a place called Etvora that is to say the Stone-house a very strong thing for it is a great huge Rock and it hath an Entrance like a great Door within it as any Hall in England The Indians say that there St. Thomas did preach to their Fore-fathers Hard by standeth a Stone as big as four great Canons and it standeth upon the ground upon four Stones little bigger than a man's Finger like Sticks the Indians say it was a Miracle which the Saint shewed them and that that Stone had been Wood. Likewise by the Sea-side there are great Rocks upon which are store of Prints of the footing of bare Feet all which Prints are of one Bigness they say they are the print of the Foot-steps of that Saint when standing upon the Rocks he called to the Fishes of the Sea and they heard him At the Antillus in Brasil they have a Bird which for the rareness and strangeness thereof deserveth to be had in Remembrance It is the finest Bird that can be imagined it hath a Cap on his Head to which no proper Colour can be given for on whatsoever side ye look on it it sheweth red green black and more Colours all very fine and shining and the Breast is so fair that on whatsoever side ye take it it sheweth all the Colours especially a yellow more finer than Gold the Body is gray it hath a very long Bill and the Tongue twice the length of the Bill they are very swift in Flight and in their Flight they make a noise like the Bee and they rather seem Bees in their Swiftness than Birds for they always feed flying without sitting on a Tree even as the Bees do fly sucking the Honey from the Flowers They have two beginnings of their Generation some are hatch'd of Eggs like other Birds others of little Bubles and it is a thing to be noted a little Buble to begin to convert it self into this little Bird for at one Instant it is a Buble and a Bird and so converts it self into this most fair Bird a wonderful thing and unknown to the Philosophers seeing one living Creature without Corruption is converted into another Also in this Country of Brasil a certain Tree groweth in the Fields and the Main of the Bay in dry places where no Water is very great and broad it hath certain Holes in the Branches as long as an Arm that are full of Water that in Winter nor Summer never runneth over neither is it known whence this Water cometh and drink as many or drink few of it it is always at the same stay and so it serveth not only for a Fountain but also for a great main River and it happeneth five hundred Persons to come to the Foot of it and there is harbour for them all they drink and wash all that they will and they never want Water it is very savory and clear and a great Remedy for them that travel into the Main when they can find no other Water John Lerius a French-man who lived in Brasil for some time writeth That the Barbarians much wondered to see French-men and other Strangers coming far off from remote Countries to take so much Pains to carry back their Ships laden with Brasil or Red Wood and therefore one of the ancientest of them questioned him in this manner concerning that matter What meaneth it that you Mair and Peros that is French-men and Portugals come so far to fetch Wood Doth your Country yield you no Wood for the Fire Then said I It yieldeth Fewel surely and that in great Plenty but not of that kind of Trees such as yours are especially Brasil which our men carry from hence not to burn as you suppose but for to dye Here he presently excepting But have you said he need of so great plenty of that Wood yea surely said I for seeing even one Merchant with us possesseth more Scarlet Cloaths more Knives and Scissers and more Looking glasses alledging known and familiar Examples unto him than all those which were ever brought hither unto you he only will buy all the Brasil to the end that many Ships might return laden from hence Ah! saith the Barbarian you tell me strange and wonderful things Then presently remembring what he had heard he proceeded to demand further Questions of me But saith he That great rich Man of whom you make Report doth he not die He dieth said I as also other men do Who then said he is Heir of those Goods which this man leaveth when he dieth His Children said I if he have any if he have none his Brethren Sisters or his next Kindred When I had said this Surely saith that my discreet old Fellow hereby I easily perceive that you Mair that is French-men are notable Fools for what needeth you so greatly to tire and turmoil your selves in sailing over the Sea in passing whereof as being here arrived you report to us you sustain so many Miseries Is it forsooth that you might get riches for your Children or living Kinsfolk Is not the Earth which hath nourished us sufficient also to maintain them We surely have both Children and Kinsfolk and them as you see we love dearly but seeing we confidently hope that it shall come to pass that after our death the same Earth which nourished us shall also relieve and cherish them therein we repose our selves and rest content One of these Islands on the South-part of the Streights is called Baldivia which took its name of a Spanish Captain so called whom afterwards the Indians took Prisoner and it is said they inquired of him the reason why he came to molest them and to take their Countrey from them having no Title or Right thereunto He answered to get Gold which the Barbarians understanding caused Gold to be molten and poured down his Throat saying Gold was thy desire glut thee with it When the Spaniards first began to inhabit the West-Indies Sancta Domingo was an Island as full of Indians as any place of that bigness in all America but by the cruelty of the Spaniards in their excessive labour in the Mines they were most of them destroyed which labour was so grievous that many of the surviving Indians would rather kill themselves than endure it It happened on a time that a Spaniard called certain of them to go work in the Mines which rather than they would do they proffer'd to lay violent hands on themselves which the Spaniard perceiving he said unto them Seeing you will rather hang your selves than to go and work I will likewise hang my self and go with you because I will make you work in the other World but the Indians hearing this said We will willingly work with you because you shall not go with us so unwilling they were of the Spaniards company so that of all the Inhabitants of this Island there was none escaped Death but only these few which was by the means of this Spaniard or else they would
his Arms kissed him and promised him large Rewards if he would live in his Court but he with much Thankfulness refusing to receive any besought the King that he would not disclose what he had said in regard his Resolution was to continue in that Pilgrims state and so they there parted with Tears From whence the Earl bent his Course towards Warwick and coming thither not known of any for three days together took Alms at the hands of his own Lady as one of those twelve poor People unto which she daily gave Relief her self for the Safety of him and her and the Health of both their Souls And having rendred thanks to her he repaired to an Hermite that resided amongst the shady Woods hard by desiring by Conference with him to receive some Spiritual Comfort where he abode with that holy Man till his Death and then succeeded him in that Cell and continued the same course of Life for the space of two Years after but then discerning Death to approach he sent to his Lady their Wedding Ring by a trusty Servant wishing her to take care of his Burial adding also that when she came she should find him lying dead in the Chappel before the Altar and moreover that within fifteen days after she her self should depart this Life Whereupon she came accordingly and brought with her the Bishop of the Diocess as also many of the Clergy and other People and finding his Body there did honourably interr it in that Hermitage and was her self afterwards buried by him leaving her paternal Inheritance to Reynburn her only Son Which departure of our famous Guy hapned in the Year of our Lord 929. and of his own Age the 70. The Life of St. Patrick the Irish Apostle SAint Patrick was born in the Marches between England and Scotland in a Town by the Sea-side named Eiburn whose Fathers name was called Calphurnius a Deacon and Son to a Priest his Mother named Couches was Sister to St. Martin that famous Bishop of Tours in France Patrick of a child was brought up in Learning and well instructed in the Faith being much given to Devotion The Irish-men in those dayes assisted with some Scots and Picts were become arch-Pirates greatly disquieting the Seas about the Coasts of Britain and used to sack little small Villages that lay scatteringly along the shore and would lead away the Inhabitants captive home into their Countrey And as it chanced Patrick being a Lad of sixteen years old and a Scholar then in Secular Learning was taken among others and became Slave to an Irish Lord called Macbuaine from whom after the term of six years he redeemed himself with a piece of Gold which he found in a Clod of Earth that the Swine had newly turned up as he followed them in the time of his Captivity being appointed by his Master to take charge of them and keep them And as Affliction commonly maketh men Religious the regard of his former Education had stamped in him such remorse and humility that being thenceforth weaned from the World he betook himself to Contemplation ever lamenting the want of Grace and Truth in that Island and alluring one of that Nation to bear him company for exercise sake he departed thence and got him into France ever having in his mind a desire to see the Conversion of the Irish People whose Babes yet unborn seemed to him in his dreaming from forth their Mothers Wombs to call for Christendom In this purpose he sought out his Uncle Martin by whose means he was placed with Germanus the Bishop of Auxerre continuing with him as Scholar or Disciple for the space of forty Years all which time he bestowed in the study of Holy Scriptures Prayers and such godly Excercises Afterwards being renowned thorough the Latine Church for his Wisdom Vertue and Learning he went to Rome bearing Letters with him in his Commendation from the French Bishops unto Pope Celestine to whom he uttered his whole Mind and Secret Vow which long before he had conceived as touching Ireland Celestine invested him Arch-Bishop and Primate of the whole Island set him forward with all Favour he could bringing him and his Disciples onward to their Country In the twenty third Year of the Emperour Theodosius the younger being the year of our Lord 430 Patrick landed in Ireland and because he spake the Tongue perfectly and withal being a reverend Personage in the eyes of all Men many listened and gave ear to his preaching And the rather because as some Writers have recorded he confirmed his Doctrine with divers Miracles of which that called St. Patricks Purgatory is most remarkable the description of which out of Giraldus Cambrensis an eminent Irish Author take as followeth In the Parts of Ulster saith he there is a Pool or Lake which environeth an Island in the one part whereof there standeth a Church much enlightned with the brightsome recourse of Angels the other part is ugly and gastly as it were a Bedlam alotted to the visible Assemblies of horrible and grisly Bugs This part of the Island containeth nine Caves and if any dare be so hardy as to take his lodging a Night in one of them strait these Spirits claw him by the back and tug him so ruggedly and toss him so crabbedly that now and then they make him more frank of his Bum than of his Tongue a payment correspondent to his entertainment This place is called St. Patrick's Purgatory of the Inhabitants for when St. Patrick laboured the Conversion of the People of Ulster by setting before their eyes in great heat of Spirit the Creation of the World the Fall of our Progenitors the Redemption of man by the blessed and precious blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ the certainty of Death the Immortality of the Soul the general Resurrection the day of Judgment the Joyes of Heaven the Pains of Hell how that at length every man small and great young and old rich and poor King and Keisar Potentate and Pesant must either through God's gracious mercy be exalted to the one to flourish in perpetual Felicity or through his unsearchable Justice tumbled down to the other to be tormented in eternal misery These and the like grave and weighty Sentences wherewith he was abundantly stored so far sunk into their Hearts as they seemed very flexible in condescending to his Doctrine so that some proof of his strange preaching could have been verified whereupon without farther delay they spake to the Prelate after this manner Sir As we like of your preaching so we dislike not of our Liberty you tell us of many gew gaws and strange Dreams you would have us to abandon Infidelity to cage up our Liberty to bridle our Pleasure for which you promise us for our toyl and labour a Place to us as unknown so as yet uncertain You sermon to us of a Dungeon appointed for Offenders and Miscreants indeed if we could find that to be true we should the sooner be
to satisfie her Revenge Paradine keeping her there company a long time imagining no other but that it was the Mistress of his Affections The Queen who spent all this while in soft whispers and dalliance not using any one word whereby she might be discovered perceiving opportunity so aptly to fit her spake thus unto him Knowest thou Paradine who it is that keepeth thee Company Full well quoth he with my Mistress and then named her Thou lyest false Traytor replyed the Queen I am Rosamond thy Sovereigns Wife whom thou hast dared to abuse in this manner and dye thou must by the just Wrath of Albovine except thou save thy Life by killing him advise thee therefore whether his Life or thine own be dearest unto thee When Paradine considered his dangerous estate without any means or escape he resolved to kill the King and for his better furtherance therein both he the Queen and Hermigilde took counsel together contriving his Murther in this manner The King used to Sleep in the heat of the day when all else avoided the Chamber except the Queen Now he being a King of Courage and high Resolution ever slept like a Souldier with his Sword girded about him which at this intended time of Treason the Queen had tied so fast in the Scabbard as he could by no means help himself therewith Paradine and Hermigilde waiting the hour which was upon the Queens coming forth they entered and for all their treading the King heard them and started from his Bed when he saw two men armed with Weapons a sudden fury possessed his Spirit perceiving their intentions were against him he sought to defend himself with his Weapon which failing him by the aforesaid means of the Queen and they with their Weapons every where striking at him and wounding him he caught up a Stool and therewith defended himself for a Space till in the end they deprived him of Life without any noise heard or any suspition of Murther The King being thus Dead all was carried with a smooth Countenance Hermigilde possessed himself of the Palace intending to make the Queen his Wife as immediately he did But notwitstanding all their close packing the Lombards not long after came to the knowledge of their Kings Death and in what manner he was murthered which so incensed them that they purposed severely to revenge the same This being notified to Rosamond and her complices she packed up most of her Jewels and Royal Treasure and fled away thence carrying with them Alvisinda Daughter to King Albovine by his first Wife and hasted with all the speed they could to Ravenna where then governed a Lieutenant of the Empire named Longinus who kept that place for Tiberius Son to the Emperour Constantine of Constantinople by whom they were courteously entertained Not long had they been there but Longinus became enamoured on Rosamond and therefore partly to enjoy her Love partly to possess that Mess of Money and Jewels which she brought with her and partly by her faction to raise a beneficial War against the Lombards he perswaded her to procure the Death of Hermigilde and take him to her Husband to which he found her very tractable for she having lost all love and fear of God respect of Woman-hood and dreadless of the shame of Men coveting withal to advance the down-faln estate by marrying with the Emperours Lieutenant gave to Hermigilde an empoysoned Potion at his coming forth of his Bath perswading him that it was most Sovereign for his Health by which perswasion he drank a good part thereof but when he found it to afflict his Body so as he plainly perceived himself to be poysoned drawing forth his Sword in extremity of Rage he compelled Rosamond to drink up all the rest that remained in the Cup. So that at one instant time they were both justly requited for the Death of Albovine Tidings hereof being brought to the Lieutenant Longinus he caused the young Lady Alvisinda to be seized on and sent her with all her Jewels and Treasure to the Emperour Tiberius at Constantinople with Paradine also as a Prisoner who for reward of his former Treason to his Sovereign had his eyes pulled forth after which he lived but a while and then dyed most miserably The miseries of inforted Marriage exemplified in a story of a Knight in Warwickshire Murthered by his own Lady IN the days of Queen Mary there lived at Shirford in Warwick-shire one Sr. Walter Smith Knight who being grown an Aged Man at the death of his first Wife considering of a Marriage for Richard his Son and Heir then at Mans Estate to that end made his mind known to Mr. Thomas Chetwyn of Ingestre in Staffordshire a Gentleman of an ancient Family and a fair Estate who entertaining the motion in behalf of Dorothy one of his Daughters was contented to give 500 pound Portion with her But no sooner had the old Knight seen the young Lady then that he became a Suiter for himself being so captivated with her Beauty that he tender'd as much for her besides a good Joynture as he should have received in case the Match had gone on for his Son Which liberal Offer so wrought upon Mr. Chetwyn as that with sparing not for arguments to perswade his Daughter to accept of Sr. Walter for her Husband adding to his perswasions something of Menaces that at length with much unwillingness she consented thereunto Whereupon the Marriage ensued accordingly but with what a tragique Issue will quickly be seen for it was not long ' ere that her affections wandering after younger men she gave entertainment to one Mr. William Robinson then of Drayton-Basset a young Gentleman of twenty two years of age Son to George Robinson a rich Mercer of London and grew so impatient at all Impediments which might hinder her full Enjoyment of him that she rested not till she had contrived a way to be rid of her Husband For which purpose corrupting her waiting Gentlewoman and a Groom of the Stable she resolved by their help and the assistance of Robinson to strangle him in his Bed appointing the time and manner how it should be effected And though Robinson failed in coming on the designed Night perhaps thorough a dismal Apprehension of so horrid a Fact she no whit stagger'd in her Resolutions for watching her Husband till he was fallen asleep she then let in those Assassinates before specified and casting a long Towel about his Neck caused the Groom to lye upon him to keep him from strugling whilst her self and the Maid straining the Towel stop'd his Breath It seems the good old Gentleman little thought that this his Lady had acted therein for when they first cast the Towel about his Neck he cryed out help Doll help but having thus dispatch'd the Work they carried him into another Room where a Close-stool was plac'd upon which they set him and after an hour that the Maid and Groom were silently got away to palliate the business she
denied the same the Emperour asketh him for his Proofs he takes his Outh of it but could produce no other Witnesses The Emperour bids him to stay in another Room enquiring of him what manner of Bag it was wherein the Money was put Then purposing to send for the man it fell out that he amongst other Citizens came to salute and welcome the Emporour The Emperour knowing the man said to him O Sir methinks you have a very handsome Hat pray thee give it me the Citizen gave it and took it for an Honour that the Emperour would accept of it then did he withdraw himself and sent a Servant to this Man's Wife desiring her from her Husband to send him such a Money-bag describing of it and that said he you may know that I come from your Husband he gave me his Hat for a Token The Woman sought out the Bag and gave it him the Emperour shews the Merchant the Bag who knew it and rejoyced at the sight of it Then the Emperour calling the Citizen tells him that this man had complained to him that he had cozened him of a Sum of Money delivered into his Custody the Citizen denies and swares that none was delivered to him the Emperour produceth the Bag the Citizen was confounded and faulters in his words whereupon the Emperour causeth him to pay the Merchant to the full and sets a good fine upon his head besides and so the business was ended Of the great friendship betwixt Damon and Pithias two Pythagorean Philosophers THese two Friends were both of them Students of Pythagoras's Learning it so happened that one of them was accused to have conspired against Dionysius King of Sicilie for which they were both taken and brought before the King who immediately gave sentence that he who was accused should be put to death This Judgment being passed on him he desired of the King that ' ere he died he might return home to set his houshold in order and to distribute his goods whereat the King laughing demanded of him scornfully what pledge he would leave him to come again At which words his Companion stept forth and said that he would remain there as a Pledge for his Friend that in case he came not again at the day appointed he willingly would lose his Head Which Condition the Tyrant received and the young man that should have dyed was suffered to depart home to his House where he did set all things in order and disposed his Goods as he thought meet The day appointed for his Return being come and most part of it past the King called for him that was Pledge who came forth merrily without any shew of Fear and freely offered to abide the Sentence of the Tyrant willing to dye for the saving the Life of his Friend But as the Officer of Justice had closed his Eyes with a Kerchief and had drawn his Sword to have stricken off his Head his Fellow came running and crying That the day of his Appointment was not yet fully past wherefore he desired the Minister of Justice to loose his Fellow and to prepare to do Execution on him that had given the occasion Whereat the Tyrant being much abashed commanded both of them to be brought to his Presence and when he had enough wondered at their noble Dispositions and their Constancy in Friendship he offering to them great Rewards desired them to receive him into their Company and so doing them much Honour did set them at Liberty Another of Christian Friendship UNDER the seventh Persecution Theodora a godly Virgin for her Religion was condemned to the Stews where her Chastity was to be a Prey to all Comers which Sentence being executed many wanton young men were ready to press into the House But one of the brethren called Didymus putting on a Soldiers habit would have the first turn and so going in perswaded her to change Garments with him and so she in the Soldiers habit escaped and Didymus being found a man was carried before the President to whom he confessed the whole matter and so was condemned Theodora hearing of it thinking to excuse him came and presented her self as the guilty Party desiring that she might die and the other be excused but the merciless Judge caused them both to be put to death The admirable love and affection betwixt Titus and Gisippus two Noble young men the one of Rome the other of Athens THere was in the City of Rome a noble Senator named Fulvius who sent his Son called Titus being a child to the City of Athens in Greece the fountain then of good Letters there to learn and be instructed boarding him with a worshipful man of that City called Chremes This Chremes had a Son named Gisippus who not onely was equal to the said young Titus in years but also in stature proportion of body favour countenance and speech in a word so like that without much difficulty it could not be discerned of their own Parents which was Titus from Gisippus or Gisippus from Titus These two young Gentlemen as they seemed to be one in form and personage so shortly after acquaintance the same Nature wrought in their hearts such a mutual affection that their wills and appetites daily more and more so confederated themselves that it seemed no other when their names were declared but that they had onely changed their places issuing as I might say out of one body and entring into the other They went to their Learning and Study together as also to their Meals and Pastimes delighted both in one doctrine and profited equally therein with such fruitful encrease that in few years scarce any in Athens were comparable unto them At last died Chremes leaving his Son Gisippus a vast Estate and being now of ripe years his friends and kindred were at him to marry as also his friend Titus thereby to propagate his Posterity They having found one in all respects answerable unto him with much importunity he was contented to go and see her whom he liked so well that he became greatly enamoured of her taking great delight in the contemplation of her most excellent beauty and rare endowments of mind But no happiness could betide him without his friend participated with him therefore on a time he took Titus along with him to see this Idol of his Soul who having beheld so Heavenly a personage adorned with Beauty inexplicable such an amiable countenance mixt with maidenly shamefac'dness and the rare and sober words so well couched proceeding from her pretty mouth struck him with so much admiration that neither the Study of Philosophy nor the remembrance of his dear friend Gisippus who so much loved and trusted him could put the remembrance of her out of his mind so that withdrawing himself as it were into his Study tormented and oppressed with Love he threw himself on a Bed and there ruminating upon what was passed and thereby his unkindness to his dear friend Gisippus he began to curss
have hanged themselves also The cruelty of the Spaniards to the Indians of Peru was so extraordinary great that those silly People would not believe that the Spaniards were born into the World like other men supposing that so fierce and cruel a Creature could not be procreated of Man and Woman They called them therefore Viracochie that is Sea-froth as if they thence had received their Original Nor can any alter this their Opinion so deeply rooted saying The Winds overthrow Trees and Houses Fire burns them but these Viracochie devour all things insatiably seeking Gold and Silver which as soon as they have gotten they play away at Dice War kill one another rob blaspheme wickedly forswear and deny God never speak truth and us they have spoiled of our Countrey and Fortunes and therefore they cursed the Sea which brought to the Land so fierce and dreadful an Issue Before the Spaniards conquered Peru the Tribute which the poor People were tied to pay to their Juca's or Kings was on certain dayes to give him so many Pipes of Lice so to acknowledge subjection and keep themselves clean Of the Tortoises in the West-Indies The Tortoise is reasonable toothsom and wholsom Meat of such largeness that one of them will make a dozen Messes appointing six to every Mess It is such a kind of Meat as a man can neither absolutely call Fish nor Flesh keeping most in the Water and feeding upon Sea-grass like an Heifer in the bottom of the Coves and Bayes and laying their Eggs of which we should find five hundred at a time in the opening of a she-one in the Sand by the Shoar-side and so covering them close leave them to the hatching of the Sun like the Monati at St. Dominick which made the Spanish Friars at their first arrival make some scruple to eat them on a Friday because in colour and taste the Flesh is like to Morsels of Veal Concerning the laying of their Eggs and the hatching of their Young Peter Martyr writeth thus in his Decads of the Ocean At such time as the heat of Nature moveth them to generation they come forth of the Sea and making a deep Pit in the Sand they lay three or four hundred Eggs therein when they have thus emptied their Bag of Conception they put as much of the same again into the Pit as may satisfie to cover the Eggs and so resort again to the Sea nothing careful of their succession At the day appointed of Nature to the procreation of these Creatures there creepeth out a multitude of Tortoises as it were Pismires out of an Ant-hill and this onely by the heat of the Sun without any help of their Parents Their Eggs are as big Goose-Eggs and themselves grown to Perfection bigger than great round Targets The Indians of Virginia at the first coming of the English thither were so simple and ignorant that having surprized some Gun-powder from the English their King caused it to be sown thinking it would grow up and increase as did Corn and other Seeds Throughout all the Mountains either of the Islands or firm Land of Nova Hispania Carthagena c. there are infinite numbers of Monkeys which are a kind of Apes but very different in that they have a Tayl a very long one And amongst them there are some kinds which are thrice yea four times bigger than the ordinary some are all black some bay some gray and some spotted Their agility and manner of leaping is admirable for that they seem to have Reason and Discourse to go upon Trees wherein they seem to imitate Birds My Author going from Nombre de Dios to Panama saw in Capira one of these Monkeys leap from one Tree to another which was on the other side of a River making him much to wonder They leap where they list winding their Tails about a Branch to shake it and when they will leap farther than they can at once they use a pretty device tying themselves by the Tails one of another and by this means make as it were a Chain of many then do they lanch themselves forth and the first holpen by the force of the rest takes hold where he list and so hangs to a Bough and helps all the rest till they be gotten up It were long to report the Fooleries Tricks Traverses and pleasant Sports they make when they are taught which seem not to come from brute Beasts but from a man-like understanding The same Author saw one in Carthagena in the Governours House so taught as the things he did seemed incredible They sent him to the Tavern for Wine putting the Pot in one hand and the Money in the other and they could not possibly get the Money out of his hand before he had his Pot full of Wine If any Children met him in the street and threw any stones at him he would set his Pot down on the one side and cast stones against the Children till he had assured his way then would he return to carry home his Pot and which is more although he were a good Bibber of Wine yet would he never touch it until leave was given him They told him moreover that if he saw any Women painted he would fall upon them pull off their Attire and would seek to bite them Several Rarities of divers Countreys THe Coco-tree is one of the most admirable Rarities in the whole World which Mr. Herbert in his Travels thus describes The Tree that bears the Coco is strait and lofty without any Branches save at the very top where it spreads its beautiful plumes and Nuts like Pearls or Pendants adorning them It is good Timber for Canoes Masts Anchors the leaves for Tents or Thatching the Rind for Sails Matteresses Cables and Linnen the Shells for Furniture the Meat for Victualling The Nut is covered with a thick rind equal in bigness to a Cabbage The Shell is like the Skull of a man or rather a Deaths-head the Eyes Nose and Mouth being easily discerned within it is contained a quart of sweet and excellent Liquor like new White-wine but far more aromatick tasted The Meat or Kernel is better relished than our Filberds and is enough to satisfie the Appetite of two reasonable men the Indian Nut alone Is Cloathing Meat and Trencher Drink and Can Boat Cable Sail Mast Needle all in one The Divine Du Bartas hath celebrated its praises unto the Life in these Verses translated by Joshua Sylvester The Indian Isles most admirable be In those rare Fruits call'd Coco's commonly The which alone far richer wonder yields Than all our Groves Meads Gardens Orchards Fields What would'st thou drink the wounded leaves drop Wine Lack'st thou fine Linnen dress the tender Rine Dress it like Flax spin it then weave it well It shall thy Cambrick and thy Lawn excell Long'st thou for Butter bite the pulpous part For never better came to any Mart. Do'st need good Oyl then bolt it to and fro And passing Oyl it soon becometh
Gold bound up in a white Napkin telling her that God had now remembred her Husband and sent him his pay for his constant pains taken in his Devotion withall charging her not to send for her Husband for though he had taken such a solemn leave of her that morning yet he would come home again to her that Night and so he departed from her The Woman presently bought in some necessaries for her house for they had eaten up all before and further made some good provision for her Husband against his coming home in the evening for so he did and finding all his Family very chearful and merry his Wife presently told him that there had been such a one there as before described and left so much Gold behind him with that fore-mentioned message delivered with it Her Husband presently replyed that it was the Angel Gabriel sent from God for the Mahometans speak much of that Angel and he further added that himself had nothing to bring home unto her but a little Grett or Sand which he took up in his way homeward and bound it in his Girdle which he presently opening to shew her it was all turn'd into precious Stones which amounted unto a very great value in Money the seventh part of which as of his Gold likewise he presently gave to the poor for say they Musulmen are very charitable and infer that if we do not neglect God God will not forget us but when we stand most in need of help will supply us Unto which conclusion we may all subscribe leaving the Premises which are laid down in this Story unto those that dare believe them Of a strange Murther related by Sanderson in his History of King James IN the Year of our Lord 1618. there lived a man at Perin in Cornwal who had been blessed with an ample Possession and fruitful Issue unhappy only in a younger Son who taking Liberty from his Father's Bounty joyned with a Crew like himself who weary of the Land went roving to Sea and in a small Vessel South-ward made Prize of all whom they could master and so increased in Wealth Number and Strength that in the Streights they adventured upon a Turk's Man of War where they got a great Booty but their Powder by mischance taking Fire our Gallant trusting to his skilful swimming got to shore upon the Isle of Rhodes with the best of his Jewels about him where after a while offering some of them to sale to a Jew he knew them to be the Governour 's of Algier whereupon he was apprehended and for a Pirate condemned to the Gallies amongst other Christians whose miserable Slavery made them use their Wits to recover their former Liberty and accordingly watching their opportunity they slew some of their Officers and valiantly released themselves After which this young man got aboard an English Ship and came safe to London where his former Misery and some skill that he had gotten that way preferred him to be Servant to a Chirurgion who after a while sent him to the East-Indies there by his Diligence and Industry he got Money with which he returned home and longing to see his Native Country Cornwal in a small Ship from London he sailed Westward but e're he attained his Port he was cast away upon that Coast where once more his excellent skill in swimming brought him safe to shore but then having been fifteen years absent he understood that his Father was much decayed in his Estate and had retired himself to live privately in a place not far off being indeed in Debt and Danger His Sister he finds married to a Mercer a meaner Match than her Birth promised to her he at first appeared as a poor Stranger but after a while privately reveals himself to her shewing her what Jewels and Gold he had concealed in a Bow-case about him and concluded that the next day he intended to appear to his Parents yet to keep his Disguise till she and her Husband should come thither to make their common Joy compleat Being come to his Parents his humble Behaviour sutable to his poor Sute of Cloaths melted the old Couple into so much Compassion as to give him shelter from the cold Season under their outward Roof and by degrees his Stories of his Travellings and Sufferings told with much Passion to the aged People made him their Guest so long by the Kitchin Fire that the Husband bad them Good Night and went to Bed and soon after his true Stories working Compassion in the weaker Vessel she wept and so did he but withal he taking pity of her Tears comforted her with a piece of Gold which gave her Assurance that he deserved a Lodging which she afforded him and to which she brought him and being in Bed he shewed her his Wealth which was girded about him a very indiscreet Act for by revealing his Wealth and concealing who he was he wrought his own utter Destruction For the old Woman being tempted with the golden Bait that she had received and greedily thirsting after the enjoyment of the rest she went to her Husband and awaking him presented him with this News and her Contrivance what farther to do and though with horrid Apprehensions he oft refused yet her pewling Eloquence Eve's Enchantments moved him at last to consent and to rise to be Master of all that Wealth by murthering the Owner thereof which accordingly they did and withal covered the Corps with Cloaths till opportunity served for their carrying it away The early Morning hastens the Sister to her Fathers House where with signs of great Joy she enquires for a Sailer that should lodge there the last Night The old Folk at first denyed that they had seen any such till she told them that he was her Brother and lost Brother which she knew assuredly by a Scar upon his Arm cut with a Sword in his Youth and that they were resolved to meet there the next Morning and be merry The Father hearing this hastily run up into the Room and finding the mark as his Daughter had told him with horrid regret of this monstrous Murther of his own Son with the same Knife wherewith he had killed him he cut his own Throat The Mother anon after going up to consult with her Husband what to do in a strange manner beholding them both weltring in Blood wild and agast finding the Instrument at hand readily rips up her own Belly till the Guts tumbled out The Daughter wondering at their delay in returning seeks about for them whom she found out too soon and with the sad sight of this bloody Scene being overcome with sudden Horror and Amazement for this deluge of Destruction she sunk down and died The Names of these Parties were concealed in favour of some Neighbours of Repute and Kin to the Family The Custom of Lapland for the marrying of their Daughters IT is Death in Lapland to marry a Maid without her Parents or Friends Consent wherefore if one
bear affection to a young Maid upon the breaking thereof to her Friends the fashion is that a day is appointed for their Friends to meet to behold the two young Parties to run a Race together The Maid is allowed in starting the advantage of a third part of the Race so that it is impossible except willing of her self that she should ever be overtaken If the Maid over-run her Suiter the matter is ended he must never have her it being penal for the man again to renew the motion of Marriage But if the Virgin hath an Affection for him tho' at the first running hard to try the Truth of his Love she will without Atalanta's golden Balls to retard her speed pretend some Casualty and make a voluntary hault before she cometh to the Mark or end of the Race Thus none are compelled to marry against their own Wills and this is the cause that in this poor Country the married People are richer in their own Contentment than in other Lands where so many forced Matches make feigned Love and cause real Unhappiness Of Spirits or Devils and that they have had carnal Knowledge of People PHilostratus in his fourth Book de vita Apollonii relateth of one Menippus Lycius a young Man 25 years of Age that going betwixt Cenchreas and Corinth met a Phantasm in the Habit of a fair Gentlewoman which taking him by the Hand carried him home to her House in the Suburbs of Corinth and told him she was a Phoenician by Birth and if he would tarry with her he should hear her sing and play and drink such Wine as never any drank and no man should molest him but she being fair and lovely would live and die with him that was fair and lovely to behold The young man a Philosopher otherwise stay'd and discreet able to moderate his Passions though not this of Love tarried with her a while to his great Content and at last married her to whose Wedding among other Guests came Apollonius who by some probable Conjectures found her out to be a Serpent a Lamia and that all her Furniture was like Tantalus's Gold described by Homer no Substance but mere Illusions When she saw her self descried she wept and desired Apollonius to be silent but he would not be moved and thereupon she Plate House and all that was in it vanished in an instant Multi factum cognovere quod in media Gracia gestum fit Many thousands took notice of this Fast for it was done in the midst of Greece Sabine in his Comment on the tenth of Ovid's Metamorphosis at the Tale of Orphaeus telleth us of a Gentleman of Bavaria that for many Months together bewailed the loss of his dear Wife at length the Devil in her Habit came and comforted him and told him because he was so importunate for her that she would come and live with him again on that condition he would be new married never swear and blaspheme as he used formerly to do for if he did she should be gone He vowed it married and lived with her she brought him Children and governed his House but was still pale and sad and so continued till one day falling out with him he fell a swearing she vanished thereupon and was never after seen This Story saith he I have heard from Persons of good Credit which told him that the Duke of Bavaria did tell it for a certainty to the Duke of Saxony Florilegus an honest Historian of our own Nation telleth us that in Anno 1058. a young Gentleman of Rome the same day that he was married after Dinner with the Bride and his Friends went a walking into the Fields and towards Evening to the Tennis Gourt to recreate themselves whilst he played he put his Ring upon the Finger of the Statue of Venus which was there by made in Brass After he had sufficiently played and now made an end of his Sport he came to fetch his Ring but Venus had bowed her Finger in and he could not get it off whereupon loth to make his Company tarry at present there left it intending to fetch it the next day or at some more convenient time went thence to Supper and so to Bed In the night when he should come to perform those Nuptial Rites Venus steps between him and his Wife unseen or felt of her and told him that she was his Wife that he had betrothed himself unto her by that Ring which he put upon her Finger she troubled him for some following Nights He not knowing how to help himself made his moan to one Palumbus a learned Magician in those days who gave him a Letter and bid him at such a time of the Night in such a cross-way at the Towns-end where old Saturn would pass by with his Associates in Procession as commonly he did deliver that Script with his own hands to Saturn himself the young man of a bold Spirit accordingly did it and when the old Fiend had read it he called Venus to him who rode before him and commanded her to deliver his Ring which forthwith she did and so the Gentleman was freed Hector Boetius the Scottish Historian writes that in the Year 1480. it chanced as a Scottish Ship departed out of the Forth towards Flanders there rose a wonderful great Tempest of Wind and Weather so out-ragious that the Master of the Ship with other the Mariners wondered not a little what the matter meant to see such Weather that time of the Year for it was about the midst of Summer At length when the furious rage of the Winds still increased in such wise that all those within the Ship looked for present Death there was a Woman underneath the Hatches called unto them above and willed them to throw her into the Sea that all the residue by God's Grace might yet be saved and thereupon told them how she had been haunted a long time with a Spirit daily coming unto her in man's Likeness and that even as then he was with her using his filthy Pleasure after the manner of carnal Copulation In the Ship there chanced also to be a Priest who by the Master's appointment going down to this Woman and finding her like a most wretched and desperate Person lamenting her great Misfortune and miserable Estate used such wholsome Admonitions and comfortable Advertisements willing her to repent and hope for Mercy at the hands of Almighty God that at length she seeming right penitent for her grievous Offences committed and fetching sundry Sighs even from the bottom of her Heart being witness as should appear of the same there issued forth of the Pump of the Ship a foul and evil favour'd black Cloud with a mighty terrible Noise Flame Smoak and Stink which presently fell into the Sea and suddenly thereupon the Tempest ceased and the Ship passing in quiet the residue of her Journey arrived in safety at the place whither she was bound Not long before the hap hereof there was in like