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 [ A] KING OF NARSINGE. [ B]

The Contents.

1.THe scituation of the countrie of Narsinge, the length, and chiefe townes, Nar∣singe, and Bisnagar. 2. Of the prouince of Canara, or Concan, and the chiefe Sea. townes. 3. Of the fertilitie of the countrie, abounding in Corne, Sugar, Ginger, and other spices, Silke, Cotton, Figges, and Nuts. 4. Manners and behauiour of this people, and generally of all the Indians, diuided into ••r••ch••••••nes, descended from Abra∣ham, [ C] and••of the German's; according to the diuision of Onef••••nites, and Strabo. 5. Of the Hiobo∣les; or Gymnos•••• his••••s, ••earing garments made of the barbes of trees, or of lynnen cloth that is not combustible: their a••steritie of lafe, and abstinence from ••ine and women: their exercises to maintaine their strength of bodie and mind; their doctrine•• phylosophie, and subtile discourses with kings of diuine and humane things, of the motions of the heauens, and secrets of nature. 6. Of the Germans, giuen ••as he speculation of mans bodie, to the c••re of diseases, and to diuina∣tion, and Negromancie. 7. Of the orders and Estates whereof the Indian people consist, that is to s••y, Labourers exempt from the wa••••res•• Pastors or Shepheards liuing in the fields in Tents; Handicrafts-men making instruments for warre, and other workes; Souldiers, Magistrats, and Councellors. 8. The apparell of the Indians at this day, and what the king weares going to the [ D] warre. 9. Of the kings great reuenues, amounting yerely to twelue millions of gold. 10. Where∣in his forces consist; what horse and foot he hath; his armes and munition for warre. 11. Of the Idolatrie of them of Narsinge, worshipping the Deuill, and dedicating Temples vnto him. 12. Of two kinds of sects, gouerning the religion of this people, called Baneane, and Bramins: their doctrine, and auster••nesse of life; and the Deities which they adore.

[ I] THis Prince is one of the mightiest Monarches betwixt the riuers of Indus and Ganges, being maister of a great countrie, which lies betwixt the Cape of Comorin, and that of Guadauerin, and be∣twixt the mountaines of Gate, and the gulfe of Bengala, and it hath [ E] in length two hundred leagues, or six hundred miles: some say, that this realme contains; as much ground as can be gone in six moneths, There are two royall townes, that is, Narsinge, and Bisnagar, called by some Besenagal, the which hath three walls, and is famous for traffique. By reason of these two great townes, they call this prince sometimes king of Narsinge, and sometimes of Bisnagar. The towne of Tamasser belongs to this realme, as some say, but it is held by the king of Barme. There are in this realme two Sea-townes inhabited by Christians, that is, Coromandel, or Colmander, and Malipur, which the Portugals hold.

[ II] The king of Narsinge doth also enioy the prouince of Canara, otherwise called Con∣can, the which is in some sort a part of the realme of Decan. The chiefe Sea-townes of [ F] this prouince, are Onor, Batticale, Magindre, and Mangalor. But the Portugals haue seised vpon the towne of Onor, and that of Barticale is tributarie vnto them. The king of Trauancor, which is in the prouince of Malabar, is in like manner subiect to the king of Narsinge.

[ A] ¶ The Qualitie.

THis realme abounds in all things, and there wants not any thing necessarie for the [ III] life of man. For there is great store of corne, sugar, ginger, and other spices, and there is not any countrie in the world that abounds more in silke and cotton. The territorie of Bis••••gar is very fruitfull, and there is neere vnto it very pleasant forrests. The prouince of Canara yeelds rice, sugar, figs, and nuts, but it beares neither wheat, barley, nor pulses. The soile of Trauancall is leane, and not very fit for corne or fruits.

[ B] ¶ The Manners of the auncient.

FOr that many of the auncient manners of them of Narsinge may be referred to the [ IIII] other Indians, I haue reserued this place to make a full discourse, which may shew their actions in generall. The Indians did hate theft aboue all things, and had no lawes written, for that they had no vse of letters, but did learne by roat one of another. They drinke wine onely whenas they made any sacrifice, and their ordinarie drinke was compounded of barley and rice, wherewith they made their pottages. They did not plead one against another, neither had they any law amongst them, which made menti∣on [ C] of the keeping of any thing: they had no neede of witnesses, nor of bills, of seales or writings, for that one did beleeue anothers simple word. They left their houses emptie without guard, which were all signes of the bountie and innocencie of this people. More∣ouer they liued alone, anh had no set houres, for their diet, but did eat when they had an appetite. They did cause their bodies to be often rubbed, the which they did pollish with h••beue. They were not stately in making of tombes for the dead, but contrariwise they shewed themselues supersfluous in their apparell; for they did weare much gold and pre∣cious stones. They had also for an ornament a fine linnen cloth, wherewith they couered their faces for feare of Sunne burning, doing what they could to preserue themselues faire. Truth was held among them for a great vertue, and old men were not esteemed if [ D] they were not discreet. They might haue many wiues, and they bought them of their parents for a pare of oxen. They did chuse some for their seruice, others to haue children ••••, and some for their pleasure, and they did not force them to liue chastly, but they ••ight prostitute themselues at their pleasures. They did not sacrifice, not cast incens vpon the altars with garlands of flowers vpon their heads, like vnto other nations, neither did they cut the throats of beasts that were sacrificed, but did smother them in their bl••••d. They did cut off the ends of the fingers of false witnesses, and he that had cut off, ••••••••imed the member of any one, he did not only endure the like paine, but he lost the hand which had committed the offence. But he that did put out the eye, or cut off the hand of an artisan, did loose his head without remission.

[ E] Women slaues did keepe and serue the king; and the armie did liue out of townes vnder tents. If a women slew the king seeing him drunke, she did marrie his successor, and the children did lawfully succeed the father. It was not lawfull for the king to sleepe in the day time, and in the night he often changed his lodging, fearing surprises. When he was not in war, he came often out of his house to heare causes, and to do them justice, and if during the time he was rubd, he was to heare any one, he admitted the parties, and gaue them their aunswere. He came also forth to sacrifice, and to hunt, whereas a great troupe of souldiers ran after the beast. The place whereas the king tooke this delight, was compassed in with roapes, and the guard of his bodie attended without. If in the meanetime any one entred into the kings tents to disport himselfe with any of the ladies [ F] of his traine, he lost his life,

Whenas the king marched through the countrie, he had little bells and drums which were carried before him, and if he entred into any parke which was inclosed, to hunt, he had still neere about his person three or foure women armed: but if he did runne in the open plain, he was mounted vpon an elephant, and he had about him many women, some

vpon chariots, and others vpon elephants, or horses, and these women did handle all kind [ A] of armes exceeding well.

The Indians did worship Iupiter, the rayne, and the riuer of Ganges, and those whom they call the gods of euery countrie. Whenas their kings did wash their haire, euery man did solemnize that day as a great feast, and they made great and rich presents one vnto another. In old time these people were diuided into seuen orders and degrees, whereof the first were the Sages or Philosophers, Gymnosophistes, & Brachmanes, who were honoured more than all the rest. These were free from all labour, and did not serue any, neither did they comaund any, but onely receiued from euery one in particular what was fit for the sacrifices of their gods: they had the care of the dead, as being held deare vnto the gods, and which knew what was done in helt. These Sages foretold them [ B] in the beginning of the yeare, of droughts, winds, raine, diseases, and such like, which should happen; the knowledge whereof was profitable vnto them, for that the king and his subiects did seeke to auoid those misfortunes that did threaten them: but if any one of these Philosophers did foretell an vntruth, he was enioined to perpetuall silence. The Gymnosophistes went all naked, as their name doth shew, and liued in desart and solita∣rie places, whereas they disputed of naturall causes, and did in a manner continually be∣hold the Sunne. These men were so patient, as they would stand a whole day barefoo∣ted in the burning sand. Among these Sages, were also the Brachmans, who desired no∣thing but what nature required, and did liue of that which the earth did willingly bring [ C] forth. They hold that these men were descended from the children of Abraham•• con∣cubines, who sent them into the East, as we read in the holie writ, where it is said that they carried certaine gifts from him. These gifts of Abraham, besides gold and clothes are the arts and sciences; especially Astrologie, and natural Magicke, wherein they haue not onely excelled, but also are at this day very skilfull, if we shall beleeue the Portugals, who speake of their owne knowledge. Strabo, following Onesirites, diuides them into Brachmanes, and Germans. The Brachmanes did put in practise the knowledge which they had receiued from their auncestors, and did admit to the studie of Philosophie the Germans who were strangers and not of the race of the Sages.

[ V] The most honoured of all were the Hyoboles, or Gymnosophistes, who were not co∣uered [ D] but with the barke of a tree, or with a fine linnen cloth, the which was not washed with water, but put into the fire to clense when it was fowle, and yet was not consumed. They dranke no wine, neither did they marrie, or had any knowledge of women, vntill they had led this life for the space of seuen and thirtie yeares. They discoursed subtilly with kings of a commonweale, of diuinitie, and humane things, of the course and moti∣on of the heauens, and of the secrets of nature. They did fortifie their bodies with so great exercise, and by the same meanes they gaue such vigour vnto their spirits, as they made them immutable in their conuersations and judgements. All their Philosophie ten∣ded only to haue a good death, and a good life. Appolonius Thianeus went vnto them with much toile, to heare Iarque their prince discourse of nature, of the motion of the [ E] heauens and of the change of daies.

They blamed victorious Alexander for that not being content with his owne realm, he did trouble all the East with his armie. Behold what Strabo saieth, who is followed by Plinie in his naturall historie.

They haue greatly inricht morall knowledge as may ap∣peare by the words of Apuleius. I admire those who know not how to plant a vine, to till the ground, or to graft a tree, to tame a horse or a bull, or to sheare a sheepe, yet giue themselues to wisdome; neither doe I commend any thing they do, so much as the ha∣tred they seeme to beare to idlenesse.

For when the cloth is laied before they bring any meat, all the young men come thither from diuers places and offices. Then the maisters examine them what good they haue done since the breake of day vnto that houre, to [ F] whom one of them aunswers, that he hath beene chosen arbitrator to end a controuer∣sie betwixt two men, and that he hath made them good friends: another saieth, that he hath obeied his parents, who haue commaunded him something: another that he hath found something of himselfe, or that he hath learned of another, or such like thing. He

[ A] that hath not imployed himselfe in any thing, and cannot giue an account of that which he hath done, is sent away without his dinner.

The Germans care and studie was to know mans bodie, they kept themselues couered, [ VI] they liued of rice, & meale; and in curing of diseases, among all other medicaments, they did commaund vnctions and cataplasmes. Some among them were giuen to diuinati∣ons and inchantments, they practised Negromancie, and they went wandring from town to towne, and from place to place.

The Premmes were enemies to all these, and had no delight but to reprehend others; and these Premmes were diuided into Montagnars, Gymnetes, and Ciuils.

[ B] The second ranke was of Labourers, who exceeding all the rest in number, were freed [ VII] from going to the war. The enemie neuer spoyled them, but euerie man suffered them to liue in peace, as thinking them to be borne for the good and profit of all the world. By this meanes, they saw aboundance of all things in this countrie, and these men liued in the fields with their wiues and children, paying the king his tribute.

The third order was of all sorts of Pastors and shepheards, which did not liue in townes nor boroughs, but in tents in the fields, whereas they liued of hunting, and did set snares and ginnes for beasts, by which meanes they did preserue the corne from the destroying of beasts, which swarme in those countries, and doe much annoy the fruits and seed.

The Artizans held the fourth ranke, and some made armes and instruments for warre; [ C] others tooles for labourers, and other instruments that were profitable and necessarie, whereof they had vse. These men were not onely exempt from tributes and subsidies, but they also gaue them corne out of the kings garners.

The fift order was of Souldiers, which not withstanding were the second in number. These by a continuall exercise made themselues apt for warre, and how great soeuer the number were, their horses and elephants, fit for the warre, were fed at the princes ••••••rge.

The sixt ranke was of the Magistrats, who taking care of all things that did passe, aduer∣tised the king, to the end he might prouide for it.

The seuenth and last order contained all those that did preside in publique Councels, [ D] •••••• which were few in number, but famous for their wisdome and nobilitie. Out of this number, they did chuse the kings Councellors, and those that had the managing of great affaires, and did judge of all differencies. They did also chuse from among these, the cap∣taines and gouernours of prouinces.

There were noblemen also appointed to see there should be no wrong done vnto stran∣gers; and whenas any one fell sicke, they had a care to succour him, and if he died, they caused him to be buried, deliuering his money and merchandise to those that said they were his neerest kinsmen. The Iudges of euerie place had power to punish such as were conuicted of any crime.

Towards the South Sea, and Malaca, there were shepheards which liued of raw flesh, [ E] and they were called Pades, whose manner of life was; that when any one of them (were it man or woman) fell sicke, they that were neerest allied vnto him, slew him, saying, that if he did languish long, he would cause a corruption of their flesh by his sicknesse, and hauing slaine him they did eat him, and after that manner they vsed to deale with old people.

In some parts there were people that did kill neither man nor beast, neither did they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nor build, nor liue in any house, feeding onely vpon hearbes: and for that they had certaine graine like vnto millet, which did grow of it selfe, and without any industrie, they gathered it, and boyling it, made vse of it for their liuing.

As soone as any one among them fell sicke, he retired himselfe into the desart, and [ F] whether he liued or died, no man had any regard, either to cure him of his sicknesse, or, be∣ing dead, to minister funerall rights vnto him.

¶ The Manners at this day. [ A]

[ VIII] THe richest men of this countrie weare a short iacket or cassocke, & vpon their heads turbans of diuers colours, like vnto the Turkes. The common people doe onely co∣uer their priuie parts, and the rest of the bodie is naked. When the king will go vnto the warre, he takes a robe of cotton, and vpon this robe he carries a cloake, couered and en∣richt with little plates of gold: in stead of imbroyderie, he hath round about it rich stones of all sorts. His horse is valued at a great price by reason of his furniture which is all couered with rich stones. The people of this realme eat no bread, but liue of rice, flesh, fish, and nuts which this countrie yeelds. [ B]

As for them of Coromandel, if it chanceth that any yeare passeth without raine, they fall into such extremitie, as they are forced to sell their children for a royall, or six pence: the which is ordinarie throughout all the Indies, whereas the fathers sell their children for a small price, and many sell themselues.

The princes desire much to haue noblemen and gentlemen to be their slaues, who ma∣ny times are husbands to their daughters, and heires to their maisters Estates.

¶ The Riches.

[ IX] THey hold it for certaine that the king of Narsinge hath twelue millions of gold of [ C] yearely rent, and that he spares three, or at least two and a halfe euerie yeare. He imployes the rest in the entertainment of his house, and men of warre. Moreouer, he hath two hundred captaines, to whom he distributes the lands of his Estates, vpon con∣dition that they shall entertaine so many horses, elephants, and footmen: and these reue∣nues are so great, as there are some captaines which haue a million of gold yearely. The which must not seeme incredible, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that in this countrie, as in the greatest part of the East, all the lands, mynes, forrests, and the wa•••••• of some riuers, are the princes: so as no man may wash himselfe with the water of Ganges, which runs through the realme of Bengala, nor with that of Gangue which flowes through the countrie of Orixe, with∣out [ D] paying a certaine summe to the kings of these two countries, and the king of Nar∣singe doth buy the water of these two riuers, and causeth it to be brought farre to bath himselfe therein, and to purge himselfe superstitiously. The king then being maister of the fountaines of his Estates, and there remayning nothing vnto the people but their armes and labour; it is likely, seeing that the king diuides all his lands betweene him∣selfe and his captaines, that he retaines one third part for himselfe, and that his captaines haue the other two third parts; so as of necessitie some of them must needes reape great summes of money thereby.

¶ The Forces. [ E]

[ X] SOme hold, that the king of Narsinge entertaines continually fortie thousand Naires, who are as gentlemen appointed for the warres, and alwaies payed: and moreouer, twentie thousand horse, whereof some are Persians, and the rest Arabians; and two hun∣dred elephants. But whenas he is forced to go to the warre, he drawes to field a far grea∣ter number of men and elephants, for that some haue written that his armie hath held the space of thirtie miles. Iohn de Barros doth shew vs sufficiently what forces may be drawne out of this realme, describing the armie which Chesnarae king of Narsinge led against the Idalcan in the enterprise of Rachiol. He saith, that the armie was diuided in∣to many members vnder their captaines. In the foreward, did march Camaraique with [ F] a thousand horse, seuenteen elephants, and thirtie thousand foot: Tierabitara, with twen∣tie thousand horse, twentie elephants, and fiftie thousand foot: then Tamanapaique, with three thousand fiue hundred horse, thirtie elephants, and sixtie thousand foot: Hidapi∣••aique followed after, and led fiue thousand horse fiftie elephants, and one hundred thou∣sand

[ A] foot: Condomare had six thousand h••rse, sixtie elephants, and one hundred and twentie thousand foot: Comore led two thousand and fiue hundred horse, fortie ele∣phants, and eightie thousand foot: Gendraye one thousand horse, ten elephants, and thir∣tie thousand foot: after him there marched two eunukes of the kings house, with one thousand horse, fifteene elephants, and fortie thousand foot: the page of Betel led two hundred horse, twentie elephants, and fifteene thousand souldiers: Comarbeque had charge of foure hundred horse, twentie el••phants, and eight thousand foot: the king came after with his guard, in which were six thousand horse, three hundred elephants, and fortie thousand foot, and of either side did march the gouernor of the towne of [ B] Bengapor, with diuers captaines, vnder whose ensignes were foure thousand and two hundred horse, fiue and twentie elephants, and sixtie thousand foot: besides all these men there were two thousand horse, and one hundred thousand foot diuided into small bands, who as scoures discouered the countrie on either side before and behind, with such order as in an instant they knew any thing that happened. With these there went twelue thousand carriers of water, and twentie thousand whores, besides horse boies, merchants, handycraftsmen, landresses whom they call Mamates, oxen, and beasts of bur∣then without number. The multitude of these men did appeare at the passage of a riuer, for that the water which came at first to the mid thigh was not able to water them that ca•••• last. The king before he went to this enterprise did sacrifice in nine daies two thou∣sand [ C] thirtie and six beasts, the flesh whereof was giuen to the poore in honour of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the which they did sacrifice. These people were clad in cotton the which was so firme and strong, as it would resist any launce as well as a brestplat of yron, and their hor∣•••• and elephants were couered after the same manner. Euery elephant had his castle, in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were foure armed men: and they carried certaine swords in their mouthes the which did cut any thing that was before them.

The footmen were diuided into archers, pikemen, and others which carried swords 〈◊〉〈◊〉 targets: and for that the last carried targets which were able to couer a whole man, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had no other defensiue armes. I will not passe ouer in silence that in this war with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iadalcan, the king of Narsinge hauing receiued a great rout, he tooke courage, and [ D] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 words worthie of a great prince: which were, That he had rather the Iadalcan should brag he had slaine him than vanquished him; whereupon he aduanced, giuing ••••••••age to his people, and defeated his enemie. Among other things in this defeate ••••••re were taken foure thousand Arabian horses, one hundred elephants, foure hundred 〈◊〉〈◊〉 canons, besides smaller peeces, and an infinit number of oxen, bugles, tents, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. There were fortie Portugals with the Idalcan in this war, and twentie with the king of Narsinge. In our time there were two captaines which reuolted against this king, wh••••e of the one is called Virapanai, and remaines at Nagapatan, and the other called Ven∣ca•••••••• hath made himselfe maister of the places neere vnto Malipur.

The king of Narsinge to haue his captaines readie vpon all occasions, doth euery yere [ E] cause certaine musters to be made, whither they are bound to come. He depriues them of their charges that brings fewer men than they ought, or are not well appointed.

¶ The Religion.

THe people of Narsinge do first of all beleeue in one God, the Lord of all the world, [ XI] then in deuills the authors of all euill, whom they honour more than the creator of all things, building many stately Temples or Pagodes vnto them with good rents. In ••••me of these Temples there are men which haue charge of the seruice of the idoll, and in some others women which make loue, who prostitute their bodies to get something [ F] to entertaine this seruice and they breed vp many young maidens for the same trade.

There are so many in this countrie, and throughout the Indies, as in a manner two so••t•• of people gouerne their detestable religion, and the simple consciences of these ••oore people. These be the Baneanes, and the Bramanes or Bramins. As for the Bane∣anes, whose number is great in this countrie, although they differ in sects, yet they all

agree, not to kill any liuing thing, nor to eat of that which hath beene slaine. They ob∣serue [ A] this so strictly, as they redeeme birds which haue beene taken, and set them at liber∣tie. They eat neither turnups nor garlicke, and they vse no wine nor vineger, nor yet nympe nor ortaque, two kinds of drinkes at the Indies. They macerat themselues with much fasting, taking onely at night a little milke with sugar, and the most superstitious among them remaine sometimes twentie daies together without any meat. They giue water with sugar ••o birds and ants: and in Cambaya they haue made an hospitall where they haue care to cure diseased birds. There are some of them which seeing death ap∣proching, bequeath part of their goods to certain persons, to the end they may go into desarts and solitaire places, and present water vnto passengers to quench their thirst. [ B] They weare about their neckes a flint of the bignesse of an egge for their god, hauing certaine lines drawne through the middest. They keepe their candles in lanthomes to the end that butterflies may not burne themselues. They many times call others of their ••••ct, but more austere than themselues, that they may draw out the lice which they haue at their backs, the which they take and feed.

They marrie but once, and when they die their wiues are buried with them. They doe not interre other men, but burne them, and the women in like manner. Widowes which will not cast themselues into the fire, are held infamous, as if they had been conuicted of adulterie. The Banianes weare garments like to the auncient Brachmanes, and they be∣leeue that soules passe from one bodie to another. As for the Bramans or Bramins, they are much more esteemed than the Banianes, & are diuided into two sects; for that some [ C] marrie and remaine in townes, and these retaine the name of Bramans; the others neuer marrie, and are called Ioques. These haue no rents, but liue in great austeritie and vpon almes: they go vp and downe the Indies like pilgrims, and abstaine from all carnall plea∣sures for a certaine time, after which they become Abduts, that is to say, exempt from all lawes, and as it were vncapable of sinne: then they plunge themselues in all beastli∣nesse and villanie, and take all the pleasures they can imagine. They haue a commaun∣der who disposeth of a great reuenue, and distributes it: at certaine times he sends forth many Ioques to preach their follie vp and downe. The Bramins worship one called Para∣bramme, and his three sonnes, in whose honor they weare three strings tied to their necks. [ D] They put among the gods not onely men that haue done any valiant exploits, but also beasts, and they build stately and costly temples vnto them. They worship apes and ele∣phants, but much more oxen and kine. The reason why they so much esteeme oxen and kine, is for that they thinke dead mens soules passe into these beasts rather than into any other. So as when the king creates the Naires, who are as it were knights, he giues them charge to defend the Bramins and kine. They among the Bramins which liue in mari∣time places, called Cuncamme, eat all kind of beasts, except beefe and swines flesh. They haue certain bookes and prophets, by meanes whereof they ground their superstition. They hold that God is blacke, thinking this colour the goodliest of all others; by reason whereof their idolls are blacke and oylie, and so deformed, as they terrifie them that be∣hold [ E] them. They persuade the people that their idolls are great eaters, and therefore they cause them to bring much money and meat; so as by this lying they get wherewith∣all to make good cheere, for that the credulous people do offer twice a day vnto their idolls, and these Bramins eat it. There are some among them that are skilfull in Astrolo∣gie, but they haue all more malice than learning. They haue commonly many wiues, and know the ten commaundments of the law, and their explication, they force them whom they receiue into their discipline to sweare neuer to reueale the mysteries which they shall learne. The first thing they enioine them is neuer to publish that they must worship one God creator of heauen and earth. They haue a certaine strange language, as we the Latine, and they teach Magicke and inchantments in their scholes. Their Do¦ctors [ F] attend the diuine seruice on Sunday, praying vnto God the creator of heauen and earth, and repeating these words often: I worship thee O God with thy grace and suc∣cours eternally. They suffer their haire to grow almost from their infancies, and they hold it sacriledge to take meat from the hands of a Christian.