Date trees and diuers other of the Ilande fruites so plentifullye that as they sayled along by the shore oftentymes the braunches thereof laden with flowres and fruites hong so ouer theyr heades that they might plucke them with theyr handes also that the fruitfulnes of this ground is eyther equall with the soyle of Isabella or better In Isabella he lefte only certayne sicke men and shippe wryghtes whom he had appoynted to make certayne carauels the residue of his men he conueighed to the south to saynt Dominickes towre After he had buylded this fortresse leauyng therin a garryson of .xx. men he with the remanent of his souldiers prepared them selues to searche the inner partes of the West syde of the Ilande hytherto knowen onely by name Therefore about .xxx. leagues that is fourescore and tenne myles from the fortresse he chaunced on the ryuer Naiba whiche we sayde to defende from the mountaynes of Cibaua ryght towarde the south by the myddest of the ilande When he had ouerpassed this ryuer with a companye of armed men diuyded into .xxv. decurions that is tenne in a company with theyr capitaynes he sent two decurions to the regions of those kynges in whose landes were the great woodds of brasile trees Inclyning towarde the lefte hande they founde the wooddes entred into them and felled the high and precious trees which were to that day vntouched Eche of the decurions filled certayne of the ilande houses with the trunkes of brasile there to be reserued vntil the shippes came which should cary them away But the Lieutenaunt directing his iourney towarde the right hande not farre from the bankes of y e riuer of Naiba founde a certaine kyng whose name was Beuchius Anacauchoa encamped against thinhabitantes of the prouince of Naiba to subdue them vnder his dominion as he had done many other kings of the iland borderers vnto him The palace of this great king is called Xaragua is situate toward the West ende of the ilande distant from the ryuer of Naiba .xxx. leagues All the prynces which dwell betwene the West ende his palace are ditionaries vnto him All that region from Naiba to the furthest marches of the west is vtterly without golde although it be full of mountaynes When the kyng had espied our men laying a part his weapons geuyng signes of peace he spake gentelly to them vncerteyne whether it were of humanitie or feare and demaunded of them what they woulde haue The Lieuetenaunt aunsweared That he should paye tribute to the Admirall his brother in the name of the Christian kyng of Spayne To whom he sayde Howe can you requyre that of me whereas neuer a region vnder my dominion bringeth forth golde For he had heard that there was a strange nation entred into the ilande whiche made great search for golde But he supposed that they desyred some other thyng The lieutenaunt answeared agayne God forbydde that we shoulde enioyne any man to paye such tribute as he myght not easely forbeare or such as were not engendered or growing in the region but we vnderstande that your regions bryng foorth great plentie of Gossampine cotton and hempe with such other wherof we desyre you to geue vs parte When he heard these woordes he promysed with cherefull countenaunce to geue hym as much of these thynges as he woulde requyre Thus dismissing his army and sending messengers before he him selfe accompanied the Lieutenaunt and brought him to his palace being distant as we haue sayde .xxx. leagues In al this tracte they passed through the iurisdiction of other princes beyng vnder his dominion Of the whiche some gaue them hempe of no lesse goodnes to make tackelinges for shyppes then our wood Other some brought bread and some gossamppne cotton And so euery of them payde trybute with suche commodities as theyr countreys brought foorth At the length they came to the kinges mansion place of Xaragua Before they entered into the palace a great multitude of the kynges seruauntes subiectes resorted to the court honorably after their maner to receyue their kyng Beuchius Anacauchoa with the strangers which he brought with him to see the magnificence of his court But now shal you heare howe they were intertained Among other triumphes and syghtes two are especially to be noted Fyrst there mette them a company of .xxx. women beyng al the kynges wyues and concubines bearyng in theyr handes branches of date trees singyng and daunsyng they were all naked sauyng that theyr pryuie partes were couered with breeches of gossampine cotton but the virgins hauyng theyr heare hangyng downe about their shoulders tyed about the forehead with a fyllet were vtterly naked They affirme that theyr faces breastes pappes handes and other partes of theyr bodyes were exceedyng smothe and well proportioned but somwhat inclynyng to a louely broune They supposed that they had seene those most beutyfull Dryades or the natyue nymphes or fayres of the fountaynes whereof the antiques spake so muche The braunches of date trees which they bore in theyr right handes when they daunced they delyuered to the Lieuetenaunt with lowe curtesy and smylyng countenaunce Thus enteryng into the kynges house they founde a delycate supper prepared for them after theyr maner When they were well refreshed with meate the nyght drawyng on they were brought by the kynges officers euery man to his lodgyng according to his degree in certayne of theyr houses about the pallaice where they rested them in hangyng beddes after the maner of the countrey wherof we haue spoken more largely in an other place The day folowyng they brought our men to their common hall into the whiche they come togeather as often as they make any notable games or triumphes as we haue sayde before Here after many daunsynges synginges maskinges runnynges wrestlyngs and other trying of mastryes sodaynly there appeared in a large plaine neere vnto the hal two great armies of men of warre whiche the kyng for his pastyme had caused to be prepared as the Spaniardes vse the playe with reedes which they call Iuga de Canias As the armies drewe neere togeather they assayled the one the other as fiersely as if mortall enimies with theyr baners spleade should fight for theyr goodes theyr landes theyr lyues theyr libertie theyr countrey theyr wyues theyr children so that within the momente of an houre foure men were slayne and many wounded The battayle also shoulde haue contynued longer yf the kyng had not at the request of our men caused them to ceasse The thyrde day the Lieuetenant counsaylyng the kyng to sowe more plentie of gossampine vppon the bankes neere vnto the waters syde that they myght the better paye theyr trybute pryuately accordyng to the multitude of theyr houses he prepayred to Isabella to vysite the sycke men whiche he had lefte there and also to see howe his woorkes went forwarde In the tyme of his absence .xxx. of his men were consumed with diuerse diseases Wherefore
hym selfe and they which were his companions in this byoage beyng men of good credit and perceauing my dilygence in searchyng for these matters tolde me yet of a greater thyng that is that for the space of .xxvi. leagues amountyng to a hundreth and foure myles he sayled euer by freshe water insomuch that the further he proceaded especially towarde the west he affirmed the water to be the fresher After this he came to a highe mountayne inhabited onely with Monkeyes or Marmasits on that part towarde the East For that syde was rowgh with rockye and stony mountaynes and therefore not inhabited with men Yet they that went a lande to searche the countrey founde nere vnto the sea many fayre fieldes well tylled and sowen but no people nor yet houses or cotages Parhappes they were gone further into the countrey to sowe theyr corne and applye theyr husbandry as wee often see our husbandemen to leaue theyr stations and villages for the same purpose In the west syde of that mountayne they espyed a large playne whither they made hast and cast anker in the brode ryuer As soone as the inhabitantes had knowledge that a strange nation was arryued in theyr coastes they came flockyng without all feare to see our men We vnderstode by theyr sygnes and poyntynges that this Region was called Paria and that it was very large in so muche that the further it reacheth towarde the weste to be so muche the better inhabited and replenished with people The Admiral therfore takyng into his shippe foure of the men of that lande searched the west partes of the same By the temperatenes of the ayer the pleasaūtnes of the ground and the multitude of people which they sawe daily more more as they sayled they coniectured that these thynges portended some great matter as in deede their opinion failed them not as we will further declare in his place The sonne not yet rysen but beginnyng euen nowe to ryse being one day allured by the pleasauntnes of the place and sweete sauours whiche breathed from the lande to the shyppes they went a lande Here they founde a greater multytude of people then in any other place As our men approched towarde them there came certeine messengers from their Cacici that is the kinges of the countrey to desyre the Admirall in the name of theyr princes to come to theyr palaces without feare and that they and al theyrs shoulde bee at his commaundement When the Admirall had thanked them and made his excuse for that tyme there came innumerable people with theyr boates to the shyppes hauyng for the most parte cheynes about theyr neckes garlandes on theyr heades and braselettes on theyr armes of pearles of India and that so commonlye that our women in playes and tryumphes haue not greater plentie of stones of glasse and crystall in theyr garlands crownes girdels and suche other tyrementes Beyng asked where they gathered them they poynted to the next shore by the sea bankes They signified also by certeyne scornefull iestures whiche they made with theyr mouthes and handes that they nothyng esteemed pearles Taking also baskettes in their handes they made signes that the same myght be fylled with them in shorte space But because the corne wherwith his shyppes were laden to be caryed into Hispaniola had taken hurt by reason of the salt water he determined to deferre this marte to a more conuenient tyme Yet he sent to land two of the shyp boates laden with men to thintent to fetch some garlands of pearles for exchange of our thynges and also somwhat to searche the nature of the Region and disposition of the people They enterteyned our men gentelly and came flocking to them by heapes as it had ben to beholde some strange monsters Fyrst there came to meete our men two men of grauitie whom the multitude folowed One of these was well in age and the other but young They thinke it was the father with his sonne whiche should succeede hym When the one had saluted and embrased the other they brought our men into a certeyne rounde house neere vnto the whiche was a great courte Hyther were brought many chayers and stooles made of a certeyne blacke wood and very cunnyngly wrought After that our men and theyr Princes were sette theyr waytyng men came in laden some with sundry delycate dysihes and some with wyne But theyr meat was only fruites and those of dyuers kyndes and vtterly vnknowen to vs. Theyr wyne was both whyte and redde not made of grapes but of the lycour of dyuers fruites and very pleasaunte in drynkyng After this banquet made in the olde mans house the young man brought them to his tabernacle or mantion place where was a great company both of men and women but they stoode disseuered the one from the other They are whyte euen as our men are sauing suche as are much conuersant in the sunne They are also very gentle and full of humanitie towarde strangers They couer theyr priuie partes with gossampine cotton wrought with sundry colours and are besyde all naked There was fewe or none that had not eyther a coller a chayne or a bracelet of golde and pearles and many had all Beyng asked where they had that golde they poynted to certayne mountaynes seemyng with theyr countenaunce to disswade our men from goyng thither For putting theyr armes in theyr mouthes and grynnyng as though they bytte the same styll poyntyng to the mountaynes they seemed to insinuate that men were eaten there but whether they meant by the Canibales or wylde beastes our men coulde not wel perceiue They tooke it exceedyng greeuouslye that they coulde neyther vnderstande our men nor our men them When they whiche were sent to lande were returned to the shyppes about three of the clocke at after noone the same day bryngyng with them certayne garlandes and collers of pearles they loosed theyr ankers to departe mindyng to come agayne shortlye when all thynges were set in good order in Hispaniola but he was preuented by another whiche defeated him of the rewarde of his trauayle He was also hyndered at this time by reason of the shalownesse of the sea violent course of the water which with continuall tossyng bruised the greatest shippe as often as any great gale of wind arose To auoyde the daungers of suche shalowe places and shelfes he euer sent one of the smallest Carauelles before to trye the way with soundyng and the byggest shyppes folowed behynde The regions beyng in the large prouince of Paria for the space of CCxxx myles are called of the inhabitants Cumana and Manacapana from these regions distant lx leagues is there an other region called Curiana When he had thus passed ouer this long tract of sea supposing styl that it had ben an Ilande doubtyng that he myght passe by the West to the North directly to Hispaniola he chaunced into a ryuer of .xxx. cubits deapth and of suche breadth as hath
a token of obedience and frendeshyppe he sent our men many vesselles of golde desyring them to accepte them as the gifte of a frend whose good wyll wanted not in greater thynges if his abilitie were greater By whiche woordes the poore man seemed to insinuate that he had ben robbed and otherwyse cruelly handled of his borderers by reason whereof our men were enforced to depart from thence more hungerly then they came As they went forwarde therefore they espyed certayne naked men commyng downe from a hyll towarde them Vaschus commaunded his armye to stay and sent his interpretours to them to knowe what they woulde haue Then one of them to whom the other seemed to geue reuerence spake in this effect Our lorde and kyng Chiorisus greeteth you well wyllyng vs to declare that he harde of your puissaunce and vertue whereby you haue subdued euyll men and reuenged the wronges doone to innocentes For the whiche your noble factes and iustyce as he doth honour your fame so woulde he thynke hym selfe most happie if he myght receiue you into his palace But forasmuch as his fortune hath ben so euyll as he imputeth it that beyng out of your way you haue ouerpassed hym he hath sent you this golde in token of his good wyll and frendshyppe toward you And with these woordes he deliuered to Vaschus thirtie dishes of pure golde addyng hereunto that when so euer it shoulde please hym to take the paynes to come to theyr kyng he shoulde receaue greater gyftes He declared further that a kyng whiche was their borderer and mortall enimie was very ryche in golde and that in subduyng of hym they shoulde both obtayne great rychesse and also delyuer them from dayly vexations whiche thyng myght easily be doone by their helpe because they knewe the countrey Vaschus put them in good comfort and gaue them for rewarde certayne Iron axes whiche they more esteemed then great heapes of gold For they haue they haue lytle neede of golde hauyng not the vse of pestiferous money but he that may geat but one axe or hatchet thynketh hym selfe richer then euer was Crassus For euen these naked men doo perceiue that an axe is necessarie for a thousande vses and confesse that golde is desyred only for certayne vayne and effeminate pleasures as a thyng whiche the lyfe of man may lacke without any inconuenience for our gluttony and superfluous sumptuousnesse hath not yet corrupted them By reason whereof they take it for no shame to lacke cobordes of plate whereas the pryde and wantonnesse of our tyme doth in maner impute it to vs for ignominie to be without that whereof by nature we haue no neede But theyr contentation with the benefites of nature doth playnely declare that men may leade a free and happye lyfe without tables table clothes carpets napkyns and towels with such other innumerable wherof they haue no vse except perhaps the kynges furnysh theyr tables with a fewe golden vessels But the common people driue away hunger with a peece of theyr bread in the one hand and a peece of broyled fyshe or some kynde of fruite in the other hand for they eate flesh but seldome When theyr fyngers are imbrued with any ounctuous meates they wype them eyther on the soles of theyr feete or on theyr thyghes ye and sometimes on the skyns of theyr priuie members in the steede of a napkyn and for this cause do they oftentymes washe them selues in the riuers Our men therfore went forwarde laden with gold but sore afflicted with hunger Thus they came at the length to the dominion of kyng Pocchorrosa who fled at their commyng Here for the space of thyrtie dayes they fylled their emptye bellies with bread of the rootes of Maizium In the meane tyme Vaschus sent for Pocchorrosa who beyng allured with promises and fayre wordes came and submmitted hym selfe bryngyng with hym for a present fyfteene poundes weight of wrought golde and a fewe slaues Vaschus rewarded hym as he had doone other before When he was mynded to depart he was aduertised that he shoulde passe through the dominion of a certayne kyng whose name was Tumanama This is he whom the sonne of kyng Comogrus declared to be of so great power and fearefull to all his borderers and with whom many of Comogrus familiars had ben captyue but our men now perceyued that they measured his power by theyr owne For theyr kynges are but gnattes compared to Elephantes in respect to the power policie of our men Our men were also enfourmed by such as dwelt neare about Tumanama that his region was not beyond the mountaynes as they supposed nor yet so ryche in golde as young Comogrus had declared Yet consulted they of his subduing whiche they thought they myght the easeliar bryng to passe because Pocchorrosa was his mortal enemie who most gladly promised them his aduice and ayde herein Vaschus therfore leauyng his sicke men in the vyllage of Pocchorrosa tooke with hym threescore of his most valyant souldiers and declared vnto them howe kyng Tumanama had often tymes spoken proude and threatnyng wordes agaynst them Lykewyse that it nowe stood them in hand of necessitie to passe through his dominion and that he thought it best to set vpon hym vnwares The souldiers consented to his aduice and exhorted hym to geue the aduenture promising that they woulde folow hym whyther soeuer he went They determined therfore to goe two dayes iourney in one day that Tumanama not knowyng of theyr sodayne commyng myght haue no leysure to assemble an army and the thyng came to passe euen as they had deuised For in the first watche of the nyght our men with the Pocchorrosians inuaded the village and pallace of Tumanama where they tooke hym prysoner suspectyng nothyng lesse He had with hym two young men whiche he abused vnnaturally also fourescore women whiche he had taken violently from diuers kynges lykewyse a great number of his gentlemen subiectes were taken straglyng in other vyllages neere about his pallace For theyr houses are not adherent togeather as ours be because they are oftentymes troubled with vehement whirlewyndes by reason of the sodayne chaunges and motions of the ayer caused by the influence of the planettes in the equalitie of the day and nyght beyng there in maner both of one length throughout all the yeere forasmuch as they are neere vnto the Equinoctiall line as we haue sayde before Theyr houses are made of trees couered and after theyr maner thatched with the stalkes of certayne rough hearbes To the pallace of Tumanama was only one house adherent and that euen as bygge as the pallace it selfe Eyther of these houses were in length a hundred and twentye paces and in breadth fiftie paces as our men measured them In these two houses the kyng was accustomed to muster his men as often as he prepared an army When Tumanama therfore was thus taken captiue with all his Sardanapanicall familie the Pocchorrosians
fourscore myles for they call it threescore leagues He spent certaine daies heere in idlenesse for he coulde neither by fayre meanes nor by foule allure the kyng of the region to come to hym Whyle he lay thus idelly there came to hym other fyftie men sent from Dariena vnder the gouernaunce of captayne Lodouicus Mercado who departed from Dariena in the calendes of May to the intent to searche the inner partes of those regions When they met togeather they determined after consultation to passe ouer the mountaynes lying towarde the South euen vnto the South sea lately founde Beholde nowe a wonderfull thyng that in a lande of suche marueylous longitude in other places they founde it here to be onely about fyftie myles distant to the South sea for they count it .xvii. leagues as the maner of the Spanyardes is to recken and not by myles Yet saye they that a league consysteth of three myles by lande and foure by sea as we haue noted before In the toppes of the mountaynes and turnyng of the waters they founde a kyng named Iuana whose kyngdome is also named Coiba as is the region of king Careta of whom we haue made mention elswhere But for as muche as the region of this Iuana is rycher in golde they named it Coiba Dites that is Coiba the rych For wheresoeuer they dygged the grounde whether it were on the drye lande or in the wet chanelles of the ryuers they founde the sande whiche they cast foorth myxt with golde Iuana fledde at the commyng of our men and coulde neuer be brought agayne They spoyled all the countrey neare about his palace yet had they but litle golde for he had caryed all his stuffe with hym Here they founde certayne slaues marked in the faces after a straunge sorte For with a sharpe prycke made eyther of bone or els with a thorne they make holes in theyr faces and foorthwith sprinklyng a powder thereon they moiste the pounced place with a certayne blacke or redde iuice whose substaunce is of suche tenacitie and clamminesse that it wyll neuer weare away They brought these slaues away with them They say that this iuice is of suche sharpenesse and putteth them to suche payne that for extreme doloure they haue no stomacke to theyr meate certayne dayes after The kynges whiche take these slaues in theyr warres vse theyr helpe in seekyng for golde and in tyllage of the grounde euen as doo our men From the pallace of Iuana folowyng the course of the water about tenne myles towarde the South they entred into the dominion of an other kyng whom our men named the olde man bycause he was olde not passyng of his other name In the region of this kyng also they founde golde in all places both on the lande and in the ryuers This region is very fayre and fruitefull and hath in it many famous ryuers Departyng from hence in fyue dayes iourney they came to a lande lefte desolate They suppose that this was destroyed by ciuile discorde forasmuche as it is for the most parte fruitefull and yet not inhabited The fyfth day they sawe two men commyng a farre of these were laden with bread of Maizium whiche they caryed on theyr shoulders in sackes Our men tooke them and vnderstoode by them that there were two kynges in that tract the one was named Periquete who dwelt neere vnto the sea the others name was Totonoga This Totonoga was blynde and dwelt in the continent The two men which they met were the fyshers of Totonoga whom he had sent with certayne fardelles of fyshe to Periquete and had agayne receyued bread of hym for exchaunge For thus do they communicate theyr commodities one with an other by exchaunge without the vse of wycked mony By the conductyng of these two men they came to kyng Totonoga dwellyng on the West syde of saint Michaels gulfe in the South sea They had of this kyng the summe of syxe thousand Castellans of golde both rude and artifycially wrought Among those groumes of rude or natyue golde there was one founde of the weyght of two Castellans whiche argued the plentifull rychenesse of the grounde Folowyng the same coast by the sea syde towarde the West they came to a kyng whose name was Taracuru of whom they had golde amountyng to the weyght of eyght thousande Pesos We haue sayde before that Pesus is the weyght of a Castelane not coyned From hence they went to the dominion of this kynges brother named Pananome who fledde at their commyng and appeared no more afterwarde They say that his kyngdome is ryche in golde They spoyled his pallace in his absence Syxe leagues from hence they came to another king named Tabor From thence they came to the kyng of Cheru He frendly entertained our men and gaue them foure thousand Pesos of golde He hath in his dominion many goodly salt bayes the region also aboundeth with golde About twelue myles from hence they came to another king called Anata of whom they had xv thousande Pesos of golde whiche he had gotton of the kynges his borderers whom he had vanquished by warre A great part of this gold was in rude fourme bycause it was molten when he set the kinges houses on fyre whom he spoyled For they robbe and slay the one the other sackyng fyryng theyr villages and wasting theyr countreyes They keepe warre barbarously and to vtter destruction executyng extreeme crueltie agaynst them that haue the ouerthrowe Gonsalus Badaiocius with his felowes wandred at libertie vntyll they came to this kyng and had geathered great heapes of golde of other kynges For what in braslettes collers earerynges brest plates helmettes and certaine barres wherewith women beare vp theyr brestes they had geathered togeather in gold the summe of fourscore thousand Castellans which they had obtayned partly by exchange for our things where they founde the kynges theyr frendes otherwise by forcyble meanes where they founde the contrary They had gotten also fourtie slaues whose helpe they vsed both for cariage of their victualles and baggagies in the steede of Moyles or other beastes of burden also to releeue such as were sick and forweeried by reason of theyr long iourneies and hunger After these prosperous voyages they came by the dominion of kyng Scoria to the palace of a kyng named Pariza where fearyng no suche thing Pariza enclosed them with a great armie and assayled them straggelyng and vnwares in such sort that they had no leasure to put on theyr armure He slue and wounded about fyftie and put the resydue to flyght They made suche hast that they had no respect eyther to the golde they had geathered or to theyr slaues but left all behynde them Those fewe that escaped came to Dariena The opinion of all wyse men as concernyng the variable and inconstant chaunces of fortune in humane things were false if all thynges shoulde haue happened vnto them prosperously For such
syluer and precious stones set and wrought after a marueylous straunge deuice and with no lesse cunnyng woorkemanshyp Heere they determined to sende messengers to our newe Emperour to knowe his pleasure that they myght in this prouince plant a newe colonie or habitation and this dyd they without the aduise of Diegus Velasquen the gouernour of the Iland of Cuba or Fernandina who fyrst sent them foorth with commaundement to returne agayne after they had searched these regions and obtayned plentie of golde While they consulted herof they were of diuers opinions but the most part alleaged that in this case it was not requisite to make the gouernour of theyr counsayle forasmuch as y e matter shoulde be referred to a higher Iudge as to the king of Spaine hym self When they were thus agreed they receyued vittayles of the gentle king of the prouince and assigned the place of their colonie twelue myles from the saide towne in a fruiteful holsome soile For theyr generall gouernoure they elected Cortesius the gouernour of the nauie agaynst his wyll as some saye For other magistrates to gouerne the citie which they intended to builde he chose Portucarerius and Montegius of whom we haue made mention before They chose also certayne messengers to send to the kyng by the conduction of Alaminus the pilot Furthermore foure of the princes of this prouince offered them selues wyllyngly to go with our men into Spayne to thintent to see our landes and that kyng whose power is so great and whose auctoritie reacheth so farre They brought lykewyse two women with them whiche serued and obeyed them in all thinges after the maner of their countrey The people of this nation is of browne or yelowyshe colour Both the men and the women haue pendauntes of gold pretious stones hanging at their eares The men also bore theyr neather lippes full of holes from the vppermost part of the lippe euen vnto the neathermost part of the gumme At these they hang certayne rynges and plates of golde and syluer fastned to a smal and thynne plate lying within betwene the lip the gumme At the biggest hole in the middest of the lippe there hangeth a rounde plate of syluer as brode as the coyne called a Carolyne as thicke as a mans finger I do not remember that euer I sawe any thyng that seemed more fylthy in myne eye Yet do they thynke that there is nothyng more comly vnder the circle of the moone whereby we may see howe vainely mankynde wandereth in his owne blyndnesse The Ethiopian thincketh the blacke colour to be fayrer then the white and the white man thinketh otherwise They that are powled thynke that more decent then to weare a bushe and they that weare beardes iudge it a deformitie to be shauen As appetite therfore moueth and not as reason perswadeth men runne after vanities and euery prouince is ruled by theyr owne sense as writeth saint Ierome From whence they haue their gold we haue spoken sufficiently before But as our men marueyled where they had theyr syluer they shewed them certayne high mountaines which are continually couered w t snowe sauing that at certaine times of the yeere the only toppes are seene bare bicause the snow is there molten by reason of y e thicke and warme cloudes The plaines therfore or milde softe pleasaunt mountaines seeme to bring foorth golde and the rough craggie mountaynes with theyr colde valleyes are the places where syluer is engendred They haue also Laton whereof they make such Mases and Hammers as are vsed in the warres dygging Mattockes also and Spades for they haue neyther Iron nor steele But let vs nowe speake of the presentes sent into Spayne to the kyng and fyrst of the bookes These procuratours therefore of the newe colonie of the prouince of Coluacana among other their presentes brought also a great number of bookes the leaues whereof are made of the inner ryndes or barkes of trees thinner then eyther that of the Elme or of y e Salowe these they smeere or anoynt with the pitche of molten Bitumem and whyle they be soft extend them to what fourme them lysteth When they bee cold and harde they rubbe them ouer with a certayne playster It is to be thought that they beate the playster into fyne floure and so temperyng it with some byndyng moysture to make a crust therewith vppon the leaues whereon they wryte with anye sharpe instrument and blot the same agayne with a spunge or some suche other thyng as marchaunt men and noble mens stewards are accustomed to do with their wryting tables made of the woodde of figge trees The leaues of theyr bookes are not set in order after the maner of ours but are extended many cubittes in length The matters whiche they write are conteyned in square tables not lose but so bound togeather with the tough flexible clay called Bitumem that they seeme lyke woodden tables whiche had been vnder the handes of cunnyng Bookbynders Which way so euer the booke lieth open there are two leaues seene and two sydes wrytten with as many lying vnder them except the booke be vnfoulded in length For vnder one leafe there are many leaues ioyned togeather The fourmes of theyr letters are nothyng lyke vnto ours but are muche more crooked and entangled lyke vnto fyshhookes knottes snares starres fyles dyse and suche other muche lyke vnto the Egyptian letters and wrytten in lines lyke vnto ours Heere and there betweene the lines are pictured the shapes of men and diuers beastes and especyally the Images of kynges and other noble men Whereby it is to be thought that in such bookes the factes of theyr kinges are conteined as we see the lyke among vs how our printers expresse the summe of histories in pictures that men may therby be the more allured to bye suche bookes The coueringes of theyr bookes are also artificially wrought and paynted When they are shut they seeme to differ nothing from ours in fourme In these bookes are furthermore comprehended theyr lawes rytes of ceremonies and sacrifyces annotations of Astronomie accomptes computations of tymes with the maner of graffyng sowing and other thynges parteynyng to husbandry They begyn the yeere from the goyng downe of the seauen starres called Vergiliae or Pleiades and count theyr monethes accordyng to the mones They name a moneth Tona of the Moone for in theyr language they call the Moone Tona They recken the dayes by the sonnes therefore as many dayes as they name they saye so manye sonnes the Sonne in theyr tongue is called Tonatico They distribute the yeere without any reason why into twentie monethes and the moneth into as many dayes The temples whiche they frequent they adourne with golden hangynges and other ornamentes of golde and syluer with precious stones intermyxt At the spryng of the day they perfume theyr temples with frankensence and make theyr prayers before they take in hand any other busynesse
the whole passage lieth how long it is what breadth it carieth how perilous how prosperous the iorney is and what commodities the paynfull trauayler can reape therby what gaine the venterous marchant may looke for what wealth what honour what fame wyll to our Englyshe nation thereof ensue Thus muche right honorable my verye good Lady of your question concernyng your seruantes voyage If not so skylfully as I would and was desirous fully to do at the least as I could leasure suffered me for the litle knowledge God hath lent me yf it be any at all in Cosmographie and Philosophie and the small experience I haue in trauaile Chosing rather in the cleare iudgement of your Ho. mynde to appeare rude and ignorant and so to be seene vnto the multitude then to be founde vnthankefull and carelesse in any thing your Ho. shoulde commaunde me God preserue your Honour At the Court the .xx. of Marche Your Ho. most humbly at commaundement Richard Willes To the right worshipfull my singuler good Mystres M. Elizabeth Morisyn OVr Indian readinges our Asian lectures our Geographical description of the whole world wyll I end with certayne reportes of the prouince China in Cathayo and some intelligences of the worthy Ilands lying therby in the East Ocean The relation whereof though at the first myght seeme briefly to be passed ouer and in a fewe substantiall poyntes only to be touched as in the rest of our discourses concernyng this facultie we haue done Yet the worthynesse of matter herein conteyned the order of ciuile gouerment the maners fashions of the inhabiters the discription of that countrey so wel gathered the noueltie thereof in our language haue effectually moued me to doo the whole discourse into Englysh Needlesse I graunt the labour is for you that perfectly in so few Monethes so few weekes so fewe dayes learned the Italian tongue out of the whiche language this translation is made The singular care you euer haue had of my well dooyng and the speciall fauour I haue founde among your Honorable frendes for your sake vvoulde not only not let me to play the negligent Poete in the fift Act but compelled me to handle euen the last Scene more abundantly aswel to acknowledge your good skill both in Cosmographie and in forreine languages as also to testifie vnto the world the great benefites the which I haue receyued for vschering as it were herein so good so wyse so vertuous so worshipfull a mystres Nowe after all these learned exercises of your younger yeeres God Almyghtie send you great good successe in your present affaires with encrease of prosperitie and muche honour as you dayly shall grow elder At London the 21. of Feburary 1576. Your seruaunt euer R. Willes Reportes of the prouince China Certayne reportes of the prouince China learned through the Portugalles there imprisoned and chiefly by the relation of Galeotto Perera a gentleman of good credit that lay prisoner in that countrey many yeeres Done out of Italian into Englyshe by R. W. THis land of China is parted into .13 shyres the which sometymes were eche one a kyngdome by it selfe but these many yeeres they haue been all subiect vnto one Kyng Fuquien is made by the Portugalles the first shyre bycause there their troubles began and had occasion thereby to know the rest In this shyre be viii cities but one principally more famous than others called Fuquieo the other seuen are reasonably great the best knowen wherof vnto the Portugalles is Cinceo in respect of a certayne hauen ioyning thervnto whyther in tyme past they were wont for merchandyse to resort Cantan is the second shyre not so great in quantitie as well accoumpted of both by the Kyng thereof and also by the Portugalles for that it lyeth nearer vnto Malacca than any other part of China and was fyrst discryed by the Portugalles before any other shyre in that prouince this shyre hath in it seuen cities Chequeam is the third shyre the chiefest citie therein is Donchion therein also standeth Liampo with other thirtiene or fourtiene Boroughes countrey townes therein to to many to be spoken of The fourth shyre is called Xutiamfu the principall citie therof is great Pachin where the Kyng is alwayes resident In it are fyftiene other very great cities of other townes therein and Boroughes well walled and trenched about I will say nothing The fyft shyre hath name Chelim the great citie Nanquin chiefe of other fyftiene cities was herein of auncient tyme the royall seate of the Chinish kynges From this shyre and from that aforesayde Chequeam forwarde bare rule the other kynges vntyll the whole region became one kyngdome The sixt shyre beareth name Quianci as also the principall citie thereof wherein the fine claye to make vesselles is wrought The Portugalles beyng ignorant of this countrey and fyndyng great aboundaunce of that fine claye to be solde at Liampo and that very good cheape thought at the first that it had been made there howbeit in fine they perceiued that the standing of Quinzi more neare vnto Liampo than to Cinceo or Cantan was the cause of so muche fine claye at Liampo within the compasse of Quinci shyre be other .12 cities The seuenth shyre is Quicin the eight Quansi the nienth Confu the tenth Vrnan the eleuenth Sichiua In the first hereof there be .16 cities in the next fyftiene howe many townes the other three haue we are ignorant as yet as also of the proper names of the .12 and .13 shyres and the townes therein This finally may be generally sayde heereof that the greater shyres in China prouince may be compared with mightie kyngdomes In eche one of these shyres be set Ponchiassini and Anchiassini before whom are handled the matters of other cities There is also placed in eche one a Tutan as you would say a gouernor and a Chian that is a visiter as it were whose office is to goe in circuit and to see iustice exactly done By these meanes so vpryghtly thinges are ordered there that it may bee worthely accompted one of the best gouerned prouinces in all the world The Kyng maketh alwayes his abode in the great citie Pachin as muche to say in our language as by the name thereof I am aduertised the towne of the kyngdome This kyngdome is so large that vnder fyue monethes you are not able to traueyle from the townes by the sea syde to the Court and backe agayne no not vnder three monethes in poste at your vrgent businesse The Posthorses in this countrey are litle of bodie but swyfte of foote Many doe traueyle the greater parte of this iourney by water in certayne lyght barkes for the multitude of ryuers commodious for passage from one citie to an other The kyng notwithstandyng the hugenesse of his kyngdome hath such a care thereof that euery Moone by the Moones they recken their monethes he is aduertised fully of whatsoeuer thing happeneth therein
We therefore asked the cause of this answered it was that in euery citie there is a great circuit wherein be many houses for poore people for blinde lame old folke not able to traueyle for age nor hauyng any other meanes to lyue These folke haue in the aforesayde houses euer plentie of rice duryng theyr lyues but nothyng els Such as be receyued into these houses come in after this maner Whan one is sicke blinde or lame he maketh a supplication to the Ponchiassi and prouyng that to be true he wryteth he remayneth in the aforesayde great lodgyng as long as he lyueth besides this they keepe in these places Swyne and Hennes whereby the poore be releeued without goyng a beggyng I sayd before that China was full of ryuers but now I mynde to confyrme the same anewe for the farther we went into the countrey the greater we found the ryuers Sometymes we were so farre of from the sea that where we came no sea fyshe had been seene and salt was there very deere of freshe water fyshe yet was there great aboundance that fysh very good they keepe it good after this maner Where the ryuers doe meete and so passe into the sea there lyeth great store of Boates specially where no salte water commeth and that in Marche and Apryll These Boates are so many that it seemeth wonderfull ne serue they for other than to take small fyshe By the ryuers sydes they make leyres of fine and strong nettes that lye three handfulles vnder water and one aboue to keepe and nourysh their fyshe in vntyll suche tyme as other fyshers doe come with Boates bryngyng for that purpose certayne great chestes lyned with paper able to holde water wherein they carry theyr fyshe vp and downe the ryuer euery day renuyng the chest with freshe water and sellyng theyr fyshe in euery citie towne and village where they passe vnto the people as they neede it most of them haue nette leyres to keepe fyshe in alwayes for theyr prouision Where the greater Boates can not passe any farther forwarde they take lesser and bycause the whole countrey is very well watred there is so great plentie of dyuers sortes of fyshe that it is wonderfull to see assuredly we were amazed to beholde the maner of their prouision Theyr fyshe is chiefly nourished with the dung of Bufles and Oxen that greatly fatteth it Although I sayde theyr fyshyng to be in March and Aprill at what tyme we sawe them doe it neuerthelesse they tolde vs that they fyshed at all tymes for that vsually they doe feede on fyshe wherfore it behoueth them to make theyr prouision continually Whan we had passed Fuquien wee went into Quicin shyre where the fine claye vessell is made as I sayde before and we came to a citie the one syde whereof is built vppon the foote of a hyll wherby passeth a ryuer nauigable there we tooke Boate and went by water towarde the sea on ech syde of the ryuer we found many cities townes and villages wherein we sawe great store of marchandyse but specially of fine clay there dyd wee lande by the way to buye victualles and other necessaryes Goyng downe this ryuer Southwarde we were glad that we drewe neare vnto a warmer countrey from whence wee had been farre distant this countrey we passed through in eyght dayes for our iourney laye downe the streame Before that I doe say any thyng of that shyre we came into I will fyrst speake of the great citie of Quicin wherin alwayes remaineth a Tutan that is a gouernour as you haue seene though some Tutans doe gouerne two or three shyres That Tutan that was condempned for our cause of whom I spake before was borne in this countrey but he gouerned Foquien shyre nothing it auayled him to bee so great an officer This countrey is so great that in many places where we went there had ben as yet no talke of his death although he were executed a whole yeere before At the citie Quanche whyther we came the riuer was so great that it seemed a sea though it were so litle where we tooke water that we needed smal boates One day about .ix. of y e clocke beginning to row neare the walles with the streame we came at noone to a bridge made of many barges ouerlinked all togeather with two mighty cheyns There stayed we vntil it was late but we saw not one go either vp theron or downe except two Louteas y t about the going downe of y e sun came set them downe there the one in one side the other in the other side Than was the bridge opened in many places barges both great smal to the number of .600 began to passe those that went vp the streame at one place such as came downe at an other Whā al had thus shot the bridge than was it shut vp againe We heare say that euery day they take this order in all principall places of merchandyse for paying of y e custome vnto the king specially for salt wherof the greatest reuenews are made that the king hath in this countrey The passages of the bridge where it is opened bee so neare the shore that nothing can passe without touching the same To stay the barges at their pleasure that they go no farther forward are vsed certayne yron instrumentes The bridge consisteth of .112 barges there stayed wee vntyll the euenyng that they were opened lothesomely oppressed by the multitude of people that came to see vs so many in number that we were enforced to goe asyde from the banke vntyl such tyme as the bridge was opened howbeit we were neuerthelesse thronged about w t many boates full of people And though in other cities and places where wee went the people came so importunate vpon vs that it was needfull to withdraw our selues yet were we heere much more molested for the number of people and this bridge the principal way out of the citie vnto an other place so well inhabited that were it walled about it myght bee compared to the citie Whan we had shot the bridge we kept along the citie vntill that it was nyght than met we with an other ryuer that ioyned with this we rowed vp that by the walles vntyll we came to an other bridge gallantly made of barges but lesser a great deale than that other bridge ouer the greater streame heere stayed we that nyght and other two dayes with more quiet being out of the prease of the people These riuers do meet without at one corner point of the citie In either of them were so many barges great and small that we all thought them at the least to be aboue three thousande the greater number therof was in the lesser ryuer where we were Amongst the rest here lay certayne greater vessels called in their language Parai that serue for the Tutan whan he taketh his voyage by other ryuers that ioyne with this towards Pachin where the king maketh
his abode For as many tymes I haue erst sayd all this countrey is full of riuers Desirous to see those Parai we got into some of them where we found some chambers set foorth with gilded beds very richly other furnished with tables and seates all other thinges so neate and in perfection that it was wonderfull Quiacim shyre as farre as I can perceiue lyeth vpon the south On that syde we kept at our first entry thereinto traueyling not far from the high mountaynes we saw there Asking what people dwelleth beyond those mountaynes it was told me that they be theeues men of a strange language And bycause that vnto sundry places neare this riuer y e mountaynes do approch whence the people issuing downe do many tymes great harme this order is taken at y e entry into Quiacim shyre To gard this riuer wheron continually go to fro Parai great small fraught with salt fish poudred with pepper and other necessaries for that countrey they do lay in diuers places certain Parai great barges armed wherin watch warde is kept day night in both sides of the riuer for the safetie of the passage securitie of suche Parai as doe remayne there though the traueylers neuer go but many in company In euery rode there be at the least thirtie in some two hundred men as the passage requyreth This garde is kept vsually vntyll you come to the citie Onchio where continually the Tutan of this shyre and eke of Cantan maketh his abode From that citie vpwarde where the ryuer waxeth more narrow and the passage more daungerous there be alwayes armed one hundred and fiftie Parai to accompany other vesselles fraught with marchandyse and all this at the king his charges This seemed vnto me one of the strangest thinges I dyd see in this countrey Whan we laye at Fuquien we dyd see certayne Moores who knewe so litle of theyr secte that they could say nothyng els but that Machomet was a Moore my father was a Moore and I am a Moore with some other wordes of theyr Alcorane wherewithall in abstinence from Swynes fleshe they lyue vntyll the deuyll take them all This whan I sawe beyng sure that in many Chinish cities the reliques of Machomet are kept as soone as we came to the citie where these felowes be I enfourmed my selfe of them and learned the trueth These Moores as they tolde me in tymes past came in great shippes fraught with marchandise from Pachin ward to a Porte graunted vnto them by the kyng as hee is wont to all them that traffike into this countrey where they beyng arriued at a litle towne standyng in the hauens mouth in tyme conuerted vnto their secte the greatest Loutea there Whan that Loutea with all his family was become Moorysh the rest began lykewyse to doe the same In this part of China the people be at libertie euery one to worshyp and folow what him lyketh best Wherefore no body tooke heede thereto vntyll such tyme as the Moores perceyuyng that many folowed them in superstition and that the Loutea fauoured them they began to forbyd wholy the eatyng of Swines flesh But all this countrymen and women chosing rather to forsake father and mother than to leaue of eatyng of porke by no meanes would yelde to that proclamation For besides the great desyre they all haue to eate that kynde of meate many of them doe lyue thereby and therefore the people complayned vnto the Magistrates accusing the Moores of a conspiracy pretended betwixt them and the Loutea agaynst theyr kyng In this countrey as no suspicion no not one trayterous worde is long borne withall so was the kyng speedily aduertised thereof who gaue comcommaundement out of hande that the aforesayde Loutea should be put to death and with hym the Moores of most importance the other to be layde fyrst in pryson and afterwarde to be sent abrode into certayne cities where they remayned perpetuall slaues vnto the kyng To this citie came by happe men and women threescore and odde who at this day are brought to fiue men and foure women for it is nowe twentie yeeres agoe this happened Theyr ofspryng passeth the number of .200 and they in this citie as the rest in other cities whyther they were sent haue theyr Moscheas wherunto they al resorte euery fryday to kepe theyr holydaye But as I thynke that wyll no longer endure then whiles they do lyue that came from thence for theyr posteritie is so confused that they haue nothing of a Moore in them but abstinence from Swynes fleshe and yet many of them do eate thereof priuilie They tell me that theyr natiue countrey hath name Camarian a fyrme lande wherein be many kynges and the Indishe countrey well knowen vnto them It may so be for as sone as they dyd see our seruauntes our seruauntes were Preuzaretes they iudged them to be Indians many of theyr woordes sounded vppon the Persike tongue but none of vs coulde vnderstand them I asked them whether they conuerted any of the Chinishe nation vnto theyr secte they answeared me that with much a do they conuerted the women with whom they do marry yeldyng me no other cause thereof but the difficultie they find in them to be brought from eating swines fleshe and drynking of wine I am perswaded therfore that if this countrey were in league with vs forbyddyng them neyther of both it would be an easy matter to draw them to our religion from theyr superstition wherat they them selues do laugth when they do their Idolatrie I haue learned moreouer that the sea wherby these Moores that came to China were woont to trauaile is a very great gulfe that falleth into this countrey out from Tartaria and Persia leauing on the other syde all the countrey of China and lande of the Mogorites drawyng alwayes towarde the south and of all lykelyhood it is euen so because that these Moores the whiche we haue seene be rather browne then white wherby they shewe them selues to come from some warmer countrey then China is neere to Pachin where the ryuers are frosen in the wynter for colde and many of them so vehemently that cartes may passe ouer them We dyd see in this citie many Tartares Mogorites Bremes and Laoynes both men women The Tartares are men very white good horsemen and archers confinyng with China on that side where Pachin standeth separated from thence by great mountaines that are betwyxt these kingdomes Ouer them be certaine wayes to passe and for both sydes Castelles continually keapte with souldiers in tyme past the Tartares were woont alwayes to haue warrs with the Chineans but these fourescore yeeres past they were quiete vntyll the seconde yeere of our imprysonment The Mogorites be in lyke maner whyte and heathen we are aduertised that of one syde they border vppon these Tartares and confine with the Persike Tartares on the other syde whereof we sawe in them some tokens
as theyr maner of clothes and that kynde of hat the Saracenes do weare The Moores affirmed that where the kyng lyeth there be many Tartares and Mogorites that brought into China certayne blewes of great valewe al we thought it to be Vanil of Cambaia woont to be sold at Ormus So that this is the true situation of that countrey not in the Northpartes as many tymes I haue harde saye confynyng with Germanie As for the Bremes we haue seene in this citie Chenchi certaine men women amongst whom there was one that came not long since hauyng as yet her heare tyed vp after the Pegues fashion this woman and other moe with whom a blacke Moore damsell in our companye had conference and dyd vnderstande them well ynough had dwelte in Peghu This newe come woman imaginyng that we ment to make our abode in that citie byd vs to be of good comforte for that her countrey was not distant from thence aboue fiue dayes iourney and that out of her countrey there laye a hygh way for vs home into our owne Beyng asked the way she aunsweared that the fyrst three dayes the way lyeth ouer certayne great mountaynes and wyldernesse afterwarde people to be mette withall agayne Thence two dayes iorney more to the Breames countrey Wherfore I doo conclude that Chenchi is one of the confynes of this kyngdome seperated by certayne huge mountaynes as it hath been already sayd that lye out towardes the South In the residue of these mountaynes standeth the prouince Sian the Laoyns countrey Cambaia Chinapa and Cochinchina This citie cheefe of other syxteene is situated in a pleasaunt playne aboundyng in thynges necessarie sea fysh only excepted for it standeth farre from the sea of freshe fyshe so muche store that the market places are neuer emptie The walles of this citie are very strong and hygh one day dyd I see the Louteas thereof go vpon the walles to take the viewe thereof borne in theyr seates I spake of before accompanied with a troupe of horsemen that went two and two It was tolde me they myght haue gone three and three We haue seene moreouer that within this aforesayde citie the kyng hath moe than a thousand of his kynne lodged in great pallaces in diuers partes of the citie theyr gates be redde and the entrye into theyr houses that they may be knowen for that is the kyng his colour These gentlemen accordyng to theyr nearenesse in blood vnto the kyng as soone as they be maried receiue theyr place in honour this place neither encreaseth nor diminisheth in any respect as long as the kyng lyueth the kyng appoynteth them theyr wyues and familie allowyng them by the Moneth al thynges necessarie abundantly as he doth to his gouernours of shyres and cities howebeit not one of these hath as long as he lyueth any charge or gouernment at al. They geue them selues to eatyng and drinkyng â–ª and be for the most part burly men of bodie insomuche that espiyng any one of them whom we had not seene before we myght knowe hym to be the kyng his cosyn They be neuerthelesse very pleasaunt courteous and fayre conditioned ne dyd we finde al the time we were in that citie so much honour and good entertaynement any where as at theyr handes They byd vs to theyr houses to eate and drynke and when they founde vs not or were not wyllyng to go with them they byd our seruantes slaues causing them to syt down with the first Notwithstanding the good lodging these gentlemen haue so commodious that they want nothyng yet are they in this bondage that duryng lyfe they neuer goe abrode The cause as I dyd vnderstand wherefore the kyng so vseth his cousynes is that none of them at anye tyme may rebell agaynst hym and thus he shutteth them vp in three or foure other cities Most of them can play on the Lute and to make that kynde of pastyme peculier vnto them only all other in the cities where they do lyue be forbydden that instrument the Curtisans and blynde folke only excepted who be musitions and can play This king furthermore for the greater securitie of his realme and the auoydyng of tumultes letteth not one in al his countrey to be called Lord except he be of his blood Many great estates and gouernours there be that duryng theyr office are lodged Lordlyke and do beare the port of myghtie Princes but they be so many tymes displaced and other placed a newe that they haue not the whyle to become corrupt True it is that duryng theyr office they be well prouided for as afterwarde also lodged at the kynges charges and in pension as long as they liue payde them Monethly in the cities where they dwel by certaine officers appoynted for that purpose The kyng then is a Lorde only not one besydes hym as you haue seene except it be suche as be of his blood A Nephewe lykewyse of the kyng the kyng his systers sonne lyeth continually within the walles of the citie in a strong pallace built Castelwyse euen as his other cousins do remaynyng alwayes within doores serued by Eunuches neuer dealyng with any matters Their festiuall dayes newe Moones and ful Moones the magistrates make great bankets so do such as be of the king his blood The king his Nephewe hath name Vanfuli his pallace is walled about the wall is not high but foure square and in circuit nothing inferiour to the walles of Goa the outside is painted red in euery square a gate ouer each gate a tower made of timber excellently wel wrought before the principal gate of the foure that openeth into the high streat no Loutea be he neuer so great may passe on horsbacke or carried in his seat Amydde this quadrangle standeth the pallace where that gentleman lieth doubtlesse worth the sight although we came not in to see it By report the roofes of the towers and house are glased greene the greater part of the Quadrangle set with sauage trees as Okes Chestnuttes Cypres Pineapples Cedars and other suche lyke that we do wante after the maner of a wood wherin are keapt Stagges Oxen and other beastes for that Lorde his recreation neuer goyng abrode as I haue sayde One preheminence this citie hath aboue the reste where we haue been and it of ryght as we do thynke that besydes the multitude of market places wherein all thynges are to be solde through euery streate continually are cryed all thynges necessarie as fleshe of all sortes freshe-fyshe hearbes oyle vineger meale rise in summa al thinges so plentifully that many houses neede no seruauntes euery thing beyng brought to theyr doores Most part of the merchantes remayne in the suburbes for that y e cities are shut vp euery night as I haue sayde The merchantes therefore the better to attende theyr businesse do chuse rather to make theyr abode without in the suburbes then within the citie I haue seene in this ryuer a
maner al kyndes of beastes as wylde Bores Harts Wolues Lions sundry kinds of birdes and foules vnlike vnto ours Pecockes also and Parrottes It hath innumerable Kyne of shynyng yelowe coloure also sheepe exceedyng fatte There is so great abundaunce of flowers and Roses that they fayle not in wynter There can not be a more temperate ayre and therfore they lyue muche longer then we do Not far from this citie is an other citie named Mangolor from whence about the number of .lx. shyppes departe yeerely laded with Ryse The inhabitantes are partly Idolaters and partly Mahumetans Their maner of lyuing and apparell is as we haue sayd before Of Canonor and Narsinga great cities of India Cap. 7. DEpartyng from hence we directed our iorney toward the citie of Canonor beyng a very goodly citie Heere the kyng of Portugale hath a very strong towne The kyng of the citie is an Idolater and no great frend to the kyng of Portugale The citie hath a porte whyther are brought the horses of Persia but the custome for horses is exceedyng great Departyng from hence and entryng further into the lande we came to the citie of Narsinga where many Mahumetan merchauntes do dwel The soyle beareth neyther wheate nor vynes or fewe other fruites except Oranges and Gourdes They eate no breade but lyue with ryse fyshe and suche walnuttes as the countrey beareth In maners and Idolatrye they are lyke vnto them of Calecut of whiche we wyll speake heareafter There is founde plentie of spyces as Ginger Pepper Myrobalans Cardanum Cassia and dyuers suche other Also many and dyuers kindes of fruites vnlyke vnto ours and muche sweeter The region is in maner inaccessible for many dennes and diches made by force The kyng hath an army of fyftie thousande gentelmen whiche they call Heros In the warres they vse swoordes rounde Targettes or Buklers Lances Dartes Bowes Slynges and begyn nowe also to vse Gunnes They go naked coueryng onely their priuities except when they go to the warres They vse no horses Mules Asses or those Camels whiche we commonly call Dromedaries They vse onely Elephantes yet not to fyght in the battayle Great merchaundise is vsed in the citie for thyther resorte from dyuers countres two hundred shyppes yeerely Departyng from the kyngdome of Narsinga in .xv. dayes iorney towarde the East we came at the length to a citie named Bisinagar Of the fruiteful citie of Bisinagar in the kyngdome of Narsinga Cap. 8. THe citie of Bisinager is vnder the dominion of the kyng of Narsinga and subiect to hym The citie is very large and well walled situate on the syde of a hyll and eyght myles in circuite It is compassed with a triple wall and is a famous mart of all sortes of ryche merchaundise The soyle is marueylous fruitefull and hath whatsoeuer pertayneth to delicates and pleasures There is no lande more commodious for haukyng and huntyng for it hath large playnes and goodly woods a man would saye it were an earthly Paradyse The kyng and people are Idolaters He is a Prince of great power he hath an army of foure thousande horsemen And yet is it to be noted the price of a good horse there to be no lesse then foure or fyue hundred of those peeces of golde whiche they call Pardais And sometyme it so chaunceth that a horse is solde for eight hundred of those peeces of golde The cause of which great price is that they are brought out of other countreys and that they haue no Mares being forbydden by the commaundement of the kynges streightly chargyng the portes to be kepte least any Mares should be brought into the countrey Hee hath also foure hundred Elephantes to serue in the warres and likewyse as many Camelles of the kynde of those swyfte runnyng Camelles which be commonly called Dromadarii And here me seemeth good oportunitie to say somewhat of the docilitie agilitie and wyt of Elephantes as we haue promised Of the docilitie agilitie and wit of Elephantes Cap. 9. THe Elephant of all foure footed beastes and nexte vnto man is most wittie and docible and not farre from humane sence and surmounteth all other beasts in strength When the Indians bring them to the warres they put great packesaddelles on their backes suche as in Italie they vse for the great Mules These packesaddelles they gyrde vnder theyr bellyes with two chaynes of Iron Uppon the saddelles they place on euery syde a litle house or if you will rather call them Turrettes or Cagies made of wood euery Turret conteyneth three men Betweene the two Turrettes sitteth an Indian on the backe of the beast and speaketh to him in his owne language whiche the beast vnderstandeth and obeyeth for it is certaine that no other beast approcheth so neare to the vnderstandyng of man Seuen men therefore are thus placed vppon one Elephant when they goe to the wars and all armed with coates of fence Targets Bowes Launces Dartes and Slynges Also the trunke or snoute of the Elephant which of the Latines is called Promuscis or Proboscis and of some the hande of the Elephant is armed and hath a swoord fastened to it of the length of two cubites very strong and of a handfull in breadth And thus furnished they proceede to the battayle When it is requisite to goe forewarde or backewarde the gouernour sittyng aboue gyueth them an instruction with such voyces as they are accustomed vnto for sometyme he sayth thus to the beast Stryke here stryke there forbeare here goe forewarde there turne this way and that way All which woordes he vnderstandeth and obeyeth without spurre or brydell But where it so chaunceth that by casting of fyre they are with feare dryuen to flyght they can by no meanes be stayed And therfore these people haue many subtile deuises howe they may feare them with fyre which this beast by the sense of nature feareth aboue all thinges and therefore flyeth in maner at the sight of fyre And to speake somewhat of theyr strength as I haue seene by experience I remember that when I was in the citie of Canonor certayne Mahumetans drue a shyp aland turnyng the shyp after the maner of the Christians with the fore ende towarde the lande and laying vnder it three rowling beames Then three Elephantes commodiously applied drawyng with great force and bendyng downe theyr heades to the ground brought the shyp to lande But many haue thought that the Elephantes haue no ioyntes in theyr legges and that therefore they could not bende theyr legges which thyng doubtlesse is false for they haue ioyntes as haue other beastes but in the lowest parte of theyr legges The Females are more fierce then the Males and much stronger to beare burdens Sometime they are taken with furie or madnesse and testifie the same by disordinate runnyng here and there One Elephant exceedeth the bygnesse of three Bufles
on the grounde praye vnto and then depart to theyr houses and countreys By this meanes they beleeue that all theyr synnes are quite forgeuen them and therefore for the space of three dayes they lyue there in safegarde as if it were in Sanctuarie and for that tyme is it not lawfull for any man to arrest or trouble an other for what so euer quarell Certainely I neuer saw in any place a greater multitude of people assembled except in the citie of Mecha The syxt booke contaynyng the voyage of India Of the Cities of Caicolon and Colon. Cap. 1. MY faythfull companyon Cociazenor the Persian of whom I haue made mention here before consyderyng that by the meanes of warres and imminent daungers there was nowe no place for merchaundies especially for that the Portugales had made sore warres and great slaughter in the citie of Calecut by occasion that the inhabitantes of the citie had conspired with the Mahumetans for the murther of eight and fourtie Portugales whiche was done at my beyng there I thought it best in tyme to depart from thence This facte so greatly moued the kyng of Portugale to reuenge that he hath since that tyme kepte hostile warres agaynst them and greatly consumed them and defaced their citie We therfore departyng from thence by a very fayre ryuer came to a citie named Caicolon distaunte from the citie of Calecut fiftie leagues the inhabitantes are idolaters There is great aboundaunce of merchaundies and great frequentation of merchauntes the soyle beareth plentie of the best kynde of pepper The kyng of the citie is not very rych In apparel and maners they differ litle from them of Calecut Heere we founde certayne merchantes Christians named of the profession of saint Thomas the Apostle They obserue the fastyng of fourtie dayes as we do and beleeue in the death and resurrection of Christ as we do and therfore celebrate Easter after our maner and obserue other solemnities of our religion after the maner of the Greekes They are commonly named by the names of Iohn Iames Matthias and Thomas Departyng from thence in the space of three dayes iorney we came to an other citie named Colon about twentie myles distant from the aforesayde The kyng is an idolater and a prince of great power hauyng euer an armie of twentie thousande horsemen there is a very fayre port Neare to the sea syde the soyle beareth no corne yet great aboundance of fruite and pepper as in the citie of Calecut but by reason of the warres we remayned no longer heere Not farre from hence we sawe men fyshe for pearles in maner as we haue sayde before of the citie and Ilande of Ormus Of Cyromandel a citie of India Cap. 2. THe citie of Cyromandel is by the sea syde and distant from the citie of Colon seuen dayes saylyng The citie is very large but without walles it is subiecte to the kyng of Narsinga and is within the syght of the Iland of Zaylon After that you are past the poynt of Comerin the soyle beareth plentie of Ryse This citie is in the way to diuers great regions and cities It is inhabited with innumerable Mahumetan merchantes resortyng thyther from many countreys There are no spyces but aboundaunce of fruite as in Calecut I founde there certayne Christians who affyrme that the bodye of saint Thomas the Apostle is there in a certayne place about twelue myles from this citie and also that there are certayne Christians whiche relygiously obserue the holy body and that the Christians are euyll vsed because of the warres whiche the kyng of Portugall hath made agaynst the people of these countreys Also that the Christians are sometyme murthered secretly lest it shoulde be knowen to the kyng of Narsinga who is in amitie and frendshyppe with the kyng of Portugall and greatly fauoureth the Christians The cause whereof as they saye is also partly by reason of a certayne myracle whiche was this The Christians on a tyme had a great conflicte with the Mahumetans where one of the Christians beyng sore wounded on his arme resorted incontinent to the sepulchre of saint Thomas where makyng his prayers touchyng the holy place his arme was immediatly healed Whereupon as they saye the kyng of Narsinga euer after greatly fauoured the Christians Here my companion solde muche of his wares But by reason of the warres betweene the kynges of Narsinga and Ternaseri we determined to depart from hence And therefore saylyng ouer a gulfe of .xx. leagues with great daunger we arriued at an Iland named Zailon very large as containing in circuite a thousande myles Of the Ilande of Zailon and the precious stones founde there Cap. 3 IN this Ilande are foure kynges of great dominion by reason of the largenesse of the Ilande But because of the warres among them at my beyng there I coulde not tarye long to haue particular knowledge of the region and maners of the people There are in the Ilande many Elephantes There is also a very long mountayne at the foote whereof are founde many precious stones named Piropi commonly called Rubines or Rubies The merchauntes iewelers come by them by this meanes Fyrst goyng to the kyng they bye of hym a certayne measure of that grounde where suche stones are founde of the largenesse of a cubite euery way The price of this is fyue pieeces of gold yet with suche condition that in dyggyng the grounde there is euer one present for the kyng to the ende that if in dyggyng be founde any of those precious stones exceedyng the weyght of x. Caractes the same to be reserued for the kyng And the rest that are founde vnder that wayght to apparteyne to the merchaunt Not farre from the sayde mountayne are founde diuers other sortes of precious stones as Iasynthes Saphires Topases and suche lyke Harde by the mountayne runneth a great ryuer The soyle bryngeth foorth the sweetest fruites that euer I sawe especially cloues and apples of Assiria of exceedyng sweetnesse and all other as in Calecut Of the tree of Cinamome in the Iland of Zaylon Cap. 4. THe tree of Cinamome is not much vnlike a Baye tree especially the leaues it beareth berryes as doth the Baye tree but lesse and whyte It is doubtlesse therefore none other then the barke of a tree and is geathered in this maner Euery thyrde yeere they cutte the branches of the tree Of this is great plentie in the sayde Ilande When it is fyrste geathered it is not yet so sweete but a moneth after when it waxeth drye A certayne Mahumetan merchaunt of the Ilande tolde my companyon that there in the top of a hygh mountayne is a certayne denne whyther the inhabitantes of the countrey resort to praye in memorye of our fyrst father Adam who they saye after he had synned by breakyng the commaundement of God lyued in that place in continuall penitence Whiche thing they
of the sayd Ilande they I meane which feede of fleshe when they see theyr parentes so feeble by age that they serue for no vse but are tedious both to them selues and other they bryng them to the market or fayre and sell them to the Anthropophagi which vse to eate mans fleshe They that buye them kyll them out of hande eate them Likewyse when any young person among them falleth into any suche sickenesse that by the iudgement of theyr wyse men he can not escape to the ende that he should not vnprofitably lynger in paynes his brethren and kyns folkes sell hym to the Anthropophagi When my companion beyng deterted with these cruell maners shewed in countenance that he detested this horrible inhumanitie a certayne merchaunt of the inhabitantes sayde thus vnto hym O Persians no sacrifice can redeeme your sinnes in that you giue so fayre fleshe to the woormes to be eaten Therfore abhorryng these beastly maners we returned to our shyppe not intendyng any longer to tarry there Of the strange course of the sunne in the Iland of Gyaua Cap. 29. WHyle we remayned here the Christian merchantes euer desirous to shewe vs new and strange thinges whiche we myght declare at our returne into our countreys sayde thus vnto vs My friendes make reporte in your countrey of a straunge thyng whiche I will nowe shewe you Beholde sayde they the place of the Sunne in the South at hygh noone and thereby consider howe farre this region is from your countrey We then behelde the Sunne to runne toward the ryght hand and agayne to shewe or marke a sphere about two handfuls brode towarde the lefte hand which doubtlesse seemed to vs very straunge And this as they saye is euer seene in the moneth of Iuly But I nowe scarsely beare this in mynd for I there forgot euen the names of our monthes But this is certayne that in this region the tymes and seasons of the yeeres are lyke vnto ours and of lyke temperature of heat and colde Here my companion bought two fayre Emeraldes for a thousande peeces of golde and also two gelded children for two hundred peeces of golde for heere are certayne merchantes that buy none other ware then such gelded children Of our returne from the Ilande of Gyaua Cap. 30. AFter that we had remayned heere fyftiene dayes wery of the maners of the inhabitantes and of the coldnesse of the countrey that tyme of the yeere we determyned to proceede no further for this cause also that there remayned in maner none other region woorthie to be seene and therefore hyring a lyght shyp we departed from thence sayling Eastwarde for the space of fyftiene dayes and came at the length to the citie of Melacha where remayning three dayes we tooke our leaue of our companions the Christian merchauntes with friendly embrasinges and sorowfull myndes Which departure I take God to witnesse greeued me so sore that if I had been a single man without wyfe and children I would neuer haue forsaken suche friendly men We therefore departed and they remayned there saying that they would shortly returne to the citie of Sana and we takyng a Foist returned to the citie of Cyromandel By the way the gouernour of the shyp tolde vs that about the Ilandes of Gyaua and Taprobana there are aboue seuen thousande little Ilandes When we arryued at Melacha â–ª my companion bought as muche spices sweete sauours and silke as cost him fyue thousande peeces of golde But we came not to the citie of Gyromandel in lesse space then fyftiene dayes saylyng There we vnladed our Foist and after we had remayned there twentie dayes hyring an other Foist we came at the length to the citie of Colon where we founde .xxii. Christians of the realme of Portugale And fearyng that they would take me for some espion I began to imagine howe I myght depart from thence But seeyng that they were so fewe in number I chaunged my purpose especially for that there were many merchaunt Mahumetans whiche knewe that I had been at Mecha to see the bodie of Mahumet But within the space of twelue dayes we came to Calecut by the ryuer Agayne of the citie of Calecut after our returne thyther Cap. 31. AFter so many long and daungerous peregrinations and viages in the whiche we haue been partly satisfied of our desyre and partly weeryed by many suche occasions of inconueniences as chaunce in the way as they can well consider that haue been vsed to suche long iourneyes we determyned to proceede no further but to thynke only of our safe returne into our natiue countrey and therefore I will breefely declare what chaunced to me in the way the rather that other men takyng example by my traueyles may knowe the better howe to gouerne them selues in the lyke if lyke ardent affection shal moue them to take suche viages in hande as I am sure noble spirites of many valiant men will moue them thereto Therefore enteryng into the citie of Calecut we founde there two Christians borne in the citie of Milan the one named Iohn Maria and the other Peter Antonie These were Iewellers and came from Portugale with the kinges licence to buye precious stones When I had founde these men I reioyced more then I am able to expresse for we went naked after the maner of the inhabitantes At our fyrst meetyng seeyng them to bee whyte men I asked them if they were Christians They sayde yea Then sayde I that I was also a Christian by the grace of God Then takyng me by the hande they brought me to theyr house where for ioye of our meetyng we could scarsely satisfie our selues with teares embrasynges and kyssyng for it seemed nowe to mee a straunge thyng to heare men speake myne owne language or to speake it my selfe Shortly after I asked them if they were in fauour with the kyng of Calecut We are sayde they in great fauour with him and very familier Then againe I asked them what they were mynded to doe We desyre sayde they to returne to our countrey but we knowe not the meanes howe Then sayde I Returne the same way that you came Naye sayde they that may not bee for we are fledde from the Portugales bycause we haue made many peeces of great ordinaunce and other Gunnes for the Kyng of Calecut and therefore we haue good cause to feare and nowe especially for that the nauie of Portugale will shortly be heere I answered that if I myght escape to the citie of Canonor I doubted not but that I would geat theyr pardon of the gouernour of the Nauie There is small hope thereof sayde they we are so famous and well knowen to many other kynges in the way whiche fauour the Portugales and laye wayte to take vs for wee haue made more then foure hundred Gunnes little and great and therefore wee are out of all hope to escape that way In whiche theyr talke I perceyued howe fearefull
found at the hands of his subiectes and officers in India He entertayned me most gratiously in his courte vntyll I had infourmed hym of all thynges whiche I had obserued in my voyage to India A fewe dayes after I shewed his hyghnesse the letters patentes whereby his Lieuetenante the Uiceroye of India gaue me the order of knyghthod desyryng his maiestie to confyrme the same by his great seale which my petion he immediatly graunted And thus departing from thence with the kynges pasporte and safe conducte at the length after these my long and great trauayles and dangers I came to my long desyred and natiue countrey the citie of Rome by the grace of God to whom be all honour and glory FINIS Of the hygher East India called India Tercera or Treciera IN this India whiche the portugales call Tercera are very great kyngdomes as the kyngdomes of Beugala Pegu Berma Erancangui Dausian Capelam and the great kyngdome of Malacha called of the olde wryters Aurea Chersonesus whose chiefe citie is also called Malacha and was in olde tyme named Tachola Under this kyngdome are infinite Ilandes called Maluche whereof the principall are these Iaua the greater Iaua the lesse Polagua Mendana Cuba Cailon Huban Bur Tenado Anbon and Gilolo with infinite other On the Southwest part from Malacha is the great Ilande of Samotra called in olde tyme Taprobana in the whiche are the kyngdomes of Pedir Biraen Pazer Ardagni and Ham. This Iland al the other called Maluche bring foorth great quantitie of Cloues Cinamome Nuttemegges Maces and all other kyndes of spyces except Pepper whiche groweth in the prouince of Calecut and the Ilande of Ceilam All these sortes of spices are caryed to Malacha to be solde But the greatest part of them is caryed to Cathay and China and from thence to the North partes of Tartarie This kyngdome of China is very great and was in olde tyme called Sina Here is founde great plentie of precious stones The people are very subtile and ryche They are al apparelled eyther in sylke or cloth or vestures of other woorkemanshyppe and are of good ciuilitie They do not gladly permit the Portugales or other straungers to traficke in theyr kyngdome whose most famous place vpon the sea syde is named Cantan and the sea Machiam called of the olde wryters the sea of Sina Of the prices of precious stones and Spices with theyr weightes and measures as they are accustomed to be solde both of the Moores and the gentyles And of the places where they growe FOrasmuche as in dyuers places of this historie mention is made of precious stones I haue thought good to declare somewhat aswell of theyr prices as of the places of theyr generation that we may not vtterly be ignorante of the thynges whiche we so greately esteeme and buie so deare Of the Rubie THe Rubies growe in India and are founde for the most parte in a ryuer named Pegu. These are of the best kynde and finest which they of the lande of Malabor cal Nunpuclo and are well solde if they be fayre and cleane without spottes The Indians to knowe theyr finenesse put them vpon theyr tongues comptyng that to be best that is couldest and most harde And to see theyr finenesse they take them vp with a peece of waxe by the sharpest poynt and lookyng agaynst the lyght espie in them euery small spot or flake They are also founde in certayne dâ—epe fosses or pittes whiche are made in mountaynes that are beyonde the sayde ryuer They are scoured and made cleane in the countrey of Pegu yet can they not square and polyshe them but for this purpose sende them to diuers other countreis especially to Palcacate Narsinga Calecut and the region of Malabor where are many cunnyng Lapidaries And to geue you intelligence of the value of these stones ye shall vnderstande that this woorde Fanan signifieth a weyght somewhat more then two of our Carattes and .xi. Fanans and a quarter is one Mitigal and .vi Mitigals and a halfe make one vnce This Fanan is also a kynde of mony whiche is in value one ryall of syluer and therefore after this accompte I say that Eyght fine Rubies of the weyght of one Fanan which are in all about two carattes are in value Fanan .x. Foure Rubies that wey one Fanan are worth Fanan .xx. Two that wey one Fanan Fanan .xl. One that weyeth three quarters of one Fanan Fanan .30 One that weyeth one Fanan Fanan .50 One that weyeth one Fanan and a quarter Fanan .65 One that weyeth one Fanan and a halfe Fanan .100 One that weyeth one Fanan and three quarters Fanan .150 One that weyeth two Fanans Fanan .200 One that weyeth two Fanans and a quarter Fanan .250 One that weyeth two Fanans and a halfe Fanan .300 One that weyeth two Fanans and three quarters Fanan .350 Of three Fanans Fanan â–ª 400. Of three and a quarter Fanan .500 Of three and a halfe Fanan .550 Of three and three quarters Fanan .600 Of three and three quarters and a halfe Fanan .630 Of foure Fanans Fanan .660 Of foure and a quarter Fanan .700 Of foure and a halfe Fanan .800 Of fyue Fanans Fanan .1000 Of fyue and a halfe Fanan .1200 Of sixe Fanans which are about twelue Carats Fanan .1500 which make a hundred and fyftie crownes of golde And these are commonly the prices of perfect Rubies But suche as are not perfect and haue any spottes in them or are not of good colour are of lesse price accordyng to the arbitriment and estimation of the buyer Of the Rubies which growe in the Iland of Zeilam IN the Ilande of Zeilam beyng in the seconde India are founde many Rubies whiche the Indians name Manecas the greatest part wherof do not arryue to the perfection of the other aforesayde in colour because they are redde as though they were washed and of fleshy colour yet are they very colde and harde The perfectest of them are greatlye esteemed among the people of the Ilande and are reserued onlye for the kyng hym selfe yf they be of any great quantitie When his Iewellers fynde any bygge peece of this Rocke of the best kynde they put it in fyre for the space of certayne houres whiche yf it come out of the fyre vncorrupte it becommeth of the colour of a burnyng cole and was therefore called of the Greekes Anthrax whiche signifyeth a burnyng cole The same that the greekes call Anthrax the Latines call Carbunculus â–ª These they greatly esteeme When the kyng of Narsinga can get any of them he causeth a fyne hole to be bored in the vndermost part of them to the myddest and suffereth none of them to passe out of his realme especially if they haue ben tryed by the sayde proofe These are of greater value then the other of Pegu if they be in theyr naturall perfection and cleanenesse Of these one that wayeth a Carratte whiche is halfe a Fanan is woorth
the day they shal appeare of the very colour of the Turquesse and in the nyght by the light they shall appeare greene They that are not so perfecte doe not so chaunge theyr colour to the sight If these stones be cleane and of fine colour they haue vnderneth in the bottome a blacke stone vppon the which they growe And if any little vayne ryse vppon the sayde stone it shall be the better And to know more certainely that they are true Turquesses they put on the toppes of them a little quicke lyme tempered with water after the maner of an oyntment So that if the quicke lime appeare coloured they are iudged perfect and are of value as foloweth One that weigheth one Caratte is worth in Malabar Fanan .15 One of two Carattes Fanan .40 Of foure Carattes Fanan .90 Of sixe Carattes Fanan .150 Of eight Carattes Fanan .200 Of ten Carattes Fanan .300 Of twelue Carattes Fanan .450 Of fourtiene Carattes Fanan .550 Of greater then these they make none accompte bycause they are lyghter peeces and of greater circuite These of the byggest sorte the Moores carrie into the kyngdome of Guzerath Of Iacinthes IAcinthes growe in the Ilande of Zeilam They are tender stones and yelowe They are best that are of deepest colour The greatest parte of these haue in them certayne pimples or burbuls which diminyshe theyr fayrenesse And they that are in theyr perfection cleaue from this deformitie are neuerthelesse of small value For in Calecut where they are polyshed they that weygh one Fanan are woorth no more then halfe a Fanan And they of .xviii. Fanans are not woorth .xvi. Fanans There are also found other stones lyke vnto cattes eyes as Chrisolytes Amethystes which they do not much esteeme bicause they are of small value as also the stones called Giagonze Of Smaragdes or Emeraldes SMaragdes growe in the countrey of Babylon where the Indians cal the sea Dieguan They grow also in other parts of India They are stones of fayre greene colour and are light and tender Of these stones many are counterfect But lookyng on them curiously towarde the lyght the counterfectes shewe certayne burbuls as doeth glasse but in the true there is no suche seene but rather there appeareth to the eye a certayne verdour shynyng lyke the beames of the Sunne and being rubbed vppon the touche stone they leaue the colour of copper And the Smaragde of this forte is the best and most true and is in value in Calecut as muche as a Diamunde and somewhat more And this not by weyght but by greatnesse bycause the Diamunde quantitie for quantitie is of greater weyght then the Smaragde There is lykewyse founde an other kynde of Smaragdes which are greene stones but not so muche esteemed Neuerthelesse the Indians reserue these to set them foorth with other precious stones They leaue not any greene colour vppon the touche Of dyuers kindes of Spices where they growe what they are woorth in Calecut and whyther they are carried from thence Of Pepper FYrst in all the kyngdome of Malabor and Calecut Pepper groweth and is sold in Calecut by euery CC. Bahars fine for CCxxx Fanans euery Fanan as I haue sayde being in value one ryall of place of Spayne which is as muche as one Marcell of siluer in Uenice Bahar weigheth foure Cantares of the olde weyght of Portugale by the which they sell all spices in Lisbona Cantare is in Uenice Cxii pounde weyght of the grosse pounde beyng xviii ounces and of the subtyle pounde Clxxviii So that the sayde .712 poundes of Uenice subtile will cost about .xx. frenche crownes of gold which amount to about two Marchetti which make one penny the pounde They paye also to the kyng of Calecut for custome .xii. Fanans euery Bahar by the lode They that buye them are accustomed to bryng them to Cambaia Persia Aden and Mecha and from thence to Alcayr and Alexandria Now they paye custome to the kyng of Portugale after the rate of 6562. Maruedies the Bahar which are .193 Fanans Maruedies are Spanyshe coynes wherof sixe goe to a penny This do they partly bycause there arryueth no more so great diuersitie of merchauntes to buye them and partly by the agreement whiche the sayd kyng of Portugale made with those kynges the Moores and merchauntes of the countrey of Malabar Much pepper groweth lykewyse in the Ilande of Sumatra neare vnto Malaca which is fayrer and bigger then that of Malabar but not so good and strong This is brought from Bengala to China and some part to Mecha priuylie and by stealth vnwares to the Portugales whiche would not otherwyse suffer them to passe It is woorth in Sumatra from .iiii. C. vnto .vii. C. Maruedies the Canter of Portugale of the newe weight And from the new to the olde weight in Portugale the difference is two ounces in the pounde weight For the olde pounde consisteth of .xiiii. ounces and the newe pounde of xvi ounces Of Cloues CLoues growe in the Ilandes of Molucca from whence they are brought to Malacha and then to Calecut and the countrey of Malabar They are woorth in Calecut euery Bahar which is .712 poundes of the subtile pound of Uenice from .500 to .600 Fanans which are about fyftie frenche crownes whiche are in value about twelue Marchetti the pounde weyght and beyng cleane from stalkes huskes are in value .700 Fanans To carry them from thence into other regions they paye for pasporte xviii Fanans the Bahar which is woorth in Malacca from .x. to .xiiii. Ducades according to the rate and custome of the merchauntes Of Cinamome CInamome of the beste sorte groweth in the Ilande of Zeilam and in the countrey of Malabar groweth the woorst That of the best kynde is of small price in Zeilam But in Calecut if it be choyse and freshe it is woorth 300. Fanans the Bahar which are about fyue Marchetti the pounde Of Ginger called Beledi GInger Beledi groweth on euery side about Calecut from sixe to ntene myles and is woorth the Bahar .xl. Fanans and sometymes fyftie which is lesse then one Marchetto the pounde They bryng it from the mountaynes and out of the countrey to the citie where they sell it by retayle to the Indian merchauntes who geather it togeather in great quantitie and keepe it to such tyme as the Moores shippes arryue there to whom they sell it by the price of .xc. Fanans to Cx. which is lesse then two Marchetti the pounde bycause the weight is greater Of Ginger Mechino GInger Mechino groweth begynnyng from the mountaine of Deli vnto Canonor It is small and not so whyte nor so good as the other It is woorth the Bahar in Canonor about .60 Fanans whiche is about one Marchetto the pounde They paye for the Bahar sixe Fanans in money for the custome It is solde vncleansed or vnpurged Of greene Ginger in conserues IN Bengala is founde great plentie of Ginger Beledi of the which they make muche Ginger in conserues with Suger
that our men had been wel enterteyned there and would therfore not only absteine from doing them any hurt or displeasure but also helpe to ayde them against their enemies and that therefore it shoulde be requisite to erect that crosse vppon the toppe of the hyghest mountayne that myght be seene from the sea on euery syde also to pray vnto it reuerently and that in so doyng they should not be hurt with thunder lyghtnyng and tempestes When the kynges hearde these wordes they gaue the captaine great thankes promisyng gladly to obserue and fulfyl al such thynges as he required Then the Captaine demaunded whether they were Moores or Gentiles They aunswered that they had none other kinde of religion but that lyftyng vp theyr handes ioyned togeather and theyr faces towarde heauen they called vpon theyr God Abba Which aunswere lyked the Captayne very well because the Gentiles are sooned perswaded to our fayth then the Moores Departyng from hence they came to the Ilandes of Zeilon Zubut Messana and Calaghan by the conduct of certayne Pilots of the sayde kynges Of these Zubut is the best and hath the trade of best trafique In the Ilande of Messana they founde Dogges Cattes Hogges Hennes Goates Ryse Gynger Cocus Myll Panicke Barly Fygges Oranges Waxe and Golde in great quantitie This Ilande is aboue the Equinoctial towarde our pole niene degrees two thirde partes and 162. degrees from the place from whence they departed They remayned in this Ilande for the space of eyght dayes and then directed their viage toward the Northwest and passed betweene these fyue Ilandes Zeilon Bohol Canghu Barbai and Catighan In this Iland of Catighan are certayne great Battes as bygge as Eagles of the whiche they tooke one they are good to be eaten and of taste much lyke a Henne There are also Stocke Doues Turtle Doues Popingays certaine fowles as big as Hennes these fowles haue litle hornes lay great egges whiche they couer a cubit deapth in the sand by the heate wherof vertue of the Sonne they are hatched the young birdes crepe out of the sand by themselues From the Iland of Messana to Catinghan are 20. leagues saylyng toward the West And because the kyng of Messana coulde not folowe the shippes they taryed for him about the Ilandes of Polo Ticobon and Fozon where the Captayne toke hym into his shippe with certayne of his principal men and so folowed theyr viage toward the Ilande of Zubut which is about fyftie leagues distant from Catighan The seuenth day of Apryll about noone they entred into the port of Zubut And passing by many villages and habitations in trees they came to the citie where the Captayne gaue commaundement to the maryners to stryke theyr sayles and to set them selues in order in maner of battayle raye causyng all the ordinaunce to be shotte of wherewith all the people were put in great feare After this the Captayne sent an ambassadour with thinterpretoure to the kyng of Zubut When they approched neere to the citie they found the kyng with a great company of men sore astonyed at the noyse of the gunnes But thinterpretour aduertised them that it was the custome of our men in all suche places where they come to discharge theyr ordinaunce in token of frendshyppe and to honour the lord of the citie With which wordes the kyng and his companye were well quieted After this the interpretour declared that his master was the Captayne of the shyppes of the greatest Prince in the worlde and that they went to discouer the Ilandes of Molucca And further that hearyng of his good name and fame by the report of the kyng of Messana they determyned to visite him to haue vittailes for exchange of their merchaundies The kyng answered that he was wel content therewith and that they were hartyly welcome Neuerthelesse that it was a custom in that place that al such shyps as entered into that hauen should pay tribute And that there were not many dayes past sence a shyp laden with golde and slaues dyd so paye In token whereof he caused to come before hym certayne merchauntes of that company which yet remayned with hym To this thinterpretour answeared that forasmuche as his lorde was the Captayne of so myghtie a Prince he neuer payde tribute to any kyng in the worlde and would not nowe begyn Wyllyng hym to take this for a resolute answeare that if he woulde accepte the peace that was profered him he shoulde enioy it and if he rather desyred warre he should haue his handes ful When thinterpretour had sayde these woordes one of the sayde merchauntes who was a Moore spake to the kyng in this maner Catacaia Chitae that is Take heede syr For these men are they that haue conquered Calecut Malacha and all the greater India and are of suche power that if you intreate them otherwyse then wel you may to late knowe what they are able to do more then they haue done at Calecut and Malaca When thinterpretoure hearde these woordes he sayde that the kyng his Lorde was of much greater puissaunce and more dominions and lorde of more shyppes then was the kyng of Portugale declaryng further that he was kyng of Spayne and Emperour of all Christendome Addyng hereunto that if he woulde not be his frende he woulde hereafter sende thyther suche a power of armed men as shoulde destroy his countrey The Moore conferred al these woordes with the king who sayde that he woulde further deliberate with his counsayle and geue them a full aunsweare the daye folowyng In the meane tyme he sent them certayne vyttayles and wyne When all these thynges were declared to the kyng of Messana who was the chiefest thereabout next vnto him and lord of many Ilandes he went a lande and repayred to the kyng of Zubut and declared vnto hym the great humanitie and curtesie of the generall Captayne Shortly after the Captayne sente certayne of his men with thinterpretour to the kyng of Zubut to knowe his pleasure and what aunsweare he woulde make them As they went towarde the courte they met the kyng commyng in the streate accompanyed with many of his chiefe men He caused our men to syt downe by hym and demaunded of them if there were any more then one Captayne in theyr companie and whether it were theyr request that he should paye tribute to Themperour They aunsweared that they desyred none other thyng but that they myght exercise merchaundies with them and to barter ware for ware The kyng made aunsweare that he was well content therewith wyllyng the Captayne in token of frendshyp to sende hym a litle blood of his ryght arme affyrmyng that he woulde do the lyke c. After this the kyng of Messana with the kyng of Zubut his neuie who was the prince and certayne other of his gentelmen came to the shippes and brought the Captayne many goodly presentes They entred into great amitie
THE History of Trauayle in the VVest and East Indies and other countreys lying eyther way towardes the fruitfull and ryche Moluccaes As Moscouia Persia Arabia Syria Aegypte Ethiopia Guinea China in Cathayo and Giapan VVith a discourse of the Northwest passage In the hande of our Lorde be all the corners of the earth Psal. 94. Gathered in parte and done into Englyshe by Richarde Eden Newly set in order augmented and finished by Richarde VVilles ¶ Imprinted at London by Richarde Iugge 1577. Cum Priuilegio To the ryght noble and excellent Lady the Lady Brigit Countesse of Bedforde my singuler good Lady and Mystresse AL studies haue theyr speciall tymes Ryght noble Lady all good partes and singuler qualities of the mynde are holden vp and maynteyned with honour The seely chylde learneth in his teÌ„der age how to speake to reade to write youÌ„g laddes bestowe theyr tyme in the study of other liberall sciences as yeeres come on and wyt encreaseth so finally the whole course of learnyng is runne ouer Agayne the arte of Grammer is wont erst to be learned and than Logike afterwarde naturall Philosophie goeth not before eloquence in our schooles Geometry is first read than Geography So that the studies of good letters haue their times in respecte of mans age they haue theyr tymes in the order of learning yea they haue a tyme that maketh vs all to bestowe therein our tyme and to studie eche facultie in due tyme I meane that speciall tyme they floryshe in I may not denye but that learnyng hath at all tymes ben well accompted of in most countreys the skyll of dyuers languages well thought of learned men to haue ben alwayes rewarded what is than that speciall tyme wherin all studies doe flooryshe Learnyng may bee ryght well compared vnto the floutes fruites of the earth and the speciall tyme of learnyng vnto theyr singuler seasons In May floures in Iune Cheries at Haruest corne in September Grapes so fareth it in the study of good letters There was a tyme whaÌ„ the arte of grammer was so muche esteemed that Gramariens proceeded masters thereof as woorshypfully as other professours now doe in any other facultie Than was it honourable to be a Poet honourable I say for that the Poet Laureate enioyed the honour of a Palatine that tyme is paste There was a tyme whan Logike Astrology onely so weeried the heades of young schollers yea and busied olde age also that true Philosophie in deede was almost forgotten eloquence defaced the languages exiled that tyme is past Not long since happy was he that had any skil in the greke tongue he was thought a great scholler that could make a greeke verse Nowe a dayes who studieth not rather the Hebrue language VVhere haue you almost any greeke aucthour printed Geography laye hydden many hundred yeeres in darkenesse and obliuion without regarde and price of late who taketh not vppon him to discourse of the whole worlde and eche prouince thereof particulerly euen by hearesay although in the first principles of that arte he bee altogeather ignorant and vnskylfull This tyme is now So long as Poetry was esteemed the arte of grammer accompted of Logike muche made of Astrology well thought of Diuine Poets good Gramariens perfecte Logiciens excellent Astronomers no where wanted A Virgile can you neuer want where one Mecènas is Honour promotion bestowed vppon the maynteyners of controuersies in religion hath brought gray heares from endlesse Sophistry from Scotus formalites from Buridan and Burley from Holcot from Bricot from Vademecum from Dormi secure and taught yonger yeeres rather to passe through Aristotle and his interpreters than euer to dwell therein caused them to studie the scriptures to reade ouer the fathers to conferre the counseyles to learne the greeke and Hebrue languages to searche the Chalday Paraphraste to peruse the olde Doctours to translate the newe wryters to heape vp common places to discourse of sectes to wryte cunningly to preach eloquently and made them to be for braulyng Sophisters graue Philosophers for formal Dunses plaine doctors for rude questionaries diuine Orators for vnskilful schoolemen eloquent and graue diuines It is nowe almost one hundred fiftie yeeres agoe that Don Henrico sonne of Iohn the fyrst of that name Kyng in Portugale and Nepheu vnto our Kyng Henry the fourth made his vyage after the conquest of Sepâ—a to the Canaries and eâ—â—â—uraged the Portugales to searche the coastes of Africa and to seeke the landes thereabout not spoken of to fore His grande Nepheu Iohn the seconde so furthered this enterpryse that the Portugale shyppes halled the Cape of good hope discouered Aethiopia and sayled where antiquitie denyed passage beyond all Africa into the Indian seas He sent also expert and cunning traueylers into Aegypt and the redde sea coastes to espye what way the Portugales might looke for beyond the Cape of good hope to Calecut in India the which viage in his sonne Emanuell his tyme was prosperously taken in hand by Vasquez Gama the nienth day of Iuly in the yeere of our Lorde .1497 happely ended in Iuly againe two yeeres after to his great credit and preferment to the immortal fame honour of his Prince and countrey Here began the studie of Geographie that euer since Ptolomeus raigne laye troden vnder foote buried in dust and ashes to spring vp agayne and by the relations of skilful traueylers in Europe Affrike Asie through the discouery of the far Indies the Moluccaes new founde landes of late so to be wondred at as no other facultie more I dare be bold to say that generally all Christians Iewes Turkes Moores Infidels Barbares be this day in loue with Geographie The wylde and rogishe Tartares myght for famine perishe in the winter if they in the sommer skylfully followed not the sunne The heathen Giapans diuided the worlde into three partes Afrike was described by a Moore The Iewes report the estates of all countreyes to the Turkes The Turkishe Basshaes gouerne the sweetest prouinces in Europe Afrike and Asia no men greater traueylers than Christians VVho but Geographers doe teach vs what partes of the earth be cold warme or temperate Of whom doe we learne howe to diuyde the world into partes the partes into prouinces the prouinces into shyres of Geographers vnto whom haue wee to make recourse for Mappes Globes tables and Cardes wherein the dyuers countreys of the worlde are set downe vnto Geographers Set Geographie asyde you shal neyther be able to get intelligences of the situation and strength of any citie nor of the limites and boundes of any countrey nor of the rule and gouernement of any kingdome nor be able wel to trauayle out of your owne doores wil you see what wise and experte traueylers skilful in geometry and Astronomy for that is to bee a Geographer in deede be able to doe Looke you on the King of Portugales title the two partes of the three therein were atchiued
reade them ouer to your Honours recreation as one of the principall causes wherefore at this tyme they were set foorth If varietie of matter occurrents out of forraigne countryes newes of newe founde landes the sundry sortes of gouernement the different manners fashions of diuers nations the wonderfull workes of nature the sightes of straunge trees fruites foule and beastes the infinite treasure of Pearle Golde Siluer ioyes may recreate and delight a mynde trauelled in weighty matters weeried with great affayres credit me good Madam in listning vnto this worke shall you haue recreation you shall finde delight in reading ouer these relations wherein so newe so straunge so diuers so many recreations and delightes of the mynd are expressed Your Honours good lykyng thereof wyll be to me no small contentation for this worke paynefully doone a good occasion spedyly to finish the rest of my owne labours concerning this faculty a great encouragement and comfort to bestow my whole time hereafter only in that study wherewith all my former knowledge in Philosophy and Geography may ende The whiche conueniently now I am in good hope to perfourme with my Lorde and your Ladyshyps good leaue and continuance of my duety and effectuall desire to doe your Honours the better seruice At London the 4. day of Iuly 1577. Your Honors seruaunt humbly at commaundement Richarde VVilles R. VVilles Preface vnto the Reader wherein is set downe a generall summe as it were of the whole worke THis greate and large bolume consisteth principally of foure partes agreeable vnto those foure corners of the worlde whereunto the skilfull seamen and merchauntes aduenturers of late yeeres haue chiefely traueiled and yet specially are wont to resorte The first part conteyneth foure Decades written by P. Martyr a learned graue counseller of Charles the Emperour fifte of that name concernyng the Spanyardes voyages Southwestwarde theyr famous exploites doone in these newly discouered partes of the worlde the whiche vsually wee now call the west Indies Hereunto haue we added Gonzalus Eerdinandus Ouiedus breefe historie touching the same matter so that the first part of our volume hath fiue particular bookes In the first whereof cap 1.2.3 4 and 5. P. Martir describeth Columbus first and second nauigations and discoueries of certaine Ilandes made by hym specially and his brother In the 6. chapter or booke thereof for both names we finde is set foorth Columbus third voiage and the discouery of Peru in the maigne west Indish lande In the seuenth his troubles both in the west Indies and retourne into Spaigne with his brother being both prisoners The 8. is of P. Alfonsus voyages that same way In the 9. are declared the trauailes of Vincent and Peter Pinzoni and other Spaniards likewise thither from Palos The 10. is a conclusion of the whole Decade with particuler mention of some special nouelties Colūbus fourth voiage beganne So that in the first Decade you haue historically set downe the discouerye of the west Indies taken in hande about the yeere of our Lorde .1492 by Columbus and his companions vntill the yeere 1510. as P. Martir witnesseth fol. 8. 43 47. and 54. This worthy trauayler and skilfull seaman died at Validolid in Spaigne An. dom 1506. as Lopez reporteth cap. 25. in his generall historie de las Indias The second Decade conteyneth Peru matters entituled by P. Martir Creditus Cortinens that is a continent or maigne lande as in deede it is of it selfe with the rest of America in lyke maner as Europe Affryk Asia be one continent or maigne lande vnited togeather In the fyrst and seconde chapters of this Decade shall you reade the voyages of Fogeda and Nicuesa to Dariena In the thyrd Colmenaris trauayles Nicuesa his death and the Indishe kyng Comogrus beneuolence In the fourth Vasquez Nunnez doynges in Vraba gulfe His conquest of rebellious Barbarian kyngs in the fifte In the syxt Quicedus Colmenaris ambassage out of Dariena to Hispaniola and the religion of king Commendator in Cuba The seuenth booke conteineth Petrus Arias iorney to Paria in Peru. The .8 the dissention betwixt the Spaniardes and Portugales for theyr boundes and makyng of fyue Bishops in these newely founde partes of the worlde In the 9 are shewed the ryuers of Darien and philosophically the causes of so great waters there That countrey is described in the .10 and the extreme hunger abydden by the companions of Nicuesa set forth In the fyrst second and thyrd chapters of the thyrde Decade is conteyned an abridgement of Vascus Nunnez relations concerning his voyage to the south sea for it lyeth south from Darien vsually termed nowe a dayes Mar del zur and may also be called the wyde east Indyshe Ocean The discouery thereof made by Nunnez the kyng subdued by hym especially kyng Commogrus christenyng by the name of Charles and the wynnyng of kyng Tumanama or Tubanama and his countrey In the fourth chapter shal you fynd Columbus fourth vyage began An. do 1502 to the mayne west Indyshe lande with the description of some part therof lying betwyxt our Atlantike or westerne Ocean and the aforesayde Mar del zur as Vraba and Beragua In respecte of the history and course of yeeres this booke myght haue been placed before the seconde Decade but it shoulde seeme that these reportes came no sooner to P. Martyr his handes wherefore he began this fourth booke ryght well thus I was determined c. The fyfth booke conteyneth P. Arias iorney mentioned dec 2 lib. 7. to the north syde of Peru wherein Carthagena and S. Martha two famous hauens do stande with a description of the countrey and people thereof In the syxt you haue a disputation touchyng the Leuant streame or easterne surge of the sea the discouery of Baccalaos done by Cabot P. Arias arriuall in Darien the buildyng of S. Maria antiqua there with other fortresses finally the commodities and vnwholesomnesse of Darien In the .7 8. .9 bookes shal you haue a description of Hispaniola Cuba and other Ilandes thereabout done by Andreas Moralis And in the .10 shall you reade of the Ilande Diues in Mar del zur of the kyng therof subdued by Andreas Moralis of Pearles the finding therof of Petrus Arias Captaynes doinges agaynst the Caniballes of the Barbares fowlyng the manner of the geatheryng of gold in Dariena The fourth Decade for so was it named in the Spanyards edition of P. Martyr his woorkes set forth at Alcala in Spayne An. do 1530. though the Basile and Cullen printers haue entituled it De insulis nuper inuentis that is of Ilandes lately found out to wyt after Columbus voyages this booke I say was by P. Mar. culled out of the Indian registers conteynyng speciall notes that seemed vnto hym most meete to be publyshed as the discouery of certayne Ilandes and creekes namely Iucatan done by Fernandes of Corduba his companions Cozumella the Ilands of Sacrifice the Ilandes of women the prouince Coluacan
and Palmaria c. by Iohn Griâ—alua his felowes the Iucaians captiuitie and discouery of Florida made by those Spanyardes which Diegus Velasquen sent out of Cuba and Ferd. Cortesius fyrst nauigation wherein he conquered Potanchana in newe Spayne the death of Valdiuia y e execution of Vascus Nunnez king MuteezuÌ„a his presentes to Charles the Emperour his bookes letters and superstitions finally the ruine of Hispaniola and vtter decaye thereof if heede shoulde not be taken in tyme. Last of al Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouedus historie conteineth in .18 seuerall chapters eche one whereof hath his proper title a briefe declaration of the west Indysh nauigation of the metals the which are found in those lately discouered lands of the maners of the people rites customes and cerimonies of the beastes foules byrdes wormes fyshes seas riuers sprynges trees plantes hearbes diuers other thinges that are engendred there both on the land in the water To this haue we added certaine speciall reports of new Spaine or Mexico of Peru â–ª of Rio de la Plata the countrey lying therunto of the lands Laborador Baccalaos with the discoueryng of Florida And thus muche for the fyrst part of this volume The seconde part of this worke appeareth what it is by the title thereof set downe Fol. 230. to wyt a discourse to proue that there is a passage to the Moluccaes by the northwest the whiche presently M. Cap. Furbisher attempteth with certayne reportes of the prouince China in Cathayo where he hath to strike in his voyage and thyrdly of Giapan and other Ilandes by the way The whiche seconde part wherein matter concernyng the northwest is handled is so muche the shorter by how much the fyrst part seemed ouerlong besydes that the particularities of this corner of the worlde are not yet so throughly knowen but that other writers shal doubtlesse in more ample maner employe theyr labour therein after the returne of our northwesterne trauaylers The which I wyshe to be most happie and prosperous as they most valiantly painefully to the renowne of our Englyshe nation do shewe to haue taken it in hande In the thyrd part shal you fynd a discription of the northeasterne frosty seas and kingdomes lying that way as Moscouia Schondia or Denmarke Groenlande Islande Laponia Norway Suecia â–ª or Swethlande Bothnia and Gothlande out of Zeiglerus Paulus Iouius Haiton and Sebastian free lord or Baron of Herbestein with the countreys as well north and northeast beyond Moscouia namely Petzora Iuhra and other prouinces of the Tartars as also the voyages made through Moscouia by the merchauntes of London into Persia conteinyng many speciall thynges woorth the knowledge both of the countrey it self the commodities thereof the manners of the people and the priuiledges graunted vnto our merchauntes by the Sophie or Shaugh the Persian kyng Finally in the fourth part are set downe our merchauntes voyages into Guinea and the other parcelles of Affrike lying towardes the Southeast Lewes Vertomannus nauigations into Egypte Ethiopia Arabia Syria Persia and east India euen to the fruitefull Moluccaes with the prices of drugges and other wares brought from thence Whereto for a conclusion haue we added partly out of Maximilian Transiluanus letter wrytten vnto the Cardinall of Saltzburge and partly out of P. Martyrs other woorkes that famous nauigation made round about the whole world the contention betwixte the Portugales and Spanyardes for the Moluccaes the decydyng thereof by Pope Alexander the syxt and last of all the abridgement of P. Martyrs foure last Decades wherein especially that noble and gloryous conquest of Mexico is wrytten Generally this much of the foure partes of this large volume The lesser parcelles and speciall matter conteyned in eche part you haue so exactely rehearsed in the table of the Decades Fol. 173. and in the resydue of the whole woorke before eche chapter so euidently set downe that any particular table thereof at al the reader greatly needeth not if so be that he be able to remember in what region of the worlde East West North or South that be the which he looketh for Nowe concernyng R. Edens owne doynges syncerely to say what I thynke and curteousely to yeelde hym that due prayse the whiche worthyly these his labours deserue yet not to flatter hym neither where any faulte hath ben committed as hyghly he was to be commended for Englyshyng so straunge so wonderfull so profitable histories as these are nothyng inferior to the bookes of auncient writers far exceedyng the multitude of foolysh commentaries and friuolous translations to to licentiousely vsed in our tyme So may the gentle reader forbeare his ouersyghte in so great a woorke where some Spanyshe prouerbe harsh latine phrase or vncleane speache may seeme hardly Englyshed or any rashe note to shame the texte I woulde excuse hym for translatyng the dayes by the latine names as Fol. 12. Non. April thus At the Nones of Apryll item 3. Idus Octobris thus The thyrd daye of the Ides of October item Fol. 17. tertio Kalend. Maij. thus The thyrd daye before the Kalendes of Maye meanyng in deede the fyfth daye of Apryll the .13 day of October the 29. of Aprill but therein it shoulde seeme that he folowed his owne humor for he obserueth the same phrase of translatyng throughout P. Martyrs whole worke Many of his Englyshe woordes cannot be excused in my opinion for smellyng to much of the Latine as Dominators Fol 5. Ponderouse Fol. 23. Ditionaries Fol. 25. Portentouse Fol. 28. Antiques Fol. 31. despicable Eol 387. Solicitate Fol. 76. obsequiouse Fol. 90. homicide Fol. 390. imbibed Fol. 395. Destructiue Fol. 276. Prodigious Fol. 279. with other such lyke in the steede of Lords weyghtie subiectes wonderfull auncient lowe carefull duetifull manslaughter drunken noysome monstrous c. the which faultes he confesseth in other his owne verses wrytyng thus of hym selfe I haue not for euery worde asked counsayle of eloquent Eliot or Sir Thomas Moore Take it therefore as I haue intended the faultes with fauour may soone be a mended Certayne Preambles here folowe geathered by R. Eden for the better vnderstanding of the whole worke Of the fyrst discoueryng of the west Indies A Certayne Carauel saylyng in the West Ocean about the coastes of Spayne had a forcybly and continuall wynde from the East wherby it was dryuen to a land vnknowen and not described in any map or carde of the sea and was dryuen styl along by the coaste of the same for the space of many dayes vntyll it came to a hauen where in a short tyme the most part of the maryners beyng long before very weake and feble by reason of hunger and trauayll dyed So that onely the Pilot with three or foure other remayned alyue And not only they that dyed dyd not inioye the Indies whiche they fyrst discouered to theyr mysfortune but the resydue also that lyued had in maner as litle fruition of the same not leauyng or at the least
sooner come thyther by folowyng the course of the Sunne Westward then agaynst the same Of the colour of the Indians ONe of the marueylous thynges y t God vseth in the composition of man is coloure whiche doubtlesse can not be consydered without great admiration in holdyng one to be whyte and an other blacke beyng colours vtterly contrary some lykewyse to be yealowe whiche is betweene blacke and white and other of other colours as it were of diuers liueries And as these colours are to be marueyled at euen so is it to be considered howe they dyffer one from an other as it were by degrees forasmuch as some men are whyte after dyuers sorts of whitnes yelowe after diuers maners of yelowe blacke after dyuers sorts of blackenes how from white they go to yelow by discolouring to browne red and to blacke by ashe colour murry somwhat lighter then blacke tawny like vnto the west Indians which are altogether in general either purple or tawny lyke vnto sodde Quinses or of the colour of Chestnuttes or Olyues which colour is to them naturall and not by theyr goyng naked as many haue thought albeit theyr nakednesse haue somewhat helped therevnto Therefore in lyke maner and with suche diuersitie as men are commonly whyte in Europe and blacke in Affrike euen with lyke varietie are they tawney in these Indies with diuers degrees diuersly inclinyng more or lesse to blacke or whyte No lesse marueyle is it to consider that men are white in Siuile and blacke at the cape of Buena Speranza and of Chestnut colour at the ryuer of Plata being all in equall degrees from the Equinoctiall lyne Lykewyse that the men of Affrike and Asia that lyue vnder the burnt line called Zona Torrida are blacke and not they that lyue beneath or on this syde the same lyne as in Mexico Iucatan Quauhtema Lian Nicaragua Panama Santo Domingo Paria Cape Sainct Augustine Lima Quito and other landes of Peru which touche in the same Equinoctiall For in all the tracte of these coastes certayne blacke men were founde only in Quarequa when Vaschus Nunnez of Balboa discouered the sea of Sur. By reason whereof it may seeme that such varietie of colours proceedeth of man and not of the earth which may wel be although we be al borne of Adam Eue know not the cause why God hath so ordeyned it otherwise then to consider that his diuine maiestie hath done this as infinite other to declare his omnipotencie and wisedome in such diuersities of colours as appeare not only in the nature of man but the like also in beasts byrdes and floures where diuers and contrary colours are seene in one litle feather or the leaues growyng out of one litle stalke An other thing is also greatly to be noted as touching these Indians and this is that their heare is not curld as is the Moores and Ethiopians that inhabite the same clime neyther are they balde excepte very â—ildome and that but litle All whiche thynges may gyue further occasions to Philosophers to searche the secretes of nature and complexions of men with the nouelties of the newe worlde ⧠A most auncient testimonie of the VVest Indies by the writing of the diuine Philosopher Plato PLato in his famous and diuine Dialogue named Timeus where he entreateth of the vniuersall nature and frame of the whole worlde taketh for his principle the moste auncient hystorie of an Ilande in tyme of great antiquitie named Athlantides makyng also mention of the kyng people and inhabitantes of the same and that they kept warre agaynst the Atheniens and were ouercome of them Plato also there inducing the sayde hystorie to be rehearsed by one named Critia who affirmed that he had often hearde it of his Uncle who was in the tyme of Solon one of the seuen sages of the Grekes This Critia declared that when Solon went into Egypt to a certayne citie named Sâ—im situate vpon the riuer of Nilus where the diuision and recurryng of the riuer maketh the Ilande Delta he there spake with certayne learned priestes very skylful in knowledge of antiquities of many worldes past Insomuch that they made mention of manye thinges that were before the flood of Noe or Deucalion and also before the vniuersal conflagration or burning of the worlde in the tyme of Phaeton forasmuche as the warres betweene the people of the sayde Ilande of Athlantides and the Atheniens was long before the general flood and the conflagration aforesayde Plato induceth the priest speaking to Solon in maner as foloweth Thinges most marueylous and true O Solon remayne in auncient writynges and memorie of our predecessours and olde ages long before our tymes But aboue all thynges one exceedeth al admiration for the greatnesse and singularitie thereof whiche is this It is in our recordes of moste antiquities that in times past your citie of Athens hath oftentymes kepte warres agaynst an innumerable multitude of nations whiche came from the sea Athlantike in maner into al Europe and Asia whereas nowe appeareth no suche nation forasmuche as the sayde sea is nowe al ouer nauigable And yet at that tyme had in the mouth and as it were in the entrie where you place the Columnes of Hercules an Ilande whiche was sayd to be much greater then al Africa and Asia and that from thence was passage to many other Ilandes neare thereabout and from the sayde Ilandes to the continent or fyrme lande whiche was right ouer agaynst it neare vnto the sea Yet that within the mouth there was a litle gulfe with a porte the deepe sea without was the true sea and the lande without was the true continent This Ilande was named Athlantides and in it was a kyng of marueylous great power and myght who had the dominion of the sayde Ilande and many other and also a great part of the continent lande whereof we haue spoken and muche more towarde our partes also forasmuche as they were dominatours of the thyrde part of the worlde conteynyng Africa Egypt and Europe euen vnto the sea Tirrhenum The power therefore of them beyng then so great they came to inuade both your countrey and ours and all other that are within the Columnes of Hercules Then O Solon the vertue of your citie shewed it selfe famous in magnanimitie and feates of armes with the assemblance of the other Grecians in resystyng theyr great power vntyl you had driuen them out of our lands and restored vs to our libertie But shortly after that this enterprise was atchiued befel a marueylous great earthquake and exundation or ouerflowing of the sea which continued for the space of one day and nyght In the whiche the earth opened it selfe and inglutted all those valiant and warlike men and the sayde Ilande Athlantides sunke into the bottome of the sea whiche was the occasion that neuer from that tyme forwarde any shyp coulde sayle that way by reason of the great mudde and slyme whiche remayned of the drowned
Ilande This is the summe of those thynges whiche olde Critia sayde he had vnderstoode of Solon And certaynely these wordes of Plato of the said Iland haue caused great contention among many great Philosophers which haue written commentaries vpon the sayde Dialogue of Timeus composed by Plato Insomuche that the same in those dayes being vtterly vnknowen many haue taken this narration of Solon for an allegorical fable and haue interpreted the same in diuers senses and meanynges But it may nowe well appeare the true meanyng hereof to be this that Plato intendyng to wryte of the vniuersall frame of the worlde the whiche he knewe to be made an habitation for the diuine best man and also beholdyng therin the great ornament and beautie of the heauen and starres whereby man myght knowe his God and creatour it myght seeme to hym a thyng to farre from reason that only two partes thereof shoulde be inhabited and the other part desolate and depriued of men and that the Sunne and starres might seeme to shewe theyr lyght only halfe theyr course without profite shining only vpon the sea and desolate places destitute of man and other liuing creatures And therefore Plato had in great admiration the hystorie of the sayde Egyptian priest makyng mention of an other part of the worlde besyde Asia Europa and Africa and thought it woorthy to be rehearsed in the beginning of his diuine Dialogue aforesayde We ought therefore certainely to thinke our selues most bounde vnto God that in these our tymes it hath pleased hym to reueale and discouer this secrete in the fyndyng of this newe worlde whereby we are certaynely assured that vnder our Pole starre and vnder the Equinoctial line are most goodlye and ample regions as well and commodiously inhabited as are other partes of the worlde best knowen vnto vs. The testimonie of the Poet Seneca in his Tragedie De Medea where by the spirite of Poetical furie he sayth Venient annis Secula seris quibus Oceanus Vincula rerum laxet et ingens Pateat tellus Typhisque nouos Detegat Orbes Nec sit terris vltima Thyle Whiche may be thus Englished In late yeeres newe worldes shal be founde And newe landes shal then appeare on the grounde When Typhis Nauigation newe worldes shal fynde out Then shal not Thyle for last be left out For then shal the Ocean dissolue his large bandes And shewe foorth newe worldes regions and landes ⧠To the moste noble prince and catholike kynge Charles Peter Martyr of Angleria wisheth perpetual felicitie THe diuine prouidence from the time that he fyrst created the worlde hath reserued vnto this day the knowledge of the great and large Ocean sea In the whiche tyme he hath opened the same chiefely vnto you moste mightie Prince by the good fourtune and happie successe of your grandfather by your mother syde The same prouidence I knowe not by what destenie hath brought me out of my natiue countrey of Milane and out of the citie of Rome where I continued almost .x. yeeres into Spaine that I myght particularlye collecte these marueilous and newe thinges which shoulde otherwyse perhappes haue lien drowned in the whirlepoole of obliuion forasmuche as the Spanyardes men worthy great commendation had only care to the generall inuentions of these thinges Notwithstanding I do not chalenge vnto me only the thankes of the trauaile bestowed herein whereas the chiefe rewarde therof is due to Ascanius vicount Cardinal who perceauyng that I was wylling to departe out of the citie to be present at the warres of Granatum disswaded me from my purpose But seeing that I was fully resolued to departe exhorted required me to write vnto him suche newes as were famous in Spaine worthy to be noted I toke therfore my iourney into Spayne chiefely for the desyre I had to see thexpedition whiche was prepared agaynst the enimies of the fayth forasmuche as in Italye by reason of the dissention among the Princes I coulde fynde nothyng wherewith I myght feede my wytte beyng a younge man desyrous of knowledge and experience of thynges I was therefore presente at the warres from whence I writte to Cardinal Ascanius and by sundry epistles certifyed hym of such thinges as I thought most woorthye to be put in memorie But when I perceiued that his fortune was turned from a naturall mother to a stepdame I ceassed from wrytyng Yet after I sawe that by thouerthrowe of the enimies of our fayth Spayne was pourged of the Moores as of an euil weede plucked vp by the rootes leste I shoulde bestowe my slippery yeares in vnprofitable idlenesse I was mynded to returne to Italie But the singuler benignitie of both the Catholyke kyng and queene nowe departed and theyr large promises towarde me vpon my returne from my legacie of Babylon deteyned me from my purpose Yet doth it not repent me that I drew backe my foote aswel for that I see in no other place of the world at this tyme the lyke woorthy thinges to be done as also that in maner throughout all Italie by reason of the discorde of Christian Princes I perceiued all thynges to runne headlong into ruine the countreys to be destroyed and made fatte with humane blood the cities sacked virgins and matrones with theyr goods and possessions caried away as captiues and miserable innocentes without offence to be slayne vnarmed within theyr owne houses Of the whiche calamities I dyd not onely heare the lamentable outcryes but dyd also feele the same For euen the blood of myne owne kinsfolkes and frendes was not free from that crueltie As I was therefore musyng with my selfe of these thynges the Cardinal of Arragone after that he had seene the two fyrst bookes of my Decades wrytten to Ascanius required me in the name of kyng Frederike his vncle to put foorth the other eyght epistle bookes In the meane tyme also whyle I was voyde of al care as touching the matters of the Ocean the Apostolicall messengers of the byshop of Rome Leo the tenth by whose holsome counsayle and aucthoritie we trust the calamities of Italy shal be fynished raysed me as it were from sleepe encoraged me to proceede as I had begun To his holynesse I wrytte two Decades comprysed in short bookes after the maner of epistles and added them to the fyrst which was printed without mine aduise as shal further appeare by the preface folowyng But nowe I returne to you most noble Prince from whom I haue somwhat digressed Therfore wheras your grandfather by your mothers side haue subdued al Spaine vnder your dominion except only one corner of the same and haue also lefte you the kingdome of Naples with the fruteful Ilands of our seas it is surely a great thing and worthy to be noted in our cronacles But not offendyng the reuerence due to our predecessours whatsoeuer from the begynnyng of the worlde hath been doone or wrytten to this day to my iudgement seemeth but lyttle yf we
otherwyse called Cuba was an ilande As they coasted along by the shore of certayne of these ilandes they hearde Nyghtyngales syng in the thycke wooddes in the moneth of Nouember They founde also great ryuers of freshe water and naturall hauens of capacitie to harbour great nauies of shippes Sayling by the coastes of Iohanna from the north poynt to the west he rode litle lesse then eight hundred miles for they cal it a hundred and fourescore leagues supposing that it had ben the continent or fyrme lande because he coulde neither fynde the landes ende nor any token of the ende as farre as he could iudge with his eye wherfore he determined to turne backe agayne beyng partly thereto enforced by the roughnesse of the sea for the sea bankes of the ilande of Iohanna by sundrye wyndynges and turnynges bende them selues so muche towarde the north that the northnortheast winde roughly tossed the shyps by reason of the winter Turning therfore the stemmes of his shyppes towarde the East he affyrmed that he had found the ilande of Ophir whither Solomons shippes sayled for golde But the discription of the Cosmographers well considered it seemeth that both these and the other ilandes adioynyng are the ilands of Antilia This ilande he called Hispaniola on whose north syde as he approched neare to the lande the keele or bottome of the biggest vessell ranne vpon a blynde rocke couered with water and cloue in sunder but the playnenesse of the rocke was a helpe to them that they were not drowned Makyng haste therfore with the other two shyps to helpe them they brought awaye al the men without hurte Here comming fyrst a land they sawe certayne men of the Ilande who perceiuyng an vnknowen nation comming toward them flocked togeather and ranne al into the thycke woods as it had ben hares coursed with grehoundes Our men pursuing them tooke onely one woman whom they brought to the ships where fylling her with meate and wyne and appareling her they let her depart to her companye Shortly after a greate multitude of them came runnyng to the shore to behold this newe nation whom they thought to haue discended from heauen They cast them selues by heapes into the sea came swimming to the shyppes brynging gold with them whiche they chaunged with our men for earthen pottes drinking glasses poyntes pinnes hawkes bels looking glasses such other trifles Thus growing to further familiaritie our men were honorably entertained of the king of that part of the iland whose name was Guaccâ—narillus for it hath many kyngs as when Eneas arriued in Italy he found Latium diuided into many kingdoms and prouinces as Latium Mezeutium Turnum and Tarchontem which were separated with narowe boundes as shal more largly appeare hereafter At the euen tide about the falling of the sonne when our men went to prayer and kneeled on their knees after the maner of y e Christians they dyd the lyke also And after what maner so euer they sawe them pray to the crosse they folowed them in al poyntes as wel as they coulde They shewed much humanitie towards our men and helped them with theyr lyghters or smal boates which they cal Canoas to vnlade their broken shyppe and that with suche celeritie and cherefulnesse that no frende for frende or kynseman for kynseman in such case moued with pitie coulde do more Theyr boates are made only of one tree made holowe with a certaine sharpe stone for they haue no yron and are very long and narowe Many affirme that they haue seene some of them with fortie ores The wilde and myscheuous people called Canibales or Caribes whiche were accustomed to eate mans fleshe called of the olde writers Anthropophagi molest them exceedyngly inuading their countrey takyng them captiue kyllyng eatyng them As our men sayled to the ilandes of these meke and humane people they left the ilands of the Canibales in maner in the middest of theyr viage toward the south They complayned that theyr ilands were no lesse vexed with the incursions of these manhuntyng Canibales when they goe forth a rouyng to seeke theyr pray then are other tame beastes of Lions and Tigers Such chyldren as they take they geld to make them fat as we do cocke chickens and young hogges and eate them when they are wel fedde of suche as they eate they fyrst eate the intralles and extreme partes as handes feete armes necke and head The other most fleshye partes they pouder for store as we do pestels of porke and gammondes of bakon yet do they absteyne from eatyng of women and counte it vyle Therfore suche young women as they take they kepe for increase as we do hennes to leye egges the olde women they make theyr drudges They of the ilandes which we may nowe cal ours bothe the men and y e women when they perceiue the Canibales commyng haue none other shyft but onely to flee for although they vse very sharpe arrowes made of reedes yet are they of small force to represse y e furie of the Canibales for euen they them selues confesse that ten of the Canibales are able to ouercome a hundred of them if they encountre with them Theyr meate is a certayne roote which they cal Ages muche lyke a nauewe roote in fourme and greatnesse but of sweete tast much lyke a greene chestnutte They haue also an other kynde of rootes which they call Iucca whereof they make bread in kyke maner They vse Ages more often rosted or sodden then to make bread thereof But they neuer eate Iucca except it be first sliced and pressed for it is full of lycoure and then baked or sodden But this is to be marueyled at that the iuice of this roote is a poyson as strong as Aconitum so that if it be drunke it causeth present death and yet the bread made of the masse thereof is of good taste and holsome as they all haue prooued They make also another kynde of bread of a certayne pulse called Panicum muche like vnto wheate whereof is great plentie in the Dukedome of Millane Spayne and Cranatum But that of this Countrey is longer by a spanne somewhat sharpe towarde the ende and as bygge as a mans arme in y e brawne the graynes wherof are set in a marueylous order are in fourme somewhat lyke a Pease Whyle they be soure and vnripe they are whyte but when they are ripe they be very blacke when they are broken they be whiter then snowe this kynde of grayne they call Maizium Golde is of some estimation among them for some of them hang certayne small peeces thereof at theyr eares and nosethrylles A litle beyonde this place our men went a lande for freshe water where they chaunced vpon a riuer whose sande was myxed with muche golde They founde there no kindes of foure footed beastes except three kindes of litle conies These ilandes also nouryshe
Cuba by the same way whiche he came Here a multitude of thinhabitantes as well women as men resorted to hym with cheerefull countenances and with feare bringyng with them popingayes bread water and cunnyes but especially stocke doues much bygger then ours which he affirmeth in sauour and taste to be muche more pleasaunt then our partryches Wherefore where as in eating of them he perceiued a certayne sauoure of spyce to proceede from them he commaunded the croppe to be opened of suche as were newely kylled and founde the same full of sweete spyces whiche he argued to be the cause of theyr strange taste For it standeth with good reason that the fleshe of beastes shoulde drawe the nature and qualitie of theyr accustomed nouryshment As the Admirall harde masse on the shore there came towarde hym a certayne gouernoure a man of foure score yeeres of age and of great grauitie although he were naked sauing his pryuie partes He had a great trayne of men wayting on hym All the whyle the prieste was at masse he shewed him selfe very humble and gaue reuerent attendance with graue and demure countenaunce When the masse was ended he presented to the Admirall a baskette of the fruites of his countrey delyuering the same with his owne handes When the Admirall had gentelly entertayned him desyring leaue to speake he made an oration in the presence of Didacus the interpreter to this effect I haue byn aduertised most mighty prince that you haue of late with great power subdued many lands and Regions hytherto vnknowen to you and haue brought no litle feare vppon all the people and inhabitauntes of the same the whiche your good fortune you shal beare with lesse insolencie if you remember that the soules of men haue two iourneyes after they are departed from this body The one foule and darke prepared for suche as are iniurious and cruell to mankynde the other pleasaunt and delectable ordeyned for them which in theyr lyfe tyme loued peace and quietnes If therfore you acknowledge your selfe to be mortall and consider that euery man shal receiue condigne rewarde or punyshement for suche thynges as he hath done in this life you wyl wrongfully hurte no man When he had saide these wordes and other lyke which were declared to the Admirall by the interpreter he marueyling at the iudgement of the naked olde man answeared that he was gladde to heare his opinion as touching the sundry iourneys and rewardes of soules departed from theyr bodyes supposing that nother he or any other of thinhabitantes of those Regions had had any knowledge thereof declaring further that the chiefe cause of his comming thither was to instruct them in such godly knowledge and true religion and that he was sent into those countreyes by the Christian kyng of Spayne his lord and maister for the same purpose and specially to subdue and punyshe the Canibales and suche other mischeuous people and to defend innocentes against the violence of euyl dooers wyllyng hym and al other suche as imbraced vertue in no case to be afrayde but rather to open his mynde vnto hym yf eyther he or any other suche quiet men as he was had susteyned any wrong of theyr neyghbours and that he woulde see the same reuenged These comfortable words of the Admirall so pleased the olde man that notwithstandyng his extreme age he woulde gladly haue gone with the Admiral as he had done in deede yf his wyfe and chyldren had not hyndered hym of his purpose but he marueyled not a lytle that the Admiral was vnder the dominion of another and much more when the interpretour tolde hym of the glorye magnificence pompe great power and furnimentes of warre of our kinges and of the multitudes of cities and townes whiche were vnder theyr dominions Intendyng therefore to haue gone with the Admirall his wyfe and chyldren fell prostrate at his feete with teares desyring him not to forsake them and leaue them desolate at whose pitiful requestes the woorthy olde man beyng mooâ—ed remayned at home to the comfort of his people and familie satisfiyng rather them then hym selfe for not yet ceassyng to woonder and of heauie countenance because he myght not depart he demaunded oftentymes yf that lande were not heauen whiche brought foorth suche a kynde of men For it is certaine that among them the lande is as common as the sunne and water and that Myne and Thyne the seedes of all myscheefe haue no place with them They are content with so lytle that in so large a countrey they haue rather superfluitie then scarcenesse so that as we haue sayde before they seeme to lyue in the golden worlde without toyle lyuyng in open gardens not intrenched with dyches diuided with hedges or defended with walles they deale truely one with another without lawes without bookes and without iudges they take hym for an euyl and myscheuous man whiche taketh pleasure in dooyng hurt to other And albeit that they delyte not in superfluities yet make they prouision for the increase of suche rootes whereof they make theyr bread as Maizium Iucca and Ages contented with suche symple dyet whereby health is preserued and diseases auoyded The Amirall therefore departyng from thence and myndyng to returne agayne shortly after chaunced to come agayne to the Ilande of Iamaica beyng on the south syde thereof and coasted all along by the shore of the same from the West to the East from whose last corner on the East syde when he sawe towarde the North syde on his left hande certayne hygh mountaynes he knewe at the length that it was the south syde of the Ilande of Hispaniola whiche he had not yet passed by Wherefore at the Calendes of September entryng into the hauen of the same Ilande called saint Nicholas hauen he repayred his shyppes to the intent that he might agayne waste and spoyle the Ilandes of the Canibales and burne all theyr Canoas that those rauenyng wolues might no longer persecute and deuoure the innocent sheepe but he was at this tyme hyndered of his purpose by reason of a disease which he had gotten by to much watching Thus beyng feeblâ— aâ—d weake he was ledde of the Maryners to the citie of Isâ—â—ella where with his two brethren whiche were there and other of his familiars he recouered his health in shorte space yet coulde he not at this tyme assayle the Canibales by reason of sedition that was risen of late among the Spanyardes whiche he had left in Hispaniola whereof we wyll speake more hereafter Thus fare ye well The fourth booke of the first Decade to Lodouike Cardinal of Aragonie COlonus the Admiral of the Ocean returning as he supposed from the continent or fyrme lande of East India had aduertisment that his brother Boilus and one Peter Margarita an olde familiar of the kynges and a noble man with diuers other of those to whom he had left the gouernment of the Ilande were of corrupted
stryke of the head of an innocent Soo that he whiche coulde with moste agilitie make the head of one of those poore wretches to flee quyte and cleane from the bodye to the grounde at one strocke he was the best man and counted most honorable These thyngs and many suche other the one of them laid to the others charge before the king While these thinges were dooyng the Admirall senâ— his brother the Leauetenaunt with an army of fourescore and tenne footemen and a fewe horsemen with three thousande of the Ilande men whiche were mortall enimyes to the Ciguauians to meete the people of Ciguaua with Kyng Guarionexius theyr graunde capitayne who had doone muche myscheefe to our men and suche as fauoured them Therefore when the Lieutenaunt had conducted his army to the bankes of a certeyne great ryuer runnyng by the playne whiche we sayde before to lye betwene the corners of the mountaynes of Ciguaua and the sea he founde two scoutes of his enimies lurkyng in certeyne bushes whereof the one castyng hym selfe headlong into the sea escaped and by the mouth of the ryuer swamme ouer to his companions the other being taken declared that in the woodde on the other syde the ryuer there lay in campe sixe thousande Ciguauians redy vnwares to assaile our men passing bye Wherefore the Lieutenaunt finding a shalow place where he might passe ouer he with his whole army entred into the ryuer the which thing when the Ciguauians had espyed they came runnyng out of the wooddes with a terrible crye and most horrible aspect much like vnto the people called Agathyrsi of whom the poet virgil speaketh For they were all paynted and spotted with sundry colours and especiall with blacke and red which they make of certeyne fruites nooryshed for the same purpose in theyr gardens with the iuyce wherof they paynt them selues from the forhead euen to the knees hauyng theyr heare whiche by art they make long and blacke if nature deny it them wreathed and rolled after a thousande fashions a man woulde thinke them to be deuylles incarnat newly broke out of hell they are so like vnto helhoundes As our men waded ouer the ryuer they shoâ—te at them and hurled dartes so thycke that it almost tooke the lyght of the sonne from our men insomuche that if they had not borne of the force thereof with theyr targettes the matter had gone wrong with them Yet at the length manye beyng wounded they passed ouer the ryuer which thyng when the enimies sawe they fledde whom our men pursuyng slue some in the chase but not manye by reason of theyr swyftnesse of foote Thus beyng in the wooddes they shotte at our men more safely for they beyng accustomed to the wooddes and naked without anye lette passed through the bushes and shrubbes as it had ben wylde bores or Hartes whereas our men were hyndered by reason of theyr apparell targets long iauelins ignoraunce of the place Wherfore when he had rested there al that nyght in vayne and the day folowyng he sawe no stirring in the wooddes he went by the counsel and conducte of the other Ilande men whiche were in his army immediatly froÌ„ thence to the mountaynes in the whiche kyng Maiobanexius had his cheefe mansion place in the village called Capronum by the which name also the kyngs palace was called beyng in the same village Thus marching forwarde with his armie about twelue myles of he encamped in the village of another kyng whiche the inhabitauntes had forsaken for feare of our men Yet makyng diligent searche they found two by whom they had knowledge that there was tenne kinges with Maiobanexius in his palace of Capronum with an armie of eight thousand Ciguauians At the Lieutenants fyrst approch he durst not geue them battayle vntyll he had somewhat better searched the region yet dyd he in the meane tyme skyrmyshe with them twyse The next nyght about mydnyght he sent foorth scoutes and with them guides of the Ilande men whiche knewe the countrey Whom the Ciguauians espying froÌ„ the mountaines prepared them selues to the battayle with a terrible crye or alarum after their maner but yet durst not come out of the woods supposing that the Lieuetenant with his mayne army had ben euen at hande The day folowyng when he brought his army to the place where they encamped leaping out of the wooddes they twyse attempted the fortune of warre fiercely assayling our men with a mayne force and wounding many before they coulde coouer them with theyr targettes Yet our men put them to flyght slue manye and tooke manye the resydue fledde to the wooddes where they kept them styll as in their most safe holde Of them whiche were taken he sent one and with him another of the Ilande men which was of his part to Maiobanexius with commaundement in this effect The Lieuetenaunt brought not hyther his army O Maiobanexius to kepe warre either against you or your people for he greatly desyreth your frendship but his intent is that Guarionexius who hath perswaded you to be his ayde against him to the great destruction of your people and vndoyng of your countrey may haue due correction aswell for his disobedience towarde hym as also for raysâ—ng tumultes among the people Wherefore he requireth you and exhorteth you to deliuer Guarionexius into his handes the whiche thing yf you shal perfourme the Admirall his brother wyll not only gladly admyt you to his freendshyp but also enlarge and defende your dominion And yf herein you refuse to accomplyshe his request it wyll folowe that you shal shortlye repente you thereof For your kyngdome shal be wasted with sworde and fyre and you shall abyde the fortune of warre whereof you haue had experience with fauour as you shall further know heareafter to your payne yf with stubbernesse you prouoke him to shewe the vttermoste of his power When the messenger had thus doone his arant Maiobanexius answered that Guarionexius was a good man indued with many vertues as all men knewe and therfore he thought him worthy his ayde especially in as much as he fled to him for succoure and that he had made him suche promise whom also he had proued to be his faithfull frend againe that they were noughty men violent and cruell desiring other mens goodes and such as spared not to shed innocentes blood in fine that he would not haue to doo with suche myscheuous men nor yet enter into frendshyppe with them When these thynges came to the Lieuetenauntes eare he commaunded the village to be burnt where he hym selfe encamped with manye other villages there about and when he drewe nere to the place where Maiobanexius lay he sent messengers to him agayne to common the matter with him and to wyll hym to send some one of his moste faythfull frendes to entreate with hym of peace Whereuppon the kyng sent vnto hym one of his cheefe gentelmen and with hym two other to wayte on
Ilande not yet knowyng what his aduersaries and accusers had layde to his charge before the kyng of Spaine who being disquieted with theyr quarelinges and accusations and especially for that by reason of theyr discention of so greate abundance of golde and other thynges there was as yet but lyttle brought into Spayne appoynted a newe gouernour which shoulde see a redresse in these thynges and eyther to punyshe such as were fautie or els to sende them to him What was founde agaynst the Admirall and his brother or agaynst his aduersaries which accused hym I do not well knowe But this I am sure of that both the brethren are taken brought and caste in prison with theyr goodes confiscate But as soone as the king vnderstode that they were brought bounde to Cales he sent messengers in poste with commaundement that they should be loosed and come freely to his presence wherby he declared that he toke their troubles greeuously It is also said that the new gouernour sent letters to the kyng written with the Admiralles hand in straunge and vnknowen sypheringes to his brother the Lieuetenaunt being absent wyllyng hym to be in a redynes with a power of armed men to come and ayd hym if the Gouernoure should proffer hym any violence Wherof the gouernour hauing knowledge as he sayth beyng also aduertised that the Lieuetenaunt was gone to his brother before the men whiche he had prepared were in a redines apprehended them both vnwares before the multitude came togeather What wyl folowe tyme the most true and prudent Iudge wyll declare Thus fare ye well ¶ The eygth booke of the fyrst Decade to Cardinall Lodouike THe great ryche and plentifull Ocean sea heretofore vnknowen and nowe founde by Christophorus Colonus the Admiral by thautoritie furtherance of the Catholyke king I haue presented vnto your honour ryght noble Prince like a golden chayne vnworkmanly wrought but you shal now receiue a pretious iewell to be appendaunt therto Therefore among such as were pylottes or gouernours vnder the admyrall and had dyligently marked the courses dyfferences of the windes many had lycences graunted them of the kyng to seeke further at theyr owne charges vpon condition to pay hym faythfully his portion which is the fyfte part But because amonge all other one Petrus Alphonsus called Nignus by his surname sayled towarde the south with more prosperous fortune then any of the other I thinke it best first to speake somewhat of his voyage He therfore with only one shyp well furnished at his owne charges after that he had his passeporte with commaundement in no case to cast anker past fyftye leagues distant from anye place where the Admirall had touched sayled fyrst to Paria where the Admiral founde both the men and women so laden with cheines garlandes and braselettes of pearles as we haue sayde before Coastyng therfore along by the same shore accordyng to the kings commaundement yet leauing behynd hym the regions of Cumana and Manacapana he came to the regions which thinhabitantes therof cal Curiana where he found a hauen as he saith much lyke the port of Gades or Cales into the which enteryng he sawe a farre of certayne houses one the shore and perceyued when he drewe neere that it was a village of only eyght houses Proceading yet further for the space of three myles he espied an other village well replenyshed with people where there met hym fyftye naked men on a company hauing with them a certayne ruler who desyred Alphonsus to come to theyr coastes He brought with hym at thys tyme many haukes belles pynnes nedels braselettes cheynes garlandes and rynges with counterfet stones and glasses and such other tryfelles the which within the moment of an houre he had exchaunged for fyfteene ounces of theyr pearles which they wore aboute theyr neckes and armes Then they yet more ernestly desyred hym to sayle to theyr coastes promysyng hym that he shoulde there haue as many pearles as he woulde desyre He condiscended to theyr request and the day folowing came to the place where they appoynted hym Lying there at anker a great multitude of people resorted to hym instantly requyring hym to come alande But when he consydered the innumerable multitude of people which was there assembled and he had only .xxxiii. men in his company he durst not commit hym selfe to theyr handes but gaue them to vnderstand by sygnes and tokens that they shoulde come to the shyp with their Canoas for their boates which the men of the iland cal Canoas are made only of one whole peece of wood as in the Ilandes yet more rude and not so artificially as theyrs are these they call Gallitas These swarmed therfore to the shyp as faste as they might bringyng with them greate plenty of pearles which they cal Tenoras exchanging the same for our marchaundies He founde this people to be of gentyll nature simple and innocent being conuersant with them in theyr houses for the space of xx dayes Theyr houses are made of wood couered with the leaues of date trees Their meate for the moste parte is the shelfyshes in the which the pearles are engendered wherof their sea costes are full They haue also greate plenty of wyld beastes as hartes wyld bores and connies like vnto hares both in coloure and bignesse stocke doues also and turtle doues lykewyse geese and duckes which they norishe in theyr houses as we doo Peacockes flee aboute in maner in euery wood and groue but they are not distinct with sundry colours as ours are for the cockes are like vnto the hennes These people of Curiana are craftie hunters and exceding cunning archers so that they will not lyghtly misse any beaste or byrde that they shoote at Our men consumed certayne dayes heare very plesauntely duryng which time whosoeuer brought them a peacocke had for the same foure pinnes he that brought a pheasaunte had two and for a stocke doue or turtle doue one and for a goose a smale looking glasse or a litle stone of glasse Thus they bought and solde with profering and bydding denying and refusing as it had byn in a greate market When pinnes were profered them they asked what they shoulde do with them being naked But our men satisfied them with a craftie answere declaring by tokens that they were very necessary to picke theyr teeth and to pull thornes out of theyr fleshe But aboue al thynges haukes belles were most esteemed among them for theyr sound faire colour and woulde therfore geue much for one of them Our men lodging in their houses heard in the nyght season horrible noyses rorynges of wild beastes in the wooddes whiche are full of exceding great and hygh trees of sundrye kindes but the beastes of these woodes are not noysome to men for the people of the countrey goo daylye a huntyng naked with theyr bowes and arrowes yet hath it not ben harde of that any man hath ben
sunne begynneth to shine the water is coniealed into most pure and whyte salte wherewith innumerable shyypes myght be laden yf men dyd resort thether for the same before there fale any rayne For the rayne melteth it and causeth it to synke into the sande and so by the poores of the earth to returne to the place from whence it was dryuen Other say that the playne is not fylled from the sea but of certeine sprynges whose water is more sharpe and salt then the water of the sea Thinhabitantes do greatlye esteeme this bay of salt whiche they vse not only for theyr owne commoditie but also woorking the same into a square forme lyke vnto brickes they sell it to strangers for exchaunge of other thynges whiche the lacke In this Region they stretche and drye the dead bodies of theyr kinges and noble men laying the same vpon a certayne frame of woodde muche lyke vnto a hurdle or grediren with a gentell fyre vnder the same by lyttle and lyttle consumyng the fleshe and keping the skynne hole with the bones inclosed therein These dryed carcases they haue in great reuerence and honour them for theyr houshoulde and famylier gods They say that in this place they sawe a man in an other place a woman thus dryed and reserued When they departed from Curiana the .viii. day of the Ides of February to returne to Spayne they had threescore and .xvi. poundes weight after .viii. vnces to the pounde of pearles which they bought for exchange of our thinges amounting to the value of fyue shillinges Departing therfore they consumed threescore dayes in theyr iourney although it were shorter then from Hispaniola by reason of the continuall course of the sea in the west which dyd not only greatly stey the shippe but also somtymes dryue it backe But at the length they came home so laden with pearles that they were with euery maryner in maner as common as chaffe But the master of the shyppe Petrus Alphonsus being accused of his companyons that he had stowlen a great multitude of pretious pearles and defrauded the kyng of his portion whiche was the fifth parte was taken of Fernando de Vega a man of great lerning and experience gouernour of Gallecia where they aryued and was there kept in pryson a long tyme. But he styll denyeth that euer he deteyned any part of the pearles Many of these pearles were as bygge as hasell nuttes and as oriente as we call it as they be of the East partes Yet not of so great pryce by reason that the holes thereof are not so perfecte When I my selfe was present with the right honorable duke of Methyna and was biddē to dynner with him in the citie of Ciuile they brought to hym aboue a hundred and twentie ounces of pearles to be solde whiche surely dyd greatly delyte me with their fayrenes and brightnes Some say that Alphonsus had not these pearles in Curiana being distant from Os Draconis more then a hundred twentie leagues but that they had them in the regions of Cumana and Manacapana nere vnto Os Draconis and the ilande of Margarita for they deny that there is any pearles founde in Curiana But sith the matter is yet in controuersie we wyl passe to other matters Thus muche you haue whereby you may coniecture what commoditie in tyme to come may bee looked for from these newe landes of the west Ocean whereas at the fyrst discouering they shewe suche tokens of great ryches Thus fare ye well ¶ The .ix. booke of the fyrst Decade to Cardinal Lodoutke VIncentiagnes Pinzonus also Aries Pinzonus his neuiew by his brother syde whiche accompanyed the Admiral Colonus in his fyrst vyage were by him appoynted to be maisters of two of the small shippes which the Spaniards call Carauelas being moued by the great ryches amplitude of the new landes furnyshed of theyr owne charges foure Carauels in the hauen of theyr owne countrey which the Spanyardes cal Palos bordering on the west Ocean Hauing therfore the kings licence passeport to depart they loosed from the hauen about the Calendes of December in the yeere .1499 This hauen of Palos is threescore twelue myles distant from Gades commonly called Cales and .lxiiii. myles from Ciuile All thinhabitantes of this towne not one excepted are greatly geuē to searching of the sea and continually exercised in sayling They also directed their viage fyrst to the iland of Canarie by the ilands of Hesperides now called Cabouerde which some cal Gorgodes Meducias Sayling therfore directly toward the south from that ilande of Hesperides whiche the Portugales beyng possessers of the same cal Sancti Iacobi and departing from thence at the Ides of Ianuary they folowed the southwest wynde beyng in the myddest betwene the south and the west When they supposed that they had sayled about three hundreth leagues by the same wynde they say that they lost the syght of the Northe starre and were shortely after tossed with excedyng tempestes bothe of wynde and sea and vexed with intollerable heate Yet sayled they on further not without great daunger for the space of two hundred fortie leagues folowing yet the same wynd by the lost pole Wherfore whether habitable regions be vnder the Equinoctiall lyne or not let these men and the oulde wryters aswel Philosophers as poetes and cosmographers discusse For these mē affirme it to be habitable and meruelously replenished with people and they that it is vnhabitable by reason of the sonne beames depending perpendicularly or directlye ouer the same Yet were there many of the olde wryters whiche attempted to proue it habitable These maryners being demaunded if they saw the south pole they answered that they knew no starre there like vnto this pole that might be decerued about the poynt but that they sawe an other order of starres and a certeyne thicke myst rysyng from the horizontall lyne whiche greatly hyndered theyr syght They contende also that there is a great heape or rysyng in the myddest of the earth whiche taketh away the syght of the south pole vntyll they haue vtterly passed ouer the same but they verely beleeue that they sawe other images of starres muche differing from the situation of the starres of our hemispherie or halfe circle of heauen Howe so euer the matter be as they informe vs we certifie you At the length the seuenth day of the calendes of Februarye the espied lande a farre of and seeing the water of the sea to be trobelous sounding with theyr plummet they founde it to be .xvi ▪ fathames deepe Going a lande and tarying there for the space of two dayes they departed bycause they sawe no people stering although they founde certeyne steppes of men by the sea syde Thus grauing on the trees the stones nere vnto the shore the kynges name and theyrs and the tyme of theyr commyng thether they departed Not farre from this station folowyng
blowing breathyng and suckyng the forehead temples and necke of the patient whereby they say they drawe the euyl ayre from him and sucke the disease out of his vaynes then rubbyng hym about the shoulders thyghes and legges and drawyng downe theyr handes close by his feete holdyng them yet faste togeather they runne to the doore beyng open where they vnclose and shake theyr handes affyrmyng that they haue dryuen away the disease and that the pacient shall shortly be perfectlye restored to health After this commyng behynde hym he conueigheth a peece of fleshe out of his owne mouth lyke a iuggeler and sheweth it to the sycke man saying Beholde you haue eaten to muche you shal nowe be whole because I haue taken this from you But yf he entende yet further to deceiue the patient he perswadeth hym that his Zemes is angry eyther because he hath not buylded hym a chappell or not honoured him religiously or not dedicated vnto hym a groue or garden And if it so chaunce that the sycke person dye his kynsfolks by witchcrafte enforce the dead to confesse whether he dyed by naturall desteny or by the negligeÌ„ce of the Boitius in that he had not fasted as he shoulde haue done or not ministred a conuenient medicine for the disease so that if this phisition be founde fautie they take reuâ—nge of hym Of these stones or bones whiche these Boitii cary in theyr mouthes yf the women can come by them they keepe them religiously beleeuyng them to be greatly effectuall to helpe women trauaylyng with chylde and therefore honour them as they do theyr Zemes. For diuers of the inhabitantes honour Zemes of diuers fashions some make them of wood as they were admonyshed by certayne visions appearing vnto them in the woods Other whiche haue receiued aunswere of them among the rockes make them of stone and marble Some they make of rootes to the similitude of suche as appeare to them when they are geatheryng the rootes called Ages whereof they make theyr bread as we haue sayd before These Zemes they beleue to send plentie fruitfulnes of those rootes as the antiquitie beleued such fayries or spirites as they called Dryades Hamadryades Satyros Panes and Nereides to haue the cure prouidence of the sea woods sprynges and fountaynes assignyng to euerye thing their peculier goddes Euen so do thinhabitantes of this Ilande attribute a Zemes to euery thyng supposyng the same to geue eare to theyr inuocations Wherefore as often as the kyngs aske counsel of theyr Zemes as concernyng their warres increase of fruites or scarcenes or health and sicknesse they enter into the house dedicate to theyr Zemes where snuffing vp into theyr nosthryls the pouder of the herbe called Cohobba wherwith the Boitii are dryuen into a furie they say that immediatly they see the houses turned topsye turuie and men to walke with theyr heeles vpward of such force is this pouder vtterly to take away al sence As soone as this madnesse ceasseth he embraceth his knees with his armes holdyng downe his head And when he hath remayned thus a whyle astonyshed he lyfteth vp his head as one that came newe out of sleepe and thus lookyng vp toward heauen fyrst he fumbleth certaine confounded woordes with hym selfe then certayne of the nobilitie or cheefe gentlemen that are about him for none of the common people are admitted to these mysteries with loude voyces geue tokens of reioycing that he is returned to them from the speach of the Zemes demaundyng of hym what he hath seene Then he openyng his mouth doateth that the Zemes spake to hym duryng the tyme of his traunce declaryng that he had reuelations either concerning victorie or destruction famine or plentie health or syckenesse or whatsoeuer happeneth fyrst on his tongue Nowe most noble Prince what neede you hereafter to marueyle of the spirite of Apollo so shakyng his Sibylles with extreme furie you had thought that the superstitious antiquitie had peryshed But nowe wheras I haue declared thus muche of the Zemes in general I thought it not good to let passe what is sayde of them in particuler They say therefore that a certayne kyng called Guamaretus had a Zemes whose name was Corochotum who they say was oftentimes woont to descend from the hyghest place of the house where Guamaretus kept hym fast bound They affirme that the cause of this his breakyng of his bandes and departure was eyther to hyde hym selfe or to goe seeke for meate or els for the acte of generation and that sometymes beyng offended that the kyng Guamaretus had ben negligent and slacke in honouring hym he was woont to lye hyd for certayne dayes They say also that in the kynges vyllage there are sometyme chyldren borne hauyng two crownes whiche they suppose to be the children of Corochotum the Zemes. They fayne likewyse that Guamaretus being ouercome of his enimies in battayle and his village with the pallace consumed with fyre Corochotus brake his bands and was afterwarde founde a furlong of safe and without hurte He hath also another Zemes called Epileguanita made of wood in shape lyke a foure footed beast who also is sayde often tymes to haue gonne from the place where he is honoured into the wooddes As soone as they perceiue hym to be gone a great multitude of them geather togeather to seeke him with deuout prayers and when they haue founde hym bryng hym home religiously on theyr shoulders to the chappel dedicated vnto hym But they complayne that sence the commyng of the Christian men into the Iland he fled for altogeather and coulde neuer sence be founde wherby they diuined the destruction of theyr countrey They honoured an other Zemes in the lykenes of a woman on whom wayted two other lyke men as they were mynisters to her One of these executed thoffice of a mediatour to the other Zemes which are vnder the power and commaundement of this woman to raise wyndes cloudes and rayne The other is also at her commaundement a messenger to the other Zemes which are ioyned with her in gouernaunce to geather togeather the waters which fall from the hygh hylles to the valleies that being loosed they may with force bruste out into greate floodes and ouerflowe the countrey yf the people do not geue due honoure to her Image There remayneth yet one thing worthy to be noted wherwith we will make an end of this booke It is a thing well knowen and yet freshe in memory among the inhabitantes of the iland that there was somtime two kings of the which one was the father of Guarionexius of whom we made mention before which were woont to absteyne fyue daies togeather continualy from meate drinke to know somewhat of their Zemes of thinges to come and that for this fasting beyng acceptable to their Zemes they receyued answere of them that within few yeeres there shoulde come to the ilande a nation of men couered with apparell
which should destroy al the customes and cerimonies of the iland and eyther slay al theyr chyldren or bring them into seruitude The common sort of the people vnderstode this oracle to be ment of the Canibales therfore when they had any knowledge of theyr comming they euer fled and were fully determined neuer more to aduenture the battayle with them But when they saw that the Spanyardes had entered into the Ilande consultyng among them selues of the matter they concluded that this was the nation whiche was ment by thoracle Wherin theyr opinyon deceyued them not for they are nowe all subiect to the Chrystians all such beyng slayne as stobernely resysted Nor yet remayneth there anye memorye of theyr Zemes for they are all brought into Spayne that we myght be certyfyed of theyr illusions of euyll spyrites and Idolles the which you your selfe most noble Prynce haue seene and felt when I was present with you I let passe many thynges because you put me in remembrance that to morowe you take your iorney towarde your countrey to bryng home the queene your aunt whom you accompanyed hyther at the commaundement of kyng Frederike your vncle Wherfore I byd you farewell for this time desyryng you to remember your Martyr whom you haue compelled in the name of the kyng your vncle to geather these fewe thynges out of a large feelde of hystories The tenth and last booke of the fyrst Decade as a conclusion of the former bookes wrytten to Inacus Iopez Mendocius Countie of Tendilla viceroy of Granata AT the fyrst begynning and newe attempte when Colonus had taken vpon hym the enterpryse to searche the Ocean sea I was earnestly moued and required by the letters of certaine of my frendes and noble men of Rome to wryte those thinges as shoulde happen For they whispered with great admiration that where as there were many newe landes founde and nations which liued naked and after the lawe of nature they could heare no certentie therof being greatly desyrous of y e same In this meane time had fortune ouerthrowne Ascanius his brother Lodouike being cast out of Millane by the frenchmen whose auctoritie would not suffer me to be idle but euer to haue my pen in hand To him I wrote the two first bookes of this decade beside many other of my hid cōmentaries which you shal see shortly but fortune dyd no lesse withdraw my minde from wryting then disturbe Ascanius from power As he was tossed with contrary stormes and ceassed to perswade me euen so slacked my feruentnesse to enquire any further vntil the yere of Christ ▪ 1500 when the Court remained at Granata where you are viceroy At whiche tyme Lodouike the Cardinal of Aragonie neuiew to king Frederike by his brothers syde beyng at Granata with the queene Parthenopea the sister of our Catholique kyng brought me king Frederikes letters whereby he exhorted me to finishe the other bookes which folowed the two epystell bookes which I wryte to Ascanius For they both acknowledged that they had the copye of al that I wrytte to cardinall Ascanius And albeit that euen then I was sicke as you knowe yet tooke I the burden vppon me and applyed my selfe to wryting I haue therfore chosen these fewe thynges out of a greate heape of such as seemed to me most worthy to be noted among the large wrytynges of the aucthoures and searchers of the same Wherfore forasmuch as you haue endeuored to wrest out of my handes the whole example of all my woorkes to adde the same to the innumerable volumes of your lybrarie I thought it good nowe to make a breefe rehersall of those thynges which were done from that yeare of a thousand and fiue hundred euen vnto this yeare which is the tenth from that For I entend to wryte more largely of these thynges heareafter if god graunt me lyfe I had written a whole booke by it selfe of the superstytions of the people of the iland supposyng therwyth to haue accomplyshed the whole Decade consisting of ten bookes But I haue added this to the tenth as a perpendyculer lyne and as it were a backe guide or rerewarde to the other So that you may knytte the fyrst tenth to the nynth impute this to occupye the place of the tenth to fyll vp the Decade This order haue I appoynted lest I shoulde be compelled often times to wryte ouer the whole worke or send you the same defaced with blottes and interlyning But now let vs come to our purpose The shyppe maisters and mariners ran ouer many coastes during these ten yeares But euer folowed such as were fyrst found by Colonus For rasyng continually alonge by the tract of Paria which they beleue to be part of the firme land or continent of east India some of them chaunced vppon certaine new landes towarde the east and some towarde the west in which they founde both gold and frankensence For they brought from thence manye iewells and ouches of golde and greate plentie of frankensence which they had of the people of those countreyes partlye for exchaunge of some of our thynges and partlye by force ouer commyng them by warre Yet in some places although they be naked they ouercame our men and slewe whole armyes For they are exceedyng fyerce and vse venemous arrowes and long staues lyke iauelens made hard at the ende with fire They founde many beastes both creepyng and foure footed much dyfferyng from ours varyable and of sundrye shapes innumerable yet not hurtfull except Lions Tigers and Crocodiles This I meane in sundry regions of that greate lande of Paria but not in the ilandes no not so muche as one for all the beastes of the ilandes are meeke and without hurte except men which as wee haue sayde are in many ilandes deuourers of mans fleshe There are also dyuers kyndes of foules And in many places battes of such bygnes that they are equall with turtle doues These battes haue oftentymes assalted men in the night in theyr sleepe and so bytten them with theyr venemous teeth that they haue ben therby almost dryuen to madnes in so much that they haue ben compelled to flee from such places as from rauenous Harpies In an other place where certaine of them slept in the night season on the sands by the sea syde a monster commyng out of the sea came vpon one of them secretelye and caryed hym away by the myddest out of the syght of his felowes to whom he cryed in vayne for helpe vntyl the beast leapt into the sea with her pray It was the kynges pleasure that they shoulde remayne in these landes and buylde townes and fortresses whereunto they were so well wyllyng that diuers profered them selues to take vpon them the subduyng of the lande makyng great suite to the kyng that they myght be appoynted thereto The coast of this tracte is exceedyng great and large and the regions and landes thereof extende marueylous farre so that they
affirme the continent of these regions with the Ilandes about the same to be thryse as bygge as al Europe beside those landes that the Portugales haue founde southwarde whiche are also exceedyng large Therfore doubtlesse Spayne hath deserued great prayse in these our dayes in that it hath made knowen vnto vs so many thousandes of Antipodes whiche lay hid before and vnknowen to our forefathers and hath thereby ministred so large matter to wryte of to suche learned wyttes as are desyrous to set foorth knowledge to the commoditie of men to whom I opened a way when I geathered these things rudelye togeather as you see the whiche neuerthelesse I truste you wil take in good part aswell for that I can not adourne my rudenesse with better vesture as also that I neuer toke penne in hande to wryte lyke an hystoriographer but only by epistles scribeled in haste to satisfie them from whose commaundementes I myght not drawe backe my foote But nowe I haue digressed yenough let vs nowe therefore returne to Hispaniola Our men haue founde by experience that the bread of the Ilande is of smal strength to suche as haue ben vsed to our bread made of wheate and that theyr strengthes were muche decayed by vsyng of the same wherefore the kyng hath of late commaunded that wheate shoulde be sowen there in diuers places and at sundry tymes of the yeere It groweth into holow reedes with few eares but those very bygge and fruitefull They fynde the lyke softnesse and delicatenesse to be in hearbes whiche growe there to the height of corne Neat or cattel become of bygger stature and exceedyng fat but theyr fleshe is more vnsauerie and theyr bones as they say eyther without marow or the same to be very wateryshe but of hogges and swyne they affirme the contrary that they are more wholsome and of better taste by reason of certayne wylde fruites whiche they eate beyng of much better nourishment then maste There is almost none other kynde of fleshe commonly solde in the market The multitude of hogges are exceedyngly encreased and become wylde as soone as they are out of the swyneheardes keepyng They haue suche plentie of beastes and foules that they shal hereafter haue no neede to haue any brought from other places The increase of al beastes grow bigger then the broode they came of by reason of the ranknes of the pasture although theyr feeding be only of grasse without eyther barley or other grayne But we haue sayd yenough of Hispaniola They haue nowe founde that Cuba which of long tyme they thought to haue ben firme lande for the great length thereof is an Ilande yet is it no maruayle that the inhabitants them selues tolde our men when they searched the length therof that it was without ende For this nation beyng naked and content with a lytle and with the limittes of theyr owne countrey is not greatly curious to knowe what theyr neyghbours doo or the largenesse of theyr dominion nor yet knewe they yf there were any other thyng vnder heauen besyde that whiche they walked on with theyr feete Cuha is from the East into the West muche longer then Hispaniola and in breadth from the North to the South muche lesse then they supposed at the fyrst for it is very narowe in respect of the length and is for the most part very fruitefull and pleasaunt Eastwarde not farre from Hispaniola there lyeth an Iland lesse then Hispaniola more then by the halfe whiche our men called Sancti Iohannis beyng in manner square in this they founde exceedyng ryche golde mynes but beyng nowe occupyed in the golde mynes of Hispaniola they haue not yet sent labourers into the Iland But the plentie and reuenue of golde of al other regions geue place to Hispaniola where they geue them selues in manner to none other thyng then to geather golde of whiche worke this order is appointed To euery such wittie and skilful man as is put in trust to be a surueyour or ouerseer of these workes there is assigned one or more kings of the Iland with their subiects These kings accordyng to theyr league come with theyr people at certayne tymes of the yeere and resort euery of them to the golde myne to the whiche he is assigned where they haue al manner of dygging or mining tooles delyuered them and euery king with his men haue a certayne rewarde alowed them for theyr labour For when they depart from the mynes to sowyng of corne and other tyllage wherunto they are addict at certaine other tymes lest theyr foode should faile them they receiue for their labour one a ierkin or a dublet another a shyrt another a cloke or a cap for they nowe take pleasure in these thyngs and goe no more naked as they were woont to doo And thus they vse the helpe and labour of the inhabitauntes both for the tyllage of theyr ground and in theyr golde mynes as though they were theyr seruantes or bondemen They beare this yoke of seruitude with an euyll wyl but yet they beare it they cal these hyred labourers Anaborias yet the kyng dooth not suffer that they shoulde be vsed as bondemen and only at his pleasure they are set at libertie or appoynted to worke At suche tyme as they are called togeather of theyr kynges to woorke as souldiers or pyoners are assembled of theyr centurions many of them stele away to the mountaynes and wooddes where they lye lurkyng beyng content for that tyme to lyue with wylde fruites rather then take the paynes to labour They are docible and apte to learne and haue nowe vtterly forgotten they re olde superstitions They beleue godly and beare well in memory such thynges as they haue learned of our â—ayth Theyr kyngs children are brought vp with the chiefest of our men and are instructed in letters and good maners When they are growen to mans age they sende them home to theyr countreyes to be example to other and especially to gouerne the people yf theyr fathers be dead that they may the better set forth the Christian religion and keepe theyr subiectes in loue and obedience By reason wherof they come now by faire meanes gentel perswasions to the mines which lye in two regions of the ilande about thyrtie myles dystaunt from the cytie of Dominica wherof the on is called Sancti Christophori and the other beyng distant aboute fourscore and tenne myles is called Cibaua not farre from the cheefe hauen called Portus Regalis These regions are very large in the which in many places here and there are founde somtyme euen in the vpper crust of the earth and somtyme among the stones certayne rounde pieces or plates of golde sometime of smale quantytie and in some places of great wayght in so much that there hath byn founde rounde pieces of three hundred pounde weyght and one of three thousande three hundred and tenne pounde weyght the whiche as you harde was sent
also through the maliciousnesse of the venime consumed and was dried vp by lytle litle While these things chaunced thus they espied Nicuesa the other captayne to whom Beragua the region of the West syde of Vraba was assigned to inhabite He gaue wynd to his sayles to take his voyage toward Beragua the day after that Fogeda departed out of the hauen of Carthago He with his armie that he brought with hym coasted euer along by the shore vntyll he came to the gulfe Coiba whose kynges name is Careta Here he founde theyr language to be in manner nothyng lyke vnto that of Hispaniola or of the hauen of Carthago whereby he perceyued that in this tracte there are many languages differyng from theyr owne borderers Nicuesa departyng from Coiba went to the prouince or Lieuetenauntshyp of Fogeda his companion Within a fewe dayes after he hym selfe entryng into one of those marchaunt shyppes whiche the Spanyardes call Carauelas commaunded that the bigger vessels should folow farre behinde He tooke with hym two smal shyppes commonly called Bergandines or Brigandines I haue thought it good in al the discourse of these bookes to vse the common names of thinges because I had rather be playne then curious especially forasmuche as there do dayly aryse many newe thynges vnknowen to the antiquitie whereof they haue left no true names After the departure of Nicuesa there came a shyppe from Hispaniola to Fogeda the captayne wherof was one Barnardino de Calauera who had stolne the same from Hispaniola with threescore men without leaue or aduice of the Admiral and the other gouernours With the vyttualles which this shyppe brought they refreshed them selues and somewhat recouered theyr strengthes muche weakened for lacke of meate Fogeda his companions whyspered and muttered agaynst hym daylye more and more that he fedde them foorth with vayne hope for he had tolde them that he left Ancisus in Hispaniola whom he chose by the kinges commission to be a iudge in causes because he was learned in the law to come shortly after him with a shyp laden with vyttualles and that he marueyled that he was not come many dayes synce And herein he sayd nothing but trueth for when he departed he left Ancisus halfe redye to folowe hym But his felowes supposyng that al that he had sayde of Ancisus had ben fayned some of them determined priuily to steale away the two Brigandines from Fogeda and to returne to Hispaniola But Fogeda hauyng knowledge hereof preuented theyr deuice for leauyng y e custodie of the fortresse with a certayne noble gentleman called Francisco Pizarro he him selfe thus wounded with a fewe other in his companye entred into the shyppe wherof we spake before and sayled directly to Hispaniola both to heale the wounde of his thygh yf any remedie myght be found and also to knowe what was the cause of Ancisus tarying leauyng hope with his felowes whiche were nowe brought from three hundred to threescore partly by famine and partly by warre that he woulde returne within the space of .xv. dayes prescribyng also a condition to Pizarro and his companions that it should not be imputed to them for treason to depart from thence yf he came not agayne at the day appoynted with vyttuales and a newe supplye of men These .xv. dayes beyng nowe past wheras they coulde yet heare nothyng of Fogeda and were dayly more and more oppressed with sharpe hunger they entred into the two Brigandines which were left and departed from that land And as they were nowe saylyng on the mayne sea towarde Hispaniola a tempest sodaynely arysyng swalowed one of the Brigandines with all that were therein Some of theyr felowes affyrme that they playnely sawe a fyshe of huge greatnesse swimmyng about the Brigandine for those seas bryng foorth great monsters and that with a stroke of her tayle she broke the rudder of the shyppe in peeces whiche faylyng the Brigandine being driuen about by force of the tempest was drowned not farre from the Iland called Fortis lying betwene the coastes of the hauen Carthago and Vraba As they of the other Brigandine would haue landed in the Ilande they were dryuen backe with the bowes and arrowes of the fierce barbarians Proceeding therefore on theyr voyage they mette by chaunce with Ancisus betwene the hauen of Carthago and the region of Cuchibacoa in the mouth of the riuer whiche the Spanyardes called Boium gatti that is the house of the catte because they sawe a catte fyrste in that place Boium in the tongue of Hispaniola is a house Ancisus came with a shyppe laden with al thynges necessarie both for meate and drynke and apparell bryngyng also with hym an another Brigandine This is he for whose commyng the captayne Fogeda looked for so long He loosed anker from Hispaniola in the Ides of September and y e fourth day after his departure he espyed certayne hygh mountaynes the whiche for the abundance of snow which lieth there continually in the tops therof the Spanyards called Serra Neuata when Colonus the fyrst fynder of those regions passed by the same The fift day he sayled by Os Draconis â–ª They which were in the Brigandine tolde Ancisus that Fogeda was returned to Hispaniola but Ancisus supposyng that they had fained that tale commaunded them by thauctoritie of his commission to turne backe agayne The Brigandiners obeyed folowed him yet made they humble suite vnto him that he woulde graunt them that with his fauour they myght eyther goe agayne to Hispaniola or that he hym selfe would bring them to Nicuesa and that they woulde for his gentlenesse declared towarde them in this behalfe rewarde hym with two thousande drammes of golde for they were ryche in golde but poore in bread But Ancisus assented to neyther of theyr requestes affyrmyng that he myght by no meanes goe any other way then to Vraba the prouince assigned to Fogeda Whereupon by theyr conduct he tooke his voyage directly towarde Vraba But nowe let it not seeme tedious to your holynesse to heare of one thyng woorthy to be remembred whiche chaunced to this Lieuetenant Ancisus as he came thyther for he also cast anker in the coastes of the region of Caramairi whiche we sayde to be famous by reason of the hauen of Carthago and of the goodly stature strength and beautie both of men and women beyng in the same Here he sent certayne to goe alande on the shore both to fetch fresh water also to repayre the ship boate which was sore bruised In this meane tyme a great multitude of the people of the countrey armed after theyr manner came about our men as they were occupyed about theyr busynesse and stoode in a redynesse to fyght for the space of three dayes continually duryng whiche time neyther durst they set vpon our men nor our men assaile them Thus both parties keepyng theyr aray stoode styll three whole dayes the one gasyng on the other Yet al
this tyme our men applyed theyr woorke placyng the shypwryghtes in the myddest of theyr armie As they stoode thus amased two of our company went to fyll theyr water pottes at the mouth of the ryuer neere vnto them both where sodenly there came foorth agaynst them a captayne of the barbarians with tenne armed men whiche inclosed them and with terrible countenance bent theyr arrowes against them but shot them not of One of our men fledde but the other remayned callyng his felowe agayne and rebukyng hym for his fearefulnesse Then he spake to the barbarians in theyr owne language whiche he had learned beyng conuersaunt with the captiues that were caryed from thence long before They marueylyng to heare a stranger speake in theyr natiue tongue put of theyr fiercenesse and fell to frendly communication demaundyng who were the captaynes of that company whiche were aryued in theyr lande He aunswered that they were strangers passing by and that he marueyled why they would attempt to driue them from theyr coastes and disturbe their shyps arguyng them of follie and crueltie and further threatnyng their ruine and destruction except they woulde vse them selues more frendely towarde them For he aduertised them that there woulde shortlye come into theyr lande armed men in number like vnto the sandes of the sea and that to theyr vtter destruction not only yf they resysted them not but also except they receiued them and entertayned them honourably In the meane time Ancisus was enfourmed that his men were deteyned wherefore suspectyng some deceyte he brought foorth all his target men for feare of theyr venemous arrowes and settyng them in battel araye he marched forwarde towarde them whiche stayed his men But he whiche communed with the barbarians geuyng hym a signe with his hande to proceede no further he stayed and callyng to hym the other he knewe that all was safe for the barbarians profered hym peace because they were not they whom they suspected them to haue ben meanyng by Fogeda Nicuesa who had spoyled the vyllage standyng there by the sea syde and caryed away many captiues and also burnt another vyllage further within the lande And therefore as they sayde the cause of theyr commyng thyther was to reuenge those iniuries yf by any meanes they coulde yet that they woulde not exercise theyr weapons agaynst the innocent for they sayd it was vngodly to fyght agaynst any not beyng prouoked Laying apart therefore theyr bowes and arrowes they enterteyned our men gentelly and gaue them great plentie of salted fyshe and bread of theyr countrey and filled theyr vessels with Syder made of their countrey fruites and seedes not inferior to wine in goodnesse Thus Ancisus hauing entred into frendship and made a league of peace with thinhabitantes of Caramairi which were before sore prouoked by other captaynes he lanched from that lande and directed his course to Vraba by the Ilande Fortis hauing in his shippe a hundred and fyftie freshe men whiche were substitute in the place of suche as were dead also twelue Mares and manye swine and other beastes both males and females for encrease Lykewyse fyftie peeces of ordinaunce with great multitude of targettes swoordes iauelyns and suche other weapons for the warres but all this with euil speede and in an euil houre for as they were euen nowe entryng into the hauen the gouernour of the shyppe whiche sate at the helme stroke the shyppe vpon the sandes where it was so fast enclosed and beaten with the waues of the sea that it opened in the myddest and all lost that was therein a thyng surelye miserable to beholde for of all the vyttualles that they had they saued only twelue barrelles of meale with a fewe cheeses and a lytle bysket bread for al the beastes were drowned and they them selues escaped hardly and halfe naked by helpe of the Brigandine and ship boate carying with them only a fewe weapons Thus they fell from one calamitie into another beyng nowe more carefull for theyr lyues then for golde Yet beyng brought alyue and in health to that lande whiche they so greatly desyred they coulde do no lesse then to prouide for the susteynyng of theyr bodyes because they coulde not lyue only by ayre and whereas theyr owne fayled they must needes lyue by other mens Yet among these so many aduersities one good chaunce offered it selfe vnto them for they founde not farre from the sea syde a groue of Date trees among the which and also among the reeke or weedes of the marishes they espyed a multitude of wylde bores with whose fleshe they fed theÌ„ selues wel certayne dayes These they say to be lesse then ours and with so short tayles that they thought they had ben cut of They differ also from ours in theyr feete for theyr hinder feete are whole vndiuided and also without any hoofe But they affirme that they haue prooued by experience theyr fleshe to be of better taste and more wholsome then ours During this time they fed also of Dates and the rootes of young Date trees whiche they eate likewise in Ciuile and Granata where they call them Palmitos of y e leaues wherof they make beesâ—mes in Rome Sometymes also they eate of the apples of that region whiche haue the taste of pruines and haue also stones in them and are but lytle and of redde colour I suppose them to be of that kinde wherof I ate in the citie of Alexandria in Egypt in the moneth of Apryll the trees whereof the Iewes that dwell there beyng learned in the lawe of Moses affyrme to be the Cedars of Libanus whiche beare olde fruites and newe all the yeere as doth the orange tree These apples are good to be eaten and haue a certayne sweetenesse myxte with a gentyll sharpnesse as haue the fruites called Sorbes Thinhabytantes plant these trees in theyr orchyardes and gardens and noryshe them with greate diligence as we do cheries peaches and quinses This tree in leaues heyght and trunke is very lyke vnto the tree that beareth the fruyte called Zizipha which the Apothecaries call Iuiuba But whereas now the wylde bores began to fayle them they were agayne enforced to consulte and prouyde for the tyme to come Whereuppon with theyr whole armye they entered further into the land The Canibales of this prouynce are most expert archers Ancisus had in his companye a hundred men They mette by the way with only three men of thinhabitantes naked and armed with bowes venomous arowes who without all feare assayled our men fyercesly wounded manye and slue manye and when they emptyed theyr quiuers fledde as swyftely as the wynde For as we haue saide they are exceding swyfte of foote by reason of theyr loose gooing from theyr chyldes age they affyrme that they lette slyp no arrowe out of theyr bowes in vayne Our men therfore returned the same way that they came muche more vnfortunate then they were before and consulted among
them selues to leaue the land especialy because the inhabytantes had ouerthrowne the fortresse which Fogeda buylded and had burnt thyrtie houses of the vyllage as soone as Pizarrus and his company lefte of Fogeda and forsaken the land By this occasion therfore being dryuen to seeke further they had intelligence that the west syde of that goulfe of Vraba was more fruitfull better to inhabite Wherfore they sent the one halfe of theyr men thither with the brigandine and left the other neere to the sea syde on the east part This gulfe is fourteene myles in breadth and howe muche the further it entereth into the fyrme lande it is so much the narower Into the gulfe of Vraba there fall many ryuers but one as they saye more fortunate then the ryuer of Nilus in Egypt This ryuer is called Darien vpon the bankes whereof being very fruitfull of trees and grasse they entended to plante theyr newe colonye or habitation But the inhabytantes marueylyng at the brigandyne being bigger then theyr canoas and specially at the sayles therof fyrst sent away theyr chyldren and weakesse sort of theyr people with theyr baggage and houshould stuffe and assembled all suche togeather both men and women as were meete for the warres Thus beyng armed with weapons and desperate mindes they stoode in a redynesse to fyght and taryed the comming of our men vpon a lytle hyll as it were to take the aduauntage of the grounde our men iudged them to be about fiue hundred in number Then Ancisus the captayne of our men and Lieuetenaunt in the steede of Fogeda settyng his men in order of battayle aray and with his whole company kneeling on his knees they all made humble prayers to GOD for the victorie and a vowe to the image of the blessed virgin whiche is honoured in Ciuile by the name of Sancta Maria Antiqua promysyng to sende her many golden gyftes and a straunger of that countrey also to name the vyllage Sancta Maria Antiqua after her name lykewyse to erecte a temple called by the same name or at the least to dedicate the king of that prouince his pallace to that vse if it should please her to assist them in this dangerous enterprise This done al the souldiers toke an oth that no man should turne his backe to his enimies Then y e captayne commaunding them to be in a redynesse with theyr targets and iauelyns and the trumpetter to blowe the battayle they fiercely assayled theyr enimies with a larome but the naked barbarians not long able to abyde the force of our men were put to flight with theyr kyng and captayne Cemaccus Our men entred into the vyllage where they founde plentie of meate such as the people of the countrey vse sufficient to asswage theyr present hunger as bread made of rootes with certayne fruites vnlyke vnto ours whiche they reserue for store as we doo Chestnuttes Of these people the men are vtterly naked but the women from the nauel downewarde are couered with a fyne cloth made of gossampine cotton This region is vtterly without any sharpenesse of wynter for the mouth of this ryuer of Darien is onlye eyght degrees distaunt from the Equinoctiall lyne so that the common sorte of our men scarcely perceyue any dyfference in length betweene the day and nyght all the whole yeere but because they are ignoraunt in astronomie they can perceyue no small dyfference Therefore we neede not muche passe if the degree differ somewhat from theyr opinion forasmuche as the dyfference can not be great The day after that they aryued at the lande they sayled along by the ryuer where they founde a great thycket of reedes continuyng for the space of a myle in length supposing as it chaunced in deede that the borderers thereabout whiche had fled had eyther lyen lurkyng there or els to haue hid theyr stuffe among those reedes Whereupon armyng them selues with theyr targets for feare of the people lying in ambushe they searched the thycket diligently and founde it without men but replenyshed with housholde stuffe and golde They founde also a great multitude of shetes made of the silke or cotton of the gossampine tree lykewyse diuers kyndes of vessels tooles made of wood and many of earth also many brest plates of golde and ouches wrought after theyr manner to the summe of a hundred two pound weight for they also take pleasure in the beautie of golde and worke it very artificially although it be not the pryce of thyngs among them as with vs. They haue it out of other regions for exchaunge of such thynges as theyr countrey bringeth forth for such regions as haue plentie of bread and gossampine lacke golde and suche as bryng forth golde are for the most part rough with mountaynes and rockes and therefore barren and thus they exercise marchandies without the vse of money Reioysyng therefore with double gladnesse aswel in that they sawe great lykenesse of golde as also that fortune had offered them so fayre and fruiteful a countrey they sent for theyr felowes whom they had left before in the East syde of the gulfe of Vraha Yet some say that the ayre is there vnwholsome because that part of the region lyeth in a lowe valley enuironed with mountaynes and maryshes The seconde booke of the seconde Decade of the supposed continent I Haue described to your holynesse where Fogeda with his companye to whom the large tractes of Vraba was assigned to inhabite entended to fasten theyr foote Let vs nowe therefore leaue them of Vraba for a whyle and returne agayne to Nicuesa to whom the gouernaunce and Lieutenauntshyp of the moste large prouince of Beragua beyng the West syde of the gulfe of Vraba was appoynted We haue declared howe Nicuesa departyng with one Carauel and two Brigandines from Vraba the iurisdiction of his frend companion Fogeda directed his course Westwarde to Beragua leauing the bygger shyppes somewhat behind hym to folowe hym a farre of but he tooke this deuice in an euyl houre for he both lost his felowes in the nyght and went past the mouth of the riuer Beragua whiche he cheefely sought One Lupus Olanus a Cantabrian and gouernour of one of the great shyppes had the conduct of one of the Brigandines he commyng behynde learned of the inhabitauntes whiche was the way Eastwarde to the gulfe of Beragua ouerpassed and left behynde of Nicuesa Olanus therfore directyng his course toward the East met with the other Brigandine which had also wandered out of the way by reason of the darkenes of the night The gouernour of this Brigandine was one Petrus de Vmbria Thus both beyng glad of theyr meetyng they consulted what was best to be done and whiche way they coulde coniecture theyr gouernour had taken his voyage After deliberation they iudged that Nicuesa coulde no more lacke some to put hym in remembrance of Beragua then they them selues were mindful hereof hopyng also to
stay and went hym selfe alone to the toppe as it were to take the fyrst possession thereof Where fallyng prostrate vppon the grounde and raysing hym selfe againe vpon his knees as the maner of the Christians is to praye lyftyng vp his eyes and handes towarde heauen and directyng his face towarde the newe founde south sea he powred foorth his humble and deuout prayers before almightie God as a spirituall sacrifyce with thankes gyuing that it pleased his diuine maiestie to reserue vnto that day the victorie and prayse of so great a thyng vnto hym beyng a man but of smal wyt and knowledge of lytle experience and base parentage When he had thus made his prayers after his warlike maner he beckned with his hande to his companions to come to hym shewyng them the great mayne sea heretofore vnknowen to thinhabitants of Europe Aphrike and Asia Here agayne he fell to his prayers as before desyring almyghtie God and the blessed virgin to fauour his beginnynges and to geue hym good successe to subdue those landes to the glory of his holy name and encrease of his true religion All his companions dyd lykewyse and praysed God with loude voyces for ioy Then Vascus with no lesse manlye corage then Hanniball of Carthage shewed his souldiers Italye and the promontories of the Alpes exhorted his men to lyft vp theyr hartes and to beholde the lande euen nowe vnder theyr feete and the sea before theyr eyes whiche shoulde bee vnto them a full and iust rewarde of theyr great laboures and trauayles nowe ouerpassed When he had sayde these woordes he commaunded them to raise certaine heapes of stones in the stede of alters for a token of possession They descendyng from the toppes of the mountaynes least suche as myght come after hym shoulde argue hym of lying or falshood he wrote the kyng of Castels name here and there on barkes of the trees both on the ryght hande and on the left and raysed heapes of stones all the way that he went vntyll he came to the region of the next kyng towarde the south whose name was Chiapes This kyng came foorth agaynst hym with a great multitude of men threatnyng and forbyddyng him not only to passe through his dominions but also to goe no further Hereupon Vaschus set his battayle in aray and exhorted his men beyng nowe but fewe fiersly to assayle theyr enemies and to esteeme them no better then dogges meate as they shoulde be shortly Placing therefore the hargabusiers and masties in the forefroont they saluted kyng Chiapes and his men with such alarome that when they hard the noyse of the gunnes saw the flames of fire and smelt the sauour of brimstone for the wynde blewe towardes them they droue them selues to flyght with such feare lest thunderboultes and lyghtnynges folowed them that many fell downe to the ground whom our men pursuing fyrst keepyng theyr order and after breakyng theyr aray slue but fewe and tooke manye captyue For they determined to vse no extremitie but to pacyfie those regions as quietly as they myght Enteryng therfore into the pallace of kyng Chiapes Vaschus commaunded many of the captyues to be loosed wyllyng them to search out theyr kyng and to exhort hym to come thither and that in so doyng he woulde be his frend and profer hym peace besyde many other benefites But if he refused to come it shoulde turne to the destruction of hym and his and vtter subuertion of his countrey And that they myght the more assuredly do this message to Chiapes he sent with them certayne of the guides whiche came with hym from Quarequa Thus Chiapes beyng persuaded aswell by the Quarequans who coulde coniecture to what end the matter woulde come by thexperience whiche they had seene in them selues and theyr kyng as also by the reasons of his owne men to whom Vaschus had made suche frendly promises in his behalfe came foorth of the caues in the whiche he lurkâ—d and submitted hym selfe to Vaschus who accepted hym frendly They ioyned handes embraced the one the other made a perpetuall league of frendship and gaue great rewardes on both sydes Chiapes gaue Vaschus foure hundred poundes weyght of wrought golde of those poundes whiche they call Pesos and Vaschus recompenced hym agayne with certayne of our thynges Thus beyng made frendes they remayned togeather a fewe dayes vntyll Vaschus souldiers were come whiche he left behynde hym in Quarequa Then callyng vnto hym the guydes and labourers whiche came with hym from thence he rewarded them liberally and dismissed them with thankes Shortly after by the conduct of Chiapes hym selfe and certayne of his men departyng from the toppes of the mountaynes he came in the space of foure dayes to the bankes of the newe sea where assemblyng al his men togeather with the kynges scribes and notaries they addicted all that mayne sea with all the landes adiacent thereunto to the dominion and Empire of Castile Here he left part of his souldiers with Chiapes that he myght the easelier search those coastes And takyng with hym niene of theyr lyghters made of one whole tree whiche they call Culchas as thinhabitantes of Hispaniola cal them Canoas also a bande of fourescore men with certeyne of Chiapes men he passed ouer a great riuer and came to the regioÌ„ of a certeine king whose name was Coquera He attempted to resyst our men as dyd the other and with lyke successe for he was ouercome and put to flight But Vaschus who entended to winne him with gentelnes sent certeyne Chiapeans to hym to declare the great power of our men howe inuincible they were howe mercifull to such as submit them selues also cruell and seuere to such as obstinatly withstand them Promisyng hym furthermore that by the frendship of our men he might be wel assured by thexample of other not only to liue in peace and quietnes hym selfe but also to be reuenged of the iniuries of his enimies Wyllyng hym in conclusion so to weigh the matter that yf he refused this gentlenes profered vnto hym by so great a victourer he should or it were long learne by feelyng to repent hym to late of that peryll whiche he myght haue auoyded by hearyng Coquera with these wordes and examples shaken with great feare came gladly with the messengers bryngyng with him .650 Pesos of wrought golde whiche he gaue vnto our men Vaschus rewarded hym likewise as we sayd before of Poncha Coquera beyng thus pacified they returned to the pallace of Chiapes where visityng theyr companions and restyng there a whyle Vaschus determined to search the next great gulfe the whiche from the furthest reachyng thereof into the lande of theyr countryes from the enteraunce of the mayne sea they say to be threescore myles This they named saint Michaels gulfe whiche they say to be full of inhabited Ilandes and hugious rockes Entryng therefore into the niene boates of Culchas wherewith he passed ouer the ryuer
thought it most woorthy to be called great as the greatest of all other knowen to them Haiti is as muche to saye by interpretation as rough sharpe or craggie But by a fyguratiue speache called denomination whereby the whole is named by part they named the whole Ilande Haiti that is rough Forasmuche as in many places the face of this Ilande is rough by reason of the craggie mountaynes horrible thicke wooddes and terribly darke and deepe valleys enuironed with great high mountaynes although it be in manye other places exceedyng beautifull and floryshyng Heere must we somewhat digresse from thorder we are entred into Perhappes your holynesse wyll maruell by what meanes these symple men shoulde of so long continaunce beare in mynde suche principles wheras they haue no knowledge of letters So it is therefore that from the begynnyng theyr princes haue euer been accustomed to commit theyr children to the gouernaunce of their wise men whiche they call Boitios to be enstructed in knowledge and to beare in memorie such thynges as they learne They geue them selues chiefly to two thynges As generally to learne thoriginall and successe of thynges and perticulerly to rehearse the noble factes of theyr graundefathers great graundefathers and auncestours aswell in peace as in warre These two thynges they haue of olde tyme composed in certayne myters and ballettes in theyr language These rymes or ballettes they call Areiâ—os And as our mynstrelles are accustomed to syng to the Harpe or Lute so do they in lyke maner syng these songes and daunce to the same playing on Timbrels made of shels of certaine fishes These Tymbrels they call Maguei They haue also songes and ballettes of loue and other of lamentations and mournyng some also to encourage them to the warres with euery of them theyr tunes agreeable to the matter They exercyse them selues muche in daunceyng wherein they are very actyue and of greater agilitie then our men by reason they geue them selues to nothyng so muche and are not hyndered with apparell whiche is also the cause of theyr swiftenesse of foote In theyr 〈◊〉 lefte them of theyr auncestours they haue prophecies of the commyng of our men into theyr countrey These they syng with mournyng and as it were with gronyng bewayle the losse of their libertie and seruitude For these prophesies make mention that there shoulde come into the Iland Maguacochios that is men clothed in apparell and armed with suche swoordes as shoulde cut a man in sunder at one stroke vnder whose yoke their posteritie shoulde be subdued And here I do not maruell that theyr predecessours coulde prophecye of the seruitude and bondage of their succession if it be true that is sayd of the familiaritie they haue with spirites whiche appeare to them in the nyght whereof we haue largely made mention in the nienth booke of the fyrst decade where also we haue entreated of their Zemes that is their Idoles and Images of deuylles whiche they honoured But they saye that since these Zemes were taken away by the Christians the spirites haue no more appeared Our men ascribe this to the signe of the crosse wherwith they defende them selues from suche spirites For they are nowe all cleansed and sanctified by the water of baptisme whereby they haue renounced the deuyl andare consecrated the holy members of Christ. They are vniuersally studious to knowe the boundes and limittes of their regions kingdomes and especially their Mitani that is noble men so that euen they are not vtterly ignorant in the surueying of theyr landes The common people haue none other care then of settyng sowyng and plantyng They are most expert fyshers by reason that throughout the whole yeere they are accustomed dayly to plunge them selues in the ryuers so that in maner they lyue no lesse in the water then on the lande They are also geuen to huntyng For as I haue sayd before they haue two kindes of foure footed beastes whereof the one is litle Cunnes called Vtias and other Serpentes named Iuannas much lyke vnto Crocodils of eyght foote length of most pleasaunte tast and lyuyng on the lande All the Ilandes nooryshe innumerable byrdes and foules as Stockdoues Duckes Geese Hearons besyde no lesse number of Popingiais then Sparowes with vs. Euery kyng hath his subiectes diuided to sundrye affaires as some to huntyng other to fyshyng other some to husbandrye But let vs nowe returne to speake further of the names We haue sayde that Quizqueia and Haiti were the olde names of this Ilande The whole Ilande was also called Cipanga of the region of the mountaynes aboundyng with golde lyke as our auncient poetes called all Italy Latium of part thereof Therefore as they called Ausonia and Hesperia Italy euen so by the names of Quizqueia Haiti and Cipanga they vnderstode the whole Ilande of Hispaniola Our men dyd fyrst name it Isabella of queene Helisabeth whiche in the Spanyshe tounge is called Isabella and so named it of the fyrst Colonie where they planted their habitation vpon the banke neere vnto they sea on the North syde of the Ilande as we haue further declared in the fyrst decade But of the names this shal suffyse Let vs nowe therfore speake of the fourme of the Ilande They whiche fyrst ouerran it described it vnto me to be lyke vnto the leafe of a Chestnut tree with a gulfe towarde the west syde lying open agaynst the Ilande of Cuba But the expert shypmaistier Andreas Moralis brought me the fourme thereof somewhat differyng from that For from both the corners as from the East angle and the West he described it to be indented eaten with many great gulfes and the corners to reache foorth very farre and placeth manye large and safe hauens in the great gulfe on the East syde But I trust shortly so to trauayle further herein that a perfect carde of the perticular description of Hispaniola may be sent vnto your holynesse For they haue nowe drawne the Geographicall description therof in cardes euen as your holynesse hath seene the fourme and situation of Spayne and Italy with theyr mountaynes valleyes riuers cities and colonies Let vs therefore without shamfastnesse compare the Iland of Hispaniola to Italy somtyme the head and queene of the whole worlde For if we consyder the quantitie it shal bee founde litle lesse and muche more fruitefull It reacheth from the East into the West fyue hundred and fourtie myles accordyng to the computation of the later searchers although the Admiral somewhat increased this number as we haue sayde in the fyrst decade It is in breadth somewhere almost three hundred myles and in some places narower where the corners are extended But it is surely muche more blessed and fortunate then Italie beyng for the most part thereof so temperate and floryshyng that it is neyther vexed with sharpe colde nor afflicted with immoderate heare It hath both the steyinges or conuersions
greater respect to luker and gaynes then diligently to search the workes of nature whervnto I haue ben euer naturally inclined haue therfore with all possible endeuour applyed myne eyes intelligence to fynde the same And this present Summarie shall not be contrary or dyuers from my larger historie wherein as I haue sayde I haue more amply declared these thinges but shal onely more breefely expresse theffect thereof vntyl such tyme as God shall restore me to myne owne house where I may accomplyshe and fynyshe my sayde generall hystorie Whervnto to gyue the fyrst principle I say that Don Christopher Colonus as it is well knowen beyng the fyrst Admirall of this India discouered the same in the dayes of the Catholyke kyng Don Ferdinando and the lady Elizabeth his wyfe graundfather and graundmother vnto your maiestie in the yeere .1491 and came to Barzalona in the yeere .1492 with the fyrst Indians and other shewes and proofes of the great ryches and notice of this west Empire The which gyft and benefite was suche that it is vnto this day one of the greatest that euer any subiecte or seruaunt hath done for his prince or countrey as is manifest to the whole worlde And to say the trueth this shall doubtlesse bee so commodious and profytable vnto the whole realme of Spayne that I repute him no good Castilian or Spanyarde that doeth not recognise the same And as I haue sayde before forasmuche as in my sayde generall historie I haue more largely intreated of these thinges I intende at this present only briefely to rehearse certayne especiall thinges the whiche surely are very fewe in respecte of the thousandes that myght be sayde in this behalfe Fyrst therefore I will speake somewhat of the nauigation into these parties then of the generation of the nations which are founde in the same with theyr rytes customes â–ª and ceremonies also of beastes foules byrdes woormes fyshes seas ryuers sprynges trees plantes hearbes and dyuers other thinges whiche are engendered both on the lande and in the water And forasmuche as I am one of thorder and company of them that are appoynted to returne into these regions to serue your maiestie if therefore the thinges conteyned in this booke shall not be distincte in suche order as I promised to perfourme in my greater woorke I desyre your maiestie to haue no respect herevnto but rather to consider the noueltie of such straunge thinges as I haue herein declared whiche is the chiefe ende that moued mee to wryte Protestyng that in this Summarie I haue written the trueth of suche thinges as came to my remembraunce whereof not onely I my selfe can testifie but also dyuers other worthy and credible men which haue been in those regions and are now present in your maiesties courte And thus it shall suffyse to haue sayde thus much vnto your maiestie in maner of a proheme vnto this present worke whiche I most humbly desyre your maiestie as thankefully to accept as I haue written it faythfully Of the ordinary nauigation from Spayne to the west Indies THe nauigation which is commonly made from Spayne to the west India is from Siuile where your maiestie haue your house of contraction for those partes with also your offycers therevnto parteynyng of whom the captaynes take theyr passeporte and lycence The patrones of suche shippes as are appoynted to these viages imbarke them selues at San Luca di Barameda where the riuer Cuadalchiber entreth into the Ocean sea and from hence they folow their course toward the Ilands of Canarie Of these seuen Ilandes they commonly touche two that is eyther Grancanaria or Gomera and here the shyppes are furnyshed with freshe water fuell cheese beefe and suche other thinges which may seeme requisite to bee added to suche as they bryng with them out of Spayne From Spayne to these Ilandes is commonly eyght dayes sayling or little more or lesse and when they are arryued there they haue sayled two hundred and fyftie leagues whiche make a thousand myles accompting foure myles to a league as is their maner to recken by sea Departing from the sayd Ilands to folow their course the shyppes tary .xxv. dayes or a litle more or lesse before they see the fyrst lande of the Ilandes that lye before that whiche they call La Spagnuola or Hispaniola and the lande that is commonly fyrst seene is one of these Ilandes which they call Ogni sancti Marigalante or Galanta La Desseada otherwise called Desiderata Matanino Dominica Guadalupea San Christoual or some other of the Ilandes wherof there are a great multitude lying about these aforesayde Yet it sometymes so chaunceth that the shyppes passe without the sight of any of the sayd Ilandes or any other that are within that course vntill they come to the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis or Hispaniola or Iamaica or Cuba which are before the other It may also chaunce that they ouerpasse all these lykewyse vntyll they fall vppon the coastes of the firme lande But this chaunceth when the pilot is not well practised in this nauigation or not perfect in the true carde But makyng this viage with experte maryners whereof there is nowe great plentie one of the sayde fyrst Ilandes shall euer bee knowen And from the Ilandes of Canarie to one of the fyrst of these the distaunce is niene hundred leagues by sayling or more and from hence to the citie of sainct Dominike which is in the Iland of Hispaniola is a hundred and fyftie leagues so that from Spayne hitherto is a thousande and three hundred leagues Yet forasmuche as sometymes the nauigation proceedeth not so directly but that it chaunceth to wander euer on the one syde or on the other we may well say that they haue now sayled a thousand and fyue hundred leagues and more And if the nauigation bee slow by reason of some hynderaunce it commonly chaunceth to be fynished in xxxv or .xl. dayes and this happeneth for the most parte not accomptyng the extremes that is eyther of them that haue slowe passage or of them that arryue in very short tyme for we ought to consyder that which chaunceth most commonly The returne from those partes to Spayne is not fynished without longer tyme as in the space of fiftie dayes or a litle more or lesse Neuerthelesse in this present yeere of .1525 there came foure shyppes from the Ilande of San Dominico to sainct Luca in Spayne in .xxv. dayes But as I haue sayde we ought not to iudge of that which chaunceth seldome but of that which happeneth most ordinarily This nauigation is very safe and much vsed euen vnto the sayde Iland And from this to the firme land the shyppes trauerse diuers wayes for the space of fyue sixe or seuen dayes saylyng or more accordyng to the partes or coastes whither they directe theyr viages forasmuch as the sayde fyrme lande is very great and large and many nauigations and viages are directed to dyuers partes of the same Yet to the firme land which
is nearest to this Ilande and lyeth directly agaynst San Dominico the passage is finished in the tyme aforesayde But it shal be much better to remit all this to the carde of these nauigations and the new Cosmographie of the whiche no parte was knowne to Ptolome or any other of the olde wryters Of two notable thinges as touching the west Indies and of the great rychesse brought from thence into Spayne AFter my vniuersall discription of the historie of the Indies there commeth to my remembraunce two thinges chiefly to be noted as touchyng Thempire of these West Indies pertaining to the dominion of your maiestie and these besyde the other perticulars whereof I haue sufficiently spoken are to be considered as thinges of great importaunce Whereof the one is the shortnesse of the way with what expedition your maiesties shyppes may passe beyonde the mayne firme lande of these Indies into the new South sea called Mare del Sur lying beyond the same this to thintent to come to the Ilandes where the spices grow beside the other innumerable rychesse of y e kingdomes seigniories which confine with the said sea where are so many people nations of dyuers tongues maners The other thing is to consider howe innumerable treasures are entred into Spayne by these Indies aswell that which commeth dayly from thence as also that is continually to be looked for both of gold pearle other marchaundies which are first brought into this your realme of Spayne before they are seene of other nations or traded into other realmes Whereby not onely this your realme is greatly inriched but also the benefite thereof redoundeth to the great profite of other countreys which are neare therevnto A testimonie of this are the double ducades which your maiestie haue caused to bee coyned and are dispearsed throughout the whole worlde But after they are once passed out of this your realme they neuer returne againe because they are the best currant money of the worlde And therefore if after they haue been in the handes of straungers they chaunce to bee returned agayne into Spayne they come disguised in an other habite and are diminished of the goodnesse of theyr golde with the stampe of your maiestie chaunged So that if it were not for theyr suche defacynges in other realmes for the cause aforesayde there should not bee founde so great quantitie of fyne golde of the coyne of any prince in the world as of your maiesties and the cause of all this are your Indies Of the mynes of golde and the maner of workyng in them THis particuler of the mynes of gold is a thing greatly to bee noted and I may much better speake hereof thē any other man forasmuch as there are nowe .xii. yeeres past since I serued in the place of the surueier of y e melting shops parteyning to the gold mynes of y e firme land and was the gouernour of the mynes of the Catholike kyng Don Ferdinando after whose departure from this lyfe I serued long in the same roome in the name of your maiestie By reason wherof I haue had great occasion to know how gold is found and wrought out of the mynes and doe know ryght well y t this land is exceeding rych hauing by my accompt and by the labour of my Indians slaues geathered and fyned a great portion of the same may therfore the better affyrme this by testimony of sight For I am well assured that in no part of Castilia del oro that is golden Castile otherwise called Beragua no man coulde aske mee of the mynes of golde but that I durst haue bounde my selfe to haue discouered them in the space of ten leagues of the countrey where it should haue been demaunded me and the same to be very rych for I was alowed all maner of charges to make search for the same And although gold be found in maner euery where in these regions of golden Castile yet ought we not in euery place to bestow the trauel charge to geat it out because it is of lesse quantitie and goodnesse in some place then in some And the myne or veyne which ought to be folowed ought to be in a place which may stand to saue much of y e charges of the labourers and for the administration of other necessary thinges that the charges may be recompenced with gaynes for there is no doubt but that gold shal be found more or lesse in euery place And the golde whiche is founde in golden Castile is very good of .xxii. caractes or better in fynesse Furthermore besyde this great quantitie of gold which I haue sayd to be found in the mynes there is also from day to day found or otherwyse gotton great treasure of such wrought gold as hath ben in y e custodie of the subdued Indians theyr kynges aswel of such as they haue geuen for theyr fyne and raunsome or otherwyse as frendes to the Christians besyde that whiche hath ben violently taken from the rebelles but the greatest parte of the wrought golde whiche the Indians haue is base and holdeth somewhat of copper of this they make braslettes and chaynes and in the same they close theyr iewels whiche theyr women are accustomed to weare esteemed more then al the richesse of the worlde The maner howe golde is geathered is this eyther of suche as is founde in Zauana that is to saye in the playnes and ryuers of the champion countrey beyng without trees whether the earth be with grasse or without or of suche as is sometymes founde on the land without the ryuers in places where trees growe so that to come by the same it shal be requisite to cut downe many and great trees But after which so euer of these two maners it be founde eyther in the ryuers or breaches of waters or els in the earth I wyl shewe howe it is founde in both these places and howe it is separate and pourged Therefore when the myne or veyne is discouered this chaunceth by searchyng and prouyng in such places as by certaine signes and tokens do appeare to skylful men apte for the generation of golde and to holde golde and when they haue found it they folowe the myne and labour it whether it be in the ryuer or in the playne as I haue sayde And if it be founde on the playne fyrst they make the place very cleane where they entende to dygge then they dygge eyght or tenne foote in length and as muche in breadth but they goe no deeper then a spanne or two or more as shal seeme best to the maister of the myne dyggyng equally then they washe all the earth whiche they haue taken out of the sayde space and if herein they fynde any golde they folowe it and if not they dygge a spanne deeper and washe the earth as they dyd before and if then also they fynde nothyng they continue in diggyng and washyng y e earth as before vntyl
as though it were pullyshed and is without of colour inclynyng towarde blacke and shyneth or glystereth very fayre and is within of no lesse dilicatenesse Suche as haue accustomed to drynke in these vesselles and haue been troubled with the disease called the frettyng of the guttes say that they haue by experience founde it a marueylous remedie agaynst that disease and that it breaketh the stone and prouoketh vrine This fruite was called Cocus for this cause that when it is taken from the place where it cleaueth fast to the tree there are seene two holes and aboue them two other natural holes whiche altogeather do represent the gesture and figure of the cattes called Mammoni that is Munkeys when they crye which crye the Indians call Coca but in very deede this tree is a kinde of Date trees and hath the same effecte to heale frettyng of the guttes that Plinie descrybeth all kynds of Date trees to haue There are furthermore in the firme lande trees of suche byggenesse that I dare not speake therof but in place where I haue so many wytnesses whiche haue seene the same as well as I. I saye therefore that a league from Dariena or the citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua there passeth a ryuer very large and deepe which is called Cuti ouer the which the Indians had layde a great tree so trauersing the same that it was in the steade of a bridge the whiche I my selfe with dyuers other that are at this present in your maiesties court haue oftentymes passed ouer And forasmuche as the said tree had line long there and by y e great weight therof was so shronke downewarde and partly couered with water that none coulde passe ouer it but were wette to the knee I beyng then in the yeere .1522 the official or Iustice in that citie at your maiesties appoyntment caused an other great tree to be layde in that place whiche in lyke maner trauersed the ryuer and reached more then fyftie foote ouer the further syde This tree was exceeding great and rested aboue the water more then two cubytes in the fall it cast downe all such other trees as were within the reache thereof and discouered certayne vynes whiche were so laden with blacke grapes of pleasaunt taste that they satysfied more then fyftye persons whiche ate theyr fyl thereof This tree in the thyckest part therof was more then syxteene spannes thycke and was neuerthelesse but litle in respect of many other trees whiche are founde in this prouince For the Indians of the coaste and prouince of Cartagenia make barkes or boates thereof which they call Canoas of suche byggenesse beyng all one whole tree that some conteyne a hundred men some a hundred and thirtie and some more hauyng neuerthelesse such voyde space within the same that there is left sufficient roome to passe to and fro throughout all the Canoas Some of these are so large besyde the length that they conteyne more then ten or twelue spannes in breadth and sayle with two sayles as with the maister sayle and the tryncket which they make of very good cotton The greatest trees that I haue seene in these partes or in any other regions was in the prouince of Guaturo the kyng wherof rebellyng from the obedience of your maiestie was pursued by me and taken prisoner at whiche tyme I with my companye passed ouer a very hygh mountayne full of great trees in the top whereof we founde one tree whiche had three rootes or rather diuisions of the roote aboue the earth in fourme of a tryangle or treuet so that betweene euery foote of this triangle or three feete there was a space of twentie foote betwene euery foote and this of such heyght aboue the earth that a laden Carâ— of those wherewith they are accustomed to bryng home corne in the tyme of haruest in the kyngdome of Toledo in Spayne â–ª myght easely haue passed through euery of those partitions or wyndowes which were betweene the three feete of the sayd tree From the earth vpwarde to the trunke of the tree the open places of the diuisions betweene these three feete were of suche â—eyght from the ground that a footeman with a Iauelin was not able to reache the place where the sayde feete ioyned togeather in the trunke or bodye of the tree whiche grewe of great heyght in one peece and one whole bodie or euer it spread in braunches whiche it did not before it exceeded in heyght the Towre of Sainct Romane in the citie of Toledo from whiche heyght and vpward it spread very great and strong braunches Among certayne Spaniardes whiche clymed this tree I my selfe was one and when I was ascended to the place where it begunne to spreade the braunches it was a marueilous thyng to beholde a great countrey of suche trees towarde the prouince of Abrayme This tree was easy to clyme by reason of certayne Besuchi whereof I haue spoken before which grew wreathed about the tree in suche sort that they seemed to make a scalyng Ladder Euery of the forsayd three feete whiche bore the bodie of the tree was twentie spannes in thickenesse and where they ioyned all togeather aboute the Trunke or bodie of the tree the principall Trunke was more then fourtie and fyue spannes in circuite I named the mountayne where these trees growe the mountayne of three footed trees And this whiche I haue now declared was seene of all the companie that was there with me when as I haue sayde before I tooke kyng Guaturo prysoner in the yeere .1522 Many thynges more myght heere be spoken as touching this matter as also howe there are many other excellent trees founde of diuers sortes and dyfference as sweete Cedar trees blacke Date trees and many other of the whiche some are so heauye that they cannot floote aboue the water but syncke immediatly to the bottome and other agayne as lyght as a Corke As touchyng all which thynges I haue written more largely in my generall historie of the Indies And forasmuche as at this present I haue entred to entreat of trees before I passe any further to other thynges I wyll declare the maner howe the Indians kindle fyre only with wood and without fire the maner wherof is this They take a peece of wood of two spannes in length as bygge as the least fynger of a mans hand or as an arrowe well pullyshed and of a strong kynde of wood which they keepe only for this purpose and where they entend to kyndle any fire they take two other peeces of wood of the dryest and lyghtest that they can fynde and bynde them fast togeather one with an other as close as two fyngers ioyned in the myddest or betweene these they put the poynt of the fyrst litle staffe made of harde and strong woodde whiche they hold in theyr handes by the toppe thereof and turne or rubbe it rounde about contynually in one place betweene the two peeces of woodde which lye bounde togeather vppon
euen at this present there is nothyng wherefore it shoulde malice theyr prosperitie not beyng inferiour to them in any felicitie that in maner the heauens can graunt to any lande beyng furthermore suche as mâ—y inryche many prouinces and kyngdomes by reason of many ryche golde mynes that are in it of the beste golde that is founde to this day in the worlde and in greatest quantitie In this Iland nature of her selfe bryngeth foorth suche abundance of cotton that if it were wrought and mayntayned there shoulde be more and better then in any part of the world There is so great plentie of excellent Cassia that a great quantitie is brought from thence into Spaine from whence it is caried to diuers partes of the worlde It encreaseth so muche that it is a marueylous thyng to consider In this are many ryche shoppes where Suger is wrought and that of suche perfectnesse and goodnesse and in such quantitie that shyps come laden therewith yeerely into Spayne All such seedes settes or plantes as are brought out of Spayne and planted in this Ilande become muche better bygger and of greater encrease then they are in any part of our Europe And yf it chaunce otherwyse that sometymes they prosper not so well the cause is that they which should tyl and husband the ground sowe and plant in due seasons haue no respect heereunto beyng impatient whyle the wheat and vines waxe rype beyng geuen to wanderyng and other affayres of present gaynes as I haue sayde as searchyng the golde mynes fyshyng for pearles and occupying marchaundies with suche other trades for the greedy folowyng whereof they neglect and contempne both sowyng and plantyng Suche fruites as are brought out of Spayne into this Iland prosper marueylously and waxe rype all tymes of the yeere as hearbes of al sortes very good and pleasaunt to be eaten Also many Pomgranates of the best kynde and Oranges both sweete and sowre Lykewyse many fayre Limons and Cedars and a great quantitie of all such as are of sharpe sowre and bytter tast There are also many Fygge trees which bryng foorth theyr fruite all the whole yeere Lykewyse those kynde of Date trees that beare Dates and diuers other trees and plantes which were brought out of Spayne thyther Beastes do also encrease in lyke abundaunce especially the heardes of Ryne are so augmented both in quantitie and number that there are now many patrons of cattaile that haue more then two thousand heades of Neate and some three or foure thousande and some more Besyde these there are very many that haue heardes of foure or fyue hundred And trueth it is that this Iland hath better pasture for suche cattayle then any other countrey in the worlde also holsome and cleare water and temperate ayre by reason whereof the heardes of such beastes are much bygger fatter and also of better tast then ours in Spayne because of the ranke pasture whose moisture is better digested in the hearbe or grasse by the continuall temperate heate of the Sonne wherby beyng made more fat and vnctuous it is of better and more stedfast nouryshment For contynuall and temperate heate doth not only drawe much moysture out of the earth to the nouryshment of such thynges as growe and are engendred in that clime but doth also by moderation preserue the same from resolution and putrifaction digesting also and condensatyng or thycknyng the sayde moyst nouryshment into a gummie and vnctuous substaunce as is seene in all suche thynges as growe in those regions and this is the only naturall cause aswell that certayne great beastes and of long lyfe as the Elephant Rhinoceros with suche other are engendred only in the regions neare vnto the Equinoctiall as also that the leaues of suche trees as growe there do not wyther or fall vntyll they be thrust out by other accordyng to the verse of the poet whiche sayeth Et nata pira piris et ficus in ficubus extant this is in effect Peares growing vpon Peares and Fygges vpon Fygges Plinie also wryteth that suche trees are neuer infected with the disease of trees that the Latines call Caries whiche we may call the worme or canker beyng but a certayne putrifaction by reason of a watrishe nouryshment not well consolidate The same thyng hath been the cause that certayne Philosophers considering aswell that man is the hottest and moystest beast that is whiche is the best complexion as also that men lyue longest in certayne partes of India neare the Equinoctiall where yet to this day some liue to the age of an hundred and fyftie yeeres were of opinion that yf mankynde had any beginning on the earth that place ought by good reason to be vnder or not farre from y e Equinoctial line for the causes aforesayde Some of the Diuines also vpon lyke consideration haue thought it agreable that theyr Paradise shoulde be about the same within y e precinct of those riuers which are named in the booke of Genesis But to let passe these thyngs to returne to the historie In this Iland furthermore are manye Sheepe and a great number of Hogges of the whiche as also of the Ryne many are become wylde and lykewyse many Dogges and Cattes of those whiche were brought out of Spayne These and especially the Dogges do much hurt among the cattayle by reason of the negligence of the heardmen There are also many Horses Mares and Mules and such other beastes as serue the vse of men in Spayne and are muche greater then they of the fyrst broode brought thyther out of Spayne Some places of the Ilande are inhabited although not so many as were requisite Of the which I wyl say no more but that al the regions of the Ilande are so well situate that in the course of tyme all thynges shall come to greater perfection by reason of the rychnesse pleasauntnesse of the countrey and fertilitie of the soyle But nowe to speake somewhat of the principall and chiefe place of the Ilande whiche is the citie of San Domenico I saye that as touchyng the buildinges there is no citie in Spayne so much for so much no not Barsalona which I haue oftentymes seene that is to be preferred before this generally For the houses of San Domenico are for the most parte of stone as are they of Barsalona or of so strong wel wrought earth that it maketh a singuler and strong bynding The situation is much better then that of Barsalona by reason that the streates are much larger and plainer and without comparison more directe and streyght foorth For being builded nowe in our tyme besyde the commoditie of the place of the fundation the streetes were also directed with corde compase and measure wherin it excelleth al the cities that I haue seene It hath the sea so neere that of one syde there is no more space betwene the sea
northerne lande but suche a one that ether is not to be traueyled for the causes in the first Obiection alleaged or cleane shut vp from vs in Europe by Groenland the South ende whereof Moletius maketh firme lande with America the north parte continent with Lapponlande and Norway Thyrdly the greatest fauourers of this voyage can not deny but that if any such passage be it lyeth subiect vnto Yse and snow for the most parte of the yeere whereas it standeth in the edge of the frostie zone Before the Sunne hath warmed the ayre and dissolued the Yse eche one well knoweth that there can bee no saylyng the Yse once broken through the continuall abode the Sunne maketh a certayne season in those partes how shall it be possible for so weake a vessell as a shyppe is to holde out amyd whole Ilandes as it were of Yse continually beatyng on eche syde and at the mouth of that goulphe issuyng downe furiously from the North safely to passe whan whole mountaynes of Yse and Snow shal be tombled downe vpon her Wel graunt the west Indies not to continue continent vnto the Pole graunt there be a passage betwyxt these two landes let the goulph lye neare vs than commonly in cardes we fynde it set namely betwyxt the .61 .64 degrees north as Gemma Frisius in his Mappes and Globes imagineth it and so left by our countriman Sebastian Cabote in his table the which my good Lorde your father hath at Cheynies and so tryed this last yeere by your Honours seruaunt as hee reported and his carde and compasse doe witnesse Let the way bee voyde of all difficulties yet doeth it not folowe that we haue free passage to Cathayo For examples sake You may trende all Norway Finmarke and Lapponlande and than bow Southwarde to sainct Nicolas in Moscouia you may lykewyse in the Mediterranean sea fetche Constantinople and the mouth of Tanais yet is there no passage by sea through Moscouia into Pont Euxine now called Mare Maggiore Agayne in the aforesayde Mediterranean sea we sayle to Alexandria in Egypt the Barbares bryng theyr pearle and spices from the Moluccaes vp the read sea and Arabian goulph to Sues scarsely three dayes iourney from the aforesayde hauen yet haue we no way by sea from Alexandria to the Moluccaes for that Isthmos or litle streicte of lande betwyxt the two seas In lyke maner although the northerne passage bee free at .61 degrees latitude and the West Ocean beyonde America vsually called Mar del zur knowen to be open at .40 degrees eleuation for the Ilande Giapan yea .300 leagues northerly aboue Giapan yet may there bee lande to hynder the through passage that way by sea as in the examples aforesayde it falleth out Asia and America there beyng ioyned togeather in one continent Ne can this opinion seeme altogeather friuolous vnto any one that diligently peruseth our Cosmographers doynges Iosephus Moletius is of that mynde not onely in his playne hemispheres of the worlde but also in his sea carde The French Geographers in lyke maner bee of the same opinion as by their Mappe cut out in fourme of a harte you may perceyue as though the West Indyes were parte of Asie Whiche sentence well agreeth with that olde conclusion in the scholes Quidquid praeter Africam et Europam est Asia est Whatsoeuer land doeth neyther appertayne vnto Afrike nor to Europe is parte of Asie Furthermore it were to small purpose to make so long so paynefull so doubtfull a voyage by such a new founde way if in Cathayo you should neyther be suffred to lande for silkes and siluer nor able to fetche the Molucca spices and pearle for piracye in those seas Of a lawe denying all Aliens to enter into China and forbiddyng all the inhabiters vnder a great penaltie to let in any stranger into that countreys shall you reade in the report of Galeotto Perera there imprisoned with other Portugalles as also in the Giaponyshe letters howe for that cause the woorthie traueyler Xauierus bargayned with a Barbarian Marchaunt for a great sum of Pepper to be brought into Cantan a porte in Cathayo The great and daungerous piracie vsed in that seas no man can be ignorant of that listeth to reade the Giaponishe and East Indian historie Finally all this great labour would bee lost all these charges spent in vayne if in the ende our traueylers myght not be able to returne agayne and bryng safely home into theyr owne natyue countrey that wealth and ryches they in forreyne regions with aduenture of goodes and daunger of theyr lyues haue sought for By the Northeast there is no way the Southeast passage the Portugalles doe hold as Lordes of that seas At the Southwest Magellanus experience hath partly taught vs and partly we are persuaded by reason howe the Easterne currant stryketh so furiously on that streicte and falleth with such force into that narrow goulphe that hardely any shyppe can returne that way into our West Ocean out of Mar del zur The which if it be true as truly it is than may we say that the aforesayde Easterne currant or leuant course of waters continually folowyng after the heauenly motions looseth not altogeather his force but is doubled rather by an other currant from out the Northeast in the passage betwyxt America and the North lande whyther it is of necessitie carryed hauyng none other way to maintaine it selfe in circular motion and consequently the force and fury thereof to be no lesse in the streict of Aniaâ— where it striketh South into Mar del zur beyond America if any such streicte of sea there be than in Magellane frete both streictes beyng of lyke breadth as in Belognine Zalterius table of new France and in Don Diego Hermano di Toledo his carde for nauigation in that region we doe fynde precisely set downe Neuerthelesse to approue that there lyeth a way to Cathayo at the Northwest from out of Europe we haue experyence namely of three brethren that went that iourney as Gemma Frisius recordeth and left a name vnto that streicte whereby nowe it is called Fretum trium Fratrum We do reade againe of a Portugal that passed this streicte of whom M. Furbisher speaketh that was imprisoned therefore many yeeres in Lesbona to veryfie the olde Spanyshe prouerbe I suffer for doyng wel Likewise An. Vrdaneta a fryer of Mexico came out of Mar del zur this way into Germanie his Carde for he was a great discouerer made by his owne experience and trauayle in that voyage hath been seene by gentelmen of good credite Now yf the obseruation and remembrance of thyngs breedeth experience and of experience proceedeth art and the certeine knowledge we haue in al faculties as y e best Philosophers that euer were do affyrme truly the voyage of these aforesayd trauaillers that haue gone out of Europe into Mar del zur and returned thence at the Northwest doo moste euidently conclude that way to be nauigable and that
by these meanes folowyng The whole prouince beyng diuided into shyres and eche shyre hauyng in it one chiefe and principall citie wherevnto the matters of all the other cities townes and Boroughes are brought there are drawen in euery chiefe citie aforesayde intelligences of suche thinges as doe monethly fall out and be sent in writing to the Court. If happely in one moneth euery post is not able to goe so long a way yet doeth there notwithstandyng once euery moneth arryue one poste out of the shyre Who so commeth before the newe-Moone stayeth for the deliuery of his letters vntyll the Moone be chaunged Then lykewyse are dispatched other postes backe into all the .13 shyres agayne Before that we doe come to Cinceo we haue to passe through many places and some of great importance For this countrey is so well inhabited neare the sea syde that you can not go one myle but you shall see some towne Borough or Hostry the which are so abundantly prouided of all thinges that in the cities townes they liue ciuily Neuertheles such as dwel abrode are very poore for the multitude of them euery where so great that out of a tree you shal see many tymes swarme a number of children where a man would not haue thought to haue founde any one at all From these places in number infinite you shall come vnto two cities very populose and beyng compared with Cinceo not possibly to be discerned which is the greater of them These cities are as well walled as any cities in all the worlde As you come in to eyther of them standeth so great and mightie a brydge that the lyke thereof I haue neuer seene in Portugall nor els where I heard one of my felowes say that he told in one bridge .40 arches The occasion wherfore these bridges are made so great is for that the countrey is toward the sea very plaine and low ouerwhelmed euer as y e sea water encreaseth The breadth of the bridges although it bee well proportioned vnto the length therof yet are they equally buylt no higher in the middle than at eyther end in such wyse that you may directly see from y e one end to the other the sydes are wonderfully well engraueâ— after the maner of Rome workes But that wee did most marueyle at was therwithall the hugenesse of y e stones the lyke wherof as we came in to the citie we dyd see many set vp in places dishabited by the way to no small charges of theyrs howbeit to litle purpose whereas no body seeth them but such as doe come bye The arches are not made after our fashion vauted with sundry stones set togeather but paued as it were whole stones reaching from one piller to an other in suche wyse that they lye both for the arches heades and galantly serue also for the hygh waye I haue been astunned to beholde the hugenesse of these aforesayde stones some of them are .xii. pases long and vpwarde the least a .xi. good pases long and an halfe The wayes echewhere are galantly paued with fouresquare stone except it be where for want of stone they vse to laye bricke in this voyage wee traueyled ouer certayne hilles where the wayes were pitched and in many places no worse paued than in the playne grounde This causeth vs to thinke that in all the worlde there be no better workemen for buildinges than the ininhabitantes of China The countrey is so well inhabited that no one foote of ground is left vntilled small store of cattell haue we seene this way we sawe onely certayne Oxen wherewithall the countrymen doe plough theyr grounde One Oxe draweth the plough alone not onely in this shyre but in other places also wherein is greater store of cattell These countrymen by arte doe that in tyllage which we are constrayned to doe by force Here be solde the voydinges of close stooles although there wanteth not the dunge of beastes the excrements of man are good marchandise throughout all China The dungfermers seeke in euery streete by exchaunge to buye this durtie ware for hearbes and wood The custome is very good for keepyng the citie cleane There is great aboundance of Hennes Geese Duckes Swyne and Goates Wethers haue they none the Hennes are solde by weight and so are all other thinges Two pounde of Hennes fleshe Goose or Ducke is woorth two Foi of their money that is d. ob sterling Swines fleshe is solde at a peny the pounde Beefe beareth the same pryce for the scarcitie thereof howbeit Northwarde from Fuquieo farther of from the sea coast there is Beefe more plentie and solde better cheape Beefe onely excepted great aboundance of all these viandes we haue had in all the cities we passed through And if this countrey were lyke vnto India the inhabitantes whereof eate neyther Henne beefe nor porke but keepe that onely for the Portugalles and Moores they would be solde here for nothyng But it so fallyng out that the Chineans are the greatest eaters in all the world they doe feede vppon all thinges specially on porke the fatter that is vnto them the lesse lothsome The highest price of these thinges aforesayde I haue set downe better cheape shall you sometymes buye them for the great plentie thereof in this countrey Frogges are solde at the same price that is made of Hennes and are good meate amongst them as also Dogges Cattes Rattes Snakes and all other vncleane meates The cities be very gallant specially neare vnto the gates the which are marueylously great couered with Iron The gate-houses buylt on hygh with Towers the lower parte thereof is made of bricke and stone proportionally with the walles from the walles vpward the buyldyng is of tymber and many stories in it one aboue the other The strength of theyr townes is in the mightie walles and ditches artillerie haue they none The streetes in Cinceo and in all the rest of the cities we haue seene are very fayre so large and so streight that it is wonderfull to beholde Theyr houses are buylte with tymber the foundations onely excepted the which are layde with stone in eche syde of the streetes are paynteses or continuall porches for the marchantes to walke vnder the breadth of the streete is neuerthelesse suche that in them .xv. men may ryde commodiously syde by side As they ryde they must needes passe vnder many hygh arches of triumph that crosse ouer the streetes made of tymber and carued diuersely couered with tyle of fine claye vnder these arches the Mercers doe vtter theyr smaller wares and such as lyst to stande there are defensed from rayne and the heate of the Sunne The greater gentlemen haue these arches at their doores although some of them be not so myghtyly buylt as the rest I shall haue occasion to speake of a certayne order of gentlemen that are called Loutea I will first therefore expounde what this worde signifieth Loutea is as muche to say in our language as Syr and
haue borne after them hattes agreeable vnto theyr tytles if the Loutea be meane then hath he brought after hym but one hatte and that may not be yealowe but if he be of the better sorte then may he haue two three or foure the principall and chiefe Louteas may haue all theyr hattes yealowe the which among them is accompted great honour The Loutea for warres although he be but meane may notwithstandyng haue yealowe hattes The Tutanes and Chians when they goe abrode haue besydes all this before them ledde .3 or .4 horses with theyr garde in armor Furthermore the Louteas yea and all the people of China are woonte to eate theyr meat syttyng on stooles at hygh tables as we do and that very cleanly although they vse nether table clothes nor napkyns Whatsoeuer is set downe vppon the boorde is fyrst carued before that it be brought in they feede with two styckes refraynyng from touchyng theyr meate with theyr handes euen as we do with forkes for y e which respect they lesse do neede any table clothes He is the nation onely ciuil at meate but also in conuersation and in courtesie they seeme to exceede all other Likewise in theyr dealynges after their maner they are so ready that they farre passe all other Gentyles and Moores the greater states are so vayne that they lyne theyr clothes with the best sylke that may be founde The Louteas are an idle generation without all maner of exercises and pastymes excepte it be eatyng and drynkyng Somtymes they walke abrode in the fieldes to make the souldyars shoot at prickes with theyr bowes but theyr eatyng passeth they wyll stande eatyng euen when the other do drawe to shoote The pricke is a great blanket spread on certayne long poles he that stryketh it hath of the best man there standyng a peece of crymson taffata the whiche is knyt about his head in this sorte the wynners honoured and the Louteas with theyr bellye 's full returne home agayne The inhabitantes of China be very great Idolaters all generally do worshyppe the heauens and as we are woont to saye God knoweth it so saye they at euery worde Tien Tautee that is to saye The heauens do knowe it Some do worshyp the Sonne and some the Moone as they thynke good for none are bounde more to one then to an other In their temples the which they do cal Meani they haue a great altar in y e same place as we haue true it is that one may goe rounde about it There set they vp the Image of a certayne Loutea of that countrey whom they haue in great reuerence for certaine notable thinges he dyd At the ryght hande standeth the deuyl muche more vglie paynted then we do vse to set hym out whereunto great homage is done by suche as come into the temple to aske counsell or to drawe lottes this opinion they haue of hym that he is malitious and able to do euyl If you aske them what they do thynke of the soules departed they wil answeare that they be immortall and that as soone as any one departeth out of this life he becommeth a deuyl if he haue liued well in this worlde if otherwyse that the same deuyl chaungeth hym into a bufle oxe or dogge Wherfore to this deuyl do they muche honour to hym do they sacrifice praying hym that he wyll make them lyke vnto hym selfe and not lyke other beastes They haue moreouer an other sorte of temples wherein both vppon the altars and also on the walles do stande many Idoles well proportioned but bare headed These beare name Omithofon accompted of them spirites but suche as in heauen do nether good nor euyll thought to be suche men and women as haue chastlye lyued in this worlde in abstinence from fyshe and fleshe fedde only with ryse salates Of that deuil they make some accompte for these spirites they care litle or nothyng at all Agayne they holde opinion that if a man do well in this lyfe the heauens wyll geue hym many temporall blessynges but if he do euyll then shall he haue infirmities diseases troubles and penurie and all this without any knowledge of God Finally this people knoweth no other thing then to liue die yet because they be reasonable creatures al seemed good vnto them we speake in our language though it were not very sufficient our maner of praying especially pleased them and truely they are wel ynough disposed to receiue the knowledge of the trueth Our lorde graunte for his mercie all thynges so to be disposed that it may some tyme be brought to passe that so great a nation as this is peryshe not for wante of helpe Our manner of praying so well lyked them that in pryson importunately they besoughte vs to wryte for them somewhat as concernyng heauen the whiche we dyd to theyr contentation with suche reasons as we knewe howbeit not very cunnyngly As they do theyr Idolatry they laugh at them selues If at any tyme this countrey myght be ioined in league with the kyngdome of Portugale in such wyse that free accesse were had to deale with the people there they might al be soone conuerted The greatest fault we do fynd in them is Sodomie a vice very common in the meaner sort nothing strange amongst the best This sinne were it left of them in all other thynges so well disposed they be that a good interpretour in a short space myght do there great good yf as I sayde the countrey were ioyned in league with vs. Furthermore the Louteas with al the people of China are wont to solempnize the dayes of the newe and full Moones in visiting one eache other and makyng great bankettes for to that end as I earst sayd do tend all theyr pastymes and spendyng theyr daies in pleasure They are wont also to solempnize eache one his byrth daye whereunto theyr kyndred and frendes do resorte of custome with presentes of Iuelles or money receyuyng agayne for theyr rewarde good cheare They keepe in lyke maner a general feast with great bankets that day theyr kyng was borne But theyr most principall and greatest feast of al and best cheare is the fyrst day of theyr newe yeere namely the fyrst day of the newe Moone of Februarye so that theyr fyrst moneth is Marche and they recken the tymes accordynglye respect beyng had vnto the reigne of theyr Prynces as when anye deede is wrytten they date it thus Made suche a daye of suche a Moone and such a yeere of the reigne of suche a Kyng And theyr auncient wrytynges beare date of the yeeres of this or that Kyng Nowe wyll I speake of the maner the whiche the Chineans doo obserue in dooyng Iustice that it maye be knowen how farre these Gentyles doo herein exceede manye Christians that be more bounden then they to deale iustly and in trueth Because the Chinishe Kyng maketh his abode contynually in the Citie Pachyn his kyngdome so great the shyres so many as
tofore it hath been sayde in it therefore the Gouernours and Rulers muche lyke vnto our Shyryffes be so appoynted sodenly and speedely discharged agayne that they haue no tyme to growe naught Furthermore to keepe the state in more securitie the Louteas that gouerne one shyre are chosen out of some other shyre distaunt farre of where they must leaue theyr wyues chyldren and goodes carryeng nothyng with them but them selues True it is that at theyr commyng thyther they do fynde in a redinesse all thynges necessarie theyr house furniture seruantes and all other thynges in suche perfection and plentie that they want nothyng Thus the kyng is well serued without all feare of treason In the principall cities of the shyres be foure cheefe Louteas before whom are brought all matters of the inferiour townes throughout the whole realme Diuers other Louteas haue the maneagyng of iustice and receyuyng of rentes bounde to yeeld an accompte thereof vnto the greater officers Other doo see that there be no euyll rule keept in the citie eache one as it behoueth hym Generally al these do impryson malefactours cause them to be whypped racked hoysing them vp downe by the armes with a corde a thyng very vsuall there and accompted no shame These Louteas do vse great diligence in y e apprehending of theeues so that it is a wonder to see a theefe escape away in any towne citie or village Upon the sea neere vnto the shore many are taken and looke euen as they are taken so be they fyrst whypped and afterward layd in prison where shortly after they all dye for hunger and colde At that tyme when we were in pryson there died of them aboue threscore and ten Yf happely any one hauyng the meanes to geat foode do escape he is set with the condemned persones and prouided for as they be by the kyng in such wyse as hereafter it shal be sayde Theyr whyps be certayne peeces of canes cleft in the middle in such sort that they seeme rather playne then sharpe He that is to be whipped lieth grouelong on the ground Upon his thighes the Hangman layeth on blowes myghtely with these canes that the standers by tremble at theyr crueltie Ten sâ—rypes drawe a great deale of blood twentie or thyrtie spoyle the fleshe altogeather fyftie or threescore wyll require long tyme to be healed and yf they come to the number of one hundred then are they incurable The Louteas obserue moreouer this when any man is brought before them to be examined they aske hym openly in the hearing of as many as be present be y e offence neuer so great Thus did they also behaue them selues with vs. For this cause amongst them can there be no false witnes as dayly amongst vs it falleth out This good commeth therof that many being alwaies about the iudge to heare the euidence and beare witnesse the processe can not be falsifyed as it happeneth sometymes with vs. The Mores Gentiles Iewes haue al their sundry othes y e Mores doo sweare by theyr Mossafos the Brachmans by theyr Fili the rest likewise by the thynges they do worshyppe The Chineans though they be wonte to sweare by heauen by the Moone by the Sunne and by all theyr Idolles in iudgement neuerthelesse they sweare not at all If for some offence an othe be vsed of any one by and by with the least euidence he is tormented so be the wytnesses he bryngeth if they tell not the truth or do in any poynt disagree except they be men of worshyppe and credyte who are beleeued without any farther matter the rest are made to confesse the trueth by force of tormentes and whyppes Besydes this order obserued of them in examinations they do feare so muche theyr kyng and he where he maketh his abode keepeth them so lowe that they dare not once styrre Agayne these Louteas as great as they be notwithstanding the multitude of Notaries they haue not trusting any others do write al great processes and matters of importance them selues Moreouer one vertue they haue worthy of great prayse and that is being men so well regarded and accompted of as though they were princes they be patient aboue measure in geuyng audience We poore straungers brought before them myght saye what we woulde as all to be lyes and falaces that they dyd wryte ne dyd we stande before them with the vsuall cerimonies of that countrey yet dyd they beare with vs so patiently that they caused vs to wonder knowyng specially howe litle any aduocate or iudge is wonte in our countrey to beare with vs. For where so euer in any towne of Christendome shoulde be accused vnknowen men as we were I knowe not what ende the very innocentes cause woulde haue but we in a Heathen countrey hauyng our great ennimies two of the chiefest men in a whole towne wantyng an interpreter ignorant of that countrey language dyd in the ende see our great aduersaryes cast into pryson for our sake and depriued of theyr offices and honoure for not doyng iustice yea not to escape death for as the rumor goeth they shal be beheadded Somewhat is nowe to be sayde of the lawes that I haue been hable to knowe in this countrey and fyrst no thefte or murther is at any tyme pardoned adulterers are put in pryson and the facte once proued condemned to dye the womans husbande must accuse them this order is keapt with men and women found in that fault but theeues and murtherers are inprisoned as I haue sayd where they shortly dye for hunger and colde If any one happely escape by brybyng the gayler to geue hym meate his processe goeth farther and commeth to the courte where he is condemned to dye Sentence beyng geuen the prysoner is brought in publyke with a terrible bande of men that laye hym in Irons hande and foote with a boorde at his necke one handefull broade in length reachyng downe to his knees clefte in two partes and with a hole one handefull downewarde in the table fyt for his necke the whiche they enclose vp therein naylyng the boorde fast togeather one handefull of the boorde standeth vp behynde in the necke the sentence and cause wherefore the fellon was condemned to dye is wryten in that parte of the table that standeth before This cerimonie ended he is laid in a great prison in the companie of some other condemned persons the which are found by the king as long as they do liue The boord aforsaid so made tormenteth the prysoners very much keeping them both from rest eke lettyng them to eate commodyously theyr handes beyng manecled in Irons vnder that bord so y t in fine there is no remedy but death In y e chiefe cities of euery shire as we haue erst said there be foure principal houses in ech of them a prison but in one of them where the Taissu maketh his abode there is a greater a more principal prison theÌ„ in any of y e rest although
in euery citie there be many neuerthelesse in three of them remaine onely such as be condemned to die Their death is much prolonged for that ordinarily there is no execution doone but once a yeere though many die for hunger and colde as we haue seene in this prison Execution is done in this maner The Chian to wyt the hygh commissioner or Lord cheefe Iustice at the yeeres ende goeth to the head citie where he heareth agayne the causes of suche as be condempned Many tymes he delyuereth some of them declaryng that boord to haue been wrongfully put about theyr neckes the visitation ended he choseth out seuen or .viii. not many more or lesse of the greatest malefactours the whiche to feare and keepe in awe the people are brought into a great market place where al the great Louteas meete togeather and after many cerimonies and superstitions as the vse of the countrey is are beheaded This is done once a yeere who so escapeth that day may be sure that he shal not be put to death al that yeere folowyng so remayneth at the kynges charges in the greater prison In that prison where we lay were al waies one hundred moe of these condemned persons besides them that lay in other prisons These prisons wherin the condemned caytyfes do remayne are so strong that it hath not been hard that any prisoner in al China hath escaped out of pryson for in deed it is a thyng impossible The prisons are thus builded Fyrst al the place is myghtelye walled about the walles be very strong and hygh the gate of no lesse force within it three other gates before you come where the prysoners do lye there many great lodginges are to be seene of the Louteas Notaries Parthions that is such as do there kepe watch and ward day and nyght the court large and paued on the one syde wherof standeth a pryson with two myghtie gates wherin are kept such prisoners as haue committed enormious offences This prison is so great that in it are streates and Market places wherein al thyngs necessarie are sold. Yea some prysoners liue by that kynde of trade buyeng and selling and letting out beds to hyre some are dayly sent to pryson some dayly deliuered wherfore this place is neuer voyde of seuen or eyght hundred men that go at libertie Into one other pryson of condempned persons shall you goo at three yron gates the court paued and vauted rounde about open aboue as it were a cloister In this cloister be eight roomes with yron doores and in eache of them a large Gallerie wherein euery night the prisoners do lie at length their feete in the stocks theyr bodies hampered in huge woodden grates that kepe them frō sitting so that they lie as it were in a cage sleepe if they can in the morning they are losed againe that they may go into y e court Notwithstanding the strength of this pryson it is kept with a garrison of men part whereof watche within the house part of them in the Court some keepe about the pryson with lanterns and watchebelles answeryng one an other fyue tymes euerye nyght and geuing warning so lowde that the Loutea resting in a chamber not neare thereunto may heere them In these prysons of condemned persons remayne some .15 other 20. yeeres imprisoned not executed for the loue of theyr honorable frendes that seeke to prolong theyr lyues Many of these prysoners be shomakers and haue from the king a certayne allowaunce of rise some of them worke for the keeper who suffereth them to goe at libertie without fetters and boordes the better to worke Howbeit when the Loutea calleth his checke rolle with the keper vieweth them they al weare theyr lyuereys that is boords at theyr neckes yronned hand and foote When any of these prysoners dieth he is to be seene of the Loutea and Notaries brought out at a gate so narrow that there can but one be drawen out there at once The prysoner beyng brought foorth one of the aforesayde Parthians stryketh hym thryse on the head with an yron sledge that doone he is deliuered vnto his frendes yf he haue any otherwyse the kyng hyreth men to cary hym to his buriall in the fieldes Thus adulterers and theeues are vsed Such as be imprisoned for debt once knowen lye there vntyl it be payed The Taissu or Loutea calleth them many tymes before him by the vertue of his office who vnderstanding the cause wherefore they doo not pay theyr debtes appointeth them a certayne tyme to doe it wtin the compasse wherof if they discharge not theyr debtes beyng debters in deede then they be whipped condemned to perpetual imprisonment yf the creditours be many one is to be payd before an other they do contrary to our maner pay him fyrst of whom they last borowed and so ordinarily the rest in suche sort that the fyrst lender be the last receyuer The same order is kept in paying legacies the last named receyueth his portion first They accompt it nothyng to shew fauour to such a one as can doo the lyke agayne but to doo good to them that haue litle or nothing that is worth thanks therfore pay they the last before the first for that their entent seemeth rather to be vertuous then gainful When I sayde that suche as bee committed to pryson for theft murther were iudged by the Court I ment not them that were apprehended in the deed doyng for they need no tryall but are brought immediatly before the Tutan who out of hand giueth sentence Other not taken so openly and doe neede tryall are the malefactors put to execution once a yeere in the chiefe cities to keepe in awe the people or condempned doe remayne in prison lokyng for theyr day Theeues being taken are carryed to prison from one place to an other in a chest vpon mens shoulders hyred therefore by the kyng the Chest is sixe handfulles hygh the prisoner sitteth therein vppon a benche the couer of the chest is two boordes amyd them both a pillerylyke hole for the prisoner his necke there sitteth he with his head without the chest the rest of his body within not able to moue or turne his head this way or that way nor to plucke it in the necessities of nature he voydeth at a hole in the bottome of the chest the meat hee eateth is put into his mouth by others There abydeth he day and nyght duryng his whole iourney if happely his porters stumble or the chest doe iogge or be set downe carelesly it turneth to his great paynes that sitteth therein all such motions beyng vnto him hangyng as it were Thus were our companyons carryed from Cinceo seuen dayes iourney neuer taking any rest as afterward they told vs theyr greatest griefe was to staye by the way as soone as they came beyng taken out of the chests they were not able to stande on theyr feete and two of them dyed shortly after Whan
pretie kynde of fyshyng not to be omitted in my opinion and therefore wyll I set it downe The kyng hath in many ryuers good store of barges full of sea crowes that breede are fedde and do dye therein in certayne cages allowed monethly a certayne prouision of ryse These barges the kyng bestoweth vppon his greatest magistrates geuyng to some two to some three of them as he thynketh good to fyshe therewithall after this maner At the houre appoynted to fyshe all the barges are brought togeather in a circle where the ryuer is shalowe and the crowes tyed togeather vnder the wynges are let leape downe into the water some vnder some aboue worth the lookyng vppon eche one as he hath filled his bagge goeth to his owne barge and emptieth it whiche done he retourneth to fyshe agayne Thus hauyng taken good store of fyshe they set the crowes at libertie and do suffer them to fyshe for theyr owne pleasure There were in that citie where I was twentie barges at the least of these aforesayde crowes· I wente almost euery day to see them yet coulde I neuer be throughly satisfied to see so straunge a kynde of fyshyng ¶ Of the Ilande Giapan and other litle Isles in the East Ocean By R. Wylles THe extreme part of the knowen worlde vnto vs is the noble Ilande Ciapan written otherwyse Iapon and Iapan This Iland standeth in the East Ocean beyonde all Asie betwixte Cathayo the West Indies 36. degrees Northwarde from the aequinoctial line in the same clime with the South part of Spayne and Portugall distant from thence by sea .6000 leagues the trauayle thyther both for ciuile discorde great piracie and often shipwrackes very daungerous This countrey is hylly and pestred with snowe wherefore it is nether so warme as Portugall yet very poore as farre as we can learne wantyng oyle butter cheese mylke egges suger honny vyneger saffarne cynamome and pepper Barly branne the Ilanders do vse in steede of salte medicinable thinges holsome for the body haue they none at al. Neuerthelesse in that Iland sundry fruites do grow not much vnlike the fruites of Spayne great store of Syluer mynes are therin to be seene The people tractable ciuile wyttye courteous without deceyte in vertue and honest conuersation exceedyng all other nations lately discouered but so muche standyng vppon theyr reputation that theyr chiefe Idole may be thought honour The contempte therof causeth among them much discord and debate manslaughter and murther euen for theyr reputation they do honour theyr parentes keepe theyr promises absteyne from adultery and robberyes punyshing by death the least robbery done holdyng for a prynciple that whosoeuer stealeth a tryfle wyll if he see occasion steale a greater thing It may be thefte is so seuerely punished of them for that the nation is oppressed with scarcitie of al thynges necessarye and so poore that euen for miserie they strangle theyr owne chyldren preferring death before want These felowes do nether eate nor kyll any foule They lyue chiefely by fyshe hearbes and fruites so healthfully that they dye very olde Of Ryce and Wheate there is no great store No man is ashamed there of his pouertie ne be theyr gentlemen therfore lesse honored of the meaner people ne wyl the poorest gentleman there ▪ matche his chylde with the baser sort for any gayne so muche they do make more accompt of gentry then of wealth The greatest delyght they haue is in armorie eache boy at fourteene yeeres of age be he borne gentle or otherwyse hath his swoorde and dagger very good archers they be contempnyng all other nations in comparison of theyr manhood and prowesse puttyng not vp one iniurie be it neuer so small in worde or deede among them selues They feede moderately but they drynke largely The vse of vines they knowe not theyr drinke they make of Ryce vtterly they do abhorre dyse and all games accomptyng nothyng more vyle in a man then to geue hym selfe vnto those thynges that make vs greedie and desirous to get other mens goodes If at any time they do sweare for that seldome they are wont to do they sweare by the Sunne many of them are taught good letters wherfore they may so much the sooner be brought vnto Christianitie Eche one is contented with one wyse they be all desirous to learne and naturally enclined vnto honestie and curtesie godly talke they lysten vnto wyllinglye especially when they vnderstand it throughlye Theyr gouerment consisteth of three estates The fyrst place is due vnto the hygh priest by whose lawes and decrees al publique and priuate matters apparteynyng vnto religion are decided The sectes of theyr cleargie men whom they do call Bonzi be of no estimation or aucthoritie except the high priest by letters patent do confyrme the same he confyrmeth and alloweth of theyr Tundi who be as it were Byshops although in many places they are nominated by sundrye Princes These Tundi are greatly honoured of all sortes they do geue benefices vnto inferiour ministers and doo graunt licences for many thynges as to eate fleshe vppon those daies they go in Pilgrimage to theyr Idoles with suche lyke priuileges Finallye this hygh priest wont to be chosen in China for his wisdome and learnyng made in Giapan for his gentry and byrth hath so large a Dominion and reuenewes so great that eftsones he beardeth the pety Kinges and Princes there Theyr seconde principall Magistrate in theyr language Vo is the cheefe Herehaught made by succession and byrth honored as a God This gentleman neuer toucheth the grounde with his foote without forfaytyng of his office he neuer goeth abrode out of his house nor is at all tymes to be seene At home he is eyther carried about in a lytter or els he goeth in woodden Choppines a foote hygh from the grounde commonly he sitteth in his Chayre with a swoord in one syde and a bowe and arrowes in the other next his body he weareth blacke his outwarde garment is redde all shadowed ouer with Cipresse at his cap hang certayne Lambeaux much lyke vnto a Bishops Myter his forehead is paynted whyte and red he eateth his meate in earthen Dishes This Herehaught determineth in all Giapan the diuers tytles of honour whereof in that Iland is great plentie eache one perticularly knowen by his badge commonly seene in sealyng vp theyr letters and dayly altered accordyng to theyr degrees About this Vo euery noble man hath his Soliciter for the nation is so desirous of prayse and honour that they stryue among them selues who may brybe hym best By these meanes the Herehaught groweth so ryche that although he haue neyther lande nor any reuenewes otherwyse yet may he be accompted the wealthyest man in al Giapan For three causes this great Magistrate may loose his office first if he touch the ground with his foote as it hath been alreadie sayd next if he kyl anye body thyrdlye yf he be founde an enemie vnto peace and quietnesse howebeit neyther of
repayde with great vsury in an other world gyuyng by Obligation vnto the lender an assuraunce thereof the whiche departyng out of this lyfe hee may carry with him to hell There is an other great company of suche as are called Inambuxu with curlde and staryng heare They make profession to fynde out agayne thinges either lost or stolen after this sorte They set before them a chylde whom the deuyll inuadeth called vp thither by charmes of that chylde than doe they aske that which they are desirous to know These mens prayers both good and bad are thought greatly to preuayle insomuch that both their blessinges and theyr curses they sell vnto the people The Nouices of this order before they be admitted goe togeather two or three thousande in a company vp a certayne high mountayne to do pennance there threescore dayes voluntarily punishyng them selues In this tyme the deuyl sheweth him selfe vnto them in sundry shapes and they lyke young graduates admitted as it were felowes into some certayne company are set foorth with whyte tasselles hanging about theyr neckes and blacke Bonettes that scarsely couer any more than the crowne of theyr heades Thus attyred they range abrode in all Giapan to set out them selues and their cunnyng to sale eche one beatyng his basen hee carryeth alwayes about with him to gyue notice of theyr commyng in all townes where they passe There is also an other sorte called Genguis that make profession to shewe by southsaying where stolen thinges are and who were the theeues These dwel in the toppe of an high mountayne blacke in face for the continuall heate of the sunne for the colde wyndes and raynes they doe continually endure They marry but in theyr owne tribe and lyne the reporte goeth that they bee horned beastes They clyme vp most hygh rockes and hylles and goe ouer very great ryuers by the onely arte of the deuyll who to bryng those wretches the more into errour byddeth them to goe vp a certayne hygh mountayne where they stande myserably gazing and earnestly lookyng for him as long as the deuyll appoynteth them At the length at noonetyde or in the euenyng commeth that deuil whom they call Amida among them to shewe him selfe vnto them this shew breedeth in the braynes and hartes of men suche a kynde of superstition that it can by no meanes be rooted out of them afterwarde The deuyll was wont also in an other mountaine to shewe him selfe vnto the Giaponish nation Who so was more desirous than other to go to heauen and to enioy Paradyse thyther went he to see that syght and hauyng seene the deuyll folowed hym so by the deuyll persuaded into a denne vntyll hee came to a deepe pytte Into this pytte the deuyll was wont to leape to take with him his worshypper whom he there murdred This deceit was thus perceyued An olde man blynded with this superstition was by his sonne dissuaded from thence but all in vayne Wherefore his sonne folowed him priuely into that denne with his bowe and arrowes where the deuyll gallantly appeared vnto him in the shape of a man Whilest the olde man falleth downe to worshyp the deuyll his sonne speedily shootyng an arrow at the spirite so appearyng stroke a Foxe in steede of a man so sodeynly was that shape altered This old man his sonne trackyng the Foxe so runnyng away came to that pit wherof I spake and in the bottome thereof he founde many bones of dead men deceyued by the deuyll after that sorte in tyme past Thus deliuered hee his father from present death and all other from so pestilent an opinion There is furthermore a place bearyng name Coia very famous for the multitude of Abbeyes the Bonzii haue therin The beginner and founder whereof is thought to be one Combendaxis a suttle craftie felowe that gotte the name of holynesse by cunnyng speache although the lawes and ordinances he made were altogeather deuilishe he is sayde to haue founde out the Giapanishe letters vsed at this day In his later yeeres this Sim suttle buryed him selfe in a fouresquare graue foure cubites deepe seuerely forbyddyng it to be opened for that than he dyed not but rested his body wearyed with continuall businesse vntyll many thousande thousandes of yeeres were passed after the whiche tyme a great learned man named Mirozu should come into Giapan and than would he ryse vp out of his graue agayne About his tumbe many lampes are lyghted sent thyther out of dyuers prouinces for that the people is persuaded that whosoeuer is liberall and beneficiall towardes the beautifying of that monument shall not onely encrease in wealth in this worlde but in the lyfe to come be safe through Combendaxis helpe Suche as gyue them selues to worship him liue in those Monasteries or Abbayes with shauen heads as though they had forsaken all secular matters wheras in deede they wallow in all sortes of wickednesse and lust In these houses the which are many as I sayde in number doe remaine 6000. Bonzii or thereabout besydes the multitude of laye men women be restrayned from thence vppon payne of death An other company of Bonzii dwelleth at Fatonochaiti They teache a great multitude of children all trickes and sleightes of guyle and theft whom they doe fynde to be of great towardnesse those doe they instruct in all the petigrues of princes and fashions of the nobilitie in chiualry eloquence and so send them abrode into other prouinces attyred lyke young princes to this ende that faynyng them selues to be nobly borne they may with great summes of money borowed vnder the colour and pretence of nobilitie returne agayne Wherefore this place is so infamous in all Giapan that if any schollar of that order bee happely taken abrode hee incontinently dyeth for it Neuerthelesse these cousyners leaue not dayly to vse theyr wonted wickednesse and knauery North from Giapan three hundred leagues out of Meaco lyeth a great countrey of sauage men clothed in beastes skynnes rough bodyed with huge beardes and monstruous muchaches the which they hold vp with litle forkes as they drynke These people are great drinkers of wyne fierce in warres and much feared of the Giapans beyng hurte in fight they washe theyr woundes with salte water other surgery haue they none In theyr brestes they are sayde to carry lookyng glasses their swordes they tye to theyr heades in suche wyse that the handle doe rest vppon their shoulders Seruice and cerimonies haue they none at all onely they are wont to woorshyppe heauen To Aquita a great towne in that Giaponishe kyngdome we call Geuano they muche resort for merchandyse and the Aquitanes lykewyse doe traueyle into theyr countrey howebeit not often for that there many of them are slayne by the inhabiters Muche more concernyng this matter I had to wryte but to auoyde tediousnesse I will come to speake of the Giapans madnesse agayne who most desirous of vayne glory doe thynke than specially to geat immortall fame whan they
requisite for theyr Nauie There stayed Balthasar Gagus a great traueyler fiue monethes who describeth that place after this maner Ainan is a goodly countrey full of Indishe fruites and all kynde of victualles besydes great store of Iuelles and pearle well inhabited the â—ownâ—s buylte of stone the people rude in conditions apparelled 〈◊〉 diuersly coloured rugges with two Oxe hornes as it 〈◊〉 made of fyne cypres hangyng downe about theyr 〈◊〉 and a payre of sharpe cyzers at theyr foreheades The cause wherefore they goe in suche attyre I could not vnderstande except it be for that they doe counterfaite the deuyll in the fourme of a bruite beast offeryng to him vp them selues Santianum is an Isle neare vnto the hauen Cantan in the confines lykewyse of China famous for the death of that woorthie traueyler and godly professour and paynefull doctor of the Indyshe nation in matters concernyng religion Francis Xauier who after great labours many iniuries and calamities infinite suffred with much pacience singular ioye and gladnesse of mynd departed in a cabben made of bowes and rushes vppon a desarte mountayne no lesse voyde of all worldly commodities than endued with all spirituall blessinges out of this lyfe the seconde day of December the yeere of our Lorde .1552 after that many thousandes of these Easterlynges were brought by him to the knowledge of Christ. Of this holy man his perticular vertues and specially traueyle and wonderfull workes in that region of other many litle Isles yet not so litle but that they may ryght well be written of at leasure all the later histories of the Indyshe regions are full FINIS Of the Northeast frostie Seas and kyngdoms lying that way declared by the Duke of Moscouia his ambassadour to a learned Gentleman of Italie named Galeatius Butrigarius likewise of the viages of that worthie old man Sebastian Cabote sometymes gouernour of the companie of the Merchantes of Cathay in the Citie of London IT is doubtlesse a marueilous thyng to consyder what changes and alterations were caused in all the Romane Empyre by the Gothes and Vandales and other Barbarians into Italy For by their inuations were extinguyshed all artes and sciences and all trades of Merchandies that were vsed in dyuers partes of the worlde The desolation and ignoraunce whiche insued hereof continued as it were a cloude of perpetuall darkenesse among men for the space of foure hundred yeeres and more insomuche that none durst aduenture to goe any whyther out of theyr owne natiue countreys whereas before the incursions of the sayde Barbarians when the Romane Empyre floryshed they myght safely passe the seas to all partes of East India whiche was at that tyme as well knowen and frequented as it is nowe by the nauigations of the Portugales And that this is true it is manifest by that whiche Strabo wrytteth who was in the tyme of Augustus and Tiberius For speakyng of the greatnesse and ryches of the citie of Alexandria in Egypt gouerned then as a prouince of the Romanes he wryteth thus This onely place of Egypt is apte to receyue all thynges that come by sea by reason of the commoditie of the hauen and lykewyse all suche thynges as are brought by lande by reason of the ryuer of Nilus whereby they may bee easely conueyed to Alexandria beyng by these commodities the rychest citie of merchauntes that is in the worlde The reuenues of Egypt are so great that Marcus Tullius sayth in one of his orations that kyng Ptolomeus surnamed Auleta the father of queene Cleopatra had of reuenues twelue thousande and fyue hundred talentes whiche are seuen millions and a halfe of golde If therefore this kyng had so great reuenues when Egypt was gouerned of so fewe and so negligently what myght it then be woorth to the Romanes by whom it was gouerned with great diligence and theyr trade of merchandies greatly increased by the traffike of Trogloditica and India wheras in tyme past there coulde hardly be founde .xx. shyppes togeather that durst enter into the gulfe of Arabie or shewe theyr prowesse without the mouth of the same But at this present great nauies sayle togeather into India and to the furthest partes of Ethiope from whence are brought many rich and pretious merchandies into Egypt and are caried from thence into other countreys And by this meanes are the customes redoubled aswel by such thynges as are brought thither as also by suche as are caryed from thence forasmuche as great customes aryse of thinges of great value And that by this voyage infinite and pretious merchaundies were brought from the redde sea and India and those of dyuers other sortes then are knowen in our tyme it appeareth by the fourth volume of the ciuile lawe wherein is described the commission of Themperours Marcus and Commodus with the rehearsall of al such stuffe and merchandies wherof custome shoulde be payde in the redde sea by suche as had the same in fee farme as were payde the customes of all other prouinces partaynyng to the Romane Empyre and they are these folowyng Cinamome Long pepper Whyte pepper Cloues Costus Cancomo Spikenarde Cassia Sweete perfumes Xilocassia Myr. Amome Ginger Malabatrum Ammoniac Galbane Lasser Agarike Gumme of Arabie Cardamome Xilocinamome Carpesio Sylkes of diuers sortes Lynnen cloth Skynnes and Furres of Parthia and Babylon Iuorie Wood of Heben Pretious stones Pearles Iewelles of Sardonica Ceraunia Calamus Aromaticus Berille Cilindro Slaues Cloth of Sarmatia The sylke called Metaxa Uestures of sylke Died cloth and sylke Carbasei Sylke threede Gelded men Popingayes Lions of India Leopardes Panthers Purple Also that iuyce or lyquour whiche is geathered of wooll and of the heare of the Indians By these woordes it doeth appeare that in olde tyme the said nauigation by the way of the red sea was wel knowen muche frequented perhaps more then it is at this present Insomuch that the ancient kynges of Egypt consyderyng the great profite of the customes they had by the viages of the red sea and wylling to make the same more easie commodious attempted to make a fosse or chanel which should begin in the last part of the said sea where was a citie named Arsinoe which perhappes is that that is nowe called Sues and shoulde haue reached to a branch of the riuer of Nilus named Pelusio whiche emptieth it selfe in our sea towarde the East about the citie of Damiata They determined also to make three causeys or hygh wayes by land which shoulde passe from the sayd branch to the citie of Arsinoe but they founde this too difficult to bryng to passe In fine king Ptolomeus surnanamed Philadelphus ordeyned another way as to sayle vppon Nilus agaynst the course of the riuer vnto the citie of Copto and from thence to passe by a desart countrey vntyl they come aboue the red sea to a citie named Berenice or Miosormo where they imbarked
the continuall warres they haue with the Tartars of whom the greatest parte gyue obedience to the sayd great Cam as to theyr chiefe Emperour He made also demonstration in the sayde carde by the Northeast that being past the prouince of Permia and the ryuer Pescora which falleth into the North sea certeine mountaines named Catena Mundi there is thentraunce into the prouince of Obdora whereas is Vecchiadoro and the ryuer Obo whiche also falleth into the sayde sea and it is the furthest border of Th empyre of the Prince of Moscouia The sayde ryuer hath his originall in a great lake called Chethai which is the fyrst habitacion of the Tartars that paye tribute to the great Cane And from this lake for the space of two moneths vyage as they were credybly informed by certayne Tartares taken in the warres is the most noble citie of Cambalu beyng one of the chiefest in the dominion of the great Cane whom some call the great Cham. He also affyrmed that if shyppes should be made on the coastes of the sayde sea and sayle on the backe halfe of the coast thereof which he knew by many relations made to his Prince to reach infinitely towarde the Northeast they should doubtlesse in folowyng the same easily discouer that countrey Unto these woordes he added that although there were great difficultie in Moscouia by reason that the way to the sayde sea is full of thicke woods and waters whiche in the sommer make great maryshes and impossible to be traueyled aswell for lacke of victuals whiche can not there be founde not for certayne dayes but for the space of certayne monethes the place beyng desolate without inhabitauntes neuerthelesse he sayde that if there were with his Prince onely two Spanyardes or Portugales to whom the charge of this viage should be committed he no wayes doubted but that they would folowe it and fynde it forasmuch as with great ingeniousnesse and inestimable pacience these nations haue ouercome much greater difficulties then are these whiche are but litle in comparison to those that they haue ouerpassed and doe ouerpasse in all their viages to India He proceeded declaryng that not many yeeres since there came to the courte of his Prince an Ambassadour from pope Leo named maister Paulo Centurione a Genuese vnder dyuers pretenses But the princypall occasion of his commyng was bycause hee had conceyued great indignation and hatred agaynst the Portugales And therfore intended to proue if he could open any vyage by land wherby spyces myght be brought from India by the lande of Tartaria or by the sea Caspium otherwyse called Hircanum to Moscouia and from thence to be brought in shyppes by the ryuer Riga which runnyng by the countrey of Liuonia falleth into the sea of Germanie And that his Prince gaue eare vnto him and caused the sayde vyage to be attempted by certaine noble men of Lordo of the Tartars confinyng next vnto him But the warres which were then betweene them and the great desartes which they should of necessitie ouerpasse made them leaue of theyr enterpryse whiche if it had ben purposed by the coastes of this our North sea it might haue been easily fynyshed The sayde Ambassadour continued his narration saying that no man ought to doubt of that sea but that it may be sayled sixe monethes in the yeere forasmuche as the dayes are then very long in that clime and hot by reason of continuall reuerberation of the beames of the Sunne and shorte nyghtes And that this thing were as well woorthie to bee prooued as anye other nauigation whereby many partes of the worlde heeretofore vnknowen haue been discouered and brought to ciuilitie And heere makyng an ende of this talke he sayde Let vs now omyt this parte of Moscouia with his colde and speake somewhat of that parte of the newe worlde in whiche is the lande of Brytons called Terra Britonum and Baccaleos or Terra Baccalearum where in the yeere .1534 and .1535 Iaques Cartiar in two vyages made with three great French Gallies founde the great and large countreys named Canada Ochelaga and Sanguenai which reach from the .xlv. to the .51 degree beyng well inhabited and pleasaunt countreys and named by him Noua Francia And here staying a while and lyftyng vp his handes he sayde Oh what doe the Christian princes meane that in suche landes discouered they doe not assigne certayne colonies to inhabite the same to bryng those people whom God hath so blessed with naturall giftes to better ciuilitie and to embrase our religion then the whiche nothing can bee more acceptable to God The sayd regions also beyng so fayre and fruitfull with plentie of all sortes of corne hearbes fruites wood fyshes beastes metals and ryuers of suche greatnesse that shyppes may sayle more then .180 myles vpon one of them beyng on both sydes infinitely inhabited And to cause the gouernours of the sayde colonies to searche whether that lande towarde the North named Terra de Laborador doe ioyne as one firme lande with Norway Or whether there bee any streight or open place of sea as is most lyke there should be forasmuch as it is to bee thought that the sayde Indians dryuen by fortune about the coastes of Norway came by that streight or sea to the coastes of Germanie and by the sayde streight to sayle northwest to discouer the landes and countreys of Cathay and from thence to sayle to the Ilandes of Molucca and these surely should bee enterpryses able to make men immortall The which thing that ryght woorthie Gentleman maister Antony di Mendoza consideryng by the singular vertue and magnanimitie that is in him attempted to put this thyng in practyse For being viceroy of the countrey of Mexico so named of the great citie Mexico otherwyse called Temistitan now called new Spayne beyng in the .xx. degree aboue the Equinoctiall and parte of the sayde firme lande he sent certeyne of his Captaines by lande and also a nauie of shyppes by sea to search this secrete And I remember that when I was in Flaunders in Themperours court I saw his letter wrytten in the yeere .1541 and dated from Mexico wherein was declared howe towarde the Northwest he had founde the kyngdome of Sette Citta that is seuen Cities wheras is that called Ciuola by the reuerende father Marco da Niza and howe beyonde the sayde kyngdome yet further towarde the Northwest Captayne Francesco Vasques of Coronado hauing ouerpassed great desartes came to the sea syde where he founde certaine shyppes which sayled by that sea with merchandies and had in theyr banner vppon the prooes of theyr shyppes certayne foules made of golde and siluer which they of Mexico call Alcatrazzi and that theyr mariners shewed by signes that they were xxx dayes saylyng in commyng to that hauen whereby he vnderstoode that these shyppes could be of none other countrey then of Cathay forasmuch as it is situate on
the contrary parte of the sayde lande discouered The sayd maister Antonie wrote furthermore that by the opinion of men well practised there was discouered so great a space of that countrey vnto the sayde sea that it passed .950 leagues whiche make .2850 myles And doubtlesse if the Frenche men in this theyr newe Fraunce would haue passed by lande toward the sayd Northwest and by North they should also haue founde the sea whereby they myght haue sayled to Cathay But aboue all thynges this seemed vnto me most woorthie of commendation that the sayde maister Antonie wrote in his letter that he had made a booke of al the naturall and marueylous thinges whiche they founde in searchyng those countreys with also the measures of landes and altytudes of degrees A worke doubtlesse which sheweth a princely and magnificall mynd wherby we may conceiue that if God had giuen him the charge of the other hemispherie he would or now haue made it better knowen to vs. The which thing I suppose no man doth greatly esteeme at this tyme beyng neuerthelesse the greatest and most glorious enterpryse that may be imagined And heere makyng a certayne pause and turnyng him selfe towarde vs hee sayde Doe you not vnderstande to this purpose howe to passe to India towarde the Northwest wynde as dyd of late a citizen of Uenece so valiant a man and so well practised in all thinges perteynyng to nauigations and the science of Cosmographie that at this present hee hath not his lyke in Spayne insomuche that for his vertues hee is preferred aboue all other pylottes that sayle to the West Indies who may not passe thyther without his lycence and is therefore called Piloto Maggiore that is the graunde pylote And when we sayde that wee knewe him not hee proceeded saying that beyng certayne yeeres in the citie of Siuile and desirous to haue some knowledge of the nauigations of the Spanyardes it was tolde him that there was in the citie a valiant man a Uenecian borne named Sebastian Cabote who had the charge of those thinges beyng an expert man in that science and one that could make cardes for the sea with his owne hande and that by this reporte seekyng his acquayntaunce hee founde him a very gentle person who enterteyned him friendly and shewed him many thinges and among other a large Mappe of the worlde with certayne perticular nauigations aswell of the Portugales as of the Spanyardes and that hee spake further vnto him in this effecte When my father departed from Uenece many yeeres since to dwell in Englande to folowe the trade of merchandyes hee tooke mee with him to the citie of London whyle I was very young yet hauing neuerthelesse some knowledge of letters of humanitie and of the sphere And when my father dyed in that tyme when newes were brought that Don Christopher Colonus Genuese had discouered the coasts of India wherof was great talke in all the court of kyng Henry the seuenth who then reigned insomuche that all men with great admiration affirmed it to be a thing more diuine then humane to sayle by the West into the East where spyces growe by a way that was neuer knowen before By which fame and report there increased in my harte a great flame of desyre to attempte some notable thyng And vnderstandyng by reason of the sphere that if I should sayle by the way of the Northwest wynde I should by a shorter tracte come to India I therevppon caused the kyng to bee aduertised of my diuise who immediately commaunded two Carauels to be furnyshed with all thinges apperteynyng to the vyage which was as farre as I remember in the yeere .1496 in the begynnyng of sommer Beginning therefore to sayle toward Northwest not thinking to fynde any other lande then that of Cathay and from thence to turne toward India But after certayne dayes I founde that the lande ranne towarde the North which was to me a great displeasure Neuerthelesse saylyng along by the coast to see if I could fynde any gulfe that turned I founde the lande styll continent to the .56 degree vnder our pole And seeyng that there the coast turned toward the East dispayring to fynde the passage I turned backe agayne and sayled downe by the coast of that lande towarde the Equinoctiall euer with intent to fynde the sayde passage to India and came to that parte of this firme lande whiche is nowe called Florida Where my victualles faylyng I departed from thence and returned into Englande where I founde great tumultes among the people and preparance for warres in Scotlande by reason whereof there was no more consideration had to this vyage Whervppon I went into Spayne to the Catholyke kyng and queene Elizabeth who beyng aduertised what I had done enterteyned mee and at theyr charges furnyshed certayne shyppes wherewith they caused mee to sayle to discouer the coastes of Brasile where I founde an exceedyng great and large ryuer named at this present Rio della Plata that is the ryuer of siluer into the whiche I sayled and folowed it into the firme lande more then sixe hundred leagues fyndyng it euery where very fayre and inhabited with infinite people whiche with admiration came runnyng dayly to our shyppes Into this ryuer runne so many other riuers that it is in maner incredible After this I made many other vyages whiche I now permyt And wexyng olde I gyue my selfe to rest from suche traueyles bycause there are nowe many young and lusty Pylotes and mariners of good experience by whose forwardnesse I doe reioyce in the fruites of my labours and rest with the charge of this office as you see And this is as muche as I haue vnderstoode of maister Sebastian Cabote as I haue geathered out of dyuers nauigations written in the Italian tongue And whereas I haue before made mention howe Moscouia was in our tyme discouered by Richarde Chanceler in his viage towarde Cathay by the direction and information of the sayd maister Sebastian who long before had this secrete in his mynd I shall not neede heere to describe that viage forasmuche as the same is largely and faythfully written in the Latine tongue by that learned young man Clement Adams schoolemaister to the Queenes Henshemen as he receyued it at the mouth of the sayd Richard Chanceler Neuerthelesse I haue thought good heere to speake somewhat of Moscouia as I haue redde in the booke of Iohn Faber written in the Latine tongue to the ryght noble Prince Ferdinando Archeduke of Austria and Infant of Spaine of the maners and religion of the Moscouites as he was partly instructed by the Ambassadours of the Duke of Moscouie sent into Spayne to Themperours maiestie in the yeere .1525 He wryteth therefore as foloweth I thynke it fyrst conuenient to speake somewhat of the name of this region whereby it is called at this day and howe it was called in olde tyme. Conferryng therefore the moste
auncient of the Greeke and Latine monumentes with the historyes of later tyme I perceyue it to bee a thyng whiche requireth no small iudgement of wytte and learnyng For we see in howe shorte tyme the names of thinges are chaunged as are also the maners of men I fynde therefore that those people whom at this day wee commonly call Moscouites were in tyme past as wynesseth Plinie called Roxolani whom neuerthelesse by chaungyng one letter Ptolome in his eyght table of Europe calleth Rosolanos as doeth also Strabo They were also many yeeres called Rutheni and are that people whiche sometyme fought manfully agaynst the Captaynes of Methridates as Strabo writeth They were called Moscouites of the chiefe citie of all the prouince named Moscouia or Mosca or as Volaterane sayeth of the ryuer Mosco They were sometyme gouerned by Duke Iohn whose wyfe was Helena of the lynage of Themperours of Constantinople of the noble famelie of the Palcologi Beyonde these Roxolanos Strabo sayeth there is no lande inhabited These Ruthenians therfore or Moscouites are people of the Northeast parte of the worlde from vs and are determined with the limittes of the great ryuer Boristhenes of Scithia on the one syde with the Lituanians and Polonians and on the other syde with the Tartars who ceasse not to vexe them with continuall warres and incursions Especially the great Emperour Cham of Cathay the chiefe Prince of the Tartars resydent by the sea syde in Taurico Chersoneso molesteth them with sore warres They are towarde the North syde inclosed with the frosen sea the lande of whose coastes beyng very large perteyneth in maner all to the dominion of the Duke of Moscouie The sea is it whiche the olde wryters call Lacus Cronicus so named of the Greeke woord Cronos which the Latines call Saturnus whom they fayne to be an olde man of complexion colde and slowe and thereby name all suche thinges as are colde and slowe Cronica as by lyke reason they dyd this North sea which beyng in maner euer frosen is slow and cold and in maner immoueable And for lyke consideration as sayth Plinie Heathens nameth it in the Scithian tongue Amaltheum which woord signifieth as much as congealed or frosen But that I wander not farre from my purpose Th empyre and dominion of the Duke of Moscouie reacheth so farre that it comprehendeth certayne partes of Asia and also of Europe The citie of Moscouia or Mosco is counted twyse as byg as Colonia Agrippina as they faythfully reporte which know both Unto this they haue also an other not vnequall in bygnesse called Fladimer Also Blescouia Nouogradia Smolne and Otifer all which theyr Ambassadours affyrme to be of princely and magnificall buyldynges and strongly defended with walles both of bricke and square stone Of these Blescouia is strongest and enuironed with three walles Other whiche they haue innumerable are not so famous as are these wherof this Duke of Moscouie and Emperoure of Russia taketh thinscription of his title For euen at this present when so euer eyther by his ambassadours or his letters he doth signifie hym selfe to be Emperour of Moscouie he is accustomed to vse this title Basilius by the grace of God Emperour of al Russia and great Duke of Fladamer Moscouie Nouigrade Blascouia Smolne and Otifer c. And this is the tytle whereby the sayde ambassadours saluted your maiestie in the name of great Basilius when they began theyr oration This prince of Moscouie hath vnder hym prynces of many prouinces and those of great power Of the whiche that olde whyte bearded man whom this Emperour of the Ruthians sent for his ambassadoure to Themperours maiestie into Spaine is not one of the least For euen he when necessitie of warre requireth is accustomed to make for his Emperour a bande of .xxx. thousand horsemen But this is to their singular commendation that they are so obedient to theyr prince in all thynges that beyng sommoned by hym by neuer so meane an heralde they obey incontinent as if it were to god thynkeing nothing more glorious then to die in y e quarel of theyr prince By reason of which obedience they are able in short tyme to assemble an army of two or three hundred thousande men against theyr enimies eyther the Tartares or the great Cham And haue hereby obtayned great victories and triumphes aswell agaynst the Turks as the Tartars by the exceeding multitude of theyr horsemen and continual experience in warres At such time as Themperour Maximilian made a league with them they kept warre against the kyng of Polonie They vse not onely bowes and dartes after the maner of the Parthians but haue also the vse of gunnes as we haue And to be briefe only the Moscouites may seeme that nation which hath not felte the commodities of peace Insomuch that if theyr region were not strongly defended by the nature of the place beyng impreignable it had or now been oftentymes conquered Theyr language agreeth muche with the tongue of y e Bohemians Croatians and Sclauons so that the Sclauon doth playnely vnderstande the Moscouite although the Moscouian tongue be a more rude and hard phrase of speach The historiographers wryte that the Sclauous tongue tooke the name of the confusion whiche was in Babell in the tyme of that stoute hunter Nemroth of whom mention is made in the Genesis But I can not enough marueyle at this thyng that whereas betweene Dalmatia nowe called Sclauonia and Moscouia both the Pannonies are situate yet this notwithstandyng the Hungarians tongue nothyng agreeth with the Moscouites Whereby we may coniecture that these nations were sometymes diuided by legions and that they came out of Dalmatia thyther whiche thyng also Volateranus affirmeth saying that the language of the Ruthenians whiche are the Moscouites is Semidalmatica that is halfe Sclauone Howe so euer it be this is certaine that the Bohemians Croatians Sclauons Moscouites agree in language as we perceiued by thinterpretours whiche your maiestie had then in your courte For whereas the sayd interpretours were borne among the Croatians Sclauons and none of them had euer been in Moscouia or before that tyme had any conuersation with them yet dyd they well vnderstande the ambassadours woordes There are in Mosuia wooddes of exceedyng byggenesse in the whiche blacke woolues and whyte beares are hunted The cause whereof may bee thextreme colde of the North whiche doth greatly alter the complextions of beastes and is the mother of whitenesse as the Philosophers affirme They haue also great plentie of Bees wherby they haue such abundaunce of hony and waxe that it is with them of smale price When the commoditie of theyr countrey is neglected by reason of long warres their chiefe aduauntage wherby they haue all thynges necessarie towarde theyr lyuyng is the gaynes whiche they haue by theyr ryche furres as Sables Marternes Luzernes
and dyuers other All the Tartars whiche inhabite towarde the East beyonde the ryuer of Volga haue no dwellyng places nor yet cities or Castles but cary about with them certayne cartes or wagens couered with beastes hydes vnder the whiche they reste as we do in our houses They remoue togeather in great companyes whiche they call Hordas They are warlyke people and good horsemen and are all Macometistes Sebastian Munster in his booke of Uniuersall Cosmographie wryteth that the citie of Mosca or Moscouia conteyneth in circuite .xiiii. myles and that it is twyse as bygge as the citie of Praga in Bohemie Of the countrey of Moscouia besyde other prouinces subiecte to the same he wryteth thus It extendeth in largenesse foure hundreth myles and is ryche in syluer It is lawful for no man to go out of the realme or come in without the Dukes letters It is playne without mountaynes and full of woodds and marishes The beastes there by reason of the colde are lesse then in other countreys more southwarde In the middest of the citie of Mosca beyng situate in a playne there is a Castell with .xvii. towres and three bulwarkes so strong fayre that the lyke are scarsely seene in any other place There are also in the Castell .xvi churches and three very large courtes in the whiche the noble men of the courte haue theyr lodgynges The Dukes pallaice is buylded after the maner of the Italian buyldyng and very fayre but not great Theyr drynke is mede and beere as is the maner of the most part of the people that inhabite the North partes of the woorlde They are exceedyngly geuen to droonkennesse Yet as some saye the princes of the lande are prohibit on payne of death to absteine from suche strong drinkes as are of force to inebriate except at certayne times when licence is graunted them as twise or thrise in the yeere They plowe the ground with horses and plowes of wood Theyr corne and other grayne by reason of long colde do seldome waxe rype on the ground by reason wherof they are sometimes inforced to rype drye them in their stooues and hot houses and then grynd them They lacke wyne and oyle Moscouia is extended vnto Iurham and Corelia which are in Scithia The famous ryuer of Tanais the Moscouites call Don hauyng his sprynges and originall in Moscouia in the Dukedome of Rezense It ryseth out of a ground that is playne baren muddy full of maryshes and wooddes And where it proceedeth toward the East to the mountaynes of Scythia and Tartarie it bendeth to the south and commyng to the maryshes of Meotis it falleth into them The riuer of Volga sometyme called Rha and now called of the Tartars Edell runneth towards the North certaine myles to whom is ioyned the riuer Occa or Ocha flowing out of Moscouia and then bendyng into the South and encreased with many other riuers falleth into the sea Euximum which diuideth Europe and Asia The wood or forrest called Hircania silua occupieth a small portion of Moscouia Yet is it somewhere inhabited and by the long labour of men made thynner and barer of trees In that part that lieth toward Prusia is a kinde of great fierce Bulles called Vri or Brisonts as writeth Paulus Iouius There are also Alces much lyke vnto Hartes with long snowtes of flesh and long legges without any bowyng of theyr houx or pasternes These beastes the Moscouites cal Lozzi and the Almaines Helenes The iorney that is betweene Vlna of Lituania by Smolence to Mosca is trauayled in winter on sleades by the snow congeled by long frost and made very slypperie and compact lyke Ise by reason of much wearyng and treadyng by meanes whereof this viage is perfourmed with incredible celeritie But in the Sommer the playne countreyes can not be ouercome without difficult labour For when the snow beginneth to be disolued by contynuall heate it causeth marishes and quamyres inextricable and daungerous both for horse and man were it not for certaine Causeis made of timber with in maner infinite labour The region of Moscouia as I haue said beareth neither Uines nor Oliue trees nor yet any other trees that beare any apples or fruites of very pleasant and sweete sauour or tast except Cherry trees forasmuch as al tender fruites and trees are burnt of the cold blasts of the North wynde Yet do the fieldes beare al kyndes of corne as wheate and the grayne called Siligo whereof the fynest kynde of breade is made also Mylle and Panycke whiche the Italians call Melica Lykewyse al kyndes of pulse as Beanes Peason Tares and such other But theyr cheefe haruest consisteth of Honye and Waxe forasmuch as the whole region is replenished with fruitefull Bees which make most sweete Hony not in the husband mens hyues but euen in hollow trees And hereby commeth it to passe that both in the wooddes and shalowed launes are seene many swarmes of Bees hangyng on the bowes of trees so that it shall not be necessarie to call them togeather or charme them with the sound of Basens There are oftentymes founde great masses of Hony combes conserued in trees of the olde Hony forsaken of bees forasmuche as the husbandmen can not seeke euery tree in so great and large woods Insomuche that in the stockes or bodies of exceedyng great and hollowe trees are sometymes founde great pooles or lakes of Hony Demetrius thambassadour of the Duke of Moscouia whom he sent to the Bishop of Rome not many yeeres since made relation that a husbandman of the countrey not farre from the place where he remayned seekyng in the woods for Hony descended into a great hollowe tree full of Honye into the which he slypt vp to the breast and lyued there only with Hony for the space of two dayes calling in vaine for helpe in that desart of woodds and that in fine dispayryng of helpe he escaped by a marueylous chaunce beyng drawen out by a great Beare that descended into the tree with her loynes downewarde after the maner of men For when the man as present necessitie and oportunitie serued perceyued the Beare to be within his reache he sodenly clasped her about the loynes with his armes and with a terrible crye prouoked the beast to enforce her strength to leape out of the tree and therewith to drawe hym out as it chaunced in deede These regions abounde with Beares whiche euery where seeke both Honye and Bees not only herewith to fyll theyr bellyes but also to helpe theyr syght For theyr eyes are oftentymes dulled and theyr mouthes wounded of the Bees both which greefes are eased by eatyng of Honye They haue weakest heades as Lions haue strongest Insomuche that when beyng thereto enforced they cast them selues downe headlong from any rockes they couer theyr heades with theyr feete and lye for a tyme astonyshed
a great multitude of other people of these North partes of the worlde as from Liâ—onia Prusia Russia and Tartaria with diuers other countreyes makyng them diuers Kynges and Captaynes dyd depopulate and bryng in subiection the more part of Europe inuaded Italie destroied Rome inhabited that parte of Italie nowe called Lumbardie and lykewyse subdued the Realmes of Castile and Aragonie Their warres continued aboue three hundred yeeres Finland and Eningia FInlandia is as much to saye as a fayre land or fyne lande so named for the fertilitie of the grounde Plinie seemeth to call it Finnonia for he saieth that about the coastes of Finland â–ª are many Ilands without names of the which there lyeth one before Scithia called Pannonia The gulfe called Sinus Finnonicus â–ª is so named at this day of the land of Finnonia Finnonia confineth with Scithia and runneth without all Tanais that is to say without the lymittes of Europe to the confines of Asia But that the name of Einlande seemeth not to agree hereunto the cause is that this place of Plinie is corrupted as are many other in this aucthour So that from the name of Finnonia or Phinnonia it was a lykely errour to call it Pannonia forasmuche as these wordes doo not greatly differ in wrytyng and sounde so that the counterfect name was soone put in the place of the true name by hym that knew Pannonia and read that name before beyng also ignorant of Phinnonia Eningia had in olde tyme the tytle of a kyngdome it is of such largenesse but hath now only the title of an inferiour gouernour beyng vnder the dominion of the Slauons â–ª and vsyng the same tongue In religion it obserued the rytes of the Greekes of late yeeres when it was vnder the gouernance of the Moscouites But it is at this present vnder the kyng of Suecia obserueth thinstitutions of the Occidentall churche Spanyshe wynes are brought thither in great plentie which the people vse meryly and cheerefully It is termined on the North side by the South lyne of Ostrobothnia and is extended by the mountaynes Toward the West it is termined with the sea of Finnonia accordyng to this description and hath degrees .71 66. c. Of the difference of regions and causes of great cities after the description of Hieronimus Cardanus Liber .xi. De Subtilitate THere is an other difference of regions caused of cold and heate For suche as are neare vnto the poles are vexed with to muche colde and suche as are vnder the line where the Sunne is of greatest force are oppressed with heate Suche as are in the middest betweene both are nearest vnto temperatenesse Under the pole it is impossible that there should be populous cities bycause the lande is barren and the caryage or conueyaunce of fruites victualles and other necessaryes is incommodious By reason whereof it is necessarie that the inhabitauntes of such regions lyue euer in continuall wanderyng from place to place or els in small vyllages Suche as inhabite temperate regions haue meane cities aswell for that they haue more commodious conueyaunce for necessaryes as also that they may dwel better and more safely togeather then in vyllages by reason of fortifying their townes with walles and exercising of artes and occupations wherby the one may the better helpe the other Yet that olde Rome beyng in a temperate region was of such incredible bygnesse the cause was that it obteyned the Empyre of the worlde by reason whereof all nations had confluence thyther and not the greatnesse of the walles But it is necessarie that the greatest cities be in hotte regions fyrst for that in such regions part of the soile is either barren if it lacke water or els most fruitfull if it abounde with water And for this inequalitie when they fynde any place meete to susteyne a multitude it foloweth of necessitie that great cities be builded in such places by reason of great concourse of people resortyng to the same An other great cause is that whereas in such regions marchauntes come very farre to such commodious places they passe through many desarte and perillous regions So that it shal be necessary for theyr better securitie to come in great companyes as it were great armies And therefore whereas such a societie is once knyt togeather in a commodious place it should bee great hynderance aswell to the inhabitants as to marchauntes if they should wander in incommodious places And by this confluence both of such as dwell neare to such places and also of strangers and such as dwell farre of it is necessary that in continuaunce of tyme small townes become great cities as are these Quinsai Singui Cambalu Memphis Cairus or Alcair otherwyse called Babilon in Egypt But if here any will obiecte Constantinople in olde tyme called Bizantium beyng in a temperate region although it be not to be compared to such cities as are more then lx myles in circuite yet doe we answere herevnto that the Turkes Empyre is the cause of the greatnesse hereof as we sayde before of Rome The historie written in the latine tongue by Paulus Ionius byshop of Nuceria in Italie of the legation or ambassade of great Basilius Prince of Moscouia to Pope Clement the .vij. of that name In which is conteyned the description of Moscouia with the regions confinyng about the same euen vnto the great and rych Empire of Cathay I Intend first briefly to describe the situation of the region which we plainely see to haue ben litle knowen to Strabo Ptoleme then to proceede in rehearsing the maners customes religion of the people and this in maner in the like simple stile and phrase of speach as the same was declared vnto vs by Demetrius the Ambassadour a man not ignorant in the latin tongue as from his youth brought vp in Liuonia where he learned the first rudiments of letters and being growne to mans age executed thoffice of an Ambassadour into diuers Christian prouinces For whereas by reason of his approued faithfulnesse industrie he had before ben sent as Oratour to the kynges of Suecia and Denmarke the great maister of Prussia hee was at the last sent to Themperour Maximilian in whose court being replenyshed with all sortes of men while he was câ—nuersant if any thing of barbarous maners yet remayned in so docible quiet a nature the same was put away by frâ—ming him selfe to better ciuilitie The cause of his legacie or ambassade was giuen by Paulus Centurio a Genuese who when he had receiued letters commendatory of pope Leo the tenth came to Moscouia for the trade of marchaundies of his owne mynde conferred with the familiars of Duke Basilius as touching the conformation of the rites of both churches He furthermore of great magnanimitie and in maner outragious desire sought â—ow by a new and incredible viage spices might be brought from India For while before hee had exercised the trade of marchandies in
Syria Egypt Pontus he knewe by fame that spices myght be conueighed from the further India vp the riuer Indus against the course of the same and from thence by a small vyage by land passing ouer the mountaines of Paropanisus to be caried to the ryuer Oxus in Bactria which hauing his originall aâ—most from the same mountaynes from whence Indus doâ—th spryng and violently carying with it many other ryuers falleth into the sea Hircanum or Caspium at the porte called Straua And he â—arnestly affirmed that from Straua is an easie safe nauigation vnto the marte towne of Citrachan or Astrachan and the mouâ—h of the ryuer Volga and from thence â—uer against the course of the ryuers as Volga Occha and Mescho vnto the citte Moschâ— and from thence by lande to Riga and into the sea of 〈◊〉 and all the West regions For he was vehemently and more then of equitie accensed and prouoked by the iniuries of the Portugales who hauyng by force of armes subdued a great parte of India and possessed all the marte townes takyng wholly into theyr handes all the trade of spyces to bryng the same into Spayne and neuerthelesse to sell them at a more greeuâ—us anâ— intollerable price to the people of Europe then euer was heard of before And furthermore kepte the coastes of the Indian sea so straightly with continuall nauies that those trades are thereby left of which were before exercised by the gulfe of Persia and towarde the ryuer of Euphrates and also by the streightes of the sea of Arabia and the ryuer Nilus and in finâ— by our sea by which trade all Asia and Europe was aboundantly satisfied and better cheape then hath been since the Portugales had the trade in theyr handes with so many incommodities of such long viages whereby the spyces are so corrupted by thinfection of the pompe and other filthinesse of the shyppes that theyr naturall sauour taste and qualitie aswell heereby as by theyr long reseruyng in the shoppes sellers and warehouses in Lusheburne vanysheth and resolueth so that reseruyng euer the freshest and newest they sell only the woorst and most corrupted But Paulus although in all places he earnestly and vehemently argued of these thinges and styrred great malice and hatred agaynst the Portugales affyrmyng that not only thereby the customes and reuenues of princes should be much greater if that vyage might be discouered but also that spyces myght bee better cheape bought at the handes of the Moscouites yet could â—e nothyng auayle in this suite forasmuche as Duke Basilius thought it not good to make open or disclose vnto a straunger and vnknowen man those regions which gyue enterance to the sea Caspium and the kyngdomes of Persia. Paulus therefore excludyng all hope of further traueyle and become nowe of a marchaunte an Ambassadour brought Basilius letters Pope Leo beyng now departed to Adrian his successour in the which he declared with honourable and reuerende woordes his good will and fauourable mynde towarde the Byshoppe of Rome For a fewe yeeres before Basilius then keepyng warres agaynst the Polones at suche tyme as the generall counsayle was celebrate at Laterane requyred by Iohn Kyng of Denmarke the father of Christierne who was of late expulsed from his kyngdome that safe passage myght be graunted to the Ambassadours of Moscouia to goe to Rome But whereas it so chaunced that kyng Iohn and Pope Iulius dyed both in one day whereby he lacked a conuenient sequester or solicitour he omitted his consultation as touchyng that legacie After this the warre waxed hotte betweene him and Sigismunde the kyng of Polonie who obteynyng the victorie agaynst the Moscouites at Boristhene supplications were decreed in Rome for the ouerthrowe and vanquyshyng the enemyes of the Christian fayth whiche thyng greatly elienated both kyng Basilius him selfe and all that nation from the Byshoppe of Rome But when Adrian the .vi. departed from this lyfe and lefte Paulus now readie to his seconde vyage his successour Clement the .vii. perceyuyng that Paulus styll furiously reuolued and tossed in his vnquyet mynde that vyage towarde the East sent him agayne with letters to Moscouia by the whiche with propense and friendly persuasions hee exhorted Basilius to acknowledge the maiestie of the Romane churche and to make a perpetuall league and agreement in matters of religion which thyng should bee not only for the health of his soule but also greatly to the increase of his honour And further promysed that by the holy aucthoritie of his office he would make him a kyng and gyue him kyngly ornamentes if reiectyng the doctrine of the Greekeâ— hee would confourme himselfe to the aucthoritie of the Romane churche But Paulus who with more prosperous iourneyes then great vauntage had from his youth traueyled a great parte of the worlde although hee were nowe aged and sore vexed with the strangurie came with a prosperous and speedy iourney to Moscouia where he was gentelly receyued of Basilius and remayned in his Courte for the space of twoo monethes But in fine mistrustyng his owne strength and deterred by the difficultie of so great a iourney when he had vtterly put away all his imaginations and hope of this trade to India returned to Rome with Demetrius the Ambassadour of Basilius before we yet thought that he had been in Moscouia The Byshoppe commaunded that Demetrius should bee lodged in the most magnificent and princely parte of the houses of Vaticane the rooffes of whose edifies are gylted and embowed and the chambers rychly furnyshed with silken beddes and cloth of Arresse Wyllyng furthermore that he should be honourably receyued and vestured with silke He also assigned Franciscus Cheregatus the Byshoppe of Aprutium a man that had often tymes been Ambassadour to dyuers regions to accompany him and shewe him the order and rytes of our religion with the monumentes and maners of the citie Furthermore when Demetrius had certayne dayes rested and recreated him selfe washing away the fylth he had gathered by reason of the long viage then apparelled with a fayre vesture after the maner of his countrey he was brought to the byshops presence whom he honoured kneelyng with great humilitie and reuerence as is the maner and therwith presented vnto his holinesse certeyne furres of Sables in his owne name and in the name of his prince and also delyuered the letters of Basilius which they before and then the Illyrian or Slauon interpretour Nicolaus Siccensis translated into the Latine tongue in this effecte as foloweth To Pope Clement shepard and teacher of the Romane church great Basilius by the grace of God lord Emperour and dominatour of all Russia and great Duke of Volodemaria Moscouia Nouogradia Plescouia Smolenta Ifferia Iugoria Periunia Vetcha Bolgaria c. Dominator great prince of Nouogradia in the lower countrey also of Ceruigouia Razania Volotchia Rezeuia Belchia Rostouia Iarostauia Belozeria Vdoria Obdoria Condiuia c. You sent vnto vs
the seate of the Empyre was translated by the valiaunt Emperours for necessarie considerations that suche ayde furniture and requisites as appertayne to the warres myght be neare at hande at suche tyme as they keepe continuall warre agaynst the Tartars theyr borderers For it is situate without Volga on the bankes of the ryuer Clesma whiche falleth into Volga But Moscha aswell for those gyftes and commodities whereof we haue spoken as also that it is situate in the myddest of the most frequented place of all the region and Empyre and defended with the ryuer and Castell hath in comparyson to other cities been thought most woorthie to be esteemed for the chiefe Moscha is distant from Nouogrodia fyue hundred myles and almost in the myd way is the citie of Ottoferia otherwyse called Otwer or Tuwer vppon the ryuer of Volga This ryuer neare vnto the fountaynes and sprynges of the same not yet increased by receyuyng so many other ryuers runneth but slowly and gentelly and passeth from thence to Nouogrodia through many woods and desolate playnes Furthermore from Nouogrodia to Riga the nexte porte of the Sarmatian sea is the iourney of a thousande myles litle more or lesse This tract is thought to be more commodious then the other bycause it hath many townes and the citie of Plescouia in the way beyng imbrased with two ryuers From Riga perteynyng to the dominion of the great maister of the warres of the Liuons to the citie of Lubecke a porte of Germanie in the gulfe of Cymbrica Chersonesus now called Denmarke are numbred about a thousande myles of daungerous saylyng From Rome to the citie of Moscha the distance is knowen to bee two thousande and sixe hundred myles by the nearest way passyng by Rauenna Taruisium the Alpes of Carnica Also Villacum Noricum and Vienna of Pannouie and from thence passyng ouer the ryuer of Danubius to Olmutium of the Marouians and to Cracouia the chiefe citie of Polonie are compted .xi. hundred myles From Cracouia to Vilna the head citie of Lithuania are compted fyue hundred myles and as many from that citie to Smolenzko situate beyonde Boristhenes from whence to Moscha are compted sixe hundred myles The iourney from Vilna by Smolenzko to Moscha is traueyled in wynter with expedite sleades and incredible celeritie vppon the snowes hardened with long frost and compacte lyke Ise by reason of muche wearyng But in sommer the playnes can not bee ouerpassed but by difficulte and laborious trauayle For when the snowes by the continuall heate of the Sunne begyn to melte and dissolue they cause great maryshes and quamyres able to intangle both horse and man were it not that wayes are made through the same with brydges and causes of wood and almost infinite labour In all the region of Moscouia there is no vayne or mine of golde or syluer or any other common metall except Iron neyther yet is there any token of precious stones and therefore they buye all those thinges of straungers Neuerthelesse this iniurie of nature is recompensed with aboundance of rich furres whose price by the wanton nysenesse of men is growen to suche excesse that the furres parteynyng to one sorte of apparell are now solde for a thousande crownes But the tyme hath been that these haue been bought better cheape when the furthest nations of the North being ignorant of our nyse finenesse and breathyng desyre towarde effeminate and superfluous pleasures exchaunged the same with muche simplicitie oftentymes for trifles and thinges of small value Insomuche that commonly the Permians and Pecerrians were accustomed to giue so many skinnes of Sables for an Iron Axe or Hatchet as being tyed harde togeather the marchantes of Moscouia could drawe through the hole where the hafte or handle entereth into the same But the Moscouites sende into all partes of Europe the best kynde of flaxe to make lynnen cloth and hempe for ropes Also many Oxe hydes and exceedyng great masses of waxe They proudely deny that the Romane churche obteyneth the principate and preeminent aucthoritie of all other They so abhorre the nation of the Iewes that they detest the memorie of them and will in no condition admyt them to dwell within theyr dominions esteemyng them as wycked and mischieuous people that haue of late taught the Turkes to make gunnes Beside the bookes that they haue of the ancient Greeke doctours they haue also the commentaries and homelies of saint Ambrose Augustine Ierome Gregorie translated into the Illyrian or Slauon tongue which agreeth with theyrs For they vse both the Slauon tongue and letters as doe also the Sclauons Dalmates Bohemes Pollones and Lithuanes This tongue is spredde further then any other at this day For it is familiar at Constantinople in the court of the Emperours of the Turks and was of late hearde in Egypte among the Mamalukes in the court of the Soltane of Alcayre otherwyse called Memphis or Babilon in Egypt A great number of bookes of holy scripture are translated into this tongue by the industrie of Sainct Ierome and Cyrillus Furthermore besyde the hystories of their owne countreys they haue also bookes conteyning the facts of great Alexander and the Romane Emperours and lykewyse of Marcus Antonius Cleopatra They haue no maner of knowledge of philosophie Astronomie or speculatiue phisicke with other liberal sciences But such are taken for Phisitians as professe that they haue oftentymes obserued the vertue and qualitie of some vnknowen hearbe They number the yeeres not from the byrth of Christ but from the begynnyng of the world And this they begin to accompt not from the moneth of Ianuary but from September They haue fewe and simple lawes throughout all the kyngdome made by the equitie and conscience of theyr prynces and approued by the consent of wyse and good men and are therfore greatly for the wealth and quyetnesse of the people forasmuche as it is not lawfull to peruerte them with any interpretations or cauillations of lawyers or Atturneys They punysh theeues rouers priuie pyckers and murtherers When they examyne malefactours they powre a great quantitie of cold water vpon such as they suspecte whiche they say to be an intollerable kynde of torment But sometymes they manacle suche as are stubborne and will not confesse apparent crymes Theyr youth is exercised in dyuers kyndes of games and playes resemblyng the warres whereby they both practise pollicie and increase theyr strength They vse runnyng both on horsebacke and a foote Also runnyng at the tylt wrestlyng and especially shootyng For they gyue rewardes to such as excell therein The Moscouites are vniuersally of meane stature yet very square set and myghtyly brawned They haue all grey eyes long beardes shorte legges and bygge bellyes They ryde very shorte and shoote backewarde very cunnyngly euen as they flye At home in theyr houses theyr fare is rather plentifull then deyntie For theyr tables
Moscouia to Cathay THe great and large prouince of Permia is distant from Moscouia two hundred and fyftie or as some sai three hundred leagues directly betwene the East and North and hath a citie of the same name by the ryuer Vischora which runneth .x. leagues beneth Camam The iorney by land can scarsely be trauailed thither but in winter by reasō of mani riuers marishes ▪ and fens But in sommer this iorney is dispatched with more facilitie in boates or smal ships by Vuolochda Vstiug and the ryuer Vitzechda which runneth into Duina .xii. leagues from Vstiug But they that go from Permia to Vstiug must sayle vp the ryuer Vischora agaynst the course of the streame and passyng ouer certayne ryuers sometymes also conueying theyr boates into other ryuers by land they come at the length to Vstiug three hundred leagues distant from the citie of Permia There is smal vse of bread in this prouince For theyr yeerely tribute they pay to the Prince furres and horses They haue a priuate language and letters of theyr owne which one Stephen a Byshop who confirmed them yet waueryng in the fayth did inuent For before beyng yet infantes in the faith of Christ they slewe and fleyde an other Byshop that was appoynted to instruct them This Stephen afterward when Demetrius the sonne of Iohn reygned was taken for a Sainct among the Ruhens Of these people there yet remayne many Idolatours here and there in the woods whom the Munkes and Heremites that go thyther do not cease to conuert from theyr vaine errour In the winter they iorney to Artach as they do in many places of Russia Artach are certaine long patentes of wood of almost six handfulles in length which they make fast to theyr feete with Latchets and therwith perfourme theyr iorneis with great celeritie They vse for this purpose great Dogges in the steade of other beastes with the which they carry theyr fardels on sleades as other do with Hartes in other places as we wyl further declare hereafter They say that the prouince toward the East confineth with the prouince called Tumen parteining to the Tartars The situation of the prouince of Iugaria is apparent by that which we haue sayd before The Moscouites call it Iuhra with an aspiration and call the people Iuhrici This is that Iugaria from whence the Hungarians came in tyme past possessed Pannonia and vnder the conduct of Attila subdued many prouinces of Europe wherein the Moscouites doo greatly glorye that a nation subiect to them inuaded and wasted a great part of Europe Georgius Paruus a Greeke borne and a man of reputation with the Prince of Moscouia wyllyng to ascribe to the ryght of his Prince the great Dukedome of Lithuania and the kyngdome of Polonie ▪ with certayne other Dominions tolde me that the Iuhgarici or Iuhgarie beyng subiects to the great Duke of Moscouia came foorth of theyr owne countrey and fyrst inhabited the regions about the Fennes of Meotis and then Pannonie which was afterward called Hungarie by the ryuer of Danubius Also that in fine they possessed the region of Morauia so named of the ryuer and lykewyse Pollonie so called of Polle whiche signifieth a playne Furthermore that Buda was so called after the name of the brother of Attila They say also that the Iuhgarie vse the same tongue that do the Hungarians the whiche whether it be true or not I do not know For although I haue made diligent inquisition to knowe the trueth hereof yet could I fynde no man of that region with whom my seruaunt beyng expert in the Hungarian tongue might speake They also pay furres for theyr tributes to the Prince of Moscouia And albeit that pearles and precious stones are brought from thence to Moscouia yet are they not geathered in theyr Ocean but in other places especially about the coast of the Ocean neare vnto the mouthes of Duina The prouince of Sibier confineth with Permia and Vuiathka the whiche whether it haue anye castels or cities I do not yet certaynely knowe In this the ryuer Iaick hath his originall and falleth into the Caspian sea They say that this region is desart because it lyeth so neare the Tartars or that yf it be in any part inhabited the same to be possessed of the Tartar Schichmamai Thinhabitantes haue a peculiar language and haue theyr cheefe gaynes by the furres of Marternes whiche in fairnesse and greatnesse excel al the furres of that kynd that are found in any other prouinces Yet could I haue no greate plentie of them in Moscouia at my beyng there Note that long after the wrytyng of this historie at Richard Chaunceler his fyrst bryng in Moscouia Duke Iohn Vasiliuiche that nowe reygneth subdued all the Tartars with theyr regions and prouinces euen vnto the great citie and mart towne of Astrachan the Caspian sea At the same tyme also there was in the Dukes Court an ambassadour that came from this prouince of Sibier who declared that his father had been sent Ambassadour to the great Chan of Cathay and that the great citie of Cambalu where the great Chan kepeth his Court in wynter was in maner distroyed by Nigromancie and Magicall Artes wherein the Cathyans are very expert as wryteth Marcus Paulus Venetus There was also at the same tyme thambassadour of the kyng of Pertia called the great Sophie This Ambassadour was apparelled al in Scarlet and spake muche to the Duke in the behalfe of our men of whose kyngdome and trade he was not ignorant The people called Czeremisse dwell in the wooddes beneth Nouogradia the lower They haue a peculiar language and are of the secte of Machumet They were sometyme subiecte to the kyng of Casan but the greater part of them are nowe subiecte to the prince of Moscouia Many of them at my beyng there were brought to Moscouia as suspected of rebellion This nation doth inhabite a large region without houses from Vuiathka and Vuolochda to the ryuer of Rama All the nation aswell women as men are very swifte of foote and expert archers wherin they so delyght that theyr bowes are in maner neuer out of their handes and geue theyr chyldren no meate vntyll they hyt the marke they shoote at Two leagues distaunt from Nouogradia the lower were many houses to the similitud of a citie or towne where they were accustomed to make salte These a fewe yeeres since beyng burnt of the Tartars were restored by the commaundement of the prince Mordwa are people inhabytyng by the ryuer of Volga on the south banke beneth Nouogradia the lower and are in al thinges lyke vnto the Czeremisses but that they haue more houses And here endeth Thempire of the Moscouites Note here that Matthias of Michou in his booke of Sarmatia Asiatica writeth that the dominion of the Duke of Moscouia reacheth from the northwest to the southeast fyue hundred myles of Germanie
these Barbarians of singular faith grauitie tolde vs of a marueylous in maner incredible thing that is seene among these Tartars And that his father being sent by the prince of Moscouia to the kyng of Sawolhense saw while he was in that legacie a certaine seede in that Iland somewhat lesse rounder then the seeds of Melones Of the which being hyd in the ground there groweth a fruite or plante very lyke a Lambe of the height of fiue spannes and is therefore called in theyr tongue Boranetz whiche signifieth a litle Lambe For it hath the head eyes eares and all other partes like vnto a Lambe newly eyued with also a very thyn skyn wherewith dyuers of the inhabitauntes of those regions are accustomed to lyue theyr cappes and hattes and other tyrements for theyr heades Many also confirmed in our presence that they had seene these skynnes He saide furthermore that that plant yf it may be called a plant hath blood and no fleshe but hath in the steade of fleshe a certayne substaunce lyke vnto the fleshe of Creuishes The hooffes also are not of horne as are the Lambes but couered with heare in the same fourme The roote cleaueth to the nauyl or myddest of the belly the plant or fruite lyueth vntil al the grasse hearbes growing about it being eaten the roote wythereth for lacke of nouryshment They say that it is very sweete to be eaten and is therfore greatly desyred and sought for of the Woolues and other rauenyng beastes And albeit I esteeme all that is sayde of this plant to be fabulous yet forasmuche as it hath been tolde me of credible persons I haue thought good to make mention hereof Of this strange fruite Mandeuile maketh mention where in the .lxxxiiii. Chapter of his Booke he wryteth thus Nowe shal I say of some landes countreys and Isles that are beyonde the lande of Cathay therefore whoso goeth from Cathay to India the hygh and the lowe he shall goe through a Kyngdome that men call Cadissen and is a great lande There groweth a manner of fruite as it were Gourdes and when it is rype mâ—n cut it asunder and fynde therein a beast as it were of fleshe bone and blood as it were a litle Lambe without wooll and men eate that beast and the fruite also whiche is a great marueyle neuerthelesse I sayde vnto them that I helde that for no marueyle for I sayde that in my countrey are trees that beare fruite that become byrdes fleeing which are good to be eaten and that that falleth into the water lyueth and that that falleth on the earth dyeth And they had great marueyle of this c. From the prince of Schidacke proceedyng twentye dayes iourney towarde the East are the people which the Moscouites cal Iurgenci whose prynce is Barack Soltan brother to the great Chan of Cathay In tenne dayes iourney from Barack Soltan they come to Bebeid Chan. And this is that great Chan of Cathay Names of dignities among the Tartars are these Chan signifieth a Kyng Soltan the sonne of a Kyng Bij a Duke Mursa the sonne of a Duke Olboud a noble man or counseller Olboadulu the sonne of a noble man Seid the hygh priest Ksi a priuate person The names of offices are these Vlan the seconde dignitie to the Kyng for the Kynges of the Tartars haue foure principal men whose counsell they vse in all their weyghtie affayres Of these the firste is called Schirni the seconde Barni the thyrde Gargni the fourth Tzipsan And to haue sayde thus muche of the Tartars it shal suffise Marcus Paulus wryteth that the great Chan is called Chan Cublai that is the great Kyng of Kynges as the great Turcke wryteth hym selfe in lyke maner as I sawe in a letter wrytten by hym of late in the citie of Ragusa in the whiche he vseth this subscription Soltan Soliman desclim Cham Signore de Signori en sempiterno The Nauigation by the frosen Sea AT my beyng in Moscouia when I was sent thyther by king Ferdinando my lorde and maister it so chaunced that Georgius Istoma the Duke of Moscouia his Interpreter a man of great experience who had before learned the latine tongue in the court of Iohn king of Denmarke was there present at the same tyme. He in the yeere of Christe .1496 beyng sent of his prince with maister Dauid a Scotte borne and then Ambassadour for the kyng of Denmarke whom also I knewe there at my firste legacie made me a breefe information of al the order of his iourney the which forasmuch as it may seeme difficult and laborious as wel for the distance as daungerous places I haue thought good to describe the same as I receyued it at his mouth Fyrst he sayde that beyng sent of his prince with the sayde Dauid they came fyrst to Nouogradia the great And whereas at that tyme the kyngdome of Suecia reuolted from the Kyng of Denmarke also the Duke of Moscouia was at discention with the Suetians by reason whereof they could not passe by the most accustomed way for the tumultes of warre they attempted theyr iourney by an other way longer but safer and came fyrst from Nouogradia to the mouthes of the ryuer of Dwina and Potiwlo by a very diffâ—cult and paynfull iourney For hee sayd that this iourney which can not be to muche detested for such labours and traueyles continueth for the space of three hundred leagues In fine takyng foure small shyppes or barkes at the mouthes of Dwina they sayled by the coast on the right hand of the Ocean where they sawe certayne hygh and rough mountaynes and at the length saylyng .xvi. leagues and passyng a great gulfe folowed the coast on the lefte hande and leauyng on the right hande the large sea whiche hath the name of the ryuer Petzora as haue also the mountaynes adiacent to the same they came to the people of Finlappia who although they dwell here there in low cottagies by the sea syde and leade in maner a beastly lyfe yet are they more meeke and tractable then the wylde Lappians He sayde that these also are tributaries to the prince of Moscouia Then leauing the lande of the Lappians and saylyng fourescore leagues they came to the region of Nortpoden vnder the dominion of the kyng of Suecia This the Moscouites call Kaienska Semla and the people Kaieni Departyng from hence and saylyng along by the coast of a wyndyng and bendyng shore reachyng towarde the ryght hande they came to a promontorie or cape called the Holy nose being a great stone reachyng farre into the sea to the similitude of a nose vnder the which is seene a caue with a whyrlepoole which swaloweth the sea euery syxe houres and castyng foorth the same agayne with terryble roaryng and violence causeth the sayde whyrlepoole Some call this the Nauell of the sea and other name it Charibdis He affyrmeth that the violence of this
that we wyll with lyke humanitie accept your seruantes if at any tyme they shall come to our kyngdomes where they shall as frendly and gently be entertayned as if they were borne in our dominions that we may hereby recompence the fauour and benignitie which you haue shewed to our men Thus after we haue desired you Kynges and Princes c. With all humanitie and fauour to entertayne our welbeloued seruantes we wyll pray our almyghtie God to graunt you long lyfe peace which neuer shall haue end Wrytten in London whiche is the cheefe citie of our kyngdome in the yeere from the creation of the worlde 5515. in the moneth of Iiar the fourteene day of the moneth and seuenth yeere of our reigne This letter was wrytten also in Greeke and diuers other languages The voyages of Persia traueiled by the merchauntes of London of the company and felowshyp of Moscouia In the yeeres .1561 1567. 1568. IT shall not heere be needefull to wryte any thyng of the way from hence to Moscouia by sea vnto the porte of Saincte Nicolas where our merchantes haue a house of their trafique for as muche as the same is alredy well knowen And therefore it shall suffice for the description of this voyage to shewe the way from Sainct Nicolas in Moscouia vnto Persia as our men traueyled by the regions of Moscouia vnto the Caspian sea and by that sea into Media and Persia vnto the courte of the great Sophie Kyng of Persia and many other realmes and kyngdomes subiecte vnto the same as heereafter shall bee more particularly declared with suche breuitie as the tyme and matter now requireth Forasmuch as many thinges myght bee written touchyng this voyage and the merchauntes trafique in these regions whiche for many great considerations ought not to be publyshed or put in prynt and therefore touchyng only those thinges it shall suffice to the reader to vnderstande the description of the regions with the maners and customes of the people of those countreys after the maner of a Geographicall historie partely to delight and content the desyre of suche as take pleasure in the knowledge of straunge thinges and countreys whereby the mynde of man increaseth in wisedome and knowledge both in humane affayres and also of the marueylous and manyfolde workes of god nature that thereby God may be glorified and sanctified in all his workes in the spirites of all good and vertuous men which delight in the same And wheras in the description of this voyage I may seeme to haue kepte no due order of wrytyng I shal desire the reader to haue me excused for that I coulde not orderly haue any information of them that came from Persia but was fayne to geather certayne notes only by communication and conference with them at sundrye tymes with fewe woordes as occasion serued But now to enter into the voyage From the merchauntes house at the porte of Sainct Nicolas in Moscouia they traueyle vp the ryuers of Duina and Sachana vntyll they come vnto the citie of Vologda where also the merchantes haue an other house a thousande werstes or Rus myles or myles of Russia whiche may bee about seuen hundred Englyshe myles Then from Vologda ouerlande to the citie of Yeraslaue which lyeth on the ryuer Volga a hundred and fourescore Rus myles At this citie of Yeraslaue the merchantes lande theyr goods for Persia and buylded theyr shyppes there vppon the sayde ryuer at a place named Vstwicki Zelesnoy about a hundred myles from Yeraslaue So traueylyng from thence downe the ryuer Volga vntyll they come to Astracan a forte of the Emperour of Moscouia lying threescore myles from the Caspian sea Uppon Volga lyeth a great towne of merchaundies named Costrum and beyonde that a strong Castell of bricke named His Nouogorod standyng vppon a hyll And from thence vppon an arme of the same ryuer lyeth a great fortresse named Cazan which the Moscouite woon from the Tartars Nogais being their chiefe and principall holde and therewith conquered the whole countrey of Cazan or the Tartars Cazamites conteynyng two thousande myles From Cazan vpon the sayde ryuer the Moscouite hath in his subiection the one syde of the ryuer and the Tartars called Crimes haue the other syde But they dare not passe ouer the ryuer by reason that the Moscouite keepeth many Garisons on the ryuer and in certayne Ilandes of the ryuer from place to place as occasion serueth So that the ryuer is kept quietly notwithstandyng the conflicte that happened to Banister outward by reason of the Turkes souldiers that would haue spoyled his shyppes which neuerthelesse defended them selues manfully and slue two hundred of the Turkes For the Turke sent thyther an arme of .xl. thousande Turkes and Tartars to recouer Astracan from the Moscouite but they were enforced to breake vp theyr Campe for lacke of victualles and other necessaries especially bycause the wynter drue neare and the Moscouite prepared a great army against them From Astracan downe the sayde ryuer to the Caspian sea is the distance of threscore myles From the enterance into the Caspian sea in two or three dayes saylyng with a good wynde crosse ouer that sea from the North to the South they come to the realme of Media arryuing at a porte named Bilbil enteryng into a small ryuer that falleth into the Caspian sea and passing from thence by lande with Camels in three dayes iourney they come to a citie of Sharuan or Media named Shamaki And from thence in .xviii. dayes iourney by Camelles they come to the great and famous citie of Tauris or Teueris being the greatest citie of Persia for trade of merchandies This citie is esteemed almost twyse as byg as London and for the most parte is buylded of rawe brickes not burnt but only dryed and hardened in the sunne the doores of the houses be very lowe and litle The Sophie in tyme paste remayned chiefly in this citie But after that the region about this citie was inuaded by the Turkes he went further into the countrey and buylded a towne named Casbin which before .xx. yeeres was but a village where he now keepeth his courte being .xiii. dayes iourney from Shamaki by horse and .xx. dayes by Camelles Note that neare vnto this syde of the Caspian sea dwell the Tartars called Nogais and Shalcauis Also certayne Arabians and Christians named Armenians The Caspian sea is otherwise called Mare de Baccan and may seeme so to be called by reason of a towne by the sea syde named Bacco Certayne extractes of the voyage of maister Antony Ienkinson into Persia in the yeere .1561 IN the yeere .1561 maister Antonie Ienkinson was sent as Ambassadour into Persia with the Queenes maiesties letters in the Latine Italian and Hebrue tongue to the great Sophie or kyng of Persia to entreate of commodities of merchaundies whiche myght bee betweene her maiesties merchantes and them vppon certayne priuileges and free passage to bee graunted vnto her merchauntes both
of that countrey is rawe silke and the greatest plentie thereof is at a towne three dayes iourney from Shamaki called Arashe and within three dayes iourney of Arashe is a countrey named Groysine whose inhabitauntes are Christians are thought to be they which are otherwise called Georgians there is also much silke to be solde The chiefe towne of that countrey is called Zeghaui from whence is carryed yeerely into Persia an incredible quantitie of hasell Nuttes all of one sorte and goodnesse and as good and thyn shaled as are our Fylberdes Of these are caryed yeerely the quantitie of 4000. Camelles laden Of the name of the Sophie of Persia and why he is called the Shaugh and of other customes THe Kyng of Persia whom here we call the great Sophi is not there so called but is called the Shaugh It were there daungerous to call him by the name of Sophi bycause that Sophi in the Persian tongue is a begger and it were as much as to call him the great begger He lyeth at a towne called Casbin whiche is situat in a goodly fertile valley of three or foure dayes iorney in length The towne is but euyll buylded and for the most part all of brycke not hardened with fyre but onely dryed at the Sunne as is the most part of the buyldyng of all Persia. The kyng hath not come out of the compasse of his owne house in .xxxiii. or .xxxiiii. yeeres whereof the cause is not knowen but as they saye it is vppon a superstition of certayne prophesies to whiche they are greatly addicted he is nowe about fourescore yeeres of age and very lustie And to keepe hym the more lustye he hath foure wyues alwayes and about three hundred concubynes And once in the yeere he hath all the fayre maydens and wyues that may bee founde a great way about brought vnto hym whom he diligently peruseth feelyng them in all partes takyng suche as he lyketh and puttyng away some of them which he hath kept before And with them that he putteth away he gratifieth some suche as hath doone hym the best seruice And if he chaunce to take any mans wyfe her husbande is very glad thereof and in recompence of her oftentymes he geueth the husbande one of his olde store whom he thankfully receyueth If any straunger beyng a Christian shall come before hym he must put on a newe payre of showes made in that countrey and from the place where he entereth there is dygged as it were a causye all the way vntyll he come to the place where he shall talke with the kyng who standeth alwayes aboue in a gallerye when he talketh with any strangers and when the stranger is departed then is the causye cast downe and the grounde made euen agayne Of the religion of the Persians THeyr religion is all one with the Turkes sauyng that they dyffer who was the ryght successor of Mahumet The Turkes saye that it was one Homer and his sonne Vsman But the Persians saye that it was one Mortus Ali whiche they woulde proue in this maner They say there was a counsayle called to decide the matter who shoulde be the successour and after they had called vppon Mahumet to reuele vnto them his wyll and pleasure therein there came among them a litle lizarde who declared that it was Mahumetes pleasure that Mortus Ali should be his successour This Martus Ali was a valiant man and slewe Homer the Turkes prophet He had a swoorde that he fought withall with the whiche he conquered all his enimies and kylled as many as he stroake When Mortus Ali dyed there came a holy prophet who gaue them warnyng that shortly there woulde come a whyte Camell vppon the which he charged them to lay the body and swoorde of Mortus Ali and to suffer the Camell to carye it whether he woulde The whiche beyng perfourmed the sayde whyte Camell caryed the swoorde and body of Mortus Ali vnto the sea syde and the Camell goyng a good way into the sea was with the swoorde and bodye of Mortus Ali taken vp into heauen for whose returne they haue long looked for in Persia. And for this cause the kyng alwayes keepeth a horse redye sadled for hym and also of late kepte for hym one of his owne daughters to be his wyfe but she dyed in the yeere of our Lorde .1573 And saye furthermore that yf he come not shortly they shal be of our beleefe much lyke the Iewes lookyng for theyr Messias to come and reigne among them lyke a worldly kyng for euer and deliuer them from the captiuitie which they are nowe in among the Christians Turkes and Gentyles The Saugh or Kyng of Persia is nothyng in strength and power comparable vnto the Turke for although he hath a great Dominion yet is it nothyng to be compared with the Turkes neyther hath he any great Ordinaunce of Gunnes or Harkebuses Notwithstandyng his eldest sonne Ismael about twentie and fyue yeeres past fought a great battayle with the Turke and sleue of his armye about an hundred thousande men who after his returne was by his father cast into pryson and there continueth vntyl this daye for his father the Shaugh had hym in suspition that he would haue put hym downe and haue taken the regiment vppon hym selfe Theyr opinion of Christ is that he was an holy man and a great Prophet but not lyke vnto Mahumet saying that Mahumet was the last Prophet by whom all thynges were finished and was therefore the greatest To proue that Christ was not Goddes sonne they saye that God had neuer wyfe and therefore coulde haue no sonne or chyldren They goe on pylgrymage from the furthest part of Persia vnto Mecha in Arabia and by the way they visite also the sepulchre of Christ at Ierusalem whiche they nowe call Couche Kalye The most part of Spyces whiche commeth into Persia is brought from the Iland of Ormus situate in the gulfe of Persia called Sinus Persicus betweene the mayne lande of Persia and Arabia c. The Portugales touche at Ormus both in theyr viage to East India and homewarde agayne and from thence bryng all suche Spyces as is occupied in Persia and the regions there about for of Pepper they bryng verye small quantitie and that at a verye deare pryse The Turkes oftentymes bryng Pepper from Mecha in Arabia whiche they sell as good cheape as that which is brought from Ormus Sylkes are brought from noo place but are wrought all in theyr owne countrey Ormus is within two myles of the mayne lande of Persia and the Portugales fetche theyr freshe water there for the whiche they paye trybute to the Shaugh or kyng of Persia. Within Persia they haue neyther golde nor syluer mynes yet haue they coyned money both of golde and syluer and also other small moneys of Copper There is brought into Persia an incredible summe of Duche Dolours which for the most part is there
Arabia with the gulfe of Ormus on the syde of the firme lande with the mountaynes of Deli and on the side of Carmania and in maner by the confines of Babylon it extendeth towarde India it hath many kingdomes and cities subiecte vnto it The people of Persia are called Azemini It conteyneth foure principall prouinces which are these Coraconi Ginali Tauris Xitarim In the which also are these foure most famous cities That is Tauris Siras Samarcante Coraconi They are valiant and warlyke men of great estimation They of Samarcante haue in auncient tyme been Christians Tauris and Siras are cities as famous among them as is with vs Paris in France they are men of great ciuilitie and curtesie The women of Siras are of commendable beautie and behauour very neate and delicate and thereof commeth a prouerbe among the Mahumetans that Mahumet would neuer goe to Siras least if he had tasted the pleasures of those women he should neuer after his death haue gone to Paradyse The kyng of Persia is called Siech Ismael whom the Italians call Gualizador or Sophi His chiefe mansion place or court is at Tauris or Teueris which is distant from Ormus fiftie dayes iourney with Camelles He is called the great Mahumetan of the order of the red bonet that is of the secte of Hali which our men that came late from Persia call Mortus Ali wherof we haue spoken more before The region of Persia hath all sortes of domesticall or tame beastes suche as are in our countreys It hath furthermore Lions Onces and Tigers the people are muche giuen to pleasures and sportes and are honourably apparelled delighting greatly in perfumes and sweete sauours they haue many wyues and commit the keeping or charge of them to enuches or gelded men who for that seruice are oftentymes preferred to great promotion yet are they very ielous of theyr wyues Notwithstanding both the Persians and also their neighbours of Ormus are detestable Sodomites In tyme paste many great and valiant personages as Cyrus Darius Assuerus and great Alexander haue inuaded Persia. It is not baren as some haue written but hath aboundance of all sortes of victualles and pleasures and thinges necessarie for the lyfe of man The trafique of Persia with other countreys IN the region of Persia are many sortes of merchandies wherewith they vse great trafique in the countreys of Armenia Turchia and in the citie of Cair or Alcayr From the lande of Siras is brought great aboundance of silke whereof is made an infinite quantitie of all sortes of silken cloathes and fine chamolettes of diuers colours also great aboundance of roche Alume Uitrioll Alcoffare Likewise many horses victualles Turques stones wax hony butter c. Also great peeces of tapestrie of diuers sortes workes clothes of sundry colours veluets both high and lowe after theyr maner Likewyse cloth of golde of sundry sortes Pauilions and great aboundance of armure From the other syde of the mountaynes by the way of Siam are brought Muske Aloes Reubarbe Lignum aloes Camphora c. All these thinges and many other are caryed to Ormus for the which the returne is great quantitie of Pepper and other spices and drugges for the Persians vse much spices with their meats and especially Pepper Of the Gulfe of Persia or Sinus Persicus THe region and lande of Persia is situate betweene two ryuers whiche fall not into the Ocean sea but into the gulfe of Persia the which gulfe hath on euery syde many goodly countreys well inhabited The gulfe conteyneth in largenesse .lx. myles and is nauigable with great Barkes and is sometimes troubled with great tempestes There is taken great abundance of fishe which being salted or dryed is carryed into all partes of Persia. The gulfe is also very long and conteyneth from Ormus to the ende lx dayes iourney with Camelles 1 Articles of the Priuileges whiche the Sophie of Persia graunted to the Englyshe merchantes These articles were sent vnto the company of merchants from Mosko by maister Ienkinson graunted in the names of these persons Syr VVilliam Garret Syr VVilliam Chester gouernours Syr Thomas Lodge Maister Antonie Ienkinson Maister Thomas Nicolls and Arthur Edwardes merchantes of London as also in the names of the whole companie 2 FYrst it is graunted that you shall paye no maner of customes or tolles any kynd of wayes now nor in time commyng vnto his heires after him And that all Englyshe merchantes now present or hereafter may passe and repasse into all places of his dominions and other countreys adioyning to him in the trade of merchaundies to buye and sell all maner of commodities with all maner of persons 3 Item that in all places where any of our merchantes shal be chiefe gouernours rulers and Iustices to take heede vnto the Englishe merchantes and be their ayde and punishe them that shall doe them any wrong or hurte 4 Item that suche debtes as shal be owyng by any maner of person iustice to be done on the partie and to see all Englishe merchantes payde at the day 5 Item that no maner of person of what estate or degree they be of so hardie to take any kynde of wares or any gyftes without the Englyshe merchantes good willes 6 Item if by chaunce medley any of the merchauntes or seruauntes as God forbyd shoulde kyll any of his subiectes no partes of theyr goods to be touched or medled withal neither no person but the offender and being any of the merchaunts not to suffer without the princes knowledge advice 7 Item that all such debtes as shal be oweyng to be payde to any of the merchauntes in the absence of the other be the partie dead or alyue 8 Item that no person returne any kynde of wares backe agayne beyng once bought or solde 9 Item that when God shall sende the merchauntes goods to shore presently his people to helpe them alande with them The prosperous vyage of Arthur Edwardes into Persia and of the fauoure that he found with the Sophy and also what conference he had with that prynce WHen he came fyrst to the Sophies presence brynging his interpretour with hym and standyng farre of the Sophie syttyng in a seate royall with a great number of his noble men about hym badde him come neere and that thrise vntyl he came so neere him that he myght haue touched hym with his hand Then the fyrst demaund that he asked hym was from what countrey he came he answeared that he came from Englande Then asked he of his noble men who knew any such countrey But when Edwards sawe that none of them had any intelligence of that name he named it Inghilterra as the Italians cal England Then one of the noble men sayde Londro meanyng therby London which name is better knowen in far countreys out of Christendome then is the name of Englande When Edwardes harde hym name Londro he sayd that that was the name of the chiefe citie of Englande as
was Teueris of the chiefe citie of Persia. He asked hym many thynges more as of the realme of Englande marueylyng that it shoulde be an Iland of so great rychesse and power as Edwardes declared vnto hym of the ryches and abundaunce of our merchaundies as he further vnderstode by our trafique in Moscouia and other countreys He demaunded also many thynges of the Queenes maiestie and of the customes and lawes of the realme saying oftentymes in his owne language Bara colla that is to saye wel said He asked also many thinges of kyng Philip and of his warres agaynst the Turke at Malta Then demaunded of hym what was the chiefe cause of his resorte into his realme And beyng certified that it was for the trade of merchaundies he asked what kynde of merchaundies he coulde bryng thyther Such sayde he as the Venetian merchauntes which dwellyng in our countrey in the citie of Londro sende to Uenes and from thence into Turkie by Halepo and Tripoli in Sorya from whence as by the seconde and thyrde handes with great charges of many customes and other thynges thereunto parteyning they are at the length brought into your countrey and cities of Persia. What merchaundies are those sayd the Sophie Edwardes answeared that they were great abundaunce of fine carseis of brode clothes of all sortes and coloures as scarlettes violettes and other of the fynest cloth of all the worlde Also that the Venetians brought out of Englande not onely such clothes redie made but furthermore great plentie of fyne wool to myngle with their wools of the which they coulde not otherwise make fyne cloth Affirming that there went out of Englande yeerely that wayes aboue two hundred thousande carseis and as manye brode clothes besyde fine wool and other merchaundies besyde also the great abundaunce of like clothes y t which were caried into Spaine Barbarie and diuers other countreys The Sophie then asked hym by what meanes such merchaundies myght be brought into Persia. Ryght well Sir sayde he by the way of Moscouia with more safetie and in much shorter tyme then the Venetians can bryng them fyrst from Englande to Uenes and from thence into Persia by the way of Turkye And therefore if it shall please your maiestie to graunt vs free passage into al your dominions with such priuileges as may apperteyne to the safegard of our lyues goodes and merchandies we wyl furnysh your countreys with al such merchandies other commodities in shorter tyme and better cheape then you may haue the same at the Turkes handes This talke and muche more was between the Sophie and Edwardes for the space of two houres all whiche thynges lyked hym so well that shortly after he graunted to the sayde Arthur Edwardes two other priuileges for the trade of merchandies into Presia all wrytten in Azure and golde letters and deliuered vnto the lorde keeper of the Sophie his great seale The lorde keeper was named Coche Califaye who sayde that when the Shaughe that is the kyng or prince dyd sytte to seale any letters that priuilege shoulde be sealed and deliuered to Laurence Chapman In this priuilege is one principal article for seruantes or merchantes That yf the Agent do perceyue that vpon theyr naughtie doynges they woulde become Busor men that then the Agent whersoeuer he shall fynde anye such seruant or seruantes to take them and put them in pryson and no person to keepe them or maynteyne them This article was graunted in respect of a custome among the Persians being Mahumetanes whose maner is frendly to receyue and wel entertayne both with giftes lyuyng all suche Christians as forsakyng theyr religion wyl become of the religion of the Persians Insomuch that before this priuilege was graunted there was great occasion of naughtie seruantes to deceyue and robbe theyr maisters that vnder the coloure of professyng that religion they might liue among them in such safetie that you might haue no law agaynst them eyther to punysh them or to recouer your goodes at theyr handes or els where For before the Sophie whom they say to be a marueylous wyse and gracious prince seemed to fauour our nation and to graunt them such priuileges the people abused them very much and so hated them that they would not touche them but reuiled them callyng them Cafars Gawars which is infydels or misbeleeuers But after they saw how greatly the prince fauoured them they had them afterward in great reuerence and would kysse theyr handes and vse them very frendly For before they tooke it for no wrong to rob them defraud them beare false witnesse against them such merchandies as they had bought or sold make them take it againe and chaunge it as often as them listed And yf any straunger by chaunce had kylled one of them they woulde haue the lyfe of two for one slayne and for the debtes of any straunger woulde take the goodes of any other of the same nation with many other such lyke abuses in maner vnknowen to the Prince before the complayntes of our men made vnto hym for reformation of such abuses which were the cause that no merchant strangers of contrary religion durst come into his dominions with theyr commodities which myght be greatly to the profite of hym and his subiectes The Articles 10 Item that the merchantes haue free lybertye as in theyr fyrst priuilege to go vnto Gylian and all other places of his dominions now or hereafter when occasion shal be geuen 11 Item yf by misfortune any of theyr ships should breake or fal vpon any part of his dominions on the sea coast his subiectes to help with al speede to saue the goodes to be deliuered to any of the sayd merchants that liueth or otherwyse to be kept in safetie vntyl any of them come to demaund them 12 Item yf any of the sayd merchants depart this lyfe in any citie or towne or on the hygh way his gouernours there to see theyr goodes safely kept and to be deliuered to any other of them that shal demaund them 13 Item the sayde merchants to take such camell men as they them selues wyl beyng countrey people and that no Kyssell Bayshe do let or hynder them And the sayde owners of the camels to be bounde to answere them such goodes as they shall receyue at theyr handes and the camell men to stande to the losses of theyr camels or horses 14 Item more that the sayde carryars do demaunde no more of them then theyr agreement was to pay them 15 Item more if they be at a pryce with any carryours and geuen earnest the Camell men to see they keepe theyr promesse 16 Item if any of the sayd merchauntes be in feare to trauaile to geue them one or more to go with them and see them in saftie with theyr goods to the place they wyll go vnto 17 Item in all places to say in all cities townes or villages on the hygh way his subiectes to geue them
honest rooume and vittayles for theyr mony 18 Item the sayde merchauntes may in any place where they shall thynke best buylde or bye any house or houses to theyr owne vses And no person to molest or trouble them and to stande in any Carauan where they wyll or shal thinke good THe commodities whiche the merchauntes may haue by this trade into Persia are thought to be great and may in tyme perhappes be greater then the Portugalles trade into the East Indies forasmuch as by the way of Persia into Englande the returne may be made euery yeere once wheras the Portugalles make the returne from Calecut but once in two yeeres by a long and daungerous vyage all by sea for whereas the citie and Ilande of Ormus lying in the goulfe of Persia is the most famous marte towne of all East India whyther all the merchaundies of India are brought the same may in shorter time and more safely be brought by land ryuers through Persia euen vnto the Caspian sea and from thence by the countreys of Russia or Moscouia by ryuers euen vnto the citie of Yeraslaue and from thence by lande a hundred and fourescore myles to Vologda and from thence agayne al by water euen vnto England The merchaundies whiche be had out of Persia for the returne of wares are sylke of all sortes and colours both rawe and wrought Also all maner of spices and drugges Pearles and precious stones likewyse carpettes of dyuers sortes with diuers other ryche merchaundies whereof you may reade more here before in the Chapter entituled Of the trafique of Persia with other countreys It was tolde me of them that came last from Persia that there is more sylke brought into some one citie of Persia then is of cloth brought into the citie of London Also that one village of Armenia named Gilgat doth carie yeerely fyue hundred and sometyme a thousande mules laden with sylke to Halepo in Sorya of Turkye beyng foure dayes iorney of Tripoli where the Uenetians haue their continuall abidyng and send from thence sylkes which they returne for English carses and other clothes into al partes of Christendome The maner howe the Christians become Busor men and forsake their religion I Haue noted here before that if any Christian wyll become a Busor man that is one that hath forsaken his fayth and be a Mahumetan of their religion they geue him many giftes and somtyme also a liuyng The maner is that when the deuil is entred into his hart to forsake his fayth he resorteth to the Soltan or gouernoure of the towne to whom he maketh protestation of his diuilyshe purpose The gouernoure appoynteth hym a horse and one to ryde before hym on an other horse bearyng a swoorde in his hande and the Busor man bearyng an arowe in his hand and rydeth in the citie cursyng his father and mother and if euer after he returne to his owne religion he is giltie of death as is signified by the swoorde borne before hym A young man a seruaunt of one of our merchauntes because he woulde not abyde the correction of his maister for his faultes was mynded to forsake his fayth But as God woulde he fell sodaynely sicke and dyed before he gaue hym selfe to the deuil If he had become a Busor man he had greatly troubled the merchauntes for if he woulde then haue sayd that halfe their goods had ben his they would haue geuen credite vnto hym For the auoydyng of whiche inconuenience it was graunted in the priuileges that no Busor man c. as there appeareth In Persia in diuers places oxen and kine beare the tentes and housholde stuffe of the poore men of the countrey which haue neither Camelles nor horses Of the tree whiche beareth Bombasine cotton or Gossampine IN Persia is great abundance of Bombasine cotton and very fyne this groweth on a certayne litle tree or bryer not past the height of a mans waste or litle more the tree hath a slender stalk like vnto a brier or to a carnation gyleflour with very many braunches bearyng on euery braunch a fruite or rather a codde growyng in round fourme conteynyng in it the cotton and when this budde or codde commeth to the bygnesse of a wallnut it openeth and sheweth foorth the cotton which groweth styll in bygnesse vntyll it be lyke a fleece of wooll as byg as a mans fyst and beginneth to be loose and then they geather it as it were the rype fruite The seedes of these trees are as byg as peason and are blacke and somewhat flatte and not rounde they sowe them in plowed grounde where they growe in the fieldes in great aboundance in many countreys in Persia and diuers other regions The writing of the Persians ARthur Edwardes shewed me a letter of the Sophie written in theyr letters backward subsigned with the handes both of the Sophie his secretarye The Sophies subscription was only one word his name I suppose of Shaugh wrytten in golden letters vpon red paper The whole letter was also wrytten on the same peece of red paper beyng long and narrowe about the length of a foote and not past three inches brode The priuate signet of the Sophie was a rounde prynted marke about the byggenesse of a Ryall only prynted vpon the same paper without any waxe or other seale the letters seeme so myshapen and disordered that a man woulde thynke it were somewhat scribled in maner at aduentures Yet they say that almost euery letter with his pricke or circumflexe signifieth a whole worde Insomuch that in a peece of paper as bygge as a mans hand theyr wryting doth conteyne as much as doth ours almost in a sheete of paper ¶ The two viages made out of Englande into Guinea in Affricke at the charges of certayne merchantes aduenturers of the citie of London in the yeere of our Lord ▪ 1553. BEing desired by certayne of my freendes to make some mention of these viages that some memory thereof myght remayne to our posteritie yf eyther iniquitie of tyme consumyng all thynges or ignoranuce creepyng in by barbarousnesse and contempt of knowledge shoulde hereafter bury in obliuion so worthy attempts so much the greatlyer to be esteemed as before neuer enterprysed by Englyshe men or at the least so frequented as at this present they are and may be to the great commoditie of our merchantes yf the same be not hyndred by the ambition of such as for the conquesting of fourtie or fyftie myles here there and erectyng of certayne fortresses or rather blockehouses among naked people thynke them selues worthy to be lordes of halfe the world enuying that other shoulde enioy the commodities which they them selues can not wholy possesse And although suche as haue been at charges in the discoueryng and conquestyng of suche landes ought by good reason to haue certayne priuileges preheminences and tributes for the same yet to speake vnder correction it may seeme somewhat rigorous and agaynst good reason and conscience
or rather against the charitie that ought to be among Christian men that such as violentlye inuade the dominions of other shoulde not permit other frendly to vse the trade of merchandies in places neerer or seldome frequented of them whereby theyr trade is not hyndred in such places where they them selues haue at theyr owne election appointed the martes of theyr trafficke But forasmuch as at this present it is not my entent to accuse or defend approue or improue I wil ceasse to speake any further hereof proceade to the discription of the first viage as breefely and faithfully as I was aduertised of the same by the information of such credible persons as made diligent inquisition to know the trueth hereof as much as shal be requisite omittyng to speake of many partiticuler thinges not greatly necessarie to bee knowen whiche neuerthelesse with also the exacte course of the nauigation shall be more fully declared in the seconde vyage And if herein fauour or friendshyp shall perhappes cause some to thynke that some haue been sharpely touched let them laye a parte fauour and friendshyp and gyue place to trueth that honest men may receyue prayse for well doyng and lende persons reproche as the iust stipende of theyr euyll desartes whereby other may bee deterred to doe the lyke and vertuous men encouraged to proceede in honest attemptes But that these vyages may be more playnely vnderstoode of all men I haue thought good for this purpose before I intreate hereof to make a breefe description of Affrica beyng that great parte of the worlde on whose Weste syde begynneth the coaste of Guinea at Cabo Verde about the twelue degrees in latitude on this syde the Equinoctiall line and two degrees in longitude from the measuryng lyne so runnyng from the North to the South and by East in some places within v.iiii and .iii. degrees and a halfe within the Equinoctiall and so foorth in maner direcly East and by North for the space of xxxvi degrees or there about in longitude from the West to the East as shall more playnely appeare in the description of the seconde vyage A breefe description of Affrike IN Affrica the lesse are these kyngdomes the kingdome of Tunes Constantina which is at this day vnder Tunes and also the region of Bugia Tripoli and Ezzah This part of Afrike is very baren by reason of the great desartes as the desartes of Numidia Barcha The principall portes of the kingdome of Tunes are these Goletta Bizerta Potofarnia Boua and Stora The chiefe cities of Tunes are Constantina and Boua with diuers other Under this kyngdome are many Ilands as Zerbi Lampadola Pantalarea Limoso Beit Gamelaro and Malta where at this present is the great maister of the Rodes Under the South of this kyngdome are the great desartes of Libia All the nations in this Africa the lesse are of the secte of Mahumet a rusticall people lyuyng scattered in villages The best of this parte of Afrike is Barbaria lying on the coast of the sea Mediterraneum Mauritania now called Barbaria is diuided into two partes as Mauritania Tingitania and Cesariensis Mauritania Tingitania is nowe called the kyngdome of Fes and the kyngdome of Marrocko The principall citie of Fes is called Fessa and the chiefe citie of Marrocko is named Marrocko Mauritania Cesariensis is at this daye called the kyngdome of Tremisen with also the citie called Tremisen or Telensin This region is full of desartes and reacheth to the sea Mediterraneum to the citie of Oram with the porte of Massaquiber The kyngdome of Fes reacheth vnto the Ocean sea from the West to the citie of Argilla and the porte of the sayde kyngdome is called Salla The kyngdome of Marrocko is also extended aboue the Ocean sea vnto the citie of Azamor and Azafi which are aboue the Ocean sea towarde the West of the sayde kyngdome In Mauritania Tingitania that is to say in the two kyngdomes of Fes and Marrocko are in the sea the Ilandes of Canarie called in olde tyme the fortunate Ilandes Towarde the South of this region is the kyngdome of Guinea with Senega Iaiofo Gambra and many other regions of the blacke Moores called Ethiopians or Negros all whiche are watered with the ryuer Negro called in olde tyme Niger In the sayde regions are no cities but only certayne lowe cotages made of boughes of trees plastered with chauke and couered with strawe In these regions are also very great desartes The kyngdome of Marrocko hath vnder it these seuen kyngdoms Hea Sus Guzula the territory of Marrocko Duchala Hazchora and Telde The kyngdome of Fes hath as many as Fes Temesne Azgar Elabath Errifi Garet and Elcauz The kyngdome of Tremisen hath these regions Tremisen Tenez and Elgazaet all which are Machometistes But all the regions of Guinea are pure Gentyles and Idolatours without profession of any religion or other knowledge of God then by the lawe of nature Africa the great is one of the three partes of the worlde knowen in olde tyme and seuered from Asia on the East by the ryuer Nilus on the West from Europe by the pillers of Hercules The hyther parte is now called Barbarie and the people Moores The inner parte is called Libia and Ethiopia Afrike the lesse is in this wyse bounded On the West it hath Numidia On the East Cyrenaica On the North the sea called Mediterraneum In this countrey was the noble citie of Carthage In the East side of Africke beneath the redde sea dwelleth the great and myghtie Emperour and Christian kyng Prester Iohn well knowen to the Portugales in theyr vyages to Calicut His dominions reache very farre on euery syde and hath vnder hym many other kynges both Chrystian and heathen that pay hym tribute This mightie prince is called Dauid Themperour of Ethiopia Some wryte that the kyng of Portugale sendeth hym yeerely .viii. shyppes laden with marchaundies His kingdome confineth with the redde sea and reacheth farre into Afrike toward Egypte and Barbarie Southwarde it confineth with the sea towarde the cape de Buona Speranza and on the other syde with the sea of sande called Mare de Sabione a very dangerous sea lying betweene the great citie of Alcayer or Cairo in Egypt and the countrey of Ethiopia In the whiche way are many vnhabitable desarts cōtinuing for the space of fiue dayes iorney And they affirme that if the sayd Christian Emperour were not hyndered by those desartes in the whiche is great lacke of victualles and especially of water he woulde or nowe haue inuaded the kingdome of Egypt and the citie of Alcayer The cheefe citie of Ethiopia where this great Emperour is resident is called Amacaiz being a faire citie whose inhabitantes are of the colour of an Olyue There are also many other cities as the citie of Saua vpon the ryuer of Nilus
where Themperour is accustomed to remayne in the sommer season There is lykewyse a great citie named Barbaregaf and Ascon from whence it is sayde that the Queene of Saba came to Hierusalem to heare the wysedome of Salomon This citie is but little yet very fayre and one of the chiefe cities in Ethiope In the sayde kyngdome is a prouince called Manicongni whose kyng is a Moore and tributarie to Themperour of Ethiope In this prouince are manie exceedyng hygh mountaynes vppon the which is sayde to be the earthly Paradyse and some say that there are the trees of the Sunne and Moone whereof the antiquitie maketh mention yet that none can passe thyther by reason of great desartes of a hundred dayes iourney Also beyond these mountaynes is the cape of Bona Speranza And to haue sayde thus much of Afrike it may suffice The first vyage to Guiena IN the yeere of our Lord .1553 the .xii. day of August sayled from Porchmouth two goodly shyppes the Primrose and the Lion with a pynnesse called the Moone being all well furnished aswel with men of the lustiest sorte to the number of seuen score as also with ordinaunce and vyttayles requisite to such a viage hauyng also two Captaynes the one a stranger called Antoniades Pinteado a Portugale borne in a towne named the porte of Portugale a wyse discreete and sober man who for his cunnyng in saylyng beyng as well an experte pylot as politike Captayne was sometyme in great fauour with the kyng of Portugale and to whom the coastes of Brasile and Guinea were commytted to be kepte from the Frenchmen to whom he was a terrour on the sea in those partes and was furthermore a Gentelman of the kyng his maisters house But as fortune in maner neuer fauoureth but flattereth neuer promiseth but deceiueth neuer rayseth but casteth downe agayne and as great wealth and fauour hath alwayes companions emulation and enuie he was after many aduersities and quarels made agaynst him inforced to come into Englande where in this golden vyage he was euil matched with an vnequal companion and vnlyke matche of most sundrie qualities and conditions with vertues fewe or none adourned Thus departed these noble shyppes vnder sayle on their vyage But first Captayne Wyndam puttyng foorth of his shyp at Porchmouth a kynseman of one of the head merchants and shewyng herein a muster of the tragicall partes he had conceyued in his brayne and with suche small begynnynges nouryshed so monstrous a byrth that more happie yea and blessed was that young man being lefte behynde then if he had been taken with them as some doe wishe he had done the lyke by theyrs Thus sayled they on their vyage vntyl they came to the Ilandes of Madera where they tooke in certayne wynes for the store of their shippes and payde for them as they agreed of the price At these Ilandes they met with a great Galion of the kyng of Portugale ful of men and ordinance yet such as could not haue preuayled if it had attempted to withstande or resist our shippes for the which cause it was set foorth not only to let and interrupte these our shippes of their purposed viage but all other that should attempte the lyke yet chiefly to frustrate our vyage For the Kyng of Portugale was sinisterly informed that our shyppes were armed to his castell of Mina in these parties whereas nothyng lesse was ment After that our shyppes departed from the Ilandes of Madera forwarde on theyr vyage began this woorthie Captayne Pinteados sorowe as a man tormented with the company of a terrible Hydra who hytherto flattered with him and made him a fayre countenaunce and shewe of loue Then dyd he take vppon him to commaund all alone settyng nought both by Captayne Pinteado with the reste of the merchante factours sometymes with opprobrious woordes and sometymes with threatnynges most shamefully abusing them taking from Pinteado the seruice of the boyes certaine mariners that were assigned him by the order and direction of the woorshipfull merchauntes and leauyng him as a common mariner whiche is the greatest despite and greefe that can be to a Portugale or Spanyarde to be diminishte theyr honour which they esteeme aboue all riches Thus saylyng forwarde on theyr vyage they came to the Ilands of Canarie continuing theyr course from thence vntyll they arryued at the Ilande of Saincte Nicolas where they vyttayled them selues with freshe meate of the fleshe of wylde Goates whereof is great plentie in that Ilande and in maner of nothing els From hence folowyng on theyr course and tarying heere and there at the desarte Ilandes in the way bycause they would not come to tymely to the countrey of Guinea for the heate and tarying somewhat to long for what can be well mynistred in a common wealth where inequalitie with tyrannie will rule alone they came at the length to the fyrst lande of the countrey of Guinea where they fell with the great ryuer of Sesto where they myght for theyr merchandies haue laden their shyppes with the graynes of that countrey whiche is a very hot fruite and muche lyke vnto a fygge as it groweth on the tree For as the fygges are full of small seedes so is the sayde fruite full of graynes which are lose within the codde hauyng in the myddest thereof a hole on euery syde This kynde of spyce is much vsed in colde countreys and may there be solde for great aduantage for exchaunge of other wares But our men by the persuasion or rather inforcement of this tragicall Captaine not regardyng and settyng lyght by that commoditâ—e in comparison to the fine golde they thirsted sayled an hundred leagues further vntyll they came to the golden lande where not attemptyng to come neare the Castell parteynyng to the kyng of Portugale which was within the ryuer of Mina made sale of theyr wâ—re onely on this syde and beyond it for the golde of that countrey to the quantitie of an hundred and fyftie poundes weyght there beyng in case that they myght haue dispatched all theyr ware for golde if the vntame brayne of Wyndam had or could haue gyuen eare to the counsayle and experience of Pinteado For when that Wyndam not satisfied with the golde whiche he had and more might haue had if he had taried about the Mina commaundyng the sayde Pinteado for so he tooke vppon him to leade the shyppes to Benin beyng vnder the Equinoctiall lyne and a hundred and fyftie leagues beyonde the Mina where he looked to haue theyr shyppes laden with pepper and beyng counsayled of the sayde Pinteado consideryng the late tyme of the yeere for that tyme to goe no further but to make sale of their wares suche as they had for golde whereby they myght haue ben great gayners But Wyndam not assentyng herevnto fell into a sodayne rage reuilyng the sayde Pinteado callyng him Iewe with
maner rounde It is of largenesse from syde to syde .lx. Italian myles that is to say one degree The horizontall line of the Ilande passeth by the two poles Artike and Antartike and hath euer the day equall with the nyght without any sensible difference whether the Sunne be in Cancer or in Capricorne The starre of the pole Artike is there inuisible but the wardens are seene somewhat to moue about the starres called the Crosse are seene very hygh Of this Ilande with the other landes and Ilandes lying betweene Portugale and the same a certeyne pylotte of Portugale hath written a goodly vyage to Conte Rimondo FINIS The Nauigation and vyages of Lewes Vertomannus Gentelman of the citie of Rome to the regions of Arabia Egypte Persia Syria Ethiopia and East India both within and without the ryuer of Ganges c. In the yeere of our Lorde .1503 Conteynyng many notable and straunge thinges both hystoricall and naturall Translated out of Latine into Englyshe by Richarde Eden In the yeere of our Lord .1576 The Preface of the Authour THere haue ben many before me who to know the miracles of the worlde haue with diligent studie read dyuers Authours which haue written of such thinges But other giuing more credite to the lyuely voyce haue been more desirous to know the same by relation of such as haue traueyled in those countreys seene such thinges whereof they make relation for that in many bookes geathered of vncertaine aucthoritie are myxt false thinges with true Other there are so greatly desirous to know the trueth of these thinges that they can in no wyse be satisfied vntyll by theyr owne experience they haue founde the trueth by voyages and peregrinations into straunge countreys and people to know theyr maners fashions and customes with dyuers thinges there to be seene wherein the only readyng of bookes could not satisfie their thirst of suche knowledge but rather increased the same in so much that they feared not with losse of goods and daunger of lyfe to attempte great vyages to dyuers countreys with witnesse of theyr eyes to see that they so greatly desired to knowe The whiche thyng among other chaunced vnto me also For as often as in the bookes of hystories and Cosmographie I read of such marueylous thinges whereof they make mention especially of thinges in the East partes of the world there was nothyng that coulde pacifie my vnquiet mynde vntyll I had with myne eyes seene the trueth thereof I knowe that some there are indued with hygh knowledge mountyng vnto the heauens whiche will contempne these our writinges as base and humble bycause we doe not here after their maner with high and subtile inquisition intreate of the motions and dispositions of the starres and gyue reason of theyr woorkyng on the earth with their motions retrogradations directions mutations epicicles reuolutions inclinations diuinations reflexions and suche other parteynyng to the science of Astrologie which certeynely we doe not condempne but greatly prayse But measuryng vs with our owne foote we will leaue that heauie burden of heauen to the strong shoulders of Atlas and Hercules and only creepyng vppon the earth in our owne person beholde the situations of landes and regions with the maners and customes of men and variable fourmes shapes natures and propriettes of beastes fruites and trees especially suche as are among the Arabians Persians Indians and Ethiopians And whereas in the searchyng of these thinges we haue thanked be God satisfied our desire we thinke neuerthelesse that we haue done little excepte we should communicate to other such thinges as we haue seene and had experience of that they lykewyse by the readyng thereof may take pleasure for whose sakes we haue written this long and dangerous discourse of thinges which we haue seene in dyuers regions and sectes of men desiryng nothyng more then that the trueth may be knowen to them that desyre the same But what incommodities and troubles chaunced vnto me in these viages as hunger thirst colde heate warres captiuitie terrours and dyuers other suche daungers I will declare by the way in theyr due places The first Chapter of the nauigation from Venice to Alexandria in Egypte IF any man shall demaunde of me the cause of this my vyage certeynely I can shewe no better reason then is the ardent desire of knowledge which hath moued many other to see the worlde and miracles of God therin And forasmuch as other knowen partes of the world haue heretofore ben sufficiently traueyled of other I was determyned to visite and describe suche partes as here before haue not been sufficiently knowen and therefore with the grace of God and callyng vppon his holy name to prosper our enterprise departyng from Uenice with prosperous wyndes in fewe dayes we arryued at the citie of Alexandria in Egypte where the desyre we had to knowe thinges more straunge and further of would not permit vs to tarrie long And therefore departyng from thence and saylyng vp the ryuer of Nilus we came to the citie of new Babylon commonly called Cayrus or Alcayr Of the citie named Babylon or Alcayr a citie of Nilus in Egypt Cap. 2. WHen we arryued there I marueyled more then I am able to say yet when I approched so neare the citie that I myght wel see into it it seemed to me much inferior to the reporte and fame that was thereof for the greatnesse thereof seemed nothyng agreeable to the bruite and appeared no more in circuite then the citie of Rome although muche more peopled and better inhabited But the large fieldes of the suburbes haue deceyued many beyng dispersed with in maner innumerable villages whiche some haue thought to haue been part of the citie whiche is nothyng so For those villages and dispersed houses are two or three myles from the citie and round about it on euery syde Neyther is it here needefull to spende muche tyme in declaryng of theyr maners or religion forasmuch as it is well knowen that all the inhabitantes of those regions are Mahumetans and Mamalukes whiche are suche Christians as haue forsaken theyr fayth to serue the Mahumetans and Turkes Although commonly they that serued the Soltan of Babylon in tyme past before the Soltan was ouercome by the Turke were called Mamaluchi as they that serue the Turke are called Ienetzari But these Mamaluke Mahumetans are subiecte to the Soltan of Syria Of the cities of Berynto Tripoli and Antioch Cap. 3. THe riches fayrenesse and magnificence of Babylon aforesayde and the straunge souldiers Mamalukes as things knowen we will now pretermit Therfore departyng from Babylon and returnyng to Alexandria where we agayne entered into our sea we came to Berynto a citie on the sea coast of Syria Phoenicia where we spent many dayes This is inhabited of Mahumetans and plentifull of all thinges The sea beateth on the walles of the towne it is not compassed with walles but on the West syde towarde the sea Here founde we nothyng
greatnesse exceptyng this that in the myddle is no roofe or couerture but is all open but about the rest of the temple it is altogeather vaulted There they obserue religiously the bodye of the holy Prophet Zacharie The temple hath also foure great double gates of metal very fayre and many goodly fountaynes within it There are yet seene the ruins of many decaâ—ed houses which were once inhabited by the Christians Those houses they cal Canonicas and are of woorke both carued and imbossed There is also to be seene the place where as they say our sauiour Christ spake to Sainct Paule these woordes Paule Paule why doest thou persecute me c. This place is without the citie about a myle There are buried the Christians that die in the citie There is seene also the Tower in whiche Sainct Paule was committed to pryson and ioyneth to the wall of the citie But that place of the Tower where Paule was brought foorth by the Angell the Mahumetans do not attempt to close vp Saying that yf it be closed ouer nyght they fynde it open agayne in the morning I saw also there those houses in the whiche as they say Cain slue his brother Abell These are on the other part of the citie a myle of in a certayne valley yet on the syde of a hyll But let vs nowe returne to the stranger Solgiers which they call Mamaluchos and to speake somewhat howe licenciously they lyue in that citie Of the Mamalukes of Damasco Cap. 7. THe Mamalukes therefore are that kynde of men which haue forsaken our fayth and as slaues are bought by the gouerner of Syria They are very actiue brought vp both in learnyng and warlike discipline vntil they come to great perfection As wel the litle as y e great without respect receiue stipend of the gouernour which for euery moneth amounteth to syxe of those peeces of gold which they call Saraphos besyde the meate and drynke of them selues and theyr seruantes and also prouision for theyr horses And the more valiaunt they be of greater actiuitie they are hyred for the greater wages They walke not in the citie but by two or three togeather for it is counted dishonour for any of them to walke without a companion And if by the waye they chaunce to meete with two or three women for they lay wayte to tarry for them about suche houses whyther they know the women resort lycence is graunted them as they by chaunce fyrst meete with them to bryng them into certaine tauerns where they abuse them When the Mamalukes attempt to descouer theyr faces for they go with theyr faces couered they striue with them because they wyll not be knowen But when the Mamalukes persyste wantonly to discouer them they saye thus vnto them Is it not enough for you that you haue abused our bodyes as pleaseth you but that you wyl also discouer our faces Then the Mamalukes suffer them to departe But sometyme it chaunceth that when they thynke to prostitute the daughter of some gentelmen or noble men they committee the facte with theyr owne wyues whiche thyng chaunced whilest I was there The women beautifie and garnishe them selues as muche as any They vse sylken apparell and couer them with cloth of gosampine in maner as fyne as sylke They weare white buskyns and shooes of red or purple coloure They garnyshe theyr heades with many iewelles and earerynges and weare rynges and braslettes They mary as often as them lysteth for when they are weary of theyr fyrst maryage they go to the chiefe presse of their religion whom they call Cady and make request to hym to be diuorsed from theyr fyrste maryage This diuorsment in theyr language is called Talacarè whiche graunted by the hygh Priest or Byshop they begyn newe maryages The lyke lybertie is also graunted to the husbandes Some thynke that the Mahumetans haue fyue or syxe wyues togeather which I haue not obserued but as farre as I coulde perceyue they haue but two or three They eate openly specially in the martes or fayres and there dresse they all theyr meates They eate horses Cammelles Bufles Gotes and suche other beastes They haue great abundaunce of freshe cheese They that sell mylke dryue about with them xl or .l. Gotes whiche they bryng into the houses of them that wyll bye mylke euen vp into theyr chambers although they be three roofes hygh and there mylke them to haue it freshe and newe These Gotes haue theyr eares a spanne long many voders or pappes and are very fruitefull There is great abundaunce of mussheromes for sometymes there are seene .xx. or .xxx. Cammelles laden with mussheromes and yet in the space of three dayes they are all solde They are brought from the mountaynes of Armenia and from Asia the lesse whiche is nowe called Turchia or Natolia or Anatolia The Mahumetans vse long vestures and loose both of sylke and cloth The most part vse hose of gossampine cloth and whyte shooes When any of the Mahumetans by chaunce meeteth with any of the Mamalukes although the Mahumetan be the woorthyer person yet geueth he place and reuerence to the Mamaluke who otherwyse woulde geue hym the Bastonado and beate hym with a staffe The Christians also keepe there many ware houses of merchaundies where they haue dyuers sortes of sylkes and veluet but the Christians are there euyll entreated of the Mahumetans The iorney from Damasco to Mecha and of the maners of the Arabians Chap. 8. AFter that I haue largely spoken of Damasco I wyll proceede to the rest of my vyage Therfore in the yeere of our lorde .1503 the eight daye of the moneth of Apryll when I had hyred certayne Cammelles which they call Carauanas to go to Mecha and beyng then ignorant of the customes and maners of them in whose companye I shoulde go I entred familiaritie and frendshyppe with a certayne captayne Mamaluke of them that had forsaken our fayth with whom beyng agreed of the price he prepared me apparell lyke vnto that whiche the Mamalukes vse to weare and geuyng me also a good horse accompanyed me with the other Mamalukes This as I haue sayde I obtayned with great cost and many gyftes whiche I gaue hym Thus enteryng to the iorney after the space of three dayes we came to a certayne place named Mezaris where we remayned three dayes that the merchauntes which were in our company myght prouide thynges necessarie as specially Camels and dyuers other thynges There is a certayne Prince whom they cal Zambei of great power in the countrey of Arabia he had three brethren and foure chyldren He norysheth fourtie thousand horses ten thousand mares foure thousand Camels The countrey where he keepeth the heardes of these beastes is large of two dayes iorney This Prince Zambei is of so great power that he keepeth warre with the Soltan of Babylon the gouernour of Damasco and
I entered into the citie I went to their Temple or Meschita where I sawe a great multitude of poore people as about the number of .xxv. thousande attendyng a certayne Pilot who should bryng them into their countrey Heere I suffered muche trouble and affliction beyng enforced to hyde my selfe among these poore folkes faynyng my selfe very sicke to the ende that none should be inquisityue what I was whence I came or whyther I would The Lord of this citie is the Soltan of Babylon brother to the Soltan of Mecha who is his subiecte The inhabitauntes are Mahumetans The soyle is vnfruitfull and lacketh freshe water The sea beateth agaynst the towne There is neuerthelesse aboundance of all thinges but brought thyther from other places as from Babylon of Nilus Arabia Foelix and dyuers other places The heate is here so great that men are in maner dryed vp therewith And therefore there is euer a great number of sicke folkes The citie conteyneth about fyue hundred houses After fyftiene dayes were past I couenaunted with a pilot who was ready to departe from thence into Persia and agreed of the price to goe with him There laye at Anker in the hauen almost a hundred Brigantines and Foistes with diuers boates and barkes of sundry sortes both with Ores and without Ores Therefore after three dayes gyuyng wynde to our sayles we entred into the redde sea otherwyse named Mare Erythraeum Of the red sea and why it can not be sayled in the nyght Cap. 21. IT is well knowen to wyse men that this sea is not red as some haue imagined but is of the colour of other seas We continued therefore our vyage vntyll the goyng downe of the Sunne For this sea is nauigable only in the day tyme and therefore in the nightes the maryners rest them vntyll they come to the Ilande named Chameran from whence they proceede forwarde more safely Why this sea can not be sayled in the nyght they say the cause to be that there are many daungerous sandes rockes and shelues and therefore that it is needefull of diligent and long prospecte from the toppe Castell of the shyppe to foresee the dangerous places The seconde booke entreating of Arabia Foelix That is the happie or blessed Arabia Of the citie of Gezan and the fruitfulnesse thereof Cap. 1. FOrasmuche as hytherto wee haue spoken somewhat of the maners of the people and cities of Arabia Foelix it may nowe seeme conuenient to finishe the reste of our vyage with such thinges as we haue seene in the sayde countrey of Arabia Therefore after sixe dayes saylyng we came to a citie named Gezan It hath a commodious porte and very fayre where we found about fourtie and fyue Brigantines and Foistes of dyuers regions The citie is harde by the sea syde and the Prince thereof is a Mahumetan The soile is fruitful lyke vnto Italie It beareth Pomegranates Quinses Peaches Apples of Assyria Pepons Melons Oranges Gourdes and dyuers other fruites Also Roses and sundry sortes of floures the fayrest that euer I sawe It seemeth an earthly Paradyse The moste parte of the inhabitauntes go naked â–ª In other thinges they lyue after the maner of the Mahumetans There is also great abundance of fleshe wheate barley the grayne of whyte Millet or Hirse whiche they call Dora whereof they make very sweete bread Of certayne people named Banduin Cap. 2. DEparting from the citie of Gezan the space of .v. dayes sayling towarde the lefte hande hauyng euer the coast of the lande in sight we came to the sight of certayne houses where about .xiiii. of vs went alande hopyng to haue had some victuals of the inhabitans But we lost our labour for in the steede of victuals they cast stones at vs with stinges They were about a hundred that fought with our men for the space of an houre Of them were slayne .xxiiii. The rest were dryuen to flyght they were naked and had none other weapons then slynges After theyr flyght we brought away with vs certayne hens and Calues very good Shortly after a great multitude of the inhabitauntes shewed them selues to the number of fyue or syxe hundred but we departed with our praye and returned to the shyppes Of an Ilande of the red sea named Camaran Cap. 3. THe same day saylyng forwarde we came to an Iland named Camaran which conteyneth ten myles in circuite In it is a towne of two hundred houses the inhabitantes are Mahumetans it hath aboundaunce of freshe water and fleshe and the fayrest salte that euer I sawe The porte is eight myles from the continent it is subiecte to the Soltan of Amanian of Arabia Foelix After we had remayned here two dayes we tooke our way towarde the mouth of the red sea in the space of two dayes saylyng This sea may here be sayled both day and nyght For as we haue sayde before from this Ilande vnto the porte of Zida the red sea is not safely nauigable by nyght When we came to the mouth of the sea we seemed to be in maner inclosed for that the mouth of the sea is there very streyght and no more then three myles ouer Towarde the right hande the continent lande is seene of the heyght of ten pases the soile seemeth rude and not cultured At the lefte hande of the sayde mouth ryseth a very hygh hyll of stone In the myddest of the mouth is a litle Ilande vnhabited named Bebmendo and is towarde the lefte hande to them that sayle to Zeila But they that goe to Aden must keepe the way to the lefte hande All this way we had euer the lande in our sight from Bebmendo to Aden in the space of two dayes and a halfe Of the citie of Aden and of their maners and customes towarde straungers Cap. 4. I Doe not remember that I haue seene any citie better fortified then this It standeth on a soyle not much vnequall it is walled on two sydes The reste is inclosed with mountaynes hauyng on them fyue fortresses The citie conteyneth sixe thousande houses Theyr exercise of bying and sellyng begynneth the seconde houre of the nyght by reason of extreeme heate in the day tyme. A stone cast from the citie is a mountayne hauyng on it a fortresse The shyppes lye neare the foote of the mountayne it is certaynely a very goodly citie and the fayrest of all the cities of Arabia Foelix To this as to the chiefe marte the merchauntes of India Ethiopia and Persia haue recourse by sea and they also that resorte to Mecha Assoone as our Brigantines came into the hauen immediately the customers and searchers came aborde demaundyng what we were from whence we came what merchaundies we brought and howe many men were in euery Brigantine Beyng aduertised of these thinges immediately they tooke away our maste sayles and other tackelynges of our shyppes that we should not departe without paying of custome The day after our arryuyng there the Mahumetans tooke mee and put shackles on
breast These ceremonies are done the seconde watche of the nyght Within fyfteene dayes after the wyfe biddeth to a banquette all her husbandes kynsfolkes and when they come at a daye appoynted they go al to the place where her husbande was burnt and at the same houre of the nyght then commeth foorth the wyfe garnyshed with all her iewells and best apparell vsyng therein the helpe of all her kynsfolkes In the same place is made a pytte no deeper then may serue to receiue the woman This pytte is sette about with reedes and the reedes are couered with a cloth of sylke that the pytte may not be seene In the meane tyme also a fyre is made in the pyt with sundry sorts of sweet woods the wife after that her gestes haue well banqueted eateth very muche of a certayne meate whiche they call Betola whiche troubleth her mynde as though she were halfe madde or drunken In the meane whyle a great company of suche theyr musitions as we haue spoken of before apparelled like deuyls with burnyng stickes in theyr mouthes daunce fyrst about the pytte and then make sacrifice to the great deuyl Deumo The wyfe also in y e meane season runneth vp and downe lyke a madde body with countenaunces of dauncyng and reioycyng Then turnyng her to them that are disguised lyke deuyls she commendeth her selfe to theyr deuoute prayers desiryng them for her to make intercession to the great Deumo that after this transitorie lyfe it may please him to receyue her into the company of his Angelles After the ceremonies are fynished shee taketh her leaue of all her kynsfolkes whiche stande rounde about her and neare vnto the pitte then with sodaine outrage and a loude crye liftyng vp her handes she hurleth her selfe into the burnyng pit which done her kynsfolkes standing neare vnto the fyre couer her with litle fagottes of sweete wood hurlyng also thereon much pitche that the bodie may the sooner be consumed and except the wyfe shoulde doe this after the death of her husbande she should euer after be esteemed an euyll woman be hated of all men and in fine in danger to be slayne both of her owne kynsfolkes and her husbandes and therefore shee goeth to it the more willingly The kyng him selfe is present at these pompes which are not commonly vsed for all men but only for the kynges priestes and noble men Of the iustice which the inhabitantes of Tarnassari obserue Cap. 10. IF any kyll a man he is adiudged to death as in the citie of Calecut Of giuyng and receyuyng iustice is ministred as proofe may be made by writing or witnesse They wryte in parchement lyke vnto ours and not in barkes of trees as doe they of Calecut When they contende for any thyng they resorte to the gouernour of the citie to whom the kyng hath giuen full aucthoritie of iurisdiction and if any merchaunt straunger dye there without children he may make no inheritour but all his goods is due to the kyng when the kyng is dead his chyldren succeede in the kyngdome When the inhabitantes dye theyr goods are equally diuided among theyr children Howe the Mahumetans are buried in the citie of Tarnassari Cap. 11. WHen any of the Mahumetan merchantes dye they are embaulmed with many spices and sweete gummes and theyr bodies put in Coffins of wood with chiefe regarde that theyr heades lye towarde the citie of Mecha which is from thence Northwarde Of the dyuers sortes of theyr shyppes or other vesselles Cap. 12. THey haue Brigantines very shalowe and with flatte bottoms which drawe but small depth of water Some also vse Foistes hauyng two or double forepartes and two Mastes and are open without any couerture There is an other kynde of shyppes of burden Of the which some beare the burden of a thousande tunnes In these they carry Botes and other smaller vesselles to the citie of Melacha when they goe for spices Of Bangella a great and riche citie of India and of the great power of the kyng Cap. 13. IT is now tyme to speake further of our viage and of our proceedyng therein Therefore packyng vp our wares and commityng vs to the sea we came in twelue dayes saylyng to a citie named Bangella distant from Tarnassari seuen hundred myles This citie in fruitfulnesse and plentifulnesse of all thinges may in maner contende with any citie in the worlde The kyngdome and dominion of this citie is exceedyng large The kyng hath an army of two hundred thousande footemen and horsemen Mahumetans and is of so great power that he keepeth sore warres with the kyng of Narsinga The region is so plentifull in all thynges that there lacketh nothyng that may serue to the necessarie vses or pleasures of men for there are in maner all sortes of beastes good and holesome fruites and plentie of corne Spices also of all sortes Lykewyse of bombasine and silke so exceedyng great aboundance that in these thinges I thinke there is none other region comparable with this and therefore here are very many riche merchantes For euery yeere departe from hence fyftie shyppes laden with clothe of bombasine and silke into the cities and countreys of Turchia Syria Arabia Persia Ethiopia and India There are also many merchaunt straungers whiche buye precious stones of the inhabitauntes Of certayne Christian merchauntes which exercise merchandies there Cap. 14. HEre we founde many Christian merchantes which were borne in the citie of Sarnau as they tolde vs. They resorte thyther as to a great marte with cloth of silke and wood of Aloes Laser which yeldeth the sweete gumme named Laserpitium commonly called Belzoi beyng a kynde of myrre They bryng also Castoreum and diuers other sweete sauours The sayde Christians tolde vs also that there be in that kyngdome many Christian Princes subiect to the great Cham of the citie of Cathai The apparell of these Christians was Chamlet loose and very full of pleytes and lyned with bombasine cloth On theyr heads they weare certayne coppen or sharpe poynted cappes of two handfull hygh of scarlet colour They are white men They acknowledge one God in Trinitie are baptised after our maner They beleeue the doctrine of the Apostles and Euangelistes They wryte backewarde after the maner of the Armenians They celebrate the birth and buriall of Christ and obserue fastyng the fourtie dayes of Lent as we doe They celebrate also certayne sainctes dayes They vse no shooes but weare loose hose of silke garnished with dyuers Iewels On theyr fingers they weare Ringes with stones of incomparable splendour At meate they vse no table but eate lying on the grounde and feede of all sortes of fleshe They affyrmed also that there are certayne Christian kynges whiche they call Rumi of great power confinyng or borderyng on the dominions of the great Turke When these Christians had seene the precious merchaundies of my companion and
I knowe not from whence The thyrd kynd is named Bochor The saide Christian merchants tolde vs also that none of the fyrst and best kynde of Aloes is brought vnto vs because it commeth from the kyngdomes of Cathay Chini Macym Sarnau and Grauay countreys muche rycher then ours hauyng muche greater abundance of golde and kynges of greater power and rychesse then are ours And also that the sayde kynges take great pleasure in such kynd of sweete sauoures and vse them muche more then our princes do So that by this meanes the true kynde of Aloes is woorth euen in the citie of Sarnau tenne crownes the pounde weyght Howe the gummes of Aloes and Laserpitium are proued Cap. 21. WE came by certaine experience to the knowledge of the two sweete gummes of Aloes and Laserpitium as we were taught by the sayd Christian merchants our companyons For one of them had a certayne portion of them both and had of that best sorte of Aloes named Calampat about the quantitie of two ounces Of the which my companion takyng a peece in his hande and holdyng it fast and close for the space that one may thryse saye the Psalme of Miserere mei Deus the Aloes thereby beyng heat at the openyng of his hande gaue a sauoure of incredible sweetenesse and suche as I neuer felte of any other thyng He tooke also of the common Laserpitium or Belzoe the quantitie of a Walnutte and agayne halfe a pounde of that whiche commeth from the citie of Sarnau to compare the one to the other And so puttyng them both in sundry chafyng dyshes with burnyng coles in a close chamber that whiche was of the byggnesse of a Walnutte in sweete sauour far exceeded the other which was halfe a pounde in weight and woulde doubtlesse so haue done though it had ben of two pounde weight In this region is also founde Lacca or Lacta wherewith is made a shynyng redde colour It is the gumme of a tree not muche vnlyke our Walnutte tree There are also sundrye kindes of beastes suche as we haue Of diuers merchantes in the Ilande of Sumatra or Taprobana Cap. 22. IN the sayde citie of Pyder in the Ilande of Sumatra I sawe many curious workes very artificially wrought as fyne Cophines or baskets garnished with golde solde for two crownes the peece I sawe also there in one streate fyue hundred exchangers there are so many bankers Hither as to a famous mart resort innumerable merchantes The inhabitantes weare Mantels of sylke and Syndone made of Bombasine The region hath plentie of wood and trees very commodious to make such shippes as they cal Gunchos hauyng three mastes two fore partes and also two sternes or gouernals on both sydes When they sayle in the Ocean and haue nowe geuen wynde to the sayles yf afterwarde it shal be needefull to haue more sayles not changyng the fyrst they go backward without turnyng the ship and vsyng only one mast They are most expert swymmers and haue skyll to make fyre in an instant Theyr houses are of stone and very lowe In the place af couerynges or tyles they vse the skynnes or hydes of a fyshe called Tartaruca founde in that sea of India I saw so hugious a hyde of this monster that it wayed a hundred three poundes I sawe there also great teeth of Elephantes as one waying three hundred thirtie pounde weight Lykewise Serpentes of incredible bygnesse and muche bygger then in Calecut Here our companions the Christian merchants for affayres they had to do other wayes woulde haue taken their leaue of vs. Then my companion the Persian spake vnto them in this maner Although my frendes I am not your countreyman yet beyng all brethren and the chyldren of Adam I take God to witnesse that I loue you as yf you were myne owne brethren begotten of the same parentes and therfore consyderyng how frendly we haue kept company togeather so long tyme I assure you I can not without great greefe of mynde beare your departyng from vs. And although you woulde depart from me wyll you nowe forsake this my companion a man of your fayth and religion Then sayde the Christians Howe hath this man beyng no Persian receyued our fayth Then sayde my companion Truely he is now a Persian and was once bought at Ierusalem When the Christians hearde the holy name of Ierusalem they lyfted vp theyr handes to heauen and prostratyng them selues on the grounde kyssed it thryse then rysyng they asked him of what age I was when I was brought from Ierusalem Of the age of fyfteene yeeres sayde my companion Then sayde they agayne He may then remember his countrey Then aunswered my companion He dooth remember it in deede and I haue taken great pleasure of suche thynges as he hath tolde me of his countrye Then sayde the merchauntes Although of long time we haue desyred to returne to our countrey beyng more then three hundred myles hence neuerthelesse at your request we wil beare you company to the place whyther you desyre to go Preparyng therefore all thynges parteynyng to the voyage we tooke shyppyng and in .xv. dayes saylyng came to an Ilande named Bandan Of the Ilande of Bandan where Nuttemegs and Mace are founde Cap. 23. IN this voyage to the Ilande of Bandan we founde about .xx. Ilandes some inhabited and some desarte This Ilande is very saluage barren and very lowe and conteyneth a hundred myles in circuite It hath neyther kyng nor gouernour but is inhabited with a rascall and beastly kynde of men lyuyng without lawe order or gouerment They haue lowe houses or rather cotages of wood rysyng but litle from the ground Their apparell is onely a sherte They go bareheadded and barefooted with theyr heare hangyng downe and haue brode and rounde forheaddes They are of coloure inclynyng to whyte and of despicable stature They are Idolaters and woorse then are the inhabitantes of Calecut called Poliar and Hyrana They are also of dull wytte and litle strength and in kynde of lyuyng altogeather beastly The soyle beareth no fruites excepte onely Nuttemegges the bodye of the Nuttemegge tree is lyke to the bodye of a Peache tree and hath lyke branches and leaues but the leaues are somewhat narower Before these Nuttes come to rypenesse the Mace florysheth lyke vnto a redde rose but when the Nutte waxeth rype the Mace closeth it selfe and embraseth the Nutte and shel and are so geathered togeather without order or distribution by scamblyng catche that catche may for y t al things are there common The tree yeeldeth fruite of his owne fruitefulnesse without graffyng or cuttyng or any other art These Nuttes are solde by weyght and .xxvi. pounde weyght is solde for the value of three souses that is halfe a Carline of such money as is vsed in Calecut This people hath none other order of iustice then by the lawe of nature and therfore they lyue without
a thyng is a giltie conscience and called to remembraunce the saying of the Poet. Multa malè timeo quia feci multa proteruè That is I feare muche euyll bycause I haue done muche euyll For they had not only made many suche peeces of artillerie for the infidelles to the great domage of Christians and contempte of the holy name of Christ and his religion but had also taught the Idolatours both the makyng and vse of them And at my beyng there I sawe them gyue a modell or moulde to certayne Idolatours whereby they myght make brasen peeces of suche bygnesse that one may receyue the charge of a hundred and fyue Tankardes Cantaros of pouder At the same tyme also there was a Iewe which had made a very fayre Brigantine and foure great peeces of artillerie of Iron But god shortly after gaue him his due reward for when he went to washe him in the ryuer he was drowned But to returne to our sayde Christians God is my witnesse howe earnestly I persuaded them neuer thereafter to make any more artillerie or Gunnes to the great contempt and indignation of God and detriment of our holy fayth When I had sayde these woordes the teares fell from the eyes of Peter Antonie But Iohn Maria who perhappes had not so great desire to returne to his countrey said that it was all one to him to dye there or in the citie of Rome and that God knewe what he had decreed of him Within two dayes after I returned to my companion who marueyled where I had been fearing lest I had ben eyther sicke or departed I tolde him that I was all nyght in the Temple lest he should suspecte my great familiaritie with the Christians Of the commyng of the Portugale shippes to the citie of Canonor Cap. 32. VVHyle I remayned here in the lodging of my companion there came to him two Persian merchants from the citie of Canonor saying that they had som euyll newes to tell him wherwith seemyng to be somewhat troubled he asked what was the matter There are come sayde they twelue shyppes of Portugale which we haue seene with our eyes Then sayde he What maner of men are those They are sayd the Persians Christians armed with harnesse of shining Iron and haue builded an inexpugnable fortresse in the citie of Canonor My companion hearyng those woordes turned to me and sayde Lodouicke what maner of men are the Portugales To whom I answered that they were a nation of mischeeuous people gyuen to none other thyng then piracie and robbyng on the sea He was not so sorie to heare this as I was glad of theyr commyng How I playde the Phisitian and counterfect holinesse lest by my colour I should be taken for a spye for the Portugales before I could come to their ships Cap. 33. AFter the rumor was spred of the Portugales arryuyng I began to thinke what was best to be done and thought nothyng more safe and easie among this people then to geat some opinion of holinesse by hipocrisie and therefore all the day tyme I lurked in the Temple liuyng without meate as all the people thought but in the nyght I ate fleshe in the house of Peter Antonie and Iohn Maria. And by this meanes none had other opinion of me but that I was a Sainct and therfore might after a fewe dayes goe abrode in the citie without suspition and to helpe the matter withall it chaunced in the meane tyme that a certaine rich Mahumetan of the citie of Calecut was very sicke ▪ hauing his belly so bounde that he could not 〈…〉 of nature And bycause he was a 〈…〉 my companion and his disease 〈◊〉 he asked me if I had any skyll in phisicke I sayde that my father was a Phisitian and that I had learned many things of him by experience Then I pray you sayd he do what you can to helpe this my friend We went therfore togeather to the sicke man whom my companion asked where he felt him selfe most greeued In my head sayde he and my stomake hauyng also my belly so sore bounde that I can not goe to the stoole Then my companion agayne in his presence desired me to consider his infirmitie and take vpon me to minister vnto him some medicine My companion had tolde me before that he was a great eater and drinker Therefore takyng him by the hande and feelyng his pulse I sayde that his stomacke and bowelles were full of choler by reason of surfetyng and therefore that it shoulde be good for him to take a glister Then sayde the sicke man Doe what you wil I wil abyde your order Then made I a glister of egges salt and suger adding also butter and certayne hearbes such as came first to my memorie vpon the sodayne and in the space of a day and nyght I gaue him fyue glisters but all in vayne for besyde the paynes which he endured he was rather woorse then better insomuche that it repented me of myne enterprise But it was nowe best to set a good face on the matter and attempte an other way but the laste errour was woorse then the first Yet still putting him in good hope I vsed him thus I made him lye grouelyng on his belly then tying cordes on his feete I raysed vp the hynder partes of his body so that he rested only vppon his brest and handes and as he laye ministred a glyster vnto him and let him so hang for the space of hallfe an houre My companion beholding this straunge kynde of practise sayde vnto me Lodouike is this the maner of mynistring to sicke folkes in your countrey It is sayde I yet neuer but in case of extremitie Then smylyng he sayde I beleeue it will heale him one way or an other In the meane tyme the miserable man cryed saying in his language It is enough it is enough for my soule now departeth We comforted him desiryng him to haue patience yet a whyle In maner immediately after his belly was losed and auoyded matter as if it had been out of a gutter Then when wee had let downe his bodie hee auoyded as muche as myght almost fyll a payle and shortly after the payne of his head and stomake and also the feuer ceassed whereof we were all very glad And by this aduenturous cure I began to bee in great credite among them by the meanes also of my counterfect holinesse and therefore whereas he would haue giuen me tenne peeces of golde I would take but only two and gaue them also incontinent to the poore These sely soules beleeued so much in my hypocrisie which I shewed no lesse in countenaunce and grauitie forbearyng also openly to eate fleshe that well was he that myght haue me in his house or kysse my handes and feete The reporte also of my companion affyrmyng that he mette with me first at Mecha where I was to see the bodie of the holy Prophet
warres who in theyr language sayde thus vnto me Are you our friende Yea sayde I. Then we pray you in the way of friendship shewe vs that Christian which is muche hygher and stronger then any other of the Christians and kylled in maner euery day about twentie of the Mahumetans and resisted the dartes of fiftie Naeros these are of the garde and escaped without hurte I answered that that Christian was not nowe in the citie but was gone to Cucin to the Uiceroye But when I better considered the matter I sayde thus vnto them Are you my friendes Yea we are sayde they Then sayde I That souldier that fought so valiauntly in the battayle was no Portugale Then sayde they Of what countrey was he then I answered agayne that he was the God of the Portugales and the great God of all the world Then sayde they Uerily you speake the trueth For we heard the Mahumetans say that it was not the Portugales but the Portugales God that gaue them the ouerthrowe and therefore we thynke your God to bee better then theyrs although we know him not And by this meanes it was bruiâ—ed ouer all the countrey that the Mahumetans were ouercome rather by the assistaunce of God then by the strength of men For these people are very simple and ignoraunt and astonyshed in maner at euery thyng For some when they sawe one of our company hauyng a little bell in his hande and hearde the noyse of the bell when he moued his hand and no noyse when he set it downe they tooke it for a myracle saying one to an other doubtlesse theyr God is the greatest God for when they touche the bell it speaketh and when they touche it not it sayeth nothyng They tooke pleasure and admiration to beholde the solemnities of the Masse And when the priest lyfted vp the holy bread or host I sayde vnto them beholde here the God of the Portugales and of all the worlde Then sayde they You say truly but we can not perceyue it This haue I sayde that you may hereby knowe what simple and ignorant people these are yet are they very great inchaunters and can inchaunte Serpentes whose poyson is so strong that they kyll only with touchyng They are also of incredible agilitie and therefore excell in vautyng leapyng runnyng swymmyng tumblyng walkyng on ropes and such other exercises of lyghtnesse and agilitie The seuenth booke entreating of the viage or Nauigation of Ethiopia Cap. 1. THey that will take vppon them to wryte any hystorie had neede to beare well in memorie what they haue promysed and taken in hande lest for theyr paynes and well meanyng they be rewarde with shame and rebuke and therfore whereas in the beginnyng of this booke I promysed to wryte of the Nauigation of Ethiope I will with the description of this viage make an ende of my long traueyle and speake of such thinges as I sawe there by the way in my returne from India into my long desired countrey in the company of the Portugales Of diuers and many Ilandes of Ethiope Cap. 2. THerefore the seuenth day of December we directed our iourney towarde Ethiope trauersing fyrst the great gulfe and saylyng foure hundred myles came to an Ilande named Monzambrich vnder the dominion of the kyng of Portugale But before we arryued there we sawe by the way many townes parteining to the Portugales and also many strong fortresses in the kyngdomes of Melinda and Mombaza The kyng of Portugale hath also certayne fortresses in Monzambrich and Zaphala But if I should here speake of the memorable factes of the valiant knyght Tristan dè Cugna at his returne from India I should take in hande a thyng farre aboue my reache beyng suche as deserue rather the commendations of Homer Uirgil for he inuaded and subdued the great cities of Gogia Pati and Craua with also the goodly Ilande of Sacutara where the kyng of Portugale hath erected certayne fortresses and omit also to speake of many other Ilandes whiche we sawe in the way as the Ilande of Cumeris and sixe other which beare plentie of ginger suger dyuers other goodly fruites and abundance of fleshe also the most fruitfull Iland of Pende likewise subiect to the kyng of Portugale Of the Ilande of Monzambrich and the inhabitantes thereof Cap. 3. THis Ilande as we haue sayde is subiecte to the kyng of Portugale as is also Zaphala From the Ilande of Monzambrich is brought much golde and oyle but is brought thyther from the firme lande The Ilande is not byg and is inhabited with blacke Mahumetans lyuyng in maner in necessitie of all thinges yet hath it a commodious porte They haue no corne but that is brought from the continent where also we went alande to see the countrey where we sawe nothyng but a vagabunde and rascall kynde of blacke men coueryng only theyr priuities with leaues of trees and are besyde naked and the women in lyke maner Theyr lyppes are two fingers thicke theyr foreheades very large theyr teeth great and as white as snow They are fearefull at the sight of euery thyng and especially when they see armed men Therefore seeing theyr fearefulnesse knowing them to be without weapons that can doe any great hurte only sixe of vs well armed â–ª bearyng also with vs Hargabuses and hauyng in our companie a blacke slaue that somewhat knewe the countrey we began to enter further into the lande and when we had gone forwarde one dayes iourney we founde many heardes of Elephantes Here the slaue that was our guyde gaue vs counsayle to take fyrebrandes in our handes bycause these beastes feare fyre aboue all thinges But we once chaunced to fynde three Female Elephants which had very lately brought foorth theyr Calues and therefore feared not the fyre but without all feare folowed vs so farre that we were fayne to flee to a mountayne to saue vs from the beastes When we had entred about tenne myles into the land we found a certayne denne on the syde of a mountayne where some of the blacke inhabitauntes lurked These spake so confoundedly and chatteringly lyke Apes that I am not able to expresse theyr maner of speeche Yet to goe the nearest thereto that I can theyr speach is lykest to the euyll fauored voyce which the Muleters of Sicilia vse when they dryue theyr Mules and suche maner of blabberyng vse these people in theyr speache Heere the Pilot of the shyppe asked vs if wee woulde buye any kyne saying that here we should haue them good cheape But we thinking that eyther he had mocked vs or that agreeing with the inhabitauntes whom he knewe before he woulde haue deceyued vs of our money and wares sayde that we had no money Then sayde he vnto vs These people desire nothyng lesse then money hauyng muche more plentie of golde then we haue which is founde not farre hence
as sayled behynd the Sunne towarde the West dyd greatly lengthen the daye And albeit that the sayde booke of Peter Martyr is peryshed yet hath not fortune permytted that the memorie of so woorthy and marueylous an enterpryse shoulde vtterly be extincte forasmuche as a certayne noble gentelman of the citie of Vincenza in Italie called master Antonie Pigafetta who beyng one of the companie of that voyage and after his returne into Spayne in the shyppe Victoria was made knyght of the Rhodes wrote a particular and large booke thereof whiche he gaue to Themperours Maiestie and sent a copie of the same into Fraunce to the lady Regent mother vnto the French king who committed it to an excellent philosopher called master Iacobus Faber hauing long studied in Italy wyllyng hym to translate it into the Frenche tongue This booke therefore was printed fyrst in the Frenche tongue and then in the Italian with also an epistle to the Cardinall of Salsepurge as touchyng the same voyage written by Maximilian Transiluane secretarie to Themperours Maiestie in the yeere 1522. And doubtlesse among all the cities of Italie the citie of Vincenza may herein muche glorie that besyde the auncient nobilitie and many excellent and rare wyttes whiche it hath brought foorth aswell in learnyng as discipline of warre it hath also had so woorthy and valiaunt a gentleman as was the sayde master Antonie Pigafetta who hauyng compassed about the ball or globe of the worlde hath lykewyse described that voyage particularly For the whiche his so noble and wonderfull an enterprise so happily atchiued if the same had ben done in the olde tyme when Th empyre of the Greekes and Romans floryshed he shoulde doubtlesse haue ben rewarded with an Image of marble or gold erected in a place of honour in perpetuall memorie and for a singular example of his vertue to the posteritie In fine this may we boldly affyrme that the antiquitie had neuer such knowledge of the worlde whiche the Sunne compasseth about in .xxiiii. houres as we haue at this present by the industrie of men of this our age But before I speake any thyng of the vyage I haue thought it good fyrst to adde hereunto the Epistle of Maximilian Transiluane which he wrote to the Cardinall of Salsepurge as a preface to his sayde booke ¶ The Epistle of Maximilian Transiluane secretarie to the Emperours Maiestie written to the ryght honorable and reuerende lorde the lord Cardinal of Salepurge of the marueylous and woonderfull nauigation made by the Spanyardes rounde about the worlde in the yeere of Christ M.D.xix. IN these dayes my most honorable and reuerend lord returned one of those fiue ships whiche the yeere before Themperours beyng at Saragosa in Spaine were at his maiesties commaundement sent to the newe worlde heretofore vnknowen vnto vs to seeke the Ilandes of spices For albeit the Portugales bryng vs great quantitie of Spyces from that part of East India whiche in olde tyme was called Aurea Chersonesus where is nowe thought to be the great rych citie of Malaccha yet in East India growe none of those Spyces except Pepper For other Spyces as Sinamome Cloues Nuttemegs and Mase whiche is the huske that couereth the shell of the Nut are brought from other farre countreys and from Ilandes scarsely knowen by theyr names from the whiche Ilandes they are brought in shyppes or barkes made without any Iron tooles and tyed togeather with cordes of Date trees with rounde sayles lykewyse made of the small twigges of the branches of Date trees weaued togeather These barkes they call Giuâ—che with the whiche barkes and sayles they make theyr viage with only one wynde in the stearne or contrarywyse Neyther yet is it a thyng greatly to be marueiled at that these Ilands where the Spices growe haue ben vnknowen so many worlde 's past vnto our tyme forasmuch as all suche thynges as vnto this daye haue ben wrytten of old autours of the places where spices growe are all fabulous and false Insomuch that the countreys where they affyrme them to growe are nowe certaynely founde to be further from the place where they growe in deede then we are from them For lettyng passe many other thynges that are wrytten I wyll speake more of this which Herodotus otherwise a famous auctoure affirmeth that Sinamome is founde in the toppes of the nestes of certayne byrdes and foules that bryng it from farre countreys and especially the Phenyx the whiche I knowe no man that euer hath seene But Plinie who might more certaynely affyrme thinges by reason that before his tyme many thynges were knowen and discouered by the nauigations of great Alexander and other sayth that Sinamome groweth in that part of Ethiope which the people inhabit called Trogloditi Neuerthelesse it is now found that Sinamome groweth very far from all Ethiope now much further from the Trogloditi which dwel in caues vnder the ground But to our men which are now returned from those partes and the Ilandes of spices hauyng also good knowledge of Ethiope it was necessarie to passe far beyond Ethiope before they come to these Ilands and to compasse about the whole worlde and many tymes vnder the greatest circumference of heauen The which nauigations made by them beyng the most marueylous thyng that euer was done by man vppon the earth sence the fyrst creation of the worlde and neuer founde before or knowen or attempted by any other I haue deliberated faythfully to wryte to your honorable lordeshyppe and to declare the whole successe thereof As touchyng which matter I haue with all diligence made inquisition to knowe the trueth aswell by relation of the Captayne of that shyppe as also by conference with euery of the maryners that returned with hym All whiche gaue the seâ—fe same information both to Themperours Maiestie and diuers other And this with such faythfulnesse and sinceritie that not onely they are iudged of all men to haue declared the trueth in all thynges but haue thereby also geuen vs certaine knowledge that al that hath hitherto ben sayd or wrytten of olde autours as touchyng these thynges are false and fabulous For who wyl beleeue that men are founde with onely one legge Or with suche feete whose shadowe couereth theyr bodyes Or men of a cubite heyght and other suche lyke beyng rather monsters then men Of the whiche neyther the Spanyardes who in our tyme saylyng by the Ocean sea haue discouered all the costes of the lande towarde the West both vnder and aboue the Equinoctiall nor the Portugales who compassyng about all Affryke hath passed by all the East and lykewyse discouered all those costes vnto the great gulfe called Sinus Magnus nor yet the Spaniardes in this theyr last nauigation in the which they compassed about the whole earth dyd neuer in any of theyr viages wryte of such monsters which doubtlesse they would not haue omytted if they myght haue had certayne
passing from one to an other appeare in the similitude of a lyght candel They are a token of securitie bycause they are litle not slowe or grosse whereby they myght haue ioyned altogeather in one and been thereby more malicious and lasted longer whereas beyng many and but little they are the sooner consumed Hytherto Cardanus But let vs nowe returne to the vyage When they had sayled paste the Equinoctiall lyne they loste the sight of the North starre and sayled by the southwest vntyll they came to a lande named the lande of Bressil whiche some call Brasilia beyng .xxii. degrees and a halfe towarde the south pole or pole Antartike This lande is continuate and one firme lande with the cape of saint Augustine whiche is .viii. degrees from the Equinoctiall In this lande they were refreshed with many good fruites of innumerable kyndes and founde here also very good suger canes and diuers kindes of beasts and other thinges which I omit for breuitie They entered into this hauen on saint Lucies day where the Sunne being theyr Zenith that is the poynte of heauen directly ouer theyr heades they felte greater heate that day then when they were vnder the Equinoctial lyne This lande of Brasile is very large and great and bygger then all Spayne Portugale Fraunce and Italie and is most abundaunt in all thinges The people of this countrey pray to no maner of thyng but lyue by the instincte of nature and to the age of C.xx and C.xl. yeeres Both the men and women goe naked and dwell in certayne long houses They are very docible and soone allured to the Christian fayth Thirtiene dayes after that they arryued at the sayde porte they departed from this lande and sayled to the xxxiiii degree and a halfe towarde the pole Antartike where they founde a great ryuer of freshe water and certayne Caniballes Of these they sawe one out of theyr shyppes of stature as byg as a Giant hauing a voice like a Bull. Our men pursued them but they were so swyfte of foote that they coulde not ouertake them About the mouth of this riuer are seuen Ilandes in the byggest whereof they founde certayne precious stones and called it the cape of sainct Marie The Spanyardes thought that by this ryuer they myght haue passed into the South sea but they were deceyued in theyr opinion For there was none other passage then by the riuer which is .xvii. leagues large in the mouth Thus folowing this coaste by the tracte of the lande towarde the pole Antartike they came to a place where were two Ilandes replenished with Geese and Wolues of the sea which some thinke to be those fyshes that we call Pikes These were in such number that in an houre all the fyue shyppes might haue ben laden with Geese being all of blacke colour and such as can not flee They liue of fish and are so fatte that they could scarsely flay them They haue no feathers but a certayne downe and theyr bylles lyke Rauens bylles These Woolues of the sea are of dyuers colours and of the bygnesse of Calues with theyr heades of golden colour Here were they in great danger by tempest But as soone as the three fyres called sainct Helen sainct Nycolas and saint Clare appeared vppon the cables of the shyppes sodaynely the tempeste and furie of the wyndes ceassed Departyng from hence they sayled to the .49 degree and a halfe vnder the pole Antartike where beyng wyntered they were inforced to remayne there for the space of two monethes all which tyme they sawe no man excepte that one day by chaunce they espyed a man of the stature of a Giant who came to the hauen daunsing and singyng and shortly after seemed to cast dust ouer his head The Captayne sent one of his men to the shore with the shyppe Boate who made the lyke signe of peace The which thyng the Giant seeyng was out of feare and came with the Captaynes seruaunt to his presence into a little Ilande When he sawe the Captayne with certayne of his company about him he was greatly amased and made signes holdyng vp his hande to heauen signifying thereby that our men came from thence This Giant was so byg that the head of one of our men of a meane stature came but to his waste He was of good corporature well made in all partes of his bodie with a large visage painted with diuers colours but for the most parte yelow Uppon his cheekes were paynted two Hartes and red circles about his eyes The heare of his head was coloured whyte and his apparell was the skynne of a beast sowde togeather This beast as seemed vnto vs had a large head and great eares lyke vnto a Mule with the body of a Camell and tayle of a horse The feete of the Giant were foulded in the sayde skynne after the maner of shooes He had in his hande a bygge and shorte bowe the stryng whereof was made of a sinewe of that beaste He had also a bundell of long arrows made of Reedes feathered after the maner of ours typte with sharpe stones in the steade of Iron heades The Captayne caused him to eate and drynke gaue him many thinges and among other a great lookyng glasse In the which as soone as he sawe his owne lykenesse was sodaynly afrayde and started backe with suche violence that hee ouerthrewe two that stoode nearest about him When the Captayne had thus gyuen him certayne Haukes belles and other great belles with also a lookyng glasse a combe and a payre of beades of glasse he sent him to lande with foure of his owne men well armed Shortly after they sawe an other Giant of somewhat greater stature with his bowe and arrowes in his hande As hee drewe neare vnto our men he layde his hande on his head and poynted vp towarde heauen and our men dyd the lyke The Captayne sent his shyppe Boate to bryng him to a litle Ilande beyng in the Hauen This Giant was very tractable and pleasaunte He soong and daunsed and in his daunsing lefte the print of his feete on the grounde He remayned long with our men who named him Iohan. He coulde well speake and playnely pronounce these woordes Iesus Aue Maria Iohannes euen as we doe but with a bygger voyce The Captayne gaue him a shert of linnen cloth a coate of white woollen cloth also a cappe a combe a looking glasse with diuers such other thinges and so sent him to his company The day folowing he resorted agayne to the shyppes and brought with him one of those great beastes which he gaue the Captayne But after that day they neuer saw him more supposing him to be slayne of his owne company for the conuersation he had with our men After other .xv. dayes were past there came foure other Giantes without any weapons but had hyd theyr bowes and arrowes in certaine bushes The Captaine retayned two of these
whiche tyme there dyed about .xxi. of theyr company whom they cast into the sea And suerly if God of his infinite mercie had not preserued the residue in tyme they had all dyed of famyn In fine beyng inforced of necessitie and halfe of theyr companye dead they sayled to one of the Ilandes of Capo verde called Insula Sansti Iacobi that is sainte Iames Ilande parteynyng to the kyng of Portugale Where as soone as they arryued they sent certayne a lande in the shyppe boate for vittayles declaryng to the Portugales with all loue and fauour what necessitie they were dryuen to and what miseries and trauayles they had susteyned infourmyng them furthermore of theyr marueylous voyage and such thynges as they had seene in both the East and West India with suche other gentle woordes whereby they obteyned certayne measures of Ryse But when afterward xiii of them returned for more Ryse they were deteyned Wheruppon the rest whiche remayned in the shyppe fearyng the lyke chaunce departed with full sayles and the .vii. day of September with the helpe of God entred into the hauen of San Lucar neere vnto Siuile where dischargyng all theyr ordinaunce for ioy they wente immediatly to the great churche in theyr shiertes and barefooted with a torche before them to geue thankes to almyghty God who had brought them safe to theyr owne country and restored them to theyr wyues and chyldren As touching the ende of this voyage Transiluanus wryteth somewhat more largely as foloweth The other shyppe whiche they left behynde them to be repared returned afterwarde by the Archipelagus afore sayde and by the great sea to the coastes of the fyrme of the West India and arryued at a region of the same beyng agaynst Dariena where the South sea of Sur is separate but by a litle space of lande from the west Ocean in the which are the Ilands of Hispaniola Cuba and other Ilandes of the Spanyardes The other shyppe whiche returned into Spayne by compassyng about the whole bowle of the world by the coastes of East India and Affrike departing from the Ilande of Tidore and saylyng euer on this syde the Equinoctial dyd not fynde the cape of Cattigara being about Asia and by the description of Ptolome reachyng many degrees beyonde the Equinoctiall But hauyng sayled many dayes by the mayne sea they came to the cape of Buona Speranza and from thence to the Ilandes of Capo verde where theyr shyppe beyng soore broosed by reason of the long voyage leaked and tooke water in suche sorte that the maryners beyng nowe but fewe in number and those also weake and feeble by reason of long sickenesse hunger were not able both to drie the pompe continually and otherwyse gouerne the shyppe and were therefore of necessitie inforced to go alande at the Ilande of saint Iames to bye them certayne slaues to helpe them But beyng destitute of mony accordyng to the custome of the maryners they profered them cloues for theyr slaues The whiche thyng when it came to the eares of the Portugale that was Captayne of that Ilande he cast .xiii. of them in prison Whereby the resydue that remayned in the shyppe beyng nowe but .xviii. in number were put in such feare that they departed immediatly without rescuing theyr felowes sailed continually both by day by night by the coastes of Afrike came in fine to Spaine y t .vi. day of September in the yeere of our lorde .1522 and arryued at the port nere vnto Siuile the .xvi. moneth after they departed from the Iland of Tidore Maryners doubtlesse more woorthy to be celebrate with eternall memory then they whiche in olde tyme were called Argonauti that sayled with Iason to wyn the golden fleese in the region of Cholchis the ryuer of Phasis in the great sea of Pontus And the shyppe it selfe more worthy to be placed among the starres then that olde Argo whiche departyng out of Grecia sayled to the ende of that great sea For this our marueylous shyppe takyng her voyage from the straightes of Gibelterra and saylyng by the great Ocean towarde the South and pole Antartike and turnyng from thence to the West folowed that course so farre that passyng vnder the great circumference of the world she came into the East and from thence agayne into the West not by returnyng backewarde but styll sayling forward so compassing about the ball of the worlde vnder the whole circumference of heauen vntyll she were myraculously restored to her natiue region of Spayne and house of Siuile ¶ The debate and stryfe betweene the Spanyardes and Portugales for the Diuision of the Indies and the trade of Spyces and also for the Ilandes of Molucca which some call Malucas VVritten in the Spanishe tongue by Francisco Lopes de Gomara THe Emperours maiestie was very glad that the Malucas and Ilandes of the Spycery were discouered and that he myght passe vnto them through his owne countreys without any preiudice or hurt to the Portugales and because also that Almanzor Lusfu and Corala whiche were the lordes of the Spycerie shewed them selues to be his freendes and became tributaries to hym He also gaue certayne gyftes and rewardes to Iohn Sebastian for his great paynes and good seruice forasmuche as he craued a rewarde for the good newes that the Ilandes of the Malucas and other Ilandes rycher and greater then they were found to be in his part of those countreys which parteyned vnto hym accordyng to the Popes Bull. And hereby it came to passe that there was great contention and stryfe betweene the Spanyardes and the Portugales about the Spycery and the diuision of the Indies by reason of the returne of Iohn Sebastian and the information whiche he gaue thereof who also affirmed that the Portugales had neuer any entraunce before that tyme into those Ilandes Hereupon the counsayle for the Indies aduertised the Emperour to maynteyne his fleete for those partes and to take the trade of Spyces into his owne hande forasmuche as it was his owne of duetie aswell for that those Ilandes fell on his part as also that he had nowe found passage and way through his West Indies into those regions and finally to consyder that he shoulde thereby obteyne and geat to hym selfe great reuenues besyde the inrychyng of his subiectes and realmes and that with small cost and charge The Emperour beyng thus aduertised of the trueth tooke it for good counsayle commaunded all thynges herevnto apperteynyng to be furnyshed accordyngly In this meane tyme when kyng Iohn of Portugale had knowledge what the Emperour determined to do and the speedy haste his counsayle made for the perfourmaunce hereof and of the commyng home of Iohn Sebastian of Cane with thinformation he made what of stoutnes of mynde and what for griefe was puffed vp with anger as were also the reste of the Portugales stormyng as though they would haue plucked downe the skye with theyr handes
not a litle fearyng lest they should lose the trade of Spices yf the Spanyardes should once put in theyr foote Whereupon the kyng immediatly made supplication to the Emperour not to set forward any shippes vntyll it were determined to whether of them those Ilandes shoulde belong and that he would not so much endomage hym as to cause hym to lose the trade of Spyces which was so cominodious and profitable to hym and finally to auoide the occasion of murder and bloodshed whiche were lyke to ensue therof yf the Spanyardes and Portugales shippes shoulde meete togeather The Emperour although he knewe that al this was but to make delayes and prolongyng of tyme yet was he glad to haue it tryed by iustice for the better iustification of his cause and ryght In fine both parties were agreed to appoynt learned men Cosmographers and Pilottes whiche shoulde determine the controuersie betweene them promisyng on both parties to abyde and stande to the sentence determination made by those persons appoynted and sworne to iudge indifferently The Repartition and diuision of the Indies and newe world betweene the Spaniardes and the Portugales THis matter concernyng the trade of Spices and the new worlde of the Indies by reason of the great ryches therof was of great importaunce and very difficult to be limitted and drawen forth by lines By reason wherof it was necessary and conuenient to seeke wyse and worshipfull men experte in Nauigations in Cosmographie and the Mathematical sciences The Emperour for his syde chose and named for Iudges of the possession the Licentiate Acuna one of the kynges counsayle also the Licentiate Barrientos of the counsayl of the orders the licentiate Petro Manuel Auditor of the courte of the Chauncerie in Valladolith For Iudges of the propertie he chose Don Fernando Colono the sonne of Christopher Colonus Also Doctor Sancho Salaya Peter Ruiz of Villegas Fryer Thomas Duran Simon of Alcazaua and Iohn Sebastian of Cano. His aduocate and Atturney he made the licentiate Iohn Rodriguez of Pisa and for his fyscall Doctour Ribera and his Secretarie Barthalome Ruiz of Castaneda He also appoynted that Sebastian Cabote Steuen Gomes Nunnio Gracia Diego Riuero beyng all experte Pilottes and cunnyng in makyng cardes for the sea should bee present and bryng foorth theyr Globes and Mappes with other instrumentes necessarie to declare the situation of the Ilandes of the Malucas about the which was al the contention strife But order was taken that they should shew theyr myndes on neyther syde nor enter into the company of the other but when they were called All these and dyuers other went togeather to a towne called Badaioz and as many Portugales came to Elbes or rather more For they brought with them two Fiscalles and two Aduocates The principall of them was the licentiate Antonie de Asseuedo Diego Lopes of Sequeyra the Clarke of the weyghtes and receâ—ptes who had before been gouernour in India Also Peralfonso of Melo Clarke Simon of Tauira with dyuers other whose names I knowe not Before they mette togeather the one parte remaynyng at Badaioz and the other in Elbes there was muche adoe among them before they coulde agree vppon the place where they should meete and who should speake fyrst For the Portugales doe greatly weygh such circumstances At the laste they concluded to meete togeather at Caya a litle ryuer which diuideth Castile from Portugale standyng in the myd way betweene Badaioz and Elbes And when they were assembled togeather one day at Badaioz and an other day at Elbes and saluted the one the other both parties were sworne that they should proceede and speake accordyng to truth iustice and equitie The Portugales refused Simon de Alcazaua bycause he was a Portugale and Fryer Thomas Duran bycause he had sometyme ben Preacher to theyr Kyng So that Simon was by consent put out of the company in whose roome was placed maister Antonie of Alcaraz Yet fell they not to reasonyng the matter vntyll the Fryer was put out They were many dayes in beholdyng Globes Mappes and Cardes of the sea and hearyng what myght be sayde both sydes alleagyng for the ryght whiche they pretended But the Portugales standyng in vayne contention sayde very angerly The Ilandes of Maluca wherevppon theyr meetyng and reasonyng was at that present fell on theyr parte and was of theyr conquest and that they both had been there and had them in theyr possession before Iohn Sebastian had euer seene them Lykewyse that the lyne should be drawen from the Iland of Bonauista or the Ilande called de la Sal whiche are the most Easterly Ilandes from Cabouerde and not from the Ilande of Santanton or sainct Antonie which lyeth towarde the Weste and are lxxxx leagues the one from the other All this was no more but to contend and the other of the Malucas is vntrue But they that haue a naughtie matter must set it foorth with woordes and brabbelyng Here they founde howe greatly they were deceyued in that they demaunded that the lyne should be drawen three hundred threescore and tenne leagues more to the West from the Ilandes of Cabouerde as appeareth hereafter and not one hundred accordyng to the assignement of the Popes Bull. The Spanyardes on the contrary parte affyrmed and made demonstration that not only the Ilandes of Lurney Gilolo Zubut and Tidore with the other Ilandes of the Malucas but as well Samatra Malacha and a great parte of China should belong to the Castilians and that those countreys fell on theyr syde and on the parte of theyr conquest Also that Magallanes and Iohn Sebastian were the first Christian men that founde them and obteyned them for the Emperour as the letters and presentes of Almanzor doe testifie And although the Portugales had been there fyrst yet went they thyther after the donation of the Pope neyther got they any ryght or iuste tytle thereby For although they shoulde drawe the lyne by Buena Vista what inconuenience should folow therof sith as well by the one way as the other the Ilandes of the Malucas muste parteyne to the Castilians yea and moreouer the Ilandes of Cabouerde shoulde also parteyne to the Castilians forsomuche as drawyng the lyne by Buena Vista the Ilandes of the Malucas doe remayne within the lyne on the Emperours syde They continued in these controuersies for the space of two monethes without any resolution or end made For the Portugales prolonged and put of the matter fleeyng from the sentence with cauillations and colde reasons to the ende that they myght dissolue that assembly without any conclusion or determination for so it stoode them vpon The Castilians which were the Iudges of the propertie drue a lyne in the great globe three hundred and .70 leagues from sainct Antonies Ilande lying by Weste Cabo Verde accordyng to the intreatie and determination which was agreed vppon betweene the Catholyke Princes
Tamaius and .13 hundred men of that countrey to serue in steede of packe horses for cariage after the maner there began to set forwarde from his Castle Vera crux towardes Themistitan in Mexico distant from thence Westwarde a hundred leagues or thereabout Cempoal standeth from Vera Crux .4 leagues eche league in this countrey is .4 Italian miles Foure dayes iourney from Cempoal Cortesius was enterteined curtuously by the inhabiters of a goodly shyre named Sienchimalen as also by the citizens of Texuacan after that he had passed with his army an exceedyng hygh hyll thicke clad with yse snow euen in the moneth of August The like enterteynment was offered him his companie as hee marched forward vntill he came to the Tascaltecans lande who are so great enemies vnto the Mexicans that liuyng amyd their dominions they had rather want their greatest necessaries to wit salt and cotton to cloath them than become subiects in any wise to the Prince of Mexico With these Tascaltecans Cortesius had three conflictes passing through their countrey in the ende valiantly gaue them the ouerthrow Tascalteca is a greater citie more populous and better serued than Granata in Spayne was at what time the Moores yelded their bread is made of Maiz that is Indish corne a very good seat for hauking hunting freshe water fishing sea fish is scarse for it standeth from the sea aboue .50 leagues of pulse good store This towne wals houses in number 20000. built of stone high strong in respect of the enemy euer at hand they keepe markets and fayres The people doth weare hose and maketh good accompt of Iewels precious stones of crestes bushes of feathers to set them foorth in the warres they garnishe euery thing with gold wood is brought to be sold to the market on mens shoulders timber boordes bricke lime stone are vsuall merchandise Theyr Carpenters Masons Potters are very skilfull There is no vessell wrought amongst vs more artificially than theyrs is Medicinable hearbes are solde openly They vse baths the nation politike gouerned in maner of a common wealth The whole circuit of this prouince is .90 leagues full of townes boroughes and villages hils and dales most â—ruitfull well stored of good souldyers in respecte of their enemyes rounde about them About one league of this citie encamped Cortesius by his spials vnderstanding the citizens not to mistrust or feare any inuasion tooke the strongest part therof by night in the morning came the best citizens to offer him all obedience Cortesius than returning with the victorie victuals to his campe found it in a troublesome mutinie for the great distresses present calamies they thought them selues to be in so far of from their owne country in the midst of their enemies This mutinie appeased he with good woords comfortable reasons persuading them their enemies to be weaker the spreadyng abroade of the gospell to be now in their hands them selues to be Spaniardes who esteeme not death to wyn glory a most happy death that to be where life is spent in the conquest of infidelles and barbares to lye by the sea side idlely that were to no purpose Thus appeased he the rebellious myndes of his companyons and after .20 dayes abode made in this prouince he led them into an other shire for pastures and riuers the most commodious for habitation best in all that countrey The principall citie hath name Churultecal as great as faire as Tascalteca and so gouerned vntil the king of Mexico oppressed it Here was Cortesius receyued with songes musicall instruments and trumpets by the priestes and children of the citie after their maner wel feasted The end of all this mirth was an vprore of the inhabiters agaynst him procured by the kyng of Mexico as it was supposed whereof Cortesius hauing secrete intelligence by a woman of Cempoal that folowed his Campe summoned a parle with the beste citizens of Churultecal at his owne lodging Those citizens first laid he fast by the heles than speedely with his army warned to be in a readinesse for that purpose set vpon the deceiptful Barbares of a soden before that they were throughly prouided and gaue them the ouerthrow The prince of Mexico acquitted him selfe of this vprore protesting by his Ambassadors to Cortesius that his disloyall subiectes the Churultecals had bruted that conspiracie vnder his name to doe him iniury whom they would not willingly obeye He sent withall rich presentes praying Cortesius to come to Themistitan promising him that he should want nothyng there notwithstandyng the harde prouision thereof in so barren a place altogeather in the water To conducte Cortesius thyther he sent also certayne Gentlemen for guydes and other of his nobilitie to receyue him as he came neare To speake of euery curtesie shewed him in this iourney and to wryte of euery place he passed and particulerly to rehearse euery dayes iourney euery hyll towne ryuer house and gardeyne by the way would breede ouermuche tediousnesse In fewe the Lordes of the countrey as he went vsed him well especially in Guazucingo prouince and Chialcho shyre the one whereof was violently oppressed by the prince of Mexico the other willingly subiect vnto him In the cold mountaynes he wanted no wood in the townes hee was prouided for and his companions who were of Cempoallens Tastaltecans Churultecans Gâ—zucinges in number .4000 of Spaniards not aboue .300 In this maner Cortesius accompanyed folowed came at the length into a vale bearing name Colua â–ª wherein be two meres the one salt water of .60 leagues in circuit the other a freshet Partly on the land partly in the salt meere standeth Iztapalapa a fayre towne from whence to Themistitan the royall seat of Mexico there lyeth a way on a stone wall two speares length broad built vp in the water by hand with infinite charges the wall serueth also for a bridge by this bridge sides stand three fayre townes Mesicalcingo Coluacan VVichilabusco The first is supposed to haue .3000 houses the second .6000 the third .4000 wel built especially their Towers their Temples wherin they doe sacrifice In these townes great aboundaunce of salt is made that serueth all such as doe acknowledge the Prince of Mexico for their Lord. Other be denied it as of the Tascaltecans it was sayde This salte meere rysing doeth flowe into the Freshet as it ebbeth the Freshet falleth into the salt meere agayne The freshe water may serue neuerthelesse for drinke the salte water becommeth not freshe therewithall The wall hath many draught bridges for warfare and sluses for passage where toll is payde vnto the kyng Halfe one league before you come to Themistitan where the lyke bridge or causey from the lande ioyneth with the aforesayde wal standeth a strong Castle double walled about with two strong Towers not possible to be conquered To this place came a thousande Gentlemen Courtiers foorth of the citie
to receyue Cortesius all apparelled a lyke saluting him one by one after theyr countrey maner to wytte touchyng the ground with theyr finger and than kyssyng it in signe of reuerence After all them came the kyng of Mexico Montezuma him selfe in the middle of the bridge accompanyed with two hundred of his nobles orderly two and two in better attyre then the other aforesayd but all on their bare feete though euery body in this countrey otherwise weareth shooes The kyng as he went leaued vpon the shoulders of two noble men the one wherof was his brother not that he needed any such helpe but for that the kynges of Mexico are woont so to be honoured as though they were holden vp by the strength of theyr nobilitie These two noble men Cortesius meeting with king Meteezuma and lyghtyng of his horse to imbrace hym dyd forbyd hym to touche theyr kyng as an vnlawful action in that countrey the rest of the kynges company came orderly to salute Cortesius after theyr maner Cortesius presented the kyng with a chayne of Bugle set with some Diamondes and Rubies of no great value but such as pleased the kyng who rewarded hym agayne with two other chaynes of gold wrought in maner of sea Crabbes Snails so returned into y e citie with Cortesius againe where he lodgyng hym in the royal pallace erected therein for hym a throne and presented hym the seconde tyme with other riche gyftes and prouision of all thynges necessary for hym and his trayne All the bridge length as he went with the kyng stoode on eche syde certayne great Temples wherein were sacrificed slaues and chyldren payed for tribute by kyng Meteezumaes vassalles Neere vnto Cortesius throne kyng Meteezuma had his clothe of estate where vnto the Spaniardes before his nobles there assembled he spake in this sort Noble and valiaunt men of armes in the feelde and mercyfull Capitanes vnto such as do yeelde them selues you are welcome into this countrey Of auncient tyme we haue hearde and in our old Chronicles we do reade that neyther I nor any of this land be auncient inhabiters hereof but aliens and forreyners brought hyther by a great prince vnto whom we were al subiect While this prince leauyng vs heere went home agayne to see his countrey our forefathers maried had issue buylded vp houses and erected certayne cities so that at his returne we neyther woulde go backe agayne with hym nor acknowledge him for our prince any more Wherfore we haue been euer of opinion that his posteritie woulde come to recouer this countrey and make vs his subiectes againe Consyderyng then the place from whence you say that you do come and that which you gyue vs to vnderstand of your great and myghtie lorde and kyng that sent you hyther we be throughly perswaded that he is our true Lorde so muche the more for that as you say he hath long since knowen that we dwelt heere Assure your selues therfore that we wyll all yeelde vnto you and acknowledge you our lordes in his name that sent you in this wyll we not fayle we wyll not deceyue you all my dominions shall you rule for all my subiectes shall obey commaunde all that we haue for you be nowe in your owne prouince and house Be ye mery and refreshe your selues after your long trauayle and many laboures in the warres I am not ignorant what hath happened vnto you all the way I doubte not but that the Campoales and Churultecanes haue said euyl of me vnto you but I pray you geue no credit vnto any mans wordes concernyng me especially vnto my enimies some wherof hauing ben my subiectes at your commyng are gone from me and do report vntruethes of me to purchase therewith your fauour I knowe that they beare you in hande that my seate the furniture of my house the very walles therof are beaten golde Furthermore that I am a God that I fayne my selfe a God and suche lyke toyes but you see all thynges here are made of lyme stone and earth Do you not see that I am made of fleshe and bone mortall and corpulent you see they haue not sayde the trueth I haue in deede certayne place lefte me by my forefathers what soeuer I haue it shall be yours dispose thereof as you thynke good I wyll nowe departe to other of my houses where I am woont to lye I wyll see that neyther you nor your trayne want any thyng be ye of good cheare be gladde for you are in your owne countrey you be in your owne houses Cortesius aunsweared in fewe and to the purpose especially concernyng that poynte the kyng of Spayne to be that prince whom they looked for After syxe dayes spent there ioyfully noyse was brought to Cortesius of certaine murthers and iniuries offered vnto the Spanyardes in a towne of Muteezumaes dominions and that by Muteezuma his consent This occasion tooke he throughly to bryng Muteezuma in subiection And fyrst he caused hym to keepe that house wherein Cortesius laye then to sende for the malefactors whom Cortesius openly executed by whose confession Muteezuma founde gyltie was for a tyme set by the heeles but delyuered agayne by and by confessyng his faulte and promysyng all loyaltie and dewtie chose rather to remayne a trew subiect in Cortesius palace then to lyue abrode at libertie like a kyng as in effect he shewed both in sendyng abrod commission to discouer the golde mynes throughout all his dominions at Cortesius motion in geatheryng togeather great summes of golde and treasure to be presented vnto the Spanyshe kyng in geuyng both counsayle and the meanes howe to conquer crftelie prince Cacamozin Muteezumaes vassall refusyng all obedience vnto the Spanyardes finally in a publike assembly exhortyng all his nobles to acknowledge the kyng of Spaine for theyr soueraigne Lorde and to yeelde vnto hym that obedience and in his name to Cortesius that duetie whiche he hym selfe was woont to looke for at theyr handes The processe was written by publike notaries confyrmed by the nobles and a copie thereof delyuered vnto Cortesius Mexico prouince enuyronned about with hygh and Alpyshe mountaynes standeth in a playne countrey in circuit .70 leagues about the greatest part whereof are two Meres the one of salt water the other of freshe The two lakes go one into the other at a streict caused by litle hylles that runne amyd all the foresayde playne This streict is passed by boate out of the one lake into the other to all the townes standyng on either syde of the aforesayd lakes Our Indyshe wryters name the boates Canoa the Indians call them Aâ—caler troughes as it were all of one peece I haue traueyled in the lyke vpon the ryuer Sone in the edge of France neere hygh Burgundie In the mydst of the salte Mere two leagues euery way from the lande standeth that ryche and welthy citie Temixtitan or Themistitan no lesse in quantitie then Siuilia or Corduba in Spayne From the land
vnto it lye foure wayes or walles built vp out of the water two Speares length brode commodiously for suche as trayuayle thyther by lande with sundrye draught brydges by the way to cut of inuasions if neede were Of these foure wayes one was that where Cortesius met with kyng Muteezuma In one of these walles or bridges freshe water is brought from the lande into the citie by two gutters no lesse in quantitie then hoggesheades the one thereof serueth when y e other is either stopped or musty The streats are streight many in number built much after the maner of Uenice both to go by lande and by water The brydges ouer the water in this citie be made of woodde of suche breadth that tenne may passe ouer them togeather so many in number that it were a thyng almost infinite to recken them The number of houses therein amounteth to .60 thousande Amongest other one streate is very large sumptuously buylte and famous for all sortes of merchaundies that prouince yeeldeth wont to be solde there .60 thousande merchauntes as it is thought dayly haunt that streat There are solde sundry sortes of mettales iewelles fruites foule hearbes and all other necessaries seruyng for meates clothes warfar buyldings and pleasure For euery speciall kynde of merchaundies is appoynted a speciall standyng by it selfe They sell by tale and measure the vse of weyghtes as yet they haue not Theyr mony is a kynde of Nutte shels of the kyrnell it selfe is made theyr drynke The tree is planted vnder the bowes of some other for defence vntyl it be growen strong hable to abyde the heate of the Sunne then is the fense tree cut downe and that let to continue many Lordes haue thereof great reuenewes in that countrey Steele and Iron they want in steede whereof they vse to make theyr instrumentes of a kynde of harde stone wherewith they woorke golde syluer copper brasse exellently wel in what fourme or shape so euer they lyste You can not shewe them any kynde of thyng but they wyll drawe it and set it out most lyuely in metall so cunnyng artificers they be To the markets all thinges are brought eyther by water in Canoaes or on slaues backes There standeth a goodly palace in the market place for iudgement There be resydent alwayes .x. or .xii. graue senators to see good order kept in that streate to decide controuersies happenyng there to punyshe offenders Other see what is to be solde in the market and what measure is made Many gorgeous temples be in this citie many goodly towers buylte where noble men haue ben buryed with gallant chappelles to theyr Idolles many princely palaces for that all the nobilitie of that countrey lyeth some parte of the yeere in the citie and the best citizens great ryche men The good order and policie in so barbarous a nation is wonderfull to beholde Concernyng their abhominable Idolatry Cortesius is worthy of great commendation for the throwyng downe the Idoles where he came beyng a stranger though the princes of that prouince and Meteezuma also tooke it not well principally in the palace persuadyng them that it was not seemely for a kyng to worshyppe that whiche a knaue or slaue of his had made Euery noble man hath besydes the palaces in the citie his castle souldiers receyuers other officers in the countrey and neere the court gallant houses for recreation with pleasaunt gardens orchardes pondes other the lyke delightes The noble men and Gentlemen of this countrey can not be fewe in number whereas dayly the court is furnished with fyue hundred young gentlemen besydes the multititude of seruyng men that attende on them And the fashion in this countrey is of all the nobilitie to sende theyr sonnes for education sake vnto the Court although many of them dwel an hundred and fyftie or two hundred leagues of So large so myghtie is the kyngdome of Mexico yet so well gouerned the kyng so duetyfully obeyed of all his subiectes aswel absent as present eche shyre yeeldyng and duely paying vnto hym the commodities therof according to theyr custome that Cortesius thinketh no prince in the world to be more feared reuerenced of his people The kyng hath sundry goodly pallaces and in them many ryche and costly ornamentes of golde of syluer of feathers so artificially wrought that neyther any sort of needle worke nor kynde of picture may seeme to make the lyke shewe Among the rest three special houses of recreation the kyng hath in his palace In one of them are a number of moustrous and defourmed persons dwarfes crookebackes syngyng men by nature twoo headed monsters and others with theyr keepers The second house is so large that in it commodiously two kynges may be resident The place is set foorth with many Alabaster Marble pyllers ten goodly pondes therin well stored with fyshe and foule of al sortes that eyther do lyue in the water or on the lande with their keepers and diuersities of meates for theyr diuers natures In this place kept he also young chyldren that had whyte heades were of fayre complexion aswel boyes as gyrles The thyrde house serued for Lions Tygers Wolues Foxes and other the lyke wylde beastes eche sort in theyr seueral dennes The least of these three houses is so well buylt that the kyng at his pleasure may lodge therein with all his court The prince is thus serued Fyue hundred gentlemen at the least with theyr folowers gyue attendaunce at the court al the day long though they come not alwayes in the kynges syght These gentlemen syt downe to dynner when the kyng sytteth and do fare as well as he their folowers haue theyr reuersion The buttrey cellar pantry and other offices neuer shut come in who wyll meate drynke he can not want The hall wherein the kyng dyneth is matted vnder foote his meate is brought vp by .300 young men pensioners fleshe fyshe fruites salates of all sortes vppon chaffyng dyshes in the wynter to keepe the meates warme These wayters neuer come neere the boord for the kyng sytteth on a leather cushyng artificially wrought at a table raylled about within the precincte whereof standeth his Sewer to set hym downe those meates he lyketh of best At his ryght hande syxe olde men syt downe vnto whom the kyng hym selfe carueth The kyng washeth before meate and after he is serued in earthen dyshes his cuppes be of the same mettall he shyfteth hym selfe foure tymes a daye Whatsoeuer he hath once vsed be it apparell â–ª napery or any other kynde of housholde stuffe it is neuer brought hym any more to vse but bestowed by hym vpon his seruauntes or frendes at conuenient tymes For honour sake eche one commeth into the palace barefoote in most humble wyse they come before the king when they are called bowing downe theyr heads theyr eies to the ground It were great presumption to looke the king in the face when he talketh with any of them
set foorth at large those thinges by leasure which briefly are noted and signified in fewe vnto some that willingly woulde not be altogeather ignorant thereof nor yet stande to long in any such discourses To set downe particulerly eche Spanyarde and Portugale his doynges in these new discouered landes to drawe Geographically the places to wryte all their battelles victories and conquestes to describe the cities rased the townes erected to poynte out the Capitaynes personages to shewe theyr traueyles and good hap it would requyre an other Homere an other Thucydides an other Liuius labour it would requyre an other Emperour to set students a woorke as Iustinian dyd his lawe geatherers the relations of the Indyshe traueylers are so many in number theyr reportes so diuers the volumes written therof so huge and in so sundry languages R.W. FINIS R. VVilles Speciall aduises to be obserued in readyng ouer this woorke Fol. 6. De Medea put out De. Fol. 7. Of my Decades reade of my fyrst Decade For as the two fyrst bookes of the first Decade were by P.M. dedicated vnto Ascanio Visconte than Cardinall and Uicechaunceller of Rome so are the eight bookes folowing in the same Decade written to the Cardinall of Aragonia Fol. 54. Euery Decade hath ten bookes or Chapters whereof it hath according to the Greeke woord that name Fol. 20 A. and. O. c. His meanyng is that this selfe same poynte is extreme West in respect of one halfe of the worlde and extreme East in respecte of the other halfe or hemisphere beneath vs. Fol. 31. Iuga de Canias Reade Iuego de Canas Fol. 35. Barramedabas Reade Barrameda Fol. 39. To be part of the continent This was then spoken for want of further knowledge as in other writynges folowyng it will appeare Fol. 45. The gold whereof they are made is natiue c. This place should be thus Englished Their golde is lyke vnto that golde in Germany wherof the Florenes are made The nexte sentence likewise is not without some falte of the translator for the latin goeth thus Alibi in eo tractu intra vaginam mentularem neruum reducunt funicuio que praeputium alligant Fol. 47. Gorgodes Meducias Reade Medusaeas Fol 49. Being demaunded of me This place should you reade thus Being demaunded of me afterwarde were it not a sea separating two landes they answered the water there of to be fresh sweete the further they went vp against the streame it to be so much the more freshe sweete to be full of Ilandes and holesome fishe They dare aduouche the breadth thereof to be more than .30 leagues and the ryuer very swiftly to fall into the sea yeeldyng vnto the fury of the freshe water Fol. 49. Beyond the citie of Cathayo They supposed it according to theyr skyll in vnknowen places Fol. 50. Animae album Reade Animen Item You shall now therfore This sentence is not in P.M. But an other of the same length wherin he abaseth his own knowledge in respecte of T. Liuius and auoucheth the fantasiâ—s folowing to be better than Lucianus tales for that Lucianus â—â—â—ned his fables but these follyes to be truly suche in deede Fol 51. But nowe most noble Prince Three other vaine tales are here left out of the beginning of the sea and the original of woman kynde all Greece could neuer haue imagined more vayne more scornefull more shamefull fables and so are they lefte to such as lyst to reade them in that language wherin P. Martyr dyd wryte them with the prayse of suche Barbarous ministers as doe preache them Fol. 57 The yeere of Christ .1520 Reade .1502 Fol. 83. Pezulana Reade Petrus Arias Fol. 89. Or that in Niogita Reade or that in the blacke burnt Moores countrey or kyngdome of Melinde Fol. 90. Water is turned into ayre Reade ayre is turned into water Fol. 98. The niene Boates of Culchas Reade or Culchas Fol. 153. Coâ—lacutea Reade Calecut Cochin Comorin Fol. 164. Etesti Reade Etesiae Fol. 169. â—emobal Reade Cempoal Fol. 186. The generations of nations Reade of metalles Fol. 231. Eight Reade eighteth Item 36. Reade 63. Fol. 232 The West Ocean Reade South Ocean namely Mar del zur Fol. 234. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the margine should haue place in the texte before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reade the Greeke verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fol. 252. P. 231. In the margine put it out Fol. 253. Peruse these foure volumes Read the foure volumes Fol. 260. Santlianum Reade Santianum Fol. 265. Obo alias Oba and Obi Fol. 268. Fladimer al Volodimer Item Smolne al Smolensko Fol. 269. Impreignable Reade inexpugnable Fol. 270. Nicene Reade Nice And of theyr fayth more lykely hereafter fol 273 although fol. 302. the former opininion be recited againe Fol. 274. Prohibit Reade prohibited Fol. 283 â–ª Volham Reade Volgha Item Diuidna al Duina Item Vistiuga Reade eche where Vstinga Fol. 279. Schondia for these countreys folowing see Ortelius 45. table in his first edition de reg Septentional Fol. 280. Sigismundus liberus Reade liber for he was Baron of Harbestein the Deutche Barons are called frey heren wherof in latin also his title was written Liber Baro ab Herbestein out of his woorkes is that discourse taken Fol. 301. Fol. 281. Wardhus Castle .54 the one rowe of figures here signifieth the longitude the other sheweth the Latitâ—de The reader for his assuraunce herein shall doe well to conferre all the figures so set with the Mappes lest he be deceyued Fol. 294. By vnknowen nations Reade motions Fol. 297. The ryuer Clesma al. Desma Item Marouians Reade Morauians Fol. 298. This tongue is spred further Read agayne of the Sclauon tongue at large Fol. 301. Fol. 304. Bengas Of theyr money and also of all other nations coynes shall you haue a speciall discourse heereafter if God sende vs lyfe Fol. 308. Tumen It should seeme to be that Tamen spoken of before Fol. 246. Fol. 310. To Artach Reade in Artachs Fol. 311. Besermanni What they be Reade Fol. 335. Fol. 312. As do the Christians imagining so of vs for that many Christians to wyt the meaner sorte dwel commonly euer in one place Fol. 316. Seuen werstes to wyt seuen Moscouian myles that is fyue Englyshe myles and somewhat more Fol. 321. It shall suffice to the reader put out to Item Sachana al. Sughaua Hisnouogrod Reade Nisnouogrod Tartars Nogaies pointe it thus Tartars Nogais Bilbil al Bilbek Casbin Reade Casmin Baccho al Bachu Fol. 323. Sharuan al Chirua and Seruan Tollepan Reade Torbante Fol. 324. Arash al. Exesch Fol. 326. Unto Mecha in Arabia to honour Mahumets tombe whereof you shall reade in Lewes Vartomannus Nauigations Item Ardaxuil Reade Ardouil Item Fol. 320. for Ardeuelim Fol. 327. Ought to be beloued Reade beleeued Fol. 329. Tulibante Reade Torbante Fol. 329. The Persians to wyt the Gentlemen of Persia. Esteeming artes and sciences for silkes and furnitures of horses Fol. 326. 330. Fol. 330.
Weakenesse of hunger Cape Marmor Nomen Dei The nauigation of Rodericus Colmenaris An exceedyng high mountayne couered with snowe Apparelled men Spanyardes slayne with venemous arrowes A remedie agaynst venemous arrowes The hauen of Vraba Nicuesa is founde in a miserable case Insolencie oftâ— muche felicitie The death of Nicuesa Famine enforseth them to fal to spaylyng Careta kyng of Coiba Kyng Careta is taken and spoyled Mine thine the seedes of al myscheefe Ancisus Lieuetenant for Fogeda is cast in pryson Ancisus taketh his voyage to Hispaniola The reuengâ— of God The inconueniences of discorde King Poncha Swordes of wood Kyng Careta conspireth with the Spaniards agaynst kyng Poncha The region of Comogra distant from Dariena .xxx. leagues Kyng Comogrus The kynges pallace Wine syder Blacke wine The carcasses of men dâ—yed The distribution of golde Young Comogrus his oration The hunger of golde A region flowing with golde Kyng Tumanama Canibales The golde mines of the mountaynes Vnwrought golde not estemed Abundance of golde Housholde stuffe of golde Naked people tormented with ambition A vehement perswasion A token of hunger Kyng Comogrus is baptised with his familie Horrible thunder and lyghtnyng in the moneth of Nouember Maryshe grounde Ancisus bitten of a Batte A tempest King Turui The Ilande of Cannafistula King Abibeiba dwelleth in a tree The rysyng of the Ocean sea Trees of marueilous height Plinie Fruitefull grounde Abibeiba the kyng of the tree yeeldeth to Vaschus Golde no more esteemed then stones Canibales Men good yenough yf they had iron Captiues A garryson of thirtie men Eightene Spanyardes slayne and drowned The kinges which conspired the death of the Christians A straunge chaunce Women can keepe no counsayle An armie of an hundred Canoas and fyue M. men Triumph before victorie Affection corrupteth true iudgement The conspiracie of the kyngs is detected Kyng Cemaechus conspireth the death of Vaschus Vaschus pursueth the kings with threescore and ten men Colmenaris sacketh the vyllage of Tichiri Fyue rulers hanged shot through with arrowes Iohan. Quicedus is sent to Spayne A wife is a hinderaunce The death of aldiuia Hurt of lauyshnesse of the tongue The calamities and death of Fogeda Maladies and famine The prosperous voyage of Ancisus A king of Cuba baptised by the name of Commendator A marueylous hystorie howe God wrought myracles by the simple faith of a Maryner Be not rashe in iudgement A Chappell builded to the pycture of the virgin Marie One superstititious religion turned into an other holdeth stil many thinges of the fyrst Zeale without knowledge is neuer godly Marke this blyndnesse This ignorance is to be lamented The deuil dissembleth to keepe his in blyndnesse styll A notable lye of a papistical heretike One blasphemie vpon another The deuyll appeareth in his lykenesse What likenes A strange myracle not to be credited Another myracle Wise men Math. xiiii This is another matter The deuyl appeareth againe The virgin Mary in her owne person ouercommeth the deuyl The priestes rewarde Why name you Capons Ancisus voiage to Spayne Ancisus complayneth of Vaschus Marke to whoÌ„ this fayned myraculous storie was written The procuratours of Dariena are honourably receiued at the court The great master of the kings ships Petrus Arias is elected gouernour of Dariena The oration of the Byshop of Burges in the defence of Petrus Arias The warres of Aphryca A house in Ciuile appoynted to the affayres of India Perulariae The Portugales inuentions The nauigation of Petrus Arias A shipwracke Americus Vesputius A notable example of a valiant woman The wyfe of Petrus Arias Plentie of pearles The vse of gunnes Great abundance of gold frankencense â–ª Olibanum Sabea is a couÌ„trey in â—rabia which bringeth foorth Frankencense Rulers for one yeere The great gulfe of Paria The great Iland Atlantike Contention betweene the Castilians Portugales for the newe landes The bishop of Rome diuideth the lande The golden regioÌ„ of Ciamba The Ilande of S. Iohannis Fyue byshops of the Ilande made by the bishop of Rome The Canibales of the Iland of Sancta Crux The ryuers of Vraba The fruitfulnesse of Vraba The fruitefulnes of Dariena Swynes fleshe of better taste more holsome then mutton Fruites putrified on the sea Betatas Lions and Tygers A strange beast The ryuers of Vraba A league is xxiiii furlonges Danubius A Crocodile is muche lyke a Neute but of exceedyng kygnesse The Portugales nauigations A philosophical discourse as concerning thoriginal of springes and ryuers The breadth of the lande at Vraba from the North Ocean to the South sea The sea The lande enclosed with two seas Conuersion of ayre into water in the caues of mountaynes The often fal of rayne and continuall spryng tyme. The Equinoctiall The pores of the sea and the south wynde The fludde Eridanus The ryuer Alpheus Longe caues in the mountaines The length and forme of the Iland Cardes of the sea The carde of Americus Vesputius The carde of Colouns The carde of Iohannes de la Cossa The carde of Andreas moralis The maner of measuring the cardes A league The nauigation of Iohannes Dias The eleuation of the pole The iurisdiction of the Portugales Hercules pyllers The Ilande Boiuca or Agnaneo The renouation of age A water of marueilous vertue The accidentes of age may be hydden Extreme hunger This was at the siege of Hierusalem Many dogges eaten A mangie dog â—â—are solde Broth of a mangie dogs skynne Toades eaten A dead man eaten Note Petrus Arias whoÌ„ the Spanyardâ—s call Pedâ—arias Vaschus Nunnez gouernor of Dariena The new south Ocean Commendation of the Spanyardes A valiant mynd can not be ydle Vaschus his voyage toward the golden mountaynes â–ª Careta kyng of Coiba King Poncha Strange thinges are counted precious Lacke of Iron A stone in the steede of Iron Superfluities hynder libertie Carpenters Brydges The region of Quarequa kyng Quarequa is dryuen to flyght Hargabusies Crossebowes vi C. Barbarians are slaine The vse of dogges in the warre agaynst the naked Barbarians Natural hatred of vnnatural sinne I woulde al men were of this opinion The haruest is great and the woorkemen but fewe Warlyke people The higher the colder A region of blacke Moores Diseases of change of ayre and dyet The south sea Prayer God rayseth the poore from the dounghyl Hanniball of Carthage King Chiapes A battayle Chiapes is driuen to flyght Vaschus sendeth for kyng Chiapes Chiapes submitteth hym selâ—e to Vaschus A gulfe of threescore myles Saint Michaels gulfe The manly corage and godly zeale of Vaschus Ryches are the synewes of warre The faythfulnes of kyng Chiapes A tempest on the sea The increasing of the South sea The Northe Ocean Hard shyft in necessitie The region Tumacca Kyng Tumaccus is driuen to flyght Golde and pearles Muscles of the sea Fyshyng for pearles The thyrst of golde Ambition among naked men A kyng of greaâ— power Byg pearles Cleopatra queene of Egypt resolued a pearle in vineger drunke it Price fiue
Hercules and Alexander The colonies of the Romans in regions subdued The great Ilande of Saynct Laurence or Madagascar The Ilands of Taprobana or Giaua Plinie The historie of Cornelius Nepos Shyps of India driuen into the sea of Germanie An enterprise wherby Princes may obtayne true fame and glory Cathay discouered by Marcus Paulus The citie of Lubyke The kyng of Polonie The Duke of Moscouia An ambassadour from the Duke of Moscouia The woordes of the Ambassadour of Moscouia The way from Moscouia to the North Ocean Cathay Volochda Vstiug Iug. Succana Duina Colmogor The North Ocean Great woods Gothlande The Moscouites haue knowledge of the great Cam of Cathay Permia Pescora Catena mundi Obdora Vecchiadoro Obo The lake Chethay The Tartars The citie of Cambalu Note this secrete Difficult traueylyng in Moscouia Commendation of the Spanyardes and Portugales The hystorie of Paulus Centurio 〈◊〉 his reade more at large in the booke of Paulus Iomus Malice may doe more with some then vertue The Caspian sea Riga The Tartars of Lordo Desartes The vyage by the North sea The woorthinesse of this vyage The vyages of the Frenchmen to the lande of Baccalaos Pleasaunt countreys New France Apostrophe to to the Christian Princes Great ryuers A thyng woorthy to be searched The way to Cathay and the Ilandes of Molucca by the Northwest A notable enterpryse The noble enterprise of Antonie di Mendoza viceroy of Mexico The discoueryng of the Northwest partes Shyppes saylyng from Cathay by the North Hyperboream sea to the coastes of the Northwest parte of the lande of Baccaleos Cathay The sea from newe Fraunce or Tarra Britonum to Cathay A notable booke A great and glorious enterprise Sebastian Cabote the grand pylot of the West Indies Commendation of Sebastian Cabote Sebastian Cabote tolde me that he was borne in Brystow â–ª that at .iiii yeeres olde he was carryed with his father to Venice and so returned agayne into England with his father after certayne yeeres whereby he was thought to haue ben borne in Venice The fyrst vyage of Sebastian Cabote The lande of Florida The seconde vyage of Cabote to the land of Brasile and Rio della Plata Cabote tolde me that in a region within this ryuer he sowed .50 graynes of wheate in September and geathered therof .50 thousande in December as writeth also Francisco Lopes The viage to Moscouia The hystory of Moscouia The dyuers names of Moscouia Roxolani Rosolanâ— Ruthem The ryuer Mosco The ryuer Boristhenes Themperour of Cathay The frosen sea Lacus Cromicus Saturnus Amaltheum The dominion of the Duke of Moscouia The citie of Moscouia The chiefe cities of Moscouia The Duke of Moscouia Emperour of Russia The duke of Moscouia his tytle Duke Basilius Theyr power Theyr obedience to theyr prynce Theyr warres conquestes Gunnes Only the Moscouites haue not felt the commodiâ—â—s of peace Theyr language Dalmatia Pannonia Hungarie Their original The Sclauion tongue reacheth farre Great woods white beares and blacke woolues Abundance of hony and waxe Rych furres Theyr maner of bargayning Rude wylde people Tartares Ciuile people in cities Theyr money They embrase the Christian faith which they receyued of the Apostles The counsayle of Nicene Basilius Magnus Chrisostomus Their constancie in theyr religion The bishops define controuersies in religion Theyr bishops The Archbishop The patriarke of constantinople A notable example of a Christian Prince Theyr religion A monasterie of ccc Munkes Priestes Masse A misterie The primatiue churche A strange custome Sarmatia Asiatica The Scythian Ocean The ryuer of Volga Lacus albus The Caspian sea Theyr chiefe cities The wylde Tartars Hordas The bygnes of the citie of Moscouia Syluer The region of Moscouia Beastes A fayre and stronge castel in the citie of Mosca The Dukes pallaice Theyr drynke They are geuen to drunkennesse Corne and grayne Stoues The famous ryuer of Tanais The marishes of Meotis Volga Ocha The sea Euxinum The forest of Hircania Vri. Alces They trauayle in winter on sleades Causeys of tymber Trees and fruites Corne and graynes Hony in wods and trees Lakes or pooles of Hony A man almost drowned in hony A merueylous chaunce Beares feede of hony bees Beares inuade Bulles The Beares byrth The Beares denne Beares lyue without meate xl dayes The sleape of Beares The religion of the Moscouites The Scythians subiect to the Duke of Moscouia It was then an opinion that all ryuers sprong out of mountaynes The fruitfull region of Colmogora The great ryuer Diuidna Wheate without plowing The ryuer of Iuga Vstiuga Furres The naturall cause of much hony in colde regions Gummes and spyces in hoote countreys Floures in colde regions Floures of trees Blossomes of trees An example of the degrees of heate The generation of floures by moderate heate Long dayes and shorce nyghtes Bramble and fearne Spyces The sauour of floures What Plinie wryteth of hony Sirius is otherwyse called Canicula that is the Dogge of whom the canicular dayes haue theyr name What is hony Howe hony is corrupted â—ony of great quantitie in North regions Hot nyghtes in colde regions A simiâ—itude Naturall heat doeth subtyle and digest all thinges Subtyle vapours digested by heate Colde regions Ziglerus Ziglerus The qualitie of sommer in colde regions The course of the Sunne Vapours Short and warme nyghts Gothlande One day of .vi. monethes Howe the sommer is increased in colde regions Rome Colde nyghtes in hot regions The Romane wynter Our night of vi monethes Obiections The twylightes The lyght of the Moone The nyght vnder the pole A demonstration The Moone Remedies of nature art The olde writers persuaded by coniecture A brasen potte broken with frost Fyshes of the North seas The North sea The qualitie of water The land The diuine prouidence in moderatyng the elementes The nature of the sea Salt Generatyue heate Outward colde is cause of inwarde heate Metals Vapoures and exhalations Whales Beastes Hereby may be considered the cause of the death of our men that sayle directly to Guinea No passage from our extremitie to an other but by a meane Caues and Dennes Valleis The best furres Sables Beastes that lye hyd in wynter All beasts haue the nature of the place where they are engendred What exercise may do Vse maketh masteries Scondia Scone is fayre in the duch tongue The fertilitie of Schondia He meaneth Diodorus Siculus Thinuasions of the Gothes Transiluania The Gothes Lumbardes Fruitfull pasture Religion neglecteâ— Inchaunteâ—â— The viage of Sebastian Cabot to the frosen sea Gronelande Wardhus Lapponia and Gronelande Schoeni Cabot tolde me that this I se is of fresh water not of the sea A commixtion of salt water fresh The sea between Norway and Island Terra Viridis Pigmei Baccallaos Islande called Thyle Schoene is lx furlonges Myracles of nature in Islande Three marueylous mountaynes Helga Hecla Straunge visions Ise. A straunge thyng Foure spryngs oâ— contrary nature Aboundaunce of brymstone Dryed fyshe Scarsenesse of corne Haukes White Rauens
Houses of Whales bones The nauigation to Islande Whales One thyng seruyng for contrary vses A shypmans quadrant People of great agilitie A strange apparell The cause of an olde errour So doe the Tartars Plentie of wylde beastes No Serpents Great Gnats Aboundaunce of fyshe Shyps without nayles Science honoured Bargeâ—nâ— without woordes No horses A beast of marueylous strength and swyftnesse What Schoenus is looke in Gronlande The chaunge of the horizon The olde aucthours called all the North people Scythyans â—â—â—smus laâ—â—â—teth this 〈◊〉 fyrst 〈◊〉 de ratine contionan di â–ª where he speaketh of the people called Pilapii Idolatrie A mysterie of mariage in fyre and flynt Experte inchaunters Magicall dartes The canker One nyght of three moneths Riche furres Plentie of sea fyshe Wardhus Kyngdomes destroyed by factions The Danes The defant of princes An exemple of tyrannie The myserable state of Norway Stockfyshe The Lapones Shyppes in daunger by reason of whales Castoreum The roryng of whales whales salted and reserued The citie of Nidrosia A magnificiall churche Noysome beasts of vnknowen generation Wardhus The vnknowen land of the Lapons A serpent of huge bignesse God warneth vs by signes of thyngs to come The streightes or boyling sea Dangerous places in the sea Fruitfull Ilands about Norway Golde and syluer Wardhus castell The gulfe of Suecia The citie of Stokholme Golde in colde regions Fyshe The beaste called Vros or Elg. Vpsalia Copperdalia Oplandia Byrdes Egges reserued in salte Precious furres Fyshe Thinuasions of the Gothes The warre of the gothes agaynst the Romanes The boundes of gothland The citie of Visba Danes and Moscouites A librarie of two thousand bookes The gothes inuaded Europe and destroyed Rome Pannonia falsly taken for Finnonia Eningia Spanishe wines Demetrius the ambassadour of Moscouia Paulus Centurio Spices brought from India to Moscouia The ryuer Indus Oxus or Hoxina a ryuer of Asia runneth through the desartes of Sythia The sea Hircanum is now called mare Abacuâ—ke or mare de Sala Citrachan or Astracan Sarmatia is that great countrey wherin is conteyned Russia Lâ—â—oma and Tartaria and the North and East parte of Polonia Agaynst the Portugales The trade of spices in olde tyme. Spices corrupted The Caspian sea Basilius wrot to Pope Adriane Warre betwene the Polones and Moscouites The seconde viage of Paulus to Moscouia The Pope pâ—rswâ—deth Basilius to acknowledge the Romane churche Demetrius intertaynement at Rome Demetrius is brought to the Popes presence Basilius letters to Pope Clement Cardinall Campegius The ruynes of Rome The description of Moscouia The Aultars of great Alexander Marishes in sommer The forest of Hercynia Wylde beastes The Scythian Ocean The beastes called Vri or Bisontes Helenes Of the Scythians and Tartars Amaxouii Horda The large dominion of the Tartars Cathay The Tartars of Europe The Tartars of Asia are subiecte to the Duke of Moscouia The Tartars beyonde the riuer of Volga Nogai Sigismundus calleth them Nogayâ—ri The noblest nation of the Tartars The ryuer Taxartes Ismael the Sophi kyng of Persia. The citie of Samarcanda Tanburlanes the myghtie Emperour of the Tartars The conquestes of Tamburlanes Baiasetes This apparell they haue of the Persians The Tartars trafficke with the Moscouites The Tartars of the South syde of Moscouia Gete and Roxolani Russia Moscouia called whyte Russia Lituania Prussia Liuonia Denmarke Norway Suecia The people of Laponia Armeline furres Bargaynyng without wordes The dark region by this dark region and pigmei is the way to Chathay by the North sea The Scythian Ocean The region of Colmogora The ryuer of diuidna The ryuer of Iuga or Iug. Vstiuga The riuer of Diuidna of Duina The riuer of Suchana The frosen sea Duina and Suchana Greonlande or Engreonland Vnderstande myles of Germany that is leagues Rych furres Lupi Ceruarii Sables The mountaynâ—s called Hiperborei Haukes of diuers kyndes The passage from Moscouia to Cathay Cathay Maister Eliot calleth Cathay the region of Sinarum The Gothes subuerted the romane Empire The north region conspired against the Romans Moscouia The citie of Mosca Richard Chaunceler told me that these masts are smoâ— what hollow on the one syde that the whole syde of the next entereth into y e same whereby they lye very close The castel of Mosca White Hares and Roe buckes The ryuer Ocha Volga Nouogradia Rha. The white Lakes The Riphean Hiperborcan mountaynes Tanais and Borysthenes The sea Euxinus The Caspian sea Astrachan Media Armenia Persia. Casan Sura Surcium Nouogrodia The Temple of Sancta Sophia The eleuation oâ— the pole at Nouogrodia Moscouia Heate by reason of shorte nyghtes The citie of Volodemaria The citie of Moscha Ottoferia Volga Riga The citie of Plescouia The citie of Lubecke From Rome to Moscouia Wynter trauayle by Ise and snow Maryshes in sommer Other writers deny this Rych furres The price of furres How many Sables skynnes for an Axe Flaxe Oxe hydes Waxe But truely They abhorre the Iewes Theyr bookes and religion The Slauon tongue spred further then any other Sainct Ierome was borne in Dalmatia now called Sclauonia Howe they number the yeeres Fewe and simple lawes The exercise of youth Shootyng The corporature of the Moscouites Theyr fare Fleshe preserued long by reason of colde Haukyng and huntyng Plentie of fyshe Fyshe long reserued in Ise. Wyne Maluasie All the North parte of the fyrme lande was called Scythia and the people Scythians Drynke cooled with Ise. Wyne of Cherryes Theyr women Thomas Paleologus The conquest of the Turkes in Grecia Howe the princes choose theyr wyues Duke Basilius War betweene the Polones and Moscouites War betweene the Moscouites and Tartars The Moscouites army Their banner Their horses and horsemen Theyr armure Hargabusiers Gunnes The Prince dyneth openly Sigismundus sayth that much of this is golde The custodie of of the citie The Dukes courte Souldyers wages of the common treasury Russia The browne coloure of the Russes Russeia The Slauon tongue spreadeth farre Vandales The princes of Russia The Duke of Moscouia Why the Duke of Moscouia was called an Emperour The great Turke The whyte kyng The Duke of Moscouia his tytle Russia baptised by Sainct Andrewe the Apostle The Moscouites warres Dyuers maners of dyuers people in the warres The Moscouites army Howe he maintayneth his army Instrumentes of warre The Moscouites and Tartars apparell The prouince of Moscouia Extreame colde Extreame heate in cold regions Litle beastes The citie of Moscouia or Mosca Holsome ayre A ryche spoyle The Iland of Solowki Bieloiesero The length of the day The trade from Moscouia to the Caspian sea Bieloiesero or the whyte lakes Diuersitie of temperameÌ„t in small distance A lake of brymstone Exchange of furres for other ware The dominion of the duke of Moscouia Volochda werste Vstiug Suchana Iug. So called of his swift and pleasant streame Pienega Nicolai Kuluio The regions by the North sea Pieza Piescoia Rubicho Czircho Czilma Petzora Pustoosero Vssa Cingulus mundi Stzuchogora Potzscheriema Camenipoias Samoged Foules and beastes Wylde people Poiassa Camen
consyder what newe landes and countreys what newe seas what sundry nations and tounges what golde mynes what treasuries of perles they haue lefte vnto your hyghnesse besyde other reuenues The whiche what they are and howe greate these three Decades shall declare Come therfore most noble Prince elected of God and enioye that hyghe estate of thinges not yet vnderstode to men We offer vnto you the Equinoctiall lyne hytherto vnknowen and burnte by the furious heate of the sonne and vnhabitable after the opinion of the olde wryters a fewe excepted but nowe founde to be most replenished with people faire fruiteful and most fortunate with a thousande Ilandes crowned with golde and bewtifull pearles besydes that greate portion of earth supposed to be parte of the firme lande excedyng in quantitie three Europes Come therfore and embrase this newe world and suffer vs no longer to consume in desyre of your presence From hence from hence I say most noble young Prince shal instrumentes be prepared for you wherby al the worlde shal be vnder your obeysance And thus I byd your maiestie farewell to whose taste if I shal perceaue the fruites of this my tyllage to be delectable I wyll heareafter do my endeuoure that you may receaue the same more abundauntly From Madrid the day before the Calendes of October In the yere of Christ M.D.XUI The fyrst Booke of the Decades of the Ocean written by Peter Martyr of Angleria Milenoes counsaylour to the king of Spayne and Protonotarie Apostolicall to Ascanius Sphorcia Vicount Cardinal c. THe reuerende and thankful antiquitie was accustomed to esteeme those men as gods by whose industrie and magnanimitie such landes and regions were discouered as were vnknowen to theyr predecessours But vnto vs hauyng only one God whom we honour in triplicitie of person this resteth that albeit we do not worship that kinde of men with diuine honour yet do we reuerence them and woorthyly marueyle at theyr noble actes and enterpryses Unto kynges and princes we geue due obeysaunce by whose gouernance and furtherance they haue ben aided to perfourme their attempts we commend both and for theyr iust desartes woorthyly extol them Wherefore as concerning the Ilandes of the west Ocean lately discouered and of the auctours of the same whiche thyng you desyre by your letters to knowe I wyl begyn at the fyrst aucthour thereof lest I be iniurious to any man Take it therefore as foloweth Christophorus Colonus otherwyse called Columbus a gentleman of Italie borne in the citie of Genua perswaded Fernando and Elizabeth catholike prynces that he doubted not to fynde certayne Ilandes of India nere vnto our Ocean sea if they woulde furnyshe hym with shyppes and other thynges apparteynyng affyrmyng that therby not onely the Christian religion myght be enlarged but Spayne also enryched by the great plentie of golde pearles precious stones and spices whiche myght be founde there At the length three shyppes were appoynted hym at the kinges charges of the whiche one was a great caracâ—e with deckes and the other two were light marchaunte shyppes without deckes whiche the Spaniardes call Carauelas Thus he departed from the costes of Spaine about the calendes of September in the yeere of Christe .1492 and set forwarde on his viage being accompanied with CC.xx. Spanyardes The fortunate Ilandes as manye thynke them to be whiche the Spaniardes call Canariae found but of late dayes are distaunte from the Ilandes of Gades a thousande and two hundreth myles accordyng to theyr accomptes for they say they are distant three hundred leagues whereas suche as are expert sea men affirme that euery league conteineth foure miles after theyr supputations These Ilandes were called fortunate for the temperate ayre whiche is in them For neyther the coldnesse of wynter is sharpe vnto them nor the heate of sommer intollerable Yet some men are of opinion that those were in olde tyme called the fortunate Ilandes whiche the Portugales call Capo Verde Colonus therfore sayled fyrst to the Ilandes of Canariae to the intente there to refreshe his shyppes with freshe water and fuell before he committed hym selfe to this so laborous a viage And because I haue heare made mention of the Ilandes of Canariae it shal not be muche from my purpose to declare howe of vnknowen they became knowen and of sauage and wilde better manured For by the long course of many yeeres they were forgotten and remayned as vnknowen These seuen Ilandes therefore called the Canaries were founde by chaunce by a frenche man called Betanchor by the permission of queene Katharine protectrixe of king Iohn her sonne while he was yet in his nonage about the yeere of Christe M. CCCC.U This Betanchor inuaded two of these Ilandes called Lancelotus and Fortisuentura which he inhabited brought to better culture He being dead his sonne and heire solde bothe the sayde Ilandes to certayne Spaniardes After this Farnandus Peraria and his wyfe inuaded Ferrea and Gomera The other three were subdued in our time Grancanaria by Petrus de Vera citizen of the noble citie of Xericium and Michael of Moxica Palma and Tenerifen by Alphonsus Lugo at the kings charges Gomera and Ferrea were easily subdued But the matter went harde with Alphonsus Lugo For that naked and wylde nation fyghtyng only with stones and clubbes droue his armie to flight at the first assaulte and slue about foure hundred of his men But at the length he ouercame them And thus all the Ilandes of Canariae were added to the dominion of Spayne From these Ilandes Colonus directyng his voyage towarde the west folowyng the falling of the sunne but declining somewhat towarde the left hande sayled on forwarde .xxxiii. dayes continually hauyng only the fruition of the heauen and the water Then the Spanyardes whiche were accompanyed with hym began fyrst to murmure secretely among them selues and shortly after with wordes of reproche spake euil of Colonus theyr gouernour and consulted with them selues eyther to rydde hym out of the way or els to cast hym into the sea ragyng that they were deceyued of a stranger an outlandyshe man a Ligurian a Genues and brought into suche daungerous places that they might neuer returne agayne And after .xxxiii. dayes were past they furiously cryed out against him and threatned him that he shoulde passe no further But he euer with gentle wordes and large promises appeased their furie and prolonged day after day some tyme desyryng them to beare with hym yet a whyle and some time putting them in remembrance that yf they shoulde attempt any thing against him or otherwyse disobey hym it would be reputed for treason Thus after a fewe dayes with cheareful harts they espied the lande long looked for In this fyrst nauigation he discouered .vi. ilandes wherof two were exceedyng great Of whiche the one he called Hispaniola and the other Iohanna But at that tyme he knewe not perfectly that Iohanna
and carrie it in stone pottes from Martabani to bee solde in the countrey of Malabar and is woorth the Farazuola which is .xxii. poundes and sixe vnces after the rate of xiiii.xv or .xvi. Fanans That that is freshe and made in conserues is woorth in Calecut .xxv. Fanans the farazuola bycause Suger is deare there Greene Ginger to put in conserues is woorth in Calecut three quarters of one Fanan the farazuola which is about two pounds for one Marchetto Of the Apothecaries drugges and of what price they are in Calecut and Malabar LAcca of Martabani if it be of the beste is woorth the farazuola which is .xxii. pounde weyght and sixe ounces of Portugale after sixtiene ounces the pound which is about fourtie pound weight of the subtile pounde of Uenice and is in value eightiene Fanans which are eightiene Marcels of siluer For one Fanan is in value about one Marcell of siluer Lacca of the countrey is woorth the farazuola Fanan 12 Borace that is good and in great peeces is woorth the farazuola Fanan .30 to .40 50. Camphire that is grosse in cakes is woorth the farazuola Fanan .70 to .80 Camphire to annoynt Idoles *** Camphire for theyr children to eate is woorth the Mytigall Fanan .3 Aguila is woorth the farazuola Fanan .300 to .400 Lignum aloe blacke heauy and fine is woorth Fanan .1000 Muske of the best is woorth the ounce Fanan .36 Beniamin of the best is woorth the farazuola Fanan .65 Tamarindi being new are woorth the faraz. Fanan .4 Calamus Aromaticus the farazuola Fanan .12 Endego to dye silke true and good the farazuola Fanan .30 Mirre the farazuola Fanan .18 to .20 Frankensense good and in graynes is woorth the farazuola Fanan .15 Frankensense in paste of the basest sorte the faraz. Fanan .3 Ambracan or Amber grease that is good is woorth the Metigall Fanan .2 to .3 Mirabolanes in conserue of suger the faraz. Fanan .16 to .25 Cassia freshe and good the farazuola Fanan one and a halfe Redde Sanders the farazuola Fanan .5 to .6 Whyte Sanders and Citrine whiche growe in the Ilande of Timor the farazuola Fanan .40 to .60 Spikenarde freshe and good the faraz. Fanan .30 to 40. Nuttemegges whiche come from the Ilande of Bandan where the Bahar is woorth from .viii. to ten Fanans whiche importe vi poundes weyght to the Marchetto are woorth in Calecut the faraz. Fanan .10 to .12 Mace which is brought from the Ilande of Bandan where the Bahar is woorth fyftiene Fanans which import about one Marchetto the pounde are woorth in Calecut the farazuola Fanan .25 to .30 Turbithes are woorth the farazuola Fanan .13 Woormeseede of the best kynde called Semenzana is woorth the farazuola Fanan .18 Zerumba the farazuola Fanan .2 Zedoaria the farazuola Fanan .1 Gumme Serapine the farazuola Fanan .20 Aloe Cicotrine the farazuola Fanan .18 Cardamome in graynes the farazuola Fanan .20 Reubarbe groweth abundantly in the countrey of Malabar and that whiche commeth from China by Malacha is woorth the farazuola Fanan 40. to .50 Mirabolani Emblici the farazuola Fanan .2 Mirabolani Belirici the farazuola Fanan one a halfe Mirabolani citrini Chebuli which are all of one sorte Fanan .2 Mirabolani Indi which are of the same Citrine trees Fanan .3 Tutia the farazuola Fanan .30 Cububes which growe in the Ilande of Iaua or Giaua are there of small price and solde by measure without weyght Opium which is brought from the citie of Aden where it is made is woorth in Calecut the faraz. Fanan .280 to 320. Opium of an other sorte whiche is made in Cambaia is woorth the farazuola Fanan .200 to .250 Of the weyghtes of Portugale and India And howe they agreee THe pounde of the olde weight conteyneth .xiiii. vnces The pounde of the newe weyght conteyneth .xvi. vnces Eight Cantares of the olde weyght make .vii. of the newe And euery newe Cantare is of C.xxviii poundes after xvi vnces to the pounde Euery olde Cantare conteyneth thre quarters and an halfe of the newe Cantare And is of C.xxviii poundes after .xiiii. vnces the pounde One Farazuoles is .xxii. poundes of .xiiii. vnces and .vi. vnces more with two fyfte partes Twentie Farazuoles are one Bahar One Bahar is .iiii. Cantares of the olde weight of Portugale All the Spices and drugges and al suche other thynges as come from India are solde in Portugale by the olde weyght and all the rest by the newe weyght Herby maie we wel consider that as we ought to reioyce and geue God thankes for the abundaunce of all these thinges which he causeth the earth so plentifully to bryng foorth to our vse so maye we lament the abuse of men whose couetousnesse causeth great dearth and scarsenesse in the myddest of abundaunce herein no lesse offendyng the lawe of nature then do such as by witchcrafte do entermingle poyson with thynges created for the health of man or by inchauntment corrupt the seedes in the grounde yea rather as the vnnaturall mother who destroyeth the chylde whom she hath long nuryshed Of the voyage made by the Spanyardes round about the world THe voyage made by the Spanyardes rounde about the worlde is one of the greatest and most marueylous thynges that haue ben knowen to our tyme. And although in many thynges we excel our ancient predecessours in this especially we so far exceed al their inuentions that y e like hath not heretofore ben knowen to this day This viage was written particulerly by Don Peter Martyr of Angleria being one of y e counsaile of themperours Indies to whom also was commytted y e writing of the hystorie examination of al such as returned from thence into Spaine to y e citie of Siuile in the yeere .1522 But sendyng it to Rome to be printed in that miserable tyme when the citie was sacked it was lost and not founde vnto this daye or any memorie remaynyng thereof sauyng such as some that read the same haue borne in mynde And among other notable thynges by hym wrytten as touchyng that voyage that is one that the Spanyardes hauyng sayled about three yeeres and one moneth and the most of them notyng the dayes daye by daye as is the maner of al them that sayle by the Ocean they found when they were returned to Spaine y t they had lost one daye So that at theyr arryuall at the porte of Siuile beyng the seuenth daye of September was by theyr accompt but the syxte daye And whereas Don Peter Martyr declared y e strange effect of this thyng to a certayne excellent man who for his singuler learnyng was greatly aduaunced to honour in his common wealth and made Themperours ambassadour this woorthy gentleman who was also a great Philosopher Astronomer answered that it coulde not otherwyse chaunce vnto them hauyng sayled three yeeres continually euer folowyng the Sunne towarde the West and sayde furthermore that they of olde tyme obserued that all suche