fellowship both Men and Women There are certaine old women which get their liuing by selling Bels of gold siluer brasse of the bignesse of Nuts which they put in mens yards betwixt the skin and flesh when they are of age to vse Women and in short time cure the place and the men much please themselues to heare the sound of them as they goe Here the Copy is defectiue Mangi is full of Elephants of which the King nourisheth ten thousand they serue him in the warre and carrie Castles in which stand eight ten or twelue men with Lances Bowes and Slings They take them with a tame female Elephant vsed to feed in a place encompassed with a wall with two gates to goe in and out into which in the coupling season the male enters at one gate and shee flees out at the other many men attending with deuices to take him both gates being shut and with fasting and accustoming other tame Elephants to him tame him in few dayes The men of this Countrey haue but one wife and all both men and women paint or embroider their skinnes with Iron pennes putting indelible tinctures thereunto They worship Idols yet when they rise in the morning they turne to the East and with hands ioyned say God in Trinitie keepe vs in his Law This Countrey produceth Serpents as grosse as a man sixe cubits long without feet which they eate for great dainties as they doe also certaine red Ants. There is a beast headed like a Swine tayled like an Oxe with a horne in the forehead like an Vnicorne a cubit long of the colour and stature of an Elephant with whom hee continually fighteth The horne is much esteemed against poyson In the furthest parts of this Countrey towards Cataio are white and blacke Kine some haired and tayled like Horses some with haires like feathers of which they make Fannes Beyond Mangi is the greatest Prouince in the World called Cataio the Lord whereof is called the great Can which signifieth Emperour and the chiefe Citie is called Cambalu which is foure square and hath eight and twenty miles in circuit In the midst thereof is a Fortresse and in it a Palace for the King and at euery of those foure corners is a Castle each foure miles about in which are Armouries of diuers sorts and Engines for battery From the Palace is a way on the wall to all those Castles that if the people rebell he might betake himselfe thither Beyond this Citie fifteene dayes iourney is Quinsai another great Citie which within this little while hath beene new made by this King It hath thirty miles compasse and is more peopled then the former In these two Cities it was told him that the Houses and Palaces are after the manner of Italie and the men richer and wiser then in other places After he was gone from Aua alongst the Riuer to the Sea in seuenteene dayes he arriued at Zaiton a great Port where he tooke Sea and in ten dayes came to a great and populous Citie called Pauconia which is of twelue miles compasse where he stayed foure moneths There are a few Vines which runne vpon Trees and they make no Wine of them There grow Abrecockes white Sanders and Camphire c. I am loth to returne into India with this Author whose defects and corruptions haue made him so little seruiceable together with the changed names of places since his time It is remarkable that hee sayth that the Indian Mariners sayled by the Starres Antartike and not by the compasse vsing certaine measures and rules in that Starre-obseruation Hee also relateth the huge greatnesse and treble sheathing of their Ships But of India whereof all his Relations are wee haue already giuen you better that is more punctuall methodicall and credible Authors Yet before we leaue him let vs obserue what Aeneas Syluius or Pope Pius Secundus hath cited out of him Hee sayth that hee sayled the Indian Sea a moneth beyond Ganges and then came to the Riuer Ratha which being sayled in sixe dayes hee found a Citie called by the same name And thence after seuenteene dayes passing desart Hills he came into champaine Countries which hauing passed in a fortnight with great labour hee found a Riuer greater then Ganges called Daua and hauing sayled therein a moneth came to a famous Citie fifteene miles in circuit named Dua where the women are exceedingly libidinous the men contented with one wife The Prouince is called Macin full of Elephants ten thousand of which the King keepes for his warres and is himselfe carried on a white Elephant wearing a golden Chayne distinguished with gemmes and hanging to his feet The men and women rase themselues c. as before but of the Kine he sayth that the same Kine haue tayles long and hairy to the feet the haires subtile like Feathers of much esteeme and vsed on the tops of Lances as Ensignes These things hath this Nicholas sayth Siluius of Macin noting without doubt the Region Serica For our age placeth the Easterne Scythians in Cathay That of Dua greater then Ganges and that of ten thousand Elephants nourished by a King not knowne by fame are hard to be beleeued but longinquitie cannot easily be confuted TO THE READER REader I here present thee a piece of a Historie so much as abuts on Tartaria and China Alhacen a learned Mahumetan was the Authour whether an exact Historian euery where literally to be vnderstood or whether in some part he be parabolicall and presents a Tamerlane like Xenophons Cyrus in some things rather what he should haue beene and what the Authour could say then what he was I vndertake not to determine The Abbat of Mortimer takes it for a iust Storie and so doth Master Knolls in his Turkish Historie If it be an Historie partly parabolicall yet doth the decorum exact of the Authour a verisimilitude euery where of actions and places sufficient to procure our pardon if not thankes the veritie of a great part being euident in other Stories It is true that some things seeme false for want of truth in our intelligence rather then in themselues And so hath it fared with all the subiect of this Booke Tartarian and Chinesian affaires of which we had as little knowledge as of Tameâ—lan fâ—rther then terrors of Tartarian Armes and some mens speciall occasions and trauels haue giuen vs light Euen the Sunne riseth in those parts whiles it is not day-breake with vs and hath attayned almost his Noon-point before we see him and worthy wee are still to abide in a blacke night of ignorance if we welcome not what light we can get if we cannot get what wee would from so remote an East Once Tartarian affaires as it happens in Conquests were changeable and their New Moone was quickly at the full diuers chances and changes succeeding after Poles dayes to these such wealth whetting the Tartars to get and hold and no lesse the
Letter of Taiso to Ricci hee addeth thus inscribed Thaiso younger Brother which stand at the side to learne doe submit my head to the ground and exhibite honour and reuerence to the elder Brother Master and Father Matthew Ricci a famous Peere and Master of the most choise flowers of the great Law and cast downe my selfe at the feet of his Seat and Chaire The Letter followeth After our departing it being foure yeeres since sight of each other there hath not beene a day in which I haue not set before mine eyes the excellent vertue of your Worship I gaue two yeeres since to Sciauchin my Countreyman a Merchant Letters to your Worship thereby to learne where and what it did I know not whether they haue attayned that to come to your magnificent hands c. When I went from your Worship I said it must goe into the North parts if it would behold the splendour and magnificence of this Kingdome that my Countrey had nothing singular that Nanquin Court was troublesome and mixed of all sorts that Chiansi Prouince was fit onely for dwelling because there were learned men in it of excellent vertue and of a true and solid spirit to receiue the Law This yeere gathering together those things which your Worship taught mee I made a Booke and exhibited it to the Society of learned men of which there was none which did not admire and subscribe saying your Worship was Scingin that is a Saint of these times Those things which I haue added haply may be erroneous and I feare lest they contradict its sounder and higher learning and therefore haue sent my seruant to bring it to your Worship to reade which I most humbly entreat and to correct to approue the trueth to blot out the false to illustrate the obscure writing all in another Booke and sending it by the same seruant in few dayes because I would presently commit it to the Presse that your Worships learning might be knowne thorow the World In these places are of greatest reckoning the Bookes of Hothu Coscui Pequa Queuscieu Thaiquitu and other like which haue written of a Point Line Extremitie and Thicknesse All these learned make of a Line a Circle but according to your Worships teaching of a Line is made the termination of a Circle and a Circle consists therein From which principles the conclusions brought of Thaiquu that is of God doe farre exceed the Commentaries of all our learned men And they are enough to illustrate a thousand obscurities of antiquitie which hitherto haue not beene pierced This one thing afflicts mee that my writing and stile is meane and abiect and most vnfit to illustrate and enlarge the most excellent conceits of its mind Meane while I much long and as it were on tiptoes looke about euery where if haply I may see your face From Suceo the two and twentieth of the fourth Moone and the foure and twentieth of the Raigne of Vanlia Subscribed Thaiso younger Brother againe bends his head to the ground c. Lombard proceedeth in his Letter and sheweth the commodiousnesse of one King which ruleth all of one Mandarine Tongue of the common industrie and cheapnesse of prouisions not as in the pouertie of Iapon where the worke-mens maintenance must come from other parts all fitting to bring in the Gospell There are sayth he almost infinite houses of Bonzi maintayned by the King besides gifts which they receiue of others which yet repose no great confidence in Idols what would these doe if they beleeued to receiue a hundred for one and eternall life Their composition of bodie complexion condition rites no vse of weapons not so much as a Knife carried but by Souldiers in Garrison not in the way or at home their habite long and anciently vsed with their hands alway hidden in their long sleeues except in vse of their fanne which all euen the meanest carrie with them their quarrels if any happen in the vulgar ended in a few boxes or brawles their seemely behauiour equall to the European yea in some things to the Religious there their studiousnesse of learning the onely foundation of dignitie and greatnesse as many Athens there as great Cities each hauing a Schoole or Vniuersitie without mixture of other Regions their politike and morall Rules and Lawes all these might be furtherances to the Gospell Their tenacitie also of their owne customes and jelousie of Strangers might better secure them from Heresies Hee commends also their workes of Piety and Charity Almes Hospitals for poore voluntary chastisements of the bodie to subdue the affections as fastings in which they abstaine from Flesh Fish Milke and Egges but eate other things as oft and as much as they will liberties and gifts by Magistrates to Widowes which contayne themselues from second marriages triall of a mans selfe in all his actions commended in their Bookes especially of those things which other men cannot know and herevpon the liking of a solitary and contemplatiue life in the Countrey and restoring themselues to the first state as they say wherein the Heauen created them for which purpose are congregations of learned men together in Villages addicted to contemplation and fleeing publike Offices as the ancient Fathers had their conferences in woody and mountainous places in which also their women are as forward as the men many of them liuing in Nunneries gouerned by an Abbesse and all China women liue so enclosed as if their owne houses were Cloisters These he commends in them as also that of all vertues they giue the first place to Obedience to Parents as in which consists a mans perfection And that no man may be ignorant of his duty if they cannot reade of which there are but few they haue a short Summe or Catechisme for publishing whereof there is a man appointed at publike charge euery full and change to publish the same in euery street of the City so that on the same day houre a little before Sun-rising the same doctrine is propounded in all the Cities of China and thorow all their streets This is sixe Articles or Principles which are First Obey Father and Mother Secondly reuerence Betters and Elders Thirdly make peace among Neighbors Fourthly teach Children and Nephewes Fifthly let euery man well discharge his office Sixthly commmit no offence that is not to kill steale fornication c. which in manner comprehend the second Table of the Decalogue As for the first Table the Chinois especially the learned are Atheists little regarding Idols whereof their Houses and Temples are full little minding the rewards or punishments of the life to come or the soules immortalitie which yet are easily found in their bookes touching the punishments at least of Holy Pao so they call God in Hell Of rewards of blessednesse there is not such euidence as Thaiso affirmed And although many difficulties happened to ours in the Bonzian habite yet is it now farre otherwise As for Canton Prouince
Eeuen wee were in all the houses of Mangu Chan and I saw when hee should drinke how they cast Cosmos to their Idols of Felt. Then I said to the Monke What fellowshippe hath Christ with Beliall What part hath our Crosse with these Idols Moreouer Mangu Chan hath eight Brethren three by the Mother and fiue by the Father One of them of his Mothers side hee sent into the Countrey of the Hassasines who are called by them Mulibet and hee commanded to kill them all Another went towards Persia and is now entred therein to goe as is thought into Turkie from thence to send Armies against Baldach and Vastacius One of the other he sent into Cataia against some that rebelled His youngest Brother of the same venter hee kept nigh himselfe whose name was Arabucha who holdeth his Mothers Court which was a Christian whose Seruant Master William is for one of his Brothers on the Fathers side tooke him in Hungarie in a certayne Citie called Belgrade where there was a Norman Bishoppe of Belle-Ville neere Roan with a certayne Nephew of the Bishoppes whom I saw there at Caracarum And hee gaue Master William to Mangues Mother because shee was very earnest to haue him When she was dead Master William came backe againe to Arabucha with all things else pertayning to the Court of his Mother and from him hee came to the knowledge of Mangu Chan. Who after the finishing of the foresaid Worke gaue vnto Master William an hundred Iascots that is a thousand Markes On the Eeuen therefore of the Ascension Mangu Chan said hee would goe to his Mothers Court and visit her for it was neere And the Monke said hee would goe with him and giue his blessing to his Mothers soule Chan was well contented In the Euening the day of the Ascension the foresaid Ladie was very much pained And the chiefe of the Sooth-sayers sent to the Monke commanding him that the Table should not be smitten On the morrow when the whole Court remooued the Court of the foresaid Ladie remayned still And when wee came to the place where the Court should stay the Monke was commanded to depart further from the Court then hee was wont which hee did Then Arabucha met his brother Chan. So the Monke and wee seeing that hee was to passe by vs met him with the Crosse. And hee calling vs to minde because sometimes he had beene at our Oratorie stretching forth his hand made a Crosse vnto vs like a Bishop Then the Monke taking Horse followed him bearing certayne Fruits But hee alighted before his brothers Court wayting while hee came from hunting Then the Monke alighted there and offered him the Fruit which hee receiued And hard by him sate two Saracens of the Nobilitie of the Court of Chan. But Arabucha vnderstanding of the contention betweene the Christians and the Saracens enquired of the Monke if hee knew the said Saracens and hee answered I know they are Dogges why haue you them so neere you but they replyed why say they doe you wrong vs when wee doe none to you To whom the Monke said I speake the truth and yee and your Mahomet are vile Dogges Then they beganne to answere blasphemously against Christ and Arabucha forbad them saying speake not so blasphemously for wee know that the Messias is God That very houre there arose so great a winde ouer all the street that the Deuils seemed to runne through them And after awhile there came Rumours that the Ladie was dead The next morning Chan returning towards his Court another way For this is their Sorcerie that they neuer returne the same way they came Moreouer while the Court abode heere after the remooue thereof none dare passe that way neither Horseman nor Footman where the Court stayed so long as any shew of the fire made there remayneth That day certayne Saracens kept company with the Monke vpon the way prouoking him and disputing with him And when hee could not defend himselfe with Argument and they mocked him hee would haue lashed them with the Whip which hee held in his hand and hee went so farre that the foresaid words were reported at the Court. And wee were commanded to depart with other Messengers and not abide before the Court where wee were wont And I alwayes hoped the King of Armenia would come There came some about Easter from Bolac where those Dutchmen are for whose sake chiefly I went thither who told mee that the Dutch Priest should come to the Court. Therefore I mooued no Question to Mangu concerning our stay or departure And in the beginning hee gaue vs leaue to stay but two monethes and now fiue monethes are past This was done about the end of May. And wee had continued there all Ianuary February March Aprill and May. But hearing no newes of the King or the said Priest and fearing lest wee should returne in the Winter whose sharpnesse wee had prooued I caused to bee demanded of Mangu Chan what his pleasure was concerning vs because willingly wee would euer stay there if so hee pleased But if wee must returne it were easier for vs to returne in Summer then in the Winter Hee presently sent vnto mee commanding that I should not goe farre off because his pleasure was to speake with mee the next day But I told him that if hee would speake with mee hee should send for Master Williams Sonne for my Interpreter was not sufficient And hee that spake with mee was a Saracen who had beene a Messenger to Vastacius and blinded with Rewards counselled Vastacius to send Ambassadours to Mangu Chan and the meane while the time passed for Vastacius thought hee would presently enter his Countrey So hee sent and after hee knew them hee little regarded them nor made peace with them neither did they yet enter his Countrey nor shall they bee able so long as they dare defend themselues nor did they euer take any Countrey by Force but by Deceit And because men make peace with them vnder colour of that peace they ouerthrow them Then hee beganne to bee very Inquisitiue of the Pope and of the King of the Franckes and of the way to goe to them But the Monke hearing this aduised mee secretly not to answere him because he would procure that an Ambassadour should be sent Whereupon I held my peace not willing to answere him And hee spake vnto mee I know not what iniurious words for the which the Nestorian Priests would haue accused him so that hee had either beene slaine or beaten all to clouts but I would not ON the morrow to wit the Sunday before Pentecost they brought mee to the Court and the chiefe Secretaries of the Court came vnto mee one of Moal who wayteth vpon Chans cup and the rest Saracens inquiring on the behalfe of Chan wherefore I came Then I told them the foresaid words how I came to Sartach and from Sartach to Baatu and how Baatu sent me thither Whereupon
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
Familie decayed by disaduentures or of any which cannot worke and haue no meanes he causeth to giue to such Families the whole yeares expenses each of such Families going to the Officers for that purpose and shewing their Bill of allowance receiue prouisions accordingly There is a Palace deputed for those Officers They are prouided also of garments for Winter and for Summer the Can hauing the Tenths of all Wool and Silke and Hempe which he causeth to bee made into Clothes in a house thereto appointed for all Trades are bound one day in the weeke to worke for him He prouides also apparell for his Armies and in euery Citie causeth Cloth to be made of his tithe wooll You must vnderstand that â—he Tartars ancient customes knew no almes but rather vpbraided such as were in necessitie as hated of God But the Idolaters especially these Bachsi haue propounded it as a good worke acceptable to God and haue taught him to be thus bountifull so that in his Court bread is neuer denyed to any which aske and there is no day in which is not giuen away twentie thousand Crownes in Rice Millet and Panike whereby he is esteemed as a God There are also in Cambalu of Christians Saracens and Catayans about fiue thousand Astrologers and Diuiners which the Great Can prouideth yeerly of foode and rayment as those poore abouesaid These haue an Astrolabe in which are marked the signes of the Planets the houres and points of all the yeere Herein all these Astrologers each Religion apart view the course of the yeere according to euery Moone obseruing the disposition of the weather referring alway to God to doe more or lesse after his owne pleasure They write also vpon certaine squares they call them Tacuini the things which are to come that yeere which they sell to those that will buy them and such as speake most truth are most honored If any intend any great worke or to goe a farre iourney and will know the euent before-hand he makes recourse to these Astrologers to see it with their eyes in the Heauens which they doe comparing the present Constellation with that of his Birth which they demand of him so foretelling him the good or euill The Tartars reckon the computation of their yeeres by twelues the first signified by a Lion the second by an Oxe the third by a Dragon the fourth by a Dogge and so thorow the whole twelue so that if a man be demanded when he was borne he will answer such a point of such an houre of such a day in the yeere Lion this their fathers exactly set downe in a booke and when the twelue is complete they goe ouer the same againe Of their Religion we haue said that they are Idolaters and for their Gods haue a Table set aloft in the wall of their Chamber on which is written a Name representing the High God of Heauen and there euery day with a Censer of incense they adore it in this manner They lift vp their hands aloft and strike their teeth thrice praying it to giue them a good vnderstanding and health and desire thereof nothing else Besides on the ground they haue another statue called Natigai The God of earthly things with his Wife and Children as before is said whom likewise they worship with incense striking or gnashing the teeth and lifting vp the hands and desire thereof temperature of the aire fruits of the earth children and the like They hold the Soule to be immortal and that when a man dies it enters into another bodie better or worse according to the merits in the former life as of a poore man to become a Gentleman and after of a Prince or Lord and so higher till it be assumpted in God or if it hath ill deserued to be a poorer man after a Dogge alway descending to the lowest ranke of basenesse They haue a comely speech salute cheerfully and honestly haue a gracefull carriage and feed cleanly They beare great reuerence to their Parents and if any be vndutifull or helplesse to their necessitie there is a publike Office designed to this particular to punish vngratefull or disobedient children Prisoners are released at three yeeres end and marked in the cheeke to be knowne Malefactors The Barons and People which goe to the Grand Can obserue these Rites First within halfe a mile of the place where the Can is all is husht and quiet without noyse or cryes or any loud speech and euery Baron carries continually a little faire vessell to spit in after which hee couers it none daring to spit on the Hall They haue Furre buskins of white leather which they put on when they enter the Hall putting off the former and giuing them to the seruants lest they should foule the faire artificiall Carpets TEn miles off Cambalu is a certayne great Riuer named Pulisangan emptying it selfe into the Ocean by which many ships with much merchandise ascend And in that place there is a very faire Bridge all of Serpentine stone curiously wrought contayning three hundred paces in length and eight in breadth that ten men may ride abrest On each side it is fairely mounted with a wall of marble and Pillars set on a rew and in the height of the ascent is a great and high Pillar at the foote whereof is a great Lion and on the top another And so quite thorow the Bridge one pace and halfe distant are Pillars with Lions on the top and a faire well-wrought marble worke betwixt to keepe men from falling Hauing passed ouer the Riuer and Bridge proceeding thirtie miles westward in which Palaces are continually seene with Vineyards and fertile Fields you come to the Citie Gouza both faire and great hauing many Monasteries of Idols Cloth of gold and silkes are made there and the purest and finest Cambricks or Launes and many common Innes for Strangers and Trauailers are found in that Citie The Citizens are Artificers and Merchants A mile without this Citie the way parteth one leading West the other South-east that to the West leadeth through the Prouince of Cathay but the other towards the Countrey of Maugi From the Citie of Gouza to the Kingdome of Tainfu you ride ten dayes thorow Cataio alway finding many faire Cities and Castles well traded with Vineyards and tilled Fields from whence Wine is carried to Cataio where it wants There are many Mulberrie trees for Silke-workes the People ciuill and Cities very frequent Tainfu is the name of the Kingdome and of the chiefe Citie which is great and faire hath much trading with store of munition fit for the Cans Armies The Wine about this Citie serueth the whole Prouince Seuen dayes further westward is a goodly Countrey beautified with many Castles and Cities in which also great trade of merchandise is vsed After which you come to a Citie very great named Pianfu in which there is great abundance of Silke and Trading Westward from Pianfu
were either taken or slaine albeit they thought in their Pride they could haue ouer-runne the whole Kingdome of Armenia and deuoure all â—he Christians there at a morsell This was performed on the Lords Day being the eighteenth of Iuly after which conflict the Saracens durst no more enter into the Kingdome of Armenia But the Soldan sent to the King of Armenia to make truce with him which was agreed betweene them 46. I Frier Haython hauing beene present at all the said proceedings had purposed long before to haue taken a Regular Habit vpon me and to haue entred into Religion But by reason of many impediments and difficulties in the Affaires of the Kingdome of Armenia I could not with my honour forsake my friends and kindred in such extremities But seeing that Gods goodnesse had beene so gracious vnto me as to leaue the Kingdome of Armenia and the Christian people there after my manifold labours and trauels in quiet and peaceable estate I then tooke the time to performe that Vow which before I had vowed Therefore hauing taken my leaue of my Lord the King and of the rest of my kindred and friends euen in that field where God gaue the Christians Victorie ouer their Enemies I beganne my Iourney and comming to Cyprus in the Monasterie of Episcopia tooke a Regular Habit of the Order Premonstratensis to the end that hauing serued the World as a Souldier in my youth I might spend the rest of my life in the Seruice of God forsaking the pompe of this World which was in the yeere of our Lord 1305. Therefore I render thankes vnto God that the Kingdome of Armenia is at this day in a good and peaceable estate and well reformed by the Moderne King Liueno Sonne to King Haython who is a Looking-glasse or patterne to all other Kings in all kinde of eminent vertue Moreouer the Compiler of this Worke affirmeth that he hath come three manner of wayes to the knowledge of those things which hee declareth and writeth in this Booke For from the beginning of Changius Can who was the first Emperour of the Tartars vntill Mango Can who was their fourth Emperour I faithfully deliuer what I gathered out of the Histories of the Tartarians But from Mango Can to the death of Haloon I write that which I receiued of an Vncle of mine who writ the same by the commandement of Haiton King of Armenia and was present then at all the foresaid occurrences and with great diligence did often discourse make rehearsall of them to his Sonnes and Nephewes that they might remayne the better to Posteritie and from the beginning of Abaga Can to the end of this third part of this Booke the Author relateth those things which hee knew of himselfe as hauing beene present at them aâ—l whereby he is enabled to giue testimonie of the truth Now albeit we haue hitherto treated of the Histories and Deeds of the Tartarians there remayneth yet somewhat to be said concerning their Power and Dominion especially of those that are now liuing that it may the better bee knowne 47. The great Emperor of the Tartars which now holdeth the Empire is called Tamor Can being their sixt Emperour who keepeth his Residence in the Kingdome of Cathay in a very great City called Iong which his Father caused to be built as is aboue declared his power is very great For this Emperour alone is able to doe more then all the Tartarian Princes together and the Nations vnder his gouernment are reputed more noble and rich and better stored of all necessaries because that in the Kingdome of Cathay in which they now liue there is great abundance of riches Besides this great Emperour there are three other great Kings or Princes of the Tartars which rule each of them ouer many Nations yet are they all subiect to the Emperour and acknowledge him their naturall and Leige Lord. And the differences which happen betweene them are decided in the Emperours Court and determined by his Iudgement The first of these Kings is called Chapar another Hochtay and the third Carbanda This Chapar hath his Dominion in the Kingdome of Turquestan being the neerest to the Emperour It is thought that he is able to bring into the field foure hundred thousand Horsemen and these are bold and good Warriours but not so well furnished of Horse and Armour as were expedient The Emperours subiects doe many times make warre vpon them and they on the other side doe often inuade the people of Carbanda The Dominion of this Chapar was in ancient time subiect for the greatest part to a Lord called Doay Hochtay keepeth his Seat of Residence in the Kingdome of Cumania in a Citie called Asaro or Sara and it is said that he is able to bring six hundred thousand Horsemen to the fight yet are they not so much commended in Feats of Armes as the men of Chapar albeit they haue better Horses These make warre sometimes on the Subiects of Carbanda sometimes against the Hungarians and sometimes amongst themselues But Hochtay who ruleth at this present holdeth his Dominion peaceably and quietly Carbanda hath his Dominion in the Kingdome of Asia the Great and maketh his chiefe abode in the Citie of Tauris beeing able to bring three hundred thousand Horsemen to the field But these are gathered out of diuers parts being rich and well furnished with necessaries Chapar and Hochtay doe sometimes make warre vpon Carbanda but hee neuer medleth first with them neither moueth warres against any but that he sometimes inuadeth the Soldan of Egypt against whom his Predecessors haue fought many Battailes Chapar and Hochtay would willingly take from Carbanda his Dominion if they were able to effect it The reason whereof is this Asia is diuided into two parts the one part whereof being called the Lower or Deepe Asia is inhabited by the Emperour and those two Kings called Chapar and Hochtay The other part being the higher is called Asia the Greater in which Carbanda inhabiteth and hath Dominion Now there are only three wayes by which men may passe out of the Deeper or Lower Asia vnto the high Countrey called Asia Maior The one is out of the Kingdome of Turquestan to the Kingdome of the Persians another way there is called Derbent which lyeth neere the Sea where Alexander built the Citie called the Iron Gate as in the Histories of Cumania appeares the other way is to goe ouer the Sea called Mare maius which way lyeth through the Kingdome of Barca By the first way the subiects of Chapar cannot passe to the Territories of Carbanda without great danger and difficultie because they should find no feeding for their Horses in many dayes trauailes the Land being so dry and barren that before they could come to any fruitfull inhabited Countrey their Horses would be starued or at least so faint and wearied that they might be easily ouercome and therefore that way they
the Campe of the Battayle for to stay the slaughter and to ioyne together againe his men to the end the accustomed watch might bee kept whereof hee gaue the charge vnto Axalla to whom he gaue likewise commandement to keepe the King of China within the middest of his Souldiers hauing bin already dressed of a wound he had receiued in his right arme It was a strange thing to behold the Enemies Weapons and the diuersitie of streamers wherewith they were decked the which seemed vnto vs afar off as beautifull as the diuersity of colours plentifull But to say the truth the multitude was great which this King had notwithstanding there was much difference betweene their valour and ours and it is reported that hee had ranged in Battayle this very day three hundred and fifty thousand men whereof there were an hundred and fiftie thousand Horse-men the rest on foot the greatest part of them were rude and barbarous people which suffered themselues to bee slaine one vpon another not marking their aduantage nor hauing any Warlike knowledge as our men haue there were slaine of the Enemies some threescore thousand Now the next day after the buriall of the dead the Prince hauing giuen thankes vnto God for his victorie caused the wounded to bee cured and amongst the others Calibes who by reason of the vntemperatenesse of the Ayre rather then by the blow of the wound he had receiued found himselfe very ill yet would he not omit his dutie to command alwayes his Auant-gard the which was a great pleasure vnto the Prince for he alone had Commandement ouer the Emperours Forces beeing a Scythian and greatly beloued of his Nation The Prince dispatched away thirty thousand Horse in the pursuit of one of the King of Chinas Brothers who was fled away hauing ioyned together againe some twelue or fifteene thousand Horse The Prince sent to summon Pannihu the which did yeeld it selfe vnto him wherevpon our Army approached neere vnto it for to aduance our selues the further into the Countrey Now I forget to declare how the Prince hauing the next day caused his Tents to bee pitched most stately and his Guards ordered according to his greatnesse the principall of his Army being also neere his person for all the night hee had remayned continually on Horse-backe vntill about two of the clocke when as they brought him a Tart and his water for hee neuer dranke Wine and lay downe on a Carpet where hee passed the rest of the night I was neere vnto him and neuer left him but I neuer heard any vaunting or boasting to proceed out of his mouth Then hee sent a commandement vnto Axalla to bring vnto him the imprisoned King who beeing come the Emperour issued out of his Tents and went to receiue him This King of China came with a very proud and haughtie countenance and like a couragious man approaching neere vnto the Emperour hee demanded of Axalla by an Interpreter which was the Emperour and being shewed him hee spake fiercely vnto him after this manner The Gods whom I worship being prouoked against my Nation and people and conspired against my good fortune haue made mee at this day thy Prisoner but forasmuch as it is reported ouer all the World that Tamerlan maketh warre for the honour of his Nation thou shouldest be contented that thou hast wonne it this glory that the Lord of the World the Child of the Sunne is in thy power to receiue such Law as it shall please thee to prescribe him This hee said in a braue manner and without any other humbling of himselfe The Emperour on the other-side hauing saluted him very courteously led him into his Tent. He is surely a great Prince and which hath had two hundred famous Cities within his Kingdome There be many Mynes of Gold and Siluer much Muske and also of an Herbe which the Christians call Rhubarbe There bee in like manner within the Kingdome of China fifteene very large Prouinces the which haue Gouernours It is reported that hee hath threescore and tenne Kings wearing Crownes Tributaries vnto him We call this Region China the which they in their Language name Tame and the people Tangis the which we call Chinois This Kingdome doth abound in fish and in great numbers of wild-fowle by reason of the great abundance of running waters which doe ouerflow the Countrey the which is reasonable temperate they a-abound greatly in Silkes and the meanest are apparelled therewith hauing small quantitie of Wooll and not vsing the same they haue much Cotton and Linnen in stead thereof The men doe weare their haire long the women combe them they haue as many Wiues as they are able to maintayne Next vnto the King there is a Gouernour Generall whom they call Tutan the which was the Brother vnto the imprisoned King The Prince hauing assembled his counsell to to the end he might be aduised how he should vse his Prisoners and the rest of the Victory hee receiued newes by Odmar how that the Kings Brother was arriued at Quantou the which hee had fortified and that great store of forces did ioyne themselues vnto him This was the cause that the Prince hauing somewhat rested his forces commanded two thousand Parthian Horse to conuey the Prisoners vnto Paguinfou and from thence after they had made abode there to passe ouer the Mountaynes and to remayne at Burda a Citie of olde time faithfull vnto the Emperours of Schytia and there to keepe them faithfully The purpose and resolution of the Prince was that it behooued to assault Quantou and to shut vp if it were possible the Kings Brother within the same being one of the principall seates belonging vnto the King of China and a Citie greatly peopled and strong it was forty leagues from the place where the battayle was fought But Odmar being aduanced thither would not retyre before he had expresse Commandement from the Prince who hauing sent thither pitched his Tents round about the said Citie hauing summoned many small Cities the which yeelded themselues wholly vnto the Princes mercy making great lamentation for their King taken Notwithstanding the gentlenesse vsed by the Conquerour made them to take all their losses with patience and because it was also reported that he had vsed the King most friendly and all the Prisoners the Kings Brother had sent Embassadours to obtayne leaue for to know of the Kings health and for to see him the which the Prince did willingly suffer to the end this other should not declare himselfe King who would haue brought him more trouble then the other He attended for the euent of Quantou and had his eye vpon the successe of this siege Now the Kings Brother hauing receiued newes of the Affaires of the besieged he determined eyther to succour it or to fight a Battle and came straight vnto Porchio and made a bridge of Boats whereof there be great store in these same Countreyes Now being enformed when the
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
other are many inferiour Louthias with Head-pieces on their heads some gilt some with Siluer and with Swords hanging at their belts and with Coats and Cassocks made in fashion of Frockes with studs of Gold and Siluer that it seemeth set vpon plates but it is a very fine worke made vpon very single Silke which serueth onely for brauerie and ornament Some vse on their heads white Head-pieces garnished with Gold but are of a very fine leafe and thinne that seeming an Armour are not In this manner also are the Louthias inferiours which doe enuiron the superiour Louthia The Chaires where these doe goe are very rich and of great price and very sumptuous The Tables whereon is written the titles of dignitie of these Great men are written with letters of Siluer And when any of these doth enter newly in any Citie with these feasts and enternaynments all the Louthias great and small receiue him at a house where hee landeth very rich and noble and from thence they accompanie him vnto his lodging and being lodged all doe take their leaue with many curtesies In these receiuings they vse no sumptuous apparell The great men when most weare Coats of red Silke In their owne feasts in their houses and secretly one with another and in banquets they vse crimson Silke and all the brauerie in their apparell and in rich attires Whensoeuer by way of inquirie or examination any Witnesses are demanded the Louthias doe it in publicke before the Officers and ministers of his Office and before all the rest that by any meanes chance to be there present and this because no falshood may be vsed nor any sleight in the manner of inquiring and by consequence in writing And first they examine the Witnesses seuerally and if they doe agree they ioyne them and examine the one before the other till they bring them to altercations and quarrelling by words that by the words the one speaketh to the other they may come to the knowledge of the truth And if by this meanes they doe not comprehend the truth they giue them many stripes and tortures that by one meanes or other they may know the truth of the matter they enquire or examine they vse no Oath for they esteeme nothing of their Gods They haue notwithstanding a respect in the witnessing the persons of qualitie and of whom is presumed that they will not easily lye When they examine any matter of great weight or a graue person then they write themselues the processe of the examination It chanceth sometimes that some of the Louthias for a great bribe or for great friendship let some Prisoner loose and put another in his place for there neuer wanteth one naughtipacke that will put himselfe in danger of stripes or death for interest or they bring him in by deceit deceiuing him with words and making the matter light vnto him and giuing him some interest they name him as the Prisoner they will let loose that the faults and punishments of the guiltie may fall vpon the innocent And when sometime in this sort they cannot let the guiltie person loose they labour to bribe all the Officers to giue him for dead among those that die in the prisons But these inuentions are not vsed but where the bribes are great or the adherents very great and mightie And for to eschew the inconueniences which sometime fall out when any are imprisoned for weightie matters or the Prisoners haue great aduersaries they set downe all the markes of the Prisoners and cause them to be set at the foot of the writing that so they may not vse any of the malices abouesaid With how much pietie and leasure they kill with so much crueltie and speed they whip for in this case they forgiue none The stripes are such that with reason it might be a sufficient punishment for to amend for the canes wherewith they whip are plaited below about foure fingers broad and goe straightning vpward vnto the end where the Beadles hold them and they are almost a finger thicke for in those parts are canes as big as a mans leg And because in Portugall are many witnesses of knowledge of the same I dare simply affirme it and they are of eighty or ninety spans long And their whips are made of these canes of the height of a middle statured man to the breasts They giue the stripes on the hammes of the mans legs being layd on his breast and his legs layd along and his hands tyed behind And the Beadles butchering as they are commanded the Louthias are altogether voide of compassion talking one with another eating and drinking and picking their teeth The crueltie is such that the Court is full of bloud and when they haue made an end of whipping them they carrie them not but like Butchers with much crueltie they draw them by one leg to the Prison And when the Beadles are whipping they tell with a loude voyce the stripes If the miserable Prisoners which are in the Prson for grieuous faults at the time that this correction is to bee done can get a piece of a coard wherewith they may hang themselues they goe to buffets who shall hang himselfe first that that the butcherie of the stripes be not executed on them And the Portugals affirmed which were in Prison that in one day fortie Prisoners did hang themselues in the Prison where they were to escape the stripes they were rather willing to lose their liues And they affirmed that the coard was very short that scarsely there was so much as to come about the necke to tye it and on a sticke which they stucke in the wall and because the sticke was very lowe they pulled one another till they were choaked going to buffets who should hang himselfe first When any doth kill himselfe or dieth in the Prison it is the order in China to cast him in the house of office and there to be three dayes where the Rats doe eate him vp And sometimes the Chinaes Prisoners doe eate of them with hunger Euery Citie that is the Head of the Prouince hath thirteene Dungeons and in sixe of them are the men condemned to death there are in Cantan vpward of fifteene thousand Prisoners There are in euery Dungeon onely for the condemned to death one hundred and twenty men that serue for watches and haue a Louthia ouer them as their Captaine or Gentleman of the round There be two sorts of tortures one for the hands another for the feet which are nipped by certaine stickes to the bruising or breaking of the fingers or toes with cruell paines The King hath as many wiues as he listeth and within doores all the seruice is almost of women whereof he hath a great multitude and likewise great store of Eunuches and there is no other people within the house The first son that is borne vnto him of any of his wiues succeedeth in the Kingdome The rest he
that afterward they both seeing the confessions of the one and the other they might see if they did agree And first they examined euery one by himselfe Afterward they examined them altogeter for to see if the one did contrary the other or did contend and reprehend one another that so by little and little they might gather the truth of the case In these Examinations the two were contrary to wit the Pilot and the Christian China youth and had many stripes because they agreed in some things The Louthias did alwayes shew themselues glad to heare the Portugals in their defence who alleadged in their defence that if they would know who they were and how they were Merchants and not Theeues they should send to enquire of them along the Coast of Chincheo that there they should know the truth which they might know of the Merchants of the Countrey with whom a great many yeares agoe they had dealt and that they might know that they were no Kings for Kings do not abase themselues so much as to come with so few men to play the Marchants and if before they said the contrary it was by the deceit of the Luthisi and to receiue better vsage of him in their persons Hauing this information of the Portugals presently with the opinion of the Quinchay and the other Officers they went to Chincheo both of them to enquire of the trueth of that which the Portugals had told them and discouering there the truth of the Portugals matter and the lies of the Luthissi and of the Aitao they dispatched presently a Post wherein they commanded to put the Luthissi and the Aitao in Prison and in good safeguard Wherefore from thence forward all men began to fauour them very much If notwithstanding this examination had bin made in Liampoo as it was in Chincheo the Portugals could not haue chosen but haue past it ill according to the greatnesse of the euils they had done there After the Louthias returned from Chincheo they commanded to bring the Portugals before them and comforted them very much shewing them great good-will and saying to them that they knew already they were no theeues but were honest men and they examined againe as well they as their aduersaries to see if they contradicted themselues in any thing of that which before they had spoken In these later re-examinations the Pilot of China which before had shewed himselfe against the Portugals and had beene on the Louthias side seeing that the Louthias were already in Prison and that now they could doe them no good and that the Portugals were already fauoured and that the trueth was already knowne he gainsaid himselfe of all that he had said and said that it was true that the Portugals were no theeues nor Kings but Merchants and very good men and discouered the goods which the Luthissi had taken when he surprised the Portugals And that till then he had said to the contrary was for the great promises which the Louthias promised him and for the great threats they vsed to him if he did it not But seeing they were already in Prison and he knew they could doe him no hurt he would now speake the truth They then commanded to torment him and whip him very sore to see if he would gainsay himselfe but he still continued in the same confession All the examinations and diligences necessarie in this business ended the Quinchay willing to depart for the Court with his companie would first see the Portugals and giue a sight of himselfe to the Citie The sight was of great Maiestie in the manner hee went abroad in the Citie for he went accompanied with all the great men of it and with many men in Armes and many Ancients displayed and very faire and with many Trumpets and Kettle-drummes and many other things which in such pompes are vsed And accompanied in this manner hee went to certaine noble and gallant houses And all the great men taking their leaue of him hee commanded the Portugals to come neere him and after a few words he dismissed them for this was not but onely to see them Before these Louthias departed they commanded the Louthias of the Countrey and the Iaylors that all of them should fauour the Portugals and giue them good entertaynment and should command to giue them all things necessarie for their persons And commanded euery one to set his name in a piece of Paper because that while they were at the Court and their matters were dispatching they should not craftily make some missing And they commanded to keepe the Luthissi in good safety and the Aitao and that they should not let them communicate with any person Being gone from the Citie they lodged in a small Towne where they set in order all the Papers and ingrossing onely that which was necessarie And because the Papers were many and were much to write they helped themselues with three men And hauing ingrossed all that they were to carrie to the Court they burned all the rest And because these three men which they tooke for helpers should not spread abroad any thing of that which they had seene or heard or written they left them shut vp with great vigilancie that none should speake with them commanding to giue them all things necessarie very abundantly vntill the Kings Sentence came from Court and were declared The Papers being presented in Court and all seene by the King and by his Officers he pronounced the Sentence in manner and forme following Pimpu by commandement of the King Because Chaipuu Huchin Tutan without my commandement or making mee priuie thereto after the taking of so much people commanded them to bee slayne I being willing to prouide therein with Iustice sent first to know the trueth by Quinsituam my Quinchei who taking with him the Louthias which I sent to examine the trueth of the Portugals and also of the Aitao and Luthissi which had informed mee that the Portugals were theeues and that they came to all the coast of my Dominion to robbe and to murther And the trueth of all being knowne they are come from doing that which I commanded them And the Papers being seene by my Pimpu and by the great Louthias of my Court and well examined by them they came to giue mee account of all And likewise I commanded them to be perused by Ahimpu and Altu Chaen and by Athaylissi Chuquin whom I commanded to ouersee those Papers very well because the matters were of great weight wherein I would prouide with Iustice. Which thus being seene and perused by them all it was manifest that the Portugals came many yeeres before to the coast of Chincheo to doe their affaires which was not conuenient they should doe in the manner they did it but in my Markets as was alwaies the custome in all my Ports These men of whom hitherto I knew not I know now that the people of Chincheo went to their ships about their
before whom are brought all matters of the inferiour Townes throughout the whole Realme Diuers other Louteas haue the managing of Iustice and receiuing of Rents bound to yeeld an account thereof vnto the greater Officers Other doe see that there be no euill rule kept in the Citie each one as it behoueth him Generally all these doe imprison Malefactors cause them to be whipped and racked hoysing them vp and downe by the armes with a cord a thing very vsuall there and accounted no shame These Louteas doe vse great diligence in the apprehending of the Theeues so that it is a wonder to see a Thiefe escape away in any Towne Citie or Village Vpon the Sea neere vnto the shoare many are taken and looke euen as they are taken so be they first whipped and afterward laid in Prison where shortly after they all dye for hunger and cold At that time when we were in Prison there dyed of them aboue threescore and ten Their whips be certaine pieces of Canes cleft in the middle in such sort that they seeme rather plaine then sharpe He that is to bee whipped lyeth groueling on the ground Vpon his thighes the Hangman layeth on blowes mightily with these Canes that the standers by tremble at their crueltie Tenne stripes draw a great deale of bloud twentie or thirtie spoyle the flesh altogether fiftie or threescore will require long time to be healed and if they come to the number of one hundred then are they incurable The Louteas obserue moreouer this when any man is brought before them to bee examined they aske him openly in the hearing of as many as be present be the offence neuer so great Thus did they also behaue themselus with vs. For this cause amongst them can there be no false witnes as daily amongst vs it falleth out This good commeth thereof that many being alwayes about the Iudge to heare the Euidence and beare witnesse the Processe cannot be falsified as it hapneth sometimes with vs. The Moores Gentiles and Iewes haue all their sundry Oathes the Moores doe sweare by their Mossafos the Brachmans by their Fili the rest likewise by the things they doe worship The Chineans though they be wont to sweare by Heauen by the Moone by the Sunne and by all their Idols in judgement neuerthelesse they sweare not at all If for some offence an Oath be vsed of any one by and by with the least euidence hee is tormented so be the Witnesses he bringeth if they tell not the truth or doe in any point disagree except they bee men of worship and credit who are beleeued without any farther matter the rest are made to confesse the truth by force of Torments and Whips Besides this order obserued of them in Examinations they doe feare so much their King and he where he maketh his abode keepeth them so low that they dare not once stirre Againe these Louteas as great as they bee notwithstanding the multitude of Notaries they haue not trusting any others doe write all great Processes and matters of importance themselues Moreouer one vertue they haue worthy of great praise and that is being men so well regarded and accounted of as though they were Princes they bee patient aboue measure in giuing audience Wee poore strangers brought before them might say what we would as all to be Lyes and Falaces that they did write nor did we stand before them with the vsuall Ceremonies of that Countrey yet did they beare with vs so patiently that they caused vs to wonder knowing specially how little any Aduocate or Iudge is wont in our Countrey to beare with vs. For wheresoeuer in any Towne of Christendome should bee accused vnknowne men as we were I know not what end the very Innocents cause would haue but wee in a Heathen Countrey hauing our great Enemies two of the chiefest men in a whole Towne wanting an Interpreter ignorant of that Countrey Language did in the end see our great Aduersaries cast into Prison for our sake and depriued of their Offices and Honour for not doing Iustice yea not to escape death for as the rumour goeth they shall bee beheaded Somewhat is now to be said of the Lawes that I haue beene able to know in this Countrey and first no Theft or Murther is at any time pardoned Adulterers are put in Prison and the fact once proued condemned to dye the womans Husband must accuse them this order is kept with men and women found in that fault but Theeues and Murtherers are imprisoned as I haue said where they shortly dye for hunger and cold If any one haply escape by bribing the Iaylor to giue him meate his Processe goeth farther and commeth to the Court where hee is condemned to dye Sentence being giuen the Prisoner is brought in publike with a terrible band of men that lay him in Irons hand and foot with a board at his necke one handfull broad in length reaching downe to his knees cleft in two parts and with a hole one handfull downe-ward in the Table fit for his necke the which they enclose vp therein nayling the board fast together one handfull of the board standeth vp behind in the necke the sentence and cause wherefore the fellon was condemned to dye is written in that part of the Table that standeth before This Ceremonie ended he is laid in a great Prison in the company of some other condemned persons the which are found by the King as long as they doe liue The board aforesaid so made tormenteth the Prisoners very much keeping them both from the rest and eke letting them to eate commodiously their hands being manicled in Irons vnder that board so that in fine there is no remedie but death In the chiefe Cities of euery shire as we haue beforesaid there be foure principall Houses in each of them a Prisoner but in one of them where the Taissu maketh his abode there a greater and a more principall Prison then in any of the rest and although in euery Citie there be many neuerthelesse in three of them remayne onely such as bee condemned to dye Their death is much prolonged for that ordinarily there is no execution done but once a yeere though many dye for hunger and cold as we haue seene in this Prison Execution is done in this manner The Chian to wit the high Commissioner or Lord Chiefe Iustice at the yeares end goeth to the head Citie where hee heareth againe the causes of such as bee condemned Many times he deliuereth some of them declaring that board to haue beene wrongfully put about their neckes the visitation ended he chooseth out seuen or eight not many more or lesse of the greatest Malefactors the which to feare and keepe in awe the people are brought into a great Market place where all the great Louteas meete together and after many Ceremonies and Superstitions as the vse of the Countrey is are beheaded This is done once a yeare who
Citie where these fellowes bee I informed my selfe of them and learned the truth These Moores as they told me in times past came in great Ships fraught with merchandise from Pachin ward to a Port granted vnto them by the King as hee is wont to all them that trafficke into this Countrey where they being arriued at a little Towne standing in the hauens mouth in time conuerted vnto their Sect the greatest Loutea there When that Loutea with all his family was become Moorish the rest began likewise to doe the same In this part of China the people bee at libertie euery one to worship and follow what him liketh best Wherefore no bodie tooke heed thereto vntill such time as the Moores perceiuing that many followed them in superstition and that the Loutea fauoured them they began to forbid wholly the eating of Swines-flesh But all this Countrey men and women choosing rather to forsake Father and Mother then to leaue off eating of Porke by no meanes would yeeld to that proclamation For besides the great desire they all haue to eate that kind of meate many of them doe hue thereby and therefore the people complained vnto the Magistrates accusing the Moores of a conspiracie pretended betwixt them and the Loutea against their King In this Countrey as no suspition no not one trayterous word is long borne withall so was the King speedily aduertised thereof who gaue commandement out of hand that the aforesaid Loutea should bee put to death and with him the Moores of most importance the other to be layd first in Prison and afterward to bee sent abroad into certaine Cities where they remayned perpetuall slaues vnto the King To this Citie came by hap men and women threescore and odde who at this day are brought to fiue men and foure women for it is now twentie yeeres agoe this happened Their off-spring passeth the number of two hundred and they in this Citie as the rest in other Cities whither they were sent haue their Moscheas whereunto they all resort euery Friday to keepe their Holiday But as I thinke that will no longer endure then whiles they doe liue that came from thence for their posteritie is so confused that they haue nothing of a Moore in them but abstinence from Swines-flesh and yet many of them doe eate thereof priuily They tell me that their natiue Countrey hath name Camarian a firme land wherein bee many Kings and the Indish Countrey well knowne vnto them It may so be for as soone as they did see our seruants our seruants were Preuzaretes they iudged them to bee Indians many of their words sounded vpon the Persicke tongue but none of vs could vnderstand them I asked them whither they conuerted any of the Chinish Nation vnto their Sect they answered me that with much adoe they conuerted the women with whom they doe marrie yeelding me no other cause thereof but the difficultie they finde in them to bee brought from eating Swines-flesh and drinking of Wine I haue learned morâ—ouer that the Sea whereby these Moores that came to China were wont to trauell is a very great gulfe that falleth into this Countrey out from Tartaria and Persia leauing on the other side all the Countrey of China and land of the Mogorites drawing alwayes toward the South and of all likelyhood it is euen so because that these Moores the which wee haue seene bee rather browne then white whereby they shew themselues to come from some warmer Countrey then China is neere to Pachin where the Riuers are frozen in the winter for cold and many of them so vehemently that Carts may passe oâ—er them Wee did see in this Citie many Tartars Mogorites Bremes and Laoynes both men and women The Tartars are men very white good Horse-men and Archers confining with China on that side where Pachin standeth separated from thence by great Mountaines that are betwixt these Kingdomes Ouer them bee certaine wayes to passe and for both sides Castles continually kâ—pt with Souldiers in time past the Tartars were wont alwayes to haue warres with the Chineans but these fourescore yeeres past they were quiet vntill the second yeere of our Imprisonment The Mogores bee in like manner white and Heathen wee are aduertised that of one side they border vpon these Tartars and confine with the Persicke Tartares on the other side whereof wee saw in them some tokens as their manner of cloathes and that kinde of Hat the Saracens doe weare The Mooresâ—ffirmed â—ffirmed that where the King lyeth there bee many Tartars and Mogorites â—hat brought into China certaine Blewes of great value As for the Bremes wee haue seene â—n this Citie Chenchi certaine men and women amongst whom there was one that came not long since hauing as yet her hayre tyed vp after the Pegues fashion this woman and other moe with whom a blacke Moore damosell in our company had conference and did vnderstand them well enough had dwelt in Peghu This new come woman imagining that wee meant to make our abode in that Citie bid vs to bee of good comfort for that her Countrey was not distant from thence aboue fiue dayes iourney and that out of her Countrey there lay a high way for vs home into our owne Being asked the way shee answered that the first three dayes the way lyeth ouer certaine great mountaines and wildernesse afterward people to bee met withall againe Thence two dayes iourney more to the Bremes Countrey Wherefore I doe conclude that Chenchi is one of the confines of this Kingdome separated by certaine huge Mountaines as it hath beene already sayd that lye out towards the South In the residue of these mountaines standeth the Prouince Sian the Laoyns Countrey Cambaia Chinapa and Cochinchina This Citie chiefe of other sixteene is situated in a pleasant Playne abounding in things necessarie Sea-fish onely excepted for it standeth farre from the Sea of fresh Fish so much store that the Market-places are neuer emptie The walls of this Citie are very strong and high one day did I see the Louteas thereof goe vpon the walls to take the view thereof borne in their seates I spake of before accompanied with a troupe of Horse-men that went two and two It was told me they might haue gone three and three Wee haue seene moreouer that within this aforesaid Citie the King hath more than a thousand of his kindred lodged in great Palaces in diuers parts of the Citie their gates bee red and the entrie into their houses that they may be knowne for that is the Kings colour These Gentlemen according to their nearnesse in bloud vnto the King as soone as they bee married receiue their place in Honour this place neither encreaseth nor diminisheth in any respect as long as the King liueth the King appointeth them their Wiues and Familie allowing them by the moneth all things necessarie abundantly as hee doth to his Gouernours of Shires and Cities howbeit
were which certaine moneths past they had told him had brought him certaine Images and certaine small Bells which strike of themselues for so they call Clocks and wherefore they brought him not those things and that they should fetch them quickly and he gaue the charge of dispatching our businesse to a great Mandarin of Paquin to whom it belongeth to deale with Strangers These newes were brought to the Eunuch and vs who for the executing of the Kings commandement whose Letter they obey without reply sent vs word that wee must goe to Paquin because the King sent for vs and sent vs eft-soones all the Pieces which hee had in his possession and the most part of those things which he had taken from vs that wee our selues should put them in order that they should receiue no hurt by the way and gaue vs many men to carrie all our stuffe on their shoulders and Horses for all our companie and a Mandarin to accompanie vs. Wee were lodged all the way in the Palaces of the Mandarins very honourably Hauing trauelled foure dayes we came to the walls of Paquin and they lodged vs in an house without the walls And because the King had referred the businesse to the Mandarin which I spoke of the Eunuch feared that hee should lose the thankes which he thought to receiue of the King for that present if another Mandarin should meddle with it That day hee caused all things to be made readie of the Petition and remembrance which therewithall he was to giue vnto the King and earely in the morning with other things and much Siluer of the reuenues which he presented being all guarded with many Horse-men and Foot-men hee carryed it to the Kings Palaces Who hauing the memoriall deliuered vnto him commanded his men to receiue all things They receiued the same and when hee had seene all those strange things the like whereof or of so great excellencie he had neuer seene before they say that he rejoyced greatly considering and viewing all things a very long while with great shew of admiration especially of the Pictures and Clockes Hee commanded them to bring vs to his Palaces and to enquire of vs what kinde of thing those Clockes were and what thing was needfull for to haue them to goe well Wee answered to the point And from the place where we were on horsebacke by poste on two Horses which we mounted and with the like speed we came to the Court. At the same of our comming and for to see vs an infinite multitude of people assembled because Strangers are no ordinarie thing in China and when wee came to the Court those which had the charge of vs were enforced to make roome with staues When we were come to a certayne place a great Eunuch accompanied with aboue two hundred small ones came downe to demand of vs what the King commanded him and to see how wee did handle those Clockes They saw how we vsed them but wee answered to the question that it was needfull to appoint some bodie of good capacitie to learne which in two or three dayes would learne how to vse them When they had returned the answer the King appointed foure Eunuches of his principall Mathematicians to learne it and command them to receiue vs in the meane while in his house withâ—n his owne Palace They receiued vs with much respect and good enteâ—taynment A great multitude of Eunuches came to see vs and euery one to enquire what came in his minde But the King which all those dayes was occupied in rejoycing for those new things commanded the Images to bee placed in a principall Hall whether as the Eunuches told vs the chiefe Queene went to doe them reuerence and they told vs of the King that hee durst not keepe them neere him being afrayd because they seemed vnto him to bee aliue Often times he sent Eunuches vnto vs to enquire diuers things concerning our Countrey whether it had any King what manner of Apparell he wore and what kinde of Hat for in China they make great difference of the apparell of the King from the foot to the head and of other men and if wee had any Picture of him that we should shew it We had a picture wherein was the Pope with his triple Crowne and the Emperour and the King with their Ensignes kneeling before the name of God and we gaue them it for a show declaring that those were three kinde of Kings and that all of them did worship the true God which made Heauen and Earth whose Image we had giuen him They carryed it vnto him and because it seemed to bee small he commanded them to draw another greater in colours by it Afterward hee sent another to demand questions of the things of our Countrey particularly of the Kings Houses Wee had a Map of the Escuriall newly cut in Copper and a picture of the Place of Saint Marke in Venice both which wee gaue them Though we suspect that they deliuered but the second saying that they durst not giue the other because straight in haste hee would command them to paint them great and there was none that durst take it vpon him though wee know not whither they deliuered it afterward Hee willed them further to enquire after what manner wee buryed our Kings because in the matter of Burials and Sepulchers the Chinois are great South-sayers and put a great part of their felicitie in a good manner and place of their Burials At that time wee receiued a Map of the Death of his Majestie who liueth with God in glorie and of the manner of his Funerall and so we answered him as it was in the Map to wit that they made him a Coffin within of Lead which continueth long and without of excellent Wood and put these coffins in a Sepulcher of stone and for this purpose there was a Church builded of purpose They enquired many things of vs of this kinde these few dayes where vnto wee answered aduancing the things that belonged to the seruice of our Lord God as much as we might and concerned our Europe as farre as the truth would permit vs because that we deemed it to bee conuenient for the seruice of our Lord. They told the King so many things that it seemed hee greatly desired to see vs But on the other part he thought it would bee too great a courtesie and much beyond his custome who neuer suffereth himselfe to be seene of his owne people but of his Eunuchs and Wiues that serue him and somtime very seldome of some one of the greatest Mandarins yet though he would not suffer himselfe altogether to bee ouercome of this temptation yet he suffered himselfe in part and hee sent to take our Pictures which two Painters did each of them by themselues as well as they could Yet in truth I neither knew my selfe nor my companion in that picture but
spoken of the situation and heigth of China I will note for their sakes which would bee glad to learne and also it may serue to mend two notable errours which our newest Maps haue The one is That they make China a third part bigger then it is placing this Citie of Paquin in fifty degrees being in very deed but in forty onely as we saw which twice tooke the heigth thereof with a very good Astrolabe And the limits and end of this Kingdome which are three dayes iourney or lesse distant from this City of Paquin are at the most but two degrees more And so those great walls so famous in our Europe are in two and forty degrees and this is the greatest heigth of the Kingdome of China The second errour is that our Maps make a Kingdome aboue China which they call Catayo whereas indeed it is none other but this selfe same Kingdome of China and the Citie of Cambalu which they put for the head thereof is this Citie of Paquin wherein wee are Wee finde this here to be true very plainely by occasion of certaine newes which lately were spred ouer diuers parts by the way of Mogor which gaue out many things and great matters of Catayo which seemed to be so peculiar and proper to this Kingdome of China that they made vs doubt that it was not a seuerall Kingdome After wee were come to this Citie of Paquin wee met with two Cafilas or Carauans one of Moores of certaine small Kingdomes bordering vpon China another of Turkes with their Turbants of the Countries of Mogâ—r and of the great Ismael Sophi for with this very name they call him and of other parts which had knowledge by fame of Spaine Italie Venice India and Portugall These Turkes and Moores are wont to come hither euery fiue yeeres by Land in the name of their King to acknowledge and pay Tribute to the King of China for which purpose they counterfeit certaine Letters wherewith they easily deceiue the Chinois which thinke and hold that all the Kings of the World doe acknowledge obedience vnto theirs But the trueth is that they come to vse their trafficke and merchandise and therefore the Chinois admit them willingly howbeit many now doe know that their paying of Tribute is a fayned thing In which their trafficke they speed very well For the King doth maintayne them very plentifully from the time that they come into his Kingdome vntill their departure and they tooke all their Chists of them whereof this yeere they brought a thousand The King tooke of them at an easie price a great part of the merchandise which they brought and afterward hee gaue them rewards The thing of greatest bulke of merchandise are a kinde of stones which themselues call Iasper stones which is white yet somewhat duskish so that it enclineth to grey which seemeth to bee that Iasper which so often times in the holy Scriptures is called Precious stone It commeth in pieces vnhewen but whole like peeble stones which stone for many ornaments the Chinois esteeme much especially the King and they buy euery pound of the best at eightie Duckets and of that which is worse at fiftie or sixtie Duckets whereby they gaine greatly I haue seene these stones of other colours in our Countrey but not of this which the Chinois esteeme When these men come to this Citie of Paquin they put them into a great house which there is for this purpose wherein wee were two moneths and suffer them not to come forth Wee asked these men certaine questions and one was this of Catayo enquiring of them How they called this Kingdome of China in their Countrey They answered Catayo and that in all the Countries of Mogor Persia and other parts it had none other name and that they knew none other Kingdome that was called so Wee asked them how they called this Citie of Paquin They said Cambalu which as I haue said is that which our men set downe for the head Citie of Catayo Whereby it appeareth that there can no doubt bee made but that wee are heere resident in the Countrey which must bee Catayo if there were no fault in the Maps and wee know that there is no such Countrey nor Cities but a few contemptible Moores and Gentiles Wee vnderstood also of their Ciuet or Muske whereof they brought some which is as it were the maw or stomacke of a Beast somewhat bigger then a Cat which they kill to cut away this maw They breed wilde in the field and in a Countrey very neere to China though not of this Kingdome I had read when I departed out of Spaine a Booke which is printed of the things of China which writeth of this Ciuet and of other things which I haue seene with mine eyes it reporteth many errours by halfe informations which hee which wrote it should haue beene better informed in although in many things hee tell the trueth They brought also great store of very good Rhubarbe which heere wee bought of them of the choice at ten Marauedis the pound it is a wilde root like vnto Nauewes whereof they say the fields are full These men say That there is a Sea of sand which our Maps doe place in Arabia neere vnto China which diuideth it from Mogor and other Kingdomes And this should seeme to bee the cause why these Kings which heare great fame of this Kingdome of the greatnesse thereof and of the weakenesse of the people doe not seeke to inuade the same being not very farre off because it would bee very difficult to passe ouer the same sandie Sea with a great Armie The Chinois diuide this Kingdome into thirteene Prouinces and two Courts which are as it were two Prouinces Euery one of them haue their Metropolitane Citie and euery Citie her diuision of so many Townes It is knowne very particularly by Chinish Bookes which are written of this argument how many Cities Townes and places there are in all the Kingdome how many houses euery one hath and commonly what numbers of people what euery Countrey seuerally yeeldeth and how much Tribute it payeth to the King and many other things but I doe not set it downe here because I could not get those Bookes these few dayes past to take a view thereof At some other time God granting mee life I will doe it more at large Onely I say in generall that all the way which wee trauelled wee met with so many Cities Townes and Villages that to beleeue their greatnesse it was necessarie to see them For your Worship will hardly beleeue that wee spent two or three houres in sayling still by the walls of one Citie After which there still followed many Townes and Villages one within sight of another And after this manner all this way continueth euen to Paquin Yea the Villages are very great and full of people and of much trafficke For though wee giue them this
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
present it in forme somewhat like a Harpe whereas it is almost foure square they make Hills Riuers Lakes Ilands Coray also for one which is part of the Continent Cities Prouinces euery thing out of due place Whose industry I commend but industry guided by fansie and without light is but the blind leading the blind or like a seeled vnmanaged Horse the more spurred the more ready to carrie his Rider into precipices or out of the way at least Our Geographers haue indeed payd the Chinois in their owne Coine for they as before yee haue read knew nothing in manner of the other parts of the World and expressed them as fansifully in their Maps and wee likewise knowing nothing of them haue entertayned and beene entertayned with Fansi-maps in stead of those of China As therefore by Sir Thomas Roes honourable industry wee haue giuen you Indus and India before which no Geographer before had done they all bringing Indus thorow Cambaia and some seeking for Ganges at Canton in China so here we giue you a true China the Chinois themselues being our Guides and the Iesuites their both Examiners and Interpreters The Originall is aboue foure foot one way and almost fiue foot the other whereof a yard and some foure inches square is the Map it selfe the rest are China Discourses touching the sayd Map in their Characters and Lines running downward and beginning at the right hand to bee read after their manner which are heere omitted as not vnderstood Yet haue wee some vnderstanding as where wee see a man farre off whom we know to bee a man and can obserue his habit gesture motion though wee see not the proper complexion of his face by that which Pantoia hath told vs before namely that those China Characters contayne all the Tributes of each Prouince yea the number of Houses and persons in the same And in the Map of which wee haue giuen an extract hee sayth the Rounds and Squares are Cities and Townes of principall note all walled adding that the Riuers are distinctly delineated and the great Lines are boundaries of Prouinces wee haue heere expressed them after our manner in little prickes the lesser expresse the chiefe Cities Iurisdiction Ours hath no such lesse Lines but those mentioned Rounds and Squares which perhaps hee meaneth for therein are many others in Characters without such lines round or square and therefore as I suppose without Iurisdiction and in this extract wee haue left them out because we exactly knew not their meaning and perhaps sometimes are Cities sometimes Castles or Townes or Hills or some other thing and silence seemed better then labour to expresse an vnknowne Character or boldnesse to expresse our owne folly or to occasion others deceiuing and being deceiued These Rounds and Squares also haue their Characters in them and those greater Squares with Crosses haue some three others foure Characters Besides Pantogia another hath helped further to the particular vnderstanding namely our famous Countryman Master Candish who in his voyage about the Globe brought home certayne references taken out of the Map of China neere whiah hee sayled and it seemes by some skilfull of the Languages both of China and Portugall had the same interpreted to him That the Prouinces beare other names then in our Map or discourse is no wonder for both the Chinois themselues in diuers Prouinces speake diuers languages and in all haue the Court language besides the peculiar and the China Characters are the same to many Nations each of which reades them into his owne language dialect and appellation Thus what one Prouince calleth Lanquin wanting the N. by diuersitie of Dialect is else-where called Nanquin Pequin Paquin and Puckin yea by other language Taybin and Cambalu and Suntien or Citie of Heauen I durst not interpret all chusing rather to giue an vncertayne truth then to hazard a certayne errour Master Candishes Notes are these 1 THe Prouince of Cansas hath 4. great Cities and 20. small Cities and 77. Townes and Castles it contayeth in length 55. leagues it hath 362000. Houses of great men that pay Tribute and 13900. men of Warre and hath 47000. Horses which are the Kings kept for his dfeence 2 The great City of Paquin where the King doth lye hath belonging to it 8. great Cities and 18. small Cities with 118. Townes and Castles it hath 418789. Houses of great men which pay Tribute it hath Horsemen for the War 258100. this City is in the latitude of 50. degrees to the North-wards being there as cold as it is vsually in Flanders 3 The Prouince of Soyebin hath 7. great Cities and 16. small with 12. Townes and Castles and one great Citie to which many repayre to fight against the Tartars it hath leagues in length and hath 164118. great Houses which pay Tribute and 96000. men of War 4 The Prouince of Santo hath 6. great Cities and 14. small with 90. Townes and Castles it is 82. leagues long and hath 77555. great Houses which pay Tribute 63808. horsemen and 31000. footmen of War 5 The Prouince of Oyman hath 7. great Cities and 14. small with 90. Townes and Castles being 470. leagues long and 132958. great Houses that pay Tribute 82800. men of Warre Out of this Prouince commeth Copper Quick-siluer and Black-lead 6 The Prouince of Cutchew hath 8. great Cities and 12. small and 83. Townes which make Armour to fight with the Iewes which do inhabit beyond Cauchin-china it is 100. leagues broad and hath 32920. Horsemen and Footmen with 405670. great Houses which pay Tribute whereof the men of War are payed 7 The Prouince of Languyn hath 14. great Cities and 17. small and 95. Townes and Castles it is 120. leagues ouer and hath 962818. great Housâ—s which pay Tribute it hath in it 208900. men of Warre Whereof there are 52500. Tartar Horsemen that take wages 8 The Prouince of Vquam hath 14. great Cities and 19. small 150. Townes and Castles and is 210. leagues broad and 53161. Houses that pay Tribute and 71600. men of Warre 9 The Prouince of Som hath 7. great Cities and 11. small and 105. Townes and Castles and is 200. leagues broad and hath Houses that pay Tribute 139567. and men of Warre 345632. 10 The Prouince of Essiram hath 11. great Cities and 75. small and 80. Townes and Castles and is 440. leagues broad and hath great Houses that doe pay Tribute 1242135. and 339000. men of Warre 11 This Lake lyeth behind Siam and before Champa and doth joyne with the Lappians and from thence commeth all the water that serueth the Kingdome of China and the Indians and the Chinians doe report this Lake to be the whole World and so they paint the Sea the Moone and the Stars within it 12 The Prouince of Lansay hath 13. Cities and a chiefe Citie and 73. Townes and Castles and is 260. leagues broad and hath great Houses that pay Tribute 1393629. and 12700. men
amend that fault c. And this is a matter of forme with them vttered in as many words and no more in a manner then I haue heere set downe Yet the matter is done with that Grace and Solemnitie in a Pulpit of purpose set vp for this one Act as if hee were to discourse at large of the whole substance of Diuinitie At the Mosko the Emperour himselfe is euer present at this Solemne Exhortation As themselues are void of all manner of Learning so are they wary to keepe out all meanes that might bring any in as fearing to haue their ignorance and vngodlinesse discouered To that purpose they haue perswaded the Emperors that it would breed Innouation and sow danger to their State to haue any nouelty of Learning come within the Realme Wherein they say but truth for that a man of spirit and vnderstanding helped by Learning and liberall Education can hardly indure a tyrannicall Gouernment Some yeeres past in the other Emperours time there came a Presse and Letters out of Polonia to the Citie of Mosko where a Printing House was set vp with great liking and allowance of the Emperour himselfe But not long after the house was set on fire in the night time and the Presse and Letters quite burnt vp as was thought by the procurement of the Clergie-men Their Priests whom they call Papaes are made by the Bishops without any great tryall for worthinesse of gifts before they admit them or Ceremonies in their admission saue that their heads are shorne not shauen for that they like not about an hand breadth or more in the crowne and that place anointed with Oyle by the Bishop who in his admission putteth vpon the Priest first his Surplesse and then setteth a white Crosse on his brest of Silke or some other matter which he is to weare eight dayes and no more and so giueth him authoritie to say and sing in the Church and to administer the Sacraments They are men vtterly vnlearned which is no maruell for as much as their Makers the Bishops themselues as before was said are cleere of that qualitie and make no farther vse at all of any kind of Learning no not of the Scriptures themselues saue to reade and to sing them Their ordinary charge and function is to say the Lyturgie to administer the Sacraments after their manner to keepe and decke their Idols and to doe the other Ceremonies vsuall in their Churches Their number is great because their Townes are parted into many small Parishes without any discretion for diuiding them into competent numbers of Housholds and people for a just Congregation as the manner in all places where the meanes is neglected for increasing of knowledge and instruction towards God Which cannot well be had where by meanes of an vnequall partition of the people and Parishes there followeth a want and vnequalitie of stipend for a sufficient Ministery For their Priests it is lawfull to marry for the first time But if the first Wife dye a second he cannot take but he must lose his Priest-hood and his liuing withall The reason they make out of that place of Saint Paul to Timothy 1.3.2 not well vnderstood thinking that to bee spoken of diuers Wiues successiuely that the Apostle speaketh of at one and the same time If hee will needs marrie againe after his first wife is dead he is no longer called Papa but Rospapa or Priest quondam This maketh the Priests to make much of their Wiues who are accounted as the Matrones and of best reputation among the women of the Parish For the stipend of the Priest their manner is not to pay him any tenths of Corne or ought else but he must stand at the deuotion of the people of his Parish and make vp the Incommes towards his maintenance so well as hee can by Offerings Shrifts Mariages Burials Dirges and Prayers for the dead and the liuing which they call Molitua For besides their publike Seruice within their Churches their manner is for euery priuate man to haue a Prayer said for him by the Priest vpon any occasion of businesse whatsoeuer whether he ride goe saile plough or whatsoeuer else he doth Which is not framed according to the occasion of his businesse but at randome being some of their ordinary and vsuall Church-prayers And this is thought to bee more holy and effectuall if it be repeated by the Priests mouth rather then by his owne They haue a custome besides to solemnize the Saints day that is Patrone to their Church once euery yeere What time all their Neighbours of their Countrey and Parishes about come in to haue Prayers said to that Saint for themselues and their friends and so make an Offering to the Priest for his paines This Offering may yeeld them some ten pounds a yeere more or lesse as the Patrone or Saint of that Church is of credit and estimation among them The manner is on this day which they keepe Anniuersary for the Priest to hire diuers of his Neighbour Priests to helpe him as hauing more Dishes to dresse for the Saint then he can well turne his hand vnto They vse besides to visit their Parishioners houses with Holy Water and Perfume commonly once a quarter and so hauing sprinkled and becensed the goodman and his Wife with the rest of their houshold and houshold-stuffe they receiue some Deuotion or lesse as the man is of abilitie This and the rest layd altogether may make vp for the Priest towards his mayntenance about thirty or forty Rubbels a yeere whereof he payeth the tenth part to the Bishop of the Diocesse The Papa or Priest is knowne by his long Tufts of haire hanging downe by his Eares his Gowne with a broad Cape and a walking staffe in his hand For the rest of his Habit hee is apparelled like the common sort When he sayth the Lyturgie or Seruice within the Church hee hath on him his Surplesse and sometimes his Coape if the day bee more Solemne They haue besides their Papaes or Priests their Churnapapaes as they call them that is Black Priests that may keepe their Benefices though they be admitted Friers withall within some Monasterie They seeme to be the very same that were called Regular Priests in the Popish Church Vnder the Priest is a Deacon in euery Church that doth nothing but the Office of a Parish Clerke As for their Protopapaes or Arch-priests and their Arch-deacons that are next in election to be their Protopopas they serue onely in the Cathedrall Churches Of Friers they haue an infinite rabble farre greater then in any other Countrey where Popery is professed Euery Citie and good part of the Countrey swarmeth full of them For they haue wrought as the Popish Friers did by their Superstition and Hypocrisie that if any part of the Realme be better and sweeter then other there standeth a Friery or a Monastery dedicated to some Saint The number of them is so much the greater
vnlawfull for all the Clergie men except the Priests onely and for them also after the first Wife as was sayd before Neither doe they well allow of it in Lay-men after the second marriage Which is a pretence now vsed against the Emperours onely Brother a childe of sixe yeeres old who therefore is not Prayed for in their Churches as their manner is otherwise for the Princes bloud because hee was borne of the sixt marriage and so not legitimate This charge was giuen to the Priests by the Emperour himselfe by procurement of the Godones who make him beleeue that it is a good policie to turne away the liking of the people from the next successour Many other false opinions they haue in matter of Religion But these are the chiefe which they hold partly by meanes of their traditions which they haue receiued from the Greeke Church but specially by ignorance of the holy Scriptures Which notwithstanding they haue in the Polonian tongue that is all one with theirs some few words excepted yet few of them reade them with that godly care which they ought to doe neither haue they if they would Bookes sufficient of the old and new Testament for the common people but of their Lyturgie onely or Booke of common seruice whereof there are great numbers Which notwithstanding it is not to bee doubted but that hauing the Word of God in some sort though without the ordinarie meanes to attaine to a true sense and vnderstanding of it God hath also his number among them As may partly appeare by that which a Russe at Mosko sayd in secret to one of my Seruants speaking against their Images and other superstitions That God had giuen vnto England light to day and might giue it to morrow if hee pleased to them As for any Inquisition or proceeding against men for matter of Religion I could heare of none saue a few yeeres since against one man and his wife who were kept in a close Prison the space of eight and twentie yeeres till they were ouer-growne into a deformed fashion for their hayre nayles colour of countenance and such like and in the end were burned at Mosko in a small House set on fire The cause was kept secret but like it was for some part of truth in matter of Religion though the people were made to beleeue by the Priests and Friers that they held some great and damnable Heresie THe manner of making and solemnizing their Marriages is different from the manner of other Countries The man though hee neuer saw the woman before is not permitted to haue any sight of her all the time of his wooing which hee doth not by himselfe but by his Mother or some other ancient woman of his kinne or acquaintance When the liking is taken as well by the Parents as by the parties themselues for without the knowledge and consent of the Parents the contract is not lawfull the Fathers on both sides or such as are to them in stead of Fathers with their other chiefe friends haue a meeting and conference about the dowrie which is commonly very large after the abilitie of the parents so that you shall haue a Market man as they call them giue a thousand Rubbels or more with his Daughter As for the man it is neuer required of him nor standeth with their custome to make any joynter in recompence of the dowrie But in case hee haue a Child by his Wife shee enioyeth a third deale after his decease If he haue two Children by her or more she is to haue a courtesie more at the discretion of the husband If the husband depart without issue by his wife shee is returned home to her friends without any thing at all saue onely her dowrie if the husband leaue so much behind him in goods When the agreement is made concerning the dowrie they signe Bonds one to the other as well for the payment of the dowrie as the performing of the Marriage by a certayne day If the woman were neuer married before her Father and friends are bound besides to assure her a Maiden Which breedeth many brabbles and quarrels at Law if the man take any conceit concerning the behauiour and honestie of his wife Thus the contract being made the parties begin to send tokens the one to the other the Woman first then afterwards the Man but yet see not one another till the Marriage bee solemnized On the Eue before the marriage day the Bride is carryed in a Collimago or Coach or in a Sled if it bee winter to the Bridegroomes house with her marriage Apparell and Bed-stead with her which they are to lye in For this is euer prouided by the Bride and is commonly verie faire with much cost bestowed vpon it Heere she is accompanied all that night by her Mother and other women but not welcommed nor once seene by the Bridegroome himselfe When the time is come to haue the marriage solemnized the Bride hath put vpon her a kinde of Hood made of fine Knit-worke or Lawne that couereth her head and all her body downe to the middle And so accompanied with her friends and the Bridegroome with his they goe to Church all on Horsebacke though the Church be neare hand and themselues but of very meane degree The words of contract and other ceremonies in solemnizing the Marriage are much after the order and with the same words that are vsed with vs with a Ring also giuen to the Bride Which being put on and the words of contract pronounced the Brides hand is deliuered into the hand of the Bridegroome which standeth all this while on the one side of the Altar or Table and the Bride on the other So the marriage knot being knit by the Priest the Bride commeth to the Bridegroome standing at the end of the altar or table and falleth downe at his feet knocking her Head vpon his Shooe in token of her subjection and obedience And the Bridegroome againe casteth the lappe of his Gowne or vpper garment ouer the Bride in token of his dutie to protect and cherish her Then the Bridegroome and Bride standing both together at the Tables end commeth first the Father and the other friends of the Bride and how themselues downe low to the Bridegroome and so likewise his friends bow themselues to the Bride in token of affinitie and loue euer after betwixt the two kindreds And withall the Father of the Bridegroome offereth to the Priest a loafe of Bread who deliuereth it straight againe to the Father and other friends of the Bride with attestation before God and their Idols that hee deliuer the dowrie wholly and truely at the day appointed and hold loue euer after one kindred with another Whereupon they breake the Loafe into pieces and eate of it to testifie their true and sincere meanings for performing of that charge and thenceforth to become as graines of one Loafe or men of one Table These ceremonies
wee found by the Astrolabium that it was eleuated aboue the Horizon 48. degrees and 43. minutes his Declination was 22. degrees and 17. minutes the which being added to 48. degrees 43. minutes it was found that wee were vnder 71. degrees of the height of the Pole Iohn Cornelis ship held aloofe from vs and would not keepe with vs and would hold no course but North North-east for they alledged that if wee went any more Easterly that then we should enter into the Wey-gates but wee being not able to perswade them altered our course one point of the Compasse to meet them and sayled North-east and by North and should otherwise haue sayled North-east and somewhat more East The fifth wee saw the first Ice which we wondered at at the first thinking that it had beene white Swannes for one of our men walking in the Fore-decke on a sudden began to cry out with a loud voyce and said that hee saw white Swannes which wee that were vnder Hatches hearing presently came vp and perceiued that it was Ice that came driuing from the great heape showing like Swannes it being then about Eeuening at midnight we sayled through it and the Sunne was about a degree eleuated aboue the Horizon in the North. The sixth about foure of the clocke in the after-noone wee entred againe into the Ice which was so strong that we could not passe through it and sayled South-west and by West till eight Glasses were runne out after that we kept on our course North North-east and sayled along by the Ice The seuenth we tooke the height of the Sunne and found that it was eleuated aboue the Horizon 38. degrees and 38. minutes his Declination being 22. degrees 38. minutes which being taken from 38. degrees 38. minutes wee found the Pole to bee 74. degrees there we found so great store of Ice that it was admirable and we sayled along through it as if we had past betweene two Lands The water being as greene as Grasse and we supposed that we were not farre from Greenland and the longer we sayled the more and thicker Ice we found The eight of Iune we came to so great a heape of Ice that we could not sayle through it The ninth of Iune we found the Iland that lay vnder 74. degrees and 30. minutes and as we ghest it was about fiue miles long The tenth we put out our Boate and therewith eight of our men went on Land and as we past by Iohn Cornelisons ship eight of his men also came into our Boat whereof one was the Pilot. Then William Barents asked him whether we were not too much Westward but hee would not acknowledge it whereupon there passed many words betweene them for William Barents sayd he would proue it to bee so as in truth it was The eleuenth going on Land we found great store of Sea-Mewes Egges vpon the shoare and in that Iland we were in great danger of our liues for that going vp a great Hill of Snow when wee should come downe againe we thought we should all haue broken our neckes it was so slipperie but we sate vpon the Snow and slid downe which was very dangerous for vs to breake both our armes and legges for that at the foot of the Hill there was many Rockes which we were likely to haue fallen vpon yet by Gods helpe we got safely downe againe Meane time William Barents sate in the Boate and saw vs slide downe and was in greater feare then we to behold vs in that danger In the said Iland we found the varying of our Compasse which was 13. degrees so that it differed a whole point at the least after that wee rowed aboord Iohn Cornelisons ship and there we eate our Egges The twelfth in the morning we saw a white Beare which wee rowed after with our Boate thinking to cast a Rope about her necke but when we were neere her she was so great that we durst not doe it but rowed backe againe to our Ship to fetch more men and our Armes and so made to her againe with Muskets Harquebusses Halberts and Hatchets Iohn Cornelisons men comming also with their Boate to helpe vs and so being well furnished of men and weapons we rowed with both our Boates vnto the Beare and fought with her while foure Glasses were runne out for our Weapons could doe her little hurt and amongst the rest of the blowes that we gaue her one of our men strooke her into the backe with an Axe which stucke fast in her backe and yet shee swamme away with it but we rowed after her and at last we cut her head in sunder with an Axe wherewith she dyed and then wee brought her into Iohn Cornelisons ship where we flayed her and found her Skinne to bee twelue foot long which done we eate some of her flesh but wee brookt it not well This Iland we called the Beare-Iland The thirteenth we left the Iland and sayled North and somewhat Easterly the winde being West and South-west and made good way so that when the Sunne was North wee ghest that we had sayled sixteene miles Northward from that Iland The fourteenth when the Sunne was North we cast out our Lead one hundred and thirteene fathome deepe but found no ground and so sayled forward till the fifteenth of Iune when the Sunne was South-east with mistie and drisling weather and sayled North and North and by East about Eeuening it cleared vp and then we saw a great thing driuing in the Sea which we thought had beene a Ship but passing along by it we perceiued it to bee a dead Whale that stunke monstrously and on it there sate a great number of Sea-mewes At that time wee had sayled twentie miles The sixteenth with the like speed we sayled North and by East with mistie weather and as we sayled we heard the Ice before we saw it but after when it cleared vp we saw it and then woond off from it when as we ghest we had sayled thirtie miles The seuenteenth and eighteenth we saw great store of Ice and sayled along by it vntill we came to the point which we could not reach for that the wind was South-east which was right against vs the point of Ice lay Southward from vs yet wee lauered a great while to get beyond it but we could not doe it The nineteenth we saw Land againe then we tooke the height of the Sun and found that it was eleuated aboue the Horizon 33. degrees and 37. minutes her Declination being 23. degrees and 26. minutes which taken from the sayd 33. degrees and 37. minutes wee found that we were vnder 80. degrees and 11. minutes which was the height of the Pole there This Land was very great and we sayled Westward along by it till we were vnder 79. degrees and a halfe where we found a good road and could not get neare to the Land because the winde blew
a reward to them that killed either Beast Fish or Fowle as in his Iournall you haue seene About the middle of this moneth of Nouember dyed Iohn Williams our Gunner God pardon the Masters vncharitable dealing with this man Now for that I am come to speake of him out of whose ashes as it were that vnhappy deed grew which brought a scandall vpon all that are returned home and vpon the action it selfe the multitude like the dog running after the stone but not at the caster therefore not to wrong the liuing nor slander the dead I will by the leaue of God deliuer the truth as neere as I can You shall vnderstand that our Master kept in his house at London a young man named Henrie Greene borne in Kent of Worshipfull Parents but by his leud life and conuersation hee had lost the good will of all his frinds and had spent all that hee had This man our Master would haue to Sea with him because hee could write well our Master gaue him meate and drinke and lodging and by meanes of one Master Venson with much adoe got foure pounds of his mother to buy him clothes wherewith Master Venson would not trust him but saw it laid out himselfe This Henrie Greene was not set downe in the owners booke nor any wages made for him Hee came first aboord at Grauesend and at Harwich should haue gone into the field with one Wilkinson At Island the Surgeon and hee fell out in Dutch and hee beat him a shoare in English which set all the company in a rage so that wee had much adoe to get the Surgeon aboord I told the Master of it but hee bade mee let it alone for said hee the Surgeon had a tongue that would wrong the best friend hee had But Robert Iuet the Masters Mate would needs burne his finger in the embers and told the Carpenter a long tale when hee was drunke that our Master had brought in Greene to cracke his credit that should displease him which words came to the Masters eares who when hee vnderstood it would haue gone backe to Island when he was fortie leagues from thence to haue sent home his Mate Robert Iuet in a Fisher-man But being otherwise perswaded all was well So Henry Greene stood vpright and very inward with the Master and was a seruiceable man euery way for manhood but for Religion he would say he was cleane paper whereon he might write what hee would Now when our Gunner was dead and as the order is in such cases if the company stand in need of any thing that belonged to the man deceased then is it brought to the Mayne Mast and there sold to them that will giue most for the same This Gunner had a gray cloth gowne which Greene prayed the Master to friend him so much as to let him haue it paying for it as another would giue the Master saith hee should and thereupon hee answered some that sought to haue it that Greene should haue it and none else and so it rested Now out of season and time the Master calleth the Carpenter to goe in hand with an house on shoare which at the beginning our Master would not heare when it might haue beene done The Carpenter told him that the Snow and Frost were such as hee neither could nor would goe in hand with such worke Which when our Master heard hee ferreted him out of his Cabbin to strike him calling him by many foule names and threatning to hang him The Carpenter told him that hee knew what belonged to his place better then himselfe and that hee was no House Carpenter So this passed and the house was after made with much labour but to no end The next day after the Master and the Carpenter fell out the Carpenter tooke his Peece and Henry Greene with him for it was an order that none should goe out alone but one with a Peece and another with a Pike This did moue the Master so much the more against Henry Greene that Robert Billet his Mate must haue the gowne and had it deliuered vnto him which when Henry Greene saw he challenged the Masters promise but the Master did so raile on Greene with so many words of disgrace telling him that all his friends would not trust him with twenty shillings and therefore why should he As for wages he had none nor none should haue if he did not please him well Yet the Master had promised him to make his wages as good as any mans in the ship and to haue him one of the Princes guard when we came home But you shall see how the deuil out of this so wrought with Green that he did the Master what mischiefâ— hee could in seeking to discredit him and to thrust him and many other honest men out of the Ship in the end To speake of all our trouble in this time of Winter which was so cold as it lamed the most of our Company and my selfe doe yet feele it would bee too tedious But I must not forget to shew how mercifully God dealt with vs in this time for the space of three moneths wee had such store of Fowle of one kinde which were Partridges as white as milke that wee killed aboue an hundred dozen besides others of sundry sorts for all was fish that came to the net The Spring comming this Fowle left vs yet they were with vs all the extreame cold Then in their places came diuers sort of other Fowle as Swanne Geese Duck and Teale but hard to come by Our Master hoped they would haue bred in those broken grounds but they doe not but came from the South and flew to the North further then we were this Voyage yet if they be taken short with the wind at North or North-west or North-east then they fall and stay till the winde serue them and then flye to the North. Now in time these Fowles are gone and few or none to bee seene Then wee went into the Woods Hilles and Valleyes for all things that had any shew of substance in them how vile soeuer the mosse of the ground then the which I take the powder of a post to bee much better and the Frogge in his ingendring time as loathsome as a Toade was not spared But amongst the diuers sorts of buds it pleased God that Thomas Woodhouse brought home a budde of a Tree full of a Turpentine substance Of this our Surgeon made a decoction to drinke and applyed the buddes hot to them that were troubled with ach in any part of their bodies and for my part I confesse I receiued great and present ease of my paine About this time when the Ice began to breake out of the Bayes there came a Sauage to our Ship as it were to see and to bee seene being the first that we had seene in all this time whom our Master intreated well and made much of him promising vnto
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
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
Licentiate Iohn of Obando Predecessor of your Lordship in whose time the Office of chiefe Chronicler of the Indies was instituted for writing with greater authoritie foundation and truth the Acts of the Castilians in the New World and to see and examine that which the other Chroniclers should write for I finde that almost to all that is written no credit could be giuen for ouer-much licence wherewith vntill then it was done hee vsed great diligence in gathering the most certaine Relations that were found as well in the Indies as in Spaine of that which happened in the Discoueries of those Regions the foundations of those Townes and Customes of the people And many yeers being past after his death without making any beginning of this History your Lordship being prouided for President of the Royall and Supreme Councell of the Indies knowing how much it behoued that deeds so worthy of memorie should no longer be buried and that they should be written by a Royall Chronicler seeing so much frâ—â— is gotten of Historie that it exceedeth so much the Picture as the soule the bodie against the opinion of a moderne Writer Prouiding all the meanes necessarie with liberalitie and diligence haue beene the meere and onely Instrument following the opinion of S. Augustine that this Historie and the Description that followeth hath come to the present estate And because it hath not beene of least importance to honour the Author animating him to goe forward with so great a labour conforming your selfe with the vniuersall opinion of the much that is due to the watchings and labours of the Writers placing this Office of Chiefe Chronicler in that point and reputation that so noble an Exercise deserueth as the most famous men of the World haue iudged it and it is esteemed and talked of among all Nations be they neuer so barbarous your Lordship shall be praysed eternally and thanked of all that are interessed in it by which is procured the making mention of their Fathers and Predecessors with their Names and Countrey all that hath beene possible against the barbarous and most vniust opinion of Iohn Baptista Ramusio in his Proeme in the third Volume of the Nauigations where hee saith to bee a vaine thing and ridiculous that the Spanish Authors should take paines in writing the names and Countrey of those which serued in the matters of the Indies Wherein he sheweth the venime of the enuie conceiued of the glorious deeds of these Catholike Kings and of the Castillian Nation seeing the Chronicles doe serue to honour the good and to reproch the euill for an example of those to come which could not be obtayned with the opinion of this Ramusius whom the saying of Cato against the Grecians doth fit But the opinion of your Lordship hath beene according to your prudence and valour of the which as it is iust there will be a perpetuall memorie and for that which this Nation is indebted vnto you for the same you shall bee reknowledged of it eternally God keepe your Lordship from Vallyadolyeede the fifteenth of October 1601. THe compasse of the Earth is 360. degrees which being reduced to leagues of Castile are 6300. and by the compasse of the Earth is vnderstood the Sea together with it which two Elements make the Globe whose vpper face in part is Earth and in part is Sea The Ancients diuided the Earth in three parts and gaue to euery one his name The first they called Europe more celebrated then any of the other The second Asia which is greater then the rest and contayneth the great Kingdome of China The third Africa And men being in a supposition that the World contayned no more then was rehearsed not contenting themselues with it entred in the Art of Nauigating and in the inuention of ships of high building fitting them in such order that they might abide the force of the waues of the Sea in this Art the Spaniards haue surpassed all the Nations of the World For whiles there reigned Ferdinand in Castile and in Lyon the famous Kings Catholike Ferdinando the Fift and Isabella a most wise prudent and most puissant Queene and Don Iohn the Second called the Pellican raigned in Portugall hee that euer will be worthy of memory Don Christopher Coloâ— first Admirall of the Indies hauing liued many yeeres married in Spaine with the counsell of Martin of Bohemia a Portugall borne in the Iland of Fayall a famous Astrologian and especially a Iudiciarie and of others with whom he communicated it gaue a beginning to the Discouery of that which at this day is counted the fourth part of the World and the greatest of them all and taking his course toward the Sunne setting going from Pallos a Village of the Earle of Miranda in the Coast of Andaluzia he sayled so much by the Ocean that hee found this great Land which the Equinoctiall Line cutteth in the middest and it goeth so farre toward the South that it reacheth to fiftie two degrees and an halfe and goeth so high to the North that it hides it selfe vnder the Pole Articke without knowing any end The greatnesse of this fourth part hath set the people in great admiration whose description shall here be handled vnder the name of Ilands and firme Land of the Ocean Sea because they are compassed with this Sea and placed to the West and are commonly called the West Indies and the New World and comprehended within the limits of the Kings of Castile and of Lyon Which is an Hemisphere and halfe of the World of 180. degrees beginning to reckon from a Meridian Circle which passeth by thirtie nine or by fortie degrees of longitude Occidentall from the Meridian of Toledo through the mouth of the Riuer Maranyâ—â— and to the Orientall through the Citie of Mallaca in sort that at twentie leagues sayling for a degree these bounds haue from the one part to the other 3900. Castillan leagues euery one of 3000. paces of fiue foot of a Castillan yard which men say are sixtie Italian miles from the Orient to the Occident which the Sea-men doe call East and West And this account of twentie leagues to a degree is according to Ptolomie and to the opinion of many curious men It hath seemed to others that the miles of euery degree are seuentie and that they make no more then seuenteene leagues and an halfe of Castile which is held for the truest account The degrees of longitude which are those that are reckoned by the Equinoctiall which goeth from East to West through the middest of the Orbe and Globe of the Earth haue not beene able to bee taken well because there is no fixed signe in the Heauen Degrees of altitude are those which are taken and reckoned from the Pole which fall out certayne because it is a fixed point which is the marke that is taken by the which it shall be shewed in this description There is discouered and nauigated from the North
Residencie with facultie to take the gouernment and by his death the Licenciate Marcus of Aguilar naturall of the Citie of Ezija was subrogated his Deputie and because of his death succeeded within two moneths hee substituted his authorities in the Treasurer Alonso of Estrada borne in Citie Royall and the death of Lewis Pance being knowne in Castile it was prouided that Marcus of Aguilar should gouerne and in defect of him Alonso of Estrada till the first Court came with order that Nunne of Guzman Knight of Guadalajara Gouernour of Panuco a President did come and because it was conuenient to take away those Iudges others were sent in their places and for President in the gouernment vniuersall of New Spaine Don Sebastian Ramirez of Fuenleal Bishop of Saint Dominicke and of the Conception late President of the Court of Saint Dominicke a man of great learning and that after many dignities died in Castile Bishop of Cuenca and then the charge of Captaine generall was giuen anew to the Marques Don Hernando Cortes that he might gouerne the matters of warre with the aduise of Don Sebastian Ramirez The first that had title of Vice-roy and Captaine generall of New Spaine was Don Antonie of Mendoça brother of the Marques of Mondejar Don Lewis of Velasco a Gentleman of the House of the high Constable of Castile Don Gaston of Peralta Marques of Falces Don Martine Enriquez of Almansa brother of the Marques of Alcannizes the Kings Steward Don Laurence Xuarez of Mendoça Earle of Corunya which deceased being prouided for Piru and by his death Don Peter Moya of Contreras Archbishop of Mexico gouerned in the meane while Don Aluaro Manrique of Zunniga Marques of Villamamuque brother of the Duke of Bojar Don Lewis of Velasco sonne to the abouesaid Don Lewis of Velasco which passed to gouerne the Kingdomes of Piru where at this present hee is Don Gaspar of Zunniga and Fonseca Earle of Monterrey which gouerneth at this day In the Kingdomes of Piru DOn Franciscus Piçarro Marques of the Charcas Gouernour chiefe Iustice and Captaine generall The Licenciate Vaca of Castro of the habit of Saint Iames of the supreme Councell of Castile carried Title of Gouernour generall Blasco Nunnez Vela a Gentleman of Auila was the first that carried the Title of Vice-roy and Captaine generall of the Kingdomes of Piru The Licenciate Iames de la Gasca of the Councell of the holy and generall Inquisition carried the Title of President of the new Court that was sent to the Citie of The Kings and of Gouernour generall with facultie to giue the gouernment of Armes to whom hee thought best He died Bishop of Siguença and his Funerall and Trophees are seene in Magdalene Church in Valladolid and in his absence the gouernment remayned to the Court of the Citie of The Kings The second that carried Title of Vice-roy and Captaine generall was Don Antonie of Mendoça that gouerned the Kingdoms of New Spaine Don Andrew Hâ—rtado of Mendoça Marques of Caâ—yete Don Iames of Zunyga and Velasco Earle of Nieua The Licenciate Lope Garcia of Castro of the Royall and supreme Councell of the Indies caried title of President and Gouernor general Don Franciscus of Toledo brother to the Earle of Oropesa Steward to the King Don Martin Enriquez from the charge of New Spaine passed to gouerne the Kingdomes of Piru Don Garcia of Mendoça Marques of Cauyete Don Lewis of Velasco from the charge of New Spaine passed to the Kingdomes of Piru where now he is and at the instant of the impression of this Worke is prouided for Vice-roy and Captaine generall of those Kingdomes Don Iohn Pacheco Duke of Escalona Printed at Madrid by Iuan Flamenco Aâ— 1601. CHAP. II. Obseruations gathered out of the First Second Third and Fourth bookes of IOSEPHVS ACOSTA a learned Iesuite touching the naturall historie of the Heauens Ayre Water and Earth at the west Indies Also of their Beasts Fishes Fowles Plants and other remarkable rarities of Nature §. I. Of the fashion and forme of Heauen at the new-found World and of the Ayre and Windes MAny in Europe demand of what forme and fashion Heauen is in the Southerne parts for that there is no certaintie found in ancient Books who although they grant there is a Heauen on this other part of the World yet come they not to any knowledge of the forme thereof although in truth they make mention of a goodly great Starre seene in those parts which they call Canopus Those which of late dayes haue sayled into these parts haue accustomed to write strange things of this Heauen that it is very bright hauing many goodly Starres and in effect things which come farre are commonly described with encrease But it seemes contrarie vnto me holding it for certaine that in our Region of the North there is a greater number and bigger starres finding no starres in these parts which exceede the Fisher or the Chariot in bignesse It is true that the Crosse in these parts is very faire and pleasing to behold we call the Crosse foure notable and apparant starres which make the forme of a crosse set equally and with proportion The ignorant suppose this crosse to be the Southerne Pole for that they see the Nauigators take their heigth thereby as wee are accustomed to doe by the North starre But they are deceiued and the reason why Saylers doe it in this sort is for that in the South parts there is no fixed starre that markes the Pole as the North starre doth to our Pole And therefore they take their heigth by the starre at the foote of the Crosse distant from the true and fixed Pole Antarticke thirtie degrees as the North starre is distant from the Pole Articke three degrees or little more And so it is more difficult to take the heigth in those parts for that the said starre at the foote of the Crosse must be right the which chanceth but in one houre of the night which is in diuers seasons of the yeere in diuers houres and oftentimes it appeareth not in the whole night so as it is very difficult to take the height And therefore the most expert Pilots regard not the Crosse taking the height of the Sunne by the Astrolabe by which they know in what height they are wherein commonly the Portugals are more expert as a Nation that hath more discourse in the Arte of Nauigation then any other There are also other starres in these Southerne parts which in some sort resemble those of the North. That which they call the Milken way is larger and more resplendent in the South parts appearing therein those admirable blacke spots whereof we haue made mention Considering with my selfe oftentimes what should cause the Equinoctiall to bee so moist as I haue said to refute the opinion of the Ancients I finde no other reason but the great force of the Sunne in those parts whereby it drawes vnto it a great abundance of vapours
not to hinder the exceptions which Nature hath giuen to this Rule making some Regions of the burning Zone extremely drie The which is reported of Ethiopia and wee haue seene it in a great part of Peru where all that Land or Coast which they call Playnes wants raine yea land waters except some Vallies where Riuers fall from the Mountaines the rest is a sandie and barren soile where you shall hardly finde any Springs but some deepe Wells But with the helpe of God we will shew the reason why it rayneth not in these Playnes the which many demand for now I onely pretend to shew that there are many exceptions to naturall Rules whereby it may happen that in some part of the burning Zone it raines not when the Sunne is neerest but being farthest off although vnto this day I haue neither seene nor heard of it but if it be so we must attribute it to the particular qualitie of the Earth and also if sometimes the contrarie doth chance we must haue regard that in naturall things there happens many contrarieties and lets whereby they change and dissolue one another For example it may be the Sunne will cause raine and that the windes will hinder it or else cause more abundance then hath beene vsuall When I passed to the Indies I will tell what chanced vnto mee hauing read what Poets and Philosophers write of the burning Zone I perswaded my selfe that comming to the Equinoctiall I should not indure the violent heate but it fell out otherwise for when I passed which was when the Sunne was there for Zenith being entred into Aries in the moneth of March I felt so great cold as I was forced to goe into the Sunne to warme me what could I else doe then but laugh at Aristotles Meteors and his philosophie seeing that in that place and at that season when as all should be scortched with heat according to his rules I and all my companions were a cold In truth there is no Region in the world more pleasant and temperate then vnder the Equinoctiall although it be not in all parts of an equall temperature but haue great diuersities The burning Zone in some parts is very temperate as in Quitto and on the playnes of Peru in some parts very cold as at Potozi and in some very hot as in Ethiopia Bresil and the Molucques This diuersitie being knowne and certaine vnto vs wee must of force seeke out another cause of cold and heat then the Sunne beames seeing that in one season of the yeere and in places of one height and distance from the Pole and Equinoctiall we finde so great diuersitie that some are inuironed with heat some with cold and others tempered with a moderate heat Considering this matter generally I finde two generall causes which maketh this Region temperate the one is that before mentioned for that this Region is very moist and subiect to raine and there is no doubt but the raine doth refresh it for that the water is by nature cold and although by the force of the fire it be made hot yet doth it temper this heat proceeding onely from the Sunne beames The which wee see by experience in the inner Arabia the which is burnt with the Sunne hauing no showres to temper the violence thereof The cloudes and mists are the cause that the Sunne offends not so much and the showres that fall from them refresh both the Aire and the Earth and moisten likewise how hot soeuer it be They drinke raine water and it quencheth the thirst as our men haue well tried hauing no other to drinke So as reason and experience doth teach vs that raine of it selfe doth temper the heat and hauing by this meanes shewed that the burning Zone is much subiect vnto raine it appeares that there is matter in it to temper the violence of the heat To this I will adde an other reason which deserues to be knowne not onely for this matter but for many others for although the Sunne be very hot and burning vnder the Equinoctiall yet is it not long so as the heat of the day being there shorter and of lesse continuance it causeth not so violent a heate the which it behooues to specifie more particularly Such as are practised in the knowledge of the Spheare teach very well that the more the Zodiake is oblique and trauersing our Hemisphere the more vnequall are the dayes and nights and contrariwise where the Spheare is straight and the signes mount directly there the dayes and nights are equall And therefore in all that Region which is betweene the two Tropicks there is lesse inequalitie then without them and the more wee approch the Line the lesse inequalitie we finde the which wee haue tried in those parts Those of Quitto for that they are vnder the Line haue not throughout the whole yeere the dayes and nights more short at one season then at an other but are continually equall Those of Lima being distant almost twelue degrees finde some difference betwixt the dayes and the nights but very little for that in December and Ianuarie the dayes increase an houre or little lesse Those of Potozi finde much more difference both in Winter and in Summer being almost vnder the Tropicke But those that liue without the Tropicks finde the dayes in Winter shorter and in Summer longer the more remote they are from the Equinoctiall and come neere the Pole as wee see in Germanie and in England the dayes are longer in Summer then in Italie and in Spaine It is a thing which the Spheare doth teach and experience doth plainly shew vs. Wee must adde an other Proposition which is likewise true and very considerable for all the effects of Nature to vnderstand the perseuerance and continuation of the efficient cause to worke and mooue This presupposed if any one demand of me why vnder the Equinoctiall Line the heat is not so violent in Summer as in some other Regions as in Andelousia in the moneths of Iuly and August I will answere that in Andelousia the dayes are longer and the nights shorter and as the day being hot inflames and causeth heat so the nights being cold and moist giue a refreshing According to the which at Peru there is no such great heat for that the dayes in Summer are not long nor the nights short so as the heat of the day is much tempered by the freshnesse of the night Being a thing concluded that the two fore-named properties are common and vniuersall to all the Region of the burning Zone and yet in the same there are found some places very hot and other exceeding cold Also that the temperature is not there equall in all places but vnder one climate one part is hot another cold and the third temperate all at one season wee are forced to seeke out other reasons whence this great diuersitie should proceede in the burning Zone Discoursing therefore vpon this question I doe finde
see no speciall matter at the Indies which is not in other Regions vnlesse some will say that the manner to strike fire in rubbing two stones one against another as some Indians vse or to boile any thing in gourds casting a burning stone into it other such like things are remarkable whereof I haue written what might bee spoken But of those which are in the Vulcans and Mouthes of fire at the Indies worthy doubtlesse to be obserued I will speake in their order treating of the diuersitie of grounds whereas they finde these fires or Vulcans Therefore to begin with the windes I say that with good reason Salomon in the great iudgement which God had giuen him esteemes much the knowledge of the windes and their properties being very admirable for that some are moist others drie some vnwholsome others sound some hot others cold some calme and pleasant others rough and tempestuous some barren and others fertile with infinite other differences There are some windes which blow in certaine Regions and are as it were Lords thereof not admitting any entrie or communication of their contraries In some parts they blow in that sort as sometimes they are Conquerors sometimes conquered often there are diuers and contrarie windes which doe runne together at one instant diuiding the way betwixt them somtimes one blowing aboue of one sort and another below of an other sort somtimes they incounter violently one with another which puts them at Sea in great danger there are some windes which helpe to the generation of Creatures and others that hinder and are opposite There is a certaine winde of such a qualitie as when it blowes in some Countrie it causeth it to raine Fleas and in so great abundance as they trouble and darken the aire and couer all the Sea-shoare and in other places it raines Frogs These diuersities and others which are sufficiently knowne are commonly attributed to the place by the which these windes passe For they say that from these places they take their qualities to be cold hot drie or moist sickly or sound and so of the rest the which is partly true and cannot be denyed for that in a small distance you shall see in one winde many diuersities For example the Solaâ—â—â— or Easterne winde is commonly hot and troublesome in Spaine and in Murria it is the coolest and healthfullest that is for that it passeth by the Orchards and that large champaine which wee see very fresh In Carthageâ—e which is not farre from thence the same winde is troublesome and vnwholsome The Meridionall which they of the Ocean call South and those of the Mediterranean Sea Mezo giorâ—o commonly is raynie and boysterous and in the same Citie whereof I speake it is wholesome and pleasant Plinie reports that in Africke it raines with a Northerne winde and that the Southerne winde is cleere He then that shall well consider what I haue spoken of these windes he may conceiue that in a small distance of Land or Sea one winde hath many and diuers qualities yea sometimes quite contrarie whereby wee may inferre that hee draweth his propertie from the place where it passeth the which is in such sort true although we may not say infallibly as it is the onely and principall cause of the diuersitie of the windes It is a thing we easily find that in a Riuer contayning fiftie leagues in circuit I put it thus for an example that the winde which blowes of the one part is hot and moist and that which blowes on the other is cold and drie Notwithstanding this diuersitie is not found in places by which it passeth the which makes me rather to say that the windes bring these qualities with them whereby they giue vnto them the names of these qualities For example we attribute to the Northerne winde otherwise called Cierco the propertie to be cold and drie and to dissolue mists to the Southerne winde his contrarie called Leuasche we attribute the contrarie qualitie which is moist and hot and ingenders mists But it is needfull to seeke further to know the true and originall cause of these so strange differences which we see in the windes I cannot conceiue any other but that the same efficient cause which bringeth forth and maketh the winds to grow doth withall giue them this originall qualitie for in truth the matter whereon the winds are made which is no other thing according to Aristotle but the exhalation of the interior Elements may well cause in effect a great part of this diuersitie being more grosse more subtill more drie and more moist But yet this is no pertinent reason seeing that we see in one Region where the vapours and exhalations are of one sort and qualitie that there rise windes and effects quite contrarie We must therefore referre the cause to the higher and celestiall Efficient which must be the Sunne and to the motion and influence of the Heauens the which by their contrarie motions giue and cause diuers influences But the beginnings of these motions and influences are so obscure and hidden from men and on the other part so mightie and of so great force as the holy Prophet Dauid in his propheticall Spirit and the Prophet Ieremie admiring the greatnesse of the Lord speake thus Qui profert ventos de thesauris suis. Hee that drawes the windes out of his Treasures In truth these principles and beginnings are rich and hidden treasures for the Author of all things holds them in his hand and in his power and when it pleaseth him sendeth them forth for the good or chastisement of men and sends forth such windes as he pleaseth not as that Eolus whom the Poets doe foolishly feigne to haue charge of the windes keeping them in a Caue like vnto wilde beasts We see not the beginning of these windes neither doe we know how long they shall continue or whither they shall goe But wee see and know well the diuerse effects and operations they haue euen as the supreme Truth the Author of all things hath taught vs saying Spiritus vbi vult spirat vocem eius audis neseis vnde venit aut quò vadit It is true that the Northerne winde is not vsually cold and cleere there as here In some parts of Peru as at Lima and on the Playnes they finde the Northerne windes troublesome and vnwholsome and all along the Coast which runnes aboue fiue hundred leagues they hold the Southerne windes for healthfull and coole and which is more most cleere and pleasant yea it neuer raines contrarie to that wee see in Europe and of this side the Line Yet that which chanceth vpon the coast of Peru is no generall rule but rather an exception and a wonder of Nature neuer to raine vpon that coast and euer to haue one winde without giuing place to his contrarie whereof we will hereafter speake our minde It is no generall rule there that the Northerne winde is neither hot nor
also other strange Countries make sumptuous buildings therewith The Indians doe draw from these flouds that runne from the Mountaines to the Vallies and Plaines many and great Brookes to water their Land which they vsually doe with such industrie as there are no better in Murcia nor at Millan it selfe the which is also the greatest and onely wealth of the Plaines of Peru and of many other parts of the Indies §. III. Of the qualitie of the Land at the Indies in generall Properties of Peru and of new Spaine and other parts Of Vulcanes and Earthquakes WE may know the qualitie of the Land at the Indies for the greatest part seeing it is the last of the three Elements whereof we haue propounded to treate in this Booke by the discourse we haue made in the former Booke of the burning Zone seeing that the greatest part of the Indies doth lye vnder it But to make it knowne the more particularly I haue obserued three kindes of Lands as I haue passed through those Regions whereof there is one very low another very high and the third which holds the middle of these two extreames The lower is that which lyeth by the Sea coasts whereof there is in all parts of the Indies and it is commonly very hot and moist so as it is not so healthfull and at this day we see it lesse peopled although in former times it hath beene greatly inhabited with Indians as it appeareth by the histories of new Spaine and Peru and where they kept and liued for that the soile was naturall vnto them being bred there They liued of fishing at Sea and of seeds drawing brooks from the Riuers which they vsed for want of raine for that it raines little there and in some places not at all This low Countrie hath many places vnhabitable as well by reason of the Sands which are dangerous for there are whole Mountaines of these Sands as also for the Marishes which grow by reason of the waters that fall from the Mountaines which finding no issue in these flat and low Lands drowne them and make them vnprofitable And in truth the greatest part of all the Indian Sea coast is of this sort chiefly vpon the South Sea the habitation of which coasts is at this present so wasted and contemned that of thirty parts of the people that inhabited it there wants twenty nine and it is likely the rest of the Indians will in short time decay Many according to the varietie of their opinions attribute this to diuers causes some to the great labour which hath beene imposed vpon these Indians others vnto the change and varietie of meates and drinkes they vse since their commerce with the Spaniards others to their great excesse and drinking and to other vices they haue for my part I hold this disorder to be the greatest cause of their decay whereof it is not now time to discourse any more In this low Countrie which I say generally is vnhealthfull ond vnfit for mans habitation there is exception in some places which are temperate and fertile as the greatest part of the Plaines of Peru where there are coole vallies and very fertile The greatest part of the habitation of the coast entertains all the traffike of Spain by Sea whereon all the estate of the Indies dependeth Vpon this coast there are some Towns well peopled as Lima and Truxillo in Peru Panama and Carthagena vpon the maine Land and in the Ilands Saint Dominique Port Ricco and Hauana with many other Towns which are lesse then these as the True Crosse in new Spain Yâ—a Arigua and others in Peru the Ports are commonly inhabited although but slenderly The second sort of Land is contrary very high and by consequent cold and dry as all the Mountaines are commonly This Land is neither fertile nor pleasant but very healthfull which makes it to be peopled and inhabited There are Pastures and great store of Cattle the which for the most part entertaines life and by their Cattell they supply the want they haue of Corne and Graine by trucking and exchange But that which makes these Lands more inhabited and peopled is the riches of the Mines that are found there for that all obeys to Gold and Siluer By reason of the Mines there are some dwellings of Spaniards and Indians which are increased and multiplied as Potozi and Gancanelicqua in Peru and Cacatecas in new Spaine There are also through all these Mountaines great dwellings of the Indians which to this day are maintained yea some will say they increase but that the labour of the Mines doth consume many and some generall diseases haue destroyed a great part as the Cocoliste in new Spaine yet they finde no great diminution In this extremitie of high ground they finde two commodities as I haue said of Pastures and Mines which doe well counteruaile the two other that are in the lower grounds alongst the Sea coast that is the commerce of the Sea and the abundance of Wine which groweth not but in the hot Lands Betwixt these two extreames there is ground of a meane height the which although it be in some parts higher or lower one then other yet doth it not approach neither to the heate of the Sea coast nor the intemperature of the Mountaines In this sort of soyle there groweth many kindes of Graine as Wheate Barley and Mays which growes not at all in the high Countries but well in the lower there is likewise store of Pasture Cattell Fruits and greene Forrests This part is the best habitation of the three for health and recreation and therefore it is best peopled of any part of the Indies the which I haue curiously obserued in many Voyages that I haue vndertaken and haue alwayes found it true that the Prouince best peopled at the Indies be in this scituation Let vs looke neerely into new Spaine the which without doubt is the best Prouince the Sunne doth circle by what part soeuer you doe enter you mount vp and when you haue mounted a good height you begin to descend yet very little and that Land is alwayes much higher then that along the Sea coast All the Land about Mexico is of this nature and scituation and that which is about the Vulcan which is the best soile of the Indies as also in Peru Arequipa Guamangua and Cusco although more in one then in the other But in the end all is high ground although they descend into deepe Vallies and clime vp to high Mountaines the like is spoken of Quitto Saint Foy and of the best of the New Kingdome To conclude I doe beleeue that the wisedome and prouidence of the Creator would haue it so that the greatest part of this Countrie of the Indies should be hillie that it might be of a better temperature for being low it had beene very hot vnder the burning Zone especially being farre from the Sea Also all the Land I haue seene at the Indies is neere
admitted nor receiued such money as they call bullion nor other kindes of alloy which they vse in Italie and in other Prouinces of Europe Although in some Ilands of the Indies as Saint Dominique and Port Ricco they vse coine of leather which is square the which are currant onely in those Ilands hauing little siluer or gold I say little although there be much for that no man digges it and refines it But for that the riches of the Indies and their manner to labour in the mynes consists of gold siluer and quick-siluer I will speake something of these three metals leauing the rest for this time Gold amongst other metals hath beene alwayes held the most excellent and with reason being the most durable and incorruptible of all others for fire which consumes and diminisheth the rest amends it and brings it to perfection Gold which hath often passed through the fire keepes his colour and is most fine and pure which properly is called as Plinie saith Obrisâ— whereof the Scripture makes so often mention and vâ—e which consumeth all other metals as the same Plinie saith doth not any thing waste gold nor yet hurt it neither is it eaten nor groweth old And although his substance and body bee firme and solid yet doth it yeeld and bow wonderfully the Beaters and Drawers of gold know well the force it hath to bee drawne out without breaking All which things well considered with other excellent properties will giue men of iudgement to vnderstand wherefore the holy Scripture doth compare Charitie to gold To conclude there is little neede to relate the excellencies thereof to make it more desirable For the greatest excellencie it hath is to be knowne as it is amongst men for the supreme power and greatnesse of the World Comming therefore to our subiect at the Indies there is great abundance of this metall and it is well knowne by approued Histories that the 〈◊〉 of Peru did not content themselues with great and small vessels of gold as Pots Cups Goblets and Flagons yea with Kowles or great Vessels but they had Chaires also and Litters of massie gold and in their Temples they had set vp mayne Images of pure gold whereof they finde some yet at Mexico but not such store as when the first Conquerors came into the one and the other Kingdome who found great treasure and without doubt there was much more hidden in the earth by the Indians It would seeme ridiculous to report that they haue made their horse shooes of siluer for want of Iron and that they haue paid three hundred 〈◊〉 for a bottle of wine and other strange things and yet in truth this hath come to passe yea and greater matters They draw gold in those parts after three sorts or at the least I haue seene all three vsed For either they finde gold in graines in powlder or in stone The most famous gold is that of Caranaua in Peru and of Valdinia in Chille for that is riseth with his alloy and perfection which is twentie three Carrats and a halfe and sometimes more They make account likewise of the gold of Veragua to bee very fine They bring much gold to Mexico from the Philippines and China but commonly it is weake and of base alloy Gold 〈◊〉 commonly found mixt with Siluer or with Copper but that which is mixed with siluer is commonly of fewer Carrats then that which is mixed with copper If there be a fift part of siluer Plinie saith it is then properly called Electrum which hath the propertie to shine more at the light of the fire then fine gold or fine siluer That which is incorporate with copper is commonly of a higher value They refine powldred gold in basons washing it in many waters vntill the Sand falls from it and the gold as most heauie remayneth in the bottome They refine it likewise with quick-siluer and strong water for that the allum whereof they make this water hath the vertue to separate gold from drosse or from other metals After it is purified and molten they make Bricks or small Barres to carry it vnto Spaine for being in powlder they cannot transport it from the Indies for they can neither custome it marke it nor take say vntill it bee molten In the fleet where I came which was in the yeere 1585. the declaration of the firme Land was of twelue Cassons or Chests of gold euery Casson at the least weighed foure Arobes that is a hundred weight and a thousand fiftie and sixe Mates from new Spaine which was for the King onely besides that which came for Merchants and priuate men being registred and much that came vnregistred This may suffice touching the gold of the Indies and now wee will speake of Siluer Now we will shew how they discouer the mynes of Siluer their veines rootes and beginnings whereof Iob speakes And first I will say that the reason why they giue siluer the second place among all other metals is for that it approcheth neerer to gold then any other being more durable and lesse indamaged by the fire and more mallable then any other yea it passeth gold in brightnesse beautie and sound the which is cleere and agreeable for the colour is more conformable and resembling the light and the sound more piercing more liuely and more delicate The mynes of siluer are commonly found in Mountaines and high Rocks very desart although they haue sometimes beene found in Playnes and Champaines There are two different kindes the one they call stragling the other fixed and setled The stragling are pieces of metall found in certaine places the which drawne a way there is no more found But the fixed veines are those which haue a continuance in depth and length like to great branches and armes of Trees and when they finde any one of them they commonly finde many in the same place The manner to purge and refine siluer which the Indians haue vsed was by melting in dissoluing this masse of metall by fire which casts the earthly drosse apart and by his force separates Siluer from Lead Tin from Copper and other metals mixt To this end they did build small Furnaces in places where as the winde did commonly blow and with Wood and Cole made their refining the which Furnaces in Peru they call Guayras Since the Spaniards entred besides this manner of refining which they vse to this day they likewise refine siluer with quick-siluer and draw more by this meanes then in refining it by fire For there is some kind of siluer metall found which can by no meanes be purged and refined by fire but onely with quick-siluer But this kinde of metall is commonly poore and weake the which vsually they finde in greatest abundance They call that poore which yeelds least siluer and great quantitie of other metall and that rich which yeelds most siluer It is strange to see not onely the difference betwixt the refining of metall by fire
bake it and bake it againe induring the pestels â—iues troughes furnaces caldrons presses and finally by the water and fire I speake this for that seeing this art in Potozi I did consider what the Scripture speakes of the iust Colabit â—os purgabit quasi argentum And that which they speake in another part Sicut argentum purgatum terra purgatum septuplum So as to purifie Siluer to refine and clense it from the earth and stone where it engenders they purge and purifie it seuen times for in effect it passeth their hands seuen times yea oftner vntill it remaines pure and fine so is it in the word of God where the soules must be purified that shall inioy the heauenly perfection To conclude this subiect of Siluer and of Mettals there remaines yet two things to speake of the one is of their Engins and Mils the other of their essay or triall I haue said before how they grinde their Mettall for the receiuing of the Quick-siluer which is done with diuers instruments and Engins some with Horses like vnto hand-milâ— others like Water-mils of which two sorts there are great numbers But for that the water they doe vse commonly is but of raine whereof they haue not sufficient but three months in the yeare December Ianuary and February for this reason they haue made Lakes and standing Pooles which containe in circuite about a thousand and six hundred rods and in depth three stades there are seuen with their sluces so as when they haue neede of any water they raise vp a sluce from whence runnes a little streame of water the which they stop vpon holy-dayes And when the Lakes and Pooles doe fill and that the yeare abounds with raine their grinding doth then continue six or seuen moneths so as euen for Siluer sake men desire a good yeare of raine in Potozi as they doe in other places for bread There are some other Engins in Tarapaya which is a valley three or foure leagues distant from Potozi whereas there runnes a Riuer as in other parts The difference of these Engins is that some goe with six pestels some with twelue and others with foureteene They grinde and beate the Mettall in Morters labouring day and night and from thence they carry it to be sifted vpon the bankes of the brooke of Potozi There are fortie eight Water-mils of eight ten and twelue pestels and foure on the other side which they call Tanacoguâ—gno in the Citie of Tarapaya there are two and twentie Engins all vpon the water besides there are thirtie goe with Horses in Potozi and many others in diuers parts so great the desire of man is to get Siluer which is tried by deputies appointed by the King To giue the alloy to euerie piece they carrie the bars of Siluer vnto the Assay Master who giue to euery one his number for that they carrie many at once hee cuts a small peece of euerie one the which he weighs iustly and puts them into a Cruset which is a small vessell made of burnt bones beaten after he placeth euery crusible in his order in the furnace giuing them a violent fire then the Mettall melteth and that which is lead goes into smoake and the copper and tinne dissolues the Siluer remaining most fine of the colour of fire It is a strange thing that being thus refined although it be liquid and molten yet it neuer spils were the mouth of the crusible turned downewards but it remaineth fixed without the losse of a droppe The Assay Master knoweth by the colour and other signes when it is refined then doth he draw the crusibles from the fire and weighes euery peece curiously obseruing what euery one wants of his weight for that which is of high alloy wastes but little and that which is baser diminisheth much and according to the waste he sees what alloy he beares according to the which he markes euery bar punctually Their ballance and weights are so delicate and their graines so small as they cannot take them vp with the hand but with a small paire of pincers and this triall they make by candle-light that no ayre might mooue the ballance For of this little the price of the whole barre dependeth In trueth it is a very delicate thing and requires a great dexteritie §. V. Of Emeralds Pearles Indian Bread Trees Fruites Flowers naturall and carried thither from Spaine IT shall not be from the purpose to speake something of Emeralds both for that it is a precious thing as Gold and Siluer as also that they take their beginning from Mines and Mettals as Plinie reports The Emerald hath bin in old time in great esteeme as the same Author writes giuing it the third place amongst all Iewels and precious stones that is next to the Diamond and Pearle At this day they doe not so much esteeme the Emerald nor the Pearle for the great abundance brought of these two sorts from the Indies onely the Diamond holds the principalitie the which cannot be taken from it Next the Rubies come in price and other Stones which they hold more precious then the Emerald Men are so desirous of singularities and rare things that what they see to be common they doe not esteeme They report of a Spaniard who being in Italie when the Indies were first discouered shewed an Emerald to a Lapidary who asking him the value thereof after he had well viewed it being of an excellent lustre and forme he prized it at a hundred Duckets he then shewed him another greater then it which he valued at three hundred Duckats The Spaniard drunke with this discourse carried him to his lodging shewing him a Casket full The Italian seeing so great a number of Emeralds said vnto him Sir these are well worth a crowne a peece The Kings of Mexico did much esteeme them some did vse to pierce their nostrils and hang therein an excellent Emerald they hung them on the visages of their Idols The greatest store is found in the new Kingdome of Grenado and Peru neere vnto Manta and Port Vieil There is towards that place a soile which they call the Land of Emeralds for the knowledge that they haue of abundance to be there and yet vnto this day they haue not conquered that Land The Emeralds grow in stones like vnto Christall I haue seene them in the same stone fashioned like a veine and they seeme by little and little to thicken and refine I haue seene some that were halfe white and halfe greene others all white and some greene and very perfit I haue seene some of the bignesse of a Nut and there haue bin some greater found but I haue not knowne that in our time they haue found any of the forme and bignesse of the plat or Iewell they haue at Genes the which they esteeme and with reason to be a Iewell of great price and no relique yet without comparison the Emerald which Theophrastus speakes of which the King
hauing found such a King And thou noble young man and our most mightie Lord be confident and of a good courage that seeing the Lord of things created hath giuen thee this charge hee will also giue thee force and courage to manage it and thou mayest well hope that hee which in times past hath vsed so great bountie towards thee will â—pt now deny thee his greater giftâ— seeing he hath giuen thee so great a charge which I wish thee to enioy many yeeres King Moteçuma was very attentiue to this Discourse which being ended they say hee was so troubled that endeuouring thriâ—e to answere 〈◊〉 hee could not speake being ouercome with teares which joy and content doe vsually cause in signe of great humility In the end being come to himselfe he spake briefly I were too blind good King of Tescuco if I did not know that what thou hast spoken vnto me proceeded of meere fauour is pleaseth you to shew me seeing among so many noble and valiant men within this Realme you haue made choice of the least sufficient and in truth I find my selfe so incapeable of a charge of so great importance that I know not what to doe but to beseech the Creatour of all created things that hee will fauour mee and I intreate you all to pray vnto him for me These words vttered hee beganne againe to weepe He that in his election made such shew of humility and mildnesse seeing himselfe King began presently to discouer his aspiring thoughts The first was hee commanded that no plebeian should serue in his house nor beare any Royal Office as his Predecessors had vsed til then blaming them that would be serued by men of base condition commanding that all the noble and most famous men of his Realme should liue within his Palace and exercise the Offices of his Court and House Whereunto an old man of great authoritie who had somtimes bin his Schoolemaster opposed himselfe aduising him to be careful what he did and not to thrust himselfe into the danger of a great inconuenience in separating him selfe from the vulgar and common people so as they should not dare to looke him in the face seeing themselues so reiected by him He answered that it was his resolution and that he would not allow the Plebeians thus to goe mingled among the Nobles as they had done saying that the seruice they did was according to their condition so as the Kings got no reputation and thus he continued firâ—â— in his resolution Hee presently commanded his Counsell to dismisse all the Plebeians from their charges and offices as well those of his Houshold as of his Court and to prouide Knightâ— the which was done After hee went in person to an enterprize necessary for his Coronation At that time a Prouince lying farre off towards the North Ocean was reuolted from the Crown whither he led the flower of his people well appointed There he warred with such valour and dexteritie that in the end hee subdued all the Prouince and punished the Rebels seuerely returning with a great number of Captiues for the Sacrifices and many other spoyles All the Cities made him solemne receptions at his returne and the Lords thereof gaue him water to wash performing the offices of seruants a thing not vsed by any of his Predecessors Such was the feare and respect they bare him In Mexico they made the Feasts of his Coronation with great preparations of Dances Comedies Banquets Lights and other inuentions for many dayes And there came so great a wealth of Tributes from all his Countreyes that strangers vnknowne came to Mexico and their very enemies resorted in great numbers disguised to see these Feasts as those of Tlascalla and Mechonacan the which Moteçuma hauing discouered he commanded they should be lodged and gently intreated and honoured as his owne person He also made them goodly Galleries like vnto his owne where they might see and behold the Feasts So they entred by night to those Feasts as the King himselfe making their Sports and Maskes And for that I haue made mention of these Prouinces it shall not be from the purpose to vnderstand that the Inhabitants of Mechonacan Tlascalla and Tapeaca would neuer yeeld to the Mexicans but did alwayes fight valiantly against them yea sometimes the Mechoâ—acans did vanquish the Mexicans as also those of Tapeaca did In which place the Marquesse Don Ferrand Cortes after that hee and the Spaniards were expelled Mexico pretended to build their first Citie the which hee called as I well remember Segure dela Frontiere But this peopling continued little for hauing afterwards reconquered Mexico all the Spaniards went to inhabite there To conclude those of Tapeaca Tlascalla and Mechonacan haue beene alwayes enemies to the Mexicans although Moteçuma said vnto Cortes that hee did purposely forbearâ— to subdue them to haue occasion to exercise his men of warre and to take numbers of captiues This King laboured to bee respected yea to be worshipped as a God No Plebeian might looke him in the face if he did he was punished with death he did neuer let his foot on the ground but was alwayes carried on the shoulders of Noblemen and if he lighted they laid rich Tapistrie whereon hee did goe When hee made any Voyage hee and the Noblemen went as it were in a Parke compassed in for the nonce and the rest of the people went without the Parke enuironing it in on euery side hee neuer put on a garment twice nor did eate or drinke in one vessell or dish aboue once all must be new giuing to his attendants that which had once serued him so as commonly they were rich and sumptuous Hee was very carefull to haue his Lawes obserued And when he returned victor from any warre hee fained sometimes to goe and take his pleasure then would hee disguise himselfe to see if his people supposing hee were absent would omit any thing of the feast or reception If there were any excesse or defect hee then did punish it rigorously And also to discerne how his Ministers did execute their Offices hee often disguised himselfe offering gifts and presents to the Iudges prouoking them to doe in-justice If they offended they were presently punished with death without remission or respect were they Noblemen or his Kinsmen yea his owne Brethren Hee was little conuersant with his people and seldome seene retyring himselfe most commonly to care for the gouernment of his Realme Besides that he was a great Iusticier and very Noble he was very valiant and happy by meanes whereof hee obtayned great victories and came to this greatnesse as is written in the Spanish Histories whereon it seemes needlesse to write mere I will onely haue a care hereafter to write what the Books and Histories of the Indies make mention of the which the Spanish Writers haue not obserued hauing not sufficiently vnderstood the secrets of this Countrey the which are things very worthy to
that no people of the West Indies haue beene more apt to receiue the Gospell then those which were most subiect to their Lords and which haue beene charged with the heauiest burthens as well of Tributes and Seruices as of Customes and bloudie Practises All that which the Mexican Kings and those of Peru did possesse is at this day most planted with Christian Religion and where there is least difficultie in the Gouernment and Ecclesiasticall Discipline The Indians were so wearied with the heauy and insupportable yoke of Satans lawes his sacrifices and ceremonies whereof wee haue formerly spoken that they consulted among themselues to seeke out a new Law and an other God to serue And therefore the Law of Christ seemed vnto them and doth at this day seeme iust sweet cleane good and full of happinesse And that which is difficult in our Law to beleeue so high and soueraigne Mysteries hath beene easie among them for that the Deuill had made them comprehend things of greater difficultie and the selfe-same things which hee had stolen from our Euangelicall Law as their manner of Communion and Confession their adoration of Three in One and such other like the which against the will of the Enemie haue holpen for the easie receiuing of the Truth by those who before had embraced Lyes God is wise and admirable in all his workes vanquishing the Aduersarie euen with his owne weapon hee takes him in his owne snare and kills him with his owne sword Finally our God who had created this People and who seemed to haue thus long forgot them when the houre was come hee would haue the same Deuils enemies to mankinde whom they falsly held for gods should giue a testimonie against their will of the true Law the power of Christ and the triumph of the Crosse as it plainly appeares by the presages prophesies signes and prodigies here before mentioned with many others happened in diuers parts and that the same ministers of Satan Sorcerers Magicians and other Indians haue confessed it And wee cannot denie it being most euident and knowne to all the World that the Deuill dareth not hisse and that the Practises Oracles Answers and visible Apparitions which were so ordinarie throughout all this Infidelitie haue ceased whereas the Crosse of Christ hath beene planted where there are Churches and where the Name of Christ hath beene confessed And if there be at this day any cursed minister of his that doth participate thereof it is in Caues and on the tops of Mountaines and in secret places farre from the name and communion of Christians The Soueraigne Lord be blessed for his great mercies and for the glorie of his holy Name And in truth if they did gouerne this people temporally and spiritually in such sort as the Law of Iesus Christ hath set it downe with a milde yoke and light burthen and that they would impose no more vpon them then they can well beare as the Letters Patents of the good Emperour of happy memorie doe command and that they would imploy halfe the care they haue to make profit of these poore mens sweats and labours for the health of their soules it were the most peaceable and happy Christian part of all the World c. CHAP. V. Of the ancient superstitions of the Mexicans and Indians of America gathered out of the fifth Booke of IOSEPHVS ACOSTA FIrst although the darknesse of Infidelitie holdeth these Nations in blindnesse yet in many things the light of Truth and Reason workes somewhat in them And they commonly acknowledge a supreme Lord and Author of all things which they of Peru called Vnachocha and gaue him names of great excellence as Pachacamac or Pachayachachic which is the Creator of Heauen and Earth and Vsapu which is admirable and other like names Him they did worship as the chiefest of all whom they did honor in beholding the Heauen The like wee see amongst them of Mexico and China and all other Infidels Which accordeth well with that which is said of Saint Paul in the Acts of the Apostles where he did see the Inscription of an Altar Ignoto Deo to the vnknowne God Whereupon the Apostle tooke occasion to preach vnto them saying Hee whom you worship without knowing him doe I preach vnto you In like sort those which at this day doe preach the Gospell to the Indians finde no great difficultie to perswade them that there is a High God and Lord ouer all and that this is the Christians God and the true God And yet it hath caused great admiration in mee that although they had this knowledge yet had they no proper Name for God if wee shall seeke into the Indian tongue for a word to answere to this Name of God as in Latin Deâ—s in Greeke Theos in Hebrew El in Arabike Alla but we shall not finde any in the 〈◊〉 or Mexican tongues So as such as preach or write to the Indians vse our Spanish name Dios fitting it to the accent or pronunciation of the Indian tongues the which differ much whereby appeares the small knowledge they had of God seeing they cannot so much as name him if it be not by our very name yet in truth they had some little knowledge and therefore in Pâ—ru they made him a rich Temple which they called Pachacamac which was the principall Sanctuarie oâ— the Realme And as it hath beene said this word of Pachacamac is as much to say as the Creator yet in this Temple they vsed their Idolatries worshipping the Deuill and Figures They likewise made Sacrifices and Offerings to Viracocha which held the chiefe place amongst the worships which the Kiâ—gâ— Iuguâ—â— made Hereof they called the Spaniards Virâ—cochas for that they hold opinion they are the 〈◊〉 of Hâ—auen and diuiâ—e eâ—en as others did attribute a Deitie to Paul and 〈◊〉 calling the one Iupiter and the other Mercurie so would they offer sacrifices vnto them as vnto gods and as the Barbarians of Mâ—litâ— which is Maltè seeing that the Viper did not huâ—â— the Apostle they called him God NExt to Viracocha or their supreme God that which most commonly they haue and doe adore amongst the Infidels is the Sunne and after those things which are most remarkâ—able in the celestiall or â—lementarie nature as the Moâ—ne Starres Sea and Land The Guiâ—cas or Oratories which the Iâ—guas Lords of Peru had in greatest reuerence next to Viracocha and the Sunne was the Thunder which they called by three diuers names Châ—â—â—â—illa Catuillâ— and Iâ—tiillapa supposing it to be a man in heauen with a Sling and a Mace and that it is in his power to cause Raine Haile Thunder and all the rest that appertaines to the Region of the Aire where the Cloudes engender It was a Guacâ— for so they called their Oratories generall to all the Indians of Peru offering vnto him many sacrifices and in Câ—scâ— which is the Court and Metropolitan Citie they did sacrifice children vnto him
other Instruments to carrie them and yet were they so artificially wrought that in many places they could not see the ioynts and many of these stones are so bigge that it were an incredible thing if one should not see them At Tâ—â—guanaco I did measure a stone of thirtie eight foot long of eighteene broad and sixe thicke And in the wall of the Fortresse of Cusco which is of Moallon there are stones of a greater bignesse And that which is most strange these stones being not cut nor squared to ioyne but contrariwise very vnequall one with another in forme and greatnesse yet did they ioyne them together without Ciment after an incredible manner All this was done by the force of men who endured their labour with an inuincible patience For to ioyne one stone with another they were forced to handle and trie many of them often being vneuen The Ingua appointed euery yeere what numbers of people should labour in these stones and buildings and the Indians made a diuision amongst them as of other things so as no man was oppressed Although these Buildings were great yet were they commonly ill appointed and vnfit almost like to the Mosquites or Buildings of the Barbarians They could make no Arches in their Edifices nor Morter or Ciment to build them withall when they saw Arches of wood built vpon the Riuer of Xaura the Bridge being finished and the wood broken downe they all began to runne away supposing that the Bridge which was of stone should presently fall but when they found it to stand firme and that the Spaniards went on it the Cacique said to his companions It is reason we should serue these men who in truth seeme to be the children of the Sunne The Bridges they made were of Reedes pleited which they tyed the bankes with great stakes for that they could not make any Bridges of stone or wood The Bridge which is at this day vpon the current of the great Lake Chiquitto in Collao is admirable for the course of that water is so deepe as they cannot settle any foundation and so broad that it is impossible to make an Arch to passe it so as it was altogether impossible to make a Bridge either of wood or stone But the wit and industry of the Indians inuented a meanes to make a firme and assured Bridge being only of straw which seemeth fabulous yet is it very true For as we haue said before they did binde together certaine bundles of Reeds and Weeds which doe grow in the Lake that they call Torora and being a light matter that sinkes not in the water they cast it vpon a great quantitie of Reeds then hauing tyed those bundles of Weedes to either side of the Riuer both men and beasts goe ouer it with ease passing ouer this Bridge I haue wondred that of so common and easie a thing they had made a Bridge better and more assured then the Bridge of Boates from Seuille to Triane I haue measured the length of this Bridge and as I remember it was aboue three hundred foote and they say that the depth of this Current is very great and it seemes aboue that the water hath no motion yet they say that at the bottome it hath a violent and very furious course And this shall suffice for Buildings THe Inguas riches was incomparable for although no King did inherit the riches and treasure of his Predecessor yet had he at command all the riches of his Realmes aswell Siluer and Gold as the stuffe of Cumbi and cattell wherein they abounded and their greatest riches of all was their innumerable number of vassals which were all imployed as it pleased the King They brought out of euery Prouince what he had chosen for tribute The Chicas sent him sweet and rich woods the Lucanas sent Brancars to carry his Litter The Chumbilbicas Dancers and so the other Prouinces sent him what they had of abundance besides their generall Tribute whereunto euery one contributed The Indians that were noted to that end laboured in the Mynes of Gold and Siluer which did abound in Peru whom the Ingua entertained with all they needed for their expences and whatsoeuer they drew of Gold and Siluer was for him By this meanes there were so great treasures in this Kingdome as it is the opinion of many that what fell in the hands of the Spaniards although it were very much as wee know was not the tenth part of that which they hid and buried in the ground the which they could neuer discouer notwithstanding all the search couetousnesse had taught them But the greatest wealth of these barbarous people was that their vassals were all slaues whose labour they vsed at their pleasure and that which is admirable they employed them in such sort as it was no seruitude vnto them but rather a pleasing life But to vnderstand the order of Tributes which the Indians payed vnto their Lord you must know that when the Ingua conquered any Cities he diuided all the Land into three parts the first was for Religion and Ceremonies so as the Pachayachaqui which is the Creator and the Sunne the Chuquilla which is the Thunder the Pachamana and the dead and other Guacas and Sanctuaries had euery one their proper Lands the fruits whereof were spoyled and consumed in Sacrifices and in the nourishing of Ministers and Priests for there were Indians appointed for euery Guaca and Sanctuarie and the greatest part of this reuenue was spent in Cusco where was the vniuersall and generall sanctuarie and the rest in that Citie where it was gathered for that after the imitation of Cusco there were in euery Citie Guacas and Oratories of the same order and with the same functions which were serued after the same manner and ceremonies to that of Cusco which is an admirable thing and they haue found it by proofe in aboue a hundred Townes some of them distant aboue two hundred leagues from Cusco That which they sowed or reapt vpon their Land was put into houses as â—ranaries or store-houses built for that effect and this was a great part of the Tribute which the Indians paied I cannot say how much this part amounted vnto for that it was greater in some parts then in other and in some places it was in a manner all and this part was the first they put to profit The second part of these Lands and inheritances was for the Ingua wherewith he and his houshold were entertained with his kinsfolks Noblemen Garrisons and Souldiers And therefore it was the greatest portion of these tributes as it appeareth by the quantity of Gold Siluer and other Tributes which were in houses appointed for that purpose being longer and larger then those where they keepe the reuenues of the Guacas They brought this Tribute verie carefully to Cusco or vnto such places where it was needefull for the Souldiers and when there was store they kept it ten or twelue
although this Ingua Yupangui had giuen Farmes Lands and Cattell to the Sunne Thunder and other Guacas yet did he not dedicate any thing to Viracocha saying that he had no neede being vniuersall Lord and Creator of all things Hee informed his Souldiers after this absolute victorie of the Changuas that it was not they alone that had conquered them but certaine bearded men whom Viracocha had sent him and that no man might see them but himselfe which were since conuerted into stones it was therefore necessarie to seeke them out whom he would know well By this meanes he gathered together a multitude of stones in the Mountaines whereof he made choice placing them for Guacas or Idols they worshipped and sacrificed vnto they called them Pururaucas and carried them to the warre with great deuotion beleeuing for certaine that they had gotten the victorie by their helpe The imagination and fiction of this Ingua was of such force that by the meanes thereof hee obtayned goodly victories He founded the Familie called Yuacapanaca and made a great Image of gold which hee called Indijllapa which he placed in a Brancard of gold very rich and of great price of the which gold the Indians tooke great store to carry to Xaxamalca for the libertie and ransome of Atahulpa when the Marquesse Francis Piçarre held him prisoner The Licenciate Polo found in his house in Cusco his seruants and Mamacomas which did seruice to his memorie and found that the body had beene transported from Patallacta to Totocache where the Spaniards haue since founded the Parish of Saint Blaise This body was so whole and preserued with a certaine Rosin that it seemed aliue he had his eyes made of a fine cloth of gold so artificially set as they seemed very naturall eyes he had a blow with a stone on the head which he had receiued in the warres hee was all grey and hayrie hauing lost no more haire then if he had dyed but the same day although it were seuentie and eight yeeres since his decease The foresaid Polo sent this body with some others of the Inguas to the Citie of Lima by the Vice-royes command which was the Marquesse of Canette and the which was very necessarie to roote out the Idolatrie of Cusco Many Spaniards haue seene this body with others in the Hospitall of Saint Andrew which the Marquesse built but they were much decayed Don Philip Caritopa who was grand-child or great grand-child to this Ingua affirmed that the treasure hee left to his Familie was great which should bee in the power of the Yanaconas Amaro Toto and others To this Ingua succeeded Topaingua Yupangui to whom his sonne of the same name succeeded who founded the Familie called Cupac Aillo TO this latter Ingua succeeded Guaynacapa which is to say A young man rich and valiant and so was he in truth more then any of his Predecessors or Successors He was very wise planting good orders throughout his whole Realme he was a bold and resolute man valiant and very happy in warre He therefore obtayned great victories and extended his Dominions much farther then all his Predecessors had done before him he dyed in the Realme of Quitto the which he had conquered foure hundred leagues distant from his Court The Indians opened him after his decease leauing his heart and entrailes in Quitto the body was carried to Cusco the which was placed in the renowmed Temple of the Sunne Wee see yet to this day many Cawseys Buildings Fortresses and notable workes of this King hee founded the Familie of Teme Bamba This Guaynacapa was worshipped of his subiects for a god being yet aliue as the old men affirme which was not done to any of his Predecessors When hee dyed they slue a thousand persons of his houshold to serue him in the other life all which dyed willingly for his seruice insomuch that many of them offered themselues to death besides such as were appointed his riches and treasure was admirable And forasmuch as the Spaniards entred soone after his death the Indians laboured much to conceale all although a great part thereof was carried to Xaxamalca for the ransome of Atahulpa his sonne Some worthy of credit affirme that he had aboue three hundred sonnes and grand-children in Cusco His mother called Mamaâ—ella was much esteemed amongst them Polo sent her body with that of Guaynacapa very well imbalmed to Lima rooting out infinite Idolatries To Guaynacapa succeeded in Cusco a sonne of his called Titocussigualpa who since was called Guaspar Ingua his body was burned by the Captaines of Atahualpa who was likewise sonne to Guaynacapa and rebelled in Quitto against his brother marching against him with a mightie Armie It happened that Quisquits and Chilicuchi Captaines to Atahualpa tooke Guaspar Ingua in the Citie of Cusco being receiued for Lord and King for that he was the lawfull successor which caused great sorrow throughout all his Kingdome especially in his Court. And as alwayes in their necessities they had recourse to sacrifices finding themselues vnable to set their Lord at libertie aswell for the great power the Captaines had that tooke him as also for the great Armie that came with Atahualpa they resolued some say by the commandement of this Ingua to make a great and solemne sacrifice to Viracocha Pachayachachic which signifieth vniuersall Creator desiring him that since they could not deliuer their Lord he would send men from Heauen to deliuer him from prison And as they were in this great hope vpon their sacrifice newes came to them that a certaine people come by Sea was landed and had taken Atahualpa prisoner Hereupon they called the Spaniards Viracochas beleeuing they were men sent from God as well for the small number they were to take Atahualpa in Xaxamalca as also for that it chanced after their sacrifice done to Viracocha and thereby they began to call the Spaniards Viracochas as they doe at this day And in truth if we had giuen them good example and such as we ought the Indians had well applyed it in saying they were men sent from God It is a thing very well worthy of consideration how the greatnesse and prouidence of God disposed of the enâ—rie of our men at Peru which had beene impossible were not the dissention of the two Brethren and their Partisans and the great opinion they had of Christians as of men sent from Heauen bound by the taking of the Indians Country to labour to win soules vnto Almightie God THe rest of this subiect is handled at large by the Spanish Writers in the Histories of the Indies and for that it is not my purpose I will speake onely of the succession of the Inguas Atahualpa being dead in Xaxamalca and Guascar in Cusco and Francis Piçarre with his people hauing seised on the Realme Mangocapa sonne to Guaynacapa besieged them in Cusco very straightly but in the end he abandoned the whole Country and retyred himselfe to Vilca
to death and the rest sent them instructions of the Sentences they had giuen By meanes whereof they gaue the King to vnderstand what had passed in his Realme There was a good order and settled policie for the Reuenues of the Crowne for there were Officers diuided throughout all the Prouinces as Receiuers and Treasurers which receiued the Tributes and Royall Reuenues And they carried the Tribute to the Court at the least euery moneth which Tribute was of all things that doe grow or ingender on the Land or in the water aswell of Iewels and Apparell as of Meat They were very carefull for the well ordering of that which concerned their Religion Superstition and Idolatries and for this occasion there were a great number of Ministers to whom charge was giuen to teach the people the custome and ceremonies of their Law Hereupon one day a christian Priest made his complaint that the Indians were no good Christians and did not profit in the Law of God an old Indian answered him very well to the purpose in these termes Let the Priest said he imploy as much care and diligence to make the Indians Christians as the Ministers of Idols did to teach them their ceremonies for with halfe that care they will make vs the best Christians in the world for that the Law of Iesus Christ is much better but the Indians learne it not for want of men to instruct them Wherein he spake the very truth to our great shame and confusion THe Mexicans gaue the first place of honour to the profession of Armes and therefore the Noble-men are their chiefe Souldiers and others that were not noble by their valour and reputation gotten in warres came to Dignities and Honors so as they were held for Noble-men They gaue goodly recompences to such as had done valiantly who inioyed priuiledges that none else might haue the which did much incourage them Their Armes were of Rasors of sharpe cutting flints which they set on either side of a staffe which was so furious a weapon as they affirmed that with one blow they would cut off the necke of a Horse They had strange and heauy Clubs Lances fashioned like Pikes and other manner of Darts to cast wherein they were very expert but the greatest part of their combate was performed with stones For defensiue armes they had little Rondaches or Targats and some kinde of Morions or Head-pieces inuironed with feathers They were clad in the skinnes of Tigres Lions and other sauage beasts They came presently to hands with the Enemie and were greatly practised to runne and wrestle for thir chiefe manner of combate was not so much to kill as to take Captiues the which they vsed in their sacrifices as hath beene said Moteçuma set Knight-hood in his highest splendor ordayning certaine militarie orders as Commanders with certaine markes and ensignes The most honorable amongst the Knights were those that carried the crowne of their haire tied with a little red Ribband hauing a rich plume of feathers from the which did hang branches of feathers vpon their shoulders and rolls of the same They carried so many of these rolls as they had done worthy deeds in warre The King himselfe was of this order as may be seene in Chapultepec where Moteçuma and his sonnes were attyred with those kindes of feathers cut in the Rocke the which is worthy the sight There was another order of Knight-hood which they called the Lions and the Tigres the which were commonly the most valiant and most noted in warre they went alwayes with their Markes and Armories There were other Knights as the Grey Knights the which were not so much respected as the rest they had their haire cut round about the eare They went to the warre with markes like to the other Knights yet they were not armed but to the girdle and the most honorable were armed all ouer All Knights might carry gold and siluer and weare rich Cotton vse painted and gilt vessell and carry shooes after their manner but the common people might vse none but earthen vessell neither might they carry shooes nor attire themselues but in Nequen the which is a grosse stuffe Euery order of these Knights had his lodging in the Pallace noted with their markes the first was called the Princes lodging the second of Eagles the third of Lyons and Tigers and the fourth of the grey Knights The other common officers were lodged vnderneath in meaner lodging◠if any one lodged out of his place he suffred death THere is nothing that giues me more cause to admire nor that I finde more worthy of commendations and memory then the order and care the Mexicans had to nourish their youth for they knew well that all the good hope of a Common-weale consisted in the nurture and institution of youth whereof Plato treates amply in his bookes De Legibus and for this reason they laboured and tooke paines to sequester their children from delights and liberties which are the two plagues of this age imploying them in honest and profitable exercises For this cause there was in their Temples a priuate house for children as Schooles or Colledges which was seperate from that of the yong men and maides of the Temple whereof we haue discoursed as large There were in these Schooles a great number of children whom their fathers did willingly bring thither and which had teachers and masters to instruct them in all commendable exercises to be of good behauiour to respect their superiours to serue and obey them giuing them to this end certaine precepts and instructions And to the end they might be pleasing to Noblemen they taught them to sing and dance and did practise them in the exercise of warre some to shoote an Arrow to cast a dart or a staffe burnr at the end and to handle well a Target and a Sword They suffered them not to sleepe much to the end they might accustome themselues to labour in their youth and not be men giuen to delights Besides the ordinary number of these children there were in the same Colledges other children of Lords and Noblemen the which were instructed more priuately They brought them their meate and ordinary from their houses and were recommended to ancients and old men to haue care ouer them who continually did aduise them to be vertuous and to liue chastely to be sober in their diet to fast and to march grauely and with measure They were accustomed to exercise them to trauell and in laborious exercises and when they see them instructed in all these things they did carefully looke into their inclination if they found any one addicted vnto warre being of sufficient yeares they sought all occasions to make triall of them sending them to the warre vnder colour to carrie victuals and munition to the Souldiers to the end they might there see what passed and the labour they suffered And that they might abandon all feare they were laden