from out of the Ocean which in those parts is very great and spacious and hauing drawne vnto it this great abundance of vapours doth suddenly dissolue them into raine and it is approued by many tried experiences that the raine and great stormes from Heauen proceed from the violent heate of the Sunne first as we haue said before it raines in those Countries when as the Sunne casts his beames directly vpon the earth at which time he hath most force but when the Sunne retires the heate is moderate and then there falls no raine whereby wee may conclude that the force and heate of the Sunne is the cause of raine in those Countries Moreouer we obserue both in Peru new Spaine and in all the burning Zone that the raine doth vsually fal in the afternoone when as the Sunne beames are in their greatest force being strange to see it raine in the morning And therefore Trauellers foreseeing it begin their iourneys early that they may end and rest before noone for they hold that commonly it raines after noone Such as haue frequented and trauelled those Countries can sufficiently speake thereof And there are that hauing made some abode there say that the greatest abundance of raine is when the Moone is at the full but to say the truth I could neuer make sufficient proofe thereof although I haue obserued it Moreouer the dayes the yeere and the moneths shew the truth hereof that the violent heaâ—e of the Sunne causeth the raine in the burning Zone experience teacheth vs the like in artificiall things as in a Limbecke wherein they draw waters from herbs and flowers for the vehemency of the fire forceth and driueth vp an abundance of vapours which being pressed and finding no issue are conuerted into liquor and water The like wee see in gold and siluer which we refine with quick-siluer the fire being small and slow we draw out almost nothing of the quick-siluer but if it be quick and violent it doth greatly euaporate the quick-siluer which encountring the head aboue doth presently turne into liquor and begins to drop downe Euen so the violent heate of the Sunne produceth these two effects when it findes matter disposed that is to draw vp the vapours on high and to dissolue them presently and turne them into raine when there is any obstacle to consume them And although these things seeme contrarie that one Sunne within the burning Zone being neere should cause raine and without the Zone afarre off should breed the like effect so it is that all well considered there is no contrarietie A thousand effects in naturall causes proceed of contrarie things by diuers meanes we drie linnen by the fire and in the aire and yet the one heats and the other cooles Pastures are dried and hardened by the Sunne and with the Frost moderate exercise prouokes sleepe being too violent it hindereth if you lay no wood on the fire it dyeth if you lay on too much it likewise quencheth for the onely proportion entertaines and makes it to continue To well discerne a thing it must not be too neere the eye nor too farre off but in a reasonable distance proportionable being too farre off from any thing we lose the sight and too neere likewise we cannot see it If the Sunne beams be weake they draw vp no fogge from the Riuers if they be violent hauing drawne vp the vapours they presently dissolue and consume them but if the heat be moderate it drawes vp and preserues it for this reason the vapours rise not commonly in the night nor at noone but in the morning when as the Sunne begins to enter into his force There are a thousand examples of naturall causes vpon this subiect which wee see doe often grow from contrarie things whereby we must not wonder if the Sunne being neere engenders raine and being farre off works the like effect but being of a moderate and proportionable distance causeth none at all Yet there remaines one doubt why the neernesse of the Sunne causeth the raine vnder the burning Zone and without when it is farthest off In my opinion the reason is that in Winter without the Tropicks the Sunne hath not force sâ—fficient to consume the vapours which rise from the Land and Sea for these vapours grow in great abundance in the cold Region of the aire where they are congealed and thickned by the extremitie of the cold and after being pressed they dissolue and turne into water Therefore in Winter when the Sunne is farthest off the dayes short and the nights long his heat hath small force but when the Sunne approcheth which is in the Summer time his force is such as it drawes vp the vapours and suddenly consumes and disperseth them for the heat and the length of the dayes grow through the neernesse of the Sunne But within the Tropicks vnder the burning Zone the farre distance of the Sunne workes the same effects that the neernesse doth without the Tropicks by reason whereof it raines no more vnder the burning Zone when the Sunne is farre off then without the Tropicks when it is neerest for that in this approching and retyring the Sunne remayns alwayes in one distance whence proceedes this effect of cleernesse But when the Sunne is in the period of his force in the burning Zone and that he cast his beames directly vpon the Inhabitants heads there is neither cleernesse nor drynesse as it seemes there should be but rather great and strange showers for that by this violent heat he drawes vp suddenly a great abundance of vapours from the Earth and Ocean which are so thicke as the winde not able easily to disperse them they melt into water which breedeth the cold raine in so great abundance for the excessiue heat may soone draw vp many vapours the which are not so soone dissolued and being gathered together through their great abundance they melt and dissolue into water The which wee may easily discerne by this familiar example roast a piece of Porke Mutton or Veale if the fire be violent and the meate neere wee see the fat melts suddenly and drops away the reason is that the violent heat drawes forth the humour and fat from the meat and being in great abundance cannot dissolue it and so it distils more away But when the fire is moderate and the meat in an equall distance wee see that it roasts handsomly and the fat drops not too suddenly for that the moderate heat drawes out the moistnesse which it consumes suddenly And therefore Cookes make a moderate fire and lay not their meate too neere nor too farre off lest it melt away The like may bee seene in anoother experience in candles of tallow or waxe if the wike bee great it melts the tallow or the waxe for that the heat cannot consume the moistnesse which riseth but if the flame bee proportionable the wax melts nor drops not for that the flame doth waste it by little and little as it riseth But this is
desired him to thinke of deliuering the Holy Land out of the hands of the Pagans wherein he promised all his best endeauour and wished the King to send messengers to the Pope and to other Princes of Christendome for their assistance So Abaga hauing ordered the affaires of Turkie returned to the Kingdome of Corazen where hee had left his familie Bendecar the Soldan of Egypt after he had receiued such damage by the Tartars was poisoned died in Damascus whereof the Christians of those parts were very glad And the Saracens very sorrowfull for they had not his like after as they themselues commonly reported For his sonne called Melechahic succeeded him who was soone driuen out of his Dominion by one called Elsi who violently vsurping made himselfe Soldan 36. The time appointed being come when Abaga was to begin his warre against the Soldan of Egypt hee appointed his brother Mangodanior to goe to the Kingdome of Syria with thirtie thousand men being Tartars and couragiously to ouercome the Soldan if he came in battell against him or otherwise to take in the Castles and Holds of the Countrey and deliuer them to the Christians if the Soldan should shun the fight When Mangodanior with his Armie setting forward was come neere the Confines of Armenia hee sent for the King of Armenia who came presently vnto him with a goodly companie of Horse so that they entred the Kingdome of Syria and went spoyling and forraging till they came to the Citie Aman now called Camella which is seated in the midst of Syria Before this Citie lieth a faire great Playne where the Soldan of Egypt had assembled his Power intending to fight with the Tartarians And there the Saracen on the one side with the Christians and Tartars on the other side fought a great battell The King of Armenia with the Christians ruled and commanded the right wing of the Armie which inuaded the Soldans left wing manfully and put them to flight and pursued them three dayes iourney euen to the Citie Aman. Another part of the Soldans Armie was also routed by Amalech a Tartarian Captaine who pursued them also three dayes iourney to a Citie called Turara When they thought the Soldans Power vtterly ouerthrowne Mangodanior who neuer had seene the conflicts of warre before being afraid without any reasonable cause of certaine Saracens called Beduini withdrew himselfe out of the field hauing the better forsaking the King of Armenia and his Captaine which had preuayled against his enemies When the Soldan which thought he had lost all saw the field cleere and all abandoned he got vpon a little hill with foure armed men and stood there The King of Armenia returning from the pursuit and missing Mangodanior in the field was much astonied and imagining which way hee should be gone followed after him But Amalech returning from the enemies whom he had pursued abode two dayes expecting his Lord supposing that he had followed after him as he ought for the further subduing of his enemies and the Countrey which they had ouercome till at last hauing heard of his retrait leauing his victorie hee made speed after him whom hee found on the banke of the Riuer Euphrates staying for him And then the Tartars returned to their owne Prouince But the King of Armenia sustained much losse and hard aduenture in his returne for the Horses of the Christians of the Kingdome of Armenia were so wearied and spent with the length of the way and want of Fodder that they were not able to trauell so that the Christians going scatteringly by vnvsuall wayes were often found out and slayne without mercy by the Saracens inhabiting those parts Insomuch that the greatest part of the Armie was lost and in a manner all the Nobility And this misaduenture of Mangodanior happened in the yeere of our Lord 1282. When Abaga vnderstood the successe hereof he assembled all his people and when hee was readie to set forward with all his power against the Saracens a certaine Saracen the sonne of the Deuill came to the Kingdome of Persia and preuayled by giuing great gifts to sâ—me that serued neere about Abaga in such sort that both he and his brother Mangodanior were poysoned both in one day and died both within eight dayes after The trueth whereof was afterwards disclosed by the mischieuous Malefactors themselues And so died Abaga Can in the yeere of our Lord 1282. 37. After the death of Abaga Can the Tartars assembled themselues and ordayned ouer them a brother of his called Tangodor who had ouergone the rest of his brethren In his youth he had receiued the Sacrament of Baptisme and was baptised by the name of Nicholas But being come to riper yeeres and keeping companie with Saracens whom hee loued hee became a wicked Saracen and renouncing Christian Religion would be called Mahomet Can and laboured by all meanes to turne all the Tartarians to that irreligious Sect of Mahomet the sonne of Iniquitie in such sort that those that hee could not compell by violence hee aâ—lured by preferments and rewards insomuch that in his time many of the Tartarians became professed Saracens as at this day appeareth This Child of perdition commanded the Churches of the Christians to be destroyed and forbade them to vse any of their religious Rites or Ceremonies Hee caused the doctrine of Mahomet to bee publikely preached the Christians to bee banished and their Churches in the Citie of Tauris vtterly to bee destroyed Hee sent Messengers also to the Soldan of Egypt and concluded a Peace and a League with him promising that all the Christians within his Dominion should become Saracens or else lose their heads which gaue the Saracens cause of much reioycing and made the Christians very sad Hee sent moreouer to the King of Armenia in Georgia and to the other Christian Princes of those parts to come vnto him without delay But they resolued rather to die in battell then to obey his commandement for other remedie they could finde none And the Christians being now in such anguish and bitternesse of heart that they rather desired to die then to liue euen God which neuer refuseth them that put their trust in him sent consolation to them all For a Brother of this Mahomet with a Nephew of his also called Argon opposing themselues and rebelling against him for his euill deeds did signifie to Cobila Can the great Emperour of the Tartarians how he had forsaken the steps of his Ancestors and was become a wicked Saracen labouring with all his might to bring the rest of Tartars to be Saracens also Which when Cobila Can vnderstood he was much displeased thereat insomuch that he sent and required Mahomet to reforme his euill wayes for otherwise he would proceed against him Which message replenished him with wrath and indignation insomuch that he being perswaded there was none that durst gainsay his proceedings but his Brother and his Nephew
sense and did their seruice and so by that time that they had done the water was holy which being sanctified the Metropolitan tooke a little thereof in his hands and cast it on the Emperour likewise vpon certaine of the Dukes and then they returned againe to the Church with the Priests that sate about the water but that prease that there was about the water when the Emperour was gone was wonderfull to behold for there came aboue fiue thousand Pots to be filled of that water for that Moscouite which hath no part of that water thinks himselfe vnhappy And very many went naked into the water both Men and Women and Children after the prease was a little gone the Emperours Iennets and Horses were brought to drinke of the same water and likewise many other men brought their Horses thither to drinke and by that meanes they make their Horses as holy as themselues All these ceremonies being ended we went to the Emperour to dinner where we were serued in vessels of siluer and in all other points as we had beene beforetime The Russes begin their Lent alwayes eight weeks before Easter the first weeke they eate Egs Milke Cheese and Butter and make great cheare with Pan-cakes and such other things one friend visiting another and from the same Sunday vntill our Shroue-sunday there are but few Russes sober but they are drunke day by day and it is accounted for no reproach or shame among them The next weeke being our first weeke in Lent or our cleansing weeke beginning our Shroue-sunday they make and keepe a great Fast. It is reported and the people doe verily beleeue that the Metropolitan neither eateth nor drinketh any manner of thing for the space of seuen dayes and they say that there are many Religious men which doe the like The Emperours Maiestie eateth but one morsell of bread and drinketh but one draught of drinke once in the day during that weeke and all men that are of any reputation come not out of their houses during that time so that the streets are almost voide of companie sauing a few poore folkes which wander to and fro The other sixe weekes they keepe as we doe ours but not one of them will eate either Butter Cheese Egs or Milke On Palme-sunday they haue a very solemne Procession in this manner following First they haue a Tree of a good bignesse which is made fast vpon two Sleds as though it were growing there and it is hanged with Apples Raisins Figs and Dates and with many other fruits abundantly In the midst of the same Tree stand fiue Boyes in white vestures which sing in the Tree before the Procession after this there followed certaine young men with Wax Tapers in their hands burning and a great Lanthorne that all the light should not goe out after them followed two with long Banners and sixe with round plates set vpon long staues the plates were of Copper very full of holes and thinne then followed sixe carrying painted Images vpon their shoulders after the Images followed certaine Priests to the number of one hundred or more with goodly vestures whereof ten or twelue are of white Damaske set and embroidered round about with faire and orient Pearles as great as Pease and among them certaine Saphires and other stones After them followed the one halfe of the Emperours Noblemen then commeth the Emperours Maiestie and the Metropolitan after this manner First there is a Horse couered with white linnen cloth downe to the ground his eares being made long with the same cloth like to an Asses eares Vpon this Horse the Metropolitan sitteth side-long like a woman in his lappe lieth a faire Booke with a Crucifixe of Gold-smiths worke vpon the couer which he holdeth fast with his left hand and in his right hand he hath a Crosse of Gold with which Crosse he ceaseth not to blesse the people as hee rideth There are to the number of thirtie men which spread abroad their garments before the Horse and as soone as the Horse is past ouer any of them they take them vp againe and runne before and spread them againe so that the Horse doth alway goe on some of them They which spread the garments are all Priests sonnes and for their labours the Emperour giueth vnto them new garments One of the Emperours Noblemen leadeth the Horse by the head but the Emperour himselfe going on foot leadeth the Horse by the end of the reyne of his Bridle with one of his hands and in the other of his hands hee had a branch of a Palme tree after this followed the rest of the Emperours Noblemen and Gentlemen with a great number of other people In this order they went from one Church to another within the Castle about the distance of two flight shot and so returned againe to the Emperours Church where they made an end of their seruice Which being done the Emperours Maiestie and certaine of his Noblemen went to the Metropolitan his house to dinner where of delicate fishes and good drinkes there was no lacke The rest of this weeke vntill Easter day they kept very solemnely continuing in their houses for the most part and vpon Munday or Thursday the Emperour doth alwaies vse to receiue the Sacrament and so doe most of his Nobles Vpon Good-friday they continue all the day in contemplation and prayers and they vse euery yeere on Good-friday to let loose a Prisoner in the stead of Barrabas The night following they goe to the Church where they sleepe vntill the next morning and at Easter they haue the Resurrection and after euery of the Lents they eate flesh the next weeke following Friday Saturday and all They haue an order at Easter which they alwaies obserue and that is this euery yeere against Easter to dye or colour red with Brazell a great number of Egges of which euery man and woman giueth one vnto the Priest of their Parish vpon Easter day in the morning And moreouer the common people vse to carrie in their hands one of their red Egges not onely vpon Easter day but also three or foure dayes after and Gentlemen and Gentlewomen haue Egges gilded which they carrie in like manner They vse it as they say for a great loue and in token of the Resurrection whereof they reioyce For when two friends meet during the Easter holy dayes they come and take one another by the hand the one of them saith the Lord or Christ is risen the other answereth it is so of a truth and then they kisse and exchange their Egges both men and women continuing in kissing foure dayes together His Majestie heareth all Complaints himselfe and with his owne mouth giueth sentence and judgement of all matters and that with expedition but Religious matters hee medleth not withall but referreth them wholly vnto the Metropolitane His Majestie retayneth and well rewardeth all strangers that come to serue him and especially men of Warre He delighteth not greatly in
vnto the Sunne and vnto the Saints of heauen adding thereunto many words of prayers but principally they did request that the comming of their new ghests might be profitable vnto them all and that the friendship which they did pretend to establish might be for good both vnto the one and to the other This their prayer being done they did spill out the Wine making a great courtesie then were they straight-wayes filled againe and making reuerence vnto their ghests euery one by himselfe they set the Cups downe vpon the Tables whereas the Fathers should dine whereas they were set euerie one by himselfe This being done the first seruice was set vpon the boards and the Captaynes were set at other Tables The time which the banquet indured which was very late there was great store of musicke of diuers Instruments as of Vials Gitterns and Rebuckes and with them many Iesters did make them merrie at their dinner The which being done the sayd Captayns did beare their ghests companie out of the Palace whereas they did anew inuite them to dinner for the next day in the same Hall they obeying their request did come whereas was made vnto them a banquet more notable than the first This day at the banquet was present the Totoc In this second banquet they had as the day before very much musicke and a Comedie that indured long with many prettie and merrie iests there was also a Tumbler who did his feates very artificially as well in vauting in the ayre as vpon a staffe that two men did hold on their shoulders Before the Comedie did begin by their Interpreter the signification thereof was told them that the better they might content themselues in the conceiuing The next day they sent the present and those who carryed it in did afterward giue our people to vnderstand that in opening the present there was a note thereof taken before a Noâ—arie and straight-wayes put in againe where it was taken out before the sayd Notarie and other witnesses the which being done hee sealed it vp and sent it vnto the Citie of Taybin vnto the King and his Counsell for that they haue a rigorous Law in that Kingdome that doth prohibite all such as haue any office of Gouernment to receiue any present of what qualitie soeuer it bee without licence of the King or of his Counsell This is conformable vnto that which the Gouernour of Chinâ—heo did in the presence of our people The next day following the Vice-roy did â—end to visite them and to aske of them a Sword a Harquebusse and a Flaske for that hee would cause others to bee made by them the which they did send and afterwards vnderstood that they had counterfeited the same although not in so perfect manner Then afâ—er a time our people seeing that their being in that Citie seemed to be long and like to be longer they did procure to driue away the time in the best manner they could and went abroad into the Citie and did by either of them that which they thought best Whereof they found great abundance and of so small price that they bought it almost for nothing They bought many Bookes that did intreat of diuers matters which they brought with them to the Ilands The next day they went to see the Gates of the Citie and all such curious things as were to bee seene so farre as they could learne or vnderstand which were many But amongst them all they saw a sumptuous Temple of their Idols in whose chiefe Chappell they counted one hundred and eleuen Idols besides a great number more that were in other particuler Chappels all were of carued worke very well proportioned and gilded but in especiall three of them that were placed in the midst of all the rest the one had three heads proceeding out of one bodie the one looking on the other in full face the second was the forme of a Woman with a Child in her armes the third of a Man apparelled after the forme and fashion that the Christians doe paynt the Apostles Of all the rest some had foure armes and some had sixe and other eight and other some maruellous deformed monsters Before them they had burning Lamps and many sweet perfumes and smels but in especiall before the three aboue specified But when that the Vice-roy did vnderstand that our people did goe viewing the Citie gates and Temples and perceiueth that they that gaue him the notice did suspect it that it was to some ill intent therewith hee straight-wayes commanded that they should not goe forth of their lodging without his licence and likewise commanded the Captayne that was their guard not to consent thereunto as he had done and likewise that none should carrie them any thing for to sell for he that did it should be punished with whipping Yet notwithstanding they had euery day very sufficient necessaries for their personages in such ample wise that there did always remayne and not lacke In this closenesse and keeping in they suffered many dayes with much sadnesse and oppressed with melancholicke humours to see that their purpose wherefore they went thither seemed to be long and euery day was worse and worse Yet notwithstanding they did passe it ouer in the best wise they could in committing it with heartie zeale vnto God for whose honour and glory they did attempt that voyage and prayed vnto him for to mooue their hearts to consent that the religious Fathers might remayne in that Countrey for to learne the language as they had begun many dayes before by which meanes their soules might be saued and clearely deliuered from the tyrannie of the Deuil who of truth had them in possession So after many dayes that they had remayned in that close estate as aforesayd they determined for to goe and talke with the Vice-roy and to bee fully resolued either to tarrie or returne from whence they came but were not permitted In this order they remayned in the Citie certayne dayes and for to conclude either to stay there or depart the Kingdome they were resolute and determined to write a Letter vnto the the Vice-roy They could finde none that would write this letter for them although they would haue payed them very well for their paines Till in the end by great request and prayings the Captayne Omoncon did write it for them and straight-wayes departed vnto the Citie of Ampin that was not farre off to put away the suspition they might conceiue that hee did write the letter if that peraduenture the Vice-roy would take it in ill part Their letter being written they found great difficultie in sending the same for that there was none that would carrie it neither would they consent that our men should enter into the Palace to deliuer it But in conclusion what with requests and gifts they perswaded their Captayne of their guard to carrie it who did deliuer the same vnto the Vice-roy in name of
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
name which among vs signifieth some small matter The Chinois doe not distinguish them by great or small and so their Villages are bigger then others which wee call Townes All the Cities and Townes are very well enclosed with high walls And because as I said I deferre this vntill another time I will only speake of Nanquin whereof I had some sight This Citie standeth in two and thirtie degrees and an halfe eight or ten leagues from the Sea vnto which it hath a mouth and a mightie Riuer It hath three walls of Bricke very high and faire with very great and beautifull gates which they shut vp very timely before night This Citie of old time two hundred yeeres past was the habitation of the Kings of China and so it continueth in very good condition The streets are very broad and all paued with very great square stones or set with brickes It hath exceeding long streets of two leagues and two leagues and an halfe and in the middest of the Citie are the Kings Palaces which are very great The Chinois declare the circuit of this Citie that two Horsemen going in the morning both out of the same gate and one going on the one side and the other on the other going all the day they meet at night in the gate opposite to that which they went out at The very truth is that it is at least eleuen or twelue leagues in circuit and seemeth to haue aboue two hundred thousand houses of people It seemed to all of vs that were there that Nanquin and this Citie of Paquin each of them haue as many people or more then foure of the most famous and populous Cities of all our Europe as Rome Lisbon and others of the greater sort For whereas these two whereof I speake are in themselues so great Cities not one nor two streets but the greater part of the Citie euery day doth swarme with people There are about this Citie many others within one or two dayes iourney and very famous for greatnesse and trafficke among which there are two one named Hancheo the other Sucheo and this is very great and like to Venice whose streets are halfe water and halfe land The Chinois call these Cities Paradise to expresse the goodnesse abundance and cheapnesse of all things that are in this Kingdome and come from other places And Sucheo is so full of people merchandise and trafficke that a Booke which is printed wherein all things are set downe which the Prouinces and Cities pay to the King saith that this only payeth one yeere with another in Siluer Gold Rice and Silke and other things wherewith it doth greatly abound twelue millions so that there be whole Prouinces that amount not to so much by a great deale which though it seeme an incredible thing yet they write it for a certaintie and hee which knoweth what these Cities are will beleeue it Yet for all this these Cities haue no notable things neither sumptuous Temples nor buildings which are wont to be those things which doe beautifie a Citie for the houses are not beautifull outwardly nor they vse no great Porches as they doe in our Countrey And he that hath seene the things of our Countrey and is skilfull in architecture shal find it here very little For the houses are low and without galleries lofts windowes or sight into the street yet they haue faire yards and are very neate within and painted with diuers colours with that Charan or liquid Gumme whereof I made mention before And that which I speake of Nanquin touching the abundance of people trafficke and manner of houses is after the same manner in the other Cities which we saw For the Chinois are so like and so vniforme in all naturall and artificiall things that he that hath seene one of the principall Cities findeth no new thing to bee seene in the others And albeit that other Cities are not comparable to these in bignesse yet in multitude of people proportionally there is little difference This Kingdome is commonly very fertile of all things that are necessarie for the vse of man and a great cause of the fertilitie and abundance thereof proceedeth of the great number of exceeding great Riuers which it hath which besides the profit that the Riuers yeeld by the fishing and besides the profit in watering of the grounds wherein they stand the Chinois in great stead they are occasion of great trafficke and communication of one Prouince with another with great ease by water which is an enriching to them that vse it and of great plentie in euery Citie of all things that are in the Kingdome From our departure from Macao till within a little of Paquin which is as I said sixe hundred leagues wee trauelled not past one day by Land because wee would not fetch too great a compasse about by water wee trauelled a great part of this way vnto Nanquin by the greatest Riuer that euer I saw in my life which in some parts is aboue three leagues broad and very deepe which the Chinois for the greatnesse thereof doe call The little Sea and that with good reason For though it were an hundred leagues from the Sea where I entred into it yet there is great abundance of fish of those kindes which breed in the Sea as Porposies fishes with sharpe beakes and others which I haue seene I saw in this Riuer neere the bankes thereof men fish with certaine Fowles as bigge as small Geeâ—e like vnto Rauens with a long beake and bending downeward like a crooked hooke which the Chinois teach to fish They haue a very long necke which they binde in such sort that the fishes cannot goe downe into their stomacke but they fill their throat with them if they be small fishes and when they come out of the water they make them cast them out and if the fish bee great hee fighteth with him and beateth him with pecking assaulting him with his bill vntill hee driue him vp that the Fisher may see him which commeth quickly with a small Net like a Wheele vpon a staffe and hee taketh him vnder the water And after this sort wee saw this Fowle take Fishes sometimes of a pound and a pound and halfe weight and they say they take bigger And because this fishing is so gainfull and so certaine they pay a certaine Tribute to the King for euery one of these Rauens or Cormorants Wee met with another Riuer as great as this which seemed to bee rather of mudde then water because the water was alwaies mingled with earth which whence it should come for so many yeeres I wot not They cannot drinke the water without they clarifie it which they doe with Alume Besides these two Riuers all the rest is made by hand for vessels to passe to Paquin The Vessels which we saw in all the Cities which we passed is one of the greatest things
by reason of the great frost and cold and that day wee went twice with our Sleds to fetch Wood. The fiue and twentieth it was darke wether the wind blowing West West South-west and South-west and the Ice began somwhat to open and driue away but it continued not long for that hauing driuen about the length of the shot of a great Peece it lay three fathoms deepe vpon the ground and where we lay the Ice draue not for we lay in the middle of the Ice but if we had layne in the mayne Sea we would haue hoysed sayle although it was then late in the yeere The same day we raysed vp the principles of our house and began to worke hard thereon but if the ship had beene loose we would haue left our building and haue made our after Steuen of our ship that we might haue beene ready to sayle away if it had beene possible The sixe and twentieth wee had a West wind and an open Sea but our ship lay fast wherewith we were not a little grieued but it was Gods will which we most patiently bare and wee began to make vp our house part of our men fetched Wood to burne the rest played the Carpenters and were busie about the house as then we were sixteene men in all for our Carpenter was dead and of our sixteene men there was still one or other sicke The seuen and twentieth it blew hard North-east and it froze so hard that as we put a nayle into our mouthes as when men worke Carpenters worke they vse to doe there would Ice hang thereon when we tooke it out againe and make the bloud follow the same day there came an old Beare and a young one towards vs as we were going to our house being all together for we durst not goe alone which we thought to shoot at but she ran away at which time the Ice came forcibly driuing in and it was faire Sun-shine weather but so extreme cold that we could hardly worke but extremity forced vs thereunto The eight and twentieth it was faire weather and the Sunne shone the Wind being West and very calme the Sea as then being open but our ship lay fast in the Ice and stirred not the same day there came a Beare to the ship but when she espyed vs she ranne away and we made as much haste as wee could to build our House The nine and twentieth in the morning the Wind was West and after-noone it blew Northerly and then wee saw three Beares betweene vs and the House an old one and two young but we notwithstanding drew our goods from the ship to the House and so got before the Beares and yet they followed vs neuerthelesse we would not shun the way for them but hollowed out as loud as we could thinking that they wold haue gone away but they would not once goe out of their foot-path but got before vs wherewith we and they that were at the house made a great noyse which made the Beares run away and we were not a little glad thereof The thirtieth the Wind was East and East South-east and all that night and the next day it snowed so fast that our men could fetch no Wood it lay so close and high one vpon the other then wee made a great fire without the House therewith to thaw the ground that so we might lay it about the House that it might bee the closer but it was all lost labour for the Earth was so hard and frozen so deepe into the ground that wee could not thaw it and it would haue cost vs too much Wood and therefore wee were forced to leaue off that labour §. II. Their cold comfortlesse darke and dreadfull Winter the Sunnes absence Moones light Sunnes vnexpected returne with miraculous speed Of Beares Foxes and many many Wonders THe first of October the Wind blew stiffe North-east and after-noone it blew North with a great storme and drift of Snow whereby wee could hardly goe in the Wind and a man could hardly draw his breath the Snow draue so hard in our faces at which time we could not see two ships length from vs. The second before noone the Sunne shone and after noone it was cloudie againe and it snew but the vveather was still the Wind being North and then South and vvee set vp our House and vpon it wee placed a May-pole made of frozen Snow The third before noone it was calme Sun-shine vveather but so cold that it was hard to bee indured and after-noone it blew hard out of the West vvith so great extreme cold that if it had continued we should haue beene forced to leaue our vvorke The fourth the Wind was West and after-noone North with great store of Snow vvhereby vve could not vvorke at that time vve brought our Anchor vpon the Ice to lye the faster vvhen vvee lay but an Arrovv shot from the Water the Ice was so much driuen away The fifth it blevv hard North-west and the Sea vvas very open and vvithout Ice as farre as vve could discerne but vve lay still frozen as vve did before and our ship lay two or three foot deepe in the Ice and vvee could not perceiue otherwise but that vvee lay fast vpon the ground and then it vvas three fathome and a halfe deepe The same day vve brake vp the lower deck of the fore-part of our ship and vvith those Deales vve couered our Houses and made it slope ouer head that the Water might runne off at vvhich time it vvas very cold The sixth it blew hard West South-west but towards Eeuening West North-west with a great Snow that wee could hardly thrust our heads out of the doore by reason of the great cold The seuenth it was indifferent good weather but yet very cold and wee calk't our House and brake the ground about it at the foot thereof that day the Wind went round about the Compasse The eight all the night before it blew so hard and the same day also and snowed so fast that we should haue smothered if we had gone out into the Ayre and to speake truth it had not beene possible for any man to haue gone one ships length though his life had layen thereon for it was not possible for vs to goe out of the House or ship The ninth the Wind still continued North and blew and snowed hard all that day the Wind as then blowing from the Land so that all that day we were forced to stay in the ship the weather was so foule The tenth the weather was somewhat fairer and the Wind calmer and blew South-west and West and South-west and that time the Water flowed two foote higher then ordinary which we ghest to proceede from the first North-wind which as then had blowne The same day the weather began to be somewhat better so that we began to go out of our ship againe and as one of our men went out he chanced to meet
our house and the Ice melted in our Cabins and the water dropped downe which was not so before how great soeuer our fire was but that night it was cold againe The eighteenth it was faire cleare weather with a South-east wind then our Wood began to consume and so we agreed to burne some of our Sea-coles and not to stop vp the Chimney and then we should not need to feare any hurt which we did and found no disease thereby but we thought it better for vs to keepe the Coles and to burne our Wood more sparingly for that the Coles would serue vs better when we should sayle home in our open Scute The one and twentieth it was faire weather with a West wind at that time taking of Foxes began to fayle vs which was a signe that the Beares would come againe as not long after we found it to be true for as long as the Beares stay away the Foxes came abroad and not much before the Beares come abroad the Foxes were but little seene The two and twentieth it was faire weather with a West wind then we went out againe to cast the Bullet and perceiued that day-light began to appeare whereby some of vs said that the Sunne would soone appeare vnto vs but William Barents to the contrary said that it was yet two weekes too soone The three and twentieth it was faire calme weather with a South-west wind then foure of vs went to the ship and comforted each other giuing God thankes that the hardest time of the Winter was past being in good hope that we should liue to talke of those things at home in our owne Countrey and when we were in the ship we found that the water rose higher and higher in it and so each of vs taking a Bisket or two with vs wee went home againe The foure and twentieth it was faire cleare weather with a West wind then I and Iacob Heemskerke and another with vs went to the Sea-side on the South side of Noua Zembla where contrary to our expectation I first saw the edge of the Sunne wherewith wee went speedily home againe to tell William Barents and the rest of our companions that ioyfull newes but William Barents being a wise and well experienced Pilot would not beleeue it esteeming it to be about fourteene dayes to soone for the Sunne to shine in that part of the World but we earnestly affirmed the contrarie and said that we had seene the Sunne The fiue and twentieth and sixe and twentieth it was misty and close weather so that wee could not see any thing then they that layed the contrary wager with vs thought that they had won but vpon the seuen and twentieth day it was cleare weather and then wee saw the Sunne in his full roundnesse aboue the Horizon whereby it manifestly appeared that wee had seene it vpon the foure and twentieth day of Ianuary And as we were of diuers opinions touching the same and that wee said it was cleane contrary to the opinions of all old and new Writers yea and contrary to the nature and roundnesse both of Heauen and Earth some of vs said that seeing in long time there had beene no day that it might be that we had ouerslept our selues whereof we were better assured but concerning the thing in it selfe seeing God is wonderfull in all his workes we will referre that to his almightie power and leaue it vnto others to dispute of but for that no man shall thinke vs to be in doubt thereof if wee should let this passe without discoursing vpon it therefore we will make some declaration thereof whereby we may assure our selues that we kept good reckoning You must vnderstand that when we first saw the Sun it was in the fift degr and 25. min. of Aquarius and it should haue staid according to our first ghessing till it had entred into the 16. deg and 27. min. of Aquarius before he should haue shewed there vnto vs in the height of 76. deg Which we striuing and contending about it amongst our selues could not be satisfied but wondred thereat and some amongst vs were of opinion that we had mistaken our selues which neuerthelesse we could not be perswaded vnto for that euery day without sayle wee noted what had past and also had vsed our Clocke continually and when that was frozen wee vsed our Houre-glasse of twelue houres long whereupon wee argued with our selues in diuers wise to know how we should finde out that difference and leaue the trueth of the time which to trie wee agreed to looke into the Ephemeridâ—s made by Iosephus Schâ—la Printed in Venice for the yeeres of our Lord 1589. till A. 1600. and we found therein that vpon the foure and twentieth day of Ianuary when the Sun first appeared vnto vs that at Venice the Clocke being one in the night time the Moone and Iupiter were in coniunction whereupon we sought to know when the same coniunction should be ouer or about the house where wee then were and at last wee found that the foure and twentieth day of Ianuary was the same day whereon the coniunction aforesaid happened in Venice at one of the clocke in the night and with vs in the morning when the Sunne was in the East for we saw manifestly that the two Planets aforesaid approached neere vnto each other vntill such time as the Moone and Iupiter stood one iust ouer the other both in the signe of Taurus and that was at sixe of the clocke in the morning at which time the Moone and Iupiter were found by our Compasse to be in coniunction ouer our house in the North and by East-point and the South part of the Compasse was South South-west and there we had it right South the Moone being eight dayes old whereby it appeareth that the Sunne and the Moone were eight points different and this was about sixe of the clocke in the morning this place differeth from Venice fiue houres in longitude whereby we may ghesse how much we were neerer East then the Citie of Venice which was fiue houres each houre being 15. degrees which is in all 75. degrees that we were more Easterly then Venice by all which it is manifestly to be seene that wee had not fayled in our account and that also wee had found our right longitude by the two Planets aforesaid for the Towne of Venice lieth vnder 37. degrees and 25. minutes in longitude and her declination is 46. degrees and 5. minutes whereby it followeth that our place of Noua Zembla lieth vnder 112. degrees and 25. minutes in longitude and the height of the Pole 76. degrees and so you haue the right longitude and latitude but from the vttermost point of Noua Zembla to the point of Cape de Tabin the vttermost point of Tartaâ—ia where it windeth Southward the longitude differeth 60. degrees but you must vnderstand that the degrees are not so great as they are vnder the Equinoctiall Line
long experience The last of August came into Pechorskoi Zaâ—orot or the Hauen of Pechora sixe and twentie Lodias or Boats which was the Fleet set out from Oustiug Colmogro Pinega and Mezen all of them being bound for Mongosey but hauing been crossed with contrary winds the time of the yeere being spent they gaue ouer their intended Voyage purposing with the next faire wind to sayle to the Towne of Pechora there to lay vp their Lodias and commodities till the next Spring and themselues with their small Boats or Wherries to goe home passing from thence vp the Riuer of Peoza which they told me they could easily doe in a moneths time As soone as this Fleet of Lodias was come to an anchor many of them came aboord of our ship wondring to see a ship there They demanded of me how wee came thither and what the intent of our comming was and whither we purposed to sayle from thence Among these were some which seemed to be Merchants who asked to buy Lists remnants of Cloth Cap-clothes Aqua vitae especially they asked for small Pewter Dâ—shes which I vnderstand to be a commoditie sold by them to the Samoyeds at a great rate I answered them that the goods which wee had brought were part already at Pechora and the rest was to be transported thither as soone as the Vessell came that was hired to carrie the same vp so that if any of them were minded to buy of our commodities they might haue it of one of our Countrey-men there After which two or three of them demanded of me whether I would buy any Sables or Squerrils which was but a brag At this time many of them being on boord together some of them were in priuate talke which was my chance to ouer-heare and was as followeth If these Neamchines or Strangers resort to these places it will be an occasion in short time to make vs to be without Bread The like speeches I heard a little before of two men of Pinega and of an old man remayning in Pechora that came downe to our ship with the Feathers Touching the goods left with William Pursgloue Marmaduke Wilson and the Russe in regard the same lay in no good place we were desirous to haue hired one of their Russe Boats to haue carried the same to the Towne at a reasonable rate the rather because it was on their way and their Boats were not ouerladen which they with two Boats might haue done with ease yet they would not vnlesse wee would giue them thirtie or fiue and twentie Rubbels at the least and that with Condition that they might distribute into each Boate somewhat thereof Therefore vnderstanding their vnreasonable demand hauing a Boate already hyred wee vtterly refused to talke with them any further thereof especially when they were minded to diuide the goods into all the sixe and twentie Lodias or Boates which had beene a tricke to haue lost all The first of August leauing Master Iosias Logan William Pursgloue and Marmaduke Wilson at Pechora wee sayled ouer the Barre of Pechorskoie Zauorot directing our course for Noua Zembla till that wee had runne so farre and were so inclosed in huge Ice that in a Day and a Night we could goe neither backward nor forward And finding no meanes to proceed on our intended Voyage for Noua Zembla wee cleared our selues out of that place Truth it is that this hath beene an hard Summer to all the Russes both to them which were bound for Mongozey and those that went to kill Morses and fishing of a certayne Fish called Omeli From the foresayd place wee set our course for Cherie Iland intending to meete with the I le of Colgoiene and Willoughbies Land With Colgoiene wee met but we missed of the other The seuenth of August William Gourdon and I with our Shallop went on shoare This Colgoiene is a very long and broad Iland with many Vallies in it On the same are many Geese which the Russes vse to take with Nets in the time of the yeere before they bee ouer fledge In this Iland seemeth to bee store of Hawkes Heere William Gourdon and our Cooper caught two Hawkes whereof one was spoyled in the taking the other remayneth aliue The thirteenth of August wee arriued at Cherie Iland standing in 74. degrees and odde minutes and Anchored in the South Coue finding the same very cleare of Ice And presently after our Ship was at an Anchor Iames Vadin the Master William Gourdon and I went on shoare on the Coue to looke for Morses Here we found a certayne Note which was left there by Thomas Edge the effect of which was That he arriued there with three Shalops from Greenland and that there he had found the Ship called the Elizabeth and that hee was gone in her to Greenland the foure and twentieth of Iuly hoping to finde the goods which hee had left there and that hee did purpose to returne againe to Cherie Iland with as much speed as could be made Subscribed Thomas Edge At our comming to the Iland wee had three or foure dayes together very fine weather in which time came in reasonable store of Morses both at the South Coue and at the North-side and wee were in good hope we should haue made a sauing Voyage Neuerthelesse though there were store of Beasts yet by no meanes would they goe on those beaches and places that formerly they haue beene killed on But fortie or fiftie of them together went into little holes within the Rocke which were so little steepe and slipperie that as soone as wee did approach towards them they would tumble all into the Sea The like whereof by the Masters and William Gourdons report was neuer done For lying as they did and being so shey as they were it was not possible to doe any good vpon them Moreouer to get them off these foresaid Rockes to make them come on shoare vpon their accustomed places the Master and our men on both sides of the Iland went to driue them away yet they would not But by often driuing of them out of their holes we killed as many as wee could In the end the weather growing stormie and cold there were few or none of them left Wherefore seeing all hope of good to be done of them to be past wee departed from thence the sixe and twentieth of August 1611. for England We did not perceiue any Ship of Hull to haue beene there this Summer Hauing touched the chiefest points of our Voyage I thinke it meete to set downe somewhat of the State Commodities and Trade of Pechora Oust Zilma and Parmia The Towne of Pechora is small hauing three Churches in it and the most part of the people are poore In the Spring and a great part of the Summer they liue by catching of Partridges Geese Duckes and Swannes of which they euery Summer take a great number The flesh of these Fowles
on their garments which greatly trouble them for want of linnen if thy see any each taketh them from the other and as often as he taketh away one so often doth he thanke him with his head discouered and this they doe one to the other as long as they see one By night the Master of the house with all his family his wife and children lye in one roome couered with a cloth made of Wooll which they make And the like clothes they lap vnder them without straw or hay put vnder All of them make water in one chamber-pot with the which in the morning they wash their face mouth teeth and hands they alledge many reasons thereof to wit that this makes a faire face maintaineth the strength confirmeth the sinnewes in the hands and preserueth the teeth from putrifaction If Catâ—le perish in the waters or snow which often commeth to passe they say they are killed of God and are accounted among the delicates And it happened in the yeere 1564. in a place called Ackermisse that in the month of Ianuary some Kine strayed in the darke and the fogge was so great and the depth of snow that they could not be found In the moneth of April they were first found vntainted and without any euill smell and being distributed among the neighbours some part was brought to the Gouernour with whom I liued at that time which was not lawfull for him to despise yet he commanded it to bee giuen to the poore In the Winter time before and after the Solstitium when the Sunne declineth and being in Sagitarius Capricornus and Aquarius it departeth from them neither doth it ascend aboue the Horizon while it touch Pisces therefore they haue no light but of the Moone and Starres In like manner about the Summer Solstitium when the Sunne ascendeth to Gemini Cancer and Leo it neuer goeth downe vnder the Horizon therefore at that time they haue no Night In the Winter time they keepe their Beds many dayes and exercise themselues in the game of Chesse the inuention wherof is due to Xerxes the Philosopher the meane while the seruants bring them their meate dressed to their beds They keepe Lampes of the oyle of Fish continually burning others burne Tallow candles In the moneth of Februarie as soone as the Sunne ascends aboue the Horizon by little and little the dayes grow longer then they begin to Fish whereof there is so great plentie that it is scarce credible for the Fishes which for three whole moneths swamme in the darke as soone as they see a fish of Tinne fastened to an Iron they ranne to it in schoales that they are not onely drawne vp by the jawes but wheresoeuer the Iron toucheth them Hauing taken them they plucke out the bones and lay vp their bowels and make Fat or Oyle of them They heape vp their Fish in the open ayre and the puritie of the ayre is such there that they are hardened onely with the winde and Sunne without Salt better surely then if they were corned with salt And if they kill any Beasts they preserue the flesh without stinke or putrifaction without salt hardened onely with the winde Of the wonderfull standing Pooles Lakes and Fountaynes in Iseland IN diuers places almost throughout the whâ—le Iland are Bathes and scalding Fountaynes which flow out in great abundance This water as soone as it begins to coole hath a Sulphurie substance in the top thereof In these scalding waters wherein I could scarse dippe my finger red Diue-doppers are seene afarre off if you come neerer they vanish if you depart they appeare againe so all day long if any please they play boe-peepe with men Whether they bee Diue-doppers indeed I leaue it to others to decide At the West of this Iland there is a huge smoakie Lake and very cold which turneth all things that are cast into it into stones and that in few dayes and which is worthy of great admiration if you put a sticke vpright into the bottome the lower part which is stucke into the earth hath the resemblance and hardnesse of Iron after two dayes that which was in the water hath the hardnesse and shew of a Stone the vpper part which remayned aboue the water keepeth his wonted forme And I twice proued the truth of this thing but when I put the lower part which represented Iron to the fire that it might melt it burned like a Coale There are two Fountaynes of most different qualitie in a place vpon the Sea coast which is called Turlocks Hauen the one cold the other hot these Fountaynes by pipes are drawne into one place and tempered for bathing they make a most wholesome Bath Not farre from these Fountaynes there is a certaine other Fountayne which bubbles foorth liquor like Wax which notably cureth the French disease which is very common there Not farre from the Hauen Haffnefordt there is a cleft in a Rocke like to a Fountayne of vnmeasurable depth If you looke into it you cannot see the water but if you cast in a stone halfe an houre after you shall heare it falling as if it fell into brazen Vessels and forthwith the water ariseth and it is filled to the top of the Wels brimme and it is a most cleere water which notwithstanding no man dare touch nor taste neither doth it flow out but so long after as the stone which is cast in sinketh to the bottome There is another Lake in the middle of the Iland which casteth forth a pestiferous fume insomuch as it killeth Birds flying ouer it with the poyson thereof Of the wonderfull Mountaynes in Island THere are three Mountaynes in Island very admirable the one is called the Mountayne of the Crosse the other Sneuelsiockell These two pierce the cloudes with their heigth whose heads or tops no man euer saw nor are they euer seene without Ice and Snow in those Lightnings and horrible Thunders are daily heard when neuerthelesse in the neighbouring Valleyes the Aire is faire and cleere as in Summer time The third Mountayne lyeth on the North of the Iland and not very high but it hath burned very many yeeres with what fire or matter it is vnknowne but seeing Brimstone is digged out of the Earth throughout the whole Land it seemeth that the Sulphurie matter is sometime inflamed This Mountayne is not farre from the Sea and the Sea on one side beates vpon it it is called Hecla sometimes it casteth forth flame sometimes fierie water then blacke ashes and Pumis stones in so great abundance that it darkeneth the Sunne No man also can dwell neere it by sixe mile neither are there any pastures about it Sometimes bold men and such as regard not their liues cast stones into the hollow places for sometimes there is a wonderfull calme in the Mountayne especially when the Westerne wind blowes it casteth backe the stones flung into it with an horrible noyse and
sound the common people thinke the soules of the damned to be tormented heere it is certayne that diuers and horrible spirits are obserued in this Mountayne and about it for if a Battaile be fought in any place the Islanders especially they that sayle and fish in the Sea neere to Hecla know the day of the Battaile fought although they know not where it be done for they see as they report wicked spirits going forth and returning and bringing soules with them And such a storie is repâ—rted all Island ouer A Fisherman sayling by Hecla met with another ship both had a prosperous wind and when after the manner of Saylers he was demanded who hee was and of what place hee answered that hee had the Bishop of Breme in his ship whom hee would conuay to Hecla and it was knowne that the Bishop dyed the same day which notwithstanding I would not set downe for truth If any perish by Sea or otherwise dye sometimes leauing their Friends and Acquaintance they appeare very heauie being demanded whither they goe and from whence they answere they are brought to Hecla vnder a cruell Master the Deuill and so vanish And they are so bewitched of Satan that they thinke them the soules of the departed But because no man that is well in his wits will thinke that Hell is in this Mountayne yet it may be demanded whence the Hill hath this matter whereby it should bring forth so many yeeres flames so many ashes and such abundance of Pumis stones For wee see the most sollid and firme bodies and all things to be consumed by fire and for that cause some thinke that it shall come to passe that these flames shall once be extingished for the cause fayling they deny that any effects can follow But heere what I thinke I will freely speake yet sauing other mens judgements It is manifest by watry Meteors that there is a continuall generation of water by the vapours gathered together in the cauities of the Earth which issueth forth by Fountayns but the efficient and materiall causes abiding perpetually the effects also continually remayne so also in the bowels of the Earth there are certayne places which by their owne nature draw vnto them a hote and dry exhalation and that it resolues it into flames ashes and Pumis stones which may easily be done in this Mountayne by reason of the Sulphur matter which is found in Island throughout the whole Land And as Fountaynes send forth more abundance of water in the Winter time then in the Summer nay some of them are dry because matter failes so is it with this Mountayne for sometimes matter failing it hath neither flames nor smoke and all is quiet whereby it appeareth that the matter and efficient cause faile Howeuer it bee I know this that no man may come to the foot of the Mountayne without danger and feare as hereafter shall be declared The same yeere I was in Island the nine and twentieth of Nouember about midnight in the Sea neere Hecla there appeared a flame which gaue light to the whole Iland so that all of vs astonished wondred and carefully expected the issue thereof the elder sort and such as were skilfull in this matter said that this light came from Hecla an houre after the whole Iland trembled as it should haue beene moued out of the place after the Earthquake followed a horrible cracke that if all warlike Ordnance had beene discharged it had beene nothing to this terrour It cannot be thought much lesse expressed by word how horrible it was Wee thought that the whole frame of the World would fall and that the last Day was at hand but it was knowne afterwards that the Sea went backe two leagues in that place and remayned dry About the beginning of Iuly at a certayn time of the yeere great store of Ice suddenly floteth to the Iland about Hecla and there goes a rumour through the whole Iland nay it is beleeued that the damned soules are tormented in this Ice by course in the Flame in the Mountayne and after in the Ice This Ice for three whole moneths swimmeth only about Hecla If you take any part of this Ice out of the Sea and wrap it in a linnen cloth and lay it vp in a Chest it remayneth so long vnmelted as it swimmeth in the Sea but if the Ice in the Sea vanish which suddenly in one night happeneth this appeareth not nor leaueth any signe of moysture in the linnen cloth which is not a hard thing for Satan to doe to take away the Ice without moysture to increase their incredulitie Olaus Magnus maketh mention of this Ice in his eleuenth Booke But because I determined to search out all things diligently I sayled not without great feare vnto this Ice and I obserued that this Ice was violently cast against the Rockes by force of the winds and so made a mournfull sound afarre off as if miserable howlings were heard there Hereupon the Islanders thinke the soules of the damned are tormented in this Ice Of the Riches of the Islanders I Haue said that Island was a rough and snowie Countrey and besides it is full of Rockes and stones and so truly that there is not a field in the whole Iland they haue not so much as Gardens wherein they may haue Pot-herbes or Pulse they know no kinde of Corne nor Apples Peares nor Cheries nor any fruit of Trees And which is almost incredible they neither vse Bread nor Salt yet they are well liking and strong There is no Citie in the whole Iland they seldome haue two or three dwellings together They haue their Cottages on the Sea side for fishing and vnder ground by reason of the fierce windes There is no lone of money among them for wares are changed for wares Brimstone groweth on the South part and almost throughout the whole Iland which is digged out in great abundance they sell this stuffe purged for a small price Mines of Gold or Siluer nor of any other mettall they haue none They vse Iron but such as is brought vnto them You shall scarse finde a man who hath not Iron Nayles in a Bagge wherewith Horse-shooes are fastened All their houses are vnder ground for they haue no matter for building There is not a tree in the whole Iland except the Birch-tree and that in one place which also exceedeth not the stature of a man in length and that by reason of the vehemencie of the winds that it cannot grow higher This Birch-tree after the Summer Solstitium beginnes first to bud the leaues haue a most sweet smell and of so fragrant a sauour that the Germanes put them in their Tents and vpon their meats for a singular delight Yet sometimes great abundance of Firre-trees from Tartaria or else-where carried by force of the waues and the Ice arriued in Island The chiefe vse of them is in building Cabbins vnder the ground you shall scarsly find a
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
and rowing about the harbour where we lay to finde some neerer way out to the Sea we found among the Ilands where many of their winter houses had bin and some of their Tents were but lately carried away In which place wee also found one of their long Boates made of wood and bound together for the most part with shiuers of Whales fins and couered with Seales skinnes being some two and thirtie foote in length and some fiue foote broad hauing tenne thoughts or seates in it That day about twelue of the clocke we weighed anchor and departed out of Ramels Ford which lieth in the latitude of 67. degrees and the variation of the compasse is 24. degrees 16. minutes being a very faire Riuer and one of the most principall which wee saw in that Countrey stretching in East and East and by South This night about one of the clocke we came to the Patience lying in the Kings Ford. Sunday the sixe and twentieth Master Andrew Barker and our Merchant Master Wilkinson with other of the Company were in conference about returning home because that since our Master was slaine none of the Sauages would trade with vs as they were wont Wednesday the nine and twentieth we were likewise occupied about taking in of ballast for our Shippe was very light and that euening it was agreed that Andrew Barker Master of the Harts-ease should goe Master of the Patience which was sore against the minde of William Gourdâ—n and William Huntrice was appointed Master of the Harts-ease and Iohn Garteâ—â—y one of the quarter Masters of the Patience was Masters mate of the Harts-ease Tuesday the fourth of August in the morning the winde being Northerly a very small gale we got to Sea where the winde came to the Southward and we tacked sometime on the one boord and sometime on the other making small way on our course Munday the tenth was raine and foule weather as it had continued euery day since wee came from harbour sauing the seuenth day which was somewhat faire For commonly while the winde is South it is very thick and foule weather We tacked sometimes on one boord and sometimes on the other making a South by West way at noone sixe leagues Wednesday the twelfth it waxed calme we being somewhat Southward of a Cape called Burnils Cape and about three or foure of the clocke in the afternoone the winde came to the North and by West an easie gale with faire weather The eighteenth at noone we were in 58. deg 50. min. The seuenteenth day I tooke the variation of the compasse finding it to be 13. degrees 22. minutes contrary to the obseruations of others in this place And if any doe doubt of the truth thereof they may with a little paines proue it The eighteenth of August the declination of the Sunne was 9. degrees 58. minutes for the Meridian of London But we being almost foure houres of time to the Westward thereof there are three minutes to be abated from the rest and so the declination was 9. degrees 55. minutes and his height aboue the horizon was 24. degrees 40. minutes in the latitude of 59. degrees 0. min. and his distance from the South to the Westward by the compasse was 81. degrees And for truth of the first obseruation I tooke another shortly after finding them not to differ aboue 4. minutes Wednesday the nineteenth the winde still continued with thicke and hasie weather we being at noone in the latitude of 58. degrees 30. minutes or thereabout making a South South-east way about ten leagues Thursday the twentieth was faire weather the winde at East North-east wee steered away South-east and South-east and by East making at noone a South-east and by South way about thirtie leagues being at noone in the latitude of 57. degrees 20. minutes This day in the afternoone I tooke the variation of the compasse and found it about 11. degrees 10. minutes Friday the one and twentieth faire weather with the winde at North and North by East and we made an East South-east way halfe Southerly twentie foure leagues being at noone by obseruation in the latitude of 56. degrees 50. minutes Saturday the two and twentieth faire weather the wind at North and Nrth by East wee made an East way halfe Southerly some twentie two leagues being at noone in the latitude of 56. degrees 47. minutes Sunday the three and twentieth faire weather the wind at West North-west we making an East and East by North way about twentie foure leagues This day I tooke the variation of the Compasse and found it to be 7. degrees 23. minutes being at noone in the latitude of 57. degrees 26. minutes Munday the foure and twentieth being S. Bartholomewes day faire weather with an North North-west wee making an East North-east way halfe Northerly about twentie seuen leagues and were at noone by obseruation in the latitude of 58. degrees 4. minutes This day I obserued and found the Compasse to be varied 7. degrees 20. minutes Tuesday the fiue and twentieth faire weather and calme the winde at North wee made a North-east and by East way seuenteene leagues being at noone in the latitude of 58. degrees 30. minutes This day I found the common Compasse to be varied one point and the true variation to bee 6. degrees 4. minutes Wednesday the sixe and twentieth faire weather also with the wind North North-west we made a North-east and by East way halfe about twentie two leagues being in the height of 59. degrees 10. minutes Thursday the seuen and twentieth indifferent faire weather with a stiffe gale of wind at the North North-west we making a North-east way about thirtie one leagues being at noone in the latitude of 60. degrees 10. minutes Friday the eight and twentieth the wind at South-east with a stiffe gale wee made good about noone a North-east and by East way about twentie nine leagues This day in the afternoone it blew so great a storme that wee were in great distresse the winde at East South-east But about eleuen of the clocke it came to the North-west and North-west by North. And we ranne some twentie leagues Saturday the nine and twentieth it blew so stiffe that wee could beare none but our fore-saile making an Easâ— and by South way halfe Southerly about thirtie leagues Sunday the thirtieth all the forenoone it blew a very stiffe gale and about noone the winde came Southerly and it blew a very great storme which continued all that day and that night in such sort that we could not saile at all but all that night lay at hull Munday the one and thirtieth in the morning about foure of the clocke the winde came to the South-west a very stiffe gale At which time we set our fore-saile The wind continued all this day and night we steered away East and by South making at noone an East North-east way about thirtie foure leagues Tuesday the first of
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
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
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
with heauie burthens that shewing their courage therein they might more easily be admitted into the company of Souldiers By this meanes it happened that many went laden to the Armie and returned Captaines with markes of honour Some of them were so desirous to be noted as they were either taken or slaine and they held it lesse honourable to remaine a prisoner And therefore they sought rather to be cut in peeces then to fall captiues into their enemies hands See how Noblemens children that were inclined to the warres were imployed The others that had their inclination to matters of the Temple and to speake after our manner to be Ecclesiasticall men hauing attained to sufficient yeares they were drawne out of the colledge and placed in the Temple in the lodging appointed for religious men and then they gaue them the order of Ecclesiasticall men There had they Prelates and Masters to teach them that which concerned their profession where they should remaine being destined thereunto These Mexicans tooke great care to bring vp their children if at this day they would follow this order in building of houses colledges for the instruction of youth without doubt Christianitie should flourish much amongst the Indians Some godly persons haue begunne and the King with his Counsell haue fauoured it but for that it is a matter of no profit they aduance little and proceede coldly We haue not discouered any Nation at the Indians that liue in comminalties which haue not their recreations in plaies dances and exercises of pleasure At Peru I haue seene plaies in manner of combats where the men of both sides were sometimes so chafed that often their Paella which was the name of this exercise fell out dangerous I haue also seene diuers sorts of dances wherein they did counterfait and represent certaine trades and offices as shepheards labourers fishers and hunters and commonly they made all those dances with a very graue sound and pale there were other dances and maskes which they called Guacones whose actions were pure representations of the deuill There were also men that dance on the shoulders one of another as they doe in Portugall the which they call Paellas The greatest pars of these dances were superstitions and kindes of Idolatries for that they honoured their Idols and Guacas in that manner For this reason the Prelates haue laboured to take from them these dances all they could but yet they suffer them for that part of them are but sports of recreation for alwayes they dance after their manner In these dances they vse sundry sorts of instruments whereof some are like Flutes or little Canons others like Drums and others like Cornets but commonly they sing all with the voyce and first one or two sing the song then all the rest answer them Some of these songs were very wittily composed containing Histories and others were full of superstitions and some were meere follies Our men that haue conuersed among them haue laboured to reduce matters of our holy faith to their tunes the which hath profited well for that they employ whole dayes to rehearse and sing them for the great pleasure and content they take in their tunes They haue likewise put our compositions of Musicke into their Language as Octaues Songs and Rondels the which they haue very aptly turned and in truth it is a goodly and very necessary meanes to instruct the people In Peru they commonly call Dances Tagui in other Prouinces Areittos and in Mexico Mittottes There hath not beene in any other place any such curiositie of Playes and Dances as in New Spaine where at this day we see Indians so excellent Dancers as it is admirable Some dance vpon a Cord some vpon a long and streight stake in a thousand sundry sorts others with the soles of their feet and their hammes do handle cast vp and receiue againe a very heauy blocke which seemes incredible but in seeing it They doe make many other shewes of their great agilitie in leaping vaulting and tumbling sometimes bearing a great and heauy burthen sometimes enduring blowes able to breake a barre of Iron But the most vsuall exercise of recreation among the Mexicans is the solemne Mittotte and that is a kind of dance they held so braue and so honourable that the King himselfe danced but not ordinarily as the King Don Pedro of Arragon with the Barber of Valencia This Dance or Mittotte was commonly made in the Courts of the Temple and in those of the Kings houses which were more spacious They did place in the midst of the Court two Instruments one like to a Drumme and the other like a Barrell made of one piece and hollow within which they set vpon the forme of a man a beast or vpon a Pillar These two Instruments were so well accorded together that they made a good harmony and with these Instruments they made many kinds of Ayres and Songs They did all sing and dance to the sound and measure of these Instruments with so goodly an order and accord both of their feet and voyces as it was a pleasant thing to behold In these Dances they made two Circles or Wheeles the one was in the middest neere to the Instruments wherein the Ancients and Noblemen did sing and dance with a soft and slow motion and the other was of the rest of the people round about them but a good distance from the first wherein they danced two and two more lightly making diuers kinds of paces with certayne leaps to the measure All which together made a very great Circle They attyred themselues for these Dances with their most precious apparell and Iewels euery one according to his abilitie holding it for a very honourable thing for this cause they learned these Dances from their infancie And although the greatest part of them were done in honour of their Idols yet was it not so instituted as hath beene said hut only as a recreation and pastime for the people Therefore it is not conuenient to take them quite from the Indians but they must take good heed they mingle not their superstitions amongst them I haue seene this Mittotte in the Court of the Church of Topetzotlan a Village seuen leagues from Mexico and in my opinion it was a good thing to busie the Indians vpon Festiuall dayes seeing they haue need of some recreation and because it is publike and without the preiudice of any other there is lesse inconuenience then in others which may be done priuately by themselues if they tooke away these To the Reader REader I here present vnto thee the choisest of my Iewels My trauelling fancis hath inuited many Readers to many my labours in strange births already Qâ—ae regio in terris nostri non plena laboris Iaponian and China rarities so remote from our world are neere to our worke and their characters communicated here to the Reader not their arts alone Thou hast here also Indostan Arabike Persian
with wildernesse for euerie sort To these places the Lords of Mexico vsed to goe and sport themselues such and so many were the houses of Mutezuma wherein few Kings were equall with him He had daily attending vpon him in his priuate Guard sixe hundred Noblemen and Gentlemen and each of them three or foure seruants and some had twentie seruants or moe according to his estate and in this manner he had three thousand men attendant in his Court and some affirme more all the which were fed in his house of the meate that came from his table The seruing men alwaies abode below in the Court all the day and went not from thence till after Supper It is to be thought that his Guard was the greater because the strangers were there although in effect of truth it is most certaine that all the Lords that are vnder the Mexicall Empire as they say are thirtie persons of high estate who are able to make each of them a hundred thousand men There are three thousand Lords of Townes who haue many vassals These Noblemen did abide in Mexico certaine times of the yeare in the Court of Mutezuma and could not depart from thence without especiall licence of the Emperour leauing each of them a sonne or brother behinde them for securitie of rebellion and for this cause they had generally houses in the Citie such and so great was the Court of Mutezuma There is not in all the Dominions of Mutezuma any subiect that paieth not tribute vnto him The Noblemen pay their tribute in personall seruice The Husbandmen called Maceualtin with body and goods In this sort they are either Tenants or else heires to their possessions Those which are heires doe pay one third part of all their fruite and commoditie that they doe reape or bring vp as Dogges Hennes Foule Conies Gold Siluer Stones Salt Waxe Honie Mantels Feathers Cotten and a certaine fruite called Cacao that serueth for money and also to eate Also all kinde of Graine and Garden Hearbes and Fruites whereof they doe maintaine themselues The Tenants doe pay monethly or yearely as they can agree and because their tribute is great they are called slaues for when they may haue licence to eate Egges they thinke it a great fauour It was reported that they were taxed what they should eate and all the residue was taken from them They went verie poorely cloathed yea and the most of their treasure was an earthen Pot wherein they boiled their Hearbes a couple of Milstones to grinde their Corne and a Mat to lye vpon They did not onely paie this Rent and Tribute but also serued with their bodies at all times when the great King should command They were in such great subiection to their Prince that they durst not speake one word although their daughters should be taken from them to be vsed at pleasure All the aforesaid rents they brought to Mexico vpon their backes and in Boates I meane so much as was necessarie for the prouision of the House and Court of Mutezuma all the rest was spent among Souldiers and bartred for Gold Plate Precious stones and other rich Iewels esteemed of Princes all the which was brought to the Treasurie In Mexico was large and great Barnes and Houses to receiue and keepe the Corne for prouision of the Citie with Officers and vnderofficers who did receiue the same and kept account thereof in Bookes of painted figures And in euery Towne was a Receiuer who bare in his hand a rod or a bush of Feathers and those gaue vp their accounts in Mexico If any such had beene taken with deceit and falshood death was his reward yea and his kinred punished with penalties as of a linage of a traitour to his Prince The Husbandmen if they paid not well their Tribute were apprehended for the same and if they were found to be poore through sicknesse and infirmitie then they were borne withall but if they were found to be lazie and sloathfull they should be vsed accordingly but in conclusion if they paied it not at a day appointed then they should be sold for slaues to pay their debt or else be sacrificed There were many other Prouinces which paid a certaine portion and reknowledged seruice but this Tribute was more of honour then profit In this sort Mutezuma had more then suffitient to prouide his house and wars and to heape vp great store in his Treasury Moreouer he spent nothing in the building of his houses for of long time he had certaine Townes that paid no other Tribute but onely to worke and repaire continually his Houses at their owne proper cost and paid all kinde of workemen carrying vpon their backes or drawing in sleds Stone Lime Timber Water and all other necessaries for the worke Likewise they were bound to prouide all the firewood that should be spent in the Court which was a great thing and did amount to two hundred and thirty weight a day which was fiue hundred mens burdens and some dayes in the winter much more And for the Kings Chimneys they brought the barke of Oake trees which wes best esteemed for the light thereof for they were great Sorcerers Mutezuma had one hundred Cities with their Prouinces of whom he receiued Rents Tributes and Vâ—ssalage where he maintained Garrison of Souldiers and had Treasurers in each of them His dominion did extend from the North sea to the South sea and six hundred miles in longitude within the maine Land although in very deede there were some Townes as Tlaxcallon Mechuacan Panuco and Teocantepec which were his enemies and paid him neither Tribute nor Seruice but yet the Ransome was much when any of them was taken Also there were oâ—her Kings and Noblemen as of Texcuto and Tlacopan which were not in subiection vnto him but onely in homage and obedience for they were of his owne linage vnto whom Mutezuma married his Daughters Description of Mexico as it flourished in those times MExico at the time when Cortes entred was a Citie of sixtie thousand houses The Kings house and oâ—her Noblemens houses were great large and beautifull the other were small and meane without either doores or windowes and although they were small yet there dwelleth in some of them two three yea and ten persons by reason whereof the Citie was wonderfully replenished with people This Citie is built vpon the water euen in the same order as Venice is All the body of the Citie standeth in a great large Lake of water There are three sorts of streetes very broad and faire the one sort are onely water with many Bridges another sort of onely earth and the third of earth and water that is to say the one halfe earth to walke vpon and the other halfe for Boates to bring prouision of all sorts These streetes are kept alwayes cleane and the most part of the houses haue two doores the one towards the Cawsey and the other