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
it and aske of God that he do that for you which is contained in this written Prayer because with his owne mouth he taught it his friends and I hope he will saue you I could not doe any thing else because it was very dangerous to speake the words of doctrine by such an Interpreter nay almost impossible because he was ignorant AFter this wee entred into that plaine where the Court of Ken-Cham was which was wont to be the Countrey of the Naymans who were the peculiar Subiects of Presbyter Iohn but at that time I saw not that Court but in my returne Yet heere I declare vnto you what befell his Ancestry his Soone and Wiues Ken-Cham being dead Baatu desired that Mangu should be Chan. But I could vnderstand in certaintie of the death of Ken. Frier Andrew said that he dyed by a certaine medicine giuen him and it was suspected that Baatu caused it to be made Yet I heard otherwise for he summoned Baatu to come and doe him homage And Baatu tooke his iourney speedily with great preparation but he and his Seruants were much afraid and sent one of his Brothers before called Stichin who when he came to Ken and should waite vpon his Cup contention arising betweene them they slue one another The Widow of Stichin kept vs a whole day to goe into her house and blesse her that is pray for her Therefore Ken being dead Mangu was chosen by the consent of Baatu And was then chosen when Frier Andrew was there Ken had a certaine Brother called Siremon who by the counsell of Kens Wife and her Vassals went with great preparation towards Mangu as if he meant to doe him homage and yet in truth he purposed to kill him and destroy his whole Court. And when he was neere Mangu within one or two daies iourney one of his Wagons remained broken in the way While the Wagoner laboured to mend it in the meane space came one of the Seruants of Mangu who helped him he was so inquisitiue of their iourney that the Wagoner reuealed vnto him what Siremon purposed to doe Then turning out of the way as if hee little regarding it went vnto the herd of Horses and tooke the best Horse hee could choose and posting night and day came speedily to the Court of Mangu reporting vnto him what he had heard Then Mangu quickly assembling all his subiects caused foure rings of Armed men to compasse his Court that none might goe in or out the rest he sent against Siremon who tooke him not suspecting his purpose had beene discouered and brought him to the Court with all his followers Who when Mangu lay the matter to his charge strait-way confessed it Then he and his eldest Sonne Ken Chan were slaine and three hundred of the Nobilitie of the Tartars with them The Noble Women also were sent for who were all beaten with burning fire-brands to make them confesse and hauing confessed were put to death His youngest sonne Ken who could not be capable or guiltie of the conspiracy was left aliue And his Fathers Palace was left vnto him with all belonging vnto it as well Men as Chattels and we passed by it in our returne Nor durst my Guides turne in vnto it neither going nor comming For the Lady of the Nations sate there in heauinesse and there was none to comfort her THen went wee vp againe into the high Countries going alwaies towards the North. At length on Saint Stephens day we entred into a great Plaine like the Sea where there was not so much as a Mole-hill And the next day on the feast of S. Iohn the Euangelist we came vnto the Palace of that great Lord. But when we were neere it within fiue daies iourney our Host where we lay would haue directed vs a way farre about so that wee should yet trauaile more then fifteene daies And this was the reason as I vnderstood that wee might goe by Onam Kerule their proper Countrey where the Court of Chingis-Chan is Others said that he did it for this purpose that he might make the way longer and might shew his power the more For so they are wont to deale with men comming from Countries not subiect to them And our Guide obtained with great difficultie that we might go the right way For they held vs vpon this from the morning till three of the clocke In that way also the Secretarie whom we expected at Cailac told me that it was contained in the Letters which Baatu sent to Mangu-Chan that wee required an Army and ayde of Sartach against the Saracens Then I began to wonder much and to be greatly troubled for I knew the Tenor of the Letters and that no mention therof was made therein saue that yee aduised him to be a friend to all Christians and should exalt the Crosse and be an enemy to all the enemies of the Crosse and because also the Interpreters were Armenians of the greater Armenia who greatly hated the Saracens lest perhaps they had interpreted any thing in euill part to make the Saracens more odious and hatefull at their pleasure I therefore held my peace not speaking a word with them or against them for I feared to gainsay the words of Baatu least I should incurre some false accusation without reasonable cause We came therefore the foresaid day vnto the said Court. Our Guide had a great house appointed him and we three a little Cottage wherein wee could scarse lay our stuffe make our beds and haue a little fire Many came to visit our Guide and brought him drinke made of Rice in long strait mouthed bottles in the which I could discerne no difference from the best Antissiodorensian Wine saue that it had not the sent of Wine We were called and straightly examined vpon what businesse we came I answered that we heard of Sartach that he was a Christian we came therefore vnto him the French King sent him a Packet by vs he sent vs to Baatu his Father his Father hath sent vs hither hee should haue written the cause wherevpon they demanded whether we would make peace with them I answered he hath sent Letters vnto Sarâ—ach as a Christian and if he had knowne he were not a Christian hee would neuer haue sent him Letters to treate of peace I say he hath done you no wrong if he had done any why should you warre vpon him or his people he willingly as a iust man would reforme himselfe and desire peace If yee without cause will make warre with him or his Nation we hope that God who is iust will helpe them And they wondred alwayes repeating why came yee seeing yee came not to make peace For they are now so puffed vp with pride that they thinke the whole World should desire to make peace with them And truly if I might bee suffered I would preach Warre against them to the vttermost of my power throughout the whole World But I would
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
to that end we doe set you downe here vnder the seuerall sorts of Whales together with the differences of goodnesse betweene the one and the other as we haue gathered the same by information from men of excellencie in that businesse who make knowne vnto vs that there are eight seuerall kindes of Whales all differing the one from the other in quantitie and qualitie Which for your better instruction we haue thought good to set downe in this our Commission The first sort of Whales is called the Bearded Whale which is black in colour with a smooth skinne and white vnder the chops which Whales is the best of all the rest and the elder it is the more it doth yeelde This sort of Whale doth yeelde vsually foure hundred and sometimes fiue hundred finnes and betweene one hundred and one hundred and twentie Hogsheads of Oyle The second sort of Whale is called Sarda of the same colour and fashion as the former but somewhat lesse and the finnes not aboue one fathom long and yeeldeth in Oyle according to his bignesse sometimes eightie sometimes a hundred Hogsheads The third sort of Whale is called Trumpa being as long as the first but not so thicke of colour Grey hauing but one Trunke in his head whereas the former haue two He hath in his mouth teeth of a span long and as thicke as a mans wrist but no sins whose head is bigger then either of the two former and in proportion farre bigger then his body In the head of this Whale is the Spermaceti which you are to keepe in Caske apart from your other Oyle you may put the Oyle you finde in the head and the Spermaceti altogether and marke it from the other Oyle and at your comming home we will separate the Oyle from the Spermeceti The like is to be done with the Oyle of this sort of Whale which is to be kept apart from the Oyle of the other Whales The reason is that the Oyle of this sort of Whale being boyled will be as hard and white as Tallow which to be mingled with the other Oyle being liquid would make the same to shew as footie Oyle and so consequently spoyle both and be of little value you are therefore to be very carefull to keepe the Oyle of this sort of Whale apart as well of the head as of the body for the reasons before mentioned In this sort of Whale is likewise found the Ambergreese lying in the entrals and guts of the same being of shape and colour like vnto Kowes dung We would haue you therefore your selfe to be present at the opening of this sort of Whale and cause the residue of the said entrals to be put into small Caske and bring them with you into England We would haue the Master also to be by at the opening of this Whale and to be made priuie of the packing of those Barils And although it be said that the Ambergreese is onely in this Whale and in none other yet we would not haue you be absent at the opening of any other but if you see cause to make a reseruation of the entrals of euery Whale that you shall perceiue to be cause of the least suspect to haue any of the said Ambergreese being a matter as you know of good worth and therefore not slightly to be regarded The Teeth likewise of this sort of Whale we would haue you cause to be reserued for a triall as also any other matter extraordinarie that you shall obserue in the same This Whale is said to yeelde in Oyle fortie Hogsheads besides the Spermaceti The fourth sort c. as sup 471.472 And in as much as industrie and diligence are two principall steps to atchieue great enterprises and negligence and idlenesse are enemies to the same we would haue you in this charge committed vnto you to imbrace the one and to auoide the other and to shew that example of paines taking to the rest of the company of your Ship in your owne person as well in setting them on worke as in putting your owne hand to the businesse when neede requireth as that there be no idle time spent but that euery one be imployed in some businesse or other in helping to kill the Whale or in searching the Bayes along the coast for Whales Ambergreese Morses teeth or any other strange thing that may be found vpon that coast or in killing the Morses Beares or any thing that may make profit toward our great charges Touching directions for your keeping company together with the Elizabeth and of the course we thinke fitting for the Master of that Ship to obserue we haue set the same downe at large in our Commission deliuered to Ionas Poole a Copie whereof we deliuer you herewith for your better instructions to obserue what is to be done on both your behalfes for the good of the Voyage which our Commission we would haue you strictly obserue vnlesse vpon some speciall occasion to vs vnknowne and by the consent of the principall Officers in both the Ships you shall see iust cause to the contrary You haue with you an order set downe by the Lords of his Maiesties priuie Counsell for the maintaining of our Charter which we would haue you make knowne to any of our Nation that you may chance to meete withall either at Cherie Iland or vpon any of those coasts And if any stranger doe offer you violence or doe disturbe you in your trade you may both defend your selues and maintaine your trade to the vttermost of your powers c. CHAP. III. A briefe Declaration of this my Voyage of discouery to Greeneland and towards the West of it as followeth being set forth by the right Worshipfull Sir THOMAS SMITH Gouernour of the right Worshipfull Company of new Trades c. written by IONAS POOLE WEE set sayle at Blacke-wall the eleauenth of Aprill 1611. with foure Shippes The one called the Mary-margaret of burthen one hundred and fiftie Tuns with nine and fortie Men and Boyes The next the Elizabeth of burthen sixtie Tuns with eighteene Men and Boyes The third was called the Amitie of burthen seauentie Tunnes with foure and twentie Men and Boyes The fourth was called the Resolution with about sixteene Men and Boyes the Resolution was appointed to goe to Saint Nicholas in Russia in hope to make two Voyages thither this yeare The Amitie was to goe to Pichâ—ra or Nouazembla there to see if they could make a Voyage by way of trade or by killing of Mohorses c. The Mary-margaret was appointed to keepe the Elizabeth companie to Greeneland abouesaid there to kill the Whale for which purpose we had sixe men of Saint Iohn de Luz with all things fitting for that purpose The Elizabeth was appointed to see if it weare possible to passe from Greeneland towards the Pole and to search in those Stas what likelihood of a passage that way c. But before we were as farre to the
to death and the rest sent them instructions of the Sentences they had giuen By meanes whereof they gaue the King to vnderstand what had passed in his Realme There was a good order and settled policie for the Reuenues of the Crowne for there were Officers diuided throughout all the Prouinces as Receiuers and Treasurers which receiued the Tributes and Royall Reuenues And they carried the Tribute to the Court at the least euery moneth which Tribute was of all things that doe grow or ingender on the Land or in the water aswell of Iewels and Apparell as of Meat They were very carefull for the well ordering of that which concerned their Religion Superstition and Idolatries and for this occasion there were a great number of Ministers to whom charge was giuen to teach the people the custome and ceremonies of their Law Hereupon one day a christian Priest made his complaint that the Indians were no good Christians and did not profit in the Law of God an old Indian answered him very well to the purpose in these termes Let the Priest said he imploy as much care and diligence to make the Indians Christians as the Ministers of Idols did to teach them their ceremonies for with halfe that care they will make vs the best Christians in the world for that the Law of Iesus Christ is much better but the Indians learne it not for want of men to instruct them Wherein he spake the very truth to our great shame and confusion THe Mexicans gaue the first place of honour to the profession of Armes and therefore the Noble-men are their chiefe Souldiers and others that were not noble by their valour and reputation gotten in warres came to Dignities and Honors so as they were held for Noble-men They gaue goodly recompences to such as had done valiantly who inioyed priuiledges that none else might haue the which did much incourage them Their Armes were of Rasors of sharpe cutting flints which they set on either side of a staffe which was so furious a weapon as they affirmed that with one blow they would cut off the necke of a Horse They had strange and heauy Clubs Lances fashioned like Pikes and other manner of Darts to cast wherein they were very expert but the greatest part of their combate was performed with stones For defensiue armes they had little Rondaches or Targats and some kinde of Morions or Head-pieces inuironed with feathers They were clad in the skinnes of Tigres Lions and other sauage beasts They came presently to hands with the Enemie and were greatly practised to runne and wrestle for thir chiefe manner of combate was not so much to kill as to take Captiues the which they vsed in their sacrifices as hath beene said Moteçuma set Knight-hood in his highest splendor ordayning certaine militarie orders as Commanders with certaine markes and ensignes The most honorable amongst the Knights were those that carried the crowne of their haire tied with a little red Ribband hauing a rich plume of feathers from the which did hang branches of feathers vpon their shoulders and rolls of the same They carried so many of these rolls as they had done worthy deeds in warre The King himselfe was of this order as may be seene in Chapultepec where Moteçuma and his sonnes were attyred with those kindes of feathers cut in the Rocke the which is worthy the sight There was another order of Knight-hood which they called the Lions and the Tigres the which were commonly the most valiant and most noted in warre they went alwayes with their Markes and Armories There were other Knights as the Grey Knights the which were not so much respected as the rest they had their haire cut round about the eare They went to the warre with markes like to the other Knights yet they were not armed but to the girdle and the most honorable were armed all ouer All Knights might carry gold and siluer and weare rich Cotton vse painted and gilt vessell and carry shooes after their manner but the common people might vse none but earthen vessell neither might they carry shooes nor attire themselues but in Nequen the which is a grosse stuffe Euery order of these Knights had his lodging in the Pallace noted with their markes the first was called the Princes lodging the second of Eagles the third of Lyons and Tigers and the fourth of the grey Knights The other common officers were lodged vnderneath in meaner lodging◠if any one lodged out of his place he suffred death THere is nothing that giues me more cause to admire nor that I finde more worthy of commendations and memory then the order and care the Mexicans had to nourish their youth for they knew well that all the good hope of a Common-weale consisted in the nurture and institution of youth whereof Plato treates amply in his bookes De Legibus and for this reason they laboured and tooke paines to sequester their children from delights and liberties which are the two plagues of this age imploying them in honest and profitable exercises For this cause there was in their Temples a priuate house for children as Schooles or Colledges which was seperate from that of the yong men and maides of the Temple whereof we haue discoursed as large There were in these Schooles a great number of children whom their fathers did willingly bring thither and which had teachers and masters to instruct them in all commendable exercises to be of good behauiour to respect their superiours to serue and obey them giuing them to this end certaine precepts and instructions And to the end they might be pleasing to Noblemen they taught them to sing and dance and did practise them in the exercise of warre some to shoote an Arrow to cast a dart or a staffe burnr at the end and to handle well a Target and a Sword They suffered them not to sleepe much to the end they might accustome themselues to labour in their youth and not be men giuen to delights Besides the ordinary number of these children there were in the same Colledges other children of Lords and Noblemen the which were instructed more priuately They brought them their meate and ordinary from their houses and were recommended to ancients and old men to haue care ouer them who continually did aduise them to be vertuous and to liue chastely to be sober in their diet to fast and to march grauely and with measure They were accustomed to exercise them to trauell and in laborious exercises and when they see them instructed in all these things they did carefully looke into their inclination if they found any one addicted vnto warre being of sufficient yeares they sought all occasions to make triall of them sending them to the warre vnder colour to carrie victuals and munition to the Souldiers to the end they might there see what passed and the labour they suffered And that they might abandon all feare they were laden
wonder what Deuill carried the Religion of Mahomet thither For from Derbent which is vpon the extreme borders of Persia it is aboue thirtie dayes Iourney to passe ouerthwart the Desart and so to ascend by the banke of Etilia into the foresaid Countrey of Bulgaria All which way there is no Citie but onely certayne Cottages neere vnto that place where Etilia falleth into the Sea Those Bulgarians are most wicked Saracens more earnestly professing the damnable Religion of Mahomet then any other Nation whatsoeuer Moreouer when I first beheld the Court of Baatu I was astonied at the sight thereof for his Houses or Tents seemed as though they had beene some huge and mightie Citie stretching out a great way in length the people ranging vp and downe about it for the space of some three or foure leagues And euen as the people of Israel knew euery man on which side of the Tabernacle to pitch his Tent euen so euery one of them knoweth right well towards what side of the Court hee ought to place his house when he takes it from off the Cart. Whereupon the Court is called in their Language Horda which signifieth the midst because the Gouernour or Chieftaine among them dwels alwayes in the middest of his people except onely that directly towards the South no subiect or inferiour person placeth himselfe because towards that Region the Court gates are set open but vnto the right hand and the left hand they extend themselues as farre as they will according to the conueniencie of places so that they place not their houses directly opposite against the Court. At our arriuall wee were conducted vnto a Saracen who prouided not for vs any victuals at all The day following we were brought vnto the Court and Baatu had caused a large Tent to bee erected because his house or ordinary Tent could not contayne so many men and women as were assembled Our Guide admonished vs not to speake till Baatu had giuen vs commandement so to doe and that then we should speake our minds briefly Then Baatu demanded whether your Maiestie had sent Ambassadors vnto him or no I answered that your Maiestie had sent Messengers to Ken-Can and that you would not haue sent Messengers vnto him or Letters vnto Sartach had not your Highnesse beene perswaded that they were become Christians because you sent not vnto them for any feare but onely for congratulation and courtesies sake in regard that you heard they were conuerted to Christianitie Then led he vs vnto his Pauilion and we were charged not to touch the cords of the Tent which they account in stead of the threshold of the house There we stood in our habit bare-footed and bare-headed and were a great and strange spectacle in their eyes For indeed Frier Iohn de Plano Carpini had beene there before my comming howbeit because he was the Popes Messenger he changed his habit that hee might not be contemned Then wee were brought into the very midst of the Tent neither required they of vs to doe any reuerence by bowing our knees as they vse to doe of other Messengers Wee stood therefore before him for the space wherein a man might haue rehearsed the Psalme Miserere mei Deus and there was great silence kept of all men Baatu himselfe sate vpon a seat long and broad like vnto a Bed gilt all ouer with three staires to ascend thereunto and one of his Ladies sate beside him The men there assembled sate downe scattering some on the right hand of the said Lady and some on the left Those places on the one side which the women filled not vp for there were only the Wiues of Baatu were supplyed by the men Also at the very entrance of the Tent stood a bench furnished with Cosmos and with stately great cups of Siluer and Gold being richly set with Precious Stones Baatu beheld vs earnestly and wee him and he seemed to me to resemble in personage Monsieur Iohn de Beaumont whose soule resteth in peace And he had a fresh ruddie colour in his countenance At length hee commanded vs to speake Then our Guide gaue vs direction that we should bow our knees and speake Wherevpon I bowed one knee as vnto a man then he signified that I should kneele vpon both knees and I did so being loth to contend about such circumstances And againe hee commanded me to speake Then I thinking of Prayer vnto God because I kneeled on both my knees beganne to pray on this wise Sir we beseech the Lord from whom all good things doe proceed and who hath giuen you these earthly benefits that it would please him hereafter to make you partaker of his heauenly blessings because the former without these are but vaine and improfitable And I added further Be it knowne vnto you of a certaintie that you shall not obtayne the ioyes of Heauen vnlesse you become a Christian for God saith Whosoeuer beleeueth and is baptized shal be saued but he that beleeueth not shal be condemned At this word he modestly smiled but the other Moals began to clap their hands and to deride vs. And of my silly Interpreter of whom especially I should haue receiued comfort in time of need was himselfe abashed and vtterly dasht out of countenance Then after silence made I said vnto him I came vnto your Sonne because we heard that he was become a Christian and I brought vnto him Letters on the behalfe of my Souereigne Lord the King of France and your Sonne sent me hither vnto you The cause of my comming therefore is best knowne vnto your selfe Then he caused me to rise vp And he enquired your Maiesties Name and my name and the name of mine Associate and Interpreter and caused them all to be put downe in writing He demanded likewise because hee had beene informed that you were departed out of your owne Countries with an Armie against whom you waged warre I answered against the Saracens who had defiled the House of God at Ierusalem He asked also whether your Highnesse had euer before that time sent any Messengers vnto him or no To you Sir said I neuer Then caused he vs to sit downe and gaue vs of his Milke to drinke which they account to be a great fauour especially when any man is admitted to drinke Cosmos with him in his owne house And as I sate looking downe vpon the ground he commanded me to lift vp my countenance being desirous as yet to take more diligent view of vs or else perhaps for a kind of Superstitious obseruation For they esteeme it a signe of ill lucke or a prognostication of euill vnto them when any man sits in their presence holding downe his head as if he were sad especially when hee leanes his cheeke or chin vpon his hand Then we departed forth and immediately after came our Guide vnto vs and conducting vs vnto our Lodging said vnto mee Your Master the King requesteth that you
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
may be taken by men The great Can hath in his Court two which are brethren one called Bayan the other Mingan called in the Tartar language Ciuici that is Masters of the Game whereof either hath the charge of ten thousand men they which are vnder one of them are clothed in red the other in skie-colour alway when they hunt These keepe diuers sorts of Dogs to the number of fiue thousand Mastiues and other In hunting they goe with their people one on the right and the other on the left hand of the King and they take vp so great a length of the Playne that from one end to the other is a dayes iourney so that no beast can escape them and it is great pleasure when the Can goes in the midst to see the Dogs follow Harts Beares and other kinds And these Brethren are bound by coueâ—ant from the beginning of October to the end of March to bring to the Court one thousand heads of â—easts and birds besides Quailes and fishes the best they can in great proportion The moneth of March comming in great Can departeth from the Citie of Cambalu and proceedeth North-eastward towards the Ocean distant thence two dayes iourneyes bringing with him about ten thousand Falconers who haue Falcons Hawkes Gerfalcons and other kinds of Fowles of prey fit for hawking These Falconers disperse themselues by an hundred or two hundred in a Companie and the birds that are taken for the most part are brought vnto the King who by reason of his Gout sitteth in a woodden house which two Elephants carrie couered with the skins of Lions and within hanged with cloth of Gold hauing with him for his recreation twelue choice Hawkes and twelâ—e fauoured Courtiers many Noblemen and Souldiers ride by who guard the Kings person Who when they see Phesants or Cranes or other birds flying in the aire declare it to the Falconers which are neere vnto the King and they signifying the same vnto the King vncouer the Kings House and let their Falcons and Hawkes flie and the King sitting on his Bed beholdeth the pastime of the birds Other ten thousand men also goe with the King who in that hawking â—unne hither and thither by two and two and marâ—e whither the Falcons and Hawkes flie that are cast from the fist that if need bee they may helpe them And these in the Tartars Language are called Toscaol that is to say Watch-men or Markes-men being skilfull in a certaine kind of whistle wherewith they call in the Hawkes that are flowen Nor is it needfull that the Falconer who let the Hawkes flie should follow her seeing they of whom I now speake are busily imployed in taking vp the Hawkes and are carefull that by no meanes they bee hurt or lost And euery flying Hawke carrieth a little table of siluer on her foot signed with the marke of her Master or Falconer that if shee bee lost shee may bee restored to her owner But if the marke cannot be knowne the Hawke is deliuered to a certaine Baron who for this cause is called Bulangazi to whom are brought all lost things otherwise the Finder would be counted a Thiefe and to him Losers resort to inquire of things lost He hath a most eminent place noted by his Ensigne that in so great an assembly of people he may be knowne Whiles they are thus busied in sporting and hawking they come vnto a certaine great Plaine called Caczarmodin where the Tents of the King and all the Courtiers are prepared about ten thousand in number The first and chiefe is the Cans Pauilion vnder which ten thousand Souldiers stand besides Barons and Noble-men with the doore to the South sustayned with three Pillars wrought with diuers curious and excellent carued workes and couered with the skinnes of Lions and strakes of diuers colours which keepe out rayne But within the walls of the Pauilions are couered with most costly skinnes of Armelines and Sables although in those Countries these skinnes are accounted most precious that sometimes skinnes worth two thousand Sultanines of gold are scarce sufficient for one paire of Vests The Tartars call the Sable the Queene of Furres The Cordes wherewith these Pauilions are supported are of silke There are also other Pauilions erected wherein the Wiues Sonnes and Hand-maides of the King remaine Further also the Falcons Hawkes Owles Garfalcons and other Birds which serue for Hawking haue their Tents wherein they are contayned For there is so great a multitude of Tents that to them that come thither a farre off it seemeth that a famous Citie is built there The King remayneth all March in that Plaine and taketh innumerable Beasts and infinite multitudes of Fowle For no man may else hunt in all the Prouinces of that Kingdome at the least within fiue dayes iourney one way ten another and fifteene a third way of the Cans Court nor keepe an hunting Dogge or an Hawke and specially from the beginning of March vntill the moneth of October no man is permitted to vse any deuice or engine whatsoeuer to take Stagges Deere Roe-bucks Hares lest he should hinder their breede and herevpon it is that there are such store It is incredible what multitudes of People Merchants and merchandises of all sorts are seene in Cambalu The Money of the Great Can is not made of gold or siluer or other metall but they take the middle barke from the Mulberrie Tree and this they make firme and cut it into diuers and round pieces great and little and imprint the Kings marke thereon Of this matter therefore the Emperour causeth an huge masse of money to bee made in the Citie of Cambalu which sufficeth for the whole Empire and no man vnder paine of death may lawfully coine any other or spend any other money or refuse it in all his Kingdomes and Countries Nor any comming from another Kingdome dare spend any other money in the Empire of Great Can. Whereby it commeth to passe that Merchants often comming from farre remote Countries and Regions vnto the Citie of Cambalu bring with them gold siluer pearle and precious stones and receiue the Kings money for them And because this money is not receiued in their Countries they change it againe in the Empire of Great Can for merchandise which they carrie away with them He also payeth stipends to his Officers and Armies of the mentioned money and lastly whatsoeuer thing he needeth in his Court he buyeth with this money Wherefore there is not a King to be found in the World who exceedeth him in Treasure not expended on the Mint as elsewhere The Great Can hath twelue Barons as is said before which are his Counsell of Warre and dispose of martiall affaires and the exalting or disgracing of Captaines and Souldiers Their office is called Thai that is The high Court because they haue none aboue them but the Can. Other twelue Barons are appointed Counsellors for the foure and
Imperiall Dignitie which Commandement they obserued and from thenceforth vntill this day haue euer continued to call on the Immortall God in all their occasions Secondly Hee willed that all the men that were able to beare Armes should be numbred and that ouer euery ten should be one appointed and ouer euery ten thousand a great Commander and that also ouer euery thousand should bee a Colonell or Conducter of a Regiment and he called an Armie of ten thousand Souldiers a Regiment He commanded also the seuen Rulers ouer the Nations of the Tartarians that they should forthwith dismisse themselues of their former dignities which they relinquished immediatly But another of his Ordinances was very strange and admirable in which he commanded those seuen chiefe Rulers to bring euery of them his eldest sonne and each with his owne hand to cut off his head Which Commandement appearing to bee most cruell and vniust yet was there none that would any way gainsay it because they knew him to be set ouer them by Gods prouidence and therefore they presently fulfilled it When Changius Can had seene that they were readie to obey him euen vnto death he appointed them all a certaine day in which they should be readie to fight And then they rode against them which bordered next vnto them and subdued them Whereby they which had beene Lords ouer them were brought into subiection vnder them After hee inuaded diuers other Nations which hee conquered with great celeritie For hee did all his exploits with a small troupe of men and was successefull in his enterprises Yet one day it fell out that being accompanied with a small number he was encountred with a great troupe of his Enemies in such sort that the fight being begun betweene them whiles he valiantly defended himselfe his Horse was slaine vnder him And the Tartarians seeing their Lord ouerthrowne betooke themselues to flight so that the Enemies being all busied in pursuing of those that fled and hauing no knowledge of the Emperour whom they had vnhorsed and ouerthrowne he runne and hid himselfe among certaine shrubs for safety of his life Whither when the Enemies were returned with purpose to spoile the dead Carkasses and to seeke out such as were hidden it happened that an Owle came and sate vpon those little trees or shrubs which he had chosen for his couert which when they perceiued they sought no further in that place supposing that the said Bird would not haue sate there if any man had beene hidden vnderneath By which meanes in the dead time of the night he found meanes to escape thence and came by diuers vnfrequented wayes vnto his owne people and discoursed vnto them what had befallen him For which the Tartarians rendred thankes vnto the Immortall God And that Bird which vnder God was held to be the meanes of his escaped hath euer since beene held in such reuerence amongst them that happie is he that can get but a Feather of an Owle which they weare in their heads with great reuerence Which I thought fit to set downe in this Booke that the cause might be knowne for which the Tartarians vse commonly to weare Feathers on their heads But their Emperour Changius Can hauing giuen great thankes to God for his deliuerance out of so great a danger gathered his Armie together and fiercely assaulted his former Enemies againe and brought them all vnder subiection and so became Emperor of all the Countries lying on that side of the Mountaine Belgian and possessed them quietly without disturbance vntill it happened him to haue another Vision as shall after be declared Neither is it any maruell that in these Histories I haue not set downe the certaine time because albeit I haue sought of many to know the certaintie thereof yet could I neuer finde any to instruct me fully therein the reason thereof I take to be because the Tartarians at the first were ignorant of all Learning and knew no letters and so passed ouer the times and memorable accidents without any Record or Register thereof kept whereby they came afterwards to be forgotten §. II. Of CHANGIVS Can his second Vision and Conquests Of HOCCOTA and his three Sonnes expeditions of GINO Can of MANGV Can who was visited by the King of Armenia and baptised of the expedition of his Brother HALOON 17. AFter that Changius Can had subdued all the Kingdomes and Countries on that side of the Mountaine Belgian he saw another Vision in the night For the selfe-same Horsman armed in white Armour appeared vnto him againe saying Changius Can it is the pleasure of the Immortall God that thou passe ouer the Mountaine Belgian and direct thy course Westwards where thou shalt possesse Kingdomes and Countries and subdue many Nations And that thou mayest be assured that the words which I speake vnto thee are from the Immortall God Arise and goe with thy people to the Mountaine Belgian to that part thereof which ioyneth to the Sea there thou shalt alight from thy Horse and kneeling downe nine times towards the East thou shalt worship nine times the Immortall God and he which is Almightie will shew thee the way by which thou mayest easily passe ouer the Mountaine At this Vision Changius reioyced exceedingly and arose without farther doubt or delay because the trueth which he had found in the first Vision gaue him assurance of the other in such sort that he forthwith speedily assembled his people and commanded them to follow him with their wiues and children and all that they had And so they went forwards vntill they came to the place where the great and deepe Sea did beate against the Mountaine so that there appeared no way nor passage for them There presently Changius Can as had beene commanded him by God alighted from his Horse and all his followers in like manner worshipping nine times on their bended knees towards the East they beseeched the Almightie and euerliuing God that of his infinite mercy and grace he would vouchsafe to shew them the way and passage thence where they continued in prayer all that night And in the morning arising they saw that the Sea was departed from the Mountaine and had left them a way of nine feet in bredth to passe Whereat they being all astonished exceedingly and rendring thankes to the Immortall God most deuoutly they passed on the way which they saw before them and directed their steps towards the West But as the Histories of the Tartarians doe mention after they had passed ouer those Mountaines they indured some hunger and thirst for certaine dayes because the land was Desart and the waters were bitter and salt which they could not by any meanes drinke vntill at length they came where they had all necessaries aboundantly In which place they abode many dayes And there it happened by the will of God that Changius Can grew dangerously sicke in such sort that the Physicians despaired of his recouerie By reason
could not come to assault them without danger they would not goe forth to fight but remayned in the place where they were and when the Tartars thought without any impediment to haue assailed their Enemies they found a small Riuer betweene them which in some places had no passage ouer by meanes whereof much time was spent before they could passe ouer the Riuer but after they had passed the greatest part ouer the Riuer they set manfully on their Enemies Yet the Soldan stood still and would not remoue from the place he was in betwixt the Lake and the Mountayne which Cotulossa perceiuing because the darke night approached he withdrew his company for that night and lodged them neere the Mountayne only about a thousand Tartars which could not passe the Riuer were not with him that night The day comming the Tartars againe couragiously set vpon the Soldan but as before he would by no meanes come forth to fight but defended himselfe in that place of aduantage So the Tartars continuing their assault from the morning vntill the ninth houre beeing thirstie and ouer-wearie for lacke of water they retyred themselues in good order leauing the Soldan and came to the Plaine of Damascus where they had plentie of pasture and water at will where they determined to abide vntill they had sufficiently reposed themselues and their Horses But the Inhabitants knowing that the Armie of the Tartars was spread abroad in that Plaine opened the Sluces of the Riuer in the night time whereby the waters rose so high in eight houres ouer all the Plaine that the Tartars were constrayned on the sudden to arise and depart so that the night being darke and the Ditches all filled with water and no wayes nor pathes to be seene they were all amazed in such sort that many Horses perished and much Armour was lost insomuch that the King of Armenia endured much losse yet the day comming through the goodnesse of God they escaped the waters but the Bowes and Arrowes of the Tartars being their chiefe weapons which they vse and the rest of their Armour being all wet and vtterly vnseruiceable they were so astonied therewith that if their Enemies had then pursued them they might haue beene taken or slaine Afterwards the Tartars by reason that many had lost their Horses returned softly by small Iournies to the bankes of the Riuer Euphrates yet none of their Enemies durst follow or pursue them but the Riuer beeing risen and swolne through the abundance of raine that fell many of the Armenians as also of Georgians perished therein more then of the Tartars whose Horses knew better to swimme so returned they into Persia ruined and disgraced not by the power of the Enemie but by accident partly partly by euill aduice A great cause whereof was the obstinacie of Cotolusa who would not regard any aduice that was giuen for if he would haue harkened to the counsell of the wise he might easily haue preuented those dangers And I Frier Haython the Compiler of this Historie was present at all these proceedings and if happily I treate more largely thereof then shall be thought conuenient I craue pardon in regard that I doe it to this end that on like occasions happening these courses may bee called to minde For these actions that are ordered by counsell haue commonly good and commendable euents but the rash and improuident Enterprizes doe vsually faile of their wished successe After that the King of Armenia had passed the Riuer Euphrates with some losse he resolued to goe to Casan before he returned to his Kingdome of Armenia and therefore hee went streight to the Citie of Niniue in which Casan then resided He entertayned the King with much honour kindnesse and magnificence and being compassionate of his losses to make him some recompence of especiall fauour vnto him he granted him a thousand Tartarians continually in pay at his charge for the defence of his Kingdome and also granted him out of the Kingdome of Turkie a yeerely pension for the maintenance of another thousand Armenian Horse men yeerely at his pleasure the King thus recompenced hauing taken his leaue returned to the Kingdome of Armenia which Casan had enioyned him to watch warily ouer vntill God pleased to enable him personally to goe to the reliefe of the Holy Land §. V. CASAN dyeth CARBANDA succeedeth his Apostasie The Authors entrance into a Religious Habit. Of TAMOR Can the sixth Emperour and of CHAPAR HOCHTAI and CARBANDA three other Tartarian Kings THe King of Armenia returned safely to his Kingdome but after hee came thither hee found little rest there for after it so pleased God that Casan was surprized with a grieuous infirmitie and hauing gouerned wisely in his life hee was no lesse willing that his wisdome should bee commended in his death Therefore hee made his last Will and Testament appointing his Brother Carbanda or Carbaganda his Heire and Successor and hauing ordered all things concerning the Affaires of his Kingdome and his House in prudent manner he made many good Ordinances and Lawes which for a memoriall he left behind him being at this day inuiolably obserued by the Tartarians Then dyed Casan and his Brother Carbanda succeeded in his Kingdome This Carbanda was the Sonne of a Ladie of famous memorie called Erockcaton who was very deuout and religious in Christianitie while she liued and had euery day Diuine Seruice celebrated before her keeping a Priest and Chappell of her owne so that this Carbanda was baptized and named Nicholas in his Baptisme and continued a professed Christian as long as his Mother liued But after his Mothers death delighting in the societie of Saracens he forsooke the Christian Religion to become a Mahometist The King of Armenia vnderstanding of the death of Casan was much troubled therewith and his Enemies began to lift vp their Crests very high For the Soldan of Babylon thereupon sought by all meanes to endamage him and his people sending all the yeare almost euery moneth great troupes of armed Souldiers which foraged and wasted the Kingdome of Armenia and did more damage and spoyle on the plaine Countrey then they had euer sustayned before in any mans memorie But the Almightie and most mercifull God who neuer forsaketh altogether those that put their trust in him had compassion on the poore afflicted Christians for it fell out that in the moneth of Iuly seuen thousand Saracens of the best Families vnder the Soldan made a roade into the Kingdome of Armenia wasting and spoyling all as farre as the Citie of Tharsus in which the blessed Apostle Saint Paul was borne and when they had committed many spoyles in that Prouince and were vpon their returne the King of Armenia hauing gathered his people together encountred and set vpon them neere the Citie of Giazza where more by Gods goodnesse then our worth they were vtterly ouerthrowne in such sort that of seuen thousand Saracens there escaped not three hundred but
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
the Cities wee haue seene are very faire so large and so straight that it is wonderfull to behold Their houses are built with Timber the foundations onely excepted the which are laid with Stone in each side of the streets are painteses 〈◊〉 continuall Porches for the Marchants to walke vnder the breadth of the street is neuerthelesse such that in them fifteene men may ride commodiously side by side As they ride they must needes passe vnder many high Arches of triumph that crosse ouer the streets made of Timber and carued diuersly couered with Tile of fine Clay vnder these arches the Mercers do vtter their smaller wares and such as lift to stand there are defenced from raine and the heat of the Sunne The greater Gentlemen haue these Arches at their doores although some of them be not so mightily built as the rest I shall haue occasion to speake of a certaine order of Gentlemen that are called Loutea I will first therefore expound what this word signifieth Loutea is as much to say in our language as Sir and when any of them calleth his name he answereth Sir The manner how Gentlemen are created Louteas do come to that honour and title is by giuing a broad Girdle not like to the rest and a Cap at the commandement of the King The name Loutea is more generall and common vnto moe than equalitie of honour thereby signified agreeth withall Such Louteas that doe serue their Prince in weightie matters for iustice are created after triall made of their learning but the other which serue in smaller affaires as Capitaines Constables Sergeants by Land and Sea Receiuers and such like whereof there be in euery Citie as also in this very many are made for fauour the chiefe Louteas are serued kneeling The whole Prouince China is diuided as I haue said into thirteene Shires in euery Shire at the least is one Gouernour called there Tutan in some Shires there be two Chiefe in office next vnto them be certaine other named Chians that is high Commissioners as you would say or Visiters with full authoritie in such wise that they doe call vnto an account the Tutanes themselues but their authoritie lasteth not in any Shire longer than one yeere Neuerthelesse in euery Shire being at the least seuen Cities yea in some of them fifteene or sixteene besides other Boroughs and Townes not well to be numbred these Visiters where they come are so honoured and feared as though they were some great Princes At the yeeres end their circuit done they come vnto that City which is chiefe of others in the Shire to doe Iustice there finally busying themselues in the searching out of such as are to receiue the order of Louteas whereof more shall be said in another place Ouer and besides these officers in the chiefe Citie of each one of these aforesaid thirteene Prouinces is resident one Ponchiassi Captaine thereof and Treasurer of all the Kings reuenues This Magistrate maketh his abode in one of the foure greatest houses that be in all these head Cities In the second great house dwelleth another Magistrate called Anchiassi a great officer also for he hath dealings in all matters of Iustice. Tuzi another officer so called lieth in the third house a Magistrate of importance specially in things belonging vnto warfare for thereof hath hee charge There is resident in the fourth house a fourth Officer bearing name Taissu In this house is the principall prison of all the Citie Each one of these Magistrates aforesaid may both lay euill doers in prison and deliuer them out againe except the fact bee heynous and of importance in such a case they can doe nothing except they doe meet altogether And if the deed deserue death all they together cannot determine thereof without recourse made vnto the Chian wheresoeuer he be or to the Tutan and eftsoones it falleth out that the case be referred vnto higher power In all Cities not onely chiefe in each Shire but in the rest also are meanes found to make Louteas Many of them doe studie at the Prince his charges wherefore at the yeeres end they resort vnto the head Cities whither the Chians doe come as it hath beene earst said as well to giue these degrees as to sit in iudgement ouer the prisoners The Chians goe in circuit euery yeere but such as are to be chosen to the greatest offâ—ces meet not but from three yeeres to three yeeres and that in certain large halls appointed for them to be examined in Many things are asked them whereunto if they doe answere accordingly and be found sufficient to take their degree the Chian by and by granteth it them but the Cap and Girdle whereby they are knowne to the Louteas they weare not before that they bee confirmed by the King Their examination done and triall made of them such as haue taken their degree wont to be giuen them with all Ceremonies vse to banquet and feast many daies together as the Chineans fashion is to end all their pleasures with eating and drinking and so remaine chosen to doe the King seruice in matters of learning The other examinates found insufficient to proceed are sent backe to their studie againe Whose ignorance is perceiued to come of negligence and default such a one is whipped and sometimes sent to prison where wee lying that yeere when this kinde of Act was wee found many thus punished and demanding the cause thereof they said it was for that they knew not how to answere vnto certaine things asked them It is a world to see how these Louteas are serued and feared in such wise that in publike assemblies at one shrike they giue all the seruitors belonging vnto Iustice tremble thereat At their being in these places when they lift to moue be it but euen to the gate these Seruitors doe take them vp and carry them in seats of beaten Gold After this sort are they borne when they goe in the Citie either for their owne businesse abroad or to see each other at home For the dignitie they haue and office they doe beare they be all accompanied the very meanest of them all that goeth in these seats is vshered by two men at the least that cry vnto the people to giue place howbeit they need it not for that reuerence the common people hath vnto them They haue also in their company certaine Sergeants with their Maces either siluered or altogether Siluer some two some foure other six other eight conueniently for each one his degree The more principall and chiefe Louteas haue going orderly before these Sergeants many other with Staues and a great many Catch-poles with Rods of Indian Canes dragged to the ground so that the streets being paued you may here a farre off as well the noise of the Rods as the voyce of the cryers These fellowes serue also to apprehend others and the better to be knowne they weare liuerie-red Girdles
yeere also the company furnished and sent out a Pinnesse named the Serchthrift to discouer the Harborowes in the North coast from Norway to Wardhouse and so to the Bay of Saint Nicholas There was in her Master and Pilot Stephen Borough with his brother William and eight other Their discouerie was beyond the Bay toward the Samoeds people dwelling neere the Riuer of Ob and found a sound or sea with an Island called Vaigats first by them put into the Card or Map In that place they threw Snow out of their said Pinnesse with shouels in August by which extremitie and lacke of time they came backe to Russia and wintred at Golmogro Anno 1557. The companie with foure good Ships sent backe the said Russe Ambassadour and in companie with him sent as an Agent for further discouerie Master Antonie Ienkinson who afterward Anno 1558. with great fauour of the Prince of Muscouia and his letters passed the riuer Volga to Cazan and meaning to seeke Cathay by Land was by many troupes and companies of vnciuill Tartarians encountred and in danger but keeping companie with Merchants of Bactria or Boghar and Vrgeme trauelling with Camels he with his companie went to Boghar and no further whose entertainment of the King is to be had of Master Ienkinson which returned Anno 1559. to Muscouie And in Anno 1560. hee with Henrie Lane came home into England which yeere was the first safe returne without losse or shipwracke or dead fraight and burnings And at this time was the first trafficke to the Narue in Liuonia which confines with Lituania and all the Dominions of Russia and the Markets Faires Commodities great Townes and Riuers were sent vnto by diuers seruants the reports were taken by Henrie Lane Agent and deliuered to the companie 1561. The trade to Rie and Reuel of old time hath beene long since frequented by our English Nation but this trade to the Narue was hitherto concealed from vs by the Danskers and Lubeckers Anno 1561. the said Master Antonie Ienkinson went Agent into Russia who the next yeere after passing all the riuer of Volga to Astracan and ouer the Caspian sea arriued in Persia and opened the trade thither Also betweene the yeeres of 1568. and 1573. sundry Voyages after Master Ienkinsons were made by Thomas Alcock Arthur Edwards Master Thomas Banister and Master Geffrey Ducket whose returne if spoyle neere Volga had not preuented by rouing Theeues had altogether salued and recouered the Companies called the old Companies great losse charges and damages But the saying is true By vnitie small things grow great and by contention great things become small This may bee vnderstood best by the Companie The frowardnesse of some few and euill doing of some vniust Factors was cause of much of the euill successe Arthur Edwards was sent againe 1579. and dyed in the voyage at Astracan About which matters are to bee remembred the Voyages of Master Thomas Randolph Esquire Ambassadour Anno 1567. And late of Sir Ierome Bowes Anno 1583. both tending and treating for further Discoueries Freedomes and Priuiledges wherewith I meddle not But in conclusion for their paines and aduentures this way as diuers doe now adayes other wayes as worthie Gentlemen sent from Princes to doe their Countrey good I put them in your memorie with my heartie farewell From Saint Margarets neere Dartforth in Kent To the Reader I Haue had much trouble to giue thee this Authour both for his Language being Portugall which for this and some other parts of this worke I was forced to get as I could and for the raritie of his Relations seeming both in themselues so stupendious and not seconded in many things that I say not contraried by other Authours Besides his booke came not out till himselfe was gone out of the world I answere that Ricius the Iesuite his Relations came not to vs till himselfe was likewise gone and that that might rather plead not onely for the Maturitie but the sinceritie by that Cassian rule Cui bono for whom should a dead man flatter or for what should hee lye Yea hee little spares his owne companie and Nation but often and eagerly layeth open their vices and which is more I finde in him little boasting except of other Nations none at all of himselfe but as if he intended to expresse Gods glorie and mans merit of nothing but miserie And howsoeuer it seemes incredible to remember such infinite particulars as this Booke is full of yet an easie memorie holdeth strong impressions of good or bad Scribunt in marmore laesi is said of one and of the other Omnia quae curant senes meminerunt Neither is it likely but that the Authour wrote Notes which in his manifold disaduentures were lost otherwise but by that writing written the firmer in his memorie especially new whetted filed forbushed with so many companions of miserie whom in that state Haec olim meminisse juuabat their best musicke in their chaines and wandrings being the mutuall recountings of things seene done suffered More maruell it is if a lyar that he should not forget himselfe and contradict his owne Relations which somtimes he may seeme to doe in the numbers of the yeere of the Lord yea and other numbers but his leaues were left vnperfect at his death and those numbers perhaps added by others after and besides mine owne experience hath often found figures mistaken from my hand which being by the Compositor set at large haue runne at large by ten times so much and girt in otherwhiles as narrow with the tenth place diminished or one figure set for another And none but the Authour or he which knowes the subiect can easily amend that fault being so great by so small and easie a lapse The graduations of places I doe confesse otherwise then in the Iesuites and as I suppose not so truely as theirs for I thinke that he neither had Arte or Instrument to calculate the same but contented himselfe in the writing of this Booke to looke into the common Maps of China and to follow them in setting downe the degrees and so the blind led the blind into errour no printed Map that I haue seene being true And perhaps the Chronicler to whom the papers were brought vnfinished might out of those Maps doe it erring either of ignorance or which we haue often seene in Cards of remote places East and West purposely to conceale from others that which they haue found sweet and gainfull the Mariner and Merchant not looking with the generous eyes of the ingenious ingenuous Scholer For his repute at home it was dedicated to King Philip the Third of Spaine which impudence would not haue obtruded if altogether a tale on such Maiestie licenced by the Holy Office and printed at Lisbon translated into the Spanish by the Licentiate Francisco de Herrera Maldonado Canon of the Church Riall of Arbas and dedicated to a Clergie-man Senerin de Faria
nor Siluer And therefore I besought the King that he would punish this deceiuer Tioneg that the good iustice that is vsed in China might be knowne In the time of the former Vice-roy and Capado Tioneg and his companion Yanlion deliuered this vntruth I afterward besought the King that hee would cause all the Papers of the cause of Tioneg to be coppied out and that he would send for the said Tioneg with his processes before himselfe And I my selfe saw the said Papers and caused it to appeare that all was but lyes which the said Tioneg had said I wrote vnto the King saying That by reason of the lyes which Tioneg had made the Castillians suspected that wee sought to make warre vpon them and that therefore they had slayne aboue thirtie thousand Chineses in Luzon The King did that which I besought him And so he chastised the said Yanlion commanding him to bee put to death And hee commanded Tionegs head to be cut off and to be put in a Cage The people of China which were slayne in Luzon were in no fault And I with others negotiated this businesse with the King that I might know his pleasure in this affaire and in another matter which was this That there came two English ships to these coasts of Chincheo a thing very dangerous for China That the King might consider what was to bee done in these two matters of so great importance Likewise wee wrote vnto the King that he would command the two Sangleys to be punished which shewed the Hauen to the Englishmen And after wee had written these things aforesaid to the King he answered vs thâ—t wee should learne wherefore the English ships came vnto China whether they came to robbe or no That they should dispatch from thence a Messenger immediatly to Luzon and that they should signifie to them of Luzon that they should not giue credite to the base and lying people of China And that forthwith they should put to death those two Sangleyes which shewed the Hauen to the Englishmen And touching the rest that wee wrote vnto him wee should doe as wee thought best After wee had receiued this order the Vice-roy the Capado and I sent this message to the Gouernour of Luzon That his Lordship might know the greatnesse of the King of China Seeing hee is so mightie that hee gouerneth all that the Moone and Sunne doe shine vpon And also that the Gouernour of Luzon may know the great wisedome wherewith this mighty Kingdome is gouerned Which Kingdome this long while none durst attempt to offend And albeit the Iaponians haue pretended to disquiet Corea which is vnder the Gouernment of China yet they could not obtayne their purpose but they were driuen out of it And Corea hath remayned in great peace and safety as at this day they of Luzon doe well vnderstand The Answer of Don PEDRO DE ACANNA Gouernour of the Philippinas to the Visitour of Chincheo in China THe Gouernour answered these Letters by the same Messengers that brought them vsing termes full of courtesie and authoritie Hee rehearsed the rebellion of the Sangleyes from the beginning Hee iustified the defense of the Spaniards and the punishment that was executed vpon the Offenders Hee said that no Common-wealth can be gouerned without chastising the bad nor without rewarding the good And therefore that he did not repent him of that execution because it was done for repressing of them that thought to destroy vs. That the Visitour should bee Iudge what hee would doe if the like case should happen in China That the griefe that he had was that he could not saue certaine Sangleyes Merchants Anhayes which died among the offenders But that this was vnpossible to be remedied because the furie of warre doth not giue leaue to kill some and to saue others especially being not knowne of the Souldiers in the heate of battell That vsing mercy to those that remayned aliue condemned them to rowe in the Galleyes which is the punishment which is ordayned among the Castillians for those that haue deserued death Yet if it seeme in China that it ought to be moderated hee would grant them libertie But let it be considered said Don Pedro that this may be a cause that in not chastising so great an offence they may hereafter fall againe into the same A thing that would shut vp all accesse vnto fauour That the goods of the Chineses that were slayne are in safe custodie And that it may be seene that no other affection moueth mee then that of iustice I will shortly send them to be deliuered to the right Heires or vnto such persons as of right they belong vnto None other respect moueth mee to any of these things but that of reason Whereas you tell mee That if I will not set at libertie those prisoners licence will be granted in China to the kinsfolke of those which died in the Rebellion to come with an Armie to Manila it breedeth no feare in mee For I hold the Chineses to be so wise that they will not be moued to such things vpon so weake a ground especially none occasion thereof being giuen them on our part And in case they should be of another minde wee Spaniards are a People which know very well how to defend our Right Religion and Territories And let not the Chineses thinke that they are Lords of all the World as they would haue vs thinke For wee Castillians which haue measured the World with spannes know perfectly the Countreyes of China Wherefore they shall doe well to take knowledge that the King of Spaine hath continuall warres with as mighty Kings as theirs is and doth suppresse them and putteth them to great troubles And it is no new case that when our enemies thinke that they haue vanquished vs they finde vs marching and destroying the Confines of their Land and not to cease vntill wee haue cast them out of their Thrones and taken their Scepters from them I would be much grieued with the change of the commerce But I beleeue also that the Chineses would not willingly lose it since that thereby they obtayne so great profit carrying to their Kingdome our Siluer which neuer faileth in trucke of their merchandise which are slight things and soone worne out The ships of the Englishmen which arriued on the coast of China it was determined not to receiue because they be no Spaniards but rather their enemies and Pirats Wherefore if they come to Manila they shall be punished Finally bâ—causâ— wee Spaniards doe alwaies iustifie our causes and doe boast our selues that it cannot bee said in the world that wee vsurpe other mens possessions nor inuade our friends that shall be fulfilled which is here promised And from hence forward let them know in China that wee neuer doe any thing for feare nor for threats of our enemies Don Pedro concludeth offering continuance of amitie by new bonds of peace with the Kingdomes of
wee all thinke it necessarie to eate after this fashion and to vse their customes to obtayne more free accesse vnto them and to winne them to Christ. There is a Turke heere a dweller in this Citie which aboue fortie yeeres agoe brought one or two Lions to the Father of this King who partly because hee knoweth no Learning nor Sciences and partly because hee sought not to apply himselfe to the habite customes and manner of China there is none that will deale with him nor come neere his house And through the grace which God hath giuen vs and because they see vs apply our selues to their Apparell Fashion and Courtesies all the grauest Mandarins come home to our house to visite vs and doe vs the fauour to hold vs publikely for their Friends which they vse not to doe to their owne Countrey-men of our qualitie and condition praysed bee our Lord alwayes Amen I will not omit to declare the great pleasure wherewith these learned Chinois heare the great consent of the things and ceremonies of our holy Faith in Europe and that wee haue Bishops and as we call them heere Mandarins and superiours in Spirituall things and aboue all they reioyce exceedingly to heare of our Pope that being so great a personage they preferre a Learned and Holy man by way of Election and not by Succession and likewise the obedience and subjection which other Kings doe yeeld vnto him and that there haue beene many as wee told them who being chosen Popes refuse it in good earnest and by no meanes will accept the same and that we haue all things which concerne the Law of God and good manners set downe in writing with all other Bookes concerning him or his Ministers And although that which I haue spoken hitherto of our high Priest is a thing very apparent and true and wee deliuered it for such and they so vnderstand it yet oftentimes they haue giuen vs occasions of laughter The first was That when wee told them that some refused so great an Office straight-way they aske where you say that they refuse it is it not euident that their excuse will not bee accepted As who should say if they would accept of it who is there that would make an excuse And thus they say because they doe so themselues for when great Offices are bestowed vpon them eftsoone they offer vp a Petition making a thousand excuses to the King not to receiue them and they desiâ—e nothing lesse neither can any thing happen so grieuous vnto them as to accept their excuse But vsually they be not admitted though sometimes they bee to their great griefe of heart as I my selfe haue seene But to excuse themselues or to refuse with some danger is the vse so common that they will not fayle to doe so for if they should not doe so it were more certayne that they should goe without the Office The second thing that made vs more to laugh is that many of them tell vs that if wee would returne into our Countrey without doubt they would make vs Popes The reason though not openly which they yeeld is that wee haue a great aduantage aboue other men of our Countrey to wit that wee haue seene and studied and vnderstand their Bookes because that they onely in their opinion can make a man perfect and generally seene in all things Such is the high conceit and reputation which they hold of their Bookes §. VII Of their Women Of the Tartars Conquest Acts and Expulsion The greatnesse of the King and neighbouring States Of the Queenes Eunuches I Will conclude this Letter with two points the one concerning the Women whereof I haue little to say and the last is of the King and of his Palaces and Seruices Euery man as I said before may keepe as many Wiues as hee will and so they doe which is the cause of many tumults quarrels and disorders in their houses among their wiues and among the Sonnes of diuers Mothers and therefore when wee tell them that in our Countrey no man marryeth but one Wife they neuer are satisfied in praising it in words though neuerthelesse they doe not follow it nor put it in practise And the discontentment which the Women haue among themselues and with their Husbands for this occasion is like to prooue a great encouragement vnto them to make them desirous to receiue our holy Faith and to perswade their Husbands to embrace the same seeing that it doth not permit any more but one lawfull Wife onely Of their other Conuersation Customes and other things wee know nothing neither is any thing to bee learned for they keepe house all their life time and goe out of doores exceeding seldome to visite either their Mother or Sisters or nearest kinswomen for they goe not to any else no not in thought And therefore as they haue no conuersation but alwayes to keepe home I can speake nothing of their behauiour Their Apparell seemeth vnto mee honest and comely for sometimes I haue seene the Wiues of Officers and of the poore people for many of them doe goe abroad In some parts of the Countrey wee haue met many women vpon the high way in short garments like to the men of our Countrey without any difference saue on their heads and their feete for all the rest is all one kinde of Apparell but these are the common people onely One of the greatest ornaments that the Women haue is to haue verie little feete and they are so little that they goe verie badly and alway they seeme to goe as though they would fall I could not know the cause nor the Chinois themselues know not the originall occasion why this is counted for a beautie albeit some say it began not for a comelinesse but onely with a purpose to cut off all occasion from them of going abroad The Chinois haue beene very carefull in their Histories and therefore they haue histories of their Kings of aboue foure thousand yeeres And if credit bee to be giuen to that which their Bookes report touching those times and is gathered by diuers of their Histories There are many more yeeres from the Flood to our dayes whereof they also haue some knowledge in their Bookes then the most followed and allowed Calculation among vs which trâ—ate of that matter doe allow of for they say it is sixe thousand yeeres at the least They say that they haue continued Histories But I leaue this because I haue not well conferred the truth and foundation of the Chinish histories At the least it is certaine that they haue knowledge of their matters and certaine Kings within a little after the Flood whensoeuer it was They had many ancient Kings which were verie good men which it may bee were saued in the law of Nature because the heroicall workes of Vertue which they report of them were great and there is no record that they worshipped Idols but
pleasant Woods wherein diuers sorts of wilde beasts doe breed as Panthers Ounces Foxes Sables and Marterns Now Pohemy is distant from Tobolsca about two weekes Iourney toward the North-east Yrtis with almost the like distance from Tobolsca falleth into the Oby And at the mouth of it was builded a Towne called Olscoygorod but afterward razed downe by commandement of the Gouernour of Siberia The cause whereof was not then knowne which notwithstanding I guesse to haue been either the extremity of the cold or that the Towne stood rer vnto the Sea then they thought fit and feared lest some inconuenience might grow thereby for which cause about fiftie leagues aboue that razed Towne they builded another vpon an Iland of the Riuer Oby called Zergolta From hence sayling vp the Riuer they vse small sayles either because winds blow faintly or for the highnesse of the shoare so that though the Oby bee almost euery where very broad notwithstanding they drew their Boats in it with ropes altogether after the same sort that they trauell vp the Riuers of Moscouia Two hundred leagues aboue Zergolta they came to Noxinscoi a Castle builded thirteene yeers agoe at which time the Gouernour sent certaine men thither out of Siberia to seeke ouâ— Countries profitable for mankind and fit to build Townes in Wherefore at that time they builded this Castle and furnished it with a certaine Garrison in a very pleasant wholsome warme and fertile soyle and wherein were great store of Beasts and Fowles of rare kinds The very Castle being situated toward the South-east by little and little grew to be a Citie The Inhabitants whereof were enioyned to proceed by degrees into further and more temperate Countries and to trafficke truely in euery place and courteously and kindly to entreat all people that they met withall whereby at length they might more largely extend the Dominion and spread abroad the Russian Name Wherefore flocking thither in great numbers and piercing into the Inland foure hundred leagues they found goodly Countries but not inhabited And whereas ten yeeres past hauing sayled two hundred leagues vp the Riuer Oby they lighted vpon a Countrey very fruitfull and pleasant which was very temperate and free from all discommodities and the Winters very short and in a manner none at all They tooke occasion thereupon to returne into Siberia to send word of these things into Moscouia Boris Godonoua was then Emperor there who hauing receiued such good tidings forthwith commanded the Gouernour of Siberia that with all speed hee should cause a Citie to bee builded there The Gouernour obeyed and there was a Castle builded vpon his commandement with certaine houses adioyned so that now it is a large Citie The name thereof is Tooma because they vnderstood that a great multitude of Tartars in times past were seated there of whom this Citie tooke that name for the pleasantnesse of the situation thereof And it is reported that these Tartars had at that time a King whose name was Altin Whereby it came to passe that the Citie which was first builded held out many assaults of sundry people that dwelt in those Champion Countreyes And now this Citie is so mightie that in processe of time some reasonable great Kingdome is likely to grow out off it Furthermore betweene this Castle of Noxinscoi and the Citie Tooma and Siberia the Moscouites daily doe discouer many people dwelling in the In-land parts some of whom call themselues Ostachies and now are growne into one bodie with the Tartars Samoieds and Russes liuing friendly together they haue many Kings among them almost like vnto the Indians I speake of the pettie Kings not of the greater Kings of India And to bee briefe the Moscouites haue proceeded so farre into that mayne Land that we haue just cause to maruell thereat Moreouer there are many Castles and Townes betweene the Riuers of Obi and Yrtis builded almost at the same time when Tobolsca was and are now proper Townes whose Inhabitants are Moscouites Tartars and Samoieds of their kind which we call The tame Samoieds in respect of those which are altogether wild And the first of the Townes is Tara from which place it is neere ten dayes iourney between Obi and Yrtis Then Iorgoetum builded about fifteene yeares past Besobia and Mangansoiscoigorod both of them builded aboue Iorgoetum toward the South The Inhabitants that dwell on the west side of the Riuer Obi seeke daily to discouer more and more On this side of Obi are seated the Cities Tobolsca Siberia Beresaia and certaine others builded vpon certaine Riuers and more are builded daily Beyond Obi are Narim Tooma and diuers other Cities the Inhabitants whereof insteed of Horses vse Reyne Deere or exceeding swift Dogs which they fatten with diuers kinds of fishes and especially with Thornebacks because they thinke they be made the stronger with that kinde of food Iorgoetum whereof I spake before is builded in an Iland of the Riuer Obi. Also aboue Narim as men trauaile toward the East they meete with the Riuer Telta on the banke whereof they haue builded a Castle named Comgof-scoi The garâ—ison Souldiers of which Castle together with the Inhabitants of Narâ—m about seuen yeeres past were commanded by the Gouernour of Siberia to trauell East and diligently to search what vnknowne Nations dwelt in those parts Therefore trauelling through certaine vast Deserts for the space of tenne weekes or there abouts passing in the way through many faire Countreys many Woods and Riuers at length they espied certaine Cottages set vp in the fields and certaine Hords or Companies of people But because they had Samoieds and Tartars for their guides which were acquainted with those places they were not afraid The people came vnto them reuerently and with humble behauiour and signified by the Samoieds and Tartars that they were called Tingoesi and that their dwelling was vpon the banke of the great Riuer Ieniscè which they said did spring from the South South-east but that they knew not the head thereof These people were deformed with swellings vnder their throats and in their speech they thratled like Turkie-cocks Their language seemed not much to differ from the Samoieds which also vnderstood many of their words Ieniscè being a Riuer farre bigger then Obi hath high mountaines on the East among which are some that cast out fire and brimstone The Countrey is plaine to the West and exceeding fertile stored with plants flowers and trees of diuers kinds Also many strange fruits do grow therein and there is great abundance of rare Fowles Ieniscè in the spring ouerfloweth the fields about seuentie leagues in like manner as they report vnto vs as Nilus doth Egipt Wherwith the Tingoesi being well acquainted doe keepe beyond the Riuer and in the mountaines vntill it decrease and then returne and bring downe their heards of Cattell into the plaines The Tingoesi being a very gentle people by the perswasion of the
this morning about foure a thicke fogge we saw a head of vs. The one and twentieth in the morning we steered North-east and East North-east two watches fiue or sixe leagues Then it grew thicke fogge And we cast about and steered North-east and East North-east two watches sixe leagues finding wee were embayed The wind came at East South-east a little gale we tacked about and lay South All this night was a thicke fog with little wind East we lay with the stemme The two and twentieth in the morning it cleered vp being calme about two or three of the clocke after we had a prettie gale and we steered away East and by North three leagues Our obseruation was in 72. degrees 38. minutes and changing our course we steered North-east the wind at South-east a prettie gale This morning when it cleered vp we saw the Land trending neere hand East North-east and West South-west esteeming our selues from it twelue leagues It was a mayne high Land nothing at all couered with snow and the North part of that mayne high Land was very high Mountaynes but we could see no snow on them We accounted by our obseruation the part of the mayne Land lay neerest hand in 73. degrees The many fogs and calmes with contrary winds and much Ice neere the shoare held vs from farther Discouery of it It may bee objected against vs as a fault for haling so Westerly a course The chiefe cause that moued vs thereunto was our desire to see that part of Groneland which for ought that we know was to any Christian vnknowne and wee thought it might as well haue beene open Sea as Land and by that meanes our passage should haue beene the larger to the Pole and the hope of hauing a Westerly wind which would be to vs a landerly wind if wee found Land And considering wee found Land contrarie to that which our Cards make mention of we accounted our labour so much the more worth And for ought that wee could see it is like to bee a good Land and worth the seeing On the one and twentieth day in the morning while we steered our course North North-east we thought we had embayed our selues finding Land on our Larboord and Ice vpon it and many great pieces of Drift Ice we steered away North-east with diligent looking out euery cleere for Land hauing a desire to know whether it would leaue vs to the East both to know the bredth of the Sea and also to shape a more Northerly course And considering wee knew no name giuen to this Land wee thought good to name it Hold with hope lying in 73. degrees of latitude The Sunne was on the Meridian on the South part of the Compasse neerest hand Heere is to bee noted that when we made The Mount of Gods Mercie and Youngs Cape the Land was couered with snow for the most part and extreame cold when wee approached neere it But this Land was very temperate to our feeling And this likewise is to be noted that being two dayes without obseruation notwithstanding our lying a hull by reason of much contrary wind yet our obseruation and dead reckoning were within eight leagues together our shippe beeing before vs eight leagues This night vntill next morning prooued little Winde The three and twentieth in the morning we had an hard gale on head of vs with much rayne that fell in very great drops much like our Thunder showers in England wee tacked about and stood East-Northerly with a short sayle to our feeling it was not so cold as before we had it It was calme from noone to three of the clocke with fogge After the winde came vp at East and East South-east we steered away North-east with the fogge and rayne About seuen or eight of the clocke the winde increased with extreame fogge wee steered away with short sayle East North-east and sometimes East and by North. About twelue at mid-night the wind came vp at South-west we steered away North being reasonable cleere weather The foure and twentieth in the morning about two of the clocke the Masters mate thought he saw Land on the Larboord trending North North-west Westerly and the longer we ranne North the more it fell away to the West and did thinke it to bee a mayne high Land This day the wind being Westerly we steered away North and by obseruation wee were in 73. degrees nearest hand At noone we changed our course and steered away North and by East and at our last obseruation and also at this we found the Meridian all Leeward on the South and by West Westerly part of the Compasse when we had sayled two Watches eight leagues The fiue and twentieth the wind scanted and came vp at North North-west we lay North-east two Watches 8. leagues After the wind became variable betweene the North-east and the North we steered away East and by North and sometimes East we had thicke fogge About noone three Granpasses played about our shippe This After-noone the wind vered to the East and South-east we haled away North and by East This night was close weather but small fogge we vse the word Night for distinction of time but long before this the Sunne was alway aboue the Horizon but as yet we could neuer see him vpon the Meridian North. This Night being by our accompt in the Latitude of 75. degrees we saw small flockes of Birds with blacke Backes and white Bellies and long speare Tayles We supposed that Land was not farre off but we could not discrie any with all the diligence which we could vse being so close weather that many times we could not see sixe or seuen leagues off The sixe and twentieth in the morning was close weather we had our wind and held our course as afore This day our obseruation was 76. degrees 38. minutes and we had Birds of the same sort as afore and diuers other of that colour hauing red Heads that we saw when we first made the Mount of Gods Mercy in Greenland but not so many After we steered away North and by East two VVatches 10. leagues with purpose to fall with the Souther part of Newland accounting our selues 10. or 12. leagues from the Land Then wee stood away North-east one VVatch fiue leagues The seuen and twentieth about one or two of the clocke in the morning we made Newland being cleere weather on the Sea but the Land was couered with fogge the Ice lying very thick all along the shoare for 15. or 16. leagues which we saw Hauing faire wind wee coasted it in a very pleasing smooth sea and had no ground at an hundred fathoms foure leagues from the shoare This day at noone wee accounted we were in 78. degrees and we stood along the shoare This day was so foggie that we were hardly able to see the Land many times but by our account we were neare Vogel Hooke About eight of the clocke this Eeuening we purposed to
sound the common people thinke the soules of the damned to be tormented heere it is certayne that diuers and horrible spirits are obserued in this Mountayne and about it for if a Battaile be fought in any place the Islanders especially they that sayle and fish in the Sea neere to Hecla know the day of the Battaile fought although they know not where it be done for they see as they report wicked spirits going forth and returning and bringing soules with them And such a storie is repâ—rted all Island ouer A Fisherman sayling by Hecla met with another ship both had a prosperous wind and when after the manner of Saylers he was demanded who hee was and of what place hee answered that hee had the Bishop of Breme in his ship whom hee would conuay to Hecla and it was knowne that the Bishop dyed the same day which notwithstanding I would not set downe for truth If any perish by Sea or otherwise dye sometimes leauing their Friends and Acquaintance they appeare very heauie being demanded whither they goe and from whence they answere they are brought to Hecla vnder a cruell Master the Deuill and so vanish And they are so bewitched of Satan that they thinke them the soules of the departed But because no man that is well in his wits will thinke that Hell is in this Mountayne yet it may be demanded whence the Hill hath this matter whereby it should bring forth so many yeeres flames so many ashes and such abundance of Pumis stones For wee see the most sollid and firme bodies and all things to be consumed by fire and for that cause some thinke that it shall come to passe that these flames shall once be extingished for the cause fayling they deny that any effects can follow But heere what I thinke I will freely speake yet sauing other mens judgements It is manifest by watry Meteors that there is a continuall generation of water by the vapours gathered together in the cauities of the Earth which issueth forth by Fountayns but the efficient and materiall causes abiding perpetually the effects also continually remayne so also in the bowels of the Earth there are certayne places which by their owne nature draw vnto them a hote and dry exhalation and that it resolues it into flames ashes and Pumis stones which may easily be done in this Mountayne by reason of the Sulphur matter which is found in Island throughout the whole Land And as Fountaynes send forth more abundance of water in the Winter time then in the Summer nay some of them are dry because matter failes so is it with this Mountayne for sometimes matter failing it hath neither flames nor smoke and all is quiet whereby it appeareth that the matter and efficient cause faile Howeuer it bee I know this that no man may come to the foot of the Mountayne without danger and feare as hereafter shall be declared The same yeere I was in Island the nine and twentieth of Nouember about midnight in the Sea neere Hecla there appeared a flame which gaue light to the whole Iland so that all of vs astonished wondred and carefully expected the issue thereof the elder sort and such as were skilfull in this matter said that this light came from Hecla an houre after the whole Iland trembled as it should haue beene moued out of the place after the Earthquake followed a horrible cracke that if all warlike Ordnance had beene discharged it had beene nothing to this terrour It cannot be thought much lesse expressed by word how horrible it was Wee thought that the whole frame of the World would fall and that the last Day was at hand but it was knowne afterwards that the Sea went backe two leagues in that place and remayned dry About the beginning of Iuly at a certayn time of the yeere great store of Ice suddenly floteth to the Iland about Hecla and there goes a rumour through the whole Iland nay it is beleeued that the damned soules are tormented in this Ice by course in the Flame in the Mountayne and after in the Ice This Ice for three whole moneths swimmeth only about Hecla If you take any part of this Ice out of the Sea and wrap it in a linnen cloth and lay it vp in a Chest it remayneth so long vnmelted as it swimmeth in the Sea but if the Ice in the Sea vanish which suddenly in one night happeneth this appeareth not nor leaueth any signe of moysture in the linnen cloth which is not a hard thing for Satan to doe to take away the Ice without moysture to increase their incredulitie Olaus Magnus maketh mention of this Ice in his eleuenth Booke But because I determined to search out all things diligently I sayled not without great feare vnto this Ice and I obserued that this Ice was violently cast against the Rockes by force of the winds and so made a mournfull sound afarre off as if miserable howlings were heard there Hereupon the Islanders thinke the soules of the damned are tormented in this Ice Of the Riches of the Islanders I Haue said that Island was a rough and snowie Countrey and besides it is full of Rockes and stones and so truly that there is not a field in the whole Iland they haue not so much as Gardens wherein they may haue Pot-herbes or Pulse they know no kinde of Corne nor Apples Peares nor Cheries nor any fruit of Trees And which is almost incredible they neither vse Bread nor Salt yet they are well liking and strong There is no Citie in the whole Iland they seldome haue two or three dwellings together They haue their Cottages on the Sea side for fishing and vnder ground by reason of the fierce windes There is no lone of money among them for wares are changed for wares Brimstone groweth on the South part and almost throughout the whole Iland which is digged out in great abundance they sell this stuffe purged for a small price Mines of Gold or Siluer nor of any other mettall they haue none They vse Iron but such as is brought vnto them You shall scarse finde a man who hath not Iron Nayles in a Bagge wherewith Horse-shooes are fastened All their houses are vnder ground for they haue no matter for building There is not a tree in the whole Iland except the Birch-tree and that in one place which also exceedeth not the stature of a man in length and that by reason of the vehemencie of the winds that it cannot grow higher This Birch-tree after the Summer Solstitium beginnes first to bud the leaues haue a most sweet smell and of so fragrant a sauour that the Germanes put them in their Tents and vpon their meats for a singular delight Yet sometimes great abundance of Firre-trees from Tartaria or else-where carried by force of the waues and the Ice arriued in Island The chiefe vse of them is in building Cabbins vnder the ground you shall scarsly find a
to sweepe the snowe away where he should passe and were said to bee slaues which I verily beleeue because certainly they were his Subiects Then came the Prince richly apparelled with two Tartar Princes standing before on his sled and two young Dukes behind with two hundred sleds following him The eight of Februarie the Emperor sent vs sleds to ride abroad and this day the rather that we might behold a reported victorie against the reputed Rebell Demetrie c. So we the Kings Gentlemen did behold three hundred poore Prisoners seuenteene Ensignes and eleuen Drums brought in with more glorie then victorie About this time returned Peter Basman one of the Generals who had performed very honourable seruice and certainly he was the man of greatest hope and expectation in the whole Empire who was brought into the Mosco with all the Counsell Nobles Gentlemen and Merchants a grace neuer performed before to any Subiect But not without suspition of some extraordinarie secret herein and â—â—â—ides particular fauours bountifull rewards and a promise he should neuer goe againe vntill the Emperor himselfe went he was being but a young man made a Priuie Counsellor Forth with one thing I will you shall obserue the Emperors fauour and his then noble Spirit he making diuers times sute as was thought because they were in great danger to goe againe to the warres once prostrated himselfe to obtayne his desire but falling downe too humbly hee could not easily rise againe whereby the Emperor vnderstanding of his many and great wounds was said to weepe rising himselfe vp to raise and helpe him vp but extraordinarie Causes haue the like Effects as hereafter you shall vnderstand We were lodged in the same house where the young Prince Iohn of Denmarke brother to that King and our now Queene of England did lodge who would haue married the young Princesse Oucksinia the Emperors only daughter but that he vnhappily there died but not in any of those lodgings for it is a custome there that where a Prince dyes especially a stranger not of long time after to let any other lodge there Now the Ambassador vnderstanding of the conuenience of his passage downe by sled-way also fearing as wise men had cause what the issue of these warres would be knowing the state here vsed in any sutes bethought himselfe aduisedly that it was high time being the middest of Februarie to desire a second audience for his sooner dispatch which he forthwith requested and wrote a letter to that purpose vnto the Lord Chancellor Vpon the tenth of March the Ambassador with the Kings Gentlemen all richly apparelled and all his followers decently attending very honourably as before and with the like recourse of beholders and guard of Gunners but that they were said to bee Citizens by reason of their warres but in like apparell was attended to the Court being receiued with the former grace or more he ascended the Presence the Emperour and Prince holding their wonted state onely changing their Vestments with the season but for the riches nothing inferior So soone as the Ambassador and the Kings Gentlemen were come opposite to his Throne hee commanded seates that they might sit downe then with a Maiestick countenance representing rather constraint then former cheerfulnesse he declared that He his Sonne and Councell had considered his Maiesties Letter the Maiestie of King Iames of England as also on whatsoeuer else was desired and in token of his ioyfull receiued amâ—tie with the renowmed King of England as with his Predecessor he had wrote his Princely Letters to that purpose Herewith the Chancellor from the Emperour deliuered the Ambassadors his Highnesse Letters to his excellent Maiestie Withall vnderstanding by the Chancellor hee had some farther matter to intreat of then in his Briefe to his Maiestie was remembred therefore hee had appointed foure principall Councellors to consult with him of his Requests which was done After the Ambassador yeelding courteous thanks for his Maiesties fauour his Lordship attended by many Nobles proceeded to the Councell Chamber whither presently after came foure Councellors and the Emperours Tolmach who after salutations we withdrew to the next chamber where wee passed away an houre in discourse among many young Nobles hauing the Ambassadors Interpreter In the end after three or foure goings and returnes of the Chancellor from the Emperour wee went againe before him where after hee had commanded vs to sit downe as before by the mouth of the Chancellor was openly deliuered a Briefe of the whole Embassie and that dayes particular desire according to the Ambassadors request confirmed Also in good and pleasing language was declared the great desire that the Emperour had for the continuance of peace and amitie with the renowmed Iames King of England as with the late Queene Elizabeth withall that in due time all accidents well ended he would send an honourable Ambassador for further affaires as likewise to congratulate with our King of his happinesse in so plausible comming to his Right and Inheritance Likewise a Granâ— of a new Priuiledge for the Companie which he said should be vnder the golden Seale c. Which ceremonious speech ended the Emperor called for the Ambassador and the Kings Gentlemen to kisse his hand and the Princes which done with the Emperors nod or bowing to vs as likewise the Princes desiring the remembrance of his and the Princes commendations to his Maiestie the Prince and Queene of England we were dismissed but not before the Emperor said he would send home to vs. Thus we tooke our last leaue of the Emperors Court being more graciously and especially entertayned then before or then euer any would take knowledge Ambassadors were vsed withall we are honorably attended home and a Duke of great account named Knas Euan Euaâ—â—owich Courlâ—teâ— was attended with many of the Emperors seruants within our Gates following him a dinner sent from the Emperor by some two hundred persons consisting of three hundred seuerall dishes of Fish for it was now Lent of such strangenesse greatnesse and goodnesse for their number as it were not to bee beleeued by any report but by a mans owne eye-sight with infinite store of Meades and Beere in massie plate c. The eighteenth of March the Emperor sent by Vassilly â—râ—gâ—râ—wich Tâ—lâ—pnoâ—e the Roll wherein was the Demands of the Ambassador and the particulars of the whole negotiation as there at large appeares The nineteenth his Maiestie sent 〈◊〉 Mâ—nshoy Buldâ—coâ—e vnder Treasurer a royall Present to the Ambassador of many particulars also to each of the Kings Gentlemen being rewarded he departed The twentieth of March being honourably accompanyed with thousands of Gallants of each side the streets all along as we passed the Ambassador departed from the Citie of Mosco with the whole numbers of horse-men still becking vs till we came a shore mile on this side the Citie where we made a stand and after some complement betweene the Ambassador and his
kinde and honourable Prestaue the Duke Vollagdemor with almost weeping on his part the Ambassador went from the Emperors sled to his coach set vpon a sled and wee â—lighted from the Emperors horses and betooke our selues to our easie and pleasant passage in 〈◊〉 such a passage as this part of the World would wonder at in which a man though hee goe a â—â—â—ckney pace may as easily reade as sleepe Thus accompanyed with Master Ioâ—â— Moricke Master William Russel sometimes Agent for the Dutch and many other Merchants we easily rode that night to Braâ—teshiâ— thirtie miles from the Mosco The next morrow taking leaue of them all we continued our iourney fiftie and sixtie versts a day easily Within few dayes after wee heard newes certainly of the Emperors sudden and vntimely death which considering neither the Prestaâ—e the Gouernour or Bishop had not or would not of ten dayes after take knowledge of we might in the meane time haue doubted of but that his Lordship had it from Master Iohn Mericke by Letter particularly His death was very sudden and as it was in it selfe very strange for within some two houres after dinner hauing as hee vsually had his Doctors with him who left him in their iudgements in health as the good meale he made could witnesse for hee dined well and fed plentifully though presently after as may be thought feeding ouer-much hee felt himselfe not onely heauie but also payned in his stomacke presently went into his chamber laid himselfe vpon his bed sent for his Doctors which alwayes speeded yet before they came hee was past being speechlesse and soone after dying Before his death as speedie as it was hee would bee shorne and new christned what the cause was otherwise then the griefe inward sorrow with diuers distractions about the warres and their bad successe fearing the worst on his part onely God knowes yet who so remembers Gods iudgements or Princes policies for Kingdomes with mans sinfulnesse and considereth the one with the other may bee satisfied if not contented For the Emperours person he was tall and well bodied teaching out of his authoritie obedience of an excellent presence black and thin haâ—red well faced round and close shaued strong limmed A Prince framed betweene Thought and Resolution as being euer in labour but neuer till death deliuered neuer acting though euer plotting but in his Closet or Councel Chamber One rather obeyed then loued being feared where hee was not serued doubtlesse vpholding a true Maiestie and gouernment in euery part but in his owne minde that it is a question whether he were more kinde to Strangers or seuere and iust to his Subiects or hatefull and terrible to his Enemies A father and a Prince whose wordes counsels obseruations policies resolutions and experiments were but the life of his deare Sonne neuer aduising entertayning no not praying without him In all Ambassies and Negotiations remembring his sonnes name with his owne louing him being louely for that himselfe would bee loued vnwilling to spare his presence desirous to haue him at all occasions before his eyes I shall not doe amisse to giue a taste of the fruit sprung from so stately a Tree Being by a learned and well trauailed Gentleman diuers times particularly aduised to let the Prince take some more then no recreation by which meanes he might aswell prolong his life as instruct his iudgement and delight his minde Oh would the Emperour answere one sonne is no sonne nay I am perswaded three sonnes to me is but halfe a sonne But had I sixe sonnes then I might safely say I had one how then should I part with that at any time I know not to bee mine for any time This may giue satisfaction to any vnderstanding both of his feares and ielousies his great loue and much care It was an vsuall speech with the Emperour vpon good reason to say hee was the Lord and father of his sonne yet withall That he was not onely his seruant but his very slaue Two policies of the said Emperour I shall willingly acquaint you with for diuers reasons One was when hee caused fire to bee kindled in foure parts of Moscoâ— whereat himselfe was noted to be very diligent with all his Nobles and Courtiers and after it was quenched he sent his bountie to them all that builded anew their houses and repaid all their losses And this was but to stop the rumour then so common of his strange gayning the Empire by which stratagem of his when his people were readie to mutinie they were created anew good Subiects yet did admire his not onely care but goodnesse towards them all A second was at that time the Land was visited with a mightie famine and as great a plague some foure yeeres since whereof a third of the whole Nation is rated to haue died and the murmuring multitude said the cause was their electing of a murderer to the Empire wherefore God did thus visit them Whereupon hee caused Galleries to bee builded round about the vtmost wall of the great Citie of Mosco and there appointed daily to bee giuen to the poore twentie thousand pounds sterling which was accordingly performed for one moneth whereupon the common peoples mouthes and bellies were well stopped Here wee lodged till the sixt of May being wearied with the inconstancie and ill-come newes of flying reports whereupon the time of the yeere requiring the Ambassador resolued to passe downe the Riuer to Colmogro as well that hee might the sooner haue newes from England as happily to bee out of feare of any disaster the rumours being innumerable and vncertaine After the suspicious death of the old Emperour Boris Pheodorowich c. by the appointment of the Prince then their expected Emperour and the Counsell Peter Basman that noble Sparke was speedily dispatched and sent as Generall vnto their ill succeeding warres as their last hope indeed hee prooued so in a contrarie sense and the onely refuge to the Commons whiâ—her being come hee with himselfe presented most of his command as many as freely would offer themselues Vnder which were all the English Scots French Dutch and Flemmings whatsoeuer and with him or rather before him as least suspected Ries Vasili Euanch Goleeche the other Generall a man of great birth and in the prioritie of place to bee receiued before Peter Basman All which the now well knowne newly opinionated Emperour very graciously receiued happily not without some ielousie of many particulars Demetrius now sent Messengers with Letters which entred the Suburbs where the Commons in infinite numbers brought them safe 〈◊〉 the spacious Plaine before the Castle gate within which as daily they did vse so now were all the Counsellors in consultation but happily not in a secret Counsaile also wherein was the Emperiall Court There these Boyerens made demand for many of the Counsellors especially for the Godonoues to come to heare their right King Dâ—metrius Euanowich speaking vnto them
not to hinder the exceptions which Nature hath giuen to this Rule making some Regions of the burning Zone extremely drie The which is reported of Ethiopia and wee haue seene it in a great part of Peru where all that Land or Coast which they call Playnes wants raine yea land waters except some Vallies where Riuers fall from the Mountaines the rest is a sandie and barren soile where you shall hardly finde any Springs but some deepe Wells But with the helpe of God we will shew the reason why it rayneth not in these Playnes the which many demand for now I onely pretend to shew that there are many exceptions to naturall Rules whereby it may happen that in some part of the burning Zone it raines not when the Sunne is neerest but being farthest off although vnto this day I haue neither seene nor heard of it but if it be so we must attribute it to the particular qualitie of the Earth and also if sometimes the contrarie doth chance we must haue regard that in naturall things there happens many contrarieties and lets whereby they change and dissolue one another For example it may be the Sunne will cause raine and that the windes will hinder it or else cause more abundance then hath beene vsuall When I passed to the Indies I will tell what chanced vnto mee hauing read what Poets and Philosophers write of the burning Zone I perswaded my selfe that comming to the Equinoctiall I should not indure the violent heate but it fell out otherwise for when I passed which was when the Sunne was there for Zenith being entred into Aries in the moneth of March I felt so great cold as I was forced to goe into the Sunne to warme me what could I else doe then but laugh at Aristotles Meteors and his philosophie seeing that in that place and at that season when as all should be scortched with heat according to his rules I and all my companions were a cold In truth there is no Region in the world more pleasant and temperate then vnder the Equinoctiall although it be not in all parts of an equall temperature but haue great diuersities The burning Zone in some parts is very temperate as in Quitto and on the playnes of Peru in some parts very cold as at Potozi and in some very hot as in Ethiopia Bresil and the Molucques This diuersitie being knowne and certaine vnto vs wee must of force seeke out another cause of cold and heat then the Sunne beames seeing that in one season of the yeere and in places of one height and distance from the Pole and Equinoctiall we finde so great diuersitie that some are inuironed with heat some with cold and others tempered with a moderate heat Considering this matter generally I finde two generall causes which maketh this Region temperate the one is that before mentioned for that this Region is very moist and subiect to raine and there is no doubt but the raine doth refresh it for that the water is by nature cold and although by the force of the fire it be made hot yet doth it temper this heat proceeding onely from the Sunne beames The which wee see by experience in the inner Arabia the which is burnt with the Sunne hauing no showres to temper the violence thereof The cloudes and mists are the cause that the Sunne offends not so much and the showres that fall from them refresh both the Aire and the Earth and moisten likewise how hot soeuer it be They drinke raine water and it quencheth the thirst as our men haue well tried hauing no other to drinke So as reason and experience doth teach vs that raine of it selfe doth temper the heat and hauing by this meanes shewed that the burning Zone is much subiect vnto raine it appeares that there is matter in it to temper the violence of the heat To this I will adde an other reason which deserues to be knowne not onely for this matter but for many others for although the Sunne be very hot and burning vnder the Equinoctiall yet is it not long so as the heat of the day being there shorter and of lesse continuance it causeth not so violent a heate the which it behooues to specifie more particularly Such as are practised in the knowledge of the Spheare teach very well that the more the Zodiake is oblique and trauersing our Hemisphere the more vnequall are the dayes and nights and contrariwise where the Spheare is straight and the signes mount directly there the dayes and nights are equall And therefore in all that Region which is betweene the two Tropicks there is lesse inequalitie then without them and the more wee approch the Line the lesse inequalitie we finde the which wee haue tried in those parts Those of Quitto for that they are vnder the Line haue not throughout the whole yeere the dayes and nights more short at one season then at an other but are continually equall Those of Lima being distant almost twelue degrees finde some difference betwixt the dayes and the nights but very little for that in December and Ianuarie the dayes increase an houre or little lesse Those of Potozi finde much more difference both in Winter and in Summer being almost vnder the Tropicke But those that liue without the Tropicks finde the dayes in Winter shorter and in Summer longer the more remote they are from the Equinoctiall and come neere the Pole as wee see in Germanie and in England the dayes are longer in Summer then in Italie and in Spaine It is a thing which the Spheare doth teach and experience doth plainly shew vs. Wee must adde an other Proposition which is likewise true and very considerable for all the effects of Nature to vnderstand the perseuerance and continuation of the efficient cause to worke and mooue This presupposed if any one demand of me why vnder the Equinoctiall Line the heat is not so violent in Summer as in some other Regions as in Andelousia in the moneths of Iuly and August I will answere that in Andelousia the dayes are longer and the nights shorter and as the day being hot inflames and causeth heat so the nights being cold and moist giue a refreshing According to the which at Peru there is no such great heat for that the dayes in Summer are not long nor the nights short so as the heat of the day is much tempered by the freshnesse of the night Being a thing concluded that the two fore-named properties are common and vniuersall to all the Region of the burning Zone and yet in the same there are found some places very hot and other exceeding cold Also that the temperature is not there equall in all places but vnder one climate one part is hot another cold and the third temperate all at one season wee are forced to seeke out other reasons whence this great diuersitie should proceede in the burning Zone Discoursing therefore vpon this question I doe finde
springs a Fountaine of Salt which as it runnes turnes into Salt very white and exceeding good the which if it were in another Countrie were no small riches yet they make very small account thereof for the store they haue there The waters which runne in Guayaquel which is in Peru almost vnder the Equinoctiall Line are held to be healthfull for the French disease and other such like so as they come from many places farre off to be cured And they say the cause thereof is for that in that Countrie there is great aboundance of rootes which they call Salepareille the vertue and operation whereof is so knowne that it communicates her propertie to the waters wherein it is put to cure this disease Bilcanota is a Mountaine the which according to common opinion is in the highest part of Peru the top whereof is all couered with Snow and in some places is blacke like coale There issueth forth of it two Springs in contrary places which presently grow to be very great brooks and so by little and little become great flouds the one goes to Calloa into the great Lake Tâ—â—caca the other goes to the Lands and is that which they call Yucay which ioyning with another runnes into the North Sea with a violent and furious course This Spring when it comes out of the rocke Bilcanota as I haue said is of the colour of lie hauing an ashie colour and casts a fâ—me as a thing burnt the which runs far in this sort vntil the multitude of waters that run into it quench this smoak and fire which it drawes from the Spring In new Spain I haue seene a Spring as it were Ink somewhat blew in Peru another of color red like blood where vpon they cal it the red Riuer Amongst all Riuers not onely at the Indies but generally through the world the Riuer Maragnon or of Amazons is the chiefe whereof we haue spoken in the former Booke The Spaniards haue often sailed it pretending to discouer the Lands which by report are very rich especially those they call Dorado and Paytiti Iean de Salnies the Adelantade made a memorable entrie though of small effect There is a passage which they call Pongo one of the most dangerous in all the world for the Riuer being there straightned and forced betwixt two high steepe Rocks the water fals directly downe with so great a violence that comming steepe downe it causeth such a boyling as it seemeth impossible to passe it without drowning yet the courage of men durst attempt to passe it for the desire of this renowmed Dorado they slipt downe from the top to the bottome thrust on with the violence and currant of the floud holding themselues fast in their Canoes or barkes and although in falling they were turned topsie turuie and both they and their Canoes plunged into the deepe yet by their care and industrie they recouered themselues againe and in this sort the whole armie escaped except some few that were drowned And that which is more admirable they carried themselues so cunningly that they neither lost their Powder nor Munition In their returne hauing suffered many troubles and dangers they were forced in the end to passe backe that same way mounting by one of those high Rocks sticking their Ponyards in the Rocke Captaine Peter d'Orsua made another entrie by the same Riuer who being dead in the same Voyage and the Souldiers mutinied other Captaines followed the enterprise by an arme that comes into the North Sea A religious man of our company told vs that being then a secular man he was present in a manner at all that enterprise and that the tides did flow almost a hundred leagues vp the Riuer and whereas it enters into the Sea the which is vnder the Line or very neere it hath seuenty leagues breadth at the mouth of it a matter incredible and which exceeds the breadth of the Mediterranean Sea though there be some others who in their descriptions giue it but twenty fiue or thirty leagues breadth at the mouth Next to this Riuer that of Plata or of Siluer holds the second place which is otherwise called Paraguay which runs from the Mountains of Peru into the Sea in thirty fiue degrees of altitude to the South it riseth as they say like to the Riuer of Nile but much more without comparison and makes the fields it ouerflowes like vnto a Sea for the space of three moneths and after returneth againe to his course in the which Shippes doe saile many leagues against the streame There are many other Riuers that are not of that greatnesse and yet are equall yea they surpasse the greatest of Europe as that of Magdalaine neere to Saint Marthe called the great Riuer and that of Aluarado in new Spaine and an infinite number of others Of the South side on the Mountaines of Peru the Riuers are not vsually so great for that their current is not long and that many waters cannot ioyne together but they are very swift descending from the Mountaines and haue sodaine fals by reason whereof they are very dangerous and many men haue perished there They increase and ouerflow most in the time of heate I haue gone ouer twenty and seuen Riuers vpon that coast yet did I neuer passe any one by a foord The Indians vse a thousand deuises to passe their Riuers In some places they haue a long cord that runnes from one side to th' other and thereon hangs a basket into the which he puts himselfe that meanes to passe and then they draw it from the banke with another cord so as he passeth in this basket In other places the Indian passeth as it were on Horse-backe vpon a bottle of straw and behinde him he that desires to passe and so rowing with a peece of a boord carries him ouer In other places they make a floate of gourds or pompions vpon which they set men with their stuffe to carry ouer and the Indians hauing cords fastned to them goe swimming before and draw this floate of pompions after them as Horses doe a Coach others goe behinde thrusting it forward Hauing passed they take their barke of pompions vpon their backe and returne swimming this they doe in the Riuer of Saint at Peru. We passed that of Aluarado in new Spain vpon a table which the Indians carried vpon their shoulders and when they lost their footing they swamme These deuises with a thousand other wherewith they vse to passe their Riuers breede a terrour in the beholders helping themselues with such weake and vnsure meanes and yet they are very confident They doe vse no other bridges but of haire or of straw There are now vpon some Riuers bridges of Stone built by the diligence of some Gouernours but many fewer then were needefull in such a Countrie where so many men are drowned by default thereof and the which yeeldes so much Siluer as not onely Spaine but
partes Of Reedes or Canes IN the firme land there are many sorts of Reedes so that in many places they make their houses thereof couering them with the tops of the same and making their wals of them in like manner as I haue said before and among these kindes of Reedes there is one so great that the Canes thereof are as bigge as a mans legge in the knee and three spans in length from ioynt to ioynt or more in so much that euery of them is of capacitie to containe a little bucket of water In this kinde there are found some greater and some lesse of the which some they vse to make quiuers for arrowes There is found another kinde which surely is marueilous being little bigger then a Iauelin the Canes whereof are longer then two spannes these Reedes grow one farre from another as sometimes twenty or thirty paces and sometimes also two or three leagues they grow in manner in all Prouinces in the Indies and grow neere to very high Trees whereunto they leane and creepe vp to the top of their branches which they imbrace and descend againe downe to the earth Their Canes are full of most cleare water without any manner of taste or sauour either of the Canes or of any other thing and such as if it were taken out of the freshest Spring in the world nor yet is it knowne that euer it hurt any that drunke thereof For it hath oftentimes so chanced that as the Christian men haue trauailed in these regions in desolate waies where for lacke of water they haue beene in great danger to dye with thirst they haue escaped that perill by reason that they found the said Reedes of the water of whose Canes they haue drunke a great quantity without any hurt thereof ensuing Therefore when they finde these in any place they make water vessels of the Canes thereof and carry as many of them full of water as may suffice for one dayes iourney and sometime they carrie so many that they take for euery man two or three quarts of water which may serue them for many daies because it doth not corrupt but remaineth still fresh and good There are also certaine Plants which the Christians call Platani They are as high as trees and become as bigge in the trunke as the knee of a man or more From the foote to the top they beare certaine long and large leaues being more then three spans in largenesse and about ten or twelue in length the which when they are broken of the winde the stalke remaineth whole in the middest In the middest of this Plant in the highest part thereof there groweth a cluster with fortie or fiftie Plantans about it euery of them being a span and a halfe in length and as bigge as a mans arme in the small or more or lesse according to the goodnesse of the soile where they grow they haue a rinde not very thicke and easie to be broken being within altogether full of a substance like vnto the marie of the bone of an Oxe as it appeareth when the rinde or barke is taken from the same This cluster ought to be taken from the Plant when any one of the Plantans begin to appeare yellow at which time they take it and hang it in their houses where all the cluster waxeth ripe with all his Plantans This cluster is a very good fruite and when it is opened and the rinde taken off there are found within it many good drie Figges which being rosted or stewed in an Ouen in a close pot or some such other thing are of pleasant taste much like to the conserue of Hony they putrifie not on the Sea so soone as some other fruites doe but continue fifteene daies and more if they be gathered somewhat greene they seeme more delicate on the Sea then on the Land not for that they any thing encrease in goodnes on the Sea but because that wheras on the Sea other things are lacking whereof is plentie on the Land those meates seeme of best taste which satisfie present necessitie This trunke or sprig which bringeth forth the said cluster is a whole yeare in growing and bringing forth fruite in which time it hath put forth round about in ten or twelue sprigges as bigge as the first or principal and multiplieth no lesse then the principall in bringing forth of clusters with fruits likewise at their time and also in bringing forth other and many sprigges as is said before From the which sprigges or trunkes as soone as the cluster of the fruite is taken away the Plant beginneth to drie and wither which then they take out of the ground because it doth none other then occupie it in vaine and without profit They are so many and doe so marueilously encrease and multiplie that it is a thing in manner incredible They are exceeding moist in so much that when they are plucked vp from the place where they grow there issueth forth a great quantity of water as well out of the Plant as out of the place where it grew in such sort that all the moisture of the earth farre about might seeme to be gathered together about the trunke or blocke of the said Plant with the fruites whereof the Antes are so farre in loue that they are seene in great multitudes in the branches of the Plants so that for the multitude thereof it sometime so chanceth that men are enforced to take away the Plants from their possession these fruites are found at all times of the yeere There is also another kinde of wilde Plants that groweth in the fieldes which I haue not seene but in the Iland of Hispaniola although they be found in other Ilands of the Indies these they call Tunas They grow of a Thistle full of thornes and bring forth a fruite much like vnto great Figges which haue a crowne like Medlers and are within of a high colour with graines and the rinde like vnto a Figge they are of good taste and grow abundantly in the fields in many places They worke a strange effect in such as eate them for if a man eate two or three or more they cause his vrine to be of the very colour of bloud whith thing chanced once to my selfe For on a time as I made water and saw the colour of my Vrine I entred into a great suspition of my life being so astonished for feare that I thought the same had chansed to me vpon some other cause in so much that surely my imagination might haue done me hurt but that they which were with me did comfort me immediately declaring the cause thereof as they knew by experience being auncient inhabitours in those regions There groweth also another Plant which the people of the Countrie call Bihaos this putteth forth certaine straight branches and very broade leaues which the Indians vse for diuers purposes for in some places they couer their houses with the leaues thereof
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
plants Animalia Arist. 5. Ethic. cap. 5. Eccles. 10. Of the qualitie and nature of the earth wher the metals are found and that all these metals are not imployed at the Indies and how the Indians vsed them l. 4. Chap. 3. Plin. lib. 5. de Genes mund Euseb. lib. 8. de praepar euang cap. 9. No money of gold but of fruits c. Plin. lib. 33. c. 3. Plin. lib. 33. c. 4. Coine of leather Of gold which they digge and refine at the Indies Chap. 4. Plin. lib. 33. c. 3. Apoc. 3. 21. Cant. 3. Psal. 67. 3. Reg. 6. See before in I. dos Santos and in Herrera Plin. lib. 3. cap. 4. Of the Siluer at the Indies Chap. 5. Note Of the Mountaine or Hill of Potozi and the discouery thereof Chap. 6. Euery piece is worth thirteene Rials and a fourth part Plin. lib. 33. c. 6. Huge summes of siluer Eâ—â—aim Preciosa pericula Speciosa supplicia Intolerable paines and darknesse in the Mynes and if in the Mindes farre more intolerable remayning Euery Arobe is 25. pound Plin. in proem lib. 33. cap. 6. How they refine the metall of siluer Chap. 9. Plin. l. 33. c. 6. Sympathie with gold Plin. l. 33. c. 6 Of the place where they finde quick-siluer and how they discouered these rich mynes in Guancavilca Chap. 11. Labirinths Mines of Quick-siluer found The manner how to draw out Quick siluer and how they refine Siluâ—r Chap. 12. Dangers by Quick-siluer Force of Straw Plâ—n l. 33. c. 4. Abundance of Mettals Manner of working Fine Siluer for worke must be alloyed Mat. 3. Eccles. 2. Psal. 11. Of their Engins to grâ—nde the Mettall and of their triall of Siluer Chap. 13. Pli lib. 37. ca. 3. A pretty storie How Emeralds grow Admirable Emerald Church of Corduba Of Pearles Chap. 15. Plin. lib. 3. ca. 35. Cleopatras vaniâ—y Pearle fishings Manner thereof Long winded slaues Of the Indian Bread and of Mays Chap. 16. We call it also Virginia wheat How it groweth I haue had it ripen reasonably in my Garden in â—ssex Malt strong drinke made of it Chica good against the Stone Of Yucas Caçaui Papas Chunes and Riâ— Chap. 17. Iuice of Caçaui poison Wheat why it groweth not in those parts Papas and Chuno Of diuers roots which grow at the Indies Chap. 18. Of diuers sorts of green hearbs and Pulses and of those they call Concombres Pines or Pine Apples small fruits of Chille and of Prunes Cha. 19. Pines Pulses Melons and Pompeâ—s carried out of Europe and thriuing better there These Calibasses seeme the Guinny Gourds carried from the African coast thither Of Axi or Indian Pepper Chap. 20. Ginger Of the Plane tree Chap. 21. Plin. lib. 2. cap. 1. Pli. lib. 11. ca. 16. Of Cacao and Coca Chap. 2â— Cacao money Coca Of Maguey Tunal Cocheuille Anir and Cotton Chap. 23. Maguey Manifold commodities of the Maguey Tunall tree I thinke hee meaneth Anill or Indico of which see To. 1 l 4. in â—iâ—cheâ— Iournall Cotten Of Mameys Gâ—auyanos and Pâ—ltos Chap. 24. Chicopotes Of many sorts of fruit Trees of Cocos Almonds of the Andes and Almonds of Chachapoyas Cha 26 Cocos Almonds Of many and diuerâ—flowers and of some trees which yeelde onely a flower how the Indians doe vse them Ch. 27. Accidents produce most arts Of Balme Plin. lib. 12. c. 15 Chap. 28. Strab. lib. 16. Geograp Of Amber and other Oyles Gummes and Drugs which they bring from the Indies Chap. 29. Cas. Fistula Salceparilla Ligâ—um viâ—ae Auncient Physicians Strange trauil Great Tree Plin. lib. 12. c. 1. Of Plants and fruites which haue bin câ—rried out of Spain to the Indies Chap. 31. Natures husbandrie Of Grapes Vines Oliues Mulberries and Canes of Sugar Chap. 32. Grapes all the yeere Strange fructifying Oliues but no Oile Of beasts bearing wooll and of Kine Cap. 33. Europaean beasts Store of sheep Store of Kine Wilde herds Killed only for the hides Almost 100000 hides transported at once How rich might Virginia become if Horses Asses Camels Dogs multiplyed to noysomnesse Indian Dogs Of some beasts of Europe vvhich the Spaniards found at the Indies and how they should passe thither Cap. 34. Noâ—e * But vvhere our Nauigations beyond 80. haue shewed open and vvidâ— Seas betvvixt Lions Circles are vsed in hunting by Persians Tartars c. Tigres Beares Beâ—s Foxes and beasts of spoile Deere vvithout hornes Of Fovvles vvhich are â—ere and are at thâ— Indies and hovv they could passe thither Cap. 35. Plin. lib. 10. câ—3 â—3 Plin. l 10. c. 25. Estridges Hennes How it should be possible that at the Indies there should be any sorts of beasts whereof the like are no where else Chap. 36. The same prouidence which brought all beasts and fowles from all their natiue diuersified residencies thorow all the world to the Arke which no naturall instinct in such antipathies and at once could doe and kept them safe in the Arke did also dispose them to their designed abodes after For I hold it vnchristian with Mercator to say America was not drowned with the Floud And the same scruple might bee made for beasts c. in other parts the tâ—mper of the Arke or of the place where the Arke rested not agreeing naturally to the Zebra Elephant Riuer-horse Crocodile and many other hottâ—r creatures of Africa nor to the other peculiar creatures of many other Regions In things aboue nature as is both the historie and mysterie of the Arke we must flee necessarily to a supernaturall cause For except wee would imagine the most part of the Sea to haue beene lands or Ilands from beyond the cold Magellan to the coldest Purchas plus vltra that is from 57. South latitude to aboue 81. of North latitude all the Sea is known and voyages many in this work deliuerd which exâ—ludes al possibilitie of such passages of beasts especially such as cannot endure cold as our Author imagineth For men in boats that might happen accidentally which voluntarily hath beene attempted by Ours a little boat comming home from Bermuda to England and the Dutch open boats from Noua Zembla to Norway further and longer distances then is needfull from Iland to Iland for crossing from Europe to some parts of America that I mention not the Carthaginian and Owen Gwyneds voyages and other casuall tempests c. in which by fishing fishermen might liue long at Sea with their wiues and be carried by a higher coworking ouer-ruling prouidence to people this new World which it is likely at diuers times and by diuers meanes receiued her inhabitants God which made all men of one bloud alotting to all Adams sonnes their portions and the seuerall bounds of their habitation Act. 17.20 See Iobson Tom. 1. l. 9. of such in Guineâ— Tomineios Condores Rauens Feather pictures The like is in the East Indies Of beasts for the Chases Chap. 38. * These might come from the East parts thither by means of those Ilands which you see in Schoutens voyage