they blessed the annointed King and sprinkled him foure times with a certaine holy water that was made at the time of consecration of the God made of dowe or paste with a sprinkle made of bowes of Cane leaues Cedar and Willow leaues Then they put vpon his head cloth painted with the bones and souls of dead men and next they cloathed him with a blacke garment vpon that another blew and both were painted with the figures of dead mens sculs and bones Then they put about his necke certaine laces whereat did hang the armes of the Crowne And behinde his back they did hang certain little bottels full of powders by vertue wherof he was deliuered from pestilence and diseases according to their opinion yea and thereby Witches nor Witchcrafts could not hurt him nor yet euill men deceiue him In fine with those relicks he was sure from all perill and danger Vpon his left arme they bound a little bagge of Incense and then brought vnto him a chaffing-dish of imbers made of the barke of an Oke tree Then the King arose and with his owne hand threw of the same Incense into the chaffing-dish and with great reuerence brought the same to the god Vitzilopuchtli and after he had smoaked him therewith he sat him downe then came the high Priest and tooke his oath to maintaine the religion of the gods to keepe also all the lawes and customes of his predecessours to maintaine iustice and not to aggrauate any of his vassals or subiects and that he should be valiant in the warres that he should cause the Sunne to giue his light the clouds to yeelde raine the riuers to runne and the earth to bring forth all kinde of graine fruites and other needefull hearbs and trees These and many other impossible things the new King did sweare to performe and then he gaue thankes to the high Priest and commended himselfe to the gods and to the lookers on and they who brought him vp in the same order carrieth him downe againe Then all the people cried the Gods preserue the new King and that he may raigne many yeares in health with all his people But then some began to dance other to play on their instruments shewing outwardly their inward ioyes of heart And before the King came to the foote of the steps all the Noblemen came to yeelde their obedience and in token of louing and faithfull subiects they presented vnto him Feathers strings of Snaile-shels Collers and other Iewels of Gold and Siluer also Mantels painted with death and bare him company vnto a great hall within the compasse of the Temple and there left him The King sitteth downe vnder his cloath of estate called Tlacatecco and in foure dayes departeth not out of the circuit of the Temple the which hee spends in prayers sacrifice and penance he eates then but once a day and euery day he bathes himselfe and againe in the night in a great pond of water and then lets himselfe bloud in his eares and senseth therewith the god of water called Tlaloc he likewise senseth the other Idols vnto whom he offereth Bread Flowers Papers and little Canes died in the bloud of his owne tongue nose hands and other parts of his body After the foure dayes expired then come all the Noblemen to beare him company to his Pallace with great triumph and pleasure of all the Citie but after his consecration few or none dare looke him in the face And now with the declaration of the Acts and Ceremonies that the Mexican Kings are crowned I shall not neede to rehearse of other Kings for generally they all doe vse the same order sauing that other Princes goe not vp to the top of the Temple but abide at the foote of the steps to be crowned and after their Coronation they come to Mexico for their confirmation and then at their returne to their Countrey they made many drunken feasts and banquets The Mexicans did beleeue that the Soule was immortall and that they receiued either ioy or paine according to their deserts and liuing in this world vnto which opinion all their religion did attaine and chiefly appeare at their burials They held for an assured faith that there were nine places appointed for soules and the chiefest place of glory to be neere vnto the Sunne where the soules of those which were good men slaine in the warres and those which were sacrificed were placed and that all other sorts of euill persons their soules abode on the earth and were deuided after this sort children that were dead borne went to one place those which died of age or other disease went to another those which died of sudden death to another those which died of wounds or contagious diseases went to another place those which were drowned went to another those which were put to death for offence by order of Iustice as for robbery and adultery to another Those which slew their Fathers Mothers Wiues or Children to another place by themselues also those who slew their Masters or any religious person went to another place The common sort of people were buried but Lords and rich men had their bodies burned and their ashes buried In their shrowdes they had a great difference for many dead bodies were buried better apparelled then when they were on liue Women were shrowded after another sort And hee that suffered death for adultery was shrowded like vnto the God of lecherie called Tlazoulteutl he that was drowned like vnto the god of water named Tlacoc and he that died with drunkennesse was shrowded like vnto the god of wine called Ometochtli But the Souldier had an honorable shrowde like vnto the attire of Vitzilopuchtli and the like order in all other sorts of deaths When any King of Mexico happened to fall sicke they vsed forthwith to put a visor vpon the face of Tezcatlipaca or Vitzilopuchtli or some other Idoll which Visor was not taken away vntill they saw whether the King did amend or else dye But if he chanced to dye then word was sent throughout all his Dominions to bewaile his death and also other postes were sent is call the Noblemen that were his nighest kinsmen and to warne them within foure daies to come vnto his buriall The dead body was laid vpon a faire Mat and was watched foure nights with great lamentation and mourning then the body was washed and a locke of haire cut from the crowne of his head which was preserued as a great relicke saying that therein remained the remembrance of his soule This done a fine Emerald was put in his mouth and his body shrowded in seuenteene rich Mantels of colours both rich and costly wrought Vpon the vpper Mantle was set the deuise or armes of Vitzilopuchtli or Tezcalipuca or some other Idoll in whom the King had great confidence in his life time and in his Temple should the body be buried Vpon his face they put a visor painted with foule and Deuillish
face of the whole world vnto vs is this Whosoeuer shall heare the Statute on their owne Land let them yeeld Water and Patrimonie and let them deliuer power to him which contayneth the face of the whole World But whosoeuer will not heare the Precept and Statute but shall doe otherwise let them be rooted out and destroyed Now we send to you touching that Satute and Precept If yee will yeeld Water and Patrimonie on our Land it is meet that thou Pope thy selfe in thine person come to vs and to him which contayneth the face of the whole Earth and if thou wilt not heare the stable Precept of God and of him which contayneth the face of the whole Earth wee know not God knowes It is meet that before thou commest thou sendest Messengers and that thou signifiest to vs whether thou commest or no whether thou wilt compound with vs or be Enemie And send an Answere of the Precept quickly to vs. This Precept by the hands of Aybeg and Sargis we haue sent in the moneth of Iuly the twentieth day of the Moone In the Territorie of the Castle Sitiens THe Copie of the Chams Letters to Baioth-noy By the Precept of the liuing God Cingis-cham the Sonne of God sweete and venerable saith that God is high ouer all hee is God immortall and vpon Earth Cingis-cham is Lord alone Wee will that this come into euery place to the hearing of all to the Prouinces obeying vs and to the Prouinces obeying against vs. It is therefore meete that thou O Baioth-noy excite them and make it knowne to them that this is the commandement of the liuing and immortall God that thou also incessantly make knowne thy desire touching this and notifie my commandement in all places where a Messenger may come And whosoeuer shall gainsay thee shall be hunted and his Land shall be wasted And I assure thee that whosoeuer shall not heare this my Mandate shall bee deafe and whosoeuer shall doe according to this my iudgement knowing peace and not doing it shall be lame Let this my Ordinance come to the knowledge of all Whosoeuer shall heare and neglect to obserue it shall be destroyed and slaine Manifest this O Baioth-noy And whosoeuer desireth the profit of his House and will serue vs shall bee saued and honoured And whosoeuer shall contradict studie thou to correct them at thine owne pleasure Vnto Lewis the French King were sent certayne Messengers from a great man called Ercalthay and there was present Frier Andrew of Lontumel a Dominican who knew Dauid the chiefe of them hauing seene him in the Armie of the Tartars These brought Letters in Persian and Arabike Letters They reported also that a great King of the Tartars called Cham was become a Christian with most of his followers And now the said Ercalthay had receiued Baptisme and was come forth from Cham with a great Armie to aduance the Christian Faith and to destroy the Aduersaries thereof and much desired the French Kings loue They thought also that the said Ercalthay would the next Easter besiege Baldach These told the King also of the Tartarian Affaires Whereupon he sent Messengers with Letters and Iewels to Ercalthay with a Tent or Chappell of Scarlet fairely embroydered with the Storie of the Passion with Ornaments thereto and things fitting for Diuine Seruice with a piece of the wood of the Holy Crosse exhorting him to proceed in the Faith The Messenger were the foresaid Frier Andrew with two other Friers and two Clerkes Transcripts of all were sent into France CHAP. III. Relations touching the Tartars taken out of the Historie of R. WENDOVER and MAT. PARIS with certayne Epistles of the same subiect ANno 1239. the Tartars inhumane Nations which had made great slaughters and had with hostile forces inuaded the borders of Christendome in the greater Hungarie were vanquished and most of them slaine beeing encountred by fiue Kings Christians and Saracens herein confederate After which the King of Dacia and the King of Hungarie caused the Confines before by the Tartars brought in manner to a Wildernesse to bee inhabited by Christians which they sent thither Of which out of Dacia alone went more then fortie ships Anno 1240. the detestable people of Satan to wit an infinite number of Tartars brake forth from their Mountayne-compassed and Rocke-defended Region like Deuils loosed out of Hell that they may well be called Tartarians as Tartareans and like Grashoppers couering the face of the Earth spoyling the Easterne Confines with fire and Sword ruining Cities cutting vp Woods rooting vp Vineyards killing the people both of Citie and Countrey And if they spared any they vsed them in the fore-front of their battels to fight against their Allies that if they were therein faint or fayned themselues at their backes might kill them if otherwise it was without reward They are rather Monsters then men thirsting and drinking bloud tearing and deuouring the flesh of Dogges and Men clothed with Oxe-hides armed with Iron Plates in stature thicke and short well set strong in bodie in Warre inuincible in labour infatigable behind vnarmed drinking the bloud of their beasts for Dainties c. These Tartars of detestable memory are thought to be descended of the ten Tribes which went away forsaking the Law of Moses after the golden Calues whom Alexander the Macedon sought to inclose in the Caspian hils to which labour exceeding humane power hee inuoked the assistance of the God of Israel and the tops of the hils ioyned together and the place became inaccessible and impassible And though it be doubtfull because they vse not the Hebrew Tongue nor Law of Moses nor are gouerned by any Lawes yet is it credible that as their hearts then in Moses gouernment were rebellious Reprobately-sensuall and Idolatrous so now more prodigiously their heart and Language is confounded and their life immane and beastly inhumane They are called Tartars of a certayne Riuer called Tartar running alongst their hils Anno 1241. that inhumame and brutish lawlesse barbarous and sauage Nation of Tartars horribly spoyling the North and North-east parts of the Christians caused great feare and horrour ouer all Christendome For they had now brought in manner to a Wildernesse Frisia Gothia Polonia Bohemia and both Hungarias the most part of the Princes Prelates and people beeing fled or slaine as by this Letter appeareth TO the Beloued and alway worthy to be beloued Lord our Father in Law the Illustrious Prince the Duke of Brabant H. by the grace of God Earle of Loraine Palatine of the Saxons his humblest seruice The perills foretold in holy Scripture now breake forth because of our sinnes For a certaine cruell and innumerable people sauage and lawlesse inuadeth and possesseth the Confines next bordering to vs and are now come to Poland many other Lands being passed and peoples destroyed Whereof aswell by our owne Messengers as by our beloued Cousin the King of Bohemia we are fully certified and are inuited
their men and they promised it to Cublai One morning whiles Naiam was sleeping negligently in his Tent hauing not so much as sent out any scouts to espie Cublai made shew of his Armie vpon a hill to Naiams Hee himselfe sate in a certaine Castle of wood full of Archers and Crosse-bow men borne by foure Elephants on the top whereof was the Royall Standard with the Images of the Sunne and Moone Hee deuided his Armie into three wings of which he sent that on the right hand and the other on the left against Naiams Armie To euery ten thousand Horse were assigned fiue hundred Foot with Lances taught to leape vp behind the horse-men if any occasion of flight happened and suddenly on aduantage to light and slay the enemies horses with their lances Caidu was not yet come The battel 's ioyned and made a cruell fight which continued from morning till noone and then was Naiam taken and brought before Cublai who commanded that he should be sewed betwixt two Carpets which should be tossed vp and downe till the breath were out of his bodie that so the Imperiall blood might not be exposed to the Sunne and the ayre The remainder of his people sware Obedience to Cublai which were foure Nations Ciorza Carli Barscol and Sitingui Naiam was secretly baptised and by profession a Christian but no follower of the workes of Faith and signed his principall Ensigne with the signe of the Crosse hauing with him infinite store of Christians which were all slaine The Iewes and Saracens that were in the Armie of Cublai began to vpbraid the Christians with this disaster of the Crosse who thereupon complained to Cublai Hee then sharply reprouing the Iewes and Saracens turning to the Christians saith Surely your God and his Crosse would not giue any ayde to Naiam but be not you therefore ashamed because God beeing good and iust ought not at all to defend Iniustice and Iniquitie Naiam was a Traytour to his Lord and contrary to all equitie raised rebellion and sought the helpe of your God in his mischieuous purpose But he as a good and vpright God would not fauour his Designes He returned after this with great triumph to Cambalu and stayed there till Easter On that day he called the Christians before him and kissed their Gospels and made his Barons doe the same The like hee doth in the great Feasts of Saracens Iewes and Ethnikes that Sogomamber Can the God of the Idols Mahumet Moses or whosoeuer is greatest in heauen might helpe him Yet he made best shew of liking to the Christian Faith but pretended the ignorance of the Professors and the mightie acts of the Sorcerers to his not professing it Now for rewarding his Souldiers he hath twelue Barons or wise Counsellours which giue him notice of each Captaynes merit who raiseth them command of one hundred to a thousand and from one thousand to ten thousand and so forward giuing them Vessels of Plate and Tablets The Captayne of one hundred hath a Tablet of siluer and the Captayne of one thousand of Gold or siluer gilded the Captayne of ten thousand hath a Tablet of Gold with a Lions head on it the weight of the Tablets differ also according to the worth and weight of the dignitie On the said Tablet is written a command in this manner By the strength and power of the great God and by the Grace which he hath giuen to our Empire the name of Can be blessed and let them all dye and be destroyed which will not obey him All they which haue these Tablets haue priuiledges in writing of all things which they are to doe or demand And the Generals when they ride in publike they haue a cloth borne ouer their heads and when they sit sit on a Chaire of siluer Their Tablet is of three hundred Saggi fiftie ounces of Gold with the Images of the Sunne and Moone They whose Tablet haue a Gerfalcon may take with them for their guard the whole Armie of a great Commander Cublai is a comeley and faire man of a meane stature of a red and white face blacke and goodly eyes well fashioned nose and all the lineaments of his bodie consisting of a due proportion He hath foure wiues which he accounteth lawfull and the first-borne of them succeedeth him in the Kingdome And euery one of these is called Empresse and holdeth a peculiar Court and that Princely in a proper Palace hauing about three hundred chosen Hand-mayds and Mayd-seruant and many Eunuch seruants and at least ten thousand persons in their Family The King hath also many Concubines There is a certaine Nation of faire people Tartars called Vngut whether euery second yeare he sendeth Ambassadors to puruey the fairest Lasses for him of greatest esteeme for beautie which bring him foure or fiue hundred more or lesse as they see cause There are Praysers or Examiners appointed which take view of all their beauties examining Eyes Nose Mouth c. apart and set price on them at sixteene seuenteene eighteene nineteene twentie or more Carrats And they bring those of that rate which their Commission appoints These hee causeth to bee reuiewed by other Examiners and of so many chuseth perhaps thirtie for his Chamber of the chiefe which he puts to some of his Barons Wiues to see if they snore not in their sleepe if in smell or behauiour they be not offensiue Those which are approoued are by fiues diuided each fifth part wayting three dayes and nights in his Chamber by course the other in the next Lodgings preparing whatsoeuer these command them The lesse prized are put to Cookerie and other noble Officers And sometimes the Can bestowes them on Gentlemen with great portions The men of that Countrey esteeme it a grace and credit to haue Daughters worthy his liking and thinke themselues borne vnder an ill Planet if they haue not for his turne Cublai hath two and twentie Sonnes by his foure legitimate Wiues and the first-borne of his first Wife was called Cingis who should haue succeeded him in the Empire if hee had not dyed before his Father He left a Sonne named Temur a valiant man wife and exercised in Armes who is to succeed his Grand-father in the Empire in stead of his deceased Father But by his Hand-mayds and Mayd-seruants he hath fiue and twentie Sonnes all which are daily exercised in feats of Armes and are great Lords Seuen of his Sonnes by his Wiues are Kings of great Prouinces and maintayne their states with great reputation Three moneths of the yeere to wit December Ianuarie and Februarie Cublai remayneth ordinarily in Cambalu which is at the North-east border of Cataio and there on the South part by the new Citie is seated a great Palace First there is a square Wall each square being eight miles with a deep Ditch enuironing and a Gate in the middle of each after which is the space of a mile in circuit where Souldiers stand After this is
within answering Praised bee the Creator which gilded the beautious Heauens goe about and I will know thy businesse The Chinois went about and entring the backe â—oore opened that where Faria stood who with his companie going in found one man seeming aboue one hundred yeeres old in a long Russet Damaske garment by his presence seeming Noble as after wee learned he was who seeing such a troupe fell downe trembling hand and foot A good while it was before hee could speake and then asked what wee were and what we sought The Interpreter answered by Farias command that hee was the Captaine of these strangers of Siam who bound for the Port of Liampoo in trade of Merchandise was wracked at Sea hee and these escaping miraculously and therefore vowing to come to that Holy land on Pilgrimage to praise God for deliuerance from so great a danger and was now come to fulfill it and withall to demand somewhat in almes to relieue him for his returne protesting after three yeeres to restore it double whatsoeuer hee now tooke Hiticou that was his name answered I haue well heard what thou hast said and that damnable designe whereto thy blindnesse as the Pilot of Hell hath drawne thee and thine associates to the bottome of the lake of night For in stead of thankes for so great a benefit thou commest to rob and what I pray thee will the Diuine iustice repay thee at thy last breath change thou thy euill purpose and beleeue me God will change thy punishment Faria prayed him hee would not bee angry saying hee had no other remedie of life whereat the Hermite lifting his hands and eyes to Heauen sayd weeping Blessed bee thou Lord which sufferest on earth men which take for remedie of life thine offences and for certaintie of glorie will not serue thee one day And then turning his eyes to the companie which were rifling the Hangings and Chests taking the siluer from amongst the bones of the deceased therein hee fell twice from his seate with griefe and pensiuely put Faria in minde of his last breath of restitution of penance perpetuall to his flesh and liberall and discreet communicating to the poore that the seruant of night should haue nothing to accuse him in the day of account praying him also to command his companie to gather vp the bones of the Saints that they should not lye contemptible on the ground Faria gaue him many good words and complements professing himselfe which hee whispered neerer sorrie of what had passed but if hee should not doe it his companie had threatened to kill him If it bee so said the Hermit then shall thy paine bee lesse then these ministers of night whom as hungry Dogs it seemes all the siluer of the world would not satisfie Thus with many good words hee tooke leaue of the Hermit hauing taken all they could get who told him his knowledge might make his sinne more penall Nuno Coelho praying him not to be so angry for so small a matter hee replyed More small is the feare which thou hast of death when hauing spent thy life in foule facts thy soule shall stand as foule at the passage of this dung-hill of thy flesh And if thou seekest more Siluer to fill thy infernall appetite thou mayst finde in the houses adioyning enough to make it split as well in danger of Hell for this already saue that more burthened thou shalt descend swifter to the bottome Pray sayd Coelho take all in patience for so God hath commanded in his holy Law the Hermit shaking oft his head sayd I now see that which I neuer thought to haue heard Inbred wickednesse and vertue famed the same man stealing and preaching and turning to Faria prayed him that hee would not suffer them to spet on the Altar being liefer to dye a thousand times then to see it which he promised Hee then demanded of Hiticon what persons liued in all those houses who answered three hundred and sixtie Talagrepos onely and fortie Menigrepos which serued them without for their prouision and the care of the Sicke Hee asked if the Kings vsed to come thither no sayd he The King being sonne of the Sunne can absolue all and none may condemne him Asked of their Armes hee sayd To goe to Heauen there needed not armes to offend but patience to suffer For the mixture of that Siluer with dead bones in the chests hee answered that it was the Almes which the deceased carryed with them to prouide them of necessities in the heauen of the Moone Asked of women with them hee sayd that the Bee stings those which eate the honey and pleasures of the flesh needed not to the life of the Soule And thus parted hee from the Hermit with embraces with purpose to returne the next day it being now night to the other houses and not taking aboard with him this Hermit as hee was aduised saying his gowtie legges could carrie no tydings of vs which yet hee did creeping to the next and bidding him goe call the Bonzij For an houre after midnight wee saw fires in a rew which our Chinois told vs were signes of our discouerie and therefore aduised vs to haste away Faria was awakened and would needs a shoare with sixe men and ranne like a mad-man from one place to another his companie requested him to haste away and he answered for his honour hee would first see the danger and intreated them to stay one halfe houre and swearing hereto away hee goeth and followes the sound of a Bell to an Hermitage in which were two men in religious habits the place was richer then the former wee had beene in They tooke thence an Idoll of Siluer from the Altar with a myter of Gold on his head and a wheele in his hand and three Candlesticks of siluer with long chaynes and taking the two Hermits with them returned aboard the Barkes with great haste Of one of these they learned that Pilau Angiroo had come to the house of the Sepulchers of the Kings and cryed out to them to awaken out of their sleepe telling them of their oath to the Goddesse Amida of Strangers with long beards and Iron bodies which had robbed the Saints and would kill them all whence followed the fires and sending to giue notice to the Cities Corpilem and Fumbana for ayde their Religion prohibiting them to handle any thing which might draw bloud Faria now hauing gone downe the Riuer a great way was much enraged for omitting such oportunitie plucking his beard and beating himselfe with anguish till not long after his heate was cooled §. III. Their Shipwracke in which Faria and most of them were drowned the miserable wandrings of the rest to Nanquin their Imprisonment sentence and appeale to Pequin rarities obserued in those places and wayes of the beginnings of the China Kingdome and of their admirable Wall SEuen dayes wee sayled thorow the Bay of Nanquim the force of the current carrying
very great each hauing a woman sitting thereon with a Sword in her hand of the same metall and a siluer Crowne on the head so many had sacrificed themselues at her death to doe her seruice in the next World Another compasse environed that of the Giants all of triumphant Arches gilded with a great quantitie of siluer Bels hanging on siluer chaines which by the motion of the Aire continually yeelded a strange sound Without those Arches in the same proportion stand two rankes of Latten grates encircling the whole worke set in spaces with Pillars of the same and thereon Lions set on balls which are the Armes of the Kings of China At the foure corners were placed foure Monsters of Brasse one which the Chinois call the Deuouring Serpent of the deepe Caue of the House of smoke in the figure of a dreadfull Serpent with seuen Serpents comming out of his brest sported with greene and blacke with many prickles more then a span long quite thorow the bodie like Hedge-hogges each hauing in his mouth a woman ouerthwart with disheuelled haires looking deadly The old or great Serpent holds in his mouth a Lizard halfe out of aboue thirty spans in length as bigge as a Pipe with nose and lips full of bloud and in his hands he holds a great Elephant so forcibly that his entrailes seeme to come out of his mouth all so naturally represented that it is most dreadful to behold The folds of his tayle were aboue twentie fathome long enfolding therein another Monster the second of the foure called Tarcamparoo which they say was the Sonne of that Serpent which stands with both his hands in his mouth which is as bigge as a gate the teeth set in order and the blacke tongue hanging out aboue two fathomes Of the two other one was the Figure of a woman named Nadelgau seuenteene fathomes long and sixe about from whose waste issued a beake or face aboue two fathomes which cast smoake out of the nosthrils and flames of fire out of the mouth which they make therein continually saying shee is the Queene of the Fierie Spheare and shall burne the Earth at the end of the World The fourth is like a man set cowring with cheekes puffed like ships sayles so monstrous that a man could not endure the sight The Chinois call him Vzanguenaboo and say that it is hee which makes Tempests in the Sea and throwes downe Houses by Land to which the people giue much Almes not to hurt their Iunkes The second day we went from Pocasser and came to another Citie called Xinligau very great well built walled with Tyles ditched about with two Castles at the end hauing their Towres Bul-warkes and Draw-bridges in the midst of each Castle was a Towre of fiue Lofts with many workes painted in which the Chinois said were fifteene thousand Picos of siluer of the Rents gathered in that Archipelago which this Kings Grand-father there layd vp in memory of his Sonne Leuquinau which signifieth the ioy of all holden for a Saint because he dyed a Religious man and lyes there buried in the Temple of Quiay Varatel the God of all the Fishes in the Sea of whom they haue large Legends In that Citie and another fiue leagues from it is made the greatest part of the Silke of that Kingdome the waters there giuing quicker colours they say then in other parts The Weauers Loomes of these Silkes which they affirme thirteene thousand pay yearely to the King three hundred thousand Taeis Going further vp the Riuer wee came the next day Euening to a great Champaigne continuing ten or twelue leagues in which were many Kine Horses and Mares pastured for the shambles as well as other flesh and kept by many men on Horse-backe These Champaignes past wee came to a Towne called Iunquileu walled with Tyles but without Towres or Bul-warkes Here wee saw a stone Monument with an Inscription Heere lyeth Trannocem Mudeliar Vncle to the King of Malaca who dyed before hee was reuenged of Captayne Alboquerque the Lion of Sea Robberies We enquiring hereof an old Chinese said that about fortie yeares agoe the man there interred had come Embassadour from a King of Malaca to sue to the Sonne of the Sunne for succour against a Nation of a Land without name which had comne from the end of the World and taken Malaca with other incredible particularities printed in a Booke which hee made thereof Hauing spent three yeares in this Suite and brought it to some maturitie hee sickned of the Aire one night at Supper dyed in nine dayes and left this Memoriall Wee proceeded on our way the Riuer growing lesse but the Countrey more peopled scarsly a stones cast free of some House eyther of a Pagode or Labourer And two leagues higher on a Hill compassed with Iron grates were two Brasse Statues standing on their feete one of a man the other of a woman both seuentie foure spans long with their hands in their mouthes and puffed cheekes fastned to Cast-Iron Pillars seuen fathomes high The Male was named Quiay Xingatalor the woman Apancapatur The Chinois told vs that the man was Fire-blower in Hell to torment such as in this life gaue them no Almes the woman was the Hell-Porter which suffered the Almes-giuers to flye by a Riuer of cold water called Ochileuday and hid them their from the Deuils hurting them One of our company laughed at this Tale whereat a Bonzo was so offended that hee set Chifu in rage with vs who bound vs hand and foot and gaue vs one hundred stripes a-piece Twelue Priests were incensing these Monsters when wee were there with Siluer-censours full of sweet Odours Saying as wee serue thee helpe thou vs another company of Priests answering So I promise thee as a good Lord. And thus went they on Procession about the Hill an houres space sounding certayne Bels causing a dreadfull noyse Hence wee passed vp the Riuer eleuen dayes all peopled with Cities Townes Villages Castles in many places scarsly a Calieuer shot distant one from another and all the Land in compasse of our sight had store of great Houses and Temples with gilded Steeples which amazed vs with the sight Thus wee came to the Citie Sampitay where wee stayed fiue dayes by reason of the sicknesse of Chifus Wife There by his leaue wee went thorow the streets a begging the people wondering at vs and giuing vs largely One woman amongst others which busily questioned with vs shewed vs a Crosse branded on her left arme asking if we knew that signe and wee deuoutly answering yes shee lifted vp her hands to Heauen and sayd Our Father which art in Heauen hallowed be thy Name in Portugues and could speake no more but proceeded in China speech and procured leaue to lodge vs at her House those fiue dayes telling vs she was named Inez de Leiria and was the Daughter of Thomas Perez which came Embassadour to China
Ilands de los Reyes thence to make for the Philippinas After eight dayes the ship called Saint Luke was missing the Captayne whereof was Alfonsus de Arellano suspected to haue maliciously with-drawne himselfe The Fleet continuing their course in nine and ten degrees after fiftie dayes had sight of an Iland of Fishermen and many other small Ilands not inhabited which they passed by It was agreed that they should heighthen their course to thirteene degrees in which way they came on Monday the seuenteenth of Ianuary 1566. to one of the Ilands of Theeues called Goean and sayling toward it sixe miles off fiftie or sixtie Paraos swift sayling Barkes with eight or ten men quite naked met them and inuited them to their Habitations where at night they anchored The next morning sixe hundred of their Paraos came about them with victuals to sell Rice Honey Sugar-canes Plantans Fruits of diuers kinds and Ginger whereof there groweth great store naturally Their principall desire in barter was Iron Nailes giuing a large sacke of Rice for a Naile their sackes deceitfully filled with grauell and chaffe with Rice in the top These people are well proportioned and strong They fought with the Spaniards which were watering and in the time of fight would be trucking with the ships as senslesse of their danger A Mariner which stayd behind was slaine whose death they reuenged with many of the Sauages slaine in the night one of them being taken and sent into New Spaine Their name fits their Theeuish disposition Eleuen dayes after the fleet renewed their Voyage and course in thirteene degrees eleuen dayes longer and then had sight of the Philippinas hauing sailed from the Port of Natiuitie eight thousand miles They anchored in a faire Bay called Baia de Sibabas and there rode seuen dayes whiles two Boats went to discouer one to the North the other Southward A Gentleman of one of them was slaine by an Indian rashly leaping on shoare These Indians haue Iron Launces with a head or tongue a handfull and halfe long They haue also shields Bowes and Arrowes In making peace each man takes two or three drops of bloud of his arme or brest and mixe both in some Vessell together which is drunke with Wine and Water Many Paraos came to the Spaniards with a white flag in the Prow in token of peace and the Admiral erected the like in her Poope to signifie their leaue to enter These Indians are clothed but barefoot The Spaniards demanded prouision which the other promised but gaue only to the Captayne a sucking Pigge and an Egge These people are very timorous perfidious and therefore suspicious The Ilands beare Hogges Goats Hennes Rice Millet Potatoes Pome-citrons Frisoles Cocos Plantans and many sorts of Fruits They weare Bracelets and Earings and Gold Chaines and whithersoeuer the Fleet went was shew of Gold in the Land whereof they digge but for necessary vses the Land is their Money bagge The Fleet departed hence and two dayes after came to the Port of the I le Tandoia where a small Riuer enters vp which they went in Boats and came to a Towne called Camungo There they were well entertayned and had victualls set them which whiles they were eating an Indian spake some Spanish words and asked for Antonie Baptista Villalobos and Captaine Cabeça de Vaca for which the Lord of the place was angrie with him and hee appeared no more The next day the Spaniards returning found them armed threatning them if they came on shoare They minding not to deale cruelly Martin de Goyte was sent to discouer some conuenient harbour who saw the Citie Tandaya and other Townes of other neere Ilands and hauing gone sixtie miles found the great Bay where was Cabalia a Towne well inhabited Thither went the Fleet and the Inhabitants fled Onely Camatuan the sonne of Malataque a blind man chiefe of that place came to them whom they detayned thinking thereby to get some prouision but in vaine He sent forth Souldiers which brought him fiue and fortie Hogs leauing in lieu somwhat for exchange and dismissing Camatuan who had taught the Captaine the names of the neighbouring Iles and of their Gouernours Hee brought them to Mesagua two and thirtie miles off and then was sent away apparelled and ioyfull The Iland Masagua hath beene frequent but then had but twentie Inhabitants which would not see the Spaniards They went to another Iland where the people were fled with their goods Then went they to Butuan which is subiect to the I le Vindena or the Ilands Corrientes The winde draue them to Bohol where they anchored The next day they saw a Iunke and sent a Boat to it which wounded some of their men They had Arrowes and Lances and a Base and two brasse Peeces They cryed to the Spaniards abordo abordo The Spaniards sent out another Boat better fitted which tooke eight the rest were slaine or fled hauing fought valiantly In the Iunke they found white sheets painted Silke Almayzarez Callicos Iron Tin Brasse and some Gold The Iunke was of Borneo and so were these Moores All was restored their intent being to get friends and the Burneois satisfied The Captaine sent the Saint Iohn to discouer the Coast of Butuan and learne where the Cinamon was gathered and to find some good Port in fit place to build The Burneois told the Captaine the cause of the Indians flight that about two yeeres before some Portugals bearing themselues for Spaniards had comne thither from the Molucas and hauing made peace with them set on them and slue aboue a thousand Indians the cause of that depopulation This the Portugals did to make the Spaniards odious that if they came thither they might not be admitted The Captaine sent a well furnished ship to search the Coast which came to a place where the Borneo Gouernour said he had friends and leaping on shoare hee was slaine of the Indians The Saint Iohn returned from Buthuan which said they had seene the King and two Iunkes of Moores in the Riuer at anker and that the Iland was great and rich and exchanged with them fine Gold for Testons one for six in equall weight They bought Wax of the Moores but had Earth inclosed in the Cakes they also incensed the Indians against the Castilians which would haue made purchase of them but were forbidden by the King They said they had there seene Wax Cinamon Gold and other precious things On Easter Euen the other ship returned to their great ioy which had thought her lost hauing staid twentie dayes longer then her limited time They had sailed about the Iland Igla the space of six hundred miles and in their returne came to Subo a well peopled Iland and plentifull of all things The Captaine determined to goe thither to buy prouision or else to force them For Magelane had beene there and the King and most of the Inhabitants were baptised
ouer it were two Bridges one of Gold the other of Siluer by which those passed ouer which had beene deuout Idolaters carrying in their hands Ensignes of the same these were guided by the Priests which led them through the midst of Hell to faire and pleasant Groues and Gardens In another part were painted the Dungeons of Hell with horrible Serpents Flames Deuils To the Brazen Gates thereof there comes an Idolatrous Priest which in despight of all the Deuils deliuers his Mother from those flames There was no infernall punishment painted but had such an Inscription He which shall pray to such an Idoll a thousand times shall bee free from this punishment The Iesuites beat the Earthen Idols to dust and burnt those of wood wherein the Chinese Conuerts were the forwarder because the Countrey custome is to fill the hollow bellies of these Images with deuoted Money or Iewels They demolished the Altar and playstred ouer the Pictures and in place thereof erected the Image of Christ. No priuate man may erect a Temple by Law which yet the mighty Eunuchs transgresse A little before this exchange of Idols into Images after their distinction and a silly one it is some tooke their last leaue of Ti cam one kneeling and bidding it fare-well another chasing said Thou masse of Dung and Earth if thou hast no power to maintayne thy Temple and thy selfe what helpe may I looke for at thy hand Neither art thou worthy of any honour at mine Others said that this had sometime borne the name of some other Idoll and therefore was auenged for that change Ricius hauing thus taken possession of China by his dead bodie and liuing name wee shall briefly out of the Iesuits Epistles adde some later accidents and so leaue our China Discourses which if they haue seemed tedious and troublesome remember that China is both excessiuely rituall and also inhospitall to Strangers and I haue but imitated my subject in long and wearisome entertaynment These tell vs of the Kings vnkindnesse to his Heire proclaymed as yee haue seene against his will scarsly allowing him necessary sustenance nor permitting his Mother at her death to be mourned for with wonted Rites He is indeuout his Mother egregiously Superstitious mayntayning many Priests erecting or repayring Temples that it is a Prouerbe In the Court the Priests in the Prouinces are Magistrates obserued In that their studie of long life One had beene so mad that he being a Licentiate bought children whom secretly he killed of their bloud making compositions for that purpose which comming to light by one of his Concubines he was put to a deserued death three thousand pieces of flesh first cut from him In their Winter is greatest scarsity of water in the Riuers and many shelues then cause many shipwrackes As they want b. d. r. so they end no word in any other Consonant but m. and n. The China Conuerts are very zealous in selfe-whipping penance and fasting altered from their forme to the Ecclesiasticall which is hard to them accustomed to eate thrice a day Their Priests vse Beads mumbling thereby their Deuotions and many things alike They built a Church at Nanquin Anno 1611. The Prouince of Chequian yeelds only to the two Royall Nanquin and Pequin beeing more excellent then any of the rest Neither hath it lost other Prouinciall Ornaments howsoeuer it hath lost the seat of the China Empire but is still the best of thirteene On the East it is washed with the Sea which the winds fauouring admit passage to Iapan in foure and twentie houres on the West it confineth with the Prouinces of Nanquin and Kiamsi or Chiansi on the South with Fuquian to the North is Xanto or Sciantum It hath twelue Cities of principall note which are the heads of sixtie three lesse besides innumerable Townes Castles Villages The soile is the most fertile of the Kingdome pleasantly interlaced with Riuers many of them produced by Art in imitation of Nature in commodiousnesse no whit inferiour yeelding a spectacle of amazement to the amused Posteritic how humane force could effect such wonders These Riuers for further commoditie are towred with innumerable Bridges of huge massie stones arising into diuers Arches like to the European workmanship You haue alreadie Almeidas Epistle of his and Rogers going into this Prouince to Xao Him whence soone after they returned The Chinois haue a Prouerbe of Hamceu the Metropolis and of Suceu thien xam thien tham ti xam Su ham that which in Heauen is the Hall of Heauen lactea via as he else-where interprets it that on Earth Suceu and Hamceu The Countrey so aboundeth with Mulbery-trees and Silke-wormes that China Iapon and India are thence furnished Ten Vests of Silke are there cheaper then in our Countrey one of cloth Hamceu stands from Nanquin South-eastward nine dayes Iourney almost in thirtie degrees eleuation about three dayes Iourney from Scianbai where Cataneus was who with Trigautius our Author were sent thither by Leos procurement They went from Nanquin by the Riuer Iansu first and then into hand-made Riuers Cities Townes Villages so frequent in the way that nothing seemes in the whole Kingdome more populous Mid-way where Nanquin and Chequian Prouinces joyne is that famous Suceu seated in the Continent and seeming yet the Daughter of the Sea like another Venice but more happie with her fresh waters the Ports so frequent and ships so many as if the whole shipping of the Kingdome were thither comne to some Faires which yet are in succession perpetuall When the Fathers were comne hither the Chinois by I know not what rumour were conceited that their Foe or Gods were comne thither in Visitation And a Magistrate sent to Leo about it to know if and how hee might visit them But to leaue their Fooleries let vs take view of their Citie Hamceu is the chiefe Citie of this Prouince yea in all this Kingdome lesse perhaps somewhat in compasse of walles then Nanquin but better peopled no place in the Citie emptie nor occupied with Gardens but all builded and all the Buildings almost with diuers Stories which in other Cities of China is not vsuall The Inhabitants are so many and the Tribute so much that the Iesuites durst not relate that which hereof they had heard by graue testimonie for the incredibilitie the description would aske a whole Volume The chiefe street is almost halfe a dayes Iourney in length and cannot be lesse then admirable For whereas the Chinois vse to erect triumphall Arches as Monuments to wel-deseruing Magistrates and Ornaments to their Cities this one street hath at least three hundred such besides very many others in other parts of the Citie of massie stones and exceeding curious Workmanship that if the Houses on both sides yeelded the like splendor the World could not shew such a spectacle But they occupie it all with shops and build the most magnificence of their Houses inwards and yet those not
c. both at one time without any pause After that hee deliuereth them againe Bread by it selfe and then Wine carded together with a little warme water to represent Bloud more rightly as they thinke and the water withall that flowed out of the side of Christ. Whiles this is in doing the Communicants vnfold their armes And then folding them againe follow the Priest thrice round about the Communion table and so returne to their places againe Where hauing sayd certayne other prayers hee dismisseth the Communicants with charge to bee merrie and to cheere vp themselues for the seuen dayes next following Which being ended hee enioyneth them to fast for it as long time after Which they vse to obserue with very great deuotion eating nothing else but Bread and Salt except a little Cabbage and some other Herbe or Root with water or quasse Mead for their drinke This is their manner of administring the Sacraments Wherein what they differ from the institution of Christ and what Ceremonies they haue added of their owne or rather borrowed of the Greekes may easily bee noted THeir chiefest errours in matter of Faith I finde to bee these First concerning the Word of God it selfe they will not read publikely certayne Bookes of the Canonicall Scripture as the bookes of Moses specially the foure last Exodus Leuiticus Numeri and Deuteronomie which they say are all made disauthentique and put out of vse by the comming of Christ as not able to discerne the difference betwixt the Morall and the Ceremoniall Law The bookes of the Prophets they allow of but reade them not publikely in their Churches for the same reason because they were but directers vnto Christ and proper as they say to the Nation of the Iewes Onely the Booke of Psalmes they haue in great estimation and sing and say them daily in their Churches Of the New Testament they allow and reade all except the Reuelation which therefore they reade not though they allow it because they vnderstand it not neither haue the like occasion to know the fulfilling of the Prophecies contayned within it concerning especially the Apostacie of the Antichristian Church as haue the Westerne Churches Notwithstanding they haue had their Antichrists of the Greeke Church and may finde their owne falling off and the punishments for it by the Turkish inuasion in the Prophecies of the Booke Secondly which is the fountayne of the rest of all their corruptions both in Doctrine and Ceremonies they hold with the Papists that their Church Traditions are of equall authoritie with the written Word of God Wherein they preferre themselues before other Churches affirming that they haue the true and right Traditions deliuered by the Apostles to the Greeke Church and so vnto them Thirdly that the Church meaning the Greeke and specially the Patriarch and his Synod as the head of the rest hauing a soueraigne Authoritie to interpret the Scriptures and that all are bound to hold that Interpretation as sound and authentique Fourthly concerning the Diuine nature and the three Persons in the one substance of God that the holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father onely and not from the Sonne Fiftly about the office of Christ they hold many foule errours and the same almost as doth the Popish Church namely that hee is the sole Mediatour of redemption but not of intercession Their chiefe reason if they bee talked withall for defence of this errour is that vnapt and foolish comparison betwixt God and a Monarch or Prince of this world that must bee sued vnto by Mediatours about him wherein they giue speciall preferment to some aboue others as to the blessed Virgin whom they call Procheste or vndefiled and Saint Nicolas whom they call Scora pomosnick or the Speedy helper and say that hee hath three hundred Angels of the chiefest appointed by God to attend vpon him This hath brought them to an horrible excesse of Idolatrie after the grossest and prophanest manner giuing vnto their Images all religious worship of Prayer Thankesgiuing Offerings and Adoration with prostrating and knocking their heads to the ground before them as to God himselfe Which because they doe to the Picture not to the portraiture of the Saint they say they worship not an Idoll but the Saint in his Image and so offend not God forgetting the Commandement of God that forbiddeth to make the Image or likenesse of any thing for any Religious worship or vse whatsoeuer Their Church walls are verie full of them richly hanged and set foorth with Pearle and Stone vpon the smooth Table Though some also they haue embossed that sticke from the board almost an inch outwards They call them Chudouodites or their Miracle workers and when they prouide them to set vp in their Churches in no case they may say that they haue bought the Image but Exchanged money for it Sixtly for the meanes of Iustification they agree with the Papists that it is not by Faith onely apprehending Christ but by their Workes also And that Opus operatum or the worke for the worke sake must needs please God And therefore they are all in their numbers of Prayers Fasts Vowes and Offerings to Saints Almes deeds Crossings and such like and carrie their numbring Beads about with them continually as well the Emperour and his Nobilitie as the common people not onely in the Church but in all other publike places specially at any set or solemne meeting as in their Fasts law Courts common Consultations entertaynment of Ambassadours and such like Seuenthly they say with the Papists that no man can bee assured of his saluation till the sentence be passed at the day of Iudgement Eightly they vse auricular Confession and thinke they are purged by the very action from so many sinnes as they confesse by name and in particular to the Priest Ninthly they hold three Sacraments of Baptisme the Lords Supper and the last Anoiling or Vnction Yet concerning their Sacrament of extreame Vnction they hold it not so necessarie to saluation as they doe Baptisme but thinke it a great curse and punishment of God if any dye without it Tenthly they thinke there is a necessitie of Baptisme and that all are condemned that dye without it Eleuenth they rebaptise as many Christians not being of the Greeke Church as they conuert to their Russe profession because they are diuided from the true Church which is the Greeke as they say Twelfth they make a difference of Meates and Drinkes accounting the vse of one to be more holy then of another And therefore in their set Fasts they forbeare to eate flesh and white meates as wee call them after the manner of the Popish superstition which they obserue so strictly and with such blinde deuotion as that they will rather die then eate one bit of Flesh Egges or such like for the health of their bodies in their extreame sicknesse Thirteenth they hold Marriage to bee
haue made any Voyage that yeere whereby to haue earned their bread Yet it pleased God afterwards in some Harbours Whales hitting in a Voyage was performed and 1100. tunnes of Oyle brought home to the great encouragement of the said Aduenturers otherwise that Trade had beene vtterly ouerthrowne The yeere following 1622. the said Aduenturers at their owne charge set forth nine ships vnder the command aforesaid and therein employed diuers Land-men many of which afterwards proue good Sea-men and are fit for any Sea seruice Eight of which ships were appointed to make their Voyage vpon the Whale and one to goe on discouerie to the South-eastwards But ill successe happening one of their greatest ships of burthen whereof Iohn Masson was Master hauing in her two hundred tuns of Caske Coppers and diuers prouisions was vnfortunatly cast away against a piece of Ice vpon the coast of King Iames Newland foure leagues from the shoare in which ship perished nine and twentie men and the remainder being three and twenty were by the prouidence of the Almightie miraculously saued in a Shallop coasting thirtie leagues afterwards to meet with some other ships to find some succour hauing neither bread nor drinke nor any meanes whereby to get any food and so remayned three dayes in extreme cold weather being in a small Boat ready to bee swallowed vp of euery waue but that God prouided better for them Many of which people their hands and feet rotted off being frozen and they died in the Countrey The rest of the ships returned home laden bringing in them 1300. tuns of Oyle yet the foresaid chiefe Harbour could not performe their full lading there by reason of the Flemmings and Danes being to the Northwards as aforesaid which doth yeerely hinder the Companies ships from making a Voyage §. III. The Description of the seuerall sorts of Whales with the manner of killing them Whereto is added the Description of Greenland THe Whale is a Fish or Sea-beast of a huge bignesse about sixtie fiue foot long and thirtie fiue foot thicke his head is a third part of all his bodies quantitie his spacious mouth contayning a very great tongue and all his finnes which we call Whale finnes These finnes are fastned or rooted in his vpper chap and spread ouer his tongue on both sides his mouth being in number about two hundred and fiftie on one side and as many on the other side The longest finnes are placed in the midst of his mouth and the rest doe shorten by their proportionable degrees backward and forwards from ten or eleuen foot long to foure inches in length his eyes are not much bigger then an Oxes eyes his body is in fashion almost round forwards growing on still narrower towards his tayle from his bellie his tayl◠is about twentie foot broad and of a tough solid substance which we vse for blockes to chop the Blubber on which yeelds Oyle and of like nature are his two swimming finnes and they grow forward on him This creature commeth oftentimes aboue water spouting eight or nine times before he goeth downe againe whereby he may be descried two or three leagues off Then our Whale-killers presently rowe forth from the place where they stand to watch for him making what haste they can to meet him but commonly before they come neere him he will be gone downe againe and continue a good while before he riseth so that sometimes they rowe past him Yet are they very circumspect euer looking round where they may espie him risen or discerne his way vnder water which they call his Walke When he is vp and the Shallops neere him they rowe towards him very resolutely as if they would force the Shallop vpon him if hee went downe vnder water but the Harponyre who standeth vp in the head of the Boat darteth his Harping-iron at the Whale with both his hands so soone as he commeth within his reach wherwith the Whale being strucken presently descendeth to the bottome and therefore doe they reare out a rope of two hundred fathome which is fastned to the Harping-iron and lieth coyled in the Boat And they let him haue as much of the rope as reacheth to the bottome and when they perceiue him rising they hale in the rope to get neere him and when the Whale commeth vp aboue water then do the men lance him with their lances either out of one Shallop or the other for most commonly there bee two Shallops about the killing of one Whale In lancing him they strike neere to the finnes he swimmeth withall and as lowe vnder water neere his bellie as conueniently they can but when he is lanced he friskes and strikes with his tayle so forcibly that many times when hee hitteth a Shallop hee splitteth her in pieces so that the men are relieued and taken in by another Shallop and sometimes he striketh so fully vpon them that some of the men are either maymed or killed with his stroke Therefore they who vndertake this businesse which is the principall thing in the Voyage must not onely bee bold and resolute but also discreet and wary otherwise their rash forwardnesse may preuent them of their expected conquest considering they haue no shield to withstand the offended beast their enemy but onely by a heedfull warinesse to auoide the receiuing of his dangerous stroke Swimming is also requisite for a Whale-killer to be expert in for it may be a meanes to saue his life when he hath lost his Boat and another is not neere presently to helpe him The Whale hauing receiued his deadly wound then he spouteth bloud whereas formerly he cast forth water and his strength beginneth to fayle him but before he dieth hee will sometimes draw the Shallop three or foure miles from the place where he was first stricken and as he is a dying he turneth his bellie vpwards which lieth vppermost being dead Then they fasten a rope to his tayle and with the Shallops one made fast to another they towe him towards the ship with his tayle foremost Then doe they lay him crosse the sterne of the ship where he is cut vp in this manner two or three men in a Boat or Shallop come close to the side of the Whale and hold the Boat fast there with a Boat-hooke and another standing either in the Boat or most commonly vpon the Whale cutteth the fat which we call Blubber in square pieces with a cutting Knife three or foure foot long Then to race it from the flesh there is a Crane or Capsten placed purposely vpon the poope of the ship from whence there descendeth a rope with a hooke in it this hooke is made to take hold on a piece of Blubber and as the men winde the Capsten so the cutter with his long knife looseth the fat from the flesh euen as if the lard of a Swine were to be cut off from the leane When a piece is in order cut off then let they lower the Crane
as was the Geographicall partition of the Iland it selfe mentioned before at the end of the first Chapter diuided into North East South and West quarter And againe they diuided the Fourths into Thirds except the North quarter For this as it was larger then the rest was parted into Fourths But these Thirds they subdiuided againe into their parts some Tenths and others somewhat otherwise For the which not finding a fit name I haue retayned the proper name of the Countrey that which with them is Hreppar wee may counterfeitly call Reppae vnto the which also we may imagine no vnapt Etymon from the word Repo For here was the first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them that executed any publike Office for equitie either of opinion and judgement and the equall ballancing of mindes to be preserued in the rest of the Magistrates worthily ought to begin there vnlesse any would rather thinke they had respect heere vnto Reeb that is to say Coards with the which the diuision was made after the most ancient manner of the Hebrewes themselues Euery Reppa regularly contayned twentie Inhabitants at the least for oftentimes it contayned more limited by a certayne increase of the wealth of their Family vnder which they might not be reckoned to the poorer Reppes to the richer they might Moreouer in euery Third as also in the Fourths of the North Tetrade which Iurisdictions in times past they called Pyng at this day also Syslu herad they appointed three more famous places consecrated to the Seat of Iustice and Iudgements besides also dedicated to Ethnicke Sacrifices which they call Hoff we call them Holy Places and Temples Euery Chappell after the manner of this Countrey was sumptuously built whereof wee reade of two of one hundred and twentie foot long One in the Iurisdiction of Washdall of North Island the other in Rialarnes of South Island and this surely sixtie foot broad Moreouer euery such holy place had a kind of Chappell adjoyning This place was most holy Heere stood the Idols and Gods made with hands vpon a low stoole or a certayne Altar about which the cattle which were to be sacrificed vnto them were orderly placed But the chiefe and middlemost of the Gods was Iupiter by them called Por from whom these Northerne Kingdomes yet call Thors day Thorsdagh The rest of the Gods were collateral vnto it whose certayne number and names I haue not heard Yet in the ancient forme of oath whereof mention shall be made hereafter three besides Thorus are specially noted by name Freyr Niordur and As whereof the third to wit As I thinke to be that famous Odinus not accounted the last among those Ethnicke Gods of whom I made mention before Synecdochically called As because hee was the chiefe of the people of Asia who came hither into the North for in the singular number they called him As which in the plurall they called Aesar or Aeser This Odinus as aforesaid for his notable knowledge in Deuillish Magicke whereby like another Mahomet hee affected a Diuinitie after his death was reckoned among the number of the Gods from whom at this day Wednesday is called Odens Dagur the day of Odinus whereupon peraduenture I shall not vnaptly call Odin Mercurie as Thor Iupiter Yet the ancients honoured Odin in the place of Mars and such as were slaine in the warres they say were sacrificed to Odin And the companions or Sonnes of Odin were Freyr and Nâ—ordur who through the same artes which their Father or Prince Odinus practised obtayned an opinion of Diuinitie I haue before aduertised you that chiefly in the North Countrey Kings after their death are honoured for Gods But the worshipping of them hath not yet come vnto the Islanders wherefore we will speake nothing of them in this place Before that seate of the Gods placed in the foresaid Temples stood an Altar erected couered aboue with Iron that it might not be hurt with fire which must bee continually there A Caldron also or brasen vessell was set vpon the Altar to receiue the bloud of the sacrifices with an holy water sticke or sprinkle to bedew the standers by with the bloud of the sacrifices Besides on the Altar a siluer Ring was kept or of copper of twentie ounces which being anointed with the bloud of the sacrifices they who executed any office pertayning to Iustice being now readie to take their oath religiously handled while they were sworne Foure-footed beasts for the most part were appointed for sacrifices to bee conuerted to the food of the Sacrificers Although in the meane space I finde a lamentable matter that the blinde Ethnicks in the foresaid place of Rialarnes vsed also humane sacrifices where at the doore of the Temple was â— very deepe Pit wherein the humane sacrifices were drowned which Pit was called Blotkellda from the Sacrifice Also in West Island in the Prouince of Thornsthing in the middle of the Market place there was a round circle into the which men appointed to be sacrificed to the Gods were gathered who being violently smitten against an exceeding great stone set there were cruelly slaine The indignitie whereof that stone is reported to haue declared many ages after by the bloudy colour which no shower of raine or water could euer wash away An abominable crueltie surely yet not wanting examples deriued euen from the most ancient times I omit those of later time and found in the neare bordering Countries as the humane sacrifices of the French whereof Cicero pro Fonteio speaketh and also the custome of nearer bordering Countries I doe not mention the Roman sacrifices among which Luperca Valeria appointed to be sacrificed was deliuered from present death by an Eagle Let the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and sacrificing of noble Virgins of the Greekes not be remembâ—ed with whom Helena was likewise freed from imminent perill of sacrificing by the benefit of an Eagle But who is it that can be ignorant of Benhennon or Gehennon of the Hebrewes and their crueltie farre greater then this exercised not vpon slaues or guiltie persons but euen vpon their dearest children Concerning which matter I thought good to set downe the wordes of Christoph. Adricomus Delphus Gehennon saith he was a place in the suburbs of Ierusalem ouer against the East vnder the Mountayne of Offence neare the Fish poole of the Fuller most pleasant like Tempe In this Valley stood a Pauilion and the brasen Idol of Moloch cunningly wrought in the shape of a King bâ—llow within whose head resembling a Calfe the other parts a man had armes stretched forth to sacrifice children who through the vehement heat of the Idol were burned amidst those cursed embracements For when by the fire put vnder in the concauity of the Idoll it became all fiery then the most wicked parents with incredible crueltie deliuered their dearest children to wit their Sonnes and Daughters to be burned within these detestable
bloud to the hell of their owne consciences let vs set forward out of this infortunate Iland and not stay in any place else till in small Boates wee come by water to Elzinore in Denmarke where wee ioyfully got aboard once more and are hoysing vp sailes for Sweueland Yet euen in this sun-shine day a storme fals vpon vs too for our Officers not hauing sufficient money to furnish vs with victuals wee were enforced to pawne our Auncient and Lieutenant Walton for the safe returne of the Shippe with condition that they should not be released vntill a sufficient summe of money was sent to defray all charges So that we left our Officers behinde vs but the King of Sweueland did afterwards release them and then they came to vs. But before their comming wee hauing a good winde landed at a place called Newleas in Sweue and from thence were carried to Stockholme the Kings seate and there was the King at the same time betweene which two places it was a daies march on horsebacke Vpon this our arriuall at Stockholme wee met with the rest that had gone before vs and with diuers others of our Countrimen that came out of the Low-countries as before is related In this place we lay so long and had such poore meanes that wanting money to buy foode wee wanted foode to maintaine life and so a number of vs were readie to statue till in the end our miseries making vs desperate we fell together by the eares with the Burgers of the Towne in which scambling confusion and mutinie euery man got one thing or other of which he made present money to relieue his body withall yet lay wee at the walles of the Citie crying out continually for money money till our throates grew hoarse with bauling but the stones of the walles gaue more comfort to vs then the Inhabitants One day aboue all the rest wee heard that the King was to ride a Hunting and wee imagining that all the abuses wrongs and miseries which wee endured proceeded from some vnder-hand hard dâ—aling and packing of our Captaines and Officers resolued to gather about the King at his comming forth and to cry out for money but the King being angry as wee supposed came riding amongst vs drawing his Pistoll from the Saddle-bow as if hee purposed to haue shot some of vs but seeing none of vs to shrinke from him nor to be dismayed hee rode backe againe wee following him and desiring hee would either giue vs money or else to kill vs out-right one amongst the rest whose name was William Attane spake to the King aloud thus I hold it honour to dye by the hands of a King but basely to starue to death I will neuer suffer it Vpon these our clamours the King looking better vpon our necessities sent money the next day and immediately after gaue vs a moneths meanes in money and two moneths meanes in cloath to make vs apparrell Of the cloath wee receiued some part but the money being payed was by our Captaines sent into England to their wiues no part of it euer comming to the poore common Souldiours hands for presently vpon this wee were commanded aboord the Ships with promise that when wee were aboord wee should haue our money But being in the Shippes vnder hatches away were wee carried with prouision onely of one moneths victuals when by reason of the weather wee were forced to lye eight weekes at Sea in all which time wee had nothing but pickelled Herrings and salt Stremlings with some small quantitie of hard dryed meates by which ill dyet many of our men fell sicke and dyed In the Shippe wherein I was wee liued foureteene dayes without bread all our best foode being salt Herrings which wee were glad to eate raw the best of vs all hauing no better sustenance At the last it pleased God to send vs to a place called Vfrasound in Fynland where wee landed Fynland being subiect to the King of Sweueland From Vfrasound wee were to goe to Weyborough a chiefe Towne in the Countrie of Fynland where wee no sooner arriued but our Souldiors ranne some one way and some another so long that the Captaines were left alone with the Shippes This running away of them being done onely to seeke foode so great was their hunger By this carelesse dispersing themselues they lost the command of the whole Countrey which they might easily haue had if they had beene vnited together and not onely were depriued of that benefit but of Horses also which were allowed by the King for them to ride vpon So that what by the reason of the tedious Iourney which wee were to trauell being fourescore leagues and what by reason of the extreame cold being a moneth before Christmas at which time the Snow fell and neuer went off the ground vntill Whitsontide following but all the Raine and all the Snow that fell freezing continually diuers of our men were starued to death with the Frost Some lost their fingers some their toes some their noses many their liues insomuch that when wee all met at Weyborough wee could make no more but one thousand and foure hundred able men and yet when we were landed at Vfrasound wee were two thousand strong the extremity of the cold Countrey hauing killed so many of our Souldiours in so little time At our landing at Weyborough wee had good hopes to receiue better comforts both of money and victuals for the Inhabitants told vs the King had allowed it vs and in that report they spake truth yet contrary to our expectation wee lay there about foureteene dayes and had nothing but a little Rice of which we made bread and a little butter which was our best reliefe Drinke had we none nor money our Captaines gaue vs certaine letherne pelches onely made of Sheeps skins to keepe vs from the cold At this place we receiued armes to defend vs against the enemy and six Companies that were allowed by the King for Horsemen receiued Horses there From thence wee were to march into Russia where our enemies continued But the iourney was long and vncomfortable for wee marched from Newyeares day vntill Whitsontide continually in Snow hauing no rest but onely a little in the nights So that the miseries and misfortunes which wee endured vpon the borders of Fynland were almost insufferable by reason the number of them seemed infinite For all the people had forsaken their houses long before wee came because they were euermore oppressed by Souldiours by which meanes we could get neither meate nor drinke but were glad to hunt Cats and to kill them or any beasts wee could lay hold on and this wee baked and made them serue for daily sustenance The greatest calamitie of all was wee could get no Water to drinke it had beene so long frozen vp and the Snow so deepe that it was hard to say whether wee marched ouer Water or vpon Land So that wee were
which they did thinke wee would come leauing no more but about ten men and Boates about vs who rowed alongst the space of an houre with vs making signes of friendship to vs. At length perceiuing that wee were not minded to goe forth amongst these Ilands vpon which the rest of their folke were they threw certaine shels and trifles into the Boat making signes and tokens to fetch them the which my Boy called William Huntries did He being in the Boat they presently shot him through both the buttockes with a Dart at which time they rowed from vs they mustering vpon the Ilands to the number of three hundred persons keeping themselues farre enough from our danger About sixe a clocke this Euening it began to blow a faire gale Easterly we getting off to Sea stood all this night North and by East alongst the Land A Topographicall Description of the Land as I did discouer the same NOw hauing proceeded for the discouerie of the Coast and Harbours so farre and so long time as the time limited to me therefore I thinke it conuenient to make a briefe description of the same according as by my short experience I found the same to be The Land of Groenland is a very high ragged and mountainous Countrey being all alongst the Coast broken Ilands making very goodly Sounds and Harbours hauing also in the Land very many good Riuers and Bayes into some of which I entred sayling vp the same the space of ten or twelue English leagues finding the same very nauigable with great abundance of fish of sundrie sorts The Land also in all places wheresoeuer I came seemed to be very fertile according to the Climate wherein it lyeth for betweene the Mountaynes was most pleasant Plaines and Valleyes in such sort as if I had not seene the same I could not haue beleeued that such a fertile Land in shew could bee in these Northerne Regions There is also in the same great store of Fowle as Rauens Crowes Partridges Pheasants Sea-mewes Gulles with other sundry sorts Of Beasts I haue not seene any except blacke Foxes of which there are very many Also as I doe suppose there are many Deere because that comming to certaine places where the people had had their Tents we found very many Harts Hornes with the bones of other beasts round about the same Also going vp into the Land wee saw the footing and dunging of diuers beasts which we did suppose to be deere and other beasts also the footing of one which wee found to be eight inches ouer yet notwithstanding we did see none of them for going some two or three miles from the Pinnasse we returned againe to goe aboord Moreouer in the Riuers we found sundry sorts of Fishes as Seales Whales Salmons with other sorts of fishes in great abundance As concerning the Coast all alongst it is a very good and faire Land hauing very faire shoalding of the same for being three English leagues off the same I found very faire shoalding in fifteene fathomes and comming neerer the same fourteene twelue and tenne fathomes very faire sandie ground As concerning the people they are as I doe suppose a kinde of Samoites or wandring Nation trauelling in the Summer time in Companies together first to one place and hauing stayed in that place a certayne time in hunting and fishing for Deere and Seales with other fish streight they remoue themselues with their Tents and baggage to another They are men of a reasonable stature being browne of colour very like to the people of the East and West Indies They be very actiue and warlike as we did perceiue in their Skirmishes with vs in vsing their Slings and Darts very nimbly They eat their meate raw or a little perboyled either with bloud Oyle or a little water which they doe drinke They apparell themselues in the skinnes of such beasts as they kill but especially with Seales skins and fowle skins dressing the skins very soft and smooth with the haire and feathers on wearing in Winter the haire and feather sides inwards and in Summer outwards Their Weapons are Slings Darts Arrowes hauing their Bowes fast tyed together with sinewes their Arrowes haue but two feathers the head of the same being for the most part of bone made in manner and forme of a Harping Iron As concerning their Darts they are of sundry sorts and fashions What knowledge they haue of God I cannot certainly say but I suppose them to bee Idolaters worshipping the Sunne The Countrey as is aforesaid seemeth to be very fertile yet could I perceiue or see no wood to grow thereon Wee met all alongst this Coast much Drift-wood but whence it commeth I know not For coasting all this Coast alongst from the latitude of 66. degrees and an halfe vntill the latitude of 69. degrees I found many goodly Sounds Bayes and Riuers giuing names vnto diuers of them and purposing to proceed further the folke in the Pinnasse with me did earnestly intreate me to returne to the ship againe alleaging this that if we came not in conuenient time the people in the ship would mutinie and so returne home before we came the which indeed had fallen forth if the Captaine as an honest Gentleman had not by seuere meanes withstood their attempts who would needes contrarie to their promises haue beene gone home within eight dayes after my departure from them But the Captaine respecting his promise to mee would by no meanes consent but withstood them both by faire meanes and other wayes So that vpon the seuenth day of Iuly I returned again into the Kings Foord which they in the ship had found to be a Bay and comming to the place where wee had left the ship hoping to haue found them there I saw vpon a certaine point a Warlocke of stones whereby I did perceiue that they were gone downe the Ford. So the tide of ebbe being come it being calme we rowed downe the Foord finding in the mouth of the same amongst the Ilands many good Sounds and Harbours The tenth day of Iuly the wind being at North North-west I beeing in a certaine Sound amongst the Ilands it being high water I weighed stood West forth of the Foord going to Sea on the South side betweene a little Iland and the Maine which Iland at our first comming we called Frost Iland after the name of the ship we espied on the South sides certaine Warlockes set vp whereupon I suspected that the Frost might be there commanded the Gunner to shoot off a Peece of Ordnance they presently answered vs againe with two other We seeing the smoake but heard no report bore in to them comming to an Anchor in a very good Sound by them and found them all in health the Captaine being very glad of our comming forasmuch as hee had very much trouble with the company for the cause aforesaid Also in the time of our absence the people
lancheth or cutteth the same while in the meane time it can neither be seene nor taken that from some it hath cut off their hands and from other their feete vntill the remedy was found to annoint the place with Oyle and scrape it with a Rasor In the firme Land in golden Castile or Beragua there are many Vipers like vnto them of Spaine they that are bitten of them dye in short space for few liue to the fourth day except present remedy Of these some are of lesse kinde then other and haue their taile somewhat round and leape in the aire to assaile men and for this cause some call this kinde of Vipers Tyro their biting is most venomousâ— and for the most part incurable One of them chanced to bite an Indian Maide which serued me in my house to whom I caused the Surgians to minister their ordinary cure but they could doe her no good nor yet get one drop of blood out of her but onely a yellow water so that she died the third day for lacke of remedie as the like hath chanced to diuers others This Maide was of the age of foureteene yeares and spake the Spanish tongue as if she had beene borne in Castile she said that the Viper which bit her on the foot was two spans long or little lesse and that to bite her she leapt in the aire for the space of more then six paces as I haue heard the like of other credible persons I haue also seene in the firme Land a kinde of Adders very small and of seuen or eight foot long these are so red that in the night they appeare like burning coles and in the day seeme as red as blood these are also venemous but not so much as the Vipers There are other much lesse and shorter and blacker these come out of the Riuers and wander sometimes farre on the Land and are likewise venemous There are also other Adders of a russet colour these are somewhat bigger then the Viper and are hurtfull and venemous There are likewise another sort of many colours and very long of these I saw one in the yeare of Christ 1515. in the Iland of Hispaniola neere vnto the Sea coasts at the foote of the Mountaines called Pedernales When this Adder was slain I measured her found her to be more then twenty foot long and somewhat more then a mans fist in bignesse and although she had three or foure deadly wounds with a Sword yet dyed she not nor stunke the same day in so much that her blood continued warme all that time There are also in the Marishes and desarts of the firme Land many other kindes of Lysarts Dragons and diuers other kindes of Serpents whereof I intend not here to speak much because I haue more particularly entreated of these things in my generall historie of the West Indies There are tlso Spiders of marueilous bignesse and I haue seene some with bodie and legges bigger then a mans hand extended euery way and I once saw one of such bignesse that onely her body was as bigge as a Sparrow and full of that Laune whereof they make their webbes this was of a darke russet colour with eyes greater then the eyes of a Sparrow they are venemous and of terrible shape to behold There are also Scorpions and diuers other such venomous wormes Furthermore in the firme Land there are many Toades being verie noious and hurtfull by reason of their great multitude they are not venemous they are seene in great abundance in Dareena where they are so big that when they die in the time of drought the bones of some of them and especially the ribs are of such greatnesse that they appeare to be the bones of Cats or of some other beasts of the same bignesse But as the waters diminish the moisture consumeth in the time of drought as I haue said they also consume therewith vntill the yeare next following when the raine and moisture encrease at which time they are seene againe Neuerthelesse at this present there is no such quantitie of them as was wont to be by reason that as the Land is better cultured by the Christians as well by the felling of Woods and Shrubs as also by the Pasture of Kine Horses and other beasts so is it apparant that this poison diminisheth daily whereby that region becommeth more holesome and pleasant These Toades sing after three or foure sort for some of them sing pleasantly other like ours of Spaine some also whistle and other some make another manner of noise they are likewise of diuers colours as some greene some russet or gray and some almost blacke but of all sorts they are great and filthie and noious by reason of their great multitude yet are they not venemous as I haue said There are also a strange kinde of Crabbes which come forth of certaine holes of the earth that they themselues make the head and bodie of these make one round thing much like to the hood of a Faulcon hauing foure feete comming out of the one side and as manie out of the other they haue also two mouthes like vnto a paire of small Pincers the one bigger then the other wherewith they bite but doe no great hurt because they are not venemous their skin and bodie is smooth and thinne as is the rkinne of a man sauing that it is somewhat harder their colour is russet or white or blew and walke sidelong they are verie good to be eaten in so much that the Christians trauailing by the firme Land haue beene greatly nourished by them because they are found in manner euerie where in shape and forme they are much like vnto the Crabbe which we paint for the signe Cancer and like vnto those which are found in Spaine in Andalusia in the Riuer Guadalchiber where it entreth into the Sea and in the Sea coasts there about sauing that these are of the water and the other of the land they are sometimes hurtfull so that they that eate of them dye but this chanceth onely when they haue eaten any venomous thing or of the venemous apples wherewith the Caniball archers poison their arrowes whereof I will speake hereafter and for this cause the Christians take heede how they eate of these Crabbes if they finde them neere vnto the said apple trees Furthermore in these Indies as well in the firme land as in the Ilands there is found a kinde of Serpents which they call Yuanas which some call Iuannas these are terrible and fearefull to fight and yet not hurtfull they are verie delicate to be eaten and it is not yet knowne whether they be beasts of the land or fishes because they liue in the water and wander in the woods and on the land they haue foure feet and are commonly bigger then Connies and in some places bigger then Otters with tailes like Lysarts or Eutes their skinne is spotted and of the same kinde
partes Of Reedes or Canes IN the firme land there are many sorts of Reedes so that in many places they make their houses thereof couering them with the tops of the same and making their wals of them in like manner as I haue said before and among these kindes of Reedes there is one so great that the Canes thereof are as bigge as a mans legge in the knee and three spans in length from ioynt to ioynt or more in so much that euery of them is of capacitie to containe a little bucket of water In this kinde there are found some greater and some lesse of the which some they vse to make quiuers for arrowes There is found another kinde which surely is marueilous being little bigger then a Iauelin the Canes whereof are longer then two spannes these Reedes grow one farre from another as sometimes twenty or thirty paces and sometimes also two or three leagues they grow in manner in all Prouinces in the Indies and grow neere to very high Trees whereunto they leane and creepe vp to the top of their branches which they imbrace and descend againe downe to the earth Their Canes are full of most cleare water without any manner of taste or sauour either of the Canes or of any other thing and such as if it were taken out of the freshest Spring in the world nor yet is it knowne that euer it hurt any that drunke thereof For it hath oftentimes so chanced that as the Christian men haue trauailed in these regions in desolate waies where for lacke of water they haue beene in great danger to dye with thirst they haue escaped that perill by reason that they found the said Reedes of the water of whose Canes they haue drunke a great quantity without any hurt thereof ensuing Therefore when they finde these in any place they make water vessels of the Canes thereof and carry as many of them full of water as may suffice for one dayes iourney and sometime they carrie so many that they take for euery man two or three quarts of water which may serue them for many daies because it doth not corrupt but remaineth still fresh and good There are also certaine Plants which the Christians call Platani They are as high as trees and become as bigge in the trunke as the knee of a man or more From the foote to the top they beare certaine long and large leaues being more then three spans in largenesse and about ten or twelue in length the which when they are broken of the winde the stalke remaineth whole in the middest In the middest of this Plant in the highest part thereof there groweth a cluster with fortie or fiftie Plantans about it euery of them being a span and a halfe in length and as bigge as a mans arme in the small or more or lesse according to the goodnesse of the soile where they grow they haue a rinde not very thicke and easie to be broken being within altogether full of a substance like vnto the marie of the bone of an Oxe as it appeareth when the rinde or barke is taken from the same This cluster ought to be taken from the Plant when any one of the Plantans begin to appeare yellow at which time they take it and hang it in their houses where all the cluster waxeth ripe with all his Plantans This cluster is a very good fruite and when it is opened and the rinde taken off there are found within it many good drie Figges which being rosted or stewed in an Ouen in a close pot or some such other thing are of pleasant taste much like to the conserue of Hony they putrifie not on the Sea so soone as some other fruites doe but continue fifteene daies and more if they be gathered somewhat greene they seeme more delicate on the Sea then on the Land not for that they any thing encrease in goodnes on the Sea but because that wheras on the Sea other things are lacking whereof is plentie on the Land those meates seeme of best taste which satisfie present necessitie This trunke or sprig which bringeth forth the said cluster is a whole yeare in growing and bringing forth fruite in which time it hath put forth round about in ten or twelue sprigges as bigge as the first or principal and multiplieth no lesse then the principall in bringing forth of clusters with fruits likewise at their time and also in bringing forth other and many sprigges as is said before From the which sprigges or trunkes as soone as the cluster of the fruite is taken away the Plant beginneth to drie and wither which then they take out of the ground because it doth none other then occupie it in vaine and without profit They are so many and doe so marueilously encrease and multiplie that it is a thing in manner incredible They are exceeding moist in so much that when they are plucked vp from the place where they grow there issueth forth a great quantity of water as well out of the Plant as out of the place where it grew in such sort that all the moisture of the earth farre about might seeme to be gathered together about the trunke or blocke of the said Plant with the fruites whereof the Antes are so farre in loue that they are seene in great multitudes in the branches of the Plants so that for the multitude thereof it sometime so chanceth that men are enforced to take away the Plants from their possession these fruites are found at all times of the yeere There is also another kinde of wilde Plants that groweth in the fieldes which I haue not seene but in the Iland of Hispaniola although they be found in other Ilands of the Indies these they call Tunas They grow of a Thistle full of thornes and bring forth a fruite much like vnto great Figges which haue a crowne like Medlers and are within of a high colour with graines and the rinde like vnto a Figge they are of good taste and grow abundantly in the fields in many places They worke a strange effect in such as eate them for if a man eate two or three or more they cause his vrine to be of the very colour of bloud whith thing chanced once to my selfe For on a time as I made water and saw the colour of my Vrine I entred into a great suspition of my life being so astonished for feare that I thought the same had chansed to me vpon some other cause in so much that surely my imagination might haue done me hurt but that they which were with me did comfort me immediately declaring the cause thereof as they knew by experience being auncient inhabitours in those regions There groweth also another Plant which the people of the Countrie call Bihaos this putteth forth certaine straight branches and very broade leaues which the Indians vse for diuers purposes for in some places they couer their houses with the leaues thereof
cruell The Gatto Ceruiero is as bigge as the Tigre and very fierce more dreadfull to the Christians the swiftest beast yet found in those parts The Lions are a little lesse then those of Barbarie and not so full of courage but fearfull and fugitiue and hurt none but such as assault them The Leopards are like those of Barbarie and are swift and fierce but neither these nor the Lions haue yet done Christians any harme nor dor they eate the Indians as the Tigres doe The Foxes are like those of Spaine but in colour blacker then blacke veluet and somewhat lesse then of Spaine The Red Deere are as those of Spaine but not so swift Their Fallow Deere are like those of Spaine but both Red and Fallow exceed the Spanish in taste Their Conies or Hares are somewhat like ours but liker Hares then Conies yet lesse then the Conies of Spaine The Marterns are like to those of Spaine in bignesse biting and otherwise some of them are kept tame and are as full of sport and lesse filthy then the Monkeys The Monkeys are of innumerable sorts and shapes some of them so suttle as they imitate the actions of men as breaking of Pine-apples and Almonds with stones some will throw stones at passengers or breake boughs to fall on them as they passe by to breake their heads and retort the arrowes shot at them and doe other things incredible Some are as little or lesser then a mans hand and some as great as a meane Mastiffe The Indian Dogs are little and barke not some hayrie and some bare but wagge the taile and leape on those which feede them and are not so tame as ours The Churchia is as bigge as a small Conie tawnie sharpe-snowted dog-toothed long-tayled and eared like a Rat. They doe great harme to their Hennes killing sometimes twentie or more at once to sucke their bloud And if they then haue young shee carrieth them with her in a bagge of skin vnder her belly running alongst the same like a Satchell which shee opens and shuts at pleasure to let them in and out and if any come with light when the Damme and young are at their Hen-bloud dainties shee receiues them into this bagge and runneth away with them and if shee finde the way stopped shee climbeth vp aboue the Hen-roost and is sometimes taken aliue or dead in this manner as I haue seene Her Teats are within her bagge It is a stinking creature Of Fowles they haue Eagles Hawkes Buzzards Rauens c. as in Spaine Other differing sorts they haue so many that they need rather a Painter then Relator to describe them Of Parrots I carried ten or twelue sorts at once to King Ferdinand They flie by couples a Male and Female together and doe much harme to their Corne grounds There are Night-sparrowes which flie by night onely and strike at the Bats holding a pleasant pursute after them They are bigger and swifter then Swallowes hauing a row of white feathers ouerthwart the wing The Bats draw much bloud by their bitings and if they bite one man amongst an hundred persons the same Bat will in the nights following still single the same person They stanch the bloud with hot ashes or water as hot as may be endured and so I haue beene cured There are Peacocks some yellow some blacke with tailes like those of Spaine they are better meat some are wilde and some tame which are brought home young Other Peacocks they haue of which the Hens are ill shaped the Males haue not so great a taile as ours their necke also is bare of feathers but couered with a skin which they change after their phantasie into diuers colours They haue a horne as it were on their front and haires on the breast the last seeme Turkeys The Sea-Crowes are so many which on the coast of Panama follow the Pilchards or Sardines as is before said of the Alcatrazzi that lighting or houering on the Sea they seeme to couer the same with a blacke carpet of cloth or veluet going and comming with the Sea There are Wilde Hens as great as Peacocks blacke the head part of the necke gray skins and not feathered they eate Carrion and are of vnsauourie taste to be eaten smell like muske whiles they are aliue but that sent dyeth with them neither are they good for any thing except their quills to feather arrowes They are desirous to liue about places inhabited to feede on Carrion The Partriches are gray as sauourie as those of Spaine and as great as the Spanish Hens they haue their brawnes or flesh double one ouer the other Their egges are as bigge as Hens egges but rounder and coloured like a fine Turkesse stone The Indians making a sound like theirs draw them to theirs nets There are also a lesse kinde The Pheasants are not in feathers like those of Spaine nor so goodly but very sauourie meate like the great Partriches but are not so great they are gray haue long legs and tailes make a loud whistling noise and are easily shot Flies are not there so many as in these parts of Europe Their Waspes are greater and sting more dangerously Their Bees are almost as small as flies and sting not They haue great Hiues and Combes which hold foure times as much Honie as ours their Honie is white Ants are great many and doe much damage to the Trees Sugars and other prouisions There are of many sorts some little and black of which and the Ant-beare is spoken before some called Conixâ—n halfe Ant halfe Worme very hurtfull they carry earth on their heads and therewith on trees walls or where they please build their nests three or foure spans large and are as hurtfull to houses as Moths to clothes There are others greater of diuers sorts some as bigge as Bees with vs so poysonfull that herewith the Indians infect their arrowes so remedilesse that not foure of an hundred which are wounded escape and if this Ant bite a Man he presently falls into a grieuous feauer and the place swelleth much There are others red yellow and some winged Of Hornets or Horse-flies Tafani are many sorts tedious to expresse There are also Scorpions in the firme Land An. 1519. and two yeeres after the Ants destroyed in Hispaniola their Cannafistola Oranges and fruit Trees neither in their houses could they keepe victualls for their multitudes destroying all like the African Grasse-hoppers in so much that Saint Domingo was nigh dispeopled by them They laugh in India to heare the disease called French by the Italians and Neapolitan by the French which may indeed be called Indian where the best remedie Lignum Sanctum and Guaiacan grow God so in iudgement remembring mercy that where our sinnes produce a punishment he also sends a remedie I had acquaintance with diuers which went in the first and second voyages of Columbus of
led to the King who presently caused him to bee strangled and then then did he put his resolution in practice forcing a channell whereby the water might passe to Mexico whereby he brought a great current of water into the Lake which they brought with great Ceremonies and Superstitions hauing Priests casting Incense along the bankes others sacrificed Qâ—ailes and with the bloud of them sprinkled the channell bankes others sounding of Cornets accompanied the water with their Musicke One of the chiefe went attired in a habit like to their Goddesse of the water and all saluted her saying that she was welcome All which things are painted in the Annalls of Mexico which Booke is now at Rome in the holy Library or Vatican where a Father of our Company that was come from Mexico did see it and other Histories the which he did expound to the Keeper of his Holinesse Library taking great delight to vnderstand this Booke which before hee could neuer comprehend Finally the water was brought to Mexico but it came in such abundance that it had wel-neere drowned the Citie as was foretold and in effect it did ruine a great part thereof but it was presently preuented by the industry of Autzol who caused an issue to bee made to draw forth the water by meanes whereof hee repayned the buildings that were fallen with an exquisite worke being before but poore Cottages Thus he left the Citie inuironed with water like another Venice and very well built he reigned eleuen yeeres and ended with the last and greatest Successor of all the Mexicans §. III. Of the Election of great MOTEZVMA the last King of Mexico his pompe and manner of gouernment prodigious fore-warnings of his ruine and the Spanish Conquest WHen the Spaniards entred New Spaine being in the yeere of our Lord 151â— Moteçuma second of that name was the last King of the Mexicans I say the last although they of Mexico after his death chose another King yea in the life of the same Moteçuma whom they declared an enemy to his Countrey as wee shall see hereafter But he that succeeded him and he that fell into the hands of the Marquesse de Valle had but the names and titles of Kings for that the Kingdome was in a manner all yeelded to the Spaniards so as with reason we account Moteçuma for the last King and so hee came to the period of the Mexicans power and greatnesse which is admirable beeing happened among Barbarians For this cause and for that this was the season that God had chosen to reueale vnto them the knowledge of his Gospell and the Kingdome of Iesus Christ I will relate more as large the Acts of Moteçuma then of the rest Before he came to be King hee was by disposition very graue and stayed and spake little so as when he gaue his opinion in the priuy Counsell whereas he assisted his speeches and discourses made euery one to admire him so as euen then he was feared and respected He retyred himselfe vsually into a Chappell appointed for him in the Temple of Vitzliputzli where they said their Idoll spake vnto him and for this cause hee was held very religious and deuout For these perfections then being most noble and of great courage his elâ—ction was short and easie as a man vpon whom all mens eyes were fixed as worthy of such a charge Hauing intelligence of this election he hid himselfe in this Chappell of the Temple whether it were by judgement apprehending so heauy and hard a burthen as to gouerne such a people or rather as I beleeue through hypocrisie to shew that hee desired not Empery In the end they found him leading him to the place of Councell whither they accompanied him with all possible joy he marched with such a grauity as they all said the name of Moteçuma agreed very well with his nature which is as much to say as an angry Lord. The Electors did him great reuerence giuing him notice that hee was chosen King from thence hee was led before the hearth of their Gods to giue Incense where he offered Sacrifices in drawing bloud from his eares and the calues of his legs according to their custome They attyred him with the Royall ornaments and pierced the gristle of his nosthrils hanging thereat a rich Emerald a barbarous and troublous custome but the desire of rule made all paine light and easie Being seated in his Throne hee gaue audience to the Orations and Speeches that were made vnto him which according vnto their custome were eloquent and artificiall The first was pronounced by the King of Tescuco which being preserued for that it was lately deliuered and very worthy to bee heard I will set it downe word by word and thus hee said The concordance and vnitie of voyces vpon thy election is a sufficient testimonie most noble young man of the happinesse the Realme shall receiue as well deseruing to be commanded by thee as also for the generall applause which all doe shew by meanes thereof Wherein they haue great reason for the Empire of Mexico doth alreadie so farre extend it selfe that to gouerne a World as it is and to beare so heauie a burthen it requires no lesse dexteritie and courage then that which is resident in thy firme and valiant heart nor of lesse wisdome and iudgement then thine I see and know plainly that the mightie God loueth this Citie seeing hee hath giuen vnderstanding to choose what was fit For who will not beleeue that a Prince who before his Reigne had pierced the â—ine Vaults of Heauen should not likewise now obtaine those things that are earthly to relieue his people aiding himselfe with his best iudgement being thereunto bound by the dutie and charge of a King Who will likewise beleeue that the great courage which thou hast alwayes valiantly shewed in matters of importance should now faile thee in matters of greatest need Who will not perswade himselfe but the Mexican Empire is come to the height of their Souereigntie seeing the Lord of things created hath imparted so great graces vnto thee that with thy looke onely thou breedest admiration in them that behold thee Reioyce then O happie Land to whom the Creator hath giuen a Prince as a firme Pillar to support thee which shall bee thy Father and thy defence by whom thou shalt be succoured at need who will bee more thâ—n a brother to his subiects for his pietie and clemenciâ— Thou hast a King who in regard of his estate is not inclined to delights or will lye stretched out vpon his bed occupied in pleasures and vices but contrariwise in the middest of his sweet and pleasant sleep he will suddenly wake for the câ—re he must haue ouer thee and will not feele the taste of the most sauourie 〈◊〉 hauing his spirits transported with the imagination of thy good Tell me then O happie Realme if I haue not reason to say that thou oughtest reioyce
of cruell torment The Deuill hath euen in Mexico had some kinde of religious women although their possession was but for one yeere and it was in this sort Within this great circuit whereof wee haue spoken which was in the principall Temple there were two Houses like Cloysters the one opposite to the other one of Men the other of Women In that of women they were Virgins onely of twelue or thirteene yeeres of age which they called the Maides of Penance They were as many as the men and liued chastely and regularly as Virgins dedicated to the seruice of their god Their charge was to sweep and make cleane the Temple and euery morning to prepare meat for the Idoll and his Ministers of the Almes the religious gathered The foode they prepared for the Idoll were small loaues in the forme of hands and feet as of Maâ—ch-pane and with this bread they prepared certaine sawces which they cast daily before the Idoll and his Priests did eate it as those of Baal that Daniel speaketh of These Virgins had their haire cut and then they let them grow for a certaine time they rose at mid-night to the Idollâ— Mattins which they daily celebrated performing the same exercises the Religious did They had their Abbesses who imployed them to make cloth of diuers fashions for the ornament of their Idolls and Temples Their ordinarie habit was all white without any worke or colour They did their penance at mid-night sacrificing and wounding themselues and piercing the top of their eares they laid the bloud which issued forth vpon their cheekes and after to wash off the bloud they bathed themselues in a Poole which was within their Monasterie They liued very honestly and discreetly and if any were found to haue offended although but lightly presently they were put to death without remission saying she had polluted the House of their god They held it for an aâ—gure and aduertisement that some one of the Religious Man or Woman had committed a fault when they saw a Rat or a Mowse passe or a Bat in the Chappell of their Idoll or that they had gnawed any of the vailes for that they say a Rat or a Bat would not aduenture to commit such an indignitie if some offence had not gone before and then they began to make search of the fact and hauing discouered the Offendor or Offendors of what qualitie soeuer they presently put them to death None were receiued into this Monasterie but the daughters of one of the sixe quarters named for that purpose and this profession continued as I haue said the space of one whole yeere during the which time their fathers and they themselues had made a vow to serue the Idoll in this manner and from thence they went to be married I doe not know that in Peru there is any proper houses for men but for the Priests and Sorcerers whereof there is an infinite number But it seemeth that in Mexico the Deuill hath set a due obseruation for within the circuit of the great Temple there were two Monasteries as before hath beene said one of Virgins whereof I haue spoken the other of young men secluded of eighteen or twentie yeeres of age which they called religious They weare shaued crownes as the Friars in these parts their haire a little longer which fell to the middest of their eare except the hinder part of the head which they let grow the breadth of foure fingers down to their shoulders and which they tyed vp in tresses These young men that serued in the Temple of Vitzliputzli liued poore and chastly and did the Office of Leuites ministring to the Priests and chiefe of the Temple their Incense Lights garments they swept and made cleane the holy places bringing Wood for a continuall fire to the harth of their god which was like a lampe that still burnt before the Altar of their Idoll Besides these young men there were other little boyes as novices that serued for manuall vses as to deck the Temple with boughs roses reeds giue the Priests water to wash with giue them their rasors to sacrifice and goe with such as begged almes to carry it All these had their superiors who had the gouernment ouer them they liued so honestly as when they came in publike where there were any women they carried their heads very low with their eyes to the ground not daring to behold them they had linnen garments and it was lawfull for them to goe into the Citie foure or sixe together to aske Almes in all quarters and when they gaue them none it was lawfull to goe into the Corne fields and gather the eares of Corne or clusters of Mays which they most needed the Master not daring to speake nor hinder them They had this libertie because they liued poorely and had no other reuenues but Almes There might not be aboue fiftie liue in penance rising at midnight to sound the Cornets and Trumpets to awake the people Euery one watched the Idoll in his turne lest the fire before the Altar should die they gaue the Censor with the which the Priest at midnight incensed the Idoll and also in the morning at noone at night They were very subiect and obedient to their superiors and passed not any one point that was commaunded them And at midnight after the Priest had ended his censing they retired themselues into a secret place apart sacrificing and drawing blood from the calfes of their legs with sharpe bodkins with this bloud they rubbed their temples and vnder their eares and this sacrifice finished they presently washt themselues in a little poole appointed to that end These young men did not annoint their heads and bodies with any Petum as the Priests did their garments were of course white linnen cloth they doe make there These exercises and strictnesse of penance continued a whole yeere during which time they liued with great austeritie and solitarinesse It hath beene said that the Priests and religious of Mexico rose at midnight and hauing cast Incense before the Idoll they retired themselues into a large place where there were many Lighs and sitting downe euery one tooke a point of Manguay which is like vnto an awle or sharpe bodkin with the which or with some other kindes of Launcets or Rasors they pierced the calfes of their legs neere to the bone drawing forth much bloud with the which they anointed their temples and dipt these bodkins or lancets in the rest of the bloud then set they them vpon the battlements of the Court stickt in gloabes or bowles of straw that all might see and know the penance they did for the people they doe wash off the bloud in a lake appointed for that purpose which they call Ezapangue which is to say water of bloud There were in the Temple a great number of bodkins or lancets for that they might not vse one twice Moreouer these Priests and Religious men vsed great Fastings of
contayne euery way as much ground as a Crosse-bow can reach leuell it is made of stone with foure doores that abutteth vpon the three Cawseys and vpon another part of the Citie that hath no Cawsey but a faire street In the middest of this Quaderne standeth a mount of earth and stone square likewise and fiftie fathom long euery way built vpward like vnto a Pyramide of Egypt sauing the top is not sharpe but plaine and flat and ten fathom square vpon the West side were steps vp to the top in number an hundreth and fourteene which being so many high and made of good stone did seeme a beautifull thing It was a strange sight to behold the Priests some going vp and some downe with ceremonies or with men to be sacrificed Vpon the top of this Temple are two great Altars a good space distant the one from the other and so nigh the edge or brim of the wall that scarsly a man may goe behinde them at pleasure The one Altar standeth on the right hand and the other on the left they were but of fiue foot high each of them had the backe part made of stone painted with monstrous and foule figures the Chappell was faire and well wrought of Masons worke and timber euery Chappell had three lofts one aboue another sustayned vpon pillars and with the height thereof it shewed like vnto a faire Towre and beautified the Citie afarre off from thence a man may see all the Citie and Townes round about the Lake which was vndoubtedly a goodly prospect And because Cortes and his companie should see the beautie thereof Mutezuma brought him thither and shewed him all the order of the Temple euen from the foot to the top There was a certaine plot or space for the Idoll Priests to celebrate their seruice without disturbance of any Their generall prayers were made toward the rising of the Sunne Vpon each Altar standeth a great Idoll Beside this Towre that standeth vpon the Pyramide there are fourtie Towres great and small belonging to other little Temples which stand in the same circuit the which although they were of the same making yet their prospect was not Westward but other wayes because there should be a difference betwixt the great Temple and them Some of these Temples were bigger then others and euery one of a seuerall God among the which there was one round Temple dedicated to the God of the aire called Quecalcouatl for euen as the aire goeth round about the Heauens euen for that consideration they made his Temple round The entrance of that Temple had a doore made like vnto the mouth of a Serpent and was painted with foule and deuillish gestures with great teeth and gums wrought which was a thing to feare those that should enter in thereat and especially the Christians vnto whom it represented very Hell with that vgly face and monstrous teeth There were other Teucalles in the Citie that had the ascending vp by steps in three places all these Temples had houses by themselues with all seruice and Priests and particular Gods At euery doore of the great Temple standeth a large Hall and goodly Lodgings both high and low round about which houses were common Armories for the Citie for the force and strength of euery Towne is the Temple and therefore they haue there placed their store-house of munition They had other darke houses full of Idols great and small wrought of sundrie metals they are all bathed and washed with bloud and doe shew very blacke through their daily sprinkling and anointing them with the same when any man is sacrificed yea and the walls are an inch thicke with bloud and the ground is a foot thick of bloud so that there is a deuillish stinch The Priests or Ministers goe daily into those Oratories and suffer none others but great personages to enter in Yea and when any such goeth in they are bound to offer some man to bee sacrificed that those bloudie Hangmen and Ministers of the Deuill may wash their hands in bloud of those so sacrificed and to sprinkle their house therewith For their seruice in the Kitchin they haue a Pond of water that is filled once a yeere which is brought by conduit from the principall Fountaine All the residue of the foresaid circuit serueth for places to breede fowle with Gardens of herbs and sweet trees with Roses and flowers for the Altars Such so great and strange was this Temple of Mexico for the seruice of the Deuill who had deceiued those simple Indians There doth reside in the same Temple continually fiue thousand persons and all they are lodged and haue their liuing there for that Temple is maruellous rich and hath diuers Townes onely for their maintenance and reparation and are bound to sustaine the same alwayes on foot They doe sowe Corne and maintayne all those fiue thousand persons with bread fruit flesh fish and fire-wood as much as they neede for they spend more fire-wood then is spent in the Kings Court these persons doe liue at their hearts ease as seruants and vassals vnto the Gods The Gods of Mexico were two thousand in number as the Indians reported the chiefest were Vitzilopuchtli and Tezcatlipuca whose Images stood highest in the Temple vpon the Altars they were made of stone in full proportion as bigge as a Giant They were couered with a lawne called Nacar These Images were beset with pearles precious stones and pieces of gold wrought like birds beasts fishes and flowres adorned with Emeralds Turquies Calcedons and other little fine stones so that when the lawne Nacar was taken away the Images seemed very beautifull to behold The Image had for a girdle great Snakes of gold and for Collars and Chaines about their necks ten hearts of men made of gold and each of those Idols had a counterfait visard with eyes of glasse and in their necks death painted each of these things had their considerations and meanings These two Gods were brethren for Tezcatlipuca was the God of Prouidence and Vitzilopuchti God of the Warres who was worshipped and feared more then all the rest There was another God who had a great Image placed vpon the top of the Chappell of Idols and he was esteemed for a speciall and singular God aboue all the rest This God was made of all kinde of seedes that groweth in that Country and being ground they made a certaine paste tempered with Childrens bloud and Virgins sacrificed who were opened with their Rasors in the breasts and their hearts taken out to offer as first fruits vnto the Idoll The Priests and Ministers doe consecrate this Idoll with great pompe and many ceremonies All the Comarcans and Citizens are present at the consecration with great triumph and incredible deuotion After the consecration many deuout persons came and sticked in the dowie Image precious stones wedges of gold and other jewels After all this pompe ended
Salt corrects the ill quality of it 956.1 The common Spice and sawce of India ibid. Pequin in China is Cambalu 314.40 Pequin other names of it 301.50 302 Pequin in China is in a barren soyle 341. Very hote ibid. In 40. Degrees 341.50 The way from thence to Nanquin and Canton ibid. Well described and compared with Quinsay 342. vnpaued and dirty ibid. All men ride the streetes in Veyles ibid. They burne Sea-coale their Beds made with Bricke like stâ—â—es ibid. The people duâ—â—er heâ—re ibid. Pequin is Cambalu the Etymon of it 342. 361.60 It is sixe hundred leagues from Macao 363.50 When why and by whom the Court was remoued thither from Nanquin 389.30 Pe-quin is the Northerne Court ibid. The King sworne to reside there 275.1 Pericopia inhabited by the Crim Tartars 633. The olde Names ibid. Perfumes burnt in the Sacrifices to the Dead in China 364.50 Permia wonne by the Russe 439.20 Of Tartarian Originall 443.10 Persia containes eight Kingdomes The names of them 70.50 The Commodities 71.1 Persia wonne by the Tartars 116.1 Persia first traded into by English 250.30 Persian Artificers good 70.60 Persians weare redde Turbants 166.1 Persian Queen ouerthrew the Turks 244.20 Persian trade into Syria and the Leuant 242. Why the trade is small ibid. English Cloath there ibid. Peru the strange properties of the Land one Winde onely there and the nature of it no Tempests neere the Coast but terrible ones by the Hills and it Raines continually on the Mountaines 936. Reason of the Raines 937.20 Wine in Peru why ibid. The taste 938.1 Peru the heate kept off there with thinne Mats the Nights not so hote there as in Spaine 921.50 It neuer Raines there It hath alwayes the same Winde 923.20 Peru the fourefold partition of it and the tribute which each part payes 1055.40 Lands in Common there 1057.20 Euery man there is of all Trades ibid. Their Lawes rewards for â—â—â—like Seruice c. Marriage solemnities c. 1058. Conquered by the Spaniards when they had Ciuill wars 1061.60 Peru in the West Indies the extent diuision of the Iurisdiction Vnion againe Discouery Prouinces vnder it Mountaines two great High-wayes Posts for Letters vpon them Peru comprehends not all the Indies of the South begins at the Aequinoctiall the Content Diuision into three parts 887.10 The proper bounds of Peru 892.10 See Los Reyes Pernalock a Towne the signification in Russe 243 Pestilence in the North of the World 738.30 Peter Basman a Russian Duke 748.30 A braue Generall 750.20 Sent the second time against Demetrius â—e reuolteth 752. 757.10 Vshers the new Empresse to Court 762.20 Slaine Petigorens in Taurica are Christians 639.30 Petigoren Prouince or Colchiâ— 636.30 Petition in China a forme of one 407.10 How the King signes it ibid. Petition not answered is granted for denyed 354.1 358.30 Petsora Riuer the head and fall 525.20 Petum see Tobaccho Pharaohs Rats their furre 107.1 Pheasants as bigge as Peacockes and three a Groat 96.40 Pheasants exceeding great 80 Pheasants three a great 89.40 Pheodore Iuanowich Emperour of Russia 740.40 His promise of fauour to the English 742.40 His good beginning 743.10 His neighbour Princes desire a league with him and he with the Queen of England 743. His simplicity and Death 745.10 Philippinaes the Nauigation thither from Spaine 860.10 The distance and seasons ibid. Philippinaes Ilands 282. First discouered by Magellane ibid. The second Voyage thither ibid. The third Voyage thither 282.30 Ciuill warres in the Ilands ibid. Conquered and named by King Philip ibid. They receiue Baptisme 282.60 283.40 They worshipt the Sunne and Moone 283.1 The Franciscanâ— goe thither also the Dominicks Iesuites 283.10 Their Priests were Women 〈◊〉 ibid. They would not goe to heauen because the Spaniards went thither 284.1 The richeâ— of the Iles ibid. 10 285.1 The first Plantation there ibid. They vnderstand the Malayan Tongue 285.60 The distance from China 29â— 10 And from Mexico ibid. Philippinaes called the Kingdome of Luzon by the Chinois 309.20 30. 310. Sometimes tributary to China 377.30 Philippinas the course thence from Lima in Peru is still vnder the Line 924.30 Philippinas Ilands the latitude distance from Spaine Description and Natiue Commodities of some of them 904. There beâ— 11000. of them many Christistians there and Mahometans 905 Philosophy little knowne in China 343 60. 345.50 346.1 Philosophicall Discourses of heate and cold 919.920.921 c. Of the Winds 922.923 Philosophers sacrificed vnto 347 40.359.50 Physicians of Mexico cure all with Hearbes 1133.1 Physicians in the West Indies 960.1 Physicke little vsed in Island 646.30 Physicke not much esteemed in China 385.20 Degrees taken in the Art ibid. Physicke diuine or diuelish of the Mexicans 1043 Piaces or Indian Magicians their Life and Art 973.40 Their direct and true answeres to the Spaniards 974.1 Pianâ—u the Citie 89.20 Pictures of strange Creatures cut in precious stone or Gold in Mexico 1062.50 Pictures of Execution of Iustice to terrifie Prisonâ—rs 271.60 Pictures the King of China afraid of 356. He thought them aliue ibid. Pictures of Feathers the Art of making them and their curiosity 965.40 Picture story or Chronicle of the Mexicans begins at page 1067. and continues to page 1117 Picture-writings of the Mexicans 1021.50 Pâ—ctures of Europe admired in China 328.60 Picuti Indian Birds with bills heauier then their bodies 980.20 Pigmeyes 58.1 Pigmeyeâ— are but Beasts 651.40 marg Thought safely to dwell in Noua Zembla 652 Pigmeyes said to be in Cathay 33.60 Bowe not the knee in going ibid. How they are taken ibid. Their blood dyes excellent purple 34.1 Pilaucacem the Citie 254.1 Pilchards innumerable store in Pâ—nama a storie about them 979.40 Pilgrimages of the West Indians to their Idols 875.60 c. Pillar of the Canaanites expelled by Iosuah in Mauritania â—â—â—giâ—ana 662.10 Pillars of the Sunne in Pâ—ru which shewed the Sun-rising and setting c. 1051 Pillars onely of Wood in China 341 20 Pillorie Coopes 191.60 203.20 Pillow vsed by the Kings of Mexico for a Table 1126.40 Pine-tree Cities built withall 259.20 Pine Apples of the West Indies the manner of growing and qualities 955.1 Pinego Riuer 223.60 Pintadelli Indian Birds their admirable prouisions against the Monkeyes 981.1 Pintados Ilands 288.50 Pintos his hard aduentures 253 Piracies in Cauchin-China 254.255 c. Piru see Peru. Pisida the Riuer where 528.20 the description of the people dwelling on it of other things the Russes giue ouer the Discouery ibid. Thought to touch vpon China 529.1 Tolling of Bels heard and Mountaines casting out fire ibid. Pissing at Table is great ciuilitie in Island 647.1 They wash in Pisse and why ibid. Pitch springing out of the Earth 933.30 Pits ebbing and flowing like the Sea 269.1 Pizzles of Dogs and Foxes of bone in Groneland 835.50 Of Sea-horses of Stone ibid. in marg Plaice Fish sixe foot long 616.50 Plane tree of West India described the mightinesse of the Leaues goodnesse of the Fruits
in the Timber of a Ship 626.10 Toades as bigge as Cats not venemous their singing and noises 976.20 Tobaccho the benumming qualitie of it vsed by the Mexicans in their Diuellish vnction and Physicke 1043.40 Tobacco lighted by the Sunne at mid-night in Greeneland 737.50 Tobacco Pipes of Earth and Copper 587.50 Cape Cod ibid. 30 Grapes and Roses and Tobacco grow neere it ibid. Discouered when 588.10 Tobalsko Castle in Siberia neere to the Dominions of the King of Alteene 798.1 How farre thence through Alteene to China ibid. 60. The Commodities and Trading there 544.50 The way from Pechora thither ibid. See 552 Tocoatican the Iland 308.40 Tocci the Mexicans Idoll a Young-man worshipped in a Womans skin 1004.1 1031.30 Tococ what in Chinese 306.10 Toera the Riuer nauigable after a Thawe 525 Toes with two Nayles 394.20 Tolle and Customes payed at Bridges in China 330 Toll taken at Bridges in Russia 754 40 Tombe a strange one 265. 266. Inscriptions vpon them in China ibid. 50 Tome Mastangue an Armenian his aduentures 254 Tomineios an Indian Bird as small as a Bee or Fly 965.20.977.10 Tomo Castle in Siberia how farre from the Dominions of Altine and Cathaya 798. 527 Tongue of a Bird like a Quill 980.20 Tooles made of Cowes bones where 877.40 Tooles that cut Stone made of a Ciment of sand and blood 1129.40 And of Flint for Goldsmiths and Grauers 1132.50 Tooma the new Citie where 527.1 Tooth of a Giant found as bigge as a mans first 1002.10 Torchillus the Islander his last Will 665.50 Tortoises of India which take fifteene men to draw them out of the water the manner of taking them they lay Egges and feede on shore 987.10 Tortoises of the West Indies described when good Meate and when Poyson 976.40 Tortuga I le in the West Indies 866.30 Tosa an Iland 253.20 Towers wonderfull ones in China 204.60 Tower of ten Stories high 328.30 Trades giuen ouer in Russia and why 432 Trades none bound vnto in China 367.20 Tradesmen in Tartarie worke one day in the Weeke for the Prince 88.20 Trading in Muscouie granted to the English 221 Traditions made equall with Scriptures 452 Traditions in China 196.50 Traditions learned by heart in Mexico 1052. And in Peru 1053.10 Trauaile the difficulties of it in the North and North-Eastern parts 66.20.60 Trauailing fifteene dayes together vpon Bushes 960 Trauailing by the Compasse in Iseland 649.50 Trauellors out of Russia punisht with losse of Life and Goods and why 433.10 Trauellors in Russia what they must carry 224.20 Transubstantiation imitated by the Deuill in his Idoll-Ceremonies 1041.10 in marg Trapesunda the Citie 2.20 Traytors punishment in China 406.40 Treason forfeits all Priuiledges 388.1 Treason vnheard of in Peru 1055.10 Treasurer of the bones of the Dead 274.20 Treatie of a League betwixt Russia Denmarke and Sweden against the Pole 757.1 Tree borne in Procession 227.20 Tree of the Sunne where 72.20 Tree whose pith is Meale for Bread 104. The wood sinkes in the water Lances made of it c. ibid. Tree of Siluer a most Artificiall one in Tartarie 35.50 Described ibid. Trees that haue lyen since Noahs Flood 223.60 Trees none in the frozen Countryes of Noua Zembla Lapland c. 517.40 Trees in Peru halfe of which yeelds fruits for one sixe Moneths and the other side another 961.50 Trees taken vp by the rootes carried by Elephants to the Great Chams Gardens 83.30 Trees of the West Indies loose not their Leaues 983.30 Not deepe rooted ibid. Trees and Thickets of the West Indies 960.10 Huge Trees ibid. Trees Fruites and Plants of West India 981 Trees hollow that will hold a hundred men 982.20 Tribunals stately ones 272.1 Tributes payed to the King of Mexico see page 1080. c. Some pretie Story about that 1006.20 Tribute of the Russe payed in Commodities 428 Trigautius his discourse of China 380 Trimecau a strange Sect 277.1 Trinidad Iland discouered the shape c. 866.1.10 Trinity Harbour in Greenland our Kings Armes set vp there 722.40 And possession taken for him ibid. The Latitude and Variation ibid. Trinitie some mention of it 397.60 Trinitie imitated by the Deuill in Peru 1045.20 Trondon the Towne in Norway 618.20 The King of Denmarkes seate ibid. Saint Olaus the King buryed there ibid. Tropickes the causes of temperature and habitablenesse betwixt them 921.922 Constant Brises betwixt the Tropickes 924. Westerne windes without them alwayes and why 925.40 Tropickes when most rayne within or without them and the reason 918.50 in margin 919.20.30 Causes of temperature there 920. c. Truth well rewarded 194.30 Trumpa the kinde of Whale that yeelds the Sperma Caeti Amber Greece 471.50 Trumpets of the Cannibals of shels of Weelkes 992.20 Tsaritzna the Iland 243.60 Tucaman Prouince in the West Indies bounds of its Iurisdiction Townes in it and their Latitudes Mines Wooll Gilt-leather Husbandry Riuers c. 897.40 Tudinfu a noble Kingdome 95.10 Great trading there ibid. Tufaune a Tempest vsuall in China 197.40.263.50 Tuinians a people of Cathay 24.20 Tuinians opinion that the Soule of euery thing is the God of it 41.40 They will not haue the secrets of their Religion searched into 41.60 They are Manichees 42.10 Tumblers in China 302.40 Tumen in Tartarie the trade there the way thither from Pechora in Russia 556.20 Tumen a Tartarian money worth ten Markes 34.10 Tumultuous multitude an example of them in Russia 753.20 Tunall Tree of India the strange growing of it which beares fruit and Cochinell 957.30 One in Mexico growing out of a Mans heart the strange storie of it 1003.40 1004.40.50 Tunall Tree againe described with his fruit 1131.30 Tunas a West Indian fruit makes the vrine like Blood 984.40 Tundi or Bishops in Iapon 324.20 Turffes in stead of Morter in Island 662. Two sorts of Turffes inuenter of Turffes ibid. Turkes their manner of liuing 69.40 Turkes trade into China 362.10 Their Commodities and gulling the China King with a feyned tribute ibid. Turkie wasted by the Tartars 119.1 The Kingdome of it refused by the Armenian 119.20 The weake Estate of it in Rubruquis his time 51.60 52.1.10 Turkemannia the Countrey 237.1 Their manner of liuing and feeding ibid. Turkemannia inhabited by Turkes Grecians and Armenians 69.40 All vnder the Tartars when ibid. Turkish Armie ouerthrowne by the Russe 740 Turkie Carpets 69.40 Turkisses where found 71.1 Turlock Hauen in Island 647.50 Turquestan the Kingdome 109.20 Wonne by the Tartars 114.20 Tusce what in Chinese 312.60 Tutelare Gods respected in China 396.60 Tutia and Spodio where made and how 72.10 Tutia good for the Eyes ibid. Twelfe-dayes-solemnities 498.60 Kept Ianuary the fourth in Russia 225 V VAchen the Countrey Gentiles 232.30 Vaigats Straights and Iland Discouered 463.20 Inhabited by the Somoeds ibid. Impassible for Ice 463.40 It is an Iland 250.30 Vaigates Straights whence so full of Ice and floting Wood 527.50 Sometimes open from the Ice 526.40 The Riuers and Inlets about it 545.1 The way thence to the
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
their bloud and purgation ceasseth immediately And when after this they haue a few dayes absteined from the company of men they become so streight as they say which haue had carnal familiaritie with them that such as vse them cannot without much difficultie satisfie their appetite They also which neuer had children are euer as Virgins In some parts they weare certaine little Aprons round about them before and behind as low as to their knees and hammes wherewith they couer their priuy parts and are naked all their bodie beside The principall men beare their Priuities in a hollow Pipe of Gold but the common sort haue them inclosed in the shells of certaine great Welkes and are beside vtterly naked For they thinke it no more shame to haue their Cods seene then any other part of their bodies and in many Prouinces both the men and women goe vtterly naked without any such couerture at all In the Prouince of Cueua they call a man Chuy and a woman Ira which name is not greatly disagreeable to many both of their women and of ours These Indians giue great honor and reuerence to their Caciques that is their Kings and Rulers The principall Cacique hath twelue of his most strong Indians appointed to beare him when he remoueth to any place or goeth abroad for his pleasure Two of them carrie him sitting vpon a long peece of wood which is naturally as light as they can finde the other ten follow next vnto him as footemen they keepe continually a trotting pase with him on their shoulders When the two that carrie him are wearie other two come in their places without any disturbance or stay And thus if the way be plaine they carry him in this manner for the space of fifteene or twenty leagues in one day The Indians that are assigned to this office are for the most part slaues or Naboritâ— that is such as are bound to continuall seruice I haue also noted that when the Indians perceiue themselues to be troubled with too much bloud they let themselues bloud in the calfe of their legges and brawnes of their armes this doe they with a very sharpe stone and sometimes with the small tooth of a Viper or with a sharpe reede or thorne All the Indians are commonly without Beards in so much that it is in a manner a maruell to see any of them either men or women to haue any downe or haire on their faces or other parts of their bodies Albeit I saw the Cacique of the Prouince of Catarapa who had haire on his face and other parts of his body as had also his wife in such places as women are accustomed to haue This Cacique had a great part of his body painted with a blacke colour which neuer fadeth and is much like vnto that wherewith the Moores paint themselues in Barbarie in token of Nobilitie But the Moores are painted specially on their visage and throate and certaine other parts Likewise the principall Indians vse these paintings on their armes and breasts but not on their visages because among them the slaues are so marked When the Indians of certaine Prouinces goe to the battaile especially the Caniball Archers they carrie certaine shels of great welkes of the Sea which they blow and make therewith great sound much like the noise of Hornes they carrie also certaine Timbrels which they vse in the stead of Drummes also very faire Plumes of Feathers and certaine armour of gold especially great and round peeces on their breasts and splints on their armes Likewise other peeces which they put on their heads and other parts of their bodies For they esteeme nothing so much as to appeare gallant in the warres and to goe in most comely order that they can deuise glistering with precious Stones Iewels Gold and Feathers Of the least of these welkes or perewincles they make certaine little Beades of diuers sorts and colours they make also little Bracelets which they mingle with gandes of Gold these they roule about their armes from the elbow to the wrest of the hand The like also doe they on their legges from the knees to the soles of their feete in token of Nobilitie especially their Noble Women in diuers Prouinces are accustomed to weare such Iewels and haue their neckes in manner laden therewith these Beades and Iewels and such other trinkets they call Caquiras Beside these also they weare certaine Rings of Gold at their eares and nostrels which they bore full of holes on both sides so that the Rings hang vpon their lippes Some of these Indians are poulde and rounded albeit commonly both the Men and Women take it for a decent thing to weare long haire which the women weare to the middest of their shoulders and cut it equally especially aboue their browes this doe they with certaine hard Stones which they keepe for the same purpose The principall Women when their teates fall or become loose beare them vp with barres of Gold of the length of a spanne and a halfe well wrought and of such bignesse that some of them weigh more then two hundred Castelans or Ducades of Gold these barres haue holes at both the ends whereat they tye two small cords made of Cotton at euery end of the barres one of these cords goeth ouer the shoulder and the other vnder the arme holes where they tye both together so that by this meanes the barre beareth vp their teates Some of these chiefe Women goe to the battaile with their Husbands or when they themselues are regents in any Prouinces in the which they haue all things at commandement and execute the office of generall Captaines and cause themselues to be carried on mens backs in like manner as doe the Caciques of whom I haue spoken before These Indians of the firme Land are much of the same stature and colour as are they of the Ilands they are for the most part of the colour of an Oliue if there be any other difference it is more in bignesse then otherwise and especially they that are called Coronati are stronger and bigger then any other that I haue seene in these parts except those of the Iland of Giants which are on the South side of the Iland of Hispaniola neere vnto the coasts of the firme Land and likewise certain other which they call Iucatos which are on the North side All which chiefly although they be no Giants yet are they doubtlesse the biggest of the Indians that are known to this day and commonly bigger then the Flemings and especially many of them as well women as men are of very high stature and are all archers both men and women These Coronati inhabit thirtie leagues in length by these coasts from the point of Canoa to the great riuer which they call Guadalchiber neere vnto Sancta Maria de gratia As I trauersed by those coasts I filled a butt of fresh water of that riuer six leagues