ad THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1565. 



for a trifle many times he getteth evill will. Want, 

 though it trouble most of them, so much they doe detest, 

 that poore men cruelly taking pittie of their infantes 

 newly borne, especially girles, do many times with their 

 owne feete strangle them. Noble men, and other like- 

 wise of meaner calling generally have but one wife a 

 peece, by whom although they have issue, yet for a trifle 

 they divorse themselves from their wives, and the wives 

 also sometimes from their husbands, to marry with others. 

 After the second degree cousins may there lawfully marry. 

 Adoption of other mens children is much used among 

 them. In great townes most men and women can write 

 and reade. 



This Nation feedeth sparingly, their usuall meat is 

 rice and salets, and neere the sea side fish. They feast 

 one another many times, wherein they use great diligence, 

 especially in drinking one to another, insomuch that the 

 better sort, least they might rudely commit some fault 

 therein, doe use to reade certaine bookes written of 

 duties and ceremonies apperteyning unto banquets. To 

 be delicate and fine, they put their meate into their 

 mouthes with litle forkes, accounting it great rudenesse 

 to touch it with their fingers : winter & sommer they 

 [II. ii. 83.] drinke water as hot as they may possibly abide it. Their 

 houses are in danger of fire, but finely made and cleane, 

 layde all over with strawe-pallets, whereupon they doe 

 both sit in stead of stooles, and lie in their clothes with 

 billets under their heads. For feare of defiling these 

 pallets, they goe either barefoote within doores, or weare 

 strawe pantofles on their buskins when they come abroad, 

 the which they lay aside at their returne home againe. 

 Gentlemen for the most part do passe the night in 

 banketting, musicke, & vaine discourses, they sleepe the 

 day time. In Meaco and Sacaio there is good store 

 of beds, but they be very litle, and may be compared 

 unto our pues. 



In bringing up their children they use words only to 

 rebuke them, admonishing as diligently and advisedly 



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