ponunt duo scamna sedent â— Regione chorus contra chorum in terra habentes libros in manibus quos aliquando deponunt super illa scamna habent capita discooperta quamdiu sunt in Templo legentes in silencio nullo modo loquerentur in Templo nisi verba officij sui Habent etiam in manibus quocunque vadunt quandam cordam centum vel ducentum nucleorum sicut nos Pater noster dicunt super haec verba On Maio Baccan id est Deus tu nosti Haec sunt communia omnibus Idolatris Sed tamen Iugres qui habitant in terra vbi Imperator moratur differunt ab alijs Nam alij non ponunt vnum Deum sed plures creaturam adorant Isti vero propter Viciniam Christianorum Saracenorum ponunt vnum Deum Et sunt optimi scriptores vnde Tartari acceperunt litteras eorum illi sunt magni scriptores Tartarorum Et isti scribunt à sursum in deorsum à sinistra in dextram multiplicant lineas legunt Tebeth scribunt sicut nos habent figuras similes nostris Tangut scribunt à dextra in sinistram sicut Arabes sed multiplicant lineas ascendendo Catai Orientales scribunt cum punctorio quo pingunt pictores faciunt in vna figura plures literas comprehendentes vnam dictionem Et ex hoc veniunt Caracteres qui habent multas literas simul Vnde veri Caracteres Philosophici sunâ— compositi ex literis habent sensum dictionum Et tota terra à Danubio vsque in Orientem vocatur apud Antiquos Scythia à quo Scythae Et omnes Regiones Tartarorum sunt de Scythia etiam Russia totum vsque ad Alamaniam And thus much ex quarta parte Compendij Studij Theologiae F.R. Baconi Relations of VINCENTIVS BELVACENSIS the most of which hee receiued from Frier SIMON de Sancto Quintino one of the foure Friers sent by Pope INNOCENT the Fourth to the Tartars seruing to the illustration of the former ANno 1246. Cuyne who is also caâ—led Gog Cham was aduanced to the Imperiall Throne of the Tartars All their Barons being assembled placed a golden seat in the midst whereon they caused him to sit and set a Sword before him saying Wee will and desire and command thee to rule ouer vs. He demanded if they were contented to doe come goe slay as he should command They answered yea Then said he The word of my mouth shall henceforth bee my Sword and they all consented After this they spread a Felt on the ground and set him thereon saying Looke vpwards and acknowledge God and looke downe on the Felt whereon thou sittest If thou shalt gouerne well wilt be liberall iust and honour thy Princes according to their dignitie thou shalt reigne magnificent and the whole World shall be subiect to thy Dominion and God will giue thee all thy hearts desire if otherwise thou shalt bee miserable and so poore that the Felt shall not bee left thee whereon thou sittest This done they set his Wife with him on the Felt and lifted them vp both so sitting and proclaimed them Emperour and Empresse of the Tartars After which they brought before him infinite store of Gold and Siluer and Gemmes with all which remayned to Chagadan who distributed what he pleased and reserued the rest Then began they to drinke vntill night after their manner and afterward sodden flesh came in Carts without Salt and amongst foure or fiue they distributed a ioynt thereof They call him Can concealing his proper name and he boasts himselfe the Sonne of God He hath a Prince in the Confines of Persia called Baioth Noy Noy signifieth his dignitie Baioth is his name which hath subdued the Countries of Christians and Saracens to the Mediterranean Sea Another called Corenzam remayneth in the West Frontiers with threescore thousand vnder him The greatest Prince is Bathoth who hath vnder him one hundred and threescore thousand Tartars and foure hundred and fiftie thousand Christians and others The Chams forces are innumerable Anno Dom. 1247. Frier Ascelinus sent by the Pope came into the Campe of the Tartars with other Friers Preachers where the Captayne Baioth-noy by Messengers demanded whose Messengers they were Frier Asceline answered for them all I am the Messenger of the Lord Pope who amongst Christians is greater then any man reputed a Father and Lord. They replyed how proudly doe yee say your Pope is greater then any Knowes he not that the Cham is Son of God and Baioth-noy and Batho are his Princes Ascelinus answered the Pope knowes noâ— them but heares that the Tartars haue comne out of the East and haue destroyed infinite multitudes And had he knowne the names of Cham or his Princes he would not haue omitted their names in the Letters which we bring But beeing grieued for the slaughters of so many especially Christians with the aduice of his Brethren the Cardinals he hath sent vs to the next Tartarian Armie we could find to exhort the Generall thereof to cease such attempts and to repent of that which they haue done The Messengers went and came diuers times betwixt euery time in change of Garments and were very sollicitous for Gifts and Presents which the Friers had none to giue And besides they denyed to performe the Ceremonies of kneeling to Baioth-noy lest they should thereby intimate a subiection of the Pope to the Tartars whereupon hee consulted to put them all foure to death to which a Messenger sent from the Great Cham would not consent The Friers only would put vp their hoods and bow the head whereat a Tartar asked whereas you Christians adore stockes and stones that is Crosses imprinted on them why doe you refuse to doe so to Baioth-noy whom Cham the Sonne of God hath commanded to be adored Ascelinus answered Christians adore not stockes and stones but the signe of the Crosse theron for his sake which dyed on a Crosse adorning it with his meÌ„bers as precious Iewels and consecrating it with his bloud purchasing thereby our saluation So cannot wee doe to your Lord. Baioth-noy sent them word that hee would send them with their Letters to the Cham which they refused Then he sent for the Letters which were translated first into Persian and thence into the Tartar Language Hee held them there with many Trickes and Illusions many weeks with hard fare and ill vsage And after much adoe he returned with Baioth-noys answer hauing first had a Messenger with Letters from the Cham. BAioth-noys Letter was this to the Pope The word of Baioth-noy Pope know this thy Messengers came and brought thy Letters to vs. Thy Messengers spake great words we know not whether thou gauest them so in charge or whether they spake it of themselues In thy Letters thou hadst written yee kill slay and destroy many men The precept of God stable and firme who containeth the
their Mufti and more manifestly the Soldans of Egypt to their Califas they yeeld a seeming subiection the Dairi not daring to crosse them Faexiba Cicugendono obtayned that title of Quabacondono Dono is a generall title of honour the next to the Dairi and hauing subiected Iapon minded to conquer China by the way of Corai The King of Corai sent his Embassadour to him with three hundred attendants in vaine he minding to send and place in those new Conquests all the suspected Princes of Iapan and to eternize his owne name being exceeding vain-glorious He tooke from the Bonzi their Lands and after that making ditches round about Meaco hee forced them all to dwell together neere the said ditches which reducing their discrepant Sects to an vnformed Chaos together made many of them forsake their profession Hee enioyed euery foot of Land in Iapon gaue or remoued or depriued Kings at pleasure tooke away all Armes from the Rustikes forbad all contentions and fights vpon paine of death if any guilty hereof fled punishing the kindred or seruants or neighbours crucifying them He administred iustice very seuerely without partiality or pardoning any man and had almost put to death the Meacon Bonzi for their Concubines if the Gouernour of Meaco had not interposed and vndertaken their amendment Hee neuer suffered the Souldiers to be idle but vsed them in warres or buildings The Vice-roy sent him an Embassage and Presents the foure Iaponian Lords which had beene in Europe attending Valignanus the Embassadour Quabacondono would needs heare these Iaponians play Europaean Musicke which they had there learned and made great shewes of kindnesse to them all and sent this Letter with Presents to the Vice-roy Sir I haue receiued Letters which your Lordship from so remote Regions sent mee in opening and reading whereof I seemed to see the length of the leagues by land and sea This Kingdome of Iapon as you wrote contayneth aboue sixtie States or Iurisdictions in which before haue beene great disorders and warres no peace nor quiet For many wicked men Traitors to their Countrey conspired to denye obedience to their King a thing which from my youth hath vexed me And long since I bethought mee of a course to subiect this People and to pacifie the whole Kingdome and layed for a foundation three vertues to wit Gentlenesse and affabilitie of speech in conuersing with men Prudence in considerate iudging of things and egregious fortitude and courage of minde by the aide whereof I haue subdued all this Nation and haue brought all the Kingdomes into this forme of one Empire wicked men being extinct and worke-men which labour in the fields promoted And I haue so restored peace and quietnesse to these Kingdomes and in few yeeres haue so setled and stablished the Monarchie of Iapon that it is now like a great Rocke which cannot be remoued Whence it is come to passe that in all foure parts of the Kingdome they haue a King eminent in much wisedome and the King likewise hath all of them obedient And in this order I haue declared and exercised the power of a good Captaine to whom these Kingdomes are subiect by taking away the wicked and rooting out all Robbers by sea and land So the people families and all places of the Kingdome enioy maruellous quiet I haue also determined to invade the Kingdome of China and in few dayes I will take ship and doubt not of victorie When I shall possesse it your Lordship may more easily communicate with mee in all things Now concerning the Fathers Iapon is the Kingdome of Chamis whom wee hold to be the same with Scin which is the beginning of all things This Scin is the substance and the very being of all things and all things are one and the same with Scin and into Scin are resolued Who in Scina is called Iutto and in Tescincu Buppo Further in the obseruation of the Lawes of this Chamis consisteth all the Politicall gouernment of Iapon which being neglected there is no difference betwixt Lords and Subiects if it be kept the vnion and concord is perfected which ought to bee twixt the Father and Sonne the Husband and wife Therefore the whole both internall and externall gouernment of Men and Kingdomes is placed in the conseruation of this vnion and policie Now the Fathers formerly haue entred these Kingdomes to preach another Law for the sauing of men but because wee are instructed and settled in the Lawes of Chamis we desire no other Law for the diuersities of Lawes and opinions are hurtfull and preiudiciall to the Kingdome Wherefore I commanded the Fathers to depart out of Iapon and haue forbidden them to preach their Law nor will I that heereafter they preach any new Law in this Kingdome Although these things be so yet I greatly desire that a stable communication may remayne betwixt vs for so this Kingdome shall bee free from Theeues by Land and Sea And I giue leaue to all Merchants which bring merchandise to sell them all without let I desire your Lordship to approue the same I receiued all the gifts which you sent out of those Southerne parts as it is written in your Letters I likewise send some others out of these Kingdomes with a memoriall of the gifts and the names of them which haue giuen The Legate will declare the rest wherefore I will bee no longer Dated 20. yeere of Tenscij 25. of the seuenth Moone In the end was the Seale and Subscription It was written in a leafe eight palmes long foure broad painted with golden Flowers and put in a red silke bagge wrought with Gold and siluer and that inclosed after the Iapon manner in a Boxe which for the price and workmanship was so admirable that the subtiltie and excellence of the worke might amaze all Europeans Within it was couered and without with Vrosci made of Gold beaten into powder distinguished with Flowers of Gold and Siluer so inserted in the Vrosci that none could discerne the coniunction but he which knew the making of the Boxe It had also Roses and gold Chaines to tye the Boxe which Boxe was put into another Bag and that into another Boxe very artificiall The gifts were Armours Armes and other things very precious He assembled his Lords about this China Warre which durst not expresse any other opinion hee hauing protested that hee would not heare his Sonne disswade him if he were aliue againe and if any should hinder him it should cost him his life Thus for some moneths space nothing might be seene else but prouision for Ships Armes Munitions and necessaries for the Warre Hee made a Catalogue of all his Lords exempting none from the expedition and setting euery one his number of followers To Augustine a Christian Lord hee gaue the fauour of first impression into Corai other Lords staying still at Suscima eighteene leagues distant Corai is adioyning to the Continent of China at one end
pretended by him was charged by a woman that was familiar with him beeing then fallen out that he halted but in the day time and could leape merrily when hee came home at night And that he had intended this matter sixe yeeres before Now hee is put into a Monastery and there rayleth vpon the Friers that hired him to haue this counterfeit Miracle practised vpon him Besides this disgrace a little before my comming from thence there were eight slaine with in his Church by fire in a Thunder Which caused his Bels that were tingling before all day and night long as in triumph of the Miracles wrought by Basileo their Saint to ring somewhat softlier and hath wrought no little discredit to this Miracle-worker There was another of great account at Plesko called Nichola of Plesko that did much good when this Emperours Father came to sacke the Towne vpon suspition of their reuolting and Rebellion against him The Emperour after he had saluted the Eremite at his lodging sent him a reward And the Holy man to requite the Emperour sent him a piece of raw Flesh being then their Lent time Which the Emperour seeing bid one to tell him that he maruelled that the Holy man would offer him flesh to eate in the Lent when it was forbidden by order of holy Church And doth Euasko which is as much to say as Iacke thinke quoth Nicola that it is vnlawfull to eate a piece of beasts flesh in Lent and not to eate vp so much mans flesh as he hath done already So threatning the Emperour with a prophecy of some hard aduenture to come vpon him except he left murdring of his people and departed the Towne he saued a great many mens liues at that time This maketh the people to like very well of them because they are as Pasquils to note their great mens faults that no man else dare speake of Yet it falleth out sometime that for this rude libertie which they take vpon them after a counterfeit manner by imiâ—ation of Prophets they are made away in secret as was one or two of them in the last Emperours time for being ouer-bold in speaking against his gouernment THeir morning Seruice they call Zautrana that is Mattins It is done in this order The Priest entreth into the Church with his Deacon following him And when he is come to the middle of the Church he beginneth to say with a loude voyce Blaslauey Vladika that is Blesse vs heauenly Pastor meaning of Christ. Then hee addeth In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost one very God in Trinitie and Aspody pomelui or Lord haue mercy vpon vs Lord haue mercy vpon vs Lord haue mercy vpon vs repeated three times This done he marcheth on towards the Chancell or Sanctum Sanctorum as they vse to call it and so entreth into the Scharsuey Dwere or the Heauenly Doore which no man may enter into but the Priest onely Where standing at the Altar or Table set neere to the vpper wall of the Chancell he sayeth the Lords Prayer and then againe Aspody pomelui or Lord haue mercy vpon vs Lord haue mercy vpon vs c. pronounced twelue times Then praised be the Trinitie the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost for euer and euer Whereto the Deacons and People say Amen Next after the Priest addeth the Psalmes for that day and beginneth with O come let vs worship and fall downe before the Lord c. and therewithall himselfe with the Deacons and People all turne themselues towards their Idols or Images that hang on the wall and crossing themselues bow downe three times knocking their heads to the very ground After this he readeth the Ten Commandements and Athanasius Creed out of the Seruice Booke This being done the Deacon that standeth without the Heauenly Doore or Chancell readeth a piece of a Legend out of a written Booke for they haue it not in Print of some Saints life miracles c. This is diuided into many parts for euery day in the yeere and is read by them with a plaine singing note not vnlike to the Popish tune when they sung their Gospels After all this which reacheth to an houre and an halfe or two houres of length he addeth certaine set Collects or Prayers vpon that which he hath read out of the Legend before and so endeth his Seruice All this while stand burning before their Idols a great many of Waxe candles whereof some are of the bignesse of a mans waste vowed or enioyned by penance vpon the people of the Parish About nine of the clocke in the morning they haue another Seruice called Obeidna or Compline much after the order of the Popish Seruice that bare that name If it be some High or Festiuall day they furnish their Seruice beside with Blessed bee the Lord God of Israel c. and Wee praise thee O God c. sung with a more solemne and curious note Their euening Seruice is called Vecherna where the Priest beginneth with Blaslauey Vladika as he did in the morning and with the Psalmes appointed for the Vecherna Which being read he singeth My soule doeth magnifie the Lord c. And then the Priest Deacons and People all with one voice sing Aspody pomelui or Lord haue mercy vpon vs thirty times together Whereunto the Boyes that are in the Church answere all with one voice rolling it vp so fast as their lips can goe Verij Verij Verij Verij or Praise Praise Praise c. thirty times together with a very strange noise Then is read by the Priest and vpon the Holidayes sung the first Psalme Blessed is the man c. And in the end of it is added Alleluia repeated ten times The next in order is some part of the Gospell ready by the Priest which hee endeth with Alleluia repeated three times And so hauing said a Collect in remembrance of the Saint of that day hee endeth his euening Seruice All this while the Priest standeth aboue at the Altar or high Table within the Chancell or Sanctum Sanctorum whence hee neuer moueth all the Seruice time The Deacon or Deacons which are many in their Cathedrall Churches stand without the Chancell by the Scharsuey Dwere or Heauenly Doore for within they may not be seene all the Seruice time though otherwise their Office is to sweepe and keepe it and to set vp the Waxe candles before their Idols The people stand together the whole Seruice time in the body of the Church and some in the Church Porch for Piew or Seat they haue none within their Churches The Sacrament of Baptisme they administer after this manner The child is brought vnto the Church and this is done within eight dayes after it is borne if it bee the child of some Nobleman it is brought with great pompe in a rich Sled or Wagon with Chaires and Cushions of cloth of Gold and such like sumptuous shew of their best
kinde and honourable Prestaue the Duke Vollagdemor with almost weeping on his part the Ambassador went from the Emperors sled to his coach set vpon a sled and wee â—lighted from the Emperors horses and betooke our selues to our easie and pleasant passage in 〈◊〉 such a passage as this part of the World would wonder at in which a man though hee goe a â—â—â—ckney pace may as easily reade as sleepe Thus accompanyed with Master Ioâ—â— Moricke Master William Russel sometimes Agent for the Dutch and many other Merchants we easily rode that night to Braâ—teshiâ— thirtie miles from the Mosco The next morrow taking leaue of them all we continued our iourney fiftie and sixtie versts a day easily Within few dayes after wee heard newes certainly of the Emperors sudden and vntimely death which considering neither the Prestaâ—e the Gouernour or Bishop had not or would not of ten dayes after take knowledge of we might in the meane time haue doubted of but that his Lordship had it from Master Iohn Mericke by Letter particularly His death was very sudden and as it was in it selfe very strange for within some two houres after dinner hauing as hee vsually had his Doctors with him who left him in their iudgements in health as the good meale he made could witnesse for hee dined well and fed plentifully though presently after as may be thought feeding ouer-much hee felt himselfe not onely heauie but also payned in his stomacke presently went into his chamber laid himselfe vpon his bed sent for his Doctors which alwayes speeded yet before they came hee was past being speechlesse and soone after dying Before his death as speedie as it was hee would bee shorne and new christned what the cause was otherwise then the griefe inward sorrow with diuers distractions about the warres and their bad successe fearing the worst on his part onely God knowes yet who so remembers Gods iudgements or Princes policies for Kingdomes with mans sinfulnesse and considereth the one with the other may bee satisfied if not contented For the Emperours person he was tall and well bodied teaching out of his authoritie obedience of an excellent presence black and thin haâ—red well faced round and close shaued strong limmed A Prince framed betweene Thought and Resolution as being euer in labour but neuer till death deliuered neuer acting though euer plotting but in his Closet or Councel Chamber One rather obeyed then loued being feared where hee was not serued doubtlesse vpholding a true Maiestie and gouernment in euery part but in his owne minde that it is a question whether he were more kinde to Strangers or seuere and iust to his Subiects or hatefull and terrible to his Enemies A father and a Prince whose wordes counsels obseruations policies resolutions and experiments were but the life of his deare Sonne neuer aduising entertayning no not praying without him In all Ambassies and Negotiations remembring his sonnes name with his owne louing him being louely for that himselfe would bee loued vnwilling to spare his presence desirous to haue him at all occasions before his eyes I shall not doe amisse to giue a taste of the fruit sprung from so stately a Tree Being by a learned and well trauailed Gentleman diuers times particularly aduised to let the Prince take some more then no recreation by which meanes he might aswell prolong his life as instruct his iudgement and delight his minde Oh would the Emperour answere one sonne is no sonne nay I am perswaded three sonnes to me is but halfe a sonne But had I sixe sonnes then I might safely say I had one how then should I part with that at any time I know not to bee mine for any time This may giue satisfaction to any vnderstanding both of his feares and ielousies his great loue and much care It was an vsuall speech with the Emperour vpon good reason to say hee was the Lord and father of his sonne yet withall That he was not onely his seruant but his very slaue Two policies of the said Emperour I shall willingly acquaint you with for diuers reasons One was when hee caused fire to bee kindled in foure parts of Moscoâ— whereat himselfe was noted to be very diligent with all his Nobles and Courtiers and after it was quenched he sent his bountie to them all that builded anew their houses and repaid all their losses And this was but to stop the rumour then so common of his strange gayning the Empire by which stratagem of his when his people were readie to mutinie they were created anew good Subiects yet did admire his not onely care but goodnesse towards them all A second was at that time the Land was visited with a mightie famine and as great a plague some foure yeeres since whereof a third of the whole Nation is rated to haue died and the murmuring multitude said the cause was their electing of a murderer to the Empire wherefore God did thus visit them Whereupon hee caused Galleries to bee builded round about the vtmost wall of the great Citie of Mosco and there appointed daily to bee giuen to the poore twentie thousand pounds sterling which was accordingly performed for one moneth whereupon the common peoples mouthes and bellies were well stopped Here wee lodged till the sixt of May being wearied with the inconstancie and ill-come newes of flying reports whereupon the time of the yeere requiring the Ambassador resolued to passe downe the Riuer to Colmogro as well that hee might the sooner haue newes from England as happily to bee out of feare of any disaster the rumours being innumerable and vncertaine After the suspicious death of the old Emperour Boris Pheodorowich c. by the appointment of the Prince then their expected Emperour and the Counsell Peter Basman that noble Sparke was speedily dispatched and sent as Generall vnto their ill succeeding warres as their last hope indeed hee prooued so in a contrarie sense and the onely refuge to the Commons whiâ—her being come hee with himselfe presented most of his command as many as freely would offer themselues Vnder which were all the English Scots French Dutch and Flemmings whatsoeuer and with him or rather before him as least suspected Ries Vasili Euanch Goleeche the other Generall a man of great birth and in the prioritie of place to bee receiued before Peter Basman All which the now well knowne newly opinionated Emperour very graciously receiued happily not without some ielousie of many particulars Demetrius now sent Messengers with Letters which entred the Suburbs where the Commons in infinite numbers brought them safe 〈◊〉 the spacious Plaine before the Castle gate within which as daily they did vse so now were all the Counsellors in consultation but happily not in a secret Counsaile also wherein was the Emperiall Court There these Boyerens made demand for many of the Counsellors especially for the Godonoues to come to heare their right King Dâ—metrius Euanowich speaking vnto them
called Keeyeue thus according to the Deuils instructing of him as one forsaken of God he made this his doing manifestly known to all people leauing off his Monks Habit and withall by the counsell and aduice of our Enemie the Polish King and one of his Palatines named Sandamersko Yourya with Duke Constantine and Duke Veshneuetskoy and his Brethren with other Polish Lords that were of his Councell began to call him the Son of the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Euan Vassilywich by name Prince Demetry of Owglitts As also by his villanous treacherie and the Deuills perswading of him he made much trouble in our Land by sending abroad many of his intising and prouoking Letters to diuers places vpon the borders of our Countrey that is to a place called Done and to the Volgoe to our Cossacks and Souldiers naming himselfe to be the Prince Demetry of Owglitts Moreouer there came to our Kingdome of Mosko many Polish Spies which brought and dispersed Libels both in Citie and Townes and in the high-wayes practising to rayse dissention in the Kingdome of Mosko Also it is well knowne not only to them in the Empire of Mosko but likewise in other Kingdomes that the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Euan Vassilywich of famous memory had a Sonne called by the name of Prince Demetry and after his Fathers decease there was giuen vnto him and his Mother the Citie of Owglitts But in the yeere 7095. being in the Reigne of the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Theodore Euanowich of all Russia this foresaid Demetry was murthered by the order and appointment of Boris Godenoue And at his Funerall was his Mother now called the Empresse Martha with her owne Brethren by name Michaila and Greegory the Sonnes of Theodore Nahouo Likewise to his burying there was sent from the Mosko Metropolitanes and Archimandreets and Abbots and the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Theodore Euanowich sent to his Funerall many Nobles and Courtiers of the Land which saw him buried in the chiefest and principall Church of Owglitts Moreouer Martha the Dutches and Empresse his Mother is yet liuing and many of her Brothers and Vnckles which doe at this present time serue vs the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Vassily Euanowich of all Russia sole Commander Likewise in these last yeeres past as in Anno 7111. and in Anno 7112. and 7113. concerning that foresaid Traytour and Hereticke the forsaken of God Gryshca Otreapyoue many of our Gentlemen Captaynes and others our Officers did many times write from the North parts of the borders of our Kingdome into Poland and Letto and to others their inferiour Cities to the Rulers and Gouernours of the same as also our spirituall people the Patriarke the Metropolitans Archbishops and Bishops wrote vnto the spirituall people of Poland declaring vnto them what that Heretick and Traytor was likewise from whence he came and what manner of person he was as also of his demeanour and likewise of the occasion why hee runne away to them out of the Land as also the manner of the making away of the Prince Demetry and withall requested the Rulers and Spirituall people of Poland that they knowing what Runnagate this was would not giue credit vnto him nor to make a breach of the late league concluded vpon But the Gouernours of the Dukedome of Poland and Letto as also the spirituall men according to the King of Poland his commandment gaue no credit vnto our writings but began more then before to intice and perswade men to vphold the Traitor and to aide him Moreouer to make trouble and dissention in our Land they tooke this forsaken of God Greeshca vnto them and cald him by the name of Prince Demetry of Owglits likewise the King gaue vnto him a chaine of gold with many thousand peeces of Polish gold to the defraying of his charges as also sent in armes to our borders with one of his Lords the Palatine Sendamersko and another of his chiefest Lords with many troopes of Poles But when the Emperour Boris vnderstood how that this Gryshca Otreapyoue was called by the name of Prince Demetry Euanowich of Owglits and withall that they did aide and helpe him against the Kingdome of Russia he caused his Counsell to send a messenger as from themselues to the Polish Lord Panameerada which Messenger was named Smeernay Otreapyoue being Vnckle to the said Gryshca Otreopyoue being the Son of one Iamateen Otrepayou onely to declare vnto them what this Gryshca was but that Polish Lord Panameerada would not suffer him and his Vnckle to be brought face to face But he made answer to the said Messenger Smeernay that they did not aide him neither did they stand for him in any sort So after he had sent away the Messenger Smeernay the King of Poland and the Lord Panameerada did aide Gryshca Otreapyoue with men and treasure more liberally then before purposing to make great strife and trouble and to shed much bloud in the Kingdome of Mosco Also at the same time Sigismund King of Poland requested the aide of one of the Princes of Crim in Tartaria named Cazateera and to that end he should aide Gryshca with his forces against the Kingdome of Mosko and he in consideration did promise to giue vnto the foresaid Crim Prince what hee would demand Then the Emperour Boris vnderstanding what practises were in hand being altogether contrary to the league thereupon purposely he sent to Sigismund King of Poland another speciall Messenger one named Posnicke Agareoue likewise at the same time the holy Patriarke of Mosco and all Russia with the Metropolitans Archbishops and Bishops with all the rest of the holy Clergie sent their Messengers with Letters to the State of Poland and so the great Dukedome of Letto to the Archbishops and Bishops and to all the Spiritualtie Moreouer in the said Letters the Emperour Boris with the Patriarke and all the holy assembly wrote vnto the Lord Panameerada concerning Gryshca making it knowne vnto them what he was and wherefore he ranne away into Poland and likewise that the Sonne of the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Euan Vasiliwich the Prince Demetry was dead And to that intent that the King Sigismund should not giue credit to the said Gryshca and that they should not spill Christian bloud nor violate the league Hereupon Sigismund King of Poland writ vnto the Emperour Boris and further by word of mouth both he and Panameerada deliuered to the said messenger in his message that hee did hold and keepe their League and moreouer did not violate or breake his oath no manner of way and likewise did write that he did not ayde that foresaid Gryshca neither did giue credit vnto him withall denying that he was with him in his Kingdome and further he did write that if there were any out of Poland or Letto that did aide or assist him that then they should be executed But after
he had dispatched away the messenger of Boris not regarding his oath still more and more did aide and helpe this Gryshca Otreapyoue Also the Palatine Sendamersko and Myhala Ratanisko came into the Kingdome of Mosco to a place called the Land of Seeuersko putting the people of that Land in feare and perswading them there this Gryshca was the true Prince and that the King of Poland and Panameerada had found out the certaintie thereof and therefore they will haue Poland and Letto stand for him Also from out of many other Kingdomes they goe to aide and assist him likewise other inferiour Kingdomes are willing to stand for him moreouer that Gryshca in the foresaid Land of Seeuersko and in other places of our Borders by the meanes of his diuellish practises and coniurations did intise and tempt them to fall to him likewise the people of those foresaid places of the Land of Seeuersko and on the Borders being simple people and resorting seldome to the Citie of Mosco and being intised by Gryshca and the rest of the Gouernours could not withstand but yeelded them vnto them Whereupon against those Polonians and Lettoes and other enemies that were already entred the Kingdome of Mosco the Emperour sent his Nobles with a great Armie but by the appointment of God the Emperour Boris deceased vpon whose death the chiefest of the Nobles departed the Campe. And after their departure the Armie hearing of the death of the Emperour and being drawne thereto by feare and otherwise at last yeelded themselues ouer vnto Gryshca as the Borderers had done before Also the foresaid Gryshca by the helpe of the Diuell and King Sigismund and Panameerada came into the Citie and Kingdome of Mosco to the great disquietnesse and trouble of the whole Land by whom the Religion was corrupted and by him were many true Christians put to exile for denying his right and interest to the Kingdome of Mosco And shortly after he was setled in the Kingdome and he tooke to wife the daughter of one Sandamersko as was appointed by the King of Poland and Panameerada the which wife of his was in Mosco with her Father and Brother Senatskoy and with one Veshneuetskoy with their Polish and Letto Lords and other people by whom Religion was prophaned as also we were forced and driuen to receiue many wrongs and iniuries which the people of the Kingdome of Mosco could not indure Also at last this Greeshca by the counsell of the Palatine Sandamersko his Father in Law and by the counsell of Veshneuetskoy and other Polish and Letto people which he brought in with him was purposed by a secret politicke deuise to haue put to death the Metropolitans Archbishops and Bishops and all the holy and spirituall assembly with the Nobles and Courtiers and diuers others which were of the better people and so to haue sent others into Poland and Letto withall to haue changed the Religion and to haue established the Romish Religion for which purpose he brought with him many Iesuites The which we the great Lord and great Duke Vasily Euanowich of all Russia with the Metropolitans Archbishops and Bishops and with all the holy spirituall assembly and with the Nobles Courtiers and Commons of the Kingdome of Mosco well considering and perceiuing what an alteration this would be to our Christian faith with the ouerthrow and vtter vndoing to our whole Kingdome we then earnestly bewail'd and lamented and withall hartily prayed to the almightie Trinitie our onely Lord God that liueth and defendeth mankinde that it would please him to deliuer vs and the Common-wealth from those vile cruell diuellish attempts and deuises of theirs Thus desiring the mercy of God we all returned and stood stedfast to our former vnspotted and true Christian faith against that vsurper and counterfeit Gryshca and his Counsell with a resolution to stand in the same manfully and euen to the death hoping and longing for the time that all people and warlik men and Souldiors and many others of the Empire of Mosco might come to gather themselues together that they might likewise perceiue and discern this vsurping Heretick and his diuellish courses by which he did decline from the true Christian faith of our Religion The largenesse of the Kingdome of Mosco cannot be vnknowne vnto you our louing Brother how farre it extendeth it selfe both to the South and to the West as also to other places that in halfe a yeares space they could not gather themselues together But when as the power and warlike Souldiours and all other people were gathered together then through the mercie and fauour of God this enemy of Gods Commonwealth was discouered to all what he was And the Empresse Martha being Mother of the true Prince Demetry Euonowich did certifie vnto vs before the Metropolitans Archbishoppes and Bishoppes and before all the holy assembly as also to the Nobles and Courtiers and other Officers and men of worth within our Empire did shee deliuer that her Sonne the Prince Demetry was murthered beyond reason at a place cald Owglits by appointment of Boris Godenoue and that he dyed in her armes yet did this Gryshca falsely call himselfe by the name of him that was murthered Also we found in the custody of this Gryshca the Copie of a writing which was the contract and agreement that he made betwixt him and the Palatine before his comming out of Poland in which was written that as soone as he did come to the Kingdome of Mosco that then he would take to wife the daughter of the Palatine and would giue her two Prouinces called great Nouogrod and Vobsko with counsell Courtiers Gentlemen and Priests fitting to a Congregation with inferior Castles and Lands freely in those foresaid to build and set vp Monasteries and also to set vp the Romish Religion And when he came to the Kingdome of Mosco that then he should giue vnto the Palatine tenne thousand pieces of Polish Gold which is by our Russia account three hundred thousand Markes and to his wife in consideration of her long Iourney he promised to giue cloth of Gold and cloth of Siluer and of all the best things that was in the Treasurie of the Kingdome of Mosco Likewise that hee the said Gryshca at his comming to Mosco would take order to bring these things to passe with all diligence whereby he might draw all the Dominion of Mosco from our true Grecian Religion and so to haue turned vs into the Romish Religion and to haue destroyed the holy Church ouer all the Empire of Mosco and so to haue built vp the Religion of the Church of Rome and for the performing of all this the said Gryshca was sworne to the Palatine Sandamersko in the presence of the Teachers of the Land as beforesaid that he according to his owne hand writing would hold all the said couenants with all diligence as likewise to bring all the Empire of Mosco to the Romish Religion The which
their Neighbours Stone Timber Lime in exchange of Fish Frogs and young Kids and for Ducks Water-hens Courlieus and diuers other kindes of Sea fowles All which things they did fish and hunt for in this Lake whereof there is great abundance They went with these things to the Markets of the Townes and Cities of the Tapanecans and of them of Tescuco their neighbours and with policy they gathered together by little and little what was necessarie for the building of their Citie so as they built a better Chappell for their Idoll of lime and stone and laboured to fill vp a great part of the Lake with rubbish This done the Idoll spake one night to one of his Priests in these termes Say vnto the Mexicans that the Noblemen diuide themselues euery one with their Kinsfolks and Friends and that they diuide themselues into foure principall quarters about the house which you haue built for my rest and let euery quarter build in his quarter at his pleasure The which was put in execution and those be the foure principall quarters of Mexico which are called at this day Saint Iean Saint Mary the round Saint Paul and Saint Sebastian After this the Mexicans being thus diuided into these foure quarters their god commanded them to diuide amongst them the gods he should name to them and that they should giue notice to euery quarter principall of the other foure particall quarters where their gods should bee worshipped So as vnder euery one of these foure principall quarters there vvere many lesse comprehended according to the number of the Idols which their god commanded them to worship which they called Calpultetco which is as much to say as God of the quarters In this manner the Citie of Mexico Tenoxtiltan was founded and grew great This diuision being made as aforesaid some old Men and Ancients held opinion that in the diuision they had not respected them as they deserued for this cause they and their Kinsfolke did mutinie and went to seeke another residence and as they went through the Lake they found a small piece of Ground or Terrasse which they call Tloteloli where they inhabited calling it Tlatellulco which signifies Place of a Terrasse This was the third diuision of the Mexicans since they left their Country That of Mechonacan being the first and that of Malinalco the second Those which separated themselues and went to Tlatellulco were famous men but of bad disposition and therefore they practised against the Mexicans their neighbours all the ill neighbourhood they could They had alwayes quarrels against them and to this day continues their hatred and old leagues They of Tenoxtiltan seeing them of Tlatellulco thus opposite vnto them and that they multiplyed feared that in time they might surmount them hereupon they assembled in counsell where they thought it good to choose a King whom they should obey and strike terrour into their Enemies that by this meanes they should bee more vnited and stronger among themselues and their Enemies not presume too much against them Being thus resolued to choose a King they tooke another aduice very profitable and assured to choose none among themselues for the auoyding of dissentions and to gayne by their new King some other neighbour Nations by whom they were inuironed being destitute of all succours All well considered both to pacifie the King of Culhuacan whom they had greatly offended hauing slaine and slayed the daughter of his predecessor and done him so great a scorne as also to haue a King of the Mexican blood of which generation there were many in Culhuacan which continued there since the time they liued in peace amongst them they resolued to choose for their King a young man called Acamapixtli sonne to a great Mexican Prince and of a Lady daughter to the King of Calhuacan Presently they sent Ambassadors with a great Present to demand this man who deliuered their Ambassage in these termes Great Lord wee your Vassals and Seruants placed and shut vp in the Weedes and Reedes of the Lake alone and abandoned of an the Nations of the World led onely and guided by our god to the place where wee are which falls in the iurisdiction of your limits of Ascapusalco and of Tescuco Although you haue suffered vs to liue and remayne there yet will wee not neither is it reason to liue without a Head and Lord to command correct and gouerne vs instructing vs in the course of our life and defending vs from our Enemies Therefore wee come to you knowing that in your Court and House there are Children of our generation linckt and allied with yours issued from our entrailes and yours of our bloud and yours among the which wee haue knowledge of a Grand-child of yours and ours called Acamapixth Wee beseech you therefore to giue him vs for Lord wee will esteeme him as hee deserues seeing hee is of the Linage of the Lords of Mexico and the Kings of Culhuacan The King hauing consulted vpon this point and finding it nothing inconuenient to bee allied to the Mexicans who were valiant men made them answere That they should take his grand-child in good time adding thereunto that if he had beene a woman hee would not haue giuen her noting the foule fact before spoken of ending his discourse with these wordes Let my grand-child goe to serue your god and be his Lieutenant to rule and gouerne his Creatures by whom we liue who is the Lord of Night Day and Windes Let him goe and be Lord of the Water and Land and possesse the Mexican Nation take him in good time and vse him as my sonne and grand-child The Mexicans gaue him thankes all ioyntly desiring him to marry him with his owne hand so as hee gaue him to wife one of the noblest Ladies amongst them They conducted the new King and Queene with all honor possible and made him a solemne reception going all in generall forth to see the King whom they led into Palaces which were then but meane and hauing seated them in Royall Thrones presently one of the Ancients and an Orator much esteemed amongst them did rise vp speaking in this manner My sonne our Lord and King thou art welcome to this poore House and Citie amongst these weeds and mud where thy poore fathers Grand-fathers and Kinsfolks endure what it pleaseth the Lord of things created Remember Lord thou commest hither to be the defence and support of the Mexican Nation and to be the resemblance of our god Vitzliputzli whereupon the charge and gouernment is giuen thee Thou knowest wee are not is our Country seeing the Land we possesse at this day is anothers neither know we what shall become of vs to morrow or another day Consider therefore that thou commest not to rest or recreate thy selfe but rather to indure a new charge vnder so heauy a burden wherein thou must continually labour being slaue to this multitude which is fallen to thy lot and to all this
wonder what Deuill carried the Religion of Mahomet thither For from Derbent which is vpon the extreme borders of Persia it is aboue thirtie dayes Iourney to passe ouerthwart the Desart and so to ascend by the banke of Etilia into the foresaid Countrey of Bulgaria All which way there is no Citie but onely certayne Cottages neere vnto that place where Etilia falleth into the Sea Those Bulgarians are most wicked Saracens more earnestly professing the damnable Religion of Mahomet then any other Nation whatsoeuer Moreouer when I first beheld the Court of Baatu I was astonied at the sight thereof for his Houses or Tents seemed as though they had beene some huge and mightie Citie stretching out a great way in length the people ranging vp and downe about it for the space of some three or foure leagues And euen as the people of Israel knew euery man on which side of the Tabernacle to pitch his Tent euen so euery one of them knoweth right well towards what side of the Court hee ought to place his house when he takes it from off the Cart. Whereupon the Court is called in their Language Horda which signifieth the midst because the Gouernour or Chieftaine among them dwels alwayes in the middest of his people except onely that directly towards the South no subiect or inferiour person placeth himselfe because towards that Region the Court gates are set open but vnto the right hand and the left hand they extend themselues as farre as they will according to the conueniencie of places so that they place not their houses directly opposite against the Court. At our arriuall wee were conducted vnto a Saracen who prouided not for vs any victuals at all The day following we were brought vnto the Court and Baatu had caused a large Tent to bee erected because his house or ordinary Tent could not contayne so many men and women as were assembled Our Guide admonished vs not to speake till Baatu had giuen vs commandement so to doe and that then we should speake our minds briefly Then Baatu demanded whether your Maiestie had sent Ambassadors vnto him or no I answered that your Maiestie had sent Messengers to Ken-Can and that you would not haue sent Messengers vnto him or Letters vnto Sartach had not your Highnesse beene perswaded that they were become Christians because you sent not vnto them for any feare but onely for congratulation and courtesies sake in regard that you heard they were conuerted to Christianitie Then led he vs vnto his Pauilion and we were charged not to touch the cords of the Tent which they account in stead of the threshold of the house There we stood in our habit bare-footed and bare-headed and were a great and strange spectacle in their eyes For indeed Frier Iohn de Plano Carpini had beene there before my comming howbeit because he was the Popes Messenger he changed his habit that hee might not be contemned Then wee were brought into the very midst of the Tent neither required they of vs to doe any reuerence by bowing our knees as they vse to doe of other Messengers Wee stood therefore before him for the space wherein a man might haue rehearsed the Psalme Miserere mei Deus and there was great silence kept of all men Baatu himselfe sate vpon a seat long and broad like vnto a Bed gilt all ouer with three staires to ascend thereunto and one of his Ladies sate beside him The men there assembled sate downe scattering some on the right hand of the said Lady and some on the left Those places on the one side which the women filled not vp for there were only the Wiues of Baatu were supplyed by the men Also at the very entrance of the Tent stood a bench furnished with Cosmos and with stately great cups of Siluer and Gold being richly set with Precious Stones Baatu beheld vs earnestly and wee him and he seemed to me to resemble in personage Monsieur Iohn de Beaumont whose soule resteth in peace And he had a fresh ruddie colour in his countenance At length hee commanded vs to speake Then our Guide gaue vs direction that we should bow our knees and speake Wherevpon I bowed one knee as vnto a man then he signified that I should kneele vpon both knees and I did so being loth to contend about such circumstances And againe hee commanded me to speake Then I thinking of Prayer vnto God because I kneeled on both my knees beganne to pray on this wise Sir we beseech the Lord from whom all good things doe proceed and who hath giuen you these earthly benefits that it would please him hereafter to make you partaker of his heauenly blessings because the former without these are but vaine and improfitable And I added further Be it knowne vnto you of a certaintie that you shall not obtayne the ioyes of Heauen vnlesse you become a Christian for God saith Whosoeuer beleeueth and is baptized shal be saued but he that beleeueth not shal be condemned At this word he modestly smiled but the other Moals began to clap their hands and to deride vs. And of my silly Interpreter of whom especially I should haue receiued comfort in time of need was himselfe abashed and vtterly dasht out of countenance Then after silence made I said vnto him I came vnto your Sonne because we heard that he was become a Christian and I brought vnto him Letters on the behalfe of my Souereigne Lord the King of France and your Sonne sent me hither vnto you The cause of my comming therefore is best knowne vnto your selfe Then he caused me to rise vp And he enquired your Maiesties Name and my name and the name of mine Associate and Interpreter and caused them all to be put downe in writing He demanded likewise because hee had beene informed that you were departed out of your owne Countries with an Armie against whom you waged warre I answered against the Saracens who had defiled the House of God at Ierusalem He asked also whether your Highnesse had euer before that time sent any Messengers vnto him or no To you Sir said I neuer Then caused he vs to sit downe and gaue vs of his Milke to drinke which they account to be a great fauour especially when any man is admitted to drinke Cosmos with him in his owne house And as I sate looking downe vpon the ground he commanded me to lift vp my countenance being desirous as yet to take more diligent view of vs or else perhaps for a kind of Superstitious obseruation For they esteeme it a signe of ill lucke or a prognostication of euill vnto them when any man sits in their presence holding downe his head as if he were sad especially when hee leanes his cheeke or chin vpon his hand Then we departed forth and immediately after came our Guide vnto vs and conducting vs vnto our Lodging said vnto mee Your Master the King requesteth that you
there shee gaue the Monke a Iascot and to the Archdeacon of the Priests another she caused a Nassic to be spread before vs to wit a piece of Cloth as broad as a Couerlet of a Bed very large and a Buckeram which when I would not receiue they sent them to my Interpreter who had them to himselfe He brought the Nassic to Cyprus which he sold for eightie Sultanines of Cyprus but it was much the worse for the carriage Then drinke was brought to wit drinke made of Rice and red Wine like Wine of Rochell and Cosmos Then the Ladie holding the cup full in her hand desired blessing vpon her knees and all the Priests sing with a loud voyce and shee drunke it vp and I and my companion must sing Another time when all of them were almost drunke then meate was brought to wit the carkasse of one Ramme which was presently deuoured and after that great fishes which are called Carpes without Salt or Bread whereof I eate a little so they passed the day vntill the Euening And when the Lady her selfe was drunke she tooke her Chariot the Priests singing and went her way The next Sunday when There was a Marriage in Cana of Galily is read for the Gospell Chans Sonne came whose Mother was a Christian and did the like but not with so great Solemnitie For he gaue no gifts but made the Priests drinke till they were drunke and gaue them parched Millet to eate Before the first Sunday in Lent the Nestorians fast three dayes which they call the Fast of Ionas which he preached to the Niniuites And the Armenians fast fiue dayes which they call the Fast of Saint Sorkis which is the greatest Saint amongst them The Nestorians beginne their Fast vpon Tuesday and end it vpon Thursday so that vpon Friday they eate flesh And all that time I saw the Chancelor to wit the great Secretarie of State called Bulgai make them a pittance of flesh vpon the Friday and they blessed the flesh with great Solemnitie as the Paschall Lambe is blessed but he eate none with them and this I learned of Willielmus Parisiensis who was his very familiar friend The Monke sent to Mangu to fast that weeke which as I heard hee did so that on the Sabbath of Septuagesima at which time it is as it were Easter to the Armenians wee went on Procession to the house of Mangu and the Monke and we two being first searched whether wee had Kniues went in with the Priests before him And while we went in one of the Seruants went forth carrying out the shoulder bones of Rammes burnt to the blacknesse of Coales Whereupon I maruelled greatly what it should meane whereof after I had inquired I vnderstood that hee neuer doth any thing before he haue consulted with those bones Whereupon hee doth not so much as suffer a man to enter his house but first consulteth with that bone which kind of Diuination is thus done When he purposeth to doe any thing he causeth three of those bones to be brought vnto him vnburnt and holding them he thinketh of the thing whereof he will consult whether he may doe it or not and then deliuereth the bones to bee burnt and there are alwayes two little Roomes hard by the house where he lyes where those bones are burnt which are diligently sought for euery day thorow all the Leskar or Tent-dwelling When they are burnt blacke they bring them vnto him then hee lookes vpon them whether the bones by the heate of the fire be cleft right length-wayes then the way is open that he may do it But if the bones be cracked athwart or round pieces flye out of them then he doth it not for the bone is alwayes cleft in the fire or the thinne skin which ouer-spreadeth it And if one of the three be cleft forth right yet he doth it When therefore wee went in before him aduised before that wee should not touch the threshold the Nestorian Priests brought him Incenses and he put it vpon the Censor and they censed him Then they sung blessing his cup and after them the Monke pronounced his blessing and we must blesse last And when he saw vs holding the Bible before our brest he caused it to be brought vnto him that he might see it which hee diligently looked vpon Then after he had drunke and the chiefe Priest had wayted on his Cup they gaue the Priests drinke After that we went forth and my companion stayed last And when wee were without my companion when hee should haue gone out after vs turned his face to Chan bowing himselfe vnto him and then hastily following vs he stumbled at the threshold of the house And when we went in haste toward the house of Baltu his eldest Sonne they that obserued the threshold layd hands on my companion and made him stay that hee should not follow vs calling one and commanding him to carrie him to Bulgai who is the great Secretary of the Court and iudgeth those that are arraigned of life and death But I knew it not yet when I looked backe and saw him not comming I thought they detayned him to giue him some lighter garments For he was weake and so laden with Pelt-garments that he could scarce goe Then they called our Interpreter and made him sit with him but wee went to Chans eldest Sonnes house who had two Wiues and was lodged at the right side of his Fathers Court who as soone as he saw vs comming leaping from his bed whereon he sate cast himselfe vpon the earth smiting his fore-head against the ground worshipping the Crosse and arising caused it to be set vpon a new cloth in an high place by him very honourably He hath a Schoolemaster a Nestorian Priest called Dauid a very Drunkard who teacheth him Then he made vs sit and giue the Priests drinke and hee also dranke receiuing the blessing from them Then wee went vnto the Court of the second Lady which was called Cota who followed Idolaters whom wee found lying sicke a bed Then the Monke made her rise out of her bed and worship the Crosse bowing her knees thrice and ducking toward the ground he standing with the Crosse at the West-side of the house and she on the East this being done they changed places and the Monke went with the Crosse vnto the East and shee vnto the West And hee boldly commanded her although she were so weake that she could scarce stand vpon her feet that shee should cast herselfe downe thrice againe and worship the Crosse toward the East after the manner of the Christians which she did and he taught her to make the signe of the Crosse vpon her forehead After she lay downe vpon her bed and praying for her we went vnto the third house where a Christian Lady vsed to be who being dead a young woman succeeded her who together with the Daughter of her Lord ioyfully receiued vs and
houshold-stuffe of the Dead drawing them betweene the fires For when any one dieth all things whatsoeuer appertayne to him are separated and not mingled with other things of the Court till all be purged by the Fire So did I see it done to the Court of that Ladie which died while wee were there Whereupon there was a double reason why Friar Andrew and his fellowes should goe betweene the fires both because he brought presents as also for that they belonged to him who was dead to wit Ken Chan. No such thing was required of me because I brought nothing If any liuing creature or any thing else fall to the ground while they thus make them passe betweene the fires that is theirs They also the ninth day of the Moone of May gather together all the white Mares of the Herd and consecrate them The Christian Priests also must come together thither with their Censers Then they cast â—ew Cosmos vpon the ground and make a great Feast that day because then they thinke they drinke Cosmos first as it is the fashion somewhere with vs touching Wine in the Feast of Saint Bartholmew or Sixtus and of fruits in the Feast of Saint Iames and Christopher They also are inuited when any child is borne to foretell his destinie They are sent for also when any is sicke to vse their Charmes and they tell whether it bee a naturall infirmitie or by Sorcerie Whereupon that woman of Mentz whereof I spake before told mee a wonderfull thing On a certaine time very costly Furres were presented which were layd downe at the Court of her Ladie who was a Christian as I said before And the Sooth-sayers drew them through betweene the fires and tooke more of them then was their due And a certaine woman vnder whose custodie the treasure of her Ladie was accused them thereof vnto her Ladie wherevpon the Ladie her selfe reproued them It fell out after this that the Ladie her selfe began to be sicke and to suffer certaine sudden passions in diuers parts of her bodie The Sooth-sayers were called and they sitting farre off commanded one of those Maidens to put her hand vpon the place where the griefe was and if shee found any thing shee should snatch it away Then shee arising did so And she found a piece of Felt in her hand or of some other thing Then they commanded her to put it vpon the ground which being layd downe it began to creepe as if it had beene some liuing Creature Then they put it into the water and it was turned as it were into a Horse-leach and he said some Witch hath hurt you thus with her Sorceries and they accused her that had accused them of the Furres who was brought without the Tents into the fields and receiued the bastinado seuen dayes together there and was thus tormented with other punishments to make her confesse and in the meane space her Ladie died Which shee vnderstanding said vnto them I know my Ladie is dead kill mee that I may goe after her for I neuer did her hurt And when shee confessed nothing Mangu Chan commanded to suffer her to liue Then the Sorcerers accused the Ladies daughters Nurse of whom I spake before who was a Christian and her husband was the chiefe among all the Nestorian Priests so shee was brought to punishment with a certaine Maide of hers to make her confesse And the Maide confessed that her Mistresse sent her to speake with a certaine Horse to demand answeres The woman also her selfe confessed some things which shee did to bee beloued of her Ladie that she might doe her good but shee did nothing that might hurt her Shee was demanded also whether her husband were priuie to it shee excused him for that he had burnt the Characters and Letters which she had made Then shee was put to death and Mangu Chan sent the Priest her husband to the Bishop which was in Cataia to be iudged although he were not found culpable In the meane time it fell out that the principall wife of Mangu Chan brought forth a sonne and the Sooth-sayers were called to fore-tell the Destinie of the child who all prophecied prosperitie and said he should liue long and be a great Lord after a few dayes it happened the child died Then the mother enraged called the Sooth-sayers saying you said my sonne should liue and loe hee is dead Then they said Madam behold wee see that Sorceresse the Nurse of Chirina who the other day was put to death shee hath killed your sonne and behold wee see shee carries him away Now there remayned one sonne and a daughter of that woman growne to full age in the Tents and the Ladie sent presently for them in a rage and caused the young man to be slayne of a man and the maide of a woman in reuenge of her sonne whom the Sooth-sayers affirmed to be killed of their mother not long after Mangu Chan dreamed of those children and demanded in the morning what was become of them His seruants were afraid to tell him and he being troubled the more demanded where they were because they had appeared vnto him in a Vision by night Then they told him So hee presently sending for his wife demanded whence shee learned that a woman should giue sentence of death without the priuitie of her Husband And he caused her to be shut vp seauen dayes commanding to giue her no meat But the man who who slew the young man he caused to be beheaded and the head to be hung about the womans necke who had kild the Mayde and made her to be cudgelled with burning Fire-brands through all the Tents and after to be put to Death Hee had also put his Wife to death but for the Children he had by her And he went out of his Court and returned not till after one Moone The Sorcerers also trouble the Ayre with their charmes and when the Cold is so great naturally that they cannot apply any remedy then they search out some in the Campe whom they accuse that the cold comes through their meanes so they are put to Death without any delay A little before I departed thence one of the Concubines was sicke and languished long and they mumbled their Charmes ouer a certaine Dutch Slaue of hers who slept three dayes Who when she came to her selfe they demanded what she had seene And she had seene many persons of all which shee iudged they should all shortly dye And because she saw not her Mistres there they iudged she should not dye of that sicknes I saw the Maydes head yet aking by reason of that sleepe Some of them also call vpon Deuils and gather them together who will haue answers from the Deuill in the night vnto their house and they put sodden flesh in the middest of the house and that Chan who inuoketh beginneth to say his Charmes and hauing a Tymbrell smites it strongly against the ground
at length he begins to raue and causeth himselfe to be bound Then the Deuill comes in the darke and giues him flesh to eate and makes him answer On a certaine time as Master William told me a certaine Hungarian hid himselfe with them and the Deuill being vpon the house cryed that hee could not come in because a certaine Christian was with them He hearing this fled with haste because they began to search for him These things and many other doe they which were too long to report AFter the Feast of Penticost they began to make ready their Letters which they meant to send vnto you In the meane while he returned to Caracarum and held a great Solemnity iust about the fifteenth of Iune and hee desired that all the Embassadours should be present The last day also he sent for vs but I went to the Church to Baptise three Children of a certaine poore Dutch-man whom we found there Master William was chiefe Butler at that Feast because he made the Tree which powred foorth drinke And all the Poore and Rich sung and daunced and clapped their hands before Chan. Then he began to make an Oration vnto them saying I haue sent my Brethren farre off and haue sent them into danger into forraigne Nations Now it shall appeare what yee will doe when I shall send you that our Common-wealth may be inlarged Euery day in those foure dayes hee changed garments which hee gaue them all of one colour euery day from the shooes euen to the tyre of the head At that time I saw the Embassadour of the Calipha of Baldach who caused himselfe to bee carried vpon a Horse-litter betweene two Mules to the Court of whom some said that he made peace with them so that they should giue him ten thousand Horse for his Army Others said that Mangu said hee would not make Peace vnlesse they would destroy all their Munition And the Embassadour answered when you will plucke off your Horse hoofes we will destroy our Munition I saw also there the Embassadours of a certaine Soldan of India who brought with him eight Leopards and ten Hare-hounds taught to sit vpon the Horse buttockes as Leopards doe When I inquired of India which way it lay from that place they shewed me towards the West And those Embassadours returned with me almost for three Weekes together alwayes westward I saw also the Embassadors of the Soldan of Turkie who brought him rich presents And hee answered as I heard he needed neither Gold nor Siluer but men wherefore he required them to prouide him an Army In the feast of Saint Iohn he held a great Drinking and I caused one hundred and fiue Carts and ninety Horses to be numbred all laden with Cowes milke And in the feast of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul in like manner At length the Letters being dispatched which he sendeth to you they called me and interpreted them the tenor whereof I writ as I could vnderstand them by my Interpreter which is this The commandement of the eternall God is this There is but one Eternall God in Heauen vpon Earth let there be but one Lord Chingis Chan Temingu Tingij That is to say the sound of Yron They call Chingis the sound of Yron because hee was a Smith and puffed vp with pride they call him now the Sonne of God This is the word which is spoken to you Whatsoeuer Moals wee are whatsoeuer Naymans whatsoeuer Merkets whatsoeuer Musulman wheresoeuer eares may heare whethersoeuer Horse may goe there cause it to bee heard and vnderstood since they haue heard my commandement and would not beleeue it and would leuy an Army against vs yee shall heare and see that they shall be as hauing Eyes and not seeing and when they would hold any thing they shall be without hands and when they would walke they shall be without feet This is the commandement of the Eternall God by the vertue of the Eternall God by the great world of the Moall The cōmandement of Mangu Chan is giuen to the French King King Lodouick and all other Lords and Priests and to the great world of the Frankes that they vnderstand my wordes and the commaundement of the Eternall God made to Chingis Chan. Nor from Chingis Chan nor others after him came this commandement vnto you A certaine man called Dauid came vnto you as an Embassadour of the Moalls but he was a lyar and with him you sent your Embassadours to Chen-chan After Chen-chan was dead your Embassadours came to his Court Charmis his wife sent you Cloth called Nasic But to know matters appertayning to Warre and Peace and to settle the great World in quiet and to see to doe good That wicked woman more vile then a Dog how could shee know how to doe it Those two Monkes which came from you vnto Sartach Sartach sent them to Baatu but Baatu because Mangu Chan is the greatest ouer the World of the Moalls sent them vnto vs. But now that the great World and the Priests and the Monkes might liue in peace and enioy their goods that the commandement of God might be heard among you wee would haue sent our Embassadours of Moall with your Priests but they answered that betweene vs and you there was a warlike Nation and many bad men and troublesome wayes so as they feared they could not bring our Embassadours safe vnto you but if we would deliuer them our Letters contayning our commandement to King Lodowick they would carrie them For this cause wee sent not our Embassadours with them But wee haue sent the commandement of the eternall God by your said Priests It is the commandement of the eternall God which wee haue giuen you to vnderstand And when you shall heare and beleeue it if yee will obey vs send your Embassadours vnto vs so shall wee be certified whether yee will haue peace with vs or warre When by the power of the eternall God the whole World shall be in vnitie ioy and peace from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same then shall it appeare what wee will doe When yee shall heare and vnderstand the commandement of the eternall God and will not hearken to it nor beleeue it saying our Countrey is farre off our Hills are strong our Sea is great and in this confidence shall leuie an Armie against vs to know what wee can doe Hee which made that which was hard easie and that which was farre off neere the eternall God himselfe knowes it And they called vs your Embassadors in the Letters Then I said vnto them call vs not Embassadors for I said well to Chan that wee are not the Embassadors of King Lodowicke Then they went vnto him and told him But when they returned they said vnto me that he held it much for our good and that he commanded them to write as I should direct them Then I told them they should leaue out the name of Embassadour
speedily to succour and defend the faithfull For we know for certayne that about the Octaues of Easter the Tartarian Nation will inuade cruelly and forcibly the Lands of the Bohemians and if not preuented will there perpetrate vnheard-of slaughter And because our next neighbours house is now on fire and the next Countrey â—ieth open to waste and some are alreadie wasted we earnestly and pitifully entreat the ayde and counsell of God and of our neighbour-brethren for the vniuersall Church And because delay is full of danger with all our hearts we beseech you that you make all possible speed to arme as well for your as our deliuerance making strong preparations of store of Souldiers diligently exciting the noble mightie and couragious with the people subiect to them that yee may haue them in readinesse when we shall next direct our Messengers to you And we by the ministerie of our Prelates Preachers and Minors cause the Crosse because the businesse belongs to him which was crucified to be generally preached fastâ— and prayers to be appointed and our Lands in common to be called to the warre of Iesus Christ. Hereto wee adde that a great part of that detestable Nation with an other Armie adioyned to them wasteth Hungaria with vnheard-of tyrannie insomuch that the King is said to haue retayned but a small part to himselfe And to speake much in few words the Church and People of the North is so oppressed and brought to such Straits as it neuer was so scourged since the World began Dated the yeere of grace 1241. on the day on which is sung Laetare Ierusalem And this was the Letters sent to the Bishop of Paris by the Duke of Brabant The like was written by the Arch-bishop of Cullen to the King of England Therefore for this grieuous tribulation and for the discord betwixt the Pope and the Emperour so hurtfull to the Church there are appointed fasts and prayers with larger Almes in diuers Regions that our Lord being pacified with his people who as a magnificent triumpher is as strong in a few as in many may destroy the pride of the Tartars The French Kings mother Queene Blanch with deepe sighs and plentifull teares spake hereof to her sonne What shall we doe my dearest sonne about this lamentable euent the terrible rumour whereof is comne to our Confines generall destruction of vs all and of holy Church hangs ouer our times by the impetuous inuasion of the Tartars The King with mournfull voice not without the Spirit of God answered The heauenly comfort Mother exalt vs and if they come on vs either we shall send againe those Tartarians to their Tartarean places whence they came or they shall exalt vs to Heauen THe Emperour certified hereof wrote to the Princes and especially to the King of England in this forme Frederike Emperour c. to the King of England greeting Wee cannot conceale though it somwhat lately came to our eares but giue you notice of a thing which concerneth the Roman Empire as prepared to the preaching of the Gospell all zealous Christian Kingdomâ— in the World threatning generall destruction to all Christendom A barbarous Nation hath lately come from the Southerne Region which had long layne hid vnder the torrid Zone and after towards the North by force possessing Regions long remayning is multiplied as the Canker worme called Tartars wee know not of what place or originall not without the fore-seene iudgement of God is reserued to these last times to the correction and chastisement of his people God grant not losse of all Christendom A publike destruction hath therefore followed the common desolation of Kingdomes and spoile of the fertile Land which that wicked people hath passed thorow not sparing sexe age or dignitie hoping to extinguish the rest of mankind whiles it alone goeth about to domineere and reigne euery where by their immense and incomparable power and number Now all things which they haue beene able to set eye on being put to death and spoyle leauing vniuersall desolation behind them these Tartarians yea Tartareans when they had come to the well peopled Colonie of the Cumani prodigall of their liues hauing Bowes their most familiar Armes with Darts and Arrowes which they continually vse and are stronger in the armes then other men they vtterly ouerthrew them and with bloudy sword killed all which escaped not by flight Whose neighbourhood scarcely warned the Rutheni not farre distant to take heed to themselues For they suddenly flie thither to prey and spoile as the wrath of God and lightning hurles it selfe and by their sudden assault and barbarous inuasion take Cleua the chiefe Citie of the Kingdome and all that noble Kingdome was wasted to desolation the Inhabitants being slayne Which yet the neighbouring Kingdome of the Hungarians who should haue taken warning neglected whose sluggish King too secure being required by the Tartars messengers and letters that if he desired that he and his should liue he should hasten their fauour by yeelding himselfe and his Kingdom yet was not hereby terrified and taught to fortify against their irruptions but they ignorant or insolent contemners of their enemies secure in their enemies approach trusting in the natiue fortification of the place vnexpectedly compassed and oppressed at vnawares by them entring like a whirlewind opposed their Tents against them And when the Tartars Tents were fiue miles from the Hungarian the Tartarian fore-runners in the dawning of the morning rushed suddenly and compassed the Hungarians and first slaying the Prelates and chiefe men killed an infinite number with such vnheard-of slaughter as scarcely is recorded euer to haue hapned in one battell The King hardly escaped by flight on a swift Horse which fled with a small companie to the brotherly portion of the Hyllirian Kingdome there to be protected the Enemie possessing the Tents and spoyles And now wasting the nobler and greater part of Hungarie beyond Danubius consuming all with fire and sword they threaten to confâ—und the rest as by the venerable Bishop Vâ—tienâ—is the Anbassadour of the said Hungarian King notâ—ce is giuen to our Court first as he passed being destined to the Roman Court Wee are also hereof fully certified by the Letters of our deare sonne Conrade elect King of Romans alway Augustus and heire of the Kingdome of Ierusalem and of the King of Bohemia the Dukes of Austria and Bauaria by the Messengers words also instructed experimentally of the Enemies neerenesse Nor could wee learne these things without great griefe Truly as the report goeth their vndetermined damnable Armie by our Lords sufferance hath proceeded diuided purposely in three parts For one being sent by the Pructeni and entring Poland the Prince and Duke of that Land were slayne by them and after that all the Region spoyled The second hath entred the bounds of Bohemia and being entred hath made stay the King manly opposing himselfe The third hath runne thorow Hungaria bounded by Austria
their returne goe backe againe to Acre to the Legate carrying with them Marco aforesaid and hauing gone to Ierusalem and fetched of the Oyle with the Legats Letters testifying their fidelitie to the Great Chan and that a Pope was not yet chosen they went againe towards Giazza In the meane time whiles they were going Messengers came from the Cardinals to the Legate declaring vnto him that he was chosen Pope and he called himselfe Gregorie Hearing this presently sending Messengers hee calleth backe the Venetians and admonisheth them not to depart preparing other Letters for them which they should present vnto the Great Chan of the Tartars with whom he also ioyned two Preaching Friars men famous for their honest conuersation and learning whereof the one was called Friar Nicolo Dauicenza the other Friar Guielmo da Tripoli To these hee gaue Letters and Priuiledges and authoritie to order Priests and Bishops and of all absolution as if himselfe were present with Presents also of great value and Crystall vessels to present the great Chan together with his Benediction They came to Giazza a Port of the Sea in Armenia And because Bentiochdare the Sultan of Babylon leuying a great Armie had then inuaded the Armenians the two Friars mentioned began to bee afraid of themselues and deliuering the Letters and Presents to Master Nicolo and Maffio and Marco desiring to auoide the danger of the wayes and perill of warres remayned with the Master of the Temple and returned with him But the three Venetians exposing themselues to all danger with many labours and much difficultie trauelled many dayes alwaies towards the North-east and North till they after three yeeres and a halfe came vnto the Emperour of the Tartars vnto the Citie called Clemenfu for in the Winter time their iourney had often and long hinderantes by reason of the snow and extreme cold and inundations of waters Moreouer King Cublai hearing that they were comming who were yet very farre off sent Messengers fortie dayes iourney to meet them who should conduct them and minister all necessaries for the iourney Going therefore to the Kings Court and being brought to his presence they fell downe before him on their faces yeelding the accustomed reuerence Of whom being curteously receiued they are willed to arise and he commandeth them to declare how they passed the diuers dangers of the wayes and what they had treated with the Bishop of Rome Then they orderly declare all things and giue the Emperour the Popes Letters and Presents which they brought Whereat the Chan wonderfull reioycing commended their faithfull cares The Oyle also brought from the Lampe of the Lords Sepulcher and offered vnto him hee reuerently receiued of them and commanded it should bee honourably preserued And asking of Marco who hee was Master Nicolo answered that he was his Maiesties seruant and his sonne Hee entertayned him with a friendly countenance and caused him to write amongst other his honourable Courtiers Whereupon he was much esteemed of all the Court and in a little space learned the customes of the Tartars and foure diuers Languages being able to write and reade them all The great Chan to make his wisedome more apparent committed an Embassage vnto him to be performed in a Citie called Carahan vnto the which he could scarcely attayne in sixe moneths space But he carrying himselfe wisely in all things discharged what hee had in comission not without the commendation and fauour of the Prince And knowing the Emperour was delighted with nouelties in the Countries which he passed thorow he diligently searched the customes and manners of men and the conditions of the Countries making a memoriall of all which he knew and saw to pleasure the Great Chan. And in sixe and twentie yeeres which he continued one of his Court he was so acceptable to him that he was continually sent thorow all his Realmes and Signiories for the affaires of the Great Chan and sometimes for his owne but by the Chans order And this is the true reason that the said Master Marco learned and saw so many nouelties of the East which follow in order diligently written But these Venetians hauing stayd in that Court many yeeres and growne very rich in Iewels of great value were inflamed with desire to visit their Countrey fearing that if the Chan now old should die they should not bee able to returne One day Master Nicolo seeing the Chan merrie craued licence to depart in the name of all three Whereat hee was moued and asked why they would put themselues on so dangerous a iourney and if they wanted riches he would giue them twice as much as they had and in great loue would not permit their departure Yet in the meane space it happened that a King of the Indians named Argon sent three wise men vnto the Court of Great Cublai whose names were Vlatai Apusca Coza to treat with him that he wold deliuer him a wife for his wife named Bolgana being lately dead begged this grace of the King at the point of death and left in her Wil that he should not marrie a wife of another Familie then her owne which was of Catay King Cublai therefore yeelding to his request caused to be fought out for them a faire young Mayden of seuenteene yeeres of age named Cogatin descended of the said Queenes stocke and to be the wife of Argon These Embassadors departing rode eight moneths the same way they came but found so hot warres betwixt the Tartars that they were constrayned to returne and acquainted the Chan with their proceedings Meane-whiles Master Marco had returned from the parts of India where he had beene employed with certaine ships and declared to the Chan the nouelties of the places and the securitie of those Seas which words hauing passed him the Embassadours conferred with the Venetians and agreed that they with the Queene should goe to the Great Chan and desire leaue to returne by Sea and to haue the three Latines men skilfull in Sea affaires with them to the Countrey of King Argon The Great Chan was much displeased with their request yet vpon their petition granted it and caused Nicolo Maffio and Marco to come to his presence and after much demonstration of his loue would haue them promise to returne to him after they had spent some time in Christendome and at their owne house And he caused to giue them a Tablet of Gold in which was written his commandement for their libertie and securitie thorow all his Dominions and that expenses should bee giuen them and theirs and a Guide or conuoy for safe passage ordayning also that they should be his Embassadours to the Pope the Kings of France of Spayne and to other Christian Kings Hee caused fourteene ships to be prepared each hauing foure Masts and able to beare nine Sayles in sayling the forme of which is too long here to relate Foure of them or fiue had from two hundred and fiftie to two
Inhabitants haue a peculiar Language and are Merchants and Artificers who are so couetous that they eate that which is bad and drinke worse Some Nestorian Christians are found there who also haue their Churches The Countrey inlargeth it selfe fiue dayes Iourney Samarchan is a great and famous Citie in that Countrey where are goodly Gardens and a fertile Plaine It is subiect to the Nephew of the Great Cham. In it the Christians dwell with the Saracens whence little agreement is betwixt them It is reported that in this manner a Miracle hapned the brother of Great Cham named Zagatai gouerned that Countrey about one hundred yeares agoe being perswaded to become a Christian the Christians through his fauour built a Church in honour of Saint Iohn Baptist with such cunning that the whole Roofe thereof was supported by one Pillar in the midst vnder which was set a square stone which by fauour of their Lord was taken from a building of the Saracens Zagathais Sonne succeeded after his death in the Kingdome but not in the faith from whom the Saracens obtayned that the Christians should be compelled to restore that stone And when they offered a sufficient valuable price the Saracens refused to receiue any other composition then the stone But the Pillar lifted vp it selfe that the Saracens might take away their stone and so continueth Departing againe from this Citie you come into the Prouince Charchan about fiue dayes Iourney in length This Prouince hath plentie of all victuals beeing subiect to the Dominion of the Nephew of Great Cham. The Inhabitants worship Mahumet yet among them certaine Nestorian Christians dwell They are great Artificers and haue most of them great legges and a great Wenne or Bunch in the throat by reason of the waters which they drinke The Prouince Cotam followeth betweene the East and the North-east It is subiect to the Dominion of the Nephew of Great Cham and hath many Cities and Townes The chiefe Citie thereof is called Cotam The Prouince is extended eight dayes Iourney in length There is no want therein of any thing appertayning to the maintenance of life It hath plentie of Cotton Flaxe Hempe Corne and Wine But the people are not warlike yet good Artificers and Merchants They acknowledge Mahumet Proceeding further through the same Countrey you meet with the Prouince Peim extended fiue dayes Iourney in length It is subiect to Great Can and hath many Cities and Castles The chiefe Citie thereof is called Peim neere which runneth a Riuer wherein precious stones are found to wit Iasper stones and Chalcedonie The Inhabitants of the Countrey worship Mahumet and are Artificers and Merchants There is a custome in this Prouince that when any marryed man goeth into another place and returneth not home within twentie dayes it shall be lawfull for the Wife to marrie another Husband and the men also wheresoeuer they goe doe the like All those Prouinces aforesaid to wit Caschar Cotam Peim to the Citie of Lop are in the bounds of Great Turkie Ciarcian is subiect to the Tartars the name of the Prouince and chiefe Citie it hath many Cities and Castles Many precious stones are found there in the Riuers especially Iaspers and Chalcedonies which Merchants carrie euen to Ouchach to sel and make great gain From Peim to this Prouince and quite thorow it also it is al Sand with many bad waters and few good When any Armie passeth through this Prouince all the Inhabitants thereof with their Wiues Children Cattel and all their houshold stuffe flie two dayes Iourny into the sands where they know good waters are and stay there and carrie their Corne thither also to hide it in the sands after Haruest for like feares The wind doth so deface their steps in the sand that their Enemies cannot find out their way Departing from this Prouince you are to trauell fiue dayes Iourney thorow the sand where no other water almost then that which is bitter is to be found vntill you come vnto the Citie named Lop. Lop is a great Citie from whence is the entrance of a great Desart called also Lop seated betweene the East and the North-east The Inhabitants are Mahumetans subiect to the Great Can. In it Merchants who desire to passe ouer the Desart cause all necessaries to be prouided for them And when victuals beginne to faile in the Desart they kill the Asses and Camels and eate them They most willingly vse Camels because they are sustayned with little meate and beare great burthens They must prouide victuals for a moneth to crosse it ouer-thwart for to goe thorow the length would aske a yeares time They goe thorow the sands and barren Mountaines and daily find water yet is it sometimes so little that it can scarsly suffice fiftie or one hundred men with their beasts and in three or foure places the water is salt and bitter the rest which are eight and twentie good In it are neither beasts nor birds They say that there dwell many spirits which cause great and meruailous Illusions to Trauellers to make them perish For if any stay behind that he cannot see his company he shall be called by name and so going out of the way is lost In the night they heare the noyse as it were of a company which taking to bee theirs they perish likewise Other apparances as of their companions or of enemies haue caused some to miscarrie Consorts of Musicall Instruments are sometimes heard in the Ayre likewise Drummes and noyses of Armes They goe therefore neere together hang Bels on their beasts neckes and set markes if any stay Hauing passed ouer the Desart you come vnto the Citie Sachion betwixt the East and North-east subiect to the Great Can in the Prouince of Tanguth where among the Worshippers of Mahumet a few Nestorian Christians are found Many Idolaters are also there who haue their proper Language The Inhabitants of this Citie liue not of Merchandize but the fruits of the Earth This Citie hath many Monasteries consecrated to diuers Idols in the which many Sacrifices are offered and great reuerence And when a Sonne is borne vnto a man hee presently commendeth him to some Idoll and in honour thereof nourisheth a sheepe that yeere in his house which he presenteth before it together with his Sonne the next Festiuall Day of that Idoll with many Ceremonies and great reuerence Afterward the flesh of the sheepe is boyled and left so long before the Idoll while their Prayers are finished which they make for the conseruation of their Sonne and the Idoll hath sucked out the sauour of the meate after which their fancie all his kindred being gathered together eate that flesh at home with great deuotion and ioy but orderly keepe the bones in certayne vessels The Priests haue the feete head inwards skinne and some part of the flesh for their share In celebrating the Funerals of such as were of esteeme the dead bodies are burned
their men and they promised it to Cublai One morning whiles Naiam was sleeping negligently in his Tent hauing not so much as sent out any scouts to espie Cublai made shew of his Armie vpon a hill to Naiams Hee himselfe sate in a certaine Castle of wood full of Archers and Crosse-bow men borne by foure Elephants on the top whereof was the Royall Standard with the Images of the Sunne and Moone Hee deuided his Armie into three wings of which he sent that on the right hand and the other on the left against Naiams Armie To euery ten thousand Horse were assigned fiue hundred Foot with Lances taught to leape vp behind the horse-men if any occasion of flight happened and suddenly on aduantage to light and slay the enemies horses with their lances Caidu was not yet come The battel 's ioyned and made a cruell fight which continued from morning till noone and then was Naiam taken and brought before Cublai who commanded that he should be sewed betwixt two Carpets which should be tossed vp and downe till the breath were out of his bodie that so the Imperiall blood might not be exposed to the Sunne and the ayre The remainder of his people sware Obedience to Cublai which were foure Nations Ciorza Carli Barscol and Sitingui Naiam was secretly baptised and by profession a Christian but no follower of the workes of Faith and signed his principall Ensigne with the signe of the Crosse hauing with him infinite store of Christians which were all slaine The Iewes and Saracens that were in the Armie of Cublai began to vpbraid the Christians with this disaster of the Crosse who thereupon complained to Cublai Hee then sharply reprouing the Iewes and Saracens turning to the Christians saith Surely your God and his Crosse would not giue any ayde to Naiam but be not you therefore ashamed because God beeing good and iust ought not at all to defend Iniustice and Iniquitie Naiam was a Traytour to his Lord and contrary to all equitie raised rebellion and sought the helpe of your God in his mischieuous purpose But he as a good and vpright God would not fauour his Designes He returned after this with great triumph to Cambalu and stayed there till Easter On that day he called the Christians before him and kissed their Gospels and made his Barons doe the same The like hee doth in the great Feasts of Saracens Iewes and Ethnikes that Sogomamber Can the God of the Idols Mahumet Moses or whosoeuer is greatest in heauen might helpe him Yet he made best shew of liking to the Christian Faith but pretended the ignorance of the Professors and the mightie acts of the Sorcerers to his not professing it Now for rewarding his Souldiers he hath twelue Barons or wise Counsellours which giue him notice of each Captaynes merit who raiseth them command of one hundred to a thousand and from one thousand to ten thousand and so forward giuing them Vessels of Plate and Tablets The Captayne of one hundred hath a Tablet of siluer and the Captayne of one thousand of Gold or siluer gilded the Captayne of ten thousand hath a Tablet of Gold with a Lions head on it the weight of the Tablets differ also according to the worth and weight of the dignitie On the said Tablet is written a command in this manner By the strength and power of the great God and by the Grace which he hath giuen to our Empire the name of Can be blessed and let them all dye and be destroyed which will not obey him All they which haue these Tablets haue priuiledges in writing of all things which they are to doe or demand And the Generals when they ride in publike they haue a cloth borne ouer their heads and when they sit sit on a Chaire of siluer Their Tablet is of three hundred Saggi fiftie ounces of Gold with the Images of the Sunne and Moone They whose Tablet haue a Gerfalcon may take with them for their guard the whole Armie of a great Commander Cublai is a comeley and faire man of a meane stature of a red and white face blacke and goodly eyes well fashioned nose and all the lineaments of his bodie consisting of a due proportion He hath foure wiues which he accounteth lawfull and the first-borne of them succeedeth him in the Kingdome And euery one of these is called Empresse and holdeth a peculiar Court and that Princely in a proper Palace hauing about three hundred chosen Hand-mayds and Mayd-seruant and many Eunuch seruants and at least ten thousand persons in their Family The King hath also many Concubines There is a certaine Nation of faire people Tartars called Vngut whether euery second yeare he sendeth Ambassadors to puruey the fairest Lasses for him of greatest esteeme for beautie which bring him foure or fiue hundred more or lesse as they see cause There are Praysers or Examiners appointed which take view of all their beauties examining Eyes Nose Mouth c. apart and set price on them at sixteene seuenteene eighteene nineteene twentie or more Carrats And they bring those of that rate which their Commission appoints These hee causeth to bee reuiewed by other Examiners and of so many chuseth perhaps thirtie for his Chamber of the chiefe which he puts to some of his Barons Wiues to see if they snore not in their sleepe if in smell or behauiour they be not offensiue Those which are approoued are by fiues diuided each fifth part wayting three dayes and nights in his Chamber by course the other in the next Lodgings preparing whatsoeuer these command them The lesse prized are put to Cookerie and other noble Officers And sometimes the Can bestowes them on Gentlemen with great portions The men of that Countrey esteeme it a grace and credit to haue Daughters worthy his liking and thinke themselues borne vnder an ill Planet if they haue not for his turne Cublai hath two and twentie Sonnes by his foure legitimate Wiues and the first-borne of his first Wife was called Cingis who should haue succeeded him in the Empire if hee had not dyed before his Father He left a Sonne named Temur a valiant man wife and exercised in Armes who is to succeed his Grand-father in the Empire in stead of his deceased Father But by his Hand-mayds and Mayd-seruants he hath fiue and twentie Sonnes all which are daily exercised in feats of Armes and are great Lords Seuen of his Sonnes by his Wiues are Kings of great Prouinces and maintayne their states with great reputation Three moneths of the yeere to wit December Ianuarie and Februarie Cublai remayneth ordinarily in Cambalu which is at the North-east border of Cataio and there on the South part by the new Citie is seated a great Palace First there is a square Wall each square being eight miles with a deep Ditch enuironing and a Gate in the middle of each after which is the space of a mile in circuit where Souldiers stand After this is
desired him to thinke of deliuering the Holy Land out of the hands of the Pagans wherein he promised all his best endeauour and wished the King to send messengers to the Pope and to other Princes of Christendome for their assistance So Abaga hauing ordered the affaires of Turkie returned to the Kingdome of Corazen where hee had left his familie Bendecar the Soldan of Egypt after he had receiued such damage by the Tartars was poisoned died in Damascus whereof the Christians of those parts were very glad And the Saracens very sorrowfull for they had not his like after as they themselues commonly reported For his sonne called Melechahic succeeded him who was soone driuen out of his Dominion by one called Elsi who violently vsurping made himselfe Soldan 36. The time appointed being come when Abaga was to begin his warre against the Soldan of Egypt hee appointed his brother Mangodanior to goe to the Kingdome of Syria with thirtie thousand men being Tartars and couragiously to ouercome the Soldan if he came in battell against him or otherwise to take in the Castles and Holds of the Countrey and deliuer them to the Christians if the Soldan should shun the fight When Mangodanior with his Armie setting forward was come neere the Confines of Armenia hee sent for the King of Armenia who came presently vnto him with a goodly companie of Horse so that they entred the Kingdome of Syria and went spoyling and forraging till they came to the Citie Aman now called Camella which is seated in the midst of Syria Before this Citie lieth a faire great Playne where the Soldan of Egypt had assembled his Power intending to fight with the Tartarians And there the Saracen on the one side with the Christians and Tartars on the other side fought a great battell The King of Armenia with the Christians ruled and commanded the right wing of the Armie which inuaded the Soldans left wing manfully and put them to flight and pursued them three dayes iourney euen to the Citie Aman. Another part of the Soldans Armie was also routed by Amalech a Tartarian Captaine who pursued them also three dayes iourney to a Citie called Turara When they thought the Soldans Power vtterly ouerthrowne Mangodanior who neuer had seene the conflicts of warre before being afraid without any reasonable cause of certaine Saracens called Beduini withdrew himselfe out of the field hauing the better forsaking the King of Armenia and his Captaine which had preuayled against his enemies When the Soldan which thought he had lost all saw the field cleere and all abandoned he got vpon a little hill with foure armed men and stood there The King of Armenia returning from the pursuit and missing Mangodanior in the field was much astonied and imagining which way hee should be gone followed after him But Amalech returning from the enemies whom he had pursued abode two dayes expecting his Lord supposing that he had followed after him as he ought for the further subduing of his enemies and the Countrey which they had ouercome till at last hauing heard of his retrait leauing his victorie hee made speed after him whom hee found on the banke of the Riuer Euphrates staying for him And then the Tartars returned to their owne Prouince But the King of Armenia sustained much losse and hard aduenture in his returne for the Horses of the Christians of the Kingdome of Armenia were so wearied and spent with the length of the way and want of Fodder that they were not able to trauell so that the Christians going scatteringly by vnvsuall wayes were often found out and slayne without mercy by the Saracens inhabiting those parts Insomuch that the greatest part of the Armie was lost and in a manner all the Nobility And this misaduenture of Mangodanior happened in the yeere of our Lord 1282. When Abaga vnderstood the successe hereof he assembled all his people and when hee was readie to set forward with all his power against the Saracens a certaine Saracen the sonne of the Deuill came to the Kingdome of Persia and preuayled by giuing great gifts to sâ—me that serued neere about Abaga in such sort that both he and his brother Mangodanior were poysoned both in one day and died both within eight dayes after The trueth whereof was afterwards disclosed by the mischieuous Malefactors themselues And so died Abaga Can in the yeere of our Lord 1282. 37. After the death of Abaga Can the Tartars assembled themselues and ordayned ouer them a brother of his called Tangodor who had ouergone the rest of his brethren In his youth he had receiued the Sacrament of Baptisme and was baptised by the name of Nicholas But being come to riper yeeres and keeping companie with Saracens whom hee loued hee became a wicked Saracen and renouncing Christian Religion would be called Mahomet Can and laboured by all meanes to turne all the Tartarians to that irreligious Sect of Mahomet the sonne of Iniquitie in such sort that those that hee could not compell by violence hee aâ—lured by preferments and rewards insomuch that in his time many of the Tartarians became professed Saracens as at this day appeareth This Child of perdition commanded the Churches of the Christians to be destroyed and forbade them to vse any of their religious Rites or Ceremonies Hee caused the doctrine of Mahomet to bee publikely preached the Christians to bee banished and their Churches in the Citie of Tauris vtterly to bee destroyed Hee sent Messengers also to the Soldan of Egypt and concluded a Peace and a League with him promising that all the Christians within his Dominion should become Saracens or else lose their heads which gaue the Saracens cause of much reioycing and made the Christians very sad Hee sent moreouer to the King of Armenia in Georgia and to the other Christian Princes of those parts to come vnto him without delay But they resolued rather to die in battell then to obey his commandement for other remedie they could finde none And the Christians being now in such anguish and bitternesse of heart that they rather desired to die then to liue euen God which neuer refuseth them that put their trust in him sent consolation to them all For a Brother of this Mahomet with a Nephew of his also called Argon opposing themselues and rebelling against him for his euill deeds did signifie to Cobila Can the great Emperour of the Tartarians how he had forsaken the steps of his Ancestors and was become a wicked Saracen labouring with all his might to bring the rest of Tartars to be Saracens also Which when Cobila Can vnderstood he was much displeased thereat insomuch that he sent and required Mahomet to reforme his euill wayes for otherwise he would proceed against him Which message replenished him with wrath and indignation insomuch that he being perswaded there was none that durst gainsay his proceedings but his Brother and his Nephew
Argon he caused his Brother to be slayne and intending the like to his Nephew he went against him with a mightie Armie Argon being not of strength to withstand his forces betooke himselfe to a strong Hold among the Mountaines which that Sonne of Iniquitie besieged with his deuillish Armie Argon finally yeelded himselfe with condition that he might still enioy his Dignitie and Dominion But Mahomet deliuered him to the Constable and others of the Nobilitie to bee kept in Prison And departing towards the Citie of Tauris where he left his wiues and children he gaue direction that his Armie should come softly after him but appointed the Constable and such as he trusted most to put his Nephew to death secretly and to bring him his head These things thus hastily ordered and directed there was amongst those that had receiued the command of that bloudy execution a man of some Place and Authoritie brought vp vnder Abaga the Father of Argon who hauing compassion of his distresse tooke Armes and in the night time slue the Constable of Mahomet and all his followers and deliuering Argon made him Lord and Ruler of all some for feare and others for loue being obedient to his will and commandement Argon being thus established accompanied with his faithfull followers pursued presently after Mahomet whom he ouertooke and seized on before he came to Tauris and caused him after their manner to be cut asunder in the midst And such was the end of that cursed Caitiffe Mahomet before he had sate two yeeres in his seat §. IIII. Of ARGON the Sonne of ABAGA and REGAITO his Brother of BAIDO and of the exploits of CASAN against the Soldan of Egypt and others IN the yeere of our Lord 1285. after the death of Mahumet Argon the sonne of Abaga Can would not take on him the title of Can vntill he had receiued commandement from the great Can Soueraigne Lord and Emperour to whom he dispatched Messengers which were honourably receiued and entertayned by the great Can who reioyced much of his successe against Mahomet and sent some of his great Officers to confirme Argon in his Dominion who was thenceforth called Can and much respected of all For he was of a goodly aspect and presence couragious and wise in his proceedings much regarding and honouring the Christians The Churches ouer-throwne by Mahomet he repayred The Kings of Armenia and Georgia with the other Christian Princes of the East came vnto him desiring his best counsaile and helpe that the holy Land might be freed from the Pagans Argon very graciously answered That he would gladly doe any thing that might tend to the honour of God and the aduancement of Christian Religion and that he intended to make peace with his Neighbours that hee might the more freely and securely follow that enterprise But Argon before the execution of these good designments dyed in the fourth yeere of his raigne And a Brother of his called Regaito succeeded him who was a man of small valour as shall be after declared 39. In the yeere of our Lord 1289. after the death of Argon Can his brother Regaito was his Successor being a man of no Religion in Armes he was of no valour but was altogether giuen ouer to beastly luxurie and satiating his insatiable appetite with superfluous meates and drinkes and did nothing else by the space of six yeeres which he raigned insomuch that being hated of his subiects and contemned of strangers he was finally strangled by his Peeres After whose death Baydo a Kinsman of his succeeded him who was vpright and constant in Religion and did many fauours to the Christians but he soone ended his dayes as shall be declared 40. In the yeere of our Lord 1295. after the death of Regaito his Kinsman Baydo ruled ouer the Tartars He being a good Christian builded the Christian Churches and commanded that none should Preach or publish the Doctrine of Mahomet amongst the Tartarians But because those of the Sect of Mahomet were many they could hardly be induced to bee obedient to that commandement of Baydo and therefore sent Messengers secretly to Casan the sonne of Argono promising to giue him the Dominion which Baydo held and to make him their Lord and Ruler if he would renounce the Christian Religion Casan caring little for Religion but greatly affecting Dominion promised to doe whatsoeuer they would and so began an open rebellion wherevpon Baydo assembled his people thinking to haue taken Casan not knowing of the Treason which his people had wrought against him But when they came to the Field all the Mahometists leauing Baydo fled vnto Casan so that Baydo being forsaken thought to haue escaped by flight yet was pursued and slaine by his Enemies 41. After the death of Baydo Casan being made Ruler ouer the Tartars at the beginning of his raigne durst not gainsay what hee had promised the Mahometists that had promoted him thereto and therefore shewed himselfe for a while very austere to the Christians But when hee found himselfe well and firmely settled in his Dominion hee began to honour and cherish the Christians doing them many fauours as shall be declared First therefore hee destroyed many great Ones who had beene perswaders with him to become a Saracen and to persecute the Christians Then hee commanded all the Tartars within his Dominion to bee readie with their Armour and all necessarie furniture to attend him for a Conquest of the Kingdome of Egypt and ouer-throw of the Soldan and sent to the King of Armenia and the King of Georgia and other Christian Princes of the East in that behalfe At the beginning of the Spring Casan gathered his forces and first set forward towards Baldach and at length turned towards the Land of Egypt The Soldan called Melechnaser who had long before some intelligence of the comming of the Tartars assembled all his power and came before the Citie of Aman which is seated in the middest of the Kingdome of Syria Casan vnderstanding that the Soldan meant to giue him battaile forbore to besiege any Citie or Castle but hasted speedily to the place where the Soldan was and pitched his Tents but one dayes iourney from him in certaine Meadowes where was plentie of forrage and feeding where he rested his Followers and their Horses which were wearied with their trauell Amongst whom was a Saracen called Calphack or Capchick who had serued the Soldan and was fled from him to Casan for feare of imprisonment and punishments for his misse-demerits This Calphack had receiued sundrie fauours and rewards of Casan who reposed great confidence in him yet like a wicked Traytor he disclosed the counsaile and purpose of Casan to the Soldan and Saracens acquainting them by Letters how Casan meant to abide in those Meadowes vntill they had sufficiently rested their Horses which were wondrously wearied and therefore counsailed the Soldan to set vpon him before his Horses were refreshed
were either taken or slaine albeit they thought in their Pride they could haue ouer-runne the whole Kingdome of Armenia and deuoure all â—he Christians there at a morsell This was performed on the Lords Day being the eighteenth of Iuly after which conflict the Saracens durst no more enter into the Kingdome of Armenia But the Soldan sent to the King of Armenia to make truce with him which was agreed betweene them 46. I Frier Haython hauing beene present at all the said proceedings had purposed long before to haue taken a Regular Habit vpon me and to haue entred into Religion But by reason of many impediments and difficulties in the Affaires of the Kingdome of Armenia I could not with my honour forsake my friends and kindred in such extremities But seeing that Gods goodnesse had beene so gracious vnto me as to leaue the Kingdome of Armenia and the Christian people there after my manifold labours and trauels in quiet and peaceable estate I then tooke the time to performe that Vow which before I had vowed Therefore hauing taken my leaue of my Lord the King and of the rest of my kindred and friends euen in that field where God gaue the Christians Victorie ouer their Enemies I beganne my Iourney and comming to Cyprus in the Monasterie of Episcopia tooke a Regular Habit of the Order Premonstratensis to the end that hauing serued the World as a Souldier in my youth I might spend the rest of my life in the Seruice of God forsaking the pompe of this World which was in the yeere of our Lord 1305. Therefore I render thankes vnto God that the Kingdome of Armenia is at this day in a good and peaceable estate and well reformed by the Moderne King Liueno Sonne to King Haython who is a Looking-glasse or patterne to all other Kings in all kinde of eminent vertue Moreouer the Compiler of this Worke affirmeth that he hath come three manner of wayes to the knowledge of those things which hee declareth and writeth in this Booke For from the beginning of Changius Can who was the first Emperour of the Tartars vntill Mango Can who was their fourth Emperour I faithfully deliuer what I gathered out of the Histories of the Tartarians But from Mango Can to the death of Haloon I write that which I receiued of an Vncle of mine who writ the same by the commandement of Haiton King of Armenia and was present then at all the foresaid occurrences and with great diligence did often discourse make rehearsall of them to his Sonnes and Nephewes that they might remayne the better to Posteritie and from the beginning of Abaga Can to the end of this third part of this Booke the Author relateth those things which hee knew of himselfe as hauing beene present at them aâ—l whereby he is enabled to giue testimonie of the truth Now albeit we haue hitherto treated of the Histories and Deeds of the Tartarians there remayneth yet somewhat to be said concerning their Power and Dominion especially of those that are now liuing that it may the better bee knowne 47. The great Emperor of the Tartars which now holdeth the Empire is called Tamor Can being their sixt Emperour who keepeth his Residence in the Kingdome of Cathay in a very great City called Iong which his Father caused to be built as is aboue declared his power is very great For this Emperour alone is able to doe more then all the Tartarian Princes together and the Nations vnder his gouernment are reputed more noble and rich and better stored of all necessaries because that in the Kingdome of Cathay in which they now liue there is great abundance of riches Besides this great Emperour there are three other great Kings or Princes of the Tartars which rule each of them ouer many Nations yet are they all subiect to the Emperour and acknowledge him their naturall and Leige Lord. And the differences which happen betweene them are decided in the Emperours Court and determined by his Iudgement The first of these Kings is called Chapar another Hochtay and the third Carbanda This Chapar hath his Dominion in the Kingdome of Turquestan being the neerest to the Emperour It is thought that he is able to bring into the field foure hundred thousand Horsemen and these are bold and good Warriours but not so well furnished of Horse and Armour as were expedient The Emperours subiects doe many times make warre vpon them and they on the other side doe often inuade the people of Carbanda The Dominion of this Chapar was in ancient time subiect for the greatest part to a Lord called Doay Hochtay keepeth his Seat of Residence in the Kingdome of Cumania in a Citie called Asaro or Sara and it is said that he is able to bring six hundred thousand Horsemen to the fight yet are they not so much commended in Feats of Armes as the men of Chapar albeit they haue better Horses These make warre sometimes on the Subiects of Carbanda sometimes against the Hungarians and sometimes amongst themselues But Hochtay who ruleth at this present holdeth his Dominion peaceably and quietly Carbanda hath his Dominion in the Kingdome of Asia the Great and maketh his chiefe abode in the Citie of Tauris beeing able to bring three hundred thousand Horsemen to the field But these are gathered out of diuers parts being rich and well furnished with necessaries Chapar and Hochtay doe sometimes make warre vpon Carbanda but hee neuer medleth first with them neither moueth warres against any but that he sometimes inuadeth the Soldan of Egypt against whom his Predecessors haue fought many Battailes Chapar and Hochtay would willingly take from Carbanda his Dominion if they were able to effect it The reason whereof is this Asia is diuided into two parts the one part whereof being called the Lower or Deepe Asia is inhabited by the Emperour and those two Kings called Chapar and Hochtay The other part being the higher is called Asia the Greater in which Carbanda inhabiteth and hath Dominion Now there are only three wayes by which men may passe out of the Deeper or Lower Asia vnto the high Countrey called Asia Maior The one is out of the Kingdome of Turquestan to the Kingdome of the Persians another way there is called Derbent which lyeth neere the Sea where Alexander built the Citie called the Iron Gate as in the Histories of Cumania appeares the other way is to goe ouer the Sea called Mare maius which way lyeth through the Kingdome of Barca By the first way the subiects of Chapar cannot passe to the Territories of Carbanda without great danger and difficultie because they should find no feeding for their Horses in many dayes trauailes the Land being so dry and barren that before they could come to any fruitfull inhabited Countrey their Horses would be starued or at least so faint and wearied that they might be easily ouercome and therefore that way they
Chinois to recouer the China State being vnquiet so long as the Tartar greatnesse continued and freed for the most part with their diminishing and diuision into diuers Estates As for these times of Tamerlan if this Story be exact it is like the Can held the North parts of China from Quinsay forward with Cataio and the King of China the rest then Nanquin being the Seat Royall as since the expulsion of the Tartars Paquin Or perhaps the Quinsay heere mentioned is that which Conti hath in the former Page told vs was lately built by the Can and not that which Polo speakes of in Catay and not in China which cleareth this doubt of the Cans residence and rule in China To reconcile all doubts is for mee too hard a taske because Cataio and China are euen still bemysted and leaue their Surueyers perplexed bounding the search of the most curious in searching their iust bounds how farre they are the same or differing wherein our Iesuites will more amuse and amaze vs where wee will cleare our selues as well as we can when wee come to them I haue premised Conti though Tamerlane be a little Elder for his Religions sake and to recreate with a little Relation before this longer Storie CHAP. VIII Extracts of ALHACEN his Arabike Historie of TAMERLAN touching his Martiall Trauels done into French by IEAN DV BEC Abbat of Mortimer §. I. TAMERLANS Birth and Person his Expedition against the Muscouite his Marriage with the Cans daughter his ouerthrowing of CALIX SVndry Histories doe attribute as a great want vnto the happie fortune of Tamerlan not to haue a Writer in his dayes which might haue left in writing his Historie vnto posteritie But without any cause did they moane him insomuch as his Historie is very famous amongst the Turkes and Arabians his Conquests very largely discoursed and many of his worthy and notable sayings collected with an infinite number of Noble deeds left vnto the memoriall of posteritie Very true it is that he had not an Homer but a great and worthie person learned as well in naturall Philosophie as in Astrologie who was in the time of this Prince a companion and familiar of his Conquests named Alhacen an Arabian by birth and of Mahomets Religion This Authour then being fallen into my hands in my Voyage into the East Countrey I caused the same to be interpreted vnto mee by an Arabian who did speake Frank as they terme it that is to say Italian and some time I spent in associating my selfe so with this man who commended greatly vnto me the eloquence and grauitie of this Authour wondering at his digressions and entring againe into his matter so well to the purpose It grieued mee much that I had not the perfection of this Language to be a helpe vnto the richer of this Historie for to deliuer it vnto my Nation with some grace but I tooke thereof as much as I could in his Language which was corrupted as is the Franke Tongue so they terme it which is a kinde of Italian mingled with Slauon Greeke and Spanish Tongues very common at Constantinople with the Arabian and Turkish Tongues so as I could not gather but onely the trueth thereof and not the drifts and grauitie of the Declaration wherein the Authour had collected it for posteritie and as he said by the commandement of the Prince who was a louer of learning and excellent in the knowledge of Astrologie and Diuinitie as the custome of those Nations is to ioyne them ordinarily together studying vpon the vertue of names and of the turning of letters euen in their placing writing them vnderneath Starres whereof they make sentences by meanes whereof they wrought miraculously in the things of Nature This is that Zoroastrien and Bactrien Science that of Balaam and some others in my opinion which hath succeeded vnto so many Arabian Astrologians Now then this Prince was endued with such knowledge as made him admired of the people where he commanded who are for the most part great wonderers insomuch as this caused him to be accounted a Prince accompanied with the Diuine vertue considering the iustice he vsed in all his actions This hath proceeded euen so farre that some Italians haue written foolish things thereof as of certaine kinds of Tents which he caused to be pitched when he besieged any Citie one white signifying peace it yeelding vnto his mercy another red signifying cruelty to follow and the third blacke signifying mourning to ensue But I finde not this in our Author and I beleeue them to be fables I will now declare vnto you with my Arabian who this great Prince Tamerlan was Hee was then of the bloud of the Tartarian Emperours and his father Og had for his portion the Countrey of Sachetay whereof hee was Lord. This Countrey lying betweene the North and the East is the antient Countrey of Parthia vpon the Coast of the Zogdians and the chiefest Citie of his estate was Samercand situated vpon the Riuer of Issarle Some of our Historiographers would needs haue him to be the sonne of a shepheard but this haue they said not knowing at all the custome of their Countrey where the principall reuenue of the Kings and Nobles consisteth in Cattell despising Gold and Siluer but making great reckoning of such riches wherein they abound in all sorts this is the occasion wherefore some call them Shepheards and say also that this Prince descended from them So his Father Og was Prince of Achetay abounding in such kinde of wealth And being come vnto the age of fifteene yeeres his father being already old deliuered vp vnto him the gouernment of his Kingdome with the commandement ouer all his Men of warre His father Og being giuen vnto peace withdrew himselfe vnto a solitary life for to serue God and end the rest of his dayes in quiet Hee gaue vnto his sonne Tamerlan which signifieth Heauenly grace in their Tongue two sufficient personages for to guide and assist him in the gouernment of his Estate the one was called Odmar and the other Aly persons in great dignitie and credit with his father Now this Prince was well instructed in the Arabian learning and exercised himselfe much therein and at such time as they thought him to be either in the Bathes wherein they are very curious in that Countrey being their chiefest delicacies he was in the contemplation and studie of heauenly things This Prince had within his eyes such Diuine beautie being full of such maiestie that one could hardly indure the sight of them without closing of their eyes and they which talked with him and did often behold him became dumbe insomuch as he abstayned with a certaine modestie and comlinesse to looke vpon him that discoursed vnto him All the rest of his visage was curteous and well proportioned he had but little haire on his chinne hee did weare his haire long and curled contrary to the custome of his Countrey who are shaued
them to winne for I assure my selfe that when they shall perceiue your Souldiers to bee passed they will lose their courage and you may easily winne the passage for to fauour those men of yours which shall bee passed ouer with mee And for to shew vnto you the affection and fidelitie of that I speake I will deliuer into your hands an onely Sonne I haue and two little Daughters with my Wife I haue also one Brother who I am assured will follow mee to doe you seruice The Prince hauing heard this Lord speake receiued great ioy thereof hoping that his affaires should happily succeede and this hee kept very secret for euen the Prince of Thanais knew not the meanes that this Lord had seeing there was onely present the Prince and an Interpreter and the Prince after hee had thus spoken vnto him gratifying him with all hee could possibly this Lord retyred himselfe accompanyed with the Prince of Thanais who conducted him backe againe with all the honour that might bee So the Emperour returned from thence into his quarter and the next day after hee had imparted the whole vnto Odmar and heard Calibes concerning that which hee had learned of the departing of the King of China and of his preparation which was great This enterprise seeming hard vnto him after due reuerence yeelded vnto the Prince hee spake vnto him in this manner Know my Lord that I am your Slaue for to obey you but seeing you require mee to giue you an account of all that I know of the estate of the Kingdome of China for that I haue remayned these six moneths vpon the borders by your commandement to hinder them from passing the same whereby they might hurt your enterprises I can affirme vnto you that the King of China who raigneth at this present is of great reputation and hath increased the limits of his Kingdome more then any of his Predecessors His strength consisteth in this Wall opposed against vs the which hee hath caused to bee made by reason of the ordinarie roades of our Nation I am of opinion that there bee betweene fiftie and threescore thousand men at the guard of that Wall men for the most part trayned vp in the Garrisons of the King of China and his best Souldiers and I know no good meanes to force this Wall without great hazard and much losse of your men I haue vnderstood that towards the Lake Hogeen you may finde more easie entrance into the Kingdome after euery one had declared his opinion hee said that hee hoped the great God the Vnitie of whom hee would maintayne against such Idolaters and his iust right should answere the reasons which doe contradict his purpose and the valiant arme of his Souldiers shall quite ouerthrow whatsoeuer opposeth it selfe against the same and concealed from his Souldiers that which hee held as assured to execute it to the end the honour of a happy conducting might be ascribed vnto him onely Now our Prince hauing satisfied euery one of the Kings and Lords that did accompany him hee appointed the meeting place for his Armie to bee at a certayne place where hee meant to choose fiftie thousand fighting men and deliuer them vnto the commandement of the Prince of Thanais vnto whom he ioyned the Lord Axalla a Genuois for that hee knew him to bee discreete for to accompanie him commanding him to giue credite vnto him for his experience and fidelitie The day appointed being come the Lord with his brother came to the Emperor hauing viewed the place againe and found it to bee forceable and fit to passe assuring the Prince once againe of the happy successe of their enterprise and the Prince beeing assembled with them to conferre together resolued in the end that his person with all the army should approach vnto the walles directly ouer against Quaguifou in which meane space the fiftie thousand men should march forwards vnto the place appointed and where they were assured to passe conducted by the Chinois Lord vnder the charge of the Prince of Thanais and Axalla The Emperour hauing not failed to deliuer vnto them the best souldiers of his armie and hauing set downe the order by them to bee obserued hee willed that the Lord Axalla should leade twentie thousand of them and should march the first the rest led by the Prince of Thanais and that euery one should haue one of those Lords to guide them that by their meanes the enterprise might bee more safely directed So hauing marched ten leagues they arriued at the passage the which was won not finding any man there to resist them and hauing taken a light repast they beganne to march forward other ten leagues which yet remained where the Chinois were who suspected no such thing hauing onely an eye vnto them which marched for to force their walles assuring themselues to haue the mastry considering their aduantage But it fell out much otherwise for euen at the very same time the Chinois did perceiue the Princes armie to approach vnto their wall as soone did they discry Axalla with twenty thousand men who aduanced forward being followed by the Prince of Thanais with thirtie thousand souldiers chosen out of the whole army who without any communication set vpon the Chinois which came presently vnto them hauing left a certaine number of their Campe for the guard of the wall but they were presently won by the footmen led this day by Odmar who passed ouer so as the Chinois were cut off betweene our Armies When Axalla began the battaile he ouerthrew them in a manner all the Prince of Thanais not hazarding himself therein there was great riches gotten this day the King of China his Cousin whom he called King was taken prisoner There was a great quantity of gold amongst them as well on their armes as on their horse and furniture they shewed no great stoutnesse The newes heereof being come vnto the King of China who at that present time was at Quantou brought vnto him great astonishment for that hee iudged it a thing that could not possibly come to passe you might haue seene euery one filled with fright teares and cries bewailing the losse of their friends The King gathering together souldiers from all parts as the custome is of these people caused all the Priestes and such as had the charge of holy things to come vnto him and after exhortations vsed he as their head commanded them to offer sacrifice vnto their Gods of whom the Sunne is the principall commanding in heauen whom they hold opinion to bee the chiefest cause of their being accounting it immortall and impassible mouing it selfe onely for the benefit of liuing creatures this did hee command to bee obserued through out all his Cities and the second thing was that euery one able to beare armes should mount on horsebacke and come vnto the King at Paguinfou whither hee doubted that we would go because it was one of the
not one of these hath as long as hee liueth any charge or gouernment at all They giue themselues to eating and drinking and bee for the most part burley men of bodie insomuch that espying any one of them whom wee had not seene before wee might know him to bee the Kings Cousin They bee neuerthelesse very pleasant courteous and fayre conditioned neither did wee finde all the time we were in that Citie so much honour and good entertainment any where as at their hands They bid vs to their houses to eate and drinke and when they found vs not or wee were not willing to goe with them they bid our seruants and slaues causing them to sit downe with the first Notwithstanding the good lodging these Gentlemen haue so commodious that they want nothing yet are they in this bondage that during life they neuer goe abroad The cause as I did vnderstand wherefore the King so vseth his Cousins is that none of them at any time may rebell against him and thus bee shutteth them vp in three or foure other Cities Most of them can play on the Lute and to make that kinde of pastime peculiar vnto them onely all other in the Cities where they doe liue bee forbidden that Instrument the Curtizans and blinde folke onely excepted who bee Musicians and can play This King furthermore for the greater securitie of his Realme and the auoyding of tumults letteth not one in all his Countrey to bee called Lord except hee be of his bloud Many great Estates and Gouernours there be that during their office are lodged Lord-like and doe beare the port of mightie Princes but they bee so many times displaced and other placed anew that they haue not the while to become corrupt True it is that during their Office they be well prouided for as afterward also lodged at the Kings charges and in pension as long as they liue payed them monethly in the Cities where they dwell by certaine officers appointed for that purpose The King then is a Lord onely not one besides him as you haue seene except it bee such as be of his bloud A Nephew likewise of the King the Kings Sisters sonne lyeth continually within the walls of the Citie in a strong Palace built Castle-wise euen as his others Cousins doe remayning alwayes within doores serued by Eunuches neuer dealing with any matters Their festiuall dayes new Moones and full Moones the Magistrates make great banquets and so doe such as bee of the Kings bloud The King his Nephew hath name Vanfuli his Palace is walled about the wall is not high but foure square and in circuit nothing inferiour to the walls of Goa the out-side is painted red in euery square a Gate and ouer each gate a Tower made of timber excellently well wrought before the principall Gate of the foure that openeth into the high-street no Loutea bee he neuer so great may passe on horsebacke or carried in his seate Amidst this quadrangle standeth the Palace where that Gentleman lyeth doubtlesse worth the sight although wee came not in to see it By report the roofes of the towers and house are glased greene the greater part of the Quadrangle set with sauage Trees as Oakes Chesnuts Cypresse Pine-apples Cedars and other such like that wee doe want after the manner of a Wood wherein are kept Stagges Oxen and other beasts for that Lord his recreation neuer going abroad as I haue said One preheminence this Citie hath aboue the rest where wee haue beene and it of right as we doe thinke that besides the multitude of Market-places wherein all things are to bee sold through euery streete continually are cryed all things necessarie as Flesh of all sorts fresh-Fish Hearbes Oyle Vineger Meale Rice In summa all things so plentifully that many houses need no seruants euerie thing being brought to their doores Most part of the Merchants remayne in the Suburbs for that the Cities are shut vp euery night as I haue sayd The Merchants therefore the better to attend their businesse doe choose rather to make their abode without in the Suburbs then within the Citie I haue seene in this Riuer a pretie kinde of Fishing not to bee omitted in my opinion and therefore will I set it downe The King hath in many riuers good store of Barges full of Sea-crowes that breed are fed and doe dye therein in certaine Cages allowed monethly a certaine prouision of Rice These Barges the King bestoweth vpon his greatest Magistrates giuing to some two to some three of them as hee thinketh good to Fish therewithall after this manner At the houre appointed to Fish all the Barges are brought together in a circle where the Riuer is shallow and the Crowes tyed together vnder the wings are let leape downe into the water some vnder some aboue worth the looking vpon each one as hee hath filled his bagge goeth to his owne Barge and emptieth it which done hee returneth to fish againe Thus hauing taken good store of Fish they set the Crowes at libertie and doe suffer them to fish for their owne pleasure There were in that Citie where I was twentie Barges at the least of these aforesaid Crowes I went almost euery day to see them yet could I neuer bee throughly satisfied to see so strange a kinde of Fishing ⸪ PEREGRINATIONS VOYAGES DISCOVERIES OF CHINA TARTARIA RVSSIA AND OTHER THE NORTH AND EAST PARTS OF THE WORLD By English-men and others THE SECOND BOOKE CHAP. I. The beginning of English Discoueries towards the North and North-east by Sir HVGH WILLOVGHBY RICHARD CHANCELLOR and others of the Muscouie Trade as also Voyages by Russia ouer the Caspian Sea and thorow diuers Regions of Tartaria §. I. The first Voyage for Discouerie with three ships set forth vnder the charge of Sir HVGH WILLOVGHBY Knight in which he died and Moscouia was discouered by Captaine CHANCELLOR IN the yeere of our Lord 1553. the seuenth of the Raigne of King Edward the sixth of famous memorie Sebastian Cabota was Gouernour of the Mysterie and Companie of the Merchants Aduenturers for the discouerie of Regions Dominions Ilands and places vnknowne Certaine instructions were agreed on by him and the said Companie subscribed by Master Cabota the ninth of May the Kings Letters also procured vnto remote Princes in diuers languages and a fleet of three Ships set forth at that time vnder the command of Sir Hugh Willoughby Knight Captaine generall which went in the Bona Esperanza Admirall a ship of an hundred and twenty tunnes hauing with her a Pinnace and a Boat William Gefferson was Master of the said ship The Edward Bonauenture was of an hundred and sixty tunnes and had with her a Pinnace and a Boat in which went Richard Chancellor Captaine and Pilot Maior of the fleet and Stephen Burrough Master The Bona Confidentia of ninety tunnes had with her a Pinnace and a Boat of which Cornelius Durfoorth was Master The Captaines and Masters were sworne to doe
Hawking Hunting or any other pastime nor in hearing Instruments or Musicke but setteth all his whole delight vpon two things First to serue God as vndoubtedly hee is very deuout in his Religion and the second how to subdue and conquer his enemies He hath abundance of Gold and Siluer in his owne hands or Treasurie but the most part of his know not a Crowne from a Counter nor Gold from Copper they are so much cumbred therewithall and he that is worth two three or foure Grotes is a rich man They haue both Monkes Friers and Nunnes with a great number of great and rich Monasteries they keepe great Hospitalitie and doe releeue much poore people day by day I haue bin in one of the Monasteries called Troietes which is walled about with Bricke very strongly like a Castle and much Ordnance of Brasse vpon the walls of the same They told mee themselues that there are seuen hundred Brethren of them which belong vnto that House The most part of the Lands Townes and Villages which are within fortie miles of it belong vnto the same They shewed me the Church wherein were as many Images as could hang about or vpon the wals of the Church round about and euen the Roofe of the Church was painted full of Images The chiefe Image was of our Ladie which was garnished with Gold Rubies Saphirs and other rich Stones abundantly In the midst of the Church stood twelue Waxe Tapers of two yards long and a fathome about in bignesse and there stands a Kettle full of Waxe with about one hundred weight wherein there is alwayes the wicke of a Candle burning as it were a Lampe which goeth not out day nor night They shewed me a Coffin couered with Cloth of Gold which stood vpon one side within their Church in which they told me lay a holy man who neuer eate or dranke and yet that he liueth And they told me supposing that I had beleeued them that he healeth many Diseases and giueth the blind their sight with many other Miracles but I was hard of beliefe because I saw him worke no miracle whilst I was there After this they brought me into their Sellers and made me taste of diuers kinds of Drinkes both Wine and Beere Meade and Quassie of sundry colours and kinds Such abundance of Drinke as they haue in their Sellers I doe suppose few Princes haue more or so much at once Their Barrels or Vessels are of an vnmeasurable bignesse and size some of them are three yards long and more and two yards and more broad in their heads they contayne sixe or seuen tuns a piece they haue none in their Sellers of their owne making that are lesse then a tunne They haue nine or ten great vaultes which are full of those Barrels which are seldome remooued for they haue trunkes which come downe through the Roofe of the vaults in sundry places through which they powre drinke downe hauing the Caske right vnder it to receiue the same for it should be a great trouble to bring it all downe the staires They giue Bread Meate and Drinke vnto all men that come to them not onely while they are at their Abbey but also when they depart to serue them by the way There are a great number of such Monasteries in the Realme and the Emperours Majestie rideth oftentimes from one to another of them and lyeth at them three or foure dayes together The same Monkes are as great Merchants as any in the Land of Russia and doe occupie buying and selling as much as any other men and haue Boates which passe to and fro in the Riuers with Merchandize from place to place where any of their Countrey doe traffique They eate no flesh during their liues as it is reported but vpon Sunday Munday Tuesday Thursday and Saturday it is lawfull for them to eate Egges Butter Cheese and Milke and at all times to eate fish and after this sort they lead their liues They weare all blacke Garments and so doe none other in all the Land but at that Abbey onely They haue no Preachers no not one in all the Land to instruct the people so that there are many and the most part of the poore in the Countrey who if one aske them how many Gods there be they will say a great many meaning that euery Image which they haue is a God for all the Countrey and the Emperours Majestie himselfe will blesse and bow and knocke their heads before their Images insomuch that they will cry earnestly vnto their Images to helpe them to the things which they need Al men are bound by their Law to haue those Images in their Houses and ouer euery gate in all their Townes and Cities are Images set vp vnto which the people bow and bend and knocke their heads against the ground before them as often as they come by any Church or Crosse they doe in like manner And when they come to any House they blesse themselues three or foure times before they will salute any man in the House They reckon and hold it for great sinne to touch or handle any of their Images within the Circle of the board where the painting is but they keepe them very daintily and rich men deck them ouer and about with Gold Siluer and Stones and hang them ouer and about with Cloth of Gold The Priests are marryed as other men are and weare all their Garments as other men doe except their Night-caps which is cloth of some sad colour being round and reacheth vnto the eares their crownes are shauen but the rest of their haire they let grow as long as Nature will permit so that it hangeth beneath their eares vpon their shoulders their Beards they neuer shaue if his Wife happen to dye it is not lawfull for him to marry againe during his life They minister the Communion with Bread and Wine after our order but hee breaketh the Bread and putteth it into the Cup vnto the Wine and commonly some are partakers with them and they take the Bread out againe with a Spoone together with part of the Wine and so take it themselues and giue it to others that receiue with them after the same manner They will not permit any Nation but the Greekes to be buried in their sacred Burials or Church-yards All their Churches are full of Images vnto the which the people when they assemble doe bow and knocke their heads as I haue before said that some will haue knobs vpon their fore-heads with knocking as great as Egges All their seruice is in the Russie Tongue and they and the common people haue no other Prayers but this Ghospodi Iesus Christos esine voze ponuloi nashe That is to say O Lord Iesus Christ Son of God haue mercie vpon vs and this is their Prayer so that the most part of the vnlearned know neither Pater Noster nor the Beliefe nor Ten
and by reason of a Rebellious Portugall Captayne hee was taken as a Spye with twelue others so beaten that fiue dyed the other seuen sundred to diuers places where they dyed in misery only Vasco Caluo being now left aliue Her Father she said was banished to this Towne and there marryed with her Mother hauing somewhat to mayntaine her and by him made a Christian. They liued together many yeares like good Catholikes and conuerued many to the Faith of Christ in that Citie three hundred assembled on Sundayes to her house to their holies She shewed vs an Oratorie in which was a Crosse of wood gilded with a Candlesticke and siluer Lampe Wee asked her what they did when they came there and shee said nothing but kneele before that Crosse with their hands and eyes lifted to Heauen and say Lord Iesus Christ as it is true that thou art the true Sonne of God conceiued by the Holy Ghost in the wombe of the Holy Virgin Mary for the saluation of Sinners so pardon our sins that wee may obtayne to see thy face in the glory of thy Kingdome where thou sittest at the right hand of the Highest Our Father which art in Heauen hallowed be thy Name In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amen And so kissing the Crosse â—hey embraced one another and went home alway liuing friendly with each other Her Father she said had left other Prayers written which the Chinois had stolne away so that now they could say no more Whereupon we promised to leaue her other Prayers and taught the Christians seuen times there and Christopher Borrall writ in China Letters the Lords Prayer Aue Mary Creed Salue Regina Tenne Commandements and other good Prayers Shee had giuen a Present to Chifus Wife to deale with her Husband to giue vs this leaue and to vse vs kindly and the Christians there gaue vs fiftie Taeis of Siluer and Inez de Leiria other fiftie closely deâ—â—ring vs to remember her in our Prayers We continued our journey vp the Batampina to a place called Lequimpau of tenne or twelue thousand Houses Neere to the wall stood a long house with thirtie Furnaces for the purifying of siluer which was taken out of a Hill fiue leagues distant called Tuxenguim in which Mines the Chinois told vs there continually laboured one thousand men and that it yeeled to the King yearely fiue thousand Pikes of siluer We departed thence in the Euening and the next Euening anchored betwixt two small Cities standing ouer against one another one named Pacan the other Nacau both well walled and builded These two Cities occasion mee to recite what I haue heard often heard read in the thirteenth Chapter of the first Chronicle of the fourescore which they haue of the Kings of China that sixe hundred thirtie nine yeares after the Floud there was a Land called Guantipocau in which liued a pettie Prince called Turban which had by his Concubine Nancaa three Sonnes refusing to marry and entring into Religion of the Idoll Gizom still much esteemed in Iapon China Cauchin-china Camboia Siam of which I haue seene many Temples appointing his oldest Sonne by the said Nancaa his heire His Mother then liuing was against this and marryed herselfe with Silau a Priest and slue Turban wherevpon Nancaa and her children fled downe the Riuer seuentie leagues and fortified a place which she called Pilaunera that is the refuge of the poore Fiue yeares after Silau prepared a Fleet of thirtie Barkes to destroy her and all her faction thinking that her Sons comming of age might dispossesse him But she hauing Intelligence hauing of men women and children not aboue one thousand and three hundred persons and but three or foure Boats not sufficient to conueigh away those few by common consent and aduice appointed a three dayes Fast therein to begge suâ—cour of God in all which time none might eate aboue once in paine of death This Fast ended they cast Lots and the Lot fell on a Boy of seuen yeares old which was also named Silau whom after all Ceremonies ended they bid lift vp his hands to Heauen and tell them some remedie to these dangers Who prophesied Victory to her ouer the Tyrant Silau commanding her to embarke hers in her Enemies Barkes and at the sound of the waters to runne along the Land till God shewed where shee should found a habitation of great name which through all times should send out his mercy with voyces and bloud of strange Nations after which words the Boy fell downe dead The thirty Barkes came saith the Storie fiue dayes after without any people therein for at a place called Catebasoy a blacke Cloud arose ouer them which rayned on them scalding drops which destroyed them all Nancaa with teares and thankes embarked her three Sonnes and the rest and went downe the Riuer conducted by the sound fortie seuen dayes and then came to the place where Pequim now stands Fiue dayes after they came aland was the first stone layd thereof by Pequim eldest Sonne of Nancaa and the Citie called by his owne name And a siluer shield hangeth on the Arch of the chiefe gate Pommicotay and hath this inscribed in which are fortie Warders and in the rest ordinarily but foure The day also of the foundation beeing the third of August is kept with great Solemnitie and thereon the King vseth to shew himselfe to the people The later Kings also haue made a Law that no Strangers except Embassadours and Slaues should enter the Kingdome The two other Brethren founded these two Cities called by their owne names Pacan and Nacau and their Mother founded Nanquin which tooke the name of hers IN the fift Booke of the chiefe places of that Empire is written that King Crisnagol which reigned as we may accord our computation with theirs about the yeare of our Lord 528. builded the wall the people contributing ten thousand Pikes of siluer which are fifteene Millions of Cruzados and two hundred and fiftie thousand men thirtie thousand Officers and the rest Labourers which was continued seuen and twentie yeares and then finished being saith that Booke the length of seuentie Iaons euery Iaon is foure leagues and an halfe which make three hundred and fifteene leagues The Priests and Iles are said to contribue as many and the King and Officers another third so that seuen hundred and fiftie thousand men laboured therein This wall I haue seene and measured being generally sixe fathomes high and fortie spannes thicke and foure fathomes runneth a kind of Rampire twice as thicke as the wall strengthened with a Bituminous substance on the out-side like Potters worke and in stead of Bulwarkes it hath houses of two lofts with beames of blacke wood called Caubesy that is Iron-wood seeming stronger then if they were of stone-worke This wall or Chanfacau so they call it that is strong resistance runneth with an equall course till it
Visitation to his Palace There they abode foure or fiue moneths often visited in that Temple by principall men and Magistrates of the Citie and were in hope of their perpetuall continuance hauing obtayned licence of the Secretarie also for Ricius to come who was preparing for the Voyage when all was disturbed on a sudden the Vice-roy being I know not for what fault depriued of his place He fearing least in the chiefe Citie the presence of Strangers might further hurt him dismissed the Iesuites so as hee permitted them to stay at Canton commanding the Magistrate there to prouide them a house and ground The Chinois call that Citie Quam-cheu which the Portugals by the name of the Prouince deluded call Canton They well knew that his commission was of no force yet they went and the Haitau to whom the Charter was directed was absent and no regard being had thereof they were not permitted to ascend the bankes and therefore with griefe returned to Amacao Pasius presently sayled according to the Visitors appointment to Iapon and after diuers yeeres labour there was Vnderprouinciall of the China and Iaponian Missions and when both of those expeditions were by the Generals order made a Prouince he was declared Visitour thereof and came to Amacao to take order for China where within few moneths he died §. II. Iaponian Embassage to the Pope Of Nabunanga and Quabacondono their gouernment Corai inuaded Embassage from China TAICOSAMAS Temple and OGOSHOSAMAS succession HAuing mentioned that Embassage of Iaponian Kings sent to the Pope by procurement of the Iesuites out of their writings I haue heere added for further illustration the acts of the publike Consistorie in this forme of words Pope Gregorie the thirteenth sitting in the Hall designed for entertaynment of Kings and their Embassages on the three and twentieth of March 1585. in the morning in a most ample Session of the Cardinals of the Holy Romane Church and in a great assembly of Princes and Prelates with greatest industry and most frequent attendance of all Orders Mantius and Michael who was also of the Prince of Omur two Legates of Iaponian Kings were brought in and one of the two Iaponian companions of the same Embassage of principall Nobilitie to wit Martine for Iulian the other of them was withholden by sicknesse After solemne adoration of the Pope and the kisses of his blessed feet receiued of him with great demonstration of beneuolence and charitie they went aside into a place appointed them with great modestie Afterwards the Letters of the Kings which they had brought are publikely read being translated out of the Iaponian Tongue into the Italian and thence into the Latine First that of Francis King of Bungo who therein professeth the Diuine bountie in sending the Iesuites foure and thirtie yeeres before into those parts whose seed had taken some rooting in his breast which hee ascribes to the Popes prayers and merits And had it not beene for his age warres and sicknesse bee would haue visited those holy places and haue kissed his holy feet and set them on his head and receiued his blessing his breast crossed by his most holy hand but so detayned had thought to haue sent his sisters sonne the Lord Ierome Sonne of the King of Fiunga his Embassadour whose Cousin-german Mantius in his absence he now sent thankes him for the Relikes sent him c. Ian. 11. 1582. Inscribed To the great and most holy Pope to be adored and holding on Earth the place of the King of Heauen Subscribed Francis King of Bungo prostrate at your Blessednesse most holy feet Not much vnlike was the tenour of the second Letter sent from Protasius King of Arima who detayned by diuers lets had sent his Cousin-german in his roome to his Holinesse which with sincere and humble minde hee adoreth Inscribed To the great and holy Lord whom I adore holding the roome of God The Prince of Omur sent also the said Michael his Brothers Sonne with a Letter of like import inscribed With lifted vp hands adoring I offer these to the most holy Lord the Pope Vicar of the great God Subscribed in substance as the first After this silence was commanded and in the name of the said Kings and Legates Gasper Gonsaluas a Portugall Iesuite made an Oration vnto the Pope comparing and preferring this Embassage with that of certaine Indians to Augustus and the conuersion of Britaine by the first Gregorie with this of Iapon and other Ilands by the Thirteenth succeeding and exceeding that now fallen from the Pope applying Esays Prophecies of the Churches encrease to this Iesuiticall Haruest and magnifying the great glories of that Pope founder of Seminaries and magnified extra anni Solisque vias Antonio Buccapadulio answered in the name of the Pope That Francis King of Bungo Protasius King of the Arimans and Bartholmew his Vncle Prince of Omur hath sent you their kinsmen to him from the remote Iaponian Ilands to the veneration of that power in presence which by Gods bounty he holdeth they haue done godly and wisely For there is one Faith one Catholike Church one made Gouernour ouer the said Church and Pastor of Christs Flocke that is of all Catholikes thorow the World in the succession of Peter the Roman Bishop That they acknowledge and professe this together with the mysteries of the orthodoxe Faith our most holy Lord reioyceth and giueth immortall thankes to the Diuine bounty and iudges this to be the most true ioy which proceedeth from the studie of Gods glorie and the saluation of Soules Therefore most willingly together with these his venerable Brethren Cardinals of the Roman Church hee embraceth the testification of their Faith Obedience Deuotion He wisheth and prayeth that by their example other Kings and Princes also of those Iles and of the whole World reiecting the worship and errour of Idols may know the true God and whom he hath sent Iesus Christ for this is life eternall This done the Consistorie was dismissed The Legates when they had attended the Pope after the custome into the inner roomes were first entertayned of the Popes brothers sonne the Cardinall of Saint Sixtus with a Banket after that admitted to the Popes prâ—uate and familiar conference they discoursed by Interpreters with him of many things touching the Iourney and Religion then went to Saint Peters Church and the holy Thresholds of the Apostles piously saluted at night were honourably brought to their lodging This was prepared and furnished in the Iesuites Colledge by the Popes appointment at their first comming to Rome the two and twentieth of March who also sent two troops of Horse to guard them They went from their Charet to the Temple and whiles they praised God and worshipped at the greatest Altar the Students of the German Colledge in a double Quire sang Te Deum laudamus The Legates next day had audience as yee haue heard their Vestment was parti-coloured and embroidered a short Sword on
diuided by a great Riuer from China and tributarie to the King of China it is in length about an hundred leagues and sixtie broad the people vnlike the Chinois in language and bodily strength but following their lawes customes and gouernement They are better Archers then at any other weapons and not comparable to the Iaponians except in shipping wherein they and the Chinois exceed Yet at this time they were destitute of that defence and Augustine gaue them a great ouerthrow Before Quabacondono would goe he made his Brothers Sonne by the Dairi to be entituled Quabacondono as his Heire and Successour contenting himselfe with the title of Taicosama that is Great Lord. All the Iaponian Princes were commanded to be present at the translation to giue him obedience to whom the Dairi gaue the Fortresse of Meaco and the Palaces of Quabacondono making him Lord of Tensa But his Vncle held the sway of all in his owne hands and after hauing a Sonne of his own caused this his Nephew with some others to crosse himselfe that is to cut his breast acrosse his bowels falling out and some one of those which died with him cutting off his head Augustine with a Fleet of eight hundred sayles entred Corai and tooke two Fortresses the Coraians being driuen from the walls by the Iaponders Gunnes vnknowne to the other and fiue thousand of them slayne This wanne him great credite with Taicosama who promised him much yet performed little Hee defeated also an Armie of twenty thousand and after another of fourescore thousand and the King fleeing into China tooke the Meaco or Royall Citie of Corai Taicosama sent him a Horse and a Sword the honour that Nabunanga was wont after any great Victorie to doe to him The Coraians seeing their King with his troops in safety fled with their prouisions into Woods and Hills and would not thence bee brought by any promises The Iaponian possessed of the Fortresses wanted men to till the ground and therefore must needes want necessaries the wayes also were by the Coraians vpon all occasions assaulted There are two hundred thousand Iaponians at this present in Corai and Augustine is in the extreme borders adioyning to China separated notwithstanding by a Riuer three leagues broad abounding in ships and the shores fortified with multitudes of men so that the successe is doubtfull Froes in his Epistle 1595. writeth that there were then an hundred and ninety Iesuites in Iapon and China that Taicosama not succeeding in his Coraian expedition returned to Meaco and quarrelled the new Quabacondono out of his life who with fiue others at Taicos command executed themselues after the Iaponian manner Augustine meane while endeauoured an Embassage to bee sent from the King of China who thinking himselfe Lord of the World sent to Taicosama that it was an vnmeet thing that He whose industrie and valour had subdued threescore and sixe Kingdomes of Iapon to his Empire should permit the Dairi a priuate man and Subiect to the King of Iapon to hold his former place of dignitie And if hee would depriue him thereof hee promised to send him a Crowne and the title of King and by the same Legates to treate further about the Iaponians forsaking Corai Two Embassadours were sent from Pequin to Augustine to Corai who presently sent word to Taico the Embassadours abiding with him because of the solemne entertaynment which Taico intended for the renowme of his name to all posteritie The Nobles exhaust in the former expedition were yet now enforced to new braueries and expences Hee caused at Ozaca a Hall to bee erected with a thousand Tatami very elegant Mats the timber costly and gilding incredible Yet by store of raynes a great part thereof fell downe which hee intended soone to repaire hauing an hundred thousand men at worke there both night and day in great miserie standing with their feet in the water If any runne away they are killed Before this Hall hee erected a Theatre for Comedies exceeding stately and costly with artificiall paintings of Vrusci Hee repaired the Tower of Ozaca seuen stories high The gilded Plates or Tiles the Bridge called The Bridge of Paradise the new Citie of Fuscimo which he builded and other his immane expenses the Offerings to his Idoll of Fame I omit Hee caused his little Sonne to goe with great State to Sandai to the Dairi that is to bow his head thrice before him downe to the Mats who entertayned him with a solemne feast with great Iubilee in alteration of names and titles of honour to the Nobles Taico had settled peace thorow all Iapon from Warres from Robbers by land and from Rouers by sea which before continually infested all with Piracies one of which Noximandono is mentioned by the Iesuites in this time to haue had a great Fleet of ships and to haue forced a great part of the Coast to yeerely tribute vnto him to bee freed from his Robberies onely the Dairi had higher title and a Crowne and Scepter seemed wanting to his realitie of Regalitie and Soueraigntie already possessed And now whiles hee intended to exceed himselfe in his entertaynment of the Embassadours one of them hating this long detention or imprisonment in Corai fled which newes Augustine sent to both Courts From China the Legacy was renewed the Delinquents kindred punished Meane while the two and twentieth of Iuly 1596. at Meaco it rayned ashes wherewith the houses hills and trees were couered as with snow and a great myst accompanied it At the same time at Ozaca and Sacaia it rayned sands At Meaco after the showre of ashes came another of haires long and white like the hoary haires of an old womans head but softer and not so smelling when cast into the fire In the Northerne Kingdomes of Iechu Iechingo Scimano and Nota the land and houses were couered with them A Comet appeared in August on the thirtieth whereof followed an Earth-quake as a warning to a greater on the fourth of September which threw downe Taicos magnificent Hall with a thousand Tatamos in which hee had purposed to entertayne the China Legates and the Tower of seuen lofts and another Tower and almost all the buildings of the Fortresse and the Store-houses which were very large and stored with Corne and halfe the houses of Ozaca all in halfe an houre sixe hundred people being buried in the ruines It made a noise like Thunder and like the waues beating on the shoare The Earth opened in many places A great new Temple and a Monastery fell downe and the same day in which the Iesuite had heard a Bonzi in the same Temple inuiting to call vpon Amida and much depredicating his mercies The next day at Meaco was a noise greater then of the greatest Cannons that euer were heard dreadfull to man and beast and wee said the Letanies on our knees but scarsely could keepe on our knees for the Earth-quake Others forsooke their houses lamented
the South the Riuer of Nanchiun becomes nauigable which runneth into Canton and the South Sea On the other side of the Hill at the Citie Naugau ariseth another great Riuer which visiteth the Prouinces of Chiansi and Nanquin and many Cities before hee enters the Sea Eastward Thus what comes from forraine Kingdomes to Canton is this way conueyed to the in-land Kingdomes as also from those hither Horses and seates or Chayres for carriage on mens shoulders Beasts for carriage and Porters being almost innumerable euery day yet all in good order The Mountayne is common to both Prouinces which are distinguished by a Gate erected among the stonie precipices All the way is set with Trees paued with stones frequenâ— with Hostries as secure by night as by day both by the guards of Souldiers and frequencie of Trauellers neither are their ouer-flowings by raynes On the Hill top is a neate Temple and therein a Garrison both Prouinces thence offered to the view Naughan signifieth the Southerne Inne Hee went in one of the Presidents Ships till hee came to the Citie Canceu by the way often entring into his owne Ship and discoursing with him of Europaean affayres Sciences and Religion But so many visitations for Magistrates hindred all dealing with his Sonne in this iourney so that by his Father it was deferred In this Citie Canceu resideth a Vice-roy greater then the Vice-roy of that Prouince they call him the Vice-roy of foure Prouinces Chiansi Fuchien Canton and Vquam not that all those Prouinces are subiect to him but because hee gouerneth two adioyning Regions or lesse Prouinces out of each of them The cause of appointing this Vice-roy extraordinarie was the multitude of Theeues in those parts which bordering on so many Prouinces could not easily by ordinarie course of Iustice bee apprehended whence two Regions out of each were committed to one who by Militarie forces repressed those insolences And because the militarie Magistrates are subiect to that Councell of Warre at Pequin the President was heere receiued with greater State aboue three thousand men were sent to meete him a league off with their Captaynes Colours and Armes many with Hand-gunnes mixed shooting off as he passed making a faire show on both sides the Riuer which there is not very large When hee was come into the Citie the Vice-roy with other Magistrates visited him with Gifts Prouisions Banquets and some companies were set to guard the Ships which was also done euery where such is the China veneration of such Magistrates by their inferiours Heere was a Bridge of Boates opened but once a day for Ships passage which haue payd their customes After they were past this Citie another Riuer addes it selfe to this whence they come into a place called Sciepathau about thirtie miles long in which are many Rockes dispersed on which the impetuous force of the water causeth many ship-wrackes goods lost and men drowned and requireth expert Ship-men a strange thing to see a Riuer full of shelues and sharpe rockes in the midst of the continent In the entrance of this dangerous passage is an Idoll Temple wherein the passengers deuoutly commend the safetie of their fortunes to these vanities which Scilan also heere did in vaine for although with multitude and industrie of Saylers his Ship auoyded the Rockes yet was that broken in which his Wife and Children were carryed though they escaped drowning by reason of her high building euery one getting vp into the highest decke which lifted vp it selfe aboue those shallower waters They cryed pittifully and Father Matthew hauing then gotten a Boate for himselfe came first and receiued them going himselfe into another lesse which went before to conduct the way Scilan sent for another Ship presently to Canceu Father Matthew was taken into another Ship of burthen which was in a gust ouer-throwne Iohn Barradas his boy was drowned and hee hardly recouered the Commodities by dyuing were gotten againe though much hurt by the water They came to a noble and populous Citie called Chiengan where the winde by night was so violent that it dispersed all the Fleet which hardly escaped wracke Scilan terrified with this disastrous passage by water purposed to goe by land to Pequin which is done at the Kings cost in certayn places there being Horses Lighters Porters prouisions ready prouided Now thinking to send backe Ricius to Xanceum least some might accuse him in a time of warre for bringing Strangers to the Court hee shewed some the wonders of his triangle Glasse which hee was willing to giue the President if hee knew he should hold on with him in the Iourney They acquainted their Lord and hee gaue him license to goe to Nanquin and to enter those two Prouinces of Cequion or Cechien and Nanchin or Nanquin Hee was carryed thither with two of Scilans seruants still hauing Souldiers from all places to guard him they thinking that some of his Sonnes were there carryed When hee came to that Mother Citie for before hee seldome went foorth to preuent all lets which is in twentie nine degrees to the Northermost part of the Prouince hee made shew of himselfe as one of Scilans houshold seruants and not knowing whither to goe to deliuer his Letters hee first went into a Temple of note which beares name of the Iron Pillar For they fable that one Huiunsin had some hundreds of yeeres agoe brought perfect Siluer out of Quick-siluer and had deliuered this Citie from a huge Dragon whom hee ouer-whelmed in the ground and tyed to that Iron Pillar and then flew with his whole house Mice and all into Heauen The building of this Temple is worthy the view against which are perpetuall Faires in which nothing is lacking to bee sold. The Priests are those which they call Thausu which let their hayre and beards grow When hee entred that Temple much concourse of people came about him to see a Stranger a strange sight there yea reputed holy for they had thought that the fame of that Idoll had brought him thither from farre Countries But when hee did no worship thereto hee was admonished to doe that which the greatest Magistrates refused not then threatned after they would force him till one of the Ship sayd hee worshipped no Idols But seeing the multitude still flocking about him he returned to the Ship and signified that hee came with the President whom euery man knew The seruants visited their Masters friends and receiued gifts of some especially of the Vice-royes Physician Scarcely had they sayled out of the chiefe Citie when they meete with a Lake admirable for the greatnesse and other things on all the bankes as farre as a man can see are innumerable Townes Castles Villages great Houses thence they may passe into Fuchien and thence to the Sea Eastward Amongst other Townes there is one Citie called Nancan at the foot of a Hill called Liu in which Hill are diuers Anchorites each in his
more may bee knowne then They knew And oftentimes they haue asked vs whether wee had not these Bookes in our Countrey What other Bookes might we haue that might compare with them And as these Philosophers as Gentiles spake nothing of the other life but onely of good Gouernment and Morall vertues they thought they might attayne so farre without beleeuing that there could bee another life By reason hereof and of the common vices which Paganisme draweth with it which in this Countrey increase exceedingly by reason of the fatnesse abundance and fruitfullnesse thereof they feele great difficulties to vndergoe the yoke of Christ though it be so sweet so contrarie to their appetite which taketh from them the libertie which they haue in keeping as many Wiues as they are able and in a thousand other things These later yeeres in the residencies of Canton Nanquin and heere in Paquin were made some true Christians which ouercame all these difficulties and goe on forward with great integritie constancie and feruour In the Prouince of Canton in a residencie which wee haue in Xaucheo a principall Citie haue beene Baptised within this two yeeres about three hundred persons which according to the Letters which euen now wee receiued doe all continue with great example and zeale And the Mandarins and grauer sort of people mooued by the good example which they giue doe fauour them much and especially our Lord hath shewed many tokens of his fauour in hauing shewed great plagues vpon such men as persecuted them for becomming Christians And aboue all God hath shewed his ayde vpon the Women who besides the men are very hard to bee wonne to receiue our holy Law which is the great priuatenesse which they vse because it is not lawfull to see them no not for their kinsfolkes But as I say herein the grace of our Lord God shewed it selfe very mightie seeing it ouercame this difficultie and so many of them were Baptised after they had beene very well Catechised by the Fathers On Sundayes and Holy-dayes because they cannot come to Masse with the Men yet at least in this beginning they meete in places appointed for that purpose and there they Pray and reason and intreat of Diuine matters The men for the exhortations that they make vnto them haue dayes appointed of themselues and with their owne consent to conferre and repeate that which they haue told them which going home they repeate to their Wiues and Daughters Euery day some bee Conuerted in Nanquin graue and learned men doe enter Heere in Pâ—quin while wee haue beene heere we haue Baptised some and some great Mandarins come to heare If our Lord doe helpe them and shed his bloud vpon these Chinois as hee hath done in Iapon and in other places there will bee setled one of the most famous and learned foundations of Christianitie that is in all the world For the greatnesse of this Kingdome their Lawes and Gouernment conformable to reason their being so studious as they are and giuen to Learning and to know so much as they know of Morall vertues and their good capacities gentle docile and ingenious and the great peace and quietnesse which they enioy without hauing any bodie to trouble them with warre promise much and giue great hope that the vâ—ntage which they haue ouer other Nations lately discouered in the gifts of Nature being assisted by the grace of God will helpe them in Gods matters And I assure your Worship that if the doore were opened to Preach freely and to Baptise I say not that the Fathers and Brethren of our Companie which might bee spared but without any amplification at all halfe the Religious men of all Europe were needfull to attend so many Cities Townes and places and so infinite numbers of people as there are albeit when Christianitie is once begun indeed there is such abundance of graue people and of much estimation that many of them might bee made Priests Preachers and Bishops without feeling any want of those of Europe since as now they bee Gentiles and their hope goeth no further then to this life there be many very great Mandarins â—hose chiefe delight is to discourse of things concerning Vertue and oftentimes they meete together as it were in Fraternities to treate thereof And the grauer sort doe make Orations and Conferences together perswading one another and deliuering the meanes to gouerne well and to follow vertue And without doubt the more wee see of this and the more zeale in these Christians so much the more our heart is readie to burst to see them so destitute and to haue so few meanes to obtayne necessarie remedie and helpe §. III. The description of the Kingdome of China of Catay and Musk the diuision into Prouinces Cities and Townes described Riuers Shipping Commodities Diet and feeding NOw by the helpe of our Lord I will say somewhat that I remember touching the Customes Policie and Gouernment of this Kingdome but not in such order as were requisite because I haue no leasure and therefore I will onely write as things come vnto my minde though things bee not lincked well together because I cannot first write one Copie and afterward dispose it in order with such distinction as were needfull reseruing that as I sayd in the beginning vntill our Lord grant me a better opportunitie This great Kingdome of China is almost foure square as the Chinois themselues describe the same it runneth North and South from the Prouince of Canton which is the most Southerly part of it beginning seuenteene or eighteene degrees vnder the burnt Zone vnto fotrie two degrees which is the most Northerly part of it it contayneth from Canton by water aboue sixe hundred leagues but in a right line it is foure hundred and fiftie on the East it confineth with Corea which ioyneth with the same and with Iapon and with the Ocean Sea by which they come from Peru and Nucua Espana to Manilla On the West with certayne small Kingdomes which lye betweene Bengala the Lands of Mogor and Persian On the South with the Iles called Philippinas and the Malucaâ— and others and more South-westerly it hath Sion Pegu and other Kingdomes On the North part it hath those people which in our Countries wee commonly call Tartars with whom they haue alwayes had Warre and once they wanne all the Kingdome from the Chinois For the Readers better satisfaction I haue here presented him Hondius his Map of China not to shew it but the erroneous-conceits which all European Geographers haue had of it A more complete Map of China I shall present after as by comparison will appeare HONDIVS his Map of China CHINA This Kingdome standeth in an excellent climate and situation for besides the things which it hath in it selfe it standeth very neere vnto India and other Kingdomes from whence commeth with great facilitie that which it desireth and wanteth And before I passe any further because I haue
some that they worshipped the Lord of Heauen and Earth There were some that sought not to leaue their lawfull Sonnes to bee their Heires because they thought them not fit for Gouernment but choose the wisest and best man that they could finde and left the Kingdome vnto him This Kingdome in old time was diuided into many small Kingdomes vntill by little and little it was vnited It is some foure hundred yeeres as I said before since a Tartar King possessed it whollie and two hundred since a Bonzo or Religious man of China recouered it This Mahumetan Tartar King left some tokens of himselfe in things that he did Hee left in Nanquin certaine Mathematicall instruments of Copper the like whereof for goodnesse peraduenture are not in all Europe at least not better The Chinese Bonzo which expelled him out of the Kingdome was a very valiant and wise man and there bee many Histories of his wisedome and sentencious sayings and iudgement in hard matters and the manner and forme of Gouernment which hee ordayned in this Kingdome which continueth inuiolable doth greatly declare the same Hee made new Offices and gaue new Names to all of them An vsuall thing when one house beginneth to Raigne to change all euen the name of the King as also of all Offices and also of many Cities I omit the diuision of the Gouernment into so many heads and so good distribution that it seemeth and so the Chinois say it is like to continue thousands of yeeres so that no man of the same Kingdome is able nor hath any power to make any Rebellion of importance For those which in former time reuolted were the Vice-royes of the Prouinces and other great Mandarins in whose power were the Gouernment the Souldiers and the treasure But hee diuided it in such sort that those which had power ouer the Souldiers should haue no money at all neither should the pay of the Souldiers depend vpon them and those which keepe the Treasure must haue no superintendencie and dominion ouer the Souldiers Others which were mightie and rich hee impouerished and diuided their Authoritie and Reuenues among many and so there is no man that can call himselfe Great I remember that I had read in a Booke set out in the Spanish tongue of the great power of certayne Captaynes and because the King did not trust them hee sent one of his house to will them to come vnto him All which relation with many other things which hee reporteth of the prouidence of the King how hee diuideth his Authoritie among diuers Princes is not so in truth neither in truth neither is there any apparence thereof neither haue the Captayne 's much authoritie neither are they very rich for though they haue many people yet the gouernment of them is diuided into diuers heads so that they can hardly assemble to raise any Rebellion especially because they remaine alwayes in the Kingdome and neere about the King The Reuenue of this King without doubt is exceeding great and vntill wee haue gotten it out of their Bookes wherein euery thing is set downe very particularly I will not presume to publish the same not as though I knew not that it is so since whilest a man knoweth more of this Kingdome he doubteth lesse Yet because I feare for all this that it will bee hard to make one beleeue the same which knoweth it not of a certainty making the Accounts not very large his Reuenues are one yeare with another an hundred Millions in Siluer Gold Rice and an infinite number of other things although the greatest part is Siluer And he that considereth the greatnesse of the Kingdome and that euery man payeth Tribute to the King of their Persons Lands Trees and other things without carrying any Tribute out of the same that which I speake wil not seeme excessiue But as his Reuenue is very great so his Expenses are many For those which in this Kingdome doe liue at the Kings charge are many to wit all the Mandarins to whom the King giueth Wages all the Souldiers all the Kinsfolkes of the King his Eunuches and an infinite number of people whereby his charges are exceeding great although alwayes there remayneth a good deale for him to lay vp and there is no doubt but hee hath it in store in exceeding great quantitie Many small Kingdomes round about acknowledge the King of China and pay him Tribute as Corea and others whose names I know not on this Northerne part and on the side of Malaca and Macao many others And sometimes on these Northerne parts they trouble him somewhat in robbing and killing of people It may be that your Worship or some bodie else may demand why the King of China being so great subdueth not these small Kingdomes that lye about him to deliuer himselfe of trouble I answere that he wanteth no abilitie but I will say one sure thing a Paradoxe to the people of our Europe which is That neither the Chinois nor their King doe seeke nor dreame of dilating their Empire more then it is And this their resolution is such that although they would giue them all these Kingdomes they would not take them much lesse if they were farther off For they hold it for one of the greatest miseries especially the Mandarins graue sort of people to go out of their Kingdome to any other part There is one of the best Examples hereof that may be giuen which fell out of late and that was that as by the danger which might grow to his Kingdome if the people of Iapon should winne the Kingdome of Corea which is joyned to China by the mayne Land as they began to doe the Chinois ayded the Coreans with many men and the people of Iapon by the death of their King called Quabacondono did wholly abandâ—n it The Kingdome remayned in the power of the Chinois and so continued two or three yeares After which they wholly gaue it ouer without any other greater respect then that there were none that were willing to goe thither to gouerne it nor that the King had any need to annexe it vnto his Estate And without doubt it seemeth that he would doe the like with any other although they would put it into his hands And touching those Kingdomes which pay him Tribute there is no great account made whether they come or no and their continuall comming is more for the profit of those which come then that the King doth desire it And therefore the Philippine Ilands which in former times paid Tribute to the Kings of China were made none account of when they ceased to pay it This King hath one lawfull Wife as other men haue in choice whereof they haue regard to nothing else but to her good qualities and externall beautie for there is no Nobilitie to be sought for Besides her hee hath a great number of Concubines chosen after the same manner
cause to bee written in great Cubitall Letters in a huge Table which they expose about the end of the eighth Moone in great concourse of Magistrates and applause of the new Elects Friends and Kindred The Priuiledges and Ornaments of this Degree are more then of the former and if they intend to proceed no further they are hereby capable of very good Magistracies After the Act the Kings Examiners publish a Booke of their proceedings the names of the Graduates and their principall Writings especially his which is as the Elder Brother they call him Quiayuen and whose Theames were best liked The Bachelors of other Prouinces may not here be admitted some only except of the Kings Schoole in Pequin and Nanquin The third Degree is like our Doctorship called Cin-su which is conferred euery third yeare also but onely at Pequin and alway is the next yeare after that Commencement of Licentiates Only three hundred chosen ouâ— of the whole Kingdome obtayne it although the Licentiates of euery Prouince are admitted to the Examination This Act is in the second Moone on the same dayes that the former and in like forme sauing that the diligence is greater as for a greater degree and the Colai the chiefe Magistrates of the Kingdome are Examiners The Doctors being pronounced in the same Palace where the Licentiates vse to bee all of them in the Kings Palace before the chiefe Magistrates of the Court yea anciently the King was wont to bee present make a Theame according to the iudgement whereof the order of the Magistracies which they are to beare is declared being distributed in three Rankes Hee that in Examination of Doctors had the first place hath in this second Examination the third place without question but hee which hath the first or second enioyeth a great dignitie during his life besides the greatest Offices in the Common-wealth and might compared with ours bee as a Duke or Marquesse if it were Hereditary These Doctours presently haue their peculiar Vest Cap Bootes and other Ensignes of Magistrates and are preferred to the best Offices such as the Licentiates may not attayne and are as the prime men of the Kingdome Those Licentiates which are rejected from the Doctorship if they meane to proceed no further are preferred to Magistracie but if they list still to stand for that degree they betake themselues home to their Bookes afresh till the third-yeare-examination returnes so that some stand ten times continuing so long priuate to become more publike A Booke is also published of them and of their successe Another is yearely set forth contayning the Names Countrey Parents Offices of all the Doctors and where they gouerne whereby a man may know how any hath risen or descended all his life as is there vsuall after their merits It is remarkable also how the Licentiates and Doctors of the same yeare respect one the other as Brethren euer after and loue the Friends also of their Colleagues and honour their Examiners as Fathers They vse to grant at the same times and places the same Titles in the Moone following to Military Professors but with lesse pompe because Souldierie is of no such reckoning with them and few stand for them This Military tryall is three-fold in the first they shoot nine Arrowes on Horse-backe running in the second they shoot as many at the same maâ—ke standing and hee which hath hit the Marke with foure on Horke-backe and two Arrowes on foot is admitted to the third tryall wherein they haue some Theame of Military matters propounded and the Iudges examining this Triple tryall out of the whole number pronounce about fifty Licentiates in euery Prouince And when the Doctorall Act is at Pequin one hundred of the choice of these after a Triple Examinaâ—ion are made Military Doctors These Doctors are more easily admitted to Military Prefectures but scarcely without Bribes then the Licentiates Both the Philosophicall and Military ouer their doores set vp in great Letters this their new attayned dignity All the Examiners whether of Mathematicall or Military or Philosophicall degrees are of those Philosophers without assistance of any Captaine Mathematician or Physician as if thereby they were inabled to all things §. III. Of the Tartarian Conquest Of HVMVV the Establisher of the present Gouernment The Reuenues Magistrates in the Courts Royall Prouinces Cities Orders Exaltations Visitations Depriuations THe Gouernment of China is Monarchicall In times past there haue beene Lords of Title as are Dukes Marquesses and Earles in Europe but taken away eighteene hundred yeares since It was neuer subdued by any Forreiners before the Tartarian Conquest The Iesuites â—hinke that that Conquerour was Tamberlane for the Chinois call him Tiemor and say that he had before subdued Persia and Tartaria Hee whosoeuer hee was conquered all the Chinois and left them to his Posterity till the yeare 1368. At that time the Tartarians growing weaker diuers Captaynes arose in diuers parts of the Kingdome which shooke off that yoke Amongst them all the most famous was of the Family Ciu whom afterwards the Chinois called Humvu a famous Captayne or rather a Floud of Armes He of a common Souldier grew to such greatnesse that hee first expelled the Tartars and then repelled the Rebels thorow all the Kingdome and possessed that Souereigntie which still continueth in his Line For the Crowne there goeth by Inheritance only two or three of the Ancient Kings haue commended it to others their owne Sonnes seeming vnworthy and the people haue by Rebellion sometimes raysed a new Family diuers yet losing their liues rather then acknowledging that Faction this being Prouerbiall in their Philosophie An honest Woman hath but one Husband and a faithfull Seruant but one Lord. There are no ancient Lawes but the first Founder of any Royall family makes new Lawes which his Posteritie are not easily permitted to transgresse So the present Lawes of China are no ancienter then Humvu who either made new or confirmed the old Out of ignorance of other parts of the world they thinke their King Lord of the World and call him Thiencu the Sonne of Heauen or which is all one in their Theologie of God His vsuall title yet is Hoamsi that is supreame Monarch whereas they stile other Kings Guam an inferiour title To preuent Rebellions and Factions Humvu ordayned tâ—at none of the Royall bloud should intermeddle with Gouernment Those Captaynes which had ayded him in expulsion of the Tartars hee gaue militarie Commands with reuenues and titles to descend to their Heires The Royaâ—l race hee gaue the titles of Guam as pettie Kings with large reuenues to bee yeerely payed out of the Exchequer and commanded all Magistrates to reuerence them Their Posteritie hee honoured with inferiour Honours and reuenues so much lesse as further from the originall and after certaine generations to haue no more then might well maintayne them without labour The like in Marriages and Titles were prouided for the Royall
the Tartar Souldiers whom they hire sometimes but onely for the present on the other side against the Polonian and Sweaden thinking it best policy so to vse their seruice vpon the contrary border The chiefe Captaines or Leaders of these forces according to their names and degrees are these which follow First the Voyauodey Bulshaia that is the Great Captaine or Lieutenant generall vnder the Emperour This commonly is one of the foure houses of the chiefe Nobilitie of the Land but so chosen otherwise as that he is of small valour or practice in Martiall matters being thought to serue that turne so much the better if he bring no other parts with him saue the countenance of his Nobilitie to bee liked of by the Souldiers for that and nothing else For in this point they are very warie that these two to wit Nobilitie and Power meet not both in one specially if they see wisedome withall or aptnesse for policie Their great Voiauod or Generall at this present in their warres is commonly one of these foure Knez Feoder Iuanowich Methisloskey Knez Iuan Michailowich Glinskoy Cherechaskoy and Trowbetskoy all of great Nobilitie but of very simple qualitie otherwise though in Glinskoy as they say there is somewhat more then in the rest To make vp this defect in the Voiauod or Generall there is some other ioyned with him as Lieutenant generall of farre lesse Nobilitie but of more valour and experience in the warres then he who ordereth all things that the other countenanceth At this time their principall man and most vsed in their warres is one Knez Demetrie Iuanowich Forestine an antient and expert Captaine and one that hath done great seruice as they say against the Tartar and Polonian Next vnder the Voiauod and his Lieutenant generall are foure other that haue the marshalling of the whole Armie diuided among them and may be called the Marshals of the field Euery man hath his quarter or fourth part vnder him whereof the first is called the Praua Polskoy or Right wing The second is the Lenoy Polskoy or Left wing The third is Rusnoy Polskoy or The broken band because out of this there are chosen to send abroad vpon any sudden exploit or to make a rescue or supply as occasion doth require The fourth Storeshouoy Polskoy or The warding band Euery one of these foure Marshals haue two other vnder them eight in all that twice euery weeke at the least must muster and traine their seuerall wings or bands and hold and giue iustice for all faults and disorders committed in the Campe. And these eight are commonly chosen out of the hundred and ten which I spake of before that receiue and deliuer the pay to the Souldiers Vnder these eight are diuers other Captaines as the Gul auoy Captaines of thousands fiue hundreds and hundreds The Petyde Setskoy or Captaines of fifties and the Decetskies or Captaines of tennes Besides the Voiauoda or Generall of the Armie spoken of before they haue two other that beare the name of Voiauoda whereof one is the Master of the great Ordnance called Naradna Voiauoda who hath diuers Vnder-officers necessary for that seruice The other is called the Voiauoda Gulauoy or the Walking Captayne that hath allowed him 1000. good Horsemen of principall choice to range and spye abroad and hath the charge of the running Castle which we are to speake of in the Chapter following All these Captaynes and men of charge must once euery day resort to the Bulsha Voiauoda or Generall of the Armie to know his pleasure and to informe him if there be any requisite matter pertayning to their Office WHen Wars are towards which they faile not of lightly euery yeere with the Tartar and many times with the Polonian and Sweden the foure Lords of the Chetfirds send forth their Summons in the Emperours name to all the Dukes and Dyacks of the Prouinces to be proclaymed in the head Townes of euery Shire that all the Sinaboiarskey or Sonnes of Gentlemen make their repayre to such a border where the Seruice is to be done at such a place and by such a day and there present themselues to such and such Captaynes When they come to the place assigned them in the Summons or Proclamation their names are taken by certayne Officers that haue Commission for that purpose from the Roserade or High Constable as Clerkes of the Bands If any make default and faile at the day he is mulcted and punished very seuerely As for the Generall and other chiefe Captaines they are sent thither from the Emperours owne hand with such Commission and charge as he thinketh behoofefull for the present seruice When the Souldiers are assembled they are reduced into their Bands and Companies vnder their seuerall Captaynes of tens fifties hundreds thousands c. and these Bands into foure Polikeis or Legions but of farre greater numbers then the Romane Legions were vnder their foure great Leaders which also haue the authoritie of Marshals of the field as was said before Concerning their Armour they are but slightly appointed The common Horse-man hath nothing else but his Bow in his Case vnder his right arme and his Quiuer and Sword hanging on the left side except some few that beare a Case of Dagges or a Iaueling or short Staffe along their Horse side The vnder Captaynes will haue commonly some piece of Armour besides as a shirt of Male or such like The Generall with the other chiefe Captaynes and men of Nobility will haue their Horse very richly furnished their Saddles of Cloth of Gold their Bridles faire bossed and tasselled with Gold and Silke frindge bestudded with Pearle and Precious Stones themselues in very faire Armour which they call Bullatnoy made of faire shining Steele yet couered commonly with Cloth of Gold and edged round about with Armine Furre his Steele Helmet on his head of a very great price his Sword Bow and Arrowes at his side his Speare in his hand with another Helmet and his Shesta pera or Horse-mans Scepter carried before him Their Swords Bowes and Arrowes are of the Turkish fashion They practise like the Tartar to shoot forwards and backwards as they flye and retyre The Strelsey or Footman hath nothing but his Peece in his hand his striking Hatchet at his backe and his Sword by his side The stocke of his Peece is not made Caleeuer wise but with a plaine and strait stocke some-what like a Fowling-peece the Barrell is rudely and vnartificially made very heauie yet shooteth but a very small Bullet As for their prouision of victuall the Emperour alloweth none either for Captayne or Souldier neyther prouideth any for them except peraduenture some Corne for their Money Euery man is to bring sufficient for himselfe to serue his turne for foure moneths and if need require to giue order for more to bee brought vnto him to the Campe from his Tenant that tilleth his
so make them as holy as a horse Their set day for the solemne action of hallowing their Riuers is that we call Twelfth-day The like is done by other Bishops in all parts of the Realme Their manner is also to giue it to their sicke in their greatest extremitie thinking that it will either recouer them or sanctifie them to God Whereby they kill many through their vnreasonable superstition as did the Lord Borris his onely sonne at my being at the Mosko whom he killed as was said by the Physitians by powring into him cold Holy-water and presenting him naked into the Church to their Saint Basileo in the cold of Winter in an extremitie of sickenesse They haue an Image of Christ which they call Neruchi which signifieth as much as Made without hands for so their Priests and superstition withall perswadeth them it was This in their Processions they carry about with them on high vpon a pole enclosed within a Pixe made like a Lanthorne and doe reuerence to it as to a great mysterie At euery brewing their manner is likewise to bring a dish of their woort to the Priest within the Church which being hollowed by him is powred into the brewing and so giueth it such a vertue as when they drinke of it they are seldome sober The like they doe with the first fruits of their Corne in Haruest They haue another Ceremony on Palm-sunday of ancient tradition what time the Patriarch rideth through the Mosko the Emperour himselfe holding his horse bridle and the people crying Hosanna and spreading their vpper garments vnder his horse feet The Emperour hath of the Patriarch for his good seruice of that day two hundred Rubbels of standing pension Another pageant they haue much like to this the weeke before the Natiuitie of Christ when euery Bishop in his Cathedrall Church setteth forth a shew of the three children in the Ouen Where the Angell is made to come flying from the roofe of the Church with great admiration of the lookers on and many terrible flashes of fire are made with rosen and gun-powder by the Chaldeans as they call them that run about the Towne all the twelue dayes disguised in their players coats and make much good sport for the honor of the Bishops pageant At the Mosko the Emperour himselfe and the Empresse neuer faile to be at it though it be but the same matter plaid euery yeere without any new inuention at all Besides their fasts on Wednesdayes and Fridayes throughout the whole yeere the one because they say Christ was sold on the Wednesday the other because he suffered on the Friday they haue foure great Fasts or Lents euery yeere The first which they call their great Lent is at the same time with ours The second about Mid-summer The third in Haruest time The fourth about Hallontide which they keepe not of pollicie but of meere superstition In their great Lent for the first weeke they eat nothing but bread and salt and drinke nothing but water neither meddle with any matter of their vocation but intend their shriuing and fasting only They haue also three Vigils or Wakes in their great Lent which they call Stoiania and the last Friday their great Vigil as they call it What time the whole Parish must be present in the Church and watch from nine a clocke in the Euening till sixe in the morning all the while standing saue when they fall downe and knocke their heads to their Idols which must bee an hundred and seuentie times iust through the whole night About their burialls also they haue many superstitious and prophane Ceremonies as putting within the finger of the corps a letter to Saint Nicolas whom they make their chiefe mediatour and as it were the porter of heauen gates as the Papists doe their Peter In Winter time when all is couered with snow and the ground so hard frozen as that no spade nor pick-axe can enter their manner is not to bury their dead but to keepe the bodies so many as die all the Winter time in an house in the suburbs or out-parts of the Towne which they call Bohsedom that is Gods house where the dead bodies are pyled vp together like billets on a woodstacke as hard with the frost as a verie stone till the Spring-tide come and resolueth the frost what time euerie man taketh his dead friend and committeth him to the ground They haue besides their yeeres and moneths mindes for their friends departed What time they haue prayers said ouer the graue by the Priest who hath a peny ordinary for his paines When any dieth they haue ordinary women mourners that come to lament for the dead partie and stand howling ouer the body after a prophane and heathenish manner sometimes in the house sometimes bringing the body into the back-side asking him what he wanted and what he meant to die They bury their dead as the party vsed to goe with coat hose bootes hat and the rest of his apparell Many other vaine and superstitious Ceremonies they haue which were long and tedious to report By these it may appeare how farre they are fallen from the true knowledge and practice of Christian Religion hauing exchanged the Word of God for their vaine Traditions and brought all to externall and ridiculous Ceremonies without any regard of Spirit and Truth which God requireth in his true worship THe Emperours priuate behauiour so much as may be or is meet to bee knowne is after this manner Hee riseth commonly about foure a clock in the morning After his apparrelling and washing in commeth his ghostly Father or Priest of his chamber which is named in their tongue Otetz Duhouna with his Crosse in his hand where with he blesseth him laying it first on his forehead then vpon his cheekes or sides of his face and then offereth him the end of it to kisse This done the Clerke of the Crosse called Chresby Deyack Profery bringeth into his Chamber a painted Image representing the Saint for that day for euery day with them hath his seuerall Saint as it were the Patrone for that day This hee placeth among the rest of his Image Gods wherewithall his Chamber is decked as thicke almost as the wall can beare with Lampes and Waxe-candles burning before them They are very costly and gorgeously decked with Pearle and Precious Stone This Image being placed before him the Emperour beginneth to crosse himselfe after the Russe manner first on the fore-head then on both sides of his brest with Aspody Pomeluy Pomeluy mena hospody sacroy mena gresnick Syhodestua which is as much to say as Helpe me O Lord my God Lord comfort me defend and keepe me a Sinner from doing euill c. This he directeth towards the Image or Saint for that day whom hee nameth in his Prayer together with our Lady whom they call Precheste Saint Nicholas or some other to whom he beareth most deuotion bowing
destructions of their fellowes besides what hee got in Siberia and from the Pole Sweden Prussian extending his Conquests East West North and South yea his memorie is sauourie still to the Russians which either of their seruile disposition needing such a bridle and whip or for his long and prosperous reigne or out of distaste of later tragedies hold him in little lesse reputation as some haue out of their experience instructed me then a Saint His loue to our Nation is magnified by our Countrimen with all thankfulnesse whose gaineâ— there begun by him haue made them also in some sort seeme to turne Russe in I know what loues or feares as if they were still shut vp in Russia to conceale whatsoeuer they know of Russian occurrents that I haue sustayned no small torture with great paines of body vexation of minde and triall of potent interceding friends to get but neglect and silence from some yea almost contempt and scorne They alledge their thankfulnesse for benefits receiued from that Nation and their feare of the Dutch readie to take aduantage thereof and by calumniations from hence to interuert their Trade This for loue to my Nation I haue inserted against any Cauillers of our Russe Merchants though I must needs professe that I distaste and almost detest that call it what you will of Merchants to neglect Gods glorie in his prouidence and the Worlds instruction from their knowledge who while they will conceale the Russians Faults will tell nothing of their Facts and whiles they will be silent in mysteries of State will reueale nothing of the histories of Fact and that in so perplexed diuersified chances and changes as seldome the World hath in so short a space seene on one Scene Whiles therefore they which seeme to know most will in these Russian Relations helpe me little or nothing except to labour and frustrated hopes I haue besides much conference with eye witnesses made bold with others in such books as in diuers languages I haue read and in such Letters and written Tractates as I could procure of my friends or found with Master Hakluyt as in other parts of our storie not seeking any whit to disgrace that Nation or their Princes but onely desiring that truth of things done may bee knowne and such memorable alterations may not passe as a dreame or bee buried with the Doers Sir Ierome Horsey shall leade you from Iuans Graue to Pheodores Coronation The most solemne and magnificent coronation of PHEODOR IVANOVVICH Emperour of Russia c. the tenth of Iune in the yeare 1584. seene and obserued by Master IEROM HORSEY Gentleman and seruant to her Maiestie WHen the old Emperor Iuan Vasilowich died being about the eighteeenth of April 1584. after our computation in the Citie of Mosco hauing raigned fiftie foure yeares there was some tumult vprore among some of the Nobilitie and Comminaltie which notwithstanding was quickly pacified Immediately the same night the Prince Boris Pheodorowich Godonoua Knez Iuon Pheodorowich Mesthis Slafsky Knez Iuan Petrowich Susky Mekita Romanowich and Bodan Iacoulewich Belskoy being all noble men and chiefest in the Emperours Will especially the Lord Boris whom he adopted as his third son and was brother to the Empresse who was a man very well liked of all estates as no lesse worthy for his valour and wisedome all these were appointed to dispose and settle his Sonne Pheodor Iuanowich hauing one sworne another and all the Nobilitie and Officers whosoeuer In the morning the dead Emperour was laid into the Church of Michael the Archangell into a hewen Sepulchre very richly decked with Vestures fit for such a purpose and present Proclamation was made Emperour Pheodor Iuanowich of all Russia c. Throughout all the Citie of Mosco was great watch and ward with Souldiors and Gunners good orders established and Officers placed to subdue the tumulters and maintaine quietnesse to see what speede and policie was in this case vsed was a thing worth the beholding This being done in Mosco great men of birth and accompt were also presently sent to the bordering Townes as Smolensko Vobsko Kasan Nouogorod c. with fresh garrison and the old sent vp As vpon the fourth of May a Parliament was held wherein were assembled the Metropolitane Archbishops Bishops Priors and chiefe Clergie men and all the Nobility whatsoeuer where many matters were determined not pertinent to my purpose yet all tended to a new reformation in the gouernement but especially the terme and time was agreed vpon for the solemnizing of the new Emperours coronation In the meane time the Empresse wife to the old Emperour was with her childe the Emperours son Charlewich Demetrie Iuanowich of one yeares age or there abouts sent with her Father Pheodor Pheodorowich Nagay and that kindred being fiue brothers to a towne called Ouglets which was giuen vnto her and the yong Prince her sonne with all the Lands belonging to it in the shire with officers of all sorts appointed hauing allowance of apparell iewels diet horse c. in ample manner belonging to the estate of a Princesse The time of mourning after their vse being expired called Sorachyn or fortie orderly dayes the day of the solemnizing of this coronation with great preparations was come being vpon the tenth day of Iune 1584. and that day then Sunday he being of the age of twenty fiue years at which time Master Ierom Horsey was orderly sent for and placed in a fit roome to see all the solemnity The Emperour comming out of his Pallace there went before him the Metropolitane Archbishops Bishops and chiefest Monkes and Clergie men with very rich Coapes and Priests garments vpon them carrying pictures of our Lady c. with the Emperors Angell banners censers and many other such ceremonious things singing all the way The Emperour with his nobility in order entred the Church named Blaueshina or Blessednes where prayers and seruice were vsed according to the manner of their Church that done they went thence to the Church called Michael the Archangell and there also vsed the like prayers and seruice and from thence to our Lady Church Prechista being their Cathedrall Church In the middest thereof was a chaire of maiestie placed wherein his Ancestors vsed to sit at such extraordinary times his roabes were then changed and most rich and vnualuable garments put on him being placed in this Princely seate his nobilitie standing round about them in their degrees his imperiall Crowne was set vpon his head by the Metropolitane his Scepter globe in his right hand his sword of Iustice in his left of great riches his six crowns also by which he holdeth his Kingdomes were set before him and the Lord Boris Pheodorowich was placed at his right hand then the Metropolitan read openly a booke of a small volume with exhortations to the Emperour to minister true Iustice to inioy with tranquility the Crowne of his ancestours which God had giuen him and vsed these
be liueth and giueth life vnto Man Our onely God which inspireth euery one of vs his Children with his holy Word through our Lord Iesus Christ the Spirit of Life now in this latter times establish vs to hold the right Scepter and suffer vs of our selues to reigne for the good of the Land and the happinesse of the People together with our Enemies and to the doing of good We the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Boris Pheodorowich of all Russia sole Commander of Volodemer Mosco Nouogrod Emperour of Cazan King of Astracan Lord of Vobsko and great Duke of Smolensko of Twersko Vhorskoy Permskoy Vatskoy Bolharskay and of others Lord and great Duke of Nouagrod in the low Country of Chernego Rezan Polotskay Rostouskoy Yeraslauskoy Belozerskoy Leeflanskoy Owdorskoy Obdorskoy Condinskoy and all Siberia and the North parts Lord and Commander of Euerskoy Land and Cabardinskoy Country and of Cherces and Igarskoy Land as also of many others Lord and Commander with our Sonne Prince Phedar Borisowich of all Russia We haue bestowed on the Merchants of England viz. Sir Iohn Hart Knight Sir William Webb Knight Richard Saltanitall Alderman Nicolas Moshley Alderman Robert Doue William Garaway Iohn Harbey Robert Chamberlin Henrie Anderson Iohn Audwart Francis Cherie Iohn Merick Anthony Marlar Wee haue granted and licenced them to come with their ships into our Dominion the Country of Dwina with all manner of Commodities to trade freely from the Sea side and within our Dominions to the Citie of our Empire of Mosco Also there made sute vnto vs Sir Iohn Hart Knight and his Companie to gratifie them to trade to our Citie of Mosco and to our Heritage of great Nouogrod and Vobsko and to all parts of our Empire with their Commodities and to Trade freely without custome vpon which Wee the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Boris Pheodorowich of all Russia with our Sonne Prince Pheodor Borisowich of all Russia haue granted vnto the English Merchants Sir Iohn Hart Knight and his fellowes for our Sisters sake Queene Elizabeth free passage to come into our Kingdome of Mosco and into all the rest of our Dominions with all manner of Commodities to trade and traffick freely at their pleasure Also we haue commanded not to take any kinde of Custome for their goods nor any other Customes whatsoeuer viz. for passing by any place by Land nor for passing by any place by Water nor for Custome of their Boats or Head money nor for passing ouer Bridges and Ferries nor for any entrie of Wares as also all manner of other Customes or Duties whatsoeuer wee command shall not bee taken of them But they shall not bring other mens goods into our Dominions nor likewise recarry out of our Kingdome any other mens goods as their owne nor to sell or barter for other men Neither shall our Subiects buy and sell for them or from them neither shall they keepe any of our peoples goods or pawnes by them to owne or colour them Likewise they shall not send any of our Subiects to any Towne or Citie to buy Commodities But what Citie they come into themselues they shall sell their owne Commodities and buy our Commodities And when they shall come to our Heritage to great Vobsko and Nouagrod or to any other Citie within our Dominions with their Commodities that then our Gentlemen and Gouernours and all other officers shall suffer and let them passe according to this our Letter and to take no manner of Custome of them whatsoeuer for any of their Commodities for passing by nor for passage ouer any Bridges neither shall they take any other Custom whatsoeuer in all our Dominions And wheresoeuer they happen to come and doe proceed to buy and sell as also wheresoeuer they shall passe through with goods not buying of any Commoditie nor selling their owne then in those Cities they shall take of them no manner of Custome whatsoeuer as aforesaid and wee haue gratified and giuen them leaue to trade in all parts of our Dominions with their goods freely without Custome And likewise whensoeuer the English Merchants shall bee desirous to buy or sell or barter their wares with our Merchants wares for wares then shall they sell their wares whole sale and not by retaile Cloth by the pack and by Clothes and by remnants and Damasks and Veluets by the Piece and not by the Yard or asheene and such Commodities as is to be sold by waight not to sell them by the small waights that is to say by the Zolotnick Also they shall sell Wines by the Pipe and the Hogshead but by the Gallon Quart or Pot or Charke they shall not sell moreouer they shall buy sell and exchange their owne Commodities themselues and the Russe Merchants shall not sell or exchange for them or from them their Commodities neither shall they carry any mans goods to no manner of place vnder colour of their owne and which of the English Merchants would at any time sell his Commodities at Colmogro on the Dwina or at Vologda and at Yeraslauly they may and of all their Commodities throughout all our Cities and Dominion our Gentlemen Gouernours and all other Officers shall take no manner of Custome according to this our Imperiall Letter of fauour Also through all our Dominions Cities and Townes they shall hire Carriers Boats and men to labour or rowe in the said Boats at their owne cost Likewise when as the English Merchants shall desire to goe out of our Dominion into any other Kingdome or into their owne Land and that we thinke it good for them to take with them from our Treasure any Commodities to sell or exchange them for vs for such Commodities as shall be sitting to our Kingdome and to deliuer them to our Treasurer and with those their and our goods our Gentlemen and Gouernours shall suffer them to passe through all Cities and Townes within our Dominions without Custome as before And when they haue ended their Market and doe desire to goe from the Mosko then they shall appeare in the Chancerie to the Keeper of our Seale the Secretarie Vassily Yacolowich Schellcalou Likewise if there happen to the English Merchants any extremitie by Sea or that a ship be broken and that it be neere any place of our Kingdome then we command that all those goods shall bee brought out iustly and bee giuen to the English people that shall at that time bee in our Land or if they be not here then to lay them vp all together in one place and when the Englishmen come into our Land then to deliuer those goods to them Also wee haue bestowed on the English Merchants the House of Yourya in the Mosko by a Church of Saint Maxims neere the Marget to dwell in it as in former time keeping one House-keeper a Russe or one of their owne strangers but other Russe folkes they shall not keepe any Likewise these Merchants haue Houses in diuers our Cities as followeth A House
couenants and agreements the Generall Sandamersko himselfe hath confessed to our Maiestie and Nobles that the foresaid agreements and couenants betwixt him and the foresaid Gryshca were true and how that they trusted one to another moreouer the Palatine did certifie vnto our Nobles how Gryshca sent him a Letter vnder his owne hand and Seale in which he promised to giue him Smolensko with all the Prouinces belonging thereto and another place called Seeuerow as also gaue him liberty to set vp Monasteries and the Religion of the Church of Rome Further there was found by him Letters which were sent to him from the Pope of Rome and the Cardinals and Priests to that effect that he should remember and withall be mindefull to take in hand speedily those matters and businesse vpon which he had giuen to Sigismund and the Cardinals his troth and vow the which was as beforesaid to be himselfe of the Romish Religion as also to bring all the people of the Kingdome of Russia into the same Romish Religion not onely them that of themselues were willing thereto but also others by compulsion and to put them to death that fought to contrary the same And not onely them of the Kingdome of Russia but likewise other godly people of seuerall Religion and that doe serue in the Kingdome of Mosco as the Catholicks and the Caluinists them likewise he should seeke to bring into the Romish Religion with all perswasions Moreouer Gryshca himselfe before vs and our Nobles and Courtiers and before our Commons did acknowledge as much and thereupon yeelded himselfe to be in fault as also that he did all with helpe of the Diuell hauing forsaken God For which these his vile actions this Gryshca according to the true iustice receiued an end to his life and was by abundance of people slain in the Mosco where he lay three dayes in the midst of the Citie to the view of all such like vsurpers and disturbers And because his body was loathsome vnto vs we caused it to be carried out of the Citie and there to be burnt This Enemie thus hauing ended his life then the Kings sonnes of diuers Countries now dwelling within our Kingdome with the Patriarke Metropolitanes Archbishops and Bishops with the Nobles Courtiers and the Commons made entreaty vnto vs Vasili Euanowich to raigne and gouerne ouer them and ouer all the Kingdome of Mosco as their Lord Emperour and great Duke of all Russia According to which entreatie made vnto vs by the said Kings sons of diuers Countries as likewise by our Nobles Courtiers Merchants and all the rest of the Commons of all the Kingdome of Mosco Wee are come to the great Kingdomes of Volodemar Mosco Nouogrod and as also of the Kingdomes of Cazan Astracan and Siberia and ouer all the Prouinces of the Empire of Mosco as also wee the great Lord Emperour and great Duke of all Russia are crowned with our Imperiall Crown and for the said Kings sonnes of diuers Religions and our Nobles Courtiers and Souldiers and all manner of People doe serue our Imperiall Maiesty with desire and good liking voluntarily and not by delusions and coniurations as the Poles and Lettoes were bewitched by Grishca But we the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Vasili Euanowich with great care stayed and restrayned our People from the spoyle of the Poles and the Lettoes defending them from death and withall haue commanded to let goe many of them into Poland and Letto but the chiefest of them that were of the Councell and that practised to bring trouble and dissention in the Kingdome of Mosco are now taken And we to doe an honour vnto the dead body of the true Demetrie haue vpon conference with our Metropolitanes Archbishops and Bishops and all the holy Assembly our Nobles and Courtiers and all the Kingdome of Mosco sent to the Citie of Owglets a Metropolitan named Filareta of Rostoue and Yeraslaue who was called before he was made Metropolitan Theodor Neekete which being one of the Nobles in times past and with him the Archbishops of Astracan called Feodosia and our Nobles the Duke Euan Michalowich Vorotinskoy with the rest of his fellowes commanding them to bring vp with them the body of the Prince Demetrie Euanowich who was murthered by the appointment of Boris Godonoue and to bring it vp to our Citie of Mosco with great honour which body shall be buried in the principall Church of Mosco called Michael the Archangel neare to his father the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Euan Vasilowich of famous memorie and by Gods power his body shall not be touched or abused any manner of way Likewise will we by the fauour of God honour the Funerall of Demetrie Euanowich with speciall solemnitie which body performeth many cures and worketh miraculously vnto them that come to him with Faith to be cured of their diseases And now most louing and deare brother wee calling well to minde the great amitie and friendship that was betwixt the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Euan Vasilywich and his Sonne Theodor Euanowich the Emperour Boris and the great Lady Queene Elizabeth the like brotherly loue doe we desire to haue with you most louing and deare brother to be established and continued betwixt vs as it was with them during our liues Therefore may it please you our louing brother Iames King of England after the hearing of these great and strange dangers past to reioyce with vs that he hath deliuered from such a vile enemy and that he our mercifull God hath diuided and scattered that wicked counsell and that he hath turned their cruelty vpon their owne head to their shame and confusion And concerning your Merchants that were in our Kingdome Iohn Merricke with his fellowes we haue graced them with our Emperiall presence as also haue giuen vnto the said Iohn Merricke and his fellowes a new priuiledge and Letters of fauour by which they shall come into our Kingdome and to traficke with all manner of goods freely without paying any Custome whatsoeuer and as to them was granted in former time and this fauour we haue giuen them to manifest vnto you our louing Brother our Brotherly loue And the reason that we haue not sent to you louing brother our Embassadour is because we had not time in regard of many our Emperiall affaires but hereafter doe purpose to send to visite you in your Kingdome Written at our Emperiall palace and Citie of Mosco from the beginning of the World Anno 7114. the fourth day of Iune Thus is Demetrius painted out by his Enemies which perhaps were not altogether led with simplicitie of truth but in many things made him worse that they might make their owne cause bad enough to appeare better They tell also of great outrages committed by the Poles like those sometimes here in England by the Danes their proud insulting ouer the men rauishments of women fetching them out of their houses and
fidelitie and for keeping their oath alreadie giuen Therefore after many circumstances they inferred that they would presently send their Messengers to the generall Parliament but mooued with the perswasion of the honorable Lord Generall to wit that his Maiestie would bee contented with their fidelitie once made and performed vnder oath and with their griefe for the same cause and will cheerefully forgiue them and doth not refuse to giue his Sonne to raigne ouer them Adding withall that many Kingdomes to wit the Kingdome of Hungarie the Kingdome of Bohemia and a great part of Russia doe earnestly request that he would receiue them vnder the happy gouernment of his Maiestie that they might enioy the priuiledges of Poland and Litow to which none in the whole world can be compared But because his Excellent Maiestie as a Christian Lord reiecting all other Kingdomes and Dominions will graciously receiue vnder his Rule and gouernment the said Dominions and that he is sorry for their destruction he therefore now admonisheth them if they will bee vnder his prosperous Rule and enter into an vnion together with the Kingdome of Poland and the great Duchy of Litow and liue friendly with them if they will performe and consent therevnto His Excellent Maiestie promiseth to remit their offence and to receiue them vnder his happy gouernment and authoritie and refuseth and by no meanes will alter or change their faith and conscience or places dedicated vnto God or builded for deuotion neither will impose on them any other Religion or alter their ancient Manners or Customes but will bestow on them priuiledges and offices and that the Rights and Priuiledges which the Poles with the great Duchy of Litow doe enioy shall be conferred on them and that they shall be equalled with the Kingdome and great Duchy of Litow c. which iurisdictions and priuiledges in former times their Predecessors wanted For this perswasion therefore of the honourable Lord Generall which he had in charge from his Maiestie to make they yeeld all thankes but notwithstanding they propound and plainly adde that their oath shall be so that his Maiesties sonne shall succeed in their gouernment with certaine additions to wit that they will haue none other ouer them but onely his Maiesties sonne and that the whole Land doth make it knowne and propound their iudgement and sentence by way of denunciation that by no meanes but by offering his Maiesties sonne these troubles of Moscouia can be extinguished Adding withall that at that time in the first troubles when the honourable Lord Generall came into the Country of Moscouia and required the oath for the Kings Maiesties sonne if his Maiestie had made any mention thereof it is certaine that the Commons and all the Nobilitie would not haue consented thereunto by any meanes and that greater effusion of bloud had risen thereupon And that they had taken for their Prince Klutzinsky called the Wor to whom all were not assembled who also at that time had a great power of men as well of Poles as Russes and Litowes They therefore seeing the great discord amongst the people taking counsell did freely choose for their Lord and Emperour his Excellent Maiesties sonne vnto whom they had a great affection and who had a long time before layen in their hearts assuring themselues also that by this election of his Maiesties sonne many troubles and dissentions would be pacified and so reiected the aforesaid Wor Klutzinsky As also they receiued into their chiefe Citie the chiefe Generall But when it was heard that his Excellent Maiestie would by no meanes giue vnto them his sonne for their Lord and to rule ouer them they fell into such effusion of bloud and insurrections As also the same time the whole Country of Moscouia looked and expected nothing else then his Maiesties sonne Calling to memorie for their better aduice that it was to be feared least whilest his Maiestie came too late with his sonne diuers parts of the Land should choose vnto themselues seuerall Lords As to the Southward the Castles Strachen and others to the King of Persia part of Pomerland and Siberia to the Kings of Denmarke and England Nouogrod Plesco Iuanogrod and others to the King of Sweden and that the other Cities would choose to themselues other Lords separate from the rest In the meane season they desire his Excellent Maiestie to make a speedy end of these warres according to his Obligation and promise ratified by the oath of the honorable Lord Generall and the whole Armie and that his Maiestie himselfe with his sonne would come into Moscouia They request also that his Excellent Maiestie would retayne with himselfe and his Sonne Counsellors and Messengers of their Commonwealth for the ordayning and concluding of perpetuall Conditions They request also that his Maiestie in the name of his Sonne would send vnto all the Inhabitants of the Townes and write vnto the seuerall Cities signifying his comming into their Dominions and willing that out of the seuerall Prouinces all sorts of men send their Messengers to treate and conclude of the affaires of all sorts of People and of peâ—petuall tranquillitie Promising after the said Charge and Letters to all people in generall and notifying from their said Lord that by Gods grace there may bee throughout the whole Land of Moscouia tranquillitie peace and securitie To conclude they pray heartily vnto the Lord God to grant vnto his Maiestie in this businesse begun a prosperous and speedy end Thus haue wee seene dissolute resolutions or resolute dissolutenesse men onely constant in inconstancy resolued vpon irresolution As we often see sicke persons turning euery way and no way eased in the night time longing for day and in the day for night such was now the Russian sicknesse they would and they would not and yet would againe and againe would not they scarsly knew what or why fluctuating in an inward storme of diuersifyed hopes feares desires distracted affections no lesse then in that outward broile of State For it was not long that they looked toward Poland whether for breach of conditions of that part or out of inueterate hate to the Pole or their Nationall iealousie and distrust of Strangers or a naturall inconstancy they fell off from that Prince and their Chancellor Father to the now raigning Emperour employed there with others in Embassage were detayned thereupon prisoners It is also reported that they made secret ouertures to His Maiestie of Great Britaine and that Sir Iohn Merick and Sir Willam Russel were therein employed but the strong conuulsions and sharpe agues and agonies of that State could not or would not endure the lingring of such remote pâ—isicke the wheele of Things being whirled about before such a Treatie might admit a passage of Messengers to and fro Once that Russian Head grew so heady and giddy that at last it bred innumerable Heads yea the whole Body became Heads in the worst of tyrannies a popular
Commissioners haue agreed since at this Treatie we could not accord vpon the full title of both the great Potentates As to intitle the Emperours Maiestie and of many other Dominions Lord and Conquerour and the Kings Maiestie with the title of Ingermanland wee haue of both sides great Commissioners referred the same to both great Potentates liking therein and if that either Potentate will be pleased to write the other with the full title as to the Emperours Maiestie the Kings Maiestie doth write the full title with the word Conquerour and that the Emperours Maiestie also doe write to the Kings Maiestie his full title with Ingermanland then both the Potentates are to send those titles by their Ambassadours and nominate the same full title in one of their Letters of confirmation and the other Letter to be written according to this our present agreement and if in both the Letters the titles be written to the full as the Emperours Maiesties full title with Conquerour and the Kings Maiestie with Ingermanland then both sides Ambassadours shall shew one the other the said Letters and hauing shewen them shall goe to each Prince with the same if then on either side the Potentate shall not like thereof and shall send the said Letters of confirmation with the short title according to this our present agreement the Ambassadours of both sides shall in like manner make knowne the same one to the other and so proceede therewith to both Potentates 14. Also it is agreed and concluded that there shall be free commerce of Trade betweene both the great Kingdomes the Empire of Russia and the Kingdome of Swethen and both Kingdomes subiects so that all the subiects of our great Lord Emperour and great Duke Michael Fedorowich of all Russia Sam. Merchants of the Dominions of Russia from Nouogrod Plesco and other Cities and Townes paying their due custome shall haue free liberty without let to trafficke at Stockholme Wiburgh Reuell Narue and other Townes in the Countries of Swethland Fynland and Leifland and they that dwell and plant themselues at Iuangrod Yam Copora Nettingburgh and Coreilla what Nation soeuer either Russe or other people shall haue free liberty without let to trafficke and to trade paying their due custome in the right Custome houses at Mosco Nouogrod Plesco Lodiga and other Townes of Russia with the Emperours Maiesties subiects and also haue libertie to trauell through the Dominions of our great Lord Emperor and great Duke M.F. c. for their trade of Merchandize within the Dominions of Russia 15. And by reason heretofore our great Lord Emperour and great Duke Michall Phedorowich of all Russia c. his Maiesties subiects Merchants had their free house of merchandize at Reuell also now by contract of Tausin and Wiburgh it is concluded they should haue a good place for a house appointed them in Reuell as also in other the Kings Maiesties Townes as at Stockholme and Wyburgh they shall haue house and Diuine Seruice according to their Religion in the said houses without let or hinderance but at Reuell in their Church as formerly they haue done yet to set vp no Church according to their Religion And as heretofore their Kings Maiesties his Subiects haue had a free house of trade at Nouogrod now also according to the contract of Tausina and Wyburgh they are to haue a good place for a house prepared them at Nouogrod and the Emperours Maiesties other Cities at Mosco and Plesco house for the said purpose and vse their Diuine Seruice according to their Religion in the house but to build no Churches for that vse any where For breuitie I haue omitted the following Articles to the 29. the substance whereof is as followeth The 16. determineth what debts shall be recouerable The 17. Free passage of Subiects thorow each others Territories 18. Freedome of Prisoners on both sides 19. Liberty of Inhabitants to stay in the places surrendred 20. Fugitiues to be redeliuered 21. Borderers to be restrained from robberies 22. For ending of quarrels if any happen 23.24 Confirmation of former contracts of Tawsina and Wiburge 25. No priuate or publike practise to be made against each other 26. Shewing of Letters of confirmation at the meeting of Ambassadours of both sides 27. Honorable conuoy for Ambassadours on either part 28. And also for Interpreters free passage 29. Item It is agreed and concluded that if by the permission and pleasure of God there happen an alteration of gouernment in Sweden or Russia them that Prince which shall newly come to his gouernment first shall reueale by his Ambassador to the other Prince from himselfe and after that the other shall visit him by his Ambassadour 30. Item If it so fall out at any time that of both sides the Princes as our great Lord c. their great Lord King Gustavus Adolphus shall find one to the other their great Ambassadours to confer of good matters then those said great Ambassadours vpon the borders shall meet without all controuersie or strife either betweene Odow and Euangorou or betweene Lodiga and Oreseke where they shall thinke most fitting for them on both sides in the midst of the diuision of the borders and there to conferre of these good matters in friendly and louing sort eyther by the Princes Commission or other commandement as they shall haue 31. Item If it happen that the Emperours Maiesties Subiects and Merchants their Boates Lodies and Merchants Vessels shall go to Reuell Wybourgh or other Townes and Castles of Swethen Fynland or Liefland or ships and other Vessels whereupon the Emperours Maiesties Ambassadours and Messengers shall be going to the Emperors Maiestie to the Pope into England or any other Kingdome by the Kingdome of Swethen or comming backe againe bee cast away and brought to the Swethish shoare eyther vpon the Salt Sea or the Lake of Lodiga by tempests or other meanes such people shall haue free libertie without hinderance to goe from thence with all the goods they can saue or shall get saued and the Kings Maiesties people shall helpe them to saue their goods In like manner if it happen with the Kings Maiestie Gustavus Adolphus of Swethen c. Subiects and Merchants Boats and Merchants Vessels with Commodities or otherwise be cast away and brought to the Emperors Maiesties shoare vpon the Ladigo or Plesco Lake then these people shall haue free liberty to goe away with all their goods which they can saue or get to be saued without let or hinderance and the Emperors Maiesties people shall helpe them to saue their goods 32. Item It is concluded and agreed on that our great Lord c. shall not ayde or assist against the Kings Maiesty of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus and the Crowne of Swethland the Kingdome of Poland and Lettow nor his Sonne Ladislaus and the Crowne of Poland and the Dukedome of Lettow nor all the Dominions of Poland and Lettow nor shall helpe him with men or treasure
of December they made their first Feast which was the principall of all others and for that cause they called it Capacrayme which is to say A rich and principall Feast In this Feast they offered a great number of sheepe and Lambes in Sacrifice and they burnt them with sweet wood then they caused Gold and Siluer to bee brought vpon certayne sheepe setting vpon them three Images of the Sunne and three of the Thunder the Father the Sonne and the Brother In these Feasts they dedicated the Inguas children putting Guaras or Ensignes vpon them and they pierced their eares then some old man did whip them with slings and annoynted their faces with bloud all in signe that they should be true Knights to the Ingua No stranger might remayne in Cusco during this moneth and this Feast but at the end thereof they entred and they gaue vnto them pieces of the paste of Mays with the bloud of the Sacrifice which they did eate in signe of confederation with the Ingua as hath beene said before It is strange that the Deuill after his manner hath brought a Trinitie into Idolatry for the three Images of the Sunne called Apomti Churunti and Intiquaoqui which signifieth Father and Lord Sunne the Sonne Sunne and the Brother Sunne In the like manner they named the three Images of Chuquilla which is the God that rules in the Region of the Ayre where it Thunders Raines and Snowes I remember that beeing in Cuquisaca an honourable Priest shewed me an information which I had long in my hands where it was prooued that there was a certayne Guaca or Oratory whereas the Indians did worship an Idoll called Tangatanga which they said was one in three and three in one Comming then to the Feast of the second moneth which they called Camey besides the Sacrifices which they made they did cast the ashes into the Riuer following fiue or sixe leagues after praying it to carry them into the Sea for that the Virochoca should there receiue this present In the third fourth and fift moneth they offered a hundred blacke sheepe speckled and grey with many other things which I omit for being too tedious The sixt moneth is called Hatuncuzqui Aymorey which answereth to May in the which they sacrificed a hundred sheepe more of all colours in this Moone and moneth which is when they bring May from the fields into the house they made a Feast which is yet very vsuall among the Indians and they doe call it Aymorey This Feast is made comming from the Chacra or Farme vnto the house saying certayne Songs and praying that the Mays may long continue the which they call Mamacora They take a certayne portion of the most fruitfull of the Mays that growes in their Farmes the which they put in a certayne Granier which they doe call Pirua with certayne Ceremonies watching three nights they put this Mays in the richest garments they haue and being thus wrapped and dressed they worship this Pirua and hold it in great veneration saying it is the Mother of the Mays of their Inheritances and that by this meanes the Mays augments and is preserued In this moneth they make a particular Sacrifice and the Witches demand of this Pirua if it hath strength sufficient to continue vntill the next yeere and if it answeres No then they carry this Mays to the Farme to burne whence they brought it according to euery mans power then make they another Pirua with the same Ceremonies saying that they renew it to the end the Seed of Mays may not perish and if it answers that it hath force sufficient to last longer they leaue it vntill the next yeere This foolish vanitie continueth to this day and it is very common amongst the Indians to haue these Piruas and to make the Feast of Aymorey The seuenth moneth answereth to Iune and is called Aucaycuzqui Intiraymi in it they made the Feast that is called Intiraymi in the which they sacrificed a hundred sheepe called Guanacos and said it was the Feast of the Sunne In this moneth they made many Images of Quinua wood carued all attired with rich garments and they made their dancings which they doe call Cayo At this Feast they cast flowers in the high wayes and thither the Indians came painted and their Noblemen had small plates of Gold vpon their beards and all did sing we must vnderstand that this Feast falleth almost at the same time when as the Christians obserue the Solemnitie of the holy Sacrament which doth resemble it in some sort as in dancing singing and representations And for this cause there hath beene and is yet among the Indians which celebrated a Feast somewhat like to ours of the holy Sacrament many Superstitions in celebrating this ancient Feast of Intiraymi The eight moneth is called Chahua Huarqui in the which they did burne a hundred sheep more all grey of the colour of Viscacha according to the former order which moneth doth answere to our Iuly The ninth moneth was called Yapaguis in which they burnt an hundred sheepe more of a Chesnut colour and they doe likewise kill and burne a thousand Cuyes to the end that neither the Frost the Ayre the water nor the Sunne should hurt their Farmes and this moneth doth answere vnto August The tenth moneth was called Coyarami in the which they burnt a hundred white sheepe that had fleeces In this moneth which answereth to September they made the Feast called Situa in this manner They assembled together the first day of the Moone before the rising thereof and in seeing it they cryed aloude carrying Torches in their hands and saying Let all harme goe away striking one another with their Torches They that did this were called Panconcos which being done they went to the common Bath to the Riuers and Fountaines and euery one to his owne Bath setting themselues to drinke foure dayes together In this moneth the Mamacomas of the Sunne made a great number of small Loaues with the bloud of the Sacrifices and gaue a piece to euery stranger yea they sent to euery Guaca throughout the Realme and to many Curacas in signe of confederation and loyaltie to the Sun and the Ingua as hath beene said The Bathes drunkennesse and some Relickes of this Feast Situa remayne euen vnto this day in some places with the Ceremonies a little different but yet very secretly for that these chife and principall Feasts haue ceased The eleuenth moneth Homaraymi Punchaiquis wherein they sacrficed a hundred sheepe more And if they wanted water to procure raine they set a blacke sheepe tyed in the middest of a Plaine powring much Chica about it and giuing it nothing to eate vntill it rayned which is practised at this day in many places in the time of our October The twelfth and last moneth was called Aymara wherein they did likewise sacrifice a hundred sheepe and made the Feast called Raymicantara Raquis In this moneth which
Bamba where he kept himselfe in the Mountaines by reason of the rough and difficult accesse and there the Successors Inguas remayned vntill Amaro who was taken and executed in the market place of Cusco to the Indians incredible griefe and sorrow seeing iustice done vpon him publiquely whom they held for their Lord. After which time they imprisoned others of the Linage of these Inguas I haue knowne Don Charles grand-child to Guaynacapa and sonne to Polo who was baptized and alwayes fauoured the Spaniards against Mangocapa his brother when the Marquesse of Canette gouerned in this Country Sarritopaingua went from Vilcabamba and came vpon assurance to the Citie of Kings where there was giuen to him the Valley of Yucay and other things to whom succeeded a daughter of his Behold the succession which is knowne at this day of that great and rich Familie of the Inguas whose raigne continued aboue three hundred yeeres wherein they reckon eleuen Successors vntill it was wholly extinguished In the other Linage of Vrincusco which as we haue said before had his beginning likewise from the first Mangocapa they reckon eight Successors in this sort To Mangocapa succeeded Cinchoraca to him Capac Yupangui to him Lluqui Yupangui to him Mayraca paest Tarcogumam vnto whom succeeded his sonne whom they name not to this sonne succeeded Don Iean Tambo Maytapanaça This sufficeth for the originall and succession of the Inguas that gouerned the Land of Peru with that that I haue spoken of their Lawes Gouernment and manner of Life ALthough you may see by the Historie written of the Kingdome succession and beginning of the Mexicans their manner of Commonweale and Gouernment yet will I speake briefly what I shall thinke fit in generall to bee most obserued whereof I wâ—ll discourse more amply in the Historie The first point whereby wee may iudge the Mexican gouernment to bee very politike is the order they had and kept inuiolable in the election of their King for since their first called Acamapach vnto their last which was Moteçuma the second of that name there came none to the Crowne by right of succession but by a lawfull Nomination and Election This election in the beginning was by the voice of the Commons although the chiefe men managed it Since in the time of Iscoalt the fourth King by the aduise and order of a wise and valiant man called Tlacael there were foure certaine Electors appointed which with two Lords or Kings subiect to the Mexican the one of Tescuco and the other of Tucuba had power to make this election They did commonly choose young men for their Kings because they went alwayes to the warres and this was in a manner the chiefe cause why they desired them so They had a speciall regard that they should bee fit for the warres and take delight and glorie therein After the election they made two kindes of feasts the one in taking possession of the Royall Estate for the which they went to the Temple making great ceremonies and sacrifices vpon the Harth called Diuine where there was a continuall fire before the Altar of the Idoll and after some Rhetoricians practised therein made many Orations and Speeches The other feast and the most solemne was at his Coronation for the which hee must first ouercome in battell and bring a certaine number of Captiues which they must sacrifice to their gods hee entred in triumph with great pompe making him a solemne reception aswell they of the Temple who went all in procession sounding on sundrie sorts of instruments giuing Incense and singing like secular men as also the Courtiers who came forth with their deuises to receiue the vâ—ctorious King The Crowne or royall Ensigne was before like a Myter and behinde it was cut so as it was not round for the forepart was higher and did rise like a point The King of Tescuco had the priuilege to crown the King of Mexico In the beginning when the Mexicans were but poore and weake the Kings were very moderate in their expenses and in their Court but as they increased in power they increased likewise in pompe and state vntill they came to the greatnesse of Moteçuma who if he had had no other thing but his house of Beasts and Birds it had beene a proud thing the like whereof hath not beene seene for there was in this house all sorts of fish birds of Xacamamas and beasts as in an other Noahs Arke for Sea fish there were Pooles of salt-water and for Riuer fish Lakes of fresh-water birds that doe prey were fed and likewise wilde beasts in great abundance there were very many Indians imployed for the keeping of these beasts and when he found an impossibilitie to nourish any sort of fish fowle or wilde beast he caused the Image or likenesse to be made richly cut in precious stones siluer or gold in marble or in stone and for all sorts of entertainments he had his seuerall Houses and Palaces some of pleasure others of sorrow and mourning and others to treat of the affaires of the Realme There was in this Palace many Chambers according to the qualitie of the Noble men that serued him with a strange order and distinction THe Mexicans haue beene very curious to diuide the degrees and dignities amongst the noble men and Lords that they might distinguish them to whom they were to giue the greatest honor The dignitie of these foure Electors was the greatest and most honorable next to the King and they were chosen presently after the Kings election They were commonly brothers or very neere Kinsmen to the King and were called Tlacohecalcalt which signifies Prince of darts the which they cast being a kinde of armes they vse much The next dignitie to this were those they doe call Tlacatecati which is to say Circumcisers or Cutters of men The third dignitie were of those which they called Ezuahuacalt which signifies A shedder of bloud All the which Titles and Dignities were exercised by men of warre There was another a fourth intituled Tlilancalqui which is as much to say as Lord of the blacke house or of darknesse by reason of certaine Inke wherewith the Priests anointed themselues and did serue in their Idolatries All these foure Dignities were of the great Counsell without whose aduise the King might not doe any thing of importance and the King being dead they were to choose another in his place out of one of those foure Dignities Besides these there were other Counsels and Audiences and some say there were as many as in Spaine and that there were diuers Seates and Iurisdictions with their Counsellors and Iudges of the Court and others that were vnder them as Corrigidors chiefe Iudges Captaines of Iustice Lieutenants and others which were yet inferior to these with a very goodly order All which depended on the foure first Princes that assisted the King These foure onely had authoritie and power to condemne
King Huiçilihuitl G the instruments of warre IN the yeere 1396. in the said Lordship succeeded Huiçilihuitl sonne of Acamapich and during the time of his reigne in his Lordship he conquered by force of armes eight Townes which are contayned in the pictures here before with the names of the same Townes intituled the which were made tributarie to the Mexican Lordship acknowledging seruitude The said Huiçilihuitl was valiant in warres and inclined to haue many wiues by whom he had many sons wherewith the power of the Mexicans was augmented The time of the Lordship and life of the said Huiçilihuitl therein was 21. yeeres at the end whereof he dyed and departed this present life according as by the pictures of blue are numbred A B C D E F G H I A tenne yeeres B Chimalpupuca C Target and Darts to intimate his forcible conquest of D Tequixquiac and E Chalco F sheweth his death G the Towne of Chalco in rebellion H the foure Canoas and I the fiue men abouesaid of Mexico which the Rebels slue You see this King and euery other both King and Towne distinguished by speciall Armes or Scutchions with other particulars which here and in all the rest I leaue to each Readers owne industrie and search IN the yeere 1470. after the death of Huicilihuitl succeeded Chimalpupuca in the said Lordship of Mexico sonne of the said Huicilihuitl and during his time hee subdued by force of armes the Townes of Tequixquiac and Chalco which Chalco is a great Towne and acknowledging seruitude they paid tribute to the Lordship of Mexico according as the pictures doe shew And hauing the said Townes thus in subiection at the end of certaine yeeres the said Towne of Chalco being mightie rebelled against the Mexicans and in the rebellion there grew danger to the Mexicans insomuch that they slue fiue of them and brake them foure Canoas according as here is signified by the pictures The time of the life and Lordship of the said Chimalpupuca was ten yeeres at the end whereof hee dyed according as is numbred by the blue pictures in the margent And likewise the said Chimalpupuca in the time of his life had many wiues and sons for it was accounted a matter of reputation A F B C D G H I K L M N O The explanation of the first Table A 13. yeeres Yzcoatci F by force of Armes signified by this Target and Darts subdued the Townes and Territories of B Azcapucalco C Coyvacan D Teocalhucyacan G Guaguaâ—an H Tlacopan I Atlacuihuayan K Mixcoac L Quauximalpan M Quauhtitlan N Tupan O Acolhuacan IN the yeere 1427. in the said Dominion of Mexico after the death of Chimalpopuca succeeded Yzcoatçi Sonne of Acamapich which had beene Lord of Mexico and during his time hee conquered by force of Armes foure twentie Townes which are here pictured which Townes he made subiect to the Lorship of Mexico at one inuasion which he made for he was as valiant and warlike in Armes as the said Acamapich and was a man of good iudgement and wise in many matters and by his good industries he subdued the said Townes which gaue him tribute and did acknowledge seruitude The said Yzcoatçi had many Concubines by whom he had seuen Sonnes and Daughters and he reigned in the said Lordship thirteene yeeres at the end whereof the said Yzcoatçi dyed and departed this present life In the other Table in the originall being another Page follow A Mizquic B Cuitlahuac C Xochinuilcopu D Chalco E Quauhtlatoa the Lord of Tlatilulco the Towne also added F Huicilapan G Quauhnahuac H Cuecalan I Caqualpan K Iztepec L Xiuhtepec M Yoalan N Tepequacnilco A B C D E F G H I K L M N IN the yeere 1440. after the death of Yzcoatçi succeeded Gueguemoteçuma in the Lordship of Mexico the Sonne of Guiçilihuitl which had beene Lord of Mexico and during his time he conquered by force of Armes three and thirtie Townes according as they are pictured in that compasse where the Picture of Gueguemoteçuma standeth And hauing subdued them to the said Lordship of Mexico they payed him tribute acknowledging their subiection This Gueguemoteçuma was a very seuere and graue Lord and giuen to vertue and was a man of a good nature and vnderstanding and an enemie to all euill vices and beeing of a good inclination set downe Orders and Lawes in his Common-wealth and to all his Seruants how they ought to liue and also ordayned grieuous penalties for the breach of them which penalties were executed without any remission vpon those that brake the Lawes He was not cruell but rather gentle and desirous of the welfare of his Subiects not vicious in women hee had two Sonnes hee was very temperate in drinking for in all his life time hee was neuer seene to bee drunke as the naturall Indians which are extremely inclined to drunkennesse but rather he commanded him to be corrected and punished that committed such a fact And by his seueritie and Iustice and good example of life hee was feared and reuerenced of all his Subiects all his life time which was the space of nine and twentie yeeres At the end whereof he dyed and passed out of this present life A nine and twentie yeeres C Huehuemotecçuma D by force of Armes subdued B Lord Atonal and his Towne Coayxtlahuacan E Mamalhuaztepec F Tenanco G Tetuchtepec H Chiconquianhco I Xiuhtepec K Totolapan L Chalco M Quauhnahuac N Atlatlanhca O Huaxtepec A C D B E F G H I K L M N O In the second Table A Yauhtepec B Tepuztlan C Tepatzcince D Yacapichtlan E Yoaltepec F Tlachco G Tlalcocauhtitlan H Tepequacuilco I Quiyanteopan K Chontalcoatlan L. Hucipuchtlan M Atotonilco N Axocopan O Tulan P Xilotepec Q Yzquincuitlapilco R Atotonilco S Tlapacoyan T Chapolixitla V Tlatlauhquitepec X Cuetlaxtlan Y Quanhtochco A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V X Y IN the yeere 1479. after the death of Gueguemotezuma succeeded in the Lordship of Mexico Axayacaci sonne of Teçoçomoetliquieto which was the sonne of Yzcoalt Lord of Mexico And during the time that the said Axayacaci was Lord he conquered and won by force of armes seuen and thirtie Townes as hereafter are pictured and named Amongst which Townes hee subdued vnder his Lordship by force of armes the Towne of Tlatilulco a thing of great importance Moquihuix was Lord of Tlatilulco at that time who being a mightie person of great strength and of a proud nature began to giue occasion of dissention and warres to the Lords of Mexico hauing heretofore held them for friends by occasion whereof hee had great incounters and battailes wherein the said Moquihuix Lord of Tlatilulco dyed in throwing himselfe downe from a Cu or a high Mezcita or Temple for he seeing himselfe so hard beset in the battaile being almost ouercome entred into a Mizcita to saue himselfe because hee would not be taken prisoner And an Alfaqui or Priest which was in the Mezquito or Temple
reprouing him for it and imputing cowardise vnto him he threw himselfe downe as aforesaid At which time the Mexicans had the victorie And thenceforth the Towne of Tlatilulco was subiect to the Lord of Mexico paying tribute and acknowledging subiection Axayacaci was very valiant and warlike in armes and was viciously giuen to women hauing had many wiues and sonnes he was also proud and warlike whereby all his subiects feared him extremely hee did maintaine and hold for good all the Lawes and Ordinances that his predecessor Gueguemotizuma had made according as hath beene mentioned in his Historie and hee continued the space of twelue yeeres in the said Lordship of Mexico at the end whereof he dyed and departed out of this present life A B C A twelue yeeres B Axayacaci C by armed force subdued these Townes following not as before expressed in picture Tlatilulco Atlapulco Xalatlanhio Tlacotepec Motopec Capulnac Ocoyâ—â—ac Quanhpanoayan Xochiacan Teotenanco Caliymayan Cinacantepec Tulucan Xiquipilco Tenancinco Tepeyacac Tlaximaloyan Oztoma Xacotitlan Ocuilan Oztoticpac Matlatlan Cuezcomatlyacac Tecalco Cuetlaxtlan Puxcauhtlan Alcuilizapan Tlaolan Mixtlan Cuecaloztoc Tetzapotitlan Miquizetlan Tamuoc Taupatel Tuchpan Tenexticpac Quauhtlan IN the yeere 1482. after the end and death of Axayacaci succeeded in the Lordship of Mexico Tiçoçicatzi sonne of the said Axayacaci and during the time of his raigne he conquered and got by force of armes fourteene Townes The said Tiçoçicatzi was very valiant and warlike in armes and before that he succeeded in the Lordship of Mexico he had done dangerous feates of valiantnesse in his owne person in the warres whereby hee obtayned the title of Tlacatecatl which they esteemed for a Title of great honour and estate and it was a degree whereâ—y that the Lordship of Mexico being vacant he which had the same degree and title succeeded in the place of the same Dominion of Mexico which title in like manner his Predecessors Brothers and Father and Grand-father had whereby they came to bee Lords of Mexico Also the said Ticocicatzi by the estate and authoritie of the said Lordship of Mexico had many Wiues and Sonnes which hee had by them and he was a graue and seuere man in commanding and was feared and reuerenced of his Subjects hee was likewise enclined to good and vertuous things and was good for his Commonwealth He commanded the Lawes and Statutes to bee kept and approoued for good that his Predecessors had amplified and kept since the time of Gueguemotezuma And he was zealous in punishing and chastning the euâ—ll vices and offence that his Subjects committed And so the Mexican Commonwealth was well ordered and gouerned the time of his life which was the space of fiue yeeres at the end whereof he dyed and departed this present life A B C A Fiue yeeres B Ticocicatzi C by armes subdued these Townes Tonahymoquezayan Toxico Ecatepec Zilan Tecaxic Tuluca Yancuitlan Tlapan Atezcahuacan Mazatlan Xochiyetla Tamapachco Ecatlyquapochco Miquetlan IN the yeere 1486. after the death of Tizizocatzi succeeded Ahuizozin brother to his Predecessor Tizozicatzi in the Signorie of Mexico And during the time of his Lordship he conquered by force of armes fiue and fortie Townes according as hereafter are pictured and named The said Ahuizozin was like to his Predecessor and Brother Tizizocatzi in valiantnesse and feates of warre whereby he got the title of Tlacatecatl which signifieth a great Captaine and from the same title he came to be Lord of Mexico The said Ahuizozin was by nature of a good inclination and giuen to all vertue and likewise in the course of his life hee had his Commonwealth ruled and gouerned well and he fulfilled and kept the Lawes and Statutes that his Predecessors had maintayned since the time of Gueguemotezuma And as the state of the Lordship of Mexico was brought to great Majestie and had the greatest part of this New Spaine subiect acknowledging their seruice and by the great and rich tributes which they gaue the said Mexican Lordship came to much renowme and mightinesse And he like a mightie and great minded Prince gaue great things and preferments to his seruants and he was temperate of condition and mercifull whereby his seruants loued him exceedingly and yeelded him great reuerence And likewise hee had many wiues and children by them because it was a thing adioyned to the Lordship and a point of great estate He was of a merrie condition whereby his seruants did feast him continually in his life time with great and diuers kindes of feasts and musick and songs and instruments as well in the night as in the day for in his place the Musicians and Singers neuer ceased with many Instruments of musicke The course of his life in that Signiorie was sixteene yeeres at the end whereof he dyed and passed out of this present life A B C A sixteene yeeres B Ahuizozin C conquered by armes the townes following Tziccoac Tlappan Molanco Amaxtlan Zapotlan Xaltepec Chiapan Tototepec Xochtlan Xolochiuhylan Cozaquanâ—tenanco Coçohuipilecan Coyâ—acac Acatepec Huexolotlan Acapulco Xiuâ—huacan Apancalecan Tecpatepec Tepechiapco Xicochimalco Xiuhteczacatlan Tequantepec Coyolapan Yztactlalocan Teocuitlatlan Huehaetlan Quanhxayacatitlan Yzhuatlan Comitlan Nanâ—zintlan Huipilan Cahualan Ystatlan Huiztlan Xolotlan Quanhnacaztlan Macatlan Ayanhtochiuitlatla Quanhtlan Cuâ—calcuitlapila Mapachtepâ—c Quauhpilolan Tlacoâ—â—pec Mizquitlan IN the yeere 1502. after the end and death of Ahuiçoçin succeeded in the Lordship of Mexico Motezuma Mexico was now growne into great Majestie Renowme and Authoritie and he by his grauitie and seueritie enlarged exceedingly the State and Dominion of Mexico yea a great deale more then his Predecessors Motexzeuma was the sonne of Axayaçaçi which had beene Lord of Mexico and before hee came to the said Lordship hee had the deserts of a worthy Captaine and a valiant man in warres whereby hee had the title of Tlacatecatl and so hee succeeded in the Lordship of Mexico as is before rehearsed and being in the said Lordship he did greatly increase the Mexican Empire bearing the rule ouer all the Townes in this New Spaine insomuch that they gaue and payed him great tributes of much riches and valâ—e He was feared very much of all his seruants and likewise of his Captaines and Principals insomuch that not one when they had any businesse with him for the great reuerence they had him iâ— durst for feare looke him in the face but that they held downe their eyes and their head low and enclined to the ground and many other extraordinarie respects and ceremonies they did vnto him for the Maiestie he represented vnto them not mentioned here for auoyding of tediousnesse After Mâ—tâ—zuma had succeeded in the said Lordship hee conquered foure and fortie Townes hereafter named and hee subdued them vnder his Lordship and Empire and in their acknowledging of seruitude all the continuance of his life they payed him many and great tributes as hereafter by their pictures and declarations is made manifest Moteçuma was by nature wise and an Astrologer and a Philosopher
subtile and skilled generally in all artes aswell of warres as all other matters temporall And for his grauitie and estate he had of his Lordship the beginning of an Empire according as his seruants did reuerence him with great honor and power that in comparison of him not one of his predecessors came to halfe so much estate and Majestie The Statutes and Lawes of his Predecessors since the time of Gueguemoteçuma vntill his time he commanded to bee kept and wholly fulfilled with great zeale And because hee was a man so wise by his good nature he ordayned and made other Statutes and Lawes which he thought defectiue for the execution of the former not abrogating any all which were for the welfare and good gouernment of his Commonwealth and Subjects Hee was inclined to keepe many houses and women which were daughters of the Lords his Subjects and Confederates and by them he had many children and to haue so many wiues was for to set forth his Majestie the more for they hold it for a point of great estate Among which the daughâ—ers of the Lords of great authoritie he held for lawfull wiues according to their rights and ceremonies and them hee kept within his Palaces and dwelling houses and the children that came of them were had in reputation as more lawfull children then the others which hee had by the other women It were a large historie to tell the order he had in keeping of them and conuersation with them And because this present historie is but briefe it is left vnrehearsed The quantitie value and number of the tributes and kindes of things that his subjects did pay for tribute vnto him shall be seene and vnderstood hereafter as by the pictures and declarations is signified And he made a straight order that the tributes which they payed him should be fulfilled according as they were leuied by him for the fulfilling whereof he had in all his subject-townes his Calpixques and Factors which were as Gouernors that ruled commanded and gouerned them and hee was so much feared that none durst disobey nor transgresse his will and commandement but that they were kept and wholly fulfilled because he punished and corrected the rebels without remission And in the sixteenth yeere of the reigne of Motezuma the Mexicans had knowledge of certaine Spaniards which were discouerers of this New Spaine that at the end of twelue moneths there should come a fleet of Spaniardâ— to ouercome and conquer this Country and the Mexicans kept account thereof and they found it to bee true for at the end of the said twelue moneths was the arriuall of the said fleet at a Hauen of this New Spaine in the which fleet came Don Ferdinando Cortes Marques del Valle which was the seuenteenth yeere of the reign of Motezuma and in the eighteenth yeere he made an end of the continuance of his Lordship and Raigne in the which yeere he dyed and departed this present life At the time when Motezuma came to his gouernment he was fiue and thirtie yeeres old little more or lesse so that at his decease he was three and fiftie yeeres of age And straightway in the yeere after his death this Citie of Mexico and other Townes adjoyning were ouercome and pacified by the said Marques del Valle and his Confederates And so this New Spaine was conquered and pacified A The number of 19. yeeres 18. yeeres of his raigne and that other which followed in his Successor wherin Mexico was conquered as you may see in the next chapter B the fourth yeere of his raigne in which hee began his conquest C Motezuma D the instruments of warre by which hee conquered Achâ—otlan Zozolan Nochiztlan Tecutepec Zulan Tlaniztlan Huilotepec Yepatepoc Yztactlalocan Chichâ—â—ualtatacala Tecaxic Tlachinolticpac Xoconochco Ziâ—acantlan Huiztlan Piaztlan Molanco Zaquantepec Piptyoltepec Hucyapan Tecpatlan Amatlan Caltepec Pantepec Teoazinco Tecozauhtla Teochiapan Zacatepec Tlachquiyanhco Malinaltepâ—c Quimichtepec Yzquintepec Zenzontepec Quetzaltepec Cuezcomayxtlahuacan Huexolotlan Xalapan Xaltianhnizco Yoloxonecuila Atepec Mictlan Yztitlan Tliltepec Comaltâ—pec A B C D These townes were gouerned by the Casiques Principals of Mexico appointed by the Lords of Mexico for the good defence and gouernment of the naturall people and for the securitie of the Townes that they should not rebell as also for the charge they had to gather and command to be gathered the Rents and Tributes that they were bound to giue and pay to the Dominion of Mexico Citlalâ—epec Quanhtochco Mixcoatl Tlacatectli a Gouernour Zoâ—panâ—â— Xâ—ltocan Tlacatectli a Gouernour Acalhuacon Tlacochtectli a Gouernour Huaxac Yzteyocan Coatitlan Huixachtitlan Tlacatectlâ— a Gouernour Tlacochtectli a Gouernour Zozolan Poetepec Coatlayancham Acolnahuas Puputlan Yztacolco Chalcoatenco Tlacochtectly a Gouernour Tlacatecatl a Gouernour Oztoma Atzacan Atlan Omequuh Tezcacoacatl a Gouernour Tlilancalqui a Gouernour Xoconochco Tecapotitlan §. II. The second part of this Booke contayning the particular Tributes which euery Towne subdued paid vnto the Lords of Mexico HEre follow pictured and intituled the kinds of things that they of Tlatilulco which at this day is called by the Spaniards Saint Iames did pay in tribute to the Lords of Mexico and the said tribute summed here is that which followeth They were charged for tribute alwayes to repaire the Church called Huiznahuac Item fortie great Baskets of the bignesse of halfe a Bushell of Cacao ground with the Meale of Maiz which they called Chianpinoli and euery Basket had sixteene hundred Almonds of Cacao Item other fortie Baskets of Chianpinoli Item eight hundred burthens of great Mantels Item eightie pieces of Armour of slight Feathers and as many Targets of the same Feathers of the deuices colours as they are pictured All the which tribute except the said armes and targets they gaue euery 24. dayes and the said armes and targets they gaue for tribute but once in the whole yeere The said tribute had his beginning since the time of Quaâ—htlatoa and Moquihuix which were Lords of Tlatilulco The Lords of Mexico which first enioyned to those of Tlatilulco to pay tribute and to acknowledge their subiection were Yzcoatçi and Axiacaçi A the Temple of Huiznahuac B 20. baskets of Cacao meale the Eare and Meale figured C 20. more of the same C 20. D 20. E 20. baskets of Chiaupinoli F 40. peeces of Armes of this deuice G 40. of this deuice like the former but that is white with blacke streakes this yellow H I are each 400. burthens the â—are signed 400. of Mantles K These foure like vnto flowres doe signifie foure dayes euery flowre 20. dayes as they of Tlatilulco did tribute the things pictured and intituled by taxation of the Lords of Mexico I. 40 Targets of this deuice to expresse the difference of colours in each particular were too tedious N Tlatilulco The names of Quauhtlatoa and Moquihuix Lords of Tlatilulco are added because in their times it began as also of Tenuxtitlan Izcoaci and Apayacan to intimate that these two Lords of Mexico or Tenuxtitlan subdued them
a matter of importance they appealed from the Counsell Chamber before Moteçuma the King himselfe where the matter was concluded In the Chamber that is intituled The Counsell Chamber of warre were prouided Captaines and Armies for the warres as was appointed by Moteçuma A The Throne and Maiestie of Moteçuma where he sate on Court-dayes and on iudgement B Moteçuma C a house where the Lords of Tâ—nayâ—ca Chienauhtla and Colhuacan were lodged that were friends and confederates of Moteçuma D a house where the chiefe Lords of Tezcucoytacuba were lodged that were Moteçuma his friends EFG The Court of the royall houses of Moteçuma HK These lines that goe vpward are the steps to the Courts of the royall houses of Moteçuma I The counsell chamber of warre K The counsell chamber of Moteçuma L These foure are as Auditors of the counsell of Moteçuma wise men M Pleaders and Sutors that in the degree and appellation from the Alcaldes doe present themselues and appeare before the Auditors of the counsell of Moteçuma THe father and the sonne that sit against each other face to face signifie that the father giueth his sonne good counsell that he be not vicious laying before him for example that those which come to vertue come afterwards in credit with the Lords and Casiques In that they giue them honest offices and doe vse them to be their Messengers and they doe admit Musicians and Singers vnto their feasts and weddings for the credit they beare 2 The pictured in the house where they meane to talke and prouide for publike affaires and the Steward that sitteth therein doth signifie that there are before him weeping because it hath happened vnto them to be occupied in bodily labour that the Coas and Guacales doe represent And the Steward is giuing them good counsell and exhorting them to flee idlenesse is the cause that they come to be Theeues and players at the Ball and players at Patol after the manner of Dice from which Games doe spring theft for to satisfie and fulfill such vices 3 The Carpenter Lapidane Painter Gold-smith and garnisher of feathers signifie that those Artificers teach their sonnes their occupation from their childhood that when they are men they might follow their Trade and spend their time in things of vertue giuing them counsell that of idlenesse commeth euill vices and so euill tongues tale-bearing drunkennesse and theeuerie and many other euill vices A a Messenger BCD The father counselleth his sonne to apply himselfe to all vertue E One hauing a ghest entertayneth a Musician FGI a house where they meâ—t for publike affaires H The Petlacalcatl KM Coa and Guacal LN Touthes O a vagabond P a player at the ball Q a Thiefe R a player at Patol or Dice after their manner S a Carpenter T The Carpenters sonne V a Lapidarie W The Lapidaries sonne X a Painter Y The Painters sonne Z a Gold-smith The Gold-smiths sonne Aa An ill tongued man and tale-bearer Bb An artificer that garnisheth with feathers Cc The artificers sonne Dd a drunkard Ee a drunkard and thiefe the last worke like a halter seemes to signifie the euill ends which such come to The particular punishments follow in the next picture A These two Pictures signifie that the young men that were drunke with Wine dyed for that according to the Law B A young man that was drunke C A young woman if shee were drunke with Wine was killed heere according to the Lawes of Mexico D A Thiefe they stoned him to death according to the Lawes of the Lords of Mexico E These two Pictures layed and couered with clothes doe shew that if any man had carnall dealing with a married woman they stoned them both to death according to the Lawes of the Lords of Mexico F An old man of threescore and tenne yeeres hath licence to drinke Wine and to bee drunke aswell publikely as secretly because he is so old and hath Sonnes and Nephewes at which yeeres Wine and drunkennesse was not forbidden them G An old woman wife to the old man aboue pistured had priuiledge to bee drunke as well as her Husband because shee had children and childrens children and to all those of the like age drunkennesse was not forbidden them CHAP. VIII Conquest of Mexico and New Spaine by HERNANDO CORTES HErnando Cortes was borne at Medellin in Andulozia a Prouince of Spaine Anno 1485. When he was nineteene yeeres old he sayled to the Iland of Saint Domingo where Ouando the Gouernour kindly entertayned him He went to the conquest of Cuba in the yeere 1511. as Clerke to the Treasurer vnder the conduct of Iames Velasques who gaue vnto him the Indians of Manicorao where hee was the first that brought vp Kine Sheepe and Mares and had heards and flockes of them and with his Indians he gathered great quantitie of Gold so that in short time he was able to put in two thousand Castlins for his stocke with Andres de Duero a Merchant At this time Christopher Morante had sent Anno 1517. Francis Hernandes de Cordoua who first discouered Xucatan whence he brought nothing except the relation of the Country but stripes whereupon Iames Velasques in the yeere 1518. sent his Kinsman Iohn de Grijalua with two hundred Spaniards in foure ships he traded in the Riuer of Tauasco and for trifles returned much Gold and curious workes of feathers Idols of Gold a whole harnesse or furniture for an armed man of Gold thin beaten Eagles Lions and other pourtratures found in Gold c. But while Grijalua deferred his returne Velasques agreed with Cortes to bee his partner in the Discouery which he gladly accepted and procured licence from the Gouernours in Domingo and prepared for the Voyage Velasques afterward vsed all meanes to breake off in so much that Cortes was forced to engage all his owne stocke and credit with his friends in the Expedition and with fiue hundred and fiftie Spaniards in eleuen ships set saile the tenth of February 1519. and arriued at the Iland of Acusamil The Inhabitants at first fled but by the kind entertainment of some that were taken they returned and receiued him and his with all kind offices They told him of certayne bearded men in Yucatan whither Cortes sent and one of them Geronimo de Aguilar came vnto him who told him that by shipwracke at Iamaica their Caruell being lost twentie of them wandred in the Boat without sayle water or bread thirteene or fourteene dayes in which space the violence of the current had cast them on shoare in a Prouince called Maija where as they trauelled seuen dyed with famine and their Captayne Valdinia and other foure were sacrificed to be Idols by the Cacike or Lord of the Counâ—rey and eaten in a solemne Banquet and he with sixe other were put into a Coope or Cage to bee fatned for another Sacrifice But breaking Prison they escaped to another Cacike enemy to the former where all the rest dyed but himselfe and Gonsalo
with wildernesse for euerie sort To these places the Lords of Mexico vsed to goe and sport themselues such and so many were the houses of Mutezuma wherein few Kings were equall with him He had daily attending vpon him in his priuate Guard sixe hundred Noblemen and Gentlemen and each of them three or foure seruants and some had twentie seruants or moe according to his estate and in this manner he had three thousand men attendant in his Court and some affirme more all the which were fed in his house of the meate that came from his table The seruing men alwaies abode below in the Court all the day and went not from thence till after Supper It is to be thought that his Guard was the greater because the strangers were there although in effect of truth it is most certaine that all the Lords that are vnder the Mexicall Empire as they say are thirtie persons of high estate who are able to make each of them a hundred thousand men There are three thousand Lords of Townes who haue many vassals These Noblemen did abide in Mexico certaine times of the yeare in the Court of Mutezuma and could not depart from thence without especiall licence of the Emperour leauing each of them a sonne or brother behinde them for securitie of rebellion and for this cause they had generally houses in the Citie such and so great was the Court of Mutezuma There is not in all the Dominions of Mutezuma any subiect that paieth not tribute vnto him The Noblemen pay their tribute in personall seruice The Husbandmen called Maceualtin with body and goods In this sort they are either Tenants or else heires to their possessions Those which are heires doe pay one third part of all their fruite and commoditie that they doe reape or bring vp as Dogges Hennes Foule Conies Gold Siluer Stones Salt Waxe Honie Mantels Feathers Cotten and a certaine fruite called Cacao that serueth for money and also to eate Also all kinde of Graine and Garden Hearbes and Fruites whereof they doe maintaine themselues The Tenants doe pay monethly or yearely as they can agree and because their tribute is great they are called slaues for when they may haue licence to eate Egges they thinke it a great fauour It was reported that they were taxed what they should eate and all the residue was taken from them They went verie poorely cloathed yea and the most of their treasure was an earthen Pot wherein they boiled their Hearbes a couple of Milstones to grinde their Corne and a Mat to lye vpon They did not onely paie this Rent and Tribute but also serued with their bodies at all times when the great King should command They were in such great subiection to their Prince that they durst not speake one word although their daughters should be taken from them to be vsed at pleasure All the aforesaid rents they brought to Mexico vpon their backes and in Boates I meane so much as was necessarie for the prouision of the House and Court of Mutezuma all the rest was spent among Souldiers and bartred for Gold Plate Precious stones and other rich Iewels esteemed of Princes all the which was brought to the Treasurie In Mexico was large and great Barnes and Houses to receiue and keepe the Corne for prouision of the Citie with Officers and vnderofficers who did receiue the same and kept account thereof in Bookes of painted figures And in euery Towne was a Receiuer who bare in his hand a rod or a bush of Feathers and those gaue vp their accounts in Mexico If any such had beene taken with deceit and falshood death was his reward yea and his kinred punished with penalties as of a linage of a traitour to his Prince The Husbandmen if they paid not well their Tribute were apprehended for the same and if they were found to be poore through sicknesse and infirmitie then they were borne withall but if they were found to be lazie and sloathfull they should be vsed accordingly but in conclusion if they paied it not at a day appointed then they should be sold for slaues to pay their debt or else be sacrificed There were many other Prouinces which paid a certaine portion and reknowledged seruice but this Tribute was more of honour then profit In this sort Mutezuma had more then suffitient to prouide his house and wars and to heape vp great store in his Treasury Moreouer he spent nothing in the building of his houses for of long time he had certaine Townes that paid no other Tribute but onely to worke and repaire continually his Houses at their owne proper cost and paid all kinde of workemen carrying vpon their backes or drawing in sleds Stone Lime Timber Water and all other necessaries for the worke Likewise they were bound to prouide all the firewood that should be spent in the Court which was a great thing and did amount to two hundred and thirty weight a day which was fiue hundred mens burdens and some dayes in the winter much more And for the Kings Chimneys they brought the barke of Oake trees which wes best esteemed for the light thereof for they were great Sorcerers Mutezuma had one hundred Cities with their Prouinces of whom he receiued Rents Tributes and Vâ—ssalage where he maintained Garrison of Souldiers and had Treasurers in each of them His dominion did extend from the North sea to the South sea and six hundred miles in longitude within the maine Land although in very deede there were some Townes as Tlaxcallon Mechuacan Panuco and Teocantepec which were his enemies and paid him neither Tribute nor Seruice but yet the Ransome was much when any of them was taken Also there were oâ—her Kings and Noblemen as of Texcuto and Tlacopan which were not in subiection vnto him but onely in homage and obedience for they were of his owne linage vnto whom Mutezuma married his Daughters Description of Mexico as it flourished in those times MExico at the time when Cortes entred was a Citie of sixtie thousand houses The Kings house and oâ—her Noblemens houses were great large and beautifull the other were small and meane without either doores or windowes and although they were small yet there dwelleth in some of them two three yea and ten persons by reason whereof the Citie was wonderfully replenished with people This Citie is built vpon the water euen in the same order as Venice is All the body of the Citie standeth in a great large Lake of water There are three sorts of streetes very broad and faire the one sort are onely water with many Bridges another sort of onely earth and the third of earth and water that is to say the one halfe earth to walke vpon and the other halfe for Boates to bring prouision of all sorts These streetes are kept alwayes cleane and the most part of the houses haue two doores the one towards the Cawsey and the other
King 376.50 He cares not to encrease his Dominion ibid. His brothers and Cousins of little authoritie 379.20 His tributary Kingdomes 381 10. His Pensions to Souldiers Officers c. ibid. His title 387 5â— Does nothing but by his Officers directions 388.10 His Reuenues he cannot lauish as he pleases ibid. Not spoken vnto but by his Eunuches or by Petition 392.40 His Armes or Ensignes reuerenced ibid. 405. They that speake to him couer their mouthes 392.50 405. He seldome giues presence ibid. He is yellow and none else may be ibid. His Robe and Palace Ibid. They reckon by his Reigne 393.1 Why he comes not abroad 396.30 He is the High Priest 397.10 China words Hiam-xan a Mayor 327.30 Ansam the same that Hiam-xan 327.30 Hien a Citie and Ci-hien Gouernour of a Citie 327 Ci-hien a Gouernour of a Citie 327 30 Aitao the Admirall 327.50 He is Gouernour ouer all Strangers See Strangers Chaen the Prouinciall Visitor 327 50 Ciai yuen the same that Chaen 389 60 Ci a Gouernour So Ci-hien the Gouernour of the City 327.30 Ci-fu the Gouernour of Sciauquin 328.1 Thien Chu the Lord of Heauen 328.30 Lin-ci-tau a Gouernour of three Prouinces 329.60 Tutan a Viceroy or Lord Deputy 330.20 Sancei three Wayters 333.60 Ci-lau or Scilau the Iudge of the Countrey of Warre 336.10 Naughan The Southerne Inn. 336 30 Sciepathau Eighteene Streames 336.50 Yamsu the Sonne of the Sea 337.40 La Pu the Councell of Magistrates 339.60.388 Chian the greatest Riuer 340.39 Cho a Riuer 340.39 Horses a swifter sort of ships 341 20 Lu the Tartars 342.40 Pa or Pe the North parts 342.40 Szin holy or Saint 345.10 Scingin a Saint the greatest title giuen to some learned in China 344.19 in marg L vsed for N in some Dialects 338.10 B seldome vsed by them 342.40 Holy Pao God 345.10 Scin mu holy Mother 345.10 Mâ— a Mother 345.10 Nian a Queene 345.10 Van van Siu A thousand thousand yeares 347.10 Tanfu the Priests of the learned 347.40 Cafila a Carauan or company of Merchants 362.1 364.40 Condures a Coins worth seuen farthings 365.39 Colaâ— the Councell of State 372.40 in marg 386.50 388 50 Zinzin an Interiection of Vrbanity 373.20 Pu a Tribunall or Court 388.30 They want B.D.R. 403.50 They end no word in any Consonant but M and N. 408.40 Ciam Ciu a President of a Court 388.50 Cilam an Assistant in Iudgement 388.50 Choli Magistrates extraordinary 388.60 Zauli Magistrates extraordinary 388.60 Quin the Court of the King and thus Nanquin signifies the Southerne Court and Pequin the Northerne Court 389.30 Nan South or Southerne 389.30 Pucinfu and Naganzafu Magistrates 389.40 Tauli an order of Magistrates ibid. Yuce Iaspar of Catai or Cascar 390.10 Totoqui the Law 397.50 Osciami a Sect of Priests 398.10 Ciaicum Fasters 398.30 Lauzu the old Philosopher 398.40 Hoei Sects of strange Religions 400 20 Fu a shire in a Prouince 40â— 40 Sciandai on the Sea 406.50 Xi Fiat 407.40 so the King signes Ti Cam. Pluto 407.60 A China-prouerbe Englished see 409.1 Foe Gods 409.10 Zo ye Cringing 373.20 Paytre a paper of Visitations 373 40 Than exceeding large 380.30 Yu Rest 380.30 Hia great ibid. Sciam Adorned Cheu Perfect Han the mike way in Heauen Min Splendour Ta-min the Kingdome of great Splendour 380.30 Chiumboa a Garden 380.30 Fu a Prouince 381.1 Cheu a great Citie Hien a towne 381.1 389.40 Mui Sea-coale 382.20 Qâ—ohoa the Court Language 384 30 Tâ—hio The Examiner or Poser 385 40 Siducai the degree of Bachelour of Art 385.40 Kingin Master of Arts. Quiaâ—juen the Senior Brother at Commencements 386 Cin-su Doctorship 386.50 Hoamsi Supreame Monarch 387 50 Lauye or Lausie Lord or Father 388.10 Chinois or people of China their Persons and Habits described 179.40.50 c. Curiosities in their Hayre ibid. How they Salute and their common Courtesie of inuiting men to Victâ—aâ—ing houses 180.10 Their entertainments of Guests and manner of Feasting ibid. 30. By night 181.1 They weare no Weapons ibid. 50. Their Funerals and Mourning ibid. 50. 182.1 Their Womens customes and Apparell Painting and retirednesse ibid. 20. Buying and selling of Men ibid. 50. c. Magistrates with their Creation Priuiledges and maintenance 183.20 Iustices Prisons and Schooles 184. and 203. Manner of administring Iustice 186.10 Admirable diligence in their Seruants ibid. 187. Pompe of their Magistrates in the Streetes 200.187 193. Their habite ibid. Their manner of examination of witnesses 188.200 Their Briberie 186.50 c. The Religion of China 195.50 c. They haue Temples for them and Oratories in their Ships 196.1 Slight esteeme of their Gods 196.10 197.1 Hard to bee made Christians and why 197. 207. Chinois the esteâ—me of their King 258.40 260.20 Their opinion of the Reward after death 262. 263.1 And of the burning of the World 266.30 Siluer buryed with them and why 263.10 Their Hospitals 264. They giue their goods to Idols and to haue their soules prayed for 264.40 270.1 277.1 Religious Orders amongst them 264.60 32. Seuerall Sects 265.50 272.40 Their Gods of fire Tempest Sea c. 266. Their opinion of Hell 267. â—1 Some Christians in Sampitay 267.20 Chronicles and Legends of China 267.50 Their prayers to their Gods 267.10 And vowes 269.30 They beate their Idols 319.60 Their Priests shauen 319.50 Chinois sometimes Lords of India 269. marg Their infinite varietie of Trades no man must meddle with anothers Trade 270.271 They eate Snakes Snailes or any thing 270.30 Their extreame Superstitions 271. Their workes of Pietie 271.30 Their stately Tribunalâ— 272.1 Their Sepulchers ibid. 30. 274.20 Sacrifices of wilde Birds and Beasts ibid. Their foure chiefe Sects 272.60 Their inkling of the Resurrection 274.20 Their Gods ibid. 40. They Marry and get Starres ibid. Their knowledge of the Flood of Noah 275.40 Skorne to be taught 327.60 Their owne people held vnfit for Gouernours 276. Their Women bee white ibid. They hold the transmigration of Soules 277.1 They are but meane Mariners 291.1 Their Compasse want of the Card ibid. 10. They worship Saints Images ibid. 20. Their Customes in comming a shoare 292.10 Their Banquets described 302.20.292.40 298.30 What Musicke they vse ibid. 302.30 They are excellent Porters 294.50 They weare no Weapons 295.20 Their State Ceremonies vpon the knee 296.40 298.20 300. The inferiour layes aside his state before his Superiour 297.1 Ceremonies to the Sunne before their Feasts 302. Their Masters Actiuitie and Martiall discipline 305.10 They inuoake the Deuill in a tempest 308.60 318.20 They thinke it barbarous to bee called by their owne name 330.40 Much addicted to Alchimie 332.60 334. ibid. Their manner of thankesgiuing 333.50 They are apt to Learning 335.1 How men suspected are made to finde out the parties offending ibid. 20. the abstinence of their Idolaters ibid 30. their testimonie of bidding a man welcome 339.40 Riding on Horsebacke not magnificent enough for them 342.20 Their Language
of a Biscay ship The fourth and fifth Whales killed The sixt whale killed Three hundred Morses Biscainers enuie The seuenth Whale killed The eight Whale killed The ninth and tenth Whales killed The eleuenth twelfth and thirteenth Whales killed Ascension day Greenland attayned in eighteene dayes A ship of Saint Iohn de Luz Eight Spaniards on the coast The Generall was Captaine Beniamin Ioseph after slaine in fight with a Carrike Dutch ship No night the 23. of May. Diuers strangers Lat. 78. deg 24. minut Ship of Biscay Snowe Greene harbour Low sound His Maiesties Armes and a Crosse set vp at Low-nesse Snowe Thomas Bonner English man Master and Pilot. 76. deg 55. min. declination 67. deg 30. min. Variation 12. deg 14. min. Abundance of Ice An Iland in 72 degrees on the Coast of Groinland Three and twentie whales killed A man slaine Latitude 78. deg 7. min. Note A South South west Moone maketh a full Sea here A Biscayn ship of 700. tuns Many rockes full of Fowle Lisets Ilands Eighteene Whales killed Three Whales killed by the English Eight thirtie Whales killed August 1. Latitude 77. degrees 40. minutes Variation 13. degrees 11. minutes Latitude 79. degrees 14. minutes This was Maâ— Cudners ship of London Latitude 79. degrees 8. minutes Sunnes refraction Note M. Cudner of London William Gourdon Variation 1. degree 5. min. Rost Ilands or Rosten 68. dâ—g no min. Thâ— variâ—tion 4 degrees 8. minutes East Variation 5. dâ—g 3. minutes East The lying of the land about Scoutsnesse We went forth to Sea We met with Ice in 75. deg 10. minutes Eleuen Sayles fast in the Ice M. Th. Sherwin Iune We goe cleere off the Ice Wee met with the Mary An-Sarah We came to the Fore land We proceeded to the Northwards Maudlen Sound Hackluyts Head-land We anchoreâ— in Maudlen Sound I went forth in a shallop We set sayle out of Maudlen Sound and followed the Ice Prince Charles Iland in 78. degrees 40. minutes Wee stood againe for shoare Eleuen Holland ships We anchored in Sir T. Smiths Bay We went forth of Sir T. Smiths Bay We were driuen backe againe into Crosse-road We set sayle out of Crosse-road One shallop to the Northward The other into Maudlen Sound The Kings Armes set vp in Trinitie Harbour Trinitie Harbor is vnder the parallel of 79. degrees 34. minutes We came to an anchor in Faire Hauen No Whales were yet come in The shallop returned from the Northwards Cape Barrèn Saddle Iland A Storme Iulie The Whales began now to come in Two Whales escaped We came forth of Faire hauen We met with Ice and stood to the Northwards Our Shallop came to vs. We returned towards Faire hauen We intended to discouer in Shallops I went forth in the one Shallop Master Baffin came to me in the other Shallop Red-beach Wee hailed our Shallop vpon the Ice We returned to our Shallop We were vnder saile and came to an anchor againe We killed a Whale August We went to the Northwards with our Shallops We got to the shoare of Red Beach with out Shallops We walked ouer Red-beach The Kings armes are set vp at Wiches Sound We passed ouer Wiches Sound We found Beach Finâ— We met with the Hartsease Shallop Note The end of Sir Thomas Smiths Inlet discouered We returned towards our Ship A storme began when we were amongst Ice We get forth of the Ice We came aboord our ship The Holland Discouerers go homewards Our Ship went forth to Sea We met with Ice eight leagues from the Shore We plyed off and on the Ice two dayes Wee anchored againe in the North Harbor I went to the Eastwards in a shallop Ice was newly frozen in Red-cliffe Sound I intended to go once to Point Desire A great snow began I could not passe for Ice The originall cause of Ice at Sea I went backe againe to Red-beach I returned towards our ship Point Welcome The Kings Armes are set vp againe at Point Welcome I went into Red cliffe Sound Point Deceit I came aboord our ship A Whale lay sunken fourteene dayes The Hartseasâ— anchored by vs. Warme weather in the end of August We set sayle to the Eastward The Thomasinâ— returnes for England We stood to the westwards Wee met with Ice We left the Ice and came for England A storme beganne A Corpo Santo It is often seen at the end of stormes Hackluyts Headland Perill and escape Note Errour of Grouland Fogges High Hill Drift wood Note Sir T. Smiths Iland Mount Hackluyt Hudsons Hold-with-hope questioned as before also Ships of the King of Denmarke Terrible Disaster Flemmings Peter Goodford drowned Cold and heate strangely variable Tobacco lighted by the Sun at midnight Gods mercy to England whiles warres haue infested thâ— rest of the World A. Thuan-bister l. 135. Iam. 3. Exod. 1. Al. Gwagninâ— descript Mosc George brother to the Emperor done to death Hee addes principal Nobles here omitted * 700. women at one time 378. prisoners at another 500. Matrons and Virgins of noble bloud exposed to be rauished by the Tartars in his sight at another time c. * A Secretarie cutting off his priuities he died presently which the Emperour construing to be done purposely caused him there instantly to eate whâ—t he had cut off * Or Theodor Sir Ierom Horsey The death of Iuan Vasiliwich 1584. April 18. Lord Boris adopted as the Emperors third sonne The day of Pheodor his coronation Iohn de Wale Chare Sibersky Prince of Siberia taken prisoner brought to Mosco Sophet Keri Alli King of the Crims arriuall at Mosco The new Emperor Pheodore Iuanowich his Lâ—tters and Requests to the Queene Master Horseys voyage from Mosco to England ouer land 1586. Thuan. hist. lib. 120. Diuorce vrged D. Fl. S.I.H. Boris his plot Thuan. hist. lib. 135. sec. Demetrius slain some tell that one pretended his colâ—er stood awry in mending it cut his throate * It was in the Northern parts at Duglets * Some write that he caused diuers places in Mosco to be fiâ—red and then afterwards out of his owne cost repaired them D. Flet. Death of Theodore The Empresse succeedeth Russians vse of fortie dayes mourning for an Emperours death The Queene turneth Nun. Boris his willing vnwillingnesse Boris his speech Boris Emperor His Wife Son Daughter Tartars Russian New yeere Boris crowned His policies P. Basman * Where the censorious bitternesse also seemeth too much to insult on Bâ—ris his dâ—sasters Tedious Title Strange request His audience P. Basman Emperours glorie Princes splendour Pollaxes Counsell and Nobilitie Plate Dining roomâ— Change of Rayment Two hundred Nobles guests Three hundred noble Seruitors Garlike and Onions Drinkes Meads Memory of Q. Elizabeth Gifts Newes of Demetrius Princes pomp Peter Basman Oucsinia the Princesse Second audience Citizens Souldiers Golden Seale Great dinner Ambassadors departure Sled-passage Emperor Boriâ— his death New christened Emperors person His respect to his sonne * Because he had done more for him then might lawfully be commanded