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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10231	Purchas his pilgrimage. Or Relations of the vvorld and the religions obserued in all ages and places discouered, from the Creation vnto this present Contayning a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the Floud ... The fourth edition, much enlarged with additions, and illustrated with mappes through the whole worke; and three whole treatises annexed, one of Russia and other northeasterne regions by Sr. Ierome Horsey; the second of the Gulfe of Bengala by Master William Methold; the third of the Saracenicall empire, translated out of Arabike by T. Erpenius. By Samuel Purchas, parson of St. Martins by Ludgate, London.	Purchas, Samuel, 1577?-1626.; Makīn, Jirjis ibn al-ʻAmīd, 1205-1273. Taŕikh al-Muslimin. English.; Methold, William, 1590-1653.; Horsey, Jerome, Sir, d. 1626.	1626 (1626)	STC 20508.5; ESTC S111832	2,067,390	1,140

chuse that should seeme best These reduced the Doctrine of Mahomet into six bookes forbidding any on paine of death to speake or write otherwise of their Law But because the Arabians of subtle and piercing wit which studied Philosophy in the Vniuersities of Bagdet Marocco Cordoua and other places could not but spie and discerne the mad folly of the law so palpable to any reasonable iudgement It was therefore ordained that the Phylosophy Lecture should be taken away and in place thereof they should read the Alcoran prouiding for all these Students of their Law their expences out of the publike charge and inhibiting all further studie in Philosophy insomuch that they now saith our Author who himselfe was a Student in that Vniuersity repute him not a good Saracen who is addicted to that studie This Frier Richard mentioneth another Prophet named Solem had in estimation with these Babylonians which was after slaine by the Tartars He and Cardinall Cusanus affirme that the Saracens of the East differ in their Alcoran from those of the West making the first fiue Chapters but one and that they differ in the exposition thereof and in the same Schooles or Vniuersities one Sect condemneth another But in these times the Mahumetane Professors are chiefly distinguished by the seuerall Nations of which are foure principall the Arabians Persians Turkes and Tartars to which wee may adde the Mogore as a fifth whom the Iesuites in their Epistles report to halt from his former Mahumetisme and to incline to Gentilisme Of all these the Arabians are most zealous in their superstition the Persians most agree to Reason and Nature the Tartars are more Heathenish and simple the Turkes are the freest and most Martiall The Arabians account it their peculiar glory that Mahumet was of that Nation and that Mecca and Medina are there seated and therefore haue laboured in the dayes of their former puissance by the sword since by their traffique and preaching to spread their Mahumetisme through the World Their first Seducers had possessed Syria and Palestina Homar had added Egypt and in a short time their Successors had preuailed in Asia Afrike and Europe as we haue before shewed All Mahumetans are called by vs Saracens which Erpenius in his Annotations on his Ioseph saith is a name to them vnknowne so is China to the Chinois Peru to the Peruans c. but giuen them by others They call themselues Muslimos or Muslemans of a word which signifieth Beleeuers as one would say in their sense Catholike and Orthodoxe beleeuers They haue beene such in Armes and in diligence of Preaching they haue beene as forward and so continue Seuen hundred yeeres since Perimal raigning in Malabar they there sowed their Tares and the more easily to take those Ethnikes in their net they tooke their daughters in marriage a matter of much consequence in regard of their wealth and practised of them to this day They were Authors of great gaine vnto them by their trades and traffique for Spicery and were suffered to inhabite and plant Colonies amongst them By their meanes Calicut of a small thing became a great and rich Citie And Perimal himselfe was peruerted by them to their faith who zealously inclined to their perswasions resolued to end his dayes at Mecca and put himselfe on the voyage with some ships of Pepper and other things of price but perished by tempest in the way From Malabar they passed to the Maldiuae and Zeilan Somatra Iaua Molucca the Philippinaes and in the Continent to Cambaia Bengala Siam Malucca Ior Pam and the huge Kingdome of China preaching and planting their superstitions as in the particular Histories of these Nations shall further appeare They are in this respect so zealous that euen the Arabian Mariners will stay behinde in the Countries of the Ethnikes there to diuulge this their Sect and in the yeere 1555. one of them pierced as farre as Iapon there to haue laied their Leauen but the Portugalls in these Easterne parts treading in the same steps by their traffique and preachings haue much hindered their proceedings The Tartars Persians and Turkes require longer and seuerall discourses in their due place and first we will speake of them which are first in this ranke the greatest of all Mahumetane States the Turkes CHAP. VIII Of the Turkish Nation their Originall and Proceedings §. I. Of the Turkish Name and first Originall ALthough some may thinke that I haue beene so tedious in the relation of the Mahumetan opinions and superstitions that to speake any thing more would seeme but as powring water into a full Sea Yet because there is in this World nothing certaine but vncertaintie it being diuine prerogatiue to be yesterday to day the same for euer and that this Saracenicall Religion hath sustained her chances and changes according to the diuersitie of times and places where it is and hath beene professed so doe I hold it fit as wee haue seene the foundation to behold also the frames and fabriques thereon builded and from that Fountaine or sinke-hole rather of superstitition to lead you along the gutters and streames thence deriued And because the Turkes are preeminent in all those things which this profession accounteth eminent it is meetest to giue them the first place heere which elsewhere take it and after we haue set downe a briefe Historie of that Nation and the proceedings of their state to ascribe their theorie and opinions and then their practice and rites of Religion But before we come to the discouerie of their Religion it is not amisse to search the beginning and increase of this Nation The name of Turkes signifies saith Chitraeus Shepheards or Heard-men and such it seemeth was their ancient profession as of the rest of the Scythians vnto this day Nicephorus and before him Simocatta from whom Nicephorus borroweth it speaketh of the Turkes and placeth them about Bactria their chiefe Citie he calleth Taugast which is supposed to be the worke of Alexander Their Religion hee saith at that time was to worship the Fire Aire Water and Earth which they adore and sing Hymnes to They acknowledge God the maker of Heauen and Earth to whom they sacrifice Horse Kine and Sheepe they haue Priests which diuine things to come The Prince of Taugast they called the sonne of God They worship Images The Prince spendeth the night with seuen hundreth women The Tartars haue now possessed the same Countrie but long before the same rites as you may reade in our Historie of them To deriue them as some doe from Troians and Iewes is somewhat farre fetched nor is there much likelihood that they should receiue their name of Turca a Persian Citie the name is ancient and applied by Mela and Plinie to a Nation of the Scythians and their original is accounted Scythian by the most and best Authors Beniamin Tudelensis calleth them alway by the name Togarma There are which bring a long Genealogie from Noahs Arke

neuer quite subiected to forraine Soueraightie till the Tartarian Conquest vnder one Tiemor so the Chinois call that great Chan which so continued till the yeere 1368. When one of their Chieftaynes whom they called of the euent Hum-vu that is a floud of weapons expelled the Tartars compelled the Chinois to his subiection The Kingdome passeth by inheritance Some ancient Kings are yet commended for commending the Kingdome to the vertuous succession of some rarer men then their kindred yeelded and sometimes the people rebelling haue dispossessed one and substituted another In this kingdome are no ancient Lawes But the first of any Family which obtayneth the Soueraigntie makes new Lawes at his pleasure which his Successors in that family doe not easily alter That Hum-vu the Conqueror is the founder of their present Lawes either enacting new or confirming the old as he saw good From ignorance of Geographie they esteemed their King Lord of the World and therefore call him Thiencu the sonne of Heauen for they esteeme Heauen the greatest God Yet commonly the people call him Hoamsi that is the greatest Monarch Hum-vu was a great both Warrior and Polititian He ordayned that none of the Kings children should deale in publike functions or affayres of state yet hee made them seeming amends with assignation of most ample reuenues and the title of Guam a Prince or petty King Their reuenue is paid out of the Exchequer to preuent Clients and dependance of Tenants Much complement of reuerence is done them by the Magistrates but no subiection Their Children and Nephewes are honored also but their titles and reuenues still decreasing as they descend further from the Royall stemme till at last no more bee allowed them then may supply their necessitie without trade or worke Like care is had of the Royall daughters marriage and maintenance The Commanders which assisted him in the Conquest hee vouchsafed honourable titles militarie prefectures with other immunities and reuenues still descending to their posteritie who are subiect neuerthelesse to the Citie Magistrates One strange priuiledge of theirs is this The exploits of the head of their family vnder Hum-vu are grauen in an yron plate This continueth with the first borne of that family who thereby may challenge pardon for any man in any crime three sundrie times if hee offer the same to the King Only treason is vnpardonable which depriueth the Traytor and all his posteritie for euer of all dignitie Like honors doe the Kings sonnes or fathers in law enioy and some others who haue well deserued of the State Only the Doctors and Licentiates are admitted to offices of gouernment not preferred by fauour of others or the King himselfe but by the Law and his merits All Magistrates are called Quonfu that is Presidents and as an honourable title Lau ye or Lau sie a Lord or Father The Portugalls stile them Mandarines And although these Magistrates can finish nothing till by Petition they obtayne the Kings confirmation yet he enacteth nothing which they doe not first sollicite And if any priuate man preferre a Petition to the King which seldome happens because there is an Officer appointed to examine them before the King sees them yet the King referres them to that Tribunall whereto they belong This I haue diligently searched and found for certaine that the King himselfe may not giue a summe of money or office to any man vnlesse hee bee first petitioned by some of the Magistrates except in his owne houshold for those gifts are not taken out of the publike treasure but the priuie purse His Customes and Tributes which exceede without controuersie a hundred and fiftie millions yeerely euery house not priuiledged paying tribute are not brought into the Treasurie of the Palace nor may the King spend them after his pleasure but all the money and prouision is brought into the publike Treasuries and Store-houses which are through the Kingdome Out of these a certaine allowance is appointed by Law and nothing more or lesse for the Kings expences his Wiues Children Eunuchs and Family Thence the Magistrates and Souldiers stipends and other officers through the Kingdom are discharged Thence also the publike Edifices of the Palaces of the King and his kinsemen Cities Walls Forts and all prouisions of Warre are mentioned And some yeeres it happens that this huge reuenue will not serue for necessary expences but they are forced to new impositions The ordinary Census or poll-money is three Mazes or halfe Duckets besides the profits of the earth and handicrafts The rest are Customes which in Canton one of the least Prouinces are neere eight millions Vanlie that is now King hath raigned fortie yeeres a man of great wisedome but vicious and tyrannicall Hee vseth his sonne and apparant Heire very hardly and hath indeuoured to make a second sonne which he had by a more beloued wife his successor but was gaine-said by all the Magistrates in the Kingdome those of the Court resigning their robes and hanging them on the Palace walls so that hee was forced to proclaime the eldest Whose mother lately lying on her death-bed the Prince could hardly obtaine his fathers licence to visit her and then attended with two Eunuchs the mother comforted her sonne saying It neuer yet happened that the heire of the kingdome dyed of hunger For the King scarse allowes him necessaries none else daring for feare The King forbad mourning and publike pompe vnto her funeralls The King respects beautie only in choice of his wiues as doe all of the Royall bloud nor doe the great men care to preferre their daughters to the Royall bed For it is little they can doe and much they must suffer euer inclosed in the Palace neuer admitted the sight of their friends who also are not thereby aduanced to further preferments The King hath Officers which make choice of women for him One wife is chiefe and is as it were legitimate the King and Heire apparant marry other nine a little inferior and after them sixe and thirtie others all which enioy the title of wiues to which are added many more Concubines not entituled Wiues or Queenes Those which bring the King sonnes proue most gracious especially the mother of the eldest sonne howsoeuer it fared otherwise in this before mentioned This King was not the sonne of the first wife nor is his Heire The Chinois are a deceitfull and trecherous people and therefore the Kings in this age come not abroad in publike and when in times past they did it they obserued a thousand cautels for safetie the Palace and the streets being all in armes for his guard nor was he scene when thus hee was seene nor the seat knowne in which he was carryed many other being then carryed to preuent intelligence And when hee came into the Tribunall hee appeared from a high window couering his face with an Iuory table in his hand and hauing another table on his head a cubit long halfe so broad so behanged with

at this time is Idolatrous and Pagan wherin the common people are somewhat superstitious but the King himselfe the Mandarines or Magistrates as seeing the vanitie thereof and not able to see the truth are in manner irreligious and profane the first worship that which is Nothing in the World and these find nothing in the World but the World and these momentany things to worship Ricius reports that the ancient Chinois worshipped one only great GOD which they called the King of Heauen or otherwise Heauen and Earth wherby he gathers that they thought Heauen and Earth to be endued with life and the Soule thereof to be the greatest GOD. Beneath which they worshipped also diuers Spirits Tutelares preseruers of the Mountaines of Riuers and of the foure parts of the World They held that Reason was to be followed in all actions which light they confessed to receiue from Heauen They neuer conceiued yet such monstrous absurdities of this god and these spirits as the Egyptians Grecians and Romanes haue done whence the Iesuite would haue you thinke euen in this Idolatry many of them to be saued by I know not what congruitie which merits not the mention In succeeding ages this Idolatry became more manifold in some whiles other became Atheists of which their King and Magistrates are blamed And yet this King when some few yeeres since his Palace was fired with lightning being guiltie of his owne vnworthinesse he commanded his sonne to pray to Heauen for reconciliation Fryer Gasper de la Crux being in Canton entred a certaine Religious house where he saw a Chappell hauing therein besides many other things of great curiositie the Image of a woman with a child hanging about her necke and a Lampe burning before her The mysterie hereof so like the Popish mysterie of iniquitie none of the Chinois could declare The Sunne the Moone Starres and especially Heauen it selfe are gods of the first forme in their Idol-schoole They acknowledge Laocon Tzantey the Gouernour of the great god so it signifieth to be eternall and a spirit Of like nature they esteeme Causay vnto whom they ascribe the lower Heauen and power of Life and Death They subiect vnto him three other spirits Tauquam Teyquam Tzuiquam The first supposed to bee Author of Raine the second of humane Natiuitie Husbandrie and Warres the third is their Sea Neptune To these they offer Victualls Odors and Alter-clothes presenting them also with Playes and Comoedies They haue Images of the Deuil with Serpentine lockes and as deformed lookes as here he is painted whom they worship not to obtaine any good at his hand but to detaine and hold his hand from doing them euill They haue many Hee and Shee-Saints in great veneration with long Legends of their liues Amongst the chiefe of them are Sichia the first inuenter of their religious Votaries of both Sects Quannia an Anchoresse and Neoma a great Sorceresse Frier Martin in one Temple in Vcheo told a hundred and twelue Idols They tell of one Huiunsin in the Prouince of Cechian which did much good to the people both by Alchimy making true Siluer of Quick-siluer and by freeing the Metropolitan Citie from a huge Dragon which hee fastened to an yron pillar still shewed and then flew into Heauen with all his House Mice and all lye and all and there they haue built him a Temple the ministers whereof are of the Sect Thausu Trigautius writes of certaine Gods called Foe which they say goe a visiting Cities and Prouinces and the Iesuites in one Citie were taken for these Idols Foe At Sciauchin they in time of drought proclaimed a Fast euery Idoll was sollicited with Tapers and Odours for Raine A peculiar Officer with the Elders of the people obserued peculitr Rites to these purpose the Priests went on Procession all in vaine When the Citie-Gods could doe nothing they fetched a Country-Idoll called Locu which they carrie about worship offer to But LOCV is now growne old thus they said of his deafenesse At last they goe to a Witch who told them Quonin a Goddesse was angry that her backe was burned meaning the Conuerts which burnt their Idols which insensed them against the Christians Hoaquam is the name of an Idoll which hath rule ouer the eyes which they carry about in Procession and beg in his name In time of trouble they haue familiaritie with the Deuill Pedro de Alfaro obserued being in a Ship with the Chinois in this sort They cause a man to lye on the ground groueling and then one readeth on a Booke the rest answering and some make a sound with Bells and Tabors The man in short space beginneth to make visages and gestures whereby they know the Deuill is entred and then doe they propound their requests to which he answereth by word or Letters And when they cannot extort an answere by word they spread a red Mantle on the ground equally dispersing all ouer the same a certaine quantitie of Rice Then do they cause a man that cannot write to stand there themselues renuing their former inuocation and the Deuill entring into this man causeth him to write vpon the Rice But his answeres are often full of lyes In the entries of their houses they haue an Idoll-roome where they incense their Deities morning and euening They offer to them the sweetest odours Hennes Geese Duckes Rice Wine a Hogs-head boyled is a chiefe offering But little hereof falleth to Gods share which is set in a dish apart as the tippes of the Hogs-eares the bylls and feet of the Hennes a few cornes of Rice three or foure drops of Wine Their Bookes tell much of Hell their deuotions little Their Temples are homely and filthy no Oracle is in any of them They haue fables of men turned into Dogs or Snakes and againe metamorphosed into men And they which beleeue the paines of Hell yet beleeue after a certaine space that those damned soules shall passe thence into the bodies of some beasts But their Idolatries and religious Rites will better appeare if we take view of their different Religions and Sects §. III. Of their three Sects and first of that of CONFVTIVS THey reckon in the World and obserue amongst themselues three Sects the first of the Learned the second Sciequia the third Laucu One of these three euery Chinois professeth as doe their Neighbours also which vse their Characters the Iapanders Corians Lequians and Cochin-Chinois The Sect of the Learned is peculiar to the Chinois very ancient and famous which they drinke in together with the Studies of Learning all their Students and Magistrates professing the same obseruing Confutius the Author thereof These worship not Idols nor haue any One God they worship as preseruer of all things certaine Spirits also in an inferiour honour The chiefe of them neither acknowledge Author Time or Manner of the worlds creation Somewhat they discourse of Rewards of Good and Euill but such as are bestowed in this life vpon the

Deluge in the dayes of Noah drowned not these parts because men had not here inhabited who with a deluge of sinne might procure that deluge of waters AMERICA is a more common then fitting name seeing Americus Vespucius the Florentine from whom this name is deriued was not the first Finder nor Author of that Discouerie Columbus will challenge that and more iustly with whom and vnder whom Americus made his first voyage howsoeuer after that hee coasted a great part of the Continent which Columbus had not seene at the charges of the Castilian and Portugall Kings But so it might more rightly be termed Cabotia or Sebastiana of Sebastian Cabot a Venetian which discouered more of the Continent then they both about the same time first employed by King Henrie the seuenth of England and after by the Catholike King Columbus yet as the first Discouerer deserueth the name both of the Countrey for the first finding and of modestie for not naming it by himselfe seeking rather effects then names of his exploits But leaue we these Italian Triumviri the Genuois Venetian and Florentine to decide this question among themselues And why now is it called the West Indies To this Acosta's exposition of the word Indies that thereby wee meane all those rich Countries which are farre off and strange is too generall an answere and giueth not the true cause of the name Gomara saith that a certaine Pilot of whom Columbus receiued his first instructions tooke it to bee India or else Columbus himselfe thinking by the West to finde a neerer passage vnto the East by reason of the Earths roundnesse sought for Cipango or Iapan and Cathay when he first discouered the Ilands of the New World And this opinion is probable both because hee named Hispaniola Ophir whence Salomon fetched his gold and Sebastian Cabot in the first voyage which he made at the charges of King Henrie the seuenth intended as himselfe confesseth to finde no other Land but Cathay and from thence to turne towards India and the opinions of Aristotle and Seneca that India was not farre from Spaine confirmed them therein Now that we may descend from the Name to the Nature of this New World a World it is to see how Nature doth deflect and swarne from those grounds and principles which the Naturalists and Philosophers her forwardest Schollers haue set downe for Rules and Axiomes of Natures working For if we regard the ancient Poets Philosophers and Fathers we shall see them deceiued and that not in few opinions which they seemed to haue learned in Natures Sanctuaries and in most Closets In the Heauens they supposed a burning Zone in the Earth a Plage plagued with scortching heates Vtque duae dextra Coelum totidemque sinistra Parte secant Zonae quinta est ardentior illis Sic Totidemque plaga tellure premuntur Quarum quae mediae est non est habitabilis astu Nix tegit alta duas totidem inter vtramque locauit Temperiemque dedit And a greater then Ouid Quinque tenent Coelum Zonae quarum vna corusco Semper sole rubens c. The sense whereof is that those parts of the World next the Arctike or Antarctike Poles are not habitable by reason of extreme cold nor the middle part by reason of vnreasonable heate the two other parts temperate and habitable The Philosophers accounted this no Poeme or rather were more Poeticall themselues For that which those accounted a Torrid and scortched earth these made to bee a spacious and vnpassable Ocean where the Starres hot with their continuall motions and the Sunnes thirstie Steedes wearied with their daily iourney might finde moysture to refresh and nourish their fierie constitutions And therefore they diuided the Earth into two habitable Ilands compassed about and seuered in the midst with a huge Ocean On this side whereof wee are situated and beyond the Antipodes Some Philosophers indeede held otherwise but with greater errors as Leucippus Democritus Epicurus Anaximander which multiplyed Worlds according to their fancie Rawe and vncertaine were the coniectures of the best Yea those whom wee reuerence as better then the best Philosophers had no lesse errour in this point The Golden-mouthed Doctor had a Leaden conceit that the Heauens were not round whom Theodoret is said to follow Theophilact alleageth Basil for this his assertion Nec mobile esse coelum nec circulare That heauen is neither moueable nor round How firmly and confidently doth Firmianus Lactantius both denie and deride the opinion that there are Antipodes But easier it was for him with a Rhetoricall flourish wherein I thinke of all latine Fathers he deserueth highest prize and praise to dash this opinion out of countenance then to confute the Arguments and Allegations which he there citeth in the Aduersaries name But hee that surpassed Lactantius no lesse in knowledge of truth then he was surpassed by him in smoothnesse of Stile herein holdeth equpàge and draweth in the same yoke of errour I meane him whose venerable name no words are worthy and sufficient to Vsher in Saint Augustine who though somewhere he affirmeth the Antipodes yet elsewhere pressed with an Argument how men should passe from these parts in which Adam and Noah liued to the Antipodes through the vnmeasurable Ocean he thought it easiest to deny that which certain experience at that time could not so easily proue although euen then some reports but obscure and vncertaine had been spread abroad of sailing about Africa as a little before is shewed which must enforce that which Augustine denied More hot and forcible were the Arguments of our more zealous then learned Countrey-man Boniface Archbishop of Mentz and of Pope Zacharie who pursued this opinion of the Antipodes so eagerly against Virgil Bishop of the Iuuanenses in Boiaria about the yeere 743. That vpon Boniface his complaint the Pope writeth to him to cast out this Virgil the Philosopher so doth that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 call him out of the Temple and Church of God and to depriue him for this peruerse Doctrine that there were Antipodes of his Bishopricke and Virgil must packe to Rome to giue account of this Philosophy to the Pope Minerua sui Let the Reader here iudge betweene the Philosophy of the one and the Foole-asse-O-phy of the other and let our Catholike Parasites tell vs whether their not-erring Father pronounced this sentence of errour as a Pope or as a priuate Doctor But what doth this Doter in my way Some also alleadge Nazianzen Hierome and Procopius for this or the like opinion But Poets Philosophers Fathers in other things worthy our loue for their delightfull Poems our admiration for their profound Science our awfull respect and reuerence for their holy learning and learned holinesse herein we bid you farewell magis amica veritas our America subiect to that supposed burning Zone with clouds and armies of

Kingdome Kings and City of Marocco ibid. § II. Of the Kings of the Seriffian Family p. 695 § III. Of the ciuill Wars in Barbary and of some other parts of that Kingdome pag. 697 CHAP. XII OF the Arabians populations and depopulations in Afrike and of the Naturall Africans and of the beginnings and proceedings of the Mahumetan Superstition in Africa of the Portugals Forces and Exploits therein pag. 701 CHAP. XIII OF Biledulgerid and Sarra otherwise called Numidia and Libya pag. 706 CHAP. XIIII OF the Land of Negros pag. 709 § I. Of the Riuer Niger Gualata Senaga and Guinea ibid. § II. Obseruations of those parts out of Cadamosta and other ancient Nauigators pag. 712 § III. Other obseruations of later Times by Engglishmen and others pag. 715 § IIII. Of the Marriages Manners Religion Funerals Gouernment and other Rites of the Guineans collected out of a late Dutch Authour pag. 717 § V. Obseruations of the Coast and Inland Countries out of Barrerius and Leo and of the cause of the Negroes blacknesse pag. 721 THE SEVENTH BOOKE Of Aethiopia and the African Ilands and of their RELIGIONS CHAP. I. OF Aethiopia Superior and the Antiquities thereof pag. 725 § I. Of the name and diuision of Aethiopia ibid. § II. Of the Nations neere the falls of Nilus and of Meroe pag. 727 CHAP. II. A Continuation of the Aethiopian Antiquities and of the Queene of Saba p. 730 CHAP. III. OF Presbyter Iohn and of the Priest-Iohns in Asia whether that descended of these pag. 734 CHAP. IIII. RElations of the Aethiopian Empire collected out of Aluares Bermudesius and other Authors pag 738 CHAP. V. RElations of Aethiopian rarities collected out of Frier Luys a Spanish Authour pag. 743 § I. Of the Hill Amara ibid. § II. His liberall reports of the Library and incredible Treasures therein pag. 744 § III. Of the Princes of the bloud there kept and of the Election of the Emperour pag. 745 § IIII. Of their Schooles and Cities pag. 747 CHAP. VI. RElations of Aethiopia by Godignus and other Authors lately published seeming more credible pag. 749 § I. The seuerall Countries of Abassia their Scituation Inhabitants Riuers and Lakes ibid. § II. Of the Soile Fruits Creatures Seasons and Climate pag. 750 § III. Of their Customes in Priuate Life and Publike Gouernment and their late Miseries pag. 751 § IIII. Of the Sabaeans and their Queene which visited Salomon pag. 753 CHAP. VII OF other Countries betweene the Red Sea and Benomotapa pag. 754 § I. Of Adel Adea Zanzibar Melinde ibid. § II. The Portugals Exploits in Mombaza and of the Imbij pag. 755 § III. Of Quiloa Sofala and Ophir pag. 756 § IIII. Of Monoemugi the Moores Baduines Caphars in these parts pag. 757 CHAP. VIII OF Benomotapa and the parts adioyning pag. 759 § I. Of the Empire of Monomotapa ibid. § II. Of Caphraria the Cape of Good Hope and Soldania pag. 761 CHAP. IX OF the Kingdome of Congo and the other Kingdoms and Nations adioyning p. 765 § I. Of Angola ibid. § II. Of Congo pag. 766 § III. Of their Heathenish Rites also of their strange Trees and of the I le Loanda pag. 768 CHAP. X. OF Loango the Anzichi Giachi and the great Lakes in those parts of the World pag. 770 § I. Of Loango ibid. § II. Of the Anzigues pag. 772 § III. Of the Giacchi or Iagges ibid. § IIII. Of the Lakes and Riuers in these parts of Africa pag. 773 CHAP. XI OF the Seas and Ilands about Africa the ancient and moderne obseruations Nauigations and Discoueries pag. 775 § I. Of the Red Sea and why it is so called ibid. § II. Of the chiefe Townes and Ilands in the Red Sea pag. 777 § III. Of Socotora Madagascar and other Ilands on the Easterne Coast of Africa pag. 778 CHAP. XII OF the Ilands of Africa from the Cape hitherwards pag. 781 § I. Of Saint Helena Thomee Cape de Verd and diuers others betwixt them and of the Weeds and Calmes of those Seas ibid. § II. Of the Canaries Madera and Porto Santo pag. 783 § III. Extracts taken out of the obseruations of the Right Worshipfull Sir Edmund Scory Knight of the Pike of Tenariffe and other Rarities which he obserued there pag. 784 § IIII. Of Malta and the Nauigations about Africa pag. 788 AMERICA THE EIGHTH BOOKE Of New France Virginia Florida New Spaine with other Regions of America Mexicana and of their Religions CHAP. I. OF the New World and why it is named America and the West Indies with certaine generall Discourses of the Heauens Ayre Water and Earth in those parts pag. 791 § I. Of the names giuen to this part of the World and diuers opinions of the Ancients concerning the Torrid Zone ibid. § II. Of the nature of Metals in generall of Gold Siluer Quicksiluer and the plentie and Mines thereof in America pag. 795 CHAP. II. OF the first Knowledge Habitation and Discoueries of the New World and the rare Creatures therein found Beasts Birds Trees Herbs and Seeds pag. 798 § I. Whether the Ancients had any knowledge of America and whence the Inhabitants first came ibid. § II. Of Christopher Colon or Columbus his first Discouerie and three other Voyages pag. 801 § III. Of the Beasts Fowles and Plants in America pag. 804 CHAP. III. OF the Discoueries of the North parts of the New World and toward the Pole and of Greene Land or New Land Groen-Land Estotiland Meta incognita and other places vnto New France pag. 807 § I. Of the Discoueries made long since by Nicolo and Antonio Zeni ibid. § II. Discoueries made by Sebastian Cabot Cortregalis Gomes with some notes of Groenland pag. 809 § III. Discoueries by Sir Martin Frobisher pag 811 § IIII. Discoueries by Iohn Dauis George Weymouth and Iames Hall to the North-west pag. 813 § V. Of King IAMES his New-land alias Greene-land and of the Whale and Whale-fishing pag. 814 § VI. Of Hudsons Discoueries and death pag. 817 § VII Of Buttons and Baffins late Discoueries pag. 819 CHAP. IIII. OF New-found-land Noua Francia Arambec and other Countries of America extending to Virginia pag. 821 § I. English Discoueries and Plantations in New-found-land ibid. § II. The Voyages and obseruations of Iaques Cartier in Noua Francia pag. 823 § III. Late Plantations of New France and Relations of the Natiues pag. 825 CHAP. V. OF Virginia pag. 828 § I. The Preface Sir Walter Raleighs Plantation and the Northerne Colonie ibid. § II. Of the Southerne Plantation and Colonies and many causes alleaged of the ill successe thereof at the first pag. 831 § III. Of the Soyle People Beasts Commodities and other obseruations of Virginia pag. 834 § IIII. Of the present estate of Virginia and the English there residing pag 836 CHAP. VI. OF the Religion and Rites of the Virginians pag. 838 § I. Of the Virginian Rites related by Master Hariot pag. ibid. § II. Obseruations of their Rites by Captaine Smith and others pag. 839 §

Ptolomaeus placeth Regama the Garamantes also in Libya Sabtheca was Author of the Sachalitae in Arabia Foelix Nimrod the Sonne of Cush some thinke to be Zoroastres some Belus Mizraim begat Ludim the Inhabitants of Maraeotica praefectura in Aegypt Anamim the Cyreneans and Lehabim the Libyans : and Naphtuhim the Aethiopians neere to Egypt whose Towne Napata is mentioned in Ptolomie Pathrusim the Pharusians Casluhim at the entrance of Egypt Cassiotis Montanus interpreteth Ludim the Lydians Ghananim the Troglodites Lebabim the Cyrenaikes Naphthubim Africa the lesse Chasluhim the Saracens Caphthorim the Cappadocians To Shems Posteritie befell the parts of Asia from Iudaea East-ward Shems Sonnes were Elam the Father of the Elamites in the higher part of Persia Ashur of whom came the Assyrians Arphaxad the Cudusians or the Chaldaeans are with little likenesse of sound ascribed to him Lud is holden Father of the Lydians and Aram of the Syrians called also Aramaei others of Aram deriue Armenia Arams sonnes were Vz of whom the Region Ausanitis was named Chul of whom Cholle seemeth to haue his appellation in the Palmyrene Desarts neere to Euphrates Gether Josephus ascribeth ascribeth to him Bactria others that part of Syria where Gnidar stood Atergate and Derceto that notorious Syrian Goddesse happily borrowed the name hence Of Mash is the name Masius part of the Hill Amanus Montanus saith of Mes Misij and Misia whom Iuuenal cals Mesos de grege Mesorum Ioctan begat Elmodad of whom the Hill Emodus may seeme named of Shalah the Selebij and Sariphi of Hatzarmaueth the Sarmatians of Iarach the Arachosians of Hadoram the Orites People of India of Vzal or Auxal Auzakea a Citie in Scythia and the Riuer Oxus of Diklah after Arias Montanus Scythia intra Imaum the reason I see not in the name of Obal or Ghobal the Cabolites people of Paropanisus of Abimael Imaus of Sheba the Sabae which Eustathius placeth in India or according to Montanus the Sacae of Ophir some thinke was so called Aurea Chersonesus where Pegu and Malacca now are Montanus thinketh it to be Peru Chauilah hath not left so plaine impression behind Montanus ascribeth to him India Of Iobab Arias Montanus coniectureth Parias in the West Indies to haue come but with little probabilitie which I can see And of the most before named we haue probable coniectures not certaine proofes as appeareth by the difference of opinions of Authours concerning them Neither may we thinke that Moses intended so much a Geographicall Historie of all the Nations of the World many of which were not long after this time planted or peopled but of the first Fathers who peopled the places by degrees as they increased in multitude which were neerest that Armenian Centre and especially hee relateth and dilateth of them whom it most concerned the Israelites to know as the Cananites whose bounds and Nations are exactly described I could adde much touching the seuerall Nations descending of these three Brethren and the bounds of their Habitations in which Africanus sometime tooke profitable paines and Eusebius out of him although both be in this part lost somewhat hath beene barbarously translated into Latine by an vnknowne Authour for the Soloecismes tedious for the substance of History profitable to the Reader and therefore by Scaliger in his Edition of Eusebius communicated to the World But the vncertaintie maketh me vnwilling to proceed in this Argument further Of this vncertaintie no greater cause can bee alleaged then the diuision and confusion of Tongues the Historie whereof Moses declareth For whereas God had giuen to Man two Priuiledges and principall Prerogatiues whereof other creatures are no way capable his inward Reason and abilitie to vtter the same by Speech this benefit of God in Nature was turned into a Conspiracie against God and Nature They said one to another Come let vs make Bricke for stone and slime had they in stead of morter Also they said Let vs build vs a Citie and Tower whose top may reach vnto the Heauen that we may get vs a name lest we be scattered vpon the whole Earth This was their vaine arrogance and presumption that when their guiltie consciences threatned a dissipation and scattering by diuine Iustice they would thus hearten and harden themselues against GOD and Man in stead of thankefulnesse to GOD and honouring his Name they would winne themselues a name and honour in stead of preuenting punishment by Repentance they would in this Gyant-like fighting against GOD preuent future iudgements But euen that by which they intended to keepe them from scattering was the true and first cause of their scattering So doth GOD scatter the counsels of his Enemies and taketh the wise in their craftinesse Babel or confusion is alway the Attendant of Pride Sibylla alleaged by Iosephus for the Sibyls which wee haue in Greeke Verse translated by Castalion into Latine are but counterfeits if 〈◊〉 Scaliger iudge rightly Pseudo sybyllina oracula quae Christiani gentibus obijciebant quum ramen è Christianorum officina prodijssent c. but that more ancient Sibyll testifieth of this confusion of Tongues in these words When all men before vsed one speech they erected a high Tower as if they would ascend to Heauen but the Gods by Tempests ouerthrew 〈…〉 Tower and gaue to each of them seuerall Languages whereof the Citie was named Babylon According to that of Moses Therefore the name of it was called Babel , because the Lord did there confound the language of all the Earth From thence then did the Lord scatter them vpon all the Earth The Atheists and Naturalists 〈…〉 the World to eternal and conceiue that all all men could not be of one cause of this diuersitie of sinne caused If such had beene at Hierusalem and heard the Apostle not the expertest men in their owne vulgar speake all Languages they 〈…〉 then haue like seen the power in a contrarie effect to this of Babylon Mans 〈…〉 this Gods 〈…〉 that the one came from Babylon the other from Hierusalem that old Hierusalem giuing a taste and earnest of that which the new Ierusalem shall once fully accomplish when all shall be made new and all shall be one and God shall be in all It appeareth that these builders lost the the vnderstanding of their owne speech and were endued with other Languages whereto their Vnderstandings and Tongues were framed in stead of that former What his former Language was hath beene doubted either of ignorance or of c●riositie and selfe-loue Theodoret esteemeth Syrian the first language and that Hebrew 〈…〉 with Moses Ioseph Scaliger affirmeth that the Syrian Maronites attribute greater Antiqutie to the ancient Syrian then to the Hebrew which is all one saith he as if one should contend that the Italian Idiome were ancienter then the Latine Hee concludeth that the Bible was written in the most ancient Language which at first was pure in Assyria but by Merchandize and Warres corrupted For Assyria sayth he

Legates to Hannibal that by equiuocation had before fulfilled their Oath of returning foolish Regulus that returnedst to thy Tormentors chusing thy selfe rather then thy Oath to be tortured and most most foolish Martyrs that so sleightly for want of this sleight ran vpon Fire Swords Lyons And might not we begin a contention with that assertion That an Oath for confirmation is to men an end of contention which in this equiuocating Hydra is rather multiplied That neither Rome Ethnike nor primitiue Christian Rome could at least by imitation of diabolicall ambiguous Oracles deuise in those dayes so transcendent a suttlety but Moderne Rome by Iesuiticall midwiferie must be the Mother of so super-fine a babe But what doth this Brat in our way I will rather follow the Iesuits in China then in Rome except when Rome followes them thither too and herein with thankfulnesse accept their report The reason of this equiuocall sound of words is ascribed to the Chinois account of eloquence in writing rather then speaking and therefore to furnish that neglecting this insomuch as familiar messages are sent by writing and not by word of mouth Musicall skill was a good helpe to the Iesuites in learning the language by reason of their varietie of accents And although this multitude of Characters be to the Memory burthensome yet it helpes it as much another way in sauing the labour of learning diuers languages whiles euery Prouince of China speaking diuersly agree in writing the Iaponians also Corayans Cauchin-Chinois Leuhiees all conceiuing the same Characters although the Iaponians haue an Alphabet of letters to write after our manner which the Chinois haue not They write their lines from the top of the Page to the bottome downewards which they multiply from the right hand to the left whereas our custome is quite contrary from the left hand side-wayes We haue three consonants B.D.R. which the Chinois neither vse nor can by any Character expresse and in our words which haue them they borrow some sound neerest the same Likewise they neuer haue two consonants without a vowell betweene and all their words end in vowells except M. or N. of consonants onely This and the diuers pronuntiation of their Characters in diuers places made the Latin forme of Baptisme hard to be expressed by the Iesuites Now for the subiect of their studies their chiefe is Morall Philosophie in Naturall they are rude and their Ethikes are confusedly deliuered not digested into formall method for of Logicke they are ignorant but in confused sentences and discourses The greatest of the Chinian Philosophers was Confutius who was borne fiue hundred and fiftie one yeeres before the Incarnation of our Lord and liued aboue seuentie yeres in great shew of learning holinesse And few of our Ethnike Philosophers haue equalled him many he hath exceeded The Chinois haue him in such reputation that they thinke there neuer liued man more holy and all his sayings are of authoritie beyond gaine-saying amongst the learned And the Kings themselues haue euer since had him in veneration not as a god but as a most excellent man and Author of their learning honouring his posteritie the chiefe of which enioyeth by inheritance ample titles immunities and reuenues They are also indifferently skilled in Astrologie and diuers Mathematicall Sciences in Geometry and Arithmetike they haue beene more expert The Constellations they doe not distinguish as we do and number foure hundred Stars more then our Astrologers reckoning some smaller which doe not alway appeare They tell the Quantities and foretell Eclipses but not exactly and referre all their Astrologie to that which is called Iudiciall esteeming a fatall dependance of all things from the Stars and haue borrowed in these Arts many things from the Saracens The Author of this Royall Family forbad the studie of Iudiciall Astrologie to all but one Family in which it continueth by inheritance But he which now reigneth maintaines many at great cost both Eunuchs in his Palace and Magistrates without which haue two Courts in Paquin one obseruing China Kalenders the other the Saracenicall and compare both together Both of them haue an open place on the top of a small Hill to contemplate the Starres in which they haue Mathematicall Instruments of exceeding greatnesse of molten brasse which seeme to bee ancient On this Hill alwayes one of their Colledge doth watch by night to obserue if any new Comet or other raritie appeare in the Heauens which if it happen the next day they by libell admonish the King thereof together with their opinion of good or euill ensuing This place of contemplation at Nanquin is within the Citie and in massinesse of Instruments excells that at Pequin or Paquin The Pequin-Astrologers haue priuiledge of foretelling the Eclipses of Sunne or Moone and the Magistrates and Priests are commanded to meet in a certaine place in their Robes and Vestments to helpe the labouring Planet which they thinke they doe with musicall sound of Cymballs often bowing their knees all the time of the Eclipse fearing as I haue heard lest some I know not what Serpent should then deuoure the same In Naturall Philosophie they were too Naturall and haue very little Art They knew not the cause of the Moones Eclipse by the interposition of the earth but thought that being opposite to the Sunne it lost the light by some amazement others thought that the Sunne had a hole in the midst against which when the Moone came shee lost her light That the Sunne was greater then the earth seemed to them a strange paradoxe much more that this might be spoken of the Starres the like was it that the Earth was round for they thought it square and the middle and best part thereof to be their Kingdome or that there could be Antipodes without falling or that heauy things were attracted by the Center or that there were Orbes and for the ayre they thought it a vacuum or emptinesse not reckoning it amongst the Elements of which yet they numbred fiue Metall Wood Fire Water Earth Their Arithmetike was with beades on wyre-strings fastned to a linnen cloth In these things Ricius declaring their ignorance and the Europaean Science wan great admiration they which before thought all besides themselues Barbarians saying that they were to vs as the rude Tartars to them and that they left where we began namely at Rhetorike and Grammar which with Ethikes and Politikes are the chiefe Some of the Idolatrous sects had more monstrous and ridiculous fancies that the Sunne hid himselfe euery night in a certaine Hill called Siunni which they said was fixed in the Sea 24000. miles vnder the water and for Eclipses they held that a certaine god named Holochan eclipsed the Sunne couering it with his right hand and so the Moone with his left Their Astrologers rather obserued their old rules little knowing or seeking the Naturall causes The Instruments which they had in their two Colledges at Nanquin and

obtayned the Kingdome thus tossed betwixt Moores Turkes and Christians but was after taken and sent prisoner to Sicilia Mahomet brother of Amida now a slaue in Sicilia was made King of Tunis vnder the Spaniard 1573. by Don Iohn of Austria but the next yeere after Selym the Turke tooke Guletta holden by the Spaniards almost fortie yeeres and at last tooke Tunis also Mahomet the new King was sent to Constantinople prisoner It hath sayth Leo many Temples especially one of singular beauty and greatnesse furnished with store of Priests and Reuenue also many Colledges of Schollers and Monasteries of Religious persons to which the people yeeld liberall Almes They are so befooled that they esteeme Fooles Saints and while I was at Tunis the King built a faire Monastery for one Sidi el Dahi which went vp and downe with his head and feete bare hurling stones and crying like mad man endowing the same with great Reuenue for him and all his kindred Biserta is an ancient City supposed by some to be Vtica where Cato slue him selfe §. II. Of Cairaoan and the Kingdome of Tripolis CAiraoan hath beene a City famous built by Hucba Generall of the warres of Ozmen or Otman the third Calipha thirty sixe miles from the Sea and from Tunis one hundred to secure themselues from any sudden inuasion which the commoditie of the Sea might cause them He built therein an admirable Temple on Pi●ats of Marble To Hucba in this gouernment succeeded Muse to whom Iulianus Earle of Cepta offered his seruice for the conquest of Spaine and being found faithfully vnfaithfull with some few Souldiers lent him was after employed with Tarif of whom the hill was called Gehel Tarif now Gibraltar who with an Army of twelue thousand tooke Seuill and after that ouerthrew King Rodericus and being enriched with spoyle was dispossessed thereof by Muse who by this newes of his successe was mooued to follow him into Spaine as the Spanish Writers though not altogether agreeing herein declare and subdued the same in thirty moneths space When Muse or Muza departed with Tarif out of Spaine the Moores there fell into such contentions that in twenty yeeres space there were no lesse then fifteene Kings and one of them setled his Throne in the bloud of three hundred Competitors Iezul the sonne of Muza and after him his Brother and Nephew succeeded each other in this gouernment which Elagleb that followed them turned into an independent and free Signory by occasion as is said of the Chalifa's leauing Damasco and remoouing the Seat Royal or Popedome to Bagdat This House here ruled a hundred and seuenty yeeres at which time Mahdi an hereticall Chalifa depriued them These Saracens wan Sicilia in those times to the Cairaoan Dominion About the foure hundred yeere of the Hegira Elcain was Chalifa in Cairaoan whose Captaine Gehoar conquered vnto him Barbary Numidia and as farre as Sus Westward and after being employed in the East subdued Egypt and Syria Hee for securing himselfe and his Army built Cairo After this he sent to his Lord Elcain to come thither in person assuring him That the Calipha of Bagdat was not able to abide his presence and puissance Elcain listening to Gehoar appointed a Lieutenant in Cairaoan and went to Cairo But his Lieutenant of Cairaoan rebelled and offered his obedience to the Chalifa of Bagdat who therefore gaue him large Priuiledges and made him King of all Africa Elcain in these Straits knew not which way to turne him till by counsell of his Secretary he tooke this course The Arabians at that time were exceedingly multiplyed insomuch that the Country otherwise barren could not sustaine them and their Cattell To these hee gaue leaue to passe into Africa paying for euery Poll a Duckat and taking an oath of them to bee enemies to his Rebell These in short time sacked Tripolis and Cabis and after eight moneths siege Cairaoan also and remayned Lords of Africa till Ioseph the first King of Marocco who gaue aide to the Kinsmen of that Rebell wonne the Cities from the Arabians which still kept possession of the fields The Lord of Cairaoan fled Westward and reigned in Bugia and the parts adioyning and others of his kindred ruled in Tunis till the Kings of Marocco swallowed all that City being built presently after the Arabians had destroyed this in the yeere foure hundred twenty foure of their Hegira as Leo reckoneth Cairaoan hath in it an ancient Temple and Colledge of Priests Hither the great men among the Moores and Numidians are brought to be buried hoping by the Prayers of those Priests to climbe to Heauen For this cause Boterus sayth they enter into this City vnshod with great reuerence The Arabians haue filled Africa with themselues their Armes Arts and Language Arabike Letters as Postellus affirmeth were borrowed of the Chaldees and first with Mahomet and his Law began to bee called Arabike Hee findeth in the same I know not what Cabalisticall Mysteries yeelding more certaine predictions then from the Heauens or Orracles and is much studied he saith in Tunis Marocco and Cairo Tripolis of Barbary for there is another of that name in Syria so called because the Arcadians Tyrians and Sidonians inhabited it was so named of three Cities whose Colonies planted it Abratonum and Tophia and Leptis magna or as others Cesa or Taphra or Oea Sabrada and Leptis It was built by the Romans conquered by the Gothes and after by the Saracens And after the destruction thereof the Africans built a new Tripolis wherein were many faire Temples Colledges for Students and Hospitals Corne is alway deare because their fields are Sand It was subiect vnto the King of Tunis till the King of Fez carried away the King of Tunis prisoner At which time the Genouese Fleet of twenty Sayle tooke Tripolis and sold it to the Fezan for fifty thousand Duckats But the Kings of Tunis recouered it after Zacharias being King played the Tyrant and therefore was expelled and a certaine Citizen was aduanced to the Throne who at first gouerned modestly but declining to tyrannie was murdered And a Courtier of Prince Abubacer who had made himselfe an Heremite was forced to be their King who ruled Tripolis till Ferdinando sent Peter Nauarre who came thither in the Euening and the next day tooke it and the King remayned captiue till Charles the fift freed him Charles gaue the Citie to the Knights of Malta whom the Turkes dispossessed by force Anno 1551. and there haue their Beglerbeg or Vice-roy to this day This was one and forty yeeres after Nauarre had taken it The Kings of Tunis liued in great delicacie among their women Musicians Players and such like committing the gouernment to the Munafid or high Steward and other Officers When he cals for a Musician he is brought in hood-winked like a Hawke The Inhabitants are exceeding prodigall in Perfumes They haue a compound called Lhasis one ounce

Their markets are on Sundayes The Knights come hither exceeding yong the sooner to attaine Commendams at home which goe by Senioritie There are resident about fiue hundred and as many abroad to repaire vpon summons Sixteene of them are Counsellors of State called Great Crosses There are seuen Albergs or Seminaries one of which was of England till in the generall Deluge vnder Henrie the eight Saint Iohns without Smithfield sometime the Mansion of the Grand Prior of England was hooked into that crooked streame though still that Title continue an Irish man now enioying it Euery Nation feed by themselues in their seuerall Alberges and sit at table like Friars But how doe I pre-occupate my Christian Relations and fall into a Lethargie hauing opportunitie of such an Hospitall and such Hospitulars Now a word of the ancient Nauigations about Africa Hanno his voyage set forth by the Carthaginians seemed fabulous but Ramusius sheweth euery place by him mentioned to agree with the later Discoueries of the Portugals and thinketh guided by a Portugall Pilot skilfull of those Seas which skanned this Nauigation of Hanno that hee went as farre as Saint Thome Long before this Homer reporteth of Menelaus compassing the Ethiopians from Egypt which some interprete of sayling by the Cape of Good Hope as the Portugals Of this minde Strabo citeth Aristonichus Of Salomon and Iehoshaphat is said before Herodotus affirmeth the Phoenicians sayling in the Red Sea in Cambyses time but this was vsuall and yeerly as Plinie sheweth lib. 6. cap. 23. The same Plinie alledgeth out of Cornelius Nepos the sayling of Eudoxus out of the Red Sea round about Africa to Cales which Strabo relateth otherwise and refuteth The like may be shewed in some other instances of which reade Master Hakluyt his Epistle Dedicatorie Tom. 1. Ramusius part 1. pag. 111. and Galuanus in his Discoueries of the World Which I mention not to disparage or weaken the Portugals praises but to giue Antiquitie their due which I thinke could not ordinarily if at all compasse so long a Nauigation for want of the Compasse yet we should iniurie our Authors if wee should not beleeue somewhat although not so much as they report And this agreeth with the Greeke prouerbe of Hanno's Discoueries and Iubas Historie that hee which findeth sweetnesse in the one may swallow the other and as well entertayne Bauius as Mauius the Periplus of the one and Libyke Histories of the other not obtayning full credit nor wholly meet to be reiected And thus much of this African part of the World the Regions and Religions thereof the one most subiect to the burning beames of the heauenly Sunne the other least enlightning by the comfortable warmth of the Sunne of Righteousnesse blacke in body but more darkned and deformed spiritually as hauing onely some parts of Habassia entirely possessed with Christians besides what in Congo hath of later yeeres beene effected by the Portugals and that little which is subiect to them and Spaine all the rest being Pagan or Mahumetan And would God this were the case of Africa alone seeing that if we diuide the knowne Regions of the world into thirtie equall parts it is Master Brerewoods Computation The Christians part vnderstand it in all Sects and Professions bearing that name is as fiue the Mahumetans as sixe and the Idolaters as nineteene besides that huge heathenous Tract of the vnknowne South Continent which by probable reasons is by him coniectured to bee no lesse then Europe Africa and Asia together So farre is it from truth which one of our Country-men hath lustily bragged on behalfe of his Romish Mother That the Catholike Roman Religion hath had and hath yet a farre greater sway in the world then any other Religion euer had or hath whereas this our Africa hath more Mahumetans in two or three Cities then Romish Catholikes perhaps in her whole compasse And for Asia how pitifully doth he tumble together some names of a few Townes or little Ilands it seemeth vnknowne to himselfe as monuments of Romish Conquests What their American Conuersions are is touched elsewhere Yea euen in our Europe where this mysticall Babylon is situate the mother of the whoredomes and abominations of the Earth the number of Protestants is not much inferiour vnto them But his reasons haue beene alreadie proued vnreasonable by him whose Pen then and Prelacie since wee with all dutie acknowledge a pillar to the Truth and Ornament to our Church and State For my part I am sorrie his assertion is no truer as one seeing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 betweene Catholike and Roman a great gulfe not easily without many prouisoes passable but betweene Heathen and Heauen a bottomlesse depth the way impassable and life impossible Let vs pray to him which is the Way the Truth the Life to make and be the Way by reuelation of his Truth vnto euerlasting Life to these poore Africans that as they are almost wholly in all professions Christian Iewish Morish Ethnike circumcised in the flesh so they may receiue that Circumcision of the Spirit not made with hands which may cut away this superfluitie of superstitions wherein they seeme more deuout then any part of the World and make them with meeknesse to receiue that Word which being grafted in them is able to saue their soules Amen Lord Iesus RELATIONS OF THE DISCOVERIES REGIONS AND RELIGIONS OF THE NEW WORLD OF NEW FRANCE VIRGINIA FLORIDA NEW SPAINE WITH OTHER REGIONS OF AMERICA MEXICANA AND OF THEIR RELIGIONS THE EIGHTH BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the New World and why it is named AMERICA and the West Indies with certaine generall discourses of the Heauens Ayre Water and Earth in those parts §. I. Of the names giuen to this part of the World and diuers opinions of the Ancients concerning the Torrid Zone NOw are wee shipped for the New World and the New Discoueries But seeing this Inkie Sea through which I vnder-take a Pilots office to conduct my Readers is more peaceable then That which on the back-side of this American World was called the Peaceable by Magellane the first Discouerer it yeeldeth vs the fitter opportunitie to contemplation and discourse in such Philosophicall subiects as the best Authors haue thought worthy the first place in their Histories of these parts Yet before we prie into Natures mysteries the better to know our intended voyage let vs enquire somewhat of the Names if any notice may thence arise of the places thereby knowne The New World is the fittest name which can be giuen to this vast and huge Tract iustly called New for the late Discouerie by Columbus An. Dom. 1492. and World for the huge intention thereof as Master Hakluyt hath obserued A new World it may bee also called for that World of new and vnknowne Creatures which the old World neuer heard of and here onely are produced the conceit whereof moued Mercator to thinke which I dare not thinke with him that the great