stcoat of white Callico covering their Bodies, wrought into
flourishes with Blew and Red; their Cloath hanging longer or shorter
below their Knees, according to their quality; a piece of Silk flung
over their heads; Jewels in their Ears, Ornaments about their Necks,
and Arms, and Middles. They are in their gate and behaviour very high,
stately in their carriage after the Portugal manner, of whom I think
they have learned: yet they hold it no scorn to admit the meanest to
come to speech of them. They are very thrifty, and it is a disgrace
to them to be prodigal, and their Pride & Glory to be accounted near
& saving. And to praise themselves they will sometimes say, That
scraps and parings will serve them; but that the best is for their
Husbands. The Men are not jealous of their Wives, for the greatest
Ladies in the Land will frequently talk and discourse with any Men
they please, altho their Husbands be in presence. And altho they be
so stately, they will lay their hand to such work as is necessary to
be done in the House, notwithstanding they have Slaves and Servants
enough to do it. Let this suffice concerning the Nature and Manners
of the People in general: The ensuing Chapters will be spent in more
particular accounts of them. And because they stand much upon their
Birth and Gentility, and much of what is afterwards to be related
hath reference unto it: I shall first speak of the various ranks and
degrees of Men among them.

CHAP. II.

Concerning their different Honours, Ranks, and Qualities.

[How they distinguish themselves according to their qualities.] Among
this People there are divers and sundry Casts or degrees of Quality,
which is not according to their Riches or Places of Honour the King
promotes them to, but according to their Descent and Blood. And
whatsoever this Honour is, be it higher or lower, it remains
Hereditary from Generation to Generation. They abhor to eat or
drink, or intermarry with any of Inferior Quality to themselves. The
signs of higher or meaner Ranks, are wearing of Doublets, or going
bare-backed without them: the length of their Cloth below their knees;
their sitting on Stools, or on Blocks or Mats spread on the Ground:
and in their Caps.

[They never marry beneath their rank.] They are especially careful
in their Marriages, not to match with any inferior Cast, but always
each within their own rank: Riches cannot prevail with them in the
least to marry with those by w