Imperiall Pallace and beganne to gouerne the Empire more inclining to the Poles and forreiners then to the Russes which vntimely expressing himselfe hastned his ruine Seuentie noble Families of Boris his kindred or faction were exiled that their Goods might be â—hared amongst strangers and new Colonies of men planted brought into Russia His clemency was remarkable to Suisky who being condemned for not onely refusing to acknowledge this Emperour but vttering also reproachfull speeches of him as being of base Parentage and one which had conspired with the Poles to ouerthrow the Russian Temples Nobility and now his prayers ended and the fatall stroake on his knees expected on the seauenth of Iuly by vnexpected mercy euen then receiued his pardon The last which yeelded to him were the Plescouites Some tell of exceeding Treasures also which hee found laid vp for other purposes which through his profusenesse soone vanished The first of September was designed to his inauguration being New yeeres day to the Russes as sometimes to the Iewes but for other causes it was hastned and his Mother was sent for out of a Monasterie into which Boris had thrust her farâ—e from the Court An honorable Conuoy was herein employed and himselfe with great shew of Pietie went to meet her embraced her with teares and bare-headed on foot attended her Chariot to the Castle whence afterwards she remoued with her women into a Monasterie where the Noblest Virgins and Widdowes of Russia vse to sequester themselues from the World His Mother was noted to answere with like affection to him whether true or dissembled on both parts At his entrance to the Kingdome after Ceremonies ended Nicolas Cnermacouius a Iesuite made him a goodly Oration the like was done by the Senate To the Iesuits was alotted a faire place of entertaynment not far from the Castle wherein to obserue the Romish Rites and Holies and euen then by their meanes he had declared himselfe in that point but for feare of Suiskie hee stayed till fitter oportunitie Hauing thus setled things his care was to recompence the Poles to enter league with that Nation and to consummate the Marriage For which purpose hee sent three hundred Horsemen with Athanasius the Treasurer who in Nouember came to Cracouia had audience of King Sigismund where he with all thankfulnesse acknowledged the Kings forwardnesse with his Nobles to recouer his right whereto God had giuen answerable successe beyond expectation that he deplored the Turkish insolencies in Hungary and other parts to vindicate which he would willingly joyne with the Pole and other Christian Princes meane whiles hee was willing to make an euerlasting league with him and to that end entreated his good leaue to take vnto himselfe a Wife out of Poland namely Anna Maria the Daughter of George Miecinsie the Palatine of Sendomir to whom for money men and endangering of his owne life hee was so much engaged The eight day after the Contract was solemnely made by the Cardinall Bishop of Cracouia and the Embassadour with her Parents feasted by the King Demetrius had sent her and her Father Iewels worth 200000. Crownes Thus farre haue wee followed Thuanus and hee Iacobus Margaretus a French Captayne of Demetrius guard of Partisans which published a Booke hereof Now let vs present you a little English Intelligence touching this Demetrius and his respect to men of our Nation in those parts and first his Letter to Sir Iohn Mericke The Copie of a Letter sent from the Emperor DEMETRY EVANOWICH otherwise called GRISHCO OTREAPYOV the which Letter was sent to Master IOHN MERRICK Agent out of the Campe as Master MERRICK was taking his Iournie to the Sea-side the eighth of Iune Anno 1605. FRom the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Demetry Euanowich of all Russia To the English Marchant Iohn Merrick wee giue to vnderstand that by the iust iudgement of God and his strong power we are raised to our Fathers throne of Vladedmer Mosko and of all the Empire of Russia as great Duke and sole commander likewise we calling to memorie the loue and amitie of our Father the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Euan Vassilywich of all Russia and our Brother Theodor Euanowich of all Russia which was held and kept by them and other great Christian Princes in the same forme and manner doe we likewise intend and purpose to hold and keepe Loue and amitie but especially and aboue all others doe we intend to send and to haue loue and friendship with your King Iames and all you his English Merchants we will fauour more then before Further as soone as this our Letter doth come to your hand and as soone as you haue ended your Markets at the shipping place of Michael the Archangell then to come vp to Mosco to behold our Maiesties presence And for your poste Horse I haue commanded shall be giuen you and at your comming to Mosco then to make your appearance in our Chancery to our Secretarie Ofanasy Vlassou Written in our Maiesties Campe at Tooly in the yeare of the world Anno seauen thousand one hundred and thirteene The Copie of the translation of a Passe giuen to Master IOHN MERRICK which was giuen him in the time of his being in the Campe at Molodoue with the Emperour DEMETRY EVANOWICH otherwise called GRISHCO OTREAPYOVE FRom the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Demetry Euanowich of all Russia from Mosco to our Cities and Castles as also to the Castle of Archangell at the Shipping place and hauen to our Generals Secretaries and all other our Officers c. There did make suite vnto vs the English Marchant Iohn Merricke and his Company that we would gratifie them to be suffered to passe to the new Castle of Archangell or to the shipping place or hauen in regard of trafficke of Merchandise Also that if he doe send home any of his fellowes and seruants from the shipping place being of the English that then they might be suffered to passe into England Also that to whatsoeuer Citie of ours the English Marchant Iohn Mericke and his fellowes doth or shall come vnto then all yee our Generals Secretaries and oll other our Officers shall suffer them to passe euery where without all delay And as for our Customes as for passing by or for head mony our custome of goods you shall not take any of them nor of their seruants Likewise when the English Merchants Iohn Merricke with his fellowes and seruants shall come to the Castle of Archangell then Timophey Matphewich Lazaroue and our Secretary Rohmaneum Mocaryoued Voronoue at the foresaid Castle of Archangell shall suffer and permit the English Merchant Iohn and his companie to trade freely Moreouer when at the shipping place they haue ended and finished their Markets and that then the said Iohn Merricke shall desire to send into England any of his fellowes or seruants with goods then likewise they shall be suffered to passe But Russâ— people and other strangers of
Mosco shall not be suffered to passe further that if Iohn Merricke with his fellowes and seruants doe not goe for England but after their Market is ended doe purpose to come backe againe to Mosco that then at the Castle of Archangell Timophey Matphewich Lazaroue and our Secretarie Rohmaneeu Voronaue as also at all other our Castels and Cities our Generals Secretaries and all other our Officers shall let passe the English Merchant Iohn Merricke with his fellowes and seruants without all stay or hinderance and as for custome of them their goods or their seruants there shall not be any taken And after the Reading of this our Letter and Passe you shall keepe the Copie of it by you but this you shall deliuer backe againe to the said Iohn and his companie Written at our Campe at Molodone the yeare from the beginning of the World 7113. the eighteenth of Iune The last of Iuly 1605. at Archangell The Copie of the translation of a Commission that was sent from the Mosko from the Emperour DEMETRY EVANOWICH alias GRYSHCA OTREAPYOVE by a Courtier named GAVARYLA SAMOYLOWICH SALMANOVE who was sent downe to the Castle of Archangell to Sir THOMAS SMITH then Lord Embassadour as followeth THe great Lord Emperour and great Duke Demetry Euanowich of all Russia hath commanded Gauareela Samoylowich Salmanoue to goe to Vologda and from Vologda to the new Castle of Archangell or wheresoeuer he shall ouertake the English Ambassadour Sir Thomas Smith Also when he hath ouertooke the Ambassadour then Gauareele shall send the Ambassadour his Interpreter Richard Finch willing him to certifie vnto the Ambassadour that the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Demetry Euanowich sole commander of Russia hath sent vnto him one of his Courtiers in regard of his Maiesties affaires and after some two houres respite Gauareela himselfe shall ride to the Ambassadour and deliuer vnto him his Maiesties speeches as followeth THe great Lord Emperour and great Duke Demetry Euanowich of all Russia and of many Kingdomes Lord and commander Hath commanded thee Thomas the English Ambassadour to certifie vnto Iames King of England Scotland France and Ireland that by the iust iudgement of God and his strange power we are come and succeeded into the place of our Father and predecessours as also we are come to the throne of the great and famous Kingdome of Vlodemer Mosco and to the Empire of Cazan Astaracan and Siberia and of all the Kingdomes of the Empire of Russia being an Empire belonging to the great Lords Emperours and great Dukes of all Russia Moreouer we calling to memorie the sending loue and amitie betwixt our Father the great Lord and Emperour and great Duke Euan Vasilywich of all Russia of famous memorie as also our Brother the great Lord and Emperour and great Duke Feoder Euanowich of all Russia sole commander with their sister Elizabeth Queene of England in the like manner doe we purpose to haue sendings and to be in loue with your Lord King Iames and more then hath bin in former time And in token of our said loue and amitie we doe intend to fauour all his subiects in our Land and to giue vnto them freer libertie then they haue had heretofore and you his Ambassadour we haue commanded to dispatch without all delay or hindrance Therefore we would haue you to make knowne vnto your Lord King Iames our Maiesties loue And as soone as God shall grant the time of our Coronation to be finished and that we are crowned with the Emperiall crowne of our predecessours according to our manner and worthinesse then we the great Lord Emperor and great Duke Demeetry Euanowich of all Russia sole Commander will send our messenger to salute each other according to the former manner And concerning those Letters which were sent by you from Borris Godenoue we would haue you deliuer them backe againe to our Courtier Gauareela and after the deliuerie of our speeches to returne him to the Emperour vnder written by the Chancellour Ofanasy Euanowich Vlaseou The Copie of the Translation of a new Priuiledge that was giuen to the Company by the Emperour DEMEETRY EVANOWICH otherwise called GRYSHCA OTREAPYOVE the which Priuiledge was sent into England ouer-land by OLYVER LYSSET Marchant and seruant to the foresaid Company GOD the Trenitie before and without the beginning the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost establish vs to hold and keepe our Scepter and Realme for the good of our Land and the happinesse of our people Wee the resplendant and manifest and not the miserable vpholder but sole commander the great Duke Demetry Euanowich by the mercy of God Casar and great Duke of Russia and of all the Empire of Tartaria and many other Kingdomes as also of the great Monarchie of Mosco Lord Emperour and Commander Haue bestowed and gratified vnto the English Merchants viz. Sir Thomas Smith Knight Sir Iohn Spencer Knight Sir Humfrey Wild Knight Robert Doue Robert Chamberline William Garaway Iohn Haruey Richard Stapers Iohn Merricke Richard Wryght Richard Cocks Thomas Farrington Richard Wych George Bowles Bartholomew Barnes Richard Bowldra Iohn Casten Edward Chery Thomas the sonne of Alexander alias Hicks we haue giuen them free liberty to come with their ships into our Realme and Dominion and to the Country of Dwina to the Castle of Archangel and to Colmogro with all maner of commodities and to trade freely as also to come from the sea side by land or by water to our great dominion and Caesars City of Mosco great Nouogrod and Vobsko and all other cities within our dominions to trade with all manner of commodities in the same forme and manner as heretofore was bestowed on the English Merchants in the time of our father of famous memory the great Lord and Caesar and great Duke Euan Vassilywich of all Russia sole Commander and as was granted vnto them in the time of our Brother the great Duke Theodor Euanowich of all Russia sole Commander And as for custome of their goods or for passing by as also for the custome of their boates or for Head-money or for going ouer bridges or Ferryes or for entrie of goods As also all manner of Custome whatsoeuer we command shall not bee taken of them Also the English Merchants shall not bring nor sell other mens goods in our Dominion as their owne neither shall our Subiects buy or sell or traffique for Also our Subiects pawnes they shall not keep by them nor send others about the Cities to buy goods but what Cities they come into themselues they shall trafficke and sell their owne commodities and buy Russe commodities freely And when they come into our Dominion of great Nouogrod and Vobsko or to any other Cities within our Realme to trafficke with their goods and that after the market is past they shall bee desirous to passe for Mosco or for England then our Gentlemen and Gouernours and all people shall according to this our Caesars Letter let them passe without delay
from Rustene wee found certaine Relikes of the plankes and ribs of our Skiffe whereby we plainly knew that our companions which were in it were perished and drowned the first night that they departed from vs. The nine and twentieth of May 1432. we arriued with the said Barke at Trondon vpon the Coast of Norway the Princely Seate of the King of Denmarke where the Honourable bodie of glorious Saint Olaus resteth There wee stayed ten dayes to waite for passage and a fit time for our Voyage but not finding it because we would lose no more time wee tooke leaue of our beloued Host his Sonnes and the rest to proceed on our journey by Land The ninth of Iune we departed from Trondon trauelling on foot going towards Vastena a place subject to the King of Denmarke within the Prouince of Sweden where the cheek-bone and part of the bone of the head of Saint Bridget remayneth Being there wee vnderstood by the Venetians that the Inhabitants for the reuerence of their glorious King Saint Olaus vnto whom as they well knew our Signiorie of Venice did great fauour in his going and returning from his Voyage to Hierusalem were disposed with deeds to prouide for vs by their counsell helpe and money And first they aduised vs not to goe the direct way into Dacia by reason of the dangers of wilde beasts which might befall vs but to addresse our selues to goe directly to Stichimborgi to find out a valiant Venetian Knight called M. Giouan Francho from whom wee should receue fauour and helpe in plentifull manner for loue of our Countrey although the way were thirtie dayes iourney quite contrary to our direct way On the eighteenth day we came to the Court of the said Cauallier M. Giouan Francho an Honourable Baron and highly esteemed of the Crowne of Dacia where with great joy we found our two straggling companions The valorous Knight being now informed of our comming with a cheereful conntenance declared well vnto vs how great the loue of his Countrey was and especially knowing the calamitie and penurie of vs his Countrey-men and being easily able to releeue it And therefore he could not sufficiently satisfie himselfe in honouring clothing and feeding vs but gaue vs money for our necessities and furnishing vs afterward with good Horses in his owne proper person together with his only Sonne M. Mapheo with an hundred and twentie Horses of his owne Seruants he accompanied vs many dayes journeyes through his Territories trauelling alwayes at his owne charge Afterward vpon his limits and bounds wee tooke our leaue to depart thanking him with the most reuerent and kind speeches that possibly we could Whereupon he being departed left vs for our Guide his said sonne M. Mapheo with twentie seruants on Horse-backe who kept vs company vnto Vastena the place from whence about fortie dayes before we had departed vnto the which place for the auoyding of two monethes trauell wee were faine to returne so that on the thirtieth day of Iuly wee entred into Vastena where wee abode vntill the second of August being alwayes accompanied and our charges borne by the said M. Mapheo On the second of August we tooke our leaue of the foresaid M. Mapheo yeelding him such thankes as we could And being departed from him wee went to Lodese where wee arriued the eleuenth of the said moneth in which place we found two passages the one for England and the other for the Low Countries and there we voluntarily diuided our selues into two parts The two and twentieth of August 1432. we Christophoro Fiorauante one of the Councell of the vnfortunate ship together with Girardo da Lione the Sewer and Nicolo di Michiel of Venice the Notarie now Writer of this present Discourse departed from the other eight of our companions they going towards London and we to Venice by the way of Rostoch pretending to goe to Rome for a Pardon and after many troubles and molestations passing ouer Mountaynes Valleyes Riuers sometimes on foot and sometimes on Horse-backe through the helpe of the Omnipotent God we came vnto our so much desired Countrey of Venice on the twelfth of October 1432. safe and sound leauing the said Girardo da Lion at Vasenâ—ch who from thence went vnto his Countrey and those that went into England were these Master Francesco Quirini Sonne of Master Iacomo a Venetian Gentleman being Merchant of the vnhappie ship Master Piero Gradenico Sonne of Master Andrea of the age of eighteene yeeres a young Merchant Bernardo da Caghire Pilot of the ship whose Wife being young aswell through the long delay of time passed as for that it was many times certainly reported that the said ship with all them that were therein were in great danger and no token at all appearing to the contrary being aduised more hastily then vpon mature consideration as is the manner of needie women she married her selfe at Triâ—iso But hearing of our comming and the certayne newes of her liuing and true Husband she presently separated the bond of the second Marriage and shut her selfe vp in an honest Monasterie aswell to declare the Integritie of her minde as to expect the returne of her true Husband who about some three moneths after came to Venice safe and sound and tooke her againe vnto him c. CHAP. XIX Ancient Commerce betwixt ENGLAND and NORWAY and other Northerne Regions GReat Alexander is said in â—earing a Flatterers Historie of his conquestâ— making them how great soeâ—er in themselues farre greater theâ— they were to haue caused that booke to bee throwne into the Sea with iust indignation exclaiming that those incredibilities would make that which hee had indeed done seeme incredible to posteritie And a Liar said Alexanders Master Aristotle gets this by lying that when he speakes truth he cannot be beleeued So hath it fared with that Brittish worthy King Arthur whose Great Acts by great Flatterers seeking to light candles to the Sunne haue made others suppose it to be night and his worth to be a worke of darknesse and lyes Neither doth the later posteritie know how to distinguish the one from the other and the Writers for and against the truth of three British storie as Ieffery of Moumouth and William of Newbridge of old and others since haue seemed to me to let the truth as in altercation is vsuall to fall downe betwixt them for others more moderate spirits to take vp Although therefore many things related of Artâ—â—â— are absurd 〈◊〉 so are not all nor that altogether which is spoken of his Northerne conquests eleuen hundred yeeres since and of commerce a 〈…〉 not some kind of 〈◊〉 acknowledgment of 〈◊〉 the King of Ireland 〈◊〉 of the Orcades Maluâ—sius of Island Doldaâ—iâ— of Gotâ—and Ascâ—ilâ—â— of the Danes and Loâ— King of Norway Some adde that King Arthur left people to inhabite the Ilands and that the Norwegian Nobles tooke them Brittish wiues and that the Norwegians 〈◊〉 their Brittish 〈◊〉 and
wherein I vnderstand of the backwardnesse of your Voyage the which I am hartily sorrie for but you must be content seeing it is the will of God it shall be so and that other harbours take neighbours fare with you our best hopes of our Voyage was vpon you for of our selues we doe little in regard we are much troubled with Ice and haue bin so this ten dayes which hath made vs hale ashoare sixe or seauen times for it we haue had the windes at North-east and East North-east and at North-west which now keepes in the Ice we haue killed ten Whales whereof eight are made into Oyle which hath made one hundred and eleauen Tuns a halfe the other two were killed the fourth of this present being very large fish not doubting but they will make sixe and thirtie or fortie tunnes we haue the hundred tunnes aboord the rest Master Barker taketh in in regard Master Bushes shippe is not fitted up we shall make her fore-Mast to serue againe and all things else for this Voyage The fourth of this present George Wiuelden came from Horne-sound where they haue killed foure Whales they haue bin much troubled with windes Easterly also much Ice there is so much Ice off of Point Looke out that George could not get about This Ice hath put in young Duke of Hull into Horne-sound his ship being much torne with the Ice his Merchant is now aboord of vs his name is Medcafe whom the Captaine doth detaine his Voyage is vtterly ouerthrowne for he hath lost one shallop with sixe men and another shallop broken with the Ice his Ruther Irons being all broken his Steeme broke a way close to the Woodings also George did meete with a Fleming of Flushing burthen two hundred tuns the which he thinkes is cast away with Ice for the Ice did beate her very sore I vnderstand by M. Catchers Letter that there is eleauen saile of Flemmings and Danes about them I doubt not but we shall call them to account of how many tunnes of Oyle they haue made as they did call vs the last Voyage to account my loue is such vnto them that I protest I could wish with all my heart that we might goe and see them and to spend my best bloud in the righting of our former wrongs Also I vnderstood by Robert Foxe that Aâ—rian of Flushing is one of them I should be very glad to see him that I might balance the account with him The Captaine willed mee to write vnto you concerning the Russe house that if you cannot set it vp that then you should make an English house of it and to place the post of a Deales length and to be three Deales in length and so much in breadth and so to couer it with Deales the next yeare and so he thinketh that it will make two frames also hee could wish that you would remoue the Coppers more vp into the Bay I pray you commend me to my louing friend Master Sherwine Master Wilkinson Master Henderson and Michael Greene also my loue remembred vnto your selfe I take my leaue hoping we shall see you at the Fore-land ere it be long till when I pray God to blesse you and prosper you in all your proceedings Resting still Bell-sound the fifth of Iuly 1619. Your assured friend to command ROBERT SALMON Iunior A Letter of I. CATCHER to Master HELEY from Faire-hauen Laus Deo this seuenteenth of Iune 1620. LOuing Brother with my best loue I salute you wishing you better then we at this time to haue good store of Whales to make for you and vs a Voyage for we haue seene small store of Whales but haue killed none as yet In the Flemish harbour there is three Flemings great shippes whereof is one Statesman of Warre who haue set to Sea eighteene shallops with three Biscaners in euerie shallop and in our harbour two of the Kings of Denmarkes ships who haue set to Sea seauen shallops with three Biscainers in euerie shallop the Hollanders haue killed one Whale and found one Whale of the last yeares killing I thought good to send to you the sooner because we hope you haue good store of Whales that you may send for vs to you which I pray God you may for we are in great doubt but our hope is if that you are not yet prouided to send for vs we haue a great time to stay in this Countrie in which time it may so please God that we may here make a Voyage For our selues one of our men is dead and one other sicke so that wee haue but one and fiftie men which is too little as you know therefore if you can spare vs three men they will stand vs in good stead if our Voyage commeth in there is to the Northward good store of Ice which putteth vs in good comfort that we shall haue Whales the Danes doe report that there is two shippes to come from Denmarke to our harbour but as yet are not come I pray you commend vs to Master Wilkinson Master Greene Master Hedlam Master Cleyborne Master Alpho and all the rest of our good friends Humfrey Moore is very sicke so that we shall want a Harponiere I know not what to write more to you for with griefe I write this Thus kindely taking my leaue beseeching God to blesse vs and send vs a good Voyage with a merry meeting I rest Your louing brother to vse IOHN CATCHER A Letter of ROBERT SALMON from Sir THOMAS SMITHS Bay Iuly 6. 1621. LOuing friend Master Heley with-my loue I salute you c. These are to certifie you that vpon the fifteenth of the last we arriued at Sir Thomas Smiths vnfortunate Bay since which time we haue killed sixe Whales which are almost reduced into Oyle being some seuentie tunnes or somewhat more so within a day or two we may goe sleepe for I feare we haue our portion of Whales in this place wee haue not seene a Whale this fourteene dayes and faire weather is as scarce as the Whales for ten daies together nothing but blow sometime Southerly and sometime Northerly I doe verily perswade my selfe that God is much displeased for the blood which was lost in this place and I feare a perpetuall curse still to remaine yet God I know is all sufficient and may if it please him send a Voyage in this place Newes from Faire-hauen I can write you none for as yet we haue not heard from him the reason thereof I cannot conceiue I feare his Shallop is miscarried for certainely else we should haue heard from him ere this or some other cause there is I pray God it be not so I pray commend me to Master Iohn Hedlam and tell him that the Master and Pilot doe set both their horse together being very great friends also I pray commend me to my Coseu William Driuer and Master Wilkinson wishing them all happinesse I am in good hope that you haue done some good vpon the Whale not doubting but
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
King some thing of no great value our King would haue sent him many precious things and dismissed you his Ambassadours honourably and haue sent his Ambassadours with you but now hee only endeth his Letter to your Emperour The Citie of Catay where the King dwelleth is built vpon an euen plaine ground and is incompassed round about with a Riuer called Yoâ—ga which falleth into the blacke Sea which is from the Citie Catay seuen dayes trauell so that there come no ships neerer the Citie Catay then seuen dayes trauell off but all things are transported in small Vessels and ship-boats The Merchandizes the King doth send into all parts of his Dominions of Catay and from thence are carried ouer the borders into the Land of Mugalla to the King Altine to the blacke Kollmakes to the Iron King into Boghar and other Dominions their Patriarkes and Friers trauell with the Commodities as Veluets Sattens Damaskes Siluer Leopard Skinnes Turkesses and blacke Zenders for which they buy Horses and bring them into Catay for in Catay are but few horses only Mules and Asses and Cloth they haue none their Horses and Siluer goeth into strange Countreyes or as they say Nemâ—sij the Siluer is made in Brickes which they call Kritsij valued each Kritsij at fiftie two Rubles their Apparell they weare with long broad hanging sleeues like the Gentlewomens Summer-coats or Lettiâ—ks in Russia the people are very faire but not warlike timorous most their endeuour is in great and rich traffick They told vs that not long before our comming the people of Mugalla had taken two Castles from them by deceit also they told vs that their King hath a stone which lighteth as the Sunne both day and night called in their Language Sarra and in our Tongue Iachaâ—t or Rubie another stone they say hee hath which driueth away water from it it is also called a Rubie There come to them Strangers or Nemtsij euery yeere with all manner of Merchandizes and barter for Deere Skinnes and Loshids Sables Beuers Veluets Taffataes and Zendews or Calico these strangers they say come to them out of the blacke Sea from the East and the South also they say there is a Riuer called Kartalla which falleth into the great Riuer Ob but they know neyther the head nor the fall of it they imagine it commeth out of the blacke Sea and falleth into it againe vpon this Riuer dwell many people with walking Herds For a triple testimony of Sir Iohn Merikes honourable courtesie I haue added this succeeding Patent which howsoeuer in some things it concurre with the former of Boris and Demetrius Yet those being obscurely translated or written this may illustrate them and it also presenteth both larger Priuiledges the Partriarkes name ioyned with the Emperours and the Golden Seale WE the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Michaell Pheodorowich of all Russia sole Commander of Volodemer Mosco and Nouogrod Emperour of Cazan Emperour of Astracan Emperour of Siberia Lord of Plesco and great Duke of Sâ—olensky Twensky Vgorsky Psermesky Vatsky Bolgorsky and others Lord and great Duke of Nouogrod in the lower Countreyes Cheringosky Rahansky Rostouskey Yaraslausky Belozersky Vdorskey Obdorsky Condinsky and of all the Northerne parts Commander and Lord ouer the Country of Iuersky and Caberdynland Cherkaskey and of the Dukedomes of Igorskey and of many other Kingdomes Lord and Conquerour Together with the great Lord Philleret Neketich the holy Patriarke and Head of the Reuerend Clergie of the Imperiall Citie of Mosco and of all Russia by the flesh our naturall Father and by the power of the Holy Ghost our Spirituall Pastâ—r and Ghostly Father Whereas there was sent vnto vs the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Michaell Pheodorowich of all Russia and to our Father the great Lord the holy Patriarke of Mosco and of all Russia From our louing Brother Iames by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland and of many others his Maiesties Ambassadour Sir Iohn Merike Knight and Gentleman of his Maiesties Priuie Chamber vpon both our Princely Affaires The said Sir Iohn Merike in the name of our said louing Brother King Iames requested our Imperiall Maiestie and our Father the great Lord the holy Patriarke to bee pleased graciously to fauour the English Merchants to grant them leaue to come with their shippes vnto our Port and Hanâ—ns of Archangell with all kind of Commoditieâ— and freely to traffique from the Sea side to our Imperiall Citie of Mosco and to our Patrimoniâ— of great Nouogrod and Plesco and vnto all other our Cities Townes and Countreyes of our Empire with all sorts of Commodities without paying of Custome in as ample manner as formerly hath beene granted to the English Merchants and that our Imperiall Maiestie together with our deere Father the holy Patriarke would be pleased to grant a new our gracious Priuiledges vnder our Princely Seale accordingly as our Predecessors Emperours and great Dukes of all Russia haue heretofore granted vnto them We therefore the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Michaell Pheodorowich of all Russia sole Commander together with our deere Father the holy Patriarke of Mosco and of all Russia for the loue we beare to our most louing Brother the great Lord King Iames with whom wee are willing and desirous euer to remayne in the strongest bonds of brotherly loue and friendship haue graciously granted to his Kingly Maiesties Subiects the English Merchants Sir Thomas Smith Knight Sir Iohn Merike Knight Sir Richard Smith Knight Sir William Russell Knight Sir George Bowles Knight Hugh Hamersley Alderman Ralph Freeman Richard Wytch Morris Abbot Robert Bateman William Stone Rowland Healing Iob Hanby Richard Ironside Edward Iames Iohn Caslen Beniamin Deicrow Fabyan Smith and their fellowes free leaue to come with their shippes into our Kingdomes into our Countreyes of Dweena vnto the Port of Archangell and from thence to our Imperiall Citie of Mosco and of Nouogrod the Great and vnto Plesco and into all other the Cities of our Empire to trade and traffique with all kind of Merchandizes free of all Customes as well the great Customes as Tole vnlading of Vessels or Boats passages through any place by water or Land entries Head-money Bridge-money Ferryings or any manner of Customes or Duties whatsoeuer can bee named The English Merchants being thus licensed to trade in our Kingdomes free of all customes for their owne commodities shall neither colour nor sell strangers wares as their owne neither shall our people sell for them any of their goods nor yet shall they keepe any of our people vnder their protection and into what Cities the English Merchants themselues or their Factors or Seruants shall come with their goods it shall be lawfull for them freely to trafficke and sell their owne commodities in barter or otherwise against Commodities of our Countrey And whensoeuer the said Merchants shall come into our Patrimony of great Nouogrod and Plesco or into any other the Cities of our
face of the whole world vnto vs is this Whosoeuer shall heare the Statute on their owne Land let them yeeld Water and Patrimonie and let them deliuer power to him which contayneth the face of the whole World But whosoeuer will not heare the Precept and Statute but shall doe otherwise let them be rooted out and destroyed Now we send to you touching that Satute and Precept If yee will yeeld Water and Patrimonie on our Land it is meet that thou Pope thy selfe in thine person come to vs and to him which contayneth the face of the whole Earth and if thou wilt not heare the stable Precept of God and of him which contayneth the face of the whole Earth wee know not God knowes It is meet that before thou commest thou sendest Messengers and that thou signifiest to vs whether thou commest or no whether thou wilt compound with vs or be Enemie And send an Answere of the Precept quickly to vs. This Precept by the hands of Aybeg and Sargis we haue sent in the moneth of Iuly the twentieth day of the Moone In the Territorie of the Castle Sitiens THe Copie of the Chams Letters to Baioth-noy By the Precept of the liuing God Cingis-cham the Sonne of God sweete and venerable saith that God is high ouer all hee is God immortall and vpon Earth Cingis-cham is Lord alone Wee will that this come into euery place to the hearing of all to the Prouinces obeying vs and to the Prouinces obeying against vs. It is therefore meete that thou O Baioth-noy excite them and make it knowne to them that this is the commandement of the liuing and immortall God that thou also incessantly make knowne thy desire touching this and notifie my commandement in all places where a Messenger may come And whosoeuer shall gainsay thee shall be hunted and his Land shall be wasted And I assure thee that whosoeuer shall not heare this my Mandate shall bee deafe and whosoeuer shall doe according to this my iudgement knowing peace and not doing it shall be lame Let this my Ordinance come to the knowledge of all Whosoeuer shall heare and neglect to obserue it shall be destroyed and slaine Manifest this O Baioth-noy And whosoeuer desireth the profit of his House and will serue vs shall bee saued and honoured And whosoeuer shall contradict studie thou to correct them at thine owne pleasure Vnto Lewis the French King were sent certayne Messengers from a great man called Ercalthay and there was present Frier Andrew of Lontumel a Dominican who knew Dauid the chiefe of them hauing seene him in the Armie of the Tartars These brought Letters in Persian and Arabike Letters They reported also that a great King of the Tartars called Cham was become a Christian with most of his followers And now the said Ercalthay had receiued Baptisme and was come forth from Cham with a great Armie to aduance the Christian Faith and to destroy the Aduersaries thereof and much desired the French Kings loue They thought also that the said Ercalthay would the next Easter besiege Baldach These told the King also of the Tartarian Affaires Whereupon he sent Messengers with Letters and Iewels to Ercalthay with a Tent or Chappell of Scarlet fairely embroydered with the Storie of the Passion with Ornaments thereto and things fitting for Diuine Seruice with a piece of the wood of the Holy Crosse exhorting him to proceed in the Faith The Messenger were the foresaid Frier Andrew with two other Friers and two Clerkes Transcripts of all were sent into France CHAP. III. Relations touching the Tartars taken out of the Historie of R. WENDOVER and MAT. PARIS with certayne Epistles of the same subiect ANno 1239. the Tartars inhumane Nations which had made great slaughters and had with hostile forces inuaded the borders of Christendome in the greater Hungarie were vanquished and most of them slaine beeing encountred by fiue Kings Christians and Saracens herein confederate After which the King of Dacia and the King of Hungarie caused the Confines before by the Tartars brought in manner to a Wildernesse to bee inhabited by Christians which they sent thither Of which out of Dacia alone went more then fortie ships Anno 1240. the detestable people of Satan to wit an infinite number of Tartars brake forth from their Mountayne-compassed and Rocke-defended Region like Deuils loosed out of Hell that they may well be called Tartarians as Tartareans and like Grashoppers couering the face of the Earth spoyling the Easterne Confines with fire and Sword ruining Cities cutting vp Woods rooting vp Vineyards killing the people both of Citie and Countrey And if they spared any they vsed them in the fore-front of their battels to fight against their Allies that if they were therein faint or fayned themselues at their backes might kill them if otherwise it was without reward They are rather Monsters then men thirsting and drinking bloud tearing and deuouring the flesh of Dogges and Men clothed with Oxe-hides armed with Iron Plates in stature thicke and short well set strong in bodie in Warre inuincible in labour infatigable behind vnarmed drinking the bloud of their beasts for Dainties c. These Tartars of detestable memory are thought to be descended of the ten Tribes which went away forsaking the Law of Moses after the golden Calues whom Alexander the Macedon sought to inclose in the Caspian hils to which labour exceeding humane power hee inuoked the assistance of the God of Israel and the tops of the hils ioyned together and the place became inaccessible and impassible And though it be doubtfull because they vse not the Hebrew Tongue nor Law of Moses nor are gouerned by any Lawes yet is it credible that as their hearts then in Moses gouernment were rebellious Reprobately-sensuall and Idolatrous so now more prodigiously their heart and Language is confounded and their life immane and beastly inhumane They are called Tartars of a certayne Riuer called Tartar running alongst their hils Anno 1241. that inhumame and brutish lawlesse barbarous and sauage Nation of Tartars horribly spoyling the North and North-east parts of the Christians caused great feare and horrour ouer all Christendome For they had now brought in manner to a Wildernesse Frisia Gothia Polonia Bohemia and both Hungarias the most part of the Princes Prelates and people beeing fled or slaine as by this Letter appeareth TO the Beloued and alway worthy to be beloued Lord our Father in Law the Illustrious Prince the Duke of Brabant H. by the grace of God Earle of Loraine Palatine of the Saxons his humblest seruice The perills foretold in holy Scripture now breake forth because of our sinnes For a certaine cruell and innumerable people sauage and lawlesse inuadeth and possesseth the Confines next bordering to vs and are now come to Poland many other Lands being passed and peoples destroyed Whereof aswell by our owne Messengers as by our beloued Cousin the King of Bohemia we are fully certified and are inuited
Whence the feare and trembling hauing beginning from furie dâ—e excite and inuite all necessitie vrgeth to withstand them the danger being neere the generall destruction of the world and specially of Christendome calls for speedie helpe and succour For this People is brutish and without law ignorant of humanitie yet followers and hath a Lord whom it obediently obserueth and worships and calls The God of the earth The men are of short stature but square and wâ—ll set rough and couragious at the becke of their Leader rushing on any difficulties haue broad faces frowning lookes horrible cries agreeing to their hearts They weare raw Hides of Oxes Asses or Horses with Iron plaâ—es sewed on for defensiue Armes hitherto but now with griefe we speake it out of the spoiles of conquered Christians they are more decently armed that in Gods anger wee may be the more dishonourably slayne by our owne weapons They are also furnished with better Horses fed with daintier fare adorned with fairer rayment The Tartars are incomparable Archers carrie sewed skins artificially made by which they passe Riuers and waters without losse When food fayles their Horses are sayd to be content with barkes and leaues of Trees and roots of Herbs whom yet they finde swift and hardy And we fore-seeing all those things often by Letters and Messengers are mindfull to request your excellence as also other Christian Princes earnestly solliciting and warning that peace and loue may flourish amongst Rulers and discord being appeased which often endamage Christendome agreeing together to set stay to them which haue lately shewed themselues forasmuch as fore-warned are fore-armed and that the common enemies may not reioyce that to prepare their wayes so great dissentions breake forth amongst Christian Princes Oh God how much and how often would wee haue humbled our selues doing the vtmost that the Roman Bishop might haue surceased from the scandall of dissention against vs which is gone thorow the World and would more temperately haue reuoked his passions from impetuous rashnesse that wee might beâ— able to quiet our subiects by right and rule them more peaceably nor that he would protect those Rebels the greatest part of which is by him fostered that things being setled and the Rebels awed against whom wee haue wasted much treasure and labour our power might bee aduanced against the common Enemies But Will being to him for a Law not ruling the slipperie running of his tongue and disdayning to abstayne from manifold dissention which he hath attempted by his Legats and Messengers hee hath commanded the Crosse to be published against mee the Arme and Aduocate of the Church which hee ought to haue exercised against the tyrannie of the Tartars or Saracens inuading and possessing the Holy Land whiles our Rebels insult and consult grieuously against our honour and fame And now that our greatest care is to free our selues from domestike and familiar Enemies how shall wee also repell Barbarians seeing that they by their spies which euery where they haue sent before they howsoeuer directed without Diuine Law yet well trayned in Martiall stratagems know the publike discord and the vnfortified and weaker parts of the Lands and hearing of the heart-burning of Kings and the strife of Kingdomes are more encouraged and animated O how much doth triumphing courage adde to strength Wee will therefore by Gods prouidence conuerted apply our strength and industrie to both that wee may driue away the scandall domesticall and barbarous on this side and on that from the Church And we haue expressely sent our deare sonne Conrade and other Princes of our Empire that they may powerfully withstand the assaults of our barbarous Enemies and represse their entrie And heartily wee adiure your Maiestie in behalfe of the Common necessitie by our Lord Iesus Christ that taking heed to your selfe and to your Kingdome which God keepe in prosperitie with instant care and prouident deliberation you diligently prepare speedy ayds of strong Knights and other armed men and Armes this we require in the sprinkling of the bloud of Christ and the league of affinitie in which wee are ioyned And so let them be ready with vs manfully and prouidently to fight for the deliuerance of Christendome that against the Enemies now proposing to enter the confines of Germanie as the Gate of Christendome by vnited forces victorie to the praise of the Lord of Hosts may be obtayned Neither let it like you to passe ouer these things with dissimulation or to suspend them by deferring For if which God forbid they inuade the Gerâ—ane confines without obstacle let others looke for the lightnings of a sudden tempest at the doores which we beleeue to haue hapned by Diuine Iudgement the world being diuersly infected the loue of many waxing cold by whom faith ought to be preached and conserued and their pernicious example stayning the world with Vsuries and diuers other kinds of Simoine and Ambition Let your Excellency therefore prouide and whiles the common enemies are outragious in the neighbour Regions wisely consult to resist them because they haue comne out of their Lands with this intent not regarding the perils of life that they might subdue to them which God auert all the West and may peruert and subuert the Faith and Name of Christ. And in respect of vnexpected victorie which hitherto by Gods permission hath followed them they are growne to that exceeding madnesse that now they thinke they haue gotten the Kingdoms of the World and to tame and subiect Kings and Princes to their vile seruices But wee hope in our Lord Iesus Christ vnder whose Standard wee haue hitherto triumphed being deliuered from our Enemies that these also which haue broke forth of their Tartarean seats their pride being abated by opposed forces of the West these Tartars shall be thrust downe to their Tartara or Hell Nor shall they boast to haue passed so many Lands ouercome so many peoples perpetrated so many mischiefes vnavenged when their vnwarie Destinie yea Sathan shall haue drawne them to the conquering Eagles of puissant Imperiall Europe to their deaths Where Germanie voluntarily raging and prone to Armes France the mother and nurse of Soulderie warlike and daring Spaine fertile England potent in men and a furnished Nauie Almaine full of impetuous Warriours Strip-strong Denmarke vntamed Italie Burgundie ignorant of Peace vnquiet Apulia with the Pyraticall and inuincible Iles of the Greeke Adriaticke and Tyrrhene Seas Creet Cyprus Sicil with the Sea neighbouring Ilands and Regions bloudie Ireland with nimble Wales marishie Scotland Icie Norway and euery Noble and famous Region in the West will cheerfully send their choise Soulderie vnder the Colours of the quickning Crosse which and not onely rebellious men but aduerse Deuils dread Dated in our returne after the yeelding and depopulation of Fauentia the third of Iuly Some Papalines suspected that the Emperour had hatched this Tartar-pestilence like Lucifer or Antichrist to get the Monarchie of the world and to subuert Christiany
of their Iewels and seeing they pleased him freely bestowed them on him He loth to be exceeded in liberalitie caused twice the value to bee giuen them and besides great and rich gifts Hauing stayed one yeare in the Countrey of the said Prince whiles they thought to returne to Venice there suddenly arose Warre betwixt the said Barcha and another named Alau Lord of the Easterne Tartars These Armies fighting together Alau had the Victorie and the Armie of Barcha receiued a great ouerthrow By reason whereof the wayes beeing not secure they were not able to returne that way which they came And hauing consulted how to returne to Constantinople they were aduised to goe so farre to the East that they might compasse the Realme of Barcha by vnknowne wayes and so they came to a Citie called Ouchacha which is in the Confines of the Kingdome of this Lord of the Tartars on the West and passing further they went ouer Tigris one of the foure Riuers of Paradise and after that a Desart of seuenteene dayes Iourney without Citie Castle or Fort finding only Tartars which liue in the fields in certayne Tents with their beasts Beeing past the Desart they came to a good Citie called Bocara the name also of the Prouince in the Region of Persia which was subiect to a King called Barach in which place they stayed three yeares before they could goe forward or backward by reason of great warres betwixt the Tartars At that time a certayne Wiseman was sent Ambassador from the said Prince Alau to the Great Can who is the greatest King of all the Tartars residing in the Confines of the Earth betwixt the North-east and the East called Cublai Can who being comne to Bocara and finding there the said two brethren which had now well learned the Tartarian Language he reioyced aboue measure and perswadeth these Westerne men or Latines to goe with him to the presence of the Great Emperour of the Tartars knowing that hee should gratifie him in this and the men notwithstanding should be entertayned with great honour and rewarded with large gifts especially seeing through the manifold conference had with them he now perceiued their pleasing behauiour Those men therefore considering that they could not easily returne home without danger consulting together ioyne with the said Ambassadour and iourney with him to the Emperour of the Tartars hauing certayne other Christians in their Company whom they brought with them from Venice and departing towards the North-east and the North were a whole yeare in going to the Court of the said chiefe King of the Tartars The cause of their long time in this Iourney was the Snowes and Riuer Waters much increased so that they were forced in their trauell to stay the wasting of the Snow and decreasing of the flouds Being therefore brought before the presence of the Great Can they were most courteously receiued of him He questioned them concerning many things as of the Countries of the West the Romane Emperour and other Kings and Princes how they carried themselues in Gouernment and in Warlike affaires how Peace Iustice and Concord continued among them also what manner of life and customes were obserued with the Latines and especially of the Pope of the Christians of the things of the Church and the Religion of the Christian Faith And M. Nicolo and M. Maffeo as Wisemen told him the truth alway speaking well to him and orderly in the Tartarian Tongue Insomuch that hee often commanded they should bee brought to his presence and they were very acceptable in his sight Hauing well vnderstood the Affaires of the Latines and resting satisfied with their answers the Great Can intending to send them his Ambassadours to the Pope first consulted with his Barons and then calling to him the two Brethren desired them for his loue to goe to the Pope of the Romans with one of his Barons called Chogatall to pray him to send an hundred Wisemen and learned in the Christian Religion vnto him who might shew his Wisemen that the Faith of the Christians was to bee preferred before all other Sects and was the only way of saluation and that the Gods of the Tartars were Deuils and that they and others the people of the East were deceiued in the worship of their Gods Hee gaue them also in charge to bring in their returne from Ierusalem of the Oyle of the Lampe which burneth before the Sepulchre of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom hee had great deuotion and held him to bee true God They therefore yeelding due reuerence to the Great Can promise that they will faithfully execute the charge commited vnto them and present the Letters which they receiued from him written in the Tartarian to be deliuered to the Bishop of Rome He according to the custome of his Kingdome commanded a Golden Tablet to bee giuen them ingrauen and signed with the Kings marke carrying the which with them throughout his whole Empire in stead of a Passe-port they might bee euery-where safely conueyed through dangerous places by the Gouernours of Prouinces and Cities and receiue expenses from them and lastly how long soeuer they would stay in any place whatsoeuer they needed to them or theirs should be ministred vnto them Taking their leaue therefore of the Emperour they take their Iourney carrying the Letters and Golden Tablet with them And when they had rid twentie dayes Iourney the Baron aforesaid associated vnto them began to fall grieuously sicke Whereupon consulting and leauing him there they prosecute their intended Iourney beeing euery-where courteously receiued by reason of the Emperours Tablet Yet in very many places they were compelled to stay by occasion of the ouer-flowing of Riuers so that they spent three yeares before they came vnto the Port of the Citie of the Armenians named Giazza From Giazza they goe to Acre to wit in the yeere of our Lord 1269. in the moneth of Aprill But hauing entred into the Citie of Acre they heard that Pope Clement the fourth was lately dead and that no other was substituted in his place for the which they were not a little grieued At that time there was a certaine Legate of the Apostolicall Sea at Acre to wit Master Tibaldo de Vesconti di Piacenza to whom they declared all they had in commission from the Great Can and he aduised them to expect the Creation of a new Pope In the meane space therefore departing to Venice to visit their Friends purposing to remayne there vntill another Pope were created Master Nicolo found that his wife was dead whom at his departure hee had left great with child but had left a sonne named Marco who was now nineteene yeeres of age This is that Marco which ordayned this Booke who will manifest therein all those things which he hath seene Moreouer the Election of the Pope of Rome was deferred two yeeres They fearing the discontentment and disquieting of the Emperour of the Tartars who they knew expected
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
haue succeeded one the other in those Dominions to this present and those Countries are at this day ruled by two Brothers the one called Chapar the other Doax who haue diuided those Countries betweene them and doe possesse them peaceably 21. Baydo the second sonne of Hoccota Can with the Tartarians which his Father gaue him rode towards the North vntill he came to the Kingdome of Cumania where the Cumanians hauing many armed men opposed themselues and defended their Land against them But being at length ouer-come they fled to the Kingdome of Hungaria where are yet many Cumanians inhabiting Baydo hauing beaten the Cumanians out of their Countrie went to the Kingdome of Russia and conquered it and possessed the Land of Gazaria which is in the Northerne part of Taurica and the Kingdome of Bulgoria and by the way which the Cumanians had fled he came to the Kingdome of Hungaria Afterwards the Tartarians went towards the parts of Germanie till they came to a certaine Riuer that runneth through the Dukedome of Austria where they thought to haue passed ouer a Bridge which they found there But Frederick the Duke of Austria and others that bordered neere it had fortified the Bridge so that the Tartarians were denyed passage Baydo thereupon incensed with furie commanded that all should passe through the water and himselfe was the first that entred exposing thereby himselfe and all his followers to apparant danger of death for such was the breadth of the Riuer and the violence of the streame that their Horses were wearied before they could come to the farther banke of the Riuer Which the residue seeing which were not yet entred into the water they were confounded with griefe and returned to Russia and Cumania which they formerly had conquered as hath beene declared and neuer since that haue the Tartarians attempted against Germanie But the posteritie of Baydo hath euer since successiuely held those Lands which he subdued And he which now raigneth there is called Tochai and ruleth peaceably and quietly 22. Cangaday or Chagoday with those Tartars which his Father gaue him rode towards the South euen to the parts of India the lesser There he found many Desarts Mountaines and drie Lands not inhabited so that hee could not passe that way but hauing lost many of his People Horses and other Beasts he turned him towards the West and after much labour came to his brother Iochi to whom he related what had befalne him who taking compassion on his brother gaue him and his people a good part of those Countries which hee had and euer after those two brethren dwelled together and their Progenie vntill this day inhabite in those parts yet in such sort that those which descended of the younger brother doe beare a kinde of reuerence to the posteritie of the Elder and so being content with their Portions they liue peaceably and quietly together and that Successor of Iochi that now liueth is called Barach 23. In the yeere of our Lord 1253. Haython the King of Armenia seeing that the Tartarians had in a manner subdued all the Kingdomes Countries and Lands euen to the Kingdome of Turkie taking Counsell of the wise he resolued to goe in person to the Emperour of the Tartarians the better to insinuate himselfe into his fauour and to make league with him But first he sent his brother Lord Sinibaldy Constable of the Kingdome of Armenia to obtayne safe conduct for him who carrying with him many Presents and going attended with a goodly companie dispatched in good order the businesse for which he was sent yet stayed hee by the space of foure dayes before he came backe to Armenia but at his returne he related to the King what he had seene and done who without delay departed in secret manner disguised because it might be dangerous for him to be knowne in the Kingdome of Turkie through which hee must needes make his iourney and as God would at his comming thither he found that the Soldan of Turkie was ouerthrowne by a Tartarian Captaine whom hee met with there and made himselfe knowne vnto him who when he vnderstood him to be the King of Armenia and that hee was going toward the Emperour entertayned him very honorably and caused him to bee conducted to the Kingdome of Cumania and beyond the Iron gate And afterwards other Tartarian Captaines caused him to bee conducted ouer all other Countries and Places vntill he came to Almalech or Cambalu where Mango Can their Emperour resided who reioyced much at the comming of the King of Armenia and the rather for that from the comming of Changius Can ouer the Mountaine Belgian no other great Prince had come to meet him and therefore hee receiued and entertayned him with much honour and loue and gaue vnto him some of the greatest persons about him to attend and associate him at his pleasure and did him many other fauours But the King of Armenia hauing rested certaine dayes intreated the Emperour to vouchsafe him Audience in those affaires for which hee was come and to giue him licence to returne The Emperour very graciously answered him that he would most willingly accomplish all his desires and that it was very acceptable vnto him that he came of his owne accord The King with good deliberation made seuen Petitions First He desired that the Emperour and all his people would be baptized in the Christian Faith leauing all other Sects Secondly That there might be a perpetuall peace and friendship established betweene the Christians and the Tartarians Thirdly That in all Countries which the Tartarians either had conquered or should conquer the Churches and Churchmen whether secular or religious might be free and exempted from all seruitude and payments Fourthly That he would deliuer and free the holy Land and the holy Sepulcher of our Lord out of the hands of the Saracens and restore them to the Christians Fiftly That he would endeuour the destruction of the Caliph of Baldach who was the head and chiefe Doctor of the Sect of Mahometisme Sixtly Hee required that a speciall Charter might be granted him that of whatsoeuer Tartarians especially such as should be nearest to the Kingdome of Armenia hee should bee occasioned to demand aide they should forthwith be readie to assist him Seuenthly He craued that all the Lands of the iurisdiction of the Kingdome of Armenia which the Saracens had inuaded and were or should happen to be recouered by the Tartarians might be restored to the King of Armenia and that such as he should get from the Saracens hee might peaceably and quietly enioy Mango Can hauing considered the Petitions of the King of Armenia calling before him all his chiefe Captaines and Counsellers in their presence made him answere after this manner Because that the King of Armenia of his owne accord and not of compulsion is come vnto vs from remote parts it beseemeth the Imperiall Maiestie to yeeld him all
chiefe Leaders not for crueltie but for necessitie knowing very well that the meanes to cut off the Foot of ciuill warres is to punish the Heads of the same for they be Hydras which grow vp too fast §. II. Cataio Cambalu TAMERLANS expedition into China entring the Wall conquering the King and disposing of the Countrey and returne to Cataio AFter this the Armie marched into the Kingdome of Cataio a Countrey rich in grasse and in all kinds of pastures abounding with great quantitie of Beasts and People which knew not what warre meant The Prince gaue commandement that these people should not be accounted as Enemies but his good Subjects that hee would vse all the Cities well as Cangi Sochgi Gonzae Tagni Togara Congu which had reuolted and were come to sue for pardon at his hands in humbling themselues before him the which he granted vnto them enjoyning them onely to prouide sufficient victuals for his Armie which was of no small importance for the appeasing of others who had put all their hope in extremitie which is in losing their owne liues to make others doe the like and especially the Inhabitants of Cambalu had taken this resolution but being informed of the Emperours clemency changed their opinions In the meane while our Armie daily approched and at such time as we came neerest the more did the feare of all the Citie increase insomuch as the Prince was aduertised daily from those which fauoured his side of all things within the Citie and he was assured that euery one determined to obey the Conqueror and to doe whatsoeuer he commanded The which being knowne vnto the Prince he left all his Armie at Gonsa and himselfe went directly vnto the Citie of Cambalu where all things were made quiet by the meanes of thirtie thousand Souldiers being the ordinarie Garrison whom hee caused to enter thereinto before him and two houres after entred into the same himselfe being receiued with great magnificence not yeelding as yet to pronounce the word of pardon referring all vnto the Emperour and to the ordinarie course of Iustice. He stayed for the returne of one of his Fauourites whom he had sent vnto the Emperour to carry him newes of the victorie and of the death of Calix and that the chiefe of this Faction remayned prisoners with him also to know what Iustice the Emperour would appoint to bee inflicted on those Citizens which were the first beginners of the reuolt of this Citie for the Prince being desirous to be esteemed mercifull and to win loue within this great Citie would not execute justice of himselfe nor in his owne name but by the Emperour his Vncle whom hee did gratifie herein leauing the authoritie wholly vnto himselfe and by this meanes hee was not esteemed cruell Thus the Prince after hee had remayned here eight dayes departed He was not many dayes iourney from the Citie before he receiued tydings how the great Cham his Vncle willed that justice should bee executed on them which were the first Moouers of this reuolt the which was executed accordingly in the name of the Emperour and by his speciall ministers in such sort that as the people accused the crueltie of the Emperour they commended the mercy of Tamerlan Thus was this warre brought vnto an end to the great honour and reputation of Tamerlan As soone as our Prince was returned vnto his Army where hee found Odmar who there attended his comming hee was receiued of his Souldiers and with a loud voyce called by all his Captaines and Souldiers Most great Emperour and most victorious as they are accustomed to doe amongst the Tartarians The Prince after he had long discoursed with his Captaines both of the beautie and greatnesse of the Citie of Cambalu hee arriued at his Tent where after hee had declared vnto Odmar in what sort all things had passed at Cambalu he asked his aduice whether hee should goe and visit the Emperour his Vncle. Odmar well perceiued that the Prince desired it and called vnto his remembrance the honour which hee had receiued when hee was at Quinzai and that hee would haue beene very willing to spend the Winter with the Empresse staying for the Spring for to returne vnto the enterprise of China with a long speech disswaded him The Emperour answered him that he had euer knowne his fidelitie and loue and that the cause of his sadnesse was for that hee did not find in himselfe abilitie to recompence the same and that when he thought to giue himselfe some ease then was the time hee must in stead of the delicacies and pleasures of Quinzay make the Desarts of Cipribit the resting place from the trauailes of his new victorie that it was ended and his purposes determined I haue also heard the Prince say that Odmar did not speake vnto him like an earthly but diuine man and that he verily beleeued that God by his meanes did call him back from some misse-hap which would haue light vpon him to make his glorie increase the more Now the rumour was alreadie spread ouer all that the Princes determination was to goe and visit the Emperour his Vncle the which tickled euery man with desire to returne into his Countrey hoping to inioy the sweetnesse of his natiue soyle When as commandement was giuen for a generall reuiew of the whole Armie where the Emperour spake vnto his Souldiers in this manner Wee haue begunne my faithfull Souldiers an enterprise to goe and assault the King of China who hath of late repulsed euen beyond the Mountaynes the Tartarian name but wee were hindered to our great griefe by the foolish rashnesse of Calix and were driuen to turne the bridle for to punish him wherein you haue all assisted mee It grieueth mee that I cannot as well bragge of the fresh spoyles of a stranger as I may vaunt by the meanes of your weapons of those our vnfaithfull Citizens and in times past with your owne selues making tryall of my first Armes against the boldnesse of the fierce Moscouite although for this last ciuill victorie I am further indebted vnto you for your greater endeuour and the hazarding of your persons being much greater so were they our owne people who would not acknowledge vs whereof I cannot speake without shedding of teares desiring rather to burie such a victorie what glorie and honour soeuer wee haue gotten thereby Neither doe I recount these things vnto you but for to manifest that I forget not your faithfulnesse and the great trauaile you haue endured with mee Wee must not therefore bee wearie but must turne our weapons against those which thinke that wee are greatly troubled whereas wee are victorious Wee haue left our Companions who haue temporized to heare the euent and successe of our affaires all our munitions bee there wee must in that place my Souldiers and friendly Followers passe ouer the rest of Winter our Companions looke for vs. The Enemie is secure and looketh not for vs at this
white and dyed Linnen cloth for it is that which is most spent in the Countrie They gaue me a piece of Linnen cloth of about ten cubits which was valued at tenne Crownes there is both fine and course as euery one will haue it And howsoeuer the Porcelane which is vsed in all the Countrie of China and in all India is of common Clay notwithstanding there is very much course Porcelane and other very fine and there is some that is lawfull to be sold commonly for the Rulers onely vse it because it is red and greene and gilt and yellow some of this is sold but very little and that secretly And because there are many opinions among the Portugals which haue not beene in China about where this Porcelane is made and touching the substance whereof it is made some saying that of Oysters snels others of dung rotten of a long time because they were not enformed of the truth I thought it conuenient to tell here the substance whereof it is made according to the truth of them that saw it The substance of the Porcelane is a white and soft stone and some is redde which is not so fine or in better speaking it is a hard clay the which after well beating and grinding it and laying in Cisternes of water which they haue very well made of free-stone and some playstered and they are very cleane and after it is stirred in the water of the Creame that remayneth on the top they make the very fine Porcelane and so the lower the courser and of the dregâ— they make the coursest and base which the poore people of China doe vse They make them first as the potters doe any other vessell after they are made they drie them in the Sunne and then paint them as they list with Azure which is so fine as we see after these Pictures are drie they lay on the Glasse and then harden them The principall streets of the Merchants are the most principall streets which haue couerts on the one side and on the other notwithstanding the chiefest sale of the Porcelane is in the Gates of the Cities and euery Merchant hath at his doore written in a Table all that is sold within his shop those which sell simples for medicines haue at their doores tyed and hanging in a string a piece of euery thing There is in China great store of Rubarbe but it is not brought to Cantan but sodden there is none found raw As the goods of China are very great and many so the rents which the King of China hath in euery part of his Kingdome are very great Some China Merchants did affirme that Cantan did yeeld euery yeere to the King three thousand Picos of Siluer and euery three Picos make one Baar euery Baar hath foure Kintals euery Kintall hath foure Arrobas so that one Baar is sixteene Quarters and three thousand Picos making one thousand Baars by consequence one thousand Baars make sixteene thousand Quarters and wee speake of weight for in China is no money of Gold or Siluer but onely of Brasse the Gold and Siluer goeth by weight But these as they are popular people though occupied in the trafficke of the Countrie it seemes they know not well the trueth of this and that the summe is greater which is collected of the rents Royall for the Countrie is very great and the merchandise many and very substantiall I was informed by meanes of the Rulers which is a more certaine information because the rents doe passe thorow their hands that the rent of the Salt in Cantan did yeeld alone to the King 300. Picos of Siluer which doe make 100 Baars which are 400. Kintals that are 1600. quarters of Siluer Euery one hath a paire of scales and weights in his house which all are exceedingly perfect The weights that they commonly haue are from ten crownes to one and from ten Tangas to one one Tanga is nine pence By the name of their Countrie the lesser great weight is of one Tael one Tael is sixe Mazes one Maez is the same that a Tanga of the small weights the smallest is one Conderin ten Conderins make one Tanga or one Maez one Conderin hath ten Caxos and because the common that goeth in stead of money is Siluer by weight euery one hath weights of his owne as abouesaid for one laboureth by all the meanes hee can to deceiue the other none doe trust the scales and weights of the other and euery one that goeth to buy in the Market carrieth a weight and balance and broken Siluer and the balance is a little beame of Iuorie with a weight hanging at the one end with a string and on the other end a little scale and the string of the weight runneth along by the beames which hath his markes from one Conderin to ten or of one Maez vnto ten These scales serue for to buy by retale for to buy by grosse they haue perfect scales very curious and fine with very perfect weights They carrie the Siluer commonly full of mixture and because they encrease it with the mixture from hence it commeth that he which will make good markets in the Countrie of China and that it may be cheape carrieth Siluer rather then goods for by the encrease which the Chinas make of the Siluer with the mixture they giue the merchandise good and cheape for the Siluer The Merchants are commonly false and lyars There is great abundance of Rice in all the Countrie for there are many marishes which yeeld two or three crops euery yeere There is also much and very good Wheat whereof they make very good Bread which they learned to make of the Portugals their vse before were Cakes of the same Wheat There be many French Beanes and other Pulse there is great store of Beefe and Buffes flesh which is like Beefe there are many Hens Geese and innumerable Duckes there are infinite Swine which is the flesh they most loue they make of the Hogs many singular flitches whereof the Portugals carrie an infinite number to the India when they goe thither by way of trafficke The Chinas doe esteeme the Porke so much that they giue it to the sicke They eate Frogs also which are sold in great Tubs full of water at the gates and they that sell them are bound to flay them All flesh is sold by weight aliue except Beefe and Buffes flesh and Porke which commonly is sold by the pound except if they doe buy it whole for then they are to weigh it whole and that it may weigh the more they fill it first wiâ—h meat and drinke the Hens to make them weigh the more they fill them likewise with water and their crops full of sand and other things The pound of the Hen Goose Ducke and Frogs is all at one price the Porke Beefe and Buffes flesh is worth lesse and all at one price The fish is exceeding much
but hee gaue mee his Letter and a Horse worth seuen Rubbles And so I departed from him being glad that I was gone for he was reported to bee a very tyrant and if I had not gone vnto him I vnderstood his commandement was that I should haue beene robbed and destroyed This Sultan liued in the fields without Castle or Towne and sate at my being with him in a little round house made of reeds couered without with Felt and within with Carpets There was with him the great Metropolitan of that wilde Countrey esteemed of the people as the Bishop of Rome is in most parts of Europe with diuers other of his chiefe men The Sultan with this Metropolitan demanded of mee many questions as well touching our Kingdomes Lawes and Religion as also the cause of my comming into those parâ—s with my further pretence To whom I answered concerning all things as vnto me seemed best which they tooke in good part So hauing leaue I departed and ouertooke our Carauan and proceeding on our iourney and trauelled twentie dayes in the Wâ—ldernesse from the Sea side without seeing Town or habitation carrying prouision of victuals with vs for the same time and were driuen by necessitie to eate one of my Camels and a Horse for our part as other did the like and during the said twentie dayes we found no water but such as we drew out of old deepe Wells being very brackish and salt and yet somtimes passed two or three dayes without the same And the fift day of October ensuing we came vnto a Gulfe of the Caspian Sea againe where we found the water very fresh and sweet at this Gulfe the Customers of the King of Turkeman met vs who tooke custome of euery fiue and twentie one and seuen ninths for the said King and his brethren which being receiued they departed and we remayned there a day after to refresh our selues Note that in times past there did fall into this Gulfe the great Riuer Oxus which hath his springs in the Mountaines of Paraponisus in India and now commeth not so faâ—re but falleth into another Riuer called Ardock which runneth toward the North and consâ—meth himselfe in the ground passing vnder the ground aboue fiue hundred miles and then issueth out againe and falleth into the Lake of Kithay We hauing refreshed our selues at the foresaid Gulfe departed thence the fourth day of October and the seuenth day arriued at a Castle called Sellizure where the King called Azim Can remayned with three other of his brethren and the ninth day I was commanded to come before his presence to whom I deliuered the Emperours Letters of Russia and I also gaue him a Present of a ninth who entertayned me very well and caused me to eate in his presence as his brethren did feasting me with flesh of a wilde Horse and Mares milke without Bread And the next day he sent for me againe and asked of me diuers questions as well touching the affaires of the Emperour of Russia as of our Countrey and Lawes to which I answered as I thought good so that at my departure he gaue mee his Letters of safe conduct This Castle of Sellizure is situated vpon an high Hâ—ll where the King called the Can lieth whose Palace is built of earth very baâ—ely and not strong the people are but poore and haue little trade of merchandise among them The South part of this Castle is low land but very fruitfull where growe many good fruits among which there is one called a Dynie of a great bignesse and full of moisture which the people doe eate after meate in stead of drinke Also there growes another fruit called a Carbuse of the bignesse of a great Cucumber yellow and sweet as Sugar also a certaine Corne called Iegur whose stalke is much like a Sugar cane and as high and the Graâ—ne like Rice which groweth at the top of the cane like a cluster of Grapes the water that serueth â—ll that Countrey is drawne by ditches out of the Riuer Oxus vnto the great destruction of the said Riuer for which cause it fâ—lleth not into the Caspian Sea as it hath done in timeâ— past and in short time all that Land is like to be destroyed and to become a Wildernesse for want of water when the Riuer of Oxus shall faile The fourteenth day of the moneth wee departed from this Castle of Sellizure and the sixteenth of the same wee arriued at a Citie called Vrgence where we payed Custome as well for our owne heads as for our Camels and Horses And hauing there soiourned one moneth attending the time of our further trauell the King of that Countrey called Aly Sultan brother to the fore-named Azym Can returned from a Towne called Corasan within the borders of Persia which he lately had coâ—qâ—ered from the Persians with whom hee and the rest of the Kings of Tâ—rtaria haue continuall warres Before this King also I was commanded to come to whom I likewise presented the Emperours Letters of Russia and he entertayned me well and demanded of me diuers questions and at my departure gaue me his Letters of safe conduct This Citie or Towne of Vrgence standeth in a plaine ground with walls of the earth by estimation foure miles about it The buildings within it are also of earth but ruined aâ—d out of good order it hath one long street that is couered aboue which is the place of their Market It hath beene wonne and lost foure times within seuen yeeres by ciuill warres by meanes whereof there are but few Merchants in it and they very poore and in all that Towne I could not fell aboue foure Kerseys The chiefest commodities there sold are such wares as come from Boghaer and out of Persia but in most small quantitie not worth the writing All the Land from the Caspian Sea to this Citie of Vrgence is called the Land of Turkeman and is subiect to the said Azim Can and his brethren which bee fiue in number and one of them hath the name of the chiefe King called Can but he is little obeyed sauing in his owne Dominion and where hee dwelleth for euery one will be King of his owne portion and one brother seeketh alwaies to destroy another hauing no naturall loue among them by reason that they are begotten of diuers women and commonly they are the children of slaues either Christians or Gentiles which the father doth keepe as Concubines and euery Can or Sultan hath at the least foure or fiue wiues besides young maidens and boyes liuing most viciously and when there are warres betwixt these brethren as they are seldome without he that is ouercome if hee be not slaine fleeth to the field with such companie of men as will follow him and there liueth in the Wildernesse resorting to watering places and so robbeth and spoyleth as many Carauans of Merchants and others as they be able to ouercome continuing in this sort his wicked life vntill
Printed 1620. at Madrid and small credit it had beene to the House of the Farias that one of them should publish in Portugall and in Castile to another should be dedicated a friuolous tale and deuised foolerie I adde also the Authours stile so religious and his often protestations his credit as Herrera reporteth with King Philip the Second who spent much time in discourse with him about these things I might adde the Spanish Translators Apologie at large and out of him Fr. Andrada the Portugall Chroniclers testimonie If this moue thee not to beleeue yet beleeue thus much that I haue no minde to deceiue thee but giue thee what I found onely much contracted and not going all the way with our Authour whose originall Booke is aboue one hundred and fiftie sheets of paper in folio but contented with his China and Tartaria Relations that also too much if not true And yet I would not haue an Authour reiected for fit speeches framed by the Writer in which many Historians haue taken libertie no if sometimes he doth mendacia dicere so as he doth not mentiri that is if he be so credulous to beleeue or so improuident to proffer to others faith probable falshoods related by others as I will not sweare but of himselfe hee might mistake and by others be mis-led the Chinois here might in relating these rarities to him enlarge and de magnis maiora loqui so as he still be religious in a iust and true deliuerie of what himselfe hath seene and belye not his owne eyes the former is rashnesse and distastfull the later is dishonest and detestable Once the Sunne Rising hath found many worshippers but the Westerne Sunne is neerer night and neerer obscuritie and meannesse are our Westerne affaires then those China Raies of the East and wee were Backes and Owles not to beleeue a greater light then our selues see and vse All China Authours how diuersified soeuer in their lines yet concurre in a centre of Admiranda Sinarum which if others haue not so largely related as this they may thanke God they payed not so deare a price to see them and for mee I will rather beleeue where reason euicts not an â—â—ectione firma then seeke to see at the Authours rate and if he hath robbed the Altars of Truth as he did those of the Calempluy Idols yet in Pequin equity we will not cut off the thumbs according to Nanquin rigour vpon bare surmise without any euidence against him Howeuer cheaper I am sure he is by farre to thee then to mee who would haue beene loth to be so true a labourer in a lying Authour willingly or commonly in my conceit falsifying his owne sight though perhaps not seldome deceiued in things taken vp on China mens trust or entred into their China Bookes such as he here often citeth Men refuse not Siluer for the Oare gather the Rose notwithstanding the prickles neglect not Haruest mixed with weeds Wheat with the chaffe Fruit for the shells and hate not Honie for the Bees sting nor will I either in prodigalitie of faith beleeue all or be so penurious as to reiect the most of that which here I present Vse thou thy freedome and him at thy pleasure I say not mee and if thou wilt not pardon such a briefe collection thou wouldst hardly giue Castilian entertainement to all and more then all often yeelding brauadoes and enlarging flourishes of stile beyond a translation as if his Authour had not said enough The variety if it had beene meerly deuised presents I know not how many entercourses as interludes of Comicke and Tragicke euents more worthie the reading then most in this kinde and as fit to recreate how much more where veritie is as I suppose the ground and substance though perhaps inlayed with other phantasies among That the Iesuites in some things differ is their authoritie against his who as more learned and iudicious and longer experienced might finde out some truths better then hee as his various fortunes and that time might let him see many particularities which they could not writing sixtie yeeres after In many things they both agree and Gaspar de Cruz hath many the same things and that his strange Relation of the Crosse in China and the Hungarian of the Mount Sinai is deliuered by Lucena perhaps learned by some of His companie and these exceptions by mee mentioned are rather praeoccupations of censorious iudging my iudgement then my iudiciall sentence which the iudicious will suspend and leaue to better experience Iudicent posteri veritas Temporis filia CHAP. II. Obseruations of China Tartaria and other Easterne parts of the World taken out of FERNAM MENDEZ PINTO his Peregrination §. I. MENDEZ his many miserable aduentures his strange expedition with ANTONIO DE FARIA diuers coasts visited Pirats tamed miseries suffered glorie recouered FErnam Mendez Pinto borne at old Montemor in the Kingdome of Portugall was placed in seruice at ten or twelue yeeres of age in Lisbon the thirteenth of December An. 1521. on the day of breaking the Scutchions or publike mourning for King Emanuel A yeere and halfe after he fled vpon occasion of a sudden accident and got aboord a Caruile which was taken by a French Pirat which would haue made sale of them at Larache to the Moores But a fortnight after taking another Portugall ship comming from Saint Thome worth 40000. Duckets they returned for France carrying some with them for Sea seruice the rest they set on shoare by night on the shoare of Melides naked which came to Santiago de Cacem where they were relieued Thence he went to Setuual and serued Francisco de Faria a Gentleman belonging to the Master of Santiago and after that was Page to the Master himselfe But his meanes being short hee left his seruice An. 1537. he went for Indiae in a Fleet of fiue ships the Admirall was Don Pedro de Sylua sonne of Vasco da Gama first Discouerer of the Indies whose bones he carried with him in the ship at his returne which were receiued by King Iohns appointment in greater Funerall pompe then had beene seene done to a Subiect They arriued at Diu the fifth of September Thence after seuenteene dayes he went with two Foists for the Straight of Mecca and came in sight of Curia Muria and Abedalcuria almost wracked with foule weather and comming to Sacotora watered neere the Fortresse which Francisco d' Almeida first Vice-roy of India had built 1507. Hauing receiued some refreshing of the Christians there they departed and in the heighth of Masua tooke a ship but fiue men being therein left of eightie one of which was the Captaine a Renegado of Malorquy who for loue of a Moorish woman had denyed his Faith and refusing to returne to Christianitie notwithstanding all perswasions wee bound him hand and foot and threw him into Sea with a great stone tyed about his necke The ship also sunke and little was saued They went to Arquico
burning Lampes the Altar-cloth was of cloth of Gold and the fruntlet of the same After awhile that they had beene there whereas the Idols were there came a Seruant from the Gouernour and said vnto them in his behalfe that they should send vnto him the Interpreter they straight-wayes commanded him to goe And the Gouernour said vnto him that he should aduise the Fathers and the rest of his companions that if they would talke and treate of such businesse as they came for that it must be done with the same ceremonie and respect as the Nobles of that Prouince doe vse to talke with him which is vpon their knees as afterwards they did see many times vsed if not that they should depart vnto the House whereas they were lodged and there to tarrie the order that should be sent from the Vice-roy of Aucheo The Spaniards were of diuers judgements striuing amongst themselues a good while but yet in conclusion the Religious Fathers whom the Gouernour of the Ilands had ordayned and sent as principals in this matter and whose judgement they should follow said that they ought to accept the condition seeing that by no other meanes they could not come vnto that they pretended and not to leaue it off for matters of small importance for that therein they make no offence vnto God and it may be a meane vnto the conuerting of that mightie Kingdome When that the Insuanto vnderstood that the Spaniards would enter with the reuerence accustomed and in such order as was declared vnto them hee straight-wayes commanded that they should come into the Hall whereas hee was they entred into another Hall as bigge as the first whereas were many Souldiers with their weapons in their hands in very good order and richly apparelled and next vnto them were many Tipstaues and Sergeants with different Ensignes or Badges all apparelled with long Robes of silke garded and embroydered with Gold and euery one of them had a Helme on his head some of siluer and other some of Tinne gilt ouer which was a gallant thing to see all had long haire and died yellow which hung downe behind their eares vpon their backes they were placed in very good order and made a lane that the Spaniards might passe thorough then they came into a Gallerie which was joyning vnto the Chamber where the Gouernour was and there they heard such a noyse of Instruments of diuers sorts which endured a good while and was of so great melodie that it seemed vnto them that they neuer before heard the like which caused vnto them great admiration to see so great Majestie amongst Gentiles When the Musicke was ended they entred into the Hall aforesaid and had not gone many steps when as they met with the Counsailer that met with them in the street afore-said and with him other two of his companions all on foot and bare-headed before the Gouernour and their Ensignes of Majestie left off which is generally vsed in all the Kingdome the inferiour to make any shew when that he is before his Superiour Then they made signes vnto them for to kneele downe for that the Insuanto was nigh at hand in a rich Towre vnder a Canopie of great Riches and did represent so great Majestie as the King himselfe hee did entertayne them with tokens of great loue and humanitie and told them by their Interpreter that they were very well welcome and that hee did greatly rejoyce to see them with many other words of great fauour This Gouernour was a man of goodly person well fauoured and of a merry countenance more then any that they had seene in all that Countrey Hee caused to bee put vpon the shoulders of the Fathers and of the Souldiers that were with him euery one of them two pieces of silke which was crossed about them like Skarfes and likewise to either of them a branch of siluer the like courtesie he did vnto the Captaine Omoncon and vnto Sinsay and commanded to giue vnto all their Seruants euery one of them a Mantle of Cotton painted This being done the Fathers did giue vnto him the Letters which they carried from the Gouernour and Generall of the field and a note of the Present that was sent him crauing pardon for that it was so small but time and oportunitie would not serue as then to send vnto him a thing of greater price and valour certifying him that if the friendship which they pretended did goe forwards and come to be established that then all things should be amended and amplified Hee answered vnto their proffers with words of great fauour and made signes vnto them to arise and to goe and take their rests there whereas they were lodged the which they did and found all things in very good order and well furnished as well of Beds as of all other necessaries which was done by the commandement of the Gouernour Before they departed out of the Palace the Captaine of the guard did carrie them vnto his Lodging which was within the Court and there he made them a Banquet with Conserues and Fruits in abundance the which being done hee and other Gentlemen of the Palace did beare them company vntil they came to their Lodgings which they greatly desired for that they were wearie of their Iourney and also with the trouble of the great presse of people that pressed on them in the streets otherwise for to see them the which Captaine of the guard did appoint a Company of Souldiers for to guard them both night and day the which was done more for Maiestie then for necessitie or securitie of their persons They had a Steward appointed to prouide them and all their company of all things necessary and that in abundance and not to take of them any thing which was giuen by particular commandement by the Gouernour The next day many of the Gentlemen of the Citie did goe vnto the Spaniards to visit them and such as could not goe themselues did send their Seruants bidding them welcome The Spaniards did make answere and gratified them all in the which visitation they spent all the whole day hauing great admiration to see the good behauiour nurture and gallant demeanour of those Gentlemen and the great discretion they had in the demanding of any thing they would know as also in their Answeres made to our requests The next day the Insuanto sent a commandement wherein he willed the two Fathers to remayne in their Lodgings and take their ease but the two Souldiers Pedro Sarmiento and Miguel de Loarcha should come and speake with him and that they should bring with them their Interpreter for that hee had one there with him who was a Chino and vnderstood the Language of the Philippinas but so badly that they could not by his Interpretation talke of any matter of importance So when they came thither they were brought whereas he was but with lesse ceremonie he requested them to declare vnto him the whole
bring the Spaniards vnto Manilla who was called Chautalay a principall Captayne of the Prouince When the banquet was ended they were carryed with great companie from the Hall whereas the banquet was made vnto the house of the Cogontoc who was the Kings Treasurer dwelt there hard by of whom they were maruellously well receiued with louing words and great courtesie in saying that he hoped very shortly to see them againe at such time as they shall returne with Limahon and that as then their friendship should be fully concluded and would intreat with them in particular of other matters This being done he gaue vnto them a Present for to carrie vnto the Gouernour of Manilla in recompence of that which was sent vnto the Vice-roy the Present was forty pieces of Silke and twentie pieces of Burat◠a Litter Chaire and gilt and two Quitasoles of Silke and a Horse Likewise hee sent the like Present vnto the Generall of the field and to either of them a Letter in particular these things were put in Chists which were very faire and gilt Besides this he gaue other forty pieces of Silke of all colours for to bee parted amongst the Captaines and other Officers that were at the siege of Limahon with three hundred blacke Mantles and as many Quitasoles to be parted amongst the Souldiers Besides all these he gaue vnto the Friers each of them eight pieces of Silke and vnto the Souldiers their companions foure pieces of each of them and to euery one his Horse and a Quitasol of Silke their Horses were very good to trauell by the way This being done the Cogonroc tooke his leaue of them and willed them to goe and take leaue and licence of the Vice-roy and the Visitor that they might depart for that all things were in a readinesse for their Voyage the which commandement they did straight-wayes accomplish being very well content and satisfied of the great fauours and courtesies the which they receiued both of the one and the other Likewise of the Tococ is Captaine Generall whom they also did visit and tooke their leaue The Spaniards departed from the Citie of Aucheo vpon a Tuesday beeing the three and twentieth of August in the sight of all the people of the Citie who came forth to see them with so great presse and throng as they did when they first came thither into the Countrey they were all carried in Litter Chaires yea their very slaues for that it was so commanded by the Vice-roy the Friers were carried by eight men a piece and the Souldiers by foure men a piece and all their Seruants and Slaues were carried by two men a piece Looke so many men as was to carrie them there went so many more to helpe them when they waxed wearie besides foure and twentie that carried their Stuffe There went alwayes before them a Harbinger for to prouide their Lodgings and with him went a Pay-master whose charge was to ordaine and prouide men for to carrie their Litter Chaires and to giue them for their trauell that which is accustomed and to pay all costs and charges spent by the Spaniard After that they departed from Aucheo they made of two dayes Iourney one which was the occasion that they came to Chincheo in foure dayes At their entring into the Citie they found a Seruant of the Insuanto with order and commandement that they should proceed forwards on their Iourney and not to stay in the Citie but to goe vnto the Port of Tansuso whither he will come the next day following They obeyed his commandement and made so much haste that in two dayes they came vnto the Village of Tangoa whereas they had beene before and particular mention made thereof In the same Village they were lodged well entertayned and had great good cheere from thence they went in one day to Tansuso which was the first Port wheras they did dis-imbarke themselues when as they came from the Ilands vnto that firme Land the Iustice of the Towne did lodge them in the same House whereas they were first lodged and did prouide for them of all things necessary and needfull and that in abundance till the comming of the Insuanto which was within foure dayes after for that hee could not come any sooner although his desire was for that it was very foule weather The third of September the Insuanto sent and commanded the Spaniards that they should imbark themselues for that it was that day the conjunction of the Moone although at that time the ships were not fully in a readinesse They obeyed his commandement and the Insuanto himselfe went to the water side in whose presence came thither certaine Religious men of their manner and after their fashion they made Sacrifice with certaine Prayers in the which they craued of the Heauens to giue good and faire weather and a sure Voyage and fauourable Seas vnto all those that saile in those ships This Ceremony being done which is a thing very much vsed in that Countrey the Spaniards went vnto the Insuanto who was there with great company and Maiestie he entertayned them very friendly and with cheerefull words making an outward shew that he bare them great loue and that their departure was vnto him a great griefe Then he requested them to giue him a remembrance of such things as was necessary and needfull for their prouision for the Sea for that he would giue order for the prouiding of the same the which hee did and was with so great abundance that they had for the Voyage and remayned a great deale to spare He then commanded to be brought thither Cates to eate and drinke and gaue it them with his owne hands as well the one as the other he himselfe did eate and drinke with them which is the greatest fauour that can be shewed amongst them The Banket being ended he commanded them in his presence to goe aboard their ships because that was a luckie day and also to accomplish that which the Vice-roy had cōmanded which was that he should not depart from thence vntill they had first seene them imbarked The Spaniards obeyed the commandement and tooke their leaue of the Insuanto with great courtesie and reuerence and with outward shewes that they remayned indebted for the great courtesie good will that they had receiued and therwith they departed to the waters side towards the Boat which was tarrying for them As they passed by the Religious men that before we spake of they saw a great Table set and vpon it a whole Oxe with his throat cut and hard by the same a Hogge and a Goate and other things to be eaten the which they had ordained for to make Sacrifice which they doe vse in the like Affaires They being imbarked in the Boate they were carried aboard the Admirall which was the ship appointed for them to goe in then presently they beganne to stirre the ship from one place vnto another with certaine
and in some Commotion The Magistrates petitioned the King against these abuses but sweetnesse of gaine had not only stopped that eare but procured grieuous penalties to those which withstood his Catch-poll-Eunuches which by those punishments grew more insolent Ours which wintered at Lincin happily escaped these Harpy-clutches who with their Presents arriuing at Nanquin rejoyced to see a Residence so prepared there These Presents intended for the King bred such an amazement in the beholders that others were ready to offer force to see them They still minding to present the King the weather now more cleare and peaceable Cataneus went to Amacao where was much rejoycing for these hopes but soone quenched with sorrow for losse of their ship which tradeth to Iapon men and goods lost on which ship all their Commerce dependeth They found themselues therefore vnable to maintayne three Residences the Iesuites Rector scraped all hee could for that purpose and added a Watch and Image of the blessed Virgin and Trigone Glasses Houre-gâ—afles and other Rarities to their Presents Father Diego Pantoia a Spanish Priest also accompanyed Cataneus to Nanquin and thence went with Ricius to Pequin with Sebastian and Emanuell Father Iohn was called from Nancian to reside with Cataneus at Nanquin They went with an Eunuch then going to Pequin with six ships who shewed them much kindnesse In Zinin a City of the Prouince of Sciantum is a Vice-roy which is as High Admirall ouer all the ships whether they carry prouision or other things which gaue kind entertaynment to Ricius telling him at parting Sithai that was Ricius his China name I also desire to goe to Paradise intimating that all his Heauen was not in earthly honours but that he minded also what the other pâ—eached Presently with great pompe and state hee followed him to his ship and there visited him with vsuall Rites of Vrbanity and a Present and wondred much at the sight of those Presents they carryed for the King He sent an Officer also to make him a readier way One Liciu had made way to this Vice-royes friendship who soone after killed himselfe hearing that vpon some complaint of his Books the King had commanded him to bee imprisoned and his Books to bee burned preuenting so the study of his Aduersaries to put him to some shamefull death Amongst those Eunuches which the King had sent to oppresse the people was one Mathan which dwelt at Linciâ— whose exactions had raysed the people and Souldiers into mutiny which burnt his Palace and killed his Seruants himselfe escaping disguised but the Captiue and Slaue of Couetousnesse no lesse then before Our Eunuch addressed himselfe to him but could not till the third time be admitted because his Gifts were not answerable to the others appetite Hee to make way for himselfe betrayed Ours to this Harpy they not knowing it saying that in one of his ships were strangers with precious Gifts for the King which he shewed closely to his Officers with these he might get the Kings fauour The Gouernour which in that and the Neighbour Cities had great command was his great friend of whom Ricius asked counsell he told him that now the Eunuches reigned and they almost only were the Kings Counsellors nor could the greatest Magistrates withstand their iniuries Yet the countenance of this Magistrate was a great helpe to him this being the man whom of all the Gouernours he most feared a man so well deseruing that his Citizens erected to him a Temple Image and Inscription who now also both countenanced Ricius what he might and gaue him the best aduice how to carry himselfe to this Eunuch and perhaps but for him they had lost all and themselues to This Capon had erected Palaces and Temples and had built a huge ship in which the King himselfe might haue sayled so many were the Cels Chambers Hals and other commodious Buildings thereof the Windowes Galleries of vndecaying wood carryed with many Meanders all shining with Vernish and glittering with Gold In this ship was hee carryed to ours where Ricius met him He viewed and liked all and downe on his knees to the Virgins Picture promised to procure her a place in the Palace Ricius modestly refusing his seruice for them to the King saying many Magistrates of best ranke had vndertaken that kindnesse he smiled saying none of them could doe so much as he with the King the King answeres my Petitions the same day to them or late or nothing The Eunuch which brought ours was sent away and all the Presents put a-board his ship Hee carryed the Iesuites with him to the Towre of Thiensin whither hee went to send thence the six moneths Tribute to the King he feasted them Comedies Rope-runners Tumblers Vaulters and Mimicke Ape-men attending the cheare with such disports as they had neuer seene in Europe One cast three great Kniues into the Ayre one after another and catched them againe in their sheathes another lay on the ground raysing his feete ouer his shoulders with which hee tossed vp and tumbled too and fro an Earthen Pitcher in such sort as hardly could bee done with the hands the like hee did with a Drumme on a Table A Comedie was acted only with gestures of disguised Gyants in glorious habits one from the Theatre pronouncing all their parts A Boy danced admirably and then as it were falling layd his hands on the ground and another Boy of Clay came forth which vsing his hands for feete imitated all the prankes of the other and fell to wrestle with the liuing Boy as if both had beene aliue We will leaue you Spectators here and now bring you forth another Actor which hauing in little while trauelled much and learned more of his Fellowes suddenly sent into Europe these Relations not vnworthy your view which I haue therefore examined with the Originall Spanish and the Latine Translation and cut off some superfluities to giue you more full content and to preuent Repetitions the rather because bee descendeth to many particularities which Ricius looking higher and knowing more hath omitted CHAP. VI. A Letter of Father DIEGO DE PANTOIA one of the Company of IESVS to Father LVYS DE GVZMAN Prouinciall in the Prouince of Toledo written in Paquin which is the Court of the King of China the ninth of March the yeere 1602. §. IIII. Difficulties of entring China their dwelling at Nanquin going from thence to Paquin with Presents for the King troubles in the way by an Eunuch RIght Reuerend Father in Christ the peace of Christ bee with you I thinke I doe not satisfie the dutie which I owe vnto your Worship for the loue which you haue alway shewed vnto mee and the Obligation wherein I am bound to so many most dearely beloued Fathers and Brethren of this Prouince if being as I am in this great Kingdome of China procuring the good of these Pagans whereunto it pleased our Lord to choose
the Seruant of such a Lord. They went to see the House which presently liked him and as they sold it good cheape because of the bad report that it had in two words they agreed together and the Mandarin that sold it was so glad that he gaue vs Patents to possesse it perpetually in China a thing which in no place could be obtayned of any other Mandarin Forth-with they went to it and at their comming in they blessed it according to the Rite of the Holy Mother Church and by the grace of God there was neuer dreame of any euill thing that troubled the same All men looked what would become of this and what successe they should haue with the Deuils And when they saw the great quietnesse without any shew of Spirits they were greatly astonied saying that without doubt this was a great God and that hee sought to dwell in that House and that therefore he had commanded the Deuils to dwell there and not to suffer others to enter therein and that when he came they went their way To this so good beginning the progresse from thence forward was answerable for the graue Mandarins vnderstanding together with the fame that they were Learned men that they had many Bookes that they were men of a good life and that they had some things of their Countrey which were neuer seene in China as certayne Clocks with Wheeles and Images in Oyle and other pretie things all of them setting feare apart and other respects came to visit the Fathers in great estate because they were the greatest Mandarines of all China but with much humanitie respect and courtesie with Presents of things to eate and Banquets as they vse with their equals They were so well pleased with all that they saw and heard that all of them became their great Friends and Patrones and gaue so good report of them that all men sought to doe the like and for continuance of their amity they came oftentimes to visit them and oftentimes inuited them to their Palaces and with this fame and honour of the grauest sort of people all the rest of the inferiour and baser sort vsed them with much reuerence no man daring to doe or say vnto them any discourteous thing This was the state of things when it pleased God to choose me for this Mission and when I entred into it we had three Residences one in the Prouince of Canton another in the Prouince of Quianci which is somewhat more within the Land another in the Citie of Nanquin which is in the midst of the Kingdome and three hundred leagues from Macao I entred secretly as all the rest did I say without particular Licence of any Mandarin But my secrecie continued but a while as hereafter I will declare I came at the first without staying in any other House to Nanquin where three Fathers of vs were foure moneths Father Matthew Riccio our Superiour Father Lazarus Catanio and my selfe and a Brother a Chinois one of the two which are receiued into this Mission and euery thing goeth well But as in matter of strangers the Chinois are exceeding scrupulous more then your Worship can beleeue so there were many which spake of our abiding in Nanquin considering that now wee had three Houses in China Wee beganne with much more earnestnesse to procure another better foundation and to returne to Paquin more openly and seeke accesse vnto the King And because in Nanquin there bee Mandarines to whom this belongeth and some of them were our Friends wee beganne to speake of this point But it was not needfull to spend many words for straight way we met with a Mandarin to whom by right this matter appertayned who frankly and freely offered vs Patents Dispatches and whatsoeuer was needfull to accomplish this businesse The promises of this Mandarin were not vaine for when the time came that the Riuer was vnfrozen which all the Winter is frozen ouer and Barkes began to goe for Paquin he performed his word faithfully giuing vs Patents and Passe-ports needfull for the money and besides hee sent vs a Barke of the Kings to carry our Present and our owne things Beeing glad of these good newes and dispatch we consulted how we should deale in certayne things which offered themselues in this businesse and who should goe There was no question but Father Matthew Riccio should be one but who should be his companion for whom they choose me and the Brother We set our things in order particularly those which were of the Kings Present Which were two Clockes with Wheeles one great one of Iron in a very great Case made faire with a thousand ingraued workes full of gilded Dragons which are the Armes and Ensignes of this King as the Eagle is the Emperours another little Clocke very faire aboue an handfull high all of golden Metall of the best Worke which is made in our Countrey which our Father Generall had sent vs for this purpose which was set in a gilded Case as the other was and in both of them in stead of our Letters were grauen the Letters of China and an hand that came forth did point at them Besides these there were three Images in Oyle two great ones of an Ell high and one little one The greatest was the figures and portrature of Our Lady of the Poplar of Saint Lucar The second was of our Lady with the Babe Iesus and Saint Iohn the third was a Picture of Christ which was the least all of them were of excellent Worke. Besides this there were certayne Looking-glasses two Triangle-glasses which though among vs they be of no account yet are they esteemed here among them adorned with Chaines of Siluer and set in an excellent Case of Iapon which was of twentie times more value then the Glasses to them that know what Glasses are A Booke of The Theatre of the World and a Breuiarie exceeding fairely bound with an inscription That that was the Doctrine of the True God whose Images they did present him withall A very faire Monocord because it is an Instrument whereat the Chinois doe wonder much and other pretie things of lesse importance All which things beeing set in order and imbarqued we tooke our leaue of the Christians of Nanquin which at our departure came to our House with a Banquet with great joy and of the Mandarins our friends which with great sorrow and shewes of loue tooke their leaues of vs and sent vs Presents for our Iourney and many Letters of fauour to the great Mandarins of Paquin We departed with this good dispatch from Nanquin in the yeare 1600. the twentieth day of May. And knowing not how the King and the Mandarins of Paquin and those of the Kings Court would take this our Iourney because wee were Strangers wee sought to prepare our selues for that which might fall out in great hope that we should find ayde eyther in all or in part to
the things which she bringeth with her and all her house-hold stuffe But besides her they may marrie I say they may keepe and doe keepe as many as they are able as many Wiues as they will which for the most part they buy and afterward when they will sell them away againe They may not only not marrie with any Kinswomen of their Wiues but with none of that surname though they haue no shew of Alliance The sonnes of the Concubines doe likewise inherit and there is little or no difference in their state and honour to be the Sonne of the lawfull Wife or of the other neyther make they any question of it The thing wherein the Chinois are most obseruant Ceremonious and Superstitious is in their Burials Funerals and Mournings for herein they shew their obedience and loue to their Parents whereof their bookes are full It is a very ordinary thing to haue great respect to their Father and Mother and the disobedient are grieuously punished Many graue men and Mandarins begge leaue of the King to leaue their Offices which they haue and to goe home to keepe their Father and Mother company yeelding for a reason that they be old and that they would goe to serue them And it is a Petition in the sight of all men so iust that they grant it very vsually When the Father or the Mother dieth all the Sonnes and Daughters from the King to the meanest Peasant doe mourne for three yeares The mourning colour which among vs is blacke Bayes among them is white Linnen whereof they make all their apparell euen to the Cap. The first monethes they weare a very rough Sack-cloth girded with a Coard like the bare-footed Friers And though he be neuer so great a Mandarin without any exception saue only the Mandarins of the Warre assoone as hee heareth newes of the death of any of his Parents he is to leaue his Office and Dignitie and all other Employment whatsoeuer of Gouernment and Examinations of obtayning his degree and is to goe home for three yeares to burie his Father or Mother and to mourne and bewaile them The graue men which haue an house for this purpose doe not straitway burie their dead but keepe them two or three yeares in the house in a Chamber which they keepe for this Office and it is not the worst in the house and very vsually or euery day they go thither to make them a thousand Ceremonies and Reuerences and to burne Incense and other sweet sauours and to set ouer the place where they be laid meate to eate and at seuerall times many of those Bonzi doe meet and with great Ceremonies begin their Seruice and Prayers and their Sonnes Kinsefolkes and Wiues make lamentation The Mandarins do not only leaue their Offices and change their Weeds but also all the things which they did vse Many sit not in Chaires but vpon low Stooles they visit or suffer themselues to be seene very seldome they change euen the very Paper wherein they write wherein they haue a piece of another colour in token of mourning when they name themselues in their Letters they vse not the name which they did at other times but others proper to the partie as when he nameth himselfe hee calleth himselfe disobedient signifying that by his disobedience to his Parents he did not preserue them aliue They vse no kind of Musikce and many change their ordinarie Diet into courserfood Vpon the Funerall day they prouide great company many Kinsfolkes and Friends meete together all clad in white with many Bonzi according to euery mans abilitie which sing with dolefull Instruments And by their apparell which they weare and their time in singing hee that knew them not would take them for Clerkes reuested singing plaine Song for they much resemble them They make many Beeres with men of Paper or of white Silke many Banners and other Ensignes The place whither the Corps goeth is adorned with many figures the Corps is put into a very great Coffin This Nation holdeth a great part of their felicitie for them and their Successours to consist in these things of their Funerals especially in two the Coffin or Chist wherein the Corps is to be layed and the place of their buriall The stuffe to make the Coffin of wherein themselues are to bee buried and the making of the Coffin they leaue not to others to doe after their deathes neither then may the body looke for much cost to make one of these Coffins neither in this as a thing of great importance will they trust no not their owne Sons but they themselues at leisure seeke some kind of Wood that is least corruptible and Plankes which are commonly foure sixe or eight fingers thicke which because they bee so thicke and the Chists or Coffins very closely shut they can keepe their Corps in their Houses without any euill smell Some spend in making their Coffin seuenty eighty and an hundred Duckets They hold it for a felicity to be able to get one of these that is good on the contrary for a great disgrace not to haue a Coffin to burie himselfe in and they are very few which faile in that one point The Sepulchre and place thereof is the thing for choosing whereof they vse great Sorcerie or casting of Lots and doe it with great heedfulnesse and with the helpe of some that are skilfull in this Art For they hold opinion that in making a good choice of the place dependeth a great part of their owne good fortune and of their Posteritie And oftentimes they are a yeare in resoluing whether it shall looke toward the North or to any other part And therefore the greatest and most contentious Sutes which are in China are about places of Burials These places of Burials are alwayes without the wals in the fields or Mountaynes wherein they build Vaults very well made and strong of Bricke stone or other matter wherein they lay the Coffin and then close it vp very surely And afterward now and then they come thither to performe certain Ceremonies to bring things to eat They hold it very vnluckie to burie a dead man in the Citie and if they know it though he were the greatest man that is in China they will not suf-him to bewaile his dead Friends much especially those which are women There are many which beleeue the passing of the soules from one bodie into another and therefore after the death of their Father and Mother they will neuer kill any liuing beast yeelding for a reason why they will not doe so lest some of them should be their Mother or Father or some other other person And likewise many of them fast because that whereas some of them bee poore they desire afterward to be borne againe in a rich and honourable Family Although it bee true that the most part of them beleeue not in Idols and it offendeth them
Saracens and Iewes doe there feed on The Saracens called the Christians also Isai as before and Terzai which is a name giuen in Persia to the Armenian Christians as an Armenian affirmed to Ricius whence hee coniectured that these Christians came out of Armenia And by the report of Haiton the Armenian which sayth their King came to the Great Can of Cathay which wee haue before obserued at least the best parts thereof to be the North parts of China to perswade him and his to become Christians which in great part also hee affected besides other Christians there reported to bee by Paulus and those of Sarnau subiect to the Great Can mentioned by Vertomannus which seeme to be neere these in China The Malabar Christians haue Chaldee memorials of China conuerted by Saint Thomas and their Metropolitan hath his style of all India and China A certaine Iew at Pequin hearing of the Iesuites there came to them to see and conferre with them imagining them to be Iewes This Iew was borne at Chaifamfu the Mother-citie of the Prouince Honan his name was Ngai his countenance not resembling the Chinois hee neglecting Iudaisme had addicted himselfe to the China studies and now came to Pequin to the examination in hope of proceeding Doctor There did hee enter the Iesuites House professing that he was of their Law and Religion Ricci leads him into the Chappell where on the Altar stood the Image of the Virgin Iesus and Iohn Baptist kneeling which he taking to be the Images of Rebecca and her Twins did worship vnto them contrary he said to their custome The Images of the Euangelists he supposed to be so many of Iacobs sonnes But vpon further questioning the Iesuite perceiued that he was a professor of the Law of Moses he confessed himselfe an Israelite and knew not the name of Iew so that it seemed the dispersion of the ten Tribes had pierced thus farre Seeing the Hebrew Bible hee knew the Letters but could not reade them He told them that in Chaifamfu were ten or twelue Families of Israelites and a faire Synagogue which had lately cost them ten thousand Crownes therein the Pentateuch in Rolls which had bin with great veneration preserued fiue or six hundred yeers In Hamcheu the chiefe Citie of Chequian hee affirmed were many more Families with their Synagogue many also in other places but without Synagogues and by degrees wearing out his pronunciation of Hebrew names differed from ours as Herusoloim Moscia for Messia Ierusalem His Brother hee said was skilfull in the Hebrew which he in affection to the China preferment had neglected and therefore was hardly censured by the Ruler of the Synagogue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THE 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 MAP 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OF 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHI 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 NA 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As for the Christian Religion thither carried by the Iesuites you haue heard the whole substance of their owne large Histories I meane not of Miracles and other like stuffe and stuffings but the meanes of conuaying the Gospel to the Chinois which are merchandise money gifts Mathematiks Memoratiue-art Morality which to China Couetousnes and Curiosity with their conforming to Confutius Ethikes and China Literature Habite Names and officious Rites were good Orators and made way with much adoe to that little which is done a mutuall exchange in many things of Romish for Chinois Beades Shauing Vests Songs Mumsimus Tapers Censers Images Legends Monkes Nunnes Processions Pilgrimages Monasteries Altars hee and shee Saints and other things innumerable pertayning rather to bodily exercise which profiteth little then to Godlinesse or God-likenesse who being a Spirit requireth men to worship him in spirit and truth and by foolishnesse of preaching saueth them that beleeue not by wisedome of words in elegant writings and those more of Arts then Christianity The great Doctor of the Gentiles tooke another course not with excellency of words sayth he or wisedome yea hee esteemed to know nothing among the learned Corinthians but Iesus Christ and him crucified neither stood his word in the entising speech of mans wisedome but in playne euidence of the Spirit not the wisedome of the World but the wisedome of God in a mysterie c. Which I speake not as denying the seruice of Arts to Diuinity but of Diuinity in manner to Arts where the profession is not as of a Tent-maker to liue that he may preach but as of an European Philosopher where Hagar domineereth and Sara at some times whispers a little and except in Images and Shewes scarcely shewes her selfe as more fully appeareth in the fore-going History But would God any Arts or any Preachers may occasion the opening of their eyes which were wont to bragge of two eyes and say Europeans had but one when as they haue but this one naturall eye and in spirituall things are blinde and would God the Chinois might as generally acknowledge themselues thankfull to Iesuiticall labours in professing the Gospell as I doe here my selfe for this Historicall light of China §. VII The Map of China taken out of a China Map printed with China Characters illustrated with Notes for the vnderstanding thereof THe originall Map whence this present was taken and contracted was by Captaine Saris whose industrie and acts haue both heere and elsewhere enriched this worke gotten at Bantam of a Chinese in taking a distresse for debts owing to the English Merchants who seeing him carefull to conuay away a Boxe was the more carefull to apprehend it and therein found this Map which another Chinese lodged at his house lately come from China had brought with him The greatnesse of the danger at home if knowne made him earnestly begge for that which was on the other side as earnestly desired and kept Master Hakluyt procured it of the Captaine professing his intent to giue it to Prince Henry of glorious memory who being suddenly aduanced to a higher view in Heauen and Master Hakluyt following this Map came to my hand who sought to expresse my loue to the publike in communicating what I could thereof For it being in China Characters which I thinke none in England if any in Europe vnderstands I could not wholly giue it when I giue it no man being able to receiue what he can no way conceiue And as in greatest things our little vnderstandings easier apprehend negations then affirmations and can better tell what they are not then what they are so this Map easily tells at first euen without Commentaries the comments and conceits of our Geogâ—â—phers Ortelius Mercator Hondius and whatsoeuer other our Authors of Maps and Globes who all haue heerein fayled giuing nothing lesse then China in their China whether wee regard the generall figure and shape thereof or the particular Riuers Hills Prouinces Wall Latitude and if wee beleeue the Iesuites Longitude also They
and lame men were called vpon to get them out of their Cabbins into the Shallop The Master called to me who came out of my Cabbin as well as I could to the Hatch way to speake with him where on my knees I besought them for the loue of God to remember themselues and to doe as they would be done vnto They bad me keepe my selfe well and get me into my Cabbin not suffering the Master to speake with me But when I came into my Cabbin againe hee called to me at the Horne which gaue light into my Cabbin and told mee that Iuet would ouerthrow vs all nay said I it is that villaine Henrie Greene and I spake it not softly Now was the Carpenter at libertie who asked them if they would bee hanged when they came home and as for himselfe hee said hee would not stay in the Ship vnlesse they would force him they bad him goe then for they would not stay him I will said hee so I may haue my chest with mee and all that is in it they said hee should and presently they put it into the Shallop Then hee came downe to mee to take his leaue of mee who perswaded him to stay which if he did he might so worke that all should bee well hee said hee did not thinke but they would be glad to take them in againe For he was so perswaded by the Master that there was not one in all the ship that could tell how to carrie her home but saith he if we must part which wee will not willingly doe for they would follow the ship hee prayed me if wee came to the Capes before them that I would leaue some token that wee had beene there neere to the place where the Fowles bred and hee would doe the like for vs and so with teares we parted Now were the sicke men driuen out of their Cabbins into the Shallop but Iohn Thomas was Francis Clements friend and Bennet was the Coopers so as there were words betweene them and Henrie Greene one saying that they should goe and the other swearing that they should not goe but such as were in the shallop should returne When Henrie Greene heard that he was compelled to giue place and to put out Arnold Lodlo and Michael Bute which with much adoe they did In the meane time there were some of them that plyed their worke as if the Ship had beene entred by force and they had free leaue to pillage breaking vp Chests and rifling all places One of them came by me who asked me what they should doe I answered hee should make an end of what hee had begun for I saw him doe nothing but sharke vp and downe Now were all the poore men in the Shallop whose names are as followeth Henrie Hudson Iohn Hudson Arnold Lodlo Sidrack Faner Phillip Staffe Thomas Woodhouse or Wydhouse Adam Moore Henrie King Michael Bute The Carpenter got of them a Peece and Powder and Shot and some Pikes an Iron Pot with some meale and other things They stood out of the Ice the Shallop being fast to the Sterne of the Shippe and so when they were nigh out for I cannot say they were cleane out they cut her head fast from the Sterne of our Ship then out with their Top-sayles and towards the East they stood in a cleere Sea In the end they tooke in their Top-sayles righted their Helme and lay vnder their Fore-sayle till they had ransacked and searched all places in the Ship In the Hold they found one of the vessels of meale whole and the other halfe spent for wee had but two wee found also two firkins of Butter some twentie seuen piece of Porke halfe a bushell of Pease but in the Masters Cabbin we found two hundred of bisket Cakes a pecke of Meale of Beere to the quantitie of a Butt one with another Now it was said that the Shallop was come within sight they let fall the Main-sayle and out with their Top-sayles and flye as from an Enemy Then I prayed them yet to remember themselues but William Wilson more then the rest would heare of no such matter Comming nigh the East shoare they cast about and stood to the West and came to an Iland and anchored in sixteene or seuenteene fathome water So they sent the Boat and the Net ashoare to see if they could haue a Draught but could not for Rocks and great stones Michael Perse killed two Fowle and heere they found good store of that Weede which we called Cockle-grasse in our wintering place whereof they gathered store and came aboard againe Heere we lay that night and the best part of the next day in all which time we saw not the shallop or euer after Now Henrie Greene came to me and told mee that it was the Companies will that I should come vp into the Masters Cabbin and take charge thereof I told him it was more fit for Robert Iuet he said he should not come in it nor meddle with the Masters Card or Iournals So vp I came and Henrie Greene gaue me the Key of the Masters Chest and told me then that he had laid the Masters best things together which hee would vse himselfe when time did serue the bread was also deliuered me by tale The wind seruing we stood to the North-east and this was Robert Billets course contrarie to Robert Iuet who would haue gone to the North-west We had the Easterne shoare still in sight and in the night had a stout gale of wind and stood afore it till wee met with Ice into the which we ranne from thâ—ne to thicke till we could goe no further for Ice which lay so thicke ahead of vs and the wind brought it after vs asterne that wee could not stirre backward nor forward but so lay imbayed fourteene daies in worse Ice then euer wee met to deale withall for we had beene where there was greater store but it was not so broad vpon the water as this for this floting Ice contained miles and halfe miles in compasse where we had a deepe Sea and a Tide of flood and ebbe which set North-west and South-east Heere Robert Iuet would haue gone to the North-west but Robert Billet was confident to go through to the North-east which he did At last being cleere of this Ice he continued his course in sight of the Easterne shoare till he raised foure Ilands which lay North and South but we passed them sixe or seuen leagues the wind tooke vs so short Then wee stood backe to them againe and came to an Anchor betweene two of the most Northermost We sent the Boat ashoare to see if there were any thing there to be had but found nothing but cockle Grasse whereof they gathered store and so returned aboard Before we came to this place I might well see that I was kept in the ship against Henry Greenes minde because I did not fauour their proceedings better then I did Then hee began very
ships being laden vnder the command of Captaine Thomas Edge An. 1617. Witches Iland was discouered and what voyage was made appeareth in the Letter following written to Master Decrow by William Heley Laus Deo in Portnick the 12. of August 1617. Worshipfull Sir MY dutie remembred May it please you to vnderstand that through Gods blessing our Voyage is performed in all the Harbours in the Countrie this yeere with a greater ouerplus then our ships will carry so that in some places wee must of force leaue good store of Oyle and Blubber behinde for the next yeere Wee are all for the most part readie to set sayle being full laden onely I desire to see the Coast cleere of Interlopers whereby our prouisions may be left in securitie We tooke a ship of Flushing called the Noahs Arke Master Iohn Verlile in Horne-sound hauing out of him two hundred hogsheads of Blubber and two Whales and a halfe to cut vp a great Copper and diuers other prouisions and sent him away ballasted with stones There were two more of them who were gone laden with Blubber before we could get thither hauing intelligence of our comming There were also two Danes who made one hundred and odde tunnes of Oyle and laded one ship for Copen-hauen the other with halfe the Oyle and Finnes for Amsterdam and left the Country about the sixth or seuenth of August And for Master Cudner he rid in Portnick where he killed eleuen Whales and made some seuentie and odde tunnes of Oyle which is laden aboord him and his Finnes In whom if our ships had come together thither as I desired I would haue laden fortie or fiftie tunnes of Oyle in him and displaced his men and sent him for England but bad weather hindring our ships getting thither and his sudden departure after our comming in with the Pleasure shee being laden and not sufficiently fitted to surprise him he escaped but I sent her away in company with him whereby he may not doe any hurt in other places in the Country I would haue had him to haue taken in some Oyle for which I offered him fraight so I might put some men into him to see to it and that it might be brought safe to London but he refused yet protesteth he purposeth to bring his ship and goods to London his voyage is by the thirds so that his men will rather dye then forgoe that they haue got The small ship Iohn Ellis is returned from the South Eastward hauing made some further discouery and killed some eight hundred Seamorse and laden the teeth and thirtie tunnes of hides and the rest of his lading in Oyle he brought some Sea-horse blubber with him He met with Thomas Marmaduke of Hull in those parts who had not done any thing when he saw him towards making a voyage but went for Hope Iland and no doubt but hee will doe much spoile there As for the Beare shee departed for Hamborough the third of August out of Crosse-road and the Gray-hound in company with her for England who I hope is safely arriued and by whom I hope you vnderstand of her proceedings at full The Whales killed this yeere in the Country are about one hundred and fiftie in number and the Oyle made will be about one thousand eight hundred and odde tunnes besides the blubber left for want of caske The lading of this ship is one hundred and eightie tunnes as by the Bill of lading here enclosed Thus hauing not further wherewith to acquaint your Worship withall praying God to send all home in safety with a good passage I humbly take my leaue and doe rest Readie at your Worships command in all dutifull seruice WILLIAM HELEY A Letter of Master ROBERT SALMON to Master SHERWIN In Sir THOMAS SMITHES Bay the 24. of Iune 1618. LOuing friend Master Sherwine I kindly salute you wishing you as much prosperitie as vnto my selfe c. Since our comming into the Bay we haue beene much troubled with Ice and Northerly windes so as we haue not beene two dayes free of Ice We had a storme Northerly which brought in much Ice so as we were inclosed withall eight dayes therâ— went such a Sea in the Ice that did beate our ships very much for foure and twentie houres that I did thinke we should haue spoyled our ships but I thanke God we cannot perceiue any hurt at all it hath done to vs also we haue broken two anchors with the Ice we haue killed thirteene Whales but they yeeld but little in regard of the Ice which hath much hindred vs in our worke for in ten dayeâ— we could not doe any worke the Bay was so full of Ice the Bay was full as low as Fox noâ—e and now at this present the Bay is full of shattered Ice the windes hanging Northerly keepes it in Here is fiue sayle of Flemmings which haue fourteene and sixteene pieces of Ordnance in a ship and they doe man out eighteene Shallops so that with theirs and ours here is thirtie Shallops in the Bay too many for vs to make a voyage there is at the least fifteene hundred tunnes of shipping of the Flemmings we haue reasonable good quarter with them for we are merry aboord of them and they of vs they haue good store of Sacks and are very kinde to vs proffering vs any thing that we want I am very doubtfull of making a voyage this yeere yet I hope Crosse-road will helpe vs for one ship the Company must take another course the next yeere if they meane to make any benefit of this Country they must send better ships that must beat these knaues out of this Country but as farre as I can vnderstand by them they meane to make a trade of continuance of it they haue euery one of them Graue Maurices Commission vnder his Hand and Seale we will let them rest this yeere and let who will take care the next yeere for I hope not to trouble them I pray remember my dutie to the Captaine and also to honest Master Thornbush and to Iohn Martin Master Smith doth remember his loue to you and to all the rest of his friends we are well at this present I thanke God I pray let vs heare from you when you haue any conuayance I hope wee shall goe home in companie together as wee came out Thus with my loue once againe remembred to you beseeching God to send vs all a prosperous voyage and ioyfully to meet I rest A Letter of Master TH. SHERWIN Bell-sound this 29. of Iune 1618. MAster William Heley your Letter I receiued wherein I vnderstand you haue tooke very great griefe which I am very sorry for but I am in good hope to come to you my selfe one of these dayes that I may comfort you with a good couple of Hennes and a bottle of Canary wine but I pray bee carefull of your selfe and keepe you warme and take heede the Nodis doe not pick out your eyes but as for the Flemmings let
hee gaue the command of his Guard consisting of strangers to Captayne Gilbert a Scot to haue made one Buchenskoy a Learned and Religious Protestant his Secretarie and otherwise to haue beene so alienated from Russian manners and so well affected to Strangers that they conspired as aforesaid The people are said to haue entred the Castle which was a quadrant hauing a high bricke wall of seuen stories and another of stone and a Market place with stones in their pockets which are rare thereabouts and some with weapons Some report from Captayne Gilberts Relation that lying on his bed not long before his death as hee thought awake an aged man came to him which sight caused him to arise and come to Captayne Gilbert and his guard that watched but none of them had seene any thing Hereupon he returned to his Bed but within an houre after he againe troubled with like apparition called and sent for Buchinskie telling him that he had now twice seene an aged man who at the second comming told him that though for his owne person he was a good Prince yet the injustice and oppressions of his inferiour Ministers must bee punished and his Empire should bee taken from him In this perplexitie his Secretarie gaue him good and holy counsell saying till true Religion were there planted his Officers would bee lewd the people oppressed and God Almightie offended who perhaps by that Dreame or Vision had admonished him of his dutie The Emperour seemed much moued and to intend that good which that Countrey was not so happy to receiue For a few dayes after as that Relation auerreth his Russe Secretarie came to him with a Sword at which the Emperour jested and hee suddenly after sawcie speeches assaulted him with many other Grandes of that Conspiracie and like another Caesar slue him crying Libertie before his guards could apprehend the danger of which some were slaine but the most with Gilbert their Captayne got to a place called Coluga which with the helpe of some Russes they fortified and held for their defence Buchinskie the Secretarie was taken and imprisoned the strangers murthered the English except who haue in all changes been well beloued of the Russians as indeed they deserue hauing alway done good seruice to the Emperours And their interest saued the life of that worthy man Buchinskey which they requited with much obseruance to the succeeding Emperour Suiskey who comes next to be spoken of and first you shall haue his Letter to our Gracious Souereigne §. IIII. SVISKEY the Successour his Letter to our King describing the former DEMETRIVS his Acts and Tragedie The Copie of the Translation of a Letter sent from the new Emperour Vassily Euanowich Shoskey to the Kings Maiestie by Master Iohn Mericke The loue and mercie of God that guideth vs in the wayes of peace we glorifie with the Trinitie FRom the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Vassily Euanowich of all Russia sole Commander of Voladomer Mosko Nouogrod King of Cazan and Astracan of Syberia Lord of Vobsko and great Duke of Smolensko Twerskoy Yauharskoy Pearmskoy Vatskoy Bollharskoy and of other Lord and great Duke of Nouogroda of the Low Countrey of Cherneego Rezanskoy Polotskoy Rostouskoy Yereslaueskoy Bealozerskoy Leeflanskoy Owdorskoy Obdorskoy Condinskoy and Commander of all the North parts also Lord of the Land of Eeuerskoy Cartalinskoy and ouer the Empire of the Gorgians of the Land of Cabardinskoy and Eeharskoy Land likewise of many other Lordships Lord and Commander To our beloued Brother Iames King of England Scotland France and Ireland Wee giue to vnderstand that Sigismund King of Poland and great Duke of Letto in Anno 7109. did send vnto the late Emperour Boris his Embassadour named Lewis Sapeago being Chancelor of the great Dukedome of Poland requesting the said Emperour Boris that the former league and peace made and concluded vpon by the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Theodore Euanowich of all Russia and him Sigismond King of Poland might be stedfastly holden and continued till the time of that league were expired As also that the Emperour Boris would inlarge the said league for thirtie yeeres more whereupon the Emperour Boris yeelded thus farre vnto the request of the King of Poland that hee would continue the old league till the full time were expired and assent to a new league for twentie yeeres more and to that effect he tooke an Oath to hold and keepe all the contents faithfully mentioned in the said Writing touching the same league and instead of the King of Poland his Embassadour Lewis Sapeagoe was sworne in the presence of the Emperour Boris And after the Polish Embassadour was departed from the Mosko the Emperour Boris sent vnto Sigismund King of Poland his Embassadour being one of the Priuie Councell called Michailo Zleabowich Sallteecoue with some others to end and finish the aforesaid league to the which league the King of Poland himselfe was sworne in the presence of the Emperours Embassadour to hold and keepe the said league faithfully according to the tenour of their Writing But not long after Sigismund King of Poland with one Pauarade entred into such a practise as be therein falsified his Oath and made way to the shedding of much Christian bloud First by retayning and vpholding one Gryshca Otreapyoue a Runnagate a Coniurer and one that left his profession being a Monke and ran away out of Russia into Poland and being come thither tooke vpon him to be the Son of the great Emperour Euan Vassilawich of famous memorie and by name Demetry Euanowich when as it was well knowne in our Kingdome that before he was shorne a Monke he was commonly called Yowshco Son to one Bowghdan Otreapyoue dwelling at a place called Galitts and when hee had committed much villanie to saue his life he shoare himselfe a Frier and so runne from one Monasterie to another and lastly came into a Monasterie called Chowdo where hee was made one of the Clearkes being so placed there by the Patriarke of Mosko himselfe But he did not leaue off his former life for he continued still in his most Deuillish actions as he did before he was shorne committing villany forsaking God and falling to the studie of the Blacke Arte and to many such like euils he was inclined Also there was found by him a Writing which shewed how he was falne from God and the same was made well knowne to the holy Patriarch of Mosko and of all Russia and to the Metropolitanes Archbishops and Bishops and to all the holy Cleargie whereupon the said Rulers of our true Christian Faith which is from the Grecian Law for these his most vngodly works consulted to send him to perpetuall Prison there to end his life Whereupon this notorious Instrument of Satan perceiuing this his ouerthrow and that his vile practises were discouered ran away out of the Kingdome of Mosko beyond the borders and into Letto to a place
partes Of Reedes or Canes IN the firme land there are many sorts of Reedes so that in many places they make their houses thereof couering them with the tops of the same and making their wals of them in like manner as I haue said before and among these kindes of Reedes there is one so great that the Canes thereof are as bigge as a mans legge in the knee and three spans in length from ioynt to ioynt or more in so much that euery of them is of capacitie to containe a little bucket of water In this kinde there are found some greater and some lesse of the which some they vse to make quiuers for arrowes There is found another kinde which surely is marueilous being little bigger then a Iauelin the Canes whereof are longer then two spannes these Reedes grow one farre from another as sometimes twenty or thirty paces and sometimes also two or three leagues they grow in manner in all Prouinces in the Indies and grow neere to very high Trees whereunto they leane and creepe vp to the top of their branches which they imbrace and descend againe downe to the earth Their Canes are full of most cleare water without any manner of taste or sauour either of the Canes or of any other thing and such as if it were taken out of the freshest Spring in the world nor yet is it knowne that euer it hurt any that drunke thereof For it hath oftentimes so chanced that as the Christian men haue trauailed in these regions in desolate waies where for lacke of water they haue beene in great danger to dye with thirst they haue escaped that perill by reason that they found the said Reedes of the water of whose Canes they haue drunke a great quantity without any hurt thereof ensuing Therefore when they finde these in any place they make water vessels of the Canes thereof and carry as many of them full of water as may suffice for one dayes iourney and sometime they carrie so many that they take for euery man two or three quarts of water which may serue them for many daies because it doth not corrupt but remaineth still fresh and good There are also certaine Plants which the Christians call Platani They are as high as trees and become as bigge in the trunke as the knee of a man or more From the foote to the top they beare certaine long and large leaues being more then three spans in largenesse and about ten or twelue in length the which when they are broken of the winde the stalke remaineth whole in the middest In the middest of this Plant in the highest part thereof there groweth a cluster with fortie or fiftie Plantans about it euery of them being a span and a halfe in length and as bigge as a mans arme in the small or more or lesse according to the goodnesse of the soile where they grow they haue a rinde not very thicke and easie to be broken being within altogether full of a substance like vnto the marie of the bone of an Oxe as it appeareth when the rinde or barke is taken from the same This cluster ought to be taken from the Plant when any one of the Plantans begin to appeare yellow at which time they take it and hang it in their houses where all the cluster waxeth ripe with all his Plantans This cluster is a very good fruite and when it is opened and the rinde taken off there are found within it many good drie Figges which being rosted or stewed in an Ouen in a close pot or some such other thing are of pleasant taste much like to the conserue of Hony they putrifie not on the Sea so soone as some other fruites doe but continue fifteene daies and more if they be gathered somewhat greene they seeme more delicate on the Sea then on the Land not for that they any thing encrease in goodnes on the Sea but because that wheras on the Sea other things are lacking whereof is plentie on the Land those meates seeme of best taste which satisfie present necessitie This trunke or sprig which bringeth forth the said cluster is a whole yeare in growing and bringing forth fruite in which time it hath put forth round about in ten or twelue sprigges as bigge as the first or principal and multiplieth no lesse then the principall in bringing forth of clusters with fruits likewise at their time and also in bringing forth other and many sprigges as is said before From the which sprigges or trunkes as soone as the cluster of the fruite is taken away the Plant beginneth to drie and wither which then they take out of the ground because it doth none other then occupie it in vaine and without profit They are so many and doe so marueilously encrease and multiplie that it is a thing in manner incredible They are exceeding moist in so much that when they are plucked vp from the place where they grow there issueth forth a great quantity of water as well out of the Plant as out of the place where it grew in such sort that all the moisture of the earth farre about might seeme to be gathered together about the trunke or blocke of the said Plant with the fruites whereof the Antes are so farre in loue that they are seene in great multitudes in the branches of the Plants so that for the multitude thereof it sometime so chanceth that men are enforced to take away the Plants from their possession these fruites are found at all times of the yeere There is also another kinde of wilde Plants that groweth in the fieldes which I haue not seene but in the Iland of Hispaniola although they be found in other Ilands of the Indies these they call Tunas They grow of a Thistle full of thornes and bring forth a fruite much like vnto great Figges which haue a crowne like Medlers and are within of a high colour with graines and the rinde like vnto a Figge they are of good taste and grow abundantly in the fields in many places They worke a strange effect in such as eate them for if a man eate two or three or more they cause his vrine to be of the very colour of bloud whith thing chanced once to my selfe For on a time as I made water and saw the colour of my Vrine I entred into a great suspition of my life being so astonished for feare that I thought the same had chansed to me vpon some other cause in so much that surely my imagination might haue done me hurt but that they which were with me did comfort me immediately declaring the cause thereof as they knew by experience being auncient inhabitours in those regions There groweth also another Plant which the people of the Countrie call Bihaos this putteth forth certaine straight branches and very broade leaues which the Indians vse for diuers purposes for in some places they couer their houses with the leaues thereof
guide their Boates or Canoes teaching them certaine pollicies The order they held in this warre was that he went to Cuitlauaca with his children where by his pollicie he pressed the enemy in such sort that he made them to flye and as he followed them the Lord of Cuitlauaca met him and yeelded vnto him himselfe his Citie and his people and by this meanes he stayed the pursuite The children returned with much spoyle and many Captiues for their Sacrifices being solemnely receiued with a great Procession Musicke and Perfumes and they went to worship their gods in taking of the earth which they did eate and drawing bloud from the forepart of their legs with the Priests Lancets with other superstitions which they were accustomed to vse in the like solemnities The children were much honored and encouraged and the King imbraced and kissed them and his kinsmen and allies accompanied them The bruite of this victory ranne throughout all the Countrie how that Tlacaellec had subdued the Citie of Cuitlauaca with children the news and consideration whereof opened the eyes of those of Tescuco a chiefe and very cunning Nation for their manner of life So as the King of Tescuco was first of opinion that they should subiect themselues to the King of Mexico and inuite him thereunto with his Citie Therefore by the aduise of this Counsell they sent Ambassadours good Orators with honorable presents to offer themselues vnto the Mexicans as their Subiects desiring peace and amity which was graciously accepted but by the aduise of Tlacaellec he vsed a Ceremony for the effecting thereof which was that those of Tescuco should come forth armed against the Mexicans where they should fight and presently yeelde which was an act and ceremony of warre without any effusion of bloud on either side Thus the King of Mexico became soueraigne Lord of Tescuco but he tooke not their King from them but made him of his Priuie Counsell so as they haue alwaies maintained themselues in this manner vntill the time of Moteçuma the second during whose raigne the Spaniards entred Hauing subdued the Land and Citie of Tescuco Mexico remained Lady and Mistris of all the Lands and Cities about the Lake where it is built Izcoalt hauing enioyed this prosperitie and raigned twelue yeares dyed leauing the Realme which had beene giuen him much augmented by the valour and counsell of his Nephew Tlacaellec Forasmuch as the election of the new King belonged to foure chiefe Electors and to the King of Tescuco and the King of Tacubu by especiall priuiledge Tlacaellec assembled these six personages as he that had the soueraigne authority and hauing propounded the matter vnto them they made choise of Moteçuma the first of that name Nephew to the same Tlacaellec His election was very pleasing vnto them all by reason whereof they made most solemne feasts and more stately then the former Presently after his election they conducted him to the Temple with a great traine where before the diuine harth as they call it where there is continuall fiâ—e they set him in his royall throane putting vpon him his royall ornaments Being there the King drew bloud from his eares and legs with a Griffons talons which was the Sacrifice wherein the diuell delâ—ghted to be honoured The Priests Ancients and Captaines made their Orations all congratuling his election They were accustomed in their elections to make great Feasts and Dances where they wasted many lights In this Kings time the custome was brought in that the King should goe in person to make warre in some Prouince and bring Captiues to solemnize the feast of his Coronation and for the solemne Sacrifices of that day For this cause King Moteçuma went into the Prouince of Chalco who had declared themselues his enemies from whence hauing fought valiantly he brought a great number of Captiues whereof he did make a notable Sacrifice the day of his Coronation although at that time he did not subdue all the Prouince of Chalco being a verie warlike Nation Manie came to this Coronation from diuers Prouinces as wâ—â—l neere as farre off to see the feast at the which all commers were verie bountifully enâ—ertained and clad especially the poore to whom they gaue new garments For this cause they â—rougâ—t that day into the Citie the Kings tributes with a goodly order which consâ—sted in Sâ—uffes to make Garments of all sorts in Cacao Gold Siluer rich Feathers great burthens of Cotton Cucumbers sundrie sorts of Pâ—â—sâ—s many kindes of Sea fish and of the fresh water great store of Fruits and Venison without number not reckoning an infinite number of Presents which other Kings and Lords sent to the new King All this Tribute marched in order according to the Prouinces and before them the Stewards and receiuers with diuers markes and Ensignes in very goodly order so as it was one of the goodliest things of the feast to see the entrie of the Tribute The King being crowned he imploied himselfe in the conquest of many Prouinces and for that he was both valiant and vertuous he still increased more and more vsing in all his affaires the counsell and industrie of his Generall Tlacaellec whom he did alwaies loue and esteeme very much as he had good reason The warre wherein he was most troubled and of greatest difficultie was that of the Prouince of Chalco wherein there happened great matters whereof one was very remarkeable which was that they of Chalcas had taken a brother of Moteçumaes in the warres whom they resolued to choose for their King asking him verie curteously if he would accept of this charge He answered after much importunitie still persisting therein that if they ment plainely to choose him for their King they should plant in the Market-place a Tree or very high stake on the top whereof they should make a little scaffold and meanes to mount vnto it The Chalcas supposing it had beene some ceremonie to make himselfe more apparant presently effected it then assembling all his Mexicans about the stake he went to the top with a garland of flowers in his hand speaking to his men in this manner O valiant Mexicans these men will choose me for their King but the gods will not permit that to be a King I should commit any treason against my Countrie but contrariwise I will that you learne by me that it behooueth vs rather to indure death then to aide our enemies Saying these words he cast himselfe downe and was broken in a thousand peeces at which spectacle the Chalcas had so great horror and despite that presently they fell vpon the Mexicans and slew them all with their Lances as men whom they held too proud and inexorable saying they had diuellish hearts It chanced the night following they heard two Owles making a mournfull cry which they did interpret as an vnfortunate signe and a presage of their neere destruction as it succeeded for King Moteçuma went against them in person
Patron or Owner They lost their Rudder on a Rocke not farre from Cales in Spaine and were faine to make thither to repaire it and other diastâ—rs followed They leaue the ship The Schiffe lost Hard dyet Great Frost aâ— Venice Extreame cold The death of sixe and twentie Great thirst Sight of Land Hot strong stomackes to cold small drinke They goe on Land Iland of Saints or Santi bearing off the coast of Norway See Ortelius his Map of Scandia hee placeth Santi and Rustene in 74. degrees but too Northerly then they are from the North Cape from which this Rocke saith Quirino bare Westward 70. miles other Rockes not farre distant some inhabited some not This is off Rustene three miles in compasse and called in their Language for the extreame remotenesse The arse of the World Foure dye and others after Great weakenesse Miserable cold Abundance of Lice They finde a Fish 1432. in Foraine account I le of Rustene A Germaine Priest Rustene described Stock-fish in stead of mony Their drinke and bread Halibuts very great Sinceritie Simplicitie Thus the Italians thought in regard of their differing iealousie which scarsly permits the growne Sonne or Brother to sleepe vnder the same roofe with the Mother or Sister m Quirino faith in the same Chamber their houses being built of timber in round forme with one light in the top which in winter by reason of the vnsupportable cold is couered wiâ—h skinnes of great fishes which cast a great lustre Their children after foure daies old are set vnder the same for the snow to fal on them that they may bee hardned for the cold From the fiâ—t of Febr. to the 14. of May it almost alway snowâ—d Their garments are of course cloâ—h of London c. more then of Lether Funerall Bathing Long nights Quirino saith that it is three moneths night with continual light of the Moone and three others day with continuall sight or light at least of the Sunne Birds Mâ—xi They returne Bâ—rga Tokens of the Skiffe drowned Trondon Saint Olaus Vastena Venetian Knight Lodese * Quirino saith when he set foot on England hee seemed to bee comne out of Hell and reuiued Hee came to Câ—mbridge an Vniuersitie where a Benedictinè gaue him sixteene Crownes thence to London where he stayed two moneths c. * * Octhers voyage see Hak. â—â—â—1 〈…〉 4000. Matthew Westminster hath 4800. viz 1200. for the South coast also * A. 1042. Hocktide I haue seene kept with publiâ—e feasting in the street the women also â—inding men or compelling them to some ransome the Tuesday forâ—night after Easter English Conquest in Sweden A. 1024. Saint Olaue Romish Pilgrimage a protection for tyrannous vsurpation of Norway England without restitution to the right Heires as if Peters preteÌ„ded key were a Pick-locke to open Heauen to whomsoeuer Historia Danica Second English Expedition into Norway m Trecentiâ— coggonibuâ— From 787. to 1065. vid. sup l. 8. c. 6. â— 1. Note Ma. Periâ— p. 981 The Pope and his Legates deere friends to all Kingdomes Saint Lewis his offers His Lettâ—r M. Par. his voyage to Norway Iohn Abbie Monkes ignorant of their owne order Popes long hands and Lime-fingered Appeales l Of these sâ—e Hak. tom 1. King Haralds children n See pag. seq Frier of Linne Hen. 4. T. of Woodstock Schâ—gen Elsenore Coppenhagen Dantzik Amber Sak A Frogge in a piece of Amber Strange report of Swallowes The Vistle High wall Idolatry Marriage Hospitalitie Houses Torne Norway Sweden * When he was there His other trauells Loretto Alpes The fields Sauramenses and Oczacouiensâ—s betwixt the Riuers Bogus and Nester Long miles in those parts and so vnderstand in the rest of this storie Sharpe winter Part of Moâ—dauia or the lower Valachia called sometimâ—s Bessarabia Lake Vidouo in Necster Bialogrod Beriboneum Adrigoli Dommina Berezania Carcinitus Leuca Oczacauia Boresthenes or Neper Bogus The Isthmus Their houses and pasture-progresse Tanais or Don. Perecopia Cosslow Ingermanum Chersâ—na Kiou Parthenium The Citie Balachei or Iamboli Marcopia or Mangat a City Cercessigermenum Admirable Vaults Baccasaray Salaticum Almassarai Perecopia Cremum Sorâ—â—ssus Cremum Crim Tartars why so called Sidagios or Sudacum Orium and Oxon. Theodosia now Capha Petigorenses or Colchis Idolaters Deepe Wells Salt Lake Cyngis Lochton Selim. Gerâ—y Chan. Sachmates The Galba or heyre apparant Election of the Chan. Sachibgiereius Attalici Hamiati Wiues and children Arabike letters Mahometan Religion Gouernment and Lawes The Cadi and Begs No Atturnies nor Lawyers they plead their owne cause Great peaceablenesse to the shame of alway lawing Gospellers No daily vse of weapons * Aquauitae Meat and drinke Slaues Merchants Tartar slaues Tribute Embassadors Alma Bacchasanium Audience Bassa of Capha Warres Money Prouision for warre Manner and Art of warre The Chans tenth Misery of Captiues Manner of redemption Ars deluditur arte Their Horses Their Armes Store of Horses Flight fayned Their Discipline His strength The principall Ensigne a Mares tayle m He published this Book Anno 1607. See of Island originall the next Chapter Antiquities are often mystical or mythical fabulous The Christian care of King Christian. Two Bishops in Iseland Tadde Bonde Waloe Three sorts of people Twelue Iustices each yeere Strength Hâ—bite Superstition and Witchcraft Night Rauens Sweet sacrifice for the Deuill letice sutable his lips Learning Fiwing fish Drinke An old man or a loud lie Bread Commodities Whoores Drinking and singing Louing wormes Lousie loue Lodging Long night Chesse Dryed Fish Hot Bathes Diue-doppers Stone-making water Note French disease Hecla a burning Hill Conceit of Purgatorie Collusions of men or Illusions of Deuils Aâ—ngim Ionas an Islander scoffes at 〈◊〉 as fabulous Strange Story Another wonder No fruits Bartar Brimstone Birch-tree Great winds Fat grasse Their kine horses and sheepe Dogs of more price then children Beares and Foxes White Crowes Riuers Whale-bone-bridge Trauell by compasse Whales Hugâ— Whalâ— Note Orca. A Sea-monster Hacfal another Monster Dog-fish Note Horne of a Sea-fish See Ionas Poole and Baffin l. 4. Islanders terme Manner of trials and suites Sentence and execution Their Pigmies are Beasts and Vnicornes Fishes Pigmies our men haue noâ— seene such Of this the English Discouâ—riâ—s in this and the next Booke wiâ—l giue bettâ—r light The Authors Voyage for Discouerie In Sir Thomas Smiths Hall in London is a kind of Boate somwhat like of Barke sowed Seales skins A Beare The Authors Iourney to Mount Hecla Hafnefordt His abiding there two winters His Nauigations on the Coast of Africa c. hee mentions in his Preface which I haue for breuitie omitted * This learned Islander published A. 1593. one Booke of Island which M. Hak. translated and set forth in the first Tome of his Voyages This worke is larger in three Books out of which I haue taken some things which I held conducent to our purpose In the former worke he confuteth the errours of diuers Authors which write fasly many things of his Countrey Hola in 65. degrees