Ilandes the sodeyn straungenes or greatnes of the thing shal not so much amase thy wittes and gender in thee incrudelitie yf thou coÌ„sider the saying of wyse Salomon who affyrmeth y t there is no new thing vnder the Sunne that the thing that hath been cometh to passe again which saying doeth greatly coÌ„fyrme the trueth of such thinges as are spoken of in this Boke wheras the same perhappes to some meÌ„ might otherwyse seme in maner incredible yf the lyke had not been sene in â—yme paste approued by auctoritie of moste holy scripture which declaring the great wysdoÌ„ ryches noble viages of King SalomoÌ„ sayth that God gaue him wisdoÌ„ and vnderstaÌ„ding exceding muche and a large heart and that he prepared a nauie of shippes in the porte of Azion Gaber by the brinke of the redde sea which sayled to Ophir brought froÌ„ thence .xxi. score hundreth whiche is xlâ— M. weyght of golde Agayâ—e that the weyghte of golde which was broughte to Salomon in one yere was .vi. huÌ„dreth thre score .vi. taleÌ„tes of gold wheras the Hebrue talente called Talente HaebraicuÌ„ sanctuarii was of our stâ—rling money 500. pounde Talent Haebraiâ—um uulgare was halfe so much Lykewyse y t siâ—uer was nothing worth in the dayes of SalomoÌ„ and y t he made siluer gold in HierusaleÌ„ as pleÌ„tiouâ— as stones Agayâ— that he ouerlayd the house of the Lord with precious stones beautiâ—ully and the gold wherwith he couered it was golde of Paruaim Also that the kinges nauie of shippes weÌ„t once in thre yere to Tharsis and brought Gold Siluer Apesâ— Peacockes and Elephantes teeth Which wordes surely seme so to confirme such thinges as are spoken of in the nauigacions wherof this boke entreateth that nothinge can make more for the truth of the same and briefely to speake of the places whether Salomons shippes sayled for Gold as Tharsis and Ophir This ought to be coÌ„sydered for a general rule that nearest vnto the south partes of the world betwene the two Tropikes vnder y e Equinoctial or burning lyne where the sunne is of greatest forse is the chiefest place where gold is engendred although it be sometymes founde in colde regioÌ„s as in Scotland in Crayford more likewyse in Hâ—ngary yet nether pure of it self nor in great quaÌ„titie the reason whereof is largely declared in the â—ookes of George Agric Albertus Magnus And wheras it is written in y e â—oke of Kinges in the Actes of Salomon that he prepared his shippes in Azion Gaber beyng by the brinke of the readde sâ—a and sayled from thence to Ophir for Golde it is apparaunt that howsoeuer the names of thinges haue altered and perisshed in tyme he sayled from thence southwarde towarde the Equinoctial lyne for asmuche as there is none other passage oute of the narownesse of the readde sea but onely into the mayne South sea by the which the Portugales euen at this daye make theyr viage to Calicut Samoâ—ra Madagascar and such other Ilandes in the South east partes of the worlde where Golde Spyces Apes and Elephantes are nowe founde in lyke maner But as for Tharsis beyâ—ge a cytye of Cilicia in Asia the lâ—sse the naâ—iue countreye of S. Paule the Apostle and situaâ—e muche more toward the North theÌ„ is Iudea and in maner directlye ouer againste Iudea on the othersyde of the sea called Mare MediteraneuÌ„ in the same clime in the which standeth the Ilande of Sicilia and the cytie of Ciuile in Spayne it hardelye agreeth with the principles of Philosophie coÌ„mon experience that golde should be there engendred in lyke abundaunce as in Regions more towarde the south much lesse Elephantes and Apes which are no where engeÌ„dred farre froÌ„ the AEquinoctial lyne or beyonde the two Tropikes nor yet wil engendre yf they be broughte into those partes of the world The lyke is to be vnderstande of Popingiayes and spyces and dyuers other beastes fruites and trees which are engendered in ceâ—tayne climes of the worlde and wyll not prospere in other places the reason wherof were here to longe declare For lyke as pepper wyll not growe in Spayne no more wyll the Orange tree bringe foorth fruite in Englande Wherefore it maye seme by good reason that the Golde Apes and Elephantes teeth which were broughte from Tharsis yf it were Tharsis of Cilicia were not engeÌ„dered there but rather brought thether by marchauÌ„tes from the south partes of the world out of Mauritania Marmarica Ethiopia Libia Arabia or otherwise by lande from the East India lyke as at this daye the greate multitude of Spyces Golde Precious stones Sylke and Iuerye whyche is at Calicut and Cambaia growe not al in the regioÌ„s there about but are brought thether froÌ„ dyuers other countreys as doeth more largely appeare in this Boke And that SalomoÌ„s factours for exchauâ—ge of other marchaundyse bought the same in Tharsis beâ—â—g broâ—ght thether froÌ„ other countreyes as it is written in the thyrde Boke of the Kinges that Salomon had great plentie of Gold of Marchauntes Apothecaries So that to conclude I would rather thinke sauing reformacion of oâ—her better learned that this Tharsis not Tharsis of Cilicia from whence Salomon had so great plentie of Gold and Iuerie were rather some other couÌ„trey in the south partes of the world then this Tharsis of Cilicia Forâ— not onely olde and newe Histories dayly experience and the principles of natural Philosophie doe agree y t the places most apte to bring forth gold spices precious stones are the South and Southeast partes of the world but also our Sauiour Christ approueth the same declaring that the Quene of the South meaning the Quâ—ne of Saba came froÌ„ the vtmoste partes of the worlde to heare the wysdom of Salomon And lyke as by the auctoritie of these woordes it is playne froâ— what partes of the world she came the same to a philosophical head is apparent by sâ—che râ—ches presentes as she broughte with her For albeit that in the Chronacles of Salomon it is â—ot written by expressed wordes that she came froÌ„ the Southe yet is it wrytten that she came to Hierusalem with a very great trayne with camels laden with spyces swete odours exceading much gold precious stones which descripcion doeth well agree both with the situacion of the cytie of Saba in Ethiopia vnder Egipt and also with the couâ—trey of Saba being in the middel of Arabia inuironned about with great rockes wherin is a great wood of Precious trees some of Cinomome Cassia some bringing forth frankâ—ncense and myrre as writeth Plinius lib. 12. and Theophrastus li. 9. de Hist. Plant. Wherefore the Quene of â—aba myghte worthely be called â—he quene of the South forasmuch as bothe Saba or rather Sabat in Ethiopia whiche Iosephus thinketh to be the Iland of
whereof they strawe wyth heye and cotton And as soone as they hadde spied our men they fled incontinente And when oure men came into theyr houses they found in them certayne young men bound to postes and kept to be made fatte and lykewyse many oâ—de womenne which these Canibales kepte to be their drudges They founde there also earthen vesselles of all sortes in which they sodde mens fleshe with popingâ—ayes geese duckes fleshe al to gether in one vâ—ssell They rosted also mans fleshe vpon spyttes reseruing the bones of the armes legges whiche they vse in the stede of Iron to piece typpe theyr arrowes For they are vtterlye without Iron The found also the head of a yong maÌ„ yet bleding and fastened to a poste But certayne womenne whiche had fledde from the Canibales to oure menne the Admiral commaunded to be gorgiously decked after the maner of our women and with many rewardes to be sent agayne to theyr owne companye By meanes whereof the Canibales beynge allured by the lyberalitie and gyftes of our men hoping that they also shoulde be lykewyse rewarded came running toward our men but wheÌ„ they drew somwhat nere vnto them they fled immediatly into the nexte wooddes And thus our men departing from thence returned to the Ilande of Hispana ¶ How the Admirall passed manye Ilandes and what thynges chaunced to hym his companie in that viage AS the Admirall departed froÌ„ the Iland of the Canibales weÌ„t foreward on his viage he passed by many Ilandes among the whiche was one called Matinina in whyche dwell only women after the maner of theÌ„ called Amazones as he learned of the men of the Ilandes which he brought with him into Spayne at his fyrste viage and saued them froÌ„ the fearsenes of the Canibales He passed also innumerable other IlaÌ„des of which to some he gaue names as Mons Farratus Sancta Maria rotunda Sancta Martinus Sancta Maria antiqua and Sancta Crux Into the which oure men entering to thintente to fetche freshe water found foure Canibales which had takeÌ„ foure yonge women who as soone as thei had spied our men wringed theyr handes seming therby to desyre ayde of oure men at whose coming to delyuer them the men fled into the woodes and left the womeÌ„ Shortly after our men saw a bote coming on the sea with .viij. meÌ„ and as many women with whom oure men bickeringe lost one of theyr coÌ„panions by reason that these barbariens are accustomed to infecte theyr arrowes w t venime yet oure men preuayled and slewe parte of them and broughte the resydue by forse to the Admyrall As they departed from hence they found many other Ilandes but such as they could not come to for the roughnes of the sea and multitude of rockes But some of the smallest brigaÌ„tines which drewe no great depth went somewhat nearer and noumbred aboue seuen and fortie Ilandes and called the place Archipelagus Sayling from hence they found another Iland called Buchema into the whiche y e Canibales make sundry incursions by reason wherof the inhabitantes are at continual warre with theÌ„ Thus at the length the Admiral with his hole nauie returned to the Iland of Hispana but in an euyl tyme. For they whiche he hadde lefte there for a garrison were all dead as were also they whiche he toke with him froÌ„ the same Ilande into Spayne to vse them for intrepretours Of whiche seuen dyed by chaunge of the ayre One of them was permitted of the Admirall to departe when the nauie came neare to hys countrey The residue stole awaye priuâ—lye and swamme to lande but the Admirall doubting whether all his men were dead or no whiche he left in the Iland commaunded certayne ordinaunce to be shot of that by the noyse thereof they myghte haue warning to come forth yf any â—aye lurkinge in corners but none appeared whose faâ—tall dayes had fynisshed theyr lyfe At the length the kyng of the Ilande beyng therto enforsed declared the hole matter to the Admyrall as well as he coulde by interpretours affyrming that there were in the Iland other Kinges besyde him and of greater power then he which were sore offended that the Spaniardes hadde subdued the Ilandes in reuenge therof came to the town where the Spaniardes lay which they ouercame burnt slew al the meÌ„ therin and that he also at the same conflicte taking part with our meÌ„ was sore wouÌ„ded with an arrow on the arme for the better tryall whereof he bore hys arme in a towell because it was not yet hole of that wounde But shortelye after they had knowledge that the King fayned this tale so that he hardely escaped the handes of the Admiral who was determyned wyth some kynd of punishment to haue examined him further But he suspecting the matter fled into y e inner partes of the Iland declaring therby that he was the destruction of our men whoÌ„ certayn of our companie pursuinge founde manye marueylous thinges and especiallye ryuers in which is founde muche golde and a mounâ—ayne whose sande is sparkeled with gold In this place the Admiral bylded a citie which he compassed about with a walle And departing from hence he searched almost all the Iland in y e inner partes wherof he bylded a towre named it S. Thomas towre whiche he made to thintent that he might the more safely searche out the secretes of so plentifull a region and especially the gold mines of the same and thus leauinge a garrison there he departed takinge with him three foystes wherwith he sayled to seke newe Ilandes and came first to the Ilande of Cuba and from thence to Iamiaca being greater then Sicilia very fruytful and wel inhabited Which wheÌ„ he had vewed he departed froÌ„ thence sayled about the sea costes where he sawe innumerable other small Ilandes standinge so thicke that the ship was in maner borne a lande and was therfore enforsed to returne home the same way which he came ¶ How the Spaniardes abused the submissioÌ„ frendeshippe of the inhabitantes of the Ilandes IN this meane tyme the Spaniardes which the admiral had left in the Iland of Hispana had euyll entreated the inhabitauntes so that for wante of vitayles foode they begonne to famyne imputinge the fault hereof vnto the Christian meÌ„ which had digged vp al the rootes wherwith thei were accustomed to make theyr bread And whereas they yet perceaued that y e Christien men entended to coÌ„tinue there thei sent an ambassadour to the admiral to desyre him to restrayne the outragiousnes and crueltie of his men at whose haÌ„des they sustained such iniuries and violeÌ„ce as they scarcely loked for at the handes of mortal enemies Declaringe further that vnder the preteÌ„ce of seking for gold they coÌ„mitted innumerable wroÌ„ges and mischieuous actes spoylâ—ng in maner all the hole region and that for the auoyding of such enormities
to waÌ„der abrode alone and to geat theyr meate with oute the heâ—pe of theyr parentes The whelpes while they are verye yong neuer come out of this bagge but when they sucke This portentous beast with her three whelpes was broughte to Ciuâ—le in Spaine and from thence to Granata ¶ Of the foure nauigacions of Americus uesputius to the newe Ilandes AMericus uesputius beyng sent with Christophorus Columbus in the yeare of Christ M. cccc.xcij at the commaundement of Ferdinando King of Castile to seke vnknoweÌ„ landes and wel instructed in sayling on the sea after a fewe yeares set forward fowre viages of hys owne proper charges That is to witte two vnder the sayd King Ferdinando and two other vnder Emanuel king of Portugale of the which he himselfe wryteth after this maner ¶ The fyrste viage of Americus uesputius IN the yere of christ M. cccc.xcvij the .xx. daye of Maye we came with foure shippes to the fortunate Ilandes called Insulae fortunatae where the North pole hath his eleuacion xxvij degrees .xl. minutes And froÌ„ thence within the space of .xxvij dayes we came to a laÌ„d more Westwarde then the fortunate Ilandes where the North pole was eleuate xvi degrees where also we founde a nacion of naked people of innumerable multitude whiche as sone as they sawe vs fled to the next mouÌ„tayne FroÌ„ hence within two dayes sayling we came to a safe port wher we founde manye men which with much adoe we could scarcely allure to communicacioÌ„ although we profered them belles lokinge glasses cristallyne cuppes and suche other iewelles But at the length perceauing our good wyll and liberalitie towarde them they came to vs by heapes and ioyned frendshyp with vs without all feare They goe all as naked as they came forth of their mothers wombe They suffre no heare on their bodie sauing only on theyr head in so much that they pul of y e heares of their browes They are all so perfectelye exâ—rcysed in swimminge that they can continue therein for the space of two leages without any thinge to beare theÌ„ vp and especiallye the women Theyr weapons are bowes and arrowes They arme theyr arrowes with y e teeth of beastes and fyshes bycause they lack IroÌ„ other metals They kepe warre against their borderers whiche are of straunge language They fyght not for the enlargeing of theyr dominion forasmuche as they haue no Magistrates nor yet for thincrease of riches because thei are contente with their owne commodities but onely to reuenge the death of theyr predicessours At theyr meate they vse rude and barberous fashions lying on the grouÌ„d without any table clothe or couerlet They slepe in certayne greate nettes made of Gossampine cotton and hanged a lofte in the ayre beetwene trees Theyr bodies are verye smothe and clene by reason of theyr often washinge They are in other thinges fylthy and withoute shame Thei vse no lawful coniunccion of mariage but euery one hath as many women as him listeth and leaueth them agayn at his pleasure The women are very fruiteful and refuse no laboure al the whyle they are with childe They trauayle in maner withoute payne so that the nexte day they are cherefull and able to walke Neyther haue they theyr bellies wrimpeled or loose hanginge pappes by reason of bearinge manye chyldren Theyr houses and cabbens are all in common Theyr houses are fasshyoned lyke vnto belles and made of greate trees fastened together couered wyth the leaues of date trees and made very stroÌ„ge against wind and tempestes They are also in some places so great that in one of them sixe huÌ„dreth persons may lodge Thei vse euery seuenth or eyght yeare to remoue chauÌ„ge theyr dwelling places because that by theyr longe continuaunce in one place the ayre shoulde bee infected They vse no kynd of marchaundise or bying and selling beyng content onely with that which nature hath lefte them As for Golde Pearles precious stones iewelles and suche other thinges which we in Europa esteme as pleasures and delicates they sette noughte by They haue no kynde of corne Theyr common fedinge is a certayne roote whiche they drye and beate make floure or meale therof They eate no kynd of fleshe except mans fleshe for they eate all suche as they kyâ—l in theyr warres or oherwise take by chauÌ„ce When he had thus vewed the countreye and coÌ„sydered the maners of the people we determyned to sayle further downe by the landes syde and came after a few daies to a certayne hauen where we sawe about twentie greate houses raysed vppe muche after the fasshion of bellesâ— There came vnto vs a great multitude of meÌ„ vnder pretense of frendshyp Some swimminge and some in botes Who as sone as thei drew neare vnto vs sodeynly bent theyr bowes against vs where we defended oure selues manfully In this bickeringe we slewe of them about twentie beesyde manye that were wounded But of our meÌ„ were onlye fyue hurte whiche were all perfectelye healed Thus departinge from this hauen we sayled onâ— and came to another nacion in coÌ„uersaâ—ion and tongue vtterlye differing from the fyrst For comming oute of our shippe we were very freÌ„dly entreated of theÌ„ where we continued for the space of nyne dayes This region is very fayre and fruitefull hauinge manye pleasaunt woodes which continue grene all the yeare longe They haue fruites innumerable vtterlye vnlyke vnto oures The Region is situate dyrectelye vnder the lyne called Tropicus Cancri The inhabitantes them selues call it Parias Saylinge farre beyond this Region and ouerpassinge manye countreyes and nacions fyndinge Gold euery where but in no great quantitie we came to another nacion full of gentlenesse and humanitie where we rested .xxxvij. dayes These people made greuous complaynte vnto vs that there was not farre froÌ„ them a certayne fearse and cruell nacion whiche vexed theÌ„ sore and made incursion into theyr â—ountreye at a certayne tyme of the yeare kyllinge them and violentlye carying them awaye to thintent to eate thâ—m in so muche that they were not able to defend them selues agaynste theyr fearsenesse Whiche thinge when they hadde so lamentablye declared vnto vs and we hadde made them promyse that we woulde reuenge theyr so manye iniuries they ioyned vnto oure company seuen of theyr men Thus we wente forward and after seuen dayes came to an Ilande called â—ty â— where these fearse people dwelte Who as sone as they hadde espyed vs came armed agaynste vs. We ioyned with them in battaile which contynued for the space of twoo houres At the length we droue them to flyghte and slewe and wounded a greate numbre of them and toke .xxv captiues But of our men was onely one slayne and .xxi. wounded shortely after restored to health We gaue to those seueÌ„ meÌ„ which went with vs thre menne of oure prisonners and foure women whom with greate reioysinge
they caried with them into theyr countreye and we returninge home toward Spaine with many captiues came fyrste to a porte of Spayne called Calicium where we solde oure priesoners and were ioyefullye receaued In the yeare of Christ M. cccc xcix the .xv. daye of Octobre ¶ The seconde viage of Vesputius IN the moneth of May folowing Vesputius attempted another viage and came by the IlaÌ„des of Canaria euen vnto the burninge lyne called Torrida zona and founde a lande beeyonde the Equinoctial line toward the South where the South pole is eleuate fyue degrees And wheras he coulde fynde no apte enteraunce into the land and sayled vp down alonge by the same he espyed a bote in which was aboute twentie men who as sone as they saw the Spanyardes lepte into the Sea and escaped all excepte two which they toke In theyr bote which they forsoke were founde foure young men which they had by force taken oute of another countrey hauinge theyr priuie membâ—rs newelye cutte of These Vesputius toke into his shippes and learned by theyr signes and tokens that they hadde been taken of the Canibales and should shortly haue been eaten But departinge from these costes saylinge on forward they came to a commodious hauen where they founde muche people with whom they ioyned frendshyp and fell to chaungeinge of ware receauinge for one bell fyue hundreth Pearles In this lande they drinke a certayne kynde of wyne made of the iuyse of fruites and sedes being lyke whyte and redde sydar Departinge from hence and saylinge yet further they founde a certayne Ilande in which was a beastly kind of people and simple yet very gentle In this Ilande is no freshe water but they gather the dew which in the night season falleth vpon certayne leaues muche lyke vnto the eare of an Asse They lyue for the moste parte by sea fishe They haue no cotages of houses but haue certayne broade leaues wherewith they defende them selues from the heate of the Sunne but not from showres but it is verye lykely that it rayneth but lyttle in that Iland Vesputiâ—s wyth his companye departinge from hence sayled vnto another Ilande into the whiche when he hadde entered he founde certayne cotages and in them â—wo old women and three young wenches whiche were of so greate stature that they marueyled thereat And whereas oure menne stryued with them to bringe them to the shyppe to thintente to haue caryed them into Spayne they espyed cominge toward them syxe and thyrtie men yet of muche greater stature then were the women bearing with theÌ„ bowes arrowes and great stakes lyke vnto clubbes at the syghte of whome oure menne beinge afrayd made haste to theyr shyppes But these Gyauntes folowinge them euen to the Sea syde bended theyr arrowes towardes the Spanyardes vntyll they discharged two pieces of ordinaunces wyth the horryble sounde whereof they were immediatly drieuen to flight Oure menne therefore departinge from thence called that Ilande the Ilande of Giauntes And came to another nacion which frendlye entreated them and offered them many Pearles in so muche that they boughte .xix. markes weyghte of pearles for a smal price They gaue vs also certayne shelfysshes of the whiche some conteyned in them a hundreth and thyrtie Pearles and some fewer Departinge froÌ„ thence they came to the Ilande of Anâ—iglia which Columbus had discouered a few yeares before Leauinge this they sayled directely to Calicium a porte of Spayne where they were honourablye râ—ceaued ¶ The thyrde viage of Vesputius VEsputius beyng called froÌ„ Castile to serue Emanuel the King of Portugale in the yeare of Christe M. ccccc.ij the tenth daye of May departed from the haueÌ„ of lisburne and sayled downe by the coastes of the sea Atlantike vntil he came vnder the Equiâ—â—ctial lyne And the .xvij. daye of Auguste they arryued at a cerâ—ayne lande where they found a kind of beastly people This land is situate toward the South fyue degrees beyonde the Equinoctial lyne A greate multitude of the inhabitaÌ„tes wer gathered together and as wel as they coulde by signes and poyntinges desired oure men to come alande to see theyr couÌ„trey There were two in the shippe whiche toke vpon theÌ„ to vewe the land learne what spyces or other commodities might be had therein They were appoynted to returne within the space of fiue daies at the vttermost But when eyght dayes were now paste they whiche remayned in the shippes heard yet nothing of theyr returne wheras in the meane time great multitudes of other people of the same lande resorted to the Sea syde but could by no meanes be allured to communicacion Yet at the length they broughte certayne women which shewed them selues familier towarde the Spaniardes Wherupon they sent forth a young man beyng very strong and quicke at whom as the women wondered and stode gaâ—inge on him and feling his apparell there came sodeynly a woman downe from a mountayne bringing with her secretely a great stake with which she gaue him such a stroke behynde that he fell dead on the earth The other womenne foorthwith toke him by the legges and drewe him to the mountayne whyle in the meane tyme the men of the countreye came foorth with bowes and arrowes shot at oure men But the Spaniardes dischargeing foure pieces of ordinaunce agaynst them droue them to flighte The women also which had slayne the yong man cut him in pieces eueÌ„ in the sight of the Spaniardes shewinge them the pieces and rosting them at a greate fyre The meÌ„ also made certayn tokens wherby they declared that not past .viij. daies before they had in lyke maner serued other christiaÌ„ meÌ„ Wherfore y e Spaniardes hauinge thus sustayned so greuous iniuries vnreuenged departed w t euyl wil sayling therfore further toward y e south they fouÌ„d a nacioÌ„ of great multitude of much geÌ„teler coÌ„dicions with whoÌ„ thei remained .viij. daies bartering chaÌ„geing ware w t theÌ„ Sayling on yet farther they weÌ„t beyond y e line called Tropicus Capricorni where the south pole is eleuate .32 degrees wheras in those parts thei fouÌ„d no great riches they sailed yet further south ward vntill y â— pole was eleuate .lij. degrees where thei came into such a tempeste that they were enforsed to gather vppe theyr sayles and to rowe only with the maste directing theyr viage toward the costes of Ethiopia from whence they returned againe to Lisburne in Portugale ¶ The fourth viage of Vesputius THis nauigacioÌ„ was attempted in the yeare of Christ. M. ccccc iij. but was not brought to the ende hoped for by reason of a misfortune which chaunced in the goulfe of the sea Atlantike Vesputius entended in this viage to sayle to the Ilande of Melcha beyng in the East in which is sayde to be great ryches the stacion of restinge place of all shippes comming froÌ„ the goulfe Gangeticus from the
¶ A treatyse of the newe India with other new founde landes and Ilandes aswell eastwarde as westwarde as they are knowen and found in these oure dayes after the descripcion of Sebastian Munster in his boke of vniuersall Cosmographie wherin the diligent reader may see the good successe and rewarde of noble and honeste enterpryses by the which not only worldly ryches are obtayned but also God is glorified the Christian fayth enlarged Translated out of Latin into Englishe By Ryrcharde Eden ☞ Praeter spem sub spae ¶ To the right hyghe and mighty Prince the Duke of Northumberlande hys grace I Reade in auncient writers most noble prince how that mightie kyng and conquerour of the world Alexander the great at such tyme as he beheld y e tombe of fearse Achilles therewith called to his remeÌ„braunce howe excellently the Poet Homere had set forth his heroical factes which notwithstaÌ„ding he thoughte to be muche inferiour vnto his he sighed sayde Oh the most fortunate which haste founde such a troÌ„pe to magnifi thi doinges meaning hereby that the fame of Achilles was no lesse notable to hys posteritie by homers writing theÌ„ it was in hys lyfe tyme by hys owne marcial affayres Wherby we maye perceue such magnanimitie to haue ben in our predicessours men of noble stout courage y t they thought it not sufficiente in their life time to deserue prayse honour except the same might also redounde to theyr posteritie y t they mighte therby bee encouraged to do the like Whyche thing truely hath ben y e cause y t in al ages noble enterprises haue ben coÌ„mended such as haue attempted y e same haue bene honoured Wherfore if honest coÌ„mendacions be a iust reward dew to noble enterprises so much do they robbe spoyle from y e dignitie therof which in any poynt diminishe the same no lesse confoundinge the order of thinges then he whiche cloteth an ape in purple a king in sackecloth This I speake y â— rather beecause there chaunsed of late to come to my handes a shiete of printed paper more worthy so to bee called then a boke entytuled of the newe founde landes The whyche tâ—tle when I readde as one not vtterlye ignoraunt hereof hauynge before in my tyme readde Decades and also the nauigations de nouo orbe there seemed too me no lesse inequalitye betwene the tytle and the booke then if a man woulde professe to wryte of Englande and entreated onelye of Trumpington a vyllage wythin a myle of Cambrydge Wherefore partelye moued the good affeccion whyche I haue euer borne to the science of Cosmographie whyche entreately of the descripcion of the worlde whereof the newe founde landes are no smal part much more by y â— good wyll whych of duetie I beare to my natyue countrey countreymeÌ„ which haue of late to their great praise whatsoeuer succede atteÌ„pted w t newe viages to serche y e seas and newe found laÌ„des I thought it worthy my trauayle to their better comfort as one not otherwise able to further theyr enterprise to traÌ„slate this boke oute of latin into Englishe The which albeit it do not so largely or particulerlye entreate of euery part region or coÌ„moditie of y e sayd new found landes as the worthines of the thing might requyre yet sure I am that aswel they which set forth or take vpoÌ„ theÌ„ this viage as also they which shal hereafter attempt y e lyke may in this smal boke as in a little glasse see some cleare light not only how to learne by the example daÌ„mage good successe and adueÌ„tures of other how to behaue them selues direct theyr viage to their most coÌ„moditie but also if dew successe herein shoulde not chaunce according vnto theyr hope expectacioÌ„ as ofteÌ„times chaÌ„ceth in great affaires yet not for one foyle or fal so to be dismayd as with shame and dishonor to leaue wyth losse but rather to the death to persist in a godly honeste lawful purpose knowing that wheras one death is dewe to nature the same is more honourably speÌ„t in such attemptes as may be to the glorye of God coÌ„moditie of our countrey then in soft beddes at home amoÌ„g the teares weping of women Which manlye courage like vnto that which hath ben seen and proued in your grace aswell in forene realmes as also in this oure countrey yf it had not been waÌ„ting in other in these our dayes at suche time as our souereigne Lord of noble memorie Kinge Henry the .viij. about the same yere of his raygne furnished sent forth certen shippes vnder the gouernaunce of Sebastian Cabot yet liuing one syr Thomas Perte whose faynt heart was the cause that that viage toke none effect yf I say such manly courage wherof we haue spoken had not at that tyme bene wanting it myghte happelye haue comen to passe that that riche treasurye called Perularia which is now in Spayne in the citie of Ciuile and so named for that in it is kepte the infinite ryches brought thither froÌ„ the newe found land of Peru myght longe since haue bene in the towre of London to the kinges great honoure and welth of this his realme What riches the Emperoure hath gotten oute of all the newe founde landes it may wel appeare wheras onlye in the Ilandes of Hispana or Hispaniola and Cuba other Ilandes there aboute were gathered in two monethes twelue thousand poundes weyght of gold as youre grace maye reade in this boke in the descripcion of the Ilandes Yet speake I here nothynge of perles precious stones and spices Neyther yet of the greate aboundaunce of golde whiche is engendred almost in al regions neare vnto the AEquinoctial line And wheras I am aduertised y t youre grace haue bene a greate fortherer of thys viage as you haue bene euer studious for the coÌ„moditie of your countrey I thought my trauayl herein coulde no wayes be more worthely bestowed then to dedicate the same vnto your grace Most humbly desiringe youre honoure so to accepte mine intente herein as one whose good will hath not wanted to gratifie your grace with a better thing if mine abilitie were greater Thus Almighty God preserue your grace in health and honour long to continue ¶ Your graces poore oratour Rychard Eden ¶ Rychard Eden to the reader WHereas in this Booke welbeloued Readâ—r y u mayest â—eade maâ—ye straunge thinges aâ—d in maner incredible except the same were proued most certayn by dayly experieÌ„ce approued auctoritie as shall hereafter appeare I thought it good for thy bettâ—r instruction to make this Preface wherby tâ—â—u mightest more playnly sensibly coÌ„prehend â—he reasons causes yf not of al yet of some of the chiefest thinges which are conteyned in the sameâ— Therfore wheras thou shalt râ—ade of the great abundauÌ„ce of gold precious stones spices which the Spaniardes Portugales haue brought froÌ„ the South partes of the worlde as from the newe founde landes
The herbe of this is lyke vnto that which beareth saffrane and hath hys roote which is Ginger much lyke vnto the same In this meane time came two other shyppes out of Spayne whereof the one sayled directely to the poynte of Aphrica called PromontoriuÌ„ bone spâ—i And the other by the greate mayne South sea to the coastes of that continent or fyrme land wherof we haue spoken here beefore It shall suffyse that we haue hetherto declared of the nauigacions whiche the Spanyardes attempted by the Weste to sayle into the Easte by the strayghâ—e of Magellanus where the passage by Sea is open into the Easte by the continente or fyrme lande of the newe worlde called America Nowe therefore lette vs retourne to the other Nauigacions of Columbus otherwyse called the Admyrall who longe beefore was the fyrst fynder of the newe Ilandes and of the sayde mayne or fyrme land and yet founde not that strayght or narow sea by the which Magellanus sayled from the West into the East ¶ The thyrde nauigacion of Christophorus Columbus IN the yeare of Christ .1498 Columbus the Admiral departed from Spayne with eyght foistes and arryued fyrst at the Ilandes of Medera where he deuyded hys nauie into two partes For .v. of these shippes he directed to the Iland of Hispana with the residue he sailed towarde the south entendinge to passe ouer the AEquinoctial line and from thense to turne towarde the West to searche suche landes as were hetherto vnknowen to the Christian men Coming therfore to Caput ueride he sailed to the burning line called Torrida zona where he found so great heate that he was in daunger of death but returninge his shyppes towarde the West he found a more holsome ayre and as God woulde came at the length to a lande well inhabyted where there came agaynst him and his a bote with .xxiiij. young men armed with bowes arrowes and shieldes couering only theyr priuie membres with a clothe of Gossampine cotton hauing also very longe heare The admirall as well as he could by signes allured them to coÌ„municacion But they trusted not our men fearing some deceate The Admirall perceauing that he could nought preuayle by signes and tokens he determined with Musical instrumentes to appeale their wildnesse As the minstrelles therefore blewe theyr shaulmes the barbarous people drew neare suspecting that noyse to bee a token of warre whereupon they made ready theyr bowes and arrowes But the Spaniardes drawinge nearer vnto theÌ„ caste certayne apparell into theyr bote willing by this token of frendshippe to concile them although all were in vayne For they fled all awaye Wherefore the Admyrall departing froÌ„ thence came to a region called Parias wel inhabited ful of ciuile people declaring muche humanitie toward strauÌ„gers They shewed our men Pearles and Gold such other riches desyring them to come a land where they geÌ„telly entreated them When our meÌ„ asked them where they had suche plentie of golde they with home poynting was in the â—tede of speach declared by signes and tokens that thei had it in certayne mountaines and that thei could not without great daunger resort thether by reason of certaine fearse beastes in those partes and also because of the cruell people called Canibales whiche inhabite those mountaynes But the Admiral because his wheate fayled was enforsed to departe thence Dyrectinge therfore his viage toward y e North easte he came to the Iland of Hispana where he found all thinges confouÌ„ded and out of ordre For the Spanyardes which were lefte in the Ilandes refused to obeye the Admirall and his brother mouinge greuous coÌ„playntes agaynste them before the King of Spaine and at the length sente them thether bound ¶ Howe Petrus Alonsus soughte newe Ilandes AFter that the Admyrall hadde incurred the indignacion of the Kynge manye of hys companions suche as hadde been broughte vppe with him and were experte Sea menne decreede to searche other partes of the worlde yet vnvnknowen Among which number was Petrus Alonsus who with a shippe wel furnished sayled to Parias from thence to Curtana where he begon to exercyse marchaundise with the inhabitantes receauinge Pearles for belles and nedles Entring also into the land he was honourably entertayned In their woodes he saw innumerable Peacockes nothinge vnlyke vnto oures sauing that the males differ litle from the females In this region are great plentie of Phesantes Alonsus departinge from hense sailed to the regioÌ„ of Canchietes beyng sixe dayes sayling froÌ„ Curtana toward the West In this region is great abundaunce of golde Popingiayes Gossampine cotton moste temperate ayre From hence he sayled into another fruiteful regioÌ„ but inhabited with wilde menne which could by no gentilnes be allured to frendshippe Departinge therefore from thence he came to the region of Ciniana whereas pearles are found in great plentie but before he came there he chaunced to come amonge the Canibales agaynst whom dischargeing a piece of ordinauÌ„ce he droue theÌ„ easely to flight But Alonsus thus laden with pearles returned home into Spayne ¶ Howe Pinzonus companion to the Admirall sought newe Ilandes VInceÌ„tius otherwise called Pinzonus in the yeare of Christe .1499 prepared foure brigantines sailed fyrst to the Ilandes of Canaria from thence to Caput ueride FroÌ„ whence directing his viage toward the south farre beyonde the Equinoctial lyne he found men in a certayne Iland but such as he could by no meanes concyle vnto him Therefore leauinge them he came to another lande in whiche were innumerable naked people dissimuling that thei desired to ioyne frendship with the Spaniardes And whereas one of our meÌ„ caste a bell amonge them oute of the â—hippe they againe cast to the Spanyardes a masse or piece of golde which one of oure companye somewhat to bolde attemptinge to take vp they sodeynlye toke him and caried him awaye with merueylous swiftenes but our meÌ„ leauing their shippes made hast to help theyr fellowe in so muche that the matter came to handstrokes This conflict was so sharpe that our men hadde muche a doe to escape with theyr lyues by reason of the fearsenes of the barbarians Departing therefore froÌ„ thence they sayled toward the Northeaste and came to the region of Payra to the Ilandes neare aboute the same in the whiche are woodes of sanders wherewith the marchauÌ„tes lade theyr shippes and carie it into other conntreys In this Region also growe the trees whiche beare Cassia fistula of the beste kynd There is also founde a foure foted beast of moÌ„strous shape whose former parte is lyke vnto a wolfe sauing that the feete are lyke vnto the fete of a man with eares like an owle Hauinge also beneath his comon belye an other belye lyke vnto a purse or bagge in which he kepeth his yonge whelpes so longe vntyll they be able safely
was proued to be most wyse and certayne of hys frendes asked hym why he durste be so boulde he aunswered that Plato was hys frende and so was Socrates but trueth hys frende more then they bothe euen so I thinke it no iniurye nor contumelye to Saynct Augustyne yf the same were sayde of hym also geuynge hym otherwyse hys dewe commendacions as he was surelye an excellentâ— man of dyuyne wytte and knowledge and so trauayled in settynge foorth Christes true Relygion in those turmoylous dayes in perpetual combatte agaynste learned heretykes and Prynces of the worlde that he is worthelye called a Doctour and Pyller of Christes Churche And as for Lactantius the intente of whose wrytinges was chiefelye to â—hys ende to dyminisshe thestimacion of Philosophye as at those dayes it was necessarie to doe amonge the Gentyles and to aduaunce Goddes woorde whyche they contemned for the symplicitie of the same albeit he attempted as farre as hys learninge woulde serue hym to make all thynges in Philophie vncertayne yet are hys argumentes so slender that vnlesse GOD by the secrete working of hys spyryte hadde called the Gentyles to the true Faythe I feare me leaste fewe or none of them specyallye of the greate wyttes woulde haue been conuerted by â—actantius argumentes Howe he dalyeth in denyinge the yearth to bee rounde and that it is possyble that it myghte bee longe and rounde lyke an Egge or otherwyse longe and holowe lyke a bote meanynge I suppose that the Sea myghte bee conteyned in the holownesse of the same wyth suche other opinyons grounded of no reason it were to longe to rehearse Yet forasmuche as he was a learned manne and for the better satisfyinge of suche wyttes as arâ— desyreous to know some appearaunce of truth by naturall reason and demonstracions lette vs admytte that the earth were rounde after anye of those fasshions whiche he describeth yet can it not bee denyed but that it is conteyned wythin the holowenesse yf I maye so call it of the ayre hauynge the heauen in euerye place dyrectelye ouer euery parte of the same as sayeth the Poete and Philosopher Virgill Caelum undique sursum Excepte perhappes Lactantius shoulde thinke that it honge by some thynge or were otherwyse borne vppe wyth pyllers as the Poetes Fable that the Gyaunte Atlas beareth the worlde on hys shoulders whereby they meane that a manne of valiente mynde must stoutelye beare the chaunces of the worlde Of whyche hangeinge or bearynge of the earth I reade a better and more true sayinge in the holye Scripture where it is written Fert omnia uerbo orâ—s sui that is that God sustayneth and beareth all thinges wyth the woorde of hys mouth Holye Iob also sayeth that the LORD â—tretcheth oute the Northe ouer the emptye and hangeth the earth vpon nothynge Meaninge by nothinge the ayre because to oure senses it appeareth in maner as nothynge Or otherwyse that it is not dependynge of anye other substaunce but to bee sustayned onelye by the power of GOD who hath appoynted the Elementes theyr places and lymittes and causeth the heuye to stande faste as wytâ—esseth Moyses in hys songe sayinge By the wynde of thy nostrels the waters gathered together the flouddes stoode styll as an heape and the deepe waâ—er congeled togeather in the heart of the Sea Wherefore yf the heauen bee rounde whiche no manne can reasonably denye that euer sawe the Sunne and sterres moue And yf the earth bee the center of the worlde dependinge as we haue sayde beefore then mâ—ste it needes folowe that they whiche inhabiting the Northweste partes of the earth haue the Pole Artike eleuate thyrtye degreeâ— muste needes bee Antipodes to them whiche inhabitinge the Southeaste partes of the earth haue the Pole Antartike eleuate in the same degree and so the lyke to bee vnderstand of all other eleuacions and degrees And yf here anye wyll obiect that eyther the earth or firme land is not so large or so farre exteÌ„ded or other wyse not inhabited althoughe it were so large or that the sea iâ— greater then the lande to thys I aunswere that no maÌ„ knoweth further hereof then is tryed and founde by experience as we haue sayde beefore And albeit that the sea were larger then the firme land yet forasmuche as there are Ilandeâ— founde in all places of the mayne Sea and in maner all inhabited there is no reason to the contrarye but that the people of those Ilandes maye be Antipodes to such as dwel on the fyrme lande on the contrary parte whether the earth be round and longe yea or square yf you wyll notwythstandynge But wyth what certayne demonstracionâ— the Astronomers and Geometricians proue the earth to bee rounde and the Sphericall or rounde forme to bee mooste perfecte it were to longe to declareâ— I wyll therefore make an ende of thys matter wyth the sayinge of Sayncte Paule in hys Oracion to the menne of Athens That GOD made of one bloudde all nacions of menne to dwell vpon the hole face of the earth ¶ I hadde entended here well beeloued Reader to haue spoken somewhat of suche straunge thynges and Monsters whereof mencion is made in thys Booke to thende that suche as by the narownes of theyr vnderstandinge are noâ— of capacitie to conceaue the causes and natures of thynges myghte partely haue been satisfyed wyth some sensyble reasonsâ— But beynge at thys tyme otherwyse hindered it shal suffise al good and honeâ—t wittesâ— that whatsoeuer the Lorde haâ—h pleased that hath he done in heauen and in earth and in the Sea and in all depe places◠¶ Ecclesiasticus Capit. i. ¶ The eye is not satisfyed with syght the eare is not fylled with bearinge ¶ The Table ¶ Of the Ilande of Iaua Of the Ilande of Madagascar Of the Ilande of zanzibar Of the two Ilandes in the which men and womeâ— dwell a sunder Of the mightie Empyre of Cathay subiect vnder the dominioÌ„ of the great Cham or Cane Emperour of Tartaria Of certayn Prouinces subiect vnder the dominioÌ„ of the great Cham. Of the Prouince of Mangi Of the Region of Tangut Of the newe Ilandes howe when and by whom they were founde Of the two Ilandes Iohanna and Hispana Of the Canibales which eate mans fleshe Of the maners of the inhabitantes of Hispana How Christophorus ColuÌ„bus after that he had founde the newe Ilandes returned to Spayne and preparing a new nauie sailed agayn to y e Canibales How ColuÌ„bus the Admiral passed many IlaÌ„des and what chaunced to hym his in that viage Of the newe India as it is founde and knoweâ— in these oure dayes Of the Adamant stone otherwise called the Diâ—mant Of the KingdoÌ„s cities of Narsinga Canonor Howe the Elephantes in India are prepared to the warres Of the beaste called Rhinoceros Of Calicut the moste famous markette towne of India Of the maners of the Indians in Calicut Of Pepper and other
spyces which growe in the Region of Calicut Of the byrdes and beastes which are found in the Region of Calicut and of the wyne of the trâ—e From whence all kyndes of spyces are brought to â—he cytie of Calicut Of the Iland of zaylon of the cinomome tree Of the cytie of Tarnasseri and of the maners of the cytezyns Of the excellent cytie and Kingdom of Pego. Of the Ilande of Sumatra or Taprobana Of the Ilande of Bornei Of the Ilande of Giaua Howe the Spanyardes abused the submission â—rendship of the inhabitauntes of the Ilandes Howe the Portugales soughte newe Ilandes in the East partes and howe they came to Calicut Howe Magellanus by a strayght or narow arme of the Sea sayled by the Weste into the Easte to dyâ—ers Ilandes where also he was slayne Howe the Spanyardes came to the Ilandes of Molucca of the people with great hanging eares The third nauigacioÌ„ of Christophorus ColuÌ„bus How Pinzonus coÌ„panion to the Admiral sought newe Ilandes The foure nauigacions of Americus Uesputius to the newe Ilandes The fyrste viage of Uesputius The second viage of Uesputius The thyrde viage of Uesputius The fourth viage of Uesputius Howe the Kyng of Portugale subdued certayâ—â—â—laces in India and of the ryche cytie of Malacha Of the Ilande of Medera and the fortunate Iâ—â—â—â—es otherwyse called the Ilandes of Canaria ¶ Finis ¶ Of the newe India as it is knoweÌ„ found in these our dayes In the yeare of oure Lorde M.D.LIII. After the descripcioÌ„ of Sebastian Munster in his Booke of the vniuersall Cosmographie Libr. v. De terris Asiae Maioris And translated into Englishe by Richard Eden THere are two viages or nauigacions made oute of Europa into India The one southeast froÌ„ spayne by the coastes of Aphrica and Ethiopia euen vnto Arabia to the citie called Aden And froÌ„ thence to the Ilande of Ormus and froÌ„ Ormus to the citie of Cambaia and from thence euen vnto the citie of Calicut Cambaia is situate nere vnto the floudde Indus This citie is of great powre riche and abundauâ—t in al kyndes of grayne corne The soyle hereof bringeth forth sondry kyndes of swete oyntmentes and cotten which groweth on certain trees called Gossampini this cotton is otherwyse called Bombage or sylke of the trees The Kynge of Portugall subdued this cytie and bylded hard by thesame a stroÌ„g fortresse with which thing the Turke bâ—eing sore greued commaunded a greate nauie of shippes with greate sumptuousnes to bee furnisshed in the goulfe called Sinus Arabicus to the ende that he might dryue the Portugalles out of India and the better to accomplishe this his purpose he appointed one Soliman a noble man of warre beyng also the Captayne of Alcayre to be the admiral general or gouernour of his nauie hauing in his retenue .xx. thousand souldiers beesyde mariners gonners whiche were in numbre foure thousand This nauie was appointed in the hauen Suezio beeinge a port of the redde sea in the yeare of Christ .1538 And arryued fyrste at the citie Aden where laying anker the gouernour of the nauie sent letters to the king of Aden certifying him that he woulde take his viage into India from thence to expell the King of Portugall The Kinge of Aden whiche was theÌ„ tributarye to the King of Portugall receyued the Turkes letters thankefully offering him selfe all that he might make to so mightie an Emperoure desyringe the gouernoure to come forth of the ship and to beholde the cytie obedient and readye at his coÌ„maundemente in the which also accordinge vnto his dignitie office he should be worthely interteyned but the gouernour agayne allured and entysed hym to come out of his citie and so by crafte circumuented him that he toke him priesoner and coÌ„mauÌ„ded him to be hanged on the sayle yarde of the shyp with hym foure other of the rulers of the citie of Aden affyrming that he was coÌ„maunded of the Turke so to handel them because the cytiezins of Aden had not only made a leage with the Portugales but had also payde theÌ„ tribute whiche nacion the Turke playnely entended to drieue out of India And thus after the Kynges death that most riche and beautiful cytie was â—uer a praye to theues spoylers and murtherers without resystaunce Then the gouernoure departing froÌ„ thence lefte there behynde him a garrison of two thousand men of warre and saylyng forwarde on hys viage he came to the citie called Dium whiche the Portugales held his armie was greatly encreased by the waye as wel by laÌ„d as by sea by reason of the great confluence of the Turkes which on euery side resorted to him so that in a short space they rowled before theÌ„ a bulwarke or couÌ„tremure of earth in manâ—r as bigge as a mountayne which by little and litle they moued neare vnto the trenche or ditche of the castell so that they might safely stand behynde the bulwarke thus raysing a mount they besieged the castell on euery syde battered the walles towres thereof very sore yet that notwithstanding were at the length enforsed to departe not withoute great losse and slaughter of theyr souldiers for this Dium is the sâ—rongest citie that is vnder the dominion of Cambaia but the cytie of Cambaia is situate in the goulfe called Guzerat and is well inhabited and in maner most excelleÌ„t of all the cities of India and is therefore called Cayrus or Alcayâ— or Babilon of India It is enuiroÌ„ned with a walle hath in it very fayre byldinges y e Soldan or chefe ruler hereof is of Mahumets secte as are y e Turkes Lacha groweth there more pleÌ„tifully theÌ„ in any other couÌ„tre The inhabitauÌ„tes for the most parte goe naked couering only theyr priuie partes they bynd theyr heades about with a clothe of purple color The SoldaÌ„ or prince of this citie hath in a redines for the warres .xx. thousand horsemen he hath also a mightye and magniâ—ical court WheÌ„ he waketh in y e morning there is heard a great noyse of cimbals druÌ„slades timbrelles shames pipes flutes truÌ„pettes and diuerse other musical inâ—â—rumentes hereby signifying that the king lyueth is in health and merye in lyke maner doe they whyle he is at dyner To the kyngdom of Cambaia is the Kingdom of Ioga nexte adioyniâ—g which reacheth farre on euerye syde In this kingdoÌ„ by reason of the greate heate of the sonne the bodyes of meÌ„ begin to waxe blacke and to be scorched the people of thys countreye haue ringes hanging at their eares and colers aboute theyr neckes of sundry sortes albeset and shyninge with precious stones The soyle hereof is not very â—ruitful this region is rough with mountaynes the byldinge are despicable and â—uyl to dwel in there is beyonde this an other KingdoÌ„ called Dechan this cytie is very beautiful to behold fruitful in maner of al thinges the king hereof vseth great pride and solemnitie
able to expresse forasmuche as he hath vnder him in maner innumerable Kingdomes Prouinces Nacions and DominioÌ„s which are on euery syde about Cathay acknoweledge him to be theyr onelye Lorde and King whom they honoure and reuerence as a great God mighti Mahumet In what pompe triumphant magnificence he sheweth him self when he goeth to hauke or hunt and how many tentes he pitcheth in the felde which being sene a farre of a man would thinke to be a greate cytie he that desyreth to knowe let him reade Paulus Venetus in the second boke of hys nauigacions into India where he shal find thinges to marueyl at In Cathay they make a pleasaunt drinke of ryce certayne spyces which in drinking excelleth the swetenes of wine In many places they haue great lacke of wood In the stede wherof they digge out of the mountaynes a certayn kinde of blacke stone whiche burne in the fyre like coles and continue so long that yf they be kyndled ouer night they kepe fyre vnto the morning ¶ Of certaine Prouinces and regions subiect vnder the dominion of the greate Cham Emperour of Cathay THere passeth through the kingdom of Cathay a certayne greate ryuer called Pulisachnites which emptieth it selfe in the great Ocean sea by the whiche ryuer shyppes haue their passage into that lande Ouer this ryuer is a very fayre bridge of marble beyng in length three hundreth pases and in breadth eyghte pases with .xxiiii. arches and grauen LioÌ„s on euery syde adourning the rayles or highest margentes of the same From hence it is not farre to the fayre and greate kingdom of â—ainfu in the which are many goodli vynes For in the kingdom of Cathay there groweth no wyne but is brought the ther from this region In this kingdome is greate vse of marchaundyse and hath plentie of conning artificers so that al the armure which the great Cham vseth in his warres is made there Toward the region of Mangi is situate the ryuer Caromoram whiche for the greate breadth and depth hath no bridge In this region is greate abundaunce of Ginger silke byrdes and speciallye Phesantes Somewhat beyonde this is the great cytie of Quenquinafu beynge the chief cytie of the same kingdome In this region are founde many muskecaâ—tes This beast in this countreye is but lyttle and fayre aboute the bignesse of a meane catte with grosse heare lyke a harte hauinge blunte clawes on his fete with two longe teeth in the vpper iawe and two in the nether iawe and hath nere vnto the nauell a bladder full of a certayne matter like vnto bloud being of wonderful â—tagrant sauoure and is the true muske ¶ Of the Prouince of Mangi and merueylous cyties conteyned in the same THe Prouince of Mangi hath in it many notable and great cities in the whiche is greate exercyse of marchaundyse and specially in the citie of Conigangui is solde great plentie of salt In the cytie of Panchi there is great sale of silke In the cytie of Sianfu is made great pleÌ„tie of clothes of golde and silke In the cytie singui is a famous market where great abundaÌ„ce of marchauÌ„dise is brought by the ryuer Nere vnto the citie of Caigui groweth plentie of blade and ryce that it is caried from thence to the court of the greate Cham. In y e citie of singui are nuÌ„bred to be about sixe thousande bridges of stone hauinge so highe arches that greate shippes maye passe vnder the same without bowing down of the mast There is another citie called Quinsai which is so fayre great that there is thought to be no bigger in al the worlde It conteyneth in circuite a huÌ„dreth Italien miles which make xxv leages It hath twelue thousande bridges of stone and those so highe that greate shippes with the maste standing vp right maye passe vnder This cytie is situate in a marrishe ground muche lyke vnto venes Therfore if they should lack bridges they coulde not passe ouer froÌ„ the one syde of the streete to the other It hath innumerable artificers and many marchauntes The cytezins lyue pleasantly and specially the womeÌ„ which are fayrer theÌ„ in other partes of â—ndia Toward the South syde of the cytye there is a great lake or poole within y e walles of the cytie whiche coÌ„teyneth in circuitie about .viii. leages hauinge about the bankes therof many noble mens houses very fayre both without and within In the middeste of this lake there are two litle IlaÌ„des and in euery of theÌ„ a goodly palace in y â— which are reserued al suche ornamentes vessels as they vse for theyr mariages solemne feastesâ— for whereas any of the cytezins entende to make any great banket or feast they bring theyr gestes to one of these palaces where they are honorably enterteined In the stretes of y e citie are certaine comoÌ„ towres into y â— which al such as dwell neare therto carie theyr goodes stuffe yf it so chaunce y e fyre be in the citie The inhabitantes are Idoloters eate the fleshe of horses camels of other vnclene beastes The great Cham hath in this cytâ—e a myghtie garison to the intente to auoyde rebellion thefte murther For on euery bridge there wayteth dayly nightlye .x. watchmen for the same purpose and because the Prouince of Mangi is exceding large the great Cham hath deuyded it into nyne Kingdomes assigninge vnto euerye one a peculier Kynge whiche are al of greate powre and yet subiecte to the greate Cham. One of them dwelleth in the citie of Quinsai In thys Prouince of Mangi is an other Kyngdome called Fugui in whiche the people eate mannes flesshe so that they dye not of any disease They drinke the bloud and eate the fleshe of such as are slayne in y e warres There are hennes found in this region which in the stede of fethers haue heare much lyke cattes heare of blacke colour And laye very good egges ¶ Of the regioÌ„ of Tangut and of the great desertes voyces of deuylles hearde in the same of the Salamandra FRom the Kingdome of Persia there are two iourneyes to the region of Cathay For either the south side must be obserued towarde India or elles to passe by the prouinces of Carcham Cotam Peim Northeastwarde to the citie of Lop beynge the greatest and most notable cytie in all that region lying betwene the East and the North at the entrauÌ„ce at the great desert In this cytie al suche marchauntes as entende to passe the desertes make preparacioÌ„ for all thinges necessarye for their yourneye And rest in the same vntill they are well prouided of strong asses and camels to carye there vitayles And when in y e desert their vitayles begin to fayle theÌ„ they kyl theyr asses or leaue theÌ„ there in the wyldernes because
and oppressions they hadde rather paye tribute then to be thus dayly vexed with incursioÌ„s neuer to be at quiete Upon this complaynte it was agreed that they shoulde paye yearely tribute to the ChristiaÌ„ king that they should applie theÌ„ selues to gather and encrease theyr rotes whiche were to them in the stede of flowre and wheat and so consumed that with great labour they coulde scarcely fynde any in the wooddes They payde therefore for their tribute euery thre monethes certayn pound weyghtes of gold but suche as had no gold payde spyces gossampine cotton In the meane time the Spaniardes who should haue been occupied in digging for golde gaue theÌ„ selues to play wantoÌ„nes idlenes coÌ„temning falling into hatered w t their gouernour by which theyr liceÌ„ciousnes the people of the IlaÌ„d beyng prouoked became more disobedient wyld degeneratinge froÌ„ al kind of honestie faithfulnes yea y â— spaniardes also became so negligeÌ„t in seking for gold y t sometyme the charges exceaded the gaynes Neuerthelesse in the yere of Christ 1501. they gathered within y e space of two monethes twelue thousand poundes weyght of golde But the Admirall appoyntinge his brother Bartholomeus Columbus to be gouernour of the Iland he in the yeare .1495 determined to returne to Spayne to certifye the kyng of al these matters In which viage he manfullye defended him self in battayl against the rebelles of certayne other Ilandes which had coÌ„spyred agaynst the Spanyardes ¶ How the Portugals sought new IlaÌ„des in the East partes and how they came to Calicut IN this meane tyme that y e Spanyardes soughte newe and vnknowen landes in the West partes the Portugales attempted to doe the same in the Easte partes And least one of them should be a lette or hinderauÌ„ce to the other they deuyded the world betwene them by the aucthoritie of the Bishop of Rome AlexaÌ„der the .vi. of that name And that on this condicion that froÌ„ the Ilandes called Hesperides whiche are now called Caput ueride the one should sayle Westwarde and the other towarde the South pole thus deuyding the world betwene theÌ„ in two equal partes So that whatsoeuer vnknowen landes shoulde be discouered in the Easte partes the same to be dewe to the Portugales And all suche as shoulde be founde in the Weste partes to appertayne to the Spanyardes Whereby it came to passe that the Spaniardes euer by the South sayled into the Weste where they founde a large mayne laÌ„d with IlaÌ„des great litle innumerable hauing in them great pleÌ„tie of golde and pearles and other great riches But the Portugales by the Southe and costes of the Ilandes called Hesperides and Equinoctial lyne Tropicus Capricorni came y â— into East by thâ— goulâ—e called Sinus Persicus euen vnto the costes of India with in the riuer of Ganges wheras is now the great market towne kingedoÌ„ of Calicut And froÌ„ thence to the IlaÌ„d of Taprobana now called Sumetra Zamara or Samotra so forth to Aurea Chersonesus whereas is nowe the great cytie of Malaccha beyng one of y e most famous market townes of al y e East partes From Malaccha they entered into a great goulfe by which they came to the region of â—inarâ—m Not farre from Malaccha are the Ilandes called Molucca in which al kyndes of spyces growe and are brought to the cytie of Malaccha But the Spanyâ—rdes hauing knowledge what greate coÌ„moditie the Portugales had receyued by the Ilandes of Molucca attemted to proue yf they also might find the same Ilandes in sayling so farre Westward that they mighte at the length by West and southwest come into the East as by good reasoÌ„ they presupposed the roundnesse of the earth would permitte if they were not otherwyse lette by the fyrme or mayne land lyinge in the waye and stoppinge theyr passage whereof as yet was no certeyntie knoweÌ„ And this dydde they to thintent that by this meanes they myghte more easelye and wyth lesse charge bringe spyces from thence into Spayne Therefore the maner of this viage was that they shoulde sayle from the Weste vnder the lowest hemispherye or halfe coÌ„passe of the earth so to come into the East A thinge surelye that myghte seeme verye harde to attempte beecause it was vncertaine whether that most prudente and beneficiall nature who worketh al thinges with most high prouidence had not so deuided and seperated the East from the West partely by sea and partely by land that there might by this way haue been no passage into the East For it was not yet knowen whether that great region of America whiche they call the fyrme or mayne lande dyd seperate the Weste sea froÌ„ the East But it was founde that that fyrme lande exteÌ„ded from the West to the South And that also towarde the North partes were fouÌ„d two other regioÌ„s whereof the one is called Regio Baccalearum the other Terra Florida which if they were adherent to the sayde fyrme land there could be no passage by the Weste seas into the East India forasmuch as ther was not yet founde any strayghte of the sea wherby any enteraunce mighte be opeÌ„ into the East In this meane while the kyng of Spayne beynge elected Emperoure prepared a naâ—uie of fyue shippes ouer the whiche he appointed one Magellanus to be captayne commaundinge him that he should sayle towarde the coastes of the sayd fyrme land dyrectinge his viage by the south partes thereof vntyl he had eyther found the ende of the same or elles some streyghte wherby he mighte passe to those odoriferous Ilandes of Molucca so famously spoken of for the great abuÌ„daunce of swete sauours and spices founde therein The shippes therefore beyng well furnisshed with all thinges necessarie Magellanus departinge from Ciuile in Spayne the tenth day of August in the yeare of Christ .1519 came fyrst to y e IlaÌ„des of Canaria and from thence to the Ilandes called Hesperides from whiche dyrectinge hys course betwene the West and the East toward the sayd fyrme land in few dayes with prosperous sayling he discouered a corner or poynt of the sayd mayne laÌ„d called Promontorium S Muriae where the people dwell called Canibales whiche are accustomed to eate mans fleshe FroÌ„ hence he sayled on southwarde by the long tracte of this firme laÌ„d which reacheth so farre into y e south and extendeth so many degrees beyond y e circle called Tropicus Capricorni y t the south pole called pole Antartike is there eleuated fortie syxe degrees And thus beyng brought into the East they saw certayn Indians gatheringe shel fyshes by the sea bankes beyng men of very high stature clothed w t beastes skinnes To whom wheras certayne of the Spaniardes went a land shewed them belles paynted papers they begon to daunce leape aboute the
Spaniardes with a rude and murmuring songe At the length there came three other as thoughe they were ambassadours whiche by certayn signes desyred y e Spaniardes to go with theÌ„ further into the laÌ„d making a countenaunce as though thei wold intertayn theÌ„ wel where vpoÌ„ y e captayne Magellanus sent w t theÌ„ vii meÌ„ well instructed to thinteÌ„t to â—earche y e regioÌ„ maners of the people And thus they went w t theÌ„ into y e desertes wher they came to a low cotage couered with wylde beastes skinnes hauing in it two maÌ„sioÌ„s in one of y t which were womeÌ„ childreÌ„ in the other only meÌ„ They interteined their gestes after a barbaros beastly maner which neuertheles semed to theÌ„ princelike for they killed a beast not much vnlike a wylde asse whose flesshe but halfe rosted they set before our meÌ„ without any other kind of meate or drinke Here were our meÌ„ of necessitie coÌ„strained to lye al night vnder these skinnes by reason of the great abundaunce of snowe and wynde And when it was day our meÌ„ were very earnest with them would in maner haue enforsed them to goe with them to the shippe which thing thei perceauing couered them seluâ—s from the head to the foote with certayn horrible beastes skinnes and paynted theyr faces with sundrye colours Thus taking theyr bowes and arrowes bringing with them other of theyr companie of much greater stature and terrible aspect theÌ„ they were they shewed them selues to oure men in araye as thoughe they were ready to fight But the Spanyardes whiche thoughte that the matter would haue comen to hand strokes commaunded a piece of ordinaunce to be shotte of The which although it dyd no hurte yet these hardy giauntes which a litle before semed to be as bold as though they durst haue made warre against Iupiter were by the noyse there of put in suche feare that they foorthwith beganne to entreate of peace Our men enteÌ„ded to haue brought some of these Gyauntes wyth them into Spayne for the straungenes of the thinge but they all escaped oute of theyr handes Magellâ—nus therfore vnderstandinge that it were vnprofytable to tarie there any longer and that also the sea was very rough the wether stormie and boysteous and that furthermore the firme laÌ„d exteÌ„ded further toward the south it so muche that the further they sayled that waye they should fynde in so much y e colder he deferred hys proceding vnto the moneth of may at whiche time y e sharpenes of winter exceadeth with thâ—m when as with vs sommer is begon He fouÌ„d there greate plentie of wood The sea also ministred vnto them great abundauÌ„ce of shelfishe besyde other fyshes of sundrie kyndâ—s He found lykewyse many springes of freshe holesome waters and vsed huÌ„tinge and taking of foules Only bread wyne was lackinge in the shippe The south pole was there eleuated fortie degrees ¶ How Magellaâ—us by a strayght or narrow arme of the sea sayled by the west into the East to dyuers Ilandes where also he was slayne THe wynter now being past the xxiiij day of Auguste Magellanus departed froÌ„ the place aforesayde styll folowed the tracte of the firme land toward the south vntyl at the length the .xxvi. day of Nouember he found in that firme land certayn open places lyke vnto strayghtes or narrow seas Into the which entring with his nauie he coÌ„maunded that certayn shippes should searche the goulfes on euerye syde yf anye way or passage might be found into the East At the length they fouÌ„d a certayn depe straight by the which they were perswaded y t there was enteraunce into some other mayne sea in so much that Magellanus attempted to searâ—he y e same This straight was fouÌ„d to be somtime of y e bredth of thre Italian myles sometyme of two sometime of tenne reached somwhat toward the West The altitude or eleuacion of the south pole in this place was fouÌ„de to be .lii. degrees They coulde see no people stering in the costes of this entrauÌ„ce Therfore Magellanus seing thys lande to be rough saluage vnpleasauÌ„t to abide in by reasoÌ„ of extreme cold he thought it not worthye the trauayle to spend any time in serching the same Therfore sailing forward in his viage thus atteÌ„pted by y e said strayghte which is now called the strayght of Magellanus he was therby brought into another mayn sea verye great and large The length of this strayght or narrow sea is estemed to be a huÌ„dreth spanishe miles The land which he had on his right hande he doubted not to be mayne lande and that on the left hand he supposed to bee Ilandes Magellanus sawe lykewyse the fyrme land to be extended directly toward y e North wherefore letting passe that greate lande he sayled by that greate and large sea betwene the West and the North that for this intente that at the length he might by the West come into the East and agayne vnder the burning lyne called Zona Torrida beynge well assured that the Ilandes of Molucca which he soughte were in the Easte and not farre froÌ„ the Equinoctial lyne When they hadde thus sayled forâ—ie dayes and came now agayne vnder the line or circle called Tropicus Capricorni they founde two lyttle Ilandes inhabyted but very barren and therfore called theÌ„ infortunate Ilandes Departinge froÌ„ thence they sailed on for a great space and found a certayne Ilande which y e inhabitantes called Inuagana where the eleuacion of the Northe pole called pole Artike was .xij. degrees And the length from the Ilandes called Gades by the Weste was iudged to bee c.lviii degrees Thus proceding they saw dyuers other Ilandes and that so manye that they supposed they had been brought into a great sea lyke vnto that called Archipelagus where with sygnes poyntinges as the duÌ„me are woÌ„t to speake with the dumme they asked of these Indians the names of the Ilandes wherby they learned that thei were in Acatan and not farre froÌ„ the Ilande called Selani wel inhabited and replenished with abundaunce of al thinges necessarie for the coÌ„modities of this life Sayling therfore toward the Ilande of Selani thei were with a coÌ„trary wind drieuen on the Iland of Massana from whense they came to the greate Iland aâ— Subuth where y e Spanyardes were wel enterteyned of the Kinge of the Iland who brought theÌ„ into a certayn cotage and set before theÌ„ such delicates as he hadde Theyr bread was of the trunke of a certen tree cut in pieces fried with oyle Theyr drinke was of the humoure â—r ioyse which droppeth out of the braunches of the date trees when they are cutte Theyr meate was suche as they toke by foulinge with such fruites as the contrei brought forth This Ilande was very riche of gold and ginger In
sene afarre of to the distaunce of fiftie leages in a fayre clere daye The reason whereof is that in the middest of the Iland ryseth a marueylous great strong rock which is thought to be .xv. leages high casteth â—oorth continuallye greate flames of fyre pieces of brimstone as doth the monnt Etna in the Iland of Sicilia The people of these IlaÌ„des lyue with barlye bread flesshe and mylke They haue also greate plentie of Goates wylde Asses and Fygges They lacke wyne and wheate ¶ Whether vnder the AEquinoctial circle or burninge lyne called Torrida zona be habitable Regions PIus secundus otherwise called Eneas Siluius of this question wryteth in this maner It hath been muche doubted whether habitable regioÌ„s maye be founde vnder the Equinoctial lyne Eratosthenes is of thoppinion that the ayre is there verye temperate So thinketh Polybius also affirming that the earth is there verye highe and watered with many showres Possidonius supposed that there is no Mountaynes vnder the Equinoctial Some thoughte that the Equinoctial lyne was exteÌ„ded beyond the earth ouer the mayne Ocean sea whiche thinge the Poet Homere semeth to insinuate where he faineth that the horses which drawe the chariote of sunne drinke of the Ocean seaâ— and the sunne it selfe to take his norishement of the same Whiche sentence Macrobius also foloweth Neither was Albertus Magnus farre from this opinioÌ„ who supposeth y t the sunne draweth vp so much moysture vnder the Equinoctial circle as engendreth the cloudes vnder the poles where by reason of thexcedinge coldnesse ayre is continualli turned into water But Ptolomeus thinketh the earth to bee extended beyonde the Equinoctial whereas he placeth a part of â—he Iland of Taprobana vnder the Equinoctial also many nacions of the Ethiopians Many haue thought that thearthly Paradyse was sette vnder that lyne which opinion is contrary to thauctoritie of holy scripture which witnesseth the two famous fluddes Tigris and Euphrates to springe oute of Paradise whiche neuerthelesse we know from the North partes to fal into the goulfe called Sinus Persicus but as concerninge the heate vnder the Equinoctial lyne the nearenesse of the sunne or the directe beames of the same are no sufficiente causes why vnder that line should be no habitable regions if we coÌ„sider how those places are otherwyse shadowed tempered with the moystenes and dewes of the nightes which are all the yeare throughe of equal length with the dayes Yet wyl no maÌ„ denye but that vnder the Equinoctial throughoute all the burninge lyne there are manye wildernesses and desolate places lacking water and incommodious for the lyfe of man Albeit euen in Ethiopia people dwell neare to the ryuers and woodes Plinie also sayth that one Dalion and and Aristocleon â— and â—ion and Basilides went Southward beyonde Meroae whiche is almoste vnder the Equinoctial And that Simonides who writte the descripcion of Ethiopia dwelte fyue yeres in Meroae whiche Ilande beeynge in the fyrme lande and compassed aboute wyth the Ryuer of Nilus he affyrmed to bee situate .972 thousande pases beeyonde Syenes of Egypte as the searchers of Nero declared But at Sienes the Astronomers appoynte the sommer conuersion of the sunne and that there the burning lyne beginneth beinge distaunte from the AEquinoctial foure and tweÌ„tie degrees that is twelue thousande furlonges Wherby we maye perceaue that Meroae is situate some what beeyonde the myddest betwene the Equinoctial and Sienes Ptolomeus also descrybeth the Region of Agisimba to bee inhabited beeyonde the Equinoctial Lykewyse the Mountaynes of the Mone called Montes Luna of the which the fennes or marises of the riuer Nilus haue their spring originall He addeth hereunto that there are certayne Ethiopians called Anthropophagi that is such as eate mans fleshe which inhabite regioÌ„s beyond the Equinoctial about the space of .xvi. degrees And thus the inhabitacion of men is found to be extended .x. hundreth thousand pases beyonde the Equinoctial lyne Whiche space conteyneth no lesse then two clymes of the earth And a clyme is a porcion of the worlde betwene South and North wherein is variacion in length of of the daye the space of halfe an houre ¶ Finis ¶ Thus endeth the fyfth boke of Sebastian Munster of the laÌ„des of Asia the greater and of the newe founde landes and Ilandes 1553. ¶ Imprinted at London in Lombarde strete By Edward Sutton ¶ To al aduenturers and suche as take in hande greate enterpryses Who hath hot of sowrenes felte the bitter tast Is not worthy of swetenes to take his repast To cracke the nutte he must take the payne The which would eate the carnell fayne Who that of bees feareth the stinge Shal neuer by hony haue great wonninge As the swete Rose bringeth forth the thorne So is man truely to ioye and payne borne The byrde vpon hope byldeth her neste Where oftentymes she hath but euyll reste Yet is she not therâ—y drieuen â—o such feare But y t she performeth thesame the nexte yeare much castiÌ„g of periles doth noble corage swage Yet do not I commende rashenes or outrage What foles do fable take thou no hedâ— at all For what they know not they cal phaÌ„tastical Nought venter noâ—ght haue is a saying of old Better it is to blow the cole then to syt a cold Forâ—us fortuna adiuuat the Latin prouerbe saith But fayleth to such as faynt and lacke fayth God giueth al thinges but not y e bul by y e horne The plowmaÌ„ by trauaile encreaseth his corne As fortune fauereth y u mayst be riche or poore As Cresus or Irus that beggeth at the dore ¶ Omnis iacta sit alea. nothing new vnder the Sunne 3. Reg. 4 3. Reg. 9 3. Re. 10. 2. Par. â— 1. Par. 3. Tharsis Golde Apes ElephaÌ„tes SalomoÌ„s shippes Ophir Where Gold is engendered ScotlaÌ„d HuÌ„gary 3. Reg. 9 Azion Gaber the Equinoctial line Calicut Tharsis in cilicia Sicilia Ciuile in Spayne Spyces Pepper Orange tree East India SolomoÌ„ boughte golde of marchaÌ„tes the south south east Mat 12 â— Reg. x 2. Par. 9 the quene of Saba the quene of the south 2 par 9 3. Reg. x Saba in Ethiopia vnder Egipt Saba in Arabia the quene of Saba came froÌ„ the Iland of Meroae FroÌ„ Rome to EnglaÌ„d The viage of our men to cathay Norway Lappia Finmarchia Globes mappes Ptolomeus America The strayghtes of Magellanus the Ilandes of Molucca Passage by the north sea into the East Pius secuÌ„dus lib. i. Capit. ii note wel the passage by y e North sea Augustus theÌ„perour Cimbria Caspia the warres of y e Macedonians Plinius Cornelius Nepos Suâ—uia called also Succia nere vnto â—oâ—â—â—and and norway A ship of Indians driueÌ„ froÌ„ the East into the North seas The viage to Cathay Westwarde by north the earth compassed abouâ—