Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	holy_a	lord_n	spirit_n	8,095	5	5.0560	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A71305	Purchas his pilgrimes. part 3 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.	Purchas, Samuel, 1577?-1626.	1625 (1625)	STC 20509_pt3; ESTC S111862	2,393,864	1,207

see no speciall matter at the Indies which is not in other Regions vnlesse some will say that the manner to strike fire in rubbing two stones one against another as some Indians vse or to boile any thing in gourds casting a burning stone into it other such like things are remarkable whereof I haue written what might bee spoken But of those which are in the Vulcans and Mouthes of fire at the Indies worthy doubtlesse to be obserued I will speake in their order treating of the diuersitie of grounds whereas they finde these fires or Vulcans Therefore to begin with the windes I say that with good reason Salomon in the great iudgement which God had giuen him esteemes much the knowledge of the windes and their properties being very admirable for that some are moist others drie some vnwholsome others sound some hot others cold some calme and pleasant others rough and tempestuous some barren and others fertile with infinite other differences There are some windes which blow in certaine Regions and are as it were Lords thereof not admitting any entrie or communication of their contraries In some parts they blow in that sort as sometimes they are Conquerors sometimes conquered often there are diuers and contrarie windes which doe runne together at one instant diuiding the way betwixt them somtimes one blowing aboue of one sort and another below of an other sort somtimes they incounter violently one with another which puts them at Sea in great danger there are some windes which helpe to the generation of Creatures and others that hinder and are opposite There is a certaine winde of such a qualitie as when it blowes in some Countrie it causeth it to raine Fleas and in so great abundance as they trouble and darken the aire and couer all the Sea-shoare and in other places it raines Frogs These diuersities and others which are sufficiently knowne are commonly attributed to the place by the which these windes passe For they say that from these places they take their qualities to be cold hot drie or moist sickly or sound and so of the rest the which is partly true and cannot be denyed for that in a small distance you shall see in one winde many diuersities For example the Sola●●● or Easterne winde is commonly hot and troublesome in Spaine and in Murria it is the coolest and healthfullest that is for that it passeth by the Orchards and that large champaine which wee see very fresh In Carthage●e which is not farre from thence the same winde is troublesome and vnwholsome The Meridionall which they of the Ocean call South and those of the Mediterranean Sea Mezo gior●o commonly is raynie and boysterous and in the same Citie whereof I speake it is wholesome and pleasant Plinie reports that in Africke it raines with a Northerne winde and that the Southerne winde is cleere He then that shall well consider what I haue spoken of these windes he may conceiue that in a small distance of Land or Sea one winde hath many and diuers qualities yea sometimes quite contrarie whereby wee may inferre that hee draweth his propertie from the place where it passeth the which is in such sort true although we may not say infallibly as it is the onely and principall cause of the diuersitie of the windes It is a thing we easily find that in a Riuer contayning fiftie leagues in circuit I put it thus for an example that the winde which blowes of the one part is hot and moist and that which blowes on the other is cold and drie Notwithstanding this diuersitie is not found in places by which it passeth the which makes me rather to say that the windes bring these qualities with them whereby they giue vnto them the names of these qualities For example we attribute to the Northerne winde otherwise called Cierco the propertie to be cold and drie and to dissolue mists to the Southerne winde his contrarie called Leuasche we attribute the contrarie qualitie which is moist and hot and ingenders mists But it is needfull to seeke further to know the true and originall cause of these so strange differences which we see in the windes I cannot conceiue any other but that the same efficient cause which bringeth forth and maketh the winds to grow doth withall giue them this originall qualitie for in truth the matter whereon the winds are made which is no other thing according to Aristotle but the exhalation of the interior Elements may well cause in effect a great part of this diuersitie being more grosse more subtill more drie and more moist But yet this is no pertinent reason seeing that we see in one Region where the vapours and exhalations are of one sort and qualitie that there rise windes and effects quite contrarie We must therefore referre the cause to the higher and celestiall Efficient which must be the Sunne and to the motion and influence of the Heauens the which by their contrarie motions giue and cause diuers influences But the beginnings of these motions and influences are so obscure and hidden from men and on the other part so mightie and of so great force as the holy Prophet Dauid in his propheticall Spirit and the Prophet Ieremie admiring the greatnesse of the Lord speake thus Qui profert ventos de thesauris suis. Hee that drawes the windes out of his Treasures In truth these principles and beginnings are rich and hidden treasures for the Author of all things holds them in his hand and in his power and when it pleaseth him sendeth them forth for the good or chastisement of men and sends forth such windes as he pleaseth not as that Eolus whom the Poets doe foolishly feigne to haue charge of the windes keeping them in a Caue like vnto wilde beasts We see not the beginning of these windes neither doe we know how long they shall continue or whither they shall goe But wee see and know well the diuerse effects and operations they haue euen as the supreme Truth the Author of all things hath taught vs saying Spiritus vbi vult spirat vocem eius audis neseis vnde venit aut quò vadit It is true that the Northerne winde is not vsually cold and cleere there as here In some parts of Peru as at Lima and on the Playnes they finde the Northerne windes troublesome and vnwholsome and all along the Coast which runnes aboue fiue hundred leagues they hold the Southerne windes for healthfull and coole and which is more most cleere and pleasant yea it neuer raines contrarie to that wee see in Europe and of this side the Line Yet that which chanceth vpon the coast of Peru is no generall rule but rather an exception and a wonder of Nature neuer to raine vpon that coast and euer to haue one winde without giuing place to his contrarie whereof we will hereafter speake our minde It is no generall rule there that the Northerne winde is neither hot nor

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

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 De●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 P●ru they made him a rich Temple which they called Pachacamac which was the principall Sanctuarie o● 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 Ki●g● Iugu●● made Hereof they called the Spaniards Vir●cochas for that they hold opinion they are the 〈◊〉 of H●auen and diui●e e●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 M●lit● which is Maltè seeing that the Viper did not hu●● 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 remark●able in the celestiall or ●lementarie nature as the Mo●ne Starres Sea and Land The Gui●cas or Oratories which the I●guas Lords of Peru had in greatest reuerence next to Viracocha and the Sunne was the Thunder which they called by three diuers names Ch●●●●illa Catuill● and I●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 Guac● for so they called their Oratories generall to all the Indians of Peru offering vnto him many sacrifices and in C●sc● which is the Court and Metropolitan Citie they did sacrifice children vnto him

matters of China which wee saw in our two moneths libertie were infinite The King of China most resideth at Pequin for so he sweareth at his Coronation There are certaine streets seuered in this Citie by themselues wherein are houses called Lag nampur that is The Schoole of the poore in which Orphans which know no father are taught to write and reade and mechanike trades to earne their liuings Of these Houses they haue aboue two hundred and as many more of poore Nurses which giue sucke to Children exposed or cast foorth by their Parents which are punished if they bee knowne and after they are weaned are committed to the former houses And if any by naturall defect are vnable to learne a Trade they apply him to that whereto he is able as those that are blind to Mills two to grind and one to ●ift and so in other cases Besides no Trades-man may keepe shop without licence which is not granted but with imposing on them some of these poorer The Miller is to giue meate and drinke to each of those blinde persons and clothes and fifteene shillings yeerely which when hee dieth he may giue for his soule that no poore should perish according to the fourth precept of Amida For Creeples which cannot goe they place them with makers of Frailes Baskets and other handiworkes and those which cannot vse their hands haue great Hampers giuen them and Baskets to serue for Porters to carrie what men buy from the Markets to their houses such as haue neither hands nor feet to vse are placed in great houses like Monasteries where are many mercenary women which pray for the dead halfe of the Offerings remayning to them the other halfe to the Priests If they be dumbe they place them in a house like an Hospitall where they are sustayned with the Fines imposed on Regraters and scolding women For common women which are diseased they haue other houses where they are cured and prouided for at the costs of other common women each paying a monethly fee. The Dowries or Ioynters of conuicted Adulteresses are bestowed on the Hospitals of female Orphans that honestie may gaine by dishonesties losse Other honest poore men are maintayned in other streets at the charges of Sollicitors and Lawyers which maintayne vniust Suits and of partiall bribed Iudges For the prouision of the poore I haue further heard read out of their Chronicles that Chansiran Punagor Great Grandfather of the King now reigning desiring to doe God seruice being blinde after a sicknesse which he had ordayned that in euery Citie there should be store-houses of Wheat and Rice that if any dearth should happen there might be a yeeres prouision and the poore should not perish and to this purpose he applyed the tenth part of the Kings Customes They say that God recompenced this his charitie with restitution of his sight which continued fourteene yeeres after till his death This is still obserued and the number of those Store-houses is said to be fourteene thousand At Haruest the old is diuided to the Inhabitants as they haue need which after two moneths are to lay in as much new and sixe in the hundred more that the store be not diminished But if the yeere proue barren it is diuided to them without gaine and that which is giuen to the poore which haue not to satisfie is paid out of the Kings Rents of that place as the Kings Almes And all the rest of the Royall reuenues are diuided into three parts one for maintenance of the Kings estate and for the gouernment of the Kingdome the second for the defence of the Countrey for Ports Fleets and the like the third is put vp in the Treasurie at Pequin with which the King by ordinary power may not meddle being deputed for defence of the Kingdome against the Tartars and other warres with confining Kings this part of the treasure is called Chidampur that is The wall of the Kingdome For they say that if such occasions happen the King shall not lay tribute whiles that lasteth not shall the people be vexed as in other Countries where such prouidence is not vsed Indeed I feare to particularize all that we saw in this Citie lest the Reader should doubt or mutter at the raritie measuring things by that little they haue seene and iudging by their owne curtalled conceits the truth of those things which mine eyes haue seene But high capacities haughtie spirits and large vnderstandings that measure not other states by the miseries and meannesse before their eyes will perhaps be willing to heare things so rare which I hold the more pardonable in others to doubt of forasmuch as I verily confesse that I my selfe which beheld them with mine eyes am often amazed when with my selfe I recount the greatnesses of Pequim in the admirable estate of that Gentile King in the splendor of the Chaens of Iustice and of the Anchacys of gouernment in the terror and dread caused in all by their Officers in the sumptuousnesse of the Houses and Temples of their Idols and of all the rest therein For only in the Citie Minapau which stands within the wall of the Kings Palace are 100000. Eunuchs and 30000. women 12000. men for his Guard and 12. Tutans which is the greatest dignitie and commonly called the Sun-beames as the King is called the Sonne of the Sunne whose person they represent Beneath these 12. are 40. Chaens as Vice-royes besides the inferiour dignities as Anchacys Aytaos Ponchacys Lauteaas and Chumbins all which in the Court are aboue 500. and none of them haue lesse then 200. men depending the greater part of which are Mogores Persians Coraçons Moens Calaminhans Tartars Cauchins and some Bramaas the Naturals being little esteemed as effeminate and wanting valour how wittie soeuer in Arts and husbandrie The women are white chaste more giuen to labour then the men The earth is fertile which their ingratitude rather ascribes to the merit of their King then the prouidence of God Some Priests also barter with them vpon Bills of exchange to bee repayed an hundred for one in Heauen which Letters they call Cuchimiocos Other Priests are of another Sect called Naustolins which denye the Soules immortalitie and therefore teach to take their pleasures in this life Another Sect is called Trimecau which holds that a man shall so long lie in his Graue as hee hath liued aboue ground after which by the prayers of their Priests the Soule shall returne into another creature seuen dayes and then seeke for the old bodie left in the Graue to carrie it to the Heauen of the Moone where it shall sleepe many yeeres till it be conuerted into a Starre and there remayne fixed for euer Another beastly Sect called Gizom holds that Beasts onely shall enioy Heauen in recompence of their penance and trauels here sustayned and not Men which follow their lusts except they leaue to Priests at their death to pray for

tooke an house in the chiefe situation of this Citie all that which they gaue vs at the Kings cost in that place which was sufficient for our sustentation after wee were gotten out they gaue vs the same allowance in like manner Many Mandarins of this Court heard great fame of vs and of our things and vnderstanding that we were come out of that place b●gan to come in great numbers and concourse with much honour and respect courtesie and presents to visite vs and to enquire diuers things which they desired to know For the fame that went of vs that wee knew all Countries and the things and customes of the World and the materiall and spirituall things of Heauen was great and therefore euery one came to enquire that which hee desired And though our knowledge be but little in comparison of the knowledge which is in our Countrey yet being compared with theirs of China which knoweth nothing of the world saue their owne Kingdome which by a common name thy call The World of God and of the things of Heauen nothing and of other things little it was somewhat and was sufficient to send them home amazed and alwayes with a desire to returne They saw a very faire and great Map of the world which wee brought with vs and we shewed them how bigge the world was which they thought to bee so little that they imagined that there was not so much more in all the same as their Kingdome And they looked one vpon another and sayd wee are not so great as we imagined seeing heere they shew vs that our Kingdome compared with the world is like a grayne of Rice in comparison of a great heape They also thought that there was no other Writing nor no other Bookes in the world but theirs and when they saw ours which at the least they saw in outward appearance to bee much better then their owne they were astonied and put out of their errour doing vs alwayes more and more honour and chiefly they were astonied when wee shewed vnto them certayne things in the Mathematickes which they knew not giuing Clockes to certayne persons which for this end we made of purpose and by these and other meanes and principally by discoursing with them of Morall vertues whereof they write speake and haue many Bookes and of Gods matters there ranne so great a fame that the greatest Mandarins of all this Kingdome which are the greatest persons ne●t the King sought to conuerse with vs and to seeke our friendship and so many sent vs presents and others came to visite vs with great numbers of people others with much courtesie inuited vs to their houses so that in foure moneths space wee had gotten the greatest Mandarins of Pequin to be our friends and readie to fauour vs is all things And he which at this time particularly doth fauour and honour vs i● the President of that Audience which hath the charge of vs and at the first approoued vs so that wee remayne Inhabitors of this Citie with all libertie that wee can desire to deale with all such as are willing to heare the things that belong to our holy Law and their saluation And by this good successe our Lord hath made vs forget all that is past And though it bee true that hitherto wee haue gotten no dispatch nor resolution of the King yet wee content our selues in that hee letteth vs stay heere although he neuer grant vs more For albeit by this our Iourney we haue not obtayned all that wee desired yet we hope that this our firme abode heere shall tend greatly to the seruice of our Lord and the good of this Mission They bee commonly of good vnderstandings so that easily they fall into reason and are capable they haue not in the gouernment of this Kingdome any thing that forbiddeth them to follow what Law they list nor any Law nor Obligation which is contrarie to our holy Law They haue none which effectually and with authoritie doth exhort them vnto other Lawes and with-draw them from the truth For the Bonzi which are dedicated for this purpose to Idols are in the common conceit of all men the most base contemptible and worst people in all China whose least care is to exhort them to any thing more then to giue them somewhat and thus they doe not onely not exhort them to follow Idols but also with their bad manner of liuing perswade them as wee haue often heard of men of good iudgement that it is not good to serue them since their Ministers bee such And so in this matter of worshipping of Idols though there be many that worship them and haue many of them and vse their Ministers for their Funerals and other things yet with very small affection and deuotion thereunto we easily make them say that they are naught and that it is not fit to worship them Yet though these things and others which I 〈◊〉 doe helpe them with ease to follow the Law of God the counterpois is great and commonly it weigheth downe the ballance on that side For first because the matter of Strangers is so odious in China and the dealing with them so suspicious one sort because they disdayne it as the Princes who albeit they now conceiue better of vs yet to learne of Strangers and to receiue a Law which is not of their owne meanes they hardly perswade themselues others for feare as the base people The second difficultie and perhaps the greatest i● a naturall obliuion that all this Nation hath of another life and of immortalitie and of saluation or condemnation of the Soule and not onely an obliuion but also an auersion from all these things wherein wee haue likewise found them to differ from all other Nations And it is a thing to be noted that since it is a thing so naturall to Man to reuerence some God either false or true and to feare or loue him and to conceiue or imagine what shall follow after this life Those Chinois which on the other side are of so good capacities in humane things and so wittie therein bee as though they were depriued thereof for they are almost all Atheists not knowing nor worshipping neither false nor true God nor neuer thinking what shall follow after this life And those which a man would thinke are most bound hereunto which are the Learned men are they which haue least knowledge hereof yea rather one of the chiefest things that they commend is not to beleeue any thing that concerneth another life Hell nor Paradise which they wholly place in this life The Bookes which they studie from their Child-hood doe them much hurt which are of certayne Philosophers aboue two thousand yeeres old whom they esteeme little lesse then if they were their God to whom euery yeere they offer Sacrifices of whom they hold so great an opinion that they thinke not that any thing

with two hundred men white and blacke in which Magistrates spend much time and the cunning skill whereof gets much credit to a man although hee can doe nothing else and some chuse such their Masters with wonted rites Theft is not punished with Death the second fault therein is branded with an hot Iron and Inke in the Arme with two Characters the third time in the Face after with their terrible Whipping or condemning to the Gallies for a time limitted so that there are abundance of Theeues Euery night in Cities many Watchmen at certayne times beate Basons as they walke the streets the streets also enclosed and shut yet many thefts are committed the Foxe being the Gooseherd and the Watch partners with the Theefe The Cities in greatest Peace in the midst of the Kingdome are shut euery Night and the Keyes carryed to the Gouernour §. V. Of their Superstitions Cruelties feares of Magistrates of the Kings kindred of Strangers and Souldiers Their Deities and three Sects Priests Nunnes Monasteries Legends Lyes NO superstition is so generall in the Kingdome as the obseruation of luckie and vnluckie Dayes and Houres for which purpose yeerely is Printed a two-fold Table of dayes by the Kings Astrologers in such plentie that euery house is full of them In them is written on euery day what may bee done or not or to what houre yee must forbeare businesse which may in that yeere happen There are others more dangerous Masters which make a liuing by this Wizardly profession of selling lyes or prescribing fit houres wherby many differre the beginning of Building or Iourneying till their appointed day or houre come then how vnfitting soeuer that prooueth with crosse weather they set on neuerthelesse though it be but a little little onset that the worke might thence appeare to take beginning The like superstitious obseruation they haue of the moment of the Natiuitie which they precisely set downe diuers professing by Astrologie or by superstitious numbers or by Physiognomie or Palmestrie or Dreames or words in Speech or posture of the body by innumerable other wayes to foretell future Fortunes many Gipsie-juglings vsed to such impostures as by a stalking Knaue which shall professe his Fortunes exactly told him by the professor or by learning out of printed Bookes which describe euery Citie Street and Familie what hath hapned as an argument of the truth of that which they say shall happen Yea their credulitie breeds such strong imagination that some being foretold of a Sicknesse such a day will then fall sicke of conceit Many also consult with Deuils and familiar Spirits and receiue Oracles from the mouth of Infants or of Beasts not without fraud They are superstitious in chusing a plot of ground to erect a dwelling House or Sepulcher conferring it with the head tayle and feete of diuers Dragons which liue forsooth vnder our earth whence depends all good or bad Fortune Diuers Learned men busie their wits in this abstruse Science and are consulted when any publike Buildings are raysed And as Astrologers by the Starres so these Geologers by inspection of Riuers Fields Mountaines and scite of Regions foretell Destinies dreaming by setting a Doore or Window this or that way conueying the rayne to the right or left hand by a higher or lower roofe honour and wealth shall accrue to the House Of these Impostors the Streets Cities Courts Shops Markets are full which sell that which themselues want good Fortune to all Foole-fortunate buyers yea Women and blinde folkes professe it and some find such Chapmen of the Learned Noble King and all that they grow to great riches by others little wits All disasters publike or priuate are attributed to Fate and ill scite of some Citie House or Palace The noise of Birds the first meeting in the Morning Shadowes caused by the Sunne in the house are their Fortune-guides For other vices some will make themselues Seruants to rich men to haue one of the hand-maydes become his Wife so multiplying issue to bondage Others buy a Wife but finding their family becomne too numerous sell their Sonnes and Daughters as Beasts for two or three pieces of Gold although no dearth prouoke him to euerlasting separation and bondage some to the Portugals Hence is the Kingdome full of Slaues not captiued in warre but of their owne free-borne Yet is seruice there more tollerable then else-where for euery man may redeeme himselfe at the price payd for him when hee is able and there are many poore which with hard labour sustayne themselues A worse euill in some Prouinces is theirs which finding themselues poore smother their new-borne Babes specially Females by an impious pietie and pittilesse pitie preuenting that sale to Slauerie by taking away that life which euen now they had giuen They pretend hereunto also their Metempsychosis dreaming that the Soule of that Infant shall the sooner passe into some more fortunate body and are not therefore ashamed to doe this in others presence yea not the meanest of the communaltie Many more inhumanely kill themselues either wearie of a miserable life or willing after death to bee reuenged of some enemy whiles to the Enemy of mankind many thousands yeerely Sacrifice themselues by Halter Drowning and Poyson Another immanitie in the Northerne Prouinces is vsed vpon Male Infants whom for hope of Palace preferments their Parents make Eunuches of which in the Kings house are ten thousand a dull and blockish kinde of vnkind vnmanly men Their Whippings also take away more liues then the executions of sentences to Death their Reedes slit two ells long a finger thicke and foure broad at the first blow breaking the skinne and flesh on the hinder part of the thighes to preuent which many bribe the Magistrates of whose domineering fulnesse of power they liue in perpetuall feare where calumnies and lyes are so rife which China perfidiousnesse made the Kings come so guarded abroad and vnknowne and now not to come foorth at all The Kings kindred are now growne to sixtie thousand and daily increasing become a burthen to the publike and daily increase in idlenesse impotence numbers the King being very jealous of them and setting Guards besides their perpetuall exile from Pequin and Nanquin No maruell if Strangers be no better trusted in China where the Natiues and Bloud are suspected out of whose Bookes they scorne to learne and repute them little better then Beasts and the Characters whereby they expresse them are taken from Beasts How Legats are held as prisoners in publike houses is else-where deliuered Commanders of Souldiers which guard places are guarded and watched and not trusted with the pay of their Companies neither is there any more base then the Souldiery most Slaues or condemned persons for their owne or their Ancestors euils and when they are free from exercises of warre they become Muletters Porters and of

amend that fault c. And this is a matter of forme with them vttered in as many words and no more in a manner then I haue heere set downe Yet the matter is done with that Grace and Solemnitie in a Pulpit of purpose set vp for this one Act as if hee were to discourse at large of the whole substance of Diuinitie At the Mosko the Emperour himselfe is euer present at this Solemne Exhortation As themselues are void of all manner of Learning so are they wary to keepe out all meanes that might bring any in as fearing to haue their ignorance and vngodlinesse discouered To that purpose they haue perswaded the Emperors that it would breed Innouation and sow danger to their State to haue any nouelty of Learning come within the Realme Wherein they say but truth for that a man of spirit and vnderstanding helped by Learning and liberall Education can hardly indure a tyrannicall Gouernment Some yeeres past in the other Emperours time there came a Presse and Letters out of Polonia to the Citie of Mosko where a Printing House was set vp with great liking and allowance of the Emperour himselfe But not long after the house was set on fire in the night time and the Presse and Letters quite burnt vp as was thought by the procurement of the Clergie-men Their Priests whom they call Papaes are made by the Bishops without any great tryall for worthinesse of gifts before they admit them or Ceremonies in their admission saue that their heads are shorne not shauen for that they like not about an hand breadth or more in the crowne and that place anointed with Oyle by the Bishop who in his admission putteth vpon the Priest first his Surplesse and then setteth a white Crosse on his brest of Silke or some other matter which he is to weare eight dayes and no more and so giueth him authoritie to say and sing in the Church and to administer the Sacraments They are men vtterly vnlearned which is no maruell for as much as their Makers the Bishops themselues as before was said are cleere of that qualitie and make no farther vse at all of any kind of Learning no not of the Scriptures themselues saue to reade and to sing them Their ordinary charge and function is to say the Lyturgie to administer the Sacraments after their manner to keepe and decke their Idols and to doe the other Ceremonies vsuall in their Churches Their number is great because their Townes are parted into many small Parishes without any discretion for diuiding them into competent numbers of Housholds and people for a just Congregation as the manner in all places where the meanes is neglected for increasing of knowledge and instruction towards God Which cannot well be had where by meanes of an vnequall partition of the people and Parishes there followeth a want and vnequalitie of stipend for a sufficient Ministery For their Priests it is lawfull to marry for the first time But if the first Wife dye a second he cannot take but he must lose his Priest-hood and his liuing withall The reason they make out of that place of Saint Paul to Timothy 1.3.2 not well vnderstood thinking that to bee spoken of diuers Wiues successiuely that the Apostle speaketh of at one and the same time If hee will needs marrie againe after his first wife is dead he is no longer called Papa but Rospapa or Priest quondam This maketh the Priests to make much of their Wiues who are accounted as the Matrones and of best reputation among the women of the Parish For the stipend of the Priest their manner is not to pay him any tenths of Corne or ought else but he must stand at the deuotion of the people of his Parish and make vp the Incommes towards his maintenance so well as hee can by Offerings Shrifts Mariages Burials Dirges and Prayers for the dead and the liuing which they call Molitua For besides their publike Seruice within their Churches their manner is for euery priuate man to haue a Prayer said for him by the Priest vpon any occasion of businesse whatsoeuer whether he ride goe saile plough or whatsoeuer else he doth Which is not framed according to the occasion of his businesse but at randome being some of their ordinary and vsuall Church-prayers And this is thought to bee more holy and effectuall if it be repeated by the Priests mouth rather then by his owne They haue a custome besides to solemnize the Saints day that is Patrone to their Church once euery yeere What time all their Neighbours of their Countrey and Parishes about come in to haue Prayers said to that Saint for themselues and their friends and so make an Offering to the Priest for his paines This Offering may yeeld them some ten pounds a yeere more or lesse as the Patrone or Saint of that Church is of credit and estimation among them The manner is on this day which they keepe Anniuersary for the Priest to hire diuers of his Neighbour Priests to helpe him as hauing more Dishes to dresse for the Saint then he can well turne his hand vnto They vse besides to visit their Parishioners houses with Holy Water and Perfume commonly once a quarter and so hauing sprinkled and becensed the goodman and his Wife with the rest of their houshold and houshold-stuffe they receiue some Deuotion or lesse as the man is of abilitie This and the rest layd altogether may make vp for the Priest towards his mayntenance about thirty or forty Rubbels a yeere whereof he payeth the tenth part to the Bishop of the Diocesse The Papa or Priest is knowne by his long Tufts of haire hanging downe by his Eares his Gowne with a broad Cape and a walking staffe in his hand For the rest of his Habit hee is apparelled like the common sort When he sayth the Lyturgie or Seruice within the Church hee hath on him his Surplesse and sometimes his Coape if the day bee more Solemne They haue besides their Papaes or Priests their Churnapapaes as they call them that is Black Priests that may keepe their Benefices though they be admitted Friers withall within some Monasterie They seeme to be the very same that were called Regular Priests in the Popish Church Vnder the Priest is a Deacon in euery Church that doth nothing but the Office of a Parish Clerke As for their Protopapaes or Arch-priests and their Arch-deacons that are next in election to be their Protopopas they serue onely in the Cathedrall Churches Of Friers they haue an infinite rabble farre greater then in any other Countrey where Popery is professed Euery Citie and good part of the Countrey swarmeth full of them For they haue wrought as the Popish Friers did by their Superstition and Hypocrisie that if any part of the Realme be better and sweeter then other there standeth a Friery or a Monastery dedicated to some Saint The number of them is so much the greater

friends will kill three Deere to draw him in the new World and they will strangle a Slaue to tend on him The Deere they kill in this manner to serue the dead man they make a Stake sharpe which they thrust into the Beasts fundament with many howlings and cryings till they be dead The Master with the Slaue they burie the Deere they eate as well raw as boyled or roast although they vse all three If a young Child dye vnder foureteene of their yeeres which is seuen of ours they doe hang it by the necke on some Tree saying it must flie to Heauen If any Controuersie bee which cannot bee decided or the truth knowne then one of the two betwixt whom the Controuersie is must bee sworne which is in this manner they will make an Image of a Man of Snow bringing a Wolues nose deliuering a Sword to him that must sweare he rehearsing by name all his Friends desiring that they might all bee cut in peeces in that manner as hee doth cut that Image of Snow Then he himselfe doth cut the Image of Snow all to peeces with the Sword then after the Wolues nose being layd before him he desires that the Wolfe may destroy all his tame Deere and that hee may neuer more take or kill any wilde Deere after that if hee speake not the Truth so cutting the Wolues nose in peeces there is no more to bee sayd of that Controuersie The Samoit is stout and bold of Spirit not very tall but broad Brested broad Faces with hollow Eyes Their ordinary instruments for Warre are Bowes and Arrowes very dangerous they haue long Speares the heads bee made in Monganzey by another sort of Samoits and short Swords not much vnlike some that I haue seene brought from East India When they would know any thing to come they send for their Priest or Witch to conuerse with the Deuill sitting in one side of the Tent hauing before his face a peece of an old shirt of Mayle hung with Bels and peeces of Brasse in his right hand a great Tabor made with a Wolues skinne beating vpon the same with a Hares foot making a very dolefull sound with singing and calling for the Deuill to answer his demand which being ended they strangle a Deere for a Sacrifice making merrie with the Flesh. The Women be very hard of Nature for at their Child-bearing the Husband must play the Midwife and being deliuered the Child is washed with cold water or Snow and the next day the Woman able to conduct her Argish The Russes haue a yeerely Trade with the Merchants of Beghar at a place called Tumen in Tartarie whither they of Boghar come with Camels euery yeere From Tumen in Tobal in Siberia they come in foureteene dayes From Tobal they come to Beresoua in nine dayes all downe the Riuer Ob. From Beresoua partly by the Riuer Ob then ouer a necke of Land of halfe a mile ouer into the Riuer Ouse and downe the Riuer Ouse into the Riuer Pechora and so to Pustozera in three weekes At Pustozera the English haue Wintered three yeeres CHAP. XIII Diuers Voyages to Cherie Iland in the yeeres 1604. 1605. 1606. 1608. 1609. Written by IONAS POOLE WEe set sayle from London the fifteenth of Aprill 1604. in a Ship called the God Speed of sixtie Tunnes with thirteene Men and a Boy our Merchant was one Master Thomas Welden our Master was one Steuen Bonnit of Saint Catherins We arriued at Cola in Lapland the first of May where wee tarried till the last of the same Moneth at which time wee set sayle from Cola and went to an Harbour called Pechingo which lyeth betweene Cola and Ward-house In which Harbour of Pechingo we continued vntill the thirtieth of Iune At which time wee set sayle from thence and through contrarie windes and foule weather were put into Ward-house where we tooke in fresh water and stayed vntill the sixth of Iuly The same day the wind came Southerly and we steered away Northwest and by North about 56. leagues wee obserued the Sunne at twelue of the clocke at Noone and found our selues to be in 73. degrees 5. minutes of Northerly Latitude The seuenth of Iuly it was all day calme and wee sounded but had no ground in two hundred and fiftie fathoms The eight day we had little winde which was at South-east and foggie weather and at eight of the clocke at Night wee saw great flockes of Sea-fowles which we call Willockes some of these Fowles had each of them a small Fish in their bills and flew toward the North-west and by North. The other without Fish some of them flew contrarie to the former and some sate in the Sea very neere our Ship About twelue of the clocke at night we sounded and had ground at one hundred and twentie fathomes We steered away North-west and by North till foure of the clocke the eight day in the morning then it fell calme and as the ship lay still our Master spied a Morsse which came to our ship and swamme round about it While we were all gazing at this Monster I spied the Iland ten leagues off bearing North North-west halfe a point Westerly which shewed very high Land and much Snow vpon it The wind came to the North-east The ninth day wee came to an Anchor on the South South-east side in fiue and twentie fathomes streamie ground We ●oysed out our Boate and Master Welden went toward the Land but thinking to haue landed he could not because there went a great Sea and great store of Ice all along the shoares side Within one houre the Boate came aboard and they ●aid there were so many Fowles that they couered the Rockes and flew in such great flockes that they shewed like a Cloud While thus they were talking close by the Boate rose vp●n huge Morsse putting his head aboue the water looking earnestly at the Boate and made such an horrible noyse and roaring that they in the Boate thought he would haue sunke it The same day at eight of the clocke at night we weighed and stood away South-west and by South about foure miles where wee doubled the Southermost point of the Iland and found the Land to trend North North-west and all along the shoare some scattering Ice We sayled along the shoare finding seuenteene eighteene and sometimes twentie fathomes streamie ground with white shels We held this course till wee saw all the Northermost part of the Iland and being within three miles of it and about thirteene miles from the Point wee came round about it And some two miles from the Land we anchored in sixteene fathomes streamie ground We had not ridden one houre to an end but a great piece of Ice came directly with the tyde vpon vs and before wee could weigh it strooke the ship with such force that it hilded on the one side Assoone as it was past we went on shoare where wee found

from Rustene wee found certaine Relikes of the plankes and ribs of our Skiffe whereby we plainly knew that our companions which were in it were perished and drowned the first night that they departed from vs. The nine and twentieth of May 1432. we arriued with the said Barke at Trondon vpon the Coast of Norway the Princely Seate of the King of Denmarke where the Honourable bodie of glorious Saint Olaus resteth There wee stayed ten dayes to waite for passage and a fit time for our Voyage but not finding it because we would lose no more time wee tooke leaue of our beloued Host his Sonnes and the rest to proceed on our journey by Land The ninth of Iune we departed from Trondon trauelling on foot going towards Vastena a place subject to the King of Denmarke within the Prouince of Sweden where the cheek-bone and part of the bone of the head of Saint Bridget remayneth Being there wee vnderstood by the Venetians that the Inhabitants for the reuerence of their glorious King Saint Olaus vnto whom as they well knew our Signiorie of Venice did great fauour in his going and returning from his Voyage to Hierusalem were disposed with deeds to prouide for vs by their counsell helpe and money And first they aduised vs not to goe the direct way into Dacia by reason of the dangers of wilde beasts which might befall vs but to addresse our selues to goe directly to Stichimborgi to find out a valiant Venetian Knight called M. Giouan Francho from whom wee should receue fauour and helpe in plentifull manner for loue of our Countrey although the way were thirtie dayes iourney quite contrary to our direct way On the eighteenth day we came to the Court of the said Cauallier M. Giouan Francho an Honourable Baron and highly esteemed of the Crowne of Dacia where with great joy we found our two straggling companions The valorous Knight being now informed of our comming with a cheereful conntenance declared well vnto vs how great the loue of his Countrey was and especially knowing the calamitie and penurie of vs his Countrey-men and being easily able to releeue it And therefore he could not sufficiently satisfie himselfe in honouring clothing and feeding vs but gaue vs money for our necessities and furnishing vs afterward with good Horses in his owne proper person together with his only Sonne M. Mapheo with an hundred and twentie Horses of his owne Seruants he accompanied vs many dayes journeyes through his Territories trauelling alwayes at his owne charge Afterward vpon his limits and bounds wee tooke our leaue to depart thanking him with the most reuerent and kind speeches that possibly we could Whereupon he being departed left vs for our Guide his said sonne M. Mapheo with twentie seruants on Horse-backe who kept vs company vnto Vastena the place from whence about fortie dayes before we had departed vnto the which place for the auoyding of two monethes trauell wee were faine to returne so that on the thirtieth day of Iuly wee entred into Vastena where wee abode vntill the second of August being alwayes accompanied and our charges borne by the said M. Mapheo On the second of August we tooke our leaue of the foresaid M. Mapheo yeelding him such thankes as we could And being departed from him wee went to Lodese where wee arriued the eleuenth of the said moneth in which place we found two passages the one for England and the other for the Low Countries and there we voluntarily diuided our selues into two parts The two and twentieth of August 1432. we Christophoro Fiorauante one of the Councell of the vnfortunate ship together with Girardo da Lione the Sewer and Nicolo di Michiel of Venice the Notarie now Writer of this present Discourse departed from the other eight of our companions they going towards London and we to Venice by the way of Rostoch pretending to goe to Rome for a Pardon and after many troubles and molestations passing ouer Mountaynes Valleyes Riuers sometimes on foot and sometimes on Horse-backe through the helpe of the Omnipotent God we came vnto our so much desired Countrey of Venice on the twelfth of October 1432. safe and sound leauing the said Girardo da Lion at Vasen●ch who from thence went vnto his Countrey and those that went into England were these Master Francesco Quirini Sonne of Master Iacomo a Venetian Gentleman being Merchant of the vnhappie ship Master Piero Gradenico Sonne of Master Andrea of the age of eighteene yeeres a young Merchant Bernardo da Caghire Pilot of the ship whose Wife being young aswell through the long delay of time passed as for that it was many times certainly reported that the said ship with all them that were therein were in great danger and no token at all appearing to the contrary being aduised more hastily then vpon mature consideration as is the manner of needie women she married her selfe at Tri●iso But hearing of our comming and the certayne newes of her liuing and true Husband she presently separated the bond of the second Marriage and shut her selfe vp in an honest Monasterie aswell to declare the Integritie of her minde as to expect the returne of her true Husband who about some three moneths after came to Venice safe and sound and tooke her againe vnto him c. CHAP. XIX Ancient Commerce betwixt ENGLAND and NORWAY and other Northerne Regions GReat Alexander is said in ●earing a Flatterers Historie of his conquest● making them how great soe●er in themselues farre greater the● they were to haue caused that booke to bee throwne into the Sea with iust indignation exclaiming that those incredibilities would make that which hee had indeed done seeme incredible to posteritie And a Liar said Alexanders Master Aristotle gets this by lying that when he speakes truth he cannot be beleeued So hath it fared with that Brittish worthy King Arthur whose Great Acts by great Flatterers seeking to light candles to the Sunne haue made others suppose it to be night and his worth to be a worke of darknesse and lyes Neither doth the later posteritie know how to distinguish the one from the other and the Writers for and against the truth of three British storie as Ieffery of Moumouth and William of Newbridge of old and others since haue seemed to me to let the truth as in altercation is vsuall to fall downe betwixt them for others more moderate spirits to take vp Although therefore many things related of Art●●● are absurd 〈◊〉 so are not all nor that altogether which is spoken of his Northerne conquests eleuen hundred yeeres since and of commerce a 〈…〉 not some kind of 〈◊〉 acknowledgment of 〈◊〉 the King of Ireland 〈◊〉 of the Orcades Malu●sius of Island Dolda●i● of Got●and Asc●il●● of the Danes and Lo● King of Norway Some adde that King Arthur left people to inhabite the Ilands and that the Norwegian Nobles tooke them Brittish wiues and that the Norwegians 〈◊〉 their Brittish 〈◊〉 and