South sixty leagues and from Cape Comry two hundred a streame or arme issuing from Indus so incompasses her that she becomes a peninsule the Haven before the Towne is so land-lockt so good for anchorage that at Swalley Chaul Danda-Rajapuree and other Havens is no better riding either for the ground or Fort that so well safeguards them Nearchus great Alexanders Admirall from this place begun his Voyage and sayled to Ormus where hee repaired his weather-beaten Navie The Towne it selfe is both large and hospitable yet by reason of the Portugals pride and cruelty Christians are lesse beloved here then in other places 't was of good Trade affording Opium Assa-foetida Puchio Cotton Indico Mirabolans Sugar Arack Agats Cornelians Diaspries Calcedons Hematists Pearl Elephants teeth but since Surat and Cambaya her next neighbors have drawne the English and Dutch thither her Traffick and other allurements are contemned what she best boasts of is the Castle built after long fight and bloodshed by Albuquerque the famous Portugall Anno 1515 of their account 895 by whose cost and care it was so advanced that it compares at this day with any other Sea Towne in the Orient Nor could it ever have succceded had not false protestations bribes threats and other devices drawne beleife into the Pagans that their desire to have so many Castles and Marittim Forts was onely to defend themselves in parts where they were altogether strangers but it appeared afterwards that avarice rapine Tyrannie and lust allured them as Osorius their Bishop in vita Emanuelis 11 libro fol 347. speaks concerning them Etsi Lusitani imprimis arces cupiebant ad se defendendas postea tamen visum est speciem faederis amicitae dominationem quaeri Tyrannidem agitari c. Which caused such turmoyles that in no other part of India they found so long such strong resistance partly by their owne valour but chiefly by help of Mirhocem and his Mamalukes Campson Gaurus the then great Sultan of Egipt sent thither to quell their insolencies Notwithstanding by the ruine of that Sultan not long after by Selim the first 1516. the Portugals by little and little grew victorious though to obtaine it Laurensius-Almeida sonne to their Viceroy the most excellent of all their Captaines at that time perished The river Indus is by Pliny call'd Sandus Sinthus by Arrhian and now call'd Sinde not farre distant hence at 23 deg 15 min. lat some observe 24 deg 40 min. and West var. 16 degrees 30 min. commixes in two ostiums Thevet foolishly names seaven with the Ocean after three thousand miles flux from the Casmirian or as Mela in his third booke the Paropamisian mountaines in her discent receiving growth from many great and famous rivers which from other hills derive their origin mellow Indya and at last incorporate with that famous flood from whose name the most noble part of the universe is named the rivers are Behat Ravee Damiadee Ob-chan Wihy c. of old times named Hidaspes Acesinis Cophis Adris Ob-itarmas Coas Suastes Melzidas Hirotas Zaradas Hispalis c. On the other side the gulph Muskat in Arabia the happy is seated Muscat or Mascat not farre from Cape Rozelgate formerly call'd Ziagrum and Corodamum and almost Nadyr to the crabbed Topick I dare not conclude that this was that old Raamah from Raama sonne of Chush sonne of Cham by Ptolomy Rhaguma and Rhegma celebred by Ezekiel 27.22 The Merchants of Sheba a Citie in Arabia whence came the Queene and not from Aethiopia Chush being misinterpreted to visit Solomon and Raamah were thy Merchants meaning Tyre c. howbeit 't is certaine it has beene much more populous and famous then at this present though now she begins since Ormuz was lost to revive her glory being the best Port Haven and defence for Frigots Juncks and other Vessels of Warre and Trade belonging to the Portugalls who first conquered it and the Ile Anno Dom. 1507. and after it other adjacent Townes as Calajate Curiate Soar Orfaza and divers places till then under the Ormousian Empire at that time Zeifadin was King in nonage ruled by Atar a spitefull Eunuch whose deceit was so apparent as not onely made this Towne to blush in flames but had welnigh ruin'd his Masters Empire Torus the King brother then commanded here with Mamadee the Kings sonne undone by poyson given him from Nordino the second Officer after which it was betrayed to the Turks by Iack a Portugall but after some cost and toyle recovered yet next yeere by bribery the Tunks re-entred and wherein Peribeg the Basha plants a Colony and goes homeward but ere he got thither heares of its revolt and the slaughter of his silly Garrison the Newes so amazing him that hee goes to Mecha and turnes religious but by command of Solyman the great Turk is forced thence and for a reward of his fifty yeares good service is beheaded and his estate forfeited It now obeyes the Portugalls the Towne is seated in a Plain yet armed or propt with two rising advantagious mountaines a ditch and parapet drawne from one hill to the other so inviron her that she seemes inaccessible the Castle is large and defensive fill'd with men and stored with great Ordnance little else is worthy of our observation The seventeenth of December wee took ship in the William for Gombroon in Persia the Exchange the Hart and other brave ships went along with us and above three hundred slaves whom the Persians bought in India Trop Cancri Persees Ientews gentiles Bannaras and others The eightenth day we crost the Tropick and next day elevated the North pole twenty foure degrees odde minutes the gulph in this place straitned the shores of Carmania and Arabia in this forme appearing to us The Persian Gulph Arabia denominated from Arabus sonne of Apollo and Madam Babilonia at this day is more obscured than in ancient times such time as it was the seminary of famous men worthily in those dayes called happie Panchaya and Eudaemonia No part bred better Physitians Mathematicians and Philosophers Galen Hipocrates Avicen Algazales Albumazar Abubeer Alfarabius Mahomet-ben-Isaac ben Abdilla Siet Iooh ben Cazem ben sid ' Ally and others here borne or educated the Arabick so inchanted men that it is a common hyperbole amongst them the Saints in Heaven and Paradize speak it In it the holy Decalogue was given in it was hatcht the delusive Alcaron if gums aromatick succulent fruits fragrant flowers and such like delicacies can captivate thee say then Arabia is the Phoenix of the East with Danaeus the epitomè of delight and with Saint Augustin that it is Paradize 'T is tripartite Deserta Petrosa and Felix Deserta is also call'd humilis profunda and aspera by Servius Lucian and Aristides Petrosa Inferior by Strabo Nabothaea by Ptolomy and Barrha by Castoldus Rathal Alhaga by them habitants and by Zieglerus Bengacalla Foelix varies also in nomenclation by Pliny Sabaea and Mamotta by Solinus
write it Gamrou others Gomrow and other-some Cummeroon The Artique pole mounts here to seven and twenty degrees and nine minutes A Towne it is of no Antiquity rising daily out of the ruines of late glorious now most wretched Ormus an houres journey thence I was told that it had not twelve houses twelfve yeares ago at this day encreased to a thousand but how can I credit it since one Newbery our country-man entitles it a Town at his being here which was in the yeare 1581. Yet old it cannot be since all agree the Portugals first founded it after Ormous doubtlesse and where the Castle was begun but in Anno 1513 by Albuquerq ' the Portugall Gumbroon is from Ormus nine english myles it also viewes Arabia about sixteene leagues west for there the Gulph is narrowest It was forced from the Portugall in the yeare 1612 by Ally-Reec the Shyrazian and is now compleatly governed by the Persian It is in compasse about two myles the earth is sandy without gardens springs or grasse from March to October so hot as the Natives flie away to Larr and other Townes where Date trees shadow them against the ever burning Sunne and ground or sand that scalds like hottest embers a great Mountayne reckned twenty miles distant but by its height seemes not eight anticipates the coole North-wind which to other parts breaths sweetly and refreshes them The houses are of Sunne-dried bricks thick sollid within are without much furniture without simple to look upon The windowes are large and trellised made to open when any Favonius murmurs among them The tops are tarrassed made both to walk sleep upon so Carpets be spred to soften them In the Summer season when few ships ride here they sleep in troughs or beds fild with water The Buzzar is very ordinary t is covered atop to keep out the searching beames of the scortching Sunne where under is sold Wine Arack Sherbet Thlummery and many other things to the eye and belly necessary The entrance into the Sultans house is at the East side of the Market place His the Shabanders English and Duch distinguisht by their Flags or Ensignes displayed by Aeolus atop their houses are all are worth the entring in or my noting of best note are two Castles at the North and South ends of the Towne spatious and defensive adorn'd with good Battlements and Platformes to play their uselesse Cannons on Fourescore brasse Peeces are planted here and are part of those they got from Ormus Anno 1622 two hundred more being sent up to Larr Spahawn and Babylon of small terrour if no better Gunners exercise them Whiles ships ride here Gumbroon is a garrison foure hundred horse and foot attend their Generall but dare not fight against the Sonne all summer billeting where they can find food and shelter In winter you may find here Merchants of sundry Nations English Ducth Persians Indians Arabs Armenians Turks Iewes and others The most common commodities here are belly food Wine Rack Sherbet Rosewater Sugar Almonds Dates Pomgranats Figs Currans Orenges Lemmons Pomecitrons Mirabolans Apples Peares Quinces and Flowers in great variety As also Goates Hens egges two yeare old Ryce c. most of which are sold by the crafty faire spoken Bannyans who swarme through all parts of Asia They will readily trade or prattle with Christian Turk Iew or Gentile but have no good fellowship for they hate to eat or drink with any save of their owne casts and religion rice plaintains and some fruits they eat drink water or sherbet which is faire water rosewater sugar and juyce of Lemons put together but for flesh eggs or such roots as raddish and the like resembling blood or wine not one bitt would they eat though you would give the poorest knave amongst them a thousand pound they are troubled with Pythagoras dreames doubting thereby they might eat up the soules of their friends or parents which transmigration of soules Tibullus elegantly thus detects to his Mistresse Quin etiam mea tunc Tumulus cum texerit ossa Seu matura dies sato properat mihi mortem Longa manet seu vita tamen mutata figura Seu me fingit equum rigidos percurrere campos Doctum seu cardi pecoris sing loria Taurus Sive ego per liquidum volucris vehar aëra pennis In quemcunque hominem me longa receperit aetas Inceptis de te subtexam carmina chartis When furthermore the grave my bones shal hide Or ripened dayes to swift foot death shall glide Or lengthned life remains in shape exchangde Making me horse well managed to range The fields or Bull the glory of the heard Or through the liquid Ayre I flie a Bird. Into what man soere long tyme me makes These works begun of thee fresh verses takes Some Sudatories cald here Hummums some Mosques some Synagogues and Sanhedrins are here but those so obscure that the eye can scarce direct us to them Most remarkable is the great Banayan Tree a league East from the Towne and opposite to Ormus Castle a Tree or rather twenty Trees the boughs rooting and springing up a whole aker together rounded within and shaded in forme of a Theater two hundred and nine paces about as I measured and wherein or under may ambush very secretly three hundred horse some call it the arched Fig tree some Arbor de Rays a tree of Roots others de Goa namd by us the Bannyan Tree from their adorning and adoring it with ribbons and streamers of varicoloured Taffata a goodly Diety such a one as Pliny observd long since in his Travayles amongst ' em Haec fuere Numinûm Templa priscoque ritu etiam nunc simplicia rura Deo praecellentem Arborem dicant Here under also they have a temple supported on one side by the body of the tree unseen to such as are without the branches in which for I adventured in are three of the most deformed Pagods or Idols imaginable invocated by the Bannyan in memoriall of Cuttery shuddery and Wyse their three deified predecessors kept by an old doting Braminy who for above threescore yeeres in this irreligious place has most wickedly sacrifizd his soule to Belzebub for many yeeres hee had all the Pagods offerings part being the virginity of the Brides at ten yeeres commonly which since he cannot actuate he is not asham'd as I was told to contract with Travellers who in an infernall disguise reap the unripe and unholy Holocausts A Persian Man Woman neer the Gulph To concomitate those carrion women take notice of those troopes of Jackalls which here more than any other where rally themselves not only each night committing burglary in the Town but commonly they teare the dead out of their graves and with a vulture appetite devoure their carcasses all the while ululating and in offensive noises barking and ecchoing out their sacriledge Wee made good sport to hunt them with doggs and swords but they are too many to be banisht too unruly to be conquered I
Villages The Buzzar here is but ordinarie the Mosques are not to be admired the Kings Pallace is vast and notable only in her Gardens the building itselfe is confusedly divided into three or foure Mohols or banquetting houses great and gorgeously painted which were they united might better delight the eye and cause the Architect to be commended I will speak more of it at the Ambassadors audience The pole Artick is here elevated eight and thirty degrees seventeene minutes it is due North from Spahawn as wee observed in our star-light travell for the dayes are raging hot and not to be travell'd in or jeasted with Arcturus was ever just before us from Ormus to this place are a thousand English miles from Spahawn three hundred and fifty or there-abouts as reckoned The Ambassador has Audience But before I give you a survay of Hircania let mee present an essay of my Lord Ambassadours audience and entertainment After foure dayes rest the King or Emperour Potshaw they call him was pleas'd without long warning to assigne him his day of audience It was the five and twentieth of May our Sabbath and the fag-end of their Ramazen or Lent advantageous to the Pot-shaugh for it spared him the charge of a royall Banquet My Lord Ambassadour had Sir Sobert Sherley in his company and seven or eight other English Gentlemen his followers good reason it was some Sultan or other should have convoy'd and shewed him the way the Court being a quarter of a mile distant from our house but it seemes they wanted breeding or that some other mysterie was in it for no other than a footman from Mahomet-Ally-beg proffer'd a complement every way so course that the Ambassador had no patience to digest it save by equall contempt to inculcate in the Persian mode and send him thanklesse back againe To the Court at length wee got no noise no admirers saw wee there neither by which we presumed the Towne knew not of our going thither which I wonder at since Abbas of all sorts of honours counted to have strangers at his Court the highest At our alighting an ordinarie Officer bad us Hosh-galdom and usher'd us into a little Court du guard that stood in the center of a spatious Court in it was no other furniture save a few Persian Carpets spread about a pretty white marble Tanck or Pond fill'd with water here we all stayed and for two houres space junketted upon Pelo and wine nothing so good in taste as the materiall they were served in the flaggons cups dishes plates and covers being of pure beaten gold thence wee were led by many Sultans thorow a spatious and fragrant Garden which was curious to the eye and delicate to the smell to another Summer house rich in gold imbosments and painting but farre more excellent in a free and royall prospect for from the Tarrasses wee viewed the Caspian Sea one way and another way the tops of Taurus The ground chambers were large quadrangular archt and richly guilded above and on t her sides below spread with most valuable Carpets of silk and gold in center were Tancks full of crystallin water an element of no meane account in these torrid habitations round about the Tancks were placed pomparum fercula Goblets Flagons Cesternes and other Standards of pure massie gold some of which were fill'd with Perfumes other some with Rosewater with Wine some and others with choisest flowers and after wee had rested so long as wee might at full feed our hungry eyes with that food of ostentation wee were brought thence into another square large upper Chamber where the roofe was formed into an Artificiall Element many golden Planets attracting the wandring eye to help their motion The ground was cover'd with richer Carpets than the other were the Tanck was larger the materia more rich in Iaspar and porphyr the silver purling streame was forced up into another Region yet seem'd to bubble wantonly here as in her proper center this sea of rich stone so deepe and so capatious seem'd an Ocean rather where the spoiles of shipwracks were conjur'd out to please the appetite of Mydas or god Mammon so much gold in vessels for use and ostentation being set for us to looke upon that some Merchants there adjudg'd it worth twenty millions of pounds sterlin another watery Magazeen there was circled with a wall of gold and richest Iemms no flagons cups nor other there but what were very thick and cover'd with Rubies Diamonds Pearles Emralds Turquoises Iacinths c. The Chamber was gallery wise the seeling garnisht with Poetique fancies gold and choisest colours all which seem'd to strive whether Art or Nature should be to a judicious eye more valuable one Iohn a Dutchman who had long serv'd the King celebrated his skill to the astonishment of the Persians and his owne advantage the ground in this roome also was over-layd with such Carpets as befitted the Monarch of Persia round all the roome were placed tacite Mirzaes Chawns Sultans and Beglerbegs above threescore who like so many inanimate Statues sat crosse-legg'd and joyned their bumms to the ground their backs to the wall their eyes to a constant object not daring to speak one to another sneeze cough spet or the like it being held in the Potshaws presence a sinne of too great presumption In breach of any them fearing his spleen who as Caesar told Metellus could by the fulgur of his eye dart them dead sooner then speak the word to have them killed the Ganimed Boyes in vests of gold rich bespangled Turbants and choise sandalls their curl'd haires dangling about their shoulders rolling eyes and vermillion cheeks with Flagons of most glorious mettall went up and downe and proffered the delight of Bacchus to such would relish it At the upper end and surmounting the rest so much as two or three white silken shags would elevate sat the Pot-shaw or Emperor of Persia Abbas more belov'd at home more famous abroad more formidable to his Enemies than any of his predicessours His Grandeur was this circled with such a world of wealth to cloath himselfe that day in a plaine red callico coat quilted with cotten as if he should have said we might see his dignity consisted in his parts and prudence not furtivis coloribus to steale respect by borrowed colours or rich embroderies crosse-leg'd hee sat his Shash or Turbant was white and bungie his waist was girded with a thong of leather the scaberd of his sword was red the hilt of gold the blade formed like a hemi-cicle and doubtlesse well tempered the Courtiers Regis ad exemplum were but ordinarily attired My Lord Ambassador by his Interpretor or Callimachee as the Persians name it quickly acquainted Shaw Abbas why hee had undertaken so great a journey to congratulate his good successe against the common enemy of Christendome the Turk to agrandize the traffick of raw silke and other Persian staple merchandizes to see Sir Robert Sherley purge his honour
lesse than two houres being fild with nasty raine ending in thunder and flash mingling terribly Tornathos a great while the Tornado troubling us a weather so incertaine and variable as is admirable now blowing fresh and faire and forthwith storming outragiously in one houres space the wind veering about every point of the compasse The winds from East West North and South advance Their force and urge the furious waves to dance Vna Eurusque Notusque ruunt Zephirusque maligne flumine tum Boreas The infectious raines most damnifying the poore saylers who must be upon the decks to hand in their sailes abiding the brunt and which is worse commonly get forthwith into their beds or hamackoes resting their tyred bodies in wet nasty clothes thereby breeding many furious and mortall diseases as burning Feavers Calentures Fluxes Aches Scurvy and the like which doubtlesse did they moderate their bibbing strong waters and shift their filthy apparell might be prevented Other unlucky accidents happen in these seas to vexe them as when in most becalmings they swim in the bearing Ocean the greedy Tuberon or Shark arm'd with a double row of venemous teeth pursues them directed by a little Rhombus Musculus or pilot-fish that scuds to and fro to bring intelligence His body is right faire though seeming small And fitly him by name of Guide they call Musculus est parvus visu sed corpore pulchro Hinc piscem vero ductorem nomine dicunt the Shark for his kindnesse suffring it to suck when it pleaseth Many have beene devoured by this ravenous Dogge-fish more have suffered in their members whose shape mistaken in the posture by the Ingraver is thus resembled a Sharke fish By this under 13. degrees we are parrellel with Sierra Leon a Cape land upon the Lybian shoare by old Geographers improperly cal'd Deorum currus Frons Africae Tagazza and Zanguebai in Thevet and Marmolius strengthned by a Castle built by the Spaniard famoused for refreshing our English Neptune Drake at his returne from circumnavigating the body of the whole Earth and that thence to Bab-mandel the entrance into the red Sea Africk is no where broader The Inhabitants here along the Guinea coast Bynnin Cape Palmas Lopez Gonzalvo c. know no God nor are willing to bee instructed by Nature Scire nihil jucundissimum Howbeit the divell who will not want his ceremony has infused demonomy and prodigious idolatry into their hearts enough to rellish the divells pallat and agrandize their owne tortures when hee gets power to fry their soules as the raging Sunne has scorcht their bodies A Ship of ours coasting along and landing for discovery was so admired at by the Salvages as if they never had seene men nor Ship afore Two of our men adventured the shoare some hostages kept in the boat till they return'd and are welcom'd by thousands of those naked black skind Aethiopians who were so farre from injury that they loaded them with Flowers Fruits Toddy and what they judged acceptable after immeasurable admirations returning them safe aboard all contented Cape Verd. April the 18. wee had 15. degrees and ere morne were in height of Cape Verd in 14. degr so named by Florian Hesperion cornu Surrentium in Pliny Lybiae promontorium in Strabo of old cald Arsinarium at this day by the Negroes Mandangan Hacdar by the Alfarabes Discovered by Dio Fernandezo or Antonio di Nolle a Genoan Hesperidae Anno 1445. at the charge of King Alphonsus 5. Famoused especially in the Hesperian Garden enricht with Golden Apples robd by Alcides in despight of that hundred-headed Dragon engendred by Typhon on Echydna 'T was a Greeke fable who surpast for lyes The morall this The garden was a spacious greene and pleasant Field the apples of gold good sheep worth gold such sheep and fleece as Iason had the errour partly arising from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 admitting a double construction sheep and apple The Dragon no other than a meare or fluxe of the Sea in forme or nature of a Dragon or Serpent invironing it swelling in 100 armes or sluces which Hercules to enrich Spaine passed over and exported The three faire daughters of Hesperus were three honest Ilands in the West adjoyning this garden their names Aeglae Arethusa and Hesperthusa now new named Mayo Sal and Bonavista three other neighbouring them the Atlantiades which we have no leisure now to treat of the magnifique Fabrick of Anthaeus calling us away to look upon but alas we find nothing extant save memory a pallace doubtlesse brave and capacious the Lord of it being no meane nor little man he grew 70. cubits high a dozen ordinary mens proportion a proper man and an excellent log for Hercules to smite at yet the Greekes perswade us his sword could not conquer nor was he overcome when by prodigious force Ioves sonne threw him thrice upon the ground the Earth his mother still reanimating him till being perceiv'd he strangled or choakt him in the helplesse Aire Extreame heat April 21. Aeolus was a sleep one breath of Ayre not comforting us the Sunne over-topping us and darting out such fiery beames that the Ayre inflamed the Seas seemed to burne our Ship sulphureous no decks no awnings nor invention possible able to refresh us so that for 7 dayes 70. are better endured in a zone more temperate wee sweat and broyle unable to sleep rest eat or drink without much faintnesse in this space our Ship making no way no current is felt in the vast Ocean till the fift day the billowes began to rowle and the Ayre troubled travelling with an abortive cloud which suddenly fell downe in forme of an inverted Piramid wonderfull and dangerous A cloud as I apprehend exhaled by the Sun a powerfull Magnet not agitated by the wind and missing the retentive property in the lowest region distills not in sweet drops but diffudes or falls hideously the whole cloud together so impetuously into the Ocean Spouts of raine that many great ships as if a thousand milstones or cataracts had fallen have beene dasht and sunke past all recovery and what 's little lesse formidable the stinking raine is no sooner in the Sea but as a fearefull farwell a whirlewind circles with such violence as helps the cloud to lash the murmuring Seas so furiously that oftimes the waves or surges rebound top gallant height as if it meant to retaliate the Ayre in another region God be praised we mist the rage of raine the gust somewhat affrighted us but it contraried Seneca's Philosophy Finis alterius mali gradus est futuri a pleasant Breese first increasing into a happy gale cooled the Ayre and posted us out of those exuberances of nature so that on May day we crost under the Aequinoctiall Aequator a circle imagined to divide the world into two equalls from either Pole ninety degrees and where we lost sight of the Sydus salutare the Pole-starre of a third magnitude fixt in
from the Aequinoctiall that night the 19 of September White-Sea the Sea was for 10 leagues as white as snow not froathy or by agitation of wind but in calmest weather as many say is here still the same from whence caused is not now to be disputed Next day we made the Sunne our Zenith in this Latitude opposing that rich part of Afrique we call Soffala and Mombassa in three degrees 50 min. South Magadoxa in 3 degrees Zanzibar Pata and Brava terminating one another till with Bernagasso the Port to the great Neguz or Priest Iohn the red Sea limits Africk from Asia Antartic Starres The three and twentieth day wee once more sail'd under the Aequator and againe bad farewell to those late usefull Antartique constellations the Crosiers foure starres like a crosse of a second magnitude 17 degrees 30 min. from the Pole Noahs Dove Polophilax and others the two Beares now rising in our Horizon againe and at eight degrees North the wind grew wearie of too much constancie veering into E. N.E so that the Monzoon affronted us and we could lie no neerer than South-East at which time many of your company died imputing the cause of their Calentures Fluxes Aches Scurvie Feavers and the like to the sulphurous heat there stinking water rotten meat and worm-eaten Biskets in the Torrid Zone no mans care can better it but in the temperate they all recover and become sweet and nourishing again But rather I beleeve their over-eating themselves at Mohelia where they farcinated their crude stomacks with unsalted flesh and gulped downe too much Toddy caused it here our Admirall threw over-board five and thirty dead men the Hopewell eleven the Starre five every ship lost some too many if God had pleased But of most note were Harvey Keynell an expert Masters Mate in the Starre Captaine Goodall all good if skill in Navigation humanity courage and piety may have it at whose putting into the Sea a spatious grave a volley of one and twenty great Gunns awaked the watery Citizens to safeguard such a Treasure heaven it selfe at that instant weeping so abundantly that I never saw a sadder raine and of lesse continuance The Master of our ship was removed into the Vice Admirall and Captaine Malim out of the Hopewell into ours who also died shortly after a Sea-man as wise and valiant as any other most memorable in that never to be forgot pollicie hee us'd in the Levant Seas after a brave fight to save his men and ship from fury of Algier Pirats for whom we may fitly apply that of the Prince of Poets Facta Ducie vivunt operosaque gloria rerum haec manet The Heroick deeds of all Brave men are written in Fames glorious roll The wind added to our affliction the boisterous waves breaking against our broad side patient in all those checks close hal'd cutting her way slowly and almost forc't upon Socotora an I le as we goe into the Red-sea where we will stay you a while the Sea is so dangerous Socotora or Succaba Dioscorida Socotora of old I judge call'd also Topazo from pretious Topaz stones had here as Pliny in his sixth book has it by Turks call'd Katukomar by Persians Caebar by the Spaniard Acebar and Aceur is in 13 degrees latitude North a little Ile it is yet for pleasant sight and choise of good things no way despicable one part rising into wholsome hills other parts falling into fruitfull dales all places garnisht with spreading trees sweet grasse fragrant flowers and rich corne Olives Aloes Sempervivum Sanguis draconum Coquos Dates Pistachoes Orenges Pomgranats Pome-citrons Melons Suger canes Limons and of fish fowle and flesh no where penurious the civit Catts also are here obtained These and the people were of late made slaves by Emir-ben-said King or Vice-Roy rather the Turk commanding him of Fartack in which Aden is builded but expulst by d' Cugua anno 1507. who made the Snakee the Prince fly to Caeshem and hisse at harmlesse distance the Portugall freeing the miserable Christians by whose help he rais'd a Castle planted a Colony but by Albuquerque was cashier'd five yeares after the Merchandise proving not equivolent to their charges The Inhabitants are true black the Sunne twice every yeare darting his fiery rayes perpendicular amongst them by profession they are Christians converted the third yeare after our Saviours passion by the Aethiopian Eunuch some say some say by St. Thomas the Apostle of the Orient their Churches are built in forme of the Crosse like ours kept sweet and neat without seats and images they have a Patriarch whom they reverence and other of the Clergy to whom they duly pay Tythes their Feasts and Fasts like ours the seniority are much regarded humility commanded and commended second Marriages are not allowed except they had no children use the crosse in Baptisme the other Sacrament in both kinds and being dead lament not but involve them in cleane linnen and so bury them that they looke towards Jerusalem Aden now so neere us seemes to invite a small relation It has 12 degrees 35 min. North var. West 19 degrees Madaena of old Adana in Calistus Adedi and Achanis in Eupolemus opposed to Azana in the Arabian shoare but snatcht anno 1458. from the Arabs by the Turks a ragged obscure sort of Locusts till then then swarming and mounting towards Trepizond The road or Bay is none of the safest in the change flowing eight foot water a S.E. and N.W. Moone makes a full sea there from Bab-mandel 18 leagues from Moha old Beronice or Moco rather a Towne in Arabia Petrea after Ptol. two and thirty Aden is seated low sulphuriously shaded by a high barren Mountaine whose brazen front scorching the miserable Towne yeelds a perfect character of Turkish basenesse It is a Peninsule and a good way to get breath thrusts it selfe into the blushing Sea big in circuit but has not many houses nor those curious their outsides discovering a discontented slavery the inside shewes poverty and wretchednesse A Castle it has set neer the sea not to be entred but by a long narrow dissected path or trench the Castle is very strong and lofty strengthned by so many rampiers and bulwarks stored with so many roring Cannons as if Mars dwelt there or that it kept a Mammon of treasure having in truth nothing but iron bullets armour and miserable raggamuffians to defend it the red Sea on whose bancks 't is seated borrowes not the name from colour rather from sand which on the shoare and from the bottome has when Apollo visits the Antipodes a ruddy reflection shall I tell you the severall names it has some say 't is called red from Erethreus sonne of Perseus and Andromida a Prince in the worlds adolescency much regarded from whose name as the Aegean and Icarian the Sea was named and by the Septuagint from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so translated other some from Edom Idumea a part of the Desart Arabia confining it
the Citie whose balconyes view whose Gardens extend to the Mare Caspium It has two large Courts comparable to Fountain bleaus either of which expresse an elaborat Art in the skilfull gardiner paild they are in many shapes the ground is forced into pretty knots the spreading Elms Chenores and Sicamores surrounding and commixing so pleasantly so artificially that from each chamber the prospect is amiable the eye and smell contending who should surfet soonest of variety The house is low but each chamber high capacious rich in work cōmendable in uniformity we could not enter with our shooes on a cōmon Assiatick trick at meales houres of devotion the Romans also used it as Terence in his Heautont Accurrunt servi soleas detrahunt c. some are square some gallery-wise but all are arched three were especially rich and lovely whose sides were set with Mirrors or Looking-glasses and whose tops or seeling were gloriously imbost with flaming gold the casements were of large square Muscovian glasse cemented with gold the ground was over-spread with crimson velvet some stuft with Down others with matteresses of azure coloured velvet coverd with Calzoons of bodkin or cloth of beaten gold and in Winter the Pot-shaugh sleepes either in sheets of costly Sables or of delicate shagg or sheep wooll of Corasan in those gallaries of Mirrors the King has sundry representations of venereous gambolls his Concubines studying by amorous postures to illure his favor to glut his fancie the other chambers are richly furnisht the walls varnisht painted in oyle but by an uncivill pencil the genius of some goatish Apelles such Lavaltoes of the Persian Iupiter are there such immodest postures of men and women nay of Paederastyes as makes the modest eye swell with shame the curious smell winde nothing from those artificiall flowers save loathsome invention Let us goe cent the Caspyan ayre and taste the unruly waves compared with the quiet houses sweet and wholsome The first object are those prams or ships wherein the Moscovite sailes downe Volga 70 mouth'd Volga issuing from the Hyperborean and Rhyphaean hills and from Astra-can in six and forty degrees crosse over the Caspian sea and at this Port or Demir-cape in 40 degrees 20 minutes ride at anchor till they have loaded away raw silks exchang'd for Sables usually in March in Iuly returning with a good winde they crosse the sea in 8 dayes though by adverse stormes Sir Anthony Sherley was fourescore these vessells resembling our old Corraghs recorded by Caesar and Lucan are without ordinance the Sea is free of Pyrats they are sowed with hemp and cord made of the husk of Cocoes and have little iron work the Marriners are as meanly furnist with skill or use of Compasse Here also we saw many Canoos of one peece of wood hewd out of some grown Oke Hyrcania has store yet little used capable to receive eight men in faire weather without much danger Foure dayes wee spent in easie journeys upon this remote shoare the first night wee got to Chacoporo a big Towne twelve long miles West from Farrabat and upon which the sea oftentimes beats outragiously a river a stones cast over refreshes her but if they told us the truth is not alwayes potable for one month every yeer it tasts brackish Next night we got to Barfrush de a great Towne well peopled inriched with silk-wormes wood and excellent water and therefore they may the better forbeare wine for the law here forbids the use of it under a grievous penalty This place is from Chacoporo 12 miles many of the men here delight in Archery and have long beene famous'd in that manly exercise the Yew Into Ithyrean Bows is made to bow Ithyreos taxi curvantur in arcus Hyrcania is a continued Forrest and of all the trees I saw none exceeded the Mulberies for numberlesse numbers none more notable for use ten yea thirty miles spreading in them the berries if white refresht our bellies the colour our eyes the leaves our observation In every Village and Cottage wee might behold sheds fild with industrious people and inriching silk-worms seaming the seminary of that valuable Fly so accounted of through all the world so advantageous to the Persian Emperour who from hence besides those many rich Carpets of silk and gold silk silk and silver yeerely woven for their owne uses extracts an annuall quantity of raw silke seven thousand six hundred Batmans or bales I think exported through Turkie into Europe to his great benefit The silk-worme as in quality so in diversity of shape varies from other wormes her first generation arising from a small round black sperme like Gunpowder or Musturd-seed which by moderate heat increases to an inch assuming at first the shape of a palmer worme from which resemblance in six months she two times changes her common food are leaves and boughs of trees but of all other the white Mulbery most delights her strewed dayly all over thier sheds kept sweet and warme and cleanly Having satiated their usefull appetites they forthwith become enemy to idlenesse surcease their creeping and with their excretiated vertue intwine themselves in some sort making their lawne both winding-sheet and Sepulcher The silke co-operates with such colours as be laid afore them white yellow greene and sandy And albeit they be involved yet are they visible to the eye such is the transparency of their excrement Their exterior part is a pale gold commixt with lemon rough and hayry The interior more hard and form ovated the better to inhume th'included Fly Whos 's task being ended the silken cods or balls are straightway spread afore Apolloes corruscant rayes by whose radiant candor the distressed worme is broyld to death not unlike a glorious miser faelicitating his death so it be in contemplation of his rich idolatry And by this expansion the silk becomes much finer and purer than if shee were suffered from her owne notion to issue forth and break her habitacle After this the silke cods are thrown into a large caldron fild with water and made meanly hot then with a penetrated cane the people stir thē about at once drawing the slimy silke from as many as his instrument can lay hold upon or convene in advantage lastly with a wheele they are turned round it attracts the silk and leaves nothing worth the getting indivellicated But that they affoord hony yeeld wax build nests and are a sort of spyder Aristotle and Pliny may conjecture so but experience derides their supposition By this time we are got to Omoall a City as well known as any other in Mozendram OMOALL of old Zarama I imagin is thought to bee that Naborca or Naborea where the Oracle of dreames was so much famoused It is built under the North side of the imperious Mountaine Taurus of such Grandeur that three thousand Families inhabit in her of severall countries and languages Armenians Georgeans Hyrcans Persians Jewes Curdies and Muscovians who make a Babel of seven tongues amongst
easily perceived had three some six women about them wrapt in linnen the curiosity or rashnesse rather might have cost me deerely the penalty being no lesse than to shoot an Arrow into his braines that dares to doe it The Carravans lodge here exceeds the Mosque the men in this Towne are proud the women lovely both are curious in novelties but the jealousie of the men confines the temper of the weaker sexes yet by that little they adventured at we might see Vetitis rebus gliscit voluntas One Zenal-chan is the Sultan of this Citie a man of no worth in our opinion he had been Ambassador from Shaw-Abbas to Rodulph the second German Emperour but his late imployment his favour with Abbas his wealth his vexation for Nogdi-beg his Cozen made him so proud so discourteous that albeit the Ambassadour sent to visit him hee return'd no thanks he took no notice of his being there The pole Artick is elevated in Tyroan thirty five degrees forty minutes fourescore in longitude From Tyroan we rode to a Village call'd Charah a base inhospitable place it affoorded us no sustenance but torment so much as the scalding sands and frying Sunne could operate as in too great measure we had experience of From hence to Taurys is two dayes riding The Carravans-raw is thus shaped Carravan-raw TAVRYS the late Median Metropolis takes name from that prodigious mountaine Taurus under which t is builded The Turk and Perse call it Taberyz in the worlds adolescencie 't was known by other names of Achmetha as I read in Ezra after that of Echatana spoken of in the Apocrypha of Amatha also as Cortestan and Cordina others have called her by analogie some have placed her in Syria from a Citie Egbatan converted into Epiphania by Antiochus The primier founder of this noble Citie is Arphaxad as we find in Iudiths History Anno Domini 3290. some say Dejoces predicessor to that valiant Phraortes who flourisht in the yeare of the world 3300 the sixt Dynast of Medya after Arbaces who begun it from Adam 3146. It was agrandiz'd not built as Pliny dreamt of by Seluchus 300 yeares after who at that time begun to build Seleucya 200 pharsangs thence to eclipse the pride of mighty Babylon Such time as shee was called Ecbaton she was farre greater than at this present It was fifteene Italian miles about sayes Strabo The walls were strong and stately seventy cubits high and fifty broad beautified with many loftie Turrets and battlements within were numbred many great and excellent Pallaces that which Daniel built the Mausoleum afterwards of the Median Kings was most magnificent and which remained undemolisht in Iosephus his time and some whiles after That built by Darius was no lesse memorable most part whereof was of Cedar wood the roofe studded and plaited with burnisht gold of both which nothing now remaines save memory and ashes I can hardly say memorie since it is become a question whether Tauryz be old Ecbatan and whether it be in Media or no. If to be under Baronta Diodorus Polybius and Ptolomy call it Orontes if to be in 36 degrees 50 minutes if to have the ruines of Tobyas his grave if to be the buriall place of Kings if to be the Metropolis time out of mind if to be the Citie from Ierusalem N. E. foure hundred forsangs can make it Ecbatan or if the authority of Ananias Petrus de la valle Leunclavius Teixera and of Ortelius will serve let it then be Ecbatan and in Medya Ptolomy's conceit of Tabryz mistaken in the Tau a Gamma printed erroniously for it to be in Assyria by Cedrenus in Armenia by Chalcondyles in Persia by Niger in Pers-Armenia or by Paulus Venetus in Parthya what were these conjectures but from the Monarchique Arch-Titles as Assyrian Armenian or Parthyan as they swayed then and chiefly from the mistake how Armenia is devided part of Armenia major extending South of Araxis into Atropatia a part of Medya and from whence the name Pers-Armeniae is compounded for by Abulfeda Vlughbeg and others the latitude of Taurys complies with Ecbatan At this day Tabryz is great and well peopled traded to from farre albeit it keepes a Garrison It is compast with a mud wall five miles about the houses are flat a top their materiall Sunne-dried Bricks the Buzzar large the Gardens lovely that to the South-East planted by King Tamas was famous but the Turks horses have lately grazed there It wants water in the greatest measure yet of that is not wholy destitute What it lacks in that fire and flame supplies it the Sunne warres rage and civill broyles having more than sufficiently parched her To passe by the mutations of the Empire the Turks first passage six hundred yeares since Tamberlayns rage and the like remember we those two deadly factions the Envicaydarlai and Namidlai for three hundred yeares persecuting one another with implacable wrath drawing into their quarrell nine other Provinces who grew so hatefull amongst themselves that not only this Citie but Medya Armenia were therby half depopulated the Gibelyns nor Roses outmatched them They made an easie entrance to any invader Selym the grand Signieur first espies it and to become an eye-sore to Tamas sonne of Izmael their inveterate Adversarie sends a Bashaw who ransackt it Anno Dom. 1514. Heg 894. without much resistance And Anno 1530. Solyman seconded it with so much furie that it flam'd many dayes the insatiate Turks pillaging without mercie and turning topsie-turvie all they met with and into a Chaos those elaborat walks and gardens Shaw-Tahmas so much gloried in It reviv'd againe and againe is made prostrate to Ebrahim Bassa's luxurie sent by Solyman at the villanous instigation of Vlemus a Persian Traytor and brother in law to the King At which time Anno 1534. Heg 914. the greedie Turks new ransackt it But Anno Dom. 1585. Heg 965. it groaned under most affliction when Ozman the wrathfull Bassa and slave to Amurat the third subdued it and perpetrated all sorts of hostile crueltie till thirtie yeares after by that incomparable Pagan Prince Emyr-hamze-myrza elder brother to Shaw Abbas it was regained rebuilt and fortified against the future insolence of those Barbarians Taurys is distant from Cazbyn seven dayes easie journey from the Mare Caspium as many from Araz six from Derbent eight from Spahawn seventeene from Shyraz thirty from Ormus fifty and from Babylon thirty Next night we made our Manzeill at Sangurrabaut a Town consisting of an hundred Cottages In this place we buried a civill Gentleman Mr. Welflit our comrade under a broad spreading Chenoar tree and fixt a brazen scrole over him which spoke his Name and Nation Mors tua non careat fletu linquamus amicis Maerorem ut celebrent funera cum lachrymis We have deplor'd thy death th' insuing yeares Thy kin shall pay thee Tribute with their teares Next night we slept in the open fields under a bespangled Canopie the Firmament and next in Shaw-De i.e.
albeit twice the Grand-Seignior was in person to fight with him Many of his Nobles hee has beheaded but in these things argues his just discent from Ally and is as likely as any that reigned before him to advance the Monarchy of Persia and every way to make it rich and famous To conclude Persia and this second Book give me leave to do it in this Epidicticon The Epidicticon VVHy do the wyndings of inconstant state Molest us Weaklings since the selfesame Fate Turnes Kings and Kingdomes with an equall doome Whiles Slaves too oft possesse their Masters roome So pricking Thistles choak our fairest corne And hopefull Oakes the hugging Ivies scorne Men are but Men and be they strong or wise All their Designes subject to hazard lies Millions of helps cannot support that Crown Which Sin erects Fate justly pulls it down Witnesse faire PERSIA large and rich of ground The fitter Nurse of warre In it was found Even in those golden times which Poëts vant Victorius Cyrus who yet did supplant His Father Oh that men would learne to see What life were best not what doth please the eye But out alas when they have drunk of blood That bitter potion's sweet yea even a flood Of lives food cannot their hot thirst allay Till Tomyris that blood with blood repay So hapt to Cyrus whom th' insulting Queen Upbraid with blood-shed Vengeance is too keen For in a bowle of goar dead drowned lies His crowned Temples and insatiate eyes That King aspir'd and for his itching veine 200000 Subjects there lay slaine Thus faires it still with thee proud Persia Whose various Native beauties freely may A strangers love intice Thy breath is sweet Thy Face well made a Nursery of delight Thy breasts not dry of milk thy armes are strong Thy belly fruitfull legs both clean and long Thy veines are large blood pure quick spirits hast But for thy back Oh stay there lies the wast To this faire Symmetrie of outward parts The giver great to ingage by great desarts Infused hath into thy childrens wit Wisdome and courage best to mannage it Nor wast thou Barb'rous or Indisciplin'd For had thy Eare unto its good inclind Thy Country Prophetisse fore-told thee how Hell and its wrath by Christ to disavow Since which thy Sages Kings or more than Kings If I mistake thee not their Offerings Unto my Infant God humbly present O Faith exceeding almost Faiths extent But now this Light of lights on Earth did shine See how thy Vertues retrograde decline Holy Thaddaeus whom Saint Thomas sent To cure thy King thy Flamens did present With hellish torments and with like foule hands Symon the Cananyt's good newes withstands In after times thy Cozrhoe Persia made A pond of Christian blood Nor here thou staid But in dislike of christ th' Arabian Theife Thou choose to be thy unlearned Judge and Cheife Hence hence proceed those grosse Impieties Which swallow'd greedily delight thine Eyes Blood-shed and lust the foulest out of kind Which my chast Muse is fear'd to name the rind Thou only keeps of zealous awe the heart Is foule defil'd for so thou learnd'st the Art Of lust and pride from thy curst Mahomet Whose thoughts unbounded all on Thrones was set Nor did his Successors as Prophets live But one another murdered All did grieve At Neighbours Diadems The God of Peace For those thy sinnes thy power will sure decrease And thou that oft hast felt a forrain power Once more maist feele a Scithyc race so sower That all the World shall know how greatest Kings Are thrall to change as well as weaker things FINIS LIBRI SECUNDI THE THIRD BOOKE LEt 's now abroad againe and see what Observations wee can make in the Ilands circumjacing Orientall Indya than which the world has none richer pleasanter or every way more excellent To encompasse it we must to Sea againe for without such helps there is but little travelling Apr. 13. We took ship at Swalley when being three or foure leagues off at Sea the wind came faire and made the liquid billowes swell so advantagiously that next day wee lost sight of many pretty marittim Townes at this day owned by the Portugall namely Gundavee Daman St. Iohn de Vacas Chowl Dabul c. most of them subjected by Don Albuquerq ' about the yeare after th'incarnation of our Saviour 1512 Dabul Dunga of old excepted which yeelded to the mercie of Symon Andradius Governour of Choul from whom 't was rapt by the Decanees but by that made a Basis of greater calamity For Almeyda some few yeares after by stratagem recovered and burnt it to the ground but by command of the Goan Vice-roy 't was repaired repopulated and stood victorious till Captaine Hall if I mistake not the mans name about nine yeeres agoe forced it and made th' insulting Portugall know how their bravadoes to the English were no way formidable The South point of DABUL has Artick Elevation 17 deg 35 minuts Dabul variation West 15 degrees 34 minuts It once obeyed the Monarch of Decan but at this day the Lusitanian 'T is seated at the foot of a high but pleasant mountaine whence distills a sweet rivolet beyond measure usefull in those torryd Clymats the Road gives reasonable good Anchorâ—ge The Towne it selfe is beautifull to such as view it at distance the houses are low thick and tarras't at the top serving both to lenifie the scorching flames of wanton Phaeton and to resist the quick and subtill rage of Hyem's icyles an old Castle and a few Temples or Monasteries are all she boasts of the Buzzar or Forum is but ordinarie the streets narrow are nor is her mart now notable Surat and Cambya to the North Goa and Calicuth to the South so much eclipsing her that she condoles with other her disconsolate neighbours and acknowledges a secret destinie change in Townes as well as other temporaries CHOUL in Ptolmyes dayes call'd Comane if Castaldus guesse right is subject to like varietie it is removed from the Aequi-noctiall 18 degrees 30 minuts North and was ravisht from the Emperiall Dyadem of Decan or Decanory by Almeyda that ambitious Portugall in the yeare of our redemption 1507 and in which to perpetuate his Conquest hee erected a gallant Fort or Bulwark planted it with Cannon a Castle also no lesse fortified so terrible to the Indyans as they have forborne to make them rore doubting the very clamour may undoe them The Inhabitants are a few melancholy but lustfull Portugalls and some peacefull crafty Bannyans it affoords naught else to be spoken on in this place The Expedition bearing up to speak with us both ships fell foule to speak in Neptunes language or thwart one anothers houlses by which mischance her bole-sprit gave our mizzen shrouds a churlish kisse but by a happy gale parted without farther inconvenience After five dayes sayle wee were Nadyr to the Sunne at that instant in our Verticé or Zenyth his declination then being just fifteene degrees
from the religion they suckt from their cradle amongst Panyms from that rule of Nature Use others as thou would'st others should use thee The Christians in these parts differ in some things from us and the Papacie yet retaine many principles of the Orthodox and Catholick doctrine Le ts enter their Temples Their Churches are low and but poorely furnished their vassalage will reach no further whether from their subjection or that so the Temples of their bodies bee replenisht with vertue the excellency of buildings conferre not holinesse I know not neat they are and sweetly kept matted without seats and insteed of Images have some select and usefull texts of holy Writ obviously writ or painted They assemble and haste to Church each Lords day with great alacrity at their entring they shut their eyes and contemplate the holinesse of the place the exercise they come about and their owne unworthinesse as they kneele they look towards the Altar or Table neere which the Bishop or Preist is seated whom they salute with a low and humble reverence who returnes his blessing by the up-lifting of his hands and eyes at a set houre they begin prayers above two houres seldome continuing first they have a short generall confession which they follow the Priest in and assent in an unanim Amen then followes an Exposition of some part or text of holy Scripture during which their attention dejected lookes and silence is admirable they sing an hymne and at parting out of Church re-salute the Minister who ceases not till all be gone out to elate his hands and blesse them When they are come home they read a chapter in either Testament both which they suppose they have incorrupt after the Originalls and translated for them by Saint Thomas the Apostle and patron of the Orient they have it also in the Chaldy but none save the Clergie understand it every first Sonday in the Month the Priest reads a Sermon out of an old Homily writ as they say by the Apostle or some of his Disciples they Baptise commonly at the 40 day if the Parents do no sooner desire it they first signe the Infant on the forehead with the Crosse and then wash it all over with water the Sacrament of the Lords holy Supper they administer in both kinds the Communicants receive it reverently kneeling they observe two dayes strict preparation during which they eat no flesh revell not accompanie with no women in the Church they confesse their sinnes and demerits with great reluctancy They marry as wee do the Clergie marry but once the Layety but twice widdowes if they marry before the yeere be expired after which their husbands dyed are ill reported of and hazard their joyncture none save for adultery have lycence to part till death sever them In sicknesse the Priest is sent for to comfort them and to give the Eucharist if it bee heartily desired that done they take farwell of their wife and children and all others and so rid themselves of carnall distractions which too oft hinder the desired meditation of the misery of worldlings and by a holy contemplation of the ineffable joyes of heaven strive to mitigate the pangs of their disease yea the grim aspect of approaching Death and the survivers rather joy than mourne as they solemnize his funeral they first wash then wrap the Corps in clean linnen a few selected friends concomitate it to the grave wherein they place it looking not East but West towards Ierusalem five dayes after that they visit his Family They feast and fast as we their Lent or abstinence from flesh and the like begins each spring and is strictly observed fortie dayes without banquet or bravery their yeare is Soli-genian our three cheefe Feastivalls they celebrate in July they commemorate the martyrdome of Saint Thomas they have many Patriarchs or Protomists the cheife resides at a house built upon a high mountaine nine miles from Cranganor Since the Portugalls traded Indya they have shaven their heads the Layicks pay Decimae or Tythes willingly they affect justice truth peace humility obedience c. and acknowledge Saint Thomas some the Eunuch of Arabia converted by Philip their Tutelary Saint and Patron They beleeve no Purgatory May 7 we had 8 degrees and ere Sunne-set darted our eyes upon that high mountaine commonly called Brin Iohn i. e. the Mount of Iohn and revives the British Antiquity Next day we had 7 degrees 30 minutes variation 14 degrees than which that famous Promontory of East-India extends no further towards the Aequator Next day wee sailed by the Maldyvae Iles memoriz'd by Pyrard de Laval who lived there and reports that the King there styles himselfe Emperour of thirteene Provinces and 12000 Ilands most and least any King in the world is owner of Neere these are other Iles Candu Nicubar and Sumbrero by name in the view of Zeyloon and Sumatra to which place and many other I must guide your patience of Zeyloon ZEyloon or Ceylon one of those five Iles Ptolomy calls Barussae was not innominate to the Antients By Ptolomy cald Panigarensis since him in Arab. Authors Sisuara Tenarisis and Nanigeris At this day Zeyloon by us Chingall by the inhabitants an I le spatious rich and famous severed from the Asiatick continent by a small sea not forty Leagues over It is limitted from 8 to 11 deg of latit North the length is about 70 leagues breadth 40 and circuit 250 or thereabouts an I le famous in some old conjectures as that Paradise was here that K. Salomon had hence his obrize gold or gold of Ophyr but I beleeve neither in regard most writers fix the ruines of the one in Mesopotamia and the other rather in Pegu Iava those wealthy places The most memorable is this That Meleck or Melchior Pyramal King of this Iland is thought one of those wise-men premonisht by that prophesy of Balaam the Edomite in Num. 24. 17. that brought as to a King a Priest a Prophet Gold Frank-insence and Myrrh unto our blessed Saviour foretold also by the Persian Sybill and by a new made Starre guided by the finger of God miraculously directed and who at his returne made knowne the mystery of Gods Incarnation for mans redemption by his laborious teaching made many Proselites some to this day by tradition memorising him and reteining somewhat of Christian knowledge though the greatest part bee Apostats and drunk with abominable demonomy and superstition But whether Melchyor returned upon Saint Thomas his arrivall and with the other two came into Europe and whether those three buried in Cullen be fictitious or no it is not pertinent to a Travellers curiosity to insist upon But this is obvious in History That Candaces Noble Eunuch baptised by Philip left her service to preach Christ whom very fruitfully he made knowne to many parts of Araby and sundry Iles as Socotora this and Tabrobane or Sumatra as Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre in the dayes of the great
structure and daily served by a multitude of hellish Priests or Bonzees not admitted to attend there except they be young well shap't and as strong in venerie as was Hercules Every new Moon they solemnly betroth unto the Devill a Damosell whose Parents account the ceremonie happie and honourable if any be more faire or singular than another shee is selected by the lustfull Priests devoted and brought into the Temple and placed right against the Mamada or Idoll the roome is first made glorious with Lamps of burnisht gold and a preparation by incendiating Lignum vitae or other gums and perfumes such as be curious and costly by and by the Lamps extinguish by myracle and in a grosse darknesse the Prince of darknesse approaches and abuses her so shee imagines and the rather credited in that the Devill leaves behind him certaine scales like those of fishes an argument of no phantasma but by this hellish conjunction they swell not unlesse the Bonzee second it Sathan is no sooner gone but she is saluted by the Bonzees who ravish her with songs and pleasant musique which ended shee acquaints them with her fortune and resolves them in such questions as she by their instruction propounded to the Devill and he had satisfied her in shee issues with applause and ever after is reputed holy and honourable many other things I could present you from tradition but I avoyd as much as may be to insert incertainties from hence therefore faile wee West and land in Chyna where though the travaile be difficult yet suffer me to glean a little though it but expresse my industrie and care to offer you the truest Novelties Of China CHINA is the most Easterly part of Asia A Kingdome both great and wealthie famous also but scarce discovered Their jealousie and discourtesie to strangers they suffer any to enter none to returne chiefly causes it It is subject to many severall names scarce any two strange people accord in one Nomenclation and no wonder since amongst themselves they affect variety the Kings new naming the whole Kingdome at their Coronation as they fancie it Ptolomy long agoe call'd it Sinarum Regio other Geographers Seres the Moores in Industant call it Cathayo the Arabians T'synin the Syamites Cyn the Malayans Tabenzo the Japonites Thau and T'syn the Tattarrs Ham Alhacen Tangis Paulus Venetus Mangi the Inhabitants if Perera Riccius and Trigautius say true Tamen and themselves Tamegines But how various soe're that be this is not uncertaine that it is a very spatious Monarchie for it extends from 17 deg to 43 of North Latitude and to the South Cantam to the North Pequin two royall Cities seeme to terminate it But thus confined On the East it has the Sea of Iapan Corea is part of China no Ile but to the North conjoyned with the Continent On the West the Desarts of Industant On the North the Tattars On the South the Phillipinae Iles and the South West adjoyneth to Cochyn-China and Pegu with part of Siam All agree that it is square and that from any one side to another is 1500 English miles the circuit above 4000. the Country is generally champaign fruitfull full of sweet and navigable rivers and which are no lesse inhabited than the Villages and Cities be of which China has no fewer than 600 Cities 2000 wall'd Townes 4000 unwalled 1000 Castles and of Villages scarce to be numbred and many they had need to be since they give lodging to above threescore millions of men and boyes besides women which be not inrolled The whole Empire is divided into fifteene great Provinces governed by so many Quon-fu and Lausia who have their Tutans and Chyans or Deputies under them Each of those Provinces has a Metropolis full of people fairely built and very spatious But every way more excellent than the rest are these foure Paquin by some called Pasquin Nanquin or Nanton Cantam or Canton and Quinsay by them called Ham-ceu of which foure at this day Paquin is chiefe or Emperiall PAQVIN elevates the North Pole 41 degr 15 minutes and by late Geographers is accounted that same Citie which some call Cambalu watered by Polisanga and China then must bee Cathaya yea if Pantoja and Di Canti say true the Chyna Monarch is that same great Cam which M. P. Venetus and Mandevile afore him have famoused The Citie Pequin is questionlesse the most spatious and best peopled in Asia if not in the world since it has 30 Duch leagues ninety English miles circumference it includes many stately buildings and Mausoleas 24000 are numbered of the Mandarins Sepulchers the meanest of which is not without beauty and a no lesse number of little guilded Chappell 's beside 3800 Temples devoted to Idolatry It has as many Gates Posterns as be dayes in a yeer sixscore Buzzars or Market-places above a thousand Bridges of stone and such water as is every where potable This City is not above a hundred miles from that marvellous wall which Crisnagol their King Zaintzon the 117 King some say built 1000 yeeres ago to keep out the invading Tartarr a wall 1200 miles long six fathoms high twelve yards thick and such as was seven and twenty yeeres erecting by a continued labour of 750000 men NANQVIN the second Citie for grandeur and bravery till of late was the China Metropolis It elevates the Artick Pole 32 degr and is distant from the Sea 8 leagues or there abouts The City is 12 leagues about circled with three strong walls and ditches the Kings Pallace is glorious and vast the other buildings many for 200000 are reckned but meanly beautifull the Temples are above a thousand the streets fayre the people industrious from Paquin removed East six hundred miles English most part of the way is navigable CANTAM is at the South end of China in 17 deg a Towne both rich and spatious our Ships came almost in view of it from it to Paquin is two months travell QVINZAY or Ham-ceu borders Cochin-China of old the greatest at this day the most admirable for variety of antick rarities in the Orient These bee the most noted but many other great and populous Cities this great Empire conteineth generally of one shape and alike governed None be without their Meani or Temples fild with Deastri or Idols The Countrey is generally champaign and fruitfull the husbandmans care and paines make it to fructifie and repay its thanks in various tribute each Province there is well watered and few of those rivers but abound in fish which the Chyneses not only banquet on but on Frogs Snakes Rats Dogs Hogs and such food as many other Nations abhominate they fish with Cormorants The people are Olive coloured more black or white as they vary from the Aequinoctiall they weare their haire very long and fillited their eyes are commonly black their noses little their eyes small their beards deformedly thin and nailes often times as long as their fingers serving as a mark to distinguish the
equally co-operates towards a generation of wind and raine in his progresse unto either Tropick Experience the Mistresse of Knowledge taught it us we found it so for from the South many gusts and stormes assailed us Ovid in his 4 lib. de Ponto is of Aristotles opinion to be granted in our Hemispheare Hic oritur Boreas Oraeque domesticus huic est et sumit vires à propiore loco At Notus adverso tepidus qui spirat ab Axe est procul et rarus languidiorque venit Rough Boreas our Domestique ruleth here And takes his vigour from a place more neere But the mild South from adverse Quarter sent Comes farre blowes gently and more impotent After threescore and ten dayes further saile wee came in view of Saint Helena so long were wee with faire winds 'twixt that I le and the Mauritius a very little Ile and strangely founded The spatious Ocean bellowes on every side so fretfully as it might feare an inundation had not the extraordinarie height but chiefly a Supreame providence which hath set the Sea its bounds safe-guarded it It has no neighbour Iles neither great nor small but seemes equally removed from those two famous Ports Rio Grandi and Cape Negro the one in Brazelia th' other in Congo in America the first in Africk the last both in one elevation and in the same parallel with Saint Helena from that in America distant above 400 leagues from this in Africk 300. But let us a shoare and search what she aboundeth in Of Helena SAINT HELENA is an I le was in-nominate till Iohn de Nova gave it one in the yeare after th'incarnation of our Saviour Christ 1502 and so named for that he discovered it in this returne from India to Lisbon the third of May a day consecrated to the memory of Helena the Empresse She that first found the Crosse she that was the most religious of Ladies in her time she that was mother to the first Christian Emperour great Constantine both of them glorious to the world Brittans both both bright Jems of this our Nation St. Helena is removed South from the Aequator sixteene degrees has longitude from the utmost promontory of South Africk two and twenty degrees the needle varies there five degrees and thirteene minutes From the lands end of England is distant 1500 leagues or 4500 English miles From the Cape of Good hope 580 leagues or 1740 miles From Madagascar 1000 leagues or 3000 miles From Surat 2200 leagues or 6600 miles And from Bantam in Iava 2300 leagues or 6900 miles or thereabouts The I le has this front in that Bay which takes name from the Chappell nigh which we anchored St Helena The I le is hard to be ascended not that the passage is craggie but precipitious the Sailers Proverb of it is A man may choose whither he will break his heart going up or his neck in comming down a merry jeast but let them choose it Once up no place yeelds a more delightfull object It is even and plaine above swelling no where to a deformed rising cloath'd with sweet grasse long and curious every where it gives a large prospect and horizon into the Ocean The Springs above are sweet but below are brackish the reason is they participate in their drilling discent of the salt hills through which it cuts a passage salt both by their owne composition and the salt breath the Sea perpetually evaporates There are but two rivolets in that I le the one bubbles down into the Chappell th' other into the Lemmon Vallyes They take their names frō a Lemon tree whence it arises and an old Chappell built at the very bottome by the Spaniard Anno 1571 and delapidated by the Dutch a place once intended for Gods glory but by malice of rude man made ruinous and a prophane nest of uncleane avarice The ruines of a little Towne demolisht lately shew themselves and serve to testifie a like Fate makes men and Villages dye Death and destruction makes both mortall and miserable Some say the Spanish King subverted it in that it became an unlawfull Magazein of Sea-mens Traffick turning and returning out of both the Indyes thereby losing his tribute in too apparent measure It is but lately made sociable the world is but beginning there no Monuments no Antique rarities are there found You see all if you looke upon the shatterd ribs of an old weather beaten Carrique and some broken peeces of great Ordnance left there against the Owners good liking and serve now in stead of Anchors The I le is desolate of reasonable Inhabitants Hoggs and Goats dwell there they agree well-favouredly and multiply in mighty numbers happy in their ease and safety till ships arrive there to banish hunger wee got also other good refreshment Phesants Powts Quailes Henns Partrich and which were as acceptable divers sorts of grasse roots Wood-sorrell three-leav'd-grasse Basil Parsly Mints Spinage Fennel Annys Radish Mustard-seed Tobacco and some others which by a willing hand directed by an ingenious eye may soone be gathered brought hither and here sowne by Fernandus Lupius an honest Portugall in the yeare of our Lord 1509. whose Country-men at this day dare hardly land there to over-see their Seminary or owne their labours lest the English or Hollander in the churlish language of a Cannon question them Anno 1588 Candish our Country-man landed here in his circum-navigating the earth I name him in this respect he reports he found here store of Lemmons Orenges Pomgranads Pomcitrons Figgs Dates c. but now are none of these fruits growing there that I could see or heare of a Lemmon tree excepted to conclude here wee buried in the old Chappell our honest Captaine Andrew Evans his deaths wound as I have told you was given him by a fish at the Mauritius Saint Hellena was a pleasant place but bad for us to stay too long in after six dayes commorance wee paid our reckning in a hearty Farwell and by benefit of a happy gale cut swiftly the yeelding billowes in a Northwest course whereby on the sixteenth of October wee made our selves Nadyr to the Sunne at that time in his Progresse towards the Antartique Tropick our latitude was 13 deg and 13 min the third day after that we got sight of Ascention I le nam'd so by Iohn de Nova in the yeare 1502 't is removed South from the Equinoctiall Circle seven degrees 40 minutes in circuit it is 30 English miles from St. Hellens Ile removed seven hundred and twenty little in it save wood and water observable On the seven and twentieth day we crost under the Aequator whence to nine degrees North latitude wee were pesterd with continuall Tornathes a variable weather compos'd of lowd blasts stinking showers and terrible thunders The eleventh of November we were parallel to Cape de Verd and with the GORGADES Isles famoused by antient Poets who say that the three Gorgons Medusa Stenia and Euryale the daughters of of King
The Inquisition affrighting honest men to come among ' em Grand Canarie is the residence of the Inquisitor whither all the other Iles repaire for Justice and other businesse Canarie has 120 miles circumference full of many good things Goats Beeves Asses Hoggs Barly Rye Rice variety of Flowers Grapes and other excellent fruits The I le as I tooke it thus seemes at 8 leagues distance Grand Canaria Teneriffa in multitude of Inhabitants compares with great Canary Exceeds it in Grapes yeelding yearely eight and twenty thousand Butts of Sack out-braves all the earth for supereminence Her high peak Teyda towring so loftily into the ayre as seemes not only to penetrate the middle Region but in a sort to peepe into heaven it selfe from whence Laerius metaphorically calls it Atlas and Olympus 'T is accounted 15 miles high and seene in faire weather six-score some say 300 English miles distant and serves as an excellent Pharoe exceeding those at Cayro on the otherside of Nylus The shape I thus present badly formed Teneriffa Teneriffa is 20 leagues from Grand Canaria Hyerro or Ferrum gave it selfe very high and beares from grand Canary South and by West which I le as be the rest such time as Phoebus is to us vernall growes insufferable scortching Famous in one tree it has but one which like the miraculous rock in the Desart affoords sweet water to all th' Inhabitants by a heavenly moisture distilling constantly to the peoples benefit Heare Sylvester In th' I le of Iron one of those same seven Whereto our Elders happy name have given The savage people never drink the streames Of Wells and Rivers as in other Realmes Their drink is in the Ayre their gushing spring A weeping Tree out of it selfe doth wring A Tree whose tender bearded root being spred In dryest sand his sweating leafe doth shed A most sweet liquor and like as the Vine Vntimely cut weepes at her wound the Wine In pearled teares incessantly distills A royall streame which all their Cesterns fills Throughout the Iland for all hither by And all their vessells cannot draw it dry Of these Iles Lancaerota was taken by that English Leonidas the Earle of Cumberland anno 1596. and Teneriffa 4 yeares after by the Dutch the first pillaged the other burnt since when both are better fortified The ninth of Aprill wee crost the Tropick of Cancer Tropic Cancri of like distance from the Aequator the utmost limit of the temperate Zone is from the Pole called Cancer from Apollo's Crablike retrogradation moving back in Iune from that signe in the Zodiac The 12 day wee had the wind high and large so that in two dayes saile we made the Sunne our Zenith or verticall point his declination at that instant 14. degrees North where note that only then when we are Nadyr to the Sunne wee have no shadow as also whereas to all in the temperate Zone in the Sunnes Meridian their shadowes cast North having past the Zenith the shade or umbra becomes contrary An Observation forcing wonder in the Sunne-burnt Arabs upon their descent into Thessaly As Lucan notes Ignotum vobis Arabes venistis in Orbem Vmbras mirati Nemorûm non ire sinistras An unknowne world Arabians you invade Wondring to see the Groves yeeld right-hand shade And because we have nilnisi pontus et Aer to observe upon let us theorize a little upon the Mathematiques The Inhabitants within this Zone the torrid we are now in are call'd Amphiscij in respect they cast their shadowes both wayes according as the Sunne is in declination and Ascij or shadowlesse when Sol-is Zenith from which point when it fleets either North or South the shadow ever darts contrarily as falls out when ever the gnomon or coelated body is interposed The periscij have their shadow circulating their meridionall shadowes having no existence from the vertice but oblique and extended to the plaine of the terrestriall Horizon glomerating the gnomon or body opacous these sort of people freezing within the polar circles of like distance from the pole the Tropicks are from the Aequinoctiall the pole being their vertex and Aequator 90 degrees their direct Horizon The Heteroscij are such as live in the temperate Zone whose shadowes at noone day turne but one way And this the Mathematicks teach us that the Heteroscij comprehend 41 parellells the Amphiscij seven the Periscij those in the frozen Zone halfe the yeare With these goe others as they stand comparatively the Periaeci Antoeci Antichthones The first being such as dwell in two opposite points of a like circle one from the other a semicircle or 180 degrees so they be numbred after lesser parellells The Antoeci are also opposite but vary neither in Meridian nor aequidistance from the Horizon respecting either Hemisphere The Antipodes are such as be feet to feet a precise straight line passing thorow the Center from one side to another differing frō the Periaeci by degrees of a smaller circle whence we observe that such as be to us Periaeci be Antoeci to our Antichthones each inverted to other in a perfect contrary Nor doubt wee that there be Antipodes the vaile of stupid ignorance being rent away the sphericity of the world and that every place in the earth tho opposite is habitable now so well knowne as nothing seemes more familiar Notwithstanding it was not so of old when Boniface Bishop of Mentz a Clerke well learned in that blockish age was excommunicated by Pope Zachary Anno 745. for maintaining such a paradox yea was sentenc'd to be burnt for a heretick except hee had re canted the holy Father bringing in Saint Augustin against it in his 16. book de civit Dei Qui Antipodas esse fabulantur c. nullo modo credendum est and Lactantius another great Scholler deriding it in his third booke of Institutions Very strange such famous men to bee so ill read in Chorography especially since such a tenet was proved before them by many by Euclyde by Cicero in his 4. lib. de Academ question by Tyberianus who records an old letter beginning Superi inferis Salutem by Strabo and of all others most ingeniously by Lucretius lib. 1. Illi cum videant Solem nos sydera noctis Cernere alternis nobiscum tempora coeli Dividere noctes pariles agitare diebus Sed vanus stolidis haec omnia parturit error When they see Sunne we see the lamps of night And with alternall courses times do change Dividing equall darke with equall light But error vaine in fooles makes these seeme strange To returne in changing so many parellels the weather increast from warme to raging hot the Sunne flaming all day insomuch that Calentures begun to vexe us A sailer either by accident or infection falling from the shrowds into the mercilesse waves aggravating our extremity increased by a violent gust and storme of wind and raine which in 6 degrees suddenly affrighted us the squiffe fastned to the upper deck in
the tip of the little Beares tayle the Sunne at this time was in the 19. degree of Taurus in Artick declination 17. degrees 31. minutes May 6. We had some thunder and lightning or corpo sanctos such as seeme good Omens to the superstitious Portugalls and at night past by Santo croix the holy crosse every houre expecting the Monzoon Monzoons an anniversary wind that blowes one way six moneths and the other halfe yeer the contrary way constantly which if Sea-men neglect they lose their happy passage into India But how preposterous the yeere and wind proved elsewhere I know not doubtlesse it is the Emblem of inconstancy experience taught it us so long time proving our Antagonist that our passage to the Cape of good Hope became sixe weekes longer than we looked for forc't to runne into much more longitude than we desired An Inhabitant of Angola The slaughter of a man doth not suffice These caniballs we see but breasts armes eyes Like dainty meat they eat Aspicimus populos quorum non sufficit itae Occidisse aliquem sed pectora brachia vultum Crediderint genus esse cibi Nothing commendable in them but their Archery in which they excell shooting a dozen shafts ere the first touch ground their Amazonian neighbours forcing their care and diligence The only ornament they have is slashing and cutting their skinne and faces the Sunne and Moone are man and wife the Starres their children in their religion the divell is their Oracle May 24. We had 19 degrees and a halfe from whence to the thirtieth degr the wind was large and prosperous nothing in that great distance observable save that on the 26 day our Admirall the Mary in which one Hall commanded early discryed a saile which he made after with his barge long boat and 80. men at two leagues distance they perceived her a Carrack of 1500 Tun who durst not adventure her hulk against our shot and therefore made all sailes draw and that night escaped tho to grapple her our fleet divided all night but saw her not till the 27. day and but saw her her velocity so much excelled ours till the 7. of Iune she againe deluded us after two houres chase as a phantasma vanishing towards God Vpon May day we crost the line and last of May the Tropick of Capricorne Tropicus Capricorni the utmost limit of Apollo's progresse towards the Antartick and 53 dayes we swet within the burning Zone ere we past under both the Tropiques The first of Iune our observation was in 24 degrees 42 minutes South latitude Iunij 1. the Sunne then in 23. degrees 8l. North in the 20. degree of Gemini In which height we had many sudden and violent gusts and stormes contrary to our desires unable thereby to direct our course being driven to Lee-ward 100 leagues upon the coast of Brazeel to 25. degr latitude and 27. of longitude from the Lizard Howbeit post multos sequitur una serena dies for on the 13. day in the first watch our long lookt for Favonius blew sweetly upon us The West wind most men know From the vast sea is ever felt to blow Semper lenis aura Favoni Spirat ab Oceano At which time some Boobyes weary of flight made our Ship their pearch an animall so simple as suffers any to take her without feare as if a stupid sense made her carelesse of danger which to sympathize I have as simply for your sport depicted A Boobie T is not long since I told you how favourably Aeolus entertained us but his other adjunct is inconstancy for veering into another quarter he began to puffe and bluster yea so furiously that Neptune sweld with rage in such impatience that the Tritons Marriners grew agast not without reason the Cape land thought not neere enough and yet too neere us for foure dayes and nights not daring to beare any saile but lay ahull driving whither the storme compelled us all that while the sea surges so sublime and impetuous that wee were tost up into the Ayre and forth with throwne downe as into an Abisse sometimes dancing upon the liquid ridge of a dreadfull wave and anon inveloped with many others all seeming to swallow us heaven and sea roaring and commixing in an undivided manner yet the Lord be praised having Sea roome and good tite Ships his providence saved us in 16 dayes more meeting together joyfully at the Cape of good hope and I confesse ingeniously not till then did I feele that Ironic Satyre of Iuvenal biting us I nunc ventis animam committe doloso Confisus ligno Digitis â morte remotus Quattuor aut septem si sit latissimataeda Goe now and to the winds thy life commit Trust the smooth wood foure or seven fingers set From death the broadest heart of Pine admit Iune 24. Wee rais'd the Pole Antartick six and thirty degrees our longitude from the Meridian of the Lyzard five and twenty degrees wanting three to the Cape variation three degrees our course E. S. E. the Sunnes declination two and twenty degrees twenty sixe minutes and as many seconds North in the 17. degree of Gemini The same time mid-summer in England and mid-winter with us in those South clymats The 7. of Iuly betimes wee descried land and tho threescore miles distant from its height seemed very nigh us proving the place wee aimed at that famous promontory now no longer Tormentozo but of good Hope Howbeit we could not flie upon the wings of desire the wind withstanding our hast wherby we let fall our Anchor 14 leagues short of the Bay of Soldania and went a shore upon a little Ile 3 miles round corruptly cal'd Cony I le from the Welsh Cain-yne or white Ile where we kil'd many Conies or Cats rather great and rammish bad and waterish commended for dainty meat by hungry Sailers Ie junus raro stomachus vulgaria temnit It also superabounds with Seales piscis marinus as big as Lyons and though doggedly visaged can out barke them yea bellow like Bulls and from such as not till then see any may challenge wonder They turne to oyle and give their skins for buffe coates soft and serviceable Here are also birds cal'd Pen-gwins white-head in Welch like Pigmies walking upright their sinns or wings hanging very orderly downe like sleeves a creature fish and flesh participating sea and shore feeding in the one breeding in the other easie to be caught on land but that their undermining the sandy ground for habitacles makes the passage bad at sea diving like a Duck swift as a Dolphin fat but oylie some dare eat them curiosity may invite a taste but to make a meale on unsapory and offensive to which May-game of nature I may inculcate that made on her acquaintance Divide her I desire but neck and brest They savour well the Cooke may eat the rest Tota quidem ponatur anas sed pectore tantum cervice sapit caetera redde coquo
materiall is good white chalky stone flanckt with Ordnance and mounted high to play at advantage At the South end we perceived a faire Church with white battlements a top the houses of like stone strong and beautifull 3 other Temples affoording joy and pleasure to the heart and eye The nine and twentieth day we got neere the barre at Swalley and there cast Anchor because wee perceiv'd 13 saile of great ships and knew not whether they were friends or enemies the last day of November we adventured over the Barre 'twixt two boas in 4 fadome water a hundred paces asunder set there to manifest the passage either side without being very dangerous the Ships at Anchor proved our friends 6 English and 7 Dutch the most of them 1000 Tunne those of our Nation were good men of Warre The Palsgrave Exchange the William the Blessing c. each of which to do them right feasted our Lord Ambassadors with hearty welcome we rode in 5 fadome others in 9 twixt the sholds and continent The same day we came to an Anchor in Swalley roade Nogdi-Ally-beg the Persian Ambassador Sir Robert Sherley's Antagonist dyed having desperately poisoned himselfe for 4 dayes eating only Ophium the Mary where he dyed gave him eleven great Ordnance whose thundring Ecchoes solemniz'd his carrying ashoare his sonne Ebrahim-chan got him conveighed to Surrat 10 miles thence where they intombed him not a stones cast from Tom Coryats grave knowne but by two poore stones Tom. Coryats grave there resting till the resurrection Doubtlesse Nogdibeg had a guilty conscience hee had very basely misbehav'd himselfe in England and feared the extreame rigour of Abbas a just but too severe Master at no time to bee jested with in money matters or reputation so as neither his past good service alliance at Court skill in armes nor brave aspect could animate his defence assured of most horrid torture Other mens sufferings upon lesse cause made his seeme more unpardonable in the yeere 1612. a Persian Ambassador at Constantinople for assenting to such Articles 'twixt his Master and the Grand Seignior as seem'd advantagious to him but odious to the Persian Monarck was upon his returne beheaded at Cazbyn by command of his inraged Master the conditions were indeed dishonourable That the Prince of Persia should arrogate no other Title but Bashaw of Tauris that the Persian should pay tribute for Gheylan yeerly 400 bal's of silk that the Cadi of Tauris should bee of the Turkes Election c. which Abbas kickt back to Achmat with great indignation Tamas-coolibeg also came into his mind who dyed miserably tho once second in Persia upon spleene ill grounded by the King and of Turkish barbarisme not a few exemplaries Ebrahim Bassa Cycala Synon Bassa and Nassuf each of them in their times sitting at the Sterne guiding as they listed the Turkish greatnesse yet ere death cald for them they were cald for by precipitating ends such as made the remembrance of their passed glory relish the sowrer more deformed and Nogdibeg as we heard the King protest if he had not prevented it should first have beene hackt in peeces and then in the open market place burnt with dogs turds a perfume not fetcht from Arabia a staine indeleble branding with shame all his posterity Returne we to the roade againe Swalley road is from the Aequator 20 degrees and six and fifty min. North Swally road westerly variation 16. degrees and a halfe longit from Mohelia 28 degr at a low ebbe it resembles an I le beyond the sands Goga is easily discovered The first of December with some Pe-unes or black foot-boyes who can pratle some English we rode to Surat our Chariot drawn by 2 Buffolls who by practise are nimble in their trot and well managed we past thorow Swalley Town Batty famous for good Toddy Damkee to Surat Surat is the chiefe factory of the East India Marchants the station of their President at that time one Master Wyld was in that office a modest understanding Gentleman to whose kind respect I owe acknowledgement and in whose house the English house we had tidings of Sultan Curroon's Coronation at Agra Anno 1627. whose history we will prosecute after we have view'd the Towne which may well challenge a particular description SVRRAT perhaps so cald by the Surae whom Pliny places here is that old Muziris named by Ptol. if my judgement deceive me not nor am I ignorant Choul and Onor are imagin'd it by Molelius and Ramusius a Town at this day great famous rich populous nor ayre nor soyle agree with strangers the one inflamed by the torridnesse of the Zone the other sandy and sulphureous the Artick Pole is here elevated one and twenty degrees three min. subject in Iune to become Nadyr to the burning Sunne thence to September the clouds showring continually an insalubrious moysture the wind and thunder so commixing that no place in the world seemes more unhealthy all the other 8 moneths either parching or freezing Surat is accounted the third best Towne in the Gujurat Kingdome Amadavad Cambaya excelling her from the first removed foure from the other two good dayes journey all now adding lustre to the Moguls rich replendent Diadem Whether Gusurat comply with the Greekidiom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or from Gezurat in Arabick an Ile I question not a Province it is so usefull to the Mogull that his annuall tribute out of this one shire amounts as Marchants say to 150 Tunne of gold Surat is at this day not very strong neither in scite nor Ordnance a 100. yeere agoe Antonio Siverio a Portuguise with 200 men enter'd it sackt and burnt it a 1000 would now find it a hard enterprise It was after that subjected to Ecbar Anno Dom. 1566. of the Hegira 946. by valour of Chan Azem whose care defeated the confederacy of Mirza-chan Hussan Mirza Mahomet Chan Goga and other conspirators Surat is now in a quiet government watered with a sweet river named Tappee or Tindy as broad as the Thames at Windsor which arising out of the Decan Mountaines glides thorow Brampore 220 miles distant thence and in many Maeanders runnes by Surat and after 20 miles playing to and fro a league from Swalley road wanders into the Indian Ocean 'T is circled with a mud-wall a Castle of stone is strongly built at the South-West side the river washing it planted with great Ordnance and other shot awed by a Garrison who make dainty to admit a stranger to see their fortifications or parapets The West opens into the Buzzar thorow a faire gate of stone where toll-gatherers are ever ready to search and exact sound tribute for the great Mogull their Master the Medon is of no great beauty nor do the shops give splendor the crafty Banuyan desiring rather to be rich indeed then so accounted The houses are indifferently beautifull some are of carv'd wood others of bricks dryed in the Sunne the English and Dutch houses at the
greatnesse Aben Babur Padshaw intituled prince of Maurenahar Balke and Samerchand but in the seventh yeare of his reigne is expeld his Kingdome by practise and conspiracie of Sha-Mahumed called also Sha beg chan who layd claime to the Crowne pretending hee was sonne and true heire of Aben-Mirza-hameth-cheque late Emperour being as hee said by craft stolne from his Nurse and conveighed amongst the Ouzbeag Tartars whence for some offence he had made hee fled with his lawlesse troopes enters Indya and attempts the conquest where after hee had tyrannized long time A.M. 5502. A.D. 1532. A. Heg 912. was in the yeare 1532 of the Mahometan account 912 sore against his will compell'd to trot the knotty path of inevitable destinie leaving no issue so that the Crown descended by right of Inheritance upon the eldest sonne of Aben Babur Homayon by name who suffered no small affliction by the malice and envie of Mirza Kameron his younger brother that confederated with Tzeerchan and by long practise forced him into Persia where he was royally entertained and after three moneths stay sent with great and royall succours back againe This also is remarkable the story of it is painted in Lohor palace that king Badur thirsting after the conquest of Indya disguises himselfe and thirty Noble men in his company in the habit of Kalenders or Friers as if they were upon a Rummery or pilgrimage The better by this craft to espie their advantage but being in Delly the greatest Citie of the Potan King could not so behave themselves but that Tzecander the King discovered them who pardoned them upon condition they would sweare never to attempt the conquest during either of their lives But when both were dead Homayon Baburs son entred dispossest Abram and Shec-Sha-Selym Secanders sonnes of the Diadem Howbeit Tzeerchan a brave Bengalan Prince fights against this new come Tartar foiles his Army neere Ganges forcing him into Persia where hee married the Kings sister and with her and Byram chan and two hundred horse and returnes is reseated in Delly and acknowledged King Homayon son of Babur great-grand-son of Termir-Lan or Tamberlain being re-invested with the Imperiall Title and Diadem of Indostan by meanes of Tamas the Persian King and returned triumphant by the overthrow of Tzeer-chawn the intruding King of Patan who anno dom 1550. and of the Hegira or Mahomitan account 960. died disconsolate Homayon I say after hee had committed his eldest son Abdul Fetta Gelaladin Mahomet a while after sirnamed Eckbar to the trust and care of Beyranghano chawn a discreet and valiant man being in Delly having one evening chawed too much sence confounding Opium hasting to his Orisons upon the watch-word from a high Tower suddenly he slipt downe forty steps or degrees which so bruised him that after three dayes torment he deceased leaving Achbar his son inheritor to his Greatnesse and miseries A.M. 5522. A.D. 1552. A. Hcy. 932 This hapned in the yeare of our Lord God 1552. from which time to this yeare out of our owne and Belgick fragments congested by de Laet I think it partly convenient with our other passages and observations of Indya to present these which to the observant may prove acceptable Ecbar having by help of Beyrangano-Kawn and Chawn-Channa his son dispeld some clouds caused by Abdal-Chawn was with solemnity crowned King or great Mogul in Delly after which hee bent his whole endeavours to enlarge his Territories and make knowne that he was verely the great grand son of victorious Teymerlan In the first taking full revenge of Hemow who had formerly chased Turdichan but three months after by mischance of warre comming under command of Badur chawn his head is cut off and eleuated in Delly and that Province for some time quieted then by Ally Cooclinchan he subdues Doab by some call'd Sanbal a Province surrounded by Ieminy and Ganges fruitfull and well peopled at that time Beyramgano-chan otherwise call'd Byramchan the Persian aging fast and tyred with the fopperies of this world having well discharged the trust repos'd by his old Master and finding Ecbar warie and valiant to regard the dignity of his Empire obtaines leave to spend the residue of his time at Mahomets Sepulcher in contemplation but in his Roomery in the way to Medina at Pathang in Cambaya is wounded to death by an obscure slave of his whose father he had formerly slaine so that by Abdal Radgee his son not fourteene yeares old and much sad company this great Captaine is brought back to Agray and there buried Ecbar laments his death though thought an Agent but nothing can recover him hee labours to forget it and spends some time in building the Castle at Agra formerly of mud but by him pull'd downe so altred that it scarce admits comparison through all Asia t is of durable stone polisht and so spatious that it comprehends three miles circular is built upon the pleasant banks of Shemeny circled with a strong stone wall moated and to be entred by many draw Bridges has foure brave gates many bulwarks and counterscarps to defend it Agray from Surat East seven hundred and seventy miles the Navel of Agraâ— the Moguls territories and Empresse of Indya has 28 degr 37 min. North latit is watered by Ieminy Iomanes in Pliny and Hynamanes in Poliaenus his 8 lib. Semiramidis which from Delly glides hither and commixing with Ganges flowes into the Bengalan Sea Agra was of old call'd Nagra and ere that Dionysia whence some say 't was founded by Bacchus but I beleeve it not partly in that Fettipore till of late no longer than fifty yeares agoe bore away the fame for beauty and grandeur and in that Bacchus sayes S. Augustine was contemporary with Moses in the yeare from Adam 2515 rather from the river Agranis which hence streams into Ganges as Arrian lib. de Indicis has it The shape is semilunary like London the streets long and narrow and nasty of seven miles continuance in part 't is wall'd about the ditch the remainder which too oft smels infectiously From Agra to Lahore through a delicate shade of trees are five hundred miles To Brampore one thousand to Asmeer two hundred to Surat seven hundred and seventy Radgee Rana the most potent and noble Prince of Indya at this time lost his strong and stately Castle Chyttor by treason of Zimet Padsha his substitute not content therewith till he had made many inroades into Gujurat in contempt of the Moguls forces Echar is glad of the occasion hasting with fifty thousand horse to be revenged Some months he spent in besieging it but so fruitlesly that he attempts the conquest by stratagem undermining the Fort and to the admiration and terrour of the besieged blowes it up with powder causing such a breach as himselfe and twenty thousand men immediatly entred pel-mel with such haste fury that Zimet the rebell perceiving treaty of no value gathering in one his Family consum'd himselfe and them in flames to
victory The death of these great men so afflicted the whole Armie that throwing away all hopes of conquest each man fled which way his fancie directed him Tzaitsi-chan Governour of Brodera excepted who thought it too great a blemish to his honour to turne taile having five hundred horse and three Elephants as yet lusty and couragious but what could his opppsition do when Saffin-cawn in person with his victorious troops affronted him to contend were madnesse and therefore upon intreatie yeelds and has faire quarter gives him but his example could work but little with Ma'met-Cooly his sonne for hee imagining his Father had done cowardly with forty horse and one Elephant flies to Abdul-cawn who received little joy in such an untimely expression being burthened with sorrow and disgrace but bids him do as he did flie to avoyd the swift rage and pursuit of the Enemy In the flight Motsaib-cawn is brought back to Saffin-cawn and Abdul-cawn by unexpected onsets of the Coolies and high-way roagues as also by intollerable tempests amazed beaten and discouraged hastens to Baroch next day to Surrat and after eight daies refreshment and some fresh companie to Brampore to attend Curroons command and make provision for reparation of his honour never till then so notoriously blemished BAROCH where the pole septentrionall is elevated twenty one degrees fifty five min. is a Citie of good note in the Gusarat Province Baroch distant from Surrat by Cosumbay and Periaw foure and thirtie english miles from Cambaya fifty foure from Amadavad a hundred twenty foure from Brampore two hundred and eleven or there abouts It is seated in a beneficiall soyle watered by Narvar or Nardabah a sweet and delightfull river which from the Decan mountaines commixing with the Tappee flowes through Brampore hither and at Hansot a Village eight course lower separates and makes a pretty Isle and a small houres travell thence in two streames foure miles asunder incorporates with the briny Baroch is visible by reason of her high standing a good way distant built upon the best advantages of Nature and Art both so excellently contending as makes it at first view seeme impregnable she is well peopled and with such as extract great wealth by land and water the buildings are generally submisse and low especially those below the mountaine In quondam times her royalties were more spacious as soveranizing over many Townes of quality a great way removed as Medapore seventy miles thence Radgee-pore or Brodera eighty Iownbasser thirty c. each of which now enjoy peculiar Podestates howbeit as Merchants tell us the Mogul has received hereout as annuall tax or tribute one Million two hundred and threescore thousand mammoodees or shillings in our money 'twixt Baroch and Amadavad is intombed Polly-Medinae a Mohumitan Saint excessively reputed of by the superstitious people who in way of meritorious pilgrimage flock thither loaden with chaines or stones and locking up their mouthes from speaking vanity by such penance to obtaine children health wealth or what they lust after But to our story A.D. 1622. A.H. 1002. Iangheer during these offenssive broyles resides at Fettipore and heares of Abdul-cawns presumption and Curroons new rebellions hee sleepes unquietly and can take no rest till both of them receive due punishment he calls Sultan Perwees his sonne acquaints him with his affliction gives him order to levy some forces wherewith to persecute his traiterous Brother and those out-lawed Umbraves that attended him Curroon rebells and is beaten Perwees intreating Mahobet-chan to accompany him with 50000 horse moves against Curroon by the way he imprisons Mirza-chan Abdul-chans sonne but lately to Iangheers grandchild marryed and by order is sent manacled to Ethabarchan in Agra castle to be confined whiles Abdul Azief-chan by Abdulchans deceit brought to Curroons party escapes submitts to the Mogul and is pardoned Curroon has notice of the approach of his enemies so that from Azmeer he hasts to Mandow to augment his Army with a setled determination to bid them battell Perwees followes him and pitches ten English myles from his brothers campe and next morning drawing out his men assayles him who at the first shock by mishap of Rustan chan and Berkendaschan falls back and lets the enemy possesse his trenches in a word Perwees has the day and Curroon flies to Brampore his old receptacle Ganganna noting Curroons sadnesse makes it an advantage of his treachery he perswades the Prince to send him to mediate a peace with Perwees with an intent to deliver him into his hands having precontracted with Beyrambeg and Darab-chawn to seize him who to that end had ambushed neere the river Nardebah 20000 horse but Abdul chan disswades Curroon assuring him of Ganganna's villany Ganganna escapes the conspiracy comes to light and Beyrambeg with his associate is loaden with irons placed on an Elephant and with some selected troopes leaves Brampore and flyes into Decan where by Melec Ambar glad of such confusion he is welcomed and seated in Nassier-Throm where he dictates patience his Elephants and men are sent to Daultabat till he recalled them Sultan Perwees and Mahobet-chan enter Brampore and here whither Curroon was travelled They give Iangheer notice of their good fortune and hee celebrates it with no lesse joy than as if hee had triumpht over a dangerous enemy But behold this faire Sun-shine of content is inveloped with an unexpected cloud of storme and danger I'hen Thouz an Ouzbeg Tartar of long time watching some fit occasion to forrage the Moguls Territories by Curroons unquietnesse spies it with thirty thousand horse overruns Chabul perpetrating all sorts of spoyle and mischefe Iangheer exclaimes and rages violently but so soone as hee had given vent to this his swelling passion he sends post to Zaed-cawn son to Mahobet-cawn Viceroy of Bange to retaliate him this young Gallant delaies not but with twenty thousand horse interposes 'twixt the Citie and Tartarr gives him so furious a charge that Ihen Thouz is afraid to suffer it by base flight leaving his honour halfe his men and store of wealth to Zaed-cawn and by his joviall troopes to be rifled after which they enter Tartary and as farre as Gassany burne spoyle and make havock of what they meet with returning with great wealth and many Elephants to Kabul where with all acclamations of joy they are welcomed and by Iangheer so accepted of that he sends Zaed-cawn many thanks and adds to his former troopes 5000 as an augmentation of more honor and benefit This cloud once over-blowne the Horizon appeares more glorious and Iangheer contemplates in what part to enjoy with his beloved Noor-mahall most pleasure Cassimeer at length gets the preheminence It abounds with variety of choyce sports but the progresse was long and remote from most places whence in those active times hee was to receive intelligences howbeit delight swaied him against all objections giving Curroon by that distance so faire an advantage that with all speed sending his Umbraves word to follow
cloudy and his motion whirles into a malignant Orbe by the disconsolate Newes hee receives from Brampore of his beloved sonnes death His eyes grow dim his heart turnes leady and all conceits of pleasure relish unsavourie when the departure of Perwees objects it selfe and those hopes and comforts he had in him seeme fantasticall Goushroo and Sha Daniel are dead Perwees is now no more Sha Ethimore and Hussen his grand children made Christians Bullochy is a child Sheriare a foole and Curroon the very eye-sore of his conceptions a rebell wilde proud greedy treacherous and deceitfull himselfe was old and at his death the Empire subject to innovation or domestick consumption in these and such like dolorous cogitations Iangheer spends the weary minutes of his life till death ultima poena as they call it summons him in few moneths after to the resignation of his life and Empire Whiles Maehobet Chawn chawes the afflicting newes also of Prince Perwees his death 'Twixt whom forgetting Gangannas trechery was most exact friendship and sympathie He sees in him the privation of all his joyes the hopes he had in his suceession annihilated and the ambition of Normall and Assaph Cawn suspected to have poysoned him ingendring to a monstrous height so that bidding farewell to the world and all other society and imployments he contracts himselfe to privacie and solitude Mahobet-cawn turnes Eremite feeding upon contemplation of what had past and the lubricity of terrestriall pleasures vaine-glory and other vanities he forsakes his strong and delightfull Castle Rantampore and through Zialor comes to Radgee Zirmol and under licence fixes at Zirmol where hee anchorites But Curroones ayre swells with Chymaeraes now more than ever affecting the Empire none but children interposing him hee knew his Fathers affection was easily recovered and Assaph Kawn his restlesse projector carefull to state him in the chaire of Majesty so that arm'd with confidence and accompanied with forty Elephants and fifteene hundred horsemen he leaves Baker Chytor Tutta and through Tesel Chobager and Ecclisser comes to Masser Thormet in Decan where Melec receives him with all joy and adds to his troopes foure thousand horse with promise of forty thousand more to assist him upon any good occasion CHYTOR in mid-way 'twixt Brampore and Adsmeer is yet a Citie justly clayming precedencie for antiquity amongst all the Cities of Indya It was formerly called Taxila and that Metropolis whence King Porus issued against great Alexander Ranna Radgee Mardoot lineally descended from him of late yeeres and till by intreaty of Sultan Curroon Anno 1614. he came to Agra and in slight sort did some obeysance here soveraignizing and in Oodipore The Citie is at this day but meanly beautifull three miles in compasse not a third part of what was formerly Time and war have furrow'd her not onely disroabing her of her bravery in buildings where men inhabited but in huge Temples of Idolatry the ruines of above a hundred once lofty in fastidious Turrets to this day remaining of stone strong good white and well polisht rare and observable now inhabited by Storks Owles Batts and like birds of whom the superstitious people have no small esteeme and veneration the North pole is elevated in that place twenty five degrees This Province is bounded by Cambaya on the South by Chandys on the North by Berar East and on the West the Ocean returne we to our History Ganganna Gannaoa dies selfe conceited by his late honour and imployment against Mahobet-cawn whom hee verily thought had left the society of men for feare of him resolves to ferret him but in the mid'st of his bravadoes and hopes is arrested by grim death and his carkasse conveighed to Delly to be intombed amongst his great Ancestors At that time Iacont-cawn an Umbrave of great wealth honour and experience commanding eight thousand horse to serve Curroon by many affronts without cause put upon him by Mirzaladin Melecks sonne is inflamed with rage and flies to Chan Iehan Generall of Prince Perwee's Army at Brampore who receives him with joy and by his exaspiration with foure hundred Elephants and forty thousand horse make haste to Bellagate the widdow and child of Sultan Perwees being committed to the care of Lescarcawn where they use all extremities of warre spoyling burning and captiviting all they had a minde to and by rare chance Abdul cawn disgrac't intercepting some letters from Godgee Hessary they discover Abdul-cawn whom some call Abdulla-cawn the weathercock of those times his intent to turne from the Kings party and retvtue to Curroon hee is convicted his estate confiscate his honour reverst himselfe manacled cald the darling of inconstancy and upon an Elephant in disgracefull sort from the Army sent to Brampore where by Lascar-cawn hee is imprisoned This done they enter Decan with all speed and pierce most fortunatly into the mid'st of Melecks Kingdome doing what they pleased without opposition so that after six weekes hostility they returne loaden with abundance of wealth and over-joyed with their easie victory But when they thought themselves most sure Melec presents himselfe in an advantagious place with eighty thousand men incircling them on the one side the stupendious hills on the other so that surrounded with amazement and clad with black ragges of discontent they incamp not daring to hazard the fight or by stratagem break out to hazard their deliverance but in that miserable sort are lockt up the Decan at on time offending them till by famine finding no pleasure in their riches where no meat on sure tearmes was to bee purchased they were constrained to parle and submit assured only of their lives stript out of all their wealth and bravery returning with more shame than they had honour formerly Iangheer the great Mogull has advertisement of this variable successe but knowes not how to alter it nor cares hee much the death of Perwees so possesses him yet Normall ceases not to pursue her revenge against Mahobet and finding him so hard to be dealt withall begins will Channa-zeid-cawn his valiant sonne whom sheere calls home and places Mocrib-cawn in his command over five thousand horse and twelve thousand men but he had small joy of his greatnes for in lesse than three weekes being there by accident sailing over Ganges the boat is over-turned he drowned and Fedi-cawn is made Viceroy of Bengala and Malacca after him during which Iangheer being at Lahore an Ambassador Ziet Borka by name arrives with presents and commends from the King of Maurenahar or Manauwer accompanied with the only Oracle and wonder of his time Hodgee-Abdulradgee brother to Chojea Callaun admired by all and resorted to by many sorts of Tartars from Bochar Tuza Balck Samerchand Gaznahen and other parts none of which came empty-handed so that in small time this Monck was comparable in riches with most Potentates of Asia Hee is brought into Lahore with incredible joy and admiration all the Umbraves of the Court Assaph-cawn excepted attending him
that the Hypodrome the body of the great Mydan was an old famous place for view of horses if that content not I must ingeniously confesse I think this City was never named Hecatompylon such a one I know there was famoused in many Authors but by observing the position 37 degrees 50 minutes in Ptolomy I take Coom or Cazbyn to bee the relict of it the rather in that Ptolomy Pliny and Strabo in their Geography place Aspa in Parthia in 36 deg a name from whence Aspahawn may credibly have been deduced besides the lat is more agreeable or peradventure from Aspadana which they place in 33 deg Spawhawns latitude First speak we what she has been for grandeur in older times and with that we will couple our present observation If I exceed excuse it prestat de Carthagine tacere quam pauca dicere A. D. 645. of the Heg 25 by command of Omar then Calyph of Mecca Siet-ben-Abivakez with a few troops of victorious Sarazens attempts to pluck violently from Yezdgirds head the then tottering Diadem of Persia at the third pull having twice overthrowne him effected it the glorious command of that Monarchy then eclipsing which done this Ben Abivakez sacks his two best Townes Elmedin in Chaldea built Anno Domini 520 by Kozrao sonne to Kobödes and yet the Alcoran sayes it sprung out of hell and Spahawn in Parthia Also we may memorise her from Tangrolipix a Turqueman and Lord of the Zelzuccian Family of whom the Ottomans who in the yeere 1030. of the Hegira 410. Edward the Confessor ruling England Gruffyth ap Llewellyn Wales was intreated by Mahomet then Prince of Persia to ayd him against Pysastris an incroaching Babylonian which Tangrolipix did and prospered in After that he helped him against the invading Indyan and in recompence of his good services the Turque desires leave to passe Araxis to visit his countrimen betwixt the two seas the Hyrcan and Euxine and by jealous Mahomet denyed and so enraged that lurking awhile in the Carmanian Desert the Persian gulph was at his pleasure But vexing to be so confin'd marches against the King and at Shyraz beats his twenty thousand darstardly soldiers and after that opposes 60000 then also victorious whereby Mahomet fled with two much haste to get into Spahawn fell from 's horse and broke his neck the Turks then subjecting Parthya Rached-bila also sonne of Almoster-sha was slaine by Mazud Anno 1130. of the Heg 510 and buried in Spahawn which few for many shall speak her antiquity in the name she is now triumphant in Speak we now of the magnificence wee have told you how the story of ben-Abivakez a thousand yeeres ago cals her a great City but gives us no better description Ben-Ionas who sayes he saw it foure hundred seventy six yeeres ago affoords her twelve miles compasse rich and populous Mandevel A.D. 1300 which is above 300 yeeres since saies that in his time she was a noble City A. D. 1474 Ioseph Barbarus was here Vsan Cassan reigning and hee describes Spahawn to bee a great and famous City peopled with 1500000 soules the Towne and Suburbs ten miles in compasse Rabbi Benjamin and Contarenus the Venetian Ambass 80 yeere ago relate that then shee had 20 Italian miles in circuit and Lemius the Portuguise sent by Albuquerq to Sha-Ismael An. Dom. 1513. reports her glorious I shall now more largely and truly acquaint you with her present standing Spawhawn Metropolis of the Persian Monarchy is seated in the Parthian Territory now cal'd Ayrack as Umbelic to that spacious bodie at this day awed by the Persian Scepter from the Persian gulph removed a hundred seventie nine farsangs of English miles five hundred thirtie seven from the Caspian sea a hundred and twenty farsangs three hundred and sixty miles from Shyraz two hundred twenty two miles from Babylon foure hundred and fifty from Candahor eight hundred and seventie from Cazbyn 270. In compasse at this day nine English miles Circuit including seventy thousand houses and of soules above two hundred thousand compos'd besides Natives of English Duch Portuguiz ' Pole Muscovit Indian Arabian Armenian Georgian Turk Jew and others drawne thither by the magnetick power of gaine and novelty many things here are memorable which for order sake I will present you thus divided The Mydan Mosques Hummums Gates Pallaces Gardens Monuments and Ielphey the City adjoyning Let me lead you into the Mydan into the which ere I can bring you River we passe over a well-built Bridge of stone supported by five and thirty pillars through which the Syndery or Zindaren from the Acroceraunian Mountaines streames gently spreading in rainie seasons here welnigh so broad as the Thames at London but nothing so navigable in Summer her Channells being discovered The Mydan or great Market is without doubt the most spacious Mydan pleasant and Aromatick Market in the Vniverse a thousand paces from North to South the other way above two hundred resembling our Exchange or the place Royall in Paris but six times larger the building is of Brick well made and in delightfull manner fabricated the whole Mydan joyntly continued the inside is full of shops each shop full of ware archt above and in a Cupolo atop tarraswise framed and with plaister like that of Paris cemented This Mydan being the noblest part is so placed in the heart of this triumphant City The Kings Pallace or Chonna-Potshaugh conjoynes the West side of the Mydan possessing a large quantity backwards but juts not to the street further than the other buildings nor to the street side gives any magnifick front or state her best bravery being in the trimme pargetted and painted with blew and gold in mosaick or antick sort interlac't with posies of Arabick either savoring of ostentation they deifie their Kings or for instruction from the Alcoran within the roomes are archt enlighten'd by curious trellizes the roofe imbost above with red white blew and gold the sides with sports and painted Images the ground spread with rich and curious carpets of silke and gold without other furniture Tarrassed above garnisht with a Pharoe over-topping many Mosques and excellent for view and breathing The wildernesse behinde is fild with ayery Citizens priviledg'd from hurt or affrights and for which they returne their thankfull notes in a more swift melodious consort than if they were in the exactest vollyere in the Vniverse The North I le in the Medan shews eight or nine spacious archt rooms hung with Lamps and latten Candlesticks which being lighted gives a curious splendor Thither the Potshaw and others go to see pastimes of tumbling dancing girls and painted Catamites that damned sinne being tolerated by the Alcoran The furthest end North is appropriate for Mynts the first day silver gold the second next day brasse Not farre thence are victualling shops wherein to feed the helpfull belly after the busie eye and painfull feet are satiated Afore the Kings doore and within the
them The place is fruitfull and blest in present prosperity and antick greatnesse the ruines compleating the report of her being once Metropolis the houses at this day are not builded in the meanest fashion glorying above the rest in an old but strong and stately Castle second to none about her which besides the well composed Architecture affoording no small pleasure to the eye is observable in a deep trench fild with water of good defence against the pilfering and rodomantadoes of the adjoyning Taurisians commendable also in some sweet gardens usefull and delectable within the Towne and neere the Castle is a famous Mosque honoured by foure hundred and foure and forty Princes and Prophets of that Kingdome intombed there whose Sepulchers raise admiration in the beholders that especially of Meer Agowmadeen is famous to whose shrine are daily offered serious devotion As I entred I found twenty reverent and well apparelled Arabians in a round close by the Princes Dormitory with each an Arabic Alcoran before him out of which with great modesty and good musick they chanted a dolefull requiem to his ghost in which they were so serious that notwithstanding I came suddenly amongst them and in such a habit as others admired they sung on and in a Dorick sweetnesse continued till they had finisht that their Threnody which ended they arose and bad me heartily welcome readily poynting out the rarities of their Temple Thence I went to the river side over which upon a Bridge we rode the night before hoping to shade my selfe from outrageous Phaeton under some Poplars there abounding but quickly left the place againe for 7 or eight beautious but not bashful Damosells like so many Dorids sprung suddenly out from the water to admire my cloaths never regarding they were naked some my hat my hayre others other-some thought my spurres an antick I wondred no lesse at their immodesty and left them with a frowne dictating their base carriage and my impatience And till by inquiry I saw it came from a greedy novelty I thought them Layesians but it seem'd I erred for when the men such time as Phoebus mounts in his meridian go to sleep the women then enjoy the river and coole their heat in both kinds too much abounding there Their habit is only a smock of transparent lawne wrought at hands neck and skirt with an imbroydery of silk and gold the men are cloathed like the other Hyrcanians From Omoall we travelled to Larry-Iohn or Ioon I cannot tell if that Ionaca in Ptolomy thirty miles thence at which place the Kingdome of Hyrcania takes end and Mount Taurus or Taur-achow beginning Taurus sayes Dion Alexan. Totius Orbis terrarum maximus sic dictus quod instar Tauri elato capite incedit c. But Eustathius thus Veteres omnia grandia robusta Tauros vocavere c. Our journey lay sometimes through inhospitable straits other times over most stupendious hills the bredth from one side to another about fifty English miles from Omoall to Damoan the length fifteene hundred towring in a hedge of hills from Armenia to the furthest part of Indya and after two dayes painfull climbing got so high that wee might see the middle region under us and we involved in chill exhalations Taurus Mons omnium maximus sayes Aristotle yet the sublime height did not disaminate us as did the danger of descending the path was so uneven and craggy yea the rocks so unskilfully cut out for a passage that great heed must be taken in the treading or a terrible precipice into a bottomlesse lake indangers us in one hill for three miles together the way was carved by some unskilfull workman in the mid-part of a most horrible aspiring perpendicular Mountaine the lane in some places a yard in some but halfe a yard in breadth so as if by accident two horsemen meet I could not see how both could have safe passage nor is it higher than ones head if mounted a wretched passage for whiles I was sometimes looking at the wonderfull height above us and anon casting my sight downwards into that dark Abisse a rock bending ill-favoredly into the narrow way struck me such a blow as for a great while I was astonied and happily delivered from a downfall a rock demanding an uncivell tribute from all carelesse passengers At length wee got safe out of that formidable path of death into the broad and lofty Mountaines from whence the lying Greekes beheld Prometheus sonne of Iapeth by Asia his wife and brother to Atlas cheyned to these rocks his heart gnawed by a Vultur for daring though Pallas helpt him up to steale celestiall flames from Apollo's Chariot wheeles to inspire life into his Images The mythology is this from these high Mountaines Prometheus first studied and observed the firmamentall motion the acronicall rising and setting of the Stars and other bodies celestiall the causes of Meteors eclipses and other hidden rarities of nature Hence Pyrrha's stones are fabled Saturn's reigne The birds of Taurus Promeths theevish veine Hinc lapides Pyrrhae jactos Saturnia regna Caucasiasque refert volucres furtumque Promethei Hence also let us view from this highest Tarrasse of the world North East and fix our dim sight upon Corason Corazon I take for that old writers intitled Coraxi in Pliny Corziana in Procopius Corasphy in Ptolomy Chorasmia in Athaeneus vicinating the Seres part of Sogdiana the one of Aria the other famous in silk and delicate wooll by Lucan memorized Quid Nemora Aethyopum molli canentia lana Velleraque ut foliis despectant tenua Seres What Aethiops woods made white with tendrest wooll Or Seres leaves which scorns soft fleece to pull Tzetza thus in their commendations Seres atque Tochares the first seat of the Turks or Turqu'stans gentes prope Iudiam texturas pulcherrimas texentes omnium quae praeciosiores antiquis temporibus Iberes occidentales now Georgia Coraxi now Corazon similiter texturas pulcherrimas lana operianur c. Nunc autem abuteus ut multi dixeram illud ex Thebis ex Sericis non ignarus ut alli c. Whereby it seemes though silke in the Latin is from the Seres yet they had it from the Iberians and they from Aegypt so likewise now Hyrcania is most excellent Sydonius Apollinarius also thus Assyrius gemmas Ser vellera thura Sabaeus Assur yeelds gems wooll Seres Saby fumes Corazon included twixt 36 and 40 degrees is divided into three large Provinces Hery Farghan and Tocharistan i.e. Aria Paropamisa Tocharia all at this day adding lustre to the Persian Diadem Of Hery and Farghan I have elsewhere spoken Tocharistan or Turquestan is a member of the Ouzbeg-Tartar in 40 degrees adjoyning Gaznehen and S'marcand Townes of note there are Tuz in 38 degrees the birth-place of Nazarradyn the great Mathematician Commentator upon Euclyde Nishapore Sarkas Gelack c. extending from this part of Taurus to the river Nycaphtac of old call'd Oxus the Terminus to the ambitious Persians subdivided into
Mozendram Sablestan Maurenahar Sirgian Hery Sigistan Stigias Kalsistan Carmawn Laristan Chusistan Iaziry Keldhan or Ajaman Darbeq Arminy Carkash and Vaspracan The whole Empire is terminated on East West North and South with India Arabia the Caspian and Persian Seas From Candahor equi-distant with Oxus in Bactria to Babylon East and West it stretches foure hundred and forty farsangs Extent of the Empire or of English a thousand three hundred and twenty miles in seventy dayes usually travelled and from Giulphall or Ielphy neere Van in Georgia to Cape Gwader in 25 degrees the furthest part of Gedrosia or Macron on Indus North and South foure hundred ninety and six farsangs or a thousand foure hundred eighty and eight English miles in eighty dayes commonly journeyed from which we may compute the circuit is not lesse than foure thousand miles The North and East is most part fruitfull in grasse in corne in fruit the South and West except where rivolets are sandy mountanous sterile and inhospitable the vehement heat scorches the earth and makes it barren and from whence the soyle yeelds no exhalations the mother of clouds and consequently wants rain to madifie but in stead of it God has blest them with frequent breeses But how miserable so ere it seemes to others The Kings revenue the Persian King makes many happy harvests filling every yeere his insatiate coffers with above three hundred and fifty seven thousand Tomans a Toman is five markes sterlin in our money 1190000 pound sterlin a great revenue the more to be admired at since he extracts it from raw silke customs and cotton not thinking any way meane or dishonourable that brings in money So thought Abbas and thence deriv'd that unkinkly trade of sending into the market his dayly presents of fruits and flowers for without some piscash was no saluting him a kind of thrist His domestick pollicy he not only boasted of I imagin as Ageslaus did of his polt-foot but seemed to complain of the too great nicity of other Kings And no doubt if all the Potentates of the earth were inquired after none would parallell this late old Monach of Persia for startagems in good husbandry for so to respect the man we had best call it He could finely dart his wonder upon such such a Town by report or letter confessing his amazement at sight of some great Elephant or Tower of gold he heard they had acted they dare not reason against it they know the meaning and in pure gold get such a present if rich and heavy then t is dainty work though never so disordered if otherwise then no way praised Ninety wall'd Townes are under his command the Villages are above forty thousand none of which escape his policy for though they practice nothing lesse than gold-smiths work and imagery yet hee salutes them with a false report desiring to see experimentally whether fame had not beene a niggard in their elevation they embrace the complement and returne him in pure gold the Icon of an Elephant Cammell or Dromedary some a Pegasus a Cesterne or Bath some send to gaine his love and some a Babel or representation of such a great Citie as they know will take him by comparison considering which I lesse admire that vast treasure of Mammonisme commonly taken out for ostentation at the receit of Ambassadors or Travellers of note such as in Mosendram our eyes were glutted with In warre no Asiatick Prince was master of more Art or sure experience at home his Genius travaili'd with no fewer fancies none withou its certaine end to agrandise his treasurie A Merchant I may also call him having many thousand factors frugall and skilfull under him all which hee sends through the wide universe with each his stock of money or silke or carpets to make money of some of them returne in three in five some none exceeds seven yeeres to give their account to the Kings infinite advantage if they have loytered or accidentally lost and returne meane profits they had as good behang'd hee is so incredulous and wrathfull but when they come home multiplyed and with increase to his liking he rewards them with large thanks a woman from his Haram a horse a sword a Tulipant but after a small repose packs them abroad againe re-assuring them of his good affection and that after such a voyage they shall end their motion in a happie rest but seldome does it till death or diseases force him to it that they and theirs shall enjoy such necessary summes as conduce to make them fortunate but in event finde that old proverb too too true Pollicitis dives quilibete esse potest Againe from Indostan Tartary and Araby every yeere move towards Persia many Carravans furnisht with rich and rare commodities as Chyna ware sattens silks stones rich Tulipants c. of whose approach hee has quick notice concerning which either hee gives a private command that none shall dare to traffick with them by that forcing them to his owne prices or affronts them upon entring his Dominions with a false alarme as that the passage further is long and hard and dagerous or that the late darth makes the country incapabde to entertaine them by such heathen Mathematicks so startling them that rather than move back to such hazards or go on to incounter such or to incur his hatred they oft times condiscend to any mart sometimes receiving money for their goods or by exchange for what the Persian Emperour can best spare to his owne and others dispersing those new merchandizes at stretcht rates yea at the height of ignoble avarice and having coyne or bullion to prevent its pilgrimage into other regions hee molds it into plate of huge assize or the like too heavie to go farre worke very poore in value rich and ponderous Besides by that law of Persia hee makes himselfe heyre to all that dye puts the young ones to some way of life warre or merchandize none daring to call his title into question hee also expects annuall presents from all men of quality take notice of one mans offring a yeere or two before our being in Persia the Duke of Sherazz was hee that sent it foure hundred sixty and five thousand florens coyned forty and nine goblets of good gold seventy two refined silver and so much of other valuable rarities as in all burthen'd three hundred Camells a gallant present a sure medicine to expell his melancholy But this might all be tollerated were Astraea any where adored but contrarily abhorred bribery aad corruption in Justice renders so brave a Prince too much distempered Quid faciant leges ubi sola pecunia regnat Aut ubi paupertas vincere nulla potest Where money over-rules what good do lawes Or where the poore is crusht without a cause For albeit 't is said that the lawes of the Medes and Persians never alter yet doubtlesse in so many changes as have hapned there their lawes may be corrupted or altered At
hyerogliphick of our salvation which in the primitive and purest age was of such honour amongst the Christians as not only they used it in baptisme but upon their foreheads to despight the Jewes and Heathens and to glory in that thing the more they so branded them with as a calumnie I hate superstition in my heart but that so holy an example should be derided is miserable and to be pittied To returne the Renegado in token of more defiance spets thrice at it making him beleeve Christ never suffered but Iudas did and then is to exult in this Battalogue La la La-illah Hyllulla Allough aybyr Mahumed resul-Allough God is first and next him is Mahumet he then elates his finger as denying a Trinity and three Mussulmen dart three staves three times towards heaven which ere any touch the ground hee is new-named then led slowly upon an Asse about the Citie that every one there may note him for a Denizin a Beleever and Proselite to Mahumet But praised be God I never heard of any Europaean Christian who of late times renyed his Faith in Persia Their weddings have not much variety to dwell upon observe therefore that Poli-gamie is tolerable Mahomet to excuse his owne infirmity Marriages and borrowing it from the Romans honours such most as have most wives and beget most children to furnish the Emperour with souldiers for defence Paradize with Saints and to resound the meritorious praises of great Mahomet the Deruisse an order of begging Frier excepted who from a transcendent conceit of their owne purity abhor matrimony but suppose Sodomy and Natures blackest villanies no sinne or sins pardonable producing Mahomet their prototype or example who both by precept and custome warranted it but I have tyed your chast eares too long to so impure a subject Such therefore as dare wed they need not feare in Asia the women in those parts never predominate they provide a sum of mony and buy her good-will her parents being no further charged than to bathe and purifie her They marry more from report than knowledge the friends of either party commonly commending perswading and effecting it The day appointed being come the Bride is vailed with a fine lawne of callico her armes and hands are only naked they mount her bravely and a great troop of friends and kin accompany her to Church in the mid-way being met with an equall number of friends all together agrandizing the ceremonie after a joynt assent of him and her they alight and enter the Mosque where the Mulay takes the protest of their good liking she demanding three things as did the Jewish women of old bed-right food and cloathing their Fathers also speak themselves contented the Priest circles them with a sacred cord conjoynes their hands takes a reciprocall oath and calls Mahomet to witnesse the Caddy inrolls their names the houre day month and yeere of their nuptialls and with an Eugè dismisses them The first day vapors away in Tobacco feasts and other ordinary feastivalls the men and women being severed at night the Bride enters a stove and is soundly washt and perfum'd that her degree may the better appeare and her person be more accepted of next night they bathe together and seven dayes after in which time if hee discover her to be no Virgin she is return'd to her parents with no small dishonour otherwise is kept till death part them The Alcoran allowes incestuous mariages pretending that thereby true love is better contracted and longer conserved in families in case also the man be weary of her or that she is barren he acquaints the Mulay with his distemper who eases him upon his giving her a dowry after which it may be hee will require her againe and if she agree are secondly married yea five six seven times rejecting and revoking as hate or lust can stimulate by that disorder love vanishing jealousie budding rage advancing clamours roaring and by which many times the Fathers neither know their own Children nor they their parents Their Burialls revive some ceremonies of old us'd amongst Jewes and Gentiles At his farewell to the world the next of kin closes his eyes Burialls as did Ioseph in the 46 of Genesis and Telemachus in Ovid Ille meos oculos comprimat ille tuos they then wash him with cleane water as was Tabitha Acts 9. and carrie him to his grave with admirable silence a gesture well-becomming Funeralls they lodge the Carcasse where none lay formerly supposing it a vile part to disturb the dead whom in the grave they think sensible of torment they place his head towards Medyna and after the old mode septem ad Luctum septem ad convivium for seven dayes his next of kinne watches to keep the evill Angell from his Tomb during which he incessantly warbles out his Elegiac Threnodies as the last expression of love he can shew him Other burialls Others are thus buried In the first place go those of his own blood and family next them his slaves and other domestic varlets naked to their waist the rest in troozes who to expresse their zeale the better burne and scratch their armes and breasts cutting their flesh and printing circles a trick borrowed from the rebellious Jewes and prohibited by Moses Levit. 19.28 and in Deut. 14.1 so effectually that the blood trickles out in many places Next them are ranckt fifty young Gallants whose shoulders are made to beare some texts taken out of the Alcoran mixing with them selected Eulogies which they sing and ingeminate Next these follow a hundred or two hundred men of note each holding the cord that drawes the Corps or Hearse on every side throng the multitude some bearing in their hands Lawrel or Cypresse boughs others Coronets of flowers fruits or what best befits the season some semi-naked horsemen play along and oft times to demonstrate their love spare not to wound themselves and in the last place go the Preficae or women hyred to weep to howle to teare their periwiggs to smell to onyons hinc illae Lacrymae and to do such impostures as did the antick Romans noted in Livy and Jewes as Ieremy speaks 9.17 In this Decorum they march slowly and with great silence but at his Dormitory ululate Lala-Hillulla there uncloathing and mundifying the carcasse his sins thereby also vanishing they anoynt him with odours and pretious unguents and so wrapt in fine linnen they burie him in the earth and place his head towards Arabia his face looking up to heauen I note it in regard they put the other sex their faces downwards his armes spread as prepar'd to imbrace Mahomet above him they fix two stones at 's head and feet which in Arabiq ' characters ingrav'd and colour'd denotates his name quality religion and time of buriall there they leave him but give not over twice every day to come and sing his Requiem beseeching Mahomet to succour him against his bad Angells of whom they nourish this opinion That
excellencie of the Alfurcan from his blasphemous lie that he was so long in the sixt heaven call'd Alahal where this Anthropomorphite sayes hee had the honour to shake hands with the Almighty which he sayes were 70 times colder than Ice and that being upon th' earth to make the people credit him he commanded the Moone to descend halfe of which he put into his own sleeve and the other halfe serv'd as a zone or girdle to Mortis Ally and to their like amazement after so rare a complement peec't it and placed it in the same Orbe whence first he drew it During this Ramdam all the day long they abstaine from all sorts of viands or refection he being counted the veriest heretique in the world dare ryot it But Don Phoebus is no sooner inveloped with his dark mantle the earths interposition and Dame Cynthia arrayed with brightnesse in their Hemisphere then they gormundize and let loose the reines of their unbridled appetite Epicurising in all kindes of delights to be invented or pleasures possible Prosper's saying That to fast from sinne is the best fast is here ridiculous So soone as the nine and twentieth day is past for though the Alcoran command forty yet by those of the late reformation it was limited to one Moone they begin the Byram as we doe Easter and continue their merriment and sports till the third day be ended the two dayes after the Byram are commonly call'd Chutsi-baaram Char-bahram or Byram The last houre of the last festivall many vow a zealous pilgrimage to their Prophets Sepulchre not magnetically attracted nor intombed in an iron coffin as some report but laid under a faire marble polisht and ingraved with Arabique sentences out of the Elesalem But in the way wallow in all kind of swinish turpitude villany and lothsomnesse yet no where persecuted being palliated with a Pilgrims coat and hypocritique sanctity The Buccarie they solemnize in November or Chodad-maw by Turks Silcade by Arabs Rabiel owl in commemoration of the Ram sacrificed by Abraham such time as Izmael they say should have beene killed Many other Festivalls they celebrate The Oud Hussan Nowrouz Imamy Caddyer-Ally Iedt-Ousant Auwpatsian the Sophyan the Roses Daffadillies c. The Oud-Hussan is from Hocem or Hussan soone of Ally slaine with eleven of his sonnes by Mavi the Chalyph Lord of Damascus and Nephew to Ozman A Festivall begun by Syet Gunet followed by Aydar and commanded by Sha-Izmael as a Triumph against the Ben-Humyans who tho they thought to have extirpt Ally's root yet by divine providence St. Azmully brancht secretly Anno Hegirae 90. and from him this Siet of Ardoveil reviver of the Sophian dignitie For the Syet not onely sleighted the Turkish opinion of Mahomets three successours Abubocher and the rest but cursed all such as honor them yea and foure other great Hodgees or Doctors of the Alcoran contemporarie friends and helpers of Mahomet those foure if I be not deceiv'd whom Mahomet in a feare for his presumption beholding God in Paradize wip't from the sweat of his brow and by divine myracle metamorphiz'd into foure learned men thus named Achmet Sembelim Abu-hamet Melec-zeddah and Sheck Vaffaim a tenet so offensive and exasperating to the Turks that of late the Muphti condemning an innocent Persian swore a great oath he thought it a better act and a more meritorious sacrifice to kill one Persian than seventy Christians But to our Storie All agree that Hussan was slaine trecherously by Chuse a slave to Mnavi Mavi was an Actor they therefore punish him yearely though rotten 1000 yeares since First framing a deformed Image his face blackt his nose pierc't with a Dart and clad in straw which done they hurrie it through the streets in a hurly-burly of thousands of people who when they have dragd it enough within the City hale it to some rising hill without wher to all mens view they elevate this supposed living Caytiffe The Caddy bawles out a pathetique Oration to this purpose That after much search Ally had directed them where to apprehend this Traytor unworthy the least pittie or procrastination this being that same villaine who slew Hussan and his sons Ceresin only escaping that every good man is bound in conscience to curse him yea to help to torment him in the vilest manner possible In shew of joy and assent they unanimously sing Epicinia a song of victorie and crie aloud Yough Ally yea strive to rend the clouds with their ceaselesse clamours At a set time they cease roring and fire is given to a trayne of Gunpowder which sets divers squibs a fire and at length dissipates and blowes up the detested Syrian by a hideous noise making the ayre eccho at his smokie Funerall Hussans ghost now sleepes quietly each Persian commends one anothers zeal haste home spend that night in merriment The Nowrouz is in imitation of our New-yeares day but they begin after the old manner in March such time as Phoebus in his equall shine to either Pole makes the Aequinoctium A festivall of jovialitie for one prayer preying upon varietie of wanton pleasures the Talismanni piping now to Bacchus Ceres and Madam Venus For I have observ'd that in manie parts for 11 months in the yeare we could see verie few women and those vailed but impossible in the streets or gardens to converse with anie without danger yet these twelve dayes of the Nowrouz all places were full of them yea their naked faces openly discovered frisking in amorous postures and drawing the eye by a forced Magique Gifts also and reciprocall presents are retorted up down with garments of silk gold horses fruits and piscashes of other sorts nothing but riding the great horse drinking cock-fighting fortune-telling singing courting and the like observed to the last minute of that Festivall The Imamy has some dependance on the Buckaree This a Camell that a Ram that for Ismael this for Mahomet In November the Meccan Protomist sends a sanctified Camell by an adopted sonne sometimes naturall who is welcom'd to Spahawn by many thousand Mussulmen who shew th'extream of joy for so holy a Present After they have tried tired their voices the Hodgee from an exalted place acquaints them with the cause of his long journey perswades them to a thankfull remembrance and blesses them The zealous multitude without anie respect of men or danger throng about the Beast who is no sooner in the field where Death arrests him but that they fall upon him and pluck off his haires with an admirable dexteritie keeping them as sanctimonious reliques praevalent against sudden death though manie die in the assault and thousands returne maymed hunger thirst povertie and the like After which the tormented Camell is by the Hodgee againe signed for a sacrifice The Darroguode first transfixes his Javelin The Visier beheads him and gives it the King The carkasse is torne peece-meale by the foole-hardie multitude so greedie to obtaine this charme of long life and plentie
of his religion and makes him heire to all his offrings Many deformed Pagatho's are here worsshipped they say they adore not the Idolls but the Deumos they represent and who sometimes enter and Oraculize the Chappel where the grand Caco-Deumo sits is uncovered and about three yards high the wooden entrance is ingraven with infernall shapes within their beloved Priapus is imperiously inthroniz'd upon a brazen Mount they advance his head with a resplendent Dyadem from whence issue foure great Rams hornes denotating some especiall mysterie his eyes squint his mouth opens like a Port-cullice and from thence branch foure monstrous tusks his nose is flat his beard like the Sunnes rayes of an affrighting aspect his hands are like the clawes of a Vulture his thighes and legs strong and hayrie his feet and taile resemble a Monkeys which put together renders the devill wickedly deformed and the idolaters beyond all measure grosse Demonomists Other Temples have other Pagods ugly all yet all differ in invention some of them are painted or smeered black others red some bright others devouring soules hell fictitiously tormenting white ones These Gods of theirs are of the old stamp they seeme to threaten and to take notice of mens offrings but what They cannot doe their Baalyms effectuate Each morne the Priest a Jogue perfumes and washes them it seemes the Devill ever pollutes and leaves a base smell behind him he departs not without a benediction humbly he prostrates his corps and has it granted him Every new Moone they solemnly sacrifice a live Cock as a Symbol of lust and courage in themselves predominating the Priest is pontifically attyred in pure fine Lawne arm'd with a sharp long silver knife his armes and leggs garnisht after the Morisco mode with bells round silver plates and other jangling trifles after he has bravely sacrific'd the yeelding Cock he fills his hands with Ryce goes retrograde not daring to looke on any other object save his Idoll till being come neere an Acherontique lake he then turnes there embowells his offring advancing his hands some set times above his head and so returnes crown'd with applause and blessed in other mens opinions The Samoryn eats not till it be first offred and so acknowledges his food sent him from the Deumo i. e. by the devills permission what he leaves is not for the poore the Crowes expect it good reason too They think them the Devils serviteurs The people to this day retaine some commendable customes amongst 'em they commonly exchange their Wives one for anothers nor seeme the women angry at it Poligamy is sufferable but in this they differ from other libidinous Law-givers as the men have many wives so one woman may here have many husbands the issue is bequeathed as she nominates COVVLAM is a Towne and Province call'd Sopatpa in Arrhyan in 9 degrees North and included in the Travanzorian Kingdome Once it obeyed the Narsingan Monarch once the Mallabar at this day neither 200 yeares agoe the Towne was rich and great and populous traded to by many Indyans augmented by the Samoryn and able to number a hundred thousand inhabitants of such value was the scituation for trade security for anchorage and fidelity of the Coolamites But now whither her glasse is runne the period of her excellence out-runne or that Callicut first and then Goa have attracted her custome and resort I cannot say this I may at this day shee is vailed with a sable habit desolate and disconsolate shee contemplates the mutability of Times and other's disasters and then comparing them with her owne sees they conclude in a like Center And albeit I have in many places memoriz'd the Bannyans here also I may name them where they swarme in multitudes and suck in the sweetnesse of gaine by an immeasurrble thirst and industry but Sic vos non vobis it is ravisht from them by Drones the lawlesse Moores and Gentiles who Lord it over them Alas the Bannyan is no swaggerer no royster he hates domineering and fighting yea will suffer himselfe to be fleec't by any man rather than shed blood by any unhappy contention they love no tumult no innovation but wish that all men were of their mind that is to say courteous in behaviour temperate in passion moderate in apparell abstemious in dyet humble mercifull and so innocent as not to undoe the silliest vermin doubting that if they should destroy any living thing thereby they might dispossesse their parents or deare friends of a peacefull Mansion but by eating such may peradventure devoure the soules of such as once were dearest to them Ovids conceit is partly for them inque ferinas Possumus ire domos Pecudumque in corpora condi Corpora quae possunt animas habuisse Parentûm Aut Fratrûm aut autaliquo junctorûm faedere nobis Aut hominûm certe Le ts home and in bruit Beasts our bodies hide Where happily our Parents may abide Our Brothers or some by Allyance tide One man or other sure And in as many places are Christians or relicts of that holy profession for no doubt the Apostles propagated the glad tidings of salvation to all Nations prophesied by the Prophet David Psalme 19. Their sound is gone into all lands and their words into the ends of the world Mantuan also celebrates it in these verses Sicutaquis quondam Noë sua misit in orbem Pignora sedatis ut Gens humana per omnes Debita caelituum Patri daret orgy a terras Sic sua cum vellet Deus alta in regna reverti Discipulos quosdam transmisit ad ultima mundi Littora docturos Gentes quo Numina ritu Sint oranda quibus Coelum placabile sacris As when the Flood ore-spred old carefull Noe His sons disperst throughout the world to showe The Law of God and sacred rites to pay So when our Saviour would no longer stay On earth a mission of his Schollers he To th' utmost bounds of th' earth with Charter free Doth make to instruct the world both how to pray And to appease Gods wrath with sacred Lay. In both Asiaes the Gospell was throughly preached but now the subtlety of Satan and that carnall law of Mahomet have infected these soule-sick Nations for all which Christ has his flock there which though at this time scattered yet in due time shall be gathered and made one blessed company In Persia are many thousand Christians in India a no lesse multitude compared indeed to other Idolaters but a hand-full yet that does not discourage them 't is better go to heaven alone than to hell with an innumerable multitude Arnobius of old times could say Nationibus cunctis nos sumus Christiani In many marittim Townes of India that name is honoured In Meliapore Narsinga Coolan Gucurran Curigan Bipur Tanor Battacala Onor Cranganor Goa and other places are Christians yea in many Indian Iles some are numbered among Mahomitans they have freedome of conscience from that Azoara in the Alcoran That none are to be diswaded
worth his adoration Others regard the Sunne Moon Starres as heavenly soules and helpers and other some the refreshing streames shading trees and the like whereby I may fitly paralell them with what Tacitus speaks of the Celtes our neighbours Multa simulacra multum peregrinae superstitionis vestigim ibi videre liceat They have many solemne Festivalls In some of them they fasten sick or needy-men made stupid by too much zeale to a hook or engine which being hoist to elevate him with the Pagod the blood trickling from his wounded shoulders excessit medicina modum is preserved by the Priest at his discent as a meritorious sacrifice dasht against a Tree and after he has in most submissive sort intreated the divell to accept his offring returnes fild with joy and applause and hopes to thrive the better ever after They Offer in the night first making the streets bright as day by a multitude of lights then stuffing their hands and bags with ryce they glomerate and wind in dances in every corner wher a puppit-god sits throwing ryce and fruits but being once out of the magick ring haste away not daring to looke back lest the Devill should teare them for this their gratitude They use not common burialls in that the Carcaffe is placed in a deep cave long and narrow or betwixt two walls built so of purpose and wherein the foolish widdow immures her self never after speaking to any but expecting death by the arrow of Famine of all other the most formidable and insufferable Their Habits are best part nakednesse the zone excuses cloathing They delight in fishing and to sport upon the water in boates or curricurries thus shaped A Curricurre or boat Of Malacca MALACCA Terra aurifera in Iosephus elevates the Artick Pole 5 degr from the Aequator Was known of old by the name of Aurea Chersonesus and if my ayme deceive me not the same Ptolomy in his 7 lib. 2. c. cals Facola and more likely to be part of Ophyr from such abundance of Gold as hence in Pegu Syam Borneo and Sumatra is and has ever been ravished and in that Ophyr and Hobab with Havilah their brother sonnes of Ioctan here inhabited rather than Hispaniola supposed Ophyr by Columbus and Stephanus Soffala by Ortelius Gambra by Artius Montanus Ormus by Danaeus or those moon conceits of Peru by bold fac't Goropius or that Spanish brag of Pineda who threatens those that will not beleeve Cadiz was it for I see this place admits the conjecture better both from the Port of Ezion-geber in the red Sea whence by Arabia's shore and the Indian they might without helpe of the Adamant or Pole Starre facilitate their voyage and that this place has of old been denominate the Land of gold This old verse of Tzetza points at it Insula est Indica quam Poetae Auraeam vocant Alii vero peninsulam dicunt sed non Insulam Hebraei autem Ophyr Lingua sua vocant Habet enim Metalla Auri Lapides omnifarios Excellenter magis vero Prasinum lapidem The golden Indian Ile by Poets sung A peninsule some name it and no Ile The Hebrews call it Ophyr in their tongue All sorts of stones and mynes of gold ere while Are found there with the choisest Prasine stone And Malacca is a Chersonesse or Peninsula which makes it agree the better with this description of Ophyr The Citie Malacca is under 5 some observe 4 degrees North and obeys the Monarchy of Syam ever since Abdalla the honest King therof was An. 1508. most inconsideratly beheaded by the Portugall and that upon Sequeyra's complaint Albuquerk sackt it obteining an incredible masse of treasure 3000 peeces of great Ordnance and so much minted coyne that the King of Portugalls part being but a fift came to 250000 ryalls of 8 a conquest so forceable that notwithstanding the Castle and Garison left there by the Lusitanian the Syam King at his owne leisure prostrated it The Citie is above 3 miles long but very narrow built in a hemicycle upon the banks of a pleasant river as broad as is the Thames but not so potable a rivolet of sweeter water glides gently thorow the Town over which is rais'd a Bridge strong though meanly beautifull the wals circling her are reasonable strong but invalidable against the fiery vomits of the Cannon the buildings are generally low and base and lined with poore furniture though they want no gold to buy it with but being dark and close t is the lesse usefull the most observable are her Fanes Cypresses and Gardens the streets and fields show many delightfull Arbours and choyce fruits amongst which the Duroyen as valewable with them as Mynes of Gold and Silver abounding here Corne Suger and some other rarities the people are naturally hospitable affected with musick songs and strangers howbeit impatient and fierce if exasperated jealous if occasioned deceitfull if too much credited their language is epedemic and serves no lesse in these parts than with us the Latine in other parts the Arabic leave we Synca-pura and passe to Patania an easie dyaes journey thence Of Patania PATANIA Perimula of old at this day a well-known Citie in the Bengalan or Argaric gulph and extra Gangem elevates the Pole Artick about 7 degrees and is scituate in midst of those two famous Ports Malacca and Syam The government is Monarchicall the Kings derive themselves from a Gentile King of Delly who when he had subdued Patania left his sonne Gingee his Prorex here and from whom the late Queene and this Prince are truly branched The Mogull oft threatens to dethrone him yey he sits close and keeps his owne especially safeguarded by interposing Ganges and some small but usefull I'lets where he advantagiously fortefies The Towne is strong and best defended by 12 peeces of great brasse Ordnance one of them a Basilisco is twenty six foot long well proportioned in bore and squaring Some Temples of Idolatry Patania shews furnisht with wooden gods for politheisme but more note-worthy in some antick Monumēts of former Kings The people are black and go with the most part of their bodies naked they take great delight in eating of Betle and Opium and love Areck or strong liquor exceedingly they usually eat in plates of gold They frequently speak three Languages the Malay Siam and that of Chyna Their writing differs one which is the Malay from the right hand to the left as the Hebrews another which is the Syam from the left to the right as we a third which is the China right downe and bending no way all three very usuall and affected by the industrious They are part Moores and part Gentiles the one so worship God as the other do Pa-Gods or Idolls They are hospitable to such strangers as from desire of novely or gain reside amongst them neither do they enquire of what Countrie they be what their Businesse nor Religion The men of note transcend in curtesie for at any mans arrivall they
knowledge but make them more capable of torment than if they had been far more barbarous From Macasser to Cambyna W. N. W. are foure and twentie leagues to Nossaseres eightie The I le is fruitfull though under the most frying part of the burning Zone The Son yeelds them day and heat enough but Night their complexion the habit they weare differs not from their grandfather Adams a few fig or plaintan leaves tide about their middles being elsewhere naked the better sort to varie from the vulgar are tulipanted and shirt their coleblack skins with a pure white cloth which does not lenifie the scortching sonne but serves for complementall difference The women are Gods creatures but have adulterated his holy stampe by not only deforming their face and body but by that vile lubricitie their soules are spotted with Impudence goes here unmasked It is no noveltie for them to open the sack they goe in and intice a stranger to concomitate her honesty was lost before but now she ferries two to Barathrum if his body by that voyage leak not to death the Tobacco she proffers him will operate it for such is their damned Art in horrid venom that these Syrens can sing safety to themselves and by the same pipe and weed smoak him to death a trick they will be perfect in though the Divell owne them for it Pythagoras made the wantons of Crotona modest and the men moderate lam qui corrigat alter erit And which is no lesse infernall the men use long canes or truncks cald Sempitans out of which they can use it blow a little pricking quill which if it draw the lest drop of blood from any part of the body it makes him though the strongest man living die immediately some venoms operate in an houre others in a moment the veynes and body by the virulencie of that poyson corrupting and rotting presently to any mans terrour and amazement and feare to live where such abominations predominate You cannot chuse but think this a hell upon earth though at our first approach upon sight of so goodly an Iland we thought it better than Elysium but remembring Impia sub dulci melle venena latent we will away for better places the Moluccoes I meane Ptolomy calls them Syndae than which no part of the Universe gives more delight and varitie of refreshments But by the way cast our eyes upon many small Iles and as we saile due East upon Baly in 8 degr 30. min. and on Tymo 10 degr South 20 min. easterly from the last both of them more rich in stones and spices than some greater Iles about them leave we also Conio and Serran unspoken of not that they are unworthy but because we hast to the Moluccae in view now and where wee meane to rest a while Of the Molucco Jles THey are numbred five Molucco Gillolo Ternate Tidore and Machan where Magellan after his long voyage Anno 1520 lost his life by treachery of these barbarians The English were the first that ever traded to these Iles of any Christians and most of them have acknowledg'd our King their Sovereigne but by the Duch it seemes our men are now thrust out as if all India were theirs by title from the Creation Of these Gillolo is greatest but in Cloves Mace Nutmegs Ginger Pepper Oyle Aloes and Honey all of them alike plentifull All or most of these have the Equinoctiall for their Zenyth and by those diurnall showres and breezes which faile them not and Apolloes commorance the the fruits ripen sooner the earth smells more aromaticall and the Ayre seemes more nutritive than in other places Let us rest a little upon some fruit descriptions Cloves The Clove tree differs in proportion according to the place it receives vigor in some being comparable to the Bay others to Box or such like trees of humble stature 't is most part of the yeere green and pleasant having leaves long and small distending into many branches It blossmes early and becomes exceeding inconstant in complexion from a virgin white palliating other colours in the morne a pale green in the meridian a distempered red sleepes in blacknesse The Cloves manifest themselves at the utmost end of all the branches in great plenty and in their growing evaporate such sense ravishing odours as if a compendium of Natures sweetest gums and delicacies were extracted and here uunited they are thrice yeerly pruined and gratefully retort a treble vintage and though but perfected in 3 yeares yet must be counted an advantage for Physitians tell us they are hot and drie in the third degree corroborate the stomack and benefit concoction Nutmeg The Nutmegg or great Nut like those trees most famous for their exellencies is not very lofty in its heigth scarce so proper as the Cherrie by some resembled to the Peach with which it varies in forme of leafe and graine affecting more assize and compasse The Nut is cloathed with a defensive husk like those of baser quality but at full ripenesse disroabs it selfe and discovers her naked purity the Mace which chastely intwines with a vermilliion blush or colour her endeared fruit and sister both of them breathing out most pleasing smells and perfumes the Mace in few dayes like choisest beauties by Apolloes wanton flames becom's tawny and unlike her former braverie yet in that dissent best pleases the rustick gatherer Neere the Molucco's and neerer the Antartique wee see many other Iles noble in esteeme and rich in qualitie but for that more than barbarous basenesse our miserable Country-men suffered by the Dutch we have no pleasure to stand upon any thing save recitall such are Amboyna placed 'twixt Banda and Molucso Banda in 4 degrees 30 minutes and from Amboyna 24 leagues Puloway from Banda 3 leagues Puloreen from Puloway W.N.W. Lantore the greatest of the Iles of Banda Batan Labatacka Nero Ticobassa Cumber Salame and others all of them especially Puloway and Puloreen seeming continued wildernesses of Nutmegs and Clove-trees Pepper Vines and Olives These two last named commerced first with our Merchants and contracted a perpetuall Amity and Fealty to our King but in despight of them and us the uncivill Dutch whom for their braving humours here pride hate and bloody execution of our innocent men at Amboyna and other places in India I cannot name with patience have banisht our Merchants and entitle themselves Lords of most of Banda Ilands caring neither what right the Tarnatensian nor Banda Kings have over them From these steer wee another course to Borneo a great and wealthy Iland We are soone in sight of it the gale is so prosperous Of Borneo BORNEO or insula bonae fortunoe in Ptol. is Nadyr to the Aequator and resembles an ovall shield the major part inclining North Antartick elevation not mounting above 3 degrees Artick to 7 and odde minutes owes her first discovery by any Christian European to one de Bren who in the yeere of our blessed Lord 1523. anchored
here It groanes at this day for the most part under Spanish bondage who in any place where gold or other treasure is to bee had cease not till they can master it valewing neither soule nor body of any Inhabitant save for their lust with the least weight of that too much soule-confounding creature But let us consider Nulla Coelum reparabile gaza It has many Villages and people but the one are poore in their materiall the other more wretched in their infernall Religion and late taught Idolatry both no way valewable did not those mynes of Gold and Dyamonds and some other merchandises as Bezarrs Musk Amber Lignum Aloes Sanguis Draconûm Wax Rice and Rattans or Canes make her most magneticall Her marittim Townes and Ports exceed not for number but Peu bon Socodania in 1 deg 35 minutes South from Bantam N. E. 160 leagues and Bemermassin Little but good if such thou interpret Safety and Satiety We are landed in so good a place that wee will rest our wearied feet awhile and entertaine your curiosity with a few viands friends though simple food to infeobled Nature Bezar Lignum Aloes Musk Civit Benjamin and Amber Bezar or as the Persians call it Pezar is of two sorts generated in Persia and both the Indyes the American is worse than be these of Asia and the Orient The shape also is various some resembling a plum some a Date-stone others like Egges of Doves some like Cheznuts and Goats kidnies all agree in this they are blunt ended they are no lesse inconstant and divers in colour some being red pale-greene some other-some of a dark yellow and some sky-coloured the last are best these consisting of many skales like Unions and Onions circumvolving one the other and in which Nature has exprest farre more excellency than Arts best ingenuity or perfection for each inferior skale not unlike the glorious Orbes inverted yeelds fresher beauty and more celestiall splendor than the former each skale diminishing being of more vertue as the Bezar is in tenuity or crassitude Many are counterfeit They try them thus either by pearcing them with hot bodkins or after they have wayd them to steep them in cold water foure houres and if it crack not t is not feyned to know it good they then wipe it and ballance it againe observing if it weigh never so little above the first weight 't is base and despicable Note also that Borneo Bezars are not halfe so valewable as Persia's Lignum Aloes from diversity of Countries varie in their Nomenclations The Javans and Malayans name it Garroo Indians and Portuguizes D' Aquillha the Chinae and Cochinchinae Calamba fram'd of large round sticks of a cloody graine commixt with ashy veines no lesse pleasant to the eye than to the hand ponderous the relish or taste proves bitter in its language telling you It would be burned for hot coales of Fyre no sooner touch it but it incendiates and to the honour of its owne Funerall solemnity expires and breaths out an odor so aromatick and comforable that no other is used by the Indians Malayans Siamites Peguans Cambogians and Borneans when they incinerate the Carcasses of their most honoured Parents Musk is either yellow browne or black the first is best last is basest the choysest yellow shews a deep Amber complection not unlike Spikenard cloathed with a reasonable moist skin sweating out some bristly hayres without stones lead or like adulterate mixtures of so strong a smell as seemes offensive but tasted penetrates a strong braine by its fragor sweet spices dead it and put in the mouth if it suddenly dissolve or in the hand if it be long a melting those trialls discover it for bad and imperfect Civit is diversified in colour also deep yellow I have beene told is best the worst is white gerasie and sophisticat how beit the new is pale and soone after groweth yellowish Benjamin by the Malayans call'd Menyan by other Indians Benyan is either pure cleare white or yellow streaked or coloured the gum issues from a tree high small and furnished with fruitlesse branches the leaves are not unlike the Olive Pegu and Siam yeelds the best Arabia very good that from Sumatra Priaman and Barrouse course and had better lik'd of at Iava than in England Amber is of so many formes grey browne white black grey is best black is worst the other two are indifferent The best sort of grey is pure interlac't with ashie veines not subject to sinck and got as Merchants informe us in Soffala Magadoxa Mombassa Mosambique Madagascar Mohelia Melinde other parts of Afrique found there at incertain hazards had at home at easie charge and lesse danger for Gems I will summe up all in naming their proper places and though I borrow the report from Merchants I never thought any many Notes or Language lesse honourable so thereby they may in a decent way prove to the reader advantageous We have Corrall Amber Emrald Calcedon Pearle Onix Sardonix Sardis Bezar Hematist and Turquoise from Arabia Indostan and Persia Pearles Berills Saphyres and Adamants from Zeyloon Jasper Cornelion Agat Heliotrope Jacinth and Chrysolite from Mallabar Narsinga and Cochin-chyna Diamonds from Borneo and Gulkundah Gold Silver Rubies Saphyre Granats Topaz Emrald Smargd Espinells Cats-eyes and Porcellan from Pegu Siam Bengala Sumatra Iapan and Chyna enough to make a poore man rich and rich men miserable Let us now to Sea againe and by a N. N. E. course in few houres view Mindanao an Ile as big as Cicely branching from 6 to above 9 degrees North. North of it and neighbouring are the Phillippinae so named from King Phillip 2 by Lopez de Legaspi who first discovered and planted there Anno Domini 1565. Iles for the greatest part namelesse and numberlesse all of them wounded by avaritious men and branded under Spanish servitude of these the best and greatest in Luconia under 14 degrees North latitude from whence in a direct azumoth West is Cambogia a rich part of the Asiatique Continent North of Luconiae are Shyma and Shycoca knowne by costly neighbourhood to Chyna and Iapan as is Corea also a long narrow peninsule famous in the scite but infamous in her Pagan inhabitants said to bee more subtle cruell and indomitable than be the Chyneses Of Japan IAPAN unlesse Mercators fancie be true that it was Aurea Chersonesus was questionlesse unknowne to old Geographers howbeit the Name Chryse is given it by Niger Zipangri by M. P. Venetus who would rather feigne a name than that so great so noble an I le should be so long innominate The primier discovery wee give to Motus Peshotus and Zeymorus banisht Portugals who in the yeere 1542. were cast upon this I le by storm and accident Whether it bee an I le or no is disputable such as make it one give it in length 600 in bredth 190 miles English for my part I hold it questionable The most Southerly part is removed from the line 32