hung innumerable bells making a continuall strange noyse with the motion of the ayre At the great Gate of this second wall in terrible shapes stood the two Porters of Hell as they call them Bacharom and Qugifau with Iron Maces in their hands terrible to looke on Passing vnder an Iron chayne fastened to the brests of these Diuels wee came into a faire street long and wide compassed with painted arches on the top whereof were two rankes of Idols all that length in which were aboue fiue thousand Images wee knew not of what matter being all gilded with Myters on their heads of diuers inuentions At the end of this street was a great square Hill set with blacke and white shining stones the whole square compassed with foure rewes of Giants of mettall each of fifteene spannes with Halberds in their hands and gilded beards At the end of all stood Quiay Huiaon God of the Raine set vp against a bastion or border seuentie spannes long and his head so high that it reached to the battlements of the tower which were aboue twelue fathoms by his mouth eyes nostrils and brests casting out water which the people below gathered as a great relique This water came from the top of the tower by secret pipes Wee passed vnder his legges which stood as a great portall and came to a large house like a Church with three Iles on marble pillars and on the walls on both sides many Idols great and small of diuers figures all gilded set on their bases in good order At the end of this house on a round of fifteene steps stood an Altar made in fashion of a Throne and thereon the Image of Nacapirau like a goodly woman with her hayre loose and her hands lifted to heauen all of gold so burnished that it dazeled the eyes About that tribunall in the foure first steps stood twelue Kings of China crowned in siluer And beneath were three rewes of gilded Idols on their knees with their hands lifted vp many siluer Candle-sticks hanging about them Going thence wee came to another street of arches like the former and from thence by two others of rich buildings to a great hill in which were eightie two Bells of mettall very great hanging by chaynes from Iron beames sustained with Iron Columnes Thence wee went to a strong Gate 'twixt foure towers in which stood a Chifu with thirtie Halberdiers and two Notaries which tooke the names of all passengers to whom wee gaue thirtie Reis for entrance The fourth remarkable and famous building was in the Riuer of Batampina in an Iland about a league in compasse walled round with stone eight and thirtie spannes aboue water within filled with earth round encompassed with two rewes of Latten grates the vttermost sixe spannes high for people to leane on the inner of nine holding siluer Lions with balls the Armes of the China Kings Within these grates in good order were placed one hundred and thirteene Chappels in manner of round Bulwarkes in each of them was an alabaster Sepulcher seated on the heads of two siluer Serpents with faces of women and three hornes on their heads In euery of them were thirteen Candlesticks of siluer with seuen lights in each burning In the midst of a spacious place compassed with three rewes of grates with two rankes of Idols stood a high Tower with fiue steeples of diuers paintings and on their tops Lions of siluer in which tower the Chinois sayd were the bones of the one hundred and thirteene Kings worshipped by them for great reliques These bones say they euery New Moone feast one with another whereupon the vulgar at those times offer to them infinite store of Fowles of all sorts Rice Kine Hogges Sugar Honey and other prouision which the Priests receiue and deceiue them in recompence with as it were Iubilees of plenarie Indulgences and remission of sinnes as they beleeue In this Tower wee saw a rich house all lined with siluer plates from the top to the bottome in which stood those one hundred and thirteene Kings statues and the bones of each King in his owne statue and they say that by night these Kings communicate and passe the time together which none may see but the Cabizondos a higher degree of Bonzos as that of Cardinals with vs which fables they beleeue for very certaintie In this great circuit wee told three hundred and fortie Bells of mettall and cast Iron in seuenteene places by twentie in a place which all sound on those New-moone feasts abouesayd Neere to that tower in a rich Chappell built on seuen and thirtie columnes of stone stood the Image of Amida made of siluer with the hayres of gold on a Throne of foureteene steps all wrought with gold the hands eleuated to Heauen beneath her shoulders hung like lines of beades many little Idols as big as the middle finger and the secret parts were couered with two great Oyster-pearles garnished with gold They being demanded the meaning of this mysterie sayd that after the generall Floud in which all mankinde was drowned God sent Amida from the Heauen of the Moone being great Chamberlaine to Nacapirau his wife to restore the destroyed world who setting heere feete in Calempluy before mentioned being lately freed of the waters shee turned it into gold and there standing on her feet with her face in heauen a great quantitie of Creatures issued from downe her arme downe her right hand Males and Females downe the left hauing no other place in her bodie whence to bring them foorth as other women of the world whom for sinne God hath subiected to filthinesse of corruption to shew how filthy sinne is After shee had finished this trauell or child-birth of 33333. Creatures as they number one third part Males and two parts Females shee remayned so weake hauing no bodie to prouide her any thing that with dizzinesse shee fell to the ground dead without recouerie Whereat the Moone in condoling her death couered her selfe with sorrow which are those shadowes wee see from the earth which say they shall remaine so many yeers as she produced Creatures 33333 then the Moone shall put off her maske of sorrow and the night shall bee after as cleere as the day Such and other like mad stuffe did they tell which might make one wonder and more to weepe that the Deuill should gull them with such manifest lyes being otherwise so vnderstanding a people From this Hill we went to another Temple of Nuns sumptuous and rich in which they told vs was the Mother of this King Nhay Camisama but would not let vs enter being strangers Thence by a street of Arches wee went to a hauen called Hicharioo Topileu where was store of strange shipping of diuers Kingdomes which come continually to that Temple for a plenarie Iubilee which the King with many priuiledges hath granted them and dyet on free cost To speake of other Temples and
the things which she bringeth with her and all her house-hold stuffe But besides her they may marrie I say they may keepe and doe keepe as many as they are able as many Wiues as they will which for the most part they buy and afterward when they will sell them away againe They may not only not marrie with any Kinswomen of their Wiues but with none of that surname though they haue no shew of Alliance The sonnes of the Concubines doe likewise inherit and there is little or no difference in their state and honour to be the Sonne of the lawfull Wife or of the other neyther make they any question of it The thing wherein the Chinois are most obseruant Ceremonious and Superstitious is in their Burials Funerals and Mournings for herein they shew their obedience and loue to their Parents whereof their bookes are full It is a very ordinary thing to haue great respect to their Father and Mother and the disobedient are grieuously punished Many graue men and Mandarins begge leaue of the King to leaue their Offices which they haue and to goe home to keepe their Father and Mother company yeelding for a reason that they be old and that they would goe to serue them And it is a Petition in the sight of all men so iust that they grant it very vsually When the Father or the Mother dieth all the Sonnes and Daughters from the King to the meanest Peasant doe mourne for three yeares The mourning colour which among vs is blacke Bayes among them is white Linnen whereof they make all their apparell euen to the Cap. The first monethes they weare a very rough Sack-cloth girded with a Coard like the bare-footed Friers And though he be neuer so great a Mandarin without any exception saue only the Mandarins of the Warre assoone as hee heareth newes of the death of any of his Parents he is to leaue his Office and Dignitie and all other Employment whatsoeuer of Gouernment and Examinations of obtayning his degree and is to goe home for three yeares to burie his Father or Mother and to mourne and bewaile them The graue men which haue an house for this purpose doe not straitway burie their dead but keepe them two or three yeares in the house in a Chamber which they keepe for this Office and it is not the worst in the house and very vsually or euery day they go thither to make them a thousand Ceremonies and Reuerences and to burne Incense and other sweet sauours and to set ouer the place where they be laid meate to eate and at seuerall times many of those Bonzi doe meet and with great Ceremonies begin their Seruice and Prayers and their Sonnes Kinsefolkes and Wiues make lamentation The Mandarins do not only leaue their Offices and change their Weeds but also all the things which they did vse Many sit not in Chaires but vpon low Stooles they visit or suffer themselues to be seene very seldome they change euen the very Paper wherein they write wherein they haue a piece of another colour in token of mourning when they name themselues in their Letters they vse not the name which they did at other times but others proper to the partie as when he nameth himselfe hee calleth himselfe disobedient signifying that by his disobedience to his Parents he did not preserue them aliue They vse no kind of Musikce and many change their ordinarie Diet into courserfood Vpon the Funerall day they prouide great company many Kinsfolkes and Friends meete together all clad in white with many Bonzi according to euery mans abilitie which sing with dolefull Instruments And by their apparell which they weare and their time in singing hee that knew them not would take them for Clerkes reuested singing plaine Song for they much resemble them They make many Beeres with men of Paper or of white Silke many Banners and other Ensignes The place whither the Corps goeth is adorned with many figures the Corps is put into a very great Coffin This Nation holdeth a great part of their felicitie for them and their Successours to consist in these things of their Funerals especially in two the Coffin or Chist wherein the Corps is to be layed and the place of their buriall The stuffe to make the Coffin of wherein themselues are to bee buried and the making of the Coffin they leaue not to others to doe after their deathes neither then may the body looke for much cost to make one of these Coffins neither in this as a thing of great importance will they trust no not their owne Sons but they themselues at leisure seeke some kind of Wood that is least corruptible and Plankes which are commonly foure sixe or eight fingers thicke which because they bee so thicke and the Chists or Coffins very closely shut they can keepe their Corps in their Houses without any euill smell Some spend in making their Coffin seuenty eighty and an hundred Duckets They hold it for a felicity to be able to get one of these that is good on the contrary for a great disgrace not to haue a Coffin to burie himselfe in and they are very few which faile in that one point The Sepulchre and place thereof is the thing for choosing whereof they vse great Sorcerie or casting of Lots and doe it with great heedfulnesse and with the helpe of some that are skilfull in this Art For they hold opinion that in making a good choice of the place dependeth a great part of their owne good fortune and of their Posteritie And oftentimes they are a yeare in resoluing whether it shall looke toward the North or to any other part And therefore the greatest and most contentious Sutes which are in China are about places of Burials These places of Burials are alwayes without the wals in the fields or Mountaynes wherein they build Vaults very well made and strong of Bricke stone or other matter wherein they lay the Coffin and then close it vp very surely And afterward now and then they come thither to performe certain Ceremonies to bring things to eat They hold it very vnluckie to burie a dead man in the Citie and if they know it though he were the greatest man that is in China they will not suf-him to bewaile his dead Friends much especially those which are women There are many which beleeue the passing of the soules from one bodie into another and therefore after the death of their Father and Mother they will neuer kill any liuing beast yeelding for a reason why they will not doe so lest some of them should be their Mother or Father or some other other person And likewise many of them fast because that whereas some of them bee poore they desire afterward to be borne againe in a rich and honourable Family Although it bee true that the most part of them beleeue not in Idols and it offendeth them
illusion whatsoeuer They report of one of the Kings Inguis a man of a subtile spirit who seeing that all his predecessours had worshipped the Sunne said that he did not take the Sunne to be God neither could it be for that God was a great Lord who with great quiet and leasure performed his workes and that the Stone doth neuer cease his course saying that the thing which laboured so much could not seeme to be God They came to the height of Idolatry by the same meanes the Scripture maketh mention of first they had a care to keepe the bodies of their Kings and Noblemen whole from any ill scent or corruption aboue two hundred yeeres In this sort were their Kings Inguas in Cusco euery one in his Chappell and Oratory so as the Marquesse of Canette beeing Viceroy to root out Idolatry caused three or foure of their Gods to be drawne out and carried to the Citie of Kings which bred a great admiration to see these bodies dead so many yeeres before remayne so faire and also whole Euery one of these Kings Inguas left all his Treasure and Reuenues to entertayne the place of worship where his body was laid and there were many Ministers with all his Family dedicated to his seruice for no King Successor did vsurpe the Treasureâ— and Plate of his Peedecessor but he did gather all new for himselfe and his Palace They were not content with this Idolatry to dead bodies but also they made their figures and representations and euery King in his life time caused a figure to be made wherein he was represented which they called Guaoigui which signifieth Brother for that they should doe to this Image during his life and death as much honour and reuerence as to himselfe They carried this Image to the warres and in procession for raine or faire weather making sundry Feasts and Sacrifices vnto them There haue beene many of these Idols in Cusco and in that Territory but now they say that this Superstition of worshipping of stones hath altogether ceased or for the most part after they had beene discouered by the diligence of the Licentiate Pollo and the first was that of the Inguas Rocha chiefe of the faction or race of Hanam Cusco And we find that among other Nations they had in great estimation and reuerence the bodies of their Predecessors and did likewise worship their Images THe Indians of Peru beleeued commonly that the Soules liued after this life and that the good were in glorie and the bad in paine so as there is little difficultie to perswade them to these Articles But they are not yet come to the knowledge of that point that the bodies should rise with the Soules And therefore they did vse a wonderfull care as it is said to preserue the bodies which they honoured after death to this end their Successors gaue them Garments and made Sacrifices vnto them especially the Kings Inguas being accompanied at their Funerals with a great number of seruants and women for his seruice in the other life and therefore on the day of his decease they did put to death the woman he had loued best his Seruants and Officers that they might serue him in the other life When as the Guanacapa dyed who was father to Atagualpa at what time the Spaniards entred they put to death aboue a thousand persons of all ages and conditions for his seruice to accompany him in the other life after many songs and drunkennesse they slew them and these that were appointed to death held themselues happy They did sacrifice many things vnto them especially yong children and with the bloud they made a stroake on the dead mans face from one eare to the other This superstition and inhumanity to kill both men and women to accompany and serue the dead in the other life hath beene followed by others and is at this day vsed amongst some other barbarous Nations And as Pollo wâ—ites it hath beene in a manner generall throughout all the Indies The reuerent Beda reports that before the Englishmen were conuerted to the Gospell they had the same custome to kill men to accompany and serue the dead It is written of a Portugall who being captiue among the Barbarians had beene hurt with a dart so as he lost one eye and as they would haue sacrificed him to accompany a Nobleman that was dead he said vnto them that those that were in the other life would make small account of the dead if they gaue him a blinde man for a companion and that it were better to giue him an attendant that had both his eyes This reason being found good by the Barbarians they let him goe Besides this superstition of sacrificing men to the dead being vsed but to great Personages there is another farre more generall and common in all the Indies which is to set meate and drinke vpon the graue of the dead imagining they did feede thereon the which hath likewise beene an errour amongst the Auncients as Saint Austine writes and therefore they gaue them meate and drinke At this day many Indian Infidels do secretly draw their dead out of the Churchyard and bury them on hils or vpon passages of Mountaines or else in their owne houses They haue also vsed to put Gold and Siluer in their mouth hands and bosome and to apparell them with new Garments durable and well lined vnder the herse They beleeue that the soules of the dead wandred vp and downe and indure cold thirst hunger and trauel and for this cause they make their anniuersaries carrying them cloathes meate and drinke HAuing reported what many Nations of Peru haue done with their dead it shall not be from the purpose to make particular mention of the Mexicans in this point whose mortuaries were much solemnised and full of notable follies It was the office of the Priests and religious of Mexico who liued there with a strange obseruance as shall be said hereafter to interre the dead and doe their obsequies The places where they buried them was in their Gardens and in the Courts of their owne houses others carried them to the places of sacrifices which were done in the Mountaines others burnt them and after buried the ashes in their Temples and they buried them all with whatsoeuer they had of Apparell Stones and Iewels They did put the ashes of such as were burnt into pots and with them the Iewels Stones and Eare-rings of the dead how rich and precious soeuer They did sing the Funerall offices like to answeres and did often lift vp the dead bodies doing many ceremonies At these mortuaries they did eate and drinke and if it were a person of quality they gaue apparell to all such as came to the interment When any one dyed they laid him open in a chamber vntill that all his kinsfolks and friends were come who brought presents vnto the dead and saluted him as if he were liuing And if he were
all such as had the vse of reason not to drinke any water which if they did the anger of God would come vpon them and they should die which they did obserue very carâ—fully and strictly The ceremonies dancing and sacrifice ended they went to vnclothe themselues and the Priests and Superiors of the Temple tooke the Idoll of paste which they spoyled of all the ornaments it had and made many pieces as well of the Idoll it selfe as of the Tronchons which were consecrated and then they gaue them to the Communion beginning with the greater and continuing vnto the rest both Men Women and little Children who receiued it with such teares feare and reuerence as it was an admirable thing saying that they did eate the flesh and bones of God wherewith they were grieued Such as had any sicke folkes demanded thereof for them and carried it with great reuerence and veneration All such as did communicate were bound to giue the tenth of this seede whereof the Idoll was made The solemnitie of the Idoll being ended an old man of great authoritie stept vp into a high place and with a loud voice preached their Law and Ceremonies THe father of lyes would like wise counterfait the Romish Sacrament of Confession and in his Idolatries seeke to be honored with ceremonies very like to the manner of Christians In Peru they held opinion that all diseases and aduersities came for the sinnes which they had committed for remedie whereof they vsed sacrifices moreouer they confessed themselues verbally almost in all Prouinces and had Confessors appointed by their Superiors to that end there were some sinnes reserued for the Superiors They receiued penance yea somtimes very sharply especially when the Offendor was a poore man and had nothing to giue his Confessor This office of Confessor was likewise exercised by Women The manner of these Confessors Sorcerers whom they call Ychuâ—ri or Ychuri hath beene most generall in the Prouinces of Collasuâ—â— They hold opinion that it is a haynous sinne to conceale any thing in confession The Ychuiri or Confessors discouered by lots or by the view of some beast Hides if any thing were concealed and punished them with many blowes with a stone vpon the shoulders vntill they had reuealed all then after they gaue him penance and did sacrifice They doe likewise vse this confession when their children wiues husbands or their Caciques be sicke or in any great exploit And when their Ingua was sicke all the Prouinces confessed themselues chiefly those of the Prouince of Collao The Confessor were bound to hold their Confessions secret but in certaine cases limited The sinnes that they chiefly confessed was first to kill one another out of warre then to steale to take another mans wife to giue poyson or sorcerie to doe any harme and they held it to be a grieuous sinne to be forgetfull in the reuerence of their Guacas or Oratories not to obserue the Feasts or to speake ill of the Ingua and to disobey him They accused not themselues of any secret acts and sinnes But according to the report of some Priests after the Christians came into that Country they accused themselues of their thoughts The Ingua confessed himselfe to no man but onely to the Sunne that hee might tell them to Virachoca and that hee might forgiue them After the Ingua had beene confessed he made a certaine bath to cleanse himselfe in a running Riuer saying these words I haue told my sinnes to the Sunne receiue them O thou Riuer and carry them to the Sea where they may neuer appeare more Others that confessed vsed likewise these baths with certaine ceremonies very like to those the Moores vse at this day which they call Guadoy and the Indians call them Opacuna When it chanced that any mans children dyed hee was held for a great sinner saying that it was for his sinnes that the sonne dyed before the father And therefore those to whom this had chanced after they were confessed were bathed in this bath called Opacuna as is said before Then some deâ—ormed Indian crooke-backt and counterfait by nature came to whip them with certaine Nettles If the Sorcerers or Inchanters by their lots and diuinations affirmed that any sicke body should die the sicke man makes no difficultie to kill his owne sonne though he had no other hoping by that meanes to escape death saying that in his place he offered his sonne in sacrifice And this crueltie hath beene practised in some places euen since the Christians came into that Country In truth it is strange that this custome of confessing their secret sinnes hath continued so long amongst them and to doe so strict penances as to fast to giue apparell gold and siluer to remaine in the Mountaynes and to receiue many stripes vpon the shoulders Our men say that in the Prouince of Chiquito euen at this day they meet with this plague of Confessors oâ— Ychuris where as many sicke persons repaire vnto them but now by the grace of God this people begins to see cleerly the effect and great benefit of our Confession whereunto they come with great deuotion I will report the manner of a strange confession the Deuill hath inuented at Iapon as appeares by a Letter that came from thence which saith thus There are in Ocaca very great and high and steepe Rocks which haue pricks or points on them aboue two hundred fathom high Amongst these Rocks there is one of these pikes or points so terribly high that when the Xamaâ—usis which be Pilgrimes doe but looke vp vnto it they tremble and their baire stares so fearfull and horrible is the place Vpon the top of this point there is a great rod of Iron of three fathom long placed there by a strange deuice at the end of this rod is a ballance â—yed whereof the scarles are so bigge as a man may sit in one of them and the Goquis which be Deuils in humane shape command these Pilgrimes to enter therein one after another not leauing one of them then with an engine or instrument which mooueth by meanes of a wheele they make this rod of Iron whereon the ballance is hanged to hang in the aire one of these Xamaâ—usis being set in one of the scales of the ballance And as that wherein the man is set hath no counterpoise on the other side it presently hangeth downe and the other riseth vntill it meets with and toucheth the rod then the Goquis telleth them from the Rocke that they must confesse themselues of all the sinnes they haue committed to their remembrance and that with a loud voyce to the end that all the rest may heare him Then presently hee beginneth to confesse whilest some of the standers by doe laugh at the sinnes they doe heare and others sigh and at euery sinne they confesse the other scale of the ballance falls a little vntill that hauing told all his sinnes it remaines equall with the other wherein the
they blessed the annointed King and sprinkled him foure times with a certaine holy water that was made at the time of consecration of the God made of dowe or paste with a sprinkle made of bowes of Cane leaues Cedar and Willow leaues Then they put vpon his head cloth painted with the bones and souls of dead men and next they cloathed him with a blacke garment vpon that another blew and both were painted with the figures of dead mens sculs and bones Then they put about his necke certaine laces whereat did hang the armes of the Crowne And behinde his back they did hang certain little bottels full of powders by vertue wherof he was deliuered from pestilence and diseases according to their opinion yea and thereby Witches nor Witchcrafts could not hurt him nor yet euill men deceiue him In fine with those relicks he was sure from all perill and danger Vpon his left arme they bound a little bagge of Incense and then brought vnto him a chaffing-dish of imbers made of the barke of an Oke tree Then the King arose and with his owne hand threw of the same Incense into the chaffing-dish and with great reuerence brought the same to the god Vitzilopuchtli and after he had smoaked him therewith he sat him downe then came the high Priest and tooke his oath to maintaine the religion of the gods to keepe also all the lawes and customes of his predecessours to maintaine iustice and not to aggrauate any of his vassals or subiects and that he should be valiant in the warres that he should cause the Sunne to giue his light the clouds to yeelde raine the riuers to runne and the earth to bring forth all kinde of graine fruites and other needefull hearbs and trees These and many other impossible things the new King did sweare to performe and then he gaue thankes to the high Priest and commended himselfe to the gods and to the lookers on and they who brought him vp in the same order carrieth him downe againe Then all the people cried the Gods preserue the new King and that he may raigne many yeares in health with all his people But then some began to dance other to play on their instruments shewing outwardly their inward ioyes of heart And before the King came to the foote of the steps all the Noblemen came to yeelde their obedience and in token of louing and faithfull subiects they presented vnto him Feathers strings of Snaile-shels Collers and other Iewels of Gold and Siluer also Mantels painted with death and bare him company vnto a great hall within the compasse of the Temple and there left him The King sitteth downe vnder his cloath of estate called Tlacatecco and in foure dayes departeth not out of the circuit of the Temple the which hee spends in prayers sacrifice and penance he eates then but once a day and euery day he bathes himselfe and againe in the night in a great pond of water and then lets himselfe bloud in his eares and senseth therewith the god of water called Tlaloc he likewise senseth the other Idols vnto whom he offereth Bread Flowers Papers and little Canes died in the bloud of his owne tongue nose hands and other parts of his body After the foure dayes expired then come all the Noblemen to beare him company to his Pallace with great triumph and pleasure of all the Citie but after his consecration few or none dare looke him in the face And now with the declaration of the Acts and Ceremonies that the Mexican Kings are crowned I shall not neede to rehearse of other Kings for generally they all doe vse the same order sauing that other Princes goe not vp to the top of the Temple but abide at the foote of the steps to be crowned and after their Coronation they come to Mexico for their confirmation and then at their returne to their Countrey they made many drunken feasts and banquets The Mexicans did beleeue that the Soule was immortall and that they receiued either ioy or paine according to their deserts and liuing in this world vnto which opinion all their religion did attaine and chiefly appeare at their burials They held for an assured faith that there were nine places appointed for soules and the chiefest place of glory to be neere vnto the Sunne where the soules of those which were good men slaine in the warres and those which were sacrificed were placed and that all other sorts of euill persons their soules abode on the earth and were deuided after this sort children that were dead borne went to one place those which died of age or other disease went to another those which died of sudden death to another those which died of wounds or contagious diseases went to another place those which were drowned went to another those which were put to death for offence by order of Iustice as for robbery and adultery to another Those which slew their Fathers Mothers Wiues or Children to another place by themselues also those who slew their Masters or any religious person went to another place The common sort of people were buried but Lords and rich men had their bodies burned and their ashes buried In their shrowdes they had a great difference for many dead bodies were buried better apparelled then when they were on liue Women were shrowded after another sort And hee that suffered death for adultery was shrowded like vnto the God of lecherie called Tlazoulteutl he that was drowned like vnto the god of water named Tlacoc and he that died with drunkennesse was shrowded like vnto the god of wine called Ometochtli But the Souldier had an honorable shrowde like vnto the attire of Vitzilopuchtli and the like order in all other sorts of deaths When any King of Mexico happened to fall sicke they vsed forthwith to put a visor vpon the face of Tezcatlipaca or Vitzilopuchtli or some other Idoll which Visor was not taken away vntill they saw whether the King did amend or else dye But if he chanced to dye then word was sent throughout all his Dominions to bewaile his death and also other postes were sent is call the Noblemen that were his nighest kinsmen and to warne them within foure daies to come vnto his buriall The dead body was laid vpon a faire Mat and was watched foure nights with great lamentation and mourning then the body was washed and a locke of haire cut from the crowne of his head which was preserued as a great relicke saying that therein remained the remembrance of his soule This done a fine Emerald was put in his mouth and his body shrowded in seuenteene rich Mantels of colours both rich and costly wrought Vpon the vpper Mantle was set the deuise or armes of Vitzilopuchtli or Tezcalipuca or some other Idoll in whom the King had great confidence in his life time and in his Temple should the body be buried Vpon his face they put a visor painted with foule and Deuillish
iestures beset with many Iewels Precious stones and Pearles Then they killed his slaue whose office was to light the Lampes and make fire vnto the gods of his Pallace These things done they carried the dead body vnto the Temple some followed him with dolefull tune others sung the death of the King by note for so was the custome The Noblemen and Gentlemen of his houshold carried Targets Arrowes Mases and Ensignes to throw into the fire where the body should be buried in the Temple The high Priest and all the Clergie receiued him at the Temple gate with a sorrowfull song and after he had said certaine words the body was throne into a great fire made for the purpose with all the Iewels that he had about him and all the other things which was brought to honour the buriall also a Dogge newly strangled with an Arrow which was to guide him his way In the meane while that the King and Dogge were burning the Priests sacrificed two hundred persons howbeit in his Ceremonie there was no ordinary taxe for sometimes they sacrificed many moe they were opened with a Rasor of flint in the breasts and their hearts taken out and throwne into the fire where the Kings body was These miserable persons being sacrificed and their bodies throwne into a hole they beleeued assuredly that those should serue for his slaues in another world some of them were Dwarffes monstrous and deformed persons with some women They placed about the dead body of the King before his buriall Roses Flowers and sundrie dishes of meate and drinke and no creature durst touch the same but onely the Priests for it seemed to be an offering The next day following all the ashes were gathered together and the teeth with the Emerald that was in his mouth the which things were put into a Chest painted on the inside with horrible figures of deuils and the locke of haire which was cut from his crowne and another locke of haire which was preserued from the time of his birth Then the Chest was lockt and an Image of wood made and cloathed like vnto the Kings person which was set on the top of the Chest. The obsequies endured foure dayes in the which the wiues and daughters of the King offered great offerings at the place where his body was buried and before the Chest and his Image On the fourth day after the buriall fifteene slaues were sacrificed for his soule and on the twentieth day other fiue persons were also sacrificed likewise on the sixtie three and fourescore which was like vnto the yeares minde The Kingdome of Michuacan is almost as great as the Empire of Mexico and when any King of that Countrey happened to be visited with sicknesse and brought to such extremitie that hope of life were past according to the opinion of Phisitions then would he name and appoint which of his Sonnes should inherite the estate and being knowne the new King or heire incontinent sent for all the Gouernours Captaines and valiant Souldiors who had any office or charge to come vnto the buriall of his Father and he that came not from thenceforth was held for a Traitour and so punished When the death of the old King was certaine then came all degrees of Estates and brought presents to the new King for the approbation of his Kingdome but if the King were not throughly dead but at the point of death then the gates were shut in and none permitted to enter and when his life was departed then began a generall cry and mourning and they were permitted to come where their dead King lay and to touch him with their hands this being done the carkasse was washed with sweete waters and then a fine shirt put vpon him and a paire of shooes made of a Deere skinne put on his feete and about his anckles were tied certaine Bels of Gold about his wristes of his hands were put Manyllias of Turkies and other Bracelets of Gold likewise about his necke they hung other collers of precious stones and gold and rings in his eares with a great Turkise in his neather lippe Then his body was laid vpon a large beere whereon was placed a good bed vnder him on his one side lay a Bowe with a quiuer of Arrowes and on his other side lay an Image made of fine Mantels of his owne stature or highnesse with a great tuffe of fine feathers shooes vpon his feete with Bracelets and a coller of gold While his worke was a doing others were busied in washing the men and women which should be slaine for to accompany him into Hell these wretched folke that should be slaine were banqueted and filled with drinke because they should receiue their death with lesse paine The new King did appoint those who should dye for to serue the King his Father but yet many of them had rather haue beene without his seruice notwithstanding some simple soules esteemed that odious death for a thing of immortall glory First seuen Gentlewomen of noble parentage were appointed to dye the one to haue the office of keeper of his Iewels which he was wont to weare another for the office of Cup-bearer another to giue him water with a Bason and Ewer another to giue him alwayes the Vrinall another to be his Cooke and another to serue for Laundresse They slew also many woman-slaues and free maidens for to attend vpon the Gentlewomen and moreouer one of euery occupation within the Citie When all these that were appointed to dye were washed and their bellies full with meate and drinke then they painted their faces yellow and put garlands of sweete flowers vpon each of their heads Then they went in order of procession before the beere whereon the dead King was carried some went playing on Instruments made of Snailes shels others played vpon bones and shels of Sea-turtils others went whistling and the most part weeping the Sonnes of the dead King and other Noblemen carried vpon their shoulders the Beere where the Course lay and proceeded with an easie pace toward the Temple of the god Curicaueri his kinsmen went round about the Beere singing a sorrowfull song The officers and houshold seruants of the Court with other Magistrates and Rulers of iustice bare the Standards and diuers other armes About midnight they departed in the order aforesaid out of the Kings pallace with great light of fire brands and with a heauie noise of Trumpets and Drummes The Citizens which dwelt where the Corse passed attended to make cleane the streete And when they were come to the Temple they went foure times round about a great fire made of the wood of Pine tree which was prepared to burne the dead body then the Beere was laid vpon the fire and in the meane while that the body was burning they mawled with a club those which had the Garlands and afterward buried them by foure and foure as they were apparelled behinde the Temple The next day in the morning the ashes
Archdeacon of the rest and his friends sent for a certayne Saracen which was a Sooth-sayer Who said vnto them A certayne leane man who neyther eateth nor drinketh nor sleepes in a Bed is angry with him if hee can obtayne his blessing hee may recouer Then they vnderstood it was the Monke And about mid-night the Priests Wife his Sister and his Sonne came intreating that hee would come and blesse him They also raised vs vp to intreate the Monke Then he said vnto vs intreating him Let him alone because hee with three others who likewise tooke euill courses consulted to goe vnto the Court to procure Mangu Chan that I and you should bee expelled from these parts For there arose a contention among them because Mangu and his Wiues sent foure Iascots and certayne Silkes vpon Easter Eeuen to the Monke and Priests to distribute among them And the Monke had kept vnto himselfe one Iascot for his part and of the other three one was counterfeit for it was Copper Whereupon it seemed to the Priests that the Monke had kept too great a portion to himselfe Whence it might bee that they had some words among themselues which were reported to the Monke When day came I went vnto the Priest hauing an extreme griefe in his side and spitting bloud whereupon I thought it was an Impostume Then I counselled him if he had any thing that was an others to restore it He said hee had nothing I spoke vnto him also of the Sacrament of Extreme Vnction Who answered we haue no such custome neither doe our Priests know how to doe it I intreat you that you would doe it for mee as you know best to bee done I aduised him also concerning Confession which they frequent not hee spake shortly in the Eare of a certayne Priest one of his fellowes After this hee beganne to bee better and hee intreated mee to goe for the Monke So I went but the Monke would not come at the first yet when hee heard hee was some-what better hee went with his Crosse. And I also went and carryed in a Boxe of Master Williams the bodie of Christ which I had reserued vpon Easter Day at the intreatie of Master William Then the Monke beganne to kicke him with his feet and hee most humbly imbraced his feet Then I said vnto him It is the custome of the Church of Rome that the sicke should receiue the Bodie of Christ as it were prouision for their iourney and a defence against all the Deceits of the Enemie Behold the Bodie of Christ which I consecrated on Easter Day You must bee confessed and desire it Then said hee with a great Faith I desire it with all my heart Which when I had discouered hee with great affection said I beleeue that this is my Creatour and my Sauiour who gaue mee life and will restore it againe vnto mee after death in the generall Resurrection and so tooke the Bodie of Christ from my hand made after the manner of the Church of Rome Then the Monke abode with him and gaue him in my absence I know not what Potions On the morrow hee beganne to haue the pangs of death vpon him Then taking their Oyle which they said was holy I anointed him according to the manner of the Church of Rome as they intreated mee I had none of our Oyle because the Priests of Sartach kept all And when wee should sing a Dirge and I would haue beene present at his end the Monke sent vnto mee willing me to depart because if I should bee present I could not come into the house of Mangu Chan for one whole yeare Which when I had told his friends they said it was true and requested me to depart lest I might be hindered in that good which I might promote Assoone as hee was dead the Monke said vnto mee care not I haue killed him with my Prayers This fellow only was Learned and opposed himselfe against vs the rest know nothing Henceforth Mangu Chan himselfe and they all will crouch at our feete Then hee declared vnto me the foresaid Answere of the Sooth-sayer Which not beleeuing it I inquired of the Priests who were friends of the dead whether it were true or no. Who said it was But whether he were pre-instructed or not that they knew not Afterwards I found that the Monke called the foresaid Sooth-sayer and his Wife into his Chappell and caused dust to bee sifted and to diuine vnto him For hee had a certayne Rutenian Deacon who diuined to him Which when I vnderstood I was astonied at his foolishnesse and said vnto him Brother a man full of the Holy Ghost which teacheth all things should not demand Answeres or Counsell from Sooth-sayers seeing all such things are forbidden and they excommunicated who follow such things Then hee beganne to excuse himselfe that it was not true that hee sought after such things But I could not depart from him because I was placed there by the commandement of Chan himselfe nor could I remooue my selfe without his speciall command COncerning the Citie of Caracarum know this that excluding the Palace of Chan himselfe it is not so good as the Castle of Saint Denis and the Monasterie of Saint Denis is tenne times more worth then that Palace and more too There are two streets there one of the Saracens where the Faires are kept and many Merchants haue recourse thither by reason of the Court which is alwayes neere and for the multitude of Messengers There is another street of the Cataians who are all Artificers Without those streets there are great Palaces which are the Courts of the Secretaries There are there twelue kindes of Idolatries of diuers Nations Two Churches of Mahomet where the Law of Mahomet is proclaimed one Church of the Christians at the end of the Towne The Towne is inclosed with a mudde Wall and hath foure Gates On the East part Millet and other Graine is sold which yet is seldome brought thither On the West Sheepe and Goates On the South Oxen and Waggons are sold. At the North Horses are sold. Following the Court before the Ascension wee came thither the Sunday before the Ascension The next day after we were called before Bulgai who is a Iustice and chiefe Secretarie both the Monke and all his Family and wee and all the Messengers and Strangers which frequented the house of the Monke And wee were called before Bulgai seuerally first the Monke and after wee and they beganne diligently to inquire whence wee were and for what purpose wee came and what our errand was And this inquirie was made because it was told Mangu Chan that foure hundred Hassasines or secret Murtherers were gone forth in diuers Habits to kill him About that time the foresaid Ladie was restored to health and shee sent for the Monke and hee not willing to goe answered shee hath sent for Idolaters about her let them cure her if they can I will goe no more Vpon Ascension
haue no hearing They agrred vnto it Wee were therefore gathered together on Whidson Euen at our Oratorie and Mangu Chan sent three Writers who should be Iudges one Christian one Saracen and one Tuine And it was proclaimed before This is the Commandement of Mangu Chan And none dare say that the Commandement of God is otherwise He commandeth that none speake contentious or iniurious words to other nor make any tumult whereby this businesse might be hindered vpon paine of his head Then all were silent And there was a great assembly there for euery partie inuited the wisest of their Nation and many others came flocking thither Then the Christians set me in the middle of them willing the Tuinians to speake with mee Then they who are many in number began to murmure against Mangu Chan because neuer any Chan attempted thus much to search into their secrets Then they opposed one vnto mee who came from Cataia hauing his Interpreter and I had Master Williams Sonne And he first said vnto me Friend if you bee brought to a non plus you must seeke a wiser then your selfe But I held my peace Then hee demanded whereof I would first dispute either how the world was made or what becomes of the soules after death To whom I answered Friend this should not be the beginning of our speech All things are of God and he is the Fountayne and head of all Wherefore we ought to speake first of God of whom yee thinke otherwise then we doe And Mangu desires to know who beleeues better Then the Arbitrators iudged this to bee reasonable They would haue begunne with the foresaid questions because they hold them for the strongest for they are all of the Heresie of the Manichees beleeuing that the one halfe of things is bad and the other good and that at the least there are two Principia And concerning the soules they all thinke they passe from body to body Insomuch as one of the wisest of the Nestorian Priests demanded of mee concerning the soules of bruite Beasts whether they could fly any whither where they should not be compelled to labour after death for confirmation also thereof as Master William told mee a certaine child was brought from Cataia who according to the quantitie of his body was not three yeeres old yet notwithstanding was capable of any reason who affirmed of himselfe that he had beene three times incorporated and knew letters and how to write I said to the foresaid Tuinian Wee firmely beleeue with the heart and confesse with the mouth that there is a God and there is but one God and one in perfect vnitie What beleeue you Hee said Fooles say there is but one God but Wise men say there are many Are there not great Lords in your Country and here is a greater Lord Mangu Chan So is it of the gods because in diuers Countries there are diuers To whom I said You make an ill example or comparison of men with God for so euery mightie man in his countrey may be called a god And when I would haue dissolued the similitude hee preuented me inquiring What manner of God is yours whereof you speake that hee is but one I answered Our God beside whom there is no other is Omnipotent and therefore needeth not the helpe of another nay all we haue neede of his helpe it is not so with men No man can doe all things And therefore there must be many Lords in the earth because no one can support all Againe he knowes all things therefore he needes not a Counseller nay all wisedome is from him Moreouer he is perfectly good and needeth not our good nay in him we liue moue and haue our being Such is our God and therefore you must not hold there is any other It is not so saith he Nay there is one highest in the Heauens whose Generation we know not yet and ten are vnder him and vnder them there is one Inferiour And in the Earth there are infinite Then hee would haue added other fables So I asked him of that highest God whether he thought he were Omnipotent or of any other God and fearing to answer hee demanded if your God bee such as you say Why made hee the halfe of things euill It is false said I. Whoso maketh any euill is no God and all things whatsoeuer are good At this word all the Tuinians maruelled and set it downe in writing as false or impossible Then he began to aske Whence therefore commeth euill You aske amisse said I For first you should demand what euill is before you aske whence it is But returne vnto the first question whether you beleeue that any God is Omnipotent and after I will answer you to all whatsoeuer you will demand Then hee sate a long time and would not answer Insomuch as the Writers on the behalfe of Chan were faine to command him to answer At length hee answered That no God was Omnipotent Then all the Saracens brake out into great laughter Silence being made I said Therefore none of your gods can saue you in all dangers because such a chance may happen wherein he hath no power Againe no man can serue two Masters How then can you serue so many Lords in Heauen and in earth The Auditorie willed him to answer But he held his peace Then when I was about to alleadge reasons to proue the truth of the diuine Essence and the Trinitie in euery mans hearing the Nestorians of the Countrey said vnto me that it was enough because they meant to speake So I gaue them place And when they would haue disputed with the Saracens they answered We grant that your Law is true and whatsoeuer is in the Gospell is true Wherefore wee will not dispute with you in any thing and they confessed that they beg at the hands of God in their prayers that they may die the death of the Christians There was there a certaine old Priest of the Sect of Iugurs who confesse one God yet they make Idols with whom they talked much shewing all till the comming of Christ to iudgement declaring the Trinitie to him and the Saracens by similitudes All of them harkened without any contradiction yet none of them said I beleeue and will become a Christian. The conference ended the Nestorians and the Saracens sang together with a loud voice the Tuinians holding their peace and after that they all drunke abundantly VPon Whitsonday Mangu Chan called mee before him and the Tuinian with whom I disputed and before I went in Master Williams sonne my Interpreter said vnto me that we must returne vnto our Countrey and that I should speake nothing against it because he vnderstood it for a certaine When I came before him I must kneele and the Tuinian by mee with his Interpreter Then he said vnto me Tell me the truth whether you said when I sent my Writers vnto you that I was a Tuinian Then I answered
Citie smally frequented by Merchants infinitely by Christians and Saracens for deuotion The Saracens hold him a great Prophet and call him Ananias that is a holy man The Christians take of the Earth where he was slaine which is red and carry it with them with great reuerence and giue it mixed with water to the sicke Anno 1288. A great Prince hauing more Rice then roome to lay it in made bold with Saint Thomas his Church in the roome where Pilgrimes were receiued but by a Vision of Saint Thomas in the night was so terrified that he quickly freed the place The Inhabitants are black not so borne but often anoynt themselues with Sessamine Oyle to obtayne that beautie they paint the Deuill white and their Idols blacke The Beeue-worshippers carry with them to battell some of the haire of a wild Oxe as a preseruatiue against dangers and therefore such haires are dearely prized Murphili or Monsul is Northward from Malabar fiue hundred miles they are Idolaters They haue Diamonds in their hils which they search for after great-raines West-wards from Saint Thomas is Lac whence the Bramines haue originall which are the truest Merchants in the World and will not lye for any thing and trustily keepe any thing committed to their custodie or sell or barter Merchandice for others They are knowne by a Cotton threed which they weare ouer the sholder tyed vnder the arme crossing the brest They haue but one Wife are great Diuiners of great abstinence and long life obserue their owne shadow in the Sunne when they are to buy and thence coniecture according to their Discipline They vse to chew a certayne Herbe which makes their teeth good and helpes digestion There are some Religious of them called Tingui which goe altogether naked liue austerely worshippe the Beeue whereof they haue a little brasse Image on their forehead and of the Oxe bones ashes make an Ointment wherewith they anoynt their bodies in diuers places with great reuerence They nor kill nor eate any quicke creature nor herbe greene or Root before it is dryed esteeming all things to haue a soule They vse no Dishes but lay their Viands on dry leaues of Apples of Paradize They doe their Excrements in the Sands and then disperse it hither and thither lest it should breed Wormes which must presently dye for want of food Some of them liue to one hundred and fiftie yeares and their bodies after death are burned In Zeilan I had forgot to tell of a high Mountayne which none can ascend but by Iron chaines as I was told in the top whereof the Saracens say is Adams Sepulchre the Idolater say it is the body of Sogomonbarchan the first Idol-founder sonne to a King of that Iland which gaue himselfe to a solitarie life on the top of this hill whence no pleasures nor perswasions could draw him His Father made an Image after his death to represent him all of Gold adorned with Gemmes and commanded all the Ilanders to worship it and hence began Idolatry Hither they come from farre places in Pilgrimage and there his haire teeth and a dish of his are reserued and solemnly shewed The Saracens say they are of Adam which report caused the Can Anno 1281. to send Ambassadors thither who obtayned two teeth and a dish and some of his haires by grant of the King of Zeilan which he caused to be receiued by the whole people of Cambalu without the Citie and brought to his presence with great honour Cael is a great Citie gouerned by Astar one of the foure Brethren very rich and a good vser of Merchants he hath three hundred women All the people haue a custome to carrie in their mouthes chawing a leafe called Tembul with Spices and Lime Coulam is fiue hundred miles North-west from Malabar they are Idolaters there are also Christians and Iewes which haue a speech by themselues They haue Pepper Brasill Indico Lions all blacke Parrets of diuers sorts all white as Snow others Azure others Red and some very little Peacockes and Pea-hens much differing from ours and greater as are their fruits They are leacherous and marrie their sisters and kindred There are many Astrologers and Physicians In Cumari are Apes so great that they seeme men and here we had sight of the North starre Dely hath a proper King and Language the people Idolatrous and haue store of Spices The shippes of Mangi come thither Malabar is a Kingdome in the West in which and in Guzzerat are many Pirats which come to Sea with aboue one hundred Sails and rob Merchants They bring with them their wiues and children and there abide all Summer In Guzzerat is store of Cotton the Trees six fathoms or paces high and dure twentie yeeres the Cotton of the old Trees is not good to spin after they are past twelue yeeres old but for Quilts There are many Vnicornes they haue artificiall embroideries In Canam is store of Frankincense it is a great Citie where is great trade for Horses In Cambaia is much Indico Buckram and Cotton Seruenath is a Kingdome of a peculiar language Idolaters Merchants a good people Chesmacoran is a great Kingdome of Idolaters and Saracens the last Prouince of the greater India towards the Northwest vnderstand the Author according to his iourney from China or Mangi by Sea fiue hundred miles from which are said to be two Ilands one of Men the other of Women those comming to these and there staying March Aprill and May. The Women keepe their Sonnes till twelue yeeres and then send them to their Fathers It seemes the Ayre admits no other course They are Christians and haue their Bishop subiect to the Bishop of Soccotera they are good Fishers and haue store of Ambar Soccotera hath an Archbishop not subiect to the Pope but to one Zatolia which resides in Baldach who chooseth him The Soccoterans are Inchanters and great Witches as any in the world howsoeuer excommunicated therefore by their Prelate and raise Windes to bring backe such ships as haue wronged them in despite of all contrarie working A thousand miles thence Southward is Magastar one of the greatest and richest Iles of the World three thousand miles in circuit inhabited by Saracens gouerned by foure old men The People liue of merchandise and sell great store of Elephants teeth The Currents in these parts are of exceeding force They tell of Fowles called Ruch like an Eagle but of incomparable greatnesse able to carrie an Elephant but I am not able to carrie it Zenzibar also is said to bee of great length c. there are Elephants Giraffas sheepe vnlike to ours the Men and Women are very deformed I haue heard Mariners and great Pilots of those parts report and haue seene in their writings which haue compassed the Sea of India that there are in it twelue thousand and seuen hundred Ilands inhabited or desart In India maior which is from Malabar to
with two hundred men white and blacke in which Magistrates spend much time and the cunning skill whereof gets much credit to a man although hee can doe nothing else and some chuse such their Masters with wonted rites Theft is not punished with Death the second fault therein is branded with an hot Iron and Inke in the Arme with two Characters the third time in the Face after with their terrible Whipping or condemning to the Gallies for a time limitted so that there are abundance of Theeues Euery night in Cities many Watchmen at certayne times beate Basons as they walke the streets the streets also enclosed and shut yet many thefts are committed the Foxe being the Gooseherd and the Watch partners with the Theefe The Cities in greatest Peace in the midst of the Kingdome are shut euery Night and the Keyes carryed to the Gouernour §. V. Of their Superstitions Cruelties feares of Magistrates of the Kings kindred of Strangers and Souldiers Their Deities and three Sects Priests Nunnes Monasteries Legends Lyes NO superstition is so generall in the Kingdome as the obseruation of luckie and vnluckie Dayes and Houres for which purpose yeerely is Printed a two-fold Table of dayes by the Kings Astrologers in such plentie that euery house is full of them In them is written on euery day what may bee done or not or to what houre yee must forbeare businesse which may in that yeere happen There are others more dangerous Masters which make a liuing by this Wizardly profession of selling lyes or prescribing fit houres wherby many differre the beginning of Building or Iourneying till their appointed day or houre come then how vnfitting soeuer that prooueth with crosse weather they set on neuerthelesse though it be but a little little onset that the worke might thence appeare to take beginning The like superstitious obseruation they haue of the moment of the Natiuitie which they precisely set downe diuers professing by Astrologie or by superstitious numbers or by Physiognomie or Palmestrie or Dreames or words in Speech or posture of the body by innumerable other wayes to foretell future Fortunes many Gipsie-juglings vsed to such impostures as by a stalking Knaue which shall professe his Fortunes exactly told him by the professor or by learning out of printed Bookes which describe euery Citie Street and Familie what hath hapned as an argument of the truth of that which they say shall happen Yea their credulitie breeds such strong imagination that some being foretold of a Sicknesse such a day will then fall sicke of conceit Many also consult with Deuils and familiar Spirits and receiue Oracles from the mouth of Infants or of Beasts not without fraud They are superstitious in chusing a plot of ground to erect a dwelling House or Sepulcher conferring it with the head tayle and feete of diuers Dragons which liue forsooth vnder our earth whence depends all good or bad Fortune Diuers Learned men busie their wits in this abstruse Science and are consulted when any publike Buildings are raysed And as Astrologers by the Starres so these Geologers by inspection of Riuers Fields Mountaines and scite of Regions foretell Destinies dreaming by setting a Doore or Window this or that way conueying the rayne to the right or left hand by a higher or lower roofe honour and wealth shall accrue to the House Of these Impostors the Streets Cities Courts Shops Markets are full which sell that which themselues want good Fortune to all Foole-fortunate buyers yea Women and blinde folkes professe it and some find such Chapmen of the Learned Noble King and all that they grow to great riches by others little wits All disasters publike or priuate are attributed to Fate and ill scite of some Citie House or Palace The noise of Birds the first meeting in the Morning Shadowes caused by the Sunne in the house are their Fortune-guides For other vices some will make themselues Seruants to rich men to haue one of the hand-maydes become his Wife so multiplying issue to bondage Others buy a Wife but finding their family becomne too numerous sell their Sonnes and Daughters as Beasts for two or three pieces of Gold although no dearth prouoke him to euerlasting separation and bondage some to the Portugals Hence is the Kingdome full of Slaues not captiued in warre but of their owne free-borne Yet is seruice there more tollerable then else-where for euery man may redeeme himselfe at the price payd for him when hee is able and there are many poore which with hard labour sustayne themselues A worse euill in some Prouinces is theirs which finding themselues poore smother their new-borne Babes specially Females by an impious pietie and pittilesse pitie preuenting that sale to Slauerie by taking away that life which euen now they had giuen They pretend hereunto also their Metempsychosis dreaming that the Soule of that Infant shall the sooner passe into some more fortunate body and are not therefore ashamed to doe this in others presence yea not the meanest of the communaltie Many more inhumanely kill themselues either wearie of a miserable life or willing after death to bee reuenged of some enemy whiles to the Enemy of mankind many thousands yeerely Sacrifice themselues by Halter Drowning and Poyson Another immanitie in the Northerne Prouinces is vsed vpon Male Infants whom for hope of Palace preferments their Parents make Eunuches of which in the Kings house are ten thousand a dull and blockish kinde of vnkind vnmanly men Their Whippings also take away more liues then the executions of sentences to Death their Reedes slit two ells long a finger thicke and foure broad at the first blow breaking the skinne and flesh on the hinder part of the thighes to preuent which many bribe the Magistrates of whose domineering fulnesse of power they liue in perpetuall feare where calumnies and lyes are so rife which China perfidiousnesse made the Kings come so guarded abroad and vnknowne and now not to come foorth at all The Kings kindred are now growne to sixtie thousand and daily increasing become a burthen to the publike and daily increase in idlenesse impotence numbers the King being very jealous of them and setting Guards besides their perpetuall exile from Pequin and Nanquin No maruell if Strangers be no better trusted in China where the Natiues and Bloud are suspected out of whose Bookes they scorne to learne and repute them little better then Beasts and the Characters whereby they expresse them are taken from Beasts How Legats are held as prisoners in publike houses is else-where deliuered Commanders of Souldiers which guard places are guarded and watched and not trusted with the pay of their Companies neither is there any more base then the Souldiery most Slaues or condemned persons for their owne or their Ancestors euils and when they are free from exercises of warre they become Muletters Porters and of
eight dayes and no more And afterward being driuen to greater necessitie wee brought our selues to a greater extremitie by restrayning our proportion to halfe a goblet a day and none of vs could securely sleepe for the diuers doubts and dangers wherein wee alwayes presently stood Wee continued euery day and night foure or sixe of vs at the Helme and those that were at the Pumpe stood alwayes firme and vpright changing their courses where wee endured cold beyond comparison farre greater then that which not many yeeres since was in Venice when all the Channels were frozen so that from Margara to Venice not onely Men and Women but Oxen Horses Carts and Waggons went ouer vpon the Ice in great multitudes to the admiration of all the people because that Region is without comparison much colder then the Countrey of Italy Now consider what our case was being without Clothes to couer vs and not hauing any thing to eate or drinke or other necessary thing for the maintenance of mans life except a few Frisoppi which were left and the nights one and twentie houres long and also darke Through the which cold wee began to lose the feeling of our feete and by little and little the cold becomming more vehement possessed the whole body procuring a dogged and raging appetite and hunger so that euery one sought to deuoure that which was hid in a corner and whatsoeuer hee had next at hand wheresoeuer hee could finde it as well as hee might with that weake and little strength which hee had remayning Afterward death seasing vpon them you might see them shake the head and fall downe presently dead In the which Diseases of seuen and fortie men which wee found in that case sixe and twentie yeelded vp the ghost and it was not any wonder considering wee could not haue any succour nay it is a diuine miracle that any one remayned aliue And those few of vs that are remayning liue onely to commend to memorie and highly to exalt the great power of God Those sixe and twentie dyed from the three and twentieth of December vntill the fifth of Ianuary now one now two and sometimes more in one day whom we buryed in the Sea The one and thirtieth of December our Wine being wholly spent and hauing seene the cruell and lamentable experience of our sixe and twentie Companions who dyed with drinking of the Sea-water necessities gaue vs a good stomacke that is to say to take our owne water to quench our thirst Now there were some of the companie exceedingly troubled with giddinesse for wanting the abundant plentie of Wine they were not able to indure thirst nor to expell it but they accounted it a great fauour to bee able to obtayne of their companions whereof there were some who denyed it to their dearest friend to keepe it for themselues It is true that some of vs warily mortified it by mingling a little sirrop of greene Ginger or Limons therewith which by chance we had remayning During this time vntill the fifth of Ianuary we were euery houre more accustomed to greater extremities The third of Ianuary 1431. wee had sight of the first Land which gaue vs great hope although it so fell out that it was very farre distant where wee saw certayne Rockes to weatherward couered to the top with infinite heapes of Snow to the which the windes being contrary wee were not able to approach with the sayles and much lesse with Oares because our armes were exceedingly weakened wherefore wee stroâ—e to come neere them with the winde but passing beyond them through the current of the water wee lost sight of them altogether And after difficult escape from the Rockes sayling forward towards a very high Rocke wee had sight of a Valley scituated betweene the two next Mountaynes into the which desiring to enter about the fourth houre of the night the cruell and outragious windes would not suffer vs. Notwithstanding inflamed through an exceeding great desire to goe on Land wee tooke courage and strength and through force of the Oares and the helpe of God entred into the sayd Valley at a point of Land in the least doubtfull and dangerous place as it were at the very beginning and entrie thereof in the which as soone as they perceiued the Pinnasse to touch vpon the sand fiue of our companie being more desirous of drinke then of any other refreshing and recreation leaped into the water without any regard although it were very deepe and went their way toward the Snow and so glutted themselues therewith that it was an incredible thing And afterward they brought a great quantitie thereof vnto vs who remayned in the Pinnasse to defend it from the beating of the Sea of the which wee also with great greedinesse receiued without measure And running according to our iudgement as wee had runne in this Pinnasse for eighteene dayes from the day that wee departed from the ship vntill this sixth of Ianuarie sayling alwayes betweene the North-east and the East and not with lesse winde then after sixe miles an houre wee had runne about two thousand fiue hundred miles and more without euer seeing any Land On the sixth of Ianuary at the time of the solemne day of the Epiphanie nineteene of vs went on land in this desolate and drie place called the Iland of the Saints in the Coast of Norway subiect to the Crowne of Denmarke leauing two other to looke to the weake Pinnasse that it might not bee broken with the beating of the Sea And being landed there by meanes of an Oare we endeauoured to kindle fire and with a tynder boxe and steele to strike fire wee retired our selues into the closest place from the winde and at the sight of the fire nature thereby receiued a little strength Finding this Iland not inhabited and seeking to goe in the Pinnasse to another Iland fiue miles off shee so leaked that part of vs landing as it were all in the water and some of vs vp to the middle in shallower water wee stroue to draw her on land and despairing to bee euer able to goe in her againe wee determined to fit her in such sort that shee might serue our turne to couer vs after the best manner that wee could Wee broake her into two parts and of the greater wee made a shelter or Cottage for thirteene of vs and of the lesser a shedde capable of fiue men vnder the which wee entred couering them with part of our sayles and with the rest and the cordage of the sayd Pinnasse wee made continuall fire to preserue our liues Now being vtterly destitute of all sustenance of meate and drinke wee went wandring vpon the Sea shoare where Nature gaue vs food to maintayne life with certrine Perewinckles or Shel-fish and Barnacles And of these not as many nor when wee would but in very small quantitie And remouing the Snow in some places wee found a certayne Herbe which together with the
intended to the present Prince and therefore was forced to coniure vp his best wits to worke him into better reputation He did hereof either take occasion or make occasion by diuers fires in diuers Cities of the Kingdome the Houses being of wood and easily consumed which losse made as some deliuer by his own incendiaries he seemed much to commiserate and by affected bountie repaired those ruines out of the publique Treasure others say out of his priuate purse thus not onely raising so many Phoenixes out of those ashes but making deuouring fire become fuell to his magnificence and raking reputation out of the flames and cinders thence erecting a Theatricall scene whereon to acte in popular spectacles his many parts of câ—re industry alacrity wisedome power bounty and whatsoeuer might fether his nest in the peoples hearts thus easily stoln and entertained in affection to him whiles Theodore liued which was not long he dying in the yeare 1598. on twelfe day hauing liued thirty sixe yeares and reigned neere foureteene His impotency of body and minde you haue read before in part Thuanus affirmeth that Iuan Vasilowich his Father said he was fitter to ring Bels in Churches then to gouerne an Empire aluding therein to his superexceeding deuotion and most deuout superstition His death caused a new aspersion on Boris as procured in some mens conceits and reports by poyson His dead body was buried with his ancestors in Saint Michaels Temple in the Castle and Souldiours were presently sent to the borders to prohibite ingresse or egresse Theodores will was read and therein Gernia or Irenia his wife and the Patriarch entrusted with the administration of the State Hereupon a generall State assembly was assembled at Mosco and their oathes giuen to the Empresse After this the Empresse went into a Nunnery to passe there the fortie dayes destined to publique sorrow in which time whether of her owne or with her brothers accord making shew of vnspeakable sorrow for her deceased Lord she renounced the world and transferred the Imperiall gouernment vpon the Knazeys and Boiarens which her Husband had bequeathed to her that they according to their wisdome and loue to their Countrie might take care thereof This was done by her brothers counsell to try what the people would doe who were so moued therewith that they came thronging to the Nunnerie gates lamentably imploring her care in so perillous a time whom onely they were bound to serue And when she bad them goe to the Knazeys and Boiarens they protested against them saying they had sworne to her and would be ordered by L. Boris her brother Hereupon Boris Pheodorowich goeth out to appease their tumult and vndertaketh for the fortie dayes of mourning together with the Knazeys and Boiarens to administer the Empire In which time the Empresse renounced secular cares and profâ—ssed her selfe a Nunne changing her name from Gernia to Alexandrina The time of mourning being past the people were called into the Castle and the Chancellour made an Oration perswading them to sweare obedience to the Knazeys and Boiarens which they with out-cryes disclaymed offering to doe it to the Queene and L. Boris The Councell sitting to consider hereof the Chancellor came forth againe and commanded them to sweare to the Knazeys and Boiarens the Queene hauing now become a Nunne Whereupon they all named Boris her Brother as one worthy of the State to whom they were readie to sweare Hee being present rose vp and modestly excused himselfe protesting his vnwillingnesse and vnworthinesse and bidding them chuse some other more worthy And going withall into the Church they laid in manner forceable hands on him with loud cryes and lamentations beseeching him not to forsake them Whereat he wept and still refused alleaging his insufficiencie and to kindle greater desire in the people and Nobles absented and hid himselfe with his Sister in the Nunnerie the space of a moneth In which space the people fearing his flight besieged the place and with continuall clamours vrged the Queene to perswade her Brother to accept of the Empire which she had refused Shee againe sends them to the Knazeys and Boiarens the mention of whose names seemed to cast them into a fit of mutinie and sedition Boris then commeth forth and tels them if they were no quieter he also would take Sack-cloth and as his Sister had done enter into a Monasterie They made so much greater stirres casting out some desperate threats of looking to themselues where the Common-wealth was desperately neglected The Queene then wonne by their importunitie perswadeth her brother no longer to resist Gods will which had put this constancie into the peoples mindes and to accept that which thus God seemed to command praying for his blessing therein Boris after new excuses at last seeming ouercome by his Sisters intreaties and to haue held out sufficiently to remoue enuie assenteth to her and shee signifieth as much to the people to whom she presents him praying them to be as loyall to him as they had beene earnest for him Boris also spake vnto them Forasmuch as it seemeth good to the Diuine Grace and Prouidence whereby all things are gouerned that by common consent and continuall Prayers intreated I take on mee the Principalitie ouer you and all the Prouinces of Russia I will no longer resist how heauie soeuer I conceiue this burthen to my shoulders but haue determined to vndertake your protection with greatest fidelitie being readie to sway the Russian Scepter and Gouernment as farre as Gods grace shall enable mee On the other side bee you faithfull to mee and to my command as God may you helpe I am your most gentle King Ioyfull acclamations followed with all protestation of their fidelitie and future obedience He entring into the Monasterie after Prayers receiued the first Benediction The people returned full of joy and the Bels of which are numbred in Mosco three thousand resounded the publike Festiuitie All the Magistrates and Officers such as receiued Salarie of the King go presently to the Monasterie and carrie Gold Siluer Precious Stones Pearles Bread and Salt after the solemne custome with wishes of long life al happines and desiring to accept in good worth their Presents He with thankes rendred accepts only the Bread and Salt saying these were his the rest they should take to themselues Then doth hee bid them to a Feast and presently with Mary his Wife Theodore his Sonne of ten yeeres old and Arsenica his Daughter being sixteene he goeth out of the Monasterie with pompeous Procession to the Castle Like Presents were offered to his Wife and Children which accepted only the Bread and Salt remitting the rest to the Presenters When he was comne to the Castle he chose his Sisters Lodging for that of the Prince deceased as offensiue by his death was destroyed and after new built After Festiuall entertaynment of innumerable people solemne Oath was taken of all the
them I caused two graues to be opened wherein was nothing found but a vessell full of the graine of Maiz and a bundle of Iucca as I haue said And demanding the cause hereof of the King and the other Indians they answered that they that were 〈◊〉 there were the labourers of the ground and men skilfull in sowing of seedes and makiâ—â— of bread and seruants to the Kings father and to the end that their soules should not dye â—ith their bodies they slue themselues at the death of the King their Master to liue with 〈◊〉 heauen and to the intent that they might serue him there in the same office they reserue that Maiz and Iucca to sowe it in heauen Whereunto I answered them in this manner 〈◊〉 how your Tuyra deceiueth you and how all that he teacheth you is false You see how 〈◊〉 so long a time since they are dead they haue not yet taken away this Maiz and Iucca which is now purified and worth nothing and not like to be sowen in heauen To this the King replied saying In that they haue not taken it away nor sowen it in heauen the cause is that they chanced â— finde enough there by reason whereof they had no neede of this To this errour many thing were said which seemed of little force to remoue him from his false opinion and especially any â—uch as at that age are occupied of the Diuell whom they paint of the selfe same forme and 〈◊〉 as he appeared vnto them in diuers shapes and formes They make also Images of Gold Coâ—per and Wood to the same similitudes in terrible shapes and so variable as the Painters are aâ—â—â—stomed to paint them at the feete of Saint Michael the Archangell or in any other place 〈◊〉 they paint them of most torrible portrature Likewise when the diuell greatly intendeth 〈…〉 them he threatneth to send them great tempests which they call Furacanas or 〈◊〉 and are so vehement that they ouerthrow many houses and great trees And I haue seenâ— Mountaines full of many and great trees that for the space of three quarters of a league the â—â—â—ntaine hath beene subuerted and the tree ouerthrowne and plucked out of the earth with 〈…〉 The gulfe of Vraba is distant from the Equinoctiall line from an hundrâ—â— and twentie to a hundred and thirty leagues and three quarters of a league after that accompt of seuenteen leagues and a halfe for euerie degree from Pole to Pole thus for a little more or lesse goeth all the coast By reason wherof in the Citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena and in all that course of the foresaid gulfe of Vraba at all times of the yeere the daies and nights are in manner of equall length and if there be any difference betweene them by reason of this small distance from the Equinoctiall it is so little that in foure and twentie houres making a naturall day it cannot be perceiued but by the iudgement of speculatiue men and such as vnderstand the sphere From hence the North Starre is seene verie low Of diuers particular things as Wormes Serpents Beasts Foules Trees c. I Will first speake of certaine little and troublesome Beasts which may seeme to be engendred of nature to molest and vexe men to shew them and giue them to vnderstand how small and vile a thing may offend disquiet them to the end that they may remember the principall end for the which they were created that is to know their maker In manie parts of the firme Land by the which as wel the Christians as the Indians do trauaile there are such marishes waters in the way that they are faine to go without breeches among the hearbes weeds by reason wher of certain small beasts or wormes which they call Garapates much like vnto Ticks cleaue fast to their legs These worms are as little as the pouder of beaten Salt cleaue so fast that they can by no meanes be taken away except the place be nointed with oyle after that the legs be nointed a while with oyle or the other parts where these little Tickes are fastened they scrape the place with a Knife so take them away But the Indians which haue no oyle smoake them and burne them with fire and abide great paines in taking them away by this means Of other little Beasts which trouble men and are engendred in their heads or other parts of their bodies I say that the Christian men which trauaile into these parts haue them but seldome times and that not past one or two and this also very seldome For passing by the line of the Diameter where the compasse maketh difference of sailing by the winde called Greco that is North-east and Magistral that is South-west which is in the course of the Ilands of Azori they saile but a little way following our voiage by the West but that all the Lice which the Christians carrie with them or are engendred in their heads or other places of their bodies die and vtterly consume by little and little and are not engendred in India except in the heads of little children in those parts as well among the children of the Christians which are borne there as also among the naturall Indians who haue them commonly in their heads and sometimes in other parts of their bodies and especially they of the Prouince of Cuena which is a region containing more then a hundred leagues in length and embraseth the one and the other coast of the North Sea and of the East When these Indians are infected with this filthinesse they dresse and cleanse one another And they that exercise this are for the most part women who eate all that they take and haue herein such dexterity by reason of their exercise that our men cannot lightly attaine thereunto There is also another thing greatly to be considered and this is how the Christian men being there cleane from this filthinesse of India as well in their heads as the rest of their bodies yet when they returne to come againe into Europe and begin to arriue in that place of the Ocean Sea where we said before that these Lice died and forsooke them sodainely in their repassing by the same clime as though these Lice had tarried for them in that place they can by no meanes auoide them for the space of certaine daies although they change their shirts two or three times in a day These Lice are at the first as little as Nits and grow by little and little vntill they be of the bignesse that they are in Spaine This haue I oftentimes proued hauing now foure times passed the Ocean Sea by this voiage Beside these wormes and vermin wherof we haue spoken there is another little mischieuous worm which we may number among the kindes of Fleas this Pestilence the Indians call Nigua and is much lesse then a Flea it pearceth the flesh of a man and so
from place to place by the winde or course of the water Quintus Curtius writeth in his Historie that great Alexander came to the Citie of Memi where is a great Caue or Denne in the which is a Spring or Fountaine that continually auoideth a great quantitie of Bitumen in such sort that it is an easie thing to beleeue that the stones of the wals of Babylon might be laid therewith according as the said Author writeth I haue seene this Mine of Bitumen not onely in the Iland of Cuba but also such another in new Spaine in the Prouince of Panuco Thus farre I haue giuen you from Master Eden his Edition wherein because many things necessary to the naturall History of the Indies are in the Authors Summarie and in his 20. Books of a larger Historie I haue added hither such things as I thought fittest The Vâ—ias are like great Rats and the Cories like Conies of which the people in Hispaniola eate as also of the Yuanas Chemi and Mohni are little creatures also in that Iland which and their little mute Dogges were all the foure footed Beasts they had saue that of Rats there is some question The Indians of Iamaica and Cuba vse to catch fish with the fish Rouerso as Huntsmen or Falconers vse Hounds or Haukes in their game The Indians take it sometimes in their Nets of which I haue eaten and when they will bring vp one of them they feede it in the Sea and carrie it tied to their Canar by a strong line which when they see a fish fit for pray they loosen and vse words to excite courage and valour in this fish which presently flies like an arrow at that fish and fastens thereon and the Indian lets the line runne out at length being oiled of many fadomes and hauing a peece of wood at the end to buoy it till the fish be wearied this little fish little aboue a spanne long vnsightly to looke on still holding fast till the Indian gathering in his cord prepares to shoare to take the greater fish with much commendation and words of encouragement to this chase-fish perswading him to let goe his hold which otherwise should sooner by violence breake in peeces this Huntsman then force him to vnfasten Thus will he fasten on the belly of a Tortoise so great that two Indians and sometimes sixe haue enough to doe to carrie the same to their houses This fish Rouerso hath scailes Staire fashioned or like the roofe of a mans mouth and on them certain prickles very sharpe and strong whereby he fastens himselfe to what fish him pleaseth and these prickly scales he hath on the most part of his body They haue likewise a cunning wild-goose-chase in a great Lake casting in certaine great emptie Pompons in the season when Geese resort thither wherewith they being accustomed grow out of feare and will sit on them to bee carried Being thus acquainted the Indian puts one of these emptie Pompons on his head and with much dexteritie of swimming enters amongst the Geese and when one hath made him his Porter no part of his body being seene he swimmes from the rest and then with his hand pulls her in and hangs her thus strangled at his girdle and begins a fresh game When their Caciques are dead they lay them on a piece of wood or stone and make a fire about the same which may not burne them but by degrees draw forth all the moysture in sweat leauing onely the skin and bones and then in a place separate repose the same with the Ancestors which before had beene so dealt with this being their best Booke of Heraldrie to recount the Names and seuerall Descents in that Pedegree If any die in battell or so that they cannot recouer his body they compose Songs which the Children learne touching him and the manner of his death to supply that memoriall These Songs they call Areytos As for Letters they were so ignorant that seeing the intercourse of Spaniards by Letters they thought that Letters could speake and were very cautelous in their carriage of them lest the Letters might accuse them of ill demeanor by the way When they will disport themselues the Men and Women meet and take each other by the hand and one goeth before which is called Tequina or their Master with certaine paces measured to his singing in a low voice what commeth in his minde and after him all the multitude answereth in a higher voice with like measures proportioned to the tune and so continue they three or foure houres with Chicha or Mayz-wine among sometimes also changing the Tequina and taking another with a new tune and song Their Houses are commonly round like a Tent and sometimes with a double water passage which they call Buhio of good Timber thatched with Straw or long Grasse the Walls of Reed pitched into the ground In the Prouince of Abrayne in Golden Castile and thereabouts there are many Villages of Indians which dwell on the tops of Trees in Houses or Roomes there made to which they ascend by certaine staires of Besuco which growes about Trees and is vsed to binde their Walls and Timbers in their houses before mentioned Beneath the ground is fenny and couered with water not so high as a man and where it is deeper they vse Canoas and therewith passe to drie Land to sow their Mays and Iucca Battatas and Aies In those houses they are secured from wild Beasts Enemies and Fire They are not Archers and vse Clubs In the Gulfe of Vraba where Rio Grande enters the Sea are many Palme trees in the middest of the Riuer growing neere together on the tops whereof are houses made as the former and much bigger in which many Inhabitants dwell together and haue their beds tyed to the lower parts of the said Palme trees These beds they call Hamacas being couerlets of Cotten of good threed and well wouen of two or three braces long but narrower with cordes at the ends The cordes are of Cotton or of Henequen or Cabuya this the courser threed that the finer and able to cut Iron made of the leafe of a certaine herbe These Indians fight also with Clubs and did much harme to Captaine Vasco Nunes di Balboa his men which returned with losse not able to ouer-come them I haue also obserued that these Indians haue the bones of their skulls foure times as thicke as those of the Christians so that to strike them with a Sword must be warily done the Swords being thereby often broken Besides the Tigre and other beasts before mentioned in the firme Land are the Beori the Christians call them Dants not that they are such but for some resemblance as is also said of the Tigre of the bignesse of a meane Mule without hornes ash-coloured they know not to dresse and tanne their hides They take them with Dogs but if they take water they are fierce and
bones and Iewels was gathered and laid vpon a rich Mantle the which was carried to the Temple gate where the Priests attended to blesse those deuellish relickes whereof they made a dough or paste and thereof an Image which was apparelled like a man with a visor on his face and all other sorts of Iewels that the deaâ— King was wont to weare so that it seemed a gallant I doll At the foote of the Temple staires they opened a graue ready made which was square large and two fadom deepe it was also hanged with new Mats round about and a farre bed therein in the which a religious man placed the Idol made of aâ—hes with his eyes toward the East part and hung round about the wals Targets of Gold and Siluer with Bowe and Arrowes and many gallant tuffes of Feathers with earthen vessels as Pots Dishes and Platters so that the graue was filled vp with houshold stuffe Chests couered with Leather Apparell Iewels Meate Drinke and Armor This done the graue was shut vp and made sure with beâ—mes boords and flored with earth on the top All those Gentlemen which had serued or touched any thing in the buriall washed themselues and went to dinner in the Court or yard of the Kings house without any table and hauing dined they wiped their hands vpon certaine locks of Cotten woll hanging downe their heads and not speaking any word except it were to aske for drinke This Ceremonie endured fiue dayes and in all that time no fire was permitted to be kindled in the Citie except in the Kings house and Temples nor yet any Corne was ground or Market kept nor none durst goe out of their houses shewing all the sorrow that might be possible for the death of their King In Mexico were twelue Iudges who were all Noblemen graue and well learned in the Mexican Lawes These men liued onely by the rents that properly appertaine to the maintenance of Iustice and in any cause iudged by them it was lawfull for the parties to appeale vnto other twelue Iudges who were of the Princes bloud and alwayes abode in the Court and were maintained at the Kings owne cost and charges The inferiour Iudges came ordinarily once euery moneth to consult with the higher And in euery fourescore dayes came the Iudges of euery Prouince within the Mexican Empire to consult with the Iudges of Mexico but all doubtfull causes were reserued to the King onely to passe by his order and determination The Painters serued for notaries to paint all the cases which were to be resolued but no suite passed aboue fourescore dayes without finall end and determination There were in that Citie twelue Sergeants whose office was to arrest and to call parties before the Iudges Their garments were painted Mantels whereby they were knowne a farre off The Prisons were vnder ground moist and darke the cause whereof was to put the people in feare to offend If any witnesse were called to take an oath the order was that he should touch the ground with one of his fingers and then to touch his tongue with the same which signified that he had sworne and promised to speake the troth with his tongue taking witnesse thereof of the earth which did maintaine him But some doe interprete the oath that if the paâ—tie sware not true that then he might come to such extremitie as to eate earth Sometime they name and call vpon the God of the crime whose cause the matter touched The Iudge that taketh bribes or gifts is forthwith put out of his office which was accounted a most vile aâ—d 〈◊〉 reproach The Indians did affirme that Necauâ—lpincintâ— did hang a Iudge in Tezâ—â—â—o for 〈…〉 sentence be himselfe knowing the contrary The Murtherer is executed without exception The woman with childe that wilfully casteth her creature suffereth death for the same The Theefe for the first offence was made a slaue and hanged for the second The Traitor to the King and Common-weale was put to death with extreame torments The Woman taken in Mans apparell died for the same and likewise the Man taken in Womans attire Euery one that challengeth another to fight except in the warres was condemned to dye In Tezcuco the sinne of Sodomie was punished with death and that Law was instituted by Necaualpincinth and Necaualcoio who were Iudges which abhorred that filthy sinne and therefore they deserued great praise for in other Prouinces that abhominable sinne was not punished although they haue in those places common Stewes as in Panuco The end of the fift Booke AN ALPHABETICALL TABLE OF THE PRINCIPALL THINGS CONTAINED IN THE FIVE BOOKES of the third Part of PVRCHAS his Pilgrims The first Number notes the Page the second Number directs you to the number noted in the back-margent of the Pages Right against which or betwixt that and the next number the note is to bee found Obserue that whereas many words may bee well written with I. or with Y. the Reader is to looke to both Obserue also that Name of Saints or Knights are not set vnder S. but in the Alphabet of their proper Names A ABaccu is the Caspian Sea 69.60 The largenesse of it 70.1 Abaseia or Habassia is India media 106.50 in Marg. Rich in Gold ibid. Abedalcuria 252.60 Abortion caused by an Herbe 991.40 Acapulco the Prouince and Port in the West Indies the Latitude 871.60 Acias or Akas so the Tartars call the Alanian Christians 10.10 Enemies to the Tartars 12.40 Achbaluch Mangi which in Tartars Language is the White Citie of the Mangi 90.1 Acornes as big as Apples 520 50 Accents the Chinois haue fiue seuerall 384.20 Accounts cast by graines of Corne 1053.50 Accord betweene Poles and Russes about chusing their Emperour 788.789 Acquaintance the Ceremony of beginning it 374 Acacron the Armenian Prophet 49.50 Acon the Citie Arabicke and Syriack vnderstood there 13.50 Adams Sepulcher in Zeilan 106.1 More of that Fable ibid. Adams-Apples grow in Persia 71.10 Adders of India their seuerall sorts and natures 976.1 Adem the Soldan of it discomfited 106.50 Admirals Iland 474.40 Sea horses there 512 Adoration the manner of it in Mexico 1027.30 1028.1 1046.60 Adoption practised in Russia 740.40 Adulterie punished with Death in Peru 1058.40 Adultresses Dowries giuen to poore Girles 276.10 Adulterie Witaldrie the punishment 182.40 Adulterers how punished in China 204.10 Aedgar the King his mightie Nauie 619.40 Emperour of the Ocean ibid. Aegeland and Halgeland discouered 212.1 Aequinoctiall vnder it moyst and raynie and why 918.40 Not so hoâ— as the Antients held it very cold in March causes of the temperature though the Sunne bee very hote the dayes and nights equall 920. No Calmes vnder the Lane 923.60.926 The Ayre vnder or neere it swifter then the Ayre about the Poles and why 925.30 Easterne and Westerne windes continuall vnder the Lino 925.40 See Torride Zone Aequinoctiall whither healthfull liuing vnder it 889.10 Aethiopian Patriarch 327.30