Selected quad for the lemma: life_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
life_n	believe_v	live_v	see_v	4,131	5	3.4899	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A16282	The manners, lauues, and customes of all nations collected out of the best vvriters by Ioannes Boemus ... ; with many other things of the same argument, gathered out of the historie of Nicholas Damascen ; the like also out of the history of America, or Brasill, written by Iohn Lerius ; the faith, religion and manners of the Aethiopians, and the deploration of the people of Lappia, compiled by Damianus a ̀Goes ; with a short discourse of the Aethiopians, taken out of Ioseph Scaliger his seuenth booke de emendatione temporum ; written in Latin, and now newly translated into English, by Ed. Aston.; Omnium gentium mores, leges, et ritus. English. 1611	Boemus, Joannes, ca. 1485-1535.; Góis, Damião de, 1502-1574.; Nicolaus, of Damascus.; Léry, Jean de, 1534-1611. Histoire d'un voyage fait en la terre du Brésil.; Scaliger, Joseph Juste, 1540-1609. De emendatione temporum.; Aston, Edward, b. 1573 or 4.	1611 (1611)	STC 3198.5; ESTC S102777	343,933	572

this manner First they make two fires three paces distant one from another betwixt which they fasten two forkes or iauelins vpright in the ground by each fire one then drawing a cord from the one fire to the other they carry forth through the middle of the iauelins as it were through a gate all things which are to be purified two women to whome the businesse is committed standing vpon the other side one ouer against an other casting water vpon the stuffe and muttering out certaine verses to themselues No stranger is admitted into the kings presence of what estate or dignity soeuer he be and be his businesse of neuer so much importance vnlesse he bee first purified he that spurneth with his foote at the threshould of the pauillion wherein the Emperor or any Prince dwelleth is slaine in the very place moreouer if any one bite a bit of any thing which he cannot swallow downe but is forced to vomit it vp againe all the people fall vpon him and digging a hole vnder his pauillion drag him through it and so kill him most cruelly there bee many other such friuolous things which they account as sins that cannot bee purged or appeased but to kill a man to enter vpon another mans possession to take other mens goods violently without right or equity and to neglect the commandements of God they account as little or no offences They beleeue that after this life they shall liue eternally in an other world but what that world is they cannot describe and that they shall there be rewarded according to their merits When any one is sick and draweth neere vnto death they set a speare at the tent doore wherein hee lyeth with a black cloth at the end of it to the end that those which passe by seeing it may forbeare to enter in and no one dare come in though hee be called if he see the speare but when the sick person is dead all his family meeting together carry the coarse priuily out of the tent into a place chosen before for the purpose where is made a great large pit in which pit they build a little pauillion and set in it a table furnished with diuerse dishes of meate then setting thereat the dead corps attired with rich and gorgious garments they forthwith couer them altogether with earth he hath also one labouring beast and one trapped horse buried with him The great men choose out one seruant in their life time vpon whom they set their owne marke with a marking yron to bee intombed with him when hee is dead and this they doe that they may make vse of them in an other world After all this the mans friends that is dead take an other horse and killing him and eating his flesh and then filling the hide full of haye and sowing it vp againe they set it vpon foure stakes vpon the topp of the Sepulcher to shew that there the dead man lyeth which done the women burne the horses bones for the expiation of the dead mans ghost But the richer sort cut the horse hide into slender thongs and extending them in length measure out there-with a circuite of ground round about their dead friends Sepulcher beleeuing that the dead man shall obtaine so much ground in an other world as by his friends shall bee measured out vnto him with those thongs all these ceremonies performed vpon the thirtith day they leaue of their mourning There be some Tartarians which be a kind of Christians but very bad ones and these to hasten their fathers deaths when they waxe old cram and feed them with fat meate and when they be dead burne them and gathering vp the ashes as cleane as they can esteeme them as a very precious relicke seasoning their meate daily therewith Now with what pompe and iollity the Tartarians after the death of their King elect and appoint another in his roome because it is ouer-troublesome to be writ at large and perhaps as tedious to be read I will vnfold in few words the Princes Dukes Barons and all the people of the kingdom assembling themselues together in a place in the open fields fitte and accustomed for that purpose place him to whom the kindome is due either by succession or election in a throne of gold and all of them prostrating themselues before him cry out with a lowd voice and with one consent in this maner We wish will and command thee to be our gouernor to whom hee answereth If you will haue it so I must needs be content but then be you ready to do what euer I command to come when I call you to goe whether I send you and who euer I bid to be slaine to do it without feare and to giue and commit all the whole kingdome into my hands and when they haue answered we are ready and willing he saith againe vnto them you shall hereafter stand in as much awe of my word as of my sword at which speach the people giue a great applause then the Princes taking him from his Kingly throne and causing him to sitt downe humbly vpon a cloth laid vpon the ground say thus vnto him looke vpwards towards heauen and acknowledge God and behold downwards the cloath whereon thou sittest if thou gouerne well thou shalt haue all things according to thine owne desire but on the other side if thou rule naughtily thou shalt bee so humbled and spoiled of all thou hast as thou shalt not haue left thee so much as this little cloth whereon thou sittest which said they giue vnto him that wife which he loueth best and lifting them vp both together vpon the cloth salute him as Emperour of all the Tartarians and she as Empresse then is hee forthwith presented with gifts from all people ouer whom hee is Emperour and all those things which the dead King lest behind him be brought vnto him likewise of which the new Emperor giueth vnto each Prince some and commandeth the rest to bee kept for himselfe which done hee dissolueth the company all things be in the Kings hands and power no man can or dare say this is mine or that is his nor no one may dwell in any part of his dominion but where hee is assigned the Emperor himselfe distributeth a proportion of land to the Dukes the Dukes to those which bee Captaines of thousands the Captaines of thousands to the gouernors of hundreds the gouernors of hundreds to the rulers of ten and the rulers of ten distribute to all the rest The seale which the King vseth hath this inscription Deus in coelo Chuichuth Cham in terra the strength of God and Emperor of all men He hath fiue very strong and puissant armies fiue Dukes by whom he maketh warr with all that refist him hee neuer speaketh with the Legats or embassadors of other nations nor admitteth them into his presence vnlesse both they their gifts for without gifts they dare not come be first purged

and conuenient time This done after he hath washed his body in the company of his greatest states and put on his richest robes he sacrificeth vnto his Gods There custome was that the cheefe Priest when the sacrifices were brought before the Altar and the King standing by praied with a lowde voice in the hearing of the people for the prosperous helth and all good successe of their King that maintaines iustice towards his subiects and more particularly to relate his vertues as to say that he obserued piety and religion towards the Gods and humanity to man then to call him continent iust and magnanimous true bountifull and brideling all his affections and besides that that hee laid more easie punishments vpon offendors then their crimes required and bestowed fauours beyond mens deseruings and holding on this prayer at length he pursueth the wicked with a curse and freeing the King from blame layeth al the fault vpon his ministers which perswade him to doe euill Which done he exhorteth the King to leade a happy life and acceptable to the Gods and also to follow good fashions and not to do those things which euill men perswade him to but such as cheefely appertaine to honour and vertue In the end after the King hath sacrificed a bull to the Gods The Priest recyteth out of their sacred bookes certaine decrees and gests of worthy men wherat the King being mooued ruleth his kingdome holily and iustly according to their examples They haue there times appointed and prefixt not onely when to gather riches and to iudge acording to their auncient lawes but also when to walke when to wash when to lie with their wiues and when euery thing else is to bee done They vsed but simple diet as hauing nothing vpon their tables but Veale and goose they were also limited to a certaine measure of wine that would neither fill their bellies nor intoxicate their braines In a word the whole course of their liues was so modest so temperate as they seemed to be guided rather by a most skilful Phisition for the preseruation of their healths then by a law-giuer It is strange to see after what sort the Aegyptians lead their liues for they liued not as they would themselues but as the law allowed them but it is much more admirable to see how that their Kings were not permitted to condemne others nor yet to inflict punishment vpon any offendor being moued therevnto either through pride malice or any vniust cause whatsoeuer but liuing vnder a law like priuate men thought it no burthen vnto them but rather esteemed themselues blessed in obeying the law for by those which follow their own affections they supposed many things to be cōmitted that might breed vnto themselues both danger damage for though they know they do amisse yet notwithstanding they persist still in error being ouercome either with loue or hate or some other passion of mind whereas those which liue with vnderstanding and aduise offend in few things The Kings vsing such iustice to their subiects did so purchase the good wills of them all as not only the Priests but all the Egiptians were more carefull of their Soueraigne then of their wiues or Children or any other princes else and when one of those good Kings die all men bewayled him with equall sorrow and heauinesse of heart and renting their clothes and shutting vp their Temples frequented not the market nor obserued solemne feastes but defiling their heads with earth for the space of seuenty and two daies and girding themselues about the pappes with fine linnen both men and women walked about together by two hundred and three hundred in a Company renewing their complaints and in a song renumerating the vertues of their King one by one during which time they abstayned from flesh of beasts from all things boyled from wine and all sumptuous fare and also from all manner of oyntments and bathes yea their owne propper beds and all womens companie bewayling for those daies as much as if they had buried their owne children In which meane space all things being prouided for the funerall solemnities vpon the last day they inclosed the corpes in a coffinne and placed it at the entrance of the Sepulcher where vsually was made a breefe narration of all things done by the King in his life time and euery one had then liberty to accuse him that would the Priests stood by commending the Kings good deeds and all the multitude of people that were present at the funerals applauded his praise worthy actions and with bitter exclamations rayled against his misdeeds whereof it hapned that most Kings through the opposition of the people wanted the due honour and magnificence of Burial the feare whereof constrayned them to liue iustly and vprightly in their life times and this for the most part was the manner of liuing of the auncient Kings of Aegypt Aegypt is diuided into many partes euery part whereof is called by the Greeke word Monos and is gouerned by a Praetor or Mayor who hath rule ouer al the people of that Prouince The Aegiptians deuide their tribute or custome money which is payd them by forrainers in three parts the greatest part whereof belongeth to the colledge of Priests which are of great authority with the inhabitants both in regard of their seruice to their gods as also for their doctrine where-with they instruct others and part of this portion they bestow in ministring their sacrifices and the rest to increase their priuate estates for in no case would the Aegiptians haue the worship of their gods omitted nor doe they thinke it fit that they that be ministers of common councell and profit should want things necessary to liue vpon for the Priests in all weighty businesses bee assistant to the King both by their labour and councell as well in regarde of the knowledge they haue in the starres as by their sacrifices foretelling things to come Moreouer they shew out of their sacred volumnes the actes and gests of worthy men by which the Kings may know in their designes how things are likely to succeed and it is not so with the Aegiptian Priests as it is with the Greekes that one man or one woman should haue charge of their sacrifices but there bee many that bee conuersant about the worship and honour of their gods which leaue the same charge of holy misteries to their children they be all of them freed and discharged from tribute possesse the second place of honor and estimation after their King The second portion of the tribute money commeth to the Kings which serueth them for the wars for their maintenance and also to reward valiant and worthy men for their prowesse and good seruice by which meanes it commeth to passe that their owne people are vexed with no kind of tribute The Captaines and Souldiours haue the third part to the end that hauing such wages they might haue more

more daintily to haue more humanity in their speech more ciuilitie in their conuersation more state in their buildings and in all points to be more mild more wise and better qualified and laying aside all grosse barbarisme and beastly cruelty abstayning from mutuall slaughter from deuouring of humane flesh from rapine and robberie from open and incestuous coupling of children with their parents before indifferently vsed and from many more such enormities applyed their reason and strength to recouer the earth which beeing then either ouergrown with thicke woods ouerrunne with wild beasts or ouerflowed with standing waters lay rude barren desert vnfrequented and inconuenient for mans dwelling and with their industrie and labour playning and purging it from heapes of stones rootes of trees and superfluous waters made it fertill and very delightsome to behold And allowing the plaines and champion grounds for tilling and the lesser hilles for vineyards did so manure dresse the earth with instruments made for the purpose as it brought foorth both corne and wine in aboundance which before yeelded nothing but acornes and wild apples and those also sparingly produced The valleys they beautified and adorned with most delectable gardens and well watered medowes leauing onely the toppes of mountaines for woods and assigning so much soyle for the increase of fruite as they scarce left sufficient for fuell and fodder Then they began to people all places more plentifully to erect new buildings of ferme houses to make hamlets of boroughes great citties to build temples in valleys towers on mountaine tops to encompasse their fountains with hewed marble stones inuironing them with plants on all sides for shadow deriued their running waters thence into their cities through pipes conduits to search deepe in the ground for water where naturally it was wanting to hold in and restraine the streames and violent riuers with dams and bankes of earth which before would often flow at large to the great destruction of the Inhabitants and that they might bee passable and no hidderance or impediment to mens businesse to build ouer them strong and stately bridges vppon bending Arches or Pyles fastened and firmely rampered in the ground to cast downe Rockes in the sea which whilome were woont to bee daungerous for saylers to make hauens inroades and harboroughes both in Ilands and on the Continent To digge Dockes and Rodes wherein shippes might rest in securitie free from danger of wind or weather And so diligently to decke and garnish all things both by land and sea that the earth as now it is compared to his former filthinesse and deformitie may be thought to be an other earth different from that it was before and not much vnlike that most delectable garden out of which our vnfortunate first founders Adam and Eue were eiected for transgressing the diuine commandement Moreouer many most noble Disciplines and liberall Arts were by men found out which that they might remaine to all posteritie were by diuers Characters and new-inuented notes of letters committed to bookes and tables and did so farre exempt and aduance them beyond all humane condition as they might haue beene thought rather to leade the most blessed liues of deified men then men indeed Had not Satan the Prince of the world and enemie of mankind by sowing his most pestilent Cockles amongst the good corne confounded their most intire and happie estate For he seeing the multitude of people increase and the pleasure of the world held in better estimation stirred vp with enuie first found them guiltie to themselues for committing damnable sins and afterwards made them with curiositie to affect the knowledge of future and heauenly things from the obscure answers of Oracles And to the end he might abolish all knowledge of one true and onely God and trouble all mankind with some notable euill he taught them the prophane worship of false gods and goddesses causing them to commit idolatrie and do reuerence vnto them making the Delphian Temples in one place the Euboian in another in another the Nasamonian and the Dodoman okes by his diuellish inspiration to vtter foorth Oracles By which means he procured that diuine honors were attributed to Saturn in Italy to Iupiter in Creet to Iuno in Samos to Bacchus in Thebes and India to the Sun and Moone vnder the names of Isis Osyris in Aegypt to Vesta in Troy in Affricke to Pallas and Triton to Mercury vnder the name of Teutas in Fraunce and Germany to Mynerua in Himettū Athens to Apollo in Boeotia Rhodes Chius Patura in Lycia the lesser Phrigia and Thimbra To Diana in Delos and Scythia To Venus in Cyprus Paphos Gnydos and Cythera to Mars in Thrace to Vulcan in Lipara and Lemnos to Priapus in Lampsacus neere Hellispont and to others in many other places whose names for their rare inuentions and great benefits bestowed vpon their people were then most fresh in memory Moreouer also after Christ Iesus the true Sonne of the liuing God appearing in flesh and pointing out to the erring multitude the perfect path-way of saluation by his word and example exhorting to newnesse of life to the glory of his heauenly father and sending his Disciples forth into all the world by their wholsome doctrine and preaching had confounded their damnable idolatry and spread abroad a new religion and new institutions of life yea and preuailed so much as being receiued of all nations in the world there could nothing more be desired for the obtayning of true felicity when Satan returning into his former malice and going about to circumuent and get againe his habitation in mens curious hearts which before by the comming of Christ hee was forced to forsake reduced some into their former errors and so corrupted and blinded others with new hereticall opinions as it had beene better for them neuer to haue tasted the truth then so sodainely and maliciously to forsake the knowne way of saluation For now at this day all the people of Asia the lesse Armenia Arabia Persis Siria Assiria and Media and in Affrick the Aegiptians Numidians Libians and Muritanians In Europe all those of Greece Misia and Thrace vtterly abiecting Christ obserue and with all honor and deuotion adore that most accursed and Epileptical Makomet and his damnable doctrine The Scythians which at this day bee called Tartars a very large and populous nation d ee some of them worship the Idols of their Emperor Cham some the stars and some others the true and onely GOD at the preaching of Saint Paul the people of India and Aethiopia which bee vnder the gouernment of Prestor Iohn hold the faith of Christ but in a manner that is far different from ours But the sincere and right beliefe of our Sauiour Christ wherewith by his speciall grace the whole world was once illumined is retained onely in Germany Italy France Spaine England Scotland Ireland Dacia Liuonia Prussia Polonia Hungaria and of the inhabitants of the Isles

come into the Senate or Councell house and many were so deeply touched with that indignitie as they would violently procure their owne deaths rather then indure such disgrace Their Kings were elected for their worth and Nobility and their power and authority was not altogether free but limitted and restrained the worthiest souldiers and men of greatest valour and such as could effect more by their good examples then by all their force and authority were ordained leaders and conductors of their armies There was none had power to chastice beat or punish an other but the Priests only for they held that reuengment belonged only vnto the gods whose ministers the Priests were They would pourtray the Images of their gods and carry them with them into the warres as a speciall incouragement to fight And their friends and kinsfolke likewise were placed neere vnto the battell that in their presence they might either atchieue a glorious victory or end their dayes with honor and their parents wiues and children were eye-witnesses of their valor and prowesse and euer as any of them that fought were wounded they were brought vnto their mothers and wiues and other friends that were lookers on who were euer readie and willing to heale and cure them and to supply the soldiers with victualles exciting and encouraging them to fight manfully through which exhortations as some haue written the battell hath renewed and begunne a fresh when the souldiers were almost spent and wearied out for they esteemed their women to be of great sanctitie and prouidence and therefore their Councels were not to be contemned nor their aduises despised Vppon certaine dayes they vsed to sacrifice men vnto Mercurie and beasts to Mars and Hercules and they were generally giuen to sorcerie and witch-craft Trifling and pettie causes were managed and decided by the Rulers and Magistrates of the citties but all great businesses and difficult affaires were handled by the whole body of the city in generall They would neuer begin any busines but when the Moone was either in the change or in the full and they reckened their computation not by the dayes but by the nights They came armed into the Councell-house to decide controuersies and to maintaine the right of causes and hee vppon whose side the sentence passed and was conmended had a Iaueling shaken and brandished against him which manner of sentence giuing they accounted to be most honorable and againe those whose causes were nought were condemned by the Iudges frownes and sterne lookes All traytors an● turne-coates and such as fled to the enemie were hanged Sluggards dastards and such infamous persons and those that had any noysome disease were laid vpon a hurdle and dragged till they were dead No Magistrate would execute any publike or priuate businesse but when he was armed there was great emulation amongst them about their diet and they were incredibly giuen to affectation for he carried the greatest credit and estimation amongst his friends and neighbours that was best attended and accompanied with young gallants when hee went abroad about any businesse If the Prince that was Generall or Leader of the armie departed out of the field without victorie he liued in discredite and infamie all his life time after for the Prince fighteth only for victorie and the other Noblemen for the safetie of the Prince They would oftentimes take occasion to make warres without cause giuen onely because they could not indure to liue quietly and peaceably For they held it a point of sloth and sluggishnesse to get their liuing by their labors if they might get it by warres though it cost them their liues if they had no warres the valiantest men of them all spent their times wholy in eating drinking and sleeping committing both houses and husbandrie to the care and guidance of old men and women So as it seemeth strange to see two such contrarie dispositions in one people to be both louers of idlenesse and yet enemies to peace and quietnesse Their dwellings were in villages and euery one in seuerall houses their apparell short cassockes or souldiers coates buttoned together with claspes or pinned with thornes and the richer sort were knowne and distinguished from others by their clothes for they wore their coates so close to their skins as you might plainely perceiue the perfect proportion of each lim and member and the selfe same fashion of apparell which serued men was worne by women likewise Most part of the Germaines which dwelt towards the East and North side of the countrie contented themselues with one wife a peece some few excepted which had many and the wife was not indowed by the husband but the husband by the wife nor was their dowers of such dainties as were onely fit to make them fine and gay but of such things as they had most vse of as yokes of oxen horses with their furniture shields swords Iauelings and such like The women were wonderful chast and modest and their lookes nothing want on to procure allurements they frequented no banquets nor common feasts so as though the nation were very populous there was few women found offending in adulterie but if any were thereof conuicted her owne husband would pull her headlong out of his house starke naked before her neighbours and friends and whip her round about the towne nor was there any place for pardon for such lasciuious strumpets no not their youth beautie nor riches could any whit priuiledge them or reconcile them to their husbands It was not tolerable for any one to scoffe at vice for thereby they thought they both corrupted others and were corrupted themselues And as euery woman had but one bodie and one life so should she haue but one husband nor ought she to haue any idle cogitation or wanton desire as if shee more regarded the act of matrimonie then her husbands loue so as more good was done by their manners and examples then in other places by wholesome strict lawes Yong men were not very prone to lust especially when their youthfull dayes drew to an end and maides were not married til they were of good yeares that they might bee more strong and able to beare children Murder was punished with a certaine number of cattell which the murtherer must giue to al the dead mans friends as a satisfaction for his death They were very desirous to diet together and to keepe good hospitalitie accounting it an vnhonest and vndecent part to forbid any one their houses or tables Rewards were willingly taken and giuen nor would they vpbraide any one with that they had giuen nor thinke themselues in any matter beholding for what they receiued They would spend whole nights and dayes in drinking and carowsing esteeming and accounting it a credit to be drunken and oftentimes after their gluttonie and gormandize they would brall and fall out one with another exchanging ill words and sometimes blowes whereof oftentimes insued mayming and murder They consulted of all serious

my owne part hath hitherto best contented my selfe and I trust hath beene most acceptable to God From the which if either ambition of high estate offered to mee in marriage by the pleasure and appointment of my Prince whereof I haue some records in this presence as you our Treasurer well knew or if the eschewing the danger of mine enemies or the avoyding of the perrill of death whose messinger or rather a continuall watch-man the Princes indignation was no little time daily before mine eyes by whose meanes although I know or iustly may suspect yet I will not now vtter or if the whole cause were in my sister her selfe I will not now burthen her therewith because I will not charge the dead if any of these I say could haue drawne or diswaded mee from this kinde of life I had not now remained in this estate wherein you see mee but so constant haue I alwaies continued in this determination although my youth and wordes may seeme to some hardly to agree together yet is it most certaine and true that at this day I doe stand free from any other meaning that either I haue had in times past or haue at this present with which trade of life I am so throughly acquainted that I trust in God who hath hitherto therein preserued and led mee by the hand will not of his goodnesse suffer mee to goe alone For the other part the manner of your petition I doe well like and take it in verie good part because that it is simple and contayneth no lymitation of place or person if it had beene otherwise I must needs haue misliked it verie much and thought it in you a verie great presumption beeing vnfitting and altogither vnmeete for you to require them that may commaunde or those to appoint whose partes are to desire or such to binde and limit whose duties are to obey or to take vpon you to drawe my loue to your likings or to frame my will to your fantasie For a guerdon constrained and a guift freely giuen can neuer agree together Neuerthelesse if any one of you bee in suspect that whensoeuer it may please God to incline my heart to another kinde of life you may well assure your selues my meaning or resolution is not to doe or determine any thing wherewith the Realme may or shall haue iust cause to bee discontented or complaine of imposed iniurie And therefore put that cleane out of your heads and remooue such doubtfull thoughts for I doe assure you what credit my assurance may haue with you I cannot tell but what credit it shall deserue to haue the sequell shall declare I will neuer in that matter conclude any thing that shal be preiudiciall to the Realme for the benefit weale good and safetie whereof I will neuer shunne to spend my life And whomsoeuer my chance shal be to light vpon I trust he shal be such as shal be as carefull for the Realme and you I will not say as my selfe because I cannot so certainelie determine of any other but at the leastwise by my good will and desire hee shal be such as shal be as carefull for the preseruation of the Realme and you as my selfe And albeit it might please Almightie GOD to continue mee still in this minde to liue out of the estate of marriage yet is it not to bee feared but hee will so worke in my heart and in your wisdomes as good prouision by his helpe may bee made in conuenient whereby the Realme shall not remaine and stand destitute of an heire to succeed mee that may bee a fit Gouernour and peraduenture more beneficiall to the Realme and generality then such off-spring as may come of mee For though I bee neuer so carefull of your well doings and minde euer so to bee yet may issue growe out of kinde and become perhaps vngratious And in the end this shal be for mee verie sufficient that a marble stone shall declare that a maiden Queene hauing raigned and ruled such a long time liued and died a virgine And heere I end and take your comming vnto mee in good part and giue vnto you all eft-somes my hearty thankes more yet for your zeale and good meaning then for your petition And thus farre Stowe THIS good Queene ELIZABETH was the last of the Royall issue of King Henry the eight shee died without any issue her selfe and left the Kingdome vnto Iames King of Scotland and next heire to the crowne of England King Iames the first of that name since the Conquest by the death of Queene Elizabeth vnited the two famous Kingdomes of England and Scotland which had beene long deuided the crowne of England rightfully and linially descending vnto him from Margueret eldest daughter to Henry the seuenth and Elizabeth wife of the sayd Henry eldest daughter to Edward the fourth which Margueret was maried to Iames the fourth King of Scotland who had issue Iames the fifth father vnto Mary the last Queene of Scots who was mother vnto Iames the sixth King of Scotland and of great Britan France and Ireland the first To omit Ireland an Island vnder our Kings dominion the people wherof of late yeeres haue growne to more ciuility by conuersing with other nations and to speake something more in perticular of this Island as now it is wee may deuide the whole Island of Britanny into three partes that is to say England Wales and Scotland Scotland the North of this Island hauing for a long time beene a Kingdome of it selfe seuered and distinct from England is now by this happy vnion as I said before made one againe with England and both of them gouerned by one King and Monarch This Country in respect of England is very barren and mountanous and the Inhabitants especially the vulgar sort farre more rude and barbarous their language in effect is all one with the English the Northerne Scots excepted which speake and liue after the Irish fashion nor is their any difference in their religion but all causes and controuersies bee there determined by the ciuill law as in most other Countries for with our common lawes of England they are little acquainted Wales an other part of this Island and the proper habitation of the Britans expelled thither out of England by the Englishmen was gouerned by Princes of their owne bloud vntil the raigne of Henry the third who slue Lhewellen ap Griffith the last Prince of the British race vnited that Prouince vnto the Kingdome of England and forced the Inhabitants to sweare fealty and alleagiance vnto Edward of Carnaruan his eldest sonne whom hee made Prince of Wales After the decease of Edward the first this title of Prince of Wales lay dormant during all the raigne of Edward the Second and was againe reuiued by Edward the Third who created his sonne Edward surnamed the Blacke Prince Duke of Cornwall Earle of Chester and Prince of Wales and euer since hath this title beene duely conferred vnto the

arriued into an Island in forme round and in compasse about fiue thousand stadia into which when they were entred some of the Inhabitants came to meete them and some others runing towards them being greatly amazed and wondering at the comming of strangers into their Island receiued them very curteously and bountifully offered them such things as their country afforded The Inhabitants of that Island are nothing like to vs either in stature or manners for though they carry the same proportion of body and members yet bee they farre taller then wee are the most of them being aboue foure cubits hie and notwithstanding their exceeding height their bones bee not solid like ours but flexible like nerues or sinewes by which meanes they exceed vs in agility and nimblenesse of body and they are so strong with al as what euer they grasp with their hands can hardly bee wrested from them They be a very beautiful comely and well featured people and their skinnes so smooth and so slike as you can hardly perceiue any wrinkle or haire vpon any part of their bodies The hollownesse of their eares is much wider then ours and their tongues as farre different for nature assisted with their ingenious wits and dispositions hath indued them with this extraordinary priuiledge that their tongues are naturally so cleft and deuided from the roote to the tip as they seeme to haue euery one two tongues by which meanes they doe not onely speake a humaine and intelligible voice but they can truely imitate the chirping and singing of diuers birdes likewise and that which is more strange they will talke and conferre with two seuerall persons of seuerall matters at one and the selfe same time the one part of the tongue speaking and giuing answere vnto one and the other part to the other The ayre is there very pure and wholesome all the yeere long according to the saying of the poet that apples peares and grapes will rotte and corrupt vpon the trees and vines and the daies and nights are euer of an equall length and when the Sunne is directly ouer their heads there is no shadow of any thing towards the South All the people of one stocke or kindred liue together so as they exceed not the number of foure hundred their chiefest abode is in the fields for the earth naturally produceth great store of fruits without tillage or trauell in so much as through the vertue and quality of the Island and temperature of the aire they haue more then they are able to spend There be a kinde of reeds growing in that Island which beare great store of fruite like vnto white vetches the fruite of these reedes they gather and sprinkle with warme water and then euery graine will bee as bigge as a Doues egge which they afterwards grinde or beate into meale and make thereof a kinde of bread which in taste is most pleasant and delicious There bee many great springs and fountaines of water whereof some bee hot and serue for bathes and to cure diseases and some cold and withall maruelous sweete and very phisicall likewise They be a people very industrious and greedy of learning and especially of Astrology Their letters which they vse in sence and signification are eight and twentie but their carecters are but seuen in number for euery caractar hath foure seuerall significations or interpretations and they write not from the left hand towards the right as wee doe but beginne at the top and write downewards They be very long of life the most of them liuing the full age of a hundred and fifty yeeres and for the most part without any sicknesse at all and if any hap to fall either into an ague or any other infirmity of body they are compelled by their law to die forth-with They are also appointed how long they shall liue which age when they haue accomplished they willingly procure their owne deathes some by one meanes and some by an other There is an herbe in that countrie vpon which if any one lay his body hee falleth into a sweete and delectable slumber and in that sheepe departeth his life without paine Mariages they haue none but women bee there common to all children equally loued of al and brought vp in common amongst al so as no man can say this is my wife or this is my child yet oftentimes they take the children from their nurses least mothers should afterwards reknowledge their owne sonnes through which community it happeneth that being voide of ambition and affectation or curious desire of that which nature denieth them they liue quietly and peaceably without sedition or dissention There bee also in that Island certaine beasts which though they bee little of body yet in respect of their nature and vertue of their bloud they bee most rare and admirab they bee of a round body like vnto a Tortoise or Seacrable and haue two lines crossing their middle vpon euery end whereof standeth an eare and an eye so as they heare with foure eares and see with foure eyes and yet haue but one belly or paunch that receiueth their meate and round about their body grow many feete with which they can goe backward and forward at their pleasure the bloud of this beast is said to be of a maruelous strange efficacy for if a body bee cut and mangled into peeces so as it appeare to haue life in it be anointed with the bloud of this beast euery part wil instantly grow to other and the body will bee whole againe Euery family or company that liue together doe likewise breed and norish vp great birds of a diuerse nature and by those birds they make triall how their children will prooue afterwards for they set them when they bee very young vpon the backes of the birds and if they sit fast when the birds biginne to flutter and flie without feare of falling those children they bring vp but if they shew themselues dastardly and timerous they are reiected and thrust away and suffered to liue no longer as beeing vnprofitable for any excercise of the minde And the eldest of euery kindred or company that so liue together is Lord and commander ouer the rest to whom they yeeld obedience as to their King and when he accomplisheth the age of an hundred and fifty yeers he depriueth himself of life for so their law commands and hee that is next vnto him in age taketh the gouernment vpon him The sea that incloseth the Island is very boysterous rugged yet is the water most pleasant delightsome in taste the North pole and many other starres which are seene in our Horison appeare not in theirs There bee other seuen Islands of like quantitie and of like distance one from an other and indued with like manners and lawes as this is The Inhabitants of these Ilands vse the fruites of the earth which shee bountifully affordeth of her owne accord very sparingly for their dyet is

man of that embassage and with him was Francis Aluarez whom for his honesty of life singular religion and iustice I haue held most deere and especially for that being demanded of his faith he answered thereunto very fitly and truely And therefore you ought to exalt him and to call him maister and to imploy him in conuerting the people of Macua and of Dalaca of Zeila and of all the Islands of the red sea because they bee in the bounds of my kingdomes And I haue granted vnto him a Crosse and a staffe in token of his authority and doe you commaunde that these things may be giuen vnto him and that hee may bee made Bishiop of those Countries and Islands because hee well deserueth it and is very fitting to administer that office and God shall doe good unto thee that thou maiest bee alwaies strong against thy enemies and constraine them to prostrate themselues at thy feet I pray God prolong thy life and make thee partake of the kingdome of heauen in the best place euen as I wish for my selfe for with my eares haue I heard much good of you and I see with mine eies that which I thought I should neuer haue seene and God will make all things to goe well with you and your seate shall bee vpon the tree of life which is the seate of the Saints Amen As a young child I haue done what euer you commanded mee and will doe if your Embassadors come hither that we may aid one another by our mutuall forces I shall giue and cause to bee giuen vnto all your Embassadors which shal come hither what euer you will signifie to be done and as you did at Macna at Dalaca and at the ports in the streights of the redde sea that wee may bee prosperously ioyned together both in Councell and action as I doe chiefly desire for when your Forces shall come to those Coastes I will speedily bee with them with my Armie also and because there bee no Christians in the Marches of my Countrie nor any Churches for Christians I will giue vnto your people those lands to dwell in which be neerest vnto the dominion of the Moores for it behoueth that you bring your beginnings to a good end In the meane space send to me learned men and caruers of Images of gold and siluer workers of copper likewise and of Iron of tinne and of lead and Artificers to imprint bookes for the Church in our language and some that can make gold foyle or thin plates or raies of gold and with the same can guild other mettals these shall bee courteously entertained in my house and if they shall desire to depart I will giue vnto them large ample rewards for their labours And I sweare by God Iesus Christ the sonne of God that I will freely suffer them to depart when they please This I most boldly and confidently desire because your vertue is apparant vnto me and your goodnesse well knowne And for that I know you loue me well whereof I am most assured because for my sake you receiued Mathew very honourably and liberally and so sent him backe againe and therfore I couet to desire those things neither be thou ashamed of it for I will truly accomplish and performe all things That which the Father desireth of the Sonne cannot bee denyed and you are my Father and I your Sonne and wee bee coupled and ioyned together and as one bricke is ioyned to another in a wall so we being so to agree together in one heart and in the loue of Iesus Christ who is the head of the world and those which be with him be likened to brickes ioyned together in a wall Letters from the said DAVID Emperour of Aethiopia vnto Iohn the third of that name King of Portugall written in the yeare of our redemption 1524. and interpreted by Paulus Iouius IN the name of God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth and of all things that be made either visible or inuisible in the name of God the sonne Christ who is the sonne and Councell and prophet of the Father in the name of God the holy Ghost the Aduocate of the liuing God equall to the Father and the Sonne who spake by the mouth of the Prophets breathing vpon the Apostles that they might giue thanks and praise vnto the holy Trinity which is euer perfect in heauen and in earth in the sea and in the deepe Amen I surnamed Virgins Frankincense which name was giuen me at my baptisme and now taking vpon me the gouernment of my kingdome I haue also assumed the name of Dauid the deerely beloued of God the pillar of the faith the issue or stocke of Iuda the sonne of Dauid the sonne of Salomon Kings of Israell the sonne of the columne or piller of Sion the sonne of the seed of Iacob the sonne of the hand of Mary and the son of Nav by the flesh send these letters and message vnto Iohn the most high mighty and potent King of Portugall and of the Algarbians the sonne of King Emanuell Peace bee vnto you and the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ remaine alwaies with you Amen At that time that the power of the King your father was reported vnto me who made war against the Moores the sons of the abhominable accursed Mahomet I gaue great thankes vnto God for your increase greatnes and for the crown of your conuersation in the house of Christianitie In like manner I tooke pleasure by the comming of your Embassadors which reported vnto me that kings speeches whereby a singular loue knowledge friendship was established betwixt vs vtterly to extirpe driue away those wicked accursed Moores and vnbeleeuing Gentiles which dwell betweene your kingdomes mine But while I was thus ioyfull I heard that your father and mine was departed out of this life before I could dispatch my Embassadors from hence vnto him and therefore my ioy was suddenly turned into sadnes so that in the great sorrow of my heart all the States and Noble men of my Court and Ecclesiasticall Prelates and all which liue in Monasteries and all our subiects wholly made great lamentaion with me so as the pleasure we conceiued of the first message was equalled and extinguished with the sorrow of the last Sir from my first entrance into my kingdomes vnto this present time no message nor messenger hath come vnto me either from the King or kingdome of Portugall but in the life time of the King your Father who sent his Captaines and Gouernours vnto mee with Clearkes and Deacons which brought with them all solemne prouision and apparell for the Masse for which I reioyced greatly and receiued them honourably and shortly after dismissed them that they might returne with honour and peace And after they came to a Hauen of the sea which is within my limits in the redde sea they found not the great Gouernour of the Nauie there whom your father had sent

of Ieson the sonne of Nav in Galgale and of Gedeon in the Coast and of Sampson when hee was a thirst in the land of drought and of Samuell in Rhama of the Prophet and of Dauid in Nacira and of Salomon in the Cittie of Gabeon and of Helias in mount Carmell when hee raised from death the Widdow womans sonne from Rhicha aboue the pit and of Iosaphat in battell and of Manasses when hee sinned and conuerted againe vnto God and of Daniell in the Lyons Denne and of the three brethren Sydrach Mysaach and Abednago on the firy furnace and of Anna before the Altar and of Nehemias which made walles with Zorababell and of Mathathia with his sonnes ouer the fourth part of the world and of Esau vppon his blessing euen so our Lord wil receiue your sacrifices and supplications and will helpe you and stand with you against all persuersnes and ouerth wartnes at all seasons and euery day Peace bee with you and I embrace you with the armes of sanctitie and in like manner I embrace all those which be of your Councell of the kingdome of Portugall Archbishops likewise and Bishops Priests and Deacons and all men and women whatsoeuer The grace of God and blessing of the Virgine Mary the mother of God be with you and with you all Amen Letters from the same most renowned Dauid Emperour of Ethiopia vnto the Pope of Rome written in the yeare of our Lord 1524. and translated into Latine by Paulus Iouius IN the name of God the Father Almighty maker of heauen and earth and of all things visible and inuisible in the name of God the Sonne Iesus Christ which is the same with the Father from the beginning of the world and is light of light and true God of true God in the name of the holy spirit of the liuing God who proceeded from God Father These letters I the King doe send whose name the Lyons doe worship and by the grace of God I am called Athani Tinghil that is to say the incense of a virgin the Sonne of King Dauid the sonne of Solomon the sonne of a king by the hand of Mary the son of Nav by the flesh the son of of the holy Apostles S. Peter and S Paul by grace Peace bee vnto you most iust Lord holy mighty pure and sacred Father vnto you which are the head of all Princes and fearest no man seeing no one can speake euill of thee vnto you which are the most vigilant Curate and obseruer of soules and friend of strangers and and peregrines O holy maister and preacher of the faith enemy of all those things which offend the conscience louer of good manners sanctified man whom all men laud and praise O happy and holy Father I yeeld obedience vnto you with great reuerence for you are the peace of all things and deserue all good and therefore it is fitting that all men should shew their obedience vnto you as the holy Apostles command to yeeld obedience to God This truly belongeth vnto you for so also they command vs to worship Bishops Archbishops and Prelats In like manner that we should loue and reuerence you as our father feare you as our King and haue confidence in you as in God Wherefore I humbly confesse and with my bending knees say vnto you O holy father that you are my father and I your son O holy most mighty father why did you neuer send any vnto vs that you might better vnderstand of my life and health seeing you be the sheepheard and I your sheepe For a good sheepeheard will neuer forget his flocke neither ought you to thinke that I dwel so farre remote from your regions that messengers cannot come vnto mee seeing your sonne Emanuell the King of Portugall hath sent Embassadors vnto me very conueniently from his kingdome which is the furthest from vs in the world and if God had spared him life and not incited him so suddenly to heauen without doubt those things which we then had in hand had beene brought to a happy conclusion But now I much desire to bee certified by some trusty messengers of your holinesse health and happinesse for I neuer yet heard any message from your holinesse but something I heard of our owne people who to performe their vows went a pilgrimage into those parts but seeing they went not in my name nor brought with them my letters from you their reports are but an vncertaine beleefe for I questioning with them they said they came from Ierusalem where hauing performed their vowes they went to Rome to visite the Churches of the Apostles vnderstanding that they might easily come to those places which bee inhabited by Christians And surely I take great pleasure in their speeches because in my sweete cogitation I doe behold the similitude of thy holy countenance which seemeth vnto mee like the countenance of an Angell And I confesse that I doe loue and reuerence that image as an Angellicall likenesse but yet were it more acceptable and pleasant vnto mee deuoutely and diligently to consider and view your words and Letters And therefore I most humbly beseech you to send Messengers vnto me with your benediction thereby to cheere and exhilerate my heart for seeing wee agree in faith and religion before all things I desire and intreate that you will set my loue and friendship in the principallest part of your heart as the ring which you weare vpon your finger and the chaine of gold which you put about your neck that so the remembrance of me may neuer be blotted out of your memory for with thankefull words letters frendship is increased it is embraced with sacred peace from whence all humane ioy springeth ariseth for euen as hee that is thirsty greatly desireth cold water as the scripture saith so doth my heart conceiue an incredible ioy from the messengers letters which come to me from the furthest parts of the world neither shall I only reioice to heare from your holines but also I shall be glad to heare certaine newes from all the Kings of Christendome And full as ioyfull as those that in battell doe get the best spoyles And this may bee done with great facility seeing the King of Portugall hath made the whole iourney plaine vnto them who long sithence hath sent his Embassadors vnto vs with strong Armies but neither when my father was liuing nor sithence haue wee receiued any Message or Letters from any other Christian King or from the Pope himselfe although in our treasuries of Monuments and Charters of my great Grand father is preserued the memory of those Letters which Pope Eugenius sent into this Countrie when the King of Kings of all Ethiopia being the seede of Iacob and a King to bee feared had the gouernment of this kingdome The forme of which letters were thus Eugenius the Bishop of Rome to our beloued sonne the King of the seede of Iacob the King of all the kings of Ethiopia and

redeeming thence Adam his sons Al these things Christ did wherfore he was replenished with diuinity and that diuinity was with his soule also with his most holy body which diuinity gaue vertue to the crosse which diuinity he euer had yet hath commune with the Father in Trinity Vnity nor did that Christ while he walked vpō the earth euer want his diuinity for the least twinckling of an eye After this he was buried and the third day the same Iesus Christ the Prince of resurrection Iesus Christ the chiefe of the Priests Iesus Christ the King of Israel arose againe with great power and fortitude and after all things were fulfilled which the holy Prophets fore-shewed hee ascended with great glorie triumph into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of the Father and he shall come againe in glorie carrying his crosse before his face and the sword of Iustice in his hand to iudge both the quicke and the dead of whose kingdome shall be no end I beleeue one holy Catholike and Apostolike Church I beleeue one Baptisme which is the remission of sinnes I hope for and beleeue the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come Amen I beleeue in our Ladie the blessed Virgin Mary a Virgin I say both in spirit and flesh who as the mother of Christ is the charity of all people the Saint of Saints and Virgin of Virgins whome I do worshippe all manner of wayes I beleeue the sacred wood of the crosse to bee the bed of the sorow of our Lord Iesus Christ the son of God which Christ is our saluation by whome wee be saued a scandall to the Iewes and foolishnesse to the Gentils But we preach and beleeue the strength of the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ euen as S. Paul our Doctor hath taught vs. I beleeue S. Peter to be the rocke of the lawe which law is founded vpon the holy Prophets the foundation and head of the Catholike and Apostolike Church both east and west where euer is the name of our Lord Iesus Christ the power of which Church Peter the Apostle hath and the keyes of the kingdome of heauen with which he can shut and open loose and bind and hee shall sit with the other Apostles his fellowes vpon twelue seats with honor and praise with our Lord Iesus Christ who in the day of Iudgement shall pronounce the sentence vpon vs which day to the Saints shall be cause of ioy but to the wicked griefe and gnashing of teeth when they shall bee cast out into the burning flames of hell fire with their father the Diuell I beleeue that the holy Prophets and Apostles Martyrs and Confessors were the right imitators of Christ whom with the most blessed Angels of God I worship honor in like maner also do I imbrace affect as their followers Also I beleeue that vocall and auricular confession of all my sinnes is to bee made to the priest by whose prayers through Christ our Lord I hope to obtain saluation Moreouer I acknowledge the B. of Rome to bee the chiefPastor of the sheep of Christ yeelding obedience vnto all Patriarks Cardinals Archb. Bishops of whom he is head as vnto the Ministers of Christ himselfe This is my faith and law and of al the people of Aethiopia that be vnder the power of Precious Iohn which faith the loue of Christ be so confirmed amongst vs as with the help of our Sauiour I shall neuer deny it neither by death fire nor sword which faith all we shall carry with vs in the day of iudgment before the face of the same Lord Iesus Christ Now hauing gone thus farre I will expresse the discipline doctrine and law which the Apostles in their holy books of Councels and Canons which we call Manda Abethylis haue taught vs and of those bookes of the ordonances of the Church there be 8. all which were compiled by the Apostles when they were assembled together at Ierusalem wherof making great inquiry of many Doctours after I came into Portugall I found none that did remember them The obseruatiōs which the Apostles prescribed vnto vs in these bookes be these following First that we ought to fast euery wednesday in remembrance of the Iewes Councell for vpon that day they consulted and decreed amongst themselues that Christ shold be killed and that we shold fast euery Friday vpon which day Christ Iesus was crucified and died for our sins and vpon these two dayes we are commanded to fast till the Sun-setting They also inioyned vs to fast with bread water the forty daies of Lent and to pray seuen times in the day and night By those edicts also we be bound to celebrate our sacrifice vppon Wednesdayes and Fridayes in the euening because at that time our Lord Iesus Christ yeelded vp the ghost vpon the holy Crosse They willed also that vpon Sundaies we should al assemble together in the holy church at the third houre of the day from the Sun rising to reade and heare the bookes of the Prophets and that after that we should preach the Gospell and celebrate Masse Moreouer they appointed nine festiuall daies to be celebrated in memorie of Christ to wit the Annunciation the Natiuity the Circumcision the Purification or Candlemas his Baptisme Palm sunday vnto the octaues of good Friday as we term it which be 12. dayes the Ascension also and the Feast of Penticost with their holy dayes And by the precepts of these bookes we eate flesh euery day without any exception from the Feast of Easter vnto Penticost neither bee we bound to fast in all this time vnto the octaues of Penticost which thing we do for the more honour reuerence of the resurrection of our Lord Iesus Christ They will vs also to celebrate the day of the death assumption of the Virgin Mary with all honor Moreouer besides the precepts of the Apostles one of the Precious Iohns surnamed The seed of Iacob ordained that besides these dayes euery thirtith yere 3. dayes should be celebrated in honor of the same blessed Virgin he also commanded one day in euery moneth to be celebrated for the Natiuity of our Sauior Christ which is euer the 25. day of the month in like manner he appointed one day in euery moneth to be kept holy in honor of S. Michael Furthermore by the cōmandement of the Apostles Synods wee celebrate the day of the Martyrdom of S. Stephen and of other Martyrs We he bound also by the institution of the Apostles to sollemnize two dayes to wit the Sabbath and the Lords day in which daies it is not lawfull for vs to do any manner of businesse no not the least trifle The Sabbath day we obserue for this cause for that God hauing perfected the Creation of the world rested vpon that day which day as it was his will it should be called the Holy of Holies so if that day should not be reuerenced