Purchas his pilgrimes. part 3 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

Of the iudgement of the Iselanders.

THere is a most pleasant place almost in the midst of the Iland, you would say it were a Para∣dise in the Spring time, where sometimes there was a high Mountaine, which burned with inward fire, as Hecla doth at this day; which matter after it was consumed, made a Plaine, but [ 50] the Rocks which were erected about the Mountaine, stand yet, therefore this place is so fenced by Nature, that they that enter it, must goe one by one. This place is famous for two great falls of water, where two Riuers from the highest Rocks cast themselues steepe downe one against the other, with an astonishing and horrible dashing of the waters against the Rocks. These Ri∣uers meete together in the middle of the field, and by a great whirlepoole are swallowed vp into the ground.

Heere yeerely the nine and twentieth of Iune, the Inhabitants who haue any controuersie, meete together:* 1.1 for in no other place or time Iustice is administred: after they are entred, stan∣dings are placed by the Gouernours guard, who admit all that desire to come in, no man hath li∣bertie to goe out, without the consent and authoritie of the Gouernour. When they are come [ 60] thither, the Gouernour offreth his Charter to bee publikely read, whereby hee procureth credit to his Office, and hauing spoken before somewhat of the Kings goodwill, and his owne towards the Ilanders, he exhorteth them to communicate Iustice vnto all, without respect of persons, hee

after departeth, and keepes himselfe in his Tent, hauing heard a godly Sermon, the twelue men, whom they call Lochmaders, as it were men of Iustice, sit downe on the ground,* 1.2 each of them hath a Booke in his hand, contayning the Law of that Iland, written in the vulgar tongue. Ac∣cusation and answer being made, they goe apart into seuerall places, euery one reades ouer his Booke diligently, going afterwards againe to his place, without Scribe, without replication or doubling, and iuglings of such brabling Lawyers, they conferre of the sentence and pronounce it: If any thing bee worthy of deliberation, it is brought to the Gouernour for consultation and for his honours sake, when notwithstanding they leaue no power of deciding it to him.

There are many accusations of Theft and Adulteries, they make no question of their Bonds, of their Fees, their Hereditarie fields, or any summe of money: there are no controuersies there. [ 10] These twelue men, ouer which one is chiefe, are greatly honoured amongst them. These doe de∣termine, and diligently inquire of all publike Controuersies. If there bee any wicked Act com∣mitted that yeere, if Murther bee committed any where, if Theft, if Adulterie, if Cattle be stol∣len away (which vseth oft to bee done) then these men set downe the punishment.* 1.3 They that are condemned to dye, are beheaded: the rest, who are any way to bee punished, they burne with a marke, this punishment with them is most grieuous: for they are marked in the forehead: they that are so marked are accounted in the number of wicked men: others are beaten with roddes: and I saw when the Father and the Sonne for theft (for they were Cattell stealers) were held Captiues, that the Father was compelled to beate his Sonne with roddes, and hee after∣wards beheaded.

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Notes

• * 1.1

  Islanders terme
• * 1.2

  Manner of trials and suites.
• * 1.3

  Sentence and execution.