Earle of Beauvais bringeth the Kings cloake the Bishop and Earle of Chaalons bringeth the Kings Ring the Bishop and Earle of Noyon bringeth the Kings Girdle The sixe temporall Peeres with their offices at the Coronation are the Duke of Burgundy Deane or chiefe of the rest whose office is to bring the Kings crownâ— the Duke of Guyen bringeth the first square Banner the Duke of Normandy bringeth the second square Banner the Earle of Tholouse bringeth the Kings spurres the Earle of Champaine bingeth the Kingly Banner or the Standert of Warre and the Earle of Flaunders bringeth the Kings sword And although the five first temporall Peeredomes be united to the Crown and the sixt bee subject to another Prince yet at the Kings coronation there are other Noble men appointed to supply their roome and offices These bee the twelve ancient Peers although since their creation others have beene made which though they have like authority to judge in the Court of Parliament yet they want offices at the Kings Coronation and beare not that majesty that the other Peeres doe for that they are not of so great antiquity The foure parts of the World EVropa so called from Europa daughter of Agenor King of Lybia and of the Phoenicians brought hither as Poets feigne by Iupiter in the shape of a Bull but as Historians write by a Cretan Captaine named Taurus is separated from Asia as is hereafter showne and from Africk by the Mediterranean sea It is in length 2800 and in bredth 1200 miles Asia so called from the daughter of Oceanus and Theâ—is Wife to Iapetus and Mother to Prometheus or as some say of Asia the sonne of Manae King of Lydia is separated from Europe by the river Tanais now called Duina by the Sea called in time past Palus Meotides now Mare de Zabache and by Pontus Euxinus now Mare maiorica and by part of the Mediterranean Sea aâ—d from Africke by the River of Nile the Red Sea and the Aegyptian Istmus It stretcheth in length 5200 miles and in breadth 4560 miles Affrica which some say is so called of one Affer of the line of Abraham is separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea and from Asia by the Red Sea and the River of Nile Affrica is in length 4155 and in breadth 1920 miles America or West India so called of Americus Vespusius but first found out by Christopher Columbus of Genua the yeare of our Lord 1492 It is like an Iland round about environed with the great Ocean but the length and bredth no man knoweth Affrica is greater then Europa Asia then Affrica and America bigger then all The eight times that Rome hath beene taken ROme was first taken by the Gaules under the conduct of their Captaine Brennus the yeare of the Foundation of the Citty about 365 and the yeare of the world 4835 and the yeare before Christ 364. This Brennus is by the Britaine and English Chronicles reported to bee a Britain and brother to Belinus King of Britain but neither the Chronicles of Rome nor of Gaul doe speake of any such matter Rome was secondly taken by Alaricke King of Gothes after hee had held his siege to it the space of two yeares which befell the yeare of the Foundation of the Citty 1164 the yeare of our Lord 412 and the 25 yeare of the Empire of Honorius It is written in the Chronicles of Constantinople and in other places that as Alaricke being a Christian marched with his Host towards Rome a certaine Monke of holy life and great authority came unto him who having audience admonished and counsailed him to breake off that evill purpose and to remember that he was a Christian and that for Gods sake hee would moderate his wrath and that he should not take pleasure in the shedding of Christian blood sith that Rome had not in any respect offended him Unto whom Alaricke answered Thou must understand man of God that it proceedeth not of mine owne will that I go against Rome but contrarily I assure thee that every day there commeth unto me a man which constraineth and importuneth me thereunto saying unto mee Hasten thee goe against Rome destroy it utterly and make it desolate At which words the religious man being astonished durst not reply and so the King followed his enterprise Rome was thirdly taken by Gensericke King of Vandales the yeare of the Foundation of the Citty 1208 the yeare of Christ 456 who sacked and burned in it many places which befell in the Empire of Marcian Rome was fourthly taken by Totila King of Gothes who because hee could not obtaine peace of the Emperour 〈◊〉 commanded the Cittizens to avoyde the Citty and afterwards burned sacked and destroyed almost all the Citty Walls and the Capitoll and made it altogether desolate in so much that never since it could be repayred according to the first forme although a while after Bellisarius peopled and repaired a great part thereof and calling againe the old inhabitants fortified and strengthned much the Walls This desolation happened the yeare after the foundation the Citty 1300â— after Christ 548 and the 21 yeare of the Empire of Iustinian Rome was fiftly taken by the same Totila King of Gothes after that Bellisarius had repeopled and repaired it 〈◊〉 Rome was â—ixtly taken by 〈…〉 and Saracens followers of Mahomet his Law which in great multitude came into Italy and in the yeare of our Lord 333 fitting in Rome Gregory the fourth and governing the Empire Lewes the first besieged tooke and sacked Rome prophaning the temple of Saint Peter which done they returned to their ships charged with prey and prisoners Rome was seventhly taken by Henry the fourth of that name Emperour of Germany sitting in Rome Gregory the seventh this time Rome was most cruelly destroyed by reason that both the armies of the Pope and the Emperour skirmished and fought long within the Citty and the Capitoll which had beene before destroyed was now again repaired which befell the yeare of our Lord 1082 Authors write that Rome was never so much endamaged at any time as at this by reason of the lamentable destruction that was done by the Normans on the Popes side and Germans for the Emperour Rome was last taken by Charâ—s the last Duke of Bourbon who being slaine as hee scaled the walls at the first assault and by that chance the Souldiers being in liberty and without a Head pittifully destroyed the Citty and committed all kinde of enormities and barbarous cruelties saving that they burned not the Churches although they spoyled and robbed them to the uttermost For a great part of the army were Germans and most of the Germans Lutheran This adversity happened â—o Rome the yeare of our Saviour 1527 sitting at Rome Clement the Seventh and governing the Empire Charles the Fift Sixe Orders of Chivalry which continue at this day among Princes THe first and ancientest of these Orders of Chivalry or Knighthood is the Order of the Garter instituted
the drinking of plaine waâ—er They have also Gold and Silver in admiration as well as other Nations The King of Denmark that ruleth also Norway maketh a ruler among them yearly all things be common amongst them saving their wives they esteem their yong cattel as much as their children of the poorer sort you may sooner obâ—aine their Childe then their Cattell They honour their Bishop as a King to whose will â—nd pleasure all the people hath great respect whatsoever he determineth by Law Scripture or by custome of other Nations that they doe curiously observe and yet now the King hath compelled them to take a ruler They have so great store of fish in this Isle that they make their sales of them in piles as high as houses they live most commonly there by fish for the great penury of wheat and corne which is brought unto them from nations that with great lucre and and gaines carry away fish for it There is a notable Hill or Mountaine called Hecla not farre from which he Mines of Brimstone the singlar Merchandize of that Country For divers Merchants loade their ships with it when this Hil doth rage it thundreth terrible noyses iâ— easteth out stones it belcheth out Brimstone it covereth the earth so farre round about with the ashes cast forth that unto the twentieth stone it is unhabited they that desire to contemplate the nature of so great flames and therefore adventure more nigh unto the Hill are suddenly swallowed and consumed with some inorable gulfe or vorage for there be many such blasts so covered and hidden with ashes that none can sufficiently beware or take heede of them and there commeth out such a fire from that Hill that consumeth Water but stubble or stâ—aw it doth not burne This place is thought of some to be the prison of ununclean soules For the Ice being divided and broken into many parts swimmeth about the Isle almost eight moneths and being broken and bruised with rushing upon the banks with the beatings and noise of the cracking against the banks and rocks giveth so horrible a sound almost representing the miserable lamentation of humane voyce and weeping that it maketh the â—uder sort the more simple and unwife to beleeve that mens soules bee tormented there in cold The inhabitants use instead of bread whereof they lacke store fish dryed made hard and ground to meale and yet out of divers Countries Wheate is brought unto them but not so much as may suffice There bee spirits commonly seene shewing themselves manifestly in doing such things as belong to men but especially they appeare in the formes of such as have beene drowned or â—estroyed by some other vioâ—ent chance and thus doe they â—ppeare commonly in the comâ—any of such men as have had faâ—iliar acquaintance with the deâ—arted and doe use them so in â—ll points that they be taken many times for the living perâ—ons in deed of such as be ignoâ—ant of their deaths offering â—heir right hands for acquainâ—ance and this falsehood and â—rroneous sight cannot bee perâ—eived before the spirit it selfe â—anisheth out of sight and conâ—umeth away being required of â—heir familiars to come home â—nd to see their Friends againe with great sighes and weeping â—hey answer That they must go â—o Hecla the Mountaine and so â—uddenly they vanish out of â—ight Of the Countrey called Laponia IN Laponia the people be of a meane stature but they be of such agility of body that being girded and prepared with a sheafe of arrowes and Bow they will suddenly passe through 〈◊〉 hoope or circle whose Diameter is but halfe a yard They bee taught the Art of shooting from their childhood and a Boy there shall have no meate before hee can touch his marke with his arrow When the Sun goeth downe after the Equinox in September they have one continuall night for three Moneths almost all which time they have no other light but as it were a twiter light and when the Sunne commeth to them before the Equinox in March they celebrate that day as a festivall day with much solemnity Of Whales THere bee great Whales as bigge as Hills almost nigh unto Iseland which are sometimes openly seene and those will drowne and overthrow Shippes except they be made afeard with the sound of Trumpets and Drummes or except some round and empty vessels be cast unto them wherewith they may play and sport them because they are delighted in playing with such things Sometimes many cast their anchors upon Whales backes thinking them to be some Isles and so become in great danger Many in Iseland of the Bones and Ribs of such monstrous Whales make posts and sparres for the building of their houses Munster saith this is a good remedy against such dangerous Whales to take that which the Apothecaries call Castoreum and temper it with water and cast it into the Sea for by this as by a poyson they are utterly driven and banished to the bottome of the Sea How a marvellous horrible Dragon was destroyed in Polonia IN Graccovia a Citty of Polonia there was a marvellous horrible and huge Dragon which consumed and devoured all things and was the cause of great damages for when hee came out of his denne under the mountaine hee did rape and snatch all kind of cattel and men wandring uncircumspectly devouring them with his horrible jawes Gracchus being very sad and lamenting this matter commanded three severall bodies to be cast unto him every day for being contented with those he would looke for no more The which thing although it was grievous yet hee perswaded that three either of sheepe or of some other cattell should be offered him every day wherein Brimstone and some fiery powder or device of flame should be included hidden and mingled with waxe and pitch privily for so that beast and Dragon being provoked with naturall greedinesse or with a rapacious famine and hunger devouring without respect or choise the offered prey by little and little was weakned and extinguished The like example is read in Daniel the Prophet A strange History of a King devoured of Mice THere was in Polonia a King named Pompilius who was wont in all his execrations and and curses to say I pray God the Mice may devoure me Trâ—ly with evill luck and forespeaking evill to himselfe and to his for the Mice devoured his sonne who was also called Pompilius after his Father This sonne after the death of his father being left in his childhood his Uncles administred and governed the Kingdome untill hee came to mans years and was married then suddenly as he was in the middest of his â—easts overcharged with Wine being adorned with Coronates and Garlands dawbed with his â—yntments oppressed with luxury and surfeiting a great number of Mice comming from the carcases of his uncles did invade him the which hee and his wife â—he Queen did destroy but they came forth so fast and in such a multitude assaulted and set upon this Tyrant in
or Ants for they say it is as acceptable unto God to give and offer almes to bruit beastes and Fowles needing it as unto men when it is offered for the love of God There bee some that set Birds at liberty to fly which were restrained and shut up giving money according to to the value of the birds Some cast bread to fish in the water for Gods sake saying that they shall get of God a noble reward for such bounty and pitty towards those that need it The Turkes have also three divers manners of washing them the first is a sprinkling of all the whole body with Water and that this should not be in vaine nor frustrate they shave the haires from every part of their body saving onely the beards in men and the haires upon womens heads And yet they wash them very curiously and kembe them often therefore in the more famous Cities there be Bathes which they use continually Where there bee no such they have some secret place prepared to wash them in houses that they may bee well clarified with water before they go out of the house They have another kinde of washing nothing necessary as when they ease nature of superfluities For then in some secret place they wash their secret parts there is none seene standing or upright when hee delivereth nature of superfluous burdens The third kinde of washing is to purifie the instruments of sences wherein they wash both hands and arms even to the elbowes then their mouth their nostrills and all their face Both men and women doe make a scraping of filthy places every moneth twice or thrice but especially when they frequent the Temples otherwise they should be burnt as violaters prophaners of a sacred place They use such severity in warre that no souldier dare take away any thing unjustly for if he doth he shall be punished without mercy as you shall read in this discourse of the 3 severall deaths that the Romans and the Iewes punished their offenders withal They have ordinary keepers and defenders of those things as be in souldiers waies the which are bound to maintaine the Orchards and Gardens with their fruits about high waies so that they dare not take an apple or such like without the licence of the owner For if they did they should suffer death for it Of this writeth one Bartholomew Giurgevitus that was captive thirteene yeares in Turkie after this sort When I was in the Turkes army in his expedition against the Persians I did see a certain Horseman headed with his Horse and Servant also because his Horse being loose entred into the fields of another man None of the Princes or Dukes possesseth any Prouince or Citty as rightfull inheritance nor they they cannot leave any such thing after their death to their children or successors without the coÌ„sent of the king supream governour But if any Duke desireth to have any certaine possessions it is granted to him upon this condition there is a certaine note of the price and of the rents and revenues of those possessions The Turke knoweth also how many souldiers may be kept with that yearely revenue and so many souldiers hee enjoyneth him to keepe the which ought alwayes to be in a readinesse at every commandement other the Lord shall lose his head if he did not answere his duty and office How the Christians taken of the Turkes in warre be handled and tormented and how they are made free THe Emperour of the Turks when he maketh is expedition against the Christians he hath alwayes wayting upon him a company of Butchers and sellers of Boyes to abhominable uses who carry with them a great number of long chaines in hope of bondmen and captives wherein they linke and binde 50 or 60 easily by order The same men do buy also of such as have booties or preys as many as have not perished with sword the which thing is permitted them upon this condition if they give unto the Prince the tenth or tithe of their bondmen prisoners and captives The other it is lawfull for them to keepe to their owne use and merchandize and there is no better nor more plenteous a Mart amongst them then of bond-men The Emperour doth so separate the old men and the youth of both kinds which commeth to him in the name of the tenth or tithes that he selleth them of ripe age for the plough and husbandry Young maides and young men he sendeth away to a certaine place to be instructed in certaine Arts that he might use them afterward more commodiously and first they goe about this to make them deny their Christian Faith and then to have them circumcised and when they are once entred into their Ceremonies according to every mans disposition and wit he is appointed either to study the Lawes of their Nation or else to practise feats of Warre if more strength appeareth in the body than in his wit they are so instructed in the principles of warlike affaires that for the weaknesse of their strength first they use an easie Bow afterward as their strength encreaseth and they have more exquisite knowledge they have a more strong Bow untill they be meete for Warre There is a Master which calleth severely upon dayly exercise as often as they swarve from the marke so oftentimes are they whipped Others are made meet cunning to fight with staves But they in whom there is a greater grace of beautifull forme are so mangled that no manlinesse appeareth in their bodies they have beene so abused with great danger of life and if they do escape they bee meete for nothing else but for ministers of most flagitious voluptuousnesse and when their beauty waxeth old they are deputed into the office of Eunuches to observe and keepe Matrons or else they are addicted to the custody of Horses or Mules or to kitching drudgery Maydens that are very comely and beautifull are chosen to bee their concubines those of the meaner sort are given to Matrons to waite upon them where they have such filthy fervices and functions that they cannot bee named with honesty for they are compelled to follow them with a vessell of water when they goe to discharge the belly and those parts Other be kept at maidens worke as spinning and baking When the Turkes have gotten any yong prisoners they urge them with threatnings promises and flatterings that their new bondmen would bee circumcised and when any hath admitted that he is used with a little more humanity but all hope of returnâ—ng againe into his countrey is utterly taken away and if he once goeth about it he is in danger of burning These because they are thought more stedfast and lesse given to runne away they are preferred of their Lords to warlike affaires their liberty is then due unto them when they being unprofitable for yeares bee rather rejected of their Lords than dismissed or else where their Lord hath given them liberty in war for the danger of
together whereof they make boats or little ships to passe over the Sea carrying nothing but salt with them and in the night-time they convey themselves into the Shippe in the water If the Winde and the Ocean bee milde and favourable unto them they passe over in three or foure Houres but if the troublesome Sea bee against them either they perish in the violent water or else bee cast againe to the Coast of Asia When they are gotten over the Sea thâ—y seeke unto the mountaines and beholding the Pole they take their journey towards the North. In their hunger they refresh themselves with salted herbs If many run away together in the night time they invade shepheards and slay them and take away all such meate and drinke as they finde but yet many times they themselves bee slaine of the shepheards or else taken of them and so delivered to their old masters to all kinde of servitude and the greater number is consumed with dangers for few escape free and safe because they perish either by shipwrack or by devouring of beasts or by their enemies weapons or else by Famine when as it chanceth that they after their running away make any long abode in the Woods Many kinds of punishments are prepared devised and appointed for Fugitives and such as run away For some being hanged by the feet are most cruelly tormented with whips and they that commit homicide or murther have the soles of their feet cut with a sharpe knife in many slices and cuttings and after they are so cut the wounds be rubbed and sprinkled with Salt and some have a great iron coller with a gallows of Iron which they must beare for a long time both dayes and nights The besieging of Samaria SAmaria was a goodly Citty and abounded in all things whatsoever in a great length breadth It was besieged by King Adad in the yeare 3050 before Christ at that time King Ioram fled into Samaria for succour being over-matched by the Syrian Army trusting and putting his confidence in the fortification and strength of the Walls thereof But Ioram in length of time being destitute of convenient foode and all other necessaries that an Asses head was sold in SAMARIA for 80 peeces of Silver and a measure of Pigeons dong at five peeces of silver which they used insteede of Salt the Famine increased so much and the cruelty of the Enemy in detayning those that would have gone out in policy to make the Famine the greater and the sieged sooner to mutiny which fell out too true And it happend that a certaine woman cryed out to the KING spying him upon the Walls of the Citty saying have mercy one mee O my Soveraigne he encreased with wrath and supposing that shee had asked him for some reliefe or sustinance beganne to threaten her and to tell her that hee had neither graunge nor presse whereby hee might supply her necessity The woman told the King that shee had no need of meat but that she came onely to require justice and to determine a debate betwixt her and another of her neighbours the King gave her audience and bad her speake hereupon she said that shee had made a condition with another woman her friend that sith the famine was so encreased that they should kill their Children for each one had a son and in this sort should nourish one another every day and I have strangled mine yesterday and she hath eaten with me and now this day denies me hers and breaketh the accord betwixt us Whereby may be seen the great extremity that this City was brought unto by War But after the siege Samaria was taken by Salmanasar King of the Aâ—â—yrians and made entrance into the Citty and it was taken by force in the 7 yeare of his Reigne and before Christs birth 746. Of Tantalus TAntalus was a King of Phrygia exceeding covetous whom the Poets feigne to have bid the Gods to a banquet and he being desirous to make a triall of their deity when they appeared at his house in mens likenesse did slay his owne son Pelops and set him before them to bee eaten as meate giving the flesh another name unto them who understanding his horrible act did not onely abstaine from eating thereof but also gathering the parts of the Childe together brought him to life againe For this offence Iupiter cast him into Hell and enjoyned him this punishment that hee should continue in most cleare water and stand up in it even to his neather lip and that most goodly Apple-trees bearing most sweet and redolent fruit should hang over him and touch his mouth almost the which things assoone as he should goe about to taste of they should fly from him and so they did that betweene the Apples and the water hee consumed with famine and thirst and was tormented with great penury even in present plenty Whereof a Proverb hath sprung to call it Tantalus punishment when as they which have goods enough cannot use them Of Artemista the wife of Mausolus IN the Citty called Haâ—icarnassus Artemisia the Queen erected a sumptuous Tombe in the honour of her husband Mausolus which was done with such a pompe and magnificency that it was numbred as one of the seaven Wonders of the world This woman marvellously lamenting the death of her Husband and enflamed with incredible desire and affection towards him tooke his bones and ashes and mingled them together and beate them to pouder with sweet spices and put it in water and drunke it off and many other strange signes of incredible love are said to have beene in her After this for the perpetuall remembrance of her husband she caused to be made a sepulcher of marvellous workmanship in stone which 〈◊〉 beene famous and much spoken of all men till our daies and this was in height 25 Cubits and compassed with 36 goodly pillars This vaine comfort could not take away out of the Queens breast the conceived griefe and sorrow of her Husband but that shortly after she her selfe yeelded her Soule and Life as unmeete to tarrie after hee had ended his dayes Sardanapalus SArdanapalus was King of the Assirians whose Epitaph had these words in the Assirian Tongue SARDANAPALUS the sonne of ANECENDARASSIS erected in one day Anchiala and Tarsus a goodly Cities eate drinke and play These words as Cicero saith might have beene written upon the Sepulchre of an Oxe and not of a King He was a most effeminate man given to all kinde of luxury and was not ashamed to spin amongst common harlots and in womens vesture and attire to excell all others in lasciviousnesse Wherefore the Assyrians disdaining to obey and subject themselves to such a feminine Prince rebelled and made warre against him who being overcome went into his Palace and there making a great fire cast himselfe and all his riches into the fire and so ended his life The people called Amazones PEnthisilea the Queen of the Amazones which were women
the which the liqour is taken wherewith silke is dyed Purple Shee hath a long tongue aâ—â— iâ— were the length of a finger 〈◊〉 which shee is alwaies mooving by her tongue shee gotteth 〈◊〉 prey that she desirethâ—â— In 〈◊〉 they discerne true Purple 〈◊〉 counterfeit by powring oyle upon silke for if it leaveth any spots it is counterfeit but if the silke garment hath no fault after the oyle is is good and allowable Purple The City of Babylon SEmyramis a Noble woman and of great prowesse erected and built the pompous City of Babylon the walls wherof were made of brick sand pitch and plaister of a marvellous length and grossenesse The Walls were in compasse three hundred and threescore furlongs with many and great towers beautified The breadth of the Wall was such that sixe Carts might goe together thereon The height was thirty and two foote the turrets in number were two hundred and fifty The breadth and length thereof was equall with the Walls Shee made a bridge also of five furlongs in length with pillars in the depth by marvellous art of stone iron and lead joyned together When Ninus her husband was dead shee tooke the administration of the Kingdome and reigned 24 yeares For although shee had a Sonne called also Ninus yet shee considering his yong yeares unmeet for to rule feigned her selfe to bee King Ninus sonne the which was easily credited for the great likenesse of nature that was in them This woman was of so noble courage that she had a singular emulation to excell her husband in glory of whom it needeth not now to speak any more because divers authors have so largely renowned and set forth her noble Acts. Of the Phoenix THe Phoenix is a noble bird and is but one in the World which is not much seene Coruelius saith that the Phoenix did flye into Egypt when as Plaucius and Paupinius were Consuls It is said that she is as big as an Eagle having a glittring brightnesse like as Gold about her neck in other parts Purple anâ— Azured taile with Rose colours her head with a plume and top of Feathers Manilius saith that no man hath seene her feeding Shee liveth sixe hundred and threescore yeares when she waxeth old she maketh her nest of Cassia and branches of a Frankinsence-tree to fill it with odours and so dyeth upon it then of her bones and marrow thereof there springeth first a little worme which afterward is a young Phenix This Bird as Pliny saith is commonly in Arabia where are found goodly Pearls and of great estimation Cleopatra gave for one Pearle that was brought out of this Countrey two hundred and fifty thousand crowns The goodnesse of Pearles is judged by the whitenesse greatnesse roundnesse plainenesse orient brightnesse and waight The Description of the forme of the Ramme that Titus brought before the Walles of Ierusalem A Ramme is a huge beame like the maine Mast of a Ship whose end is armed with a strong massie iron made in the forme of a Rammes head whereupon it taketh its name because it butteth with his head It hangeth on another beame with ropes like the beame of a paire of ballances the beame it hangeth on lying a crosse is held up with two props which being drawne back by force of many men and then joyntly with all their forces shooved forwards it striketh the wall with the head of iron and there is no Wall nor Tower so strong but though it abide the first stroke of the Engine yet cannot it abide or hold out long The Generall of the Romans thought good to use this Engine to take the Citty by force and when they saw that none of the Iews durst come upon the wall they then applyed the Ramme unto them which so shooke the Walles beyond thought that the Iews cryed out as though the Citty had beene already taken they to prevent the force of the Rammâ— let downe sacks of wooll and chaffe to hinder the powerfull beating of the Ramme for it was of that force and strength in the running that is past beleefe yet this policy and invention did helpe for a while and did preserve the Wall whole and sound For where this policy was not used to prevent the force of the Engine it did overthrow and batter downe the Walls suddenly and furiously yet though it was of that force and strength in those times it is now quite out of use and almost of knowledge but onely for the name Of Mahomet the false Prophet of the Saracens of his originall and perversity MAhomet was the Prince of all impiety and superstition Wherefore it is not to bee marvelled if hee hath set the feeds of all evill and such as will not be rooted out Some say that hee was a Cyrenaic in Nation some that hee was an Arabian others that he was a Persian He was borne in the yeare of our Lord 597 A man of an obscure family and of no great wealth nor strength nor manhood some say that his father was a worshipper of devils and that Ismaelita his mother was not ignorant of the Lawes of the Hebrewes Wherefore the Childe being distract and made doubtfull because whilst that his Father teached him one kinde of religion his Mother suggested another so that hee followed none of them throughly And thus being trained up in two severall manners hee received and kept none of them at his ful age but he being brought up amongst the good Christians being of a subtile and crafty wit invented and devised of both Lawes a most pernicious and detestable sect for mankinde After the death of his parents he was taken of the Sarracens which were accounted notable amongst the Arabians in theft and robberies and was sold to a Merchant of the Ismael kinde Hee being a crafty fellow rapacious dishonest subject to all vice a notable dissembler and deceiver was at the length made the ruler of their Merchandize and Wares He did drive Camells throughout Egypt Syria Palestine and other strange places with the often travaile in which places hee using the company aswell of the Jewes as of the Christians many times studied and went about not to learn but to deprave the old and new Testament being taught divers sects of his Parents to this he added the gaines that came by theft and dayly imagined how to deceive his Master Wherefore being suspected of his Master and hated of others of an obscure Servant and slave hee became a notorious theefe and robber And being made more famous with his continuall theft and robberies hee got dayly a great number of companions of his unthrifty doings These things were also a great helpe unto him his strange and horrible countenance his terrible voice and his desperate ruffenly boldnesse greatly to bee feared Thus comming by little and little in admiration of a barbarous Nation hee got unto him no small authority so that that his Master being dead without Children hee married and tooke to wife his
saith there was a Tygre made tame at Rome in a Denne Strabo saith Magesthenes writeth that in India amongst the people called Prasij the Tigre is of double bignesse to the Lyon and of such strength that one being led with foure men if he should catch a Mule with his hinder claw he were able to draw the Mule unto him Some say when shee hath lost her yong shee is deceived and mocked in the way with a glasse set there by the stealer of her yong for shee following with her smelling and swift running and finding the glasse thinking her selfe to have found her yong tarrieth so long in vewing the glasse that he which tooke her yong hath time enough to escape The conditions and nature of the Parthians THe Parthians have their armies commonly of the greater number of Servants and Bond-men as every man is more wealthy so doth hee find a greater number oâ— horsemen to the King for his Warre They have many Wives for the avoyding of lechery and they punnish no fault more grievously then adultery Wherefore the Women may not come to the feasts of men nor in their sight They eate no other flesh then such as they get by hunting they be alwaies on horseback they ride to their banquets and to Warre they doe merchandize they common together they doe all common and private affaires sitting on Horse-backe their dead bodies are open preys for Fowles or Dogs they have a speciall care of worshipping the Gods they have fearefull wits seditious pratling and deceitfull Florus writeth that the third battaile that the Romans made against the Parthians they sent a notable strong Army whereof Marcus Crassus Consull was Lieutenant a man of wonderfull avarice and unsaturable cupidity of Gold who warring unfortunately against the Parthians lofing eleven Legions as he was flying was taken and flaine his head and right hand was cut off and brought to the King of the Parthians where in contempt and mockery Gold was melted into his mouth because he being so desirous of booties and preys refused peace being intreated Some say the Parthians when they powred in the melted Gold into his mouth said Now drinke Gold thou that hast alwayes thirsted for Gold and as yet couldest never be filled with Gold The which saying is also rehearsed of Tomyris the Queene of the Massagets in Scythia who warring with Cyrus the mighty King of the Persians deprived him of life in the revenging of her sonnes death whom he deceitfully killed being sent aforehand Wherefore she being in a wonderfull rage after the victory had against Cyrus caused his head to be cut off and put in a vessell full of blood saying these words thou hast sucked the blood of my Sonne and also thirsted after mine Cyrus but I will fill thee with blood drinke now and fill thy selfe therewith Of the people of Carmania and those which are called Icthiopagi IN Carmania no man may have a wife before he have brought the head of his enemy cut off to the King The King cutteth the tongue thereof into small parts and mingleth it with bread and afterward giveth it to be eaten to him that brought it and to his familiars and hee is accounted a notable fellow that bringeth many heads The Icthiophagi be so called because they eate fish most commonly and so doe their cattle and they drinke rainy and well-water They feede their fish with beasts flesh They make their Houses of Whales bones and Oyster-shels of their fish being dryed they make bread putting a little Wheate unto it for they have small store of Wheate It is read of this Nation that many of them going naked all their lives have their Wives and Children in common like unto beasts that have no difference of honesty and dishonesty Of the property of sundry Nations THe Tauroscites bee contentious people inhabiting the woods doing sacrifice to the divell Such enemies as they take they cut off their heads and set them upon an high pole in the tops of their houses There be also in this part of Asia certaine people that have their women in common and some so rude and beastly that they eate mans flesh obeying no Lawes There be others called Agrippaei which are bald from their nativity as well men as women And another kinde of people also called Issedones with whom the use is when any mans father dyeth all his kinsfolkes bring cattell and kill â—hem and cut and mingle the flesh of them with the flesh of the father of him that receiveth them to this banquet and so they make a Feast with these sundry kinds of flesh together they scoure and make cleane the head of him that is dead and use it as an Image offering sacrifice and ceremonies unto it yearely this doth the sonne to the Father and the Father to the Sonne Of the severall wayes that the Romans put any offender to death SEverall Nations have had severall kinds of death for malefactors the manner of the death usually being proportionable to the nature of the offence The Romans chiefly in their Judicatures for capitall offences punnished these three wayes By strangling beheading or stoning Amongst some Authors and those not of meane esteeme it is said that Pisolâ—â— the Souldier that set the Temple in Hierusalem on fire being called to a councell of Warre was by Titus and other officers adjudged for the same fact to have that hand cut off that threw the firebrand into the Temple and presently to shew how highly Titus was displeased at the hainousnesse of the fact hee made him examplary to all the company for his disobedience by strangling him to death upon a scaffold erected for the same purpose in the view of the whole Army and stayed himselfe in person to behold the full execution of the party The second sort of death was that they used to strike off the heads of such offenders as muâ—ined or committed any Rapes upon Virgines or Women in the taking of a Towne conâ—rary to expresse charge of Marâ—iall discipline especially of the Romans they beeing the strictest in this kinde of any Nation whatsoever It is said that CAIVS POSTHVMVS VEGELIVS a Cohort of a great esteeme for his Valour upon severall occasions under the conduct of POMPEY the great in the taking of a Fort upon conditions deflowred a maid and afterwards ravished the Mother so furious is lust if not kept under was presently by the Generall called to account and checked with this speech that the Romans ought to punnish vice in others not commit it themselves for which purpose he was there with his Army because therefore said hee thou hast had no care either of the honour of the Virgin nor her Mother nor thy selfe nor yet of thy Countrey I will have as little care of thy life and so committed him notwithstanding his office and experience 〈◊〉 valour into the hands of the executioner to have his Head cuâ—â— off in the same place where he acted his villany
are in India also dogs of such courage that two of them can master a Lyon Of the Diamond-stone THe Diamonds be found amongst the mettals of India Aethiope Araby Macedony Cyprus and many other places The Indian Diamond shineth with a more Orientnesse then the others There is one kinde of this stone that is somewhat of an iron colour and differeth not much from a christall colour for commonly it is somewhat white but it is harder then Christall so that if it be layd upon the Smiths Anvile and most vehemently beaten with a hammer rather the anvile the hammer wil breake asunder then that will be divided in parts and it doth not only resist the blowes of iron but also the heate of the fire so that it will not melt nor give place thereto For if we may give credit to Pliny it will never waxe warme and that because it cannot be more purer then it is for it is never contaminate But yet the strange hardnesse of this stone is made so soft with the warme blood of a Lion or of a Goate that it may be broken In scalding Lead it taketh such heate that it may be dissolved But this hardnesse is not in every Diamond for that which is of Cyprus or called Syderites may be broken with a Mallet and pierced through with another Diamond The Diamond doth deprehend and detect poyson and maketh the working thereof frustrate and therefore it is desired of Princes and had in great price and estimation The tenne persecutions under the Roman Emperors THe first beganne in the 13 yeare of the reigne of Nero in such sort that the Christians were faine to hide themselves in caves of the earth The second beganne in the 12 yeare of the Reigne of Domitian who caused St. Iohn the Evangelist to be put in a vessell of burning oyle whereof he received no hurt The third beganne in the tenth yeare of the reigne of Tratan which ceased afterwards by the pitty and meanes of Pliny Second Prefect of the Empire The fourth began under Marcus Antonius and Aurelius Commodus Empire The fifth began at the commandement of the Emperour Severus The sixt began at the indignation of Maximinus who especially persecuted the Clergy The seventh began under the Emperour Docius and continued cruelly The eighth began under the Emperour Valerius who though at the first hee were a Christian yet afterwards being corrupted by certaine Hereticks hee became a most cruell persecutor of Christ his Church The ninth beganne under the Emperour Aurelianus The tenth began by the commandement of the Emperours Dioclesianus and Maximianus Herculeus this persecution was farre more cruell and generall then any of the rest insomuch that Dioclesianus in the orient and Maximianus in the occident destroyed all Churches and tormented the Christians with all strange torments Of the Calechut the famous Mart of India THE compasse of the Citty of Calechut is the space of Sixe Thousand buildings which be not joyned together as our houses be but are separate a good space asunder the length of the Citty is a thousand paces their houses be very low so that they are not above the height of a man on horse-backe from the ground they be covered in the top with boughes and branches of trees commonly Their King is addicted to the worshipping of devils He doth not deny God to be the maker of Heaven and earth and the first cause and Author of things but hee saith that GOD appointed the office of judgement to an ill spirit and to doe right to mortall men and this spirit they call Deumo The King hath the picture of this devill in his Chappell sitting with a Diadem on his head like unto the Bishops of Rome but his Diademe hath foure hornes about and this picture gapeth with a wide mouth shewing foure teeth It hath a deformed nose grimme and terrible eyes a threatning countenance crooked fingers with tallants and feete much like unto a Cocke they that looke upon this horrible monster are suddenly afraid it is so loathsome and terrible a thing to behold About the Church are painted devils and in every corner Sathan is made of brasse sitting with such workmanship that hee seemeth to cast flames of fire for the consuming of soules miserably and in his right hand the picture of the Devill putteth a soule to his mouth and with his left hand it reacheth another Every morning their Priests doe clense this Idoll with Rose-water and other sweete waters and they perfume it with divers sweete things falling downe and worshipping it They put the blood of a Cocke weekely in a Silver Vessell filled with burning coles and a great number of sweet perfumes and taking â— Censar they make it redoleâ—â— with Frankincense and have a little Silver bell ringing all the while And the King eateth no meate before that 4 Priests have offered to the Devill somewhat of the Kings dishes The King at his dinner sitteth on the ground without any cloth under him and the Priests standeth round about him as hee sitteth never comming neerer him then within foure paces marking the Kings words most reverently when he hath done eating the Priests offer the reliques of the Kings meate to yong Crowes and Birds to be eaten which Fowle is an haynous thing to kill and therefore they flye every where in safety When the King marrieth a Wife he useth not to goe to bed unto her before that his new married wife hath been defloured of the most worthy Priest For this Whoredome the KING giveth him as a reward five hundred Crownes The Priests are in the first order of estimation with them then Senators which beare a sword and a buckler a bow and a javelin when they goe abroad Thirdly they esteeme Artificers Fourthly fishers Fiftly Merchants for Wine and Pepper and Acornes Last of all such as sow and gather Rice They have no great respect oâ— Apparrell but to cover their privy parts they goe bare-foot and bare-head When the King is dead if there bee any Males alive either children brethren or brothers children they succeed not in the Kingdome but the sisters sonne by their law must have the Scepter and if there be no such then he succeedeth in the Crowne which is nearest of consanguinity and this is for none other cause but because their Priests have defloured their Queene When the King goeth forth into some strange countrey or to Hunt the Priests kepe the Queene company at home and nothing can be more acceptable to the King then that they should be acquainted with the Queene in venerous acts and therefore the King knoweth for a certainty that those children which he hath by his Wife cannot be accounted his children but he taketh his sisters children as most neere unto him in lawfull consanguinity and taketh them heires to the Crowne The Merchants keep this order such Wives as they have they man change them in the colour of a better conjunction and that one saith to the other
done or passed any matter of importance touching the state of the Realme so much is it respected both within the Realme and abroad This Court of Parliament was first ordayned by Philip the faire King of France The second Parliament is at Bordeaux for the Countries of Guyen Gascoine Zaintonge Perigort part of Poictou and others and was first ordained by Charls the seventh The third Parliament is at Roven for the Dukedome of Normandy first made exchequer by Philip the faire and afterwards continuall Parliament by Lewes the twelfth The fourth Parliament is at Tholouze first ordained for certaine times in the yeare by Philip the faire and afterwards made continually by Charles the seventh for the Countrey of Langueâ—oc The fift Parliament is at Grenoble for the Countrey of Daulphine instituted by Lewes the eleventh The sixt Parliament is at Dijon for the Dukedome of Burgundy it was likewise ordayned by the said Lewes the eleventh The seventh Parliament is at Aix for the Earledome of Provence appointed by Lewes the 12. The eight Parliament is at Renes in Britaine ordayned by Henry the second Of all these Parliaments Paris Parliament is the chiefe and certaine cases are reserved to bee judged onely at the Parliament of Paris Of the Oystridge THE Oystridge is found especially in Affrica his head is covered with small haires his his eyes be grosse and blacke his neck is long his bill is short and sharpe his feete hath as it were a by partite hoofe Pliny saith that hee exceedeth the height of a man on horseback and that his Wings helpe him little But with his Nailes which are like Hoofes hee taketh stones and throweth against those which persecute him Hee doth digest whatsoever hee devoureth be it never hard Hee is of a marvellous foolishnesse for if he hath once hidden his head under a bush hee thinketh himselfe safe and not to bee seene It is said to be a simple and forgetfull thing and that as soone as it hath brought forth egs it forgetteth them untill the yong commeth forth which is thought to bee easily done because they leave the egges in the warme sand so that the yong may soone be hatched the which the males doe feed and cherish when they are brought forth When hee seeth that hee cannot avoide taking he casteth stones against his followers and many times hurteth them His Nest is commonly found in the Sand well made with Bulwarkes and Bankes to keepe away raine from the yong Of the Empire of Cathay THE Empire of Cathay is ruled by the great Cham. With this Nation one man may have many Wives and when the Husband dyeth every wife pleadeth her owne cause before the Judges and sheweth her merits so that which of them soever is adjudged to have been the most officious and dearest wife to her husband shee in her best apparrell and all her Jewels as though shee had gotten the victory of the other goeth willingly and merrily unto the heape of Wood where her husband shall be burnt and lying downe by his carcasse and embracing it the fire is kindled and so she is burnt with her husband the other of his wives after this live in great shame and obloquy They match not together for Wealth or Nobility but for excellency of beauty and procreation sake The people of Cathay have this opinion that they thinke no other Nation to see with both eyes but themselves they are perswaded also that they excell all other in subtilty of Arts and Sciences It is a white kinde of people without beards of small eyes and lacking true piety and due obeisance to God for some of them worshippe the Sunne some the Moone others certaine Images of mettals and other some an Oxe so that they be full of monstrous superstition The Emperour keepeth his Court at his Citty called Cambalu which is the noblest Mart in that part of the World for there is almost never a day throughout the yeare but that a thousand Cart-loads of Silke almost are changed and brought there amongst Merchants The Emperour keepeth in his Court twelve thousand Horsemen to keepe his body Their order of watching is thus One Captaine with three thousand gardeth the King within the Palace for 3 dayes and so doth another other 3 dayes following and thus they keep their courses When the Emperour sitteth downe to meate he hath his principall and greatest Queen on his left hand and his children which be of royall blood on his right hand in a lower place No Man that â—itteth downe in this Hall drinketh or is served in any other vessell but of Gold the Princes and Noble-men that serve the King at his meate cover their mouths with most fine silke clothes lest they should breath upon the Kings meate or drinke and when the Emperour taketh the pot to drinke all the Musitians begin to make great melody and the other ministers bend their knees The thirteene Cantons of Swisserland THe inhabitants of Helvetia or Swisserland after they had emancipated themselves from the yoake of the Empire and expelled the Nobility of the imperiall faction beganne to make Leagues and Confederacies one towne with another to fortifie themselves by that meanes against forraigne invasions if any happened And in processe of time within little more then an hundred yeares are increased to the number of 13 which they call Cantons by which the whole Countrey of Swisse is governed and defended And here according to their antiquity I place them the first that confederated together and gave example to the rest were Vri Swits Vndervard Villages and these three by little and little have drawne to their Faction all the rest that follow Lucerne Zurich Citties Glaris Zug Villages Berne Fribourg Soulleurre Baste Schaffouse Citties Appensel Village whereof 7 professe the Romish Religion viz. Vri Swits Vndervard Zug Lucerne Fribourg and Soulleurre the rest are Zuinglians which diversity of Religion hath caused dissention and mortall Warres of late yeares among them although they be all sworne together to defend their Liberty against Strangers The twelve Peeres or Paires of France IN the Realme of France to be a Peere is the greatest dignity under the King for that in many things they have almost equall Authority with Kings for Peere in the French tongue signifieth equall But because it may bee too prolixe a matter to speake of their Prerogatives it shall suffice to number them and each of their offices at the sacring or coronation of a new King These ancient Peeres are twelve in number whereof six are of the Clergy and sixe are Lay-men the six of the Clergy with their Offices at the Coronation are the Archbishop and Duke of Reins which hath his accustomed charge to oynt and consecrate the King the Bishop and Duke of Lacon whose office is to bring the holy Ampoule or divine water wherwith the King is annointed the Bishop and Duke of Langres whose office is to bring the Scepter and the hand of Justice the Bishop and
the yeare of our Lord 1348 in Bordeaux chiefe Citty of the Dukedome of Guyne in France by Edward 3 King of England and then possessor of that Dukedome which Order hee consecrated and dedicated to Saint George though the motive of the institution thereof proceeded of the losse of a Garter which hee supposed to have bin the Countesse of Salisburies but I referre the Reader to the Chronicle And it happened in this manner As one day he was entertaining her with pleasant talke a Garter chanced to unloose and fall downe the King indeavouring to take it up wittingly caused such a jest as moved the Noblemen to laughter the Countesse there at blushing and blaming that more then seemely familiarity of the King for that hee had caused such a jest among the Assistants said sharply to him and the rest Honi soit qui mal y pense which Englished is Evill to him that evill thinketh And the King in recompence of his rashnesse sayd forthwith that before it were long those Noble men which had made a jest and laughing at the Garter fallen downe should esteeme themselves much honoured to weare it for a marke of Honour and Chivalry and thereupon ordayned the said order and dedicated it to Saint George and made thereof 26 Knights and ordeyned that they should wear their Clokes of Violet-colour Velvet their hoods of red Velvet lined with white Damaske their Bases of red Velvet and under the left knee a blew Garter buckled with Gold garnished with pretious stones and about it wrought â—hese words of the Countesse of Salisbury HONI SOIT QVI MALY PENSE â—nd a colour of Gold full of red and white Roses with an Image of S. George hanging theron and about these Roses are written those words which are in the Garter There are of this Order 26 Knights of which the Kings of England are Soveraignes and it is so much desired for the excellency that â— Emperours 22 forraigne Kings 20 forraigne Dukes and divers Noble-men of other Countries have been fellowes of it Abouâ— their necke they weare a blew Ribbond at the end of which hangeth the Image of Saint George upon whose day the Installation of the new Knights is commonly celebrated being the three and twentieth of Aprill And although it was first ordayned at Bourdeaux yet the said King Edward the 3 would that the siedge and place of the solemnizing thereof should bee at the Church of Windsor here in England where at the same 〈◊〉 he founded Canons or a â—â—nonry for the better proâ—perity of the Knights of the Order The second order in antiquiâ—y is the Order of the Annunâ—iation instituted Anno Dom. â—356 by Amede the sixt of that â—ame Duke of Savoy and surâ—amed the greene Knight The Knights of this Order weare a great collar of Gold made winding with three laces which are called of Love wherein are enterlaced these words FERT FERT FERT every letâ—er importing his Latine word thus F fortitudo E ejus R Rhodum T tenuit that is His Force hath conquered Rhodes and at this Collar hangeth an Image of our Lady and of an Angell saluting her and for that occasion is called the Order of the Annuntiation The collaâ— is of 15 links to shew the 15 mysteries of the Virgine each linkeâ— being inter-woven one with the other in forme of a true Lovers knot The number is fourteenâ— Knights the solemnity is held annually on our Lady-day in the Castle of Saint Peter in Tuâ—rin This Earle ordeyned this Order in memory of Amiâ—â— the great Duke of Savoy which succoured the Knights of Saint Iohn when they conquered the I le of Rhodes upon the Turkes in the yeare of our Lord 1310. The third in antiquity is the Order of the golden Fleece founded upon the Fable of the golden Fleece that Iason with the other Argonautes went to seeke in the I le of Colchos which is to say that hee went to the Mine of Gold or in Analogie to Gideons Fleece as some will and ordeyned by Philip the second surnamed the good Duke of Burgundy in the yeare 1430 the compleate number of which Order were at first 25 Knights and raised afterwards by the said Philip to 31. Charles the fift raised them to 51 and now there bee as many as the King of Spaine will invest with â—t They weare a Collar of Gold interlaced with an Iron seeming to strike fire out of a Flint the word ex ferro flamâ—am and at the end hangs the Fleece or Toison d'or Their Cloâ—ks and Hoods are of Scarâ—et garded with Embroydery â—â—ke flames of fire Philip apâ—ointed for the celebrating of â—hat Order St. Andrews day beâ—â—g the 30 of November But the Emperor Charles the fift heire of the house of Burgundy and chiefe of that Order changed their apparrell and ordained that their Cloaks should be of Crimson Velvet and theiâ— Hoods of Violet colour Velvet and that underneath they should weare a Cassocke of cloath oâ— Silver The fourth in antiquity is the Order of St. Michael the Arch-Angell instituted by Lewes the II of France the first day oâ— August in the yeare 14â—9 anâ— ordained that of that Ordeâ— there should bee 36 Knightâ— which afterward were augmenâ—ted to 300 Gentlemen 〈◊〉 name and of Armes without â—â—â—proach of whom hee himselâ—â— was chiefe and Soveraigne anâ— after him his successors King of France And the brothers companions of this Order were bound at the receiving thereof to forsake and leave all other Orders if any they had either of a Prince or any company only excepting Emperors Kings and Dukes which beside this Order might weare that Order whereof they were chiefe with the agreement and consent of the King and brotherhood of the said order and in like manner the said King of France might weare beside his owne the Order of other Emperours Kings and Dukes And for the connoissance of this Order and the Knights thereof hee gave â—o every of them a Collar of Gold wrought with Cockle shells enterlacing one another with a double pointing Ribbon of Silke with golden Tagges â—he word Immensi Arenor Oceani which King Francis the first because his name was Francis changed into a white Friars of Franciscans Girdle made of a twisted coarde and hangeth on that Coller a tablet of St. Michael upon a Rocke conquering the Devill Of the institution of this order is made a book containing 98 Articles wherein are set downe the things wherunto the Knights of this Order are subject The fift Order is that of the Holy Ghost instituted by Henry the 3 King of France on New-yeares day in the yeare 1579 it was called by the name of the Holy Ghost because this Henry was on a Whitsonday chosen King of Poland Of this also is written a Booke contayning the Article whereunto the Knights thereoâ— are bound Among the which I have principally noted one that is to defend and sustaine the Clergy for the King doth give to every of them the rent
and not much unlike unto Conyes saving that their eares are shorter and their tailes be long almost 8 inches in length their â—ore-teeth bee long and sharpe â—nd if they be provoked they â—ite cruelly their thighes bee â—hort and very hairy under the â—elly they have feet somwhat â—â—ke unto bears with long claws wherewith they dig and underâ—ine and make very deepe caâ—erns and holes they will eate â—f bread flesh fish apples or â—ard egges and when any such thing is offered unto them they take it with their former clawes and sitting on their buttocks after the manner of Apes they feede and eate They bee delighted much with white meats as Milke Cheese and butter and if they get any bread dipped in milke they eate it up every bit and making a noyse with their chaps like unto Swine when they feede upon sosse When they play together they barke and jarre like unto whelpes They be much giveâ— to sleepe and when they are waking they be alwayes given either to play or to doe somâ—â—thing as to gnaw with theâ—â— teeth or to scrape with theâ—â— clawes or else they carry 〈◊〉 their mouths something froâ— place to place especially suâ—â— soft and tender things as may good for their nests as Hay Straw Linnen and such like and they fill their jawes so full therwith that they be not able to receive any more If the cloth which they carry be of greater proportion then their mouthes can hold then they drag it behind them on the ground Some of them have gray haires and some have red When they live thus wilde upon great hills and mountaines and are minded to goe seeke their prey and food one of them standeth in an high place to warne them that be abroad seeking their preyes if any feare or enemy bee at hand and if hee perceiveth any body comming then he barketh at whose noise all the other catch as much hay as they can and come running away and this is strange which they use Somtimes one and sometimes another lyeth downe upon his backe and as much Hay as may be laid upon his Brest and Belly hee claspeth and keepeth fast with his feete and then another of his fellowes getteth him by the tayle and draweth him with his prey into his nest and this provision they make for their nests to sleep the better in Winter When they see a man or beast passe by the mountains they barke and jarre and straight wayes all the other take that for a warning to runne to their nests About Autumnâ— they hide themselves in their nests the which they make so close that no Ayre nor Water may scarre them they lye hidden and sleepe all the whole winter yea sixe or seven monthâ— without any meate rowlinâ— themselves round like unto a Hedge-hog the inhabitants observe and marke the place of their nests and dig the earth untill they come unto them where they finde them so oppressed with deepe sleepe that they carry them and their nests to their houses and there doe they not wake from sleepe if it be Winter except they bee heate by some great fire or warme beames of the Sunne There bee commonly found in one nest 7 9 or 13. Where any of them be kept tame at home and be restrained from scraping under-mining the earth there â—hey heap up and carry to their nests every rag or piece of garment which they get and thereâ—n they wrap themselves up and â—leepe all the Winter Their â—lesh is much desired of woemen great with Childe and of those that have paine and griping in the guts and of such as desire to be provoked to sleepe And many that have beene troubled with the collicke annointing their bellies with the fat and grease of this Mouse have found great ease Of the Vnicorne SOme say the Unicorne is like unto a Coalt of two yeares and a halfe old In his forehead there groweth an horne which is blacke in the length of two or three cubits his colour is tawney like a Weasell his heaâ— like an Hart his neck not long his maine very thine hanginâ— onely upon the one side hâ— shankes be small and thinne thâ— hoofes of his former feet be dâ—â—vided like an Oxe and almost representing a Goats foot Of his hinder feete his outward part is hairy and rough The King of Ethiope hath some store of these beasts this beast is not commonly taken alive Some travailers have examined these Countries of the Unicorne but never saw any onely there is a beast which very much resembleth him and most thinke it onely to be a beast which is commonly called a Rynocheros which hath beene seene The three seuerall Crownes of the Emperours of Rome THe first Crowne is of Silver when he is crowned at Aquisgrane for the Realme of Germany and is kept at Aix the Chappell The second Crowne is of Iron when he is crowned at Millain for the Realme of Lombardy and is kept at Modene a little town not far from Millain And the third is of Gold when hee is crowned at Saint Peters in Rome for the Empire of Rome where it commonly remaines being kept with 3 severall keys by the 3 severall Arch-Bishops and the keys one of Iron one of Silver and the other of Gold Septem-Viri or the seven Electors of the Emperour of Germany THe election of the Emperours of Germany is in this sort the seven Princes Electors called septem Viri meete early about sixe of the clock in Romaneo there they consult untill nine from thence they goe in solemne order into St. Bartholmews wherof there be 3 Ecclesiasticall and 4 Temporall the 3 Ecclesiastical that is to say the Archbishop of Ments called the Arch-chancellor of high Germany being the first next the Arch-Bishop of Collen called the Arch-chancellour of Italy and then follows the Archbishop of Tryers called the Arch-chancellor of France all in their state be-fitting so great a Majesty Then the foure temporal that is to say the Marquesse of Brandenburg great Chamberlaine of the Empire with a massy key of Gold then the Duke of Saxony Lord high Marshall beareth the Sword before the Emperorâ— then the Count Palatine of Rhine Carver to the Emperour and likewise Arch-sewer in carrying the Plate to the table then the King of Bohemia Taster or else Cup-bearer to the Emperour for the tryumph These are the only Electors of the Emperour and after some other Ceremonies they descend from their seats and there before the audience take a solemne oath one after another in these words following I Doe sweare upon this Evangelist before mee that with all my faith which I owe unto God my diligence and care which I owe unto the Empire without former reward or future hope of greater Honour that I will chuse with all Faith and truth a iust and a fit man for the Kingdome of ROME as much as in mee lyeth After this oath is ministred unto the 7 Princes Electors severally one after another they
return to their seats where they sing most solemnly with Organs Shalmes and other Musick 〈◊〉 Creator Then they withdraw themselves into the Councell house halfe an houre the doore being lockt they call the Peeres of Germany unto their Councell house as messengers unto the Emperour to signifie their Election and to desire the Emperour in name of the Electors of his good wil herein and if his Majesty would vouch safe to come to the Church of St. Bartholmews at Frankford a place as Westminster is in England or St. Dennis in France If the Emperour come he is received by the Arch-Bishop of Ments the Duke of Bavaria and the rest of the Electors at the Church dore according to their custom and there with solemnity they bring him into the Councel house in his Imperial robe and his Diadem on his head to accept of this Election and from thence they come forth into the Church the Emperour unto his Imperiall seate the new elected King lead between the aforesaid 4 Bishops unto the Altar according to the wonted rites of their Elections they set the King and there he is crowned King by the Electors Te Deum c. is sung then the Trumpets Bells Gunnes and all kinde of sounding is there and after all this is done they leade the King unto his Royall seate provided in the middest of the Church and there proclayme him KING of the Romans and heire of Augustus Thus shortly have I laid downe the manner of the Election of the Emperours of Germany Of the birth of Alexander and of the Macedonian Feasts THe Macedonians likewise upon the birth-day of the great Alexander by the decree and commandement first of Philip Alexanders Father who during his life kept solemnly a most royall Feast for 3 severall dayes The first and the greatest Feast was for his sonne Alexanders birth The second cause was for that his Lieutenant Generall Parmeniâ— had gotten a noble triumphant victory over the Acaians The third cause was for that his horses and Chariots wan the Garlands at the games of Olympia this happened all in one day on which day Alexander the great was borne The same very day the great Temple of Diana was burnt by Herostratus to become thereby famous at what time the Priests of Diana cryed out Magnum Asiae malum nasci This Feast Triplicia was long time after Alexander observed by the Macedonians and yearely solemnized in memory of Alexanders Nativity with great triumph and pompe upon the day of his birth called Laeta fortunata Macedonum dies on which day the Macedonians used to weare the picture of Alexander about their necks in Jewels and on their fingers in Rings This day they used sacrifice and celebrated playes divers kinds of games Argiraspides Alexanders chiefe souldiers celebrated the Feast of Alexanders nativity as long as they lived disdained to serve under King Antigonuâ— or any other King after Alexander died Even so Hâ—motimi chiefe souldiers under Cyrus refused to serve under Cambises and so of Achilles Myrmidons and of Pyrrhus Dolopes I may speak of others who refused after renowned valiant Kings to serve wicked Princes and cruell Tyrants The severall Trophies of worthy Captaines BEfore Rome had growne to any greatnes the first Kings triumphed on foot into the Citty as Romulus who though he triumphed over King Achron whom he slew in a combate chalenged yet he carryed upon his shoulders the rich spoiles of the same King being set in order upon a young greene Oke as trophies of triumphs So did Cor. Cossus who slew fighting in field hand to hand Tolumnius General of the Tuscans and so did Marcellus who likewise slue Britomarus King of the old Gaules before they were called Frenchmen this honour hapned to none of the Romans beside for Rome yet was scant heard of but afterwards their triumphs grew unto such a pompe that some were carryed in triumphant Chariots drawne with huge Elephants as Pompey the great in his triumphs over Affrica some were carried with their triumphant Chariots drawn with tamed Lions others drawn with tamed Harts as Aurelianus others drawn with great Tygers as Heliogabalus others drawn with monstrous Mares Hermaphrodites and others drawne with huge large dogges so that the Romans far excelled all Kingdomes in their triumphs especially in their last Dictators and and Consulls before their Emperours time for Pompey the great in his three triumphs over Affrica Asia and Europe carried Captives 339 Kings Children Princes Peeres and Noble men as prisoners to stand pledges in Rome among this number he brought Aristobulus King of Iudea and Lygranes King of Armenia five sonnes and two daughters of King Mythrydates Others brought in their triumphs the Images and Statues of the Kings which were slaine or otherwise dyed before they could bee taken Captives as Lucullus brought the stratue or picture of Mithidates set out and painted very lively in Ensignes Scipio carried in his triumph at Carthage the Image of Asdrubal Hanibals Brother So Augustus brought the Image of Cleopatra to Rome in his triumph after shee slew her selfe to beare company with her friend Marcus Antonius Others brought in their triumphes Kings alive as Iulius Caesar brought King Iuba and his sonne with all their treasures of Mauritania in great triumphes and pompe into Rome Marius brought in his triumph Iugurth with all spoyles and wealth of Numidia with all the solemnity that could be Paulus Emilius triumphed over Perseus King of Macedonia and his children whom he conquered and brought captives and prisoners into Rome Others brought in their triumphs with all pompe and solemnity crowned with Lawrell and Olive garlands the formes likenesses and pictures of Mountaines Hills Woods Cities Townes Rivers scituated in those regions whom they conquered Lu. Cornelius Scipio after hee had put Antiochus the great to flight hee carried in his triumph into Rome the likenesse and forme of 130 Cities and townes which hee conquered in Asia and therefore was surnamed Asiaticus Lu. Silla in like manner carriâ—d all the Citties of Greece set â—ut very lively on large Enâ—ignes and painted bravely on â—anners and flags So did Marcellus carry the picture of the Citty Siracusa in his triumph set out on long Tables So did Caesar carry the likenesse and forme of the River Nilus and the River of Rhyneâ—n â—n long tables painted with the pictures of Scipio and Cato So â—hat nothing escaped the Romans in their triumphs for the greatnesse of the Empire grew dayly such Of the birth of Mahomet THe nativity of Mahomet which was upon Friday is unto this day among the Turkes solemnly celebrated with divers ceremonies and sacrifices in remembrance of his birth every Friday through the yeare but especially upon Good Friday in contempt of our Saviour Christ the Turkes have such a royall Feast that the charges of that one dayes feast far surmounteth all the other 51 Feasts The Arabians honour the nativity of their Mahomet so much that they begin the yeare and make
divination of the Augurers made Kings and instructed in their Kingdomes so the Kings of Persia were by their Magi instructed in their sacrifice and taught in their Religion without whom neither was it lawfull for the Romans to doe sacrifice without their Augurer stood by or for the Persians without their Magi being in place The manner and order of the Indians in celebrating the nativity of their Kings THe Indians so honoured the birth-day of their King at what time the dayes beganne to lengthen that the King with all his Nobles went to the River Ganges to wash and bathe themselves where they offered in sacrifice to the Sunne a number of blacke Bulls for that colour among the Indians is most esteemed After sacrifice done to the Sunne the King held a Feast which the Romans called Hilaria which was wont to be celebrated upon the â— Calend of April at what time the Roman Matrones and the yong women of Rome crowned with Myrtle bathed themselves before they sacrificed unto Venus This very time the yong men of Athens kept festivall dayes with mirth and pastime to honour the Moone for the like cause as the Indians had for the Sun This feast Hilaria had all publicke and solomne Playes with all kinde of triumphes for joy that the Sun began to turne his face and to lentghen their dayes tanquam patriae solatium initium laetitiae Of the Nativity of King Cyrus and of the Persian feasts or ioy thereof THE great King Cyrus for so the Persians named their Kings after Cyrus time upon the very day that he was borne hee had victory over the Scythians and Saracens he so honoured and magnified that day that Cyrus commanded that they should bee called the great Kings and appointed that it should be solemnized yearely with a regall noble feast called Sacaea after the name of that Nation conquered in the which feast was celebrated divers strange kinds of ceremonies as the Masters to attend upon the Servants the Mistresses upon their maids imitating the orders and manners in the feast Saturnalia wherein also were Bacchanalia used in the which feast were men women and children which disguised themselves like Faunes with Javelins wreathed about with Ivie in their hands and with Ivie crownes on their heads dancing and skipping after Psalters and Howboyes singing sacred songs unto Bacchus called Orgya and Dithyrambos this feast Cyrus commanded to be yearly solemnized in Babylon upon the sixteenth day of the moneth Loys on the which day Cyrus as some suppose was borne which day among the old Persians was highly honoured for of all the feasts and sacrifices of all solemne great daies the daies of their Kings nativities were most in honour esteemed This was the onely and greatest feast of the Persians for the rich men would celebrate the feast of their Kings birth with sacrificing of whole Camels Horses Oxen and Asses sparing no cost in this feast the poorer sort strained themselves with all charges to set forth the feast of their Kings nativities at what time the Magistrates used to sing the song Magophonia at their feast and the song Theogonia at their sacrifice For this feast Sacaea was called among the Thessalians Piloria in Creete called Hermea in some place called Penagria in another place called Saturnalia but in all places used and celebrated with great solemnities at the nativity of Kings and Princes Of the funerall pompe of the Egyptians THE Kings of Egypt were most sumptuously reserved in this order their bodies were opened and were in such sort used as the Egyptians use with Myrhe Aloes Honey Salt Waxe and many other sweete odours being seared up and anointed with all precious oyles and so they reserved the bodies of their Kings in high buildings made for the purpose far from the ground as in their Pyramides and Labyrinth before spoken The Funerall was so lamented that all Egypt mourned in this sort the men would clap dung and dirt upon theiâ— heads beate their bodies striâ—â— their breasts knocking their heads to every poste howling and crying for their King their women bare-breasted besmeard with all kind of filth running up and downe in furious manner fasting and mourning 72 dayes from wine or any other meat saving bread the water of Nilus Of the funerall pompe of the Thracians THe Thracians Funerall is ful of mirth and melody for when they bring their Friends to the Grave they use to sing Thracian Songs with all sweet musicke onely this ceremony they reserved when any man that was of great calling dyed his Wife must be brought the same day to the grave of her husband in her richest ornament and best apparell accompanied with her Parents and next in blood with great solemnity which after sacrifice done upon the Grave of her husband she must make sacrifice of her selfe The Priest must bring her to the Altar where shee is sacrificed with a vaile over her face and after oblations prayers done shee is slaine upon her husbands Grave for sacrifice Of the sacred anointing of the Kings of Israel THe anointing of the first King of Israel was by Samuel the Prophet who was commanded to anoint Saul the first King of the world that was anointed hee powred oyle upon his head he kissed him and said the Lord hath anointed thee King over his inheritance and the people shouted and said God save the King at this time began first the use of oyle in anointing of Kings after this manner were Saul and David anointed Kings of Israel and after David his son Solomon The order and ceremonies were to ride upon the Kings beast and to sit upon the Kings throne where the Prophet being called the Seer poured the oyle upon his head to signifie the gift of the Holy Ghost Then the Prophet kissed the King upon the cheek and turned his face to the people and said God save the King then they sounded the trumpets and brought him to his Dinner with all mirth and musicke Thus were Saul and David anointed by Samuel and after them Solomon anointed King Of the solemnity on the birth-day of Prince Aratus by the Achaians with feasts and sacrifice IN like manner the Achaianâ— solemnized the nativity of Aratus with a royall feast and sacrifice yearely upon the Grave of Aratus which was called Aratium The Priests were girded about with a purple cloth the Senate in white robes with Garlands of flowers on their heads the magistrates and chiefe officers of all Achaia with great pompe crowned with Lawrell and Myrtle with hymnes and songs made a solemne procession round about Aratium upon the birth-day of Aratus such was his love among the Grecians that hee was chosen seventeene times Generall of the Achaians The Trophies and triumphs that were invented to honour the nativities of Kings and Princes were such that some builded Citties as Alexandria to honour Alexander Caesarea to honour Caesar and Antiochiae to magnifie the name of Antiochus the great Yea such were the