ad. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



c 1565. 



when we were in prison, there died of them above three- 

 score and ten. If happely any one, having the meanes to 

 get food, do escape, he is set with the condemned persons, 

 and provided for as they be by the King, in such wise 

 as hereafter it shalbe said. 



Their whips be certaine pieces of canes, cleft in the 

 middle, in such sort that they seeme rather plaine then 

 sharpe. He that is to be whipped lieth grovelong on 

 the ground : upon his thighes the hangman layeth on 

 blowes mightily with these canes, that the standers by 

 tremble at their crueltie. Ten stripes draw a great deale 

 of blood, 20. or 30. spoile the flesh altogether, 50. or 

 60. will require long time to bee healed, and if they 

 come to the number of one hundred, then are they 

 incurable. 



The Louteas observe moreover this : when any man 

 is brought before them to be examined, they aske him 

 openly in the hearing of as many as be present, be the 

 offence never so great. Thus did they also behave them- 

 selves with us : For this cause amongst them can there 

 be no false witnesse, as dayly amongst us it falleth out. 

 This good commeth thereof, that many being alwayes 

 about the Judge to heare the evidence, and beare witnesse, 

 the processe cannot be falsified, as it happeneth sometimes 

 with us. The Moores, Gentiles, and Jewes have all their 

 sundry othes, the Moores do sweare by their Mossafos, 

 the Brachmans by their Fili, the rest likewise by the 

 things they do worship. The Chineans though they be 

 wont to sweare by heaven, by the Moone, by the Sunne, 

 and by all their Idoles, in judgement neverthelesse they 

 sweare not at all. If for some offence an othe be used 

 of any one, by and by with the least evidence he is 

 tormented, so be the witnesses he bringeth, if they tell 

 not the trueth, or do in any point disagree, except they 

 be men of worship and credit, who are beleeved without 

 any further matter : the rest are made to confesse the 

 trueth by force of torments and whips. Besides this 

 order observed of them in examinations, they do feare 



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