illusion whatsoeuer They report of one of the Kings Inguis a man of a subtile spirit who seeing that all his predecessours had worshipped the Sunne said that he did not take the Sunne to be God neither could it be for that God was a great Lord who with great quiet and leasure performed his workes and that the Stone doth neuer cease his course saying that the thing which laboured so much could not seeme to be God They came to the height of Idolatry by the same meanes the Scripture maketh mention of first they had a care to keepe the bodies of their Kings and Noblemen whole from any ill scent or corruption aboue two hundred yeeres In this sort were their Kings Inguas in Cusco euery one in his Chappell and Oratory so as the Marquesse of Canette beeing Viceroy to root out Idolatry caused three or foure of their Gods to be drawne out and carried to the Citie of Kings which bred a great admiration to see these bodies dead so many yeeres before remayne so faire and also whole Euery one of these Kings Inguas left all his Treasure and Reuenues to entertayne the place of worship where his body was laid and there were many Ministers with all his Family dedicated to his seruice for no King Successor did vsurpe the Treasureâ— and Plate of his Peedecessor but he did gather all new for himselfe and his Palace They were not content with this Idolatry to dead bodies but also they made their figures and representations and euery King in his life time caused a figure to be made wherein he was represented which they called Guaoigui which signifieth Brother for that they should doe to this Image during his life and death as much honour and reuerence as to himselfe They carried this Image to the warres and in procession for raine or faire weather making sundry Feasts and Sacrifices vnto them There haue beene many of these Idols in Cusco and in that Territory but now they say that this Superstition of worshipping of stones hath altogether ceased or for the most part after they had beene discouered by the diligence of the Licentiate Pollo and the first was that of the Inguas Rocha chiefe of the faction or race of Hanam Cusco And we find that among other Nations they had in great estimation and reuerence the bodies of their Predecessors and did likewise worship their Images THe Indians of Peru beleeued commonly that the Soules liued after this life and that the good were in glorie and the bad in paine so as there is little difficultie to perswade them to these Articles But they are not yet come to the knowledge of that point that the bodies should rise with the Soules And therefore they did vse a wonderfull care as it is said to preserue the bodies which they honoured after death to this end their Successors gaue them Garments and made Sacrifices vnto them especially the Kings Inguas being accompanied at their Funerals with a great number of seruants and women for his seruice in the other life and therefore on the day of his decease they did put to death the woman he had loued best his Seruants and Officers that they might serue him in the other life When as the Guanacapa dyed who was father to Atagualpa at what time the Spaniards entred they put to death aboue a thousand persons of all ages and conditions for his seruice to accompany him in the other life after many songs and drunkennesse they slew them and these that were appointed to death held themselues happy They did sacrifice many things vnto them especially yong children and with the bloud they made a stroake on the dead mans face from one eare to the other This superstition and inhumanity to kill both men and women to accompany and serue the dead in the other life hath beene followed by others and is at this day vsed amongst some other barbarous Nations And as Pollo wâ—ites it hath beene in a manner generall throughout all the Indies The reuerent Beda reports that before the Englishmen were conuerted to the Gospell they had the same custome to kill men to accompany and serue the dead It is written of a Portugall who being captiue among the Barbarians had beene hurt with a dart so as he lost one eye and as they would haue sacrificed him to accompany a Nobleman that was dead he said vnto them that those that were in the other life would make small account of the dead if they gaue him a blinde man for a companion and that it were better to giue him an attendant that had both his eyes This reason being found good by the Barbarians they let him goe Besides this superstition of sacrificing men to the dead being vsed but to great Personages there is another farre more generall and common in all the Indies which is to set meate and drinke vpon the graue of the dead imagining they did feede thereon the which hath likewise beene an errour amongst the Auncients as Saint Austine writes and therefore they gaue them meate and drinke At this day many Indian Infidels do secretly draw their dead out of the Churchyard and bury them on hils or vpon passages of Mountaines or else in their owne houses They haue also vsed to put Gold and Siluer in their mouth hands and bosome and to apparell them with new Garments durable and well lined vnder the herse They beleeue that the soules of the dead wandred vp and downe and indure cold thirst hunger and trauel and for this cause they make their anniuersaries carrying them cloathes meate and drinke HAuing reported what many Nations of Peru haue done with their dead it shall not be from the purpose to make particular mention of the Mexicans in this point whose mortuaries were much solemnised and full of notable follies It was the office of the Priests and religious of Mexico who liued there with a strange obseruance as shall be said hereafter to interre the dead and doe their obsequies The places where they buried them was in their Gardens and in the 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 their Temples and they buried them all with whatsoeuer they had of Apparell Stones and Iewels They did put the ashes of such as were burnt into pots and with them the Iewels Stones and Eare-rings of the dead how rich and precious soeuer They did sing the Funerall offices like to answeres and did often lift vp the dead bodies doing many ceremonies At these mortuaries they did eate and drinke and if it were a person of quality they gaue apparell to all such as came to the interment When any one dyed they laid him open in a chamber vntill that all his kinsfolks and friends were come who brought presents vnto the dead and saluted him as if he were liuing And if he were
10. The Crusado preacht against them 61.1 Fasting Prayer and Almesâ—â—eds done against them 61.10 Tartars inhabit Scythia 3.30 Confine vpon Persia 74. 75 saepe Tartars Dominions in Persia 78 79. On both sides the Danubius 2.30 3.30 Tartars of the East the names of their Countries 798.1 in marg Betwixt Russia and Cathay Their Countries and seuerall Dukes 799 Tartars the beginning of their Reigne their foure Brethren 70.20 Tartars beyond the Riuer Vistula their Inrâ—ades vpon Poland 629 50. Their Customes Mahometans ibid. Tartars hold themselues Lords of the World 59.50 64.30 They command the Pope to doe personall homage to them 59.40 Their fatall Expedition and the miraculous way left them by the Sea 112.60 113.1 They send three Armies to conquer Asia 113.40 Ouercome the Georgians 113.40 And the Turkes 114.1 And India the Lesse 114.40 And Persia 116 1. And Baldach 116.20 And Aleppo 117.1 Tartars their Originall 77.30 Their Princes descâ—â—ts 78.10 Their first Habitations 111.10 Why they will bee called Moal and not Tartars 57.20 Tartars their warfare 79.10 The Officers of their Armies their prouisions numbers and horses ibid. Tartars their Bowes 61.40 Stronger in the armes then others ibid Excellent Archers 6â— 10 64.50 Their slaughterâ— made in Comania and of the Ruthenians and Hungarians 61.40 50. The Hungarians require aide against them 61.60 They diuide their Army into three parts 62.1 Their persons described 62.10 64.40 Their dispositions 64.30 40 50 Tartars passe Riuers vpon Skinnes sewed together and blowne full of wind 62.10 How they liue in the warres 62.10 Their Spies in Christendome 62.30 The Pope suspects them set vp by the Emperour 63.10 The Emperour stirres vp Christendome against them 63.10 Tartars the Ciuill warres betwixt them 117.40 They and the Christians fall out in the Holy Land 117.50 Beaten out of the Holy Land by the Saracens 117.60 The Soldan of Aegypt soweth discord amongst the Tartars 118.20 Tartars haue small store of Armour 48.40 What they bee 48 50 Tartars Ensignes are the Sunne and Moone 82â—â— 40. And Gerfalcon 82.40 Two Tartars ouerthrowne 60.20 When they brake out ibid. 1. Their Conquests in Europe 60 50. They flee from the Christian Army 64.1 Their Founders they call Gods 64.30 And Sonnes of God 59.50 Their Festiualls for them 64.30 The suddennesse of their Expeditions 64.50 Their resolutions ibid. Their pretences to inuade Christendome 64.60 65.1 Defeated neere Damascus by opening the Sluces 124.30 40. Tartars their Manners and Ceremonies of Drinking and Feasts 4.30 40 50 c. And 39. â—0 Thrifâ—y in Food and Rayment 52 20. Eate no Swines flesh 15.50 Are Man-eaters 119.10 Their feeding vpon Carrion 5.10 And windâ—dryed flesh ibid. Their Coâ—kery 5.20 Their Feasts 5.20 Their Slaues will dine with puddle water 6.10 Their mens Apparell 6.20 40. They weare two gownes at once 6.30 Their womens Apparell 6.60 7.10 They wash not their Apparell 7.20 How they cut their haire 6.50 Tartars shaue their vpper-lips and warre with the Persians for not doing so 239.40 Iustice in one of them 240.10 Tartars true ones 107.1 Their impudent begging of Strangers 8.40 9.30 Their Ingratitude 9.1 They hold themselues Lords of all Men 9.1 They are bold theeues 10.40 Their beastlinesse 11 30 Tartars dealing with Trauellers 25.40 Their Pride 26.1 They beheld the Bare-footed Fryars as they had beene Monsters 26.20 Their Iealousie of Strangers 27.30 Their Apparell Armes Valours Obedience and Religion 78.50 c. Their Idoll Natigai ibid. Their Houses described 3.30 Tartars stinke a forreigne 169 60. And 170.1 Annoynt themselues with bloud and why ibid. Their Habit 170.30 Their manner of hunting 6.30 40 Tartars confesse nothing by torture 63.10 Their Cunning ibid. Their Cruelties where they conquer 61.30 63.50 60 Tartarians take it ill if their Gifts bee not accepted 46.40 Their Religion described 88.40 Their Customes ibidem Their Religion Marriages Warfare Hospitality c. Described 127.1 10 20. c. Desire much to haue Men pray for their liues 27.50 Their Questions concerning France 28.10 They kisse their right Hands of whome they aske pardon 28.30 Desire to dye the death of Christians 42.40 They confessâ— one God 43.1 Their Opinion of the Christians doing contrary to the Scriptures ibidem Though Christened yet will not bee called Christians 14.40 Taught to worshippe the Crosse 31.50 32 1 60. Their Sicke not visited 8.30 How watched why ibidem Their Mourning for their Friends 8.10 Their Sepulchres ibidem Tartars Images of Felt are to represent their dead Friendes and not God 22.30 Their Marriages and what Degreeâ— of Consanguitie they keepe 7.40 Their Widdowes doe not Marrie and why 7.40 The Bridgroome forces his wife 7.50 Tartarian wiues most faithfull 73 20. Obedient and industrious 78.30 40. Their Marriages 78.20 30. They marry their dead children that dye vnmarried 79.1 Their women fat and flat nosed held fairest 7.20 They grease their faces ibid. And annoynt them with blacke Oyntment 9.40 They lye not in after Child-birth ibid. They ride astride ibid. Their workes and Duties to milke Kowes as the mens is to milke the Mares and to churne Cosmos 7.20 30. Their sluttishnes 7.20 30 Tartarian Ladies shauen to the skull 30.40 Tartars their generall Rules 443 1. Their Lawes and Iustice 7.60 What offences punisht with death 801 Tartars how they choose their Emperours 58.50 Princes chiefe Palace at Ciangamur 80.30 Tartarian Courts their Order and their Iangi 28.60.5.20 Three seuerall Princes of them are subiect to their Great Chan 126.10 His Residence in Cathay at Iong or Ions The power of these Princes 126.20.30 c. Tartarian Princes sit vpon beds 27 40 Tartarian Princes keepe correspondencie 47.60 Tartars reuerence to their Princes Court 40.1 They get their victories vnder colour of peace 40.20 Tartarians meete their Princes messengers with Bread and Drinke as Melchisedecke did Abraham or as the Germanes doe Ambassadours 20.1 They go singing before them 20.40 Subiects treade not on the Princes threshold 17.1 31.30 Rubruquis companion kept Prisoner for stumbling at it 31.40 32.30 Tartarian Princes Fleete of fifteene thousand Sayle where kept 95.20 Tartars Fustian letters to the Pope 58.30 Tartars twelue Masters of Requests 84.40 Tartars the reuenues of the rich for drinke 5.50 c. And for Bread 6.1 Their trucking with Rammes and skins 6.1 with apparell 10.20 Tartars trade for Furres into Siberia 526.10 Tartars yeare beginnes February the first 84.30 Tartarian dayes post is threescore and foure miles English 53.40 in margine Tararians questions about Popish Images 30.50 Tartars admirable sentence vpon the negligent Califa 70.30 Tartars The colour of their Ensignes 278 1. Manner of embattelling ibid. Scaling Ladders and warlike Engines ibid. Tartarian Complements 278.50 279.1 State of their Campe Royall 279.1 Their Kings State and Tributary Kings 279.30 His Habit Royall ibid. His wondring at the bignesse of the World ibid. They retire out of China 280.10 Their Monkes and Nunnes Chastitie 281.10 Their
houshold-stuffe of the Dead drawing them betweene the fires For when any one dieth all things whatsoeuer appertayne to him are separated and not mingled with other things of the Court till all be purged by the Fire So did I see it done to the Court of that Ladie which died while wee were there Whereupon there was a double reason why Friar Andrew and his fellowes should goe betweene the fires both because he brought presents as also for that they belonged to him who was dead to wit Ken Chan. No such thing was required of me because I brought nothing If any liuing creature or any thing else fall to the ground while they thus make them passe betweene the fires that is theirs They also the ninth day of the Moone of May gather together all the white Mares of the Herd and consecrate them The Christian Priests also must come together thither with their Censers Then they cast â—ew Cosmos vpon the ground and make a great Feast that day because then they thinke they drinke Cosmos first as it is the fashion somewhere with vs touching Wine in the Feast of Saint Bartholmew or Sixtus and of fruits in the Feast of Saint Iames and Christopher They also are inuited when any child is borne to foretell his destinie They are sent for also when any is sicke to vse their Charmes and they tell whether it bee a naturall infirmitie or by Sorcerie Whereupon that woman of Mentz whereof I spake before told mee a wonderfull thing On a certaine time very costly Furres were presented which were layd downe at the Court of her Ladie who was a Christian as I said before And the Sooth-sayers drew them through betweene the fires and tooke more of them then was their due And a certaine woman vnder whose custodie the treasure of her Ladie was accused them thereof vnto her Ladie wherevpon the Ladie her selfe reproued them It fell out after this that the Ladie her selfe began to be sicke and to suffer certaine sudden passions in diuers parts of her bodie The Sooth-sayers were called and they sitting farre off commanded one of those Maidens to put her hand vpon the place where the griefe was and if shee found any thing shee should snatch it away Then shee arising did so And she found a piece of Felt in her hand or of some other thing Then they commanded her to put it vpon the ground which being layd downe it began to creepe as if it had beene some liuing Creature Then they put it into the water and it was turned as it were into a Horse-leach and he said some Witch hath hurt you thus with her Sorceries and they accused her that had accused them of the Furres who was brought without the Tents into the fields and receiued the bastinado seuen dayes together there and was thus tormented with other punishments to make her confesse and in the meane space her Ladie died Which shee vnderstanding said vnto them I know my Ladie is dead kill mee that I may goe after her for I neuer did her hurt And when shee confessed nothing Mangu Chan commanded to suffer her to liue Then the Sorcerers accused the Ladies daughters Nurse of whom I spake before who was a Christian and her husband was the chiefe among all the Nestorian Priests so shee was brought to punishment with a certaine Maide of hers to make her confesse And the Maide confessed that her Mistresse sent her to speake with a certaine Horse to demand answeres The woman also her selfe confessed some things which shee did to bee beloued of her Ladie that she might doe her good but shee did nothing that might hurt her Shee was demanded also whether her husband were priuie to it shee excused him for that he had burnt the Characters and Letters which she had made Then shee was put to death and Mangu Chan sent the Priest her husband to the Bishop which was in Cataia to be iudged although he were not found culpable In the meane time it fell out that the principall wife of Mangu Chan brought forth a sonne and the Sooth-sayers were called to fore-tell the Destinie of the child who all prophecied prosperitie and said he should liue long and be a great Lord after a few dayes it happened the child died Then the mother enraged called the Sooth-sayers saying you said my sonne should liue and loe hee is dead Then they said Madam behold wee see that Sorceresse the Nurse of Chirina who the other day was put to death shee hath killed your sonne and behold wee see shee carries him away Now there remayned one sonne and a daughter of that woman growne to full age in the Tents and the Ladie sent presently for them in a rage and caused the young man to be slayne of a man and the maide of a woman in reuenge of her sonne whom the Sooth-sayers affirmed to be killed of their mother not long after Mangu Chan dreamed of those children and demanded in the morning what was become of them His seruants were afraid to tell him and he being troubled the more demanded where they were because they had appeared vnto him in a Vision by night Then they told him So hee presently sending for his wife demanded whence shee learned that a woman should giue sentence of death without the priuitie of her Husband And he caused her to be shut vp seauen dayes commanding to giue her no meat But the man who who slew the young man he caused to be beheaded and the head to be hung about the womans necke who had kild the Mayde and made her to be cudgelled with burning Fire-brands through all the Tents and after to be put to Death Hee had also put his Wife to death but for the Children he had by her And he went out of his Court and returned not till after one Moone The Sorcerers also trouble the Ayre with their charmes and when the Cold is so great naturally that they cannot apply any remedy then they search out some in the Campe whom they accuse that the cold comes through their meanes so they are put to Death without any delay A little before I departed thence one of the Concubines was sicke and languished long and they mumbled their Charmes ouer a certaine Dutch Slaue of hers who slept three dayes Who when she came to her selfe they demanded what she had seene And she had seene many persons of all which shee iudged they should all shortly dye And because she saw not her Mistres there they iudged she should not dye of that sicknes I saw the Maydes head yet aking by reason of that sleepe Some of them also call vpon Deuils and gather them together who will haue answers from the Deuill in the night vnto their house and they put sodden flesh in the middest of the house and that Chan who inuoketh beginneth to say his Charmes and hauing a Tymbrell smites it strongly against the ground
excellent Spices but the poorer sort shred it and lay it in Garlicke sawce and eate it as wee doe boyled meate Departing from the Citie of Iaci hauing trauailed ten dayes iourney westward yee come to the Prouince named as is the chiefe Citie Carazan which Cogatin sonne of Cublai gouerneth The Riuers there yeeld very much gold di paiola and also that which is more solid and the Mountaines gold of the veine and they giue one stone of gold for six of siluer They spend Porcelanes for money brought thither from India The Inhabitants are Idolaters very great Serpents are bred in this Countrey whereof some contayne ten paces in length and in thicknesse ten spannes They haue two little feet before nigh the head with three talons or clawes like Lions and the eyes bigger then a Groat loafe very shining They haue their mouthes and jawes so wide that they are able to swallow a man great and sharpe teeth nor is there any man or other liuing Creature which may behold those Serpents without terror there are found lesse of eight sixe or fiue paces long which are taken after this manner In the day time they vse to lie hid by reason of the heat in holes out of the which they goe by night to seeke their prey and deuoure whatsoeuer they get Lions Wolues or others and then goe to seeke water leauing such a tract with their weight in the sands as if some piece of timber had beene drawne there Whereupon the Hunters fasten vnder the sands sharpe Iron prickes in their vsuall tracts whereon they are wounded and slayne The Crowes presenâ—ly ring his knell and by their craing cries inuite the Hunters which come and slay him taking forth his gall profitable for diuers Medecines amongst other things for the biting of mad Dogs a penie weight giuen in Wine and far women in trauell for carbuncles and pushes and they sell the flâ—sh deare as being exceeding delicate There are bred great Horses in this Prouince which by Merchants are carried into India They vse to take one bone out of the tayle lest he should bend his tayle hither and thither and esteeme it more comely that it hang downe right They vse long Stirrups as the Frenchmen which the Tartars and other Nations 〈◊〉 their shooting vse short because when they shoot they rise vp They vse Targets and Armour in the Warres made of the hides of Buffals they haue Lances and Crosse-bowes and poyson all their Arrowes Some of them which are ill minded are said to carrie poyson about them contiâ—ually that if they be taken they may suddenly swallow it and death together to preuent tâ—râ—ure For which cause the great Lords haue Dogs dung ready which they force them to swallow and that forceth them to vomit the poyson Before the great Can subiected them they vsed that when any Stranger which seemed of good presence and parts lodged with them they slue him by night supposing that those good parts of that man might abide afterwards in that house and this was the death of many Going from the Prouince Carazan after fiue dayes iourney Westward is the Prouince Cardandan which also is subiect to great Can. The chiefe Citie thereof is called Vociam The Inhabitants thereof vse Porcelanes and weighed pieces of Gold in stead of money for in that Countrey and many other lying round about Siluer mines are not found and they giue one ounce of Gold for fiue ounces of Siluer and great gayne is made by the change The men and women of that Countrey couer their teeth with thinne plates of Gold which they so fit vnto them that the teeth themselues seeme as it were to be set in the plates The men about their armes and legs make lists pricking the places with Needles and putting thereon a blacke indelible tincture And these lists or markes are esteemed with them a great galantrie They giue their minds to nothing but riding hunting hawking and exercises of Armes leauing the houshold cares to the women who are helped therein by slaues which they buy or take in Warre When a woman is brought to bed shee forsakes the bed washeth the child and dresseth it and then the husband lieth downe and keepes the child with him fortie dayes not suffering it to depart is visited meane while of friends and neighbours to cheare and comfort him The woman lookes to the house carrie the husband his brâ—ths to his bed and giues sucke to the child by him Their Wine is made of Rice and Spice their meat Rice and raw flesh dressed as is before mentioned In this Prouince there are no other Idols saue that euery familie adoreth the oldest man in the house of whom they say come themselues and all they haue They dwell for the most part in wilde and mountainous places But Forrainers come not to those Mountaines because the ayre would kill them being in Summer very corrupt They â—aue no letters but make their Contracts and Obligations by tallies of wood the halfe whereof the one keepeth and the other the other which being afterward payd the tallie is rendred There are no Physicians in this Prouince nor in Caindu Vociam and Caraian but when any is sicke they call the Magicians or Idoll Priests together and he sicke partie declareth his disease vnto them then the Magicians dance and sound certaine instruments and bellow forth songs in honour of their Gods while at length the Deuill entreth into one of them skipping and playing in the dance Then leauing the dance they consult with him that is possessed for what cause that disease hapned vnto him and what is to be done for his recouerie The Deuill answereth by him because he hath done this or that or because he hath offended this or that God therefore he fell into this disease Then the Magicians intreat that God to pardon him that offence promising that if the sicke partie recouer he shall offer a Sacrifice of his owne bloud But if the Deuill thinke the weake partie to be sicke of such a disease that he cannot be freed from the same he vseth to answere This man hath so grieuously offended that God that he cannot by any sacrifices bee appeased But if he thinke he shall recouer he commandeth to offer so many Rammes hauing blacke heads and to prepare so many Magicians with their wiues by them to offer Sacrifices and that God may then bee appeased towards him Which being heard his kinsmen quickly cause those things to be done which the Deuill commanded they kill Rammes and sprinckle their bloud in the ayre and the Magicians assembled with their Witches light great Candles and perfume the whole house with incense making fume of Lignum Aloes and sprinckle the broth of the flesh in the ayre together with the potion made of Spices all which being duely performed they skip about againe in a dance in honour of that Idoll which is supposed to haue beene fauourable to
dead are and there it consumes with time Their mourning which they vse is the sharpest that euer I saw for they weare Coats after the common sort of verie course wooll next the flesh and girt with great coards and on their head a Cappe of the same cloath made like the Caps that are vsed in the Countrey sauing that these haue certaine flappes that fall ouer their eyes Notwithstanding that as they are nearest in kindred so they weare the rougher mourning weed The rest weare raw cloath and not so course For Father or Mother they mourne three yeeres and if he bee Louthia as soone as hee heareth the newes presently he leaueth the office he serueth and goeth to mourne to his owne house for three yeeres which being ended he goeth to the Court to demand his office The Women commonly excepting those of the Sea coast and the Mountayners are very white and fine women some hauing their noses and eyes well proportioned From their child-hood they wrap their feete in cloathes that they may remayne small and they doe it for the China's doe holde them for finer women that haue small Noses and Feete This is vsed yet among the noble people and not among the basest They weare their hayre very well combed close and tyed to the crowne of the head and bound from the rootes to the toppes with a long lace very well placed And the lace is garnished with Iewels and peeces of Gold round about They vse long Coats like the Portugall women which haue the waste in the same manner that they haue They weare vpper-bodies with long sleeues they spend commonly more Silke in their garments then their husbands but in their common apparell they are cloathed in white Linnen-cloath They make curtesies as our women doe but they make three together and very hastely They vse painting their faces with Vermilion and white Ceruse very well set They commonly keepe themselues close so that through all the Citie of Cantan there appeareth not a woman but some light huswiues and base women And when they goe abroad they are not seene for they goe in close Chayres whereof wee spake before neither when any bodie commeth into the house doth hee see them except for curiositie they chance vnder the doore-cloath to looke on them that come in when they are strange people Commonly the men haue one Wife which they buy for their money more or lesse according as they are of their Fathers and Mothers Yet may euery one haue as many wiues as hee is able to maintaine but one is the principall with whom they liue and the other he lodgeth in sundry houses And if hee hath dealings in diuers Countries hee hath in euery one a wife and house with entertainement If the wife committeth adulterie and the husband accuseth her and the adulterer both suffer death And if the husband doe suffer the wife to play the adulteresse hee is grieuously punished I being in Cantan saw a Marchant of China goe from Iustice to Iustice verie sharpely handled for suffering his wife to play the adulteresse The common women are in no wise permitted to dwell within the walls And in the Suburbes without they haue their proper streets where they dwell out of the which they may not liue All the common women are slaues they bring them vp for that purpose from their child-hood they buy them of their mothers and teach them to play on an Instrument of musique and to sing And those that can best doe this because they gaine most are worth more And those which cannot doe that are worth lesse The masters either carrie them vnto the men or sell them to them and when they are to beset in the street of the common women they are written by an Officer of the King in a Booke and the Master is bound to come euerie yeere with a certaine fee to this Officer they are bound to answer their Master so much euerie moneth When they are old with Paynting they make them seeme young And after they are not for that trade they are altogether free without any obligation either to Master or any bodie and then they feed vpon that which they haue gottten I spake so particularly of this matter for to come to say that in this Countrey of China is no greater captiuitie then this of these Wenches And let no man say or affirme any other thing for about the examining of it I laboured somewhat in Cantan because some Portugals would affirme it otherwise The captiuitie in this Countrey is in manner following If any woman by the death of her husband remayneth a widdow and hath nothing to maintayne her selfe with neither the children that are left her are such as are able to get their liuing neither hath shee any thing to giue her children this Woman in this necessitie commeth to a rich man and agreeth with him for six or seuen Crownes for a Sonne or a Daughter and the price receiued shee deliuereth it if it be a Daughter shee serueth as abouesaid for a common Woman and is brought vp for that purpose if it be a Sonne hee serueth his Master some time And when hee is of age to marrie the Master giueth him a Wife and all the Children that are borne to him remayne free and without any Obligation notwithstanding this Seruant is bound to giue his Master so much by the yeere hauing a house by himselfe for when he marrieth they giue him a house and he laboureth either at some Trade or by his industrie for to earne his liuing And no man may sell any of these Slaues to the Portugals hauing great penalties for it The Women as by being common they looke for great profit of them in no wise they will sell them besides the running into great penalties also And all those which commonly are sold to the Portugals are stollen they carry them deceiued and secretly to the Portugals and so they sell them and if they were perceiued or taken in these stealths they would bee condemned in the vtmost punishment The Lawes of China giue authoritie to the Women for to sell their Children and not to the Men for as the Men are bound to get a liuing for himselfe and for his Children if hee want the remedie they hold that hee is in the fault of that And that Man may the better labour for their liuing and their Childrens So farre is China from hauing Slaues that altogether should bee captiues that neither those which they take in warre are slaues onely they are bound to the King and are placed for Souldiers in places farre from their Countries where they were taken eating of the wages they haue of the King These doe weare for a deuice a red cap as I saw the Tartarians weare in Cantan which had beene taken in the warres §. IIII. Of their Louthias Mandarines or Magistrates their creation priuiledges maintenance Of Prisons and Tortures of the King
opinion This hearing what was judged against him hung himselfe saying that seeing the Heauen had made him whole that no man should take away his head The Pontoos which yet are in Prison shall be examined againe and shall presently be dispatched Chuichum shall presently be depriued from being a Louthia without being heard any more Chibee head of sixe and twenty I command that hee and his be all set at libertie for I find but little fault in them Those which owe any money it shall bee recouered of them presently Famichin and Tomicher shall dye if my Louthias doe thinke it expedient if not let them doe as they thinke best Alfonso of Paiua and Peter of Cea these were Portugals Antonie and Francisco these were slaues finding them to be guilty of killing some men of my Armie shall with the Luthissi and Aitao be put in Prison where according to the custome of my Kingdome they all shall dye at leisure The other Portugals that are aliue with all their Seruants which are in all fiftie one I command them to be carried to my Citie of Cansi where I command they be well intreated seeing my heart is so good towards them that for their sake I punish in this sort the people of my Countrey and deale so well with them for it is my custome to doe Iustice to all men The Louthias of the Armada finding they are in little fault I command they bee set free I deale in this sort with all men that my Louthias may see that all that which I doe I doe it with a good zeale All these things I command to be done with speed Hitherto the sentence of the King The Portugals that were freed by the sentence when they carried them whither the King commanded found by the way all things necessary in great abundance in the Houses abouesaid that the King had in euery Towne for the Louthias when they trauell They carried them in seates of Chaires made of Canes on mens backes and they were in charge of inferiour Louthias which caused them to haue all things necessarie through all places where they came till they were deliuered to the Louthias of the Citie of Cansi From that time they had no more of the King euery moneth but one Foon of Rice which is a measure as much as a man can beare on his backe the rest they had need of euery one did seeke by his owne industry Afterward they dispersed them againe by two and two and three and three through diuers places to preuent that in time they should not become mightie joyning themselues with others Those that were condemned to death were presently put in Prison of the condemned And Alfonso of Paiua had a meanes to giue the Portugals to vnderstand that were free that for his welcome they had giuen him presently fortie stripes and intreated him very euill shewing himselfe comforted in the Lord. Those which were at libertie now some and then some came to the ships of the Portugals by the industrie of some Chinas which brought them very secretly for the great gifts they receiued of the Merchants of Portugall which made their Merchandize in the Citie of Cantan §. VI. Of the Religion in China difficultie of bringing in Christianitie Terrible Earth-quakes and Tempests in China IN the Citie of Cantan in the middest of the Riuer which is of fresh water and very broad is a little I le in the which is a manner of a Monasterie of their Priests and within this Monasterie I saw an Oratorie high from the ground very well made with certayne gilt steps before it made of carued worke in which was a woman very well made with a childe about her necke and it had a Lampe burning before it I suspecting that to bee some shew of Christianitie demanded of some Lay-men and some of the Idoll Priests which were there what that woman signified and none could tell it mee nor giue mee any reason of it It might well be the Image of our Ladie made by the ancient Christians that Saint Thomas left there or by their occasion made but the conclusion is that all is forgotten it imght also be some Gentiles Image The greatest God they haue is the Heauen the letter that signifieth it is the principall and the first of all the Letters They worship the Sun the Moone and the Starres and all the Images they make without any respect They haue notwithstanding Images of Louthias which they worship for hauing beene famous in some one thing or other And likewise Statues and Images of some Priests of the Idols and some of other men for some respects particular to them And not only worship they these Images but whatsoeuer stone they erect on the Altars in their Temples They call commonly these Gods Omittoffois they offer them Incense Benjamin Ciuet and another Wood which they call Cayo Laque and other smelling things They offer them likewise Ocha whereof is mention made afore Euery one hath a place to pray and at the entries behind the doores of the Houses in the which they haue their carued Idols to the which euery day in the Morning and at Euening they offer Incense and other perfumes They haue in many places as well in the Townes as out of them Temples of Idols In all the ships they sayle in they make presently a place for to worship in where they carrie their Idols In all things they are to enterprize either Iournies by Sea or by land they vse Lots cast them before their Gods The Lots are two sticks made like halfe a Nut-shell flat on the one side and round on the other and as bigge againe as an halfe Nut and joyned with a string And when they will cast Lots they speak first with their God perswading him with words and promising him some Offring if he giue him a good Lot in it shew him his good Voyage or good successe of his busines And after many words they cast the Lots And if both the flats sides fal vpward or one vp another downe they hold it for an euill Lot and turne them toward their Gods very melancholy they call them Dogs with many other reproaches After they are wearie of rating them they soothe them againe with faire milde words and aske pardon saying that the Melancholy of not giuing them a good Lot caused them to doe them injurie and speake injurious words vnto him but that they will pardon them and giue them a good Lot and they promise to offer him more such a thing because the promises are the better for them that promise them they make many and great promises and offerings and so they cast Lots so many times till they fall both on the flat sides which they hold for a good Lot then remayning well contented they offer to their Gods that which they promised It happeneth many times when they cast Lots about any weighty matter if the Lot fall
Gouernement but a great helpe that all might obey him and keepe his Lawes This onely remedie there is in China to reape any fruit and not any other speaking humanely And without this it is impossible for any Religious men to Preach or fructifie and because I had not this remedie hauing the abouesaid inconueniences I came away from China and therefore neither I nor they of the company of IESVS which enterprised alreadie this businesse sundry times could fructifie in China This people hath besides the ignorances abouesaid that filthy abomination that they refraine no sexe among them Notwithstanding I Preaching sometimes as well publike as priuately against this vice they were glad to heare mee saying that I had reason in that which I sayd but but that they neuer had had any that told them that was a sinne nor any thing euill done It seemeth that because this sinne is common among them God was willing to send them a grieuous punishment in some places of the earth the which was common in all China I being in the Citie of Cantan and being willing to know of a rich China Marchant the euils that had happened in the Countrey and hee not able to tell it me by word of mouth gaue me a Letter which they had written vnto him of what had happened saying to me that I should translate it and giue it him againe but not trusting me hee translated it presently and remayning with the copie gaue me the principall which I translated into Portugall with the helpe of one that could speake our language and theirs the tenour of the Letter is this The principall Louthias of Sanxi and of Sauiton wrote vnto the King saying that in those Prouinces the earth did shake terribly and the dayes waxed darke like night hee saith not how long a South-sayer told them all that should happen In the yeere before in the moneth of September the earth opened in many places and vnder it were heard great noyses like the sound of Bells there followed a great winde with much rayne and the winde ranne about all the Compasse This winde is called in China Tufaune and many yeeres it bloweth but once a yeere and it is so raging that it driueth a Ship vnder sayle on the Land a great space and the men cannot keepe their feete not leauing and holding one by another and it doth things worthie admiration and incredible In the yeere that I was in China in the part where the Portugals were they shewed the Boat of a Ship of a good bignesse and the place where it was a land that this winde caâ—rayed it might bee a great stones cast from the water and many did affirme it to mee that the winde had such force that it carryed it tumbling till it blew it into the Sea And all the houses the Portugals had made of timber and couered with strawe which were many and were built vpon great stakes and not very high it threw them all downe breaking the stakes And one house being fastened with foure Cables where many Portugals retired themselues at the last fell also and onely one that was sheltered with a high place escaped that it fell not To blow downe these houses was nothing for it doth many other things incredible This winde is almost euerie yeere in China the which within twentie foure houres that it raigneth it runneth about all the points of the Compasse With this winde and the Lands being shaken with the Earthquakes many Cities fell and were made desolate in the which dyed innumerable people In a Citie called Vinyanfuu in this day was a great Earthquake And on the west side a great Fire burst out that swallowed vp all the Citie in the which innumerable people perished escaping in one place two in another three and so some of the Mogores escaped In another Citie neere to this there happened the same but in this none escaped In a Citie called Leuchimen the Riuer increased in such sort that it ouer-flowed the Citie where infinite people were drowned In a Citie called Hien was an Earthquake with the which many houses fell which slew neere eight thousand soules In Puchio the house of the Kings kinsman fell and slew all that were in the house except a Childe of seuen or eight yeeres old his sonne which was carryed to the King and day and night was a noyse heard vnder the earth like the sound of Bells In a Countrey called Cochue with fire from Heauen and with many waters of a Floud many perished and the land remayned vnable to bee cultiuated againe In a Countrey called Enchinoen at midnight the houses fell and the Citie remayned desolate and ruined where perished neere one hundred thousand soules In a Citie called Inchumen in one day and a night the Riuer did flow and ebbe ten times and with the great floud many people perished Hitherto the translation of the Letter that which followeth was heard by word of mouth of the Portugals that were in the Port of Cantan in the moneth of May and I receiued the Letter in September In a Citie called Sanxi from midnight till fiue of the clocke in the morning the earth shooke three times the eighteenth of Ianuarie 1556. and the next day after from midnight till noone happened the same the next day following the twentie of the sayd moneth the earth shooke mightily after midnight with great Thunder and Lightnings and all the Prouince was burnt and all the people thereof and all the Suburbes Townes and Cities they say it is from bound to bound fiftie or sixtie leagues that there was not one saued but a Childe sonne to a kinsman of the King which was carried to the King And the third of Februarie in the same yeere in the Citie of Panquin where the King is fell a shower of rayne like bloud These newes brought one of China that came to Cantan from a Citie neere to Sanxi to giue newes to a Louthia that hee should resort to his owne house and said that the Citie where he was a dweller was ouerflowne and that he knew not whether it would perish with the rest That which ought to bee held for truth is that in three Prouinces which commonly are sayd to be destroyed there was no more destruction then of those places whereof the Letter maketh mention or little more The agreeing in the Childe sheweth that the Towne whereof the Letter maketh mention with the childe was in the Prouince of Sanxi This hath more apparance of truth because the Letter was written from the Court then to say that all the three Prouinces perished After the happening of the things abouesaid the same yeere in the Prouince of Cantan a woman which went to the Panchasi told him that the Prouince of Cansi would bee destroyed with power from Heauen the which after shee was well whipt was imprisoned but in the moneth of May of the
Commandements nor scarcely vnderstand the one halfe of their Seruice which is read in their Churches When any child is borne it is not baptized vntill the next Sunday and if it chance that it be not baptized then it must tarry vntill the second Sunday after the birth and it is lawfull for them to take as many God-fathers and God-mothers as they will the more the better When they goe to the Church the Mid-wife goeth foremost carrying the Childe and the God-fathers and God-mothers follow into the midst of the Church where there is a small Table readie set and on it an Earthen Pot full of warme water about the which the God-fathers and God-mothers with the Childe settle themselues then the Clerke giueth vnto euery of them a small Waxe Candle burning then commeth the Priest and beginneth to say certayne words which the God-fathers and God-mothers must answere word for word among which one is that the Child shall forsake the Deuill and as that name is pronounced they must all spit at the word as often as it is repeated Then he blesseth the water which is in the Pot and doth breathe ouer it then he taketh all the Candles which the Gossips haue and holding them all in one hand letteth part of them drop into the water and then giueth euery one his Candle againe and when the water is sanctified he taketh the Child and holdeth it in a small Tub and one of the God-fathers taketh the Pot with warme water and powreth it all vpon the Childes head After this he hath many more Ceremonies as anoynting Eares and Eyes with Spittle and making certayne Crosses with Oyle vpon the backe head and brest of the Childe then taking the Childe in his armes carryeth it to the Images of Saint Nicholas and our Ladie c. and speaketh vnto the Images desiring them to take charge of the Childe that he may liue and beleeue as a Christian man or woman ought to doe with many other words Then comming backe from the Images he taketh a paire of sheares and clippeth the young and tender haires of the Childes head in three or foure places and then deliuereth the Childe whereunto euery of the God-fathers and God-mothers lay a hand then the Priest chargeth them that the Childe bee brought vp in the faith and feare of God or Christ and that it be instructed to clinege and bow to the Images and so they make an end then one of the God-fathers must hang a Crosse about the necke of the Childe which hee must alwayes weare for that Russe which hath not a Crosse about his necke they esteeme as no Christian man and thereupon they say that wee are no Christians because we doe not weare Crosses as they doe Their Matrimonie is nothing solemnized but rather in most points abominable and as neere as I can lâ—arne in this wiâ—e following First when there is loue betweene the parties the man sendeth vnto the woman a small Chest or Boxe wherein is a Whip Needles Threed Silke Linnen Cloth Sheares and such necessaries as she shall occupie when she is a Wife and perhaps sendeth therewithall Raisins Figs or some such things giuing her to vnderstand that if she doe offend she must be beaten with the Whip and by the Needles Threed Cloth c. that she should apply her selfe diligently to sew and doe such things as she could best doe and by the Raisins or Fruits he meaneth if she doe well no good thing shall bee with-drawne from her nor bee too deare for her and shee sendeth vnto him a Shirt Hand-kerchers and some such things of her owne making And now to the effect When they are agreed and the day of Marriage appointed when they shall goe towards the Church the Bride will in no wise consent to goe out of the House but resisteth and striueth with them that would haue her out and fayneth her selfe to weepe yet in the end two women get her out and lead her towards the Church her face being couered close because of her dissimulation that it should not be openly perceiued for shee maketh a great noyse as though she were sobbing and weeping vntill she come at the Church and then her face is vncouered The man commeth after among other of his friends and they carrie with them to Church a great Pot of Wine or Meade then the Priest coupleth them together much after our order one promising to loue and serue the other during their liues together c. which being done they beginnne to drinke and first the woman drinketh to the man and when he hath drunke he letteth the cup fall to the ground hasting immediately to tread vpon it and so doth she and whether of them tread first vpon it must haue the victorie and be Master at all times after which commonly happeneth to the man for he is readiest to set his foot on it because he letteth it fall himselfe then they goe home againe the womans face being vncouered The Boyes in the streets cry out and make a noyse in the meane time with very dishonest words When they come home the Wife is set at the vpper end of the Table and the Husband next vnto her they fall then to drinking till they be all drunke they perchance haue a Minstrell or two and two naked men which led her from the Church dance naked a long time before all the company When they are wearie of drinking the Bride and the Bridegroome get them to Bed for it is in the Euening alwayes when any of them are marryed and when they are going to Bed the Bridegroome putteth certayne Money both Gold and Siluer if he haue it into one of his Boots and then sitteth downe in the Chamber crossing his legges then the Bride must pluck off one of his Boots which she will and if she happen on the Boot wherein the Money is shee hath not onely the Money for her labour but is also at such choice as she need not euer from that day forth to pull off his Boots but if shee misse the Boot wherein the Money is she doth not onely lose the Money but is also bound from that day forwards to pull off his Boots continually Then they continue in drinking and making good cheere three dayes following being accompanied with certayne of their friends and during the same three dayes he is called a Duke and she a Dutches although they be very poore persons and this is as much as I haue learned of their Matrimony but one common rule is amongst them if the woman be not beaten with the Whip once a Weeke she will not be good and therefore they looke for it orderly and the women say that if their Husbands did not beate them they should not loue them They vse to marry there very young their Sonnes at sixteeene and eighteene yeares old and the Daughters at twelue or thirteene yeares or younger they vse to keepe their Wiues very closely I meane those that
Prisoners being meane-while shut vp The Prison hath three Townes as it were with streets and Officers besides the Chaems lodgings fit to entertaine a King There are also all necessaries sold. Their are groues and tankes of water for washing Hospitals also and twelue Monasteries with rich houses wanting nothing that a rich and noble Citie should haue the Prisoners hauing their Wiues and Children with them the King allowing a competent house for them Another building about as great as that was the Muxiparan or treasure of the Dead compassed with a strong wall and ditch with many stone Towers and painted pinacles the wall on the top in stead of battlements was compassed with Iron grates close to which were set great store of Idols of different figures of Men Serpents Horses Oxen Elephants Fishes Snakes monstrous formes of Wormes and creatures neuer seene all of Brasse and cast Iron and some of Tinne and Copper a sight more admirable to the view then can be imagined Passing by a bridge ouer the ditch wee came to a great Hill at the first entrie all enuironed with thicke grates of Latten floored with stones white and blacke so shining that a man might see himselfe therein as in a glasse In the midst of that Hill stood a marble pillar of sixe and thirtie spannes high all seeming to bee but one stone on the top whereof stood an Idoll of siluer with a womans face with both hands griping a Serpent spotted with blacke and white And further before the gate which stood betwixt two high towers borne vpon foure and twentie bigge stone pillars stood two figures of men with Iron maces or battle Axes in their hands as guarding the passage one hundred and fortie spannes high with dreadfull countenances called Xixipitau Xalican that is the Blowers of the House of Smoake At the entrie of the gate stood twelue Halberdiers and two Notaries at a table which writ downe all that enâ—red After wee were entred we came into a large street set on both sides with rich Arches with infinite bells of Latten hanging thereon by latten chaynes by the moouing of the ayre yeelding a great sound The street was almost halfe a league long and within those arches were two rankes of houses like as it were great Churches with gilded pinacles and painted inuentions in number as the Chinois affirmed three thousand all from the bottome to the roofe full of Sculls of dead men Behind those houses was a hill of Bones reaching to the roofes of the houses of the same length of halfe a league and very broad Wee asked the Chinois if any account were kept thereof and they answered that the Talagrepos which had the gouernment of those houses had registers for them all and that euery house yeelded two thousand Taeis rent left thereto by the deceased for their soules discharge the King hauing therof the fourth part and the Talagrepos the rest for expences of the Fabrike the Kings fourth part was spent on the exiled Prisoners of Xinamguibaleu Wee walked thorow the street and in the midst saw a great hill round encompassed with two rewes of Latten grates in the midst whereof was a brazen Serpent aboue thirtie fathoms in her circles well proportioned notwithstanding that incredible massinesse This monstrous Snake which the Chinois call the Serpent deuourer of the House of smoake had set in his head a Ball or Bullet of cast Iron of two and fiftie spannes circumference Aboue twentie paces further was the figure of a Man in brasse of Giantly limbes and proportion who sustained with both his hands another bullet which eying the Serpent with an angry visage made as though he threw it at him Round about that figure were many smal gilded Idols on their knees with hands lifted vp to him as in admiration and in foure wyres of Iron enuironing were one hundred and sixtie two siluer Candlestickes each hauing sixe seuen and ten nosles This Idoll gaue name to the whole Fabrike and was called Muchiparom who was sayth the Chinois the Treasurer of all the bones of the dead and that Serpent comming to rob them hee threw that bullet in his hands and made her flee to the darke bottome of the house of smoake where God had cast her for her badnesse And that three thousand yeeres before hee made the former throw and that three thousand yeeres after he shall make another and so each three thousand yeeres another till the fifth which shall kill her after which all these bones shall returne to their bodyes to remayne alway in the house of the Moone This their Bonzos preach and that those soules shall bee happie whose bones are thither brought so that no day passeth in which two thousand bones are not brought thither And they which are too farre distant to haue their bones brought send a Tooth or two which with their almes will doe as much good as the whole so that I suppose there are teeth enough in those houses to lade many ships A third building wee saw without the walls sumptuous and rich named Nacapirau which signifieth The Queene of Heauen which they meane not of the Virgin Marie but thinke that as temporall Kings are married so also is the Heauenly and that the Children which hee getteth of Nacapirau are the Starres and when the starres seeme to shoute or fall in the ayre that then one of those Children dye all his brethren weeping so many teares that the Clouds are therewith filled and water the earth and make it fruitfull as being the almes which God giues for the soule of the deceased Wee saw heere one hundred and fortie Monasteries of their wickedly Religious men and women in euery of which were sayd to bee foure hundred persons which come to sixe and fiftie thousand besides seruitours which haue not yet vowed the profession as those within who goe in sacred habite of red with greene stoles their beards and heads shauen with beades about their neckes for their prayers but aske no almes hauing sustenance of their owne proper In this Edifice of Nacapirau the Tartarian King lodged Anno 1544. when hee layd siege to this Citie as shall after bee deliuered wherein for a diuellish and bloudie Sacrifice he commanded 30000. persons to be slaine fifteen thousand of which were Women or girles rather the Daughters of the chiefe men of the Kingdome and Religions professed of the Sects of Quiay Figrau God of the Motes of the Sunne and of Quiay Niuandel God of the Battells and of Compouitau and of foure others Quiay Mitâ—â— Quiay Colompom Quiay Muhelee and Muhee Lacasaa whose fiue Sects are the chiefe of the two and thirtie Within this building wee saw diuers memorable things One was a Wall against the other almost a league compasse borne vp with stone arches and in stead of battlements arounded with Latten grates and at euery sixe fathoms Iron workes on pillers of Brasse fastened one to another whereon by chaynes
vnto the Sunne and vnto the Saints of heauen adding thereunto many words of prayers but principally they did request that the comming of their new ghests might be profitable vnto them all and that the friendship which they did pretend to establish might be for good both vnto the one and to the other This their prayer being done they did spill out the Wine making a great courtesie then were they straight-wayes filled againe and making reuerence vnto their ghests euery one by himselfe they set the Cups downe vpon the Tables whereas the Fathers should dine whereas they were set euerie one by himselfe This being done the first seruice was set vpon the boards and the Captaynes were set at other Tables The time which the banquet indured which was very late there was great store of musicke of diuers Instruments as of Vials Gitterns and Rebuckes and with them many Iesters did make them merrie at their dinner The which being done the sayd Captayns did beare their ghests companie out of the Palace whereas they did anew inuite them to dinner for the next day in the same Hall they obeying their request did come whereas was made vnto them a banquet more notable than the first This day at the banquet was present the Totoc In this second banquet they had as the day before very much musicke and a Comedie that indured long with many prettie and merrie iests there was also a Tumbler who did his feates very artificially as well in vauting in the ayre as vpon a staffe that two men did hold on their shoulders Before the Comedie did begin by their Interpreter the signification thereof was told them that the better they might content themselues in the conceiuing The next day they sent the present and those who carryed it in did afterward giue our people to vnderstand that in opening the present there was a note thereof taken before a Noâ—arie and straight-wayes put in againe where it was taken out before the sayd Notarie and other witnesses the which being done hee sealed it vp and sent it vnto the Citie of Taybin vnto the King and his Counsell for that they haue a rigorous Law in that Kingdome that doth prohibite all such as haue any office of Gouernment to receiue any present of what qualitie soeuer it bee without licence of the King or of his Counsell This is conformable vnto that which the Gouernour of Chinâ—heo did in the presence of our people The next day following the Vice-roy did â—end to visite them and to aske of them a Sword a Harquebusse and a Flaske for that hee would cause others to bee made by them the which they did send and afterwards vnderstood that they had counterfeited the same although not in so perfect manner Then afâ—er a time our people seeing that their being in that Citie seemed to be long and like to be longer they did procure to driue away the time in the best manner they could and went abroad into the Citie and did by either of them that which they thought best Whereof they found great abundance and of so small price that they bought it almost for nothing They bought many Bookes that did intreat of diuers matters which they brought with them to the Ilands The next day they went to see the Gates of the Citie and all such curious things as were to bee seene so farre as they could learne or vnderstand which were many But amongst them all they saw a sumptuous Temple of their Idols in whose chiefe Chappell they counted one hundred and eleuen Idols besides a great number more that were in other particuler Chappels all were of carued worke very well proportioned and gilded but in especiall three of them that were placed in the midst of all the rest the one had three heads proceeding out of one bodie the one looking on the other in full face the second was the forme of a Woman with a Child in her armes the third of a Man apparelled after the forme and fashion that the Christians doe paynt the Apostles Of all the rest some had foure armes and some had sixe and other eight and other some maruellous deformed monsters Before them they had burning Lamps and many sweet perfumes and smels but in especiall before the three aboue specified But when that the Vice-roy did vnderstand that our people did goe viewing the Citie gates and Temples and perceiueth that they that gaue him the notice did suspect it that it was to some ill intent therewith hee straight-wayes commanded that they should not goe forth of their lodging without his licence and likewise commanded the Captayne that was their guard not to consent thereunto as he had done and likewise that none should carrie them any thing for to sell for he that did it should be punished with whipping Yet notwithstanding they had euery day very sufficient necessaries for their personages in such ample wise that there did always remayne and not lacke In this closenesse and keeping in they suffered many dayes with much sadnesse and oppressed with melancholicke humours to see that their purpose wherefore they went thither seemed to be long and euery day was worse and worse Yet notwithstanding they did passe it ouer in the best wise they could in committing it with heartie zeale vnto God for whose honour and glory they did attempt that voyage and prayed vnto him for to mooue their hearts to consent that the religious Fathers might remayne in that Countrey for to learne the language as they had begun many dayes before by which meanes their soules might be saued and clearely deliuered from the tyrannie of the Deuil who of truth had them in possession So after many dayes that they had remayned in that close estate as aforesayd they determined for to goe and talke with the Vice-roy and to bee fully resolued either to tarrie or returne from whence they came but were not permitted In this order they remayned in the Citie certayne dayes and for to conclude either to stay there or depart the Kingdome they were resolute and determined to write a Letter vnto the the Vice-roy They could finde none that would write this letter for them although they would haue payed them very well for their paines Till in the end by great request and prayings the Captayne Omoncon did write it for them and straight-wayes departed vnto the Citie of Ampin that was not farre off to put away the suspition they might conceiue that hee did write the letter if that peraduenture the Vice-roy would take it in ill part Their letter being written they found great difficultie in sending the same for that there was none that would carrie it neither would they consent that our men should enter into the Palace to deliuer it But in conclusion what with requests and gifts they perswaded their Captayne of their guard to carrie it who did deliuer the same vnto the Vice-roy in name of
whose Sonnes if the lawfull Wiues Children faile inherit the Kingdome which commonly falleth out and such is he which now is King and he which is to succeed him When any of these women be once entred into the Kings Palace to bee his Wife there is no name which may bee compared vnto her in being kept close for they may not only not goe abroad no nor bee seene of their Father Mother or Brethren They haue little or none authoritie but such as they obtaine of the King Also the seruice of the King of the Queene and of his Concubines is all by Eunuches a seruice doubtlesse vnworthy of a King All these Eunuches without any exception are of the most base people which are in all the Kingdome whose Fathers because they cannot keepe them when they were young doe make them Eunuches in hope that one day they shall get into the Court to serue the King the manner is farre different from some which are in Europe for these bee like those which the Turkes vse Because their Fathers doe this for pouertie it followeth that they haue no excellencie for they haue no meanes to learne it and they are little or nothing Learned They elect and choose these Eunuches from time to time to supply such as die and this first yeare that I was here they chose aboue three thousand for which purpose there assembled aboue twentie thousaind as they say out of which number they made their choice The Electors were a verie great Mandarin to whom as I said before the Kings priuate businesse belongs and another Eunuch of the eldest and most priuate The Examination and Election consisteth in two things which are a good Countenance and a good Tongue for proofe whereof they make them pronounce two words wherein those that haue not a readie Tongue doe stumble When they are chosen and gone to the Court they diuide them in diuers Offices yet at their first comming they are appointed to waite vpon the old Eunuches as Boyes which make good triall of their patience and obedience and he that after certaine yeares sheweth himselfe towardly they begin to employ in greater matters Of these Eunuches the King hath his Musicians and Mathematicians who to bee briefe I say haue no sound vnderstanding in thâ—se things at all but only for complement or superficially yet some of them are bound to watch all night and to looke whether any Comet doe appeare or any such like thing in the Skie to enforme the King thereof and to performe other like Offices They are vsually verie couetous and as they are base if they rise to bee priuate with the King some of them be proud and vncourteous They serue the King as slaues obeying his will which way soeuer he inclineth The King chastiseth them verie sharply for euery light offence especially the King that now is which is a very wicked man He hath caused many to be whipped to death for some small matter wherein they haue offended him Yet there are some of them good and diâ—â—râ—et which the King vseth for dispatching of his businesse and other matters of weight Though the ordinarie wages which they haue of the King bee small yet it serueth them well to liue of and therefore they goe verie well apparelled in many Robes of Silke verie finely wrought of diuers colours and the manner of their Cap and Apparell differeth from all other peoples There are of them in number as they say aboue sixteene thousand of them in the Kings palaces Hereby your Worship may see what Examples and Education the King of China obserueth which spendeth all his time with these and with women Although it be the custome of these Kings to shew themselues from time to time to certaine of the greatest Mandarins yet they neuer suffer the rest of the people to see them nor to speake with them and when he speaketh with any bodie they enter not into the place where hee is but the King commeth forth to a certaine place If there be any Nation among whom the Law of Nations hath no place in many things it is this for as they haue no commerce with other Nations so they haue not the Law which is common to all men And therefore they admit no Ambassadour in China vnlesse it be by the way of giuing some Present the King not acknowledging any neither doe they thinke that there is any in the World which is able to deale with their King by way of an Embassadour And if they bring any Message as the Iapons brought within these few yeares who came to intreate of certaine agreements by no meanes they are admitted to the sight of the King neither doth he giue them audience but some Mandarin doth accompany them and the entertaynment which they giue them and honour which they shew to all strangers which come vnto them is verie small But as for the most part they haue no great conceit of strangers so their entertaynment is like to their conceit Whosoeuer he be that commeth into their Countrey they shut him vp in a verie homely house not suffering him to goe abroad The Kings Palaces are verie great and albeit in the excellencie of Architecture they bee not comparable to those of our Europe yet they much exceed in the hugenesse of Building They haue three wals foure square the circuit of the first may be as bigge as the wall of a good Citie Betweene the first and the second wall there is a wall which enuironeth the greatest part of the House and here are many Houses of the Eunuches of the lowest sort which exercise Mechanicall Arts or the like as Porters c. Betweene the second and the third wall there are many pieces of the Kings House which is not joyned altogether but in diuers parts there be diuers Roomes built for diuers purposes one answering to another These parcels of Buildings which are here which are euerie one as long as the Careere of an Horse and very high haue no vnder Roome but a great Building raised vp with foundations of great Brickes as broad and long as all the Building wherein there are Gates of Marble stone very wel wrought to passe from one place to another This house or Foundation is about eight fathomes high little more or lesse Aboue these are guilded Galleries Tarasses Hals and Chambers which on the out-side shew verie gallant which is as much as can be seene for no man can get in to see them The greatest part of them is of Timber with many gilded Embossements and many other pleasant Pictures The Roofes are verie well made The Tiles are of a farre better fashion in mine opinion then ours and so euen ioyned together that that they seeme to be all one piece they are all anneled with yellow which is the Kings Colour To conclude I say that it seemed vnto me in multitude of Houses and greatnesse a stately
as there are Words so that a Word Syllable Letter are the same and when we ioyne diuers Syllables to make one Word it is after our fashion because they signifie the same thing with them each Syllable is a seuerall word And although the number of things and Characters seeme the same yet doe they so compound them together that they exceed not seuenty or eighty thousand and hee which knoweth ten thousand of them hath the most necessary to know all is in manner for any one man impossible Of these Characters the sound is often the same the figure and signification differing so that no Language is so equiuocall nor can any Speech bee written from the Speakers mouth by the Hearer nor can a Booke bee read to the Hearers vnderstanding except they haue the Booke before them by their eyes to distinguish the equiuocations which their eares cannot Yea in speaking accuratly the Hearer often vnderstands not without repetition and writing either with Inke or water on the Table or forming the Characters in the aire and this most happens in the most elegant and polite discourses the stile of Bookes and Inkhorne-dialect of their learned wholly differing from the vulgar Idiome This equiuocation and paucity of sounds is in some sort eased be Accents which are fiue and not easie to distinguish by which of one Syllable as wee account it they make it with differing tones fiue fold in differing signification and there is no Word which is not pronounced with one of these Accents Hence is the Language so difficult as none else in the World for Strangers to learne to speake and vnderstand which importunate labour of ours hath yet attayned The reason I conceiue to be that they alway haue laboured to adorne their writing more then their speech their eloquence still consisting in writing and not in pronunciation as Isocrates is commended amongst the Greekes This multitude of Characters as it is burthensome to the memory so it hath this commodity the commerce with diuers Nations of different Linguages by community of writing Iapon Corai Cauchinchina the Leuhiees vnderstanding and reading the Characters each into his owne Language which the other vnderstand nothing at all Each Prouince also hath its owne and all haue one common Tongue besides which they call Quonhoa or the Court Language the Magistrates being all forrainers and none bearing Office in his Countrey Prouince vsed in their Courts and by the Learned this onely did ours learne nor is the other vsed by the ciuiller or learneder in conference except priuaâ—ly by Countrey-men yea children and women learne this Court-speech I heare that the Iaponians haue an Alphabet also of Letters after our fashion besides these Characters but in China they haue none so that from their Cradle to the extremest age they are learning their Characters as many as professe Learning which howsoeuer it takes vp time from better Sciences it doth it also from idle youthfull vanities Hence also riseth a kinde of writing with them in few Characters expressing that which would cost vs long discourses Their course of writing is from the right hand the line downward ours contrary from the left and side-wayes Of all the noblest Sciences they are best skilled in morall Philosophie naturall they haue rather obscured and being ignorant of Logicke they deliuer those Ethicke precepts in confused sentences and discourses without order by meere naturall wit Their greatest Philosopher is called Confutius whom I finde to haue beene borne 551. yeeres before the comming of Christ and to haue liued aboue 70. yeeres by example as well as precept exciting to vertue accounted a very holy man And if wee marke his sayings and doings wee must confesse few of our Ethnike Philosophers before him and many behinde But with the Chinois his word is authoritie and no speech of his is called in question the Learned yea the Kings also euer since worshipping him not as a God but as a Man and his posteritie are much esteemed the head of that familie inheriting by grant of Kings a title of great honour with immunities and reuenues answerable They haue some knowledge also of Astrologie and the Mathematikes In Arithmetike and Geometry antiently more excellent but in learning and teaching confused They reckon foure hundred Starres more then our Astrologers haue mentioned numbring certaine smaller which doe not alway appeare Of the heauenly Apparances they haue no rules they are much busied about foretelling Eclipses and the courses of Planets but therein very erroneous and all their skill of Starres is in manner that which wee call Iudiciall Astrology imagining these things below to depend on the Starres Somewhat they haue receiued of the Westerne Saracens but they confirme nothing by Demonstration only haue left to them Tables by which they reckon the Eclipses and Motions The first of this Royall Family forbad any to learne this Iudiciall Astrologie but those which by Hereditary right are thereto designed to preuent Innouations But he which now reigneth mayntayneth diuers Mathematicians both Eunuches within the Palace and Magistrates without of which there are in Pequin two Tribunals one of Chinois which follow their owne Authors another of Saracens which reforme the same by their Rules and by conference together Both haue in a small Hill a Plaine for Contemplation where are the huge Mathematicall Instruments of Brasse before mentioned One of the Colledge nightly watcheth thereon as is before obserued That of Nanquin exceeds this of Pequin as being then the Seat Royall When the Pequin Astrologers foretell Eclipses the Magistrates and Idoll Ministers are commanded to assemble in their Officiary Habits to helpe the labouring Planets which they think they do with beating brazen Bels and often kneelings all the time that they thinke the Eclipse lasteth lest they should then bee deuoured as I haue heard by I know not what Serpent Their Physicke Rules differ much from ours they examine the Pulse alike They succeed well in their Prescriptions which vsually are Simples Herbs Rootes and the like They haue for it no publike Schoole but each learnes it of his owne Master yet in the two Royall Cities Degrees of this Art are giuen after Examination but cursorily and without any respect acquired by his Degree because all may practise which will Neyther doth any study Mathematickes or Physicke which is in any hope of the Ethike glory but such as want of wit or meanes hath deterred from studies more sublime Contrariwise that Ethike Science is the Ladder of China felicity Confutius brought into order the Bookes of foure former Philosophers and wrote a fift himselfe which fiue Bookes hee called Doctrines in which are contayned Morall and Politike Rules Examples of the Ancients Rites and Sacrifices diuers Poems also and the like Besides these fiue Volumes out of Confutius and his Disciples are brought into one Volume diuers Precepts without order Similes Sentences
that at Nanquin also where no King hath of long time resided The gates to the South both inner and outward are three the King only going in and out at the middle which otherwise is shut others at the other gates on the right and left hand Their computation of time is onely by the Kings Raigne Sometimes the King bestoweth a Title on the Parents of the principall Magistrates by a certaine writing made by the Kings Philosophers in the Kings name esteemed wonderfully acquired with any cost and kept in the familie as a thing sacred The like opinion is of other Titles giuen to Widowes expressed in two or three Characters giuen to Widowes which to their old age haue refused second marriages or to old Men which haue liued an hundred yeeres and in like cases They set these Titles ouer their doores Magistrates also doe the like to their friends To good Magistrates Arches are erected at publike cost of Marble by Citizens also to some of their Citizens which haue attayned any notable dignitie The most precious Artifices thorow all the Kingdome are yeerely sent to the King to Pequin with great costs The Magistrates of the Kings Citie goe abroad with lesse pompe on horsebacke and few of the principall in Seats and those carried but by foure Porters all in reuerence of the King Foure times in the yeere once a quarter all the Court Magistrates assemble at the Sepulchres of the antient Kings and Queenes and make there their offerings giuing the principall honour to Humvu They prepare to this solemnitie certaine dayes fasting at home and surceasing of sâ—its Next to the King they honour their Magistrates both in formes of words and visitations to which none aspire but Magistrates and they which haue beene depriued lose not all honour in this kind but sometimes come forth in their habits and are respected by their Citie Magistrates If one bee preferred to another dignity which hath well executed his Office they honour him with publike gifts and reserue his Boots in a publike Chist with Verses in his praise To some they erect Temples also and Altars with Images and some are deputed to keepe lights there burning and odours at publike Rent charge perpetually with huge Censers of Bell-metall as they doe to their Idols Yet doe they distinguish betwixt this and Diuine worship of their Gods asking many things whereas these Rites are onely memorials though many of the vulgar confound them together Cities are full of such Temples by friends often erected to vnworthie men to which at certaine times they goe and performe kneeling and bowing Rites and offer Meats Their Bookes are full of precepts for obseruing Parents with due honour and in outward shew no Nation performes so much They will not sit ouer against them but on the side speake to them with great reuerence they sustaine their poorer Parents with their labour in best manner they are able and in nothing are more curious then their funerals The mourning colour is white and all their habite from the Shooes to the Cap of a strange and miserable fashion The cause of three yeeres mourning for Parents is because so long they carried them in armes with so much labour of education for others as they please a yeere or three moneths as they are in neerenesse For the King they mourne three yeeres thorow all the Kingdome and for the Lawfull Queene Their funerall Rites are written in a Booke which they consult on that occasion all the parcels of the habite there pictured When a man of ranke is dead the Sonne or next Kinsman sends Libels to the friends within three or foure dayes all the Roome is white with an Altar in the midst on which they place the Coffin and Image of the dead Thither all the friends come in mourning one after another offer Odors and two Wax-candles on the Altar whiles they burne making foure bendings and kneelings hauing first censed against the Image The Sonnes stand at the side and the women behinde couered with a Curtaine mourning the while the Priests also burne Papers and Silkes with certaine rites to minister Clothes to the deceassed They abstayne from wonted Beds sleeping on Straw-beds on the ground neere the Corps from flesh and other daintier food Wine Bathes companie with their Wiues Bankets not going out for certaine moneths remitting by degrees as the three yeeres expire On the funerall day the friends are by another Libell inuited to which they goe in Procession forme in mourning many Statues of Men Women Elephants Tigres Lions of Paper all going before diuersified in colour and gilding which are all burnt before the Graue a long ranke of Idoll Priests Prayers and Players on diuers Instruments obseruing diuers rites in the way huge Bell-censers also carried on mens shoulders after which followes the Herse vnder a huge carued Canopie adorned with Silkes carried with forty or fifty men Next the children on foot with staues and then the women enclosed within a white gestatory Curtaine that they may not be seene followed by women of the kindred in mourning Seats The Graues are all in the Suburbs If the Sonnes bee absent the Funerall pompe is deferred till their comming They bring if it may bee the decâ—assed in another Countrey to lie by his friends The Graues are adorned with Epitaphs in Marble magnificently Thither on certaine dayes yeerely the kindred resort to cense and offer and make a funerall banquet Their Marriages and Spousals are with many rites done in their youth the Contracts compounded by the Parents without their consent they obserue equalitie in yeeres and degree in the lawfull Wife In their Concubines lust beauty price beare sway The poorer also buy their Wiues and when they list sell them The King and his kindred respect onely beauty Magistrates appointed to make the choise One is his lawfull Wife the King and his Heire hauing nine other Wiues a little inferiour and after them sixe and thirty which are also called Wiues his Concubines are more Those which bring forth Sonnes are more gracious especially the Mother of the eldest This is also familiar to other families thorow the Kingdome Their first Wife sits at Table others except in the Royall families are as Hand-maids and may not sit but stand in presence of either of them their Children also calling that lawfull Wife their Mother and for her though not the true Parent obserue trienniall mourning In Marriages they are curious not to take any of the same sur-name of which sur-names there are not a thousand in all that vast Kingdome Nor may any man frame a new sur-name but must haue one antient of the Fathers side except he be adopted into another familie They respect no affinity or consanguinity in a differing sur-name and so marrie with the Mothers kindred almost in any degree The Wife brings no portion and although when shee first goeth to her
not onely for that it is augmented by the Superstition of the Countrey but because the Friers life is the safest from the Oppressions and Exactions that fall vpon the Commons Which causeth many to put on the Friers Weed as the best Armour to beare off such blowes Besides such as are voluntary there are diuers that are forced to shire themselues Friers vpon some displeasure These are for the most part of the chiefe Nobility Diuers take the Monasteries as a place of Sanctuary and there become Friers to auoyde some punishment that they had deserued by the Lawes of the Realme For if hee get a Monastery ouer his head and there put on a Coole before hee bee attached it is a protection to him for euer against any Law for what crime soeuer except it be for Treason But this Prouiso goeth withall that no man commeth there except such as are commanded by the Emperour to be receiued but he giueth them Lands or bringeth his stocke with him and putteth it into the common Treasury Some bring 1000. Rubbels and some more None is admitted vnder three or foure hundred The manner of their Admission is after this sort First the Abbot strippeth him of all his Secular or ordinary Apparell Then he putteth vpon him next to his skinne a white flannell shirt with a long Garment ouer it downe to the ground girded vnto him with a broad Leather Belt His vpper-most Garment is a Weed of Garras or Say for colour and fashion much like to the vpper Weed of a Chimney-sweeper Then is his crowne shorne a hand breadth or more close to the very skinne and these or like words pronounced by the Abbot whiles hee clippeth his haire As these haires are clipped of and taken from thy head so now we take thee and separate thee cleane from the World and worldly things c. This done hee anointeth his crowne with Oyle and putteth on his Coole and so taketh him in among the Fraternitie They vow perpetuall Chastitie and Abstinence from flesh Besides their Lands that are very great they are the greatest Merchants in the whole Countrey and deale for all manner of Commodities Some of their Monasteries dispend in Lands one thousand or two thousand Rubbels a yeere There is one Abbey called Troits that hath in Lands and Fees the summe of 100000. Rubbels or Markes a yeere It is built in manner of a Castle walled round about with great Ordnance planted on the wall and contayneth within it a large breadth of ground and great varietie of building There are of Friers within it besides their Officers and other Seruants about seuen hundred The Empresse that now is hath many Vowes to Saint Sergius that is Patrone there to intreate him to make her fruitfull as hauing no children by the Emperour her Husband Lightly euery yeere shee goeth on Pilgrimage to him from the Mosko on foot about eighty English miles with fiue or sixe thousand women attending vpon her all in blue Liueries and foure thousand Souldiers for her Guard But Saint Sergius hath not yet heard her Prayers though they say hee hath a speciall gift and facultie that way What Learning there is among their Friers may be knowne by their Bishops that are the choice men out of all their Monasteries I talked with one of them at the Citie of Vologda where to try his skill I offered him a Russe Testament and turned him to the first Chapter of Saint Matthews Gospell Where hee beganne to reade in very good order I asked him first what part of Scripture it was that he had read he answered that he could not well tell How many Euangelists there were in the New Testament He said he knew not How many Apostles there were He thought there were twelue How he should be saued Whereunto he answered me with a piece of Russe Doctrine that he knew not whether he should be saued or no but if God would Poshallouate him or gratifie him so much as to saue him so it was he would bee glad of it if not what remedy I asked him why hee shoare himselfe a Frier Hee answered because he would eate his Bread with peace This is the Learning of the Friers of Russia which though it be not to be measured by one yet partly it may bee ghessed by the ignorance of this man what is in the rest They haue also many Nunneries whereof some may admit none but Noblemens Widowes and Daughters when the Emperour meaneth to keepe them vnmarryed from continuing the bloud or stocke which if he would haue extinguished To speake of the life of their Friers and Nunnes it needs not to those that know the hypocrisie and vncleannesse of that Cloyster-brood The Russe himselfe though otherwise addicted to all Superstition speaketh so fouly of it that it must needs gaine silence of any modest man Besides these they haue certayne Eremites whom they call Holy men that are like to those Gymnosophists for their life and behauiour though farre vnlike for their Knowledge and Learning They vse to goe starke naked saue a clout about their middle with their haire hanging long and wildly about their shoulders and many of them with an Iron coller or chaine about their neckes or midst euen in the very extremitie of Winter These they take as Prophets and men of great Holinesse giuing them a liberty to speake what they list without any controlment though it bee of the very highest himselfe So that if hee reprooue any openly in what sort soeuer they answere nothing but that it is Po graecum that is for their sinnes And if any of them take some piece of sale ware from any mans shop as he passeth by to giue where he list hee thinketh himselfe much beloued of God and much beholding to the holy Man for taking it in that sort Of this kind there are not many because it is a very hard and cold Profession to goe naked in Russia specially in Winter Among other at this time they haue one at Mosko that walketh naked about the streets and inueigheth commonly against the State and Gouernment especially against the Godonoes that are thought at this time to be great Oppressors of that Common-wealth Another there was that dyed not many yeeres agoe whom they called Basileo that would take vpon him to reproue the old Emperour for all his crueltie and oppressions done towards his people His body they haue translated of late into a sumptuous Church neere the Emperours House in Mosko and haue canonized him for a Saint Many Miracles he doth there for so the Friers make the people to beleeue and many Offerings are made vnto him not only by the people but by the chiefe Nobilitie and the Emperour and Empresse themselues which visit that Church with great Deuotion But this last yeere at my being at Mosko this Saint had ill lucke in working his Miracles For a lame man that had his limmes restored as it was
being ended the Bridegroome taketh the Bride by the hand and so they goe on together with their friends after them towards the Church porch Where meet them certaine with pots and cups in their hands with Mead and Russe Wine Whereof the Bridegroome taketh first a Charke or little cup full in his hand and drinketh to the Bride who opening her Hood or Vale below and putting the Cup to her mouth vnderneath it for being seene of the Bridegroome pledgeth him againe Thus returning all together from the Church the Bridegroome goeth not home to his owne but to his Fathers house and shee likewise to hers where either entertayne their friends apart At the entring into the House they vse to fling Corne out of the windowes vpon the Bridegroome and Bride in token of plentie and fruitfulnesse to bee with them euer after When the Euening is come the Bride is brought to the Bridegroomes Fathers house and there lodgeth that night with her Vayle or couer still ouer her head All that night she may not speake one word for that charge shee receiueth by tradition from her Mother and other Matrons her friends that the Bridegroome must neither heare nor see her till the day after the marriage Neither three dayes after may she bee heard to speake saue certaine few words at the Table in a set forme with great manners and reuerence to the Bridegroome If shee behaue herselfe otherwise it is a great prejudice to her credit and life euer after and will highly bee disliked of the Bridegroome himselfe After the third day they depart to their owne and make a Feast to both their friends together The marriage day and the whole time of their festiuall the Bridegroome hath the honour to be called Moloday Knez or young Duke and the Bride Moloday Knezay or young Dutchesse In liuing with their wiues they shew themselues to be but of a barbarous condition vsing them as seruants rather then wiues Except the Noble-women which are or seeme to bee of more estimation with their husbands then the rest of meaner sort They haue this foule abuse contrary to good order and the Word of God it selfe that vpon dislike of his wife or other cause whatsoeuer the man may goe into a Monasterie and shire himselfe a Frier by pretence of deuotion and so leaue his wife to shift for her selfe so well as shee can THe other Ceremonies of their Church are many in number especially the abuse about the signe of the Crosse which they set vp in their high wayes in the tops of their Churches and in euery doore of their houses signing themselues continually with it on their foreheads breasts with great deuotion as they will seeme by their outward gesture Which were lesse offence if they gaue not withall that religious reuerence and worship vnto it which is due to God onely and vsed the dumbe shew and signing of it instead of thanksgiuing and of all other duties which they owe vnto God When they rise in the morning they goe commonly in the sight of some steeple that hath a Crosse on the top and so bowing themselues towards the Crosse signe themselues withall on their foreheads and breasts And this is their thanksgiuing to God for their nights rest without any word speaking except peraduenture they say Aspody Pomeluy or Lord haue mercie vpon vs. When they sit downe to meat and rise againe from it the thanksgiuing to God is the crossing of their foreheads and brests Except it be some few that adde peraduenture a word or two of some ordinary prayer impertinent to that purpose When they are to giue an oath for the deciding of any controuersie at Law they doe it by swearing by the Crosse and kissing the feet of it making it as God whose name onely is to bee vsed in such triall of Iustice. When they enter into any house where euer there is an Idoll hanging on the wall they signe themselues with the Crosse and bow themselues to it When they begin any worke bee it little or much they arme themselues first with the signe of the Crosse. And this commonly is all their prayer to God for good speed of their businesse And thus they serue God with crosses after a crosse and vaine manner notwithstanding what the Crosse of Christ is nor the power of it And yet they thinke all strangers Christians to be no better then Turkes in comparison of themselues and so they will say because they bow not themselues when they meet with the Crosse nor signe themselues with it as the Russe manner is They haue Holy-water in like vse and estimation as the Popish Church hath But heerein they exceed them in that they doe not onely hollow their Holy-water stockes and tubs full of water but all the Riuers of the Countrey once euery yeere At Mosko it is done with great pompe and solemnitie the Emperour himselfe being present at it with all his Nobilitie marching through the streets towards the Riuer of Moskua in manner of Procession in this order as followeth First goe two Deacons with banners in their hands the one of Precheste or our Lady the other of Saint Michael fighting with his Dragon Then follow after the rest of the Deacons and the Priests of Mosko two and two in a ranke with Coaps on their backes and their Idols at their brests carried with girdles or slings made fast about their necks Next the Priests come their Bishops in their Pontificalibus then the Friers Monkes and Abbots and after the Patriarches in very rich attire with a Ball or Sphere on the top of his Myter to signifie his vniuersalitie ouer that Church Last commeth the Emperour with all his Nobilitie The whole traine is of a mile long or more When they are come to the Riuer a great hole is made in the Ice where the Market is kept of a road and a halfe broad with a stage round about it to keepe off the presse Then beginneth the Patriarch to say certaine prayers and coniureth the Deuill to come out of the water and so casting in Salt and censing it with Frankincense maketh the whole Riuer to become Holy-water The morning before all the people of Mosko vse to make crosses of chaulke ouer euery doore and window of their houses least the Deuill being coniured out of the water should flye into their houses When the Ceremonies are ended you shal see the black Guard of the Emperors house then the rest of the Towne with their pailes and buckets to take off the hallowed water for drinke and other vses You shall also see the women dip in their children ouer head and eares and many men and women leape into it some naked some with their clothes on when some man would thinke his finger would freeze off if he should but dip it into the water When the men haue done they bring their horse to the Riuer to drinke of the sanctified water and
friends will kill three Deere to draw him in the new World and they will strangle a Slaue to tend on him The Deere they kill in this manner to serue the dead man they make a Stake sharpe which they thrust into the Beasts fundament with many howlings and cryings till they be dead The Master with the Slaue they burie the Deere they eate as well raw as boyled or roast although they vse all three If a young Child dye vnder foureteene of their yeeres which is seuen of ours they doe hang it by the necke on some Tree saying it must flie to Heauen If any Controuersie bee which cannot bee decided or the truth knowne then one of the two betwixt whom the Controuersie is must bee sworne which is in this manner they will make an Image of a Man of Snow bringing a Wolues nose deliuering a Sword to him that must sweare he rehearsing by name all his Friends desiring that they might all bee cut in peeces in that manner as hee doth cut that Image of Snow Then he himselfe doth cut the Image of Snow all to peeces with the Sword then after the Wolues nose being layd before him he desires that the Wolfe may destroy all his tame Deere and that hee may neuer more take or kill any wilde Deere after that if hee speake not the Truth so cutting the Wolues nose in peeces there is no more to bee sayd of that Controuersie The Samoit is stout and bold of Spirit not very tall but broad Brested broad Faces with hollow Eyes Their ordinary instruments for Warre are Bowes and Arrowes very dangerous they haue long Speares the heads bee made in Monganzey by another sort of Samoits and short Swords not much vnlike some that I haue seene brought from East India When they would know any thing to come they send for their Priest or Witch to conuerse with the Deuill sitting in one side of the Tent hauing before his face a peece of an old shirt of Mayle hung with Bels and peeces of Brasse in his right hand a great Tabor made with a Wolues skinne beating vpon the same with a Hares foot making a very dolefull sound with singing and calling for the Deuill to answer his demand which being ended they strangle a Deere for a Sacrifice making merrie with the Flesh. The Women be very hard of Nature for at their Child-bearing the Husband must play the Midwife and being deliuered the Child is washed with cold water or Snow and the next day the Woman able to conduct her Argish The Russes haue a yeerely Trade with the Merchants of Beghar at a place called Tumen in Tartarie whither they of Boghar come with Camels euery yeere From Tumen in Tobal in Siberia they come in foureteene dayes From Tobal they come to Beresoua in nine dayes all downe the Riuer Ob. From Beresoua partly by the Riuer Ob then ouer a necke of Land of halfe a mile ouer into the Riuer Ouse and downe the Riuer Ouse into the Riuer Pechora and so to Pustozera in three weekes At Pustozera the English haue Wintered three yeeres CHAP. XIII Diuers Voyages to Cherie Iland in the yeeres 1604. 1605. 1606. 1608. 1609. Written by IONAS POOLE WEe set sayle from London the fifteenth of Aprill 1604. in a Ship called the God Speed of sixtie Tunnes with thirteene Men and a Boy our Merchant was one Master Thomas Welden our Master was one Steuen Bonnit of Saint Catherins We arriued at Cola in Lapland the first of May where wee tarried till the last of the same Moneth at which time wee set sayle from Cola and went to an Harbour called Pechingo which lyeth betweene Cola and Ward-house In which Harbour of Pechingo we continued vntill the thirtieth of Iune At which time wee set sayle from thence and through contrarie windes and foule weather were put into Ward-house where we tooke in fresh water and stayed vntill the sixth of Iuly The same day the wind came Southerly and we steered away Northwest and by North about 56. leagues wee obserued the Sunne at twelue of the clocke at Noone and found our selues to be in 73. degrees 5. minutes of Northerly Latitude The seuenth of Iuly it was all day calme and wee sounded but had no ground in two hundred and fiftie fathoms The eight day we had little winde which was at South-east and foggie weather and at eight of the clocke at Night wee saw great flockes of Sea-fowles which we call Willockes some of these Fowles had each of them a small Fish in their bills and flew toward the North-west and by North. The other without Fish some of them flew contrarie to the former and some sate in the Sea very neere our Ship About twelue of the clocke at night we sounded and had ground at one hundred and twentie fathomes We steered away North-west and by North till foure of the clocke the eight day in the morning then it fell calme and as the ship lay still our Master spied a Morsse which came to our ship and swamme round about it While we were all gazing at this Monster I spied the Iland ten leagues off bearing North North-west halfe a point Westerly which shewed very high Land and much Snow vpon it The wind came to the North-east The ninth day wee came to an Anchor on the South South-east side in fiue and twentie fathomes streamie ground We â—oysed out our Boate and Master Welden went toward the Land but thinking to haue landed he could not because there went a great Sea and great store of Ice all along the shoares side Within one houre the Boate came aboard and they â—aid there were so many Fowles that they couered the Rockes and flew in such great flockes that they shewed like a Cloud While thus they were talking close by the Boate rose vpâ—n huge Morsse putting his head aboue the water looking earnestly at the Boate and made such an horrible noyse and roaring that they in the Boate thought he would haue sunke it The same day at eight of the clocke at night we weighed and stood away South-west and by South about foure miles where wee doubled the Southermost point of the Iland and found the Land to trend North North-west and all along the shoare some scattering Ice We sayled along the shoare finding seuenteene eighteene and sometimes twentie fathomes streamie ground with white shels We held this course till wee saw all the Northermost part of the Iland and being within three miles of it and about thirteene miles from the Point wee came round about it And some two miles from the Land we anchored in sixteene fathomes streamie ground We had not ridden one houre to an end but a great piece of Ice came directly with the tyde vpon vs and before wee could weigh it strooke the ship with such force that it hilded on the one side Assoone as it was past we went on shoare where wee found
because they are very deuout and yeeld great reuerence to the worship and seruice of God Auarice is as it were altogether extinguished for they vnderstand not in any sort nor know not what thing of anothers may become theirs but by barter and therefore they vse not to locke Doore House nor Windowes nor any Chest for feare to bee robbed but onely by reason of the wilde Beasts The Inhabitants of this place both young and old are of so great simplicitie of heart and obedient to the Commandement of God that they neither vnderstand know nor imagine in any wise what Fornication or Adulterie may bee but vse Marriage according to Gods Commandement And to giue you a true proofe hereof I Christophâ—râ— say that we were in the house of our foresaid Host and slept in one and the same Cottage where hee also and his Wife slept and successiuely in one Bed neere adjoyning were their Daughters and Sonnes of ripe age together neere to the which Beds we also slept almost close adjoyning to them so that when they went to sleepe or when they arose or when they stripped themselues naked and wee in like manner we indifferently saw one another and yet with that puritie as if wee had beene little children But I will tell you more that for two dayes together our said Host with his elder Sonnes arose to goe a fishing euen at the time of the most delightfull houre of sleepe leauing his Wife and Daughters in the Bed with that securitie and puritie as if he had properly left them in the armes and embracements of the Mother not returning to his home in lesse time then the space of eight houres The Inhabitants of this Iland especially the elder â—ort are found so vnited in their wils to the will of God that in euery casualtie of naturall death which befalleth Father Mother Husband Wife Children or whatsoeuer other Kinsman or Friend when the houre of their passage vnto another life appeareth presently without any griefe of heart and complaining they assemble themselues together vnto the Cathedrall Church to thanke and prayse the Heauenly Creator who hath permitted such an one to liue so many yeeres and at that present as his creature vouchsafed to call him or her into his gracious fauour and neere vnto him and at the appointed houre they cause them to be washed cleane to haue them pure and neate as they were borne Whereupon rejoycing and contenting themselues with his infallible will and pleasure they giue him prayse and glorie not shewing any passion either in words or gestures as if properly they had but slept Surely we may say that from the third of February 1431. vntill the fourteenth of May 1432. which amounteth to an hundred dayes and one we were within the circuit of Paradise to the reproch and shame of the Countries of Italie There at the beginning of May we saw great varietie and alteration First their women vse to goe vnto the Bathes which are very neere and commodious as well for puritie as for the custome they obserue which they hold agreeable vnto Nature they vse to come forth of their houses starke naked as they came out of their Mothers wombe going without any regard to their way carrying only in their right hand an heape of grasse in manner of a broome as they say to rub the sweat from their backe and the left hand they hold vpon their hip spreading it as it were for a shadow to couer their hinder parts that they should not much appeare where hauing twice seene them we passed away by them as easily as their owne people the Countrey was so cold and the continuall seeing of them that it caused vs to make no account thereof On the contrary part these very women were seene on the Sunday to enter into the Church in long and comely Garments And that they might not by any meanes be seene in the face they weare on their head a thing like a compleat Morion with a Gorget which hath an hole to see through at the end like the hole of a Pipe through the which they behold within that no further off from their eyes then the hole is long so that they seeme to haue it in their mouthes to pipe and worse then that they can neither see nor speake vnlesse they turne themselues a yard or more from the hearer I thought good to note these two extreame varieties as worthy to bee vnderstood From the twentieth of Nouember vntill the twentieth of February the night continueth and lasteth there about one and twentie houres or more the Moon neuer wholly hiding her bodie or her rayes at least And from the twentieth of May vntill the twentieth of August either the whole Sunne is alwayes seene or else his beames neuer faile In this Countrey there is infinite plentie of white Birds in their Language called Muxi but we called them Cockes of the Sea which by nature conuerse and willingly abide where men inhabit whether they find them in Barkes or on the Land And they are so domesticall and tame as House-doues are with vs. In this Iland and in the Countries of Succia we saw very white skins of Beares as white as Armelins much longer then twelue Venetian feete Wee abode in Rustene three moneths and eleuen dayes expecting a fit time to passe with our Host into Sueden with his vsuall fraight of Stock-fish which is in the time of May when these Countrey people depart carrying with them infinite plentie thereof through the Realmes of the aforesaid King of Dacia On the fourteenth day of May 1432. came the houre so much desired to turne our faces towards our amiable and beloued Countrey as our minde and desire alwayes was and leaue the charitable place of Rustene which was the last succour and refreshing to our miseries So wee tooke our leaue of our Domesticall friends of the House and of our Mistresse and Hostesse to whom in token of our loue we left not that whereunto we were in dutie bound but what wee had remayning and that was certayne small trifling things of little value in our opinion as Goblets Girdles and small Rings And likewise wee tooke leaue of the Neighbours and the Priest and generally of all shewing them by signes and words as the Interpeter might vnderstand then that we acknowledged our selues bound vnto them all And hauing performed due salutations we entred into a Barke of the burthen of twentie tunnes or thereabouts laden with the said fish guided by our Patrone and Host with three of his Sonnes and certayne of their Kindred And we departed on the said day bending our course towards Bergie which is the first conuenient and fit Hauen for the dispatch and riddance of such fish which place is distant from Rustene about some thousand miles So we conducted the said Barke through certaine direct and safe channels rowing most commodiously and at ease But after we were about two hundred miles off
little into the Plaines and a hundred and sixtie yeeres since or very little more to haue come into Taurica or the Peninsula The stocke of the Chans or of their Tartar Princes was anciently called Cyngis race from whom was Lochtonus a certaine Chan of whom all the Chans take their originall Hee was the first Emperour of Taurica or Chersonesus in Taurica or the Peninsula They haue procreated the Sirinen Bachinien Manguten and other Kiuazij or Dukes from whom are the Caiacei who are the Chans Counsellours and chiefe Officers who also marry the Chans daughters and sisters The Vlani which are anciently descended of the Chans bloud and if the lawfull posteritie faile succeed in the Regall Throne It is very true that the Mursies are the noblest of each now also their posteritie remaine other warlike Tartars of whom it is certaine he had diuers Hords of some ten thousand a piece in his company passed into Taurica or the Peninsula with him The Chans predecessors sincerely and constantly much esteemed the Grecian Chiefetaines who inhabited at Mancopia and Ingermene and the Italian Genoes who dwelt at Iambold and Capha as also the other people they found in the Peninsula with whom they had friendship peace and league vntill they were ouercome by the Turkes and consumed in warre they had also many yeeres common mony which I haue seene there But Selim Emperour of the Turkes compelled and subiugated Mechmet Gererius Chan to his Empire Those Nations being weakned almost all the Castles and Cities of the Maritime Peninsula being taken and possessed Sachmates the Prince of the Iauolgan Tartars put him to flight with a singular and memorable slaughter hauing destroyed his Armie of a hundred thousand Since which time the Chans acknowledge as chiefe the Empire of the Turkes The Viceroyes or Princes of the Tartars of Taurica or the Peninsula are constituted by them they receiue thence a Banner and giue their sonnes and brothers Soldans for perpetuall pledges to the Turkes Notwithstanding after the ancient custome of their Nation they make a Galga or successor to the Empire as the French doe their Dolphines the brother or eldest sonne and more sufficient who hath the greatest sway in peace and warre but the Chans themselues perpetually depute and elect them but with the approbation of the Tartar Nobles And if also any dissention or war be raised betweene the Soldans or the Chan about the Empire the Turkish Emperour neglects not to dispatch the Soldans pledge with an Armie and Standard into Taurica or the Peninsula and it is sufficient for him to be Prince the Chan and Sultan being appeased or forced to goe away by warre for which cause he hath alwaies many Ianizaries in Taurica or the Peninsula The election of the Chans after the ancient custome of the Nation did whilelome consist in the free suffrages of the Dukes Mursies and noblest Tartars Furthermore for their frequent discord and hidious warres which were occasioned by the Nogaien Tartars bordering on Taurica or the Peninsula about the Empire Sachibgiereius and Dealetigereius being Chans ouer the Tartars hauing by subtilty destroyed the more noble and potent Tartars and cast them into fetters began absolutely to domineere ouer the Tartars and by force to draw the election to their posteritie the Emperour of the Turkes ayding them But if the Chan will not constitute his brother Galga but his owne sonne as it often fortunes by reason of those discords and reciprocall butcheries among themselues hee circumuents craftily and subtilly all the Soldans brothers and couertly makes them away Yet most of them flye to the Turke of whom they are bountifully entertained and comforted and receiue a perpetuall stipend of him The Soldans younger sonnes of the Chans are educated and tutered by the Tartars or more noble Mursies lest that when they are at mans estate by reason of their pluralitie dissentions or warres might arise for each Chan acknowledge a supreme Dominion and when they are growne vp those that are fit are set ouer certaine Tartar troupes and allure many voluntary Tartars vnto them notwithstanding they make leaders of the Nogaien Tartars and remunerate with monyes and horses most of their parents whom they esteeme more speciall and substantiall Very often also through feare of treacheries or seditions among themselues being ayded by their Gardians fauour they flye vnto the Christian or bordering Princes of their people The Chan hath Attalike Councellours whom they so terme from the care of their women parents or their wiues by whom those Sultans also are continually from their youth educated and prouided for hee hath Hamiatts who are the Agents for exotick Princes affaires with him and also perpetuall Court Officers But especially hee conuocates to him the Dukes Coracei Vlani and the nobler Mursi and alwayes vseth to consult with them in weightie affaires Hee hath principall and meet men Ministers of his Court whose seruice hee vseth in his Ambassages and in his diuers other necessary businesses and imployments who also are exalted to Counsellours and Court Officers He alwayes maintaines those who are chosen out of the more renowned and illustrious Tartarian youth who are conuersant in his Court by moneths interchangeably and when they are made fit are honoured with those dignities Yet hee is chiefly and most delighted with the Cercesins Nogaiens and Petogorens who are very industrious valiant bold and warlike On the principall hee bestowes honourable gifts and annuall pensions and of these his Court is alwayes replenished In the Princes Court the better reputed and nobler Tartars are very richly and ciuilly decked not to pride or superfluous luxurie but for necessitie and decencie For they are so inriched by the lazie cowardise and especially by the irreligious impiety of the neighbouring Christians through making often inrodes and getting rich booties that the greater nobler of them in priuate wealth and domestick splendor are little inferiour to the Turkes They may haue as many women by the Mahometicall Law as they will and for the most part they buy wiues of the Petigorens which although they sustaine and maintaine not proudly but very comely and ciuilly according to the countrey guise but those by whom they haue issue very honourably and gorgeously They deliuer their sonnes in their infancie to be instructed in the Arabike Letters but they keepe not their daughters at home but commit them to the neerest in bloud to be prouided for They place their sonnes growne to mans age in the Chans or Sultans seruice their mariageable daughters in wedlock to the more honourable and nobler Tartars or Turkes Those Tartars are Mahometans and haue Priests and Mosches they vse the Chaldaick or Arabike Letters which they haue receiued somewhat corrupted from the Turks although before they came into Taurica or the Peninsula they seeme to haue beene a sauage and brutish Nation and of very sauage conditions which now also is very
man of courage I know sayth hee to whom I will commit him that will diligently keepe him and foorthwith hee slew him and buryed him And so the Sedition was appeased And from that time vntill this day the Word of God is taught amongst Barbarous men after the manner of the Confession of Augusta The Life and Manners of the Iselanders IN the whole Iland there are three sorts of men who are held in any reckoning and account for the common people by reason of the scarcitie of Ships wherewith they fish make themselues slaues to the richer Of those three sorts the first is of them whom they call Loshmaders that is to say Men of Iustice for Loch in their language signifieth Law These men administer Iustice and there are many of them but twelue of them onely haue the yeerely charge of Iustice. All men obey their Iudgement and Decrees Another sort is of them who are called Bonden They are in the place of Nobles and as euery one of them is richest in Shipping and Cattle so hee hath most Fishers and followers This onely power they know The third sort is of Bishops and Ministers of the word of God of the which many are found euery where throughout the whole Iland There are many of the Iselanders very proud and high minded especially by reason of the strength of body which they haue I saw an Iselander who easily put an Hamburg Tunne full of Ale to his mouth drinking off it as if hee had had but one small measure Both Sexes in Iseland haue the same habite so that by the garments you shall not easily discerne whether it bee Man or Woman They want Flaxe except it bee brought vnto them by our Countrey-men The Women-kinde there are very beautifull but ornaments are wanting The whole Nation of the Islanders is much giuen to Superstitions and they haue Spirits familiarly seruing them For they onely are fortunate in Fishing who are raised vp by night of the Deuill to goe a fishing And although the Ministers of the Gospell vse all diligence in disswading them from this impietie yet this wickednesse hath taken roote and sticketh so deepely in their mindes and they are so bewitched of Sathan that they can admit no sound Doctrine and Dehortation Yea by the Deuils meanes if you offer them money they promise a prosperous wind and performe it which I know as hereafter shall bee spoken The like Olaus Magnus writeth of the Finlanders in his third Booke They hold Ships also by inchantment almost immoueable and that in a prosperous wind And truely it is a wonder that Sathan so sporteth with them For hee hath shewed them a remedie in staying of their Ships to wit the Excrements of a Maide being a Virgin if they annoynt the Prow and certaine planckes of the Ship hee hath taught them that the Spirit is put to flight and driuen away with this stinke In the rest of the carriage of their life they thus behaue themselues The Parents teach their male Children euen from their child-hood letters and the Law of that Iland so that very few men are found throughout the whole Iland but they know Letters and many Women vse our letters and haue also other characters with the which they expresse some whole words of theirs which words can hardly bee written with our letters They giue themselues to hardnesse and fishing from their Infancie for all their life consists in Fishing They exercise not Husbandrie because they haue no Fields and the greatest part of their foode consisteth in Fish vnsauerie Butter Milke and Cheese In stead of Bread they haue Fish bruised with a Stone Their Drinke is Water or Whay So they liue many yeeres without medicine or Physitian Many of them liue till they bee one hundred and fiftie yeeres old And I saw an old man who sayd hee had then liued two hundred yeeres Nay Olaus Magnus in his twentieth Booke sayth that the Iselanders liue three hundred yeeres The greater part of Iselanders hath neuer seene Bread much lesse tasted it If our men at any time sell them Meale or Corne they mingle it with Milke and lay it vp for a long time as delicates for Nobles They call this sauce or mixture Drabbell The Germaines that trade in Iseland haue a place in the Hauen of Haffenefordt fenced by Nature where vnder Tents they set their Mercbandise to sale as Shooes Garments Glasses Kniues and such kinde of Merchandise of no price The Iselanders haue Oyle molten out of the bowels of Fishes knowne to our Tanners and Shoomakers they haue Fish Brimstone white Foxe skinnes Butter and other things They barter all these for our Commodities nor is the bargaine ratified before they bee well stuffed with our Meat Wine or Beere together with their Wiues and Children whom they bring with them how many soeuer they haue Comming into the Hauen they haue their Daughters with them which are marriage-able they after they haue inquired of our companie whether they haue Wiues at home or not they promise a nights lodging for Bread Bisket or any other trifling things Sometimes the Parents yeeld their Daughters freely euen for a whole moneth or as long as they stay If shee prooue with Child by that lying with her the parents loue their Daughter better then before and the Child being borne they bring it vp some yeeres while either the Father returne or they giue it to their Sonne in law that shall bee for a Dowrie with their Daughter who doth not despise it because it is borne of the Germaine blood If any Virgin haue familiaritie with a Germaine shee is honoured among them and therefore shee is sought of many Suiters And the time was before this that Whoordome which was without the degrees of Consanguinitie and Affinitie had no Infamie And although Preachers crie out against it and the offenders are seuerely punished yet they hardly abstaine They lay not vp Wine and Beere which they buy of our Countrey-men but quaffe it vp house by house by course one with another and that freely or for nothing While they drinke they sing the heroicall acts of their ancestors not with any certaine composed order or melodie but as it commeth in euery mans head Neither is it lawfull for any one to rise from the Table to make water but for this purpose the daughter of the house or another maid or woman attendeth alwayes at the Table watchfull if any becken to him that beckeneth shee giues the chamber-pot vnder the Table with her owne hands the rest in the meane while grunt like Swine least any noise bee heard The water being powred out hee washeth the Bason and offereth his seruice to him that is willing and hee is accounted vnciuill who abhorreth this fashion They entertaine them that come vnto them with a kisse and they behold and looke each on other if paraduenture they may see Lice creeping
to an Vlusses called Beskuta fiue dayes the Duke is called Cherkar from him to an Vlusses called Girut foure daies without water the Duke is called Chicheâ—â—â—â— From him to an Vlusses called Isut fiue dayes the Duke of it is called Chechen From him to an Vlusses called Tulent Vnient foure dayes the Duke is called Tayku Katin From him to the Vlusses Yogorsin three dayes there is a King called Bakshuta From thence to an Vlusses of the yellow Mugalls called Mugolehin wherein is a Dutchesse called Manchika with her Sonne Ouchai Taichie it is within two dayes journey of the Land of Mugalla a very dangerous passage through the cliffes of the Rockes which being past they came into the Land of Mugalla wherein are two Castles or Cities built of stone they are called with them Bashum in one of them is a Duke called Talaij Taishen and in the other the Duke is called Egidon Taishen there is also a third Citie in it called Lobin wherein doth gouerne a woman called Dutchesse Manchika with her Sonne the said Dutchesse doth command all the Cities of Mugalla and her command extendeth into Catay If any man be to trauell ouer the borders and into Catay he must haue a Passe vnder her Seale which if they haue not they may not passe through Catay The Land of Mugalla is great and large from Bughar to the Sea all the Castles are built with stone foure square at the corners Towers the ground or foundation is layd of rough grey stone and are couered with 〈◊〉 the gates with counterwards as our Russe gates are and vpon the gates aâ—â—rum Bels or Wâ—tch-bels of twentie poode weight of metall the Towers are couered with glazed Tiles the houses are built with stone foure cornerd high within their Courts they haue low Vâ—â—lts also of stone the feelings whereof and of their houses are cunningly painted with all sorts of colours and very well set forth with flowres for shew In the said Countrey of Mugalla are two Churches of Friers or Lobaes built of square stone and stand betweene the East and the South vpon the tops of them are made beasts of stone and within the Church iust against the doore are set three great Idols or Images in the forme of women of two and an halfe fathome long gilt all ouer from the heads to the feet and sit a fathome high from the ground vpon beasts made of stone which beasts are painted with all manner of braue colours Those Idols haue each in their hand a Vessell and there burne before them three tallow Candles on the right side of them are erected eight Idols more in the forme of men and on the left side eight Idols more in the forme of Maydens gilt all ouer from the head to the foote their armes stretched out after the manner as the Mugall people or Religious men vse to pray And a little way from these Idols stand two Idols more made naked as a man is in all parts not to be discerned euen as though he were aliue hauing before them Candles burning as small as a straw and burne without a flame only in an Ember or Corall Their seruice or singing in these Churches is thus They haue two Trumpets of a great length about two fathomes and an halfe long and when they sound on these Trumpets anâ— beate vpon Drummes the people fall downe vpon their knees and clap their hands againe â—aâ—â—ing their armes asunder they fall to the ground and lye so halfe an houre Their Churches are couered with glazed Tiles As for bread in the Land of Mugalla there groweâ—h all manner of 〈◊〉 as Prossâ— or Russe Rice Wheate Oates Barley and all sorts of other Graine 〈…〉 their Wheate bread is as white as Snow As for Fruit in Mugalla they haue of all 〈…〉 Apples Melons Arbuses Pompeons Cheries Lemons Cucumbers Onions Garlicâ—◠〈…〉 are not faire but the women exceeding faire and weare for their Apparell Veluets and 〈…〉 the Capes of their Garments both of the men and women hang downe to their 〈◊〉 They distill Aquaâ—itâ— out of all sorts of Graine without Hops As for Preâ—ious Stones and Gold they haue none but for Siluer they haue great store out of Catay Their Boots they weare of their owne fashion They haue no Horses only Mules Asses in abundance they till and plough their ground with great and small Ploughes as we doe in Siberia at Tâ—bolskâ— Their Cuttuffs are in our Language Patriarkes and both in Mugalla and Catay are but two Cuttuffs the one was about twentie and the other thirtie yeeres of age Within the Churches are made for them high places with seats whereupon they sit the King doth honour them with bowing downe before them Their Lobaes are in our Language Friers which are shorne about twentie yeeres of age and know no women from their Mothers wombe they eate flesh continually euery day and shaue both Beards and Mustachoes their Garments are of Damaske of all sorts and colours and their Hoods yellow they say that their Religion and ours are all one only the Russe Monkes are blacke and theirs white Beyond the Land of Mugalla are three other Countreyes or Dominions stretching towards Bughar the one called Ortus the Kings name there is Euakan the Citie is of stone and the Kingdome rich The other is called Dominions of Talguth the Kings name is Sauelanche his Cities are also of stone and his Kingdome rich The third Countrey where the chiefe Citie is is called Shar and the King thereof is called Zellezney or Iron King his Kingdome is rich and not farre from Bughar From this Iron King come Diamonds and all these three Kingdomes are vnder the South and on the other side of the blacke Mugalls are the yellow Mugalls stretching all alongst the Sea aswel Townes as walking people with their Families and Herds From the Countrey of Mugalla where the Dutchesse Manchika dwelleth to the Citie of Shrokalga in Catay is two dayes trauell on horsebacke and the bordering or frontier wals stand vnder the South towards Bughar two moneths trauell all made of Bricke of fifteene fathome high whereupon they told about a hundred Towres in sight on both sides of them but towards Bughar and towards the Sea the Towres are not to bee numbred and euery Towre standeth from another about a flight shot distant The said wall 〈◊〉 downe towards the Sea foure moneths trauell The people of Catay say that this wall stretcheth alongst from Bughar to the Sea and the Towres vpon it stand very thicke it was made as they say to be a border betweene Mugalla and Catay The Towres vpon it are to the end that when any enemy appeareth to kindle fires vpon them to giue the people warning to come to their places where they are appointed vpon the wall At the entring without the wall dwell the blacke Mugalls and within is the Countrey and Cities
Atturneys of the Indians That they aske them nothing And for their greater good it is prouided that the Atturney of the supreme Councell of the Indies bee Protector of the Indians and defend them in their suites and aske in the Councell all the necessarie things for his instruction preseruation and politike life and now there are appointed Protectors in the Kingdomes of Piru and New Spaine with new orders for their better vsage It is also commanded to set vp Schooles of the Castillane tongue that the Indians may learne it and may doe it from their childhood and that no vagabond Spaniard doe dwell or remayne in the Townes of the Indians nor among them but that the Vice-royes and the Courts doe put all diligence in driuing such out of the Land shipping them for Castile and the Countrie borne be compelled to serue and to learne Trades And as well to the Prelates as to the Vice-royes Courts Gouernours and Rulers and other whatsoeuer Iustices is ordayned and particular care is had they doe accomplish it that they doe prouide how the offences that were done to God may cease in the Indians marrying whiles they are children without hauing respect of age the Caziques marrying with more then one woman though he be an Infidell in hindering that when some Cazique did die they should kill another to bee buried with him and other like abominable vses That it be permitted to the Indians that they may dispose of themselues what they list as free men and exempted from all manner labour though it shall bee procured that they doe labour and not be idle and may haue libertie to dispose of their goods the Lands being set to sale by out-cry thirty dayes and the moueable nine the Iustice being present That the Lands remayning of any Indian deceasing without a Will shall remayne in the Townes where they dwelt That they make the Markets freely and sell in them their merchandize That their good vses and ancient customes be approued That they may send to these Kingdomes Indian Atturneys for three yeeres That the Residencies be published in the Indian Townes to see if any will demand iustice That in euery Towne of the Indians there bee an Hospitall with the things necessarie In this matter of the Indian slaues there were in the beginning of the Discoueries diuers opinions and orders gouerning themselues as the time required and the state of the things but after the Bishop Don Sebastian Ramirez came for President of New Spaine this vse was absolutely abolished notwithstanding the ancient one which the Indians had to make themselues slaues one to another neither might they buy of them nor receiue them neither that any person may bring to these Kingdomes any Indian in title of a slaue though he be taken in lawfull warre and for this are so straight orders giuen that they are effectually kept and so in no place of the Indies are Indian slaues though they be out of the bounds of Castile and Lion And to eschew this inconuenience the more the bringing Indians to these parts for whatsoeuer title it bee is forbidden And the qâ—ietnesse for the Commonwealth being aboue all very necessarie facultie is giuen to the Vice-royes Presidents Gouernours and other Iustices that they may driue away and banish from the Indies all vnquiet persons and send them to these Kingdomes iudging it so to bee conuenient for the quietnesse of those but that it bee not for hatred or passion nor for anâ— such reason And that it may be some bridle to the Superiors they are commanded that they hinder no man the writing to the King to his Councell and to other persons what they will neither open nor take any papers or letters vnder great penalties and that they permit to passe and repasse through the Countrie them that will prouiding wayes and bâ—idges in the places where they are wanting As touching the matters of Warre it is also prouided with great deliberation for the Vice-royes greater authoritie facultie is giuen them to haue a Guard on foot and on Horse-backe to make a casting place for Ordnance and Bullets and a building for munitions to leuy men arme ships and make fortifications and prouide all the rest conuenient for the defence of those Kingdomes and how the excesses of the Souldiers may be eschewed as well by Land as by Sea and to them that goe in the fleetes committing the punishing of them to whom it belongeth for to excuse competencies of iurisdiction It hath already beene said how all the Gouernment of this Orbe depends of the supreme and Royall Councell of the Indies that are neere the Person Royall But as it is necessarie that the executions of those parts haue correspondence in these and here also there be they that may prouide in effecting that is behoofefull for the matters there it was necessarie to place in Siuil where all the trafficke of the Indies doth come a house Royall of contrataction of it that medleth not but in the dispatching of those businesses and dependants of them without any person nor Iustice doe intermeddle in any thing belonging to the Indian affaires and it is in substance a Tribunall of great authoritie in the which is a President which now is Don Bernardino Delgadiâ—â—o of Auellaneda a Teller a Treasurer one Factor three learned Iudges one Solicitor one Relator one Sergeant Scriueners Porter Iaylor and other Officers In the Ilands of Tenerife and Palma are placed two learned Iudges called Officers Royall or Iudges of the Registers to cause Orders to be kept that are giuen for the lading and Registers of those Ilands and Nauigation of that voyage The house of the Contrataction hath her instruction and ordinances how her iurisdiction is to be gouerned and exercised and the learned Iudges haue it also for their vse and exercise keeping in the seeing of the plea betweene parties the order that is held in the Courts of Valladolid and Granada and because the particular care of the officers of this house is the dispatch of the Fleetes and Armies that they may depart in due times they employ themselues in it with great diligence and in receiuing them that come and setting in safeguard the Gold Siluer Iewels and other things that doe come with a distinction of the waight and carracts charging themselues with all that there may be more account and reason and for to make the prouisions of the Fleetes and Armies There are so good orders giuen that neither the Ministers doe exceed nor the Subiects receiue wrong for all passeth very conformable to the intention of these Godly and Catholike Kings by meanes of the great diligence of the supreme Councell of the Indies And because the businesses of the Indies haue increased so much that the supreme Councell could not dispatch them with the breuitie conuenient to the good gouernment of that Orbe and the benefit of the Suiters with the aduice of the President and
and qualitie according to the nature of the place where they are engendred or grow and of the beasts called Tigres IN the firme Land are found many terrible beasts which some thinke to be Tigres Which thing neuerthelesse I dare not affirme considering what Authors doe write of the lightnesse and agilitie of the Tigre whereas this beast being otherwise in shape very like vnto a Tigre is notwithstanding very slow Yet true it is that according to the maruailes of the World and differences which naturall things haue in diuers Regions vnder Heauen and diuers constellations of the same vnder the which they are created wee see that some such Plants and Herbes as are hurtfull in one Countrie are harmelesse and wholesome in other Regions And Birds which in one Prouince are of good taste are in other so vnsauourie that they may not bee eaten Men likewise which in some Countries are blacke are in other places white and yet are both these and they men Euen so may it be that Tigres are light in some Region as they write and may neuerthelesse be slow and heauie in these Indies of your Maiestie whereof wee speake The Sheepe of Arabie draw their tailes long and bigge on the ground and the Bulls of Egypt haue their haire growing toward their heads yet are those Sheepe and these Bulls Men in some Countries are hardie and of good courage and in other naturally fearfull and bruitish All these things and many more which may be said to this purpose are easie to bee prooued and worthy to bee beleeued of such as haue read of the like in Authors or trauelled the World whereby their owne sight may teach them the experience of these things whereof I speake It is also manifest that Iucca whereof they make their bread in the Iland of Hispaniola is deadly poison if it be eaten greene with the juyce and yet hath it no such propertie in the firme Land where I haue eaten it many times and found it to be a good fruit The Bats of Spaine although they bite yet are they not venemous but in the firme Land many die that are bitten of them And in this forme may so many things be said that time shall not suffice to write whereas my intent is onely to prooue that this beast may be a Tigre or of the kinde of Tigres although it bee not of such lightnesse and swiftnesse as are they whereof Plinie and other authors speake describing it to bee one of the swiftest beasts of the Land and that the Riuer of Tygris for the swift course thereof was called by that name The first Spaniards which saw this Tyger in the firme land did so name it Of the kind of these was that which Don Diego Columbo the Admiral sent your Maiesty out of New Spaine to Toledo Their heads are like to the heads of Lions or Lionesses but greater the rest of all their bodies and their legs are full of black spots one neere vnto another diuided with a circumference or fringe of red colour shewing as it were a faire work and correspondent picture about their croopes or hinder parts they haue these spots biggest and lesse lesse toward their bellies legs heads I haue seen some of three spans in height and more then fiue in length They are beasts of great force with strong legs and well armed with nayles and fanges which we call Dog-teeth they are so fierce that in my iudgement no reall Lyon of the biggest sort is so strong or fierce Of these there are many found in the firme Land which deuoure many of the Indians and doe much hurt otherwise but since the comming of the Christians many haue beene killed with Crosse-bowes after this manner Assoone as the Archer hath knowledge of the haunt of any of these Tygers hee goeth searching their trace with his Crosse-bow and with a little Hound or Begle not with a grey-hound because this Beast would soon kill any Dogge that would venter on him When the Hound hath found the Tigre he runneth about him baying continually and approacheth so neere him snapping and grinning with so quicke flying and returning that he hereby so molesteth this fierce Beast that hee driueth him to take the next Tree at the foot whereof he remayneth still baying and the Tigre grinning and shewing his teeth while in the meane time the Archer commeth neere and twelue or fourteene paces off striketh him with the querell of his Crosse-brow in the brest and flyeth incontinent leauing the Tigre in his trauell for life and death byting the Tree and eating earth for fiercenesse then within the space of two or three houres or the day following the Archer returneth thither and with his Dogge findeth the place where hee lyeth dead The Indians and especially they of the firme Land in the Prouince which the Catholike King Don Ferdinando commanded to bee called Golden Castile call this Beast Ochi This thing is strange that chanced of late that whereas the Tigre whereof we haue made mention before would haue killed his keeper that then kept him in a Cage was in few daies after made so tame that he led her tyed only with a small coard and plaid with her so familiarly that I maruelled greatly to see it yet not without certaine beliefe that this friendship will not last long without danger of life to the Keeper forasmuch as surely these Beasts are not meet to be among men for their fiercenesse and cruell nature that cannot be tamed Of the manners and customes of the Indians of the Firme Land and of their women THe manners and customes of these Indians are diuers in diuers Prouinces Some of them take as many Wiues as them list and other liue with one Wife whom they forsake not without consent of both parties which chanceth especially when they haue no children The Nobilitie aswel men as women repute it infamous to ioyne with any of base Parentage or Strangers except Christians whom they count Noblemen by reason of their valiantnesse although they put a difference betweene the common sort and the other to whom they shew obedience counting it for a great matter and an honorable thing if they bee beloued of any of them insomuch that if they know any Christian man carnally they keepe their faith to him so that hee be not long absent farre from them for their intent is not to be Widdowes or to liue chaste like religious women Many of them haue this custome that when they perceiue that they are with childe they take an Hearbe wherewith they destroy that is conceiued for they say that only well aged women should beare children and that they will not forbeare their pleasures and deforme their bodies with bearing of children whereby their Teates become loose and hanging which thing they greatly dispraise When they are deliuered of their children they goe to the Riuer and wash them which done
subtile and skilled generally in all artes aswell of warres as all other matters temporall And for his grauitie and estate he had of his Lordship the beginning of an Empire according as his seruants did reuerence him with great honor and power that in comparison of him not one of his predecessors came to halfe so much estate and Majestie The Statutes and Lawes of his Predecessors since the time of Gueguemoteçuma vntill his time he commanded to bee kept and wholly fulfilled with great zeale And because hee was a man so wise by his good nature he ordayned and made other Statutes and Lawes which he thought defectiue for the execution of the former not abrogating any all which were for the welfare and good gouernment of his Commonwealth and Subjects Hee was inclined to keepe many houses and women which were daughters of the Lords his Subjects and Confederates and by them he had many children and to haue so many wiues was for to set forth his Majestie the more for they hold it for a point of great estate Among which the daughâ—ers of the Lords of great authoritie he held for lawfull wiues according to their rights and ceremonies and them hee kept within his Palaces and dwelling houses and the children that came of them were had in reputation as more lawfull children then the others which hee had by the other women It were a large historie to tell the order he had in keeping of them and conuersation with them And because this present historie is but briefe it is left vnrehearsed The quantitie value and number of the tributes and kindes of things that his subjects did pay for tribute vnto him shall be seene and vnderstood hereafter as by the pictures and declarations is signified And he made a straight order that the tributes which they payed him should be fulfilled according as they were leuied by him for the fulfilling whereof he had in all his subject-townes his Calpixques and Factors which were as Gouernors that ruled commanded and gouerned them and hee was so much feared that none durst disobey nor transgresse his will and commandement but that they were kept and wholly fulfilled because he punished and corrected the rebels without remission And in the sixteenth yeere of the reigne of Motezuma the Mexicans had knowledge of certaine Spaniards which were discouerers of this New Spaine that at the end of twelue moneths there should come a fleet of Spaniardâ— to ouercome and conquer this Country and the Mexicans kept account thereof and they found it to bee true for at the end of the said twelue moneths was the arriuall of the said fleet at a Hauen of this New Spaine in the which fleet came Don Ferdinando Cortes Marques del Valle which was the seuenteenth yeere of the reign of Motezuma and in the eighteenth yeere he made an end of the continuance of his Lordship and Raigne in the which yeere he dyed and departed this present life At the time when Motezuma came to his gouernment he was fiue and thirtie yeeres old little more or lesse so that at his decease he was three and fiftie yeeres of age And straightway in the yeere after his death this Citie of Mexico and other Townes adjoyning were ouercome and pacified by the said Marques del Valle and his Confederates And so this New Spaine was conquered and pacified A The number of 19. yeeres 18. yeeres of his raigne and that other which followed in his Successor wherin Mexico was conquered as you may see in the next chapter B the fourth yeere of his raigne in which hee began his conquest C Motezuma D the instruments of warre by which hee conquered Achâ—otlan Zozolan Nochiztlan Tecutepec Zulan Tlaniztlan Huilotepec Yepatepoc Yztactlalocan Chichâ—â—ualtatacala Tecaxic Tlachinolticpac Xoconochco Ziâ—acantlan Huiztlan Piaztlan Molanco Zaquantepec Piptyoltepec Hucyapan Tecpatlan Amatlan Caltepec Pantepec Teoazinco Tecozauhtla Teochiapan Zacatepec Tlachquiyanhco Malinaltepâ—c Quimichtepec Yzquintepec Zenzontepec Quetzaltepec Cuezcomayxtlahuacan Huexolotlan Xalapan Xaltianhnizco Yoloxonecuila Atepec Mictlan Yztitlan Tliltepec Comaltâ—pec A B C D These townes were gouerned by the Casiques Principals of Mexico appointed by the Lords of Mexico for the good defence and gouernment of the naturall people and for the securitie of the Townes that they should not rebell as also for the charge they had to gather and command to be gathered the Rents and Tributes that they were bound to giue and pay to the Dominion of Mexico Citlalâ—epec Quanhtochco Mixcoatl Tlacatectli a Gouernour Zoâ—panâ—â— Xâ—ltocan Tlacatectli a Gouernour Acalhuacon Tlacochtectli a Gouernour Huaxac Yzteyocan Coatitlan Huixachtitlan Tlacatectlâ— a Gouernour Tlacochtectli a Gouernour Zozolan Poetepec Coatlayancham Acolnahuas Puputlan Yztacolco Chalcoatenco Tlacochtectly a Gouernour Tlacatecatl a Gouernour Oztoma Atzacan Atlan Omequuh Tezcacoacatl a Gouernour Tlilancalqui a Gouernour Xoconochco Tecapotitlan §. II. The second part of this Booke contayning the particular Tributes which euery Towne subdued paid vnto the Lords of Mexico HEre follow pictured and intituled the kinds of things that they of Tlatilulco which at this day is called by the Spaniards Saint Iames did pay in tribute to the Lords of Mexico and the said tribute summed here is that which followeth They were charged for tribute alwayes to repaire the Church called Huiznahuac Item fortie great Baskets of the bignesse of halfe a Bushell of Cacao ground with the Meale of Maiz which they called Chianpinoli and euery Basket had sixteene hundred Almonds of Cacao Item other fortie Baskets of Chianpinoli Item eight hundred burthens of great Mantels Item eightie pieces of Armour of slight Feathers and as many Targets of the same Feathers of the deuices colours as they are pictured All the which tribute except the said armes and targets they gaue euery 24. dayes and the said armes and targets they gaue for tribute but once in the whole yeere The said tribute had his beginning since the time of Quaâ—htlatoa and Moquihuix which were Lords of Tlatilulco The Lords of Mexico which first enioyned to those of Tlatilulco to pay tribute and to acknowledge their subiection were Yzcoatçi and Axiacaçi A the Temple of Huiznahuac B 20. baskets of Cacao meale the Eare and Meale figured C 20. more of the same C 20. D 20. E 20. baskets of Chiaupinoli F 40. peeces of Armes of this deuice G 40. of this deuice like the former but that is white with blacke streakes this yellow H I are each 400. burthens the â—are signed 400. of Mantles K These foure like vnto flowres doe signifie foure dayes euery flowre 20. dayes as they of Tlatilulco did tribute the things pictured and intituled by taxation of the Lords of Mexico I. 40 Targets of this deuice to expresse the difference of colours in each particular were too tedious N Tlatilulco The names of Quauhtlatoa and Moquihuix Lords of Tlatilulco are added because in their times it began as also of Tenuxtitlan Izcoaci and Apayacan to intimate that these two Lords of Mexico or Tenuxtitlan subdued them
pieces of Armour with their Shields decked with rich Feathers of the fashion that they are pictured Item 800. packs of Cotten DE. All the which they tributed once a yeare Item 400 burdens of Axi dried C. §. III. The third part of this Booke containeth the priuate behauiour in Mariages education of Children and Trades with the Martiall Ecclesiastike and Ciuill policie of the MEXICAN people A Relation of the manner and custome that the naturall Mexicans had when either a Boy or Girle was borne vnto them The vse and ceremonies in giuing names to their children and afterwards to dedicate and offer them either to the Church or else to the warres according as by the pictures is signified and briefly declared The Woman being deliuered they laid the childe in a Cradle according as is pictured foure dayes after the birth of the childe the Midwife tooke it in her armes naked brought it forth to the yard of the childe wiues house and in the yard were prepared Bulrushes or Sedges which they call Tule and they set vpon them a little pan of water wherein the said Midwife washed the said childe after it is washed three Boyes which are set by the said Bulrushes eating tosted Maiz mingled with sodden Frisoles which they â—alled Yxicue foode the which foode made A The woman that is deliuered B These foure Roses signifie foure dayes wherein the Midwife brought forth the childe that was lately borne to wash C The cradle with the childe D The Midwife E The signes instruments and the bond Shield and Darts FGH the three Boies which name the childe I The Bulrushes with the pan of water K The Broome L The Spindell and the Distaffe M The Basket N The high Priest O The childe in his cradle which his Parents offer in the Temple P The Master or Teacher of boyes and yong men Q The childes Father R The childes Mother ready was set in a little pan before the said Boyes that they might eate it And after the said bathing or washing the said Midwife aduertised the said Boyes that they should with a loud voice giue a new name vnto the childe that she had so washed and the name that they gaue it was that which the Midwife would impose When the childe was brought forth to wash if it be a man childe they bring him forth with his signe in his hand and the signe is the Instrument wherewith his Father did exercise himselfe as well in the Military art as other arts as of a Goldsmith a Grauer or any other office whatsoeuer And after they had done all the aforesaid the Midwife brings the childe to his Mother And if it be a woman-childe the signe wherewith they bring her to wash is a Distaffe a Spindel a Basket and a handfull of Broome which are the things wherewith she should exercise her selfe being of age thereto And the bond of the Manchilde with a Shield and Darts for a signe which he brings with him when they bring him for to wash they offer it to that part and place where are likely to happen warres with his enemies where they burie it vnder ground And so likewise of the Woman-childe her bond they buried vnder the Metate which is a stone to grinde Cakes vpon And after the aforesaid at the end of twenty dayes the childes Parents went with the childe to the Temple or Mixquita which they called Calmecac and in the presence of the Priests they presented the childe with his offering of Mantels and Mastelles and some meate And after the childe being brought vp by his Parents and being of age they committed the childe to the high Priest of the said Temple because there he might be taught that hereafter he might be a Priest And if the childes Parents were determined that he being of age should serue in warlike affaires then straight way they offered him to the Master thereof making him a promise of him the Master of Boyes and yong men they called Teaâ—hcauch or Telpâ—chtlato which offering was made with his present of meate and other things for the celebrating thereof And the childe being of age they committed him to the said Master THe declaration of the pictures contained in the deuision following wherein is declared at what age and in what manner the naturall Parents did giue counsell to their children how they ought to liue as successiuely is pictured in foure partitions and so the foure partitions of this side are declared in order which are these that follow 1 The first partition wherein is declared how that the Parents corrected their children in giuing them good counsell when they were three years of age and the portion of meate that they gaue them euery meale was halfe a cake of bread 2 The second partition wherein is pictured in what things the Parents did instruct their children when they were of the age of foure yeares and how they began to exercise them to serue in small things And the portion of meate which they gaue them at a meale was a whole Cake A The Boy his Father B Three yeares of age C The Boy D Halfe a Cake E The Girle her Mother F Halfe a Cake G A Girle of three yeares of age H The Father of the Boy I A Boy of foure yeares of age K A Cake L The Mother of the Girle M A Cake N A Girle of foure yeare of age * A Spindell with a locke of cotten wooll lying on a Mat. 3 The third partition wherein is shewed that the Parents did exercise their children in bodily labour at fiue yeares of age in loding their Sonnes with Wood and other things in small burdens of small weight and to carry packes of small weight to the Tyangues or Market place And they exercised their Daughters of that age in shewing them how they should handle the Spindell and Distaffe for to spin And their allowance of meate was a whole Cake of Bread 4 The fourth partition wherein is pictured how the Parents instructed their children of six yeares old and exercised and occupied them in bodily seruice that they might profit their Parents in some thing as in the Tyangues which are Market-places that they might gather from the ground the cornes of Maiz and Frisoles that were spilt there by him and other small things that the buyers and others had left and spilt there And this was the Boies worke But the Girles were put to spinne and to doe other profitable seruices because in time to come by meanes of the said seruices and occupations they should not spend their time idelly and should auoide euill vâ—ces that are wont to grow through idlenesse And the allowance of meate that they gaue to their children was a Cake and a halfe of Bread O The Father of the Boyes P Two Boyes of fiue yeares of age Q A Cake R A Cake S The Mother of the Girle holding the Spindle and Rocke T A Cake V A Girle of fiue yeares old
to behold They vse other Playes to passe the time in such an order that it seemed maruellous to the lookers on Cortes brought into Spaine some of these Players Also they vse Matachines in such sort they doe play that there stand each vpon other shoulders and hee that standeth highest sheweth many feates Sometime Mutezuma did behold the Players who played at a game called Pacoliztli which is much like our Tables and they play with beanes squared like Dice which they call Patolli and throw them out of both their hands vpon a matte or else vpon the ground where are made certain strikes vpon which they set downe the chance that is throwne and at this game they play all that they haue and many times they value their owne bodies and play that into captiuitie and to remayne a slaue I meane such as are common Gamesters of small estate Sometimes Mutezuma went to the Tennis Court Their ball is celled Villamaliztli and is made of the gumme which commeth from a tree called Vlli. This tree groweth in a hot Countrey The gumme being kneaded together and so made round is as blacke as pitch and somewhat heauie and very hard for the hand but yet good and light to rebound and better then our wind-bals They play not at Chases but at Bandy or at Check that is if the ball touch the wall it looseth They may strike the ball with any part of their body but there is alwayes a penaltie if they onely strike not with the buttocke or side which is the finest play whereof they vse a skinne vpon each buttocke They play so many to so many for a packe of Mantles or according to the abilitie of the Players Also they play for gold and feathers and sometime for their owne bodies as they vse at Patolli which is there permitted and lawfull The Tennis Court is called Tlachco and is a Hall long and narrow but wider vpwards then downewards and higher on the sides then at the ends which is an industry for their play The house is alwayes white and smooth in the side walles they haue certaine stones like vnto Milstones with a little hole in the middest that passeth through the stone the hole is so small that scarcely the ball may passe through but he that chanceth to strike the ball into the hole which seldometh happeneth winneth the game and by an ancient Law and custome among Tennis Players he ought to haue the Cloakes of all those that stand and behold the play on that side that the ball went in and in some Tennis Courts the halfe of the garments of them that stand looking on The Winner is then bound to make certaine Sacrifice to the God of the Tennis play and to the stone where the ball entred The beholders of the play would say that such a Winner should be a Thiefe and an Adulterer or else that he should die quickly They vsed in the Temple of the Tennis play two Images of the God of the Ball which stood vpon the two lower walles The Sacrifice was celebrated at mid-night with many Ceremonies and Witch-crafts and Songs for that purpose Then came a Priest from the Cathedrall Church with other Religious persons to blesse the Sacrifice saying certain deuillish Prayers and throwing the ball foure times in the Tennis Court In this order was the Tennis play consecrated and after this consecration it was lawfull to play or else not for this diligence was first to bee done when any Tennis Court or play was newly built The owner of the Tennis Court also would neuer suffer any to play vntill he had first offered something to the Idoll their Superstition was so great Mutezuma had many houses as well in Mexico as without for his recreation and pleasure as also for his ordinary dwelling To write of all it should bee tedious but where his continuall abiding was he named Tepac that is to say Palace And that Palace had twentie doores or gates which had their out-comming into the common streets It hath three Courts and in the one standeth a faire Fountaine many Hals and a hundred Chambers of twentie three and thirtie foot long an hundred Bathes and Hot-houses and although the building was without nayles yet very good workmanship The walles were made of Masons worke and wrought of Marble Iaspe and other blacke stone with veines of red like vnto Rubies and other Stones which glistered very faire the roofes were wrought of Timber and curiously carued the Timber was Cedar Cypresse and Pine-tree the Chambers were painted and hung with Cloth of Cotton and Cloth made of Conies haire and feathers The beds were poore and of no value for they were nothing but Mantles laid vpon Mats or vpon Hay or else Mats alone few men lay with in those Houses There were a thousand women and some affirme that there were three thousand accounting Gentlewomen Seruants and Slaues the most were Noblemens Daughters Mutezuma tooke of them for his selfe those that liked him best and the others he gaue in mariage to Gentlemen his Seruants The saying was that hee had at one time a hundred and fiftie women his wiues with childe who through the perswasion of the Deuill tooke Medicines to cast their creatures because they knew that they should not inherit the State these his wiues had many old women for their Guard for no man was permitted to looke vpon them The shield of Armes that is set in his Palace and likewise carried to the Warres is an Eagle soaring vpon a Tigre his tallons bent as taking prey Some thinke it is a Gryffon and not an Eagle The Griffons in time past say they did cause the Vale of Auacatlan to bee dispeopled for they were great deuourers of men and that their abiding was in the Mountaines of Teoacan they approue that these Mountaines were called Cuitlachtepelt of Cuitlachtli which is a Gryffon bigger then a Lion but the Spaniards did neuer see any of them The Indians by their old Pictures doe paint those Gryffons to haue a kind of haire and no feathers and also affirme that with their tallons and teeth they breake mens bones They haue the courage of a Lion and the countenance of an Eagle they paint him with foure feet and teeth with a kinde of downe more like wooll then feathers with his beake tallons and wings There are also other Lords that giue the Gryffon in their Armes flying with a heart in his tallons Mutezuma had another house with very good lodgings and faire galleries built vpon Pillars of Iaspe which extendeth toward a goodly Garden in the which there are ten ponds or moe some of salt-water for Sea-fowle and other some of fresh water for Riuer-fowle and Lake-fowle which ponds are deuised with sluces to emptie and to fill at their pleasure for the cleannesse of the feathers There is such a number of Fowle that scarcely the ponds may hold them and of such diuers
bones and Iewels was gathered and laid vpon a rich Mantle the which was carried to the Temple gate where the Priests attended to blesse those deuellish relickes whereof they made a dough or paste and thereof an Image which was apparelled like a man with a visor on his face and all other sorts of Iewels that the deaâ— King was wont to weare so that it seemed a gallant I doll At the foote of the Temple staires they opened a graue ready made which was square large and two fadom deepe it was also hanged with new Mats round about and a farre bed therein in the which a religious man placed the Idol made of aâ—hes with his eyes toward the East part and hung round about the wals Targets of Gold and Siluer with Bowe and Arrowes and many gallant tuffes of Feathers with earthen vessels as Pots Dishes and Platters so that the graue was filled vp with houshold stuffe Chests couered with Leather Apparell Iewels Meate Drinke and Armor This done the graue was shut vp and made sure with beâ—mes boords and flored with earth on the top All those Gentlemen which had serued or touched any thing in the buriall washed themselues and went to dinner in the Court or yard of the Kings house without any table and hauing dined they wiped their hands vpon certaine locks of Cotten woll hanging downe their heads and not speaking any word except it were to aske for drinke This Ceremonie endured fiue dayes and in all that time no fire was permitted to be kindled in the Citie except in the Kings house and Temples nor yet any Corne was ground or Market kept nor none durst goe out of their houses shewing all the sorrow that might be possible for the death of their King In Mexico were twelue Iudges who were all Noblemen graue and well learned in the Mexican Lawes These men liued onely by the rents that properly appertaine to the maintenance of Iustice and in any cause iudged by them it was lawfull for the parties to appeale vnto other twelue Iudges who were of the Princes bloud and alwayes abode in the Court and were maintained at the Kings owne cost and charges The inferiour Iudges came ordinarily once euery moneth to consult with the higher And in euery fourescore dayes came the Iudges of euery Prouince within the Mexican Empire to consult with the Iudges of Mexico but all doubtfull causes were reserued to the King onely to passe by his order and determination The Painters serued for notaries to paint all the cases which were to be resolued but no suite passed aboue fourescore dayes without finall end and determination There were in that Citie twelue Sergeants whose office was to arrest and to call parties before the Iudges Their garments were painted Mantels whereby they were knowne a farre off The Prisons were vnder ground moist and darke the cause whereof was to put the people in feare to offend If any witnesse were called to take an oath the order was that he should touch the ground with one of his fingers and then to touch his tongue with the same which signified that he had sworne and promised to speake the troth with his tongue taking witnesse thereof of the earth which did maintaine him But some doe interprete the oath that if the paâ—tie sware not true that then he might come to such extremitie as to eate earth Sometime they name and call vpon the God of the crime whose cause the matter touched The Iudge that taketh bribes or gifts is forthwith put out of his office which was accounted a most vile aâ—d 〈◊〉 reproach The Indians did affirme that Necauâ—lpincintâ— did hang a Iudge in Tezâ—â—â—o for 〈…〉 sentence be himselfe knowing the contrary The Murtherer is executed without exception The woman with childe that wilfully casteth her creature suffereth death for the same The Theefe for the first offence was made a slaue and hanged for the second The Traitor to the King and Common-weale was put to death with extreame torments The Woman taken in Mans apparell died for the same and likewise the Man taken in Womans attire Euery one that challengeth another to fight except in the warres was condemned to dye In Tezcuco the sinne of Sodomie was punished with death and that Law was instituted by Necaualpincinth and Necaualcoio who were Iudges which abhorred that filthy sinne and therefore they deserued great praise for in other Prouinces that abhominable sinne was not punished although they haue in those places common Stewes as in Panuco The end of the fift Booke AN ALPHABETICALL TABLE OF THE PRINCIPALL THINGS CONTAINED IN THE FIVE BOOKES of the third Part of PVRCHAS his Pilgrims The first Number notes the Page the second Number directs you to the number noted in the back-margent of the Pages Right against which or betwixt that and the next number the note is to bee found Obserue that whereas many words may bee well written with I. or with Y. the Reader is to looke to both Obserue also that Name of Saints or Knights are not set vnder S. but in the Alphabet of their proper Names A ABaccu is the Caspian Sea 69.60 The largenesse of it 70.1 Abaseia or Habassia is India media 106.50 in Marg. Rich in Gold ibid. Abedalcuria 252.60 Abortion caused by an Herbe 991.40 Acapulco the Prouince and Port in the West Indies the Latitude 871.60 Acias or Akas so the Tartars call the Alanian Christians 10.10 Enemies to the Tartars 12.40 Achbaluch Mangi which in Tartars Language is the White Citie of the Mangi 90.1 Acornes as big as Apples 520 50 Accents the Chinois haue fiue seuerall 384.20 Accounts cast by graines of Corne 1053.50 Accord betweene Poles and Russes about chusing their Emperour 788.789 Acquaintance the Ceremony of beginning it 374 Acacron the Armenian Prophet 49.50 Acon the Citie Arabicke and Syriack vnderstood there 13.50 Adams Sepulcher in Zeilan 106.1 More of that Fable ibid. Adams-Apples grow in Persia 71.10 Adders of India their seuerall sorts and natures 976.1 Adem the Soldan of it discomfited 106.50 Admirals Iland 474.40 Sea horses there 512 Adoration the manner of it in Mexico 1027.30 1028.1 1046.60 Adoption practised in Russia 740.40 Adulterie punished with Death in Peru 1058.40 Adultresses Dowries giuen to poore Girles 276.10 Adulterie Witaldrie the punishment 182.40 Adulterers how punished in China 204.10 Aedgar the King his mightie Nauie 619.40 Emperour of the Ocean ibid. Aegeland and Halgeland discouered 212.1 Aequinoctiall vnder it moyst and raynie and why 918.40 Not so hoâ— as the Antients held it very cold in March causes of the temperature though the Sunne bee very hote the dayes and nights equall 920. No Calmes vnder the Lane 923.60.926 The Ayre vnder or neere it swifter then the Ayre about the Poles and why 925.30 Easterne and Westerne windes continuall vnder the Lino 925.40 See Torride Zone Aequinoctiall whither healthfull liuing vnder it 889.10 Aethiopian Patriarch 327.30
last discourse with Frier William 43. His letters to the French King 45.50 Mangu or Mango-Chan 114.10 Baptized 115.60 Dyeth 117.20 Mangani what 97.1 Mangu-Chans Iustice done vpon his owne Wife 44.50 45.1 Manguslane a Port 235.30 The people described ibid. Mâ—nilla the Iland 286.10 A Bishops Sea there ibid. Mâ—nna-hota the Riuer in Virginia 599 Manse and Taute Ilanders of Cathaya 34.10 Mansflesh eaten in the Siege of Mosco 780.20 Map-makers and Globe-makers create Lands and Ilands at pleasure 461.10 Map of China the best with notes 401.402 c. Mappes of China their Errour 168.10 Maps purposely made false by the Spaniards 853.30 Maragnon or the Riuer of Amazones in the West Indies the chiefest of the World 933.60 Seuenty leagues broad at the mouth 934.20 Marble a kind of it much esteemed in China 315.312.1 Like to Iaspar ibid. Gotten out of the Riuers and forced with Fire 313.1 Marchpane in China 292.50 298.40 Marcopia or Mangat the Citie 634 30 Marcus Paulus Venetus made one of Cublai Chaâ—s Clerkes 67.40 He learnes foure Languages ibid. Sent Ambassadour by him to Carahan ibid. 50. Writes a Iournall of his trauels ibid. Continues a long time with the Great Chan ibid. Goes to Argon in India 68.30 To Trebesonde Constantinople Negroponte and to Venice againe ibid. 40. Where no body knew him ibid. 50.60 Taken Prisoner by the Genowayes might not be redeemed 69.1 He writes his trauailes ibid. Marcus Paulus Venetus his Booke 65.40 Mares tayle the Tartars Ensigne 643.1 Mares white all Consecrated in Tartarie when and how 44.10 Much like to the Papists fashion saith Rubruquis ibid. Magarita Iland in the West Indies the distance from Hispaniola and Trinidad the Villages in it Pearle-fishing there the Latitude 866.20 Margarites Sound in Orkney 827.20 Marienberg by Danske the Lutheran and Romane Religions exercised there 626.20 Built by whom ibid. Market-wares of Mexico 1132. c. Mermalades of West Indian fruit 957.60.958.20 Marriages of the Chinois 367.50 One Wife and many Concubines which they buy and sell againe their Children inherite ibid. They Marry not any of their owne name ibid. Marriages publicke Vtensiles for them in China 99.10 Marriages of the Mamâ—ses of Curland 628. Of the Lithuanians 628.60 Marriages in China 182.30 Marriages of the Chinois 393.60 See Weddings Marriages of the Mexicans 1009.40 Marriages of the Samoieds 555.40 Marriages the third or fourth not well allowed in the Greeke Church 435.30 The manner of Solemization in Russia 453. Held vnlawfull without consent of Parents 454.1 Large Dowries and no Ioynters ibid. 10. They goe on Horsebacke to Church ibid. The Ceremonies at Church like ours ibid. Performed at the Altar with Ring and ioyning of hands shee knockes her Head vpon his Shooe and he throwes the lappe of his Garment ouer her ibid. The Cermony of the Loafe and Meade and Corne flung vpon them and the Brides silence ibid. The Marriage Feast and the Bridegroome and Bride called Duke and Duchesse 456.1 Marriages of the Crim Tartars what degrees are forbidden them their Dowries 441.30 Marriages of the West Indians 991.40 993.40 998.40 Of the Mexicans 1044 Marriages incestuous of the Kings of Peru 1054.50 Marriage Solemnities 1058 Marriage Rites of Mexico 1107. c. Martauan in Pegu 281.40 Santa Martha Prouince in the West Indies the Extent Site natiue Commodities Mines precious Stones Latitude Martyrs of the Diuels making 70.50 Maskes c. at the Coronation of the Kings of Mexico 1019.40 Masking in China 349.40 Massis the Mountaine where Noahs Arke rested 50.20 Masuaga the Iland 285.20 Mathematickes first taught in China 329.60 339.20 30 The meannesse of their former skill that way 344.20 Their Instruments 346.20 Matriga the City where 2.10 Matrimony the forme in Russia 229.50 230.1 Matepheone or Mathewes Land 805 Mattuschan Y ar in Russia the way thence to Ob 805.30 Maudlen Sownd in Greenland the latitude 721.40 Maundy Thursday the Russian Emperour receiues the Sacrament vpon 227.50 May-feasts and May Flowers brought by the Indians to their houses 1045.30 May-pole of snow 492.10 Mays or Indian Wheate makes men scabbie how it growes differences of the graine how drest and eaten malted for Beâ—re 953 It serues for Butter Bread Wine and Oyle and for man beast 954.1 Meani are Temples in China 201.40 Meades of seuerall sorts 231.1 Meates some holyer then others in Russia 453. Their superstitious abstinence ibid. Meates prepared for Idols in Mexico 104.60 Meate-forkes of Gold 242.50 Mechoacan the Bishopricke Prouince in the West Indies the Extent Altitude of the Citie other Townes vnder it 874.40 875 Mechouacans forsaken by their kinsmen of Mexico how 1002.60 They hate the Mexicans therefore 1003.1 Mecriti or Meditae a Tartarian people of Bargu 79.40 Media now called Sheruan 245.40 Conquered by the Turkes ibid. Possessed by the Turkes 244.20 Mediator the Russes errour about him 452 Meditae or Mecriti in Tartaria 79.4 Mediterranean Sea none of note in all America 926.50 Mâ—goa in China spoyled by fiftie Iaponians 299 Melons of West India described 955.30 Men with tayles 104.1 Men beasts and fowle how they came into America a discourse of it 964 Men-eaters 101.20 103.50 eating their owne kindred 103.60 Mendez his designe and performance 278.20 Merchants poore in Russia 432.50 Merchants Feast of Mexico the manner of it 1048. c. They eate the Man which they had Sacrificed 1049.20 Merclas so the Tartars call the Merdui 12.30 Merdui a people in Tartarie ibid. Mergates Straights 488.50 Merida Citie in the West Indies the Latitude 875.30 The description ibid. Meridin the Prouince where 69.50 Sir Iohn Mericke Agent in Russia 748.749 Sent Ambassadour thither 791. Makes the Peace betwixt Russia Sweden 792.50 Merites onely aduance in China 388 1 Merkit or Crit Nestorian Christians in Catay 15.10 Mermayd seene and described 575.60 Mesopotamia the bounds 110.50 Mestizos or Children gotten by Spaniards vpon Indian women 3. thousand in one Prouince 902.10 Meta incognita discouered by Sir Martin Frobisher 463.30 Metall held by the Chinois for an Element 345.50 Metals grow like Plants a Philosophicall discourse of their production 941.942 Their diuersities and vseâ— of the qualitie of the earth where they grow in barren places the finest Metals on the top of the Mine 946.40 All Metals but Gold swimmes in Quickesiluer 948.1 Metempsychosis or the transmigration of Soules in China 368.60.369 Metempsychosis the opinion of it causes Mothers to kill their Children 396.20 Metempsychosis the Iudge for it 408.10 Methodius the Armenian Prophet 49.50 Metropolitan of Muscouia his State hee sits while the Emperour stands 226.50 The Emperour leades his Horse 227.30 The people spreads their garments vnder him Hee blesseth them ibid. The Emperour dines with him on Palme-sunday 227.40 All matters of Religion the Emperour referres to him 228.1 Metropolitan of Mosco made a Ptatriarch 445.40.50 The maner ibid. His imagined Iurisdiction oueÌ„r the whole Greeke Church 446.20 Metropolitans of Nouogrod and Rostoue vnder the Patriarch of Mosco ibid.