abhoâ—ring men and practising all warlike affaires did noble deeds of manly prowesse at the destruction of Troy Some say that they had their beginning of the Scythians after this sort Certaine Scythians being driven from their Countrey with their wives and remaining in the coasts of Cappadocia using to rob and spoile the borderers were destroyed at the length by conspiracy and deceit The Wives that followed their Husbands and seeing that they were left alone tooke weapons and defended their borders and also moved war against their neighbours they had no minde at all to marry with their neighbours calling it a servitude and not Matrimony a singular example to all ages they encreased their Common-wealth without husbands and that one might not seeme more happy then another they slue such husbands as remained at home At the length when they had gotten peace by force of armes they used the society of men in the Countries by them lest their whole Nation should perish for lacke of procreation and if any men-children were borne they destroyed them and their yong women and maides did not use spinning and carding but hunting and handling their weapons so that every Female Childs breast was seered and burnt away lest they might bee hindred thereby in shooting whereof they tooke that name and were called Amazons They conquered a great of Europe and did occupy many Citties in Asia they had two Queene Marthesia and Lampedâ— which dividing their Army into two parts kept their battailes with great wealth and strength defending their borders stoutly They did build Ephesus and Smyrna in Asia the lesse and did inhabite the chiefe Citty in Cappadocia Some say that in some places amongst them they had Husbands and that the women did beare all the rule and did all common businesse and that the men did keepe charge at home like women obeying the women in all things Of Harts in Cyprus IN the Isle of Cyprus Harts are commonly seene to swimme in flockes over the Sea in a straight order laying their heads upon the buttockes of those that go before and thus they goe by course They see no land but yet they swimme in the savour of it the males have hornes and of all kinde of beasts every yeare at an accustomed time in the Spring they lose them therefore that day that they lose them they go into desert places and hide themselves as things that have lost their weapons in eight moneths the females bring forth yong they exercise their yong with running and teach them to thinke upon flying away They lead them to hard and unaccessible places and shew them how to scip and leape but yet it is a simple beast and astonied at the marvelling at every thing so that when a Horse or a Stâ—â—â—e commeth neere they doe not marke the man that is hunting at hand or else if they perceive a man they wonder at is bow and arrowes They beare signes of their age in their hornes and for every yeare they have the encrease of a branch in their hornes untill they be sixe years of age and after that time the like doth spring up againe And after this their age cannot bee discerned but old age is known by their teeth The hornes doe not fall away from such as are gelded nor doe not spring again if they be gone The Harts have a naturall conflict with the Serpent they search their caverns and with the breath of their nostrils draw them out against their wills And therefore the savour of Harts horne burnt is good to drive away Serpents and against their bitings a singular remedy is made of the ruine of the Hinde slaine in the Belly The Harts live along time as an hundred yeares and more the end of the Harts taile hath poison in it and therefore it is throwne a-away powder scraped off the Harts horne and drunke killeth the wormes in the stomack it is good also against the Jaunders Of the Date-tree THere is no Countrey that bringeth forth more fruitefull Date-trees then the Hâ—lyland there be Date-trees in Italy but they are barren About the Sea-coast of Spaine there be fruitfull trees but it is an unpleasant Date In Affrica there is a sweet kinde of Date but it lasteth not In the East part of the World they make Wines of them and some use them as bread and some give them as meate to their cattell Here of be the dry Dates most plentifull in juyce and meate and of them Wines are made very hurtfull for the head and as there is plenty of them in the East so are they a great deale better in Iury and especially in Ierico It groweth in a light and sandy ground it is bushy altogether in the top and hath not â—he Fruit as other trees amongst the leaves but amongst his branches The dilligent searchers of Nature say that there is both Male and Female the Male hath flowers the Female springeth without flowers much like unto a thorne Of the dead Sea THe dead Sea which is nigh unto the water of Iordan is so called because nothing can live in it the Lake of it selfe is smoky and the ayre causeth rustinesse to Brasse and Silver and all bright things This Lake receiveth not the body of any living thing Bulls and Cammels swim in it and men that have no knowledge of swimming if they goe into 〈◊〉 unto the Navell they are liâ—â— up There is no ship can sailâ— into it If you put any living thing into it it leapeth out A candell burning will swimme above the light being put out it will be drowned the water of this Lake is alwaies standing still and is not stirred with the winde it is marvellous dangerous and hard comming to it for strangers both for wilde beasts and Serpents and also for a barbarous Nation that keepeth there about and troubleth the places thereby with often robberies Of Sand transforming things into Glasse IN Sydon there is a water that hath Sand of easie alteration into Glasse This Sand whatsoever mettall it taketh it changeth into into Glasse and that which is made Glasse if it be cast into the Sand returnes againe to Sand. And this is a strange thing at Sydon Of the Fish called a Purple THere bee that write the Purple to have her colour by reason of the propinquiâ—y of the Sunne Wherefore in Affrica they have as it were a violet colour and at Tyrus a red colour This Purple is a fish of the kinde of a shell-fish whereof a juyce is gathered most necessary for the dying of Garments This fish hath this juyce to colour and dye Garments in the middest of her mouth and jawes it is gotten and gathered in the spring time for at other times shee is barâ—eâ— lacketh this juyce She loseth her life with the losse of this juyce for she liveth no longer then she hath any of this juyce and therefore it is good to taâ—â— them alive She is a great devourer of little shell-fish out oâ—
together whereof they make boats or little ships to passe over the Sea carrying nothing but salt with them and in the night-time they convey themselves into the Shippe in the water If the Winde and the Ocean bee milde and favourable unto them they passe over in three or foure Houres but if the troublesome Sea bee against them either they perish in the violent water or else bee cast againe to the Coast of Asia When they are gotten over the Sea thâ—y seeke unto the mountaines and beholding the Pole they take their journey towards the North. In their hunger they refresh themselves with salted herbs If many run away together in the night time they invade shepheards and slay them and take away all such meate and drinke as they finde but yet many times they themselves bee slaine of the shepheards or else taken of them and so delivered to their old masters to all kinde of servitude and the greater number is consumed with dangers for few escape free and safe because they perish either by shipwrack or by devouring of beasts or by their enemies weapons or else by Famine when as it chanceth that they after their running away make any long abode in the Woods Many kinds of punishments are prepared devised and appointed for Fugitives and such as run away For some being hanged by the feet are most cruelly tormented with whips and they that commit homicide or murther have the soles of their feet cut with a sharpe knife in many slices and cuttings and after they are so cut the wounds be rubbed and sprinkled with Salt and some have a great iron coller with a gallows of Iron which they must beare for a long time both dayes and nights The besieging of Samaria SAmaria was a goodly Citty and abounded in all things whatsoever in a great length breadth It was besieged by King Adad in the yeare 3050 before Christ at that time King Ioram fled into Samaria for succour being over-matched by the Syrian Army trusting and putting his confidence in the fortification and strength of the Walls thereof But Ioram in length of time being destitute of convenient foode and all other necessaries that an Asses head was sold in SAMARIA for 80 peeces of Silver and a measure of Pigeons dong at five peeces of silver which they used insteede of Salt the Famine increased so much and the cruelty of the Enemy in detayning those that would have gone out in policy to make the Famine the greater and the sieged sooner to mutiny which fell out too true And it happend that a certaine woman cryed out to the KING spying him upon the Walls of the Citty saying have mercy one mee O my Soveraigne he encreased with wrath and supposing that shee had asked him for some reliefe or sustinance beganne to threaten her and to tell her that hee had neither graunge nor presse whereby hee might supply her necessity The woman told the King that shee had no need of meat but that she came onely to require justice and to determine a debate betwixt her and another of her neighbours the King gave her audience and bad her speake hereupon she said that shee had made a condition with another woman her friend that sith the famine was so encreased that they should kill their Children for each one had a son and in this sort should nourish one another every day and I have strangled mine yesterday and she hath eaten with me and now this day denies me hers and breaketh the accord betwixt us Whereby may be seen the great extremity that this City was brought unto by War But after the siege Samaria was taken by Salmanasar King of the Aâ—â—yrians and made entrance into the Citty and it was taken by force in the 7 yeare of his Reigne and before Christs birth 746. Of Tantalus TAntalus was a King of Phrygia exceeding covetous whom the Poets feigne to have bid the Gods to a banquet and he being desirous to make a triall of their deity when they appeared at his house in mens likenesse did slay his owne son Pelops and set him before them to bee eaten as meate giving the flesh another name unto them who understanding his horrible act did not onely abstaine from eating thereof but also gathering the parts of the Childe together brought him to life againe For this offence Iupiter cast him into Hell and enjoyned him this punishment that hee should continue in most cleare water and stand up in it even to his neather lip and that most goodly Apple-trees bearing most sweet and redolent fruit should hang over him and touch his mouth almost the which things assoone as he should goe about to taste of they should fly from him and so they did that betweene the Apples and the water hee consumed with famine and thirst and was tormented with great penury even in present plenty Whereof a Proverb hath sprung to call it Tantalus punishment when as they which have goods enough cannot use them Of Artemista the wife of Mausolus IN the Citty called Haâ—icarnassus Artemisia the Queen erected a sumptuous Tombe in the honour of her husband Mausolus which was done with such a pompe and magnificency that it was numbred as one of the seaven Wonders of the world This woman marvellously lamenting the death of her Husband and enflamed with incredible desire and affection towards him tooke his bones and ashes and mingled them together and beate them to pouder with sweet spices and put it in water and drunke it off and many other strange signes of incredible love are said to have beene in her After this for the perpetuall remembrance of her husband she caused to be made a sepulcher of marvellous workmanship in stone which 〈◊〉 beene famous and much spoken of all men till our daies and this was in height 25 Cubits and compassed with 36 goodly pillars This vaine comfort could not take away out of the Queens breast the conceived griefe and sorrow of her Husband but that shortly after she her selfe yeelded her Soule and Life as unmeete to tarrie after hee had ended his dayes Sardanapalus SArdanapalus was King of the Assirians whose Epitaph had these words in the Assirian Tongue SARDANAPALUS the sonne of ANECENDARASSIS erected in one day Anchiala and Tarsus a goodly Cities eate drinke and play These words as Cicero saith might have beene written upon the Sepulchre of an Oxe and not of a King He was a most effeminate man given to all kinde of luxury and was not ashamed to spin amongst common harlots and in womens vesture and attire to excell all others in lasciviousnesse Wherefore the Assyrians disdaining to obey and subject themselves to such a feminine Prince rebelled and made warre against him who being overcome went into his Palace and there making a great fire cast himselfe and all his riches into the fire and so ended his life The people called Amazones PEnthisilea the Queen of the Amazones which were women
the land but where he is assigned His Seale that he useth hath these words engraved God in Heaven and Chuithuth Cham on the land the strength of God and Emperour of men He hath five great robust armies Five Dukes with whose ayde he invadeth all that withstand him Hee himselfe speaketh not to strange Embassadours nor they come at any time into his sight except that they and their gifts bee purged before hand of certaine women deputed to that purpose Hee giveth his answer by other meane persons to whom when and how long soever hee speaketh they ought to give care upon their knees bowed and so attend that they erre not in any one word It is not lawfull for any man to change the Emperours words nor to goe or doe against his minde and sentence by any meanes The Sibyls prophesie of the destruction of Babell THE place where this Tower was built is at this present day called Babylon by reason of the confusion of tongues and languages that first beganne in that place For Babell in the Originall or Hebrew-tongue signifies Confusion Of this Tower and of the diversity of Languages Sybilla hath made mention in these words At such time as men used one kinde of Language they built a most stately rich Tower of that height that they meant by the same to mount or ascend up to Heaven of their owne pleasure being at that time full of pride and ambition and did not reverence the Divine power but the Gods sent downe fire and windes and overwhelmed this high Tower and made it levell with the ground and gave every one his distinct and severall Language from whence sprung the cause that their Citty was called Babylon their Kings name was Balthazar who was taken prisoner and the whole Citty overthrowne in the yeare of the yeare of the world 3425 and before Christs time 539 by Cyrus King of the Persians whose Army consisted of 100000 fighting men and now remaineth under the command of the Sophy or Shagh of Persia. The 12 Sibyls THe first was of Persia called Samberta or Persica which among other prophesies said the wombe of the Virgin shall bee the salvation of Gentiles The second was of Libya called Libyca One of her prophesies was The day shal come that men shall see the King of all living things and a Virgin Lady of the world shall hold him in her lap The third was Themis surnamed Delphica because she was borne and prophesied at Delphos A Prophet shal be born of a Virgin The fourth was Cumaea born at Cimeria a Citty of Campania in Italy who prophesied that God should bee borne of a Virgin and converse among sinners The fift was the famous Erithrea borne at Babylon who especially Prophesied a great part of our Christian Religion in certaine verses recited by Eusebius the first letters of every which verses being put together make the words Iesus Christ Sonne of God Saviour These verses are translated into Latine by Saint Austine Lib. 18 and 23 de civitate dei the substance whereof followeth The Earth shall sweat signe of judgement from Heaven shall come a King which shall reigne for ever that is to say in humane flesh to the end that by his presence he judge the world so the unfaithfull as well as the faithfull shall see God with their eyes aloft among his Saints and in the end of the world the soules of men with their bodies shall appear whom he shall judge when the roundnesse of the Earth untilled shall bee full of clods of Earth and grasse men shall cast away their Idols and all their precious jewels the world shall bee consumed with fire hee shall pierce the inferiour parts and break the gates of Hell then to the flesh of Saints shal be given free and cleere light and the evill shall bee burned with eternall fire all secrets shall be opened and every one shall know the secret of his negihbour and God shall discover the Consciences and hearts of all men then shall there bee lamentation and gnashing of teeth the Sunne and Stars shall lose their light the Firmament shall bee dissolved and the Moone shall bee darkened the Mountaines shall bee throwne downe and the Valleyes shall be made equall with them there shall be nothing in the world higher or lower then another Mountaines and Valleyes shall bee made plaine all things shall cease the earth shall be dryed unto powder and dust the Fountaines and Rivers shall bee burned likewise then shall a trumpet sound from Heaven in wofull and horrible manner and the opening of the Earth shall discover confused and darke Hell with the torments and paines of the miserable condemned and heere before the Judge shall come every King A River of fire and brimstone shal fal from Heaven Divers other things were prophesied by this Sibyll and because they were obscure and therefore not to be comprehended by the Gentiles before they come to passe shee said of her selfe these words they shall thinke mee a false and blinde Prophetesse but when they shall see these things come to passe they will remember me and cal me no more a false Prophetesse but a Prophetesse of the Almighty God The sixt was called Samia borne in the I le of Samos which said He being rich shall bee borne of a poore Maide the creatures of the Earth shall adore him and praise him for ever The seventh was called Cumana because she prophesied at Cumas a towne of Campania in Italy shee prophesied that hee should come from Heaven and reigne heere in poverty he should rule in silence and bee borne of a Virgin Shee is affirmed to have written Nine bookes of the Sibyls they were all presented by an old woman to Tarquinius Superbus but he not willing to pay so great a summe of money as was damanded denied them whereupon the old woman burnt three of them requiring as much money for the other sixe as for all which being denied shee also burned the other three asking as much for the three remaining as for the rest which Superbus amaz'd gave and the old trotte vanished These bookes contayned manifest prophesies of the Kingdome of Christ his Name his Birth and Death they were burned by the Arch-traytour Stilico so that those Prophesies which are now extant are onely such as are extracted out of others writings The eight was called Hellespontica borne at Marmisea in the Territory of Troy A woman shall descend of the Iewes called Mary and of her shall be borne the Sonne of God named Iesus and that without carnall copulation For shee shall bee a Virgin before and after his Birth he shall be both God and Man he shall fulfill the Lawes of the Iewes and shall adde his owne Law thereunto and his kingdome shal remaine forever The ninth was of Prygia and prophesied in the towne of Ancire one of her sayings were The Highest shall come from Heaven and shall confirme the counsell in Heaven and a Virgin shall be shewed in
seeing the you have bin my best â—riend let us change our wives upon that condition that you may have mine and I may have yours then saith the other say you so in earnest ye saith he by Pollux Then saith his fellow let us goe home to my house whither when they are come the one claymeth anothers Wife saying come â—â—ther Woman and follow this man because from hence forth hee shall be thy Husband then the Woman saith do you speaâ— in earnest to whom her first Husband saith I doe not mock then the woman saith gladly I will follow him And this iâ— the way of changing theiâ— Wives There be some Women in this countrey that may marry seven Husbands and lye wiâ—â— them every night by course and where shee is delivered of â— Childe shee may choose tâ— which of her Husbands she wilâ— father her Childe so that the man may not refuse it by any meanes Many other strange things is rehearsed of this Nation the rehearsall whereof were very tedious heere There is much Pepper growing in this Countrey of Calechut the stalk of Pepper is but weak somwhat like to a Vine stalke so that it cannot grow without a prop it is not much unlike to Ivye for it windeth and creepeth as that doth and with a more deepe clasping it windeth about the tree this hath many branches three handfull long They gather it in October and November being greene as yet and lay it on tiles in the Sunne to bee dryed where in three daies space it waxeth black even as we have it Ginger groweth in Calechut but much is brought out of Cravonor thither Cynamon is in the Isle of Zaylon fifty Germain miles beyond Calechut Pepper groweth in the fields of Calechut but great store is brought out of Crimucoll 12 miles beyond Chalechut Cloves are gathreed in a place called Meluza a little from Calechut Nutmegs groweth in Melaccha which is a great way from Calechut Musâ— or Castoreum commeth from the Countrey of Pego which is an hundred miles from Calechut Pearle and Precious stones are found about the City of Ormus and sent to Calechut the general Mart of all the East parts And many other Spyces Silkes and strange things are brought from these Countries into ours The end of the Iewes answerable to their lives SEldome hath it been known but alwayes a wicked life hath had a shamefull end and this without searching any further for examples may evidently be seene in the Nation of the Iewes their lives being odious towards God proved as shamefull to Men they generally exercised inhumanity to strangers despised the Prophets and mocked their Priests they were given to fearfull oppression and usury they did not honour their Magistrates nor parents they practised contentions and seditions they prophan'd the Sabbath of God they were extreamly unthankful and as extreamly disobedient to God in a word they left not any notorous sinne unpractised and for the prosecution of these lewd courses it pleased Heavens Justice to make them a shame a curse and an astonishment to all the world and themselves for as they sold Gods Word and his Sacrifices so in Vespasians time they were publickly sold for slaves to the number of thirty seven thousand persons at once as they dealt with strangers so to this day are they used by all strangers as they cared not for their Priests so are they now deprived both of Country Citty Temple and Priests As they used oppression so are they now to this day oppressed and mis-used by all Nations without pitty or remorse nay even their owne curses which they wished might fall upon them are indeed fallen justly â—pon them and theirs What â—eed I be tedious it is most manifest to all men that they â—re as justly miserable and conâ—emned as they were unjust in â—heir impieties so that they who did refuse to bee vessels â—or mercy are deservedly made â—essels of Justice that although GODS Will was not done â—y them yet it is done upon â—hem Discite Iustitiam moniti non tomnite Divos The seven Wonders of the World THe first were the Walls of Babylon built by Semiramis of stone joyned together with a strange kind of slimy and gluish morter which groweth in thâ— Mines of those Countries anâ— especially in the Lake wheâ—â— stood in time past Sodome anâ— Gomorrah now called Asfaltiâ—â— These Walls according to tâ—â— Towne were built in quadrangle and contained in circuit as saiâ—â— Pliny in the twenty sixt Chapter of his sixt booke 60 miles so that every square was siâ—teene mile long they were 〈◊〉 foot high and fifty foot thick and to build these Walls werâ— hired by Semiramis out of diâ—vers Countries for a long spacâ— 300000 men The second was the Pillar oâ— the Sunne offered by the Genâ—tiles unto Iupiter This Pillaâ— stood in the I le of Rhodes anâ— was made of Iron in the form of a man of incredible greatâ—nesse in so much that a maâ— might scarce fadome the great â—inger thereof After it had stood 56 yeares it fell down by reason of an earth-quake and so â—ay till the Iland was wonne by â—he Souldan of Egypt who carâ—yed so much mettall away as â—oaded 900 Camels The third were the Pyramides of Egypt among the which â—here is one especially noted aâ—out the Citty of Memphis now â—alled grand Caire this Piramidâ—overed â—overed about 40 acres of land â—t the foote or foundation thereâ—f it was all built of Marbleâ—tone and in the building â—hereof were imployed contiâ—ually for the space of 20 years â—600000 men and for the susteâ—ance of these workmen was â—is burst in radish and such other â—oots 1800 tallents which acâ—ording to our reckoning is the summe 1880000 crownes this might seem incredible were it not that it is affirmed by so many Authors of authority The fourth was the Mausol of Mausolus King of Caria and husband to Artemisia so called this Woman for the great love shee bare to her Spouse burned his dead body and dranke the powder thereof thinking no Sepulcher so worthy as her owne body and the rest of the powder shee buried in this famous tombe the stone whereof was of an excellent kind of marble it was 411 feet in circuit and 25 cubits high was invironed about with 36 Pillars of stone wonderfully well carved The fift was the Temple oâ— Diana builded by the Amazones it was 455 foot long and 220 foot broad and in it stood 127 marble pillars each of them being 70 foote high the worke thereof was so wonderfull curious that it was 220 yeares a making The sixt was the Image of Iupiter Olympius in Achaia all of Porphyre an infinite number of little pieces joyned together this Image besides the excellency of the worke is especially noted for the greatnesse thereof and was the more famous by reason of the game called Olympiades there kept The seventh was the Tower Pharos nigh unto Alexandria in Egypt builded by Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Egypt to direct the
passengers which came to take haven thereabouts by burning of pitch or other like things in the toppe this Tower was of a marvellous height and singular workmanship the building wherof cost according to our money 480000 crownes Some Authors put for the seventh wonder the Gardens and Orchards upon the Walls of Babylon Others put the Obelisque of Semiramis which differeth in nothing from a Pyramid saving that it is all one stone the Obelisque Semiramis caused to be wrought and taken out of the Mountaines of Armenia it was a hundred and fifty foot high and every square was foure and twenty foot broad at the bottome so that it contained in circuit 96 foot The sixe Ages of the World IN the dividing of these Ages there is great contrariety of Opinions among Writers for that some follow the computation of the 72 Interpreters and some follow the Hebrewes and the common Text of the Bible The first Age from the creation of the world till the universall Flood endured according to the Hebrewes 1656 yeares which agreeth with the saying of S. Hierom Bede Philâ— and the common text of the Bible The 72 Interpreters and Eusebius hold that it endured 2242 yeares and Saint Austine is of opinion that it endured 2272. Of this age few or no things are recited worthy of memory except the birth of the first man Adam and the creation of all things The second age from Noahs flood till the birth of Abraham endured according to the 72 Interpreters Eusebius and the greatest part of writers 942 and according to the Hebrews but 292 yeares Saint Austin counteth 172 yeares In this age was builded Babel the Tower of confusion the Empire of the Assyrians beganne and the great Citty of Ninive was builded which contained in circuit three dayes journey The third age from Abraham to David endured by the agreement of all Authours 941 yeares During this age was the peregrination of Abraham the beginning of the Amazones Sodome and Gomorrah were destroyed Ioseph was sold to the Egyptians Moses passed the red Sea Iob the just lived Iason conquered the golden Feece the destruction of Troy the Latins began to reigne in Italy The fourth age from the beginning of the reigne of David till the leading of the Iewes captive into Babylon endured 485 yeares During this age the Empire of Assyrians was translated to the Medes the Olympiades of the Grecians began Carthage was builded by Dido and Rome by Romulus Byzance was also builded the destruction of Ierusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and thereupon the calamity of the Iewes The fift age from the transmigration of Babylon to the comming of Christ endured by the agreement of all 589 yeares During this age Cyrus beganne the Monarchy of the Persians the 70 yeare of this age the Jewes returned to their Countrey Consuls beganne to rule in Rome Xerxes invaded Greece with an Army of 1000000 men Plato Aristotle and Demostenes flourished with many other worthy Philosophers Alexander wonne the Monarchy of the World the destruction of Carthage by the Romans Câ—â—sar usurped the Empire of Rome The sixt age beganne at the birth of our Saviour Christ which yet endureth and shall endure to the end of the world Of the bridges of Singui and Quinsai THere be numbred in the City of Singui about six thousand bridges of stone having so large Arches that shippes may passe through without bending of the Mast. There is another City called Quinsay in Asia which containeth in the circuit of it above an hundred Italian miles which make 25 German miles it is thought to bee the greatest and most notable City in the World It hath 12 thousand bridges of stone so high and large that a ship may passe upright through them Of certaine illusions of Devils about Tangut THere is seene and heard about the Desarts of Tangut in the day time and more commonly in the night divers illusions of Devills therfore travailers that way ought to take good heed that they â—ever not their companies and least any comming behinde might hinder them for otherwise they shall soone loose the fight of their companions for the hils and mountaines there be heard the voyces of Spirits and Devills which going solitarily will call other by their names feigning and counterfeiting the voyces of their companions the which if they can by any meanes doe lead men out of the way to destruction there be hard sometimes in the Ayre the consents and harmony of musick-instruments there bee many worshippers of Idolls and they attribute much honour to the Devills When their Wives have a sonne they commend him to some Idoll and in the honour of it that yeare the Father keepeth up a Ramme the which after the nativity of the Childe at the next feast of that Idoll he offereth with his sonne and many other Ceremonies When the Sacrifice is done they bring the flesh which was offered to some secret place and all his kinsfolkes gathred together doe eate of that with great devotion keeping the bones reverently in some vessel In this Countrey is found a Serpent called Salamandra which liveth in the fire without any damage those Serpents are used for the making of such cloth as may suffer the fire without any corruption or harme or else when any spot commeth to any Garment made of the haires of a Salamander it may bee cast for an houre in the fire and all the spots will be gone no otherwise then if they had bin very cleane washt Of the Cocatrice THere is in Affrick a kinde of Serpent called a Cocatrice which hath a white spot on his head having the fashion of a Diadem His head is very sharp his mouth red his eyes somewhat blacke in colour as Pliny saith with his hissing he driveth away all kinde of Serpents Hee destroyeth with his breath young trees and plants consumeth herbs breaketh stones infecteth the ayre where he tarrieth so that a bird cannot fly over that ayre or through it without danger of death Yet it is said that the poison of a Weasell is his destruction Aelianus saith that he hath so sharpe poison that exceeding not in length a mans hand yet hee extinguisheth every great Serpent with his onely breath There is not a more hurtfull or more pestilent beast upon the earth for this lying in his denne may destroy a whole Citty by infection Of the Crocodile THe Crocodile is found commonly about the water of Nilus and Ganges in India and waxeth of a little thing to a very great beast For his egges are much like unto Goose-egs but the yong which commeth of them taketh encrease to sixteene or eighteeâ—â— cubits in length hee liveth almost as long as a man hee lacketh a tongue his body is maâ—â—vellously defended of nature for all his backe is full of scales and wonderfull hard his 〈◊〉 is long hee hath many teeth on both sides of his mouth whereof two doe especially hang out he doth not onely devoure man but also other
their computation of time from the birth-day of Mahomet by the name of this word Hegyra as the Spaniards were woâ—â— of long time after they were subdued by the Romans to number their yeares from Augustus Caesars Reigne by these 4 letters A er a which is Annus â—rat Augusti These Infidels and Pagans observe a memoriall for the nativities of their Kings and Princes throughout the whole world In Persia the birth of Cyrus upon the 16 day of the Moneth Lois In Macedonia the nativity of Alexander the great upon the Ides of February And in Rome the nativity of Romulus upon the 21 day of September In like sort the nativity of Iulius Caesar upon the fourth of the Ides of Iuly The nativity of Nerva upon the 4 Calend of December The Nativity of Adrian upon the 6 Calend of November Of Antonius pius upon the first of Aprill Of Gordianus upon the 13 of Ianuary Of Constantine the great upon the 4 Calend of Februâ—ary And so of Traiane Vespatian and others whose Natiuities were with great honour observed and with great dignity of triumphes feasts sacrifices games and playes with all pompe and glory in remembrance of good Kings nativities solemnized For Beata respâ—â—â— cui princeps Philosophus All the Kingdomes of the World in their feast Natalitiâ— in memory of the most happy state of a good King used all kinde of strange inventions to magnifie their Kings the Egyptians in their Pyramides and Obeliskes the Grecians in their triumphant Arches and Pillars the Persians with feasts and banquets solemnized the Nativities of their Kings and the Romans excelled with sundry pompes of triumphs to set forth â—he dignities of their Kings Dictators and Consuls Others â—n the sacred Wood Aricinâ—m doe sacrifice to Diana with â—heir pompe of Peplon c.. Beside such magnificent and triumâ—hant Games and Playes to set â—orth the dignities of the feast Natalitia in memory of good â—rinces nativities As at Aâ—ens Magna Panathenaea first â—stituted by Ericthonius to hoâ—our Minerva every fift yeare â—n like manner as the games â—f Olympia was by Hercules celebratâ—d to honour Iupiter or Isthmia was by Thaeseus made to honour Neptune So in Rome the great Playes and Games called Ludi triumphalâ—â— Ludi Natalitij were onely toâ— that effect invented to magnifie good Princes and to record their worthinesse with Feasts Triumphes and Playes in memory of their nativities For 〈◊〉 this feast of Natalitia the common people assembled together with sweete flowers green hearbes some made them boothes with Oken bougheâ— and some tents covered witâ— with long Reeds with greaâ— banquets and much mirth 〈◊〉 honour the nativityes of Kingâ— The Roman shepheards dresâ— upon that day their sheepe-â—â—â— with greene rushes sweet floâ—ers with branches and boughâ— they their Wives and Families with nose-gaies and garlands with Bagpipes and fiddles celebrated their feast Natalitia at the birth of any King Dictator or Consull of Rome In other places they celebrated the games Saturnalia in December their games Sigillaria in Ianuary the Games Lupercalia in February But in Athens their Bacchanalia is solemnized in November where the Ministers and Priests of Bacchus and Diana by the names of Mimallones Sileni Mâ—nades Bacchae Satyrae c. all crowned with Ivey Garlands and with Ivey speares in their hands singing the song of Dithirambos dancing Enoplia with the pompe of Peplon to honour Bacchus then how ought wee to celebrate the Natalitia and inauguration of our Englands joy the establisher of our peace King Iames of blessed memory and also his sacred Majesty who is the greatnesse of great BRITAINE and the unparallel'd patterne to all Kingdomes of Piety and Religion of whom it may be truely said With Graces three with Muses nine With Sibyls twelve can he With three the fourth with nine the tenth With twelve the thirteenth be Of the inauguration and anointing of the great Duke of Muscovia with the ceremonies at their Coronation AT the Coronation of the great Duke of Muscovia 〈◊〉 the States of Muscovia whicâ— they call Camesi assemble together at Saint Michael their chiefe Temple the day appointed for the Coronation the Citty is so strawed with flowers and sweet odours and set forth with boughes that their triumph is great feasting according to the custome of the Musâ—ovites The great men meete the Duke or the Emperour and â—ring him into the Temple who â—t his comming into the Temple an old fatherly man meeteth him having on a long garment downe to the ground Bombycina veste This embraced the Emâ—erour most courteously for â—ee was the Metropolitan of Muscovia or the chiefe Priest which they call Princeps sacroâ—um whose authority and command in that Countrey is very great In the midst of the Temple was made a Theater with seates to fit on and with staires to passe to every place of the Theater being set forth with most sumptuous showes the feat of the Emperours was made most royall and with great magnificence sitting in Scamno with a rich purple cap on his head beset with Gold and precious stones a precious garment wrought with Gold and laced close at his breast called Bombycina vestis his hands so be set with Jewels that onely the Emperours hands and his head were to bee wondred at Now the Emperour being in his Palace the States and the great men in their feats the chiefe Priest or the Metropoliâ—tan turneth his face and looketh upon the Emperour saying My most loving Sonne and great Duke of Muscovia now the Gods have placed thee in the highest Tower of Fortune and in the great state of Dignity not to harme or hurt thy people but to helpe and to guide them not to devoure them but to relieve them ministring Lawes and Iustice to every man alike laying before thine eyes the noble Examples of the best Emperours thy Father brought much calamity and wrought many dangers to this Empire Wilt thou defend thy Countrey with Iustice and with armes make much of good men and subdue the wicked If thou doe this we thy Cittizens here will pray unto the regall Gods of supernall and infernall power to blesse thee with much felicity that in thee wee may see our Countrey flourish This being done the people make great joy and triumph form the highest to the lowest and therewithall much money is throwne among the vulgar people I could not read of any crown nor of any other monuments among the Muscovites for it seemed by the tyranny of the Emperours that they use very few godly ceremonies I should have set downe at the comming of the great Duke through the streete the peoples throng was such that many were with naked swords to make way for the Emperour to passe by who commanded by all rigour and extremity to keep the people off The Nativity of our Saviviour Christ. THe Nativity of our Saviour Christ seemed so simple his life so poore and his death so â—gnominous that he was a stumbling blocke to the Iewes
divination of the Augurers made Kings and instructed in their Kingdomes so the Kings of Persia were by their Magi instructed in their sacrifice and taught in their Religion without whom neither was it lawfull for the Romans to doe sacrifice without their Augurer stood by or for the Persians without their Magi being in place The manner and order of the Indians in celebrating the nativity of their Kings THe Indians so honoured the birth-day of their King at what time the dayes beganne to lengthen that the King with all his Nobles went to the River Ganges to wash and bathe themselves where they offered in sacrifice to the Sunne a number of blacke Bulls for that colour among the Indians is most esteemed After sacrifice done to the Sunne the King held a Feast which the Romans called Hilaria which was wont to be celebrated upon the â— Calend of April at what time the Roman Matrones and the yong women of Rome crowned with Myrtle bathed themselves before they sacrificed unto Venus This very time the yong men of Athens kept festivall dayes with mirth and pastime to honour the Moone for the like cause as the Indians had for the Sun This feast Hilaria had all publicke and solomne Playes with all kinde of triumphes for joy that the Sun began to turne his face and to lentghen their dayes tanquam patriae solatium initium laetitiae Of the Nativity of King Cyrus and of the Persian feasts or ioy thereof THE great King Cyrus for so the Persians named their Kings after Cyrus time upon the very day that he was borne hee had victory over the Scythians and Saracens he so honoured and magnified that day that Cyrus commanded that they should bee called the great Kings and appointed that it should be solemnized yearely with a regall noble feast called Sacaea after the name of that Nation conquered in the which feast was celebrated divers strange kinds of ceremonies as the Masters to attend upon the Servants the Mistresses upon their maids imitating the orders and manners in the feast Saturnalia wherein also were Bacchanalia used in the which feast were men women and children which disguised themselves like Faunes with Javelins wreathed about with Ivie in their hands and with Ivie crownes on their heads dancing and skipping after Psalters and Howboyes singing sacred songs unto Bacchus called Orgya and Dithyrambos this feast Cyrus commanded to be yearly solemnized in Babylon upon the sixteenth day of the moneth Loys on the which day Cyrus as some suppose was borne which day among the old Persians was highly honoured for of all the feasts and sacrifices of all solemne great daies the daies of their Kings nativities were most in honour esteemed This was the onely and greatest feast of the Persians for the rich men would celebrate the feast of their Kings birth with sacrificing of whole Camels Horses Oxen and Asses sparing no cost in this feast the poorer sort strained themselves with all charges to set forth the feast of their Kings nativities at what time the Magistrates used to sing the song Magophonia at their feast and the song Theogonia at their sacrifice For this feast Sacaea was called among the Thessalians Piloria in Creete called Hermea in some place called Penagria in another place called Saturnalia but in all places used and celebrated with great solemnities at the nativity of Kings and Princes Of the funerall pompe of the Egyptians THE Kings of Egypt were most sumptuously reserved in this order their bodies were opened and were in such sort used as the Egyptians use with Myrhe Aloes Honey Salt Waxe and many other sweete odours being seared up and anointed with all precious oyles and so they reserved the bodies of their Kings in high buildings made for the purpose far from the ground as in their Pyramides and Labyrinth before spoken The Funerall was so lamented that all Egypt mourned in this sort the men would clap dung and dirt upon theiâ— heads beate their bodies striâ—â— their breasts knocking their heads to every poste howling and crying for their King their women bare-breasted besmeard with all kind of filth running up and downe in furious manner fasting and mourning 72 dayes from wine or any other meat saving bread the water of Nilus Of the funerall pompe of the Thracians THe Thracians Funerall is ful of mirth and melody for when they bring their Friends to the Grave they use to sing Thracian Songs with all sweet musicke onely this ceremony they reserved when any man that was of great calling dyed his Wife must be brought the same day to the grave of her husband in her richest ornament and best apparell accompanied with her Parents and next in blood with great solemnity which after sacrifice done upon the Grave of her husband she must make sacrifice of her selfe The Priest must bring her to the Altar where shee is sacrificed with a vaile over her face and after oblations prayers done shee is slaine upon her husbands Grave for sacrifice Of the sacred anointing of the Kings of Israel THe anointing of the first King of Israel was by Samuel the Prophet who was commanded to anoint Saul the first King of the world that was anointed hee powred oyle upon his head he kissed him and said the Lord hath anointed thee King over his inheritance and the people shouted and said God save the King at this time began first the use of oyle in anointing of Kings after this manner were Saul and David anointed Kings of Israel and after David his son Solomon The order and ceremonies were to ride upon the Kings beast and to sit upon the Kings throne where the Prophet being called the Seer poured the oyle upon his head to signifie the gift of the Holy Ghost Then the Prophet kissed the King upon the cheek and turned his face to the people and said God save the King then they sounded the trumpets and brought him to his Dinner with all mirth and musicke Thus were Saul and David anointed by Samuel and after them Solomon anointed King Of the solemnity on the birth-day of Prince Aratus by the Achaians with feasts and sacrifice IN like manner the Achaianâ— solemnized the nativity of Aratus with a royall feast and sacrifice yearely upon the Grave of Aratus which was called Aratium The Priests were girded about with a purple cloth the Senate in white robes with Garlands of flowers on their heads the magistrates and chiefe officers of all Achaia with great pompe crowned with Lawrell and Myrtle with hymnes and songs made a solemne procession round about Aratium upon the birth-day of Aratus such was his love among the Grecians that hee was chosen seventeene times Generall of the Achaians The Trophies and triumphs that were invented to honour the nativities of Kings and Princes were such that some builded Citties as Alexandria to honour Alexander Caesarea to honour Caesar and Antiochiae to magnifie the name of Antiochus the great Yea such were the
their censures but respectâ—y love I leave Thine in hearty friendship D. L. The Table of all the Heads that are contained in this BOOKE OF the Temple of Ephesus page 3 A relation of Marcus Curius p. 6 Of the warres and manners of the Turkes 8 How the Turkes doe beleeve and how they worship God 13 The opinion of the Turks upon the world to come 21 Of the miseries that Jerusalem suffered during the siege of Vespasianus and Titus 24 How Jerusalem was taken and fired 25 Of the fasting and meats of the Turkes 29 Of the Circumcision of the Turks 32 What execution of Iustice the Turkes have what kind of marriages what manner of apparrel and living 38 Of the nature of Gold and Silver 46 Of spirits appearing in Mines 49 The signes of the destruction of Jerusalem 50 Of the description of Ireland 56 A briefe description of England and Scotland 57 Of an I le in Spaine named Gades 60 A description of Seneca the Schoolemaster of Nero the Emperour 61 To divers nations in ancient times were obiected divers vices and deformities 63 Sugar groweth in a part of Italy 65 A mountaine alwayes casting forth flames and smoake 66 The properties of the Eagle 69 A description of a Raven 72 Certaine Rites and Lawes of the old Romans 74 The lively quicke wit of Adrianus the Emperour of Sardinia 79 The making of Sugar at Palermâ— in Sicily 80 Of the mountaine called Aetna in Sicily 84 The Election of the King of Gothes 87 Feare and care hindreth mans growth 88 The rare Art and mystery of Printing found out amongst the Maguntines 87 The invention of great Guns 92 A notable History of a thing done at a towne in Germany called Binguam 96 â—f the Bathes called Badenses in Germany 98 â— description of a Herneshaw 100 â— monster born nigh unto Worms in Germany in the yeare 1495. 102 â—ow scrupulous the Jewes be to do any thing on their Sabbath day 104 â—â—e Famine of Jerusalem 106 â— wilde Buls in Prussia 111 â—iscription of Iseland 112 â—f the Countrey called Laponia 118 â—escription of Whales 119 â—ow a marvellous horrible Dragon was destroyed in Polonia 120 â— strange History of a King devowred of Mice 122 â—f the Treasure that was found in the Temple of Jerusalem by the souldiers of Vespasian 134 Lycurgus Lawes 336 The ceremonies of the burialls of of the Kings of Lacedemonia 144 Lawes of cruell Draco 146 Lawes of Solon 147 Of Dame Flora. 151 of the Ieat stone 152 Of the burials of the Turkes and of divers observations and customes 152 How the Christians taken of the Turkes in War be handled and tormented and how they are made free 159 With what burthen and exactions the Christian Princes are charged and oppressed being overcome of the Turkes 269 The besieging of Samaria 176 Of King Tantalus 179 Of Artemisia the wife of Mausolus 181 â—f Sardanapalus K. of Assyria 183 â—eople called Amazons 184 â—f Harts in Cyprus 187 â—f the Date-tree 190 â—f the dead sea 191 â—f a Sand transforming things into Glasse 193 â— Fish called a Purple 193 â—he City of Babylon 195 â—f the Phaenix 197 â—escription of the Ram that Titus brought before the Wals of Jerusalem to destroy it 199 â—f Mahomet the false Prophet of the Saracens of his original and perversity 201 The manner of the Assyrians 217 The manner of the Persians 219 Of the Panther and Tyger 223 Condition and nature of the Parthians 227 People of Carmania 230 Property of sundry Nations 232 Severall waies that the Romans put any offendor to death 233 Of the Tartarians 239 Sibyls prophesie of the destruction of Babell 247 Of the twelve Sibyls 249 Of the Countrey of India 260 Of the Brachmans 268 Of the Elephant 272 Garments used by the High-Priests of the Jewes 277 Of the Dragons in India and Aethiopia 279 Of the Griphin in India 283 The notes and signes of a good Horse 284 Certaine monstrous people in India 287 Of the Ants of India 292 Of Indian Apes 293 Of the Diamond-stone 295 The ten persecutions under the Roman Emperours 297 Of Calechut the famous Mart in India 300 The end of the Jewes answerable to their lives 309 The 7 wonders of the World 311 The sixe Ages of the World 317 Severall bridges that are in Singui 321 Certaine Illusions of Divels about Tangut 322 Of the Cockatrice 324 Of the Crocadile 326 The twelve Apostles with their Martyrdomes 328 The seven Wise-men of Greece 335 Young fowles hatched brought forth without their dams or females 335 Rites and ceremonies of the Aegyptians 337 The Seven Saxon Kingdoms that England was once divided into 342 The foure Monarchies of the world 346 How the Turneyments and Iustâ—â— began first in Saxony 350 The eight Parliaments of France 35â— Of the Estridge 360 Of the Empire of Cathay 36â— The thirteene Cantons of Swisseâ— land 36â— The twelve Peeres or Pairs 〈◊〉 France 36â— The 4 parts of the World 37â— The eight times that Rome hatâ— beene taken 37â— Sixe Orders of Chivalry whicâ— continue at this day amongâ—â— Princes 379 Of the Cannibals 394 Of the Lyon 399 Of the people called the Nigrits and other Nations 399 Of Prefter Johns Land 405 Of the Mice upon the Alpes 409 Description of a Unicorne 414 The three severall Crownes that the Emperours of Rome are crowned with 416 Septem-viri or the seven Electors of the Emperour of Germany 417 The oath that the seven Electors take before the chusing of the Emperor 419 Of the birth of Alexander and of the Macedonian feasts 422 â—everall Trophies of worthy Captaines 424 â—he birth of Mahomet 430 â—f the inauguration and anoynting of the great Duke of Muscovia with the ceremonies at their Coronation 431 The Nativity of Christ. 441 â—trange ceremonies at the election of the Prince of Carinthia 443 The manner of the funerall pompe of the Grecians 349 The great pompe and solemnity at the inauguration of the Pope Rome 4â—â— The funerall pompe of the Româ—â— Emperours 4â—â— Of the inauguration and coronâ—â—â—â—on of the Kings of Persia. 4â—â— Manner and order of the Indiaâ— in celebrating the Nativitie 〈◊〉 their Kings 4â—â— Nativity of K. Cyrus and of 〈◊〉 Persian feasts for ioy therof 4â—â— The birth of Minerva 4â—â— The sacred Anoynting of 〈◊〉 Kings of Israel 4â—â— Funerall pompes of the Aegyâ—â—tians 4â—â— Funerall pompes of the Thraâ—â—â—ans 4â—â— Of the solemnity on the birth 〈◊〉 of Prince Aratus by the Achâ—â—â—jans with their Feastes and Sâ—â—crifices 4â—â— Of the birth of Xerxes and of tâ—â— solemne feast thereof 4â—â— EMBLEMES OF RARITIES OR KQVISITE OBSERâ—ATIONS DELIGHTFVLL TO THE MINDE THE Great Creator hath so done his admirable Workes that they ought to be had 〈◊〉 Remembrance saith that â—rthy Prophet David I therâ—â—â—e did confirme my selfe in 〈◊〉 one Resolution to search 〈◊〉 and revive afresh with 〈◊〉 diligence and faithfulnesse many rare and exquisite acts of Ancient times performed in the severall parts of the World toâ— many
of which have and doâ— almost lye buried in Oblivioâ— and so intend the communication of the benefit of them anâ— my labours to this Iland where in I received my first breath doing neither wrong to the sacred esteeme of History nor yeâ— burthening my owne consciencâ— with unjust undertakings 〈◊〉 carrying my selfe by the ballaâ— of truth and steering my laboâ—â— by the rule of Equity I profeâ—â— no other thing but a briefe 〈◊〉 a true expression and digestiâ—â— of many special and remarkabâ—â— passages making the memoriâ— of many of them and the benâ—â—fit of my Country-men tâ—â— whole scope and aime of this 〈◊〉 travaile and labour And because Method is the guide of studies for who undertakes any action of consequence without it builds but without a Foundation or travels in a Wood without a way not perfectly knowing where he is or how to get forth that I may not be unjust or offensive to your memories or to the worth of the subject nor shew my owne disability to the world I doe intend to lay downe the subjects I treate of distinctly as I have gathered them both for the Readers benefit and contentment and first Of the Temple of Ephesus IN the Country called Ionia there is the noble Citty of Ephesus which was built in the 32 year of the reign of King David by Androchus the â—on of Codrâ—â— King of Athens The Amazons did erect in it in the honor 〈◊〉 Diana a noble Temple the like whereof was not then in all the world and therefore it was accounted amongst the 7 wonders of the world it was 215 yeares in making and that of all Aâ—ia and set in a miry ground for the avoyding of earth-quakes there were 127 pillars in it made of their kings one by one which were in height 60 foot whereof 36 were carved with marveilous workemanship The length of the whole Church was 425 feete and the breadth 220. All that tooke this Church for Sanctuary had great immunities and priviledges there were also so many gifts and monuments given to this Church from all Nations and Citties that none in 〈…〉 world might bee compare 〈…〉 wealth St. Paul preached at Ephesus 3 yeeres and converted many to the faith St. Iohn also the Evangelist dyed in this Citty But this sumptuous Temple was destroyed and set on fire in the reigne of Galienus the Emperour by one Erostratus who doing many notable feats in Warre and otherwise when he perceived that he got no reward nor renowne thereby to leave a continuall remembrance of his flagitious and horrible act did with great fires and monstrous flames consume this faire Church and brought it to ashes thinking thereby to be remembred in perpetuity and yet he was deceived for there were generall Edicts and Proclamations made that no man upon paine of death should presume once to put his name in any writing or Chronicle to the intent that he might have beene buried with everlasting oblivion M. Curius THere was in Rome about three hundred yeares before Christs time a strange and horrible gaping of the earth even about the middest of the market place with so vaste 〈◊〉 depth and infinite hollownesse that it might well have beene compared to the gaping of hell mouth the spectacle continuing thus for a time made great terror amongst the people aâ— the length the Southsayers by their interpretations perswaded that this horrible depth might be stopped if the most precious thingâ— in the Citty were cast therein Whereupon divers of the Matrones of Rome of their owne free will cast in divers goodly Jewels but all was in vaine Wherefore M. Curius a Knight of Rome comming of a noble house being decked and adorned with his warlike furniâ—ure and ornaments rid headâ—ong into that horrible depth and hollownesse of the earth and so immediately it closed together againe and was stopped Some say that he demanded this one thing before he would grant to ride and and leape into that depth that for a whole yeares space it might bee lawfull for him every night to lie with what woman hee would chuse and that then of his owne mind he cast himselfe suddenly down headlong into that denne and so the earth closed againe Of the warres and manners of the Turkes THe Turkes have a marvellous celerity in doing a constancy in dangers and observation of the Empire They will swimme over very deepe and dangerous waters they passe over strange hills and being commanded they goe through thicke and thinne headlong having no regard of their lives but of the Empire Most apt and ready to suffer fasting and watching There is no sedition amongst them no tumult They use horrible sounds and not out-cries in War in their Tents in the night-time there is â—uch diligent silence that they â—ad rather suffer their prisoners â—o escape then to move any tumult The Turkes of all kinde of â—eople are said at these dayes to 〈◊〉 most lawfull fighting so that 〈◊〉 is no marvel why their Comâ—on-wealth continueth so long â—nd encreaseth so much that â—â—eir Nation is almost invinâ—â—ble except they be destroyed â—y some plague or pestilence â—r civill discord The Souldiâ—rs have an honest kinde of apâ—arrell In their saddles and briâ—els there is no curious superfluâ—y No man goeth armed but 〈◊〉 the time of War their weaâ—ons are brought after them in â—urdens they use no banners â—or standerds but in the tops of â—heir Javelins they have certaine â—hreads of divers colours hanging where one Captaine known from another They use the Drumme at the Fluite to call and mooâ—â— men to fight They pray fâ—â— their souldiers in every congrâ—â—gation and solemne meetinâ— but rather for such as have dye for their Countrey calling the happy and blessed that they dâ—â—ed not at home in the lamentaâ—â—â—on of their Wives and Childreâ— but abroad amongst their enâ—â—mies weapons and terrible noâ—ses They write and describâ— the victories of their ancestoâ— they sing and extoll them beiâ—â— written for they thinke the souldiers mindes to bee muâ—â— encouraged by these meaneâ— They doe so abhorre picture and engraved Images that upâ—â— such causes they call the Châ—â—â—stians Idolaters They have 〈◊〉 Bells nor yet doe suffer the Christians abiding amongst â—hem to have Bells They neâ—er play for mony or any other â—â—ing but such as bee found â—laying be grievously slandred 〈◊〉 every mans mouth No man â—f what state or degree so ever â—e be desireth to sit on a bench â—ut they lye downe and sit on â—â—e earth like Children with a â—ery comely folding of their â—â—rments under them The table whereon they feed â—â—r the most part is prepared of â—n Oxe hide or an Harts skinne â—ndressed and rough with haire â—â—ill having the roundnesse of â—oure or five hand breadthes No man entreth into any house Church or other place whereâ—n they must sit unlesse his â—hooes be off because it is acounted an unhonest and undecent point for any man to 〈◊〉 with his shoes on his feete anâ— therfore
the drinking of plaine waâ—er They have also Gold and Silver in admiration as well as other Nations The King of Denmark that ruleth also Norway maketh a ruler among them yearly all things be common amongst them saving their wives they esteem their yong cattel as much as their children of the poorer sort you may sooner obâ—aine their Childe then their Cattell They honour their Bishop as a King to whose will â—nd pleasure all the people hath great respect whatsoever he determineth by Law Scripture or by custome of other Nations that they doe curiously observe and yet now the King hath compelled them to take a ruler They have so great store of fish in this Isle that they make their sales of them in piles as high as houses they live most commonly there by fish for the great penury of wheat and corne which is brought unto them from nations that with great lucre and and gaines carry away fish for it There is a notable Hill or Mountaine called Hecla not farre from which he Mines of Brimstone the singlar Merchandize of that Country For divers Merchants loade their ships with it when this Hil doth rage it thundreth terrible noyses iâ— easteth out stones it belcheth out Brimstone it covereth the earth so farre round about with the ashes cast forth that unto the twentieth stone it is unhabited they that desire to contemplate the nature of so great flames and therefore adventure more nigh unto the Hill are suddenly swallowed and consumed with some inorable gulfe or vorage for there be many such blasts so covered and hidden with ashes that none can sufficiently beware or take heede of them and there commeth out such a fire from that Hill that consumeth Water but stubble or stâ—aw it doth not burne This place is thought of some to be the prison of ununclean soules For the Ice being divided and broken into many parts swimmeth about the Isle almost eight moneths and being broken and bruised with rushing upon the banks with the beatings and noise of the cracking against the banks and rocks giveth so horrible a sound almost representing the miserable lamentation of humane voyce and weeping that it maketh the â—uder sort the more simple and unwife to beleeve that mens soules bee tormented there in cold The inhabitants use instead of bread whereof they lacke store fish dryed made hard and ground to meale and yet out of divers Countries Wheate is brought unto them but not so much as may suffice There bee spirits commonly seene shewing themselves manifestly in doing such things as belong to men but especially they appeare in the formes of such as have beene drowned or â—estroyed by some other vioâ—ent chance and thus doe they â—ppeare commonly in the comâ—any of such men as have had faâ—iliar acquaintance with the deâ—arted and doe use them so in â—ll points that they be taken many times for the living perâ—ons in deed of such as be ignoâ—ant of their deaths offering â—heir right hands for acquainâ—ance and this falsehood and â—rroneous sight cannot bee perâ—eived before the spirit it selfe â—anisheth out of sight and conâ—umeth away being required of â—heir familiars to come home â—nd to see their Friends againe with great sighes and weeping â—hey answer That they must go â—o Hecla the Mountaine and so â—uddenly they vanish out of â—ight Of the Countrey called Laponia IN Laponia the people be of a meane stature but they be of such agility of body that being girded and prepared with a sheafe of arrowes and Bow they will suddenly passe through 〈◊〉 hoope or circle whose Diameter is but halfe a yard They bee taught the Art of shooting from their childhood and a Boy there shall have no meate before hee can touch his marke with his arrow When the Sun goeth downe after the Equinox in September they have one continuall night for three Moneths almost all which time they have no other light but as it were a twiter light and when the Sunne commeth to them before the Equinox in March they celebrate that day as a festivall day with much solemnity Of Whales THere bee great Whales as bigge as Hills almost nigh unto Iseland which are sometimes openly seene and those will drowne and overthrow Shippes except they be made afeard with the sound of Trumpets and Drummes or except some round and empty vessels be cast unto them wherewith they may play and sport them because they are delighted in playing with such things Sometimes many cast their anchors upon Whales backes thinking them to be some Isles and so become in great danger Many in Iseland of the Bones and Ribs of such monstrous Whales make posts and sparres for the building of their houses Munster saith this is a good remedy against such dangerous Whales to take that which the Apothecaries call Castoreum and temper it with water and cast it into the Sea for by this as by a poyson they are utterly driven and banished to the bottome of the Sea How a marvellous horrible Dragon was destroyed in Polonia IN Graccovia a Citty of Polonia there was a marvellous horrible and huge Dragon which consumed and devoured all things and was the cause of great damages for when hee came out of his denne under the mountaine hee did rape and snatch all kind of cattel and men wandring uncircumspectly devouring them with his horrible jawes Gracchus being very sad and lamenting this matter commanded three severall bodies to be cast unto him every day for being contented with those he would looke for no more The which thing although it was grievous yet hee perswaded that three either of sheepe or of some other cattell should be offered him every day wherein Brimstone and some fiery powder or device of flame should be included hidden and mingled with waxe and pitch privily for so that beast and Dragon being provoked with naturall greedinesse or with a rapacious famine and hunger devouring without respect or choise the offered prey by little and little was weakned and extinguished The like example is read in Daniel the Prophet A strange History of a King devoured of Mice THere was in Polonia a King named Pompilius who was wont in all his execrations and and curses to say I pray God the Mice may devoure me Trâ—ly with evill luck and forespeaking evill to himselfe and to his for the Mice devoured his sonne who was also called Pompilius after his Father This sonne after the death of his father being left in his childhood his Uncles administred and governed the Kingdome untill hee came to mans years and was married then suddenly as he was in the middest of his â—easts overcharged with Wine being adorned with Coronates and Garlands dawbed with his â—yntments oppressed with luxury and surfeiting a great number of Mice comming from the carcases of his uncles did invade him the which hee and his wife â—he Queen did destroy but they came forth so fast and in such a multitude assaulted and set upon this Tyrant in
springs and trees and soft tender herbs meet for their mouthes In this Countrie of Muscovia there is great store of the best furres and skinnes and that this is their chiefest merchandize in that Countrey The treasure that was found in the Temple of Jerusalem by the Souldiers THe Temple being consumed with fire the Souldiers put all the Iewes that they found about it to death and carryed away all they could finde sparing neither old nor young infant or Priest Magistrate or Senate whatsoeverâ— And afterwards the Roman souldiers thrusting forwards one another being greedy of gaine sought where to get into the Temple where the fire was aslaked entered the Treasure-house where the sacred money was kept by which meanes a great part thereof was stolne away by the souldiers and Sabinus by name to all mens knowledge which stood by carryed away 400 Talents The souldiers beholding the gates of the Temple and of the Treasure-house to be of massie Gold were confident that there was nothing else but Gold and in great plenty which they possessed without any deniall and bore and carried away upon their shoulders an infinite treasure of money which we cannot value and great was the losse and spoile of their Cups and Challices being all of Gold which were broken and defaced which the Priests did offer their coine to their Gods in beside the Table which was of 2 Cubits high and 4 Cubits in length all of Gold likewise the covering and rich habits and vestments and the two silver Trumpets which the Priests wore at the time of their Sacrifices were all consumed by the fire thus by their Enemy and their owne incrudulity was their Temple burnt their City defaced and their treasure consumed which was the glory and renown of the whole world Lycurgus LYcurgus was a noble Philosopher of Sparta in Greece who erected a civill estate of the Citty with his noble institutes and Lawes whereas before times of all the Grecians the Lacedemonians were worst nurtered Lycurgus taking the matter boldly in hand did â—brogate all their Lawes instiâ—utes and old rites of living and â—id erect a great deale more ciâ—ill ordinances more coÌ„menâ—able First there were 28 Segâ—iors elected which should proâ—ide that the popular estate â—hould not grow out of frame â—ltogether and also that they which had the rule should not â—oe about any tyranny Hee â—ooke away utterly all use of Gold and Silver and brought â—n money of Iron and then was â—ll occasion of Felony taken away The Iron whereof he made his money being as red â—s fire he put out in vinegar â—hat it might be meete for noâ—hing afterward through his â—oftnesse Hee cast out of the Citty all Arts as unprofitable or that purpose and yet most part of Artificers when the use of gold was taken away departed from thence of theâ— owne accords seeing that 〈◊〉 mony was not in use amongâ—â— other Nations Then that 〈◊〉 might the better take away 〈◊〉 luxury and rioting out of the City he appoynted commoâ— meetings at banquets and feastâ— that poore and rich indifferently might meete together 〈◊〉 their feasts and feede all upon the same kinde of banquet Hereby there was inâ—lame great anger of those that werâ— wealthy and mighty and they falling upon Licurgus with greâ—â— force caused him to lose one 〈◊〉 his eies with the blow of a 〈◊〉 Wherefore a law was made that the Lacedemonians should no more enter into their feasts with a staffe Every one gave yearely to this feast one bâ—â—shell of flower eight gallons of wine five pound of cheese five pound and a halfe of figges Children did frequent this as a schoole or exercise of all temperancy and civill discipline â—here they did learne to accustome themselves in ciuill talks and to use honest pastimes and to jest and bee merry without knavery Their Virgines were exercised with running wrastling barriers comely mooving and gesture with quaiting casting of the bowle hammer or such like so that idlenesse and effeminate delicatnesse taken away they waxed the stronger to tolerate and suffer the paine of Childe-bearing Children after they were seven yeares of age had their exercises with their equalls and of necessity did learn letters they were noted and shorne to the very skinne they went bare-foot â—â— 12 yeares of age they might put on one coat after the Countrey fashion they neither knew bathes nor fomentations they tooke their rest in beds made with reeds they might goe to the Feasts of their elders and betters and there if they did steale any thing and were taken with the theft they were corrected with whips not because it was unlawfull to steale but because they did it not privily enough with craft and subtilty Lycurgus removing all superstion permitted the dead bodies to be buried in the Citty and also to have their Monuments about the Temples It was not lawfull to ingrave or write the name of the man or woman upon any Grave but â—uch as dyed manfully in warre The time of lamentation for the â—ead was prescribed about 11 dayes It was not lawfull for Cittizens to make peregrinations for feare they should bring â—n strange manners into the Citty But those which came from strange Countries thither except they were profitable and meete for the CoÌ„mon-wealth were excluded the Citty lest that forraine nations might taste of the Lacedemonian discipline Lycurgus would not suffer young men to use one vesture all the whole yeare nor any to be more deeked then another nor to have more delicate banquets then others Hee commanded all things to be bought not for money but for exchange and recompense of wares He commanded also Children toward 18 yeares of age to be brought into the field and not into the Market-place or Judgement-hall that they might passe over the first yeares not in luxury but in all kinde of labour and paines they must not lay any thing under them for to sleepe the easier And their lives they were driven to passe without ease and not to come into the Citty before they were men in deed Maides he would have to be married without any dower or rewards given by their Parents That Wives might not be chosen for money sake and that the Husbands should keepe their Wives more streightly because they should receive nothing in Marriage with them He would have the greatest honour and reverence to be given â—o old aged men and not to rich â—nd noble men he granted unto Kings the power of the warres â—o Magistrates judgements and yearely succession to the Senate the custody of the Lawes â—o the people the election of the Senate or to create what officers they would These Lawes and new institutes because they seemed hard and streight in comparison of their loose customes and Lawes before used he fained Apollo of Delphos to be the authour of them and that he had them from thence At the last to give eternity and perpetuity to his Lawes he bound the whole Citty with an
and a laughing stock to the Gentiles they so thought for that he was borne in Bethlem a little village in Iudea that he lived and was conversant among simple people without pompe and glory and that he died the death of the crosse with reproach and shame supposing him to be a Carpenters son but they were deceived his birth was most glorious the appearing of the Starre prooved it â—he descending of Angels singing Gloria in excelsis did manifest it the comming of Magi from the East did confirme it his life was most Imperiall comanding Water into Wine the blinde to see the lame to go the sick to health and the dead to rise His death was most triumphant with the song of Hosanna he vanquished Devils subdued Hell and conquered the world and said ConsuÌ„matum est Therefore his nativity is to bee solemnized of all Christians his life to be worshipped and death to be glorified with Alâ—elujah Hosanna and Gloria in excelsis songs triumphant and fit for Jesus Christ our Saviour Of the ancient and strange ceremonies at the Election of the Prince of Carinthia CArinthia is a Province where the Sclavonians speach is spoken where manners and customes are most strange and the like Ceremonies not read of When any new elected Prince entreth into his goverment hee is brought into a faire large valley where was wont to bee an ancient Citty where some monuments are left as reliques so that time weare out the name of it In a wide faire medow hard by a marble stone is erected upon the which stone a Rusticall fellow standeth which by succession of blood that place and office by heritage doth possesse There he hath hard by him a deformed leane Mare and an olde leane Oxe and the Rusticall Countrey people in heapes about him On the farther side of the medowe is the new Prince with his Barons and States about him with great pompe very richly attired all in Purple having the Princes Ensignes and his Arms and 12 Banners carried solemnly before him the Prince being apparrelled like a poore simple country man in old broken garments his cap bare and his shoos worne with a countrey staffe in his hand seeming rather more like a shepherd then a Prince who comming nigh to the Clowne that standeth upon the stone hee cryeth out in the Sclavonian tongue and asketh who is this that is comming here so proude the Barons and the States answere he is a Prince of the Country then the Country man from the Marble stone demands againe Is this man a right and just Judge Doth he seek the benefit and wealth of this Countrey Is â—he of honest and vertuous condition Is he a sound Christian in religion Will he defend the true faith And is he worthy of this honour To whom al the States and Barons answere he is and shall be Againe he saith I aske you by what law and right should I bee removed from this seat The County of Goritia answereth for mony this place is bought then this Oxe and this Mare shal be thine and all the Garments which the last Prince did put off thy houâ—e shal be free without any tribute Then the countrey-man descendeth and meeteth the Prince and striketh him a little on the cheeke saying I command thee to be a good just Prince then he taketh his Mare and his Oxe and giveth the place to the Prince who streight standeth upon the Marble-stone taking a naked Sword into his hand first hee doth flourish it one way then he doth flourish it another way promising thereby equall Justice to the people there they bring water in a Countrey-mans cap to drink to signifie unto the Prince that he should abstaine from wine After these ceremonies the Prince coÌ„meth downe from the Marble-stone and is brought to the Temple called Our Ladies Chappel which was the seate sometime of a Bishop then from thence after some sacrifice which was to be used all things done and performed the Prince putteth off the rusticall garments that he put on before to performe the custome and ceremonies of the Countrey and weareth his princely wonted attire and after hee had feasted with his Barons and his Nobility he returned to the medow againe where the Marble-stone was and sitteth there on his Tribunall seat to heare causes pleaded and to give judgement according to Justice this is the manner and strange custome of the election of any Prince in Carinthia So strange were the customes and manners in old time aswell at the election and coronation of Princes as also in their ceremonies and Scepters For the first Kings of the world used for their Scepters long gilded speares The old Kings of Rome used a crooked staffe called Lituus Tarquiniuâ— Priscus the 5 King of Rome had his Scepter of Ivory The Kings of India had their Scepters of Ebony The Lydians carried before their Kings great Axes The Kings of Sicily used a silver staffe for their Scepter The Babylonians used divers kinds of Scepters with sundry figures as of Lyons Eagles c. The manner of the funerall pompe of the Grecians IN other parts of Greece they used more solemne mourneâ—ull ceremonies at the Funerall of their Kings and Princes â—hey tooke downe their Bulâ—arkes and Fortresses of Wars â—hey untile their Temples they â—â—bvert their Altars they reject â—nd depose their Idols they put â—ut their fire and the men shave â—oth their heads and beards and â—hey clip their horses and left â—othing undone that seemed â—ournefull Then al the Priests â—agistrates young Gentlemen â—nd children carryed Trophies â—nd Monuments of the dead â—ing with his Ensignes and â—rmes crowned with Garlands â—â—cording to the custome of â—reece The Noblemen carryed divers great Cups or Bowles some full of Wine others full of Milke and some full of Blood all in white Garments others carried Hony and Cakes which should be sprinkled and cast upon the funerall fire at what time they sung Hymnes Odes and songs called Ialemâ—â— in the praise of the dead Prince and lastly when the King is solemnly thus burned the Princeâ— and great men of his blood should carry his Ashes in Golden pots crowned over with all kinde of sweete flowers which should bee a memory or Trophie of the deaâ— King The Grecians had also these customes at the funerall of theiâ— deare friends as Parents Brethren Sisters both the Men and Woemen should have theiâ— long haire and offer it upon the Hearse of the dead So Achilles solemnized the funerall of his deare friend Patroclus cutting the fore locks of his haire to set it among many other of Patroclus friends upon his Hearse or Tombe Euripides funerall was of Arâ—bâ—laus King of Macedonia so honoured that hee lamented Euripides death with mourning apparrell and with a shaâ—en head and beard according to the use and custome of the Macedonians The great pompe and solemnity at the inauguration of the Pope of Rome THe Pope of Rome at his inauguration excelled all other Princes in solemnity
dignities and honours of Princes that the Senators and Patricians of Rome by common consent of all the Magistrates changed the name of the Moneth Quintilis to bee called Iuly to honour the name of Iulius Caesar and the Moneth Sextilis to bee called August in memory of the birth-day of Augustus which to this day stands Yet Domitianus the Emperour though hee had commanded by a decree that the Month October should bee called Domitianus after his owne name in remembrance of his Nativity And Germanicus Father to Caligula commanded the Moneth September to bee called Germanicus to hold his birth-day yet tooke no effect Such is the continuance and long memory of a good Prince and such is the decay and short remembrance of a wicked Prince The birth of Minerva IN like manner upon the Calendes of March the feast of Minerva was celebrated in Mount Celio at Rome where the plaies called Quinquatriae were sumptuously solemnized continuing five dayes at what time they presented Minerva with presents and rewards On the which day the yong knights and lusty youths of Rome entred in Armes on horsebacke and on foote into Martius field to honour Minervas nativity with feats of Armes This feast was in Athens solemnized by the name of Panathenaea their Poets Orators and Musitians contended for victories on the day of Pallas birth as they did in the games called Scoenici The prize and reward of the Victor was to weare a long precious garment called Palladium wrought over with gold and to weare a crown of Laurel and to sit in the chaire of Pallas Of the birth of Xerxes and of the solemne Feast thereof THe great Xerxes King of Persia upon the very day that hee succeeded his Father Darius Hisdaspis as King hee yearely most solemnely used to celebrate such a princely noble Feast in memory of that day which the Persians so honoured tanquam Imperij natalem as hee would command all the Nobles of Persia to come in the greatest pompe they could and he himselfe in his most sumptuous Persian Robes with his Diadem upon his head solemnized the Feast with all pompe and glory Upon the which day Xerxes was called of all the Peeres Nobles and all his people Tiâ—â—n This day was so celebrated among the Persians in remembrance of Xerxes first day to his Kingdome So the Siracusans honoured Tiâ—olion for his great victories in memory whereof they yearely upon the day of his Birth decreed that playes games of musick with running wrastling throwing of darts swimming running of horses with other exercises of the body should be celebrated In like sort the Parthians observed that day that Arsaces their King had subdued Seleucus with all kinde of joyes mirth and triumphs that the Parthians could invent they magnified that day with all games and playes and kept a great solemne Feast in remembrance of their liberty and deliverance from their bondage and thraldome under Seleucus by Arsaces If therefore they honoured that day Tanquam initium libertatis with songs Theogonia shall wee not Canere Paean who have so long enjoyed peace and quietnesse of liberty by the happy reigne of our most gracious Soveraigne of whose nativity and happy government we may sing with joy Blest is that land whom God lends such a King Who Peace Religion Piety doth bring And who doth strive these blessings to uphold To lead his subjects unto Heavens fold We all are bound to pray for his long life Which keeps this Iland free from feare strife FINIS Heliogabalus had his Chamber-pot of Gold Silver No venemous beast in Ireland Barnacles comming of a tree A singular memory An easie kinde of death Stomacke digestion Wine forbidden to Women Kissing Sobriety Common things be not straÌ„ge No hâ—mane policy can with stand Gods iust iudgment A strange hill An Emperor eaten with lâ—ce Peregrinations Every piece 12 pence 7 pintes Harts horne against poison Cleopatra Pearle Mahomet had the falling-evill A Dove A Bull. Wine A drunkâ—n parliament Tomyris Cyrus Drunkennes taken for a glory Ants as big as Foxes Change of wives Salamandra Garments that will not be coÌ„sumed with fire The Torneyments were first invented in the time of Henry Auceps the 2 Emperour of Germany in the yeare of our Lord 934.