we cal Africa And on the other side Europe vnto Nilus Africa vnto Tanais Europe And al that euer is beyond is called Asia The discripcion of the Conntreye of Ethiope and the aunciente maners of the Ethiopiens p Ca. iiii EThiope is a region deuyded into two partes Thone parte is called Asie thother is Aphricke The same which at this day is called the Indes towarde the sonne rysynge is enuironned with the rede see and with the see of Barbaria towardes the North it is bordynge on the countrey of Libie and Egepte towardes Occidente and doth ioyne to the forthest Lible of the parte restynge the whiche is set on the syde of Midy and ioyned to the other Ethiope and was so called by a name Athiopes sonne of Vulcaiue whiche first raygned as sayth Plinie of a Greke digestion Atho whiche signifieth burne and Oph which signifieth take hede that because of the approchynge nyghe to the soone The countreye is continually hote the same being vnder the region of the Midy This countrey draweth towardes the west and the desert towardes the East Many sortes of people dwell there of dyuers figures kyndes Some do thynke that they were the fyrst created of almortall creatures and the true Inhabitoures of the earthe They knowe not what bondage meaneth They haue alwayes ben at lybertie It is sayde that religion and the ceremoneyes for theyr Goddes were fyrst by them inuented They haue doble vsaunce of letters The letters which be called holye are for the pristes of lawes vsage to theÌ„ onely knowne the other be for the common people The fygures of their letters were not such that of them myghte be lykened two selables but moore lyker to the outeward parts of men and creatures and to be compared to some instrumentes that artificers occupy Euerye one of the fygures had thre proper significations As for example The figure of Milan by the whiche was sygnyfyed celeritie or quiknes By the fygure of one Crocodile was signified euyll By the fygure of Locil was signified take hede and preseruation and so consequently of all other figures euerye one to his proprietie signified sondrye thynges They which presented the signe of Incence amongeste the pristes were holden most holy and therefore they were axcepted with the kynge and worshypped of all the people as men endued wyth deuinitie which was reputed to be sente by the deuyne prouydence The kynge was bounde to lyuâ— acordynge to the ordinaunce of their lawes and in al his affayres to be ruled as the fashion of the contrey he coulde punishe no malefactours nor rewarded good doers but wolde sende one of his offycers to hym whiche is ordeyned to be punyshed geuynge him charge to signifye to him death As soone as he shulde cease spekynge to the malefactour incontinently after he shal go into his house and kyl him with out remedy or other question to be axed There is much honour attribtted by them to the kynge for as often as they shall perceyue him to be sycke in any part of his body or what cause so euer it may be they of the court wyll in good grey take the lyke decease in the sawe parte where the kinge is sicke of for they iudge if to be health full for theim that if so be it the kynge shuld lose either his legge or arme that they myght also be pertycypent of the lyke calamytie Also they say that they which be seruantes with the kynge after they knowe that he is deade do seke also theyr owne deathes and that is in wytnesse or temonial of the true amyte betwene theyr kynge and them The same death sayth they doth tourne them to greeate honour The most part of the people of that countrey do commonly go naked because it is so hote onely they do couer theyr members with shepes skynnes and other some of theym haue couerynges hangynge frome theyr heare with the whiche they be interlaced vnto the myddle of theyr bodyes They haue no frute nor grayne but of lyttle Palmes and yet there is but a small quantitie some of the people lyue with hearbes and lyttle rootes of trees together with fleshe and mylke Meroe was the capitall towne in that realme and is an Ilonde in forme of a tryangle within the ryuer of Nylo and dothe extende almost thre thousand Stades It was inhabited at the beginning by shepherdes giuen holly to the chase and by laboures who had in theyr possessions the myndes of golde Herodote doth resyte that the Macrobiens whiche be people in Ethiope do moore esteme tynne and lether then golde in so muche that the Imbassadours which kynge Cambises sent into that countrey came home cheyned together lyke prisoners in great cheynes of gold they haue in that countrey great plenty of golde and Evene wodde They kyl the Olyphantes and eate them They haue Lyons Leopardes Vnycornes Dragons the which by the nomber of knottes they make of theyr tayles do kyl the Olyphantes There is found in that countrey certeyne kynde of stones as the Hâ—acinthe and the Christopâ—rast they do gather Peper there Theyr bowes belonge and burnt at the ende The women of that countrey vse to go a warfare them selues all lyke to the men And they haue for the most part theyr lyppe persed or thruste thorowe with a knyfe and thorowe the same passeth a ring of copper Some of theÌ„ do worshyp the son rysynge other some the sonne going downe some vse to cast the dead bodies into the ryuers other some do enclose them in vessels of earth and kepe them a hole yere in theyr houses and so do worshyp the deade bodyes with great seremonie maketh offerynge of the fyrst fruite gathered Some wrytethe that they vse of custome to chose him kyng which doth passe all other in the science of bryngyng vp beastes and stronge of bodye Theyr kyng had this prerogatyue of an olde and auncient custome ouer the priestes of the cytie of Memphis that he myght by his officer commaund which of them he wold to kyll them selues and to apoynte in theyr steade and place whom he please They do beleue that there is an euerlastyng God and he whiche made all thynges and gouerneth the whole world Ageyne they do beleue there shulde be an other mortal the which god as they say they knowe not They haue theyr kynge in suche reuerence that they lyken hym to theyr God for they say he hath merited more praise for a publyke cause and worthyer of honour then theyr God This lyke hath ben from the beginnynge also the estate of Ethiope Suche hath ben theyr ceremonies and maner of lyuynge Neuer the lesse Marc Anthony Sabellique out of whom we haue takeÌ„ the most part which we haue and wyll rehearse dothe say that he dyd vnderstande of the true and ryght men of the countrey that the kynge of Ethiope whiche we call pretian or prest Iohn whoÌ„ they cal Gian that is to say stronge is of so great a personage and blud that
vnder him he hath threscoore and two other kynges and that is the chyefe of the Churche in his kyngdome be all gouerned by him There be vnder hym in his kyngedome a greate nomber of Archebyshops and eche of theim Ageyne haue at the least vnder theyr iurisdiction twenty byshops They say more that princes and noble bluds do eary the crosse before them wheÌ„ they go abrode In lyke case they cary a vessell made of golde fylled with earthe and by that representacioÌ„ they be warned of the mortall condicion by one of the sayd obiections and by the other of the passion of Iesus Christ The pryestes do mary wyues to the ende they maye encrease alwayes prouyded when theyr fyrst wyues be deade it is forbydden theym to take an other Theyr Temples be of greate hyghnesse and large and farre rycher then ours They haue dyuers couentes and orders of religion As of saynct Anthony saynct â—oâ—enick saynt Augustin and other Their aparel is not of one certeine coloure but as the supprior wold permit them to weare They haue a great deuosion to our blessed and holy virgin Marye and to saynct Thomas which is called Didimus They do surely thynke that theyr kyng which is called Gram is come of the seade of Dauid Of the whiche they esteme their generation to haue of longe tyme continued vntyll these presentes The kynge is not blacke as other of the people of Ethiope be he is bothe of face and body whyte The olde kyng of the countrey is called Garama he is not enclosed in a wall They dyd buylde a great nombre of tentes and pauylions disposed by order garnyshed with tapestry wrought with sylke The kynge of auncient custome doth neuer kepe hym selfe together in houses and cloysters waled two houres and why They iudge it to be a thinge of imfamy dishonestie They obserue this kynde of doynge for a lawe at al tymes in warres they can fynde a mylion of men fyne hundreth Olyphantes and with them a greate nomber of horses and Camelles ageyne by occasion of a little troubles which chaunced there is al about the countreys many bandes of his souldiours and they which do discend be marked with a crosse the which is prynted with an hote froÌ„ in what place so euer they come it shall appere vpon theim They vse in theyr warres Iauelynges The hyghest degree of dingnitie is presthod The seconde degree is to be gyuen to the sage men whiche they cal Balsamos and Panquez they esteme gretly innoceÌ„cy and for knolege they put these two vertues in the fyrst place of wysedome The thyrde degree of reputacion is attributed to the state of the nobles atter the whiche foloweth those whiche be in the estate of a Prince The Iudges sayth theyr myndes when there is any question of the death of a man and doth send their myndes in wrytynge to the gouernour of the towne which they call Lycomegia which doth present the kynges person They haue lawes registred in wrytynge and do iuge al thinges as to theÌ„ shal be thought good to be done with Iustyce and equitie The man founde in anultry and condemned for the same shall pay for amendes the fourth parte of theyr goodes when that the woman is lykewyse founde the correction is coÌ„mited to theÌ„ of the house where she offended and as they of the maÌ„cioÌ„ shal thynke theim selues dishonored so to punishe her The men and women do weare whyte apparel set with pearles and trayneth theyr clothes euen to their fete and theyr sleues be neither open before nor behynde They vse al colours in theyr aparel except blacke and that they weare not because it is a dolefull token the whiche they are accustomed to weare .xl. dayes after any of theyr frendes dye At noble mennes tables they are serued for theyr fyrst mese with hard fleshe which they cut vp properly and do pouder it with spices and with good appetyde eate the same They do neuer apparel themselues in wollen cloth theyr apparel is of lynnen sylke They haue dyuerse languages amongest them and do apply them selues to tyl the grouÌ„d All the nacions of Libie whiche be on this syde of Ethiopie to the Indes vnto the Occident do folow the errour of Mahomet and do lyue in a maner lyke to Barbaries whiche be nowe in Egypte and be called Maures because of the frequentacion of Maures whiche greued not this countrey of Libie so much as the Sarazines in the euyl tyme that so greate alteracion and mutacion chaunced in this worlde and that the aunciente lawes and creances was as well thorowe al the countrey and nacions chaunged as also theyr names There is a lake wherin the bodyes whiche be washed withall dothe shyne lyke as they were annoynted with oyle The same is feble also and weake that the thynges which do fal or be cast into it as the leaues which be nigh the sayde lake fallyng therein doth not swymme vpon the water but is receaued inwardly and so synke downe There be also meruelous byrdes with hornes and Tragopomones and Pagasi which haue eares lyke Asses But into the partes to wardes the borders Southward there is nothynge notable Al that way is wast for it is interupt with waue hyâ—les and rather lyke fresh-water bankes then sea bankes And from thens there is a greate cooste and withoute inhabytance And for a certeyne tyme it was douted whether the sea was beyonde or whether the earthe was compassed about or whether Aphrique beynge voyde of all fruite dyd extende it selfe without ende But yf it be so that Hamo of Carthago whan he was sent by his countrey folkes to serche out the countreies ofter he had passed the mouthes of the Ocean and went a compasse aboute a great part of Aphrique he made report that he dyd not lacke sea But that he wanted victuall A certeyne man called Eudoxus in the tyme of oure graundefathers wheÌ„ as he fled away from Lathyrus Kynge of Alexandria wente forth by the Arabians baie as Nepos affirmeth and was caryed thorowe by those seas euen vnto Gades where there is certeine thinges of that border knowen For beyonde those places which as we haue sayd before be deserte There be dume people which vseth signes for spech other hath tonges without souÌ„de some lacke there tonges other some also haue theyr lyppes câ—auynge together sauynge that they haue an hole vnder their nosttrelles where they couet to drinke but whan they haue lyste to eate they take the corne sprynging here and there be reported to receaue one corne at once These be admirable yet not so admirable as notable Truelye they be worthy of parpetuall memory and prayse as well for their lyuynge as also for the obedyence to theyr prynce For howe much is it to be accounted to vs for dishonor beyng Christians reasonable creatures endued with celestiall knowledge and instructed in godly lawes to showe more disobedience to our magistrates theÌ„ the Infydels to theyr gouernours what
not hauynge trauayled We do se that the knowledge of these thinges hath ben so agreable and pleasaunt to many that it hath redowned to theyr greate honour glory and profyte As it is moste certeyne that many hath not refused to theyr ende to atteyne to this knowledge leaft theyr natyue contreys theyr fathers mothers wyfe chyldren and frendes not regardinge the which is more their helth and salut to put them selues in infinit dangers contempnynge all thynges whiche moue them froÌ„ theyr enterpryses yea and to their peyne haue taken vppon theym the longe and dangerous vyage by sea whereby as I knowe not only but this tyme present but also in tyme paste in a maner sins the worlde began most comonly they haue ben in great credit auctoritie and reputacion and made gouernours of publyke weales and growen to be councellers Iudges greate capyteynes or chyefe of armour and all by the experiens of many people with maner of theyr vsages and lyuinges and longe viages in contreis Other hath atteined to so great knowledge that of the great nombre of their disciples were instructed diuers beÌ„ds of the Phylosophers lyke as of Socrates were called Socrateques thother which were the disciple of Platoâ— were nominated achademiques Those of Aristotel Peripathetiques Those of Antisthenes Ciniques those of Aristippus were called Cirenaiques of Zenon Stoiques of Pythagoras Pithagoriques And if we loke a lyttle nyer we shal finde that they which haue giueÌ„ so much auctoritie to the auncient lawers as to Minos and Rhadamantus to wardes them of Crete Orpheus to them of Thrace Draco and Solon to the Athiens Licurgus to the Lacedemoniens Moyses to the Iues and dyuers towardes other nations that euery one of them might be instructed and to instytute certeyne religion and lawes Yf these men had kept theyr owne contreys this had not ben but bycause they consumed theyr age in other countreys they were able to instructe hauyng afterward the same knowledge of the Caldes Mages Brâ—â—â—manes Gimnosophistes the prests of Egypte whiche were all men of great knowledge and of a most excellent naturall wit with whome they hadde frequented a certeyne space and tyme. we do also fynde that this knowledge hath greatly serued the excellent personages and princes in the olde tyme as â—upiter of Crete whoÌ„ the poet wryteth dyd meet the Circuite of the world fyue tymes To his two chyldren as to Dionisos otherwyse called Bacchus to Hercules the stroÌ„ge with his immitatour Thesâ—ns IasoÌ„ with all his bende To Vlisses whiche inuaded so much the daungers of the sea and to Aeneas of Troy to Titus Darius Xerxes Alexander the great Hanibal Metridatis king of Pont which coulde speke fyftye languages of the fyfty Realmes whiche was vnder him The innumerable nobles of Rome as to the two Scipions to Marius LeÌ„tulus Pompeie the great Iulius Cesar Octauian august To the Constantines Charles Otheons Courades Henryz Federiz and that in theyr actes of warres by the whiche they haue purchased to theym selues eternall glory and prayse Seynge then the knowledge of dyuers nations is greately to be delited in and profytable I shal desyre the gentyl reader to put to thy good wyll and reade ouer the thynges conteyned in this boke for to this purpose the same be gathered together to reduce the aswell to a perfection of knowledge bothe of the countreys and the nature of eche people as if I shuld leade the by the hand from one place to an other from one region to an other or to poynte the with my finger I haue manifested to me the maner of the lyuinge as well of the auncient as of freshe memory together with the cituacion of al countreys and how they were inhabited in olde tyme and be nowe present And be not offended with me gentyll reader for want of austeritie In that I haue not holly satisfied thy appetite as peraduenture thou desyrest I haue done it rather to chalenge vnto my selfe rebuke and shame then praise yet I haue wrytten neyther of the thynges passed nor presente but they haue ben more then a thousande tymes spoken of in the same termes in hundreth of auctours I wold not thou shuldest thinke that I do attrybute all this worke or inuention to my owne doynge and to haue it set forth for any newaltie to satisfie some perticuler man I shal hartly desyre the gentyl reader vnderstande of me that I do entreate of many thynges worthy of knowledge parte came of my selfe and parte also of the treasure of my bookes and as the good father of a famylie to whom our sauiour Chryst hath compared al meÌ„ that professe the faith to his housholde so iudge of me that these whiche I heare presente be auncient thynges come from strange auctours I require the beare me good wyll and take all thynges in good part prayeng God to meinteyne the in prosperitie which I beseche hym hertely to graunt Amen Finis ¶ THE TREVVE OPINIon of the diuine wryters touchyng the Original of Man The fyrst Chapiter AFter that the diuine maiestie of God had finished the creation of the heauens and vniuersal frame the whiche for his ornament and most comely composicion was called Mundus together with al thynges conteyned in the Cyrcuite of the same at the fyfthe day of his creacion vpon the syxt daye the mooste noble creature called Man was made for to be lord ouer the thinges aboue mencioned Leauyng to him the vse and pleasures of theÌ„ Of al other creatures he was only endued with celestiall wysedome and had the name of AdaÌ„ gyuen vnto him because he was made of a veyne of red earth A whyle after was gyuen to him a company keper to the entente that solitarines shulde not anoy him The woman which was made of his rybbe They were set in the moost delectable place of the worlde beynge compassed with fayre ryuers that place was replenished with yonge sprynges trees herbes and flowers wonderfull pleasaunt and delectable to behold and for that cause it was called Paradyse by a greeke terme These two persons for a space led a most happy lyfe and without feelynge of yll for the earthe of her selfe brought forth al fruites at desyre Notwithstandynge for breaking the commaundementes of God they were dryuen to forsake that place after that the earth was acursed whereby she brought nothynge forth accordynge to her former fertillitie They were constrayned to seke theyr lyuyng with swet and laboure then raygned all kyndes of syckenesse felynge of colde and heate vppon the humayne bodyes Cain was the fyrst begotten chylde of theim and Abel was the second and after them many more and so encreased the world and the earth was well inhabyted The more the nomber of men multiplied the more did they encrease in vyce and theyr lyuynge dyd dayly waxe from il to worse In steade of good doinge to theyr neyghbours they began to annoy and hurt one an other and in steade of acknowlegynge of the creatour they had
partes of the head maye not hurt thē by this meanes they say theyr chyldren are more healthfull and theyr persons in better disposicion The maner of theyr sacrifyce be these that after they haue cut the eare of a shepe they present it in signe of thankes geuen for the fyrst frutes they haue euery yere They do cast the sayde eare vppon the couerynge of theyr house that done they do wry theyr shepes neckes They do no other sacrifices but vnto the son and mone They bury the dead as the Greekes except the Nasamoniens when they perceaue that one amongest theim is at the point of deathe beynge in his bed doth lyft him vp and maketh him to sit vpryght for feare that he shulde yelde vp the ghost lieng in his bed vpon his backe their tabernacles be buylded and gorgigiously made set vpon great trees after suche a sorte that they wyll turne with euery wynde The Maxiens do weare theyr heare on the ryght syde and shaue away all on the left they do peynt theyr bodies with red and they say it commeth from the Troyens The women of Zabiques be other people endynge to the Maxiens And they do conducte theyr husbande cartes whe◠they go a warfare The zigante◠be other people of that naciō They haue a great quantitie of hony bees that the men by theyr industri knoweth wel howe to kepe and norish them so that they multiply gretly in so much there is so greate abundance that the people be fedde onely ther with The people be also peinted red All the nacions of the countrey of Libie do lyue a very strange and wylde lyfe The mooste part of the day tyme in the somer they goo vnder some shadowe so that there is no diuersitie betwene theim and beastes they make no prouision for that they lacke And for theyr aparel they vse gotes skynnes The moost myghtiest amongest theym haue no cities subiecte vnder them but lytle towares al about the waters syde In the which they put al their necessaries and that whiche they haue gathered be layde in the sayde towers Euery yere they do a kynde of obediens to theyr subiectes and by that they shewe theym selues to be frendes to the good and parcecutoures of the rebellions as theues and robbers of coūtreys Theyr weapons in warre be proper agreable both for theyr maner and nature for that they are lyght of bodye and the countrey plaine for the most part therof they vse no swordes nor daggers nor no lyke weapons yet they cary with them iii. dartes and a quantitie of stones which they gather and put into a lether buget They be furnished with such wepons both for the assautynge and retyryng backe that they do hurt greately theyr enemies by that so longe exercyse they make thē selues parfet They holde no feyth to strangers The Troglodites whom the Grekes cal herdmē or shepherds because they kepe cattel be people in Ethiope of this same region whiche thorowe out all countreys appointed theym selues a kynge They haue theyr women and chyldren common except the kyng which hath his wife and chyldren a part As sone as the quene his wyfe is come to see hym The kynge with all magnificence dothe presente to her a nomber of cattel As longe as the wyndes of Ethesiens do last to the dogge dayes There doth fal in that countrey great plenty of rayne They are fedde most comonly with the blud of beastes and mylke myngled sodden together And when that their pastures be baren because of the heate of the sonne they do seke for the maryshes They haue no wars one with an other by reason wherof they lyue lyke lordes They do kyll theyr olde mottons and those which can not kepe them selues frō maledies and disseases They do asscribe no certeyne name to none of theyr chyldren For they do thinke that the sheape and the bulles be theyr fathers and mothers why because from those bestes they haue theyr dayly noryture The commō people do vse to drinke the iuce of a tre called Aubespine The rich mē do cause to be pressed a certein kind of flower The licour whereof maketh drynke for them hauynge in a maner the tast of worse new wine They leade theyr sheape frome one place to an other for feare that the sayd sheape shold be wery to abyde styll in one countrey The peoples bodyes be all naked sauynge theyr members Whiche they couer wyth skynnes They sayd Troglodites Whō they cal Megauares do weare alwayes for theyr armour a coote of buffe with heare and al vndessed amase set wyth poyntes of Iron other do cary a bowe another halfe a pycke They do not passe to buyld Tombes and Sepulchers but insteade of a tombe they do burye the bodye of the deade with suche lyke woodde as we call splynt or barkes of trees and the bodye is wrapped therin euen from the top of the head to the soole of the fote Afterwarde they set it in some high place and couereth it with the stones they cast vpon and that doone they do laughe at the deade And after that they haue couered wyth stones they put vpon it a horne of a gote and so leauethe hym without takynge any more cōpassyon They make battell one agaynst an other not in angre or for ambytion as the Grekes were wonte to do but too gayne the commodytie of theyr pastures and fieldes Fyrste in theyr warres they caste at one an other a great nomber of stones And they vse of a custome to shut one at an other so that theyr foloweth greate blodshed These battelles be neuer ended but by the most ancient women the which be in great suertie for that no man of th one parte nor of the other wyll hurte them they do go betwene two and so do part them whiche be conflicted They which 〈◊〉 from the desert and ronne into that countrey for shadowe and do deuower the lytle wyld beastes makynge suche courses sometyme dystroye manye Ethiopiens at theyr cōmyng out of the marysshes long tyme past that nation had ben vndone by the Lyons had not dame nature for seane it and geuen them succours by her prouidence At the fyrst entrynge of the dogge dayes a great multytude of pampyllions as cater pillers do fley into this councrey beyng brought without any wynde The same swarme of lytle beastes doo neuer hurt theym whiche dwell in the marysshes whervpō as wel for mourmuring as for bythynge do constreyne the Lyons to departe To this nation of Rirophagis is ioyned the Ilophagris and Spermatophages The last named people lyue of the graynes as we cal them the accornes whiche fall from the trees in Somer The rest of the tyme they gather certeyne kynde of herbes groynge in theyr orchardes wherof they lyue in tyme of hungre But the Ilophagers with theyr wyfes and chyldren do go into the fyldes and do clyme vp into the trees and breketh the weakest branches they dwel so well that they maye leape
frome one tre to an other lyke as the byrdes do and vpon the sayde trees they dwell without all daungers And yf it so fortune that the branches shuld spreade ouer the weight of theyr bodyes they holde theym vp with theyr haÌ„des but yf it had so chaunced in holdynge vp of thee sayde braunches they fall vpon the grounde yet they fallynge had no harme because of the agilitie and nimbilnes of their bodyes besides all this they lyue of the sayd trees chosynge out the tendrest bowes and do nyble and gnawe the same as the lytle mouse eateth the chiefe they ar certyfied with the barkâ—s of trees These people be alwayes naked and haue theyr wyfes and chyldren common They fyght one agaynste an other and all to gette others bâ—eâ—e garnyshed trees in theyr fyghtes they do vse no other weapons but of wode they which be ouercome be as bonde slaues to the vaunquyshers or ouer commers They do oftentymes dye for hungre or that after they haue ones lost their syght the whiche fortune to them in leapynge from one tree to an other and cannot se to gather that whiche they vsed to lyue by then they dye in continent after The cyrcuit of thys nation is inhabyted by other Ethiopiens whiche be called Cinectens There is no dyfference betwene them and the other for asmuche as they inhabit in the for rest countreye they haue fewe or no fountaynes They are compelled to liue vpon the tres because there is so many wylde beastes verye earlye in the mornynge they goo and seeke the waters and the fountaines do water the braunches of the trees in the heate of the daye the wylde Oxen the Leopardes and other wylde beastes doo ronne to the waters for to drynke And the sayde beastes do drynke so muche that they become so heuye puffed vp that they can not well resist Then the Ethiopiens defendynge frome theyr trees verye fearsly and swiftly do assault theÌ„ as well with bournynge staues as also with dartes and stones In so muche nowe and then they kyll one amongeste the greate nomber It chaunsethe sometyme also that the sayde wylde beastes haue the vpper hande and deuoure some of the men notwithstandynge moost commenlye there doth come at the last certayne myght and strength so that they take the saide beastes the rather by there art industry And if it shuld hapen that they kyl not these beastes but be dryuen to a excigency then they do in such an extremitie take ageyne the skynnes of the sayd beastes which they had eaten the fleshe before do plucke away the heade shoulders with the heare castyng it in water and with lytle fire doth sithe afterwardes it is destrybyted amongest theÌ„ to eat and are therwith sertyfied They vse theyr chyldreÌ„ to shote at a but and gyueth them no meat tyl they hit it and therby they become good archers and expert in castynge of stones Thereis an other kynde of people in that countreye dwellynge nyghe the deserte whiche be called Archridophages and they be verye lowe men and marueylous blacke At the pryme tyme the wynde of zephyrus the wynde of Libique do brynge out of the desert a nomber of marueilous great Locustes which haue wynges of a lothsome coullour and fygure The Ethiopiens beinge accustomed broughte to this made great a boundaunce of woodes leaues and suche lyke in a longe valley The season of the yere beynge come that the sayde beastes aboue named were driuen out of the desert by the same wynd and that so great aboundauÌ„ce that a man wolde take them to be cloudes which passed aboue the valley agayne whaÌ„ that the people accordynge to theyr maner custome dyd put on fyre the sayd abondauÌ„ce of woodde couered wyth herbes in the valley the whiche they had before heuen cutte The smoke that assended vp frome the sayde fyre into the ayre was so hote the locustes flyenge in the myddest of the heate fel downe ded a lytle beyond the sayde valleye The quantitie of them is so great that they largelye feade and vyttell al the people And hauynge great store of salte in that countreye they do salte the sayd locustes and by that meanes they last longe And this kynde of meate is plenty and for theyr apetit that in al their life time they eate nothinge els for they bring vp no beastes or cattell in those countreys nor they haue no fyshe because they are far from the sea fayre ryuers They are very lyght and runne swyftly yet they lyne no longe tyme. They lyue but to the age of forty and no longer Their endes be not so pitifull as vncredible for whan they are come to their ful age that is xl yeres expired There ingendreth in their bodies certeyne vermines like vnto flees hauyng lytle wynges of diuers colors so made that they wolde feare a man These verminnes first eateth the belly then the brest and afterwarde by lytle and lytle consumeth oll the body They whithe be infected with this maladye shall at the fyrst fele theÌ„ selues moued with an iche and by reason of to muche scratchynge there dothe folowe to the parson aflictioÌ„ a grudging of a newe dissease with allegement of the fyrst in a maner a lytle after that by such EmotioÌ„ doth folowe affluence of bloude whiche commeth out of the bodye of the sycke patient that there dothe issue in spite of him an infinit multitude of the sayde vermentes And thereby feleth so great payne that it disfygureth and dismembreth all his body And after that it had stinted a freshe doth issue suche abondance of the sayde bloode and vermentes that it is vnpossyble to helpe hym in somuche eyther by the corrupte eare of the countreye or beastlye bryngyng vp they ende their lyuea most myserable and peryously The extremyties of Aphrique towardes the parte of Midy be in habited with a kynd of people which the Grekes call Cynamines otherwyse called be the barbarous wylde They do weare great beardes and do kepe for theyr defence a nomber of dogges for from the middest of sommer to the myddest of wynter there commethe into that countreye a multytude of Oxen from the countrey of Indes And they knowe not frome whence this plentye shulde come except it be that the sayde beastes be coÌ„streaned to fley out of the said region into this countrey for feare of the hurt of other wyld beastes or by the iustynce of nature Who hath ingendred many other thynges vnknowen to man moost worthye of admiration and for that the people be not able to resyst so great a nomber of beastes commyng vpon theÌ„ be constrayned alwayes to haue with them so great a nomber of dogges by the help and course of the which dogges there is taken many of the sayd beastes after they haue kylled them they eare continent one part and for their prouision salt the rest They do eat also manye other beastes whiche the dogges do werye kyll Beyond the
in contempte the goodnes of God froÌ„ that tyme continued and encreased the wyckednes of men in such sort that God therefore after he hadde found one iust man which was called Noe for whose cause he saued all his famyly for the restorynge of mankynde sent the fludde whiche drowned the hole earth with al lyuynge thynges therevpon excepte those which were saued in the holy arke made by the sayde Noe 〈…〉 called 〈◊〉 beâ—â—â—se it â—oken 〈◊〉 Chriâ—â—… church fyue monethes then after the beginning of the flud the arke touched grouÌ„d vpon the mountaynes of Armenie and Noe went out with his and encreased mankynde in short space after by the helpe of God he enterprised to haue all the partes of the earth inhabyted and for that occaon sente his chyldren into dyuerse contreys in the world he sent his soÌ„ Cain into Egipt with his dukes as Berose reciteth Esennius into Libie in Cerene Tritames al the rest of Aphrique he sent Iapetus the elder Atalas Into the OrieÌ„tal Asie he sente Ganges with some of the chyldren of Gomer the Gallica into the luckye Arabie he sent Sabus the Encense bearer Araâ—us was by him appointed chyefe of the deserte Arabie and Petretus capyteyne of Araby the stony he caused the contrey from Damas vnto the borders of Palestyne to be inhabyted by Canaan Into Europia he sent Tuisco the gyaunt to be kynge of Sarmatie from the ryuer of Panais vnto the ryuer of Rhâ—â— nyhg vnto the same Tuisco there dydde inhabite the chyldren of Ister and Mesa with his brethren who had the contrey from the mount Adule vnto Mesemberie and the contrey of Ponticque _____ at that tyme Tyras Achardius and Emathius helde Italy Gomer the Frenche man Samotes the Celtes the whiche be the countreys of the sayde Gaule nowe called Fraunce and Iubal enioyed the Celriberiens which is Spayne The sodayne and short departure from his kindred who had not yet learned neyther the lyuyng ne maners of their parentes was the cause of al the dyuersitie that syns folowed In so muche that Cham who dyd flee for the shame done to his father remayned he his wyfe and chyldren in those partes of Arabie synce called by his name Cain who neuer gaue to his posteritie any preceptes of religion in so muche that he trauailed not to learne any where vpon it came to passe by succession of tyme the one sente after the other out of one lande to inhabyte an other After hauynge occupied many couÌ„treys in the world for this skattered lygnage multyplyed meruelously fynally they fel into most execrable errours out of the whiche they colde not vnwrap themselues theyr language chanched and it was not to be vnderstande or intelligeble the trew worshyppynge and knowledgynge of God was out of remembrance So men haue lyued after suche a straÌ„ge sort that one can not wel deserne the lyuing betwene the bests and them They whiche do passe Egipt for the admiracion they had of the celestiall creatures beganne to worshyp as gods the sonne and the mone callynge the son Osyris and the moone Isis They attributed godlynes to respiracion by the whiche all men do lyue vnder the name of Iupiter to the element of fyre vnder the name of Vulcaine to the ayre vnder the name of Pallas to the earth vnder the name of Seres and to dyuers other creatures vnder â–ª many other names And they of Egypt do not onely thus walke in darkenes but also in the countreys possessed by them whiche be descended from Cham haue ben subiett to execrable bondage and ignorance of the trew religion Moreouer there was neuer countrey that the people were so fertyll to brynge forthe chyldren nor better merytynge the name of a mother for this respect then this part of Arabie which the said ChaÌ„ with his occupied Suche and so greate a ruyne was brought to man kynde the banyesh mente of that onely personage to the contrary Sâ—m and Iaphet with all theyr stocke who were instituted appoynted by theyr fathers in certeyne lawe were contented with small possessions and therfore they were not so largely disparsed thorowe out the hole worlde as the other Then it came to passe that the loue of the truth that is to say the true hollynes and adoration of the ryght God dyd remayne hyd in one onely nacion vntyll the commynge of Messias he false opinion of the Etheniques and Infydels touchynge the Originall of man Chapi ii THe Phylosophers in tyme past without any knowledge of the trewe Godde of longe tyme dyd speake of naturall thynges Some of them beleaued that the worlde was a thynge not created and incorruptyble and that mankynde was without takynge beginning The other ageyne iudged that the worlde was created and subiecte to corruption and that men were created by succession of tyme. To confyrme this opinion they sayde before any thynge had his begynnynge heauen and earthe had one onely forme and that the propriete of these two thinges was confuse that synce these two elementes seperated one from the other whervpon suche disposition and forme of the worlde that we perceyue the eyre in contynuall agitacion and that of him the part of the fyer had gotten the hyghest place because of his agilitie and lyghtnes and that by this reason the sonne and the other starres hadde kepte theyr places and certeyne courses in the hyghe region as for that which resteth beynge as of a moist qualitie moued but a lyttle froÌ„ the fyrst place because of his heuynes and weyght hauynge a kynde of moystenes in hym of the moystest part one wold say that the sea had folowed it and that the heauynes disapoynted of so greate humydite shall retourne to slammy earth and soft the whiche by lyttle and lyttle shall harden by reason of the heate of the sonne In such sort the abouesayde by the vyolence of the heat shal be swollen rysen whervpon many humours vnder the holones of the grouÌ„de risen vp were gethered and by lyttle and lyttle conuerted and tourned to matters rotten as we se hathe happened in the maryshes of Egypt Ageyne the earth beynge colde and moyste of her nature is made hote in a lytle space by the vehemente heate of the ayre that a man wolde iudge in a small tyme that the heate had ben mingled with moyst thynges whiche agayne shal be formed in a proper matter and engendred to an efficacie to the whiche was gyuen moystues shed by nyght and by the vygneur of the sonne hadde kept and noryshed this matter generatyue vntyll that by contynuaaunce of tyme the abouesayd matters shal be compelled to ascend vp also as yf the tyme had ben come that the sayde hardenesse woulde haue rendred that whiche it hathe engendred that maye be open and broken by the vehemency of the soÌ„ and in a lyttle space after brought forthe all kynde of beastes of the which those whiche were perticipent of the greate heate were volatyfe or made to fly and did
rebuke do they meret and deserue whiche knowe the worde of God and yet neyther obeye the Quene nor her godly procedinges Where as the Ethenekes not knowynge the true God ne his lawes do notwithstandyng lyue a purer lyfe then they Well I wyshe all men wolde haue shame layde before theyr eyes as a glasse to loke in that they myght therby be more ashamed to do euyl theÌ„ the Infydels The discription of Egypt and the maners of the Egyptiens Cha. v. EGypt is a countreye in Aphricque whiche to the iudgement of some is nighe to Aphrique and this couÌ„trey is so called by the name of a brother of Danaus whiche had the name Egyptus was before called Aeria This countrey as Pline sayth in his fyfte boke is of the syde of the Orient by the rede see and the region Palestine towardes the Occedente of the countreye of Câ—ent to the residue of the couÌ„trey of Aphricque The same dothe extende from the Midy to Ethiope towardes the syde of Septentrion to the sea of Egypte There was sometyme greate Cyties as Thebes Abidos Alexadria Babilon Memphis and at this tyme â—aniete and Caire or Alcir the which is the residens of Soldan In Egypte as saith Platon there is no raine and yet is the earth verye fruitfull al by reason of the ryuer of Nile whiche is deuyded in suche sorte and made in fourme of a tryangle for the which signe there is a word in Greke called Deltae so that countrey is called Deltae by reason of the many and soundrye fluddes which come euery yere from the ryuer of Nile after the drougthe of the somer Some men iudged that it was an Ilande because of the circuite that the sayde Nile had made all about the countrey The Egyptiens were the first inuentures of .xii. Goddes and beganne to buylde Temples Aulters Images and ingraued in stones figures of diuers bestes The thynges whiche be issued out froÌ„ the Ethiopiens shal suffycyently declare the same to vs who hathe ben the inuentures of these thynges as Diodore Cilicien saythe Theyr wyues of an olde auncient custome do vse to occupy marchauÌ„ vyse to kepe Hostyllerye and vyttyllynge houses do also trafyke wherevpon the men do gyue theim selues to make lynnen clothe and to cary fardles vpon theyr heades where the women do not carye but vpon theyr shoulders as our men do here in InglaÌ„de Moreouer they vse to make water agaynst a wall lyke vnto our men the men cowrynge downe to the grounde lyke as our women do here all nessesaryes in the house the women do and after that is done they go a brode a bankettynge Their custone is to assemble together with theyr Prelate The menne chyldren be not compelled to kepe theyr parentes but the doughters many of theim in tyme paste when any of theyr frendes dyed were accustomed to pole their heare let their beardes growe longe The Egyptiens to the contrarye shaue their beardes let the heare of theyr hedde growe They kned the dowe there whych they make breade with their fete and worketh the earth with theyr handes This hathe ben a perticuler fassion to all those whych were dissended from theÌ„ as the Grekes writeth to cyrcuÌ„sisse their meÌ„bers and preuites The men be clothed with double apparell The women do weare but one wydde at a time They haue two kyndes of vsages of letters The one is for the Pristes The other is for the common people Notwithstandynge they haue both the same of the Ethiopiens The Pristes for the space of thre dayes be accustomed to haue the vermyn other fylthenes of theyr bodyes taken awaye because they feare to do seruyce with the fylthenes about them They are accustomablye apparelled in linnen They sowe no Beanes It is defended by their lawes and whye because they esteme them vncleane They washe thre tymes in the daye wyth cold water .ii times in the night They wyll not eate the heades of theyr Bestes vntyll suche tyme as they be sacreficed Iudgynge them to be cursed by execrations durynge the tyme of theyr sacrefyces They do sell the sayd heades to the Marchaunt straungers and yf they can fynd no man that wyl by theÌ„ They be cast into the ryuer of Nile All the sacrifices of Egipt Be of Oxen whiche neuer before serued The Calues and Kyne be not saccrefyced for that the same Beastes are dewe to be offred to Isis theyr God They lyue by a kynd of meat made of Wheate and Rye and of drynke made of branne for in that couÌ„trey there is no wynes They eate also of a certeyne fysshe parte hardened and dried in the sonne and parte reserued in sellers whiche is moyste Some tyme they eat byrdes which be salted and made harde as a crust of breade Morouer the noble men in their bankeres do present wylde Duckes both mayles femayles Whan they fynde a companye gather at a supper one amongst them taketh out of hys â—uget an Image of death made of wodde or paynted cloth of halfe a yard longe they showeth it to euery man at the table and sayth Eate and make good chere after that thou arte deade thou shal be lyke to thys pycture If the yonger do recontre or mete the elder he gyueth place to hym tourneth to hym wyth reuerence and in thus doynge they resemble the Lacedemoniens Whan the yonger doth ouer take the elder by the way showeth worship and layeth his haÌ„d on the kne They haue as Haeste wryteth gownes of lynnen borders downe to theyr knes called Casiliers aboue the same they weare other whyt garmeÌ„tes but no wollen cloth Al they which in olde tyme excelle in knowledge or had establysshed lawes for the common weale as couÌ„cellers went fyrst to the Egyptiens to learne theyr knowledge and doctrine in the whiche knowledge they passed all other as these report Orpheus the Poet Homere museus Melampodes Dedalus Licurgus Lacedemonien and also Solon of Athenes Platon Philosopher Phithagoras the Samien his scoller Samolxis Eudoxus Mathematicien Democritus Inopides borne in the Ilande of Chios Moyses the hebrew and many other so that the Pristes of Egypt glorifyed that they founde them in theyr bokes Wherfore me thinke it is very necessary to speake more of their fachioÌ„s maners lyuings to th ende we myght knowe that whiche they aboue named had taken of them and other nations For so as sayth Berâ—alde In the boke that Apulie dyd wryte vppon the golden Asse that manye of our fachions and doynges was gathered out of the seremonies of the Egiptiens as to weare germentes the men of the church to weare a crowne to make alters to go a processyon to synge musycke to do adoration to pray and many other thynges The Kynges of Eypte as writeth Diodore Silicien in the second boke dyd not as oure Prynces in theyr tyme whiche helde their wylles for lawes and lyued in euyl order but their conueruacioÌ„ was to be noted in that they lyued
accordynge to theyr ordynaunces They haue no bonde men nor slaues borne as they haue in other coūtries Noble mens chyldren serue them in theyr houses as well of Pristes as also of others they must be twentye yeres olde and such was chosen as hadde knowlege to th end that the Prynce moued by the presens of his seruaūtes whō were alwayes next to his person shoulde not be fantesied and mynded to make other actes but of vertue for the Kynges do nothing of them selues worthy of reprehēsiō they haue at all tymes to councell theym other that be wyse also there is certeyne houres appoynted as well in the nyght as in the daye at the whyche tyme the Kynge shall vnderstande the affayres commytted to him by their lawes At his vprysynge he shall receaue all complayntes exhibyted vnto hym to the end he may knowe al that shal nede to be done Euerye thynge is dispatched in tyme and in his place opposited by good conduxcion After that is done they wasshe their bodyes in the presens of many noble mighty parsōs putteth on a sumptuous robe and makes sacrifyce to theyr Goddes The custome of the greatest Prelate amongst al the pristes is to leade nyghe to the aulter the beastes and to prayse theyr Gods with a loude voyce the Kynge next to hym and the people assystynge They also pray for the health and prosperitie of theyr Kynge whiche hath done true iustice to his subiectes and afterwarde resitynge the vertue and excellency of their sayd Prince as his deuosion towardes the Goddes humilitie to man the kepynge of his promesse Iustyce magninemitie veretie lyberalitie modistie and mercye to theim in solitarines And afterwarde do curse all malifactoures and therby dyschargethe their Kynge of blame Imputynge his offences to hys offycers Whā that these solempnites be fynysshed the Prelate doth exorte the Kinge to depart according to the wyll of theyr Goddes not to folowe the peoples aduyce of smale practyse but to haue respecte to vertue and honour After that the sacrifyce made of a Bull is done the Prelate dothe rehearse out of holye bookes some actes of vertue made by their predicessors to admonyshe theyr Kynge to rule after the example of theym that is truly and iustlye The aunciente lawes were not only made to meinteyne Iustyce but also for the gouernement of euerye thynge in all poyntes as to eate drynke slepe to banyshe and to accompanye wyth women Their meates were denty mooste commonlye they vse to eate Veale They haue a certeyne measure when they drynke wyne that they can not passe the stynte The which is to avoyde Ebrietie droūkennes and glotenye Insomuche their laws were so wel instituted that it appered they were not made ordeyned by a lawier but by a moste perfecte Phisicion And it was a maruelous thynge to se the Egyptiens so perticularly and duely obserue theyr lawes and not theyr wylles but this is moore worthye of maruell to say that they were not inclyned to gather and accumelate goodes by a vniust maner or by anye vnreysonable couetousnes They do punysh no man in indygnation so that their felicitie was obtempered to the lawes esteme theym whiche prayse and glorifie them selfes to be subiectes to many passions in folowynge theyr owne pleasures in somuche that we may se they knowe theyr owne fautes that neyther loue heae nor couetousnes coulde compel theym to do thynges whiche they knewe to be vnlawefull or preuidiciall to those whiche gouerne them by prudence and councel besydes they haue respect least they shuld dysplease thē The iustice of the kinge to the people on the other side is suche that he hath the loue of all theym that not onely the pristes but also the hoole people of Egypt haue a great solicitude or more carefulnes and tendernes ouer the health of theyr kyng then they haue eyther of wife chyldren or other perticuler Lorde And when such a iust king doth depart All in generall doth deploore and lament rente theyr clothes in peeces shut the churches and are discoraged to commence any publyke actes By the space of .lxxii. dayes two hundreth of theim goeth about the streates in a strange apparel as well men as women .ii. tymes a day and singeth after the maner and fourme of hymmes the vertues of theyr kynge departed And they wyll not eate the flesh of any best baked thei absteyn them selues from all delicate meates as wel in drynking as also in eatyng They vse no bathes nor ointmentes nor sleapes in beddes nor haue not the companye of theyr wyues So sorowfully be they al as thoughe theyr deare chyldren were departed And more ouer touchynge this they be wont to make redy that which shuld serue for the sepulcher and at the last day they shut the body within a lyttle Cyrcle before it is put in the sepulcher In the same place there shal be red accordynge to the olde custome the Regester of all that which the king had done in his lyfe tyme and it was permytted for euery one to accuse him At these funerals there are a great nombre of people some come with loud voyce to praise his deseruynges and merites other do blame his faultes and make a gret noyse and brute And by this brute it hath many times hapened that diuers kynges haue ben plucked away from the honour of the sepulcher and hauynge this feare doth styre and prouoke the kynges of Egypte to lyue well and iustely fearing least after theyr death they shoulde incurre into the displeasure of any of theyr subiectes And this is the state of the kyng of this countrey Al Egypt is deuyded into diuers gouernementes euery one of them by a name constituted a gouernour who hath the charge of all thyngs The reuenews of the kynges lands was deuided in thre partes The first part to the prestes of theyr lawe to whome they gyue great honour as wel for the administracion of theyr sacramentes as also for theyr knoweledge by the which other be tought parte of the reuenewes be employed vpon such necessaries as serueth for the sacrifices and theyr owne lyuynges they cā not suffre that the ministers of theyr gods shal be poore or that they shulde lacke any thynge to do sacrifyce withall These priestes comynge to the kynge professeth to him the thynges which be to come aswell by the science of Astrology as also by the sorte of theyr sacrifices Moreouer they do rehearse to theyr kyng bokes which be called holly The actes and deades of other kings his predecessors bi the same he know the better what is expedient for him They be not in a small nombre as ye wolde saye two in a companye they be franke and haue the second place of auctoritie next to the kynge The second part of the reuenewes is to the king who doth bestowe it for his necessaries as wel vpon marterial weapons for warres as also the necessaries for his house and shewe lyberalitie towardes the good and vertuous people
And by this his lyberalitie the comon people be not burdened to pay taxes and fynes as they do in other countreys The thyrde parte of the reuenewes belongeeh to the men of warre to the ende they may haue the greater desyre to put them selues forth in al partes dangerous for the defence of theyr countrey Theyr policie consisteth in thre maner of people that is to say labourers herdemen and practisers of science The labourers do bye eyther of the prests Kynge or of men of warre certeine grounde in the fyelde and do continue in labourynge all theyr lyfe longe vpon the same And therof it commeth that they can better skyll to laboure and tyll the earthe then other nacions This industry and labour of theyrs is gyueÌ„ by nature from the father to the chylde lykewyse the shepherde from the father to the chylde do kepe and noryshe beastes and haue no other vocation This art and science hath ben gretly augmented by the artyficers of Egypt for that they meddle with no publyke matter nor do exercise no other occupacioÌ„ but that which they are called to and apoynted by theyr lawes or learned of theyr fathers They do iudge nothing rashly In so muche they say that these thynges which be conducted posytyuely and by maturitie be of gret commodytie and for the preseruacion of societe and humayne lyfe They can fynde no better meanes to expulse or banyshe all noughtynes then to punishe mulefactours and euyl doers so shal al offenders be whypped And they haue suche a respect that due Iustyce be done that neyther for loue frendship nor money the trespasses of the offendour shall be forgeuen for they sayd these remissions to be destruction of man Wherfore in the gretest Cyties as in Heliopole in Memphis and Thebes there was elected and chosen good men to whom the correction of all causes was commytted who do lyttle dyffer from those of Areopagites of Athenes or to the senate of the Lacedemoniens wher there was of longe time two iudges constituted They do apere alwayes to the nomber of xxx and they chose some of the moste lykest amonge them to be president And ageyne there is gyuen to theym an other superior by the Cytizens The kynge doth fynde all the necessaries as lyuynges but the superiours was coÌ„maunded by the king to be more honorablye serued then the inferiours He that is principal of theÌ„ hath a cheine of golde hange at his necke wherunto is tyed an Image wel garnyshed with precious stones This cheyne is called verytie In so much that president shulde signifie to all menne that he which was apoynted to heare their causes by the cheyne shulde preseÌ„t veritie and with truth to way all thynges Ageyne theyr lawes conteynynge in .viii. bookes brought amongest them This was the custome that the accuser shuld bring in written the causes of the accusacion to certifie the iudge in forme and maner as it was done Is the hurte doone to an other was a question To the defendant there was gyuen tyme to aunswere the plaintifes obiection and to pourge him selfe or auoyde the fault or els to deny al and be cleare Moreouer they gyue audyence to the accuser Fynally after that they haue benne harde two tymes before the iuges They take deliberacion that done the iudge tourneth the Image towardes the true and feythfull partye and doth pronounce iudgemeÌ„t Seyng nowe by chaunce we haue fallen into this passage and taken vpon vs this iourney in the formal declaracions it wolde be most best to rehearse some olde and auncient lawes of the Egyptians to the entent that we may know the one froÌ„ the other as those that be euyll to shone and the other that be good profytable to folow Al Periurers were corporally punyshed and taken as men dispraysynge the religion of the goddes in so doynge they had vyolated the fayth to man the which is no other thyng then a true lyne of humayne societie and felowshyp he that in the hygh way shal mete any man which hath ben pursued by theues or robbers and beynge able wolde not runne to take them was holden coulpable of the inconueniens and misfortune happened vnto the man And if so be it he coulde not folowe him Yet was he bonde to come before the Iustice and there to declare the cause and to present him selfe as an accuser agaynst the thyefe The peyne that was appoynted to him that transgressed the law was that he shuld endure a nombre of strypes with a rod and not to eate nor drynke for the space of thre hoole dayes The false accuser is punished as a great transgresser Al the EgypcieÌ„s wer bounde to brynge theyr names in wrytynge and the state of the gouernour of theyr countrey he whiche in that place was founde a lyer or gat his lyuyng by an vnlawfull way as vserye â–ª or suche lyke was put to death The man whiche kylleth an other whether he be free or bounde was iudged to dye for murtherers or those which commit homicede they be not curious to haue the lawes passe vpon them The person dead present deathe to the manslers so by that the nobles of the contrey be in surety and out of feare The father which kyll the chylde is not put to deathe but for the space of thre dayes thre nightes he is continually nyghe death beynge accompanied with a certein nombre of seriantes And their reson is that thoughe they commyt this cryme yet ought not to be pupunished for they iudge that the father taketh awaye ageyne but the lyfe whiche before he gaue to his chylde and it is sufficient for him to be afflicted by continual repentance and dollour he taketh for his euyll deade and by this meanes it seameth to theym that other fathers were admonished not to coÌ„mit the lyke They haue a sharpe punishement for the paradices and mansâ—eers Fyrste they are with a sharpe poynted toole thrust thorowe and afterwarde set vpon a great heape of thornes and there be brused for they esteeme manslauter to be the greatest cryme that a man can commyt to put hym to deathe whiche wolde lyue If a women with chylde had done an offence and condempned to dye execution shulde not haue ben done vntyll she hadde ben delyuered of chylde for feare that the infaunte in her wombe not trespassynge shulde be punisshed with the trespasser And for one faute two parsons to be punysshed He that in the battayle obeyethe not hys Capyteyne is not put to deth but incurreth in a notable infamie to the dysstruction of his honour They haue suche a regarde to their honoures that they esteme the dystruction of theyr name worse theÌ„ deth it selfe The tongues of them be cutte out which do reueyle to theyr enemyes the secretes of publyke matters All clyppers of money Forgers of false Coyne Changers of weyght and marke Grauers of anye face scripture or writyng and couÌ„ter featters of letters haue theyr two Thombes cutte of to th ende
aboue said people towardes the Midy inhabyteth other people whiche they cal Icthiophages who althoughe they haue the faces of men yet they dyffer nothynge frome beastes in theyr lyuynges these people dwell vnder the Troglodites in the greate sea Arabie they be very barbarous At altymes they be naked their wifes and chyldren be common and lyke brute beastes they do not feale any volupe lupt or passion in theÌ„ selues except it be after theyr bodyes feale good or euyll These people be voyde of discretion good maners and honestye They dwell in ryuers and crekes of the sea along by the waters and in the hyghe countreyes in the whiche places be founde many depe caues and longe valleyes Therbe dyuers narowe holes daungerous at the enteryng euyl at the coÌ„minge out In so muche that whiche foloweth a man may iudg the countrey by nature to be made after the fashioÌ„ of the Icthiophages for they gathered great heapes of stones and layed them before the entryng of all croked places and made more suche inuentions for the nettes to take fyshe of the sea because in the sea whan the flude coÌ„meth it chauÌ„seth aboute nonetyde all the place nighe be coÌ„passed and closed about with waters and they growe to suche an infinite nomber that they couer al the countrey and bringeth a great quantitie of fishe which do swyme hither and thyther to fynde theyr pasture so in the ende at the retournynge agayne of the sea the water do caste theym vp amongest the heapes of stones and then the fyshe lye drie and they be gathered by the people inhabytynge in that contrey which do runne with their wyfe and chyldren and gather the sayd fishes for their prouision And when they dresse the sayde fyshe to eate they lay it vpon the stones to wardes the Midy or nontyde and burnethe it in the heate of the sonne and doth let it lye vpon the one syde a whyle and turneth the other side wheÌ„ they thinke it is rosted inough they plucke out all the fleshe put it in a hollowe stone which is lyke vnto a morter then mixeth it with the grayne of a gosebery tree or much lyke to it these mingled together so well that it maketh goodly meate to eate they set it in the son after they haue put it together they make it lyke in proprietie to a tyle This they vse for all theyr meate with great abundance and ioy and seruethe theym insteade of corne when it chaunce that the find of the sea abyde styll and nothynge deminyshe by reason wherof they were forced to leaue theyr comodytie of fyshynge and that they abyde hunger Then they heape together the shels of the sea which be veri great and do breake theÌ„ with stones and so fead of the fleshe they fynd with in the sayde shelles the whiche is in taste lyke to an oyster of the sea Ageyne if this kynd of lyuyng wer taken from theym by continuall tempestes and wyndes They take the bones of the fyshes by theym gathered afore and gnaweth it like a dogge the tender and freshe And the hardest bone they breake with stones In so doynge they dyffer nothynge from beastes This kind of vitell they receyue for theyr repast with great ioye as I rehearsed before syngynge and makynge good chere one with an other And after that euery one of them by the care they haue to get chyldren do accompany with the fyrste woman they mete without hauynge any solicitude all theyr lyfe longe whiche commeth by reason of the afflu 〈…〉 which to theym be 〈…〉 for the space of v. days to that maner of lyuynge the syxte daye they go together to fynde the welles to drink by the way as they go they crye both in one voyce in suche sorte that a man woulde iudge them rather to be the crieng of a multytud of wyld bestes then mens voyces As soone as they come to the fountaynes they receyue in such abundaunce of water that they can not wel retourne ageyne but rest them selues there and can eate no more beynge afterwarde as men troubled or rather dronken The next day folowyng they retourne a fisshynge and in this sorte passynge theyr lyues beyng a very fewe of them sicke and that is for because they eate but one kynde of meate yet for al that they liue not so longe 〈…〉 of other natioÌ„s their 〈…〉 this cost to theyr lodgynge and by the pleasaunt shadowes they are temprâ—â—◠〈◊〉 must vnderstand that the caues of that countrey the whiche haue theyr throtes towardes the Midy be as hote as a furnasse because of the heate of the sonne consequently doth folow that they be neuer inhabited wherfore almeÌ„ of that contrey doth couer to dwell towardes the Septentrion Such was the maner and lyuynge of the two Iâ—thiophages There restethe yet to speke of the Amazones whiche as they say in tyme past was of one part of Aphrique in the contrey of â—â—bie They were women of warre and of good courage gretly differryng frome the women in our age and tyme. A certeyne time of theyr age they were accustomed to exercyse the seate of warre and by that kept theyr virginitie After that they had passed theyr age as abouesayd they maried husbands to encrease chyldren They had the prehemines to gouerne all publike matters for the common weale was ruled by them in such sort ruled the women that theyr husbandes had the charge of al the domestical affayres whiche we accustomably commit to our wyues And the wiues to the contrary ruled as our men do heare yea so circumspecte they were that theyr husbandes shulde not take in hande any publyke matter that they woulde not suffer theym once to speke in causes touchyng the common weale So sone as they be in theyr bed theyr chyldren be gyuen men to kepe and they to nourse them which infants be brought vp with wylke and other meates agreable for theyr age If a woman had ben deliuered of a man chylde he shulde haue had either his ryght arme broken or ben killed But if she had brought forth a female or woman chylde they woulde burne her brestes with an hote yron for to take away al that which might let her in the warres and for that cause they were called with the Greekes Amazones That is to say women without brestes They did inhabite as it is writteÌ„ in an Ilande called Hespera which was so named for that it aprocheth nygh the Occident and is within the lake Tritonide nygh to the Ocean sea That lake is so called by reson of the ryuer Triton whiche passeth thorowe the same beyng cituated to Ethiope and to the me unt Atlas which is one of the hygheste and wydest in all that countrey This Ilande is greate replenished with trees and a bundance of frute In that countrey is plenty of shepe wherwith most of the people be refreshed and fedde Wheate is vnknoweÌ„ to the inhabiters of that contrey because there neuer grewe none there A
sepulcher is denied the vserer Howe the Egiptians abhorre vsery Capitulo vi Adrimachides be people in aphrique amongst the puniciens Nasemoniens robbers on the sea These people be vnnaturall and lyke beastes Mesagetes put theyr staues before them Howe he which was iust hath ben in reputacion The fourme of promisynge one an other Garamatea other people in Aphrique Macez clyppeth away the heare in the toppe of the heade Autruces theyr wyues haue dyuers bordera of furres and why they weare such borders Machliens be people in Aphrique Auses be other people and weare al theyr heare before Howe the maydes fyght in the honor of their Goddesse minerue Atlantes be people amongeste the Punitiens these people haue no perticuler names Pastoriciens be people that lyue by fleshe mylke Howe the women of Cerene feare to hurt the cattel which shulde be offred to theyr Idoll Isis Howe the women of Barcees eate no beafe nor porke and also howe they burne the veynes of the temples of theyr chyldren A strange maner of sacrifice they do Howe these people wyll not suffer a persone to lye dyenge vpon his backe Theyr churches be made to turne lyke to a vane to and fro with euery wynde The zigantes be people of that nacion haue great store of hony bees In theyr warres ech one cary .iii. dartes and ssones Troclodites be people in Aphrique theyr wyues and chyldren be common They haue neuer warres Megauares be people which haue warres theyr warres be neuer ended but by the auncient women These people desyre rather to dye theÌ„ to lyue Rizophages be people that haue greate store of Pampilions in theyr countrey Ilophagris and Spermatophages be people in Aphrique Howe these people make them houses vppon trees After what sort these people dye for hunger Cineciens be people in Ethiope Howe the Ethiopiens kyll the Lions Leparda and other wylde beastes Theyr prouision in tyme of hunger Howe theyr chyldren eate no meate vntyl they shute and hyt a but. Acridophages be lowe men and blacke There be great store of locustes brought in by certeyne wyndes The wytty practise they exercise to distroye these locustes ¶ A wonderfull thynge to beholde howe they ende theyr lyues Howe they lyue but vntyll the age of xl yeres what vermines engender in theyr bellies Cinamines barbarous people they haue alwayes a company of dogges with them to defende the wylde beastes from theÌ„ Icthiohhages be people lyttle differyng from beastes Howe the fyshe be cast vp vpon the rockes Theyr prouision in tyme of hunger Howe the men and women crye lyke beastes They can endure and abyde hunger by nature They neuer drynke Howe these people wylle suffer stripes verye delectable to reade All the caues towardes the Midy be hote Amazones were women of warre and take vpon them to meddell in publyke affayres Finis ¶ A table of the discription of Asye and Europie the other two partes of the worlde with the perticuler nacions Of Asie the seconde part of the worlde Of Panchaye Of Asyrie Of Iudee Of Medie Of Parthye Of Perse ¶ ¶ Of Indes Of Scithie Of Vartarie Of Turquie Of Christendone ¶ ¶ Eropia Of â—rice Of Lâ—cye Of Laconie or Lacedemonie Of Crete Of Tharrace Ruâ—â— or Ruthenie Of Lithuanie Of Liuonie Of Poloâ—ne Of Hungry Of Boesme Of Allmanye Of saxone Of westualie Of franconie Of â—uenie Of Bauier Of Italy Of Ligurie Of the Coscane Of Galatie Of Fraunce Of Spayne Of Portyngale Of Englâ—â—de scotlande and Irelande Of the vle of Taprobane Finis ¶ Imprinted at LondoÌ„ in Fletestrete at the signe of the George next to saynt Dunstones Churche by Wyllyam Powel