with the king of Hungarie menacing and plainely foretelling those mischiefes which afterward happened vnlesse he would submit himselfe and his kingdome vnto the Tartars yoke Well being allured by our Princes to confesse the trueth he made such oathes and protestations as I thinke the deuill himselfe would haue beene trusted for First therefore he reported of himselfe that presently after the time oâ— his banishment namely about the 30. yere of his age hauing lost all that he had in the citie of Acon at dice euen in the midst of Winter being compelled by ignominious huâ—ger wearing nothing about him but a shirt of sacke a paire of shooes and a haire cappe onely being shauen like a foole and vttering an vncoâ—h noise as if he had bene dumbe he tooke his iourney and so traueiling many countreyes and finding in diuers places friendly enterteinment he prolonged his life in this maner for a season albeit â—uery day by rashnesse of speech and inconstancie of heart he endangered himselfe to the deuil At length by reason of extreame trauaile and continuall change of aire and of meaâ—s in Caldea he fell into a grieuous sickenesse insomuch that he was wearie of his life Not being able therefore to go forward or backeward and staying there a while to refresh himselfe he began being somewhat learned to commend to writing those wordes which hee heard spoken and within a short space so aptly to pronounce and to vtter them himselfe that he was â—eputed for a natiue member of that countrey and by the same dexteritie he attained to manie languages This man the Tartars hauing intelligence of by their spies drew him perforce into their societie and being admonished by an oracle or vision to challenge dominion ouer the whole earth thâ—y allured him â—y many rewards to their faithâ—ull seruice by râ—ason that they wanted Interpreters But concerning their maners and superstitions of the disposition and stature of their bodies of their countrey and maner of fighâ—ing c he protested the particulars following to be true namely that they were aboue all men couetous hasty deceitfull and mercilesse notwithstanding by reason of the rigour and extremitie of punishments to be inflicted vpon them by their superiours they are restreined from brawlings and from mutuall strife and contention The ancient founders and fathers of their tribes they call by the name of gods and at certaine set times they doe celebrate solemne feasts vnto them many of them being particular but foure onely generall They thinke that all things are created for themselues alone They esteeme it none offence to exercise cruelty against rebels They be hardie and strong in the breast leane and pale-fated rough and huf-shouldred hauing flatte and short noses long and sharpe chinnes their vpper iawes are low and declining their teeth long and thinne their eye-browes extending from their fore-heads downe to their noses their eies inconstant and blacke their countenances writhen and terrible their exâ—reame ioynts strong with bones and sinewes hauing thicke and great thighes and short legsâ— and yet being equall vnto vs in stature for that length which is wanting in their legs is supplied in the vpper parts of their bodies Their countrey in olde time was a land vtterly desert and waste situated faâ— beyond Chaldea from whence they haue expelled Lions Beares such like vnâ—amed beasts with their bowes and oâ—her engines Of the hides of beasts being tanned they vse to shape for themselues light but yet impenetrable armour They ride fast bound vnto their horses which are not very great in stature but exceedingly strong and mainteined with little prouender They vse to fight constantly and valiantly with iauelins maces battle-axes and swords But specially they are excellent archers and cunning warriâ—rs with their bowes Their backs are slightly armed that they may not flee They withdraw not themselues from the combate till they see the chiefe Standerd of their Generall giue backe Vanquâ—shed they aske no fauour and vanquishing they shew no compassion They all persist in their purpose of subduing the whole world vnder their owne subiection as if they were but one man and yet they are moe then millions in number They haue 60000. Courriers who being sent before vpon light horses to prepare a place for the armie to incampe in will in the space of one night gallop three dayes iourney And suddenly diffusing themselues ouer an whole prouince and surprising all the people thereof vnarmed vnprouided dispersed â—hey make such horrible slaughters that the king or prince of the land inuaded cannot finde people sufficient to wage battell against them and to withstand them They delude all people and princes of regions in time of peace pretending that for a causeâ— which indeed is no cause Sometimes they say that they will make a voyage to Colen to fetch home the three wise kings into their owne countrey sometimes to punish the auarice and pride of the Romans who oppressed them in times past sometimes to conquere barbarous and Northren nations sometimes to moderate the furie of the Germans with their owne meeke mildnesse sometimes to learne warlike feats and stratagems of the French sometimes â—or the finding out of fertile ground to suffice their huge multitudes sometimes againe in derision they say that they intend to goe on pilgrimage to S. Iames of Galâ—cia In regard of which sleights and collusions certaine vndiscreet gouernors concluding a league with them haue granted them fâ—ee passage thorow their territories which leagues notwithstanding being violated were an occasion of ruine and destruction vnto the foresayd gouernours c. Libellus historicus Ioannis de Plano Carpini qui missus est Legatus ad Tartaros anno Domini 1246. ab Innocentio quarto Pontifice maximo Incipit Prologus in librum Tartarorum OMnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos praesens scriptum peruenerit frater Ioannes de Plano Carpini ordinis fraâ—â—um minorum Apostolicae â—edis Legatus nuncius ad Tartaros nationes alias Orientis Dâ—i gratiam in praesenti gloriam in futuro de inimicis suis gloriam triumphalem Cum ex mandato sedis Apostolice iremus ad Tartaros nationes alias Orientis sciâ—emus Domini Papae venerabilium Cardinalium voluntatem elegimus priâ—s ad Tartaros proficisci Timebamus enim ne per cos in proximo ecclesiae Dei periculum imminerer Et quamuis a Tartaris alijs nationibus timeremus occidi vel perpetuo captiuari vel fame siti algore aestu contumelia laboribus niâ—ijs quasi vltra vires afflâ—gâ— quae omnia multo pluâ—quam prius credidimus excepta morte vel captiuitate perpetua nobis mulâ—ipliciter euenerunt non tamen pepercimus nobis ipsis vt voluntatem Dei sâ—cundum Domini papae mandatum adimplere possemus vt proficeremus in aliquo Christianis vt saltem scita veraciter voluntate intentione ipsorum possemus illam patefacere Christianis ne forte subito irruentes inuenirent eos
honorable presents And a litle afterward Upon the hearing of these newes the emperor departed with great ioy out of England whom the king honoured with many precious gifts The Voiage of the bishop of VVinchester to Ierusalem in the sixe yeere of the reigne of Henry the fift which was the yeere of our Lord 1417. Thomas Walsing VLtimo die mensis Octobris episcopus Wintoniensis accessit ad concilium Constanciense peregrinaturus Hierosolymam post electioneÌ„ summi pontificis celebratam vbi tantum valuit elus facunda persuasio vâ— excitaret dominos Cardinales ad concordiam ad electionem summi pontificis se ocyâ—s praepararent The same in English THe last day of October the bishop of Winchester came to the Councell of Constance which after the chusing of the Pope determined to take his iourney to Ierusalem where his eloquent perswasion so much preuailed that he both perswaded my lords the Cardinals to vnity and concord and also moued them to proceed more speedily to the election of the Pope A preparation of a voyage of King Henrie the fourth to the Holy land against the infidels in the yere 1413 being the last yere of his reigne wherein he was preuented by death written by Walsingham Fabian Polydore Virgile and Holenshed IN this foureteenth and last yere of king Henries reigne a councell was holden in the White friets in London at the which among other things order was taken for ships and gallies to be builded and made ready and all other things necessary to be prouided for a voyage which he meant to make into the Holy land there to recouer the city of Ierusalem from the infidels for it grieued him to consider the great malice of Christian princes that were bent vpon a mischieuous purpose to destroy one another to the perill of their owne soules rather then to make warre against the enemies of the Christian faith as in conscience it seemed to him they were bound We finde sayeth Fabian in his Chronicle that he was taken with his last sickenesse while he was making his prayers at Saint Edwards shrine there as it were to take his leaue and so to proceede foorth on his iourney He was so suddenly and grieuously taken that such as were about him feared least he would haue died presently wherefore to relieâ—e him if it were possible they bare him into a chamber that was next at hand belonging to the Abbot of Westminster where they layd him on a pallet before the fire and vsed all remedies to reuiue him At length he recouered his speech and perceiuing himselfe in a strange place which he knew not he willed to knowe if the chamber had any particular name whereunto answere was made that it was called Ierusalem Then sayde the king Laâ—des be giuen to the father of heauen for now I knowe that I shall die here in this chamber according to the prophesie of mee declared that I should depart this life in Ierusalem Of this intended voyage Polydore Virgile writeth in manner following POst haec Henricus Rex memor nihil homini debere esse entiquius quà m ad officium iustiâ—iae quae ad hominum vellitatem perâ—inet omne suum studium conferre protinùs omisso ciuili bello quo pudebat videre Christianos omni tempore turpitèr occupari de republica Anglica benè gubernanda de bello in hostes communes sumendo de Hierosolymis tandem aliquando recipiendis plura destinabat classemque iam parabat cum ei talia agenti atque meditanti casus mortem attulit subito enim morbo tentatus nulla medicina subleuari potuit Mortuus est apud Westmonasterium annum agens quadragesimum sextum qui fuit annus salutis humanae 1413. The same in English AFterward King Henry calling to minde that nothing ought to be more highly esteemed by any man then to doe the vtmost of his indâ—uour for the performance of iustice which â—endeth to the good and benefite of mankinde altogether abandoning ciuill warre wherewith he was ashamed to see how Christians at all times were dishonourably busied cutered into a more derye consideration of well gouerning his Realme of England of waging warre against the common enemie and of recouering in processe of time the citie of Ierusalem yea and was prouiding a nauie for the same purpose whenas in the very midst of this his heroâ—call action and enterprise he was surprised with death for falling into a sudden disease he could not be cured by any kinde of phisicke He deceased at Westminster in the 46 yeare of his age which was in the yeere of our Lord 1413. A briefe relation of the siege and taking of the Citie of Rhodes by Sultan Soliman the great Turke translated out of French into English at the motion of the Reuerend Lord Thomas Dockwray great Prior of the order of Ierusalem in England in the yeere 1524. WIlling faithfully to write and reduce in veritie Historiall the great siege cruel oppugnation and piteous taking of the noble and renowmed citie of Rhodes the key of Christendome the hope of many poore Christian men withholden in Turkie to saue and keepe them in their faith the rest and yeerely solace of noble pilgrimes of the holy supulchre of Iesu Christ and other holy places the refuge and refreshing of all Christian people hauing course of marchandise in the parties of Leuant I promise to all estates that shall see this present booke that I haue left nothing for feare of any person nor preferred it for fauour And first I shall shewe the occasions that mooued this cruell bloodshedder enemie of our holy Christian faith Sultan Soliman now being great Turke to come with a great hoste by sea and by lande to besiege and assayle the space of sixe moneths night and day the noble and mightie citie of Rhodes The yere of the incarnation of our Lord Iesu Christ 1522. The occasions why the great Turke came to besiege the Citie of Rhodes THe first and principall cause was that he did consider and sawe by experience that there was none other Towne nor place in Leuant that warred against him nor kept him in doubt but this poore rocke of Rhodes And hearing the continuall complaintes of his subiectes aswell of Syria as of Turkie for the domages and prises dayly done of their bodies and goods by Christian men of warre receiued into Rhodes And also of the shippes and gallies of the religion he tooke conclusion in himselfe that if he might put the sayde Towne in his power and subiection that then he should be peaceable lord of all the parties of Leuant and that his subiects should complaine no more to him The second that he might followe the doings of his noble predecessouâ—s and shewe himselfe very heire of the mightie and victorious lord Sultan Selim his father willing to put in execution the enterprise by him left the yeere one thousand fiue hundred twentie and one The which Selim the great Turke put in all
China and from China to the Indies and the voyage of Bengala Maluco and Sonda with the lading of fine cloth and euery sort of Bumbast cloth Sonda is an Iland of the Moores neere to the coast of Iaua and there they lade Pepper for China The ship that goeth euery yeere from the Indies to China is called the ship of Drugs because she carieth diuers drugs of Cambaia but the greatest part of her lading is siluer From Malacca to China is eighteene hundred miles and from China to Iapan goeth euery yeere a shippe of great importance laden with Silke which for returne of their Silke bringeth barres of siluer which they trucke in China The distance betweene China and Iapan is foure and twentie hundred miles and in this way there are diuers Ilands not very bigge in which the Friers of saint Paul by the helpe of God make many Christians there like to themselues From these Ilands hitherwards the place is not yet discouered for the great sholdnesse of Sandes that they find The Portugals haue made a small citie neere vnto the coast of China called Macao whose church and houses are of wood and it hath a bishoprike but the customs belong to the king of China and they goe and pay the same at a citie called Canton which is a citie of great importance and very beautifull two dayes iourney and a halfe from Macao The people of China are Gentiles and are so iealous and fearefull that they would not haue a stranger to put his foote within their land so that when the Portugals go thither to pay their custome and to buy their marchandize they will not consent that they shall lie or lodge within the citie but send them foorth into the suburbes The countrey of China is neere the kingdom of great Tartaria and is a very great countrey of the Gentiles and of great importance which may be iudged by the rich and precious marchandize that come from thence then which I beleeue there are not better nor in greater quantitie in the whole world besides First great store of golde which they carie to the Indies made in plates like to little shippes and in value three and twentie caracts a peece very great aboundance of fine silke cloth of damaske and taffata great quantitie of muske great quantitie of Occam in barres great quantitie of quicksiluer and of Cinaper great store of Camfora an infinite quantitie of Porcellane made in vessels of diuerse sortes great quantitie of painted cloth and squares infinite store of the rootes of China and euery yeere there commeth from China to the Indies two or three great shippes laden with most rich and precious marchandise The Rubarbe commeth from thence ouer lande by the way of Persia because that euery yeere there goeth a great Carouan from Persia to China which is in going thither sixe moneths The Carouan arriueth at a Citie called Lanchin the place where the king is resident with his Court I spake with a Persian that was three yeeres in that citie of Lanchin and he tolde me that it was a great Citie and of great importance The voiages of Malacca which are in the iurisdiction of the Captaine of the castle are these Euery yeere he sendeth a small shippe to Timor to lade white Sandols for all the best commeth from this Iland there commeth some also from Solor but that is not so good also he sendeth another small ship euery yere to Cauchin China to lade there wood of Aloes for that all the wood of Aloes commeth from this place which is in the firme land neere vnto China and in that kingdome I could not knowe how that wood groweth by any meanes For that the people of the countrey will not suffer the Portugales to come within the land but onely for wood and water and as for all other things that they wanted as victuals or marchandise the people bring that a boord the ship in small barkes so that euery day there is a mart kept in the ship vntill such time as she be laden also there goeth another ship for the said Captaine of Malacca to Sion to lade Uerzino all these voiages are for the Captaine of the castle of Malacca and when he is not disposed to make these voiages he selleth them to another The citie of Sion or Siam SIon was the imperiall seat and a great Citie but in the yeere of our Lord God one thousand fiue hundred sixtie and seuen it was taken by the king of Pegu which king made a voyage or came by lande foure moneths iourney with an armie of men through his lande and the number of his armie was a million and foure hundreth thousand men of warre when hee came to the Citie he gaue assault to it and besieged it one and twentie monethes before he could winne it with great losse of his people this I know for that I was in Pegu sixe moneths after his departure and sawe when that his officers that were in Pegu sent fiue hundreth thousand men of warre to furnish the places of them that were slaine and lost in that assault yet for all this if there had not beene treason against the citie it had not beene lost for on a night there was one of the gates set open through the which with great trouble the king gate into the citie and became gouernour of Sion and when the Emperour sawe that he was betrayed and that his enemie was in the citie he poysoned himselfe and his wiues and children friends and noblemen that were not slaine in the first affront of the entrance into the citie were all caried captiues into Pegu where I was at the comming home of the king with his triumphs and victorie which comming home returning from the warres was a goodly sight to behold to see the Elephants come home in a square laden with golde siluer iewels and with Noble men and women that were taken prisoners in that citie Now to returne to my voyage I departed from Malacca in a great shippe which went for Saint Tome being a Citie situate on the coast of Coromandel and because the Captaine of the castles of Malacca had vnderstanding by aduise that the king of Assi would come with a great armie and power of men against them therefore vpon this he would not giue licence that any shippes should depart Wherefore in this ship wee departed from thence in the night without making any prouision of our water and wee were in that shippe foure hundreth and odde men we departed from thence with intention to goe to an Iland to take in water but the windes were so contrary that they would not suffer vs to fetch it so that by this meanes wee were two and fortie dayes in the sea as it were lost and we were driuen too and fro so that the first lande that we discouered was beyonde Saint Tome more then fiue hundreth miles which were the mountaines of
the fayres to buy my commodities with the marchants And this is the cause that the Portugales will not drinke of the water of the riuer Ganges yet to the sight it is more perfect and clearer then the water of Nilus is From the port Piqueno I went to Cochin and from Cochin to Malacca from whence I departed for Pegu being eight hundred miles distant That voyage is woont to be made in fiue and twentie or thirtie dayes but we were foure moneths and at the ende of three moneths our ship was without victuals The Pilot told vs that wee were by his altitude not farre from a citie called Tanasary in the kingdome of Pegu and these his words were not true but we were as it were in the middle of many Ilands and many vninhabited rockes and there were also some Portugales that affirmed that they knew the land and knewe also where the citie of Tanasari was This citie of right belongeth to the kingdome of Sion which is situate on a great riuers side which commeth out of the kingdome of Sion and where this riuer runneth into the sea there is a village called Mirgim in whose harbour euery yeere there lade some ships with Uerzina Nypa and Beniamin a few cloues nutmegs and maces which come from the coast of Sion but the greatest marchandise there is Uerzin and Nypa which is an excellent wine which is made of the floure of a tree called Nyper Whose liquour they distill and so make an excellent drinke cleare as christall good to the mouth and better to the stomake and it hath an excellent gentle vertue that if one were rotten with the french pockes drinking good store of this he shall be whole againe and I haue seene it proued because that when I was in Cochin there was a friend of mine whose nose beganne to drop away with that disease and he was counselled of the doctors of phisicke that he should goe to Tanasary at the time of the new wines and that he should drinke of the nyper wine night and day as much as he could before it was distilled which at that time is most delicate but after that it is distilled it is more strong and if you drinke much of it it will fume into the head with drunkennesse This man went thither and did so and I haue scene him after with a good colour and sound This wine is very much esteemed in the Indies and for that it is brought so farre off it is very deare in Pegu ordinarily it is good cheape because it is neerer to the place where they make it and there is euery yeere great quantitie made thereof And returning to my purpose I say being amongst these rockes and farre from the land which is ouer against Tanasary with great scarcitie of victuals and that by the saying of the Pylot and two Portugales holding then firme that wee were in front of the aforesayd harbour we determined to goe thither with our boat and fetch victuals and that the shippe should stay for vs in a place assigned We were twentie and eight persons in the boat that went for victuals and on a day about twelue of the clocke we went from the ship assuring our selues to bee in the harbour before night in the aforesaid port wee rowed all that day and a great part of the next night and all the next day without finding harbour or any signe of good landing and this came to passe through the euill counsell of the two Portugales that were with vs. For we had ouershot the harbour and left it behind vs in such wise that we had lost the lande inhabited together with the shippe and we eight and twentie men had no maner of victuall with vs in the boate but it was the Lords will that one of the Mariners had brought a litle rice with him in the boate to barter away for some other thing and it was not so much but that three or foure men would haue eaten it at a meale I tooke the gouernment of this Ryce promising that by the helpe of God that Ryce should be nourishment for vs vntil it pleased God to send vs to some place that was inhabited when I slept I put the ryce into my bosome because they should not rob it from me we were nine daies rowing alongst the coast without finding any thing but countreys vninhabited desert Ilands where if we had found but grasse it would haue seemed sugar vnto vs but wee could not finde any yet we found a fewe leaues of a tree and they were so hard that we could not chewe them we had water and wood sufficient and as wee rowed we could goe but by flowing water for when it was ebbing water wee made fast our boat to the banke of one of those Ilandes and in these nine dayes that we rowed we found a caue or nest of Tortoises egges wherein were one hundred fortie and foure egges the which was a great helpe vnto vs these egges are as bigge as a hennes egge and haue no shell aboue them but a tender skinne euery day we sodde a kettle full of those egges with an handfull of rice in the broth thereof it pleased God that at the ende of nine dayes we discouered certaine fisher men a fishing with small barkes and we rowed towardes them with a good cheare for I thinke there were neuer men more glad then we were for wee were so sore afflicted with penurie that we could scarce stande on our legges Yet according to the order that we set for our ryce when we sawe those fisher men there was left sufficient for foure dayes The first village that we came to was in the gulfe of Tauay vnder the king of Pegu whereas we found great store of victuals then for two or three dayes after our arriuall there we would eate but litle meate any of vs and yet for all this we were at the point of death the most part of vs. From Tauay to Martauan in the kingdome of Pegu are seuentie two miles We laded our bote with victuals which were aboundantly sufficient for sixe moneths from whence we departed for the port and Citie of Martauan where in short time we arriued but we found not our ship there as we had thought we should from whence presently we made out two barkes to goe to looke for her And they found her in great calamitie and neede of water being at an anker with a contrary winde which came very ill to passe because that she wanted her boat a moneth which should haue made her prouision of wood and water the shippe also by the grace of God arriued safely in the aforesaid port of Martauan The Citie of Martauan WE found in the Citie of Martauan ninetie Portugales of Merchants and other base men which had fallen at difference with the Retor or gouernour of the citie and all for this cause that certaine vagabondes of the Portugales had slaine fiue
as good Iennets as any are in Spaine and better cheape then they bee in Spaine And with their mules they cary all their goods from place to place There is raine vsually in this Countrey from the moneth of May to the midst of October euery day which time they call their winter by reason of the said waters And if it were not for the waters which fall in these hot seasons their Maiz which is the greatest part of their sustenance would be destroyed This Maiz is the greatest maintenance which the Indian hath and also all the common people of the Spaniards And their horses and mules which labour cannot be without the same This graine is substantiall and increaseth much blood If the Miners should bee without it they coulde not labour their Mines for all their seruants eate none other bread but onely of this Maiz and it is made in cakes as they make oaten cakes in some places of England The Indians pay tribute being of the age of 20. yeeres 4. shillings of money and an hanege of Maiz which is worth 4. shillings more vnto the King euery yeere This is payd in all Noua Hispania of as many as be of the age of 20. yeeres sauing the Citie of Tlascalla which was made free because the citizens thereof were the occasion that Cortes tooke Mexico in so little a time And although at the first they were freed from paiment of tribute yet the Spaniards now begin to vsurpe vpon them and make them to till a great field of Maiz at their owne costes euery yeere for the King which is as beneficial vnto him and as great cost vnto them as though they paid their tribute as the others doe The ships which goe out of Spaine with goods for Peru goe to Nombre de dios and there discharge the said goods and from thence they be caried ouer the necke of a land vnto a port towne in the South sea called Panama which is 17. leagues distant from Nombre de dios And there they doe ship their goods againe and so from thence goe to Peru. They are in going thither three moneths and they come backe againe in 20. dayes They haue seldome foule weather and fewe ships are lost in the South sea Foure yeeres past to wit 1568. there was a ship made out of Peru to seek Salomons Islands and they came somewhat to the South of the Equinoctial found an Island with many blacke people in such number that the Spaniards durst not go on land among them And because they had bene long vpon the voyage their people were very weake and so went not on land to know what commoditie was vpon it And for want of victuals they arriued in Nona Hispania in a port called Puerto de Nauidad and thence returned backe againe vnto Peru whereas they were euil entreated because they had not knowen more of the same Island They haue in this port of Nauidad ordinarily their ships which goe to the Islands of China which are certaine Islands which they haue found within these 7. yeres They haue brought from thence gold and much Cinamom and dishes of earth and cups of the same so fine that euery man that may haue a piece of them will giue the weight of siluer for it There was a Mariner that brought a pearle as big as a doues egge from thence a stone for which the Uiceroy would haue giuen 3000. duckets Many things they bring from thence most excellent There are many of these ylands and the Spaniards haue not many of them as yet for the Portugals disturbe them much and combate with them euery day saying it is part of their conquest and to the maine land they cannot come at any hand There are goodly people in them and they are great Mariners richly apparelled in cloth of gold and siluer and silke of all sorts and goe apparelled after the maner of the Turkes This report make such as come from thence The men of the maine land haue certaine trafique with some of these ylanders and come thither in a kind of ships which they haue with one saile and bring of such marchandize as they haue need of And of these things there haue bene brought into New Spaine both cloth of gold and siluer and diuers maners of silks and works of gold and siluer maruellous to be seene So by their saying there is not such a countrey in the whole world The maine land is from the ylands 190. leagues and the ylands are not farre from the Malucos Northwards And the people of those ylands which the Spaniards haue say that if they would bring their wiues and children that then they should haue among them what they would haue So there goe women dayly and the king payeth all the charges of the maried men and their wiues that go to those ylands And there is no doubt but the trade will be marueilous rich in time to come It was my fortune to be in company with one Diego Gutieres who was the first Pilot that euer went to that Countrey of the Philippinas Hee maketh report of many strange things in that Countrey aswell riches as other and saith if there bee any Paradise vpon earth it is in that countrey and addeth that sitting vnder a tree you shall haue such sweet smels with such great content and pleasure that you shall remember nothing neither wife nor children nor haue any kinde of appetite to eate or drinke the odoriferous smels wil be so sweete This man hath good liuings in Noua Hispania notwithstanding hee will returne thither with his wife and children and as for treasure there is abundance as he maketh mention In this countrey of Noua Hispania there are many buckes and does but they haue not so long hornes as they haue here in England The Spaniards kill them with hand-guns and with grayhounds and the Indians kill them with their bowes and arrowes and with the skins they make chamoyce such as we in England make doublets and hose of as good as the skins that are dressed in Flanders likewise they make marueilous good Spanish leather of them There is a bird which is like vnto a Rauen but he hath some of his feathers white there is such abundance of them that they eate all the corrupt and dead flesh which is in the countrey Otherwise the abundance of carren is so much that it would make a marueilous corrupt aire in all the Countrey and be so noisome that no man could abide it Therefore it is commanded there shall none of them be killed These birds are alwayes about Cities and townes where there is much flesh killed The Indians are much fauoured by the Iustices of the Countrey and they call them their orphanes And if any Spaniard should happen to doe any of them harme or to wrong him in taking any thing from him as many times they doe or to strike any
And yet not containing themselues within all that maine circumference they haue aduentured their persons shippes and goods homewards and outwards foureteene times ouer the vnknowen and dangerous Caspian sea that valiant wise and personable gentleman M. Anthonie Ienkinson being their first ring-leader who in Anno 1558. sailing from Astracan towards the East shore of the Caspian sea and there arriuing at the port of Mangusla trauelled thence by Vrgence and Shelisur and by the riuers of Oxus and Ardok 40. dayes iourney ouer desert and wast countreys to Boghar a principall citie of Bactria being there by the way friendly entertained dismissed and safely conducted by certaine Tartarian kings and Murses Then haue you a second Nauigation of his performance to the South shore of the foresayd Caspian sea together with his landing at Derbent his arriuall at Shabran his proceeding vnto Shamaky the great curtesie vouchsafed on him by Obdolowcan king of Hircan his iourney after of 30. dayes Southward by Yauate Ardouil and other townâ—s and cities to Casben being as then the seate imperiall of Shaugh Thamas the great Sophy of Persia with diuers other notable accidents in his going foorth in his abode there and in his returne home Immediately after you haue set downe in fiue seuerall voiages the successe of M. Ienkinsons laudable and well-begun enterprise vnder the foresayd Shaugh Thamas vnder Shally Murzey the new king of Hircan and lastly our traffique with Osman Basha the great Turkes lieutenant at Derbent Moreouer as in M. Ienkinsons trauel to Boghar the Tartars with their territories habitations maner of liuing apparell food armour c. are most liuely represented vnto you so likewise in the sixe Persian Iournals you may here and there obserue the state of that countrey of the great Shaugh and of his subiects together with their religion lawes customes maner of gouernment their coines weights and measures the distances of places the temperature of the climate and region and the natural commodities and discommodities of the same Furthermore in this first Volume all the Ambassages and Negotiations from her Maiestie to the Russian Emperor or from him vnto her Maiestie seemed by good right to chalenge their due places of Record As namely first that of M. Randolph 1568. then the emploiment of M. Ienkinson 1571. thirdly Sir Ierome Bowes his honorable commission and ambassage 1582. and last of all the Ambassage of M. Doct. Fletcher 1588. Neither do we forget the Emperours first Ambassador Osep Napea his arriuall in Scotland his most honourable entertainment and abode in England and his dismission into Russeland In the second place we doe make mention of Stephen Tuerdico and Pheodata Pogoâ—ella thirdly of Andrea Sauin and lastly of Pheodor Andrewich Phisemski And to be briefe I haue not omitted the Commissions Letters Priuileges Instructions Obseruations or any other Particulars which might serue both in this age and with all posteritie either for presidents in such like princely and weightie actions to bee imitated or as woorthy monuments in no wise to bee buried in silence Finally that nothing should be wanting which might adde any grace or shew of perfection vnto this discourse of Russia I haue prefixed before the beginning thereof the petigree and genealogie of the Russian Emperors and Dukes gathered out of their owne Chronicles by a Polonian containing in briefe many notable antiquities and much knowledge of those partes as likewise about the conclusion I haue signified in the branch of a letter the last Emperour Pheodor Iuanowich his death and the inauguration of Boris Pheodorowich vnto the Empire But that no man should imagine that our forren trades of merchandise haue bene comprised within some few yeeres or at least wise haue not bene of any long continuance let vs now withdraw our selues from our affaires in Russia and ascending somewhat higher let vs take a sleight suruey of our traffiques and negotiations in former ages First therefore the Reader may haue recourse vnto the 124 page of this Volume there with great delight and admiration consider out of the iudicial Historiographer Cornelius Tacitus that the Citie of London fifteene hundred yeeres agoe in the time of Nero the Emperour was most famous for multitude of merchants and concourse of people In the pages folowing he may learne out of Venerable Beda that almost 900. yeeres past in the time of the Saxons the said citie of London was multorum emporium populorum a Mart-towne for many nations There he may behold out of William of Malmesburie a league concluded betweene the most renoumed and victorious Germane Emperour Carolus Magnus and the Saxon king Offa together with the sayd Charles his patronage and protection granted vnto all English merchants which in those dayes frequented his dominions There may bee plainly see in an auncient testimonie translated out of the Saxon tongue how our merchants were often woont for traffiques sake so many hundred yeeres since to crosse the wide Seas and how their industry in so doing was recompensed Yea there mayest thou obserue friendly Reader what priuileges the Danish king Canutus obtained at Rome of Pope Iohn of Conradus the Emperour and of king Rudolphus for our English merchants Aduenturers of those times Then if you shall thinke good to descend vnto the times and ages succeeding the conquest there may you partly see what our state of merchandise was in the time of king Stephen and of his predecessor and how the Citie of Bristol which may seeme somewhat strange was then greatly resorted vnto with ships from Norway and from Ireland There may you see the friendly league betweene king Henry the second and the famous Germane Emperour Friderick Barbarossa and the gracious authorizing of both their merchaÌ„ts to traffique in either of their dominions And what need I to put you in mind of king Iohn his fauourable safe-conduct whereby all forren merchants were to haue the same priuileges here in England which our English merchants enioied abroad in their seuerall countreys Or what should I signifie vnto you the entercourse of league and of other curtesies betweene king Henry the third and Haquinus king of Norway and likewise of the free trade of merchandise between their subiects or tell you what fauours the citizens of Colen of Lubek and of all the Hanse-townes obtained of king Edward the first or to what high endes and purposes the generall large and stately Charter concerning all outlandish merchants whatsoeuer was by the same prince most graciously published You are of your owne industry sufficiently able to conceiue of the letters negotiatioÌ„s which passed between K. Edward the 2. Haquinus the Noruagian king of our English merchants and their goods detained vpon arrest at Bergen in Norway and also of the first ordination of a Staple or of one onely setled Mart-towne for the vttering of English woolls woollen fells instituted by the sayd K. Edward last before named All which Reader being throughly considered I referre you then
English HVbert Walter bishop of Sarisburie a vertuous man and famous for his good wit and piety was one of the chiefest of them that followed king Richard into Syria going against the Saracens As he returned from Palaestina and came in his iourney into Sicilia he there heard of the ill fortune of the king being fallen into his enemies handes and thereupon leauing his iourney homewards he went presently and in all haste to the place where the king was captiued whom the king immediatly vpon his comming sent into England that by the authority of the councell a tribute might be collected for his redemption which this Hubert performed with great diligâ—nce and deliuered the king After this he was made Archbishop of Canterburie and after the death of king Richard he shewed the like dueties of fidelitie and trust to his brother Iohn that succeeded him For by a long oration he perswaded the whole nation of the English men that he was a very circumspect man vertuous valiant borne of noble parentage and most woorthy of the crowne Whereupon he was so receiued of all the people and crowned king He wrote certaine books and died at the last with very great griefe of minde in the yeere 1205 hauing beene archbishop the space of 11 yeres 8 moneths and sixe dayes by reason of the ciuil discords abroad whereby all things went topsie turuy and in the reigne of king Iohn The trauailes of Robert Curson RObertus Curson ex nobili quodam Anglorum ortus genere disciplinis tum prophanis tum sacris studiosus incubuit idque quantum ex coniecturis colligo in celebratissima Oxonij Academia Praestantissimis illic institutoribus vsus ex summa circa ingenuas artes industria assiduo literarum labore famam sibi inter suos celeberrimam comparauit Ampliora deinde meditatus Parisiorum Lutetiam aâ—que Romam ipsam perijt illic Theologus Doctor hic verò Cardinalis effectus Vnde vterque Matthaeus Parisius ae Westmonasterius hoc de ipso testimonium adferunt hic libro 2. ille 8. suoâ—um Chronicorum Anno Domini 1218 inquiunt in captione Damiatae AEgypti vrbis sub Ioanne Brenno Hierosolymorum rege fuit cum Pelagio Albanensi Magister Robertus de Curson Anglus Clericus celebertimus genere nobilis ac Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalis c Bostonus Buriensis in suo Catalogo Cursonum aliquos libros composuisle narrat Claruit anno superius numerato per praedictos testes in Anglia regnante Henrico tertio Ioannis regis filio fuÃtque hic diebus Honorij tertij Romani pontificis in Angliam Bostono teste legatus The same in English RObert Curson descended of a noble family of England vsed great diligence aswell in prophane as in diuine studies in the famous Uniuersity of Oxford as I coniecture He had there the best scholemasters that were to be gotten and was most industrious in the arts and continual exercises of learning by meanes whereof he grew to be of great renowne where he liued Afterward thinking of greater matters he went to Paris and thence to Rome it selfe and at Paris he proceeded doctor of Diuinity at Rome he was made cardinall whereupon both Matthew Paris Matthew of Westminster produce this testimony of him the one in his second booke the other in his eight booke of Chronicles In the yere of our Lord say they 1218 at the taking of Damiata a city of Egypt vnder Iohn Brenne king of Ierusalem M. Robert Curson an English man a most famous clearke of noble parentage and cardinall of the church of Rome was there with Pelagius Albanensis c. Boston of Burie in Suffolke in his catalogue reporteth that he wrote diuers books He flourished in the yeere aforesayd by the witnesses aforesayd Henry the third sonne of king Iohn being then king of England and by the further testimony of Boston this Curson was legate into England in the dayes of Honorius the third bishop of Rome The voyage of Ranulph earle of Chester of Saer Quincy earle of VVinchester William de Albanie earle of Arundel with diuers other noble men to the Holy land in the second yere of K. Henry the third Matth. Paris Holensh pag. 202. IN the yeere 1218 Ranulph earle of Chester was sent into the Holy land by king Henry the third with a goodly company of souldiers and men of warre to ayde the Christians there against the Infidels which at the same time had besieged the city of Damiata in Egypt In which enterprise the valiancy of the same earle after his comming thither was to his great praise most apparant There went with him in that iourney Saer de Quincy earle of Winchester William de Albanie earle of Arundel besides diuers barons as the lord Robert fitz Walter Iohn constable of Chester William de Harecourt and Oliuer fitz Roy sonne to the king of England and diuers others The voyage of Henry Bohun and Saer Quincy to the Holy land THis yere being the sixt yere of Henry the third deceased Henry de Bohun earle of Hereford and Saer de Quincy earle of Winchester in their iourney which they made to the Holy land Matth. Paris Holensh pag. 202. colâ— 2. The trauailes of Ranulph Glanuile earle of Chester RAnulphus Glanuile Cestriae Comes vir nobilissimi generis vâ—roque iure eruditus in albo illustâ—ium virorum à me meritò ponendus venit Ita probè omnes adolescentiae suae annos legibus tum humanis tum diuinis consecrauit vt non prius in hominem per aetatem euaserit quà m nomen decúsque ab insigni eruditione sibi comparauerit Cum profecti essent Francorum Heroes Ptolemaidem inito cum Ioanne Brenâ—o Hierosolymorum rege concilio Damiatam AEgypti vrbem obsidendam constituebant aâ—no salutis humanae 1218. Misitillùe Henricus rex ab Honorio 3 Rom. Pontifice rogatus cum magna armatorum manu Ranulphum ad rem Christian am iuuandam Cuius viâ—tus Polydoro teste in eo bello mitis omnium laudibus celebrata â—uit Quo confecto negotio Ranulphus in patriam reuersus scripfit De legibus Angliae librum vnum Fertur praeterea alia quaedam scripsisse sed tempus edax rerum ea nobis abstulit Claruit anno à Seruatoris nostri natiuitate 1230 confectus senio dum Henricus terâ—ius sub Antichristi tyrannide in Anglia regnaret The same in English RAnulph Glanuile earle of Chester a man of a very noble house and learned in both the Lawes deserues of duetie to be here placed by me in the catalogue of woorthy and notable men He applied so well all the yeeres of his youth to the study of humane and diuine Lawes that he came not so soone to the age of a man as he had purchased to himselfe by reason of his singular learning renowme and honour When the noble men of France went to Ptolomais vpon the counsell of Iohn Brenne king of Ierusalem they resolued to besiege Damiata a city
that way that they were now in a newe maze thinking that God had forsaken them and left them to a greater danger And forasmuch as there were no victuals now left in the gally it might haue beene a cause to them if they had beene the Israelites to haue murmured against their God but they knew how that their God who had deliuered them out of AEgypt was such a louing and mercifull God as that hee would not suffer them to be conformded in whom he had wrought so great a wonder but what calamitie soeuer they sustained they knew it was but for their further triall and also in putting them in mind of their farther miserie to cause them not to triumph and glory in themselues therefore Hauing I say no victuals in the gally it might seeme that one miserie continually fel vpon an others neck but to be briefe the famine grew to be so great that in 28 dayes wherein they were on the sea there died eight persons to the astonishment of all the rest So it fell out that vpon the 29 day after they set from Alexandria they fell on the Isle of Candie and landed at Gallipoli where they were made much of by the Abbot and Monks there who caused them to stay there while they were well refreshed and eased They kept there the sworde wherewith Iohn Fox had killed the keeper esteeming it as a most precious iewell and hung it vp for a monument When they thought good hauing leaue to depart from thence they sayled along the coast till they arriued at Tarento where they solde their gallie and deuided it euery man hauing a part thereof The Turkes receiuing so shamefull a foile at their hand pursued the Christians and scoured the seas where they could imagine that they had bent their course And the Christians had departed from thence on the one day in the morning and seuen gallies of the Turkes came thither that night as it was certified by those who followed Fox and his companie fearing least they should haue bene met with And then they came a foote to Naples where they departed a sunder euery man taking him to his next way home From whence Iohn Fox tooke his iourney vnto Rome where he was well entertayned of an Englishman who presented his worthy deede vnto the Pope who rewarded him liberally and gaue him his letters vnto the king of Spaine where he was very well entertained of him there who for this his most worthy enterprise gaue him in fee twentie pence a day From whence being desirous to come into his owne countrie he came thither at such time as he conueniently could which was in the yeere of our Lorde God 1579. Who being come into England went vnto the Court and shewed all his trauell vnto the Councell who considering of the state of this man in that hee had spent and lost a great part of his youth in thraldome and bondage extended to him their liberalitie to helpe to maintaine him now in age to their right honour and to the incouragement of all true hearted Christians The copie of the certificate for Iohn Fox and his companie made by the Prior and the brethren of Gallipoli where they first landed VVE the Prior and Fathers of the Couent of the Amerciates of the city of Gallipoli of the order of Preachers doe testifie that vpon the 29 of Ianuary last past 1577 there came in to the said citie a certaine gally from Alexandria taken from the Turkes with two hundreth fiftie and eight Christians whereof was principal Master Iohn Fox an Englishman a gunner and one of the chiefest that did accomplish that great worke whereby so many Christians haue recouered their liberties In token and remembrance whereof vpon our earnest request to the same Iohn Fox he hath left here an olde sworde wherewith he slewe the keeper of the prison which sword we doe as a monument and memoriall of so worthy a deede hang vp in the chiefe place of our Couent house And for because all things aforesaid are such as we will testifie to be true as they are orderly passed and haue therefore good credite that so much as is aboue expressed is true and for the more faith thereof we the Prior and Fathers aforesaide haue ratified and subscribed these presents Geuen in Gallipoly the third of Februarie 1577. I Frier Vincent Barba Prior of the same place confirme the premisses as they are aboue written I Frier Albert Damaro of Gallipoly Subprior confirme as much I Frier Anthony Celleler of Gallipoly confirme as aforesaid I Frier Bartlemew of Gallipoly confirme as aboue said I Frier Francis of Gallipoly confirme as much The Bishop of Rome his letters in the behalfe of Iohn Fox BE it knowen vnto all men to whom this writing shall come that the bringer hereof Iohn Fox Englishman a Gunner after he had serued captiue in the Turkes gallies by the space of foureteene yeeres at length thorough God his helpe taking good oportunitie the third of Ianuarie last past slew the keeper of the prison whom he first stroke on the face together with foure and twentie other Turkes by the assistance of his fellow prisoners and with 266. Christians of whose libertie he was the author launched from Alexandria and from thence arriued first at Gallipoly in Candie and afterwardes at Tarento in Apulia the written testimony and credite of which things as also of others the same Iohn Fox hath in publike tables from Naples Vpon Easter eue he came to Rome and is now determined to take his iourney to the Spanish Court hoping there to obtaine some reliefe toward his liuing wherefore the poore distressed man humbly beseecheth and we in his behalfe do in the bowels of Christ desire you that taking compassion of his former captiuitie and present penurie you doe not onely suffer him freely to passe throughout all your cities and townes but also succour him with your charitable almes the reward whereof you shall hereafter most assuredly receiue which we hope you will afford to him whom with tender affection of pitie wee commende vnto you At Rome the 20 of Aprill 1577. Thomas Grolos Englishman Bishop of Astraphen Richard Silleum Prior Angliae Andreas Ludouicus Register to our Soueraigne Lord the Pope which for the greater credit of the premises haue set my seale to these presents At Rome the day and yeere aboue written Mauricius Clement the gouernour and keeper of the English Hospitall in the citie The King of Spaine his letters to the Lieutenant for the placing of Iohn Fox in the office of a Gunner TO the illustrious Prince Vespasian Gonsaga Colonna our Lieutenant and Captaine Generall of our Realme of Valentia Hauing consideration that Iohn Fox Englishman hath serued vs and was one of the most principall which tooke away from the Turkes a certaine gallie which they haue brought to Tarento wherein were two hundred fiftie and eight Christian captiues we licence him to practise and giue him
illius si sine testamento moreretur consul eorum cuicúnque sociorum mortui hominis dixerit debere dari illi dentur bona mortui hominis 10 Item si Angli ad Angliam pertinentium locorum mercatores interpretes in vendendis emendis mercibus fideiussionibus rebus aliquid negocij habuerint ad iudicem veniant in librum inscribi faciant negotium si voluerint literas quóque accepiant à iudice propterea quòd si aliquid inciderit videant librum literas secundùm tenorem eorum perficiantur negocia eorum suspecta si autem néque in librum inscriberentur néque literas haberent iudex falsa testimonia non admittat sed secundùm iustitiam legem administrans non sinat illos impediri 11 Item si aliquis diceret quod isti Christiani nostrae fidei Muzulmanicae maledixerint eam vituperijs affecerint in hoc negotio etiam alijs testes falsi minimè admittantur 12 Item si aliquis eorum aliquod facinus patraret fugiens non possit inueniri nullus nisi esset fideiussor pro alterius facto retineatur 13 Item si aliquod mancipium Anglicum inueniretur consul eoruÌ„ peteret illud examinetur diligenter mancipium si inuentum fuerit Anglicum accipiatur reddatur Anglis 14 Item si aliquis ex Anglis huc venerit habitandi aut mercandi gratiâ siue sit vxoratus siue sit sine vxore non soluat censum 15 Item si in Alexandria in Damasco in Samia in Tunis in Tripoli occidentali in Aegypti portubus in alijs omnibus locis vbicúnque voluerint facere Consules faciant Et iterum si voluerint eos mutare in loco prioruÌ„ consulum alios locare liberè faciant nemo illis resistat 16 Item si illorum interpres in arduis negotijs occupatus abesset donec veniret interpres expectetur interim nemo illos impediat 17 Item si Angli inter se aliquam litem haberent vellent ad suos consules ire nemo resistat illis sed liberè veniant ad Consules suos vt secundùm mores eorum finiatur lis orta 18 Item si post tempus aut datum huius priuilegij piratae aâ—t alij aliqui liberi gubernatores nauium per mare vagantes aliquem ex Anglis ceperint trans mare vel cis mare venderint secundùm iustitiam examinetur si Anglus inuentus fuerit religionem Muzulmanicam assumpserit liberè dimittatur si autem adhuc esset Christianus Anglis reddatur emptores suam pecuniam ab illo petant à quo emerant 19 Item si nostrae Caesareae Celsitudinis naues armatae exiuerint ad mare ibi inuenerint naues Anglicas merces portantes nemo impediat illas imò amicè tractentur nullum damnum faciant illis Quemadmodum Gallis Venetis caeteris nobiscum confoederatis regibus principibus priuilegium articulos priuilegijs dedimus concessimus simili modo his quòque Anglis priuilegium articulos priuilegijs dedimus concessimus contra legem diuinam hoc priuilegium nemo vnquam aliquid audeat facere 20 Item si naues magnae paruae in itinere loco vbi stant detinebuntur nemo illos audeat impedire sed poâ—ius auxilio sint illis 21 Item si latrones fures vi raperent naues illorum nauiúmque merces magna diligentia quaerantur latrones fures seuerissimè puniantur 22 Ad extremum Beglerbegij Zanziacbegi Capitanei nostri Mancipia per mare nauigantes serui Capitaneorum Iudices Teloniatores Gubernatores nauium Reiz dicti liberi Reiz omnes isti praefati secundùm tenorem huius priuilegij tenorémue articulorum eius omnia facere teneantur debeant Et donec hoe in priuilegio descriptum foedus pax illius Maiestatis ex parte sanctè seruabitur custodietur ex parte etiam nostra Caesarea custodiri obseruari mandamus Datum constantinopoli anno nostri prophetae Sanctissimi 988 in principio mensis Iunij anno autem Iesu 1580. The interpretation of the letters or priuilege of the most mightie and Musumanlike Emperour Zuldan Murad Can granted at the request of Elizabeth by the grace of the most mightie God and only Creator of heauen and earth of England France and Ireland Queene confirming a peace and league betwixt both the said Princes and their subiects WE most sacred Musulmanlike Emperour by the infinite and exceeding great power by the euerlasting and wonderfull clemencie by the vnspeakable helpe of the most mighty most holy God creator of all things to be worshipped and feared with all purenesse of minde and reuerence of speech The prince of these present times the onely Monarch of this age able to giue scepters to the potentates of the whole world the shadow of the diuine mercy and grace the distributer of many kingdoms prouinces townes and cities Prince and most sacred Emperour of Mecca that is to say of Gods house of Medina of the most glorious and blessed Ierusalem of the most fertile Egypt Iemen and Iouan Eden and Canaan of Samos the peaceable and of Hebes of Iabza and Pazra of Zeruzub and Halepia of Caramaria and Diabekiruan of Dulkadiria of Babylon and of all the three Arabias of the Euzians and Georgians of Cyprus the rich and of the kingdomes of Asia of Ozakior of the tracts of the white and blacke Sea of Grecia and Mesopotamia of Africa and Goleta of Alger and of Tripolis in the West of the most choise and principall Europe of Buda and Temeswar and of the kingdomes beyond the Alpes and many others such like most mightie Murad Can the sonne of the Emperour Zelim Can which was the sonne of Zoleiman Can which was the sonne of Zelim Can which was the sonne of Paiizid Can which was the sonne of Mehemed Can c. We most mightie prince Murad Can in token of our Imperiall friendship doe signifie and declare that now of late Elizabeth Queene of England France and Ireland the most honourable Queene of Christendom to whose marchants we wish happy successe sent her letters by her worthy seruant William Hareborne vnto our stately and most magnificent Porch replenished with iustice which is a refuge and Sanctuary to all the princes of the world by which letters her Maiestie signified that whereas heretofore certaine of her subiects had repaired to our saide stately Porche and had shewed their obedience to the same and for that cause had desired that leaue and libertie might also be granted vnto them to come and goe for traffiques sake too and from our dominions and that our Imperial commandement might be giuen that no man should presume to hurt of hinder them in any of their abodes or passages by sea or land and whereas shee requested that we would graunt to all her subiects in generall this our fauour which before
They all of them do weare long haire vpon their heads and after the maner of women do curiously keame their dainty locks hanging downe to the ground and hauing twined and bound them vp they couer them with calles wearing sundry caps thereupon according to their age and condition It seemeth that in olde time one language was common to all the prouinces notwithstanding by reason of variety of pronunciation it is very much altered and is diuided into sundry idiomes or proprieties of speech according to the diuers prouinces howbeit among the magistrates and in publike assemblies of iudgement there is one and the very same kinde of language vsed thorowout the whole realme from the which as I haue sayd the speech of ech prouince differeth not a little Moreouer this people is most loyall and obedient vnto the king and his magistrates which is the principall cause of their tranquillity peace For whereas the common sort doe apply themselues vnto the discretion and becke of inferiour magistrates and the inferiour magistrates of the superiour and the superiour magistrates of the king himselfe framing and composing all their actions and affaires vnto that leuell a world it is to see in what equability and indifferency of iustice all of them do leade their liues and how orderly the publike lawes are administred Which thing not withstanding shall be handled more at large when we come to intreat of the gouernment Linus Tell vs now Michael of the industry of that people whereof we haue heard great reports Michael Their industry is especially to be discerned in manuary artes and occupations and therein the Chinians do surpasse most of these Easterly nations For there are such a number of artificers ingeniously and cunningly framing sundry deuices out of golde siluer and other mettals as like wise of stone wood and other matters conuenient for mans vse that the streets of cities being replenished with their shops and fine workemanship are very wonderfull to beholde Besides whom also there are very many Painters vsing either the pensill or the needle of which the last sort are called Embrotherers and others also that curiously worke golde-twine vpon cloth either of linnen or of cotton whose operations of all kinds are diligently conueyed by the Portugals into India Their industry doth no lesse appeare in founding of gunnes and in making of gun-powder whereof are made many rare and artificiall fire-works To these may be added the arte of Printing albeit their letters be in maner infinite and most difficult the portraitures whereof they cut in wood or in brasse and with maruellous facilitie they dayly publish huge multitudes of books Unto these mechanicall illiberall crafts you may adde two more that is to say nauigation and discipline of warre both of which haue bene in ancient times most diligently practised by the inhabitants of China for as we haue before signified in the third dialogue the Chinians sailing euen as farre as India subdued some part therof vnto their owne dominion howbeit afterward least they should diminish the forces of their realme by dispersing them into many prouinces altering their counsell they determined to containe themselues within their owne limits within which limits as I haue sayd there were in olde time vehement and cruell warres both betweene the people of China themselues and also against the Tartarian king who inuaded their kingdome and by himselfe and his successours for a long season vsurped the gouernment thereof Howbeit the kings of the Tartarian race being worne out and their stocke and family being vtterly abolished the Chinians began to lift vp their heads and to aduance themselues inioying for these 200 yeeres last past exceeding peace and tranquillity and at this day the posterity of the same king that expelled the Tartars with great dignity weareth the crowne and wieldeth the royall scepter Albeit therefore the people of China especially they that inhabit Southerly from the prouince of Paquin are for the most part by reason of continuall ease and quiet growen effeminate and their courage is abated notwithstanding they would prooue notable and braue souldiers if they ioyned vse and exercise vnto their naturall fortitude As a man may easily obserue in them that maintaine continuall warres against the most barbarous and cruel Tartars Howbeit in this kingdome of China there is so great regard of military discipline that no city nor towne there is destitute of a garison the captaines and gouernours keeping ech man his order which all of them in euery prouince are subiect vnto the kings lieutenant generall for the warres whom they call Chumpin and yet he himselfe is subiect vnto the Tuâ—an or viceroy Let vs now come vnto that arte which the Chinians do most of all professe and which we may not vnfitly call literature or learning For although it be commonly reported that many liberall sciences and especially naturall and morall phylosophy are studied in China and that they haue Uniuersities there wherein such ingenuous artes are deliuered and caught yet for the most part this opinion is to be esteemed more popular then true but I will declare vpon what occasion this conceit first grew The people of China doe aboue all things professe the arte of literature and learning it most diligently they imploy themselues a long time and the better part of their age therein For this cause in all cities and townes yea and in pety villages also there are certaine schole-masters hired for stipends to instruct children and their literature being as ours in Iapon is also in maner infinite their children are put to schole euen from their infancy and tender yeeres from whence notwithstanding such are taken away as are iudged to be vnfit for the same purpose and are trained vp to marchandise or to manuary sciences but the residue do so dedicate themselues to the study of learning that a strange thing it is to consider being conuersant in the principall books they will easily tel you if they be asked the question how many letters be conteined in euery page and where ech letter is placed Now for the greater progresse and increase of learning they as the maner is in Europe do appoint three degrees to the attaining of noble sciences that is to say the lowest the middle degree and the highest Graduates of the first degree are called Siusai of the second Quiugin and of the the third Chinzu And in ech city or walled towne there is a publique house called the Schoole and vnto that all they doe resort from all priuate and peâ—y-schooles that are minded to obtaine the first degree where they do amplifie a sentence or theame propounded vnto them by some magistrate and they whose stile is more elegant and refined are in ech city graced with the first degree Of such as aspire vnto the second degree triall is made onely in the metropolitan or principall city of the prouince whereunto they
falchines of the king of Pegu which chaunced about a moneth after the king of Pegu was gone with a million and foure hundred thousand men to conquere the kingdome of Sion They haue for custome in this Countrey and kingdome the king being wheresoeuer his pleasure is to bee out of his kingdome that euery fifteene dayes there goeth from Pegu a Carouan of Falchines with euery one a basket on his head full of some fruites or other delicates of refreshings and with cleane clothes it chaunced that this Carouan passing by Martauan and resting themselues there a night there happened betweene the Portugales and them wordes of despight and from wordes to blowes and because it was thought that the Portugales had the worse the night following when the Falchines were a sleepe with their companie the Portugales went and cut off fiue of their heads Now there is a lawe in Pegu that whosoeuer killeth a man he shall buy the shed blood with his money according to the estate of the person that is slaine but these Falchines being the seruants of the king the Retors durst not doe any thing in the matter without the consent of the king because it was necessarie that the king should knowe of such a matter When the king had knowledge thereof he gaue commaundement that the male factors should be kept vntill his comming home and then he would duely minister iustice but the Captaine of the Portugales would not deliuer those men but rather set himselfe with all the rest in armes and went euery day through the Citie marching with his Drumme and ensignes displayd For at that time the Citie was emptie of men by reason they were gone all to the warres and in businesse of the king in the middest of this rumour wee came thither and I thought it a strange thing to see the Portugales vse such insolencie in another mans Citie And I stoode in doubt of that which came to passe and would not vnlade my goods because that they were more sure in the shippe then on the land the greatest part of the lading was the owners of the shippe who was in Malacca yet there were diuerse marchants there but their goods were of small importance all those marchants tolde me that they would not vnlade any of their goods there vnlesse I would vnlade first yet after they left my counsell and followed their owne and put their goods a lande and lost euery whit The Rector with the customer sent for mee and demaunded why I put not my goods a lande and payed my custome as other men did To whom I answered that I was a marchant that was newly come thither and seeing such disorder amongst the Portugales I doubted the losse of my goods which cost me very deare with the sweate of my face and for this cause I was determined not to put my goods on lande vntill such time as his honour would assure me in the name of the king that I should haue no losse and although there came harme to thē Portugales that neither I nor my goods should haue any hurt because I had neither part nor any difference with them in this tumult my reason sounded well in the Retors eares and so presently he sent for the Bargits which are as Counsellers of the Citie and there they promised mee on the kings head or in the behalfe of the king that neither I nor my goods should haue any harme but that we should be safe and sure of which promise there were made publike notes And then I sent for my goods and had them on land and payde my custome which is in that countrey ten in the hundreth of the same goods and for my more securitie I tooke a house right against the Retors house The Captaine of the Portugales and all the Portugall marchants were put out of the Citie and I with twentie and two poore men which were officers in the shippe had my dwelling in the Citie After this the Gentiles deuised to be reuenged of the Portugales but they would not put it in execution vntill such time as our small shippe had discharged all her goods and then the next night following came from Pegu foure thousand souldiers with some Elephants of warre and before that they made any tumult in the citie the Retor sent and gaue commaundement to all Portugales that were in the Citie when they heard any rumour or noyse that for any thing they should not goe out of their houses as they tendered their owne health Then foure houres within night I heard a great rumour and noyse of men of warre with Elephants which threw downe the doores of the ware-houses of the Portugales and their houses of wood and strawe in the which tumult there were some Portugales wounded and one of them slaine and others without making proofe of their manhoode which the day before did so bragge at that time put themselues to flight most shamefully and saued themselues a boord of litle shippes that were at an anker in the harbour and some that were in their beds fled away naked and that night they caried away all the Portugalles goods out of the suburbes into the Citie and those Portugales that had their goods in the suburbes also After this the Portugales that were fledde into the shippes to saue themselues tooke a newe courage to themselues and came on lande and set fire on the houses in the suburbes which houses being made of boorde and strawe and the winde blowing fresh in small time were burnt and consumed with which fire halfe the Citie had like to haue beene burnt when the Portugales had done this they were without all hope to recouer any part of their goods againe which goods might amount to the summe of sixteene thousand duckats which if they had not set fire to the towne they might haue had againe withont any losse at all Then the Portugales vnderstanding that this thing was not done by the consent of the king but by his Lieutenant and the Retor of the citie ware very ill content knowing that they had made a great fault yet the next morning following the Portugales beganne to bende and shoot their ordinance against the Citie which batterie of theirs continued foure dayes but all was in vaine for the shotte neuer hit the Citie but lighted on the top of a small hill neere vnto it so that the citie had no harme When the Retor perceiued that the Portugales made battery against the Citie hee tooke one and twentie Portugales that were there in the Citie and sent them foure miles into the Countrey there to tarry vntill such time as the other Portugales were departed that made the batterie who after their departure let them goe at their owne libertie without any harme done vnto them I my selfe was alwayes in my house with a good guard appointed me by the Retor that no man should doe me iniurie nor harme me nor my goods in such wise that hee perfourmed all