The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation Volume X Part 19

En Francais on appeloit glacon une sorte de toile fine qui sans doute etoit glacee. Je soupconne que le glacon Allemand etoit une espece de cotte d'armes faite de plusieurs doubles de toile piquee, comme nos gambisons.

Peut-etre aussi n'etoit-ce qu'une cuira.s.se.] un grand chapeau de fer et d'autres harnois a la mode du pays.

Ils ont beaucoup de crennequiniers. C'est ainsi qu'en Autriche et en Boheme on nomme ceux qu'en Hongrie on appelle archers. Leurs arcs sont semblables a ceux des Turcs, quoiqu'ils ne soient ni si bons ni si forts; mais ils ne les manient point aussi bien qu'eux. Les Hongrois tirent avec trois doigts, et les Turcs avec le pouce et l'anneau.

Quand j'allai prendre conge de mondit seigneur d'Autriche et de madame, il me recommanda lui-meme a mes deux compagnons de voyage, messire Jacques Trousset et mondit seigneur de Walsce, qui alloit se rendre sur la frontiere de Boheme ou il commandoit. Il me fit demander de nouveau si j'avois besoin d'argent. Je lui repondis, comme je l'avois deja fait a ceux qui m'en avoient offert, qu'a mon depart mondit seigneur le duc m'en avoit si bien pourvu qu'il m'en restoit encore pour revenir aupres de lui; mais je lui demandai un saufconduit, et il me l'accorda.

Le Danube, depuis Vienne jusqu'a trois journees pardela, a son cours dirige vers le levant; depuis Bude et meme au-dessus, jusqu'a la pointe de Belgrade, il coule au midi. La, entre la Hongrie et la Bulgarie, il reprend sa direction au levant, et va, dit-on, se jeter dans la mer Noire a Mont-Castre.

Je partis de Vienne dans la compagnie de mondit seigneur de Valse et de messire Jacques Trousset. Le premier se rendit a Lints, aupres de son epouse; la second dans sa terre.

Apres deux journees de marche nous arrivames a Saint-Polquin (Saint Pelten), ou se font les meilleurs couteaux du pays. De la nous vinmes a Melich (Maeleh) sur le Danube, ville ou l'on fabrique les meilleures arbaletes, et qui a un tres-beau monastere de chartreux; puis a Valse, qui appartient audit seigneur, et dont le chateau, construit sur une roche elevee, domine le Danube. Lui-meme me montra les ornemens d'autel qu'a le lieu. Jamais je n'en ai vu d'aussi riches en broderie et en perles. J'y vis aussi des bateaux qui remontoient le Danube, tires par des chevaux.

Le lendemain de notre arrivee, un gentilhomme de Baviere vint saluer mondit seigneur de Valse. Messire Jacques Trousset, averti de sa venue, annonca qu'il alloit le faire pendre a une aubepine qui etoit dans le jardin.

Mondit seigneur accourut aussitot, et le pria de ne point lui faire chez lui un pareil affront. S'il vient jusqu'a moi, repondit messire, il ne peut l'echapper, et sera pendu. Ledit seigneur courut donc au devant du gentilhomme; il lui fit un signe, et celui-ci se retira. La raison de cette colere est que messire Jacques, ainsi que la plupart des gens qu'il avoit avec lui, etoit de la secrete compagnie, et que le gentilhomme, qui en etoit aussi, avoit meuse. [Footnote: Probablement il s'agit ici de franc-maconnerie, et le Bavarois que Trousset vouloit faire pendre etoit un faux frere qui avoit revele les mysteres de la compagnie secrete.]

De Valse nous allames a Oens (Ens), sur la riviere de ce nom; a Evresperch, qui est sur le meme riviere, et du domaine de l'eveque de Pa.s.sot (Pa.s.sau); puis a Lins (Lintz), tres-bonne ville, qui a un chateau sur le Danube, et qui n'est pas eloignee de la frontiere de Boheme. Elle appartient a monseigneur d'Autriche, et a pour gouverneur ledit seigneur de Valse.

J'y vis madame de Valse, tres-belle femme, du pays de Boheme, laquelle me fit beaucoup d'accueil. Elle me donna un roussin d'un excellent trot, un diamant pour mettre sur mes cheveux, a la mode d'Autriche, et un chapeau de perles orne d'un anneau et d'un rubis. [Footnote: Ces chapeaux, qu'il ne faut pas confondre avec les notres, n'etoient que des cercles, des couronnes en cerceau.]

Mondit seigneur de Valse restant a Lintz avec son epouse, je partis dans la compagnie de messire Jacques Trousset, et vins a Erfort, qui appartient au comte de Chambourg. La finit l'Autriche, et depuis Vienne jusque-la nous avions mis six journees. D'Erfort nous allames a Riet, ville de Baviere, et qui est au duc Henri; a Prenne, sur la riviere de Sceine; a Bourchaze, ville avec chateau sur la meme riviere, ou nous trouvames le duc; a Mouldrouf, ou nous pa.s.sames le Taing. Enfin, apres avoir traverse le pays du duc Louis de Baviere, sans etre entres dans aucune de ses ville, nous arrivames a Muneque (Munich), la plus jolie pet.i.te ville que j'aie jamais vue, et qui appartient au duc Guillaume de Baviere.

A Lanchperch je quittai la Baviere pour entrer en Souabe, et pa.s.sai par Meindelahan (Mindelheim), qui est au duc; par Mamines (Memingen), ville d'Empire, et de la a Walpourch, l'un des chateaux de messire Jacques. Il ne s'y rendit que trois jours apres moi, parce qu'il vouloit aller visiter dans le voisinage quelques-uns de ses amis; mais il donna ordre a ses gens de me traiter comme ils le traiteroient lui-meme.

Quand il fut revenu nous partimes pour Ravespourch (Rawensburg), ville d'Empire; de la a Martorf, a Mersporch (Mersbourg), ville de l'eveque de Constance, sur le lac de ce nom. Le lac en cet endroit peut bien avoir en largeur trois milles d'Italie. Je le traversai et vins a Constance, ou je pa.s.sai le Rhin, qui commence a prendre la son nom en sortant du lac.

C'est dans cette ville que se separa de moi messire Jacques Trousset. Ce chevalier, l'un des plus aimable et des plus vaillans de l'Allemagne, m'avoit fait l'honneur et le plaisir de m'accompagner jusque-la pour egard pour mondit seigneur le duc; il m'eut meme escorte plus loin, sans un fait d'armes auquel il s'etoit engage: mais il me donna pour le suppleer un poursuivant, qu'il chargea de me conduire aussi loin que je l'exigerois.

Ce fait d'armes etoit une enterprise formee avec le seigneur de Valse. Tous deux s'aiment comme freres, et il devoient jouter a fer de lance, avec targe et chapeau de fer, selon l'usage du pays, treize contre treize, tous amis et parens. Il est parfaitement muni d'armes pour joutes et batailles.

Lui-meme me les avoit montrees dans son chateau de Walporch. Je pris conge de lui, et le quittai avec bien du regret.

De Constance je vins a Etran (Stein), ou je pa.s.sai le Rhin; a Chaufouze (Schaffouse), ville de l'empereur; a Vualscot (Waldshutt); a Laufemberg (Lauffembourg); a Rinbel (Rhinfeld), toutes trois au duc Frederic d'Autriche, et a Bale, autre ville de l'Empereur ou il avoir envoye comme son lieutenant le duc Guillaume de Baviere, parce que le saint concile y etoit a.s.semble.

Le duc voulut me voir, ainsi que madame la d.u.c.h.esse son epouse. J'a.s.sistai a une session du concile ou furent presens monseigneur le cardinal de Saint-Ange, legat de notre saint pere la pape Eugene; sept autres cardinaux, plusieurs patriarches, archeveques et eveques. J'y vis des gens de mondit seigneur le duc, messire Guillebert de Lannoy, seigneur de Villerval, son amba.s.sadeur; maitre Jean Germain, et l'eveque de Chalons.

J'eus un entretien avec ledit legat, qui me fit beaucoup de questions sur les pays que j'avois vus, et particulierement sur la Grece; il me parut avoir fort a coeur la conquete de ce pays, et me recommanda de repeter a mondit seigneur, touchant cette conquete, certaines choses que je lui avois racontees.

A Bale je quittai mon poursuivant, qui retourna en Autriche; et moi, apres avoir traverse la comte de Ferette, qui est au duc Frederic d'Autriche, et pa.s.se par Montbeliart, qui est a la comtesse de ce nom, j'entrai dans la comte de Bourgogne (la Franche-comte), qui appartient a monseigneur le duc, et vins a Besancon.

Je le croyois en Flandre, et en consequence, voulant me rendre pres de lui par les marches (frontieres) de Bar et de Lorraine, je pris la route de Vesou; mais a Villeneuve j'appris qu'il etoit a l'entree de Bourgogne, et qu'il avoit fait a.s.sieger Mussi-l'Eveque. Je me rendis donc par Aussonne a Dijon, ou je trouvai monseigneur le chancelier de Bourgogne, avec qui j'allai me presenter devant lui. Ses gens etoient au siege, et lui dans l'abbaye de Poitiers.

Je parus en sa presence avec les memes habillemens que j'avois au sortir de Damas, et j'y fis conduire le cheval que j'avois achete dans cette ville, et qui venoit de m'amener en France. Mondit seigneur me recut avec beaucoup de bonte. Je lui presentai mon cheval, mes habits, avec le koran et la vie de Mahomet en Latin, que m'avoit donnes a Damas, le chapelain du consul de Venise. Il les fit livrer a maitre Jean Germain pour les examiner; mais onc depuis je n'en ai entendu parler. Ce maitre Jean etoit docteur en theologie: il a ete eveque de Chalons-sur-Saone et chevalier de la toison.

[Footnote: Jean Germain, ne a Cluni, et par consequent sujet du duc de Bourgogne, avoit plu, etant enfant, a la d.u.c.h.esse, qui l'envoya etudier dans l'Universite de Paris, ou il se distingua. Le duc, dont il sut gagner la faveur par la suite, le fit, en 1431, chancelier de son ordre de la toison d'or (et non chevalier, comme le dit la Brocquiere). L'annee suivante il le nomme a l'eveche de Nevers; l'envoya, l'an 1432, amba.s.sadeur a Rome, puis au concile de Bale, comme l'un de ses representans. En 1436 il le transfera de l'eveche de Nevers a celui de Chalons-sur-Saone.

Ce que la Brocquiere dit de cet eveque annonce de l'humeur, et l'on concoit que n'entendant point parler des deux ma.n.u.scrits interessans qu'il avoit apportes d'Asie, il devoit en avoir. Cependant Germain s'en occupa; mais ce ne fut que pour travailler a les refuter. A sa mort, arrivee en 1461, il laissa en ma.n.u.scrit deux ouvrages dont on trouve des copies dans quelques bibliotheques, l'un int.i.tule, De conceptione beatae Mariae virginis, adversus mahometanos et infideles, libri duo; l'autre, Adversus Alcoranum, libri quinque.]

Je me suis peu etendu sur la description du pays depuis Vienne jusqu'ici, parce qu'il est connu; quant aux autres que j'ai parcourus dans mon voyage, si j'en publie la relation j'avertis ceux qui la liront que je l'ai entreprise, non par ostentation et vanite, mais pour instruire et guider les personnes qu'un meme desir conduiroit dans ces contrees, et pour obeir a mon tres-redoute seigneur monseigneur le duc, qui me l'a ordonne. J'avois rapporte un pet.i.t livret ou en route j'ecrivois toutes mes aventures quand j'en avois le temps, et c'est d'apres ce memorial que je l'ai redigee. Si elle n'est pas composee aussi bien que d'autres pourroient le faire, je prie qu'on m'excuse.

The description of a voyage made by certaine s.h.i.+ps of Holland into the East Indies, with their aduentures and successe; together with the description of the countries, townes, and inhabitantes of the same: who set forth on the second of Aprill, 1595, and returned on the 14 of August, 1597.

Translated out of Dutch into English, by W. P. [Footnote: London, imprinted by iohn wolfe, 1598.]

To the right wors.h.i.+pfull Sir Iames Scudamore, Knight.

Right wors.h.i.+pfull, this small treatie (written in Dutch, shewing a late voyage performed by certain Hollanders to the islandes of Iaua, part of the East Indies) falling into my handes, and in my iudgement deserving no lesse commendation then those of our Countreymen, (as Captaine Raimonde in the Penelope, Maister Foxcroft in the Marchant Royall, and M. Iames Lancaster in the Edward Bonauenture, vnto the said East Indies, by the Cape de Bona Sperance, in Anno 1591, as also M. Iohn Newbery, and Raphael Fich ouer land through Siria from Aleppo vnto Ormus and Goa, and by the said Raphael Fitch himselfe to Bengala, Malocca, Pegu, and other places in Anno 1583. as at large appeareth in a booke written by M. RICHARD HACLUTE a Gentleman very studious therein, and ent.i.tuled the English voyages, I thought it not vnconuenient to translate the same into our mother tongue, thereby to procure more light and encouragement to such as are desirous to trauell those Countries, for the common wealth and commoditie of this Realme and themselues. And knowing that all men are not like affected, I was so bold to shrowd it vnder your wors.h.i.+ps protection, as being a.s.sured of your good disposition to the fauoring of trauell and trauellers, and whereby it hath pleased G.o.d to aduance you to that honourable t.i.tle, which at this present you beare, and so not fitter for the protection of any then your selfe: and as a poore friend wis.h.i.+ng all happines and prosperity in all your valiant actions. Which if it please your wors.h.i.+ppe to like and accept, it may procure the proceeding in a more large and ample discourse of an East Indian voyage, lately performed and set forth by one Iohn Hughen of Linschoten, to your further delight. Wherewith crauing your fauor, and beseeching G.o.d to blesse your wors.h.i.+p, with my good Ladie your wife, I most humbly take my leaue:

This 16. of Ianuarie.

1597.

Your Wors.h.i.+ps to commaunde.

W. PHILLIP.

To the Bayliefes, Burghemaisters, and Counsell of the town of Middelborgh in Zeelande.

It may well bee thought (Right-wors.h.i.+pfull) as many learned men are of opinion, that the actions and aduentures of the ancients long since done, and performed, haue beene set forth with more show of wonder and strangenesse then they in truth deserued: the reason as I think was, because that in those daies there were many learned and wise men, who in their writings sought by all meanes they could to excell each other, touching the description of Countries and nations: And againe to the contrarie, for want of good Historiographers and writers, many famous actes and trauels of diuers nations and Countries lie hidden, and in a manner buried vnder ground, as wholly forgotten and vnknowne, vnlesse it were such as the Grecians and Romanes for their owne glories and aduantages thought good to declare. But to come to the matter of voyages by sea, it is euident to all the world, what voyage Iason with certaine yong Grecian Princes made to Colchos in the Oriental Countries to winne the golden Fleece, as also the trauels by Hercules performed into Libia in the West partes, to winne the Aurea Mala, or golden apples of Hesperides, which notwithstanding neither for length, daunger, nor profite, are any thing comparable to the nauigations and voyages, that of late within the s.p.a.ce of one hundreth years haue been performed and made into the East and West Indies, whereby in a manner there is not one hauen on the sea coast, nor any point of land in the whole world, but hath in time beene sought and founde out. I will not at this present dispute or make an argument, whether the Countries and nations of late yeares found out and discouered, were knowne to the auncients, but this is most certaine, that not any strange worke or aduenture was, or euer shall be performed, but by the speciall grace, fauour and mightie hand of G.o.d, and that such are worthy perpetual memory, as with n.o.ble minds haue sought to effect, and be the first enterprisers thereof, and with most valiant courages and wisedomes, haue performed such long and dangerous voyages into the East and West Indies, as also such Kinges and Princes, as with their Princely liberalities haue imployed their treasures, s.h.i.+ppes, men and munitions to the furtherance and performance of so worthy actes, which notwithstanding in the end turned to their great aduancementes and inriching with great treasures, which by those meanes they haue drawn, and caused in great aboundance to be brought from thence, in such manner, that the King of Spaine nowe liuing, (hauing both the Indies in his possession, and reaping the abundant treasures which yearly are brought out of those countries) hath not only (although couertly) sought all the means he could to bring all Christendome vnder his dominion, but also (that which no King or country whatsoeuer although of greater might then he hath euer done) hee is not ashamed to vse this posie, Nec spe, nec metu. And although the first founders and discouerers of those Countries haue alwayes sought to hinder and intercept other nations from hauing any part of their glorie, yet hereby all nations, and indifferent persons may well know and perceiue the speciall policie, and valour of these vnited Prouinces, in trauelling into both the Indies, in the faces, and to the great grief of their many and mightie enemies. Whereby it is to be hoped, that if they continue in their enterprises begun, they will not onely draw the most part of the Indian treasures into these Countries, but thereby disinherite and spoyle the Countrie of Spayne of her princ.i.p.all reuenues, and treasures of marchandises and traffiques, which she continually vseth and receyueth out of these countries, and out of Spayne are sent into the Indies, and so put the King of Spaine himselfe in minde of his foolish deuise which he vseth for a posie touching the new world, which is, Non sufficit orbis, like a second Alexander magnus, desiring to rule ouer all the world, as it is manifestly knowne. And because this description is fallen into my handes, wherein is contayned the first voyage of the Low-countrymen into the East Indies, with the aduentures happened vnto them, set downe and iustified by such as were present in the voyage, I thought it good to put it in print, with many pictures and cardes, whereby the reader may the easilier perceyue and discerne, the natures, apparels, and fas.h.i.+ons of those Countries and people, as also the manner of their s.h.i.+ppes, together with the fruitfulnesse and great aboundance of the same, hoping that this my labour will not onely be acceptable vnto all Marchants and Saylers, which hereafter meane to traffique into those Countries, but also pleasant and profitable to all such as are desirous to looke into so newe and strange things, which neuer heretofore were knowne vnto our nation. And againe for that all histories haue their particular commoditie, (specially such as are collected and gathered together) not by common report, from the first, seconde, or thirde man, but by such as haue seene and beene present in the actions, and that are liuing to iustifie and verifie the same: And although eloquence and words well placed in shewing a history, are great ornamentes and beautifyinges to the same, yet such reports and declarations are much more worthy credite, and commendabler for the benefit of the commonwealth, which are not set down or disciphered by subtill eloquence, but showne and performed by simple plaine men, such as by copiousnesse of wordes, or subtiltie do not alter or chaunge the matter from the truth thereof, which at this day is a common and notorious fault in many Historiographers: And thinking with myselfe to whome I were best to dedicate the same, I found it not fitter for any then for the right wors.h.i.+pfull Gouernours of this famous Towne of Middelborgh, wherein for the s.p.a.ce of 19 yeares I haue peaceably continued, specially because your wors.h.i.+ps do not onely deale with great store of s.h.i.+pping, and matter belonging to nauigation, but are also well pleased to heare, and great furtherers to aduance both s.h.i.+pping and traffiques, wherein consisteth not onely the welfare of all marchants, inhabitants, and cittizens of this famous City, but also of all the commonwealth of the vnited Prouinces, hoping your wors.h.i.+ps wil not onely accept this my labour, but protect and warrantise the same against all men: Wherewith I beseech G.o.d to blesse you with wisedome, and G.o.dly policie, to gouerne the Commonwealth: Middleborgh this 19 of October 1597.

Your wors.h.i.+ps seruant to command

BERNARDT LANGHENEZ.

A briefe description of a voyage performed by certaine Hollanders, to and from the East Indies, with their aduentures and successe.

The ancient Historiographers and describers of the world haue much commended, and at large with great prayse set downe the diuers and seuerall voyages of many n.o.ble and valiant Captains (as of Alexander Magnus, Seleucus, Antiochus, Patrocles, Onesecritus) into the East Indies, which notwithstanding haue not set downe a great part of those c.o.o.ntries [sic--KTH], as not being as then discouered, whereby it is thought and iudged by some men, that India is the full third part of all the world, because of the great Prouinces, mighty citties and famous Islands (full of costly marchandises, and treasures from thence brought into all partes of the worlde) that are therein: Wherein the auncient writers were very curious, and yet not so much as men in our age: They had some knowledge thereof, but altogether vncertaine, but we at this day are fully certified therein, both touching the countreys, townes, streames and hauens, with the trafiques therein vsed and frequented, whereby all the world, so farre distant and seperated from those strange nations, are by trade of marchandises vnited therevnto, and therby commonly knowne vnto them: The Portingalles first began to enterprise the voyage, who by art of nauigation (in our time much more experienced and greater then in times past, and therefore easilier performed) discouered those wild Countries of India, therein procuring great honour to their King, making his name famous and bringing a speciall and great profite of all kindes of spices into their Countrie, which thereby is spread throughout all the worlde, yet that sufficed not, for that the Englishmen (not inferiour to any nation in the world for arte of nauigation) haue likewise vndertaken the Indian voyage, and by their said voyages into those Countries, made the same commonly knowne vnto their Country, wherein Sir Frances Drake, and M. Candish are chiefly to bee commended, who not onely sayled into the East Indies, but also rounde about the world, with most prosperous voyages, by which their voyages, ours haue beene furthered and set forwarde, for that the condition of the Indies is, that the more it is sayled into, the more it is discovered, by such as sayle the same, so strange a Countrey it is: So that besides the famous voyages of the Countries aforesaid, in the ende certain people came into Holland (a nation wel known) certifying them, that they might easily prepare certaine s.h.i.+ppes to sayle into the East Indies, there to traffique and buy spyces etc. By sayling straight from Hollande, and also from other countries bordering about it, with desire to see strange and rich wares of other Countries, and that should not be brought vnto them by strangers, but by their owne countrey men, which some men would esteeme to be impossible, considering the long voyage and the daungers thereof, together with the vnaccustomed saylinges and little knowledge thereof by such as neuer sayled that way, and rather esteeme it madnesse, then any point of wisedome, and folly rather then good consideration. But notwithstanding wee haue seene foure s.h.i.+ps make that voyage, who after many dangers hauing performed their voyage, returned againe and haue brought with them those wares, that would neuer haue beene thought coulde haue beene brought into these countries by any Holland s.h.i.+ps; but what shoulde I herein most commende eyther the willingnesse and good performance of the parties, or the happinesse of their voyage? whereof that I may giue the reader some knowledge, I will shew what I haue hearde and beene informed of, concerning the description of the Countries, customes, and manners of the nations, by them in this voyage seene and discouered, which is as followeth.

In the yeere of our Lord 1595. vpon the 10. day of the month of March, there departed from Amsterdam three s.h.i.+ps and a Pinnace to sayle into the East Indies, set forth by diuers rich Marchantes: The first called Mauritius, of the burthen of 400. tunnes, hauing in her sixe demie canon, fourteene Culuerins, and other peeces, and 4. peeces to shoot stones, and 84. men: the Mayster Iohn Moleuate, the Factor Cornelius Houtman: The second named Hollandia, of the burthen of 400. tunnes, having 85. men, seuen bra.s.se peeces, twelue peeces for stones, and 13. iron peeces, the Mayster Iohn Dignums, the Factor Gerrit van Buiningen, the thirde called Amsterdam, of the burthen of 200. tuns, wherein were 59. men, sixe bra.s.se peeces, ten iron peeces, and sixe peeces for stones, the Mayster Iohn Iacobson Sch.e.l.linger, the Factor Reginer van Hel: The fourth being a Pinnace called the Doue, of the burthen of 50. tunnes, with twenty men, the Mayster Simon Lambertson: [Sidenote: When and how the s.h.i.+ps set saile.]

Which 4. s.h.i.+ps vpon the 21. of the same moneth came vnto the Ta.s.sel, where they stayed for the s.p.a.ce of 12. daies to take in their lading, and the seconde of Aprill following, they set saile with a North east winde and following on their course the fourth of the same moneth they ['the' in source text--KTH] pa.s.sed the heades; The sixt they saw Heyssant, the 10. of April they pa.s.sed by the Barles of Lisbon: With an East and North East wind, the 17. of Aprill they discouered two of the Islands of Canaries: The 19. Palm, and Pic, Los Romeros, and Fero: The 25. of Aprill they saw Bona visita, the 16. they ankered vnder Isole de May: The 27. they set sayle againe and held their course South Southeast. The 4. of May, we espied two of the King of Spaines s.h.i.+ps, that came from Lisbone, and went for the East Indies, about 1000. or 1200. tunnes each s.h.i.+p, with whom we spake, and told them that we were bound for the straights of Magellanes, but being better of sayle then they wee got presently out of their sight. The 12. of May being vnder fiue degrees on this side the Equinoctiall line, we espyed fiue s.h.i.+ps laden with Sugar, comming from the Island of S. Thomas, and sayled for Lisbone, to whome we gaue certaine letters, which were safely deliuered in Holland. [Sidenote: Their victuailes stunke and spoyled.] Departing from them and keeping on our course, vpon the fourth of Iune we pa.s.sed the Equinoctial line, where the extreame heat of the ayre spoyled all our victuailes: Our flesh and fishe stunke, our Bisket molded, our Beere sowred, our water stunke, and our b.u.t.ter became as thinne as Oyle, whereby diuers of our men fell sicke, and many of them dyed; but after that we learned what meat and drinke we should carrie with vs that would keepe good. [Sidenote: They pa.s.sed the sandes of Brasilia.] The 28 of Iune we pa.s.sed the sandes of Brasill, by the Portingalles called Abrolhos, which are certaine places which men must looke warely vnto, otherwise they are very dangerous.

These sandes lie vnder 18. degrees, and you must pa.s.se betweene the coast of Guine and the sandes aforesaid, not going too neer eyther of them, otherwise close by the Coast there are great calmes, thunders, raines and lightnings, with great stormes, harde by the sands men are in daunger to be cast away: and so sayling on their course, first East South East, then East and East and by North. Vpon the seconde of Iuly wee pa.s.sed Tropicus Cancri, vnder 23. degrees, and 1/2. The 13. of the same Month, we espied many blacke birdes. [Sidenote: Tokens of the Cape de bona Sperance.] The 19.

great numbers of white birdes, and the 20. a bird as bigge as a Swan, whereof foure or fiue together is a good signe of being neere the Cape de bona Sperance. These birdes are alwaies about the said Cape, and are good signes of being before it.

The second of August we saw the land of the Cape de bona Sperance, and the fourth of the same Month we entered into a hauen called Agne Sambras, where wee ankered, and found good depth at 8. or 9. fadome water, sandy ground.

The 5. day we went on sh.o.r.e to gather fruite, therewith to refresh our sicke men, that were thirty to 33 in one s.h.i.+ppe. In this bay lyeth a smal Islande, wherern are many birdes called Pyncuius and sea Wolues that are taken with mens handes: we went into the countrey and spake with the inhabitants, who brought diuers fresh victuailes aborde our s.h.i.+ppes, for a knife or small peece of Iron, etc. giuing vs an Oxe, or a sheepe etc. The sheepe in those Countries haue great tayles, and are fat and delicate.

Their ozen [sic--KTH] are indifferent good, hauing lumps of flesh vpon their backes, and are as fat as any of our good brisket beefe: the inhabitantes are of small stature, well ioynted and boned, they goe naked, couering their members with Foxes and other beastes tayles: they seeme cruell, yet with vs they vsed all kind of friends.h.i.+p, but are very beastly and stinking, in such sort, that you may smell them in the wind at the least of a fadome from you: They are apparelled with beastes skinnes made fast about their neckes: some of them, being of the better sort, had their mantles cut and raysed checkerwise, which is a great ornament with them: They eate raw flesh, as it is new killed, and the entrailes of beastes without was.h.i.+ng or making cleane, gnawing it like dogs, vnder their feet they tye peeces of beastes skinnes, in steed of shooes, that they trauel in the hard wayes: We could not see their habitations, for wee saw no houses they had, neither could wee vnderstande them, for they speake very strangely, much like the children in our Countrey with their pipes, and clocking like Turkey c.o.c.kes: At the first wee saw about thirtie of them, with weapons like pikes, with broade heades of Iron, about their armes they ware ringes of Elpen bones: There wee coulde finde neyther Oringes nor Lemons, which we purposely sought for.

[Sidenote: With what wind they sailed to S. Laurence.] The 11. of August we hoysed anker, sayling towards the Island of S. Laurence, and the 22. of the same month we had a contrary wind that blew North East: the 25. a West winde, and so held our course East North East: The 28. there blew a South East wind, and the 30. a South West winde, and our course lay North North East to sayle to the Isle of S. Laurence. The first of September wee discouered the point of the Islande of S. Laurence, vnder 16 degrees, and the third day we saw the Island being very desirous to go on land, for that many of our men were sicke, whereby wee coulde hardly rule our s.h.i.+ppes, or bring them farther without healing or refres.h.i.+ng of our men. [Sidenote: They had great store of fish for 2 or 3 kniues.] The 9. of September Iohn Sch.e.l.linger sent out his boate to rowe to lande, where they founde three Fishermen, of whome for two or three kniues they had great store of fishes.

The 13. we entered into a small Bay, but because wee founde no good anker ground, as also being very foule we sayled out againe. The 14. we sayled vnder a small Island about a mile or 2. great, by the Hollanders called their Church yarde, or the dead Island, because many saylers dying in that place, were buried in the African earth, and the 29. of the same Month died Iohn Dignumsz Mayster of the Lyon of Holland, and was buried the next day after.

There Iohn Peters of Delft Sayler of the Hollandia, and Koelken van Maidenblick of the Amsterdam were set on sh.o.r.e vpon the Island of S.

Laurence, where they were left because they had committed certaine notorious crimes.

Meane time the Pinnace was sent out to looke for fresh water, which hauing found, the boat returned to bring vs newes, and therewith the fleete sayled thither, and the 10. of October the s.h.i.+ppes ankered before the Riuer, and went on sh.o.r.e, where we found good prouision of all necessaries, the inhabitants being very willing thereunto, bringing vs of al things that we needed, where for a Pewter Spoone wee had an Oxe, or three sheepe.

[Sidenote: How the wilde men a.s.sailed them, and forced them to insconce themselues.] The 11. of October we went on sh.o.r.e with a boat full of sicke men and the next day we were a.s.sayled by a company of wild men, against whom our weapons little preuayled, for they hurt one of our men and tooke all that we had from vs, whereby vpon the thirteenth of the same Month, wee were forced to insconse our selues with pieces of wood and braunches of trees, making Cabins within our Sconse, for that the 15. of October they came againe, but then we tooke one, and slew another of them. The 19. of Nouember our Pilot Claes Ianson was intrapped and murthered by the wild people, although we vsed all the means we could to helpe him, but they feared no weapons, about ten or twelue dayes after we tooke one of them that paide for his death. [Sidenote: The maner and custome of the wild people.] The first of December our men hauing for the most part recouered their healthes, were all carryed aborde the s.h.i.+ps: in that parte of Madagascar the people are of good condition, and goe naked, onely with a Cotton cloth before their priuie members, and some from their b.r.e.a.s.t.s downward: Their ornaments are Copper ringes about their armes, but Tin rings are more esteemed with them, and therefore tinne with them is good marchaundise. Their Oxen haue great lumpes of fat vpon their backes: Their sheepes tayles way at the least twelue pound, being of an elle long, and two and twentie inches thick. They gaue vs six of those sheepe for a tinne Spoone: They dwel in cottages and liue very poorely: they feare the noyse of a peece, for with one Caliuer you shall make an hundred of them runne away: Wee coulde not perceyue any religion they had, but after wee were informed that they helde the law of Mahomet, for the two boyes that wee tooke from of the land, shewed vs their circ.u.mcision: There we found no fruit of Tambaxiumes, but great numbers of Parrats, Medicats, and Turtle Doues, whereof we killed and eat many. The second of December we burned our sconse, and fourteene of our men going further into the Islande brought certaine of the countreymen prisoners, and being abord our s.h.i.+ps taught them what they shoulde doe. The thirteenth of December wee hoysed anker, minding to holde on our course for the Islands of Iaua, and for that by reason of the pleasantnesse of the ayre we had in a manner all recouered our healthes, we set our course East and by North, and East Northeast. The nineteenth of the same Month wee were separated by foule weather, and the 22. with great ioy we met againe. The tenth of Ianuarie Vechter Willemson dyed, being a verie honest man, and Pilot in Molenaers s.h.i.+ppe, for whome we were much grieued, and the same day we determined to put backe againe for the Islande of S. Laurence, for as then wee began againe to haue a great scouring among our men, and many of them fell sicke: [Sidenote: The wilde men brought things aborde to comfort them.] But presently therevpon we espied the Islande of Saint Mary, and the next day being arriued there, some of the inhabitants came abord our s.h.i.+ppes with a basket of Ryce, Sugar canes, Citrons, Lemons, and Hens, whereof we were very glad, as being phisicke for vs.

The 13. 14. 15. 16. and 17. dayes we were on land, where we bought Ryce, Hens, Sugar-canes, Citrons and Lemons in great aboundance, and other kinde of fruites to vs vnknowne, also good fish, and greene Ginger: There we tooke a Fish, which thirteen men could hardly pull into our s.h.i.+ppe, and because the Island was little, and we had many men, wee entred into the Bay of the firme land with our Pinnace, where for a string of Beades of small value we had a tunne of Ryce: [Sidenote: The description of one of their kings.] The King came abord our Pinnace to see it, and was as blacke as a Deuill, with two hornes made fast vpon his heade, and all his body naked like the rest of the countrey people.