done or passed any matter of importance touching the state of the Realme so much is it respected both within the Realme and abroad This Court of Parliament was first ordayned by Philip the faire King of France The second Parliament is at Bordeaux for the Countries of Guyen Gascoine Zaintonge Perigort part of Poictou and others and was first ordained by Charls the seventh The third Parliament is at Roven for the Dukedome of Normandy first made exchequer by Philip the faire and afterwards continuall Parliament by Lewes the twelfth The fourth Parliament is at Tholouze first ordained for certaine times in the yeare by Philip the faire and afterwards made continually by Charles the seventh for the Countrey of Langueâ—oc The fift Parliament is at Grenoble for the Countrey of Daulphine instituted by Lewes the eleventh The sixt Parliament is at Dijon for the Dukedome of Burgundy it was likewise ordayned by the said Lewes the eleventh The seventh Parliament is at Aix for the Earledome of Provence appointed by Lewes the 12. The eight Parliament is at Renes in Britaine ordayned by Henry the second Of all these Parliaments Paris Parliament is the chiefe and certaine cases are reserved to bee judged onely at the Parliament of Paris Of the Oystridge THE Oystridge is found especially in Affrica his head is covered with small haires his his eyes be grosse and blacke his neck is long his bill is short and sharpe his feete hath as it were a by partite hoofe Pliny saith that hee exceedeth the height of a man on horseback and that his Wings helpe him little But with his Nailes which are like Hoofes hee taketh stones and throweth against those which persecute him Hee doth digest whatsoever hee devoureth be it never hard Hee is of a marvellous foolishnesse for if he hath once hidden his head under a bush hee thinketh himselfe safe and not to bee seene It is said to be a simple and forgetfull thing and that as soone as it hath brought forth egs it forgetteth them untill the yong commeth forth which is thought to bee easily done because they leave the egges in the warme sand so that the yong may soone be hatched the which the males doe feed and cherish when they are brought forth When hee seeth that hee cannot avoide taking he casteth stones against his followers and many times hurteth them His Nest is commonly found in the Sand well made with Bulwarkes and Bankes to keepe away raine from the yong Of the Empire of Cathay THE Empire of Cathay is ruled by the great Cham. With this Nation one man may have many Wives and when the Husband dyeth every wife pleadeth her owne cause before the Judges and sheweth her merits so that which of them soever is adjudged to have been the most officious and dearest wife to her husband shee in her best apparrell and all her Jewels as though shee had gotten the victory of the other goeth willingly and merrily unto the heape of Wood where her husband shall be burnt and lying downe by his carcasse and embracing it the fire is kindled and so she is burnt with her husband the other of his wives after this live in great shame and obloquy They match not together for Wealth or Nobility but for excellency of beauty and procreation sake The people of Cathay have this opinion that they thinke no other Nation to see with both eyes but themselves they are perswaded also that they excell all other in subtilty of Arts and Sciences It is a white kinde of people without beards of small eyes and lacking true piety and due obeisance to God for some of them worshippe the Sunne some the Moone others certaine Images of mettals and other some an Oxe so that they be full of monstrous superstition The Emperour keepeth his Court at his Citty called Cambalu which is the noblest Mart in that part of the World for there is almost never a day throughout the yeare but that a thousand Cart-loads of Silke almost are changed and brought there amongst Merchants The Emperour keepeth in his Court twelve thousand Horsemen to keepe his body Their order of watching is thus One Captaine with three thousand gardeth the King within the Palace for 3 dayes and so doth another other 3 dayes following and thus they keep their courses When the Emperour sitteth downe to meate he hath his principall and greatest Queen on his left hand and his children which be of royall blood on his right hand in a lower place No Man that â—itteth downe in this Hall drinketh or is served in any other vessell but of Gold the Princes and Noble-men that serve the King at his meate cover their mouths with most fine silke clothes lest they should breath upon the Kings meate or drinke and when the Emperour taketh the pot to drinke all the Musitians begin to make great melody and the other ministers bend their knees The thirteene Cantons of Swisserland THe inhabitants of Helvetia or Swisserland after they had emancipated themselves from the yoake of the Empire and expelled the Nobility of the imperiall faction beganne to make Leagues and Confederacies one towne with another to fortifie themselves by that meanes against forraigne invasions if any happened And in processe of time within little more then an hundred yeares are increased to the number of 13 which they call Cantons by which the whole Countrey of Swisse is governed and defended And here according to their antiquity I place them the first that confederated together and gave example to the rest were Vri Swits Vndervard Villages and these three by little and little have drawne to their Faction all the rest that follow Lucerne Zurich Citties Glaris Zug Villages Berne Fribourg Soulleurre Baste Schaffouse Citties Appensel Village whereof 7 professe the Romish Religion viz. Vri Swits Vndervard Zug Lucerne Fribourg and Soulleurre the rest are Zuinglians which diversity of Religion hath caused dissention and mortall Warres of late yeares among them although they be all sworne together to defend their Liberty against Strangers The twelve Peeres or Paires of France IN the Realme of France to be a Peere is the greatest dignity under the King for that in many things they have almost equall Authority with Kings for Peere in the French tongue signifieth equall But because it may bee too prolixe a matter to speake of their Prerogatives it shall suffice to number them and each of their offices at the sacring or coronation of a new King These ancient Peeres are twelve in number whereof six are of the Clergy and sixe are Lay-men the six of the Clergy with their Offices at the Coronation are the Archbishop and Duke of Reins which hath his accustomed charge to oynt and consecrate the King the Bishop and Duke of Lacon whose office is to bring the holy Ampoule or divine water wherwith the King is annointed the Bishop and Duke of Langres whose office is to bring the Scepter and the hand of Justice the Bishop and
of which have and doâ— almost lye buried in Oblivioâ— and so intend the communication of the benefit of them anâ— my labours to this Iland where in I received my first breath doing neither wrong to the sacred esteeme of History nor yeâ— burthening my owne consciencâ— with unjust undertakings 〈◊〉 carrying my selfe by the ballaâ— of truth and steering my laboâ—â— by the rule of Equity I profeâ—â— no other thing but a briefe 〈◊〉 a true expression and digestiâ—â— of many special and remarkabâ—â— passages making the memoriâ— of many of them and the benâ—â—fit of my Country-men tâ—â— whole scope and aime of this 〈◊〉 travaile and labour And because Method is the guide of studies for who undertakes any action of consequence without it builds but without a Foundation or travels in a Wood without a way not perfectly knowing where he is or how to get forth that I may not be unjust or offensive to your memories or to the worth of the subject nor shew my owne disability to the world I doe intend to lay downe the subjects I treate of distinctly as I have gathered them both for the Readers benefit and contentment and first Of the Temple of Ephesus IN the Country called Ionia there is the noble Citty of Ephesus which was built in the 32 year of the reign of King David by Androchus the â—on of Codrâ—â— King of Athens The Amazons did erect in it in the honor 〈◊〉 Diana a noble Temple the like whereof was not then in all the world and therefore it was accounted amongst the 7 wonders of the world it was 215 yeares in making and that of all Aâ—ia and set in a miry ground for the avoyding of earth-quakes there were 127 pillars in it made of their kings one by one which were in height 60 foot whereof 36 were carved with marveilous workemanship The length of the whole Church was 425 feete and the breadth 220. All that tooke this Church for Sanctuary had great immunities and priviledges there were also so many gifts and monuments given to this Church from all Nations and Citties that none in 〈…〉 world might bee compare 〈…〉 wealth St. Paul preached at Ephesus 3 yeeres and converted many to the faith St. Iohn also the Evangelist dyed in this Citty But this sumptuous Temple was destroyed and set on fire in the reigne of Galienus the Emperour by one Erostratus who doing many notable feats in Warre and otherwise when he perceived that he got no reward nor renowne thereby to leave a continuall remembrance of his flagitious and horrible act did with great fires and monstrous flames consume this faire Church and brought it to ashes thinking thereby to be remembred in perpetuity and yet he was deceived for there were generall Edicts and Proclamations made that no man upon paine of death should presume once to put his name in any writing or Chronicle to the intent that he might have beene buried with everlasting oblivion M. Curius THere was in Rome about three hundred yeares before Christs time a strange and horrible gaping of the earth even about the middest of the market place with so vaste 〈◊〉 depth and infinite hollownesse that it might well have beene compared to the gaping of hell mouth the spectacle continuing thus for a time made great terror amongst the people aâ— the length the Southsayers by their interpretations perswaded that this horrible depth might be stopped if the most precious thingâ— in the Citty were cast therein Whereupon divers of the Matrones of Rome of their owne free will cast in divers goodly Jewels but all was in vaine Wherefore M. Curius a Knight of Rome comming of a noble house being decked and adorned with his warlike furniâ—ure and ornaments rid headâ—ong into that horrible depth and hollownesse of the earth and so immediately it closed together againe and was stopped Some say that he demanded this one thing before he would grant to ride and and leape into that depth that for a whole yeares space it might bee lawfull for him every night to lie with what woman hee would chuse and that then of his owne mind he cast himselfe suddenly down headlong into that denne and so the earth closed againe Of the warres and manners of the Turkes THe Turkes have a marvellous celerity in doing a constancy in dangers and observation of the Empire They will swimme over very deepe and dangerous waters they passe over strange hills and being commanded they goe through thicke and thinne headlong having no regard of their lives but of the Empire Most apt and ready to suffer fasting and watching There is no sedition amongst them no tumult They use horrible sounds and not out-cries in War in their Tents in the night-time there is â—uch diligent silence that they â—ad rather suffer their prisoners â—o escape then to move any tumult The Turkes of all kinde of â—eople are said at these dayes to 〈◊〉 most lawfull fighting so that 〈◊〉 is no marvel why their Comâ—on-wealth continueth so long â—nd encreaseth so much that â—â—eir Nation is almost invinâ—â—ble except they be destroyed â—y some plague or pestilence â—r civill discord The Souldiâ—rs have an honest kinde of apâ—arrell In their saddles and briâ—els there is no curious superfluâ—y No man goeth armed but 〈◊〉 the time of War their weaâ—ons are brought after them in â—urdens they use no banners â—or standerds but in the tops of â—heir Javelins they have certaine â—hreads of divers colours hanging where one Captaine known from another They use the Drumme at the Fluite to call and mooâ—â— men to fight They pray fâ—â— their souldiers in every congrâ—â—gation and solemne meetinâ— but rather for such as have dye for their Countrey calling the happy and blessed that they dâ—â—ed not at home in the lamentaâ—â—â—on of their Wives and Childreâ— but abroad amongst their enâ—â—mies weapons and terrible noâ—ses They write and describâ— the victories of their ancestoâ— they sing and extoll them beiâ—â— written for they thinke the souldiers mindes to bee muâ—â— encouraged by these meaneâ— They doe so abhorre picture and engraved Images that upâ—â— such causes they call the Châ—â—â—stians Idolaters They have 〈◊〉 Bells nor yet doe suffer the Christians abiding amongst â—hem to have Bells They neâ—er play for mony or any other â—â—ing but such as bee found â—laying be grievously slandred 〈◊〉 every mans mouth No man â—f what state or degree so ever â—e be desireth to sit on a bench â—ut they lye downe and sit on â—â—e earth like Children with a â—ery comely folding of their â—â—rments under them The table whereon they feed â—â—r the most part is prepared of â—n Oxe hide or an Harts skinne â—ndressed and rough with haire â—â—ill having the roundnesse of â—oure or five hand breadthes No man entreth into any house Church or other place whereâ—n they must sit unlesse his â—hooes be off because it is acounted an unhonest and undecent point for any man to 〈◊〉 with his shoes on his feete anâ— therfore
a gate made all of massie Brasse and was usually to have twenty men to shut or close the Gates together and then being locked and bolted besides other Barres of Iron which went a crosse about the first houre of the Morning or just after 12 of the Clocke the said Gate flew open of its owne accord which the Magistrates hearing of went presently to see and all of them with their greatest power could hardly shut them againe the vulgar interpreted it and affirmed that God openeâ— unto them the Gate of his blessings The fifth Chariots and armed men seene in the Ayre shooting as it were one against another with arrowes and darts all of them just over the Citty The sixt was at the celebration of the full Moone at the day called Pentecost when the Priests all in their vestments adorned for their wonted Sacrifice at first felt the ground to quiver or shake under them and then a voyce which said Let us depart hence The seventh which is most wonderfull being one of their owne Countrey men but a devout man and having a great desire to celebrate the Feast which they call the Feast of Tabernacles and being present among the assembly on a sudden tryed out a voice from the East â— voice from the West a voyce from the foure windes a voyce â—gainst the Temple Ierusalem â—nd thus crying against al men women and all manner of people of what degree soever continually cryed thus night and day in the streets of Jerusalem which some of the Nobility heard disdaining any misfortune whatsoever seized upon him by their command and their servants holding him with Chaines and cords till other Magistrates that were then in office did pronounce some punishment upon him for his foretelling them of the destruction of their famous Citty and Temple they stripped him and beat him very sorely yet hee persevered in his crying O Ierusalem woe woe unto thee Albinus then being his Judge which pronounced his former punishment was in amazement at his words which continually spake for that the stripes were layd and afflicted on him still and thus they suffered him to cry for the space of 7 yeares and almost 6 months and none tooke it to heart his voyce neither waxing hoarse nor weary till the time of the siedge still saying woe woe to this faire City and at last presaging his own death cryed out Woe to my own selfe and as some report a stone being conveyed from an engine smote him on the fore-head but some relate that it was a dart flung from an envious hand which had often heard him cry with teares and say O Ierusalem woe woe This Albinus as it is reported was one of the first that was taken prisoner and after put to death by Titus some sixe dayes after the east end of the Temple was fired Of Ireland THE earth in Ireland is so fruitfull and so good of pasture that their cattell except they bee restrayned sometimes from pasture in Summer are like to be in danger through satiety There is no hurtfull thing nor noysome beast no Spider no toade nor such like either breedeth there or else being brought from other Countries thither continueth or liveth there The earth of this Countrey cast in powder upon any dangerous beast or venemous Serpent of any other Countrey destroyeth and kill them There bee no Bees in this Countrey the temperatenesse of the ayre is marvellous the fertility and fruitfulnesse of the Countrey is notable the people of the Countrey bee voide of hospitality they are uncivill and cruell and therefore not unapt for warlike affaires they attribute great honour to Martiall acts and knightly prowesse The Sea betwixt Ireland and England doth rage almost continually so that there is no safe passage but at certaine times Of England and Scotland IN England there be no wolvs and it any be brought thither they doe not continue and therefore their heards of Cattell keepe well together without any great attendance of men The Sheepe have hornes contrary to those of other countries In Scotland there be certaine Trees which bring forth a fruit folded and wrapped up in the leaves and that fruite when in convenient time it falleth into the water running by the tree it reviveth and taketh life and is transformed into a living fowle which some call a Goose of the tree or a Barnacle This tree also groweth in the Isle of Pomenia which is not far from Scotland towards the North. The ancient Cosmographers and especially Saxo the Grammarian maketh mention of this tree likewise and therefore it is not like to bee any feigned or devised thing of late writers Aeneas Syluius writeth of this tree in this manner We heard say there was a tree in Scotland which growing upon a banke by the waters side bringeth forth fruit much like in forme to Ducks and the fruit of that tree when it is ripe doth fall of it selfe some upon the land and some into the water and those that fal upon the earth do putrifie and rot but those thâ—t fall into the water straight waies with life to swim out of the water and to fly in the aire with feathers and wings of the which thing when we made more diligent search being in Scotland with King IAMES a wise sad and grave man wee learned to flye from wondring making such things miracles as were common and that this famous tree was not onely to bee found in Scotland but also in the Isle called the Orchades Of an Isle in Spaine named Gades THere is a little Isle in Spaine called Gades Erythraea the the pastures whereof doe feede cattell so well that they cannot draw or sever any whay from milke but they must needs powre water when they will have their milke to curd Their cattell also be like to dye at every thirty daies end except they be let blood and so lose some quantity of their blood The grasse whereon their sheep feed is somewhat dry but yet it encreaseth a marvellous fatnesse both in their flesh and also in their milke Seneca the Schoole-master of Nero the Emperour SAint Hierom saith that hee was a man of most continent â—ife and therefore hee accounâ—eth him in the number of holy men but especially for the often letters that he wrote to Saint Paul and Saint Paul to him This Seneca being the Schoole-master of Nero was of great power and authority hee wished himselfe to bee in the like degree with his Country-men that Paul had amongst â—he Christians Among divers of his excellent gifts and properties hee had so singuâ—ar and notable a memory that he could rehearse two thousand mens names in the same order that they were told him and also hee was able to rehearse 2 hundreth Verses being said of 2 hundred Schollers from the first to the last most perfectly It is written that Nero his cruell and cursed scholler in recompence of his paines and teaching put him to death two yeares
the drinking of plaine waâ—er They have also Gold and Silver in admiration as well as other Nations The King of Denmark that ruleth also Norway maketh a ruler among them yearly all things be common amongst them saving their wives they esteem their yong cattel as much as their children of the poorer sort you may sooner obâ—aine their Childe then their Cattell They honour their Bishop as a King to whose will â—nd pleasure all the people hath great respect whatsoever he determineth by Law Scripture or by custome of other Nations that they doe curiously observe and yet now the King hath compelled them to take a ruler They have so great store of fish in this Isle that they make their sales of them in piles as high as houses they live most commonly there by fish for the great penury of wheat and corne which is brought unto them from nations that with great lucre and and gaines carry away fish for it There is a notable Hill or Mountaine called Hecla not farre from which he Mines of Brimstone the singlar Merchandize of that Country For divers Merchants loade their ships with it when this Hil doth rage it thundreth terrible noyses iâ— easteth out stones it belcheth out Brimstone it covereth the earth so farre round about with the ashes cast forth that unto the twentieth stone it is unhabited they that desire to contemplate the nature of so great flames and therefore adventure more nigh unto the Hill are suddenly swallowed and consumed with some inorable gulfe or vorage for there be many such blasts so covered and hidden with ashes that none can sufficiently beware or take heede of them and there commeth out such a fire from that Hill that consumeth Water but stubble or stâ—aw it doth not burne This place is thought of some to be the prison of ununclean soules For the Ice being divided and broken into many parts swimmeth about the Isle almost eight moneths and being broken and bruised with rushing upon the banks with the beatings and noise of the cracking against the banks and rocks giveth so horrible a sound almost representing the miserable lamentation of humane voyce and weeping that it maketh the â—uder sort the more simple and unwife to beleeve that mens soules bee tormented there in cold The inhabitants use instead of bread whereof they lacke store fish dryed made hard and ground to meale and yet out of divers Countries Wheate is brought unto them but not so much as may suffice There bee spirits commonly seene shewing themselves manifestly in doing such things as belong to men but especially they appeare in the formes of such as have beene drowned or â—estroyed by some other vioâ—ent chance and thus doe they â—ppeare commonly in the comâ—any of such men as have had faâ—iliar acquaintance with the deâ—arted and doe use them so in â—ll points that they be taken many times for the living perâ—ons in deed of such as be ignoâ—ant of their deaths offering â—heir right hands for acquainâ—ance and this falsehood and â—rroneous sight cannot bee perâ—eived before the spirit it selfe â—anisheth out of sight and conâ—umeth away being required of â—heir familiars to come home â—nd to see their Friends againe with great sighes and weeping â—hey answer That they must go â—o Hecla the Mountaine and so â—uddenly they vanish out of â—ight Of the Countrey called Laponia IN Laponia the people be of a meane stature but they be of such agility of body that being girded and prepared with a sheafe of arrowes and Bow they will suddenly passe through 〈◊〉 hoope or circle whose Diameter is but halfe a yard They bee taught the Art of shooting from their childhood and a Boy there shall have no meate before hee can touch his marke with his arrow When the Sun goeth downe after the Equinox in September they have one continuall night for three Moneths almost all which time they have no other light but as it were a twiter light and when the Sunne commeth to them before the Equinox in March they celebrate that day as a festivall day with much solemnity Of Whales THere bee great Whales as bigge as Hills almost nigh unto Iseland which are sometimes openly seene and those will drowne and overthrow Shippes except they be made afeard with the sound of Trumpets and Drummes or except some round and empty vessels be cast unto them wherewith they may play and sport them because they are delighted in playing with such things Sometimes many cast their anchors upon Whales backes thinking them to be some Isles and so become in great danger Many in Iseland of the Bones and Ribs of such monstrous Whales make posts and sparres for the building of their houses Munster saith this is a good remedy against such dangerous Whales to take that which the Apothecaries call Castoreum and temper it with water and cast it into the Sea for by this as by a poyson they are utterly driven and banished to the bottome of the Sea How a marvellous horrible Dragon was destroyed in Polonia IN Graccovia a Citty of Polonia there was a marvellous horrible and huge Dragon which consumed and devoured all things and was the cause of great damages for when hee came out of his denne under the mountaine hee did rape and snatch all kind of cattel and men wandring uncircumspectly devouring them with his horrible jawes Gracchus being very sad and lamenting this matter commanded three severall bodies to be cast unto him every day for being contented with those he would looke for no more The which thing although it was grievous yet hee perswaded that three either of sheepe or of some other cattell should be offered him every day wherein Brimstone and some fiery powder or device of flame should be included hidden and mingled with waxe and pitch privily for so that beast and Dragon being provoked with naturall greedinesse or with a rapacious famine and hunger devouring without respect or choise the offered prey by little and little was weakned and extinguished The like example is read in Daniel the Prophet A strange History of a King devoured of Mice THere was in Polonia a King named Pompilius who was wont in all his execrations and and curses to say I pray God the Mice may devoure me Trâ—ly with evill luck and forespeaking evill to himselfe and to his for the Mice devoured his sonne who was also called Pompilius after his Father This sonne after the death of his father being left in his childhood his Uncles administred and governed the Kingdome untill hee came to mans years and was married then suddenly as he was in the middest of his â—easts overcharged with Wine being adorned with Coronates and Garlands dawbed with his â—yntments oppressed with luxury and surfeiting a great number of Mice comming from the carcases of his uncles did invade him the which hee and his wife â—he Queen did destroy but they came forth so fast and in such a multitude assaulted and set upon this Tyrant in
his banquets and his Wife and his Children with most cruell gnawings â—nd bitings so that a great â—and of Souldiers and harnissed men could not drive them away because mans helpe being defatigated and made weary yet the Mice remained strong without any wearinesse both day and night There was therefore devised and built burning and hot Furnaces and Ovens and in the middest of them this Pompilius was placed with his wife and children but the Mice came thither also passing through flames of fire not ceasing to gnaw and consume this Paricid At the length was devised another meanes by another element This Pompilius a murderer of his owne uncles was conveighed in ships with his children and his family into the middest of a deepe water and yet the Mice most earnestly without ceasing followed him and did gnaw and byte both those that were carried away and their ships in so much that the water entring in at the holes gnawne by the Mice did threaten and signifie danger of drowning and therefore the shipmen fearing suffocation in the water and drowning brought the ship to the banke on the land where another great of Mice meeting with the other did more vehemently vexe him then the first these things being openly seene and knowne they that aâ—ore were defenders of him and his children perceiving this to bee GODS punishment and revengeing fled away Now Pompilius being without al such as may comfort and helpe him went into an high Tower in Crusnicza where the Mice clyming up with most swift course did consume and devoure his two Sonnes his wife and the flagitious body of Pompilius Behold and marke there is no counsell or power can take place against God the Lord of all little small vermin weake and timerous mice did miserably destroy Pompilius as Lice being a very little and smal vermine and of lesser force then mice did bring to ruine and destruction Arnolphus the Emperour eating and wasting his flesh his marrow and guts so that the Physitians could doe no good at all the whole substance of the body being so eaten that there was nothing but gristles and onely bones left A Beare seeking for honey was the cause of delivering a man out of an hollow tree IN Muscovia there is found great store of Honey in hollow trees and that which is old honey is left and forsaken of the Bees so that in the stockes of marvellous great Trees the dilligent searchers may finde wonderfull plenty of honey-combes Demetrius sent as Embassadour to Rome declared there before a company of learned men that a yeare or two before hee came out of the country to Rome a poore Countrey-man being a Farmer in the next Village by him searched the Woods and Trees for the gaine and profit of honey and espying at the length a very great hollow tree climed up into the top of it and lept down into the hollownesse so that he sunke and did stick fast in a great heape of Honey even to the breast and throat almost and so remained fast in that sweet poyson that all hope of any deliverance was cleane gone when hee had continued two dayes and fed and maintained his life onely by Honey considering that with himselfe that hee was now so restrained from the liberty and helpe of his hands and feet that with them he could make no shift to get out and if he should cry out with open mouth and full voyce that this could nothing prevaile in such a solitude and vâ—st place of wood and trees because it was not possible that the sound of his voyce and cry could goe far out of the hollow tree so that it might come to the eares of travailers and passers by all these things when hee had deliberated in his minde now destitute of all help and consolation hee beganne utterly to despaire and yet by a marvellous and incredible chance hee escaped being delivered and drawne out by the benefit of a great Beare when that by chance this Beare very desirous and searching for honey most hastily scaled that tree and let her selfe downe into the hollownesse thereof with her hinder feet first downward aftermans fashion about the Raines and Loynes of the which beast the man clasping and taking fast hold mooved and stirred the said Beare to leape out and violently to enforce her selfe out of the Tree being driven so to doe for very suddain fear and for the strange handling and holding about her and also through the great outcryes and noyses that he made And thus the Beare by violence delivered her selfe and the man also from the hollow tree and from great feare Of Beares IN the countrey of Muscovia there is great plenty of Bears seeking preying every where for Hony and Bees not altogether for the filling of their Bellies but also for the helping of their eye-sight for their eyes waxe dimme and ill oftentimes for the which cause they doe especially desire the Honey-combes and that their mouthes stung and wounded of Bees might ease the heavinesse of their heads in bleeding The head in Beares is very weake the which in Lyons contrarywise is most strong And therfore when necessity urgeth that they must needs tumble from some high rocke they tumble and role downe with their head covered betweene their clawes and oftentimes by dousts and knocks in gravell and sand they are almost exanimate and without life They scale trees backward they molest and vexe Bulles with their clawes hanging about their mouthes and Hornes A Beare bringeth forth her yong according to Pliny after thirty dayes past and that commonly five The yong Beare at the first comming forth as it were a white piece of flesh without forme or shape somewhat bigger then a mouse it is without eyes or eares onely nayles and clawes doe appeare outward But the shee Beare never leaveth licking this rude and deformed yong flesh untill by little and little shee bringeth it to some forme and shape when she goeth to the den that shee hath closen for her shee commeth creeping with her belly upward least the place might bee espyed through her steps and there she being with young remaineth foureteene dayes without any motion as Aristotle faith But without meaâ—e shee continueth 40 daies onely being sustained with the licking of her left foote then after this when shee chanceâ— upon any meate or foode shee is filled beyond measure and this satiety is helped by vomiting with eating of Ants the yong for fourteene dayes space daies space is oppressed with such heavines or sleep that they cannot bee awaked or stirred up from their drowsie heavinesse neither with pricking nor with wounding and in this meane space of sleeping they waxe fat maruellously After 14 dayes space they awake from sleepe and begin to licke their former pawes and so live they for a time and it is not manifest with what kind of meate they should live untill the spring time but then they begin to run abroad and feede of the yong
a halfe old his middle teeth both above and beneath do fall when hee is three yeares old hee casteth those that are like unto Dogs teeth and bringeth forth new before sixe yeares of his age his upper double teeth doe fall at the sixt yeare hee supplieth those that he wanteth at the seventh yeare all are supplied equally from that time he hath hollow teeth and therfore it is hard to discerne their ages at the tenth yeare their temples begin to waxe hollow and the browes sometimes wax gray and their teeth stick out Mares have their full increase in five yeares but Horses in sixe yeares Xenophon teacheth these properties to be observed in an Horse First to know his age then if he will take a bridle or not after this if one may sit him then if he will cast him that sitteth on him and if he will fly or run away being let loose or if hee may be soone taken or if he being smitten with a stick will goe thâ— swifter or not Of certaine monstrous people in India MAny are found in India both men women and beasts full of haire and with leaves and mosse on them which commeth of the great heate that there is Pliny saith that the inhabitants of this Countrey be coloured with the Sunne and thereby come to certaine blacknesse like unto the Ethiops not because they are outwardly so black through the adustion of the Sunne but naturally in their blood there is an inclination to blacknesse the which the heate of the Sun doth seeme to double Our Ancestours have feigned many monsters in this Country as people with Heads like unto dogges armed onely with nayles clothed with 〈◊〉 and skinnes having no kinde of mans speech but onely a kinde of barking There bee some that live at the fountaine of Ganges which take no benefit by meat but live onely by the savour of wilde Apples and when they goe farre they carry them for their maintenance and live by the smell and savour of them If they come into any filthy or stinking ayre they must needs dye and it said that some of them were seene in the Tents and Army of Alexander Wee read also that there bee certaine people with one â—ye in India and some to have so great â—ares that they hang downe even to their feete and many to have but one foot and that so great that when they lye down on their backs and would keepe them from the Sunne the shadow of that onely legge doth comfort them It is read also that there is a Nation which hath gray haires in youth the which in age waxe blacke and also men say there is another kind of women which conceive at five yeares of age but they live not above eight yeares there be some that lack neckes and have eyes in their shoulders there bee wilde men also with heads like unto Dogs with a rough and hairy body which make a terrible hissing but these and such like are not to be credited and taken for truth except great reason can perswade that such may be and experience can prove the same It is also thought that there is a certaine people called Pygmeis which be never in peace but when the Cranes with whom they have continuall warres flye into other countries These Pygmeis are short men of stature inhabiting in the extreame part of the mountains of India where is a wholesome and good ayre who exceed not twenty seven inches in stature For Pygme is as much to say as a cubite These Pygmeis fight with Cranes but they have the foyle the report goeth that they sit upon the backs of Rams or Goats and have arrowes for their weapons and so in the Spring time with a great Army they come to the Sea and there consume the Cranes egges and yong ones and that this expedition is made in three moneths for otherwise they were not able to resist the Cranes their Cottages bee made of clay feathers and egge-shells But of the nature of Cranes the authors write in this manner When the Cranes take a flight they consent together and flye very high for to marke and behold they chuse a captaine and guide whom they follow in the latter end of the company they have those that may cry and may lead the whole flocke with their voyce they have their watches every night by turne which hold a stone in their feet which falling from those that are weary for lacke of sleepe argueth and reprooveth their negligence by sound the other sleep with their bils and heads under their wings standing upon each feete by course the guide looketh forthwith his neck straight forward and fore-sheweth things to come When they are mad tame they waxe lascivious and run and flye in round compasses with shaking their wings Of the Ants of India MEgasthenes writeh of the Ants in India after this sort there is an Hil of thre thousand furlongs in compasse in India and many Gold mines therin the which are kept with Ants as big as Foxes getting their living with a marvellous celerity in hunting they dig and scrape the earth that bringeth forth Gold and heapeth it up at the hole of their Dens the which Merchants doe privily steale away laying flesh for a bait to stay the Ants if perhaps they should marke them This is thought of many to bee a fable and therefore I leave it at large to judge of it as you think best Of Indian Apes ABout the mountain called Emodij there is a great wood full of great Apes the which as the Macedonians did see standing as it were thicke together upon the Hills and having weapons like men of Warre for that kinde of beast commeth as neare to humane subtilty as Elephants doe they would have set upon them as enemies had not the inhabitants of that Countrey beene present and shewed to Alexander that it was nothing else but an assembly of Apes which contend to imitate such things as they see and so that battell was turned to laughing Apes are taken after this manner they that hunt Apes set dishes full of water in the sight of the Apes and therewith they annoint and wash their eyes and suddenly with as privy speed as they can they take away the water and set pots with birdlime and such like stuffe instead thereof the Apes perceiving them annointing their eyes being given to follow all things come downe immediately from the trees and thinking to doe as the men did they dawbe and annoint their eyes and mouthes with birdlime and so are they easie to bee made a prey and taken alive They use also another trade to take them they take buskins and put them on in the sight oâ— the Apes and so depart leaving others annoynted inwardly with birdlime and such like and somewhat hairy that the fraud might not appeare the which the Apes plucking upon their legs are so snared and intangled with it that they cannot escape the hands of the Hunters There
seeing the you have bin my best â—riend let us change our wives upon that condition that you may have mine and I may have yours then saith the other say you so in earnest ye saith he by Pollux Then saith his fellow let us goe home to my house whither when they are come the one claymeth anothers Wife saying come â—â—ther Woman and follow this man because from hence forth hee shall be thy Husband then the Woman saith do you speaâ— in earnest to whom her first Husband saith I doe not mock then the woman saith gladly I will follow him And this iâ— the way of changing theiâ— Wives There be some Women in this countrey that may marry seven Husbands and lye wiâ—â— them every night by course and where shee is delivered of â— Childe shee may choose tâ— which of her Husbands she wilâ— father her Childe so that the man may not refuse it by any meanes Many other strange things is rehearsed of this Nation the rehearsall whereof were very tedious heere There is much Pepper growing in this Countrey of Calechut the stalk of Pepper is but weak somwhat like to a Vine stalke so that it cannot grow without a prop it is not much unlike to Ivye for it windeth and creepeth as that doth and with a more deepe clasping it windeth about the tree this hath many branches three handfull long They gather it in October and November being greene as yet and lay it on tiles in the Sunne to bee dryed where in three daies space it waxeth black even as we have it Ginger groweth in Calechut but much is brought out of Cravonor thither Cynamon is in the Isle of Zaylon fifty Germain miles beyond Calechut Pepper groweth in the fields of Calechut but great store is brought out of Crimucoll 12 miles beyond Chalechut Cloves are gathreed in a place called Meluza a little from Calechut Nutmegs groweth in Melaccha which is a great way from Calechut Musâ— or Castoreum commeth from the Countrey of Pego which is an hundred miles from Calechut Pearle and Precious stones are found about the City of Ormus and sent to Calechut the general Mart of all the East parts And many other Spyces Silkes and strange things are brought from these Countries into ours The end of the Iewes answerable to their lives SEldome hath it been known but alwayes a wicked life hath had a shamefull end and this without searching any further for examples may evidently be seene in the Nation of the Iewes their lives being odious towards God proved as shamefull to Men they generally exercised inhumanity to strangers despised the Prophets and mocked their Priests they were given to fearfull oppression and usury they did not honour their Magistrates nor parents they practised contentions and seditions they prophan'd the Sabbath of God they were extreamly unthankful and as extreamly disobedient to God in a word they left not any notorous sinne unpractised and for the prosecution of these lewd courses it pleased Heavens Justice to make them a shame a curse and an astonishment to all the world and themselves for as they sold Gods Word and his Sacrifices so in Vespasians time they were publickly sold for slaves to the number of thirty seven thousand persons at once as they dealt with strangers so to this day are they used by all strangers as they cared not for their Priests so are they now deprived both of Country Citty Temple and Priests As they used oppression so are they now to this day oppressed and mis-used by all Nations without pitty or remorse nay even their owne curses which they wished might fall upon them are indeed fallen justly â—pon them and theirs What â—eed I be tedious it is most manifest to all men that they â—re as justly miserable and conâ—emned as they were unjust in â—heir impieties so that they who did refuse to bee vessels â—or mercy are deservedly made â—essels of Justice that although GODS Will was not done â—y them yet it is done upon â—hem Discite Iustitiam moniti non tomnite Divos The seven Wonders of the World THe first were the Walls of Babylon built by Semiramis of stone joyned together with a strange kind of slimy and gluish morter which groweth in thâ— Mines of those Countries anâ— especially in the Lake wheâ—â— stood in time past Sodome anâ— Gomorrah now called Asfaltiâ—â— These Walls according to tâ—â— Towne were built in quadrangle and contained in circuit as saiâ—â— Pliny in the twenty sixt Chapter of his sixt booke 60 miles so that every square was siâ—teene mile long they were 〈◊〉 foot high and fifty foot thick and to build these Walls werâ— hired by Semiramis out of diâ—vers Countries for a long spacâ— 300000 men The second was the Pillar oâ— the Sunne offered by the Genâ—tiles unto Iupiter This Pillaâ— stood in the I le of Rhodes anâ— was made of Iron in the form of a man of incredible greatâ—nesse in so much that a maâ— might scarce fadome the great â—inger thereof After it had stood 56 yeares it fell down by reason of an earth-quake and so â—ay till the Iland was wonne by â—he Souldan of Egypt who carâ—yed so much mettall away as â—oaded 900 Camels The third were the Pyramides of Egypt among the which â—here is one especially noted aâ—out the Citty of Memphis now â—alled grand Caire this Piramidâ—overed â—overed about 40 acres of land â—t the foote or foundation thereâ—f it was all built of Marbleâ—tone and in the building â—hereof were imployed contiâ—ually for the space of 20 years â—600000 men and for the susteâ—ance of these workmen was â—is burst in radish and such other â—oots 1800 tallents which acâ—ording to our reckoning is the summe 1880000 crownes this might seem incredible were it not that it is affirmed by so many Authors of authority The fourth was the Mausol of Mausolus King of Caria and husband to Artemisia so called this Woman for the great love shee bare to her Spouse burned his dead body and dranke the powder thereof thinking no Sepulcher so worthy as her owne body and the rest of the powder shee buried in this famous tombe the stone whereof was of an excellent kind of marble it was 411 feet in circuit and 25 cubits high was invironed about with 36 Pillars of stone wonderfully well carved The fift was the Temple oâ— Diana builded by the Amazones it was 455 foot long and 220 foot broad and in it stood 127 marble pillars each of them being 70 foote high the worke thereof was so wonderfull curious that it was 220 yeares a making The sixt was the Image of Iupiter Olympius in Achaia all of Porphyre an infinite number of little pieces joyned together this Image besides the excellency of the worke is especially noted for the greatnesse thereof and was the more famous by reason of the game called Olympiades there kept The seventh was the Tower Pharos nigh unto Alexandria in Egypt builded by Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Egypt to direct the
studied much for honesty and goodnes and with their honest conversation did allure strangers and good men to come unto them â—nd to learne that which they â—ould not finde in other plaâ—es Their women in times â—ast did use Merchandize and â—ll things which appertained â—o Chapmen the men did weave and spinne within the house and carrie burdens on their heads the which the womeÌ„ did use to bear on their sholders the men did make Urine sitting but the woman did contrary They did discharge their bellies at home but their banquets they kept in high wayes they moulded bread with their feet and stirred their clay with their hands They did use to write after the Hebrewe fashion beginning their letters on the right hand When any of them met together at Dinner or Supper before they departed there came in one that brought a picture of a dead man upon a staffe made oâ— Wood of a Cubit length 〈◊〉 somewhat more and shewetâ— it to every one of the guests saying behold and looke upoâ— this drinke and bee refreshed with pleasure for such a one shalt thou be after thy death Their lawes were such that perjured men lost their lives as though they had beene guilty of two offences the one of violating piety towards God the other of breaking faith and promise amongst men which is the surest knot of humane society If any travailer found any man beaten of theeves and would not helpe him if he could he should bee found culpable of death if hee were not able to helpe him he was bound to detect the theeves and to follow the action against them and he that did neglect to doe this was punished with certaine stripes and kept without meat for three dayes If any Father killed his son there was no punishment of death appointed but for 3 daies and nights continually hee was commanded to bee about the dead body for they thought it no just thing to take away life from him that gave life to his children but rather that hee should bee punished with continuall paine and repentance of his fact that others might fear to do the like Paracides they caused to bee burned upon an heape of thornes and such as uttered any secrets to their enemies they caused their tongues to bee cut out And they that did counterfeit or clip mony had both their hands cut off so that with what part of the body the offence was made with the same hee should tollerate punishment If any had violated a free woman his naturall parts were cut off because in one fault he committed three haynous things that is an injury corruption and confusion of children He that was taken in voluntary Adultery had a thousand stripes with rods and the woman was mangled upon the nose The Priests could have but one Wife but the laity as many as they could keepe The bringing up of their children was with small cost for it came not unto the charge of twenty groats the whole Education of their full age and and this is not to bee marvelled at because Egypt is a hot Countrey and therefore they live naked without any kinde of Garment and they feed upon roots the which they eate sometimes raw and sometimes rosted in Imbers The Priests did teach their children especially Geometry and Arithmeticke They did drive away sicknesse either with fasting or with vomit the which they used every third day Their opinion was that all diseases came of superfluity of meates and therefore that to be the best cure which tooke away the matter and causes The seven Saxon Kingdomes that England was once divided into THe first was the Kingdome of Kent which had his beginning of the Saxon Hengist in the yeare of our Lord 476 and the fift yeare of Vortiger King of Britaine his last reigne for he had beene deposed the Kingdome continued 342 yeares till that Egberâ— King of Westsaxons vanquished Baldred last King thereof and joyned it to his owne Kingdome The second Kingdome was of Sussex or Southsaxons which began by the Saxon Ella in the yeare of our Lord 482 and the second yeare of Aurelius Ambrosius King of Britaine This Kingdome continued not above 112 yeares The third Kingdome was of East-angles or East-Englishmen and contained Northfolke and Suffolke it was first begunne by the Saxon Vffa about the yeare of our Lord 492 and the 11 yeare of Aurelius Ambrosius King of Britaine This Kingdome continued 376 yeares the last King whereof was Saint Edmond martyr'd by the Danes The fourth was the Kingdome of Westsaxons containing the West-countrey of England and had his beginning by the Saxon Cerdicus the yeare of our Lord 522 and the fift yeare of Arthur the great King of Britaine and endured from the first yeare of Cerdicus to the last of Alured the terme of 378 yeares The Kings of this Countrey subdued at length all the other sixe Kingdomes which Egbert beganne and Alured finished making all the South part of this Iland one Monarchy The fift was the Kingdome of Northumberland containing the Countries betwixt the river of Humber and Scotland had his beginning of the Saxon Idâ— King of Brenicia the yeare of our Lord 547 and the second or last yeare of the reigne of Aurelius Canon King of Britaine This Kingdome of Northumberland was at the first divided into two Kingdomes the one was called the Brenicia which bended towards the North and the other Deyra about the Countrey of Durham and this Kingdome continued some-while under one King sometime under two the terme of 409 years first under the Saxons and then under the Danes The sixt Kingdome was of the East Saxons or Essex which beganne by the Saxon Sebert the yeare of our Lord about 614 and continued from the beginning of the reigne of Sebert till the eighth yeare of Edward the elder 293 yeares The seventh Kingdome was of Mercia containing Huntingtonshire Hertfordshire Glostershire and others and was the greatest of all the other taking his beginning of the Saxon Penda in the yeare of our Lord 626 after the comming of Hengist 126 yeares during the reigne of Cadwan King of Britaine and continued from Penda till that Edward the Elder chased out the Danes about 280 yeares These 7 Kingdomes of the Saxons beside that of Wales and Scotland were all contained at once in this Iland of Britaine and continued a long space The foure Monarchies THe first Monarchy was of the Assyrians founded by Ninus about the yeare of the World 2220 augmented by the Queene Semiramis and after it had endured the terme of 1300 yeares it was translated by Arbactus unto the Medes and there having endured 350 years it was lost by Astyages and conquered by Cyrsu The second Monarchy was of the Persians founded by Cyrus the yeare of the World 3425 which after it had endured 191 yeares was lost by Darius and subdued by Alexander the great The third Monarchy was of the Grecians founded by Alexander the great in the yeare of
of certaine Abbies religious Houses or other spirituall lands whereof they shall alow a certaine stipend to the entertaining of a certaine number of religious persons in every religious house under him and for that benefit are sworne at the entring into the said Order alwayes to defend the Spirituality and maintaine the Clergy in their priviledges but how they keepe their Oath it is well seene in every place of their spirituall possessions and thereof my selfe have oftentimes had oeular experience for travailing in that Countrey and passing oâ—tentimes by goodly religious houâ—ses I have sometimes for recreâ—ation having well tryed the courteous demeanor that commonly Religious men use towards strangers that come to view their houses entred into sundry of them where I have divers times beene sufficiently enformed by the religious how the King had given the rents and possessions of their houses to the Knights of his Order with the conditions already rehearsed which Knights allow them such bare exhibition that by reason it is not sufficient to entertaine the fourth part oâ— the number by them appoynâ—ted almost all of them aâ— constrayned eyther to forsakâ— their houses and begge oâ— else there to starve througâ— which occasion many goâ—â— religious houses are of late fallen in decay for want of reparation trimming up and inhabiting and will do more and more without a redresse And this have I learned in divers Religious houses beside the common murmuring of the Clergy and so wee may see how these Knights called of the Holy Ghost for to defend and maintaine the spirituality doe under pretence thereof rob and prodigally wast the spirituall possessions so that it may seeme only to be a policy under the correction of better judgement put in the Kings head to diminish spirituall livings which in that Countrey are wonderful great and satisfie his prodigall minde in rewarding by that meanes his flatterers because through his exceeding lavishnesse hee is scarce able otherwise to reward them The Bishop of Rome considering what dismembring of Church-lands and decay of Gods service commeth through this Order in the Realme of France will not grant the confirmation thereof although the King hath beene instant for the same but notwithstanding the Popes misliking thereof the Order is maintained though to the great weakning of the Religion in that Countrey Yea at the last celebration thereof which was on New-yeares day even 1581 I saw three Bishops were admitted into that Order The Collar is of Flowers de lys and flames of Gold with a Crosse and a Dove on it pendant representing the Holy Ghost wrought in Orange-tauny Velvet garnished about with silver beames which the Knights of that Order weare upon their Cloakes before their heart Their robe is a blacke Velvet Mantle poudered with Lillies and flamâ—s of Gold and Silver None are admitted to this Order who cannot proove their Nobility by 3 descents at least The sixt Order is of the Bath brought first into England 1â—99 by Henry the Fourth They are created at the Coronation of Kings and Queenes and the installation of the Princes of Wales Their duty is to defend true Religion Widdows Maids Orphans and to maintaine the Kings rights Of the Cannibals THe Cannibals are wilde people feeding uppon mans flesh which is a very sweete kinde of flesh If they get or finde any children within the age of 14 yeares they feede them and cram them as we doe Capons but those which are beyond 14 yeares of age they kill them out of hand devouring their hot guts immediately and the other parts of their bodies they salt and lay up as we doe poudred flesh they eaten women but keepe them onelâ— for the bearing of children 〈◊〉 we doe Hennes for egges If any for age is past childe bearing shee doth all drudgeâ—ry like unto a bond-woman they have no houses but the erect many trees together and so combine them in the top that it serveth for lodging Their beds be made of Silke and Hey they have no Iron but they use bones instead of Iron they dresse their meate in earthen pots mingling the flesh of Parats Geese Ducks and mans flesh together They are now come to more civility then they had in times past Of the Lyon LYons live in many Countries in Affrica they have a cruell and terrible looke and thinne haires Pliny thinketh that his especiall valiancy is when his maine covereth his necke and shoulders In Affrica for the scarcity of waters many wilde beasts meete together at some one puddle where males and females of divers kindes use naturall conjunction whereof commeth monstrous yong Aristotle saith that the shee Lyon hath at her first generation five yong and that every year-after shee bringeth forth lesse by one untill shee waxe barren and that her yong are without shape or fashion about the bignesse of a Weasell Herodoâ—us and Gellius thinketh the contrary that shee bringeth forth one every yeare Democritus saith this beast onely is bred and brought forth with open eyes and that hee is given to little sleep as it may appeare because his tayle is often wagging as hee sleepeth The Male Lyon maketh urine like unto a Dogge which is strong in savour The Lyons drinke seldome they feed every other day after satiety they be without meat for 3 dayes they devoure such things as they can wholly they live long The Lyon only of al fierce and cruell beasts sheweth clemency towards the humble for hee spareth the prostrate and when he rageth he useth his violence rather against Men then Woemen He never uttereth his Force against infants and children but beeing driven with great Famine thereto His tayle is a note of his minde and stomacke as the eares bee in a horse for if his tayle stirreth not he is gentle and peaceable the which is a rare thing for he is most commonly angry He keepeth his desire of revenging long against any that hatve hurt him being wounded hee doth note and marke him that gave the wound and in a great multitude will invade him His bones are sound and not hollow whereof some write that out of his bones fire may be striken as out of stones and therefore sometimes he is so raging with anger and in such a burning heate that hee dyeth presently He is never exasperate or moved but either by famine or hurt This one thing is to be noted in so cruell a beast that wheeles runned about and empty Carts and the combes and singing of Cocks doth make him afraid but especially hee is afraide of fire Of the people called the Nigrites and others THere is a kinde of people nigh unto the confines of the west Arabians called Azanagi whose colour is betwixt blacke and ash-colour they live with Barley and Dates and Camels milke and because they are neare unto the Nigrits they feede sometimes upon divers kinde of pulse they be no great feeders for the scarcity of victuals maketh them to suffer and tollerate much famine The Portugals use merchandize
their computation of time from the birth-day of Mahomet by the name of this word Hegyra as the Spaniards were woâ—â— of long time after they were subdued by the Romans to number their yeares from Augustus Caesars Reigne by these 4 letters A er a which is Annus â—rat Augusti These Infidels and Pagans observe a memoriall for the nativities of their Kings and Princes throughout the whole world In Persia the birth of Cyrus upon the 16 day of the Moneth Lois In Macedonia the nativity of Alexander the great upon the Ides of February And in Rome the nativity of Romulus upon the 21 day of September In like sort the nativity of Iulius Caesar upon the fourth of the Ides of Iuly The nativity of Nerva upon the 4 Calend of December The Nativity of Adrian upon the 6 Calend of November Of Antonius pius upon the first of Aprill Of Gordianus upon the 13 of Ianuary Of Constantine the great upon the 4 Calend of Februâ—ary And so of Traiane Vespatian and others whose Natiuities were with great honour observed and with great dignity of triumphes feasts sacrifices games and playes with all pompe and glory in remembrance of good Kings nativities solemnized For Beata respâ—â—â— cui princeps Philosophus All the Kingdomes of the World in their feast Natalitiâ— in memory of the most happy state of a good King used all kinde of strange inventions to magnifie their Kings the Egyptians in their Pyramides and Obeliskes the Grecians in their triumphant Arches and Pillars the Persians with feasts and banquets solemnized the Nativities of their Kings and the Romans excelled with sundry pompes of triumphs to set forth â—he dignities of their Kings Dictators and Consuls Others â—n the sacred Wood Aricinâ—m doe sacrifice to Diana with â—heir pompe of Peplon c.. Beside such magnificent and triumâ—hant Games and Playes to set â—orth the dignities of the feast Natalitia in memory of good â—rinces nativities As at Aâ—ens Magna Panathenaea first â—stituted by Ericthonius to hoâ—our Minerva every fift yeare â—n like manner as the games â—f Olympia was by Hercules celebratâ—d to honour Iupiter or Isthmia was by Thaeseus made to honour Neptune So in Rome the great Playes and Games called Ludi triumphalâ—â— Ludi Natalitij were onely toâ— that effect invented to magnifie good Princes and to record their worthinesse with Feasts Triumphes and Playes in memory of their nativities For 〈◊〉 this feast of Natalitia the common people assembled together with sweete flowers green hearbes some made them boothes with Oken bougheâ— and some tents covered witâ— with long Reeds with greaâ— banquets and much mirth 〈◊〉 honour the nativityes of Kingâ— The Roman shepheards dresâ— upon that day their sheepe-â—â—â— with greene rushes sweet floâ—ers with branches and boughâ— they their Wives and Families with nose-gaies and garlands with Bagpipes and fiddles celebrated their feast Natalitia at the birth of any King Dictator or Consull of Rome In other places they celebrated the games Saturnalia in December their games Sigillaria in Ianuary the Games Lupercalia in February But in Athens their Bacchanalia is solemnized in November where the Ministers and Priests of Bacchus and Diana by the names of Mimallones Sileni Mâ—nades Bacchae Satyrae c. all crowned with Ivey Garlands and with Ivey speares in their hands singing the song of Dithirambos dancing Enoplia with the pompe of Peplon to honour Bacchus then how ought wee to celebrate the Natalitia and inauguration of our Englands joy the establisher of our peace King Iames of blessed memory and also his sacred Majesty who is the greatnesse of great BRITAINE and the unparallel'd patterne to all Kingdomes of Piety and Religion of whom it may be truely said With Graces three with Muses nine With Sibyls twelve can he With three the fourth with nine the tenth With twelve the thirteenth be Of the inauguration and anointing of the great Duke of Muscovia with the ceremonies at their Coronation AT the Coronation of the great Duke of Muscovia 〈◊〉 the States of Muscovia whicâ— they call Camesi assemble together at Saint Michael their chiefe Temple the day appointed for the Coronation the Citty is so strawed with flowers and sweet odours and set forth with boughes that their triumph is great feasting according to the custome of the Musâ—ovites The great men meete the Duke or the Emperour and â—ring him into the Temple who â—t his comming into the Temple an old fatherly man meeteth him having on a long garment downe to the ground Bombycina veste This embraced the Emâ—erour most courteously for â—ee was the Metropolitan of Muscovia or the chiefe Priest which they call Princeps sacroâ—um whose authority and command in that Countrey is very great In the midst of the Temple was made a Theater with seates to fit on and with staires to passe to every place of the Theater being set forth with most sumptuous showes the feat of the Emperours was made most royall and with great magnificence sitting in Scamno with a rich purple cap on his head beset with Gold and precious stones a precious garment wrought with Gold and laced close at his breast called Bombycina vestis his hands so be set with Jewels that onely the Emperours hands and his head were to bee wondred at Now the Emperour being in his Palace the States and the great men in their feats the chiefe Priest or the Metropoliâ—tan turneth his face and looketh upon the Emperour saying My most loving Sonne and great Duke of Muscovia now the Gods have placed thee in the highest Tower of Fortune and in the great state of Dignity not to harme or hurt thy people but to helpe and to guide them not to devoure them but to relieve them ministring Lawes and Iustice to every man alike laying before thine eyes the noble Examples of the best Emperours thy Father brought much calamity and wrought many dangers to this Empire Wilt thou defend thy Countrey with Iustice and with armes make much of good men and subdue the wicked If thou doe this we thy Cittizens here will pray unto the regall Gods of supernall and infernall power to blesse thee with much felicity that in thee wee may see our Countrey flourish This being done the people make great joy and triumph form the highest to the lowest and therewithall much money is throwne among the vulgar people I could not read of any crown nor of any other monuments among the Muscovites for it seemed by the tyranny of the Emperours that they use very few godly ceremonies I should have set downe at the comming of the great Duke through the streete the peoples throng was such that many were with naked swords to make way for the Emperour to passe by who commanded by all rigour and extremity to keep the people off The Nativity of our Saviviour Christ. THe Nativity of our Saviour Christ seemed so simple his life so poore and his death so â—gnominous that he was a stumbling blocke to the Iewes
and a laughing stock to the Gentiles they so thought for that he was borne in Bethlem a little village in Iudea that he lived and was conversant among simple people without pompe and glory and that he died the death of the crosse with reproach and shame supposing him to be a Carpenters son but they were deceived his birth was most glorious the appearing of the Starre prooved it â—he descending of Angels singing Gloria in excelsis did manifest it the comming of Magi from the East did confirme it his life was most Imperiall comanding Water into Wine the blinde to see the lame to go the sick to health and the dead to rise His death was most triumphant with the song of Hosanna he vanquished Devils subdued Hell and conquered the world and said ConsuÌ„matum est Therefore his nativity is to bee solemnized of all Christians his life to be worshipped and death to be glorified with Alâ—elujah Hosanna and Gloria in excelsis songs triumphant and fit for Jesus Christ our Saviour Of the ancient and strange ceremonies at the Election of the Prince of Carinthia CArinthia is a Province where the Sclavonians speach is spoken where manners and customes are most strange and the like Ceremonies not read of When any new elected Prince entreth into his goverment hee is brought into a faire large valley where was wont to bee an ancient Citty where some monuments are left as reliques so that time weare out the name of it In a wide faire medow hard by a marble stone is erected upon the which stone a Rusticall fellow standeth which by succession of blood that place and office by heritage doth possesse There he hath hard by him a deformed leane Mare and an olde leane Oxe and the Rusticall Countrey people in heapes about him On the farther side of the medowe is the new Prince with his Barons and States about him with great pompe very richly attired all in Purple having the Princes Ensignes and his Arms and 12 Banners carried solemnly before him the Prince being apparrelled like a poore simple country man in old broken garments his cap bare and his shoos worne with a countrey staffe in his hand seeming rather more like a shepherd then a Prince who comming nigh to the Clowne that standeth upon the stone hee cryeth out in the Sclavonian tongue and asketh who is this that is comming here so proude the Barons and the States answere he is a Prince of the Country then the Country man from the Marble stone demands againe Is this man a right and just Judge Doth he seek the benefit and wealth of this Countrey Is â—he of honest and vertuous condition Is he a sound Christian in religion Will he defend the true faith And is he worthy of this honour To whom al the States and Barons answere he is and shall be Againe he saith I aske you by what law and right should I bee removed from this seat The County of Goritia answereth for mony this place is bought then this Oxe and this Mare shal be thine and all the Garments which the last Prince did put off thy houâ—e shal be free without any tribute Then the countrey-man descendeth and meeteth the Prince and striketh him a little on the cheeke saying I command thee to be a good just Prince then he taketh his Mare and his Oxe and giveth the place to the Prince who streight standeth upon the Marble-stone taking a naked Sword into his hand first hee doth flourish it one way then he doth flourish it another way promising thereby equall Justice to the people there they bring water in a Countrey-mans cap to drink to signifie unto the Prince that he should abstaine from wine After these ceremonies the Prince coÌ„meth downe from the Marble-stone and is brought to the Temple called Our Ladies Chappel which was the seate sometime of a Bishop then from thence after some sacrifice which was to be used all things done and performed the Prince putteth off the rusticall garments that he put on before to performe the custome and ceremonies of the Countrey and weareth his princely wonted attire and after hee had feasted with his Barons and his Nobility he returned to the medow againe where the Marble-stone was and sitteth there on his Tribunall seat to heare causes pleaded and to give judgement according to Justice this is the manner and strange custome of the election of any Prince in Carinthia So strange were the customes and manners in old time aswell at the election and coronation of Princes as also in their ceremonies and Scepters For the first Kings of the world used for their Scepters long gilded speares The old Kings of Rome used a crooked staffe called Lituus Tarquiniuâ— Priscus the 5 King of Rome had his Scepter of Ivory The Kings of India had their Scepters of Ebony The Lydians carried before their Kings great Axes The Kings of Sicily used a silver staffe for their Scepter The Babylonians used divers kinds of Scepters with sundry figures as of Lyons Eagles c. The manner of the funerall pompe of the Grecians IN other parts of Greece they used more solemne mourneâ—ull ceremonies at the Funerall of their Kings and Princes â—hey tooke downe their Bulâ—arkes and Fortresses of Wars â—hey untile their Temples they â—â—bvert their Altars they reject â—nd depose their Idols they put â—ut their fire and the men shave â—oth their heads and beards and â—hey clip their horses and left â—othing undone that seemed â—ournefull Then al the Priests â—agistrates young Gentlemen â—nd children carryed Trophies â—nd Monuments of the dead â—ing with his Ensignes and â—rmes crowned with Garlands â—â—cording to the custome of â—reece The Noblemen carryed divers great Cups or Bowles some full of Wine others full of Milke and some full of Blood all in white Garments others carried Hony and Cakes which should be sprinkled and cast upon the funerall fire at what time they sung Hymnes Odes and songs called Ialemâ—â— in the praise of the dead Prince and lastly when the King is solemnly thus burned the Princeâ— and great men of his blood should carry his Ashes in Golden pots crowned over with all kinde of sweete flowers which should bee a memory or Trophie of the deaâ— King The Grecians had also these customes at the funerall of theiâ— deare friends as Parents Brethren Sisters both the Men and Woemen should have theiâ— long haire and offer it upon the Hearse of the dead So Achilles solemnized the funerall of his deare friend Patroclus cutting the fore locks of his haire to set it among many other of Patroclus friends upon his Hearse or Tombe Euripides funerall was of Arâ—bâ—laus King of Macedonia so honoured that hee lamented Euripides death with mourning apparrell and with a shaâ—en head and beard according to the use and custome of the Macedonians The great pompe and solemnity at the inauguration of the Pope of Rome THe Pope of Rome at his inauguration excelled all other Princes in solemnity
and pompe for after that the Pope is new elected by the whole Colledge of Cardinals hee commeth from his Palace of Saint Angelo with great glory and honour towards Saint Peters Church First the Officers as Stewards Controllers Treasurers and chiefe Rulers apparrelled all in long Scarlet-gownes Secondly the Knights of Rome Thirdly the Barons Counts and Marquesses Then the Abbats then followed the Bishops after the Bishops the Arch-bishops in their long Pontificall garments with silver Miters richly beset with stones After came 3 degrees of Cardinals Deacon-Cardinals Priest-Cardinals and Bishop-Cardinals The Pope with passing pompe is carryed upon mens shoulders in Cellagestatoria with his triple Crowne on his head full of precious stones and with a most sumptuous and precious robe wrought over very artificially with Gold and set with divers stones and so carryed in pompe to St. Peters Church upon Kings Embassadors shoulders After some prayers and sacrifice done he is againe upon mens shoulders carried from St. Peters into Saint Andrews Chappell where after many rites and ceremonies finished which were provided for his inauguration hee is taken up againe into his golden chaire from St. Andrew's Chappell where Andrew the Apostles head is presented thence hee is carried to the Chappell of St. Peter and St. Paul thence carried from place to place by the Legats and Embassadours of all the Kings of Christendome then being in Rome representing the states of Kings and Emperours Oh superbum animal for betweene golden and silver Crosses the Miters of Bishops and Cardinals Hats shining as stars with divers kinds of precious stones with Jewels the Popes triumphant carriage under suchâ— regall Canopy with his triple Crowne his rich and Pontificall garments blessing the people passed farre the pompe oâ— great Xerxes in his voyage into Greece or the triumphs of great Pompey over all Affrica and Asia at Rome Hos ludos iocos diceres prout rabies Papa with such peales of Gunnes ringing of Bells sounding Trumpets with such clamours and noise of other brazen Instruments that it far surmounted the besieging of Carthage or the assaulting of Numantia In like triumph and pompe he is againe carried into his Palace of St. Angelo blessing the people from place to place and in every place as he is carryed the people againe crying out wishing him the felicity of Augustus and the love of Traian using severall solemne Ceremonies with the greatest pompe that can be invented His Dinner that day exceeded Ca. Caesar who in his triumph over Affrica prepared 22000 â—bles most roially furnished and his banquets after dinner farre excelled the banquets of Lacius Lucullus or Marcus Antonius His Mirthe and Musicke passed the feast Hyacinthia The funerall pompe of the Romane Emperours THe pompe and solemne state of the Funeralls of the Roman Emperours were such as being set forth the solemnity of the dead Emperour were such as the Senators Dictators Consuls and chiefe magistrates of Rome being in their appointed funerall garments attending to carry the Coffin with one before the Herse playing upon a Shalme or a Flute with a mournfull funerall Song called Nania which in like manner the Grecians used at the funerall of their Kings the song which they called Ialemos Then the Patricians and Senators carried before the dead Emperour his Statues and Images and after that the Statues and Images of his predecessors to set forth the dignity of his stocke as Ca. Caesar did the funerall of his Aunt Mother to Marius whose Statues Caesar caused to bee carried before the Coffin with all the Serjeants carrying their Axes and rods with all the Ensignes Crowns rich spoyles and Trophies which Marius had gotten in his victories In like manner Tiberius Caesar the third Emperour of Rome caused at the funerall of his Father Drusus that the statue of Aeneas and all the statues of the Kings of Alba untill Romulus time the 17 after Aeneas and the statue of Romulus and of the whole family of Gens Iulia from Romulus time to Iulius Caesar lineally The like pompe was before Sylla and others by the Patricians and Senators Yet Marcus Aemilius Lepidus Pomponius Atticus with some others commanded that they should not be brought into the Field of Mars with any solemnity of Iupiters coate of triumphant garments Purple robes and such other pompe But specially if any dyed in the field the rare sight of the solemnity excelled the Generall and chiefe Captaines and every Officer with his band trayling their Pikes after them on the ground with the points of their Swords downeward their Ensignes folded together their horses sheard and clipt their dumbe Musicke with all the ruefull sights that might be invented c. Of the order of the inauguration and Coronation of the Kings of Persia. IN Persia after great King Cyrus death for so were the Kings of Persia called Great Kings his successors used Cyrus orders with the like ceremonies as was solemnized at the inaugurations of King Cyrus for then there was no anointing of any King in the whole World but of the Kings of Israel other Nations used such ceremonies as their Countries observed in their electing of Kings In some countries they made choise of the most likely est men in sight as among the Ethopians Among the Medes he that excelled in comelinesse and talnes of person and strength of body should be elected King In Lybia hee that was most swift in running should bee King In Persia then a Kingdome under the Medes untill Cyrus time whose greatnesse grew such as he became the onely Monarch by whom all the East Kingdomes were subdued his Successors the great Kings of Persia were with these ceremonies made Kings They should sit in Cyrus Chayre they should put on those garments that Cyrus first ware which were kept as monuments and reliques for the Kings of Persia. The new King sitting so in Cyrus Chaire three of the greatest Peeres in Persia brought unto him three dishes in the one was five dry figges In the second a little Turpentine the third Milke These Ceremonies being finished after that the new King had eaten of the dry figges and had tasted of the Turpentine and dranke of the Milke hee rose from Cyrus Chaire and was thence brought unto the next Hill for the Persians had no Temples nor Alters there Aftar supplications done they sacrificed unto the Sunne whose Temple say they is the whole World thence the King is brought to Persepolis where the new King againe putteth on the twelve sundry robes of Cyrus one after another by several ceremonies to be done while they doe sacrifice unto the whole hoste of Heaven the Sun the Moone and the Stars whom the Persians calâ— in one name Iupiter Magi there having Tiara on their heads and crowned with Myrtle sang their sacred songs Theogonia while the new King is putting on of these twelve Robes After this the King went to Cyrus chaire and read the lawes of Persia For as the old Kings of Rome were onely by the
together whereof they make boats or little ships to passe over the Sea carrying nothing but salt with them and in the night-time they convey themselves into the Shippe in the water If the Winde and the Ocean bee milde and favourable unto them they passe over in three or foure Houres but if the troublesome Sea bee against them either they perish in the violent water or else bee cast againe to the Coast of Asia When they are gotten over the Sea thâ—y seeke unto the mountaines and beholding the Pole they take their journey towards the North. In their hunger they refresh themselves with salted herbs If many run away together in the night time they invade shepheards and slay them and take away all such meate and drinke as they finde but yet many times they themselves bee slaine of the shepheards or else taken of them and so delivered to their old masters to all kinde of servitude and the greater number is consumed with dangers for few escape free and safe because they perish either by shipwrack or by devouring of beasts or by their enemies weapons or else by Famine when as it chanceth that they after their running away make any long abode in the Woods Many kinds of punishments are prepared devised and appointed for Fugitives and such as run away For some being hanged by the feet are most cruelly tormented with whips and they that commit homicide or murther have the soles of their feet cut with a sharpe knife in many slices and cuttings and after they are so cut the wounds be rubbed and sprinkled with Salt and some have a great iron coller with a gallows of Iron which they must beare for a long time both dayes and nights The besieging of Samaria SAmaria was a goodly Citty and abounded in all things whatsoever in a great length breadth It was besieged by King Adad in the yeare 3050 before Christ at that time King Ioram fled into Samaria for succour being over-matched by the Syrian Army trusting and putting his confidence in the fortification and strength of the Walls thereof But Ioram in length of time being destitute of convenient foode and all other necessaries that an Asses head was sold in SAMARIA for 80 peeces of Silver and a measure of Pigeons dong at five peeces of silver which they used insteede of Salt the Famine increased so much and the cruelty of the Enemy in detayning those that would have gone out in policy to make the Famine the greater and the sieged sooner to mutiny which fell out too true And it happend that a certaine woman cryed out to the KING spying him upon the Walls of the Citty saying have mercy one mee O my Soveraigne he encreased with wrath and supposing that shee had asked him for some reliefe or sustinance beganne to threaten her and to tell her that hee had neither graunge nor presse whereby hee might supply her necessity The woman told the King that shee had no need of meat but that she came onely to require justice and to determine a debate betwixt her and another of her neighbours the King gave her audience and bad her speake hereupon she said that shee had made a condition with another woman her friend that sith the famine was so encreased that they should kill their Children for each one had a son and in this sort should nourish one another every day and I have strangled mine yesterday and she hath eaten with me and now this day denies me hers and breaketh the accord betwixt us Whereby may be seen the great extremity that this City was brought unto by War But after the siege Samaria was taken by Salmanasar King of the Aâ—â—yrians and made entrance into the Citty and it was taken by force in the 7 yeare of his Reigne and before Christs birth 746. Of Tantalus TAntalus was a King of Phrygia exceeding covetous whom the Poets feigne to have bid the Gods to a banquet and he being desirous to make a triall of their deity when they appeared at his house in mens likenesse did slay his owne son Pelops and set him before them to bee eaten as meate giving the flesh another name unto them who understanding his horrible act did not onely abstaine from eating thereof but also gathering the parts of the Childe together brought him to life againe For this offence Iupiter cast him into Hell and enjoyned him this punishment that hee should continue in most cleare water and stand up in it even to his neather lip and that most goodly Apple-trees bearing most sweet and redolent fruit should hang over him and touch his mouth almost the which things assoone as he should goe about to taste of they should fly from him and so they did that betweene the Apples and the water hee consumed with famine and thirst and was tormented with great penury even in present plenty Whereof a Proverb hath sprung to call it Tantalus punishment when as they which have goods enough cannot use them Of Artemista the wife of Mausolus IN the Citty called Haâ—icarnassus Artemisia the Queen erected a sumptuous Tombe in the honour of her husband Mausolus which was done with such a pompe and magnificency that it was numbred as one of the seaven Wonders of the world This woman marvellously lamenting the death of her Husband and enflamed with incredible desire and affection towards him tooke his bones and ashes and mingled them together and beate them to pouder with sweet spices and put it in water and drunke it off and many other strange signes of incredible love are said to have beene in her After this for the perpetuall remembrance of her husband she caused to be made a sepulcher of marvellous workmanship in stone which 〈◊〉 beene famous and much spoken of all men till our daies and this was in height 25 Cubits and compassed with 36 goodly pillars This vaine comfort could not take away out of the Queens breast the conceived griefe and sorrow of her Husband but that shortly after she her selfe yeelded her Soule and Life as unmeete to tarrie after hee had ended his dayes Sardanapalus SArdanapalus was King of the Assirians whose Epitaph had these words in the Assirian Tongue SARDANAPALUS the sonne of ANECENDARASSIS erected in one day Anchiala and Tarsus a goodly Cities eate drinke and play These words as Cicero saith might have beene written upon the Sepulchre of an Oxe and not of a King He was a most effeminate man given to all kinde of luxury and was not ashamed to spin amongst common harlots and in womens vesture and attire to excell all others in lasciviousnesse Wherefore the Assyrians disdaining to obey and subject themselves to such a feminine Prince rebelled and made warre against him who being overcome went into his Palace and there making a great fire cast himselfe and all his riches into the fire and so ended his life The people called Amazones PEnthisilea the Queen of the Amazones which were women
abhoâ—ring men and practising all warlike affaires did noble deeds of manly prowesse at the destruction of Troy Some say that they had their beginning of the Scythians after this sort Certaine Scythians being driven from their Countrey with their wives and remaining in the coasts of Cappadocia using to rob and spoile the borderers were destroyed at the length by conspiracy and deceit The Wives that followed their Husbands and seeing that they were left alone tooke weapons and defended their borders and also moved war against their neighbours they had no minde at all to marry with their neighbours calling it a servitude and not Matrimony a singular example to all ages they encreased their Common-wealth without husbands and that one might not seeme more happy then another they slue such husbands as remained at home At the length when they had gotten peace by force of armes they used the society of men in the Countries by them lest their whole Nation should perish for lacke of procreation and if any men-children were borne they destroyed them and their yong women and maides did not use spinning and carding but hunting and handling their weapons so that every Female Childs breast was seered and burnt away lest they might bee hindred thereby in shooting whereof they tooke that name and were called Amazons They conquered a great of Europe and did occupy many Citties in Asia they had two Queene Marthesia and Lampedâ— which dividing their Army into two parts kept their battailes with great wealth and strength defending their borders stoutly They did build Ephesus and Smyrna in Asia the lesse and did inhabite the chiefe Citty in Cappadocia Some say that in some places amongst them they had Husbands and that the women did beare all the rule and did all common businesse and that the men did keepe charge at home like women obeying the women in all things Of Harts in Cyprus IN the Isle of Cyprus Harts are commonly seene to swimme in flockes over the Sea in a straight order laying their heads upon the buttockes of those that go before and thus they goe by course They see no land but yet they swimme in the savour of it the males have hornes and of all kinde of beasts every yeare at an accustomed time in the Spring they lose them therefore that day that they lose them they go into desert places and hide themselves as things that have lost their weapons in eight moneths the females bring forth yong they exercise their yong with running and teach them to thinke upon flying away They lead them to hard and unaccessible places and shew them how to scip and leape but yet it is a simple beast and astonied at the marvelling at every thing so that when a Horse or a Stâ—â—â—e commeth neere they doe not marke the man that is hunting at hand or else if they perceive a man they wonder at is bow and arrowes They beare signes of their age in their hornes and for every yeare they have the encrease of a branch in their hornes untill they be sixe years of age and after that time the like doth spring up againe And after this their age cannot bee discerned but old age is known by their teeth The hornes doe not fall away from such as are gelded nor doe not spring again if they be gone The Harts have a naturall conflict with the Serpent they search their caverns and with the breath of their nostrils draw them out against their wills And therefore the savour of Harts horne burnt is good to drive away Serpents and against their bitings a singular remedy is made of the ruine of the Hinde slaine in the Belly The Harts live along time as an hundred yeares and more the end of the Harts taile hath poison in it and therefore it is throwne a-away powder scraped off the Harts horne and drunke killeth the wormes in the stomack it is good also against the Jaunders Of the Date-tree THere is no Countrey that bringeth forth more fruitefull Date-trees then the Hâ—lyland there be Date-trees in Italy but they are barren About the Sea-coast of Spaine there be fruitfull trees but it is an unpleasant Date In Affrica there is a sweet kinde of Date but it lasteth not In the East part of the World they make Wines of them and some use them as bread and some give them as meate to their cattell Here of be the dry Dates most plentifull in juyce and meate and of them Wines are made very hurtfull for the head and as there is plenty of them in the East so are they a great deale better in Iury and especially in Ierico It groweth in a light and sandy ground it is bushy altogether in the top and hath not â—he Fruit as other trees amongst the leaves but amongst his branches The dilligent searchers of Nature say that there is both Male and Female the Male hath flowers the Female springeth without flowers much like unto a thorne Of the dead Sea THe dead Sea which is nigh unto the water of Iordan is so called because nothing can live in it the Lake of it selfe is smoky and the ayre causeth rustinesse to Brasse and Silver and all bright things This Lake receiveth not the body of any living thing Bulls and Cammels swim in it and men that have no knowledge of swimming if they goe into 〈◊〉 unto the Navell they are liâ—â— up There is no ship can sailâ— into it If you put any living thing into it it leapeth out A candell burning will swimme above the light being put out it will be drowned the water of this Lake is alwaies standing still and is not stirred with the winde it is marvellous dangerous and hard comming to it for strangers both for wilde beasts and Serpents and also for a barbarous Nation that keepeth there about and troubleth the places thereby with often robberies Of Sand transforming things into Glasse IN Sydon there is a water that hath Sand of easie alteration into Glasse This Sand whatsoever mettall it taketh it changeth into into Glasse and that which is made Glasse if it be cast into the Sand returnes againe to Sand. And this is a strange thing at Sydon Of the Fish called a Purple THere bee that write the Purple to have her colour by reason of the propinquiâ—y of the Sunne Wherefore in Affrica they have as it were a violet colour and at Tyrus a red colour This Purple is a fish of the kinde of a shell-fish whereof a juyce is gathered most necessary for the dying of Garments This fish hath this juyce to colour and dye Garments in the middest of her mouth and jawes it is gotten and gathered in the spring time for at other times shee is barâ—eâ— lacketh this juyce She loseth her life with the losse of this juyce for she liveth no longer then she hath any of this juyce and therefore it is good to taâ—â— them alive She is a great devourer of little shell-fish out oâ—