People there resembled should overcome Spain and so it happened By this former Example you may see the sad effects of Lust to which we may add another of like nature Ireland formerly was divided into five Provinces or petty Kingdoms namely Munster Connaght Ulster Meth and Leinster These petty Kings being divided amongst themselves became all of them a Prey to Turgesius King of the Norweigians who having conquered them reigned as King One of these petty Princes Omo Caghlen King of Meth had a Daughter of renowned Beauty whom Turgesius demanded of her Father to serve his Lusts and he seeming willing to condescend to the motion as if his Blood would be honoured thereby told him That besides his Daughter he had at his disposing many others of more exquisite Beauties which should all be ready at command Turgesius mistrusting nothing greedily swallowed this Bait and desired him with all speed to effect this meeting which he promised soon to do whereupon this politick Prince attired in the Habits of Women a company of young Gentlemen who durst for the common Liberty adventure their several Lives and conducted them to the Tyrant's Bed-chamber And they according to the directions given them when for that little modesty sake he had in him he had commanded all his Attendants to avoid the Room assaulted him now ready for and expecting more kind embraces and left him dead in the place The Methian King had by this time acquainted divers of the better sort with his Plot all which upon a sign given rush into the Palace and put to death all the Norwegians and other Attendants of the Tyrant and so recovered again their former Liberty John King of England notwithstanding he lived in continual Trouble yet bent his Mind to Love and Lasciviousness attempting the Chastity of the Lady Matilda Daughter to the Lord Fitz-Waters who being as averse to his Desires as Water to Fire he banishes her Father and several of her Friends seizing upon their large Estates whereupon she flies and takes upon her a Monastick Habit in the Monastery of Little Dunmow in Essex where he still prosecuted his Suit but finding her more contrary to his Desires than ever he sent a Messenger unto her who because she would not agree to his wicked motion he poisoned a boiled or potched Egg against she was hungry and gave it unto her whereof she died Anno 1213. It hapned that the next Year King John being then in France with a great Army that a Truce was taken betwixt the two Kings for the term of five years and a River or Arm of the Sea being betwixt either Host there was a Knight in the English Camp that cryed to them of the other side willing some one of their Knights to come and Just a Course or two with him whereupon vvithout stay the Lord Fitz-Water being on the French part made himself ready ferried over and getting on Horse-back shewed himself ready to the Face of the Challenger vvhom at the first Course he struck so hard vvith his great Spear that Horse and Man fell to the ground and when his Spear was broken he vvent back again to the King of France which King John seeing by God's Tooth quoth he that was his usual Oath he were a King indeed that had such a Knight The Friends of the Lord Fitz-Water hearing these Words kneeled down and said O King it is your Knight it is Robert Fitz-Water whereupon the next day he was sent for and restored to the King's Favour living in all affluence of Riches and Honour the space of sixteen Years afterwards His Father Walter Fitz-Water with his Wife Matilda do lye interred in Little Dunmow Chancel under a very fair Monument though by some Ruines of the Roof falling upon it the Legs of their Effigies were lately broken off there Grand-child Matilda also in these our late times of Rebellion had the Head of her Effigies stricken off as a monument of Superstition but since by the care of my worthy Friend Mr. Burre who liveth in the Priory it is restored to the Body again Anno 1680. Richard the First King of England being employ'd in his Wars against Philip King of France one Fulco a French Priest came unto him telling him he had three very bad Daughters which he wished him to bestow away from him in Marriage or else God's Wrath vvould attend him when the King denyed he had any Daughter yes quoth the Priest thou cherishest three Daughters Pride Covetousness and Leachery The King apprehensive of his meaning called his Lords there attending and said my Lords This Hypocrite hath found that I have three Daughters Pride Covetousness and Leachery which he would have me bestovv forth in Marriage and therefore if any such I have I have found out most fit Husbands for them all My Pride I bequeath to the haughty Templers and Hospitalers who are as proud as Lucifer himself my Covetousness I give to the Monks of the Cisteaux Order for they covet the Devil and all but for my Leachery I can bestow it no where better than on the Priests and Prelates of our Times for therein have they their most Felicity King William Rufus was much noted to be a very covetous Prince and yet we find in the Chronicles a Story of him which denotes to the contrary namely how that when two Monks whose Abbot was lately dead repaired to his Coutt and each in large Offers out-vied and over-bad the other to succeed in the Abbacy a third Monk very sober and poor in shew accompanying them in their Business stood by whom the King asked what he would give to be made Abbot Nothing said the Monk for I entered my Profession to be poor and hitherto have been little esteeming the Pomp or Riches of the World then thou art the Man replied the King and shalt be their Abbot more worthy in thy Poverty than they for their Price and so conferring on him that high Honour checked the others to their open Infamy and Reproach Another Example of the same King touching his Pride take as followeth His Chamberlain bringing him a pair of new Hose and he demanding the Price was answered that they cost three Shillings Away base Fellow quoth he are these beseeming a King Bring me of a Mark Price his Servant went but brought him another pair of no greater Cost but told him that they were of the Rate appointed wherewith the King was very well pleased A strange Change of Religion of the two Dr. Reinolds These two Brothers the one named William the other John William was at first a Protestant of the Church of England and John trained up in Popery beyond the Seas William out of an honest Zeal to reduce his Brother to this Church made a Journey to him where on a Conference betwixt them it so fell out that John being overcome by his Brothers Arguments returned into England where he became one of the more strict or rigid sort of the English Protestants
Wretch might have conceived his present compared with his former condition an Heaven upon Earth but he did not so though he had to his good Entertainment made for him a Chain of bright Brass an Armour Breast Back and Head-piece with a Buckler of Brass his beloved Metal and which his Countrey-men esteemed far above Gold yet all this contented him not for never any seemed to be more weary of ill usage than he was of Courtesies none ever more desirous to return home to his Countrey than he For when he had learn'd a little of our Language he would daily lye upon the Ground and cry very often thus in broken English Cooree home go Souldania go home go And not long after when he had his desire and was returned home he had no sooner set footing on his own shore but presently he threw away his Clothes his Linnen with all other Covering and got his Sheep-skins upon his back Guts about his neck and his Cow-turd Cap upon his head Thus you see what manner of Life they affect the name of Cleanliness not being known amongst them And for their Religion Cooree being asked by the Minister of the Ship who was their God he lifting up his hands in his bad English said thus England God great God Souldania no God And so much for Souldania Of two famous Virago's the one a French-woman called Joan of Arc or La Pucelle de Dieu the other a Biscainer called Catarina d' Arcuso JOAN of Arc was Daughter to one James of Arc dwelling in Domremy near Vaucaleurs in France in her younger years she tended Sheep under her Father at which time France groaned under the Victorious Arms of the English John Duke of Bedford being then Regent thereof in the minority of our King Henry the sixth who was crowned King of France in Paris the principal City Charles the seventh having little left to him of that spacious Kingdom but only the Title He being at this Exigent this young Maid then about eighteen years of age presented her self unto him at Chinon bidding him not to faint but constantly affirmed that God had sent her to deliver the Realm of France from the English yoak and restore him to the fulness of his Fortunes At first it seems she was not much credited though judged to be set on by the Nobles but when the Wise of both sorts as well Clerks as Souldiers had sifted her with manifold Questions she continuing in her first Speech so stedfastly uttering nothing saith Serres but that which was modest chaste and holy that honour and faith were given to her Sayings An old Woman directed her She soon armed her self like a man and required to have that Sword which hung in St. Katharines Church of Fierebois in Tourain This demand increased their admiration of her for such a Sword was found among the old Donaries or Votive Tokens of that Church Thus warlikely arrayed she rides to Blois where Forces and fresh Victuals lay for the Relief of Orleans then closely besieged and ready to yield unto the English She joyning with the Admiral and Marshal of France they entred the City in despight of the Besiegers This greatly encouraged the fainting French Joan the Maid of God so Superstition had now intitled her having thus fortunately begun writes this Letter to the English General before the City King of England Do reason to the King of Heaven for his Blood-Royal yield up to the Virgin the Keys of all the good Cities which you have forced She is come from Heaven to reclaim the Blood-Royal and is ready to make a Peace if you be ready to do reason Yield therefore and pay what you have taken King of England I am the chief of this War wherefore I encounter your men in France I will chase them will they or no. If they will obey I will take them to mercy The Virgin comes from Heaven to drive you out of France If you will not obey she will cause so great a stir as the like hath not been this thousand years in France And believe certainly that the King of Heaven will send to her and her good men of Arms more force than you can have Go in Gods name into your Countrey be not obstinate for you shall not hold France of the King of Heaven the Son of St. Mary but Charles shall enjoy it the King and lawful Heir to whom God hath given it He shall enter Paris with a goodly Train You William de la Pole Earl of Suffolk John Lord Talbot Thomas Lord Scales Lieutenants to the Duke of Bedford and you Duke of Bedford terming your self Regent of the Realm of France spare innocent Blood and leave Orleans in liberty If you do not reason to them whom you have wronged the French will do the goodliest Exploit that ever was done in Christendom Understand these News of God and the Virgin This Letter was entertained by the English with laughter and Joan reputed no better than a Bedlam or Enchantress Yet however thus disesteemed by her Encouragements and Conduct the English had Orleans pluck'd out of their hopes and with much loss were driven to raise the Siege Joan her self was wounded at one Sally in which she led being shot through the Arm with an Arrow Judge what she esteemed of that hurt when she used these admirable and terrible words This is a Favour let us go on they cannot escape the hand of God nay in all Adventures she was one and fore-most In memory of this admirable Deliverance they of that City erected a Monument where Charles the seventh King of France and Joan the Martial Maid were represented kneeling in Armour elevating their eyes and hands to Heaven in sign of thanks and acknowledgment of so great a benefit Still the Martial Maid goes on victoriously she and the Duke of Alanzon recover Jergeaux from the Earl of Suffolk forcing it by Assault slaying one of the Earl's Brothers and taking the Earl himself Prisoner and having their numbers augmented encounter the Lord Talbot that terrour of France at a Village called Patay whom they discomfit and slew of the English above a thousand The Lords Talbot the glory of the English Scales Hungerford and Sir Thomas Rampestone were taken Prisoners These Losses shook the whole Fabrick of the English greatness in France and caused the Revolt of many Towns to King Charles who encouraged by these Successes marcheth into Champaigne where by composition he taketh the Cities of Troys and Auxerre Chalons and Rheims yield themselves in which last according to the Maids direction he was solemnly crowned King But now our Martial Maids good Fortune having ascended the Meridian began to decline for though by her subtile practises King Charles was possess'd of the Town of St Dennis a neighbour to Paris then in possession of the English she with the Duke of Alanzon going with their Forces to attempt it the English gave them so rough an Encounter that Joan her self was
a Seat for him to sit the dead hath his Hair newly embroydered his Body washed and anointed with sweet Powders He hath all his best Robes put on and is brought between two men to his Grave and set in his Seat as though he were alive He hath two of his Wives set with him with their Arms broken and then they cover the Vault on the top These People are very kind one to another in their health but in their sickness they do abhor one another and will shun their company At the end of four months the Gaga's decamped marching thorow divers Countries destroying all wheresoever they came In this condition continued Andrew Battel amongst them for the space of above a year and a half being highly esteemed of the great Gaga because with his Musquet he had killed divers of the Negroes his Enemies At last they coming within three days journey of Massangano where the Portugals had their Fort afore-mentioned he made means to get thither again with some Merchant Negroes that came to the Camp to buy Slaves At that time there was a new Governour come to Massangano named Sienor Juan Continho who brought Authority to conquer the Mines or Mountains of Cambamba and to perform that Service the King of Spain had given him seven years Customs of all the Slaves and Goods that were carried thence to the West-Indies Brasil or whithersoever This Gentleman was so bountiful at his coming that his Fame was spread thorow all Congo and many Mulatoes and Negroes came voluntarily to serve him And being some six moneths in the City he marched to the Outaba of Tombe and there shipped his Souldiers in Pinnaces and went up the River Coanza and landed at the Outaba of Songo sixty miles from the Sea This Songo is next to Demba where the Salt Mines be In this place there is such store of Salt that most parts of the Country are perfect clear Salt without any earth or filth in it and it is some three foot under the Earth as it were Ice They cut it out in Stones of a yard long and it is carried up into the Country being the best Commodity that a man can carry to buy any thing whatsoever From thence the Governour sent a Pinnace to Messangano for all the best Souldiers that were there so the Captain of that Castle sent Battel down amongst a hundred Souldiers more whom the Governour kindly entertained and made him a Serjeant of a Portugal Company Here he continued with them two years acting very valiantly in divers bloudy Battels against several Potent Lords that opposed the Portugals during which time the Governour died and another Captain was substituted in his room who was so cruel to his Souldiers that all his Voluntary men left him and by these means he could go no further At this time there came news by the Jesuits that Elizabeth Queen of England was dead and that King James her Successor had made Peace with Spain whereupon he made a Petition to the Governour who granted him Licence to go into his own Country and so he departed with the Governour and his Train to the City of S. Paul After six months stay about some necessary businesses he prepared for his Journey homewards but the Governour denied his Promise and instead of permitting him to come into England commanded him within two days to provide himself to go to the Wars again Battel startled at his perfidiousness resolved to try one bout more for his deliverance so the same night he departed from the City with two Negro Boys that he had which carried his Musquet six pounds of Powder a hundred Bullets and that little Provision of Victuals which he could make In the morning he was some twenty miles from the City up along the River Bengo there he stayed certain days and then passed Bengo and came to the River Dande being to the Northwards Here he was cruelly put to his shifts being forced to live a month in a Wood betwixt the foresaid Rivers for fear of a Pursuit From thence he went to the Lake of Casausa about this Lake he stayed six moneths and lived onely upon dried Flesh as Buffeloes Deer Mokokes Impolanca's and Roe-bucks and other sorts which he killed with his Musquet and dried the flesh as the Savages do upon an Hurdle three foot from the ground making underneath it a great Fire and laying upon the flesh green Boughs which keep the smoke and heat of the Fire down and dry it He made his Fire with two little Sticks as the Savages use to do Sometimes for variety he fed on Guinney Wheat which his Negro Boy would get of the Inhabitants for pieces of dried flesh In this manner he lived six months with dried Flesh and Fish and seeing no end of his misery he wrought means to get away which he effected after this manner About the Lake are many little Islands full of Trees called Memba which are as light as Cork and as soft of these Trees he built a Gingado with a Knife he had of the Savages in the fashion of a Boat nailed with wooden Pegs and railed round about because the Sea should not wash him out and with a Blanket that he had made a Sail and prepared three Oars to row withall The Lake was eight miles over and issued out into the River Bengo so he entered into his Gingado with his two Negro Boys and rowed into the River Bengo coming down with the Current twelve Leagues to the Bar Here he was in great danger because the Sea was great and being over the Bar he rowed into the Sea and then sailed afore the wind along the Coast which he knew very well minding to go to the Kingdom of Longo which is toward the North. Being that night at Sea the next day he saw a Pinnace come before the wind which came from the City and was bound to San Thome being come near him he found the Master was his great Friend for they had been Mates together who for pity sake took him in and his two Boys and set them on shore in the Port of Longo where he was well entertained of the King because he killed him Deer and Fowls with his Musquet Here he continued the space of three years during which time he took a Survey of the Country the Nature of the People their Rites and Manners all which he delivered to Posterity in writing as followeth Here is great store of Palm-Cloaths of sundry sorts which is their Merchandise and great store of Victuals Flesh Hens Fish Wine Oyl and Corn. Here is also very fine Logwood which they use to dye withall it is the Root of the Logwood which is the best and Molangos of Copper Here is likewise great store of Elephants Teeth but they sell none in the Market-place The King hath ten great Houses and is never certain to be found but in the Afternoon when he cometh to sit and then he keepeth always one House