For whose further satisfaction the Idaea I present you not drawne by Phydias A Pen-gwin Pen-gwin I le is 6 or 7 leagues from the continent which when wee got afterne we grew becalm'd land-lockt in a sort and were sported all the way till we dropt anchor by Whales the Seas Leviathan who after their manner thundred our welcome into Aethiopia fuzzing or spouting part of the briny Ocean in wantonnesse out of their oylie pipes bored by nature a top their prodigious shoulders like so many floating Ilands concomitating us The 1. of Iuly wee anchor'd with safety in the Soldania Bay 12 leagues short of the utmost Cape a Road worthily cald good Hope by King Iohn 2. of Portugall rejecting that of Tempestuous first imposed by Gama in that if any attaine hither their Indian voyage is halfe done and the other part lesse solitary so many excellent Ilands entertaining them The Soldania Bay is of a semi-lunary forme large and safe high 5 or 6 miles from the sea towards the shoare low and fruitfull Where we pitch our Tents is a small streame of Chrystallin water exceeding sweet trickling from a mighty mountaine 4 miles from the Sea and in a perpendicular eleven thousand eight hundred and sixty foot from its resemblance commonly cald the Table the ascent uneasie but most pleasant at the top discerning thence 100 miles into the Ocean and looking S. S. W. we see the Cape or extreame point of Africk 12 leagues off whose character in the inhabitants seemes long since to be drawne in this same distich Extremique hominum maris ad vadasalsa seorsim Degimus ac nobiscum nemo negocia miscet By salt seas limited the Worlds end wee Inhabit none with us to trade agree And from this Table or from Herberts mount a Piramid adjoyning like the Sugar loafe another hill so named we see Cape Falso S. and by E. ten leagues either of these great Promontories are divided by a Bay but inconvenient to ride in the distance of each Cape is 10 miles from North to South either side environed with mountaines so lofty as seeme to penetrate the middle region with their aspiring foreheads where they find sufficient moysture to coole their ambition another river cal'd Iaquelina streames upon the N. side of the roade halfe a league from our Tents under King Iames his mount we usually pitch them broader than our rio dulce but by a low course and too long sporting with the briny Ocean it tasts brackish and insalubrious it is foordable without boate or Elephant and gives variety of Shell-fish as Tortoises Limpits Mussels Cockels Crabs Rock-fish and Mullets Crafish Thornback Gudgeon Eeeles c. The Earth abounds with roots herbs and grasse aromatique redolent and beneficiall such as I took notice of I may dare to name Agrimony Mynt Calamint Betony Plantain Ribwort Spinage Sorell Scabious Holy Thistle and of which beware Coliquintida all the yeer long nature roabing the fruitfull earth with her choisest Tapistry Flora seeming to dresse her selfe with artlesse Garlands Alcinoe and Tempe serving as Emblems to this Elysium Quamvis enim montosa appareat collibus multis distincta interim tamen multis vallibus silvis pratisque decorata est gramina flores suavissimè olentes magna copia producit Cervosque faeras leones multo numero nutrit quae omnia visu aspectu longe jucundissime existunt preterea limpidissimis fontibus scatet quamplurimis qui non sine gratissimo susurro de montibus altis prorumpentes fluminibus sese passim insinuant cum eis postmodum in mare exonerantur The Mountaines without doubt abound with Marquisate and all rich Mineralls which for want of search are yet undilucidated the chiefe refreshment we get here is water bunch-backt Buffolos and Sheep not of Iasons race these in leiw of wooll have haire parti-coloured long leg'd leane bodied not caus'd by want of pasture rather from too high feeding or from restlesse moving with their tripping Masters But the land exuberates in many other Animalls Lyons which usually steale Beefe out of the water when Ships are here fire or a lighted match only scaring thē Dromidaries Antilopes Apes Baboons venerious ones Zebrae Wolves Foxes Iackalls Doggs Cats and others and in birds as Estriches Vultures Cranes and Passe flemingoes whose feathers equallizing the birds of Paradise are rich crimson and pure white so amiably commixed that above others it inticed my pains to present it you which shall terminate our curiosity touching the earth commence an Anatomy lecture of the most savage of all savage inhabitants Pasche-Flemingo The Cape of good Hope elevates the Antartick-Pole foure and thirty degrees 3 minutes has longitude from the Meridian of the Lyzard 28 degrees and Westerly variation one degree and about forty minutes distant from England about 6600 miles English or 2200 leagues which at Sea we usually reckon by from Saint Helena S.E. 600 leagues from Iava major 1850 leagues from Surat 1800. This land is the furthest part of the old knowne world god Terminus here especially triumphing Afrique in holy writ is called from Cham Chamesia Lybia by the Greeks Besecath by the Indians by Leo Iphrychia by Thevet Alkebulan by Pliny Atlantia Aetheria Aphrica and Aethiopia in their Etimon are not discrepant the first from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without cold the other from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to scorch the face but some would have the one from Afer sonne of Abram and Getura the other from Aethiops sonne of Cham or Vulcan That it is part of Aethiopia wee must prove against inconsiderat Laudinus who will not be perswaded any part so nam'd exceeds the Tropicks Aethiopia is therefore either superiour from 6 degrees North to the Ne plus ultra comprising Mauritania Lybia Guiney Cape Verd c. or inferiour from thence stretching South to this promontory by Zanzibar Monomotapa Manicongo Angola Caffaria c. by Homer also divided into two extra et intra allowing it the better halfe of Africk terminated saith he on East West and South by the Ocean Aethiopes Aetherij Macrobij qui Africum ad Australe mare habitant Herod lib. 3. admitting which it must needs transcend the Tropicks the most Authentique of Poets is of this opinion Od. 13. The utmost sort of people knowne to man Is the divided Aethiopian Extremos homin ûm Aethiopes geminisque diremptos partibus Let us then examine the discoverer Ptolomy nor Pliny knew it not that report of Herodotus gayning little credit who labours to perswade us in his fourth book how Pharao Necho after his losse of 1200000 men imploy'd to make the red and mid-land Sea as one incouraged the Phoenicians then proud of their Art in Navigation to surround Afrique which to please him but more for glory they undertook and in three yeares effected But sure so excellent an adventure if it had beene so could not have escaped the busie
the tip of the little Beares tayle the Sunne at this time was in the 19. degree of Taurus in Artick declination 17. degrees 31. minutes May 6. We had some thunder and lightning or corpo sanctos such as seeme good Omens to the superstitious Portugalls and at night past by Santo croix the holy crosse every houre expecting the Monzoon Monzoons an anniversary wind that blowes one way six moneths and the other halfe yeer the contrary way constantly which if Sea-men neglect they lose their happy passage into India But how preposterous the yeere and wind proved elsewhere I know not doubtlesse it is the Emblem of inconstancy experience taught it us so long time proving our Antagonist that our passage to the Cape of good Hope became sixe weekes longer than we looked for forc't to runne into much more longitude than we desired An Inhabitant of Angola The slaughter of a man doth not suffice These caniballs we see but breasts armes eyes Like dainty meat they eat Aspicimus populos quorum non sufficit itae Occidisse aliquem sed pectora brachia vultum Crediderint genus esse cibi Nothing commendable in them but their Archery in which they excell shooting a dozen shafts ere the first touch ground their Amazonian neighbours forcing their care and diligence The only ornament they have is slashing and cutting their skinne and faces the Sunne and Moone are man and wife the Starres their children in their religion the divell is their Oracle May 24. We had 19 degrees and a halfe from whence to the thirtieth degr the wind was large and prosperous nothing in that great distance observable save that on the 26 day our Admirall the Mary in which one Hall commanded early discryed a saile which he made after with his barge long boat and 80. men at two leagues distance they perceived her a Carrack of 1500 Tun who durst not adventure her hulk against our shot and therefore made all sailes draw and that night escaped tho to grapple her our fleet divided all night but saw her not till the 27. day and but saw her her velocity so much excelled ours till the 7. of Iune she againe deluded us after two houres chase as a phantasma vanishing towards God Vpon May day we crost the line and last of May the Tropick of Capricorne Tropicus Capricorni the utmost limit of Apollo's progresse towards the Antartick and 53 dayes we swet within the burning Zone ere we past under both the Tropiques The first of Iune our observation was in 24 degrees 42 minutes South latitude Iunij 1. the Sunne then in 23. degrees 8l. North in the 20. degree of Gemini In which height we had many sudden and violent gusts and stormes contrary to our desires unable thereby to direct our course being driven to Lee-ward 100 leagues upon the coast of Brazeel to 25. degr latitude and 27. of longitude from the Lizard Howbeit post multos sequitur una serena dies for on the 13. day in the first watch our long lookt for Favonius blew sweetly upon us The West wind most men know From the vast sea is ever felt to blow Semper lenis aura Favoni Spirat ab Oceano At which time some Boobyes weary of flight made our Ship their pearch an animall so simple as suffers any to take her without feare as if a stupid sense made her carelesse of danger which to sympathize I have as simply for your sport depicted A Boobie T is not long since I told you how favourably Aeolus entertained us but his other adjunct is inconstancy for veering into another quarter he began to puffe and bluster yea so furiously that Neptune sweld with rage in such impatience that the Tritons Marriners grew agast not without reason the Cape land thought not neere enough and yet too neere us for foure dayes and nights not daring to beare any saile but lay ahull driving whither the storme compelled us all that while the sea surges so sublime and impetuous that wee were tost up into the Ayre and forth with throwne downe as into an Abisse sometimes dancing upon the liquid ridge of a dreadfull wave and anon inveloped with many others all seeming to swallow us heaven and sea roaring and commixing in an undivided manner yet the Lord be praised having Sea roome and good tite Ships his providence saved us in 16 dayes more meeting together joyfully at the Cape of good hope and I confesse ingeniously not till then did I feele that Ironic Satyre of Iuvenal biting us I nunc ventis animam committe doloso Confisus ligno Digitis â morte remotus Quattuor aut septem si sit latissimataeda Goe now and to the winds thy life commit Trust the smooth wood foure or seven fingers set From death the broadest heart of Pine admit Iune 24. Wee rais'd the Pole Antartick six and thirty degrees our longitude from the Meridian of the Lyzard five and twenty degrees wanting three to the Cape variation three degrees our course E. S. E. the Sunnes declination two and twenty degrees twenty sixe minutes and as many seconds North in the 17. degree of Gemini The same time mid-summer in England and mid-winter with us in those South clymats The 7. of Iuly betimes wee descried land and tho threescore miles distant from its height seemed very nigh us proving the place wee aimed at that famous promontory now no longer Tormentozo but of good Hope Howbeit we could not flie upon the wings of desire the wind withstanding our hast wherby we let fall our Anchor 14 leagues short of the Bay of Soldania and went a shore upon a little Ile 3 miles round corruptly cal'd Cony I le from the Welsh Cain-yne or white Ile where we kil'd many Conies or Cats rather great and rammish bad and waterish commended for dainty meat by hungry Sailers Ie junus raro stomachus vulgaria temnit It also superabounds with Seales piscis marinus as big as Lyons and though doggedly visaged can out barke them yea bellow like Bulls and from such as not till then see any may challenge wonder They turne to oyle and give their skins for buffe coates soft and serviceable Here are also birds cal'd Pen-gwins white-head in Welch like Pigmies walking upright their sinns or wings hanging very orderly downe like sleeves a creature fish and flesh participating sea and shore feeding in the one breeding in the other easie to be caught on land but that their undermining the sandy ground for habitacles makes the passage bad at sea diving like a Duck swift as a Dolphin fat but oylie some dare eat them curiosity may invite a taste but to make a meale on unsapory and offensive to which May-game of nature I may inculcate that made on her acquaintance Divide her I desire but neck and brest They savour well the Cooke may eat the rest Tota quidem ponatur anas sed pectore tantum cervice sapit caetera redde coquo
their teeth and tongues are mortally venemous the other parts eaten without hurt If ere the Salamander hap to bite thee Thy coffin and thy winding sheet invite thee Si mordu t' a une Arissade Pren's ton linceul é la flassade We have said enough let my vale-dictum now be this the Land mournes to see it selfe so trod upon by a people strangers to God and vertue concealing such usefull treasures and making unusefull so many ports obscured farre beyond her meriting seated so advantagiously for traffique with all the world both the Indies possible to be awed by her and vicinating those golden countries of Mozambiq ' Quiloa Soffala Mombassa Magadoxa and other parts of Aegisimba proffering also many petty Ilands under her as those of Cumrho Primero Mascarenas Castle I le Moritius Dygarrois and Englands Forrest environing and in a sort defending her upon occasions Mozambique Vndique dant saltus multaque aspergine rorant Emerguntque itetum redeuntque sub aequora rursus Inque chori ludunt speciem lascivaque jactant Corpora acceptum patulis mare maribus efflant On every side they leap and dew their fyn Advance from Sea and bathe againe therein In sport and measur'd dances nimbly fling Themselves whilst seas do from their nostrils spring Six leagues North-East from the last land we discried another Ile full of Palmeto trees the current here set us 20 leagues forward in 24 houres the latitude of this Ile 16 degrees and a halfe longitude 21 degrees and 28 min. thus shaped Castle Iland The 7 of September we discried land it prov'd Meortey one of the Iles of Chumro seated at the North end of Madagascar It rises very high to the East as we sailed by it mounts in a piramid and views far into the Ocean It s latitude is 12 degr 56 min. South and longitude 23 degr 59 min. in this shape profering it selfe unto my Table book Meottys Ile These Iles call'd the Iles of Cumro be 5 either because Chumro or Cumr-yne the Welshmens Ile is greater than the rest or that it was first discovered named Cumro Meottis Ioanna Mohelia Gazidia by others thus St. Iohn di Castro Spirito Sancto Sancto Christofero Anguzezia and Mayotto each of them excellent for refreshing passengers abounding with delicate fruit and such cattell as are had at easie prices none of them are above a hundred miles about yet very populous and full of natures blessings Chumro is the highest and best land but branded with the most subtle and bloody Savages Ioanna has courteous people and such as readily help strangers in necessity It lately obeyed a Queen rectrix much commended for sagacity but now submits to a King who tho tyrannicall yet better so as Tacitus protests than be anarchicall to these Iles we sent our boates ashoare intending to ride at Mohelia and returned with Oxen and Buffolls Goats and variety of Fruits all which were very heartily wellcomed And tho our Randezvous be now in sight suffer me whiles in memory to tell you of a fish or 2 which in these seas were obvious The Sea Tortoise is not much differing from those at land her house or shell is only flatter Sea Tortoyse by overturning them they are easily taken disabled then to sinck or help themselves some we tooke for pastime more than food they taste waterish and inforce fluxes they superabound in eggs in those we took every one having neere 2000 pale and round but never made hard though extremely boyled some eat them and the flesh or fish as you please to call it but by the Leviticall law it was forbidden and tho our religion consists not in ceremonies ending in the prototipe our Saviour yet except famine or novelty so invite mee with such cates my pallat craves not to be refreshed The Mannatee is good meat and from their using the shoare have a fleshie taste resembling in shew and eating Veale Mannaty a strange fish the intralls differing little from a Cow and from whom in respect of its phisnomy some new name her her face is like a Buffolos her eyes small and round hard gums in stead of teeth the stone generated in the head is most valuable soveraigne against choler adust the stone chollick and dissentery so it be beat small infus'd in wine and drunk fasting the body of this fish is commonly 3 yards long and one broad slow in swimming wanting fins in their place ayded with 2 paps which are not only suckles but stilts to creep a shoare upon such time shes grazes where shes sleep long sucking the coole Ayre unable contrary to other watery inhabitants to be halfe an houre under water are famoused like Lizards for their love to man whose face they delight to look upon and in weaknesse have refreshed them tho most unhappy to our Captaine Andrew Evans who by striking one at the Moritius with his harping-iron and leaping into the sea to make short work with his steletto was so crusht that he dyed shortly after as I speak in our description of St. Helena were we intombed him The Carvel The Carvell is a meere sea fome every where floating upon the surface of the Ocean of a globous forme like so many lines throwing abroad her strings which she can spread at pleasure angling for small fishes which she captivates at leisure a sea spider she may be cal'd for when she sees her webb too weak she can blow an infectious breath foming death or such a sting as if she had borrowed it from the Scorpion We are now ready to cast Anchor hopefull of fresh refreshment September the eleventh we rode in five and twenty fadoms the ensuing morne wafting neerer shoare dropping it againe in seventeene fathoms at the West side of Mohelia a bow shot from a small scatter'd village of straw unworthy a name yet called Meriangwy governed by a Sha-bander Alicusary by name a blacke big-bon'd knave savage in shew but slie and crafty in curtesie and bartring Mohelyae pars Insulae Mohelia elevates the Pole Antartick twelve degrees fifteene minutes has longitude from the Meridian of the Cape of good Hope foure and twenty degrees and variation of the Compasse 16 degrees 20 minutes is about threescore miles in circuit from Cumroh South East 14 leagues and from Ioannae East and by South about 10 the Marittim places rising gently the inland woody and mountanous a little village here and there scattered the houses are of reeds and straw fitted to the heat of such a torrid climate Moella some pronounce it Molala others and worst of all one Best thinking the derivation would carry it Mal-Ilha or bad Ile an incongruity that from his ill judgement so sweet and usefull a place should be defamed From Madagascar it is removed about 50 leagues from Quiloa in the Africk continent sixty the Inhabitants are a mixture of Gentiles and Mahomitans the Portugall has preacht Christ but have few Proselites some fragments of their language take thus
before hee had nominated Vlacuk-cawn for Emperour who proved of another spirit his best delight being to dance in Armour to Bellonaes Trumpe and to defend his owne in despight of all his adversaries by his owne vertue without secundary props or other allyances he first quiets his domestick broyles composing peace at home then magnifies his excellencies in forraine parts in circling and adding to the lustre of his dyadem Babylon a great part of Arabia and in Syria Aleppo and Damascus all which during his life he kept in subjection and loyalty and ruled with much magnificence to the yeer 1270. when by the extremity of his disease finding death at hand hee calls his 3 sonnes afore him exhorts them to unity divides his lands among them dyes and at Meragah 15 farsangs from Tauris was solemnly buried Habkay-cawn the eldest had the provinces of Hyerac Mozendram and Korazan comprehending Medya Parthya Hyrcania Bactria and Sogdiana To Hya-Shawmet Aro Adarbayon part of Armenia and Iberia comprizing Salmas Coy Nazivan Maraga and Merent Cities of quality To Tawdon-cawn the Seigniories of Dyarbec and Rabaion or Mesopotamia part of Syria and what was made fruitfull by Euphrates and Tygris And to his sons by another venture Nicador-oglan and Targahe-cawn he gave money portions Habkay-cawn that yeere dyed at Hamadan in Persia and made protector to his sonne Nycador-Oglan A.M. 5245. A.D. 1275. A. Heg 655. who so long and with such delight represented the young King that by a divellish art and ambition he sent him to an untimely grave and establishes himselfe by name of Hameth-cawn but all his raigne is so pursued by divine vengeance that in the yeere 1275 he dyes mad and is buried at Cashan in his place came the right heire from banishment Argon-cawn who by the people is joyfully welcommed and at his Coronation assumes the name Tangador-habkay zedda sonne to Habkay-cawn This man swayed the Scepter 5 yeeres with much tyranny not only massacring Nycadors sons and alliances but amongst the Innocent bath'd his sword in blood so that hee became hatefull to his owne and stimulated the Parthian to revenge by whom in a battell hee is overcome and by Argon-chan upbraided with his cruelty yea to compensate the like measure is cruelly tormented his belly ript open and his guts given to the doggs To Tangador the inveterate Enemie of all Christians succeeds his brother Giviatoc-chan who in the fourth yeare of his reigne perisht by Balduc-chan his Uncle who also after five yeares rule died issue-lesse Badu sonne of Targahe youngest sonne to Vlacuk-chan by assent of all that Nation succeeding in the throne of greatnesse whose affections he answered with so much respect clemency and care that never any before him was more belov'd and honored howbeit when he openly profest himselfe to be a Christian the peoples regard drew back and many treasons fomented by Satan were hatched against him so that at last he was slaine or rather martyr'd by Gazun-chan Cozen to Tangador who had small cause to bragge of his treachery or time to surfet of his glory for by the permissive hand of God in Cazbyn when he lest suspected treason hee is wounded to death by his owne houshold-servants Anno 1305 and of the Hegira 685 and lay long time unburied His brother Aliaptu Abuzayd or Mahumet ben Argon by many attempts and shewes of valour purchased the restlesse Diadem to whom followed Hoharo-mirza or Abusaid Bahador-chan anno 1337 who consumed his life in venerous exercises so that for want of issue the Kingdome became a Theater of many troubles no lesse than 30 at one time contending for the Soveraignty whereby the distressed people were compelled to look for help from home And none more safe to trust to than the Lord of Samerchand Tamberlayne much famoused for his justice and victories against the Sarmatique Tartar Praecopense and Chynaeses Him they invocate by many presents of their love and a letter fill'd with hideous complaints describing their miseries the confusion of their Kingdome and insufferable pride of the thirty competitors The Scythic Emperour promises his best ayde and with fifty thousand horse forthwith enters Persia without doing any hurt save against the Tyrants all whom he persecuted with such fury that in three moneths by the industry of the Inhabitants they are all taken and made to quaffe their farewell in the bitter cup of tormenting Death for which the people urged Tamberlayne to accept the Diadem and to establish it by all meanes possible in his posterity But after seven and twenty yeeres most honourable and succesfull government in that time captivating the great Turk Bajazet whom hee brought away in an iron Cage subduing all Asia yea in eight yeares conquering more Kingdomes and Provinces than the Romans did in eight hundred this Monarch of the Asiatique world is subjected by imperious Death intombed anno 1405 of the Heg 785. at Anzar in Cathayo leaving his sonnes and grand children to inherit his victories Ioon-gwyr Hameth-cheque Myramsha and Mirza-sharock by some call'd Soutochio and Letrochio of which Ioon gwir died three yeares before his father in Palestine leaving two sonnes Mamet Sultan and Pyr-Mahomet which Pir Mahomet was by his Grandsire placed in Gaznehen and Industan where he ruled till Pir Ally slew him villanously Hameth Chec was slaine in Laurestan some say in his fathers last combat with Bajazet Myramsha the third sonne was slaine in battell anno 1480 by Chara-Issuff the Turkoman in Aderbayon but left issue Sultan Mahumed from whom the great Mogul is descended and Mirza-Sharoc the youngest of Tamerlans sonnes surviving the other held most parts of the Empire till dying in the yeare 1447 he left Aberdayon or part of Media to Mirza Ioonsha sonne of Kara-Issuf the Turk new entred Persia Whiles Miramsha's issue preserve the splendour and magnificence of the Tartarian Emperour Myramsha by some call'd Allan-Chan left issue as is said Mahumet call'd Aben Mirza Sultan Mahomet who died anno 1453 leaving to his sonne Barchan at his Coronation new named Mirza Sultan Abuzaed many rich and spatious Provinces as Badashon Gaznehen Cabul Sistan Kerman Chorazan and Khoemuz all which were not sufficient by bribe not force to secure him against the incensed Persian who having endured much affliction for triall of conquest at last Ioonsha with Acen Ally his sonne grand sonne to Kara Issuff were beaten downe and Vsan Cassan call'd also Acembeg Lord of the White Sheepe governed Vnder this Vsan Cassan an Arminian the people fall upon Sultan Abusaid and in a pitcht field vanquish him and eighty thousand men himselfe slaine three hundred Elephants taken and all his Countries ransacked yet by reason of many discords amongst the Persians they revived and set Abusaids sonne upon the Throne by name of Aben Mirza hameth cheque whose foure and twenty yeares were spent in sweet ease and plenty At 's death his Empire descends anno 1493 upon his brothers sonne Babur Mirza named upon the addition of his
land some perisht but Euphrates without any pittie ingulpht 100000 of those miscreants and by that losse he Persian King is heart-broken after he had tyrannized 20 yeares and another Vararan 5 of that name placed in his stead hee tooke truce with Martianus the Emperour and after 17 yeeres left both life and crowne Perozes succeeded him call'd Pheruz by the Persians a Prince more rash than valiant in the 20 yeere of his reigne the warres of Scythia made an end of him Valens or Belax and Ialas was then chosen King he ruled 4 yeeres to him Cabades call'd also Chobad and Canades dethron'd by Lambases in the 11 yeere of his greatnesse which Lambases or Blases was also deposed by the Nobles of Persia in the 4 yeere for that hee had set forth an Edict that all women should be us'd in common and Canades is re-established but at last through his too much curtesy to his vile brother is made blind and the other mounts the Throne againe At this time great warres commenced 'twixt the Roman and Persians the Persian storming that at their perswasion Zatus sonneto Gurgenus King of the Lazarrs a part of Colchos or Mengrellya had received Baptisme at Constantinople Iustyn the Emperour witnessing for him at the Font. After that this Persian Tyrant had full gorg'd himselfe with the slaughter of many thousands of the Lazarrs and Armenians Death summons him to an unwilling accompt after 30 yeeres tumultuous reigne and Cozrhoe his son they call him Chezir is solemnly crowned the Persian King About this time the Roman Monarchy in the West took end Chozrhoe of all the Tyrants of Persia was most wicked and desperate hee first concluded peace for 110 yeeres with Iustinian the Roman Emperour but quickly broke it and to the utmost of his power inraged them 't would bee endlesse to speak his restlesse motion his barbarisme his hypocrisy In meere malice he put to death his brother Balax and Aspebides his aged Uncle the people murmur at him and to be even with them he commands them to follow him into Syria where hee ingages their valour and at Palmyria is beaten soundly but so exasperated that he ransacks Barrhosa Antioch Selucia Apamea and other parts in Phoenicia also hee gluts his mischiefe there hee forced Euphemia a Christian Lady and of her begot Hormisda who succeeded him hee also there compelled the chast Nymnhs of Daphné to offer incense to him as to a Deity and for their kindnesse ravisht them He consumed the great and stately Temple dedicated to St. Michael the Arch-Angell and accompted it no sacriledge to rob other Churches hee besieged Sergiropolis but is forced thence dishonourably he attempts the spoile of Ierusalem but hearing that Bellisarius in his time the most rich and wretchedly poore of men was approaching hee renues his league with the Romans but purposes not long to keepe it for next yeere hee forrages Armenia and Phoenicia Anno Dom. 556 Iustyn the Roman Emperour enters Mengrellia and by death of Nachorages the Persian Generall got a happy victory Cozrhoë next yeere assauts Edissa but fruitlessely for at Sagarthon that yeere the Christians vanquisht him An. Domini 574 he commands Artabanus or Adaarmanes with a great Army to enter the lesser Asia accordingly they spoyle Syria and unpeople Antioch in Iberia also and Armenia they entred with no lesse voracity At this time Armenia received the Christian Faith and the Romans have cōplaints sent them of Cezrhoes his cruelty Iustin sends Tiberius elected Caesar to quiet him His Army was great and consisted of many Nations French Italians Peonians Illirians Misians Massagets Isauriaus c. towards Armenia he marches to meet with Cosrhoé Cesarïa the Cappadocian Metropolis he soone mastered and after long toyle comes in view of the Enemie The Persians were strong and lustie The signall of battell was no sooner given but each man in a wrathfull posture hastned to vent their furie Cosrhoe by a sigh presages his overthrow but doubts it more when when Cursé a Scythian that led the right wing of the battell entred with rare courage into the body of the Pagan Armie and mastred all the Persian-baggages but the losse of that fight did not so much grieve him as that his Fire-god was falne into the hands of his scoffing Enemies Many night stratagems he invented to recover it but all to no purpose so that seeing it past recoverie it broke his heart at Ctesiphon after hee had reigned 48 yeares leaving this report behind him that to the Christians he was cruell to the Greeks perfidious to the Persians lustfull and tyrannicall In his place his sonne Hormisda Ormous by the Persians hee is call'd was crowned Monarch of Persia Anno Dom. 580 of the world 4550 His eight yeares rule was troublesome For in his 3 yeare Mauritius son in law and Liefetenant to Tiberius and also Emperour afterwards hammered the face of Persia he ranged where hee pleasd and did what listed him albeit to prevent it Tama Cosrhoé Adaarman Alamandure and Theodorique did what they could to hinder him Anno Dom. 589 Philippicus with some Roman Legions entred Persia especially to comfort the poore Christians who were threatned by the Magicians to be slaine all of them that yeare by myracle Cardarigas the Persian Generall supposes they were forced thither by a fate uncontroleable but the event prov'd such as in sted of the Christians above 30000 Persians were slaine by the great valour the great Captaines Philippcus Heraclius and Vitylian manifested amongst the superstitious who depended upon some supernaturall helps so long that Nature no whit defended them Barames a noble Persian by hap escaped but not a second disadventure for Hormisda grew so madded at his late overthrow that hee forces Barames to weare womens apparell and with a Distaffe in 's hand to disport the insulting multitude but this jeere cost him deerely for Barames flies into such parts as loved him and inceases Byndois a potent Persian against the King by whose confederacie they raise so great an Armie and passe to Shyraz so privatly that ere many knew of their approach they enter the Citie and imprison the King yea that same day crowne his sonne Chozroes King the barbarous Traytors executed their wrath upon the Queen her children whom most cruelly they sawed asunder at which Hormisda expresses all the simtoms of an inraged man his son cannot comfort him because his beloved wife was irrevocable Cosrhoes in passion commands some villaines to temper him whose crueltie prov'd such as drubd the wretched King to death an act so infernally devillish that all Persia cursed him Vpon their mutterings he growes tyrannicall but Barames that had mounted him wich the same hand thinks to pull him downe the King acquainted wich his intent commands this and that man to raise some force to punish him but into such hate was he growne that none would obey him whereby to save his life he flies with Cesarca his wife to Byzanth his
from the religion they suckt from their cradle amongst Panyms from that rule of Nature Use others as thou would'st others should use thee The Christians in these parts differ in some things from us and the Papacie yet retaine many principles of the Orthodox and Catholick doctrine Le ts enter their Temples Their Churches are low and but poorely furnished their vassalage will reach no further whether from their subjection or that so the Temples of their bodies bee replenisht with vertue the excellency of buildings conferre not holinesse I know not neat they are and sweetly kept matted without seats and insteed of Images have some select and usefull texts of holy Writ obviously writ or painted They assemble and haste to Church each Lords day with great alacrity at their entring they shut their eyes and contemplate the holinesse of the place the exercise they come about and their owne unworthinesse as they kneele they look towards the Altar or Table neere which the Bishop or Preist is seated whom they salute with a low and humble reverence who returnes his blessing by the up-lifting of his hands and eyes at a set houre they begin prayers above two houres seldome continuing first they have a short generall confession which they follow the Priest in and assent in an unanim Amen then followes an Exposition of some part or text of holy Scripture during which their attention dejected lookes and silence is admirable they sing an hymne and at parting out of Church re-salute the Minister who ceases not till all be gone out to elate his hands and blesse them When they are come home they read a chapter in either Testament both which they suppose they have incorrupt after the Originalls and translated for them by Saint Thomas the Apostle and patron of the Orient they have it also in the Chaldy but none save the Clergie understand it every first Sonday in the Month the Priest reads a Sermon out of an old Homily writ as they say by the Apostle or some of his Disciples they Baptise commonly at the 40 day if the Parents do no sooner desire it they first signe the Infant on the forehead with the Crosse and then wash it all over with water the Sacrament of the Lords holy Supper they administer in both kinds the Communicants receive it reverently kneeling they observe two dayes strict preparation during which they eat no flesh revell not accompanie with no women in the Church they confesse their sinnes and demerits with great reluctancy They marry as wee do the Clergie marry but once the Layety but twice widdowes if they marry before the yeere be expired after which their husbands dyed are ill reported of and hazard their joyncture none save for adultery have lycence to part till death sever them In sicknesse the Priest is sent for to comfort them and to give the Eucharist if it bee heartily desired that done they take farwell of their wife and children and all others and so rid themselves of carnall distractions which too oft hinder the desired meditation of the misery of worldlings and by a holy contemplation of the ineffable joyes of heaven strive to mitigate the pangs of their disease yea the grim aspect of approaching Death and the survivers rather joy than mourne as they solemnize his funeral they first wash then wrap the Corps in clean linnen a few selected friends concomitate it to the grave wherein they place it looking not East but West towards Ierusalem five dayes after that they visit his Family They feast and fast as we their Lent or abstinence from flesh and the like begins each spring and is strictly observed fortie dayes without banquet or bravery their yeare is Soli-genian our three cheefe Feastivalls they celebrate in July they commemorate the martyrdome of Saint Thomas they have many Patriarchs or Protomists the cheife resides at a house built upon a high mountaine nine miles from Cranganor Since the Portugalls traded Indya they have shaven their heads the Layicks pay Decimae or Tythes willingly they affect justice truth peace humility obedience c. and acknowledge Saint Thomas some the Eunuch of Arabia converted by Philip their Tutelary Saint and Patron They beleeve no Purgatory May 7 we had 8 degrees and ere Sunne-set darted our eyes upon that high mountaine commonly called Brin Iohn i. e. the Mount of Iohn and revives the British Antiquity Next day we had 7 degrees 30 minutes variation 14 degrees than which that famous Promontory of East-India extends no further towards the Aequator Next day wee sailed by the Maldyvae Iles memoriz'd by Pyrard de Laval who lived there and reports that the King there styles himselfe Emperour of thirteene Provinces and 12000 Ilands most and least any King in the world is owner of Neere these are other Iles Candu Nicubar and Sumbrero by name in the view of Zeyloon and Sumatra to which place and many other I must guide your patience of Zeyloon ZEyloon or Ceylon one of those five Iles Ptolomy calls Barussae was not innominate to the Antients By Ptolomy cald Panigarensis since him in Arab. Authors Sisuara Tenarisis and Nanigeris At this day Zeyloon by us Chingall by the inhabitants an I le spatious rich and famous severed from the Asiatick continent by a small sea not forty Leagues over It is limitted from 8 to 11 deg of latit North the length is about 70 leagues breadth 40 and circuit 250 or thereabouts an I le famous in some old conjectures as that Paradise was here that K. Salomon had hence his obrize gold or gold of Ophyr but I beleeve neither in regard most writers fix the ruines of the one in Mesopotamia and the other rather in Pegu Iava those wealthy places The most memorable is this That Meleck or Melchior Pyramal King of this Iland is thought one of those wise-men premonisht by that prophesy of Balaam the Edomite in Num. 24. 17. that brought as to a King a Priest a Prophet Gold Frank-insence and Myrrh unto our blessed Saviour foretold also by the Persian Sybill and by a new made Starre guided by the finger of God miraculously directed and who at his returne made knowne the mystery of Gods Incarnation for mans redemption by his laborious teaching made many Proselites some to this day by tradition memorising him and reteining somewhat of Christian knowledge though the greatest part bee Apostats and drunk with abominable demonomy and superstition But whether Melchyor returned upon Saint Thomas his arrivall and with the other two came into Europe and whether those three buried in Cullen be fictitious or no it is not pertinent to a Travellers curiosity to insist upon But this is obvious in History That Candaces Noble Eunuch baptised by Philip left her service to preach Christ whom very fruitfully he made knowne to many parts of Araby and sundry Iles as Socotora this and Tabrobane or Sumatra as Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre in the dayes of the great
knowledge but make them more capable of torment than if they had been far more barbarous From Macasser to Cambyna W. N. W. are foure and twentie leagues to Nossaseres eightie The I le is fruitfull though under the most frying part of the burning Zone The Son yeelds them day and heat enough but Night their complexion the habit they weare differs not from their grandfather Adams a few fig or plaintan leaves tide about their middles being elsewhere naked the better sort to varie from the vulgar are tulipanted and shirt their coleblack skins with a pure white cloth which does not lenifie the scortching sonne but serves for complementall difference The women are Gods creatures but have adulterated his holy stampe by not only deforming their face and body but by that vile lubricitie their soules are spotted with Impudence goes here unmasked It is no noveltie for them to open the sack they goe in and intice a stranger to concomitate her honesty was lost before but now she ferries two to Barathrum if his body by that voyage leak not to death the Tobacco she proffers him will operate it for such is their damned Art in horrid venom that these Syrens can sing safety to themselves and by the same pipe and weed smoak him to death a trick they will be perfect in though the Divell owne them for it Pythagoras made the wantons of Crotona modest and the men moderate lam qui corrigat alter erit And which is no lesse infernall the men use long canes or truncks cald Sempitans out of which they can use it blow a little pricking quill which if it draw the lest drop of blood from any part of the body it makes him though the strongest man living die immediately some venoms operate in an houre others in a moment the veynes and body by the virulencie of that poyson corrupting and rotting presently to any mans terrour and amazement and feare to live where such abominations predominate You cannot chuse but think this a hell upon earth though at our first approach upon sight of so goodly an Iland we thought it better than Elysium but remembring Impia sub dulci melle venena latent we will away for better places the Moluccoes I meane Ptolomy calls them Syndae than which no part of the Universe gives more delight and varitie of refreshments But by the way cast our eyes upon many small Iles and as we saile due East upon Baly in 8 degr 30. min. and on Tymo 10 degr South 20 min. easterly from the last both of them more rich in stones and spices than some greater Iles about them leave we also Conio and Serran unspoken of not that they are unworthy but because we hast to the Moluccae in view now and where wee meane to rest a while Of the Molucco Jles THey are numbred five Molucco Gillolo Ternate Tidore and Machan where Magellan after his long voyage Anno 1520 lost his life by treachery of these barbarians The English were the first that ever traded to these Iles of any Christians and most of them have acknowledg'd our King their Sovereigne but by the Duch it seemes our men are now thrust out as if all India were theirs by title from the Creation Of these Gillolo is greatest but in Cloves Mace Nutmegs Ginger Pepper Oyle Aloes and Honey all of them alike plentifull All or most of these have the Equinoctiall for their Zenyth and by those diurnall showres and breezes which faile them not and Apolloes commorance the the fruits ripen sooner the earth smells more aromaticall and the Ayre seemes more nutritive than in other places Let us rest a little upon some fruit descriptions Cloves The Clove tree differs in proportion according to the place it receives vigor in some being comparable to the Bay others to Box or such like trees of humble stature 't is most part of the yeere green and pleasant having leaves long and small distending into many branches It blossmes early and becomes exceeding inconstant in complexion from a virgin white palliating other colours in the morne a pale green in the meridian a distempered red sleepes in blacknesse The Cloves manifest themselves at the utmost end of all the branches in great plenty and in their growing evaporate such sense ravishing odours as if a compendium of Natures sweetest gums and delicacies were extracted and here uunited they are thrice yeerly pruined and gratefully retort a treble vintage and though but perfected in 3 yeares yet must be counted an advantage for Physitians tell us they are hot and drie in the third degree corroborate the stomack and benefit concoction Nutmeg The Nutmegg or great Nut like those trees most famous for their exellencies is not very lofty in its heigth scarce so proper as the Cherrie by some resembled to the Peach with which it varies in forme of leafe and graine affecting more assize and compasse The Nut is cloathed with a defensive husk like those of baser quality but at full ripenesse disroabs it selfe and discovers her naked purity the Mace which chastely intwines with a vermilliion blush or colour her endeared fruit and sister both of them breathing out most pleasing smells and perfumes the Mace in few dayes like choisest beauties by Apolloes wanton flames becom's tawny and unlike her former braverie yet in that dissent best pleases the rustick gatherer Neere the Molucco's and neerer the Antartique wee see many other Iles noble in esteeme and rich in qualitie but for that more than barbarous basenesse our miserable Country-men suffered by the Dutch we have no pleasure to stand upon any thing save recitall such are Amboyna placed 'twixt Banda and Molucso Banda in 4 degrees 30 minutes and from Amboyna 24 leagues Puloway from Banda 3 leagues Puloreen from Puloway W.N.W. Lantore the greatest of the Iles of Banda Batan Labatacka Nero Ticobassa Cumber Salame and others all of them especially Puloway and Puloreen seeming continued wildernesses of Nutmegs and Clove-trees Pepper Vines and Olives These two last named commerced first with our Merchants and contracted a perpetuall Amity and Fealty to our King but in despight of them and us the uncivill Dutch whom for their braving humours here pride hate and bloody execution of our innocent men at Amboyna and other places in India I cannot name with patience have banisht our Merchants and entitle themselves Lords of most of Banda Ilands caring neither what right the Tarnatensian nor Banda Kings have over them From these steer wee another course to Borneo a great and wealthy Iland We are soone in sight of it the gale is so prosperous Of Borneo BORNEO or insula bonae fortunoe in Ptol. is Nadyr to the Aequator and resembles an ovall shield the major part inclining North Antartick elevation not mounting above 3 degrees Artick to 7 and odde minutes owes her first discovery by any Christian European to one de Bren who in the yeere of our blessed Lord 1523. anchored
Phorcys Neptunes sonne here lived and by the transcendent excellencie of their beauties their yellow haires curling like Snakes and deshevelling about their naked shoulders turn'd the beholders into a stupid admiration and by Perseus his report of that their faculty gave Poets some ground whereon to build their fiction Leaving those wee steered Westward and past by many parts of the New found world as some men call it Guiana Florida Virginia Nova Anglia parts of Norumbega and the gulph of Mexico where I have seated my selfe a while and will defraud the Reader of some patience by travelling to find out the first Discoverer a Question not a little controverted Madoc ap Owen Gwyneth discovered America above three hundred yeeres before COLUMBUS ALbeit I have formerly in a line or two vindicated the honour of our Country lost in the greater part by protract of malitious time and wane of well-willers to defend it I desire to speak more largely here and give you the ground of my conjecture That Madoc sonne of Owyn Gwyneth discovered the Westerne world now call'd America three hundred and odd yeares before Columbus not to detract from that mans worth but that the truth may prevaile and the memory of our Heroick Country-man revive having gaspt too long in hatefull ignorance and oblivion for if analogie of language and authority of good Authors may be credited it may peradventure be accepted of yea amongst Critticks gaine entertainment In the first place it may be asked whence Madock's resolution came I answer From an innate desire to travell and to avoid domestique broiles he put that in action which some old prophetique sayings gave him light and encouraged him in 'T is very like he had read Plato for what part of the world has ever more affected learning than the Britians who in his Dialogue 'twixt Tymeus and Cricius discourses of a great vast I le West from the Atlantique Ocean and named ATLAS as bigg as Asia and Africa put together Some Humination hee had also out of Aristotle and Theophrastus their Books of Rarities writ two thousand yeares agoe relating how some Merchants passing thorow the Straits of Gibralter were by tempest driven whither wind and Sea compelled them so farre West that they finally discried land but un inhabited It may be 't was some of the Azores but what ere it was it proved a Magnet of encouragement to illure future Ages to discover Westward and doubtlesse was a prime cause of finding out the Westerne Continent Hanno also is supposed to have landed there Questionlessed he adventured farre far in regard they had no Compasse to returne by into the Atlantique Seas but which way he sail'd is disputable West some say some say Southward Pomponius Mele and Lampridus affirme the land was South from Carthage hee discovered if South then no part of the West-Indies the Canary Iles perhaps the Atlantiades the Gorgades Ascention or Saint Helens who though they carry not the Epithite of Great yet the Novelty considered and the Distance the word great may be affected Some but I beleeve them not carry him to Madagascar if that hee discovered a great I le indeed But then sure he would have found out the Red Sea not comparable to the dangers he had past in doubling Cape Tormentoso and made his journey home lesse dangerous Virgil the best of Latine Poets from some varicinating Notion seemes to point at it in the 6. lib. Aenead where hee prophesies vast extent of Caesar's Dominions Iacet extra sydera Tellus Extra Anni Solisque vias ubi coeliser Atlas Axem humero torquet Stellis ardentibus aptum A Land beyond the Stars dothly And the Sunnes way Atlas that beares the Sky The fire fit Star-fraught Pole doth wheel therby Which though Servius understand of the Sunne-burnt Aethiops others otherwise interpret it inconsiderat Laudinus is one of them who cannot be perswaded that any part of Aethiopia exceeds the Tropicks an idle conceit and which in fol. 15. I have refuted but see his reason for it the word extra he moderates to pene extra a witty comment But Donatus parodically takes Solem pro Die and Annum pro Nocte the Sun for Day the Yeare for Night which granted Virgil has neither prophecie nor wonder The truth is as Lod. de la Cerda notes the Poet meanes thus Augustus Caesar should conquer beyond Mount Atlas a famous part of Afrique Morocco now of old Mauritania not included within the burning Zone out of which Apollo never wanders Extra sydera nimirum Zodiaci whence we gather that Virgil meant not of America But in a more perfect way Seneca Nero's Master fore-tells the discovery he conceales the place in his Medaean Tragedy The Time will one day be Guided by providence whom you shall see The liquid Ocean to enlarge her bounds And pay the Earth a tribute of more grounds In a inplest measure for the Sea gods then Shall shew new worlds and rarities to men Yea by his leave who all great acts commands See Thule lesse North by farre than other lands Venient Annis Secula seris quibus Oceanus Vinculd rerum laxet ingens Pateat Tellus Typhisque novos Detegrat orbes nec sit terris Vltima Thulè Madoc from these lights discerned it And least any may thinck the man to whon we erect a Trophy of so great honour an obscure or illiterate man not worth a memory let 's in a line or two speak his discent and quality and then the particulars of his vovage He was brother to Prince David sonnes of that famous Owen Gwynedd Prince of Wales who for above thirty yeeres governed wisely with great courage and good fortune his Father was Gruffith ap Conan that did homage for some lands in England to William the Conquerour at S. Davids and descended lineally from King Rodri Mawr or Roderic the great glorious in many conflicts and victories against the savage Saxon in those foure great battells especially at Berthem Bangelu Monegid and Anglesea in the yeere from Adam 4820 from the nativity of our Blessed Saviour 846. such time as Burchred King of Mercia Athelwolfe King of the West-Saysses Meiric and other valiant Princes by sad tryall found him fortunate which suffice to illustrate Madock's quality every way exceeding honourable It followes why they put to Sea upon discovery The Annalls of those times to this day happily preserved tell us That so soone as Owen Gwynedd or Venedotia was dead the custome of Gavelkind which has confounded Wales became a Subject of implacable hate amongst his sonnes Iorwerth or Edward sirnamed Dwryndwn from his broken nose Howel and David whose peculiar ambition banisht all generall kinds of love due amongst friends and brethren Iorwerth albeit he was eldest was held incapable of the Crowne in respect of his lamenesse and other deformities Howel also was thought unworthy by reason his Mother was an Irish Lady with which Nation they had then some difference David had least right
to be traced and such as deserve to be revived clearly the language they left there the religion they taught the Savages manifested it otherwise how come those many Brittish words not much altred from the dialect amongst the Mexicans whence had they the use of Beads of Crucifixes of Reliques c all which the Spaniards as we tcad in Lopez de Gomera and others confesse they found amongst the Canibals and those of Acusano and Culhuacan at their first landing in America Yea some tradition and reports amongst the Mexicans that about the time that Madoc was there a strange people came thither in Corraughs or Ships who taught them some knowledge of God and by whose examples they became more civill and industrious testified by Columbus Franciscus Lopez Coztezo Postellus and other Castilians of quality that of Fernando Cortez Anno Domini 1519 Ambassador and Generall for Ferdinand and Isabell is also remarkable In some discourse betwixt him and Mutezuma second sonne of Antzol and Father of Quabutimoc last King of Mexico the Ambassador observing the Indians to have many ceremonies the Spaniards used demanded of the King who first instructed them who answered Cortez That many yeeres ago a strange Nation landed there a civill people and from examples of piety they received them but how they were called or whence they came he could not satisfie him Another time in an Oration of thanks which Mutezuma returned them for some favours hee thus told them One chiefe cause of my especiall affection to your Nation is this I have many times heard my Father say hee heard his Grandsire seriously affirme out of a continued tradition That not many Descents above him his Progenitors came thither as strangers by accident in company of a Noble man who abode there a while and then departed but left many of his people behind him and that upon his returne most of those he left died and that from him or some of them they thought they themselves discended A speech agreeing with our Narration and that this people were Welsh rather than Spaniards or others the Records of this voyage writ by many Bardhs and Genealogists confirme it memoriz'd also by those learned Poets Cynwric op Grono and Guten Owen who lived in Edward the fourths time and by Sir Meredith ap Reese a valiant and learned man living in the yeare 1477. and of Madoc in this Eulogie Madoc wif ' mwydic wedd Iawngenau Owen was Gwynedd Ni funnum dyr fyenaid oedd Nada Mawr ond y'm oroedd Madoc ap Owen was I call'd Strong tall and comly not inthrall'd With home bred pleasure but to Fame Through Land and Seas I sought the same Made more orthodoxall by Welsh names given there to birds rivers rocks beasts c. as Gw'rando with us and them signifying to give eare unto or hearken Pen-gwyn referd by them to a bird that has a white head and to rocks of that resemblance the Iles Chorrhoeso the Cape of Bryttain Gwyndowr white-water bara bread Mam Mother Tate Father dowr water pryd time Bu or Buch a Cow Clugar a Heathcock Llynog a Foxwy an egg Calaf a quill Trwyn a nose Nef heaven and others Welsh words and of the same signification whereby in my conceit none save detracting Opinionatists can justly oppose such modest testimonies and proofes of what I wish were generally allowed of Nor is it a phantasie of yesterday many worthy men of late and antient times have revived it such are Cynwrie ap Grono Meredith ap Rhyce Guten Owen Lloyd Powell Pris Hackluit Bronghton Purchas Davys c. Enough to satisfie the welwillers of truth too mush foe Zollists and such as delight in opposition This no doubt had it beene so deservedly knowne and Catholiquely beeeved as it merited then had not Christopher Columbus a man in truth honourable and idustrious Americus Vespusius Magellan nor others caried along with them all the honour in so great an enterprise Nor had Prince Madoc beene defrauded of his memory nor our Kings of their just right and Title to the West Indyes a secret fate as it were miraculously renuing their claime by Columbus his proffering the discoverie and wealth of those Countries to our King H. 7. nor then had his Holinesse nor his Catholique Majestie had that plea nor immediate Interest grounded upon the Genoans discovery as many Jesuits and State-politiques have so vehemently so late disputed for Farre be it from me or any honest man to detract Columbus or to derogate from his deserved glory It may be his discovery was as Madocks was meerely from his owne skill genius and magnanimity without knowledge of Madocks former being there or of encouragement from old conjectures his greatest reason I know was that so much of the 360 degrees could scarce be Ocean that he might as well discover Westward as the Portugalls had done East to the other Indies But this I would withall have also granted That this his voyage was after the other of our Country-man three hundred and two twenty yeares and that the Spaniards have not so much right to those Countries I meane of America as our King has so long as they arrogate their claime from a primier discovery Columbus was borne at Gugureo at Nervi some say not far from Genoa a man of a modest nature studious and well read in the Mathematiques and of that chiefly in Navigation His first encouragement of going West upon discovery grew as say the Spaniards from his perusing an Ephemerides writ by a Spanish Mariner who had beene forced into the West Indies by tempest and died at Columbus his house upon his arrivall this is a Spanish lye invented meerely to derogate from his worth and that an Italian should not master so much glory Whither Columbus had any illumination from old Poets or that he had seene or heard of Madocks journey Westward who knowes for what Nation formerly knew not the acts of English-men better than themselves otherwise Polidore Virgil that craftie Monck had not andertooke to illustrate to his and our shame the English Cronologie nor Verstegan alias Rowley dar'd to make us all Teutonicks from both which wee suck to many egregious falshoods Columbus armed with much confidence sends his brother to our King Henry the seventh the wisest in his time and most noble if too much avarice had not swayed him whose ill hap it was to slight the Messenger and his Message from his incredulous heart and the poverty of Columbus who in his passage had been imprisoned by Rescalls and nakedly after much intreaty delivered Upon the Kings refusall he desired the French King to Patronize it but hee hearing that King Henry had refused derided him who had beene for ever discouraged had not Ferdinand the Spanish King after long suit accepted of the motion and trusted him with two hundred men in two small Ships at the earnest snit of Iohn Perez de Marchena at that time Rector of the Monasterie of Rabida a great Mecenas