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
the yeare of our Lord 1348 in Bordeaux chiefe Citty of the Dukedome of Guyne in France by Edward 3 King of England and then possessor of that Dukedome which Order hee consecrated and dedicated to Saint George though the motive of the institution thereof proceeded of the losse of a Garter which hee supposed to have bin the Countesse of Salisburies but I referre the Reader to the Chronicle And it happened in this manner As one day he was entertaining her with pleasant talke a Garter chanced to unloose and fall downe the King indeavouring to take it up wittingly caused such a jest as moved the Noblemen to laughter the Countesse there at blushing and blaming that more then seemely familiarity of the King for that hee had caused such a jest among the Assistants said sharply to him and the rest Honi soit qui mal y pense which Englished is Evill to him that evill thinketh And the King in recompence of his rashnesse sayd forthwith that before it were long those Noble men which had made a jest and laughing at the Garter fallen downe should esteeme themselves much honoured to weare it for a marke of Honour and Chivalry and thereupon ordayned the said order and dedicated it to Saint George and made thereof 26 Knights and ordeyned that they should wear their Clokes of Violet-colour Velvet their hoods of red Velvet lined with white Damaske their Bases of red Velvet and under the left knee a blew Garter buckled with Gold garnished with pretious stones and about it wrought â—hese words of the Countesse of Salisbury HONI SOIT QVI MALY PENSE â—nd a colour of Gold full of red and white Roses with an Image of S. George hanging theron and about these Roses are written those words which are in the Garter There are of this Order 26 Knights of which the Kings of England are Soveraignes and it is so much desired for the excellency that â— Emperours 22 forraigne Kings 20 forraigne Dukes and divers Noble-men of other Countries have been fellowes of it Abouâ— their necke they weare a blew Ribbond at the end of which hangeth the Image of Saint George upon whose day the Installation of the new Knights is commonly celebrated being the three and twentieth of Aprill And although it was first ordayned at Bourdeaux yet the said King Edward the 3 would that the siedge and place of the solemnizing thereof should bee at the Church of Windsor here in England where at the same 〈◊〉 he founded Canons or a â—â—nonry for the better proâ—perity of the Knights of the Order The second order in antiquiâ—y is the Order of the Annunâ—iation instituted Anno Dom. â—356 by Amede the sixt of that â—ame Duke of Savoy and surâ—amed the greene Knight The Knights of this Order weare a great collar of Gold made winding with three laces which are called of Love wherein are enterlaced these words FERT FERT FERT every letâ—er importing his Latine word thus F fortitudo E ejus R Rhodum T tenuit that is His Force hath conquered Rhodes and at this Collar hangeth an Image of our Lady and of an Angell saluting her and for that occasion is called the Order of the Annuntiation The collaâ— is of 15 links to shew the 15 mysteries of the Virgine each linkeâ— being inter-woven one with the other in forme of a true Lovers knot The number is fourteenâ— Knights the solemnity is held annually on our Lady-day in the Castle of Saint Peter in Tuâ—rin This Earle ordeyned this Order in memory of Amiâ—â— the great Duke of Savoy which succoured the Knights of Saint Iohn when they conquered the I le of Rhodes upon the Turkes in the yeare of our Lord 1310. The third in antiquity is the Order of the golden Fleece founded upon the Fable of the golden Fleece that Iason with the other Argonautes went to seeke in the I le of Colchos which is to say that hee went to the Mine of Gold or in Analogie to Gideons Fleece as some will and ordeyned by Philip the second surnamed the good Duke of Burgundy in the yeare 1430 the compleate number of which Order were at first 25 Knights and raised afterwards by the said Philip to 31. Charles the fift raised them to 51 and now there bee as many as the King of Spaine will invest with â—t They weare a Collar of Gold interlaced with an Iron seeming to strike fire out of a Flint the word ex ferro flamâ—am and at the end hangs the Fleece or Toison d'or Their Cloâ—ks and Hoods are of Scarâ—et garded with Embroydery â—â—ke flames of fire Philip apâ—ointed for the celebrating of â—hat Order St. Andrews day beâ—â—g the 30 of November But the Emperor Charles the fift heire of the house of Burgundy and chiefe of that Order changed their apparrell and ordained that their Cloaks should be of Crimson Velvet and theiâ— Hoods of Violet colour Velvet and that underneath they should weare a Cassocke of cloath oâ— Silver The fourth in antiquity is the Order of St. Michael the Arch-Angell instituted by Lewes the II of France the first day oâ— August in the yeare 14â—9 anâ— ordained that of that Ordeâ— there should bee 36 Knightâ— which afterward were augmenâ—ted to 300 Gentlemen 〈◊〉 name and of Armes without â—â—â—proach of whom hee himselâ—â— was chiefe and Soveraigne anâ— after him his successors King of France And the brothers companions of this Order were bound at the receiving thereof to forsake and leave all other Orders if any they had either of a Prince or any company only excepting Emperors Kings and Dukes which beside this Order might weare that Order whereof they were chiefe with the agreement and consent of the King and brotherhood of the said order and in like manner the said King of France might weare beside his owne the Order of other Emperours Kings and Dukes And for the connoissance of this Order and the Knights thereof hee gave â—o every of them a Collar of Gold wrought with Cockle shells enterlacing one another with a double pointing Ribbon of Silke with golden Tagges â—he word Immensi Arenor Oceani which King Francis the first because his name was Francis changed into a white Friars of Franciscans Girdle made of a twisted coarde and hangeth on that Coller a tablet of St. Michael upon a Rocke conquering the Devill Of the institution of this order is made a book containing 98 Articles wherein are set downe the things wherunto the Knights of this Order are subject The fift Order is that of the Holy Ghost instituted by Henry the 3 King of France on New-yeares day in the yeare 1579 it was called by the name of the Holy Ghost because this Henry was on a Whitsonday chosen King of Poland Of this also is written a Booke contayning the Article whereunto the Knights thereoâ— are bound Among the which I have principally noted one that is to defend and sustaine the Clergy for the King doth give to every of them the rent
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
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