opinion I could not for my life remoue him Wherefore be it knowne of a certaintie vnto your Highnesse that they are much estranged from the Christian Faith by reason of that opinion which hath beene broached and confirmed among them by the Russians of whom there is a great multitude in that place The same day Scacatia the Captaine aforesaid gaue vs one man to conduct vs to Sartach and two other to guide vs vnto the next Lodging which was distant from that place fiue dayes Iourney for Oxen to trauell They gaue vnto vs also a Goate for victuals and a great many Bladders of Cowes Milke and but a little Cosmos because it is of so great estimation among them And so taking our Iourney directly toward the North mee thought that wee had passed through one of Hell gates The Seruants which conducted vs began to play the bold Theeues with vs seeing vs take so little heed vnto our selues At length hauing lost much by there Theeuery harme taught vs wisdome And then wee came vnto the extremitie of that Prouince which is fortified with a Ditch from one Sea vnto another without the bounds whereof their Lodging was situate Into the which so soone as wee had entred all the Inhabitants there seemed vnto vs to be infected with Leprosie for certayne base fellowes were placed there to receiue Tribute of all such as tooke Salt out of the Salt-pits aforesaid From that place they told vs that we must trauell fifteene dayes Iourney before we should find any other people With them we dranke Cosmos and gaue vnto them a basket full of Fruits and of Bisket And they gaue vnto vs eight Oxen and one Goate to sustayne vs in so great a Iourney and I know not how many bladders of Milke And so changing our Oxen we tooke our Iourney which wee finished in tenne dayes arriuing at another Lodging neither found we any water all that way but onely in certayne Ditches made in the Valleyes except two Riuers And from the time wherein wee departed out of the foresaid Prouince of Gasaria we trauelled directly East-ward hauing a Sea on the South-side of vs and a waste Desart on the North which Desart in some places reacheth twentie dayes Iourney in breadth and there is neither Tree Mountayne nor Stone therein And it is most excellent Pasture Here the Comanians which were called Capthac were wont to feed their Cattell Howbeit by the Dutchmen they are called Valani and the Prouince it selfe Valania But Isidore calleth all that tract of Land stretching from the Riuer of Tanais to the Lake of Mâ—otis and so along as farre as Danubius the Countrey of Alania And the same land continueth in length from Danubius vnto Tanais which diuideth Asia from Europe for the space of two moneths iourney albeit a man should ride post as fast as the Tartars vse to ride and it was all ouer inhabited by the Comanians called Capthac yea and beyond Tanais as farre as the Riuer of Edil or Volga the space betweene the two which Riuers is a great and long iourney to bee trauelled in ten daies To the North of the same Prouince lyeth Russia which is full of wood in all places and stretcheth from Polonia and Hungaria euen to the Riuer of Tanais and it hath beenâ— wasted all ouer by the Tartars and as yet is daily wasted by them THey preferre the Saracens before the Russians because they are Christians and when they are able to giue them no more gold nor siluer they driue them and their Children like flocks of Sheepe into the wildernesse constraining them to keepe their Cattell there Beyond Russia lyeth the Countrey of Prussia which the Dutch Knights of the order of Saint Maries Hospitall of Ierusalem haue of late wholly conquered and subdued And in very deede they might easily win Russia if they would put to their helping hand For if the Tartars should but once know that the great Priest that is to say the Pope did cause the Ensigne of the Crosse to be displaied against them they would flie all into their Desart and solitarie places Wee therefore went on towards the East seeing nothing but Heauen and Earth and sometimes the Sea on our right hand called the Sea of Tanais and the Sepulchres of the Comanians which appeared vnto vs two leagues off in which places they were wont to burie their kindred altogether So long as we were trauelling through the Desart it went reasonably well with vs. For I cannot sufficiently expresse in words the irkesome and tedious troubles which I sustained when I came at any of their places of abode For our Guide would haue vs goe in vnto euery Captaine with a present and our expences would not extend so farre For we were euery day eight persons of vs spending our wayfaring prouision for the Tartars seruants would all of them eate of our victuals We our selues were fiue in number and the seruants our Guides were three two to driue our Carts and one to conduct vs vnto Sartach The flesh which they gaue vs was not sufficient for vs neither could we find any thing to be bought for our money And as we sate vnder our Carts in the coole shadow by reason of the extreame and vehement heate which was there at that time they did so importunately and shamelesly intrude themselues into our company that they would euen tread vpon vs to see whatsoeuer things we had Hauing list at any time to ease themselues the filthie Lozels had not the manners to withdraw themselues farther from vs then a Beane can be cast Yea like vile slouens they would lay their tailes in our presence while they were yet talking with vs many other things they committed which were most tedious and loathsome vnto vs. But aboue all things it grieued me to the very heart that when I would vtter ought vnto them which might tend to their edification my foolish interpreter would say you should not make me become a Preacher now I tell you I cannot nor I will not rehearse any such words And true it was which he said for I perceiued afterward when I began to haue a little smattering in the language that when I spake one thing hee would say quite another whatsoeuer came next vnto his witlesse tongues end Then seeing the danger I might incurre in speaking by such an Interpreter I resolued much rather to hold my peace and thus we trauelled with great toile from lodging to lodging till at the length a few daies before the Feast of Saint Marie Magdalene we arriued at the banke of the mightie Riuer Tanais which diuideth Asia from Europa euen as the Riuer Nilus of Aegypt disioyneth Asia from Africa At the same place where we arriued Baatu and Sartach did cause a certaine Cottage to be built vpon the Easterne banke of the Riuer for a companie of Russians to dwell in to the end they might transport Ambassadours and Merchants in
entred me thought I was come into a new World Whose Life and manners I will descrbe vnto your Highnesse as well as I can THey haue in no place any setled Citie to abide in neither know they of the Celestiall Citie to come They haue diuided all Scythia among themselues which stretcheth from the Riuer Danubius euen vnto the rising of the Sunne And euery of their Captaines according to the great or small number of his people knoweth the bounds of his Pastures and where hee ought to feed his Cattell Winter and Summer Spring and Autumne For in the Winter they descend vnto the warme Regions South-ward And in the Summer they ascend vnto the cold Regions North-ward In Winter when Snow lyeth vpon the ground they feed their Cattell vpon Pastures without water because then they vse Snow in stead of water Their houses wherein they sleepe they ground vpon a round foundation of Wickers artificially wrought and compacted together the Roofe whereof consisteth in like sort of Wickers meeting aboue into one little Roundell out of which Roundell ascendeth vpward a necke like vnto a Chimney which they couer with white Felt and oftentimes they lay Morter or white Earth vpon the said Felt with the powder of bones that it may shine white And sometimes also they couer it with blacke Felt. The said Felt on the necke of their house they doe garnish ouer with beautifull varietie of Pictures Before the doore likewise they hang a Felt curiously painted ouer For they spend all their coloured Felt in painting Vines Trees Birds and Beasts thereupon The said houses they make so large that they contayne thirtie foot in breadth For measuring once the breadth betweene the wheele-ruts of one of their Carts I found it to bee twentie feet ouer and when the house was vpon the Cart it stretched ouer the wheeles on each side fiue feet at the least I told two and twentie Oxen in one Teame drawing an house vpon a Cart eleuen in one order according to the breadth of the Cart and eleuen more before them the Axle-tree of the Cart was of an huge bignesse like vnto the Mast of a Ship And a fâ—llow stood in the doore of the house vpon the fore-stall of the Cart driuing forth the Oxen. Moreouer they make certayne foure square Baskets of small slender Wickers as bigge as great Chests and afterward from one side to another they frame an hollow lidde or couer of such like Wickers and make a doore in the fore-side thereof And then they couer the said Chest or little House with black Felt ubbed ouer with Tallow or Sheeps Milke to keep the rain from soking through which they deck likewise with painting or with feathers And in such Chests they put their whole Houshold-stuffe and Treasure Also the same Chests they doe strongly binde vpon other Carts which are drawne with Camels to the end they may wade through Riuers Neither doe they at any time take downe the said Chests from off their Carts When they take downe their dwelling houses they turne the doores alwayes to the South and next of all they place the Carts laden with their Chests here and there within halfe a stones cast of the House insomuch that the House standeth betweene two rankes of Carts as it were betweene two Walles The Matrones make for themselues most beautifull Carts which I am not able to describe vnto your Maiesty but by Pictures only for I would right willingly haue painted all things for you had my Skill beene ought in that Art One rich Moal or Tartar hath two hundred or one hundred such Carts with Chests Duke Baatu hath sixteene Wiues euery one of which hath one great house besides other little houses which they place behind the great one being as it were Chambers for their Maidens to dwell in And vnto euery of the said houses doe belong two hundred Carts When they take their houses from off the Carts the principall Wife placeth her Court on the West Frontier and so all the rest in their order so that the last Wife dwelleth vpon the East Frontier and one of the said Ladies Courts is distant from another about a stones cast Whereupon the Court of one rich Moal or Tartar will appeare like vnto a great Village very few men abiding in the same One woman will guide twenty or thirty Carts at once for their Countries are very plaine and they binde the Carts with Camels or Oxen one behind another And there sits a Wench in the fore-most Cart driuing the Oxen and all the residue follow on a like pace When they chance to come at any bad passage they let them loose and guide them ouer one by one for they goe a slow pace as fast as a Lambe or an Oxe can walke HAuing taken downe their houses from off their Carts and turning the doores South-ward they place the bed of the Master of the house at the North part thereof The womens place is alwayes on the East-side namely on the left hand of the good man of the house sitting vpon his bed with his face South-wards but the mens place is vpon the West-side namely at the right hand of their Master Men when they enter into the house will not in any case hang their Qâ—iuers on the womens side Ouer the Masters head there is alwayes an Image like a Puppet made of Fealt which they call the Masters Brother and another ouer the head of the good Wife or Mistris which they call her Brother being fastened to the wall and aboue betweene both of them there is a little leane one which is as it were the keeper of the whole house The good Wife or Mistris of the house placeth aloft at her beds feet on the right hand the Skinne of a Kid stuffed with Wooll or some other matter and neere vnto that a little Image or Puppet looking towards the Maidens and women Next vnto the doore also on the womens side there is another Image with a Cowes Vdder for the women that milke the Kine For it is the dutie of their women to milke Kine On the other side of the doore next vnto the men there is another Image with the Vdder of a Mare for the men which milke Mares And when they come together to drinke and make merrie they sprinkle part of their Drinke vpon the Image which is aboue the Masters head afterward vpon other Images in order then goeth a Seruant out of the house with a cup full of Drinke sprinkling it thrise towards the South and bowing his knee at euery time and this is done for the honour of the Fire Then performeth he the like Superstitious Idolatry towards the East for the honour of the Ayre and then to the West for the honour of the water and lastly to the North in the behalfe of the Dead When the Master holdeth a cup in his hand to drinke before hee tasteth thereof hee powreth his part vpon the ground
And they shall possesse the Countries from North to South and shall come vnto Constantinople and shall take the Port of Constantinople And one of them who shall be called a Wise man shall enter the Citie and seeing the Churches and rites of the Frankes shall cause himselfe to be Baptized and shall counsell the Frankes how they may kill the Emperour of the Tartars and there they shall be confounded Hearing this the Frankes which shall be in the middle of the Land to wit Hierusalem shall set vpon the Tartars who shall border vpon them and with the helpe of our Nation that is the Armenians shall pursue them so that the French King shall place his Royâ—ll Throne at Taurinum in Persia. And then all East Countries and all the vnbeleeuing Nations shall be conuerted to the Faith of Christ. And there shall be so great Peace in the world that the Liuing shall say to the Dead Woe be vnto you wretches that liued not vntill these times I read this Prophesie brought to Constantinople by the Armenians which remaine there but I made light of it Yet when I spake with the said Bishop calling it to minde I regarded it the more And throughout all that Armenia they as firmely beleeue this Prophesie as the Gospell Hee said vnto vs also Euen as the Soules in Limbo expected the comming of Christ for their deliuery so doe we looke for your comming that we might be freed from this slauery wherein wee haue so long liued Neere the City Vaxnan aforesaid there are Mountaines on the which they say the Arke of Noah rested And there are two one greater then the other and Araxes runneth at the foote of them And there is a little Towne there called Cemainum which is by Interpretation Eight for they say it was so called of the Eight persons which came foorth of the Arke and built it Many haue assayed to climbe the greater Hill and could not And that Bishop told me that a certaine Monke was very much troubled and an Angell appeared vnto him and brought him a piece of the wood of the Arke willing him to trouble himselfe no more That piece of Wood they had in their Church as he told me Neither is the Hill so high in appearance but that men might well get vp vnto it A certaine Old man shewed me a sufficient reason why none should climbe it They call that Mountaine Massis and it is of the Feminine gender in their Tongue No man saith he must climbe vp Massis because it is the Mother of the world In that Citie of Vaxnan Frier Bernard Cathalane of the Order of the Preaching Friers found me who abode in Georgie with a certaine Prior of the Sepulcher who possesseth great lands there And he had learned somewhat of the Tartars language Who went with a certaine Hungarian Frier to Taurinum to desire Argons Passe to Sartach When they came there they could not haue accesse and the Hungarian Frier returned by me to Tephelis with one Seruant but Frier Bernard remained at Taurinum with a certaine Lay-Frier whose language he vnderstood not We went out of the Citie of Vaxnan in octauis of the Epiphanie for we had stayd long there by reason of the Snow We came therefore in foure dayes to the Countrey of Sahensa a certain Curgine sometimes mighty but now tributary to the Tartars who destroyed all his Munition whose Father Zacharias got that Countrey of the Armenians hauing deliuered them from the hands of the Saracens And there are many faire Villages of true Christians hauing Churches right like the Frankes And euery Armenian hath in his house in an honourable place a wooden hand holding a Crosse and he sets a burning Lampe before it And that which we doe with holy Water sprinkling it to driue away wicked Spirits they doe the same with Frankinsence For euery euening they burn Frankinsence carrying it through all the corners of the house to rid them of all kinde of Enemies I ate with the foresaid Sahensa and he did me great reuerence both he and his Wife and his sonne Zachary was a very faire and wise young man Who demanded of me that if he should come vnto you whether yee would entertaine him for he so hardly brooketh the Dominion of the Tartars that though he haue plenty of all things he had rather trauaile into a strange Country then indure their Lord-like Dominion They said further that they were sonnes of the Church of Rome and if the Lord Pope would send them any ayde they would bring all the bordering Nations vnto the subiection of the Church From that Towne of his in fifteene dayes we entred the Countrey of the Soldan of Turkie vpon the first Sunday in Lent And the first Castle we found is called Marsengen All in the Castle were Christians Armenians Curgines and Greekes The Saracens onely haue the Dominion There the Captaine of the Castle said he had receiued commandement that no victuals should be giuen to any Franke or to the Ambassadours of the King of Armenia or of Vastacius So that from the place where wee were the first Sunday in Lent vnto Cyprus whether I came eight dayes before the Feast of Saint Iohn Baptist we must buy our prouision He who was my guide procured me Horses and tooke money for the victuals and put it in his purse When he came into the Fields seeing a flocke any where hee violently tooke one Sheepe and gaue it to his family to eate and maruailed I would not eate of his robbery In the Purification I was in a certaine Citie called Aini which was Sahensas whose situation is most strong and there are there a thousand Armenian Churches and two Synagogues of the Saracens The Tartars place a Baily there There fiue Preaching Friers met me whereof foure came from Prouince in France and the fift ioyned himselfe to them in Syria and they had but one sicke Boy who could speake Turkish and a little French And they had the Popes letters to Sartach and to Mangu Chan and to Buri such as your Highnes gaue me Letters of request that they would suffer them to continue in their Countrey and Preach the Word of God c. But when I told them what I had seene and how they sent me backe againe they directed their iourney to Tephelis where there are Friers of their Order to consult what they should doe I said vnto them they might well passe by those Letters if they would but they should bee well assured to indure much labour and render an account of their comming for seeing they had no other message but the office of Preaching they would care but a little for them and chiefly because they had no Interpreter What they did after I know not THe second Sunday in Lent we came to the head of Araxis and passing beyond the top of the Mountaine we came to Euphrates by the which wee descended eight dayes
diuers colours some weare them of Silk many doe vse them on the Feast dayes of Silke the Rulers weare commonly fine Serge and on their Feasts they vse very fine Silkes chiefly crimson which none in the Countrie may weare but they the poore people weare commonly Coats of white Linnen because it costs but little on their head they weare a high Cap made of very fine twigs and it is round interwouen with blacke Silke and very well made they vse their Stockins whole footed which are very well made and stiched and they weare Boots or Shooes as the curiositie or abilitie of euery one is either of Silke or of Leather in Winter they weare Stockins of Felt either fine or course but the cloth is made of Felt they vse also in Winter their garments lined with Martines chiefly about the necke they vse quilted Iackets and some doe vse them of Felt in Winter vnder their Coats They vse long haire like women which they weare finely combed and they combe it many times a day they weare it tyed on the crowne of the head and through the knot thrust through with a long small Siluer pin those which are not married to wit the yong Bachelors doe weare for a deuise a fillet or ribband dresse very well made their Cap remayning aboue it that it may be seene they haue a superstition in their haire therefore they weare it so long holding that by it they shall be carried to Heauen The common Priests doe keepe their haire but are shauen for they say they neede no helpe to carrie them to Heauen Yet among them are some Priests of the Temple of the Idols which among the Chinas are more reuerenced then the rest these doe weare haire on the top of the head fastned with a stick very curiously wrought like a close hand varnished with a very fine varnish which they call Acharan and these Priests doe weare black coates the other wearing a white coate The Chinaes are very curteous men the common curtesie is the left hand close they inclose it within the right hand and they bring them very oft to their brest shewing they haue one another inclosed in their heart and to this motion of the hands they joyne wordes of curtesie though the wordes of the common sort is to say one to another Chifan mesan which is to say Haue yee eaten or no for all their good in this world is resolued in eating The particular curtesies betweene men of sort which haue not seene one another a long while are the armes bowed and the fingers clasped one within another they stoope and speake with wordes of great curtesie euery one labouring to giue the hand to the other to make him rise and the more honorable they are the longer they stand in these curtesies The honorable and noble People doe vse also many curtesies at the Table the one giuing drinke to the other and euery one laboureth to giue the hand to the other in their drinking for at the table there is no other seruice but that of drinking If there come any Ghest newly to his friends house or his kinsman if the Master of the house be not apparelled in holy day clothes when the Ghest commeth in he maketh no account of him nor any mention till he commandeth to bring his festiuall apparell and after he is so apparelled hee goeth to the Ghest and receiueth him with many complements and curtesies For they hold it not conuenient that a new-come Ghest and of reuerence bee receiued with common apparell but clothed in feast-like apparell for in this he sheweth him that his entring into his house is a feast day to him Whatsoeuer person or persons come to any mans house of qualitie hee hath a custome to offer him in a fine basket one Porcelane or as many as the persons are with a kinde of drinke which they call Cha which is somewhat bitter red and medicinall which they are wont to make of a certayne concoction of herbes somewhat bitter with this they welcome commonly all manner of persons that they doe respect be they strangers or be they not to me they offered it many times The Chinaes are great eaters and they vse many dainties they eate at one table Fish and Flesh and the base people dresse it sometime all together The dainties which are to bee eaten at one table are set all together on the board that euery one may eate where hee liketh best It is a cleanly and neat people The common people hath some grosse things Certayne noble Portugals went to shew me on a day in Cantan a banquet which a rich Merchant made which was worth the sight The house where it was made was with a loft and very faire with many faire windowes and casements and all of it was a mirror the Tables were set in three places of the house for euery Ghest enuited a Table and a Chaire very faire and gilt or with siluer and euery Table had before it a cloth of Damaske downe to the ground On the Tables was neither cloth nor napkins as well because the Tables were very fine as because they eate so cleanly that they need none of these things the fruit was set along the edges of euery Table all set in order which was rosted Chesnuts and peeled and Nuts cracked and shaled and sugar Canes cleane and cut in slices and the fruit we spake of before called Lichias great and small but they were dried All the fruit was set in small heapes like Turrets very well made crossed betweene with certayne small sticks very neat whereby all the Tables round about with these little Turrets were very fairly adorned Presently after the fruit were all the seruices placed in fine Porcelan dishes all very well dressed and neatly carued and euery thing set in good order and although the dishes were set one ouer another all were so finely set in such sort that he which sate at the Table might eate what he would without any need of stirring or remouing any of them and presently there were two small sticks very fine and gilt for to eate with holding them betweene the fingers they vse them in stead of a paire of Pincers so that they touch nothing of that which is on the board with their hand yea though they eate a dish of Rice they doe it with those sticks without any graine of the Rice falling and because they eate so cleanly not touching with the hand their meate they haue no need of cloth or napkins all comes carued and well ordered to the Table They haue also a very small Porcelan cup gilt which holdeth a mouth full of wine and onely for this there is a Waighter at the Table they drinke so little that at euery bit they must haue the cup and therefore it is so small There are some Chinaes that weare very long nailes of halfe a quarter and a quarter long which they keepe very cleane and these
be of any reputation so that a man shall not see one of them but at a chance when shee goeth to Church at Christmasse or at Easter or else going to visit some of her friends The most part of the women vse to ride a-stride in Saddles with stirrops as men doe and some of them on Sleds which in Summer is not commendable The Husband is bound to find the Wife colours to paint her with all for they vse ordinarily to paint themselues it is such a common practice among them that it is counted for no shame they grease their faces with such colours that a man may discerne them hanging on their faces almost a flight shoot off I cannot so well liken them as to a Millers Wife for they looke as though they were beaten about the face with a bagge of Meale but their Eye-browes they colour as blacke as I eat The best propertie that the women haue is that they can sewe well and imbroider with Silke and Gold excellently When any man or woman dyeth they stretch him out and put a new paire of shooes on his feet because he hath a great Iourney to goe then doe they wind him in a sheet as wee doe but they forget not to put a testimonie in his right hand which the Priest giueth him to testifie vnto Saint Nicholas that he dyed a Christian man or woman And they put the Corse alwayes in a Coffin of Wood although the partie be very poore and when they goe towards the Church the Friends and Kinsmen of the partie departed carrie in their hands small Waxe Candles and they weepe and howle and make much lamentation They that bee hanged or beheaded or such like haue no testimonie with them how they are reciued into Heauen it is a wonder without their Pasport There are a great number of poore people among them which dye daily for lacke of sustenance which is a pitifull case to behold for there hath bin buried in a small time within these two yeares aboue eightie persons yong and old which haue dyed onely for lacke of sustenance for if they had had straw and water enough they would make shift to liue for a great many are forced in the Winter to dry straw and stampe it and to make bread thereof or at the least they eate it in stead of bread In the Summer they make good shift with grasse herbes and roots barkes of Trees are good meat with them at all times There is no people in the World as I suppose that liue so miserably as doe the pouertie in those parts and the most part of them that haue sufficient for themselues and also to relieue others that need are so vnmercifull that they care not how many they see dye of famine or hunger in the streets It is a Countrey full of Diseases diuers and euill and the best remedie is for any of them as they hold opinion to goe often vnto the Hot-houses as in a manner euery man hath one of his owne which he heateth commonly twice euery weeke and all the houshold sweat and wash themselues therein The first and principall Meade is made of the juyce or liquor taken from a Berrie called in Russia Malieno which is of a maruellous sweet taste and of a Carmosant colour which Berrie I haue seene in Paris The second Meade is called Visnoua because it is made of a Berrie so called and is like a blacke Gooseberrie but it is like in colour and taste to the red Wine of France The third Meade is called Amarodina or Smorodina short of a small Berrie much like to the small Raisin and groweth in great plentie in Russia The fourth Meade is called Chereunikyna which is made of the wild blacke Cherrie The fift Meade is made of Honey and Water with other mixtures There is also a delicate Drinke drawne from the Root of the Birch Tree called in the Russe Tongue Berozeuites which drinke the Noblemen and others vse in Aprill May and Iune which are the three moneths of the Spring-time for after those moneths the sap of the Tree dryeth and then they cannot haue it I haue by me a Letter of Master Christopher Hoddesdon written the seuenteenth of Nouember 1555. wherein he writes that it seemes there is no great punishment for breaking their Region some of them aduenturing to eate Milke with him on a Fasting day which yet others refused Yarostâ—sly so he cals the Towne where he writ is fairer then Volga the Riuer almost a mile broad he was asked seuen Altines for a Sturgeon he had giuen at Danske nine Mark-sprace for a worser neither had he seene such abundance of Ling in England as there of Sturgeons there being in that dayes Market about three thousand §. IIII. The Voyage of Master ANTHONIE IENKINSON made from the Citie of Mosco in Russia to the Citie of Boghar in Bactria in the yeare 1558. written by himselfe to the Merchants of London of the Moscouie Company THe three and twentieth day of Aprill in the yeare 1558. hauing obtayned the Emperour of Russia his Letters directed vnto sundry Kings and Princes by whose Dominions I should passe departed from Mosco by water hauing with mee two of your Seruants namely Richard Iohnson and Robert Iohnson and a Tartar Tolmach with diuers parcels of Wares as by the Inuentorie appeareth and the eight and twentieth day wee came to a Towne called Collom distant from the Mosco twentie leagues and passing one league beyond the said Collom we came vnto a Riuer called Occa into the which the Riuer Mosco falleth and loseth his name and passing downe the said Riuer Occa eight leagues wee came vnto a Castle called Terreuettisko which we left vpon our right hand and proceeding forward the second day of May wee came vnto another Castle called Peroslaue distant eight leagues leauing it also on our right hand The third day we came vnto the place where old Rezan was situate being now most of it ruined and ouer-growne and distant from the said Peroslaue sixe leagues the fourth day we passed by a Castle called Terrecouia from Rezan twelue leagues and the sixt day we came to another Castle called Cassim vnder the gouernment of a Tartar Prince named Vtzar Zegoline sometime Emperour of the worthy Citie of Cazan and now subject vnto the Emperour of Russia But leauing Cassim on our left hand the eight day we came vnto a faire Towne called Morom from Cassim twentie leagues where wee tooke the Sunne and found the latitude fiftie sixe degrees and proceeding forward the eleuenth day wee came vnto another faire Towne and Castle called Nyse Nouogrod situated at the falling of the foresaid Riuer Occa into the worthy Riuer of Volga distant from the said Moron fiue and twentie leagues in the latitude of fiftie sixe degrees eighteene minutes From Rezan to this Nyse Nouogrod on both sides the said Riuer of Occa is raysed the
of Canes of foure or sixe fingers broad and thicke wherewith oftentimes they dye when it is layd on soundly Whipping is as common as it is to whip Children in the Schoole And sometimes for nothing they giue a dozen stripes as well to the Plaintiffe as to the Defendant and therewith they end the Suites and they stay to giue none other sentence but say Giue him twentie stripes Vsually when the Mandarins of any State goe through the streets men goe before them crying or making a noise with Instruments for the people to giue place And in particular Cities when a great Mandarin passeth through the streets all men hide themselues and goe into houses and the Handicrafts-men cease from their worke and that in such sort that I saw once in a Citie in a street of great trafficke a Mandarin appeare and in a moment euery bodie got away euen the very Dogges with exceeding great silence so greatly they bee reuerenced of all men And many carrie Chaines trayling them before them and other Instruments But in the Courts though the Mandarins bee greater the people runne not away they doe no more but giue way that thy may passe In the Courts many Mandarins though they be great ride on Horsebacke and others in Chaires but besides them all goe in Chaires carried on mens shoulders which according to their Offices are two or foure or eight Euery Prouince hath a Visitor which publikely visiteth the same euery yeere and taketh information of the Mandarines There are secret and priuie Visitors Sometime one is sent But it is no vsuall thing and as I haue heard it is long since it was left off I speake this because I alwaies heard when I was in Spaine that the Chinois vsed this manner of Visitation The Visitor onely may giue sentence of death They be not cruell in punishments by death Onely the King vseth some cruell execution and namely this King that now raigneth which is a very wicked man One of them is that which lately hee caused here to bee executed vpon eight men by the great frosts of Winter for no great offence for so cruell a punishment and as they say falsely imputed And this it was Hee caused their neckes to be put through a thicke planke which taketh a great part of the head and they set the plankes to stand vpon Formes so that the man standeth vpon his feet day and night in the middest of the street with men to watch him Hee condemned them to this punishment for three moneths but they died before fifteene dayes with their legs all rotted and burst with standing alwaies on foot I my selfe saw them stand on this fashion which pitied me extremely I neuer saw nor heard of any other cruell punishments though as I haue said often times the Mandarines kill them with whipping which is a very cruell thing The Chinois are very curious in writing of newes which vsually they set out in Print and in a very short space disperse them through all the Prouinces There are alwaies Bookes wherein all the Mandarines of the Kingdome are written as well their names as their Countries And because they be changed euery foot from one place to another they blot out and put in the names as soone as they know them with great facilitie One thing among the rest is wherein they bee very dutifull and prolixe in their manifold courtesies which are of many sorts according to the estate of him with whom they haue to doe The vsuall fashion is when they visite one another the stranger is set on the most honourable hand which in some places is the right hand and in the Northerne Prouinces the left and putting one hand in the sleeue of the contrarie arme which is very long and wide they lift vp their hands so fastned together then bending their head and body downe to the ground saying Zin zin which is of no signification but an interiection of vrbanitie their bowing veneration they call Zo ye they change places to repay courtesies After this the Guest sitteth downe in the Chaire of the Master of the house and the Master of the house another besides that which the Guest hath and each of them setteth them in their due place which is the strangers Chaire in the highest place distant from the wall and the Chaire of the Master of the house is set in the midst of the lowest place one ouer against another After this when they haue ended their salutations they straightway cause a drinke to be brought which they call Cha which is water boyled with a certaine herbe which they much esteeme for this is a want of ciuilitie and courtesie and at the least they must drinke of it twice or thrice He bringeth forth some Fruit or Sweet-meat and a Spoone to take it vp If the Guest stay any time straight without faile they will bring out some thing to eate but with some preparation answerable to the occasion and person whereon they eate very little vnlesse it be at the ordinary houres of feeding and then they eate somwhat more When they visite one another vnlesse they be very great friends and familiars a Boy goeth alway before which carrieth a Libell or Booke of visitation which they call Paytre which is as much as A Paper of visitation And this name neuer faileth for alwaies they vse it wherein his name with modest epithets as many perhaps as Visitors are written according as the quality is of them that visite and those that are visited so is the manner most different whereafter they write the same to wit with more humility either as our better or as an equall or as an inferiour as a scholer or as a master for as the relations are many and particular so the fashions and manners which they vse are diuers Of these things and of all that hereafter I shall say touching this point I will send you the examples in their owne papers of visitations which great Mandarins and ordinary men brought vnto vs setting down in our tongue vpon euery letter the declaration thereof And I doubt not but your Worship our most deare Fathers and Brethren and as many others as shall see the same will reioyce thereat And when that Paper is brought they carrie newes into the house to him that is visited which prepareth himselfe to receiue his Guest which commeth within a while after When they be not people which they see euery day they vse not ordinary apparell in their visitations but they haue garments proper for this purpose of a farre different fashion And if by chance one come so apparelled and another be not he sayth that he durst not salute him nor receiue him before he had put on his apparell so he getteth him away in great haste to put on his apparell and then they begin to performe their complements When the Guest departeth hee alwaies goeth before and at their going out of
signifying the drought and barrennesse of the time The young men came wrapped in red Curtaines with Garlands and chaines of roasted Mays The Maydes were clothed in new Garments wearing chaines about theirs neckes of roasted Mays and vpon their heads Mytres made of rods couered with this Mays they had their feet couered with feathers and their armes and cheekes painted They brought much of this roasted Mays and the chiefe men put it vpon their heads and about their neckes taking flowres in their hands The Idoll being placed in his Litter they strewed round about a great quantitie of the boughes of Manguey the leaues whereof are large and pricking This Litter being set vpon the religious mens shoulders they carried it in Procession within the circuit of the Court two Priests marching before with Censors giuing often Incense to the Idoll and euery time they gaue Incense they lifted vp their armes as high as they could to the Idoll and to the Sunne saying that they lifted vp their Prayers to Heauen euen as the smoke ascended on high Then all the people in the Court turned round to the place whither the Idoll went euery one carrying in his hand new coards of the threed of the Manguey a fadome long with a knot at the end and with them they whipped themselues vpon the shoulders euen as they doe here vpon holy Thursday All the wals of the Court and Battlements were full of boughes and flowres so fresh and pleasant as it did giue a great contentment This Procession being ended they brought the Idoll to his vsuall place of abode Then came a great multitude of people with flowres dressed in diuers sorts wherewith they filled the Temple and all the Court so as it seemed the ornament of an Oratory All this was put in order by the Priests the young men administring these things vnto them from without The Chappell or Chamber where the Idoll remayned was all this day open without any Veile This done euery one came and offered Curtines and pendants of Sandally precious Stones Iewels Incence sweet wood Grapes or eares of Mays Quailes and finally all they were accustomed to offer in such solemnities When as they offered Quailes which was the poore mans offering they vsed this ceremonie they deliuered them to the Priests who taking them pulled off their heads and cast them at the foote of the Altar where they lost their bloud and so they did of all other things which were offered Euery one did offer meate and fruite according to their power the which was laid at the foote of the Altar and the Ministers gathered them vp and carried them to their Chambers This solemne offering done the people went to dinner euery one to his village or house leauing the feast suspended vntill after dinner In the meane time the yong Men and Maidens of the Temple with their ornaments were busied to serue the Idoll with all that was appointed for him to eate which meate was prepared by other women who had made a vow that day to serue the Idoll And therefore such as had made this vow came by the point of day offering themselues to the Deputies of the Temple that they might command them what they would haue done the which they did carefully performe They did prepare such variety of meates as it was admirable This meate being ready and the houre of dinner come all these Virgins went out of the Temple in procession euery one carrying a little basket of bread in her hand and in the other a dish of these meates before them marched an old man like to a steward with a pleasant habit he was cloathed in a white Surples downe to the calues of his legges vpon a doublet without sleeues of red leather like to a iacket he carried wings instead of sleeues from the which hung broad ribbands at the which did hang a small Calibasse or pumpion which was couered with flowers by little holes that were made in it and within it were many superstitious things This old man thus attyred marched very humbly and heauily before the preparation with his head declining and comming neere the foote of the staires he made a great obeisance and reuerence Then going on the one side the Virgins drew neere with the meate presenting it in order one after another with great reuerence This seruice presented the old man returned as before leading the Virgins into their conuent This done the yong men and ministers of the Temple came forth and gathered vp this meate the which they carried to the Chambers of the chiefe Priests of the Temple who had fasted fiue dayes eating onely once a day and they had also abstained from their wiues not once going out of the Temple in these fiue dayes During the which they did whip themselues rigorously with cords they did eate of this diuine meate for so they called it what they could was it Lawfull for any other to eate thereof All the people hauing dined they assembled againe in the court to see the end of the feast whither they brought a captiue which by the space of a whole yeare had represented the Idoll being attired decked and honoured as the Idoll it selfe and doing all reuerence vnto him they deliuered him into the hands of the sacrificers who at that instant presented themselues taking him by the feete and hands The Pope did open his stomacke and pull out his heart then did he lift vp his hand as high as he could shewing it to the Sunne and to the Idoll as hath beene said Hauing thus sacrificed him that represented the Idoll they went into a holy place appointed for this purpose whither came the yong Men and Virgins of the Temple with their ornaments the which being put in order they danced and sung with Drummes and other instruments on the which the chiefe Priests did play and sound Then came all the Noblemen with ensignes and ornaments like to the yong men who danced round about them They did not vsually kill any other men that day but him that was sacrificed yet euery fourth yeare they had others with him which was in the yeare of Iubile and full pardons After Sunne set euery one being satisfied with sounding eating and drinking the Virgins went all to their conuent they tooke great dishes of earth full of bread mixt with hony couered with small panniers wrought and fashioned with dead mens heads and bones and they carried the collation to the Idoll mounting vp to the Court which was before the doore of the Oratorie and hauing set them downe they retired in the same order as they came the steward going still before Presently came forth all the yong men in order with canes or reedes in their hands who began to runne as fast as they could to the top of the staires of the Temple who should come first to the dishes of the collation The Elders or chiefe Priests obserued him that came first second third and fourth without regarding the
If he drinketh sitting on Horse-backe he powreth out part thereof vpon the necke or mane of his Horse before he himselfe drinketh After the Seruant aforesaid hath so discharged his cups to the foure quarters of the World hee returneth into the house and two other Seruants stand ready with two cups and two basons to carrie Drinke vnto their Master and his Wife sitting together vpon a bed And if hee hath more Wiues then one shee with whom he slept the night before sitteth by his side the day following and all his other Wiues must that day resort vnto the same house to drinke and there is the Court holden for that day the gifts also which are presented that day are layd vp in the Chests of the said Wife And vpon a bench stands a Vessell of Milke or of other Drinke and drinking cups IN Winter time they make excellent drinke of Rice of Mill and of Honey being well and high coloured like Wine Also they haue Wine brought vnto them from farre Countries In Summer time they care not for any drinke but Cosmos And it standeth alwayes within the entrance of his doore and next vnto it stands a Minstrell with his Fiddle I saw there no such Citernes and Vials as ours commonly bee but many other Musicall Instruments which are not vsed among vs. And when the Master of the house begins to drinke one of his seruants crieth out with a loude voyce Ha and the Minstrell playes vpon his Fiddle And when they make any great solemne feast they all of them clap their hands and dance to the noyse of Musicke the men before their Master and the women before their Mistris And when the Master hath drunke then cryes out his seruant as before and the Minstrell stayeth his Musicke Then drinke they all round both men and women and sometimes they carowse for the victorie very filthily and drunkenly Also when they will prouoke any man they pull him by the Eares to the drinke and so lug and draw him strongly to stretch out his throat clapping their hands and dancing before him Moreouer when some of them will make great feasting and reioycing one of the companie takes a full Cup and two other stand one on his right hand and another on his left and so they three come singing to the man who is to haue the Cup reached vnto him still singing and dancing before him and when he stretcheth forth his hand to receiue the Cup they leape suddenly backe returning againe as they did before and so hauing deluded him thrice or foure times by drawing backe the Cup vntill he be merrie and hath gotten a good appetite then they giue him the Cup singing and dancing and stamping with their feet vntill he hath done drinking COncerning their food and victuals be it knowne vnto your Highnesse that they doe without all difference or conception eate all their dead Carions And amongst so many droues it cannot be but some Cattell must needs die Howbeit in Summer so long as their Cosmos that is their Mares milke lasteth they care not for any food And if they chance to haue an Oxe or an Horse die they drie and flesh thereof for cutting it into thinne slices and hanging it vp against the Sunne and the wind it is presently dried without Salt and also without stench or corruption They make better Puddings of their Horses then of their Hogs which they eate being new made the rest of the flesh they reserue vntill Winter They make of their Oxe skins great bladders or bags which they doe wonderfully drie in the smoake Of the hinder part of their Horsehides they make very fine Sandals and Pantofles They giue vnto fiftie of an hundred men the flesh of one Ramme to eate For they mince it in a bowle with Salt and Water other Sauce they haue none and then with the poynt of a Knife or a little Forke which they make for the same purpose such as we vse to take roasted Peares and Apples out of Wine withall they reach vnto euery one of the companie a morsell or twaine according to the multitude of Guests The Master of the house before the Rams flesh be distributed first of all himselfe taketh thereof what he pleaseth Also if he giueth vnto any of the companie a speciall part the receiuer thereof must eate it alone and must not impart ought thereof vnto any other Not being able to eate it vp all hee carries it with him and deliuers it vnto his boy if hee be present to keepe it if not hee puts it vp into his Saptargat that is to say his foure square Budget which they vse to carrie about with them for the sauing of all such prouision wherein they lay vp their bones when they haue not time to gnaw them throughly that they may burnish them afterward to the end that no whit of their food may come to nought THeir drinke called Cosmos which is Mares milke is prepared after this manner They fasten a long line vnto two posts standing firmly in the ground and vnto the same line they tye the young Foales of those Mares which they meane to milke Then come the Dammes to stand by their Foales gently suffering themselues to be milked And if any of them be too vnruly then one takes her Foale and puts it vnder her letting it sucke a while and presently carrying it away againe there comes another man to milke the said Mare And hauing gotten a good quantitie of this Milke together being as sweet as Cowes milke while it is new they powre into a great bladder or bag and they beat the said bag with a piece of wood made for the purpose hauing a Club at the lower end like a mans head which is hollow within and so soone as they beat vpon it it begins to boyle like new Wine and to be sowre and sharpe of taste and they beate it in that manner till Butter come thereof Then taste they thereof and being indifferently sharpe they drinke it for it biteth a mans tongue like the Wine of Raspes when it is drunke After a man hath taken a draught thereof it leaueth behind it a taste like the taste of Almond-milke and goeth downe very pleasantly intoxicating weake braynes also it causeth vrine to be auoyded in great measure Likewise Caracosmos that is to say Blacke Cosmos for great Lords to drinke they make on this manner First they beat the said Milke so long till the thickest part thereof descend right downe to the bottome like the lees of white Wine and that which is thinne and pure remayneth aboue being like vnto Whay or white Must. The said lees and dregs being very white are giuen to seruants and will cause them to sleepe exceedingly That which is thinne and cleere their Masters drinke and in very deede it is maruellous sweet and wholsome liquor Duke Baatu hath thirtie Cottages or Granges within a dayes iourney of
his abiding place euery one of which serueth him daily with the Caracosmos of an hundred Mares milke and so all of them together euery day with the Milke of three thousand Mares besides white Milke which other of his Subiects bring For euen as the Husbandmen of Syria bestow the third part of their fruits and carrie it vnto the Courts of their Lords euen so doe they their Mares milke euery third day Out of their Cowes milke they first churne Butter boyling the which Butter vnto a perfect decoction they put it into Rams skins which they reserue for the same purpose Neither doe they salt their Butter and yet by reason of the long seething it putrifieth not and they keepe it in store for Winter The churnmilke which remayneth of the Butter they let alone till it be as sowre as possibly it may be then they boyle it and in boyling it is turned all into Curds which Curds they drie in the Sun making them as hard as the drosse of Iron and this kind of food also they store vp in Sachels against Winter In the Winter season when Milke fayleth them they put the foresaid Curds which they all Gry-vt into a bladder and powring hot water thereinto they beat it lustily till they haue resolued it into the said Water which is thereby made exceedingly sowre and that they drinke in stead of Milke They are very scrupulous and take diligent heed that they drinke not faire Water by it selfe GReat Lords haue Cottages or Granges towards the South from whence their Tenants bring them Millet and Meale against Winter The poorer sort prouide themselues of such necessaries for the exchange of Rams and of other beasts skins The Tartars slaues fill their bellies with thicke water and are therewithall contented They will neither eate Mise with long tayles nor any kind of Mise with short tayles They haue also certaine little beasts called by them Sogur which he in a Caue twentie or thirtie of them together all the whole Winter sleeping there for the space of sixe moneths and these they take in great abundance There are also a kind of Conies hauing long tayles like vnto Cats and on the outside of their tayles grow blacke and white haires They haue many other small beasts good to eat which they know and discerne right well I saw no Deere there and but a few Hares but a great number of Roes I saw wild Asses in great abundance which be like vnto Mules Also I saw another kind of beast called Artak hauing in all resemblance the bodie of a Ram and crooked hornes which are of such bignesse that I could scarce lift vp a paire of them with one hand and of these hornes they make great drinking cups They haue Faulcons Girfaulcons and other Hawkes in great plentie all which they carrie vpon their right hands and they put alwaies about their Faulcons neckes a string of Leather which hangeth downe to the midst of their gorges by the which string when they cast them off the fist at the game with their left hand they bow downe the heads and breasts of the said Hawkes lest they should be tossed vp and downe and beaten with the wind or lest they should soare too high Wherefore they get a great part of their victuals by hunting and hawking Concerning their garments and attire be it knowne vnto your Maiestie that out of Cataya and other Regions of the East out of Persia also and other Countries of to South there are brought vnto them Stuffes of silke Cloth of gold and Cotton cloth which they weare in time of Summer But out of Russia Moxell Bulgaria the greater and Pascatir that is Hungaria the greater and out of Kersis all which are Northerne Regions and full of Woods and also out of many other Countries of the North which are subiect vnto them the Inhabitants bring them rich and costly skins of diuers sorts which I neuer saw in our Countries wherewithall they are clad in Winter And alwaies against Winter they make themselues two Gownes one with the furre inward to their skinne and another with the furre outward to defend them from wind and snow which for the most part are made of Wolues skins or Foxe skins or else of Papions And when they sit within the house they haue a finer Gowne to weare The poorer sort make their vpper Gowne of Dogs or of Goats skins When they goe to hunt for wild beasts there meets a great companie of them together and enuironing the place round about where they are sure to find some game by little and little they approach on all sides till they haue gotten the wild beasts into the midst as it were into a circle and then they discharge their Arrowes at them Also they make themselues Breeches of skins The rich Tartars sometimes furre their Gownes with pelluce or silke shag which is exceeding soft light and warme The poorer sort doe line their clothes with Cotton cloth which is made of the finest wooll they can picke out and of the courser part of the said wooll they make Felt to couer their houses and their chists and for their bedding also Of the same wooll being mixed with one third part of Horse haire they make all their cordage They make also of the said Felt couerings for their stooles and caps to defend their heads from the weather for all which purposes they spend a great quantitie of their wooll And thus much concerning the attire of the men THe men shaue a plot foure square vpon the crownes of their heads and from the two formost corners they shaue as it were two seames downe to their temples they shaue also their temples and the hinder part of their head euen vnto the nape of the necke likewise they shaue the fore-part of their scalpe downe to their foreheads and vpon their foreheads they leaue a locke of haire reaching downe vnto their eye-browes vpon the two hindermost corners of their heads they haue two lockes also which they twine and braid into knots and so bind and knit them vnder each eare one Moreouer their womens garments differ not from their mens sauing that they are somewhat longer But on the morrow after one of their women is married shee shaues her scalpe from the middest of her head downe to her forehead and weares a wide garment like vnto the hood of a Nunne yea larger and longer in all parts then a Nunnes hood beeing open before and girt vnto them vnder the right side For heerein doe the Tartars differ from the Turkes because the Turkes fasten their garments to their bodies on the left side but the Tartars alwaies on the right side They haue also an ornament for their heads which they call Botta beeing made of the barke of a Tree or of some such other lighter matter as they can finde which by reason of the thicknesse and roundnesse thereof cannot be holden but in both hands together and it hath
wonder what Deuill carried the Religion of Mahomet thither For from Derbent which is vpon the extreme borders of Persia it is aboue thirtie dayes Iourney to passe ouerthwart the Desart and so to ascend by the banke of Etilia into the foresaid Countrey of Bulgaria All which way there is no Citie but onely certayne Cottages neere vnto that place where Etilia falleth into the Sea Those Bulgarians are most wicked Saracens more earnestly professing the damnable Religion of Mahomet then any other Nation whatsoeuer Moreouer when I first beheld the Court of Baatu I was astonied at the sight thereof for his Houses or Tents seemed as though they had beene some huge and mightie Citie stretching out a great way in length the people ranging vp and downe about it for the space of some three or foure leagues And euen as the people of Israel knew euery man on which side of the Tabernacle to pitch his Tent euen so euery one of them knoweth right well towards what side of the Court hee ought to place his house when he takes it from off the Cart. Whereupon the Court is called in their Language Horda which signifieth the midst because the Gouernour or Chieftaine among them dwels alwayes in the middest of his people except onely that directly towards the South no subiect or inferiour person placeth himselfe because towards that Region the Court gates are set open but vnto the right hand and the left hand they extend themselues as farre as they will according to the conueniencie of places so that they place not their houses directly opposite against the Court. At our arriuall wee were conducted vnto a Saracen who prouided not for vs any victuals at all The day following we were brought vnto the Court and Baatu had caused a large Tent to bee erected because his house or ordinary Tent could not contayne so many men and women as were assembled Our Guide admonished vs not to speake till Baatu had giuen vs commandement so to doe and that then we should speake our minds briefly Then Baatu demanded whether your Maiestie had sent Ambassadors vnto him or no I answered that your Maiestie had sent Messengers to Ken-Can and that you would not haue sent Messengers vnto him or Letters vnto Sartach had not your Highnesse beene perswaded that they were become Christians because you sent not vnto them for any feare but onely for congratulation and courtesies sake in regard that you heard they were conuerted to Christianitie Then led he vs vnto his Pauilion and we were charged not to touch the cords of the Tent which they account in stead of the threshold of the house There we stood in our habit bare-footed and bare-headed and were a great and strange spectacle in their eyes For indeed Frier Iohn de Plano Carpini had beene there before my comming howbeit because he was the Popes Messenger he changed his habit that hee might not be contemned Then wee were brought into the very midst of the Tent neither required they of vs to doe any reuerence by bowing our knees as they vse to doe of other Messengers Wee stood therefore before him for the space wherein a man might haue rehearsed the Psalme Miserere mei Deus and there was great silence kept of all men Baatu himselfe sate vpon a seat long and broad like vnto a Bed gilt all ouer with three staires to ascend thereunto and one of his Ladies sate beside him The men there assembled sate downe scattering some on the right hand of the said Lady and some on the left Those places on the one side which the women filled not vp for there were only the Wiues of Baatu were supplyed by the men Also at the very entrance of the Tent stood a bench furnished with Cosmos and with stately great cups of Siluer and Gold being richly set with Precious Stones Baatu beheld vs earnestly and wee him and he seemed to me to resemble in personage Monsieur Iohn de Beaumont whose soule resteth in peace And he had a fresh ruddie colour in his countenance At length hee commanded vs to speake Then our Guide gaue vs direction that we should bow our knees and speake Wherevpon I bowed one knee as vnto a man then he signified that I should kneele vpon both knees and I did so being loth to contend about such circumstances And againe hee commanded me to speake Then I thinking of Prayer vnto God because I kneeled on both my knees beganne to pray on this wise Sir we beseech the Lord from whom all good things doe proceed and who hath giuen you these earthly benefits that it would please him hereafter to make you partaker of his heauenly blessings because the former without these are but vaine and improfitable And I added further Be it knowne vnto you of a certaintie that you shall not obtayne the ioyes of Heauen vnlesse you become a Christian for God saith Whosoeuer beleeueth and is baptized shal be saued but he that beleeueth not shal be condemned At this word he modestly smiled but the other Moals began to clap their hands and to deride vs. And of my silly Interpreter of whom especially I should haue receiued comfort in time of need was himselfe abashed and vtterly dasht out of countenance Then after silence made I said vnto him I came vnto your Sonne because we heard that he was become a Christian and I brought vnto him Letters on the behalfe of my Souereigne Lord the King of France and your Sonne sent me hither vnto you The cause of my comming therefore is best knowne vnto your selfe Then he caused me to rise vp And he enquired your Maiesties Name and my name and the name of mine Associate and Interpreter and caused them all to be put downe in writing He demanded likewise because hee had beene informed that you were departed out of your owne Countries with an Armie against whom you waged warre I answered against the Saracens who had defiled the House of God at Ierusalem He asked also whether your Highnesse had euer before that time sent any Messengers vnto him or no To you Sir said I neuer Then caused he vs to sit downe and gaue vs of his Milke to drinke which they account to be a great fauour especially when any man is admitted to drinke Cosmos with him in his owne house And as I sate looking downe vpon the ground he commanded me to lift vp my countenance being desirous as yet to take more diligent view of vs or else perhaps for a kind of Superstitious obseruation For they esteeme it a signe of ill lucke or a prognostication of euill vnto them when any man sits in their presence holding downe his head as if he were sad especially when hee leanes his cheeke or chin vpon his hand Then we departed forth and immediately after came our Guide vnto vs and conducting vs vnto our Lodging said vnto mee Your Master the King requesteth that you
deceiâ—e the Pope as he had deceiued Mangu Chan. Then Vastacius demanded of him whether he had Letters to the Popey because he was a Messenger and should conduct the Messengers of the Tartars But not being able to shew the Letters he tooke him and spoiled him of all that hee haâ— gotten and cast him in prison And Moal fell sicke and dyed there But Vastacius sent backe the golden Tablet to Mangu Chan by the seruants of Moal whom I met at Assaron in the entrance into Turkie who told mee what happened to Theodolus Such Cosners runne through the world whom the Moallians kill when they can take them Now the Epiphany was at hand and that Armenian Monke Sergius by name told me That he should baptize Mangu Can vpon the Holy-day I â—ntreated him to labour by all meanes that I might be present that I might beare witnesse that I saw it and hee promised he would THE feastiuall day came and the Monke called me not but at sixe of the clocke I was sent for to the Court and I saw the Monke with the Priests returning from the Court with his Crosse and the Priests with the Censer and the Gospell For that day Mangu Chan made a feast And his custome is that vpon such daies as his Sooth-sayers doe appoint vnto him feastiuall or with the Nestorian Priests sometimes make Holy-daies that then he holds his Court And vpon such daies the Christians come first with their furniture and pray for him and blesse his Cup. They then departing the Saracen Priests come and doe the like Next after them come the Idolatrous Priests and doe the same And the Monke told me that he onely beleeues the Christians yet will haue all to pray for him but he lyed for he beleeueth none as you shall hereafter heare yet all follow his Court as flyes doe Honey And he giueth vnto all and all men thinke they are his Familiars and all prophesie prosperitie vnto him Then wee sate before the Court a long space and they brought vs flesh to eate To whom I made answere that we would not eate there but if they would prouide vs meate they should prouide it for vs at our house Then they said get yee home to your house because you were inuited for no other cause but to eate Therefore we returned by the Monkes who blushed at the Lye hee told me wherefore I would not speake a word of that matter Yet some of the Nestorians would affirme vnto mee that he was baptized to whom I said that I would neuer beleeue it nor report it to others seeing I saw it not We came to our cold and emptie house they prouided vs bedding and Couerlets they brought vs also fuell and gaue vs three the carkasse of one little leane Ramme meate for sixe dayes and euery day a little Platter full of Millet and lent vs a Caldron and a Triuet to boyle our flesh which being sodden we sod our Millet in the broath of the flesh This was our meate and it had well sufficed vs if they had suffered vs to eate in peace But there are so many hunger-starued who are not prouided of meate that as soone as they saw vs dresse meate they thrust in vpon vs and must eate with vs. There I found by experience how great a Martyrdome liberalitie is in pouertie Then the cold began much to preuaile and Mangu Chan sent vs three Pelt-coates of the Skinnes of Papions Papionum whose haire they turne outward which we thankfully receiued They demanded also how we were prouided of necessary food To whom I answered that little meate sufficed vs but we haue not an house wherein to pray for Mangu Chan. For our Cottage was so little that we could scarce stand vpright in it nor open our Bookes as soone as wee made fire Then they brought him word and hee sent vnto the Monke to know if hee would haue our company who gladly answered that hee would From that time wee were prouided of a better house and we went downe with the Monke before the Court where none lodged but we and their Sooth-sayers but they lodged neerer before the Palace of the greatest Lady and wee in the furthest end towards the East before the Palace of the last Lady And that was done the day before Octabis Epiphaniae On the morrow to wit in Octauis Epiphaniâ— all the Nestorian Priests came together before day at the Chappell and smote vpon a board and sang Matines solemnely and put on their Ornaments preparing the Censer and the Incense And while they stayed wayting thus behold in the morning the principall Wife Cotota Caten by name Caten is as much as Ladie and Cotota her proper name came into the Chappell with many other Ladies and with her eldest Sonne called Baltu and other little ones of hers And they cast themselues downe vpon the Earth ducking after the manner of the Nestorians and after this they touched all the Images with their right hands alwayes kissing their hands after they had touched and after that they gaue their right hands to all that stood about them in the Church For this is the custome of the Nestorians when they come into the Church Then the Priests sang many things giuing the Lady Incense in her hand and she put it vpon the fire then they perfumed her After this when the day was cleere shee began to put off the Ornament of her head which is called Baccha and I saw her bare scull then shee commanded vs to goe forth and as I went out I saw a siluer Bason brought whether they baptized her or no I know not but I know they celebrate not Masse in a Tent but in a standing Church And in the Easter I saw them baptize and hallow Fount with great Solemnitie which now they did not And while we went into our house Mangu Chan himselfe came and went into the Church or Oratory and a Golden Bed was brought on which hee sate by his Queene ouer against the Altar Then were we sent for not knowing that Mangu was come And the Doore-keepers searched vs lest we should haue Kniues about vs. But comming into the Oratory hauing a Bible and a Breuiary in my bosome I first bowed downe vnto the Altar and after to Mangu Chan and so passing by we stood betweene the Monke and the Altar Then they made vs sing a Psalme after our manner and chaunt it But we sang of that prose Veni Sancte Spiritus c. And Cham caused our Bookes to be brought vnto him the Bible and the Breuiarie and diligently inquired concerning the Images what they signified The Nestorians answered him at their pleasure because our Interpreter came not in with vs. And when I was first before him I had the Bible in my bosome which he commanded to be brought vnto him who looked earnestly vpon it Then he departed and his Ladie remayned there and distributed gifts to all the Christians
of the blessed Water and wee read the Passion ouer her And those miserable Priests neuer taught her the Faith nor aduised her to bee baptised But I sate there mute not able to speake any thing but shee still taught me the Language and the Priests neuer find fault with any kind of Sorcerie For there I saw foure swords halfe drawne out of the sheath one at the head of the Ladies bed another at the feet and two other on either side of the doore one I saw also there one siluer Chalice of our Chalices which peraduenture was taken or stolne out of some Church of Hungary and it hung against the walls full of ashes and vpon those ashes there was a blacke stone And concerning such things the Priests neuer teach them that they are euill Nay they themselues doe and teach such things We visited her three daies so that shee was restored to perfect health After that the Monke made a Banner full of Crosses and got a Cane as long as a Lance and we carried the Crosse aloft I honored him as my Bishop because hee could speake the Language yet hee did many things which pleased me not for he caused a Chaire which may be folded to bee made for him such as Bishops vse to haue and Gloues and a Cap of Peacocks feathers and vpon it a little Crosse of gold I was well pleased with the Crosse. Hee had scabbed feete which hee laboured to grace with ointments and was very presumptuous in speech The Nestorians also repeated certaine Verses of the Psalter as they said vpon two rods which were ioyned together being held of two men The Monke was present at such things And many other vanities appeared in him which displeased me Yet wee ioyned our selues to his societie for the honor of the Crosse. For we carried the Crosse aduanced through all the Tents singing Vexilla Regis prodeunt c. Wherevpon the Saracens were much dismaied SInce we came to the Court of Mangu Chan he rode but twice towards the South and from that time he beganne to returne towards the North which was toward Caracarum Wherevpon I noted all the way a thing of which Master Baldwin of Hannonia had spoken to mee at Constantinople who was there that he had seene this onely wonderfull that he alwaies ascended in going and neuer descended For all Riuers came from the East into the West either directly or indirectly that is to say bending towards the South or North. And I enquired of the Priests which came from Cataya who testified this same From that place where I found Mangu Chan vnto Cataya were twentie daies iourney going towards the South and East To Onan Kerule which is the proper Countrey of Moall where the Court of Chingis is were ten daies iourney right East And in those parts of the East there was no Citie yet there were people which are called Su-Moall that is to say Moall of the Waters for Su is as much to say as Water These people liue vpon Fish and hunting hauing neither Flocks nor Heards Towards the North likewise there is no Citie but a poore people feeding Cattell who are called Kerkis The Orangei are also there who binde smoothe filed bones vnder their feete and thrust themselues forward vpon the congealed Snow and Ice with such swiftnesse that they take Birds and Beasts And many other poore people there are on the North side so farre as they may spread themselues for the cold And they ioyne on the West with the Countrey of Pascatir which is Hungaria the Greater whereof I haue spoken before The bound or limit of the North corner is not knowne for the extremitie of the cold for in that place there are continull spires or heapes of Snow I was inquisitiue of the Monsters or monstrous men whereof Isidorus and Solinus make report They told me they neuer saw any such whereof we much wonder whether it bee true or no. All the Nations aforesaid although but poore yet they must serue in some trade for it was the commandement of Chingis that none should bee free from seruice till hee were so old that he could labour no longer by any meanes Vpon a time a certaine Priest of Cataya sate with mee clothed with a red coloured cloth and I demanded of him whence hee had such a colour And he told me that in the East parts of Cataya there were high craggie Rockâ— wherein certaine Creatures dwell hauing in all parts the shape of men but that they bow not the knees but walke I know not how leaping which are not aboue one cubit long and their whole body is couered with haire who haue their abode in Caues which no man can come vnto And they that hunt them goe vnto them and carry strong drinke with them as strong as they can make and make pits in the Rocks like Cups filling them with that strong drinke For Cataia as yet hath no Wine but now they beginne to plant Vineyards for they make drinke of Rice The Hunters therefore hide themselues then the foresaid Creatures come out of their holes and taste the said drinke and crie Chin-chin Then they come together in great multitudes and drinke the said drinke and are made drunke so that they sleepe there Then the Hunters come and bind them hand and feete while they are sleeping and after they open the Veine in their necke and draw forth three or foure drops of bloud from euery one and let them goe free And that bloud as he told me is most precious to die purple He told it also for truth which neuerthelesse I doe not beleeue that there is a Prouince beyond Cataia into the which at whatsoeuer age a man enters he continueth in the same age wherein he entred Cataia is vpon the Ocean And Master Willielmus Parisiensis told me that the same Messengers of certaine people which are called Taute and Manse who inhabit Ilands whose Sea is frozen in the winter so that the Tartars may inuade them who offered two thousand Tumen or Iascots yeerely so they would let them liue in peace Tumen is a piece of money contayning ten Markes The common money of Cataia is Paper made of Bombaste the breadth and length of an hand vpon the which they imprint lines like the Seale of Mangu They write with a Pensill wherewith Painters paint and in one figure they make many letters comprehending one word The people of Thebet write as wee doe and they haue Characters very like ours They of Tangut write from the right hand vnto the left as the Arabians and multiply the lines ascending vpward Iugur as aforesaid from aboue downeward The common mony of the Rutenians are little spotted and grisel'd skins When we came with the Monke hee charitably admonished vs to abstaine from flesh and that our seruants should eate flesh with his seruants but he would promise vs Meale and Oyle or Butter Which wee did
I said vnto him I haue nothing to speake on the behalfe of any man vnlesse I should speake the words of God vnto him if he would heare them for he should best know what Baatu hath written to him They stucke vpon this word demanding what words of God I would speake vnto him thinking I would prophesie vnto him some prosperous thing as many vse to doe To whom I answered if yee will that I speake the words of God vnto him get me an Interpreter Who said we haue sent for him yet speake by this Interpreter as you may wee shall vnderstand you well And they vrged mee much to speake Then I said This is the word of God To whom more is committed more is required at his hands another also to whom more is forgiuen hee ought to loue more out of these true words of God I said to Mangu himselfe that God hath giuen him much For the power and riches which hee hath the Idols of the Tuinians haue not giuen him but the Omnipotent God who hath made Heauen and Earth in whose hands all Kingdomes are and hee translateth them from Nation to Nation for the sinnes of men Wherefore if he loue him it shall goe well with him if otherwise let him know that God will require all these things at his hands euen to the vttermost farthing Then said one of the Saracens Is there any man that loueth not God I answered God saith if any man loue me he will keepe my Commandements and he that loueth me not keepeth not my Commandements Therefore hee that keepeth not the Commandements of God loueth not God Then said hee haue yee bin in Heauen that yee might know the Commandements of God No said I but he hath giuen them from Heauen to holy men and at the last himselfe descended from Heauen teaching vs and wee haue those things in the Scriptures and we see by the workes of men whether they keepe them or no. Whereto hee replyed will yee then say that Mangu Chan keepes not the Commandements of God To whom I said Your Interpreter wil come as yee say then before Mangu Chan if it please him I wil recite the Commandements of God and he shall be his owne Iudge whether hee keepe them or not So they departed and told him that I said hee was an Idolater or a Tuine and kept not the Commandements of God The next day he sent his Secretaries vnto mee saying Our Lord sends vs vnto you saying Yee are heere Christians Saracens and Tuines and euery of you saith his Law is better and his Letters to wit Bookes are truer Wherefore hee would that yee all come together and make comparison that euery one write his words that he might know the truth Then I said Blessed be God who hath put this in the heart of Chan but our Scriptures said the Seruant of God must not bee contentious but meeke vnto all wherefore I am readie without strife and contention to render an account of the faith and hope of Christians to euery one that shall require it Then they wrote my words and brought them to him Then the Nestorians were commanded to prouide themselues and write what they would speake and the Saracens likewise and the Tuinians also On the morrow hee sent the Secretaries againe sayng Mangu Chan would know wherefore yee came to these parts to whom I said That hee shall know by the Letters of Baatu Then said they Baatues Letters are lost and hee hath forgotten what Baatu wrote vnto him wherefore he would know of you Then somewhat imboldned I said vnto them The dutie or office of our Religion is to preach the Gospell to all whereupon when I heard of the fame of the people of Moal I had a desire to come vnto them and while I was thus purposed we heard of Sartach that he was a Christian. Then I directed my Iourney vnto him And my Souereigne Lord the King of the Frankes sent him Letters contayning good words and other words besides testifie of vs vnto him what men wee are when hee made request that hee would suffer vs to continue with the people of Moal Then he sent vs to Baatu and Baatu to Mangu Chan. Whereupon we intreated and yet intreat him to suffer vs to stay But they wrote all and made relation thereof vnto him On the morrow he sent to me againe saying Chan knowes well enough that yee haue no message vnto him but yee came to pray for him as many other Priests doe But hee demandeth whether euer any of your Embassadours were with him or ours with you Then I declared all vnto them concerning Dauid and Frier Andrew so they putting all in writâ—ng reported the same vnto him Then he sent againe vnto me saying Our Lord Chan saiâ—h yee haue stayed long here his pleasure is that yee returne vnto your Countrey withall hee demandeth whether yee would conduct his Embassadours with you To whom I made answere that I durst not carrie his Embassadours beyond his owne Countrey because there is a Warlike Nation betweene vs and you and the Sea and Mountaynes and I am a poore Monke and therefore dare not take vpon mee to bee his Guide So they hauing set downe all in writing returned Whitson Eeuen came The Nestorians writ Chronicles from the Creation of the World to the Passion of Christ and passing ouer the Passion they spake of the Resurrection of the dead and of the Ascension and of the comming to Iudgement Wherein somewhat was to be reprehended which I told them and wee likewise wrote the Symbole of the Masse Credo in vnum Deum Then I demanded of them how they would proceed They said they would first dispute with the Saracens I shewed them this was no good course for the Saracens in this agree with vs who affirme there is but one God Wherefore yee shall haue them to helpe you against the Tuines so they were contented Then I asked tâ—em if they knew how Idolatry had his first originall in the World and they could not tell Then I told them and they said yee shall declare these things vnto them and then let vs speake for it is hard to speake by an Interpreter To whom I said make tryall how yee will behaue your selues against them I will take the Tuinians part and yee the Christians Suppose I am of that Sect that say there is no God Proue yee there is a God For there is a certayne Sect there which saith That euery soule and euery vertue in what thing soeuer is the God thereof and that otherwise there is no God Then the Nestorians knew not how to prooue any thing but only that which their Writing declareth I said they beleeue not the Scriptures if yee shew one they will shew another Then I counselled them to let me first talke with them because if I should be ouercome they might yet haue libertie of speech if they should be ouerthrowne I should
to the dangerous Passage of twentie there were two which had Habergions And I demanded whence they had them They said they had gotten them of the Alani aforesaid who are good Worke-men for such things and excellent Smiths Whereupon I thinke they haue small store of Armour but Quiuers and Bowes and Leather Iackes I saw them presented with Iron Plates and Iron Sculls capillos out of Persia. And saw two also who presented themselues to Mangu armed with Coats made of Hogs skins bent inward of rough Leather which were very vnfit and vnwildy Before we came to Porta ferrea we found one Castle of the Alani which was Mangu Chans for hee had subdued that Countrey There we first found Vineyards and drunke Wine The day following wee came to Porta ferrea which Alexander the Macedonian King made And it is a Citie whose East end is vpon the Sea shoare and there is a little Plaine betweene the Sea and the Mountaines through which the Citie is stretched forth in length vnto the top of the Mountaine which bordereth vpon it on the West so that there is no way aboue for the roughnesse of the Mountaines nor below for the Sea but forth-right through the middest of the Citie ouerthwart where there is an Iron gate from whence the Citie hath the name And the Citie is more then a mile long and in the top of the Hill a strong Castle and it is as much in bredth as a great stones cast it hath very strong walls without Trenches and Turrets of great polished stones But the Tartars haue destroyed the tops of the Turrets and the Bulwarkes of the Walls laying the Turrets euen with the Wall Beneath that Citie the Countrey was wont to bee like a Paradise Two dayes iourney hence we found another Citie called Samaron wherein there were many Iewes And when we past it we saw walles descending from the Mountaines to the Sea And leauing the way by the Sea by those walles because it bent towards the East wee went vp into the high Countries towards the South On the morrow wee passed through a certaine Valley wherein the foundations of walles appeared from one mountaine to another and there was no way through the tops of the Mountaines These were sometimes the Inclosures or walles of Alexander restraining the fierce Nations to wit the Shepheards of the Wildernes that they could not inuade the inhabited Countries and Cities There are other walles or Inclosures where Iewes are The next day we came vnto a certaine great Citie called Samag And after this we entred into a great Plaine called Moan through which the Riuer Cur floweth of the which the Curgi haue their name whom we call Georgians And it runneth through the middle of Tiflis which is the Metropolis of the Curgines and in comes directly from the West running to the East to the foresaid Caspian Sea and it hath excellent Salmons In that plaine wee â—ound Tartars againe Also by that plaine comes the Riuer Araxes which commeth from the greater Armenia from betwixt the South and West of which it is called the Land Araxat which is Armenia it selfe Whereupon in the booke of the Kings it is said of the Sonnes of Sennacherib that hauing slaine their Father they fled into the Land of the Armenians And in Esay it is said that they fled into the Land of Ararat To the West then of that most beautifull Plaine is Curgia In that Plaine the Crosmini were wont to be And there is a great Citie in the entrance of the Mountaines called Ganges which was their Metropolis stopping the Georgians that they could not come downe into the Plaine Then wee came to the Bridge of Ships which were fastened together with a great Yron chaine stretched forth crosse the Riuer where Cur and Araxes meet together But Cur loseth his name there AFter that wee went alwayes vpward by Araxes whereof it is said Pontem dedignatur Araxis Araxes disdaines a Bridge Leauing Persia and the Caspian mountaines on the left hand towards the South on the right hand Curgia and the great Sea toward the West going Southwest betweene the South and the West We passed through the meadows of Bacchu who is Generall of that Armie which is there within Araxis And hee hath made the Curgi and Turkes and Persians subiect to him There is another Gouernour in Persia at Taurinum ouer the Tribute called Argon Both which Mangu Chan hath called home to giue place to his Brother comming into those Countries That Countrey which I haue described to you is not properly Persia but was sometimes called Hyrcania I was in Bacchues house and hee gaue vs Wine to drinke and he himselfe dranke Cosmos which I would willingly haue drunke if he had giuen it me yet it was the best new Wine but Cosmos is more wholsome for an hunger-staruen man Wee went vp therefore by the Riuer Araxes from the Feast of Saint Clement vnto the second Sunday in Lent till we came to the head of the Riuer And beyond that Mountaine where it riseth there is a goodly Citie called Arserum which belongeth to the Soldan of Turkie And neare thereabout Euphrates ariseth towards the North at the foot of the Mountaines of Curgia to whose Spring I had gone but the Snow was so great that no man could goe out of the trodden path on the other side of the Mountaines of Caucasus towards the South ariseth Tigris When we departed from Bacchu my Guide went to Taurinum to speake with Argon carrying my Interpreter with him But Bacchu caused me to bee brought to a certaine Citie called Naxnan which sometimes was the head of a certaine great Kingdome and the greatest and fairest Citie but the Tartars haue made it a Wildernes And there were sometimes Eight hundred Churches of the Armenians there now there are but two little ones for the Saracens haue destroyed them In one of the which I held the feast of Christmas as I could with our Clerke And the next day following the Priest of that Church dyed to whose buriall came a certaine Bishop with twelue Monkes of the high Countries For all the Bishops of the Armenians are Monkes and of the Greekes likewise for the greater part That Bishop told me that there was a Church neere that where Saint Bartholmew and likewise Saint Iudas Thaddaeus were martyred but there was no way open for Snow He told me also that they haue two Prophets The first or chiefe is Methodius the Martyr who was of their Country and plainely Prophesied of the Ismaelites Which Prophesie is fulfilled in the Saracens The other Prophet is called Acacron who when hee dyed Prophesied of a Nation of Archers that should come from the North saying That they should Conquer all the Countries of the East and should spare the Kingdome of the East that he might giue them the Kingdome of the West But he saith our Friers the Frankes being Catholikes beleeue them not
Familie decayed by disaduentures or of any which cannot worke and haue no meanes he causeth to giue to such Families the whole yeares expenses each of such Families going to the Officers for that purpose and shewing their Bill of allowance receiue prouisions accordingly There is a Palace deputed for those Officers They are prouided also of garments for Winter and for Summer the Can hauing the Tenths of all Wool and Silke and Hempe which he causeth to bee made into Clothes in a house thereto appointed for all Trades are bound one day in the weeke to worke for him He prouides also apparell for his Armies and in euery Citie causeth Cloth to be made of his tithe wooll You must vnderstand that â—he Tartars ancient customes knew no almes but rather vpbraided such as were in necessitie as hated of God But the Idolaters especially these Bachsi haue propounded it as a good worke acceptable to God and haue taught him to be thus bountifull so that in his Court bread is neuer denyed to any which aske and there is no day in which is not giuen away twentie thousand Crownes in Rice Millet and Panike whereby he is esteemed as a God There are also in Cambalu of Christians Saracens and Catayans about fiue thousand Astrologers and Diuiners which the Great Can prouideth yeerly of foode and rayment as those poore abouesaid These haue an Astrolabe in which are marked the signes of the Planets the houres and points of all the yeere Herein all these Astrologers each Religion apart view the course of the yeere according to euery Moone obseruing the disposition of the weather referring alway to God to doe more or lesse after his owne pleasure They write also vpon certaine squares they call them Tacuini the things which are to come that yeere which they sell to those that will buy them and such as speake most truth are most honored If any intend any great worke or to goe a farre iourney and will know the euent before-hand he makes recourse to these Astrologers to see it with their eyes in the Heauens which they doe comparing the present Constellation with that of his Birth which they demand of him so foretelling him the good or euill The Tartars reckon the computation of their yeeres by twelues the first signified by a Lion the second by an Oxe the third by a Dragon the fourth by a Dogge and so thorow the whole twelue so that if a man be demanded when he was borne he will answer such a point of such an houre of such a day in the yeere Lion this their fathers exactly set downe in a booke and when the twelue is complete they goe ouer the same againe Of their Religion we haue said that they are Idolaters and for their Gods haue a Table set aloft in the wall of their Chamber on which is written a Name representing the High God of Heauen and there euery day with a Censer of incense they adore it in this manner They lift vp their hands aloft and strike their teeth thrice praying it to giue them a good vnderstanding and health and desire thereof nothing else Besides on the ground they haue another statue called Natigai The God of earthly things with his Wife and Children as before is said whom likewise they worship with incense striking or gnashing the teeth and lifting vp the hands and desire thereof temperature of the aire fruits of the earth children and the like They hold the Soule to be immortal and that when a man dies it enters into another bodie better or worse according to the merits in the former life as of a poore man to become a Gentleman and after of a Prince or Lord and so higher till it be assumpted in God or if it hath ill deserued to be a poorer man after a Dogge alway descending to the lowest ranke of basenesse They haue a comely speech salute cheerfully and honestly haue a gracefull carriage and feed cleanly They beare great reuerence to their Parents and if any be vndutifull or helplesse to their necessitie there is a publike Office designed to this particular to punish vngratefull or disobedient children Prisoners are released at three yeeres end and marked in the cheeke to be knowne Malefactors The Barons and People which goe to the Grand Can obserue these Rites First within halfe a mile of the place where the Can is all is husht and quiet without noyse or cryes or any loud speech and euery Baron carries continually a little faire vessell to spit in after which hee couers it none daring to spit on the Hall They haue Furre buskins of white leather which they put on when they enter the Hall putting off the former and giuing them to the seruants lest they should foule the faire artificiall Carpets TEn miles off Cambalu is a certayne great Riuer named Pulisangan emptying it selfe into the Ocean by which many ships with much merchandise ascend And in that place there is a very faire Bridge all of Serpentine stone curiously wrought contayning three hundred paces in length and eight in breadth that ten men may ride abrest On each side it is fairely mounted with a wall of marble and Pillars set on a rew and in the height of the ascent is a great and high Pillar at the foote whereof is a great Lion and on the top another And so quite thorow the Bridge one pace and halfe distant are Pillars with Lions on the top and a faire well-wrought marble worke betwixt to keepe men from falling Hauing passed ouer the Riuer and Bridge proceeding thirtie miles westward in which Palaces are continually seene with Vineyards and fertile Fields you come to the Citie Gouza both faire and great hauing many Monasteries of Idols Cloth of gold and silkes are made there and the purest and finest Cambricks or Launes and many common Innes for Strangers and Trauailers are found in that Citie The Citizens are Artificers and Merchants A mile without this Citie the way parteth one leading West the other South-east that to the West leadeth through the Prouince of Cathay but the other towards the Countrey of Maugi From the Citie of Gouza to the Kingdome of Tainfu you ride ten dayes thorow Cataio alway finding many faire Cities and Castles well traded with Vineyards and tilled Fields from whence Wine is carried to Cataio where it wants There are many Mulberrie trees for Silke-workes the People ciuill and Cities very frequent Tainfu is the name of the Kingdome and of the chiefe Citie which is great and faire hath much trading with store of munition fit for the Cans Armies The Wine about this Citie serueth the whole Prouince Seuen dayes further westward is a goodly Countrey beautified with many Castles and Cities in which also great trade of merchandise is vsed After which you come to a Citie very great named Pianfu in which there is great abundance of Silke and Trading Westward from Pianfu
weare cut Hose and Caps and blunt Swords and a Portugall that was carryed captiue the Land inward told me that he heard the Chinas say that they called these Alimenes §. II. Cantan described the publike and priuate buildings and Gouernment The shipping and Husbandry of China their contempt of the idle and prouision for impotent poore BEing to intreate of the Citie of Cantan I giue first a warning to the Readers that among many Noble Cities Cantan is one lesse Noble then many of China and farre inferiour in building then many other although it be more populous then many this is said by all them that saw it and trauelled within the Land where they saw many other This aduice presupposed it is to be noted that Cantan in his compasse is of very strong Wals very well made and of a good height and to the sight they seeme almost new beeing eighteene hundred yeares since they were made as the Chinas did affirme they are very cleane without any cleft hole or rift or any thing threatning ruine They are of free stone about a mans height and from thence vpward of brickes made of a clay like vnto that of the Porcelane Dishes whence it causeth them to bee so strong that I building a Chappell in Malaca one of these which was brought from China could scarsly bee broken with a good Pick-axe Iointly with this there is in this Citie and in all the rest an Officer of the King which onely hath care to ouer-see the Wals for the which he hath a good stipend And euery yeare when the Gouernour of the Borders commeth to visit the Prouince hee doth visit this as well as the other Officers to know if he doth well his Office and finding him in any fault or negligence hee is put from his Office and punished And if he standeth in need of any expence for the mending of the Walls the Ouer-seer of the Rents is bound to giue him that which is necessarie vnder paine that if the mending remayneth vndone he shall bee well punished For this cause the Wals of all the Cities are continually kept sound and in good reparation These Walles are within the Citie little more then the walke of the same Citie in their height which is the cause of beeing much more cooler The Wals haue in compasse 12350. paces and it hath eighty three Bulwarks This Citie and so all the rest hath on the one side the Riuer along the which as well this as the rest are built almost in a Valley and on the other side they haue a Ditch full of water of a good breadth betweene the which and the wall remayneth a good distance where there may runne together a good troupe of people and the Earth that was taken out of the Ditch was cast betweene it and the wall whereby the foot of the wall remayneth a great deale higher then the other ground Besides the ditch notwithstanding this wall hath a great blemish for it hath on the contrarie side to the Riuer without the wals and the ditch a little Hillocke that discouereth all the Citie within the wals This wall hath seuen gates the entries of the which are sumptuous and high strong and well made with Pinacles aboue not square but made like steps The other places of the wals haue no Pinacles the wall at the entring of the gates is twelue paces thicke the gates are all ouer plated with Iron and all of them haue their draw-bridges very strong which are alwayes vp and are neuer let downe but are ready against they be needfull all the gates at the entrings haue Courts and the Courts that are toward the side of the Suburbs which lyeth along the Riuer haue euery one three gates one in the front and two on the sides which remayne for the seruice of streets that lye along the wall the wals of the Courts are almost of the height of them within the gate which is in the front in the Court is like vnto that of the wals within it hath also a draw-bridge the gates which are in the side of the Courts are small The Courts that are on the other-side of the field where no Suburbe is haue no more but one gate and this not right against that of the wals but stand on the one side the streets of the Citie are all drawne by a Line very straight without any manner of making a nooke or winding all the crosse wayes are as straight as the streets in sort that there is neyther street nor trauerse that maketh any turning All the streets and trauerses are very well paued the pauements going along the Houses and lower in the middest for the course of water the principall streets haue triumphant Arches which doe crosse them high and very well made which make the streets very beautifull and enoble the Citie the principall streets haue along the Houses close Portals in the which and vnder the Arches many things are sold. The Houses of them which rule the Countrey are at the entrings very sumptuous with high Portals great and well wrought of Masons worke they haue in the fore-front very great gates like the gates of a Citie with two Giants painted with Clubs in their hands I saw foure in one Pagode which is a Temple of Idols drawne naturally from some which they say the King hath to keepe his weakest passages from Tartaria They are of great members of about twelue or thirteene spans high On the street side it hath right against the principall Porch a receite not very great It hath built along the street a good wall of a good height right against the gate that when the gate is open they that are within may not be gazed on by them that goe by the street this gate serueth not neither is it opened but for dispatching of matters of Iustice and the principall of the House goe in and out at them and others that are as honourable or more then they at the one side of this principall gate is another very great gate but not so big as the principall which is for the seruice of the House and of the Prisoners when the principall gate is shut and when this principall gate is shut they set a glued Paper crosse ouer both the leaues on which is written the name or firme of the principall of the House and for to open it againe an Officer of the House bringeth the same firme or marke on a playstered board to the Porter that hee may open it without the which token hee may not open it vnder a great punishment Entring by this gate there is a great Court and almost square which is almost a Horse-race and it hath a Gallery little lesse then the length of the gate which leadeth straight from the gate to a very great Table that stands at the end of the Court the which is all paued with square stones with leanings as high as a
mans waste and it is high in the entry of the gate and there remayneth onely one step in the end of it to the Table and the course in the sides of the Gallery is low that they goe downe to it by steps this Gallery of the middest is of such respect among them that in no wise it is lawfull for any one to passe through it but onely some of the chiefest of the House or others as great or greater then they and those that goe to negotiate with the Officer of the House when they enter in at the gate they must goe presently to one side going downe to the Court which hath very great Trees for shaddow and they goe vp againe by steps vnto the Table aboue-said which is at the end of the Court which is very great In the end of this Table in all his length there is a step and within the step a very great walke all paued with square stones as the Table without it and very high and all wrought with Masons worke in the middest of it leaning to the wall of the front are two Chaires with two Tables before them a little distant the one from the other one of them which stands on the left hand serueth for the Gouernour of that house and that of the right hand is void for if there should come another of a higher dignitie then hee to sit him downe To euery one of the sides there are two spaces which runne behind this Gouernour and are of a good breadth hauing placed along the sides of these two spaces in euery one fiue Chaires with fiue Tables before them and as the distance from them to the principall Gouernour is good they remayne though behind in sight of the principall Gouernour These serue for ten Assistants which are with the principall at the dispatching of waightie matters From these Galleries inward are greate Lodgings as well for the Gouernour of the House as for the Assistants and for all the other Ministers and Officers of the House which are many as we will shew in their place On euery side of the Court are very great Prisons and great Lodgings as well for the Iaylours which also are of great authoritie as for the Watches that watch by night and by day but neither these Prisons nor the Chambers of the Ministers of theâ— nor the Lodgings of the chiefe of the House are seene outward for they are serued of all things the doores shut and haue continually their Porters There are in Cantan foure of these Houses for foure principall Officers and in euery Prouince in the Citie that is the Head of the Prouince there are fiue of these Houses in Cantan there are but foure for as the Gouernour of Cantan is also Gouernour of Cansi he is not resident in Cantan but in a Citie that is in the Borders of one of the Prouinces that the recourse in the Affaires of both the Prouinces may be the easier Besides these principall Houses of the chiefe Gouernours there are many other in Cantan the which though they bee not of so great Maiestie as they they are notwithstanding very great of other inferiour Officers and chiefly those of the chiefe Iaylour which are very great There is on the wals of Cantan on the contrary side of the Riuer a high Towre all close behind that they which are in it may not bee seene nor gazed on from the Hillocke or Mount aforesaid that was without the wals and it is built in length along the wall so that it is longer then broad and it is all made in Galleries very sumptuous from whence they discouer all the Citie and the Marshes and Fields beyond the Riuer which serueth for the recreation of them that rule In the other Cities are such buildings which serue for recreation many and very sumptuous and of singular building The Houses of the common people in the outward shew are not commonly very faire but within are much to be admired for commonly they are white as Milke that they seeme like sleeked Paper they are paued with square stones along the ground of a spanne little more or lesse they are dyed with Vermilion or almost blacke the Timber is all very smooth and euen and finely wrought and placed that it seemeth to be all polished or dyed or in white and some there is in white so faire and pleasant to the sight waued Damaske-like as it were Gold and so bright that they should doe it injurie in painting it I confesse in truth that I neuer saw so fine Timber as that It hath after the House that is at the entrie a Court with solaces of small Trees and Bowers with a faire little Fountayne and then at the entring of the House where the women doe with-draw themselues it hath a certaine manner of a Gallery open before towards the Court where they haue verie great Cubboards finely wrought which takes the one square of the House in the which they haue their Oratories and Gods made of Wood or of Clay these Oratories are more or lesse curious according to the abilitie of euerie one all the Houses are tiled with very good Tiles better and of more continuance then ours for besides they being well made they are of verie good Clay those which receiue the water are broad and short and the vppermost that close the other are narrower and at the ends toward the street side they are garnished with fine Workes made of Lime for many yeares they haue no need to be tiled againe for as the Clay is very good they are not so mouldring as ours or so rough but they are very smooth and warme and beeing so well set they breed no filthinesse There bee many Houses faire within and very few with Lofts the most are low Houses They haue in the middest of the Citie a Temple of Idols with high Towres the wals of the which we will speake of hereafter they haue their Mesquit with Alcoran very high with his Pinacle on the top The Suburbes without are very great and of many Houses in such sort that some Portugals would haue compared them in bignesse with them of Lisbon but to mee and to others they seemed lesse though they bee bigger and of more Houses then the Citie within the wals It is very populous and the people is so much that at the entring of the gates on the Riuer side yee can scarce get through Commonly the people that goeth out and in doe cry and make a great noyse to giue place to them that carrie burthens And the Rulers of the Citie commanding to enquire what victuals were spent euery day it was found to spend only fiue or sixe thousand Porkes and ten or eleuen thousand Duckes besides which they eate great store of Beeues and Buffes and many Hens and an infinite deale of fish whereof the Markets and streets are full and many Frogs and Shel-fish great store of Fruits and all
and of Embassadors EVery one that in China hath any office command or dignitie by the King is called Louthia which is to say with vs SenÌ„or How this Title is giuen him we will in his place make mention of it There are in euery Prouince of China one thousand Louthias or according to others three thousand besides those that are resident in the Court by whom are ordayned all matters of the Kingdome and to whom come all the waightie matters of all the Realme And because they are to dispatch with the King and conuerse with him within doores and it is not lawfull for other to conuerse with them neither doe other see them and they haue entrance where the Wiues of the King are which are many they are commonly Eunuchs In euery Prouince are fiue which among the rest are most principall which haue a very great authoritie and majestie in their persons and are greatly reuerenced and honored not onely of the common people but also of all the other Lothyas The principall of the fiue is the Gouernour which in their language is called Tutom to this come all matters both great and small of all the Prouince and for the authoritie and majestie of his person he is not resident where the other Lothyas that hee may not bee frequented of them and so he may be more esteemed and feared To these come all the Rents of the Prouinces except the ordinarie expences and by him as well the businesses as the Rents that are gathered and all that hapneth in the Prouinces are referred and sent to the Court The second dignitie of the Prouinces is the Ouer-seers of the goods which in their language is called Ponchassi this hath the care to send to recouer through all the Prouince the Rents thereof for the which hee hath many Lothyas vnder his iurisdiction which are particular Officers for the businesses and recoueries of the goods This prouideth all the ordinarie charges of the Prouince and with that which remayneth he resorteth to the Tutom that he may send it to the Court this may enter-meddle in graue matters of the other Officers inferiour and hath authoritie ouer them Likewise all the matters and affaires of the Prouince resort vnto him to bee referred by him to the Tutom Another chiefe dignitie vnder this is the chiefe Iustice which in their language is called Anchasi and though there be many other Officers of Iustice this is aboue all and by him are the dispatches distributed to the rest and all matters of Iustice resort vnto him as one that hath authoritie of the other inferiour Another dignitie vnder this is the chiefe Captaine who in their tongue is called Aitao To this Aitao pertayneth to command to prepare the men of warre and all that is necessarie of shipping and victuals and all other prouision against Enemies and against Theeues to this belong also the businesses of strangers in cases which belong not to the goods The fift and last of the great dignities is of the chiefe Captaine which putteth in execution the matters of warre and is resident in the Armies which the Aitao being a land doth ordayne when it is necessarie besides the putting matters in execution and order if the matter require his presence he goeth in person and so important may the matter be that the Aitao will goe This is called in the Countrie language Inthissi In the house of euery one of these except the Luthissi which is the inferiour of the fiue are other ten which are as Assistants and are also of great authoritie fiue of these doe sit at the right hand of the Principal in fiue chaires recited before when we spake of the buildings and fiue doe sit on the left hand these in matters of importance are at the dispatching with the principall of the house and the Principall dying or by any other meanes wanting one of these according to his antiquitie remayneth in his stead and if it be necessary to goe through the Prouince about some matter of importance that appertayneth to the dignitie in whose house they assist one of these doe goe with all the authoritie of the Principall The fiue that sit on the right hand haue a greater degree and dignitie then the fiue on the left hand And as the dignitie consisteth in their Girdles and Canopies those of the right hand weare Girdles of gold and Canopies of yellow and those of the left hand weare Girdles of siluer and Canopies of blew or of changeable colour The Girdles are little lesse then three fingers broad and an inch thick and all about of gold or of siluer very well wrought made of peeces The Canopies are very large and faire which an Officer doth beare vpon a staffe a fathom long of a Cloue tree very faire and they are lined with silke Besides these Assistants and the fiue Principall there is among the inferiour one of greater dignitie which is the chiefe Iaylor whom they call Taissu which haue very great houâ—es of great receipts where they haue great prisons but neither this nor any that are vnder may weare girdle of gold nor siluer nor a yellow Canopie except hee bee an Officer or Captaine of men of warre that for fauour of a Gentleman may haue a yellow Canopie the rest weare girdles of Tartaruga or of other matter made like them of gold or siluer and their Canopies are of changeable stuffe or blew and all these Inferiour doe speake to the Superiour when they are before them on their knees and doe kneele as long as they are with them except the Taissu who when he commeth in kneeleth and riseth vp presently and is alwayes standing Euery one of the great ones haue many inferiour Officers vnder his iurisdiction for the matters and businesses necessary to the Office of euery one all which as they are the Kings officers haue the Title of Lothias and their badges or signes The fiue Principall with their Assistants doe weare for a Badge the Kings Armes on their brests and on their backs which are certayne Serpents wouen with gold thred Euery yeere there is one sent to euery Prouince as a Iustice which is called Chaen which commeth to take account of all the Lothias great and small and examineth all the Students and chooseth Louthias and visiteth the Prisons and all that is necessary to be seene and prouided for in all the Prouince He vseth all meanes to spie out their briberie and injustice and hath power to displace or preferre When this entreth newly into this Citie it is not lawfull for any to worke they shut their doores and no body walketh through the street and to preserue his worship and authoritie they will not boldly communicate in sight of the people and many Officers with Banners displayed of crimson silke and all the Louthias both great and small are bound to goe and meet him The same entertainment is vsed to euery one of
sense and did their seruice and so by that time that they had done the water was holy which being sanctified the Metropolitan tooke a little thereof in his hands and cast it on the Emperour likewise vpon certaine of the Dukes and then they returned againe to the Church with the Priests that sate about the water but that prease that there was about the water when the Emperour was gone was wonderfull to behold for there came aboue fiue thousand Pots to be filled of that water for that Moscouite which hath no part of that water thinks himselfe vnhappy And very many went naked into the water both Men and Women and Children after the prease was a little gone the Emperours Iennets and Horses were brought to drinke of the same water and likewise many other men brought their Horses thither to drinke and by that meanes they make their Horses as holy as themselues All these ceremonies being ended we went to the Emperour to dinner where we were serued in vessels of siluer and in all other points as we had beene beforetime The Russes begin their Lent alwayes eight weeks before Easter the first weeke they eate Egs Milke Cheese and Butter and make great cheare with Pan-cakes and such other things one friend visiting another and from the same Sunday vntill our Shroue-sunday there are but few Russes sober but they are drunke day by day and it is accounted for no reproach or shame among them The next weeke being our first weeke in Lent or our cleansing weeke beginning our Shroue-sunday they make and keepe a great Fast. It is reported and the people doe verily beleeue that the Metropolitan neither eateth nor drinketh any manner of thing for the space of seuen dayes and they say that there are many Religious men which doe the like The Emperours Maiestie eateth but one morsell of bread and drinketh but one draught of drinke once in the day during that weeke and all men that are of any reputation come not out of their houses during that time so that the streets are almost voide of companie sauing a few poore folkes which wander to and fro The other sixe weekes they keepe as we doe ours but not one of them will eate either Butter Cheese Egs or Milke On Palme-sunday they haue a very solemne Procession in this manner following First they haue a Tree of a good bignesse which is made fast vpon two Sleds as though it were growing there and it is hanged with Apples Raisins Figs and Dates and with many other fruits abundantly In the midst of the same Tree stand fiue Boyes in white vestures which sing in the Tree before the Procession after this there followed certaine young men with Wax Tapers in their hands burning and a great Lanthorne that all the light should not goe out after them followed two with long Banners and sixe with round plates set vpon long staues the plates were of Copper very full of holes and thinne then followed sixe carrying painted Images vpon their shoulders after the Images followed certaine Priests to the number of one hundred or more with goodly vestures whereof ten or twelue are of white Damaske set and embroidered round about with faire and orient Pearles as great as Pease and among them certaine Saphires and other stones After them followed the one halfe of the Emperours Noblemen then commeth the Emperours Maiestie and the Metropolitan after this manner First there is a Horse couered with white linnen cloth downe to the ground his eares being made long with the same cloth like to an Asses eares Vpon this Horse the Metropolitan sitteth side-long like a woman in his lappe lieth a faire Booke with a Crucifixe of Gold-smiths worke vpon the couer which he holdeth fast with his left hand and in his right hand he hath a Crosse of Gold with which Crosse he ceaseth not to blesse the people as hee rideth There are to the number of thirtie men which spread abroad their garments before the Horse and as soone as the Horse is past ouer any of them they take them vp againe and runne before and spread them againe so that the Horse doth alway goe on some of them They which spread the garments are all Priests sonnes and for their labours the Emperour giueth vnto them new garments One of the Emperours Noblemen leadeth the Horse by the head but the Emperour himselfe going on foot leadeth the Horse by the end of the reyne of his Bridle with one of his hands and in the other of his hands hee had a branch of a Palme tree after this followed the rest of the Emperours Noblemen and Gentlemen with a great number of other people In this order they went from one Church to another within the Castle about the distance of two flight shot and so returned againe to the Emperours Church where they made an end of their seruice Which being done the Emperours Maiestie and certaine of his Noblemen went to the Metropolitan his house to dinner where of delicate fishes and good drinkes there was no lacke The rest of this weeke vntill Easter day they kept very solemnely continuing in their houses for the most part and vpon Munday or Thursday the Emperour doth alwaies vse to receiue the Sacrament and so doe most of his Nobles Vpon Good-friday they continue all the day in contemplation and prayers and they vse euery yeere on Good-friday to let loose a Prisoner in the stead of Barrabas The night following they goe to the Church where they sleepe vntill the next morning and at Easter they haue the Resurrection and after euery of the Lents they eate flesh the next weeke following Friday Saturday and all They haue an order at Easter which they alwaies obserue and that is this euery yeere against Easter to dye or colour red with Brazell a great number of Egges of which euery man and woman giueth one vnto the Priest of their Parish vpon Easter day in the morning And moreouer the common people vse to carrie in their hands one of their red Egges not onely vpon Easter day but also three or foure dayes after and Gentlemen and Gentlewomen haue Egges gilded which they carrie in like manner They vse it as they say for a great loue and in token of the Resurrection whereof they reioyce For when two friends meet during the Easter holy dayes they come and take one another by the hand the one of them saith the Lord or Christ is risen the other answereth it is so of a truth and then they kisse and exchange their Egges both men and women continuing in kissing foure dayes together His Majestie heareth all Complaints himselfe and with his owne mouth giueth sentence and judgement of all matters and that with expedition but Religious matters hee medleth not withall but referreth them wholly vnto the Metropolitane His Majestie retayneth and well rewardeth all strangers that come to serue him and especially men of Warre He delighteth not greatly in
hung innumerable bells making a continuall strange noyse with the motion of the ayre At the great Gate of this second wall in terrible shapes stood the two Porters of Hell as they call them Bacharom and Qugifau with Iron Maces in their hands terrible to looke on Passing vnder an Iron chayne fastened to the brests of these Diuels wee came into a faire street long and wide compassed with painted arches on the top whereof were two rankes of Idols all that length in which were aboue fiue thousand Images wee knew not of what matter being all gilded with Myters on their heads of diuers inuentions At the end of this street was a great square Hill set with blacke and white shining stones the whole square compassed with foure rewes of Giants of mettall each of fifteene spannes with Halberds in their hands and gilded beards At the end of all stood Quiay Huiaon God of the Raine set vp against a bastion or border seuentie spannes long and his head so high that it reached to the battlements of the tower which were aboue twelue fathoms by his mouth eyes nostrils and brests casting out water which the people below gathered as a great relique This water came from the top of the tower by secret pipes Wee passed vnder his legges which stood as a great portall and came to a large house like a Church with three Iles on marble pillars and on the walls on both sides many Idols great and small of diuers figures all gilded set on their bases in good order At the end of this house on a round of fifteene steps stood an Altar made in fashion of a Throne and thereon the Image of Nacapirau like a goodly woman with her hayre loose and her hands lifted to heauen all of gold so burnished that it dazeled the eyes About that tribunall in the foure first steps stood twelue Kings of China crowned in siluer And beneath were three rewes of gilded Idols on their knees with their hands lifted vp many siluer Candle-sticks hanging about them Going thence wee came to another street of arches like the former and from thence by two others of rich buildings to a great hill in which were eightie two Bells of mettall very great hanging by chaynes from Iron beames sustained with Iron Columnes Thence wee went to a strong Gate 'twixt foure towers in which stood a Chifu with thirtie Halberdiers and two Notaries which tooke the names of all passengers to whom wee gaue thirtie Reis for entrance The fourth remarkable and famous building was in the Riuer of Batampina in an Iland about a league in compasse walled round with stone eight and thirtie spannes aboue water within filled with earth round encompassed with two rewes of Latten grates the vttermost sixe spannes high for people to leane on the inner of nine holding siluer Lions with balls the Armes of the China Kings Within these grates in good order were placed one hundred and thirteene Chappels in manner of round Bulwarkes in each of them was an alabaster Sepulcher seated on the heads of two siluer Serpents with faces of women and three hornes on their heads In euery of them were thirteen Candlesticks of siluer with seuen lights in each burning In the midst of a spacious place compassed with three rewes of grates with two rankes of Idols stood a high Tower with fiue steeples of diuers paintings and on their tops Lions of siluer in which tower the Chinois sayd were the bones of the one hundred and thirteene Kings worshipped by them for great reliques These bones say they euery New Moone feast one with another whereupon the vulgar at those times offer to them infinite store of Fowles of all sorts Rice Kine Hogges Sugar Honey and other prouision which the Priests receiue and deceiue them in recompence with as it were Iubilees of plenarie Indulgences and remission of sinnes as they beleeue In this Tower wee saw a rich house all lined with siluer plates from the top to the bottome in which stood those one hundred and thirteene Kings statues and the bones of each King in his owne statue and they say that by night these Kings communicate and passe the time together which none may see but the Cabizondos a higher degree of Bonzos as that of Cardinals with vs which fables they beleeue for very certaintie In this great circuit wee told three hundred and fortie Bells of mettall and cast Iron in seuenteene places by twentie in a place which all sound on those New-moone feasts abouesayd Neere to that tower in a rich Chappell built on seuen and thirtie columnes of stone stood the Image of Amida made of siluer with the hayres of gold on a Throne of foureteene steps all wrought with gold the hands eleuated to Heauen beneath her shoulders hung like lines of beades many little Idols as big as the middle finger and the secret parts were couered with two great Oyster-pearles garnished with gold They being demanded the meaning of this mysterie sayd that after the generall Floud in which all mankinde was drowned God sent Amida from the Heauen of the Moone being great Chamberlaine to Nacapirau his wife to restore the destroyed world who setting heere feete in Calempluy before mentioned being lately freed of the waters shee turned it into gold and there standing on her feet with her face in heauen a great quantitie of Creatures issued from downe her arme downe her right hand Males and Females downe the left hauing no other place in her bodie whence to bring them foorth as other women of the world whom for sinne God hath subiected to filthinesse of corruption to shew how filthy sinne is After shee had finished this trauell or child-birth of 33333. Creatures as they number one third part Males and two parts Females shee remayned so weake hauing no bodie to prouide her any thing that with dizzinesse shee fell to the ground dead without recouerie Whereat the Moone in condoling her death couered her selfe with sorrow which are those shadowes wee see from the earth which say they shall remaine so many yeers as she produced Creatures 33333 then the Moone shall put off her maske of sorrow and the night shall bee after as cleere as the day Such and other like mad stuffe did they tell which might make one wonder and more to weepe that the Deuill should gull them with such manifest lyes being otherwise so vnderstanding a people From this Hill we went to another Temple of Nuns sumptuous and rich in which they told vs was the Mother of this King Nhay Camisama but would not let vs enter being strangers Thence by a street of Arches wee went to a hauen called Hicharioo Topileu where was store of strange shipping of diuers Kingdomes which come continually to that Temple for a plenarie Iubilee which the King with many priuiledges hath granted them and dyet on free cost To speake of other Temples and
by her meanes enioyed that grace and respect in the Armie The King was about fortie yeeres old tall not fleshy well set his beard short with Mostachos like the Turks his eyes somewhat small his countenance seuere clothed in a shining reddish vesture set with Pearles on his feet certaine Slippers greene wrought with Gold and Pearles and on his head a kind of Sallet with a border of Diamonds and Rubies Before we came at him by ten or twelue paces we made our courtesie three times kissing the ground with other ceremonies which wee were taught The King commanded the Musike to cease and bid Mitaquer aske this Nation of the end of the world iâ— they haue a King and how their Land is called and how farre it is from China One of vs answered for the rest that our Land was called Portugall our King was great and mightie and from thence to Pequin was about three yeeres Voyage whereat he much maruelled as not thinking the World so great and sâ—riking on his thigh said aloud with eyes to Heauen O Creator of all things which of vs poore Pismires on the Earth may be able to comprehend the maruels of thy greatnesse And signing with his hand he made vs come neerer to the steps of the Throne where the fourteene Kings were placed and demanded vs againe how faire and when we said three yeeres he asked why we came rather by Sea then by Land wee answered that the diuersitie of States and Kings in the way hindred He asked What doe you seeke with so farre trauels and great troubles wee gaue as good reason as we could whereat he shaking his head said to the King of Benan an old man thâ—t it seemed that our Countrey had much Couetousnesse and little Iustice so said the other it appeares for those men which flie on the top of all waters by wit and industrie to get that which God hath not giuen them either pouerty forceth to forsake their Countrey or vanitie and blindnesse caused by couetousnesse makes them forget God and their Fathers After this the women began againe to play and the King retired himselfe into a house alone with his women which played and the Damsell that fanned One of the twelue Scepter-boyes told Mitaquer from his Sister that the King commanded hee should not goe away which he tooke for a great grace and wee returned to our Tents Fortie and three dâ—yes after we came to the Campe Royall in which space were many fights betwixt the besiegers and besieged two assaults by scaling with the Tartars losse the Tartarian called a Councell where were assembled seuen and twentie Kings and many great men and Captaines which agreed that seeing Winter was now comming and the waters of both Riuers had risen and filled the Trenches and many were sicke foure or fiue thousand dying daily that it was best to rayse the siege The King therefore embarked the Foot-men with the munitions fired the Tents and went away with 300000. Horse by land and 20000. Badas 450000. men being found by accounts to haue dyed in this expedition most of sicknesse 300000. Horses and 60000. Badas for want of prouisions the two last moneths and a halfe of this Siege which endured sixe moneths and a halfe Besides 300000. had runne to the Chinois wonne by their great pay Hee lodged the first night of his departure at a Riuer called Quaytragum the next day he came to Guijampee which hee found wholly forsaken thence to Liampew and after seuenteene dayes eight leagues a day he came to Guauxitim and forced it committing therein cruell slaughters to prouide his Armie of necessaries by the spoyle thereof The next day hee came to Caixilo which he medled not with being great and strong hauing therein 50000. men of which 10000. were Mogores Cauchims and Champaas better Souldiers then the Chinois Thence hee passed to the walls of Singrachirou and the next day to Xipator and then sent away most of his Souldiers spending seuen dayes in the pay and execution of Iustice on Prisoners Thence discontent hee went to Lançame by water with onely one hundred and twentie Laulees in which were some ten or twelue thousand men where sixe dayes after hee arriued in the night without any pompe There he stayed sixe and twentie dayes till all his companie were come both of horse and foot after which hee went to a greater Citie called Tuymican where he was personally visited by confining Princes and Ambassadours from remoter Kings Xatamas of Persia Siammom Emperour of the Gueos which within the Countrey confine with Brama of Tangu the Calaminhan Lord of the brute force of Elephants the Sornau of Odiaa intituled King of Siam whose Segniorie comprehendeth seuen hundred leagues of coast from Tanauçarim to Champaa containing seuenteen Kingdomes the King of the Mogores whose Kingdome lyes within land betwixt Corazan neere Persia and the Kingdome of Dely and Chitor and an Emperour called Caran whose Segniorie confineth within the Mountaines of Goncalidan with a Nation which the Naturals call Moscoby of whom wee saw some in this Citie ruddie of bigge stature with shooes and furred cloathes hauing some latine words but seeming rather for ought wee obserued Idolaters then Christians and much giuen to vnnaturall lust To the Ambassadour of that Prince Caran better entertainment was giuen then to all the rest Hee brought with him one hundred and twentie men of his guard with Arrowes and gilded quiuers all cloathed in Shamois skinnes murrie and greene and twelue Porters on horsebacke with Maces of Siluer leading twelue Horses in their right hands with rich embroidered Furnitures After whom followed twelue men of high and Giant-like stature cloathed Sauage-like in Tygers skinnes leading great Grey-hounds in chaynes and collers of Siluer muzled Then came twelue Boyes faire and well proportioned of equall stature in gallant array next them Leixigau the Ambassador himselfe in a Chariot they call it a Pirange with three wheeles on a side garnished with Siluer and a Chayre of the same attended with fortie Foot-men in murrie and greene yeelding a goodly sight all things manifesting the greatnesse of his Lord. Wee were one day in his lodging with Mitaquer who was sent to visit him where amongst other strange things we saw fiue roomes hanged with Tapestrie of Frogges very rich like that vsed amongst vs as if they had come from one place the Canopies Siluer-tables Furniture and State all rich This Ambassadour came not only to welcome home the Tartar but to treate also of a Marriage for his Lord with one of the Tartars Sisters named Meica Vidau a woman of thirtie yeeres very charitable to the poore whom wee haue often seene in their Festiuall dayes Mitaquer at our request mentioned vs to the King who sayd he would send vs with his Ambassador shortly to Cauchenchina and caused vs to be brought againe to his presence with great ceremonie of State and Maiestie as before at
that twentie men may ride together on a ranke and one not hinder another and are all paued with great stones VPon a Saturday being the eleuenth of Iuly came our Spaniards vnto the Citie of Chincheo foure houres before it was night This Citie is of the common sort in that Kingdome and may haue seuentie thousand housholds It is of great trafficke and well prouided of all things for that the Sea is but two leagues from it it hath a mightie Riuer running alongst by it downe into the Sea by which is brought by water and carryed downe all kinde of merchandise There is a Bridge ouer the sayd Riuer which is supposed to bee the fairest that is in all the world it hath a draw bridge to serue in time of warres or for any other necessitie the Bridge is eight hundred paces long and all wrought with stones of two and twentie foote long and fiue foote broad a thing greatly to bee maruelled at at the entrie thereof there were many armed Souldiers readie to fight who when they came within Harquebusse shot did salute them in very good order There was nigh vnto the sayd bridge in the Riuer riding at anchor more then a thousand Ships of all sorts and so great a number of Boates and Barkes that all the Riuer was couered and euery one full of people that had entred into them for to see the Castillas for so they did call the Spaniards in that Countrey for the streets in the Suburbes nor in the Citie could not hold them the number was so great yet their streets are as broad as our ordinary streets in any Citie in all Spaine This Citie is compassed with a strong Wall made of stone and is seuen fathom high and foure fathom broad vpon the Gates many towers wherein is placed their Artillerie which is all their strength for that they doe not vse in their Kingdome strong Castles as they doe in Europe The houses of the Citie are all built after one sort and fashion but faire not very high by reason of the Earthquakes which are ordinarily in that Country All the streets but especially that wherin they passed at their comming thither haue on the one side and on the other Sheds vnder the which are shops full of rich Merchandise and of great value and very curious They haue in equall distance the one from the other many triumphant Arches which doe set out the streets very much and is vsed in euery principall street throughout all the Kingdome in the which they haue excellent Market-places whereas is to bee bought all things that you will desire to be eaten as well of Fish as of Flesh Fruits Hearbs Comfits Conserues and all things so good cheape that it is almost bought for nothing The Insuanto or Gouernour of the Citie did send that forthwith they should goe vnto his House for that hee had great desire to see them In the midst of the streete where was no lesse number of people then in the other whereby they entred into the Citie they met with a Loytia that came to entertaine them with great Maiestie and had carryed before him many Banners Mace-bearers and Tipstaues and others which carryed Sets or Whips which they did trayle after them made fast vnto long stickes which were the Executioners the which doe goe alwayes making of way parting the people before the Loytias as you haue heard The maiestie and company wherewith he came was so great that they verily did beleeue him to be the Insuanto but being certified they vnderstood that it was one of his Counsellors that came from the Gouernours home to his owne house which was in the same street whereas hee met with them This Counsellor was carried in a Chaire of Iuorie garnished with Gold and with Curtaines of Cloth of Gold and on them the Kings Armes which are certayne Serpents knotted together as hath beene told you But when he came right against the Spaniards without any staying he made a signe with his head and commanded that they should returne backe againe vnto his house which was hard by the Captaines did straight-wayes obey his commandement and returned with them The Counsellor entred into his house which was very faire hee had in i a faire Court and therein a gallant Fountaine and a Garden After him entred the Spaniards all alone the rest remayned without in the street at the Loytias commandement hee entertayned them with very good words of semblance and commanded a Banquet to be brought forth and Wine to drinke he began first both to eate and drinke Then he commanded to call in the Captaine vnto whom was giuen the charge to beare them companie and did chide with him very sharpely and seuerely because he did carrie them on foot they could not vnderstand whether it were done for a policie or of a truth although the effects wherewith hee did chide seemed of a truth hee straight-wayes commanded two rich Chaires to bee brought forth to carry the Fathers and to giue vnto their companions Horses the which beeing done hee willed them to goe and visit the Gouernour who did tarrie their comming and that another time at more leisure he would see and visit them They followed their way all alongst the street which seemed vnto them to bee more fairer then the other wherein they entred and of more fairer houses and triumphant Arches and also the shops that were on the one side and on the other to bee better furnished with richer things then the others in so ample sort that what therewith as also the great number of people which they saw they were so amazed that they were as people from themselues thinking it to bee a Dreame To conclude after they had gone a good while in that street delighting their eyes with new things neuer seene of them before they came into a great place whereas were many Souldiers in good order with their Harquebusses Pikes and other Armour in a readinesse apparelled all in a Liuery of Silke with their Ancients displayed At the end of this place was there a very faire and sumptuous Palace the gate was wrought of Masons worke of stone very great and full of figures or Personages and aboue it a great window with an Iron grate all gilt they were carried within the gates the Soulders and the people which were without number remayned without and could not be auoyded but with great difficultie When they were within the first Court there came forth a man very well apparelled and of authoritie and made signes with his hand vnto them that brought the Spaniards that they should carrie them into a Hall that was vpon the right hand the which was straight-wayes done The Hall was very great and faire and at the end thereof there was an Altar whereon were many Idols and all did differ the one from the other in their fashion the Altar was rich and very curiously trimmed with
Saracens and Iewes doe there feed on The Saracens called the Christians also Isai as before and Terzai which is a name giuen in Persia to the Armenian Christians as an Armenian affirmed to Ricius whence hee coniectured that these Christians came out of Armenia And by the report of Haiton the Armenian which sayth their King came to the Great Can of Cathay which wee haue before obserued at least the best parts thereof to be the North parts of China to perswade him and his to become Christians which in great part also hee affected besides other Christians there reported to bee by Paulus and those of Sarnau subiect to the Great Can mentioned by Vertomannus which seeme to be neere these in China The Malabar Christians haue Chaldee memorials of China conuerted by Saint Thomas and their Metropolitan hath his style of all India and China A certaine Iew at Pequin hearing of the Iesuites there came to them to see and conferre with them imagining them to be Iewes This Iew was borne at Chaifamfu the Mother-citie of the Prouince Honan his name was Ngai his countenance not resembling the Chinois hee neglecting Iudaisme had addicted himselfe to the China studies and now came to Pequin to the examination in hope of proceeding Doctor There did hee enter the Iesuites House professing that he was of their Law and Religion Ricci leads him into the Chappell where on the Altar stood the Image of the Virgin Iesus and Iohn Baptist kneeling which he taking to be the Images of Rebecca and her Twins did worship vnto them contrary he said to their custome The Images of the Euangelists he supposed to be so many of Iacobs sonnes But vpon further questioning the Iesuite perceiued that he was a professor of the Law of Moses he confessed himselfe an Israelite and knew not the name of Iew so that it seemed the dispersion of the ten Tribes had pierced thus farre Seeing the Hebrew Bible hee knew the Letters but could not reade them He told them that in Chaifamfu were ten or twelue Families of Israelites and a faire Synagogue which had lately cost them ten thousand Crownes therein the Pentateuch in Rolls which had bin with great veneration preserued fiue or six hundred yeers In Hamcheu the chiefe Citie of Chequian hee affirmed were many more Families with their Synagogue many also in other places but without Synagogues and by degrees wearing out his pronunciation of Hebrew names differed from ours as Herusoloim Moscia for Messia Ierusalem His Brother hee said was skilfull in the Hebrew which he in affection to the China preferment had neglected and therefore was hardly censured by the Ruler of the Synagogue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THE 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 MAP 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OF 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHI 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 NA 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As for the Christian Religion thither carried by the Iesuites you haue heard the whole substance of their owne large Histories I meane not of Miracles and other like stuffe and stuffings but the meanes of conuaying the Gospel to the Chinois which are merchandise money gifts Mathematiks Memoratiue-art Morality which to China Couetousnes and Curiosity with their conforming to Confutius Ethikes and China Literature Habite Names and officious Rites were good Orators and made way with much adoe to that little which is done a mutuall exchange in many things of Romish for Chinois Beades Shauing Vests Songs Mumsimus Tapers Censers Images Legends Monkes Nunnes Processions Pilgrimages Monasteries Altars hee and shee Saints and other things innumerable pertayning rather to bodily exercise which profiteth little then to Godlinesse or God-likenesse who being a Spirit requireth men to worship him in spirit and truth and by foolishnesse of preaching saueth them that beleeue not by wisedome of words in elegant writings and those more of Arts then Christianity The great Doctor of the Gentiles tooke another course not with excellency of words sayth he or wisedome yea hee esteemed to know nothing among the learned Corinthians but Iesus Christ and him crucified neither stood his word in the entising speech of mans wisedome but in playne euidence of the Spirit not the wisedome of the World but the wisedome of God in a mysterie c. Which I speake not as denying the seruice of Arts to Diuinity but of Diuinity in manner to Arts where the profession is not as of a Tent-maker to liue that he may preach but as of an European Philosopher where Hagar domineereth and Sara at some times whispers a little and except in Images and Shewes scarcely shewes her selfe as more fully appeareth in the fore-going History But would God any Arts or any Preachers may occasion the opening of their eyes which were wont to bragge of two eyes and say Europeans had but one when as they haue but this one naturall eye and in spirituall things are blinde and would God the Chinois might as generally acknowledge themselues thankfull to Iesuiticall labours in professing the Gospell as I doe here my selfe for this Historicall light of China §. VII The Map of China taken out of a China Map printed with China Characters illustrated with Notes for the vnderstanding thereof THe originall Map whence this present was taken and contracted was by Captaine Saris whose industrie and acts haue both heere and elsewhere enriched this worke gotten at Bantam of a Chinese in taking a distresse for debts owing to the English Merchants who seeing him carefull to conuay away a Boxe was the more carefull to apprehend it and therein found this Map which another Chinese lodged at his house lately come from China had brought with him The greatnesse of the danger at home if knowne made him earnestly begge for that which was on the other side as earnestly desired and kept Master Hakluyt procured it of the Captaine professing his intent to giue it to Prince Henry of glorious memory who being suddenly aduanced to a higher view in Heauen and Master Hakluyt following this Map came to my hand who sought to expresse my loue to the publike in communicating what I could thereof For it being in China Characters which I thinke none in England if any in Europe vnderstands I could not wholly giue it when I giue it no man being able to receiue what he can no way conceiue And as in greatest things our little vnderstandings easier apprehend negations then affirmations and can better tell what they are not then what they are so this Map easily tells at first euen without Commentaries the comments and conceits of our Geogâ—â—phers Ortelius Mercator Hondius and whatsoeuer other our Authors of Maps and Globes who all haue heerein fayled giuing nothing lesse then China in their China whether wee regard the generall figure and shape thereof or the particular Riuers Hills Prouinces Wall Latitude and if wee beleeue the Iesuites Longitude also They
abroad in the Towne it was also carryed to the Princes Court in the Hage at which time the Lord Chancellour of Denmarke Ambassadour for the sayd King was then at Dinner with Prince Maurice for the which cause we were presently fetcht thither by the Scout and two of the Burgers of the Towne and there in the presence of those Ambassadours and the Burger-masters wee made rehearsall of our Iourney both forwards and backwards I thought good to adde hither for Barents or Barentsons sake certaine Notes which I haue found the one Translated the other Written by him amongst Master Hakluyts Paper This was Written by William Barentson in a loose Paper which was lent mee by the Reuerend Peter Plantius in Amsterdam March the seuen and twentieth 1609. THe foure and twentieth of August Stilo nouo 1595. wee spake with the Samoieds and asked them how the Land and Sea did lye to the East of Way-gates They sayd after fiue dayes iourney going North-east wee should come to a great Sea going South-east This Sea to the East of Way-gates they sayd was called Marmoria that is to say A calme Sea And they of Ward-house haue told vs the same I asked them if at any time of the yeere it was frozen ouer They sayd it was And that sometimes they passed it with Sleds And the first of September 1595. Stilo nouo the Russes of the Lodie or Barke affirmed the same saying that the Sea is sometimes so Frozen that the Lodies or Barkes going sometimes to Gielhsidi from Pechora are forced there to Winter which Gielhsidi was wonne from the Tartars three yeeres past For the Ebbe and Flood there I can finde none but with the Winde so runneth the streame The third of September Stilo nouo the winde was South-west and then I found the water higher then with the winde at North or North-east Mine opinion is grounded on Experience That if there bee a passage it is small or else the Sea could not rise with a Southerly Winde And for the better proofe to know if there were a Flood and Ebbe the ninth of September Stilo nouo I went on shoare on the South end of the States Iland where the Crosse standeth and layd a Stone on the brinke of the Water to proue whether there were a Tide and went round about the Iland to shoote at a Hare and returning I found the Stone as I left it and the Water neither higher nor lower which prooueth as afore that there is no Flood nor Ebbe CHAP. VI. A Treatise of IVER BOTY a Gronlander translated out of the Norsh Language into High Dutch in the yeere 1560. And after out of High Dutch into Low Dutch by WILLIAM BARENTSON of Amsterdam who was chiefe Pilot aforesaid The same Copie in High Dutch is in the hands of IODOCVS HONDIVS which I haue seene And this was translated out of Low Dutch by Master WILLIAM STERE Marchant in the yeere 1608. for the vse of me HENRIE HVDSON WILLIAM BARENTSONS Booke is in the hands of Master PETER PLANTIVS who lent the same vnto me INprimis it is reported by men of Wisedome and Vnderstanding borne in Gronland That from Stad in Norway to the East part of Island called Horn-nesse is seuen dayes sayling right West Item men shall know that betweene Island and Gronland lyeth a Riffe called Gombornse-skare There were they wont to haue there passage for Gronland But as they report there is Ice vpon the same Riffe come out of the long North Bottome so that we cannot vse the same old Passage as they thinke Item from Long-nesse on the East side of Island to the abouesaid Horn-nesse is two dayes sayle to the Brimstone Mount Item if you goe from Bergen in Norway the course is right West till you bee South of Rokenesse in Island and distant from it thirteene miles or leagues And with this course you shall come vnder that high Land that lyeth in the East part of Groneland and is called Swafster A day before you come there you shall haue sight of a high Mount called Huit-sarke and betweene Whitsarke and Groneland lyeth a Head-land called Hernoldus Hooke and thereby lyeth an Hauen where the Norway Merchants Ships were wont to come and it is called Sound Hauen Item if a man will sayle from Island to Gronland hee shall set his course to Snofnesse which is by West Rokenesse thirteene miles or leagues right West one day and nights sayling and after South-west to shun the Ice that lyeth on Gombornse-skare and after that one day and night North-west So shall hee with this course fall right with the abouesayd Swafster which is high Land vnder which lyeth the aforesayd Head-land called Hornoldus Hooke and the Sound Hauen Item the Easter Dorpe of Groneland lyeth East from Hernoldus hooke but neere it and is called Skagen Ford and is a great Village Item from Skagen Ford East lyeth a Hauen called Beare Ford it is not dwelt in Iâ— the mouth thereof lyeth a Riffe so that great Ships cannot harbour in it Item there ir great abundance of Whales and there is a great Fishing for the killing of them there but not without the Bishops consent which keepeth the same for the benefit of the Cathedrall Church In the Hauen is a great Swalth and when the Tide doth runne out all the Whales doe runne into the sayd Swalth Item East of Beare Ford lyeth another Hauen câ—lled Allabong Sound and it is at the mouth narrow but farther in very wide The length whereof is such that the end thereof is not yet knowne There runneth no Streame It lyeth full of little Iles. Fowle and Oxen are there common and it is playne Land on both sides growne ouer with greene Grasse Item East from the Icie Mountayne lyeth an Hauen called Fendebother so named because in Saint Olafes time there was a Ship cast away as the speach hath beene in Groneland In which Ship was drowned one of Saint Olafes men with others and those that were saued did burie those that were drowned and on their Graues did set great stone Crosses which wee see at this day Item somwhat more East toward the Icie Mountayne lyeth a high Land called Corse Hought vpon which they Hunt white Beares but not wiâ—hout the Bishops leaue for it belongeth to the Cathedrall Church And from thence more Easterly men see nothing but Ice and Snow both by land and water Now wee shall returne againe to Hernoldus Hooke where we first began to come to the first Towne that lyeth on the East side of Hernoldus Hooke called Skagen Ford and so we will write the Names of all that lye on the West-side of the Ford or Sound Item West from Hernoldus Hooke lyeth a Dorpe called Kodosford and it is well built and as you sayle into the Sound you shall see on the right hand a great Sea and a Marsh and into this Sea runneth
be ashoare and because the ship rid too farre off they weighed and stood as neere to the place where the Fowle bred as they could and because I was lame I was to go in the Boat to carrie such things as I had in the Cabbin of euery thing somewhat and so with more haste then good speed and not without swearing away we went Henry Greene William Wilson Iohn Thomas Michael Perse Andrew Moter and my selfe When we came neere the shoare the people were on the Hils dancing and leaping to the Coue we came where they had drawne vp their Boates wee brought our Boate to the East side of the Coue close to the Rockes Ashoare they went and made fast the Boat to a great stone on the shoare the people came and euery one had somewhat in his hand to barter but Henry Greene swore they should haue nothing till he had Venison for that they had so promised him by signes Now when we came they made signes to their Dogges whereof there were many like Mongrels as bigge as Hounds and pointed to their Mountaine and to the Sunne clapping their hands Then Henry Greene Iohn Thomas and William Wilson stood hard by the Boate head Michael Perse and Andrew Moter were got vp vpon the Rocke a gathering of Sorrell not one of them had any weapon about him not so much as a sticke saue Henry Greene only who had a piece of a Pike in his hand nor saw I any thing that they had wherewith to hurt vs. Henry Greene and William Wilson had Looking-glasses and Iewes Trumps and Bels which they were shewing the people The Sauages standing round about them one of them came into the Boats head to me to shew me a Bottle I made signes to him to get him ashoare but he made as though he had not vnderstood me whereupon I stood vp and pointed him ashoare In the meane-time another stole behind me to the sterne of the Boat and when I saw him ashoare that was in the head of the Boat I sate downe againe but suddenly I saw the legge and foote of a man by mee Wherefore I cast vp my head and saw the Sauage with his Knife in his hand who strooke at my brest ouer my head I cast vp my right arme to saue my brest he wounded my arme and strooke me into the bodie vnder my right Pappe He strooke a second blow which I met with my left hand and then he strooke me into the right thigh and had like to haue cut off my little finger of the left hand Now I had got hold of the string of the Knife and had woond it about my left hand he striuing with both his hands to make an end of that he had begunne I found him but weake in the gripe God enabling me and getting hold of the sleeue of his left arme so bare him from me His left side lay bare to me which when I saw I put his sleeue off his left arme into my left hand holding the string of the Knife fast in the same hand and hauing got my right hand at libertie I sought for somewhat wherewith to strike him not remembring my Dagger at my side but looking downe I saw it and therewith strooke him into the bodie and the throate Whiles I was thus assaulted in the Boat our men were set vpon on the shoare Iohn Thomas and William Wilson had their bowels cut and Michael Perse and Henry Greene being mortally wounded came tumbling into the Boat together When Andrew Moter saw this medley hee came running downe the Rockes and leaped into the Sea and so swamme to the Boat hanging on the sterne thereof till Michael Perse tooke him in who manfully made good the head of the Boat against the Sauages that pressed sore vpon vs. Now Michael Perse had got an Hatchet wherewith I saw him strike one of them that he lay sprawling in the Sea Henry Greene crieth Coragio and layeth about him with his Truncheon I cryed to them to cleere the Boat and Andrew Moter cryed to bee taken in the Sauages betooke them to their Bowes and Arrowes which they sent amongst vs wherewith Henry Greene was slaine out-right and Michael Perse receiued may wounds and so did the rest Michael Perse cleereth the Boate and puts it from the shoare and helpeth Andrew Moter in but in turning of the Boat I receiued a cruell wound in my backe with an Arrow Michael Perse and Andrew Moter rowed the Boate away which when the Sauages saw they ranne to their Boats and I feared they would haue launched them to haue followed vs but they did not and our ship was in the middle of the channell and could not see vs. Now when they had rowed a good way from the shoare Michael Perse fainted and could row no more then was Andrew Moter driuen to stand in the Boat head and waft to the ship which at the first saw vs not and when they did they could not tel what to make of vs but in the end they stood for vs and so tooke vs vp Henry Greene was throwne out of the Boat into the Sea and the rest were had aboard the Sauage being yet aliue yet without sense But they died all there that day William Wilson swearing and cursing in most fearefull manner Michael Perse liued two dayes after and then died Thus you haue heard the Tragicall end of Henry Greene and his Mates whom they called Captaine these foure being the only lustie men in all the ship The poore number that was left were to ply our ship too and fro in the mouth of the streight for there was no place to anchor in neere hand besides they were to goe in the Boate to kill Fowle to bring vs home which they did although with danger to vs all For if the wind blew there was an high Sea and the eddies of the Tydes would carrie the ship so neere the Rockes as it feared our Master for so I will now call him After they had killed some two hundred Fowle with great labour on the South Cape wee stood to the East but when wee were sixe or seuen leagues from the Capes the wind came vp at East Then wee stood backe to the Capes againe and killed an hundred Fowle more After this the wind came to the West so wee were driuen to goe away and then our Master stood for the most along by the North shoare till he fell into broken ground about the Queenes Fore-land and there anchored From thence wee went to Gods Mercies and from thence to those Ilands which lye in the mouth of our Streight not seeing the Lâ—nd till we were readie to runne our Bosprite against the Rockes in a fogge But it cleered a little and then we might see our selues inclosed with Rockie Ilands and could find no ground to anchor in There our Master lay atrie all night and the next day the fogge continuing they sought for ground to anchor
destructions of their fellowes besides what hee got in Siberia and from the Pole Sweden Prussian extending his Conquests East West North and South yea his memorie is sauourie still to the Russians which either of their seruile disposition needing such a bridle and whip or for his long and prosperous reigne or out of distaste of later tragedies hold him in little lesse reputation as some haue out of their experience instructed me then a Saint His loue to our Nation is magnified by our Countrimen with all thankfulnesse whose gaineâ— there begun by him haue made them also in some sort seeme to turne Russe in I know what loues or feares as if they were still shut vp in Russia to conceale whatsoeuer they know of Russian occurrents that I haue sustayned no small torture with great paines of body vexation of minde and triall of potent interceding friends to get but neglect and silence from some yea almost contempt and scorne They alledge their thankfulnesse for benefits receiued from that Nation and their feare of the Dutch readie to take aduantage thereof and by calumniations from hence to interuert their Trade This for loue to my Nation I haue inserted against any Cauillers of our Russe Merchants though I must needs professe that I distaste and almost detest that call it what you will of Merchants to neglect Gods glorie in his prouidence and the Worlds instruction from their knowledge who while they will conceale the Russians Faults will tell nothing of their Facts and whiles they will be silent in mysteries of State will reueale nothing of the histories of Fact and that in so perplexed diuersified chances and changes as seldome the World hath in so short a space seene on one Scene Whiles therefore they which seeme to know most will in these Russian Relations helpe me little or nothing except to labour and frustrated hopes I haue besides much conference with eye witnesses made bold with others in such books as in diuers languages I haue read and in such Letters and written Tractates as I could procure of my friends or found with Master Hakluyt as in other parts of our storie not seeking any whit to disgrace that Nation or their Princes but onely desiring that truth of things done may bee knowne and such memorable alterations may not passe as a dreame or bee buried with the Doers Sir Ierome Horsey shall leade you from Iuans Graue to Pheodores Coronation The most solemne and magnificent coronation of PHEODOR IVANOVVICH Emperour of Russia c. the tenth of Iune in the yeare 1584. seene and obserued by Master IEROM HORSEY Gentleman and seruant to her Maiestie WHen the old Emperor Iuan Vasilowich died being about the eighteeenth of April 1584. after our computation in the Citie of Mosco hauing raigned fiftie foure yeares there was some tumult vprore among some of the Nobilitie and Comminaltie which notwithstanding was quickly pacified Immediately the same night the Prince Boris Pheodorowich Godonoua Knez Iuon Pheodorowich Mesthis Slafsky Knez Iuan Petrowich Susky Mekita Romanowich and Bodan Iacoulewich Belskoy being all noble men and chiefest in the Emperours Will especially the Lord Boris whom he adopted as his third son and was brother to the Empresse who was a man very well liked of all estates as no lesse worthy for his valour and wisedome all these were appointed to dispose and settle his Sonne Pheodor Iuanowich hauing one sworne another and all the Nobilitie and Officers whosoeuer In the morning the dead Emperour was laid into the Church of Michael the Archangell into a hewen Sepulchre very richly decked with Vestures fit for such a purpose and present Proclamation was made Emperour Pheodor Iuanowich of all Russia c. Throughout all the Citie of Mosco was great watch and ward with Souldiors and Gunners good orders established and Officers placed to subdue the tumulters and maintaine quietnesse to see what speede and policie was in this case vsed was a thing worth the beholding This being done in Mosco great men of birth and accompt were also presently sent to the bordering Townes as Smolensko Vobsko Kasan Nouogorod c. with fresh garrison and the old sent vp As vpon the fourth of May a Parliament was held wherein were assembled the Metropolitane Archbishops Bishops Priors and chiefe Clergie men and all the Nobility whatsoeuer where many matters were determined not pertinent to my purpose yet all tended to a new reformation in the gouernement but especially the terme and time was agreed vpon for the solemnizing of the new Emperours coronation In the meane time the Empresse wife to the old Emperour was with her childe the Emperours son Charlewich Demetrie Iuanowich of one yeares age or there abouts sent with her Father Pheodor Pheodorowich Nagay and that kindred being fiue brothers to a towne called Ouglets which was giuen vnto her and the yong Prince her sonne with all the Lands belonging to it in the shire with officers of all sorts appointed hauing allowance of apparell iewels diet horse c. in ample manner belonging to the estate of a Princesse The time of mourning after their vse being expired called Sorachyn or fortie orderly dayes the day of the solemnizing of this coronation with great preparations was come being vpon the tenth day of Iune 1584. and that day then Sunday he being of the age of twenty fiue years at which time Master Ierom Horsey was orderly sent for and placed in a fit roome to see all the solemnity The Emperour comming out of his Pallace there went before him the Metropolitane Archbishops Bishops and chiefest Monkes and Clergie men with very rich Coapes and Priests garments vpon them carrying pictures of our Lady c. with the Emperors Angell banners censers and many other such ceremonious things singing all the way The Emperour with his nobility in order entred the Church named Blaueshina or Blessednes where prayers and seruice were vsed according to the manner of their Church that done they went thence to the Church called Michael the Archangell and there also vsed the like prayers and seruice and from thence to our Lady Church Prechista being their Cathedrall Church In the middest thereof was a chaire of maiestie placed wherein his Ancestors vsed to sit at such extraordinary times his roabes were then changed and most rich and vnualuable garments put on him being placed in this Princely seate his nobilitie standing round about them in their degrees his imperiall Crowne was set vpon his head by the Metropolitane his Scepter globe in his right hand his sword of Iustice in his left of great riches his six crowns also by which he holdeth his Kingdomes were set before him and the Lord Boris Pheodorowich was placed at his right hand then the Metropolitan read openly a booke of a small volume with exhortations to the Emperour to minister true Iustice to inioy with tranquility the Crowne of his ancestours which God had giuen him and vsed these
Emperour and great Duke of all Russia Volademer Moskoe and Nouogrode King of Casan and Astracan Lord of Vobskoe great Duke of Smolenskoe Tuer Huder Vghory Perme Viatsky Bolgory c. Lord and great Duke of Nouogrod in the Low Countreyes of Chernigo Rezan Polotskey Rostoue Geraslaue Bealozera Leifland Oudorskey Obdorskey Condingskey King of all Syberia and the North Coasts Commander of the Countreyes of Iuersky Grysinsky and Emperour of Kabardiuskey of Chirkasky and of the whole Countrey of Garskey and of many other Countreyes and Kingdomes Lord and Emperour to know of his Maiesties health of England the Queene and Princes The second being a Captayne of Gunners the Emperours Guard named Kazriâ—e Dauydowich Beaheetchoue pronouncing the Emperour and Princes Title said hee was sent from them to know his Lordships health and vsage with the Kings Gentlemen The third was one of the Secretaries named Pheodor Boulteene obseruing the former order did deliuer what he had in command from the Emperor Prince and Empresse to informe the Embassador of their much fauour towards him and the Kings Gentlemen in prouiding for his Honourable entertayne and ease a faire large house to lodge in Also that they three were sent from the Emperour Prince and Empresse to be his Prestaues to supply the Emperours goodnesse toward him to prouide his necessaries and deliuer any sute it pleased the Ambassadour to make to the Emperour To all which the Embassadour very wisely gaue answere as they made report vnto the Emperour So we all presently mounted againe the Prestaues on either hand of the Ambassadour his Horse and Foot-cloth being led by his Page some small distance his Coach behind that and some sixe thousand Gallants after behind all who at the Embassadors riding through the guard that was made for him very courteously bowed himselfe Thus was he followed by thousands and within the three wals of the Citie many hundreds of young Noblemen Gentlemen and rich Merchants well mounted begirt the wayes on euery side diuers on foot also euen to the gate of the house where the Embassadour was to be lodged which was some two miles Whether being come he was brought into his Bed-chamber by the Noblemen his Prestaues where with many thankes for their honourable paines they were dismist betaking themselues to their further affaires The next morning came three other Prestaues with the former to know of his Lordships health and how he had rested the night past withall that if his Lordship wanted any thing they all or any one of them were as commanded so readie to obey therein These with the Interpreter and sixe Gentlemen were most within the walls lodged in a house ouer the gate besides we had fiftie Gunners to attend and guard vs in our going abroad The eight of October being the fourth day after our comming to Musco the Prestaues came to his Lordship to let him vnderstand they heard he should goe vp the next day wherefore they desired his speech and Embassage to the Emperour and the rather that the Interpreter might as they pretended translate it To this purpose very earnestly at seuerall times they made demand The Embassadour answered that he was sent from a mightie Prince to bee his Embassadour to their Emperour and being sent to their Master he deemed it not only a dishonour to him but a weaknesse in them to require that at his hands The â—leuenth of October his Lordship being sent for by his Prestaues there wayting hauing excellent Iennets for himselfe the Kings Gentlemen and good horses for the rest as likewise two gallant white Palfreis to carrie or draw a rich Chariot one parcell of the great Present with his followers and the Emperours guard carrying the rest on each side the streets standing the Emperours guard with Peeces in their hands well apparelled to the number of two thousand by esteeme many Messengers posting betwixt the Court and our Prestaues Thus with much state softly riding till we came vnto the vtmost gate of the Court hauing passed through the great Castle before there his Lordship dismounted Then met him a great Duke named Knase Andriay Metowich Soomederoue with certayne Gentlemen to bring him vp So in order as we rode we ascended the staires and a stone Gallerie whereon each side stood many Nobles and Courtiers in faire Coates of Persian Stuffe Veluet Damaske c. At the entry to the great Chamber two Counsellors encountred the Embassadour to conduct him through that Roome round about which sat many graue and richly apparrelled Personages Then we entred the Presence whether being come and making obeysance we staid to heare but not vnderstand a very gallant Nobleman named Peter Basman deliuer the Emperours Title Then the particular of the Presents and some other Ceremonies which performed the Embassadour hauing libertie deliuered so much of his Embassage as the time and occasion then affoorded After which the Emperour arising from his Throne demanded of the King of Englands health the Princes and Queenes then of the Embassadors and the Kings Gentlemen and how they had beene vsed since they entred within his Dominions to all which with obeysance wee answered as was meete Then the young Prince demanded the very same The Embassador hauing taken the Kings Letter of his Gentleman Vsher went vp after his obeysance to deliuer it which the Lord Chancellor would haue intercepted But the Embassadour gaue it to the Emperours owne hands and his Majestie afterwards deliuered it to the Lord Chancellor who tooke it and shewing the superscription to the Emperour and Prince held it in his hand openly with the Seale towards them Then the Emperour called the Embassadour to kisse his hand which he did as likewise the Princes and with his face towards them returned Then did hee call for the Kings Gentlemen to kisse his hand and the Princes which they after obeysance made did accordingly Afterwards his Majestie inuited his Lordship the Kings Gentlemen and the rest to dine with him as likewise Master I. Mericke Agent by name who gaue his attendance there on the Embassadour and was now as diuers times very graciously vsed of the Emperour and Prince no stranger that I euer heard off like him in all respects Being entred the Presence we might behold the excellent Majestie of a mightie Emperour seated in a Chaire of Gold richly embroydered with Persian Stuffe in his right hand hee held a golden Scepter a Crowne of pure Gold vpon his head a Coller of rich stones and Pearles about his necke his outward Garments of Crimson Veluet embroydered very faire with Pearles Precious stones and Gold On his right side on equall height to his Throne standing a very faire Globe of beaten Gold on a Pyramis with a faire Crosse vpon it vnto which before hee spake he turned a little and crost himselfe Nigh that stood a faire Bason and Ewer which the Emperour often vseth daily Close by him in another Throne sat the Prince in an
to an Vlusses called Beskuta fiue dayes the Duke is called Cherkar from him to an Vlusses called Girut foure daies without water the Duke is called Chicheâ—â—â—â— From him to an Vlusses called Isut fiue dayes the Duke of it is called Chechen From him to an Vlusses called Tulent Vnient foure dayes the Duke is called Tayku Katin From him to the Vlusses Yogorsin three dayes there is a King called Bakshuta From thence to an Vlusses of the yellow Mugalls called Mugolehin wherein is a Dutchesse called Manchika with her Sonne Ouchai Taichie it is within two dayes journey of the Land of Mugalla a very dangerous passage through the cliffes of the Rockes which being past they came into the Land of Mugalla wherein are two Castles or Cities built of stone they are called with them Bashum in one of them is a Duke called Talaij Taishen and in the other the Duke is called Egidon Taishen there is also a third Citie in it called Lobin wherein doth gouerne a woman called Dutchesse Manchika with her Sonne the said Dutchesse doth command all the Cities of Mugalla and her command extendeth into Catay If any man be to trauell ouer the borders and into Catay he must haue a Passe vnder her Seale which if they haue not they may not passe through Catay The Land of Mugalla is great and large from Bughar to the Sea all the Castles are built with stone foure square at the corners Towers the ground or foundation is layd of rough grey stone and are couered with 〈◊〉 the gates with counterwards as our Russe gates are and vpon the gates aâ—â—rum Bels or Wâ—tch-bels of twentie poode weight of metall the Towers are couered with glazed Tiles the houses are built with stone foure cornerd high within their Courts they haue low Vâ—â—lts also of stone the feelings whereof and of their houses are cunningly painted with all sorts of colours and very well set forth with flowres for shew In the said Countrey of Mugalla are two Churches of Friers or Lobaes built of square stone and stand betweene the East and the South vpon the tops of them are made beasts of stone and within the Church iust against the doore are set three great Idols or Images in the forme of women of two and an halfe fathome long gilt all ouer from the heads to the feet and sit a fathome high from the ground vpon beasts made of stone which beasts are painted with all manner of braue colours Those Idols haue each in their hand a Vessell and there burne before them three tallow Candles on the right side of them are erected eight Idols more in the forme of men and on the left side eight Idols more in the forme of Maydens gilt all ouer from the head to the foote their armes stretched out after the manner as the Mugall people or Religious men vse to pray And a little way from these Idols stand two Idols more made naked as a man is in all parts not to be discerned euen as though he were aliue hauing before them Candles burning as small as a straw and burne without a flame only in an Ember or Corall Their seruice or singing in these Churches is thus They haue two Trumpets of a great length about two fathomes and an halfe long and when they sound on these Trumpets anâ— beate vpon Drummes the people fall downe vpon their knees and clap their hands againe â—aâ—â—ing their armes asunder they fall to the ground and lye so halfe an houre Their Churches are couered with glazed Tiles As for bread in the Land of Mugalla there groweâ—h all manner of 〈◊〉 as Prossâ— or Russe Rice Wheate Oates Barley and all sorts of other Graine 〈…〉 their Wheate bread is as white as Snow As for Fruit in Mugalla they haue of all 〈…〉 Apples Melons Arbuses Pompeons Cheries Lemons Cucumbers Onions Garlicâ—◠〈…〉 are not faire but the women exceeding faire and weare for their Apparell Veluets and 〈…〉 the Capes of their Garments both of the men and women hang downe to their 〈◊〉 They distill Aquaâ—itâ— out of all sorts of Graine without Hops As for Preâ—ious Stones and Gold they haue none but for Siluer they haue great store out of Catay Their Boots they weare of their owne fashion They haue no Horses only Mules Asses in abundance they till and plough their ground with great and small Ploughes as we doe in Siberia at Tâ—bolskâ— Their Cuttuffs are in our Language Patriarkes and both in Mugalla and Catay are but two Cuttuffs the one was about twentie and the other thirtie yeeres of age Within the Churches are made for them high places with seats whereupon they sit the King doth honour them with bowing downe before them Their Lobaes are in our Language Friers which are shorne about twentie yeeres of age and know no women from their Mothers wombe they eate flesh continually euery day and shaue both Beards and Mustachoes their Garments are of Damaske of all sorts and colours and their Hoods yellow they say that their Religion and ours are all one only the Russe Monkes are blacke and theirs white Beyond the Land of Mugalla are three other Countreyes or Dominions stretching towards Bughar the one called Ortus the Kings name there is Euakan the Citie is of stone and the Kingdome rich The other is called Dominions of Talguth the Kings name is Sauelanche his Cities are also of stone and his Kingdome rich The third Countrey where the chiefe Citie is is called Shar and the King thereof is called Zellezney or Iron King his Kingdome is rich and not farre from Bughar From this Iron King come Diamonds and all these three Kingdomes are vnder the South and on the other side of the blacke Mugalls are the yellow Mugalls stretching all alongst the Sea aswel Townes as walking people with their Families and Herds From the Countrey of Mugalla where the Dutchesse Manchika dwelleth to the Citie of Shrokalga in Catay is two dayes trauell on horsebacke and the bordering or frontier wals stand vnder the South towards Bughar two moneths trauell all made of Bricke of fifteene fathome high whereupon they told about a hundred Towres in sight on both sides of them but towards Bughar and towards the Sea the Towres are not to bee numbred and euery Towre standeth from another about a flight shot distant The said wall 〈◊〉 downe towards the Sea foure moneths trauell The people of Catay say that this wall stretcheth alongst from Bughar to the Sea and the Towres vpon it stand very thicke it was made as they say to be a border betweene Mugalla and Catay The Towres vpon it are to the end that when any enemy appeareth to kindle fires vpon them to giue the people warning to come to their places where they are appointed vpon the wall At the entring without the wall dwell the blacke Mugalls and within is the Countrey and Cities
runne North to South as hath beene said yet is it in declining from the top to the foote of the Mountaine which may be as they beleeue by coniecture aboue twelue hundred stades And by this account although the mynes extend in such a profunditie yet there remaines sixe times as much space vnto the bottome or roote the which they say are most rich and aboundant as the body and spring of all veines Although vnto this day we haue seene the contrarie by experience for the higher the veine is to the superficies of the earth the more rich they finde it and the deeper it goes the poorer it is and of the baser aloy They then inuented the Soccabons by which they enter to worke in the mynes very easily with lesse charge paine and danger They haue eight foot in breadth and a stade in height the which they shut with doores By them they drawe forth their metall very easily paying to the proprietarie of the Soccabon the fift part of all the metall they draw forth There are nine alreadie made and others are begun They were nine and twentie yeeres in making of one Soccabon as they call it of the venome that flowes from the rich veine It was begun in the yeere 1550. the eleuenth yeere of the discouerie and was ended in the yeere 1585. the eleuenth of August This Soccabon crossed the rich veine thirtie fiue stades from the roote or spring and from thence where it met to the mouth of the myne were a hundred thirtie fiue stades So as they must descend all this depth to labour in the myne This Soccabon containes from his mouth vnto the veine of Crusero as they call it two hundred and fiftie yards in which worke were spent nine and twentie yeeres whereby wee may see what great paines men take to draw siluer out of the bowels of the earth They labour in these mynes in continuall darknesse and obscuritie without knowledge of day or night And forasmuch as those places are neuer visited with the Sunne there is not only continuall darknesse but also an extreme cold with so grosse an aire contrarie to the disposition of man so as such as newly enter are sicke as they at Sea The which happened to me in one of these mynes where I felt a paine at the heart and beating of the stomacke Those that labour therein vse candles to light them diuiding their worke in such sort as they that worke in the day rest by the night and so they change The metall is commonly hard and therefore they breake it with hammers splitting and hewing it by force as if they were flâ—nts After they carry vp this metall vpon their shoulders by Ladders of three branches made of Neats leather twisted like pieces of wood which are crossed with staues of wood so as by euery one of these Ladders they mount and descend together They are ten stades long a piece and at the end of one beginnes another of the same length euery Ladder beginning and ending at plat-formes of wood where there are seates to rest them like vnto galleries for that there are many of these Ladders to mount by one at the end of another A man carries ordinarily the weight of two Arrobes of metall vpon his shoulders tied together in a cloth in manner of a skip and so mount they three and three He that goes before carries a candle tied to his thumbe for as it is said they haue no light from Heauen and so goe they vp the Ladder holding it with both their hands to mount so great a height which commonly is aboue a hundred and fiftie stades a fearfull thing and which breedes an amazement to thinke vpon it so great is the desire of Siluer that for the gaine thereof men endure any paines And truly it is not without reason that Plinie treating of this subiect exclaimes and sayes thus Wee enter euen into the bowels of the Earth and goe hunting after riches euen to the place of the damned And after in the same Booke hee saith Those ihat seeke for metals performe workes more then Giants making holes and caues in the depth of the Earth piercing Mountaynes so deepe by the light of Candles whereas the day and the night are alike and in many moneths they see no day So as often the walls of their mynes fall smothering many of them that labour therein And afterwards hee addes They pierce the hard Rocke with hammers of Iron waighing one hundred and fiftie pounds and draw out the metall vpon their shoulders labouring day and night one deliuering his charge to another and all in darknesse onely the last sees the light with Wedges and Hammers they breake the Flints how hard and strong soeuer for the hunger of gold is yet more sharpe and strong The veines as I haue said where they finde siluer runne betwixt two Rocks which they call The Chase whereof the one is commonly as hard as flint and the other soft and easie to breake This metall is not alwayes equall and of the same bountie for you shall find in one and the same veine one sort of metall very rich which they call Cacilla or Tacana from which they draw much siluer and another is poore from whence they draw little The most rich metall of this Mountaine is of the colour of Amber and the next is that which inclines to blacke There is other somewhat red and other of the colour of ashes finally of diuers and sundrie colours which seeme to such as know them not to bee sinnes of no value But the myners doe presently know his qualitie and perfection by certaine signes and small veines they finde in them They carry all this metall they draw out of these mynes vpon Indian sheepe which serue them as Asses to carry it to the Mills the richest metall is refined by melting in those small Furnaces which they call Guayras for that is most leadie by reason whereof it is most subiect to melt and for the better melting thereof the Indians cast in a matter they call Soroche which is a metall full of Lead The metall being in these Furnaces the filth and earthie drosse through the force of the fire remaines in the bottome and the Siluer and Lead melt so as the Siluer swimmes vpon the Lead vntill it bee purified then after they refine the siluer many times after this manner of melting They haue vsually drawne out of one Quintall of metall thirtie fortie and fiftie pieces of siluer and yet I haue seene some most excellent that haue beene shewne me where they haue drawne in the melting two hundred yea two hundred and fiftie pieces of siluer of a Quintall of metall a rare wealth and almost incredible if we had not seene the triall thereof by fire but such metals are very rare The poorest metall is that which yeelds two three fiue or sixe pieces or little more This metall hath commonly little Lead but is
a King or Lord of some towne they offered him slaues to be put to death with him to the end they might serue him in the other world They likewise put to death his Priest or Chaplaine for euery Nobleman had a Priest which administred these ceremonies within his house and then they called him that he might execute his office with the dead They likewise killed his Cook his Butler his Dwarfes and deformed men by whom he was most serued neither did they spare the very brothers of the dead who had most serued them for it was a greatnesse amongst the Noblemen to be serued by their brethren and the rest Finally they put to death all of his traine for the entertaining of his house in the other world and lest pouerty should oppresse them they buried with them much wealth as Gold Siluer Stones Curtins of exquisite worke Bracelets of Gold and other rich peeces And if they burned the dead they vsed the like with all his Seruants and ornaments they gaue him for the other world Then tooke they all the ashes they buried with very great solemnity The obsequies continued tenne dayes with songs of plaints and lamentations and the Priests carried away the dead with so many ceremonies and in so great number as they could scarce accompt them To the Captaines and Noblemen they gaue trophees and markes of honour according to their enterprises and valor imployed in the wars and gouernments for this effect they had armes and particular blasons They carried these markes or blazons to the place where he desired to be buried or burnt marching before the body and accompanying it as it were in procession where the Priests and officers of the Temple went with diuers furnitures and ornaments some casting incense others singing and some sounding of mournfull Flutes and Drums which did much increase the sorrow of his kinsfolkes and subiects The Priest who did the office was decked with the markes of the Idoll which the Nobleman had represented for all Noblemen did represent Idols and carried the name of some one and for this occasion they were esteemed and honoured The order of Knighthood did commonly carry these foresaid markes He that should be burnt being brought to the place appointed they inuironed him with wood of Pine trees and all his baggage then set they fire vnto it increasing it still with goomie wood vntill that all were conuerted into ashes then came there forth a Priest attired like a Deuil hauing mouthes vpon euery ioynt of him and many eyes of glasse holding a great staffe with the which he did mingle all the ashes very boldly and with so terrible a gesture as he terrified all the assistants Sometimes this Minister had other different habits according to the quality of the dead There hath beene great curiosity at the Indies in making of Idols and Pictures of diuers formes and matters which they worshipped for Gods and in Peru they called them Guacas being commonly of foule and deformed beasts at the least such as I haue seene were so I beleeue verily that the Deuill in whose honour they made these Idols was pleased to cause himselfe to be worshipped in these deformities and in truth it was found so that the Deuill spake and answered many of these Guacas or Idols and his Priests and Ministers came to these Oracles of the father of lies and such as he is such were his Counsels and Prophesies In the Prouinces of New Spaine Mexico Tescuco Tlascalla Cholula and in the neighbour Countries to this Realme this kinde of Idolatry hath beene more practised than in any other Realme of the world And it is a prodigious thing to heare the superstitions rehearsed that they haue vsed in that point of the which it shall not be vnpleasant to speake something The chiefest Idoll of Mexico was as I haue said Vitâ—iliputzli It was an image of wood like to a man set vpon a stoole of the color of azure in a brankard or litter at euery corner was a piece of wood in forme of a Serpents head The stoole signified that he was set in heauen this Idoll had all the forehead Azure and had a band of Azure vnder the nose from one eare to another vpon his head he had a rich plume of Feathers like to the beake of a small Bird the which was couered on the top with Gold burnished very browne he had in his left hand a white Target with the figures of fiue pine Apples made of white Feathers set in a crosse and from aboue issued forth a crest of gold and at his sides he had foure darts which the Mexicans say had beene sent from heauen to doe those acts and prowesses which shall be spoken of In his right hand he had an Azured staffe cut in fashion of a wauing snake All these ornaments with the rest he had carried this sence as the Mexicans doe shew the name of Vitziliputzli signifies the left hand of a shining Feather I will speake hereafter of the proud Temple the Sacrifices Feasts and Ceremonies of this great Idoll being very notable things But at this present we will onely shew that this Idoll thus richly apparelled and deckt was set vpon an high Altar in a small peece or boxe well couered with linnen cloathes Iewels Feathers and ornaments of Gold with many runâ—les of Feathers the fairest and most exquisite that could be found he had alwaies a curtaine before him for the greater veneration Ioyning to the chamber or chappell of this Idoll there was a peece of lesse worke and not so well beautified where there was another Idoll they called Tlaloc These two Idols were alwaies together for that they held them as companions and of equall power There was another Idoll in Mexico much esteemed which was the god of repentance and of Iubilies and pardons for their sinnes They called this Idoll Tezcallipuca he was made of a blacke shining stone like to Iayel being attired with some Gentile deuises after their manner it had earerings of gold and siluer and through the nether lip a small canon of Christall in length halfe a foote in the which they sometimes put a greene feather and sometimes an azured which made it resemble sometimes an Emerald and sometimes a Turquois it had the haire broided and bound vp with a haire-lace of gold burnished at the end whereof did hang an â—aâ—e of gold with two firebrands of smoake painted therein which did signifie the praiers of the afflicted and sinners that he heard when they recommended themselues vnto him Betwixt the two eares hanged a number of small herons He had a Iewell hanging at his necke so great that it couered all his stomacke vpon his armes bracelets of Gold at his nauill a rich greene stone and in his left hand a â—aâ—ne of precious Feathers of Greene Azure and Yellow which came forth of a Looking-glasse of Gold shining and well burnished and that signified that within this Looking-glasse he saw
whatsoeuer was done in the world They called this Glasse or Chaston of gold Irâ—â—ichâ—aya which signifies his Glasse for to looke in In his right hand be held foure darts which signified the chastisement he gaue to the wicked for their sinnes And therefore they feared this Idoll most least he should discouer their faults and offences At his feast they had pardon of their sinnes which was made euery foure yeares as shall be declared hereafter They held this Idoll Tescatlipuca for the god of drought of famine barrennesse and pestilence And therefore they painted him in another forme being set in great maiesty vpon a stoole compassed in with a red Curtin painted and wrought with the heads and bones of dead men In the left hand it had a Target with fiue Pines like vnto pine Apples of Cotton and in the right a little dare with a threatning countenance and the arme stretcht out as if he would cast it and from the Target came foure darts It had the countenance of an angry man and in choller the body all painted blacke and the head full of Quailes feathers They vsed great superstition to this Idoll for the feare they had of it In Choluâ—a which is a Commonwealth of Mexico they worshipt a famous Idoll which was the god of Merchandise being to this day greatly giuen to trafficke They called it Quetzaalcoalt This Idoll was in a great place in a Temple very high it had about it Gold Siluer Iewels very rich Feathers and habits of diuers colours It had the forme of a man but the visage of a little Bird with a red bill and aboue a combe full of warts hauing rankes of teeth and the tongue hanging out It carried vpon the head a pointed myter of painted paper a sithe in the hand and many toyes of gold on the legges with a thousand other foolish inuentions whereof all had their significations and they worshipt it for that he enriched whom he pleased as Memnon and Plutus In truth this name which the Choâ—uanos gaue to their god was very fit although they vnderstood it not they called it Quetzaalcoalt signifying colour of a rich Feather for such is the deuill of couetousnesse These barbarous people contented not themselues to haue gods onely but they had goddesses also as the Fables of Poets haue brought in and the blinde gentility of the Greekes and Romans worshipt them The chiefe goddesse they worshipt was called Tozi which is to say our Grandmother who as the Histories of Mexico report was daughter to the King of Culhuacan who was the first they stayed by the commandement of Vitzliputzli whom they sacrificed in this sort being his sister and then they began to stay men in their sacrifices and to clothe the liuing with the skins of the sacrificed hauing learned that their gods were pleased therwithas also to pul the hearts out of them they sacrificed which they learned of their god who pulled out the hearts of such as he punished in Tulla as shall be said in his place One of these goddesses they worshipt had a son who was a great hunter whom they of Tlascalla afterwards tooke for a god and those were enemies to the Mexicans by whose aide the Spaniards won Mexico The Prouince of Tlascalla is very fit for hunting and the people are much giuen therunto They therfore made a great feast vnto this Idoll whom they painted of such a forme as it is not now needfull to loose any time in the description thereof The feast they made was pleasant and in this sort They sounded a Trumpet at the breake of day at the sound whereof they all assembled with their Bowes Arrows Nets and other instruments for hunting then they went in procession with their Idoll being followed by a great number of people to a high Mountaine vpon the top whereof they had made a bower of leaues and in the middest thereof an Altar richly deckt where-vpon they placed the Idoll They marched with a great bruit of Trumpets Cornets Flutes Drums and being come vnto the place they inuironed this Mountain on all sides putting fire to it on all parts by meanes whereof many beasts flew forth as Stags Conies Hares Foxes and Woolues which went to the top flying from the fire These hunters followed after with great cries and noise of diuers instruments hunting them to the top before the Idoll whither fled such a number of beasts in so great a presse that they leaped one vpon another vpon the people and vpon the Altar wherein they tooke great delight Then tooke they a great number of these beasts and sacrificed them before the Idoll as Stagges and other great beasts pulling out their hearts as they vse in the sacrifice of men and with the like ceremony which done they tooke all their prey vpon their shoulders and retired with their Idoll in the same manner as they came and entered the City laden with all these things very ioyfull with great store of musick Trumpets and Drums vntill they came to the Temple where they placed their Idoll with great reuerence and solemnity They presently went to prepare their venison wherewith they made a banquet to all the people and after dinner they made their playes representations and dances before the Idoll They had a grâ—at number of other Idols of gods and goddesses but the chiefe were of the Mexican Nation and the neighbour people as is said AS we haue said that the Kings Inguas of Peru caused Images to be made to their likenesse which they called their Guacos or brothers causing them for to be honored like themselues euen so the Mexicans haue done of their gods which was in this sort They tooke a captiue such as they thought good afore they did sacrifice vnto him their Idols they gaue him the name of the Idoll to whom he should be sacrificed and apparelled him with the same ornaments like their Idoll saying that he did represent the same Idoll And during the time that this representation lasted which was for a yeare in some Feasts in others six moneths and in others lesse they reuerenced and worshipped him in the same manner as the proper Idoll and in the meane time he did eate drinke and was merry When he went through the streetes the people came forth to worship him and euery one brought him an almes with children and sicke folkes that he might cure them and blesse them suffering him to doe all things at his pleasure onely he was accompanied with ten or twelue men lest he should flye And he to the end he might be reuerenced as he passed sometimes sounded vpon a small Flute that the people might prepare to worship him The feast being come and he growne fat they killed him opened him and eate him making a solemne sacrifice of him It followes that we treatâ— of their Religion or rather Superstition which they vse in their Sacrifices Temples Ceremonies and the rest That
diminished by the Spaniards 996.40 Troubled in their Religion ibid. Westmen who in the Norwegian spâ—ech 657.30 Weygates see Vaigats Whales store neere the North-west Passage 844.40 Difficulties of taking them ibid. 20 Whale monstrous one taken in the I le of Thanet described His Eye a Cart loade his Liuer two Cart loade c. 737. c. Whale endangers a Ship 571.20 Whale his bignesse thicknesse Finnes c. Discouered by his owne spowting of water the manner of Hunting and killing him How he reuenges himselfe He spoutes blood How they take his fat 470. The making of his Oyle 471.20 His Finnes how taken ibid. Eight seuerall sorts of Whales 471.40 What sorts yeeld Oyle Whale-bone Sperma Caeti and Amber-greece and what nothing ibid. And which is good meat 472.10 The manner of taking him described in a Mappe 472 Whales eight sorts of them 710.20 Their seuerall quantities of Oyle Whales not afraid of Ships 715.40 Whales huge 223.1 Cry in ingendring ibid. Whales giue suckâ— to their young 930.50 marg Whale built within Island 649.60 The dwellers in them dreame of Shipwracke 650 Whale-fishing begun in Greenland 465.10 Whale-fishing 〈◊〉 admirable maner in the Indies 931.30.40 Whale-fishing in Groneland 519.10 Whale killing taught vs by Biskayners 715.30 Whale Sound the Latitude 846.60 Whale Bay 464.40 Whay the Islanders drinke 663.60 Wheat cheape in Russia 416.1.10 Wheat where in the Indies it will not growe and why 954.20 See Baruolents Wheele of the Mexicans contayning fifty two yeeres the Art of it 1050.30 Whips and Whipping the manner in China 188.40 Worse then hanging ibid. 202.40 Whipping with Caues the manner 319.50 396.30 Whips of Sinewes or Whit-leather 434.40 Whirle-poole of Malestrand 222.60 Whirl-pooles hinder sayling where 520.40 Whistling Arrowes in Tartarie 29.30 Whistling Language men vnderstand one another in it in Mexico 1135.10 Whoores in China are all blinde 176.50 And all Slaues 182.40 An Officer set ouer them ibid. Whoredomes vnpunished in Russia 460.50 Whoredome for a morsell of Bread 646.40 Scarce punished in Iseland ibid. White the Tartars hold for a signe of good lucke 84.50 White the Festiuall Colour of the Muscouites 214. The mourning colour in China 368.1.165.50 White Creatures in cold Countries 649.50 White people vnder the Torâ—idâ— Zone 898.20 White men rarely borne in Mexico 1128.50 White Castle a Citie in Catay described 801.10 White Sea 515.40 The breadth it is vpon Lapland ibid. See 531.10 Wiccings are Piracies 620.1 Wichida in Russia made habitable 432.50 The proiectors of it ryfled ibid. Wichida the Riuer the Samoiâ—ds trade by it into Russia 522.20 The head 525.20 Widowes in Tartarie Marry not and why 7.40 Widowes continuing so rewarded in China 344.50 And honoured 393.1 William Baffin his Voyage to Greenland 716 William Helye his Actions in Greenland 468.469 c. William Barents his first Voyage 474.20 Returnes into Holland 478.10 Sets out againe ibid. Returnes 482.30 His third Voyage 483.1 Dyes by Noua Zembla 508 William Bouchier a French Goldsmith found in Tartary 28.40 His curious Workmanship 35.50 37.40 How hee came thither 39.20 Williams Iland the height of the Sunne there 474.60 Willoughbies Voyage to Denmark 780.10 Willoughbie Land 462.60 And 212.50 It is Greene-land 579 Windowes first made in the Roofes of houses 662 Winter nine Monethes long in Groneland 651.30 609 Winter not knowne in some places of the Indies 921.60 〈◊〉 Where little or none is 526.60 Winter short and milde in Taurica 637.1 Winter and Summer where contrary to curs in Europe 896.30 Wisera the Riuer his head course 525.30 Witch of Malinalco her Storie 1003 Witches of Peru their Arts 1043 1044 Witches Sound in Greenland the latitude 725 Wyle of a Portugall to saue his life 1029.30 Wild beasts of China 381.60 Wild beasts more acceptable in Sacrifice then tame 272.60 Winde in Winter none in Tartary and why 27.1 Winde extreme hote in Ormuz it stifled an Army 71.50 Winde preserue from corrupâ—â—â—n 647.40 Windes sold to Sea-faring men in Island 653. 646.20 Winde sold to Mariners by the Witches of Lapland a Fable 444.1 Windes temper the Torrid Zone 921.40 Their differences properties and Causes in generall 922 Windes which the Spaniards are to obserue in their Nauigations to the West Indies and how farre each carries them 924. so to and from the Philippinâ—s ibid. A Philosophicall Discourse of Winds from pag. 922. to pag. 928. Strange effects of Windes 926 Wine of Dates 〈◊〉 103 50â— Of Indian Nuts ibid. Wine of Rice 366.1 Drunke hot ibid. Wine of Peru the taste 938.1 Wine of Palme-tree 284.20 Wine made of the sap of a tree 957 20 Wine drinking held a sinne 109.10 Wine-drinkers not admitted to bee Witnesses 105.10 Wiues the Chinois keepe as many as they are able 359.60 They are bought and sold 367.50 Wiues sit at table and Concubines waite 394. They bring no portions 394.1 Wiues the father◠〈◊〉 for assurance of her Mayden-head 454 10. Vsed as seruants 456.1 Wiues and seruants slaine to waite on their Master in the next World 1029.20 Woden in our Saxon Stories is Odinus 664.50 Women the fairest in the World where 72.20 Women in China haue no names 394.50 They are seldome seene They doe all the worke within doores in China 189.10 Women Gold-smiths and Caruers in the West Indies 1123.10 Women Warriours in the Indies 886.20 992.40 Women brought to bed the Men lye in 92.30 Women sold in Sweden 631.10 Womens Ilands in Groneland the latitude 845 Wonders of Island 647.648 Wood held by the Chinois for an Element 345 Wood in Ormuâ— which will not endure nayling 71.50 Wood mighty store in the West Indies 960 Wood floating in the Sea 531. Whence it 〈◊〉 527.50 Wood shining in the night 983.20 Wooing-presents in Russia 454 10. Wooing with whips 229.50 Wooll in China and in cloth made of it 382.1 Wor see Vor. Workes of Piety in China 271.30 World the Mexicans beliefe of the end of it 1050.40 Wormes troublesome ones in the Indies 975 Worme breeding in mens legs 23â— Of an 〈…〉 how got out ibid. Writing with Pensils and in Characters 34.10 370.30 From the right hand to the left ibid. Vpward ibid. Downward ibid. Writing of China from the right hand to the left and the lines drawne downeward 384. Faire writing very â—â—are there 340 Writing by Pictures in Mexico 1052.60 And in Peru 1053.20 Writing and reading in Peru by knots vpon coards and by small stones vpon a Wâ—â—ele 10â—3 Writing the lines vp or downe 1054 X XAguâ— an Indian tree 〈…〉 and nature of the sap of it â—8â— â—0 Xalisco or New Gallicia in the West Indies the Councell and bounds of it 876.20 The Bishops Sea remoued thence to Guadalaiara when first discouered a sickly country the latitude 876 50 Xamabusis Pilgrimes of Iapon their Confessions a fearefull Story of that 1042.30 Xancheum in China described 334 40 Xandu the Citie 80.40 Xataâ— and Xambalu for Catay and Cambalu 310 Xauerius the Iesuite called the Indian Apostle