honourable respect of our Nobilitie wherein though they possesse few Castles or strong places invironed with rampiers and ditches neither that the Titles of Dukes Marquesses or Earles are more than titular as bestowed upon desert at the pleasure of the Prince yet have they the government of Provinces with subordinate authoritie over the people to the great quiet of the State and the prosperitie of the kingdome where on the contrary the Nobilitie in France possessing some absolute and some mixt jurisdiction with hereditary titles c. being Lords not only of Townes but of great and goodly Cities also and receiving homage and fealtie of their tenants doe as wee have often seene but badly and at pleasure acknowledge the soveraigntie of the King and the Arrest of the Parliaments SCotland another portion of Brittaine in times past began at the Mountaine Grampius and from thence to its utmost border was extended Northward But in future times by the extinguishment of the Picts it reached also unto Tweed and sometimes also to Twine the chance of warre so moderating in these counterchanges as in all other worldly occurrences Whereupon its longitude from Tweed unto the utmost limit is thought to be foure hundred and fourescore miles But as this Province is longer than England so is it narrow for that it endeth like unto a wedge For the unshapeable and rough Mountaine Grampius whereof even Tacitus in the life of Agricolâ— made mention runneth thorow the very heart thereof even from the German shore that is from the mouth of the River Dee unto the Irish coast and unto that Lake which the Inhabitants call Lomund which lieth betweene that country and the said mountaine The Kingdome hath every where safe harbours creekes lakes marishes rivers and fountaines replenished with fish As also mountaines and in tops thereof large plaines yeelding abundance of grazing to cattell and woods wonderfully abounding with venerie By the advantages of which place the people being sustained could never be fully conquered for every Province Woods and Marishes were ready refuges to their safeties and wilde beasts and plentie of cattell remedies against famine for their bodies Those who inhabit the Southerne part as by much the best so are they the better qualified the civillest and speake the English language And sithence that Nature hath denied them plentie of fewell their firing is of a blacke stone which they digge out of the earth The people who dwell in the Northerne and Mountainous parts are a very savage and uncivill kinde of men and termed Silvestres viz. Highland-men These after the Irish fashion were accustomed to be cloathed with a mantle and a shirt coloured with Saffron and to goe bare legged as high as their knees Their weapons are Bow and Arrowes with a very broad Sword Dagger sharpe but on one edge They all speake Irish and feed upon fish milke cheese and flesh and have great store of cattell They differ from the English both in Lawes Customes for the one retaineth the Civill Law as almost doe all other Nations but the English have their peculiar or Municipall Lawes In other things they differ not much Their Language as aforesaid is one and the same the same constitution of body equall courage in battell and semblable addiction unto hunting even from their Childhoods Their houses in the Villages are very small and covered with straw or reed wherein as well their cattell as themselves in manner of stables doe reside Their townes except that of S. Iohns are invironed with no walls so that it should seeme that their couragious minds doe repose the safetie of their lives in the only vertue of their bodies They are also ingenious which their learning manifesteth so that unto what Art soever they doe addict their capacities they easily profit therein And those also who meditate nothing but sloth ease and lazinesse though by refusall to take any paines they live most basely and beggerly yet will they not let to boast of their Gentrie and that so presumptuously as if it were more commendable for a man well descended to beg than to betake himselfe to any ingenious profession for the sustentation of his carkase But withall they are accounted naturally to be very zealous in Religion About Scotland in the Irish Ocean are more than forty Islands by Pliny termed Britaniae but by others Meraniae and Herbrides The biggest of these in length exceeds not thirty miles in bredth not above twelve Amongst them is Iona famous for the ancient sepulture of the Scottish Kings All the Inhabitants speake the Irish tongue a pregnant argument that they are descended from the Irishry Beyond Scotland Northwards lie the Orcades in number saith Ptolomy thirty being partly seated in the Deucalidon Ocean and partly in the German The chiefe whereof is called Pamonia and therein is an Episcopall Sea being subject unto the King of Great Brittaine The Islanders speake the Gotish tongue a record that they are descended from the Germans Of stature they are all of a sound constitution whereby it commeth to passe that for the greater part they are long-lived although most commonly they live upon fish The soile is in a manner alwayes covered with snow in many places it will scarce beare graine but of trees almost none Beyond the Orcades heth Thule from whence but one dayes saile saith Pliny is the Frozen Sea and therein Island whereunto at this day our Merchants doe make an annuall trading to fish themselves or to buy fish of others Which for that it is neerest unto the Pole some doe judge to bee Thule And this is all that I have to say concerning the situation of Scotland now will I turne my pen to the nature and fashions of the Inhabitants WAles is accounted the third portion of the Island In regard of the heart of England it lieth upon the left hand and in manner of a Peninsula stretcheth into the Ocean on all sides incircled with the Sea save towards the East where it is bounded with the Severne the separatresse of Wales and England although many late Writers as abovesaid make the City of Hereford the bounder thereof and will have Wales to beginne at Chepstow where the River Wy being united with Lugge and passing by Hereford falleth into the Sea This River as Severne ariseth from an Inland part of Wales from one and the selfe-same Mountaine but whether from one and the selfe-same Fountaine I am not able to shew and it Cornelius Tacitus as aforesaid termeth Antona For even thither reacheth a huge arme of the Sea which cutting in betweene the Land by the West watreth Cornwall on the right hand and Wales on the left This Topography we follow as the Moderne and therefore say that Wales from Chepstow where it taketh beginning is extended Northward a little above Shrewsbury as â—arre as Chester Hither it was as Memory recordeth that the reliques of those Brittons who over-lived the generall slaughter after the
ready to march whither occasion calleth Because of the thicknesse of the Woods the Horsemen serve with Petronels and seldome use Pikes or Launces These are most excellent Footmen for every souldier is able to make and furnish himselfe with any furniture whatsoever even the making of his owne Flaske and Touch-box as likewise the common people in Pervina and the neighbouring Provinces being contented with a little have alwayes accustomed to make all implements for their houses and bodies to build to weave to play the Tailors to sow to reape and to forge tooles fit for their businesse And as for these Trades which are neither common nor necessary a to paint to worke in silver and such like there are notwithstanding found among them very good worke-men wanting rather matter than Art to worke upon The Swevian Horse-men are divided into thirteene Companies Sweveland and Gothland maintaine eleven and Finland two and upon necessitie they can raise a greater force for the Dukedome of Vrmeland as report goeth is able to furnish better than ten thousand men with Horse In Marchland there is such plentifull breed of Horse that there they are sold at a very low rate both these Provinces are in Gothland Their Horse is not so bigge bodied as the Frieslander but exceeding hardie active able to endure travell and fed with a little I will not omit to speake of two Noble usages of the King of Swethland towards his Souldiers one is that if a Souldier be taken prisoner he is ransomed at the Kings charges the other that if his Horse be slaine the King bestoweth another upon him To his Captaines and those which serve on Horse-back in part of payment of their wages hee giveth yearely a Garment which the Germans terme Idolis and may be taken for a Cassocke The rest of the Captaines meanes if he serves within the Kingdome against the Dane or Moscovite is but foure Dollars a moneth and exemption for himselfe and family from other duties and payments to the King The common souldier is not thus exempted unlesse in time of warre or danger his other pay is one Dollar and a quarter for a moneth small pay if you consider not the cheapnesse of victuals In their marches in loose troopes they are billetted in the next houses at the countries charges But when the Armie is in the field altogether the King findes them victuals without deducting it out of their meanes It was not long since that the Horseman in time of peace received more than twenty Dollars standing for a yeare with a Horsemans coat and his exemptions but this is increased in the warres The Officers of Horse-troopes receive monethly pay for themselves their servitors horse-boyes c. The Nobilitie and Courtiers also Privie Councellors excepted which may be about three hundred in all are bound to wait on the King on horseback every of which for himselfe and followers receiving each five Dollars a moneth Every Captaine must be a Gentleman borne As touching their Sea-affaires by reason of their huge Sea-coast and infinite Havens the Kingdome swarmeth with Mariners and shipping which the King may arrest in his Dominions as other Princes are accustomed to doe hee maintaineth commonly fiftie Ships of warre whereof every one carrieth fortie peeces of Ordnance more or lesse King Gustavus first brought in the use of Gallies In the Warre which King Iohn waged with the Danes before the Peace treated on at Stetin was agreed he put to Sea seventie great ships besides other of smaller burthen in which were 22000. fighting men In the Summer time they warre at Sea in the Winter at Land for then the Rivers are frozen as likewise the Sea neere the shore for a great space Seeing I have spoken of Guns I will adde thus much that the King is thought to have about eight thousand great Peeces the most part of Brasse and that hee could cast many more if hee had more store of Tin In the Castle of Stockholme only are numbred foure hundred Certaine it is that the King can on the sudden rigge up a sufficient Fleet both for defence and offence and that cheaper than any Prince of Christendome For first he hath store of Mariners and they easily paid as desiring little more than cloaths and victuals Their cloathes are simple enough and their victuals the Countrie is bound to send them a proportion namely of Beefe Bacon Salt-fish Butter Barly and Peason As for materials for building a ship he either hath them of his owne timber pitch iron and cordage or else they are brought him but from the next doore Brasse peeces such plentie of metall he hath that they cost him little or nothing So that well might King Iohn the third of Swethland affirme that he would set out and maintaine as good a Fleet for 100000. Dollars as the King of Spaine could for a million of pounds The chiefe of the Kings Navie in time of peace rides like our Kings at Chatham commonly in two places either at Stockholme where they may lye safe even afloat without mooring or so much as anchoring the Harbour being thirty English miles within Land and the high cliffes keeping off all winds The other Stations are in Finland still in a readinesse against the Muscovite and to watch that nor Armes nor munition be brought them out of Germanie The chiefe Fort of this Countrey is the Finnish Sea which breaking in about Dantzik runs up with a long gut or free thorow the midst of his Countrey from South to North a great deale beyond the Arctick Circle into Finmarch and Lapland another Arme of it neere the first entrance parting Liefland and Finland of which it is called the Finnish Bay flowing even to the Frontiers of Russeland Both of them are wonderfull strengths eases and riches to his Countrey Fortified Townes and Castles he hath in all his Frontiers upon the Dane and Muscovite some twentie in all Vpon the West-side of Swethland is Denmarke on the East Moscovie with both which he hath had long war The Swevians have suffered much losse by the Denmarkes for King Christian the second besieged Stockholme and forced it committing all kinde of cruelty against the Inhabitants filling the Citie with bloud and dead carkases The title which the Dane pretendeth to the Crowne of Swethland is the cause of their enmities The Havens the situation of the Countrey and especially Gothland which is a member of Gothia and therefore the Swevian claimeth it as his right affordeth the Dane this facility of invading at his pleasure After Gustavus recovered the Kingdom he and his son Henry and John reigned successively and although bloud enough hath beene shâ—â— in the warres betweene Gustavus and the Paris yet the Kingdome hath retained her honour and the Citâ—e of Lubeck the mightiest State in that Sea sometimes by consederating with the one sometime with the other doth in so even a ballance poise the differences of these two Nations as it suffereth
other advantages required in the situation of a City hath those two which are required in a well seated City whereof having already discoursed in the site of England wee will here surcease further to dilate of The safety then of this City groweth from the Waters and the situation thereof in the Water where neither it can be well approached or assaulted by Land for the interposition of the Water betweene it and the Land nor yet by Sea for that the streames are not navigable but by Vessels of the lesser size onely for greater ships riding out of the Channels where the Water is somewhat deepe would drive and riding within the Channels with every turning water should bee on ground So that a Navie of lesser shipping would doe no good and greater shipping cannot well there be mannaged In conclusion these Waters are rather made for the places and entertainment of peace than for motions of warre We may adde to these difficulties which nature and the situation doe present another as great which ariseth from the power and provisions of the City which are ever such as will better inable the Inhabitants to offend another in those Waters than any man can invent to offend them All which young Pepin tasted to his losse Who with his ships and men fild all the Coast From the Fornaci to the greater shore And Laid a bridge to passe his ventrous boast From Mâ—lamocco all the Channellore Even to Rialto yet for all this boast Hee 's faine to flie with shame the Seas doe drowne His men His bridge the waves have beaten downe And lastly wee may adde the continuall Art and care which the Seigniorie doth use ever to augment something to the fortification of this their Citie and State The whole Dominion of the Venetian Seigniorie is divided into firme land and Sea By the firme land we understand all that which they possesse in Lombardie in Marca Trâ—visâ—â— and in Friuli for that all those parcels doe make one continued country passable from one to the other without helpe of Sea Wee will terme that Sea which confineth with the Lake Sea-ward or that which cannot be approached without passing by Water This State is againe divided into Continent and Island On the Continent they have Istria Dalmatia Sclavonia Albania or at least some parts thereof The Islands stand partly within the Gulfe not farre distant from the Continent and part of them are without the Gulfe which are Corfu Cephalonia Zante Candia Cenigo Tine and other in the Adriatique The State of the firme Land containeth one of the Marquisats of Italie to wit Trevisa which besides the head Citie whereof it taketh its name hath also in it the Cities of Feitre Belluno and Câ—nâ—da It hath moreover two of those Cities which are of the first ranke of the Cities in Italie namely Venice and â—resâ—la Nor let it seeme strange to any man that Treckon â—râ—scia amongst the said Cities considering that for largenesse of Territorie it giveth place to no Citie thorow Italâ—â— containing in length one hundred miles and in bredth fiftie considering also the number of Inhabitants and the entrade it yeeldeth to the Seigniorie besides the private revenue of the Citie it selfe In all which few other Cities come neere it There is also in the firme Land the Citie of Verona called so for its superemment conditions as Verâ— una and is the first of the second ranke of Cities of Italie The Citie of Padoa which for goodnesse of soile exceedeth Bolognia it selfe There are also the Cities of Bergamo Vicenza and Crema There is againe the State of Friuli with two honourable Cities Vdine where the Lieutenant of the State resideth and Cividal besides a number other populous Townes little inferiour to Cities Lastly there is the fruitfull Polesine with the noble Citie of Rovigo therein with other places of good respect If wee consider the water there are few States of Italy that have more abundance in that kinde either for standing Waters or Rivers In the Territorie of Bergamo is the Lake of Iseo in the Country of Brescia the Lake of Idro In the Veronesse and Brescian is the Lake of Guardo It is also watered with many great Rivers that not only serve to make the fields fruitfull but also to fortifie the place And those Rivers are Oglio Chiese Navilio Mincio Seri Mela and Garza which indeed is rather a Mountaine Bourne than a River c. The Countrey of Polesine and Padoa are so stored with Lakes and Rivers that therein is no Burg or place which standeth not within five miles of some fresh Water And all this Countrey of the firme Land whereof I have spoken is also for aire exceeding wholesome and temperate as the complexions and cheerefull countenances of the Inhabitants can well witnesse together with the quicknesse of their apprehension and wit as well for matter of Armes as Learning Touching the Land this State hath in it many parts that are very diverse in qualitie some-where exceeding happy and fruitfull but lesse industrie in the people other-where the people are exceeding industrious but the ground defective Againe some parts there are where both the people are exceeding carefull industrious and the soile also good Of the first sort is the Territorie of Crema of Padoa of Vicenza of Trevisa and the Polesine Of the second sort is the Countrey of the Bergomasche the Veronise and Friuli Of the third sort is the Country of Brescia And touching the first it is almost incredible what the riches and increase is of those grounds what fresh Meadowes what fruitfull arable what abundance of Cattell of Flesh of all things that come of Milke what plenty of Corne of Pulse of Fruit Wood Flax Linnen and Fish Amongst all which particularities the Padoan doth notwithstanding excell which for goodnesse of soile doth carrie the praise from all the rest of Lombardie The wealth of this Territory may hence be conjectured that it hath the richest Bishopricke and Prebendaries of Italy It hath one of the richest Abbeies of Saint Benet in Italy which is Saint Iustina It hath one of the most beautifull Convents of the same order viz. that of Praxa It hath the richest Monastery belonging to the Austen-Friers which is that of Caudiana It hath two of the greatest Churches that may bee found in Italy which are Saint Iustina and Saint Anthony with one of the greatest Customes of salt in Europe In the time of the Roman Common-wealth no City of the Empire had more Knights of Rome than had Padoa For that as Strabo testifieth there were sometimes counted five hundred of them at once Which must needs proceed from the extraordinary goodnesse of the soile and the greatnesse of private livelihoods But at this day the greatnesse of the Venetian Nobilitie hath in great part diminished the Nobilitie of other Cities Amongst which Aquileia in old time tooke in compasse twelve miles and made an hundred and twenty thousand Citizens
the middest of a Lake and is in the Maps falsly called Echyed And those be the Countries of Hungaria which lying neere to the Turke and further from the Emperor did for their owne safeguard voluntarily at first put themselves under the protection of Bethlen Gabor whom with the Transilvanians they also elected for their Prince And now follow those seven Counties which the same Prince hath by the sword and conquest taken from the German Emperour which lie next in situation unto those before mentioned The first of these is that of Szâ—atmar lying neerer to Transilvania and touching both upon Maramaros and Szolnok aforesaid The chiefe Towne gives name to the Shire being a very strong one and served by a most plentifull Country about it The next Country so conquered is Zabolczi whose Burrough Towne is Debrecen situate in a large and most fertile levell of an hundred English miles long and broad and adorned with a goodly College of Students This County from the Southerne parts of Hungaria subject to the Turkes reaches over the goodly River Tibiscus fifty English miles right out ascending from the East to the South and West in which parts be the townes and villages of the warlike Hayduks so famous in the Turkish History a free people they held themselves all Gentlemen in service of no Lord but of their Leaders in time of warres and those are still of their owne Nation yet all bound to serve in the Armies of the Prince of Transilvania They live by their owne private Lawes and are most stiffe for the Calvinist Religion Next come those Counties which lie in the midst of these aforenamed The first of which is Bereghez whose Metropolis is Berekszas and this is the driest and barrennest Country of Hungaria Here is the Fort of Echyed so built in the midst of Lakes and Bogs that there is no approach to be made within foure miles of it either by horse or foot but by one bridge onely This makes it have the name of the strongest peece of all Bethlen Gabors Dominions perhaps of the whole world and therefore chosen by him to keepe the Crowne of Hungaria in when he had it in his custody Anno 1622. All these three Countries aforesaid conquered from the Emperour together with these former which belong unto him by Election lie situated in the forme of a ragged Triangle betwixt Transilvania and the River Tibiscus the first line whereof is made up by the County Maramaros out of which Tibiscus flowes originally The second line is either made by the River of Maros Marusius which falls â—nto the Tibiscus neere IÃ ppa a towne of the Turkes dominions although the better and evener line be made by the County Belenges The third line of this Triangle towards the West ends at the Castle of Tokai under whose walls the River Brodogh falls into the Tibiscus From this Castle we beginne to account the other foure conquered Counties which lie on Hungaria side and in respect of Transilvania are beyond the Tibiscus The first of which lying beyond Tibiscus and Brodogh is called Vgocz or Vngh of a River of that name whose chiefe towne is Vnghar the second is Hommona where the Iesuites have a College This Country touches upon Poland The second of these conquered Counties a member also of this latter is called Zemlen as its chiefe City also is Its second City is Saros Patak where the Palatine or Earle-marcher of that part of Hungaria subject to Bethlen Gabor usually keepes his residence Ennoblished it is besides with the greatest College belonging to the reformed Religion in all those parts wherein namely are fourescore Fellowes three hundred Schollars a Master and foure Readers all maintained by their owne setled Revenues like ours in England and all planted in a dainty aire a rich and most delicate Country The third conquered County is Porsod whose Metropolis is Tokay aforesaid which with its Fort and Castle was in consideration of 60000. pounds rendred by the Emperour unto Bethlen Gabor in the yeare 1628. August the 10. which its new Lord hath since re-edified This towne is overlookt by that which they call The golden Mountaine three English miles in height and seven in compasse which beares a wine of a more delicate and rich race than the Canaries and inestimable plenty too here and all abouts the Country This Country confronts upon the Turkish Territories and beyond Rudabaneya in the west parts begins the dominion of the Emperour The fourth of these Counties of his beyond Tibiscus and the utmost bounds of his conquests is called Abavyvar whose Metropolis is Cassovia the fairest and richest of all those parts and newly walled and fortified by the Conquerour Inhabited it is by the Hungarian and German Nations both of which here have their severall Churches Here likewise is a College as there also bee at Geonez and Sepsi two neighbour Cities Here also is the Bishopricke of Lelesz which being popish was upon request delivered up unto the Emperours disposing in that late treaty of Pacification And these be the goodly dominions of Bethlen Gabor in Hungaria which on the East are bounded with Transilvania on the West with the Turkish parts of Hungaria on the North with Poland and on the South with the Counties of Heves Torn and Genevar c. all subject to the Emperour As for his two Dukedomes of Oppelen and Ratibor in Silesia they being farre distant and chargeable to hold hee made a faire surrender of them into the Emperours hands in that treaty of Peace concluded betwixt them Anno 1624. What Revenues and Certainties may bee raised from hence is not to bee ghessed at in these troublesome times in which seasons quiet possession is to bee accounted the chiefe part of the Revenues seeing the subject is then rather to bee releeved than oppressed The Forces which hee is able to raise from hence with his owne pay and money must needs be very great seeing that with them hee hath not onely defended himselfe and gained upon the Emperour but so farre pressed upon him as to set so many townes on fire in Austria it selfe that by the light of those Bonefires the Emperour might reade a Letter in his owne Bed-chamber in Vienna Bethlen Gabor finally both for his valour and fortune is more dreaded by the Emperour than any other Christian King or Potentate of Europe And now for that this Prince hath so arrested the incroching greatnesse of the Emperour Ferdinand in those parts that he may well be called The scourge of the house of Austria he is therefore most mortally hated by all the Papists of Christendome who are sottishly addicted unto that Family Hence those scornes and slanders of him that he was basely borne that he was a Turke in Religion yea Circumcised and an hundred other Iesuiticall knaveries And for that hee hath not still beene ready to doe as we would have him in England since these infortunate warres of Bohemia even we good Protestants have thought that hee
in Russia is a Gentleman and none Gentlemen but Souldiers so that the son of a Gentleman is ever a Gentleman and a Souldier withall bound unto no other profession but meere Souldierie It is thought that no Prince in Christendome hath better store of munition which may partly appeare by the Artillery-house at Mosco where are divers sorts of great Ordnance all of Brasse very faire and to an exceeding great number Upon his frontiers lie the Tartars Precopenses those of the Taurica Chersonesus the Circassi and the Nagayans These people inhabit a Countrey seven daies journey distant and are governed by Dukes after the manner of the Helvetians He hath received great injury of the Precopenses without hope of amends because they are confederate with the great Turke and by him furnisht with Harquebusiers and Ordnance and have in their Kingdome many strong places fortified with Turkish Garrisons and therefore he thinketh it hard and dangerous to invade them being backed by the Turke whose power he should likewise stirre up against him It is the custome of the Precopi often used to make inrodes into the Provinces of the Great Duke as likewise of the Polonian to carry away whatsoever commeth to hand If the Great Duke have vanquished the Tartars of Câ—ssan and Astrachan let him attribute that Conquest to his great Ordnance which they wanted But the Precopi have the use of Guns and worth all the rest the favour and protection of the Turkish Emperor who thirsting to open a way into Moscouy or the Caspian sea assayed not many yeares 〈◊〉 to dig a trench from Tanais to Volga but his forces were put to flight by the Moscovites in feare of their utter destruction if the Turke had brought that designment to effect This was a device of greater courage than wisdome for the Moscovites not onely defeated his Navy taking part thereof but also put all his Land-forces to the Sword consisting of fourescore thousand Tartars five and twenty thousand Turkes and three thousand Ianizars As we have said before the Circassi live much after the manner of the Swissers they endevour not to inlarge their owne bounds but serve for wages sometime under the Turk sometime under the Persian sometimes under the Moscovite from whose Dominions they are so farre disjoyned that they stand in no feare of their severall greatnesses The Nagayans are more to be dreaded for their sudden inrodes and furious incursions than for jealousie of their forces or that they are able to raise or undertake any royall voyage Of late times they threatned the Moscovite but their fury was soon appeased by sending them presents It is the best course to hazard our money rather than our forces against the thefts spoyls of these barbarous Nations for when they have neither City nor strong place to subdue thereby to keepe them in subjection what can you terme the Warre made against them but labour with losse and charge without profit But to prevent all mischiefes the Duke is forced to keepe great troopes of Horse in Curachan Casan and Viatca against these Nagaij as also a great Garrison in Culagan upon Tanais against the Precopi But the mightiest of them all is the Chrim Tartar whom some call the Great Cham who lieth South and Southeastward from Russia and doth most annoy the Countrey by often invasions commonly once every yeare sometimes entering very far within the Inland parts In the yeare 1571. hee pierced as farre as the City Mosco with an Army of 200000. men without battell or resistance for that the Russe Emperour then Iuâ—n Vasiliwich leading forth his Army to encounter him mistooke the way The City he tooke not but fired the suburbs which by reason of the buildings consisting for the most part of wood kindled so quickly and went on with such fury as that it consumed the greatest part thereof almost within the space of foure houres where by fire and prease 800000. people or more were reported to have perished at that season Their principall quarrell ariseth about certaine Territories claimed by the Tartar but possessed by the Russe The Tartar alleageth that besides Astrachan and Cazan the ancient possession of the East Tartar the whole bounds North and West-ward so farre as the Citie of Mosco and Mosco it selfe pertaineth to his right which seemeth to be true by the report of the Russes themselves that tell of a certaine homage done by the Russe Emperour every yeare to the great Chrim the Russe Emperor standing on foot and feeding the Chrims horse sitting on horse-backe with Oats out of his owne Cap in stead of a Boule or Manger and that within the Castle of Mosco And this homage they say was done till the time of Basilius who surprizing the Chrim Tartar by a Stratagem undertooke by one of his Nobility was content to change this homage into a tribute of Furs which afterwards also was denyed whereupon they continue their quarrels the Russe defending his Countrey and Conquests and the Chrim invading him once or twice a yeare sometime about Whitsontide but oftner in Harvest What time if the great Chrim come in person he bringeth with him an Army of one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand men otherwise they make short and sudden rodes with lesser numbers running about the list of the borders like wilde-Geese invading and retyring as they see advantage And now being entred thus farre not without occasion into the manners of these Tartars I thinke it not amisse somewhat to discourse of their rights their Arming their Religion and Customes Their common practice being very populous is to make divers armies and so drawing the Russe into one or two places of the frontiers to invade at some place unsuspected and without defence Their order of fight is much after the Russe manner that is to thrust on all together without discipline in a hurry as they are directed by their Generall save that they are all Horse-men and carry nothing else but a Bow a sheafe of Arrowes and a Cemiter after the Turkish fashion They are very expert Horsemen and use to shoot as readily backward as forward Some will have a Horse-mans staffe like a Boare-speare besides their other weapons The common Souldier hath no other armour than his ordinary apparell viz. a black Sheepe-skin with the wooll-side outward in the day time and inwards in the night time with a Cap of the same But their Morseis or Noblemen imitate the Turke both in Apparell and Armour When they are to passe over a River with their Army they tie three or foure Horses together and taking peeces of wood they binde them to the tailes of their Horses and so sitting on the poles they drive their Horses over At handy strokes they are counted farre better men than the Russes fierce by nature but more hardy and bloody by continuall practice of war as men never inured to the delights of peace nor any civile practice Yet their subtiltie is
If you will heare of their riches then must you raise your eyes East-ward and take notice of Tangut a wealthy Province affording many things befitting Europe especially Rhubarb a simple of that prerogative as if the whole world of necessity should be beholding unto them for this distribution In Kataia amongst many others the great City of Cambalu will excite admiration if you may be induced to measure a quadrant of thirty miles compasse and over-looke at every corner a square Tower very neere forty furlongs in circuit in which the Emperours Munition Armour and provision for warre are secured In Mangia as Queene of the rest is the City of Quinzay having a circumference of an hundred miles by reason that a great Lake divideth the streets into Chanels over which are numbred twelve hundred and threescore bridges some opening the Arches so high and wide that a good Ship under saile hath a passage of ease For beleefe I will neither force the travels of Sir Iohn Mandevil nor the writings of Munster nor the constant asseveration of moderne Travellers but for mine owne part I would modesty perswade you That the world is a stage of variety and that within our owne Kingdome we are acquainted with such novelties of wonder that if they were but delivered by report wee would soone prove as incredulous of the one as we are of the other But to proceed As I told you the ancient Provinces were divided into three particulars and in those dayes knowne by the names of Sarmatia Asiatica both Scythiaes and the Regions of Serica now Kataia Most fierce and barbarous Nations did alwaies inhabit this Country as first the Amazons a warlike kinde of women which in their daies casting away the properties of their sex vexed the whole world usurped Asia and built Ephesus Upon their small extirpation arose the Scythians no lesse dreadfull than the former Then succeeded the Gothes or Getes termed by their neighbours Polouci that is ravenous or theevish These the Tartars tamed and then erected their Monarchie about the yeare of our Lord 1187. or as others say 1162. electing for their King one Cingis a man of base birth and calling This mans followers at that time lived without Manners Law or Religion in the plaines of Caracoram tended their Cattell and paied their duties to K. Vn-cham otherwise Presbyter Iohn who without doubt in those daies kept his Court in Tenduch in the Kingdome of Argon But this King Cingis first subdued the Kingdome of Vn-cham and afterwards imposed the yoke of subjection on the bordering Provinces And certainly that famous Comet seene in the moneth of May 1211. lasting eighteene daies and glimmering on the Gothes Tanais and Russia with its taile extended towards the West did foreshew the succeeding inundation of these Tartars For in the yeare following this Nation whose name as I said was not so much as dreamed of before in Europe wholly subdued Sarmatia Asiatica or Scythia invaded Russia Hungaria and Polonia And lastly erected other famous Monarchies in China Mein and Bengala So that at this day it is divided into five great Provinces Tartaria minor lying in Europe betweene Tanais and Boristhenes Tartaria deserta of old Sarmatia Asiatica containing most of the Hords but not all Zagatai Kataia And lastly that great Promontory which lieth out-stretched in the furthest part thereof towards the North and East and may be called Tartaria antiqua as the motherplace of the true Tartar Nation utterly unknowne to Ptolomie Those that live in the open field about the Euxine Sea the Lake of Meoris and the Tauricke Chersonesse which adjoyneth upon Boristhenes and Tanais in Europe are the Precopenses In this straight or Peninsula standeth Theodosia now Caffa once a Colonie of the Genois now a Sangiacie of the Turkes Their whole Territories are very fruitfull for Corne and Cattell and tho people more civill and courteous than many of the residue yet retaining a smatch of their ancient Barbarisme For they are sworne enemies to the Christians yearely invading Russia Lituania Valachia Polonia and many times Moscovie yeelding to the Turke in the name of Tribute yearely three hundred Christian soules To one of these Princes Selimus gave his daughter in marriage This in old time was called Sarmatia Asiatica and better inhabited before the comming of the Tartars It lyeth betweene Tanais the Caspian Sea and the Lake of Kitay It is a plaine Country by nature fertile if it were manured by these Tartars nothing given to husbandry but addicted to lead a roguish and wandring life after the manner of the Arabians Their chiefe delight is in hunting and warfare Mill and Panicke they cast carelesly into the ground which notwithstanding yeelds sufficient increase Their store of Horse and Cattell is so plentifull that they have to spare for their Neighbours For the most part they dwell upon Cartrages covered with skins and woollen cloth Some defensible Townes they have whereunto they flie in times of necessity Astrachan is situated upon the Caspian Sea it is rich affordeth excellent good Salt and very well frequented by Moscovish Turkish Armenian and Persian Merchants In the yeare 1494. it was taken by Iohn Basilides great Duke of Moscovie and by him with the Title thereof annexed to the Moscovian Empire The Zagatayan Tartars were so named of their Prince the Brother of the great Cham or Can which once reigned amongst them They are now called Ieselbas that is to say Greene-heads of the colour of their Turbants They inhabit the ancient Countries of Bactria Sogdiana and Margiana in times past the habitation of the Massagetes so famous in Armes These are the most honourable people of the Tartars indifferent civill given to Arts and Lords of many faire Cities built with stone as Shamercand once a Towne of great fame and renowned for the birth of the great Tamerlan or Temar-lang but now decayed Kataia AS our Ancestors were ignorant of the Regions situated upon the East side of the Caspian which they imagined to bee a branch of the Ocean even so as yet little or nothing knoweth this Age what Regions lie or what people inhabit beyond that Sea and the Mountaines commonly called Dalanguer and Vssont M. Paul Venetus was the first that brake the ice in describing of those Countries and of him we received what we know of the Tartars The great distance of Countries the difficulty of the journey and the inaccessible situation of places hath hindred the discovery of those Provinces and the great Duke of Moscovie by whose Dominions we may easiest travell thither will suffer no strangers to passe thorow his Kingdome The Caspian Sea a passage no lesse fitting for the journey is not frequented and by the way of Persia infinite Mountaines and vast Desarts dividing both Provinces oppose themselves against us And to the further hindrance of this discoverie neither the great Cham neither the King of China nor the Duke of
Potentate Howsoever it be two things in his Kingdome are worthy consideration the one is Numbers which may be imagined by the spaciousnesse of his Dominions the other their Discipline because he keepeth them in continuall pay For as discipline rather than rash valour is to be wished in a souldier so in armies a few trained and experienced souldiers are more worth than many strong and raw bodies the one may well be compared to Eagles Lions and Tygers which obtaine principalitie amongst other beasts not because they exceed them in hugenesse of bodies for then should they be a prey to the Elephant Horse and Bufall but because they excell them as well in agility of bodie as incourage This Potentate the Moscovite termeth the Caesar of Kataia and the Turke Vlu-chan that is the Great Prince And not without reason for in magnificence of Court amplenesse of Dominion abundance of Treasure and number of Souldiers he goeth farre beyond all the Kings and Potentates of Asia and raigneth in such Majestie that his subjects foolishly call him The shadow of Spirits and the Sonne of the immortall God His word only is a Law wherein consisteth life and death He maintaineth Justice with admirable severitie except for the first fault for which the offender is grievously whipped for every other fault he is cut in peeces by the middle herein it should seeme they imitate the opinion of the Stoicks concerning the equalitie of offences A theefe is likewise slaine if he be not able to repay nine fold as well for a farthing as a pound The first Sonne is heire to the Crowne and installed with these ceremonies The chiefe of their seven Tribes clothed in white which is their mourning colour cause the Prince to sit upon a blacke woollen cloth spread upon the ground willing him to behold the Sunne and to feare the immortall God which if hee doe performe he shall finde a more plentifull reward in heaven than in earth if not that peece of black cloth shall scarcely be left him whereupon to rest his wearied body in the field besides a thousand other miseries that shall continually attend him Then they set the Crowne upon his head and the Great Lords kisse his feet sweare fealty and honour him with most rich presents Then is his name written in golden letters and laid up in the Temples of the Metropolitan Citie He hath two Councels the one for War wherein are twelve wise-men the other for Civill affaires consisting likewise of as many Counsellours These manage all things belonging to the government rewarding the good and punishing the evill taking speciall care to see those preferred who have done best service either in War or Peace to his Countrey or Emperour and others severely punished who beare themselves carelesly and cowardly in the charges unto them committed In these two points that is in rewarding and punishing consisteth so high a policie of good government that it may well be said That the greatest part of these barbarous Princes by these two vertues only have imprinted so majesticall a reverence in the hearts of their barbarous subjects For what other face of good Government see you in the Turke Persian Mogor or Xeriffe Whom reward they but Captaines and Souldiers Where use they liberalitie but in the field amongst weapons Surely they built the foundation of their States upon no other ground-works neither expect they for peace and quietnesse but by victory and strong hand yea they keepe no meane in disgracing base minds and cowards and in honouring high spirits and valiant souldiers Never was there any Common-weale or Kingdome that more devised to honour and inrich the souldier than these Barbarians and the Turke more than all the rest The Tartars Arabians and Persians honour Nobilitie in some good measure but the Turke rooteth out all the Families of Noblemen and esteemes of no man unlesse he be a souldier committing the fortunes of the whole Empire to the direction of slaves and men base borne but with a speciall care of their good parts and sufficiencie Let us returne to the Tartar and his forme of government Astrologians are in great request in those Provinces for M. Paul writeth that in the Citie of Cambula are fiftie thousand When Cublay-Cham understood by them that that Citie would rebell against him he caused another to be built neere unto it called Taindu containing foure and twentie miles besides the Suburbs There are also great store of Fortune-tellers and Necromancers in the Kings Palace of Xandu As also in China they are in high esteeme Ismael King of Persia enterprised few matters without their counsell and it is no wonder that it is of such repute in those places for betweene the Chaldeans and the Assyrians it tooke the first originall in those Countries The Turkes cannot abide it The Roman Emperors did more than once banish it and the professours thereof out of their governments I would to God the like might be done amongst us Christians for it is nothing else but a branch of Paganisme As part of these Tartarians inhabit Cities and are called Moores part live in the Fields and Mountaines and are termed Baduin so some of these people dwell in Cities as the Kataians Bochars and those of Shamercand others wander thorow the plaines and are divided into Hords being five in number as aforesaid Those Tartars who are farre situated from the residue and inhabit that remote Scythian promontory which Pliny calleth Tabin lying upon the fret of Anian are also dispersed into divers Hords wandering up and downe the Countrey and are in a manner all subject to the Great Cham of Kataia Certaine Writers affirme that these Hords issued from those ten Tribes of Israel which were sent into captivitie of Salmanasser King of Assyria beyond the Caspian mountains In remembrance whereof untill this day they retaine the names of their Tribes the title of Hebrewes and Circumcision In all other rites they follow the fashions of the Tartarians Some men likewise say that King Tabor came out of these parts to turne unto Judaisme Francis King of France Charles the fifth and other Christian Princes and for his pains in the yeare 1540. by the commandement of the said Charles was burnt to ashes at Mantua Turkie SVch shares of the Worlds vastnesse hath it pleased the Almightie to cast into the lap of this great Potentate commonly called the Gran Seignior that for wealth Territories and command of souldiery hee would have you to understand that all other Princes come short of him are terrified when his Armies are united to particular destructions Compound the ambiguitie by your owne discretions For Countries he possesseth Asia minor now Natolia with all the Regions within the Propontis and the Hellespont Which places in times past made the Crownes of Kings to shine with Gold and Pearle As Phrygia Galatia â—ithynia Pontus Lidia Caria Paphlagoâ—ia Lycia Magnesiâ— Cappadocia and Comogena Neerer the Caspian Georgia Mengrelia Armenia All
transported out of Creet into Poland and Germany is carried thorow this Country whereof the Vaivod receiveth a massie impost Of those Countries which at this day the Turks terme Natolia THat which the Turkes at this day terme Natolia or Turcia major once Asia minor comprehendeth the Provinces of Pontus Bithynia Asia it selfe Lycia Galacia Pamphylia Cappadocia Cilicia and Armenia the lesse and in these Provinces of ancient times flourished the States and Kingdomes of the Trojans of Mithridates of Craesus of Antigonus of the Paphlagonians of the Galathians of the Cappadocians and Phrygians All which at this day are not sufficient to satisfie the onely ambition of the Turkish tyranny The Inhabitants for the most part are Mahumetans and naturall Turkes of simpler natures than the Turkes of Europe and nothing so cruell as the Renegado Christians Yet are there many Christians among them in many of these Regions following the Rites of the Greeke Church Among these Turkes there is no acknowledgement of Superioritie Bloud or Nobility but all are equall slaves to the Grand Seignior over whom he appointeth Beglerbegs and Sanziaks They are either a kinde of idle or lofty people for they are smally industrious and were it not for their slaves their grounds would generally lie unmanured Pontus and Bithynia are now united under one name and called Bursia Here once reigned the great King Mithridates and here stood the famous Cities of Chalcedon Nicomedia Apamaea Prusia Nice and Heraclea Ponti Asia propria now Sabrun is the peculiar Province of Asia minor containeth in it many famous Provinces as Phrygia major minor Caria Mysia c. In Phrygia minor stood that Noble citie of Troie famous at this day saith Bellonius an eie-witnesse for its very ruines of wals gates circuit and marble sepulchers found upon the wayes without the wals Pamphilia now Caramania is one of the old seven Sangiakships of Turkie and yeeldeth 8000. ducats of yearly revenue In this Country as also in Cilicia are woven those fine cloths which we call Chamblets watered and unwatered they are made of the haire of Goats so fine and white as no Silke can surpasse them in those two properties Cappadocia now Amasia is a goodly Country and the seat of the Turks eldest Son In it are many goodly cities as Trapezond once the seat of the Comneni Emperors of Trapezond whose Name and Progenie ahumet the second utterly extinguished Cilicta now part of Caramania is a good Country the Inhabitants are given to pasturing of Goates for lucre of their fleeces of which they make their Chamblets but otherwise neither given to Fishing Navigation nor Husbandrie At the foot of Mount Taurus saith Bellonius are divers small Villages and excellent pastures about them which for the fertilitie thereof should seeme to be one of the Turkish Races from thence he culleth out every yeare six hundred horse of service which they highly esteeme and name Caramanni Armenia minor is a better soile and more populous than Cappadocia and round about incircled with tall huge broken and wooddie mountaines Arabia triplex THe three Arabiaes are likewise a parcell of the Empire which is a marvellous great Country included between two huge bosomes of the sea in manner of a Peninsula viz upon the West and East with the Arabian and Persian gulfes upon the South with the Ocean and upon the North with Syria and Euphrates The Inhabitants are indifferently called Arabians Saracens or Moores Those are the true Arabians which live out of Cities in Tents dispersed over Syria Aegypt and Africke these give themselves to feed cattell and droves of Camels Those which inhabit Cities are called Moores and were once of such puissance that they not onely subdued Syria Persia and Troglodytica but likewise Aegypt a great part of Africke and almost all Spaine with the Iland of Sicilie and the Kingdome of Naples Two hundred yeares they kept possession of these peeces but of some part of Spaine 700 even untill the dayes of our fathers And further this accursed generation at this day is not onely spread over all the Southerne coast of Asia viz Persia East India and the Islands of the Indian Sea but are likewise advanced with great prosperitie unto divers wealthy Kingdomes famous Cities worthy Mart-townes yea overall the South-coast of Africke Under this people the Turkes were first called into Asia to beare armes Of their manners we have spoken elsewhere In their Religion they are Mahumetans for in this Countrie that false Prophet first opened his superstitious Wardrobe This is a vast Countrie full of Desarts yet well inhabited with populous warlike multitudes especially toward Euphrates and the Mountaines of Arabia felix whither Merchants resort The residue towards the West is sandy by which if a man be to travell he must have the Starres to his guide company for his safeguard and provision for his diet Otherwise he shall surely lose his way surrender his goods to the theevish Arabes or starve in the Desart for want of food To secure the which passages as well against those who live on the side of Euphrates towards Aegypt as through all Arabia Petrea and Deserta the Grand Seignior entertaineth the king of those Arabians which inhabit Mesopotamia And for this his service as a Turkish Sanziak hee holdeth Ana and Dir two townes situated upon the said river He is a poore King but accompanied with 10. or 12. thousand beggerly subjects living and lying intents of course blacke Hair-cloth which forces notwithstanding these wilder ones are so infinite in multitudes and so unpossible to be brought unto a more civill manner of living that for their danger toward strangers and the continuall spoiles which they commit upon those parts of the Turkes Dominions which every way border upon them necessitie inforceth him also to maintaine two other garrisons the first of twelve thousand in Cairo the other of one thousand five hundred in Damasco Wherein it is to be noted That sithence those of Damasco doe not only defend that peece but are also distributed thorow other cities of Soria as Aleppo Antiochia and Ierusalem one thousand five hundred men were not able to sustain and answer to such a charge unlesse by being both Ianizars and Timariots also they have many followers and attendants Who as else where I have shewed you are not onely mightie in reputation and powerfull in number but also every yeare accustomed to spare and cull out strong troops warlikely and pompously provided to send into Hungarie For surely without this order all the passages of the Caravans which yearely come from Balsara and the Red-sea would become so infectious that neither Bagdet nor Damasco could receive the commodities of those parts to the annuall losse of two millions of Entrado to the grand Seignior Amongst these it was that Sir Anthony Sherly travelled and found them so well governed that without any wrong offered he passed thorow them all
triall for landing or adventure the surprisall of some famous port for want whereof in former ages Xerxes suffered that terrible defeature at Thermipola Before this was done why ranne they away of what were they so fearefull who came like souldiers and resolute men under the title of assurance to conquer such a Nation Did the terrour of a storme onely drive them from hence in such haste were they not resolved to endure such weather as should happen in so great an enterprise Did they thinke to winne England with bigge lookes or to have tamed the people by tricks and dalliance as they had done the surly Portugues and fine Italians their neighbours Surely it seemed the Southerne winds had only inflated their minds as it is reported it doth their mares in the Asturies Where let us leave them and wish that some of those Worthies who yet live and were eye-witnesses of those great and fortunate expeditions undertaken and effected within the 44. yeares space of Her Royall government would take the paines to commit the Relation thereof to everlasting record Which done I make no doubt but that it would appeare beyond all objection That although the English Nation had long breathed under the milde aspect of so gracious a Lady yet 〈◊〉 it no lesse exercised in militarie discipline abroad than in peaceable pleasures at home Yea that the politike Regiment and heroicall actions of a maiden Queen have hardly since the conquest been exceeded by any her Majesties most famous progenitors For be it either in the wise reformation or wonderfull re-establishment of Christian Religion wherein she shewed no lesse constancie than true sincerity or otherwise in continuall comfort or liberall assistance of her distressed neighbours and allies whereof she had a royall and Christian-like regard or else in resolute repelling and fortunate invading her most mighty enemies wherein she was alwayes blest from above with happy and victorious successe her enterprises evermore were crowned with happinesse and in regard thereof throughout all nations her Counsellors were reputed grave and prudent the Realme flourishing and powerfull and herselfe magnanimous and renowned the fruits whereof I doubt not but we enjoy at this day The force at land is nothing inferiour to that at Sea for the kingdome is divided into 52 Shires in one only whereof commonly called Yorkeshire it is thought seventy thousand foot-men may be levied Every shire hath a Lieutenant who seeth to the election and training of souldiers when necessity requireth In chusing of souldiers they take the names of all the inhabitants In the Country from above sixteene yeares of age to sixtie and out of these they chuse the likeliest and ablest for service The taller and stronger are chosen for footmen and these divided into foure kinds The first are Archers by whose dexterity they conquered the greatest part of France tooke King Iohn captive and held Paris sixteene yeares in subjection The Arrowes of the Parthians were never more dreadfull to the Romans than the Bowes of the English to Frenchmen The second sort used browne Bils well headed with Iron with which they would strike and also plucke a man from his horse This was the ancient weapon of the Britons The other two use and experience of latter times hath taught them the one is the Harquebuze the other the Pike a fit weapon for their constitution by reason of their tall strong and man-like stature For their service on Horsebacke they chuse men of small stature but well set active and nimble These horsemen are of two sorts some heavie armed those for the most part are Gentlemen other lighter armed and some riding after the manner of the Albannesses some after the fashion of Italie using a Scull a Iacke a Sword and long light Speares And although they are able to bring to the field 2000. men at Armes and infinite troopes of light Horsemen yet their Horsemen never carried reputation to their Footmen For Edward the third and Henry the fifth which made so many journeyes into France and obtained so many famous victories to shew what confidence they reposed in their Infantely ever left their horse and put themselves into the battell of their footmen wheras the French Kings not daring to inure the Commons to warfare left leaving their manuall occupations and trades they should grow insolent in the warres to which humour they are greatly addicted alwayes put themselves their hopes upon the fortune of their Cavalry being all almost Gentlemen But forasmuch as the French maintaine no good races of horse and to purchase them from other places is a matter of great charge and good cannot alwayes be gotten for money for these reasons and for that Horsemen are nothing so serviceable in the field as footmen I thinke the French have often beene so defeated by the English To shew what force the Kings of England are able to bring into the field let these examples stand for many Henry the eighth passed to Bullvigne with an Army divided into three Battalions In the Vantguard passed twelve thousand footmen and five hundred light-Horsemen cloathed in blew Iackets with red guards The middle ward wherein the King was and passed last over consisted of twentie thousand footmen and two thousand horse cloathed with red Iackets and yellow guards In the rereward was the Duke of Norfolke with him an Army like in number and apparell to the first saving that therein served one thousand Irishmen all naked save their maneles and their thicke gathered skirts Their Armes were three Darts a Sword and a Skeane They drew after them one hundred great peeces besides small an Army by the censure of Guicciardini not more notable by the multitudes of souldiers and consideration of their valour than most glorious by the presence and Majesty of their King in whose person appeared at that instant being in an age disposed and active all those tokens of honour and magnanimity which rising after to their full ripenesse and perfection by degrees of time study experience made him the most renowned and mighty Prince that lived in his age in all this part or circuit of the earth which we call Christendome Their carriages were so many that therewith they intrenched their Campe like a wall And for the conveyance of their Ordnance their baggage and their provision they transported into the Continent above five and twenty thousand horse beside all other kinde of cattell In the aforesaid yeare of 88. after that Queene Elizabeth had provided fully and sufficiently to prevent her enemies at Sea then ceased she not to be as carefull at Land over her owne and her peoples safeties And therfore to be ready against any sinister accident which it might have pleased the Almighty to have given her at Sea at land she appointed five and twenty thousand souldiers to attend the enemy all along the Southerne coast At Tilbury lay the Earle of Leicester with one thousand horse and two and twenty thousand foot
of round fish as Lamprey Conger Haddocke so likewise in divers seasons divers other sorts as Mackerels in the end of the Spring and Herrings in the beginning of Autumne as wee have in England c. And this Countrey must needs be well stored with Fish for besides the benefit of the Sea the Lakes and Ponds belonging only to the Clergie which at the most have but one third of France are reported to be one hundred fifty five thousand The Rivers also of France are so many as Boterus reporteth of the Queene Mother she should say here were more than in all Christendome but we hold her for no good Cosmographer True it is that the Rivers here are many and very faire and so fitly serving one the other and all the whole as it seemeth Nature in the framing of our bodies did not shew more wonderfull providence in disposing Veines and Arteries throughout the bodie for their apt conveyance of the bloud and spirit from the Liver and Heart to each part therof than she hath shewed in the placing of these waters for the transporting of all her commodities to all her severall Provinces Of all those these are the principall the Seine upon which standeth the Citie of Paris Roven and many other It hath his head a little above Chatillon in the North-west of Lingonois and receiveth nine Rivers of name whereof the Yonne the Marn and the Oyse are navigable that is doe carry Boats with saile The Soane whereupon standeth the City of Amiens Abbevile and many other It hath his head above S. Quintin divideth Piccardy from Artois and receiveth eight lesser Rivers The Loire hath standing upon it the Cities of Orleans Nantes and many other his head is in Auvergne it parteth the middle of France his course is almost two hundred leagues it receiveth seventy two Rivers whereof the chiefe are Allier Cher Maine Creuse Vienne all navigable The Garond upon which standeth Bourdeaux Thoulouse and other Cities it hath his head in the Pereney Mountaines it divideth Languedocke from Gascoine it receiveth sixteene Rivers whereof Iarne Lot Bayze Derdonne and Lisâ—e are chiefest And lastly the Rhosne upon which standeth the Citie of Lions Avignon and divers others It hath his head in the Mountaines the Alpes dividing Dolpheny from Lyonnois and Province from Languedocke it receiveth thirteene Rivers whereof the Seane the Dove Ledra and Durance are the chiefest All the other Rivers carry their streames into the Ocean Some at S. Vallery Seine at New-haven Loyre beneath Nantes and Garona at Blay only the River of Rhosue payeth his tribute to the Mediterranean at Arles The Seine is counted the richest the Rhosue the swiftest the Garond the greatest the Loyre the sweetest for the difference which Boterus makes of them where he ornits the Garond and makes the Sâ—ane a principall River is generally rejected The Ports and Passages into France where Custome is paid to the King were in times past more than they be now the names of them at this present are these In Picardie Calais Bologue Saint Vallerie In Normandie Diepe Le Haure de Grace Honnesleux Caen Cherbrouge In Bretaigne S. Malo S. Brieu Brest Quimpercorentine Vannes Nants In Poiâ—tow Lusson les sables d'Olonne In Rochellois Rochell In Xantogne Zonbisse In Guyenne Bourdeaux Blay Bayonne In Languedocke Narbonne Agde Bencaire Mangueil In Provence Arles Marseilles Fransts In Lâ—onnois Lions In Burgogne Ausonne Laugers In Campagne Chaumons Chalons Trois In the Territory Metzin Metz Toul Verdun In all thirty seven Of all these Lions is reputed to be the most advantagious to the Kings Finances as being the Key for all Silkes cloaths of Gold and Silver and other Merchandize whatsoever which come or goe from Italy Swisserland and all those South-east Countries into France which are brought to this Towne by the two faire Rivers of Rhosne and Sâ—â—n the one comming from Savoy the other from Burgundie and here meeting For profit next to Lions are Bourdeaux Rochell Marseilles Nants and Newhaven But for capabilitie of shipping I have heard that Brest excelleth and for strength Caâ—aâ—â— especially as it is now lately fortified by the Spaniard which was not let long since to be called The goodliest government in the world at least in Christendome There are requisite in all Ports to make them perfect these foure things 1. Roome to receive many and great Ships 2. Safe Riding 3. Facilitie of repelling forren force 4. Concourse of Merchants The most of the French Ports have all foure properties except only the last which in the time of these civill broiles have discontinued and except that wee will also grant that Calais failes in the first The Cities in France if you will count none Cities but where is a Bishops See are onely one hundred and foure there be so many Arch-bishops and Bishops in all as shall in more fit place be shewed But after the French reckoning calling every Ville a Citie which is not either a Burgade or a Village we shall finde that their number is infinite and indeed uncertaine as is also the number of the Townes in generall Some say there be one Million and seven hundred thousand but they are of all wise men reproved Others say six hundred thousand but this is also too great to be true The Cabinet rateth them at one hundred thirtie two thousand of Parish Churches Hamlets and Villages of all sorts Badin saith there be twentie seven thousand and foure hundred counting only every Citie for a Parish which will very neere agree with that of the Cabinet and therefore I embrace it as the truest By the reckoning before set downe of two hundred leagues square which France almost yeeldeth wee must compute that here is in all fortie thousand leagues in square and in every league five thousand Arpens of ground which in all amounteth to two hundred millions of Arpens which summe being divided by the numbers of the Parishes sheweth that one with another each Village hath one thousand five hundred and fifteene Arpens which measure is bigger than our Acre We may if we will abstract a third because Bodin will not admit France to be square but as a Lozenge For in matter of such generalitie as this men doe alwayes set downe suppositions not certainties If a man will looke thorowout all France I thinke that some Castles excepted he shall not finde any Towne halfe perfectly fortified according to the rules of Enginers The Citie of Paris seated in a very fruitfull and pleasant part of the I le of France upon the River of Sein is by the same divided into three parts that on the North towards Saint Denis is called the Burge that on the South towards the Fauxburges of S. Germaines is called the Vniversitie and that in the little I le which the River there makes by dividing it selfe is called the Vilâ—e This part no doubt is the most ancient for saith my Author Lutetia is a City of the Parisians
as is said before when any that held either some strong Towne or place of importance came into the King he did alwayes capitulate to have some one of these Offices besides summes of money and governments also such was the necessities of the times saith Haillan These under the Constable have the command over all Dukes Earles Barons Captaines and Gens d'armes but may neither give battell make proclamation or mustermen without his commandement They have under them Lieutenants whom they call Prâ—vostâ—-Marshals who have the punishing of mutinous souldiers such as quit their colours Rogues and such like There is the office of Admirall Looke what the Marshals are in a Land-Armie the same is the Admirall in a Sea-Armie and these two offices are severall because the subject of their imployment is differing and unlike This office is the most ancient of all France for Caesar speaketh thereof The Admirals of Provence Bretaigne and Narbon are much commended for their practice and skill in Sea-service I marvell therefore why du Haillan reporteth that they were first made in Charlemaignes dayes and that one Monsieur Ritland was the first that was made There are now foure Admiralties France Bretaigne Guyenne and Provence This last is alwayes annexed to the governourship of that Countrey So that of Guyenne likewise till the King that now is came to the Crowne who before was Governour and Admirall of Guyenne but since he hath divided the commands Yee may observe in Histories that all the while the French voyages were upon the Levant Seas either to the Holy-Land Sicilie or Naples or whithersoever the French alwayes had their Vessels and Commanders out-of Italie France borrowed their Admirals from Genoa Pisa Venice and Luca. These have the tenth of all wrack prize or prisoners that are taken at Sea Before the invention of shot there was an Officer in France called Great Master of the Crosse-bowes and Engines which office is now called the Great Master of the Artillerie who at first also immediatly after the invention of shot was called Captaine Generall of the Artillerie You have also Treasurers for the warres which are either ordinary or extraordinary Those pay the Gens d'armes and these the Regiments of the Infanterie Treasurers ordinary are so many as there be places where they muster of extraordinary there be alwayes foure The Heraults of France are six Normandie Guyenne Valois Bretaigne Burgogne so called of the Countries as with us in England and Mont-joy who is the chiefe of the rest Their ancient office was to be present at all Iusts and Tournaments to denounce warre or peace to summon places to defie enemy-Princes to give Armes to men new enobled But now they be only used at Feasts Coronations Solemnities Funerals and such like for they are no more used in the Treatie and negotiation with forren Princes I thinke the reason is because the office hath of late yeares beene bestowed upon unworthy and insufficient persons It shall here be needlesse to name all other his Officers of the Wars which are all one with those of other Countries as Colonel Captaine Sergeant Lieutenant Ensigne Corporall c. I will only remember in a word the French manner of Mustering March Charge and service in generall and then proceed to the next branch of this Relation Wee must observe that excepting the Gens d'armes and the Regiments above named when any souldiers are taken up for the warres they are not pressed as with us but the Captaine having his Commission gathereth them up by found of Drumme entertaining only such as will which may be some cause of the badnesse and basenesse of the French foot for being commonly the Rascall sort and such as have no other meanes there cannot settle in their abject minds that true and honourable resolution requisite in a souldier This Commission must first be shewed to the Governour Lieutenant generall Bailiffe or Seneschall of the Province upon paine of death Neither is it good except it be signed by the King and one of the Secretaries of Estate and sealed with the great Seale The souldiers levied are at the charge of the Province where they be taken up untill they depart the same Their March it should seeme is somewhat more sharpe than ours for I remember I have heard say that upon a time the old Marshall Biron should bid Sir Roger Williams bring up his Companies faster taxing the slow March of the English Sir saith he with this March our fore-fathers conquered your Countrey of France and I meane not to alter it A memorable answer of an honourable Souldier For the French charge ye shall heare the Spaniards opinion out of La Nove The French Infantery skirmisheth bravely a farre off and the Cavallery gives a furious on-set at the first charge but after the first heat they will take Egges for their money And indeed this is that which all Writers give them and which best agrees with their Nature for we may say of them as is said of Themistocles He was so hot at the on-set that he lost his wind in the midst of the carriers Or say of them as Fabius of Hannibal his valour is like a fire of straw and a flame kindled in matter of small continuance Concerning the French discipline Caesar himselfe saith They had it first from us It is said the discipline of the Gauls was first invented in Brittanie and from thence translated into Gallia and now such as desire to attaine the perfection thereof commonly travell thither to learne it But they have long since degenerated from their old discipline of war and they themselves confesse that since the beginning of the civill warres where souldiers in all disordered and dissolute manner have beene given to pillage and thee every that it is very much abastardized whereof La Nove complaineth in his discourses As for the Military discipline we must confesse that she keepes her bed sicke of a very deadly disease The Noblesse fight alwayes on horse-backe and thinke it a dishonour to serve on foot But Commines saith of the Nobilitie of Burgundie in the warres with Lewis the eleventh that they all quâ—t their horses for they were then most honoured that lighted on foot to the end the people might be the more encouraged and fight more valiantly and this they learned of the English And it is no question but if some of the French Nobilitie would doe so it would much confirme their foot by the example of their valour and abiding and recover that reputation which now their foot have lost in the world Neither doe I thinke this the least reason why our Ancestors have wonne so many battels upon them namely for that ever we have had men of Noble Houses to lead and serve on foot with our forces A notable cause to confirme and assure the unsteadie headinesse of a multitude And for the opinion that the world hath of our foot yee shall observe what the same Writer elsewhere saith
communicates apart his principall and most importing affaires where are read all letters which come from other Princes and such like publike businesse and after a conclusion what is to be done the dispatch thereof is committed to the Secretaries The other is the Great Councell or Councell of Estate which at first was as it were a member of the Parliament and consisted of the Princes of the Bloud and Nobility having only to deale in the matters of the policy generall of France or of warres or of the enacting and publishing of Edicts But the faction of Orleans and Burgundy caused it to bee changed to a choice number of Counsellors provisioned of 1000. crownes pension apeece yearely Of this Councell the Chancellor is chiefe for neither the King himselfe nor any Prince of the Bloud comes there This is the Court of which the Frenchman saith every time it is holden it costs the King a thousand crownes a day And now saith Haillan he cannot keepe them so cheape so infinite is the number of them growne Where he also complaines that this Conseil d' Estat which was wont only to determine publike affaires as the establishment of justice the Reglement of Finances and redressing of common grievances is now so charged with private contentions as the glory thereof is much diminished The Chancellor anciently served as a Secretarie and so was called in the old Charters of France where hee is likewise called the Grand Referendaire The Secretary doth signe and the Chancellor doth seale The Secretary is next in office who at first were called Clerks They are either of the Finances which have their place among the Officers of the Finances before remembred or of Affaires which we heare speake of Of these are foure which are called principall Governours and Lieutenants generall of Cities and Provinces are as it were Vice-royes and Regents of those places committed to them and indeed the persons sustaining these charges are much more Noble than those of the Secreâ—aries as being for the most part conferred upon the Princes of the Bloud and Peeres of France The Governours of Cities were in old time called Dukes and they of Provinces Counts They were at first only in Frontier Provinces but now since the troubles of France they have had the command over Cities and Countries even in the midst and bowels of the Land So that now saith Haillan France is become a Frontier to it selfe on every side There are but few Cities whereof anciently there were Governours as Rochel Calais Paronne Bologne Mondidier Narbonne Bayonne and two or three others Others that had keeping of some small Castle or Fort was onely called the Keeper or Captaine at most But now saith Haillan lib. 4. every paltry fellow that hath the keeping of a Pigeon-house must forsooth be called My Lord the Governour and my Mistresse his Wife My Lady the Governesse The Governour of Daulphenie hath greatest privileges for hee giveth all Offices in his Province in other places they can give none except they have it by expresse words in their Patent The Governour may not be absent above six moneths in a yeare but the Lieutenant must never be absent without leave of the Prince except teh Governour be present There is yet an Office whereof I must remember you which is one of the chiefest in France either for honour or profit called grand Maistre des Eaues Forests All matters concerning the Kings Chases Forests Woods and Waters whatsoever are determined by him by the Grand M. Enquesteur and by their Reformateur at the Table of Marble under him are infinite sorts of Officers and divers others As the particular Master of each Forest their Lieutenants Overseers of the sale of woods and the other Officers here specified But I will not load this short Relation with reckoning up all the divers and infinite sorts of Officers where with France herselfe seemeth tâ— be over-loaden as partly ye have heard already and yee shall reade in Bodin how hee complaines not only of the multiplicitie of Offices in generall but also that even the Councell of Estate is surcharged with number where you may likewise observe how he approves the Privie Councell of England erected some foure hundred and odde yeares since where are never saith he above twentie by whose sage direction the Land hath long flourished in Armes and Lawes And for the execution of Lawes and administration of Iustice yee may remember what hath beene said before that the Lawes are good and just but not justly executed Where Haillan comparing the time saith Then great ones were punished but since only pettie fellowes and great ones goe Scot-free Th'ensnaring Lawes let Crowes goe free While simple Doves entâ—ngled bee HAving thus related of the Topography and Policie of France it remaineth I speake somewhat of the Oeconomie that is of the people of France comprised under the three Estates of the Clergie the Nobilitie and Comminaltie of the severall humour profession and fashion of each of them which is the third and last branch of this Relation The Church Gallicane is holden the best privilege of all those of Christendome that have not yet quit their subjection to the Pope It hath alwayes protested against the Inquisition It is more free from payments to the Pope than the Church of Spaine as also to the King For here in France they only pay the Disme but in Spaine the King hath his Tertias Subsidio Pilâ— and Escusado in all a moitie of the Church living Indeed it is reported of this Catholike King that he hath founded many Abbeyes and Religious Houses but what saith his Subject He steales the sheepe and gives the Trotters for Gods sake In this Church of France are twelve Archbishopricks one hundred and foure Bishoprickes five hundred and fortie Archpriories one thousand foure hundred and fifty Abbeys twelve thousand three hundred and twenty Priories five hundred sixtie seven Nunneries one hundred and thirtie thousand Parish Priests seven hundred Convents of Friers and two hundred fiftie nine Commendums of the Order of the Knights of Malta There are saith the Cabinet du Roy three millions of people that live upon the Church of France where he particularly setteth downe in each Diocesse the number of all sorts of Religious people as also the number of their Whores Bawds Bastards and Servants of all sorts And why not saith he as well as the Magitians undertake in their Inventory of the Diabolike Monarchie to set downe the names and surnames of 76. Princes and seven millions foure hundred and five thousand nine hundred twentie and six Devils The Church hath for all this rabble to live upon these two things First her Temporall Revenues and secondly her Spirituall which they call the Baise-mani Of her Temporall Revenues divers men judge diversly The Cabinet who in all his computations makes of a Mouse an Elephant saith that they are fourescore millions of crownes the yeare besides the Baise-mani which is as
much more and besides an infinite provision which they reserve and is paid them over and except their Rents by their Farmers and Tenants as of Wheat foure millions five hundred thousand quarters of Rye two millions three hundred thousand quarters of Oats nine hundred thousand of Barley eight hundred thousand of Pease and Beanes eight hundred sixtie thousand Capons one hundred sixty thousand Hens five hundred sixtie thousand Partridge 50000. Beeves 12000. Muttons one million two hundred thousand Wine one million two hundred thousand Cuues Egges seven millions Butter 230000. Quintaux Cheese five hundred thousand Hogs one hundred thirty six thousand Pigges three hundred forty thousand Tallow sixty thousand Quintaux Hey six hundred thousand loads Straw eight hundred thousand Wood two millions with an infinite proportion of other necessaries imaginary only and incredible And yet he there a voweth all things with as great confidence as if himselfe had had the true abstract from all the Bookes of Accounts in each Monastery and Benefice in this Land For how is it possible the Church should have 200. millions of crownes yearely Rent when as by the computation here are but just so many Arpens of Land in all France which to rate one with another at a crowne an Arpen comes to this account which he allowes the Clergie and then is there nothing left for the other two States of the Nobilitie and people But inasmuch as the better halfe of their Revenue is by the Baise-mani there remaineth the better halfe of the Land to the other two States which notwithstanding is a proportion small enough Neere unto this reckoning commeth that which we reade in Bodin of Alemant a president of accounts in Paris whose judgement must carry good authority in this case as a thing belonging to his profession and wherein he was best experienced The Church Revenues in Land are reckoned orderly at twelve millions and three hundred thousand Livres but I dare justifie saith he that of twelve parts of the Revenues of France the Church possesse seven This opinion Bodin seemes to allow But it is rather thought to be true that the Comment de l' estat saith who of the two hundred millions of Arpens allowes the Church forty seven millions which by particulars of their Vineyards Medowes arable-Pastures and Heaths with their Woods is there set downe which here to follow in particular were too tedious Besides this Temporall they have their Baise-mani as is said that consisteth in Churchings Christnings Marriages Burials Holy-bread Indulgences Vowes Pilgrimages Feasts Processions Prayers for cattle for seasonable weather for Children against all manner of diseases and infinite such purposes for which the superstitious people will have a Masse said which they pay the Priest for particularly over and besides all this there is scarce that Arpen in all France upon which there is not some Dirige or de profundis some libera me Domine or some reckoning or other liable Concerning them of the Reformed Religion whom here in contempt they call Hugnonets yee may note that the number is not small considering that after the conference of Poissie above forty yeares since here were found 2150. Churches of them whereof not one hath escaped without some murthers or massacres and we may imagine that since that time this number is much increased But as for Religion it hath onely beene the cloake and shadow of their ambitious pretences without the which they could never have insinuated themselves so farre into the hearts of the people who are alwayes the gros de la bataille the maine Battell and without whom the Nobilitie may well quarrell but they cannot fight And therefore yee shall reade in some of the same Religion reformed That there were Huguonets as well of Estateâ— as of Religion These have now free permission to professe and places allotted for exercise with all libertie of conscience possible save that in the chiefe Cities of France they have no Churches allowed neither can be buried in Christian buriall as they call it if any of them die among the Catholikes with whom not withstanding they now live peaceably thorowout the Countrey But me thinkes they have here small reason to let them live together in a house and not suffer them to lie together in a Church-yard And as for warring any longâ—r for Religion the French-mâ—â— utterly disclaimes it he is at last growne wise marry he hath bought it somewhat deare The Italian is wise bâ—forehand the Almaine in the doing and the Frenchâ— after the thing is done saith one of their own writers let us pâ—sâ—aetor sapâ—â—â— Concerning the Nobilitie of France saith La Nove They are exceeding valorous and courteous and there is no State in Christendome where they are in so great number It hath beene argued before in this Relation that there be at least 50000. able to beare Armes but that is thought with the most Monsieur du Fay thinks them about thirty thousand in which number ye must conclude all degrees of Gentlemen from the highest to the lowest that beare Armes for so the French call their Noblesse whereas we in England make two distinct orders of the Nobility Gentry as they call it Those are Noble which can prove a long tract of time wherein a Fee and Knights service thereto belonging hath resided in their family And another Writer saith In France men are esteemed Noble by bloud and profession of Armeâ— And sure if there be difference in Nobility as there must needs bee because the causes be different for some are ennobled by their valour and Martiall knowledge and others by their Offices and prudence in the manage of matters of Estate I see no reason but that these last should be holden the more Noble Nobility if I may so say alwayes giving the first place to them that are of Noble Houses by Race For of all these three sorts the French Writers speake when they say There is a difference of Nobles The first by Race The second by Ennobling and of Ennobling there are two sorts One by Patent duly proved in the Court of Parliament The other by meanes of Offices to which they are advanced And howsoever Turquet hereof inferreth that it is la vertu que fait la Noblesse carâ—ily a de nobles vilains et de vilains nobles Vertue that maketh Nobility for there are Noble Peasants and peasantly Nobles yet sure it is that the degenerating of one from the Vertue of his Ancestors cannot prejudice the Nobility nor Eclipse the glory of his Succeeder who as Histories shew many times excell all the former of their house The highest degree of honour in France is the Pairrie in which order have beene sometimes seven sometimes eleven never above seventeene and most commonly twelve Whereupon they are called the Twelve Peeres of France These have the precedence before all the rest of the Nobility and of these they of the Bloud although they were latest called into the Pairrie Of these Peeres
there be six of the Clergie 1. Arch-Bishop and Duke of Rhemes 2. Bishop and Duke of Laon. 3. Bishop and Duke of Langres 4. Bishop and Comte of Beauvais 5. Bishop and Comte of Novon 6. Bishop and Comte of Chalons Of Temporall 1. Duke of Burgundy 2. Duke of Normandie 3. Duke of Guyenne 4. Count of Tholouse 5. Count of Champaigne 6. Count of Flanders Since these were first instituted many other houses have beene admitted into the Pairrie by the Kings of France and the old worne out As to them of Burgundie and Flanders were added the Dukes of Bretaigne Burbon Anjow Berrie Orleans the Counts of Arthois Ereux Alenson Estampes all of the Bloud in Charles the fifths time Since also in the times of Charles the ninth and Henry the third have new Pairries beene erected as Nevers Vandosine Guise Monpensier Beaumont Albret Aumal Memorencie Vzes Pentheur Mercoeur Ioieuse Espernon Rets Mâ—nbâ—son Vantadoure and others Ye must observe that the five ancientest Pairries of the Temporality are returned to the Crowne the sixth which is of Flanders doth recognize it no longer as now being Spanish Some say these Pairres quasi paresâ—inter se were first erected by Charlemaigne others by Hugh Capâ—t and others which is holden for the truest by Lewis le yeune 1179. to aid and assist the King in his Councell saith Bodin And therefore the Session of the King with his Pairres was called The Parliament without addition as the Kings Brothers and Sisters are called Monsieur and Madame sans queve whereas all other Soveraigne Courts are named with an addition as Le Parlement de Paris le Parl. de Roven c. Yee may also observe that they of the Laity have the right hand of the King and the Clergie the left in all assemblies or solemne Sessions whatsoever I thinke this division of the Pairrie into these two sorts was derived from that ancient order of the Gaules of whom Caesar speaketh Of the Nobility of Gallia are two sorts the Dâ—â—â—des and Gentlemen where he likewise discourseth of their divers Offices This Honour of Pairre of France was at first given for life onely afterwards for them and their Heires Males and lastly to the women also for default of Males who likewise are called to sit in Councell and Assemblies as are the Queenes of France as at the Assembly at Blois and at the the Arrest of Counte de Clermont in the time of Saint Lewis where the Countesse of Flanders is named present among the other Peeres Ye must note that Peeres and Princes of the Bloud bee privileged from being subject to any Writ or Processe but in case of high Treason and then also no Processe can bee commenced against them before any other Iudges whatsoever but before the King sitting in his Court of Parliament sufficiently assisted by the Peeres of France All other Iudges are incompetent But to leave the discourse of this highest honour in France and speake of the Noblesse in generall ye shall read in history that at the end of the second Race of Kings they beganne to take their surnames of their principall Feifs Since when of later yeares some have contrarily put their surnames upon their Feifs which hath so confounded the Noblâ—sse saith Haillan as it is now hard to finde out the ancient and true Nobility These are they among whom the Proverbe is still currant A man of Wâ—rre should have no more learning but to be able to write his owne name And therefore their profession is onely Armes and good Horsemanship wherein if they have attained any perfection they little esteeme other vertues not caring what the Philosopher saith One only Anchor is not sufficient to hold a great ship Nor considering that the old Gallants of the World were wont to joyne the one with the other and ancient Painters were accustomed to paint the Muses all together in a troope to signifie that in a Nobleman they should not be parted Hereof it commeth that the French Noblesse glorying in their Armes call themselves The Arme of their Country the Guardians of Armes and Terrour of their Enemies but they never stile themselves the Professors of vertue This Estate of the Nobility saith one of all the three Estates is smallest in number of men and poorest in living which no question must needs be true after so long a civill warre and herewith accordeth he that wrote the late troubles The French Noblesse is fallen from their ancient wealth wherwith they were adorned in the times of Lewiâ— the twelfth and Francis the first And I durst affirme that if all they that bear this Title were divided into ten parts eight of them are impaired by sales morgages or other debts The same Author yeeldeth five reasons of the poverty of the Noblesse of France First the Civill Warres Secondly Superfluous expences in apparell Thirdly Houshold-stuffe Fourthly Building Fifthly Diet and Followers And in another place taxing the extreme prodigality superfluity of the French in their Apparell Building and Diet he saith If the Warre hath brought us foure ounces of poverty our owne follies have gotten us twelve I will not herein bee mine owne judge saith hee but let us doe as Players at Tennis be judged by all the lookers on and they will confesse that by these excessive expences a great number of the Noblesse goe a foot pace others trot and many runne post to the downfals of poverty I should in this relation of the French Nobility doe them great wrong to beleeve and report for truth what the Cabinet du Roy one of their owne Country saith of them who according to the severall Provinces giveth them severall Epithites The Noblesse of Berry saith he are Paillards Leachers they of Tourraine are Voleurs Theeves they of Guyenne Coyners they of Tholouse Traitors they of Narbonne Covetous they of Province Atheists they of Lyonnois Treacherous they of Rhoimes Superstitionâ—â— they of Normandie Insolent they of Prâ—â—â—die Proud and so forth of all the rest But I will doe them more right and conclude of them that for privilege and noblenesse of Race they may compare with any Nobility of Christendome For proofe of the first The King hath nothing of his Noblesse but Sword-service And for the second saith another The French Noblesse is composed of so famous houses that there are a dozen of them descended by right line from Kings that have peaceably possessed Kingdomes Having briefly spoken of the two first Estates of France the Clergy and Nobility It lastly remaineth I speake of the people in generall and namely of their freenesse of Speech manner of Diet kinds of Buildings sorts of Exercises fashion of Apparell diversitie of Language suddennesse of apprehending rashnesse in executing impatience in deliberation and divers other natures and humours proper to the Frenchmen wherein ye shall not looke for a methodicall and large discourse but a briefe and compendious remembrance of such things as I have read and observed in this Nation It is
call it in their tongue the Devils Head Gothia signifieth a good Country which doth well agree thereto for the abundance of sustenance no Region being comparable unto it for fertility of Flesh Fish and Corne. Next followeth Sweveland which is larger than Norwey and Gotland both together In Sweveland is Vpsalia their chiefe Citie an Archbishopricke and an Vniversity and Stockholme the Kings seat Stringa Envecopia Orogundia Arboia Arosia Then comes Finland situated betweene the Balticke and Finland Bay where stand Abo the chiefe City Rangina and Augo both famous Mart-Townes Vames Viburge and Castelholme in the Alandian Islands The Husbandmen doe not inhabit in Townes but by reason of the plentie of Timber and Woods the Vallies and other places are so well defended from the fury of the Northerne wind that they live here in very good sort keeping in their houses flocks of Cattell and all sorts of instruments to digge to build or to make any thing necessary for the life of man and this is the reason that Townes here are neither so faire nor so frequent as in Germanie or England Over and above the Cities and Villages there are accounted 1433. Parishes in some of which a thousand people or as they terme it a thousand housholders or fires doe inhabit but there are few of these Parishes in which at the least there are not one hundred families By this a man 〈◊〉 judge the number of this people especially if he consider the fruitfulnesse of their generation for the Women of Finland by a secret operation of their Beere as some think become exceeding fruitfull The men live here very long chiefly in the most Northerly parts neither is it miraculous amongst them to see a man live above an hundred thirty or forty yeares And in truth this long living is the cause of their propagation for where men live shortest lives there the vertue of generation must needs soonest decay and therefore our Lord God in the beginning of the world did permit mankinde to live seven hundred yeares and more that the world might the sooner be peopled and the act of generation which now for the shortnesse of our lives is determined within forty yeares was then more vigorous at one hundred and upward than in this our age at twenty There is not onely Finland but Finmacke also bordering upon the North Ocean and lying beyond the Arctike circle whose barbarous inhabitants be Witches and Idolaters They usually sell winds to Merchants to carry their ship to any Port and to bring them backe againe which some making just scruple of have laid wind-bound in the harbour whiles others have made prosperous voyages Bothnia or Bodia which gives name to the Sinus Bodicus is also under his dominion To these may be added these new conquests which this present King Gustavus Adolphus the gallantest and most warlike Prince of these times hath already made or shall make hereafter in Prussia where he hath taken Elbing and other Townes and Lands from the Polander with whom he is still in warres and now ready to come with an Army also into Germany He hath under him eleven Dukedomes twelve Earledomes and seven Bishopricks The whole is from Stockholme one way a thousand Italian miles and twenty dayes journey another The riches of this kingdome consisteth in plenty of victuals which this word Gothia signifying an heavenly Region as we said before and Finland signifying a fine land or Country doe well witnesse Their provision is Flesh fresh-Fish salt-Fish Fish dried in the smoke and Sunne Corne and Beere whereof there is so great abundance that it is a hard thing to see a begger amongst them and Travellers are there freely entertained The Innes at this day in the Villages being the Parsons houses who expect some rare toy by way of gift rather than of pay for they doe it of courtesie It is so rich in Mines of Lead Copper Silver and some Gold that no Province in Europe may compare therewith And these Mines are to be found in every place if the Country people bound to carry wood to the Mines and to servile works did not hide and hinder the discoverie thereof as much as in them lieth Most fine Silver is found in the Province of Vestros and more would be were it not for the envie of the Inhabitants who though they know not the use of trying of Mâ—ttals doe notwithstanding murmure that any strangers should imploy their labours therein And this their frowardnesse toward strangers ariseth not of hatâ—ed but upon a jealousie that they should be over-reached or otherwise abused for by nature they are simple and well meaning not given to ambition nor infected wâ—th avarice The Kings revenue consisteth in foure things the tenths of Ecclesiasticall livings Mine Tributes and Customes The profits of the Church-livings amount to a great summe of money for in this Kingdome there were seven Cathedrall Churches threescore Monasteries of Men and Women endowed with most rich revenues First Gustan and after his sonne Eric seized the greatest part thereof into their possessions Of the Mines some are wrought at the Kings charges some at the charge of private persons allowing the tenth part to the King Of three Copper-works I have knowne the tenth part which is the Kings to amount to the value of three thousand Dolars yearely hereby estimation may be made of the Silver and Lead But his taxes doe farre surpasse all his other In-comes for he levieth the tenth of Rie Wheat Barley Fish Oxen Skinnes and such like Of the tenth of Oxen at some times he hath gathered eighteene thousand and with them maintaineth his Court his Officers his Navie and his Armies for in the time of warre either with the Dane or Moscovite he alloweth his Souldiers victuals and by this meanes provideth it at very easie rates as well offending as defending The mariage of the Kings daughters is at the disposition of the people and they allow them besides Silver Plate and other gifts one hundred thousand Dolars for a Dowrie Of the Vplandish people and others which pay not the imposition of victuals the King is accustomed to exact of every poll according to his ability five Dolars or more yearely The customes are paid in the Haven-Townes the chiefe whereof are Calmar Loabuis and Stockholme whereat sometimes three hundred ships of burthen are to bee seene Abo Auge Revalia Parnovia and Narve It is thought that the King doth lay up in his Treasury six or seven hundred thousand Dolars over and above the expences upon the fortresses of Revalia and Viburgh for so did he in the yeare 1578. out of two or three Mines onely and yet this was but the Kings tenth whereas if need be he may take all the silver and pay the masters of the worke with victuals Câ—pper or other commodity There are maintained in Sweveland and Gothland about thirty two Companies every troope consisting of five or six hundred Souldiers all Harquebusiers alwayes
this Iland goes much upon the number of threescore Many masters hath this also had first the Phenicians and then the Greekes thirdly the Moores of Barbary from them the Spaniard tooke it after their expulsion out of Spaine Charles the fifth lastly gave it to the Knights of Saint Iohns of Ierusalem when the Turke had beaten them out of the Rhodes Anno 1522. the length of it is twenty miles and the breadth twelve The countrey people both in language and attire much resemble their old Masters and Sires of Affrica their Arabick Dialect being much corrupted with words crept in out of the severall Countries from whence their Knights doe come The women are handsome and the men jealous The Citizens be altogether Frenchified The whole number of Inhabitants is about 20000. The weather is hot and the soile barren as being onely a flat Rocke with a pan of earth a foot or two thicke Trees hath it few and Rivers none watered only with fountaines and raine water All their Corne is Barley which and Olives makes the best part of a Malteses dinner Plenty of Anice seed Comine seed and Hony they vent to Merchants Here also growes the perfectest Cotton Wooll The people are healthy dying rather of age than of diseases The Religion Popish Foure Cities be upon the I le quartered under the command of ten Captaines whereof Valetta is both the fairest and the strongest built 1565. and so named of Valetta the Grand Master famous for his valour against the Turks Founded upon a rocke it is high mounted wonderfully fortified close to the Sea and by land assaultable onely at the South end Victualled continually it is for three yeares new provision still supplying the expence of the old sent in from Sicily and by reason of the heat of the Country preserved under ground This small City is neighbour to two others La Isula and Saint Hermes each distant but a musket shot from other neere to the Haven and on the East end and North side of the Iland from which Malta the fourth City is eight small miles separated Two Forts more it hath Saint Michael and Saint Angelo So that all together this Iland is thought the most impregnable place of the world The Knights of Ierusalem since called of the Rhodes command all in all here no man daring to contradict Of these there bee five hundred continually resident in the Iland and five hundred mâ—re a thousand being their whole number dispersed in other Alberges or Hospitals in Europe Of them at this day there be seven seminaries one of France in generall one of Auvergne one of Provence one of Casrile one of Germany one of Arragon and one of Italie the eighth of England was suppressed by Henry the eighth These knights be all Friers by profession their Vow was to defend the Sepulcher of Christ now it is to defend the Romish Religion and Countries against the Infidels Of every one of these there is a Grand Prior having goodly houses and Seminaries in divers Countries living in great plenty and reputation Such an house of theirs was that of Saint Iohns commonly called Saint Ioanes without Smithfield The builder of which house was Thomas Docwra Prior then whose name lives in Esquires estate at Offley in Hartford shire c. A Knight of this order was to prove himselfe a Gentleman for six descents over the gate therefore may you see that testified by so many Eschutcheons There also is to be seene their Vow and Title expressed in the Motto Sarie ✚ Boro The word Sarie being accented with harsh aspirations to brand the Saracens with a note of wickednesse Both words with the figure of the crosse betwene signifie thus much Defender of the Crosse of Christ against the wicked Saracens This is written in the Saracen tongue the language of Malta which words expressing their Vow and Title is not much unlike to that of Raimund the first Master of their order whose Motto was The poore servant of Christ and defender of the Hospitall of Ierusalem And thus much by the way out of Docwra's pedigree for preserving of this antiquity Of these thousand Knights of the Rhodes there be sixteene more eminent than the rest called Great-Crosses for that the white crosse upon their blacke cloake which is the cognizance of their order they are privileged to weare larger than the rest Over all these there is one grand Master for whose election two are appointed out of each of the eight Nations two supplying the place of the English also these sixteene make choice of a Knight a Priest and a Frier-servant and those three nominate one of the sixteene Great Crosses to bee Grand Master for which place the foresaid Docwra was once in competition The stile of this Master is The illustrious and most reverent Prince my Lord Frier great Master of the Hospitall of Saint Iohns of Ierusalem Prince of Malta and Goza The Estate of the Grand Master arising out of the profits of the Iland of Malta â—tselfe is valued at ten thousand ducats besides what he hath out of the I le of Goza which the ancients called Glacon and Strabo Gaudon lying but one mile to the South-west of Malta and twenty miles in compasse The rest of his Entrada is made up out of fat Commendams of Ecclesiasticall dignities in severall Countries and of pensions from other Princes He hath an allowance out of the publike treasury the tenth of all prizes by Sea as also the whole or the cheife part of whatsoever estate any of the officers belonging to his owne person shall chance to leave behinde them The severall Knights are very rich besides their temporall lands in severall Countries enjoying divers Commendams and pensions also of which they are capable after five yeares of their admission and when they have made foure martiall expeditions Their common treasury is maintained by the gifts of Princes by the admissions of novices into their order each Knight paying an hundred and fifty crownes and every Frier-servant an hundred at his first entrance and lastly by the deaths of their brethren for when any of the Fraternity dies the whole order is heire excepting onely of one fifth part These consist not so much in the number of the Knights for they are but five hundred upon the Iland at once though the other five hundred are to come in upon summons as in their valour and resolution the whole Iland may perchance make six or eight thousand men able to beare armes and Goza the third part of that number The Ilanders are alwayes well trained for land-service and how much they are able to doe was seene by their repulsing the Turkish invasion By Sea the religion maintaineth but only five Gallies and one ship by report so stinted each galley carrying seventeene peeces of Ordnance and foure or five hundred men More than these wise men peradventure will imagine that a barren and small Iland living for the most part
upon the neighbourhood of Sicily can hardly maintaine If more there are they pertaine to private men Besides which certaine Phaluccoes they have vessels they be twice so bigge as a wherry and rowed by five men which they send out for scouts and to discover the booty The expeditions which they make are little better than for bootie either in the night time landing on the maine of Africa and surprizing some villages or scowring along the coast and taking small and weake barkes out of which they take the men and goods and turne the hulke adrift with wind and weather Lorraine THis was once a Kingdome of it selfe containing all those Countries lying betwixt the Rivers Rhine and Scheld and the mountaine Vogesus wherein are Brabant and Gelderland Lutzenburg Limburg and the Bishopricke of Leige These were at severall times taken away from it some given by the Emperours to the younger families and some to the Church That which is now left to the Duke was of his ancestor Lotharius called by the Latines Lotharij regnum or as the Germans speake Lotars-ricke is bounded upon the East with Alsatia upon the South with Burgundie towards the West with Champaigne and towards the North with the Forest of Arden The length is foure dayes journey and the breadth three In it are many goodly Rivers as the Meuse Mosel c. And fine Townes as Nancie where the Duke commonly resideth Saint Nicholas and five others of good esteeme upon the Frontier and Inland whereof Pont Musson is an Vniversity It yeeldeth Wine and Wheat sufficient for the provision of its owne Inhabitants and affordeth Cattell Horse and River-fish in some good measure to the defects of their neighbours In manners and fashion they resemble their neighbours the French and the Germans both whose languages the most can speake In courtesie and civility they strive to imitate the French in drinking the Germans Yet not here the one so punctually as the French nor the other so inordinately as the Dutch They are good souldiers free of disposition and rather subtill than politike The Duke of Lorraine is of the best and ancientest bloud of Europe as descended from Charles the Great He also claimes to bee King of Ierusalem And for such Courts as these petty Princes maintaine you shall finde therein many fine Gentlemen His counsels are mostly directed by the Iesuits and his favourite Count de Boulla Surely his Riches cannot be great for of commodities nothing of value can bee said to arise therein save certaine workes or cups of Cassidony-stone some horses linnen cloth and manufactures and those vented into France and Germanie What to thinke of the silver mines therein I cannot shew Those that have estimated with the most have not related of above seven hundred and eight thousand crownes of yearely Revenue ordinary viz. five hundred thousand of rent and royaltie two hundred thousand from the Salt-pans and from the fishing of the Rivers and Lakes two thousand pounds sterling But others more probably allow him twelve hundred thousand crownes which might be more would he put his people to it Nancie is exceedingly well fortified after the moderne fashion and inlarged of late by addition of a new Towne and that also fortified And in former ages as it resisted the whole forces of Charles the Great Duke of Burgundie so this people also but united with the Switzers gave him three fatall overthrowes in the field Of any great Expeditions which they should particularly make of themselves I never read neither that any of their Neighbours have much affrighted them With the Switzers and the House of France they have alwayes held good correspondencie and Alliance So that if the Arch-Duke should quarrell with them on one side they have the Low-Countrimen their friends on the other And as for the King of Spaines neighbour-hood by reason of the proximity of the French Countrey of Burgundie it may alwayes be supposed that in regard of the Alliances before spoken of the one will bee loth to prejudice the other to neithers boast of advantage As for other petty Princes they stand in as much need to take care for their owne preservations as to invade anothers for that in truth this Prince exceedeth most of them in meanes forces friends and circuit of Territory This Principalitie gives titles of honour first to the Duke of Barre which is now united to the Dukes owne Family to six Counts or Earles and to seven Lords or Barons Hungarie HVngarie is a Noble Kingdome I call it Noble because whole volumes might be writ and yet extenuate the worth but not relate the troubles thereof Externall with the enemie of Christendome Internall by reason of confused dissention For sometime the glory of the Kingdome elateth them sometime private revenges divide them sometime the Nobility doth tyrannize over them and sometime the generall cause exciteth compassion For the plenty wherewith it aboundeth of all things both for use and pleasure it may be numbred amongst the most fertile Kingdomes of Europe In it are found fruits of as much variety and goodnesse as in Italy Corne sufficient to sustaine the Inhabitants Wine to furnish their neighbours Poland Silesia Moravia Bohemia Fish in such plentie that strangers borrow of their abundance from them and out of Valachia before the losse of Agria in 96. were Beeves driven into Italy and all parts of Germanie which now finde a present want in their former provision thorow the Turkes stopping of that passage The Hungarian Horse by nature are not improper for warre being couragious strong hardy and swift but for want of management they fit no service but travell to which the Italian Hackney-men and Almain Coach-men finde-them excellent Hungarland is divided by the River Danubius into two parts the one mountainous and therefore called the upper Hungarland abounding in Gold Silver and Copper-Ore the other nether Hungarland plaine without hils and called for the fertility thereof the Store-house of Italy and Germanie The Metropolitan Citie of that part of Hungarland that obeyeth the Emperour is Possonium or Presbâ—rgh which the Hungarians call Posonie little and not very beautifull no more than are Sirigonium Cassovia Niâ—ria Tervanio or any other Cities of Hungarland a reason whereof may be that the Gentlemen have their Houses in the Countrey and the Citizens are more studious to build for use than for pompe In confineth toward the North with Poland and Moravia on the East lieth Transilvania and Valachia on the South Bulgaria Servia Bosnia Sclavonia and Croatia and towards the West it is joyned to Stiria and Austria two thirds of it possessed by the Turke The Inhabitants be of stature and complexion not unlike the English but in habit resembling the poore Irish in Warre strong valiant and patient covetous above measure yet having rather desire than art to enrich themselves permitting of negligence the Germans to inherit in their Cities and to Trafficke their Merchandize a
also This did Trajan expresse in his-Coine or Medaglia which had the Image of Ceres on the Reverse with this Motto Abundantia Daciae From the Riches of the Countrey comes in the Revenue of the Prince This is raised first out of his own Crown-lands the Tenants it seemes paying as in Scotland so many Chaldron of victuals So that one where or other in the Country the Princes yearly parts come to a thousand mowes or stacks of wheat foure thousand Beeves and as many Horses hee hath still running and of sheepe about thirty thousand His second way of Revenues is by his Tenths out of the mines c. whereof Transilvania hath three of Gold two of Silver with Quick-silver among three of Iron some of Copper Steele and Antimony Lastly out of eight Salt-pits something comes to him also The third way arises out of the yearely Tribute and ordinary impositions besides his extraordinary Subsidies in times of warre So that though we by reason of distance and information cannot certainly value his Entrada yet verily hath it never beene read that the Princes of Transilvania ever wanted either money or victuals for their Armies either in warres offensive or defensive The neighbours unto Transilvania bee the Moldavians and Walachians all three Confederates who in a leaguer war have not only resisted the Turks but freed their Countries of them The Turke at this day being glad of a small Tribute for an acknowledgement from them knowing that if he should oppresse them the Emperour would be glad to take them into his protection His other neighbours be the Tartars and Russes who being Boot-halers rather than Souldiers he keeps them out of his Countrey by fortifying upon the eleven Gates or Passages But the two neighbours most to be accounted of are the Turke and the Emperour able friends but too mightie enemies for the Transilvanian But this helpe he hath against them both that if one proves his enemie hee puts himselfe under the protection of the other Thus Iohn Zepusio beaten by Ferdinand was restored by the Armes of Solyman and Sigismund of Transilvania falling out with the Turkes committed himselfe to the Emperour Rodulphus Againe for these last thirtie yeares have three severall Princes of Transilvania thought it more ease and safetie to incline themselves unto the Turkish favour than unto the Emperours The Forces that this Prince is able to raise â—â—y be some five and twenty or thirty thousand horse and foot and so many he may well lead out of the Countrey to a forren Expedition but the whole strength of the Land for the resisting of a common Enemie have beene numbred to amount unto ninety thousand fighting men resolute souldiers able bodies and still inured at least to heare of the warres But the maine strength of Transilvania consists in the multitude of Forts and Castles built not only upon the eleven passages aforesaid for the keeping out of the Invaders but aptly disposed in severall places within Land also as two namely at Alba Iulia lately erected by Bethlen Gabor as very many other likewise have beene since the yeare 1614. that he came to the government so that if hee continues but a few yeares he will leave his Transilvania as well fortified as the Low-Countries 18. or 20. principall peeces of strength are in the Princes hand all well garrison'd the Country being bound to finde the souldiers their provisions The Fort of Fogaras is one of the most impregnable places in the whole world and not much inferiour unto that is the Caâ—â—le of Radnet where sometimes Bethlen Gabor keepes his Court. I omit here the usuall Guards of the Prince which though they be souldiers in time of warre yet are they but like our Gentlemen pensioners and my fellowes of the Guard in time of peace The Government and Religion both are wonderfully much amended since the time of the noble Bethlen Gabor The people are growne more civill and the Countrey lesse Infested with Robbers As for the Religion Bethlen himselfe is a zealous Calvinist seldome going without a Latine Testament in his pocket Churches are so well repayred and served that none wants an Universitie man for its Minister Bethlen still maintaining an hundred poore Schollers upon his owne charges in the Universities of Germanie Colleges he hath built and endowed whereof that one of Clausenburg hath thirtie Fellowships yearely Synodes and disputations he appoints himselfe setting on incouraging and feasting the Divines and Disputers Thus reclaimes he the Hereticks for he usually cals it a marke of Antichrist By the sword to inforce the conscience The Estate of Gabriel Bethlen or Bethlen Gabor in Hungaria which came to him either by Election or by Conquest atchieved from the Emperour With a briefe Relation or Chronicle of his Birth and fortunes TRansilvania is as the maps shew on the East confined by Hungaria in the description whereof we told you of 11. famous gates or Avenues thorow which the Passages lead out of one Countrey into another Foure of which lie betwixt the possessions of this Prince in both kingdomes and next to the first of them on Hungaria side are his Counties of Szolnok and Maramaros this latter being governed by Stephan Bethlen brother unto Gabriel Bethlen The chiefe Towne is Szighet A rich Countrey it is and watered with the famous Tibiscus which in this County hath its fountaine Abutting upon the next Passage is the most plentifull Countrey called Szilagy and is divided into two Counties Crastno and the other Szolnok Upon the ninth Passage along the River Keoreo lyes the most delicate Country Keoreos Videke the chiefe Towne whereof is Varad whose Castle indured a siege of three hundred thousand Turkes in the yeare 1598. who yet rose without it Which Fort hath the famous Bethlen now re-edified from the very foundation fortified it alla moderna and built most stately Palaces about it Adorned also it is with a College of five and thirty Fellowes an hundred Schollars a Master and a publike Reader It hath two hot Baths like wise In this Countrey lyes the County of Bihar so named of Bihar its Metropolis and another County called Ermâ—llyâ—ke whose head is Dioszâ—gh and the chiefe Forts Somlgo and Szâ—kâ—lhid Upon the fourth Passage which is the eighth in order of those of Transilvania lyes the Countrey of Belenyes the head-Towne being of the same name also This is the native soile of our famous Gabriel Bethlen who was here borne in a Mannor house of his owne called Iktar hereabouts also is the Seat of Kornis the Family of his mother A Country it is plentifull in Woods Cattoll Corne Iron and Copper mines and on the South part it reaches unto the Castle of Illyem the Inheritance of his brother Stephan Bethlen on another side touching upon the County of Torontali which is under the Turke who hath also incroached into a part of this Countrey Here be the two strong Castles Ieneo and Baiom this latter is built in
hath hitherto done nothing To rehearse therefore what hee is and how his time and Armes have beene imployed may against these calumnies serve for a reall Apologie This Gabriel Bethlen whom we call Bethlen Gabor now writing himselfe Prince of the Sacred Roman Empire Lord of some part of Hungaria Duke of Oppelen and Ratibor c. was about the yeare 1580. borne of an ancient Nobility in his owne inheritance of Iktar aforesaid His Fathers name was the Lord Wolfgang Bethlen his Mother was descended also of the house of Kornis a Noble and an Ancient Sept or Tribe of the Sicali which bee the eldest Inhabitants of Transilvania His childhood was rather addicted to Armes than to Letters his Tutor had much adoe in keeping him from his delight of riding the great horses c. But comming to more maturity and discretion he so well redeemed his time lost at schoole that he attained to so much perfection in the Latine tongue as he was able extempore to answer the Emperours Ambassadours Oration in that language Anno 1622. Being afterwards brought up in the Court of Stephan Bathori Prince of Transilvania whose house in those dayes was a very schoole of military knowledge and exercises he so approved himselfe to that judicious Prince as he first of all made him a Captaine and to be briefe he was by the next Prince Stephan Boczkai made Generall of his Armies This honour and his fortunate management of it obtained him a wife of the noble Family of the Caroli by whom he had divers children though now all deceased Prince Boczkai dying the next Prince Gabriel Bathori continued him likewise in his military honour aforesaid swearing him also of his Privie Councell But this double greatnesse made him envied of the Nobility and this following occasion rendred him hatefull to the Prince It fortuned that in the yeare 1611. this Gabriel Bathori most unjustly bereaved the Saxon Nation of their chiefe City of Hermansradt whereupon complaint is made to the great Turke abroad and at home that Nation makes choice of the favour and greatnesse of Bethlen Gabor to be their mediator to the Prince Youthfull Bathori hereupon suspects him to be too popular offers him both ill language and blowes to boot Bethlen avoiding the Court escapes to Buda and from thence to Constantinople where hee was faine to stay two whole yeares Meanes being made in the meane time for the Saxons they obtaine an Armie of the Turke and request him to appoint Bethlen Gabor for his and their Generall Thus in October 1613. is he called backe to redresse the wrongs offered by a hated Prince and to releeve the miseries of his owne Countrie So welcome he proves and so successefull that the States and Chiefes both of the Saxons and the Siculi run amaine to Clausenburgh in the chiefe Temple wherof they for three daies together hold a great Councell about the deposing of their Prince Whereupon Bathori making shew freely to relinquish that which he could not hold did with a loud voice in the hearing of our Author then 15. years old and a studient in the Towne grant a free election for himselfe professing in these very words That whatsoever Prince this Kingdome of Transilvania shall make choice of I saith he am ready also to acknowledge for my Prince upon condition that he exercises no tyranny upon the three Nations of the Siculi Saxons and Hungarians Upon this resignation is Gabriel Beâ—hlen elected and sworne Prince of Transilvania Gabriel Bathori a Prince neither lawfully elected nor lawfully governing retires himselfe to his Castle of Varadmum where he is shortly and treacherously murthered by his owne servants for which they are executed by Bethlen Gabor the yeare following He being thus setled first of all sets upon the reparations of the Castles and Forts of his Countrey re-edifies and inlarges Varadinum lately dismantled by the Turkes Thus spends he his two first yeares 1614. and 1615. The next yeare the Turke comes downe against Poland with 410000. men and the Polander meets him with 250000. Gabriel foreknowing that whosoever gained the victory might afterwards turne his Armes upon him goes with 25000. men into the neighbour Moldavia where the other two Armies lay incamped with this handfull of men he passes the River Nester puts himselfe betwixt both Armies mediates a peace effects it is storm'd at by the Turkes and much thanked by the Polander but ill requited afterward when in the yeare 1620. Bethlen was ingaged in his warres with the Emperour Returning home hee the same yeare 1616. being his third founds a College at Alba Iulia takes order for solemne and frequent disputations against the Arrian and Papists converts many of the first sort The next two 〈◊〉 â—e reviâ—es and betters the execution of good lawes reduces Justice and Civility and though the warres were 〈◊〉 and the Reformed Religion much afflicted in German◠〈◊〉 c. yet hee intends his owne Government and intermeddles 〈◊〉 but intercepting at length some intelligence of the publike designâ— of the Princes leaguers of the Romisâ— Religion which was utterly to root out the Reformed and perceiving the Iesuites and others more busie and pragmaticall at home and that the Emperours Armie pretended to be sent against the Turkes was now upon its march and very suspiciously advanced as farre as the frontiers of his Transilvania he thinks it time to take the alarum he armes and with a small company drawes neere to observe the motions of the Imperialists stands still upon the defensive and does no more Not long after is his aid solicited by the Ambassadours of Bohemia Moravia and Silesia his confederates miserably troubled by the Emperor for Religion For them he first peaceably mediates to Caesar and being neglected hee in the yeare 1620. leads out his Armie if not to releeve them yet to countenance their cause and to draw the Emperour to more moderate conditions In their quarrell and Religions he takes Presburg from the Imperialists October 13. 1620. Next yeare he passes the Danubie and to be short is fairely elected King of Hungarie and though hee had the Imperiall Crowne of Hungarie in his owne hands yet refused he to be crowned with it This temper of his preserved him for besides the treachery of his owne Popish subjects he had heard a suspitious word let fall by the Emperour of the Turks to this purpose Now saith he that Bethlen Gabor is King of Hungarie he must needs in the next place affect our Buda the ancient royall Citie to reigne in This word made him feare the Turks and foâ—beare his owne Coronation onely carrying the Crowne away with him Thus ended the yeare 1621. The next yeare the Emperour remanding the Crowne Bethlen assembles a Parliament at Cassaw where the Popish patty prevailes the Crowne is sent backe the title of King is laid downe in lieâ— of which he receives these conditions from the Emperour First he is acknowledged a soveraigne and independent Prince Secondly he is
tailes from ours being most broad and containing twenty pound in weight There are a kinde of Lions which in many places dare to adventure upon two hundred Horsemen The Leopards are strong and cruell yet seldome hurt they men The beast which the Arabians terme Dabul and the Africans Ieses is a base and simple beast in fashion and bignesse resembling the Wolfe but in feet and thighs like a man This beast will dig mens Carcases out of their graves and devoure them towards all other Creatures he is harmelesse The sorts of Apes are very diverse Here liveth the Mus-cat and the wilde Conie The strange Fishes and other watry Creatures found in Nilus Niger and other principall Rivers are innumerable The Ambara for his shape and hugenesse is prodigious as a Creature containing twenty five foot in length The Hippotame a beast like an Horse and as big as an Asse liveth as well in Waters as on the Land and by his often striking of Boats laden with Merchandize with his sharpe prickles sinketh them under water The Sea Oxe differeth nothing from the Land Oxe save in smalnesse of stature The Tortoise liveth in Desarts and are found oftentimes as big as a barrell The Crocodile resembleth the Lacerta and is twelve cubits long in body and as many in taile Most huge Dragons and poisonsome are often seene What people inhabit Africke FIve severall Nations inhabit this part of the World viz. the Caseres that is people without Law the Moores the Abussines the Aegyptians the Arabians and the Africans whereof some are white and some blacke In Religion some are likewise Gentiles and worship Idols some Mahumetans some Christians and some Iewes All which Nations some Writers will have derived from Cham the Sonne of Noe excepting some certaine Arabians of the feed of Sem which entred Africke after the residue And these Arabians are distinguished into many Families or Regiments use diverse and many habitations and possesse as many Regions some dwelling by the Sea-side properly termed Arabians some in the Up-land and they are called Badium Others in innumerable swarmes leade a roguish life with their Wives and Children in the Wildernesse dwelling in Tents instead of Houses altogether given rospoile and alike infestuous to neighbour and traveller which is the cause that the Inhabitants dare not travell alone but stay the time of the Caravan that is the whole assembly of the Merchants travelling upon Camels and Asses all in one company at a set time of the yeare for feare of the theevish and roguish Arabians As the Nations are diverse so are their languages the chiefe they call Aquâ—lamarig that is the robâ—e Language and of the Arabians inhabiting Africa the Barbarian Language And this is the true and proper Idiome of the Afâ— utterly differing from the residue save that it favoureth of many Arabicke words The Gnabets Zombati Ghinians the Mellidi and Gagonti use the Sungai Language The Gubarits Canontes Chesenes and the other blacke-Moores use the Gâ—ber tongue The Abassines have their proper speech Moreover the Chaldean Aegyptian and Arabian tongues with another compounded of all three are in use in some places and by the intercourse of Merchants many are accustomed to speake the Moorish Turkish Spanish and Italian Languages All the Sea-Townes from the Mediterran to Mount Atlas speake the Arabian corruptly except the Kingdome and Citie of Marocco which wholly speake the Barbarian The noblest part at this day is called Barbarie and containeth all that Sea-tract which reacheth from Aegypt to the Gaditan Sea inhabited by the Arabians and including divers Provinces At first it was under the Empire of the Greekes secondly under the Vandals and lastly under the Saracens and Arabians who left them their language Some part thereof at this day is subject to the Turke some to Xeriffe and some to the King of Spaine Their manners are not so much differing from those of the Arabians but that they are somewhat more civill ambitious light subtill treacherous wrathfull boasters suspitious and exceeding jealous They are very active and readie Horsemen but not able to indure labour Barbarie BARBARIE is divided into foure Kingdomes Marocco Fez Telesine and Tunes Sanutus addeth a fifth viz. Barca Into what and how many Shires or Provinces these portions are divided let him reade Leo Afer that desireth the particulars Numidia is the second part of Africke and is termed by Leo Afer Biledulgerid that is the Almond-Countrey But it is of lesse estimation than the residue and therefore injoyeth not the Title of a Kingdome It was once disinhabited as was Barbarie and at this day the Townes are but small base scattering and very farre distant one from another Those places that they manure lye beyond Atlas and are hot and drie but being watered with certaine streams descending from the Mount they yeeld Almonds in abundance but scarcity of Corne nor any fruitfull tree except the Palme Those grounds that border upon Lybia are invironed with craggie Mountaines destitute of water and all manner of trees except some fruitlesse shrubs at the foot of the Hils As for infinite store of Scorpions and Serpents it is so over-laid that many are daily found dead by their venemous bitings In old time they were idolatrous and at this day little better irreligious ignorant base treacherous man-killers and Theeves utterly destitute of any civill knowledge save that some few of them addict themselves to the studie of the Lawes The Arabians that live amongst them love Poësie and are more civill but very poore They live long but their teeth soone perish with eating of Almonds and their sight faileth by the annoyance of the Sands They know not the French disease yea if an infected person should but come into the Countrey it were Physicke enough to cleare him Their chiefe food is Barley Almonds and other most course food as for Bread they never taste it but on Festivals And that Corne which they have they exchange for Almonds Lybia LYbia the third part of Africke was once called Sarra that is desart and so it is a Desart drie and sandy countrie utterly bereaved of Springs and Rivers unfruitfull and those which they have they keepe in standing pooles and those also but rare and salt So that the Merchants which are to travell over those Countries must provide carriage for water otherwise man and beast might perish as not possible to finde one drop in six or seven dayes journey By this Region lyeth the way from Fez to Tombut and from Telesine to Agadas a countrie of the Moores Not past one hundred yeares since they that were to travell from Fez to Cairo were accustomed to travell by these Desarts but upon the rising of the South-wind the Wells although intrenched with skins and bones of Camels were so overwhelmed with sands that the Merchants not able to finde either signe or token of way or water have perished in the journey through extreme thirst Some Rivelets they have descending out of Atlas
upon hope of meriting salvation by the slaughter of our people The same fury be it spoken to our shame inrageth the Turkes especially for the propagation of their heresies you shall see them more liker people running to the celebration of a mariage-feast than to a war-journey hardly induring to stay the limited time of the Randevou They account them Saints which die with their weapons in their hands and those most unhappie which depart this world amongst the teares of their children and the mournings of their wives By this it may sufficiently appeare what forces the Xeriffe is able to bring to the field but examples will make it more cleare Muley Abdala beleagred Magazan with two hundred thousand men He filled the ditch with a mount made of earth and with his Ordnance beat the wall levell with the ground but by the prowesse of the Portugal and fury of their Miners he was forced to raise his siege and depart It is certaine he is not able to hold any warre above three months because the souldier liveth upon his daily allowance of Diet and Apparell and when such like provisions cannot be conveyed to the place of necessitie without great labour and hazard it commeth oftentimes to passe that for want of provision the armie is constrained to breake and retire Molucco King of Fez who defeated Sebastian had under his standard forty thousand Horse-men and eight thousand hired foot-men and with the Arabians and other common souldiers it is thought that hee is able to levie seventie thousand horse and a farre greater number of foot The Higher Aethiopia or the Empire of Presbyter Iohn LInschoâ—en is of opinion that Presâ—er Iohn is but a supposed name The Moores terme him Asiclabassi his owne Subjects Acegune prime Emperour and Negus chiefest King He saith his true denomination is Bel-gian Bel as afore signifieth highest and Gian Lord which is also proper to many Commanders and Governours under him but Bel-gian to none â—ave the Emperour himselfe whereunto he addeth the Sir-name of David in the same sense as the Christian Emperours assume the Titles of Caesar or Augustus and worthily For he is the greatest and powerfullest Prince in all Africke His Dominions begin at the entrance of the Red-sea and stretch to the entrance of the Island of Siene lying under the tropicke of Cancer excepting some part of the Coast upon the same Sea which the Turke within these fourescore yeares hath taken from him So that his government towards the North-west and East lyeth most part by the Red-sea and North-east upon Aegypt and the desarts of Nubia and upon the South-side upon Monemugi So that to set downe the greatnesse of all the Countries which this Christian King hath under his command were to say that in compasse they containe foure thousand Italian miles Iosâ—phus affirmeth that in ancient times they were called Chusaet of Chus the sonne of Cham And at this day some hold that the Portugals terme them Câ—ssios But in the Aegyptian tongue they are stiled Abessini by reason of their scattering habitation The Countrey by report of late Travellers is most fertill For admit it yeeld Wheat in scarcitie yet aboundeth it in Barley Millet Pease Beanes and such like Pulse as we neither know nor can name And although the Soveraigntie of this Prince be very magnificent powerfull and spacious yet in truth doth it nothing answer the fame and report of the vulgar Horatius Malaguccius in his discourse De amplitudine dominiorum hujus temporis maintaineth it to be larger than the Empire of any other Potentate except that of the King of Spaine Truly I must needs say that in elder age by the number of his Titles it may be conjectured that his Dominions did stretch farre for he did intitle himselfe King of Goiam which is beyond Nilus Vaâ—gue and Damur places situated beyond the River Zair whereas at this day he hardly commeth neere the bankes of either River yea Iohn Baroz writeth that the Abessines by reason of the Mountaines betweene them and Nilus have little or no knowledge of that River It is divided into vast Plaines fertill Hillocks and Mountaines though wonderous high yet fit for tillage and full of habitation It is not very well stored with Wheat but it bringeth forth Barley Millet a certain other Graine wholesome and indurable Indian Wheat and all other kinde of Pulse as well knowne as unknowne to us in very plentifull manner They have Vines but make no Wines unlesse it be in the Kings Court or the Patriarchs Palace instead wherof they brew a kinde of sharpe Beverage made of the fruit of Tamerind The Orange Limon and Cedar tree grow wilde They make Oyle of a certaine fruit which they call Zava it is of a good colour but unsavoury The Bees build their Hives even in their houses whereupon ariseth a great quantitie of Wax and Honey Their garments are woven of a Cotton-wooll The richer sort are clothed in sheep-skins the Gentlemen in cases of Lions Tygers and Linces Their riches consist in heards of Oxen Goats Sheepe Mules Asses and Camels Of horses their breed is small but they have great store of goodly Coursers brought them from Arabia and Aegypt They have Hens Geese wilde-swine Harts Goats and Hares but no Conies yea and such Beasts of which we have not the like as Panthers Lions Elephants and Linces To speake in a word there is no Countrie under heaven fitter for increase of Plants and all living creatures but none lesse helpt by art or industry for the Inhabitants are idle and unthriftie They have Flax but make no cloth they have Sugar-canes and Iron-mines but know not the use of either and as for Smiths they feare them as fiends They have Rivers and streames yet will not they take paines in droughts to cut the bankes to water their Tillage or hearten their grounds Few give themselves to hunting or fishing which causeth their fields to swarme with fowle and venison and their Rivers with fish But it seemeth that the true ground of their idlenesse ariseth from their evill usage for their poore people perceiving their Land-lords to pole and pill them never sow more than they needs must They keepe no method in their speeches and to write a letter many men and that many dayes must lay their wits together At meales they neither use cloth napkin nor tables They are utterly ignorant in Physicke The Gentlemen Burgers and Plebeians dwell apart yet may any man rise to honour by vertue and prowesse The first borne is heire to all even to the uttermost farthing Thorow the whole Land there is not a Towne containing above sixteene hundred housholds and but few of that quantity For for the most part they dwel dispersed in small Villages They have no Castle or fortification in imitation of the Spartans maintaining that a Countrey ought to be defended by the Sword and not by strength of earth or stone They barter one thing for another and
Manicongo Coâ—go Mombassa Quiolasafola Melinde Mosambique Monâ—â—â—â—gi with the rest within land are all inhabited with Moores Mahumetans Heathen and barbarous people who live plentifully upon those good nutriments which God and nature hath provided for those places traffiking and bartering one with another some for Ambergrice Wax Silver Copper and Rice some for Gold Pearle Linnen and Silks and others for Ivory Cotton and such inbred commodities as each Province peculiarly can spare to the necessities of the other Monomotapa seemeth to be civiller and better governed than any of the residue and is almost an Island lying betweene the Rivers of Cuama and Spirito Sancto from whence it stretcheth along the Sea-coast to the Cape of good Hope and on the North to the Kingdome of Moâ—emugi It is an hundred and fifty leagues in compasse and all the Vice-Royes or Lieutenants throughout that whole territory doe acknowledge the King thereof for their Soveraigne Of Townes and Villages they have few but Cottages many and those compacted of timber thatcht Cities there are also many whereof Zimbas and Benemetaxa are betweene twenty and five and twenty miles distant from Sofola towards the West The soile aboundeth with Corne and Cattell great and small wandring by herds through the fields and woods By the store of teeth from thence yearely transported we can but conjecture that lesse than five Elephants cannot but die in this Country these beasts are herevery huge There is no climate like it for plenty of Gold for there are said to be three thousand Mines whereout Gold is usually digged Which commodity is also found as well in the Plaines as in Rocks and in Rivers Whereof the Mine of Manica Boro Quiticui and Teroâ— which some men all Butna are the chiefest So that some men are of opinion that out of this Countrey Salomon procured his Gold and Ivory to be brought unto Ierusalem Which seemeth not unlikely for that in this Kingdome were found many old and Prince-like buildings and those very costly in Timber Stone Chalke and Wood which in the Countries thereabouts are not to be found The Government is great and extendeth over many warlike people all Pagans meane of stature blacke well set and very swift Their weapons are Darts and light Targets and the men much given to rebellion the cause wherefore the Prince retaineth the heires of his vassall Princes to be secured of their parents as also that he entertaineth strong Regiments in severall Provinces divided into legions after the Roman manner Amongst the which that he accounteth his battalion of Amazons comparable for trust of person to the Turkish Pretorian Ianizars with their manner of warfare copulation and educating of their males according to the ancient custome of those masculine Viragoes you may by my leave confidently beleeve because some late travellers have as lately reported it But truth it is that according to their uncivill civility they converse with the King kneeling on their knees and to sit in his presence is the use with them as with us to stand and that is granted but to great Lords onely The assay of meat and drinke is not made before but after the Prince hath eat and drunke Here are no prisons because Law passeth upon the offender in the very moment wherein the offence was committed The offences most severely punished are Witch-craft Theft and Adultery They pay no other tribute but certaine daies worke and presents without which no man may appeare in the Princes presence The King beareth in his Coat-Armour a little spade with an Ivory handle and two small Darts One of them not long since was converted and baptized by Gonsalva Silva a Iesuite with the greater part of his Courtiers but afterwards by the perswasion of certaine Moores in great credit about him hee caused him to bee slaine Sebastian King of Portugall offended hereat proclaimed warre against him under the leading of Francisco Berotio This Armie consisted of sixteene hundred the greatest part Gentlemen to whom the Monomotapa fearing their Armes and valour offered honourable conditions but the Captaine whom no offer or indifferency could satisfie was overcome and his Armie utterly consumed yet not by the enemy but by sicknesse and in the infectious aire of the Country Aegypt IN this description I will rather follow the opinion of Ptolomy and some others who make it a part of Africa than those who either referre some portion thereof to Asia and the residue to Africke It is a most noble and ancient Region much celebrated both in Scripture and other profane Writers for the excellency and antiquity thereof In holy Writ as witnesseth Iosephus it is called Misraim and so the Inhabitants For Misraim was the Sonne of Chus the Sonne of Cham the Sonne of Noe. The Arabians call the country Mesre but the Inhabitants Chibeth for such was his Name that first brought his Colonie into these parts It is plaine sandy and low Land without Mountaines which is the reason that it cannot be seene afar off the aire is hot and infectious and therefore either to avoid or mollifie the intolerable heat of Summer Sunne the Inhabitants are accustomed in all their Cities upon the tops of their Houses to build open Tarases to let the wind drive in thorow all their roomes Yet is not this Country as the rest of Africke infested with the Southerne winds ingendred of heat but is especially refreshed with the Northerne which here is moist and in other places drie It hath no Earth-quakes nor showres but of very able fertility and if it raine as it seldome doth it bringeth many diseases as Murres Catars Agues and such like The inundation of Nilus is mother of all fertility the want thereof an assured prediction of famine and scarcitie The Country is full of cuts and inlets from this River which long agoe Sesostris caused to bee intrenched left those Townes which were situated from the maine banke in the heart of the Kingdome should want water upon the ebbing of the River This inundation causeth such plentifull harvests that through the whole earth better increase and speedier ripenesse is not to be found The wealth hereof is rather to be admired than estimated in reviewing the spendor magnificence of their regall Antiquities their Labyrinths their Pyramides water-works all built and perfected at inestimable charges The ruines whereof are to be seene at this day whereunto the bravest Monuments of the Roman Empire are nothing comparable The revenue of this Kingdome in times past both in regard of the fertilitie of Nilus and the infinite quantity of Merchandize transported from Aethiopia Arabia and India hath beene very great Some report saith Ptolomie that Auletes received from hence twelve millions and fifty talents which according to the computation of Budaeus ariseth to seven millions and a halfe of Crownes the Romans received a farre greater masse but now by the Portugall Navigations it yeeldeth the Turke no such reckoning Howbeit
was afterwards driven many yeres together to victuall the Countrie especially the great Townes out of his owne Countrie of Russia And againe when he first conquered the Countries he committed no lesse an error in suffering the Natives to keepe their possessions and to inhabit all their Townes onely paying him a tribute under the government of his Russe Captaines whose conspiracies and attempts were the losse of these places The like fell out at the Port-Towne of Narve in Liesland where his Son Iuan Vasiliwich built a Towne and a Castle on the other side of the River called Ivangorod to keep the Countrie in subjection which so fortified was thought to be invincible When it was furnished for reward to the Architect being a Polonian he put out both his eyes to disable him to build the like againe But having left all the Natives within their owne Countrie without abating their number and strength in due order the Towne and Castle not long after was betraied to the King of Sweden Therefore I conclude that that Prince whose Kingdome is able to afford him an hundred and fiftie thousand Horse to be bravely furnished if he can bring into the field but the third part I speake of war and not of incursions Some more modest in writing affirme that the Moscovite could levie an hundred and fiftie thousand Horse if necessitie to defend himselfe forced him thereunto And that Iohn the third in the voyage of Astrachan entertained an hundred twentie thousand Horse and twentie thousand foot The same King invading Livonia in the time of King Alexander levied a mightie Army and notwithstanding maintained another upon the borders of the Kingdome The great Duke Iohn adjoyning to his troops of Horse certaine thousands of shot most Strangers which yeelded him notable service in the defence of his Cities And to make good the aforesaid proportion of Cavalrie the Englishmen who by reason of their intercourse in those Countries are best acquainted with these Relations doe write that the ordinarie number of souldiers entertained in continuall pay is this first hee hath his Dowrancie viz. Pensioners or guard of his person to the number of 15000. horsmen with their Captaines other Officers that are alwaies in a readinesse These 15000. are divided into three sorts the first are cheife Pensioners they receive some an hundred some fourescore rubbles a yeare none under seventie The second sort receive betwixt sixtie and fiftie none under fortie The third and lowest sort receive thirtie a yeare some 25 some 20 none under 12. the whole summe ariseth to fiftie five thousand rubbles by yeare Besides these 15000 Horsemen being the guard of the Emperours owne person when himselfe goeth to the wars resembling the Roman praetorian souldiers there are 110. men of speciall account for their Nobilitie and trust chosen by the Emperour who are bound to finde 65000. Horsemen with all necessaries meet for the wars after the Russian manner For the which service they are yearly allowed for themselves and their companies the summe of 40000. rubbles These 65000. are bound to repaire to the field every yeare towards the borders of the Chrim Tartars except they be otherwayes appointed whether there be wars with the Tartar or no. And because it should not prove dangerous unto the State to intrust so great a power to Noblemen first as they are many viz. 110. so are they changed by the Emperour at his pleasure Secondly they have their maintenance of the Emperour being men otherwise borne but to small Revenue Thirdly for the most part they are about the Emperours person being of his Councell either speciall or at large Fourthly they are rather pay-masters than Captaines to their Companies themselves not going forth ordinarily to the wars save when they are directed by speciall command So the whole number of horsemen alwayes in readinesse and continuall pay are fourescore thousand few more or lesse If he need a greater number which seldome hapneth then he entertaineth those Gentlemen which are out of pay If yet he want he giveth charge unto his Noblemen that hold Lands of him to bring into the field everie man proportionable number of his Servants called Rolophey viz. such as till his Lands with their furniture the which service being done presently they lay downe their Weapons and returne againe to their servile labours Of Footmen in continuall pay he hath twelve thousand all Harquebushers whereof five thousand attend about the citie of Mosco or where the Emperour shall abide and two thousand called Stremaney strelsey or Gunners at the stirrop about his own person at the Court or House where himselfe lodgeth The residue are placed in Garrisons till times of service and receive for their salarie every man seven rubbles a yeare besides twelve measures apeece of Rice and Oates Of mercenary souldiers being strangers 1588 he had three thousand Polonians Of Chyrchasses who are under the Polonians about foure thousand Of Dutch and Scots 150. Of Greekes Turkes and Swedens all in one band a hundred or thereabouts These they imploy only upon the Tartarian side and against the Siberians as they doe the Tartar souldiers whom they sometime hire but only for the present on the other side against the Polonian and Sweden Concerning their arming they are but sleightly appointed The Common Horseman hath nothing but his Bow in his case under his right arme and his Quiver and Sword hanging on the left side except some few that beare a case of Dags or a Iavelin or short Staffe along their Horse side The Noblemen ride better and richer appointed their Swords Bowes and Arrowes are of the Turkish fashion and practise as the Tartars to shoot forwards and backwards as they flie or retire The Footman hath nothing but his peece in his hand his casting-hatchet at his backe and his sword by his side provision of victuall the Emperour alloweth none either for Captaine or Souldier neither provideth any except peradventure some corne for their money Every man is to bring sufficient for himselfe for foure moneths and if need require to give order for more to be brought after him to the Campe from his Tenant that tilleth his Land or some other place for diet and lodging every Russie is prepared a Souldier before-hand for though the Chiefe Captaines carry tents with them after the fashion of ours with some better provision of victuall than the rest yet the common sort bring nothing with them save a kinde of dried bread with some store of meale which they temper with water and so make it into a ball or small lumpe of dough and this they eat raw in stead of bread their meat is Bacon or some flesh or fish dried after the Dutch manner If this Souldier were as hardy to execute as he is able to beare out toyle and travell or as apt well trained as he is indifferent for his lodging and dyet he would farre exceed the servitors of other Provinces For every Souldier
Moscovie will suffer any of their subjects to travell out of their Dominions nor any stranger to enter in unlesse he come as an Ambassadour neither in this case is it lawfull for him to converse freely or to range at pleasure They live under divers Princes the principall whereof are those that weare greene on their Turbants These as aforesaid inhabit Shamercand and are at continuall enmity with the Persians Next are those of Bochan Mahumetans then those of Mogor of whom you shall heare hereafter and lastly those of Kataia whereof wee now intreat Never was there any Nation upon the face of the earth that enjoyed a larger Empery than they doe or have undertaken haughtier exploits and I would that they had had some who might have recommended by writing their doings to the World M. Paul Venetus writeth that this people once inhabited Ciurga and Barge Provinces situated upon the Scythicke Ocean without Citie Castle or House wandering like the Arabians from place to place according to the season of the yeare They as before acknowledged Un-cham whom some interpret Prester Iohn for their Soveraigne Lord to whom they gave the tenth of their cartell In processe of time they multiplied to such numbers and Un-cham being jealous of their neighbour-hood began to lessen their numbers and forces by sending them now hither now thither upon most long and desperate voyages as occasion offered Which when they perceived they assembled themselves resolving to leave their naturall soile and to remove so farre from the borders of Vn-cham that never after hee should have cause to suspect them this they performed After certaine yeares they elected amongst them a King called Changis to whom for the greatnesse of his glory and victories they added the Sir-name and Great This Changis departing from his owne Territories in the yeare of our Lord 1162. with a most fearefull Armie subdued partly by force and partly by the terrour of his name nine Provinces At last being denied the daughter of Un-cham in mariage he made warre upon him and overcomming him in battell cast him out of his Kingdome After the death of Changis his successours afflicted Europe In the yeare 1212. they drove the Polesochi from the bankes of the Euxine Sea In the yeare 1228. they spoiled Russia In the yeare 1241. they razed Kiovia the chiefe Citie of the Rutheni and Batu their Captaine wasted Polonia Silesia Moravia and Hungarie Innocent the fourth amazed with the tempest of these invasions in the yeare 1242. sent certaine Friers of the orders of Dominicke and Francis to the Court of this Great Cham to intreat a peace for Christendome The circuit of this Empire in the times above spoken of stretched from the uttermost bounds of Asia to Armenia and from Bengala to Volga yea their incursions pierced to Nilus and Danubius The Macedonian and Roman Empires were never so large But because they were rather Runnagates than men of warre wanting politicke government and military discipline sometime ruling one Province sometime another they rather wrought spoile and terrour to the conquered Nations than feare of bondage or subjection and at last seated themselves beyond the Mountaine Caucasus After it became divided into many Principalities yet so that the Title and Majestie of the Empire remained alwayes to the Cham who as wee said before tooke the originall of this name from the Great Changis The Region for the most part is very populous full of Townes rich and civill which you may the rather beleeve first for that the Tartars choosing this for their Countrey beautified it with the spoiles of Asia China and that part of Europe which they harried and were never wonne or taken from thence againe to this day next for that the Provinces are most commodiously situated for Trafficke and Negotiation partly by reason of their admirable Plaines and huge Lakes Amongst which are Cazaia whose waters are salt Guian Dangu Xandu and Catacora and partly by reason of their large Rivers which with a long course doe run by the Provinces of Curato Polisango Zaiton and Mecon Paulus Venetus calleth it Quion A great helpe hereunto likewise is the variety of fruits and the abundance of Graine Rice Wooll Silke Hempe Rhubarbe Muske and excellent fine Chamlets Paul writeth that it affordeth Ginger Cinamon and Cloves which I can hardly beleeve In many Rivers are found graines of gold Their coine is not all of one value In Kataia a coine is currant made of the blacke rinde of a certaine tree growing betweene the body and the barke this rinde being smoothed rounded and tempered with a gummie substance is stamped with the Image of the Great Cham. In the Kingdoms of Caâ—acan and Carazan certaine sea-fish shels are currant which some men terme Porcelline This kinde of money is frequent in many places of India and Aethiope By this meanes the Princes get to themselves all the Gold and Silver of the Provinces which they cause to be molten and laid up in most safe places without ever taking any thing from thence againe In like sort Prestâ—r Iohn is thought to be Lord of inestimable Treasure while he maketh graines of Salt and Pepper to passe for currant Coine amongst his subjects They brew an excellent beverage of Rice and Spice which sooner procureth drunkennesse than Wine As the Arabians so they delight in sowre milke or Cosmus a kinde of churned sowre Mares-milke very forcible to turne the braine His force consisteth first as we told you in situation in spacious Territorie in goodly Cities in plenty of provision and in rich Revenues for amongst other things hee taketh the tenths of Wooll Silke Hempe Graine Cattell and is absolute Lord of all but the chiefe sinews of his State consisteth in his armed troopes These live alway in the field 4. or 5. miles remote from the Cities Over and above their Salarie they are allowed to make profit of their Cattell Milke and Wooll When he goeth to warre according to the custome of the Romans hee mustreth part of the Souldiery which lyeth dispersed thorow the Provinces For the most part all the Nations of the Tartars except the Varcheni who are not subject to the Great Cham fight on horseback Their Weapons are the Bow and Arrow with which they fight very desperately They are very swift their Tents are made of woven Wooll under which they keepe in foule weather Their chiefest meat is milke dried in the Sunne after the Butter is squeezed out yea the bloud of their horses if famine enforce them They fight not pell-mell with their enemies but sometime on the front sometime on the flanke after the Parthian manner overwhelming them as it were with a showre of arrowes Whosoever carrieth himselfe valiantly standeth assured of reward and is graced with honour immunities and gifts Twelve thousand horsemen are appointed for the guard of this Prince and it is said that of this kinde of force he is able to levie a greater power than any other
it is well knowne but at this day it is Turkish and without any famous Cities save in a peece of Albania In it is nothing memorable but the Mount Athos or the holy Mount It is 75. miles in compasse three dayes journey long and halfe a dayes journey broad resembling the shape of a man lying with his face upward whose highest Cone alwayes covered with snow is seene thirtie miles off at Sea It is exceeding fertile in Grasse Fruit Oyle and Wine Long agoe it was dedicated in honour of Saint Basile to the Greeke Caloieri and endowed with privileges which at this day it enjoyeth by the Turkes good favour that is to say that no man neither Grecian nor Turke may inhabit in this place except he be a Priest So that their number in these dayes are about six thousand dispersed into twentie and foure Monasteries ancient and warlike so built for feare of theeves and pyrats although there be no such great cause In these Monasteries are many relickes which cause great concourse of people and they are stately built and richly adorned This hill is in as great request with the Grecians for their sanctimonious strictnesse of life as is Rome with the Latines yea the Turks themselves doe send hither many bountifull almes None of them live idly but must doe somewhat and so doe daily for the oeconomike of the house as to dresse Vines fell Timber yea to build ships and such like mechanicall labours They are poorely clad like Hermits neither weare they shirts of Linnen but Woollen and them they spin and sow themselves never giving themselves to studie and that more is many of them can neither write nor read And yet notwithstanding if any man have occasion to journey by their houses he shall if he please finde viands scot-free according to his calling Epyre now Albania was once a very famous Province as witnesseth P. Aemilius It had in it seventie Cities now destroyed and turned into ruines or Villages meanly inhabited For the most part it is woodie and barren but neere the sea fertile and adorned with very beautifull havens Achaia is a very goodly Region as may be gathered by the goodly Cities which therein once flourished viz. Delphos Thebes Athens Megara many moe now destroyed So is Peloponnesus termed by Plinie the bulwarke of Greece It yeeldeth all things that man can desire either for life or pleasure And although the ancient Cities be now defaced yet is it for quantitie the best peopled part of Greece It is now under the Turke and counted the best Sangiak-ship in Turkie as bound to bring at the commandment of the Beglerbeg of Greece one thousand horsemen under his owne pay It is worth yearely fourteene Ducats The Ilands adjoyning unto these large continents I will not discourse of for as they are diverse in worth and estimation so are they many in number and for the most part not worthy relation Dalmatia is at this day divided into Sclavonia Dalmatia and Albania Sclavonia lieth upon the West Albania upon the East and in the middle Dalmatia In all fertilitie it is as good as Italy Of a Countrie first wasted by Caesar Augustus secondly by the Gothes thirdly by the Turkes and at this day shared amongst three such Lords as are the Venetians the Turke and the Emperour it may be said to be reasonable well inhabited And so it is having many fine Cities in it as Iadera Ragusa c. Howbeit that part which is subject to the Turke lieth almost desart by reason of their continuall inrodes Bossina or Maesia superior is also a parcell of Illyria and erected into a Turkish Beglerbeg-ship having under it nine Sangiaks Servia now Rascia lieth between Bosnia and Bulgaria it was taken by the Turke 1438. and reduced into a Sangiak-ship under the Beglerbeg of Buda Bulgaria which some take for the lower Maesia is so famous a Province that the Turkish Emperour hath erected it for the cheife Seat of the Beglerbeg of Europe under whose command are twentie and one Sangiaks Valachia containeth the two Provinces of Moldavia and Transalpina Valachia is a plaine and fertile Countrey smally inhabited and destitute of fire-wood but stored with excellent Horse Cattell and Mines of Gold and Silver if the people durst dig them for feare of the Turkes It is 500. miles long and 120. broad It hath one Archbishop and two Bishops and is more populous than Moldavia They speake both one language being almost halfe Italian This Countrey and Moldavia are plagued with three bad neighbours viz. the Turkes the Tartars and the Cassoks They follow the Greeke Church and in matters of Religion obey the Patriarch of Constantinople They are the same which in ancient times were called Daci The Turks have often attempted with their mightiest powers to have made a small conquest of these Provinces but they have hitherto bin valiantly resisted and repulsed partly by the Natives and partly by the Polonians Transylvanians and the Cassoks in dislike of each others bad neighbourhood Yet is it tributarie to the Grand Seignior and payeth him yearely twentie foure thousand Chechini Moldavia being in a manner round is almost 300. English miles over every way It hath two Archbishopricks and two Bishopricks and is exceeding fertile in Corne Wine Grasse and Wood. It affordeth great plentie of Beefe and Mutton and therwith feedeth Polonia a great part of Germanie the populous citie of Constantinople A great fat Oxe in this Country is valued but at thirtie shillings a Sheepe at three shillings The tenth whereof which of duty is yearely payed to the Prince amounteth to 150000. The Clergie and Gentrie for they alwayes can make best shift for themselves contribute no parcell hereof It hath a small River passing thorow the Country and falleth into Danubius neere unto Gallatz called Pruta the water whereof as also of Danubius is unwholsome to drinke for it causeth the body to swell In 1609. certaine English Gentlemen travelling 240. miles in this Country could meet but with nine Towns and Villages in all the way and yet for above a hundred miles space together the Grasse groweth at least one yard high and rotteth every yeare upon the ground for want of Cattell and manurance On the East it hath the black Sea on the West Podalia on the North the Tartars and on the South the Danubie and the Country of Bulgaria It payeth yearely unto the Great Turke by way of Tribute 3200. Chechini besides one thousand horses sent yearely unto Constantinople for a present from both these Princes of Moldavia and Valachia It also payeth tribute to the Polander but how much I cannot shew you Therin dwell many Armenians Iewes Hungarians Saxons and Ragusians who forestall the whole traffick in those parts bartering their Corne and Wine into Russia and Polonia and their Skins Wax Hony powdered Beefe Butter and Pulse into Constantinople The Malmesey likewise which is
yet make they abundance thereof and very good for the use of strangers dwelling in the Country They make three harvests yet have they neither Peares Apples Cherries Nuts nor any other fruits common with us these are brought them from Damascus Some fruits as Oranges and the Apple of Paradise they have and preserve upon the trees all the yeare long It did once yeeld Balme not now but is stored with Honey and Sugar Canes so is it with Goats Swine Hares Partridges and Quailes as also Lions Beares and Camels And in many places so pestred with Rats and Mice that if it were not for certaine Birds devouring those Creatures it were impossible to have any Harvest Iordan runneth thorow the middest of the Countrie whose water is most delicious and therein strangers are accustomed to wash themselves In its course it maketh two lakes the one in Cana of Galilie the other at Tyberias which is called Genazereth and at last disgorgeth it selfe into the Mediterran Sea Upon the bankes thereof grow Withies Tamarisk and many other sorts of shrubs and weeds of which the Arabians make their darts weapons launces and writing pens The former of these two lakes is especially filled when the Snowes dissolve and runne from Libanus In the Summer it is drie and bringeth forth abundance of shrubs and flags wherein Lions and divers wilde beasts do shroud their carcasses The Lake of Genazereth runneth most cleerely and yeeldeth divers sorts of fish as Carps Pikes c. It is not so broad but that a man may see from one side unto the other as consisting of sixteene miles in length and six in breadth The plaines round about are barren for the abundance of bushes which hinder the husbandman from manuring the ground Yet the Iewes industrie doe much amend it and dwell about the bankes thereof for the fishing sake Mare mortuum otherwise the Lake Asphaltites so called of his bituminous favour was a place once woody and full of salt pits which for the pleasantnesse thereof was resembled to Paradise and therein stood Sodome Gomorrah and the three other Cities which for their sinne against Nature were therein drowned and burnt by the doome of God At this day it sendeth forth smokes and fogs as from an infernall furnace wherewith the whole valley adjacent for halfe a dayes journey is made barren It neither yeeldeth Fish nor Fowle and whatsoever creature is cast therein though bound hand and foot it swimmeth on the face of the water The land was once most populous as appeareth by the muster of David who numbred thirteene hundred thousand men able to beare armes besides the Tribe of Benjamin As long as they continued their upright and religious obedience to the service of God the Land prospered but assoone as they forgot God they suffered many miseries and those perpetuall untill they were cleane destroyed and forced to flye every way For to speake nothing of ancient time the 73. yeare after Christ Ierusalem was taken and destroyed by Titus with the slaughter and captivitie of infinite thousands In the yeare 136. it was restored by Aelius Adrianus new named Aelia and given in possession to the Iewes In the time of Constantine and Helena his mother it fell into the hands of the Christians so continued untill the yeare 609. at what time it was sacked by the Persians but left unto the Christians and so continued untill the dayes of Henry the fourth at what time it was againe taken by the Sultan of the Sarazens and the Christians cleane banished In the yeare 1097. in a generall Councell for the deliverie of the holy Land the Crossed Knights were instituted throughout Christendome and Godfrey of Bulloigne chosen Generall of three hundred thousand footmen and one hundred thousand horse These Knights did many famous acts recovered the land instituted a Monarchie and sometime with good fortune and sometime with losse continued the defence thereof untill the yeare 1290. in which yeare it was utterly subdued by the Soldan of Aegypt In whose possession it continued until the yeare of our Lord 1517. and then was it overcome by the Turkish Armies who at this day retaine it in miserable servitude And so it resteth peopled with men of divers Nations and Sects as Saracens Arabians Turkes Hebrewes and Christians whereof some follow the Latine Church some the Greeke as the Grecians Syrians Armenians Georgians Nestorians Iacobites Nubians Maronites Abassines Indians and Aegyptians every one having their peculiar Bishops whom they obey Galilie upon the North is environed with the steepe hils of Libanus Antilibanus upon the with West Phoenicia upon the East with Celosyria and upon the South with Samaria and Arabia the desart The soile is most fruitfull yeelding all sorts of trees and divided by Iordan upon whose bankes stand very many townes and villages and so well watred either with mountain-torrents or springs that no part thereof lyeth unmanured The Countrie is more famous for that in it standeth amongst the rude Mountaines the small village of Nazareth the place of our Lords conception and at this day there is a small Chappell archt and built under ground whereinto a man must descend by staires Here some say the Angell appeared unto Mary and foretold her that she should conceive and bring forth our Lord. The Inhabitants are Arabians short and thicke men rudely apparelled and weaponed with bows swords and daggers In this region likewise standeth the Mount Thabor whose North part is inaccessible and whereon our Lord was transfigured Samaria lyeth in a most delicate plot of Palestine but in bignesse not comparable to Iudea or Galilie The soile is partly mountainous partly champian pleasant fruitfull and very well watred with fresh and sweet water The Citie is now ruinated But Naplos for pleasure and delight is inferiour to none other It is situated upon the side of a hill the eighth part of a mile from whence a man may behold the ruines of a great Temple neere unto that Well where as men say Christ fate when he asked water of the Samaritan woman Iudea far excelleth any part of the residue of Palestine at this day enioyeth its ancient fertilitie The tribe of Iuda so named it and in it as in the rest of Palestine were very many worthy Cities whereof Ierusalem was the chiefe feate of their Princes the receptacle of the Patriarks Prophets and Apostles the originall place of our Faith and the glory of the Christian world By the Barbarians at this day it is called Godz or Chutz It standeth on an eminent place as whereunto a man must every way ascend S. Ieroms opinion was that it stood not only in the heart of Iudea but in the very center of the World as having Asia on the East Europe on the West upon the South Lybia and Africa and upon the North Scythia Armenia Persia with the residue of the Pontique Nations What the glory hereof hath beene may be
the mountaines but Amazar detesting the tyranny of his Lord conveied the children to his owne house and brought them up like Gentlemen amongst his owne sonnes and falling sicke of a deadly disease forecasting what might happen after his decease gave them horses and money willing them to flie and to betake themselves to their mothers house and tuition Ismael the eldest was no sooner returned to his mothers place but he vowed revenge for his fathers death and after some fortunate expeditions tooke upon him the cause and protection of the followers of Halie from whom hee derived his pedegree Hee made the Turbant higher and sent Ambassadours to all the Orientall Mahumetans to exhort them to unity in Religion and Cognisances By these meanes and fortune of his armes he became a terror to the East and slew Ossan then Usurper of the Persian State with his ten brethren except Marabeg who saved himselfe and sled to Soliman first Emperour of the Turkes imploring his aid This Ismael at the Lake Vay overthrew with a great slaughter the Prince of the Tartars Zagatai and in heat of his victory had passed the River Abbian if his Astrologian in whom he greatly trusted had not foretold him that his passage should bee prosperous but his returne unfortunate Hee left to his sonnes a most spacious Empire bounded with the Caspian Sea the Persian Gulfe the Lake Sioc the Rivers Tygris and Oxus and the Kingdome of Cambaia which Provinces containe more than twenty degrees from East to West and eighteene from North to South And although these Kingdomes lying within these bounds held not immediatly of the Crowne of Persia yet all acknowledge the Persian for their soveraigne Prince that is to say the Kings of Matam Patan Guadel and Ormus Georgia and Mengrellia being Christian Countries according to the superstition of the Greeke Church submitted to certaine conditions as toleration of Religion payment of Tribute and disclaiming to assist the Turke against them and so obtained a kind of peace and protection untill againe the Persians declined by the fortunes of the Ottomans The like course ranne Media now called Servan Dierbechia once Mesopotamia Cusistan the inhabitation of the Susiani Farsistan the Country of the Persians Strava once Hircania Parthia at this day called Arac Caramanie now Sigestan Carassa Sablestan and Istigiu whose ancient names were Drangia Bactria Parapamisus Margiana Of these Regions those which lie neerest to the Persian Sea are most plentifull by reason of the Rivers every where dispersed thorow the whole Land Amongst these Rivers the most famous is Bindimir to whose waters the Inhabitants are much beholding conveying it by trenches and other inventions into their grounds to their great ease and commodity The Provinces lying upon the Caspian Sea for their Rivers and temperature doe likewise participate of the said fertility especially all those quarters which are watered with the River Puly-Malon falling into the Lake Burgian the residue of the Province is dry by reason whereof Townes and Villages are seldome seene in those places unlesse it be by some springs or waters side The most ample and magnificent Cities of Persia are Istigias the chiefe seat of Bactria thought to be one of the pleasantest Cities of the East Indion the chiefe City of Margiana situated in so fat and fertile a territory that therefore Antiochus Soler caused it to be walled about Candahar the chiefe seat of Pamaparisus famous for the trafficke of Indiae and Cathaia whither the Merchants of those Countries doe resort E rt the chiefe City of Aria so abounding with Roses that thereof it should seeme to take the name Barbarus saith it is of thirteene miles compasse Ispaa the chiefe seat of Parthia so spacious for the circuit thereof that the Persians hyperbolically terme it the halfe World Chirmaine is the chiefe seat of Caramania renowmed for the excellent cloth of gold and silver woven therein Eor is a noble City and so is Custra of Susiana But all these for beauty and magnificence may bow and bend to Syras seated upon the River Bindimire It was once the chiefe seat of Persia and as some thinke called Persepolis Alexander the Great burnt it to the ground at the intreatie of his Concubine but afterward being ashamed of so vile an action caused it to bee re-edified It is not at this time so great as in times past yet it is thought to bee one of the greatest Cities in all the Orient with its suburbs which are in compasse twenty miles It is a Proverbe among the Persians Quando Suars erat Siras tunc Cairus 〈◊〉 Pagus yet they account it not very ancient neither are they of their opinions who will have it the head of â—â—â—ia Tauris and Casbin are famous Cities and besides their magnificence they may glory that in them the Kings of Persia for the most part keepe their residences The forme of Government of this Nation is not like the Government of any other Mahumetan people neither is â—â— There are also many desarts and many mountaines disjoyning the Provinces farre asunder Herein it resembleth Spaine where for want of navigable Rivers except towards the Sea-coast traffike is little used and mountaines and Provinces lie unmanured for scarcity of moisture But Nature unwilling that humane life should want any easement hath so provided for mutuall commerce in these sandy and barren places that through the labour of Camels the want of Navigation is richly recompenced thorowout Persia the bordering Countries These beasts carry wondrous burdens and will longer continue than either Horse or Mule They will travell laden with a thousand pound weight and will so continue forty dayes and upward In sterile and deepe sandy Countreyes such as are Lybia Arabia and Persia they drinke but once every fifth day and if extremity enforce they will endure the want of water ten or twelve When their burdens are off a little grasse thorns or leaves of trees will suffice them There is no living thing lesse chargeable and more laborious certainly ordained of nature a fit creature for those sandy and deepe places of Asia and Africke wherein even man himselfe feeleth the want of food and water Of these there are three sorts upon the lesser men travell the middle sort have bunches on their backs fit for carrying of Merchandize the greater and stronger are those which carry burdens of one thousand pound weight these are their ships the sands their Seas What numbers of horsemen this King is able to levie was manifested in the warres betweene Selim the first and Ismael betweene Ismael and Soliman and betweene Codabanda and Amurath Not one of them brought above thirty thousand horse into the field but so throughly furnished that they had little cause to feare greater numbers The richer and abler sort arme themselves after the manner of our men at Armes the residue being better than the third part of their Cavalry content themselves with a Scull a Jack and
frequent his Dominions Without the which inticements peradventure they might be unwilling to hazard their estates from farre Nations amongst such barbarous and unsure customers For sure hee was that his Neighbours could not and the Portugals would not supply those necessities which concerned the life and essence of an intire Estate THE FIFTH BOOKE Of India commonly called Asiatica or East-India INdia is a spacious portion of Asia the most Noble part of the World and far exceeding any other apportionment comprehended under one name Tartarie only excepted As that which without other addition lifteth up her Title alone to challenge all the Territories betweene China and Persia A conteinue almost twelve hundred leagues yet divided into many Kingdomes Amongst whom he is principall that most obtaineth by force and popularitie The Region is most wholesome to inhabit by the favour of the Westerne winds but in regard of its spaciousnesse subject to diverse Temperatures As in some places to heat viz. towards the Equator In some to temperatures or rather to cold as towards the North. But generally for goodnesse of situation health and fertilitie it is farre better than any other Countrey And therefore seldome or never feeleth famine or scarcitie the misery whereof is prevented by the benefit of Rivers as in Aegypt For the two great Rivers of Indus and Ganges water it thorowly which being divided into a thousand brookes insulteth of two Summers temperature of Aire with duplicitie of increase And that wee are but Adventurers for those delicacies which shee vtlipendeth and yet not admitted to the understanding of one halfe of her worth yet hath it its Desarts scorching Sands places infested with wilde Beasts and unpeopled by reason of impenetrable woods And although the Region wanteth Wheat yet aboundeth it with divers sorts of fruits of Pulses of Barley and Rice Vines they haue none but rare and therefore brew their Beverage of Barley and Rice Fruit-trees and trees fit to make linnen cloth of they have in abundance and out of the Palme they produce Wine Vinegar and fruit to eat The particular of their Silkes Bombasies Elephant Serpents Spices Stones and divers famous Rivers being well knowne I will not stand to recite The natures and fashions of the Inhabitants briefly I will who being diversly dispersed into divers Regions and Principalities doe diversly differ in language visage habit manners and religion Both men and women imitate a noble pompe as not incountred abroad nisi mâ—gna comitante caterva using many odours in their baths and washings nor are they without oiles and perfumes jewels pearls and other ornaments befitting the businesse they intend Of whom the foure principall Nations that inhabit this tract are the Indians viz. the Natives and they for the most part are Gentiles The second are the Iewes and they are dispersed here as else-where over the whole face of the earth The third are the Mahumetans whereof some are Persians and some Scythians now called Mogors living in the upland Countries The fourth are the Moores or Arabians who within these two hundred yeares usurping upon the maritime coasts of the Country have built them places and Cities very fit for Trafficke and expulsed the Natives into the more Inland Countries And now of late besides those ancient Christians which Saint Thomas converted there reside many Portugals natives and Mâ—sticos who are daily converted by the industry of the Iesuits to the Christian beleefe who have taught them to baptize Children and to fast Wherein they are now tedious observants as all barbarous people are the best maintainers of customes and ceremonies especially where the Roman Church instructeth The Portugals intruded by armes prayers and policie Their purchases I account to be so farre from the name of a Conquest as was the possession of the English from the Crowne of France when they held nothing but â—alais in Picardie Howbeit for state and ostentation every third yeare a Vice-Roy is sent to Goa from whom and from whence all inferiour deputations have their directions and governments Here he hath his Councell his Nobles his Chancery and Iustices as is used in Portugal from whence in Civill cases the parties may appeale to Portugal but in Criminall no one person except he be a Gentleman He is very magnificent in State and never goeth abroad unlesse to Church and then attended with musike and accompanied with all the principall Gentlemen and Burgers of Goa on horsebacke with a guard of souldiers before behinde and on each side It is a place of great honour and profit For besides the presents which the bordering Princes round about Goa send them at their first entrances for contraction of peace and friendship by their Embassies they have also the management of the Kings revenues and treasure with absolute allowance from his Majestie to give spend and reward as best pleaseth him When a new Vice-Roy arriveth the time of the former being expired hee presently dispatcheth his Lieutenants with sufficient authoritie in their Masters name to receive the possession of the Government of India and to prepare the Palace Whereupon the old Vice-Roy maketh quicke and cleane riddance of all Vtensils neither leaving one stoole in the Palace nor one peny in the Treasury So that these great Officers by reason of their short time of imployment have enough to doe The first yeare to furnish their house with necessaries The second to gather treasure and to respect the causes that moved them to come into India The third and last yeare to prepare themselves and to settle their businesses in order left they be overtaken and surprised by the approach of a new successour The like is to be understood of all the Captaines in the Forts and of all other Officers thorowout these Indies The Great Mogor IT shall alwayes beene beleeved that the territory lying betweene Ganges and the 〈◊〉 Indus hath evermore beene subject to great and mighty Monarchs For to be silent in matter of more ancient memory about the yeare of our Lord 1300 there reigned in the Kingdome of Delos and Arabian Prince of the fâ—â—t of Mahumet named Sanofaradin as Iohn Barros reporteth of so great power strength that he enterprised the conquest of Asia Upon which resolution forsaking these Regions in which Indus and Ganges take heir beginnings with a mighty Army by little and little he subdued those Princes and people which did oppose against him untill he pierced to the bounds of Canora where it beginneth at the River Bate about Chaul and stretcheth betweene Bate the Gulfe of Bengala to Cape Comerine When he had wonne so large and famous a territory resolving to returne to Delos he left Abdessa his Lieutenant in Canora This man encouraged by the victories of his Master and presuming upon his owne good fortune bereaved the Gentiles of the greater part of Canora and hauing gathered a most mighty and populous Army compacted of Gentiles Mahumetaâ— and Christians after he had reigned twenty
yeares he died in the height of his prosperity leaving his sonne Mamudza behinde him whom the King graced with his fathers regencie upon condition to pay him a yearely tribute which payment the young man neither regarded nor she wed himselfe loyall to his Soveraigne in many things It happened that Sanosaradin dying in the warre which he made against Persia left behinde him a sonne of so abject and base a spirit that Mamudza hereupon tooke courage to entitle himselfe King of Canora calling the Countrey Decan and the people Decainai that is illegitimate After this hee erected eighteene Captaineships and divided his dominion among them assigning to everyone his limits onely with this penalty to finde alwayes in a readinesse a certaine number of footmen and horsemen To prevent future rebellion hee chose these Captaines not out of the orders of his Nobility but from the number of his slaves Nay more than this to be assured of their loyalty he coÌ„manded that every one of them should build him a house in his royall City Bider in which their children should remaine and that once every yeare at the least they should make their appearance in his Court. But because all authority which is not as well underpropped with its proper vertues as grounded upon the affections of the people is of small continuance so happened it to this Prince for his slaves and vassals having soveraigne authority put into their hands made no more account of him than of a Cipher stripping him poore Prince without respect of reverence of all his dominions saving his chiefs Citie Bidor with the territory adjoyning For every one of a Lieutenant became an Usurper of those States which were committed to his trust the mightier alwayes oppressing the weaker so that all in the end became a prey to a feâ— Two of them are famous at this day the one stretching his dominion to the borders of Cambaia the other to the skirâ—s of Narsynga the first called by the Portugals Nissamalucco the other Idalcan either of them being so puissant that in the yeare 1571. Idalcan beleagâ—ed God with an Army of five and thirty thousand Horse threescore thousand Elephants and two hundred and fifty peeces of Ordnance Nissamalucco besieged Chaul with lesse forces but better fortune For though he did not force it yet he brought into a hard-pinch with the slaughter of twelve thousand Mooreâ—s In those Countries in which Sâ—â—adorasin began hos Empire not above threescore and ten yeares agone a great Prince whom the East people call the great Mogor in the same sense as we call the great Turke laid the foundation of a mighty Empire for as the King of Bierma in our timeâ— greatly hazarded the States of Pegu and Siam and the bordering Nations even so the Mogor turned topsie turvy the Kingdomes lying on the River Ganges The received opinion is that they tooke their originall from Tartaria and that they came from the coast where the ancient Massagecae a people accounted invincible at armes did once inhabit and liuing as it were lawlesse and under no manner of government by invading of their neighbours procured unto themselves the soveraignty of spacious Kingdomes By the River Oxus they border upon the Persians and are at continuall enmity with them sometime for Religion and sometimes for enlargement of the bounds of their Empire The chiefe City is Shamarchand from whence came Tamerlan and of whose bloud these Mogor Princes doe boast that they are descended The predecessor of him who is now Prince of the Mogors was very famous in the East for in the yeare 1436. being solicited by King Mandao of the North from whom Badurius King of Cambaia had taken his Kingdome to aid him against the Cambaian he is reported to have brought with him an infinite number of souldiers which wee may conjecture out of that which Masseus writeth of the army of the said King Badurius to wit that this King had under his Standard one hundred and fifty thousand horse whereof five and thirty thousand were barbed The number of footmen was five hundred thousand Amongst these were fifteene thousand forren souldiers and fourescore Christians French and Portugals At which by what meanes or by what way they should come thither I doe not a little wonder Their Galleon which they called Dobriga suffered Ship-wracke in the Chanell of Cambaia I know that if these preparations and provisions for war be compared with our forces of Christendome they will hardly be taken for true but we have already declared the causes why the Princes of the East and South may gather greater Armies than wee can and consequently that those things which are spoken of their incredible store and wonderfull provision of furniture may be answerable to their levies and proportions And as they are able to levie millions of men for arming and for feeding them they take no great care so likewise doe the Provinces afford great plenty of provision and an inestimable multitude of their usuall warlike Engines for they carry nothing with them save that which is necessary and needfull for service Wines Cates and such like which cannot but with great expence labour and trouble be carried along with Armies are by these men wholly omitted and utterly rejected All their thoughts tend to warlike provision as to get Brasse Iron Steele and Tinne to forge Pieces and cast great Ordnance Iron and Lead to make Bullets Iron and Steele to temper Cemiters Oxen and Elephants to draw their Artillery Graine to nourish their bodies Metals to arme them and Treasure to conserve them They are all tyrants and to preserve their estate and induce submissive awednesse they hold hard hands over the commonalty committing all government into the hands of slaves and souldiers And to make these men faithfull and loyall they ordaine them Lords of all things committing unto their trust Townes Castles and expeditions of great weight but the expectation of the Prince is often deceived by the rebellion of these vassals for sometimes they usurpe whole Provinces and impose upon the people all kinde of injuries But let good Princes thinke it as necessary to build their safety on the love of their subjects as upon the force of their souldiers Feare admitteth no securitie much lesse perpetuity and therefore these tyrants expecting no surety at the hands of their subjects trust wholly upon their men of warre flattering them with promise of liberty and bestowing upon them the goods of their subjects as rewards of their service So with vs the Turke strengtheneth his State with Ianizars and as he coveteth to be beloved and favoured of them to that end bestowing upon them the riches and honours of the Empire so they acknowledge no other Lord and master I may very well say father and protector And so many of the Malabor Princes using accounting the Commons but as beasts lay all their hopes and fortunes on the Naiors the Kings of Ormus Cambaia Decan and Achan lay all upon the
offence but that the same hath beene turned to defense Of which kinde are Castles built of later times and the devices of moderne fortification whereby few souldiers have resisted great Armies and a small place made tenable hath wasted the forces and treasure of a mighty Emperour as well witnessed the fortunes of eight hundred Portugals at Domaine upon the coast of Cambaia who by this Art scorned and deluded the whole forces and attempts of this mighty Mogor China IN times past the Kingdome of China hath beene farre larger than now it is For it appeareth by their Histories containing the Annals of 2000. yeares and upward and by other of their manuscript Chronicles written in their owne language whose fragments are yet to be seene that their Kings were Lords almost of all the Sea-coast of Asia from the streight of Anian to the Kingdome of Pegu the Provinces of Meletai Becam Calan Boraga and other territories situated upon the North side of Pegu where their monuments with their Epitaphs devices are to be seen at this day For in all the foresaid Regions the relicks of their ancient ceremonies wherby the knowledge of the Mathematicks as the division of the yeare into moneths the Zodiacke into 12. signes true testimonies of their Empire are taught by tradition Neither is the time long sithence all those Kingdomes accounted the King of China for their Soveraigne sending their Ambassadors with presents to his Court every third yeare These Ambassadors ought to be foure at least for before they could arrive at their journeyes end some of them either by remotenesse of place difficult accesse of audience or delay in dispatch could not but surely die those whose chance it was to scape the Chinois in some set banquet would poyson and erect unto them stately tombes with the inscription of their names the place from whence they came and with the stile of Ambassadors thereby say they to commit to eternity the remembrance of the bounds of their Empire They inlarged their dominions no lesse upon the Ocean than upon the Continent For they first of all invaded the Isles of the Orient next unto them the Giavi then the Moluccans and Moores and lastly the Portugals and Castilians who hold them at this day But none of these Nations were equall of power and magnificence to the Chinois for besides the conquest of the bordering Isles which in regard of their numbers their spaciousnesse and fertilitie were of great reckoning they became Lords of the greatest part of all the inhabitable places in that vast Archipelago even to Zeilan where they left their speech and characters as also they did the like upon the opposite continent Wre reade also in the papers of certaine Jesuites that in one quarter of the Island of Saint Laurence they found white people which said that they descended of the Chinois They first discovered the Moluccas gave names unto the Spices and planted Colonies in many of them which to this present keepe their old name as batta china à Maur batta china Mauri batta signifieth a Towne batta china a Towne of the Chinois It is likewise thought that the Inhabitants of Iava descended from them and to speake the truth there is no great difference betweene their manner of living clothing building industry trafficke and manuall occupations But after the shipwrâ—cke of fourscore vessels and the losse of their people in the Sea of Zeilan comparing their profit with their losse they resolved to trie no more such hazards but to containe themselves within their owne bounds And to cause this Edict to be inviolably observed they enacted that none there after upon paine of the losse of his â—ead should offer to faile into those parts the Kâ—ngs themselves did ever abstaine from future invasions For sithence they enjoy a very earthly Paradise where Nature and Art are at strife to content the Inhabitants where no good thing iâ— wanting but much superfluous and to spare what mad men would consume their bodies and treasures in getting those things which are more chargeable to get than profitable to keepe Polybius writeth that upon the same reason the old Carthaginians forsooke part of those things which before they had conquered The Romans after they had suffered a grievous losse of their best vessels in the second Punicke warre in meere despaire bade Navigation adue but afterwards perceiving that they who were Commanders of the Sea were likely to prove Lords of the Land they built a new Navie and at length saw the successe to answer their latest opinions Therefore can we not but ascribe this resolution of the Chinois rather to good conscience and advisednesse than to wisdome or good policâ—e When this surrender was resolved in full councell they set the people whom they had vanquished free yet some of their good wils remained feodaries shadowing their estates under the wings of their puissance as the Kings of Corea Lequi Cauchinchina and Siam But notwithstanding their retreit within their owne bounds yet possesse they a dominion little lesse than Europe for from the North towards the South it reacheth from seventeene to two and fiftie degrees from East to the West are two and twenty degrees It is divided into eight severall Kingdomes over whom one principall Monarch controlleth by whose high and illustrious titles of Mundi Dominus and Solis filius he would seeme to challenge all Natures immunities and withall that their prescriptions before the dayes of Adam were true and canonicall The principall Citie is called Paquin neighbouring Tartary out of which the Emperour never issueth but in time of warre which is as it were an exercise amongst them at that time challenging the attendance of every Nation For as you have read in the History of England That from the Twede betweene Northumberland and Scotland even to the Irish Seas there was a wall called Picts wall one hundred miles long and at certaine spaces fortified with watch-towers which thorow hollow trunkes placed within the curtaines received advertisements of Alarmes excursions and such like so that in a moment the whole Countrey was up in armes and the ordinary proceedings of military discipline executed So here from the Sea to Mount Caucasus or rather Imaus eight thousand furlongs together is raised a fortification and at every miles end a strong rampart or bulwarke wherein is continuall garrison Thomas Perez the King of Portugals Ambassadour made foure moneths journey from Cantan to Nanquij bearing alwayes Northerly Nor doth he enter the field under an army of three huÌ„dred thousand foot and two hundred thousand horse Of which I am not incredulous considering the levies of the East five hundred thousand men were consumed in the civill warres of Iuda and Ierusalem and against Iuda her enemies the Moores and Aethiopians brought ten hundred thousand paire of hands to pull downe the wals of Ierusalem Their manner of life is most obscene and shamelesse their idolatrie vile and vicious their incantations ridiculous the prostitution of
their libertie of Trafficke carrying so heavie a hand toward them that they would faine give them occasion to leave Macao of their owne wâ—ls and retire backe into India from whence they came The Kingdome of Siam VPon the borders of China to speake nothing of Cauchinchina because wee know nothing worth relation of that Territory joyneth the Countrey of Siam accounted one of the greatest amongst these great Kingdomes of Asia It tooke its name of the Citie Siam situated upon the entrance of the River Menon it is also called Gorneo It reacheth by Fast and West from the Citie Campaa to the Citie of Tavaâ— in which tract by the Sea-coast are contained five hundred leagues whereof the Arabians once usurped two hundred with the Cities of Patan Paam Ior Perca and Malaco now in the possession of the Portugals From the South toward the North it reacheth from Sincapura situate in degrees to the people called Guconi in nine and twentie degrees The Lake Chimai is distant from the Sea six hundred miles the upland circuit stretcheth from the borders of Cauchinchina beyond the River Avan where lieth the Kingdome of Chencra Besides the Lake of Chimai the Rivers Menon Menam Caipumo and Ana which cause greater fertilitie of Graine thorow the whole Region than a man would beleeve are all his The better part of his Kingdome is environed with the Mountaines Ana Brema and Iangoma the residue is plaine like Aegypt abounding with Elephants Horse Pepper Gold and Tinne In the West part are huge Woods and therein are many Tygers Lions Ounces and Serpents It containeth these Provinces Cambaia Siam Muantai Bremo Caipumo and Chencra The Inhabitants of Lai which border upon the North of the Provinces of Muantai and Caipumo and are divided into three Principalities are under his obeysance The first is that of Iangoma The second of Currai The third Lanea neere Cauchinchina They inhabit a plaine and wealthie Countrey into which the Gueoni Marke Paul calleth their Countrey Gangigu descending from the Mountains to hunt for men make oftentimes cruell butcheries amongst them The people of Lai for feare of those Anthropophagi acknowledge the soveraigntie of Siam but they often rebell and obey as they list The wealth of the Countrey may be conjectured by the fertilitie for being situated in a Plaine and watered with most famous Rivers like another Aegypt it cannot but abound with plentie of all good things It bringeth forth Rice graine of all sorts Horses Elephants infinite store of Cattell Gold and Tinne Silver is brought thither by the people of Lai By reason of this plentie the people are drowned in pleasure and wantonnesse They follow husbandrie but take no great delight in manuall occupations which causeth the Kingdome to be poore in merchandize Amongst many other Cities three are famous Cambaia seated upon the River Menon which rising in Chinae is so hugely augmented by the falling in of many Rivers that his owne Channell not sufficing for receit thereof it rendeth the earth to disgorge it selfe into a thousand Islands making a second Meoâ—is more than threescore miles long Meican signifieth the Captaine Menon the mother of waters The second is the Citie of Siam whose statelinesse giveth the name to the whole Countrey It is a most goodly Citie and of admirable Trafficke which may the better bee imagined by the writing of a certaine Jesuite who reporteth that besides the naturall Inhabitants there are more than thirtie thousand Arabian housholds The third Citie is called Vdia greater than Siam consisting of foure hundred thousand families It is said that two hundred thousand Boats belong to this Citie and the River Caipumo whereon it is seated This King to shew his majestie and magnificence keepeth a Guard of six thousand Souldiers and two hundred Elephants of these beasts he hath thirtie thousand whereof hee traineth three thousand for the Warre This is a very great matter if you weigh their worth and their charges in keeping His Government is rather tyrannicall than King-like for he is absolute Lord over all the demeanes of the Kingdome and either setteth them out to husbandmen or giveth them to his Nobles for maintenance during life and pleasure but never passeth the right of inheritance Hee bestoweth on them likewise Townes and Villages with their Territories but on condition to maintaine a certaine number of horsemen footmen and Elephants By this policie without any peny pay or burthen to the Countrey he is able to levie twentie thousand horsemen and two hundred and fiftie thousand footmen Upon occasion he can wage a greater number by reason of the largenesse of his Kingdomes and the populousnesse of his Townes For Vdia only the chiefe seat of his Kingdome mustered fiftie thousand men And although he be Lord of nine Kingdomes yet useth he no other Nation in the Warre but the Siamits and the Inhabitants of the two Kingdomes of Vdia and Muantai All honours and preferments are bestowed upon men of service in this Kingdome In times of peace they have their warlike exercises and in certaine pastimes which the King once a yeare exhibiteth at Vdia are shewed all military feats of armes upon the River Menon where more than three thousand vessels which they terme Paraos divided into two squadrons skirmish one against another Upon the land run the Horses and Elephants and the footmen trie it out at sword and buckler with point and edge rebated the remainder of their dayes they spend in not and wantonnesse Their borders toward the East reach to Cauchinchina betweene whom are such huge Woods Lions Tygers Leopards Serpents and Elephants that they cannot infest one another by armes Toward the Lake China they border upon the Chinois Toward the Sea they affront the Arabians and Portugals The one tooke from them Paiam Paam Ior and Peam the other Malaca and the Territory adjoyning so betweene them they bereaved him of two hundred miles of land and contenting themselves with the command of the Sea-coasts and with the customes arising upon the carrying out and bringing in of merchandize they abstaine from further invasion of the Inland Provinces and hold it good policie to keepe firme peace with this King and his Countries Towards the West lieth the Kingdome of Pegu like a halfe Moone betweene the Mountaines of Brama and Iangoma Towards the North lie the Gudoni inhabiting the barren and sharpe Mountaines betweene whom and Siam dwell the people of Lay. This people is subject to the crowne of Siam for feare of these Canibals of whom if it had not beene for his protection they had long agoe beene utterly devoured Not forty yeares since the King made a journey against them with twenty thousand horse their horse are small but excellent good in travell five and twentie thousand footmen and ten thousand Elephants part imployed for service and part for carriage No kingdome hath greater store of these beasts or doth more use them An innumerable number of Oxen Buffals
and degrees They must be all Gentlewomen for the Nairs may not take any Countrywoman yea so great is their disdaine and pride that without illusage they will not indure any of the common people to come neere them In their journeyes they send their servants before to the Innes and Villages to declare their Masters approach then must all travellers depart and give roome If it be â—hought in Turkie that by licentious liberty in time of peace the Ianizars become more hardy and couragious in war what may we deeme of these Nairs who will not indure a man of meane calling to look them in the face They inhabit no Townes but dwell in houses made of earth invironed with hedges and woods and their waies as intricate as into a labyrinth Of what force this Kingdome is may be gathered by the armie of 60000. souldiers and 200. vessels of warre which he levied 1503. against Edward Pachecho the King of Portugals Captaine taking part that time with the King of Cochin this war lasted almost five months In the yeare 1529. with an army of 100000. he beleagred the fortresse which the Portugals built in Calecute under the keeping of Iohn Lima In this siege he spent a whole Winter wherein although the Portugals behaved themselves valiantly yet weighing the Kings forces and their owne possibilities they thought it best to destroy it with their owne hands In the yeare 1601. he besieged Caile with 90000. men and tooke it by composition He hath more than once given an instance of his power at Sea He is Lord of many havens whereunto great numbers of shipping doe resort and in that regard cannot chuse but be well furnished with a great Navie But in goodnesse of shipping and martiall discipline we must needs confesse the Sea-forces of all the Indian Princes to be farre inferiour to those of the Portugals whose dominion both at Sea and Land nothing hath so much augmented as their defensive warfare To speake truth it seldome falleth out but the naked man feareth the sword and the armed man is more encouraged thereby bearing himselfe bolder upon his skill than his strength and prevaileth more by temporizing than by rash fighting whereas the Barbarians putting more confidence in their numbers than their goodnesse have alwayes wanted that vertue which should make armies dreadfull and fortunate which is good order and Discipline Iapan Iapan may well be called a politike body compacted of many and sundry Islands of divers different formes and circuits which as they are divided from the rest of the continent so are they inhabited by a people much differing in manners and customes from the residue of the Orient They stand round and close together like the Maldivae in the Indian Sea and the Hebrides and Orcades in the North Ocean They are in number sixty six divided into three partialities The first containeth nine the second foure the third fifty three Amongst these five are renowmed but especially one for the famous Citie of Macao And it is most commonly seene that they who have the soveraigntie of those five are Lords of all the rest It is distant from New Spaine an hundred and fifty leagues from China sixty The soile is to be accounted rather barren than fertile The inhabitants are of a very ready wit and marvellous patient in adversitie Their new borne children they immediatly wash in the rivers and as soone as they are weaned they take them from their mothers and bring them up in labours of hunting and such like exercises They goe bare-headed men very ambitious and desirous of honour Povertie is no disgrace to the Gentrie of their bloud They will not suffer the least wrong to passe unrevenged they salute one another with many courtesies they are very staied and of a setled resolution They are very jealous to shew themselves fearefull or base-minded in word or deed they will make no man privie of their losses or misfortunes they have the like beasts both tame and wilde as wee have but they will scarcely eat any thing save Herbs Fish Barley or Rice and if they doe it is the flesh of wilde beasts taken by hunting Of these graines they make their Wines and water mixt with a certaine precious powder which they use they account a daintie beverage they call it Chia Their buildings for the most part are of timber partly because the upland places are destitute of quarries but abounding with Cedars of admirable height and thicknesse fit for building and partly because the Country is subject to Earth-quakes In times past all Iapan obeyed one Prince shewing him great obedience and subjection and this government endured with no lesse state and majestie at the least sixteene hundred yeares untill about seventie yeares since by the rebellion of two of his chiefest Lieutenants the whole Kingdome was distracted each of them holding by armes whatsoever he atchieved by usurpation By their example others becomming as ambitious seized on the rest of the kingdome some on one part some on another leaving nothing but the bare name of Dairi which signifieth the Lord of all Iapan with the title of Iucata viz. King to their rightfull Soveraigne Yea those Princes which were Lords of the Territories about Meaco would hardly allow him whereof to finde him victuall and apparell so that now he resembleth the shadow rather than the King of the ancient and magnificent Monarchie of Iapan Since those times whosoever layeth fast hold on the dominion of the Coquinat these are the five Kingdomes bordering Meâ—co in stead of Dairi calleth himselfe Emperour and King of Iapan and Lord of Tenza Nahunanga was one of them in our dayes and after him Fassiba in power and majestie excelling all his predecessors Nabunanga was Lord of six and thirty Provinces Fassiba at the least of fiftie The forme of government is nothing like the policie of Europe The strength of the Prince consisteth not in ordinary revenues and love of the people but in rigour and the Princes pleasure As soone as the Prince hath conquered one or more Kingdomes he shareth them wholly amongst his friends and followers who binde themselves by oath faithfully to serve him with a limited company of men as well in peace as warre They againe to make their followers trustâ—e and ready for all services reserving some small matter for the sustentation of themselves and families divide to every man a portion of the former division so that all the wealth of Iapan private and publike is in the hands of a few men and those few depending on the pleasure of one that is the Lord of Tenza He as him listeth giveth taketh disgraceth honoureth and impoverisheth When hee casheereth any Governour of his Province all the Leaders and Souldiers of the said Province are changed and none left there but Artificers and Husbandmen This government draweth with it continuall dislike and innovations for Dairi though hee hath neither power nor government yet being in favour and estimation of