred with great noyse and Majestie with sound of Trumpets and with Cryers which went crying the great victorie the Luthisi naming him had gotten of the foure great Kings of Malaca And all the great men of the Townes went to receiue him with great Feasts and Honours all the Townes running to see the new Victorie When the Luthisi came with all his pompe and glory where the Aitao was after the giuing him particular account of all things passed and of his victory he manifested to him his pretence and agreed with him to diuide the goods betweene them both and that he should continue the fayning of the Kings of Malaca that both might receiue of the King Honours and Rewards This being set downe they both agreed that to keepe this in secret the Luthisi should go forward in that which he had begun to wit he should slay all 〈◊〉 Chinas that came there captiue And presently they commanded presently to put it in effect and so they slue ninetie and odde Chinas among whom were some young youths slaine They left notwithstanding three or foure youthes and one man that by them bringing them to their owne hand they might certifie the King all that they would that was to make of the Portugals Theeues and conceale the goods which they tooke certifying also by these that those foure were Kings of Malaca And the Portugals not hauing the Language of the Countrey neither had any person to intreate for or fauour them would perish and they being mightie would make their owne Tale good following the end by them intended And for this cause they slue not the Portugals but left them aliue for the greater triumph of the victorie These Lothias could not doe this so secretly but many of those which they slue had kindred in the Countrey which did grieue at the death of theirs Whereby as well by these as by some Louthias that were zealous of Iustice and would not giue consent in so great euils and fraudulent dealings this matter came to the Kings eares and hee was informed how the Portugals were Merchants which came to traffique with their Merchandize to China and they were no theeues and how they had falsly giuen the Title of Kings to foure of them to the end the King should shew great fauours and doe them great honours and how they had vsurped great store of goods and that for to conceale these euils they killed men and children without fault As soone as the King was informed of all aboue said hee dispatched present from the Court a Quinchay of whom we spake before that is to say plate of Gold And with him he sent other two men of great authoritie also of the which the one had beene Panchasi the other Anchasi these two as Inquisitors and Examiners of this matter Commanding and commending to the Chaen which that yeare went to visit the Prouince of Fuquen and to the Panchasi and Anchasi of the same Prouince their ayde and assistance to the Quinchay and the two Inquisitors in all things necessary for them in these businesses The two that came with the Quinchay as Inquisitors went presently to certayne great Houses which had in the middest a great Court and on the one side of the Court were certayne great and faire Lodgings and on the other side others in the same sort Each of the Inquisitors entred in one of these Houses aforesaid The Prisoners were presently brought and were presented to the one of them who for courtesie remitted them to the other that he should examine them first with many words of courtesie The other sent them againe with great thankfulnesse So they were sundry times carried from one to another each of them willing to giue the hand to the other of beginning first till that one of them yeelded and began And as the matter was of great import and much commended to them all that the guiltie and the accusers did speake these Officers did write with their owne hands The Portugals had for a great Enemy a China man and Pilot of one of the shippes that were taken and a China youth which was a Christian which from a childe was brought vp among the Portugals for they were both made of the part of the contrarie Louthias mooued by gifts and promises the Louthias being alreadie deposed of their Offices and held for guiltie for the which they were accused before the King But though they were thus handled they were so mightie and so fauoured that they could take from the Portugals a China youth that serued them for an Interpreter which vpon their Petition was againe deliuered them They examined them in this order the accused were first brought and examined by one of these Officers and they carried them to the other to bee examined againe And while the other was re-examining the accused the accusers were brought to him that examined first And as well the accused as the Accusers were all examined by both the Officers
affaires whereby I know already that they are Merchants and not theeues as they had written to me they were And I doe not blame Merchants to helpe Merchants but I put great fault in my Louthias of Chincheo because that when any ship came to my Ports they should haue knowne if they were Merchants and if they would pay their duties and if they would pay them to write presently vnto mee If they had done so so much euill had not beene done Or when they were taken if they had let mee know it I had commanded to set them at libertie And although it bee a custome in my Ports the ships that come vnto them to be measured by cubits for to pay their duties these being very farre off it was not necessarie but to let them doe their businesses and goe for their Countries Besides this my Pontoos which knew these men to be Merchants did not tell it mee but concealed it from mee whereby they were the cause of many people being taken and slaine And those that remayned aliue as they could not speake did looke toward Heauen and demanded from their hearts iustice of Heauen they know no other God supreme out the Heauen Besides these things I know that the Aitao and the Luthissi did so much euill for couetousnesse of the many goods which they tooke from the Portugals hauing no regard whether those which they tooke and tooke the goods from were good or euill men Likewise the Louthias along the Sea coast knew these men to be Merchants and certified mee not And all of them as disloyall were the cause of so much euill I knew more by my Quinchey that the Aitao and the Luthissi had Letters by the which they knew that the Portugals were no theeues but Merchants and knowing this they were not contented with the taking of them but they wrote many lyes vnto mee and were not contented with killing of the men but killed children also cutting off the feet of some of others the hands and at last the heads of them all writing vnto mee they had taken and slayne Kings of Mallaca Which case I beleeuing to be true grieue in my heart And because hitherto so many cruelties haue beene vsed without my commandement from hence forward I command they be not done Besides this the Portugals resisted my Armie being better to haue let themselues beene taken then to kill my people Moreouer it is long since they came to the coast of our Dominion about their affaires in manner of theeues and not as Merchants wherefore if they had beene naturall as they are strangers they had incurred paine of death losse of goods wherfore they are not without fault The Tutan by whose commandement those men were slaâ—ne said that by this deed I should make him greater and the people that he commanded to be slayne after they had no heads their hearts that is their soules and their bloud required iustice of Heauen I seeing so great euils to be done my eyes could not indure the sight of the Papers without teares and great griefe of my heart I know not my Louthias seeing they tooke this people wherefore they let it not goe that I might not come to know so many cruelties and so great Wherefore seeing all these things I doe create Senfuu chiefe Louthia because hee did his dutie in his charge and told mee trueth I create also chiefe Louthia Quinchio because hee wrote the trueth to mee of the Pontoos which went to doe their merchandise in secret with the Portugals to the Sea Those which are euill I will make them baser then they which sowe Rice Likewise because Pachou did trafficke with the Portugals and for bribes did permit the Merchants of the Countrey to trafficke with the Portugals and yet doing these things wrote vnto mee that the Portugals were theeues and that they came to my Dominions onely to steale And the same hee said also to my Louthias which presently answered that he lyed for they knew already the contrarie And therefore such a one and such a one he nameth ten Louthias It is nothing that all you be banished to red Caps to the which I condemne you but you deserue to be made baser as I doe make you Chaen for taking these men thou sayedst thou shouldest be greater and being in the doing of so much euill thou sayedst thou didst not feare mee such a one and such a one he nameth nine for the taking of these men yee say I would make you great and without any feare of mee yee all lyed such a one and such a one he nameth many I know also yee tooke bribes But because you did so I make you base he depriueth them of the dignitie of Lothias Such a one and such a one he nameth many If the Aitao and the Luthissi would kill so many people wherefore did you suffer it But seeing that in consenting you were accessarie with them in their death all are in the same fault Chifuu and Chanchifuu were also agreeing to the will of the Aitao and the Luthissi and were with them in the slaughter as well those that were as those that were not in fault Wherefore I condemne you all to red Caps Lupuu let him haue a good heart because the Tutan being willing to kill this people he said that he should let mee first know it To him I will doe no harme but good as he deserueth and I command that he remayne Louthia Sanchi I make my Anchassi of the Citie of Cansi The Antexio I command to be deposed of his honour Assaon seeing hee can speake with the Portugals let him haue honour and ordinarie and he shall be carried to Chaquean where hee was borne This is the youth with whom the Portugals did defend themselues seruing them for Interpreter they gaue him title of Louthia and mayntenance Chinque Head of the Merchants that went to the Sea to trafficke with the Portugals and deceiued them bringing great store of goods a land it shall be demanded of him and set in good safeguard for the mayntenance and expences of the Portugals and I condemne him and his foure Companions to red Caps and they shall bee banished whither my Louthias shall thinke good To the rest guilty and imprisoned for this matter I command my Louthias to giue to euery one the punishment he deserueth I command the Chaen to bring me hither the Tutan that his faults being perused by the great men of my Court I may command to doe iustice on him as I shall thinke good This Tutan was also a consenter in the wickednesse of the Aitao and the Luthissi for the Luthissi and the Aitao made him partaker and gaue him part of the booties which they tooke from the Portugals that as the head he should hold for good that which they did for in truth they durst not haue done that which they did if he had not giuen consent and agreed with their
before whom are brought all matters of the inferiour Townes throughout the whole Realme Diuers other Louteas haue the managing of Iustice and receiuing of Rents bound to yeeld an account thereof vnto the greater Officers Other doe see that there be no euill rule kept in the Citie each one as it behoueth him Generally all these doe imprison Malefactors cause them to be whipped and racked hoysing them vp and downe by the armes with a cord a thing very vsuall there and accounted no shame These Louteas doe vse great diligence in the apprehending of the Theeues so that it is a wonder to see a Thiefe escape away in any Towne Citie or Village Vpon the Sea neere vnto the shoare many are taken and looke euen as they are taken so be they first whipped and afterward laid in Prison where shortly after they all dye for hunger and cold At that time when we were in Prison there dyed of them aboue threescore and ten Their whips be certaine pieces of Canes cleft in the middle in such sort that they seeme rather plaine then sharpe He that is to bee whipped lyeth groueling on the ground Vpon his thighes the Hangman layeth on blowes mightily with these Canes that the standers by tremble at their crueltie Tenne stripes draw a great deale of bloud twentie or thirtie spoyle the flesh altogether fiftie or threescore will require long time to be healed and if they come to the number of one hundred then are they incurable The Louteas obserue moreouer this when any man is brought before them to bee examined they aske him openly in the hearing of as many as be present be the offence neuer so great Thus did they also behaue themselus with vs. For this cause amongst them can there be no false witnes as daily amongst vs it falleth out This good commeth thereof that many being alwayes about the Iudge to heare the Euidence and beare witnesse the Processe cannot be falsified as it hapneth sometimes with vs. The Moores Gentiles and Iewes haue all their sundry Oathes the Moores doe sweare by their Mossafos the Brachmans by their Fili the rest likewise by the things they doe worship The Chineans though they be wont to sweare by Heauen by the Moone by the Sunne and by all their Idols in judgement neuerthelesse they sweare not at all If for some offence an Oath be vsed of any one by and by with the least euidence hee is tormented so be the Witnesses he bringeth if they tell not the truth or doe in any point disagree except they bee men of worship and credit who are beleeued without any farther matter the rest are made to confesse the truth by force of Torments and Whips Besides this order obserued of them in Examinations they doe feare so much their King and he where he maketh his abode keepeth them so low that they dare not once stirre Againe these Louteas as great as they bee notwithstanding the multitude of Notaries they haue not trusting any others doe write all great Processes and matters of importance themselues Moreouer one vertue they haue worthy of great praise and that is being men so well regarded and accounted of as though they were Princes they bee patient aboue measure in giuing audience Wee poore strangers brought before them might say what we would as all to be Lyes and Falaces that they did write nor did we stand before them with the vsuall Ceremonies of that Countrey yet did they beare with vs so patiently that they caused vs to wonder knowing specially how little any Aduocate or Iudge is wont in our Countrey to beare with vs. For wheresoeuer in any Towne of Christendome should bee accused vnknowne men as we were I know not what end the very Innocents cause would haue but wee in a Heathen Countrey hauing our great Enemies two of the chiefest men in a whole Towne wanting an Interpreter ignorant of that Countrey Language did in the end see our great Aduersaries cast into Prison for our sake and depriued of their Offices and Honour for not doing Iustice yea not to escape death for as the rumour goeth they shall bee beheaded Somewhat is now to be said of the Lawes that I haue beene able to know in this Countrey and first no Theft or Murther is at any time pardoned Adulterers are put in Prison and the fact once proued condemned to dye the womans Husband must accuse them this order is kept with men and women found in that fault but Theeues and Murtherers are imprisoned as I haue said where they shortly dye for hunger and cold If any one haply escape by bribing the Iaylor to giue him meate his Processe goeth farther and commeth to the Court where hee is condemned to dye Sentence being giuen the Prisoner is brought in publike with a terrible band of men that lay him in Irons hand and foot with a board at his necke one handfull broad in length reaching downe to his knees cleft in two parts and with a hole one handfull downe-ward in the Table fit for his necke the which they enclose vp therein nayling the board fast together one handfull of the board standeth vp behind in the necke the sentence and cause wherefore the fellon was condemned to dye is written in that part of the Table that standeth before This Ceremonie ended he is laid in a great Prison in the company of some other condemned persons the which are found by the King as long as they doe liue The board aforesaid so made tormenteth the Prisoners very much keeping them both from the rest and eke letting them to eate commodiously their hands being manicled in Irons vnder that board so that in fine there is no remedie but death In the chiefe Cities of euery shire as we haue beforesaid there be foure principall Houses in each of them a Prisoner but in one of them where the Taissu maketh his abode there a greater and a more principall Prison then in any of the rest and although in euery Citie there be many neuerthelesse in three of them remayne onely such as bee condemned to dye Their death is much prolonged for that ordinarily there is no execution done but once a yeere though many dye for hunger and cold as we haue seene in this Prison Execution is done in this manner The Chian to wit the high Commissioner or Lord Chiefe Iustice at the yeares end goeth to the head Citie where hee heareth againe the causes of such as bee condemned Many times he deliuereth some of them declaring that board to haue beene wrongfully put about their neckes the visitation ended he chooseth out seuen or eight not many more or lesse of the greatest Malefactors the which to feare and keepe in awe the people are brought into a great Market place where all the great Louteas meete together and after many Ceremonies and Superstitions as the vse of the Countrey is are beheaded This is done once a yeare who
determining either to bring that to passe which was intended or else to dye the death And as for them which were with Master Chancelor in his Ship although they had great cause of discomfort by the losse of their companie whom the foresaid tempest had separated from them and were not a little troubled with cogitations and perturbations of minde in respect of their doubtfull course yet notwithstanding they were of such consent and agreement of minde with Master Chancelor that they were resolute and prepared vnder his direction and gouernment to make proofe and tryall of all aduentures without all feare or mistrust of future dangers Which constancie of minde in all the companie did exceedingly increase their Captaines carefulnesse for hee being swallowed vp with like good will and loue towards them feared left through any errour of his the safetie of the companie should bee indangered To conclude when they saw their desire and hope of the arriuall of the rest of the Ships to bee euery day more and more frustrated they prouided to Sea againe and Master Chancelor held on his course towards that vnknowne part of the world and sayled so farre that hee came at last to the place where hee found no night at all but a continuall light and brightnesse of the Sunne shining cleerely vpon the huge and mightie Sea And hauing the benefite of this perpetuall light for certaine dayes at the length it pleased God to bring them into a certaine great Bay which was of one hundreth miles or there about ouer Whereinto they entred and somewhat farre within it cast anchor and looking euery way about them it hapned that they espyed a farre off a certaine Fisher-boate which Master Chancelor accompanied with a few of his men went towards to common with the Fishermen that were in it and to know of them what Countrey it was and what people and of what manner of liuing they were but they being amazed with the strange greatnesse of his ship for in those parts before that time they had neuer seene the like began presently to auoyd and to flee but hee still following them at last ouertooke them and being come to them they being in great feare as men halfe dead prostrated themselues before him offering to kisse his feete but hee according to his great and singular courtesie looked pleasantly vpon them comforting them by signes and gestures refusing those duties and reuerences of theirs and taking them vp in all louing sort from the ground And it is strange to consider how much fauour afterwards in that place this humanitie of his did purchase to himselfe For they being dismissed spread by and by a report abroad of the arriuall of a strange Nation of a singular gentlenesse and courtesie whereupon the common people came together offering to these new-come ghests victuals freely and not refusing to traffâ—que with them except they had beene bound by a certaine religious vse and custome not to buy any forraine commodities without the knowledge and consent of the King By this time our men had learned that this Countrey was called Russia or Muscouie and that Iuan Vasiliwich which was at that time their Kings name ruled and gouerned farre and wide in those places And the barbarous Russes asked likewise of our men whence they were and what they came for whereunto answer was made that they were English-men sent into those coasts from the most excellent King Edward the sixt hauing from him in commandement certaine things to deliuer to their King and seeking nothing else but his amitie and friendship and traffâ—que with his people whereby they doubted not but that great commoditie and profit would grow to the subiects of both Kingdomes The Barbarians heard these things very gladly and promised their ayde and furtherance to acquaint their King out of hand with so honest and a reasonable a request In the meane time Master Chancelor intreated victuals for his money of the Gouernour of that place who together with others came aboord him and required hostages of them likewise for the more assurance of safetie to himselfe and his companie To whom the Gouernours answered that they knew not in that case the will of their King but yet were willing in such things as they might lawfully doe to pleasure him which was as then to affoord him the benefit of victuals Now while these things were a doing they secretly sent a messenger vnto the Emperour to certifie him of the arriuall of a strange Nation and withall to know his pleasure concerning them Which message was very welcome vnto him insomuch that voluntarily he inuited them to come to his Court But if by reason of the tediousnesse of so long a iourney they thought it not best so to doe then hee granted libertie to his Subiects to bargaine and to traffique with them and further promised that if it would please them to come to him hee himselfe would beare the whole charges of poste Horses In the meane time the Gouernours of the place differred the matter from day to day pretending diuers excuses and saying one while that the consent of all the Gouernours and another while that the great and weightie affaires of the Kindome compelled them to differ their answer and this they did of purpose so long to protract the time vntill the messenger sent before to the King did returne with relation of his will and pleasure But Master Chancelor seeing himselfe held in this suspense with long and vaine expectation and thinking that of intention to delude him they posted the matter off so often was very instant with them to performe their promise Which if they would not doe hee told them that he would depart and proceed in his voyage So that the Muscouites although as yet they knew not the minde of their King yet fearing the departure indeed of our men who had such wares and commodities as they greatly desired they at last resolued to furnish our people with all things necessarie and to conduct them by land to the presence of their King And so Master Chancelor began his iourney which was very long and most troublesome wherein he had the vse of certaine sleds which in that Countrey are very common for they are carried themselues vpon sleds and all their carriages are in the same sort the people almost not knowing any other manner of carriage the cause whereof is the exceeding hardnesse of the ground congealed in the Winter time by the force of the cold which in those places is very extreame and horrible whereof hereafter wee will say something But now they hauing passed the greater part of their iourney met at last with the Sled-man of whom I spake before sent to the King secretly from the Iustices or Gouernours who by some ill hap had lost his way and had gone to the Sea-side which is neere to the Countrey of the Tartars thinking there to haue found our ship But hauing long erred and wandered out
but hee gaue mee his Letter and a Horse worth seuen Rubbles And so I departed from him being glad that I was gone for he was reported to bee a very tyrant and if I had not gone vnto him I vnderstood his commandement was that I should haue beene robbed and destroyed This Sultan liued in the fields without Castle or Towne and sate at my being with him in a little round house made of reeds couered without with Felt and within with Carpets There was with him the great Metropolitan of that wilde Countrey esteemed of the people as the Bishop of Rome is in most parts of Europe with diuers other of his chiefe men The Sultan with this Metropolitan demanded of mee many questions as well touching our Kingdomes Lawes and Religion as also the cause of my comming into those parâ—s with my further pretence To whom I answered concerning all things as vnto me seemed best which they tooke in good part So hauing leaue I departed and ouertooke our Carauan and proceeding on our iourney and trauelled twentie dayes in the Wâ—ldernesse from the Sea side without seeing Town or habitation carrying prouision of victuals with vs for the same time and were driuen by necessitie to eate one of my Camels and a Horse for our part as other did the like and during the said twentie dayes we found no water but such as we drew out of old deepe Wells being very brackish and salt and yet somtimes passed two or three dayes without the same And the fift day of October ensuing we came vnto a Gulfe of the Caspian Sea againe where we found the water very fresh and sweet at this Gulfe the Customers of the King of Turkeman met vs who tooke custome of euery fiue and twentie one and seuen ninths for the said King and his brethren which being receiued they departed and we remayned there a day after to refresh our selues Note that in times past there did fall into this Gulfe the great Riuer Oxus which hath his springs in the Mountaines of Paraponisus in India and now commeth not so faâ—re but falleth into another Riuer called Ardock which runneth toward the North and consâ—meth himselfe in the ground passing vnder the ground aboue fiue hundred miles and then issueth out againe and falleth into the Lake of Kithay We hauing refreshed our selues at the foresaid Gulfe departed thence the fourth day of October and the seuenth day arriued at a Castle called Sellizure where the King called Azim Can remayned with three other of his brethren and the ninth day I was commanded to come before his presence to whom I deliuered the Emperours Letters of Russia and I also gaue him a Present of a ninth who entertayned me very well and caused me to eate in his presence as his brethren did feasting me with flesh of a wilde Horse and Mares milke without Bread And the next day he sent for me againe and asked of me diuers questions as well touching the affaires of the Emperour of Russia as of our Countrey and Lawes to which I answered as I thought good so that at my departure he gaue mee his Letters of safe conduct This Castle of Sellizure is situated vpon an high Hâ—ll where the King called the Can lieth whose Palace is built of earth very baâ—ely and not strong the people are but poore and haue little trade of merchandise among them The South part of this Castle is low land but very fruitfull where growe many good fruits among which there is one called a Dynie of a great bignesse and full of moisture which the people doe eate after meate in stead of drinke Also there growes another fruit called a Carbuse of the bignesse of a great Cucumber yellow and sweet as Sugar also a certaine Corne called Iegur whose stalke is much like a Sugar cane and as high and the Graâ—ne like Rice which groweth at the top of the cane like a cluster of Grapes the water that serueth â—ll that Countrey is drawne by ditches out of the Riuer Oxus vnto the great destruction of the said Riuer for which cause it fâ—lleth not into the Caspian Sea as it hath done in timeâ— past and in short time all that Land is like to be destroyed and to become a Wildernesse for want of water when the Riuer of Oxus shall faile The fourteenth day of the moneth wee departed from this Castle of Sellizure and the sixteenth of the same wee arriued at a Citie called Vrgence where we payed Custome as well for our owne heads as for our Camels and Horses And hauing there soiourned one moneth attending the time of our further trauell the King of that Countrey called Aly Sultan brother to the fore-named Azym Can returned from a Towne called Corasan within the borders of Persia which he lately had coâ—qâ—ered from the Persians with whom hee and the rest of the Kings of Tâ—rtaria haue continuall warres Before this King also I was commanded to come to whom I likewise presented the Emperours Letters of Russia and he entertayned me well and demanded of me diuers questions and at my departure gaue me his Letters of safe conduct This Citie or Towne of Vrgence standeth in a plaine ground with walls of the earth by estimation foure miles about it The buildings within it are also of earth but ruined aâ—d out of good order it hath one long street that is couered aboue which is the place of their Market It hath beene wonne and lost foure times within seuen yeeres by ciuill warres by meanes whereof there are but few Merchants in it and they very poore and in all that Towne I could not fell aboue foure Kerseys The chiefest commodities there sold are such wares as come from Boghaer and out of Persia but in most small quantitie not worth the writing All the Land from the Caspian Sea to this Citie of Vrgence is called the Land of Turkeman and is subiect to the said Azim Can and his brethren which bee fiue in number and one of them hath the name of the chiefe King called Can but he is little obeyed sauing in his owne Dominion and where hee dwelleth for euery one will be King of his owne portion and one brother seeketh alwaies to destroy another hauing no naturall loue among them by reason that they are begotten of diuers women and commonly they are the children of slaues either Christians or Gentiles which the father doth keepe as Concubines and euery Can or Sultan hath at the least foure or fiue wiues besides young maidens and boyes liuing most viciously and when there are warres betwixt these brethren as they are seldome without he that is ouercome if hee be not slaine fleeth to the field with such companie of men as will follow him and there liueth in the Wildernesse resorting to watering places and so robbeth and spoyleth as many Carauans of Merchants and others as they be able to ouercome continuing in this sort his wicked life vntill
at our being there and his predecessour by the meanes of the said Metropolitan for hee betrayed him and in the night slew him in his chamber who was a Prince that loued all Christians well This Countrey of Boghar was somtime subiect to the Persians and doe now speake the Persian tongue but yet now it is a Kingdome of it selfe and hath most cruell warres continually with the said Persians about their Religion although they bee all Mahometists One occasion of their warres is for that the Persians will not cut the hayre of their vpper lips as the Bogharians and all other Tartars doe which they account great sinne and call them Caphars that is vnbeleeuers as they doe the Christians The King of Boghar hath no great power or riches his reuenues are but small and hee is most maintained by the Citie for he taketh the tenth penie of all things that are there sold as well by the Craftsmen as by the Merchants to the great impouerishment of the people whom hee keepeth in great subiection and when hee lacketh money he sendeth his officers to the Shops of the said Merchants to take their wares to pay his debts and will haue credit of force as the like hee did to pay me certaine money that he owed me for nineteene pieces of Kersey Their money is siluer and copper for gold their is none currant they haue but one piece of siluer and that is worth twelue-pence English and the copper money are called Pooles and one hundred and twentie of them goeth to the value of the said twelue-pence and is more common payment then the siluer which the King causeth to rise and fall to his most aduantage euery other moneth and somtimes twise a moneth not caring to oppresse his people for that he looketh not to raigne aboue two or three yeeres before he bee either slaine or driuen away to the great destruction of the Countrey and Merchants The twentie sixth day of the moneth I was commanded to goe before the said King to whom I presented the Emperour of Russia his letters who entertained vs most gently and caused vs to eate in his presence and dâ—uers times hee sent for me and deuised with me familiarly in his secret chamber as well of the power of the Emperour and the great Turke as also of our Countries Lawes and Religion and caused vs to shoote in hand-guns before him and did himselfe practise the vse thereof But after all this great entertainment before my departure hee shewed himselfe a very Tartar for he went to the warres owing me money and saw me not payed before his departure And although indeed hee gaue order for the same yet waâ— I very ill satisfied and forced to rebate part and to take wares as payment for the rest contrary to my expectation but of a begger better payment I could not haue glad I was so to be payd and dispatched But yet I must needs praise and commend this barbarous King who immediately after my arriuall at Boghar hauing vnderstood our trouble with the Theeues sent one hundred men well armed and gaue them great charge not to returne before they had either slaine or taken the sayd theeues Who according to their commission ranged the wildernesse in such sort that they met with the said companie of Theeues and slew part and part fled and foure they tooke and brought vnto the King and two of them were sore wounded in our skirmish with our Guns And after the King had sent for me to come to see them hee caused them all foure to bee hanged at his Palace gâ—te because they were Gentlemen to the example of others And of such goods as were gotten againe I had part restored me and this good Iustice I found at his hands There is yeerely great resort of Merchants to this Citie of Boghar which trauell in great Caraâ—ans from the Countries thereabout adioyning as India Persia Balgh Russia with diuers others and in times past from Cathay when there was passage but these Merchants are so beggerly and poore and bring so little quantitie of wares lying two or three yeeres to sell the same that there is no hope of any good trade there to be had worthy the following The chiefe commodities that are brought thither out of these foresaid Countries are these following The Indians doe bring fine Whites which the Tartars doe all roll about their heads and all other kindes of Whites which serue for apparell made of Cotton-wooll and Crasca but Gold Siluer precious Stones and Spices they bring none I enquired and perceiued that all such trade passeth to the Ocean sea and the veynes where all such things are gotten are in the subiection of the Portugals The Indians carrie from Boghar againe wrought Silkes red Hides Slaues and Horses with such like but of Kerseis and other cloath they make little account I offered to bartar with Merchants of those Countries which came from the furthest parts of India euen from the Countrey of Bengala and the riuer Ganges to giue them Kerseis for their commodities but they would not barter for such commoditie as Cloath The Persians doe bring thither Craska Woollen-cloath Linnen-cloath diuers kindes of wrought pide Silkes Argomacks with such like and doe carrie from thence red hydes with other Russe wares and Slaues which are of diuers Countries but cloath they will buy none for that they bring thither themselues and is brought vnto them as I haue inquired from Aleppo in Syria and the parts of Turkie The Russes doe carrie vnto Boghar red hydes sâ—eepe skinnes woollen cloath of diuers sorts woodden vessels brydles saddles with such like and doe carrie away from thence diuers kindes of wares made of cotten-wooll diuers kindes of silkes Crasca with other things but there is but small vtterance From the Countries of Cathay are brought thither in time of peace and when the way is open Muske Rubarbe Satten Damaske with diuers others things At my being at Boghar there came Carauans out of all these foresaid Countries except from Cathay and the cause why there came none from thence was the great warres that had dured three yeeres before my comming thither and yet dured betwixt two great Countries and Cities of Tartars that are directly in the way betwixt the said Boghar and the said Cathay and certaine barbarous field people as well Gentiles as Mahometists bordering to the said Cities The Cities are called Taskent and Caskar and the people that warre against Taskent are called Cossacks of the law of Mahomet and they which warre with the said Countrey of Caskar are called Kings Gentiles and Idolaters These two barbarous Nations are of great force liuing in the fields without House or Towne and haue almost subdued the foresaid Cities and so stopped vp the way that it is impossible for any Carauan to passe vnspoyled so that three yeeres before our being there no Carauan had gone or vsed
Russia as was sayd before as Waxe Tallow Hides Flax Hempe c. grow and goe abroad in farre lesse plentie then they were wont to doe because the people being oppressed and spoyled of their gettings are discouraged from their labours Yet this one thing is much to bee noted that in all this oppression there were three brethren Merchants of late that traded together with one Stocke in common that were found to bee worth 300000. Rubbels in money besides Lands Cattels and other Commodities Which may partly be imputed to their dwellings farre off from the eye of the Court viz. in Wichida one thousand miles from Mosko and more The same are sayd by those that knew them to haue set on worke all the yeere long ten thousand men in making of Salt carriages by Cart and Boat hewing of Wood and such like besides fiue thousand Bond-slaues at the least to inhabite and till their Land They had also their Physitians Surgeons Apothecaries and all manner of Artificers of Doutches and others belonging vnto them They are sayd to haue payed to the Emperour for Custome to the summe of three and twentie thousand Rubbels a yeere for which cause they were suffered to enioy their Trade besides the maintayning of certayne Garrisons on the borders of Siberia which were neare vnto them Wherein the Emperour was content to vse their purse till such time as they had got ground in Siberia and made it habitable by burning and cutting downe Woods from Wichida to Perm aboue one thousand verst and then tooke it all away from them perforce But this in the end being enuyed and disdayned as a matter not standing with their policie to haue any so great specially a Mousick the Emperour began first to pull from them by pieces sometimes twentie thousand Rubbels at a time sometime more till in the end their Sonnes that now are are well eased of their Stocke and haue but small part of their Fathers substance the rest being drawne all into the Emperours treasurie Their names were Iacone Gregorie and Simon the Sonnes of Oâ—â—ka For the qualitie of their people otherwise though there seemeth to bee in there some aptnesse to receiue any Art as appeareth by the naturall wits in the men and very children yet they excell in no kinde of common Art much lesse in any learning or literall kinde of knowledge which they are kept from of purpose as they are also from all military practice that they may bee fitter for the seruile condition wherein now they are and haue neither reason nor valour to attempt innouation For this purpose also they are kept from trauelling that they may learne nothing nor see the fashions of other Countries abroad You shall seldome see a Russe a traueller except hee bee with some Embassadour or that hee make an escape out of his Countrey Which hardly he can doe by reason of the borders that are watched so narrowly and the punishment for any such attempt which is death if hee bee taken and all his goods confiscate Onely they learne to write and to read and that very few of them Neither doe they suffer any stranger willingly to come into their Realme out of any ciuill Countrie for the same cause farther then necessitie of vttering their commodities and taking in of forreine doth enforce them to doe And therefore this yeere 1589. they consulted about the remouing of all Merchants strangers to the border Townes to abide and haue their residencie there and to bee more wary in admitting other strangers heereafter into the Inland parts of the Realme For the same purpose also they are kept within the bounds of their degree by the Lawes of their Countrey so that the sonne of a Mousick Artificer or Husbandman is euer a Mousick Artificer c. and hath no meanes to aspire any higher except hauing learned to write and reade hee attayne to the preferment of a Priest or Dyack Their Language is all one with the Slauonian which is thought to haue beene deriued from the Russe Tongue rather then the Russe from the Slauonian For the People called Sclaui are knowne to haue had their beginning out of Sarmatia and to haue tearmed themselues of their Conquest Sclauos that is Famous or Glorious of the word Sclaua which in the Russe and Slauonian Tongue signifieth as much as Glorie or Fame Though afterwards being subdued and trod vpon by diuers Nations the Italians their Neighbours haue turned the word to a contrary signification and terme euery Seruant or Peasant by the name of Sclaue as did the Romanes by the Getes and Syrians for the same reason The Russe Character or Letter is no other then the Greekâ— somewhat distorted Concerning their Trades Diet apparell and such like it is to be noted in a seuerall Chapter of their priuate behauiour This order that bindeth euery man to keepe his ranke and seuerall degree wherein his fore-fathers liued before him is more meet to keepe the Subiects in a seruile subiection and so apt for this and like Commonwealths then to aduance any vertue or to breed any rare or excellent qualitie in Nobilitie or Commons as hauing no further reward nor preferment whereunto they may bend their endeauours and employ themselues to aduance their estate but rather procuring more danger to themselues the more they excell in any noble oâ— principall qualitie THeir Courts of Ciuill Iustice for matters of Contract and other of like sort are of three kinds the one being subiect vnto the other by way of appeale The lowest Court that seemeth to be appointed for some ease to the Subiects is the Office of the Gubnoy Starust that signifieth an Alderman and of the Sotskoy Starust or Bayliffe of the Soake or Hundred whereof I spake before in the ordering of the Prouinces These may end matters among their neighbours within their Soake or seuerall Hundred where they are appointed vnder the Dukes and Dyacks of the Prouinces to whom the parties may remoue their matter if they cannot be agreed by the said Gubnoy or Sotskoy Starust The second is kept in the head Townes of euery Prouince or Shire by the said Dukes and Dyacks that are Deputies to the foure Lords of the Chetfirds as before was said From these Courts they may appeale and remoue their Suits to the chiefe Court that is kept at the Mosko where are resident the Officers of the foure Chetfirds These are the chiefe Iustices or Iudges euery of them in all Ciuill matters that grow within their seuerall Chetfird or Quarter and may be either commenced originally before them or prosecuted out of the inferiour Courts of the Shires by way of appeale Their commencing and proceeding in Ciuill actions is on this manner First the Plaintife putteth vp his Supplication wherein he declareth the effect of his Cause or wrong done vnto him Whereupon is granted vnto him a Wepis or Warrant which he deliuereth to the Prastaue or Sergeant to doe the arrest vpon
is the greater the Crueltie or Intemperancie that is vsed in that Countrey I will not speake of it because it is so foule and not to be named The whole Countrey ouerfloweth with all sinne of that kind And no maruell as hauing no Law to restraine Whoredomes Adulteries and like vncleannesse of life As for the truth of his word as some say the Russe neither beleeueth any thing that another man speaketh nor speaketh any thing himselfe worthy to bee beleeued These qualities make them very odious to all their Neighbours specially to the Tartars that account themselues to be honest and just in comparison of the Russe It is supposed by some that doe well consider of the State of both Countries that the offence they take at the Russe Gouernment and their manner of behauiour hath beene a great cause to keepe the Tartar still Heathenish and to mislike as he doth of the Christian profession To the Reader I Thought good here to giue an account of my course Hauing spent much time in that other World so little known to This Tartaria and China that the parts least known might be made best known I haue comne neerer home to Russia and her neighbours the neerer or Chrim Tartars the Samoyeds and others whereof Doctor Fletchers Story being so elaborate where though the centre bee Russia yet his circumference is more generall and by men iudicious which haue in those parts enioyed most honourable employment and exactest intelligence commended I haue giuen him the first place And if some terme bee mollified or some few things omitted it is not to defraud Thee of the Historie which for substance is whole as by perùsall is found but not to defraud our industrious Countrymen in their merchandizing mysterie wherein some perhaps would hence seeke occasion of vndermining For like cause I haue giuen the next place to Captaine Edge the one our gowned Generall by Land the other in his generall Historie also by Sea as deserued by his ten yeeres Voyages and his other Merits As for the question of Willoughbies Land I list not to dispute it but I thinke neither Hollander as is also confessed by the French Booke called The Historie of Spitsberghe on the Dutch behalfe nor any other haue found any such Lands as his Storie describes but some part of those which now with a generall name wee call Greenland howsoeuer the makers of Maps and Globes may create Lands and Ilands at pleasure especially in vnknowne places and the first setled ordinary and orderly Voyages for the Whale-killing and the most for discouerie in those parts haue beene made by the English their gaynes awakening the Hollander to that enterprise and that also as elsewhere in the World by English guides That which I most grieue at in this contention is the detention of further discouery to the Pole and beyond where it is not likely to be colder then here and at the Arctike circle as in the Red Sea Ormus and the Countrey about Balsara on this side the Tropike is found greater heat then vnder the Line it selfe the desire of gayne euery where causing debate and consequently losse of the best gaine both in Earth and Heauen Merchants might get the World and giue vs the World better if Charitie were their Needle Grace their Compas Heauen their Hauen and if they would take their height by obseruing the Sunne of Righteousnesse in the Scripture-astrolabe and sounding their depth by a Leading Faith and not by a Leadden bottomlesse Couetousnesse that is if they would seeke the Kingdome of Heauen first all things should bee added they should finde World enough in the Indian and Polare Worlds and wee and they should arriue at better knowledge of the Creator and Creatures And of all men that I may a little further answere that Historie of Spitsberghe I would be glad to see agreement betwixt the English and Dutch both because I honour that Nation as hath appeared in this whole worke of Voyages in which and of which the Dutch are so great a part and because in Region Religion Originall Nation ingenious and ingenuous disposition and that which here brings both on our Stage the glory of Nauigation they are so neere vs and worthie to be honored It is true that euery where the English hath beene the elder Brother a Doctor and Ductor to the Hollanders in their Martiall feats at home and Neptunian exploits abroad that I mention not their permitted wealthie fishing on the English shoare whom had they followed with as true and due respect as with happie successe quarrels had not so distracted and distorted both sides I appeale to Dutch ingenuitie if euer they did any thing wholly New but giue names in remotest Nauigations without English lights Columbus an Italian had the honour of finding America and the Spaniards the happinesse But for the North America and the whole Northern New World Cabota borne or bred at least in England was either Actor or Author For the Dutch I haue shewed for the compassing of the World and for the East Indies before that our Drake Candish Mellis Dauis Adams c. were their Fore-runners Pilots and Guides Yea their New-found Land Voyages and all the Northerne coast of America were discouered by Sebastian Cabota and other Englishmen I adde their New Straights Southwards from those of Magelane were discouered before by Drake as in the Map of Sir Francis Drakes Voyage presented to Queene Elizabeth still hanging in His Maiesties Gallerie at White Hall neere the Priuie Chamber and by that Map wherein is Cabotas Picture the first and great Columbus for the Northerne World may be seene In which Map the South of the Magelane Straits is not a Continent but many Ilands and the very same which they haue stiled in their Straits Barneuels Ilands had long before beene named by the most auspicate of Earthly Names and let themselues be Iudges with which the other is as little worthie to be mentioned as a kind Mother and an vnkind Traitor The Name Elizabeth is expressed in golden Letters with a golden Crowne Garter and Armes affixed The words ascribed thereunto are these Cum omnes ferè hanc partem Aâ—stralem Continentem esse putent pro certo sciant Insulas esse Nauigantibus peruias earumque australissimam ELIZABETHAM à D. Francisco Draco Inuentore dictam esse The same height of 57. degrees and South-easterly situation from the Magelan Westerne Mouth giue further euidence And my learned friend Master Brigges told me that he hath seene this plot of Drakes Voyage cut in Siluer by a Dutchman Michael Mercator Nephew to Gerardus many yeeres before Scouten or Maire intended that Voyage As for Noua Zemla by Stephen Burrough and others long before discouered they also haue giuen new names which I enuie not onely I feare a vae soli and hate ingratitude both ours and theirs But too much of this Next to this more generall Discourse shall follow the
the breaking out of the ciuill warres among the Moscouites in the meane season I am of opinion that in this countrey is the beginning and the bounds of the Kingdome of Cataia which bordereth vpon China Yet I feare the Moscouites will lose their labour if they euer returne thither But time will declare the euent hereof Yet for all this by the commandement of the Gouernours euen in the time of this warre there was a voyage made into those parts many Inhabitants of Siberia being employed in the same who passing ouer the Riuer Ieniscé trauelled further on foot diuers of whom died by the way being not accustomed to hardnesse These also found many things agreeable to the relation of the former And they likewise did oftentimes heare the â—owling of brazen Bells But vpon the disswasions of the Tingoesies they durst not passe the Riuer But they stayed awhile in the Mountains out of which they saw oftentimes flames of fire ascend they brought thence some small quantitie of bâ—â—mstone and oâ— touch-stone so that some 〈…〉 those hills Moreouer the Gouernour of Siberia caused certaine 〈…〉 to bee made and commanded them to â—aile downe by the shoare of the Riuer Obi in the first beginning of the spring and to coast the same continually till they came to the Riuer of Ieniscé wherein theâ— should afterward saile certaine dayes discharging it selfe as hee thought into the sea He senâ— others likewise to trauell ouer Land giuing commandement to both of them before they went To the Land-men that they should stay by the Riuers side vntill the Boates arriued and that if they did not arriue there then after one yeere they should returne To them that were in the Boates ouer whom he made one Lucas Captayne he gaue in charge diligently to discouer the Coast and whatsoeuer thereon was worthy to bee obserued They did as they were enjoyned And the Mariners arriuing at the mouth of the Riuer Ieniscé met with certayne of them which trauelled ouer Land which were sent before in Boats and Skiffes downe the Riuer In their journey they found all things in a manner to fall out as the Gouernour had fore-told But Lucas being dead by the way and some others they thought is the best course for both of the Companies to returne the same way that they came And when they came home into Siberia they declared vnto the Gouernour the whole successe of their journey which caused the same to be sent vnto the Emperour And this Relation is layed vp among the Treasures of Moscouia vntill these Warres bee ended and then as it is thought it shall bee examined But wee feare that by this time it is perished which if it be so truly it iâ— much to be lamented in regard that they haue found so many rare and sundry Ilands Riuers Fowles and wild beasts and thaâ— farre beyond the Riuer Ieniscé Moreouer the Riuer Taes falleth into the Riuer of Obi springing as it seemeth 〈◊〉 of placeâ— neere vnto the Riuer Ieniscé and out of a great Wood in those parts out of which Wood another Riuer seemeth also to haue his Fountayne not farre from the Riuer Taes and falleth into the Riuer of Ieniscé So that euen from Obi they trauell by water along the Coast of the Samoieds and passing only two leagues ouer Lands they meet with the Riuer Torgalfe downe which with the streame they fall into the Riuer Ieniscé And this is a very easie way and lately found out by the Samoieds and the Tingoesies Doubtlesse it is to be lamented that the Hollanders haue not had good successe in passing the Streight of Way-gats but surely they know not the right way to attempt the same For if they attempt it by shippes though it were an hundred times it would hardly once take effect But if they would throughly discouer these Countreyes then they should stay two or three yeares about Petsora and Way-gats where they should not want good Hauens nor Victualls and from thence they should send out some with small Boates to 〈…〉 parts by the very example of the Russes whose Friendship if they would procure with themselues they should easily find Guides and Pilots and so at length all these Coasts would throughly bee discouered Doubtlesse goodly Countreyes would bee found out and not only Ilands 〈◊〉 the Mayâ—â— Land also Yet there is just cause to doubt whether America aboue China joyne not with some of the three parts of the old World As wee see Africa joyned vnto Asia with a narrow necke of Land vpon the Redde Sea And doubtlesse this seemeth likely to bee true For who can affirme that they bee separated Sauing that they haue found some things â—n the Writings of prophane Authors whereby it may be prooued and bring many Arguments from thence And though these parts bee not joyned together yet they must needs bee diuided with some small Streight §. III. A Note of the Trauels of the Russes ouer Land and by Water from Mezen neere the Bay of Saint NICHOLAS to Pechora to Obi to Yenisse and to the Riuer Geta euen vnto the Frontiers of Cataia brought into England by Master IOHN MERICKE the English Agent for Moscouie and translated out of the Russe by RICHARD FINCH FRom Mezen to Pechora is a thousand Verstâ— and the same is trauelled with Reyne â—eâ—re From Pechora to Montuaia Reca or The troubled Riuer and to the parts of Mongâ—sey it is trauelled in Boats called Coaches in seuen Weekes At this place is a certayne Ouer-hal where the foresaid Boats or Vessels are drawne ouer by men 〈◊〉 off Montuaia Reca or The troubled Riuer passing this Ouer-hall they enter into Zelena Reca or the Greene Riuer From Zelena Reca or the Greene Riuer to Obi is three Weekes rowing running downe with the Current but with a faire wind it is no more but three dayes and three nights Iourney From Obi to Taes Castle is a Weekes rowing From Taes Castle to the Riuer Yenissey vpon long Woodden Pattens through the Snow is three Weekes trauaile But through the deepe Channell in the aforeâ—said Vessels called Coaches is foure Weekes trauayle It bringeth them to a place called Toorou-hansko Zeemouia that is The Wintering place of one called Toorouhan Hauing trauelled to this Toorou-hansko Zeemouia they come out on the backe side to a place called The Riuer of Tingoosie being a stonie of Rocky Riuer which falleth into the Riuer Yenisey In that place liue the Tingoâ—sies and people of the afore-said Land of Tangoosi Beyond them liue a people called The Boulashees And beyond the Boulashees inhabit the people of Seelahee These people report concerning Yenisey the Great and Tenisey the Lesser That beyond this fore-said Yenisey inhabit the people Imbaki and the Ostaki which are a kind of Tartarâ— Also beyond the Tingoâ—sies is a Riuer called Geta which was trauailed by the Russes of Vasheâ— and Russes of Pechora These men by report liued in the parts
endeuours you may attayne vnto But if you shall chance by extremitie of Ice or otherwise to be put backe from your discouerie or from obtayning commodities vpon the coast of Greenland whereby to lade both ships then we would haue you stay at Cherie Iland or other Ilands thereabout so long time as possibly you can and as the season of the yeere will permit you to finish the rest of your voyage And if there bee sufficiens lading betweene you both to lade the bigger ship wee would haue her to bee dispatched from thence with all speede and you to stay there as long as you may conueniently for the good of the Voyage which the more beneficiall it prooueth the more it will be for your credit and we will not be vnthankefull at your returne We would haue you at euery place of meeting with the Mary Margaret to deliuer to Thomas Edge our seruant a particular Note of what goods you haue taken into your ship And at your last lading place we would haue you make a generall inuoyce of the whole Cargason of goods laden in your ship and hauing signed the same to seale it vp and direct the same to our Agent resident in London And if you doe câ—ance to meete with the Mary Margaret at or after your last Port of lading we would haue you deliuer a Copy of the said inuoyce to our seruant Thomas Edge for our better satisfaction what casualtie soeuer might happen by the way and at any hand to haue such an inuoyce euer readie sealed and for mortalities sake put vp in some sure place of custodie We hâ—ld it fit that you Ionas Poole should be as grand Pilot in this voyage to the Northward And therefore we would haue you to accompany the great ship and to bring her to the places of fishing for the Whale or to any other place which you out of your experience shall thinke fit to bring her for the good of the Voyage and benefit of the Aduenturers And our will is That Steuen Bennet Master of the said great ship together with the rest of the company in that ship doe follow the said Ionas Pooles directions as they will answer the contrarie vpon their perils at their comming home And for that heretofore the Company haue beene abused by lewd and bad people who haue imbeseled part of that which by our great charges and aduentures hath beene obtayned Our minde and will is That you Ionas Poole doe make search in your owne ship that none of our Whale finnes Morses teeth Oyle or any other commodities gathered at our charge be imbeseled or carried away by any of the Mariners who will looke to haue the vttermost of their wages paid them and to bee fed with meate and drinke sufficient And God sending you into England we would haue you suffer none of your people to goe on shoare vnsearched neither would we haue you to leaue the ship till your comming into the Riuer of Thames that we giue you order to the contrarie And if you chance to be winde bound vpon the coast you may send vp one of your people with your Letter but not to come your selfe on shoare till our farther order as aforesaid The like order we would haue Steuen Bennet to vse in his ship by vertue of this our Commission which we haue ordered to Thomas Edge our seruant to see performed accordingly And in as much as we haue agreed here with a Tanner for all the Morses hides which wee kill and bring into England and haue sent men of purpose for the flaying salting and ordâ—â—ing of the same whereof we haue appointed one to goe in your ship We would haue you reserue the said hides and floore your ship therewith in stead of ballast And if you obtayne a greater quantitie then you can bring away with you hauing alwayes regard to commodities of more value which are Oyle Teeth and Whales finnes that none of them be left behind We would haue you leaue the said ouerplus of hides in some conuenient place till the next yeere that we send more store of shipping A Commission for Thomas Edge our seruant appointed to goe as our Factor in the Ship called the Mary Margaret of the burthen of one hundred and fiftie Tunnes for the killing of the Whale and Morses vpon the coast of Greenland or any other place in the North Ocean Giuen the 31. of March 1611. YOu are not ignorant of our imploying you heretofore in two seuerall Voyages to Cherie Iland The first whereof by reason of one Duppers going thither together with certaine men of Hull glutting the said place prooued to vs a thousand pound losse of our principall As also in the second Voyage because you could not come to set footing vpon the said Iland by reason of the abundance of Ice lying round about the same sixteene leagues compasse till the twentie eight of Iuly by which occasion our whole charge of setting out that yeeres aduenture had beene lost if the refuge to lade our ship backe againe from Saint Michael the Archangel in Russia had not holpen vs yet notwithstanding that helpe wee lost by that voyage aboue fiue hundred pounds We entring into due consideration of the premisses doe not impute the cause of these our losses vnto you but to the accidents then happening contrarie to our expectation yet these losses growing vpon vs in the times of your imployment we can doe no lesse then put you in minde thereof to the intent to incourage and stirre vp your minde to doe your vttermost indeuour to further the businesse in this your third imployment that we may recouer our selues of the losses formerly sustained And for that end we haue made choice of you againe to goe as our Factor in the Ship Mary Margaret of one hundred and fiftie Tunnees the Master being Steuen Bennet for the killing of the Whale And to that end as you well know haue bin at charge of procuring of sixe meâ— of Saint Iohn de Luz accustomed to that function whose names are as followeth videlicet Iuan de Bacoyne Iuan de Agerre Martin de Karre Marsene de Horisada Domingo de Sarria and Adam de Bellocke which men wee would haue to be vsed very kindely and friendly during this their voyage whereby being strangers and leauing their owne Countrie to doe vs seruice they may haue no iust cause of complaint but rather to be incouraged to doe vs seruice hereafter if there be cause And although it be our meaning they should be encouraged by all good and curteous vsage to be readie to doe vs seruice yet we will haue you together with our owne people and Mariners imployed in this Voyage to obserue and diligently put in practise the executing of that businesse of striking the Whale as well as they And likewise to know the better sorts of Whales from the worser whereby in their striking they may choose the good and leaue the bad And
number of three hundred men of which I the Relator of this was one were put into one ship belonging to Sweden and came from thence for vs. We were assaulted with a great tempest and were tossed so long that all our victuals were almost spent the miserie of which threw vs into more desperate feares now were wee assaulted by double deaths Famine and Shipwrack what course to take for our reliefe no man presently knew Continue without foode it was impossible and as impossible was iâ— for vs to recouer the Land in any short time without the assured destruction of vs all At this season our Commanders were these Lieutenant Benson Lieutenant Walton who was Prouost Martiall of the field and an Ancient of the Colonels companie The common Souldiers vowed and resolued to compell the Mariners seeing the present miseries and no hopes promising better to set vs all on shoare vpon the first Land that could be discouered Our Commanders did what they could by disâ—wasion to alter this generall resolution because they feared it would bee the losse of the greatest part of our Companies if they came once to bee scattered and besides they knew that it would redound to their dishonour and shame if they should not discharge the trust imposed vpon them by our Captaines which trust was to conduct vs and land vs before whilest our Chieftaines remayned a while behinde in England to take vp the rest of our Companies Yet all this notwithstanding Land being discouered there was no eloquence in the world able to keep vs aboord our ship but euery man swore if the Master of the ship would not set vs on the shoare the sailes should be taken into our owne hands and what was resolued vpon touching present landing should in despite of danger be effected Vpon this the Master of the ship and the Mariners told vs that if we put to land in that place we should all either perish for want of victuals which were not to bee had in that Countrie or else should haue our throats cut by the people Wee resolued rather to trie our bad fortunes on the land and to famish there if that kind of death must needes attend vpon vs then to perish on the Seas which we knew could affoord vs no such mercy and on shoare wee went as fast as possibly we could When our Officers saw that there was no remedie nor force to detayne vs aboord they then disheartned vs no longer but to our great comforts told it that the Master of the ship which thing hee himselfe likewise openly confessed knew both the Land and Gouernour thereof as indeed we proued afterwards he did and therefore desired they all our companies not to misse-behaue themselues toward the people for that it was an Iland called Iuthland vnder the Dominion of the King of Denmarke but subiect to the command of a Lord who vnder the King as his Substitute was the Gouernour And that we might be the better drawne to a ciuill behauiour towards the Inhabitants our Officers further told vs that they would repaire to the Lord Gouernour of the Countrie and acquaint him with the cause of our vnexpected landing there vpon which we all promised to offer no violence to the people neither was that promise violated because we found the Inhabitants tractable and as quiet towards vs as we to them yet the greater numbers of them ran away with feare at the first sight of vs because as afterward they reported it could not bee remembred by any of them that they euer either beheld themselues or euer heard any of their ancestors report that any strange people had landed in those places and parts of the Iland for they thought it impossible as they told vs that any ship should ride so neâ—ee the shoare as ours did by reason of the dangerous Sands Our Officers so soone as they were at land went to the Gouernour of the Iland whilest the Souldiers who stayed behind them ran to the houses of the Ilanders of purpose to talke with the people and at their hands to buy victuals for a present reliefe but when wee came among them they could neither vnderstand vs nor we them so that the Market was spoiled and wee could get nothing for our money yet by such signes as wee could make they vnderstood our wants pitied them and bestowed vpon vs freely a little of such things as they had In the end a happy meanes of our reliefe was found out by a Souldier amongst vs who was a Dane by birth but his education hauiâ—g beene in England no man knew him to be other then an English man This Dane made vse of 〈◊〉 owne natiue language to the good both of himselfe and vs certifying the people who the rather beleeued him because he spake in their knowne tongue of the cause that compelled vs to land vpon their Coast and that we intended no mischiefe violence or money to which report of his they giuing credit stood in lesse feare of vs then before and thereupon furnished vs with all such necessaries as the Countrie affoorded to sustaine our wants The foode which wee bought of them was onely fish and a kinde of course bread exceeding cheape Of which foode there was such plentie that for the value of three pence wee had as much fish as twentie men could eate at a meale and yet none of the worst sorts of fish but euen of the very best and daintiest as Mackrels and Lobsters and such like In which our trading with the poore simple people we found them so ignorant that many yea most of them regarded not whether you gaue them a Counter or a Shilling for the bigger the piece was the more fish they would giue for it but besides fish wee could get no other sustenance from them or at least could not vnderstand that they had any other But obserue what happened in the meane time that we were thus in traffique with the Ilanders for victuals our Officers as before is said being gone to the Lord Gouernour who lay about twelue English miles from the Sea side the Master of our ship on a sudden hoysed vp sailes and away he went leauing one of his owne men at shoare who accompanied our Officers as their guide through the Iland The cause of the ships departure did so much the more amaze vs by reason it was so vnexpected and the reason thereof vnknowne to vs But wee imagined the Master of the ship and Mariners feaâ—ed to receiue vs into the Vessell againe because some of our men at their being at Sea threatned the Saylers and offered them abuses before they could be brought to set vs on land On the next day following the Lord Gouernour of the Iland came to vs bringing our Officers along with him yet not being so confident of vs but that for auoyding of any dangers that might happen he came strongly guarded with a troupe of Horse-men well armed And vpon his
September the wind still continued at South-west blowing a very stiffe gale we steered away East and by South making an East way about fiftie leagues This day at noone we were in the latitude of 60. degrees 45. minutes Wednesday the second faire weather with the wind at South-west wee made an East and by South way halfe a point Southerly about fortie two leagues being at noone in the latitude of 60. degrees 10. minutes This day I obserued and found the Compasse to be varied three degrees to the Westward Thursday the third day faire weather the wind at South-west wee made an East by North way at noone about twentie leagues This day in the after-noone the winde being at North North-west it blew a very stiffe gale for two Watches and toward seuen or eight of the clocke the storme so increased that our shippe was not able to beare any saile And all that night wee lay at hull Friday the fourth the storme still continued and we could beare no saile all that day till about foure of the clocke in the afternoone at which time we set our fore course and our maine course The night before in the storme we lost The Harts-ease This day wee made some twelue leagues East and by North. And we fell to lee-ward lying at hull some fiue leagues South by West Saturday the fift calme weather but very thicke and close all the forenoone the wind continued still at North North-west we making from the time wee set our courses the day before about twentie leagues East halfe Southerly beeing at noone in the latitude of 59. degrees 53. minutes Sunday the sixt faire weather the wind at North North-west we steering away East North-east and East and by North made an East by North way halfe Northerly some 29. leagues being at noone in 60. degrees 10. minutes This day the Compasse was varied to the East sixe degrees This afternoone it was almost calme and wee sounded and found ground at sixtie eight fathomes This Euening about ten of the clocke the wind came to the South-east Munday the seuenth very faire weather the wind South-east and South-east by East wee tacked in the morning to the North-ward and ranne East North-east and East by North vntill seuen or eight in the afternoone at which time we tacked vp to the Southward and went away South-west till toward twelue a clocke that night twentiâ— leagues Tuesday the eight in our morning Watch I found our selues to be in 59. degrees 20. minutes And about fiue of the clocke I espied Land which we supposed to bee the Iles of Orkney as afterward we found them to be the same And toward three of the clocke we came to an Anchor in a Channell running betweene the Ilands where the people came to vs and brought vs Hennes Geese and Sheepe and sold them to vs for old clothes and shooes desiring rather them then money There are about eighteene of these Ilands which are called by the name of the Orkeneis Wednesday the ninth it was thicke weather and the winde so Easterly that wee could not weigh Anchor Thursday the tenth faire weather and the wind came to the North-west and about noone we weighed Anchor and toward fiue of the clocke we were cleere off the Iles. The Channell for the most part lyeth North-west and South-east All that night we stood away South-east Friday the eleuenth faire weather with the wind at North North-west And about nine of the clocke in the morning we steered away South South-east At which time wee had sight of Buquham-nesse And about two of the clocke we were thwart of it The seuenteenth we came to an Anchor in Hull Road for which the Lord bee praysed Here I thinke it not amisse briefly to relate the state and manners of the people of Groenland forasmuch as I could learne As also what likelihood there is of a passe into the Sea which lyeth vpon Tartarie and China The North-west part of Gronland is an exceeding high Land to the Sea-ward and almost nothing but Mountaynes which are wonderfull high all within the Land as farre as wee could perceiue and they are all of stone some of one colour and some of another and all glistering as though they were of rich value but indeed they are not worth any thing For our Gold-smith Iames Carlile tryed very much of the Vre and found it to bee nothing worth If there bee any Mettall it lyeth so low in the Mountaynes that it cannot bee well come by There are some Rocks in these Mountaynes which are exceeding pure Stone finer and whiter then Alabaster The sides of these Mountaynes continually are couered with Snow for the most part and especially the North sides and the Noth sides of the Valleyes hauing a kind of Mosse and in some places Grasse with a little branch running all along the ground bearing a little blacke Berrie it runneth along the ground like Three-leafed Grasse heere in England There are few or no Trees growing as farre as wee could perceiue but in one place some fortie miles within the Land in a Riuer which wee called Balls Riuer There I saw on the South-side of an high Mountayne which we went vp and found as it were a yong Groue of small Wood some of it sixe or seuen foot high like a Coppice in England that had beene some two or three yeeres cut And this was the most Wood that wee saw growing in this Countrey being some of it a kind of Willow Iuniper and such like We found in many places much Angelica We suppose the people eate the Roots thereof for some causes For we haue seene them haue many of them in their Boats There are great store of Foxes in the Ilands and in the Mayne of sundry colours And there are a kind of Hares as white as Snow with their furre or haire very long Also there be Deere but they are most commonly vp within the Mayne very farre because the people doe so much hunt them that come neere the Sea I saw at one time seuen of them together which were all that wee did see in the Countrey But our men haue bought diuers Coates of the people made of Deeres skinnes and haue bought of their Hornes also Besides we haue diuers times seene the footsteps of some beast whose foote was bigger then the foot of a great Oxe Furthermore the Inhabitants haue a kinde of Dogges which they keepe at their Houses and Tents which Dogges are almost like vnto Wolues liuing by fish as the Foxes doe But one thing is very strange as I thought for the Pizzels of both Dogges and Foxes are bone The people all the Summer time vse nothing but fishing drying their fish and Seales flesh vpon the Rockes for their Winter Prouision Euery one both man and woman haue each of them a Boate made with long small pieces of Firre-wood couered with Seales skinnes very well drest and sewed so
better nor fairer For that it is rare and extraordinarie to see a Country where it neuer raines nor thunders men desire naturally to know the cause of this strangenesse The reason which some giue that haue neerly looked into it is that vpon that Coast there rise no vapours sufficient to engender raine for want of matter but onely that there bee small and light vapours which cannot breede any other then mists and deawes as wee see in Europe oftentimes vapours doe rise in the morning which are not turned into raine but into mists onely the which growes from the substance which is not grosse and sufficient enough to turne to raine They say the reason why that which happens but some times in Europe falls out continually vpon the Coast of Peru is for that this Region is very drie and yeelds no grosse vapours The drinesse is knowne by the great abundance of Sands hauing neither Wells nor Fountaines but of fifteene Sâ—ades deepe which is the height of a man or more and that is neere vnto Riuers the water whereof piercing into the Land giues them meanes to make Wells So as it hath beene found by experience that the course of Riuers being turned the Wells haue beene dried vp vntill they returned to their ordinarie course and they giue this reason for a materiall cause of this effect but they haue another efficient which is no lesse considerable and that is the great height of the Sierre which comming along the Coast shadowes the Lanos so as it suffers no winde to blow from the Land but aboue the tops of these Mountaines By meanes whereof there reignes no winde but that from the Sea which finding no opposite doth not presse nor straine forth the vapours which rise to engender raine so as the shadow of the Mountaines keepes the vapours from thickning and conuerts them all into mists There are some experiences agree with this discourse for that it raines vpon some small Hills along the Coast which are least shadowed as the Rocks of Atico and Arequipa It hath rained in some yeeres when as the Northerne or Easterly windes haue blowne yea all the time they haue continued as it happened in seuentie eight vpon the Lanos of Trugillo where it rained abundantly the which they had not seene in many ages before Moreouer it raines vpon the same Coast in places where as the Easterly or Northerne windes be ordinarie as in Guayaquil and in places where as the Land riseth much and turnes from the shadow of the Mountaines as in those that are beyond Ariqua Some discourse in this manner but let euery one thinke as he please It is most certaine that comming from the Mountaines to the Vallies they doe vsually see as it were two Heauens one cleere and bright aboue and the other obscure and as it were a gray vaile spread vnderneath which couers all the Coast and although it raine not yet this mist is wonderfull profitable to bring forth grasse and to raise vp and nourish the seed for although they haue plentie of water which they draw from the Pooles and Lakes yet this moisture from Heauen hath such a vertue that ceasing to fall vpon the Earth it breedes a great discommoditie and defect of graine and seedes And that which is more worthy of admiration the drie and barren Sands are by this deaw so beautified with grasse and flowers as it is a pleasing and agreeable sight and very profitable for the feeding of Cattell as we see in the Mountaine called Sandie neere to the Citie of Kings New Spaine passeth all other Prouinces in pasturâ—s which breedes infinite troopes of Horse Kine Sheepe and other Cattell It abounds in fruit and all kinde of graine To conclude it is a Country the best furnished and most accomplished at the Indies Yet Peru doth surpasse it in one thing which is Wine for that there growes store and good and they daily multiply and increase the which doth grow in very hot Vallies where there are waterings And although there be Vines in new Spaine yet the grape comes not to his maturitie fit to make Wine The reason is for that it raines there in Iuly and August when as the grape ripens and therefore it comes not to his perfection And if any one through curiositie would take the paines to make wine it should be like to that of Genua and Lombardie which is very small and sharpe hauing a taste like vnto Verjuyce The Ilands which they call Barlouente which bee Hispaniola Cuba Port Ricco and others thereabouts are beautified with many greene pastures and abound in Cattell as Neat and Swine which are become wilde The wealth of these Ilands bee their Sugar-workes and Hides There is much Cassia fistula and Ginger It is a thing incredible to see the multitude of these merchandizes brought in one fleete being in a manner impossible that all Europe should waste so much They likewise bring wood of an excellent qualitie and colour as Ebone and others which serue for buildings and Ioyners There is much of that wood which they call Lignum sanctum or Guage fit to cure the pox All these Ilands and others thereabouts which are many haue a goodly and pleasant aspect for that throughout the yeere they are beautified with grasse and greene trees so as they cannot discerne when it is Autumne or Summer by reason of continuall moisture ioyned to the heat of the burning Zone And although this Land bee of a great circuit yet are there few dwellings for that of it selfe it engenders great Arcabutos as they call them which be Groues or very thicke Coppises and on the Playnes there are many marishes and bogs They giue yet another notable reason why they are so smally peopled for that there haue remayned few naturall Indians through the inconsideratnesse and disorder of the first Conquerors that peopled it and therefore for the most part they vse Negros but they cost deare being very fit to till the Land There growes neither bread nor wine in these Ilands for that the too great fertilitie and the vice of the soile suffers them not to seede but casts all forth in grasse very vnequally There are no Oliue trees at the least they beare no Oliues but many greene leaues pleasant to the view which beare no fruit The bread they vse is of Caçaue whereof we shall hereafter speake There is gold in the Riuers of these Ilands which some draw forth but in small quantitie I was little lesse then a yeere in these Ilands and as it hath beene told me of the mayne Land of the Indies where I haue not beene as in Florida Nicaragua Guatimala and others it is in a manner of this temper as I haue described yet haue I not set downe euery particular of Nature in these Prouinces of the firme Land hauing no perfect knowledge thereof The Country which doth most resemble Spaine and the Regions of Europe in all the West Indies
Portugall and leape out of Ouiedos Spanish ship for who will not feare such dreadfull shipwrackes as this Booke the last which hath come to our hands is full of and swim ashoare or seeke other passage with Acosta in a new or rather an old Voyage for Discouerie of the Mexican Antiquities CHAP. IIII. Mexican Antiquities gathered out of the Writings of IOSEPHVS ACOSTA a learned Iesuite EVery Historie well written is profitable to the Reader For as the Wiseman saith That which hath beene is and that which shall bee is that which hath beene Humane things haue much resemblance in themselues and some grow wise by that which happeneth to others There is no Nation how barbarous soeuer that haue not something in them good and worthy of commendation nor Common-weale so well ordered that hath not something blame-worthy and to bee controlled If therefore there were no other fruit in the Historie and Narration of the Deeds and Gests of the Indians but this common vtilitie to be a Relation or Historie of things the which in the effect of truth haue happened it deserueth to bee receiued as a profitable thing neither ought it to bee reiected for that it concernes the Indians As wee see that those Authors that treate of naturall things write not onely of generous Beasts notable and rare Plants and of Precious Stones but also of wilde Beasts common Hearbes and base and vulgar Stones for that there is alwayes in them some properties worthy obseruation If therefore there were nothing else in this Discourse but that it is a Historie and no fables nor fictions it were no vnworthy Subiect to be written or read There is yet another more particular reason which is that we ought herein to esteeme that which is worthy of memorie both for that it is a Nation little esteemed and also a Subiect different from that of our Europe as these Nations bee wherein wee should take most pleasure and content to vnderstand the ground of their beginning their manner of life with their happie and vnhappie Aduentures And this subiect is not onely pleasant and agreeable but also profitable especially to such as haue the charge to rule and gouerne them for the knowledge of their Acts inuites vs to giue credit and doth partly teach how they ought to be intreated yea it takes away much of that common and foolish contempt wherein they of Europe hold them supposing that those Nations haue 〈◊〉 feeling of reason For in truth wee cannot cleere this errour better than by the true report of the Acts and deeds of this people I will therefore as briefly as I can intreat of the beginning proceedings and notable deeds of the Mexicanes whereby wee may know the time and the disposition that the high God would choose to send vnto these Nations the Light of the Gospell of Iesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord whom I beseech to second our small labour that it may bee to the glorie of his Diuine greatnesse and some profit to these people to whom he hath imparted the Law of his holy Gospell §. I Of the ancient Inhabitants of New Spaine and of the sixe Linages of the Nauatlacas Of the Mexican Exodus and Aduentures by the way the foundation of Mexico their first King and Tribute THe aneient and first Inhabitants of those Prouinces which wee call New Spaine were men very barbarous and sauage which liued onely by hunting for this reason they were called Chichimecas They did neither sow nor till the ground neither liued they together for all their exercise was to hunt wherein they were very expert They liued in the roughest parts of the Mountaynes beast-like without any policie and they went all naked They hunted wilde Beasts Hares Conies Weezels Mowles wild Cats and Birds yea vncleane beasts as Snakes Lizards Locusts and Wormes whereon they fed with some hearbs and roots They slept in the Mountaynes in caues and in bushes and the wiues likewise went a hunting with their husbands leauing their young children in a little panier of Reeds tyed to the boughes of a Tree which desired not to sucke vntill they were returned from hunting They had no Superiours nor did acknowledge or worship any gods neither had any manner of Ceremonies or Religion There is yet to this day in New Spaine of this kind of people which liue by their Bowes and Arrowes the which are very hurtfull for that they gather together in troopes to doe mischiefe and to rob neither can the Spaniards by force or cunning reduce them to any policie or obedience for hauing no Townes nor places of residence to fight with them were properly to hunt after sauage beasts which scatter and hide themselues in the most rough and couered places of the Mountaynes Such is their manner of liuing euen to this day in many Prouinces of the Indies Those in New Spaine which they call Ottomies were of this sort beeing commonly poore Indians inhabiting a rough and barren Land and yet they are in good numbers and liue together with some order and such as doe know them find them no lesse apt and capeable of matters of Christian Religion then others which are held to be more rich and better gouerned Comming therefore to our subiect the Chichimeca◠and Ottomies which were the first Inhabitants of New Spaine for that they did neither till nor sowe the Land left the best and most fertile of the Countrey vnpeopled which Nations that came from farre did possesse whom they called Nauatalcas for that it was a more ciuill and politicke Nation this word signifies a people that speakes well in respect of other barbarous Nations without reason These second peoplers Nauatalcas came from other farre Countreyes which lye toward the North where now they haue discouered a Kingdome they call New Mexico There are two Prouinces in this Countrey the one called Aztlan which is to say a place of Herons the other Tuculhuacan which signifies a Land of such whose Grandfathers were diuine The Inhabitants of these Prouinces haue their houses their Lands tilled Gods Customes and Ceremonies with like order and gouernment to the Nauatalcas and are diuided into seuen Tribes or Nations and for that they haue a custome in this Prouince that euery one of these Linages hath his place and priuate Territorie the Nauatalcas paint their beginning and first Territorie in figure of a Caue and say that they came forth of seuen Caues to come and people the Land of Mexico whereof they make mention in their Historie where they paint seuen Caues and men comming forth of them By the supputation of their Bookes it is aboue eight hundred yeeres since these Nauatalcas came forth of their Countrey reducing which to our accompt was about the yeere of our Lord 720. When they left their Countrey to come to Mexico they stayed fourescore yeeres vpon the way and the cause of this their long stay in their Voyage was that their Gods
which they had taken captiues opening their brests and plucking out their hearts sprinkling their bloud in the Ayre their fellowes looking on and not able to reuenge it They slew likewise many Indians foure Spaniards of Aluarado's company whom they ate in the open sight of the Army The Mexicans danced drank themselues drunke made bonefires strucke vp their Drums and made all solemne expressings of ioy Dread Disdaine and all the Furies that Passion or Compassion could coniure vp had now filled the Spaniards hearts and their Indian partakers and Cortes that hitherto had hoped to reserue some part of the Citie now did the vtmost that Rage aed Reuenge could effect helped no lesse within with Famine and Pestilence then with Sword and Fire without At last Mexico is razed the Earth and Water sharing betwixt them what the Fire had left and all which had sometime challenged a lofty inheritance in the Ayre Their King also was taken all that mightie State subuerted And as the Mexicans before had prophesied That the Tlaxantleca's should againe build the Citie if conquered for them if conquerors for the Spaniards It was re-builded with a hundred thousand houses fairer and stronger then before The Siege lasted three Moneths and had therein two hundred thousand Indians nine hundred Spaniards fourescore Horses seuenteene Peeces of Ordinance thirteene Galliots and sixe thousand Canoas Fiftie Spaniards were slaine and sixe Horses of the Mexicans a hundred thousand besides those which died of Hunger and Pestilence This was effected Anno 1521. on the thirteenth day of August which for that cause is kept festiuall euery yeare For the Description of the Country wherein Mexico is situate Cortes in his second Narration to the Emperour saith it is enuironed with hils He telleth of some hils also in his iourney wherein diuers of his people died with cold in the middest is a plaine of 70. leagues compasse and therein two Lakes which extend the circuit of 50. leagues the one salt which ebbeth and floweth an argument for Patritius his opinion that saltnesse is a chiefe cause of that vicissitude of ebbing and flowing in the Ocean the other fresh When the water of the Salt Lake increaseth it runneth lâ—ke a violent streame into the fresh Lake which when it decreaseth is repaired againe by the like issue of this into the former Nunno di Gusmau hath written his expedition into Mâ—choacan and other Countries of New-Spaine 1530. subduing and taking possession for the Emperour He found some of them Sodomites others Sacrificers of mens flesh and some closly practising this butchery after they had professed themselues Christians none of them which durst looke a Horse in the face but were afraid that that Beast would eate them The seuerall peoples by him reckoned would here be tedious to name which we may say of the like made by Godoy and Aluarado Of the Customes of the Auntient Mexicans one of Cortes his Gentlemen hath written a Treatise extant in Ramusius wherein are described their Citie Temples Rites of Sacrifice and the like as after followeth out of him and others CHAP. IX Larger Relations of things most remarkeable obserued by the Spaniards at their first comming Cholollas holies Popocatepecs ashes Mutezumas multiforme magnificence and maiestie Mexican Citie and Temple with other antiquities gathered out of the Third part of the Historie of Francis Lopez de Gomara CHololla is a Citie as Tlaxcallan and hath but one person who is Gouernour and generall Captaine chosen by the consent of all the Citizens It is a Citie of twenty thousand housholds within the wals and in the suburbs as much more It sheweth outwards very beautifull and full of Towers for there are as many Temples as dayes in the yeare and euery Temple hath his Tower Our men counted foure hundred Towers The men and women are of good disposition well fauoured and very wittie The women are Goldsmiths and also Caruers the men are warriers and light fellowes and good Maisters for any purpose they goe better apparelled then any other Indians yet seene They weare for their vpper garment cloakes like vnto Moriscos but after another sort All the Countrey round about them is fruitfull and errable ground well watered and so full of people that there is no waste ground in respect whereof there are some poore which begge from doore to doore The Spaniards had not seene any beggers in that Countrey before they came thither Chololla is a Citie of most deuotion and religion in all India it is called the Sanctuary or holy place among the Indians and thither they trauelled from many places farre distant in Pilgrimage and for this cause there were so many Temples Their Cathedrall Temple was the best and highest of all the New Spaine with a hundred and twenty steps vp vnto it The greatest Idoll of all their gods was called Quezalcouately God of the Aire who was say they the founder of their Citie being a Virgin of holy life and great penance He instituted fasting and drawing of bloud out of their eares and tongues and left a precept that they should sacrifice but onely Quailes Doues and other foule He neuer ware but one garment of Cotten which was white narrow and long and vpon that a mantle beset with certaine red crosses They haue certaine greene Stones which were his and those they keepe for relickes One of them is like an Apes head Here they abode twenty dayes and in this meane while there came so many to buy and sell that it was a wonder to see And one of the things that was to be seene in those faires was the earthen vessell which was exceeding curious and fine The hill called Popocatepec THere is a hill eight leagues from Chololla called Popocatepec which is to say a hill of smoake for many times it casteth out smoake and fire Cortes sent thither ten Spaniards with many Indians to carry their victuall and to guide them in the way The ascending vp was very troublesome and full of craggie rocks They approached so nigh the top that they heard such a terrible noise which proceeded from thence that they durst not goe vnto it for the ground did tremble and shake and great quantity of ashes which disturbed the way but yet two of them who seemed to be most hardie and desirous to see strange things went vp to the top because they would not returne with a sleeuelesse answer and that they might not be accounted cowards leauing their fellowes behinde them proceeding forwards The Indians said what meane these men for as yet neuer mortall man tooke such a iourney in hand These two valiant fellowes passed through the Desart of Ashes and at length came vnder a great smoake very thicke and standing there a while the darkenesse vanished partly away and then appeared the vulcan and concauity which was about halfe a league in compasse out of the which the ayre came abounding with a great noise very shrill and whistling in
for another Friar The answer of Mangu Chan not wel vnderstood and deliuered by a drunken Interpreter Caracarum ten daies iourney from the Court of Mangu Chan toward the North as appeareth Ch. 36. Chap. 31. Of Pascha of Mentz in Lotharingia and William Bouchier the Goldsmith a Parisian Building in request They also reckon by Moones in East India Crac is a strong fortresse of the Templâ— is in the holy Land Chap. 32. Of Theodolus the Clerke of Acon how hee deceiued Mangu Chan and was imprisoned of 〈◊〉 Frier Andrew went from Cyprus by Persia. Blasphemous flattery The Golden Tablet of the Emperor of the Tartars Vastacius King of Pontus Or Erserum Sergius an Armenian Monke Chap. 33. Oâ— Mangu Chans holyday and how his principall wiâ—e and his eldest sonne came to the Diuine ceremonies of the Nestorians and oâ— their filthy â—â—wsingâ— The cold much preuayleth The 13. of Ian. Cotota Caten the principall Wife of Mangu Chan. Baltu the Son of Mangu Chan. * Vnum bucâ—eranum * Cosmos of Mares Milke Vid. sup Ianuary 20 Of the Fast of the Nestorians and Armenians and of their Processions vnto the Court of Mangu Chan his eldest Son and Wiues Saint Sâ—rkis Lent Mangu Chans Court visited with Processions How they diuine by the sholder blades of Rommes burnt blacke In M. Ienkinsons Voyage among the Tartars ye may reade of such a Diuination Threshold-Superstition They doe the like in Florida Baltues Court who was eldest Son of Mangu Chan. The Court of the third Lady The Armenians and Nestorians are ashamed to shew Christ fastned to the Crosse. Mangu built a Church The Court of the fourth Lady Drunkennesse not reproueable among the Tartars Chap. 35. How Lady Cota was cured of Sergius the counterfeit Monke Liâ—ence is granted him to carrie the Crosse aloft Rubarbe and the Crosse Miracle-workers with credulous Superstition Holy water not knowne in the East Sergius the Armenians Lye Sorcerie of foure swords The Crosse carried aloft Chap. 36. A description of the Countries about the Court of Mangu Chan and of their manner of writing and their money Chap. 3. Al Riuers bending towards the South and North runne towards the West Chap. 15. Su-Moal the Water Tartars to the East liuing vpon fish Kerkis Orangai Pascatir on the West Chap. 19. Mutezuma commanded the like in Noua Hispania * A description of Apes or else an embleme or Apish fable and perhaps by the Chinois inuented to sell their wares the dearer Most precious Purple Cataia vpon the Ocean Taute and Manse who dwell in Ilands whose Sea freezeth in the Winter Cataia paper money The manner of writing in Cataia like that of China The people of Thebet· Their manner of writing in Tangut and Iugur The money of the Rutenians Chap. 37. Of the second fast of the people of the East in Lent The Monke is reproued for the multitude of those that came vnto him Monkes Manichaean blasphemie of the Creation Snow-water or water of Ice exceeding naught No fish eaten in Lent Hypocriticall feast-fast Chap. 38. A Description of the worke of William Bouchier and of the Palace of Mangu Chan at Caracaâ—um into which Citie they entred on Palm-sunday Two moneths iourney The Description of a most artificiall siuer Tree The description of the Palace The Sunday in the Passion he goeth towards Caracarum They enter Caracarum on Palme Sunday Mangu Chan departeth from Caracarum Chap. 39. The manner how the Nestorians make the Sacramentall Bread The Christians confesse themselues and receiue the Sacrament of Frier William in the dayes of the Lords Supper and Easter The Christians desire the Sacrament Confession Theft excluded the ten Commandements perhaps these fellowes were of those Borderers minde which thought K. Henry had put it in the Decalogue The Patriarch of the Nestorians remayneth at Baldach Chap. 40. William Bouchier is sicke the Monke giueth him Rubarbe the Priest Ionas is sicke Frier William administreth the Lords Supper vnto him and anionteth him beeing readie to dye Hee reproueth the Monke for his Sorceries The Priest Ionas is sicke and dyeâ—h The Nestorians know not Extreme Vnction nor Confession He that is presenâ— with one that dyeth cannot come into the presence of the Prince for the space of an wholâ— yeare Bold blindnes The Monke vseth Diuinations Chap. 41. The description of the Citie of Caracarum they are examined Mangu Chan sendeth hâ—s brethren against diuers Kingdomes the Monke biddeth the Saracens farewell The Wife of Mangu Chan dyeth The Countrey of the Hassasines or Mulibet Chap. 16. Some of Cataia rebell Ascension day Arabucha the yonger brother of Mangu Chan. Ignorant zeale a betrayer of the Faith a cause perhaps of Tartarian Saracenisme One of the Wiues of Chan dyeth The Tartars do more by deceit then by force Chap. 42. They are often examined wherfore they came Mangu desireth to make comparison of Diuine things The most learned speech of Frier William with the Idolaters The Saracens acknowledge the truth of the Gospel The godly conference of Frier William with the Seruants of Mangu Chan. Mangu Chan desireth to haue a comparison made concerning diuine things betweene the Christians Saracens and Idolaterâ— His Answere Mangu Chan wil haue them returne Whitsunday Eeuen How Idolatry began first in the World The Proclamation of Mangu Chan. The murmuring of the Idolâ—ters agâ—inst Chan· The beginning of the disputation concerning the Christian Religion with an Idolater We ought first to speake of God The heresie of the Manichees in Cataia as a sprout from the Magi infecting all the Easterne Philosophie and Religions A Pythagorean child God is Omnipotent God knowes all things God perfectly good The Saracens answer that the Gospell is true The Sect of the Iugurs Chap 43. The day of Pentecost he is called before Mangu Chan who confesseth the faith of the Tartars he speaketh of his returne by Baatu he craueth leaue to stay there whiâ—h is not graunted A token of fauour The faith of the Tartars He speâ—keth of the Fryers returne Baatus greatnesse Hee craueth leaue againe to stay in the Tartars Countrey but it is not granted He departeth from the presence of Mangu Can. Chap. 44. A description of the Tartarian Sorcerers and of their diuers and vnlawfull behauiour Chiefe Priest of the Tartars Some of them know Astronomy Eclipses They fore-tell lucky and vnfortunat daiâ—s for the performance of all buâ—inesse whatsoeuer They cause all things senâ— to the Court passe betweene fires Friar Andrew and his fellows The ninth day of the Moone of May solemnly kept euery yeâ—re They are called to the birth of children and fore-tell their destinies and are also â—ent for when any are sicke The false accusations of the Sorcerers The Bishop of the Nestorians in Cataia A lyer and a murtherer from the beginning The Reuenge of Mangu Chan vpon his Wife being a murtherer The Sorcerers trouble the Ayre with their Charmes The Sorcerers raise vp deuils Chap. 45. Great Solemnity Mangu Chans Letters to
Chinois to recouer the China State being vnquiet so long as the Tartar greatnesse continued and freed for the most part with their diminishing and diuision into diuers Estates As for these times of Tamerlan if this Story be exact it is like the Can held the North parts of China from Quinsay forward with Cataio and the King of China the rest then Nanquin being the Seat Royall as since the expulsion of the Tartars Paquin Or perhaps the Quinsay heere mentioned is that which Conti hath in the former Page told vs was lately built by the Can and not that which Polo speakes of in Catay and not in China which cleareth this doubt of the Cans residence and rule in China To reconcile all doubts is for mee too hard a taske because Cataio and China are euen still bemysted and leaue their Surueyers perplexed bounding the search of the most curious in searching their iust bounds how farre they are the same or differing wherein our Iesuites will more amuse and amaze vs where wee will cleare our selues as well as we can when wee come to them I haue premised Conti though Tamerlane be a little Elder for his Religions sake and to recreate with a little Relation before this longer Storie CHAP. VIII Extracts of ALHACEN his Arabike Historie of TAMERLAN touching his Martiall Trauels done into French by IEAN DV BEC Abbat of Mortimer §. I. TAMERLANS Birth and Person his Expedition against the Muscouite his Marriage with the Cans daughter his ouerthrowing of CALIX SVndry Histories doe attribute as a great want vnto the happie fortune of Tamerlan not to haue a Writer in his dayes which might haue left in writing his Historie vnto posteritie But without any cause did they moane him insomuch as his Historie is very famous amongst the Turkes and Arabians his Conquests very largely discoursed and many of his worthy and notable sayings collected with an infinite number of Noble deeds left vnto the memoriall of posteritie Very true it is that he had not an Homer but a great and worthie person learned as well in naturall Philosophie as in Astrologie who was in the time of this Prince a companion and familiar of his Conquests named Alhacen an Arabian by birth and of Mahomets Religion This Authour then being fallen into my hands in my Voyage into the East Countrey I caused the same to be interpreted vnto mee by an Arabian who did speake Frank as they terme it that is to say Italian and some time I spent in associating my selfe so with this man who commended greatly vnto me the eloquence and grauitie of this Authour wondering at his digressions and entring againe into his matter so well to the purpose It grieued mee much that I had not the perfection of this Language to be a helpe vnto the richer of this Historie for to deliuer it vnto my Nation with some grace but I tooke thereof as much as I could in his Language which was corrupted as is the Franke Tongue so they terme it which is a kinde of Italian mingled with Slauon Greeke and Spanish Tongues very common at Constantinople with the Arabian and Turkish Tongues so as I could not gather but onely the trueth thereof and not the drifts and grauitie of the Declaration wherein the Authour had collected it for posteritie and as he said by the commandement of the Prince who was a louer of learning and excellent in the knowledge of Astrologie and Diuinitie as the custome of those Nations is to ioyne them ordinarily together studying vpon the vertue of names and of the turning of letters euen in their placing writing them vnderneath Starres whereof they make sentences by meanes whereof they wrought miraculously in the things of Nature This is that Zoroastrien and Bactrien Science that of Balaam and some others in my opinion which hath succeeded vnto so many Arabian Astrologians Now then this Prince was endued with such knowledge as made him admired of the people where he commanded who are for the most part great wonderers insomuch as this caused him to be accounted a Prince accompanied with the Diuine vertue considering the iustice he vsed in all his actions This hath proceeded euen so farre that some Italians haue written foolish things thereof as of certaine kinds of Tents which he caused to be pitched when he besieged any Citie one white signifying peace it yeelding vnto his mercy another red signifying cruelty to follow and the third blacke signifying mourning to ensue But I finde not this in our Author and I beleeue them to be fables I will now declare vnto you with my Arabian who this great Prince Tamerlan was Hee was then of the bloud of the Tartarian Emperours and his father Og had for his portion the Countrey of Sachetay whereof hee was Lord. This Countrey lying betweene the North and the East is the antient Countrey of Parthia vpon the Coast of the Zogdians and the chiefest Citie of his estate was Samercand situated vpon the Riuer of Issarle Some of our Historiographers would needs haue him to be the sonne of a shepheard but this haue they said not knowing at all the custome of their Countrey where the principall reuenue of the Kings and Nobles consisteth in Cattell despising Gold and Siluer but making great reckoning of such riches wherein they abound in all sorts this is the occasion wherefore some call them Shepheards and say also that this Prince descended from them So his Father Og was Prince of Achetay abounding in such kinde of wealth And being come vnto the age of fifteene yeeres his father being already old deliuered vp vnto him the gouernment of his Kingdome with the commandement ouer all his Men of warre His father Og being giuen vnto peace withdrew himselfe vnto a solitary life for to serue God and end the rest of his dayes in quiet Hee gaue vnto his sonne Tamerlan which signifieth Heauenly grace in their Tongue two sufficient personages for to guide and assist him in the gouernment of his Estate the one was called Odmar and the other Aly persons in great dignitie and credit with his father Now this Prince was well instructed in the Arabian learning and exercised himselfe much therein and at such time as they thought him to be either in the Bathes wherein they are very curious in that Countrey being their chiefest delicacies he was in the contemplation and studie of heauenly things This Prince had within his eyes such Diuine beautie being full of such maiestie that one could hardly indure the sight of them without closing of their eyes and they which talked with him and did often behold him became dumbe insomuch as he abstayned with a certaine modestie and comlinesse to looke vpon him that discoursed vnto him All the rest of his visage was curteous and well proportioned he had but little haire on his chinne hee did weare his haire long and curled contrary to the custome of his Countrey who are shaued
on their heads hauing the same alwaies couered but he contrariwise was alwaies in a manner bare-headed and said his mother came of the race of Samson for a marke whereof shee aduised me to honour long haire This was the cause that made him respected of his men of Armes and the most part of them did beleeue there was some vertue in those haires or rather some fatall destinie the which many did beleeue to be so and verily they were of a dusky colour drawing toward a violet the most beautifull that any eye could behold His stature was of the middle sort somewhat narrow in his shoulders he had a faire leg and strong the strength of his body was such as no body did surpasse and often on the festiuall dayes he made triall of his strength with the most strong and this he did with such grace and humanitie that he whom he ouercame held himselfe therein most happie although it bee a disgrace amongst the Tartarians to bee throwne to the ground in wrastling Now as he was Martiall and desirous of glorie the first warre that hee attempted was against the Moscouite who came and spoyled a Citie which had put it selfe into his protection and had entred also into his Countrey and being retired proclaymed open warre against him gaue him battell neere to the Riuer Mascha although the Muscouite had a great Armie which hee had gathered together long before On the other side the Prince determining to resist him assembled all his forces and those of his allyes Now the Muscouite had very great forces and men well trayned vp in the warres hauing had alwaies warres with his neighbours the King of Polonia with whom hee had then friendship and the ayde of ten thousand very good Horse There were also with him many Hungarian Gentlemen led by Vdecelaus a Hungarian Gentleman who had brought with him more then eight thousand Horse the opinion was that hee had in his Armie fourscore thousand Horse and a hundred thousand foot-men Our Prince Tamerlan had in his Armie about six-score thousand Horse and a hundred and fifty thousand men on foot but not so skilfull in points of warre as those of the Moscouite for our Estate had long enioyed peace and our Souldiers were indeed trayned vp in discipline of warres but not in the practice thereof The order of Tamerlan was this that is he caused all his Armie to bee diuided into squadrons each consisting of sixe thousand Horse except his owne which was of ten thousand so as he made eighteene squadrons his owne being reckoned which made nineteene The Auant-guard was conducted by Odmar who led nine squadrons flanked with fortie thousand men on foot diuided both on the right and left sides who should shoot an infinite number of Arrowes The Battell was conducted by Tamerlan who led ten squadrons his owne being therein closed and fiftie thousand Foot-men the best and choicest Souldiers of his whole Armie Prince Thanais a kins-man vnto the Prince led the Arere-ward with fortie thousand Foot-men and sixe squadrons hee had some three thousand Horse aduenturers whom they call Oliagues in their Tongue the same which wee tearme The forlorne hope The Moscouite did not obserue that order but did fight by double Rankes with Lances and there was a space to helpe themselues therein and to breake them notwithstanding those Nations doe not breake them at all and they seemed to bee a greater number then wee making a great noyse At the length multitude and skill ouercame the force and valour of the Moscouites the victory bending to the Parthians side the which they did pursue hotly Tamerlan was hurt on the fore-head vpon the side of the left eye and had two Horses slaine vnder him in the fight Tamerlan employed himselfe in giuing God thankes for this victory after hee had pursued the enemy three leagues the next day he reuiewed his Armie and found that he had lost of his side for his part betweene seuen and eight thousand Horse-men and betweene three and foure thousand Footmen The Moscouite lost some seuen and twenty thousand Foot-men and betweene fifteene and sixteene thousand Horse-men This same day was Odmar the safegard of his Prince but he lost Hally who was slaine by the blow of an Arrow The Prince did slacke no time after so great a victory He set forward and came into the borders of the Moscouite whom he enforced to capitulations that they should become Tributaries of a hundred thousand Duckets and should pay all the charges of the War amounting vnto the summe of three hundred thousand Duckets he then would send backe againe all the Prisoners and withdraw his Armie that for securitie hereof they should giue him pledges which should be changed euery yeare vnto all which they agreed So was this Warre ended to his contentment returning with glorie vnto the Prince his Father Now Tamerlan was receiued into all his Countries with much honour and triumph The great Cham of Tartaria Brother vnto his Father sent Presents to gratifie him making offer vnto him of his Daughter in Marriage and that in marrying of her hee would cause him to bee acknowledged as Emperour throughout all his Kingdomes as his next heire himselfe being now old and out of all hope to haue any more Children Hereupon hee presently tooke his Iourney towards him being in the City of Quauicay where he was receiued with all kind of Triumph and Magnificence there did he shew himselfe braue in all manner of gallant Showes and Combats as well in jest as in earnest And as these Nations are full of vanitie and desirous to make shew of their strength and agilitie Tamerlan carryed away the Prize therein whether it were in shooting neere with his Bow or in changing Horses in the middest of the courses or in breaking an Iron in running at the Quintaine he made euery one wonder at his dexteritie and was crowned the sixt day after his comming thither with the joyfull consent of all the Subiects of the Emperour his Vncle and of all the Court. After that he married the Emperours Daughter desiring first to bee crowned before the Marriage to the intent that none should thinke that the Crowne came vnto him by meanes of her but by succession the Daughters not at all succeeding into Empires It was also to assure his estate and hauing remayned in that place by the space of two moneths hee returned from thence with his Wife to Samercand in which Citie hee delighted greatly to remayne because the situation thereof was very faire and for that the Citie is accompanied with a faire Riuer which causeth great Traffâ—que and maketh it richer then any Citie within that Countrey Odmar alone was called by him at such time as the great Cham his Vncle did impart vnto him his Affaires and amongst other matters he propounded vnto him the Enterprize of China promising him assistance and ayde and giuing him to vnderstand how necessarie it was