it was the next day after the Azyma or Feast day But the Samaritans reckoned the second after the Sabbath and so in all that space of fiftie dayes kept the first day of the weeke that is Sunday holy Thus they kept seuen Pentecosts in a yeere And perhaps he but coniectureth as they had these imaginarie Pentecosts so they might at other times of the yeere haue such imaginarie solemnities of other Feasts From that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the second day and next to the Feast of vnleauened bread the Sabbaths saith Scaliger in the same place were called in order the first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the second Sabbath after that day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so the rest and thus hee expoundeth those words of Luke cap. 6. v. 1. Secundo primum Sabbatum that is the first Sabbath after that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or first day of the fiftie which beganne to be reckoned the next day after Easter till Pentecost A place hitherto very obscure Epiphanius doth number for Samaritan Sects The Essens of which is before shewed that they were Iewes and otherwise hereticall and Idolatrous in respect of their morning deuotions to the Sun for which it seemeth they might not certaine they did not communicate with other Iewes in the Temple and Sacrifices These pertaine not to this place as not Samaritans A fourth Samaritan Sect he accounteth the Gortheni which differed from the rest at least from the Sebuians in keeping their solemnities Paschal Pentecost and of Tabernacles at the Iewish times and obserued but one day holy as likewise the fasting day The Iewes still obserue the Sabbaticall yeere and so do the Samaritans also but not at the same time for that which is the fourth of the seuen with the Iewes is the Sabbaticall of the Samaritans CHAP. X. The miserable destruction and dispersion of the Iewes from the time of the desolation of their Citie and Temple to this day §. I. Of the Destruction of the Iewes vnder TITVS THE curse threatned vnto this superstitious and Rebellious Nation madnesse blindnesse astonishment of heart to grope at noone-daies as the blinde gropeth in darkenesse to be a wonder a prouerbe and a common talke among all people among which they should be scattered from one end of the World to the other is this day fulfilled in our eyes both in respect of their Politie and Religion GODS iust iudgement sealing that their owne imprecation His blood be on vs and on our children and pursuing them in all places of their dispersion through the reuolutions of so many ages Odious are they not to the Christians alone but to the Heathen people that know not GOD nor will the Turke receiue a Iew into the fellowship of their Mahumetane superstition except he hath passed first from his Iudaisme through the purgation of a Christian profession vnto that their no lesse ridiculous and miserable deuotion God they please not saith Paul and are contrarie vnto all men This their wretchednesse although it seemed to beginne when Herod a stranger seized their state yet was that infinitely more then recompenced when their Messiah so long before prophecied and expected came among his owne but his owne receiued him not yea they crucified the Lord of Glorie But euen then also did not the long-suffering GOD reiect them Christ prayed for them the Apostles preached to them remission of this and all their sinnes till that as Paul chargeth them they putting these things from them and iudging themselues vnworthie of eternall life GOD remoued this golden Candlestick from amongst them to the Gentiles and let out his Vineyard to other husband-men Famine sword and pestilence at once assayled them And what shall not assayle what will not preuaile against the enemies of GOD Ierusalem sometimes the glorie of the Earth the type of Heauen The Citie of the great King and Mother-citie of the Iewish kingdome from this incomparable height receiued as irrecouerable a fall besieged and sacked by Titus and yet more violently tortured with inward convulsions and ciuill gripes then by outward disease or forraine hostilitie Iosephus and Iosippus haue handled the same at large both which can acquaint the English Reader with the particulars Besides many thousands by Vespasian and the Romans slaine in other places of Iudaea Ierusalem the holy Citie was made a prison slaughter-house and graue of her owne people First had diuine mercie by Oracle remoued the Christians to Pella out of the danger that without any impediment the floud-gates of vengeance might be set wide open for Desolations black-guard to enter Here might you see the strong walls shaking and falling with the pushes of the yron Ramme there the Romans bathing their swords in Iewish entrales here the seditious Captaines disagreeing in mutuall quarrels written in blood there agreeing in robbing and burning the Citie and in slaughter of the Citizens here hunger painted with pale colours in the gastly countenances of the starued inhabitants there dyed in red with the blood of their dearest children which the tyrannie of famine forceth to re-enter into the tendrest-hearted mothers wombe sometime the place of Conception now of buriall Euery where the Eye is entertained with differing spectacles of diuersified Deaths the Eare with cries of the insulting Souldier of the famished children of men and women euen now feeling the tormenting or murthering hand of the seditious the Sent receiueth infectious plague and contagion from those humane bodies with inhumanitie butchered whom no humanitie buried the Taste is left a meere and idle facultie saue that it alway tasteth the more distastfull poyson of not-tasting and emptinesse what then did they feele or what did they not feele where all senses seemed to bee reserued that they might haue sense of punishment Where all outward inward publike priuate bodily ghostly plagues were so ready executioners of the Diuine sentence The continuall sacrifice first ceased for want of Priests of the last course to whom in order it had descended after for want of a Temple before polluted with Ethnick sacrifices and murthers of the Priests and Souldiers and lastly ruined the sacred vessels thereof being carried to Rome for ornaments of the Temple of Peace which Vespasian had there erected Eleuen hundred thousands are numbred of them which perished in this destruction The remnant that escaped the Roman Sword for the most part perished after in Warres or killed themselues or were reserued eyther for solemnitie of triumph or if they were vnder seuenteene yeeres of age sold vnto perpetuall slauerie ninetie seuen thousand of these Iewish slaues were numbred Galatinus accounteth two hundred thousand And that the hand of GOD might be the more manifest they which at their Passe-ouer feast had crucified the Sonne of GOD are at the same time gathered together in Ierusalem as to a common prison-house of that whole Nation and they which had bought Christ of the Traytor Iudas for
obtaine Diuine fauour Az. 2. The Creator said I am the onely Creator alwayes the same pittifull mercifull besides whom there is none other whose miracles and great workes are vnto the wise the frame of Heauen and Earth the intercourse of night and day the ships in the Sea fit for the vse of men raine for the refreshing of the earth the composition of all creatures the windes the cloudes c. 15. Inuoke and worship one GOD alone 43. All the miracles of GOD cannot bee written if all the Trees in the world were pennes and the Sea seuen times greater and were inke with whom it is a small thing to raise the dead OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST hee writeth thus Azo 29. Wee sent our Spirit to Marie the best of all women and the wombe vntouched Azoar 31. in likenesse of a man professing himselfe a Diuine Messenger concerning a Sonne c. And when shee in trauell plained Christ came from vnder her and said Feare not and when some chid with her about the childe the childe it selfe made answere I am the Seruant and Prophet of God Hee saith the Iewes did not slay Christ but one like him Azo 11. and vpbraideth them for not receiuing him Azo 2. and chap. 4. To Christ the Sonne of Marie properly communicating our owne soule wee haue giuen him strength and power more then other Prophets yet chap. 13. he disclaimeth that worship which is done him and his mother Az. 4. Wee giuing our soule to Christ the Sonne of Marie preferred him before all others that had beene exalted by me to speake with GOD to power and vertue He inserteth the Prayer of the Virgins Mother when shee felt her selfe with childe by Ioachim and maketh Zacharie to bee the Virgins Tutor 5. Who hee saith for his vnbeliefe was dumbe three dayes The Angell saluted Marie saying O thou the purest of all women and men deuoted to GOD. Ioy vnto thee of that great Messenger with the Word of GOD whose name is IESVS CHRIST an excellent man at the command of the Creator he shal come with Diuine power with knowledge of all learning with the Booke of the Law and Gospell shall giue Commandements to the Israelites shall giue life cure diseases shew what is to be eaten and to be done shall confirme the Old Testament shall make some things lawfull which before were vnlawfull c. Hee acknowledgeth that his Mother knew not man 11. They say the Iewes that they killed Christ the Sonne of Marie the Messenger of GOD but it was not true but they crucified in his stead another like him for the incomprehensible GOD caused him to goe vnto Him IESVS is the Spirit and Word and Messenger of GOD sent from heauen 11. And GOD spake to him Az. 13. and gaue him a cleane and blessed soule whereby he made yellow formes of birds and breathing on them made them flie Hee cured one borne blinde and the leprous and raised the dead GOD taught him the Booke and Wisdome and the Gospell and Testament Concerning his LAVV and ALCORAN he handleth it in the second Chapter of Azoara which beginneth thus In the name of the mercifull and pittifull God This booke without any falshood or errour shewing the Truth to them which loue feare and worship GOD and are studious of prayers and almes and the obseruation of the lawes giuen of GOD from heauen to thee and other thy Predecessors and the hope of the world to come hath manifested the true Sect For this bringeth the followers thereof to the highest inricheth them with the highest good as to the vnbeleeuers and erroneous it menaceth truely the greatest euill to come This hee after applieth to Paradise and Hell which is due to the Enemies of Gabriel which intimateth this Booke to his heart by the Creator and to all the Enemies of GOD and Michael and the Archangels This his Alcoran hee calleth the establishing of the Law of the Israelites and Azo 21. hee arrogateth to his Booke wisdome and eloquence and 47. hee saith it was composed of the incomprehensible and wise GOD euery where agreeing with it selfe and calleth it 63. the Booke of Abraham and 69. if it should be placed on a Mountaine that Mountaine for Diuine feare would be dissolued Those which will not be conuerted take and slay by all meanes intrapping them and fight against them till they be your Tributaries and Subiects And 18. the fifth part of all the prey is due vnto GOD and his Prophet and to your Kindred and Orphans and the poore Those that are taken in Warre kill or make slaues but pardon them if they will turne to your Law and GOD also will pardon them Such good Warriours shall haue full pardon The Iewes and Christians contrarie to that he had said before let GOD confound He hath sent his Messenger with the right way and good law that he may manifest and extoll it aboue all lawes Of the twelue moneths foure are to be consecrated to fight against the enemies Those that refuse this war-fare lose their soules and they which flie in the day of battell Az. 6. doe it by the Deuils instigation thus punishing them for their former sinnes Yea the Deuils themselues Az. 56. being conuerted thereby say to their Diobolicall Nation We haue heard a Booke sent after Moses which approoueth all his sayings and teacheth the true and right way And Az. 12. he calls the Alcoran a Booke of truth sent from aboue a Confirmer of Christs Precepts Hee saith Az. 15. That Moses deliuered some things in writing more vnwritten He makes his Booke to bee the same which GOD had taught Abraham Ismael Isaac Iacob Moses and CHRIST Az. 5. he saith his booke containes some things firme and without exception some things contrarie which froward men peruert to controuersies but the exposition thereof belongs to GOD onely and to the wisest which beleeue that all of it came from God Az. 6. he excites them to defend it when hee shall be dead or slaine and God will reward them Neither can any die but by the will of God to wit in the time appointed They which in the expedition shall haue pardon which is better then all possessions and an easie iudgement And they which die in the wayes of God are not to bee esteemed dead for they liue with GOD. That life is firme this and all worldly things mutable 7. If the Alcoran Az. 9. were not of God it would haue many contrarieties in it which himselfe yet Az. 5. confesseth They which are well Az. 10. and remaine at home are not of like merit as they which goe to warre The fire of hell is hotter then the danger of warre And although thou Prophet shouldest pardon the resisters of God and his Messenger seuentie times yet God will neuer pardon them The sicke and weake and such as haue not necessaries are excused from this necessitie of warre but to the good Warriours God giueth Paradise in reward of
our inheritance for actuall sinnes are our owne purchase and improuement and yet bought with that stocke which our Parents left vs Our first Parents are to bee considered not as singular persons onely whereby they defiled themselues but as the roote of Mankind which had receiued Originall Righteousnesse to keepe or to lose to them and theirs as a perpetuall inheritance As in the Bodie Politike the Act of the Prince is reputed the Act of the whole the consent of a Burgesse in Parliament bindeth the whole Citie which he representeth and as in the naturall Bodie the whole bodie is lyable to the guilt of that fact which the head or hand hath committed as a root to his branches a Fountaine to his streames doth conuey the goodnesse or badnesse which it selfe hath receiued So stands it betwixt vs and Adam our naturall Prince the Burgesse of the World the Head of this humane Bodie and Generation the Root and Fountaine of our Humanitie When hee sinned hee lost to himselfe and vs that Image of GOD or that part of the Image of GOD which he had receiued for himselfe and vs not the substance nor the faculties of bodie or soule but the conformitie in that substance and faculties to the will of GOD in righteousnesse and holinesse of truth Not so much therefore are wee here to consider the ordinary course of Nature wherein the soule that sinneth it shall dye as the Ordinance of GOD who appointed the first Adam the Wel-spring of Nature which he receiued incorrupted the second of Grace that as men we all by Generation are of the first and with the first one old man in whom we all sinned of and with the second Adam we are all one new man in the Lord euen one bodie one Spirit one Seed one Christ in whom and with whom wee as members of that Head obeyed the Precepts and suffered the curse of the Law Other sinnes of Adam are not our naturall but his personall because he could be no longer a publike person then while he had somewhat to saue or lose for vs all being alreadie forfeited in this first sinne The Authour then of Originall Sinne is the Propagator of our Nature his actuall sinne is originally ours the Guilt being deriued by imputation the Corruption by naturall generation First that Person corrupted Nature after Nature infected our Persons The matter of this Originall corruption in regard of the subiect is All and euery man and All and euery part of all and euery man subiect to all sinne that if all be not as bad as any and the best as the worst it must be ascribed to GODS restrayning or renewing not vnto vnequall degrees in this originall staine In regard of the Obiect the matter of it is the want of originall Righteousnesse and a contrary inclination to Euill The imaginations of our hearts being onely euill continually No Grapes can grow on these Thornes The forme of this corruption is the deformitie of our corrupted Nature not by infusion or imitation but by default of that first instrument by which this Nature descendeth It is the roote of actuall sinnes and whereas they as fruits are transient this still remayneth vntill Christ by his death destroyeth this death in vs But here ariseth another difficulty How this sinne can bee deriued by Generation seeing it is truely beleeued that God is Father of Spirits the For men of our Soules which doth by infusion create and by Creation infuse theme corruptible Elements beeing vnable to procreate an incorruptible substance or generation to produce in corruption Neither standeth it with reason that he which communicateth not the substance should communicate the accidents or with Iustice that an innocent Soule should necessarily be stayned by inuoluntary infusion into a polluted bodie I answere hereunto That although the Soule be not traducted as they terme it and by Generation conferred yet is it coupled to the body in that manner and order which GOD had appointed for the coniunction thereof though man had not sinned Neither was it the Soule alone in Adam or the body alone but the Person consisting of both which sinned Neither can we be partakers of Natures sinne till we be partakers of humane Nature which is not till the Soule and Body bee vnited Wee are not so much therefore to looke to the concupiscence and lust of the Parents in generation as Lumbard teacheth vs but to the Person which Scotus saith is filia Adae debitrix iustitiae originalis And although the Soule be not in the seed yet it is communicated to the Body saith Aquinas by a dispositiue preparatiue power of the Seed which disposeth and prepareth the Body to the receiuing of the Soule where it is receiued after the generall rule according to the measure and nature of that which receiueth The Father is then a perfect Father not because he begetteth the Soule but because he begetteth the Person or at least all whatsoeuer in the Person is begotten and though he doth not beget the substance thereof yet as it is such a subsistence he may be said to procreate it because his generation worketh towards the Vnion of the Soule and Body which Vnion is made by the Spirits Animall and Vitall And these Spirits are procreated by the Seed and consist of a middle nature as it were betwixt bodily and spirituall so that the production of the Soule and incorporating thereof may be counted in the middle way betweene Creation and Generation And therefore this originall corruption did not reach to Christ Iesus although hee were true Man because hee was the Seed of the Woman and did not descend of Adam by generation per seminatem rationem tanquam à principio actiuo saith Aquinas but was miraculously framed in the wombe and of the substance of the Virgin by the power of the Holy Ghost Thus haue I presumed to offer my crude and rude Meditations to the wiser World about the deriuation of Originall sinne which it selfe is the cause why we can no better see it as darkenesse hideth it selfe But the whole Citie of Mankind being here with set on fire it behoueth euery one to be more carefull to quench it then ouer-curiously to enquire how it came It is sufficient that nothing descended hereby to vs by corruption or was made ours by imputation which is not fully cured by Christ who is made vnto vs both by imputation of his actiue and passiue obedience and by reall infusion of his Spirit Wisdome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption if wee haue faith to receiue it and Charitie to expresse it an absolute renewer and perfecter of the Image of God beyond what wee had in our first Parents lost CHAP. VI. Of the Reliques of the Diuine Image after the Fall whereby naturally men addict themselues vnto some Religion and what was the Religion of the World before the Floud THis sinne of our first
the fire made men beleeue that they which would not cause their children to passe through the fire should lose them and easily perswaded them thereunto as a thing easie saith the Rabine for they did not burne them although herein both diuine and humane testimonies make me beleeue the contrarie From hence saith hee descended the customes obserued by women in holding and mouing their children ouer the fire or smoke They had their diuersities of Processions and when they hallowed a tree to an Image one part of the fruit thereof was offered and the other eaten in the house of the Idoll the like they did with the first fruits of euery tree making men beleeue that otherwise the tree would become vnprofitable They had their magicall enchantments in the planting or grafting of trees with obseruations of the starres incenses words but this most Diabolicall that in the houre when one kinde was to be ingrafted into another the science which was to bee ingrafted should bee holden in the hand of some beautifull woman and that some man should then carnally but vnnaturally haue knowledge of her the woman in that instant putting the science into the tree They vsed also to make circles when they planted or sowed and went about the same some fiue times because of the fiue planets some seuen in regard of the Sunne and Moone added to that number For this cause the Iew not vnprobably thinketh that mixtures in garments seedes and the like were forbidden by the Law of Moses with other rites any way resembling these They further worshipped Deuils beleeuing that they appeared to men in the formes of Goates and therefore called their Deuils Kids and held it vnlawfull to sheare or to eate their kids but especially they abhorred the killing of Kine but performed much worship to them as they also doe in India to this day They sacrificed Lyons Beares and wilde Beasts as is mentioned in the Booke Zeuzit They held bloud in much abomination accounting it a great pollution and yet did eat it because they said it was the food of Deuils and they which did eat it should haue communion with them and that they would come to such and reueale vnto them things to come Some whose nicer stomackes could not indure to eate it receiued the same when they killed a beast in a Vessell or in a ditch and did eate the flesh of that Sacrifice being placed about that bloud thinking that the Deuils did eate the bloud and that thus by this as it were eating at the same table was entertained betwixt them and the Deuils mutuall familiaritie and societie They beleeued also that in their sleepes the Deuils came and reuealed secrets vnto them Concerning a menstruous woman their custome was that shee should sit alone in a house and that the places where shee set her feet should be burned whosoeuer talked with her was vncleane yea if he but stood in the wind of her the wind from her did pollute him Likewise these Zabians thought whatsoeuer went from their bodies was vncleane as nailes haire bloud and therefore Barbers and Surgeons were holden polluted and after cutting off their haire vsed much washing for expiation But it needeth some expiation that I insist so long in these narrations and haue need of some Barber or Surgeon to ease me of superfluities if that can be superfluous which fitteth so to our proiect and in the iudgement of the learnedst of the Iewish Rabbines in many ages seemed the cause of so many prohibitions in Moses his Law lest they should conforme themselues in religious obseruances to these superstitious Zabians But let vs now returne to Diodorus who affirmeth that the Chaldaeans numbred fortie three thousand yeeres vntill the comming of Alexander since first they had begunne their obseruations of the Starres These yeeres Xenophon de aequiuocis interpreteth of moneths for so sayth he the Chaldaeans reckoned their antiquities in other things they kept their computation according to the Sunne But of their fabulous antiquities wee haue heard before where wee haue also touched that one beginning of Idolatrie did arise of this curious and superstitious Starre-gazing especially in the Countries of Aegypt where not at all vsually and in Chaldaea where diuers moneths together they haue neither raines nor cloudes Strabo diuideth the Chaldaeans into sects Orcheni Borsippeni and others diuersly opinionate of the same things Borsippa was a Citie sacred to Diana and Apollo Plinie addeth the Hippareni Daniel reckoneth vp foure kind of Wise-men among the Chaldaeans the first are called Chartummim which were Enchanters Ashaphim Astrologers Mecashpim Sorcerers or Iuglers deluders of sense and Chasdim Chaldaeans which howsoeuer it were a generall name of that Nation yet was it appropriated vnto a certaine sect and profession of learning among them which seemed to excell the rest and were their Priests Philosophers and Mathematicians as you haue heard In the seuen and twentieth verse of the same chapter are mentioned also Cachimim Wisards which by coniectures and casting of lots did ghesse of things to come and Gazrin of the word gazar to cut these opened and diuined by the entrals of sacrifices The vanitie of their diuinations appeareth in that Prophet howsoeuer they haue beene renowned therefore among the Heathens as in the foretelling of Alexanders death and before that when Darius had changed his Scaberd into the Greeke fashion the ruine of that Empire by the Greeks When Faustina the Empresse wife to M. Antonius had fallen in loue with a Fencer or sword-player and being sicke confessed the same to her husband the Chaldaeans were sent for who gaue counsell to kill the Fencer and that shee should wash her selfe in his bloud and then accompanie with her Husband which was done and Commodus begotten who in qualities resembled that Fencer vpon this occasion as the people reported though others esteemed him a Bastard Plutarch sheweth how vainely the Romans depended on their predictions Thus Iuvenal reproues them Chaldaeis sed maior erit fiducia quicquid Dixerit Astrologus credent à fonte relatum Ammonis Ioues Oracles no greater credit haue Then sooth-saying of Chaldaee coozening knaue Many Edicts were after made against them Otho Heurnius laboureth to bring the Grecian Philosophie from the Chaldaeans yea Aristotle himselfe as hee had receiued the the Persian and Indian Philosophie by tradition of Pythagoras and Democritus and the Aegyptian and Iewish learning from Plato so was hee instructed sayth hee in the Babylonian sciences by Callisthenes But Caelius Rhodiginus and Iosephus Scaliger thinke them rather corrupters of learning whereof they had no solid knowledge and that the Greekes attained thereunto by their owne industrie without borrowing of the Chaldaeans Peucer deemeth them too Philosophicall the peruerters of Religion into Theoricall speculations of Nature and confuteth their fiue kinds of prognosticating But their estimation could not haue beene such in Daniels time if they had not beene
Sadduces was diminished if not worne out after the destruction of the Temple till in the yeere 4523. or after Scaliger 4515. and Anno Dom. 755. one Anan and Saul his son renued that Doctrine because he had not receiued his expected promotion to the degree of Gaon He wrote bookes against the other Iewes The like did one Carçasnai But of these Sadduces too much §. V. Of the Hessees OF the Essees Essens or Hessees followeth in the next place Their name Scaliger deriueth of a word which signifieth Rest or quietnesse and silence both which well agreed to their institution He disproueth that opinion of Eusebius and others that therein followed him which thought these Iewish Heretikes were Christian Monkes and Catholikes Such Catholikes let Baronius and Bellarmine boast of as the Authors of their Monkes for so they would haue them which you may beleeue as well as before the Floud Enosh and after Elias Iohn Baptist the Nazarites and Rechabites were Monkish Votaries as the Cardinall would haue you As for these Essees hee makes no small adoe against the Centuries g for vnderstanding Philo of Iewish and not of Christian Monkes But the loue to Monkery hath dazeled the eyes of men too much and euen their Historie which followeth will conuince that opinion of falsehood Besides Christianity should haue small credit of such associates Indeed the later Monkes are much like them in superstition and idolatrie though farre behind in other things But he that will see this Argument disputed let him reade Scaliger his Confutation of Serarius the Iesuite He sheweth also that the Ossens Sampsaeans Messalians and diuers heresies amongst the Christians sprang from these Essees That the Egyptian Essees of which Philo speaketh out of whom Eusebius first collected that conceit and that Philo himselfe had no skill in the Hebrew but knew onely the Greeke tongue that Paulus the Eremite in Thebais was the first Author of Monasticall liuing But now to come to our Historie of these men These Essees Hessees or Essens are placed by Plinie on the West of dead Sea a people solitarie and in the whole world most admirable without women without money a Nation eternall in which none is borne the wearinesse of others fortunes being the cause of their fruitfull multiplyings Philo in that booke which he intituled that all good men are free saith that there were of them aboue foure thousand called Essaei quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Holy not sacrificing other creatures but their mindes vnto God Some of them are Husband-men some Artificers for necessitie not for abundance they make no weapons of war nor meddle with Merchandize They haue no seruants but are all both free and mutually seruants to each other They liue perpetually chaste sweare not at all nor lye esteeming God the giuer of all good and Author of no euill Their societie is such that one garment one house one foode one treasurie one getting one spending one life is in common to them all carefully prouiding for their sick and holding the elder men in place of parents Iosephus who himselfe liued among them doth more largely describe them He reporteth that they were by Nation Iewes auoiding pleasures and riches as sinnes accounting continence and contentednesse great vertues They marrie not but instruct the children of others respecting them as their kindred in their manners not denying the lawfulnesse of marriage but the honestie of women He which becommeth one of their fraternitie must make his goods common Oyle and neatnesse they shunne yet weare alwaies a white garment They haue officers for their common prouision They haue no one certaine Citie but in each many of them haue their houses to strangers of their owne Sect they communicate their goods and acquaintance and therefore carry nothing with them in their iourneyes but weapons for feare of theeues and in euery Citie haue of the same Colledge an especiall Officer which prouideth for strangers The children vnder tuition of Masters are alike prouided for nor doe they change their rayment till the old be worne They neither buy nor sell but mutually communicate Deuout they are in the seruice of God For before the Sunne riseth they speake of no prophane or worldly matter but celebrate certaine Prayers as praying him to rise Then by their Officers are each appointed to their workes till the fifth houre at which time they assemble together and being girded with linnen garments wash themselues with cold water Then doe they goe into their dining-roome as into a Temple where no man of another Sect may be admitted and there staying with silence the Pantler sets them bread in order and the Cooke one vessell of broth The Priest giueth thankes as after dinner also Then laying aside those their holy garments they plie their worke till the Euening and then suppe in like manner There is neuer crying or tumult they speake in order and obserue euen without the house a venerable silence In other things they are subiect to their ouerseer but at their owne choice may helpe and shew mercy to others To their kindred they cannot giue without licence What they say is certaine but an Oath they hate no lesse then periurie They studie the writings of the Ancient thence collecting such things as may benefite the manners of the minde or health of the bodie They which are studious of their Sect must a yeeres space endure tryall and then after that probation of their continencie must bee probationers yet two yeeres longer and then vpon allowance of their manners are assumed into their fellowship making first deepe protestation of Religion towards God and iustice towards men to keepe faith to all but especially to Princes and if they shall come to rule ouer others not to abuse their power not to exceede others in habit not to steale not to keepe any thing secret from them of their owne Sect or cummunicate it to another although vpon perill of life not to deuise new doctrines to keepe the bookes of their owne opinions and the names of the Angels Offenders they put from their fellowship and hee which is thus excommunicate may not receiue foode offered of any other but eating grasse and hearbs is consumed with famine except they in compassion receiue him againe in extremitie They giue no sentence of iudgement being fewer then an hundred If ten sit together one speakes not without consent of the rest They may not spit in the midst or on the right hand They will not so much as purge Nature on the Sabbath and on other daies do it very closely for offending the Diuine light and couer it with an instrument in the Earth and that in the most secret places and are washed after They are of foure rankes according to the time of their profession and the yonger sort of these are so farre inferiour to the rest that if one of these do touch them hee washeth himselfe
But of Beasts Birds Trees and Flowers those prominent Images which are made standing out are lawfull Otherwise of the Sunne Moone and Starres 45. No commoditie is to bee raised from Idols If a tree be planted neere an Image one may not sit vnder the shadow thereof nor passe vnder it if there bee any other way and if he must passe it must be running Things imployed to Idolatry may be vsed of vs if the Gentiles haue first prophaned them It is not lawfull to sell them Waxe or Frankincense especially at their Candlemasse Feast nor bookes to vse in their seruice Our women may not performe a Mid-wiues office to them nor nurse their children 65. Thou shalt doe no worke on the Seuenth day Nothing that belongeth to the getting of Food or Rayment It is vnlawfull to walke on the grasse lest thou pull it vp with thy feet or to hang any thing on the bough of a tree lest it breake or to eate an Apple plucked on the Sabbath especially if the tayle or woodden substance whereby it groweth be on it or to mount on a horse lest he bee galled or to goe into water lest thou wipe thy clothes which holdeth also if they be moystened with Wine or Oyle but not in a woman that giueth suck who may wipe her cloathes for the more puritie of her prayers The stopple of a Vessell if it be of Hempe or Flax may not be thrust in though it runne especially if any other Vessell be vnder To mixe Mustard-seed with wine or water to lay an Apple to the fire to roast to wash the bodie chiefely with hot water to sweate to wash the hands to doe any thing in priuate which may not bee publikely done but some say it is lawfull priuately to rubbe off the durt with his nayles from his cloathes which publikely hee may not To reade by a Light except two reade together To set sayle but if thou enter three dayes before it is not necessarie to goe forth on the Sabbath to be carryed in a Waggon though a Gentile driue it If fire happen on the Sabbath to carrie any thing out but thy food rayment and necessaries for that day and that wherein the holy Booke lyeth to put to pasture Horses or Asses coupled together to receiue any good by the Light or Fire which a Gentile hath made for the Iew otherwise if he did it for himselfe To play on any Instrument to make a bed to Number Measure Iudge or Marry lest they should write any thing To reade at home when others are at the Synagogue To speake of buying and selling which it seemeth they obserue not To visite Field or Garden To Runne Leape or tell Tales c. All these on the Sabbath day are vnlawfull For dangerous diseases it is lawfull to violate the Sabbath Such are the three first dayes after a womans trauell c. But of this see also the obseruation of their Sabbath It is not lawfull to walke out of the Citie but their limited space but within the Citie as farre as they will though it bee as big as Niniuie 120. It is forbidden to hurt the Seed-members of Man or Beast Neither Males nor Females may be gelded or spayed and yet wee may vse such Beasts 126. It is punishable to know kisse or embrace one which is forbidden by the Law Leuit. 18. Therefore our Masters haue forbidden to smile on such or vse any meanes or tokens of Lust Likewise they haue forbidden men to know their Wiues in the day-time vnlesse it bee in the darke or vnder some Couering The same is forbidden to a drunken man and to him which hateth his wife lest they get wicked Children betweene them Also to follow a woman in the streets but either to goe before or besides her And hee which is not married may not put his hand beneath his Nauell nor touch his flesh when he maketh water And because a man may not weare Womans attire neither may hee looke in a glasse because that is womanish 138. The fat may not bee eaten The fat of the Heart may but not that which is on the Inwards and Reines and Stomake and Guts and Bladder the rest may be eaten 176. If thy Brother bee poore thou mayest not abuse him to wit to base Offices as to vntie the shooe or to carrie Vessels to the Bath Concerning liberalitie to the poore they limit it at the fift part of a mans goods lest men should become poore by releeuing the poore 191. Thou mayest not lend to an Israelite on Vsurie nor borrow on Vsurie Nor be a witnesse or suretie in cases of Vsurie nor receiue any thing besides the principall especially on any Couenant going before 201. Hee that by constraint doth any thing worthy of Death although hee violate the Name of God ought not be slaine 213. Wicked men are not competent witnesses Hee is accounted wicked which transgresseth any Precept for which hee is worthy to be beaten A Theefe and a Robber is not sufficient to bee a witnesse after he hath made restitution Nor a Vsurer nor a Publicane nor he which is enriched by play nor Children till they haue beards except hee be twentie yeeres olde 222. The King ought not to multiply Wiues Our Masters say that the King may haue eighteene Wiues 225. If any of the seuen Canaanitish Nations shall come in the hands of a Iew hee ought to slay him 242. The Father or the Husband may disannull the vowes of their Children or Wiues And the Wise-men may release the vowes of those which repent of their vow A Sonne of thirteene yeeres and a day and a Daughter of twelue and a day if they be out of their Parents tuition haue power to vow A bastard may not marry an Israelites daughter to the tenth generation 308. Their are fiftie defects which make a Man or Beast vncapeable of Sacred Functions to bee either Sacrificer or Sacrifice fiue in the Eares three in the eye-lids eight in the eyes three in the nose sixe in the mouth twelue in the seed-vessels sixe in the hands and feete and in the bodie foure c. Besides there are foure-score and tenne defects in Man which are not in a Beast No defect vnlesse it bee outward maketh a man vnfit §. III. Of their affirmatiue Precepts 12. EVery one ought to teach his Sonne the Law Likewise his nephew and Wisemen their Disciples and he which is not taught it of his Father must learne it as he can He which teacheth another the written Law may receiue a reward but not for teaching the Traditionall 13. Rise before thine Elder That is saith R. Iosi a Wiseman although young in yeeres To him thou must rise when hee is foure cubites distant and when he is passed by thou mayest sit downe againe 16. The sinner must turne from his sinne vnto God And being returned he must say I beseech thee O
in his Image Male and Female created hee them And he called their name ADAM yet after this is mention of Adams solitarinesse and forming of Eue out of his side that is cutting the female part from the Male and so fitting them to generation Thus doth Leo Hebraus reconcile the Fable of Platoes Androgynus with Moses narration out of which he thinketh it borrowed For as hee telleth that Iupiter in the first forming of mankinde made them such Androgyni with two bodies of two sexes ioyned in the brest diuided for their pride the nauill still remaining as a skarre of the wound then made so with little difference is this their interpretation of Moses §. III. Of the Iewesses Conception and Trauell and of Lilith WHen a Iewish woman is great with Childe and neare her time her chamber is furnished with necessaries and then some holy and deuout man if any such may bee had with Chalke maketh a circular line round in the chamber vpon all the walls and writeth on the doore and within and without on euery wall and about the bed in Hebrew Letters Adam Chaua Chuts Lilith or after the Iewish pronuntiation Lilis that is Adam Eue away hence Lilis Hereby they signifie their desire that if a woman shall bee deliuered of a sonne GOD may one day giue him a wife like to Eue and not a shrew like Lilis This word Lilis is read in the Prophet interpreted a Skritch-Owle but the Iewes seeme to meane by it a diuellish Spectrum in womans shape that vseth to slay or carry away Children which are on the eight day to be Circumcised Elias Leuita writeth that hee hath read that a hundred and twentie yeeres Adam contained himselfe from his wife Eue and in that space there came to him Diuels which conceiued of him whence were ingendred Diuels and Spirits Fairies and Goblins and there were foure mothers or dammes of Diuels Lilith Naemah Ogereth and Machalath Thus is it read in Ben Sira when GOD had made Adam and saw it was not good for him to bee alone hee made him a woman of the earth like vnto him and called her Lilis These disagreed for superioritie not suffering Caesarue priorem Pompeiusue parem Lilis made of the same mould would not be vnderling and Adam would not endure her his equall Lilis seeing no hope of agreement vttered that sacred word IEHOVA with the Cabalisticall interpretation thereof and presently did flie into the Ayre Adam playning his case GOD sent three Angels after her viz. Senoi Sensenoi Sanmangeleph either to bring her backe or to denounce vnto her That a hundred of her Children should dye in a day These ouertooke her ouer the troublesome Sea where one day the Aegyptians should bee drowned and did their message to her shee refusing to obey they threatned her drowning but she besought them to let her alone because shee was created to vexe and kill children on the eight day if they were men if women children on the twentieth day They neuerthelesse forcing her to goe Lilis sware to them That whensoeuer she should finde the name or figure of those Angels written or painted on Schedule Parchment or any thing shee would doe Infants no harme and that she would not refuse that punishment to lose a hundred children in a day And accordingly a hundred of her children or young Diuels dyed in a day And for this cause doe they write these names on a Scroll of Parchment and hang them on their Infants neckes Thus farre Ben Sira In their Chambers alwayes is found such a scroll or painting and the names of the Angels of Health this office they ascribe to them are written ouer the chamber doore In their Booke Brandspiegel Printed at Cracouia 1597. is shewed the authoritie of this Historie collected by their Wise-men out of those words Male and Female created hee them compared with the forming of Eue of a Rib in the next Chapter saying That Lilis the former was diuorced from Adam for her pride which shee conceiued because she was made of earth as well as hee and GOD gaue him another Flesh of his flesh And concerning her R. Moses tels that Samael the Diuell came riding vpon a Serpent which was as bigge as a Camell and cast water vpon her and deceiued her When this Iewesse is in trauell shee must not send for a Christian Mid-wife except no Iewish can bee gotten and then the Iewish women must be very thick about her for feare of negligence or iniurie And if she be happily deliuered of a sonne there is exceeding ioy through all the house and the father presently makes festiuall prouision against the Circumcision on the eight day In the meane time ten persons are inuited neither more nor fewer which are all past thirteene yeeres of age The night after her deliuerie seuen of the inuited parties and some others sometimes meet at the Child-house and make there great cheere and sport all night Dicing Drinking Fabling so to solace the Mother that shee should not grieue too much for the childs Circumcision §. IIII. Of the Iewish manner of Circumcision THe Circumciser is called Mohel who must bee a Iew and a Man and well exercised in that facultie and hee that will performe this office at the beginning giueth money to some poore Iew to be admitted hereunto in his children that after his better experience hee may be vsed of the richer And this Mohel may thence-forwards bee knowne by his thumbes on which he weareth the nayles long and sharpe and narrow-pointed The circumcising Instruments is of stone glasse yron or any matter that will cut commonly sharpe kniues like Rasors amongst the rich Iewes closed in siluer and set with stones Before the Infant be Circumcised he must be washed and wrapped in clouts that in the time of the Circumcision hee may lie cleane for otherwise they might vse no prayers ouer him And if in the time of Circumcision for paine he defileth himselfe the Mohels must suspend his praying till he be washed laid cleane again This is performed commonly in the morning while the child is fasting to preuent much fluxe of bloud In the morning therefore of the eight day all things are made readie First are two seates placed or one so framed that two may sit in the same apart adorned costly with Carpets and that either in the Synagogue or some priuate Parlour If it bee in the Synagogue then the seat is placed neere the holy Arke or Chest where the Booke of the Law is kept Then comes the suretie or God-father for the child and placeth himselfe at the said seat and neere him the Mohel or Circumciser Other Iewes follow them one of which cryeth with a loud voyce That they should bring presently whatsoeuer is needfull for this businesse Then come other Children whereof one bringeth a great Torch in which are lighted twelue waxe Candles to represent the twelue Tribes of Israel after him two
other Boyes carrying cups full of red Wine After them another carrieth the circumcising knife another brings a dish with sand another brings another dish with Oyle in which are cleane and fine clouts which after the Mohel applyeth to the wounds of the child These stand in a ring about the Mohel the better to marke and learne and these their Offices are bought with money by those children Some come thither also with Spices Cloues Cinnamon strong Wine to refresh if any happen to swoune These being thus assembled the God-father sitteth downe vpon one of those two seats right against him the Mohel placeth himselfe and sings the song of the Israelites and others Then the women bring the child to the doore all the congregation presently rising vp The God-father goeth to the doore taketh the child sitteth downe on his seat and cryeth out Baruch habba that is Blessed be hee that commeth in their Cabalisticall sense habba being applyed either to the eight day which is the day of Circumcision or the comming of Elias whom they call the Angell of the Couenant so they interpret the Prophet and say that Elias commeth with the Infant and sits downe on that other emptie seat For when the Israelites were prohibited Circumcision and Elias complained thus The children of Israel haue forsaken the Couenant that is Circumcision God promised him That from thence-forwards hee should be present at Circumcision to see it rightly performed And when they make readie that seat for Elias then they are bound in set words to say This seat is for the Prophet ELIAS otherwise as a vnbidden ghest he commeth not This seat remaineth for him three whole dayes together Then when the God-father holdeth the child in his lap the Mohel takes him out of his clouts and layeth hold on his member and holding the fore-skinne putteth backe the top thereof and rubbeth the fore-skinne so to make it haue the lesse sense of paine Then he taketh from the Boy the circumcising-knife and saith with a loud voyce Blessed bee thou O God our Lord King of the World which hast sanctified vs with thy Commandements and giuen vs the Couenant of Circumcision and whiles he thus speaketh cuts off the fore-part of the skin that the head of the yard may bee seene and presently hurleth it into the Sand-dish and restoreth his knife to the Boy againe taketh from another a cup of Red Wine and drinketh his mouthfull which hee presently spitteth out on the Infant and therewith washeth away the bloud and if he see the child begin to faint he spitteth out some thereof on his face Presently he taketh the member of the child in his mouth and sucketh out the bloud to make it stay from bleeding the sooner and spitteth out that bloud so sucked into the other cup full of Wine or into the dish of Sand This hee doth at least thrice After the bloud is stayed the Mohel with his sharpe-pointed thin nayles rendeth the skinne of the yard and putteth it backe so farre that the head thereof is bare Hee is more painefull to the Infant with this rending of the remaining skinne which action is called Priah then with the former This being done hee layeth the clouts dipped in oyle aforesaid to the wound and bindeth them three or foure times about and then wrappeth vp the Infant againe in his clouts Then saith the Father of the child Blessed bee thou O God our Lord King of the World which hast sanctified vs in thy Commandements and hast commanded vs to succeed into the Couenant of our Father ABRAHAM To which all the Congregation answerth As this Infant hath happily succeeded into the Couenant of our Father ABRAHAM so happily shall hee succeed into the possession of the Law of MOSES into Marriage also and other good workes Then doth the Mohel wash his bloudie mouth and his hands The God-father riseth with him and standeth ouer-against him who taking the other cup of Wine saith a certaine prayer and prayeth also ouer the Infant saying O our God God of our Fathers strengthen and keepe this Infant to his Father and Mother and make that his name in the people of Israel may bee named heere he first nameth the Child calling him Isaac ISAAC which was the sonne of ABRAHAM Let his Father reioyce in him that hath come out of his loynes Let his Mother reioyce in the fruit of her wombe as it is written Make glad thy Father and Mother and her that bare thee to reioyce And GOD saith by the Prophet I passed by thee and saw thee troden in thy bloud and I said vnto thee In thy bloud thou shalt liue yea I said vnto thee In thy bloud thou shalt liue Heere the Mohel puts his finger into the other cup of Wine wherein hee had spit the bloud and moysteneth the Childs lippes three times with that wine hoping that according to the former sentence of the Prophet he shall liue longer in the bloud of his Circumcision then otherwise he should Dauid also saith He is mindfull of his marueilous acts which hee hath done and of his wonders and the iudgements of his mouth c. Then hee continueth his prayer for the present assembly and that God would giue long life to the Father and Mother of the Boy and blesse the child This done he offers the blessed Cup to all the yong men and bids them drinke Then with the Childe who is thus made a Iew they returne to the Fathers house and restore him to his Mothers armes This last prayer he makes neere the Arke and some of the deuouter Iewes before and after Circumcision take the Childe and lay him vpon Elias pillow that Elias may touch him The skinne cast into the sand is in memorie of that promise I will make thy seed as the sand of the Sea and of Balams saying Who can number the dust of IACOB that is his posteritie whose fore-skin is cast in the Sand or Dust and because the Curse on the Serpent is thus fulfilled Dust thou shalt eat that is this skin in the dust thus to their enemie the Serpent fulfilling also that precept If thine enemie hunger feed him And by this meanes the Serpent can no more seduce this man If a Childe bee sicke on the eight day they deferre Circumcision till his recouerie they hold also the blowing of the North winde necessarie to this action and therefore thinke that their Fathers for bare circumcision those fortie yeeres in the Wildernesse because the North winde blew not all that time lest it should haue blowne away the piller of smoake and fire and besides this winde is wholsome for wounds which else are dangerous But lest they should stay beyond the eighth day expecting this Northerne breath their Talmud tels that euery day there blow foure windes and that the North is mixed with them all and therefore they may Circumcise euery day If the Child
dye before the eight day he is circumcised at the graue without any prayers but a signe is erected in memorie of him that GOD may haue mercie vpon him and raise him at the day of the Resurrection In some places all the people stand except the God-father because it is written All the people stood in the Couenant But to pursue the rest of their niceties grounded vpon such interpretations would bee endlesse We will follow the childe home if you be not alreadie wearie and see what rout is there kept Ten must bee the number you haue heard of the inuited ghests and one or two of these learned Rabbins who must make a long prayer and Sermon at the table although others meane while are more busied in tossing the cups of Wine I was once present saith Buxdorsius at one of their Circumcision feasts and one of their Rabbins preached on Pro. 3.18 Wisedome is a tree of life but more woodden or ridiculous stuffe I neuer heard in all my life This feast they obserue by example of Abraham who made a great feast when the childe was weaned their Kabal peruerts it when hee was circumcised The Circumciser abideth sometime with the Mother lest the bloud should againe issue from the childe The mother keepeth within sixe weekes whether it bee a male or female all which time her husband must not so much as touch her or eate meate in the same dish with her If a female child bee borne there is small solemnitie onely at sixe weekes age some young wenches stand about the Cradle and lift it vp with the child in it and name it shee which stands at the head being God-mother and after this they iunket together §. V. Of the Iewish Purification Redemption and Education WHen the fortie dayes are accomplished before the wife may accompanie or haue any fellowship with her husband shee must bee purified in cold water and put on white and cleane garments Their washing is with great scrupulositie in a common watering or in priuate Cisternes or Fountaines which must bee so deepe that they must stand vp to the necke in water and if it bee muddie in the bottome they must haue a square stone to stand on that their whole feete may stand in cleere water and that the water may passe betwixt their toes for the least part not couered with water would frustrate the whole action and for this cause they lay aside all their haire-laces neck-laces rings they diue vnder the water so that no part may bee free from the same Some Iewesse must stand by for witnesse hereof which is twelue yeers old and a day at least They redeeme their first-borne in this sort when the child is one and thirtie dayes old his Father sendeth for the Priest with other friends and sets the child on a Table before him adding so much money or monies-worth as amounteth to two Florens of gold or two Dolars and a halfe My wife saith he hath brought me forth my first-borne and the Law bids me giue him to thee Doest thou then giue me him saith the Priest He answereth Yea. The Priest asketh the Mother if she euer before had a childe or abortion If shee answere No then the Priest asketh the Father Whether the childe or the money be dearer to him he answereth The childe then doth the Priest take the money and lay it on the head of the Infant saying This is a first begotten child which God commanded should be redeemed and now saith hee to the childe thou art in my power but thy parents desire to redeeme thee now this money shall be giuen to the Priest for thy redemption And if I haue redeemed thee as is right thou shalt bee redeemed If not yet thou being redeemed according to the Law and custome of the Iewes shalt grow vp to the feare of God to marriage and good workes Amen If the father dye before the childe be one and thirtie dayes old the mother hangeth a scroll about his necke wherein is written This is the first-borne and not redeemed and this child when he commeth of age must redeeme himselfe The Iewish Chachamim or Wise-men haue left no part of life vnprouided of their superstitious care as we haue seene concerning the birth and circumcision of their children with the Purification of the mother and Redemption of the first-borne To proceed with them they enioyne the mother while she giueth sucke to eate wholesome food of easie digestion that the Infant may sucke good milke so that the heart and stomacke be not stopped but may come so much more easily to obtaine wisedome and vertue For God hath great care of children and hath therefore giuen a woman two brests and placed them next her heart yea in the dangerous persecution vnder Pharaoh Exod. 1. hee caused the earth to open it selfe and receiue their Male children and created therein two stones from one of which the Infant sucked milke and from the other honie till they were growne and might goe to their Parents yea and if you beleeue their Gemara can you choose a poore Iew hauing buried his wife and not able to hire a nurse for his childe had his owne brests miraculously filled with milke and became nurse himselfe Yea Mardochaeus saith their Medrasch sucked the brests of Hester and for this cause did she after her exaltation so preferre him The conclusion is if she giue grosse food to her Infants she shall be cast into hell She must not go naked brested nor too long fasting in a morning nor carrie her Infants or suffer them to goe or be naked lest the Sunne hurt them if it bee in the day or the Moone in the night and that they may soone learne that the earth is filled with the Maiestie of diuine glory and for this cause must they beware that they neuer goe bare-headed for this were a signe of impudencie and ill disposition And as religiously they must prouide that they be alway girded with a girdle for the girdle distinguisheth betwixt the heart and the priuities and in his morning prayer he saith Blessed be thou O God which girdest Israel with the girdle of strength which if he should not haue a girdle on would be in vaine Their Mothers therefore sow their girdles to their coats with great care they auoid going bare-foot especially in Ianuary and February When they can speake they are taught sentences out of Scripture and to salute their Parents with good-morrow good-Sabbath c. and after seuen yeeres they adde the name of God God giue you good-morrow c. but they must not name the name of God but in a pure place These teach them the names of things in the vulgar and some Hebrew names among that so they may not commonly be vnderstood for pure Hebrew they cannot speake except their most learned Rabbines onely Their Children must not conuerse with children of Christians and their Parents make all things
enioyneth to this weaker vessell which honour they say is in meate and drinke and goodly garments for which hee shall this was a womans friend haue fauour with God The Author of Arbaa Turim addeth That a man should loue his wife as his owne bodie and honour her aboue his bodie and keepe her as one of his members For the wife is the other halfe of man and a man without a wife is but halfe a man And let him take heed of striking his wife said another or to bee virulent in termes against her For for her teares how pittifully easie are they to some his punishment is neere And howsoeuer since the destruction of the Temple the doore of Prayers hath beene shut yet the doore of teares hath not beene shut as saith Dauid Bee not thou silent at my teares And should not a man honour his wife Yes saith R. Hauina for a man hath no blessing but for his wife as it is written Hee blessed Abraham for her Let a man cloath himselfe I would not haue women heare it beneath his abilitie his children according to his abilitie and his wife aboue his abilitie Let the wife honour her husband as her father and feare to displease him and let him spare her in his anger remembring that shee was taken out of his ribbes But for the wiues choyse A man ought saith one to sell all that hee hath and buy a wife the daughter of a wise Disciple if he finde not such an one let him take a daughter of the Great men of his time if not such the daughter of a Synagogue-Ruler in that defect let him take the daughter of one which gathereth Almes if not then of a Schoole-master and not the daughter of the people of the Land of whom the Scripture saith Cursed bee he that lyeth with a Beast They say that a man ought not to lodge in the same chamber no not with his Sister Daughter or daughter in Law yea there Wise men forbid conference with a woman altogether §. V. Of Diuorce and other Marriage obseruations THe bill of diuorce is still practised among the Iewes it must bee written in twelue lines it is therefore called Get neither more nor lesse and deliuered to the woman before three credible witnesses vnder their hands and seales Then doth the husband deliuer it to her saying Loe woman the bill of thy Diuorce take it of mee by it being diuorced from mee bee thou free to another husband The tenor of this bill is this The second day of the weeke the eight and twentieth of the moneth N. in the yeere of the world 5363. as we heere at Mentz vpon Rhene vse to reckon I Isaac sirnamed Eckendorf sonne of R. Abr. now dwelling at Mentz of my free will without constraint thee Sara sir-named Turmmerle daughter of R. Leui which hitherto hath beene my wife haue determined to free forsake and diuorce And now to forsake free and put thee from me that thou mayest bee thine owne and at thine owne free will and pleasure mayest depart whither thou wilt and none from hence-forth for euer shall prohibite thee And thou art so freed that thou mayest marrie to any other man This diuorce may not bee done in euery place but they haue some speciall place appointed noted and knowne situate on some knowne Riuer whereto certaine chiefe Rabbines are called by writing if there bee none there dwelling which consummate the businesse By the old Law a woman might be reconciled to her husband before the Bill of diuorce giuen not after The obseruation of the brother to marrie the wife of his brother deceased without issue or else to lose the inheritance which was testified by pulling off his shooe and spetting in his face is now thus ruled by the Rabbins that none shall marrie such a widdow but rather suffer the premised ignominie which is performed in this sort She comes before the chiefe Rabbi with fiue witnesses where the Rabbi demands if she haue been three months a widdow if her husband had a brother vnmarried if the partie conuented bee he c. and lastly if shee be fasting for otherwise she might not spet in her brothers face Of him also the Rabbi asketh like questions and receiuing a denyall of marriage there is brought a shooe of singular fashion for that purpose which hee putteth on his right foot bare and then setteth himselfe against a wall The woman comes and disclaiming his affinitie stoopeth and with her right hand for if she want a right hand it putteth the Rabbines out of their right wits to skan whether with her teeth or how else it may be done vnlooseth the shooe and taking it off spets in his face so that the fiue witnesses may see it saying Thus it shall be done with him which will not build the house of his brother In the time of her vncleannesse a woman may not enter into the Synagogue nor pray nor name the Name of GOD nor handle any holy booke which if they obserue the Rabbines promise them longer life As soone as she knoweth of her vncleannesse she presently seperateth her selfe from her husband the space of seuen dayes not touching him nor sitting on the same seate nor eating in the same dish or on the same cloath nor may drinke out of the same cup nor stand against him nor speake in his face If one will giue any thing to the other one layeth it on a bench or table and goeth away and the other commeth and taketh it They say it procureth the Leprosie in the Children which are then gotten which they obiect to Christians When shee hath numbred seuen dayes of her vncleannesse shee proceedeth to number as many of her purification after which time finding her selfe pure shee cloatheth her selfe in white and taking a woman with her washeth her selfe in cold water some in winter put in warme water to it which others in the coldest season refuse and leaues not a hayre of her head vnwashed as before is described Some fast till they haue done it lest the flesh in the teeth should hinder the water from comming to them for mouth and eyes must bee open and they must stoope that the pappe keepe not away the water from the brest and if they haue a playster on a sore it must off and their nayles must bee pared They write that if any shall exceed twentie yeeres and not marrie or if hee shall marrie a wife which is barren he sinneth as much as if hee had slaine a man and deserueth the punishment of Onan whom GOD slew Prouided if hee addict himselfe to the studie of the Law and findeth no need of a wife but if he finde concupiscence preuaile hee ought to marrie notwithstanding And this necessitie remaineth till he hath begotten a sonne and a daughter §. VI. Of the Iewish Beggers Diseases and Penances THe poorer Iewes on the Friday night and euery Festiuall
soot and tastes not much vnlike it good they say for digestion and mirth Of the boyes which some Coffa-men keepe as stales wee haue spoken before Optum they much vse it seemes for the giddinesse and turbulent dreames it causeth which they as all kinde of stupifying astonishment and madnesse religiously affect This perhaps the cause why Tobacco is so liked a thing brought them by the English the worst here passing currant and excellent there But Morat Bassa not long since caused a pipe to be thrust through the nose of a Turke and so be led in derision through the Citie They take it through reeds with great heads of wood annexed The vnder garments of the women differ little from those of the men These weare on their heads a cap sugar-loafe-fashion the better sort vse Bracelets and Iewells When they goe abroad they weare ouer all long gownes of violet or scarlet cloth tyed close before the large sleeues hanging ouer their hands They haue the sweetest children that are lightly seen which they carry astride on their shoulders They anoint their bodies with the earth of Chios which makes the skinne soft white and shining freeing the face from wrinkles For the Readers further pleasure I haue here presented a Turkish Woman in Picture They vse their bond women with little lesse respect then their wiues Their Markets yeeld Men Women Virgins Children to as ample tryall and full purchase as Horses with vs saue that the Men-slaues may compell their Masters before the Cadi to limit the time of their bondage or set a price of their redemption or else to sell them to another But Galley slaues are seldome released or those that belong to great men beyond the Cadies authoritie They buy little children and geld many of them as you haue heard which some say was begun by Selym the second after he had seene a Gelding couer a Mare and by Menauinus his relation of himselfe seemes not practised in his father Baiazets time These are in great repute with their Masters yea the second Vizier of the Port is now an Eunuch For Arts some haue some little knowledge in Philosophie Necessitie hath taught them the practise of Physicke not the grounds of Arts In Astronomie they haue some insight and vndertake to tell fortunes They haue a good gift in Poetrie Their Musicke is very vile The Grand Signior was once perswaded to heare some Italian Musick but while they spent much time in tuning hee perhaps esteeming that their Musick commanded them to depart Logick and Rhetorick they reiect Some write Histories but few read them thinking none dare write the truth of the present or can of the times past Printing they reiect the most of their Priests liuing by writing Euery one hath some trades such lightly as serue their owne turnes a lazie people more esteeming ease then profit yet very couetous seldome holding compact with the Christians that holds not with their commoditie CHAP. XI Of the Religious places amongst the Turkes their Meschits Hospitalls and Monasteries with their Liturgie and Circumcision §. I. Of their Temples A description of S. SOPHIES THE places of most Religion to the Turkes abroad are those which Mahumet himselfe polluted with his irreligion as Mecca Medina c. The places of most Religion amongst themselues are their Mosches or Meschits that is their Temples and Houses of Prayer whereof they haue many in all Turkie and next thereunto their Hospitals for the reliefe of the poore impotent and Pilgrims Neither are the Turkes sparing in these or the like seeming charitable expences For when a Turke falleth sicke and thinketh he shall thereof dye hee sends for his friends and kinsfolkes and in their presence maketh his Testament the greatest Legacies whereof are bequeathed to publike vses which they thinke will be meritorious to their soules Such are the making and repayring of Bridges Cawseyes Conduits to conuey water to their Hospitalls or Temples Some also giue to the Redemption of Captiues Many of their Women the deuouter Sexe whether in Religion or superstition bequeath money to bee distributed amongst such Souldiers as haue slaine any certaine number of Christians a deed in their conceit very religious These are the Wills and Deeds of the inferiour sort But the Emperors and great Bassaes appoint Legacies to expresse a greater magnificence with their deuotion as the building of Temples and Hospitalls Their Temples or Meschites are for the most part foure square not much vnlike to our Churches but larger in length then bredth The Temple of St. Sophie in Constantinople is of all other in the Turkes Dominion the most admirable built long since by Iustinian and by Mahumet the Conqueror peruerted to this Mahumetan vse aboue nine hundred yeeres after Of this Temple they write that it was first built by Constantius sonne of Constantius the Great with a roofe of timber and burnt by the Arrians in the time of Great Theodosius who againe repayred it Sozomenus saith that in the broyles which hapned not long after in the raigne of Arcadius and Honorius about Chrysostome the Church was fired his enemies ascribing it to his partakers and they againe to his Aduersaries It is reported that Theodosius Iunior rebuilt it But in the time of Iustinian Procopius testifieth that base and wicked men burnt it againe which Iustinian built a-new in such sumptuous and manificent sort that in regard of this change it might haue beene wished that it had perished long before His chiefe worke-men were Anthemius and Isidorus who raised it into a most goodly frame which might amaze the beholders and seeme incredible to the hearers Both he and Euagrius recite the particulars The length was two hundred and threescore feet the bredth one hundred and fifteene the height a hundred and fourescore Zonaras Agathias and Georgius Cedrenus tell of the harmes it receiued by Earthquakes whiles Iustinian liued which yet he repaired as did Basilius and Andronicus after him Nicephorus saith that Constantine raised the Temple of Peace which before was but small to that large and stately greatnesse which in his dayes it retayned and his sonne Constantius finished the Temple of Sophia so neere it that they seemed to haue but one wall It was founded by Constantine his fa her and was burnt in a sedition of the people in the raigne of Iustinian in which rebellion thirtie thousand of the people were slaine and partly to pacifie the wrath of GOD saith hee for so great a slaughter hee built this Temple From the side of the Temple hee tooke foure hundred twentie and seuen Pillars or Images of Heathen gods and of the twelue signes of the Zodiake and fourescore Statues of Christian Emperours which hee didistributed in the Citie But more then enough of the ancient structure thereof As it is at this day diuers haue described it but of them all most diligently Petrus Gellius The walls and roofes thereof are of
is carryed to Church with a long speare borne before him hauing a torch on the top worth a crown more or lesse according to the state of the partie adorned with roses and garlands which with the speare is left a gift to the Church the fees of the Priest all the way they sound on instruments after the sonne followeth the father the kindred and the rest of the friends that sometimes there are a hundred horse at Church they alight and accompany the childe to the Priest which wayteth for them Here one of the friends sitteth downe and on his lap the child is set presently another pulleth off his shooes another holdeth his hands and others his feet and many hold him in talke with words and these are the Gossips The Priest seeing all things readie taketh the end of the skinne of his yard and draweth it out and nippeth it with siluer Pinsers so to mortifie it and cut it off with lesse paine then making him beleeue he will deferre it till the next day he ariseth the other holding him fast and after as if he had forgot somewhat to be done about it with sizzers which he holdeth closely in his hand suddenly cutteth it off and another layeth thereon a certaine powlder to ease the paine and in fiue and twentie dayes they looke to the curing of it laying on it salt and marmalade of Quinces and thence forwards he is called a Musulman But his name is not then giuen him but at his birth and that according to their qualitie Bellonius writes that they must answere the Circumciser to certaine questions somewhat like it seemes to that which in the Baptisme of elder persons is performed by themselues of younger by their Godfathers and therefore they are so old before they bee circumcised Hee also affirmeth that it is neuer done in the Meschit wherein none vncircumcised may enter but in the house The name Mussulman Mussliman or Muslim signifies an Orthodoxe Mahometan as Christian or Catholike with vs Verus Turca saith Bellonius Saluatus or sanae fidei homo after Cantacuzenus After the childe is loosed who to shew himselfe of courage smileth and lifting vp his greatest finger saith those former words of their profession and is againe mounted all the company after a little prayer and offering at the Church with like pompe conueigh him home where is great feasting prouision some feast it three dayes together Amurath circumcised his sonne Mahomet at sixteene yeeres old Vnto which solemnitie many Christian Princes were solemnly inuited who sent thither their Ambassadors with Presents who had there their scaffols prepared for them and furnished according to their states The solemnitie lasted fortie dayes and fortie nights in the great Market-place of Constantinople And to end these solemnities Mahomet the Prince was circumcised not publikely but in his Fathers chamber by Mechmet one of the inferiour Bassaes sometime the Emperour Solymans Barber And it is done of other Turkes also most commonly in the Fathers house not in the Church The woman-women-children about the same age among other women without other solemnity say ouer those words La illah c. and likewise the renegado-Iewes but the Christian renegadoes are carried about the streets of the Cities with much solemnity and many gifts giuen them besides freedome from tribute many blinded by couetousnesse offer themselues to this circumcision But if any for blasphemie against Mahomet or iniurie to a Turke be by force circumcised they haue no such gifts which punishment the Cadilescher by the testimony of two accusing Turkes inflicteth And therefore to preuent the same the Christians obtaine the Grand Seigniors safe conduct that in cases of conscience they may not be iudged of any except they were accused at the Court before the foure Bassaes and the Cadilescher of Constantinople and that by the witnesse of Priests onely which had not in twelue yeeres drunke wine CHAP. XII Of the Sepulchres Funerall-Rites and Opinions touching the Dead among the Turkes NOw if you be wearie of viewing their Temples and their Prayers and other Ceremonies seeme tedious I haue thought fit to present you with another sight and to conclude with that which is the conclusion of all flesh a discourse of their Funerals When a Turke is sicke and like to die his friends visite him and putting him in minde of his sinnes aduise him with a penitent heart to bewayle them Then doe certaine of their Priests or one of his kinsmen read some Psalmes and Prayers And if the pangs of death doe still continue they bring him the Alcoran or Curaam wherein is one Legend called Thebara Echelezi which they read seuen times and if hee shall die of that sicknesse they thinke hee will die before they haue thrice read it and if they see breath still remaine they read another Psalme called Iasinnel Curanil Hecin to the end that the Deuill cause no impediment to his soule When hee is dead they lay him forth in the middest of the house vpon Carpets and place him on his right side with his face towards the South Then doe assemble certaine Priests to buy him who bring with them a string of Beades such as the Papists vse in mumbling and numbring their deuotions being a thousand of them of lignum aloes and there with compasse the bodie and then say to euery one Sababan alla that is God haue mercie on him and turne it about foure or fiue times After this their Priests which are twentie or more carrie the corps into the Garden and lay it on a Table two hands breadth from the ground taking away his shirt and couering his shame with a new cloth made of fine bombast with warme water and sope washing him from top to toe Then do they take two sheets of bombast in which they wrap the corps wetting the same with Rose-water perfumes and odoriferous things and laying him on the Beere couer him quite ouer with his best garments placing his Turbant at the head thereof all bedecked with flowers This done the Priests begin their deuotions and some of the company take vp the Beere carrying the same with the head forwards to the Meschit the kinsmen follow and the women remaine at home weeping and make readie to eate for the Priests When they come to the Church they set him downe without doores and goe and make an end of their seruice After that they carry him forth of the City to the buriall place for it is not lawfull to bury in their Cities Some prouide their Sepulchres in their life time some haue them made after by their friends either in their Gardens or some solitarie place They haue also common buriall places as are our Church-yards wherein are many Tombes of Marble Brick or other matter according to the qualitie of the person If the deceased were a man of high condition his horses are led with his corps and his Tombe is adorned with many Epitaphs And if he were a great
Heresie of Eutyches heere Iason had built a Temple to Iupiter in the straights which seuer Europe from Asia after Melas measure fiue furlongs Of their ancient Kings others haue related but one cannot passe this our Historie without obseruation and that is Mithridates the sixth King of that name who loosing his father in the eleuenth yeere of his age by his Tutors was trecherously assailed but escaped and by vse of that antidote which of him still beareth the name Mithridate out-liued their poysoning conspiracie Hee liued indeed to the death of thousands which either his crueltie or his warres consumed Foure yeeres together to auoid their Treasons he liued in the fields and woods vnder a shew of hunting both preuenting their designes and inuring himselfe to hardnesse Hee spake two and twentie languages being Lord of so many Nations Hee held warres with the Romans sixe and fortie yeeres whom those renowned Captaines Sylla Lucullus Pompey did so conquer as he alway arose againe with great lustre and with greater terror and at last dyed not by his enemies command but voluntarily in his old age and his own Kingdome neuer made to attend the Roman triumphs Syllaes felicity Lucullus prowesse and Pompeyes greatnesse notwithstanding His aspiring thoughts had greedily swallowed the Soueraignty both of Asia and Europe He caused in one night all the Romans in his Dominions to be slaine in which massacre perished a hundred and fiftie thousand as some haue numbred But it cannot be conceiued saith Orosius how many there were or how great was the griefe both of the doers and sufferers when euery one must betray his innocent guests and friends or hazard his owne life no Law of Hospitalitie no Religion of Sanctuary or reuerence of Images being sufficient protection And no maruell if he spared not his enemies when he slew Exipodras and Homochares his sonnes and after the poysonings and voluntary death of Monyma his wife Statira and Roxane his daughters his sonne Pharnaces like to taste of the same cup won to his part his fathers Armie sent against him with which he pursued his father so hotly that hee hauing denounced a heauy curse vpon him entred amongst his Wiues Concubines and Daughters and gaue them poyson pledging them in the same liquor which his body accustomed to his Antidotes easily ouer-came and therefore was faine to intreat another to open a bloudy passage for that his cruell soule A man saith Orosius of all men most superstitious alway hauing with him Philosophers and men expert in all Arts now threescore and foureteene yeeres old The Religion in Pontus was little differing from the Greekes Wee read of the Sacrifices of this King to Ceres and to Iupiter Bellipotens in which the King brought the first wood to the fire He powred also thereon Hony Milke Wine Oyle and after made a Feast In honour of Neptune they drowned Chariots drawne with foure white Horses with which it seemed they would haue him ease himselfe in his Sea-voyages At the mouth of Pontus was the Temple of Iupiter Iasus called Panopeum and nigh thereto a Promontory sacred to Diana sometime an Iland ioyned to the Continent by an Earthquake Hereabouts was the Caue Acherusium whose bottomlesse bottome was thought to reach to Hell I may in the next place set downe Paphlagonia which as it fareth with such as haue mightie Neighbours can scarcely finde her proper limits Some reckon it to Galatia before described and sometimes Pontus hath shared it and either the force of Armes or bountie of Emperours hath assigned it at other times to Phrygia Cilicia or other parts the bounds thereof are thus deliuered Pontus confineth on the North on the East the Riuer Halys on the South Phrygia and Galatia on the West Bithynia Of the people hereof called Heneti some deriue the Veneti of Italy They now call it Roni It had the name Paphlagonia of Paphlagon the sonne of Phineus The Mount Olgasys is very high and in the same are many Paphlagonian Temples Sandaracurgium is another Mountaine made hollow by the Metall-miners which were wont to bee slaues redeemed from capitall Sentence who heere exchanged that speedie death for one more lingring So deadly is the Alpha and Omega the beginning and ending of this Idoll of the World which the Spaniards haue verified in the West by the destruction of another world Vitruuius tells of a Fountaine in Paphlagania as it were mixed with Wine whereof they which drinke without other liquor proue drunken The Heptacometae and Mossynoeci inhabited about those parts a people of that beastly disposition that they performed the most secret worke of Nature in publike view These are not so much notorious for being worse then beasts as their neighbours the Tibareni for surpassing in iustice other men They would not warre on their enemy but would faithfully before relate vnto him the Time Place and Houre of their fight whereas the Mossynoeci vsed to assault strangers that trauelled by them very treacherously They haue also a venemous kinde of Hony growing out of their trees with which they beguiled and slew three troupes of Pompey The Tabareni obserued one strange fashion that when the woman was deliuered of a childe her husband lay in and kept his chamber the women officiously attending him a custome obserued at this day amongst the Brasilians CHAP. XVI Of Asia proprie dicta now called Sarcum THis Region in the strict sense being a particular Prouince of the lesser Asia is bounded on the West with part of Propontis and Hellespont the Aegean Icarian and Mertoan Seas on the South with the Rhodian Sea Lycia and Pamphilia on the East with Galatia on the North with Pontus and Bithynia and part of Propontis In which space are contained Phrygia Caria and both Mysias Aeolis Ionia Doris Lydia Some circumcise from hence both Phrygia and Mysia alledging the authoritie of Saint Luke But in the Apocalypse Chap. 1. these parts are also added and 1. Pet. 1.1 PHRYGIA is diuided into the greater which lyeth Eastward and the lesse called also Hellespontiaca and Troas and of some Epictetus The greater PHRYGIA hath not many Cities Here stood Midaium the Royall Seat of Mydas and Apamia the Phrygian Metropolis Phrygia is called of the riuer Phryx which diuideth it from Caria Herodotus telleth that the Phrygians were accounted the most ancient of all people for the triall whereof Psammetichus King of Egypt had shut vp without societie of any humane creature two children causing onely goats to bee admitted to suckle them who after long time pronounced bec which they had learned of the goates but because that with the Phrygians signified bread therefore they accounted the Phrygians first authors of mankinde Before Deucalions floud Nannacus is reported to raigne there and foreseeing the same to haue assembled his people into the Temple with supplications and prayers Hence grew the prouerbe to say A thing was from
vanitie they gathering that good could not bee either cause or effect of euill found out this remedy worse then the disease to hold two Authors of all things calling Orimazes a God and Arimanius the fountaine of euill a deuill the one cause of light the other of darkenesse Betwixt these two they placed Mithres as Mediator or Intercessor Zoroastres was author of this opinion To the first of these was praise and vowes offered to the later mournfull deuotions For rubbing a certaine hearbe called Omomi they call on Dis Pater Orcus then they wash it with the bloud of a slaine Wolfe and carry it into a shadowie place where they powre it out They assigne plants partly to the good partly to the bad God as they doe also quicke creatures the earthly creatures to the good the watery to the bad and therfore esteem him happy that hath killed most of them Oromazes say they begotten of pure light and Arimanius the childe of darknesse warre one against another Tho first created six Gods Beneuolence Truth Politie Wisdome Riches Honest delight the later as many contrarie When Oromazes had thrice enlarged himselfe he was as farre beyond the Sunne as the Sunne is from the Earth and formed the Starres Of which one he fixed as a Gardian and Watch-man the Dogge-starre hee made other twentie foure Gods which hee closed in an Egge Arimanius did as much but his twentie foure brake their shell and so became good things and euill mingled But a fatall time shall come when Arimanius the Author of plague and famine shall perish and then shall bee one societie of all mankinde in happinesse vsing but one language Theopompus saith according to their opinion that one of these Gods shall raigne three thousand yeeres the other being discomfited and other three thousand they shall fight and labour to destroy one another at last Dis Pater shall be destroyed and men shall bee happy This opinion of the Magi the Chaldeans haue applied to their Astronomy in the seuen Planets making two good two bad three indifferent The Grecians to their Iupiter Dis Pater and Harmonia Empedocles to his Friendship and Discord Aristotle to his Forma Priuatio Pythagoras to his One and Two Plato to his Idem Alterum Manes to his deuilish heresie as before is said The Persians in this respect as some expound their mysteries called Mithra triplex as a third person and reconciler of the other two And there haue not wanted which ascribe this threefold Mithra to that threefold day as they interprete that Signe of the Sunnes going backe ten degrees in the dayes of Hezekiah which if there were houres made the day twice ten beside the ordinarie twelue houres But as in Hercules his generation a threefold night attends these mistie mysteries which I could as willingly construe of some misconstrued notice of the blessed Trinitie Dio Chrysostomus telleth of Zoroaster the Author of this science that enflamed with the loue of vertue hee forsooke the world and went apart into a mountaine And afterwards leauing that habitation he seemed to those to whom hee would shew himselfe which was onely to the Magi to shine with a fire which came downe from heauen vpon him This perhaps was borrowed and peruerted from the shining face of Moses Onely Persians saith Gramay were chosen into their number The name Magi is among Authors applied also to the Chaldeans which in Babylon professed the same Arts and superstitions the Disciples saith Lucian of Zoroastres of whose cunning in charmes you may reade in his Necromantia a pleasant discourse Mithrobarzanes a Chaldean Magus and Menippus whom hee washed twentie nine dayes in Euphrates by the Moone and in the morning sets him against the rising Sunne with long charmes after that spitting three times in his face hee brings him backe againe not once looking aside Their meate was Acornes their drinke Milke Mulse and the water of Choaspi their lodging on the wide field on the grasse After all this he brought him about midnight to Tygris where washing him hee purifieth him with a Torch and the herbe Squilla and other things c. which howsoeuer Lucian suteth to his scoffing humour yet I haue inserted as somewhat expressing their superstitions obserued in charming and diuinations CHAP. VII Of the religious and other rites of the ancient Persians §. I. Of their Gods and superstitions out of HERODOTVS LEauing these Magi let vs take a view of the Persian religious rites which Herodotus thus describeth The Persians neither erect Images nor Altars nor Temples and impute it to madnesse in such as doe therefore as I thinke because they are not of the Greekes opinion that the Gods haue risen from men Their custome is ascending vp the highest Hils to offer sacrifice to Iupiter calling the whole circle of heauen Iupiter They sacrifice to the Sunne and Moone and Earth to the Fire and Water and Winds to these onely they haue accustomed to sacrifice from the beginning They sacrifice also to Vrania which they haue learned of the Assyrians and Arabians The Assyrians call Venus Militta the Arabians Alitta the Persians Metra Their rites in sacrificing are these Being to sacrifice they neither set vp Altar nor kindle fire nor vse vestments pipes cakes or libaments but he which intendeth to sacrifice placing the sacrifice in a cleane place calleth vpon that God wearing their Tiara girded about with myrtle The sacrificer prayeth not for himselfe alone but generally for all Persians and especially for the King And after that the sacrifice is cut into small pieces he streweth vnder the sudden flesh small herbes chiefly Trisoly and setting the flesh in order thereon the Magus standing by singeth some hymnes of the generation of the Gods which they hold to be a most effectuall inchantment Without one of their Magi no sacrifice is accounted lawfull After all this the sacrificer vseth the flesh at his pleasure Of all daies euery man accounteth his owne birth-day to be most solemnly obserued and then maketh greatest cheare The richer sort then set whole Beeues Camels Horses Asses baked in an ouen or furnace on the Table the poorer smaller beasts The Persians are small eaters but in their drinking consult of the weightiest affaires Of which they deliberate fasting but pronounce sentence after they are well in drinke To vomit or make water openly is vnlawfull to them Those that are equall salute when they meete each other with a mutuall kisse which is fastened on the cheeke only if they be of vnequall degree They hold themselues the best of all men their neighbors so much better how much neerer them they dwell They are much addicted to Venerie with both sexes Next vnto Martiall valour they repute excellent the procreation of many Children the King allowing annuall presents to him who hath begotten most Children and therefore they vse many women The childe commeth not in his fathers sight till hee be fiue yeeres old
serue one thousand of them a day When the wormes by reason of that chaine breeding in his flesh fell off he would place it there againe and aske if it had nothing to gnaw His carkasse is still kept there to which are pilgrimages out of all the Kingdome and this Temple built to his honor The Regulars are diuided into twelue stations and each hath a Superior besides One supreme ouer all the rest They professed chastitie but their house was both a stewes for whoredome and a denne of theeues and robbers Here were many huge Idols of brasse and other metall and of wood gilded in one station fiue hundred They had diuers steeples and bells in them one so great that they had neuer seene so great a bell in Europe The Corpse of Lusu was shewed them which they worship but many doubt whether it be the true for could it escape the wormes which had seised on it aliue kept in the midst of the Temple in a high place where hang fiftie lamps which burne at appointed times The Abbot of this Monasterie confessed that in ancient times the Chinois had worshipped no Idols but that they were politically appointed by Magistrates lest the vulgar should bee without all Religion They haue their Chappels in great mens houses But we will take view onely of the Kings Temple at Nanquin and so end This is a Royall one indeed for greatnesse and statelinesse It is built in a groue of Pine-trees neere the Citie which is compast with a wall twelue miles in circuit The Temple after the China manner of building is most of timber the wals of brick diuided into fiue Iles with rowes of pillars on both sides which are of round timber as big as two men can fathome the roofe is carued and guilded verie faire hauing lost nothing of the beautie though not vsed by the Kings for sacrifice in this their two hundred yeeres absence In the midst is an eminent place of precious Marble in which are two Thrones of Marble one for the King to sacrifice in the other left emptie for him to whom he doth sacrifice The Cloisters without the Temple are beautified with elegant turnings and all the windowes netted with yron to keepe out birds which is vsed also in all the Palace All the doores of the Temple are couered with plates of brasse guilded and richly carued without the Temple are many Altars of red Marble which represented the Sun Moone Starres and China Mountaines whereby they inferre that the god there worshipped created all things which are therefore set without the Temple as acknowledged not to be gods No man vnder grieuous penalties may cut a bough off any of the trees in that groue which makes them great and old About the Temple are many Cels which were baths in which the Kings and Ministers washed before sacrifice There Altars are of the Dutch fashion that one may goe round about them §. IX Of their Funeralls THe Chinois are very superstitiously conceited of Death and are exceeding loth to haue any die in their house Linschoten writeth That when a man lies on his death-bed they present vnto him the picture of the Deuill with the Sunne in his right hand and a Poniard in his left bidding the sicke man looke well on him that hee may be his friend in the other world How euer the sicke be visited let vs now performe our last office to these Chinois and follow them to their graues Many are the Ceremonies which they there obserue in Funerals As they honor their parents in their life time being otherwise lyable to grieuous punishments yea some of their chiefest Mandarines will sue for the Kings licence to leaue their publike function to giue priuat and more diligent attendance to their parents so after their death they mourne three yeeres in white Hats and Garments although they beare the highest Magistracies in the Kingdome as the Colai c. the militarie Magistrates excepted The first moneths they gird vnto them a rough Vesture with a rope like the bare-foot Friers This is not onely obserued of the meaner sort but the mightiest Mandarines after newes of their fathers death leaue their function and in their priuate houses bewaile their losse The wealthier sort keepe them aboue ground two or three yeeres in a Parlour fitted for that purpose whither they daily resort vnto them to salute them and to burne Incense and set meates before them Sometimes also the Bonzij or Priests resort thither with their Dirges and holy things Their wiues children and neighbours come likewise to bewaile them being admonished of the death by the sonne or neerest of the kindred in a solemne Libell mournfully composed The Hall is spread with white Clothes or Matts in the midst thereof is an Altar and thereon the Coffin and Image of the dead To that Hall within foure or fiue dayes all the kindred come in mourning attyre one after another euery houre of the day and burne odours and set two Wax-lights to the dead making foure bowings and kneelings after their fashion before deliuered the sonne meane while standing by and modestly lamenting Behind the Coffin are the women of the house hid behind a curtaine in mourning weedes and howling behauiour They burne Paper and white Silkes so thinking to minister apparell to the dead They will not vse their wonted lodging diet and delights but lye on Straw Mattresses on the bare ground neere the Coffin eate no Flesh or Dainties drinke no Wine Bathe not companie not with their Wiues come not at Feasts nor for certaine moneths space abroad alwaies remitting more of this austeritie as the three yeares grow neerer an end They vse not the same apparell house-hold furniture salutations They colour part of the Paper in which they write with another colour They obserue not their wonted proper names but call themselues otherwise as Disobedient or such like Musick is banished their dyet is hard When the corpes is to bee buried all the kindred come together being re-invited with another Libell in mourning habit The pompe is in manner of Procession diuers Statues of Men and Women Elephants Tygres and Lyons all of Paper diuers-coloured and gilded goe before which at the graue are burned A long rancke of Priests also attend which performe many Rites by the way pattering their prayers and playing on Tymbrels Pipes Cymballs Bells and other Instruments Likewise huge Censers of Bell-metall are carried on mens shoulders Then followes the Coffin adorned sumptuously carried of forty or fifty Bearers vnder a great Canopie of Silke The children come after on foot leaning on their staues as fainting Then then the women vnseene vnder a white curtaine and then other women further in bloud carryed in mourning chayres They assemble as many Priests as they can which on musicall Instruments and with their voyces tune their mournefull Ditties The place whither the corps is carried is adorned with diuers Images The Coffin is very large the
more vnhappy tense when they were there was a Citie great strong and very faire with walls of Stone and great Ditches round about it with many Crocodiles in them There are two Townes the old in which the Merchants abide and the houses are made of Canes called Bambos and the new for the King and his Nobilitie the Citie is so subiect to fire that euery day Proclamation is made to take heed to their fire The Citie is square with faire walls hauing in each Square fiue Gates besides many Turrets for Centinels to watch made of wood and gilded very faire The Streets are strait as a line from one Gate to another and so broad that ten or twelue men may ride a-front through them On both sides at euery mans doore is set a Coco-tree yeelding a faire shew and comfortable shaddow that a man might walke in the shade all day The houses are made of Wood and couered with Tiles The Kings house is in the midst walled and ditched about and the houses within of Wood sumptuously wrought and guilded And the house wherein his Pagode or Idoll standeth is couered with Tiles of Siluer and all the walls are guilded with Gold Within the first gate of the Kings house was a large roome on both sides whereof were houses made for the Kings Elephants Among the rest hee had foure white Elephants a thing rare in Nature but more precious in his estimation For this is part of his Royall Title The King of the white Elephants And if any other hath any he will seeke by fauour or force to haue the same which some say was the cause of the quarrell betwixt him and the King of Siam Great seruice was done vnto them Euery one of these white Elephants stood in an house guilded with Gold and were fed in vessels of Siluer gilt One of them as hee went euery day to the Riuer to bee washed passed vnder a Canopie of Cloth of Gold or Silke carried by sixe or eight men as many going before playing on Drums or other Instruments At his comming out of the Riuer a Gentleman washed his feet in a Siluer Bason There were of blacke Elephants nine Cubits high The King was said to haue aboue fiue thousand Elephants of Warre There was about a mile from Pegu a place builded with a faire Court in it to take wilde Elephants in a Groue which they doe by the female Elephants trained to this purpose and anointed with a certaine Oyle which causeth the wilde Elephant to follow her When the Hunts-men haue brought the Elephant neere to the Citie they send word thereof and many Horse-men and Foot-men come out and cause the female to take a streight way which leadeth to the place where shee entereth and hee after her for it is like a Wood. When they are in the gate is shut and they get out the female The wilde one seeing himselfe alone weepeth and runneth against the walles which are made of strong trees some of them breake their teeth therewith Then they pricke him with sharpe Canes and cause him to goe into a strait house and there fasten him with a rope and let him fast three or foure dayes and then bring a femall to him with meat and drinke within few dayes taming him When they goe into the Warres they set a frame of wood vpon their backes bound with great Cordes wherein sit foure or six men which fight with Guns Darts Arrowes and other weapons All Authors agree that no beast commeth so neere the reason of a man as the Elephant yea they seeme to goe before some men in conceit haughtinesse desire of glory thankefulnesse c. The Peguans are beardlesse and carrie pinsers about them to plucke out the hayres if any grow They blacke their teeth for they say a Dogge hath white teeth The men of Pegu Aua Iangoma and Brama weare balls in their yards which they put in the skinne being cut and weare for euery childe one till they haue three and may take them out at pleasure the least as bigge as any Wall-nut the biggest as bigge as a little Hennes Egge They were inuented to preuent Sodomie which they vse more then any people in the world Abusing the Male-Sexe causeth the women also to weare scant clothes that as they goe their thigh is seene bare to prouoke men to lust Both these were ordained by a certaine Queene for those causes and are still obserued If the King giue any one of his Balles it is a great Iewell accounted they heale the place in sixe or eight dayes The Bramans that are of the Kings bloud pricke some part of their skinne and put therein a blacke colour which lasteth alway If any Merchant resort thither hee shall haue many maydes saith Linschoten offered him by their parents to take his choyse and hauing agreed with their parents hee may for the time of his abode vse her as his slaue or his Concubine without any discredit to her Yea if hee come againe after shee is marryed hee may for the time hee stayeth there demaund her in like sort to his vse And when a man marrieth hee will request some of his friends to lye the first night with his Bride There are also among them that sow vp the priuie part of their Daughters leauing onely passage for Vrine which when they marry passe vnder the Surgeons hand for remedie Gasper Balby and Got. Arthus tell of another custome of their Virgins if that name may bee giuen them For saith hee Virgines in hoc regno omnino nullas reperire licet Puellae enim omnes statim à pueritia sua medicamentum quoddam vsurpant quo muliebria distenduntur aperta continentur idque propter globulos quos in virgis viri gestant illis enim admittendis virgines arctiores nullo modo sufficerunt Their money is called Ganza and is made of Copper and Leade which euery man may stampe that will Gold and Siluer is merchandise and not money The tides of the Sea betweene Martauan and Pegu by Caesor Fredricke are reputed the greatest wonder which hee saw in his trauels being so violent that the ayre is filled with noyse and the earth quaketh at the approach of this watery element shooting the Boats that passe therewith as arrowes which at a high water they suffer not to anchor in the Channell which would betray them to the deuouring iawes of the returning tide but draw them toward some Banke where they rest in the ebbe on dry land as high vpon the Channels bottome as any house top And if they arriue not at their certaine stations they must backe againe whence they came no place else being able to secure them And when it encreaseth againe it giueth them their calls or salutations the first waue washeth ouer the Barke from stemme to sterne the second is not so furious the third raiseth the Anchor In Negrais in Pegu diuers people dwell in Boates which they call
Men departed doe most of all enter into these beasts They haue many bookes of their superstition neere the Augurall discipline of the Hetrurians and fond fables of the Graecians and diligently conceale the same from vulgar knowledge except some Bramene Proselyte doe detect those mysteries They beleeue one God maker of Heauen and Earth but adde that he could haue no pleasure in so weighty a charge of gouerning the world and therefore hath delegated the same to the Deuill to reward euery man according to his workes Him they call Deumo they name GOD Tamerani The King hath in his Palace the Chappell of Deumo carued full of Deuils and in the middest sitteth this Image of metall in a Throne of the same matter with a triple Crowne like the Popes and foure hornes with teeth eyes and mouth wide and terrible hooked hands and feet like a Cocke In each corner of this square Chappell is a Deuill set in a fiery Throne wherein are many Soules the Deuill putting one with his right hand into his mouth and taking another from vnder him with his left hand This Idoll is washed by the Bramenes with sweet water incensed and worshipped euery morning Somtime in the weeke they sacrifice on this manner They haue an Altar strewed with flowers on which they put the bloud of a Cocke and coales of fire in a siluer Chafing-dish with much perfumes incensing about the Altar and often ringing with a little Bell of siluer They hold in their hands a siluer Knife with which the Cocke was killed which they dip in the bloud and put into the fire with many Apish gestures All the bloud is thus burned many Waxe-candles burning meane-while The Priest hath on his wrists and legs as it were Morrice-bels which make a great noise a certaine Table hanging at his necke and when he hath ended his Sacrifice he taketh his hands full of Wheat goeth backward from the Altar on which hee alwaies fixeth his eies to a certaine Tree and then hurleth the Corne vp ouer his head as high as he can after which he returneth and vnfurnisheth the Altar The King of Calicut eateth no meate before foure principall Bramenes haue first offered thereof to the Deuill which they do lifting both their hands ouer their heads and shutting their fists draw back the same with their thumbe presenting of that meate to the Idoll and then carrie it to the King on a great Leafe in a Treene Platter The King sitteth on the ground at his meate without any thing vnder him attended with Bramenes standing foure paces off with their hands before their mouthes in great reuerence And after the King hath eaten those Priests carry the Relikes into the Court where they clap thrice with their hands whereat presently certaine Crowes resort thither to eate the Kings leauings which Crowes are hereunto accustomed and may not bee hurt of any When the King marrieth a wife one of the principall Bramenes hath the first nights lodging with hee for which he hath assigned him by the King foure hundred or fiue hundred Ducats The King and his Gentlemen or Nayros eate not flesh without license of the Bramenes The King committeth the custodie of his Wife to the Bramenes when he trauelleth any whither and taketh in too honest part their dishonest familiaritie But for this cause the Kings Sonne succeedeth not in the Crowne but his sisters Sonne as being certainly of his blood These sisters of the King choose what Gentleman they please on whom to bestow their Virginitie and if they proue not in a certaine time to be with child they betake them go these Bramene-stallions The Gentlemen and Merchants haue a custome to exchange Wiues in token of great friendship Some women amongst them haue sixe or seuen Husbands fathering her children on which of them shee best pleaseth The Men when they marry get others to vse them if they bee Virgins fifteene or twentie dayes before they themselues will bed them This Author affirmeth that there were a thousand Families of Christians in Calicut at the time of his being there a hundred and twentie yeeres since If a Debtor breake day with his Creditor and often disapoint him hee goeth to the principall of the Bramenes and receiueth of him a Rod with which he approcheth to the Debter and making a Circle about him chargeth him in the name of the King and the said Bramene not to depart thence till he hath satisfied the Debt which if he do not he must starue in the place for if he depart the King will cause him to be executed The new King for one yeeres space eateth neither Fish nor Flesh nor cutteth his Haire or Nailes vseth certaine Prayers daily eateth but one meale and that after he hath washed neither may hee looke on any man till he hath ended his repast At the yeeres end hee maketh a great Feast to which resort aboue ten thousand persons to confirme the Prince and his Officers and then much Almes is giuen Hee entertaineth tenne thousand Women in diuers Offices in his Palace These make to the King after his fasting yeere is out a Candlemasse Feast each of them carrying diuers lights from the Temple where they first obserue many Idoll idle Ceremonies vnto the Palace with great Musicke and other iollitie §. II. Of the King of Calicut OF the election and erection of the Zamoryn we haue spoken in the beginning of the Chapter let vs here adde out of Castaneda concerning his deuotion Hee saith that this King of Calicut is a Bramene as his Predecessors also And for that it is a custome that all the Kings die in one Pagode or Idoll Temple hee is elected for that cause For alwaies there is and must be in that House a King to serue those Idols and when hee that serueth there dieth then must the King that then raigneth leaue his Empire and goe serue in that place as the other did another being elected to succeed him in the Kingdome And if any refuseth to forsake his Court for the Pagode they enforce him thereunto The Kings of Malabar be browne men and goe naked from the girdle vpward and from thence downward they are couered with cloth of Silke and of Cotton adorned with Iewels For their Children the Sonnes inherit not but the Brother or if there bee none the Sisters Sonne When their Daughers are ten yeeres old they send out of the Kingdome for a Nayro and presenting him with gifts request him to take her Virginitie which hauing done hee tieth a Iewell about her necke which she weareth during her life as a token that from thenceforth she hath free power of her bodie to doe what she will which before she might not After their death these Kings are carried forth into a plaine Field and their burned with sweet wood very costly their kindred and all the Nobilitie of the Countrey being present which done and the ashes buried they shaue themselues without leauing
Moores traded there and still enioy many possessions These marry one Wife and their Children inherit and they may touch the Nayro's The Cagianem are a Sect of the Nayros hauing a Law and Idols by themselues which they may neuer alter They make Tiles to couer the Temples and the Kings Palace The Nayro's may be with their women but must wash themselues before they goe home Another Sect is called Manantamar which are Landerers nor may they or their Posteritie be of other function nor may they mingle themselues with any other Generation They haue Idol ceremonies and Temples by themselues The Nayros may vse their Wiues or Women rather Their Brethren or Nephewes are their Heires The Calton are Weauers and haue a distinct Idolatrous Sect otherwise are as the former Besides these of better condition there are of baser sort eleuen Sects which may not marrie nor meddle with others The first of these are called Tiberi Husbandmen the second Moger and are Mariners both hauing their proper Superstitions and vse their women in common the third are Astrologers whom they call Canius Great men aske their counsell but may not touch their persons The Aggeri are Masons and Workers in Metals The Muchoa or Machoe are Fishers dwelling in Villages by themselues the men Theeues the women Harlots with whom they please The Betua are Salt-makers the Paerun are Iugglers Inchanters and Physicians if such damnable Deuillish practices may deserue so honourable Name which when any are sicke and require their helpe vse Coniuration to cause the Deuill to enter into some of them and then by his suggestion declare the euent of the Disease and what Sacrifices or other things are to be performed They may not touch or bee touched of other men The Reuolat are a baser sort of Gentiles which carry wood into the Citie to sell and herbs The Puler are as excommunicate persons and liue in Desarts where the Nayros haue no occasion to passe and when they goe neere any of these Nayros or any of the better sort they cry as lowd as they can as the Lepers among the Iewes that others may auoid them For if any touch them their Kindred may for such action or passion stay them and as many of these Puler also as may make satisfaction for such disparagement Some nights they wil go of purpose seeking to touch some of the Nayro women with hand sticke or hurling of a stone which if they effect there is no remedie for the woman but to get her forth and liue with these Villaines or to be sold to escape killing by the hands of her Kindred These Puler are Theeues and Sorcerers The Pareas are of worse esteeme and liue in Desarts without commerce of any reputed worse then the Deuill These ten sorts or eleuen if you reckon two sorts of the Tiberi as our Author doth whereof one are Warriors distinguished by a certaine cudgell which they must carry in their hands from the Nayros are as well differing in Religions matters of common life though for their seuerall Rites it were wrong to the Reader at large to recite them if we had the particulars to deliuer But this is common in India that each Trade and Tribe distinguish a new Sect There are besides these Gentiles Naturall of Malabar many strangers of Indians Moores and Christians But in other Kingdomes of Malabar the Heathenish Religion is little differing from that in Calicut Cranganor is a small Kingdome the Inhabitants of the Citie which giueth name to the Region are Christians of Saint Thomas profession about seuentie thousand in number Cochin is now growne great by the Portugals traffique and friendship Of the rest there is not much worth the recitall The Papall honour among the Bramenes was by ordination of Perimal which placed there the Supremacie of the Bramens because He to whom he gaue Coulam was a greater Man then the rest This Papall title was Cobritin a dignity which the King of Cochin still retayneth to be supreme Head of the Bramenes For the ancient Kings of Coulan remooued their seate to Cochin which was then in their Territories But Warres haue since much altered the face of things in those parts In these parts are now many Christian Proselites of the Iesuites Conuersion besides many of the olde Thomas Christians Both Men and Women in Cochin account it a great Gallantry to haue wide Eares which therefore they stretch by Art hanging Waights on them till they reach to their shoulders Porca is a Kingdome Southwards from Cochin but little we can say of it In Trauancor betweene Coulan and the Cape were many Christians if they may be so called which want Sacraments For in fifty yeeres together they had not seene a Priest only they had the priuiledges and name of Thomaean-Christians These Thomaeans are now as the Iesuites report reduced to their Catholicisme The King of Trauancors Dominion stretcheth beyond the Cape Comori where Malabar endeth on the East-side fourescore and ten miles as farre as Cael which diuers great Lords hold vnder him Among the rest is the Signiory of Quilacare In the City of Quilacare is an Idoll of high account to which they solemnize a Feast euery twelfth yeere where the Gentiles resort as the Popish Christians in the Romish Iubilee The Temple sacred to this Idoll hath exceeding great reuenue The King for so he is called at this Feast erecteth a Scaffold couered with silke and hauing washed himselfe with great solemnity he prayeth before this Idoll and then ascendeth the Scaffold and there in presence of all the people cutteth off his Nose and after that his Eares Lips and other parts which he casts towards the Idoll and at last he cutteth his throate making a butcherly sacrifice of himselfe to his Idoll He that is to be his Successor must be present hereat for he must vndergoe the same Martyrdome when his twelue yeeres Iubilee is come Along this Coast dwell the Paraui simple people and Christians which liue by fishing of Pearles The Nayros make such holes in their Eares that Caesar Fredericke sayth hee thrust his arme vp to the shoulders in one of them They are prodigal of their liues in the honour of their King Osorius telleth of some which like the renowmed Decij had vowed themselues to death and not to returne from the enemy without victory Aloisius Goueanus numbreth in the Sea Coast of Coulam three and twenty townes of which nineteene had Christian Churches The Malabars are generally of one Language and one kind of writing This their writing was in leaues of Palme which they call Olla two fingers broad and long as the matter they intended written on both sides with a stile of Iron which they binde vp in Bookes betweene two boords in greater or lesser forme as they please Their writing is from the left hand to the right They reckoned their times before the Portugals came into the Indies from the departure of
then they goe out of the Citie passing by the Riuers side to the burning-place where is prepared a great square Caue full of Wood. Here is made a great Banquet the woman eating with ioy as if it were her wedding-day and after they sing and daunce till the woman bid to kindle the fire in the Caue then she leaueth the Feast and taketh her husbands neerest kinsman by the hand and goeth with him to the banke of the Riuer where she strippeth her of her cloathes and iewels bestowing them at her pleasure and couering herselfe with a cloth throweth herselfe into the Riuer saying O wretches wash away your sinnes Comming out of the Water shee rowleth herselfe into a yellow cloth and againe taking her husbands kinsman by the hand goeth to the said Caue by which is erected a little Pinnacle on which she mounteth and there recommendeth her children and kindred to the people After this another woman taketh a pot with oyle and sprinkleth it ouer her head and therewith annoynteth all her bodie and then throweth it into the Furnace the woman going together with the same Presently after the woman the people throw great pieces of Wood into the Caue so that with those blowes and the fire she is quickly dead and their great mirth is on a suddaine turned into great lamentation and howling When a Great man dyeth all the women of his house both his wife and slaues with whom hee hath had carnall copulation burne themselues together with him Amongst the baser sort I haue seene saith Master Frederike the dead man carried to the place of buriall and there set vpright the woman comming before him on her knees casteth her armes about his necke while a Mason maketh a wall round about them and when the wall is as high as their neckes one comming behind the woman strangleth her the workeman presently finishing the wall ouer them and this is their buriall Ludouicus Vertomannus relateth the same Funerall Rites of Tarnasseri as in other parts of India sauing that there fifteene or twentie men in their idolatrous habit like Diuels doe attend on the fire wherein the husband is burned all the Musicians of the Citie solemnizing the Funerall pompe and fifteene dayes after they haue the like solemnitie at the burning of the woman those diuellish fellowes holding fire in their mouthes and sacrificing to Deumo and are her intercessors to that Diuell for her good entertainment The cause of burning their wiues is by some ascribed to their wonted poysonings of their husbands before this Law by others that the husband might haue her helpe and comfort in the other world Odoricus telleth of a strange and vncouth Idoll as bigge as Saint Christopher of pure Gold with a new band about the necke full of precious stones some one whereof was of value if he valued iustly more then a whole Kingdome The roofe pauement and seeling of the walls within and without the Temple was all Gold The Indians went thither on pilgrimage some with halters about their neckes some with their hands bound behind them some with kniues sticking on their armes and legges and if after their pilgrimage the wounded flesh festered they esteemed that limbe holy and a signe of their Gods fauour Neere to the Temple was a Lake where-into the Pilgrims cast Gold Siluer and Gemmes for honour of the Idoll and reparation of his Temple At euery yearely Feast the King and Queene with the Pilgrims and People assembling placed the said Idoll in a rich Chariot and with a solemne procession of Virgins two and two in a ranke singing before him and with Musicall Instruments carrie him forth Many Pilgrims put themselues vnder the Chariot wheeles where they are crushed in pieces More then fiue hundred persons vsed thus to doe whose carkasses were burned and ashes kept for holy Reliques Otherwise also they will deuote themselues to such a martyrdome in this manner The parents and friends assemble and make a Feast to this Votarie and after that hang fiue sharpe kniues about his necke and so carrie him before the Idoll where he taketh one of his kniues and cryeth For the worship of my God I cut this my flesh and cutting a piece casteth it at the face of the Idoll and so proceeding at the last sayth Now doe I yeeld my selfe to death in the behalfe of my God and being dead is burned as before Our Country-man Sir Iohn Mandeuile reporteth the same Historie of their Idoll-Procession and the ashes of those voluntary Martyrs which they keepe to defend them against tempests and misfortunes He also sayth That some Pilgrims in all their peregrinations not once lifted vp their eye-lids some at euery third or fourth pace fell downe on their knees to worship some whipped others wounded themselues yea killed themselues as is before said Nicolo di Conti reporteth the same in his time Neither is this bloudy custome yet left as Linschoten affirmeth by report of one of his chamber-fellowes that had seene it They haue sayth he a Waggon or Cart so heauie that three or foure Elephants can hardly draw it which is brought forth at Faires Feasts and Processions At this Cart hang many Cables or Ropes whereat all the people hale and pull of deuotion In the vpper part of the Cart standeth a Tabernacle and therein the Idoll vnder it sit the Kings wiues playing on Instruments And while the Procession passeth some cut pieces of their flesh and throwe at the Pagode some lay themselues vnder the wheeles of the Cart with such euent as you haue heard Gasparo Balby relateth the same and addeth That the Priests which haue care of this Idoll and certaine women are consecrated to these deuotions from their Cradles by their Zeale-blind parents And the women prostitute their bodies to gaine for the Idoll whatsoeuer they can get ouer and aboue their owne maintenance This filleth the Citie with Strumpets there being of this Sacred you may interpret it Cursed crue foure hundred in one place of the Citie These haue their place in the Idoll-procession some of them in the Chariot which is drawne by men euery one accounting himselfe happy that can touch or draw the same This he sayth was at Negapaton He further affirmeth That not farre from the Citie of Saint Thomas is the Towne Casta where the the Wife is not burned as at Negapatan but a great Graue being made for the deceased Husband they place the liuing Wife by the dead corps and their neerest kindred cast earth vpon them both and stampe thereon They which marry wed in their owne degree as a Smith to a Smiths daughter and they powre out their prayers at the Image of some Kow or a Serpent called Bittia di Capella Their Bramenes burne Kowes dung and if they intend any warres with other Nations they anoint their Nose and Forehead with those ashes not washing themselues till the euening They which sacrifice themselues to the Pagode
people of their money by many deuices as by selling them Scroles to keepe them by the Deuill from hurt of Deuils after death borrowing of money here to repay with great interest in the future World giuing the Creditor a Bill or Scroll of their hands for security by telling of things stolne or lost which they doe by Inchantments calling a Deuill into a child who being so possessed answereth their questions by selling their blessings and curses like Balaam Some by vow the most liue vnmarryed as the Bonzian women Another Sect called janambuxos before their admission into that Order liue two thousand or more together on a high Mountayne for the space of threescore dayes macerating themselues with selfe-inflicted penance the Deuill in diuers shapes meane-while appearing to them And after this they are receiued into that damnable Fellowship distinguished by white flockes hanging downe their neckes curled haire and blacke hats and so wander from place to place giuing notice of their comming by a little Bell. Another Sect called Genguis dwell on some high Hill blacke of complexion and as is supposed horned marrie Wiues of their owne kindred passe ouer great Riuers by the Deuils helpe who on a certaine Hill at times appointed appeareth to them of whom by the name of Amida he is worshipped In another Hill he was wont to appeare to his deuout followers whom then hee would lead as they thought to Paradise indeed to destruction They say that a Sonne not able to perswade his Father from this passage to Paradise secretly followed him with his Bow and Arrowes and when the Deuill appeared shot and wounded a Foxe whom he followed by the bloud to a Lake wherein he found many dead mens bones They haue another Vniuersity in Iapon called Coia whose Bonzian Students are of the Sect of Combendaxis supposed the Inuenter of the Iaponian Letters He in his old age digged a foure-square Caue into which hee conueyed himselfe affirming that hee then dyed not but after some Millions of yeeres would returne in the dayes of one Mirozu which then should be a most worthy King in Iapon About his Sepulchre burne many Lampes sent thither from diuers Nations with opinion that such as enrich that Monument shall themselues here be enriched and in the other life by Combendaxis patronized In the Colledges here liue sixe thousand of those Shauelings from whom women are restrayned vpon paine of death At Fatonochaiti the Bonzij trayned vp witty and proper youths in all trickes of subtlety and guile acquainting them with Genealogies of Princes that so they might counterfeit to bee the sonnes of such or such great men and borrowing money on that credit might enrich their wicked Colledge till the sleight being found they were killed of the Inhabitants There be that worship the Sunne and Moone who haue an Image with three heads which they say is the vertue of the Sunne Moone and Elements These worship the Deuill in visible shape appearing to them with many and costly Sacrifices Some Bonzij play the Physicians which burne certaine papers in which are written the sentences of Cam and Fotoch which papers being burnt they put the ashes in drinke and giue the same to cure diseases and with lyes to turne away lyes and fraudulent dealing Some hold Xacas booke in such veneration that without it they hold it impossible to bee saued Other Bonzij haue beene in other ages in high reputation of holinesse but one especially not a hundred yeeres since the author of the sect called Icoxos the Ruler or Generall of which sect is openly wicked but so adored of the people that if he but looke on them they will salute him with teares of ioy praying him that all their sinnes may bee pardoned and therewith giue him no small quantitie of their gold His yeerly festiuall is so honoured with thronging of the people that in the entrie of the Cloyster many are trodden vnder foot which yet is of the blinde people accounted a happinesse many willingly yeelding themselues to be killed in that presse And in the night whiles his prayses are sung there is a great howling and lamentation Nequiron was author of the sect Foquexan There is an Image or Colossus of Copper in the way from Ozaca to Sorungo called Dabis made hollow sitting vpon his heeles of huge greatnesse and yeelding a great sound if any hallow in the hollow thereof as some of Captaine Saris his companie did At Meaco he obserued one Temple as great as the body of Paules westward from the Quire with a stone roofe borne vp on as high pillars Hee saw an Idoll greater then the former reaching vp to the top of the arch That of Dabis was in their way to the pilgrimage of Tenchadema where Master Adams told him that hee had beene There they euery moneth present the Deuill with a new Virgin instructed by the Bonzij to aske him certayne questions which he in humane shape appearing answereth hauing the carnall vse of her body if some Bonzi make not the Deuill Cuckold as in our Egyptian Relations yee shall find of Tyrannus Some of their Bonzij professe a militarie discipline as the Knights of Malta The profession called Neugori was instituted by Cacubau who is therefore deified in which some intend their prayers whiles others fight and others performe their taske of making fiue arrowes a day Their gouernment is an Anarchie euery one obeying and commanding the meanest person amongst them hauing a Negatiue in all their consultations And nothing is agreed on till all be agreed In the night they often kill one another without remorse and yet such is their Religion this Sect holdeth it a sinne to kill a flye or any liuing thing Amongst the Bonzij there are two principall men which if vnder their hand-writing they giue their testimoniall to other of their Orders it is as conferring a Degree yea a kinde of Canonization For thence-forward they sit in a chaire and are adored and appoint to other Students their taskes of meditation One of these puffed vp with vanitie and arrogance professed to know what he was before he was borne and what should become of him after death Valentine Caruaglio in relating the death of some principall Nobles which withstood Daifusama the present Emperor speaks of a certaine Bonzi which neuer stirres out of doores but vpon such occasions who accompanied with many of his Sect after other hallowing ceremonies did giue them a certaine booke to kisse and laid it on their heads wherein they reposed much holinesse and worshipped it as a god but one of them named Augustine reiected him crying out hee was a Christian and therewith tooke out a picture of Queene Catharine of Portugall sister to Charles the fifth in which were also represented the holy Virgin and our Lord and with great reuerence laid it three times on his head and so resounding the names of Iesus and Maria was beheaded This I mention to let
doores But here is no prouision of Bed or Boord for Strangers The Inne-keepers of Fez in Leo's dayes were all of one Family called Elchena attyred like women shaue their beards become womanish in their speech yea degenerate euen to the Wheele and Spindle They are so odious except to base villaines that resort thither that the better sort of people will not speake to them and may not enter the Temple Burse or Bath nor into those Innes next the great Temple where Merchants are entertained There are thousands of Mills all almost pertaining to the Temples and Colledges reuenew Each Trade in Fez hath a peculiar place allotted thereto the principall whereof are next the great Temple as Scriueners Booke-sellers c. euery Trade by themselues The Christian captiues rest only vpon Fridayes and eight other dayes in the yeere Festiual to the Moores There are six hundred Fountaines walled about the waters whereof are conueyed by Conduits to the Temples or other places because the Riuer is sometimes dry They haue in Fez a Iudge for Criminal Causes and another for Questions of Religion a third that deales in Matrimoniall Cases From these there lyeth an Appeale to the high Aduocate The Iudges of Mahomets Law in matters of conscience haue no allowance for the same Their Marriages are thus When the Father of the Maide hath espoused her to her Louer they goe with their friends to Church and haue with them two Notaries which draw the Couenants agreed betwixt them into writing The Father bestowes a Dowrie or Portion of Money Apparell and such like seldome of Land When the Bridegroome fetcheth her home she is set in a Cabinet couered with silke and carried by Porters accompanied with her kinsfolkes and much Minstrelsie and the Bridegroomes friends goe before with Torches and her kinsmen after toward the great Church Then hee hasteth home expecting his Bride in his Chamber whom her Father Brother and Vncle bring and deliuer to his Mother and he setting his foot on hers shues the Chamber doore at which a woman standeth and receiueth of him a Napkin stayned which she sheweth to the Assembly as a testimony of the Brides Virginitie But if shee bee not found a Maide shee is returned to hee Friends with shame and the guests goe home without their Feast They hold great feasting also at the Circumcision of their male-male-children which is the seuenth day after they are borne The Barber or Circumciser is presented with gifts of all the inuited guests Then followeth mirth and iollity They vse dancings but the women apart by themselues without men There is a remaynder of Holidayes instituted by the Christians which themselues vnderstand not On Christmas Euen they eat a Sallet made of diuers herbes and seethe all kinds of Pulse which they feed vpon On New-yeeres day the children goe with Maskes on their faces to the houses of Gentlemen and haue Fruits giuen them for singing certaine Songs On the Feast of Saint Iohn Baptist they vse to make Bone-fires They make a Feast called Dentista when their childrens teeth begin to grow vnto other children When a man dyes the women put on Sack-cloth and defile their faces with dirt They call to them those wicked men in womens attire which haue foure-square Drummes to the sound whereof they sing mournfull Ditties in prayse of the dead party At the end of euery Verse the women vtter most hideous shrikes and out-cries tearing their haire and beating their brests and cheekes till they be all embrued with bloud And thus they continue seuen dayes and then intermit their mourning forty dayes after which space they resume the same for three dayes as before But the better sort behaue themselues more modestly At this time all the Widdowes friends come about her to comfort her and send her diuers kindes of meats for in the mourning-house they may dresse no meate at all till the dead be carried out The woman which loseth her Father Brother or Husband neuer goes forth with the Funerall At some Festiuals the Youths of one Street will fight with Clubs against the Boyes of another Street and sometimes betake them to other Weapons and kill one another Sometimes they vse these bloudy Frayes without the City the Officers forcing them to better order There are many Poets which pen amorous Sonets and on Mahomets Birth-day make Verses in his commendation resorting early to the Palace and there ascending the Tribunall reade their Verses to the people and he whose Verses are best is pronounced that yeere Prince of Poets The Marin King on that day vsed to entertaine the learned men and to reward the best Poet with a hundred Ducats a Horse a Woman-slaue and the Kings Robes which hee wore that day In Fez are two hundred Grammar Schooles built like great Hals Euery day they learne one lesson of the Alcoran They reade and write not in Bookes but in great Tables In seuen yeeres they learne the whole Alcoran by heart And then the Father inuiteth his sonnes Schoole-fellowes to a Banquet and his Sonne rides through the street in costly apparell both which are lent by the Gouernour The other Boyes ride and sing Songs in prayse of God and Mahumet On Mahumets Birth-day euery Boy must carry a Torch to Schoole curiously wrought some weighing thirty pound which they light before day and let them burne till Sun-rising singing all the while the prayses of Mahumet The Schoolemasters haue the remnant of the Waxe which sometimes they sell for a hundred Ducats They are free Schooles anciently built In the Schooles and also in the Colledges they haue two dayes of recreation euery weeke wherein they neither teach nor studie §. III. Of their Diuiners and Sects and other parts of the Fezan Territorie THere be three kinds of Fortune-tellers or Diuiners One of which vseth Geomanticall figures others powre a drop of Oyle into a glasse of water which becommeth cleere as a Seeing-glasse in which they say they see strange sights rankes of Deuils like Armies some trauelling some passing ouer a Riuer c. When the Diuiner seeth them quiet he demandeth such questions of them as he will and the Deuils with gestures returne answere The third sort are Women-witches which make the people beleeue that they are acquainted with Deuils of diuers sorts red white blacke and when they will tell any mans fortune they perfume themselues with certaine Odours whereby as they say the Deuill entreth into them and their voyce is presently altered as if the Deuill spake within them And then they that come to enquire aske their questions and so hauing left their present for the Deuill depart These women vse vnlawfull lusts betweene themselues in mutuall filthinesse if faire women come to them they wil demand the Deuils fee that they may haue such dealing with them Yea some addicting themselues to these abominable practices will faine themselues sicke and send to one of these Witches which will affirme That shee
seemed to me to be a deceiuer In Mount Beni Iesseten are many Iron mines and the women in great brauerie weare Iron rings on their fingers and eares Ham Lisnan was built by the Africans and borrowed the name from the Fountayne of an Idoll whose Temple was neere the Towne to which at certayne times in the yeere resorted men and women in the night where after sacrifices the candles were put out and each man lay with the woman hee first touched Those women were forbidden to lye with any other for a yeere after The children begotten in this adulterie were brought vp by Priests of the Temple The Moores destroyed this holy-stewes and the Towne not leauing any mention thereof In Mount Centopozzi are ancient buildings and neere thereto a spacious hole or drie pit with many roomes therein they let men downe into the same by ropes with lights which if they goe out they perish in the pit Therein are many Bats which strike out their lights In the Mountaynes of Ziz there are Serpents so tame that at dinner time they will come like Dogs and Cats and gather vp the crummes not offering to hurt any Thus much of the kingdome of Fez out of Leo a learned Citizen of Fez and great Traueller both in the Places and Authors of Afrike whom Ortelius Maginus Boterus follow commended by Bodinus Posseuinus and others as the most exact Writer of those parts and translated into English by Master Poris from whom if I swarue in diuers things impute it to the Italian copie of Ramusius which differeth not a little especially in these things I haue here set downe from the English I thought good here also to adde out of others some such customs and rites as they obserue in Fez and other parts of this Kingdome Their Circumcision is vsed in their priuate houses Women may not enter the Moschee for their often vncleannesse and because Eue first sinned The eight day after a childe is borne the parents send for a Talby or Priest and some old men and women where after a few prayers said the women wash the childe all ouer with water and giue the name making a banquet But sometimes the circumcision is deferred diuers yeeres after this ceremonie as the Fathers thinke Their Fasts they obserue very strictly not so much as tasting water till the starres appeare Yea diuers haue beene seene by their rigour in this superstition to faint and some to die A certayne Moore in the time of their Lent which continueth thirtie dayes in the companie of an English Gentleman being thirstie with heat and trauell went to a conduit in Marocco where the same Religion is professed as in Fez and there drinking was so reuiled of the people that in a desperate anguish hee slue himselfe with his dagger Yet doth their Law allow an exchange some dayes of this Lent with other dayes in the yeere following if trauell then hinder Their Feasts and Fasts are at the same times and in the same manner that the Turkes obserue of which is before spoken Their Easter they call Rumedan their Whitsuntide Lidlaber their Michaelmasse Lashour their Candlemasse Lidshemaw if it be lawfull thus to paralell those vaine superstitions with Christian obseruations In this last Feast which seemeth to bee the same which Leo calls Mahomets birth-day euery one must haue a candle for himselfe and for euery sonne in his house The King hath that day candles carried to him some like May-poles other like Castles sixe or eight men carrying one of them so artificially composed that some are in making six moneths That night the King doth heare all the Law read the like is done in all other Churches The Talby that cannot reade all their Law in a night is held insufficient for his place They goe saith my Authour sixe times in foure and twentie houres which is once oftner then is written of the Turkes except on their Sabbath to their prayers first washing themselues as they doe also after the offices of nature and after companie with their wiues thinking thereby to be washed from their sinnes Their times of prayer are two houres before day the first when the Monden or Sexten cryeth in the Steeple as you may reade in our Turkish Relations and then may no man touch his wife but prepare himselfe to pray with washing or other deuotions either in his owne house or at Church After their publike prayers the Talby sits downe and spends halfe an houre in resoluing the doubts of such as shall mooue any questions in matters of their Law The second time of prayer is two houres after when it is day The third at noone The fourth at foure of the clocke in the afternoone The fift at the twi-light The last two houres after In the first of these they pray for the day in the second they giue thankes for it in the third time they giue thankes for that it is halfe passed in the fourth they desire the Sunne may well set on them at twi-light they giue thanks after their daily labours the last time they desire a good night They thinke it vnseemely to eate meat with their left hands and hold it vncleane and doe all with their right hand Their Sabbath or Friday is not exempted from worke Onely they are then more deuout in going to Church Their Churches are not so faire generally as in Christendome nor haue seats in them ornaments or bells onely the floores are matted they are also poore for the most part as are their Church men Their Lyturgie is very short not so long as the Pater noster and Creede other set forme they haue not but euery one prayes after his owne pleasure Although the Moore may haue foure wiues and as many concubines as hee can purchase yet few marry foure because the wiues friends will haue a sufficient bill of dowrie for her maintenance which none but rich men can performe and againe the wiues challenge his nights companie and that in course if any be neglected shee complaines to the Magistrate and he forceth the husband to his dutie or else to send her home with her Dower and a Bill of diuorce The Concubines are embraced with more stolne pleasures That bill of Dower holdeth the husband in awe which else would make a slaue of his wife or still change for yonger flesh The Bride is besided before her husband see her and if hee finde her not a Virgin hee may turne her home and keepe her portion by Law For their funerall Rites when one is dead they presently wash him and speedily put him into ground the heat so requiring and after that the women at conuenient times haue a custome to meete and make memoriall of their deceased friends with remembrance of their vertues which they thinke caused men to haue more respect to their good name Their other obsequies are before declared The King vseth to sit in Iudgement on Fridayes in the afternoone and the Mufti sitteth with
to liue long In their Winter they haue much sicknesse and mortalitie The goods of the deceased descend not to his Children but to the Brethren if he haue any otherwise to his Father If it bee a Woman her Husband deliuereth her marriage goods to her brethren When the King dies the Sepulchre is made like a house and as well furnished as if they were aliue being guarded night and day by armed men to bring him any thing which he shall need Their Noses are flat not naturally but by pressing them downe in their Infancie esteeming it a great part of beautie Their hot stomackes can digest raw flesh and therefore Alexander Aphrodisicus and Coelius Rhodiginus that thinke their naturall heate extracted to the outward parts to be the cause of their blacknesse are deceiued They eate the enemies which are slaine in the warres which are very rife amongst those Nations and those which are taken are euerlasting prisoners And in some more important warres which they vndertake they will burne their dwellings before they goe lest either the enemy might possesse them by conquest or themselues become too mindfull of a returne In these warres they prouide themselues of some good light Armour wearing at such times no other apparell Their Women are vnfaithfull Secretaries in Natures most hidden secrets vsing in the sight of men women boyes and girles to be deliuered of their Children whom after they circumcise whether they be of the male or female sexe §. IIII. Of the Marriages Manners Religion Funerals Gouernment and other Rites of the Guineans collected out of a late Dutch Author ANd if we may leaue to follow a Dutch guide well acquainted in these parts whereof he hath written a very large Treatise you may feast with them at their spousals and againe after a view of their liues at their Funerals At the marriages of their Daughters they giue halfe an ounce of Gold to buy Wine for the Bridale the King himselfe giueth no other portion The Bride in the presence of her friends sweareth to be true to her Husband which the man doth not For Adulterie he may diuorce her and the Adulterer payeth to the King foure and twenty Pesos of gold and the husband also may driue him out of Towne but the Dutchmen payd no fine therefore the Women onely were blamed and payd foure Pesos If the husband suspects his wife hee makes tryall of her honesty by causing her to eate salt with diuers Fetisso ceremonies hereafter mentioned the feare whereof makes her confesse They haue many Wiues if they can buy and keepe them each dwelleth in a house by her selfe though there be ten of them they eat and lodge asunder sometimes they will bring their cheere together The Husband closely takes which he will haue lye with him to his roome where their bed is a Mat. The Women after trauell wash themselues and acccompany not with their husbands for three moneths after The Child newly borne hath a cleane cloath wrapped about the middle and is layd downe on a mat The Mothers vse to beare their Children at their backes and so trauell with them none prouing lame notwithstanding that shaking of their bodies they giue them the brest ouer their shoulders When it is a moneth old they hang a net about the body like a shirt made of the barke of a Tree hanged full of Fetissos to secure it from the Diuell who otherwise would they thinke carry it away They hang the haire full of shels and Corals about the necke armes and legges applying diuersi Fetissos or wreathes with superstitious fancies that one is good against Vomiting a second for Falling a third for Bleeding a fourth to make it Sleepe a fifth against wilde Beasts and so on in the rest giuing to each Fetisso a seuerall name They quickly learne them to eate and then leaue them about the house like dogs they soone learne to goe to speake to swim When they are first borne they are not blacke but reddish as the Brasilians Each woman brings vp her owne they teach them no ciuilitie and beat them sometimes cruelly with staues When they are eight or ten or twelue yeeres old they learne them to spinne Bark-threed and make nets after that they goe with their Fathers to fish At eighteene yeeres old they begin to set vp for themselues two or three of them together hiring a house and Canoa and then they couer their priuities grow amorous and their Fathers looke out wiues for them They haue little haire on their face at thirty they weare nayles as long as the joynt of a mans finger as a token of Gentilitie which is also obserued by Merchants they keepe them very cleane and as white as Iuorie They are great in flesh beyond Men of these parts At threescoore and ten or fourescore their blacknesse decaies and they grow yellow They haue small bellies long legges broad feet long toes sharpe sight quicke wit Estridge mawes are spitefull curiously neat Drunkards Theeues Lecherous and subject to the Pockes whereof they are not ashamed as neither of shewing their nakednesse Yet it is holden shame with them to let a fart which they wondered at in the Hollanders esteeming it a contempt The Women goe long naked are libidinous and would boast of their filthinesse if they could haue their pleasure with the Dutch decking themselues of purpose They weare beades about their neckes and straw Fetissos about their feet The Mulato women in Mina cut their haire short for brauerie They cut three gashes on their fore-head an inch long and likewise on their cheekes neere their eares which they suffer to swell and colour it with painting They make also white strakes vnder their eyes They curle and fold the haire of their head making a hill in the middest like a hat with frizzles round about They vse long combes with two teeth onely each a finger length these they vse also for salutation plucking them out and in as heere men put off or on their hats they make also white spots on their faces which afarre off shew like pearles They rase their armes and brests with diuers cuts on which euery morning they lay colours which cause them to shew like blacke silke doublets cut and pinked They haue earings and bracelets of Copper the vnmarried Maides weare thirty or forty on each arme of Iron the common Queanes weare copper rings with bels on their legs These women are strong nimble well proportioned good house-wiues home-keepers and cookes not very fruitfull The riches of the Guineans are store of Wiues and Children They take great pride of white teeth which therefore they rub with a certaine wood they shew like Iuorie Their garment is a fadome or more of Linnen cloth which they weare about their bodies from beneath the brests to the knees vpon which they girt a piece of blue or yellow cloth whereon hang their kniues and keyes and diuers wispes of straw or Fetissos When
neere the Cape of Good-hope the Aethiopians haue no hope or hap of good colour whereas the hotter Countreys of Libya and in manner all America notwithstanding the Sunnes strait looking and neerenesse not allowing them a shaddow to attend them in the greatest height of his bounty know not this blacke tincture in the Naturals thereof But to returne and who will not returne to the Mines There are other Mines in the Prouinces of Boro and Quiticui in which and in the Riuers is found Gold not so pure The people are carelesse and negligent to get and the Moores which traded with them were faine to giue their wares in trust with promise by such a time to pay them in Gold and the people would not faile in their word Other Mynes are in Toroa wherein are those buildings which Barrius attributeth to some forren Prince and I for the reasons before alledged to Salomon It is a square Fortresse of stone the stones of maruellous greatnesse without any signe of morter or other matter to ioyne them The wall fiue and twenty spannes thicke the height not holding proportion Ouer the gate are letters which learned Moores could neither reade nor know what letters they were There are other buildings besides of like fashion The people call them the Court for an Officer keepes it for the Benomotapa and hath charge of some of his women that are there kept They esteeme them beyond humane power to build and therefore account them the workes of Deuils and the Moores which saw them said the Portugals Castles were no way to bee compared to them They are fiue hundred and ten miles from Sofala Westward in one and twenty degrees of Southerly Latitude in all which space is not found one building ancient or later the people are rude and dwell in Cottages of Timber All the people of this Region is of curled hayre and more ingenious then those which are against Mosambique Quiloa and Melinde among whom are many that eate mans flesh and let their Kine blood to satisfie their thirst These seeme prone to receiue the Faith for they beleeue in One GOD whom they call Mozimo and haue no Idols nor worship other thing They punish nothing more seuerely then Witchcraft whereunto other Negros are exceedingly addicted no such person escapeth death The like detestation they conceiue against Adultery and Theft Euery one may haue as many wiues as they will but the first is principall the other serue her and her children are heires A woman is not mariageable with them till her naturall purgation testifie for her abilitie to Conception and therefore they entertaine the first fluxe thereof with a great Feast In two things they are Religious in obseruation of dayes and Rites concerning their dead Of dayes they obserued the first day of the Moone the sixt the seuenth the eleuenth the sixteenth the seuenteenth the twentieth and the eight and twentieth because in that day their King was borne The Religion is in the first sixt and seuenth all the rest are repetitions aboue ten When any is dead after his bodie is eaten his neere kindred or his wife which hath had most children by him keepe the bones with some signes whereby to know whose they were and euery seuenth day they obserue Exequies in the same place where they are kept They spreade many clothes and set thereon tables furnished with bread and sodden flesh which they offer to the dead with prayers and supplications And the principall thing they request of them is the good successe of their Kings affaires These prayers they make being cloathed in white garments after which the good man and his family eate their offerings The Benomotapa must weare cloathes of the same Country for feare of infection others may weare forren cloth He is serued on the knee and when he drinketh or cougheth all they which are about him make a shout that all the Towne may know None may cough in his presence also euery one must sit in token of reuerence to stand is a signe of dignity which he affordeth the Portugals and Moores and is the chiefe honour can bee yeelded any The second honour is to sit on a cloth in his house the third that a man may haue a doore in his house which is the dignity of great Lords For meaner persons they need not feare to haue any thing stolne out of their open houses seeing the seuerity of Iustice doth secure them Doores are not for necessity but for honour Their houses are of pyramidall or steeple forme all the timbers meeting in the middest at the top couered with earth and straw Some of them are made of timbers as long and as bigge as a great ships mast the greater they are the more honorable The Benomotapa hath musicke whithersoeuer he goeth with singers and more then fiue hundred iesters which haue their Captain or Master of Reuels The royall Ensigne is a little plow-share with an Iuory point which he carrieth alway at his girdle by which is signified peace and husbanding of the ground He beareth likewise one or two swords in token of Iustice and defence of his people The Country is free and giues him no other payments but presents when they come to speake with him and certaine dayes seruice No inferiour comes before his superiour without some present in token of obedience and courtesie The Captaines of warre with all theirs bestow seuen dayes in thirty in his husbandry or other businesse Hee must confirme all sentences of Iudgement in his owne person there needs no Prison for matters are presently dispatched according to the allegations and testimonies that are brought And if there bee not sufficient testimonies then the matter is tryed by oath in this manner They beat the barke of a certaine tree and cast the powder thereof in water which the party drinketh and if he doe not vomit he is cleared if he vomit he is condemned And if the accuser when the accused party vomiteth not will drinke of the same and doth not vomit he is then acquitted and the matter dispatched If any sue to him he speedeth not but by mediation of a third person which also sets down the summe that the King must haue somtime at so deare a rate that the suter rather refuseth the Kings grant They haue no Horse and therefore warre on foot the spoyles are generally shared amongst all When he marcheth in the place where he is to lodge they make a new house of wood and therein must continuall fire be kept without euer going out saying that in the ashes might be wrought some witcheries to the indamagement of his person And when they goe to the warres they neuer wash their hands nor faces till they haue obtained victory They haue their wiues with them which are so loued and respected that if the Kings sonne meet with one of them in the street hee giues her way Benomotapa hath more then a thousand women but the first is
was hell and that the soules of their wicked Ancestors went thither to be tormented and that those who were good and valiant men went downe into the pleasant Valley where the great City di Laguna now standeth then which the Towns adioyning to it there is not in any place of the World a more delicater temperature of Ayre nor a goodlier Obiect for the eye to make a Royall Landskip of as to stand in the Centre of this Plaine and to behold how nature hath delineated all earthly beauty in the great On the North side of the Iland are many fresh waters with falling downe from the top of exceeding high Mountaynes refresh the Plaines and City di Laguna and are afterwards by the greatnesse of their torrent carried into the Ocean The Iland is parted in the midst with a ridge of Mountaynes like the roofe of a Church hauing in the midst of it like a steeple the Pyke of Teyda if you diuide the Iland into twelue parts ten of them are taken vp in impassable Rocky Hils in Woods in Vineyards and yet in this small remaynder of arrable ground there was gathered as I saw vpon their account in the yeere of our Lord 1582. 200. and 5000. Hannacks of Wheat besides infinite store of Rie and Barley One of our English quarters make foure and a halfe of their Hannacks The soyle is delicately temperate and would produce all the most excellent things the earth beareth if the Spaniards would seeke and labour them The Vineyards of account are in Buena Vista in Dante in Oratana in Tigueste and in the Ramble which place yeeldeth the most excellent Wine of all other There are two sorts of Wines in this Iland Vidonia and Muluesia Vidonia is drawne out of a long Grape and yeeldeth a dull Wine The Maluesia out of a great round Grape and this is the only Wine which passeth all the Seas of the World ouer and both the Poles without sowring or decaying whereas all other wines turne to Vineger or freeze into Ice as they approch the Southerne or Northerne Pole There are no where to be found fairer or better Mellons Pomegranates Pomecitrons Figs Orenges Limons Almonds and Dates Honey and consequently Waxe and Silke though not in great quantity yet excellent good and if they would plant there store of Mulberry trees the ground would in goodnesse and for quantity equall if not exceed eyther Florence or Naples in that commodity The North side of this Iland aboundeth aswell with wood as with water There grow the Cedar Cypresse and Bay tree the wild Oliue Masticke and Sauine goodly procerous Palme and Pine-trees which shoot vp into a beautifull streight talnese In the passage betwixt Oratana and Garachiro you ride through a whole Forrest of them the strong sauour of which perfumeth all the Aire thereabouts of these there are such abundance all the Iland ouer that all their Wine Vessels and woodden Vtensils are made of them There are of these Pine-trees two sorts the strait Pine and the other growing after the manner of our spreading Okes in England which wood the Inhabitants call the Immortall tree for that it rotteth neyther aboue nor below the ground nor in the water It is neere as red as Brasill , and as hard but nothing so vnctuous as the other kind of Pine Of these they haue such great ones that the Spaniards doe faithfully report that the wood of one Pine-tree alone couered the Church of los Remedios in the City of Laguna which is 80. foote in length and 48. foote in breadth And that one other Pine-tree couered the Church of S. Benito in the same City which is 100. foot in length and 35. in breadth The noblest and strangest tree of all the Iland is the tree called Draco his body riseth into an exceeding height and greatnesse The barke is like the scales of a Dragon and from thence I suppose it had his name On the very top of the tree doe all his armes cling and interfold together by two and by two like the Mandragoras they they are fashioned euen like the arme of a man round and smooth and as out of their fingers ends groweth the leafe about two foote in length in fashion like to our greene wild water seggs This tree hath not wood within its barke but only a light spongious pith and they commonly make Bee-hiues of the bodies of them Towards the full of the Moone it sweateth forth a cleane Vermilion Gummme which they call Sangre de Draco more excellent and astringeth by farre then that Sanguis Draconis which wee haue from Goa and from other parts of the East Indies by reason the Iewes are the only Druggists of those parts and to make mony they falsifie and multiply it with other trash foure pound waight for one The first that were knowne to inhabit this Iland are called Guanches but how they came thither it is hard to know because they were and are people meerely barbarous voyd of Letters The language of the old Guanches which remayneth to this day among them in this Iland in their Towne of Candelaria alludeth much to that of the Moores in Barbary When Betanchor the first Christian Discouerer of these parts came thither he found them to be no other then meere Gentiles ignorant of God Notwithstanding I doe not find that they had any manner of commerce with the Deuill a thing not vsuall among the Indian Gentiles They held there was a power which they called by diuers names as Achuhurahan Achuhucanar Achguayaxerax signifying the greatest the highest and the mayntayner of all If they wanted raine or had too much or any thing went ill with them they brought their sheepe and their Goats into a certaine place and seuered the young ones from the Dams and with this bleating on both sides they thought the wrath of the Supreme Power was appeased and that he would prouide them of what they wanted They had some notion of the immortality and punishment of Soules for they thought there was a Hell and that it was in the Pike of Teyda and they call Hell Echeyde and the Deuill Guayotta In ciuill affaires they were somewhat Regular as in acknowledging a King and confessing vassalage in contracting Matrimony reiecting of Bastards succession of Kings making of Lawes and subiecting themselues to them When any childe was borne they called vnto them a certaine woman and shee did with certaine words powre water vpon the childes head and euer after this woman was assumed into the number of that kindred and with her it was not lawfull euer after for any of that race to marrie or vse copulation The exercises which the young men vsed were leaping or running shooting the Dart casting of the stone and dauncing in which to this houre they do both exceedingly glorie and delight And so full of naturall vertue and honest simplicitie were these Barbarians
in the Iland Guanahani one of the Lucai which Columbo named San Saluatore from whence hee sayled to Baracoa a Hauen on the North side of the I le Cuba where hee went on Land and asked of the Inhabitants for Cipango so doth Paulus call Iapan They vnderstanding him of Cibao where are the richest Mynes of Hispaniola signed him that it was in Haiti so was the Iland then called and some of them went with him thither What worldly ioy is not mixed with some disaster Their Admirall heere splitteth on a Rocke but the men are saued by the helpe of the other ships This fell out in the North part of Hispaniola so named by them where they had sight of Inhabitants which seeing these strangers ranne all away into the Mountaynes One woman the Spaniards got whom they vsed kindly and gaue her meate drinke and clothes and so let her goe She declaring to her people the liberalitie of this new people easily perswaded them to come in troupes to the ships thinking the Spaniards to be some Diuine Nation sent thither from Heauen They had before taken them for the Caribes which are certaine Canibals which vsed inhumane huntings for humane game to take men for to eate them Children likewise which they gelded to haue them more fat and then to deuoure them the women they are not but vsed them for procreation and if they were old for other seruices The Ilanders had no othe defence against them but the wooddy Hils and swiftest heeles to which they betooke them at the Spaniards arriuall thinking them as is said to be Canibals And such haue they since proued in effect not leauing of three Millions of people which heere they found 200. persons and that long since The Deuill had forewarned them of this by Oracle that a bearded Nation should spoyle their Images and spill the bloud of their children as wee shall see in the particular Tractate of Hispaniola Nothing more pleased the Spaniards then the Gold which the naked Inhabitants exchanged with them for Bels Glasses Points and other trifles Columbus obtained leaue of Guacanarillus the Cacike or King to build a Fort in which he left eight and thirty Spaniards and taking with him sixe Indians returned to Spaine where he was highly welcomed of the King and Queene Some controuersie fell out betweene Columbus and one of the Pinzons Master of one of the Caruels about leauing these men behind but Columbus sent a Letter to reduce him vnto peace by the Indians who held the Letter in almost religious regard thinking it had some Spirit or Deitie by which they could vnderstand one another being absent The Pope then a Spaniard Alexander the Sixt hearing of this diuided the World by his Bull betwixt the Portugals and Spaniards bearing date the fourth of May Anno 1493. drawing a Line a hundred leagues beyond the Ilands of Azores and Capt Verde this Alexander giuing more then Great Alexander could conquer the East to the one and West to the other The Bull is become an Vnicorne and his two hornes are now growne into one in the vniting of those two States Columbus graced with the the title of Admirall enriched with the tenths of the Spanish gaines in the Indies is sent a second time with his brother Bartholomeus who was made Adelantado or Deputie of Hispaniola They had allowed them for this Expedition small and great seuenteene Sayle and fifteene hundred men The first Iland hee espyed in his second Nauigation he called Desseada or Desired because he had longed to see land Arriuing in Hispaniola he found the Spaniards which he had left there that they were now not left nor any where to be found The Indians had murdered them and laid the blame on the Spanish insolencies Hee now built and peopled the Towne of Isabella which was their chiefe place of Residence and gouernment which is in the yeere a thousand foure hundred ninetie eight were remoued to the City of San Dominico They built also the Fort of S. Thomas but both in the one and the other the Spaniards died of famine through the Indians wilfulnesse who vnwilling to haue such Neighbours would not plant their Maiz and Iucca and so starued both themselues and their guests As for the Pockes the Spaniards in this Voyage got them of the Indian women and brought them into Spaine as Ouiedo of his owne knowledge reporteth of his owne Country-men and they after paid the Indians in recompence with a disease as deadly and infectious to them which consumed thousands and was neuer before knowne amongst them I meane the small Pocks The other were improperly named of the French or of Naples seeing that in those wars of Naples which the Spaniards mayntayned against the French some carryed this disease with them thither out of Spaine and communicated the same both to the French and Neapolitans hauing beene vsuall and easily curable in the Indies Another Disease also assaulted them of a little kinde of Fleas called Niguas which would eate into and breed in the flesh and haue made many lose their toes Columbus at this time discouered Cuba and Iamaica with the Neighbour-Iles Returning to Hispaniola he found his Brother and the Spaniards in dissention and separation and punishing the Au hours of sedition returned home In the yeere of our Lord 1497. hee made his third Voyage and then touched on the Continent discouered Cubagua Paria and Cumana But Roldanus Ximenius raysing a Rebellion and accusing the Columbi to the King effected that Bouadilla was sent Gouernour into Hispaniola who sent the two Brethren bound as Prisoners to Spaine vnworthy recompence of the worthy attempts of these Worthies The King freeth them and employeth Christopher in a fourth Voyage Anno 1502. in which Oxandus the Gouernour forbade Columbus the first finder to land on Hispaniola Hee then discouered Guanaxa Higuera Fondura Veragua Vraba and learned newes as some say of the South Sea He stayed at Iamaica to repaire his Fleete where some of his men were sicke and they which were sound in body were more then sicke froward and tumultuous in behauiour and many left him Vpon this occasion the Ilanders also forsooke him and brought in no victuall Herewith Columbus neyther able to abide nor depart was driuen to his shifts no lesse admirable for subtlety then resolution He told the Ilanders that if they did not bring him in prouision the Diuine Anger would consume them a signe whereof they should see in the darkened face of the Moone within two dayes At that time hee knew the Moone would bee eclipsed which the simple Islanders seeing with feare and griefe humbled themselues to him and offered themselues readie to all kinde and dutifull Offices At last returning into Spaine hee there dyed Anno 1506. His body was buried at Siuill in the Temple of the Carthusians This was the end if euer there can bee end of Columbus Pinzonus one
bigger and white which bite like Dogs they termed Margaulx Although it be 14. leagues from the Mayne yet Beares swim thither to feast with these Birds One they saw as great as a Kow saith Cartier and as white as a Swan which they did kill and eate and the flesh was as good as of a two yeere old Calfe About the Port of Brest they found so many Ilets as they were impossible to bee numbred continuing a great space The Iland of Assumption by the Sauages called Natiscotec standeth in 49. degrees The Sauages dwell in houses made of Fir-trees bound together in the top and set round like a Doue-house This as before is said is at the entry of the Riuer into the Gulfe of Saint Lawrence The bankes of this Riuer are inhabited of people that worship the Deuill and sometimes sacrifice to him their owne bloud Francis the first King of France sent thither Iames Breton and Henry his Sonne Nicolas Villaegagnon but the greatest riches they found were the Diamonds of Canada and those of small value for their brittlenesse Thus Boterus Iaques Cartier made three Voyages into these parts First in the yeere 1534. Then was hee gladly welcommed of the Sauages singing dancing and expressing other signes of ioy as rubbing his armes with their hands and then lifting him vp to Heauen giuing all to their naked skin though all were worse then nothing for the trifles hee gaue them They went naked sauing their priuities which were couered with a skin and certaine old skinnes they cast vpon them Some they saw whose heads were altogether shauen except one bush of haire which they suffer to grow vpon the top of their crowne as long as a Horse-tayle and tyed vp with leather strings in a knot They haue no dwelling but their Boats which they turne vpside downe and vnder them lay themselues along on the bare ground They eate their flesh and fish almost raw only a little heated on the coales The next yeere Captaine Cartier returned and carried backe two Sauages which hee before had carried into France to learne the language He then passed vp to Hochelaga They found Rats which liued in the water as bigge as Conies and were very good meate Hochelaga is a Citie round compassed about with timber with three course of Rampiers one within another framed sharpe about two rods high It hath but one gate which is shut with piles and barres There are in it about fifty great houses and in the midst of euery one a Court in the middle whereof they make their fire Before they came there they were forced to leaue their boats behind because of certaine fals and heard that there were three more higher vp the streame towards Sanguenay which in his third Voyage were discouered Concerning the Religion in these parts of Canada euen amongst the Sauages wee finde some tracts and foot-prints thereof which neither the dreadfull Winters haue quite frozen to death nor these great and deepe waters haue wholly drowned but that some shadow thereof appeareth in these shadowes of Men howsoeuer wild and sauage like to them which giue her entertainment This people beleeueth saith Iaques Cartier in one which they call Cudruaigni who say they often speakes to them and tels them what weather will follow whether good or bad Moreouer when hee is angry with them hee casts dust into their eyes They beleeue that when they die they goe into the Stars and thence by little and little descend downe into the Horizon euen as the Starres doe after which they goe into certaine greene fields full of goodly faire and precious trees flowres and fruits The Frenchmen told them Cudruaigni was a Deuill and acquainted them with some mysteries of the Christian Religion whereupon they condescended and desired Baptisme the French excused and promised after to bring Priests for that purpose They liue in common together and of such commodities as their Countrey yeeldeth they are well stored They wed two or three wiues a man which their husbands being dead neuer marrie againe but for their widowes liuery weare a blacke wood all the dayes of their life besmearing their faces with coale-dust and grease mingled together as thicke as the backe of a Knife They haue a filthy and detestable vse in marrying their Maydens first putting them being once of lawfull age to marry in a common place as Harlots free for euery man that will haue to doe with them vntill such time as they find a match I haue seene houses as full of such Prostitutes as the Schooles in France are full of children They there vse much misrule riot and wantonnesse They dig their ground with certaine pieces of wood as big as halfe a Sword where they sow their Maiz The men also doe much vse Tobacco The women labour more then the men in fishing and husbandry They are more hardy then the beasts and would come to our ships starke naked going vpon Snow and Ice in which season they take great store of beasts Stags Beares Marternes Hares and Foxes whose flesh they eate raw hauing first dryed it in the Sun or smoke and so they doe their fish They haue also Otters Weasils Beauers Badgers Conies Fowle and Fish great varietie and one fish called Adhothuis whose bodie and head is like to a Greyhound white as Snow Their greatest Iewel is Chains of Esurgnie which are shel-fishes exceeding white which they take on this manner When a captiue or other man is condemned to death they kill him and then cut slashes in his most fleshie parts and hurle him into the Riuer Cornibots whence after twelue houres they draw him finding in those cuts these Esurgnie whereof they make Beads and Chaines They are excellent for stanching of bloud Thus much out of Cartier In the yeere 1542. Monsieur Roberual was sent to inhabit those parts He saith that he built a Fort faire and strong the people haue no certayne dwelling place but goe from place to place as they may find best food carrying all their goods with them It is more cold in that then in other places of like height as Iohn Alphonse of Xanctoigne affirmeth because of the greatnesse of the Riuer which is fresh water and because the Land is vntilled and full of Woods We may adde the cold vapours which the Sunne exhaleth in that long passage ouer the Ocean the abundance of Ice that commeth out of the North-seas and the winds which blow from them and from the cold snowie hils in the way §. III. Late Plantations of New-France and Relations of the Natiues SAmuel Champlain made a Voyage to Canada 1603. and encountred with a banke of Ice eight leagues long in 45. degrees two third parts with infinite smaller The Streits mouth from Cape Ray to the Cape of Saint Laurence within the Gulfe of Canada is eighteene leagues He obserued a Feast made by Anadabijon the great Sagamo in his Cabin in which eight or ten
vse to paint themselues and their children he is the most gallant which is most monstrous Their women imbroder their legges hands c. with diuers workes as of Serpents and such like with blacke spots in the flesh Their houses are made of small Poles made fast at the top in round forme as is vsed in many Arbours with vs couered with Barkes or Mats twice as long as they are broad They are exact Archers and will with Arrowes kill Birds flying Fishes swimming Beasts running one of ours by them hath beene shot thorow the body and both his armes thereby fastened and pierced They speake of men two hundred yeeres old and more as Master Wingfield reporteth Their Bowes are of tough Hasill the strings of Leather Arrowes of Canes or Hasill headed with stones or hornes and artificially feathered They are heartlesse if they see defence to frustrate their Arrowes §. IIII. Of the present estate of Virginia and the English there residing THe last of May 1616. Sir Thomas Dale that worthy Commander and best establisher of the Virginian Plantation came from thence into England to procure and further the common good partly by conference with Him and chiefly by a Tractate and Relations of Master Rolph the Husband of Pokahuntas which came ouer with him I haue learned what here I deliuer you The English doe now finde this Countrey so correspondent to their constitutions that it is more rare to heare of a mans death in Virginia then in that proportion of people in England That Aristocraticall Gouernment by a President and Councell is long since remooued and those hatefull effects thereof together Order and diligence haue repayred what confusion and idlenesse had distempered The men haue beene employed in Palazading and building of Townes impaling grounds to keepe their Cattle from ranging and to preserue their Corne and a Peace concluded betwixt the English and Indians For howsoeuer they could well before defend themselues and their Townes from them yet not easily their Corne and Cattle This peace hath yeelded many benefits both opportunity of lawfull purchase of a great part of the Country from the Natiues freely and willingly relinquishing and selling the same for Copper or other Commodities a thing of no small consequence to the conscience where the milde Law of Nature not that violent Law of Armes layes the foundation of their possession and quiet enioying thereof yeerely planting and reaping without impediment . fowling hunting fishing trauelling as securely as in England Plenty and Health attending their Peace and Industry They haue Indian Wheate called Mays Pease and Beanes and other the naturall Commodities English Wheate Pease Barley Turneps Cabbages Carrots Parsneps Herbes and Flowres for pleasure and vse with other things as good as the best made English ground can yeeld And that you may know what two mens labours with Spade and Shouell onely can manure in one yeere they refused fifty pounds offered for their Crop Hempe Flaxe Tobacco which with a little better experience in the curing would be as good as any in America Fish Fowle Deere and other Beasts I need not mention Sir Thomas Dale whose Prudence Fortitude Temperance Iustice in the well ordering and gouerning the English Virginian affaires I cannot sufficiently honour obserued two seasons for the taking of Fish the Spring and the Fall himselfe taking no small paines in the triall at one hale with a Saint he caught fiue thousand three hundred of which were as bigge as Cod the least of the residue a kind of Salmon Trowt two foot long Yet durst he not aduenture on the maine Skul for breaking his Net Likewise two men with Axes and such like weapons haue taken and killed neere the shore and brought home forty as great as Cod in two or three houres space And whereas heretofore wee were constrayned yeerely to buy Corne of the Indians which brought vs into base esteeme with them now they seeke to vs come to our Townes sell the skins from their shoulders which are their best garments to buy Corne Yea some of their petty Kings haue this last yeere borrowed foure or fiue hundred bushels of Wheat for payment whereof this Haruest they haue Mortgaged their whole Countries some of them not much lesse in quantitie then a whole Shire in England So that Famine the quondam deuourer of our Nation is famished and in it selfe deuoured The places inhabited by the English are six Henrico and the limits Bermuda Nether Hundred West and Sherley Hundred Iames Towne Kequoughton Dales Gift The inhabitants are Officers Labourers Farmers The first haue charge and care ouer both the latter watching and warding for their preseruations in the due execution of their employments and businesse These are bound to maintaine themselues and their families with food and raiment by the industrie of them and theirs The Labourers are of two sorts some employed onely in the generall workes fed and cloathed out of the store Others are speciall Artificers as Smiths Shoomakers Carpenters Tailors Tanners c. which worke in their professions to the Colony and maintaine themselues with food and apparell hauing time limited them to till and manure the ground The Farmers liue at most ease yet by their good endeuours bring much plenty to the Plantation They are bound by Couenant both for themselues and their seruants to maintaine his Maiesties right and title in that kingdome to watch ward in the townes where they are resident to doe one and thirtie dayes seruice for the Colony when they shall be called thereunto to maintaine themselues and theirs with food and raiment to pay yeerely for themselues and each man-seruant two Barrels and a halfe a piece of their best Indian wheat this amounts to twelue bushels a halfe English measure that no Farmer nor other shall plant Tobacco knowne to be a vendible commoditie except he yeerely manure for himselfe and euery man-seruant two acres of ground with corne and then to plant as much as they please Also the Company haue already sent a ship to Virginia with prouision of cloathing houshold-stuffe and other necessaries to establish a Magazine there to be bought at easie rates in bartar and exchange for their commodities to a mutuall benefit of both parts I cannot heere omit the Christian care of his Maiestie worthy the Defender of the Faith in prouiding charitable collections and contributions in England for the erecting and maintaining of a Colledge in Virginia to be a Seminarie and Schoole of education to the Natiues in the knowledge and perfection of our Religion which I beseech Almightie God to prosper with answerable successe They haue likewise brought thence children of both sexes here to be taught our language and letters which may proue profitable instruments in this designe As for the English there now residing likely to bee much encreased by good supplyes now in sending at Henrico and in the Precincts which is seated on the North side the
whiles others attended and at last led him with a firebrand in stead of a Torch to his lodging When they intend any wars the Weroances or Kings consult first with the Priests and Coniurers And no people haue there beene found so sauage which haue not their Priests Gods and Religion All things that are able to hurt them beyond their preuention they after their sort adore as the Fire Water Lightning Thunder our Ordnance Peeces Horses Yea I haue heard Captaine Smith say that they seeing one of the English Bores in the way were striken with awfull feare because he brisled vp himselfe and gnashed his teeth and took him for the god of the Swine which was offended with them The chiefe god they worship is the Diuell which they call Okee They haue conference with him and fashion themselues vnto his shape In their Temples they haue his Image ill-fauouredly made painted adorned with Chaines Copper and Beads and couered with a skinne By him is commonly the Sepulchre of their Kings whose bodies are first bowelled then dryed on a hurdle and haue about the ioynts chaines of Copper Beads and other like trash then lapped in white skinnes and rowled in mats and orderly entombed in arches made of mats the remnant of their wealth being set at their feet These Temples and Bodies are kept by their Priests For their ordinarie burials they digge a deepe hole in the earth with sharpe stakes and the corps being wrapped in skins and mats with their iewels they lay them vpon sticks in the ground and couer them with earth The buriall ended the women hauing their faces painted with blacke coale and oyle sit foure and twenty houres in the houses mourning and lamenting by turnes with yellings and howlings Euery Territory of a Weroance hath their Temples and Priests Their principall Temple is at Vttamussack in Pamaunk where Powhatan hath a house vpon the top of certaine sandie hils in the woods There are three great houses filled with Images of their Kings and Diuels and Tombes of their Predecessors Those houses are neere threescore foot long built after their fashion Arbour-wise This place is in such estimation of holinesse that none but the Priests and Kings dare enter yea the Sauages dare not passe by in Boats without casting Copper Beads or somewhat into the Riuer Heere are commonly resident seuen Priests the chiefe differed from the rest in his ornaments the other can hardly be knowne from the common people but that they haue not so many holes at their eares to hang their Iewels at The High-Priests head-tire is thus made They take a great many Snakes skinnes stuffed with Mosse as also of Weasils and other vermines skins which they tye by their tayles so that all the tayles meet on the top of their head like a great tassell The faces of their Priests are painted as vgly as they can deuise in their hands they haue Rattles some Base some Treble Their deuotion is most in songs which the chiefe Priest beginneth the rest following sometime he maketh inuocations with broken sentences by starts and strange passions and at euery pause the other giue a short grone It cannot be perceiued that they haue any set Holy-dayes onely in some great distresse of want feare of enemies times of triumph and of gathering their fruits the whole Countrey Men Women and Children assemble to their solemnities The manner of their deuotion is somtimes to make a great fire all singing and dancing about the same with Rattles and shouts foure or fiue houres sometime they set a man in the middest and dance and sing about him he all the while clapping his hands as if he would keepe time after this they goe to their Feasts They haue certaine Altar-stones which they call Powcorances standing from their Temples some by their houses others in the woods and wildernesses vpon which they offer bloud Deere-suet and Tobacco This they doe when they returne from the warres from their huntings and on other occasions When the waters are rough in stormes their coniurers runne to the waters sides or passe in their boats and after many hellish out-cries and inuocations cast Tobacco Copper Pocones or such trash into the water to pacifie that god whom they thinke to be very angry in those stormes Before their dinners and suppers the better sort will take the first bit and cast it into the fire which is all the grane they are knowne to vse In some part of the Countrey they are said which since is found false to haue yeerely a sacrifice of children such a one was performed at Quiyoughcohanock some ten miles from Iames Towne in this manner Rapahannock Werowance made a Feast in the woods the people were so painted that a Painter with his pensill could not haue done better Some of them were blacke like Diuels with hornes and loose haire some of diuers colours They continued two dayes dancing in a circle of a quarter of a mile in two companies with antick tricks foure in a ranke the Werowance leading the dance they had Rattles in their hands all in the middest had black hornes on their heâ—ds and greene boughes in their hands next them were foure or fiue principall men diuersly painted which with bastinadoes beat forward such as tired in the dance Thus they made themselues scarce able to goe or stand When they met together they made a hellish noise and euery one flinging away his bough ranne clapping their hands vp into a tree and tare it to the ground and fell into their order againe thus they did twice Fourteene well-fauoured children or if you had rather heare Captaine Smith fifteene of the properest yong Boyes betweene ten and fifteene yeeres of age they painted white H uing brought them forth the people saith he spent the forenoone in dancing and singing about them with Rattles in the afternoone they put these children to the root of a tree all the men standing to guard them each with a Bastinado of Reeds bound together in his hand Then doe they make a lane betweene them all along thorow which there were appointed fiue yong men White cals them Priests to fetch these children Each of these fetched a child the guard laying on with their Bastinadoes while they with their naked bodies defend the children to their great smart All this time the women weepe and cry out very passionately prouiding mosse skinnes mats and dry wood vnknowne to what purpose When the children are in this manner fetched away the guard teares downe trees branches and boughes making wreathes for their heads or bedecking their haire with the leaues What else was done with the children was not seene but they were all cast on a heape in a Valley as dead where was made a great feast for all the company William White relating this Rite saith That they remoued them from tree to tree three times and at last carried them into a Valley where the King sate where
they would not suffer our men to see but feasted there two houres On a sudden all arose with cudgels in their hand and made a lane as is before said and the children being laid downe vnder a tree to their seeming without life they all fell into a ring againe and danced about the children a good space and then sate downe in a circle about the tree Raphanna in the mids caused burdens of wood to be brought to the Altar made of poles set like a steeple where they made a great fire which our men thought but were deceiued was to sacrifice their children to the Diuell whom they call Kewase who as they report suckes their bloud They were vnwilling to let them stay any longer They found a woman mourning for yong Paspiha sacrificed at the Towne of Rapahanna but this Paspaiha is now aliue as Mr Rolph hath since related to me and the mourning of the women is not for their childrens death but because they are for diuers moneths detained from them as we shall after see Yea the Virginians themselues by false reports might delude our Men and say they were sacrificed when they were not For euen still they are very inconstant it is Mr Rolphs report in all that they speake of their Religion one denying that which another affirmeth and either not knowing or nor willing that others should know their diuellish mysteries And hence perhaps it was that as Captaine Smith addeth a Werowance being demanded the meaning of this sacrifice answered that the children were not all dead but that the Oke or Diuell did sucke the bloud from their left brest who chanced to be his by lot till they were dead but the rest were kept in the wildernesse by the yong men till nine Moones were expired during which time they must not conuerse with any and of these were made their Priests and coniurers This Sacrifice they held to be so necessarie that if they should omit it their Oke or Diuell and their other Quiyoughcosughes or gods would let them haue no Deere Turkies Corne or Fish and who would besides make a great slaughter amongst them They thinke that their Werowances and Priests which they also esteeme Quiyoughcosughes when they are dead doe goe beyond the Mountaines towards the setting of the Sunne and euer remaine there in forme of their Oke hauing their heads painted with Oyle and Pocones finely trimmed with feathers and shall haue Beades Hatchets Copper and Tobacco neuer ceasing to dance and sing with their Predecessors The common-people they suppose shall not liue after death Some sought to conuert them from these Superstitions the Werowance of Quiyoughcohanock was so farre perswaded as that he professed to beleeue that our God exceeded theirs as much as our Guns did their Bowes and Arrowes and many times did send to the President many presents entreating him to pray to his God for raine for his God would not send him any William White reporteth these their ceremonies of honouring the Sunne By breake of day before they eate or drinke the men women and children aboue ten yeeres old runne into the water and there wash a good space till the Sunne arise and then they offer sacrifice to it strewing Tobacco on the land or water the like they doe at Sun-set Hee also relateth that one George Casson before mentioned was sacrificed as they thought to the Diuell being stripped naked and bound to two stakes with his backe against a great fire then did they rip him and burne his bowels and dryed his flesh to the bones which they kept aboue-ground in a by-roome Many other of our men were cruelly and treacherously executed by them though perhaps not sacrificed and none had been left if their ambushes and treasons had taken effect Powhatan thus inuited Captaine Ratliffe and thirty others to trade for corne and hauing brought them within his ambush murthered them Alexander Whitaker saith That their Priests whom they call Quiokosoughs are Witches of whom the people stand in great awe The manner of their life is Heremite-fashion in woods in houses sequestred from the common course of men where none may come or speake with them vncalled They take no care for victuals for all such necessaries are set in a place neere his Cottage for his vse If they would haue raine or haue lost any thing he at their request coniureth and often preuaileth He is their Physician if they bee sicke and sucketh their wounds At his word they make warre and peace and doe nothing of moment without him Master Rolph affirmes that these Priests liue not solitarily and in other things is of another opinion which perhaps our former Author at his first comming might haue by relation of others The Wirowance of Acawmacke told our men of a strange accident two children being dead and buried being reuiewed by the parents seemed to haue liuely and cheerefull countenances which caused many to behold them and none of the beholders escaped death §. III. Of the Sasquesahanockes with other and later obseruations of the Virginian Rites THe Sasquesahanockes are a Gyantly people strange in proportion behauiour and attire their voice sounding from them as out of a Caue their attire of Beares skins hanged with Beares pawes the head of a Wolfe and such like iewels and if any would haue a spoone to eate with the Diuell their Tobacco pipes were three quarters of a yard long carued at the great end with a Bird Beare or other deuice sufficient to beat out the braines of a Horse and how many Asses braines are beaten out or rather mens braines smoaked out and Asses haled in by our lesse Pipes at home the rest of their furniture was sutable The calfe of one of their legges was measured three quarters of a yard about the rest of his limbes proportionable With much adoe restrained they this people from worshipping our men And when our men prayed according to their dayly custome and sung a Psalme they much wondered and after began in most passionate manner to hold vp their hands to the Sunne with a Song then embracing the Captaine they began to adore him in like manner and so proceeded notwithstanding his rebuking them till their song was ended which done one with a most strange action and vncomely voice began an Oration of their loues That ended with a great painted Beares skinne they couered the Captaine another hung about his necke a chaine of white Beades Others laid eighteene Mantles at his feet with many other ceremonies to create him their Gouernour that hee might defend them against the Massa-womekes their enemies As these are very great so the Weighcocomocoes are very little I may also heere insert the ridiculous conceits which some Virginians hold concerning their first originall as I haue heard from the relation of an English Youth which liued long amongst the Sauages that a Hare came into their Countrey and made the first men and after preserued them
so many Deuils their feet alwayes and only agreeing in one stroke Landing at Kecoughtan the Sauages entertayned them with a dolefull noyse laying their faces to the ground and scratching the Earth with their nayles The Werowance of Rapahanna met them playing on a Flute of a Reed with a Crowne of Deeres haire coloured red fashioned like a Rose with a Chaine of Beads about his necke and Bracelets of Pearle hanging at his eares in each eare a Birds claw The women are of a modest proud behauiour with an Iron pounce and raze their bodies legges thighes and armes in curious knots and pourtraytures of Fowles Fishes Beasts and rub a painting into the same which will neuer out The Queene of Apametica was attired with a Coronet beset with many white bones her eares hanged with Copper a Chaine thereof six times compassing her necke The Maids shaue their heads all but the hinder part the Wiues weare it all of a length the Men weare the left locke long as is said already sometimes an ell which they tye when they please in an artificiall knot stucke with feathers the right side shauen The King of Paspahey was painted all blacke with hornes on his head like a Deuill He testifieth of their hard fare watching euery third night lying on the bare cold ground what weather soeuer came and warding the next day a small Can of Barley sodden in water being the sustinance for fiue men a day their drinke brackish and slimy water This continued fiue moneths The Virginians are borne white their haire blacke few haue beards and they plucke out the haires which would grow the women with two shels are their Barbers they are strong nimble and hardy inconstant timorous quicke of apprehension cautelous couetous of Copper and Beads they seldome forget an iniury and seldome steale from each other lest the Coniurers should bewray them which it is sufficient that these thinke they can doe They haue their Lands and Gardens in proper and most of them liue of their labour The cause of their blacknesse Master Rolph ascribes to their Oyntments which in their smokie Houses they vse euen as Bacon with vs is so coloured this within doores they vse against the fire abroad against the Sunne Master Wingfield sayth they would bee of good complexion if they would leaue painting which they vse on their face and shoulders He neuer saw any of them grosse or bald they would haue beards but that they pluck away the haires they haue one wife many Loues and are also Sodomites Their elder women are Cookes Barbers and for seruice the younger for dalliance The women hang their children at their backes in Summer naked in Winter vnder a Deere-skin They are of modest behauiour They seldome or neuer brawle in entertayning a stranger they spread a mat for him to sit downe and dance before him They weare their nailes long to flay their Deere they put Bow and Arrowes into their Childrens hand before they are sixe yeeres old In each eare commonly they haue three great holes whereat they hang Chaines Bracelets or Copper some weare in those holes a small Snake coloured greene and yellow neere halfe a yard long which crawling about his necke offereth to kisse his lips Others weare a dead Rat tied by the taile Their names are giuen them according to the humour of the Parents Their women they say are easily deliuered they wash in the Riuers their young Infants to make them hardie The women and children doe the houshold and field-worke the men disdayning the same and only delighting in fishing hunting warres and such manlike exercises the women plant reape beare burthens pound their Corne make baskets pots bread and doe their Cookery and other businesse They easily kindle fire by chasing a dry pointed sticke in a hole of a little square piece of wood Powhatan had aboue thirty Commanders or Wirrowances vnder him all which were not in peace only but seruiceable in Captaine Smiths Presidencie to the English and still as I haue beene told by some that haue since beene there they doe affect him and will aske of him Powhatan hath three Brethren and two Sisters to whom the Inheritance belongeth successiuely and not to his or their Sonnes till after their death and then the eldest Sisters Sonne inheriteth He hath his treasure of Skins Copper Pearles Beades and such like kept in a house for that purpose and there stored against the time of his buriall This House is fifty or threescore yards long frequented onely by Priests At the foure corners of this House stand foure Images as Sentinels one of a Dragon another of a Beare a third of a Leopard and the fourth of a Gyant He hath as many women as he will which when he is weary of he bestoweth on whom he best liketh His Will and Custome are the Lawes He executeth ciuill punishments on Malefactors as broyling to death being incompassed with fire and other tortures The other Werowances or Commanders so the word signifieth haue power of life and death and haue some twentie men some fortie some an hundred some many more vnder their command Some were sent to inquire for those which were left of Sir Walter Raleighs Colonie but they could learne nothing of them but that they were dead Powhatan was gone Southwards when our men came last thence some thought for feare of Opochancanough his younger Brother a man very gracious both with the people and the English iealous lest Hee and the English should conspire against him thinking that he will not returne but others thinke hee will returne againe His second Brother is Decrepit and lame His age is not so great as some haue reckoned the errour arising from the Virginian computation of yeeres they reckoning euery Spring and euery Fall seuerall yeeres So did Tomocomo at his comming into England marke vp his time accounting each day and because they sayled in the night when hee thought they would haue anchored by the shore each night another day CHAP. VII Of Florida §. I. Of the Acts of the Spanish and French in Florida And of the Soyle and Cities NExt to Virginia towards the South is situate Florida so called because it was first discouered by the Spaniards on Palme Sunday or as the most interprete Easter day which they call Pasqua Florida and not as Theuet writeth for the flourishing Verdure thereof The first finder after their account was Iohn Ponce of Leon in the yeere 1512. but wee haue before shewed that Sebastian Cabota had discouered it in the name of King Henrie the Seuenth of England This Region extendeth to the fiue and twentieth degree It runneth out into the Sea with a long point of Land as if it would eyther set barres to that swift current which there runneth out or point out the dangers of these Coasts to the hazardous Mariners Into the Land it stretcheth Westward vnto the borders of New Spaine and those other Countries
wee haue banished together out of our Coasts euery one distrusting or defrauding others whiles eyther by miserable keeping or luxurious spending he which is bad to all is worst to himselfe To this Barne they bring at a certaine time of the yeere all the Venison Fish and Crocodiles dryed before in the smoke for the better preseruation which they meddle not with til need forceth them and then they signifie the same to each other The King may take thereof as much as he will This prouision is sent in baskets on the shoulders of their Hermaphrodites which weare long haire and are their Porters for all burthens They hunt Harts after a strange manner for they will put on a Harts skinne with the legges and head on so that the same shall serue them to stalke with and they will looke thorow the eye and the holes of the Hide as if it were a Vizor thereby deceiuing their Game which they shoot and kill especially at the places where they come to drinke Their Crocodiles they take in a strange manner They are so plagued with these beast that they keepe continuall watch and ward against them as other-where against their Enemies For this purpose they haue a watch-house by the Riuers side and when hunger driues the beast on shore for his prey the Watchmen call to men appointed they come tenne or twelue of them bearing a beame or tree the smaller end whereof they thrust into the mouth of the Crocodile comming vpon them gaping for his prey which being sharpe and rough cannot be got out and therewith they ouer-turne him and then being laid on his backe easily kill him The flesh tasteth like Veale and would be sauoury meate if it did not sauour so much of a Muskie sent Their sobrietie lengtheneth their liues in such sort that one of their Kings told me saith Morgues that he was three hundred yeeres old and his Father which there he shewed me aliue was fiftie yeeres elder then himselfe when I saw him mee thought I saw nothing but bones couered with skinne His sinewes veines and arteries sayth Laudonniere in description of the same man his bones and other parts appeared so cleerely thorow his skinne that a man might easily tell them and discerne the one from the other He could not see nor yet speake without great paine Monsieur de Ottigni demanding of their age the younger of these two called a company of Indians and striking twice on his thigh laid his hands on two of them hee shewed that they were his Sonnes and striking on their thighes he shewed others which were their Sonnes and so continued till the fift generation And yet it was told them that the eldest of them both might by the course of Nature liue thirtie or fortie yeeres more They haue a diuellish custome to offer the first-borne male-children to the King for a sacrifice The day of this dismall Rite being notified to the King he goeth to the place appointed and sits downe Before him is a blocke two foot high and as much thicke before which the mother of the child sitting on her heeles and couering her face with her hands deploreth the death of her sonne One of her friends offereth the child to the King and then the women which accompanied the mother place themselues in a Ring dancing and singing and shee that brought the child stands in the mids of them with the child in her hands singing somewhat in the Kings commendation Sixe Indians stand apart and with them the Priest with a Club wherewith after these ceremonies he killeth the child on that blocke which was once done in our presence Another religious Rite they obserue about the end of Februarie they take the hide of the greatest Hart they can get the hornes being on and fill the same with the best hearbs which grow amongst them hanging about the hornes necke and bodie as it were Garlands of their choisest fruits Hauing thus sowed and trimmed it they bring the same with songs and pipes and set it on a high tree with the head turned toward the East with prayers to the Sunne that hee would cause the same good things to grow againe in their land The King and his Magician stand neerest the tree and begin all the people following with their Responds This done they goe their wayes leauing it there till the next yeere and then renue the same ceremonie Ribault at his first comming had two of the Floridians aboord with him certaine dayes who when they offered them meat refused it giuing them to vnderstand that they were accustomed to wash their face and to stay till sun-set before they did eate which is a ceremonie common in all those parts They obserue a certaine Feast called Toya with great solemnitie The place where it is kept is a great circuit of ground swept and made neat by the women the day before and on the Feast day they which are appointed to celebrate this Feast come painted and trimmed with feathers and set themselues in order Three others in differing painting and gestures follow with Tabrets dancing and singing in a lamentable tune others answering them After that they haue sung danced and turned three times they fall to running like vnbrideled Horses through the midst of the thicke Woods the Indian Women continuing all the day in weeping and teares cutting the armes of the yong Girles with Muskle-shels with hurling the blood into the Ayre crying out three times He Toya Those that ranne through the Woods returne two dayes after and then dance in the midst of the place and cheere vp those which were not called to the Feast Their dances ended they deuoure the meat for they had not eate in three dayes before The Frenchmen learned of a boy that in this meane-while the Iawas had made inuocation to Toya and by Magicall Characters had made him come that he might speake with him and demand diuers strange things of him which for feare of the Iawas he durst not vtter To prouoke them vnto reuenge against their enemies they in their Feasts haue this custome There is a Dagger in the roome which one taketh and striketh therewith one that is thereunto appointed and then places the Dagger where he had it and anon renueth the stroke till the Indian falling downe the women Girles Boyes come about him and make great lamentation the men meane-while drinking Cassine but with such silence that not one word is heard afterwards they apply Mosse warmed to his side to heale him Thus doe they call to minde the death of their Ancestors slaine by their enemies especially when they haue inuaded and returne out of their enemies Countrey without the heads of any of them or without any Captiues §. III. Of the more In-land parts of Florida discouered by NVNEZ BVt let vs take view of the more Southerly and Westerly parts of Florida beyond the point Of Pamphilo Naruaes his vnfortunate Expedition
harth to eate no other bread but that which had beene offered to their Gods that they should vpon all occasions repaire to their Wisards who with certaine graines told Fortunes and diuined looking into keelers and pailes full of water The Sorcerers and ministers of the diuell vsed much to besmeare themselues There were an infinite number of these Witches Diuiners Inchanters and the like and still there remaine of them but secret not daring publikely to exercise their superstitions The Mexicans had amongst them a kinde of baptisme which they did with cutting the eares and members of yong children hauing some resemblance of the Iewish circumcision This Ceremonie was done principally to the sonnes of Kings and Noblemen presently vpon their birth the Priests did wash them and did put a little Sword in the right hand in the left a Target And to the children of the vulgar sort they put the markes of their callings and to their daughters instruments to Spinne Knit and labour The Mexican history afore-mentioned in the third part thereof sheweth in pictures their policie and customes When a child was borne as is there described it was laid in a Cradle foure dayes after the mid-wife brought it naked with the instrument of the trade as is said in the hand into the yard where were prepared Bul-rushes and a little pan of water in which she washed the same Three boyes sate by eating tosted Mars with sodden Frizoles in a little pan and at the mid-wiues appointment named the child with a lowd voice After twenty dayes they went with it into the Temple and presented the same in presence of the Priest with an offering and being of fifteene yeares committed him to the High Priest of that Temple to be taught if they would after haue him a Priest or if they would haue him a Souldier they committed him to the Master thereof with an offering of meat also In this booke is pictured how they instruct and feed them at three yeeres of age giuing them halfe a Cake how at foure with a whole Cake at fiue burthening and exercising their bodies and letting their daughters to spin how at sixe they exercise them in gathering vp corne spilled on the ground or the like at seuen in fishing There is likewise described their seuere discipline in punishing them with Manguez The Priests did exercise their Pupils in bodily seruices of the Temple in going to the Mountains to sacrifice in Musicke obseruing the time by the starres and the like Old men of threescore and ten might be publikely drunken without controll which to yong folkes of both sexes was death as was theft also and adultery The Priests also had their office in marriages The Bridegroome and the Bride stood together before the Priest who tooke them by the hands asking them if they would marry vnderstanding their will he took a corner of the vaile wherewith the woman had her head couered and a corner of the mans gowne which he tyed together on a knot and so led them thus tyed to the Bridegroomes house where there was a harth kindled Then he caused the wife to goe seuen times about the harth and so the married couple sate downe together and thus was the marriage contracted That booke of pictures describes it thus as Amantesa or Broker carried the Bride on her backe at the beginning of the night foure women attending with Torches of Pine-tree Rosenned At the Bridegroomes house his parents receiue her and carry her to him in a Hall where they are both caused to sit on a Mat neere a fire and tyed together with a corner of their apparell and a perfume of Copale wood is made to their gods Two old men and as many old women were present The married couple eate and then these old folke which after this separate them asunder and giue them good instructions for Oeconomicall duties In other parts of New-Spaine they vsed other marriage-rites at Tlaxcallan the Bridegroome and Bride polled their heads to signifie that from thenceforth all childish courses should be laid aside At michuacan the Bride must looke directly vpon the Bridegroome or else the marriage was not perfect In Mixteopan they vsed to carry the Bridegroome vpon their backs as if he were forced and then they both ioyne hands and knit their mantles together with a great knot The Macatecas did not come together in twenty dayes after marriage but abode in fasting and prayer all that while sacrificing their bodies and anointing the mouths of their Idols with their bloud In Panuco the Husbands buy the Wiues for a Bow two Arrowes and a Net and afterwards the Father-in-law speaketh not one word to his Sonne in-law for the space of a yeere When he hath a child he lyeth not with his wife in two yeeres after lest she should be with child againe before the other bee out of danger some sucke twelue yeeres and for this cause they haue many wiues No woman while she hath her disease may touch or dresse any thing Adulterie in Mexico was death common women were permitted but no ordinary Stewes The diuell did many times talke with their Priest and with some other Rulers and particular persons Great gifts were offered vnto him whom the diuell had vouchsafed this conference He appeared vnto them in many shapes and was often familiar with them He to whom he appeared carried about him painted the likenesse wherein be shewed himselfe the first time And they painted his Image on their doores benches and euery corner of the house Likewise according to his Protean and diuersified apparitions they painted him in many shapes It belonged also to the office of the Priests and religious in Mexico to interre the dead and doe their obsequies The places where they buried them were their gardens and courts of their owne houses others carried them to the places of sacrifices which were done in the mountaines others burnt them and after buried the ashes in the temples burying with them whatsoeuer they had of apparell stones and iewels They did sing the funerall offices like Responds often lifting vp the dead body with many ceremonies At these Mortuaries they did eate and drinke and if it were a person of qualitie they gaue apparell to such as came When one was dead his friends came with their presents saluted him as if he were liuing And if he were a King or Lord of some Towne they offered some slaues to bee put to death with him to serue him in the other world They likewise put to death his Priest or Chaplain for euery Noble-man had a Priest for his domestical holies that he might execute his office with the dead They likewise killed his Cooke his Butler Dwarffes and deformed men and whosoeuer had most serued him though he were his Brother And to preuent pouertie they buried with them much wealth as Gold Siluer Stones Curtains and other rich pieces And if they burned the dead they
Voyages relateth It is time for vs to passe beyond the Darien Straits vnto that other great Chersonesus or Peruvian AMERICA RELATIONS OF THE DISCOVERIES REGIONS AND RELIGIONS OF THE NEW WORLD OF CVMANA GVIANA BRASILL CHICA CHILI PERV AND OTHER REGIONS OF AMERICA PERWIANA AND OF their Religions THE NINTH BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the Southerne America and of the Countries on the Sea-coast betwixt Dariene and Cumana §. I. Of the great Riuers in these parts and of Dariene THis Peninsula of the New World extending it selfe into the South is in forme somewhat like to Africa and both to some huge Pyramis In this the Basis or ground is the Northerly part called Terra Fuma from whence it lesseneth it selfe by degrees as it draweth neerer the Magellan Straits where the top of this Spire may fitly bee placed On the East side it is washed with the North Ocean as it is termed On the West with that of the South called also the Peaceable It is supposed to haue sixteene thousand miles in compasse foure thousand in length the breadth is vnequall The Easterne part thereof betweene the Riuers Maragnon and Plata is challenged by the Portugals the rest by the Spaniard From the North to the South are ledges of Mountaines the tops whereof are said to be higher then that Birds will visit the bottomes yeeld the greatest Riuers in the World and which most enrich the Oceans store-house Orenoque Maragnon and Plata seeme to be the Indian Triumuiri Generals of those Riuer-Armies and Neptunes great Collectors of his watery tributes Orenoque for ships is nauigable a thousand miles for lesse Vessels two thousand in some places twentie miles broad in some thirtie Berreo affirmed to Sir Walter Raleigh That a hundred Riuers fell into it marching vnder his name and colours the least as bigge as Rio Grande one of the greatest Riuers or America It extendeth two thousand miles East and West and commandeth eight hundred miles North and South Plata taking vp all the streames in his way is so full swolne with his increased store that he seemeth rather with bigge lookes to bid defiance to the Ocean then to acknowledge homage opening his mouth fortie leagues wide as if he would deuoure the same and with his vomited abundance maketh the salt waters to recoyle following fresh in this pursuit till in salt sweates at last he melteth himselfe in the Combate Maragnon is farre greater whose water hauing furrowed a Channell of sixe thousand miles in the length of his winding passage couereth threescore and ten leagues in breadth and hideth his Bankes on both sides from him which sayleth in the middest of his proud Current making simple eyes beleeue that the Heauens alway descend to kisse and embrace his waues And sure our more-straitned world would so far be accessary to his aspiring as to style him with the royall title of Sea and not debase his greatnesse with the meaner name of a Riuer Giraua some what otherwise writeth of these Riuers that Plata called by the Indians Paranaguaeu as one should say a Riuer like a Sea is twenty fiue leagues in the mouth placed by him in thirty three degrees of Southerly latitude encreasing in the same time and manner as Nilus Maragnon hee saith is in the entrance fiue leagues and is not the same with Orellana so called of Francis Orella the the first Spaniard that sayled in it and Amazones of the fabulous reports as Giraua termeth them of such women there seene which hee sayth hath aboue fifty leagues of breadth in the mouth and is the greatest Riuer of the World called by some the fresh Sea running aboue fifteene hundred leagues vnder the Aequinoctiall Thus much Hee though lesse then others yet more then can bee paraleld in any other streames This Southerne halfe of America hath also at the Magellane Straits contracted and as it were shrunke in it selfe refusing to be extended further in so cold a Climate The manifold riches of Metals Beasts and other things in the beginning of the former Booke haue been declared and in this as occasion moueth shall bee further manifested The Men are the worst part as being in the greatest parts thereof inhumane and brutish The Spanish Townes in this great tract and their Founders are set downe by Pedro de Cieza Herera and others I rather intend Indian Superstitions then Spanish plantations in this part of my Pilgrimage Of the Townes of Nombre de Dios seuenteene leagues from Panama the one on the North Sea the other on the South and of Dariene wee last tooke our leaues as vncertaine whether to make them Mexican or Peruvian being borderers and set in the Confines betwixt both The moorish soyle muddie water and grosse Ayre conspire with the heauenly Bodies to make Dariene vnwholesome the myrie streame runneth or creepeth rather very slowly the water but sprinkled on the house-floore engendreth Toades and Wormes They haue in this Prouince of Dariene store of Crocodiles one of which kinde Cieza saith was found fine and twentie foot long Swine without tailes Cats with great tailes Beasts clouen-footed like Kine otherwise resembling Mules sauing their spacious eares and a trunke or snowt like an Elephant there are Leopards Lyons Tygres On the right and left hand of Dariene are found twenty Riuers which yeeld Gold The Men are of good stature thinne haired the Women weare Rings on their eares and noses with quaint ornaments on their lips The Lords marry as many Wiues as them listeth other men one or two They forsake change and sell their Wiues at pleasure They haue publike Stewes of women and of men also in many places without any discredit yea this priuiledgeth them from following the warres The yong Girles hauing conceiued eate certain herbs to cause abortion Their Lords and Priests consult of warres after they haue drunke the smoke of a certaine herbe The Women follow their husbands to the warres and know how to vse a Bow They all paint themselues in the warres They neede no Head-pieces for their heads are so hard that they will breake a Sword being smitten thereon Wounds receiued in warre are the badges of honour whereof they glory much and thereby enioy some Franchises They brand their prisoners and pull out one of their teeth before They will sell their children are excellent Swimmers both Men and Women accustoming themselues twice or thrice a day thereunto Their Priests are their Physicians and Masters of Ceremonies for which cause and because they haue conference with the Deuill they are much esteemed They haue no Temples nor Houses of deuotion The Deuill they honour much which in terrible shapes doth sometimes appeare vnto them as I saith Cieza haue heard some of them say They beleeue that there is one God in heauen to wit the Sunne and that the Moone is his wife and therefore worship these two Planets They worship the Deuill also and paint him in such
bigge as Rauens with bils like Hawkes liuing on the prey and smelling like Muske Great Bats one of which was a Physician by strange accident to a seruant of the Friers which being sicke of a Pleurisie was giuen ouer for dead because they could not raise a veine wherein to let him bloud in the night a Bat after the custome of that Creature bit and sucked him whereby so much bloud issued that the sicke man recouered which the Friers counted for a miracle They haue three sorts of Bees one whereof is little and blacke and makes honey in the Trees without Waxe Their Spiders are greater then ours of diuers colours and weaue such strong Cobwebs that they aske good strength to breake them There are Salamanders as bigge as a mans head they cackle much like a Pullet their biting is deadly I might here hold you too long in viewing these strange Creatures we will now returne to their stranger customes §. II. Of their vices and superstitions THey take great pleasure in two things Dancing and Drinking in which they will spend eight dayes together especially at the Marriages or Coronation of their Kings Many Gallants will then meet together diuersly drest some with crownes and Feathers some with shels about their legges in stead of bels to make a noise some otherwise all painted with twenty colours figures he that goes worst seemes best taking one another by the hand they dance in a ring some backwards some forwards with a world of varietie grinning singing crying counterfetting the Deafe Lame Blind Fishing Weauing telling of Stories and this continueth sixe houres and then they eate and drinke before he which danced most now he which drinketh most is the most complete and accomplished Gallant and now beyond counterfetting Drunkennesse sets them together in brauing swaggering quarrelling others play the Swine spue vp the former to make way for other liquor and they adde hereunto the fume of an Hearbe which hath the like drunken effect it seemeth to be Tobacco This perhaps will not seeme strange to some seeing these Sauage customes of drinking dancing smoking swaggering so common with vs in these dayes It might indeed seeme strange to our forefathers if their more ciuill more sacred ghosts might returne and take view of their degenerating posteritie but now hee must be a stranger in many companies that will not estrange himselfe from ciuilitie from humanitie from Christianity from God to become of a Man a Beast of an Englishman a Sauage Indian of a Christian a Fiend saue that he hath a body in the diuersified pollutions whereof he hath aduantage and takes it to out-swagger the Diuell These are the Gull-gallants of our dayes to whom I could wish that either their Progenitors had beene some Cumanian Indians or that they would leaue this vsurped Gallantry to those true owners and resume spirits truely English The Gods of the Cumanians are the Sun and Moone which are taken for man and wife and for the greatest Gods They haue great feare of the Sunne when it Thunders or Lightens saying that he is angry with them They fast when there is any Eclipse especially the women for the married women plucke their haires and scratch their faces with their nailes the Maids thrust sharpe fish-bones into their armes and draw bloud When the Moone is at full they thinke it is wounded by the Sunne for some indignation he hath conceiued against her When any Comet appeareth they make a great noise with Drums hallowing thinking so to scarre it away or to consume it beleeuing that those Comets portend some euils Among their many Idols and figures which they honour as Gods they haue one like a Saint Andrews Crosse which they thought preserued them from night-spirits and they hanged it on their new-borne children They call their Priests Piaces whose Maiden-head-rite we before mentioned They are their Physicians and Magicians They cure with roots and hearbs raw sod and pounded with the fat of Birds Fishes and Beasts with wood and other things vnknowne to the people with abstruse and darke words which themselues vnderstand not They sucke and licke the place where the paine is to draw out the euill humours And if the paine encreaseth they say that the Patients are possessed with euill Spirits and then rub their bodies all ouer with their hands vsing certaine words of Coniuration or Charmes sucking after that very hard giuing them to vnderstand that by that meanes they call out the euill spirits Presently they take a piece of wood the vertue whereof none else knoweth but the Piace and therewith rub their mouthes and throats so long till they cast all that is in their bellies vomiting sometimes bloud with the force thereof the Piace in the meane time stamping knocking calling and gesturing after two houres there comes from him a thicke flegme and in the middest thereof a blacke hard bullet which those of the house carry and cast into the fields saying Let the Diuell goe thither If the sicke man recouer his goods die and become the Priests if he die they say his time was come The Piace is their Oracle with whom they consult whether they shall haue warre what shall be the issue thereof whether the yeere will be plentifull They forewarne them of Eclipses and aduertise of Comets The Spaniards demanded in their necessitie whether any ships would come shortly And they answered that on such a day a Caruell would come with so many men and such prouision and Merchandize which accordingly came to passe They call vpon the Diuell in this manner the Piace entereth into a Caue or secret place in a darke night and carries with him certaine couragious youths that may moue questions without feare He sits on a bench and they stand on their feet he cryeth calleth singeth Verses soundeth shels and they with a heauy accent say many times Prororure Prororure if the Diuell comes not all this Black-Sanctus is renued with grieuous sighs and much perplexity When he commeth which is knowne by the noise hee sounds lowder and suddenly fals downe by visages and varied gesture shewing that the diuell is entred Then one of those his Associates demandeth what him pleaseth The Friers went one day with their coniuring and coniured holies the Crosse Stole Holy-water and when the Piace was in that distraction cast a part of the stole on him crossing and coniuring in Latine and he answered them in his natiue language much to the purpose at last they demanded whither the soules of the Indians went He answered to Hell These Piaces by their Physick and diuining grow rich they goe to Feasts and sit by themselues apart and drinke themselues drunke and say The more they drinke the better they can Diuine They learne these Arts when they are children and are inclosed in the woods two yeares all that time eating nothing that had bloud see no women nor their owne parents come not out of their Caues or Cels
licence departed He sent with him many Guianians all laden with as much Gold as they could carrie but before he entred Orenoque the Orenoqueponi robbed him of all but of two Bottels of Gold beads which they had thought had beene his drinke or meate Thus escaped he to Trinidado and died after at Saint Iuan de Puerto-rico where in his extremes he vttered these things to his Confessor He called the Citie Manoa El Dorado the gilded or golden because that at their drunken Solemnities in which vice no Nation vnder Heauen excels them when the Emperour carowseth with any of his Commanders they that pledge him are stripped naked and their bodies anointed with a kinde of white Balsamum and then certaine seruants of the Emperour hauing prepared Gold made into fine powder blow it thorow hollow Canes vpon their naked bodies vntill they bee all shining from the foot to the head and in this sort they fit drinking by twenties and hundreds and continue in drunkennesse sometimes sixe or seuen dayes together Vpon this sight and for the abundance of Gold he saw in the Citie the Images in the Temples the Plates Armours and Shields of Gold vsed in their Warres he gaue the Citie that name Iuan de Castellanos reckoneth twentie seuerall Expeditions of some or other Spaniards for this Guianian Discouery with little effect saue that diuers lost their liues therein Anno 1543. Gonzalo Pizarro sent a Captaine named Orellana from the borders of Peru who with fifty men were carried by the violent current of the Riuer that they could not return to Pizarro he descended not in Orenoque the Guianian Riuer but in Maragnon called of him Orellana which Iosephus Acosta writeth from the Relation of one of their Societie who being a Boy had bin in the Expedition of Pedro de Orsua for this Discouery and had sailed the Riuer thorow that in the middest men can see nothing but the Skie as before is said and the Riuer and that it is seuentie leagues broad vnder the Aequinoctiall Martin Fernandez maketh it seuen degrees and a halfe to the North of the Line and fifteen leagues broad and the Sea of fresh water to bee another Riuer of forty leagues breadth others haue written otherwise which varying proceedeth from that varietie of Armes or mouthes of Orenoque or Raleana and Marannon or Amazones which since haue beene better discouered as Master Keymis Master Masham and others employed in this action haue found by experience It riseth in Quito Orellana sayled in it sixe thousand miles In all these parts their greatest treasure is multitude of women and children Topiawari made a heauie complaint that whereas they were wont to haue ten or twelue wiues now they had not aboue three or foure by reason of the wars with the Epuremei their Enemies whereas the Lords of the Epuremei had fifty or a hundred and their war is more for women then either for Gold or Dominion After Orellana Pedro de Orsua was employed with fiue hundred Souldiers for the conquest of the Amazons as they called it but for a beautifull woman which he had with him was slaine by conspiracie of Lope de Aguirre which loued her and Fernando de Guzman whom they saluted King c. Veg. pag. 2. lib. 8. c. 14. Berreo in the search for Guiana tooke his Iourney from Nueuo Reyno de Granado where he dwelt with seuen hundred Horse but trauelling he lost many of his company and Horse at Amapaia the soyle is a low Marish and the water issuing thorow the Bogs is red and venemous which poysoned the Horses and infected the men at noone the Sunne had made it more wholesome for their vse This new Kingdome of Granada is two hundred leagues within Land Southward from Cartagena It had that name because the Captaine that discouered it was of Granada in Spaine The plenty of Emeralds in these parts hath made that Gemme of lesse worth The next Prouince to this is called Popayan in both which the Spaniards haue many Townes And by the Riuer of Orenoque both may be inuaded All the parts from the Golden Castle and the Gulfe of Vraba to Paria yeeld Caribes or Canibals which eate mans flesh and geld children to make them more fat and tender for their diet And in all Inland parts neere Peru and in the Hils called Andes which some call Golden Castile they little differ Ciezar saith That in the Valley of Anzerma they keepe certaine Tablets amongst the Reeds wherein they carue the Image of the Deuill in a terrible shape also the figures of Cats and other Idols which they worship To them they pray for raine or faire weather they haue commerce with the Deuill and obserue such Superstitions as he enioyneth them They are great man-eaters At the doores of their houses they haue small Courts wherein are their graues in deepe Vaults opening to the East in which they bury their great men with all their wealh The Curies are not far from them they haue no Temple nor Idoll They haue conference with the Deuill They marry with their Neeces and Sisters and are man-eaters They call the Deuill Xaxarama They esteeme Virginitie little worth In the Prouince of Arma the Deuill doth often appeare to the Indians in honour of whom they sacrifice their Captiues taken in Warre hanging them vp by the shoulders and pulling out the hearts of some of them In Paucora they haue like Deuillish Deuotions and their Priests are their Oracles Before the house of the chiefe Lord was an Idoll as bigge as a man with his face to the East and his armes open They sacrificed two Indians euery Tuesday in this Prouince to the Deuill In the Prouince of Pozo in the houses of their Lords they had many Idols in such resemblance as the Deuill had assumed in his Apparitions And in those Idols he would also speake and giue answeres In Carrapa they are extreame Drunkards when any is sicke they offer Sacrifices to the Deuill for his recouery In Quinbaya is a Hill which casteth forth smoke but a more Hellish smoke is their conference and commerce with the Deuill like the former In the Prouince of Cali they likewise conferre with the Deuill they haue no Temples or Houses of Religion They make deepe pits for Sepulchres of their great men where their Armour Wealth and food is set about them Their lust subiecteth the Neece and Sister to their Marriages In Popayan they are man-eaters as also in the forenamed Prouinces They obserue the same Caninall and Deuillish Rites with the former framing their Superstitions to the Deuils direction in their mutuall Colloquies They bury with their Lords some of his Wiues and Prouision Some of them are great Wizards and Sorcerers In Pasto they talke also with the Deuill a thing common to al these parts of the Indies But let vs leaue these steepe and cold Hils these men of the Deuill whom they worship
they which want long haire vse a furre to couer themselues They eate mans flesh obserue meales at noone and night a thing rare in those parts vse no Religion so farre as our Author could see in nine or ten dayes of his abode with them they are very cleanly The Motayas met them with dancing and singing the women sate about them and wept and then set forth their victuals they laughed at them for refusing mans flesh they are small people and browne weare their haire in fashion as we in England frizling it round about and in other parts of the body plucke it away with a shell The Lopos or Biheros as the Portugals call them liue in the Mountaines of Pine-apples they saw no houses but boughs tyed together with the pils of Trees they would rob them of their goods but not hurt their persons heere they found many mines of Gold and many rich stones no part of America is richer but it is farre within Land and the Countrey populous that neither Spaniard nor Portugall can inhabite there they are browne small the women as shamelesse as beasts The Wayanawasons dwell in small Townes by the side of a Riuer are the simplest of all other would stand and gaze on vs like heards of Deere without speaking word They are bigge tall cleane made lazie heere sixteene of their company dyed with eating a certaine yellow plumme as bigge as a Horse-plumme The Rootes of Mandioca had almost killed them all but by a piece of Vnicornes Horne they were preserued From hence hee with twelue Portugals determined to trauell to the South-Sea by Land they came to many mountaines where they found store of gold and many precious stones and had thought themselues in Peru those stones they tooke vp one day they cast away the next to take vp better In this Countrey they trauelled two moneths till they came to the great Mountaine of Crystall for height seeming to tower vp it selfe in the clouds and was impassable for steepenesse they saw it ten dayes before they came at it and were not able when the Sun was aloft to trauell against it for the glistering reflection They passed alongst it twentie dayes before they could finde passage and at last came to a Riuer which ranne vnder it Then did they make them prouision of great Canes three yards and a halfe broad and sixe long and killing good store of Tamandroes rosted them and thus prouided went into the vault which made such a noise with the water that it seemed to them an enchantment They went in on a Munday morning came out againe on a morning they knew not whether one or two dayes after The next Sauages they encountred were a kinde of Tamoyes which are as proper men as any in Europe most of them faire their heads set with feathers the women tall proper slender in the waste faire fine-handed comely faced and brests carued They esteeme of gold and gems as we of stones in the streets Here he liued eighteene moneths but his twelue companions they slue and deuoured Him they spared because hee professed himselfe a Frenchman with whom they sometimes had commerce The Tocomans dwell betweene the Riuer of Plate and Saint Vincent They are sandie small but not so little as they say of the Pigmees and dwell in Caues The Cariyoghs for two or three Glasses and a Combe with some Kniues would giue the worth of foure or fiue thousand crownes in gold or stones Their women are comely faire the men die their bodies blacke These Carigij so Rodericus cals them dwell in handsome thatched houses sixty foot long euery house they call a Village They haue no superiour dwell in a barren soyle are very fond of euery trifle and toy and will trauell laden with their wares for such trade thirty leagues to the Portugals and sometimes sell themselues slaues If they take an enemy aliue they commit him to the Boyes of ten yeeres old to bee slaine fiue or sixe of which smite out his braines with clubs And this is a kind of Knighthood or Gentility vnto them in signe whereof they cut the skinne from the Ankle to the Necke and fast many dayes and obserue a set Diet. They obserue charmes and sooth-sayings If any dye without children all his substance is buried with him The Tamoyes his last hosts by his instructions who was desirous to try if the Sea might yeeld him any succour left their habitations and 30000. of them aduentured themselues to seeke new They came into the countrey of the Amazones which the Indians call Mandiocusyams but durst not warre against them they tooke a towne of the Carijos and ate three hundred of them the rest fled to the Riuer of Plate and obtained Portugall succour who tooke these Tamoyes captiues slue ten thousand and shared 20000. amongst them for slaues And thus came he againe into his Portugall slauery from which hee had made an escape once before and trauelled nine moneths in the wildernesse fiue or sixe yeeres he serued the Portugals and liued a yeere and eleuen moneths with the Canibals He made another escape into Angola and serued as a drudge in Mafangana the sickliest Countrey vnder the Sunne where the Portugals die like Chickens gape for aire like the Camelions liue close take Physicke euery weeke let bloud obserue certaine diet and houres when to goe abroad But his houre to goe abroad at liberty was not yet come Backe he was sent to Brasile and long it was before his longing could be satisfied to reuiew his Country and friends some compassion of his passions I think this tedious following him in this epitomised discourse of his disasters hath bred in you wherein as in the following also are many things strange some seeming doubtfull which if any reiect let them not blame me who had rather beleeue more then this then to aduenture the search amongst those cruell Barbarians §. IIII. Of the strange Creatures in Brasile NO man hath written so absolute a discourse of Brasile as was that taken from a Portugall Frier and by Francis Cooke sold to Master Hakluyt Out of him I could recite the names of other Brasilian Nations Ararape Apigapigtanga Vintan which he saith were by a Magician Priest of Portugall conueyed to Fernambuc Tapuya is a generall name of which he reckoneth threescore and sixteene seuerall Nations most of them of sundry languages The Guaymares haue hard skins and beat their children with thistles to harden them They are swift and cruell cut off the captiues flesh with Reeds leauing nothing but the bones and guts and disbowell women with childe to eate the child roasted The Camucuira haue paps reaching almost to the knees which when they runne they binde to their waste The Curupetie eate not men but carry the heads for shew The Winter begins in Brasile in March and ends in August The beasts of Brasil he reckoneth Deere Elkes
lye in their hanging beds will make an Oration of the vertue of their Predecessors and of their sustained wrongs and so excite the yonger to take armes These Orations last sometimes sixe houres Their armes are clubs or woodden swords fiue or sixe foot long and a foot broad a finger thicke and very sharpe One of these men being throughly moued would trouble two of our Fencers Their bowes are as long as ours the string made of the herbe Tocon little yet able to endure the strength of an horse their arrowes an ell long which they will shoot twice as fast as our men they haue leather shields their elder men lead the rankes if they may be so called which haue none to marshall or order them and with great shouts and shewing the enemies the bones of their slaine friends they enter into a fierce battell Their captiues they conuey in the middest of their armie home to their Territories vnto whom the men will not sticke to giue their Sisters or Daughters to performe all the duties of a Wife and feed them with the best till they redemand the same out of their flesh the men are employed if it be long before the slaughter in hunting fowling fishing the women in gardening or gathering Oysters When that dismall day approacheth knowledge is giuen and the men women and children assemble to the place appointed and there passe the morning in drinking and the captiue although he knoweth the dreadfull issue danceth drinketh and frolicks it with the best After sixe or seuen houres thus spent two or three of the strongest fasten a rope about his middle leauing his armes at liberty and so lead him vp and down the Village in triumph Neither doth he for all this hang down his head as men heere going to be hanged but with incredible courage emblazoneth his own worthinesse Thus thus saith he haue I sometimes bound your kindred and thy father saith he to one haue I deuoured and thy brethren to another haue I boucaned and eaten and what innumerable numbers of you Touau Pinambausij haue these hands taken this throat swallowed Neither will the Margaiates suffer this my death vnreuenged Then they bring him stones and bid him reuenge his death He hurleth them at those which stand about him whereof there are some foure thousand and hurteth diuers I saw one saith our Author whose legge I had thought had beene broken by the violence of one of those blowes After this comes one which all this while had bin hidden with the fatall club and Art thou not one of the Margaiates saith he and hast thou not deuoured our kindred the other answereth O how lustily I haue done it how prompt haue I been in taking them how greedy in eating And therefore replyeth the other shalt thou be killed and rosted on the Boucan What then saith he my death shall not bee vnreuenged The club ends their Dialogue with one blow striking him dead His wife if he had any as they sometimes vse to bestow on their Captiues comes to the carkasse and spends a little time and passion in mourning but her Crocodiles teares are soone dried and the humour fals into her teeth which water for the first morsell The other women especially the elder which are most cruell and greedie bring hot water and wash the body and rub it till it looke like the skin of a Pigge then comes the Master of the Feast which owed the Captiue and cuts it out as readily as any Butcher with vs can doe a Weather They daube the children with the bloud foure women carrie about the armes and legs for a shew with shouts and cries The trunke is diuided into two parts the vpper part being cut and separated from the lower the inwards are left to the women which seethe and make the broth of them called Mingau which they sup vp with their children they eate also the flesh about the head The braine tongue and that which within the head may serue for meate is the childrens share The Author of the Feast hath a new name added to the former for they haue so many names as they haue slaine Captiues the chiefe of the Cottage branding him on the arme with an honourable marke for the memory thereof and all that day he must spend in quiet The Wayganna are a kind of Brasilians which hold confederacie with no other Nation but kill all which come to their hands and that so cruelly that they will cut off their armes and legges while they are aliue These liue in the Mountaines They cut them with stones and those which haue trade with the Christians vse Kniues Their Boucan is a Grediron of foure cratches set in the ground a yard high and as much asunder with billets laid thereon and other stickes on them grate-wise On this they rost the flesh putting fire vnder all the people standing about the same and euery one gets a little piece of him But me thinkes I see horror expressed in the countenance of him that reades this and euery one wearie of viewing this Tragedie loathing this inhumane feasting with humane flesh I will therefore leaue their shambles and which better beseemes a Pilgrime will visit their holies and holy places But alas where or what are they Maffaeus hath alreadie told vs that they obserue no Gods and Lerius confirmes the same yet sheweth that they acknowledge a Deuill whom they call Aygnan not that they worship him but are tormented by him Euen in speaking of him they tremble and the remembrance breedes a compassionate amazement in the hearer an amazed passion in the speaker while he applaudes our happinesse free from such tyrannie and deplores his owne miserie Hee sometimes in the forme of a beast sometimes in forme of a Bird and otherwhiles deformed in some monstrous shape doth grieuously torment them Euen whiles the Christians were in conference with them they would pitiously cry out Hei Hei helpe Aygnan vexeth me Nor could this bee counterfeit in the iudgement of any that conuersed with them They beleeue the immortalitie of the soule and that the soules of the vertuous that is in their sense of such as haue killed and eaten many enemies shall flie beyond the highest Mountaines and be gathered to the soules of their Progenitors and there liue in pleasant Gardens and perpetuall dancings and delicacies The cowardly Ghosts shall be carried vnto torment by Aygnan without end They haue no name whereby to signifie God vnto them but wondered to heare what the Frenchmen told of the Creator of Heauen and Earth And because they are afraid of Thunder which they call Toupan they told them that God was Author thereof the foolish Indians reply that he was then naught which would make them afraid But the feare of Aygnan made them sometimes flexible to embrace the Christian Religion hearing that this Deuill was inferiour to the Christians God So that euen in these the most degenerate of all
which I haue obserued in this long and tedious Pilgrimage there is some sparke left of Religion euen in the acknowledgement of a Deuill and of eternall rewards and punishments §. II. Of their Priests or Magicians THis is further confirmed by that which is written of certaine Magicians or Priests amongst them which perswade the people that they haue dealings with Spirits that by their meanes they haue their Roots and sustinance and may by them haue fortitude I saith Lerius was present at one of their Assemblies where sixe hundred were gathered together which diuided themselues into three parts the men went into one house the women into a second the children into a third The Cariabes forbade the women and children to depart their houses but to attend diligently to singing and we saith he were commanded to abide with the women Anon the men in one house fell to singing He He He answered by the women in the other with the same They howled it out for a quarter of an houre shaking their brests and foming at the mouth and as if they had had the falling sicknesse some falling downe in a swoune the Deuill in seeming entring into them The children also followed in the same harsh deuotions After this the men sung pleasantly which caused me to goe thither where I found them singing and dancing in three seuerall Rings in the middest of each three or foure Caraibes adorned with Hats and Garments of Feathers euery one hauing a Maraca or Rattle in both his hands These Rattles are made of a fruit bigger then an Ostriches Egge out of which they said that the Spirit would speake and they continually shooke them for the due consecration These Caraibes danced to and fro and blowed the smoke of Petum on the standers by saying Receiue yee all the Spirit of Fortitude whereby yee may ouercome your Enemies This they did often the solemnitie continued two houres the men ignorant of Musicke and yet rauishing my spirit with the delight I conceiued in their Song Their words sounded this that they were grieued for the losse of their Progenitors but were comforted in the hope that they should one day visit them beyond the Hils and then threatned the Ouetacates which dwell not far from them and are at enmitie with all their Neighbours as swift as Harts wearing their haire to the buttockes eating raw flesh and differing from all others in Rites and Language and now prophesied their destruction at hand Somewhat also they added in their Song of the floud that once had drowned all the World but their Ancestors which escaped by climbing high trees That day they feasted with great cheere This solemnitie is celebrated euery third yeere and then the Caraibes appoint in euery Family three or foure Maraca to bee adorned with the best Feathers and sticked in the ground with meate and drinke set before them and the people beleeue they eate it They minister vnto their Maraca fifteene dayes after which in a superstitious conceit they think that a Spirit speakes to them while they rattle their Maraca They were exceedingly offended if any tooke away any of this Prouision as the French sometimes did for which and denying other the Caraibes lyes those Priests hated them exceedingly Yet doe they not adore their Maraca or any thing else Peter Carder saith he could obserue no Religion amongst them but the worship of the Moone specially the New Moone whereat they reioyced leaping singing and clapping of hands Stadius tels as you heard that they ascribed his taking to the prediction of Maraca Hee tels of their consecration that the Paygi so hee cals them enioyne that euery one should carry their Tamaraka to the house where they should receiue the faculty of speech Euery ones Rattle is pitched in the ground by the steele or stalke and all of them offer to the Wizard which hath the chiefe place Arrowes Feathers and Eare-rings he that breathes Petum on euery Rattle puts it to his mouth shakes it and saith Nec Kora that is Speake if thou be within anon followeth a squeaking voyce which I saith Stadius thought the Wizard did but the people ascribed it to the Tamaraka Then those Wizards perswade them to make warres saying that those spirits long to feed on the flesh of Captiues This done euery one takes his Rattle and builds vp a Roome for it to keepe it in where he sets victuals requireth and asketh all necessaries thereof as we doe of God and these as Stadius affirmeth are their Gods These Paygi doe initiate Women vnto Witchcraft by such Ceremonies of smoke dancing c. till shee fall as in the Falling sicknesse and then hee sayth hee will reuiue her and make her able to foretell things to come and therefore when they goe to the Warre they will consult with these Women which pretend conference with Spirits Andrew Theuet which was in this Antarctike France with Villagagnon agreeth in many of the former Reports he addeth that for feare of Aignan they will not goe out but they will carry fire with them which they thinke forceable against him He writes that they acknowledge a Prophet called Toupan which they say makes it thunder and raine but they assigne no time nor place to his worship They tell of a Prophet which taught them to plant their Hetich or Root which they cut in pieces and plant in the Earth and is their chiefe food of which they haue two kinds The first Discouerers they much honoured as Caraibes or Prophets and as much haue distasted the Christians since calling them Mahira the name of an ancient Prophet detested by them But Toupan they say goeth about and reuealeth secrets to their Caraibes Theuet addes that they obserue Dreames and their Payges or Caraibes professe the interpretation of them which are also esteemed as Witches which conferre with Spirits and vse to hurt others with the poyson called Ahouay a kind of Nut. They doe a kind of worship to these Payages and will pray them that they may not bee sicke and will kill them if they promise falsly In their consultations they will prouide a new lodging for the Wizard with a cleane white bed and store of Cahouin which is their ordinary drinke made by a Virgin of ten or twelue yeeres old and of their Root-food into the which they conuey him being before washed hauing abstained nine dayes from his Wife Then doth he lye on that Bed and inuocate none being with him in the House and rayseth his Spirit called Hauioulsira which sometimes as some Christians affirmed to our Authour appeareth so as all the people may heare though they see him not And then they question him of their successe in their enterprises They beleeue the soules Immortality which they call Cherepiconare with rewards to the valiant Man-eaters in goodly Paradises and Agnans punishments to others But his boldnesse makes me the lesse bold in following him in these and other things which I
prophecying that they shall not bee mourned for They wash and paint the dead curiously and then couer him ouer with Cotton yarne and put him in a great vessell vnder the Earth that no Earth may come to him and couering this vessell with the Earth make him a House where euery day they carry him meate For when he is wearied with dancing say they hee comes thither to eate Thus for a certaine time they goe to bewaile him euery day With him they bury all his Iewels if any had giuen him a Sword or other thing now he challengeth his gift againe The mourners eat not but by night This mourning lasteth a Moone after which they make Drinkings but many after this will forbeare them They rule themselues by the Sunne and goe two or three hundred leagues thorow the Woods no Horse will hold out with them they feare no Sea being able to continue a night and a day swimming When they returne from victory their women receiue them with shouts and buffeting themselues on the mouth The Keeper appointed to the Captiue is one giuen him to be as his Wife for bed and boord Some of these are so resolute that they will not be ransomed saying it is a wretched thing to dye and to stinke be eaten of Wormes Sometimes their Keeper will run away with them When they kill a Captiue at their Feasts if hee fall on his backe it is an ominous signe that the killer shall dye which presages they obserue in other circumstances The taker hath a new name as a title of dignitie added to him and must be content to fill his fancie with this new Gentility for nothing is left him to fill his belly euery one taking from him that which he hath He stands all that day on certaine logges of the Tree Pilan with strange silence he is presented with the head of the dead the eyes pulled out his pulses annointed with the strings and sinewes and cutting off the mouth whole they put it in manner of a Bracelet about his arme Thus lyeth he downe in his Net fearing if all Rites be not accomplished that the soule of the dead will kill him Within few dayes after they giue him the habit razing his skin with the tooth of a Cutia in forme of some worke putting thereon Cole and juyce of Broome-rape he lying still certaine dayes in silence hauing water meale and fruits set neere him After this they make a great Feast and then may hee lay aside his mourning and cut his haire and thence forwards may kill any without any painfull ceremonie Abaetes Marnbixaba Moczacara are names of Gentilitie amongst them The Fryers haue obtained some good liking with the Brasilians for teaching their children to write reade and cipher the Iesuits will be of esteeme euery where yet two and fifty of them sayling from Lisbon to Brasil Anno 1570. by Frenchmen at Sea were taken and slaine In Marriages they abstaine sayth Lerius onely from Mother Sister and Daughter they obserue no Marriage-ceremonies but vpon consent of her friends and her owne take her home It is a credit to haue many wiues amongst whom is no Leah to enuie Rachels greater portion of loue the Husband may kill the Adulteresse but for their vnmarried Maydens they are not scrupulous Our Author hearing a woman cry in the night thought shee had beene in some danger of deuouring by a wild beast but found her Husband playing the homely Midwife to her in her trauell byting the nauel-string and pressing downe the nose The Father washeth and painteth him They vse to put to their male-infants little Bowes and Arrowes into one end of the bed and herbs at the other which are the Enemies his Son must be supposed to kill and eate chatting out their hope of the childes valour in being auenged when he shall be a man vpon his Enemies They name their children at aduenture by the name of a Beast Bird or otherwise as this Child was called Orapacon that is Bow and Arrowes The men are modest in accompanying with their Wiues secretly The women haue not the ordinary feminine sicknesse Lerius thinkes that humour was diuerted in their youth seeing the Mothers cut their Daughters side downe to the thigh at twelue yeeres of age But twice while he was there did he see any in priuate brawling or contention if such happens as they began so they are suffered to end it if any hurt or kill other he sustayneth the like in his owne person inflicted by the Kindred of the party wronged They haue their proper pieces of ground which they husband with their Rootes and Mais When they entertayne a Stranger the Moussacat or Good-man seemes to neglect him a while and the guest sits him downe silent on the bed the women sit by on the ground and hold their hands before their eyes weeping with many prayses that hee is a good man a valiant man that if he be a Christian he hath brought them fine Wares The Stranger must endeuour in some measure to imitate the like weeping gesture The Moussacat is all this while whitling his Arrow not seeming to see his new Guest till anon he comes And are you come sayth hee How doe you with many termes of his best Rhetoricke and then askes if he be hungry and if he be sets his cheere before him on the ground which kindnesse is repayed with Glasses Combes or the like They are very kind both to their owne and to such Strangers as they are enleagued with They would carry burthen or man for the space of some miles when they needed their loue and hatred are in like extremes the one to their owne the other to their Enemies They haue Physicians called Pages They vse much mourning at the death of any and making a round pit bury him vpright therein sixe houres after his death with that wealth they had In their Villages liue some six hundred persons they remoue their Villages often which yet carry the same name Stadius sayth there are few Villages of aboue seuen Houses but those Houses are a hundred and fifty foot long and two fathoms high without diuision into plurality of Roomes and therein liue many Families all of one Kindred What our Countrimen haue done on this Coast I referre the Reader to Master Hakluyts Discoueries The Iesuits first came into these parts Anno 1549. which whiles they sought to reduce the Brasilians from their Man-eating Feasts had like to haue kindled a dangerous contention betwixt them and the Portugals whereupon the Iesuits sought to bee permitted to speake with them whom they kept for the Boucan instructing baptizing them but then also they complained the flesh was distastfull they said vnto them so that the Iesuits being forbidden that by stealth with a wet cloth following them to execution would performe a kind of Baptisme and that also being espyed was prohibited Since which by schooling their children teaching them to reade and
put vpon him And when they had spent much reasoning about his ransome a Souldier named Soto of whom you haue heard in our History of Florida said vnto him Wilt thou giue vs this house full of Gold and Siluer thus high lifting vp his Sword and making a stroke vpon the wall Atabaliba answered that if they would giue him liberty to send into his Kingdome he would fulfill their demand Whereat the Spaniards much maruelling gaue him three monethes time but he had filled the house in two moneths and a halfe a matter scarce credible yet most true For I saith Lopez Vaz know aboue twenty men that were there at that time who all affirme that it was aboue ten Millions of Gold and Siluer That Spanish Captaine in Ramusius relateth that he promised to giue them so much Gold as should reach vp to that marke a span higher then a tall man could reach the Roome being fiue and twenty foote long and fifteene wide and the Gouernour asking how much Siluer he would giue he answered he would fill vp an inclosure which should be made there with Vessels of Plate for his ransome which was promised him This Captaine was appointed Guardian of that Golden roome and saw it melted and reckoneth vp the parcels and particulars that were brought in Vessels and Plates of Gold and Siluer And the Gouernour sent to the Emperor his fift part parted the rest to euery Footman 4800. pieces of Gold which make 7208. Duckets to euery Horseman twice as much besides the aduantages that belonged to any To Almagros company which were 150. that came after the victory hee gaue 25000. Pezos and gaue 2000. to the Inhabitants of Saint Michel Many other gifts hee gaue to Merchants and others and yet after the Gouernour was gone there was brought more Gold then that which had beene shared This also is affirmed by Xeres that ten or twelue dayes after Pizarro was gone the Spaniards which had beene sent to Cusco brought as much Gold which was taken from the wals of a House and Roofe of a Temple in Cusco being Plates of ten or twelue pound weight a piece and other like as amounted to two Millions and a halfe and being molten proued on Million 326539. Pezos of fine Gold and 51610. Markes of Siluer He addeth that Atabaliba was by sound of Trumpet freed from his promise but was kept still vnder guard for the Spaniards securitie Howbeit they killed him notwithstanding and in a night strangled him But God the righteous Iudge seeing this villanous act suffered none of those Spaniards to die by the course of Nature but brought them to euill and shamefull ends During the time of Atabalibas imprisonment his Captaines had taken his Brother Guascar who spake with Captaine Soto and promised that if they would restore him to his liberty and to his Kingdome he would fill vp the roome at Caximalca to the Roofe which was thrice as much as Atabaliba had promised and added that his Father Guaynacapa on his death-bed had commanded him to be friend to the white and bearded men which should come and rule in those parts Atabaliba hearing of these things fained himselfe sorrowfull for the death of Guascar whom he had heard that Quisquiz his Captaine had slaine this hee did to try how the Spaniards would take his death which when hee saw they little respected hee sent and caused him to bee slaine indeed This was done in the yeere of our Lord God 1533. He had before slaine another of his Brethren and drunke in his Skull as hee had sworne to deale with Atabaliba The Indians hereupon hid the Treasures of Gold Siluer and Gemmes that were in Cusco and other places and had belonged to Guaynacapa which were far more then euer came to the Spaniards hands Chilicuchima one of Atabalibas chiefe Captaines which visited him in his imprisonment with great reuerence for hee and the chiefe of his company laid burdens on their shoulders and so entred into his presence lifting vp both his hands to the Sunne with thankes to him for this sight of his Lord and then with much crouching kissed his hands and feet told the Spaniards that Quisquiz another chiefe Captaine had conueyed away those Treasures of Guaynacapa or Cusco the elder as hee cals him and being forced by torments of fire put to him confessed where Atabaliba had a Tent full of Plate and Treasure The Spanish Captaine which reports this saith that he saw a great house full of Vessels of Gold and other pieces as a Shepherd and his Sheepe all of Gold as great as the liuing which were not shared amongst them and he saw 10080. Pezos of the Emperours fifth part ouer and aboue that which Pizarro sent by his Brother so that both Caesar and Souldier were deceiued He heard Atabaliba say that in an Iland in a Riuer of Collas was a very great House all couered with Gold and the beames with all whatsoeuer in the house was couered with plates of Gold yea and the pauement also But in such a diuided State where were so many Indian Captaines of the Two Brethren Inguas the Spaniards being but a handfull and iealous of each other the Countrey being so wide and rich that they could not so much as see and take view of the same in short space there was easie opportunitie offered to conuey away the greatest part of their Treasures especially Religion adding a helping hand both to conuey and to conceale from them which thus spoyled their Temples Idols and Altars The Spaniards so abounded with Gold that they would giue 1300. one gaue 1500. Castilians or Pezos for a Horse 60. for a small Rondlet of Wine forty for a paire of shooes likewise a Sword and other things after the same rate and Debters sought out their Creditors with Indians laden with Gold from house to house to pay them They carried into Spaine one Vessell of Gold another of Siluer each sufficient wherein to boyle a Kow besides a huge Eagle and other like Images as an Idoll of Gold as bigge as a Childe of foure yeeres old Dâ—ums of Gold and at the conquest of Cusco Xeres tels of many Images of women of Gold and as great which they worshipped and diuers like of Siluer Sheepe also in like pourtrature of fine Gold all well wrought §. III. The Kings of Peru their originall proceedings and treasures THe quarrell betweene the two Brethren grew about their Inheritance Guascar succeeding his Father in the rest and Quito being assigned to Atabaliba who seizing on Tumebamba a rich Prouince prouoked his Brothers forces against him which tooke him prisoner But he escaping to Quito made the people beleeue that the Sun had turned him into a Serpent and so he escaped thorow a hole in the Prison and on conceit of this miracle drew them into armes against Guascar with which hee made such slaughter of his Enemies that to this day there are great
heapes of bones of the slaine he slue 60000. of the Canari destroyed Tumebamba and conquered as farre as Tumbez and Caximalca hee sent a great Army with Quisquiz and Calicucima two valiant Captaines with such successe as you haue heard against Guascar whom they tooke and by his direction slue Gomara attributeth the death of Atabaliba to Philippillus the Spanish Interpreter who to enioy one of his Wiues accused him of conspiracie against the Spaniards but Benzo with more likelihood affirmeth that Pizarro from his first taking had intended it For hee might haue sent him into Spaine as Atabaliba requested if he had feared such secret practices but his request and purgation were reiected and foure Negro's which hee vsed for that purpose strangled him at his command He had many Wiues whereof the chiefe was his Sister named Pagha He seeing the glasses of Europe maruelled much as before is said that they hauing so faire a thing would go so farre for Gold His Murtherers dyed the like bloudie ends Almagro was executed by Pizarro and he slaine by young Almagro and him Vacca de Castra did likewise put to death Iohn Pizarro was slaine of the Indians Martin another of the Brethren was slaine with Francis Ferdinandus was imprisoned in Spaine and his end vnknowne Gonzales was done to death by Gasca Soto dyed of thought in Florida and Ciuill Warres ate vp the rest in Peru Before the times of the Ingua's their Gouernment in these parts was as still it is in Arauco and the Prouinces of Chili by Cominalties or the aduice of many The Gouernment of the Ingua's continued betweene three and foure hundred yeeres although for a long time their Signiorie was not aboue fiue or sixe leagues compasse about the Citie of Cusco where the originall of their conquests began and extended from Pasto to Chili almost 1000 leagues in length betweene the Andes and the South Sea The Canaries were their mortall Enemies and fauoured the Spaniards and at this day if they fall to comparisons whether the Ingua's or Canari were the more valiant they will kill one another by thousands as hath hapned in Cusco The practice which they vsed to make themselues Lords was a fiction that since the generall Deluge whereof all the Indians haue knowledge the World had beene preserued peopled and restored by them and that seuen of them came out of the Caue of Pacaricambo and that they also were the Authors of the true Religion The first of these Ingua's was Mangocapa which came out of the Caue of Tambo six leagues from Cusco Of him came two Families the Hanancusco of whom came these Lords and the Vrincusco Ingaroca the first Lord was no great Lord but was serued in Vessels of Gold and Siluer And dying he appointed that all his treasure should be employed for the seruice of his bodie and for the feeding of his Family His Successor did the like and this grew to a generall custome that no Ingua might inherit his Fathers goods He built a new Palace In the time of Ingaroca the Indians had Images of Gold Yaguaraguaque succeeded Virococha the next successor was very rich Gonzale Pizarro with cruell torments forced the Indians to confesse where his body was for the report of the treasures buried with him the body he burnt and the Indians reserued and worshipped the ashes They tooke it ill that this Ingua called himselfe Viracocha which is the name of their God but hee to satisfie them said that Viracocha appeared to him in a Dreame and commanded him to take his name Pachacuti Ingua Yupaugui succeeded him who was a great Conquerour Politician and Author of their Ceremonies he raigned 70. yeeres and fained himselfe sent of Viracocha to establish his Religion and Empire After him followed Guaynacapa the Father of Guascar and Atabaliba which brought this Empire to the greatest height The Indians opened him after his decease leauing his heart and entrailes in Quito the body was carried to Cusco and placed in the Temple of the Sunne He was worshipped of his Subiects for a God being yet aliue which was not done to any of his Predecessors When he 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 offered themselues to death besides such as were appointed His treasure was admirable Hee vsed alwayes to haue with him many Oregioni which were his men of Warre and ware shooes and feathers and other signes of Nobilitie he was serued of the eldest Sonnes and Heires of all his chiefe Subiects euery one clothed after his owne Countrey Rite he had many Counsellours and Courtiers in differing degrees of honour Euery one at his entrance into the Palace put off his shooes and might not looke him in the face when they spake to him All the Vessels of his House Table and Kitchin were of Gold and Siluer and the meanest of Siluer and Copper for strength and hardnesse of Metall He had in his Wardrobe hollow Statues which seemed Gyants and were of Gold and the figures in proportion and bignesse of all the Beasts Birds Trees and Herbs in his Kingdome and of the Fishes likewise He had Ropes Budgets Troughs and Chests of Gold and Siluer heapes of Billets of Gold that seemed Wood cut out for the fire There was nothing in his Kingdome but he had the counterfeit in Gold Yea they say That the Ingua's had a Garden of pleasure in an Iland neer Puna which had all kind of Garden herbs flowres and trees of Gold and Siluer He had also an infinite quantitie of Siluer and Gold wrought in Cusco which was lost by the death of Guascar which the Indians concealed as is said from the Spaniards Xeres saith hee had three houses full of pieces of Gold and fiue full of Siluer and a 100000. Plates or Tiles of Gold euery of which weighed fifty Castlins What honors were done to him after his death appeares by that his golden Temple or Chappell where he was buried where hee had continuall attendance of Dancers and Musicians and such as stood with Fans to scarre away the Flyes When any came to see the Cacique they came first to performe their Ceremonies to this Image He had 200. children by diuers women Acosta sayth That he had descended from his owne loynes aboue 300. children and grand children When his Sonnes Guascar and Atibaliba were dead another of his Sonnes called Mangocapa continued the wars a while with the Spaniards and after retyred himselfe to Villa Bamba where he kept in the Mountaynes and there the Ingua's raigned vntill Amaro was taken and executed in Cusco Some remnants of them haue since bin christened The other Family of the Ingua's which descended of the first Mangocupa called Vrincusco had their successions also and Gouernment which here to discourse of were to my proposed scope impertinent Leauing therefore the Conquerours and Conquest of Peru let vs
receiuing cut in pieces giuing to euery man a portion which hee kept vntouched the whole yeere for a holy Relique esteeming that house in danger of Fire and Whirle-winds that is not preserued with this reserued piece of Cake They seemed sometimes to heare a voyce from their Zemes whether by the illusion of the Priests or the Deuill which the Priests interpreted by their behauiour for if they danced and sung all was well but if they went sorrowfully the people went forth sighing and gaue themselues to fasting euen to extreme faintnesse with weeping vntill they thought their Zemes reconciled In this Iland they had as many wiues as they were able to sustaine the Cacique Beheccius had thirtie two of which were buried with him perforce Some of them were addicted to lusts of Sodomie and others more if more may be vnnaturall Generally they were very luxurious both men and women yet they abstained from Mother Sister and Daughter other degrees they spared not thinking that such Incest would bring them to an euill death In their buying and selling they weighed not the worth of things but onely their owne fancie as we see in Children Theeues they cruelly punished empaling them on sharpe stakes aliue Touching the originall of man thus they fable There is in the Iland a Region called Caunana where they faine that Mankind came first out of two Caues of a Mountayne called Cauta and that the biggest sort of men came forth of the mouth of the biggest Caue and the least sort out of the least Caue this Caue they name Amaiauna the greater Cazibaxagua Before men might come out of the Caue the mouth thereof was kept and wa ched nightly by a man whose name was Machochael who departing further to looke abroad was by the Sunne the sight of whom he was forbidden turned into a stone They faine the like of others turned into trees for going so farre a fishing in the night that they could not returne before the rising of the Sunne A certaine Ruler also called Vagoniona sent one forth of the Caue a fishing who by the Sunnes surprisall was turned into a Nightingale which therefore in the night bewayleth his misfortune Vagoniona sore troubled with this losse leauing the men in the Caue brought forth the women and sucking children and leauing the women in an Iland of that Tract called Mathinino carried the children away with him which being oppressed with famine fainted and remayned on the bankes of a certaine Riuer where they were turned to Frogs and cryed toa toa as children with them vse to cry for the dugge And hence also come those pittifull cryings of the Frogs in the Spring-time As for Vagoniona he by speciall priuiledge was not transformed wandering in diuers places he descended to a certaine faire woman whom he saw in the bottome of the Sea and receiued of her bright plates of Laten and a kind of stones which their Kings greatly esteemed Another Caue they had for the former tale is endlesse as Superstition commonly is called Iouanaboina adorned with Pictures of a thousand fashions In the entrance were two grauen Zemes whereof one was called Binthaitel and the other Marohu Out of this Caue they say the Sunne and Moone first came to giue light to the World They made as Religious concourse to these Caues as they which goe on Pilgrimage to Rome Compostella or Ierusalem They had a superstitious conceit of their dead who they thought walked in the night and eate the fruit Guannaba which is like to a Quince and that they would deceiue women in taking the shape of men making as though they would haue to doe with them and suddenly vanish away If any feeling a strange thing in his bed made doubt whether it were a dead bodie he might be resolued by feeling on his belly because these Ghosts could take all other members of mans bodie but not the nauell as some with vs imagine that the Deuill can take the whole shape of a man onely his clawes excepted these dead men they say often met them by the way and if a man were not afraid they vanished but if hee were afraid they would assault him and many hereby haue beene taken with the losse of their limbes These Superstitions were left them by tradition in Rithmes and Songs from their fore-fathers which it was lawfull for none to learne but onely the Kings Sonnes They sung them before the people on solemne Feasts playing on an instrument like a Timbrel Their Boitij or Priests instruct them in these Superstitions these are also Physicians making the people beleeue that they obtaine health for them of the Zemes. They tye themselues to much fasting and outward cleanlinesse and purging especially where they take vpon them the cure of great men for then they drunk the powder of a certayne herbe which brought them into a furie wherein they said they learned many things of their Zemes. Much adoe they make about the sicke partie deforming themselues with many gestures breathing blowing sucking the forehead temples and necke of the patient sometimes also saying that the Zemes is angry for not erecting a Chappell or dedicating to him a Groue or Garden or the neglect of other holies And if the sicke partie dye his Kinsfolkes by Witchcraft enforce the dead to speake and tell them whether he dyed by naturall destinie or by the negligence of the Boitij in not fasting the full due or ministring conuenient medicine so that if these Physicians be found faulty they take reuenge of them They vsed in ministring their Physicke to put certayne stones or bones in their mouthes which if the women can get they keepe religiously beleeuing them to be profitable for them in trauell and honour them as they doe their Zemes. When their Kings dyed they buried the best beloued of their Concubines with them who also had other women buried for their attendants together with their Iewels and Ornaments They had in the Sepulchre beside them a cup full of water and some of their Cassaui-bread Hispaniola is sayth Herera in 19. degrees and an halfe hath ten Spanish Townes and hath sometime had in it fourteene thousand Castilians Ouiedo reporteth of a Huricano or Tempest which 1508. threw downe all the houses except some which were built of stone in Domingo and the whole Towne of Buona Ventura changed his name into Mala Ventura being hereby quite ouerthrowne Twentie Sayle and more were lost in the Harbour of Domingo Many men were lifted vp and carried in the Ayre many Bowshots some being thereby miserably bruised In Iuly the next yeere happened another more terrible then the former But now sayth hee these Huracanos are nothing so fierce since the Sacrament is placed in the Churches §. III. Of the Bermudas or Sommers Ilands HAuing thus wearied you wi h this long stay in Hispaniola by which yee may guesse of the neighbouring Ilands we will haste homeward and not touching in any Iland by the way for we
with English bodies the ground as fertile as any they say in the World Ambergreece Pearle Cedars and other vnknowne Timbers store of Whales and other Commodities which would bee tedious to rehearse which I hope and pray may further prosper to the profit of this and the Virginia Plantations From hence and thence I am now passing in an English Ship for England where to passe away tediousnesse of the Voyage I will entertayne my Reader with a Discourse of the more then tedious and fastidious Spanish cruelties CHAP. XV. Of the Spanish cruelties in the West Indies and of their peruerse Conuersion of the Indians vnto Christianitie FOr as much as the Papists doe vsually glory in the purchase of a New World vnto their Religion and would haue men beleeue that since this Scripture-Heresie hath made new Rome to tremble now no lesse then Hannibal did her Pagan-mother they haue a new supply with much aduantage in this Westerne World of America and they make this their Indian Conuersion one of the Markes of the truenesse and Catholicisme of their Church which hath gained if Posseuine lye not an hundred times as much in the New World towards the West South and East by new Conuerts as it hath lost in the North parts by Heretickes where through both the Hemispheres saith Hill these thousand yeeres nay as farre as the Sunne shineth there is no tongue nor people nor climate which hath not in some measure such a measure perhaps as he measured his truth and wit withall in this assertion the Catholike Roman Religion I would we could borrow the height of this Hill whereon to stand and ouer-view so many parts of the World yet vnknowne and learne of this Giant Atlas how easily may this Mute become a Liquid which beareth thus the Hemisphere of his Roman Heauen on his mounting shoulders a new Geographie But his impudencie is already sufficiently whipped and exposed to the Worlds derision by Him the neerenesse of whose presence doth now so much glad me after so long and farre a Pilgrimage His learned Pen hath shewed the like bold brags of Bristow and Stapleton his Masters and prooued them Fables For further confutation whereof it shall not be amisse to obserue the proceedings of the Spaniards in these parts And herein we will vse the witnesse of men of their owne Romish Religion Iosephus Acosta a Iesuite writeth that the Indians conceiue an implacable hatred against the Faith by the scandall of the Spaniards cruelties and that they haue baptized some by force Vega accuseth them of baptizing without making them know the faith or taking knowledge of their life And how could it otherwise be when we find it recorded of sundry of their Preachers that baptized each one of them aboue an hundred thousand and that in few yeeres In so much that as is storied by Surius it is to be found among the Records of Charles the fift that some old Priest hath baptized seuen hundred thousand another three hundred thousand Some of these were so good Christians that they still continued as Nunno de Guzman writeth to the Emperour the Sacrifices of humane flesh Ouiedo writeth that they haue but the name of Christians and are baptized rather because they are of age then for deuotion to the faith and none or very few of them are Christians willingly He that will read what they lately haue done in Spaine with the remnants of the Moores may perhaps satisfie himselfe with the reasons of Frier Fonseca in defence thereof But for the poore Indians Bartholomaeus de las Casas a Dominike Frier of the same Order with Fonseca and after a Bishop in America hath written a large and vnanswerable Treatise of the enormous cruelties and vnchristian Antichristian proceedings in the New World the summe whereof is this That the Indians were a simple harmelesse people loyall to their Lords and such as gaue no cause to the Spaniards of dislike till they by extreame iniuries were prouoked they are also docible and pliant both to good doctrine and liuing To these Lambes sayth he the Spaniards came as cruell and hungry Tygres Beares and Lions intending nothing those forty yeeres hee wrote this Anno 1542. but bloud and slaughter to satisfie their Auarice and Ambition insomuch that of three Millions of people which were contayned in Hispaniola of the Naturall Inhabitants there scarce remayned at that time three hundred and now as Alexandro Vrsino reporteth none at all onely two and twenty thousand Negros and some Spaniards reside there Cuba and the other Ilands had indured the like miserie and in the firme Land ten Kingdomes greater then all Spaine were dispeopled and desolate and in that space there had not perished lesse then twelue Millions by their tyrannie and he might truly say that fifty Millions had payed Natures debt In the Iland Hispaniola the Spaniard had their first Indian habitations where their cruelties draue the Indians to their shifts and to their weake defence which caused those enraged Lions to spare neyther man woman nor childe they ripped vp the great bellied women and would lay wagers who could with most dexteritie strike off an Indians head or smite him asunder in the middle they would plucke the Infants by the heeles from their Mothers brests and dash out their braines against the stones or with a scoffe hurle them into the Riuer They set vp Gibbets and in honour of Christ and his twelue Apostles as they said and could the Deuill say worse they would both hang and burne them Others they tooke and cutting their hands almost off bid them carry those Letters their hands dropping bloud and almost dropping off themselues to their Countrimen which for feare of the like lay hidden in the Mountaines The Nobles and Commanders they broyled on Gridions I once sayth our Author saw foure or fiue of the chiefe of them thus roasted which making a lamentable noyse the nicer Captaine bade they should be strangled but the cruell Tormentor chose rather to stop their mouthes so to preuent their out-cryes and to continue their broyling till they were dead They had Dogs to hunt them out of their couerts which deuoured the poore soules and because sometimes the Indians thus prouoked would kill a Spaniard if they found opportunitie they made a Law that a hundred of them should for one Spaniard be slaine The King of Magua offered to till the ground for them fifty miles space if they would spare him and his people from the Mynes The Captaine in recompence deflowred his Wife and hee hiding himselfe was taken and sent into Spaine but the ship perished in the way and therein that admirable graine of Gold which weighed in the first finding being pure so many thousand Crownes as in the first Chapter of the eight Booke is mentioned In the Kingdome of Xaraqua in Hispaniola the Gouernour called before him three hundred Indian Lords which he partly burned in a House and
to the Ilands for slaues at times in seuenteene yeers a Million of people But why doe I longer trace them in their bloudy steps seeing our Authour that relates much more then I yet protesteth that it was a thousand times worse Or what should I tell their sparing 〈◊〉 persons plucking the child from the brest to quarter it to his Dogs Torturing Kings with new deuices borrowed eyther from the Inquisition or from Hell Cutting off the nose and hands of men and women that liued in peace with them Selling the Father Mother Child to diuers places and persons Lying with the women as one of them bragged that being with childe they might yeeld more money in the sale How was Nature become degenerate in these prodigious monsters Euen the nature of things might bee abashed with the sense of this vnnaturall senselesnesse The Tygre would but deuoure his prey and not curiously torment it the Lion sometimes spares it nay their Dogges haue sometime beene lesse dogged then their doggish Deuillish Masters How may wee admire that long suffering of God that rained not a floud of waters as in Noahs time or of fire as in Lots or of stones as in Iosuas or some vengeance from Heauen vpon these models of Hell And how could Hell forbeare swallowing such prepared morsels exceeding the beastlinesse of beasts inhmanitie of wonted Tyrants and Deuillishnesse if it were possible of the Deuils But these you will say were Souldiers let vs leaue the Campe and looke to their Temples There perhaps you shall see their Priests reading praying and this they most glory of preaching to conuert the Indians by their word and workes Aske Colmenero a Priest of Saint Martha who being asked what hee taught the Indians said that hee deuoted them with curses to the Deuill and this sufficed if he said to them Per signin Santin Cruces You haue heard what good Diuinitie the Dominican preached to Atabaliba King of Peru which wanted not her wants of Millions by their cruelties as well as the former They teach them saith Acosta a few Prayers in the Spanish Tongue which they vnderstand not and they which are more painfull a Catechisme without explanation Their teaching is but a iest and shadow to get mony they follow dicing hunting whooring in so much that Baptisme is scorned and the Indians are forced to it against their wil◠and a sincere and vpright Iudge was wont to say that if hee came into Spaine hee would perswade the King to send no more Priests into America such is their dissolutenesse They had then indeed three Archbishopricks that of Dominico which had sixe Suffragane Bishops the second of Mexico which had 7. the third of Los Reyes to which were subiect three Bishops yet these teach the people vices by their practice and ill example insomuch that the Indians sayth Casas are of opinion that the King of Spaine which hath such subiects as the Spaniards shew themselues is himselfe most cruell and liues on mans flesh and that of all Gods the God of the Christians is the worst which hath so bad seruants longing for their owne Gods of whom they neuer receiued such ill as now by this of the Christians The Spaniards cannot endure the Indians to heare a Sermon thinking it makes them idle as Pharaoh said of the Israelites and captious they learne them Vsury lying swearing blasphemie and things repugnant to their nature Thus did a Cacique describe a Christian to Benzo by the vnchristian course of the Spaniards Christians sayth he looking Benzo on the face what are Christians They imperiously demand Maiz Hony Silke Rayment an Indian woman to lye with them they call for Gold and Siluer they will not worke are Gamesters Dicers Wicked Blasphemers Backbiters Quarrellers and concluded that Christians could not be good Benzo said that euill Christians did such things not the good ones hee replyed Where are those good for I neuer saw any but bad Hee was seuenty yeeres old and spake Spanish perfectly Benzo sayth that they would not looke on the Christians but curse them and as before is said called them Sea-froth Hee being very inquisitiue to see what they thought of our Faith reporteth that some of them taking a piece of Gold will say Loe heere the Christians God for this they kill vs and one another for this they play blaspheme curse steale and doe all manner of villanies A Franciscan publikely said that there was neyther Priest Monke nor Bishop good in all India and the Priests themselues will say they came thither for gaine A Caciques Sonne which was towardly in his youth and proued after dissolute being asked the reason thereof said Since I was a Christian I haue learned to sweare in varietie to dice to lye to swagger and now I want nothing but a Concubine which I meane to haue shortly to make me a compleate Christian These indeed are the Miracles that the Spaniards worke in the Indies sayth our Author I asked an Indian once if he were a Christian he againe asked me if hee should be the Bishops Groome a doozen yeeres to keepe his Mule Others of the Indians saue a little washing and some cold Ceremonies know nothing of our Religion You haue heard what Commerce and conference many of them were wont to haue with the Deuill and how the Spaniards haue taught them now to scarre him away with the signe of the Crosse And this is the report of a certaine Spanish Treatise of Prelates that the Deuill is now frayed away with the presence of the holy Sacrament of the Eucharist and of the holy Crosse weapons spirituall in pretence carnall in the inuention but neither preuayling like the spirituall which Paul mentions nor effecting so much as some say of those which are indeed carnall and wholly materiall Yea these thus vsed with deniall of the power of the Crosse and godlinesse are the Scepters of his Empire amongst them And for those carnall weapons which Paul disclaymed the Spaniards doe not onely acknowledge but glory off Nunno di Gusman auerreth in a writing to the Emperor that howsoeuer some find fault with their wars vpon the Indians so to bring them to the faith yet he accounts it a most worthy holy work of so great merit that in the seruice of God none can be greter The Indians haue liued at more quiet with the Spaniards since the King proclamed them free yet still hate them and for their Christianitie Franciscus à Victoria protesteth that it doth not appeare to him that Christian Religion had beene propounded in meete sort to the Indians Miracles he heard not of but on the contrarie scandals villanies and many impieties This is the Preaching and Conuersion the Romists boast of and gull our European World with musters of their Miracles and thousands of their Proselytes which we rather pittie then enuie How the case is altered since that new generation of the Ignatian
downe their wounds were bound vp they returned home with sowre faces and soare bodies a sufferance surely not inferior to a self-whipping no lesse meritorious no better grounded They haue al of them their Penates or houshold Gods which the chiefe of the Family as the eldest Brother keepes alwayes at his house for which they once a yeere make a Feast but the kindred being assembled eat it vp In Mariage it is the childrens dutie to attend vpon the Parents care who finding in their owne Tribe and as neere as they can in their own Kindred no degree of Consanguinity hindring but brother and sister a fitting wife for their sonne he though of full age submits his consent without seeing her accounting it vnreasonable to recompence his Parents care and trouble in his education with distrust of their proceedings in this point or to imagine his owne iudgement more or their circumspection lesse They giue no portions with their daughters but rather take for the Bridegroome or his Parents must giue Earings Bracelets and other Iewels according to her quality vnto the Bride two or three wearing clothes vnto the mother with some present to the father and then beare the whole charge of the wedding from which large expence it sometimes happens that want keeps many a long time vnmarried vntill their endeuours in the world hath supplyed them with meanes to defray the charge but this not hindring the richer sort they commonly marrie their children very young the husband fiue yeeres of age the wife not aboue three yeeres and many such couples haue I seene put together wherein the Parents conceiue they haue done an act of wonderfull prouidence in disposing of their children in their life time so endearing them to others care if they themselues should leaue them yet this young couple are presently separated vntill the man being 12. or 13. yeeres of age and the woman 10. or 11. they meet againe and become so well acquainted that many are mothers at 12. yeeres of age and some I haue heard no Virgins at nine to proceed of what yeeres soeuer they be whether thus young or full growne they are both in one Palamkeene with most of their friends about them carried about the most publike places of the Towne with Musick Fire-works and the dancing company of the Whoores who before euery great mans house make a stand participating their sports and from those houses receiuing gifts if from them they haue any dependencie or acquaintance then proceed vntill their progresse being ended they returne home where the Bramene attends them and separating them a cloth hung betwixt them he mutters none heares what Orisons whilest the marrying couple are taught to tread vpon one another bare feet so mingling legges and making these first short steps an introduction to their future better acquaintance the feast being finished which lasteth three dayes at the least the Kindred departing the Bride carried backe againe and if shee bee young reserued to more maturity howsoeuer she must backe againe for some time for when she once departeth from her friends she resideth alwayes with her Husband at his Fathers house if he be liuing if not at his eldest brothers if hee himselfe be not eldest for seldome doe brethren deuide themselues but all of them though many liue together in owne Family bringing their gaines whatsoeuer it is vnto the common stocke cherishing with an admired duty their old indigent Parents and liuing together in most commendable vnitie If the husband dieth the wife may not marry againe and which is most vnreasonable not the young ones though neuer knowne of man who happening to be widdowes in their infancy must not onely continue so but be made the drudge to the whole Family not permitted to weare their Iewels good or cleane clothes or vpon occasion to goe abroad at least vpon pleasure this with most of them together with a reuerend respect they beare to the reputation of their house mortifies thē after a strange manner yet some it cānot containe but they flie out forsaking their fathers house brand it with a lasting obloquy by their looser liues keeping themselues at distance for if conueniently their kindred would poyson them Their young children they neither christen circumcise nor vse other ceremony vnto but giuing them different appellations in their infancy which are commonly the names of their Idols they are knowne by them with the addition of their Trade Tribe of some defect or quality most eminent about them They come into the World without much trouble to their mothers for they are vp againe about their businesse in three or foure dayes some the same day they are brought vp with as little charge for many vntill they be seuen or eight yeeres of age foule not a clowt as cheape as they be but being young tumble in the dust and growne stronger walke still starke naked and if they bee foule two or three pales of cold water poured vpon their heads runnes downe their bodies and makes all cleane againe and thus are most children brought vp vntill they bee in some measure capeable to begin to practise in their fathers profession The best mens children may bee better lookt vnto but starke naked vnlesse vpon some Festiuall is the best and generall habit Full growne men and women are deuoutly and ciuilly clothed the women all ouer as you haue heard of the Whoores the men most of them from the middle downwards and on their shoulders a loose white Callico cloth in vse like our Sommer clokes sometimes a coate close to their bodies vnto the middle from thence downwards to their ankles full of cloth like to a paire of bases their haire long as womens bound vp and ouer it a Turbant , in their eares Rings of Gold with small Pearles and about their neckes a chaine of Ginetra or Siluer for few can attaine vnto Gold They are not black but tawny or rather a Wainscot colour some much whiter then other as some wainscot is newer or browner then other but many of them very wel fauoured streight limbde and in their acquaintance and conuersation kind and affable amongst whom our Nation hath during the time of their Residence with them found much good respect and little affront or iniury All Mechanicke persons whereof the multitude consisteth worke in their seuerall Trades for the same salary or little difference The Black-smith and Gold-smith makes Iron nailes and chaines of Gold for three pence a day finding themselues and is great wages to a master workman their seruants are paid with one penny and some lesse the like of all other Trades and persons for wee are serued faithfully and officiously in our houses for a Riall of eight a moneth without allowance of diet and the Porters which carry the Palamkeene haue no more yet out of this all pay somewhat to the Gouernour where they liue or doe his worke gratis from whence
Boare amongst them And heere I take leaue to repose hauing made this light discouery of the Countryes coasting this Bay of Bengali which I could not more exactly performe hauing taken my station in Musulipatnam Such as it is I submit it equally to all mens surueigh or censure and rest Pleased whosoeuer be otherwise Worthy Sir AS I haue begun and proceeded herein by your Instigation I present it to your acceptation if any thing be worth your account I dare iustifie the truth of it if nothing I shall neuer grieue at the suppression In briefe I wrote it for you and dedicate it to you and am only sorry it comes vnseasonably My Voyage into India remarkable in a Carracks losse and Captaine Iosephs death my Employment at Surat Cambaia and Amadera from thence at Callecut vpon the Coast of Malabarre at Priaman and Tecoo vpon Sumatra and then to Bantam and Iacatra vpon Iaua would afford more matter of discourse but I haue chosen Musulipatnam from which Centre I haue drawne these rude lines yet strait ones and parallel to the truth so that although none shall please to sayle by my Compasse yet am I sufficiently contented in hauing kept within compasse and so I rest a true louer of you and your elabourate Volumes W. Methwold FINIS THE SARACENICAL HISTORIE CONTAYNING THE ACTS OF THE MVSLIMS FROM MVHAMMED TO THE REIGNE OF ATABACEVS IN THE SVCCESSION OF NINE AND FORTIE EMPEROVRS Written in Arabike by GEORGE ELMACIN Sonne of ABVLIASER ELAMID the Sonne of ABVLMACAREM the Sonne of ABVLTIB AND Translated into Latine by Thomas Erpenius by his heires dedicated to the High and Mightie Prince FREDERIKE King of Bohemia Count Palatine of Rhene c. Out of whose Librarie at Heidelberge the Arabike Copy was borrowed Englished abridged and continued to the end of the Chalifa's by Samuel Purchas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 MOLLIA CVM DVRIS LONDON Printed by William Stansby for Henry Fetherstone and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Rose 1626. To the Reader THat which the Angell had foretold of Ishmael hee will bee a wild man his hand will be against euery man and euery mans hand against him and that his seed should not be numbred for multitude is in this History manifested to haue beene fulfilled to the vtmost Yea that which Saint Paul saith that Godlinesse hath the promises of this life and of that which is to come we see fulfilled in Abraham the Father of many Nations and in his two Sonnes Ishmael made a great Nation neuer did any Empire extend so farre But my Couenant will I establish with Isaac and in Isaac shall thy seed bee called Ishmael hath the greatest earthly Empire yet is in spirituall bondage withall Agars Children but Ierusalem which is aboue is free the mother of vs all which are the seed of the faith of Abraham which is the Father of vs all which as Isaac was are the Children of Promise But as then hee that was borne after the flesh persecuted him that was borne after the spirit euen so it is now in this Historie from the beginning of the Muslim Empire declared The bond woman and her sonne shall one day be cast out of the house for the Seruant abideth not in the house for euer but the Sonne abideth euer If the Sonne therefore shall make you free yee shall be free indeed The Earth is a small thing for God to giue he giueth it to Ishmaels seed his owne haue Himselfe their portion in the Sonne to redeeme them in the Spirit to sanctifie them in the Father to prouide for them the best things here and Heauen it selfe with God himselfe in Trinity and Vnity to be their portion for euer Enuy not their lot to those but pitty and pray for them that God may open their eyes which how they are misled with shewes of deuotion dazeled with lightnings of armes and blinded with night and Hell this History sheweth from Muhammed their first Seducer to the end of their Asian Chalifas Our Stories I confesse are full of Mahomet and Saracens but empty for the most part of things therein most remarkable whiles partly want of Arabike Books and Letters hath hindred vs from meanes of knowledge without that Key none can enter this Muhammedan Magazine and partly rash Zeale hath transported both Greeke and Latine Authours to say anything of these Locusts Mahomet and his Adherents without iudgement sometimes and very often without truth whereby we haue had passionate Inuectiues and crude Collections insteed of the Muhammedan or Islam History God needeth not mens lies nor piae fraudes to support his Truth and the way to ouercome euill is not with euill but with goodnesse The iustice of God scourging the world with the Saracenical Sword for their vniust contempt of the Gospel of Peace is seene in this Dragon-tooth seed of Muhammedans the Alphabet of whose Religion is written in bloudy Letters of forced faith The hypocrisie of Muhammed their Founder and other Propheticall Pretenders ambitious of Souereigntie with their vices are best gathered out of their owne Authors which though they stile their memory happy or glorious yet in relating their Arts and Acts doe sufficiently declare their impiety and impurity before God and Man Shewes of Religion in bodily exercises meere carkasses only Almes frequent Prayers if gestures and words be Prayers and Prayes were not the scope of their Prayers their externall iustice in many things their Learning in Philosophie Mathematicks and Poetry the length of an Empire in such space of time and place this inclusiuely from the East Indies to the Westerne Ocean without any interruption taking in also Spaine and part of France and Italy with Sicill and the Easterne Empire tributary that from Muhammeds time to the end of this Story yea still in the Mogoll Persian and Turke with the Tartars and many Princes of lesse note continuing in a larger extent the beginning growth height declining and fall of that Empire the aduancement hereof with the Sword which exposeth to slaughter or imposeth Tribute their diuisions into two Empires the Abasian Family ruling ouer Asia and Africa the Ommian in Europe and after into a third which held Africa and in time also possessed Egypt the rising of Lay Princes and degeneration of Chalifas to a kind of meere Ecclesiastickes and their fall by diuision of this triformed Cerberus into a multiforme Dragon in manifold States and Kingdomes These in a succinct narration by one which descended of Christian Progenitors was versed in Christian Stories aswell as his last professed Islamisme with more likelihood of truth and fulnesse of satisfaction to the Inquisitiue Reader then any then all yet published if I be able to iudge by any by all Latines or other Westerne Writers Erpennius hath her giuen and I abridged out of him conferred also and illustrated with Mirkond a Persian and Muhammedan his History set forth in Spanish
yeere Abutalib dyed addicted to the Religion of his people aged somewhat aboue eightie and the Coraisites were confirmed and their power and hope increased The same yeere the Prophet of glorious memory made an expedition to Taijfa and inuited the Inhabitants to Islamisme but they yeelded not to him and when hee had stayed there a moneth he returned to Mecca This yeere also he married the Daughter of Abubeer the Iust and Sewda the Daughter of Zamaa In the thirteenth yeere certaine of Awas and Chazraz viz. seuenty three men and two women came to him which were sworne to him concerning Islamisme and of these hee appointed twelue Doctors after whose returne to Medina Islamisme was spread amongst the Inhabitants thereof and they became his helpers The same yeere he commanded his to remoue to Medina and they all went thither except Abubeer and Ali which remayned with him The History of the departure to Medina IN the 14. yeere Muhammed of glorious memory remoued to Medina hauing with him Abubeer the Iust and Amar the Son of Kamra the Seruant of Abubeer And Abdalla the Son of Artacat guided them But Ali remained behind with his leaue three dayes to dispose his businesses and then came to him He entred Medina on Munday noone others say on Thursday the twelfth of the former Rab. and abode with Chalid Abiobi Sonne of Zeid till hee built the Temple and House into which he then entred And from this yeere is reckoned the computation of the Hegira which was the 54. yeere of the age of Muhammed of glorious memory The first yeere of the Hegira Ali the Son of Abutalib married Fatima The same yeere Muhammed of glorious memory gaue a white Banner to his Vncle Hamza this was the first Banner which he gaue to any and sent with him thirty Muslims but hee performed little In the second yeere was fought the second Battel of Badra and the greatest in which diuers valiant Leaders of the Coraisites were slaine on Friday the seuenteenth of the moneth Ramadan For he had heard that Abusofian the Sonne of Harith was going into Syria with many packes in which were monies of the Coraisites for the spoile whereof he went But Abusofian with his got to Mecca The Muslims were three hundred and nineteene in number the Infidels betwixt nine hundred and a thousand and the Muslims ouercame and slue seuenty of the vnbeleeuers and tooke as many But of the Muslims only fourteen were slaine There were other Battels also this yeere In the third yeere of the Hegira he besieged the Iewes in their Forts fifteene dayes and they yeelded hee captiued them and spoiled their goods The same yeere hee sent a band of men to slay Caab Sonne of Abrasaf a Iew. And that yeere was fought a Battell on Saturday about the midst of the moneth Siewal and the Hill neere Medina was taken The number of the Infidels was three thousand footmen and two hundred horsemen three thousand Camels and fifteene women Their Captaine was Abusofian Sonne of Harith The Muslims were a thousand these first had the better but after the Infidels which slue 70. Muslims amongst which was Hamza Sonne of Abdulmutalib This was an vnluckie day in which M. of glorious memory was also present in the Battell and was wounded by Ochas the Sonne of Abumugid and lost one of his right foreteeth and was hurt on the lower lip Abdalla also the Sonne of Siehab wounded his forehead his vpper iaw also was wounded and two of his foreteeth fell out Of the Infidels were slaine two and twentie In the fourth yeere happened the Battell of the Iewes Sonnes of Nadir which leauing their fortifications went out of their limits and came to Chaibar and some of them went into Syria Mundir Sonne of Omar the Saadite pursued them to the Well of Muauia with 70. Medinans and slue them all but Caab Son of Zeidi which escaped The last Battel of Badra was fought this yeere In the fift yeere was the Battell of Fossa or the Dike Many Nations were gathered together the Coraisites and the children of Coraid of Nadir of Gatfan and of Selim their Leaders were Habih Sonne of Ahtab Salam Sonne of Abulhakik and other Iewes And Ioseph Sonne of Harith came to lead the Coraisites and their followers with ten thousand men Ouer the men of Gatfan was Atibas Sonne of Hasan the Kararite and others Seliman the Persian was author of digging the Ditch The Infidels besieged them aboue twenty dayes after which Naim Sonne of Masud the Gatfanite embracing Islamisme procured the disioyning of those Nations and the breach of league twixt them and the Iewes They fled thence sixe Muslims and three Infidels being slaine In this yeere happened the Battell of the children of Coraid against whom Muhammed went forth and besieged them fiue and twenty dayes They were forced to yeeld to Saad Sonne of Maad who counselled to slay all the men and to make captiue the women and children so that sixe or seuen hundred were beheaded and buried in the Market place of Medina the Muslims sharing their wiues children and goods Saad dyed of a wound before gotten at the Dike-battell In the sixt yeere was ordayned the Prayer for obtayning health in Haditia and many Battels were fought amongst others that of the children of Mustalak whom he met in Safan With them was Giuweira daughter of Harith whom M. of glorious memory married in steed of dowry freeing diuers of her captiued Kindred This yeere also was fought the Battell of Haditia a place neere Mecca in the way to Giudda After that peace was made betwixt him and the Coraisites that for ten yeeres they might plow and it was free for euery man to take part with them or with M. on condition that if any Coraisite without leaue of his Captaine fled to M. he should bee sent backe but if any of M. his followers fled without leaue to the Coraisites he should not be sent backe to him If M. with his Souldiers should passe that way he might stay three dayes hee should vse no other Armes but those which Trauellers vse and that also in the Scabberds This truce was made by Sablum Sonne of Omar the Amirite and written by Ali Sonne of Abutalib of happy memory In that yeere he was inaugurated vnder a tree which after perished carried away by ouerflowing of waters as was reported In the seuenth yeere M. of glorious memory tooke to him a Pulpit And it is reported that his Wife said to him I haue a workman to my Sonne shall I bid him make thee a Pulpit He answered yea And he made him a Pulpit of wild Tamariske or as others say of white Tamariske it consisted of two steps and a seat Before this Pulpit was made when he prayed in the Temple he leaned on a prop of wood This Pulpit remayned to the Reigne of Muauias Sonne of Abusofian which added sixe steps to it and it was not altered after
Abdurrahman and his Army was a 100000. Hiagi and he made 81. fights in 100. dayes Abdurrahman fled and was taken at Sahan which Zentil hearing besieged Sahan and freed him Hee assembled sixty thousand men against whom went Iezid and ouercame them Abdulmelic Anno 86. made Walid partner of the league and dyed after hee had raigned one and twentie yeeres and fifteene dayes Walid his Sonne prayed for him He was very couetous and called Sweat-stone Hee dreamed that he had pissed foure times in the chiefe Temple consulting with Said Sonne of Musabbib he told him that foure of his children should reigne which came to passe in Walid Suleiman Iezid and Hisiam His Seale was inscribed I beleeue in God our Sauiour In his time Simon Syrus was the Iacobite Patriarke of Alexandria to whom the Indians sent to ordaine them a Bishop and Priests which he refused till the Gouernour of Egypt commanded him and then the Legate went to another which did it whence arose great stirres After him was Alexander which endured hard times Abdulaziz brother of Abdulmelic the Gouernour of Egypt exacted tribute of the Monkes of each a piece of Gold This was the first tribute exacted of them After his time Asama was more cruell killing and spoyling the people and branding the Monkes with an Iron Ring in their hands which round marke they which wanted had their hand cut off of whom was a number innumerable And whosoeuer trauelled without a Passe should pay ten pieces of Gold or be slaine which was exacted of a woman whose Passe was in her Sonnes hand whom as hee drunke of the Riuer a Crocodile carried away and she neuerthelesse was forced to sell her clothes and begge that payment But Asama was taken and died by torment of his iron coller and woodden fetters in the way at the command of Omar the Chalif But the persecution of Christians continued till the Raigne of Hisiam He writ for their liberty in their Rites and Priuiledges Iezid his Predecessor had razed their Crosses and Temples and commended them to Abdalla whom he sent Gouernour But he when he came into Egypt exceedeed his Predecessors doubled the tribute and caused their persons and beasts to bee numbred and branded the Christians with the figure of a Lion cutting off euery mans hand which was found without it Hisiam therefore deposed him and sent him into Africa where he did likewise whereupon the people rebelled and slue his Sonne whose heart and inwards they threw at the fathers head Walid was the thirteenth Chalifa sixth of the house of Ommia Sonne of Abdulmelic Sonne of Merwan Hee was surnamed Abulabbas Hee was created Chalifa on the day of his Fathers death In his time were atchieued great victories His brother Muslimas inuaded the Romans and tooke many captiues Catibas Sonne of Muslimas oppugned the Land of Baikend and Mauranahar besieged Bochara wonne Sogda Fargan and Bagras And when the Turkes were assembled the Muslims assaulted and tooke their chiefe City and got great wealth Catibas Sonne of Muslima made peace with the King of Chouarazma and hee built therein a Cathedrall Temple and set a Pulpit therein thence preaching on the Friday and prayed with the Muslims he burned also his Idols they were fastned with nailes of Gold weighing fifty thousand drammes Their tribute imposed was two thousand pieces of Gold yeerely After this hee went to Samarcand and Tooke it Muhammed Sonne of Casim conquered India and the Land of Sind or Indus and slue the King Daehar The same yeere Walid commanded the Temple of Damascus to bee builded and the Church of the Christians consecrated to Saint Iohn to be pulled downe He offered for the same forty thousand pieces of Gold which they refused and therefore hee destroyed it and gaue them nothing Twelue thousand Masons were employed in that building but Walid died before it was finished Foure hundred Chists each contayning fourteene thousand pieces of gold were bestowed thereon In it were sixe hundred golden chaines of Lampes the brightnesse whereof hindred men from praying which after were coloured with smoke and remayned to the time of Omar Sonne of Abdulaziz who put them in the Treasury and hanged iron chaines in their steed Corrah Sonne of Sieric was made Gouernour of Egypt in the ninetieth yeere a man manifestly impious which entred the Cathedrall Temple of Mithra with Ruffians and Gamesters and with them sate in the Chancell in time of Prayers Anno 93. Taric conquered Spaine and Toledo and brought to Walid the Table of Salomon Sonne of Dauid made of Gold and Siluer hauing three borders or rowes of Pearles Anno 94. a great Earthquake lasted forty dayes at Antiochia and ruined the Citie The same yeere dyed Zainulabidin Sonne of Husein Sonne of Ali Sonne of Abutalib which was Religious and Deuout and performed a taske of a thousand kneelings euery day for which cause he was called the Prayer He left children Zeid and Muhammed Abugiafar of happy memory Anno 95. dyed Hagiagi which is said to haue slaine 120000. men besides those which hee slue in warres and fifty thousand dyed in his Prisons besides thirty thousand women Eightie thousand he slue when he was full But his Dominion passed as if it had not beene and happy is he which doth good The same yeere Walid cast out of Damascus Ali Sonne of Abdalla Sonne of Abbas and commanded him to reside at Homaim where hee got aboue twenty Sonnes Anno 93. dyed Corrah Sonne of Sieric Gouernour of Egypt which builded at Misra the olde Temple Walid also dyed hauing raigned nine yeeres and eight moneths He married and put away many wiues hee is said to haue had sixty three and spent much on women and buildings He built the Temple of the Prophet and the Mansions adioyning and Omar the Gouernour of Medina was set ouer it Hee first built a Hospitall for sicke and strangers His Seale O Walid thou shalt dye and giue an account A.M. 6206. and seuenty nine dayes past Suleiman his brother was made Chalif the same day Catibas Gouernour of Chorasan inuited the Chorasans to depose him which refused and slue him Suleiman placed Iezid Sonne of Mahleb which obtained many victories tooke Taberistan and Giorgian slaying and spoyling innumerable Infidels and imposing tribute on the rest Suleiman sent his brother Muslima against the Romans which lay before Constantinople a Seed time and Haruest Asamas writ that the measure of Nilus at Hulwan was falne whereupon hee commanded that measure to be builded in the Iland betwixt the Riuers of Fustata and Gijza Anno 97. which still remayneth Anno 98. Muslima conquered the City Sacaliba and made himselfe Gouernour of it Suleiman builded Ramla and made Iob his Sonne partner of the league and he dying Omar Sonne of Abdulaziz Suleiman died Anno 99. and Omar prayed for him He was tall leane slender halting many-wiued and a Glutton euery day eating about a hundred pounds Hee was poysoned by procurement
possessed the Throne which Almahadi in a great battell recouered Anno 404. but lost it soone after with his life and Isen was restored Alhameri was made Alhagiber Viceroy The Countrey was spoyled and neere Corduba almost dispeopled by Barbarians Zuleman also and Almahadis Sonne in diuers parts doing much harme against whem Isen hired Earle Sarcius restoring six Castles to him which Almanzor had taken Zuleman wan Corduba and Isen fled into Africa Now was all in combustion Ali Alcazin Hyahye Cazim Mahomet Abderramen Mahomet Hyahya Iris Isen successiuely starting in and out of the Throne so that the Kingdome of Corduba failed and euery man made himselfe Master of his charge and vsurped what he could The Ommian Race fayling the Almorauides of Africa An. 484. possessed the Kingdome Ioseph Sonne of Tessephin being called to helpe one against the other and taking all into his owne dominion He made Morocco his Seat Royall Ali his Sonne succeeded and Tessephim his Sonne was deposed An. 539. The Almoades extinguished the Almorauides After many changes and chances the Realme of Granado was erected which continued aboue two hundred and fifty yeeres vnder these Kings successiuely Mahomet Alen Alhamar Mir Almus Aben Azar Aben Leuin Ismael Mahumet Ioseph Lagus Mahumet Mah. Guadix Ioseph Balua Ioseph Aben Azar Mah. the little Ioseph M. Aben Ozmen Ismael Muley Alboracen Mah. Boabdelin Muley Boabdelin expelled by Ferdinand and Isabella A. 1492. A Relation of the Kings of Barbary after the ending of the Egyptian Chalifas to the present Xeriffian Family taken out of a Spanish Booke of that argument ABtilhac was the first King Merin in Fez He had Sonnes A Bucar and Iacob Bucar the which Iacob was Lord of Ramatto and Abtilhac left his Kingdome in his life time to his Sonne Bucar Bucar had for Sonne Yahia This Bucar ouercame King Abtolcader and dyed in the battell and he said Yahia was King vnder protection of his Vncle Iacob which was Lord of Ramatto Yahia dyed a child without issue and the said Iacob Bucar his Vncle remayned King which afterward caused himselfe to be called Muley Xeh which signifieth old King This King built new Fez which is called the white Citie hee ouercame Budebuz King of Marweccos and sometimes was Lord of Tremesen Tumbe and Sojumenza and in the yeere of our Lord 1264. he entred Spaine being called by the King of Granado Hee had three Sonnes Abuçait Aben Iacob and Aben Iucef Abuçait Abuçayt after that his father had gained Tremezen was left for King there he had one Son a child whose name is not knowne and Abuhamo begotten vpon a Christian woman Abuçait reigning in Tremezen his father Iacob Aben Iucef dyed and his younger Son Aben Iacob reigned in his steed in Marweccos Sojumenza and Algarue and besieged Tremezen against his brother Abuçait and the said Aben Iacob left two Sonnes Abucale and Aliborregira which afterward was drowned by Aborabec Abucalec the eldest Sonne of Aben Iacob had a Sonne called Abuhumer who dyed and was neuer King himselfe But left two Sons Botheyd and Aborabec both which were Kings Abuçait dying at the end of foure yeeres left as I said before two Sonnes the eldest for vnderstanding we call the Old who reigned a yeere and a halfe after the death of his father and dyed without issue and Abuhamo which afterward was King in his steed The foresaid child being dead his brother Abuhamo reigned in his steed who afterward was called Abuhertab and his Vncle Aben Iacob besieged him in Tremezen seuen yeeres after whose death the siege was raysed and the said Abuhamo afterward with the ayde of D. Iayme of Aragon gained Ceuet in the yeere of our Lord 1310. After that Aben Iacob was dead his Sonne Abucalee tooke possession of the new Citie but his Vncle for hatred that he bore him caused them to receiue for King Botheyd who was Sonne vnto Abuhamer that dyed and neuer had beene King himselfe and the said Botheyd pursued Abucalee and slue him and reigned after him Botheyd after that his Vncle had saluted him for King dyed without issue After that Botheyd was dead the Christians raysed his brother Aborabe for King Then the Moores would haue had Ali Berregira King younger Sonne to Aben Iacob which was the sixt King and so after much warres betweene them at length Aborabee ouercame him and commanded him to bee drowned And after Aborabee had reigned two yeeres he dyed without issue After Aborabee dyed his great Vncle Aben Iucef Abuçayt was made King in Fez hee had two Sonnes Abohali and Abuhaçen This Aben Iucef Abuçait gained many Cities in Spaine in the yeere of our Lord 1318. and 1322. Albohali wounded his father in the warres and made himselfe to bee called King of Fez and his father being sicke besieged him and they came to agreement that his father should giue him Sojumensa and the halfe of the treasure of Fez and his father should remayne with Marweccos Algarue and Fez The said Albohali had two Sonnes Buzayn and Bahamon Albuhazen was receiued for King in the life of his father for his brother Albohali was disinherited for wounding his father This Albuhaçen had three Sonnes Abtulmalic Abtolrahmin and Abuhenan he was King of Fez Marueccos Algarue Sojumenza Tremezen and Tunes Abtulmalic was King of Algezira he past into Spaine in the yeere of our Lord 1340. and was ouercome by the Christians which they call La victoria del salido and in the warres of Xeres hee dyed Abtolramin his other brother rose with the Citie Mequines and his Father cut off his head Abuhenan rose with the Kingdome of Fez and fought against his father Albuhaçen ouercame him he made in Fez the Colledge which is called The Colledge of Abuhenan He had three Sonnes Muley Buçayt and Muley Zaet and Iacob Abuçayt sent his brother Zaet to succour Gibraltar who was taken Prisoner by the Kings of Granada and Abuçayt was killed by his owne subiects leauing one Sonne called Abtilhac Zaet vnderstanding the death of his brother got liberty and ayde of the King of Grada and recouered Fez After the death of Zaet Abtilhac Sonne of Abuçayt was King who was slaine by treason by one of his owne subiects who thought to vsurpe the Kingdome but Zaet Benimerine next heire vnto Abtilhac recouered it againe by force of armes within few moneths and put to death the Vsurper Zaet left for heires two Sonnes Muley Mahamet and Muley Nacer Muley Mahamet succeeded his father in the Kingdome and had two Sonnes to wit Muley Ahmat and Muley Naçant Muley Ahmat succeeded his father and had one Daughter called Lalalu which was forced to marry with the Xarife and dyed without issue for griefe of the death of her father and three Sonnes Muley Bucar which dyed in the warre when King Buhason recouered Fez and Muley Muhamet and Muley Alcasery which was King vpon conditions in the absence of his
father and brethren when they were Prisoners fiue yeeres in the hand of the Xarife Muley Buhason was King of Velos de la Gomera and after that Fez was lost by Ahmat hee by the ayde of Salharaes Gouernour of Argiers recouered it againe hee was slaine by treason by one of his Guard in a battell against the Xarife He left three Sonnes Muley Naçar a Bastard and Muley Mahamet which was his eldest Sonne legitimate and Muley Yahia which yet liueth Muley Mahamet succeeded his father but was presently forced to flye leauing the Xarife in possession of all his estates and dying within few yeeres left one Sonne a child called Muley Halal which is this present pretender Muley Halal being a child was carried to the Mountaines of Tarudante beeing named for King but being not able to recouer his estate nor able to resist the power of the Xarife he fled into Christendome where he yet remayneth together with his Vncle Muley Yahia who being Sonne vnto a Christian woman fled presently into Christendome with his mother when his father King Bahason was slaine as aforesaid FINIS AN ALPHABETICALL TABLE OF THE PRINCIPALL THINGS CONTAYNED IN THIS WORKE A AArons Priesthood 121. 122. Abares a Scythian Nation 363 Their descent Habitation ibid. Abas the Persian King 386. 387. An appendix touching him out of Sir Anthoney Sherley 388 389. seq His dealing with the Turke and Christians and Iesuits lyes of him 394. 395 Abasian Line of Chaliphas 235 Abassia vide Aethiopia Abasens 225 Abasian Chaliphaes 236 Abassine or Abissine why so called 734. and Elhabaschi ibidem Their Language and Arabian Ofspring ibid. They know not the ancient Letters in the Aethiopian Monuments 237 The seuerall Countries of Abassia 749. Riuers Lakes ibid. Soyle Fruits Creatures 750. Customes priuate and publike 751. Their estimation of blacke 721. Their present miseries 752 Abdalla Father of Mahumet 241 245 Abdalmutalif Mahumets Master or as some say his Grandfather 241 Abdimelec 234. His acts ibid. Abdul Mumen 692. He intituled himselfe the Prince of Beleeuers ibid. Abed Ramon his Acts 234. 705 Abels Sacrifice respected how 28 Abbies built in Turkie 282. 308 in Iapon 597. 598. vide Monasteries Abis a strange accident there 225 226 Abraham his supposed Martyrdome 45. Cast into Prison and banished 52. Inuenter of Astrologie 55. His Temple and Well 64. His Letters 82. An Idolater 95. His History and others testimonies of him 95. 96. His yeeres reckoned 153 His supposed Booke 162. Posteritie by Keturah 224. 270. Saracens dreames of him 264 254. 269. Postellus his like conceit 642 Abram King of Acem 612. 613 Abydus a place in Mysia where was a famous Temple of Venus in remembrance of their libertie recouered by an Harlot 334 Abydenus his testimony of the Floud 34. Of the Arke 35. Of Nabuchodonosor 49 Accaron and the worship there 81 136 Acen Achin Achi or Acem in Samatra the History of their Kings 612. 613. The Kings Letter 614. His cruelties 615 Achilles worshipped in Leuce and tales of his Temple 399 Achmat or Achmet the Great Turke 228. 229. 288. 289 Sultan Achmets Person Family Gouernment and greatnesse of State 288. sequitur 291. 292. 293. Hee reigned about fifteene yeeres 293. 294 Acra Aelia 94 Acusamil 885 Adam greatest Philosopher 14. 18 Adams Hill in Seylan 17 Adam his generall and particular calling 20. His happinesse before his fall 18. 19. His many sinnes in the fall 21. 22. Nakednesse Punishment 22. 23. First and second Adam compared 24. His sinne how ours 25 Adam taught by God taught his children to sacrifice 27. 28. Supposed to liue and dye at Hebron 29. Mourning for Abel ibid. The conceits of Zabij touching him 52. His buriall 53. Iewish Dreames of Adam 160. 178. 205. Taught by Raziel 161. His Cellar Mahometicall Dreames of him 252. 253. seq Adam acknwledged by the Bramenes 547. 548 Adam Baba in Zeilan 277. Their fancies of him ibid. Adams viz. William Adams his trauels and voyage to Iapon 588. 589. seq Adad Assyrian God 66. The Sun ibid. Adadezer K. of Aram Zoba 73 Adega Mahomets Wife 241 Adel and Adea their situation and description 754 Adiabena a Kingdome in Assyria 35. 63 Adona a name of God what it signifieth 4 Adonis Fable Feasts Rites and Riuer 78. 79 Adrian Emperour 72. Founder of Aelia 142. His testimonie of the Aegyptians 626. His destroying of Antinous 646 Adriaticke Sea which so called 575 Adrimachidae their habitation Rites 667 Adultery how punished by the Iewes 99. 205. By the Arabians 238. Alcoran 251. Tartars 416. Pataneans 495. 496 In Bengala 509. Of the Bramenes 547. Turkes 299. In Guinea 717. In Aethiopia 739. Madagascar 799. Florida 851. Mexico 877. Nicaragua 888. In Brasill 918. In Iapan 560. 591. In Iaua 611. 612 Adultery how esteemed by the Arabians 228. How tryed at Guinea 716. 717 Aelia Capitolina 93 Aegyptians first Authors of Idolatry 631. Worshipped men vnder other names ibid. Conuinced by Abraham 95. Conquered by the Saracens 657. By the Christians and by Saladine 657. By Selim 283. 284 Aegypt why so called Aegypt and Mesre and other names 626 How bounded and a discourse of Nilus 627. The number of Aegyptian Cities and workes of their Kings Cham and Chemmis 630. 631. Their Temples and exceeding summes whereto they amounted 631. Sesostris and other Kings 632. Pyramides the Labyrinth Sphynx Lake Meris and their Sepulchres 633. 634. Their Osiris Isis Orus and other Legends 635. 636. The Land diuided to their King Priests and Souldiers ibid. Their baudy orders and beastly Deities 636. Reasons of Religion to Beasts 637 Mysticall exposition ibid. Their worship water fire a man the Beetle 635. 637. Manifold mysteries ibid. Hermes Trismegistus 637 Hierogliphicks ibid. their Idols how deified ibid. their Apis and other Beasts deified or sacred how nourished and respected 638. Cost bestowed on the Funerals of them 639. Description and consecration of Apis ibid. His History and Mystery 639. Other Oxen worshipped ibid. How they respect Beasts in these dayes 640. What beasts fishes fowles generally What in seuerall places worshipped ibid. Meats prohibited amongst them 641. Serpents Farts c. Worshipped ibid. Their Sacrifices Circumcision and Swine 642. 643. Their manner of tillage or sowing the ground ibid. Their Oaths Priests Magicke and Sacrifices 643. Gymnosophists Sanctuary Feasts ibid. The Oracles and Knauerie of Isis Priests 643. Their inuentions and conditions 644. 645 Rogues why called Aegyptians or Gypsies 646. Acts of the Persians in Aegypt 647. Their Greeke Schooles and Librarie 648. 649. Deuotions and Temples of Serapis 650. Knauery of Tyrannus 651. The acts of Romans Iewes Saracens in Aegypt 652. The building of Cairo 654. The state of it and Alexandria 655. Present Aegyptians 656. Diuers successions and alterations in Aegypt ibid. Her Sects 657. Mamalukes maruellous actiuitie ibid. Christians there 658. Their Chronologie 660. 661. Ancient Kings 662. Who reigned when Moses passed the Red Sea 663. Chalifas 664. Mamalukes
Casangae Songus Imperiall Citie of Negros Burami Bijagi Beafares Guinala Biguba m Mina 1485. Capi. a Some need Vizors to hide 〈◊〉 not blushing Cumbae b Lib. 7. c. 10. c Cadomosto a Barrius decâ—â— l. 3. c. 8. Maffaeus hist Ind. l. 1. saith that Senaga and Gambea were by the Ancients called Stachiris and Daranus This name Senaga was giuen by reason that the Prince was so called b 1455. c Hak. tom 2. d Mâ—ff lib. 1. Bar. Dec. 1. l. 1. C 6 7 8. e Al. Cadam h Likewise Cape Sierra Liona is so called of the Lion-like terrour thereof alwayes couered on the top with cloudes which yeeld dreadfull thunders and lightnings It seemes to be the same that Ptolemie and Hanno call the Chariot of the Gods G. Bot. Ben. i Cademosto apud Ramus Nouus Orbis c. pag. 47. k Pietro de Sintra l The Hollanders were entertained of a King in Guinea but very miserably an old woman naked three times went about the Captaine with certaine murmuring words cast ashes on his clothes The Nobles about the King were naked Hol. Nauig 1599 u The Guineans esteeme well of the French ill of the Flemish and not well of the Portugals Arthus Hist Ind. Or. c. 9. x Th. Windham Anto. Pinteado See Hak. Voyages Tom. 2. part 2. x Th. Windham Anto. Pinteado See Hak. Voyages Tom. 2. part 2. y Iohn Lock z W. Towerson a Iames Welsh b Will. Rutter George Fenner Anthony Ingram c Description of Benin by D.R. d Ant. Ienkinson Hak. To. 1. Those wormes come out of their legs or some fleshie part e Gotard Arth. Dant Hist Ind. cap. 9â—ud â—ud Orient part 6. de Bry. f Got. Art c. 10. 11 12 13. g Description of Guinea The creatures in Guinea * Alex. problem lib. 1. 2 Coel. l. 16. c. 15. a A description of Guinea 1600. in a Ducth Booke b Fetisso is the name of their Idols c. Education of their Children Their women in Guinea Their ornaments Their bread Their dyet Drinking See windes * The Religion of the Guineans Tuesday Sabbath they call it Dio Fetissos * The Bird Pittoie Funerall rites a This drinke they call Enchienbenou Their King b His Throne and Scepter c His children d Successour e Their trials in Law f Execution Promises or Oathes Barrer Epist. Phillippi Leonia Lit. Feb. 5. 1606 a At the first comming of the Portugals all these parts were Ethnikes with some little Saracenicall aspersion amongst the Ialophs Berbecines Mandingae which now are all Mahumetans * Leo lib. 7. Salt deare b Pory in translat Ro. c. Historie of Barbarie c Hak tom 2. Madoc d Leo lib. 7. e Euen our Ancestors the Saxons had no surn mes but by some accidents as White Long Short c. And the Normans brought ouer their customes of naming men by the place of their habitation as the Towne Oake Style or their Occupation And in ancient Writings few proper names but their Christian may bee found So the Roman Crassi Nasones c. Vid. Camb. Rem Versteg Antiq. Lamb Peramb of Kent * Strab. l. 17. c F. Aluare cap. 30. 137. b G Bot Ben. c Ortel Theat e Sanutus lib. 7. f Theodect apud Strabonem l. 15. Plin lib. 2. c. 78. Macrob. in som Scip lib. 2. c. 10. Alexan Probl. 2 saith that the heate of the Sun brings the naturall heate into the outward parts and therby maketh them black of hue and fearefull of heart more easily die of a Feuer then others lib. 1. Caelius Rhod. hath a long disputation therof lib. 10. ca. 15. but all his reasons may as well conclude of America which yet are not blacke Odoardo Lopez P. Pigofetta in the storie of Congo deny the Sun to bee the cause Ramusius in his Discourse of the Red Sea attributeth the colours of the people to the differing scite of places as of Mountaines low wet dry c. Some tel a tale of Chams knowing his Wife in the Arke whervpon by diuine curse his sonne Chus was black with all his Posteritie h Vnuâ— sidici potest vnissimus Bernard i Vid. Poly. olb k Iohn 17.22 l Apoc. 7. 14. a The falls of Nilus downe from steepe Rocks b Aethiopia dicta à Coryneta Aethiope Vnicani F. N com l. 2. c Lydiat in emend Temp. d Plin. l. 5. c. 8. e Osor de rebus gest Emanuelis lib. 4. f Herod l. 7. g Euseb Chron. in A.M. 3580. h Pausan l. 6. in fine i Philostrat. l. 3. de vit Ap. k Io. Ant. l. 1. c. 6 l Gen. 10. Vide Annot Tremel Inn. m Num. 12. Exod. 2. n F. Vatablus in Num. 12. o Genebr Chro. pag 71. p Aethic. cum Simleri notis q Aug de Mirabil sac Scripturae l. 1. r F. Ribera com in Sophon c. 3. Lyra in Gloss Num. 12. Caluen in comment Num. 12. Chytraeus in Onomastico Å¿ Ios. Ant. l. 2. t Gibins in Gen. 2. q. 6. v. 5. u Iun. in Gen. 2. Praelectionib. x Ptol. l. 4. c. 6. 7. y Maginus z Hom. Odyss in initio a Strab. l. 1. per totum b Ptol. l. 4. c. 7. Dom. Niger Aphric com 4. c Ortel Thesau d Mercat Tab. vniuersalis Porie before Leo. e Ortel Theat Maginus Description of the World f G. Bot. Ben. Io di Carros g F. Luys histor de Ethiopia h Dom. Niger i Strab. l. 17. k Scal. Em. T. pag. 638. l Step. in dictione 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 m Vide Munster in fine l. 6. n 2. Thes. 2.12 o This reporteth Cicero in som Scip. cals these falls Catadupae p Ioan. Bermudesius in Legat. Aethiopica q Strab. l. 17. r Procop. de Bello Persuo l. 8 Å¿ Plin. l. 5. c. 8. 6. c. 29. t Iouij Girauae Marmolij c. Opiniones lege apud Ortelium in Thesauro u Heliodor hist. Aethiopica l. 10. x Lucanus y Niger com Apb. 4. z Eusebius a Strab. l. 17. It was before called Saba saith I. Antq. l. 2. b Pausan l. 1. c Herod Thalia l. 3. d Pomp. Mel. l. 3. 1. 10. e Valer Max. f Luys de Vr. hist de la Aethiopia l. 1. c. 2. g Cael. Rbod l. 10 h Beros Metasihenes Cato Manetho c. i F. Luys l. 1. c. 3 k Ios. an t l. 2. Zon Annal. to 1. Cedren l Num. 12.1 m Hector Boet. hist Scot. n Suidas o Plut. de Flum p F. Luys q 2. Chron. 14.9 r 2. Kings 19. Å¿ Ribera in Soph. 2. t Lauat in Ez. 30. Est 8. u Agath ap Phot. 250. a Phil. Melanct. in Epist. ad Operium b Sir P. Sidney c Heliod histor Aethiop l. 9. 10. d Our English and the German Histories mention the like cleering of Adultery by going with bare feet on burning plow-shares Bale e Philost de vita Apollonque lib. 6. cap. 4. f Hom. Isiad Lucian de
agonie tooke his knife so left and thrust into his heart This their grace is long containing a commemoration of the benefits vouchsafed their fore-fathers and a prayer for regranting the same to send Elias and the Messias and that they may not be brought to begge or borrow of the Christians and for his blessing vpon all that house c. whereunto is answered with a loud voyce Amen and they say to themselues Feare the Lord yee his Saints for they that feare him haue no want the Lions lacke and suffer hunger but they which seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good and while this is said there must not a crumme bee left in their mouthes The prayers must bee in that place where they haue eaten or else they shall lose the benefit of buriall and a certaine deuout Iew in the field remembring that he had forgotten his grace returned backe to the house and there performing his dutie had miraculously sent vnto him a doue of gold In Cities where are Synagogues about fiue in the afternoone their Clerke or some such officer goeth about and with knocking at their doores giues them notice of Euening prayer thither being come they sit downe and say this prayer of the first word called Aschre Blessed are they which dwell in thy house praising thee continually Selah Blessed are the people that are thus blessed are the people whose God is the Lord I will magnifie thee O God my King c. all that 145. Psalme throughout hee which saith this Psalme thrice a day shall haue his portion in eternall life Then the chiefe Chorister or Chanter singeth halfe their prayer called Kaddesch and then all say those eighteene prayses mentioned in Morning Prayer Then goeth their Chorister out of his Pulpit and kneeleth downe vpon the steps before the Arke and falleth downe with his face on his left hand all the people doing likewise saying O mercifull and gracious God I haue sinned in thy sight but thou art full of mercy be mercifull vnto me and receiue my prayer proceeding from an humble heart Reproue mee not O Lord in thy wrath nor correct mee in thine anger and so proceedeth through that whole sixt Psalme his countenance couered and inclined to the ground This is done in imitation of Ioshua Then the Praecentor or chiefe Chorister againe rising vp saith And we know not what to doe but that wee direct our eyes vnto thee And then they say vp the other halfe of their Kaddesch and so endeth their Euensong Now should they goe home and after supper returne to performe their Night-deuotions but because a full belly would rather be at rest and might easily forget his dutie after some pawse and stay they proceed before they goe to their other taske and in that time of pawsing betweene their vespers and nocturnes if there bee any strife betweene any and reconciliation cannot be made then hee which cannot reconcile his neighbour goeth to the common prayer-booke and shutting it knocketh thereon with his hand saying anikelao I conclude the businesse as if he should say I conclude praying till mine aduersarie be reconciled to me vntill which thing be effected they may not pray further and so sometimes their prayers are intermitted then and diuers dayes together if one partie will be stubborne These prayers are for substance much like the former as against the Christians and for their owne restitution by their Messias They depart out of the Synagogue with repetition of those sentences mentioned in the former Chapter At Supper they behaue themselues as at Dinner Going to bed they put off the left shooe before the right their shirt they put off when they are couered in their beds for feare of the walls beholding their nakednesse Hee that maketh water naked in his chamber shall be a poore man and the prayer Heare Israel must be his last words on his bed and sleeping on the same as in Psal. 4.5 Speake in your heart on your bed and bee silent Selah If hee cannot by and by sleepe he must repeat it till hee can and so his sleepe shall prooue good to him The bed must be pure for how else should they thinke on the name of GOD And it must be so placed that they must lye with their heads to the South their feet toward the North for by this meanes they shall bee fruitfull in Male children They haue also their Chamber Morals instructing of duties betwixt the Man and Wife vnmeet for sober and chaste eares T is time for our Pen to sleepe with them and end this Chapter CHAP. XVII Their weekely obseruation of Times viz. Their Mundayes and Thursdayes and Sabbath §. I. Of their Mundayes and Thursdayes HItherto haue wee heard of their prayers euery day obserued They haue also their times designed to the reading of the Law In the Talmud is reported that Ezra in the Babylonian Captiuitie was Author vnto the Iewes of ten Commandements First that on the Sabbath secondly on Munday and Thursday with singular solemnitie some part of the Law should bee read thirdly that Thursday should be Court or Law-day for deciding controuersies fourthly that it should bee a day of washing sweeping and cleansing in honour of the Sabbath fiftly that men should then eate Leekes the sixt that women should arise and bake their Bread so earely that at Sunne rising they might giue a poore man a piece of bread the seuenth that they should for modesties sake gird their Linnen to them the eighth that in the Bathes they should combe and part their haires verie carefully the ninth about selling their commodities to Marchants and buying womanly ornaments for the honour of their feasts and pleasing their husbands the last is of cleansing after vncleane issues Their learned men confirme this institution of Ezra by authoritie of Scripture They went three dayes in the desart and found no waters By waters they vnderstand the Law For so it is said Esay 55.1 Come yee to the waters that is to the Law and therefore they ought not to let three dayes passe without some solemne reading of the Law Munday and Thursday are chosen to bee the dayes because on Thursday Moses went the second time into the Mount and returned with the two Tables on the Munday on which day also the Temple was destroyed and the Law burnt This their deuotion is as ancient as that Pharisee Luke 18. I fast twice in the weeke that which the most deuout amongst them doe to this day obserue Yea it seemeth the deuouter sort fast foure dayes saith another on Munday Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday the first for Mariners and trauellers by Sea the next for such as passe thorow desart places the third for Children which are troubled with the Squinancie of this Elias Leuita testifieth that after the beginning of the World it first assayled children and after that men so that sometimes when they neezed their spirit fled
away and they dyed whence came that custome of saluting and praying well to men in neezing The strangling of Achitophel they also interpret of this neezing farewell The fourth dayes fast is for Women which are with childe or giue sucke but the Tuesday and Wednesday in likelyhood were not ordinarie as the other Sunday might not bee thus honoured being the Christian Sabbath and Friday was the preparatiue to their owne Those two dayes are generally halfe holy-dayes Assembling earely in their Synagogues besides their ordinarie prayers they annexe many other Among others they vse one Prayer called Vchurachum of miraculous effect as appeared in Vespatians time who committing three Ships full of Iewes without Oare or Mariner to the wide Seas which arriued in three seuerall regions Louanda Arlado Burdeli worke for Geographers Those which arriued in this last port by tyrannicall Edict of the King were to be tryed whether they were true Iewes as Hananias Misael and Azarias made proofe of their Religion Whereupon three dayes being required as they said Nebuchadnezzar had granted them wherein to betake themselues to fasting and prayer in this time of respite three deuout Iewes Ioseph Beniamin and Samuel inuened each of them a prayer which they ioyned into one and continued in praying the same three dayes at the end whereof they cast themselues into the fire and there continued till it was consumed Hence arose this ordinance euery Munday and Thursday to vse the same prayer which is this And hee is mercifull and pardoning sinne doth not destroy the sinner Hee often turneth his anger from vs and doth not kindle all his wrath Thou O my God suffer me not to want thy mercie let thy gentlenesse and truth keepe mee alwayes Helpe vs O God our God and gather vs from the Gentiles c. for their restitution as in other their prayers and destruction of their enemies the Christians After this they prostrate themselues on their faces as before with many other orisons to the like effect §. II. Of their Law-Lectures THeir solemne ceremonie of the Law-lecture followeth In all their Synagogues they haue the fiue bookes of Moses written in great letters on Parchments of Calues-skins sowed together in length which at both ends are fastened to pieces of wood by which the booke may be lifted and carried This booke is kept in an Arke or Chest set in some wall of the Synagogue Before the doores of the Arke is a hanging of Tapestrie more or lesse precious according to the qualitie of their Feasts and for the most part wrought with Bird-worke The booke is wrapped in a linnen-cloath wrought with Hebrew words without that is hanged about some other cloath of Linnen Silke Veluet or Gold to which is fastened a plate of Siluer by a chayne of Gold vpon the which is written The crowne of the Law or holinesse of the Lord Then goeth one about crying Who will buy Gelilah etzchaijm This is an office whereby they are authorized to handle those pieces of wood and to open the booke of the Law Hee which giueth most for it hath it the money is reserued for the poore The pieces of wood are called etzchaijm tree of life according to Salomon Wisedome is a tree of life to them that lay holde thereon When the chiefe Chanter hath taken out the booke and goeth with it into the Pulpit they all sing out of Num. 10.35 Arise O Lord and let thine enemies bee scattered and let them that hate thee flye before thee And out of Esay 2.3 Many people shall goe and say Come let vs ascend to the mount of the Lord to the house of the God of IACOB and hee shall teach vs his wayes and wee will walke in his pathes for the Law shall goe out of Sion and the Word of the Lord from Ierusalem When this Praecentor layeth the booke on his arme hee saith Magnifie the Lord with mee and let vs exalt his name together to which all the people answer Exalt yee the Lord our God and bow before his foot-stoole for it is holy exalt yee the Lord our God and bow to the mountaine of his holinesse for Iehouah our God is holy There vpon a Table couered with silke hee layeth downe the booke and he which hath bought the Office taketh from it the cloathes wherein it is wrapped Then these two call some one of the Congregation by his owne and his Fathers name who commeth foorth and kisseth the booke not on the bare Parchment for that were a sinne but on the cloathes which couer it and taking it by those pieces of wood saith aloud Praise the Lord c. Blessed bee thou O Lord who hast chosen vs before any other people and giuen vs thy Law Blessed bee thou O God the Law-giuer Then the Praecentor readeth a Chapter out of the booke and then hee which was called foorth with like kissing and blessing returneth Then another is called foorth and doth likewise After him another who had need bee of strong armes for hee lifteth vp and carrieth this booke that all may see it all crying This is the Law which Moses gaue to the Israelites This Office is called Hagbahah and is sold as the former The women meane-while contend amongst themselues in this Synagogue by some Lattice to haue a sight of the Law for the women haue a Synagogue apart seuered with Lattices so besides their pretence of modestie to fulfill the saying of Zacharie The family of Dauid shall mourne apart and their wiues apart c. If he which carrieth the booke should stumble or fall it were ominous and should portend much euill These two Officers fold vp the booke as before and then come all and kisse the same and then it is carried to his place with singing After this they end their Prayers as at other times saying Lord leade mee in thy righteousnesse because of mine enemies direct thy way before me And The Lord keepe my going out and comming in from henceforth for euer Which they also say when they goe foorth on a iourney or to worke §. III. Of the Iewish Sabbath THey prepare themselues to the obseruation of their Sabbath by diligent prouision on the Friday before night of the best meates well dressed especially the women prouide them good Cakes They honour the Sabbath with three bankets first on the Friday night when their Sabbath beginneth another on the Sabbath day at noone the third before sunne-set Eate yee it to day to day is the Sabbath of the Lord to day yee shall not find it Manna in the field do you not see To day thrice mentioned and therefore by Moses owne ordaining that Manna must so often bee eaten on the Sabbath The richest Iewes and most learned Rabbins disdaine not some or other office at chopping of hearbs kindling the fire or somewhat toward this preparation The Table remaineth couered all that night and day They wash and if need
but liueth with the women that if hee die before his father should thence conceiue no griefe From that time till hee bee twentie hee learneth three things to ride to shoot to speake truth For to lie is with them the most shamefull thing the second to be in debt For one fault onely no man ought to bee punished Whatsoeuer is not meet to be done ought not to be spoken A Leprous person if hee bee a Citizen may not enter into the Citie nor haue any societie with men for this disease is sent say they for some offence against the Sunne if hee bee a forrenner they banish him out of their Region and for the same cause carry into that Region white Pigeons In a Riuer they neither spit nor make water nor wash but haue them in very religious veneration They might not cast any carkasse or pollution therein These things saith Herodotus I affirme of the Persians out of mine owne knowledge that which followeth I doe not so well know that they burie not their dead bodies before they bee torne of some Fowle or Dogge but I well know that their Magi doe wrap them vp in Waxe and then bury them These Magi differ both from other men and from the Egyptian Priests in this that these pollute themselues with the death of nothing but their sacrifices but the Magi with their owne hands kill any thing except a man and a dogge yea they esteeme it some great exploit if they haue killed very many Ants or Serpents or other things which creepe or flye Thus farre Herodotus §. II. Of the same and other Rites out of STRABO STRABO nameth Anaitis Amanus and Anandatus Gods of the Persians When the Persian Emperors had ouerthrowne the Sacae they encompassed with a wall a certaine rocke situate in a field and erecting a Temple of the aforesaid Gods there instituted yeerely solemnities named Sacae which of the inhabitants of Zela are yet celebrated so they call the place That Towne in great part belongs to them which are called Sacred Seruants to which Pompey added a great Country Some report that Cyrus hauing ouercome the Sacae attributing this victory to diuine power consecrated that day to his Country-Goddesse naming it Sacaa and wheresoeuer the Temple of that Goddesse is there also are celebrated those Sacaean feasts in manner of the Bacchanals day and night the men and women drinking themselues drunken Strabo in the end of the same eleuenth Booke mentioneth their Temples and amongst others the Temples of Tanais which before in Herodotus is denied to be the vse of the Persians Cicero blameth the Magi for procuring Xerxes to burne all the Temples of Greece because they included their Gods in walls and to whom the whole world was a Temple and house Their deuotion to the Sun and Moon made them spare Delus sacred to Apollo or the Sun and the Temple of Diana or the Moone at Ephesus as an Interpreter of Aristophanes hath glossed Some hold that Xerxes burnt the Graecian Temples for reuenge of the burning of Sardis and the Temple of Cybele by the Athenians and not for hatred of all Temples The Greekes would not permit the Temples so burned to bee re-edified that those ruinous places might be places of argument for reuenge to all posteritie The Ionians as Isocrates testifieth cursed them which should repaire them Strabo thus also reporteth of the Persians They haue neither Images nor Altars they sacrifice in an high place they thinke heauen to be Iupiter they worship the Sunne whom they call Mithra the Moone also and Venus and the Fire and the Earth and the Windes and the water they sacrifice in a cleane place and present their sacrifice crowned and when as the Magas ruler of this businesse hath diuided the flesh in pieces to euery one they goe their wayes leauing no part thereof to the Gods who say they are satisfied with the soule of their sacrifice Some as it is reported lay a part of the Numbles on the fire They sacrifice especially to the Fire and to the Water laying on the fire drie stickes the barkes pulled off and laying thereon fat Tallow and powring on the same Oyle they kindle the same not blowing with their breath but fanning or otherwise enforcing the winde thereto If any bloweth the fire or cast any dead thing or durt therein he is punished with death They performe their Water-ceremonies in this sort Comming to a Lake Riuer or Fountaine they make a Ditch and there slay a sacrifice with great heed that none of the next water be touched with the bloud after laying the flesh on Myrtle and Lawrell the Magi burne the same with small twigs and making certaine prayers sprinkle oyle mixed with milke and honey not in the fire or water but on the earth They are a long while muttering their prayers holding a bundle of small Tameriske-twigs That which in one place Strabo saith they worshipped Mars onely is a fault of the negligent Writers as Casaubon hath obserued in his Notes In Cappadocia where is very great store of the Magi which of the Fire are called Pyrethi and many Temples of the Persian gods they slay not the sacrifice with a knife but a club or mallet wherewith they beat it The Pyreitheia are great inclosed places in the midst whereof there is an Altar thereon the Magi keepe much ashes and a fire continually burning whither they euery day resort and make their prayers about an houres space holding a bundle of twigges before the fire hauing their heads couered with a kind of labelled Mitre hanging downe on both sides that the strings couer their lips These things are done in the Temples of Anaitis and Amanus For there are their Temples and their Image of Amanus is carried in procession These things we haue seene It seemeth that whereas Herodotus reporteth they had no Temples Altars nor Images and Strabo so often mentioneth their Temples and here the Altar and Image of Amanus that in Herodotus dayes they had none which grew afterwards in vse as a forraine rite brought in among the Persians after the Macedonians had conquered them or else that there were differing Sects among their Magi some as these in Cappadocia embracing Altars Images and Temples some refusing some or all these For otherwise Strabo disagreth not onely from Herodotus but from himselfe before denying them the vse of Altars and Images and here affirming it of the Cappadocian Magi in other things of the Persian Religion Perhaps the burning of the Graecian Temples purchased to them that conceit with the vulgar we know they honoured the Temple and Altar at Ierusalem And lesse matters set on the Friers lasts make seely Papists beleeue now that Protestants haue no Churches not Religion nor scarcely the shape of men Iulius Firmicus in his Treatise of the mysteries and errors of prophane Religions to Constantine and Constans Emperours speaketh of the Assyrians and Persians that the Assyrians ascribed the