have hanged themselves also The cruelty of the Spaniards to the Indians of Peru was so extraordinary great that those silly People would not believe that the Spaniards were born into the World like other men supposing that so fierce and cruel a Creature could not be procreated of Man and Woman They called them therefore Viracochie that is Sea-froth as if they thence had received their Original Nor can any alter this their Opinion so deeply rooted saying The Winds overthrow Trees and Houses Fire burns them but these Viracochie devour all things insatiably seeking Gold and Silver which as soon as they have gotten they play away at Dice War kill one another rob blaspheme wickedly forswear and deny God never speak truth and us they have spoiled of our Countrey and Fortunes and therefore they cursed the Sea which brought to the Land so fierce and dreadful an Issue Before the Spaniards conquered Peru the Tribute which the poor People were tied to pay to their Juca's or Kings was on certain dayes to give him so many Pipes of Lice so to acknowledge subjection and keep themselves clean Of the Tortoises in the West-Indies The Tortoise is reasonable toothsom and wholsom Meat of such largeness that one of them will make a dozen Messes appointing six to every Mess It is such a kind of Meat as a man can neither absolutely call Fish nor Flesh keeping most in the Water and feeding upon Sea-grass like an Heifer in the bottom of the Coves and Bayes and laying their Eggs of which we should find five hundred at a time in the opening of a she-one in the Sand by the Shoar-side and so covering them close leave them to the hatching of the Sun like the Monati at St. Dominick which made the Spanish Friars at their first arrival make some scruple to eat them on a Friday because in colour and taste the Flesh is like to Morsels of Veal Concerning the laying of their Eggs and the hatching of their Young Peter Martyr writeth thus in his Decads of the Ocean At such time as the heat of Nature moveth them to generation they come forth of the Sea and making a deep Pit in the Sand they lay three or four hundred Eggs therein when they have thus emptied their Bag of Conception they put as much of the same again into the Pit as may satisfie to cover the Eggs and so resort again to the Sea nothing careful of their succession At the day appointed of Nature to the procreation of these Creatures there creepeth out a multitude of Tortoises as it were Pismires out of an Ant-hill and this onely by the heat of the Sun without any help of their Parents Their Eggs are as big Goose-Eggs and themselves grown to Perfection bigger than great round Targets The Indians of Virginia at the first coming of the English thither were so simple and ignorant that having surprized some Gun-powder from the English their King caused it to be sown thinking it would grow up and increase as did Corn and other Seeds Throughout all the Mountains either of the Islands or firm Land of Nova Hispania Carthagena c. there are infinite numbers of Monkeys which are a kind of Apes but very different in that they have a Tayl a very long one And amongst them there are some kinds which are thrice yea four times bigger than the ordinary some are all black some bay some gray and some spotted Their agility and manner of leaping is admirable for that they seem to have Reason and Discourse to go upon Trees wherein they seem to imitate Birds My Author going from Nombre de Dios to Panama saw in Capira one of these Monkeys leap from one Tree to another which was on the other side of a River making him much to wonder They leap where they list winding their Tails about a Branch to shake it and when they will leap farther than they can at once they use a pretty device tying themselves by the Tails one of another and by this means make as it were a Chain of many then do they lanch themselves forth and the first holpen by the force of the rest takes hold where he list and so hangs to a Bough and helps all the rest till they be gotten up It were long to report the Fooleries Tricks Traverses and pleasant Sports they make when they are taught which seem not to come from brute Beasts but from a man-like understanding The same Author saw one in Carthagena in the Governours House so taught as the things he did seemed incredible They sent him to the Tavern for Wine putting the Pot in one hand and the Money in the other and they could not possibly get the Money out of his hand before he had his Pot full of Wine If any Children met him in the street and threw any stones at him he would set his Pot down on the one side and cast stones against the Children till he had assured his way then would he return to carry home his Pot and which is more although he were a good Bibber of Wine yet would he never touch it until leave was given him They told him moreover that if he saw any Women painted he would fall upon them pull off their Attire and would seek to bite them Several Rarities of divers Countreys THe Coco-tree is one of the most admirable Rarities in the whole World which Mr. Herbert in his Travels thus describes The Tree that bears the Coco is strait and lofty without any Branches save at the very top where it spreads its beautiful plumes and Nuts like Pearls or Pendants adorning them It is good Timber for Canoes Masts Anchors the leaves for Tents or Thatching the Rind for Sails Matteresses Cables and Linnen the Shells for Furniture the Meat for Victualling The Nut is covered with a thick rind equal in bigness to a Cabbage The Shell is like the Skull of a man or rather a Deaths-head the Eyes Nose and Mouth being easily discerned within it is contained a quart of sweet and excellent Liquor like new White-wine but far more aromatick tasted The Meat or Kernel is better relished than our Filberds and is enough to satisfie the Appetite of two reasonable men the Indian Nut alone Is Cloathing Meat and Trencher Drink and Can Boat Cable Sail Mast Needle all in one The Divine Du Bartas hath celebrated its praises unto the Life in these Verses translated by Joshua Sylvester The Indian Isles most admirable be In those rare Fruits call'd Coco's commonly The which alone far richer wonder yields Than all our Groves Meads Gardens Orchards Fields What would'st thou drink the wounded leaves drop Wine Lack'st thou fine Linnen dress the tender Rine Dress it like Flax spin it then weave it well It shall thy Cambrick and thy Lawn excell Long'st thou for Butter bite the pulpous part For never better came to any Mart. Do'st need good Oyl then bolt it to and fro And passing Oyl it soon becometh
others had a Flitch for proof whereof I have found out the Record of the House and the Names of the several Persons that at several times had it There was one Stephen Samuel of Little Easton in the County of Essex Husband-man that came to the Priory of Dunmow on our Lady-day in the seventh year of King Edward the Fourth and required a Gammon of Bacon and was sworn before Roger Rulcot then Prior and the Covent of that place as also before the multitude of other Neighbours and there was a Gammon of Bacon delivered unto him Also one Richard Wright of Badesnorth near the City of Norwich in the County of Norfolk came and required of the Bacon of Dunmow on the 17 day of April in the twenty third year of the Reign of Henry the sixth and according to the form of the Charter was sworn before John Canon Prior of the place the Covent and many other Neighbours and there was delivered unto him a Flitch of Bacon Hereby appeareth it was given according to Charter or Donation by some conceited Benefactor to the House and it was not to be doubted but at such a time the bordering Towns and Villages would resort and be Partakers of their Sport and laugh to scorn the poor Mens pains Also it is to be remembred that in the Year of our Lord 1510. upon Munday being the eighth day of September in the second year of King Henry the Eighth that Thomas Lee of Coxal in Essex was sworn before John Taylor the Prior of the House and the Covent as also before a Multitude of other Neighbours and there was delivered unto him a Gammon of Bacon Of what we find in credible Authors concerning the famous Guy Earl of Warwick THIS Guy was Son unto one Siward Baron of Wallingford who married unto Felicia sole Daughter and Heiress of Rohand the first we read of the Saxon Race that was Earl of Warwick and in her Right became Earl of that Earldom who for his Valour hath ever since been and yet is so famous that the Vulgar are of Opinion he was a Man of more than an ordinary Stature and the Welch taking notice of his brave Exploits will needs have him to be descended from Brittish Parentage Soon after his Marriage with Felicia aforesaid being now pretty well stricken in Years he went on Pilgrimage to the Holy-Land where he abode for some space during which time viz. Anno 926. in the third Year of King Athelstane the Danes having invaded England cruelly wasted the Countries where they march'd so that there was scarce a Town or Castle that they had not burnt or destroyed almost as far as Winchester and hearing that the King with his Nobles then was in that City consulting about some timely means to prevent the utter loss of all they sent Messengers to him proposing that either he would forthwith resign his Crown to the Danish Generals viz. Aulafe and Govelaph or submit to hold this Realm of them doing Homage and Fealty and paying Tribute according to their Appointment or lastly that the whole Dispute for the Kingdom should be determined in a single Combate by two Champions for both sides this being added by Aulafe that if in that Duel King Athelstane's Champion had the Victory he would presently depart the Land with his Army but otherwise without any more ado it should wholly belong to the Danes Of which Proposals King Athelstane accepted the last and calling together his Nobles offer'd that Province viz. Hantshire for a reward to him that should conquer the Danish Champion called Colbrand and to the end that God would direct him in the choice of one to undertake this Combate he enjoyned a Fast for three days in which with earnest Prayers and abundant Tears he besought his Favour but in this choice the English were exceedingly astonish'd forasmuch as one Herand a most valiant and hardy Knight of this Nation was then beyond Sea seeking after Reynburn the Son of his Lord and Master Earl Guy that had been stollen away by Merchants of a Foreign Country in his Infancy as also that Earl Rohand Guy's Father-in-law the most valiant of a thousand was dead and also Guy himself as we said before was gone in Pilgrimage to the Holy Land But it so fell out that God being moved with the sorrowful Tears and Intercessions of the English sent a good Angel to comfort the King as he lay upon his Bed the very Night of the Nativity of St. John Baptist directing that he should rise early on the Morrow taking two Bishops with him and get up to the top of the North-gate of that City staying there till the hour of Prime and then should he see divers poor People and Pilgrims enter thereat amongst which there would be a personable Man in a Pilgrim's Habit bare-footed with his Head uncovered and upon it a Chaplet of white Roses and that he should entreat him for the love of Jesus Christ the devotion of his Pilgrimage and the preservation of all England to undertake the Combate for he should conquer the mighty Colebrand and deliver his Realm from the Danish Servitude Whereupon King Athelstane with fervent Zeal hasted betimes in the Morning to Mass and sent for the Arch-bishop of Canterbury with the Bishop of Chichester to whom he related his Vision taking them along to the Gate assigned About this time it happened that our famous Guy returning from his Pilgrimage landed at Portsmouth and being there advertised of Sir Herand's Absence as also of Earl Rohand's Death together with the great distress that the King and his Nobles were then in hasted towards Winchester immediately and coming at night to an Hospital but little distant from the North-gate of that City in which place afterwards the Hospital in honour of the Holy Cross was founded where he rested himself and on the next morning went with other poor people to the City Gate to which place the King being come for the purpose before specified and espying one neatly clad in a white short sleeved Gown reaching to the mid-leg with a Garland of Roses upon his Head and a large Staff in his Hand but looking wan and much macerated by reason of his travelling bare-foot and his Beard grown to a very great length he concluded that the same was the Man described to him by that Angel and being full of Joy told those that were there with him as much The Palmer for so was he at that time called taking notice of the King and Bishops put off his Chaplet and reverently saluting them entered the Gate whereupon the King hasted down and laying hold of his Coat tendered him Entertainment with desire to hear some News but the Palmer returning humble Thanks answered that the Hour to take up his Lodging was not yet come for that he intended first to visit the Churches of that City and there offer up his Prayers unto God but afterwards seek some Food for to refresh himself withal which being
Historical Rarities c. 2 A Costermongers Daughter y e cometh be Sultanes to y e grand Seigiuar p 65 1 Andri Battels delivernce in his voyage to y e River of plate P 1 3 The history of a famous Woman Captain viz Ioan of arc p 177 4 Almansor a pleasant story of a Spanish Doh p 185. 5 A Notable Combate between a K t. Esq in K. Richard 2 time P. 264. 6 The fiery Irruption of mount Aetna p. 287. HISTORICAL RARITIES AND CURIOUS Observations DOMESTICK FOREIGN Containing Fifty three several Remarks viz. 1. The miraculous and strange Adventures and Deliverances of one Andrew Battel of Leigh in Essex 2. A strange Deliverance of an English-man from a Desolate Island near Scotland wherein he had long continued in extream Penury and Misery 3. A strange Adventure of some English-men in the recovery of their own Freedom and a Ship called the Exchange of Bristol from the Turkish Pirates of Algiers 4. A notable Story of Edgar King of England and how he was revenged on him that circumvented him 5. The Story of Mackbeth King of Scotland 6. Of a Costermongers Daughter that came to be Sultaness to the Grand Seignior of Constantinople 7. Historical Observations out of several Authors 8. A Description of Greenland and the Inhabitants thereof 9. Several Varieties of the West Indies 10. Several Rarities of divers Countries 11. Of a mirthful Custom used at Dunmow in Essex 12. Of what we find in credible Authors concerning Guy Earl of Warwick 13. The Life of St. Patrick the Irish Apostle 14. The Murther of Duffe King of Scotland and how miraculously it came to be discovered 15. The Cruelty of Albovine King of Lombardy to his Queen Rosamond and how she was revenged of him 16. The Miseries of enforced Marriage exemplified in a Story of a Knight in Warwick-shire who was murdered by his own Lady With Thirty seven more several Histories very pleasant and delightful Collected out of Approved Authors By William Winstanley Author of England's Worthies London Printed for Rowland Reynolds next door to the Middle Exchange in the Strand 1684. To the Noble and Generous THE Pattern and Patron of Laudable Endeavours Sir THOMAS MIDDLETON Of Stansted Montfichet Knight Honoured Sir TWO things have emboldened me to dedicate this Book unto you the one is your known Abilities to approve or reject what is good or bad in Histories wherein your Judgment appears as sound and clear as the Sun is perspicuous in a serene day so that we may say of you as the Romanists in other things of their Arch-Priest that you are therein infallible The other drift of my ambition in this Dedication is to make a publick expression of the Love and Service I bear to your self and Noble Family which for many Ages hath flourished in honour and best repute and which caused you to be chosen one of the Senators of this flourishing Kingdom To these I might add a third that under your worthy Patronage others might be profited thereby especially two sorts of People First those who have not money to buy great Volumes and by that means are destitute of helps from such Books which should conduce to a general knowledge of History and then most Volumes treating onely of one continued subject without the help of a great many they cannot attain to a perfection in the general Secondly for those who have not time to peruse such voluminous Authors herein may they he instructed with the marrow and quintessence of what others more largely treat of like a little Watch shewing the time of the day as well as a great Clock I suppose it needless to treat of the benefit and pleasure of these miscellaneous Histories since variety gives the greatest pleasure to most sorts of People When doth the Earth appear in its greatest glory but in the month of May when Lady Flora hath diaper'd the Meads with variety of flowers Our Comedies would not give such general content were they composed of one continued Subject and not intermixed with several Humours History is the mirrour for us to look in which represents to us things past as if they were present and enables us to make a rational conjecture of things to come In brief there is nothing compleats a Gentleman so much as the knowledge of History nor no kind of History so much as these miscellaneous Discourses Deign Sir to accept hereof as a mite of accknowledgment of the respests born to your worthy self by Your humbly devoted Servant William Winstanley The PREFACE TO THE READER ONE calls History the Work-mistress of Experience and Mother of Prudence It is the general Treasury of times past present and a lively pattern of things to come It is that which reinforces Antiquity from her ruines and makes the gray head of Time white again History says Sir Walter Raleigh makes us acquainted with our dead Ancestors delivering us their Memory and Fame out of it we gather a Policy no less otherwise than Eternal by the comparison and application of other mens fore-past Miseries with our own like Errors and ill Deservings Skill in History makes a Young Man to be Ancient without Wrinkles or gray Hairs when ignorant Age is contemned and despised Learning is such a precious Jewel that it was highly honoured even among the Heathens themselves Polybius that wrote the Roman History and their Wars with the Carthaginians was honoured with a Statue on a high Pillar at Megalopolis Pompey the Great honoured Theophanes the Historian with the Priviledges of the City of Rome The Emperour Tacitus commanded the History of Tacitus to be placed in all Libraries and lest it should perish he caused it every Year to be written ten times over Titus Vespasian bestowed great Wealth and Honours on Josephus the Jewish Historian notwithstanding he had before been his deadly Enemy and caused his Statue to be erected at Rome Nay that Enemy to all Goodness even Julian the Apostate had a Statue made for Aurelius Victor the Roman Historiographer Thus you see what a high esteem the Heathens had for their Historians and shall we that have more Knowledge be more barbarous We read of Alphonsus King of Arragon that he commanded the Musicians from his presence saying He heard a better Harmony out of Livy And what greater delight can any man have than sitting in safety to read of the dangers of other men of vvhich in this Volume you have an example of Tom Coriat what indefatigable pains did he take vvhat miseries undergo vvhat extream vvants sustain for the viewing Foreign Countries and their Rarities of vvhich he might have had as good a description at home Is it not therefore better and at a far cheaper rate to buy the Experience of others then to try them our selves for they that travel for to veiw Curiosities pay dearly for their Experience but they who read Histories enjoy the experience of all that lived before vvhich is far greater and much cheaper It is
History that gives us a veiw of all Places and Times by that we see with other mens eyes and hear with their ears But in your reading have a great care in the choice of your Authors avoiding such as be either false or impertinent which to a judicious eye is easily discernable for some I have known othervvise ingenious enough apt to believe idle Romances and Poetical Fictions for Historical Varieties Not but that ingenious Romances and and vvitty Fables may be read and profitably too but to avoid such rude ones as Huon of Bourdeaux Four Sons of Amon Fortunatus Chimon of England and such like lest you be brought into the belief of Don Quixot which that Satyrical Romance doth sufficiently whip Indeed it were to be wished that such rude depraved Books were utterly abolished or restrained at least from Youth of both kinds for preventing of fantastical Impressions they being as deep taking as either the Juyce of Malt or the Vine of the effects of the which last I shall here insert a short Story A Gentleman being soundly doz'd had the Charity of his Conquerors to buttress him up from the Inn to his Chamber where laying him on his Bed he took quiet Repose for two or three hours after he awakes intolerable dry and inflamed i' th Throat roar'd out and knocks supposing he had been at the Inn not in his Chamber for the Tapster whom loudly and often he call'd for crying I burn I burn Cans you Rogue and impatient of delay threatens to fetch him with another Allarum which suddenly he puts in Execution and storms his own glass Windows so furiously with Bedstaves old Shooes and the like Weapons that he made a Breach big enough out of which he might have thrown the Room after In like manner what Impressions Books of that nature have made upon some much studious in them is sufficiently known who will believe no otherwise but that they are true and for this only reason Because they are Printed As for my own Undertakings in this following Work I shall neither extenuate nor extoll in the Composure thereof I have endeavoured to collect nothing but what is rare and not vulgarly known nor made use of any Authors for my Authority but what I take to be of unquestionable Credit and Estimation Indeed it was designed and drawn out for a far larger Volume had not the Bookseller's Interest overswayed me to publish no more at this time however your kind Acceptance of this will engage us very suddenly to contrive the rest in a Second Part it being already fitted and prepared for the Press I hope this will not pass without a general Acceptance I having in my time writ above seven score Books some of them very considerable and all which excepting one passing with a general Approbation and that one also how ever sold with some Gain I must confess I have had my Juvenile Excursions and my Loyal Intentions by writing in defence of the Old King's Cause is sufficiently known I am now by some time past the Meridian of my Years and shall for the future write nothing but what may be for the Benefit of my Country and that they may be known as I am A True Lover of Ingenuity W. WINSTANLEY THE TABLE THE miraculous and strange Adventures and Deliverances of one Andrew Battel of Leigh in Essex Page 1. A strange Deliverance of an English-man from a desolate Island near to Scotland wherein he had long continued in extreme penury and misery 16. A strange Adventure of some English-men in the recovery of their own Freedom and a Ship called the Exchange of Bristol from the Turkish Pirates of Argier published by John Rawlins A remarkable Story of eight men left in Greenland Anno Christi 1630. with a relation of their strange preservation 43. A notable Story of Edgar King of England and how he was revenged on him that circumvented him 54. The Story of Mackbeth King of Scotland 59. Of a Costermongers Daughter that came to be Sultaness to the Grand Seignior of Constantinople Historical Observations out of several Authors 71. How they baptize marry and bury in Russia 82. The Life Manners and Customs of the Samoits a People inhabiting Nova Zembla 89. A Description of Groenland and the Inhabitants thereof 92. Several Varieties of the West-Indies 96. Of the Tortoises in the West-Indies 103. Several Rarities of divers Countries 105. Of a mirthful Custom formerly used at Dunmow in Essex 109. Of what we find in credible Authors concerning Guy Earl of Warwick 111. The Life of St. Patrick the Irish Apostle 120. A marvellous preservation of the Protestants in Ireland in the time of Queen Mary by a merry accident 126. The murther of Duffe King of Scotland and how miraculously it came to be discover'd 127. The Cruelty of Albovine King of Lombardy to his Queen Rosamond and how she was revenged of him 134. The miseries of insorced Marriage exemplified in a story of a Knight in Warwickshire murdered by his own Lady 138. A remarkable story of the occasion of the Danes invading England and of their murdering St. Edmund 141. Histories of Parents crossing the affections of their Children and the sad effects thereof 149. Observations upon Kings of several Nations 153. A strange change of Religion of the two Dr. Reynolds 160. Why the Fish called Tunny is not sold in Venice 161. Of Machamut a Moorish King of a poisonous nature 163. A notable Imposture of Margaret Ulmer 164. Of People long lived who have had their Teeth and excrements of Hair renewed 167. An Example of Divine Vengeance pursuing sinners 170. Of two famous Virago 's Joan of Arc and Catarina d' Arcuso 177. That the Italians are very revengeful an Example 183. Spanish pride exemplified in a story 185. A mirthful conceit of Philip Duke of Burgundy 188. Memorials of Thomas Coriat 189. The reason inducing Mahometans to often prayer exemplified by a story 208. A strange murther in the time of K. James 210. The Custom of Lapland for the marrying their Daughters 213. Of Spirits or Devils and that they have had Carnal knowledge of people 214. The Life and Actions of the Impostor Mahomet according to their Saracenical opinion of him 223. The Talmud of the Jews their Dreams c. 239. The opinion of the Chineses concerning the people of the World after the Flood 244. A strange Relation of Ferdinand Mendes Pinto a Portugal which he saw in his Journey in China 245. The Letter of Agbarus Prince of the Edesseans to our Saviour with his Answer taken out of Eusebius 249. The conversion of a Thief by St. John the Apostle taken out of the same Eusebius 254. The Conspiracy of Earl Gowry to have murdered King James in Scotland An. 1600. 257. A notable Combat betwixt a Knight and an Esquire in the time of King Richard the Second 264. Of such another Combat fought in France 269. A remarkable piece of Justice done by the Emperour Rodulphus 270.
a Seat for him to sit the dead hath his Hair newly embroydered his Body washed and anointed with sweet Powders He hath all his best Robes put on and is brought between two men to his Grave and set in his Seat as though he were alive He hath two of his Wives set with him with their Arms broken and then they cover the Vault on the top These People are very kind one to another in their health but in their sickness they do abhor one another and will shun their company At the end of four months the Gaga's decamped marching thorow divers Countries destroying all wheresoever they came In this condition continued Andrew Battel amongst them for the space of above a year and a half being highly esteemed of the great Gaga because with his Musquet he had killed divers of the Negroes his Enemies At last they coming within three days journey of Massangano where the Portugals had their Fort afore-mentioned he made means to get thither again with some Merchant Negroes that came to the Camp to buy Slaves At that time there was a new Governour come to Massangano named Sienor Juan Continho who brought Authority to conquer the Mines or Mountains of Cambamba and to perform that Service the King of Spain had given him seven years Customs of all the Slaves and Goods that were carried thence to the West-Indies Brasil or whithersoever This Gentleman was so bountiful at his coming that his Fame was spread thorow all Congo and many Mulatoes and Negroes came voluntarily to serve him And being some six moneths in the City he marched to the Outaba of Tombe and there shipped his Souldiers in Pinnaces and went up the River Coanza and landed at the Outaba of Songo sixty miles from the Sea This Songo is next to Demba where the Salt Mines be In this place there is such store of Salt that most parts of the Country are perfect clear Salt without any earth or filth in it and it is some three foot under the Earth as it were Ice They cut it out in Stones of a yard long and it is carried up into the Country being the best Commodity that a man can carry to buy any thing whatsoever From thence the Governour sent a Pinnace to Messangano for all the best Souldiers that were there so the Captain of that Castle sent Battel down amongst a hundred Souldiers more whom the Governour kindly entertained and made him a Serjeant of a Portugal Company Here he continued with them two years acting very valiantly in divers bloudy Battels against several Potent Lords that opposed the Portugals during which time the Governour died and another Captain was substituted in his room who was so cruel to his Souldiers that all his Voluntary men left him and by these means he could go no further At this time there came news by the Jesuits that Elizabeth Queen of England was dead and that King James her Successor had made Peace with Spain whereupon he made a Petition to the Governour who granted him Licence to go into his own Country and so he departed with the Governour and his Train to the City of S. Paul After six months stay about some necessary businesses he prepared for his Journey homewards but the Governour denied his Promise and instead of permitting him to come into England commanded him within two days to provide himself to go to the Wars again Battel startled at his perfidiousness resolved to try one bout more for his deliverance so the same night he departed from the City with two Negro Boys that he had which carried his Musquet six pounds of Powder a hundred Bullets and that little Provision of Victuals which he could make In the morning he was some twenty miles from the City up along the River Bengo there he stayed certain days and then passed Bengo and came to the River Dande being to the Northwards Here he was cruelly put to his shifts being forced to live a month in a Wood betwixt the foresaid Rivers for fear of a Pursuit From thence he went to the Lake of Casausa about this Lake he stayed six moneths and lived onely upon dried Flesh as Buffeloes Deer Mokokes Impolanca's and Roe-bucks and other sorts which he killed with his Musquet and dried the flesh as the Savages do upon an Hurdle three foot from the ground making underneath it a great Fire and laying upon the flesh green Boughs which keep the smoke and heat of the Fire down and dry it He made his Fire with two little Sticks as the Savages use to do Sometimes for variety he fed on Guinney Wheat which his Negro Boy would get of the Inhabitants for pieces of dried flesh In this manner he lived six months with dried Flesh and Fish and seeing no end of his misery he wrought means to get away which he effected after this manner About the Lake are many little Islands full of Trees called Memba which are as light as Cork and as soft of these Trees he built a Gingado with a Knife he had of the Savages in the fashion of a Boat nailed with wooden Pegs and railed round about because the Sea should not wash him out and with a Blanket that he had made a Sail and prepared three Oars to row withall The Lake was eight miles over and issued out into the River Bengo so he entered into his Gingado with his two Negro Boys and rowed into the River Bengo coming down with the Current twelve Leagues to the Bar Here he was in great danger because the Sea was great and being over the Bar he rowed into the Sea and then sailed afore the wind along the Coast which he knew very well minding to go to the Kingdom of Longo which is toward the North. Being that night at Sea the next day he saw a Pinnace come before the wind which came from the City and was bound to San Thome being come near him he found the Master was his great Friend for they had been Mates together who for pity sake took him in and his two Boys and set them on shore in the Port of Longo where he was well entertained of the King because he killed him Deer and Fowls with his Musquet Here he continued the space of three years during which time he took a Survey of the Country the Nature of the People their Rites and Manners all which he delivered to Posterity in writing as followeth Here is great store of Palm-Cloaths of sundry sorts which is their Merchandise and great store of Victuals Flesh Hens Fish Wine Oyl and Corn. Here is also very fine Logwood which they use to dye withall it is the Root of the Logwood which is the best and Molangos of Copper Here is likewise great store of Elephants Teeth but they sell none in the Market-place The King hath ten great Houses and is never certain to be found but in the Afternoon when he cometh to sit and then he keepeth always one House
the House is very long and at twelve of the clock it is full of Noblemen they sit upon Carpets on the ground the House is always full of People till midnight The last King Gembe never used to speak in the day but always in the night but this King speaketh in the day howbeit he spendeth most of the day with his Wives And when the King cometh in he goeth to the upper end of the House where he hath his Seat as it were a Throne and when the King is set they clap their hands and salute him saying in their Language Byam Pemba Ampola Moneya Quesinge On the South side of the Kings Houses he hath a Circuit or Village where his Wives dwell and in this Circuit no man may come on pain of death He hath in this place an hundred and fifty Wives or more and if any man be taken within this Circuit if he be with a Woman or do but speak to her they be both brought into the Market-place and their Heads be cut off their Bodies quartered and lie one day in the Streets The last King Gymbe had four hundred Children by his Women When the King drinketh he hath a Cup of Wine brought and he that bringeth it hath a Bell in his Hand and as soon as he hath delivered the Cup to the King he turneth his Face from him and ringeth the Bell then all that be there fall down upon their Faces and rise not till the King have drunk And this is very dangerous for any Stranger that knoweth not the fashions for if any seeth the King drink he is presently killed whatsoever he be There was a Boy of twelve years old which was the Kings Son this Boy chanced to come unadvisedly when his Father was a drinking presently the King commanded he should be well apparelled and Victuals prepared so the Youth did eat and drink afterwards the King commanded that he should be cut in quarters and carried about the City with Proclamation that he saw the King drink Likewise for the Kings Dyet when it is Dinner-time there is a House on purpose where he always eateth and there his Dyet is set upon a Bensa like a Table then he goeth in and hath the door shut and when he hath eaten he knocketh and cometh out so that none see the King eat nor drink for it is their belief that if he be seen eating or drinking he shall presently die This King is so honoured as though he were a God amongst them and is called Sambe and Pongo that is God and they believe that he can give them Rain when he listeth so once a year when it is time to rain which is in December the People come to beg it and bring their Gifts to the King for none come empty Then he appointeth the day and all the Lords far and near come to that Feast with all their Troops as they go in the Wars and when all the Troops of Men be before the King the greatest Lord cometh forth with his Bow and Arrows and sheweth his skill with his Weapons and then he hath a merry Conceit or Jest that he speaketh before the King and kneeleth at his feet and then the King thanketh him for his Love and in like manner they do all The King sitteth abroad in a great place and hath a Carpet spread upon the ground which is some fifteen Fathoms about of fine Eufacks which are wrought like Velvet and upon the Carpet his Seat which is a Fathom from the ground Then he commandeth his Dembes to strike up which are Drums so great that they cannot carry them He hath also eight Pongos which are his Waits made of the greatest Elephants Teeth and are hollowed and scraped light which play also so that with the Drums and Waits they make a Hellish noise After they have sported and shewed the King pleasure he ariseth and standeth upon his Throne and taking a Bow and Arrows into his Hand shooteth to the Sky and that day there is a great rejoycing because sometimes they have Rain which when it happens is a great Confirmation of their Folly Here is sometimes born in this Country White Children which is very rare among them for their Parents are Negroes and when any of them are born they are presented unto the King and are called Dondoes These are as white as any white man and are made the Kings Witches being brought up in Witchcraft and always wait on the King There is no man that dares meddle with these Dondoes if they go to the Market they may take what they list for all men stand in awe of them the King of Longo hath four of them This King is also a Witch and believeth in two Idols which are in Longo the one is called Mokisso a Longo the other is called Checocke This last is a little black Image and standeth in a little House at a Village that is called Kinga which standeth in the Landing-place of Longo The House of Checocke standeth in the High-way where all that go by clap their hands which is the courtesie of the Country Those that be Craftsmen as Fishermen Hunters and Witches do offer to this Idol that they may have good luck This Checocke doth sometimes in the night come and haunt some of his best beloved sometimes a Man sometimes a Boy or a Woman and then they befrantick for the space of three hours whatsoever the frantick Person speaketh that they think is the will of Checocke making a great Feast and Dancing at his House There is another Mokisso which is also in Ringa and it is called Gomberi it is the name of a Woman and is in an house where an old Witch dwelleth and she is called Ganga Gomberi which is the Priest of Gomberi Here once a year is a Feast made and Ganga Gomberi speaketh under the ground and this is a common thing every year I have asked the Negroes what it was and they told me it is a strong Mokisso that is come to abide with Chacocke There is a place two Leagues from the Town of Longo called Longeri where all their Kings be buried and it is compassed round about with Elephants Teeth pitched in the ground as it were a Pale being ten Roods in compass These People will suffer no white man to be buried in their Land and if any Stranger or Portugal come thither to trade and chance to die he is carried in a Boat two miles from the shore and cast into the Sea There was once a Portugal Gentleman that came to trade with them and had his House on shore thiâ— Gentleman died and was buried four moneths thaâ— year it did not rain so soon as it was wont which beginneth about December so that they lacked Rain some two months Then their Mokisso told them that the Christian which was buried must be taken out of the Earth and cast into the Sea and so he was taken up and cast into the Sea and
he returned for England and quickly getting his Commission renevved makes with all speed for Ireland again but before his Arrival there he was prevented with the News of Queen Mary's Death and so the Lives of many and the Liberties of more poor Servants of God vvere preserved Of the horrid Murther of Duffe King of Scotland and how miraculously it came to be discovered THis Duffe began his Reign over Scotland about the Year of our Lord 968. being a Prince of an upright Justice and one who would not favour Offences in any Person whatsoever This his zeal of Justice was by his Subjects to whom former Kings had let loose the Reins of Government termed Severity so that the Nobles being restrained from insulting and making Slaves of the Commonalty brake forth into several Insurrections especially in Murray-land who all rose up against the King unless it were the Castle of Fores of which one Donwald was Governour These Rebels seeing they could not prevail upon the King by force hired certain Witches to bewitch him to Death these things being murmured amongst the People and at last coming to the King's Ear who then lay sick of a languishing Disease and could take no rest day nor night he sent two men into Murray-land to discover if they could the Truth of the Business These men dissembling the cause of their Journey did so effectually pursue the same that they were received into the Castle of Fores in the dark of the Night and declared unto Donwald the cause of their coming requiring his Aid for the Accomplishment of the King's pleasure The Souldiers which lay there in Garrison had an inkling that there was some such matter in hand as was talked of amongst the People by reason that one of them kept as Concubine a young Woman which was Daughter to one of the Witches as his Paramour who told him the whole manner used by her Mother and other her Companions with the Intent also which was to make away the King The Souldier having learned this of his Leman told the same to his Fellows who made report thereof to Donwald and he shewed it to the Kings Messengers and therevvith sent for the young Damsel which the Souldier kept as then being within the Castle and caused her upon strict Examination to confess the whole matter as she had seen and knew whereupon learning by her Confession in what House in the Town it was where they practised their hellish Mystery he sent forth Souldiers about the midst of the Night who breaking into the House found one of the Witches roasting upon a wooden Broach an Image of Wax at the Fire resembling in each Feature the King's Person devised as is to be thought by Craft and Art of the Devil another of them sate reciting certain Words of Enchantment and still basted the Image with a certain Liquor very busily The Souldiers finding them occupied in this wise took them together with the Image and led them into the Castle where being strictly examined for what purpose they went about such manner of Enchantment they answered to the end to make away the King for as the Image did waste before the Fire so did the Body of the King break forth in sweat and as for the words of Enchantment they served to keep him still waking from Sleep so that as the Wax ever melted so did the Kings Flesh by which means it should have come to pass that when the Wax were once clean consumed the Death of the King should immediately follow So were they taught by the Devil and hired by the Nobles of Murray-land to do the same The standers by that heard such an abominable tale told by the Witches strait ways brake the Image and caused the Witches according as they had well deserved to be burnt to death It is said that the King at the very same time that these things were a doing in the Castle of Fores slept that night without any Sweat breaking forth upon him at all and being thus restored to his Strength and certified what the Rebels of Murray-land had done he raised an Army and with the same marched against them pursuing them thence unto Rosse and from Rosse into Cathnesse where apprehending several of them he brought them back to the Castle of Fores and there caused them to be hanged on divers Gallowses and Gibbets Amongst those that were thus executed were some Gentlemen of note near of Kin unto Donwald the Captain of the Castle for whose lives he much interceded to the King but receiving from him a flat denial he conceived such an inward malice to his Sovereign and being further instigated by his Wife that he never left off till he found means to murther him which was brought to pass in this wise The King tarrying some time in that Country was accustomed to lie most commonly within the same Castle having a special Trust in Donwald as a man whom he never suspected but Donwald not forgetting the Reproach which his Lineage had sustained by the Execution of those his Kinsmen carried a sorrowful Countenance amongst his Family which his Wife perceiving ceased not to travel with him till she understood what the cause was of his Displeasure which when she had learned by his own Relation she as one that bare no less malice in her Heart towards the King for the like cause on her behalf than her Husband did for his Friends counselled him since the King oftentimes used to lodge in the Castle without any Guard about him other than the Garrison thereof which were wholly at his Command to devise some ways to rid him of his Life Donwald thus by her persuaded as he must needs go whom the Devil drives determined to follow her Advice and the Night before the King vvas to depart he being brought to Bed by tvvo of his Chamberlains those Chamberlains were invited by Donwald and his Wife to a Supper or Collation whereat they sat up so long till they had charged their Stomachs with such full Gorges that their Heads vvere no sooner got to the Pillow but a sleep they vvere so fast that a man might have removed the Chamber over them rather than to have awakened them out of their drunken Sleep These Chamberlains thus secured Donwald called to four of his Servants whom he had made privy to his purpose and declared to them which way they should work the Feat vvho according to his Instructions entered the Chamber wherein the King lay immediately before the Cocks crowing where they cut his Throat as he lay sleeping without any bustling at all which having done by a Postern Gate they conveyed the dead Body into the Fields and throwing it upon a Horse provided ready for that purpose conveyed it to a place distant about two miles from the Castle whereby ran a little River where they stayed and got certain Labourers to help them to turn the Course thereof and diging a deep hole in the Channel they bury the Body
in the same and having turned the Water into the right Course again they flew those whose Help they had used therein and thereupon fled into Orkney Donwald about the time that the Murther was a doing got him amongst them that kept the Watch and so continued in Company with them all the residue of the Night but in the Morning when the noise was raised in the King's Chamber hovv the King vvas slain his Body conveyed away and the Bed all bewrayed with Blood he with the Watch ran thither as though he had known nothing of the matter where finding Cakes of Blood on the Bed and on the Floor and about the sides of it he forthvvith slevv the Chamberlains as guilty of that heinous Murther and then like a Mad-man running to and fro he ransacked every Corner vvithin the Castle pretending to have seen if he might have found either the Body or any of the Murtherers hid in any privy place but at the length coming to the Postern Gate and finding it open he burdened the Chamberlains whom he had slain vvith all the fault they having the keys of the Gates committed to their keeping all the Night It is said that after this heinous Murther thus committed there appeared no Sun by Day nor Moon by Night for the space of six Months together in any part of the Realm but still was the Sky covered with continual Clouds and sometimes such out-ragious Winds arose with Lightnings and Tempests that the People were in great fear of a general Destruction In the mean time the Scots crovvned Culene Prince of Cumberland their King vvho resolving to punish the Murtherers of his Predecessor marched vvith an Army into Murray-land the Inhabitants of vvhich Country hearing of his Approach and the cause of his coming were stricken with exceeding fear but namely Donwald being guilty in Conscience doubted if he vvere put to Torture he should be enforced to confess the Truth whereupon without making his Wife privy to his Departure or any other of his Family save a few such as he took with him he secretly got him to the Mouth of the River of Spey vvhere finding a Ship ready he went aboard the same purposing to have fled his ways by Sea into Norway But by this his Flight he detected himself for King Culene being hereof advertised imagined assuredly that Donwald must needs be the Author of this horrid Murther and thereupon passed over Spey Water and taking the Castle of Fores slevv all that he found therein and put the House to Sack and Fire Donwald's Wife vvith his three Daughters were taken alive for so was the King's Command to whosoever should light on them they being had to the Rack the Mother upon Examination confessed the whole matter how by her Procurement chiefly her Husband was moved to cause the Deed to be done who they were that by his Commandment did it and in what place they had buried the Body The King with the Residue for that Night rested themselves and in the Morning took order for Provision of all things necessary to take up the Body of King Duffe and then to convey it unto Colmekill there to be buried amongst his Predecessors But as they were preparing thereunto word came that the Traytor Donwald was by Shipwrack cast upon the Shore within four miles of the Castle as though he were by God's Provision brought back into his own Country to suffer worthy Punishment for his Demerits Hereupon the King sent a Band of men to fetch him unto him who were scarcely returned when likewise came in divers Lords of Rosse bringing with them Donwald's four Servants vvhich as before is said did execute the Murther Thus all the Offenders being brought together unto the place where the Murther was both contrived and executed they were arreigned condemned and put to Death being first scourged by the Hang-man then bowelled their Entrails being thrown into the Fire and burnt the other parts of their Bodies were cut into Quarters and set upon the Gates and highest Towers of the chiefest Cities of the Realm Next they proceed to take up the Body of King Duffe which notwithstanding it had lain six Months under the Ground was nothing empaired in Colour or otherwise but was found as whole and found as though it had been yet alive the Scars of the Wounds only excepted But which is more strange no sooner was the Body brought above the ground but the Air began to clear up and the Sun break forth shining more brighter than it had been seen afore-time to any of the Beholders Remembrance but that which was most strange of all was the sight of abundance of Flowers which sprung forth over all the Fields immediately thereupon clean contrary to the Time and Season of the Year Not long after there was a Bridge made over the Water in the same place where the Body had been buried and a Village builded at the one end of the Bridge called Killflos that is the Church of Flowers taking that name of the Wonder that happened at the removing of the King's Body Afterwards was there in the same place built a most magnificent Abbey together with a very fair Church which in the general decay of Abbeys felt also it's Fate being nothing of it left now but only it's remembrance in History Of the Cruelty which Albovine King of Lombardy used to his Queen Rosamond and by what means she was revenged on him with her miserable end THE first King of the Longobards which conquered that part of Italy since from them called Lombardy was named Albovine a Man of great Spirit and very valiant in Actions of War He conquered in Battel Cunmond King of the Girpides and causing his Head to be smitten off made a drinking Cup thereof wherein he used to drink in Triumph of his Conquest and Victory Rosamond Daughter to this King a very beautiful Damsel he took to Wife and being one day over merry in Verona he compelled her to drink out of her Fathers Skull whereat she conceived such high displeasure that the intire Love which she had formerly borne him was converted into deadly Hatred with an absolute resolution to kill him in revenge of this disgrace And to assist her in this determination she conferred with a Gentleman named Hermigilde who told her that to the execution of such an important Business she should require the aid of a Valiant Knight in the Court called Paradine which instantly she did but he would not yield thereto because he took it to be too horrid a Treason Finding her hope therein frustrated and fearing lest her intent would be discovered but ambitious to accomplish her Enterprize being advertized by Hermigilde that Paradine dearly affected one of her attending Ladies she devised thereby to effect her purpose Being acquainted with the secret resort where Paradine and his Lover met together she found some other Employment for the Lady and made use of her place for the time prostituting her Honour
with Acclamations till thou revenge my stained Blood Beorn who was not used to be welcomed home in such a Dialect much amazed at his Wives Maladies with gentle Words drew from her the Particulars of her inward Grief who revealed as well as Shame Tears and Sobs would suffer the manner of the deed still urging Revenge for the Wrong Beorn touched thus to the Quick to pacifie his distressed Wife did not a little dissemble his Wrath and excusing the Fact with the Power of a Prince that might command and her own Weakness unable to resist the Strength of a man commended much her Love and Constancy and alledging his Wrongs to be equal with hers if not greater in regard of their Sex willed her to set her string to his Tune till fit opportunity would serve to strike but she distasting that sweet Consort wrested her Passion into so high a Strain that nothing could be heard but Revenge and Blood Beorn thus instigated by the continual Cries of his Wife whose Rape already of it self had given sufficient cause of Wrath first consulting with his nearest Friends was offered their Assistance against that wicked and libidious Prince and then repairing to his Court in the presence of them all made known his unsufferable Wrongs resigning into his Hands all such Services and Possessions as he did hold of him and with utter defiance departed threatning his Death This done he took shipping and sailed into Denmark where he had great Friends as having his bringing up there before and is reported to have been allianced unto the Danish Blood so coming to Godorick King of that Country made his Case known instantly desiring his Aid against the Villany of Osbright Goderick glad to have some Quarrel to invade England levied an Army with all speed and preparation made for all things necessary sendeth forth Inguar and Hubba two Brethren to command in chief over an innumerable Multitude of his Danes which two he thought at this time the fittest for the attempt not only for their good Conduct and approved Valour but also for that he knew them to be on particular Motives which usually more affect than doth a common Cause implacably inraged against the English on an occasion unfortunately happening but most lamentably pursued which came to pass in manner as followeth A Danish Noble-man of Royal Extraction named Lothbroke which is in English no other than Leather-Breech the Father to the two Brothers Inguar and Hubba being upon the shore his Hawk in flying the Game fell into the Sea which to recover he entered a little Skiff or Cock-boat nothing fore-seeing the danger that immediately did ensue for a sudden Tempest arising carried the Boat into the Deep and drove him upon the Coast of Norfolk where he came to land at the Port called Rodham but see his Fortune no sooner had he scaped one danger but he fell into another for the People there took him for a Spy and as such a one presently sent him to Edmund then King of that Province but in his Answers he sufficiently cleared that Suspicion and also declaring his Birth and Misfortune was honourably entertained in the Court of that East-Angles King whom Edmund much esteemed for his other good Parts but for his dexterity and expertness in Hawking held him in special regard insomuch that his Faulkner named Berick envying the good parts of Lothbroke as being endued with none himself he therefore conceived such deadly hatred and malice thereat as having him at advantage alone in a Wood he cowardly murthered him and hid his dead Body in a Bush But Lothbroke whose noble Parts had made him eminent was soon miss'd and diligent Inquisition being made could not be found until his Spaniel which would not forsake his dead Master's Corps came fawningly unto the King as seeming to beg Revenge of so bloody an Act which he did more than once and at length being observed and followed by the Trace the dead Body was found and Bericke demonstrated to be the Murtherer and on sufficient Evidence convicted for the same his Judgment being to be put into Lothbroke's Boat and that without either Tackle or Oar as he therein arrived and so left to the Seas Mercy to be saved by Destiny or swallowed up by just desert But behold the Event the Boat returned to the same place and upon the same Coast arrived from whence it had been driven where being known to be Lothbroke's Boat Bericke was laid hands on who to free himself from the punishment of his butcherly Fact added Treason to Murther laying it to the charge of innocent King Edmund saying that the King had put him to death in the Country of Norfolk This was thought sufficiently worthy of Revenge to which Goderick's Quarrel being added did very much inflame the Courages of Inguar and Hubba the two Sons of the murthered Prince who thereupon having their Army in readiness set forth to Sea and first arriving at Holderness burn'd up the Country and without Mercy massacred all before them sparing neither Sex Calling nor Age and surprizing York which Osbright had taken for his Refuge there slew that lustful Prince with all his Forces making thereby good that Saying of the Poet. Those whose Delights are in the Cyprian Game Warming themselves in Lusts alluring Flame And wallowing in that Sin their Lives do spend Do seldom to the Grave in Peace descend Afterwards the two furious Brethren marched with their Army into Norfolk where they sent this Message unto King Edmund That Inguar the most victorious Prince dread both by Sea and Land having subdued divers Countries unto his Subjection and now arrived in those Parts where he meant to Winter charged Edmund to divide with him his Riches and to become his Vassal aend Servant The King being stricken into Astonishment at this strange and unexpected Message consulted with his Counsel what to do therein where one of his Bishops then his Secretary and a principal man used Persuasions to him to yield for preventing greater mischief who notwithstanding returned this Answer Go tell thy Lord that Edmund the Christian King for the love of this temporal Life will not subject himself to a Heathen and Pagan Duke Inguar and Hubba herewith exasperated with the furious Troops of their Danes pursued the King to Thetford and from thence to his Castle of Framingham where he pitying the terrible Slaughter of his People yielded himself to their Persecutions who because he would not deny Christ and the Christian Faith those Pagans first beat him with Bats then scourged him with Whips he still calling upon the name of Jesus for rage whereof they bound him to a Stake and with their Arrows shot him to death and cutting off his Head contemptuously threw it into a Bush Of which Head we have a Monkish Story written by the Author of their English Martyrology for which the Author doth very well deserve the Whet-stone viz. That when St. Edmund was murthered by the Danes the Christians
of Hungary came thither accompanied with divers Noble-men and Gentlemen who notwithstanding found no deceit therein Thus she continued for the space of almost four years Her Torments seemed to increase more and more upon her At last the chief Magistrate of the City sent for her Parents and asked them whether they desired to have their Daughter delivered from so great Torments by the Physicians making incision into her Belly Her Father being a plain man answered that he was willing to leave his Daughter to God's Providence and to lawful Remedies of Physicians But the Mother being guilty of the Deceit said that she would not have them to attempt any thing to the endangering of her daughters life adding moreover that she would pray that God's Vengeance might light upon them if her Daughter miscarried under their hands Yet some were sent to the Maid to mind her that they had many times craved help of Physicians that now there was a proffer made of their help who by God's assistance might either wholly free her from her Distemper or at least asswage the violence of it But she being instructed of her Mother answered That she with a willing mind would patiently suffer what it should please God to inflict upon her that she desired not any Physick but that as for the space of four years she had undergone the extremity of her Pains so she was still willing to bear the Cross which God had laid upon her till it pleased him to remove it hoping that she should still be as able to bear the violence of her Disease as hitherto she had been But the Magistrate of Elsing being better pleased with her Father's Answer sent a Dr. of Physick with two Chirurgions and a Midwife to search the Maidens Belly by Incision These came to her and searching her Belly found it stuffed with Clouts very cunningly and with Pillows and such like Materials with divers Hoops wherewith her Belly was made round she crying out all the while and when all these were removed they saw the Maiden stark naked with as well a compact and as fair a Body as might be When now the Deceit was discovered the Parents with the Daughter and all they which were accessory with whom in the Night whilst others slept she made good cheer were carried to Prison and afterwards put to the Rack The counterfeit Belly was brought to the Town-house and there shewed to the Burgo-masters and the Maids Mother was found to be a Witch who by the Devils help had caused those strange noises which seemed to proceed out of the Maids Belly and upon strict examination she confessed that she had done all these things by the Devils perswasion and help for Gain-sake all these four years for which she was condemned by the Judge had first her Neck broke and afterwards was openly burned The Daughter had her Cheek burned through with an hot iron and was condemned to perpetual Imprisonment The Father who took his Oath that he was deceived by his Wife and Daughter even till that day wherein this wicked Fact vvas discovered vvas acquitted and freely dismissed the other Accessories vvere banished and some of them that vvere most guilty vvere othervvise punished Of People long-lived who have had their Teeth and Excrements of Hair renewed MR. Purchas in his Pilgrimage relateth that whilst the Portugals were busie in building a Fort in the Kingdom of Decan belonging to Asia that there came a certain Bengalan to the Governour which had lived as he affirmed three hundred thirty five years The old men of the Country testified that they had heard their Ancestors speak of his great Age and himself had a Son fourscore and ten years old and not at all Book-learned yet was a speaking Chronicle of those passed Times His Teeth had sometimes fallen out others growing in their places and his Beard after it had been very hoary by degrees returned into his former blackness About an hundred years before that time he had alter'd his Pagan Religion into the Arabian or Moorish For this his Miraculous age the Sultans of Cambaya had allowed him a Stipend to live on the continuance of which he sought and did obtain of the Portugals Fryar Joano dos Santos tells a Story of one who was alive Anno 1605 of whom the Bishop of Cochin had sent men to inquire who by diligent search found that he was then 380 years old and had married eight times the Father of many Generations They said his Teeth had thrice fallen out and were thrice renewed his hair thrice hoary and as oft black again He could tell of nineteen successive Kings which reigned in Horan his native Country in Bengala He was also born a Gentile and after turned Moor and hoped he said to dye a Christian rejoycing to see a Picture of St Francis saying as the Fryar tells us such a man when he was twenty five years old had foretold him that long life Nic-di Conti saith he saw a Bramane three hundred years old But to come nearer to our home Mr. Morison reporteth of the Irish Countess of Desmond that she lived to the age of a hundred and forty Years being able to go on foot four or five miles to the Market-Town and using weekly so to do in her last Years and not many years before she died she had all her Teeth renewed He also tells of one Jemings a Carpenter in Beverly a Town of Holdernes in England whom the men of those Parts reported to have lived a hundred and twenty years and that he married a young Woman some few years before his death by whom being of good Fame he had four Children and that his eldest Son by his first Wife then living was a hundred years old or thereabouts but was so decrepid as he was rather taken for the Father than the Son King James going a Progress into Hereford-shire the ingenious Serjeant Hoskin gave him an Entertainment where he provided ten aged People to dance the Morrice before him all of them making up more than a thousand years so that what was wanting in one was supplied in another A Nest of Nestors saith Mr. Fuller not to be found in another place In the Year 1634. Thomas Earl of Arundel a great Lover of Antiquities in all kinds brought out of the Country unto King Charles the First an old man named Thomas Parre Son of John Parre born at Alberbury in the Parish of Winnington in Shrop-shire who lived to be above a hundred and fifty Years of Age verifying his Anagram Thomas Parre Most rare hap He was born in the Reign of King Edward the Fourth 1483. and towards his latter end slept away most part of his time being thus character'd by an Eye-witness of him From Head to Heel his Body had all over A quick-set thick-set nat'ral hairy Cover Having been at Westminster about two Months change of Air and Diet better in it self but worse for him with the trouble of many Visitants or
Wretch might have conceived his present compared with his former condition an Heaven upon Earth but he did not so though he had to his good Entertainment made for him a Chain of bright Brass an Armour Breast Back and Head-piece with a Buckler of Brass his beloved Metal and which his Countrey-men esteemed far above Gold yet all this contented him not for never any seemed to be more weary of ill usage than he was of Courtesies none ever more desirous to return home to his Countrey than he For when he had learn'd a little of our Language he would daily lye upon the Ground and cry very often thus in broken English Cooree home go Souldania go home go And not long after when he had his desire and was returned home he had no sooner set footing on his own shore but presently he threw away his Clothes his Linnen with all other Covering and got his Sheep-skins upon his back Guts about his neck and his Cow-turd Cap upon his head Thus you see what manner of Life they affect the name of Cleanliness not being known amongst them And for their Religion Cooree being asked by the Minister of the Ship who was their God he lifting up his hands in his bad English said thus England God great God Souldania no God And so much for Souldania Of two famous Virago's the one a French-woman called Joan of Arc or La Pucelle de Dieu the other a Biscainer called Catarina d' Arcuso JOAN of Arc was Daughter to one James of Arc dwelling in Domremy near Vaucaleurs in France in her younger years she tended Sheep under her Father at which time France groaned under the Victorious Arms of the English John Duke of Bedford being then Regent thereof in the minority of our King Henry the sixth who was crowned King of France in Paris the principal City Charles the seventh having little left to him of that spacious Kingdom but only the Title He being at this Exigent this young Maid then about eighteen years of age presented her self unto him at Chinon bidding him not to faint but constantly affirmed that God had sent her to deliver the Realm of France from the English yoak and restore him to the fulness of his Fortunes At first it seems she was not much credited though judged to be set on by the Nobles but when the Wise of both sorts as well Clerks as Souldiers had sifted her with manifold Questions she continuing in her first Speech so stedfastly uttering nothing saith Serres but that which was modest chaste and holy that honour and faith were given to her Sayings An old Woman directed her She soon armed her self like a man and required to have that Sword which hung in St. Katharines Church of Fierebois in Tourain This demand increased their admiration of her for such a Sword was found among the old Donaries or Votive Tokens of that Church Thus warlikely arrayed she rides to Blois where Forces and fresh Victuals lay for the Relief of Orleans then closely besieged and ready to yield unto the English She joyning with the Admiral and Marshal of France they entred the City in despight of the Besiegers This greatly encouraged the fainting French Joan the Maid of God so Superstition had now intitled her having thus fortunately begun writes this Letter to the English General before the City King of England Do reason to the King of Heaven for his Blood-Royal yield up to the Virgin the Keys of all the good Cities which you have forced She is come from Heaven to reclaim the Blood-Royal and is ready to make a Peace if you be ready to do reason Yield therefore and pay what you have taken King of England I am the chief of this War wherefore I encounter your men in France I will chase them will they or no. If they will obey I will take them to mercy The Virgin comes from Heaven to drive you out of France If you will not obey she will cause so great a stir as the like hath not been this thousand years in France And believe certainly that the King of Heaven will send to her and her good men of Arms more force than you can have Go in Gods name into your Countrey be not obstinate for you shall not hold France of the King of Heaven the Son of St. Mary but Charles shall enjoy it the King and lawful Heir to whom God hath given it He shall enter Paris with a goodly Train You William de la Pole Earl of Suffolk John Lord Talbot Thomas Lord Scales Lieutenants to the Duke of Bedford and you Duke of Bedford terming your self Regent of the Realm of France spare innocent Blood and leave Orleans in liberty If you do not reason to them whom you have wronged the French will do the goodliest Exploit that ever was done in Christendom Understand these News of God and the Virgin This Letter was entertained by the English with laughter and Joan reputed no better than a Bedlam or Enchantress Yet however thus disesteemed by her Encouragements and Conduct the English had Orleans pluck'd out of their hopes and with much loss were driven to raise the Siege Joan her self was wounded at one Sally in which she led being shot through the Arm with an Arrow Judge what she esteemed of that hurt when she used these admirable and terrible words This is a Favour let us go on they cannot escape the hand of God nay in all Adventures she was one and fore-most In memory of this admirable Deliverance they of that City erected a Monument where Charles the seventh King of France and Joan the Martial Maid were represented kneeling in Armour elevating their eyes and hands to Heaven in sign of thanks and acknowledgment of so great a benefit Still the Martial Maid goes on victoriously she and the Duke of Alanzon recover Jergeaux from the Earl of Suffolk forcing it by Assault slaying one of the Earl's Brothers and taking the Earl himself Prisoner and having their numbers augmented encounter the Lord Talbot that terrour of France at a Village called Patay whom they discomfit and slew of the English above a thousand The Lords Talbot the glory of the English Scales Hungerford and Sir Thomas Rampestone were taken Prisoners These Losses shook the whole Fabrick of the English greatness in France and caused the Revolt of many Towns to King Charles who encouraged by these Successes marcheth into Champaigne where by composition he taketh the Cities of Troys and Auxerre Chalons and Rheims yield themselves in which last according to the Maids direction he was solemnly crowned King But now our Martial Maids good Fortune having ascended the Meridian began to decline for though by her subtile practises King Charles was possess'd of the Town of St Dennis a neighbour to Paris then in possession of the English she with the Duke of Alanzon going with their Forces to attempt it the English gave them so rough an Encounter that Joan her self was
Tom Coriat works the wile Your high Displeasure on my Head to bring And well I wot the Sot his Words can file In hope my Fortunes head-long down to fling The King whose Wisdom through the World did Did hear the cause of two offending Harlots ring So I beseech thee great Great Britain's King To do the like for two contending Varlets A brace of Knaves your Majesty implores To hear their Suits as Solomon heard Whores But to return to more serious matters Mr. Coriat being desirous to see the most remote parts of the Earth in the Year 1612. he ship'd himself from London for Constantinople where being arrived he took special notice of all things there most observable In this place as indeed in all places where-ever he came for his facetious Conceits he found very great Respect and Encouragement from Sir Paul Pinder then and there Ambassador to whose House he had free and welcome Access whensoever he pleased being there for some time he took his opportunities to view divers parts in Grecia and in the Hellespont as those two famous Castles of Sestos and Abydos so celebrated of old by the famous Musaeus for the Habitations of Hero and Leander He also saw what yet remains of the Ruins of renowned Troy So rich so powerful that so proudly stood That could for ten years space spend so much blood Now prostrate only her old Ruines shews And Tombs that famous Ancestors enclose The very Ruines of that place being now almost gone to Ruine the most remarkable thing there yet remaining is part of an exceeding great House which is continued by Tradition to have been sometimes a part of the famous Palace of great King Priamus From Smyrna he found a passage to Alexandria in Egyyt where he observed what remains of the once fam'd Pyramids with the other rarities of that famous Country which having viewed he with one English-man more found a Pass by Sea to Joppa in the Land of Judaea and not above twenty miles distant from Jerusalem whither accompanied with divers others he went and found it a very solitary rocky uncomfortable way full of Danger by reason of the wild Arabs who keep about those Passages to make poor Travellers their Prey and Spoil But they came safe to Jerusalem now inhabited by Turks by them called Cutts which signifieth Holy where he vvas courteously received by the Father Guardian of the Convent of Franciscan Fryers that keep their residence in Jerusalem and by some of them were met at the Gate of the City where they were compelled by the Turkish Souldiers who keep those Gates to redeem their Heads by paying each of them the value of five Shillings before they could have admittance into that place which they had no sooner entered but they were presently carried by those Franciscans which met them to their Convent and then the first thing they did to or for them they washed their Feet then set some comfortable Refection before them and after went in Procession about a little Cloyster they had praising God that he had brought in Safety those two Votaries as they called them to visit that holy place A day or two after they accompanied them to Bethlehem the place of our Blessed Saviour's Birth about five English miles distant from Jerusalem and in the way betwixt these two places shewed them a Rock on which as they said the Blessed Virgin sat down as she went on a time betwixt Jerusalem and Bethlehem to give her Babe suck and that the Rock might not feel hard under her it yielded as they told them to her Body like a Cushion and that Impression made by her so sitting remaineth unto this Day and is most devoutly kissed by Votaries as they pass up and down After this they returning back were shewed all that was to be seen in and about Jerusalem as Mount Calvary where our Blessed Saviour suffered that Hill being now inclosed within the Walls of Jerusalem They undertook also to shew them the place wherein our Blessed Saviour was buried and after that upon Mount Olivet the very place whence he after ascended where upon a Rock there was an Impression of the former part of two Feet such as is seen in soft Earth when a man lifts up his Body to leap thence and these Franciscans confidently affirmed and seemed undoubtedly to believe that it was as they shewed and told them At Jerusalem this our Traveller had made upon the Wrist of his left Arm the Arms of Jerusalem a Cross crossed or Crosslets and on the Wrist of his right a single Cross made like that which our Blessed Saviour suffer'd on and on the sides the Stem or Tree of that Cross these Words written Via Veritas Vita some of the Letters being put on the one side of that Stem or Tree and some of them on the other and at the foot of that Cross three Nails to signifie those which fastned our Saviour unto it All these Impressions were made by sharp Needles bound together that pierced only the skin and then a black Powder put into the places so pierced which became presently indelible Characters to continue with him so long as his Flesh should be covered with skin and they were done upon his Arms so artificially as if they had been drawn by some accurate Pencil upon Parchment This poor man would pride himself very much in the beholding of these Characters and seeing them would often speak those Words of St. Paul to the Galatians Gal. 6. 17. far besides the Apostles meaning I bear in my Body the marks of the Lord Jesus And now having seen what he desired in and about Jerusalem after his Repast the Shot came to pay Money to recompence the Courtesie of the Franciscans who being very poor are unable to entertain People without such Requitals which he and his Comrade willingly gave as having had a good Penny-worth of Eye-sight From hence they took their way to take a view of the Dead Sea so called either because the Water therein is still and moves not or because no living Creature is in it suffocating Birds that fly over it with the Poyson of the ascending Vapors A name of Right Impos'd in that to all Birds opposite Which when those Air 's swift Passengers o're fly Forgetful of their Wings they fall from high With out-stretch'd Necks Hence they went to have a sight of the River Jordan which dischargeth it self into that most uncomfortable Lake and from hence they journeyed North-East thorough those ten Tribes which for the Sin of Solomon were rent from his Son Rehoboam till they came to Mount Libanus thence back to Sidon from whence they got a Passage by Sea to Alexandretta now called Scandaroon where his English Companion left him and turned his Face towards England but our Greek-travelling-Thomas still coveting to see more of the World presently took his way towards Aleppo in Syria about seventy miles or more distant from Scandaroon Here he being kindly received