TRUE RELATION OF THE TRAVAILS and most miserable Captivity of William Davies, Barber-Surgion of London, under the Duke of FLORENCH. Wherein is truly set down the manner of his taking, the long time of his slavery, and means of his delivery, after eight years, and ten months Captivity in the Galleys. Discovering many main Lands, Islands, Rivers, Cities, and towns, of the Christians and Infidels, the condition of the people, and the manner of their Country: with many more strange things, as in the Book is briefly and plainly expressed. By William Davies, Barber-Surgion of London, and borne in the City of Hereford. LONDON: Printed for Nicholas Bourne, and are to be sold at the South-entrance of the Royal Exchange▪ 1614 A Table of all those places that he hath been at, and in, since his departure, Alphabetically composed. viz. A ALexandria, A City in Turkey. Argier, A City in Barbary. Alicant, A City in Spayn●. A●●a●●● A River in the West Indies. Ar●no●h●, A River in the West Indies. B BRaats, In the Main, a main land of the Turks. Bizert, A town in Barbary. Bona, A town in Barbary. Bay, A town in Brazile. Budgie, A town in Barbary. C CIci●●ia, A famous Island of the Spaniards. Can●se, A famous Island of the Venetians▪ Cyprus, A famous Island of the Turks. Cirrigo, An Island of the Venetians. Christiana, An Island of the greeks. Corrune, A town of the Turks. Corphou, A City of the Venetians. Corsigo, An Island of the Genowes. Callary, A City upon Sardina. Carthageine, A town in Spain. Cales, A City of the Spaniards. Corues, An Island of the Spaniards. D DEnei, A town in Castillia. F FLorence, A famous City of the great Dukes. Famagosta, A City upon Cyprus. Fernandobuck, A town in Brazyle. Fi●lk, An Island of the Spaniards. Flowers, An Island of the Spaniards. G GOodz●, An Island inhabited by greeks. Genowey, A famous City in Italy. Grand Maligo. A City in Spain. G●●ne, A River in the West Indies. Gratiose, An Island of the Spaniards. I IO●a, An Island of the Turks. juersey, An Island of the Spaniards. jublatore, A town of the Spaniards. L LIlbo, An Island governed by Spaniards and Italians. Lisbor●e, A famous City in Portugal. Luca, A City in Tuskanie. Leghorn, A famous City of the Duke of Florence. M MAlta, A famous Island. M●ntua, A famous City in Italy. M●aona, A town in Turkey. Maluedra, A town in Castille. Mayorke, An Island of the Spaniards. M●●●ork, An Island of the Spaniards▪ Massegant, A Town in Barbary. Muggadore, An Island in Barbary. Muria, An Island in the West Indies. N NAples, A famous City in Calabria. Naveyrne, A town of the Turks. P PAlerma, A famous City in Sicilia. Petras, A City in Turkey. Portercula, A strong town of the Spaniards. Pume-bien, A town of the Spaniards. Peza, A City in Tuscany. Porta Richo, An Island in the West Indies. Portaferare, A strange town of the Duke of Florence. Porta long, A town of the Spaniards. R Room, The chief City of the Pope. Regi, A town in Calabria. S STrumbula, A burning Island. Sapientia, An Island of the Turks. Salerna, A town in Calabria. Syppa de Vecchia, An ancient City. Sardina, A famous Island of the Spaniards. St. mary's, An Island of the Spaniards. St. Lucas, A City of the Spaniards. Sapphic, A town in Barbary. Sancta Cruse, A town in Barbary. Santa Lucia, An Island of the Spaniards. Santa Martyne, An Island of the Spaniards. St. michael's, An Island of the Spaniards. Scanderune, In the bottom of the straits, governed by Turks. St. Georgis, An Island of the Spaniards. Scena, A City in Tuscany. T THe Rhodes, held by the Turks. The Stravales, And Island inhabited by greeks. Tarrant, A Town in Calabria. The Geta A town of the Popes. Tunis, A great City in Barbary. Tit●an, A town in Barbary. Tangere, A Town in Barbary. The River of Amazons in the West Indies. Trnidado, An Island of the West Indies. Teneriefe, An Island of the Spaniards. The Grand Canaries, inhabited by Spaniards. V VAlentia, A famous City in Castille. Uize Maligo, A town in Spain. Ualdeny, A town in Brachademayne. W WIapocho, A River in the West Indies. Z ZAnt, An Island of the Venetians. Zumbula, An Island of the Turks. Here in this Table have I not spoken of France, nor of any part of the Low-Countries, neither of Ireland, in all which places I have been, nor yet of England, the Garden of the world, because I count it a folly to tell the Master of the house the condition of the Servants, for every man by natural reason can discover his own home. Now have I thought it fit out of the former Table to select twelve principal places, in discovery whereof I shall not omit as occasion is offered to speak of the rest, and how I came to every place, with the names of Ships and Galleys, with the owners, and Masters, and how many leagues each of these twelve places are from England. FOr proof of what I have herein written, concerning my slavery and thraldom, I have procured, though not without some cost and more travel, six of the chiefest masters of ships of London, who see me, and relieved me often during my thraldom, to subscribe their hands hereunto, as also the hands of divers Masters and Surgeons of other places in England, whose names follow, viz. Robert Thorneton. Master of the good ship called the Royal Merchant of London. Thomas Gardiner. Master of the good ship called the Triumph of London. Robert Bradshaw. Master of the good ship called the William and Thomas of London. Thomas Rickman. Master of the good ship called the Mary Anne of London. james Davies. Master of the good ship called the Isaak of London. George Millard. Master of the good ship called the May-flowre of London. Denis Davies. Barber Surgeon of London. Thomas Rousley. Barber Surgeon of London. Charles Hearne. Barber Surgeon of Bristol. Richard W●ight. Barber Surgeon of Plymouth. Walter Matthew. Owner of the good ship called the Mathewes farm of Plymouth. Richard row. Owner of the good ship called the Portion of Milbrook, in the county of Cornwell. Many others more as well Noble men, Knights, Gentlemen, as owners, Masters, and Surgeons did see, and can witness my slavery, whose hands likewise I might easily have procured, but that considering the business to be of no great importance, I held it needless to trouble either them or myself any further, and these present witnesses are sufficient. The twelve principal places are thus distinguished. VIZ. Three Cities, and three islands of the Christians, and three Cities, and three islands of the Infidels. The Christians be, the Pope, the Spaniards, and the Italian, The infidels be, the Turk, the Moor, and the Indian. The Names of the twelve places▪ 1 civita de Vecchia, A City of the Popes. 2 Argeir, A City of the Turks. 3 Tunis, A great City of the Moors. 4 Leghorn, A City of the Italians. 5 Naples, A famous City of the Spaniards. 6 The River of the Amazons in the West Indies. 7 Malta, an Island of the Popes, very famous. 8 Cyprus, A famous Island of the Turks. 9 S●●●l●ia, A famous Island of the Spaniards. 10 Muggadore, An Island of the Moors. 11 Candy, A famous Island of the Italians. 12 Morria, An Island of the Indians. The Travails and miserable Captivity of William Davies, Barber-Surgion of LONDON. I Departed out of England the 28. of januarie 1597. in the good ship named the Francis of Saltash, in the county of of Cornwell, Master Tyball Gear, Owner, and William lewelyn, Master of her, being laden with Fish, and Herring, and such like commodities, then bound for the straits and to arrive at Civita de Vecchia to the will and pleasure of God: where we arrived the sixth day of March ensuing, whose description followeth by me William Davies Barber-Surgion of London, and borne in the City of Heriford. I. The Description of Civita de Vecchia. civita de Vecchia is an ancient City of the Popes, lying Distant from England leagues 700. in low ground, a days journey from Rome by land, this City lieth close upon the Sea, very strongly fortified, and planted with Ordinance, to the East side a strong Castle, or Fort: And also the like upon the West side, in this place the Pope's Galleys lie, and shipping. For there is a harbour, and fair mould for their safety. For the Pope hath no other place for Ships or Galleys but Rome, and there none will come up but small Barks, and Boats, and such like, by reason of the shallowness of the River. In this Civita de Vecchia are altogether Romans, wholly professing the Romish Religion, saying directly that the Pope is God an earth, and that he can forgive any sin whatsoever being committed, which makes the most part of them, or all, run desperately into most deadly sins. For very Murder they hold it no great sin, being committed, receiving of the Pope's pardon, or else getting into some Monastery where they may be confessed, and absolved, whereby no Law can take hold of them at their coming forth, being apt and ready within a week, or fortnight after to commit the like Murder, then receiving the like pardon, or absolution, as before they had done: and thus many bloody minded men continue their lifetime, for it is an easy matter for a man to have his adversary killed, or poisoned for money, although his executioner never see him till such time as he committeth this bloody deed, being hired by another. Also in this Country their women are very lewd and wicked, for even in that ancient City of Rome, there are many thousands of lewd living women that pay monthly unto the Pope for the sinful use of their wicked bodies: some pay six Crowns a month, and so from six Crowns to one, for they are rated according to their outward show, and for the nonpayment of this monthly pay, they shall have their goods strained and carried out of their houses, or chambers, by the Pope's officers, and kept from them till such time as satisfaction is made to the Pope. So it is lawful for any man to use any of these women as his own wife, neither shall he be molested or troubled, or otherwise endangered, so he escape secret occasions of danger, for this woman will be as dutiful unto him as his servant, always attending his pleasure for his diet or any thing else belonging unto him: he giving her content with his purse; but she not receiving content may as lawfully arrest him, and cast him into prison till such time as she doth receive satisfaction, being recovered by Law: for they hold their livings by the Pope. Now as I have spoken of two deadly sins wherein they exceed, so will I speak of one thing wherein some of them are to be commended, that is this. If there be any Christian, of what Nation soever, poor and in distress, making his case known, and ask for Christ's sake, he shall be relieved, with all those necessaries whereof he is destitute, as apparel, meat, and drink, and some money, though it be but little: if he be sick, then shall he be put into an Hospital, where he shall be choicely attended upon, having good lodging, dainty diet, and comfortable Physic for the restoring of his health, whether he be Papist or Protestant: but if he be a Papist, he shall be the better used, and if he be a Protestant they will use all means they can to convert him, but force him to nothing at all. In these Countries it is dangerous for an Englishman being a Protestant to speak any thing against the Pope, or his Religion, especially unto another Englishman that is a Papist, yet this English Papist will seek all the means possible to entrap the Protestant, and will speak ill words of himself, to draw him to the like, but when he hath made him utter the secrets of his heart, then will he make it known, and more than the Protestant spoke, to some chief man of a Church, by whom he shall be forced to alter his Religion, or to be burned, or put in some secret prison where he shall be starved to death, and this is the manner and fashion in all Countries of Christendom within the Pope's Jurisdiction, not only of the treachery of the English Papists, but also of the other deadly sins which I touched before, as their murder and adultery: and in like manner of their general compassion, to a distressed Christian. What I have here written, I speak not of hearsay, nor by imaignation, but directly have seen, and of mine own knowledge you may speak it, being too long a time amongst them, against my will. II. The Description and discovery of Argeir. ARgeir, is a marvelous strong City, and governed by the Distant from England leagues 480. Turk, lying upon the side of an upright hill, close upon the Sea, this City is very strongly fortified with Castles, Forts, and platforms, with great store of Ordinance planted about it, also there are many Galleys belonging to this place, which do much offend the Christians, in taking of their ships, tartans and Satties, and other small vessels, making all the Christians that they take slaves, & selling of them in their markets like horses: for according to age and strength they are prised. This City is governed by a King, being vassal to the great Turk. Also there are great store of Janissaries in it, to the number of 20. or 30000. at one time: these janissaries are chief Soldiers, and governed by a Dane, which is a general under the great Turk. These Turks are goodly people of parson, and of a very fair complexion, but very villains in mind, for they are altogether Sodomites, and do all things contrary to a Christian. For they do never lie in a bed, nor feed upon a Table; yet their feeding and diet is very plentiful, their bedding and apparel is very neat and costly, the manner of their lodging is thus: There is a very fair table in a room, about three yards in breadth, and as many in length standing in height one yard from the ground, and thereon they use to spread a double quilt very costly with many curious Cushions, in stead of Pillows, whereon he lieth down in his shirt, and linen breeches only, without any other covering, by reason of the heat of the country. Also in the same room he hath another Table laid after the same fashion very richly, whereon his wives do lie, but she that likes him best, he will take to accompany him for the night. A Turk may have as many wives as he pleaseth, so he be able to buy them, and by the number of his wives, most commonly his substance is known, for the richer he is, the more wives he hath, the poorer the fewer: yet never married to none of them, but only the first, but maintaining of them all. It is very dangerous for a Christian to be found in the company of any Turks woman, for being found together, he shall be forced to turn Turk, or else be put to death, and the said woman also shall be put into a sack, which being made fast, she shall be flung into the Sea, whether they commit the sin or not. These Turks are very zealous in their religion, acknowledging God; and Mahomet a solicitor for their sins. A Turk will keep his word if he swears by his head, putting his hand upon his forehead. In this country there is great store of gold and rich Merchants; the manner of their Churches and coming to Prayer is thus. The Church is very fair within, with many hundreds of Lamps burning therein, all matted under foot, without any kind of picture, or seats, also most of them do pray upon Beads. In the morning on the top of the Church they hang out a white flag, and in the after noon a blue one for a sign of their coming to Church, then goeth eight or ten of them on the very top of the Church, and cry with a loud voice. Volla, volla hamdrulla and shalla, that is to say God, God, help us at thy pleasure, and this is their ordinary warning to come to Church, as we use Bells in Christendom, for they abhor the ringing of Bells, being contrary to their Prophet's command. A Turk chooseth his first wife after this manner. He never seeth his wife till she come to the Church to be married, for the match is made by their friends, neither is a Turkish woman's face to be seen, because their faces are continually covered going through the streets, both young and old: neither shall a manchild after he is ten years old ever see his mother. A Turk is Circumcised after this manner. The better Gentleman he is, the longer he stays afore he be Circumcised, but the time being come, then is he put upon a very fair white horse, being very costly attired, and before him goeth two, or three hundredth by two and two in purple coats, bearing wax candles in their hands, and after them followeth a great many playing on diffused Instruments making of a great noise, then followeth a Bull covered with very fair Arras, and his horns gilded, and next rideth he that shall be Circumcised, with all his friends following, and thus he rideth to the place of Circumcision, where they cut off the foresa●ne of his yard, naming of him Morat, Shebane, or Hosan, or some such like name: then will they take the Bull, and turn his head to to the Eastward, then cut his throat, saying, this day we have done a good deed, than they cut the Bull in yeeces, and distribute it among his friends, and kindred, and so they return home where they do feast with great joy. The manner of a Christian turning Turk, is thus. He is put upon a horse with his face towards the tail, and a Bow and an Arrow in his hand, than the picture of Christ is carried before him with his feet upwards, at the which he draws his Bow with the Arrow therein, and thus he rideth to the place of Circumcision, cursing his father that begat him, and and his mother that bore him, his Country, and all his kindred: then coming to the place of Circumcision, he is Circumcised, receiving a name, & denying his Christian name, so that ever after he is called a Runagado, that is, a Christian denying Christ and turned Turk: of which sort there are more in Turkey and Barbary then of natural Turks. The manner of their judgement for offending of the Law touching death, either for theft or murder, is thus: within four hours after he is taken, he is condemned by certain chief Soldiers, and presently put to death after this manner, viz. ganshed, s●aked or beat to death. Their ganshing is after this manner: He sitteth upon a wall, being five fathoms high, within two fathoms of the top of the wall, right under the place where he sits, is a strong Iron hook fastened, being very sharp, then is he thrust off the wall upon this hook with some part of his body, and there he hangeth sometimes two or three days before he dieth. Staking to death is thus: Around piece of wood three yards long, and as big as a man's leg, being sharp at one end, is taken and driven in at the fundament of the offender, and out at his shoulder, and so they let him lie till he be dead, which sometimes will not be in a day or two. The manner of beating to death is thus: They take the offender, and lay him down upon his back, being naked, and with two double ropes, two several men, one on the one side, and the other on the other side of him, beat on his belly till he is dead. But these deaths are very seldom used, because they are so fearful to the offenders, yet I have seen them all executed. III. The Description and discovery of Tunis. TVnys is a great City in Barbary, inhabited by Moors, Distant from En●land leagues▪ 600. and some Turks and Jews. This City is spacious, and lieth in low ground, eight miles from the Sea: there belongs to this City a very fair Castle, named the Galletta: This Castle is very strong of Ordnance, and governed by Turks: betwixt the City and this Castle lieth the ancient City of Carthage, sunk, by the report of all the Inhabitants thereabouts: but this did I see myself going up to Tunis in a Boat, the foundation of many houses for the space of four or five miles, the water being very clear, and in depth a fathom and a half. The Moors of this Country are altogether in Religion like to the Turks, and also in habit: they are very light of foot, and gallant horsemen: they cannot endure Hog's flesh, nor the drinking of Wine, for they drink water altogether, except it be sometimes Aquavitae. The manner of their living in the Country is thus: They will go five or six hundred together, Men, Women, and Children, with their Camels, Asses, and Sheep, together with all their Poultry, under the side of a Mountain, where every man pitcheth his Tent, living every man to himself, having his Wife and Children about him, with his Servants and cattle, thus many Tents are pitched together, to the bigness of a little Town, continuing there till such time as their cattle have eaten up the grass, and then being able to stay there no longer, they remove to another place, where they live as before they had done: and thus they do spend their lives. By reason the Country is continually hot, their feeding is plentiful, but their apparel poor and bare, neither have they any, but what they buy with the increase of their cattle, carrying them often to the Towns, Cities, and Market places near, where they have sale for them. These Moors are very ingenious people, cunning and treacherous. Now leave we Tunis in the same Ship that I came out of England in, named the Francis of Sal●ash, being bound to Syo within the Arches of Archipelago, and freighted with Turkish goods by Turks, and some Turks aboard with us, for we traded as well with the Turk as the Christian: but we had not sailed above four leagues out of our Port in the night season, but that we were most fiercely set upon by six of the Duke of Florence his Galleys, (who being in continual war with the Turk, took us as a Turkish prize) which spit fire like diue●s, to our great discomfort, but at length couraging of ourselves in God's mercies, we continued fight with them, to the loss of many a man's life of each fide, but all in vain for us, for they were forty for one of us, and our Sip torn down to the water with their Ordinance, our main Mast, and missen Mast, shot by the board, the ●●e end of the Mast with all the sails lying in the Sea, the other end aboard: thus were we taken, and stripped every man stark naked, and then were we distributed, some into one Galley, and some into another▪ where we had as many Irons knocked upon us, and more, than then we were able to bear. Our Ship presently sent to Leghorn, being mended as well as they could, but we in the Galleys, continued a month before we came thither, to the loss of many of our lives: but at length coming thither▪ as many of us as were left alive were thus entertained. We w●re all shaven both head and beard, and every man had given him a red coat, and a red cap, telling of us that the Duke had made us all Slaves, to our great woe and grief: where I continued eight years and ten months in this slavery, as in the next discovery shall be truly spoken of. FOUR The Description and discovery of Leghorn. LIgorne is a City of the Duke of Florence, and lieth in low Distant from England leagues 630. ground, having many towers without it, standing in the Sea, also to this Town doth belong a wild road, and two very fair moulds for the safety of the Duke's Galleys. In the entrance of these moulds is a very strong Castle with great store of Ordnance planted: also the Town is very strongly fortified, for it is the chief garrison of the great Dukes, where is continually great store of Soldiers in pay. Which Soldiers are always employed in his shipping or Galleys, wherewith he doth more offend the Turk then all Christendom, for they do take Galleys and Carmizals and Brigantéens, and Towns of the Turks and Moors: possessing of Men, Women, and Children, and selling them in Markets, like to Horses, cows, or Sheep, reserving the strongest for his own flavery: In this place I lived eight years, and ten months: three years of this time I lived in this manner, from Sun rising to Sun set, chained in a Cart like a horse, receiving more blows then any Carthorse in England, our diet being Bread and Water, and not so much Bread in three days as we might have eaten at once, thus we were used to go forty or fifty Carts together, being all slaves: our lading would be Sand, or lime, or Brick, or some such like, and to draw it whither the Officers appointed us, for their buildings. These Italians are very deceitful people, for when they laugh in a man's face, they will seek to kill him, yet they are very cowards being natural Italians: their women are altogether wicked and lewd. Three years being spent in this manner: all we English▪ men were called as many as were left alive, making choice of the ablest of us to go into the Galleys, of which I was one chosen, then did my misery increase manifold, for than I was made a Galley▪ slave to row at an Oar, where our former diet lessened▪ but blows increased, to the loss of many of our lives. We were shaven Head and Beard every eight or tenth day, being always naked, but only a pair of linen breeches and chains continually. In this time I was at the taking of many a Town and Galley of the Turks, though sore against my will, seeing of many Cities, islands, and main Lands in the time of my slavery, where I continued six years a Galleyslave, finding in all this time much comfort and relief from English Merchants that were Protestants, and also from many English Masters and owners of Ships. But from English men being Papists none at all. The misery of the Galleys doth surpass any man's judgement or imagination, neither would any man think that such torture, or torment were used in the world, but only they that feel it, the extremity of misery causeth many a slave to kill themselves, or else seek to kill their Officers; but we were not suffered to have so much as a knife about us, yea if we had gotten one by any extraordinary means, and offered any violence to any Officer, we should presently have lost our nose and ears, and received a hundred blows en our bare back, and a hundred on our belly with a double rope, or a bulls pis●e, continuing a slave still: But I entreated the Almighty God to grant me grace that I might endure it patiently, that feeling that extremity in body in this world, how far would the torments of hell have surpassed and exceeded it, if I had in this my earthly torture been accessary to mine own death, as many were. But at length God of his great goodness and mercy, delivered me (according to my hope) in this manner. The great Duke fitted a ship▪ a Tartane and a Frigate, being very well appointed and victualled, dispesing of them into the West Indies, and chiefly for the Kiver of the Amazons, appointing Captain Robert Thornton, an Englishman to be chief Commander of the Ship, the Tartane and the Frigate: so likewise was every other Officer appointed by the Duke himself; insomuch as speaking of the placing of a Physician, a Surgeon, and a surgeons mate, Captain Thornton standing by, said, your Highness may do well to deliver a poor Englishman that hath continued a great while in your Galleys: he is well experimanted in P●●sicka, and Surgery, by reason of his long practice both by Sea an Land: he is hardened to the Sea, and able to discharge the place better than the three before mentioned: for in the Galleys he doth your Highness but the labour of one slave: whereupon the Duke demanded my name. Captain Thornton answered, and said, William Davies: whereto the Duke replied, I have often been spoken to for that fellow, whose liberty now I give upon thy good report, Thornton, but yet I doubt his usage hath been so hard in my Country, that as soon as he is out of chains, he will give me the slip and not go the voyage into the Indieses with thee. But if he can give five hundred Crowns security to go the voyage, he shall be released presently out of chains: neither shall he want any thing that is needful for the voyage, ●or the good of all the Company, or for his own body, and this let him understand as soon as may be: which news came within two days unto me, to my great rejoicing & comfort, but as soon as I heard it, I suddenly sat down, being at my ol● profession, carrying of dirt, and stone, and such like in a basket, and would work no longer, neither suffer the slave to work that was chained unto me, but as soon as I was espied, one of the Masters of the work came to me, and said thou Lutheran Dog: Why workest thou not? and with that struck me with a Cudgel, whereto the slave that was chained with me, replied. The Duke hath given him his liberty: then said he that had strooken me, Master, I beseech you forgive me, and excuse my rashness, doubting that I should have remembered his former courtesies being at liberty. And within a short time after Captain Thorneton came from Florence to Leghorn, where I was, who then told me the Duke's disposition to the full, and upon what security I should be delivered: which security I did suddenly procure by an English Merchant, whose name was Master William Mellyn, of Bristol, who passed his Band for five hundred Crowns to the Duke, for the performance of the voyage by me: Whereupon I was suddenly released out of chains, to my great rejoicing, giving God thanks for his blessings. Then was I presently well appareled by Captain Thorneton, and this Merchant, wanting nothing whereof I was destitute: But within two or three days after I was sent for, by the great Duke, to come unto him to Archemeyne, where then he continued, whither suddenly I repaired, and coming to the Duke's presence, doing my duty, he said unto me, be of good comfort I have given thee grace, with thy liberty, neither shalt thou want any thing for the fitting of thy voyage, or needful for thy own body, therefore speak boldly, and demand any thing that shall be necessary, and I will have thee well fitted: for the great Duke of Florence wants no money. Then he demanded of me further what I was in mine own Country, whither I was a Gentleman or no. I answered his highness I was: then he asked me how? I told him my father was a Gentleman, and for my part I had served my Queen by Lano and by Sea, against the adversaries of my Queen and Country, and had lost mine own blood, and spilled my enemy's blood: and next that I was a Gentleman by Art. Then the Duke answered and said: Thou art a worthy fellow, for thou hast endured much misery in this world. But tell me, quoth he, with what substance of wealth camest thou out of thy Country: I answered with two purses full: Full said he, of what? I said of Silver and Gold, which I lost when I was taken by his highness Galleys, and the other full of Patience, which doth continue full still: Then said the Duke to one that stood by, give him a hundred Crowns to spend to strengthen himself, and bring himself to courage; thus did the Duke take delight in discoursing with me, in respect I spoke the Italian tongue very perfectly, for I bought it dear, with many a drop of my blood, in the time of my slavery. Then receiving this hundred Crowns, which the Duke had given me, I left his Court, coming presently to Leghorn, where the Ship lay, endeavouring of myself, by my labour, and industry, for the fitting of all things necessary for the good of the voyage, upon the Duke's charge, besides this hundred Crowns: for they were given me to spend at my own pleasure, which I did, to the comfort of many Englishmen that lay in chains, that were taken with me: they wanted neither meat nor drink as long as my money lasted, as many of them as were left alive, for of seven and thirty of us that were taken at the first, there remained then but thirteen, whereof ten continued in chains, and two were delivered with me. By this time all things were prepared and made ready for the performance of our pretended voyage, now being bound to serve in the good Ship called the Santa Lucia, with a Frigate, and a Tartane, well victualled, and well manned, and chiefly bound to the River of Amazons, with other several Rivers, the which the Duke would have inhabited, hoping for great store of gain of Gold, but the Countries did afford no such thing, as hereafter shall be spoken of. Upon this voyage we were fourteen months, making little gain, or benefit for the Duke, for there was nothing to be gained. Now are we homewards bound, and recovering the straits again, & being within three or four days sail of our own Port, Leghorn: in the night season we met with an English Pirate, who would have taken us, but was not able, yet held us fight all the whole night, and killed us a man, and hurt other two: whereof one was an Englishman, who died within two days after we recovered Leghorn, and being dead I went to the Captain and demanded of him where he should be buried, but he ●ad him go ask of one father Sherwood an Englishman, so he told me that if he were a Roman Catholic they would bury him in the Church, but if he were not, I should bury him out in the fields: But yet for my better assurance I went and asked of the Friars of the Misericordia, who also gave their advise, and counsel that he should be buried in the fields, because he was no Roman Catholic, whereupon I buried him in this manner. I entreated the company of many Englishmen that were Protestants to help me to shroud him, and also to accompany me to the burying of him, which they did in this manner. We put him upon a Bear, being shrouded with a covering over him, and carried by four men, many Englishmen that were Protestants followed him, bearing every man a branch of Rosemary in his hand to the place where we buried him, reading Prayers over him after the English manner. His name that was buried was Erasmus Lucas, and borne in Southwark near unto London. Two days being spent after his burial, & was sought for by an Italian Friar, who finding of me, demanded of me my name, which presently I told him, than he replied, thou art he that I look for, for thou hast buried a good Christian, and a Roman Catholic out in the fields, like to a Dog and a Lutheran as thou art thyself: therefore I charge thee in the Duke's name to go along with me, which command I durst not deny, but went with him, where he brought me before three or four aged Friars of the Inquisition, & they asked of me whether I were that Lutheran that buried a good Christian in the fields, for he was a Roman Catholic, and confessed, and received the Sacrament like to a good Christian, and therefore thou shalt be burned, for thou hast done contrary to the Law of Rome. I answered that I had buried a good Christian, but not a Roman Catholic, neither was he confessed, nor received the Sacrament: they replied, if this be not true which thou hast said thou shalt surely die for it. Therefore take him, and put him into the secret, whither unto I was brought, which is a prison in this manner: Many double doors being opened, I passed through two or three outward prisons then coming to the door of the secret, whereinto I was thrust, it was so dark that I could see no part of my body, then feeling round about me with my hands, I found it to be very short in length, & less in breadth, but of height I know not how high, because I could neither see nor feel the top. In this place I was almost over shoes in the filth of other men that had died there before, who never lived above eight or ten days there at the most: Then wrapping one arm within another, and leaning against the wall, calling to mind jobs miseries and daniel's afflictions amidst the Lions, and encouraging myself in God's mercy, sung a Psalm very cheerfully to the praise and glory of God, wherein I was greatly comforted. Then did I draw off my shoes and stockings, & with my bare feet swept all the trash and filth into one corner. In this manner I lived forty hours before any sleep possessed me, and then being desirous of sleep, I sat down and leaned my head against the wall, and slept very sound, being altogether comforted with a lively hope in the Almighty God, that he would deliver me (according to my trust) as he had done before. And when most extremes would oppress me, than would I be most joyful, finding always an inward motion, saying, be of good comfort, the Lord will deliver thee: In this manner I lived sixteen days, my food being bread & water, and my lodging upon the cold stones, and being yet alive, they held it a miracle that I should live there so long, saying, this Lutheran hath a Lion's heart, for we never knew any to live above ten days, wherefore let us have him forth to be examined. Then was I brought before the high Inquisitioner, who demanded of me, whether he that I buried had received the Sacrament & confessed, according to the Roman order or no, I answered no; he was a good Christian, but received not the Sacrament, nor was not confessed, after the order of Rome: then he said that he was, by a Friar of the Mesericordia, & therefore thou shalt be burned. Then I entreated that I might but speak, and he said speak on: then I asked them this, whether the Friar that confessed him could speak any English or no, he answered that he could speak none: then tell me quoth I, how an Italian Friar (can confess an Englishman speaking no English, nor the Englishman speaking no Italian, nor other language but his mother tongue? for you know well there must be no interpreter in confession, & if the Sacrament were ministered unto him, the house where he died can justify it. Then the Inquisitioner hearing this, scratched his head, saying, this fellow hath spoken the truth, wherefore take him and put him out into a large prison, whether I was brought, where I lived ten weeks being well, and often relieved by English Protestants, who rejoiced much to see me alive. These malicious Friars, there reason wherefore they sought my life was, because they would have the dead man's pay to themselves, which if he had been a Roman Catholic had been their due, & in respect he was not, they missed of the pay, & of their wicked pretence against me, (God I give him thanks) by reason I could speak the Italian tongue, for if I had had an interpreter in this, though my cause was just, yet I had surely died. Ten weeks being spent in this prison, it was the fortune of one M. Richard Row of Milbrooke, in the county of Cornwell, to arrive at Leghorn, in the good ship called the Portion he being owner & Merchant of the said ship, & one day coming to the Prison grate demanded of me what Countryman I was, I told him I was borne in the City of Hereford. He asked my name: I answered William Davies. Said he, know you one Master Davies in Plymmouth. I said I was an unfortunate brother of his. With that he was very sorely grieved, in respect he knew my brother very well, and loved him directly, and told me if all the means that he could use could deliver me, he would: therefore said he, think with yourself, how I may deliver you, and I will be back again with you within these two or three hours: whereupon he delivered me six Crowns, and bid me spare for no money, for he knew my brother would repay it again: then leaving me, I sat down and leaned my head upon my hand, setting my elbow upon my knee, entreating my Almighty God, to show me some direct course whereby I should be delivered. Then presently came into my head, to send for a Frenchman, in whose house I had always lain before, who presently came unto me, unto whom I imparted my mind, telling of him that if he would feign a matter of debt against me, I would give him ten Crowns for his labour, though I ought him nothing: but he answered and said it was dangerous, for it was a Gally-matter, but I viewed it should never be made known by me: Whereupon he gave consent, and went to the Governor and told him, that in the Prison where debtor are, there is an Englishman who oweth me money, and we were agreed, then said the Commissary if thou art content, let him pay the charge of the house, and be gone: which charge I paid presently, and was freed, departing away with the Frenchman, and brought him to Master Hunts house, the English Counsel, where I gave him his ten Crowns. So leaving one another, I went presently aboard of Master Rows Ship, being then bound for Naples, unto which place we came, whose description followeth. V. The Description and discovery of Naples. NAples is a famous and most worthy City very spacious, Distant from England 700. leagues. standing close upon the Sea, marvelous strongly fortified and planted with Ordnance, in many several Castles, Bulwarks, Forts, and such like: Also to this City doth belong many Galleys, and very good shipping, and continually great store of shipping rides before it, this City lies in the Land of Calabria, and is governed by a Viceroy, under the King of Spain: also there are many Soldiers in Garrison, being all Spaniards. The King of Spain maintains many Pensioners there. In this City they speak several Christian languages, because there are of all Nations in Christendom but principally Italians, and Spaniards. The Neopolitans are very proud, and of a leftie spirit, being for the most part very rich, and costly attired, and most commonly well furnished inwardly with their Country disease. They are altogether Papists, and their women very audacious, especially in the sinful use of their bodies, by reason they have as well their pardon as privilege from Rome. In this City it is very dangerous to walk by night, for a man may suddenly be killed for the clothes on his back, whither he be poor or rich. In this place are always great store of Merchants and Lidgers of several Countries, as specially English, Dutch, greeks, Italians, venetians, French, Spaniard, Jew, with many other Christian Nations. The chief commodity that these Merchant's deal in, is ●aw▪ Silk, or Silk wrought, either into Satins, Taffities, Grograms, and divers other silk stuffs, Silk stockings, Laces of all sorts, & Garters of several sorts. In this place I have been divers times, and never found any thing noteworthy, but only one, which was this. A mine underneath a great Mountain about a mile or thereabouts in length. This vault was digged by the industry of men for a passage from the City to an Island called N●●●ta, where all shipping doth stop before they come to the City; The reason wherefore this passage was invented, is because the mountain over it is so sleep that there was no passage over it, except they would go twenty miles about, but now Coaches, Wagons Carts, horse or foot may pass as smoothly through as in a plain way, continually hanging within it great store of Lamps: this vault is in height about five fathom, and four in breadth, it is named the Grout, & by common report one Virgil a learned man was the Author of it, whose Tomb is aloft in each end of it, having a Lamp hanging continually before it: Through this place I have oft and many times passed: and therefore upon my own knowledge I can assure what I have written. V. The Description and discovery of the River of Amazons. THe River of the Amazons lieth in the highest part of the Distant from England 1600 〈…〉 West Indies, beyond the Equinoctial line; to fall with this River forty leagues from Land you shall have eight, six, and seven fathom water, and you shall see the Sea change to a ruddy colour, the water shall grow fresh, by these signs you may run in boldly your course, and coming near the rivers mouth, the depth of your water shall increase, than you shall make discovery of the trees before the land, by reason the land is very low, and not higher in one place then another three ●oote, being at a spring tide almost all over flown, God knows how many hundred leagues. It flows much water there with a very forcible tide. In this River I continued ten weeks, seeing the fashion of the people and country there: This Country is a together full of woods, with all sorts of wild beasts, as Lions, Bears, Wolves, Leopards, Baboons, ●range Boars, Apes, Monkeys, Martyns, Sanguins, Marmosets with divers other strange beasts: also these woods are ●ull of wildfowl of all sorts, and Parats more plentiful than Pigeons in England, and as good meat, for I have often eaten of them. Also this Country is very full of Rivers, having a King over every River. In this place is continual tempests as lightning, thunder, and rain, and so extreme, that it continues most commonly sixteen or eighteen hours i● four and twenty. There are many standing ●●ters in this Country, which be full of alligators, G●●●es, with many other several water Serpents, and great store of fresh fish, of strange fashions. This Country is full of Muskitas, which is a small Fl●e, which much offends a stranger coming newly into the Country. The manner, fashion, and nature of the people is this: They are altogether naked, both men and women, having not so much as one three● about them to cover any part of their nakedness, the man taketh a round Cane as big as a penny candle, and two inches in length, through the which he pulls the foreskin of his yard, tying the skin with a piece of the rind of a tree about the bigness of a small packthread, then making of it fast about his middle, he continueth thus till he have occasion to use him. In each ear he weareth a reed or Cane, which he boreas through it, about the bigness of a Swans quill, and in length half an inch, and the like through the midst of the lower lip: also at the bridge of the nose he hangs in a Reed a small glass Bede or Button, which hanging directly afore his mouth, flies too and fro still as he speaks, wherein he takes great pride and pleasure. He wears his hair long, being rounded below to the neither part of his ear, and cut short, or rather as I judged plucked bald on the crown like a Friar. But their women use no fashion at all to set forth themselves, but stark naked as they were borne, with hair long of their heads, also their breasts hang very low, by reason they are never laced or braced vy: they do use to anoint their bodies, both men and women, with a kind of red earth, because the Muskitas or Flies shall not offend them. These people are very ingenious, crafty▪ and treacherous, very light of foot, and good Bowemen, whose like I have never seen, for they do ordinarily kill their own food, as Beasts, Fowl, and Fish, the manner of their Bow and Arrows is this. The Bow is about two yards in length, the Arrow seven foot. His Bow is made of Brazill wood very curious, his string of the rind of a Tree, lying close to the Bow, without any bent, his Arrow made of a reed, and the head of it is a fish bone, he kills a beast in this manner: standing behind a Tree, he takes his mark at the beast, and wounding him, he follows him like a Bloodhound till he fall, oftentimes seconding his shoot: then for any fowl be he never so little, he never misses him: as for the first, he walks by the water side, and when he hath spied a fish in the water, he presently strikes him with his Arrow, and suddenly throwing down his Bow, he leaps into the water, swimming to his Arrow which he draws aland with the fish fastened to it, then having each killed his own sood, as well flesh, and fowl, as fish, they meet together, to the number of fifty or si●tie in a company, then make a fire after this fashion: They take two sticks of wood, rubbing one hard against another, till such time as they be fired, then making of a great fire every man is his own Cook to broil that which he hath gotten, and thus they feed without Bread or Salt, or any kind of drink but Water and Tobacco, neither do they know what it means: In these Countries we could find neither Gold nor Silver Dare, but great store of Hens. For I have bought a couple for a Jews Harp, when they would refuse ten shillings in mo●ey. This Country is full of delicious fruit, as ●ynes, Plantins, Euaves, and Potato roots, of which fruits and roots I would have bought a man's burden for a glass Button or Bead. The manner of their lodging is this: they have a kind of net made of the rind of a Tree which they ●●ll Haemic, being three fathom in length, and two in breadth▪ and gathered at both ends at length, then fastening either end to a Tree, to the full length about a yard and half from the ground, when he hath desire to sleep, he creeps unto it The King of every River is known by this manner. He wear●s upon his head a Crown of Parats feathers, of seue●al●●●o●●s, having either about his middle, or about his neck ● chain of lions teeth or claws, or of some other strange ●●a●●, having a woo●●en sword in his hand, and hereby is he known to be the King: Oftentimes one King wars against another in their Canoes, which are Boats cut out of a whole Tree, and sometimes taking one another the Conquerors eats the Captines. By this time ten weeks were spent, and being homewards bound, but not the same way that we came, for we sailed unto the River before the wind, because it blows there continually one way, which forces all ships that come thither to returns by a contrary way. VII. The Description and discovery of Malta. MAlta is a small Island, very famous, having two Cities Distant from England ●●●●eagu●●. upon it called Terra-noua, and Terra-vecha being situate very near one another. This Island is governed by a great Master, who acknowledgeth no Superior upon earth, but the Pope to be Supreme head of the Church. The great Master lives in Terra-noua, which is a great City, lying close upon the Sea, marvelous strongly fortified and planted with Ordnance the like is not in Christendom, for the Turk hath oftentimes sought to take it, with two or three hundred sail of Galleys at a time, but yet was never able to take any part of it. To this Island doth there belong Galleys, though they be but few, to the number of six or eight sail, and also shipping, wherewith they do much offend the Turk, taking of them very often, and making them slaves: In this Island they hold the Romish Religion, both men and women, their women are altogether lascivious and lewdly given, but there men are valiant, Gentlemen, and worthy men at arms: they are of all Nations of Christendom, speaking generally all languages, also they have an ancient order of Knighthood, sworn by the Cross of Saint john, which is a forked white Cross which they wear upon their breasts to be known to be Cavaliers and Knights of Malta. The manner of their▪ Oath of Knighthood is this: that they shall never marry, by reason they shall never have Children legitimate: for there are many Lords and Noble men sent thither by their Uncles to be Knighted, because they shall never marry, whereby after his death his lands shall come to his Uncle's issue, yet they are suffered to have as many whores as they will. Another part of their oath is this. A Knight of Malta is sworn not to stand in place where two, three, or four are upon one in fight, but to take the weaker part, & to fight to the last. They are all of bold courage, being to the number of five thousand or there about, in Malta and other Christian places: another part of their oaths is this, by Land or Sea, whether it be in ship or Galley, they are sworn to encounter their adversaries, though they be three to one, and never to yield or slip away, for they are sworn to fight it to the last man's death: The which oath they perform very courageously, for they are Gentlemen of very great respect, neither will they ever fall out amongst themselves, being forbidden by another part of their oath. As for their maintenance, the poorer sort have a pension from the great master, which maintains him very gallant, and the richer sort live upon their own charge. One thing there is strange in that Island, those that are borne without the cities speak altogether the Morisco tongue, being altogether like Moors. This Island is very plentiful and fruitful of all things, especially, Wine, Corn, Fish, Flesh, and Fruits. These Knights are very merciful, having their adversaries prostrate, greatly regarding their Oath. VIII. The Description and discovery of Cyprus. Cyprus' is a famous Island of the Turks, having two Cities Distant from England 1000 leagues. and many Towns upon it; The chiefest City upon it is Famagosta: this City lies close upon the Sea, in low ground, being very strongly fortified & walled about, and governed by Turks, holding their own Religion, believing and confessing God the Father, and their Prophet Mahomet, doing all things contrary to a Christian, yet though they do not acknowledge Christ to be the Son of God, and a God, yet they say he is the breath of God, and by the Jews put to death, but they do not believe that he is risen again. They hate a Jew above any nation even as they do the devil, neither do they care to kill him, no more than they do a dog, oftentimes killing them in the very streets upon the least occasion, if it be but for touching his garment as he passeth by him: yet their lives many Jews in all parts of the Turks dominions, but in this manner. They will suffer neither man, woman, nor child to pluck up their shoes on their heel, if they be Jews, but go always slipshod and barelegd, wearing a black cap upon his head, and carrying of a buckram sack upon his shoulders empty, to show that he is a Jew, & a slave to the world. In this Island of Cyprus, without the Cities and Towns, the Country is inhabited by Greeks, living vassals to the Turks, paying to the Turk the tenth of all that they possess, even to the tenth of their children, if they amount to that number, and that tenth child is Circumciled and made a Turk, receiving an Osper a day from the great Turk for the first years, and for the second two, and for the third three, per diem, and so his pay increaseth an Osper yearly as he groweth in years, for he is chosen from his infancy to be a Soldier of the great Turks, and so shall all his male children receive the like pay, and be Soldiers to the Turk: their garments being welted about the neck with a welt of purple silk, whereby they are known from others. This Osper is the eleveuth of a shilling English. So that at twenty years of age he serves in the field, his pay being worth nineteen pence a day, and so increasing with his years. This Island of Cyprus is very fruitful, having great store of silk worms, which yieldeth them abundance of Silk. Also this Island yields great store of fruits of all sorts, and store of cattle of all sorts: Three sorts of Beasts this Island yields, which differ far from ours in England, that is to say, a Bu●fella differs from an Ore, their Camels from our Horses, and their Sheep from ours. The Bu●fella is a Beast after the manner of an Ore, but that he is bigger, and not so high, nor so long as the tallest of our Oxen, yet one of them is as strong as three of our Oxen, for two of them do the labour of six Oxen: their horns are flat, and at midday when they use to rest them, they take them, and turn them into a water, where they will stand for the space of two hours covered quite over the backs in water, then will they yoke them and work them as fresh till night, as they did in the Morning, without any baiting at all. Their Camels is a marvelous tall beast, having a neck twice as long as a Horse, and a great bunch growing about the middle of his back, as big as a peck, he is cloven footed, and his tail little, and for his strength he will carry as much on his back as four horses, and continue with his carriage on his back threescore hours without meat or rest. I have seen four thousand of them laden at one time with Merchandise going a very slow pace, and nothing so fast as a Carrier's horse, yet will they continue that pace two days and two nights together, without any eating or drinking: and when they do rest and feed, it is but slender and very little, in this manner: when they come to their resting place they lie down with their lading upon their backs. Then the Moors or Turks, put a Ball made of Date stones beaten, into every one of their mouths, the powder of the stones being compounded with linseed Oil, and the white of Eggs, which makes the Balls as hard as Stones, and thus they will live and continue their travail sixteen days and nights together, receiving the said rest and relief at every two days end. Their Sheep are twice as big as ours in England, but in all fashions like our Sheep, except the tail, for their tails are marvelous great, broad, and thick, being very fat, for I have weighed many of their tails flayed from the Butchers, and they have weighed ten, eleven, and twelve pound weight, and throughout all Barbary and Turkey, they have plenty of these beasts, and also all kind of beasts that we have in England. There live many Greeks in all parts throughout the Turks Dominions, but in great bondage and poverty: they are good Christians, abhorring the Idolatry of Rome, and observing the same computation for Christmas and other festivals, that we do in England. Also there are Jews in all parts of Turkey and Barbary, and all parts of Christendom, England excepted: yet though they be thus dispersed throughout most parts of the world, living in extreme slavery, yet shall you not see one Jew beg his bread. One thing I have greatly marveled at, that a Jew is respected more in Christendom, then with the Turks: for the Turks (as you have heard) detests him above any Nation, tying him to a notable and known mark, or manner of apparel, and yielding him no Law or right, either against Turk or Christian: whereas, contrariwise, in Christendom, he is tied to no manner of wear, but may go in what shape he lists: and for Law, by reason of his wealth, he shall sooner have right done to him then a Christian: wherefore in my mind, the Turk greatly in this condemns the Popish Christian: for it is an ordinary saying with them, tha● if a Jew had put Mahomet to death, nay, but touched the hem of his garment violently, they would not have left one of the race of them alive, nor yet any thing, or building unraced, that might procure their memory. But in Christendom they are suffered to build Synagogues, and to use their Religion publicly. But I beseech the Almighty God that this our Land of England may never be defiled, either by Pope, Turk, or Jew. IX. The Description and discovery of Sicilia. SIcillia is a famous Island of the Spaniards, having many Distant ●ro● England 〈…〉 ●eague●. worthy Cities upon it. This Island is in bigness seven hundred miles about, very fruitful, and plentiful of all things, as Silk, Flesh, and Fish, Corn, Wine, and Oil, with great store of Fruit. This Island is governed by a Vizeroy, under the king of Spain: his chiefs abiding is at Palerm●, or Mercina, two famous Cities, but his chiefest residence is at Palerma. This City lieth in low ground, having a Mountain near it, called Monta Pellagrune. This City is very populous, being rich of Merchandise and wealthy Merchants. At this City I have been very often in the time of my sla●●●te in the Duke's Galleys. Also, near this City there is a Town called Trappany, in which Town there is a Monastery, wherein they affirm that the Pillar of Salt that Lot's Wise was turned unto, coming out of Sodom is. They profess the Romish Religion through out this Island both men and Women, speaking the Italian tongue generally, as many as be borne in the Island, and are called Sicillianes. Mercina being another famous City, lieth close upon the Sea, and is situated upon high ground, under the foot of a great Mountain. This City is strongly fortified and planted with O●●●●nce: also there is great store of Galleys and Shipping belonging to this place, which doth much offend the Turk, ●●t chiefly they are employed in Marchandiye. This high Mountain that hangs over the City is called Mungebella, and standeth in the East-part of this Island, the top of it burning continually both night and day, and by reason of the fierceness of the fire, hath consumed many villages. The reason of this fire is a Brimstone, or a Sulphur Mine, which being high, is (as all men imagine) set a fire by the heat of the Sun, as the Island Strambula is, which continually burneth: and many other high places more that I have seen, as Mount Aetna, the pike of Teneriffe a Southward Island, and many others, etc. Unto this City Mercina belongs a strait entrance by Sea, commonly called the ●ale of Mercina it lieth betwixt the Land of Sicilia and Calabria, very dangerous to pass through for any Ship, except they are very well experimented. For my part I know this place well, being often there in the ●●me of my slavery. X. The Description and discovery of ●●ggadore. MVggadore is an Island of the Moors, and lieth near the ● 〈…〉 〈…〉 England 〈…〉 〈…〉 Lan● o● ●arbary, without the straits, not far from the Lands of the Kings of Fez and Morrocco. Th●s Island is not inhabited, but very barren, being all Rocks by the 〈…〉 side, and very smooth on the to●, and full of bushes, 〈…〉 Pigeons do breed in great store: we held it nothing 〈…〉 〈…〉 six or eight in company together into the Island, and 〈…〉 〈…〉 the space of three hours, twenty dozen of Pigeons 〈…〉 with us. Betwixt the Main and this Island there is very good riding for a Ship. Also, the Moors will bring out ●● the Main Land such Uictuals as they have to re●●●●e o●r wants, as Mutton, Beef, ●c. The Moors of this Countr●● are very deceitful and treacherous: their clothing is but very naked and thin, for they wear but one flat of thin●● F●an●●● wherewith they cover their breasts, backs and p●●u●e parts and as for their arms, legs, and thighs, they ●●e na●ed of them: the said Garment, or piece of Flannel, they call ● Barnoose. In this Country of Barbary there is great store of Sugarcanes, and Sugar made, as they in Braz●e. Sometimes in this Country there is Amber-grease found, but the cunning of the Moors makes a great deal counterfeit. I came to this Island in a carnel of Plymouth, Master Edward deacon of the said Town being Master of her: Moors coming oftentimes aboard of us, where they were kindly entertained; but they returned our kindness in this manner▪ Setting of the chiefest, with many more of them ashorem our Boat, wherein six English men rowed them ashore▪ they being all a Land, our Boat was aground, than one of our men stepped out of the Boat, up to the knees in water, and by strength would have set the Boat off from the Land, which as ●oone as they espied him out of the Boat, they took h●●d of him▪ and drew him a Land, where they cut all his clothes off his back, and divided them in pieces amongst them, carrying the man stark naked up into the Country, saying tha●●e should never have him again except they had twenty French Crowns for his ransom, which news the Boace brought presently aboard, (which being in vain to st●●●e with them ●ée gave them, and received the man naked, having no further dealing with them. XI. The Description and discovery of Candy. CAndy is a famous Island of the Venetians, very fruitful, Distant from England ●●● leagues yielding great store of Wine and Oil, and all other things plentiful. This Island is very high and long, pointing East and West: the northside of it very pleasant, with great store of Gardens and Uineyards, and such like: but very barren to the Southward-side, with great Rocks, Cliffs, and Mountains, which part is inhabited by poor Greeks: and also there are many small islands under these Cliffs, inhabited likewise by Greeks, as Christiana and Godza, with others more. These Greeks live all together in bondage to the venetians. The northside of this Island is inhabited by Italians, and some Jews. There are two very fair Cities: (viz.) Candia, and Acony, these Cities are inhabited most with venetians, strongly fortified and planted with Ordnance. These Cities lie right against the entering of the Arches of Appellican, which goeth to Constantinople, where the Great Turk continues, receiving tribute of the Duke of Venice for this Island, and other parts, for the Venetian is tributary to the Great Turk. Also the Great Turk keeps him in subjection by Land and Sea, neither dare the Venetian join their forces with any Christian, at any time whensoever a Fleet of Galleys and Ships is set forth against the Turk, yet the Duke of Venice hath twice as many Galleys as any Christian Prince whatsoever, which he doth employ, some of them in Merchandise, having continual trading both with Christian and Turk, and some of his Galleys continually lieth about the entering of the Gulf of Venice, about the Island of Zant and Saphlany, and the small Island of the Stravales, and near about Madonna: these parts do they defend from any Christian men of war, or Christian Galleys, or either Galleys or Briggantéens of the Turks that shall approach near unto these parts, in the manner and fashion of men of War: and oftentimes the said Galleys do take both Christian and Turk, making Slaves of the men, or else chopping off of their heads; for it is lawful for him so to do, by the conclusion betwixt Him, the Christian, and Turk, taking them within twenty leagues compass of the entrance of his Gulf, but not in any other part of the Sea, without the said compass. XII. The Description of Morria. MOrria is a small low Island, lying in the River of Amazons, 〈…〉 the highest part of the West Indies. This Island is altogether inhabited by Women, having no Mankind amongst them: they go altogether naked, using Bow and Arrows for the kill of their own food: the hair of their heads is long, and their Breasts hang low: and whereas many here in England do imagine that they have the right Breast seared, or cut off, it is no such matter as now▪ what hath been in times past I know not: for this of mine own knowledge, I have seen forty, fifty, or threescore of them together, each of them bearing Bow and Arrows in their hands, going along by the Seaside; and when they espied a Fish, they shoot at it, and strike it, and so throwing down their Bows, they leap into the water after their Arrows, and bring the Fish aland, fastened to the Arrow: and ●o in all other things as well the dressing of their meat, as their lodging and customs, they resemble and imitate the Indians of the River of Amazons, as you heard before in that discourse. But some ●● these Women do use to bear their Children upon their backs, in this manner: They take a year of the unde of ● Tree, and with the one end thereof they fasten the Child's hunmes, and about the armpits and shoulders with the other, and so hang him on their backs like a Tinker's Budger, and cast up the breast to him over the shoulder. The reason wherefore this Island is inhabited by Women only, ●s this One month in the year, the Men from each side of the Main Land comes in their Canoes, over to the Island, every Man matching himself with a Woman, living there a month: and what men Children they find there, they carry away with them; and the Woman Children they leave behind with the Mothers. And this is their use once a year, whereby this Island is altogether inhabited by Women. There is one thing more to be wondered at, that I have also seen, that is to say, very good Oysters and muscles growing upon trees, for I have eaten my part of many an hundred of them. And for your better understanding how they grow, you shall know that the Trees stand near the Sea side, and at every full tide the bows hang into the Sea a fathom, or a fathom and a half, so that when the tide goeth out, they are found hanging in great clusters upon the branches, like Barnacles to the side of a ship, and at the coming in of the tide, they receive their moisture. FINIS. The Conclusion of the Book: to the Reader. THus far (gentle Reader) I thought good, out of my slender capacity, to acquaint thee with a brief and plain discourse of my Travel, which though it be rude, as coming from a barren brain, which professeth nothing less than learning: yet assure thyself it contains undoubted truth, being no more than I have seen, known, and to my grief and peril felt. And if any, as well or better acquainted with these Parts, or any of them, whereof I make mention, disliking the rudeness of my style, will undertake to refine it, he gives me no discontent, so he derogate not from the truth thereof. And whereas I made promise in the beginning of this Treatise, in these twelve discourses, to touch or speak something of the rest of the places, specified in the Table, I have partly performed it: but to have written of them at large, would have been but frivolous and superfluous, partly because they are places of no extraordinary note, but specially because they do in most, or all things, agree with the Countries to which they are annexed, and tributaries, or vassals: as the islands tributary to the Spaniards, follow their manner of government, customs, and orders. The Turkish tributaries imitate them in most things: and so you may judge of the rest, according as they are severally distinguished. And so much may suffice to clear that doubt. Now the reasons that urged me to publish this Book are manifold, but chiefly three: The first was, to keep in record, and make known my own misery, lest with the forgetful Butler in pharao's Prison, who being delivered forgot his promise made to joseph. that foretold his delivery: so I (such is infirmity and frailty of human nature) might (cheaked with worldly prosperity forget my merciful and mighty Deliverer. The second was, that others (warned by my misery) might shun the like. The last and chiefest reason was, to glorify God, especially here in England, which above all earthly Countries and Nations is most bound to extend and set forth his glory. For what Christian, reading but the extreme thraldom and punishment he hath inflicted upon the Jews, even to this hour, being a Nation he had once selected to himself from amongst all the Nations of the earth. Or the present misery of the Greeks, who once were monarchs of the Earth, and one of the chiefest Churches of Christendom, being the first fruits of the Gentiles, whose extreme bondage is now lamentable, yet not with the Israelites, sacrificing their children to Idols, but forced to give as well the tenth of their children, as of their substance to that monstrous Mahometan Idol the Turk. Or who, duly pondering the blindness and obstinacy of the Spaniards, Pope, and Italians, with the horrible and absurd sins that God hath given them over to: Or who, seeing the Infidelity of the simple Indian (well may I call him simple, because his error grows more of want of true knowledge than obstinacy) who worships the creature, being ignorant of the Almighty Creator? What English heart (I say) duly pondering these things in general, or any one of these things in particular, can otherwise choose but falling down on his bended knees, yield God immortal and innumerable thanks and praysegiving, not only for electing him above all other Nations of the Earth, to the true and perfect knowledge of his blessed Gospel, but also for preserving him so long from so many miseries and wretched thraldoms, whereunto most Nations of the Earth are subject? FINIS.