right honorable William lord de Roos high treasurer of England both of them counsellers vnto the sayd soueraigne king on the one party and the right worshipfull Iohn Godeke and Henrie Moneke sent as messengers by the right reuerend and religious personage Frater Conradus de Iungingen Master generall of the Dutch knights of the Order of S. Mary on the other party it was at the request and instancie of the sayd messengers appoynted and mutually agreed vpon that all the liege people and subiects of the sayd soueraigne lord and king shall haue free licence and liberty vntill the feast of Easter next ensuing safely to trauel vnto the land of Prussia aforesayd there to remaine and thence with their ships marchandises other their goods whatsoeuer to returne vnto their owne home which on the other side all the subiects of the sayd Master general may within the terme prefixed likewise doe in the foresaid realme of England Prouided alwaies that after the time aboue limited neither the sayd marchants of the realme of England may in the land of Prussia nor the marchants of that land in the realme of England exercise any traffique at al vnles it be otherwise ordained by some composition betweene the foresaid king of England the said Master general in the meane time concluded In witnesse wherof one part of this present Indenture is to remaine in the custodie of the foresaid messengers Giuen in the Chapter-house of the Church of S. Paul at London the day and yere aboue written The letters of the chancelor and treasurer of England vnto Frater Conradus de Iungingen master generall of Prussia 1403. RIght reuerend and mighty lord your honorable messengers Iohn Godeke and Henry Moneke the bearers hereof comming of late before the presence of our most souereigne lord the king of England and of France and being welcomed by our said lord with a chearefull and fauourable countenance they presented certaine letters on your behalfe vnto the kings Maiestie with that reuerence which be seemed them expounding vnto his highnes sundry piracies molestations offered of late vpon the sea by his liege people subiects vnto yours contrary to the leagues of peace and amitie which hitherto by Gods grace haue bene maintained and continued on both parts In consideration of which piracies and molestations your messengers demanded full restitution and recompeâ—se to be made either vnto the damnified parties or vnto their procurators We therefore at that time especially being in the presence of our soueraigne who with his puissant army tooke his progresse towards the remote part of Wales being subiect vnto his dominion to see iustice executed vpon his people of those parts who very rashly haue presumed to rebell against him their souereigne contrary to their allegeance right well perceiued that it was his hignesse intention that euery one should haue due iustice faithfully administred vnto him especially your subiects and that with all fauour whom he hath alwayes in times past right graciously intreated as if they had bene his owne liege subiects and natiue countrey men whome also hee purposeth hereafter friendly to protect insomuch that betweene him and his subiects on the one party and betweene you and yours on the other party great abundance and perfection of mutuall amity may increase And therefore we offered vnto your foresayd messengers after they had particularly declared vnto vs such piracies and wrongs to sende the kings letters vnto them of whom complaint was made firmely inioyning them vnder grieuous penalties that without delay they restore or cause to bee restored vnto the parties damnified or vnto their procuratours all ships marchandises wares and goods by them taken or violently stolne from your subiects And that your said messengers may partly attaine their desire we haue commaunded certaine ships marchandises wares and goods found in certaine hauens to be deliuered vnto them Howbeit as touching other goods which are perhaps perished or wanting by infortunate dissipation or destruction and for the which the said messengers of yours demand satisfaction to be made vnto them within a certain time by vs limited may it please your honor to vnderstand that in the absence of our sayd souereigne lord the king being as yet farre distant from vs wee can in no wise limit or set downe any such terme of time Notwithstanding at the prosperous returne of our soueraigne we are determined to commune with him about this matter Of whose answere so soone as we be certified we purpose to signifie his intention vnto you by our letters Sithens also right reuerend and mighty lord your sayd messengers are contented for the present to accept of our offer aforesayde as indeede by all reason they ought thereat to rest content especially whereas by this meanes they shall the more speedily attaine vnto the effect of their purposes to the shorte and wished execution and performance of which offer we will by Gods helpe endeuour to the vtmost of our ability may it be your will and pleasure that as in the kingdome of England your marchants and subiects are courteously intreated euen so the marchants and liege people of our soueraigne lord the king and of his kingdomes peaceably frequenting your parts either in regard of traffique or of any other iust occasion may there in like manner friendly bee vsed and with your marchants and subiects suffered to communicate and to haue intercourse of traffique inioying the commodities of the ancient league By this also the feruent zeale and affection which you beare vnto the royall crowne of England shall vndoubtedly appeare albeit betweene the famous houses of England and of Prussia the bandes of vnfained loue and friendship haue bin successiuely confirmed and kept inuiolable in times past And thus right reuerend and mighty lord wishing vnto you increase of honour and prosperity wee take our leaues Written at London the fift of October in the yeare of our lord 1403 By the chancelor the treasurer and other lords of the hono counsell of the king of England and France being personally present at London The letters of king Henry the 4. vnto Conradus de Iungingen the master general of Prussia for mutual conuersation and intercourse of traffique to continue between the marchants of England and of Prussia for a certaine terme of time HEnry by the grace of God king of England France and lord of Ireland to the noble and mighty personage of sacred religion Frater Conradus de Iungingen Master generall of the Order of the Dutch knights of S. Marie c. our most deare and welbeloued friend greeting and continuall increase of our auncient and sincere amity By the grieuous complaynts of our liege subiects concerning traffique as it were circular wise too fro both our dominions we haue often bene aduertised that in regard of diuers iniuries and damages which as well our as your marchants who by their dealings in marchandise were woont peaceably to vse mutual conuersation together
if they consider that the Spanish nation hath already conquered the two empires of Mexico and Peru with so many other kingdoms and prouinces wee may very well answere that his power is not infinite and that hee hath done well for the time And yet it is manifest that this very empire hath beene by all those seuerall Spaniardes the catalogue of whose names is by it selfe hereunto annexed at sundry times vndertaken and neuer perfourmed Howbeit the world hath reason to admire their constancie and their great labours and wee may well blush at our owne idle despaiâ—efull and loytering dispositions that can finde abilitie in another barren and sterued nation to possesse so much of the worlde and can doe nothing but frame arguments against our selues as vnfit and powerlesse to possesse one prouince already discouered and of which our nation hath assurance of the peoples loue and that all the Chieftaines and principals haue vowed their obedience to her Maiestie the nauigation being withall so short dangerlesse and free from infectious sickenesse If doubt of perils might moderate the mindes of our men once mooued with steadfast hope that golde shall bee the reward of their trauels it may easily bee perceiued that all those lets and hinderances that can any way bee alleaged or wrested so much as but to touch vs doe deepely and neerely concerne the Spanish king and in a maner violently withold him from that which hee notwithstanding carreith with successe whilest wee out of season do affect the bare stile to be named men stayed and circumspect in our proceedings It is reported that Calanus the Indian threw downe before Alexander the great a drie seare peece of leather then put his foot on one of the endes of it the leather being trode downe at that side â—ose on all parts else By this the wise man did shewe vnto him a figure and similitude of his kingdome which being exceeding large must of necessitie in all other parts excepting the place of the kings residence be alwayâ—s full of stiâ—s tumults and insurrections The end afterwards confirmed that this empire consisting of sundry nations could not keepe it selfe from dissolution No potentate liuing hath or can haue so faithfull and incorrupt counsellers as bee the examples and histories of forepassed times and ages Wee may therefore bee bolde to thinke that the Gouernours of the Spanish affaires â—hould minde it that their kings lustfull desire and ambitious thoughts to establish ouer all Europe one lawe one Lord one religion are built and erected on a dangerous vngrounded reâ—olution Considering that many of the neighbour kingdomes being of equall force in men or greater then hee can make are setled in a long continued estate are entire within themselues and hate to heare the voyce of a stranger It is not vnlikely that they in this case should lay before their king the fatall destinies of many worthies that haue beene constrained for wante of sufficient numbers of their naturall subiects after many yeeres spent in the warres to retire to their owne countreys and haue beene glad peaceably to holde their owne Signiories at home resigning all that vnto others which they haue gotten abroad by hard aduenture and much esâ—usion of blood The King of Spaine cannot but discerne that his spacious empires and kingdomes being so many and so farre diuided one from another are like the members of a monstrous bodie tyed together with cables onely For take away the traffique of vnnecessarie commodities transported â—ut of Spaine those huge countreys of the Indies hauing no common linke of affinitie lawe language or religion and being of themselues able to maintaine themselues without forreine commerce are not so simple as not to knowe thâ—ir owne strength and to finde that they doe rather possesse Spaniardes then that they are possessed by them Hee cannot bee ignorant that Spaine it selfe is on all sides enuironed with many puissant enemies mightie and great princes who knowing it to bee rich without men confident without reason proud and aduenturous without meanes sufficient may happily confederate to chastise him as an insolent intruder and disturber of all quietnesse and going no further then Spaine it selfe may euen there shake the foundation of his long contriued deuises and in one acte redeeme the time controll his aspiring humor and breake the bandes in sunder that import seruitude and subuersion to all the dominions of Christendome Againe his counsell may well informe him that to dispeople and disable himselfe at home in hope to obtaine Guiana being a countrey strong of it selfe and defended with infinite multitudes of Indian enemies being rich and by the inhabitants offered vnto the English his contempt towardes vs would seeme so intollerable and despightfull as might bee sufficient to prouoke vs though otherwise wee had no such inclination if hee vnprouided of able helpes to effect it should rest himselfe on a carelesse presumption that wee cannot wee dare not wee will not stirre in a matter that promiseth vs so great benefite and may so highly offend him Hee may bee perswaded that to leaue no other succour or safetie to his nakednesse but the olde stale practice of spreading rumours and giuing out false intelligences of preparations to inuade England thereby to keepe vs at home or els of hyring and suborning some Machauellian vnder hande by secret conueyance to stop the course of our proceedings or lastly of procuring some wilde outlaw to disquiet our tranquillitie is but a poore weake and vncertaine stay to vpholde his estate by And yet setting such like driftes aside what can bee imagined likely to hinder vs from preuailing in Guiana rather then him whose disaduantage is to bee encombred with the selfe same and manifolde more impediments then can any way bee supposed with â—ood cause to impeach or diuorce vs froÌ„ so profitable an attempt All this nothwithstanding if the Spanish king not being able to dissemble his desire or beare the losse of this one kingdome putting himselfe out of his strength at home and exposing his people to the hazard of all casualties abroad bee resolued whatsoeuer shall happen not to relinquish Guiana but to keepe this one yron more in the fire on no other assurance but a peremptorie disdaine of preuention If hee appeare so eagerly bent for Guiana as if it were enacted for a lawe amongst themselues Vâ—is modis to thrust for it and not to heare conceiue or beleeue any thing that may disswade or deterre from the conquest thereof it then appertaineth vnto vs not to inforce those obiections against our selues which hee with lesse reason reiecteth as friuolous since by howe much the more earnest hee is in following this purpose by so much the lesse cause haue wee to bee diuâ—rted from it To such as shall bee willing further to wade in this argument for breuities sake I doe propose onely this bare assertion that England and Guiana conioyned are stronger and more easily defended then if England alone should repose
the terme prefired sel them imposing grieuous pecuniary mulets besides the forfeiture of the clothes so bought or sold vpon them that would attempt the contrary Item that after the said statute and ordinance the foresaide societie decreed that all marchants of the said companie hauing among their wares and marchandise any woollen clothes made in England should either sell the saide clothes or within a short space then limited should vnderpenaltie of forfeiting the said clothes vtterly renounce the vse and commoditie thereof NotwithstaÌ„ding a grieuous penaltie of money being imposed vpon the violaters of the same statute Item that the statutes and ordinances aforesaid might with more speed and celerity be put in execution the said authors and publishers thereof imagining according to their desire that by this meanes an vtter extirpation and ouerthrow of English marchants mightâ— yea of necessity must ensue vpon their serious long premeditated deliberation straitely commanded inioyned vnder pain of losing the benefit of all priuileges wheresoeuer or by the princes of what lands or the Magistrates of what Cities or townes soeuer vouchsafed vnto the said common societie that not only the aldermen of that society in al places throughout the realme of England but also al other marchants of the said company after the maner of marchants conuersing in the saide Realme should without exception of persons vtterly abstein from all intercourse of traffike with the marchants of the realme aforesaid yea and that they shoulde depart out of the said kingdome within a very short space limited For the dispatching of al which premisses without delay it was according to their commandement effectually prouided Item that the society aforesaid hath approued diuers very vnreasonable statutes ordinances made published by the marchants of the same society residing in the kingdoms of Norway and Swedland to the great preiudice of the kingdome of England and the marchants thereof and as yet both couertly and expresly do approue the same vniustly putting them in daily execution Item wheras in the priuileges indulgences granted by y e renoumed princes somtimes kings of EnglaÌ„d y e worthy progenitors of our souereign lord the king y t now is vnto the society aforesaid it is prouided y t the said marchants shal not auow any man which is â—ot of their company nor shal not colour his goods and marchandize vnder their company whereas also in the confirmation of the sayd priuiledges made by our soueraigne lord that nowe is it is manifestly prouided that the marchants of the Hans towns vnder the colour of their priuiledges in England shall not vpon paine of the perpetuall frustration and reuocation of the foresayd priuiledges receiue any stranger of any other towne in their liberties by whom the kings custome may in any sort be withholden or diminished yet the contrary vnto al these prouisoes hath bin euery yerâ— for these 20. yeres or thereabout notoriously practised and committed as well ioyntly by the generall counsell and â—oleration of the foresayd society as also seuerally by the aduise and permission of diuers particular cities of the foresayd Hans company to the great diminution of his maiesties custome the estimation whereof the foresayd ambassadors are not able at this present fully to declare But that all occasions of the last aboue mentioned diminution may bâ—e preuented for the time to come the sayd ambassadors doe demand to haue from the foresayd societie a declaration in writing what and what maner of territories cities townes villages or companies they be for which the sayd society challengeth and pretendeth that they ought to enioy the priuiledges granted vnto their marchants as is aboue mentioned Moreouer it is required by the foresaid ambassadors if the societie aforesayd hath not decreed nor ordayned the things aboue written that the names of the cities and places decreeing and ordaining such statutes ordinances may by the sayd common society either now or at some other times and places conuenient for the same purpose be expressed and set downe in writing A letter of Henry the fourth king of England c. vnto Frater Conradus de Iungingen the master generall of Prussia HEnrie c. to the most noble and mighty personage of sacred religion Fr Conradus de Iungingen Master general of the order of the Dutch knights of S. Marie our most deare friend greeting and continual perfection of amity When as your messengers and ambassadors were of late personally present in Holland and there expected the arriual of our ambassadors vntill the first day of the moneth of Nouember last expired that there might bee by way of friendly conference a remedie prouided in regard of certaine iniuries pretended to be offâ—â—ed by both our subiects one against anotherâ— for the publique commoditie of both parts we were determined to haue sent vnto Dordract at the foresaid daye our welbeloued and faithfull knight William Sturmy and our welbeloued clerke Iohn Kington vpon our ambassage-affayres hauing as yet in our desires for a peaceable ending of the matter which our foresayd ambassadors by reason of the shortnes of time or the finding out of some other remedie and happy conclusion of all and singular the foresaid attempts concerning the principall busines could by no meanes at that instant attaine vnto that vpon some other more conuenient day to the end your ambassadors might not returne home altogether frustrate of their expectation there might be after the wonted friendly maner a confereÌ„ce agreement with your foresayd ambassadors euen as by other letters of ours directed vnto your sayd ambassadors the second day of the moneth of Nouember aforesayd wee haue deliuered our mind vnto them But it fortuned not long before the departure of your ambassadors into their owne countrey that no sufficient shipping could be found wherein our sayd ambassadors might haue secure and safe passage vnto Dordract or Middleburgh neither was it thought that they should get any passage at all till the ships at Middleborough were returned into our kingdome by the force whereof they might be the more strongly wafted ouer And so by reason of the departure of your ambassadours all matters remaine in suspense till such time as the sayd ambassadors shall againe meete with ours to adde perfection vnto the busines as yet imperfect Wherefore our friend vnfainedly beloued desiring from the bottome of our heart that the integritie of loue which hath from auncient times taken place betweene our your subiects may in time to come also be kept inuiolable we haue thought good once again to send one of our foresaid ambassadors namely William Esturmy knight to Dordract giuing him charge thither to make haste and there to stay till some of your messengers at your commandement doe in time conuenient repayre vnto that place there by Gods assistance to bring the matter vnto an happy conclusion May it please you therefore of your vnfayâ—ed friendship without all inconuenience of delay to returne
at all to adhere vnto them in this behalfe Afterward our messengers aforesayd both they of Prussia and of Liuonia demanded conuenient iust and speedy satisfaction with the payment of all and singular the summes aboue mentioned due vnto both parts so farre foorth as equity and reason would yeeld vnto for the recompense of the parties iniuried and endamaged on both sides to be made within one whole yere accompting from the feast of Easter now last expired vnto the very same feast next to come in the yere immediatly following that in three seueral termes of payment by three portions of the said summes equally to be diuided at the towne of Bruges in Flanders as being a place indifferent for all parties in maner and forme as it was before at Marienburgh required and stoode vpon namely that reformaâ—ion reparation and amendement of all vniust attempts committed on both parts ought to bee performed within one yere Howbeit contrariwise your ambassadors aforesayd decreed that the sayd satisfaction should be performed vnto the parties iniuried of both parts within three yeeres beginning to accompt from the feast of Easter last past And when your ambassadours were not contented with the maner of satisfaction set downe by our men nor our commissioners were willing in any sort to consent vnto that course which was thought conuenient by your ambassadors the honorable messengers of the sea-townes of the Hans being there at that time present made a motion that the foresayd satisfaction might be performed within two yeeres and an halfe accompting from the feast of Easter last past often before mentioned yet vnder a certaine proâ—staâ—oâ— namely it both parties should agree vnto that forme of satisfaction and if they should thinke good finally and conclusiuely to yeeld their consent vnto it Which kind of satisfaction also conceiued by the messengers your sayd ambassadours without giuing notice therof vnto your royall Maiestie refused finally to approue being rather desirous to make a true faithfull report of the sayd forme of satisfaction last aboue mentioned vnto your kingly highnesse and that in such sorte that as they hoped effectuall satisfaction and payment of all and singuler the summes due and to bee due on both partes should more conueniently and speedily bee performed Whereupon we might be put in good hope that more speedy and conuenient appointments of termes for the sayd satisfaction friendly on both parts to be performed in would haue proceeded from your bountifull and gracious clemencie And in very deâ—de most mighty prince albeit it was neuer the meaning of our foresayd predecessor so far foorth as these affayres concerned him to protract and delay the execution of the sayd busines so many and such long distances of time and that for diuers respects both because restitution vnto the parties robbed consisted herein and also because the sayd restitutions and satisfactions are to be made vnto poore people widowes orphanes and other miserable creatures diuersly and miserably slaine and oppressed notwithstanding we being moued with hearty feruent zeale and speciall affection vnto your royall crowne of England and hauing due regard and consideration of your most excellent Maiestie vpon the aduise of our honourable brethren our counsellers doe thankfully receiue by the tenour of these presents totally ratifie and approue such satisfactions of the foresayd summes howsoeuer due vnto our subiects both Prussians and Liuonians in friendly sorte to be performed at such times and seasons limited and prefixed by your highnes as are expressed in your maiesties letters and also of other summes which within one yeare immediately ensuing after the feast of Easter last past by sufficient proofes to be made on their part before your chancelour at your citie of London shall be found due vnto them Conditionally that without inconuenience of delay and impediment they be performed as they ought to be according to the premisses In like maner also we our selues within the termes of payment aboue mentioned will procure satisfaction to be without fayle perfourmed vnto your subiects endamaged with the summe of 766. nobles being in regard of their losses of the which they haue giuen vp sufficient informations due vnto themâ— and with other like summes also which are by sufficient proofes within the yeare aforesayd and in maner and forme prescribed to be exhibited before our treasurer at our citie of Dantzik The almighty vouchsafe prosperously and long time to preserue your maiesties royal person Giuen at our castle of Marienburgh the 27. of September in the yeare of our Lord 1408 Fr. Vlricus de Iungingen master generall of the order of the Dutch knights of S. Maries hospital of Ierusalem The letters of king Henry the 4. sent vnto Fr. Vlricus master general of Prussia wherein he doth absolutely approue the foresaid conference holden at Hage and treateth about a perpetual league and amitie to be concluded betweene England and Prussia HEnry by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland vnto the noble mighty personage of sacred religion Vlricus de Iungingen master generall of the order of the Dutch knights of S. Maries hospitall of Ierusalem our entirely beloued friend greeting and increase of vnfained friendship After diuers conferences had in sundry places beyond the seas betweene the ambassadours and messengers of your late predecessor and of your selfe also on the one parte and betweene our especiall ambassadors and messengers on the other parte concerning reformations reparations restitutions in certaine maner forme to be performed vnto our subiects of both parts in regard of manifold iniuries practised against them both and after that in the last conference holden by the ambassadours of vs both at the towne of Hage in Holland there was a motion made concerning a certaine forme of satisfaction by way of finall conclusion in that behalfe but not being as then by our ambassadours condescended vnto because they durst not proceede vnto the same conclusion without our priuitie relation thereof at length being by them made before vs and our counsel we returned vnto your honour an answere in writing by our letters vnder our priuie seale of our full purpose and intention vnto the which letters we doe at this present referre our selues as if they were here againe expresly written what we thought good to haue done in this behalfe so that wee also might by your friendly letters be certaynly informed of your will and expresse consent being likewise conformable vnto your foresayd intention Nowe whereas since that time we haue of late receiued the certaintie of the matter by your letters written vnto vs from your castle of Marienburgh bearing date the 27. of September last past contayning in effect amongst other matters that you being mooued with a feruent zeale and speciall affection as you write vnto the royall crowne of our realme and hauing due regard and consideratâ—on of our royall maiestie vpon the aduise of your honourable brethren your counsellers doe with a
sonnes and nephewes of the former Dukes as he could lay hold on and began to take vpon him the title of the great Duke of Vvlodimiria Moscouia and Nouogardia and to call himselfe the Monarch or Czar of all Russia He brought vnder his subiection two principall cities namely Plesco being the only walled citie in all Moscouie and Mouogrod both of them being in regard of traffike most riche and flourishing cities and hauing bin subiect vnto the Lithuanians for the space of 50. yeeres before The treasure of Nouogrod was so exceeding that the great Duke is reported to haue carried home from thence 300. carts laden with gold and siluer He also was the first man that waged warre against the Polonians and the Liuonians against Polonia he pretended a quarell alleaging that his daughter Helena whome hee had married vnto Alexander the great Duke of Lithuania which was afterward king of Polonia was euil intreated and was withdrawen from the Greekish religion vnto the ceremonies of the Church of Rome But against the Liuonians for none other cause but onely for an incredible desire of enlarging his dominions Howbeit what impulsiue causes of litle or no moment happened in the mean season we will in another place more plainely declare Notwithstanding he was very often and in diuers battels vanguished by Plettebergius the great master of the Dutch knights but it is not to the purpose to stand any longer vpon this discourse He was married first vnto Marie the Duke of Tyuersky his daughter and of her hee begate Iohn vnto whom in his life time he surrendred his Dukedome and married him vnto the daughter of Stephan the Palatine of Moldauia which Iohn after he had begotten his sonne Demetrius deceased before his father Afterward Iuan Vasilowich aforesaide married a wife called Sophia being daughter vnto Thomas Palaelogus which is reported to haue had her dowry out of the Popes treasury because the Moscouite had promised to conforme himselfe vnto the Romish Church This Sophia being a woman of a princely and aspiring minde and often complaining that she was married vnto the Tartars vassal at length by her instant intreatie and continual perswasions and by a notable stratageme she cast off that slauish yoke very much vnbeseeming so mighty a prince For whereas the Tartarian Duke had his procuratours and agents in the Moscouites court who dwelt iu their owne houses built within the very castle of Mosco and were eye witnesses of all affaires which were there performed Sophia said she was admonished from heauen to builde a Temple in the selfe same place where the Tartars house stoode and to consecrate it vnto Saint Nicholas Being therfore deliuered of a sonne she inuited the Tartarian Duke vnto the solemne baptizing of him and beeing come shee requested him to giue her his house and obtained it at his hands Which house being razed and those Tartarian espials beeing excluded the Tartars at length were quite bereaued and vtterly dispossessed of their authoritie which they had exercised ouer the Russians for many yeres and could neuer yet recouer it albeit they haue giuen sundry attempts Of his wife Sophia he begate sixe children namely a daughter called Helena fiue sonnes that is to say Gabriel Demetrius George Simeon and Andrew The Dukedome of right appertayned vnto Demetrius the sonne of Iohn which was the sonne of Vasilowich by his first marriage Howbeit Sophia preuailed so with her husband that neglecting his graund-childe Demetrius hee bestowed his Dukedome vpon Gabriel his sonne Andrew the younger had a sonne called Vvlodimir of whom Mary was borne which in the yeere of Christ 1573. was maried vnto Magnus the Duke of Holst Gabriel hauing obtained the great dukedome of Russia changed his name calling himselfe Basilius and applied his minde to the atchieuing of high and great enterprises For hee reduced a great part of the dukedome of Moscouie which Vitoldus the great Duke of Lithuania helde in possession vnder his owne iurisdiction and wonne vpon the riuer of Boristhenes which the Russians call Neiper many cities and especially Smolensco in the yeere of our Lord 1514. Hauing diuorced his first wife hee begate of Helena daughter vnto Duke Glinskie Iuan Vasilowich which now this present 1580. reigneth as great Duke Hee was borne in the yeere of our Lorde 1528. the 25. of August sixe houres after the rising of the sonne The great dukedome of Russia fell vnto the said Iuan Vasilowich in the fifth yeere of his age hauing his vncle George for his great protector being 25. yeeres of age and being of a strong body and of a couragious mind he subdued the Tartars of Cazan and Astracan vpon the riuer of Volgha carrying their Dukes and chieftaines into captiuitie But by what wayes and meanes after the league which by the inâ—erecession of the most sacred Roman Emperour continued from the yeere 1503. for the space of fifty yeeres was expired hauing renewed warres against Liuonia hee brought that most flourishing prouince into extreame miserie vsing for the same purpose a new pretense and alleadging that it belonged vnto him by right of inheritance I tremble to recount and it requireth a large historie which perhaps in time and place conuenient some more learned then my selfe will take vpon them to addresse He is exceedingly addicted vnto piety and deuotion and doth oftentimes obserue very strict fastings and abstinence with his monks and wheras the Russes in doing reuerence adoration vnto God doe beate their foreheads against the ground this Iuan Vasilowich with performing of the same ceremonie causeth his forehead to be ful of boines and swellings and sometimes to be black and blew and very often to bleed He is much delighted with building of Churches spareth no cost for that purpose Whether therfore by nature or which hee pretendeth to be the cause by reason of his subiects malice treacherie he be so addicted vnto all rigour and cruelty I dare not determine especially sithens he hath not an illiberal or mishapen countenance as Attila is reported to haue had Of his first wife which was sister vnto Mikita Romanowich beeing nowe great steward of his houshold he begate two sonnes namely Iuan and Theodore And albeit he was fiue times married yet had he not one childe more Whereas this Iuan Vasilowich vpon certaine friuolous reasons calleth himselfe the naturall lord of Liuonia I thought it not amisse to adde an Epistle hereunto which was written by a certaine honourable man concerning the same matter S. All wee which inhabite this Prouince with all seemely reuerence and submission of mind do offer most humble thanks vnto the Emperors most sacred and peerelesse maiesty our most gracious lord in that according to his fatherly affection which he beareth towards all Christendome and for the good commodity of this our distressed and afflicted countrey which these many yeres hath bin in stead of a bulwarke against the inuasion of barbarous nations he hath
sent his ambassadors vnto the great duke of Moscouia In regard of which his fatherly loue and great benefite vouchsafed on vs wee are ready when occasion shall serue to aduenture our liues and goods praying in the meane season vnto Almightie God who is the onely establisher and confounder of common wealths to bring this excellent woorke the foundation whereof is already laiâ—e vnto a prosperous conclusion But as touching the title which the Moscouite maketh to this prouince to say the very trueth we greatly wondred and were astonished at the declaration thereof For it is most apparant not onely out of all ancient and credible histories but euen from the experience and state of these regions that the said title and allegations are fabulous and fained For out of all auncient monuments by what names soeuer they bee called whereof there are diuers extant among vs it cannot be proued by any mention nor yet by any likelihoode or coniecture that those things which the Moscouite affirmeth concerning the people which were gouernors of these regions in times past and concerning the right and title of his ancestors vnto this prouince are grounded vpon truth For it is not vnknowen by what meanes this prouince partly through the industry of marchants and partly by the benefite of nauigation was first discouered neither is it vnknowen howe the inhabitants thereof beeing wholly addicted vnto heathenish superstitions and idolatrie were by the croised knights who drew other knights professing the same order in Prussia to aide and accompanie them in this their enterprise and that with great labour and difficultie conuerted vnto the Christian faith when as at the same time the â—iuonians had no knowledge at all of the iurisdiction religion maners or language of Moscouie who had not onely no conuersation nor dealings with the Moscouites but were estranged also from all other nations whatsoeuer for leading a miserable poore barbarous and heathenish life in sauage maner among wilde beastes and in the desert and solitary woods they were vtterly ignorant of God and destitute of ciuil magistrates Howbeit this kind of gouernment was peculiar vnto them namely that all of our familie and society vsed a kinde of reuerence vnto their elders more then to any other whom also that their authoritie might be the greater they called by the name of kings and albeit one of their families consisted of a 100. persons thâ—y obeyed them in al respects and after their rude and barbarous maner did them loyal seruice At the very same time the Moscouites had receiued the religion and the Ecclesiasticall ceremonies of the Greeke and Easterne Church which religion they published and dispersed throughout all prouinces subiect to their dominion vsing their owne proper letters and characâ—ers for the same purpose Of all which things the Liuonians which very barbarously inhabited a lande beeing enuironed with Russia Lithuania Samogitia Prussia and the Balthic sea neuer heard any report at all It is moreouer to be noted that neuer at any time heretofore either within the earth or in other places of Liuonia there haue bene found any monuments at all of the antiquitie or letters of the Russes which verily must needs haue come to passe if the Moscouites Russes or any other nations which vse the foresaid particulars had borne rule and authority ouer the Liuonians yea there had beene left some remainder and token either of their religion and diuine worship or of their lawes and customes or at the least of their maners language and letters This indeed we can in no wise deny that euen in Liuonia it selfe there haue bin in times past and at this present are many and diuers languages spoken by the people Howbeit no one language of them all hath any affinity either with the Moscouian tongue or with the tongues of any other nations But whereas the Moscouite pretendeth that there hath bin vsually paide a pension or tribute vnto himselfe and his predecessours out of the whole prouince it is as incredible as the former About the beginning of this tragicall warre the Moscouite to cloke his tyranny and ambition vnder some faire pretense amongst other of his demaunds made mention also of a tribute which should be due vnto him out of the bishop of Dorpat his iurisdiction whereof notwithstanding hee could neither bring any iust account nor affirm any certainty howbeit there is no man liuing to be found which either can tell of his owne remembrance or from the relation of others that any such tribute was euer paid vnto the Moscouite What time therefore he referred al this negotiation vnto the master of the Liuonian order and commanded him to get what knowledge hee could therof from the men of Dorpat vrged the tribute saying if it were worth but one haire that he would not remit it at length it was found recorded in the ancient Chronicles of Dorpat that beyond the memory of man when the territory of Plesco contained nothing but woods and forrests for wilde beastes that the pesaunts of the liberty of Dorpat called Neuhus by the consent of the Russian borderers enioyed Bee-hiues in the said woods and paid euery yeere in lieu thereof vnto the Russian gouernours sixe shillings of Liuonian coine But so soone as the Russians had felled the woods and had built townes and villages in their place the saide pension ceased together with the trees which were cut downe Wherefore the saide sixe shillings were neuer since that time either demanded by the Russes or paid by the Liuonians These things which I knew concerning the causes of the Liuonian warres I thought good to signifie vnto you Giuen the 22. of May in the yeere of our Lord 1576. Ordinances instructions and aduertisements of and for the direction of the intended voyage for Cathay compiled made and deliuered by the right worshipfull M. Sebastian Cabota Esquier gouernour of the mysterie and companie of the Marchants aduenturers for the discouerie of Regions Dominions Islands and places vnknowen the 9. day of May in the yere of our Lord God 1553. and in the 7. yeere of the reigne of our most dread soueraigne Lord Edward the 6. by the grace of God king of England Fraunce and Ireland defender of the faith and of the Church of England and Ireland in earth supreame head FIrst the Captaine general with the pilot maior the masters marchants other officers to be so knit and accorded in vnitie loue conformitie and obedience in euery degree on all sides that no dissention variance or contention may rise or spring betwixt them and the mariners of this companie to the damage or hinderance of the voyage for that dissention by many experiences hath ouerthrown many notable intended and likely enterprises and exploits 2 Item for as much as euery person hath giuen an othe to be true faithfull and loial subiects and liege men to the kings most excellent Maiestie his heires and successors and for the obseruation of all lawes statutes made
perpetuall peace betwixt the same great Turke and the Sophie and brought with him a present in golde and faire horses with rich furnitures and other gifts esteemed to be woorth forty thousand pound And thereupon a peace was concluded with ioyfull feasts triumphs and solemnities corroborated with strong othes by their law of Alkaron for either to obserue the same and to liue alwayes after as sworne brethren ayding the one the other against all princes that should warre against them or either of them And vpon this conclusion the Sophy caused the great Turkes sonne named Baiset Soltan a valiant Prince who being fled from his father vnto the Sophie had remained in his Court the space of foure yeeres to be put to death In which time the sayd Turkes sonne had caused mortall warres betwixt the sayd Princes and much preuailed therein the Turke demanded therefore his sonne to be sent vnto him the Sophy refused thereunto to consent But now being slaine according to the Turks will the Sophy sent him his head for a present not a litle desired and acceptable to the vnnaturall father Discoursing at my first arriuall with the king of Shiruan of sundry matters and being intertained as hath bene before declared the sayd king named Obdolocan demaunding whether that we of England had friendship with the Turks or not I answered that we neuer had friendship with them and that therefore they would not suffer vs to passe thorow their countrey into the Sophy his dominions and that there is a nation named the Uenetians not farre distant from vs which are in great league with the sayd Turks who trade into his dominions with our commodities chiefly to barter the same for raw silks which as we vnderstand come from thence and that if it would please the sayd Sophy and other Princes of that countrey to suffer our merchants to trade into those dominions and to giue vs pasport and safe conduct for the same as the sayd Turke hath granted to the sayd Uenetians I doubted not but that it should grow to such a trade to the profit of them as neuer before had beene the like and that they should be both furnished with our commodities and also haue vtterance of theirs although there neuer came Turke into their land perswading with many other wordes for a trade to be had This king vnderstanding the matter liked it marueilously saying that he would write vnto the Sophy concerning the same as he did in very deed assuring me that the Sophy would graunt my request and that at my returne vnto him he would giue me letters of safe conduct and priuiledges The Turks Ambassadour was not then come into the land neither any peace hoped to be concluded but great preparation was made for warre which was like much to haue furthered my purpose but it chanced otherwise For the Turks Ambassadour being arriued and the peace concluded the Turkish merchants there at that time present declared to the same Ambassadour that my comming thither naming me by the name of Franke would in great part destroy their trade and that it should be good for him to perswade the Sophy not to fauour me as his Highnesse meant to obserue the league and friendship with the great Turke his master which request of the Turkish merchants the same Ambassadour earnestly preferred and being afterwards dismissed with great honour he departed out of the Realme with the Turks sonnes head as aforesayd and other presents The 20 day of Nouember aforesayd I was sent for to come before the sayd Sophy otherwise called Shaw Thomas and about three of the clocke at afternoone I came to the Court and in lighting from my horse at the Court gate before my feet touched the ground a paire of the Sophies owne shoes termed in the Persian tongue Basmackes such as hee himselfe weareth when he ariseth in the night to pray as his maner is were put vpon my feet for without the same shoes I might not be suffred to tread vpon his holy ground being a Christian and called amongst them Gower that is vnbeleeuer and vncleane esteeming all to be infidels and Pagans which do not beleeue as they do in their false filthie prophets Mahomet and Murtezalli At the sayd Court gate the things that I brought to present his Maiestie with were deuided by sundry parcels to sundry seruitors of the Court to cary before me for none of my company or seruants might be suffered to enter into the Court with me my interpreter onely excepted Thus comming before his Maiestie with such reuerence as I thought meete to be vsed I deliuered the Queenes Maiesties letters with my present which hee accepting demaunded of mee of what countrey of Franks I was and what affaires I had there to doe Unto whom I answered that I was of the famous Citie of London within the noble Realme of England and that I was sent thither from the most excellent and gracious soueraigne Lady Elizabeth Queene of the saide Realme for to treate of friendship and free passage of our Merchants and people to repaire and traffique within his dominions for to bring in our commodities and to carry away theirs to the honour of both princes the mutuall commoditie of both Realmes and wealth of the Subiects with other wordes here omitted He then demaunded me in what language the letters were written I answered in the Latine Italian and Hebrew well said he we haue none within our Realme that vnderstand those tongues Whereupon I answered that such a famous and worthy prince as hee was wanted not people of all nations within his large dominions to interprete the same Then he questioned with me of the state of our Countreys and of the power of the Emperour of Almaine king Philip and the great Turke and which of them was of most power whom I answered to his contentation not dispraysing the great Turke their late concluded friendship considered Then he reasoned with mee much of Religion demaunding whether I were a Gower that is to say an vnbeleeuer or a Muselman that is of Mahomets lawe Unto whom I answered that I was neither vnbeleeuer nor Mahometan but a Christian. What is that said he vnto the king of the Georgians sonne who being a Christian was fled vnto the said Sophie and he answered that a Christian was he that beleeueth in Iesus Christus affirming him to be the Sonne of God and the greatest Prophet Doest thou beleeue so said the Sophie vnto me Yea that I do said I Oh thou vnbeleeuer said he we haue no neede to haue friendship with the vnbeleeuers and so willed me to depart I being glad thereof did reuerence and went my way being accompanied with many of his gentlemen and others and after me followed a man with a Basanet of sand sifting all the way that I had gone within the said pallace euen from the said Sophies sight vnto the court gate Thus I repaired againe vnto my lodging and the said
great charges of many customs and other things thereunto pertaining they are at the length brought into your countrey and cities of Persia. What merchandize are those sayd the Sophie Edwards answered that they were great abundance of fine karsies of broad clothes of all sorts câ—lours as skarlets violets and other of the finest cloth of all the world Also that the Venetians brought out of England not onely such clothes ready made but furthermore great plenty of fine wooll to mingle with their wools of which they could not otherwise make fine cloth affirming that there went out of England yeerly that waies aboue two hundred thousand karsies and as many broad clothes beside fine wooll other merchandize beside also the great abundance of like clothes the which were caried into Spaine Barbarie diuers other countries The Sophie then asked him by what means such merchandize might be brought into Persia. Right wel sir said he by the way of Moscouia with more safety and in much shorter time then the Venetians can bring them first from England to Genice and from thence into Persia by the way of Turkie And therefore if it shal please your maiestie to grant vs free passage into all your dominions with such priuileges as may appertaine to the safegard of our liues goods and merchandize we will furnish your countries with all such merchandize and other commodities in shorter time and better cheape then you may haue the same at the Turks hands This talke and much more was between the Sophie and Edwards for the space of two houres all which things liked him so well that shortly after he granted to the sayd Arthur Edwards other priuileges for the trade of merchandize into Persia all written in Azure and gold letters and deliuered vnto the lord keeper of the Sophie his great seale The lord keeper was named Coche Califay who sayd that when the Shaugh that is the king or prince did sit to seale any letters that last priuiledge should be sealed deliuered to Laurence Chapman In this priuiledge is one principall article for seruants or merchants That if the Agent do perceiue that vpon their naughtie doings they would become Busormen that then the Agent wheresoeuer he shall find any such seruant or seruants to take them and put them in prison and no person to keepe them or maintaine them This article was granted in respect of a custome among the Persians being Mahumetans whose maner is friendly to receiue and wel entertaine both with gifts and liuing all such Christians as forsaking their religion wil become of the religion of the Persians Insomuch that before this priuiledge was granted there was great occasion of naughty seruants to deceiue and rob their masters that vnder the colour of professing that religion they might liue among them in such safetie that you might haue no lawe agaynst them either to punish them or to recouer your goods at their hands or elsewhere For before the Sophie whom they say to be a maruelous wise and gracious prince seemed to fauour our nation and to grant them such priuiledges the people abused them very much and so hated them that they would not touch them but reuiled them calling them Cafars and Gawars which is infidels or misbeleeuers But after they saw how greatly the prince fauoured them they had them afterward in great reuerence and would kisse their hands and vse them very friendly For before they tooke it for no wrong to rob them defraud them beare false witnesse against them and such merchandizes as they had bought or sold make them take it againe and change it as often as them listed And if any stranger by chance had killed one of them they would haue the life of two for one slaine and for the debts of any straÌ„ger would take the goods of any other of the same nation with many other such like abuses in maner vnknowen to the prince before the complaints of our men made vnto him for reformation of such abuses which were the cause that no merchant strangers of contrary religioÌ„ durst come into his dominions with their commodities which might be greatly to the profite of him and his subiects The Articles of the second priuiledge deliuered to Laurence Chapman which are to be annexed vnto the former priuiledge 10 Item that the merchants haue free libertie as in their first priuiledge to goe vnto Gilan and all other places of his dominions now or hereafter when occasion shall be giuen 11 Item if by misfortune any of their ships should breake or fall vpon any part of his dominions on the sea coast his subiects to helpe with all speed to saue the goods and to be deliuered to any of the sayd merchants that liueth or otherwise to be kept in safetie vntil any of them come to demaund them 12 Item if any of the said merchants depart this life in any citie or towne or on the high way his gouernours there to see their goods safely kept and to be deliuered to any other of them that shall demand them 13 Item the said merchants to take such camel-men as they themselues wil being countrey people and that no Kissell Bash do let or hinder them And the said owners of the camels to bee bound to answere them such goods as they shal receiue at their hands and the camel-men to stand to the losses of their camels or horses 14 Item more that the sayd Catiers do demaund no more of them then their agreement was to pay them 15 Item more if they be at a price with any Cariers haue giuen earnest the camel-men to see they keepe their promise 16 Item if any of the said merchants be in feare to trauel to giue theÌ„ one or more to go with them and see them in safetie with their goods to the place they will goe vnto 17 Item in all places to say in all cities townes or villages on the high way his subiects to giue them honest roume and victuals for their money 18 Item the sayd merchants may in any place where they shall thinke best build or buy any house or houses to their owne vses And no person to molest or trouble them and to stand in any Carauan where they will or shal thinke good THe commodities which the merchants may haue by this trade into Persia are thought to bee great and may in time perhaps be greater then the Portugals trade into y e East Indies forasmuch as by the way of Persia into England the returne may be made euery yeere once whereas the Portugals make the returne from Calecut but once in two yeeres by a long and dangerous voiage all by sea for where as the citie and Island of Ormus lying in the gulfe of Persia is the most famous Mart towne of all East India whither al y e merchandises of India are brought the same may in shorter time and more safely be brought by land and riuers through Persia euen vnto the
bricke not hardened with fire but only dried at the sunne as is the most part of the building of all Persia. The king hath not come out of the compasse of his owne house in 33. or 34. yeeres whereof the cause is not knowen but as they say it is vpon a superstition of certaine prophesies to which they are greatly addicted he is now about 80. yeeres of age and very lusty And to keepe him the more lusty he hath 4. wiues alwayes and about 300. concubines and once in the yeere he hath all the faire maidens and wiues that may be found a great way about brought vnto him whom he diligently peruseth feeling them in all parts taking such as he liketh and putting away some of them which he hath kept before with them that he putteth away he gratifieth some such as hath done him the best seruice And if hee chance to take any mans wife her husband is very glad thereof and in recompense of her oftentimes he giueth the husband one of his old store whom he thankfully receiueth If any stranger being a Christian shall come before him he must put on a new paire of shooes made in that countrey and from the place where he entreth there is digged as it were a causey all the way vntil he come to the place where he shal talke with the kingâ— who standeth alwayes aboue in a gallerie when he talketh with any strangers and when the stranger is departed then is the causey cast downe and the ground made euen againe Of the religion of the Persians THeir religion is all one with the Turkes sauing that they differ who was â—he right successor of Mahumet The Turkes say that it was one Homer and his sonne Vsman But the Persians say that it was one Mortus Ali which they would prooue in this maner They say there was a counsell called to decide the matter who should be the successor and after they had called vpon Mahumet to reueale vnto them his will and pleasure therein there câ—me among them a litle Lizard who declared that it was Mahumets pleasure that Mortus Ali should be his successor This Mortus Ali was a valiant man and slew Homer the Turkes prophet He had a sword that hee fought withall with the which hee conquered all his enemies and killed as many as he stroke When Mortus Ali died there came a holy prophet who gaue them warning that shortly there would come a white Camell vpon the which he charged them to lay the body and sword of Mortus Ali and to suffer the Camel to cary it whither he would The which being performed the said white camell caried the sword body of Mortus Ali vnto the sea side and the camell going a good way into the sea was with the body sword of Mortus Ali taken vp into heauen for whose return they haue long looked in Persia. And for this cause the king alwayes keepeth a horse ready sadled for him and also of late kept for him one of his owne daughters to be his wife but she died in the yere of our Lord 1573. And they say furthermore y t if he come not shortly they shal be of our beliefe much like the Iewes looking for their Messias to come reigne â—mong them like a worldly king for euer and deliuer them from the captiuitie which they are now in among the Christians Turkes and Gentiles The Shaugh or king of Persia is nothing in strength power comparable vnto the Turke for although he hath a great Dominion yet is it nothing to be compared with the Turks neither hath he any great Ordinance or gunnes or harquebusses Notwithstanding his eldest sonne Ismael about 25. yeeres past fought a great battell with the Turke and slew of his armie about an hundreth thousand men who after his returne was by his father cast into prison and there continueth vntil this day for his father the Shaugh had him in suspicion that he would haue put him downe and haue taken the regiment vnto himselfe Their opinion of Christ is that he was an holy man and a great Prophet but not like vnto Mahumet saying that Mahumet was the last prophet by whom all things were finished was therefore the greatest To prooue that Christ was not Gods sonne they say that God had neuer wife and therefore could haue no sonne or children They go on pilgrimage from the furthest part of Persia vnto Mecha in Arabia and by the way they visite also the sepulchre of Christ at Ierusalem which they now call Couch Kaly The most part of spices which commeth into Persia is brought from the Island of Ormus situate in the gulfe of Persia called Sinus Persicus betweene the maine land of Persia and Arabia c. The Portingals touch at Ormus both in their voyage to East India and homeward againe and from thence bring all such spices as are occupied in Persia and the regions thereabout for of pepper they bring very small quantitie and that at a very deare price The Turkes oftentimes bring pepper from Mecha in Arabia which they sell as good cheape as that which is brought from Ormus Silkes are brought from no place but are wrought all in their owne countrey Ormus is within two miles of the maine land of Persia and the Portingals fetch their fresh water there for the which they pay tribute to the Shaugh or king of Persia. Within Persia they haue neither gold nor siluer mines yet haue they coined money both of gold and siluer and also other small moneys of copper There is brought into Persia an incredible summe of Dutch dollars which for the most part are there imploied in raw silke They haue few bookes and lesse learning and are for the most part very brutish in all kind of good sciences sauing in some kind of silke works and in such things as pertaine to the furniture of horses in the which they are passing good Their lawes are as in their religion wicked and detestable And if any man offend the prince he punisheth it extremely not onely in the person that offendeth but also in his children and in as many as are of his kin Theft and murther are often punished yet none otherwise then pleaseth him that is ruler in the place where the offence is committed and as the partie offending is able to make friends or with money to redeeme his offence There is oftentimes great mutinie among the people in great Townes which of Mortus Ali his sonnes was greatest insomuch that sometimes in the towne two or three thousand people are together by the eares for the same as I haue seene in the towne of Shamaky and Ardouil and also in the great City of Teueris where I haue seene a man comming from fighting in a brauerie bringing in his hand foure or fiue mens heads carying them by the haire of the head for although they shaue their heads most commonly
and are extant in our booke of lawes vnder the title Manhelge cap. 5. Whosoeuer selleth a freeman any man much more a sonne vnto strangers c. Now if any man be driuen to that hard fortune that he must needs commit his owne sonne into the hands of some inhabitant or stranger being vrged thereunto by famine or any other extreame necessity that he may not be constrained to see him hungerstarued for want of sustenance but keepeth his dogge still for his owne eating this man is not to be sayd that he esteemeth equally or more basely of his sonne then of his dogge whether Islanders or any other countreymen do the same The Germane or the Danish mariners might perhaps find amongst vs certaine beggars laden with children for we haue here a great number of them who in iesting maner for they are much giuen to trifling talke might say Giue me this or sell me that aâ—d when the stranger should aske What will you giue me for it the begger might answere I haue ten or foureteene children I will giue you some one or more of them c. For this rabble of beggers vseth thus fondly to prate with strangers Now if there be any well disposed man who pitying the need and folly of these beggers releaseth them of one sonne and doth for Gods sake by some meanes prouide for him in another countrey doth the begger therefore who together with his sonne being ready to die for hunger and pouerty yeeldeth and committeth his sonne into the hands of a mercifull man make lesse account of his sonne then of his dogge Such works of loue and mercie haue bene performed by many aswell Islanders themselues as strangers one of which number was that honourable man Accilius Iulius being sent by the most gracious King of Denmarke into Island in the yere of our Lord 1552 who as I haue heard tooke and carried with him into Denmarke fiftene poore boyes where afterward it was reported vnto me that by his good meanes euery one of them being bound to a seuerall trade proued good and thriftie men What if some man be driuen to that passe that he doth not onely sell his sonne but not finding a chapman his owne selfe killeth and cateth him Examples of this kinde be common namely of the vnwilling and forced cruelty of parents towards their children not being pricked on through hate or want of naturall affection but being compelled thereunto by vrgent necessity Shall any man hereupon ground a generall reproch against a whole nation We reade that in the siege of Samaria two mothers sâ—ew their sonnes aud eat them sodden 4. King chap. 6. We reade in the siege of Ierusalem how lamentable the voice of that distressed mother was being about to kill her tender childe My sweet babe sayth she sor I will report Eusebius owne words concerning this matter though very common that the affection of a mother may appeare borne to miserie and mishap for whom should I conueniently reserue thee in this tumult of famine of warre and sedition If we be subdued to the gouernment of the Romans we shall weare out our vnhappy dayes vnder the yoke of slauery But I thinke famine will preuent captiuity Besides there is a rout of seditious rebels much more intollerable then either of the former miseries Come on therefore my sonne be thou meat vnto thy mother a fury to these rebels and a by-word in the common life of men which one thing onely is wanting to make vp the calamities of the Iewes These sayings being ended she killeth her sonne roasting and eating one halfe and reseruing the other c. Eusebius lib. 3. cap. 6. Now what man will not beleeue that this vnhappy mother would full gladly haue passed ouer this her sonne into the possession of some master or chapman if she could haue happened vpon any such with whom she thought he might haue beene preserued That famine is well knowen which oppressed Calagurium a city of Spaine when in olde time Câ—cius Pompeius layed siege thereunto Valerius lib. 7. cap. 7. the citizens whereof conuerted their wiues and children into meat for the satisfying of their extreame hunger whom doubtlesse they would with all their hearts haue solde for other victuals That famine also is well knowen which in the yere of our Lord 851 Vincent lib. 25. cap. 26. afflicted Germany insomuch that the father was glad to deuoure his owne sonne It is well knowen after the death of the Emperour Henry the seuenth in a famine continuing three whole yeres how the parents would deuoure their children and the children their parents and that especially in Polonia and Bohemia And that we may not onely allege ancient examples it is reported that there was such a grieuous dearth of corne in the yeeres 1586 and 1587 thorowout Hungary that some being compelled for want of food were faine to sell their children vnto the most bloudy and barbarous enemy of Christians and so to enthrall them to the perpetuall yoke of Turkish slauery and some are sayd to haue taken their children whom they could no longer sustaine aâ—d with cruell mercy to haue cast them into Danubius and drowned them But should these stories and the like make any man so mad as to affirme that this or that nation accustometh to kill their children for their owne food and to sell them willingly vnto the Turks or to drowne and strangle them willingly in the water I cannot thinke it So neither because beggers in Island being enforced through extreame and biting necessitie do willingly part with their sonnes is this custome generally to be imputed vnto the whole nation and that by way of dâ—sgrace by any man except it be such an one who hath taken his leaue of all modesty plaine dealing humanity and trueth But I could wish that the loue of dogges in Islanders might be more sparingly reprehended by those people whose matrons and specially their noble women take so great delight in dogs that they carry them in their bosomes thorow the open streetes I will not say in Churches which fashion Caesar blamed in certaine strangers whom he saw at Rome carrying about yoong apes and whelpes in their armes asking them this question Whether women in their countrey brought foorth children or no signifying heereby that they do greatly offend who bestow vpon beasts these naturall affections wherewith they should be inuited to the loue of mankinde and specially of their owne ofspring which strange pleasure neuer ouertooke nor possessed the nation of the Islanders Wherefore now Munster and Krantzius you must finde vs out other marks of Christianity of the law of nature of the Germans law and of holy simplicity The eight section They honour their Bishop as their King vnto whose command all the whole people haue respect Whatsoeuer he prescribeth out of the law the scriptures or the customes of other nations they do full holily obserue THere was indeed at the beginning about the time of the
reformation of religion great reuerence had vnto the bishop but neuer so great that our politique lawes at the bishops command should giue place to outlandish lawes customes Neither in the time of Albertus Krantzius much lesse of Munster of which two the first deceased in the yere of our Lord 1517 and the second 1552 the bishops of Island had the authority of kings when as many of the country which were of the richer sort would not doubt to rebell against them which thing is too well knowen in our countrey Yet in the meane time the bishops being terrible with their authority of excommunication reduced some vnder their subiection and others at that time they cruelly persecuted Moreouer albeit at that time the bishop was had in great yea in exceeding great reuerence yet now adayes the darkenesse of popery being dispelledâ— the deuill assaulteth men after another sort and euen here amongst vs he is not slacke to arme their minds with contempt and peruerse stubburnnesse against God and his holy ministery The ninth section They liue there for the most part vpon fishes because of their great want of corne which is brought in from the port townes of other countreys who cary home fishes from thence with great gaine Also Munster sayth they do there vse stockefish in stead of bread which groweth not in that countrey COnsider friendly reader how Munster is delighted to harpe vpon one string that when he can write nothing of an vnknowen nation which may cary any shew with it he is faine either to bring in falshood or often to repeat the same things so to become tedious vnto his reader for he sayd a little before that the Islanders liue vpon fish His words aboue recited were these Island conteineth many people liuing onely with the food of cattell and sometimes by taking of fishes Aâ—d that I may omit the rest in which some trifle might be noted whereas he sayeth that bread groweth not in Island it is most true which I thinke is common therewith to Germany also because bread groweth not there neither except it be in Munsters field where naturall vineger also doth marueilously encrease But these toyes by the liberty of rethoricke forsooth shall be out of danger Howbeit vnto these reproches which strangers do gather from the meats and drinks of the Islanders we will hereafter briefly answere Sect. 15. The tenth section The inhabitants do celebrate the actes of their ancestours and of their times with songs and they graue them in rocks and promontories that they may not decay with posterity but onely by the defect of nature There be diuers found amongst them that be minstrels and can play vpon the lute who with their delectable musicke do ensnare and take both fowles and fishes WE denie not but that some woorthy actes of our forefathers be reserued in the songs and poemes of our countreymen as also in prose but that the same things haue beene engrauen by vs or by our ancestours in rocks or promontories we may in no case acknowledge that praise to be due vnto vs nor yet the other of minstrels and taking of birds and fishes For we holde it to be the part of an honest and ingenuous mind as to refute false crimes so not to challenge vndeserued praise vnto himselfe nor to accept it being offered The eleuenth section BUt now let this be the end of our controuersie with the authours aforesayd being otherwise men of excellent learning and of great renoume who notwithstanding so inconsiderately haue entermedled these things in their writings And now the better part of my labour is finished But yet there remaines that viperous German brood the mother whereof would haue it come to light as it were at a second birth without name that it might so much the more freely wound the fame of the Islanders with venemous sting Moreouer although I be not afrayd to encounter with this beast yet would I haue all men to know with what minde I vndertake this enterprise namely not that I meane to contend with his pestiferous rancour by reproches and railing speeches for as it is in the common prouerbe I know that if I striue with dung most vile How ere it be my selfe I shall defile but that I may satisfie all honest and well affected men euen strangers themselues who shall hereafter reade or heare or haue heretofore heard that Germane pasquill least they also should thinke that we woorthily sustaine so monstrous a disgrace and also that I may from henceforth if it be possible restraine others who vse those venemous Germaine rimes to the vpbrading of our nation and from hence borrow their scoffes and reprochfull taunts to the debasing of vs Iselanders from that libertie of backbiting Therefore that I may not be tedious to the reader with long circumstances I will come to the rehearsing of those things which that railing Germane hath heaped vp in his leud pasquill whom also I could bring in repeating his friendly verses of the Islanders within the compasse of this my booke but that I doe foresee that the sayd slanderous libell being stuffed with so many and diuers reproches might breed offence to all honest men and deterre them from reading it with the filthinesse thereof I will therefore repeat the principall matters omitting those things which he hath common with others or that heretofore haue beene examined but farre more modestly then he least as I sayd I cause good and learned meâ—s eares to tingle at his leud and vnseemely rimes they that are desirous to see or heare him let them enquire at the Stationers It is no part of our meaning I say to defile these papers with his stinking slanders or with the filthy sinke of his reproches First therefore this our goodly Germane Historiographer obiecteth that there be many Pastours in Island which preach not to their people once in two yeres as it is read in the former edition of this pasquill which notwithstanding the latter edition doth refute saying that the sayd Pastours vse to preach but fiue times in an whole yeere which two how well they agree together let the reader be iudge seeing it is manifest that the authour himselfe presently after thé first edition had scarse seene Island So oftentimes one lie betrayeth another according to that saying Trueth agreeth vnto trueth but falshood agreeth neither to trueth nor to falshood But sâ—â—h it is our part not to dissemble the trueth in any place we will not denie that holy sermons about the time wherein this sycophant liued in Island namely in the yere 1554 were seldomer in vse then they are at this day namely the darkenesse of popery being scarsely at that time dispelled Which also is to be vnderstood concerning the Psalmes of Dauid mumbled by the common people in Latine as he casteth vs in the teeth for the Papists grounding all the hope of their saluation in the Masse did little regard the
it be some fewe relations Moreouer as touching Gronland we holde this from the opinion of our auncestours that from the extreeme part of Norway which is called Biarmlandia and from whence the saide Gronland is not farre distant it fetcheth about the Northren coast of Island with an huge circuit in maner of an halfe Moone Our Chronicles likewise doe testifie that our owne countreymen in times past resorted thither for traffique and also that the very same countrey of Gronland had certaine Bishops in the dayes of Poperie More then this we cannot auouch But now it is reported that your Englishmen whom I may almost call the lordes of the Ocean sea make yeerely voyages vnto Gronland concerning which matter if you please to giue me further aduertisement you shall doe me an especial fauour Moreouer whatsoeuer newes you heare concerning the affaires of England or of other Countreys thereabout I pray you make vs acquainted therewith Thus reuerend six wishing you long life for the seruice of God for the increase of learning and the benefit of the people committed to your charge I bid you farewel From Island vpon the feast of the visitation of the blessed Uirgine Mary Anno Dom. 1595. Yours Gudbrandus Thorlacius Bishop of Hola in Island The miraculous victory atchieued by the English Fleete vnder the discreet and happy conduct of the right honourable right prudent and valiant lord the L. Charles Howard L. high Admirall of England c. Vpon the Spanish huge Armada sent in the yeere 1588. for the inuasion of England together with the wofull and miserable successe of the said Armada afterward vpon the coasts of Norway of the Scottish Westerne Isles of Ireland of Spaine of France and of England c. Recorded in Latine by Emanuel van Meteran in the 15. booke of his history of the low Countreys HAuing in part declared the strange and wonderfull euents of the yeere eightie eight which hath bene so long time foretold by ancient prophesies we will now make relation of the most notable and great enterprise of all others which were in the foresaid yeere atchieued in order as it was done Which exploit although in very deed it was not performed in any part of the low Countreys was intended for their ruine and destruction And it was the expedition which the Spanish king hauing a long time determined the same in his minde and hauing consulted thereabout with the Pope set foorth and vndertooke against England and the low Countreys To the end that he might subdue the Realme of England and reduce it vnto his catholique Religion and by that meanes might be sufficiently reuenged for the disgrace contempt and dishonour which hee hauing 34. yeeres before enforced them to the Popes obedience had endured of the English nation and for diuers other iniuries which had taken deepe impression in his thoughts And also for that hee deemed this to bee the most readie and direct course whereby hee might recouer his heredetarie possession of the lowe Countreys hauing restrained the inhabitants from sayling vpon the coast of England Which verily vpon most weighty arguments and euident reasons was thought would vndoubtly haue come to passe considering the great aboundance and store of all things necessary wherewith those men were furnished which had the managing of that action committed vnto them But now let vs describe the matter more particularly The Spanish King hauing with small fruite and commoditie for aboue twentie yeeres together waged warre against the Netherlanders after deliberation with his counsellers thereabout thought it most conuenient to assault them once againe by Sea which had bene attempted sundry times heretofore but not with forces sufficient Unto the which expedition it stoode him nowe in hand to ioyne great puissance as hauing the English people his professed enemies whose Island is so situate that it may either greatly helpe or hinder all such as saile into those parts For which cause hee thought good first of all to inuade England being perswaded by his Secretary Escouedo and by diuers other well experienced Spaniards and Dutchmen and by many English fugitiues that the conquest of that Iland was lesse difficult then the conquest of Holland and Zeland Moreouer the Spaniards were of opinion that it would bee farre more behoueful for their King to conquere England and the lowe Countreys all at once then to be constrained continually to maintaine a warlike Nauie to defend his East and West Indie Fleetes from the English Drake and from such like valiant enemies And for the same purpose the king Catholique had giuen commandement long before in Italy and Spaine that a great quantitie of timber should be felled for the building of shippes and had besides made great preparation of things and furniture requisite for such an expedition as namely in founding of brasen Ordinance in storing vp of corne and victuals in trayning of men to vse warlike weapons in leauying and mustering of souldiers insomuch that about the beginning of the yeere 1588. he had finished such a mightie Nauie and brought it into Lisbon hauen as neuer the like had before that time sailed vpon the Ocean sea A very large and particular description of this Nauie was put in print and published by the Spaniards wherein were set downe the number names and burthens of the shippes the number of Mariners and souldiers throughout the whole Fleete likewise the quantitie of their Ordinance of their armour of bullets of match of gun-poulder of victuals and of all their Nauall furniture was in the saide description particularized Unto all these were added the names of the Gouernours Captaines Noblemen and gentlemen voluntaries of whom there was so great a multitude that searce was there any family of accompt or any one principall man throughout all Spaine that had not a brother sonne or kinseman in that Fleete who all of them were in good hope to purchase vnto themselues in that Nauie as they termed it inuincible endlesse glory and renowne and to possesse themselues of great Seigniories and riches in England and in the lowe Countreys But because the said description was translated and published out of Spanish into diuers other languages we will here onely make an abridgemeut or briefe rehearsall thereof Portugal furnished and set foorth vnder the conduct of the duke of Medina Sidonia generall of the Fleete ten Galeons two Zabraes 1300. Mariners 3300. souldiers 300. great pieces with all requisite furniture Biscay vnder the conduct of Iohn Martines de Ricalde Admiral of the whole Fleete set forth tenne Galeons 4. Pataches 700. mariners 2000. souldiers 250. great pieces c. Guipusco vnder the conduct of Michael de Oquendo tenne Galeons 4. Pataches 700. mariners 2000. souldiers 310. great pieces Italy with the Leuant Islands vnder Martine de Vertendona 10. Galeons 800. mariners 2000. souldiers 310. great pieces c. Castile vnder Diego Flores de Valdez 14. Galeons two Pataches 1700. mariners 2400. souldiers and 380. great pieces
corporis dotes Constantius Chlorus Caesar illam duxit in vxorem atque ex eà filium in Britanniâ genuit Constantinum Magnum Sed eo tandem Eboraci defuncto cum Annâ illâ Euangelicâ in sanctâ viduitate perdurauit ad vltimum vitae diem tota Christianae religioni dedita Sunt enim authores qui narrent per istam cessante persecutione pacem Ecclesijs datam Ad tantam coelestis Philosophiae cognitionem eam ferunt post agnitum Euangelium peruenisse vt olim multos ediderit libros carmina quaedam Graeca quae hucúsque à Pontico superesse perhibentur Visionibus admonita Hierosolymam petijt omnia saluatoris loca perlustrauit Romae tandem octogenaria foeliciter in Christo quieuit .15 Kalendas Septembris filio adhuc superstite anno salutis humanae 337. Regnante apud Britannos Octauio Huius corpus non minimâ nunc curâ Venetijs seruatur The same in English HElena Flauia Augusta the heire and onely daughter of Coelus sometime the most excellent king of Britaine the mother of the Emperour Constantine the great by reason of her singular beautie faith religion goodnesse and godly Maiestie according to the testimonie of Eusebius was famous in all the world Amongst all the women of her time there was none either in the liberall arts more learned or in instruments of musike more skilfull or in the diuers languages of nations more abundant then herselfe She had a naturall quicknesse or excellency of wit eloquence of speech and a most notable grace in all her behauiour She was seene in the Hebrew Greeke and Latine tougues Her father as Virumnius reporteth had no other childe to succeed in the kingdome after him but her and therefore caused her to be instructed in these things by the best teachers that thereby she might the better in time gouerne the Realme so that by reason of her passing beautie and other her excellent giftes of body and minde Constantius Chlorus the Emperour married her and had by her a sonne called Constantine the great while hee remained in Britaine Who at length deceasing at Yorke this Helena no otherwise then Anna of whom mention is made in the new Testament continued a vertuous and holy widow to the end of her life There are some writers which doe affirme that persecution ceased and peace was granted to the Christian Churches by her good meanes After the light and knowledge of the Gospel she grewe so skilfull in diuinitie that shee wrote and composed diuers bookes and certaine Greeke verses also which as Ponticus reporteth are yet extant Being warned by some visions she went to Ierusalem and visiâ—ed all the places there which Christ had frequented She liued to the age of fourescore yeeres and then died at Rome the 15. day of August in the yeere of our redemption 337. Octauius being then king of Britaine and her sonne Constantine the Emperour then also liuing and her body is to this day very carefully preserued at Venice The life and trauels of Constantine the great Emperour and King of Britaine FLauius Constantinus cognomento Magnus post Genitorem CoÌ„stantium Britannorum Rex ac Romanorum Caesar Augustus ex Britannica matre in Britannia natus in Britannia creatus Imperator patriam natalem magnificè suae gloriae participem fecit Prosâ—igatis Alemanis Hispanis Francis eorúmque Regibus pro spectaculo bestijs obiectis Galliam subiectam tenuit Tres Helenae matris auunculos Britannos Leolinum Traherum Marium quos caeteris semper fidentiores habuerat in suis fortunis Italis à Maxentij tyrannide foelicitèr liberatis in Senatorum ordinem Romae promouir Innumerae in eo vt Eutropius habet claruêre tam animi quà m corporis virtutes dum appetentissimus esset gloriae militaris successu semper in bellis prospero Inter literas tam Graecas quà m Latinas à Christianissima matre Helena Christi fidem edoctus eos honorabat praecipuè qui in Philosophia Christiana vitam reclinassent Vnde ab Oceani finibus nempe Britannis incipiens ope fretus diuina religionis curam in medijs superstitionum tenebris cepit ab Occiduis ad Indos innumerasad aeternae spem vitae erigens gentes Animum diuinis exercendo studijs noctes trahebat insomnes quaesita scribendi diuerticula per otium frequentabat Imperium oratione ac Sanctis operationibus continendum ratus Egregius Christianae disciplinae praeco filios ac proceres docuit pietatem diuitijs omnibus at que adeò ipsi anteferre totius mundi Monarchiae Falsorum deorum euerfor Imaginum cultus per Graeciam AEgyptum Persiam Asiam vniuersam ditionem Romanam repetitis abrogat legibus iubens peredicta Christum coli Euangelium predicarisacrum Ministris honores alimentâ— dari atque idolorum vbÃque destrui templa Et vt fidei forma cunctis videretur Euangelium Iesu Christi ante se semper ferri fecir Biblia sacra ad omnes prouincias destinari diademá que Monarchicum primus Britannis regibus dedit Ecclesijs infinita praestiâ—it agros annonam stipem egenis aegris viduis ac orphanis pro quibusque vt pater sollicitus Eusebium Lactantium similes familiarissimos habuit hanc ad Deum orationem indiès ipsis in eius vita testibus fudit Vnum te Deum esse nouimus vnum te Regem intelligimus appellamus adiutorem nobis abs te victoria cecidit ex te Aduersarium fudimus c. Pro delicijs habuit vt Sextus Aurelianus tradit literarum studia colere bonos artes fouere legere scribere meditari composuit Graecè Latinè multos libros Epistolas E vita Nicomedie discessit Senex aetatis suae Anno 66. Imperij 32 à Christi verò incarnatione 339. Constantinopli sepultus Octauio in Británijs regnante Eius vitam in quatuor libris Eusebius Caesariensis Graecè scripsit Ioannes Portesius Gallus in Latinum transtulit sermonem ¶ The same in English FLauius Constantine surnamed the great king of the Britaine 's after his father and Emperor of the Romanes borne in Britanie of Helena his mother and there created Emperour made his natiue countrey partaker of his singular glory and renoume Hauing conquered and put to flight the Almanes Spaniards Frenchmen and their Kings for a spectacle throwen out to wild beasts he held France it selfe as subiect vnto him and hauing happily deliuered the Italians from the tyrannie of Maxentius he preferred three of his mothers vncles all Britaines namely Leoline Trahere and Marius whom in all his actions he had found more faithfull vnto him then any others to be of the order of the Romane Senators Eutropius reporteth that he infinitely excelled in the vertues both of the mind and body also and that hauing a pleasure in the practise of warre and in the iust commendation of Martiall prowesse he neuer pitched his field but his successe in the battel was alwayes victorious His mother Helena hauing
honorable presents And a litle afterward Upon the hearing of these newes the emperor departed with great ioy out of England whom the king honoured with many precious gifts The Voiage of the bishop of VVinchester to Ierusalem in the sixe yeere of the reigne of Henry the fift which was the yeere of our Lord 1417. Thomas Walsing VLtimo die mensis Octobris episcopus Wintoniensis accessit ad concilium Constanciense peregrinaturus Hierosolymam post electioneÌ„ summi pontificis celebratam vbi tantum valuit elus facunda persuasio vâ— excitaret dominos Cardinales ad concordiam ad electionem summi pontificis se ocyâ—s praepararent The same in English THe last day of October the bishop of Winchester came to the Councell of Constance which after the chusing of the Pope determined to take his iourney to Ierusalem where his eloquent perswasion so much preuailed that he both perswaded my lords the Cardinals to vnity and concord and also moued them to proceed more speedily to the election of the Pope A preparation of a voyage of King Henrie the fourth to the Holy land against the infidels in the yere 1413 being the last yere of his reigne wherein he was preuented by death written by Walsingham Fabian Polydore Virgile and Holenshed IN this foureteenth and last yere of king Henries reigne a councell was holden in the White friets in London at the which among other things order was taken for ships and gallies to be builded and made ready and all other things necessary to be prouided for a voyage which he meant to make into the Holy land there to recouer the city of Ierusalem from the infidels for it grieued him to consider the great malice of Christian princes that were bent vpon a mischieuous purpose to destroy one another to the perill of their owne soules rather then to make warre against the enemies of the Christian faith as in conscience it seemed to him they were bound We finde sayeth Fabian in his Chronicle that he was taken with his last sickenesse while he was making his prayers at Saint Edwards shrine there as it were to take his leaue and so to proceede foorth on his iourney He was so suddenly and grieuously taken that such as were about him feared least he would haue died presently wherefore to relieâ—e him if it were possible they bare him into a chamber that was next at hand belonging to the Abbot of Westminster where they layd him on a pallet before the fire and vsed all remedies to reuiue him At length he recouered his speech and perceiuing himselfe in a strange place which he knew not he willed to knowe if the chamber had any particular name whereunto answere was made that it was called Ierusalem Then sayde the king Laâ—des be giuen to the father of heauen for now I knowe that I shall die here in this chamber according to the prophesie of mee declared that I should depart this life in Ierusalem Of this intended voyage Polydore Virgile writeth in manner following POst haec Henricus Rex memor nihil homini debere esse entiquius quà m ad officium iustiâ—iae quae ad hominum vellitatem perâ—inet omne suum studium conferre protinùs omisso ciuili bello quo pudebat videre Christianos omni tempore turpitèr occupari de republica Anglica benè gubernanda de bello in hostes communes sumendo de Hierosolymis tandem aliquando recipiendis plura destinabat classemque iam parabat cum ei talia agenti atque meditanti casus mortem attulit subito enim morbo tentatus nulla medicina subleuari potuit Mortuus est apud Westmonasterium annum agens quadragesimum sextum qui fuit annus salutis humanae 1413. The same in English AFterward King Henry calling to minde that nothing ought to be more highly esteemed by any man then to doe the vtmost of his indâ—uour for the performance of iustice which â—endeth to the good and benefite of mankinde altogether abandoning ciuill warre wherewith he was ashamed to see how Christians at all times were dishonourably busied cutered into a more derye consideration of well gouerning his Realme of England of waging warre against the common enemie and of recouering in processe of time the citie of Ierusalem yea and was prouiding a nauie for the same purpose whenas in the very midst of this his heroâ—call action and enterprise he was surprised with death for falling into a sudden disease he could not be cured by any kinde of phisicke He deceased at Westminster in the 46 yeare of his age which was in the yeere of our Lord 1413. A briefe relation of the siege and taking of the Citie of Rhodes by Sultan Soliman the great Turke translated out of French into English at the motion of the Reuerend Lord Thomas Dockwray great Prior of the order of Ierusalem in England in the yeere 1524. WIlling faithfully to write and reduce in veritie Historiall the great siege cruel oppugnation and piteous taking of the noble and renowmed citie of Rhodes the key of Christendome the hope of many poore Christian men withholden in Turkie to saue and keepe them in their faith the rest and yeerely solace of noble pilgrimes of the holy supulchre of Iesu Christ and other holy places the refuge and refreshing of all Christian people hauing course of marchandise in the parties of Leuant I promise to all estates that shall see this present booke that I haue left nothing for feare of any person nor preferred it for fauour And first I shall shewe the occasions that mooued this cruell bloodshedder enemie of our holy Christian faith Sultan Soliman now being great Turke to come with a great hoste by sea and by lande to besiege and assayle the space of sixe moneths night and day the noble and mightie citie of Rhodes The yere of the incarnation of our Lord Iesu Christ 1522. The occasions why the great Turke came to besiege the Citie of Rhodes THe first and principall cause was that he did consider and sawe by experience that there was none other Towne nor place in Leuant that warred against him nor kept him in doubt but this poore rocke of Rhodes And hearing the continuall complaintes of his subiectes aswell of Syria as of Turkie for the domages and prises dayly done of their bodies and goods by Christian men of warre receiued into Rhodes And also of the shippes and gallies of the religion he tooke conclusion in himselfe that if he might put the sayde Towne in his power and subiection that then he should be peaceable lord of all the parties of Leuant and that his subiects should complaine no more to him The second that he might followe the doings of his noble predecessouâ—s and shewe himselfe very heire of the mightie and victorious lord Sultan Selim his father willing to put in execution the enterprise by him left the yeere one thousand fiue hundred twentie and one The which Selim the great Turke put in all
We found it here very hote The winter beginneth here about the last of May. In these partes is a porte or hauen called Masulipatan which standeth eight dayes iourney from hence toward the gulfe of Bengala whether come many shippes out of India Pegu and Sumatra very richly laden with Pepper spices and other commodities The countrie is very good and fruitfull From thence I went to Seruidore which is a fine countrey and the king is called the king of Bread The houses here bee all thâ—tched and made of lome Here be many Moores and Gentiles but there is small religion among them From thence I went to Bellapore and so to Barrampore which is in the country of Zelabdim Echebar In this place their money is made of a kind of siluer round and thicke to the value of twentie pence which is very good siluer It is marueilous great and a populous countrey In their winter which is in Iune Iuly and August there is no passing in the streetes but with horses the waters be so high The houses are made of lome and thatched Here is great store of cotton cloth made and painted clothes of cotton wooll here groweth great store of corne and Rice We found mariages great store both in townes and villages in many places where wee passed of boyes of eight or ten yeeres and girles of fiue or six yeeres old They both do ride vpon one horse very trimly decked and are caried through the towne with great piping and playing and so returne home and eate of a banket made of Rice and fruits and there they daunce the most part of the night and so make an ende of the marriage They lie not together vntill they be ten yeeres old They say they marry their children so yoong because it is an order that when the man dieth the woman must be burned with him so that if the father die yet they may haue a father in lawe to helpe to bring vp the children which bee maried and also that they will not leaue their sonnes without wiues nor their daughters without husbands From thence we went to Mandoway which is a very strong towne It was besieged twelue yeeres by Zelabdim Echebar before hee could winne it It standeth vpon a very great high rocke as the most part of of their castles doe and was of a very great circuite From hence wee went to Vgini and Serringe where wee ouertooke the ambassadour of Zelabdim Echebar with a marueilous great company of men elephants and camels Here is great trade of cotton and cloth made of cotton and great store of drugs From thence we went to Agra passing many riuers which by reason of the raine were so swollen that wee waded and swamme oftentimes for our liues Agra is a very great citie and populous built with stone hauing faire and large streetes with a faire riuer running by it which falleth into the gulfe of Bengala It hath a faire castle and a strong with a very faire ditch Here bee many Moores and Gentiles the king is called Zelabdim Echebar the people for the most part call him The great Mogor From thence wee went for Fatepore which is the place where the king kept his court The towne is greater then Agra but the houses and streetes be not so faire Here dwell many people both Moores and Gentiles The king hath in Agra and Fatepore as they doe crâ—dibly report 1000. elephants thirtie thousand horses 1400. tame Deere 800. concubines such store of Ounces Tigera Buffles Cocks Haukes that is very strange to see He keepeth a great court which they call Dericcan Agra and Fatepore are two very great cities either of them much greater then London and very populous Betweene Agra and Fatepore are 12. miles and all the way is a market of victuals other things as full as though a man were still in a towne and so many people as if a man were in a market They haue many fine cartes and many of them carued and gilded with gold with two wheeles which be drawen with two litle Buls about the bignesse of our great dogs in England and they will runne with any horse and carie two or three men in one of these cartes they are couerâ—d with silke or very fine cloth and be vsed here as our Coches be in England Hither is great resort of marchants from Persia and out of India and very much marchandise of silke and cloth and of precious stones both Rubies Diamants and Pearles The king is apparelled in a white Cabie made like a shirt tied with strings on the one side and a litle cloth on his head coloured oftentimes with red or yealow None come into his house but his eunuches â—hich keepe his women Here in Fatepore we staied all three vntill the 28. of September 1585. and then master Iohn Newberie tooke his iourney toward the citie of Lahor determining from thence to goe for Persia and then for Aleppo or Constantinople whether hee could get soonest passage vnto and directed me to goe for Bengala and for Pegu and did promise me if it pleased God to meete me in Bengala within two yeeres with a shippe out of England I left William Leades the ieweller in seruice with the king Zelabdim Echebar in Fatepore who did entertaine him very well and gaue him an house and fiue slaues an horse and euery day sixe S. S. in money I went from Agra to Satagam in Bengala in the companie of one hundred and fourescore boates laden with Salt Opium Hinge Lead Carpets and diuers other commodities downe the riuer Iemena The chiefe marchants are Moores and Gentiles In these countries they haue many strange ceremonies The Bramanes which are their priests come to the water and haue a string about their necks made with great ceremonies and lade vp water with both their hands and turne the string first with both their hands within and then one arme after the other out Though it be neuer so cold they will wash themselues in cold water or in warme These Gentiles will eate no flesh nor kill any thing They liue with rice butter milke and fruits They pray in the water naked and dresse their meat eate it naked and for their penance they lie flat vpon the earth and rise vp and turne themselues about 30. or 40. times and vse to heaue vp their hands to the sunne to kisse the earth with their armes and legs stretched along out and their right leg alwayes before the left Euery time they lie downe they make a score on the ground with their finger to know when their stint is finished The Bramanes marke themselues in the foreheads eares and throates with a kind of yellow geare which they grind euery morning they do it And they haue some old men which go in the streetes with a boxe of yellow pouder and marke men on their heads necks as they meet them And
the Queenes Maiestie my Mistresse and that hee had sent them to attend vpon me it being his pleasure that I should tarie there on shoare fiue or sixe dayes for my refreshing So being mounted vpon the Iennet they conducted mee through the Towne into a faire fielde vpon the Sea-side where was a tent prouided for mee and all the ground spread wâ—th Turkie carpets and the Castle discharged a peale of ordinance and all things necessarie were brought into my tent where I both tooâ—e my table and lodging and had other conuenient tents for my seruants The souldiers enuironed the tents and watched about vs day and night as long as I lay there although I sought my speedier dispatch On the Wednesday towards night I tooke my horse and traueiled ten miles to the first place of water that we could finde and there pitched our tents till the next morning and so traueiled till ten of the clocke and then pitched our tents till foure and so traueiled as long as day light would suffer about 26 miles that day The next day being Friday I traueiled in like order but eight and twentie miles at the most and by a Riuer being about sixe miles within sight of the Citie of Marocco we pitched our tents Immediatly after came all our English marchants and the French on horsebacke to meete me and before night there came an Alcayde from the king with fiftie men diuers mules laden with victuall and banker for my supperâ— declaring vnto me how glad the king shewed himsâ—lfe to heare of the Queenes Maiestie and that his pleasure was I should be receiued into his countrey as neuer any Christian the like and desired to knowe what time the next day I would come into his citie because he would that all the Christians as also his nobilitie should meete me and willed Iohn Bampton to be with him early in the morning which he did About seuen of the clocke being accompanied with the French and English marchants and a great number of souldiers I passâ—d towards the citie and by that time I had traueiled 2 miles there met me all the Christians of the Spaniards and Portugals to receiue me which I knowe was more by the kings commandement then of any good wils of themselues for some of them although they speake me faire hung downe their heads like dogs and especially the Portugales and I countenanced them accordingly So I passed on till I came within two English miles of the Citie and then Iohn Bampton returned shewing me that the king was so glad of my comming that hee could not deuise to doe too much to shewe the good will that hee did owe to the Queenes Maiestie and her Realme His counsellers met me without the gates and at the entrie of the gates his footmen guard were placed on both sides of my horse and so brought me to the kings palace The king sate in his chaire with his Counsell about him as well the Moores as the Elchies and according to his order giuen vnto me before I there declared my message in Spanish and made deliuerie of the Queenes Maiesties letters and all that I spake at that present in Spanish hee caused one of his Elâ—hies to declare the same to the Moores present in the Larbe tongue Which done he answered me againe in Spanish yeelding to the Queenes Maiestie great thankes and offering himselfe and his countrey to bee at her Graces commaundâ—ment and then commaunded certaine of his Counsellers to conduct mee to my lodging not being farre from the Court. The house was faire after the fashion of that countrey being daily well furnished with al kind of victuall at the kings charge The same night he sent for mee to the Court and I had conference with him about the space of two houres where I throughly declared the charge committed vnto mee from her Maiestie finding him conformable willing to pleasure and not to vrge her Maiestie with any demaundes more then conueniently shee might willingly consent vnto hee knowing that out of his countrey the Realme of England might be better serued with lackes then hee in comparison from vs. Further he gaue me to vnderstand that the king of Spaine had sent vnto him for a licence that an Ambassadour of his might come into his countrey and had made great meanes that if the Queenes maiesty of England sent any vnto him that he would not giue him any credit or intertainment albeit said he I know what the king of Spaine is and what the Queene of England and her Realme is for I neither like of him nor of his religion being so gouerned by the Inquisition that he can doe nothing of himselfe Therefore when he commeth vpon the licence which I haue granted he shall well see how litle account I will make of him and Spaine and how greatly I will extoll you for the Queenes maiestie of England He shall not come to my presence as you haue done and shall dayly for I minde to accept of you as my companion and one of my house whereas he shall attend twentie dayes after he hath done his message After the end of this speech I deliuered Sir Thomas Greshams letters when as he tooke me by the hand and led me downe a long court to a palace where there ranne a faire fountaine of water and there sitting himselfe in a chaire he commanded me to sit downe in another and there called for such simple Musicians as he had Then I presented him with a great base Lute which he most thankfully accepted and then he was desirous to heare of the Musicians and I tolde him that there was great care had to prouide them and that I did not doubt but vpon my returne they should come with the first ship He is willing to giue them good intertainment with prouision of victuall and to let them liue according to their law and conscience wherein he vrgeth none to the contrary I finde him to be one that liâ—eth greatly in the feare of God being well exercised in the Scriptures as well in the olde Testament as also in the New and he beareth a greater affection to our Nation then to others because of our religion which forbiddeth worship of Idols and the Moores called him the Christian king The same night being the first of Iune I continued with him till twelue of the clocke and he seemed to haue so good liking of me that he tooke from his girdle a short dagger being set with 200 stones rubies and turkies and did bestow it vpon me and so I being conducted returned to my lodging for that time The next day because he knew it to be Sunday our Sabboth day he did let me rest But on the munday in the afternoone he sent for me and I had conference with him againe and musicke Likewise on the tuesday by three of the clocke he sent for me into his garden finding him layd vpon a
the kings Court but places of habitation are by the king himselfe assigned vnto them in diuers prouinces farre distant asunder where they dwell most commodiously being comparable vnto kings for their buildings and reuenues howbeit they exercise no authority ouer the people but all the gouernment of those Cities wherein they dwell concerneth the Magistrates who notwithstanding haue the sayde Princes in high regard and honour and doe visit them twise in a moneth and salute them kneeling vpon their knees and vowing their faces downe to the earth and yet they communicate nothing vnto them as touching the administration of the Common-wealth These are they which may properly be called the Peeres or Princes of the Realme of China for they deriue their houses and reuenues vnto their posterity and so are these royall families continually preserued But to returne vnto the king himselfe hee is most chary in obseruing the Chinian lawes and customes and diligently exerciseth himselfe in learning so much as concernes his estate sheweth himselfe dayly vnto his chiefe Magistrates and communeth of matters appertaining to the publique commodity of the Realme His palace is of woonderfull largenesse and capacity out of the which he very seldome takes his progresse and whensoeuer he doeth so there are twelue chariots brought foorth all of them most like one to another both in workemanship and in value that no man may discerne in which the king himselfe is placed He followeth in religion especially the opinions of the Magistrates attributing diuine power vnto heauen and earth as vnto the parents of all and with great solemnity sacrificing vnto them He hath diuers most sumptuous Temples dedicated vnto his ancestours whereunto likewise he ascribeth diuine honour and yet ceaseth hee not to fauour Priests of other sects yea hee erecteth Temples vnto their Patrons endowing them with most rich reuenues and so often as any vrgent necessity requireth he enioynes continuall fastings and prayers vnto them and after this sorthe doeth in a maner patronize all the idolatrous sects of his Realme and shewing himselfe ready to embrace any false religion whatsoeuer he liueth in sundry and manifolde kindes of superstition Out of all the former particulars by me alledged you may easily coniecture that the administration of the kingdome of China doeth for the most part agree with the instinct of nature authority being committed not vnto rude and vnskilfull persons but vnto such as haue beene conuersant in the vse and exercise of learning yea and in promoting learned men vnto magistracies great consideration is had of their wisedome iustice and of other vertues esteemed by the Chinians wherefore the way being open for all men without any respect of degree or parentage to obtaine any of the foresayd dignities it can not be but that this most mighty and famous kingdome must needes enioy exceeding peace and tranquillity Leo. I would nowe Michael right gladly vnderstand what kinde of vrbanity or ciuill demeanour both the common people and the Magistrates doe vse one towardes another for it is not likely that where such due administration of iustice is common ciuility which so well beseemeth all men should be wanting Michael You haue hit euen the very naile on the head for among the fiue vertues which the Chinians principally regard vrbanity or courtesy is one the rest are piety a thankefull remembrance of benefites true dealing in contracts or bargaines and wisedome in atchieuing of matters with the praises and commendations of which vertues the Chinian bookes are full fraught Now as touching their vrbanity it is much vnlike vnto ours in Iapan and vnto that of Europe howbeit vnder two principall kindes the rule of their vrbanity or courtesie may be comprehended whereof one is obserued betweene equals and the other betweene superiours and inferiours For when men of equall dignity meet together they stand bending their backes and bowing their heads downe to the ground and this they doe either once or twise or sometimes thrise Now when the inferiour meets with his superiour the sayd inferiour for the most part kneeling lowly on his knees enclineth his countenance downe to the earth But how often and when this obeizance is to be performed it is woonderfull what a number of rules and prescriptions are set downe which to recount would require a long time Somewhat also I will say as touching their piety and especially of the piety which they vse towards their parents which verily is so exceeding great that for the space of three whole yeres together the sonnes being cladde in mourning vestures doe bewaile the death of their parents which duety is performed not onely by the common sort but euen by all the Magistrates themselues and that most curiously and diligently And that all men may wholly giue their attendance vnto this businesse it is prouided by a most inuiolable law among the Chinians that Magistrates vpon the death of their parents must foorthwith renounce their authority and three whole yeeres for the performance of their fathers exequies must betake themselues vnto a priuate kinde of liuing which also is most duely put in practise by the Senatours of the Kings owne Councell For albeit a man be right gracious in the eyes of his Prince yea and such an one as vpon whom the administration of the Realme doeth principally depend yet hauing heard of the death of his parents that is of his father or his mother he hies himselfe immediatly home to solemnize their funerals insomuch that if the king would retaine him still in his office he should be esteemed by the people as a transgressour of the lawes and customes of China which accident as it is recorded in ancient times fel out euen so For whenas a certain king most familiarly vsed a certaine Senatour of his about the managing and expedition of publique affaires and vnderstanding well how necessary the helpe of his foresayd Senatour was would gladly after the death of his father haue retained him still in his office yet a certaine other man being a welwiller vnto the Chinian lawes could in no case abide it but checking his Prince with sharpe rebukes obiected the transgression of the law against him The king waxing wroth menaced present death vnto the man but when the party being no whit danted with the terrour of death persisted still in his sayings the king changing his determination dismissed the Senatour to mourne for his father but as for his reprehender he aduanced him vnto an higher dignity Linus I perceiue Michael that drawing to an end of these dialogues and being weary of your long race you begin to affect breuity yet let it not seeme troublesome vnto you to speake somewhat of the religion of China which onely thing seemes to be wanting in this present dialogue Michael I confesse indeed that I endeuour to be briefe not so much in regard of wearisomnesse as for feare least I haue bene ouer tedious vnto you howbeit I will
the comfort that remayneth to his friends is that hee hath ended his life honourably in respect of the reputation wonne to his nation and countrey and of the same to his posteritie and that being dead he hath not outliued his owne honour For the rest of her Maiesties ships that entred not so farre into the fight as the Reuenge the reasons and causes were these There were of them but sixe in all whereof two but small ships the Reuenge ingaged past recouery The Iland of Flores was on the one side 53 saile of the Spanish diuided into squadrons on the other all as full filled with sâ—uldiers as they could containe Almost the one halfe of our men sicke and not able to serue the ships growne foule vnroomaged and scarcely able to beare any saile for want of balast hauing bene sixe moneths at the sea before If all the rest had entred all had bene lost for the very hugenes of the Spanish fleete if no other violence had beene offered would haue crusht them betweene them into shiuers Of which the dishonour and losse to the Queene had bene farre greater then the spoyle or harme that the enemie could any way haue receiued Notwithstanding it is very true that the Lord Thomas would haue entred betweene the squadrons but the rest would not condescend and the master of his owne ship offred to leape into the sea rather then to conduct that her Maiesties ship and the rest to bee a pray to the enemie where there was no hope nor possibilitie either of defence or victory Which also in my opinion had ill sorted or answered the discretion and trust of a Generall to commit himselfe and his charge to an assured destruction without hope or any likelyhood of preuailing thereby â—o diminish the strength of her Maiesties Nany and to enrich the pride and glory of the enemie The Foresight of the Queenes commaunded by M. Thomas Vauisor performed a very great fight and stayed two houres as neere the Reuenge as the weather would permit him not forsaking the fight till he was like to be encompassed by the squadrons with great difficultie cleared himselfe The rest gaue diuers voleis of shot and entred as farre as the place permitted and their owne necessities to keepe the weather gage of the enemie vntill they were parted by night A fewe dayes after the fight was ended and the English prisoners dispersed into the Spanish and Indie ships there arose so great a storme from the West and Northwest that all the fleete was dispersed as well the Indian fleete which were then come vnto them as the rest of the Armada that attended their arriuall of which 14. saile together with the Reuenge and in her 200 Spaniards were cast away vpon the Isle of S. Michael So it pleased them to honor the buriall of that renowmed ship the Reuenge not suffering her to perish alone for the great honour she atchieued in her life time On the rest of the Ilandes there were cast away in this storme 15 or 16 more of the ships of warre and of an hundred and odde saile of the Indie fleete expected this yeere in Spaine what in this tempest and what before in the bay of Mexico and about the Bermudas there were 70 and odde consumed and lost with those taken by our shippes of London besides one very rich Indian ship which set her selfe on fire beeing boorded by the Pilgrim and fiue other taken by master Wats his ships of London between the Hauana and Cape S. Antonio The fourth of this moneth of Nouember we receiued letters from the Tercera affirming that there are 3000 bodies of men remaining in that Iland saued out of the perished ships that by the Spaniards owne confession there are 10000 cast away in this storme besides those that are perished betweene the Ilands and the maine Thus it hath pleased God to fight for vs and to defend the iustice of our cause against the ambicious and bloody pretenses of the Spaniard who seeking to deuoure all nations are themselues deuoured A manifest testimony how iniust and displeasing their attempts are in the sight of God who hath pleased to witnes by the successe of their affaires his mislike of their bloody and iniurious designes purposed and practised against all Christian princes ouer whom they seeke vnlawfull and vngodly rule and Empery One day or two before this wracke happened to the Spanish fleete when as some of our prisoners desired to be set on shore vpon the Ilandes hoping to be from thence transported into England which libertie was formerly by the Generall promised One Morice Fitz Iohn sonne of olde Iohn of Desmond a notable traytour cousin german to the late Earle of Desmond was sent to the English from shippe to shippe to perswade them to serue the King of Spaine The arguments hee vsed to induce them were these The increase of pay which he promised to be trebled aduancement to the better sort and the exercise of the true Catholique Religion and safetie of their soules to all For the first euen the beggerly and vnnaturall behauiour of those English and Irish rebels that serued the King in that present action was sufficient to answere that first argument of rich pay For so poore and beggerly they were as for want of apparell they stripped their poore Countrey men prisoners out of their ragged garments worne to nothing by sixe months seruice and spared not to despoyle them euen of their bloody shirtes from their wounded bodies and the very shooes from their feete A notable testimonie of their rich entertainment and great wages The second reason was hope of aduancement if they serued well and would continue faithfull to the King But what man can bee so blockishly ignorant euer to expect place or honour from a forraine King hauing no other argument or perswasion then his owne disloyaltie to be vnnaturall to his owne Countrey that bred him to his parents that begat him and rebellious to his true Prince to whose obedience he is bound by oath by nature and by Religion No they are onely assured to be imployed in all desperate enterprises to bee helde in scorne and disdaine euer among those whom they serue And that euer traitour was either trusted or aduanced I could neuer yet reade neither can I at this time remember any example And no man coulde haue lesse becommed the place of an Orator for such a purpose then this Morice of Desmond For the Erle his cosen being one of the greatest subiects in that kingdom of Ireland hauing almost whole Countreis in his possession so many goodly Mannors castles and lordships the Count Palatine of Kerry fiue hundred gentlemen of his owne name and family to follow him besides others all which he possessed in peace for three or foure hundred yeeres was in lesse then three yeeres after his adhering to the Spaniards and rebellion beaten from all his holdes not so many as ten gentlemen of his name left liuing
Moneth we ranne along Island and had the South part of it at eight of the clocke East from vs ten leagues The seuenth day of this moneth we had a very terrible storme by force whereof one of our men was blowen into the sea out of our waste but he caught hold of the foresaile sheate and there held till the Captaine pluckt him againe into the ship The 25. day of this moneth we had sight of the Island of Orkney which was then East from vs. The first day of October we had sight of the Sheld and so sailed about the coast and ankered at Yarmouth and the next day we came into Harwich The language of the people of Meta incognita Argoteyt a hand Cangnawe a nose Arered an eye Keiotot a tooth Mutchatet the head Chewat an eare Comagaye a legge Atoniagay a foote Callagay a paire of breeches Attegay a coate Polleueragay a knife Accaskay a shippe Coblone a thumbe Teckkeâ—e the foremost finger Ketteckle the middle finger Mekellacane the fourth finger Yacketrone the litle finger The second voyage of Master Martin Frobisher made to the West and Northwest Regions in the yeere 1577. with a description of the Countrey and people Written by Master Dionise Settle ON Whitsunday being the sixe and twentieth of May in the yeere of our Lord God 1577. Captaine Frobisher departed from Blacke Wall with one of the Queenes Maiesties ships called The Aide of nine score tunnes or therabouts and two other little Borkes likewise the one called The Gabriel whereof Master Fenton a Gentleman of my Lord of Warwikes was Captaine and the other The Michael whereof Master Yorke a Gentleman of my Lord Admirals was Captaine accompanied with seuen score Gentlemen souldiers and sailers well furnished with victuals and other prouision necessarie for one halfe yeere on this his second voyage for the further discouering of the passage to Cathay and other Countreys thereunto adiacent by West and Northwest nauigations which passage or way is supposed to bee on the North and Northwest pars of America and the said America to be an Island inuironed with the sea where through our Merchants may haue course and recourse with their merchandize from these our Northernmost parts of Europe to those Orientall coasts of Asia in much shorter time and with greater benefite then any others to their no little commoditie and profite that do or shall frequent the same Our said Captaine and General of this present voyage and company hauing the yeere before with two little pinnesses to his great danger and no small commendations giuen a worthy attempt towards the performance thereof is also prest when occasion shall be ministred to the benefite of his Prince and natiue Countrey to aduenture himselfe further therein As for this second voyage it seemeth sufficient that he hath better explored and searched the commodities of those people and Countreys which in his first voyage the yeere before he had found out Upon which considerations the day and yeere before expressed we departed from Blacke Wall to Harwich where making an accomplishment of things necessary the last of May we hoised vp sailes and with a merrie wind the 7. of Iune we arriued at the Islands called Orcades or vulgarly Orkney being in number 30. subiect and adiacent to Scotland where we made prouision of fresh water in the doing whereof our Generall licensed the Gentlemen and souldiers for their recreation to goe on shore At our landing the people fled from their poore cottages with shrikes and alarms to warne their neighbours of enemies but by gentle perswasions we reclamed them to their houses It seemeth they are often frighted with Pirats or some other enemies that mooue them to such sudden feare Their houses are very simply builded with Pibble stone without any chimneis the fire being made in the middest thereof The good man wife children and other of their family eate and sleepe on the one side of the house and the cattell on the other very beastly and rudely in respect of civilitie They are destitute of wood their fire is â—urffes and Cowshards They haue corne bigge and oates with which they pay their Kings rent to the maintenance of his house They take great quantitie of fish which they dry in the wind and Sunne They dresse their meat very filthily and eate it without salt Their apparell is after the rudest sort of Scotland Their money is all base Their Church and religion is reformed according to the Scots The fisher men of England can better declare the dispositions of those people then I wherefore I remit other their vsages to their râ—ports as yeâ—rely repaiâ—ers thither in their course to and from Island for fish We departed herehence the 8. of Iune and followed our course betweene West and Northwest vntill the 4. of Iuly all which time we had no night but that easily and without any impediment we had when we were so disposed the fruition of our bookes and other pleasures to passe away the time a thing of no small moment to such as wander in vnknowen seas and long nauigations especially when both the winds and raging surges do passe their common and wonted course This benefite endureth in those parts not 6. weekes while the sunne is neere the Tropike of Cancer but where the pole is raised to 70. or 80. degrees it continueth much longer All along these seas after we were sixe dayes sailing from Orkney we met floting in the sea great Firre trees which as we iudged were with the furie of great floods rooted vp and so driuen into the sea Island hath almost no other wood nor fuell but such as they take vp vpon their coastes It seemeth that these trees are driuen from some part of the New found land with the current that setteth from the West to the East The 4. of Iuly we came within the making of Frisland From this shoare 10â— or 12. leagues we met great Islands of yce of halfe a mile some more some lesse in compasse shewing aboue the sea 30. or 40. fathoms and as we supposed fast on ground where with our lead we could scarse sound the bottome for depth Here in place of odoriferous and fragrant sinels of sweete gums pleasant notes of musicall birdes which other Countreys in more temperate Zones do yeeld wee tasted the most boisterous Boreal blasts mixt with snow and haile in the moneths of Iune and Iuly nothing inferior to our vntemperate winter a sudden alteration and especially in a place or Parallele where the Pole is not eleuate aboue 61. degrees at which height other Countreys more to the North yea vnto 70. degrees shew themselues more temperate then this doth All along this coast yce lieth as a continuall bulwarke so defendeth the Countrey that those that would land there incur great danger Our Generall 3. dayes together attempted with the ship boate to haue gone on shoare which for that without great
danger he could not accomplish he deferred it vntill a more conuenient time All along the coast lie very high mountaines couered with snow except in such places where through the steepenes of the mountaines of force it must needs fall Foure dayes coasting along this land we found no signe of habitation Little birds which we iudged to haue lost the shore by reason of thicke fogges which that Countrey is much subiect vnto came flying into our ships which causeth vs to suppose that the Countrey is both more tollerable and also habitable within then the outward shore maketh shew or signification From hence we departed the eight of Iuly and the 16. of the same we came with the making of land which land our Generall the yeere before had named The Queenes foreland being an Island as we iudge lying neere the supposed continent with America and on the other side opposite to the same one other Island called Halles Isle after the name of the Master of the ship neere adiacent to the firme land supposed continent with Asia Betweene the which two Islands there is a large entrance or streight called Frobishers streight after the name of our Generall the first finder thereof This said streight is supposed to haue passage into the sea of Sur which I leaue vnknowen as yet It seemeth that either here or not farre hence the sea should haue more large entrance then in other parts within the frozen or vntemperate Zone and that some contrary tide either from the East or West with maine force casteth out that great quantity of yce which commeth floting from this coast euen vnto Friseland causing that Countrey to seeme more vntemperate then others much more Northerly then the same I cannot iudge that any temperature vnder the Pole the time of the Sunnes Northerne declination being halfe a yere together and one whole day considering that the Sunnes eleuation surmounteth not 23. degrees and 30. minuts can haue power to dissolue such monstrous and huge yce comparable to great mountaines except by some other force as by swift currents and tides with the helpe of the said day of halfe a yeere Before we came within the making of these lands we tasted cold stormes in so much that it seemed we had changed summer with winter if the length of the dayes had not remooued vs from that opinion At our first comming the streights seemed to be shut vp with a long mure of yce which gaue no litle cause of discomfort vnto vs all but our Generall to whose diligence imminent dangers and difficult attempts seemed nothing in respect of his willing mind for the commoditie of his Prince and Countrey with two little Pinnesses prepared of purpose passed twise thorow them to the East shore and the Islands thereunto adiacent and the ship with the two Barks lay off and on something further into the sea from the danger of the yce Whilest he was searching the Countrey neere the shoare some of the people of the Countrey shewed themselues leaping and dauncing with strange shrikes and cries which gaue no little admiration to our men Our Generall desirous to allure them vnto him by faire meanes caused kniues and other things to be profered vnto them which they would not take at our hands but being laid on the ground and the party going away they came and tooke vp leauing some thing of theirs to counteruaile the same At the length two of them leauing their weapons came downe to our Generall and Master who did the like to them commanding the company to stay and went vnto them who after certaine dumbe signes and mute congratulations began to lay handes vpon them but they deliuerly escaped and ranne to their bowes and arrowes and came fiercely vpon them not respecting the rest of our companie which were ready for their defence but with their arrowes hure diuers of them we tooke the one and the other escaped Whilest our Generall was busted in searching the Countrey and those Islands adiacent on the Eastshoare the ship and barkes hauing great care not to put farre into the sea from him for that he had small store of victuals were forced to abide in a cruell tempest chancing in the night amongst and in the thickest of the yce which was so monstrons that euen the least of a thousand had bene of force sufficient to haue shiuered our ship and barks into small portions if God who in all necessities hath care vpon the infirmitie of man had not prouided for this our extremitie a sufficient remedie through the light of the night whereby we might well discerne to flee from such inâ—â—luent dangers which we auoyded with 14. Bourdes in one watch the space of 4. houres If we had not incurred this danger amoÌ„gst these monstrous Islands of yce we should haue lost our Generall and Master and the most of our best sailers which were on the shoare destitute of victuals but by the valure of our Master Gunner Master Iackman and Andrew Dier the Masters Mates men expert both in nauigation and other good qualities wee were all content to incurre the dangers afore rehearsed before we would with our owne safetie runne into the seas to the destruction of our sayd Generall and his company The day following being the 19. of Iulie our Captaine returned to the ship with report of supposed riches which shewed it selfe in the bowels of those barren mountaines wherewith wee were all satisfied Within foure daies after we had bene at the entrance of the streights the Northwest and West winds dispersed the yce into the sea made vs a large entrance into the streights so that without any impediment on the 19. of Iulie we entred them and the 20. thereof our Generall and Master with great diligence sought out and sounded the West shóare and found out a faire Harborough for the ship and barkes to ride in and named it after our Masters mate Iackmans sound and brought the ship barkes and all their company to safe anker except one man which died by Gods visitation At our first arriuall after the ship rode at anker our generall with such company as could well be spared from the ships in marching order entred the lande hauing speciall care by exhortations that at our entrance thereinto wee should all with one voyce kneeling vpon our knees chiefly thanke God for our safe arriuall secondly beseech him that it would please his diuine Maiestie long to continue our Queene for whom he and all the rest of our company in this order tooke possession of the Countrey and thirdly that by our Christian studie and endeuour those barbarous people trained vp in Paganisme and infidelitie might be reduced to the knowledge of true religion and to the hope of saluation in Christ our Redeemer With other words very apt to signifie his willing mind and affection toward his Prince and Countrey whereby all suspicion of an vndutifull subiect may
his and their defence encounter expulse repell and resist as well by Sea as by land and by all other wayes whatsoeuer all and euery such person and persons whatsoeuer as without the speciall licence and liking of the sayd Sir Humfrey and of his heires and assignes shall attempt to inhabite within the sayd countreys or any of them or within the space of two hundreth leagues neere to the place or places within such countreys as aforesayd if they shall not bee before planted or inhabited within the limites aforesayd with the subiects of any Christian prince being in amitie with her Maiesty where the said sir Humfrey his heires or assignes or any of them or his or their or any of their associates or companies shall within sixe yeeres next ensuing make their dwellings and abidings or that shall enterprise or attempt at any time hereafter vnlawfully to annoy either by Sea or land the said sir Humfrey his heires or assignes or any of them or his or their or any of their companies giuing and graunting by these presents further power and authoritie to the sayd sir Humfrey his heires and assignes and euery of them from time to time and at all times for euer hereafter to take and surprise by all maner of meanes whatsoeuer all and euery person and persons with their shippes vessels and other goods and furniture which without the licence of the sayd sir Humfrey or his heires or assignes as aforesayd shall bee found traffiquing into any harborough or harboroughs creeke or creekes within the limites aforesayde the â—ubiects of our Realmes and dominions and all other persons in amitie with vs bring driuen by force of tempest or shipwracke onely excepted and those persons and euery of them with their ships vessels goods and furniture to detaine and possesse as of good and lawfull prize according to the discretion of him the sayd sir Humfrey his heires and assignes and of euery or any of them And for vniting in more perfect league and amitie of such countreys landes and territories so to bee possessed and inhabited as aforesayde with our Realmes of England and Ireland and for the better encouragement of men to this enterprise wee doe by these presents graunt and declare that all such countreys so hereafter to bee possessed and inhabited as aforesayd from thencefoorth shall bee of the allegiance of vs our heires and successours And wee doe graunt to the sayd sir Humfrey his heires and assignes and to all and euery of them and to all and euery other person and persons being of our allegiance whose names shall be noted or entred in some of our courts of Record within this our Realme of England and that with the assent of the sayd sir Humfrey his heires or assignes shall nowe in this iourney for discouerie or in the second iourney for conquest hereafter trauel to such lands countries and territories as aforesaid and to their and euery of their heires that they and euery or any of them being either borne within our sayd Realmes of England or Ireland or within any other place within our allegiance and which hereafter shall be inhabiting within any the lands countreys and territories with such licence as aforesayd shall and may haue and enioy all the priuileges of free denizens and persons natiue of England and within our allegiance any law custome or vsage to the contrary notwithstanding And forasmuch as vpon the finding out discouering and inhabiting of such remote lands countreys and territories as aforesayd it shall be necessarie for the safetie of all men that shall aduenture themselues in those iourneys or voiages to determine to liue together in Christian peace and ciuill quietnesse each with other whereby euery one may with more pleasure and profit enioy that whereunto they shall attaine with great paine and perill wee for vs our heires and successours are likewise pleased and contented and by these presents doe giue and graunt to the sayd sir Humfrey and his heires and assignes for euer that he and they and euery or any of them shall and may from time to time for euer hereafter within the sayd mentioned remote lands and countreys and in the way by the Seas thither and from thence haue full and meere power and authoritie to correct punish pardon gouerne and rule by their and euery or any of their good discretions and pollicies as well in causes capitall or criminall as ciuill both marine and other all such our subiects and others as shall from time to time hereafter aduenture themselues in the sayd iournâ—ys or voyages habitatiue or possessiue or that shall at any time hereafter inhabite any such lands countreys or territories as aforesayd or that shall abide within two hundred leagues of any the sayd place or places where the sayd sir Humfrey or his heires or assignes or any of them or any of his or their associats or companies shall inhabite within sixe yeeres next ensuing the date hereof according to such statutes lawes and ordinances as shall be by him the said sir Humfrey his heires and assignes or euery or any of them deuised or established for the better gouernement of the said people as aforesayd so alwayes that the sayd statutes lawes and ordinances may be as neere as conuâ—niently may agreeable to the forme of the lawes pollicy of England and also that they be not against the true Christian faith or religion now professed in the church of England nor in any wise to withdraw any of the subiects or people of those lands or places from the allegiance of vs our heires or successours as their immediate Soueraignes vnder God And further we doe by these presents for vs our heires and successours giue and graunt full power and authority to our trustie and welbeloued counseller sir William Cecill knight lord Burleigh our high treasurer of England and to the lord treasurer of England of vs for the time being and to the priuie counsell of vs our heires and successours or any foure of them for the time being that he they or any foure of them shall and may from time to time and at all times hereafter vnder his or their handes or seales by vertue of these presents authorize and licence the sayd sir Humfrey Gilbert his heires and assignes and euery or any of them by him and themselues or by their or any of their sufficient atturneys deputies officers ministers factors and seruants to imbarke and transport out of our Realmes of England and Ireland all or any of his or their goods and all or any the goods of his or their associates and companies and euery or any of them with such other necessaries and commodities of any our Realmes as to the said lord treasurer or foure of the priuie counsell of vs our heires or successours for the time being as aforesayd shall be from time to time by his or their wisedoms or discâ—etions thought meete and conuenient for the better reliefe and supportation of him the
attâ—mpt any thing into Florida and those regions inclining towards the North they proued moâ—t vnhappy and were at length discouraged vtterly by the hard and lamentable successe of many both religious and valiant in armes â—ndeuouring to bring those Norâ—herly regions also vnder the Spaâ—ish iurisdicâ—ion as if God had prescribed lâ—â—â—ts vnâ—o the Spanish nation which they might not exceed as by their owne gests recorded may be aptly gatherâ—d The French as they can pretend lesse title vnto these Northerne parts then the Spanyard by how much the Spanyard made the first discouery of the same continent so far Northward as vnto Florida and the French did â—ut reuiew that before discouered by the English nation vsurping vpon our right and imposing names vpon countreys riuers bayes capes or headlands as if they had bene the first finders of those coasts which iniury we offered not vnto the Spanyards but left off to discouer when we approched the Spanish limits euen so God hath not hitherto permitted them to establish a possession permanent vpon anothers right notwithstanding their manifolde attempts in which theâ— issue hath bene no lesse tragicall then that of the Spanyards as by their owne reports is extant Then sâ—eing the English nation onely hath right vnto these countreys of America from the cape of Florida Northward by the priuilege of first discouery vnto which Cabot was authorised by regall authority and set forth by the expense of our late famous king Henry the seuenth which right also seemeth strongly defended on our behalfe by the powerfull hand of almighty God withstanding the enteâ—prises of other nations it may greatly incourage vs vpon so iust ground as is our right and vpon so sacred an intent as to plant religion our right and intent being meet foundations for the same to prosecute effectually the full possession of those so ample and pleasant countreys apperteining vnto the crowne of England the same as is to be coniectured by infallible arguments of the worlds end approching being now arriued vnto the time by God prescribed of their vocation if â—uer their calling vnto the knowledge of God may be expâ—cted Which also is very probable by the reuolution and course of Gods word and religion which from the beginning hath moued from the East towards at last vnto the West where it is like to end vnlesse the same begin againe where it did in the East which were to expect a like world againe But we are assured of the contrary by the prophesie of Christ whereby we gather that after his word preached thorowout the world shal be the end And as the Gospel when it descended Westward began in the South and afterward spread into the North of Europe euen so as the same hath begunne in the South countreys of America no lesse hope may be gathered that it will also spread into the North. These considerations may helpe to suppresse all dreads rising of hard euents in attempts made this way by other nations as also of the heauy successe and issue in the late enterprise made by a worthy gentleman our countryman sir Humfrey Gilbert knight who was the first of our nation that caried people to erect an habitatioâ— and gouernment in those Northerly countreys of America About which albeit he had consumed much substance and lost his life at last his people also perishing for the most part yet the mystery thereof we must leaue vnto God and iudge charitably both of the cause which was iust in all pretence and of the person who was very zealous in prosecuting the same deseruing honourable remembrance for his good minde and expense of life in so vertuous an enterprise Whereby neuerthelesse least any man should be dismayd by example of other folks calamity and misdeeme that God doth resist all attempts intended that way I thought good so farre as my selfe was an eye witnesse to deliuer the circumstance and maner of our proceedings in that action in which the gentleman was so infortunately incumbred with wants and woorse matched with many ill disposed people that his rare iudgement and regiment premedicated for those affaires was subiected to tolerate abuses in sundry extremities to holde on a course more to vpholde credit then likely in his owne conceit happily to succeed The issue of such actions being alwayes miserable not guided by God who abhorreth confusion and disorder hath left this for admonition being the first attempt by our nation to plant vnto such as shall take the same cause in hand hereafter not to be discouraged from it but to make men well aduised how they handle his so high and excellent matters as the cariage is of his word into those very mighty and vast countreys And action doubtlesse not to be intermedled with base purposes as many haue made the same but a colour to shadow actions otherwise scarse iustifiable which doth excite Gods heauy iudgements in the end to the terrifying of weake mindes from the cause without pondering his iust proceedings and doth also incense forren princes against our attempts how iust soeuer who can not but deeme the sequele very dangerous vnto their state if in those parts we should grow to strength seeing the very beginnings are entred with spoile And with this admonition denounced vpon zeale towards Gods cause also towards those in whom appeareth disposition honourable vnto this action of planting Christian people and religion in those remote and barbarous nations of America vnto whom I wish all happinesse I will now proceed to make relation briefly yet particularly of our voyage vndertaken with sir Humfrey Gilbert begun continued and ended aduersly When first Sir Humfrey Gilbert vndertooke the Westerne discouery of America and had procured from her Maiesty a very large commission to inhabit possesse at his choice all remote and heathen lands not in the actuall possession of any Christian prince the same commission exemplified with many priuileges such as in his discretion he might demand very many gentlemen of good estimation drew vnto him to associate him in so commendable an enterprise so that the preparation was expected to grow vnto a puissant fleet able to encounter a kings power by sea neuerthelesse amongst a multitude of voluntary men their dispositions were diuers which bred a iarre and made a diuision in the end to the confusion of that attempt euen before the same was begun And when the shipping was in a maner prepared men ready vpon the coast to go aboord at that time some brake consort and followed courses degenerating from the voyage before pretended Others failed of their promises contracted and the greater number were dispersed leauing the Generall with few of his assured friends with whom he aduentured to sea where hauing tasted of no lesse misfortune he was shortly driuen to retire home with the losse of a tall ship and more to his griefe of a valiant gentleman Miles Morgan Hauing buried onely in a
his right hand stood a page with a fanne in his hand breathing and gathering the ayre to the King The fanne was in length two foote and in bredth one foote set with 8. saphyres richly imbrodered and knit to a staffe 3. foote in length by the which the Page did hold and mooue it Our Gentlemen hauing deliuered their message and receiued order accordingly were licensed to depart being safely conducted backe againe by one of the kings Counsell This Island is the chiefest of all the Islands of Maluco and the King hereof is King of 70. Islands besides The king with his people are Moores in religion obseruing certaine new Moones with fastings during which fasts they neither eat nor drinke in the day but in the night After that our Gâ—ntlemen were returned and that we had heere by the fauour of the king receiued all necessary things that the place could yeeld vs our General considering the great distance and how farre he was yet off from his Countrey thought it not best here to linger the time any longer but waying his anchors set out of the Island and sayled to a certaine litle Island to the Southwards of Celebes where we graued our ship and continued there in that and other businesses 26. dayes This Island is throughly growen with wood of a large and high growth very straight and without boughes saue onely in the head or top whose leaues are not much differing from our broome in England Amongst these trees night by night through the whole land did shew themselues an infinite swarme of fiery wormes flying in the ayre whose bodies beeing no bigger then our common English flies make such a shew and light as if euery twigge or tree had bene a burning candle In this place breedeth also wonderfull store of Bats as bigge as large hennes of Crayfishes also heere wanted no plentie and they of exceeding bignesse one whereof was sufficient for 4. hungry stomacks at a dinner beeing also very good and restoring meate whereof we had experience and they bigge themselues holes in the earth like Conies When wee had ended our businesse here we waied and set saile to runne for the Malucos but hauing at that time a bad winde and being amongst the Islands with much difficultie wee recouered to the Northward of the Island of Celebes where by reason of contrary winds not able to continue our course to runne Westwards we were inforced to alter the sâ—me to the Southward againe finding that course also to be very hard and dangerous for vs by reason of infinite shoalds which lie off and among the Islands whereof wee had too much triall to the hazard and danger of our shippe and liues For of all other dayes vpon the 9. of Ianuarie in the yeere 1579. wee ranne suddenly vpon a rocke where we stucke fast from 8. of the clocke at night til 4. of the clocke in the afternoone the next day being indeede out of all hope to escape the danger but our Generall as hee had alwayes hitherto shewed himselfe couragious and of a good confidence in the mercie and protection of God so now he continued in the same and lest he should seeme to perish wilfully both he and we did our best indeuour to saue our selues which it pleased God so to blesse that in the ende we cleared our selues most happily of the danger We lighted our ship vpon the rockes of 3. tunne of cloues 8. peeces of ordinance and certaine meale and beanes and then the winde as it were in a moment by the speciall grace of God changing from the starreboord to the larboord of the ship we hoised our sailes and the happy gale droue our ship off the rocke into the sea againe to the no litle comfort of all our hearts for which we gaue God such prayse and thanks as so great a benefite required The 8. of Februarie following wee fell with the fruitfull Island of Barateue hauing in the meane time suffered many dangers by windes and shoalds The people of this Island are comely in body and stature and of a ciuill behauiour iust in dealing and courteous to strangers whereof we had the experience sundry wayes they being most glad of our presence and very ready to releeue our wants in those things which their Countrey did yeelde The men goe naked sauing their heads and priuities euery man hauing something or other hanging at their eares Their women are couered from the middle downe to the foote wearing a great number of bracelets vpon their armes for some had 8. vpon each arme being made some of bone some of horne and some of brasse the lightest whereof by our estimation waied two ounces apeece With this people linnen-cloth is good marchandize and of good request whereof they make rols for their heads and girdles to weare about them Their Island is both rich and fruitfull rich in golde siluer copper and sulphur wherein they seeme skilfull and expert not onely to trie the same but in working it also artificially into any forme and fashion that pleaseth them Their fruits be diuers and plentiful as nutmegs ginger long pepper lemmons cucumbers cocos figu sagu with diuers other sorts and among all the rest wee had one fruite in bignesse forme and huske like a Bay berry hard of substance and pleasant of taste which being sodden becommeth soft and is a most good and wholsome victuall whereof we tooke reasonable store as we did also of the other fruits and spices so that to confesse a trueth since the time that we first set out of our owne Countrey of England we happened vpon no place Ternate onely excepted wherein we found more comforts and better meanes of refreshing At our departure from Barateue we set our course for Iaua maior where arriuing we found great courtesie and honourable entertainment This Island is gouerned by 5. Kings whom they call Raiah as Raiah Donaw and Raiah Mang Bange and Raiah Cabuccapollo which liue as hauing one spirite and one minde Of these fiuâ— we had foure a shipboord atonce and two or three often They are wonderfully delighted in coloured clothes as red and greene their vpper parts of their bodies are naked saue their heads whereupon they weare a Turkish roll as do the Maluccians from the middle downward they weare a pintado of silke trailing vpon the ground in colour as they best like The Maluccians hate that their women should bee seene of strangers but these offer them of high courtesie yea the kings themselues The people are of goodly stature and warlike well prouided of swords and targets with daggers all being of their owne worke and most artificially done both in tempering their mettall as also in the forme whereof we bought reasonable store They haue an house in euery village for their common assembly euery day they meete twise men women and children bringing with them such victuals as
Sedgewick at Noâ—ogrode Masts of 30. yards An Arshine is 3. quarters of a yard or more A rope house â—râ—ted at Colmogro A tarre house Robert Austen 1558 Lampas a great mate for the Samoeds in the North. What quantitie of â—empe workmen will worke in a peere White hawks white beares prohibited without licence Master Grayes iourney to Lampas 1558 Doctor Standish the Emperours Phisition An attempt to hinder our trade to Moscouia by the Hans townes Easterlings 1559 Master Ienkensons voyage intended for Cathay The discouery of its Caspian sea Passage to and from Moscouia by Sweden This was a yong Tartar girle which he gaue to the Queene afterward Tallowe Waxe Traine oyles Sables Woluerings Luserns Lett es Ermines Squirels Flaxe Cables and ropes A proclamion against soâ—rnâ— Furres 3000. podes of Tallow a yere 500. Losh hides Note Hope of trade to be found by master Antonie Ienkinson Seale skinnes tawed Small cables best besidible Masts of all sorts to be prepared Astracan no great good marte Christopher Hodson and Thomas Glouer appointed Agents 1560. Stockholme Iohn Luck taken prisoner in Lieflando The Swallow The Philip and Marie The Iesus Nicholas Chancelour The salt of Russia is not so good as Bay salte Fore skinnes white blacke and russet vendible in England May 5. 1560. Triall by combat or loâ— Iune Heilick IslaÌ„ds in 66 degrees 40 minutes Rost Islands Malestrand a strange whirle poole Zenam Island Kettelwike Island Inger sound The North Cape Wardhouse Cattell fed with fish The Monastery of Pechinchow Arzina reca the riuer where sir Hugh Willoughbie was frozen The Lappians couered all sauing their eies The current at Cape Grace The entering of the Bay of S. Nicholas is seuen leagues broad at the least August Pinego riuer The towne of Yemps Vstiug The description of their Nassades Good counsell for trauellers December Presents vsed in Russia are all for the most part of victualâ— The citie of Boghar They arriued at Mosco M. Standish doctor of Phisicke Long dinners Ordinance in Russia A yerely triumph The hallowing of the riuer of Mosco The Russes Lent The Emperor leadeth y e Metropolitanâ— horse in procession Kissing vsed in the Greeke church With these letters M. Ienkinson tooke his voyage the same Apâ—il to Boghar The Emperours wardrobe “ Or Basilius Note The hospitalitie of their monasteries Want of preachers cause of great ignoâ—aÌ„ce and idolaâ—â—y Al their seruice to in their mother tonguâ— The women of Russia paint their faces Bâ—â—ad made of straw The vnmercifulnesse of the Russeâ— toward the poore Stooues 〈◊〉 baths vsuall with the Mascouites Reported by Thomas Bulley Cazan The Island of marchants The riuer of Cama Nagay Tartars Hords The Crimme Tartars The riuer of Samar Licoris in great plentie Astracan Store of Sturgions The length of the Island of Astracan They enter into the Caspian sea Baughleata being 74. leagues from Volga Iaic riuer Serachick The Countrie of Colmack The port of Manguslaue They goe on land The countrey of Manguslaue 20. dayes trauaile in the wildernesse with scarcitie of water Another gulfe of the Caspian sea Will de Rubricis describeth this riuer of Ardok cap. 4. Sellizure or Shayzure Letters of safe-conduct Vrgence The countrey of Turkeman The riuer of Ardock falleth into the lake of Kitay The castle of Kait Diutuation by forcerie Handguns very profitable Bussarmans Caphar The riuer of Oxus A wildernes of sande Boghar a citie of Bactria A strange worme in mens legs The coyne of Boghar Marchandise of India Marchandise of Persia. Marchandise of Russia Marchandise of Cathay Taskent Cascar He returneth the eight of March 1552. Vrgence The king of Baâ—ke oâ— Balgâ— The English flag in the Caspian sea A notable description of the Caspian sea His arriual at Mosco the 2. of September * â—râ— Vrgeâ—â—â— Angrim Mandeuille speaketh hereof Oâ—â—itay Small people Pechora but six dayes iourney by land or water from Ob. Trauelling on dogs harts 1559 The trade to Narue forbidden by the â—â— of Poland The ancient couenants of trafficke betweene England Prussia The olde libertie of trafficke The meanes of increase of the power of the Moscouite This letter was also written in Hebrew and Italian The passage of Noua Zembla Waights and drugs deliuered to M. Ienkinson The maine sea within thirtie dayes Eastward of Colmogro 1561 The Queâ—nes letters to the Emperour of Russia Request to passe into Persia thorow Moscouie Osep Napea Ambassadour from the Emperor of Russia to Q. Mary An ambassador of Persia. Astracan M. Ienkinsons voyage to Boghar He passeth the Caspian sea The countreâ— of Tumen The Island of Chatalet The land of Shiâ—uansha Derbent A mighty wall Or Tiphlis Fortie one degrees Shabran Alcan Murcy the gouernour King Obdolowcan The maiesty attire of king Obdolowcan The Queenes letters to the Sophy Casbin Multitude of concubines The description of Hircania Danger by diuersâ—tie in religion Barbarous crueltie The citie of Arrash or Erex The commodities of thiâ— countreâ— The strong castle of Gullistone defaced The towne of Yauate The city of Ardouil The city Tebâ—iâ— or Tauris M. Ienkinsons arriuall at the Sophies court 2. Nouember 1562. The Turkes Ambassadour to the Sophy The Turkes merchauntâ— withstand M. Ienkinson Shaw Thomas the Sophies name The Queeneâ— letters deliuered The Sophies questions The curtesâ—e of Shally Murzey Warres intended against the Portingalsâ— The king of Hircans sâ—cond letters in M. Ienkinsonâ— behalfe Conference with Indian Merchants M. Ienkinsons returne Priuiledges obtained of Obdolowcan which are hereafter annexed An Armenian sent to M. Ienkinson from the king of Georgia Teneruk king of Chircassi The description of Persia. The chiefe Cities of Persia. The difference of religion The 30. of May 1563. New priuileges obtained hereafter following 28. Sâ—ptemb 1564. A rubble is a marke English Casbin Leuuacta A Boserman to a Renegado Thomas Alcocke slaine in the way betweene Leuuacta and Shammaki Keselbash or Ieselbash Gillan in Persia 1565. Ieraslaue a towne vpon the riuer of Volga Richard Iohnson chiefe of the third voyage into Persia. A barke of 30. tunnes made at Ieraslaue 1564. to passe the Caspian seas 1566 They departed from Astracan the 30. of Iuly 1565. September Presents to the king Obdolowcan A hoâ—se giuen our men in Shamaki by the king The death of Abdollocan the 2. of October 1565. Mursay the new king of Media The death of Alexander Kitchin the 23. of October 1565. The Caspiaâ— sea very shoald in diuers places The murthering of Thomas Alcock Cozamomet a noble man that fauoured our nation The value of a tumen What a batman is Varas a great mart for silke Gilan 7. dayes sailing from Astracanâ— Alom Gilan 4. dayes iourney from Casbin From Casbin to Ormus a moneths trauel with camels The secret doings of the Moscouie company Orient reds of Venice die A shaugh is 6. d. English His arriual at Casbin the 25. of May. Conference demands of the Shaugh All sorts of cloth to be sent specially Westerne
generall conâ—ent chosen Emperour of Russia Duae nauâ—s aedificatae in Duina fluuio ad patefactioneâ— Orieâ—â—â—lem Dolgoia Insula Insula Vaigats Sinus inter Valgats Obam vergens per meridiem ‖ Vel Naramsey Cara reca Littus Obae incolitur ab Ostijs trium dierum itinere Yaks Olgush locus super Obam fluuiuÌ„ duodecim dierum itinere à mari Ardoh flumen influens in lacum Kitthaym de quo in itinere ad Boghariam scribit Antonius Ienkinsonus Carrah Colmak est Cathaya * Or Oliuer Two ships built vpon the riuer of Dwina for the Northeast discouerie The Island of Dolgoia The Island of Uaigats A Baie betweene Uaigats and Ob trending Southerly * Or Naramsey and Cara Reca The place vpon the riuer Ob where he was but 12. dayes iourney froÌ„ y e mouthes thereof and is called Yaks Olgush * M. Ienkinson in his voyage to Boghar speaketh of the riâ—er Ardok The great hope of the Northeasterne discouerie Commentarij duae partes Primae partis tractatio Munst. lib. 4. Cosmographâ— Bidni nauigatio ab Islandia ad Noruagiam desertam Munsterus Olaus magnus reliqui Munsteruâ— Saâ—o Snelandia 874 Glacies Aprili aut Maio soluitur Kranzius Munsterus Magnitude Islandiae Munst. Frisius Ziegler Munst. Frisius Lib. 2. cap. 20. Cardanus Annales Islandie Frisius Munst. Speculum Regale Gronlandia ChronicaIslandie Frisius Munsterus Cosmograph vniuersal lib. 1. cap. 7. Frisius Ziegleâ—us Olauus Magâ— Frisius Munst. Frius Zieglerus Saâ—o â—eâ—esiâ—iliter 〈◊〉 Lib. 3. Nat. quest Lib. de â—â—â—ab auscultâ—â— Lib. 2. de Element Sulphur in boreali Islandiae parte Munst. Frisius Munst. 1585. SecuÌ„dae panis distributio 1. Capitis huius partis diuisio Krantzius Chronologiae Isi indicae gentis antiquissimae Vetustissimi annales 874 Islandia primum inhabitata 974 Fredericus Saxo. Anno dom 1000. Gronlandie Episcopus Munst. Krantz Frisius Negotiaâ—io eum Noruagis defijt Syluae fluctibus maris delatae Munsterus Krantzius Occasio harum fabularum Prouerb 14. Krantzius Munster Munsterus Krantiziuâ— 858 1260 Margareta Krantzius â—lunâ—teâ—â—â— Krantzius Munsterus Munster Munster Krantzius Frisius Veterum gesta apud Islandos conseruata 1. Obiectio sen conuicium 2. Conuitium 3. Conuitium 4.5.6 7. Conuitia 9. Conuicium Ratio conseruandi cibos sine sale â— Conuicium Vrbes Angliae commercia olim in Islandia exercentes The errors of the writers of Island intolerable Great errors grow vpon mariners fabulous reports Munsterin lib. 4. cosmographie Seâ—en dayes â—ailing from Island to Hamburg Island but two daâ—â—s â—aâ—â—ing distant from Faar-Islands from the deserâ— shoâ—es of Norway Munsterus Olaus Magâ—us and others Island is not within the circle arctic Munsterus Saxo. Island first discouered by Naddocus in a tempest Sneland Gardasholme Island The ice of Iseland set always to the West No ice at all some yeres â—â— Island Nauigation open to Island from March till the midst of Nouember Krantzius Munsterus Island 144 Germaine miles in compasse Munsteâ— Fâ—isiuâ— Ziegleâ—â—sâ— Munster as Frisius Thrâ—â— naturall causes of firie mountaiâ—â—â— Lib. 20. cap. 20. Cardanus The chronicles of Island Fâ—isius Munsterus Speculâ—m regâ—le wâ—iâ—tâ—â— in the Noruagian tongue Whâ—nce the fâ—blâ—s of Island grâ—w Frisius Munsterus Cosmographâ— vniversalis lib. 1. cap. 7. Fâ—isius Ziâ—glerus Olaus magnuâ— Frisius and Munster Taking of Seales on the ice Westerne wind is disperse the ice Ice floateth noâ— 7. or 8. moneths about Island Frisius Ziegleruâ— Saxo. Frisiuâ— Many hote Baths in Island The causes of hote Baths Lib. 3 nat quaest Riuers of Island in sommer season luke-warme In lib. de mirab â—usculâ— The same Author saieth Island free from snakes and other venemous beasts Brimstone Mines onely in the North part of Island Munster Abundance of fish about Island diminished Prisiu◠‖ Raine deere Munster Certain letters sent by Brandan bishop of Breme to preach Christian faith in the North. Who be the Islandish witters Speculum regâ—le Uultures beares and crowes come vpon the drift Ice into Island Krantzius in praefatione suae Norwegiae The first christian king of Norway Nialus the first knowne professour of Christian faith in Island A summe of the Islanders Religion Krantzius The most ancient Chronicles of Island Island first inhabited Fridericus Saxo the first preacher of the Christian faith in Island Anno Domini 981. Anno Domini 1000. A notable testimonie of Saxo concerning the Islanders An English man Bishop in Island Munsterus Krantziuâ— Friâ—ius Traffike with the people of Norway ceaseth Drift wood not so plentifull now as in times past Krantzius Munsterus Krantzius Munsterâ—s Coâ—ne of old time growing in Island Munsterâ—s Krantzius The occasion of the first inhabiting of Island by the people of Norway Haquinus coroâ—â—tus Krantzius Munsterus The occasion of this slander Krantzius Munsterus Munsterus Munsterus Krantzius Frisius The Islanders preserue in writing the acts of their ancestors The first obiection or reproch The second reproch The third reproch The 4,5,6 7 reproches The ninth reproch Want of salt in Island The Islanders meanes of preseruing their meates without salt The tenth reproch The commodities of Island The ancient traffique of England with Island Lawes against libels Commentarius breuis de Islandia per Arngrimum Ionam Islandum editus 1593. ‖ Biarmia Gronlandia olim suos habuit Episcopos This is the briefe Commentarie of Ionas Arngrimus immediatly going before ‖ Biarmia Gronland in old time had Christian Bishops The preparation of the Spanish king to subdue England and the lowe Countreys The number and qualitie of the ships in the Spanish Fleete with the souldiers Mariners and pieces of Ordinance A description of the Galeons A description of the Galliasses The great Ordinance bullets gun-poulder and other furniture Their prouision of victuals and other things necessary A Spanish terza consisteth of 3200. souldiers The preparation of the duke of Parma to aide the Spaniards The Popes furtherance to the conquest of England and of the low Countries A treatie of peace to the end that England and the vnited prouinces might be secure of inuasion Her maiesties warlike preparation by sea Her Maiesties land-forces The preparation of the vnited prouinces The Spanish fleete set saile vpon the 19. of May. They set saile from y e Groine vpon the 11. of Iuly The Spaniards come within kenning of England Captaine Fleming The L. Admirals short warning vpon the 19. of Iuly The 20. of Iuly The 21. of Iuly The 22. of Iuly Don Pedro de Valdez with his ship company taken A great Bistaine ship taken by the English The 23. of Iuly A great Venetian ship and other small ships taken by the English The 24. of Iuly The 25. of Iuly The 26. of Iuly The 27. of Iuly The Spaniards ancre before Caleis The 28. of Iuly The 29. of Iuly The 30. of Iuly The Spaniards vaine opinion concerning their own fleet The 28 of Iuly The galliasse of Hugo de Moncada cast vpon the showlds before Caleis M. Amias Preston valiantly boordeth the galliasse The
offers of the king to our English merchants A good prouiso The Emperor of Maroco his priuileges to the English Thomas Stukeley was wrongfully indued with this title Fuquien Cincâ—o Cantan Cheqâ—eâ—m Xutiamfu Chelim Quianciâ— or Quinzi â—achin Their moneths Loutea Châ—an or Chaen Ponchiâ—ssi Anchiassi or Heâ—â—si Tâ—zi Taissuâ— Licentiates Doctors We that is the Italians and Spaniards After the Dutch fashion Pythagorean like The Italians call it the strapadoâ— A pilloâ—y boord Of like the first lenders be the more wealthie Fuquieo Hereâ—â—â—oforeâ— Parai Tamen the pâ—oper name of China Pochâ—n oâ— Pachin Their enemies Mariage of the kiâ—â—s children 〈◊〉 speaketh 〈◊〉 â—re of all 〈◊〉 but o◠〈…〉 s for 〈…〉 places 〈◊〉 beg 〈◊〉 â—s 〈…〉 ready◠〈◊〉 ming 〈◊〉 of trees 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 He speaketh of Fuquien shire Alà s Ceâ—â—bi The Kings reuenuâ—e Parai Fish poudered with peper ☞ Great ships comming from the North. * That is their temples It should seeme by their voyage to be Cardandan in Ortelius ☞ A Northerne Sea It seemeth they came vp the riuer from the Caspian sea At Cacan Riuers ouer-frosen in China Ali Auoins Tartars Mount Vsont Mogores Blewes of great price in China Brames Southward from Chenchi to the sea Auoins Chenchi Goa is a city of the Portugals in the East Indies Odericus writeth of the like Great store of â—ner mynes Petrus Maffeius de rebus Iaponicis But his almes are very good Inambuxu Genguis A warrelike people 300 leagues to the North of Meaco The Iapanish funerals They burnâ— their dead Aâ—â—â— De reb Iabâ—â— 4â— Santianum The situation and liâ—â—tes of China Chinian Cosmographers The rich reuenues of the king of China Fifteene great prouinces in China The seats roiall all of the king of China The warlike munitions of China a marueilous wall Abundance of â—nhabitants 〈◊〉 China Cities and townes The Chinian riuers greatly inhabited Holesome aâ—re plenty peace in China Chinian sâ—orâ—esâ— The city of Coanchesu aliaÌ„s Cantam Great abundance of gold in China Great store of siluer Pearles Great store of silke in China Silke brought into Iapon Spices Camphire muske Cotton-wooll whereof Calicut-cloth is made Three qualities of porcellan Plants Sugar China in a maner destitute of corne wine oile Chinian maps The dispositions maners of the Chinians Their loyaltie vnto their superiours Their laborious industry Painting Gunnes Printing Nauigation The Tartars tyranized ouer China Military discipline The literature of China Three degrees in learning The first degree The second degree The third and highest degree Note the extraordinary honor vouchsaâ—ed by the great King of China vpon his lâ—â—rned graduates Naturall philosophy Excellent astronomers in China The politike gouernment of China Three principall magistrates in ech prouince Two Senates or Counsels coÌ„tinually holden in China The causes of peace in China Learning the only step to honour in China The stately forâ—idable procession of the Chinian magistrates The houses of the Chinian magistrates The magistrates barges The maner of electing magistrates in China Degrees vnto honour Kiding post Martiall dignities The king of China Van-Sui The succession of the crowne The kingâ— yonger brethren Twelue chariots The idolatrous religion of the king The ciuill gouernment of China most agreeable to the instance of nature The fiue vertues principally esteemed among the Chinians â—rbanity The Chinians great piety towards their parents A memorable story The religion of China Three principall sectes among the Chinians Confucius authour of the first sect The summe of Confucius his doctrine Xequiam author of the second sect whose followers ar called Ceâ— or Bonzi Note The third sect The superstition of the Saraceni Christian religion planted in China An ancient custome worthy y e obseruation The Chinians contemne other nations The variation of the compasse Signes about the Cape of Boâ—a Speransa Fishes on the sea coast of Aâ—â—â—ca Note Corall Two wayes beyond y e capâ— of Good hoâ—e They coÌ„monly saile from Lisbon to Goa in 5 moneths Running seas very dangerous Certaine signs of land They arriuâ—d at Goa the 24 of October The coast of India greatly troubled with Moores Abundance of golde siluer pearles precious stones in Pegu. The great gaine of the Portugals in Pegu. Pegu the best richest countrey in all the East India A prophesie of an Indian against Spaine Three occasions of sicknes neere the line Agoada de Saldanha Great store of Penguins and Seales Bullocks oxe and sheepe dog-cheape Cape de Buona Speransa doubled Cape dos Corrientes Here they are seuered from the Penelope Foure men slaine with a clap of thunder The Shoulds of S. Laurence Quitangone neere Mozanbique The I le of Comoro 32 of our men betraied at the I le of Comoâ—o Zanzibar Iland A Portugall Factorie in Zanzibar The treason of the Portugals towards the English An excellent place for refreshing A gallie Frigate Another thunder-clap Heat in the head deadly Letting of blood very necessary A Iunco laden with pepper and brugs The currents set â—o the Northward Zocotora The Iles of Mamale Cape Comori doubled 1592. The Iles of Nicubar The Iles of Gomes Polo Sumatra The Iles of Pulo Pinaou Trees fit for mastes Malacca Three Ships of Pegu laden with pepper Martabam Pera. Pulo Sambilam A ship of Negapatan taken A ship of S. Thome The galeon of Malacca of 700 taken Wares fit to carâ— into the East India The kingdom of Iunsalaom Amber-greese The hornes of Abath The female Unicorne Some small quantitie hereof may be caried to pleasure those kings They arriue at the Iles of Nicubar which are inhabited by Moores They returne homeward They arriue at Zeilan Tanaseri in the kingdom of Siam Commodities of Bengala Commodities of Pegu. Commodities of Tanaseri A great current to the Southward A notable reliefe of fishes taken Baia de Agoa They double the Cape of Buona Speransa S. Helena Iohn Segar an Englishman left 18 moneths alone in the I le of Santa Helena A miraculous effect of extreme feare or extreme ioy The descriptioÌ„ of the commodities of the I le of santa Heleâ—a The gulfe of Paria or Bocca del Dragooâ— passed A good note The I le of Mona The I le of Sauona enuironed with flats Cape de Tiberon The old chanel passed They returne backe to the West Indies Fiue English men leâ—t on the Nueblas The ship lost by driuing away Great famine Two ships of Diepe The French trafike in S. Domingo M. Lancaster returneth to Diepe and so to England The Isle of S. Sebastian Râ—o grande Sue Coxe an old English man buried aliue by the Moores of Rio graÌ„de in Guinea The Coâ—igidoâ— of Bilbao taken and brought to London The same in English A letter of Mully Hamet to the Erle of Leicester ‖ Which is with vs 1587. The Queenes letters to the Emperour Iohn Herman an English rebel The gouernor of S. Michael taken prisoner Pedro Sarmiento the gouernour of the Straights of Magelan taken prisoner A ship laden with fish taken
safegard forty armed men to watch ward me vntil he might haue newes from the king of Shiruan The 12 day of the same moneth newes did come from the king with order that I should repaire vnto him with all speâ—d and for expedition aswell camels to the number of fiue and forty to cary my goods as also horses for me and my company were in readinesse so that the goods laden and taking my iourney from thence the said twelft day on the 18 of the same moneth I came to a city called Shamaky in the said countrey of Hircan otherwise called Shiruan and there the king hath a faire place where my lodging being appointed the goods were discharged the next day being the 19 day I was sent for to come to the king named Obdolowcan who kept his court at that time in the high mountainesâ—â—â— tents distant â—rom the sayd Shamaki twentie miles to auoyd the iniury of the heat and the 20 day I came before his presence who gently interteined me and hauing kissed his hands he bad me to dinner and commanded me to sit downe not farre from him This king did sit in a very rich pauillion wrought with silke golde placed very pleasantly vpon a hill side of sixteene fathom long and sixe fathom broad hauing before him a goodly fountaine of faire water whereof he his nobility did drinke he being a prince of a meane stature and of a fierce countenance richly apparelled with long garments of silke and cloth of gold imbrodred with pearles and stone vpon his head was a tolipane with a sharpe end standing vpwards halfe a yard long of rich cloth of golde wrapped about with a piece of India silke of twentie yards long wrought with golde and on the left side of his tolipane stood a plume of fethers set in a trunke of golde richly inameled and set with precious stones his earerings had pendants of golde a handfull long with two great rubies of great value set in the ends thereof all the ground within his pauilion was couered with rich carpets vnder himselfe was spred a square carpet wrought with siluer golde and therupon was layd two sutable cushions Thus the king with his nobility sitting in his pauillion with his legs acrosse and perceiuing that it was painfull for me so to sit his highnesse caused a stoole to be brought in did will me to sit thereupon after my fashion Dinner time then approching diuers clothes were spred vpon the ground and sundry dishes serued and set in a ranke with diuers kindes of meats to the number of 140 dishes as I numbred them which being taken away with the table clothes and others spred a banket of fruits of sundry kindes with other banketting meates to the number of 150 dishes were brought in so that two seruices occupied 290 dishes and at the end of the sayd dinner banket the king said vnto me Quoshe quelde that is to say Welcome and called for a cup of water to be drawen at a fountaine and tasting thereof did deliuer me the rest demanding how I did like the same and whether there were so good in our countrey or not vnto whom I answered in such sort that he was therewith contented then he proponed vnto me sundry questions both touching religion and also the state of our countreys and further questioned whether the Emperor of Almaine the Emperor of Russia or the great Turke were of most power with many other things too long here to rehearse to whom I answered as I thought most meet Then he demanded whether I intended to goe any further and the cause of my comming vnto that I answered that I was sent with letters from the Queenes most eâ—cellent Maiesty of England vnto the great Sophy to intreat friendship and free passage and for his safeconduct to be granted vnto English merchants to trade into his Segniories with the like also to be granted to his subiects when they should come into our countreys to the honour and wealth of both realmes and commodity of both their subiects with diuers other words which I omit to rehearse This sayd king much allowing this declaration sayd that he would not onely giue me passage but also men to safeconduct me vnto the sayd Sophy lying from the foresayd citie of Shamaki thirtie dayes iourney vp into the land of Persia at a castle called Casbin so departing from the king at that time within three dayes after being the foure and twentieth day of August the yere aforesaid he sent for me againe vnto whom I repaired in the morning and the king not being risen out of his bed for his maner is that watching in the night and then banketting with his women being an hundred and forty in number he sleepeth most in the day did giue one commandement that I should ride on hawking with many Gentlemen of his Court and that they should shew me so much game and pastime as might be which was done and many cranes killed We returned from hawking about three of the clocke at the afternoone the king then risen and ready to dinner I was inuited thereunto and approching nigh to the entring in of his tent and being in his sight two gentlemen incountered me with two garments of that countrey fashion side downe to the ground the one of silke and the other of silke and golde sent vnto me from the king and after that they caused me to put off my vpper garment being a gowne of blacke veluet furred with Sables they put the sayd two garments vpon my backe and so conducted me vnto the king before whom doing reuerence and kissing his hand he commanded me to sit not farre from him and so I dined in his presence he at that time being very mery and demanding of me many questions and amongst other how I like the maner of their hawking Dinner so ended I required his highnesse safeconduct for to depart towards the Sophy who dismissing me with great fauour and appointing his Ambassadour which returned out of Russia and others to safeconduct me he gaue me at my departure a faire horse with all furniture and custome free from thence with all my goods So I returned to Shamaki againe where I remained vntill the sixt of October to prouide camels horses and other necessaries for may sayd intended iourney But now before I proceed further I purpose to write something of this countrey of Hircan now called Shiruan with the townes and commodities of the same This countrey of Hircan in times past was of great renowme hauing many cities townes and castles in it and the kings thereof in time of antiquity were of great power able to make wars with the Sophies of Persia but now it is not onely otherwise for that the cities townes and castles be decayed but also the king is subiect to the sayd Sophie although they haue their proper king and be at the commandement of the sayd Sophy
who conquered them not many yeâ—res passed for their diuersity in religion and caused not onely all the nobility gentlemen of that countrey to be put to death but also ouer and besides rased the walles of the cities townes and castles of the said realme to the intent that there should be no rebellion and for their great terror caused a turret of free stone and flints to be erected in the sayd city called Shamaki and in a ranke of flints of the sayd turret did set the heads of the sayd nobility and gentlemen then executed This city is distant from the sea side with camels seuen dayes iourney but now the same being much decayed chiefly inhabited with Armenians another city called Arrash bordering vpon the Georgians is the chiefest and most opulent in the trade of merchandise thereabouts is nourished the most abundant growth of raw silke and thither the Turks Syrians and other strangers do resort and trafficke There be also diuers good and necessary commodities to be prouided had in this sayd realme viz. galles rough and smooth cotton wooll allome and raw silke of the naturall growth of that countrey besides nere all kinde of spices and drugges and some other commodities which are brought thither from out of East India but in the lesse quantity for that they be not assured to haue vent or vtterance of the same but the chiefest commodities be there raw silks of all sorts whereof there is great plenty Not farre from the sayd city of Shamaki there was an olde castle called Gullistone now beaten downe by this Sophy which was esteemed to be one of the strongest castles in the world and was besieged by Alexander the great long time before he could win it And not farre from the sayd castle was a Nunry of sumptuous building wherein was buried a kings daughter named Ameleck Channa who slew herselfe with a knife for that her father would haue forced her she professing chastity to haue married with a king of Tartarie vpon which occasion the maidens of that countrey do resort thither once euery yere to lament her death Also in the sayd countrey there is an high hill called Quiquifs vpon the toppe whereof as it is commonly reported did dwell a great Giant named Arneoste hauing vpon his head two great hornes and eares and eyes like a Horse and a taile like a Cow It is further sayd that this monster kept a passage thereby vntill there came an holy man termed Haucoir Hamshe a kinseman to one of the Sophies who mounted the sayd hill and combating with the sayd Giant did binde not onely him in chaines but also his woman called Lamisache with his sonne named After for which victory they of that countrey haue this holy man in great reputation and the hill at this day as it is bruited sauoureth so ill that no person may come nigh vnto it but whether it be true or not I referre it to further knowledge Now to returne to the discourse of the proceeding in my voyage towards the great Sophie The 6 of October in the yeere aforesayd I with my company departed from Shamachi aforesaid and hauing iourneyed threescore miles came to a towne called Yauate wherein the king hath a faire house with orchards and gardens well replenished with fruits of all sorts By this towne passeth a great riuer called Cor which springeth in the mountaines of the Georgians passing thorow the countrey of Hircania aforesayd falleth into the Caspian or Hircan sea at a place betweene two ancient townes called Shabran and Bachu situate within the realme of Hircane and from thence issueth further passing thorow a fruitfull countrey inhabited with pasturing people which dwâ—ll in the Summer season vpon mountaines and in Winter they remooue into the valleyes without resorting to townes or any other habitation and when they remooue they doe iourney in carrauans or troops of people and cattell carrying all their wiues children and baggage vpon bullocks Now passing this wilde people ten dayes iourney comming into no towne or house the sixteenth day of October we arriued at a citie called Ardouill where we were lodged in an hospitall builded with faire stone and erected by this Sophies father named Ismael onely for the succour and lodging of strangers and other trauellers wherein all men haue victuals and feeding for man and horse for three dayes and no longer This foresayd late prince Ismael lieth buried in a faire Meskit with a sumptuous sepulchre in the same which he caused to be made in his life time This towne Ardouill is in the latitude of eight and thirtie degrees an ancient citie in the prouince of Aderraugan wherein the Princes of Persia are commonly buried and there Alexander the great did keepe his Court when he inuaded the Persians Foure dayes iourney to the Westward is the citie Tebris in olde time called Tauris the greatest citie in Persia but not of such trade of merchandise as it hath bene or as others be at this time by meane of the great inuasion of the Turke who hath conquered from the Sophie almost to the sayd citie of Tauris which the sayd Turke once sacked and thereby caused the Sophie to forsake the same and to keepe his court ten dayes iourney from thence at the sayd citie of Casbin The 21 day we departed from Ordowil aforesayd trauelling for the most part ouer mountaines all in the night season and resting in the day being destitute of wood and therefore were forced to vse for fewell the dung of horses camels which we bought deare of the pasturing people Thus passing ten dayes iourney the yere aforesayd the second day of Nouember we arriued at the foresayd citie of Casbin where the sayd Sophie keepeth his court and were appointed to a lodging not farre from the kings pallace and within two dayes after the Sophie commanded a prince called Shalli Murzey sonne to Obdolowcan king of Shiruan aforesayd to send for me to his house who asked me in the name of the said Sophy how I did and whether I were in health and after did welcome me and inuited me to dinner whereat I had great enterteinment and so from thence I returned to my lodging The next day after I sent my interpreter vnto the Sophies Secretarie declaring that I had letters directed from our most gracious Souereigne ladie the Queenes most excellent Maiestie of the Realme of England vnto the sayd Sophy and that the cause of my comming was expressed in the same letters desiring that at conuenient time I might come into his Maiesties presence who aduertising the Sophy thereof shortly after answered me that there were great affaires in hand which being finished I should come before his presence willing me in the meane time to make ready my present if I had any to deliuer At this time the great Turkes Ambassadour arriued foure dayes before my comming who was sent thither to conclude a
called Giagra the tree whereon these Nuts doe grow is called the Palmer tree and thorowout all the Indies and especially from this place to Goa there is great abundance of them and it is like to the Date tree In the whole world there is not a tree more profitable and of more goodnesse then this tree is neither doe men reape so much benefit of any other tree as they do of this there is not any part of it but serueth for some vse and none of it is woorthy to be burnt With the timber of this tree they make shippes without the mixture of any other tree and with the leaues thereof they make sailes and with the fruit thereof which be a kinde of Nuts they make wine and of the wine they make Sugar and Placetto which wine they gather in the spring of the yeere out of the middle of the tree where continually there goeth or runneth out white liquour like vnto water in that time of the yeere they put a vessell vnder euery tree and euery euening and morning they take it away full and then distilling it with fire it maketh a very strong liquour and then they put it into buts with a quantity of Zibibbo white or blacke and in short time it is made a perfect wine After this they make of the Nuts great store of oile of the tree they make great quantity of boordes and quarters for buildings Of the barke of this tree they make cables ropes and other furniture for shippes and as they say these ropes be better then they that are made of Hempe They make of the bowes bedsteds after the Indies fashion and Scauasches for merchandise The leaues they cut very small and weaue them and so make sailes of them for all maner of shipping or els very fine mats And then the first rinde of the Nut they stampe and make thereof perfect Ockam to calke shippes great and small and of the hard barke thereof they make spoones and other vessels for meat in such wise that there is no part thereof throwen away or cast to the fire When these Mats be greene they are full of an excellent sweet water to drinke and if a man be thirsty with the liquour of one of the Mats he may satisfie himselfe and as this Nut ripeneth the liquor thereof turneth all to kernell There goeth out of Chaul for Mallaca for the Indies for Macao for Portugall for the coasts of Melinde for Ormus as it were an infinite number and quantity of goods and merchandise that come out of the kingdome of Cambaia as cloth of bumbast white painted printed great quantity of Indico Opium Cotton Silke of euery sort great store of Boraso in Paste great store of Fetida great store of yron corne and other merchandise The Moore king Zamalluco is of great power as one that at need may command hath in his camp two hundred thousand men of warre and hath great store of artillery some of them made in pieces which for their greatnesse can not bee carried to and fro yet although they bee made in pieces they are so commodious that they worke with them maruellous well whose shotte is of stone and there hath bene of that shot sent vnto the king of Portugall for the rareness of the thing The city where the king Zamalluco hath his being is within the land of Chaul seuen or eight dayes iourney which city is called Abneger Threescore and tenne miles from Chaul towards the Indies is the port of Dabul an hauen of the king Zamallaco from thence to Goa is an hundred and fifty miles Goa GOa is the principall city that the Portugals haue in the Indies wherein the Uiceroy with his royall Court is resident and is in an Iland which may be in circuit fiue and twenty or thirty miles and the city with the boroughs is reasonable bigge and for a citie of the Indies it is reasonable faire but the Iland is farre more fairer for it is as it were full of goodly gardens replenished with diuers trees and with the Palmer trees as is aforesayd This city is of great trafique for all sorts of marchandise which they trade withall in those parts and the fleet which commâ—th euery yeere from Portugall which are fiue or sixe great shippes that come directly for Goa arriue there ordinarily the sixth or tenth of September and there they remaine forty or fifty dayes and from thence they goe to Cochin where they lade for Portugall and often times they lade one shippe at Goa and the other at Cochin for Portugall Cochin is distant from Goa three hundred miles The city of Goa is situate in the kingdome of Dialcan a king of the Moores whose chiefe city is vp in the countrey eight dayes iourney and is callâ—d Bisapor this king is of great power for when I was in Goa in the yeere of our Lord 1570 this king came to giue assault to Goa being encamped neere vnto it by a riuer side with an army of two hundred thousand men of warre and he lay at this siege foureteene moneths in which time there was peace concluded and as report went amongst his people there was great calamity and mortality which bred amongst them in the time of Winter and also killed very many elephants Then in the yeere of our Lord 1567 I went from Goa to Bezeneger the chiefe city of the kingdome of Narsinga eight dayes iourney from Goa within the land in the company of two other merchâ—nts which carried with them three hundred Arabian horses to that king because the horses of that countrey are of a small stature and they pay well for the Arabian horses and it is requisite that the merchants sell them well for that they stand them in great charges to bring them out of Persia to Ormus and from Ormus to Goa where the ship that bringeth twenty horses and vpwards payeth no custome neither ship nor goods whatsoeuer whereas if they bring no horses they pay 8 per cento of all their goods andâ— at the going out of Goa the horses pay custome two and forty pagodies for euery horse which pagody may be of sterling money sixe shillings eight pence they be piâ—ces of golde of that value So that the Arabian horses are of great value in those countreys as 300,400,500 duckets a horse and to 1000 duckets a horse Bezeneger THe city of Bezeneger was sacked in the yeere 1565 by foure kings of the Moores which were of great power and might the names of these foure kings were these following the first was called Dialcan the second Zamaluc the third Cotamaluc and the fourth Viridy and yet these foure kings were not able to ouercome this city and the king of Bezeneger but by treason This king of Bezeneger was a Gentile and had amongst all other of his captaines two which were notable and they were Moores and these two captaines had either of them in charge threescore and ten
or fourescore thousand men These two captaines being of one religion with the foure kings which were Moores wrought meanes with them to betray their owne king into their hands The king of Bezeneger esteemed not the force of the foure kings his enemies but went out of his city to wage battell with them in the fieldes and when the armies were ioyned the battell lasted but a while not the space of foure houres because the two traitourous captaines in the chiefest of the fight with their compaines turned their faces against their king and made such disorder in his army that as astonied they set themselues to flight Thirty yeeres was this kingdome gouerned by three brethren which were tyrants the which keeping the rightfull king in prison it was their vse euery yeere once to shew him to the people and they at their pleasures ruled as they listed These brethren were three captaines belonging to the father of the king they kept in prison which when he died left his sonne very yong and then they tooke the gouernment to themselues The chiefest of these three was called Ramaragio and sate in the royall throne and was called the king the second was called Temiragio and he tooke the gouernment on him the third was called Bengatre and he was captaine generall of the army These three brethren were in this battell in the which the chiefest and the last were neuer heard of quicke nor dead Onely Temiragio fled in the battel hauing lost one of his eyes when the newes came to the city of the ouerthrow in the battell the wiues and children of these three tyrants with their lawfull king kept prisoner fâ—ed away spoiled as they were the foure kings of the Moores entred the city Bezeneger with great triumph there they remained sixe moneths searching vnder houses in all places for money other things that were hidden and then they departed to their owne kingdomes because they were not able to maintaine such a kingdome as that was so farre distant from their owne countrey When the kings were departed from Bezeneger this Temiragio returned to the city and then beganne for to repopulate it and sent word to Goa to the Merchants if they had any horses to bring them to him and he would pay well for them and for this cause the aforesayd two Merchants that I went in company withall carried those horses that they had to Bezeneger Also this Tyrant made an order or lawe that if any Merchant had any of the horses that were taken in the aforesayd battell or warres although they were of his owne marke that he would giue as much for them as they would and beside he gaue generall safe conduct to all that should bring them When by this meanes he saw that there were great store of horses brought thither vnto him hee gaue the Merchants faire wordes vntill such time as he saw they could bring no more Then he licenced the Merchants to depart without giuing them any thing for their horses which when the poore men saw they were desperate and as it were mad with sorrow and griefe I rested in Bezeneger seuen moneths although in one moneth I might haue discharged all my businesse for it was necessary to rest there vntill the wayes were cleere of theeues which at that time ranged vp and downe And in the time I rested there I saw many strange and beastly dâ—eds done by the Gentiles First when there is any Noble man or woman dead they burne their bodies and if a married man die his wife must burne herselfe aliue for the loue of her husband and with the body of her husband so that when any man dieth his wife will take a moneths leaue two or three or as shee will to burne her selfe in and that day being come wherein shee ought to be burnt that morning shee goeth out of her house very earely either on horsebacke or on an eliphant or else is borne by eight men on a smal stage in one of these orders she goeth being apparelled like to a Bride carried round about the City with her haire downe about her shoulders garnished with iewels and flowers according to the estate of the party and they goe with as great ioy as Brides doe in Venice to their nuptials shee carrieth in her left hand a looking glasse and in her right hand an arrow and singeth thorow the City as she passeth and sayth that she goeth to sleepe with her deere spowse and husband She is accompanied with her kindred and friends vntill it be one or two of the clocke in the afternoone then they goe out of the City and going along the riuers side called Nigondin which runneth vnder the walles of the City vntill they come vnto a place where they vse to make this burning of women being widdowes there is prepared in this place a great square caue with a little pinnacle hard by it foure or fiue steppes vp the foresayd caue is full of dried wood The woman being come thither accompanied with a great number of people which come to see the thing then they make ready a great banquet and she that shall be burned eateth with as great ioy and gladnesse as though it were her wedding day and the feast being ended then they goe to dancing and singing a certeine time according as she will After this the woman of her owne accord commandeth them to make the fire in the square caue where the drie wood is and when it is kindled they come and certifie her thereof then presently she leaueth the feast and taketh the neerest kinseman of her husband by the hand and they both goe together to the banke of the foresayd riuer where shee putteth off all her iewels and all her clothes and giueth them to her parents or kinsefolke and couering herselfe with a cloth because she will not be seene of the people being naked she throweth herselfe into the riuer saying O wretches wash away your â—innes Comming out of the water she rowleth herselfe into a yellow cloth of foureteene braces long and againe she taketh her husbands kinseman by the hand and they go both together vp to the pinnacle of the square caue wherein the fire is made When she is on the pinnacle shee talketh and reasoneth with the people recommending vnto them her children and kindred Before the pinnacle they vse to set a mat because they shall not see the fiercenesse of the fire yet there are many that will haue them plucked away shewing therein an heart not fearefull and that they are not affrayd of that sight When this silly woman hath reasoned with the people a good while to her content there is another woman that taketh a pot with oile and sprinckleth it ouer her head and with the same she anoynteth all her body and afterwards throweth the pot into the fornace and both the woman and the pot goe together into the fire and presently the people that are