desired him to thinke of deliuering the Holy Land out of the hands of the Pagans wherein he promised all his best endeauour and wished the King to send messengers to the Pope and to other Princes of Christendome for their assistance So Abaga hauing ordered the affaires of Turkie returned to the Kingdome of Corazen where hee had left his familie Bendecar the Soldan of Egypt after he had receiued such damage by the Tartars was poisoned died in Damascus whereof the Christians of those parts were very glad And the Saracens very sorrowfull for they had not his like after as they themselues commonly reported For his sonne called Melechahic succeeded him who was soone driuen out of his Dominion by one called Elsi who violently vsurping made himselfe Soldan 36. The time appointed being come when Abaga was to begin his warre against the Soldan of Egypt hee appointed his brother Mangodanior to goe to the Kingdome of Syria with thirtie thousand men being Tartars and couragiously to ouercome the Soldan if he came in battell against him or otherwise to take in the Castles and Holds of the Countrey and deliuer them to the Christians if the Soldan should shun the fight When Mangodanior with his Armie setting forward was come neere the Confines of Armenia hee sent for the King of Armenia who came presently vnto him with a goodly companie of Horse so that they entred the Kingdome of Syria and went spoyling and forraging till they came to the Citie Aman now called Camella which is seated in the midst of Syria Before this Citie lieth a faire great Playne where the Soldan of Egypt had assembled his Power intending to fight with the Tartarians And there the Saracen on the one side with the Christians and Tartars on the other side fought a great battell The King of Armenia with the Christians ruled and commanded the right wing of the Armie which inuaded the Soldans left wing manfully and put them to flight and pursued them three dayes iourney euen to the Citie Aman. Another part of the Soldans Armie was also routed by Amalech a Tartarian Captaine who pursued them also three dayes iourney to a Citie called Turara When they thought the Soldans Power vtterly ouerthrowne Mangodanior who neuer had seene the conflicts of warre before being afraid without any reasonable cause of certaine Saracens called Beduini withdrew himselfe out of the field hauing the better forsaking the King of Armenia and his Captaine which had preuayled against his enemies When the Soldan which thought he had lost all saw the field cleere and all abandoned he got vpon a little hill with foure armed men and stood there The King of Armenia returning from the pursuit and missing Mangodanior in the field was much astonied and imagining which way hee should be gone followed after him But Amalech returning from the enemies whom he had pursued abode two dayes expecting his Lord supposing that he had followed after him as he ought for the further subduing of his enemies and the Countrey which they had ouercome till at last hauing heard of his retrait leauing his victorie hee made speed after him whom hee found on the banke of the Riuer Euphrates staying for him And then the Tartars returned to their owne Prouince But the King of Armenia sustained much losse and hard aduenture in his returne for the Horses of the Christians of the Kingdome of Armenia were so wearied and spent with the length of the way and want of Fodder that they were not able to trauell so that the Christians going scatteringly by vnvsuall wayes were often found out and slayne without mercy by the Saracens inhabiting those parts Insomuch that the greatest part of the Armie was lost and in a manner all the Nobility And this misaduenture of Mangodanior happened in the yeere of our Lord 1282. When Abaga vnderstood the successe hereof he assembled all his people and when hee was readie to set forward with all his power against the Saracens a certaine Saracen the sonne of the Deuill came to the Kingdome of Persia and preuayled by giuing great gifts to sâ—me that serued neere about Abaga in such sort that both he and his brother Mangodanior were poysoned both in one day and died both within eight dayes after The trueth whereof was afterwards disclosed by the mischieuous Malefactors themselues And so died Abaga Can in the yeere of our Lord 1282. 37. After the death of Abaga Can the Tartars assembled themselues and ordayned ouer them a brother of his called Tangodor who had ouergone the rest of his brethren In his youth he had receiued the Sacrament of Baptisme and was baptised by the name of Nicholas But being come to riper yeeres and keeping companie with Saracens whom hee loued hee became a wicked Saracen and renouncing Christian Religion would be called Mahomet Can and laboured by all meanes to turne all the Tartarians to that irreligious Sect of Mahomet the sonne of Iniquitie in such sort that those that hee could not compell by violence hee aâ—lured by preferments and rewards insomuch that in his time many of the Tartarians became professed Saracens as at this day appeareth This Child of perdition commanded the Churches of the Christians to be destroyed and forbade them to vse any of their religious Rites or Ceremonies Hee caused the doctrine of Mahomet to bee publikely preached the Christians to bee banished and their Churches in the Citie of Tauris vtterly to bee destroyed Hee sent Messengers also to the Soldan of Egypt and concluded a Peace and a League with him promising that all the Christians within his Dominion should become Saracens or else lose their heads which gaue the Saracens cause of much reioycing and made the Christians very sad Hee sent moreouer to the King of Armenia in Georgia and to the other Christian Princes of those parts to come vnto him without delay But they resolued rather to die in battell then to obey his commandement for other remedie they could finde none And the Christians being now in such anguish and bitternesse of heart that they rather desired to die then to liue euen God which neuer refuseth them that put their trust in him sent consolation to them all For a Brother of this Mahomet with a Nephew of his also called Argon opposing themselues and rebelling against him for his euill deeds did signifie to Cobila Can the great Emperour of the Tartarians how he had forsaken the steps of his Ancestors and was become a wicked Saracen labouring with all his might to bring the rest of Tartars to be Saracens also Which when Cobila Can vnderstood he was much displeased thereat insomuch that he sent and required Mahomet to reforme his euill wayes for otherwise he would proceed against him Which message replenished him with wrath and indignation insomuch that he being perswaded there was none that durst gainsay his proceedings but his Brother and his Nephew
Mosco shall not be suffered to passe further that if Iohn Merricke with his fellowes and seruants doe not goe for England but after their Market is ended doe purpose to come backe againe to Mosco that then at the Castle of Archangell Timophey Matphewich Lazaroue and our Secretarie Rohmaneeu Voronaue as also at all other our Castels and Cities our Generals Secretaries and all other our Officers shall let passe the English Merchant Iohn Merricke with his fellowes and seruants without all stay or hinderance and as for custome of them their goods or their seruants there shall not be any taken And after the Reading of this our Letter and Passe you shall keepe the Copie of it by you but this you shall deliuer backe againe to the said Iohn and his companie Written at our Campe at Molodone the yeare from the beginning of the World 7113. the eighteenth of Iune The last of Iuly 1605. at Archangell The Copie of the translation of a Commission that was sent from the Mosko from the Emperour DEMETRY EVANOWICH alias GRYSHCA OTREAPYOVE by a Courtier named GAVARYLA SAMOYLOWICH SALMANOVE who was sent downe to the Castle of Archangell to Sir THOMAS SMITH then Lord Embassadour as followeth THe great Lord Emperour and great Duke Demetry Euanowich of all Russia hath commanded Gauareela Samoylowich Salmanoue to goe to Vologda and from Vologda to the new Castle of Archangell or wheresoeuer he shall ouertake the English Ambassadour Sir Thomas Smith Also when he hath ouertooke the Ambassadour then Gauareele shall send the Ambassadour his Interpreter Richard Finch willing him to certifie vnto the Ambassadour that the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Demetry Euanowich sole commander of Russia hath sent vnto him one of his Courtiers in regard of his Maiesties affaires and after some two houres respite Gauareela himselfe shall ride to the Ambassadour and deliuer vnto him his Maiesties speeches as followeth THe great Lord Emperour and great Duke Demetry Euanowich of all Russia and of many Kingdomes Lord and commander Hath commanded thee Thomas the English Ambassadour to certifie vnto Iames King of England Scotland France and Ireland that by the iust iudgement of God and his strange power we are come and succeeded into the place of our Father and predecessours as also we are come to the throne of the great and famous Kingdome of Vlodemer Mosco and to the Empire of Cazan Astaracan and Siberia and of all the Kingdomes of the Empire of Russia being an Empire belonging to the great Lords Emperours and great Dukes of all Russia Moreouer we calling to memorie the sending loue and amitie betwixt our Father the great Lord and Emperour and great Duke Euan Vasilywich of all Russia of famous memorie as also our Brother the great Lord and Emperour and great Duke Feoder Euanowich of all Russia sole commander with their sister Elizabeth Queene of England in the like manner doe we purpose to haue sendings and to be in loue with your Lord King Iames and more then hath bin in former time And in token of our said loue and amitie we doe intend to fauour all his subiects in our Land and to giue vnto them freer libertie then they haue had heretofore and you his Ambassadour we haue commanded to dispatch without all delay or hindrance Therefore we would haue you to make knowne vnto your Lord King Iames our Maiesties loue And as soone as God shall grant the time of our Coronation to be finished and that we are crowned with the Emperiall crowne of our predecessours according to our manner and worthinesse then we the great Lord Emperor and great Duke Demeetry Euanowich of all Russia sole Commander will send our messenger to salute each other according to the former manner And concerning those Letters which were sent by you from Borris Godenoue we would haue you deliuer them backe againe to our Courtier Gauareela and after the deliuerie of our speeches to returne him to the Emperour vnder written by the Chancellour Ofanasy Euanowich Vlaseou The Copie of the Translation of a new Priuiledge that was giuen to the Company by the Emperour DEMEETRY EVANOWICH otherwise called GRYSHCA OTREAPYOVE the which Priuiledge was sent into England ouer-land by OLYVER LYSSET Marchant and seruant to the foresaid Company GOD the Trenitie before and without the beginning the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost establish vs to hold and keepe our Scepter and Realme for the good of our Land and the happinesse of our people Wee the resplendant and manifest and not the miserable vpholder but sole commander the great Duke Demetry Euanowich by the mercy of God Casar and great Duke of Russia and of all the Empire of Tartaria and many other Kingdomes as also of the great Monarchie of Mosco Lord Emperour and Commander Haue bestowed and gratified vnto the English Merchants viz. Sir Thomas Smith Knight Sir Iohn Spencer Knight Sir Humfrey Wild Knight Robert Doue Robert Chamberline William Garaway Iohn Haruey Richard Stapers Iohn Merricke Richard Wryght Richard Cocks Thomas Farrington Richard Wych George Bowles Bartholomew Barnes Richard Bowldra Iohn Casten Edward Chery Thomas the sonne of Alexander alias Hicks we haue giuen them free liberty to come with their ships into our Realme and Dominion and to the Country of Dwina to the Castle of Archangel and to Colmogro with all maner of commodities and to trade freely as also to come from the sea side by land or by water to our great dominion and Caesars City of Mosco great Nouogrod and Vobsko and all other cities within our dominions to trade with all manner of commodities in the same forme and manner as heretofore was bestowed on the English Merchants in the time of our father of famous memory the great Lord and Caesar and great Duke Euan Vassilywich of all Russia sole Commander and as was granted vnto them in the time of our Brother the great Duke Theodor Euanowich of all Russia sole Commander And as for custome of their goods or for passing by as also for the custome of their boates or for Head-money or for going ouer bridges or Ferryes or for entrie of goods As also all manner of Custome whatsoeuer we command shall not bee taken of them Also the English Merchants shall not bring nor sell other mens goods in our Dominion as their owne neither shall our Subiects buy or sell or traffique for Also our Subiects pawnes they shall not keep by them nor send others about the Cities to buy goods but what Cities they come into themselues they shall trafficke and sell their owne commodities and buy Russe commodities freely And when they come into our Dominion of great Nouogrod and Vobsko or to any other Cities within our Realme to trafficke with their goods and that after the market is past they shall bee desirous to passe for Mosco or for England then our Gentlemen and Gouernours and all people shall according to this our Caesars Letter let them passe without delay
vnder his firme to the Palatine Sendamersko as also hath beene auouched by one Bewcheesko principall Secretary vnto the said Demetry before all the Nobilitie of Russia that this said writing was written by the Generall his owne hand as followeth Wee Demetry Euanowich by the mercy of God Prince of all Russia of Owgleets Demetryuskoy and Lord of all the Empire of Mosco and being of the stocke of Preatroue Calling to memorie our former life being not in that forme and manner as is in other great Monarchies as was in the time of our Predecessours and other Christian people Neuerthelesse by the prouidence of God almightie from whom proceedeth a beginning and an end and from whom commeth life and death We haue by him espied and made choise vnto our selfe with good liking in the time of our being in the Kingdome of Poland of a Companion of great and honorable birth and of godly education and is such a companion with whom we shall by the mercie of God liue peaceably which is the resplendent and Noble Lady Marina daughter to the great Palatine Sendemersko And vpon this occasion haue taken him for our Father and hauing requested of him to giue vnto vs his Daughter Maryna in mariage and in regard that wee are not yet in our owne Kingdome therefore doe we purpose hereafter to take order for her comming vnto vs with the Generall Sendamersko Likewise when I doe câ—me to liue in my owne Kingdome then shall the Palatine Sendamersko remember his faithfull and true promise with his Daughter the Lady Maryna her vow my selfe remembring my owne vow and so both of vs to hold it faithfully with loue and affection and to that end doe we binde our selues by our writings Likewise first and principally in the name of the holy Trinitie I doe giue my faithfull and true princely promise that I will take in marriage the Lady Maryna If on the contrary I doe not then I wish that I might giue this as a curse vpon my selfe also so soone as I shall make entrance into our Kingdome and heritage of Mosco then will I giue the Palatine the Lord her Father a reward of tenne thousand peeces of Polish gold And to the Lady Maryna our wife in consideration of her great and long Iourney as also for the prouiding and furnishing of her selfe I will giue out of my Treasure Veluets wrought with Siluer and Gold And the Messengers that shall be sent to me from the Lord her Father or from the Lady her selfe I shall not hold or keepe but shall let them passe and will reward them with gifts which shall be a token of our Princely fauour and thereunto doe we giue this our Princely promise Secondly as soone as we shall come to the Imperiall throne of our Father then presently will we send our Embassadour to the resplendant King of Poland to certifie vnto him as also to intreate him to take knowledge of this businesse now passed betwixt vs. and withall that he would be pleased to suffer vs to conclude and effect this our said businesse without losse or hindrance Also vnto the forenamed Lady Maryna our wife we giue two Lordships viz. Nouogrod the great and Vobsko with all the Prouinces belonging to the same with Counsellors Gentlemen and Yeoman and Priests fitting for a Congregation to rule and gouerne freely with full authority in the same forme and manner as if we ruled And my selfe to haue no more right or title nor authoritie in the said two Cities of Nouogrod and Vobsko and thereunto doe I binde my selfe with this writing and doe wholly giue and bestow all on the said Lady Maryna that is contained in this writing as soone as by Gods helpe we shall be maried together and thereunto haue giuen this our writing sealed with our princely Seale But if by chance our wife hath not by vs any children then in those two Lordships before specified shee shall place men in authoritie of her owne to gouerne and to doe Iustice and also it shall be free for the said men in authoritie to giue Lands and Inheritance to their owne Souldiers and to trade freely at pleasure as shall be best liking to them and as though it were in their owne true and lawfull dominion and to build Monasteries and to set vp the Romish Religion and to haue Latine or Romish Priests and Schooles But she her selfe to abide and remaine with vs. And concerning her Priest to haue as many as shall be needefull to be kept for her owne godly Romish Religion without all leâ— or hindrance and as wee our selfe by the mercy of God are already inclined to the same so will wee likewise with earnest care seeke by all meanes to bring all the Kingdome of Mosco to the knowledge of the Romish Religion and to set vp the Church of Rome Also if God should not grant vnto vs good successe whereby this be performed within a yeare then it shall be at the pleasure of our Father to separate mee and his daughter Maryna But if it please him to forbeare till another yeare then doe I passe this my Bill with my owne hand writing and thereunto I haue sworne my selfe and giuen a vow according to the holy order and all in this Bill to hold and keepe carefully as also that I shall bring all the Russe people to the Latine Religion Written at Sambore the fiue and twentieth of May in Anno 1604. Vnderneath was his firme to all this foresaid as appeareth Prince Demetry of Owglets NOw let vs returne with Thuanus into Poland where with his Historical eies we see this glorious Spouse her Father Vncle trayne of women accompanying the Russian Embassador in his returne whom many Merchants out of Italie and Germanie followed in hope of gaine In this lingring journey they continued from the end of Ianuary to the sixe and twentieth of Aprill before they entred Mosco And the seuenth day after Peter Basman with a great troupe of Courtiers and Nobles attended the Spouse to the Court where shee was solemnely entertayned by her Husband and thence conueighed to the Monasterie where his Mother abode The fourth day after all things being prepared shee was brought into the Palace and the next day married to him by the Patriarch after Euening Prayer Both of them also solemnely crowned returned with sound of Musick and Ordnance into the Castle and the night passed with great Iubilee Demetrius his mind being filled notwithstanding with cares For a conspiracie which had beene hatching sixe moneths now growing to ripenesse terrified him against which hee had armed himselfe with forreigne aides At first hee had brought a guard of Germanes out of Poland which being without example of his Predecessors and seeing it disliked of his subjects hee dismissed together with all forren Souldiers They being thus sent away without pay returned with the casheered Polanders to the borders where they committed many out rages to the greater discontent
hee gaue the command of his Guard consisting of strangers to Captayne Gilbert a Scot to haue made one Buchenskoy a Learned and Religious Protestant his Secretarie and otherwise to haue beene so alienated from Russian manners and so well affected to Strangers that they conspired as aforesaid The people are said to haue entred the Castle which was a quadrant hauing a high bricke wall of seuen stories and another of stone and a Market place with stones in their pockets which are rare thereabouts and some with weapons Some report from Captayne Gilberts Relation that lying on his bed not long before his death as hee thought awake an aged man came to him which sight caused him to arise and come to Captayne Gilbert and his guard that watched but none of them had seene any thing Hereupon he returned to his Bed but within an houre after he againe troubled with like apparition called and sent for Buchinskie telling him that he had now twice seene an aged man who at the second comming told him that though for his owne person he was a good Prince yet the injustice and oppressions of his inferiour Ministers must bee punished and his Empire should bee taken from him In this perplexitie his Secretarie gaue him good and holy counsell saying till true Religion were there planted his Officers would bee lewd the people oppressed and God Almightie offended who perhaps by that Dreame or Vision had admonished him of his dutie The Emperour seemed much moued and to intend that good which that Countrey was not so happy to receiue For a few dayes after as that Relation auerreth his Russe Secretarie came to him with a Sword at which the Emperour jested and hee suddenly after sawcie speeches assaulted him with many other Grandes of that Conspiracie and like another Caesar slue him crying Libertie before his guards could apprehend the danger of which some were slaine but the most with Gilbert their Captayne got to a place called Coluga which with the helpe of some Russes they fortified and held for their defence Buchinskie the Secretarie was taken and imprisoned the strangers murthered the English except who haue in all changes been well beloued of the Russians as indeed they deserue hauing alway done good seruice to the Emperours And their interest saued the life of that worthy man Buchinskey which they requited with much obseruance to the succeeding Emperour Suiskey who comes next to be spoken of and first you shall haue his Letter to our Gracious Souereigne §. IIII. SVISKEY the Successour his Letter to our King describing the former DEMETRIVS his Acts and Tragedie The Copie of the Translation of a Letter sent from the new Emperour Vassily Euanowich Shoskey to the Kings Maiestie by Master Iohn Mericke The loue and mercie of God that guideth vs in the wayes of peace we glorifie with the Trinitie FRom the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Vassily Euanowich of all Russia sole Commander of Voladomer Mosko Nouogrod King of Cazan and Astracan of Syberia Lord of Vobsko and great Duke of Smolensko Twerskoy Yauharskoy Pearmskoy Vatskoy Bollharskoy and of other Lord and great Duke of Nouogroda of the Low Countrey of Cherneego Rezanskoy Polotskoy Rostouskoy Yereslaueskoy Bealozerskoy Leeflanskoy Owdorskoy Obdorskoy Condinskoy and Commander of all the North parts also Lord of the Land of Eeuerskoy Cartalinskoy and ouer the Empire of the Gorgians of the Land of Cabardinskoy and Eeharskoy Land likewise of many other Lordships Lord and Commander To our beloued Brother Iames King of England Scotland France and Ireland Wee giue to vnderstand that Sigismund King of Poland and great Duke of Letto in Anno 7109. did send vnto the late Emperour Boris his Embassadour named Lewis Sapeago being Chancelor of the great Dukedome of Poland requesting the said Emperour Boris that the former league and peace made and concluded vpon by the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Theodore Euanowich of all Russia and him Sigismond King of Poland might be stedfastly holden and continued till the time of that league were expired As also that the Emperour Boris would inlarge the said league for thirtie yeeres more whereupon the Emperour Boris yeelded thus farre vnto the request of the King of Poland that hee would continue the old league till the full time were expired and assent to a new league for twentie yeeres more and to that effect he tooke an Oath to hold and keepe all the contents faithfully mentioned in the said Writing touching the same league and instead of the King of Poland his Embassadour Lewis Sapeagoe was sworne in the presence of the Emperour Boris And after the Polish Embassadour was departed from the Mosko the Emperour Boris sent vnto Sigismund King of Poland his Embassadour being one of the Priuie Councell called Michailo Zleabowich Sallteecoue with some others to end and finish the aforesaid league to the which league the King of Poland himselfe was sworne in the presence of the Emperours Embassadour to hold and keepe the said league faithfully according to the tenour of their Writing But not long after Sigismund King of Poland with one Pauarade entred into such a practise as be therein falsified his Oath and made way to the shedding of much Christian bloud First by retayning and vpholding one Gryshca Otreapyoue a Runnagate a Coniurer and one that left his profession being a Monke and ran away out of Russia into Poland and being come thither tooke vpon him to be the Son of the great Emperour Euan Vassilawich of famous memorie and by name Demetry Euanowich when as it was well knowne in our Kingdome that before he was shorne a Monke he was commonly called Yowshco Son to one Bowghdan Otreapyoue dwelling at a place called Galitts and when hee had committed much villanie to saue his life he shoare himselfe a Frier and so runne from one Monasterie to another and lastly came into a Monasterie called Chowdo where hee was made one of the Clearkes being so placed there by the Patriarke of Mosko himselfe But he did not leaue off his former life for he continued still in his most Deuillish actions as he did before he was shorne committing villany forsaking God and falling to the studie of the Blacke Arte and to many such like euils he was inclined Also there was found by him a Writing which shewed how he was falne from God and the same was made well knowne to the holy Patriarch of Mosko and of all Russia and to the Metropolitanes Archbishops and Bishops and to all the holy Cleargie whereupon the said Rulers of our true Christian Faith which is from the Grecian Law for these his most vngodly works consulted to send him to perpetuall Prison there to end his life Whereupon this notorious Instrument of Satan perceiuing this his ouerthrow and that his vile practises were discouered ran away out of the Kingdome of Mosko beyond the borders and into Letto to a place
simpathy one with another for that the hot exhalations which engender in the inner concauities of the Earth seeme to be the materiall substance of fire in the Volcans whereby there kindleth another more grosse matter and makes these shewes of flame and smoake that come forth And these exhalations finding no easie issue in the Earth moue it to issue forth with great violence whereby wee heare that horrible noise vnder the Earth and likewise the shaking of the Earth being stirred with this burning exhalation Euen as Gun-powlder in mynes hauing fire put to it breaks Rocks and Walls and as the Chesnut laid into the fire leapes and breakes with a noise when as it casts forth the aire which is contayned within the huske by the force of the fire Euen so these Earthquakes doe most commonly happen in places neere the water or Sea As wee see in Europe and at the Indies that Townes and Cities farthest from the Sea and waters are least afflicted therewith and contrariwise those that are seated vpon Ports of the Sea vpon Riuers the Sea coast and places neere vnto them feele most this calamitie There hath happened in Peru the which is wonderfull and worthy to be noted Earthquakes which haue runne from Chille vnto Quitto and that is aboue a hundred leagues I say the greatest that euer I heard speake of for lesser be more common there Vpon the coast of Chille I remember not well in what yeere there was so terrible an Earthquake as it ouer-turned whole Mountaines and thereby stopped the course of Riuers which it conuerted into Lakes it beat downe Townes and slue a great number of people causing the Sea to leaue her place some leagues so as the ships remayned on drie ground farre from the ordinarie Roade with many other heauie and horrible things And as I well remember they say this trouble and motion caused by the Earthquake ranne three hundred leagues alongst the Coast. Soone after which was in the yeere eightie two happened that earthquake of Arequipa which in a manner ouer-threw the whole Citie Since in the yeere eightie sixe the ninth of Iuly fell another earthquake in the Citie of Kings the which as the Vice-roy did write had runne one hundred threescore and ten leagues alongst the Coast and ouerthwart in the Sierre fiftie leagues The mercy of the Lord was great in this Earthquake to forewarne the people by a great noise which they heard a little before the Earthquake who taught by former experiences presently put themselues in safetie leauing their Houses Streets and Gardens to goe into the fields so as although it ruined a great part of the Citie and of the chiefest buildings yet there died not aboue fifteene or twentie persons of all the Inhabitants It caused the like trouble and motion at Sea as it had done at Chille which happened presently after the Earthquake so as they might see the Sea furiously to flie out of her bounds and to runne neere two leagues into the Land rising aboue fourteene fathom it couered all that Playne so as the Ditches and pieces of wood that were there swam in the water There was yet another earthquake in the Realme and Citie of Quitto and it seemes all these notable Earthquakes vpon that Coast haue succeeded one another by order as in truth it is subiect to these inconueniences And therefore although vpon the coast of Peru there be no torments from Heauen as thunder and lightning yet are they not without feare vpon the Land and so euery one hath before his eyes the Heralds of diuine Iustice to mooue him to feare God For as the Scripture saith Fâ—cit haec vt timeatur Returning then to our purpose I say the Sea coast is most subiect to these earthquakes the reason is in my iudgement for that the water doth stop the conduits and passages of the earth by which the hot exhalations should passe which are engendered there And also the humiditie thickning the superficies of the earth doth cause the fumes and hot exhalations to goe close together and encounter violently in the bowels of the earth which doe afterwards breake foorth Some haue obserued that such Earthquakes haue vsually hapned when as a raynie season falls after some drie yeeres Whereupon they say that the Earthquakes are most rare where are most Wells the which is approued by experience Those of the Citie of Mexico hold opinion that the Lake whereon it is seated is the cause of the Earthquakes that happen there although they be not very violent and it is most certaine that the Townes and Prouinces farre within the Land and farthest from the Sea receiue sometimes great losses by these Earthquakes as the Citie of Chachapoyas at the Indies and in Italie that of Ferrara although vpon this subiect It seemes this latter being neere to a Riuer and not farre from the Adriaticke Sea should rather be numbred among the Sea-townes In the yeere of our Lord 1581. in Cugianâ— a Citie of Peru otherwise called The Peace there happened a strange accident touching this subiect A Village called Angoango where many Indians dwelt that were Sorcerers and Idolaters fell suddenly to ruine so as a great part thereof was raysed vp and carried away and many of the Indians smothered and that which seemes incredible yet testified by men of credit the earth that was ruined and so beaten downe did runne and slide vpon the Land for the space of a league and a halfe as it had beene water or waxe molten so as it stopt and filled vp a Lake and remayned so spread ouer the whole Countrie §. IIII. Of Metals in the Indies and especially of the Gold and Siluer and Quick-siluer MEtals are as Plants hidden and buried in the bowels of the Earth which haue some conformitie in themselues in the forme and manner of their production for that we see and discouer euen in them branches and as it were a bodie from whence they grow and proceede which are the greater veines and the lesse so as they haue a knitting in themselues and it seemes properly that these Minerals grow like vnto Plants not that they haue any inward vegetatiue life being onely proper to Plants but they are engendered in the bowels of the earth by the vertue and force of the Sunne and other Planets and in long continuance of time they increase and multiply after the manner of Plants And euen as metals bee plants hidden in the earth so wee may say that plants bee liuing Creatures fixed in one place whose life is maintayned by the nourishment which Nature furnisheth from their first beginning But liuing Creatures surpasse Plants in that they haue a more perfect being and therefore haue neede of a more perfect foode and nourishment for the search whereof Nature hath giuen them a moouing and feeling to discouer and discerne it So as the rough and barren earth is as a substance and nutriment for metals and
vs more speedily and came all discontent to a Village called Susoquerim and there prouided our selues of victuall and instruction and entred into a straight called Xalingau in which wee ranne in nine dayes one hundred and fortie leagues and turning to enter the same Bay of Nanquim which was there ten or twelue leagues wide wee sayled with Westerly windes thirteene dayes and being in the sight of the Mines of Conxinacau in 41. degrees and two thirds there a Tufan or tempest from the South tooke vs with windes and raines seeming more then naturall and the winde chopped into the North North-west the Sea going so high that except our prouisions and Chests of plate we threw all into the Sea cut both our masts ouer-board and about midnight heard a great cry in the Panura of Antonia de Faria Mercy Lord God whereby wee imagined shee was cast away we seconded the same cry but heard no answer Our Barke also the next day split on a Rocke and of fiue and twentie Portugals eleuen were drowned besides eighteene Christian boyes and seuen China Mariners This hapned the fifth of August 1542. Wee fourteene which escaped the next day trauelled into the Land alongst a Hill and discouered a Lake without shew of Land which made vs returne backe where wee found our men cast on shoare to the renewing of our sorrow and the next day buried them that the Tigres of which there are many should not eate them In this hauing nothing but our hands to doe it and they thirtie sixe now stinking wee spent the most part of the day Thence wee went Northward thorow the Woods three dayes till wee came at a straight without sight of any person In swimming ouer three men and a boy were drowned being faint the current strong and the water somewhat spacious the men were two brethren Belchior and Gaspar Barbosa and Francisco Borges Cayciro all of Ponte de Lima and of good account Wee which remayned eleuen men and three boyes passing that obscure nights winds raines and cold imitated by our disconsolate sighs teares and feares saw before day a fire Eastward and went right towards it commending our selues to God our only hope And trauelling along the Riuer wee came in the euening where fiue men were making Coles and casting our selues at their feet desired them to take pitie on vs and helpe vs to some place where wee might finde reliefe They gaue vs a little Rice and warme water and shewed vs the way to a Village where was an Hospitall to which wee came an houre within night and found there foure men appointed to that charge which vsed vs charitably The next day they asked what wee were and whence and wee told them strangers of Siam which came from the Port of Liampoo to the fishing at Nanquim where by tempest we lost all but our battered flesh They asked what wee intended to doe and wee answered to goe to Nanquim to get passage to Cantan or Comhay where our Countrey-men haue trade by licence of the Aitao of Paquim vnder the shadow of The Sonne of the Sunne the Lion crowned in the Throne of the World for whose sake we desired them to let vs stay there till we had recouered strength to trauell and to giue vs some clothing to couer vs. They carried vs about the Village and begged some old clothes and victuals and two Taeis in money for our reliefe and gaue vs two Taeis of the House and with words of much comfort to trust in God they gaue vs a Letter of commendation to the Hospitall of Siley iacau which was in a great Towne three leagues thence and had better maintenance Thither we went and shewed our Letter from the Ouerseers of Buatendoo in the said Village of Catihoraâ— to the Officers of this house which sate then at Table in consultation and the Scribe reading the Letter they accommodated vs in a neat roome with fourteene Beds a Table and many Stooles and Meate and next morning examined vs wee answering as before They gaue charge to a Physician to cure vs and wrote our names in a Booke to which we subscribed In eighteene dayes wee all recouered and went thence to a place called Susoanganee fiue leagues off and sate downe wearie at a Well where one came to vs with a handful of Wheat eares which he wetted in the water and adjured vs holding the same in our hands by these substances of bread and water which the high Creator had made for the sustenance of man to tell the truth what we were c. which we did answering as before and he gaue leaue to his neighbours to relieue vs. They layde vs in a Church Porch and gaue vs victuals and the next day we begged from doore to doore foure Taeis which well helped our wants Thence we went two leagues to Xiangulee with intent to goe to Nanquim one hundred and fortie leagues distant Comming thither late three boyes which were feeding Cattell ranne into the Towne with an out-crie of Theeues the people running out and so welcomming vs that one of the boyes died with the blowes They kept vs two dayes in a Cisterne of water vp to the waste full of Hors-leaches without victuals and our hands bound whence by a man of Suzanganee wee were freed reporting better things of vs. Thence wee went to Fingmilan in the way finding good reliefe at a Gentlemans house still auoyding Cities and Townes of note for feare of stricter iustice two moneths holding on our way sometime in sometimes out from Village to Village one of which was Chautir where a woman was then buried which had made the Idoll her Heire and we were inuited as poore men to eate at her Graue and had sixe Taeis giuen vs to pray for her soule At Taypor an Offâ—cer charged vs to be Rogues begging against the Law and therefore layed vs in Prison where we continued sixe and twentie dayes in which Rodrigues Brauo one of our companie died Thence wee were sent to Nanquim and there continued sixe weekes in a miserable Prison in which was said to be foure thousand Prisoners where two of our companie and a boy died of the whipping and the rest hardly escaped being besides sentenced also to haue our thumbs cut off as theeues After this bloudy whipping they brought vs to a house within the Prison where wee were cured being as it were an Hospitall for the sicke where in eleuen dayes wee were pretily well recouered but lamenting the cutting off our thumbes according to the rigour of the Sentence which had beene giuen one morning came in two honourable persons which were Procurers of the poore These questioned vs of our case and hearing the same made a Petition to the Chaem on our behalfe and the eight Conchacis which are as it were Criminall Iudges and being there delayed they made another Petition to another Table called Xinfau nicor pitau where are foure
the left hand an Arab Dagger on the right the other part of their habite Iaponian The pompe of all sorts and the Ordnance attended them to the Vatican there the Italian Garrison and Heluetian Guard with their Peeces and military Musicke receiued them Then were they lead into the Hall and after all things there finished the Legates carried the Popes traine at his departure And on the fiue and twentieth day festiuall for the Annuntiation the Pope going on solemne Procession these Legates rode in the last place What should I say more sayth our Authour it cannot be told how all magnifie the mercy of God which brings farre more at this time from the East and West to the Catholike Church then the Deuill hath seduced in the North. These Iaponian Lords returned into India 1586. as Valignanus writeth and were much endangered by a tempest Their returne into Iapon is signified by the Letters of Michael to the Archbishop of Ebora testifying their arriuall the one and twentieth of Iuly 1590. at Nangasach with the said Valignanus and by the Letter of Don Sancius Sonne and Successour to Bartholmew Prince of Omur to Pope Xistus the fifth with thankes for the wood of the Crosse and the Sword sent his Father which should be kept amongst his principall Iewels Protasius also the King of Arima wrote to the Great and most holy Pope Xistus or Sixtus in this manner On the sixteenth of the sixth Moone which was the one and twentieth of Iuly 1690. heere arriued the Father Visitour of the Societie of Iesus with Cingiua Don Michael my kins-man Don Mancius and other companions which I had sent to Rome to put their heads vnder your Holinesse feet Whose comming did as much reioyce me as if a thousand Autumnes had comne to me and ten thousand yeeres had beene added to my life Don Michael related with what honour and fauour hee was entertayned of your Holinesse of King Philip and other Catholike Princes for which I render those thankes which Pen and Paper cannot expresse He deliuered me Letters also which your Holinesse vouchsafed mee fauourably reckoning mee amongst the Christian Kings Hee brought me also part of the holy Wood of the true Crosse a Hat and a Sword which your Holinesse is wont to send to Christian Kings and Princes Which fauour and studies are such and so esteemed of mee that I haue determined to consecrate them to eternall memory and to place them amongst my chiefe Treasures and the Ornaments and Monuments of my posteritie And this honour conferred on mee is such that greater cannot be in this life and it redounds vnto a future good life I had determined according to the order prescribed of your H. in his Letters and as the fauour and so great benefits bestowed on mee deserued to haue receiued the said Presents with all the celebritie and pompe that might be in my Kingdome but the Father Visitour shewed mee that respect was to be had of the tyrannie and great hatred wherewith Quabacondono the Lord of all Iapon persecuteth the Fathers and Christians these three yeeres together and this feast to be deferred till he returneth from Meaco whither hee is going in Embassage from the Vice-roy of India to Quabacondono c. The ninth yeere of the Era called Tenscio the tenth of the eighth Moone which is the two and twentieth of September An. 1590. At your Highnesse feet Arimano Sciurino Daibu Don Protasius This Quabacondono as L. Froes writeth was now growne the greatest Monarch that euer Iapon had hauing ascended thereunto from a base estate which was as hee hath diuers times with his owne mouth confessed to cut wood and to carrie it to the Market to sell for his daily food Nobunanga his Predecessor had growne to great height such as many ages had not there seene In Frenoiama eight hundred yeeres before a King of Iapon had builded 3800. Temples with houses adioyned for the Bonziâ— which employed themselues in the studie of the Lawes and Sects for whose quietnesse he remoued the Husbandmen and builded them two streets allowing to their maintenance about the third part of the Customes or Rents of the Vomen Kingdome Thus became it a fountaine of their superstitions In time those Temples dispersed in sixteene Vallies were lessened to 800. and the Bonzian discipline and studies melted into pleasures hardned into Armes and ranged into robberies so that they fired Meaco with great slaughter and opposed Nobunanga who hauing destroyed the Militarie Bonzi called â—coxos and taken away their Castles inuaded Frenoiama professing he feared not their Gods On the top of a Hill was the Temple of Quanon to whom prayers and pilgrimages were made for health wealth and long life and yeerely solemnities and Playes with huge pompe and cost were made in his honour to which the Gibon feast at Meaco succeeded with frequency of men deuices of work-men and such order that it may appeare that Satan there imitates the anniuersary solemnitie of Corpus Christi amongst vs. Thither the Bonzi had gotten but it and they and their streets were destroyed and foure hundred Temples with their furniture burned At Facusangin also were a thousand houses of the Bonzi by themselues besides Monasteries which he destroyed Xinguea the King of Cainochun had forced his Father to exile and imprisoned his elder Brother and then seized on the Kingdome after which he shaued his beard and haire and became a Bonzo and would needs repaire Frenoiama and stiling himselfe Chiefe in the house of the Kings and of Religions gathered an Armie Nabunanga wrote to him calling himselfe Tamer of Deuils and enemie of Sects Hee proceeded first against the Bonzi with these terrours and after would needs himselfe be worshipped but eighteene dayes after in a conspiracy of his owne against him he was slaine and his dispersed Quabacondono succeeded and in greatnesse of attempts and ambition exceeded This Quabacondono is a title which Faxiba assumed and is as much as Treasurer These titles are giuen by the Vo or Dairi descended of the ancient Kings and now enioying a strange Empire which is to giue titles of honour for which all great men haue their Factors with him and is esteemed as a God not suffered to tread on the ground that were deposition nor often seene and gets much treasure out of those Titles which he so often changeth that the King of Bungo was by the Iesuites obserued foure and thirty times to haue altered his appellations There is a high Priest who with Papall power authorizeth Sects confirmeth and consecrateth the Tundi or Bishops which are nominated by the Kings and enioyeth Royall reuenues The Quingue is the third person and hath power ouer Iudgements and Warres But the Lords of Tensa that is such as haue power to get into their hands Meaco and the Region adioyning are really chiefe Lords and command the State though in seeming ceremonie as the Turkes to
pretended by him was charged by a woman that was familiar with him beeing then fallen out that he halted but in the day time and could leape merrily when hee came home at night And that he had intended this matter sixe yeeres before Now hee is put into a Monastery and there rayleth vpon the Friers that hired him to haue this counterfeit Miracle practised vpon him Besides this disgrace a little before my comming from thence there were eight slaine with in his Church by fire in a Thunder Which caused his Bels that were tingling before all day and night long as in triumph of the Miracles wrought by Basileo their Saint to ring somewhat softlier and hath wrought no little discredit to this Miracle-worker There was another of great account at Plesko called Nichola of Plesko that did much good when this Emperours Father came to sacke the Towne vpon suspition of their reuolting and Rebellion against him The Emperour after he had saluted the Eremite at his lodging sent him a reward And the Holy man to requite the Emperour sent him a piece of raw Flesh being then their Lent time Which the Emperour seeing bid one to tell him that he maruelled that the Holy man would offer him flesh to eate in the Lent when it was forbidden by order of holy Church And doth Euasko which is as much to say as Iacke thinke quoth Nicola that it is vnlawfull to eate a piece of beasts flesh in Lent and not to eate vp so much mans flesh as he hath done already So threatning the Emperour with a prophecy of some hard aduenture to come vpon him except he left murdring of his people and departed the Towne he saued a great many mens liues at that time This maketh the people to like very well of them because they are as Pasquils to note their great mens faults that no man else dare speake of Yet it falleth out sometime that for this rude libertie which they take vpon them after a counterfeit manner by imiâ—ation of Prophets they are made away in secret as was one or two of them in the last Emperours time for being ouer-bold in speaking against his gouernment THeir morning Seruice they call Zautrana that is Mattins It is done in this order The Priest entreth into the Church with his Deacon following him And when he is come to the middle of the Church he beginneth to say with a loude voyce Blaslauey Vladika that is Blesse vs heauenly Pastor meaning of Christ. Then hee addeth In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost one very God in Trinitie and Aspody pomelui or Lord haue mercy vpon vs Lord haue mercy vpon vs Lord haue mercy vpon vs repeated three times This done he marcheth on towards the Chancell or Sanctum Sanctorum as they vse to call it and so entreth into the Scharsuey Dwere or the Heauenly Doore which no man may enter into but the Priest onely Where standing at the Altar or Table set neere to the vpper wall of the Chancell he sayeth the Lords Prayer and then againe Aspody pomelui or Lord haue mercy vpon vs Lord haue mercy vpon vs c. pronounced twelue times Then praised be the Trinitie the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost for euer and euer Whereto the Deacons and People say Amen Next after the Priest addeth the Psalmes for that day and beginneth with O come let vs worship and fall downe before the Lord c. and therewithall himselfe with the Deacons and People all turne themselues towards their Idols or Images that hang on the wall and crossing themselues bow downe three times knocking their heads to the very ground After this he readeth the Ten Commandements and Athanasius Creed out of the Seruice Booke This being done the Deacon that standeth without the Heauenly Doore or Chancell readeth a piece of a Legend out of a written Booke for they haue it not in Print of some Saints life miracles c. This is diuided into many parts for euery day in the yeere and is read by them with a plaine singing note not vnlike to the Popish tune when they sung their Gospels After all this which reacheth to an houre and an halfe or two houres of length he addeth certaine set Collects or Prayers vpon that which he hath read out of the Legend before and so endeth his Seruice All this while stand burning before their Idols a great many of Waxe candles whereof some are of the bignesse of a mans waste vowed or enioyned by penance vpon the people of the Parish About nine of the clocke in the morning they haue another Seruice called Obeidna or Compline much after the order of the Popish Seruice that bare that name If it be some High or Festiuall day they furnish their Seruice beside with Blessed bee the Lord God of Israel c. and Wee praise thee O God c. sung with a more solemne and curious note Their euening Seruice is called Vecherna where the Priest beginneth with Blaslauey Vladika as he did in the morning and with the Psalmes appointed for the Vecherna Which being read he singeth My soule doeth magnifie the Lord c. And then the Priest Deacons and People all with one voice sing Aspody pomelui or Lord haue mercy vpon vs thirty times together Whereunto the Boyes that are in the Church answere all with one voice rolling it vp so fast as their lips can goe Verij Verij Verij Verij or Praise Praise Praise c. thirty times together with a very strange noise Then is read by the Priest and vpon the Holidayes sung the first Psalme Blessed is the man c. And in the end of it is added Alleluia repeated ten times The next in order is some part of the Gospell ready by the Priest which hee endeth with Alleluia repeated three times And so hauing said a Collect in remembrance of the Saint of that day hee endeth his euening Seruice All this while the Priest standeth aboue at the Altar or high Table within the Chancell or Sanctum Sanctorum whence hee neuer moueth all the Seruice time The Deacon or Deacons which are many in their Cathedrall Churches stand without the Chancell by the Scharsuey Dwere or Heauenly Doore for within they may not be seene all the Seruice time though otherwise their Office is to sweepe and keepe it and to set vp the Waxe candles before their Idols The people stand together the whole Seruice time in the body of the Church and some in the Church Porch for Piew or Seat they haue none within their Churches The Sacrament of Baptisme they administer after this manner The child is brought vnto the Church and this is done within eight dayes after it is borne if it bee the child of some Nobleman it is brought with great pompe in a rich Sled or Wagon with Chaires and Cushions of cloth of Gold and such like sumptuous shew of their best
fift day we were in 65. degrees still encombred with much Ice which hung vpon the Coast of Groneland The ninth day wee were off Frobishers Streights with the winde Northerly and plyed vnto the South-westwards vntill the fifteenth day The fifteenth day we were in sight of the land in latitude 59. degrees 27. minutes which was called by Captayne Iohn Dauis Desolation and found the errour of the former laying downe of that Land and then running to the North-westward vntill the twentieth day wee found the ship in 60. degrees 42. minutes and saw much Ice and many Riplings or Ouer-fals and a strong streame setting from East South-east to West North-west The one and twentie two and twentie and three and twentie dayes with the winde variable we plyed to the North-westward in sight of much Ice into the height of 62. degrees 29. minutes The foure and twentie and fiue and twentie dayes sayling to the West-ward about mid-night wee saw Land North which was suddenly lost againe So wee ranne still to the West-ward in 62. degrees 17. minutes The fift of Iuly wee plyed vp vpon the Souther side troubled with much Ice in seeking the shoare vntill the fift day of Iuly and we obserued that day in 59. degrees 16. minutes Then we plyed off the shoare againe vntill the eight day and then found the height of the Pole in 60. degrees no minutes Here we saw the Land from the North-west by West halfe Northerly vnto the South-west by West couered with snow a Champaigne Land and called it Desire prouoketh We still plyed vp to the Westward as the Land and Ice would suffer vntill the eleuenth day when fearing a storme we anchored by three Rockie Ilands in vncertayne depth betweene two and nine fathomes and found it an Harbour vnsufficient by reason of sunken Rockes one of which was next morning two fathomes aboue water Wee called them the Iles of Gods Mercies The water floweth here better then foure fathomes The Floud commeth from the North flowing eight the change day The latitude in this place is 62. degrees 9. minutes Then plying to the South-westward the sixteenth day wee were in the latitude of 58. degrees 50. minutes but found our selues imbayed with Land and had much Ice and we plyed to the North-westward vntill the nineteenth day and then wee found by obseruation the height of the Pole in 61. degrees 24. minutes and saw the Land which I named Hold with Hope Hence I plyed to the North-westward still vntill the one and twentieth day with the wind variable Heere I found the Sea more growne then any wee had since wee left England The three and twentieth day by obseruation the height of the Pole was 61. degrees 33. minutes The fiue and twentieth day we saw the Land and named it Magna Britannia The sixe and twentieth day wee obserued and found the latitude in 62. degrees 44. minutes The eight and twentieth day we were in the height of 63. degrees 10. minutes and plyed Southerly of the West The one and thirtieth day plying to the Westward at noone wee found our selues in 62. degrees 24. minutes The first of August we had fight of the Northerne shoare from the North by East to the West by South off vs the North part twelue leagues and the Wester part twentie leagues from vs and we had no ground there at one hundred and eightie fathomes And I thinke I saw Land on the Sunne side but could not make it perfectly bearing East North-east Here I found the latitude 62. degrees 50. minutes The second day we had sight of a faire Head-land on the Norther shoare six leagues off which I called Salisburies Fore-land we ranne from them West South-west fourteene leagues In the mid-way of which wee were suddenly come into a great and whurling Sea whether caused by meeting of two streames or an Ouer-fall I know not Thence sayling West and by South seuen leagues farther we were in the mouth of a Streight and sounded and had no ground at one hundred fathomes the Streight being there not aboue two leagues broad in the passage in this Wester part which from the Easter part of Fretum Danis is distant two hundred and fiftie leagues there abouts The third day we put through the narrow passage after our men had beene on Land which had well obserued there That the Floud did come from the North flowing by the shoare fiue fathomes The head of this entrance on the South side I named Cape Worsenholme and the head on the North-wester shoare I called Cape Digs After wee had sailed with an Easterly winde West and by South ten leagues the Land fell away to the Southward and the other Iles and Land left vs to the Westward Then I obserued and found the ship at noone in 61. degrees 20. minutes and a Sea to the Westward A larger Discourse of the same Voyage and the successe thereof written by ABACVK PRICKET WE began our Voyage for the North-west passage the seuenteenth of Aprill 1610. Thwart of Shepey our Master sent Master Colbert backe to the Owners with his Letter The next day we weighed from hence and stood for Harwich and came thither the eight and twentieth of Aprill From Harwich we set sayle the first of May along the Coast to the North till we came to the Iles of Orkney from thence to the Iles of Faro and from thence to Island on which we fell in a fogge hearing the Rut of the Sea ashoare but saw not the Land whereupon our Master came to an Anchor Heere we were embayed in the South-east part of the Land Wee weighed and stood along the Coast on the West side towards the North but one day being calme we fell a fishing and caught good store of fish as Cod and Ling and Butte with some other sorts that we knew not The next day we had a good gale of wind at South-west and raysed the Iles of Westmonie where the King of Denmarke hath a Fortresse by which we passed to rayse the Snow Hill foot a Mountayne so called on the North-west part of the Land But in our course we saw that famous Hill Mount Hecla which cast out much fire a signe of foule weather to come in short time Wee leaue Island a sterne of vs and met a Mayne of Ice which did hang on the North part of Island and stretched downe to the West which when our Master saw he stood backe for Island to find an Harbour which we did on the North-west part called Derefer where wee killed good store of Fowle From hence wee put to Sea againe but neither wind nor weather seruing our Master stood backe for this Harbour againe but could not reach it but fell with another to the South of that called by our Englishmen Lousie Bay where on the shoare we found an hot Bath and heere all our Englishmen bathed themselues the water was so
the great mercie of God we came to an Anchor cleere of it and close by it our Master named them the Iles of Gods Mercie This is an Harbour for need but there must be care had how they come in Heere our Master sent me and others with me to discouer to the North and North-west and in going from one place to another we sprung a Couey of Partridges which were young at the which Thomas Woodhouse shot but killed only the old one This Iland is a most barren place hauing nothing on it but plashes of water and riuen Rockes as if it were subiect to Earthquakes To the North there is a great Bay or Sea for I know not what it will proue where I saw a great Iland of Ice aground betweene the two Lands which with the Spring-tide was set afloat and carried into this Bay or Sea to the North-westward but came not backe againe nor within sight Here wee tooke in some Drift wood that we found ashoare From hence we stood to the South-west to double the Land to the West of vs through much floting Ice In the end wee found a cleere Sea and continued therein till wee raysed Land to the North-west Then our Master made his course more to the South then before but it was not long ere we met with Ice which lay ahead of vs. Our Master would haue doubled this Ice to the North but could not and in the end put into it downe to the South-west through much Ice and then to the South where we were embayed againe Our Master stroue to get the shoare but could not for the great store of Ice that was on the coast From out of this Bay we stood to the North and were soone out of the Ice then downe to the South-west and so to the West where we were enclosed to our fight with Land and Ice For wee had Land from the South to the North-west on one side and from the East to the West on the other but the Land that was to the North of vs and lay by East and West was but an Iland On we went till we could goe no further for Ice so we made our ship fast to the Ice which the tide brought vpon vs but when the ebbe came the Ice did open and made way so as in seuen or eight houres we were cleere from the Ice till we came to weather but onely some of the great Ilands that were carried along with vs to the North-west Hauing a cleere Sea our Master stood to the West along by the South shoare and raysed three Capes or Head-lands lying one aboue another The middlemost is an Iland and maketh a Bay or Harbour which I take will proue a good one Our Master named them Prince Henries Cape or Fore-land When we had layd this we raised another which was the extreme point of the Land looking towards the North vpon it are two Hills but one aboue the rest like an Hay-cocke which our Master named King Iames his Cape To the North of this lie certaine Ilands which our Master named Queene Annes Cape or Fore-land Wee followed the North shoare still Beyond the Kings Cape there is a Sound or Bay that hath some Ilands in it and this is not to be forgotten if need be Beyond this lieth some broken Land close to the Mayne but what it is I know not because we passed by it in the night Wee stood to the North to double this Land and after to the West againe till wee fell with Land that stretched from the Mayne like a shewer from the South to the North and from the North to the West and then downe to the South againe Being short of this Land a storme tooke vs the wind at West we stood to the North and raised Land which when our Master saw he stood to the South againe for he was loath at any time that wee should see the North shoare The storme continuing and comming to the South shoare againe our Master found himselfe shot to the West a great way which made him muse considering his Leeward way To the South-west of this Land on the Mayne there is an high Hill which our Master named Mount Charles To the North and beyond this lieth an Iland that to the East hath a faire head and beyond it to the West other broken Land which maketh a Bay within and a good Road may be found there for ships Our Master named the first Cape Salsburie When we had left this to the North-east we fell into a Rippling or Ouer-fall of a Current which at the first we tooke to bee a Shoald but the Lead being cast wee had no ground On we passed still in sight of the South shoare till we raised Land lying from the Mayne some two leagues Our Master tooke this to bee a part of the Mayne of the North Land but it is an Iland the North side stretching out to the West more then the South This Iland hath a faire Head to the East and very high Land which our Master named Deepes Cape and the Land on the South side now falling away to the South makes another Cape or Head-land which our Master named Worsenhams Cape When wee were nigh the North or Iland Cape our Master sent the Boat ashoare with my selfe who had the charge and the Carpenter and diuers others to discouer to the West and North-west and to the South-west but we had further to it then we thought for the Land is very high and we were ouer-taken with a storme of Raine Thunder and Lightning But to it we came on the North-east side and vp we got from one Rocke to another till we came to the highest of that part Here we found some plaine ground and saw some Deere as first foure or fiue and after a dozen or sixteene in an Herd but could not come nigh them with a Musket shot Thus going from one place to another wee saw to the West of vs an high Hill aboue all the rest it being nigh vs but it proued further off then we made account for when wee came to it the Land was so steepe on the East and North-east parts that wee could not get vnto it To the South-west we saw that wee might and towards that part wee went along by the side of a great Pond of water which lieth vnder the East side of this Hill and there runneth out of it a streame of water as much as would driue an ouer-shot Mill which falleth downe from an high Cliffe into the Sea on the South side In this place great store of Fowle breed and there is the best Grasse that I had seene since we came from England Here wee found Sorell and that which wee call Scuruy-grasse in great abundance Passing along wee saw some round Hills of stone like to Grasse cockes which at the first I tooke to be the worke of some Christian. Wee
killed sufficient to fill all our Casks to leaue for them if there be occasion The foure and twentieth of Iune there was killed at Faire-hauen eighteene Whales which proue verie small to yeelde by their estimation one hundred and twentie tunnes hauing there fiue Flemmings well fortified and ships of fiue hundred Tuns some of them and two more expected thither euerie day which I feare will hinder much our shippes in their fishing this yeare and in my iudgement not to be remoued from thence for they hauing a Commission from the States to fish vpon this Coast were our whole Fleete there and could put them away yet would they flie to one of our Southerne harbours and so should we spend our time in following of them and lose our Voyage There were two French Ships of Saint Iohn de Luz at Faire-Hauen which were put away by the Flemmings and our Ships which they iudge are gone for the Cape With a beanie heart I write you the lamentable accident which happened here the eight and twentieth of Iune our shallops all out in chase and my selfe asleepe my brother hauing a shallop lying by the ships side spide a Whale going into the Ice Bay followed him and strucke him and his rope being new ranne out with kinckes which ouerthrew his shallop where he lost his life with my Boy Bredrake being as we thinke carried away with the rope the dearest Whale to me that euer was strucke in this harbour there was neuer anie losse I thinke went so neere my heart c. Many other Letters I could haue added but doubt I haue already wearied you with this vncouth Coast whereto our English Neptunes are now so wonted that there they haue found not onely Venison but Pernassus and Helicon and haue melted a Musaa◠Fountain out of the Greenland Snowes and Icie Rockes who le Elaborate Poems haue I seene of Master Heley as also of Iames Presson there composed but we haue harsher Discoueries in hand to which wee are now shipping you This I thought good at our parting to aduertise thee that Master Heley hath affirmed to me touching the diuersitie of weather in Greeneland that one day it hath beene so cold the winds blowing out of some quarter that they could scarce handle the frozen sailes another day so hot that the pitch melted off the ship so that hardly they could keepe their cloathes from pollution yea he hath seene at midnight Tobacco lighted or fired by the Sunne-beames with a Glasse Likewise for a farewell to our Whale-storie I thought good to deliuer Stowes relation touching a Whale somewhat differing in forme from those here vsually found in Greeneland my selfe also hauing spoken with some diligent viewers thereof in Thanet where it was taken Iulie 9. 1574. shooting himselfe on shore besides Rammesgate in the Parish of Saint Peter and there dying forsaken of his Ocean parent Hee came on shoare about sixe of the clocke at night and died about sixe the next morning before which time he roared and was heard more then a mile on the land The length was two and twentie yards the nether iaw twelue foote in the opening one of his eyes which in the Greene-land Whale is verie small not much greater then the eye of an Oxe being taken out of his head was more then sixe Horses in a Cart could draw a man stood vpright in the place whence the eye was taken The thicknesse from the backe whereon he lay to his bellie which was vpwards was fourteene foote his taile of the same breadth three men stood vpright in his mouth betwixt his eyes twelue foote some of the ribs sixteene foote long the tongue fifteene foote long his liuer two Cart load into his nostrils anie man might haue crept the Oyle of his head Spermaciti c. CHAP. IX The late changes and manifold alterations in Russia since IVAN VASILOWICH to this present gathered out of many Letters and Obseruations of English Embassadors and other Trauellers in those parts §. I. Of the reigne of IVAN PHEODOR◠his sonne and of BORIS REader I here present thee not what I would of Russian affaires but what I could We Englishmen vnder the gouernment of his Maiestie haue enioyed such a Sun-shine of peace that our Summers day to many hath beene tedious they haue loathed their Manna and lenged for I know not what Egyptians flesh pots For what else are Warres but pots set ouer the fire of Anger how often of Furie yea of Hell the Furies or Deuils blowing the coales and boyling mans flesh who le Families Villages Townes Cities Shires Prouinces not onely hurried thereby in confusions of State harried and enflamed with combustions of goods and goodnesse but the flesh of Men Women and Children but chered and as it were boyled beyond the manifold shapes of Death vnto the bones into the Vapors Froth Scumme Chaos nothing and lesse then nothing of Humanitie Such is the inhumanitie the immanitie the inanitie of Warres And such Warres haue made impressions into all our Neighbour Countries whiles wee sit vnder the shadow of Beati Pacifici haue lightened on Turkie and blasted the Seraglio haue thunder-stricken Barbarie haue torne the Atlas there and rent the Grison Alpes in Europe haue shaken France with earthquakes haue raysed Belgian stormes Bohemian broyles Hungarian gusts Germanian whirlewinds these selfe-diuided in Ciuill that is the vilest vnciuillest massacres and worst of Warres that I mention not the inundations and exundations of Poland the Snowes and Mists of Sweden the Danish Hailes and Frosts But all these and more then all these Tempests Turnado's Tuffons haue combined in Russia and there made their Hell-mouth centre there pitching the Tents of Destruction there erecting the Thrones of Desolation Pestilence and Famine had gone two yeeres before as direful Heralds to denounce these dreadfull warres and mutations of State the Pestilence possessing the Northerne parts of the World and dispossesing it of many thousands the Famine in Russia wanting necessaries to eate necessarily deuoured all things not onely Cats Mice and impure Creatures but mens flesh also and that in neerest necessitude Parents reuoking to their wombes by vnnaturall passage the dearest pledges of Nature which hauing euen now dyed with hunger were made preseruatiues from like death to those which first had giuen them life The Mightier made sale of the Poorer yea Fathers and Mothers of their Sonnes and Daughters and Husbands of their Wiues that price might bee had to buy Corne which was now beyond all names of whatsoeuer price credible But these things must be further searched Bloudinesse is a slipperie foundation of Greatnesse and the Mercifull haue the promise to finde mercy other wisedome how euer seeming politike is earthly sensuall deuillish yea ruine to the foole-wise Consultors as appeareth in Pharaohs working wisely that is cruelly to preuent the multiplying Israelites The greatest of Creatures on Sea and Land the Elephant and Whale liue on grasse weeds
which God by his wisedome hath decreed for his honour and seruice and for the good and health of man the Deuill striues to imitate and to peruert to be honored and to cause man to be damned for as we see the great God hath Sacrifices Priests Sacraments Religious Prophets and Ministers dedicated to his diuine Seruice and holy ceremonies so the Deuill hath his Sacrifices Priests his kindes of Sacraments his Ministers appointed his secluded and fained holinesse with a thousand sorts of false Prophets BEginning then with their Temples euen as the great God would haue a house dedicated where his holy name might be honoured and that it should be particularly vowed to his seruice euen so the Deuill by his wicked practises perswaded Infidels to build him proud Temples and particular Oratories and Sanctuaries In euery Prouince of Peru there was one principall Guaca or house of adoration and besides it there was one Generall throughout all the Kingdome of the Inguas among the which there hath beene two famous and notable the one which they called Pachamana is foure leagues from Lima where at this day they see the ruines of a most auncient and great building out of the which Francis Pizarre and his people drew infinite treasure of vessels and pots of Gold and Siluer which they brought when they tooke the Ingua Altagualpa There are certaine memories and discourses which say that in this Temple the Deuill did speake visibly and gaue answers by his Oracle and that sometimes they did see a spotted Snake and it was a thing very common and approued at the Indies that the Deuill spake and answered in these false Sanctuaries deceiuing this miserable people But where the Gospell is entred and the Crosse of Christ planted the father of lyes becomes mute as Plutarch writes of his time Cur cessauerit Pithias fundere oracula and Iustine Martyr treates amply of the silence which Christ imposed to Deuils which spake by Idols as it had beene before much prophesied of in the holy Scripture The manner which the Infidell Ministers and Inchanters had to consult with their gods was as the Deuill had taught them It was commonly in the night they entred backward to their Idoll and so went bending their bodies and head after an vgly manner and so they consulted with him The answere he made was commonly like vnto a fearefull hissing or to a gnashing which did terrifie them and all that he did aduertise or command them was but the way to their perdition and ruine There are few of these Oracles found now through the mercy of God and great power of Iesus Christ. There hath beene in Peru another Temple and Oratory most esteemed which was in the Citie of Cusco where at this day is the Monastery of Saint Dominicke We may see it hath beene a goodly and a stately worke by the pauement and stones of the building which remaine to this day This Temple was like to the Pantheon of the Romans for that it was the house and dwelling of all the gods for the Kings Inguas did there behold the gods of all the Nations and Prouinces they had conquered euery Idoll hauing his priuate place whither they of that Prouince came to worâ—hip it with an excessiue charge of things which they brought for his seruice And thereby they supposed to keepe safely in obedience those Prouinces which they had conquered holding their gods as it were in hostage In this same house was the Pinchao which was an Idoll of the Sunne of most fine Gold wrought with great riches of Stones the which was placed to the East with so great Art as the Sunne at his rising did cast his beames thereon and as it was of most fine mettall his beames did reflect with such a brightnesse that it seemed another Sunne The Inguas did worship this for their god and the Pachayacha which signifies the Creator of Heauen They say that at the spoile of this so rich a Temple a Souldier had for his part this goodly plate of gold of the Sunne And as play was then in request he lost it all in one night at play whence came the prouerbe they haue in Peru for great gamesters saying that they play the Sunne before it riseth THe Superstitions of the Mexicans haue without comparison beene greater then the rest as well in their ceremonies as in the greatnesse of their Temples the which in old time the Spaniards called by this word Cu which word might by taken from the Ilanders of Saint Dominique or of Cuba as many other words that are in vse the which are neither from Spaine nor from any other language now vsuall among the Indians as is Mays Chico Vaqâ—ianâ— Chapetâ—n and other like There was in Mexico this Cu the famous Temple of Vitzliputzli it had a very great circuit and within a faire Court It was built of great stones in fashion of Snakes tyed one to another and the circuit was called Coatepantli which is a circuit of Snakes vpon the top of euery Chamber and Oratorie where the Idols were was a fine Pillar wrought with small stones blacke as jeat set in goodly order the ground raysed vp with white and red which below gaue a great light Vpon the top of the Pillar were battlements very artificially made wrought like Snailes supported by two Indians of stone sitting holding Candle-sticks in their hands the which were like Croisants garnished and enriched at the ends with yellow and greene feathers and long fringes of the same Within the circuit of this Court there were many Chambers of religious men and others that were appointed for the seruice of the Priests and Popes for so they call the soueraigne Priests which serue the Idoll This Court is so great and spacious as eight or ten thousand persons did dance easily in round holding hands the which was an vsuall custome in that Realme although it seeme to many incredible There were foure Gates or Entries at the East West North and South at euery one of these Gates began a faire Cawsey of two or three leagues long There was in the midst of the Lake where the Citie of Mexico is built foure large Cawseys in crosse which did much beautifie it vpon euery Portall or Entrie was a God or Idoll hauing the visage turned to the Cawsey right against the Temple gate of Vitzliputzli There were thirtie steps of thirtie fathome long and they diuided from the circuit of the Court by a street that went betwixt them vpon the top of these steps there was a walke of thirtie foot broad all playstered with chalke in the midst of which walke was a Pallisado artificially made of very high Trees planted in order a fathome one from another These Trees were very bigge and all pierced with small holes from the foote to the top and there were rods did run from one Tree to another to the which were chayned or tyed many dead mens heads Vpon euery rod
hot that it would scald a Fowle From hence the first of Iune we put to Sea for Groneland but to the West wee saw Land as we thought for which we beare the best part of a day but it proued but a foggie banke So wee gaue it ouer and made for Gronland which we raysed the fourth of Iune Vpon the Coast thereof hung good store of Ice so that our Master could not attayne to the shoare by any meanes The Land in this part is very Mountaynous and full of round Hils like to Sugar-loaues couered with snow We turned the Land on the South side as neere as the Ice would suffer vs. Our course for the most part was betweene the West and North-west till we raysed the Desolations which is a great Iland in the West part of Groneland On this Coast we saw store of Whales and at one time three of them came close by vs so as wee could hardly shunne them then two passing very neere and the third going vnder our ship wee receiued no harme by them praysed bee God From the Desolations our Master made his way North-west the wind being against him who else would haue gone more to the North but in this course we saw the first great Iland or Mountayne of Ice whereof after we saw store About the latter end of Iune we raysed Land to the North of vs which our Master tooke to bee that Iland which Master Dauis setteth downe in his Chart. On the West side of his Streight our Master would haue gone to the North of it but the wind would not suffer him so we fell to the South of it into a great Rippling or ouer-fall of current the which seâ—teth to the West Into the current we went and made our way to the North of the West till we met with Ice which hung on this Iland Wherefore our Master casting about cleered himselfe of this Ice and stood to the South and then to the West through store of floting Ice and vpon the Ice store of Seales We gained a cleere Sea and continued our course till wee meete Ice first with great Ilands and then with store of the smaller sort Betweene them we made our course North-west till we met with Ice againe But in this our going betweene the Ice we saw one of the great Ilands of Ice ouerturne which was a good warning to vs not to come nigh them nor within their reach Into the Ice wee put ahead as betweene two Lands The next day we had a storme and the wind brought the Ice so fast vpon vs that in the end we were driuen to put her into the chiefest of the Ice and there to let her lie Some of our men this day fell sicke I will not say it was for feare although I saw small signe of other griefe The storme ceasing we stood out of the Ice where wee saw any cleere Sea to goe to which was sometime more and sometime lesse Our course was as the Ice did lye sometime to the North then to the North-west and then to the West and to the South-west but still inclosed with Ice Which when our Master saw he made his course to the South thinking to cleere himselfe of the Ice that way but the more he stroue the worse he was and the more inclosed till we could goe no further Here our Master was in despaire and as he told me after he thought he should neuer haue got out of this Ice but there haue perished Therefore hee brought forth his Card and shewed all the company that hee was entred aboue an hundred leagues further then euer any English was and left it to their choice whether they would proceed any further yea or nay Whereupon some were of one minde and some of another some wishing themselues at home and some not caring where so they were out of the Ice but there were some who then spake words which were remembred a great while after There was one who told the Master that if he had an hundred pounds hee would giue fourescore and ten to be at home but the Carpenter made answere that if hee had an hundred hee would not giue ten vpon any such condition but would thinke it to be as good money as euer he had any and to bring it as well home by the leaue of God After many words to no purpose to worke we must on all hands to get our selues out and to cleere our ship After much labour and time spent we gained roome to turne our ship in and so by little and little to get cleere in the Sea a league or two off our course being North and North-west In the end we raysed Land to the South-west high Land and couered with Snow Our Master named this Land Desire prouokes Lying here wee heard the noyse of a great ouer-fall of a tyde that came out of the Land for now we might see well that wee had beene embayed before and time had made vs know being so well acquainted with the Ice that when night or foggie or foule weather tooke vs we would seeke out the broadest Iland of Ice and there come to anchor and runne and sport and fill water that stood on the Ice in Ponds both sweete and good But after we had brought this Land to beare South of vs we had the tyde and the current to open the Ice as being carried first one way and then another but in Bayes they lye as in a pond without mouing In this Bay where wee were thus troubled with Ice wee saw many of those Mountaynes of Ice aground in sixe or seuenscore fathome water In this our course we saw a Beare vpon a piece of Ice by it selfe to the which our men gaue chase with their Boat but before they came nigh her the tyde had carried the Ice and the Beare on it and ioyned it with the other Ice so they lost their labour and came aboord againe We continued our course to the North-west and raysed Land to the North of our course toward which we made and comming nigh it there hung on the Eastermost point many Ilands of floting Ice and a Beare on one of them which from one to another came towards vs till she was readie to come aboord But when she saw vs looke at her she cast her head betweene her hinder legges and then diued vnder the Ice and so from one piece to another till she was out of our reach We stood along by the Land on the Southside ahead of vs wee met with Ice that hung on a point of Land that lay to the South more then this that we came vp by which when our Master saw he stood in for the shoare At the West end of this Iland for so it is we found an Harbour and came in at a full Sea ouer a Rocke which had two fathome and an halfe on it and was so much bare at a low water But by