The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

❧A DISCOVRSE OF THE ESTATE OF THE KING OF BRAMA, OR OF PEGV.

The Contents.

[ C] 1. NOtable conquests made by a Lieutenant of Pegu, being reuolted against his lord. 2. Whence it growes that they leuie so easily in those countries of Africke, and in the East, such huge armies: and what means they haue to entertain them. 3. An armie of twelue hundred thousand and Aethiopians put to rout by Paule Dias, a Cap∣taine of Portugal. 4. What realmes the king of Pegu doth at this day enioy: The scituation and greatnesse of this State, and the chiefe Ports. 5. Description of the realme of Siam; the scitua∣tion and circuit, with the prouinces and chiefe townes. 6. Of Muantay. 7. Of Camboie. 8. Of Cam••••e, Syncampure, Quedoe, Aue, and Verme. 9. Pegu abounding in Rice, little Horses, Ele∣phants, Parrats, Ciuet Cats, Canes as big as a hogshead, Rhubies, Gum, Pepper, Beniamin, Muske, Aloes, Gold, Tygres, and Lyons. 10. The disposition of them of Pegu, giuen to women, and de∣lights, [ D] to musicke, and the sciences. 11. Barbarous manners of the inhabitants of Camboye, whereas the women cast themselues into their husbands funerall fire, and the noblemen into that of their prince. 12. Garments of cotton seruing them of Ta••massery for armes; their targuets of the ••arkes of trees, their drinke of water with sugar, and their beds of cotton. 13. Solemne fune∣rals of sacrificers, and their ceremonies. 14. Their ri••hes in the traffique of Rice, Horses, Ele∣phants, Gold, Siluer, Gum, Muske, Pretious stones, Butter, Oyle, and Pepper. 15. Of the Kings g•••••• consisting of 6000 men, and 30000 Elephants: Of the Timars, and the good number of s••••ldiers which are in the realme of Pegu. 16. Of the lands of that countrie, held all in fee of the King for life, and not in perpetuitie; and of the punishments ordained for murtherers, and debt∣tors. 17. Of the religion of this countrie, and what their beleefe is of the Diuinitie: Of the two [ E] spirits which they attribute to man: Of the image of the father of men, fiftie paces long, set vp in their Temples among others; their priests, and sacrifices. 18. What opinion they hold of the crea∣tion and continuance of the world: what gods they worship, and of the condition and place of soules when they are seperated from the bodie. 19. Of the conuents of their Priests, hauing their heads and beards shauen, some hauing rents, and others liuing vpon almes.

[ F] BEfore we enter into this discourse, you must vnderstand that some realmes of the Brames, or Eracmanes, did in former times obey the king of Pegu, along the riuer, and towards the lake of Chya∣may, where he kept his lieutenants. About sixtie yeares since, a lieutenant which he had in the realme of Tangut, relying vpon the men which followed him, and in the authoritie which he had got∣ten by his deeds of armes, reuolted against this king, and tooke t••is ••ealme from him, killing the chiefe men, and taking also the townes and realmes of Prom, Melintay, Calam, Bacam, Myrandu, and Aua, countries inhabited by the Brames,

which tend towards the North, and they haue in length aboue one hundred and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ A] leagues.

He attempted also to make himselfe maister of Siam, and came in view of Odie the chiefe towne of the realme of Muantay; but he preuailed little. He went to this enter∣prise with three hundred thousand men, and spent 3 moneths to make his way through craggie mountaines, great forrests, & inaccessible places, where he lost one hundred and twentie thousand men, and carried away two hundred thousand of the countrie of Si∣am, prisoners. After his returne, hauing recouered his former estate, he assailed the realme of Pegu, and conquered it: after which, in the yeare of our Redemption 1567, he retur∣ned to the enterprise of Siam, & vanquished the king, who killed himselfe with poyson: [ B] but his children were prisoners; so as he conquered a good part of this realme. He, with his successours, is called by our moderne writers, king of Brama, or (according vnto some others) of Barme, for that his greatnesse began by the conquest of the countries of the Brames. But the Portugals, giuing him the name of the most noble and best knowne part of his conquests, call him King of Pegu. He hath since attempted often to make himselfe maister of the towne of Odie, and came to this enterprise with a million of men. And to the end it may not seme fabulous (for that we haue written the like in other pla∣ces) it shall not be from the purpose to shew the reason why, in those quarters, and in some others, they draw to field such great armies.

I say then first, that they make warre either vpon the frontiers, or in countries farre off, [ C] and that he which hath not great reuenues, and store of treasure, shall neuer be able to continue a warre long, nor with great armies: for as the members of mans bodie cannot moue, nor continue their motion without synews; so armies cannot be raised, nor led, where need requires, nor yet kept together at any enterprise, without ready mony; which doth entertaine them, and refresh them in due season, and which drawes after them ar∣mies, munition, victualls, and other things necessarie for the life of man, and the mana∣ging of armies. And for that the reuenues of princes (as also, the meanes of subiects from whence they are drawne) are limited; and that if for a yeare or two be drawes much money out of his countrie, he will sodainly grow poore, and be soone exhausted of gold and siluer; so as a warre cannot be vndertaken farre off, nor continued long, vnlesse [ D] it be by such princes as haue great treasures in store, or at the least mines that faile not: being certaine that treasures, how great soeuer, would soone haue and end; forasmuch as that which is gathered together in time of peace by degrees, is sodainly spent in time of warre, so as one yeare consumes many. Wherefore a Portugal Captaine said with reason to D. Sebastian king of Portugal, whenas he consulted vpon the enterprise of Bar∣barie, that he had need of three torrents for this warre, the one of victualls, the other of men, and the third of money; and another said, that to make warre he must haue money without end. But if all warre require a great charge, that which is made a farre off de∣maunds as it were an infinit treasure.

The great Turke hath made triall hereof in the warre of Persia, whereas so powerfull a [ E] prince hath consumed his treasure in such sort, as he was forced to imbase his gold and sil∣uer, and to make the price double, suffering falshood in his coynes, with a thousand such like things, for the which the Ianisaries haue often mutined, and run like madde m••n vp and downe the citie of Constantinople, burning and spoyling a great part. And with∣out doubt money is so necessarie a thing for a prince that vndertakes any warre, as I••hn Iaques Tri••••lce, a verie famous Captaine, whenas one demaunded of him what things were necessarie for the warre, said, That he must haue alwaies three things readie, the first was money, the second money, and the third money. That which I say, must be vnder∣stood when a prince drawes the charges of the warre from his owne countries, for that sometimes it happens that an armie entertaines it selfe as it marcheth by her owne con∣quests, [ F] and that the pursuit of an enterprise giues force and meanes to continue it: so the Huns, Vandales, Gothes, and Arabians, Alexander the Great, and in the time of our grandfathers, great Tamberlaine entertained verie great armies for a long time out of their countries, for that entring into prouinces whereas they scarc•• found any one that

[ A] made head against them, they sact towns and countries, and entertained themselues with the spoiles. The like hath happened to the Portugals at the East Indies, and to the Castil∣lians at the West, and more to these than to the others; for that there was neuer nation, which without any expence of their owne hath made so great conquests as the Spani∣ards haue done both in New Spaine and Perou. But this is not so easie now as in former times, neither can it be so well practised in Europe, as in Asia and Africke, by reason of the great number of sorts, able to stay a mightie enemie many moneths, yea yeares, and in the end to tire him; whereof the Turkes made triall at Zighet, a little castle in Honga∣rie, which Solyman came to besiege in the yeare 1566, with three hundred and fiftie thou∣sand [ B] men, and in the end tooke it, but with such losse of his men, as of so great an armie he carried not backe a third part: and the Portugals, who in the beginning of the enter∣prise of the Indies, made famous conquests with few men, and in a short time, could not passe on, since that those people haue beene furnished with artillerie and engenners, and that they haue built forts. The like hath happened to the Spaniards at the New World, for that since their first victories, they haue found in New Spaine the Chichi∣meques, and at Perou the Pilcossons, Cirguans, and Cuques, and for these many yeres they could neuer get a foot of ground in the valley of Arauca, and of Tucapell in the countrie of Chile, whereas those people (seeing that the Spaniards died being woun∣ded with their arrowes, and other armes) did not esteeme them immortall and the chil∣dren [ C] of heauen, as they had done before; and by experience and practise they did no more f••••re their horses nor their harquebuzes.

But if they make not war far from their owne countries, it is no difficult thing to raise great armies in a short time: and to leaue all auncient examples, we read that they of Gant in Flaunders haue sometimes opposed themselues against the power of the French ki••g with foure score thousand fighting men, for that their countrie was good and well peopled, and the war being vpon their frontires, or within their prouince, euery man did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto it with prouision to feed them certaine daies. But they could not continue long in this estate, for that both prouision and money did faile them, and they were forced to r••••••ne some to the plongh, and others to their shops, from whence they had their main∣••••••ce. [ D] In like manner the Scottish men, who for want of siluer haue neuer performed any enterprise of importance out of the Island, in the necessities of their countries haue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 drawne together a great number of men in an instant, and haue therewith assailed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 enemies, or defended their frontires, as the Romans did, who for the space of some yeares whilest they fought against the people that were neighbours to Rome, made war at their charge: for they went forth being furnished with victualls for a day or two, and ended the war by combate in few houres; but the tediousnesse of the enterprise of Veies forc••d the Senat to giue pay vnto souldiers. But it is much more easie in Africke and in the East, than in Europe, to leuie armies for neere enterprises, without any great charge; and the reasons are many: First for that these countries do vniuersally abound more in [ E] all things necessarie for the life of man: secondly, the Southern people, and those of the East content themselues for the most part with lesse than we; they are sparing in their eating and drinking, and more simple; for that they of Europe do not onely consume in their diet and drinke that which would suffice to maintaine them, but also to arme them against the cold: whereas the others desire onely nourishment without daintinesse. W••••e which among vs is of greater charge than bread, is not in vse among them, & their waters are much better than ours. The art of cookerie is not so curious as with vs, and they are not so carefull to giue any delicate tast vnto their meats. The Turkes make their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with rice and mutton, and the garments of them of the East are of much lesse cha••ge than ours. They go halfe naked to the warres, and couer nothing but their priuie [ F] parts; so as they haue not so many artizans and tradesmen as we haue: and their whole ch••••ge for the most part is nothing but a peece of bumbasin, which couers them from the ••••••ell vnto the knee.

It appeares then by these reasons that they may with more ease entertaine one hun∣d••••d thousand souldiers, than we in Europe can do fortie thousand. We must add here∣unto

that the carriage of ordnance, munition, and other things thereunto belonging is [ A] of an inestimable charge, whereof most of the nations of the East are exempt, especially such as haue not had to deale with Arabians and Portugals, and which liue in the heart of the countrie far from the sea. It is also a thing of no small consideration, that this people go vnto the wars without any defensiue armes, as corslets, headpeeces, shirts of maile, and such like, wherein we spend much; and moreouer they are not carried from place to place without charge, wherein we differ much from the Romans, who carried their owne armes whenas they went to the war; and many times victualls also for tenor twelue daies.

These nations hauing such aduantages of the bountie of the aire, and of the facilitie [ B] to feed, cloath, and arme themselues, it is easie for them at need to draw far greater armies together than we can do, who haue need of many things which are vnknowne to them. Wherefore we read of very great effects done by armies of Assyrians, and of Aethiopi∣ans, of Belus, Ninus, Semiramis, of Cambyses, of Cyrus, of Darius, and of Sesostris, and of latter times by the Arabians, Tartarians, and Mogores: but to omit far fetcht exam∣ples, yea to purchase credit of things past, by the successe of things present, that which happened in Angola in the yeare 1584 is very famous.

[ III] Angola is a rich prouince in the West part of Aethiopia, neere to the realme of Con∣go. Paul Diaz a Portugal Captaine incountred in this countrie the second day of Febru∣arie an armie of 1200 thousand Aethiopians, which the king of Angola opposed against [ C] him, yet he did breake them and put them to flight. It is true that great armies last little, and are more like to torrents than riuers: for that they may be well drawne together, but not entertained any longer than that doth last which they carrie with them: so as they are dispersed in few daies, and do soone abandon the enterprise; for that they carrie no∣thing that may draw after them merchants and victuallers with things necessarie for the maintenance of life, or for the vse of war. Moreouer, to supplie the necessities of a milli∣on of souldiers, they must haue another million of men, cartes, beasts of burthen, horse∣boyes, merchants, and victuallers to follow them, and whole riuers will not be able to furnish such a multitude with water, nor the fields with corne; so as it must of necessitie ruine it selfe and come to nothing. These kings of the East which leuied extraordinarie [ D] armies, and led them into farre countries, knowing the trueth of what we haue spoken, made first of all great prouision of money, victualls, munition, and all other things neces∣sarie. Among others Xerxes who drew to field the greatest armie that was euer written of, made his preparation seuen yeares before.

But to returne to the king of Brama, of late yeares he tooke the ports of Martabana and Tarnasser, then turning his armies sometimes towards the North, and sometimes to the West, he annoied the princes of Caor and Tipure, and made himselfe maister of the realme of Macin, and Aracan, hauing led to this enterprise three hundred thousand men, and fortie thousand Elephants.

[ IIII] This king possesseth at this day the realmes of Pegu, Tangu, Prom, Melintay, Calam, [ E] Bacam, Mirandu, Aue, and Brama, which lie towards the North, then the realmes of Siam, and the ports of Martabana, and Tarnasser, and also the realmes of Aracan and Macin. The realme of Pegu lies in forme of a halfe Moone, betwixt the mountaines inhabited by the Brames and Iangomes, and extends along the sea from the towne of Rei which stands vpon the coast in the foureteenth degree and one third, vnto Sedoc, which is in the seuenteenth degree also vpon the coast, the space of ninetie leagues, and containes almost as much in bredth within the countrie. Others say that the realme of Pegu runs three hundred miles vpon the shoare neere to the Westerne banke of the gulfe of Bengala, and they take this space from the towne of Tauay vnto the Cape of Nigraes. The riuer of Pegu runnes through the middest of the countrie, and giues her [ F] name vnto the whole realm. The chiefe ports are Pegu vpon the riuer of the same name, Tauay, Martabana, and Losmin.

[ V] The realme of Siam, which they also call of Sorneo is very great, and extends as well vpon the East part as West, vnto the sea. It lies betwixt the countrie of Couchinchina,

[ A] and the realme of Terme, in regard of that which lies within the land; and as for the coast, it extends from the towne of Campae vnto that of Tauay, and this makes about fiue hundred leagues. It is true, that the Moores and Arabians haue vsurped almost two hundred, and hold the townes of Patane, Paam, Ior, and Pere; and the Portugals h••••e seised vpon the townes of Malaca. This realme comprehends certaine particular kingdomes, that is to say, that of Siam, first called Chaumua, then that of Muantay (in which is the towne of Odie) and those of Brame, Caipumo, Chaneram, Camboye, and Campae; and moreouer, Iangome, Curtay, and Lancaam, which three realmes are inha∣bi••ed by the Layes. The chiefe townes of all this realme are Siam, Odie, Cambaye, Cam∣pae, [ B] Sincapure, Malaca, and Quedoe.

Siam is a verie great towne, and fit for traffique; standing vpon the banke of the broad [ VI] and deepe riuer of Menam, in which there are great numbers of inhabitants, for that be∣sides them which are borne in the countrie, they make an estimate of neere thirtie thou∣sand families of merchants, which be Moores. Odie, the chiefe towne of the realme of ••••••antay, is greater than Siam, for that they number in it neere foure hundred thousand ••••••ses. This towne is built after the manner of Venice, so as they may passe through ••••••tie street in boats, whereof they say there are two hundred thousand.

Camboye stands vpon the bankes of the riuer of Menon, which comming out of Chi∣na, [ VII] before it dischargeth it selfe into the Indian Sea, receiues many other riuers, & neere [ C] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the mouth makes a lake, which hath about two hundred miles in circuit. This towne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chiefe of the realme of Camboye.

••ampae is a sea towne which giues the name vnto the whole countrie. That of Sin∣••••••re [ VIII] lies in the remotest Southerne part of this countrie vpon a cape, which some take 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great Promontorie whereas Ptolomee sets the towne of Zabe; but Magni thinkes •••• father Ptolomees Palure, from whence they go that will passe by sea into Chryse, or to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. As for the towne of Malaca, I haue described it in the discourse of the king of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Quedoe is a famous towne by reason of the pepper which growes in that ••••••lorie.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 was a rich kingdome of the Brames or Bracmanes, before that the king of Brame [ D] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereon. The chiefe towne is Aue, standing vpon a riuer of the same name. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 realme of Verme is neere vnto that of Bengala, and hath not any Sea port. As for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Aracham, it is scituated vpon the North of the realme of Bengala, neere to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Chabery The chiefe towne, which giues her name vnto this realme, stands vpon 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and is fine and fortie miles from the Sea.

¶ The Qualitie.

T••e ••oile of the realme of Pegu is wonderfull fertile, and fit to beare wheat. They [ IX] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 most commonly gather an incredible quantitie of Rice, by reason of the riuer of [ E] 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which running through the realme, doth sometimes swell in such sort, as it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a great part of the land. This countrie doth also breed many beasts, amongst the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there are an infinit companie of little horses, which are good and fit to beare, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Elephants which they take in certaine high mountaines, and keepe for the vse of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. There are also Parrats, which speake better, and are fairer than in any place else. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 find great numbers of Ciuet Cats; and there grow Canes as bigge as a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••he countrie doth also yeeld many Rubies; and they haue much Lacca, which some hold to be the gum of certaine trees, and others say, they gather it vpon the leaues 〈…〉〈…〉 Manna.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 countrie of Siam is plaine, but enuironed with mountaines, full of grasse, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, [ F] and fertile; abounding in Rice, Corne, and other things necessarie for life. It 〈◊〉〈◊〉 store of Pepper, Benjoyn, Gold, Siluer, Tinne, and other mettalls. There is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Muske, and great numbers of Horses and Elephants. In this countrie is the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chyancay, out of which run the riuers of Aue, Caipuno, Menam, Menon, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which water many Prouinces, and make their lands fat, as Nile doth in Aegypt.

Towards the East, vpon the frontier of Cauchinchina, there are great forests, in which [ A] there liue many Tygres, Lyons, and other wild beasts.

The countrie of Cambaya abounds in Rice, Flesh, and Fish, as also in Horses, and Ele∣phants, and it yeelds some little gold. The realme of Campae hath plentie of gold, and of all things necessarie for the life of man. There is growing in their mountaines the best Alloes that can be seene, the which all the nations of the East esteeme no lesse than sil∣luer. The realme of Aue hath store of Gurnets and Rubies, which they gather in the mountaines. They feed a certaine kind of beast which beares muske, and in like man∣ner great store of Elephants and Horses; and the land abounds in all things necessarie for the life of man. [ B]

The Manners of the Auncients.

LEast I should distast the Reader with importune repetitions, I wil referre him(touch∣ing this point) to the discourse of the realme of Narsinga, where he may first see in generall the auncient manners of the Indians, and in particular, those of any countrie which are now subiect to the king of Barme.

¶ The Manners at this day.

[ X] THe inhabitant of the realme of Pegu are of a meane stature, and rather fat than slen∣der. [ C] They are nimble and strong, and yet not fit for the warres. They go all naked, onely they hide their priuie parts. They couer their heads with a white cloth, which is fashioned like vnto a Myter. They are wonderfully giuen to the loue of women, and for their sakes they weare little bells of gold and siluer hanging at their members, to the end they may make a noyse whenas they go in the streets. Some Iewes hold, that the mynes of Ophir (mentioned in the Scripture) were in Sumatra; and some others, in this realme; and that they of Pegu haue drawne their beginning from certaine Iewes who were confined thither by Salomon. But the foolish Peguins say, that they came of a dogge, and a woman of China, who remained in this countrie after a shipwracke. They [ D] are giuen to all sorts of pleasure, and to a thousand strange and ridiculous superstitions. They of the realme of Siam plunge themselues in delights: they loue women passio∣natly, and are verie subiect to gourmandise. They affect musicke, and take great delight in it. Thy practise no mechanique arts, but haue many slaues which they imploy to that end; yet they are giuen to tillage. They haue publique Scholes whereas they teach their lawes and their religion in the vulgar tongue: and as for sciences, they teach them in another language verie different from the common. They hold themselues to be ve∣rie noble, and make profession of honour. They are stately in their apparell. The kings of Siam were in old time bound, at their comming vnto the crowne, to begin some Temple, the which they did adorne with high Pyramides, and many Idols. [ E]

[ XI] The inhabitants of the realme of Cambaye are exceeding valiant, and giuen to naui∣gation and traffique, yet their manners are verie barbarous, for they thinke that both men and beasts are of one condition. Their women cast themselues into the fire, where they burne after the death of their husbands: and their kings being dead, not onely their wiues, but also some noblemen, did cast themselues voluntarie into the fire, whereas the bodies of their princes burnt. They of Campae vse much wood of Alloes, as well in their bathes, as in the funeralls of the chiefe men of the prouince.

[ XII] The inhabitants of Tarnassery arme themselues with garments made thicke with cot∣ton, short swords, and round bucklers made of the barkes of trees, liuing of all kinds of beasts, except kyne. They eat vpon the ground, without cloth or napkin, and haue for [ F] their drinke, water with sugar. Their beds are raised high, and made of cotton, and their garments are also of cotton or of silke; they till their grounds as we doe, and liue almost after the same manner. But they haue a custome, not to defloure their wiues, nor touch them, before that some white man (be it a Christian or Mahometan) hath giuen the

[ A] first touch, and from that time if the husban ds find them in fault, it is lawfull for them to kill them.

Whenas the sacrificing priests chance to die, they burne their bodies, and make a so∣lemne [ XIII] sacrifice vnto the deuill, and the ashes being gathered together, they put them into vines or great vessells stopt very close, which they burie vnder ground, and whilest the bodie burnes they cast into the fire much alloes, myrrhe, benjamin, corall, insence, sandal, and other sweet and aromaticall drugs; and in the meane time the trumpets and flutes sound. During this solemnitie there are twentie or thirtie men disguised like deuills, as they paint them, which go about the fire dauncing and leaping for ioy, and as it were [ B] a••••uring the world of the rest of the deceased; whose wife is all alone neere vnto the place, bearing her brest, weeping and sighing, and crying out with great showes of heauinesse, and all this is done about midnight. Fifteene daies after, the wife inuites all the kinsmen and neerest friends of the deceased, and makes them a great feast in the same place where her husband had beene burnt, where she is dect in her roabes and iewells which his kinsmen bring thither; and making a deepe hole they fill it with drie and aro∣maticall woods, enuironing it about with reeds like vnto a hedge, and they couer this place with a peece of silke, to the end the hole may not be perceiued. After the feast many minstrells play on their instruments about this hole, after which they sacrifice vn∣to the deuill, which being ended, the wife comes like a frantike woman, and dauncing [ C] and leaping towards this hole being all on fire, she recommends herselfe vnto the pray∣•••• of such as are disguised like deuills, to the end that Sathan may receiue her into his ••••mpanie, and make her voiage safe and easie. These words being ended she runnes to∣••••rds the pit, and wrapping herselfe in the peece of silke, leapes into the flame, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sodenly the kinsfolkes cast wood and rosin vpon her, to the end that these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 matters may soone consume her. If the wife should forget this dutie towards her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and, she should be for euer dishonored. Yet you must vnderstand that this custome is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 obserued by great ladies, and that the greatest of the countrie assist commonly at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ceremonies. The inhabitants of Verme are blacke and go all naked, onely they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their priuie parts with cloth made of cotton.

[ D] ¶ The Riches.

THe wealth of these realmes may well be conceiued by their fertilitie. For the coun∣trie [ XIIII] being plaine and watred with many great and goodly riuers which fatten the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as Nilus doth in Aegipt, it cannot be spoken how all things abound there. They 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a great commoditie from their rice, horses, and elephants, and from their gold, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and tinne. The merchants come thither from all parts, and carrie from Pegu(as ••••••esaid) much rice, gumme, benjamin, muske, pretious stones, siluer, butter, oyle, ••••••nions, and such like things to eat. They draw out of those ports fortie ships, yea [ E] 〈◊〉〈◊〉, laden with rice for Sumatra.

The realme of Siam sends forth pepper, muske, benjoin, gold, siluer, and tinne, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an infinit number of horses, and elephants. That of Camboie yeelds some little 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and doth furnish strangers with many horses and elephants. The realme of Cam∣•••••• reapes small profit but from the wood of alloes. Quedoe is renowned by reason of the pepper which is exceeding good, and for this cause it is sought after by merchant st••••••gers which come into those parts. In the realme of Aue there are many merchants of pretious stories, especially of rubies, and garnets: they sell also some store of muske, and many horses and elephants. By these things we may judge that the king of Bra∣••••, who hath countries furnished with so many things which are sought for from all [ F] 〈◊〉〈◊〉, hath great store of treasure.

¶ The Forces. [ A]

[ XV] NO man can doubt but the king of Brama is a mightie monarch, seeing that the king of Siam alone, whom he hath dispossessed of his realm (which is not aboue a fourth or fift part of his Estate) had commonly six thousand men for his guard, and thirtie thousand elephants, whereof three thousand were fit for the warre; the which should be much esteemed by reason of the great expence of these beasts. He had as it were Ti∣mars throughout his realme, and by this meanes twentie thousand horse, and two hun∣dred and fiftie thousand foot alwaies readie to follow him to the warre, without any [ B] charge vnto the realme: and if he would haue drawne greater forces together they might haue amounted to a million of men, for that the realme is very great, and the tow••es and prouinces exceeding wel peopled: seeing that the towne of Vdie the chiefe of the realme of Siam may send forth fiftie thousand men. We may hereby conceiue how powerfull this prince is, seeing that he abounds not only in victualls and all kind of wealth, but also in men.

¶ The Gouernment.

[ XVI] THe king of these countries is absolute lord of all the lands within his Estates, and rents them to labourers for certaine summes of money, or else he giues them to the [ C] great men of his realme for their entertainment, and for a certaine time, or else for their liues; but neuer in perpetuitie, to dispose and leaue them to their children as a right of inheritance. They giue also vnto principall men townes and lands with jurisdiction for a time, or for their liues, with a condition that they shall come to serue them in all occasi∣ons of war with so many foot, horse, or elephants. The king of Pegu hath beene woont among other souldiers of his guard, to haue a thousand Christians in whom he trusted, and who did manage all the affaires of his court. They hold that this prince doth charge them with strange imposts.

Among them of Tarnasser, murther is punished with death without any remission. Debtors are condemned to satisfie, if the creditor shews the schedule; for that they write [ D] in parchment, as we do, whereas they of Ca••icut write on the barkes of trees. If a stran∣ger dies without heires the king succeeds him, for that no man may make a will, the king te••ming himselfe lord of all.

¶ The Religion.

[ XVII] They of Siam, who are held the authors in a manner of all the superstitions of those countries, hold God for the creator of heauen and earth, and for him that shall re∣compence the good, and punish the wicked. They beleeue that man hath two spirits about him, whereof the one guids him to good and keepes him, and the other tempts [ E] him and afflicts him. They build diuers sumptuous temples, and set vp many statues of men which they hold are gone to heauen for their good life. Among others there is one of the father of men, as they say, which is fifteene paces long. They haue an opinion that he was sent from heauen, and that of him were borne certaine men, who endured grie∣uous and troublesome torments for the loue of God.

The priests which are much honoured in this countrie are attired in yellow cloth (for that all that is yellow, for the resemblance it hath with the Sunne and gold, is dedicated to God) & no women may enter into their houses, wheras these priests feed not any hens for that they are females. It ••s so great an offence among them to drinke wine, as they stone those priests that are conuicted to haue drunke any. They fast often, but especially [ F] at a certaine time whenas all the people run to their temples, and to their sermons. They [ XVIII] ••ay their seruice at certaine houres, some by day and some by night. They hold that the world had a beginning, and shall continue eight thousand yeres, whereof six are alreadie past. They say also that the world shall end by fire, and that then they shall see open in

[ A] heauen seuen eyes of the Sun, which shall d••ie vp riuers, and the sea, and burne the earth, and that there shall remaine among the ashes two egges, from whence shall come a man and a woman which shall renew the world, and then there shall be no more sea with salt water, but pleasing lakes, pooles, brookes, and riuers, which shall water the whole earth in such sort as it shall abound in all good things without the labour of man.

They haue an infinit number of Idols, and among other things they worship the foure elements, and euerie man at his death makes choice of the manner of his funerals, accor∣ding to the element which he hath worshipped, they that haue adored the earth are bu∣ried, and they that haue borne any honour to fire are burnt: they that haue reuerenced [ B] the aire, are hung, to the end they may be deuoured by birds; and they that haue had any particular veneration to the water, are drowned.

In Pegu, the wiser sort make innumerable worlds successiuely one after another, and an infinit number of gods, yet not all together, but more or lesse to euerie world. They attribute fiue to that wherein we are, and say that there are foure alreadie past. They be∣leeue that the world shal end by fire, and that it renews continually with his proper gods. They put also certaine men in the number of their gods, but with condition, that they shall passe before into fish, beasts, and birds of all sorts. They hold that there are three places appointed after this life, that is to say, one of torments, another of delights, and the third of satisfaction, or abbrogating, which they call Miba. They hold, that the soules re∣maine [ C] so long in the two first places, and return so often into this world, as in the end they are worthie to be admitted into Miba. From these principles spring so many vanities and superstitions, and such foolish ceremonies and opinions, as any man of judgement may sooner conceiue them than know how to expresse them. They do also worship certaine lumps of earth, and chalke gilt ouer, made like vnto the Pyramides of Aegypt, the which they call Varelles, and they are so high, as the least of them is of fortie fadome. The grea∣test is in the towne of Degum, the which is of such a heigth as they may discouer the greatest part of the realme. Vpon the top of it, there are certaine peeces of yron, with a ball and head of brasse, enuironed with little bells, where they hang the jewels and other things which they offer vnto them: they worship these Varelles as their gods, and make [ D] them high, to signifie their greatnesse, as they say.

They haue conuents of priests neere vnto the Temples of their Idols, being aboue three hundred for euerie place. They haue the head & the chin shauen, and weare long gownes [ XIX] with sleeues hanging to the ground. They neuer conuerse with any women, and seldome with men: yet they receiue all strangers courteously: Some of these conuents liue of their reuenues, and other of almes. They haue also houses appointed for women that will retire themselues: and certaine lodgings for the keeping of their Idols, which they put there for deuotion; there is one of them in which they say there is aboue one hun∣dred and twentie thousand. They fast thirtie daies euerie yeare, and eat nothing vntill night. They hold that in the other life a thefee shall be slaue to him from whom he hath [ E] stollen any thing; and they beleeue that it is a sinne to kill any thing that hath life. By reason whereof, the king doth often command through deuotion that they should not fish, nor kill any thing that liues, but it is little obserued by reason of the couetousnesse of officers who suffer themselues to be easily corrupted for money.