â—e that did neglect to do this was punished with certayne strypes and kepte withoute meate for three dayes If anye father killed his sonneâ— there was no punishment of death appointed but for three dayâ—s and nights conctiâ—ually he was commaunded to be about the dead bodye for they thoughte it no iust thinge to take away lyfe from him that gaue lyfe to his chyldren but ratheâ— that he shoulde be punished with continuall payne and repentance of his fact that others might feare to do the lyke Parricides they â—aused to be burned vppon an heape of thornes and such as vttred any secrets to their enemies thei caused their tongues to be cut out And they that dyd counterfayte or clyp mony had both their handes cut of so that with what parte of the body the offence was made with the same he shoulde tolerate punishment If anye had violated a free woman his naturall partes were cutte of because in one fault hee committed three haynous thynges that is an iniurye corruption and confusion of chyldren He that was takeÌ„ in voluntarye adultrye hadd a thousande â—â—ripes with roddes and the woman was maÌ„gled vpon the nose The prieâ—ts could haue but one wyfe but the laytye as many as they could kepe The bringing vppe of their children was with small coste for it came not vnto the charge of twentie grâ—ates the 〈◊〉 education to their full â—ge and this is not to beâ— mâ—rueyled at because Egipte is a hote countrie and therfore they lyue naked without anye kinde of garmente and they feede vpon rotes the which they eat somtimes rawe and somtymes rosted in imbers The priests did teach their children especiallye Geomatrie and Arythmeticke They did driue away sicknes eyther with fasting or with vomit the whiche they vsed euerye thirde daye Theyr opinion was that all diseases came of superfluitie of meates and therfore that to bee the best cure whyche toke awaye the matter and causes Manye other strauÌ„ge thinges are at large sei forth of this nacion by Munster Of the Ostrydge THE Oystridge found especially in Africa his heade is couered withe smal heares his eyes be grosse and blacke his necke is long his byl is shorte and sharpe his feete hath as it were a bypartite â—oofe Plinie fayth that he exceedeth the â—right of a man on â—orsebacke that his winges helpe him little But with his nayles whiche are like hoofes he taketh stones and throwethe againste those whiche persecute him he doothe digeste whatsoeuer hee deuoureth bee it neuer so harde He is of a meruaylous folishnes for if he hath once hidden his head vnder a bushe he thinketh him selfe safe and not to be seene It is sayd to be a simple and forgetful thinge that as sone as it hath brought forte eggs it forgetteth theym vntil the yong commeth forthe whiche is thoughte to bee easlye done because they leaue the eggs in the warme sandes so that the yonge may sone be hatched the whiche the males do feede and cherishe when they are brought forth When hee seeth that hee cannot auoyde takinge he casteth stones against his followers and manye tymes hurteth them His nest is commonlye found in the â—and wel made with bulwarkes and bankes to kepe awaye rayâ—e from the yong Of the Empire of Cathay THe Empyre of Cathay is ruled by the great Cham. With this nacioÌ„ one man may haue many wiues when the husband dyeth euery wyfe pledeth her owne cause before the iudges sheweth her merits so that which of theÌ„ so euer is adiudged to haue bene the most officiouse and dearest wife to her husbaÌ„d shee in her best apparell and with all her iewels as though she had gotten the victorie of the other goeth willynglye and merelye vnto the heape of wood wher her husband shall be burnt and lyinge down by his carcasse and embracinge it the fier is kindled and so shee is burnte with her husbaÌ„d the other of his wiues after this liue in greate shame and obloquye They matche not together for wealth or nobilitye but for excellencye of beauty and procreacioÌ„ sake The people of Cathay haue this opinion that they thinke no other nacion to see with both eyes but theÌ„ selues they are perswaded also that they excell all other in subtilitye of artes and scyences It is a whyte kynde of people withoute beardes of small eyes and lackinge true pietie and due obeysance to God for some of them worshyp the Sonne some the moone others certayne immages of mettalls and other some an oxe so that they be full of monstruous supersticion The Emperour keepeth his court at his citye called Cambalu whiche is the noblest marte in that part of the world for there is almost neuer a day through out the yeare but that a thousand carte lodes of silke almoste are chaunged and broughte there amongest marchants The Emperour kepeth in his court twelue thowsand horsemen to kepe his bodye Their order of watchinge is thus One captain with three thousand gardeth the king within the Palace for thre dayes and so dothe another other three dayes following thus they keepe their courses When the Emperoure sittethe downe to meate hee hath his principall and greatest quene on his left hand and his children whiche be of royall bloud on his right hand in a lower place No man that sitteth downe in this halle drinketh or is serued in anye other vessell but of Golde the princes and noble men that serue the king at his meate couer their mouthes with most fyne silke clothes least they shoulde breath vpon the kinges meate or drinke and when the Emperour taketh the pot to drincke all the musicians beginne to make great melodye and the others ministers bende their knees More of this nacion you shal fynde in the great boke of Munsters Cosmographye Of the Canniballs THE Canniballs are wylde people feeding vpon mans fleshe which is a very swete kinde of flesh If they get or fynd any chyldreÌ„ within the age of fourtene yeares they feede them craÌ„me them as we do Capons but those whych are beyonde fourtene yeares of age they kill them out of hande deuouringe theyr whot guts immediatly and the other partes of their bodies they salt and lay vp as wee do powdred fleshe they eate no women but kepe them only for the bearinge of children as we do hennes for eggs If any for age is past child bearinge shee doth all drudgery like vnto a bond womaÌ„ they haue no houses but they erect many trees together and so combine them in the top that it serueth for lodginge Their beds be made of silke and haye they haue no yron but they vse bones instede of yroÌ„ they dresse their meates in earthen pots mingling the flesh of Parats geese ducks and mans fleshe together They are now come to moore ciuilitye then they had in tymes paste Of the Lyon. LYons liue in many countries in Africa they haue a cruell and terrible looke and thyn heares Pliny thinketh that his especiall valiencye
the eeares of the Bishoppe of that place who was nothing fauorable to the Iewes The Bishop vnderstanding that the stub horne Iewes for the scrupulous obseruation of their Sabbothe daye woulde not help their brother out of the Iakes commaunded vpon payne of deathe that they which did so â—uriously obserue their own Sabbâ—th day shoulde in lyke manner as religiously obserue and kepe with the lyke solemnitâ—e the next daye after beinge the Christians Sabboth daye This was an harde case what shoulde they nowe do vpon payne of death they must obay In the meane tyme the miserable Iewe in the Iakes was enforces to continue â—ii daies and ii nightes in great filth and stinke daunger of his lyfeâ— The like history you shall fynde in Fabians Chronicle How the Torneymentes and â—ustes began first in Saxony HEnry Duke of Saxony in the yeare of our Lorde .934 being much assaulted and incuÌ„bred with infidels and heathen nations made an assemble of a greate multitude of the nobilitie to assist him in his warrs against the Sarracens wherin he had so good successe that triumphantly he had the victory ouer theÌ„ Thus after that he had geuen the repulse to the Infidels considering what a number of the nobilitie hee had dailye exercising themselues in martial acts thought it meete that after the ende of his longe and great warres to recreat theym with some honest and pleasaunt exercise Hee had compassion ouer them because some of them inhabitinge amongest Cittizens should be occupied with ciuill busines not in the exercise of noble and honorabie pastimes meete for suche personages as they were and therfore he prescribed certayne articles accordinge to the whiche they shoâ—ld liue and if they did tranâ—gres them that then they should bee punished in the open Turniament These articles were twelue in number The firste whosoeuer of the Nobilitie should say or do any thing agaynst the holy faith hee shoulde be restrayned from y torneyment and if vnder the colour or excuse of the noblenes of any of his auncestours any doth presume to enter the lists or the Torneyment let him with shame be driuen away The second whosoeuer comminge of noble bloud doth attempte any thinge againste the Royall maiesty of Caeâ—ar let him bee punished openlye in the Torneyment and of this article was the author Conradus a prince of Palatyne The Duke of Franconia was the author of the third which is this Whosoeuer comminge of a noble house betraieth his Lorde or forsaketh him or exciteth to flye away in an army without any necessary cause or sleath his innocent companions let him haue punishment in the open Torneyment The Duke of Sueâ—eland made the fowerth after this sort Who so euer comming of noble parentage doth violate or diffame by wordes or deedes virgins or women let him be openly correâ—ted in the Torneyment The fifte article the Duke of Bauaria made in this manâ—â—r If anye of the nobilitye bee apprehended or reproued to to haue corrupted or falsefyed the seale or to haue violate his othe or hath bene noted of infamye let him as vnworthy be kept from the torneyment The sixt is if any noble man did either secretly or openlye slea his wife and bedfellowe or had helped by his counsell or dede to the destroying of his Lorde that the lawe of the Torneyment should take place agaynst him The seuenth If any did spoyle rob churches chapples widdowes or warâ—es or kepte by force that whiche was â—heirs from them wher as they were raâ—her to bee helped and mainteyned that he should be duly corrected for it The eight If any noble man were beâ—ome an enemie to an other and did not â—ayntayne his cause by lawfull orderâ— or by martiall law but would hurt his aduersary by robberies or by destroying of â—is goods especially his wines corne â—herby the common wealth is endamaâ—ed let him be tormented in the Torneymente The ninthe If anye did presume to make any alteracion or set anye heauye burden vppon others otherwise then of auncient times were vsed how so euer it were done c. that he should haue his correction in open Torneyment The tenth if any were canuicte of adulterye c. in like manner let him bee amended The eleuenth What so euer Noble man doth not liue as a noble man should do c. in lyke maner let him be punished The twelfe He that wil be at the torneyment not coÌ„ming oâ— noble parentage or cannot proue his nobility in foure descents he may not enter into the exercise of the Torneyment Thus in a briefe somme you may see the manner of the Torâ—eymente in Saxony the whiche Munster moste largely doth set forth with euery article in his order Of wilde Bulles iu Prussia THere be wild Bulles in the woods of Prussia like vnto the common sort of Bulls sauing that they haue shorter hornes and a long beard vnder the â—hinne They bee cruell and spareth neyâ—he man nor beast and when any snares or disceite is prepared to take theÌ„ or they â—e wounded with arrowes in the woods they labour most vehemently to reuenge their wounds vpon him that gaue them the which thing if they cannot do rushing and stumbling on trees they kill theÌ„ selues They be of such bignes that two men may sit betwixt their hornes Of Iselande IN this countrye from the .x. of Iune for a moneth space or moore they haue no night at all and about the tenth of December they haue no day at all The people liueth in dens and holowe places in hilles sydes with them mountaynes and â—illes are in steede of Townes and spring waters for delicate drinkes An happy nation whose poore estate none doth enuye and so much the more that is â—atâ— receiued christiannitie The marchauntes of England and Denmarke do not suffer theÌ„ to be content with their owne but by reason of the goode fishingâ— there they repayre thither often times with their marchaundize they carry thyâ—ther their vices and enormities They haue learned now of late to brewe with malt and haue left the drinking of playne water They haue also golde and siluer in admiracioÌ„ as well as other nations The king of Denmarke that ruleth also Norway maketh a ruler amoÌ„gest them yearly all thinges be common amongest them sauing their wiues they esteme their yong cattel as much as their children and of the pore sort you may soner obtayne their child then their cattel They honour their Bishop as a king to whose wyll and pleasure all the people hath great respect whatsoeuer he determineth by lawe scripture or by custome of other nations that they do curiouslye obserue and yet now the king hath coÌ„pelâ—ed them to take a ruler They haue so great store of â—ishe in this isle that they make their â—ales of them in piles as high as â—ouses they liue most coÌ„monly there by fishe for the great penurye of wheate and corne which is brought vnto theym â—rom other nations that with great lucre
be some of these sprites very hurtfull as that which in the mine at Anneberg was so noysome that hee destroyes a dosen laborers wherfore the sayde mine was vtterly forsaken and left notwithstanding the wealth of it Of Ireland THe earth in Ireland is so fruitfull and so goode of pasture that there cattell excepte they bee restrayned some tymes from pasture in Sommer are like to be in dauÌ„ger through sacietie There is no hurtfull thing nor noysome beast no spider no toade nor suche like eyther breedeth there or ells beynge broughte from other countries thither continueth or liueth there The earthe of this countrye cast in powder vpon any daungerous beast or venemouse serpent of any other countrye destroyeth kylleth theym There bee no Bees in this countrye the temparatenes of the ayre is meruaylous the fertilitie fruitfulnes of the countrye is notable the people of the countrye be voyde of hospitalitie they are vnciuill and cruell and ther fore not vnapt for warlike affayres they attribute great honour to martial acts and knightly prowesse The sea betwixe Ireland and Englande do rage almoste continually so that there is no safe passage but at certaine tymes Of Englande and Scotlande IN England there be no Wolfes and if any bee brought thither they do not continue and therfore their heards of cattel kepeth wel together without any greate attendaunce of men The sheepe haue hornes contrarye to those of other countries In Scotland ther be certayne Trees whiche bringe forthe a fruite folded and wrapped vp in the leaues and that fruit when in conueniente tyme it falleth into the water running by the tre it reuiueth and taketh life and is transformed into a liuing fowle which some call a goose of the tree or a Barnacle This tree also groweth in the ysle of Pomonia whiche is not far from Scotlande towardes the North. The auncient Cosmographers and especiallye Saxo the Grammarian maketh mencion of this tree lykewise therfore it is not like to be any fayned or deuised thing of late writers Aeneas Siluius writeth of this tree in this manner We hard say there was a tree in Scotland which growing vppon a banck and by the waters side bringeth forth fruit much like in forme to ducks and the fruite of that tree when it is ripe to fall of it selfe some vpon the land and some into the water and those that falle vpon the earth to putrifye and rotte but those that falle into the water straighte wayes with lyfe to swym oute of the water and to flye in the ayre with fethers winges of the whiche thinge when wee made more diligeÌ„t serche being in Scotland with kinge Iames a wise sad and graue man we learned to fly from wondring and making such things miracles as were common and that this famouse tree was not onelye to be found in Scotland but also in the isles called the Orchades Of an Isle in Spayne named Gades THere is a litle Isle in Spayne called Gades or Erythrea the pastures wherof do feede cattel so well that they can not drawe or seuer anye whaye from milke but they must needes poure water when they will haue their milke to curde Theyr cattel also be lyke to dye at euery thirty dayes ende excepte they be let bloude and so leese some quantitye of their bloud The grasse wheron their sheepe feede is somewhat drye but yet it encreaseth a marueylous fatnes bothe in their fleshe and also in their milke Seneca the scholemaister of Nero the Emperoure SAynct Hierome sayth that he was a man of most continent lyfe and therfore hee accompteth him in the number of holy men but especially for the often letters that hee wrote to S. Paule S. Paule to him This Seneca beinge the scholemaister of Nero was of greate power and aucthoritie he wished himselfe to bee in the lyke degree with his countrye men that Paule had amongest the christiansâ— amongest diuerse of his excellent gyftes and properties he had so singuler and notable a memorye that hee could rehearse ii thousand mens names in the same order that they were told him and also hee was able to rehearse ii hundreth verses beinge saide of .ii. hundreth schollers from the first to the laste most perfectlye It is written that Nero hys cruell and cursed scholler in recompence of his paynes and teachinge put him to death .ii. yeares before the martirdome of Peter and Paule When Seneca waxed olde Nero callinge to remembraunce the punishment of the rod wherwith Seneca corrected him in his childhode admonished and commaunded him to chose what kinde of death he would dye wherby Seneca vnderstanding the Emperors will and pleasure desyred that he might be â—et in warme water and that his veynes might be cut and opened in it and so they were and he bled vntill al his vital spirites issued out of his bodye and thus he desyred to finishe his lyfe because hee thought it an easye kynde of death to lose â—is lyfe in cutting of his veynes To diuerse nations in aunciente tymes were obiected diuerse vices and deformities ENuye to the Iewes Disloyaltie vnfaithfulnes to the Persians Craftines to the Egiptians Deceitfulnes to the Grecians Crueltye to the Sarracens Leuitie and lightnes to the Chaldeans Uarietie and chaungeablenes to the Affricans Glottonie to the Frenche men Uayne glorye to the Lombardes Unmercifull seueritie of the HungariaÌ„s The vnclennes and filthines of the Sueuians The foolishnes of the Saxons The hardines of the Pictes The luxurye of the Scots The drunkennes and violencie of the Spaniardes The anger of the Brittons The rapacitie and gredines of the Normans And as those vices were noted in these kindes of nations seuerallye so diuerse vertues and honest properties were attributed to them seuerally As prudence to the Hebricians Stedfastnes to the Persians Subtilitie and wittines to the Egiptians Wysdome to the Grecians Grauitie to the Romains â—agacitie to the Chaldeans Witte to the Assirians Strength and fortitude to the Frenche men Faithfulnesse to the Scots Subtile sophistrie to the Spaniardes Hospitalitie to the Brittons Mutuall participacion to the Normans These properties were of aunciente writers ascribed to diuerse nacions in olde tyme the whiche now in these our dayes seeme to be much chaunged and to haue had greate alteracion Sugar groweth in a part of Italye IN Calabria which is a parte of Italye there growethe Sugare whiche is a kinde of honye gathered oute of greate canes or redes First of al it is like vnto a kinde of marie resolued into licour whyche some call whyte gumme a thing easye to be seperate and deuided afterward this licour being boyled and sodden after the manner of Salte is resolued into a spume or froth vntill at the lengthe that which is good falleth to the bottome then the corruption and dregs maye bee cleane taken away by the froth A Mountayne alwayes castinge forthe flames and smoake THE Mountayne called Vesuuius Mons being nigh vnto the greate water
mony of Iron and then was all occaâ—ion of felonye and stealing taken away The yron where of hee made his mony being as red as fyre hee put out in vineger that it might be mete for nothing afterward through his softenes He cast oute of the cittie all artes as â—â—profitable for that purpose yet most part of artificers when the vse of Golde was taken away departed from thence of their owne accordes seing that yron monye was not in vse amongest other nacioÌ„s Then that he might the better take away all luxury and ryoting out of the citie he appointed common meetings at bankets and feastes that poore and riche indifferently might meete together at their feastes and feede all vpon the same kinde of baÌ„ket Hereby there was inflamed great anger of those that were welthy mightye and they falling vpon Licurgus with great force caused him to lose one of hys eyes with the blow of a staffe Wherefore a law was made that the Lacedemonians should no more enter into their feastes with a staffe Euery one gaue yerly to this feast one bushell of flower viii gallons of wine fiue pound of cheese fiue pounde and a halfe of figs. Children dyd frequent this as a schole or exercyse of all temperancie and ciuill discipline there they did learne to accustome theimselues with ciuill talkes and to vse honest pasttymes and to iest and be merye without knauery Their virgines were exerciseâ— wiâ—h running wrestling barriers comeâ—ly mâ—uing and gesture with quaytingeâ— casting of the bowle hamer or such likeâ— so that idelnes and effeminate delicatnes taken away they waxed the stronger to tolerate and suffer the payne of childbearing Children after they were seuen yeares of age had their exercises with their equalles and of necessitie did learne letâ—ers they were notted and shorne to the very skinne they weâ—te barefoote at xii yeares of age they might put on one cote after the countrye fashion they neyther knew bathes nor komeÌ„tacions they toke their rest in beds made with redes they might go to the feastes of their elders betters and there if that they did steale anye thinge and were taken with the thefte they were corrected with whips not because it was vnlawfull to steale but because they did it not priuely ynough with craft and subtilitie Licurgus remouing al supersticion permitted the deade bodies to be buryed in the Cittie and also to haue their monumentes about the temples It was not lawfull to ingraue or wright the name of the man or woman vpon any Graue but such as dyed manfully in war The time of lamentacioÌ„ for the dead was prescribed aboute xi dayes It was not lawfull for cittizens to make peregrinations for fear they should bring in straÌ„ge manners into the cittie But those whyche came from strange countries thithâ—r except they were profitable and meete for the common wealthe were excluded the cittie leaste that forreyn nations mighte taste of the Lacedemonian discipline Licurgus would not suffer yong men to vse one vesture all the whole yeare nor any to be more decked then an other nor to haue more delicate bankets theÌ„ others Hee coÌ„maunded all thinges to be bought not for mony but for eschaunge and recoÌ„pence of wares He coÌ„maunded also children towarde xviii yeares of Age to bee brought into the field not into the market place or iudgemente haule that they might passe ouer the first yeres not in luxury but in all kinde of labour and payns they must not lay any thing vnder theym for to sleepe the easyer And their liues they were driuen to passe without ease to come into the Cittie befoore they werâ— men in deede Maydes hee woulde haâ—â— to be maryed without anye dower or rewardes geuen by their parentes Thaâ— wiues might not be chosen for mony sake and that the husbandes should kepe their wiues more straitly because they shoulde receiue nothing in mariage with them Hee would haue the greatest honour and reuerence to begeuen to olde aged men not to rich and noble men hee graunted vnto kinges the power of the warres to Magiâ—trates iudgements and yearly succession to the Senate the custodye of the Lawes to the people the election of the Senate or to create what officers they would These lawes and newe institutes because they seemed hard and straight in comparison of their loose customes and lawes before vsed hee fayned Apollo of Delphos to be the author of them that he had them from thence At the laste to geeue eternitie and perpetuitie to hys lawes he bound the whole cittie with an othe that they shoulde chaunge none of those thinges which he had enacted prescribed before that he did retourne again saying that he would go to the oracle at Delphos to aske counsayle what mighte be chaunged or added to his lawes He tooke his iourney to the ysle of Crete and there liued in banishment Hee commaunded also dying that his bones shuld â—e cast into the sea least that the Lacedemonians if they were brought to Sparta should thinke theym selues absolued and discharged of their othe that they made for the not chaunging of his lawes The ceremonies of the burialles of the kinges of Lacedemonia THe Kinges of Sparta when they be dead knights and purseuantes declares the death of the prince throughout all the wholle countrye the women going round about the cittie do beat and ring vpon basons and pottes And when this chaunceth it is mete thaâ— out of euery house two whiche are free the male one the female the other should make a showe of lamentation and mourninge for the not doing therof great punishmeÌ„t is appointed and the lamenting and cryâ—â—g out with miserable outcries say that the last king euer was the best whatsoeuer king perrisheth in warre when they haue set forth his picture and image theiâ— bâ—â—ng it into a bed very faire wel made and they consume ten dayes in the funerralles of himâ— and ther is no meeting nor assemble of magistrates but continuall weeping and lamentation in this they agre with the Persians that when the king is dead he that succedeth dischargeth froÌ„ all dets whosoeuer oweth any thing to the king or to the coÌ„mon wealth Amongest the Persians hee that was created kinge did remit to euery cittie the tribute whyâ—he was due The Lawes of Draco AL the Lawes which Draco made appointed death almost for a punnishment to euery offence Hee made a law that they which were coÌ„uict of idlenes and slothfulnes should lose their liues In like manner that they whiche stole herbes or fruite oute of other mens grouÌ„ds that they should dye for it The same law of paracides Wherupon Demades was wonte to saye that the lawes of Draco were written wythe bloud and not with yucke The lawes of Solon SOlon made a lawe that those whiche were condemned of paracide and of affected tyrannye should neuer be receyued into any office and not only these â—e excluded from all kinde
and ropes to cut downe woode and to bynde them together wherof they make boates or little ships to passe ouer the sea carying nothing but salt with them and in the night time they conuey themselues into the ship in the water If the winde and the sea fauoreth theÌ„ they passe ouer in thre or four howers but if the trouble some sea be against them eyther they perishe in the water or els be cast agayne to the coaste of Asia When they are gotten ouer the Sea they seke vnto the mountayns and beholdinge the Pole they take their iourney towardes the North. In their hunger they refresh theÌ„ selues with salted herbs If manye runne awaye together in the night time they inuade shepeheardes and flea them and take away all such meate drinke as they fynde but yet many times they theim selues be slayne of the sheepeheardes or ells taken of theim and so deliuered to their olde maisters to all kind of seruitute and the greater number is consumed with daungers for few escape free and safe because they perishe eyther by shipwracke or by deuouring of beasts or by their enemies weapons or elles by famme when as it chauncethe that they after their running away make any long abode in the woods Many kindes of punishmentes are prepated deuised and appointed for fugitiues and such as run away for same being hanged by the feete are most cruelly tormented with whips and they that coÌ„mit homicide or murder haue the soles of their feete cutte withe a sharpe knife in many slyces and cuttinges and after they are so cut the woundes bee â—ubbed and sprincled with salt and some haue a great iron coller with a gallows of iron which they must beare for a long â—yme both dayes and nights Of Tantalus TAntalus was a king of Phrygia eâ—ceding couetouse whom the Poets fayne to haue bid the Gods to a baÌ„ket and he being desyrous to make a triall of their deitie when they appeared aâ— his house in mennes likenes did â—â—ea his own sonne Pelops and set him before theÌ„ to be eaten as meate geuing the fleshe an other name vnto theÌ„ who vnderstanding his horrible act did not oâ—ely abstein froÌ„ eating therof but also gathring the partes of the childe together broughte him to lyfe againe For this offence Iupiter caste him into hell and enioyned him this punishment that he shoulde continue in moste cleare water and stand vp in it eueÌ„ to his nether lip and that moste goodlye apple trees bearing most swete and redolent fruit should hang ouer him and touche his mouth almost the which thinges as soone as he should go about to taste of they shuld flye from him and so they did that betwene the apples and the water â—e consumed with famine and thyâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 was tormented with great penury euen in present plentie Where of a prouerbe hath sprong to cal it Tantalus punishement when as they which haue goods ynough cannot vse them Of the Temple of Ephesus IN the countrie called Ionia there is y noble city of Ephesus which was built in the 32 yeare of the raygne of kinge Dauid by Androchus the son of Codrus king of Athens The Amazons did erect in it in the honour of Diana a noble teÌ„ple y like wherof was not then in al the world therfore it was accouÌ„ted amoÌ„ngest the vii woÌ„ders of the world it was CC. and .xxv. yeres in making that of al Asia set in a miry ground for the auoyding of earthquakes there were an hundred and xxvii pillers in it made of their kinges one by one which were in height iii. score foote wherof xxxvi were carued with merueilous workemanship The lengthe of the whole churche was iiii hundred and xxv feete the bredth ii hundreth and xx All that tooke this church for sanctuary 〈◊〉 â—reate immunities and priuiledges 〈◊〉 were also so manye giftes and monuments geuen to this churche from all nacions and Citties that none in all the world might be compared to it in welth S. Paule preached at Ephesus iii. yeares and conuerted many to the fayth Saint Ihon also the Euangelist died in this cytie But this sumptuouse temple was destroyed and set on fyer in the raygne of Galienus the Emperor by one Erostratus whoe doinge manye notable feates in war and otherwise when he perceiued that he got no reward nor renowne there by to leaue a continuall remembrance of his flagitious and horrible act did with greate fiers and monstruous flames coÌ„sume this faire churche and brought it ta ashes thinking there by to be remembred in perpetuitie and yet he was deceiued for there were generall edices and proclamacions made that no man vppon payne of death shuld presume once to put his name in any writing or chronicle to the entenâ— that he might haue ben buried with euer lasting obliuion Of Artemisia the wife of Mausolus IN the cittie called Halicarnassus Artemisia the quene erected a sumptuous tombe in the honoure of her husbande Mauâ—olus which was done with suche a pompe and magnificeÌ„cie that it was nuÌ„bred as one of the seuen wonders of the world This woman merueilously lameÌ„ting the death of her husbande and inflamed with incredible desyre and affection towards him tooke his bones and ashes and mingled them together and beat theÌ„ to powder with sweeâ—e spices and put it in water and drunke it of manye other strange signes of incredible loue are said to haue bene in her after this for the perpetuall remembraunce of her husâ—ande she caused to be made a sepulchre of merueylouse workemanship in stone whiche hath bene famous and much spoken of al men til our days and this was in height xxv cubites and compassed withe xxxvi goodly pillers This vayn comfort could not take away out of the quenes breaste the conceiued griefe and sorrowe of her husband but that shortly after shee her selfe yelded her soule and life as vnmete to tarye after his death Sardanapalus SArdanapalus was king of the Assirians whose epitaph had these words in the Assirian tongue Sardanapalus the sonne of Anecendarassis erected in one daye Anchiala and Tarsus ii goodlye Citties Eate drinke and play These wordes as Cicero saith might haue bene written vpon the sepulchre of an oxe and not of a king He was a most effeminate man geuen to all kinde of luxurye and was not ashamed to spin amongest coÌ„mon harlots in womens vesture and attyre to excell all others in laseiuiousnes Wherfore the Assirians disdayninge to obey and subiect theym selues to such a feminine prince rebelled and made warre agaynst him who being ouercome wente into his palace and there making a greate fier caste himselfe and all his riches into the fier and so ended his lyfe The people called Amazones PEntesilea the quene of the Amazones which were women abhorring men and practisyng all warlyke affayres did noble dedes af manlye prowesse at the destruction of Troye Some saye that they had their beginning of the Scythians after this sort Certayn Scythians
Tangut in the daye time and more commonly in the nighte diuers illusions of deuils Therfore trauelers that way ought to take good hede that they sauer not their companies and least any comming behind might hinder them for otherwise they shall sone loose the sight of their companions for the hils and mountaines There be heard the voyces of spirits and deuils which goyng solitarilye wil call others by their names fayninge and counterfâ—yting the voyces of their companions the whiche if they can by any meanes do leade men out of the way to destruction There be hard some times in the ayre the consents harmonye of musicke instruments There bee many worshippers of Idols and they attribute much honour to the deuils When their wyues haue a son they commend him to some Idol in the honoure of it that yeare the father keepeth vpp a ram the which a yeare after the natiuitie of the chylde at the next feaste of that ydoll he offrâ—th with his sonne and maâ—ye other ceremoniâ—s When the sacryâ—ice is done they bringe the fleshe whiche was offred to some certayn place and al his kinsfolkes gathered together do eate of that with great deuocion keeping the bones reuerently in some vessel In this countrye is found a Serpent called Salamandra which liueth in the fier without any damage those serpents are vsed for the making of such cloth as may suffer the fier without any corruption or harme or els when any spot commeth to any garment made of the heares of a Salamander yt may be caste for an hower in the fier and all the spots wyll be gone no otherwise then if they had bene very cleane washt Of the Cocatrice THere is in Africke a kinde of SerpeÌ„t called a Cocatrice which hath a white spot in his head hauinge the fashion of a Diademe His head is verye sharpe his mouth red his eyes somwhat black in colour as Pliny saith with hys hyssinge he driueth away all kinde of serpents He destroyeth withe his breathe young trees and plants consumeth herbes breake the stones and infecteth the ayre where hee taryethe so that a byrde can not flye ouer that ayre or throughe it without dauÌ„ger of death Yet it is said that the poysoÌ„ of a Weasel is his destrucâ—ion Achanus sayth that he hath so sharp poyson that excedinge not in lengthe a mans hand yet hee extinguisheth euerye great serpent with his onely breath There is not a more hurtfull or more pestilent beast vppon the earth for this lying in his den may destroy a wholl cittye by infection Of the Crocodile THe Crocodile is found commonly aboute the water of Nilus Ganges in India and waxeth of a litle thiÌ„g to a very greate beast For his eggs are much like vnto goose eggs but the yong whyche commeth of theim taketh increase to sixtene or eyghtene cubites in leÌ„gth he liueth almost as long as a man he lacketh a tong his bodie is meruelouslye defended of nature for al his backe is ful of scales and wonderful harde his tayle is long he hath many teeth on both sides of his mouth wherof two do especially haÌ„g out he doth not onely deuoure man but also other earthly beastes comming nere to the water he dismembreth them with his nayles whiche hee hathe sharper theÌ„ anye weapon His bytinge is cruell and sharpe and he so rendeth with his teeth that it can neuer be healed there is great store of them about Nilus because they are verye fruitful of themselues hauing yonge euerye yeare and also they are seldome taken It is a feareful beast flying from those that persecute him and persecuting those that flye away from him It is said that when hee goeth aboute to deuoure a man that hee beginneth to weepe wher of hath sprong this prouerbe The tears of a Crocodile that is when one doothe weepe with his eyes withoute compassion and not with his harte and mynde Plinye sayth that this beaste onely in his â—yting doth moue his vpper iawe hee lyueth in the daye tyâ—e vpon the lande and in the nighte tyme in the water his eyes be very dul in the water and his sighte is â—erueylous sharpe out of the water â—ome saye that hee groweth and encreaseth as long as he lyueth Younge fowles hatched and brought forthe without the dammes and females FOelix Vlmenâ—is and Britenbachius writethe in their bookes of common peregrinacion and traueyle that in Alexandria and in Egipt there bee Ouens made full of holes wher in are layd thre or four thousand eggs some of geese some of hens some of pygeons some of duckes and that they are hydden and couered in dung and that whotte coles are set a far of about the dunge so the through the temperate heate of these thinges the eggs by litle and litle waâ—e warme in the dung euen as it were vnder the hen And at lengâ—h the yong are hatched brought forthe so that they come by flockes out of the dung and from thence are taken and led a brode to be fed at lybertye The Rites and Manners of the Egiptians THere Egiptians were almost the firste in the worlde wherof other nacions learned and tooke their lawes wisdome manners and liuinge and we reade that for learning sake Homer Dedalus SoloÌ„ Plato and manye other went thither For althoughe they were gentiles not beleeuyng on God yet they studied much for honesty and goodnesse and with their honest conuersâ—cion dyd alluâ—e strauÌ„gers and good men to come vnto them and to learne that whyche they could not fynde in other places Their women in tymes past did vse marchandize and all thinges appertayniâ—ge to chapmen the men dyd weâ—ue and spyn within the house and caâ—ye burdens on their heades the whyche the women did vse to heare on their shouldâ—â—s the mâ—n did make â—ryne sâ—ttyng but the women â—id contrarye They did discâ—arge their bellyes at home bâ—t their bâ—nkets they kepte in highe wayes they moulded brâ—â—d with their feet and stired their claye with their â—andes They dyd vse to wryte after the Hebrew fashion begynniâ—g their letters on the right hand When any of them met together at dynâ—er or supper before they departed ther came in one that broughte a picture of a dead man vpon a staffe made of wood of a cubite length or somewhat more and shewed it to euery one of the gestes sayinge behold and loke vpon this drinke and be refreshed with pleasure for such one shalt thou bee after thy deathe Their lawes were suche that periured men lost their liues as thought they had bene giltye of two offences the one of violating pietye towardes God the other of breakinge faythe and promise amongest men which is the surest knot of humane societie If any traueyler founde anye man beaten of theues and would not help him if he could he shoulde be founde culpable of death if he were not able to helpe him hee was bounde to detect the theues and to folow the action against theim and
of the pore or ells of the fowles of the ayre or ants for thei say it is as acceptable vnto God to geeue and offer almes to bruit beasts and fowles neding it as vnto men when it is offered for the loue of god There be som that set birds at libertie to flye which were restrained and shit vp geuing monye according to the vâ—lewe of the birdes Some cast bread to fishe in the waters for Gods sake saying that they shal get of God a noble reward for such â—ountye and pitie towardes those that nede it The Turkes haue also thre diuers maners of washing them the first is a sprincbling of all the whole body with water and that this should not be vayne â—or frustrate they shaue the heares from â—uery parte of their bodye sauing onlye that heardes in men the heares vpon womeÌ„ heads And yet they washe them very curiously and kembe them often therfore in the more famouse citties therbe baths which they vse continually Wher there be no such they haue som secret place prepared to washe theym in houses that they might be wel clarified with water before they go out of the house They haue another kinde of washing nothing necessarye as when they ease nature of superfâ—uities For then in some secrete place they wash their secret partes there is none sene staÌ„ding or vpright when he deliuereth Naâ—ure of superfâ—uous burdens The thyrd kinde of washing is to purifye the instrumentes of senses wherin they wash bothe handes and armes euen to the elbowes then their mouth their nosethrils and al their face Both men women do make a scraping of filthye places euery moneth twise or thrise but especiallye when they frequente the Temples otherwise they should be burnt as violaters and prophaners of a sacred place They vse such seueritie in war that no souldier dareth take away any thing vniustly for if he doth he shal be punished withoute mercie They haue ordinarie kepers and defenders of those thinges as bee in souldiers wayes the which are bound to mainteyn the orchardes and gardeynes with their fruites about highe wayes so that they dare not take an apple or any such like with out the lycence of the owner For if they dyd they should suffer death for it Of this writeth one Barthelmewe Giurgeuitus that was captiue thirtene yeres in Turkie after this sort When I was in the Turkes armie in his expedition againste the Persians I did see a certayne horseman headdâ—d with his horse and seruaunt also because his horse beinge loose entered into the fieldes of another man None of the princes or Dukes possesseth any prouince or cittie as rightfull enheritance nor they cannot leaue anye suche thing after their death to their children or successors withoute the consente of the king and supreme gouernour But if ani Duke desireth to haue any certayne possessions it is graunted to him vpon thys condicion there is a perfect note made of the price of the rents and reuenues of those possessions The Turke knowethe also how many souldiers may be kept with that yearly reuenue and so many souldiers he enioyneth him to kepe the whiche ought alwayes to be in a readines at euerye commaundement otherwise that Lorde shall lose his head if he did not aunswere his duetie and office How the Christians taken of the Turks in warre be handled and tormented and how they are made fre THe Emperour of the Turkes wheÌ„ he maketh his expedicion against the Christians he hathe alwaies waytinge vpon him a companye of butchers and sellers of Boyes to abhominable vses who cary with them a great number of long chaynes in hope of bondmen and captiues wherein they lincke and bynde fiftie or three score easlye by order The same men do bye also of suche as haue boties or prayes as many as haue not perished with swoorde the whiche thinge is permitted them vppon this condicion yf they geue vnto the prince the teÌ„th or tithe of their bondmen prisoners and captiâ—es The other it is lawful for them to keepe to their owne vse and marchandize and there is no better nor moore plenteouse a marte amongest them then of bondmen The Emperour doth so seperace the olde men and the youth of both kindes which coÌ„meth to him in the name of the tenth or tithes that he selleth theym of ripe age for the ploughe and husbandrie Younge maides and yong men hee sendeth awaye to a certain place to be instructed in certaine artes that he might vse them after warde moore commodiouslye and firste they goe aboute this to make theym denye their christian faith and then to haue them circumcised and wheÌ„ they are once entered into their ceremonies according to euery mans disposition and wit hee is appointed either to studye the Lawes of their nacion or elles to practise feates of war if more strength appeareth in the bodye than in his wit they are so instructed in the principles of warlike affayres that for the weakenes of their strenght fyrste they vse an easy bowe afterward as their strength increaseth and they haue moore exquisite knoweledge they haue a more strong bow vntill they be meete for war. There is a maister whiche calleth seuerlye vpon daylye exercise as often as they swarue from the marke so ofteÌ„times are they whipped Others are made meete aud cunninge to fight with staues But they in whome there is a greater grace of beautiful forme are so maÌ„gled that no manlines appeareth in their bodies they haue bene so abused with great daunger of lyfe and if they do escape they be mete for nothing els but ministers of moste flagitious voluptuousenes and when their beauty waxeth olde thei are deputed into the office of Eunuches to obserue and kepe matrones or ells they are addicted to the custodye of Horses or Mules or to kitchin drudgerie Maydens that are verye comelye and beautifull are chosen to be their concubines those of the meaner sort are geuen to matrones to wait vpon them where they haue some suche filthye seruices and functions that they cannot be named with honesty for they are compelled to folow them with a vessell of water when they go to discharge the bellyr and those partes Other be kept at maydens workes as spinning and bakinge When the Turks haue gotten any yong prisoners they vrge theym with threateninges promisses and flateringes that their new bond men wold be circumcised and when any hath admitted that hee is vsed with a little more humanitie but al hope of returning again into his country is vtterly taken awaye and if he once goeth about it he is in daunger of burning These because they are thoughte moore stedfast and lesse geuen to run away thei are preferred of their Lordes to warlike affayres their libertie is then dewe vnto theym when they being vnprofitable for yeares be rather reiected of their Lordes than dismissed or ells where their Lorde hath geuen them libertie in warre for the daunger of death that he hath escaped by them
Matrimony is permitted vnto theÌ„ but their children are taken from theym at the Lordes will the which causeth the wiser sort to abhorre froÌ„ mariages they vse other extremely that refuse circumcision They haue a very hard life that haue not learned any art or craft for such are in great estimation as are cunning craftes men Wherfore the noble men the priestes and the learned sort which passe ouer their liues in quietnes and idlenes whensoeuer they chaunce into their handes they are thought moste miserable oâ— all for the marchaunt seller of them can not abyde when he seeth no profit to comâ— of them nor any good sale to be made These go with their feete and head vncouered and for the most parte with naked bodies through the snowe and vpon the stones both winter and sommer they are enforced to trauayle and there is no end of these miseries before that eyther they dye or ells they fynde a foolishe Lorde in the byinge of yll marchandize No man is so happy of what condicion so euer hee be or of what age beautie or arte he bee that they wil lay him being sicke in his iorney at anye Inne or lodginge house for first hee is coÌ„pelled to go with stripes if he caÌ„not so do he is set vpoÌ„ som yong beast there if he cannot syt he is bouÌ„de with his bodye flat euen lyke vnto a packe or a burden if he dyeth they take awaye hys clothes and cast him into the next ditch or valley for dogs and rauens They keepe their captiues not onely in chaynes but also withe gyues vppon their handes as they leade them the distance betwene theÌ„ is about a yearde least they shoulde one spurne and hurte an other and this doe they for feare their bondmen hurle stones at them For where as euerye one that is a coÌ„mon marchant and seller of men leadeth a great number of bondmen so that ten of them oftentimes haue fiue hundred in chaynes they feare the force of suche a great multitude if their handes shoulde be at libertie to throwe or cast any thing In the nighte tyme they make their feete sure with chaynes and irons and lay theÌ„ vpon their backes open to the iniurie of the the ayre the women are vsed with moore humanitie they that are able do go vpon their feet and they that are lesse able be caryed vpon yonge cattell and those that are so weake that they may not suffer the shaking of the horses or asses or such like are caryed in hampers and paniers lyke vnto geese and swannes The nighte is more heauie vnto theym for then eyther they are shit vp in strong holds or els are compelled to suffer the filthy lust of those that haue bought them and great lameÌ„tacion is hard in the night time bothe of yong men yong women suffring much violence so that they spare not theym of sixe or seuen yeres of age in this miserie such is the cruelnes of that filthy nacion against nature in the rage of voluptuousnes When the daye commethe they are brought forth into the market as shepe goates to be solde when they that would bye them come the price is made if the captiue pleaseth him all his apparell is cast of that he might be seene of his maister that shal be all his partes and members are vewed touched serched and tried if there be anie faulte in his ioyntes or not if he pleaseth not the byer he is reiected againe to the seller and this is as often done as any doth cheapen or go about to bye if the byer liketh the bondman he is caryed away to a moste greuous seruiuitude as to be eyther plowman or shepe hearde that he might not remember the more greuous sciences If anye be taken with his wife and childreÌ„ noble men wil bye him gladlye and make him ruler of his vilages and geeue him charge of his groundes vineyardes and pastures but his children must be bondmen if they perseuer and continue in christian faith they haue a determinate tyme to serue that whiche being paste they are made free yet their childreÌ„ except thei be redemed coÌ„tinue in seruitude and boÌ„dage at the wil pleasure of the Lorde VVith what burden and exactions the christian Princes are charged and oppressed being ouercome of the Turkes VUhen the Turke hath taken anye christian prince he taketh all theyr goods as wel moueable as vnmoue able as a pray and bootye hee putteth awaye nobilitie cleane especiallye of the kinges stocke the clerkes and clergye he killeth not he spoyleth them of all welth and dignitie and maketh them very mockinge stockes in beggerie The Turkes take also out of the christian churches all bells organes and other instruments of musicke and after they haue prophaned the churches they consecrate theÌ„ to Mahumet They leaue pore and small chapples to the christians where they may do their holye seruice not openlye but in silence the which if they fall by any earthquake or be ruinouse by any sodeyn fyer it is not lawfull to repaire them againe but through great sommes of money geuen They are forbidden to preach or teache the Gospell and it is not lawefull for any christian man to beare anye rule in the common wealthe nor to beare weapons or vse like vesture with the Turkes If anye contumelious wordes be spoken of the christian or of Christe he must suffer it â—olde his peace but if the Christian speaketh any thing vnreuerently of their religion he shal be circumcised againste his wil but if any whisper any thing against Mahumet he shal be burnt The christians geeue the fowerth parte of all their fruite and commoditie both of the proâ—it of their fieldes and cattell and also of the gaynes of their artes and craftes there is another charge also where they pay for â—uery one in their familye a ducate and if the parentes be notable to pay thei are compelled to sell their children to seruile offices other bound in chaynes do begge from dore to dore to get their fees to dyscharge the exaction and if they cannot by these meanes pay it they must be content to suffer perpetuall enprisonment Those captiues that goe aboute to flye away yf they go into Europe they haue the easier flighte seinge that nothinge is to hinder their passage but certaine waters which are passed ouer easlye and this doo they most attempte in harueste tyme because then they may hide them in the corne and liue therby in the nighte tyme they take their flight and in the day time they hide them selues in woodes and puddles or in the corne and had rather be deuoured of wolues and other beastes then to be sent againe to their olde maisters But they which into Asia take their flight go first to Hellesspont betwixt Callipolis and the two towers which were of olde called Seston and Abydon but now they are named Bogazassar the castells of the Sea mouth and with them they cary both an axe