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<pre>
The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Travels of Sir John Mandeville, by John
Mandeville
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other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
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to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
Title: The Travels of Sir John Mandeville
the version of the Cotton Manuscript in modern spelling
Author: John Mandeville
Release Date: December 28, 2014 [eBook #782]
[This file was first posted on January 17, 1997]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TRAVELS OF SIR JOHN
MANDEVILLE***
</pre>
<p>Transcribed from the 1900 Macmillan and Co. edition by David
Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org</p>
<h1>The Travels<br />
of<br />
Sir John Mandeville</h1>
<p style="text-align: center">The version of the Cotton
Manuscript<br />
in modern spelling</p>
<div class="gapspace"> </div>
<p style="text-align: center"><i>With three narratives</i>, <i>in
illustration of it</i>,<br />
<i>from Hakluyt’s</i> “<i>Navigations</i>, <i>Voyages
& Discoveries</i>”</p>
<div class="gapspace"> </div>
<p style="text-align: center">London<br />
Macmillan and Co. Limited<br />
New York: The Macmillan Company<br />
1900</p>
<div class="gapspace"> </div>
<p style="text-align: center"><a name="pageiv"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. iv</span><span class="GutSmall">GLASGOW:
PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS</span><br />
<span class="GutSmall">BY ROBERT MACLEHOSE & CO.</span></p>
<div class="gapspace"> </div>
<h2><a name="pagev"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
v</span>BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE</h2>
<p><span class="smcap">The </span>Travels of Sir John Mandeville
were edited anonymously in 1725, in the version for which a
‘Cotton’ manuscript in the British Museum is our only
extant authority. From 1499, when they were first printed
by Wynkyn de Worde, the <i>Travels </i>had enjoyed great
popularity in England, as in the rest of Europe; but the printed
editions before 1725 had all followed an inferior translation
(with an unperceived gap in the middle of it), which had already
gained the upper hand before printing was invented. Another
manuscript in the British Museum, belonging to the
‘Egerton’ collection, preserves yet a third version,
and this was printed for the first time by Mr. G. F. Warner, for
the Roxburghe Club, in 1889, together with the original French
text, and an introduction, and notes, which it would be difficult
to over-praise. In editing the Egerton version, Mr. Warner
made constant reference to the Cotton manuscript, which he quoted
in many of his critical notes. But with this exception, no
one appears to have looked at the manuscript since it was first
printed, and subsequent writers have been content to take the
correctness of the 1725 text for granted, priding themselves,
apparently, on the care with which they reproduced all the
superfluous eighteenth century capitals with which every line is
dotted. Unluckily, the introduction of needless capitals
was the least of the original editor’s <a
name="pagevi"></a><span class="pagenum">p. vi</span>crimes, for
he omits words and phrases, and sometimes (a common trick with
careless copyists) a whole sentence or clause which happens to
end with the same word as its predecessor. He was also a
deliberate as well as a careless criminal, for the paragraph
about the Arabic alphabet at the end of Chapter XV. being
difficult to reproduce, he omitted it altogether, and not only
this, but the last sentence of Chapter XVI. as well, because it
contained a reference to it.</p>
<p>That it has been left to the editor (who has hitherto rather
avoided that name) of a series of popular reprints to restore
whole phrases and sentences to the text of a famous book is not
very creditable to English scholarship, and amounts, indeed, to a
personal grievance; for to produce an easily readable text of an
old book without a good critical edition to work on must always
be difficult, while in the case of a work with the peculiar
reputation of ‘Mandeville’ the difficulty is greatly
increased. Had a critical edition existed, it would have
been permissible for a popular text to botch the few sentences in
which the tail does not agree with the beginning, and to correct
obvious mistranslation without special note. But
‘Mandeville’ has an old reputation as the
‘Father of English Prose,’ and when no trustworthy
text is available, even a popular editor must be careful lest he
bear false witness. The Cotton version is, therefore, here
reproduced, ‘warts and all,’ save in less than a
dozen instances, where a dagger indicates that, to avoid printing
nonsense, an obvious flaw has been corrected either from the
‘Egerton’ manuscript or the French text. When a
word still survives, the modern form is adopted: thus
‘Armenia’ and ‘soldiers’ are here printed
instead of ‘Ermony’ and
‘soudiours.’ But a new word is never
substituted for an <a name="pagevii"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
vii</span>old one, and the reader who is unfamiliar with obsolete
words, such as ‘Almayne’ (Germany) or
‘dere’ (harm),—there are surprisingly few for a
book written five centuries ago,—must consult the
unpretentious glossary. Of previous editions, that of 1725
and the reprints of it, including those of Halliwell-Phillipps,
profess, though they do not do so, to reproduce the manuscript
exactly. Thomas Wright’s edition is really a
translation, and that issued in 1895 by Mr. Arthur Layard often
comes near to being one, though the artist-editor has shown far
more feeling for the old text than his too whimsical
illustrations might lead one to expect. It is hoped that
the plan here adopted preserves as much as possible of the
fourteenth century flavour, with the minimum of disturbance to
the modern reader’s enjoyment.</p>
<p>The plan of this series forbids the introduction of critical
disquisitions, and I am thus absolved from attempting any theory
as to how the tangled web of the authorship of the book should be
unravelled. The simple faith of our childhood in a Sir John
Mandeville, really born at St. Albans, who travelled, and told in
an English book what he saw and heard, is shattered to
pieces. We now know that our Mandeville is a compilation,
as clever and artistic as Malory’s ‘Morte
d’Arthur,’ from the works of earlier writers, with
few, if any, touches added from personal experience; that it was
written in French, and rendered into Latin before it attracted
the notice of a series of English translators (whose own accounts
of the work they were translating are not to be trusted), and
that the name Sir John Mandeville was a <i>nom de guerre
</i>borrowed from a real knight of this name who lived in the
reign of Edward II. Beyond this it is difficult to unravel
the knot, despite the ends which lie <a name="pageviii"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. viii</span>temptingly loose. A
Liège chronicler, Jean d’Outremeuse, tells a story
of a certain Jean de Bourgogne revealing on his deathbed that his
real name was Sir John Mandeville; and in accordance with this
story there is authentic record of a funeral inscription to a Sir
John Mandeville in a church at Liège. Jean de
Bourgogne had written other books and had been in England, which
he had left in 1322 (the year in which “Mandeville”
began his travels), being then implicated in killing a nobleman,
just, as the real Sir John Mandeville had been implicated ten
years before in the death of the Earl of Cornwall. We think
for a moment that we have an explanation of the whole mystery in
imagining that Jean de Bourgogne (he was also called Jean
à<i> </i>la Barbe, Joannes Barbatus) had chosen to father
his compilation on Mandeville, and eventually merged his own
identity in that of his pseudonym. But Jean
d’Outremeuse, the recipient of his deathbed confidence, is
a tricky witness, who may have had a hand in the authorship
himself, and there is no clear story as yet forthcoming.
But the book remains, and is none the less delightful for the
mystery which attaches to it, and little less important in the
history of English literature as a translation than as an
original work. For though a translation it stands as the
first, or almost the first, attempt to bring secular subjects
within the domain of English prose, and that is enough to make it
mark an epoch.</p>
<p>Mandeville is here reprinted rather as a source of literary
pleasure than as a medieval contribution to geography, and it is
therefore no part of our duty to follow Mr. Warner in tracking
out the authorities to whom the compiler had recourse in
successive chapters. But as there was some space in this
volume to spare, <a name="pageix"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
ix</span>and a very pleasant method of filling it suggested
itself, a threefold supplement is here printed, <a
name="citation0"></a><a href="#footnote0"
class="citation">[0]</a> which may be of some use even to serious
students, and is certainly very good literature. When
Richard Hakluyt, at the end of the sixteenth century, was
compiling his admirable work, ‘The Principall Navigations,
Voiages, and Discoveries of the English Nation, made by sea or
over land, within the compasse of these 1500<i>
</i>yeeres,’ he boldly overstepped the limits set forth on
his title-page, and printed in the original Latin, with
translations into good Elizabethan English, the narratives of
three of the earlier travellers, all of them foreigners, from
whom the compiler of Mandeville had drawn most freely.
“And because,” he tells us, “these
north-eastern regions beyond Volga, by reason of the huge
deserts, the cold climate, and the barbarous incivilitie of the
people there inhabiting, were never yet thoroughly travelled by
any of our Nation, nor sufficiently known unto us; I have here
annexed unto the said Englishman’s <a
name="citationix"></a><a href="#footnoteix"
class="citation">[ix]</a> traveils the rare and memorable
journals of two friers who were some of the first Christians that
travailed farthest that way, and brought home most particular
intelligence of all things which they had seen.”
These two friars were John de Plano Carpini, sent on an embassy
to the great Chan by Pope Innocent IV. in 1246, and William de
Rubruquis, who travelled in the interests of Louis IX. of France
in 1253. In the same way in his Second Part, Hakluyt adds
‘The Voyage of Frier Beatus Odoricus to Asia Minor,
Armenia, Chaldaea, Persia, India, China, and other remote
parts,’ Odoric being a Franciscan of Pordenone in North
Italy, who dictated an account of his travels in 1330.
Anyone who <a name="pagex"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
x</span>compares these three narratives (more particularly
Odoric’s) with Mandeville’s Travels will see how the
compiler used his materials, and they have also very considerable
interest of their own.</p>
<p>As this volume of the Library of English Classics has brought
with it an unusual editorial responsibility, I may be permitted
an editor’s privilege in making two acknowledgments.
The first, to my friend Mr. G. F. Warner, my readers must share
with me, for without the help of his splendid edition of the
‘Egerton’ version and the French text, the popular
‘Mandeville’ could not have been attempted. My
second acknowledgment is of a more personal nature.
Roxburghe Club books are never easy to obtain, and the few copies
of the Mandeville allowed to be sold were priced at £20
each. In noticing Mr. Warner’s edition in the
‘Academy’ (from a borrowed copy), I remarked rather
ruefully that the gratitude which students of moderate means
could feel towards the Club for printing so valuable a work was
somewhat tempered by this little matter of the price. I was
then helping Mr. Charles Elton with the catalogue of his library,
and on reading my review, he wrote me a pretty letter to say that
by the rules of the Club he was the possessor of a second copy,
and that he thought I was the best person to give it to.
Students who have to think a good many times before they spend
£20 on a book do not often receive such a present from
wealthy book-lovers; and at the risk of obtruding more of my own
concerns than my rough-and-ready editing entitles me to do, I
cannot send out this ‘Mandeville,’ within a few weeks
of Mr. Elton’s too early death, without telling this little
story of his kindness.</p>
<p style="text-align: right">A. W. P<span
class="smcap">ollard.</span></p>
<h2><a name="pagexi"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
xi</span>CONTENTS</h2>
<table>
<tr>
<td colspan="3"><p><span class="smcap">The Travels of Sir John
Mandeville:</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><span class="GutSmall">CHAP.</span></p>
</td>
<td><p> </p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span
class="GutSmall">PAGE</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p> </p>
</td>
<td><p><span class="smcap">The Prologue,</span></p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page1">1</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">I.</p>
</td>
<td><p>To teach you the Way out of England to Constantinople,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page6">6</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">II.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Cross and the Crown of our Lord Jesu Christ,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page8">8</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">III.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the City of Constantinople, and of the Faith of the
Greeks,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page11">11</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">IV.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Way from Constantinople to Jerusalem. Of
Saint John the Evangelist. And of the Ypocras Daughter,
transformed from a Woman to a Dragon,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page16">16</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">V.</p>
</td>
<td><p>[Of diversities in Cyprus; of the Road from Cyprus to
Jerusalem, and of the Marvel of a Fosse full of Sand],</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page19">19</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">VI.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of many Names of Sultans, and of the Tower of Babylon,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page23">23</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">VII.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Country of Egypt; of the Bird Phoenix of Arabia; of
the City of Cairo; of the Cunning to know Balm and to prove it;
and of the Garners of Joseph,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page30">30</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><a name="pagexii"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. xii</span>VIII.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Isle of Sicily; of the way from Babylon to the
Mount Sinai; of the Church of Saint Katherine and of all the
marvels there,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page36">36</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">IX.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Desert between the Church of Saint Catherine and
Jerusalem. Of the Dry Tree; and how Roses came first into
the World,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page43">43</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">X.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Pilgrimages in Jerusalem, and of the Holy Places
thereabout,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page49">49</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XI.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Temple of our Lord. Of the Cruelty of King
Herod. Of the Mount Sion. Of Probatica Piscina; and
of Natatorium Siloe,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page54">54</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XII.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Dead Sea; and of the Flome Jordan. Of the
Head of Saint John the Baptist; and of the Usages of the
Samaritans,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page67">67</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XIII.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Province of Galilee, and where Antichrist shall be
born. Of Nazareth. Of the age of our Lady. Of
the Day of Doom. And of the customs of Jacobites, Syrians;
and of the usages of Georgians,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page73">73</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XIV.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the City of Damascus. Of three ways to Jerusalem;
one, by land and by sea; another, more by land than by sea; and
the third way to Jerusalem, all by land,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page81">81</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XV.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Customs of Saracens, and of their Law. And
how the Soldan reasoned me, Author of this Book; and of the
beginning of Mohammet,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page88">88</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XVI.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the lands of Albania and of Libia. Of the
wishings for watching of the Sparrow-hawk; and of Noah’s
ship,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page96">96</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><a name="pagexiii"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. xiii</span>XVII.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Land of Job; and of his age. Of the array of
men of Chaldea. Of the land where women dwell without
company of men. Of the knowledge and virtues of the very
diamond,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page102">102</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XVIII.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the customs of Isles about Ind. Of the difference
betwixt Idols and Simulacres. Of three manner growing of
Pepper upon one tree. Of the Well that changeth his odour
every hour of the day; and that is marvel,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page108">108</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XIX.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Dooms made by St. Thomas’s hand. Of
devotion and sacrifice made to Idols there, in the city of
Calamye; and of the Procession in going about the city,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page115">115</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XX.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the evil customs used in the Isle of Lamary. And
how the earth and the sea be of round form and shape, by proof of
the star that is clept Antarctic, that is fixed in the south,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page119">119</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XXI.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Palace of the King of the Isle of Java. Of
the Trees that bear meal, honey, wine, and venom; and of other
marvels and customs used in the Isles marching thereabout,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page125">125</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XXII.</p>
</td>
<td><p>How men know by the Idol, if the sick shall die or
not. Of Folk of diverse shape and marvellously
disfigured. And of the Monks that gave their relief to
baboons, apes, and marmosets, and to other beasts,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page132">132</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XXIII.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the great Chan of Cathay. Of the royalty of his
palace, and how he sits at meat; and of the great number of
officers that serve him,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page139">139</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><a name="pagexiv"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. xiv</span>XXIV.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Wherefore he is clept the great Chan. Of the Style
of his Letters: and of the Superscription about his great Seal
and his Privy Seal,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page145">145</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XXV.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Governance of the great Chan’s Court, and
when he maketh solemn feasts. Of his Philosophers.
And of his array, when he rideth by the country,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page151">151</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XXVI.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Law and the Customs of the Tartarians dwelling in
Cathay. And how that men do when the Emperor shall die, and
how he shall be chosen,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page162">162</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XXVII.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Realm of Tharse and the Lands and Kingdoms towards
the Septentrional Parts, in coming down from the Land of
Cathay,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page167">167</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XXVIII.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Emperor of Persia, and of the Land of Darkness; and
of other kingdoms that belong to the great Chan of Cathay, and
other lands of his, unto the sea of Greece,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page169">169</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XXIX.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Countries and Isles that be beyond the Land of
Cathay; and of the fruits there; and of twenty-two kings enclosed
within the mountains,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page174">174</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XXX.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Royal Estate of Prester John. And of a rich
man that made a marvellous castle and cleped it Paradise; and of
his subtlety,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page178">178</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XXXI.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Devil’s Head in the Valley Perilous.
And of the Customs of Folk in diverse Isles that be about in the
Lordship of Prester John,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page185">185</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XXXII.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the goodness of the folk of the Isle of Bragman.
Of King Alexander. And wherefore the Emperor of Ind is
clept Prester John,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page192">192</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><a name="pagexv"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. xv</span>XXXIII.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Hills of Gold that Pismires keep. And of the
four Floods that come from Paradise Terrestrial,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page198">198</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: right">XXXIV.</p>
</td>
<td><p>Of the Customs of Kings and other that dwell in the Isles
coasting to Prester John’s Land. And of the Worship
that the Son doth to the Father when he is dead,</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a
href="#page202">202</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h2><a name="page1"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 1</span>THE
PROLOGUE</h2>
<p><span class="smcap">For</span> as much as the land beyond the
sea, that is to say the Holy Land, that men call the Land of
Promission or of Behest, passing all other lands, is the most
worthy land, most excellent, and lady and sovereign of all other
lands, and is blessed and hallowed of the precious body and blood
of our Lord Jesu Christ; in the which land it liked him to take
flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary, to environ that holy land
with his blessed feet; and there he would of his blessedness
enombre him in the said blessed and glorious Virgin Mary, and
become man, and work many miracles, and preach and teach the
faith and the law of Christian men unto his children; and there
it liked him to suffer many reprovings and scorns for us; and he
that was king of heaven, of air, of earth, of sea and of all
things that be contained in them, would all only be clept king of
that land, when he said, <i>Rex sum Judeorum</i>, that is to say,
‘I am King of Jews’; and that land he chose before
all other lands, as the best and most worthy land, and the most
virtuous land of all the world: for it is the heart and the midst
of all the world, witnessing the philosopher, that saith thus,
<i>Virtus rerum in medio consistit</i>, that is to say,
‘The virtue of things is in the midst’; and in that
land he would lead his life, and suffer passion and death of
Jews, for us, to buy and to deliver us from <a
name="page4"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 4</span>pains of hell,
and from death without end; the which was ordained for us, for
the sin of our forme-father Adam, and for our own sins also; for
as for himself, he had no evil deserved: for he thought never
evil ne did evil: and he that was king of glory and of joy, might
best in that place suffer death; because he chose in that land
rather than in any other, there to suffer his passion and his
death. For he that will publish anything to make it openly
known, he will make it to be cried and pronounced in the middle
place of a town; so that the thing that is proclaimed and
pronounced, may evenly stretch to all parts: right so, he that
was former of all the world, would suffer for us at Jerusalem,
that is the midst of the world; to that end and intent, that his
passion and his death, that was published there, might be known
evenly to all parts of the world.</p>
<p>See now, how dear he bought man, that he made after his own
image, and how dear he again-bought us, for the great love that
he had to us, and we never deserved it to him. For more
precious chattel ne greater ransom ne might he put for us, than
his blessed body, his precious blood, and his holy life, that he
thralled for us; and all he offered for us that never did
sin.</p>
<p>Ah dear God! What love had he to us his subjects, when
he that never trespassed, would for trespassers suffer
death! Right well ought us for to love and worship, to
dread and serve such a Lord; and to worship and praise such an
holy land, that brought forth such fruit, through the which every
man is saved, but it be his own default. Well may that land
be called delectable and a fructuous land, that was be-bled and
moisted with the precious blood of our Lord Jesu Christ; the
which is the same land that our Lord behight us in
heritage. And in that land he would die, as seised, to
leave it to us, his children.</p>
<p>Wherefore every good Christian man, that is of power, and hath
whereof, should pain him with all his strength for to conquer our
right heritage, and chase out all the misbelieving men. For
we be clept Christian men, after Christ our Father. And if
we be right children of Christ, we ought <a
name="page5"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 5</span>for to
challenge the heritage, that our Father left us, and do it out of
heathen men’s hands. But now pride, covetise, and
envy have so inflamed the hearts of lords of the world, that they
are more busy for to dis-herit their neighbours, more than for to
challenge or to conquer their right heritage before-said.
And the common people, that would put their bodies and their
chattels, to conquer our heritage, they may not do it without the
lords. For a sembly of people without a chieftain, or a
chief lord, is as a flock of sheep without a shepherd; the which
departeth and disperpleth and wit never whither to go. But
would God, that the temporal lords and all worldly lords were at
good accord, and with the common people would take this holy
voyage over the sea! Then I trow well, that within a little
time, our right heritage before-said should be reconciled and put
in the hands of the right heirs of Jesu Christ.</p>
<p>And, for as much as it is long time passed, that there was no
general passage ne voyage over the sea; and many men desire for
to hear speak of the Holy Land, and have thereof great solace and
comfort; I, John Mandeville, Knight, albeit I be not worthy, that
was born in England, in the town of St. Albans, and passed the
sea in the year of our Lord Jesu Christ, 1322, in the day of St.
Michael; and hitherto been long time over the sea, and have seen
and gone through many diverse lands, and many provinces and
kingdoms and isles and have passed throughout Turkey, Armenia the
little and the great; through Tartary, Persia, Syria, Arabia,
Egypt the high and the low; through Lybia, Chaldea, and a great
part of Ethiopia; through Amazonia, Ind the less and the more, a
great part; and throughout many other Isles, that be about Ind;
where dwell many diverse folks, and of diverse manners and laws,
and of diverse shapes of men. Of which lands and isles I
shall speak more plainly hereafter; and I shall devise you of
some part of things that there be, when time shall be, after it
may best come to my mind; and specially for them, that will and
are in purpose for to visit the Holy City of Jerusalem and the
holy places that are thereabout. And <a
name="page6"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 6</span>I shall tell
the way that they shall hold thither. For I have often
times passed and ridden that way, with good company of many
lords. God be thanked!</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that I have put this book out of
Latin into French, and translated it again out of French into
English, that every man of my nation may understand it. But
lords and knights and other noble and worthy men that con Latin
but little, and have been beyond the sea, know and understand, if
I say truth or no, and if I err in devising, for forgetting or
else, that they may redress it and amend it. For things
passed out of long time from a man’s mind or from his
sight, turn soon into forgetting; because that mind of man ne may
not be comprehended ne withholden, for the frailty of
mankind.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER I</h2>
<p style="text-align: center" class="gutsumm"><i>To teach you the
Way out of England to Constantinople</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the name of God, Glorious and
Almighty!</p>
<p>He that will pass over the sea and come to land [to go to the
city of Jerusalem, he may wend many ways, both on sea and land],
after the country that he cometh from; [for] many of them come to
one end. But troweth not that I will tell you all the
towns, and cities and castles that men shall go by; for then
should I make too long a tale; but all only some countries and
most principal steads that men shall go through to go the right
way.</p>
<p>First, if a man come from the west side of the world, as
England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, or Norway, he may, if that he
will, go through Almayne and through the kingdom of Hungary, that
marcheth to the land of Polayne, and to the land of Pannonia, and
so to Silesia.</p>
<p>And the King of Hungary is a great lord and a mighty, and
holdeth great lordships and much land in his hand. <a
name="page7"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 7</span>For he holdeth
the kingdom of Hungary, Sclavonia, and of Comania a great part,
and of Bulgaria that men call the land of Bougiers, and of the
realm of Russia a great part, whereof he hath made a duchy, that
lasteth unto the land of Nyfland, and marcheth to Prussia.
And men go through the land of this lord, through a city that is
clept Cypron, and by the castle of Neasburghe, and by the evil
town, that sit toward the end of Hungary. And there pass
men the river of Danube. This river of Danube is a full
great river, and it goeth into Almayne, under the hills of
Lombardy, and it receiveth into him forty other rivers, and it
runneth through Hungary and through Greece and through Thrace,
and it entereth into the sea, toward the east so rudely and so
sharply, that the water of the sea is fresh and holdeth his
sweetness twenty mile within the sea.</p>
<p>And after, go men to Belgrade, and enter into the land of
Bougiers; and there pass men a bridge of stone that is upon the
river of Marrok. And men pass through the land of
Pyncemartz and come to Greece to the city of Nye, and to the city
of Fynepape, and after to the city of Dandrenoble, and after to
Constantinople, that was wont to be clept Bezanzon. And
there dwelleth commonly the Emperor of Greece. And there is
the most fair church and the most noble of all the world; and it
is of Saint Sophie. And before that church is the image of
Justinian the emperor, covered with gold, and he sitteth upon an
horse y-crowned. And he was wont to hold a round apple of
gold in his hand: but it is fallen out thereof. And men say
there, that it is a token that the emperor hath lost a great part
of his lands and of his lordships; for he was wont to be Emperor
of Roumania and of Greece, of all Asia the less, and of the land
of Syria, of the land of Judea in the which is Jerusalem, and of
the land of Egypt, of Persia, and of Arabia. But he hath
lost all but Greece; and that land he holds all only. And
men would many times put the apple into the image’s hand
again, but it will not hold it. This apple betokeneth the
lordship that he had over all the world, that is round. And
the tother <a name="page8"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
8</span>hand he lifteth up against the East, in token to menace
the misdoers. This image stands upon a pillar of marble at
Constantinople.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER II</h2>
<p style="text-align: center" class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Cross and
the Crown of our Lord Jesu Christ</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">At</span> Constantinople is the cross of
our Lord Jesu Christ, and his coat without seams, that is clept
<i>Tunica inconsutilis</i>, and the sponge, and the reed, of the
which the Jews gave our Lord eysell and gall, in the cross.
And there is one of the nails, that Christ was nailed with on the
cross.</p>
<p>And some men trow that half the cross, that Christ was done
on, be in Cyprus, in an abbey of monks, that men call the Hill of
the Holy Cross; but it is not so. For that cross that is in
Cyprus, is the cross, in the which Dismas the good thief was
hanged on. But all men know not that; and that is evil
y-done. For for profit of the offering, they say that it is
the cross of our Lord Jesu Christ.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand that the cross of our Lord was made of
four manner of trees, as it is contained in this
verse,—<i>In cruce fit palma</i>, <i>cedrus</i>,
<i>cypressus</i>, <i>oliva</i>. For that piece that went
upright from the earth to the head was of cypress; and the piece
that went overthwart, to the which his hands were nailed, was of
palm; and the stock, that stood within the earth, in the which
was made the mortise, was of cedar; and the table above his head,
that was a foot and an half long, on the which the title was
written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, that was of olive.</p>
<p>And the Jews made the cross of these four manner of trees; for
they trowed that our Lord Jesu Christ should have hanged on the
cross, as long as the cross might last. And therefore made
they the foot of the cross of cedar; for cedar may not, in earth
nor water, rot, and therefore they would that it should have
lasted long. For they trowed that the body of Christ should
have stunken, they <a name="page9"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
9</span>made that piece, that went from the earth upwards of
cypress, for it is well-smelling, so that the smell of his body
should not grieve men that went forby. And the overthwart
piece was of palm, for in the Old Testament it was ordained, that
when one was overcome he should be crowned with palm; and for
they trowed that they had the victory of Christ Jesus, therefore
made they the overthwart piece of palm. And the table of
the title they made of olive; for olive betokeneth peace, as the
story of Noe witnesseth; when that the culver brought the branch
of olive, that betokened peace made between God and man.
And so trowed the Jews for to have peace, when Christ was dead;
for they said that he made discord and strife amongst them.
And ye shall understand that our Lord was y-nailed on the cross
lying, and therefore he suffered the more pain.</p>
<p>And the Christian men, that dwell beyond the sea, in Greece,
say that the tree of the cross, that we call cypress, was of that
tree that Adam ate the apple off; and that find they
written. And they say also, that their scripture saith,
that Adam was sick, and said to his son Seth, that he should go
to the angel that kept Paradise, that he would send him oil of
mercy, for to anoint with his members, that he might have
health. And Seth went. But the angel would not let
him come in; but said to him, that he might not have of the oil
of mercy. But he took him three grains of the same tree,
that his father ate the apple off; and bade him, as soon as his
father was dead, that he should put these three grains under his
tongue, and grave him so: and so he did. And of these three
grains sprang a tree, as the angel said that it should, and bare
a fruit, through the which fruit Adam should be saved. And
when Seth came again, he found his father near dead. And
when he was dead, he did with the grains as the angel bade him;
of the which sprung three trees, of the which the cross was made,
that bare good fruit and blessed, our Lord Jesu Christ; through
whom, Adam and all that come of him, should be saved and
delivered from dread of death without end, but it be their own
default.</p>
<p><a name="page10"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 10</span>This
holy cross had the Jews hid in the earth, under a rock of the
mount of Calvary; and it lay there two hundred year and more,
into the time that St. Helen, that was mother to Constantine the
Emperor of Rome. And she was daughter of King Coel, born in
Colchester, that was King of England, that was clept then Britain
the more; the which the Emperor Constance wedded to his wife, for
her beauty, and gat upon her Constantine, that was after Emperor
of Rome, and King of England.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that the cross of our Lord was eight
cubits long, and the overthwart piece was of length three cubits
and a half. And one part of the crown of our Lord,
wherewith he was crowned, and one of the nails, and the spear
head, and many other relics be in France, in the king’s
chapel. And the crown lieth in a vessel of crystal richly
dight. For a king of France bought these relics some time
of the Jews, to whom the emperor had laid them in wed for a great
sum of silver.</p>
<p>And if all it be so, that men say, that this crown is of
thorns, ye shall understand, that it was of jonkes of the sea,
that is to say, rushes of the sea, that prick as sharply as
thorns. For I have seen and beholden many times that of
Paris and that of Constantinople; for they were both one, made of
rushes of the sea. But men have departed them in two parts:
of the which, one part is at Paris, and the other part is at
Constantinople. And I have one of those precious thorns,
that seemeth like a white thorn; and that was given to me for
great specially. For there are many of them broken and
fallen into the vessel that the crown lieth in; for they break
for dryness when men move them to show them to great lords that
come thither.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that our Lord Jesu, in that night
that he was taken, he was led into a garden; and there he was
first examined right sharply; and there the Jews scorned him, and
made him a crown of the branches of albespine, that is white
thorn, that grew in that same garden, and set it on his head, so
fast and so sore, that the blood ran down by many places of his
visage, and of his neck, and of his shoulders. And
therefore hath the white <a name="page11"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 11</span>thorn many virtues, for he that
beareth a branch on him thereof, no thunder ne no manner of
tempest may dere him; nor in the house, that it is in, may no
evil ghost enter nor come unto the place that it is in. And
in that same garden, Saint Peter denied our Lord thrice.</p>
<p>Afterward was our Lord led forth before the bishops and the
masters of the law, into another garden of Annas; and there also
he was examined, reproved, and scorned, and crowned eft with a
sweet thorn, that men clepeth barbarines, that grew in that
garden, and that hath also many virtues.</p>
<p>And afterward he was led into a garden of Caiphas, and there
he was crowned with eglantine.</p>
<p>And after he was led into the chamber of Pilate, and there he
was examined and crowned. And the Jews set him in a chair,
and clad him in a mantle; and there made they the crown of jonkes
of the sea; and there they kneeled to him, and scorned him,
saying, <i>Ave</i>, <i>Rex Judeorum</i>! that is to say,
‘Hail, King of Jews!’ And of this crown, half
is at Paris, and the other half at Constantinople. And this
crown had Christ on his head, when he was done upon the cross;
and therefore ought men to worship it and hold it more worthy
than any of the others.</p>
<p>And the spear shaft hath the Emperor of Almayne; but the head
is at Paris. And natheles the Emperor of Constantinople
saith that he hath the spear head; and I have often time seen it,
but it is greater than that at Paris.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER III</h2>
<p style="text-align: center"><i>Of the City of
Constantinople</i>, <i>and of the Faith of Greeks</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">At</span> Constantinople lieth Saint Anne,
our Lady’s mother, whom Saint Helen let bring from
Jerusalem. And there <a name="page12"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 12</span>lieth also the body of John
Chrisostome, that was Archbishop of Constantinople. And
there lieth also Saint Luke the Evangelist: for his bones were
brought from Bethany, where he was buried. And many other
relics be there. And there is the vessel of stone, as it
were of marble, that men clepe enydros, that evermore droppeth
water, and filleth himself every year, till that it go over
above, without that that men take from within.</p>
<p>Constantinople is a full fair city, and a good, and well
walled; and it is three-cornered. And there is an arm of
the sea Hellespont: and some men call it the Mouth of
Constantinople; and some men call it the Brace of Saint George:
and that arm closeth the two parts of the city. And upward
to the sea, upon the water, was wont to be the great city of
Troy, in a full fair plain: but that city was destroyed by them
of Greece, and little appeareth thereof, because it is so long
sith it was destroyed.</p>
<p>About Greece there be many isles, as Calliste, Calcas,
Oertige, Tesbria, Mynia, Flaxon, Melo, Carpate, and Lemnos.
And in this isle is the mount Athos, that passeth the
clouds. And there be many diverse languages and many
countries, that be obedient to the emperor; that is to say,
Turcople, Pyncynard, Comange, and many other, as Thrace and
Macedonia, of the which Alexander was king. In this country
was Aristotle born, in a city that men clepe Stagyra, a little
from the city of Thrace. And at Stagyra lieth Aristotle;
and there is an altar upon his tomb. And there make men
great feasts for him every year, as though he were a saint.
And at his altar they holden their great councils and their
assemblies, and they hope, that through inspiration of God and of
him, they shall have the better council.</p>
<p>In this country be right high hills, toward the end of
Macedonia. And there is a great hill, that men clepe
Olympus, that departeth Macedonia and Thrace. And it is so
high, that it passeth the clouds. And there is another
hill, that is clept Athos, that is so high, that the shadow of
him reacheth to Lemne, that is an isle; and it is seventy-six
mile between. And above at the cop of the hill is <a
name="page13"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 13</span>the air so
clear, that men may find no wind there, and therefore may no
beast live there, so is the air dry.</p>
<p>And men say in these countries, that philosophers some time
went upon these hills, and held to their nose a sponge moisted
with water, for to have air; for the air above was so dry.
And above, in the dust and in the powder of those hills, they
wrote letters and figures with their fingers. And at the
year’s end they came again, and found the same letters and
figures, the which they had written the year before, without any
default. And therefore it seemeth well, that these hills
pass the clouds and join to the pure air.</p>
<p>At Constantinople is the palace of the emperor, right fair and
well-dight: and therein is a fair place for joustings, or for
other plays and desports. And it is made with stages, and
hath degrees about, that every man may well see, and none grieve
other. And under these stages be stables well vaulted for
the emperor’s horses; and all the pillars be of marble.</p>
<p>And within the Church of Saint Sophia, an emperor sometime
would have buried the body of his father, when he was dead.
And, as they made the grave, they found a body in the earth, and
upon the body lay a fine plate of gold; and thereon was written,
in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, letters that said thus; <i>Jesu
Christus nascetur de Virgine Maria</i>, <i>et ego credo in
eum</i>; that is to say, ‘Jesu Christ shall be born of the
Virgin Mary, and I trow in him.’ And the date when it
was laid in the earth, was two thousand year before our Lord was
born. And yet is the plate of gold in the treasury of the
church. And men say, that it was Hermogenes the wise
man.</p>
<p>And if all it so be, that men of Greece be Christian yet they
vary from our faith. For they say, that the Holy Ghost may
not come of the Son; but all only of the Father. And they
are not obedient to the Church of Rome, ne to the Pope. And
they say that their Patriarch hath as much power over the sea, as
the Pope hath on this side the sea. And therefore Pope John
xxii. sent letters to them, how Christian faith should be all
one; and that they should be obedient to the Pope, that is
God’s Vicar on earth, to whom <a name="page14"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 14</span>God gave his plein power for to bind
and to assoil, and therefore they should be obedient to him.</p>
<p>And they sent again diverse answers; and among others they
said thus: <i>Potentiam tuam summam circa tuos subjectos</i>,
<i>firmiter credimus</i>. <i>Superbiam tuam summam tolerare
non possumus</i>. <i>Avaritiam tuam summam satiare non
intendimus</i>. <i>Dominus tecum</i>; <i>quia Dominus
nobiscum est</i>. That is to say: ‘We trow well, that
thy power is great upon thy subjects. We may not suffer
thine high pride. We be not in purpose to fulfil thy great
covetise. Lord be with thee; for our Lord is with us.
Farewell.’ And other answer might he not have of
them.</p>
<p>And also they make their sacrament of the altar of Therf
bread, for our Lord made it of such bread, when he made his
Maundy. And on the Shere-Thursday make they their Therf
bread, in token of the Maundy, and dry it at the sun, and keep it
all the year, and give it to sick men, instead of God’s
body. And they make but one unction, when they christen
children. And they anoint not the sick men. And they
say that there is no Purgatory, and that souls shall not have
neither joy ne pain till the day of doom. And they say that
fornication is no sin deadly, but a thing that is kindly, and
that men and women should not wed but once, and whoso weddeth
oftener than once, their children be bastards and gotten in
sin. And their priests also be wedded.</p>
<p>And they say also that usury is no deadly sin. And they
sell benefices of Holy Church. And so do men in other
places: God amend it when his will is! And that is great
sclaundre, for now is simony king crowned in Holy Church: God
amend it for his mercy!</p>
<p>And they say, that in Lent, men shall not fast, ne sing Mass,
but on the Saturday and on the Sunday. And they fast not on
the Saturday, no time of the year, but it be Christmas Even or
Easter Even. And they suffer not the Latins to sing at
their altars; and if they do, by any adventure, anon they wash
the altar with holy water. And they say that there should
be but one Mass said at one altar upon one day.</p>
<p><a name="page15"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 15</span>And
they say also that our Lord ne ate never meat; but he made token
of eating. And also they say, that we sin deadly in shaving
our beards, for the beard is token of a man, and gift of our
Lord. And they say that we sin deadly in eating of beasts
that were forbidden in the Old Testament, and of the old Law, as
swine, hares and other beasts, that chew not their cud. And
they say that we sin, when we eat flesh on the days before Ash
Wednesday, and of that that we eat flesh the Wednesday, and eggs
and cheese upon the Fridays. And they accurse all those
that abstain them to eat flesh the Saturday.</p>
<p>Also the Emperor of Constantinople maketh the patriarch, the
archbishops and the bishops; and giveth the dignities and the
benefices of churches and depriveth them that be unworthy, when
he findeth any cause. And so is he lord both temporal and
spiritual in his country.</p>
<p>And if ye will wit of their A.B.C. what letters they be, here
ye may see them, with the names that they clepe them there
amongst them: Alpha, Betha, Gama, Deltha, εlonge,
ε brevis, Epilmon, Thetha, Iota, Kapda, Lapda, Mi, Ni,
Xi, ο brevis, Pi, Coph, Ro, Summa, Tau, Vi, Fy, Chi, Psi,
Othomega, Diacosyn.</p>
<p>And all be it that these things touch not to one way,
nevertheless they touch to that, that I have hight you, to shew
you a part of customs and manners, and diversities of
countries. And for this is the first country that is
discordant in faith and in belief, and varieth from our faith, on
this half the sea, therefore I have set it here, that ye may know
the diversity that is between our faith and theirs. For
many men have great liking, to hear speak of strange things of
diverse countries.</p>
<h2><a name="page16"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
16</span>CHAPTER IV</h2>
<p class="gutsumm">[<i>Of the Way from Constantinople to
Jerusalem</i>.] <i>Of Saint John the Evangelist</i>.
<i>And of the Ypocras Daughter</i>, <i>transformed from a Woman
to a Dragon</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Now</span> return I again, for to teach
you the way from Constantinople to Jerusalem. He that will
through Turkey, he goeth toward the city of Nyke, and passeth
through the gate of Chienetout, and always men see before them
the hill of Chienetout, that is right high; and it is a mile and
an half from Nyke.</p>
<p>And whoso will go by water, by the brace of St. George, and by
the sea where St. Nicholas lieth, and toward many other
places—first men go to an isle that is clept Sylo. In
that isle groweth mastick on small trees, and out of them cometh
gum as it were of plum-trees or of cherry-trees.</p>
<p>And after go men through the isle of Patmos; and there wrote
St. John the Evangelist the Apocalypse. And ye shall
understand, that St. John was of age thirty-two year, when our
Lord suffered his passion; and after his passion, he lived
sixty-seven year, and in the hundredth year of his age he
died.</p>
<p>From Patmos men go unto Ephesus, a fair city and nigh to the
sea. And there died St. John, and was buried behind the
high altar in a tomb. And there is a fair church; for
Christian men were wont to holden that place always. And in
the tomb of St. John is nought but manna, that is clept
angels’ meat; for his body was translated into
Paradise. And Turks hold now all that place, and the city
and the church; and all Asia the less is y-clept Turkey.
And ye shall understand, that St. John let make his grave there
in his life, and laid himself therein all quick; and therefore
some men say, that he died not, but that he resteth there till
the day of doom. And, forsooth, there is a great marvel;
for men may see there the earth of the tomb apertly many times
stir and move, as there were quick things under.</p>
<p><a name="page17"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 17</span>And
from Ephesus men go through many isles in the sea, unto the city
of Patera, where St. Nicholas was born, and so to Martha, where
he was chosen to be bishop; and there groweth right good wine and
strong, and that men call wine of Martha. And from thence
go men to the isle of Crete, that the emperor gave sometime to
[the] Genoese.</p>
<p>And then pass men through the isles of Colcos and of Lango, of
the which isles Ypocras was lord of. And some men say, that
in the isle of Lango is yet the daughter of Ypocras, in form and
likeness of a great dragon, that is a hundred fathom of length,
as men say, for I have not seen her. And they of the isles
call her Lady of the Land. And she lieth in an old castle,
in a cave, and sheweth twice or thrice in the year, and she doth
no harm to no man, but if men do her harm. And she was thus
changed and transformed, from a fair damosel, into likeness of a
dragon, by a goddess that was clept Diana. And men say,
that she shall so endure in that form of a dragon, unto [the]
time that a knight come, that is so hardy, that dare come to her
and kiss her on the mouth; and then shall she turn again to her
own kind, and be a woman again, but after that she shall not live
long.</p>
<p>And it is not long sithen, that a knight of Rhodes, that was
hardy and doughty in arms, said that he would kiss her. And
when he was upon his courser, and went to the castle, and entered
into the cave, the dragon lift up her head against him. And
when the knight saw her in that form so hideous and so horrible
he fled away. And the dragon bare the knight upon a rock,
maugre his head; and from that rock, she cast him into the
sea. And so was lost both horse and man.</p>
<p>And also a young man, that wist not of the dragon, went out of
a ship, and went through the isle till that he came to the
castle, and came into the cave, and went so long, till that he
found a chamber; and there he saw a damosel that combed her head
and looked in a mirror; and she had much treasure about
her. And he trowed that she had been a common woman, that
dwelled there to receive men <a name="page18"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 18</span>to folly. And he abode, till
the damosel saw the shadow of him in the mirror. And she
turned her toward him, and asked him what he would? And he
said, he would be her leman or paramour. And she asked him,
if that he were a knight? And he said, nay. And then
she said, that he might not be her leman; but she bade him go
again unto his fellows, and make him knight, and come again upon
the morrow, and she should come out of the cave before him, and
then come and kiss her on the mouth and have no dread,—for
I shall do thee no manner of harm, albeit that thou see me in
likeness of a dragon; for though thou see me hideous and horrible
to look on, I do thee to wit that it is made by enchantment; for
without doubt, I am none other than thou seest now, a woman, and
therefore dread thee nought. And if thou kiss me, thou
shalt have all this treasure, and be my lord, and lord also of
all the isle.</p>
<p>And he departed from her and went to his fellows to ship, and
let make him knight and came again upon the morrow for to kiss
this damosel. And when he saw her come out of the cave in
form of a dragon, so hideous and so horrible, he had so great
dread, that he fled again to the ship, and she followed
him. And when she saw that he turned not again, she began
to cry, as a thing that had much sorrow; and then she turned
again into her cave. And anon the knight died. And
sithen hitherward might no knight see her, but that he died
anon. But when a knight cometh, that is so hardy to kiss
her, he shall not die; but he shall turn the damosel into her
right form and kindly shape, and he shall be lord of all the
countries and isles abovesaid.</p>
<p>And from thence men come to the isle of Rhodes, the which isle
Hospitallers holden and govern; and that took they some-time from
the emperor. And it was wont to be clept Collos; and so
call it the Turks yet. And Saint Paul in his epistle
writeth to them of that isle <i>ad Colossenses</i>. This
isle is nigh eight hundred mile long from Constantinople.</p>
<h2><a name="page19"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
19</span>CHAPTER V</h2>
<p class="gutsumm">[<i>Of diversities in Cyprus</i>; <i>of the
Road from Cyprus to Jerusalem</i>, <i>and of the Marvel of a
Fosse full of Sand</i>]</p>
<p><span class="smcap">And</span> from this isle of Rhodes men go
to Cyprus, where be many vines, that first be red and after one
year they become white; and those wines that be most white, be
most clear and best of smell.</p>
<p>And men pass by that way, by a place that was wont to be a
great city, and a great land; and the city was clept Cathailye,
the which city and land was lost through folly of a young
man. For he had a fair damosel, that he loved well to his
paramour; and she died suddenly, and was done in a tomb of
marble. And for the great lust that he had to her, he went
in the night unto her tomb and opened it, and went in and lay by
her, and went his way. And when it came to the end of nine
months, there came a voice to him and said, Go to the tomb of
that woman, and open it and behold what thou hast begotten on
her; and if thou let to go, thou shalt have a great harm.
And he yede and opened the tomb, and there flew out an adder
right hideous to see; the which as swithe flew about the city and
the country, and soon after the city sank down. And there
be many perilous passages without fail.</p>
<p>From Rhodes to Cyprus be five hundred mile and more. But
men may go to Cyprus, and come not at Rhodes. Cyprus is
right a good isle, and a fair and a great, and it hath four
principal cities within him. And there is an Archbishop at
Nicosea, and four other bishops in that land. And at
Famagost is one of the principal havens of the sea that is in the
world; and there arrive Christian men and Saracens and men of all
nations. In Cyprus is the Hill of the Holy Cross; and there
is an abbey of monks black and there is the cross of Dismas the
good thief, as I have said before. And some men trow, <a
name="page20"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 20</span>that there is
half the cross of our Lord; but it is not so, and they do evil
that make men to believe so.</p>
<p>In Cyprus lieth Saint Zenonimus, of whom men of that country
make great solemnity. And in the castle of Amours lieth the
body of Saint-Hilarion, and men keep it right worshipfully.
And beside Famagost was Saint Barnabas the apostle born.</p>
<p>In Cyprus men hunt with papyonns, that be like leopards, and
they take wild beasts right well, and they be somewhat more than
lions; and they take more sharply the beasts, and more deliver
than do hounds.</p>
<p>In Cyprus is the manner of lords and all other men all to eat
on the earth. For they make ditches in the earth all about
in the hall, deep to the knee, and they do pave them; and when
they will eat, they go therein and sit there. And the skill
is for they may be the more fresh; for that land is much more
hotter than it is here. And at great feasts, and for
strangers, they set forms and tables, as men do in this country,
but they had lever sit in the earth.</p>
<p>From Cyprus, men go to the land of Jerusalem by the sea: and
in a day and in a night, he that hath good wind may come to the
haven of Tyre, that is now clept Surrye. There was
some-time a great city and a good of Christian men, but Saracens
have destroyed it a great part; and they keep that haven right
well, for dread of Christian men. Men might go more right
to that haven, and come not in Cyprus, but they go gladly to
Cyprus to rest them on the land, or else to buy things, that they
have need to their living. On the sea-side men may find
many rubies. And there is the well of the which holy writ
speaketh of, and saith, <i>Fons ortorum</i>, <i>et puteus aquarum
viventium</i>: that is to say, ‘the well of gardens, and
the ditch of living waters.’</p>
<p>In this city of Tyre, said the woman to our Lord, <i>Beatus
venter qui te portavit</i>, <i>et ubera que succisti</i>: that is
to say, ‘Blessed be the body that thee bare, and the paps
that thou suckedst.’ And there our Lord forgave the
woman of Canaan her sins. And before Tyre was wont to be
the <a name="page21"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 21</span>stone,
on the which our Lord sat and preached, and on that stone was
founded the Church of Saint Saviour.</p>
<p>And eight mile from Tyre, toward the east, upon the sea, is
the city of Sarphen, in Sarepta of Sidonians. And there was
wont for to dwell Elijah the prophet; and there raised he Jonas,
the widow’s son, from death to life. And five mile
from Sarphen is the city of Sidon; of the which city, Dido was
lady, that was Aeneas’ wife, after the destruction of Troy,
and that founded the city of Carthage in Africa, and now is clept
Sidonsayete. And in the city of Tyre, reigned Agenor, the
father of Dido. And sixteen mile from Sidon is
Beirout. And from Beirout to Sardenare is three journeys
and from Sardenare is five mile to Damascus.</p>
<p>And whoso will go long time on the sea, and come nearer to
Jerusalem, he shall go from Cyprus by sea to Port Jaffa.
For that is the next haven to Jerusalem; for from that haven is
not but one day journey and a half to Jerusalem. And the
town is called Jaffa; for one of the sons of Noah that hight
Japhet founded it, and now it is clept Joppa. And ye shall
understand, that it is one of the oldest towns of the world, for
it was founded before Noah’s flood. And yet there
sheweth in the rock, there as the iron chains were fastened, that
Andromeda, a great giant, was bounden with, and put in prison
before Noah’s flood, of the which giant, is a rib of his
side that is forty foot long.</p>
<p>And whoso will arrive at the port of Tyre or of Surrye, that I
have spoken of before, may go by land, if he will, to
Jerusalem. And men go from Surrye unto the city of Akon in
a day. And it was clept some-time Ptolemaïs. And
it was some-time a city of Christian men, full fair, but it is
now destroyed; and it stands upon the sea. And from Venice
to Akon, by sea, is two thousand and four score miles of
Lombardy; and from Calabria, or from Sicily to Akon, by sea, is a
1300 miles of Lombardy; and the isle of Crete is right in the
midway.</p>
<p>And beside the city of Akon, toward the sea, six score
furlongs on the right side, toward the south, is the Hill of
Carmel, where Elijah the prophet dwelled, and there <a
name="page22"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 22</span>was first the
Order of Friars Carmelites founded. This hill is not right
great, nor full high. And at the foot of this hill was
some-time a good city of Christian men, that men clept Caiffa,
for Caiaphas first founded it; but it is now all wasted.
And on the left side of the Hill of Carmel is a town, that men
clepe Saffre, and that is set on another hill. There Saint
James and Saint John were born; and, in worship of them there is
a fair church. And from Ptolemaïs, that men clepe now
Akon, unto a great hill, that is clept Scale of Tyre, is one
hundred furlongs. And beside the city of Akon runneth a
little river, that is clept Belon.</p>
<p>And there nigh is the Foss of Mennon that is all round; and it
is one hundred cubits of largeness, and it is all full of gravel,
shining bright, of the which men make fair verres and
clear. And men come from far, by water in ships, and by
land with carts, for to fetch of that gravel. And though
there be never so much taken away thereof in the day, at morrow
it is as full again as ever it was; and that is a great
marvel. And there is evermore great wind in that foss, that
stirreth evermore the gravel, and maketh it trouble. And if
any man do therein any manner metal, it turneth anon to
glass. And the glass, that is made of that gravel, if it be
done again into the gravel, it turneth anon into gravel as it was
first. And therefore some men say, that it is a swallow of
the gravelly sea.</p>
<p>Also from Akon, above-said, go men forth four journeys to the
city of Palestine, that was of the Philistines, that now is clept
Gaza, that is a gay city and a rich; and it is right fair and
full of folk, and it is a little from the sea. And from
this city brought Samson the strong the gates upon an high land,
when he was taken in that city, and there he slew in a palace the
king and himself, and great number of the best of the
Philistines, the which had put out his eyen and shaved his head,
and imprisoned him by treason of Dalida his paramour. And
therefore he made fall upon them a great hall, when they were at
meat.</p>
<p>And from thence go men to the city of Cesarea, and so to the
Castle of Pilgrims, and so to Ascalon; and then to Jaffa, and so
to Jerusalem.</p>
<p><a name="page23"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 23</span>And
whoso will go by land through the land of Babylon, where the
soldan dwelleth commonly, he must get grace of him and leave to
go more siker through those lands and countries.</p>
<p>And for to go to the Mount of Sinai, before that men go to
Jerusalem, they shall go from Gaza to the Castle of Daire.
And after that, men come out of Syria, and enter into wilderness,
and there the way is full sandy; and that wilderness and desert
lasteth eight journeys, but always men find good inns, and all
that they need of victuals. And men clepe that wilderness
Achelleke. And when a man cometh out of that desert, he
entereth into Egypt, that men clepe Egypt-Canopac, and after
other language, men clepe it Morsyn. And there first men
find a good town, that is clept Belethe; and it is at the end of
the kingdom of Aleppo. And from thence men go to Babylon
and to Cairo.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2>
<p style="text-align: center" class="gutsumm"><i>Of many Names of
Soldans</i>, <i>and of the Tower of Babylon</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">At</span> Babylon there is a fair church
of our Lady, where she dwelled seven year, when she fled out of
the land of Judea for dread of King Herod. And there lieth
the body of Saint Barbara the virgin and martyr. And there
dwelled Joseph, when he was sold of his brethren. And there
made Nebuchadnezzar the king put three children into the furnace
of fire, for they were in the right truth of belief, the which
children men clept Anania, Azariah, Mishael, as the Psalm of
<i>Benedicite</i> saith: but Nebuchadnezzar clept them otherwise,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that is to say, God glorious,
God victorious, and God over all things and realms: and that was
for the miracle, that he saw God’s Son go with the children
through the fire, as he said.</p>
<p>There dwelleth the soldan in his Calahelyke (for there <a
name="page24"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 24</span>is commonly
his seat) in a fair castle, strong and great, and well set upon a
rock. In that castle dwell alway, to keep it and to serve
the soldan, more then 6000 persons, that take all their
necessaries off the soldan’s court. I ought right
well to know it; for I dwelled with him as soldier in his wars a
great while against the Bedouins. And he would have married
me full highly to a great prince’s daughter, if I would
have forsaken my law and my belief; but I thank God, I had no
will to do it, for nothing that he behight me.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand that the soldan is lord of five
kingdoms, that he hath conquered and appropred to him by
strength. And these be the names: the kingdom of Canapac,
that is Egypt; and the kingdom of Jerusalem, where that David and
Solomon were kings; and the kingdom of Syria, of the which the
city of Damascus was chief; and the kingdom of Aleppo in the land
of Mathe; and the kingdom Arabia, that was to one of the three
kings, that made offering to our Lord, when he was born.
And many other lands he holdeth in his hand. And
therewithal he holdeth caliphs, that is a full great thing in
their language, and it is as much to say as king.</p>
<p>And there were wont to be five soldans; but now there is no
more but he of Egypt. And the first soldan was Zarocon,
that was of Media, as was father to Saladin that took the Caliph
of Egypt and slew him, and was made soldan by strength.
After that was Soldan Saladin, in whose time the King of England,
Richard the First, with many other, kept the passage, that
Saladin ne might not pass. After Saladin reigned his son
Boradin, and after him his nephew. After that, the
Comanians that were in servage in Egypt, felt themselves that
they were of great power, they chose them a soldan amongst them,
the which made him to be clept Melechsalan. And in his time
entered into the country of the kings of France Saint Louis, and
fought with him; and [the soldan] took him and imprisoned him;
and this [soldan] was slain by his own servants. And after,
they chose another to be soldan, that they clept Tympieman; and
he let deliver Saint Louis out of prison <a
name="page25"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 25</span>for a certain
ransom. And after, one of these Comanians reigned, that
hight Cachas, and slew Tympieman, for to be soldan; and made him
be clept Melechmenes. And after another that had to name
Bendochdare, that slew Melechmenes, for to be sultan, and clept
himself Melechdare. In his time entered the good King
Edward of England into Syria, and did great harm to the
Saracens. And after, was this soldan empoisoned at
Damascus, and his son thought to reign after him by heritage, and
made him to be clept Melechsache; but another that had to name
Elphy, chased him out of the country and made him soldan.
This man took the city of Tripoli and destroyed many of the
Christian men, the year of grace 1289, and after was he
imprisoned of another that would be soldan, but he was anon
slain. After that was the son of Elphy chosen to be soldan,
and clept him Melechasseraff, and he took the city of Akon and
chased out the Christian men; and this was also empoisoned, and
then was his brother made soldan, and was clept
Melechnasser. And after, one that was clept Guytoga took
him and put him in prison in the castle of Mountroyal, and made
him soldan by strength, and clept him Melechadel; and he was of
Tartary. But the Comanians chased him out of the country,
and did him much sorrow, and made one of themself soldan, that
had to name Lachin. And he made him to be clept
Melechmanser, the which on a day played at the chess, and his
sword lay beside him; and so befell, that one wrathed him, and
with his own proper sword he was slain. And after that,
they were at great discord, for to make a soldan; and finally
they accorded to Melechnasser, that Guytoga had put in prison at
Mountroyal. And this reigned long and governed so that his
eldest son was chosen after him, Melechmader, the which his
brother let slay privily for to have the lordship, and made him
to be clept Melechmadabron, and he soldan when I departed from
those countries.</p>
<p>And wit ye well that the soldan may lead out of Egypt more
than 20,000 men of arms, and out of Syria, and out of Turkey and
out of other countries that he holds, he may arrere more than
50,000. And all those be at his <a name="page26"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 26</span>wages, and they be always at him,
without the folk of his country, that is without number.
And every each of them hath by year the mountance of six score
florins; but it behoveth, that every of them hold three horses
and a camel. And by the cities and by towns be admirals,
that have the governance of the people; one hath to govern four,
and another hath to govern five, another more, and another well
more. And as many taketh the admiral by him alone, as all
the other soldiers have under him; and therefore, when the soldan
will advance any worthy knight, he maketh him an admiral.
And when it is any dearth, the knights be right poor, and then
they sell both their horse and their harness.</p>
<p>And the soldan hath four wives, one Christian and three
Saracens, of the which one dwelleth at Jerusalem, and another at
Damascus, and another at Ascalon; and when them list, they remove
to other cities, and when the soldan will he may go to visit
them. And he hath as many paramours as him liketh.
For he maketh to come before him the fairest and the noblest of
birth, and the gentlest damosels of his country, and he maketh
them to be kept and served full honourably. And when he
will have one to lie with him, he maketh them all to come before
him, and he beholdeth in all, which of them is most to his
pleasure, and to her anon he sendeth or casteth a ring from his
finger. And then anon she shall be bathed and richly
attired, and anointed with delicate things of sweet smell, and
then led to the soldan’s chamber; and thus he doth as often
as him list, when he will have any of them.</p>
<p>And before the soldan cometh no stranger, but if he be clothed
in cloth of gold, or of Tartary or of Camaka, in the
Saracens’ guise, and as the Saracens use. And it
behoveth, that anon at the first sight that men see the soldan,
be it in window or in what place else, that men kneel to him and
kiss the earth, for that is the manner to do reverence to the
soldan of them that speak with him. And when that
messengers of strange countries come before him, the meinie of
the soldan, when the strangers speak to him, they be about the
soldan with swords drawn <a name="page27"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 27</span>and gisarmes and axes, their arms
lifted up in high with those weapons for to smite upon them, if
they say any word that is displeasance to the soldan. And
also, no stranger cometh before him, but that he maketh him some
promise and grant of that the [stranger] asketh reasonably; by so
it be not against his law. And so do other princes beyond,
for they say that no man shall come before no prince, but that
[he be] better, and shall be more gladder in departing from his
presence than he was at the coming before him.</p>
<p>And understandeth, that that Babylon that I have spoken of,
where that the sultan dwelleth, is not that great Babylon where
the diversity of languages was first made for vengeance by the
miracle of God, when the great Tower of Babel was begun to be
made; of the which the walls were sixty-four furlongs of height;
that is in the great desert of Arabia, upon the way as men go
toward the kingdom of Chaldea. But it is full long since
that any man durst nigh to the tower; for it is all desert and
full of dragons and great serpents, and full of diverse venomous
beasts all about. That tower, with the city, was of
twenty-five mile in circuit of the walls, as they of the country
say, and as men may deem by estimation, after that men tell of
the country.</p>
<p>And though it be clept the Tower of Babylon, yet nevertheless,
there were ordained within many mansions and many great
dwelling-places, in length and breadth. And that tower
contained great country in circuit, for the tower alone contained
ten mile square. That tower founded King Nimrod that was
king of that country; and he was the first king of the
world. And he let make an image in the likeness of his
father, and constrained all his subjects for to worship it; and
anon began other lords to do the same, and so began the idols and
the simulacres first.</p>
<p>The town and the city were full well set in a fair country and
a plain that men clepe the country of Samar, of the which the
walls of the city were two hundred cubits in height, and fifty
cubits of deepness; and the river of Euphrates ran throughout the
city and about the tower also. But Cyrus the King of Persia
took from them the <a name="page28"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
28</span>river, and destroyed all the city and the tower also;
for he departed that river in 360 small rivers, because that he
had sworn, that he should put the river in such point, that a
woman might well pass there, without casting off of her clothes,
forasmuch as he had lost many worthy men that trowed to pass that
river by swimming.</p>
<p>And from Babylon where the soldan dwelleth, to go right
between the Orient and the Septentrion toward the great Babylon,
is forty journeys to pass by desert. But it is not the
great Babylon in the land and in the power of the said soldan,
but it is in the power and the lordship of Persia, but he holdeth
it of the great Chan, that is the greatest emperor and the most
sovereign lord of all the parts beyond, and he is lord of the
isles of Cathay and of many other isles and of a great part of
Ind, and his land marcheth unto Prester John’s Land, and he
holdeth so much land, that he knoweth not the end: and he is more
mighty and greater lord without comparison than is the soldan: of
his royal estate and of his might I shall speak more plenerly,
when I shall speak of the land and of the country of Ind.</p>
<p>Also the city of Mecca where Mohammet lieth is of the great
deserts of Arabia; and there lieth [the] body of him full
honourably in their temple, that the Saracens clepen
Musketh. And it is from Babylon the less, where the soldan
dwelleth, unto Mecca above-said, into a thirty-two journeys.</p>
<p>And wit well, that the realm of Arabia is a full great
country, but therein is over-much desert. And no man may
dwell there in that desert for default of water, for that land is
all gravelly and full of sand. And it is dry and no thing
fruitful, because that it hath no moisture; and therefore is
there so much desert. And if it had rivers and wells, and
the land also were as it is in other parts, it should be as full
of people and as full inhabited with folk as in other places; for
there is full great multitude of people, whereas the land is
inhabited. Arabia dureth from the ends of the realm of
Chaldea unto the last end of Africa, and marcheth to the land of
Idumea toward the end of Botron. And in Chaldea the chief
city is Bagdad. And of Africa the chief city is Carthage,
that Dido, that <a name="page29"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
29</span>was Eneas’s wife, founded; the which Eneas was of
the city of Troy, and after was King of Italy.</p>
<p>Mesopotamia stretcheth also unto the deserts of Arabia, and it
is a great country. In this country is the city of Haran,
where Abraham’s father dwelled, and from whence Abraham
departed by commandment of the angel. And of that city was
Ephraim, that was a great clerk and a great doctor. And
Theophilus was of that city also, that our lady saved from our
enemy. And Mesopotamia dureth from the river of Euphrates,
unto the river of Tigris, for it is between those two rivers.</p>
<p>And beyond the river of Tigris is Chaldea, that is a full
great kingdom. In that realm, at Bagdad above-said, was
wont to dwell the caliph, that was wont to be both as Emperor and
Pope of the Arabians, so that he was lord spiritual and temporal;
and he was successor to Mahommet, and of his generation.
That city of Bagdad was wont to be clept Sutis, and
Nebuchadnezzar founded it; and there dwelled the holy prophet
Daniel, and there he saw visions of heaven, and there he made the
exposition of dreams.</p>
<p>And in old time there were wont to be three caliphs, he of
Arabia and of Chaldea dwelt in the city of Bagdad above-said; and
at Cairo beside Babylon dwelt the Caliph of Egypt; and at
Morocco, upon the West Sea, dwelt the Caliph of the people of
Barbary and of Africans. And now is there none of the
caliphs, nor nought have been since the time of the Soldan
Saladin; for from that time hither the soldan clepeth himself
caliph, and so have the caliphs lost their name.</p>
<p>Also witeth well, that Babylon the less, where the soldan
dwelleth, and at the city of Cairo that is nigh beside it, be
great huge cities many and fair; and that one sitteth nigh that
other. Babylon sitteth upon the river of Gyson, sometimes
clept Nile, that cometh out of Paradise terrestrial.</p>
<p>That river of Nile, all the year, when the sun entereth into
the sign of Cancer, it beginneth to wax, and it waxeth always as
long as the sun is in Cancer and in the sign of the Lion; and it
waxeth in such manner, that it is sometimes <a
name="page30"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 30</span>so great,
that it is twenty cubits or more of deepness, and then it doth
great harm to the goods that be upon the land. For then may
no man travail to plough the lands for the great moisture, and
therefore is there dear time in that country. And also,
when it waxeth little, it is dear time in that country, for
default of moisture. And when the sun is in the sign of
Virgo, then beginneth the river for to wane and to decrease
little and little, so that when the sun is entered into the sign
of Libra, then they enter between these rivers. This river
cometh, running from Paradise terrestrial, between the deserts of
Ind, and after it smiteth unto land, and runneth long time many
great countries under earth. And after it goeth out under
an high hill, that men clepe Alothe, that is between Ind and
Ethiopia the mountance of five months’ journeys from the
entry of Ethiopia; and after it environeth all Ethiopia and
Mauritania, and goeth all along from the land of Egypt unto the
city of Alexandria to the end of Egypt, and there it falleth into
the sea. About this river be many birds and fowls, as
sikonies, that they clepen ibes.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Country of Egypt</i>; <i>of the Bird
Phoenix of Arabia</i>; <i>of the City of Cairo</i>; <i>of the
Cunning to know Balm and to prove it</i>; <i>and of the Garners
of Joseph</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Egypt</span> is a long country, but it is
straight, that is to say narrow, for they may not enlarge it
toward the desert for default of water. And the country is
set along upon the river of Nile, by as much as that river may
serve by floods or otherwise, that when it floweth it may spread
abroad through the country; so is the country large of
length. For there it raineth not but little in that
country, and for that cause they have no water, but if it be of
that flood of that river. And forasmuch as it ne raineth
not in that <a name="page31"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
31</span>country, but the air is alway pure and clear, therefore
in that country be the good astronomers, for they find there no
clouds to letten them. Also the city of Cairo is right
great and more huge than that of Babylon the less, and it sitteth
above toward the desert of Syria, a little above the river
above-said.</p>
<p>In Egypt there be two parts: the height, that is toward
Ethiopia, and the lower, that is toward Arabia. In Egypt is
the land of Rameses and the land of Goshen. Egypt is a
strong country, for it hath many shrewd havens because of the
great rocks that be strong and dangerous to pass by. And at
Egypt, toward the east, is the Red Sea, that dureth unto the city
of Coston; and toward the west is the country of Lybia, that is a
full dry land and little of fruit, for it is overmuch plenty of
heat, and that land is clept Fusthe. And toward the part
meridional is Ethiopia. And toward the north is the desert,
that dureth unto Syria, and so is the country strong on all
sides. And it is well a fifteen journeys of length, and
more than two so much of desert, and it is but two journeys in
largeness. And between Egypt and Nubia it hath well a
twelve journeys of desert. And men of Nubia be Christian,
but they be black as the Moors for great heat of the sun.</p>
<p>In Egypt there be five provinces: that one is Sahythe; that
other Demeseer; another Resith, that is an isle in the Nile;
another Alexandria; and another the land of Damietta. That
city was wont to be right strong, but it was twice won of the
Christian men, and therefore after that the Saracens beat down
the walls; and with the walls the tower thereof, the Saracens
made another city more far from the sea, and clept it the new
Damietta; so that now no man dwelleth at the rather town of
Damietta. At that city of Damietta is one of the havens of
Egypt; and at Alexandria is that other. That is a full
strong city, but there is no water to drink, but if it come by
conduit from Nile, that entereth into their cisterns; and whoso
stopped that water from them, they might not endure there.
In Egypt there be but few forcelets or castles, because that the
country is so strong of himself.</p>
<p><a name="page32"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 32</span>At the
deserts of Egypt was a worthy man, that was an holy hermit, and
there met with him a monster (that is to say, a monster is a
thing deformed against kind both of man or of beast or of
anything else, and that is clept a monster). And this
monster, that met with this holy hermit, was as it had been a
man, that had two horns trenchant on his forehead; and he had a
body like a man unto the navel, and beneath he had the body like
a goat. And the hermit asked him what he was. And the
monster answered him, and said he was a deadly creature, such as
God had formed, and dwelt in those deserts in purchasing his
sustenance. And [he] besought the hermit, that he would
pray God for him, the which that came from heaven for to save all
mankind, and was born of a maiden and suffered passion and death
(as we well know) and by whom we live and be. And yet is
the head with the two horns of that monster at Alexandria for a
marvel.</p>
<p>In Egypt is the city of Heliopolis, that is to say, the city
of the Sun. In that city there is a temple, made round
after the shape of the Temple of Jerusalem. The priests of
that temple have all their writings, under the date of the fowl
that is clept phoenix; and there is none but one in all the
world. And he cometh to burn himself upon the altar of that
temple at the end of five hundred year; for so long he
liveth. And at the five hundred years’ end, the
priests array their altar honestly, and put thereupon spices and
sulphur vif and other things that will burn lightly; and then the
bird phoenix cometh and burneth himself to ashes. And the
first day next after, men find in the ashes a worm; and the
second day next after, men find a bird quick and perfect; and the
third day next after, he flieth his way. And so there is no
more birds of that kind in all the world, but it alone, and truly
that is a great miracle of God. And men may well liken that
bird unto God, because that there ne is no God but one; and also,
that our Lord arose from death to life the third day. This
bird men see often-time fly in those countries; and he is not
mickle more than an eagle. And he hath a crest of feathers
upon his head more great <a name="page33"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 33</span>than the peacock hath; and is neck
his yellow after colour of an oriel that is a stone well shining,
and his beak is coloured blue as ind; and his wings be of purple
colour, and his tail is barred overthwart with green and yellow
and red. And he is a full fair bird to look upon, against
the sun, for he shineth full gloriously and nobly.</p>
<p>Also in Egypt be gardens, that have trees and herbs, the which
bear fruits seven times in the year. And in that land men
find many fair emeralds and enough; and therefore they be greater
cheap. Also when it raineth once in the summer in the land
of Egypt, then is all the country full of great mires. Also
at Cairo, that I spake of before, sell men commonly both men and
women of other laws as we do here beasts in the market. And
there is a common house in that city that is all full of small
furnaces, and thither bring women of the town their eyren of
hens, of geese, and or ducks for to be put into those
furnaces. And they that keep that house cover them with
heat of horse dung, without hen, goose or duck or any other
fowl. And at the end of three weeks or of a month they come
again and take their chickens and flourish them and bring them
forth, so that all the country is full of them. And so men
do there both winter and summer.</p>
<p>Also in that country and in others also, men find long apples
to sell, in their season, and men clepe them apples of Paradise;
and they be right sweet and of good savour. And though ye
cut them in never so many gobbets or parts, overthwart or
endlong, evermore ye shall find in the midst the figure of the
Holy Cross of our Lord Jesu. But they will rot within eight
days, and for that cause men may not carry of those apples to no
far countries; of them men find the mountance of a hundred in a
basket, and they have great leaves of a foot and a half of
length, and they be convenably large. And men find there
also the apple tree of Adam, that have a bite at one of the
sides; and there be also fig trees that bear no leaves, but figs
upon the small branches; and men clepe them figs of Pharaoh.</p>
<p>Also beside Cairo, without that city, is the field where <a
name="page34"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 34</span>balm groweth;
and it cometh out on small trees, that be none higher than to a
man’s breeks’ girdle, and they seem as wood that is
of the wild vine. And in that field be seven wells, that
our Lord Jesu Christ made with one of his feet, when he went to
play with other children. That field is not so well closed,
but that men may enter at their own list; but in that season that
the balm is growing, men put thereto good keeping, that no man
dare be hardy to enter.</p>
<p>This balm groweth in no place, but only there. And
though that men bring of the plants, for to plant in other
countries, they grow well and fair; but they bring forth no
fructuous thing, and the leaves of balm fall not. And men
cut the branches with a sharp flintstone, or with a sharp bone,
when men will go to cut them; for whoso cut them with iron, it
would destroy his virtue and his nature.</p>
<p>And the Saracens clepe the wood <i>Enonch-balse</i>, and the
fruit, the which is as cubebs, they clepe <i>Abebissam</i>, and
the liquor that droppeth from the branches they clepe
<i>Guybalse</i>. And men make always that balm to be tilled
of the Christian men, or else it would not fructify; as the
Saracens say themselves, for it hath been often-time
proved. Men say also, that the balm groweth in Ind the
more, in that desert where Alexander spake to the trees of the
sun and of the moon, but I have not seen it; for I have not been
so far above upward, because that there be too many perilous
passages.</p>
<p>And wit ye well, that a man ought to take good keep for to buy
balm, but if he con know it right well, for he may right lightly
be deceived. For men sell a gum, that men clepe turpentine,
instead of balm, and they put thereto a little balm for to give
good odour. And some put wax in oil of the wood of the
fruit of balm, and say that it is balm. And some distil
cloves of gilofre and of spikenard of Spain and of other spices,
that be well smelling; and the liquor that goeth out thereof they
clepe it balm, and they think that they have balm, and they have
none. For the Saracens counterfeit it by subtlety of craft
for to deceive the Christian men, as I have seen full many a
time; and after them the <a name="page35"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 35</span>merchants and the apothecaries
counterfeit it eft sones, and then it is less worth, and a great
deal worse.</p>
<p>But if it like you, I shall shew how ye shall know and prove,
to the end that ye shall not be deceived. First ye shall
well know, that the natural balm is full clear, and of citron
colour and strongly smelling; and if it be thick, or red or
black, it is sophisticate, that is to say, counterfeited and made
like it for deceit. And understand, that if ye will put a
little balm in the palm of your hand against the sun, if it be
fine and good, ye ne shall not suffer your hand against the heat
of the sun. Also take a little balm with the point of a
knife, and touch it to the fire, and if it burn it is a good
sign. After take also a drop of balm, and put it into a
dish, or in a cup with milk of a goat, and if it be natural balm
anon it will take and beclippe the milk. Or put a drop of
balm in clear water in a cup of silver or in a clear basin, stir
it well with the clear water; and if the balm be fine and of his
own kind, the water shall never trouble; and if the balm be
sophisticate, that is to say counterfeited, the water shall
become anon trouble; and also if the balm be fine it shall fall
to the bottom of the vessel, as though it were quicksilver, for
the fine balm is more heavy twice than is the balm that is
sophisticate and counterfeited. Now I have spoken of
balm.</p>
<p>And now also I shall speak of another thing that is beyond
Babylon, above the flood of the Nile, toward the desert between
Africa and Egypt; that is to say, of the garners of Joseph, that
he let make for to keep the grains for the peril of the dear
years. And they be made of stone, full well made of
masons’ craft; of the which two be marvellously great and
high, and the tother ne be not so great. And every garner
hath a gate for to enter within, a little high from the earth;
for the land is wasted and fallen since the garners were
made. And within they be all full of serpents. And
above the garners without be many scriptures of diverse
languages. And some men say, that they be sepultures of
great lords, that were sometime, but that is not true, for all
the common rumour and speech is of all the people there, both far
and near, that they be the <a name="page36"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 36</span>garners of Joseph; and so find they
in their scriptures, and in their chronicles. On the other
part, if they were sepultures, they should not be void within, ne
they should have no gates for to enter within; for ye may well
know, that tombs and sepultures be not made of such greatness,
nor of such highness; wherefore it is not to believe, that they
be tombs or sepultures.</p>
<p>In Egypt also there be diverse languages and diverse letters,
and of other manner and condition than there be in other
parts. As I shall devise you, such as they be, and the
names how they clepe them, to such intent, that ye may know the
difference of them and of others,—Athoimis, Bimchi, Chinok,
Duram, Eni, Fin, Gomor, Heket, Janny, Karacta, Luzanin, Miche,
Naryn, Oldach, Pilon, Qyn, Yron, Sichen, Thola, Urmron, Yph and
Zarm, Thoit.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Isle of Sicily</i>; <i>of the way
from Babylon to the Mount Sinai</i>; <i>of the Church of Saint
Katherine and of all the marvels there</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Now</span> will I return again, ere I
proceed any further, for to declare to you the other ways, that
draw toward Babylon, where the sultan himself dwelleth, that is
at the entry of Egypt; for as much as many folk go thither first
and after that to the Mount Sinai, and after return to Jerusalem,
as I have said you here before. For they fulfil first the
more long pilgrimage, and after return again by the next ways,
because that the more nigh way is the more worthy, and that is
Jerusalem; for no other pilgrimage is not like in comparison to
it. But for to fulfil their pilgrimages more easily and
more sikerly, men go first the longer way rather than the nearer
way.</p>
<p>But whoso will go to Babylon by another way, more short from
the countries of the west that I have rehearsed <a
name="page37"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 37</span>before, or
from other countries next to them—then men go by France, by
Burgundy and by Lombardy. It needeth not to tell you the
names of the cities, nor of the towns that be in that way, for
the way is common, and it is known of many nations. And
there be many havens [where] men take the sea. Some men
take the sea at Genoa, some at Venice, and pass by the sea
Adriatic, that is clept the Gulf of Venice, that departeth Italy
and Greece on that side; and some go to Naples, some to Rome, and
from Rome to Brindisi and there they take the sea, and in many
other places where that havens be. And men go by Tuscany,
by Campania, by Calabria, by Apulia, and by the hills of Italy,
by Corsica, by Sardinia, and by Sicily, that is a great isle and
a good.</p>
<p>In that isle of Sicily there is a manner of a garden, in the
which be many diverse fruits; and the garden is always green and
flourishing, all the seasons of the year as well in winter as in
summer. That isle holds in compass about 350 French
miles. And between Sicily and Italy there is not but a
little arm of the sea, that men clepe the Farde of Messina.
And Sicily is between the sea Adriatic and the sea of
Lombardy. And from Sicily into Calabria is but eight miles
of Lombardy.</p>
<p>And in Sicily there is a manner of serpent, by the which men
assay and prove, whether their children be bastards or no, or of
lawful marriage: for if they be born in right marriage, the
serpents go about them, and do them no harm, and if they be born
in avoutry, the serpents bite them and envenom them. And
thus many wedded men prove if the children be their own.</p>
<p>Also in that isle is the Mount Etna, that men clepe Mount
Gybelle, and the volcanoes that be evermore burning. And
there be seven places that burn and that cast out diverse flames
and diverse colour: and by the changing of those flames, men of
that country know when it shall be dearth or good time, or cold
or hot or moist or dry, or in all other manners how the time
shall be governed. And from Italy unto the volcanoes ne is
but twenty-five mile. And men say, that the volcanoes be
ways of hell.</p>
<p><a name="page38"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 38</span>And
whoso goeth by Pisa, if that men list to go that way, there is an
arm of the sea, where that men go to other havens in those
marches. And then men pass by the isle of Greaf that is at
Genoa. And after arrive men in Greece at the haven of the
city of Myrok, or at the haven of Valone, or at the city of
Duras; and there is a Duke at Duras, or at other havens in those
marches; and so men go to Constantinople. And after go men
by water to the isle of Crete and to the isle of Rhodes, and so
to Cyprus, and so to Athens, and from thence to
Constantinople. To hold the more right way by sea, it is
well a thousand eight hundred and four score mile of
Lombardy. And after from Cyprus men go by sea, and leave
Jerusalem and all the country on the left hand, unto Egypt, and
arrive at the city of Damietta, that was wont to be full strong,
and it sits at the entry of Egypt. And from Damietta go men
to the city of Alexandria, that sits also upon the sea. In
that city was Saint Catherine beheaded: and there was Saint Mark
the evangelist martyred and buried, but the Emperor Leo made his
bones to be brought to Venice.</p>
<p>And yet there is at Alexandria a fair church, all white
without paintures; and so be all the other churches that were of
the Christian men, all white within, for the Paynims and the
Saracens made them white for to fordo the images of saints that
were painted on the walls. That city of Alexandria is well
thirty furlongs in length, but it is but ten on largeness; and it
is a full noble city and a fair. At that city entereth the
river of Nile into the sea, as I to you have said before.
In that river men find many precious stones, and much also of
lignum aloes; and it is a manner of wood, that cometh out of
Paradise terrestrial, the which is good for many diverse
medicines, and it is right dear-worth. And from Alexandria
men go to Babylon, where the sultan dwelleth; that sits also upon
the river of Nile: and this way is the most short, for to go
straight unto Babylon.</p>
<p>Now shall I say you also the way, that goeth from Babylon to
the Mount of Sinai, where Saint Catherine lieth. He must
pass by the deserts of Arabia, by the which deserts Moses led the
people of Israel. And then <a name="page39"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 39</span>pass men by the well that Moses made
with his hand in the deserts, when the people grucched; for they
found nothing to drink. And then pass men by the Well of
Marah, of the which the water was first bitter; but the children
of Israel put therein a tree, and anon the water was sweet and
good for to drink. And then go men by desert unto the vale
of Elim, in the which vale be twelve wells; and there be
seventy-two trees of palm, that bear the dates the which Moses
found with the children of Israel. And from that valley is
but a good journey to the Mount of Sinai.</p>
<p>And whoso will go by another way from Babylon, then men go by
the Red Sea, that is an arm of the sea Ocean. And there
passed Moses with the children of Israel, over-thwart the sea all
dry, when Pharaoh the King of Egypt chased them. And that
sea is well a six mile of largeness in length; and in that sea
was Pharaoh drowned and all his host that he led. That sea
is not more red than another sea; but in some place thereof is
the gravel red, and therefore men clepen it the Red Sea.
That sea runneth to the ends of Arabia and of Palestine.</p>
<p>That sea lasteth more than a four journeys, and then go men by
desert unto the Vale of Elim, and from thence to the Mount of
Sinai. And ye may well understand, that by this desert no
man may go on horseback, because that there ne is neither meat
for horse ne water to drink; and for that cause men pass that
desert with camels. For the camel finds alway meat in trees
and on bushes, that he feedeth him with: and he may well fast
from drink two days or three. And that may no horse do.</p>
<p>And wit well that from Babylon to the Mount Sinai is well a
twelve good journeys, and some men make them more. And some
men hasten them and pain them, and therefore they make them
less. And always men find latiners to go with them in the
countries, and further beyond, into time that men con the
language: and it behoveth men to bear victuals with them, that
shall dure them in those deserts, and other necessaries for to
live by.</p>
<p><a name="page40"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 40</span>And the
Mount of Sinai is clept the Desert of Sin, that is for to say,
the bush burning; because there Moses saw our Lord God many times
in the form of fire burning upon that hill, and also in a bush
burning, and spake to him. And that was at the foot of the
hill. There is an abbey of monks, well builded and well
closed with gates of iron for dread of the wild beasts; and the
monks be Arabians or men of Greece. And there [is] a great
convent, and all they be as hermits, and they drink no wine, but
if it be on principal feasts; and they be full devout men, and
live poorly and simply with joutes and with dates, and they do
great abstinence and penances.</p>
<p>There is the Church of Saint Catherine, in the which be many
lamps burning; for they have of oil of olives enough, both for to
burn in their lamps and to eat also. And that plenty have
they by the miracle of God; for the ravens and the crows and the
choughs and other fowls of the country assemble them there every
year once, and fly thither as in pilgrimage; and everych of them
bringeth a branch of the bays or of olive in their beaks instead
of offering, and leave them there; of the which the monks make
great plenty of oil. And this is a great marvel. And
sith that fowls that have no kindly wit or reason go thither to
seek that glorious Virgin, well more ought men then to seek her,
and to worship her.</p>
<p>Also behind the altar of that church is the place where Moses
saw our Lord God in a burning bush. And when the monks
enter into that place, they do off both hosen and shoon or boots
always, because that our Lord said to Moses, Do off thy hosen and
thy shoon, for the place that thou standest on is land holy and
blessed. And the monks clepe that place Dozoleel, that is
to say, the shadow of God. And beside the high altar, three
degrees of height is the fertre of alabaster, where the bones of
Saint Catherine lie. And the prelate of the monks sheweth
the relics to the pilgrims, and with an instrument of silver he
froteth the bones; and then there goeth out a little oil, as
though it were a manner sweating, that is neither like to oil ne
to balm, but it is full sweet of smell; <a
name="page41"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 41</span>and of that
they give a little to the pilgrims, for there goeth out but
little quantity of the liquor. And after that they shew the
head of Saint Catherine, and the cloth that she was wrapped in,
that is yet all bloody; and in that same cloth so wrapped, the
angels bare her body to the Mount Sinai, and there they buried
her with it. And then they shew the bush, that burned and
wasted nought, in the which our Lord spake to Moses, and other
relics enough.</p>
<p>Also, when the prelate of the abbey is dead, I have
understood, by information, that his lamp quencheth. And
when they choose another prelate, if he be a good man and worthy
to be prelate, his lamp shall light with the grace of God without
touching of any man. For everych of them hath a lamp by
himself, and by their lamps they know well when any of them shall
die. For when any shall die, the light beginneth to change
and to wax dim; and if he be chosen to be prelate, and is not
worthy, his lamp quencheth anon. And other men have told
me, that he that singeth the mass for the prelate that is
dead—he shall find upon the altar the name written of him
that shall be prelate chosen. And so upon a day, I asked of
the monks, both one and other, how this befell. But they
would not tell me nothing, into the time that I said that they
should not hide the grace that God did them, but that they should
publish it to make the people have the more devotion, and that
they did sin to hide God’s miracle, as me seemed. For
the miracles that God hath done and yet doth every day, be the
witness of his might and of his marvels, as David saith in the
Psalter: <i>Mirabilia testimonia tua</i>, <i>Domine</i>, that is
to say, ‘Lord thy marvels be thy witness.’ And
then they told me, both one and other, how it befell full many a
time, but more I might not have of them.</p>
<p>In that abbey ne entereth not no fly, ne toads ne newts, ne
such foul venomous beasts, ne lice ne fleas, by the miracle of
God, and of our Lady. For there were wont to be so many
such manner of filths, that the monks were in will to leave the
place and the abbey, and were from thence upon the mountain above
to eschew that <a name="page42"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
42</span>place; and our Lady came to them and bade them turn
again, and from thence forwards never entered such filth in that
place amongst them, ne never shall enter hereafter. Also,
before the gate is the well, where Moses smote the stone, of the
which the water came out plenteously.</p>
<p>From that abbey men go up the mountain of Moses, by many
degrees. And there men find first a church of our Lady,
where that she met the monks, when they fled away for the vermin
above-said. And more high upon that mountain is the chapel
of Elijah the prophet; and that place they clepe Horeb, whereof
holy writ speaketh, <i>Et ambulavit in fortitudine cibi illius
usque</i>, <i>ad montem Oreb</i>; that is to say, ‘And he
went in strength of that meat unto the hill of God,
Horeb.’ And there nigh is the vine that Saint John
the Evangelist planted that men clepe raisins of Staphis.
And a little above is the chapel of Moses, and the rock where
Moses fled to for dread when he saw our Lord face to face.
And in that rock is printed the form of his body, for he smote so
strongly and so hard himself in that rock, that all his body was
dolven within through the miracle of God. And there beside
is the place where our Lord took to Moses the Ten Commandments of
the Law. And there is the cave under the rock where Moses
dwelt, when he fasted forty days and forty nights. But he
died in the Land of Promission, and no man knoweth where he was
buried. And from that mountain men pass a great valley for
to go to another mountain, where Saint Catherine was buried of
the angels of the Lord. And in that valley is a church of
forty martyrs, and there sing the monks of the abbey, often-time:
and that valley is right cold. And after men go up the
mountain of Saint Catherine, that is more high than the mount of
Moses; and there, where Saint Catherine was buried, is neither
church nor chapel, nor other dwelling place, but there is an heap
of stones about the place, where body of her, was put of the
angels. There was wont to be a chapel, but it was cast
down, and yet lie the stones there. And albeit that the
Collect of Saint Catherine says, that it is the place where our
Lord betaught the Ten Commandments to Moses, and there, <a
name="page43"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 43</span>where the
blessed Virgin Saint Catherine was buried, that is to understand
in one country, or in one place bearing one name; for both that
one and that other is clept the mount of Sinai. But it is a
great way from that one to that other, and a great deep valley
between them.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Desert between the Church of Saint
Catherine and Jerusalem</i>. <i>Of the Dry Tree</i>; <i>and
how Roses came first into the World</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Now</span>, after that men have visited
those holy places, then will they turn toward Jerusalem.
And then will they take leave of the monks, and recommend
themselves to their prayers. And then they give the
pilgrims of their victuals for to pass with the deserts toward
Syria. And those deserts dure well a thirteen journeys.</p>
<p>In that desert dwell many of Arabians, that men clepe Bedouins
and Ascopards, and they be folk full of all evil
conditions. And they have none houses, but tents, that they
make of skins of beasts, as of camels and of other beasts that
they eat; and there beneath these they couch them and dwell in
place where they may find water, as on the Red Sea or elsewhere:
for in that desert is full great default of water, and often-time
it falleth that where men find water at one time in a place it
faileth another time; and for that skill they make none
habitations there. These folk that I speak of, they till
not the land, and they labour nought; for they eat no bread, but
if it be any that dwell nigh a good town, that go thither and eat
bread sometime. And they roast their flesh and their fish
upon the hot stones against the sun. And they be strong men
and well-fighting; and there so is much multitude of that folk,
that they be without number. And they ne reck of nothing,
ne do not but chase after beasts to eat <a
name="page44"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 44</span>them.
And they reck nothing of their life, and therefore they fear not
the sultan, ne no other prince; but they dare well war with them,
if they do anything that is grievance to them. And they
have often-times war with the sultan, and, namely, that time that
I was with him. And they bear but one shield and one spear,
without other arms; and they wrap their heads and their necks
with a great quantity of white linen cloth; and they be right
felonous and foul, and of cursed kind.</p>
<p>And when men pass this desert, in coming toward Jerusalem,
they come to Bersabe (Beersheba), that was wont to be a full fair
town and a delectable of Christian men; and yet there be some of
their churches. In that town dwelled Abraham the patriarch,
a long time. That town of Bersabe founded Bersabe
(Bathsheba), the wife of Sir Uriah the Knight, on the which King
David gat Solomen the Wise, that was king after David upon the
twelve kindreds of Jerusalem and reigned forty year.</p>
<p>And from thence go men to the city of Hebron, that is the
mountance of twelve good mile. And it was clept sometime
the Vale of Mamre, and some-time it was clept the Vale of Tears,
because that Adam wept there an hundred year for the death of
Abel his son, that Cain slew. Hebron was wont to be the
principal city of the Philistines, and there dwelled some time
the giants. And that city was also sacerdotal, that is to
say, sanctuary of the tribe of Judah; and it was so free, that
men received there all manner of fugitives of other places for
their evil deeds. In Hebron Joshua, Caleb and their company
came first to aspy, how they might win the land of Behest.
In Hebron reigned first king David seven year and a half; and in
Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three year and a half.</p>
<p>And in Hebron be all the sepultures of the patriarchs, Adam,
Abraham, Isaac, and of Jacob; and of their wives, Eve, Sarah and
Rebecca, and of Leah; the which sepultures the Saracens keep full
curiously, and have the place in great reverence for the holy
fathers, the patriarchs that lie there. And they suffer no
Christian man to enter into that place, but if it be of special
grace of the sultan; for they hold <a name="page45"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 45</span>Christian men and Jews as dogs, and
they say, that they should not enter into so holy place.
And men clepe that place, where they lie, Double Spelunk, or
Double Cave, or Double Ditch, forasmuch as that one lieth above
that other. And the Saracens clepe that place in their
language, <i>Karicarba</i>, that is to say, ‘The Place of
Patriarchs.’ And the Jews clepe that place
<i>Arboth</i>. And in that same place was Abraham’s
house, and there he sat and saw three persons, and worshipped but
one; as holy writ saith, <i>Tres vidit et unum adoravit</i>, that
is to say, ‘He saw three and worshipped one’: and of
those same received Abraham the angels into his house.</p>
<p>And right fast by that place is a cave in the rock, where Adam
and Eve dwelled when they were put out of Paradise; and there got
they their children. And in that same place was Adam formed
and made, after that some men say: (for men were wont for to
clepe that place the field of Damascus, because that it was in
the lordship of Damascus), and from thence was he translated into
Paradise of delights, as they say; and after that he was driven
out of Paradise he was there left. And the same day that he
was put in Paradise, the same day he was put out, for anon he
sinned. There beginneth the Vale of Hebron, that dureth
nigh to Jerusalem. There the angel commanded Adam that he
should dwell with his wife Eve, of the which he gat Seth; of
which tribe, that is to say kindred, Jesu Christ was born.</p>
<p>In that valley is a field, where men draw out of the earth a
thing that men clepe cambile, and they eat it instead of spices,
and they bear it to sell. And men may not make the hole or
the cave, where it is taken out of the earth, so deep or so wide,
but that it is, at the year’s end, full again up to the
sides, through the grace of God.</p>
<p>And two mile from Hebron is the grave of Lot, that was
Abraham’s brother.</p>
<p>And a little from Hebron is the mount of Mamre, of the which
the valley taketh his name. And there is a tree of oak,
that the Saracens clepe <i>Dirpe</i>, that is of Abraham’s
time: the which men clepe the Dry Tree. And they say <a
name="page46"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 46</span>that it hath
been there since the beginning of the world, and was some-time
green and bare leaves, unto the time that our Lord died on the
cross, and then it dried: and so did all the trees that were then
in the world. And some say, by their prophecies, that a
lord, a prince of the west side of the world, shall win the Land
of Promission that is the Holy Land with help of Christian men,
and he shall do sing a mass under that dry tree; and then the
tree shall wax green and bear both fruit and leaves, and through
that miracle many Saracens and Jews shall be turned to Christian
faith: and, therefore, they do great worship thereto, and keep it
full busily. And, albeit so, that it be dry, natheles yet
he beareth great virtue, for certainly he that hath a little
thereof upon him, it healeth him of the falling evil, and his
horse shall not be a-foundered: and many other virtues it hath;
wherefore men hold it full precious.</p>
<p>From Hebron men go to Bethlehem in half a day, for it is but
five mile; and it is full fair way, by plains and woods full
delectable. Bethlehem is a little city, long and narrow and
well walled, and in each side enclosed with good ditches: and it
was wont to be clept Ephrata, as holy writ saith, <i>Ecce</i>,
<i>audivimus eum in Ephrata</i>, that is to say, ‘Lo, we
heard him in Ephrata.’ And toward the east end of the
city is a full fair church and a gracious, and it hath many
towers, pinacles and corners, full strong and curiously made; and
within that church be forty-four pillars of marble, great and
fair.</p>
<p>And between the city and the church is the field
<i>Floridus</i>, that is to say, the ‘field
flourished.’ For as much as a fair maiden was blamed
with wrong, and slandered that she had done fornication; for
which cause she was demned to death, and to be burnt in that
place, to the which she was led. And, as the fire began to
burn about her, she made her prayers to our Lord, that as wisely
as she was not guilty of that sin, that he would help her and
make it to be known to all men, of his merciful grace. And
when she had thus said, she entered into the fire, and anon was
the fire quenched and out; and the brands that were <a
name="page47"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 47</span>burning
became red rose-trees, and the brands that were not kindled
became white rose-trees, full of roses. And these were the
first rose-trees and roses, both white and red, that ever any man
saw; and thus was this maiden saved by the grace of God.
And therefore is that field clept the field of God flourished,
for it was full of roses.</p>
<p>Also beside the choir of the church, at the right side, as men
come downward sixteen degrees, is the place where our Lord was
born, that is full well dight of marble, and full richly painted
with gold, silver, azure and other colours. And three paces
beside is the crib of the ox and the ass. And beside that
is the place where the star fell, that led the three kings,
Jaspar, Melchior and Balthazar: but men of Greece clepe them
thus, <i>Galgalath</i>, <i>Malgalath</i>, and <i>Seraphie</i>,
and the Jews clepe them, in this manner, in Hebrew,
<i>Appelius</i>, <i>Amerrius</i>, and <i>Damasus</i>. These
three kings offered to our Lord, gold, incense and myrrh, and
they met together through miracle of God; for they met together
in a city in Ind, that men clepe Cassak, that is a fifty-three
journeys from Bethlehem; and they were at Bethlehem the
thirteenth day; and that was the fourth day after that they had
seen the star, when they met in that city, and thus they were in
nine days from that city at Bethlehem, and that was great
miracle.</p>
<p>Also, under the cloister of the church, by eighteen degrees at
the right side, is the charnel of the Innocents, where their
bones lie. And before the place where our Lord was born is
the tomb of Saint Jerome, that was a priest and a cardinal, that
translated the Bible and the Psalter from Hebrew into Latin: and
without the minster is the chair that he sat in when he
translated it. And fast beside that church, a sixty fathom,
is a church of Saint Nicholas, where our Lady rested her after
she was lighted of our Lord; and forasmuch as she had too much
milk in her paps, that grieved her, she milked them on the red
stones of marble, so that the traces may yet be seen, in the
stones, all white.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that all that dwell in Bethlehem be
Christian men.</p>
<p><a name="page48"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 48</span>And
there be fair vines about the city, and great plenty of wine,
that the Christian men have do let make. But the Saracens
ne till not no vines, ne they drink no wine: for their books of
their law, that Mahomet betoke them, which they clepe their <i>Al
Koran</i>, and some clepe it <i>Mesaph</i>, and in another
language it is clept <i>Harme</i>, and the same book forbiddeth
them to drink wine. For in that book, Mahomet cursed all
those that drink wine and all them that sell it: for some men
say, that he slew once an hermit in his drunkenness, that he
loved full well; and therefore he cursed wine and them that drink
it. But his curse be turned on to his own head, as holy
writ saith, <i>Et in virticem ipsius iniquitas ejus
descendet</i>, that is for to say, ‘His wickedness shall
turn and fall in his own head.’</p>
<p>And also the Saracens bring forth no pigs, nor they eat no
swine’s flesh, for they say it is brother to man, and it
was forbidden by the old law; and they hold him all accursed that
eat thereof. Also in the land of Palestine and in the land
of Egypt, they eat but little or none of flesh of veal or of
beef, but if be so old, that he may no more travel for old; for
it is forbidden, and for because they have but few of them;
therefore they nourish them for to ere their lands.</p>
<p>In this city of Bethlehem was David the king born; and he had
sixty wives, and the first wife was called Michal; and also he
had three hundred lemans.</p>
<p>And from Bethlehem unto Jerusalem is but two mile; and in the
way to Jerusalem half a mile from Bethlehem is a church, where
the angel said to the shepherds of the birth of Christ. And
in that way is the tomb of Rachel, that was Joseph’s
mother, the patriarch; and she died anon after that she was
delivered of her son Benjamin. And there she was buried of
Jacob her husband, and he let set twelve great stones on her, in
token that she had born twelve children. In the same way,
half mile from Jerusalem, appeared the star to the three
kings. In that way also be many churches of Christian men,
by the which men go towards the city of Jerusalem.</p>
<h2><a name="page49"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
49</span>CHAPTER X</h2>
<p style="text-align: center" class="gutsumm"><i>Of the
Pilgrimages in Jerusalem</i>, <i>and of the Holy Places
thereabout</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">After</span>, for to speak of Jerusalem
the holy city: ye shall understand, that it stands full fair
between hills, and there be no rivers ne wells, but water cometh
by conduit from Hebron. And ye shall understand, that
Jerusalem of old time, unto the time of Melchisadech, was clept
Jebus; and after it was clept Salem, unto the time of King David,
that put these two names together, and clept it Jebusalem; and
after that, King Solomon clept it Jerosolomye; and after that,
men clept it Jerusalem, and so it is clept yet.</p>
<p>And about Jerusalem is the kingdom of Syria. And there
beside is the land of Palestine, and beside it is Ascalon, and
beside that is the land of Maritaine. But Jerusalem is in
the land of Judea, and it is clept Judea, for that Judas
Maccabeus was king of that country; and it marcheth eastward to
the kingdom of Arabia; on the south side to the land of Egypt;
and on the west side to the Great Sea; on the north side, towards
the kingdom of Syria and to the sea of Cyprus. In Jerusalem
was wont to be a patriarch; and archbishops and bishops about in
the country. About Jerusalem be these cities: Hebron, at
seven mile; Jericho, at six mile; Beersheba, at eight mile;
Ascalon, at seventeen mile; Jaffa, at sixteen mile; Ramath, at
three mile; and Bethlehem, at two mile. And a two mile from
Bethlehem, toward the south, is the Church of St. Karitot, that
was abbot there, for whom they made much dole amongst the monks
when he should die; and yet they be in mourning in the wise that
they made their lamentation for him the first time; and it is
full great pity to behold.</p>
<p>This country and land of Jerusalem hath been in many divers
nations’ hands, and often, therefore, hath the country
suffered much tribulation for the sin of the <a
name="page50"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 50</span>people that
dwell there. For that country hath been in the hands of all
nations; that is to say, of Jews, of Canaanites, Assyrians,
Persians, Medes, Macedonians, of Greeks, Romans, of Christian
men, of Saracens, Barbarians, Turks, Tartars, and of many other
divers nations; for God will not that it be long in the hands of
traitors ne of sinners, be they Christian or other. And now
have the heathen men held that land in their hands forty year and
more; but they shall not hold it long, if God will.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that when men come to Jerusalem,
their first pilgrimage is to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
where our Lord was buried, that is without the city on the north
side; but it is now enclosed in with the town wall. And
there is a full fair church, all round, and open above, and
covered with lead; and on the west side is a fair tower and an
high for bells, strongly made.</p>
<p>And in the midst of the church is a tabernacle, as it were a
little house, made with a low little door, and that tabernacle is
made in manner of half a compass, right curiously and richly made
of gold and azure and other rich colours full nobly made.
And in the right side of that tabernacle is the sepulchre of our
Lord; and the tabernacle is eight foot long, and five foot wide,
and eleven foot in height. And it is not long sith the
sepulchre was all open, that men might kiss it and touch it; but
for pilgrims that came thither pained them to break the stone in
pieces or in powder, therefore the soldan hath do make a wall
about the sepulchre that no man may touch it: but in the left
side of the wall of the tabernacle is, well the height of a man,
a great stone to the quantity of a man’s head, that was of
the holy sepulchre; and that stone kiss the pilgrims that come
thither. In that tabernacle be no windows, but it is all
made light with lamps that hang before the sepulchre. And
there is a lamp that hangeth before the sepulchre, that burneth
light; and on the Good Friday it goeth out by himself, [and
lighteth again by him self] at that hour that our Lord rose from
death to life.</p>
<p><a name="page51"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 51</span>Also
within the church, at the right side, beside the choir of the
church, is the mount of Calvary, where our Lord was put on the
cross; and it is a rock of white colour and a little medled with
red. And the cross was set in a mortise in the same
rock. And on that rock dropped the wounds of our Lord when
he was pined on the cross. And that is clept Golgotha.</p>
<p>And men go up to that Golgotha by degrees; and in the place of
that mortise was Adam’s head found after Noah’s
flood, in token that the sins of Adam should be bought in that
same place. And upon that rock made Abraham sacrifice to
our Lord. And there is an altar; and before that altar lie
Godefray de Bouillon and Baldwin, and other Christian kings of
Jerusalem.</p>
<p>And there, nigh where our Lord was crucified, is this written
in Greek:</p>
<blockquote><p>† Ο θεὸς
Βασιλεῦς
ἡμῶν πρὸ
αἰώνων
εἰργάσατο
σωτηρίαν ἐν
μέσῳ τῆς
γῆς;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>that is to say, in Latin,—</p>
<blockquote><p><i>Deus Rex noster ante secula operatus est
salutem</i>, <i>in medio terrae</i>;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>that is to say,—</p>
<blockquote><p><i>This God our King</i>, <i>before the
worlds</i>, <i>hath wrought health in midst of the earth</i>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And also on that rock, where the cross was set, is written
within the rock these words:</p>
<blockquote><p>† Ο
ἕιδεις,
ἐστί Βάσις
τῆς
πίστεως
ὅλης τοῦ
κόσμου
τούτου;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>that is to say, in Latin,—</p>
<blockquote><p><i>Quod vides</i>, <i>est fundamentum totius fidei
mundi hujus</i>;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>that is to say,—</p>
<blockquote><p>† <i>That thou seest</i>, <i>is the ground
of all the faith of this world</i>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And ye shall understand, that when our Lord was done upon the
cross, he was thirty-three year and three months of old.
And the prophecy of David saith thus: <i>Quadraginta annis
proximus fui generationi huic</i>; that is to say, <a
name="page52"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 52</span>‘Forty
year was I neighbour to this kindred.’ And thus
should it seem that the prophecies were not true. But they
be both true; for in old time men made a year of ten months, of
the which March was the first and December was the last.
But Gaius, that was Emperor of Rome, put these two months
thereto, January and February, and ordained the year of twelve
months; that is to say, 365 days, without leap year, after the
proper course of the sun. And therefore after counting of
ten months of the year, he died in the fortieth year, as the
prophet said. And after the year of twelve months, he was
of age thirty-three year and three months.</p>
<p>Also, within the mount of Calvary, on the right side, is an
altar, where the pillar lieth that our Lord Jesu was bounden to
when he was scourged. And there beside be four pillars of
stone, that always drop water; and some men say that they weep
for our Lord’s death. And nigh that altar is a place
under earth forty-two degrees of deepness, where the holy cross
was found, by the wit of Saint Helen, under a rock where the Jews
had hid it. And that was the very cross assayed; for they
found three crosses, one of our Lord, and two of the two thieves;
and Saint Helen proved them by a dead body that arose from death
to life, when that it was laid on it, that our Lord died
on. And thereby in the wall is the place where the four
nails of our Lord were hid: for he had two in his hands and two
in his feet. And, of one of these, the Emperor of
Constantinople made a bridle to his horse to bear him in battle;
and, through virtue thereof, he overcame his enemies, and won all
the land of Asia the less, that is to say, Turkey, Armenia the
less and the more, and from Syria to Jerusalem, from Arabia to
Persia, from Mesopotamia to the kingdom of Aleppo, from Egypt the
high and the low and all the other kingdoms unto the depth of
Ethiopia, and into Ind the less that then was Christian.</p>
<p>And there were in that time many good holy men and holy
hermits, of whom the book of Father’s lives speaketh, and
they be now in Paynims’ and Saracens’ hands: but when
God Almighty will, right as the lands <a name="page53"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 53</span>were lost through sin of Christian
men, so shall they be won again by Christian men through help of
God.</p>
<p>And in midst of that church is a compass, in the which Joseph
of Arimathea laid the body of our Lord when he had taken him down
off the cross; and there he washed the wounds of our Lord.
And that compass, say men, is the midst of the world.</p>
<p>And in the church of the sepulchre, on the north side, is the
place where our Lord was put in prison (for he was in prison in
many places); and there is a part of the chain that he was
bounden with; and there he appeared first to Mary Magdalene when
he was risen, and she wend that he had been a gardener.</p>
<p>In the church of Saint Sepulchre was wont to be canons of the
order of Saint Augustine, and had a prior, but the patriarch was
their sovereign.</p>
<p>And without the doors of the church, on the right side as men
go upward eighteen grees, said our Lord to his mother,
<i>Mulier</i>, <i>ecce Filius tuus</i>; that is to say, Woman,
lo! thy Son! And after that he said to John, his disciple,
<i>Ecce mater tua</i>; that is to say, Lo! behold thy
mother! And these words he said on the cross. And on
these grees went our Lord when he bare the cross on his
shoulder. And under these grees is a chapel, and in that
chapel sing priests, Indians, that is to say, priests of Ind, not
after our law, but after theirs; and alway they make their
sacrament of the altar, saying, <i>Pater Noster</i> and other
prayers therewith; with the which prayers they say the words that
the sacrament is made of, for they ne know not the additions that
many popes have made; but they sing with good devotion. And
there near, is the place where that our Lord rested him when he
was weary for bearing of the cross.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand that before the church of the
sepulchre is the city more feeble than in any other part, for the
great plain that is between the church and the city. And
toward the east side, without the walls of the city, is the vale
of Jehosaphat that toucheth to the walls as though it were a
large ditch. And above that vale of Jehosaphat, out of the
city, is the church of Saint Stephen where he was <a
name="page54"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 54</span>stoned to
death. And there beside, is the Golden Gate, that may not
be opened, by the which gate our Lord entered on Palm-Sunday upon
an ass: and the gate opened against him when he would go unto the
temple; and yet appear the steps of the ass’s feet in three
places of the degrees that be of full hard stone.</p>
<p>And before the church of Saint Sepulchre, toward the south, at
200 paces, is the great hospital of Saint John, of which the
hospitallers had their foundation. And within the palace of
the sick men of that hospital be 124 pillars of stone. And
in the walls of the house, without the number above-said, there
be fifty-four pillars that bear up the house. And from that
hospital to go toward the east is a full fair church, that is
clept <i>Nôtre Dame la Grande</i>. And then is there
another church right nigh, that is clept <i>Nôtre Dame de
Latine</i>. And there were Mary Cleophas and Mary
Magdalene, and tore their hair when our Lord was pained in the
cross.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Temple of our Lord</i>. <i>Of
the Cruelty of King Herod</i>. <i>Of the Mount
Sion</i>. <i>Of Probatica Piscina</i>; <i>and of Natatorium
Siloe</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">And</span> from the church of the
sepulchre, toward the east, at eight score paces, is <i>Templum
Domini</i>. It is right a fair house, and it is all round
and high, and covered with lead. And it is well paved with
white marble. But the Saracens will not suffer no Christian
man ne Jews to come therein, for they say that none so foul
sinful men should not come in so holy place: but I came in there
and in other places there I would, for I had letters of the
soldan with his great seal, and commonly other men have but his
signet. In the which letters he commanded, of his special
grace, to all his subjects, to let me see all the places, and to
inform me pleinly all the mysteries of every place, and to
conduct <a name="page55"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 55</span>me
from city to city, if it were need, and buxomly to receive me and
my company, and for to obey to all my requests reasonable if they
were not greatly against the royal power and dignity of the
soldan or of his law. And to others, that ask him grace,
such as have served him, he ne giveth not but his signet, the
which they make to be borne before them hanging on a spear.
And the folk of the country do great worship and reverence to his
signet or seal, and kneel thereto as lowly as we do to <i>Corpus
Domini</i>. And yet men do full greater reverence to his
letters; for the admiral and all other lords that they be shewed
to, before or they receive them, they kneel down; and then they
take them and put them on their heads; and after, they kiss them
and then they read them, kneeling with great reverence; and then
they offer them to do all that the bearer asketh.</p>
<p>And in this <i>Templum Domini</i> were some-time canons
regulars, and they had an abbot to whom they were obedient; and
in this temple was Charlemagne when that the angel brought him
the prepuce of our Lord Jesus Christ of his circumcision; and
after, King Charles let bring it to Paris into his chapel, and
after that he let bring it to Peyteres, and after that to
Chartres.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that this is not the temple that
Solomon made, for that temple dured not but 1102 year. For
Titus, Vespasian’s son, Emperor of Rome, had laid siege
about Jerusalem for to discomfit the Jews; for they put our Lord
to death, without leave of the emperor. And, when he had
won the city, he burnt the temple and beat it down, and all the
city, and took the Jews and did them to death—1,100,000;
and the others he put in prison and sold them to
servage,—thirty for one penny; for they said they bought
Jesu for thirty pennies, and he made of them better cheap when he
gave thirty for one penny.</p>
<p>And after that time, Julian Apostate, that was emperor, gave
leave to the Jews to make the temple of Jerusalem, for he hated
Christian men. And yet he was christened, but he forsook
his law, and became a renegade. And <a
name="page56"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 56</span>when the Jews
had made the temple, came an earthquaking, and cast it down (as
God would) and destroyed all that they had made.</p>
<p>And after that, Adrian, that was Emperor of Rome, and of the
lineage of Troy, made Jerusalem again and the temple in the same
manner as Solomon made it. And he would not suffer no Jews
to dwell there, but only Christian men. For although it
were so that he was not christened, yet he loved Christian men
more than any other nation save his own. This emperor let
enclose the church of Saint Sepulchre, and walled it within the
city; that, before, was without the city, long time before.
And he would have changed the name of Jerusalem, and have clept
it Aelia; but that name lasted not long.</p>
<p>Also, ye shall understand, that the Saracens do much reverence
to that temple, and they say, that that place is right
holy. And when they go in they go bare-foot, and kneel many
times. And when my fellows and I saw that, when we came in
we did off our shoes and came in bare-foot, and thought that we
should do as much worship and reverence thereto, as any of the
misbelieving men should, and as great compunction in heart to
have.</p>
<p>This temple is sixty-four cubits of wideness, and as many in
length; and of height it is six score cubits. And it is
within, all about, made with pillars of marble. And in the
middle place of the temple be many high stages, of fourteen
degrees of height, made with good pillars all about: and this
place the Jews call <i>Sancta Sanctorum</i>; that is to say,
‘Holy of Hallows.’ And, in that place, cometh
no man save only their prelate, that maketh their
sacrifice. And the folk stand all about, in diverse stages,
after they be of dignity or of worship, so that they all may see
the sacrifice. And in that temple be four entries, and the
gates be of cypress, well made and curiously dight: and within
the east gate our Lord said, ‘Here is
Jerusalem.’ And in the north side of that temple,
within the gate, there is a well, but it runneth nought, of the
which holy writ speaketh of and saith, <i>Vidi aquam egredientem
de templo</i>; that is to say, ‘I saw water come out of the
temple.’</p>
<p><a name="page57"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 57</span>And on
that other side of the temple there is a rock that men clepe
Moriach, but after it was clept Bethel, where the ark of God with
relics of Jews were wont to be put. That ark or hutch with
the relics Titus led with him to Rome, when he had discomfited
all the Jews. In that ark were the Ten Commandments, and of
Aaron’s yard, and Moses’ yard with the which he made
the Red Sea depart, as it had been a wall, on the right side and
on the left side, whiles that the people of Israel passed the sea
dry-foot: and with that yard he smote the rock, and the water
came out of it: and with that yard he did many wonders. And
therein was a vessel of gold full of manna, and clothing and
ornaments and the tabernacle of Aaron, and a tabernacle square of
gold with twelve precious stones, and a box of jasper green with
four figures and eight names of our Lord, and seven candlesticks
of gold, and twelve pots of gold, and four censers of gold, and
an altar of gold, and four lions of gold upon the which they bare
cherubin of gold twelve spans long, and the circle of swans of
heaven with a tabernacle of gold and a table of silver, and two
trumps of silver, and seven barley loaves and all the other
relics that were before the birth of our Lord Jesu Christ.</p>
<p>And upon that rock was Jacob sleeping when he saw the angels
go up and down by a ladder, and he said, <i>Vere locus iste
sanctus est</i>, <i>et ego ignorabam</i>; that is to say,
‘Forsooth this place is holy, and I wist it
nought.’ And there an angel held Jacob still, and
turned his name, and clept him Israel. And in that same
place David saw the angel that smote the folk with a sword, and
put it up bloody in the sheath. And in that same rock was
Saint Simeon when he received our Lord into the temple. And
in this rock he set him when the Jews would have stoned him; and
a star came down and gave him light. And upon that rock
preached our Lord often-time to the people. And out that
said temple our Lord drove out the buyers and the sellers.
And upon that rock our Lord set him when the Jews would have
stoned him; and the rock clave in two, and in that cleaving was
our Lord hid, and there came down a <a name="page58"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 58</span>star and gave light and served him
with clarity. And upon that rock sat our Lady, and learned
her psalter. And there our Lord forgave the woman her sins,
that was found in avowtry. And there was our Lord
circumcised. And there the angels shewed tidings to
Zacharias of the birth of Saint Baptist his son. And there
offered first Melchisadech bread and wine to our Lord, in token
of the sacrament that was to come. And there fell David
praying to our Lord and to the angel that smote the people, that
he would have mercy on him and on the people: and our Lord heard
his prayer, and therefore would he make the temple in that place,
but our Lord forbade him by an angel; for he had done treason
when he let slay Uriah the worthy knight, for to have Bathsheba
his wife. And therefore, all the purveyance that he had
ordained to make the temple with he took it Solomon his son, and
he made it. And he prayed our Lord, that all those that
prayed to him in that place with good heart—that he would
hear their prayer and grant it them if they asked it rightfully:
and our Lord granted it him, and therefore Solomon clept that
temple the Temple of Counsel and of Help of God.</p>
<p>And without the gate of that temple is an altar where Jews
were in wont to offer doves and turtles. And between the
temple and that altar was Zacharias slain. And upon the
pinnacle of that temple was our Lord brought for to be tempted of
the enemy, the fiend. And on the height of that pinnacle
the Jews set Saint James, and cast him down to the earth, that
first was Bishop of Jerusalem. And at the entry of that
temple, toward the west, is the gate that is clept <i>Porta
Speciosa</i>. And nigh beside that temple, upon the right
side, is a church, covered with lead, that is clept
Solomon’s School.</p>
<p>And from that temple towards the south, right nigh, is the
temple of Solomon, that is right fair and well polished.
And in that temple dwell the Knights of the Temple that were wont
to be clept Templars; and that was the foundation of their order,
so that there dwelled knights and in <i>Templo Domini</i> canons
regulars.</p>
<p>From that temple toward the east, a six score paces, in <a
name="page59"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 59</span>the corner of
the city, is the bath of our Lord; and in that bath was wont to
come water from Paradise, and yet it droppeth. And there
beside is our Lady’s bed. And fast by is the temple
of Saint Simeon, and without the cloister of the temple, toward
the north, is a full fair church of Saint Anne, our Lady’s
mother; and there was our Lady conceived; and before that church
is a great tree that began to grow the same night. And
under that church, in going down by twenty-two degrees, lieth
Joachim, our Lady’s father, in a fair tomb of stone; and
there beside lay some-time Saint Anne, his wife; but Saint Helen
let translate her to Constantinople. And in that church is
a well, in manner of a cistern, that is clept <i>Probatica
Piscina</i>, that hath five entries. Into that well angels
were wont to come from heaven and bathe them within. And
what man, that first bathed him after the moving of the water,
was made whole of what manner of sickness that he had. And
there our Lord healed a man of the palsy that lay thirty-eight
year, and our Lord said to him, <i>Tolle grabatum tuum et
ambula</i>, that is to say, ‘Take thy bed and
go.’ And there beside was Pilate’s house.</p>
<p>And fast by is King Herod’s house, that let slay the
innocents. This Herod was over-much cursed and cruel.
For first he let slay his wife that he loved right well; and for
the passing love that he had to her when he saw her dead, he fell
in a rage and out of his wit a great while; and sithen he came
again to his wit. And after he let slay his two sons that
he had of that wife. And after that he let slay another of
his wives, and a son that he had with her. And after that
he let slay his own mother; and he would have slain his brother
also, but he died suddenly. And after that he did all the
harm that he could or might. And after he fell into
sickness; and when he felt that he should die, he sent after his
sister and after all the lords of his land; and when they were
come he let command them to prison. And then he said to his
sister, he wist well that men of the country would make no sorrow
for his death; and therefore he made his sister swear that she
should let smite off all the heads of the lords when he were
dead; <a name="page60"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 60</span>and
then should all the land make sorrow for his death, and else,
nought; and thus he made his testament. But his sister
fulfilled not his will. For, as soon as he was dead, she
delivered all the lords out of prison and let them go, each lord
to his own, and told them all the purpose of her brother’s
ordinance. And so was this cursed king never made sorrow
for, as he supposed for to have been. And ye shall
understand, that in that time there were three Herods, of great
name and fame for their cruelty. This Herod, of which I
have spoken of was Herod Ascalonite; and he that let behead Saint
John the Baptist was Herod Antipas; and he that let smite off
Saint James’s head was Herod Agrippa, and he put Saint
Peter in prison.</p>
<p>Also, furthermore, in the city is the church of Saint Saviour;
and there is the left arm of John Chrisostome, and the more part
of the head of Saint Stephen. And on that other side in the
street, toward the south as men go to Mount Sion, is a church of
Saint James, where he was beheaded.</p>
<p>And from that church, a six score paces, is the Mount
Sion. And there is a fair church of our Lady, where she
dwelled; and there she died. And there was wont to be an
abbot of canons regulars. And from thence was she borne of
the apostles unto the vale of Jehosaphat. And there is the
stone that the angel brought to our Lord from the mount of Sinai,
and it is of that colour that the rock is of Saint
Catherine. And there beside is the gate where through our
Lady went, when she was with child, when she went to
Bethlehem. Also at the entry of the Mount Sion is a
chapel. And in that chapel is the stone, great and large,
with the which the sepulchre was covered with, when Joseph of
Arimathea had put our Lord therein; the which stone the three
Marys saw turn upward when they came to the sepulchre the day of
his resurrection, and there found an angel that told them of our
Lord’s uprising from death to life. And there also is
a stone in the wall, beside the gate, of the pillar that our Lord
was scourged at. And there was Annas’s house, that
was bishop of the Jews in that time. And there was our Lord
examined in the <a name="page61"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
61</span>night, and scourged and smitten and villainous
entreated. And that same place Saint Peter forsook our Lord
thrice or the cock crew. And there is a part of the table
that he made his supper on, when he made his maundy with his
disciples, when he gave them his flesh and his blood in form of
bread and wine.</p>
<p>And under that chapel, thirty-two degrees, is the place where
our Lord washed his disciples’ feet, and yet is the vessel
where the water was. And there beside that same vessel was
Saint Stephen buried. And there is the altar where our Lady
heard the angels sing mass. And there appeared first our
Lord to his disciples after his resurrection, the gates enclosed,
and said to them, <i>Pax vobis</i>! that is to say, ‘Peace
to you!’ And on that mount appeared Christ to Saint
Thomas the apostle and bade him assay his wounds; and then
believed he first, and said, <i>Dominus meus et Deus meus</i>!
that is to say ‘My Lord and my God!’ In the
same church, beside the altar, were all the apostles on
Whitsunday, when the Holy Ghost descended on them in likeness of
fire. And there made our Lord his pasque with his
disciples. And there slept Saint John the evangelist upon
the breast of our Lord Jesu Christ, and saw sleeping many
heavenly privities.</p>
<p>Mount Sion is within the city, and it is a little higher than
the other side of the city; and the city is stronger on that side
than on that other side. For at the foot of the Mount Sion
is a fair castle and a strong that the soldan let make. In
the Mount Sion were buried King David and King Solomon, and many
other kings, Jews of Jerusalem. And there is the place
where the Jews would have cast up the body of our Lady when the
apostles bare the body to be buried in the vale of
Jehosaphat. And there is the place where Saint Peter wept
full tenderly after that he had forsaken our Lord. And a
stone’s cast from that chapel is another chapel, where our
Lord was judged, for that time was there Caiaphas’s
house. From that chapel, to go toward the east, at seven
score paces, is a deep cave under the rock, that is clept the
Galilee of our Lord, where Saint Peter hid him when he had
forsaken our Lord. <i>Item</i>, <a name="page62"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 62</span>between the Mount Sion and the Temple
of Solomon is the place where our Lord raised the maiden in her
father’s house.</p>
<p>Under the Mount Sion, toward the vale of Jehosaphat, is a well
that is clept <i>Natatorium Siloe</i>. And there was our
Lord washed after his baptism; and there made our Lord the blind
man to see. And there was y-buried Isaiah the
prophet. Also, straight from <i>Natatorium Siloe</i>, is an
image, of stone and of old ancient work, that Absalom let make,
and because thereof men clepe it the hand of Absalom. And
fast by is yet the tree of elder that Judas hanged himself upon,
for despair that he had, when he sold and betrayed our
Lord. And there beside was the synagogue, where the bishops
of Jews and the Pharisees came together and held their council;
and there cast Judas the thirty pence before them, and said that
he had sinned betraying our Lord. And there nigh was the
house of the apostles Philip and Jacob Alphei. And on that
other side of Mount Sion, toward the south, beyond the vale a
stone’s cast, is Aceldama; that is to say, the field of
blood, that was bought for the thirty pence, that our Lord was
sold for. And in that field be many tombs of Christian men,
for there be many pilgrims graven. And there be many
oratories, chapels and hermitages, where hermits were wont to
dwell. And toward the east, an hundred paces, is the
charnel of the hospital of Saint John, where men were wont to put
the bones of dead men.</p>
<p>Also from Jerusalem, toward the west, is a fair church, where
the tree of the cross grew. And two mile from thence is a
fair church, where our Lady met with Elizabeth, when they were
both with child; and Saint John stirred in his mother’s
womb, and made reverence to his Creator that he saw not.
And under the altar of that church is the place where Saint John
was born. And from that church is a mile to the castle of
Emmaus: and there also our Lord shewed him to two of his
disciples after his resurrection. Also on that other side,
200 paces from Jerusalem, is a church, where was wont to be the
cave <a name="page63"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 63</span>of
the lion. And under that church, at thirty degrees of
deepness, were interred 12,000 martyrs, in the time of King
Cosdroe that the lion met with, all in a night, by the will of
God.</p>
<p>Also from Jerusalem, two mile, is the Mount Joy, a full fair
place and a delicious; and there lieth Samuel the prophet in a
fair tomb. And men clepe it Mount Joy, for it giveth joy to
pilgrims’ hearts, because that there men see first
Jerusalem.</p>
<p>Also between Jerusalem and the mount of Olivet is the vale of
Jehosaphat, under the walls of the city, as I have said
before. And in the midst of the vale is a little river that
men clepe <i>Torrens Cedron</i>, and above it, overthwart, lay a
tree (that the cross was made of) that men yede over on. And fast
by it is a little pit in the earth, where the foot of the pillar
is yet interred; and there was our Lord first scourged, for he
was scourged and villainously entreated in many places.
Also in the middle place of the vale of Jehosaphat is the church
of our Lady: and it is of forty-three degrees under the earth
unto the sepulchre of our Lady. And our Lady was of age,
when she died, seventy-two year. And beside the sepulchre
of our Lady is an altar, where our Lord forgave Saint Peter all
his sins. And from thence, toward the west, under an altar,
is a well that cometh out of the river of Paradise. And wit
well, that that church is full low in the earth, and some is all
within the earth. But I suppose well, that it was not so
founded. But for because that Jerusalem hath often-time
been destroyed and the walls abated and beten down and tumbled
into the vale, and that they have been so filled again and the
ground enhanced; and for that skill is the church so low within
the earth. And, natheles, men say there commonly, that the
earth hath so been cloven sith the time that our Lady was there
buried; and yet men say there, that it waxeth and groweth every
day, without doubt. In that church were wont to be monks
black, that had their abbot.</p>
<p>And beside that church is a chapel, beside the rock that hight
Gethsemane. And there was our Lord kissed of <a
name="page64"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 64</span>Judas; and
there was he taken of the Jews. And there left our Lord his
disciples, when he went to pray before his passion, when he
prayed and said, <i>Pater</i>, <i>si fieri potest</i>,
<i>transeat a me calix iste</i>; that is to say, ‘Father,
if it may be, do let this chalice go from me’: and, when he
came again to his disciples, he found them sleeping. And in
the rock within the chapel yet appear the fingers of our
Lord’s hand, when he put them in the rock, when the Jews
would have taken him.</p>
<p>And from thence, a stone’s cast towards the south, is
another chapel, where our Lord sweat drops of blood. And
there, right nigh, is the tomb of King Jehosaphat, of whom the
vale beareth the name. This Jehosaphat was king of that
country, and was converted by an hermit, that was a worthy man
and did much good. And from thence, a bow draught towards
the south, is the church, where Saint James and Zachariah the
prophet were buried.</p>
<p>And above the vale is the mount of Olivet; and it is clept so
for the plenty of olives that grow there. That mount is
more high than the city of Jerusalem is; and, therefore, may men
upon that mount see many of the streets of the city. And
between that mount and the city is not but the vale of Jehosaphat
that is not full large. And from that mount styed our Lord
Jesu Christ to heaven upon Ascension Day; and yet there sheweth
the shape of his left foot in the stone. And there is a
church where was wont to be an abbot and canons regulars.
And a little thence, twenty-eight paces, is a chapel; and therein
is the stone on the which our Lord sat, when he preached the
eight blessings and said thus: <i>Beau pauperes spiritu</i>: and
there he taught his disciples the <i>Pater Noster</i>; and wrote
with his finger in a stone. And there nigh is a church of
Saint Mary Egyptian, and there she lieth in a tomb. And
from thence toward the east, a three bow shot, is Bethphage, to
the which our Lord sent Saint Peter and Saint James for to seek
the ass upon Palm-Sunday, and rode upon that ass to
Jerusalem.</p>
<p>And in coming down from the mount of Olivet, toward the east,
is a castle that is clept Bethany. And there dwelt <a
name="page65"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 65</span>Simon
leprous, and there harboured our Lord: and after he was baptised
of the apostles and was clept Julian, and was made bishop; and
this is the same Julian that men clepe to for good harbourage,
for our Lord harboured with him in his house. And in that
house our Lord forgave Mary Magdalene her sins: there she washed
his feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. And
there served Saint Martha our Lord. There our Lord raised
Lazarus from death to life, that was dead four days and stank,
that was brother to Mary Magdalene and to Martha. And there
dwelt also Mary Cleophas. That castle is well a mile long
from Jerusalem. Also in coming down from the mount of
Olivet is the place where our Lord wept upon Jerusalem. And
there beside is the place where our Lady appeared to Saint Thomas
the apostle after her assumption, and gave him her girdle.
And right nigh is the stone where our Lord often-time sat upon
when he preached; and upon that same he shall sit at the day of
doom, right as himself said.</p>
<p>Also after the mount of Olivet is the mount of Galilee.
There assembled the apostles when Mary Magdalene came and told
them of Christ’s uprising. And there, between the
Mount Olivet and the Mount Galilee, is a church, where the angel
said to our Lady of her death.</p>
<p>Also from Bethany to Jericho was sometime a little city, but
it is now all destroyed, and now is there but a little
village. That city took Joshua by miracle of God and
commandment of the angel, and destroyed it, and cursed it and all
them that bigged it again. Of that city was Zaccheus the
dwarf that clomb up into the sycamore tree for to see our Lord,
because he was so little he might not see him for the
people. And of that city was Rahab the common woman that
escaped alone with them of her lineage: and she often-time
refreshed and fed the messengers of Israel, and kept them from
many great perils of death; and, therefore, she had good reward,
as holy writ saith: <i>Qui accipit prophetam in nomine meo</i>,
<i>mercedem prophetae accipiet</i>; that is to say, ‘He
that taketh a prophet in my name, he shall take meed of the
prophet.’ And so had she. For <a
name="page66"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 66</span>she
prophesied to the messengers, saying, <i>Novi quod Dominus tradet
vobis terram hanc</i>; that is to say, ‘I wot well, that
our Lord shall betake you this land’: and so he did.
And after, Salomon, Naasson’s son, wedded her, and from
that time was she a worthy woman, and served God well.</p>
<p>Also from Bethany go men to flom Jordan by a mountain and
through desert. And it is nigh a day journey from Bethany,
toward the east, to a great hill, where our Lord fasted forty
days. Upon that hill the enemy of hell bare our Lord and
tempted him, and said, <i>Dic ut lapides isti panes fiant</i>;
that is to say, ‘Say, that these stones be made
loaves.’ In that place, upon the hill, was wont to be
a fair church; but it is all destroyed, so that there is now but
an hermitage, that a manner of Christian men hold, that be clept
Georgians, for Saint George converted them. Upon that hill
dwelt Abraham a great while, and therefore men clepe it
Abraham’s Garden. And between the hill and this
garden runneth a little brook of water that was wont to be
bitter; but, by the blessing of Elisha the prophet, it became
sweet and good to drink. And at the foot of this hill,
toward the plain, is a great well, that entereth into from
Jordan.</p>
<p>From that hill to Jericho, that I spake of before, is but a
mile in going toward flom Jordan. Also as men go to Jericho
sat the blind man crying, <i>Jesu</i>, <i>Fili David</i>,
<i>miserere mei</i>; that is to say, ‘Jesu, David’s
Son, have mercy on me.’ And anon he had his
sight. Also, two mile from Jericho, is flome Jordan.
And, an half mile more nigh, is a fair church of Saint John the
Baptist, where he baptised our Lord. And there beside is
the house of Jeremiah the prophet.</p>
<h2><a name="page67"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
67</span>CHAPTER XII</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Dead Sea</i>; <i>and of the Flome
Jordan</i>. <i>Of the Head of Saint John the Baptist</i>;
<i>and of the Usages of the Samaritans</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">And</span> from Jericho, a three mile, is
the Dead Sea. About that sea groweth much alum and of
alkatran. Between Jericho and that sea is the land of
Engeddi. And there was wont to grow the balm; but men make
draw the branches thereof and bear them to be grafted at Babylon;
and yet men clepe them vines of Geddi. At a coast of that
sea, as men go from Arabia, is the mount of the Moabites, where
there is a cave, that men clepe Karua. Upon that hill led
Balak, the son of Beor, Balaam the priest for to curse the people
of Israel.</p>
<p>That Dead Sea parteth the land of Ind and of Arabia, and that
sea lasteth from Soara unto Arabia. The water of that sea
is full bitter and salt, and, if the earth were made moist and
wet with that water, it would never bear fruit. And the
earth and the land changeth often his colour. And it
casteth out of the water a thing that men clepe asphalt, also
great pieces, as the greatness of an horse, every day and on all
sides. And from Jerusalem to that sea is 200
furlongs. That sea is in length five hundred and four score
furlongs, and in breadth an hundred and fifty furlongs; and it is
clept the Dead Sea, for it runneth nought, but is ever
unmovable. And neither man, ne beast, ne nothing that
beareth life in him ne may not die in that sea. And that
hath been proved many times, by men that have deserved to be dead
that have been cast therein and left therein three days or four,
and they ne might never die therein; for it receiveth no thing
within him that beareth life. And no man may drink of the
water for bitterness. And if a man cast iron therein, it
will float above. And if men cast a <a
name="page68"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 68</span>feather
therein, it will sink to the bottom, and these be things against
kind.</p>
<p>And also, the cities there were lost because of sin. And
there beside grow trees that bear full fair apples, and fair of
colour to behold; but whoso breaketh them or cutteth them in two,
he shall find within them coals and cinders, in token that by
wrath of God the cities and the land were burnt and sunken into
hell. Some men clepe that sea the lake Dalfetidee; some,
the flome of Devils; and some the flome that is ever
stinking. And into that sea sunk the five cities by wrath
of God; that is to say, Sodom, Gomorrah, Aldama, Zeboim, and
Zoar, for the abominable sin of sodomy that reigned in
them. But Zoar, by the prayer of Lot, was saved and kept a
great while, for it was set upon a hill; and yet sheweth thereof
some part above the water, and men may see the walls when it is
fair weather and clear. In that city Lot dwelt a little
while; and there was he made drunk of his daughters, and lay with
them, and engendered of them Moab and Ammon. And the cause
why his daughters made him drunk and for to lie by him was this:
because they saw no man about them, but only their father, and
therefore they trowed that God had destroyed all the world as he
had done the cities, as he had done before by Noah’s
flood. And therefore they would lie by with their father
for to have issue, and for to replenish the world again with
people to restore the world again by them; for they trowed that
there had been no more men in all the world; and if their father
had not been drunk, he had not lain with them.</p>
<p>And the hill above Zoar men cleped it then Edom and after men
cleped it Seir, and after Idumea. Also at the right side of
that Dead Sea, dwelleth yet the wife of Lot in likeness of a salt
stone; for that she looked behind her when the cities sunk into
hell. This Lot was Haran’s son, that was brother to
Abraham; and Sarah, Abraham’s wife, and Milcah,
Nahor’s wife, were sisters to the said Lot. And the
same Sarah was of eld four score and ten year when Isaac her son
was gotten on her. And Abraham had another son Ishmael that
he gat upon Hagar <a name="page69"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
69</span>his chamberer. And when Isaac his son was eight
days old, Abraham his father let him be circumcised, and Ishmael
with him that was fourteen year old: wherefore the Jews that come
of Isaac’s line be circumcised the eighth day, and the
Saracens that come of Ishmael’s line be circumcised when
they be fourteen year of age.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that within the Dead Sea, runneth the
flom Jordan, and there it dieth, for it runneth no further more,
and that is a place that is a mile from the church of Saint John
the Baptist toward the west, a little beneath the place where
that Christian men bathe them commonly. And a mile from
flom Jordan is the river of Jabbok, the which Jacob passed over
when he came from Mesopotamia. This flom Jordan is no great
river, but it is plenteous of good fish; and it cometh out of the
hill of Lebanon by two wells that be clept Jor and Dan, and of
the two wells hath it the name. And it passeth by a lake
that is clept Maron. And after it passeth by the sea of
Tiberias, and passeth under the hills of Gilboa; and there is a
full fair vale, both on that one side and on that other of the
same river. And men go [on] the hills of Lebanon, all in
length unto the desert of Pharan; and those hills part the
kingdom of Syria and the country of Phoenicia; and upon those
hills grow trees of cedar that be full high, and they bear long
apples, and as great as a man’s head.</p>
<p>And also this flom Jordan departeth the land of Galilee and
the land of Idumea and the land of Betron, and that runneth under
earth a great way unto a fair plain and a great that is clept
Meldan in Sarmois; that is to say, Fair or market in their
language, because that there is often fairs in that plain.
And there becometh the water great and large. In that plain
is the tomb of Job.</p>
<p>And in that flom Jordan above-said was our Lord baptised of
Saint John, and the voice of God the Father was heard saying:
<i>Hic est Filius meus dilectus</i>, <i>etc.</i>; that is to say,
‘This is my beloved Son, in the which I am well pleased;
hear him!’ and the Holy Ghost alighted upon him in likeness
of a culver; and so at his baptising was all the whole
Trinity.</p>
<p><a name="page70"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 70</span>And
through that flome passed the children of Israel, all dry feet;
and they put stones there in the middle place, in token of the
miracle that the water withdrew him so. Also in that flome
Jordan Naaman of Syria bathed him, that was full rich, but he was
mesell; and there anon he took his health.</p>
<p>About the flome Jordan be many churches where that many
Christian men dwelled. And nigh thereto is the city of Ai
that Joshua assailed and took. Also beyond the flome Jordan
is the vale of Mamre, and that is a full fair vale. Also
upon the hill that I spake of before, where our Lord fasted forty
days, a two mile long from Galilee, is a fair hill and an high,
where the enemy the fiend bare our Lord the third time to tempt
him, and shewed him all the regions of the world and said, <i>Hec
omnia tibi dabo</i>, <i>si cadens adoraveris me</i>; that is to
say, ‘All this shall I give thee, if thou fall and worship
me.’</p>
<p>Also from the Dead Sea to go eastward, out of the marches of
the Holy Land that is clept the Land of Promission, is a strong
castle and a fair, in an hill that is clept Carak in Sarmois;
that is to say, Royally. That castle let make King Baldwin,
that was King of France, when he had conquered that land, and put
it into Christian men’s hands for to keep that country; and
for that cause was it clept the Mount Royal. And under it
there is a town that hight Sobach, and there, all about, dwell
Christian men, under tribute.</p>
<p>From thence go men to Nazareth, of the which our Lord beareth
the surname. And from thence there is three journeys to
Jerusalem: and men go by the province of Galilee by Ramath, by
Sothim and by the high hill of Ephraim, where Elkanah and Hannah
the mother of Samuel the prophet dwelled. There was born
this prophet; and, after his death, he was buried at Mount Joy,
as I have said you before.</p>
<p>And then go men to Shiloh, where the Ark of God with the
relics were kept long time under Eli the prophet. There
made the people of Hebron sacrifice to our Lord, and they yielded
up their vows. And there spake <a name="page71"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 71</span>God first to Samuel, and shewed him
the mutation of Order of Priesthood, and the mystery of the
Sacrament. And right nigh, on the left side, is Gibeon and
Ramah and Benjamin, of the which holy writ speaketh of.</p>
<p>And after men go to Sichem, some-time clept Sichar; and that
is in the province of Samaritans. And there is a full fair
vale and a fructuous; and there is a fair city and a good that
men clepe Neople. And from thence is a journey to
Jerusalem. And there is the well, where our Lord spake to
the woman of Samaritan. And there was wont to be a church,
but it is beaten down. Beside that well King Rehoboam let
make two calves of gold and made them to be worshipped, and put
that one at Dan and that other at Bethel. And a mile from
Sichar is the city of Luz; and in that city dwelt Abraham a
certain time. Sichem is a ten mile from Jerusalem, and it
is clept Neople; that is for to say, the New City. And nigh
beside is the tomb of Joseph the son of Jacob that governed
Egypt: for the Jews bare his bones from Egypt and buried them
there, and thither go the Jews often-time in pilgrimage with
great devotion. In that city was Dinah, Jacob’s
daughter, ravished, for whom her brethren slew many persons and
did many harms to the city. And there beside is the hill of
Gerizim, where the Samaritans make their sacrifice: in that hill
would Abraham have sacrificed his son Isaac. And there
beside is the vale of Dotaim, and there is the cistern, where
Joseph, was cast in of his brethren, which they sold; and that is
two mile from Sichar.</p>
<p>From thence go men to Samaria that men clepe now Sebast; and
that is the chief city of that country, and it sits between the
hill of Aygnes as Jerusalem doth. In that city was the
sittings of the twelve tribes of Israel; but the city is not now
so great as it was wont to be. There was buried Saint John
the Baptist between two prophets, Elisha and Abdon; but he was
beheaded in the castle of Macharim beside the Dead Sea, and after
he was translated of his disciples, and buried at Samaria.
And there let Julianus Apostata dig him up and let burn his bones
(for <a name="page72"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 72</span>he
was at that time emperor) and let winnow the ashes in the
wind. But the finger that shewed our Lord, saying, <i>Ecce
Agnus Dei</i>; that is to say, ‘Lo! the Lamb of God,’
that would never burn, but is all whole;—that finger let
Saint Thecla, the holy virgin, be born into the hill of Sebast;
and there make men great feast.</p>
<p>In that place was wont to be a fair church; and many other
there were; but they be all beaten down. There was wont to
be the head of Saint John Baptist, enclosed in the wall.
But the Emperor Theodosius let draw it out, and found it wrapped
in a little cloth, all bloody; and so he let it to be born to
Constantinople. And yet at Constantinople is the hinder
part of the head, and the fore part of the head, till under the
chin, is at Rome under the church of Saint Silvester, where be
nuns of an hundred orders: and it is yet all broilly, as though
it were half-burnt, for the Emperor Julianus above-said, of his
cursedness and malice, let burn that part with the other bones,
and yet it sheweth; and this thing hath been proved both by popes
and by emperors. And the jaws beneath, that hold to the
chin, and a part of the ashes and the platter that the head was
laid in, when it was smitten off, is at Genoa; and the Genoese
make of it great feast, and so do the Saracens also. And
some men say that the head of Saint John is at Amiens in Picardy;
and other men say that it is the head of Saint John the
Bishop. I wot never, but God knoweth; but in what wise that
men worship it, the blessed Saint John holds him a-paid.</p>
<p>From this city of Sebast unto Jerusalem is twelve mile.
And between the hills of that country there is a well that four
sithes in the year changeth his colour, sometime green, sometime
red, sometime clear and sometime trouble; and men clepe that
well, Job. And the folk of that country, that men clepe
Samaritans, were converted and baptized by the apostles; but they
hold not well their doctrine, and always they hold laws by
themselves, varying from Christian men, from Saracens, Jews and
Paynims. And the Samaritans lieve well in one God, and they
say well that <a name="page73"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
73</span>there is but only one God, that all formed, and all
shall doom; and they hold the Bible after the letter, and they
use the Psalter as the Jews do. And they say that they be
the right sons of God. And among all other folk, they say
that they be best beloved of God, and that to them belongeth the
heritage that God behight to his beloved children. And they
have also diverse clothing and shape to look on than other folk
have; for they wrap their heads in red linen cloth, in difference
from others. And the Saracens wrap their heads in white
linen cloth; and the Christian men, that dwell in the country,
wrap them in blue of Ind; and the Jews in yellow cloth. In
that country dwell many of the Jews, paying tribute as Christian
men do. And if ye will know the letters that the Jews use
they be such, and the names be as they clepe them written above,
in manner of their A. B. C.</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Aleph</p>
<p style="text-align: center">א</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Beth</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ב</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Gymel</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ג</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Deleth</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ד</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">He</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ה</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Vau</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ו</p>
</td>
<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">Zay</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ז</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Heth</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ח</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Thet</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ט</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Joht</p>
<p style="text-align: center">י</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Kapho</p>
<p style="text-align: center">כ</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Lampd</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ל</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Mem</p>
<p style="text-align: center">מ</p>
</td>
<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">Num</p>
<p style="text-align: center">נ</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Sameth</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ס</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Ey</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ע</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Fhee</p>
<p style="text-align: center">פ</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Sade</p>
<p style="text-align: center">צ</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Coph</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ק</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Resch</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ר</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Son</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ש</p>
</td>
<td><p style="text-align: center">Tau</p>
<p style="text-align: center">ת</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Province of Galilee</i>, <i>and
where Antichrist shall be born</i>. <i>Of
Nazareth</i>. <i>Of the age of Our Lady</i>. <i>Of
the Day of Doom</i>. <i>And of the customs of
Jacobites</i>, <i>Syrians</i>; <i>and of the usages of
Georgians</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">From</span> this country of the Samaritans
that I have spoken of before go men to the plains of Galilee, and
men leave the hills on that one part.</p>
<p>And Galilee is one of the provinces of the Holy Land, and in
that province is the city of Nain—and Capernaum, and
Chorazin and Bethsaida. In this Bethsaida was Saint <a
name="page74"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 74</span>Peter and
Saint Andrew born. And thence, a four mile, is
Chorazin. And five mile from Chorazin is the city of Kedar
whereof the Psalter speaketh: <i>Et habitavi cum habitantibus
Kedar</i>; that is for to say, ‘And I have dwelled with the
dwelling men in Kedar.’ In Chorazin shall Antichrist
be born, as some men say. And other men say he shall be
born in Babylon; for the prophet saith: <i>De Babilonia coluber
exest</i>, <i>qui totum mundum devorabit</i>; that is to say
‘Out of Babylon shall come a worm that shall devour all the
world.’ This Antichrist shall be nourished in
Bethsaida, and he shall reign in Capernaum: and therefore saith
holy writ; <i>Vae tibi</i>, <i>Chorazin</i>! <i>Vae
tibi</i>, <i>Bethsaida</i>! <i>Vae tibi</i>,
<i>Capernaum</i>! that is to say, ‘Woe be to thee,
Chorazin! Woe to thee, Bethsaida! Woe to thee,
Capernaum.’ And all these towns be in the land of
Galilee. And also the Cana of Galilee is four mile from
Nazareth: of that city was Simon Chananeus and his wife Canee, of
the which the holy evangelist speaketh of. There did our
Lord the first miracle at the wedding, when he turned water into
wine.</p>
<p>And in the end of Galilee, at the hills, was the Ark of God
taken; and on that other side is the Mount Endor or Hermon.
And, thereabout, goeth the Brook of Torrens Kishon; and there
beside, Barak, that was Abimelech’s son with Deborah the
prophetess overcame the host of Idumea, when Sisera the king was
slain of Jael the wife of Heber, and chased beyond the flome
Jordan, by strength of sword, Zeeb and Zebah and Zalmunna, and
there he slew them. Also a five mile from Nain is the city
of Jezreel that sometime was clept Zarim, of the which city
Jezabel, the cursed queen, was lady and queen, that took away the
vine of Naboth by her strength. Fast by that city is the
field Megiddo, in the which the King Joram was slain of the King
of Samaria and after was translated and buried in the Mount
Sion.</p>
<p>And a mile from Jezreel be the hills of Gilboa, where Saul and
Jonathan, that were so fair, died; wherefore David cursed them,
as holy writ saith: <i>Montes Gilboæ</i>, <i>nec ros nec
pluvia</i>, <i>etc.</i>; that is to say, ‘Ye hills of
Gilboa, <a name="page75"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
75</span>neither dew ne rain come upon you.’ And a
mile from the hills of Gilboa toward the east is the city of
Cyropolis, that was clept before Bethshan; and upon the walls of
that city was the head of Saul hanged.</p>
<p>After go men by the hill beside the plains of Galilee unto
Nazareth, where was wont to be a great city and a fair; but now
there is not but a little village, and houses abroad here and
there. And it is not walled. And it sits in a little
valley, and there be hills all about. There was our Lady
born, but she was gotten at Jerusalem. And because that our
Lady was born at Nazareth, therefore bare our Lord his surname of
that town. There took Joseph our Lady to wife, when she was
fourteen year of age. And there Gabriel greeted our Lady,
saying, <i>Ave gratia plena</i>, <i>Dominus tecum</i>! that is to
say, ‘Hail, full of grace, our Lord is with
thee!’ And this salutation was done in a place of a
great altar of a fair church that was wont to be sometime, but it
is now all down, and men have made a little receipt, beside a
pillar of that church, to receive the offerings of
pilgrims. And the Saracens keep that place full dearly, for
the profit that they have thereof. And they be full wicked
Saracens and cruel, and more despiteful than in any other place,
and have destroyed all the churches. There nigh is
Gabriel’s Well, where our Lord was wont to bathe him, when
he was young, and from that well bare he water often-time to his
mother. And in that well she washed often-time the clouts
of her Son Jesu Christ. And from Jerusalem unto thither is
three journeys. At Nazareth was our Lord nourished.
Nazareth is as much to say as, ‘Flower of the
garden’; and by good skill may it be clept flower, for
there was nourished the flower of life that was Christ Jesu.</p>
<p>And two mile from Nazareth is the city of Sephor, by the way
that goeth from Nazareth to Akon. And an half mile from
Nazareth is the Leap of our Lord. For the Jews led him upon
an high rock for to make him leap down, and have slain him; but
Jesu passed amongst them, and leapt upon another rock, and yet be
the steps of his feet seen in the rock, where he alighted.
And therefore say <a name="page76"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
76</span>some men, when they dread them of thieves in any way, or
of enemies; <i>Jesus autem transiens per medium illorum ibat</i>;
that is to say, ‘Jesus, forsooth, passing by the midst of
them, he went’: in token and mind, that our Lord passed
through, out the Jews’ cruelty, and scaped safely from
them, so surely may men pass the peril of thieves’.
And then say men two verses of the Psalter three sithes:
<i>Irruat super eos formido & pavor</i>, <i>in magnitudine
brachii tui</i>, <i>Domine</i>. <i>Fiant immobiles</i>,
<i>quasi lapis</i>, <i>donec pertranseat populus tuus</i>,
<i>Domine</i>; <i>donec pertranseat populus tuus iste</i>,
<i>quem possedisti</i>; and then may men pass without peril.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that our Lady had child when she was
fifteen year old. And she was conversant with her son
thirty-three year and three months. And after the passion
of our Lord she lived twenty-four year.</p>
<p>Also from Nazareth men go to the Mount Tabor; and that is a
four mile. And it is a full fair hill and well high, where
was wont to be a town and many churches; but they be all
destroyed. But yet there is a place that men clepe the
school of God, where he was wont to teach his disciples, and told
them the privities of heaven. And, at the foot of that
hill, Melchisedech that was King of Salem, in the turning of that
hill met Abraham in coming again from the battle, when he had
slain Abimelech. And this Melchisedech was both king and
priest of Salem that now is clept Jerusalem. In that hill
Tabor our Lord transfigured him before Saint Peter, Saint John
and Saint Jame; and there they saw, ghostly, Moses and Elias the
prophets beside them. And therefore said Saint Peter;
<i>Domine</i>, <i>bonum est nos hic esse</i>; <i>faciamus hic
tria tabernacula</i>; that is to say, ‘Lord, it is good for
us to be here; make we here three dwelling-places.’
And there heard they a voice of the Father that say; <i>Hic est
Filius meus dilectus</i>, <i>in quo mihi bene
complacui</i>. And our Lord defended them that they should
not tell that avision till that he were risen from death to
life.</p>
<p>In that hill and in that same place, at the day of doom, four
angels with four trumpets shall blow and raise all men that had
suffered death, sith that the world was <a
name="page77"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 77</span>formed, from
death to life; and shall come in body and soul in judgment,
before the face of our Lord in the Vale of Jehosaphat. And
the doom shall be on Easter Day, such time as our Lord
arose. And the doom shall begin, such hour as our Lord
descended to hell and despoiled it. For at such hour shall
he despoil the world and lead his chosen to bliss; and the other
shall he condemn to perpetual pains. And then shall every
man have after his desert, either good or evil, but if the mercy
of God pass his righteousness.</p>
<p>Also a mile from Mount Tabor is the Mount Hermon; and there
was the city of Nain. Before the gate of that city raised
our Lord the widow’s son, that had no more children.
Also three miles from Nazareth is the Castle Safra, of the which
the sons of Zebedee and the sons of Alpheus were. Also a
seven mile from Nazareth is the Mount Cain, and under that is a
well; and beside that well Lamech, Noah’s father, slew Cain
with an arrow. For this Cain went through briars and bushes
as a wild beast; and he had lived from the time of Adam his
father unto the time of Noah, and so he lived nigh to 2000
year. And this Lamech was all blind for eld.</p>
<p>From Safra men go to the sea of Galilee and to the city of
Tiberias, that sits upon the same sea. And albeit that men
clepe it a sea, yet is it neither sea ne arm of the sea.
For it is but a stank of fresh water that is in length one
hundred furlongs, and of breadth forty furlongs, and hath within
him great plenty of good fish, and runneth into flom
Jordan. The city is not full great, but it hath good baths
within him.</p>
<p>And there, as the flome Jordan parteth from the sea of
Galilee, is a great bridge, where men pass from the Land of
Promission to the land of King Bashan and the land of Gennesaret,
that be about the flom Jordan and the beginning of the sea of
Tiberias. And from thence may men go to Damascus, in three
days, by the kingdom of Traconitis, the which kingdom lasteth
from Mount Hermon to the sea of Galilee, or to the sea of
Tiberias, or to the sea of Gennesaret; and all is one sea, and
this <a name="page78"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 78</span>the
tank that I have told you, but it changeth thus the name for the
names of the cities that sit beside him.</p>
<p>Upon that sea went our Lord dry feet; and there he took up
Saint Peter, when he began to drench within the sea, and said to
him, <i>Modice fidei</i>, <i>quare dubitasti</i>? And after
his resurrection our Lord appeared on that sea to his disciples
and bade them fish, and filled all the net full of great
fishes. In that sea rowed our Lord often-time; and there he
called to him Saint Peter, Saint Andrew, Saint James and Saint
John, the sons of Zebedee.</p>
<p>In that city of Tiberias is the table upon the which our Lord
ate upon with his disciples after his resurrection; and they knew
him in breaking of bread, as the gospel saith: <i>Et cognoverunt
eum in fractione panis</i>. And nigh that city of Tiberias
is the hill, where our Lord fed 5000 persons with five barley
loaves and two fishes.</p>
<p>In that city a man cast a burning dart in wrath after our
Lord. And the head smote into the earth and waxed green;
and it growed to a great tree. And yet it groweth and the
bark thereof is all like coals.</p>
<p>Also in the head of that sea of Galilee, toward the
septentrion is a strong castle and an high that hight
Saphor. And fast beside it is Capernaum. Within the
Land of Promission is not so strong a castle. And there is
a good town beneath that is clept also Saphor. In that
castle Saint Anne our Lady’s mother was born. And
there beneath, was Centurio’s house. That country is
clept the Galilee of Folk that were taken to tribute of Zebulon
and Napthali.</p>
<p>And in again coming from that castle, a thirty mile, is the
city of Dan, that sometime was clept Belinas or Cesarea Philippi;
that sits at the foot of the Mount of Lebanon, where the flome
Jordan beginneth. There beginneth the Land of Promission
and dureth unto Beersheba in length, in going toward the north
into the south, and it containeth well a nine score miles; and of
breadth, that is to say, from Jericho unto Jaffa, and that
containeth a forty mile of Lombardy, or of our country, that be
also little miles; these be not miles of Gascony ne of the <a
name="page79"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 79</span>province of
Almayne, where be great miles. And wit ye well, that the
Land of Promission is in Syria. For the realm of Syria
dureth from the deserts of Arabia unto Cilicia, and that is
Armenia the great; that is to say, from the south to the
north. And, from the east to the west, it dureth from the
great deserts of Arabia unto the West Sea. But in that
realm of Syria is the kingdom of Judea and many other provinces,
as Palestine, Galilee, Little Cilicia, and many other.</p>
<p>In that country and other countries beyond they have a custom,
when they shall use war, and when men hold siege about city or
castle, and they within dare not send out messengers with letters
from lord to lord for to ask succour, they make their letters and
bind them to the neck of a culver, and let the culver flee.
And the culvers be so taught, that they flee with those letters
to the very place that men would send them to. For the
culvers be nourished in those places where they be sent to, and
they send them thus, for to bear their letters. And the
culvers return again whereas they be nourished; and so they do
commonly.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand that amongst the Saracens, one part
and other, dwell many Christian men of many manners and diverse
names. And all be baptized and have diverse laws and
diverse customs. But all believe in God the Father and the
Son and the Holy Ghost; but always fail they in some articles of
our faith. Some of these be clept Jacobites, for Saint
James converted them and Saint John baptized them. They say
that a man shall make his confession only to God, and not to a
man; for only to him should man yield him guilty of all that he
hath misdone. Ne God ordained not, ne never devised, ne the
prophet neither, that a man should shrive him to another (as they
say), but only to God. As Moses writeth in the Bible, and
as David saith in the Psalter Book; <i>Confitebor tibi</i>,
<i>Domine</i>, <i>in toto corde meo</i>, and <i>Delictum meum
tibi cognitum feci</i>, and <i>Deus meus es tu</i>, <i>&
confitebor tibi</i>, and <i>Quoniam cogitatio hominis
confitebitur tibi</i>, etc. For they know all the Bible and
the Psalter. And therefore allege they so the letter.
But they allege not the authorities <a name="page80"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 80</span>thus in Latin, but in their language
full apertly, and say well, that David and other prophets say
it.</p>
<p>Natheles, Saint Augustine and Saint Gregory say
thus:—Augustinus: <i>Qui scelera sua cogitat</i>, <i>&
conversus fuerit</i>, <i>veniam sibi credat</i>. Gregorius:
<i>Dominus potius mentem quam verba respicit</i>. And Saint
Hilary saith: <i>Longorum temporum crimina</i>, <i>in ictu oculi
pereunt</i>, <i>si cordis nata fuerit compunctio</i>. And
for such authorities they say, that only to God shall a man
knowledge his defaults, yielding himself guilty and crying him
mercy, and behoting to him to amend himself. And therefore,
when they will shrive them, they take fire and set it beside
them, and cast therein powder of frankincense; and in the smoke
thereof they shrive them to God, and cry him mercy. But
sooth it is, that this confession was first and kindly. But
Saint Peter the apostle, and they that came after him, have
ordained to make their confession to man, and by good reason; for
they perceived well that no sickness was curable, [ne] good
medicine to lay thereto, but if men knew the nature of the
malady; and also no man may give convenable medicine, but if he
know the quality of the deed. For one sin may be greater in
one man than in another, and in one place and in one time than in
another; and therefore it behoveth him that he know the kind of
the deed, and thereupon to give him penance.</p>
<p>There be other, that be clept Syrians; and they hold the
belief amongst us, and of them of Greece. And they use all
beards, as men of Greece do. And they make the sacrament of
therf bread. And in their language they use letters of
Saracens. But after the mystery of Holy Church they use
letters of Greece. And they make their confession, right as
the Jacobites do.</p>
<p>There be other, that men clepe Georgians, that Saint George
converted; and him they worship more than any other saint, and to
him they cry for help. And they came out of the realm of
Georgia. These folk use crowns shaven. The clerks
have round crowns, and the lewd men have crowns all square.
And they hold Christian law, as do they of Greece; of whom I have
spoken of before.</p>
<p><a name="page81"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 81</span>Other
there be that men clepe Christian men of Girding, for they be all
girt above. And there be other that men clept
Nestorians. And some Arians, some Nubians, some of Greece,
some of Ind, and some of Prester John’s Land. And all
these have many articles of our faith, and to other they be
variant. And of their variance were too long to tell, and
so I will leave, as for the time, without more speaking of
them.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the City of Damascus</i>. <i>Of
three ways to Jerusalem</i>; <i>one</i>, <i>by land and by
sea</i>; <i>another</i>, <i>more by land than by sea</i>; <i>and
the third way to Jerusalem</i>, <i>all by land</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Now</span> after that I have told you some
part of folk in the countries before, now will I turn again to my
way, for to turn again on this half. Then whoso will go
from the land of Galilee, of that that I have spoke for, to come
again on this half, men come again by Damascus, that is a full
fair city and full noble, and full of all merchandises, and a
three journeys long from the sea, and a five journeys from
Jerusalem. But upon camels, mules, horses, dromedaries and
other beasts, men carry their merchandise thither. And
thither come the merchants with merchandise by sea from India,
Persia, Chaldea, Armenia, and of many other kingdoms.</p>
<p>This city founded Eliezer Damascus, that was yeoman and
dispenser of Abraham before that Isaac was born. For he
thought for to have been Abraham’s heir, and he named the
town after his surname Damascus. And in that place, where
Damascus was founded, Cain slew Abel his brother. And
beside Damascus is the Mount Seir. In that city of Damascus
there is great plenty of wells. And within the city and
without be many fair gardens and of diverse fruits. None
other city is not like in comparison to it of fair gardens, and
of fair disports. <a name="page82"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 82</span>The city is great and full of people,
and well walled with double walls. And there be many
physicians. And Saint Paul himself was there a physician
for to keep men’s bodies in health, before he was
converted. And after that he was physician of souls.
And Saint Luke the evangelist was disciple of Saint Paul for to
learn physic, and many other; for Saint Paul held then school of
physic. And near beside Damascus was he converted.
And after his conversion ne dwelt in that city three days,
without sight and without meat or drink; and in those three days
he was ravished to heaven, and there he saw many privities of our
Lord.</p>
<p>And fast beside Damascus is the castle of Arkes that is both
fair and strong.</p>
<p>From Damascus men come again by our Lady of Sardenak, that is
a five mile on this half Damascus. And it sitteth upon a
rock, and it is a full fair place; and it seemeth a castle, for
there was wont to be a castle, but it is now a full fair
church. And there within be monks and nuns Christian.
And there is a vault under the church, where that Christian men
dwell also. And they have many good vines. And in the
church, behind the high altar, in the wall, is a table of black
wood, on the which sometime was depainted an image of our Lady
that turneth into flesh: but now the image sheweth but little,
but alway, by the grace of God, that table evermore drops oil, as
it were of olive; and there is a vessel of marble under the table
to receive the oil. Thereof they give to pilgrims, for it
heals of many sicknesses; and men say that, if it be kept well
seven year, afterwards it turns into flesh and blood. From
Sardenak men come through the vale of Bochar, the which is a fair
vale and a plenteous of all manner of fruit; and it is amongst
hills. And there are therein fair rivers and great meadows
and noble pasture for beasts. And men go by the mounts of
Libanus, which lasts from Armenia the more towards the north unto
Dan, the which is the end of the Land of Repromission toward the
north, as I said before. Their hills are right fruitful,
and there are many fair wells and cedars and cypresses, and many
other trees <a name="page83"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
83</span>of divers kinds. There are also many good towns
toward the head of their hills, full of folk.</p>
<p>Between the city of Arkez and the city of Raphane is a river,
that is called Sabatory; for on the Saturday it runs fast, and
all the week else it stand still and runs not, or else but
fairly. Between the foresaid hills also is another water
that on nights freezes hard and on days is no frost seen
thereon. And, as men come again from those hills, is a hill
higher than any of the other, and they call it there the High
Hill. There is a great city and a fair, the which is called
Tripoli, in the which are many good Christian men, yemand the
same rites and customs that we use. From thence men come by
a city that is called Beyrout, where Saint George slew the
dragon; and it is a good town, and a fair castle therein, and it
is three journeys from the foresaid city of Sardenak. At
the one side of Beyrout sixteen mile, to come hitherward, is the
city of Sydon. At Beyrout enters pilgrims into the sea that
will come to Cyprus, and they arrive at the port of Surry or of
Tyre, and so they come to Cyprus in a little space. Or men
may come from the port of Tyre and come not at Cyprus, and arrive
at some haven of Greece, and so come to these parts, as I said
before.</p>
<p>I have told you now of the way by which men go farrest and
longest to Jerusalem, as by Babylon and Mount Sinai and many
other places which ye heard me tell of; and also by which ways
men shall turn again to the Land of Repromission. Now will
I tell you the rightest way and the shortest to Jerusalem.
For some men will not go the other; some for they have not
spending enough, some for they have no good company, and some for
they may not endure the long travel, some for they dread them of
many perils of deserts, some for they will haste them homeward,
desiring to see their wives and their children, or for some other
reasonable cause that they have to turn soon home. And
therefore I will shew how men may pass tittest and in shortest
time make their pilgrimage to Jerusalem. A man that comes
from the lands of the west, he goes through France, Burgoyne, <a
name="page84"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 84</span>and
Lumbardy. And so to Venice or Genoa, or some other haven,
and ships there and wends by sea to the isle of Greff, the which
pertains to the Genoans.</p>
<p>And syne he arrives in Greece at Port Mirrok, or at Valoun, or
at Duras, or at some other haven of that country, and rests him
there and buys him victuals and ships again and sails to Cyprus
and arrives there at Famagost and comes not at the isle of
Rhodes. Famagost is the chief haven of Cyprus; and there he
refreshes him and purveys him of victuals, and then he goes to
ship and comes no more on land, if he will, before he comes at
Port Jaffa, that is the next haven to Jerusalem, for it is but a
day journey and a half from Jerusalem, that is to say thirty-six
mile. From the Port Jaffa men go to the city of Rames, the
which is but a little thence; and it is a fair city and a good
and mickle folk therein. And without that city toward the
south is a kirk of our Lady, where our Lord shewed him to her in
three clouds, the which betokened the Trinity. And a little
thence is another city, that men call Dispolis, but it hight some
time Lidda, a fair city and a well inhabited: there is a kirk of
Saint George, where he was headed. From thence men go to
the castle of Emmaus, and so to the Mount Joy; there may pilgrims
first see Jerusalem. At Mount Joy lies Samuel the
prophet. From thence men go to Jerusalem. Beside
their ways is the city of Ramatha and the Mount Modyn; and
thereof was Matathias, Judas Machabeus father, and there are the
graves of the Machabees. Beyond Ramatha is the town of
Tekoa, whereof Amos the prophet was; and there is his grave.</p>
<p>I have told you before of the holy places that are at
Jerusalem and about it, and therefore I will speak no more of
them at this time. But I will turn again and shew you other
ways a man may pass more by land, and namely for them that may
not suffer the savour of the sea, but is liefer to go by land, if
all it be the more pain. From a man be entered into the sea
he shall pass till one of the havens of Lumbardy, for there is
the best making of purveyance of victuals; or he may pass to
Genoa or Venice <a name="page85"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
85</span>or some other. And he shall pass by sea in to
Greece to the Port Mirrok, or to Valoun or to Duras, or some
other haven of that country. And from thence he shall go by
land to Constantinople, and he shall pass the water that is
called Brace Saint George, the which is one arm of the sea.
And from thence he shall by land go to Ruffynell, where a good
castle is and a strong; and from therein he shall go to Puluual,
and syne to the castle of Sinope, and from thence to Cappadocia,
that is a great country, where are many great hills. And he
shall go though Turkey to the port of Chiutok and to the city of
Nicæa, which is but seven miles thence. That city won
the Turks from the Emperor of Constantinople; and it is a fair
city and well walled on the one side, and on the other side is a
great lake and a great river, the which is called Lay. From
thence men go by the hills of Nairmount and by the vales of
Mailbrins and strait fells and by the town of Ormanx or by the
towns that are on Riclay and Stancon, the which are great rivers
and noble, and so to Antioch the less, which is set on the river
of Riclay. And there abouts are many good hills and fair,
and many fair woods and great plenty of wild beasts for to hunt
at.</p>
<p>And he that will go another way, he shall go by the plains of
Romany coasting the Roman Sea. On that coast is a fair
castle that men call Florach, and it is right a strong
place. And uppermore amongst the mountains is a fair city,
that is called Tarsus, and the city of Longemaath, and the city
of Assere, and the city of Marmistre. And when a man is
passed those mountains and those fells, he goes by the city of
Marioch and by Artoise, where is a great bridge upon the river of
Ferne, that is called Farfar, and it is a great river bearing
ships and it runs right fast out of the mountains to the city of
Damascus. And beside the city of Damascus is another great
river that comes from the hills of Liban, which men call
Abbana. At the passing of this river Saint Eustace, that
some-time was called Placidas, lost his wife and his two
children. This river runs through the plain of Archades,
and so to the Red Sea. From thence men go to the city <a
name="page86"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 86</span>of Phenice,
where are hot wells and hot baths. And then men go to the
city of Ferne; and between Phenice and Ferne are ten mile.
And there are many fair woods. And then men come to
Antioch, which is ten mile thence. And it is a fair city
and well walled about with many fair towers; and it is a great
city, but it was some-time greater than it is now. For it
was some-time two mile on length and on breadth other half
mile. And through the midst of that city ran the water of
Farphar and a great bridge over it; and there was some-time in
the walls about this city three hundred and fifty towers, and at
each pillar of the bridge was a stone. This is the chief
city of the kingdom of Syria. And ten mile from this city
is the port of Saint Symeon; and there goes the water of Farphar
into the sea. From Antioch men go to a city that is called
Lacuth, and then to Gebel, and then to Tortouse. And there
near is the land of Channel; and there is a strong castle that is
called Maubek. From Tortouse pass men to Tripoli by sea, or
else by land through the straits of mountains and fells.
And there is a city that is called Gibilet. From Tripoli go
men to Acres; and from thence are two ways to Jerusalem, the one
on the left half and the other on the right half. By the
left way men go by Damascus and by the flum Jordan. By the
right way men go by Maryn and by the land of Flagramy and near
the mountains into the city of Cayphas, that some men call the
castle of Pilgrims. And from thence to Jerusalem are three
day journey, in the which men shall go through Caesarea Philippi,
and so to Jaffa and Rames and the castle of Emmaus, and so to
Jerusalem.</p>
<p>Now have I told you some ways by land and by water that men
may go by to the Holy Land after the countries that they come
from. Nevertheless they come all to one end. Yet is
there another way to Jerusalem all by land, and pass not the sea,
from France or Flanders; but that way is full long and perilous
and of great travel, and therefore few go that way. He that
shall go that way, he shall go through Almayne and Prussia and so
to Tartary. This Tartary is holden of the great Caan of
Cathay, of <a name="page87"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
87</span>whom I think to speak afterward. This is a full
ill land and sandy and little fruit bearing. For there
grows no corn, ne wine, ne beans, ne peas, ne none other fruit
convenable to man for to live with. But there are beasts in
great plenty: and therefore they eat but flesh without bread and
sup the broth and they drink milk of all manner of beasts.
They eat hounds, cats, ratons, and all other wild beasts.
And they have no wood, or else little; and therefore they warm
and seethe their meat with horse-dung and cow-dung and of other
beasts, dried against the sun. And princes and other eat
not but once in the day, and that but little. And they be
right foul folk and of evil kind. And in summer, by all the
countries, fall many tempests and many hideous thunders and leits
and slay much people and beasts also full often-time. And
suddenly is there passing heat, and suddenly also passing cold;
and it is the foulest country and the most cursed and the poorest
that men know. And their prince, that governeth that
country, that they clepe Batho, dwelleth at the city of
Orda. And truly no good man should not dwell in that
country, for the land and the country is not worthy hounds to
dwell in. It were a good country to sow in thistle and
briars and broom and thorns and briars; and for no other thing is
it not good. Natheles, there is good land in some place,
but it is pure little, as men say.</p>
<p>I have not been in that country, nor by those ways. But
I have been at other lands that march to those countries, as in
the land of Russia, as in the land of Nyflan, and in the realm of
Cracow and of Letto, and in the realm of Daristan, and in many
other places that march to the coasts. But I went never by
that way to Jerusalem, wherefore I may not well tell you the
manner.</p>
<p>But, if this matter please to any worthy man that hath gone by
that way, he may tell it if him like, to that intent, that those,
that will go by that way and make their voyage by those coasts,
may know what way is there. For no man may pass by that way
goodly, but in time of winter, for the perilous waters and wicked
mareys, that be in those countries, that no man may pass but if
it be strong <a name="page88"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
88</span>frost and snow above. For if the snow ne were not,
men might not go upon the ice, ne horse ne car neither.</p>
<p>And it is well a three journeys of such way to pass from
Prussia to the land of Saracens habitable. And it behoveth
to the Christian men, that shall war against them every year, to
bear their victuals with them; for they shall find there no
good. And then must they let carry their victual upon the
ice with cars that have no wheels, that they clepe sleighs.
And as long as their victuals last they may abide there, but no
longer; for there shall they find no wight that will sell them
any victual or anything. And when the spies see any
Christian men come upon them, they run to the towns, and cry with
a loud voice; <i>Kerra</i>, <i>Kerra</i>, <i>Kerra</i>. And
then anon they arm them and assemble them together.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand that it freezeth more strongly in
those countries than on this half. And therefore hath every
man stews in his house, and in those stews they eat and do their
occupations all that they may. For that is at the north
parts that men clepe the Septentrional where it is all only
cold. For the sun is but little or none toward those
countries. And therefore in the Septentrion, that is very
north, is the land so cold, that no man may dwell there.
And, in the contrary, toward the south it is so hot, that no man
ne may dwell there, because that the sun, when he is upon the
south, casteth his beams all straight upon that part.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Customs of Saracens</i>, <i>and of
their Law</i>. <i>And how the Soldan reasoned me</i>,
<i>Author of this Book</i>; <i>and of the beginning of
Mohammet</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Now</span>, because that I have spoken of
Saracens and of their country—now, if ye will know a part
of their law and of their belief, I shall tell you after that
their book that is <a name="page89"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
89</span>clept <i>Alkaron</i> telleth. And some men clepe
that book <i>Meshaf</i>. And some men clepe it
<i>Harme</i>, after the diverse languages of the country.
The which book Mohammet took them. In the which book, among
other things, is written, as I have often-time seen and read,
that the good shall go to paradise, and the evil to hell; and
that believe all Saracens. And if a man ask them what
paradise they mean, they say, to paradise that is a place of
delights where men shall find all manner of fruits in all
seasons, and rivers running of milk and honey, and of wine and of
sweet water; and that they shall have fair houses and noble,
every man after his desert, made of precious stones and of gold
and of silver; and that every man shall have four score wives all
maidens, and he shall have ado every day with them, and yet he
shall find them always maidens.</p>
<p>Also they believe and speak gladly of the Virgin Mary and of
the Incarnation. And they say that Mary was taught of the
angel; and that Gabriel said to her, that she was for-chosen from
the beginning of the world and that he shewed to her the
Incarnation of Jesu Christ and that she conceived and bare child
maiden; and that witnesseth their book.</p>
<p>And they say also, that Jesu Christ spake as soon as he was
born; and that he was an holy prophet and a true in word and
deed, and meek and piteous and rightful and without any vice.</p>
<p>And they say also, that when the angel shewed the Incarnation
of Christ unto Mary, she was young and had great dread. For
there was then an enchanter in the country that dealt with
witchcraft, that men clept Taknia, that by his enchantments could
make him in likeness of an angel, and went often-times and lay
with maidens. And therefore Mary dreaded lest it had been
Taknia, that came for to deceive the maidens. And therefore
she conjured the angel, that he should tell her if it were he or
no. And the angel answered and said that she should have no
dread of him, for he was very messenger of Jesu Christ.
Also their book saith, that when that she had childed under a
palm tree she had great shame, that she had a child; and <a
name="page90"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 90</span>she greet and
said that she would that she had been dead. And anon the
child spake to her and comforted her, and said, “Mother, ne
dismay thee nought, for God hath hid in thee his privities for
the salvation of the world.” And in other many places
saith their <i>Alkaron</i>, that Jesu Christ spake as soon as he
was born. And that book saith also that Jesu was sent from
God Almighty for to be mirror and example and token to all
men.</p>
<p>And the <i>Alkaron</i> saith also of the day of doom how God
shall come to doom all manner of folk. And the good he
shall draw on his side and put them into bliss, and the wicked he
shall condemn to the pains of hell. And among all prophets
Jesu was the most excellent and the most worthy next God, and
that he made the gospels in the which is good doctrine and
healthful, full of clarity and soothfastness and true preaching
to them that believe in God. And that he was a very prophet
and more than a prophet, and lived without sin, and gave sight to
the blind, and healed the lepers, and raised dead men, and styed
to heaven.</p>
<p>And when they may hold the Book of the Gospels of our Lord
written and namely <i>Missus est Angelus Gabriel</i>, that gospel
they say, those that be lettered, often-times in their orisons,
and they kiss it and worship it with great devotion.</p>
<p>They fast an whole month in the year and eat nought but by
night. And they keep them from their wives all that
month. But the sick men be not constrained to that
fast.</p>
<p>Also this book speaketh of Jews and saith that they be cursed;
for they would not believe that Jesu Christ was come of
God. And that they lied falsely on Mary and on her son Jesu
Christ, saying that they had crucified Jesu the son of Mary; for
he was never crucified, as they say, but that God made him to sty
up to him without death and without annoy. But he
transfigured his likeness into Judas Iscariot, and him crucified
the Jews, and weened that it had been Jesus. But Jesus
styed to heavens all quick. And therefore they say, that
the Christian men err and have no good knowledge of this, and
that they believe folily and falsely that Jesu Christ was
crucified. <a name="page91"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
91</span>And they say yet, that and he had been crucified, that
God had done against his righteousness for to suffer Jesu Christ,
that was innocent, to be put upon the cross without guilt.
And in this article they say that we fail and that the great
righteousness of God might not suffer so great a wrong: and in
this faileth their faith. For they knowledge well, that the
works of Jesu Christ be good, and his words and his deeds and his
doctrine by his gospels were true, and his miracles also true;
and the blessed Virgin Mary is good, and holy maiden before and
after the birth of Jesu Christ; and that all those that believe
perfectly in God shall be saved. And because that they go
so nigh our faith, they be lightly converted to Christian law
when men preach them and shew them distinctly the law of Jesu
Christ, and when they tell them of the prophecies.</p>
<p>And also they say, that they know well by the prophecies that
the law of Mahomet shall fail, as the law of the Jews did; and
that the law of Christian people shall last to the day of
doom. And if any man ask them what is their belief, they
answer thus, and in this form: “We believe God, former of
heaven and of earth, and of all other things that he made.
And without him is nothing made. And we believe of the day
of doom, and that every man shall have his merit, after he hath
deserved. And, we believe it for sooth, all that God hath
said by the mouths of his prophets.”</p>
<p>Also Mahomet commanded in his <i>Alkaron</i>, that every man
should have two wives, or three or four; but now they take unto
nine, and of lemans as many as he may sustain. And if any
of their wives mis-bear them against their husband, he may cast
her out of his house, and depart from her and take another; but
he shall depart with her his goods.</p>
<p>Also, when men speak to them of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Ghost, they say, that they be three persons, but not
one God; for their <i>Alkaron</i> speaketh not of the
Trinity. But they say well, that God hath speech, and else
were he dumb. And God hath also a spirit they know well,
for else they say, he were not alive. And <a
name="page92"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 92</span>when men
speak to them of the Incarnation how that by the word of the
angel God sent his wisdom in to earth and enombred him in the
Virgin Mary, and by the word of God shall the dead be raised at
the day of doom, they say, that it is sooth and that the word of
God hath great strength. And they say that whoso knew not
the word of God he should not know God. And they say also
that Jesu Christ is the word of God: and so saith their
<i>Alkaron</i>, where it saith that the angel spake to Mary and
said: “Mary, God shall preach thee the gospel by the word
of his mouth and his name shall be clept Jesu Christ.”</p>
<p>And they say also, that Abraham was friend to God, and that
Moses was familiar speaker with God, and Jesu Christ was the word
and the spirit of God, and that Mohammet was right messenger of
God. And they say, that of these four, Jesu was the most
worthy and the most excellent and the most great. So that
they have many good articles of our faith, albeit that they have
no perfect law and faith as Christian men have; and therefore be
they lightly converted, and namely those that understand the
scriptures and the prophecies. For they have the gospels
and the prophecies and the Bible written in their language;
wherefore they ken much of holy writ, but they understand it not
but after the letter. And so do the Jews, for they
understand not the letter ghostly, but bodily; and therefore be
they reproved of the wise, that ghostly understand it. And
therefore saith Saint Paul: <i>Litera occidit</i>; <i>spiritus
autem vivificat</i>. Also the Saracens say, that the Jews
be cursed; for they have befouled the law that God sent them by
Moses: and the Christian be cursed also, as they say; for they
keep not the commandments and the precepts of the gospel that
Jesu Christ taught them.</p>
<p>And, therefore, I shall tell you what the soldan told me upon
a day in his chamber. He let void out of his chamber all
manner of men, lords and others, for he would speak with me in
counsel. And there he asked me how the Christian men
governed them in our country. And I said him, “Right
well, thanked be God!”</p>
<p>And he said me, “Truly nay! For ye Christian <a
name="page93"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 93</span>ne reck right
nought, how untruly to serve God! Ye should give ensample
to the lewd people for to do well, and ye give them ensample to
do evil. For the commons, upon festival days, when they
should go to church to serve God, then go they to taverns, and be
there in gluttony all the day and all night, and eat and drink as
beasts that have no reason, and wit not when they have
enough. And also the Christian men enforce themselves in
all manners that they may, for to fight and for to deceive that
one that other. And therewithal they be so proud, that they
know not how to be clothed; now long, now short, now strait, now
large, now sworded, now daggered, and in all manner guises.
They should be simple, meek and true, and full of alms-deeds, as
Jesu was, in whom they trow; but they be all the contrary, and
ever inclined to the evil, and to do evil. And they be so
covetous, that, for a little silver, they sell their daughters,
their sisters and their own wives to put them to lechery.
And one withdraweth the wife of another, and none of them holdeth
faith to another; but they defoul their law that Jesu Christ
betook them to keep for their salvation. And thus, for
their sins, have they lost all this land that we hold. For,
for their sins, their God hath taken them into our hands, not
only by strength of ourself, but for their sins. For we
know well, in very sooth, that when ye serve God, God will help
you; and when he is with you, no man may be against you.
And that know we well by our prophecies, that Christian men shall
win again this land out of our hands, when they serve God more
devoutly; but as long as they be of foul and of unclean living
(as they be now) we have no dread of them in no kind, for their
God will not help them in no wise.”</p>
<p>And then I asked him, how he knew the state of Christian
men. And he answered me, that he knew all the state of all
courts of Christian kings and princes and the state of the
commons also by his messengers that he sent to all lands, in
manner as they were merchants of precious stones, of cloths of
gold and of other things, for to know the manner of every country
amongst Christian men. And <a name="page94"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 94</span>then he let clepe in all the lords
that he made void first out of his chamber, and there he shewed
me four that were great lords in the country, that told me of my
country and of many other Christian countries, as well as they
had been of the same country; and they spake French right well,
and the soldan also; whereof I had great marvel.</p>
<p>Alas! that it is great slander to our faith and to our law,
when folk that be without law shall reprove us and undernim us of
our sins, and they that should be converted to Christ and to the
law of Jesu by our good ensamples and by our acceptable life to
God, and so converted to the law of Jesu Christ, be, through our
wickedness and evil living, far from us and strangers from the
holy and very belief, shall thus appeal us and hold us for wicked
livers and cursed. And truly they say sooth, for the
Saracens be good and faithful; for they keep entirely the
commandment of the holy book <i>Alkaron</i> that God sent them by
his messenger Mahomet, to the which, as they say, Saint Gabriel
the angel oftentime told the will of God.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that Mahomet was born in Arabia, that
was first a poor knave that kept camels, that went with merchants
for merchandise. And so befell, that he went with the
merchants into Egypt; and they were then Christian in those
parts. And at the deserts of Arabia, he went into a chapel
where a hermit dwelt. And when he entered into the chapel
that was but a little and a low thing and had but a little door
and a low, then the entry began to wax so great, and so large and
so high as though it had been of a great minster or the gate of a
palace. And this was the first miracle, the Saracens say,
that Mahomet did in his youth.</p>
<p>After began he for to wax wise and rich. And he was a
great astronomer. And after, he was governor and prince of
the land of Cozrodane; and he governed it full wisely, in such
manner, that when the prince was dead, he took the lady to wife
that hight Gadrige. And Mahomet fell often in the great
sickness that men call the falling evil; wherefore the lady was
full sorry that ever she took him to husband. But Mahomet
made her to believe, that all <a name="page95"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 95</span>times, when he fell so, Gabriel the
angel came for to speak with him, and for the great light and
brightness of the angel he might not sustain him from falling;
and therefore the Saracens say, that Gabriel came often to speak
with him.</p>
<p>This Mahomet reigned in Arabia, the year of our Lord Jesu
Christ 610, and was of the generation of Ishmael that was
Abraham’s son, that he gat upon Hagar his chamberer.
And therefore there be Saracens that be clept Ishmaelites; and
some Hagarenes, of Hagar. And the other properly be clept
Saracens, of Sarah. And some be clept Moabites and some
Ammonites, for the two sons of Lot, Moab and Ammon, that he begat
on his daughters that were afterward great earthly princes.</p>
<p>And also Mahomet loved well a good hermit that dwelled in the
deserts a mile from Mount Sinai, in the way that men go from
Arabia toward Chaldea and toward Ind, one day’s journey
from the sea, where the merchants of Venice come often for
merchandise. And so often went Mahomet to this hermit, that
all his men were wroth; for he would gladly hear this hermit
preach and make his men wake all night. And therefore his
men thought to put the hermit to death. And so it befell
upon a night, that Mahomet was drunken of good wine, and he fell
on sleep. And his men took Mahomet’s sword out of his
sheath, whiles he slept, and therewith they slew this hermit, and
put his sword all bloody in his sheath again. And at
morrow, when he found the hermit dead, he was full sorry and
wroth, and would have done his men to death. But they all,
with one accord, said that he himself had slain him, when he was
drunken, and shewed him his sword all bloody. And he trowed
that they had said sooth. And then he cursed the wine and
all those that drink it. And therefore Saracens that be
devout drink never no wine. But some drink it privily; for
if they drunk it openly, they should be reproved. But they
drink good beverage and sweet and nourishing that is made of
gallamelle and that is that men make sugar of, that is of right
good savour, and it is good for the breast.</p>
<p>Also it befalleth some-time, that Christian men become <a
name="page96"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 96</span>Saracens,
either for poverty or for simpleness, or else for their own
wickedness. And therefore the archflamen or the flamen, as
our archbishop or bishop, when he receiveth them saith thus:
<i>La ellec olla Sila</i>, <i>Machomete rores alla</i>; that is
to say, ‘There is no God but one, and Mahomet his
messenger.’</p>
<p>Now I have told you a part of their law and of their customs,
I shall say you of their letters that they have, with their names
and the manner of their figures what they be: Almoy, Bethath,
Cathi, Ephoti, Delphoi, Fothi, Garothi, Hechum, Iotty, Kaythi,
Lothum, Malach, Nabaloth, Orthi, Chesiri, ȝoch, Ruth,
Holath, Routhi, Salathi, Thatimus, Yrthom, Aȝaȝoth,
Arrocchi, ȝotipyn, Ichetus. And these be the names of
their a. b. c. Now shall ye know the figures. . . . And
four letters they have more than other for diversity of their
language and speech, forasmuch as they speak in their throats;
and we in England have in our language and speech two letters
more than they have in their a. b. c.; and that is Þ and
ȝ, which be clept thorn and ȝogh.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
<p style="text-align: center" class="gutsumm"><i>Of the lands of
Albania and of Libia</i>. <i>Of the wishings for watching
of the Sparrow-hawk</i>; <i>and of Noah’s ship</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Now</span>, sith I have told you before of
the Holy Land and of that country about, and of many ways for to
go to that land and to the Mount Sinai, and of Babylon the more
and the less, and to other places that I have spoken before, now
is time, if it like you, for to tell you of the marches and isles
and diverse beasts, and of diverse folk beyond these marches.</p>
<p>For in those countries beyond be many diverse countries and
many great kingdoms, that be departed by the four floods that
come from paradise terrestrial. For Mesopotamia and the
kingdom of Chaldea and Arabia be between the two <a
name="page97"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 97</span>rivers of
Tigris and of Euphrates; and the kingdom of Media and of Persia
be between the rivers of Nile and of Tigris; and the kingdom of
Syria, whereof I have spoken before, and Palestine and Phoenicia
be between Euphrates and the sea Mediterranean, the which sea
dureth in length from Morocco, upon the sea of Spain, unto the
Great Sea, so that it lasteth beyond Constantinople 3040 miles of
Lombardy.</p>
<p>And toward the sea Ocean in Ind is the kingdom of Scythia,
that is all closed with hills. And after, under Scythia,
and from the sea of Caspian unto the flom of Thainy, is Amazonia,
that is the land of feminye, where that no man is, but only all
women. And after is Albania, a full great realm; and it is
clept Albania, because that the folk be whiter there than in
other marches there-about: and in that country be so great hounds
and so strong, that they assail lions and slay them. And
then after is Hircania, Bactria, Hiberia and many other
kingdoms.</p>
<p>And between the Red Sea and the sea Ocean, toward the south is
the kingdom of Ethiopia and of Lybia the higher, the which land
of Lybia (that is to say, Lybia the low) that beginneth at the
sea of Spain from thence where the pillars of Hercules be, and
endureth unto anent Egypt and toward Ethiopia. In that
country of Lybia is the sea more high than the land, and it
seemeth that it would cover the earth, and natheles yet it
passeth not his marks. And men see in that country a
mountain to the which no man cometh. In this land of Lybia
whoso turneth toward the east, the shadow of himself is on the
right side; and here, in our country, the shadow is on the left
side. In that sea of Lybia is no fish; for they may not
live ne dure for the great heat of the sun, because that the
water is evermore boiling for the great heat. And many
other lands there be that it were too long to tell or to
number. But of some parts I shall speak more plainly
hereafter.</p>
<p>Whoso will then go toward Tartary, toward Persia, toward
Chaldea and toward Ind, he must enter the sea at Genoa or at
Venice or at some other haven that I have told you before.
And then pass men the sea and arrive at <a
name="page98"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 98</span>Trebizond
that is a good city; and it was wont to be the haven of
Pontus. There is the haven of Persians and of Medians and
of the marches there beyond. In that city lieth Saint
Athanasius that was bishop of Alexandria, that made the psalm
<i>Quicunque vult</i>.</p>
<p>This Athanasius was a great doctor of divinity. And,
because that he preached and spake so deeply of divinity and of
the Godhead, he was accused to the Pope of Rome that he was an
heretic. Wherefore the Pope sent after him and put him in
prison. And whiles he was in prison he made that psalm and
sent it to the Pope, and said, that if he were an heretic, then
was that heresy, for that, he said, was his belief. And
when the Pope saw it, and had examined it that it was perfect and
good, and verily our faith and our belief, he made him to be
delivered out of prison, and commanded that psalm to be said
every day at prime; and so he held Athanasius a good man.
But he would never go to his bishopric again, because that they
accused him of heresy.</p>
<p>Trebizond was wont to be holden of the Emperor of
Constantinople; but a great man, that he sent for to keep the
country against the Turks, usurped the land and held it to
himself, and cleped him Emperor of Trebizond.</p>
<p>And from thence men go through Little Armenia. And in
that country is an old castle that stands upon a rock; the which
is clept the castle of the Sparrow-hawk, that is beyond the city
of Layays beside the town of Pharsipee, that belongeth to the
lordship of Cruk, that is a rich lord and a good Christian man;
where men find a sparrow-hawk upon a perch right fair and right
well made, and a fair lady of faerie that keepeth it. And
who that will watch that sparrow-hawk seven days and seven
nights, and, as some men say, three days and three nights,
without company and without sleep, that fair lady shall give him,
when he hath done, the first wish that he will wish of earthly
things; and that hath been proved often-times.</p>
<p>And one time befell, that a King of Armenia, that was a worthy
knight and doughty man, and a noble princes watched that hawk
some time. And at the end of seven days and seven nights
the lady came to him and bade him <a name="page99"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 99</span>wish, for he had well deserved
it. And he answered that he was great lord enough, and well
in peace, and had enough of worldly riches; and therefore he
would wish none other thing, but the body of that fair lady, to
have it at his will. And she answered him, that he knew not
what he asked, and said that he was a fool to desire that he
might not have; for she said that he should not ask but earthly
thing, for she was none earthly thing, but a ghostly thing.
And the king said that he ne would ask none other thing.
And the lady answered; “Sith that I may not withdraw you
from your lewd corage, I shall give you without wishing, and to
all them that shall come of you. Sir king! ye shall have
war without peace, and always to the nine degree, ye shall be in
subjection of your enemies, and ye shall be needy of all
goods.” And never since, neither the King of Armenia
nor the country were never in peace; ne they had never sith
plenty of goods; and they have been sithen always under tribute
of the Saracens.</p>
<p>Also the son of a poor man watched that hawk and wished that
he might chieve well, and to be happy to merchandise. And
the lady granted him. And he became the most rich and the
most famous merchant that might be on sea or on earth. And
he became so rich that he knew not the thousand part of that he
had. And he was wiser in wishing than was the king.</p>
<p>Also a knight of the Temple watched there, and wished a purse
evermore full of gold. And the lady granted him. But
she said him that he had asked the destruction of their order for
the trust and the affiance of that purse, and for the great pride
that they should have. And so it was. And therefore
look he keep him well, that shall wake. For if he sleep he
is lost, that never man shall see him more.</p>
<p>This is not the right way for to go to the parts that I have
named before, but for to see the marvel that I have spoken
of. And therefore whoso will go right way, men go from
Trebizond toward Armenia the Great unto a city that is clept
Erzeroum, that was wont to be a good city and a plenteous; but
the Turks have greatly wasted it. There-about groweth no
wine nor fruit, but little or else <a name="page100"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 100</span>none. In this land is the
earth more high than in any other, and that maketh great
cold. And there be many good waters and good wells that
come under earth from the flom of Paradise, that is clept
Euphrates, that is a journey beside that city; and that river
cometh towards Ind under earth, and resorteth into the land of
Altazar. And so pass men by this Armenia and enter the sea
of Persia.</p>
<p>From that city of Erzeroum go men to an hill that is clept
Sabissocolle. And there beside is another hill that men
clepe Ararat, but the Jews clepe it Taneez, where Noah’s
ship rested, and yet is upon that mountain. And men may see
it afar in clear weather. And that mountain is well a seven
mile high. And some men say that they have seen and touched
the ship, and put their fingers in the parts where the fiend went
out, when that Noah said, <i>Benedicite</i>. But they that
say such words, say their will. For a man may not go up the
mountain, for great plenty of snow that is always on that
mountain, neither summer nor winter. So that no man may go
up there, ne never man did, since the time of Noah, save a monk
that, by the grace of God, brought one of the planks down, that
yet is in the minster at the foot of the mountain.</p>
<p>And beside is the city of Dain that Noah founded. And
fast by is the city of Any in the which were wont to be a
thousand churches.</p>
<p>But upon that mountain to go up, this monk had great
desire. And so upon a day, he went up. And when he
was upward the three part of the mountain he was so weary that he
might no further, and so he rested him, and fell asleep.
And when he awoke he found himself lying at the foot of the
mountain. And then he prayed devoutly to God that he would
vouchsafe to suffer him go up. And an angel came to him,
and said that he should go up. And so he did. And
sith that time never none. Wherefore men should not believe
such words.</p>
<p>From that mountain go men to the city of Thauriso that was
wont to be clept Taxis, that is a full fair city and a great, and
one of the best that is in the world for merchandise; thither
come all merchants for to buy avoirdupois, <a
name="page101"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 101</span>and it is
in the land of the Emperor of Persia. And men say that the
emperor taketh more good in that city for custom of merchandise
than doth the richest Christian king of all his realm that
liveth. For the toll and the custom of his merchants is
without estimation to be numbered. Beside that city is a
hill of salt, and of that salt every man taketh what he will for
to salt with, to his need. There dwell many Christian men
under tribute of Saracens. And from that city, men pass by
many towns and castles in going toward Ind unto the city of
Sadonia, that is a ten journeys from Thauriso, and it is a full
noble city and a great. And there dwelleth the Emperor of
Persia in summer; for the country is cold enough. And there
be good rivers bearing ships.</p>
<p>After go men the way toward Ind by many journeys, and by many
countries, unto the city that is clept Cassak, and that is a full
noble city, and a plenteous of corns and wines and of all other
goods. This is the city where the three kings met together
when they went to seek our Lord in Bethlehem to worship him and
to present him with gold, incense, and myrrh. And it is
from that city to Bethlehem fifty-three journeys. From that
city men go to another city that is clept Gethe, that is a
journey from the sea that men clepe the Gravelly Sea. That
is the best city that the Emperor of Persia hath in all his
land. And they clepe flesh there Dabago and the wine
Vapa. And the Paynims say that no Christian man may not
long dwell ne endure with the life in that city, but die within
short time; and no man knoweth not the cause.</p>
<p>After go men by many cities and towns and great countries that
it were too long to tell unto the city of Cornaa that was wont to
be so great that the walls about hold twenty-five mile
about. The walls shew yet, but it is not all
inhabited. From Cornaa go men by many lands and many cities
and towns unto the land of Job. And there endeth the land
of the Emperor of Persia. And if ye will know the letters
of Persians and what names they have, they be such as I last
devised you, but not in sounding of their words.</p>
<h2><a name="page102"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
102</span>CHAPTER XVII</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the land of Job</i>; <i>and of his
age</i>. <i>Of the array of men of Chaldea</i>. <i>Of
the land where women dwell without company of men</i>.
<i>Of the knowledge and virtues of the very diamond</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">After</span> the departing from Cornaa,
men enter into the land of Job that is a full fair country and a
plenteous of all goods. And men clepe that land the Land of
Susiana. In that land is the city of Theman.</p>
<p>Job was a paynim, and he was Aram of Gosre, his son, and held
that land as prince of that country. And he was so rich
that he knew not the hundred part of his goods. And
although he were a paynim, nevertheless he served well God after
his law. And our Lord took his service to his
pleasane. And when he fell in poverty he was seventy-eight
year of age. And after, when God had proved his patience
and that it was so great, he brought him again to riches and to
higher estate than he was before. And after that he was
King of Idumea after King Esau, and when he was king he was clept
Jobab. And in that kingdom he lived after 170 year.
And so he was of age, when he died, 248 year.</p>
<p>In that land of Job there ne is no default of no thing that is
needful to man’s body. There be hills, where men get
great plenty of manna in greater abundance than in any other
country. This manna is clept bread of angels. And it
is a white thing that is full sweet and right delicious, and more
sweet than honey or sugar. And it cometh of the dew of
heaven that falleth upon the herbs in that country. And it
congealeth and becometh all white and sweet. And men put it
in medicines for rich men to make the womb lax, and to purge evil
blood. For it cleanseth the blood and putteth out
melancholy. This land of Job marcheth to the kingdom of
Chaldea.</p>
<p>This land of Chaldea is full great. And the language <a
name="page103"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 103</span>of that
country is more great in sounding than it is in other parts of
the sea. Men pass to go beyond by the Tower of Babylon the
Great, of the which I have told you before, where that all the
languages were first changed. And that is a four journeys
from Chaldea. In that realm be fair men, and they go full
nobly arrayed in clothes of gold, orfrayed and apparelled with
great pearls and precious stone’s full nobly. And the
women be right foul and evil arrayed. And they go all
bare-foot and clothed in evil garments large and wide, but they
be short to the knees, and long sleeves down to the feet like a
monk’s frock, and their sleeves be hanging about their
shoulders. And they be black women foul and hideous, and
truly as foul as they be, as evil they be.</p>
<p>In that kingdom of Chaldea, in a city that is clept Ur,
dwelled Terah, Abraham’s father. And there was
Abraham born. And that was in that time that Ninus was king
of Babylon, of Arabia and of Egypt. This Ninus made the
city of Nineveh, the which that Noah had begun before. And
because that Ninus performed it, he cleped it Nineveh after his
own name. There lieth Tobit the prophet, of whom Holy Writ
speaketh of. And from that city of Ur Abraham departed, by
the commandment of God, from thence, after the death of his
father, and led with him Sarah his wife and Lot his
brother’s son, because that he had no child. And they
went to dwell in the land of Canaan in a place that is clept
Shechem. And this Lot was he that was saved, when Sodom and
Gomorrah and the other cities were burnt and sunken down to hell,
where that the Dead Sea is now, as I have told you before.
In that land of Chaldea they have their proper languages and
their proper letters, such as ye may see hereafter.</p>
<p>Beside the land of Chaldea is the land of Amazonia, that is
the land of Feminye. And in that realm is all women and no
man; not, as some men say, that men may not live there, but for
because that the women will not suffer no men amongst them to be
their sovereigns.</p>
<p>For sometime there was a king in that country. And men
married, as in other countries. And so befell <a
name="page104"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 104</span>that the
king had war with them of Scythia, the which king hight Colopeus,
that was slain in battle, and all the good blood of his
realm. And when the queen and all the other noble ladies
saw that they were all widows, and that all the royal blood was
lost, they armed them and, as creatures out of wit, they slew all
the men of the country that were left; for they would that all
the women were widows as the queen and they were. And from
that time hitherwards they never would suffer man to dwell
amongst them longer than seven days and seven nights; ne that no
child that were male should dwell amongst them longer than he
were nourished; and then sent to his father. And when they
will have any company of man then they draw them towards the
lands marching next to them. And then they have loves that
use them; and they dwell with them an eight days or ten, and then
go home again. And if they have any knave child they keep
it a certain time, and then send it to the father when he can go
alone and eat by himself; or else they slay it. And if it
be a female they do away that one pap with an hot iron. And
if it be a woman of great lineage they do away the left pap that
they may the better bear a shield. And if it be a woman on
foot they do away the right pap, for to shoot with bow turkeys:
for they shoot well with bows.</p>
<p>In that land they have a queen that governeth all that land,
and all they be obeissant to her. And always they make her
queen by election that is most worthy in arms; for they be right
good warriors and orped, and wise, noble and worthy. And
they go oftentime in solde to help of other kings in their wars,
for gold and silver as other soldiers do; and they maintain
themselves right vigourously. This land of Amazonia is an
isle, all environed with the sea save in two places, where be two
entries. And beyond that water dwell the men that be their
paramours and their loves, where they go to solace them when they
will.</p>
<p>Beside Amazonia is the land of Tarmegyte that is a great
country and a full delectable. And for the goodness of the
country King Alexander let first make there the <a
name="page105"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 105</span>city of
Alexandria, and yet he made twelve cities of the same name; but
that city is now clept Celsite.</p>
<p>And from that other coast of Chaldea, toward the south, is
Ethiopia, a great country that stretcheth to the end of
Egypt. Ethiopia is departed in two parts principal, and
that is in the east part and in the meridional part; the which
part meridional is clept Mauritania; and the folk of that country
be black enough and more black than in the tother part, and they
be clept Moors. In that part is a well, that in the day it
is so cold, that no man may drink thereof; and in the night it is
so hot, that no man may suffer his hand therein. And beyond
that part, toward the south, to pass by the sea Ocean, is a great
land and a great country; but men may not dwell there for the
fervent burning of the sun, so is it passing hot in that
country.</p>
<p>In Ethiopia all the rivers and all the waters be trouble, and
they be somedeal salt for the great heat that is there. And
the folk of that country be lightly drunken and have but little
appetite to meat. And they have commonly the flux of the
womb. And they live not long. In Ethiopia be many
diverse folk; and Ethiope is clept Cusis. In that country
be folk that have but one foot, and they go so blyve that it is
marvel. And the foot is so large, that it shadoweth all the
body against the sun, when they will lie and rest them. In
Ethiopia, when the children be young and little, they be all
yellow; and, when that they wax of age, that yellowness turneth
to be all black. In Ethiopia is the city of Saba, and the
land of the which one of the three kings that presented our Lord
in Bethlehem, was king of.</p>
<p>From Ethiopia men go into Ind by many diverse countries.
And men clepe the high Ind, Emlak. And Ind is divided in
three principal parts; that is, the more that is a full hot
country; and Ind the less, that is a full attempre country, that
stretcheth to the land of Media; and the three part toward the
septentrion is full cold, so that, for pure cold and continual
frost, the water becometh crystal. And upon those rocks of
crystal grow the good diamonds that be of trouble colour.
Yellow <a name="page106"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
106</span>crystal draweth colour like oil. And they be so
hard, that no man may polish them. And men clepe them
diamonds in that country, and <i>Hamese</i> in another
country. Other diamonds men find in Arabia that be not so
good, and they be more brown and more tender. And other
diamonds also men find in the isle of Cyprus, that be yet more
tender, and them men may well polish. And in the land of
Macedonia men find diamonds also. But the best and the most
precious be in Ind.</p>
<p>And men find many times hard diamonds in a mass that cometh
out of gold, when men pure it and refine it out of the mine; when
men break that mass in small pieces, and sometime it happens that
men find some as great as a peas and some less, and they be as
hard as those of Ind.</p>
<p>And albeit that men find good diamonds in Ind, yet
nevertheless men find them more commonly upon the rocks in the
sea and upon hills where the mine of gold is. And they grow
many together, one little, another great. And there be some
of the greatness of a bean and some as great as an hazel
nut. And they be square and pointed of their own kind, both
above and beneath, without working of man’s hand. And
they grow together, male and female. And they be nourished
with the dew of heaven. And they engender commonly and
bring forth small children, that multiply and grow all the
year. I have often-times assayed, that if a man keep them
with a little of the rock and wet them with May-dew oft-sithes,
they shall grow every year, and the small will wax great.
For right as the fine pearl congealeth and waxeth great of the
dew of heaven, right so doth the very diamond; and right as the
pearl of his own kind taketh roundness, right so the diamond, by
virtue of God, taketh squareness. And men shall bear the
diamond on his left side, for it is of greater virtue then, than
on the right side; for the strength of their growing is toward
the north, that is the left side of the world, and the left part
of man is when he turneth his face toward the east.</p>
<p>And if you like to know the virtues of the diamond, (as men
may find in <i>The Lapidary</i> that many men know not), <a
name="page107"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 107</span>I shall
tell you, as they beyond the sea say and affirm, of whom all
science and all philosophy cometh from. He that beareth the
diamond upon him, it giveth him hardiness and manhood, and it
keepeth the limbs of his body whole. It giveth him victory
of his enemies in plea and in war, if his cause be
rightful. And it keepeth him that beareth it in good
wit. And it keepeth him from strife and riot, from evil
swevens from sorrows and from enchantments, and from fantasies
and illusions of wicked spirits. And if any cursed witch or
enchanter would bewitch him that beareth the diamond, all that
sorrow and mischance shall turn to himself through virtue of that
stone. And also no wild beast dare assail the man that
beareth it on him. Also the diamond should be given freely,
without coveting and without buying, and then it is of greater
virtue. And it maketh a man more strong and more sad
against his enemies. And it healeth him that is lunatic,
and them that the fiend pursueth or travaileth. And if
venom or poison be brought in presence of the diamond, anon it
beginneth to wax moist and for to sweat.</p>
<p>There be also diamonds in Ind that be clept violastres, (for
their colour is like violet, or more brown than the violets),
that be full hard and full precious. But yet some men love
not them so well as the other; but, in sooth, to me, I would love
them as much as the other, for I have seen them assayed.</p>
<p>Also there is another manner of diamonds that be as white as
crystal, but they be a little more trouble. And they be
good and of great virtue, and all they be square and pointed of
their own kind. And some be six squared, some four squared,
and some three as nature shapeth them. And therefore when
great lords and knights go to seek worship in arms, they bear
gladly the diamond upon them.</p>
<p>I shall speak a little more of the diamonds, although I tarry
my matter for a time, to the end, that they that know them not,
be not deceived by gabbers that go by the country, that sell
them. For whoso will buy the diamond it is needful to him
that he know them. Because that men counterfeit them often
of crystal that is yellow and of <a name="page108"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 108</span>sapphires of citron colour that is
yellow also, and of the sapphire loupe and of many other
stones. But I tell you these counterfeits be not so hard;
and also the points will break lightly, and men may easily polish
them. But some workmen, for malice, will not polish them;
to that intent, to make men believe that they may not be
polished. But men may assay them in this manner.
First shear with them or write with them in sapphires, in crystal
or in other precious stones. After that, men take the
adamant, that is the shipman’s stone, that draweth the
needle to him, and men lay the diamond upon the adamant, and lay
the needle before the adamant; and, if the diamond be good and
virtuous, the adamant draweth not the needle to him whiles the
diamond is there present. And this is the proof that they
beyond the sea make.</p>
<p>Natheles it befalleth often-time, that the good diamond loseth
his virtue by sin, and for incontinence of him that beareth
it. And then it is needful to make it to recover his virtue
again, or else it is of little value.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the customs of Isles about
Ind</i>. <i>Of the difference betwixt Idols and
Simulacres</i>. <i>Of three manner growing of Pepper upon
one tree</i>. <i>Of the Well that changeth his odour every
hour of the day</i>; <i>and that is marvel</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">In</span> Ind be full many diverse
countries. And it is clept Ind, for a flom that runneth
throughout the country that is clept Ind. In that flom men
find eels of thirty foot long and more. And the folk that
dwell nigh that water be of evil colour, green and yellow.</p>
<p>In Ind and about Ind be more than 5000 isles good and great
that men dwell in, without those that he inhabitable, and without
other small isles. In every isle is great plenty of cities,
and of towns, and of folk without number. For <a
name="page109"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 109</span>men of Ind
have this condition of kind, that they never go out of their own
country, and therefore is there great multitude of people.
But they be not stirring ne movable, because that they be in the
first climate, that is of Saturn; and Saturn is slow and little
moving, for he tarryeth to make his turn by the twelve signs
thirty year. And the moon passeth through the twelve signs
in one month. And for because that Saturn is of so late
stirring, therefore the folk of that country that be under his
climate have of kind no will for to move ne stir to seek strange
places. And in our country is all the contrary; for we be
in the seventh climate, that is of the moon. And the moon
is of lightly moving, and the moon is planet of way; and for that
skill it giveth us will of kind for to move lightly and for to go
divers ways, and to seek strange things and other diversities of
the world; for the moon environeth the earth more hastily than
any other planet.</p>
<p>Also men go through Ind by many diverse countries to the great
sea Ocean. And after, men find there an isle that is clept
Crues. And thither come merchants of Venice and Genoa, and
of other marches, for to buy merchandises. But there is so
great heat in those marches, and namely in that isle, that, for
the great distress of the heat, men’s ballocks hang down to
their knees for the great dissolution of the body. And men
of that country, that know the manner, let bind them up, or else
might they not live, and anoint them with ointments made
therefore, to hold them up.</p>
<p>In that country and in Ethiopia, and in many other countries,
the folk lie all naked in rivers and waters, men and women
together, from undern of the day till it be past the noon.
And they lie all in the water, save the visage, for the great
heat that there is. And the women have no shame of the men,
but lie all together, side to side, till the heat be past.
There may men see many foul figure assembled, and namely nigh the
good towns.</p>
<p>In that isle be ships without nails of iron or bonds, for the
rocks of the adamants, for they be all full thereabout in that
sea, that it is marvel to speak of. And if a ship <a
name="page110"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 110</span>passed by
those marches that had either iron bonds or iron nails, anon he
should be perished; for the adamant of his kind draweth the iron
to him. And so would it draw to him the ship because of the
iron, that he should never depart from it, ne never go
thence.</p>
<p>From that isle men go by sea to another isle that is clept
Chana, where is great plenty of corn and wine. And it was
wont to be a great isle, and a great haven and a good; but the
sea hath greatly wasted it and overcome it. The king of
that country was wont to be so strong and so mighty that he held
war against King Alexander.</p>
<p>The folk of that country have a diverse law. For some of
them worship the sun, some the moon, some the fire, some trees,
some serpents, or the first thing that they meet at morrow.
And some worship simulacres and some idols. But between
simulacres and idols is a great difference. For simulacres
be images made after likeness of men or of women, or of the sun,
or of the moon, or of any beast, or of any kindly thing.
And idols is an image made of lewd will of man, that man may not
find among kindly things, as an image that hath four heads, one
of a man, another of an horse or of an ox, or of some other
beast, that no man hath seen after kindly disposition.</p>
<p>And they that worship simulacres, they worship them for some
worthy man that was sometime, as Hercules, and many other that
did many marvels in their time. For they say well that they
be not gods; for they know well that there is a God of kind that
made all things, the which is in heaven. But they know well
that this may not do the marvels that he made, but if it had been
by the special gift of God; and therefore they say that he was
well with God, and for because that he was so well with God,
therefore they worship him. And so say they of the sun,
because that he changeth the time, and giveth heat, and
nourisheth all things upon earth; and for it is of so great
profit, they know well that that might not be, but that God
loveth it more than any other thing, and, for that skill, God
hath given it more great virtue in the world. Therefore, it
is good reason, as they say, to do it worship and
reverence. <a name="page111"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
111</span>And so say they, and make their reasons, of other
planets, and of the fire also, because it is so profitable.</p>
<p>And of idols they say also that the ox is the most holy beast
that is in earth and most patient, and more profitable than any
other. For he doth good enough and he doth no evil; and
they know well that it may not be without special grace of
God. And therefore make they their god of an ox the one
part, and the other half of a man. Because that man is the
most noble creature in earth, and also for he hath lordship above
all beasts, therefore make they the halvendel of idol of a man
upwards; and the tother half of an ox downwards, and of serpents,
and of other beasts and diverse things, that they worship, that
they meet first at morrow.</p>
<p>And they worship also specially all those that they have good
meeting of; and when they speed well in their journey, after
their meeting, and namely such as they have proved and assayed by
experience of long time; for they say that thilk good meeting ne
may not come but of the grace of God. And therefore they
make images like to those things that they have belief in, for to
behold them and worship them first at morning, or they meet any
contrarious things. And there be also some Christian men
that say, that some beasts have good meeting, that is to say for
to meet with them first at morrow, and some beasts wicked
meeting; and that they have proved oft-time that the hare hath
full evil meeting, and swine and many other beasts. And the
sparrow-hawk or other fowls of ravine, when they fly after their
prey and take it before men of arms, it is a good sign; and if he
fail of taking his prey, it is an evil sign. And also to
such folk, it is an evil meeting of ravens.</p>
<p>In these things and in such other, there be many folk that
believe; because it happeneth so often-time to fall after their
fantasies. And also there be men enough that have no belief
in them. And, sith that Christian men have such belief,
that be informed and taught all day by holy doctrine, wherein
they should believe, it is no marvel then, that the paynims, that
have no good doctrine but only of their nature, believe more
largely for their simplesse. <a name="page112"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 112</span>And truly I have seen of paynims and
Saracens that men clepe Augurs, that, when we ride in arms in
divers countries upon our enemies, by the flying of fowls they
would tell us the prognostications of things that fell after; and
so they did full oftentimes, and proffered their heads to-wedde,
but if it would fall as they said. But natheles, therefore
should not a man put his belief in such things, but always have
full trust and belief in God our sovereign Lord.</p>
<p>This isle of Chana the Saracens have won and hold. In
that isle be many lions and many other wild beasts. And
there be rats in that isle as great as hounds here; and men take
them with great mastiffs, for cats may not take them. In
this isle and many other men bury not no dead men, for the heat
is there so great, that in a little time the flesh will consume
from the bones.</p>
<p>From thence men go by sea toward Ind the more to a city, that
men clepe Sarche, that is a fair city and a good. And there
dwell many Christian men of good faith. And there be many
religious men, and namely of mendicants.</p>
<p>After go men by sea to the land of Lomb. In that land
groweth the pepper in the forest that men clepe Combar. And
it groweth nowhere else in all the world, but in that forest, and
that endureth well an eighteen journeys in length. In the
forest be two good cities; that one hight Fladrine and that other
Zinglantz, and in every of them dwell Christian men and Jews,
great plenty. For it is a good country and a plentiful, but
there is overmuch passing heat.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that the pepper groweth in manner as
doth a wild vine that is planted fast by the trees of that wood
for to sustain it by, as doth the vine. And the fruit
thereof hangeth in manner as raisins. And the tree is so
thick charged, that it seemeth that it would break. And
when it is ripe it is all green, as it were ivy berries.
And then men cut them, as men do the vines, and then they put it
upon an oven, and there it waxeth black and crisp. And
there is three manner of pepper all upon one tree; long pepper,
black pepper and <a name="page113"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
113</span>white pepper. The long pepper men clepe
<i>Sorbotin</i>, and the black pepper is clept <i>Fulfulle</i>,
and the white pepper is clept <i>Bano</i>. The long pepper
cometh first when the leaf beginneth to come, and it is like the
cats of hazel that cometh before the leaf, and it hangeth
low. And after cometh the black with the leaf, in manner of
clusters of raisins, all green. And when men have gathered
it, then cometh the white that is somedeal less than the
black. And of that men bring but little into this country;
for they beyond withhold it for themselves, because it is better
and more attempre in kind than the black. And therefore is
there not so great plenty as of the black.</p>
<p>In that country be many manner of serpents and of other vermin
for the great heat of the country and of the pepper. And
some men say, that when they will gather the pepper, they make
fire, and burn about to make the serpents and the cockodrills to
flee. But save their grace of all that say so. For if
they burnt about the trees that bear, the pepper should be burnt,
and it would dry up all the virtue, as of any other thing; and
then they did themselves much harm, and they should never quench
the fire. But thus they do: they anoint their hands and
their feet [with a juice] made of snails and of other things made
therefore, of the which the serpents and the venomous beasts hate
and dread the savour; and that maketh them flee before them,
because of the smell, and then they gather it surely enough.</p>
<p>Also toward the head of that forest is the city of
Polombe. And above the city is a great mountain that also
is clept Polombe. And of that mount the city hath his
name.</p>
<p>And at the foot of that mount is a fair well and a great, that
hath odour and savour of all spices. And at every hour of
the day he changeth his odour and his savour diversely. And
whoso drinketh three times fasting of that water of that well he
is whole of all manner sickness that he hath. And they that
dwell there and drink often of that well they never have
sickness; and they seem always young. I have drunken
thereof three or four sithes, and yet, methinketh, I fare the
better. Some men <a name="page114"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 114</span>clepe it the well of youth.
For they that often drink thereof seem always young-like, and
live without sickness. And men say, that that well cometh
out of Paradise, and therefore it is so virtuous.</p>
<p>By all that country groweth good ginger, and therefore thither
go the merchants for spicery.</p>
<p>In that land men worship the ox for his simpleness and for his
meekness, and for the profit that cometh of him. And they
say, that he is the holiest beast in earth. For them
seemeth, that whosoever be meek and patient, he is holy and
profitable; for then, they say, he hath all virtues in him.
They make the ox to labour six year or seven, and then they eat
him. And the king of the country hath alway an ox with
him. And he that keepeth him hath every day great fees, and
keepeth every day his dung and his urine in two vessels of gold,
and bring it before their prelate that they clepe
Archi-protopapaton. And he beareth it before the king and
maketh there over a great blessing. And then the king
wetteth his hands there, in that they clepe gall, and anointeth
his front and his breast. And after, he froteth him with
the dung and with the urine with great reverence, for to be
fullfilled of virtues of the ox and made holy by the virtue of
that holy thing that nought is worth. And when the king
hath done, then do the lords; and after them their ministers and
other men, if they may have any remenant.</p>
<p>In that country they make idols, half man half ox. And
in those idols evil spirits speak and give answer to men of what
is asked them. Before these idols men slay their children
many times, and spring the blood upon the idols; and so they make
their sacrifice.</p>
<p>And when any man dieth in the country they burn his body in
name of penance; to that intent, that he suffer no pain in earth
to be eaten of worms. And if his wife have no child they
burn her with him, and say, that it is reason, that she make him
company in that other world as she did in this. But and she
have children with him, they let her live with them, to bring
them up if she will. And if that she love more to live with
her children than for to die <a name="page115"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 115</span>with her husband, men hold her for
false and cursed; ne she shall never be loved ne trusted of the
people. And if the woman die, before the husband, men burn
him with her, if that he will; and if he will not, no man
constraineth him thereto, but he may wed another time without
blame or reproof.</p>
<p>In that country grow many strong vines. And the women
drink wine, and men not. And the women shave their beards,
and the men not.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Dooms made by St. Thomas’s
hand</i>. <i>Of devotion and sacrifice made to Idols
there</i>, <i>in the city of Calamye</i>; <i>and of the
Procession in going about the city</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">From</span> that country men pass by many
marches toward a country, a ten journeys thence, that is clept
Mabaron; and it is a great kingdom, and it hath many fair cities
and towns.</p>
<p>In that kingdom lieth the body of Saint Thomas the apostle in
flesh and bone, in a fair tomb in the city of Calamye; for there
he was martyred and buried. And men of Assyria bare his
body into Mesopotamia into the city of Edessa, and after, he was
brought thither again. And the arm and the hand that he put
in our Lord’s side, when he appeared to him after his
resurrection and said to him, <i>Noli esse incredulus</i>, <i>sed
fidelis</i>, is yet lying in a vessel without the tomb. And
by that hand they make all their judgments in the country, whoso
hath right or wrong. For when there is any dissension
between two parties, and every of them maintaineth his cause, and
saith that his cause is rightful, and that other saith the
contrary, then both parties write their causes in two bills and
put them in the hand of Saint Thomas. And anon he casteth
away the bill of the wrong cause and holdeth still the <a
name="page116"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 116</span>bill with
the right cause. And therefore men come from far countries
to have judgment of doubtable causes. And other judgment
use they none there.</p>
<p>Also the church, where Saint Thomas’ lieth, is both
great and fair, and all full of great simulacres, and those be
great images that they clepe their gods, of the which the least
is as great as two men.</p>
<p>And, amongst these other, there is a great image more than any
of the other, that is all covered with fine gold and precious
stones and rich pearls; and that idol is the god of false
Christians that have reneyed their faith. And it sitteth in
a chair of gold, full nobly arrayed, and he hath about his neck
large girdles wrought of gold and precious stones and
pearls. And this church is full richly wrought and, all
overgilt within. And to that idol go men on pilgrimage, as
commonly and with as great devotion as Christian men go to Saint
James, or other holy pilgrimages. And many folk that come
from far lands to seek that idol for the great devotion that they
have, they look never upward, but evermore down to the earth, for
dread to see anything about them that should let them of their
devotion. And some there be that go on pilgrimage to this
idol, that bear knives in their hands, that be made full keen and
sharp; and always as they go, they smite themselves in their arms
and in their legs and in their thighs with many hideous wounds;
and so they shed their blood for love of that idol. And
they say, that he is blessed and holy, that dieth so for love of
his god. And other there be that lead their children for to
slay, to make sacrifice to that idol; and after they have slain
them they spring the blood upon the idol. And some there be
that come from far; and in going toward this idol, at every third
pace that they go from their house, they kneel; and so continue
till they come thither: and when they come there, they take
incense and other aromatic things of noble smell, and cense the
idol, as we would do here God’s precious body. And so
come folk to worship this idol, some from an hundred mile, and
some from many more.</p>
<p><a name="page117"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 117</span>And
before the minster of this idol, is a vivary, in manner of a
great lake, full of water. And therein pilgrims cast gold
and silver, pearls and precious stones without number, instead of
offerings. And when the minister of that church need to
make any reparation of the church or of any of the idols, they
take gold and silver, pearls and precious stones out of the
vivary, to quit the costage of such thing as they make or repair;
so that that nothing is faulty, but anon it shall be
amended. And ye shall understand, that when [there be]
great feasts and solemnities of that idol, as the dedication of
the church and the throning of the idol, all the country about
meet there together. And they set this idol upon a car with
great reverence, well arrayed with cloths of gold, of rich cloths
of Tartary, of Camaka, and other precious cloths. And they
lead him about the city with great solemnity. And before
the car go first in procession all the maidens of the country,
two and two together full ordinatly. And after those
maidens go the pilgrims. And some of them fall down under
the wheels of the car, and let the car go over them, so that they
be dead anon. And some have their arms or their limbs all
to-broken, and some the sides. And all this do they for
love of their god, in great devotion. And them thinketh
that the more pain, and the more tribulation that they suffer for
love of their god, the more joy they shall have in another
world. And, shortly to say you, they suffer so great pains,
and so hard martyrdoms for love of their idol, that a Christian
man, I trow, durst not take upon him the tenth part the pain for
love of our Lord Jesu Christ. And after, I say you, before
the car, go all the minstrels of the country without number, with
diverse instruments, and they make all the melody that they
can.</p>
<p>And when they have gone all about the city, then they return
again to the minster, and put the idol again into his
place. And then for the love and in worship of that idol,
and for the reverence of the feast, they slay themselves, a two
hundred or three hundred persons, with sharp knives, of the which
they bring the bodies before the idol. And <a
name="page118"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 118</span>then they
say that those be saints, because that they slew themselves of
their own good will for love of their idol. And as men here
that had an holy saint of his kin would think that it were to
them an high worship, right so then, thinketh there. And as
men here devoutly would write holy saints’ lives and their
miracles, and sue for their canonizations, right so do they there
for them that slay themselves wilfully for love of their idol,
and say, that they be glorious martyrs and saints, and put them
in their writings and in their litanies, and avaunt them greatly,
one to another, of their holy kinsmen that so become saints, and
say, I have more holy saints in my kindred, than thou in
thine!</p>
<p>And the custom also there is this, that when they that have
such devotion and intent for to slay himself for love of his god,
they send for all their friends, and have great plenty of
minstrels; and they go before the idol leading him that will slay
himself for such devotion between them, with great
reverence. And he, all naked, hath a full sharp knife in
his hand, and he cutteth a great piece of his flesh, and casteth
it in the face of his idol, saying his orisons, recommending him
to his god. And then he smiteth himself and maketh great
wounds and deep, here and there, till he fall down dead.
And then his friends present his body to the idol. And then
they say, singing, Holy god! behold what thy true servant hath
done for thee. He hath forsaken his wife and his children
and his riches, and all the goods of the world and his own life
for the love of thee, and to make thee sacrifice of his flesh and
of his blood. Wherefore, holy god, put him among thy best
beloved saints in thy bliss of paradise, for he hath well
deserved it. And then they make a great fire, and burn the
body. And then everych of his friends take a quantity of
the ashes, and keep them instead of relics, and say that it is
holy thing. And they have no dread of no peril whiles they
have those holy ashes upon them. And [they] put his name in
their litanies as a saint.</p>
<h2><a name="page119"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
119</span>CHAPTER XX</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the evil customs used in the Isle of
Lamary</i>. <i>And how the earth and the sea be of round
form and shape</i>, <i>by proof of the star that is clept
Antarctic</i>, <i>that is fixed in the south</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">From</span> that country go men by the sea
ocean, and by many divers isles and by many countries that were
too long for to tell of. And a fifty-two journeys from this
land that I have spoken of, there is another land, that is full
great, that men clepe Lamary. In that land is full great
heat. And the custom there is such, that men and women go
all naked. And they scorn when they see any strange folk
going clothed. And they say, that God made Adam and Eve all
naked, and that no man should shame him to shew him such as God
made him, for nothing is foul that is of kindly nature. And
they say, that they that be clothed be folk of another world, or
they be folk that trow not in God. And they say, that they
believe in God that formed the world, and that made Adam and Eve
and all other things. And they wed there no wives, for all
the women there be common and they forsake no man. And they
say they sin if they refuse any man; and so God commanded to Adam
and Eve and to all that come of him, when he said, <i>Crescite et
multiplicamini et replete terram</i>. And therefore may no
man in that country say, This is my wife; ne no woman may say,
This my husband. And when they have children, they may give
them to what man they will that hath companied with them.
And also all the land is common; for all that a man holdeth one
year, another man hath it another year; and every man taketh what
part that him liketh. And also all the goods of the land be
common, corns and all other things: for nothing there is kept in
close, ne nothing there is under lock, and every man there taketh
what he will without any contradiction, and as rich is one man
there as is another.</p>
<p><a name="page120"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 120</span>But
in that country there is a cursed custom, for they eat more
gladly man’s flesh than any other flesh; and yet is that
country abundant of flesh, of fish, of corns, of gold and silver,
and of all other goods. Thither go merchants and bring with
them children to sell to them of the country, and they buy
them. And if they be fat they eat them anon. And if
they be lean they feed them till they be fat, and then they eat
them. And they say, that it is the best flesh and the
sweetest of all the world.</p>
<p>In that land, ne in many other beyond that, no man may see the
Star Transmontane, that is clept the Star of the Sea, that is
unmovable and that is toward the north, that we clepe the
Lode-star. But men see another star, the contrary to him,
that is toward the south, that is clept Antartic. And right
as the ship-men take their advice here and govern them by the
Lode-star, right so do ship-men beyond those parts by the star of
the south, the which star appeareth not to us. And this
star that is toward the north, that we clepe the Lode-star, ne
appeareth not to them. For which cause men may well
perceive, that the land and the sea be of round shape and form;
for the part of the firmament sheweth in one country that sheweth
not in another country. And men may well prove by
experience and subtle compassment of wit, that if a man found
passages by ships that would go to search the world, men might go
by ship all about the world and above and beneath.</p>
<p>The which thing I prove thus after that I have seen. For
I have been toward the parts of Brabant, and beholden the
Astrolabe that the star that is clept the Transmontane is
fifty-three degrees high; and more further in Almayne and Bohemia
it hath fifty-eight degrees; and more further toward the parts
septentrional it is sixty-two degrees of height and certain
minutes; for I myself have measured it by the Astrolabe.
Now shall ye know, that against the Transmontane is the tother
star that is clept Antarctic, as I have said before. And
those two stars ne move never, and by them turneth all the
firmament right as doth a wheel that turneth by his
axle-tree. So that those stars bear the firmament in two
equal parts, so that it hath as much <a name="page121"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 121</span>above as it hath beneath.
After this, I have gone toward the parts meridional, that is,
toward the south, and I have found that in Lybia men see first
the star Antarctic. And so far I have gone more further in
those countries, that I have found that star more high; so that
toward the High Lybia it is eighteen degrees of height and
certain minutes (of the which sixty minutes make a degree).
After going by sea and by land toward this country of that I have
spoken, and to other isles and lands beyond that country, I have
found the Star Antarctic of thirty-three degrees of height and
more minutes. And if I had had company and shipping for to
go more beyond, I trow well, in certain, that we should have seen
all the roundness of the firmament all about. For, as I
have said to you before, the half of the firmament is between
those two stars, the which halvendel I have seen. And of
the tother halvendel I have seen, toward the north under the
Transmontane, sixty-two degrees and ten minutes, and toward the
part meridional I have seen under the Antarctic, thirty-three
degrees and sixteen minutes. And then, the halvendel of the
firmament in all holdeth not but nine score degrees. And of
those nine score, I have seen sixty-two on that one part and
thirty-three on that other part; that be, ninety-five degrees and
nigh the halvendel of a degree. And so, there ne faileth
but that I have seen all the firmament, save four score and four
degrees and the halvendel of a degree, and that is not the fourth
part of the firmament; for the fourth part of the roundness of
the firmament holds four score and ten degrees, so there faileth
but five degrees and an half of the fourth part. And also I
have seen the three parts of all the roundness of the firmament
and more yet five degrees and a half. By the which I say
you certainly that men may environ all the earth of all the
world, as well under as above, and turn again to his country,
that had company and shipping and conduct. And always he
should find men, lands and isles, as well as in this
country. For ye wit well, that they that be toward the
Antarctic, they be straight, feet against feet, of them that
dwell under the Transmontane; also well as we and <a
name="page122"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 122</span>they that
dwell under us be feet against feet. For all the parts of
sea and of land have their opposites, habitable trepassable, and
they of this half and beyond half.</p>
<p>And wit well, that, after that that I may perceive and
comprehend, the lands of Prester John, Emperor of Ind, be under
us. For in going from Scotland or from England toward
Jerusalem men go upward always. For our land is in the low
part of the earth toward the west, and the land of Prester John
is in the low part of the earth toward the east. And [they]
have there the day when we have the night; and also, high to the
contrary, they have the night when we have the day. For the
earth and the sea be of round form and shape, as I have said
before; and that that men go upward to one coast, men go downward
to another coast.</p>
<p>Also ye have heard me say that Jerusalem is in the midst of
the world. And that may men prove, and shew there by a
spear, that is pight into the earth, upon the hour of midday,
when it is equinox, that sheweth no shadow on no side. And
that it should be in the midst of the world, David witnesseth it
in the Psalter, where he saith, <i>Deus operatus est salutem in
media terrae</i>. Then, they, that part from those parts of
the west for to go toward Jerusalem, as many journeys as they go
upward for to go thither, in as many journeys may they go from
Jerusalem unto other confines of the superficiality of the earth
beyond. And when men go beyond those journeys toward Ind
and to the foreign isles, all is environing the roundness of the
earth and of the sea under our countries on this half.</p>
<p>And therefore hath it befallen many times of one thing that I
have heard counted when I was young, how a worthy man departed
some-time from our countries for to go search the world.
And so he passed Ind and the isles beyond Ind, where be more than
5000 isles. And so long he went by sea and land, and so
environed the world by many seasons, that he found an isle where
he heard speak his own language, calling on oxen in the plough,
such words as men speak to beasts in his own country <a
name="page123"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 123</span>whereof he
had great marvel, for he knew not how it might be. But I
say, that he had gone so long by land and by sea, that he had
environed all the earth; that he was come again environing, that
is to say, going about, unto his own marches, and if he would
have passed further, till he had found his country and his own
knowledge. But he turned again from thence, from whence he
was come from. And so he lost much painful labour, as
himself said a great while after that he was come home. For
it befell after, that he went into Norway. And there
tempest of the sea took him, and he arrived in an isle.
And, when he was in that isle, he knew well that it was the isle,
where he had heard speak his own language before and the calling
of oxen at the plough; and that was possible thing.</p>
<p>But how it seemeth to simple men unlearned, that men ne may
not go under the earth, and also that men should fall toward the
heaven from under. But that may not be, upon less than we
may fall toward heaven from the earth where we be. For from
what part of the earth that men dwell, either above or beneath,
it seemeth always to them that dwell that they go more right than
any other folk. And right as it seemeth to us that they be
under us, right so it seemeth to them that we be under
them. For if a man might fall from the earth unto the
firmament, by greater, reason the earth and the sea that be so
great and so heavy should fall to the firmament: but that may not
be, and therefore saith our Lord God, <i>Non timeas me</i>,
<i>qui suspendi terram ex nihilo</i>?</p>
<p>And albeit that it be possible thing that men may so environ
all the world, natheles, of a thousand persons, one ne might not
happen to return into his country. For, for the greatness
of the earth and of the sea, men may go by a thousand and a
thousand other ways, that no man could ready him perfectly toward
the parts that he came from, but if it were by adventure and hap,
or by the grace of God. For the earth is full large and
full great, and holds in roundness and about environ, by above
and by beneath, 20425 miles, after the opinion of old wise <a
name="page124"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
124</span>astronomers; and their sayings I reprove nought.
But, after my little wit, it seemeth me, saving their reverence,
that it is more.</p>
<p>And for to have better understanding I say thus. Be
there imagined a figure that hath a great compass. And,
about the point of the great compass that is clept the centre, be
made another little compass. Then after, be the great
compass devised by lines in many parts, and that all the lines
meet at the centre. So, that in as many parts as the great
compass shall be departed, in as many shall be departed the
little, that is about the centre, albeit that the spaces be
less. Now then, be the great compass represented for the
firmament, and the little compass represented for the
earth. Now then, the firmament is devised by astronomers in
twelve signs, and every sign is devised in thirty degrees; that
is, 360 degrees that the firmament hath above. Also, be the
earth devised in as many parts as the firmament, and let every
part answer to a degree of the firmament. And wit it well,
that, after the authors of astronomy, 700 furlongs of earth
answer to a degree of the firmament, and those be eighty-seven
miles and four furlongs. Now be that here multiplied by 360
sithes, and then they be 31,500 miles every of eight furlongs,
after miles of our country. So much hath the earth in
roundness and of height environ, after mine opinion and mine
understanding.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that after the opinion of old wise
philosophers and astronomers, our country ne Ireland ne Wales ne
Scotland ne Norway ne the other isles coasting to them ne be not
in the superficiality counted above the earth, as it sheweth by
all the books of astronomy. For the superficiality of the
earth is parted in seven parts for the seven planets, and those
parts be clept climates. And our parts be not of the seven
climates, for they be descending toward the west
†[drawing] towards the roundness of the world.
†And also these isles of Ind which be even against us be
not reckoned in the climates. For they be against us that
be in the low country. And the seven climates stretch them
environing the world.</p>
<h2><a name="page125"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
125</span>CHAPTER XXI</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Palace of the King of the Isle of
Java</i>. <i>Of the Trees that bear meal</i>, <i>honey</i>,
<i>wine</i>, <i>and venom</i>; <i>and of other marvels and
customs used in the Isles marching thereabout</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Beside</span> that isle that I have spoken
of, there is another isle that is clept Sumobor. That is a
great isle, and the king thereof is right mighty. The folk
of that isle make them always to be marked in the visage with an
hot iron, both men and women, for great noblesse, for to be known
from other folk; for they hold themselves most noble and most
worthy of all the world. And they have war always with the
folk that go all naked.</p>
<p>And fast beside is another isle, that is clept Betemga, that
is a good isle and a plenteous. And many other isles be
thereabout, where there be many of diverse folk, of the which it
were too long to speak of all.</p>
<p>But fast beside that isle, for to pass by sea, is a great isle
and a great country that men clepe Java. And it is nigh two
thousand mile in circuit. And the king of that country is a
full great lord and a rich and a mighty, and hath under him seven
other kings of seven other isles about him. This isle is
full well inhabited, and full well manned. There grow all
manner of spicery, more plenteously than in any other country, as
of ginger, cloves-gilofre, canell, seedwall, nutmegs and
maces. And wit well, that the nutmeg beareth the maces; for
right as the nut of the hazel hath an husk without, that the nut
is closed in till it be ripe and that after falleth out, right so
it is of the nutmeg and of the maces. Many other spices and
many other goods grow in that isle. For of all things is
there plenty, save only of wine. But there is gold and
silver, great plenty.</p>
<p>And the king of that country hath a palace full noble and full
marvellous, and more rich than any in the world. For all
the degrees to go up into halls and chambers be, <a
name="page126"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 126</span>one of
gold, another of silver. And also, the pavements of halls
and chambers be all square, of gold one, and another of
silver. And all the walls within be covered with gold and
silver in fine plates, and in those plates be stories and battles
of knights enleved, and the crowns and the circles about their
heads be made of precious stones and rich pearls and great.
And the halls and the chambers of the palace be all covered
within with gold and silver, so that no man would trow the riches
of that palace but he had seen it. And wit well, that the
king of that isle is so mighty, that he hath many times overcome
the great Chan of Cathay in battle, that is the most great
emperor that is under the firmament either beyond the sea or on
this half. For they have had often-time war between them,
because that the great Chan would constrain him to hold his land
of him; but that other at all times defendeth him well against
him.</p>
<p>After that isle, in going by sea, men find another isle, good
and great, that men clepe Pathen, that is a great kingdom full of
fair cities and full of towns. In that land grow trees that
bear meal, whereof men make good bread and white and of good
savour; and it seemeth as it were of wheat, but it is not
allinges of such savour. And there be other trees that bear
honey good and sweet, and other trees that bear venom, against
the which there is no medicine but [one]; and that is to take
their proper leaves and stamp them and temper them with water and
then drink it, and else he shall die; for triacle will not avail,
ne none other medicine. Of this venom the Jews had let seek
of one of their friends for to empoison all Christianity, as I
have heard them say in their confession before their dying: but
thanked be Almighty God! they failed of their purpose; but always
they make great mortality of people. And other trees there
be also that bear wine of noble sentiment. And if you like
to hear how the meal cometh out of the trees I shall say
you. Men hew the trees with an hatchet, all about the foot
of the tree, till that the bark be parted in many parts, and then
cometh out thereof a thick liquor, the which they receive in
vessels, and dry it at the heat of <a name="page127"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 127</span>the sun; and then they have it to a
mill to grind and it becometh fair meal and white. And the
honey and the wine and the venom be drawn out of other trees in
the same manner, and put in vessels for to keep.</p>
<p>In that isle is a dead sea, that is a lake that hath no
ground; and if anything fall into that lake it shall never come
up again. In that lake grow reeds, that be canes, that they
clepe Thaby, that be thirty fathoms long; and of these canes men
make fair houses. And there be other canes that be not so
long, that grow near the land and have so long roots that endure
well a four quarters of a furlong or more; and at the knots of
those roots men find precious stones that have great
virtues. And he that beareth any of them upon him, iron ne
steel may not hurt him, ne draw no blood upon him; and therefore,
they that have those stones upon them fight full hardily both on
sea and land, for men may not harm [them] on no part. And
therefore, they that know the manner, and shall fight with them,
they shoot to them arrows and quarrels without iron or steel, and
so they hurt them and slay them. And also of those canes
they make houses and ships and other things, as we have here,
making houses and ships of oak or of any other trees. And
deem no man that I say it but for a trifle, for I have seen of
the canes with mine own eyes, full many times, lying upon the
river of that lake, of the which twenty of our fellows ne might
not lift up ne bear one to the earth.</p>
<p>After this isle men go by sea to another isle that is clept
Calonak. And it is a fair land and a plenteous of
goods. And the king of that country hath as many wives as
he will. For he maketh search all the country to get him
the fairest maidens that may be found, and maketh them to be
brought before him. And he taketh one one night, and
another another night, and so forth continually suing; so that he
hath a thousand wives or more. And he lieth never but one
night with one of them, and another night with another; but if
that one happen to be more lusty to his pleasance than
another. And therefore the king getteth full many children,
some-time an hundred, some-time a two-hundred, <a
name="page128"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 128</span>and
some-time more. And he hath also into a 14,000 elephants or
more that he maketh for to be brought up amongst his villains by
all his towns. For in case that he had any war against any
other king about him, then [he] maketh certain men of arms for to
go up into the castles of tree made for the war, that craftily be
set upon the elephants’ backs, for to fight against their
enemies. And so do other kings there-about. For the
manner of war is not there as it is here or in other countries,
ne the ordinance of war neither. And men clepe the
elephants <i>Warkes</i>.</p>
<p>And in that isle there is a great marvel, more to speak of
than in any other part of the world. For all manner of
fishes, that be there in the sea about them, come once in the
year—each manner of diverse fishes, one manner of kind
after other. And they cast themselves to the sea bank of
that isle so great plenty and multitude, that no man may unnethe
see but fish. And there they abide three days. And
every man of the country taketh of them as many as him
liketh. And after, that manner of fish after the third day
departeth and goeth into the sea. And after them come
another multitude of fish of another kind and do in the same
manner as the first did, other three days. And after them
another, till all the diverse manner of fishes have been there,
and that men have taken of them that them liketh. And no
man knoweth the cause wherefore it may be. But they of the
country say that it is for to do reverence to their king, that is
the most worthy king that is in the world as they say; because
that he fulfilleth the commandment that God bade to Adam and Eve,
when God said, <i>Crescite et multiplicamini et replete
terram</i>. And for because that he multiplieth so the
world with children, therefore God sendeth him so the fishes of
diverse kinds of all that be in the sea, to take at his will for
him and all his people. And therefore all the fishes of the
sea come to make him homage as the most noble and excellent king
of the world, and that is best beloved with God, as they
say. I know not the reason, why it is, but God knoweth; but
this, me-seemeth, is the most <a name="page129"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 129</span>marvel that ever I saw. For
this marvel is against kind and not with kind, that the fishes
that have freedom to environ all the coasts of the sea at their
own list, come of their own will to proffer them to the death,
without constraining of man. And therefore, I am siker that
this may not be, without a great token.</p>
<p>There be also in that country a kind of snails that be so
great, that many persons may lodge them in their shells, as men
would do in a little house. And other snails there be that
be full great but not so huge as the other. And of these
snails, and of great white worms that have black heads that be as
great as a man’s thigh, and some less as great worms that
men find there in woods, men make viand royal for the king and
for other great lords. And if a man that is married die in
that country, men bury his wife with him all quick; for men say
there, that it is reason that she make him company in that other
world as she did in this.</p>
<p>From that country men go by the sea ocean by an isle that is
clept Caffolos. Men of that country when their friends be
sick they hang them upon trees, and say that it is better that
birds, that be angels of God, eat them, than the foul worms of
the earth.</p>
<p>From that isle men go to another isle, where the folk be of
full cursed kind. For they nourish great dogs and teach
them to strangle their friends when they be sick. For they
will not that they die of kindly death. For they say, that
they should suffer too great pain if they abide to die by
themselves, as nature would. And, when they be thus
enstrangled, they eat their flesh instead of venison.</p>
<p>Afterward men go by many isles by sea unto an isle that men
clepe Milke. And there is a full cursed people. For
they delight in nothing more than for to fight and to slay
men. And they drink gladliest man’s blood, the which
they clepe Dieu. And the more men that a man may slay, the
more worship he hath amongst them. And if two persons be at
debate and, peradventure, be accorded by their friends or by some
of their alliance, it behoveth that <a name="page130"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 130</span>every of them that shall be accorded
drink of other’s blood: and else the accord ne the alliance
is nought worth: ne it shall not be no reproof to him to break
the alliance and the accord, but if every of them drink of
others’ blood.</p>
<p>And from that isle men go by sea, from isle to isle, unto an
isle that is clept Tracoda, where the folk of that country be as
beasts, and unreasonable, and dwell in caves that they make in
the earth; for they have no wit to make them houses. And
when they see any man passing through their countries they hide
them in their caves. And they eat flesh of serpents, and
they eat but little. And they speak nought, but they hiss
as serpents do. And they set no price by no avoir ne
riches, but only of a precious stone, that is amongst them, that
is of sixty colours. And for the name of the isle, they
clepe it Tracodon. And they love more that stone than
anything else; and yet they know not the virtue thereof, but they
covet it and love it only for the beauty.</p>
<p>After that isle men go by the sea ocean, by many isles, unto
an isle that is clept Nacumera, that is a great isle and good and
fair. And it is in compass about, more than a thousand
mile. And all the men and women of that isle have
hounds’ heads, and they be clept Cynocephales. And
they be full reasonable and of good understanding, save that they
worship an ox for their God. And also every one of them
beareth an ox of gold or of silver in his forehead, in token that
they love well their God. And they go all naked save a
little clout, that they cover with their knees and their
members. They be great folk and well-fighting. And
they have a great targe that covereth all the body, and a spear
in their hand to fight with. And if they take any man in
battle, anon they eat him.</p>
<p>The king of that isle is full rich and full mighty and right
devout after his law. And he hath about his neck 300 pearls
orient, good and great and knotted, as paternosters here of
amber. And in manner as we say our <i>Pater Noster</i> and
our <i>Ave Maria</i>, counting the <i>Pater Nosters</i>, right so
this king saith every day devoutly 300 <a
name="page131"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 131</span>prayers to
his God, or that he eat. And he beareth also about his neck
a ruby orient, noble and fine, that is a foot of length and five
fingers large. And, when they choose their king, they take
him that ruby to bear in his hand; and so they lead him, riding
all about the city. And from thence-fromward they be all
obeissant to him. And that ruby he shall bear always about
his neck, for if he had not that ruby upon him men would not hold
him for king. The great Chan of Cathay hath greatly coveted
that ruby, but he might never have it for war, ne for no manner
of goods. This king is so rightful and of equity in his
dooms, that men may go sikerly throughout all his country and
bear with them what them list; that no man shall be hardy to rob
them, and if he were, the king would justified anon.</p>
<p>From this land men go to another isle that is clept
Silha. And it is well a 800 miles about. In that land
is full much waste, for it is full of serpents, of dragons and of
cockodrills, that no man dare dwell there. These
cockodrills be serpents, yellow and rayed above, and have four
feet and short thighs, and great nails as claws or talons.
And there be some that have five fathoms in length, and some of
six and of eight and of ten. And when they go by places
that be gravelly, it seemeth as though men had drawn a great tree
through the gravelly place. And there be also many wild
beasts, and namely of elephants.</p>
<p>In that isle is a great mountain. And in mid place of
the mount is a great lake in a full fair plain; and there is
great plenty of water. And they of the country say, that
Adam and Eve wept upon that mount an hundred year, when they were
driven out of Paradise, and that water, they say, is of their
tears; for so much water they wept, that made the foresaid
lake. And in the bottom of that lake men find many precious
stones and great pearls. In that lake grow many reeds and
great canes; and there within be many cocodrills and serpents and
great water-leeches. And the king of that country, once
every year, giveth leave to poor men to go into the lake to
gather them precious stones and pearls, by way of alms, for the
<a name="page132"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 132</span>love of
God that made Adam. And all the year men find enough.
And for the vermin that is within, they anoint their arms and
their thighs and legs with an ointment made of a thing that is
clept lemons, that is a manner of fruit like small pease; and
then have they no dread of no cockodrills, ne of none other
venomous vermin. This water runneth, flowing and ebbing, by
a side of the mountain, and in that river men find precious
stones and pearls, great plenty. And men of that isle say
commonly, that the serpents and the wild beasts of that country
will not do no harm ne touch with evil no strange man that
entereth into that country, but only to men that be born of the
same country.</p>
<p>In that country and others thereabout there be wild geese that
have two heads. And there be lions, all white and as great
as oxen, and many other diverse beasts and fowls also that be not
seen amongst us.</p>
<p>And wit well, that in that country and in other isles
thereabout, the sea is so high, that it seemeth as though it hung
at the clouds, and that it would cover all the world. And
that is great marvel that it might be so, save only the will of
God, that the air sustaineth it. And therefore saith David
in the Psalter, <i>Mirabiles elationes maris</i>.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>How men know by the Idol</i>, <i>if the
sick shall die or not</i>. <i>Of Folk of diverse shape and
marvellously disfigured</i>. <i>And of the Monks that gave
their relief to baboons</i>, <i>apes</i>, <i>and marmosets</i>,
<i>and to other beasts</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">From</span> that isle, in going by sea
toward the south, is another great isle that is clept
Dondun. In that isle be folk of diverse kinds, so that the
father eateth the son, the son the father, the husband the wife,
and the wife the husband. And if it so befall, that the
father or mother or <a name="page133"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 133</span>any of their friends be sick, anon
the son goeth to the priest of their law and prayeth him to ask
the idol if his father or mother or friend shall die on that evil
or not. And then the priest and the son go together before
the idol and kneel full devoutly and ask of the idol their
demand. And if the devil that is within answer that he
shall live, they keep him well; and if he say that he shall die,
then the priest goeth with the son, with the wife of him that is
sick, and they put their hands upon his mouth and stop his
breath, and so they slay him. And after that, they chop all
the body in small pieces, and pray all his friends to come and
eat of him that is dead. And they send for all the
minstrels of the country and make a solemn feast. And when
they have eaten the flesh, they take the bones and bury them, and
sing and make great melody. And all those that be of his
kin or pretend them to be his friends, an they come not to that
feast, they be reproved for evermore and shamed, and make great
dole, for never after shall they be holden as friends. And
they say also, that men eat their flesh for to deliver them out
of pain; for if the worms of the earth eat them the soul should
suffer great pain, as they say. And namely when the flesh
is tender and meagre, then say their friends, that they do great
sin to let them have so long languor to suffer so much pain
without reason. And when they find the flesh fat, then they
say, that it is well done to send them soon to Paradise, and that
they have not suffered him too long to endure in pain.</p>
<p>The king of this isle is a full great lord and a mighty, and
hath under him fifty-four great isles that give tribute to
him. And in everych of these isles is a king crowned; and
all be obeissant to that king. And he hath in those isles
many diverse folk.</p>
<p>In one of these isles be folk of great stature, as
giants. And they be hideous for to look upon. And
they have but one eye, and that is in the middle of the
front. And they eat nothing but raw flesh and raw fish.</p>
<p>And in another isle toward the south dwell folk of foul <a
name="page134"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 134</span>stature and
of cursed kind that have no heads. And their eyen be in
their shoulders.</p>
<p>And in another isle be folk that have the face all flat, all
plain, without nose and without mouth. But they have two
small holes, all round, instead of their eyes, and their mouth is
plat also without lips.</p>
<p>And in another isle be folk of foul fashion and shape that
have the lip above the mouth so great, that when they sleep in
the sun they cover all the face with that lip.</p>
<p>And in another isle there be little folk, as dwarfs. And
they be two so much as the pigmies. And they have no mouth;
but instead of their mouth they have a little round hole, and
when they shall eat or drink, they take through a pipe or a pen
or such a thing, and suck it in, for they have no tongue; and
therefore they speak not, but they make a manner of hissing as an
adder doth, and they make signs one to another as monks do, by
the which every of them understandeth other.</p>
<p>And in another isle be folk that have great ears and long,
that hang down to their knees.</p>
<p>And in another isle be folk that have horses’
feet. And they be strong and mighty, and swift runners; for
they take wild beasts with running, and eat them.</p>
<p>And in another isle be folk that go upon their hands and their
feet as beasts. And they be all skinned and feathered, and
they will leap as lightly into trees, and from tree to tree, as
it were squirrels or apes.</p>
<p>And in another isle be folk that be both man and woman, and
they have kind; of that one and of that other. And they
have but one pap on the one side, and on that other none.
And they have members of generation of man and woman, and they
use both when they list, once that one, and another time that
other. And they get children, when they use the member of
man; and they bear children, when they use the member of
woman.</p>
<p>And in another isle be folk that go always upon their knees
full marvellously. And at every pace that they go, it
seemeth that they would fall. And they have in every foot
eight toes.</p>
<p><a name="page135"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 135</span>Many
other diverse folk of diverse natures be there in other isles
about, of the which it were too long to tell, and therefore I
pass over shortly.</p>
<p>From these isles, in passing by the sea ocean toward the east
by many journeys, men find a great country and a great kingdom
that men clepe Mancy. And that is in Ind the more.
And it is the best land and one the fairest that may be in all
the world, and the most delectable and the most plenteous of all
goods that is in power of man. In that land dwell many
Christian men and Saracens, for it is a good country and a
great. And there be therein more than 2000 great cities and
rich, without other great towns. And there is more plenty
of people there than in any other part of Ind, for the bounty of
the country. In that country is no needy man, ne none that
goeth on begging. And they be full fair folk, but they be
all pale. And the men have thin beards and few hairs, but
they be long; but unnethe hath any man passing fifty hairs in his
beard, and one hair sits here, another there, as the beard of a
leopard or of a cat. In that land be many fairer women than
in any other country beyond the sea, and therefore men clepe that
land Albany, because that the folk be white.</p>
<p>And the chief city of that country is clept Latorin, and it is
a journey from the sea, and it is much more than Paris. In
that city is a great river bearing ships that go to all the
coasts in the sea. No city of the world is so well stored
of ships as is that. And all those of the city and of the
country worship idols. In that country be double sithes
more birds than be here. There be white geese, red about
the neck, and they have a great crest as a cock’s comb upon
their heads; and they be much more there than they be here, and
men buy them there all quick, right great cheap. And there
is great plenty of adders of whom men make great feasts and eat
them at great solemnities; and he that maketh there a feast be it
never so costly, an he have no adders he hath no thank for his
travail.</p>
<p>Many good cities there be in that country and men have great
plenty and great cheap of all wines and victuals. In <a
name="page136"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 136</span>that
country be many churches of religious men, and of their
law. And in those churches be idols as great as giants; and
to these idols they give to eat at great festival days in this
manner. They bring before them meat all sodden, as hot as
they come from the fire, and they let the smoke go up towards the
idols; and then they say that the idols have eaten; and then the
religious men eat the meat afterwards.</p>
<p>In that country be white hens without feathers, but they bear
white wool as sheep do here. In that country women that be
unmarried, they have tokens on their heads like coronals to be
known for unmarried. Also in that country there be beasts
taught of men to go into waters, into rivers and into deep stanks
for to take fish; the which beast is but little, and men clepe
them loirs. And when men cast them into the water, anon
they bring up great fishes, as many as men will. And if men
will have more, they cast them in again, and they bring up as
many as men list to have.</p>
<p>And from that city passing many journeys is another city, one
the greatest of the world, that men clepe Cassay; that is to say,
the ‘City of heaven.’ That city is well a fifty
mile about, and it is strongly inhabited with people, insomuch
that in one house men make ten households. In that city be
twelve principal gates; and before every gate, a three mile or a
four mile in length, is a great town or a great city. That
city sits upon a great lake on the sea as doth Venice. And
in that city be more than 12,000 bridges. And upon every
bridge be strong towers and good, in the which dwell the wardens
for to keep the city from the great Chan. And on that one
part of the city runneth a great river all along the city.
And there dwell Christian men and many merchants and other folk
of diverse nations, because that the land is so good and so
plenteous. And there groweth full good wine that men clepe
Bigon, that is full mighty, and gentle in drinking. This is
a city royal where the King of Mancy was wont to dwell. And
there dwell many religious men, as it were of the Order of
Friars, for they be mendicants.</p>
<p>From that city men go by water, solacing and disporting them,
till they come to an abbey of monks that <a
name="page137"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 137</span>is fast by,
that be good religious men after their faith and law. In
that abbey is a great garden and a fair, where be many trees of
diverse manner of fruits. And in this garden is a little
hill full of delectable trees. In that hill and in that
garden be many diverse beasts, as of apes, marmosets, baboons and
many other diverse beasts. And every day, when the convent
of this abbey hath eaten, the almoner let bear the relief to the
garden, and he smiteth on the garden gate with a clicket of
silver that he holdeth in his hand; and anon all the beasts of
the hill and of diverse places of the garden come out a 3000, or
a 4000; and they come in guise of poor men, and men give them the
relief in fair vessels of silver, clean over-gilt. And when
they have eaten, the monk smiteth eftsoons on the garden gate
with the clicket, and then anon all the beasts return again to
their places that they come from. And they say that these
beasts be souls of worthy men that resemble in likeness of those
beasts that be fair, and therefore they give them meat for the
love of God; and the other beasts that be foul, they say be souls
of poor men and of rude commons. And thus they believe, and
no man may put them out of this opinion. These beasts
above-said they let take when they be young, and nourish them so
with alms, as many as they may find. And I asked them if it
had not been better to have given that relief to poor men, rather
than to those beasts. And they answered me and said, that
they had no poor men amongst them in that country; and though it
had been so that poor men had been among them, yet were it
greater alms to give it to those souls that do there their
penance. Many other marvels be in that city and in the
country thereabout, that were too long to tell you.</p>
<p>From that city go men by the country a six journeys to another
city that men clepe Chilenfo, of the which city the walls be
twenty mile about. In that city be sixty bridges of stone,
so fair that no man may see fairer. In that city was the
first siege of the King of Mancy, for it is a fair and plenteous
of all goods.</p>
<p>After, pass men overthwart a great river that men clepe <a
name="page138"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
138</span>Dalay. And that is the greatest river of fresh
water that is in the world. For there, as it is most
narrow, it is more than four mile of breadth. And then
enter men again into the land of the great Chan.</p>
<p>That river goeth through the land of Pigmies, where that the
folk be of little stature, that be but three span long, and they
be right fair and gentle, after their quantities, both the men
and the women. And they marry them when they be half year
of age and get children. And they live not but six year or
seven at the most; and he that liveth eight year, men hold him
there right passing old. These men be the best workers of
gold, silver, cotton, silk and of all such things, of any other
that be in the world. And they have oftentimes war with the
birds of the country that they take and eat. This little
folk neither labour in lands ne in vines; but they have great men
amongst them of our stature that till the land and labour amongst
the vines for them. And of those men of our stature have
they as great scorn and wonder as we would have among us of
giants, if they were amongst us. There is a good city,
amongst others, where there is dwelling great plenty of those
little folk, and it is a great city and a fair. And the men
be great that dwell amongst them, but when they get any children
they be as little as the pigmies. And therefore they be,
all for the most part, all pigmies; for the nature of the land is
such. The great Chan let keep this city full well, for it
is his. And albeit, that the pigmies be little, yet they be
full reasonable after their age, and can both wit and good and
malice enough.</p>
<p>From that city go men by the country by many cities and many
towns unto a city that men clepe Jamchay; and it is a noble city
and a rich and of great profit to the Lord, and thither go men to
seek merchandise of all manner of thing. That city is full
much worth yearly to the lord of the country. For he hath
every year to rent of that city (as they of the city say) 50,000
cumants of florins of gold: for they count there all by cumants,
and every cumant is 10,000 florins of gold. Now may men
well <a name="page139"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
139</span>reckon how much that it amounteth. The king of
that country is full mighty, and yet he is under the great
Chan. And the great Chan hath under him twelve such
provinces. In that country in the good towns is a good
custom: for whoso will make a feast to any of his friends, there
be certain inns in every good town, and he that will make the
feast will say to the hosteler, array for me to-morrow a good
dinner for so many folk, and telleth him the number, and deviseth
him the viands; and he saith also, thus much I will dispend and
no more. And anon the hosteler arrayeth for him so fair and
so well and so honestly, that there shall lack nothing; and it
shall be done sooner and with less cost than an a man made it in
his own house.</p>
<p>And a five mile from that city, toward the head of the river
of Dalay, is another city that men clepe Menke. In that
city is strong navy of ships. And all be white as snow of
the kind of the trees that they be made of. And they be
full great ships and fair, and well ordained, and made with halls
and chambers and other easements, as though it were on the
land.</p>
<p>From thence go men, by many towns and many cities, through the
country, unto a city that men clepe Lanterine. And it is an
eight journeys from the city above-said. This city sits
upon a fair river, great and broad, that men clepe
Caramaron. This river passeth throughout Cathay. And
it doth often-time harm, and that full great, when it is over
great.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the great Chan of Cathay</i>.
<i>Of the royalty of his palace</i>, <i>and how he sits at
meat</i>; <i>and of the great number of officers that serve
him</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Cathay</span> is a great country and a
fair, noble and rich, and full of merchants. Thither go
merchants all years for <a name="page140"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 140</span>to seek spices and all manner of
merchandises, more commonly than in any other part. And ye
shall understand, that merchants that come from Genoa or from
Venice or from Romania or other parts of Lombardy, they go by sea
and by land eleven months or twelve, or more some-time, ere they
may come to the isle of Cathay that is the principal region of
all parts beyond; and it is of the great Chan.</p>
<p>From Cathay go men toward the east by many journeys. And
then men find a good city between these others, that men clepe
Sugarmago. That city is one of the best stored of silk and
other merchandises that is in the world.</p>
<p>After go men yet to another old city toward the east.
And it is in the province of Cathay. And beside that city
the men of Tartary have let make another city that is dept
Caydon. And it hath twelve gates, and between the two gates
there is always a great mile; so that the two cities, that is to
say, the old and the new, have in circuit more than twenty
mile.</p>
<p>In this city is the siege of the great Chan in a full great
palace and the most passing fair in all the world, of the which
the walls be in circuit more than two mile. And within the
walls it is all full of other palaces. And in the garden of
the great palace there is a great hill, upon the which there is
another palace; and it is the most fair and the most rich that
any man may devise. And all about the palace and the hill
be many trees bearing many diverse fruits. And all about
that hill be ditches great and deep, and beside them be great
vivaries on that one part and on that other. And there is a
full fair bridge to pass over the ditches. And in these
vivaries be so many wild geese and ganders and wild ducks and
swans and herons that it is without number. And all about
these ditches and vivaries is the great garden full of wild
beasts. So that when the great Chan will have any disport
on that, to take any of the wild beasts or of the fowls, he will
let chase them and take them at the windows without going out of
his chamber.</p>
<p>This palace, where his siege is, is both great and passing <a
name="page141"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 141</span>fair.
And within the palace, in the hall, there be twenty-four pillars
of fine gold. And all the walls be covered within of red
skins of beasts that men clepe panthers, that be fair beasts and
well smelling; so that for the sweet odour of those skins no evil
air may enter into the palace. Those skins be as red as
blood, and they shine so bright against the sun, that unnethe no
man may behold them. And many folk worship those beasts,
when they meet them first at morning, for their great virtue and
for the good smell that they have. And those skins they
prize more than though they were plate of fine gold.</p>
<p>And in the midst of this palace is the mountour for the great
Chan, that is all wrought of gold and of precious stones and
great pearls. And at four corners of the mountour be four
serpents of gold. And all about there is y-made large nets
of silk and gold and great pearls hanging all about the
mountour. And under the mountour be conduits of beverage
that they drink in the emperor’s court. And beside
the conduits be many vessels of gold, by the which they that be
of household drink at the conduit.</p>
<p>And the hall of the palace is full nobly arrayed, and full
marvellously attired on all parts in all things that men apparel
with any hall. And first, at the chief of the hall is the
emperor’s throne, full high, where he sitteth at the
meat. And that is of fine precious stones, bordered all
about with pured gold and precious stones, and great
pearls. And the grees that he goeth up to the table be of
precious stones mingled with gold.</p>
<p>And at the left side of the emperor’s siege is the siege
of his first wife, one degree lower than the emperor; and it is
of jasper, bordered with gold and precious stones. And the
siege of his second wife is also another siege, more lower than
his first wife; and it is also of jasper, bordered with gold, as
that other is. And the siege of the third wife is also more
low, by a degree, than the second wife. For he hath always
three wives with him, where that ever he be.</p>
<p>And after his wives, on the same side, sit the ladies of <a
name="page142"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 142</span>his lineage
yet lower, after that they be of estate. And all those that
be married have a counterfeit made like a man’s foot upon
their heads, a cubit long, all wrought with great pearls, fine
and orient, and above made with peacocks’ feathers and of
other shining feathers; and that stands upon their heads like a
crest, in token that they be under man’s foot and under
subjection of man. And they that be unmarried have none
such.</p>
<p>And after at the right side of the emperor first sitteth his
eldest son that shall reign after him. And he sitteth also
one degree lower than the emperor, in such manner of sieges as do
the empresses. And after him sit other great lords of his
lineage, every of them a degree lower than the other, as they be
of estate.</p>
<p>And the emperor hath his table alone by himself, that is of
gold and of precious stones, or of crystal bordered with gold,
and full of precious stones or of amethysts, or of lignum aloes
that cometh out of paradise, or of ivory bound or bordered with
gold. And every one of his wives hath also her table by
herself. And his eldest son and the other lords also, and
the ladies, and all that sit with the emperor have tables alone
by themselves, full rich. And there ne is no table but that
it is worth an huge treasure of goods.</p>
<p>And under the emperor’s table sit four clerks that write
all that the emperor saith, be it good, be it evil; for all that
he saith must be holden, for he may not change his word, ne
revoke it.</p>
<p>And [at] great solemn feasts before the emperor’s table
men bring great tables of gold, and thereon be peacocks of gold
and many other manner of diverse fowls, all of gold and richly
wrought and enamelled. And men make them dance and sing,
clapping their wings together, and make great noise. And
whether it be by craft or by necromancy I wot never; but it is a
good sight to behold, and a fair; and it is great marvel how it
may be. But I have the less marvel, because that they be
the most subtle men in all sciences and in all crafts that be in
the world: for of subtlety and of malice and of farcasting they
pass all <a name="page143"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
143</span>men under heaven. And therefore they say
themselves, that they see with two eyes and the Christian men see
but with one, because that they be more subtle than they.
For all other nations, they say, be but blind in cunning and
working in comparison to them. I did great business for to
have learned that craft, but the master told me that he had made
avow to his god to teach it to no creature, but only to his
eldest son.</p>
<p>Also above the emperor’s table and the other tables, and
above a great part in the hall, is a vine made of fine
gold. And it spreadeth all about the hall. And it
hath many clusters of grapes, some white, some green, some yellow
and some red and some black, all of precious stones. The
white be of crystal and of beryl and of iris; the yellow be of
topazes; the red be of rubies and of grenaz and of alabrandines;
the green be of emeralds, of perydoz and of chrysolites; and the
black be of onyx and garantez. And they be all so properly
made that it seemeth a very vine bearing kindly grapes.</p>
<p>And before the emperor’s table stand great lords and
rich barons and other that serve the emperor at the meat.
And no man is so hardy to speak a word, but if the emperor speak
to him; but if it be minstrels that sing songs and tell jests or
other disports, to solace with the emperor. And all the
vessels that men be served with in the hall or in chambers be of
precious stones, and specially at great tables either of jasper
or of crystal or of amethysts or of fine gold. And the cups
be of emeralds and of sapphires, or of topazes, of perydoz, and
of many other precious stones. Vessels of silver is there
none, for they tell no price thereof to make no vessels of: but
they make thereof grecings and pillars and pavements to halls and
chambers. And before the hall door stand many barons and
knights clean armed to keep that no man enter, but if it be the
will or the commandment of the emperor, or but if they be
servants or minstrels of the household; and other none is not so
hardy to neighen nigh the hall door.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that my fellows and I with our
yeomen, we served this emperor, and were his soldiers <a
name="page144"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 144</span>fifteen
months against the King of Mancy, that held against him.
And the cause was for we had great lust to see his noblesse and
the estate of his court and all his governance, to wit if it were
such as we heard say that it was. And truly we found it
more noble and more excellent, and richer and more marvellous,
than ever we heard speak of, insomuch that we would never have
lieved it had we not seen it. For I trow, that no man would
believe the noblesse, the riches ne the multitude of folk that be
in his court, but he had seen it; for it is not there as it is
here. For the lords here have folk of certain number as
they may suffice; but the great Chan hath every day folk at his
costage and expense as without number. But the ordinance,
ne the expenses in meat and drink, ne the honesty, ne the
cleanness, is not so arrayed there as it is here; for all the
commons there eat without cloth upon their knees, and they eat
all manner of flesh and little of bread, and after meat they wipe
their hands upon their skirts, and they eat not but once a
day. But the estate of lords is full great, and rich and
noble.</p>
<p>And albeit that some men will not trow me, but hold it for
fable to tell them the noblesse of his person and of his estate
and of his court and of the great multitude of folk that he
holds, natheles I shall say you a part of him and of his folk,
after that I have seen the manner and the ordinance full many a
time. And whoso that will may lieve me if he will, and
whoso will not, may leave also. For I wot well, if any man
hath been in those countries beyond, though he have not been in
the place where the great Chan dwelleth, he shall hear speak of
him so much marvellous thing, that he shall not trow it
lightly. And truly, no more did I myself, till I saw
it. And those that have been in those countries and in the
great Chan’s household know well that I say sooth.
And therefore I will not spare for them, that know not ne believe
not but that that they see, for to tell you a part of him and of
his estate that he holdeth, when he goeth from country to
country, and when he maketh solemn feasts.</p>
<h2><a name="page145"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
145</span>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Wherefore he is clept the great
Chan</i>. <i>Of the Style of his Letters</i>: <i>and of the
Superscription about his great Seal and his Privy Seal</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">First</span> I shall say you why he was
clept the great Chan.</p>
<p>Ye shall understand, that all the world was destroyed by
Noah’s flood, save only Noah and his wife and his
children. Noah had three sons, Shem, Cham, and
Japhet. This Cham was he that saw his father’s privy
members naked when he slept, and scorned them, and shewed them
with his finger to his brethren in scorning wise. And
therefore he was cursed of God. And Japhet turned his face
away and covered them.</p>
<p>These three brethren had seisin in all the land. And
this Cham, for his cruelty, took the greater and the best part,
toward the east, that is clept Asia, and Shem took Africa, and
Japhet took Europe. And therefore is all the earth parted
in these three parts by these three brethren. Cham was the
greatest and the most mighty, and of him came more generations
than of the other. And of his son Chuse was engendered
Nimrod the giant, that was the first king that ever was in the
world; and he began the foundation of the tower of Babylon.
And that time, the fiends of hell came many times and lay with
the women of his generation and engendered on them diverse folk,
as monsters and folk disfigured, some without heads, some with
great ears, some with one eye, some giants, some with
horses’ feet, and many other diverse shape against
kind. And of that generation of Cham be come the Paynims
and divers folk that be in isles of the sea by all Ind. And
forasmuch as he was the most mighty, and no man might withstand
him, he cleped himself the Son of God and sovereign of all the
world. And for this Cham, this emperor clepeth him Cham,
and sovereign of all the world.</p>
<p><a name="page146"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 146</span>And
of the generation of Shem be come the Saracens. And of the
generation of Japhet is come the people of Israel. And
though that we dwell in Europe, this is the opinion, that the
Syrians and the Samaritans have amongst them. And that they
told me, before that I went toward Ind, but I found it
otherwise. Natheles, the sooth is this; that Tartars and
they that dwell in the great Asia, they came of Cham; but the
Emperor of Cathay clepeth him not Cham, but Can, and I shall tell
you how.</p>
<p>It is but little more but eight score year that all Tartary
was in subjection and in servage to other nations about.
For they were but bestial folk and did nothing but kept beasts
and led them to pastures. But among them they had seven
principal nations that were sovereigns of them all. Of the
which, the first nation or lineage was clept Tartar, and that is
the most noble and the most prized. The second lineage is
clept Tanghot, the third Eurache, the fourth Valair, the fifth
Semoche, the sixth Megly, the seventh Coboghe.</p>
<p>Now befell it so that of the first lineage succeeded an old
worthy man that was not rich, that had to name Changuys.
This man lay upon a night in his bed. And he saw in
avision, that there came before him a knight armed all in
white. And he sat upon a white horse, and said to him, Can,
sleepest thou? The Immortal God hath sent me to thee, and
it is his will, that thou go to the seven lineages and say to
them that thou shalt be their emperor. For thou shalt
conquer the lands and the countries that be about, and they that
march upon you shall be under your subjection, as ye have been
under theirs, for that is God’s will immortal.</p>
<p>And when he came at morrow, Changuys rose, and went to seven
lineages, and told them how the white knight had said. And
they scorned him, and said that he was a fool. And so he
departed from them all ashamed. And the night ensuing, this
white knight came to the seven lineages, and commanded them on
God’s behalf immortal, that they should make this Changuys
their emperor, and they should be out of subjection, and they
should hold all <a name="page147"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
147</span>other regions about them in their servage as they had
been to them before. And on the morrow, they chose him to
be their emperor. And they set him upon a black fertre, and
after that they lift him up with great solemnity. And they
set him in a chair of gold and did him all manner of reverence,
and they cleped him Chan, as the white knight called him.</p>
<p>And when he was thus chosen, he would assay if he might trust
in them or no, and whether they would be obeissant to him or
no. And then he made many statutes and ordinances that they
clepe <i>Ysya Chan</i>. The first statute was, that they
should believe and obey in God Immortal, that is Almighty, that
would cast them out of servage, and at all times clepe to him for
help in time of need. The tother statute was, that all
manner of men that might bare arms should be numbered, and to
every ten should be a master, and to every hundred a master, and
to every thousand a master, and to every ten thousand a
master. After he commanded to the principals of the seven
lineages, that they should leave and forsake all that they had in
goods and heritage, and from thenceforth to hold them paid of
that that he would give them of his grace. And they did so
anon. After he commanded to the principals of the seven
lineages, that every of them should bring his eldest son before
him, and with their own hands smite off their heads without
tarrying. And anon his commandment was performed.</p>
<p>And when the Chan saw that they made none obstacle to perform
his commandment, then he thought well that he might trust in
them, and commanded them anon to make them ready and to sue his
banner. And after this, Chan put in subjection all the
lands about him.</p>
<p>Afterward it befell upon a day, that the Can rode with a few
meinie for to behold the strength of the country that he had
won. And so befell, that a great multitude of enemies met
with him. And for to give good example hardiness to his
people, he was the first that fought, and in the midst of his
enemies encountered, and there he was cast from his horse, and
his horse slain. And when his <a name="page148"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 148</span>folk saw him at the earth, they were
all abashed, and weened he had been dead, and flew every one, and
their enemies after and chased them, but they wist not that the
emperor was there. And when the enemies were far pursuing
the chase, the emperor hid him in a thick wood. And whet,
they were come again from the chase, they went and sought the
woods if any of them had been hid in the thick of the woods; and
many they found and slew them anon. So it happened that as
they went searching toward the place that the emperor was, they
saw an owl sitting upon a tree above him; and then they said
amongst them, that there was no man because that they saw that
bird there, and so they went their way; and thus escaped the
emperor from death. And then he went privily all by night,
till he came to his folk that were full glad of his coming, and
made great thankings to God Immortal, and to that bird by whom
their lord was saved. And therefore principally above all
fowls of world they worship the owl; and when they have any of
their feathers, they keep them full preciously instead of relics,
and bear them upon their heads with great reverence; and they
hold themselves blessed and safe from all perils while that they
have them upon them, and therefore they bear their feathers upon
their heads.</p>
<p>After all this the Chan ordained him, and assembled his
people, and went upon them that had assailed him before, and
destroyed them, and put them in subjection and servage. And
when he had won and put all the lands and countries on this half
the Mount Belian in subjection, the white knight came to him
again in his sleep, and said to him, Chan! the will of God
Immortal is that thou pass the Mount Belian. And thou shalt
win the land and thou shalt put many nations in subjection.
And for thou shalt find no good passage for to go toward that
country, go [to] the Mount Belian that is upon the sea, and kneel
there nine times toward the east in the worship of God Immortal,
and he shall shew the way to pass by. And the Chan did
so. And anon the sea that touched and was fast to the mount
began to withdraw him, and shewed fair way of nine foot breadth
large; and so he passed with his folk, and won <a
name="page149"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 149</span>the land of
Cathay that is the greatest kingdom of the world.</p>
<p>And for the nine kneelings and for the nine foot of way the
Chan and all the men of Tartary have the number of nine in great
reverence. And therefore who that will make the Chan any
present, be it of horses, be it of birds, or of arrows or bows,
or of fruit, or of any other thing, always he must make it of the
number of nine. And so then be the presents of greater
pleasure to him; and more benignly he will receive them than
though he were presented with an hundred or two hundred.
For him seemeth the number of nine so holy, because the messenger
of God Immortal devised it.</p>
<p>Also, when the Chan of Cathay had won the country of Cathay,
and put in subjection and under foot many countries about, he
fell sick. And when he felt well that he should die, he
said to his twelve sons, that everych of them should bring him
one of his arrows. And so they did anon. And then he
commanded that men should bind them together in three
places. And then he took them to his eldest son, and bade
him break them all together. And he enforced him with all
his might to break them, but he ne might not. And then the
Chan bade his second son to break them; and so, shortly, to all,
each after other; but none of them might break them. And
then he bade the youngest son dissever every one from other, and
break everych by himself. And so he did. And then
said the Chan to his eldest son and to all the others, Wherefore
might ye not break them? And they answered that they might
not, because that they were bound together. And wherefore,
quoth he, hath your little youngest brother broken them?
Because, quoth they, that they were parted each from other.
And then said the Chan, My sons, quoth he, truly thus will it
fare by you. For as long as ye be bound together in three
places, that is to say, in love, in truth and in good accord, no
man shall be of power to grieve you. But and ye be
dissevered from these three places, that your one help not your
other, ye shall be destroyed and brought to nought. And if
each of you love <a name="page150"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
150</span>other and help other, ye shall be lords and sovereigns
of all others. And when he had made his ordinances, he
died.</p>
<p>And then after him reigned Ecchecha Cane, his eldest
son. And his other brethren went to win them many countries
and kingdoms, unto the land of Prussia and of Russia, and made
themselves to be clept Chane; but they were all obeissant to
their elder brother, and therefore was he clept the great
Chan.</p>
<p>After Ecchecha reigned Guyo Chan.</p>
<p>And after him Mango Chan that was a good Christian man and
baptized, and gave letters of perpetual peace to all Christian
men, and sent his brother Halaon with great multitude of folk for
to win the Holy Land and for to put it into Christian men’s
hands, and for to destroy Mahomet’s law, and for to take
the Caliph of Bagdad that was emperor and lord of all the
Saracens. And when this caliph was taken, men found him of
so high worship, that in all the remnant of the world, ne might a
man find a more reverend man, ne higher in worship. And
then Halaon made him come before him, and said to him, Why, quoth
he, haddest thou not taken with thee more soldiers and men
enough, for a little quantity of treasure, for to defend thee and
thy country, that art so abundant of treasure and so high in all
worship? And the caliph answered him, For he well trowed
that he had enough of his own proper men. And then said
Halaon, Thou wert as a god of the Saracens. And it is
convenient to a god to eat no meat that is mortal. And
therefore, thou shall not eat but precious stones, rich pearls
and treasure, that thou lovest so much. And then he
commanded him to prison, and all his treasure about him.
And so he died for hunger and thirst. And then after this,
Halaon won all the Land of Promission, and put it into Christian
men’s hands. But the great Chan, his brother, died;
and that was great sorrow and loss to all Christian men.</p>
<p>After Mango Chan reigned Cobyla Chan that was also a Christian
man. And he reigned forty-two year. He founded the
great city Izonge in Cathay, that is a great deal more than
Rome.</p>
<p><a name="page151"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 151</span>The
tother great Chan that came after him became a Paynim, and all
the others after him.</p>
<p>The kingdom of Cathay is the greatest realm of the
world. And also the great Chan is the most mighty emperor
of the world and the greatest lord under the firmament. And
so he clepeth him in his letters, right thus: <i>Chan</i>!
<i>Filius Dei excelsi</i>, <i>omnium universam terram colentium
summus imperator</i>, <i>& dominus omnium
dominantium</i>! And the letter of his great seal, written
about, is this; <i>Deus in coelo</i>, <i>Chan super terram</i>,
<i>ejus fortitudo</i>. <i>Omnium hominum imperatoris
sigillum</i>. And the superscription about his little seal
is this; <i>Dei fortitudo</i>, <i>omnium hominum imperatoris
sigillum</i>.</p>
<p>And albeit that they be not christened, yet nevertheless the
emperor and all the Tartars believe in God Immortal. And
when they will menace any man, then they say, God knoweth well
that I shall do thee such a thing, and telleth his menace.</p>
<p>And thus have ye heard, why he is clept the great Chan.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Governance of the great Chan’s
Court</i>, <i>and when he maketh solemn feasts</i>. <i>Of
his Philosophers</i>. <i>And of his array</i>, <i>when he
rideth by the country</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Now</span> shall I tell you the governance
of the court of the great Chan, when he maketh solemn feasts; and
that is principally four times in the year.</p>
<p>The first feast is of his birth, that other is of his
presentation in their temple that they clepe their Moseache,
where they make a manner of circumcision, and the tother two
feasts be of his idols. The first feast of the idol is when
he is first put into their temple and throned; the tother feast
is when the idol beginneth first to speak, or to <a
name="page152"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 152</span>work
miracles. More be there not of solemn feasts, but if he
marry any of his children.</p>
<p>Now understand, that at every of these feasts he hath great
multitude of people, well ordained and well arrayed, by
thousands, by hundreds, and by tens. And every man knoweth
well what service he shall do, and every man giveth so good heed
and so good attendance to his service that no man findeth no
default. And there be first ordained 4000 barons, mighty
and rich, for to govern and to make ordinance for the feast, and
for to serve the emperor. And these solemn feasts be made
without in halls and tents made of cloths of gold and of
tartaries, full nobly. And all those barons have crowns of
gold upon their heads, full noble and rich, full of precious
stones and great pearls orient. And they be all clothed in
cloths of gold or of tartaries or of camakas, so richly and so
perfectly, that no man in the world can amend it, ne better
devise it. And all those robes be orfrayed all about, and
dubbed full of precious stones and of great orient pearls, full
richly. And they may well do so, for cloths of gold and of
silk be greater cheap there a great deal than be cloths of
wool. And these 4000 barons be devised in four companies,
and every thousand is clothed in cloths all of one colour, and
that so well arrayed and so richly, that it is marvel to
behold.</p>
<p>The first thousand, that is of dukes, of earls, of marquises
and of admirals, all clothed in cloths of gold, with tissues of
green silk, and bordered with gold full of precious stones in
manner as I have said before. The second thousand is all
clothed in cloths diapered of red silk, all wrought with gold,
and the orfrays set full of great pearl and precious stones, full
nobly wrought. The third thousand is clothed in cloths of
silk, of purple or of Ind. And the fourth thousand is in
cloths of yellow. And all their clothes be so nobly and so
richly wrought with gold and precious stones and rich pearls,
that if a man of this country had but only one of their robes, he
might well say that he should never be poor; for the gold and the
precious stones and the great orient pearls be of greater <a
name="page153"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 153</span>value on
this half the sea than they be beyond the sea in those
countries.</p>
<p>And when they be thus apparelled, they go two and two
together, full ordinately, before the emperor, without speech of
any word, save only inclining to him. And every one of them
beareth a tablet of jasper or of ivory or of crystal, and the
minstrels going before them, sounding their instruments of
diverse melody. And when the first thousand is thus passed
and hath made his muster, he withdraweth him on that one side;
and then entereth that other second thousand, and doth right so,
in the same manner of array and countenance, is did the first;
and after, the third; and then, the fourth; and none of them
saith not one word.</p>
<p>And at one side of the emperor’s table sit many
philosophers that be proved for wise men in many diverse
sciences, as of astronomy, necromancy, geomancy, pyromancy,
hydromancy, of augury and of many other sciences. And
everych of them have before them astrolabes of gold, some
spheres, some the brain pan of a dead man, some vessels of gold
full of gravel or sand, some vessels of gold full of coals
burning, some vessels of gold full of water and of wine and of
oil, and some horologes of gold, made full nobly and richly
wrought, and many other manner of instruments after their
sciences.</p>
<p>And at certain hours, when them thinketh time, they say to
certain officers that stand before them, ordained for the time to
fulfil their commandments; Make peace!</p>
<p>And then say the officers; Now peace! listen!</p>
<p>And after that, saith another of the philosophers; Every man
do reverence and incline to the emperor, that is God’s Son
and sovereign lord of all the world! For now is time!
And then every man boweth his head toward the earth.</p>
<p>And then commandeth the same philosopher again; Stand
up! And they do so.</p>
<p><a name="page154"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 154</span>And
at another hour, saith another philosopher; Put your little
finger in your ears! And anon they do so.</p>
<p>And at another hour, saith another philosopher; Put your hand
before your mouth! And anon they do so.</p>
<p>And at another hour, saith another philosopher; Put your hand
upon your head! And after that he biddeth them to do their
hand away. And they do so.</p>
<p>And so, from hour to hour, they command certain things; and
they say, that those things have diverse significations.
And I asked them privily what those things betokened. And
one of the masters told me, that the bowing of the head at that
hour betokened this; that all those that bowed their heads should
evermore after be obeissant and true to the emperor, and never,
for gifts ne for promise in no kind, to be false ne traitor unto
him for good nor evil. And the putting of the little finger
in the ear betokeneth, as they say, that none of them ne shall
not hear speak no contrarious thing to the emperor but that he
shall tell it anon to his council or discover it to some men that
will make relation to the emperor, though he were his father or
brother or son. And so forth, of all other things that is
done by the philosophers, they told me the causes of many diverse
things. And trust right well in certain, that no man doth
nothing to the emperor that belongeth unto him, neither clothing
ne bread ne wine ne bath ne none other thing that longeth to him,
but at certain hours that his philosophers will devise. And
if there fall war in any side to the emperor, anon the
philosophers come and say their advice after their calculations,
and counsel the emperor of their advice by their sciences; so
that the emperor doth nothing without their counsel.</p>
<p>And when the philosophers have done and performed their
commandments, then the minstrels begin to do their minstrelsy,
everych in their instruments, each after other, with all the
melody that they can devise. And when they have done a good
while, one of the officers of the emperor goeth up on a high
stage wrought full curiously, and crieth and saith with loud
voice; Make Peace! And then every man is still.</p>
<p>And then, anon after, all the lords that be of the
emperor’s lineage, nobly arrayed in rich cloths of gold and
royally apparelled on white steeds, as many as may <a
name="page155"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 155</span>well sue
him at that time, be ready to make their presents to the
emperor. And then saith the steward of the court to the
lords, by name; N. of N.! and nameth first the most noble and the
worthiest by name, and saith; Be ye ready with such a number of
white horses, for to serve the emperor, your sovereign
lord! And to another lord he saith; N. of N., be ye ready
with such a number, to serve your sovereign lord! And to
another, right so, and to all the lords of the emperor’s
lineage, each after other, as they be of estate. And when
they be all cleped, they enter each after other, and present the
white horses to the emperor, and then go their way. And
then after, all the other barons every of them, give him presents
or jewels or some other thing, after that they be of
estate. And then after them, all the prelates of their law,
and religious men and others; and every man giveth him
something. And when that all men have thus presented the
emperor, the greatest of dignity of the prelates giveth him a
blessing, saying an orison of their law.</p>
<p>And then begin the minstrels to make their minstrelsy in
divers instruments with all the melody that they can
devise. And when they have done their craft, then they
bring before the emperor, lions, leopards and other diverse
beasts, and eagles and vultures and other divers fowls, and
fishes and serpents, for to do him reverence. And then come
jugglers and enchanters, that do many marvels; for they make to
come in the air, by seeming, the sun and the moon to every
man’s sight. And after they make the night so dark
that no man may see nothing. And after they make the day to
come again, fair and pleasant with bright sun, to every
man’s sight. And then they bring in dances of the
fairest damsels of the world, and richest arrayed. And
after they make to come in other damsels bringing cups of gold
full of milk of diverse beasts, and give drink to lords and to
ladies. And then they make knights to joust in arms full
lustily; and they run together a great random, and they frussch
together full fiercely, and they break their spears so rudely
that the truncheons fly in sprouts and pieces all about the
hall. And then <a name="page156"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 156</span>they make to come in hunting for the
hart and for the boar, with hounds running with open mouth.
And many other things they do by craft of their enchantments,
that it is marvel for to see. And such plays of disport
they make till the taking up of the boards. This great Chan
hath full great people for to serve him, as I have told you
before. For he hath of minstrels the number of thirteen
cumants, but they abide not always with him. For all the
minstrels that come before him, of what nation that they be of,
they be withholden with him as of his household, and entered in
his books as for his own men. And after that, where that
ever they go, ever more they claim for minstrels of the great
Chan; and under that title, all kings and lords cherish them the
more with gifts and all things. And therefore he hath so
great multitude of them.</p>
<p>And he hath of certain men as though they were yeomen, that
keep birds, as ostriches, gerfalcons, sparrow-hawks, falcons
gentle, lanyers, sakers, sakrets, popinjays well speaking, and
birds singing, and also of wild beasts, as of elephants tame and
other, baboons, apes, marmosets, and other diverse beasts; the
mountance of fifteen cumants of yeomen.</p>
<p>And of physicians Christian he hath 200, and of leeches that
be Christian he hath 210, and of leeches and physicians that be
Saracens twenty, but he trusteth more in the Christian leeches
than in the Saracen. And his other common household is
without number, and they all have all necessaries and all that
them needeth of the emperor’s court. And he hath in
his court many barons as servitors, that be Christian and
converted to good faith by the preaching of religious Christian
men that dwell with him; but there be many more, that will not
that men know that they be Christian.</p>
<p>This emperor may dispend as much as he will without
estimation; for he not dispendeth ne maketh no money but of
leather imprinted or of paper. And of that money is some of
greater price and some of less price, after the diversity of his
statutes. And when that money hath run <a
name="page157"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 157</span>so long
that it beginneth to waste, then men bear it to the
emperor’s treasury and then they take new money for the
old. And that money goeth throughout all the country and
throughout all his provinces, for there and beyond them they make
no money neither of gold nor of silver; and therefore he may
dispend enough, and outrageously. And of gold and silver
that men bear in his country he maketh cylours, pillars and
pavements in his palace, and other diverse things what him
liketh.</p>
<p>This emperor hath in his chamber, in one of the pillars of
gold, a ruby and a carbuncle of half a foot long, that in the
night giveth so great clearness and shining, that it is as light
as day. And he hath many other precious stones and many
other rubies and carbuncles; but those be the greatest and the
most precious.</p>
<p>This emperor dwelleth in summer in a city that is toward the
north that is clept Saduz; and there is cold enough. And in
winter he dwelleth in a city that is clept Camaaleche, and that
is an hot country. But the country, where he dwelleth in
most commonly, is in Gaydo or in Jong, that is a good country and
a temperate, after that the country is there; but to men of this
country it were too passing hot.</p>
<p>And when this emperor will ride from one country to another he
ordaineth four hosts of his folk, of the which the first host
goeth before him a day’s journey. For that host shall
be lodged the night where the emperor shall lie upon the
morrow. And there shall every man have all manner of
victual and necessaries that be needful, of the emperor’s
costage. And in this first host is the number of people
fifty cumants, what of horse what of foot, of the which every
cumant amounteth 10,000 as I have told you before. And
another host goeth in the right side of the emperor, nigh half a
journey from him. And another goeth on the left side of
him, in the same wise. And in every host is as much
multitude of people as in the first host. And then after
cometh the fourth host, that is much more than any of the others,
and that goeth behind him, the mountance of a bow draught.
And every host hath his <a name="page158"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 158</span>journeys ordained in certain places,
where they shall be lodged at night, and there they shall have
all that them needeth. And if it befall that any of the
host die, anon they put another in his place, so that the number
shall evermore be whole.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that the emperor, in his proper
person, rideth not as other great lords do beyond, but if he list
to go privily with few men, for to be unknown. And else, he
rides in a chariot with four wheels, upon the which is made a
fair chamber, and it is made of a certain wood, that cometh out
of Paradise terrestrial, that men clepe lignum aloes, that the
floods of Paradise bring out at divers seasons, as I have told
you here before. And this chamber is full well smelling
because of the wood that it is made of. And all this
chamber is covered within of plate of fine gold dubbed with
precious stones and great pearls. And four elephants and
four great destriers, all white and covered with rich covertures,
leading the chariot. And four, or five, or six, of the
greatest lords ride about this chariot, full richly arrayed and
full nobly, so that no man shall neigh the chariot, but only
those lords, but if that the emperor call any man to him that him
list to speak withal. And above the chamber of this chariot
that the emperor sitteth in be set upon a perch four or five or
six gerfalcons, to that intent, that when the emperor seeth any
wild fowl, that he may take it at his own list, and have the
disport and the play of the flight, first with one, and after
with another; and so he taketh his disport passing by the
country. And no man rideth before him of his company, but
all after him. And no man dare not come nigh the chariot,
by a bow draught, but those lords only that be about him.
And all the host cometh fairly after him in great multitude.</p>
<p>And also such another chariot with such hosts ordained and
arrayed go with the empress upon another side, everych by
himself, with four hosts, right as the emperor did; but not with
so great multitude of people. And his eldest son goeth by
another way in another chariot, in the same manner. So that
there is between them so great <a name="page159"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 159</span>multitude of folk that it is marvel
to tell it. And no man should trow the number, but he had
seen it. And some-time it happeth that when he will not go
far, and that it like him to have the empress and his children
with him, then they go altogether, and their folk be all mingled
in fere, and divided in four parties only.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that the empire of this great Chan is
divided in twelve provinces; and every province hath more than
two thousand cities, and of towns without number. This
country is full great, for it hath twelve principal kings in
twelve provinces, and every of those Kings have many kings under
them, and all they be obeissant to the great Chan. And his
land and his lordship dureth so far, that a man may not go from
one head to another, neither by sea ne land, the space of seven
year. And through the deserts of his lordship, there as men
may find no towns, there be inns ordained by every journey, to
receive both man and horse, in the which they shall find plenty
of victual, and of all things that they need for to go by the
country.</p>
<p>And there is a marvellous custom in that country (but it is
profitable), that if any contrarious thing that should be
prejudice or grievance to the emperor in any kind, anon the
emperor hath tidings thereof and full knowledge in a day, though
it be three or four journeys from him or more. For his
ambassadors take their dromedaries or their horses, and they
prick in all that ever they may toward one of the inns. And
when they come there, anon they blow an horn. And anon they
of the inn know well enough that there be tidings to warn the
emperor of some rebellion against him. And then anon they
make other men ready, in all haste that they may, to bear
letters, and prick in all that ever they may, till they come to
the other inns with their letters. And then they make fresh
men ready, to prick forth with the letters toward the emperor,
while that the last bringer rest him, and bait his dromedary or
his horse. And so, from inn to inn, till it come to the
emperor. And thus anon hath he hasty tidings of anything
that beareth charge, by his couriers, that run so <a
name="page160"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 160</span>hastily
throughout all the country. And also when the Emperor
sendeth his couriers hastily throughout his land, every one of
them hath a large throng full of small bells, and when they neigh
near to the inns of other couriers that be also ordained by the
journeys, they ring their bells, and anon the other couriers make
them ready, and run their way unto another inn. And thus
runneth one to other, full speedily and swiftly, till the
emperor’s intent be served, in all haste. And these
couriers be clept <i>Chydydo</i>, after their language, that is
to say, a messenger,</p>
<p>Also when the emperor goeth from one country to another, as I
have told you here before, and he pass through cities and towns,
every man maketh a fire before his door, and putteth therein
powder of good gums that be sweet smelling, for to make good
savour to the emperor. And all the people kneel down
against him, and do him great reverence. And there, where
religious Christian men dwell, as they do in many cities in the
land, they go before him with procession with cross and holy
water, and they sing, <i>Veni creator spiritus</i>! with an high
voice, and go towards him. And when he heareth them, he
commandeth to his lords to ride beside him, that the religious
men may come to him. And when they be nigh him with the
cross, then he doth adown his galiot that sits on his head in
manner of a chaplet, that is made of gold and precious stones and
great pearls, and it is so rich, that men prize it to the value
of a realm in that country. And then he kneeleth to the
cross. And then the prelate of the religious men saith
before him certain orisons, and giveth him a blessing with the
cross; and he inclineth to the blessing full devoutly. And
then the prelate giveth him some manner fruit, to the number of
nine, in a platter of silver, with pears or apples, or other
manner fruit. And he taketh one. And then men give to
the other lords that be about him. For the custom is such,
that no stranger shall come before him, but if he give him some
manner thing, after the old law that saith, <i>Nemo accedat in
conspectu meo vacuus</i>. And then the emperor saith to the
religious men, that they withdraw them again, that they be <a
name="page161"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 161</span>neither
hurt nor harmed of the great multitude of horses that come behind
him. And also, in the same manner, do the religious men
that dwell there, to the empresses that pass by them, and to his
eldest son. And to every of them they present fruit.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that the people that he hath so many
hosts of, about him and about his wives and his soil, they dwell
not continually with him. But always, when him liketh, they
be sent for. And after, when they have done, they return to
their own households, save only they that be dwelling with him in
household for to serve him and his wives and his sons for to
govern his household. And albeit, that the others be
departed from him after that they have performed their service,
yet there abideth continually with him in court 50,000 men at
horse and 200,000 men a foot, without minstrels and those that
keep wild beasts and divers birds, of the which I have told you
the number before.</p>
<p>Under the firmament is not so great a lord, ne so mighty, ne
so rich as is the great Chan; not Prester John, that is emperor
of the high Ind, ne the Soldan of Babylon, ne the Emperor of
Persia. All these ne be not in comparison to the great
Chan, neither of might, ne of noblesse, ne of royalty, ne of
riches; for in all these he passeth all earthly princes.
Wherefore it is great harm that he believeth not faithfully in
God. And natheles he will gladly hear speak of God.
And he suffereth well that Christian men dwell in his lordship,
and that men of his faith be made Christian men if they will,
throughout all his country; for he defendeth no man to hold no
law other than him liketh.</p>
<p>In that country some men hath an hundred wives, some sixty,
some more, some less. And they take the next of their kin
to their wives, save only that they out-take their mothers, their
daughters, and their sisters of the mother’s side; but
their sisters on the father’s side of another woman they
may well take, and their brothers’ wives also after their
death, and their step-mothers also in the same wise.</p>
<h2><a name="page162"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
162</span>CHAPTER XXVI</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Law and the Customs of the
Tartarians dwelling in Cathay</i>. <i>And how that men do
when the Emperor shall die</i>, <i>and how he shall be
chosen</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">The</span> folk of that country use all
long clothes without furs. And they be clothed with
precious cloths of Tartary, and of cloths of gold. And
their clothes be slit at the side, and they be fastened with
laces of silk. And they clothe them also with pilches, and
the hide without; and they use neither cape ne hood. And in
the same manner as the men go, the women go, so that no man may
unneth know the men from the women, save only those women that be
married, that bear the token upon their heads of a man’s
foot, in sign that they be under man’s foot and under
subjection of man.</p>
<p>And their wives ne dwell not together, but every of them by
herself; and the husband may lie with whom of them that him
liketh. Everych hath his house, both man and woman.
And their houses be made round of staves, and it hath a round
window above that giveth them light, and also that serveth for
deliverance of smoke. And the heling of their houses and
the walls and the doors be all of wood. And when they go to
war, they lead their houses with them upon chariots, as men do
tents or pavilions. And they make their fire in the midst
of their houses.</p>
<p>And they have great multitude of all manner of beasts, save
only of swine, for they bring none forth. And they believe
well one God that made and formed all things. And natheles
yet have they idols of gold and silver, and of tree and of
cloth. And to those idols they offer always their first
milk of their beasts, and also of their meats and of their drinks
before they eat. And they offer often-times horses and
beasts. And they clepe the God of kind <i>Yroga</i>.</p>
<p>And their emperor also, what name that ever he have, they put
evermore thereto, Chan. And when I was there, <a
name="page163"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 163</span>their
emperor had to name Thiaut, so that he was clept
Thiaut-Chan. And his eldest son was clept Tossue; and when
he shall be emperor, he shall be clept Tossue-Chan. And at
that time the emperor had twelve sons without him, that were
named Cuncy, Ordii, Chadahay, Buryn, Negu, Nocab, Cadu, [Siban],
Cuten, Balacy, Babylan, and Garegan. And of his three
wives, the first and principal, that was Prester John’s
daughter, had to name Serioche-Chan, and the tother Borak-Chan,
and the tother Karanke-Chan.</p>
<p>The folk of that country begin all their things in the new
moon, and they worship much the moon and the sun and often-time
kneel against them. And all the folk of the country ride
commonly without spurs, but they bear always a little whip in
their hands for to chace with their horses.</p>
<p>And they have great conscience and hold it for a great sin to
cast a knife in the fire, and for to draw flesh out of a pot with
a knife, and for to smite an horse with the handle of a whip, or
to smite an horse with a bridle, or to break one bone with
another, or for to cast milk or any liquor that men may drink
upon the earth, or for to take and slay little children.
And the most sin that any man may do is to piss in their houses
that they dwell in, and whoso that may be found with that sin
sikerly they slay him. And of everych of these sins it
behoveth them to be shriven of their priests, and to pay great
sum of silver for their penance. And it behoveth also, that
the place that men have pissed in be hallowed again, and else
dare no man enter therein. And when they have paid their
penance, men make them pass through a fire or through two, for to
cleanse them of their sins. And also when any messenger
cometh and bringeth letters or any present to the emperor, it
behoveth him that he, with the thing that he bringeth, pass
through two burning fires for to purge them, that he bring no
poison ne venom, ne no wicked thing that might be grievance to
the Lord. And also if any man or woman be taken in avoutry
or fornication, anon they slay him. And who that stealeth
anything, anon they slay him.</p>
<p><a name="page164"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 164</span>Men
of that country be all good archers and shoot right well, both
men and women, as well on horse-back, pricking, as on foot,
running. And the women make all things and all manner
mysteries and crafts, as of clothes, boots and other things; and
they drive carts, ploughs and wains and chariots; and they make
houses and all manner mysteres, out taken bows and arrows and
armours that men make. And all the women wear breeches, as
well as men.</p>
<p>All the folk of that country be full obeissant to their
sovereigns; ne they fight not, ne chide not one with
another. And there be neither thieves ne robbers in that
country. And every man worshippeth other; but no man there
doth no reverence to no strangers, but if they be great
princes.</p>
<p>And they eat hounds, lions, leopards, mares and foals, asses,
rats and mice and all manner of beasts, great and small, save
only swine and beasts that were defended by the old law.
And they eat all the beasts without and within, without casting
away of anything, save only the filth. And they eat but
little bread, but if it be in courts of great lords. And
they have not in many places, neither pease ne beans ne none
other pottages but the broth of the flesh. For little eat
they anything but flesh and the broth. And when they have
eaten, they wipe their hands upon their skirts; for they use no
napery ne towels, but if it be before great lords; but the common
people hath none. And when they have eaten, they put their
dishes unwashen into the pot or cauldron with remnant of the
flesh and of the broth till they will eat again. And the
rich men drink milk of mares or of camels or of asses or of other
beasts. And they will be lightly drunken of milk and of
another drink that is made of honey and of water sodden together;
for in that country is neither wine ne ale. They live full
wretchedly, and they eat but once in the day, and that but
little, neither in courts ne in other places. And in sooth,
one man alone in this country will eat more in a day than one of
them will eat in three days. And if any strange messenger
come there to a lord, men make him to eat but once a day, and
that full little.</p>
<p><a name="page165"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 165</span>And
when they war, they war full wisely and always do their business,
to destroy their enemies. Every man there beareth two bows
or three, and of arrows great plenty, and a great axe. And
the gentles have short spears and large and full trenchant on
that one side. And they have plates and helms made of
quyrboylle, and their horses covertures of the same. And
whoso fleeth from the battle they slay him. And when they
hold any siege about castle or town that is walled and
defensible, they behote to them that be within to do all the
profit and good, that it is marvel to hear; and they grant also
to them that be within all that they will ask them. And
after that they be yielden, anon they slay them all; and cut off
their ears and souse them in vinegar, and thereof they make great
service for lords. All their lust and all their imagination
is for to put all lands under their subjection. And they
say that they know well by their prophecies, that they shall be
overcome by archers and by strength of them; but they know not of
what nation ne of what law they shall be of, that shall overcome
them. And therefore they suffer that folk of all laws may
peaceably dwell amongst them.</p>
<p>Also when they will make their idols or an image of any of
their friends for to have remembrance of him, they make always
the image all naked without any manner of clothing. For
they say that in good love should be no covering, that man should
not love for the fair clothing ne for the rich array, but only
for the body, such as God hath made it, and for the good virtues
that the body is endowed with of Nature, not only for fair
clothing that is not of kindly Nature.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand that it is great dread for to pursue
the Tartars if they flee in battle. For in fleeing they
shoot behind them and slay both men and horses. And when
they will fight they will shock them together in a plump; that if
there be 20,000 men, men shall not ween that there be scant
10,000. And they can well win land of strangers, but they
cannot keep it; for they have greater lust to lie in tents
without than for to lie in castle <a name="page166"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 166</span>or in towns. And they prize
nothing the wit of other nations.</p>
<p>And amongst them oil of olive is full dear, for they hold it
for full noble medicine. And all the Tartars have small
eyen and little of beard, and not thick haired but shear.
And they be false and traitors; and they last nought that they
behote. They be full hardy folk, and much pain and woe may
suffer and disease, more than any other folk, for they be taught
thereto in their own country of youth. And therefore they
spend as who saith, right nought.</p>
<p>And when any man shall die, men set a spear beside him.
And when he draweth towards the death, every man fleeth out of
the house till he be dead. And after that they bury him in
the fields.</p>
<p>And when the emperor dieth, men set him in a chair in midst
the place of his tent. And men set a table before him
clean, covered with a cloth, and thereupon flesh and diverse
viands and a cup full of mare’s milk. And men put a
mare beside him with her foal, and an horse saddled and
bridled. And they lay upon the horse gold and silver, great
quantity. And they put about him great plenty of
straw. And then men make a great pit and a large, and with
the tent and all these other things they put him in earth.
And they say that when he shall come into another world, he shall
not be without an house, ne without horse, ne without gold and
silver; and the mare shall give him milk, and bring him forth
more horses till he be well stored in the tother world. For
they trow that after their death they shall be eating and
drinking in that other world, and solacing them with their wives,
as they did here.</p>
<p>And after time that the emperor is thus interred no man shall
be so hardy to speak of him before his friends. And yet
natheles, sometime falleth of many that they make him to be
interred privily by night in wild places, and put again the grass
over the pit for to grow; or else men cover the pit with gravel
and sand, that no man shall perceive where, ne know where, the
pit is, to <a name="page167"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
167</span>that intent that never after none of his friends shall
have mind ne remembrance of him. And then they say that he
is ravished into another world, where he is a greater lord than
he was here.</p>
<p>And then, after the death of the emperor, the seven lineages
assemble them together, and choose his eldest son, or the next
after him of his blood. And thus they say to him; we will
and we pray and ordain that ye be our lord and our emperor.</p>
<p>And then he answereth, If ye will that I reign over you as
lord, do everych of you that I shall command him, either to abide
or to go; and whomsoever that I command to be slain, that anon he
be slain.</p>
<p>And they answer all with one voice, Whatsoever ye command, it
shall be done.</p>
<p>Then saith the emperor, Now understand well, that my word from
henceforth is sharp and biting as a sword.</p>
<p>After, men set him upon a black steed and so men bring him to
a chair full richly arrayed, and there they crown him. And
then all the cities and good towns send him rich presents.
So that at that journey he shall have more than sixty chariots
charged with gold silver, without jewels of gold and precious
stones, that lords gave him, that be without estimation, and
without horses, and cloths of gold, and of camakas, and tartarins
that be without number.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Realm of Tharse and the Lands and
Kingdoms towards the Septentrional Parts</i>, <i>in coming down
from the land of Cathay</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">This</span> land of Cathay is in Asia the
deep; and after, on this half, is Asia the more. The
kingdom of Cathay marcheth toward the west unto the kingdom of
Tharse, <a name="page168"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
168</span>the which was one of the kings that came to present our
Lord in Bethlehem. And they that be of the lineage of that
king are some Christian. In Tharse they eat no flesh, ne
they drink no wine.</p>
<p>And on this half, toward the west, is the kingdom of
Turkestan, that stretcheth him toward the west to the kingdom of
Persia, and toward the septentrional to the kingdom of
Khorasan. In the country of Turkestan be but few good
cities; but the best city of that land hight Octorar. There
be great pastures, but few corns; and therefore, for the most
part, they be all herdsmen, and they lie in tents and they drink
a manner ale made of honey.</p>
<p>And after, on this half, is the kingdom of Khorasan, that is a
good land and a plenteous, without wine. And it hath a
desert toward the east that lasteth more than an hundred
journeys. And the best city of that country is clept
Khorasan, and of that city beareth the country his name.
The folk of that country be hardy warriors.</p>
<p>And on this half is the kingdom of Comania, whereof the
Comanians that dwelled in Greece sometime were chased out.
This is one of the greatest kingdoms of the world, but it is not
all inhabited. For at one of the parts there is so great
cold that no man may dwell there; and in another part there is so
great heat that no man may endure it, and also there be so many
flies, that no man may know on what side he may turn him.
In that country is but little arboury ne trees that bear fruit ne
other. They lie in tents; and they burn the dung of beasts
for default of wood. This kingdom descendeth on this half
toward us and toward Prussia and toward Russia.</p>
<p>And through that country runneth the river of Ethille that is
one of the greatest rivers of the world. And it freezeth so
strongly all years that many times men have fought upon the ice
with great hosts, both parties on foot, and their horses voided
for the time, and what on horse and on foot, more than 200,000
persons on every side.</p>
<p>And between that river and the great sea Ocean, that <a
name="page169"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 169</span>they clepe
the Sea Maure, lie all these realms. And toward the head,
beneath, in that realm is the Mount Chotaz, that is the highest
mount of the world, and it is between the Sea Maure and the Sea
Caspian. There is full strait and dangerous passage for to
go toward Ind. And therefore King Alexander let make there
a strong city, that men clepe Alexandria, for to keep the country
that no man should pass without his leave. And now men
clepe that city, the Gate of Hell.</p>
<p>And the principal city of Comania is clept Sarak, that is one
of the three ways for to go into Ind. But by that way, ne
may not pass no great multitude of people, but if it be in
winter. And that passage men clepe the Derbent. The
tother way is for to go from the city of Turkestan by Persia, and
by that way be many journeys by desert. And the third way
is that cometh from Comania and then to go by the Great Sea and
by the kingdom of Abchaz.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that all these kingdoms and all these
lands above-said unto Prussia and to Russia be all obeissant to
the great Chan of Cathay, and many other countries that march to
other coasts. Wherefore his power and his lordship is full
great and full mighty.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>The Emperor of Persia</i>, <i>and of the
Land of Darkness</i>; <i>and of other kingdoms that belong to the
great Chan of Cathay</i>, <i>and other lands of his</i>, <i>unto
the sea of Greece</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Now</span>, since I have devised you the
lands and the kingdoms toward the parts Septentrionals in coming
down from the land of Cathay unto the lands of the Christian,
towards Prussia and Russia,—now shall I devise you of other
lands and kingdoms coming down by other coasts, toward the right
side, unto the sea of Greece, toward the land of Christian
men. And, therefore, that after Ind and <a
name="page170"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 170</span>after
Cathay the Emperor of Persia is the greatest lord, therefore, I
shall tell you of the kingdom of Persia.</p>
<p>First, where he hath two kingdoms, the first kingdom beginneth
toward the east, toward the kingdom of Turkestan, and it
stretcheth toward the west unto the river of Pison, that is one
of the four rivers that come out of Paradise. And on
another side it stretcheth toward the Septentrion unto the sea of
Caspian; and also toward the south unto the desert of Ind.
And this country is good and plain and full of people. And
there be many good cities. But the two principal cities be
these, Boyturra, and Seornergant, that some men clepe
Sormagant. The tother kingdom of Persia stretcheth toward
the river of Pison and the parts of the west unto the kingdom of
Media, and from the great Armenia and toward the Septentrion to
the sea of Caspian and toward the south to the land of Ind.
That is also a good land and a plenteous, and it hath three great
principal cities—Messabor, Saphon, and Sarmassan.</p>
<p>And then after is Armenia, in the which were wont to be four
kingdoms; that is a noble country and full of goods. And it
beginneth at Persia and stretcheth toward the west in length unto
Turkey. And in largeness it dureth to the city of
Alexandria, that now is clept the Gate of Hell, that I spake of
before, under the kingdom of Media. In this Armenia be full
many good cities, but Taurizo is most of name.</p>
<p>After this is the kingdom of Media, that is full long, but it
is not full large, that beginneth toward the east to the land of
Persia and to Ind the less; and it stretcheth toward the west,
toward the kingdom of Chaldea and toward the Septentrion,
descending toward the little Armenia. In that kingdom of
Media there be many great hills and little of plain earth.
There dwell Saracens and another manner of folk, that men clepe
Cordynes. The best two cities of that kingdom be Sarras and
Karemen.</p>
<p>After that is the kingdom of Georgia, that beginneth toward
the east to the great mountain that is clept Abzor, where that
dwell many diverse folk of diverse <a name="page171"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 171</span>nations. And men clepe the
country Alamo. This kingdom stretcheth him towards Turkey
and toward the Great Sea, and toward the south it marcheth to the
great Armenia. And there be two kingdoms in that country;
that one is the kingdom of Georgia, and that other is the kingdom
of Abchaz. And always in that country be two kings; and
they be both Christian. But the king of Georgia is in
subjection to the great Chan. And the king of Abchaz hath
the more strong country, and he always vigorously defendeth his
country against all those that assail him, so that no man may
make him in subjection to no man.</p>
<p>In that kingdom of Abchaz is a great marvel. For a
province of the country that hath well in circuit three journeys,
that men clepe Hanyson, is all covered with darkness, without any
brightness or light; so that no man may see ne hear, ne no man
dare enter into him. And, natheles, they of the country
say, that some-times men hear voice of folk, and horses neighing,
and cocks crowing. And men wit well, that men dwell there,
but they know not what men. And they say, that the darkness
befell by miracle of God. For a cursed emperor of Persia,
that hight Saures, pursued all Christian men to destroy them and
to compel them to make sacrifice to his idols, and rode with
great host, in all that ever he might, for to confound the
Christian men. And then in that country dwelled many good
Christian men, the which that left their goods and would have
fled into Greece. And when they were in a plain that hight
Megon, anon this cursed emperor met with them with his host for
to have slain them and hewn them to pieces. And anon the
Christian men kneeled to the ground, and made their prayers to
God to succour them. And anon a great thick cloud came and
covered the emperor and all his host. And so they endure in
that manner that they ne may not go out on no side; and so shall
they evermore abide in that darkness till the day of doom, by the
miracle of God. And then the Christian men went where them
liked best, at their own pleasance, <a name="page172"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 172</span>without letting of any creature, and
their enemies enclosed and confounded in darkness, without any
stroke.</p>
<p>Wherefore we may well say with David, <i>A Domino factum est
istud</i>; <i>& est mirabile in oculis nostris</i>. And
that was a great miracle, that God made for them. Wherefore
methinketh that Christian men should be more devout to serve our
Lord God than any other men of any other sect. For without
any dread, ne were not cursedness and sin of Christian men, they
should be lords of all the world. For the banner of Jesu
Christ is always displayed, and ready on all sides to the help of
his true loving servants. Insomuch, that one good Christian
man in good belief should overcome and out-chase a thousand
cursed misbelieving men, as David saith in the Psalter,
<i>Quoniam persequebatur unus mills</i>, <i>& duo fugarent
decem milia</i>; <i>et cadent a latere tuo mille</i>, <i>&
decem milia a dextris tuis</i>. And how that it might be
that one should chase a thousand, David himself saith following,
<i>Quia manus Domini fecit haec omnia</i>, and our Lord himself
saith, by the prophet’s mouth, <i>Si in viis meis
ambulaveritis</i>, <i>super tribulantes vos misissem manum
meam</i>. So that we may see apertly that if we will be
good men, no enemy may not endure against us.</p>
<p>Also ye shall understand that out of that land of darkness
goeth out a great river that sheweth well that there be folk
dwelling, by many ready tokens; but no man dare not enter into
it.</p>
<p>And wit well, that in the kingdoms of Georgia, of Abchaz and
of the little Armenia be good Christian men and devout. For
they shrive them and housel them evermore once or twice in the
week. And there be many of them that housel them every day;
and so do we not on this half, albeit that Saint Paul commandeth
it, saying, <i>Omnibus diebus dominicis ad communicandum
hortor</i>. They keep that commandment, but we ne keep it
not.</p>
<p>Also after, on this half, is Turkey, that marcheth to the
great Armenia. And there be many provinces, as Cappadocia,
Saure, Brique, Quesiton, Pytan, and Gemethe. And in everych
of these be many good cities. This <a
name="page173"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 173</span>Turkey
stretcheth unto the city of Sachala that sitteth upon the sea of
Greece, and so it marcheth to Syria. Syria is a great
country and a good, as I have told you before. And also it
hath, above toward Ind, the kingdom of Chaldea, that stretcheth
from the mountains of Chaldea toward the east unto the city of
Nineveh, that sitteth upon the river of Tigris; and in largeness
it beginneth toward the north to the city of Maraga; and it
stretcheth toward the south unto the sea Ocean. In Chaldea
is a plain country, and few hills and few rivers.</p>
<p>After is the kingdom of Mesopotamia, that beginneth, toward
the east, to the flom of Tigris, unto a city that is clept Mosul;
and it stretcheth toward the west to the flom of Euphrates unto a
city that is clept Roianz; and in length it goeth to the mount of
Armenia unto the desert of Ind the less. This is a good
country and a plain, but it hath few rivers. It hath but
two mountains in that country, of the which one hight Symar and
that other Lyson. And this land marcheth to the kingdom of
Chaldea.</p>
<p>Yet there is, toward the parts Meridionals many countries and
many regions, as the land of Ethiopia, that marcheth, toward the
east to the great deserts, toward the west to the kingdom of
Nubia, toward the south to the kingdom of Moretane, and toward
the north to the Red Sea.</p>
<p>After is Moretane, that dureth from the mountains of Ethiopia
unto Lybia the high. And that country lieth along from the
sea ocean toward the south; and toward the north it marcheth to
Nubia and to the high Lybia. (These men of Nubia be
Christian.) And it marcheth from the lands above-said to
the deserts of Egypt, and that is the Egypt that I have spoken of
before.</p>
<p>And after is Lybia the high and Lybia the low, that descendeth
down low toward the great sea of Spain, in the which country be
many kingdoms and many diverse folk.</p>
<p>Now I have devised you many countries on this half the kingdom
of Cathay, of the which many be obeissant to the great Chan.</p>
<h2><a name="page174"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
174</span>CHAPTER XXIX</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Countries and Isles that be beyond
the Land of Cathay</i>; <i>and of the fruits there</i>; <i>and of
twenty-two kings enclosed within the mountains</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Now</span> shall I say you, suingly, of
countries and isles that be beyond the countries that I have
spoken of.</p>
<p>Wherefore I say you, in passing by the land of Cathay toward
the high Ind and toward Bacharia, men pass by a kingdom that men
clepe Caldilhe, that is a full fair country.</p>
<p>And there groweth a manner of fruit, as though it were
gourds. And when they be ripe, men cut them a-two, and men
find within a little beast, in flesh, in bone, and blood, as
though it were a little lamb without wool. And men eat both
the fruit and the beast. And that is a great marvel.
Of that fruit I have eaten, although it were wonderful, but that
I know well that God is marvellous in his works. And,
natheles, I told them of as great a marvel to them, that is
amongst us, and that was of the Bernakes. For I told them
that in our country were trees that bear a fruit that become
birds flying, and those that fell in the water live, and they
that fall on the earth die anon, and they be right good to
man’s meat. And hereof had they as great marvel, that
some of them trowed it were an impossible thing to be.</p>
<p>In that country be long apples of good savour, whereof be more
than an hundred in a cluster, and as many in another; and they
have great long leaves and large, of two foot long or more.
And in that country, and in other countries thereabout, grow many
trees that bear clove-gylofres and nutmegs, and great nuts of
Ind, and of Canell and of many other spices. And there be
vines that bear so great grapes, that a strong man should have
enough to do for to bear one cluster with all the grapes.</p>
<p>In that same region be the mountains of Caspian that <a
name="page175"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 175</span>men clepe
Uber in the country. Between those mountains the Jews of
ten lineages be enclosed, that men clepe Goth and Magoth and they
may not go out on no side. There were enclosed twenty-two
kings with their people, that dwelled between the mountains of
Scythia. There King Alexander chased them between those
mountains, and there he thought for to enclose them through work
of his men. But when he saw that he might not do it, ne
bring it to an end, he prayed to God of nature that he would
perform that that he had begun. And all were it so, that he
was a paynim and not worthy to be heard, yet God of his grace
closed the mountains together, so that they dwell there all fast
locked and enclosed with high mountains all about, save only on
one side, and on that side is the sea of Caspian.</p>
<p>Now may some men ask, since that the sea is on that one side,
wherefore go they not out on the sea side, for to go where that
them liketh?</p>
<p>But to this question, I shall answer; that sea of Caspian
goeth out by land under the mountains, and runneth by the desert
at one side of the country, and after it stretcheth unto the ends
of Persia, and although it be clept a sea, it is no sea, ne it
toucheth to none other sea, but it is a lake, the greatest of the
world; and though they would put them into that sea, they ne wist
never where that they should arrive; and also they can no
language but only their own, that no man knoweth but they; and
therefore may they not go out.</p>
<p>And also ye shall understand, that the Jews have no proper
land of their own for to dwell in, in all the world, but only
that land between the mountains. And yet they yield tribute
for that land to the Queen of Amazonia, the which that maketh
them to be kept in close full diligently, that they shall not go
out on no side but by the coast of their land; for their land
marcheth to those mountains.</p>
<p>And often it hath befallen, that some of the Jews have gone up
the mountains and avaled down to the valleys. But great
number of folk ne may not do so, for the mountains be so high and
so straight up, that they must abide there, <a
name="page176"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 176</span>maugre
their might. For they may not go out, but by a little issue
that was made by strength of men, and it lasteth well a four
great mile.</p>
<p>And after, is there yet a land all desert, where men may find
no water, neither for digging ne for none other thing.
Wherefore men may not dwell in that place, so is it full of
dragons, of serpents and of other venomous beasts, that no man
dare not pass, but if it be strong winter. And that strait
passage men clepe in that country Clyron. And that is the
passage that the Queen of Amazonia maketh to be kept. And
though it happen some of them by fortune to go out, they can no
manner of language but Hebrew, so that they cannot speak to the
people.</p>
<p>And yet, natheles, men say they shall go out in the time of
anti-Christ, and that they shall make great slaughter of
Christian men. And therefore all the Jews that dwell in all
lands learn always to speak Hebrew, in hope, that when the other
Jews shall go out, that they may understand their speech, and to
lead them into Christendom for to destroy the Christian
people. For the Jews say that they know well by their
prophecies, that they of Caspia shall go out, and spread
throughout all the world, and that the Christian men shall be
under their subjection, as long as they have been in subjection
of them.</p>
<p>And if that you will wit how that they shall find their way,
after that I have heard say I shall tell you.</p>
<p>In the time of anti-Christ a fox shall make there his train,
and mine an hole where King Alexander let make the gates; and so
long he shall mine and pierce the earth, till that he shall pass
through towards that folk. And when they see the fox, they
shall have great marvel of him, because that they saw never such
a beast. For of all other beasts they have enclosed amongst
them, save only the fox. And then they shall chase him and
pursue him so strait, till that he come to the same place that he
came from. And then they shall dig and mine so strongly,
till that they find the gates that King Alexander let make of
great stones, and passing huge, well cemented and made <a
name="page177"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 177</span>strong for
the mastery. And those gates they shall break, and so go
out by finding of that issue.</p>
<p>From that land go men toward the land of Bacharia, where be
full evil folk and full cruel. In that land be trees that
bear wool, as though it were of sheep, whereof men make clothes
and all things that may be made of wool.</p>
<p>In that country be many hippotaynes that dwell some-time in
the water and sometime on the land. And they be half man
and half horse, as I have said before. And they eat men
when they may take them.</p>
<p>And there be rivers of waters that be full bitter, three
sithes more than is the water of the sea.</p>
<p>In that country be many griffins, more plenty than in any
other country. Some men say that they have the body upward
as an eagle and beneath as a lion; and truly they say sooth, that
they be of that shape. But one griffin hath the body more
great and is more strong than eight lions, of such lions as be on
this half, and more great and stronger than an hundred eagles
such as we have amongst us. For one griffin there will
bear, flying to his nest, a great horse, if he may find him at
the point, or two oxen yoked together as they go at the
plough. For he hath his talons so long and so large and
great upon his feet, as though they were horns of great oxen or
of bugles or of kine, so that men make cups of them to drink
of. And of their ribs and of the pens of their wings, men
make bows, full strong, to shoot with arrows and quarrels.</p>
<p>From thence go men by many journeys through the land of
Prester John, the great Emperor of Ind. And men clepe his
realm the isle of Pentexoire.</p>
<h2><a name="page178"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
178</span>CHAPTER XXX</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Royal Estate of Prester
John</i>. <i>And of a rich man that made a marvellous
castle and cleped it Paradise</i>; <i>and of his subtlety</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">This</span> emperor, Prester John, holds
full great land, and hath many full noble cities and good towns
in his realm, and many great diverse isles and large. For
all the country of Ind is devised in isles for the great floods
that come from Paradise, that depart all the land in many
parts. And also in the sea he hath full many isles.
And the best city in the Isle of Pentexoire is Nyse, that is a
full royal city and a noble, and full rich.</p>
<p>This Prester John hath under him many kings and many isles and
many diverse folk of diverse conditions. And this land is
full good and rich, but not so rich as is the land of the great
Chan. For the merchants come not thither so commonly for to
buy merchandises, as they do in the land of the great Chan, for
it is too far to travel to. And on that other part, in the
Isle of Cathay, men find all manner thing that is need to
man—cloths of gold, of silk, of spicery and all manner
avoirdupois. And therefore, albeit that men have greater
cheap in the Isle of Prester John, natheles, men dread the long
way and the great perils in the sea in those parts.</p>
<p>For in many places of the sea be great rocks of stones of the
adamant, that of his proper nature draweth iron to him. And
therefore there pass no ships that have either bonds or nails of
iron within them. And if there do, anon the rocks of the
adamants draw them to them, that never they may go thence.
I myself have seen afar in that sea, as though it had been a
great isle full of tree, and buscaylle, full of thorns and
briars, great plenty. And the shipmen told us, that all
that was of ships that were drawn thither by the adamants, for
the iron that was in them. And of the rotten-ness, and
other thing that was <a name="page179"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 179</span>within the ships, grew such
buscaylle, and thorns and briars and green grass, and such manner
of thing; and of the masts and the sail-yards; it seemed a great
wood or a grove. And such rocks be in many places
thereabout. And therefore dare not the merchants pass
there, but if they know well the passages, or else that they have
good lodesmen.</p>
<p>And also they dread the long way. And therefore they go
to Cathay, for it is more nigh. And yet it is not so nigh,
but that men must be travelling by sea and land, eleven months or
twelve, from Genoa or from Venice, or he come to Cathay.
And yet is the land of Prester John more far by many dreadful
journeys.</p>
<p>And the merchants pass by the kingdom of Persia, and go to a
city that is Clept Hermes, for Hermes the philosopher founded
it. And after that they pass an arm of the sea, and then
they go to another city that is clept Golbache. And there
they find merchandises, and of popinjays, as great plenty as men
find here of geese. And if they will pass further, they may
go sikerly enough. In that country is but little wheat or
barley, and therefore they eat rice and honey and milk and cheese
and fruit.</p>
<p>This Emperor Prester John taketh always to his wife the
daughter of the great Chan; and the great Chan also, in the same
wise, the daughter of Prester John. For these two be the
greatest lords under the firmament.</p>
<p>In the land of Prester John be many diverse things and many
precious stones, so great and so large, that men make of them
vessels, as platters, dishes and cups. And many other
marvels be there, that it were too cumbrous and too long to put
it in scripture of books; but of the principal isles and of his
estate and of his law, I shall tell you some part.</p>
<p>This Emperor Prester John is Christian, and a great part of
his country also. But yet, they have not all the articles
of our faith as we have. They believe well in the Father,
in the Son and in the Holy Ghost. And they be full devout
and right true one to another. And they set not by no
barretts, ne by cautels, nor of no deceits.</p>
<p><a name="page180"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 180</span>And
he hath under him seventy-two provinces, and in every province is
a king. And these kings have kings under them, and all be
tributaries to Prester John. And he hath in his lordships
many great marvels.</p>
<p>For in his country is the sea that men clepe the Gravelly Sea,
that is all gravel and sand, without any drop of water, and it
ebbeth and floweth in great waves as other seas do, and it is
never still ne in peace, in no manner season. And no man
may pass that sea by navy, ne by no manner of craft, and
therefore may no man know what land is beyond that sea. And
albeit that it have no water, yet men find therein and on the
banks full good fish of other manner of kind and shape, than men
find in any other sea, and they be of right good taste and
delicious to man’s meat.</p>
<p>And a three journeys long from that sea be great mountains,
out of the which goeth out a great flood that cometh out of
Paradise. And it is full of precious stones, without any
drop of water, and it runneth through the desert on that one
side, so that it maketh the sea gravelly; and it beareth into
that sea, and there it endeth. And that flome runneth,
also, three days in the week and bringeth with him great stones
and the rocks also therewith, and that great plenty. And
anon, as they be entered into the Gravelly Sea, they be seen no
more, but lost for evermore. And in those three days that
that river runneth, no man dare enter into it; but in the other
days men dare enter well enough.</p>
<p>Also beyond that flome, more upward to the deserts, is a great
plain all gravelly, between the mountains. And in that
plain, every day at the sun-rising, begin to grow small trees,
and they grow till mid-day, bearing fruit; but no man dare take
of that fruit, for it is a thing of faerie. And after
mid-day, they decrease and enter again into the earth, so that at
the going down of the sun they appear no more. And so they
do, every day. And that is a great marvel.</p>
<p>In that desert be many wild men, that be hideous to look on;
for they be horned, and they speak nought, but they grunt, as
pigs. And there is also great plenty of wild <a
name="page181"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
181</span>hounds. And there be many popinjays, that they
clepe psittakes their language. And they speak of their
proper nature, and salute men that go through the deserts, and
speak to them as apertly as though it were a man. And they
that speak well have a large tongue, and have five toes upon a
foot. And there be also of another manner, that have but
three toes upon a foot, and they speak not, or but little, for
they can not but cry.</p>
<p>This Emperor Prester John when he goeth into battle against
any other lord, he hath no banners borne before him; but he hath
three crosses of gold, fine, great and high, full of precious
stones, and every of those crosses be set in a chariot, full
richly arrayed. And for to keep every cross, be ordained
10,000 men of arms and more than 100,000 men on foot, in manner
as men would keep a standard in our countries, when that we be in
land of war. And this number of folk is without the
principal host and without wings ordained for the battle.
And when he hath no war, but rideth with a privy meinie, then he
hath borne before him but one cross of tree, without painting and
without gold or silver or precious stones, in remembrance that
Jesu Christ suffered death upon a cross of tree. And he
hath borne before him also a platter of gold full of earth, in
token that his noblesse and his might and his flesh shall turn to
earth. And he hath borne before him also a vessel of
silver, full of noble jewels of gold full rich and of precious
stones, in token of his lordship and of his noblesse and of his
might.</p>
<p>He dwelleth commonly in the city of Susa. And there is
his principal palace, that is so rich and so noble, that no man
will trow it by estimation, but he had seen it. And above
the chief tower of the palace be two round pommels of gold, and
in everych of them be two carbuncles great and large, that shine
full bright upon the night. And the principal gates of his
palace be of precious stone that men clepe sardonyx, and the
border and the bars be of ivory. And the windows of the
halls and chambers be of crystal. And the tables whereon
men eat, some be of emeralds, some of amethyst, and some of gold,
full of precious stones; <a name="page182"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 182</span>and the pillars that bear up the
tables be of the same precious stones. And the degrees to
go up to his throne, where he sitteth at the meat, one is of
onyx, another is of crystal, and another of jasper green, another
of amethyst, another of sardine, another of cornelian, and the
seventh, that he setteth on his feet, is of chrysolite. And
all these degrees be bordered with fine gold, with the tother
precious stones, set with great pearls orient. And the
sides of the siege of his throne be of emeralds, and bordered
with gold full nobly, and dubbed with other precious stones and
great pearls. And all the pillars in his chamber be of fine
gold with precious stones, and with many carbuncles, that give
great light upon the night to all people. And albeit that
the carbuncles give light right enough, natheles, at all times
burneth a vessel of crystal full of balm, for to give good smell
and odour to the emperor, and to void away all wicked airs and
corruptions. And the form of his bed is of fine sapphires,
bended with gold, for to make him sleep well and to refrain him
from lechery; for he will not lie with his wives, but four sithes
in the year, after the four seasons, and that is only for to
engender children.</p>
<p>He hath also a full fair palace and a noble at the city of
Nyse, where that he dwelleth, when him best liketh; but the air
is not so attempre, as it is at the city of Susa.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that in all his country nor in the
countries there all about, men eat not but once in the day, as
they do in the court of the great Chan. And so they eat
every day in his court, more than 30,000 persons, without goers
and comers. But the 30,000 persons of his country, ne of
the country of the great Chan, ne spend not so much good as do
12,000 of our country.</p>
<p>This Emperor Prester John hath evermore seven kings with him
to serve him, and they depart their service by certain
months. And with these kings serve always seventy-two dukes
and three hundred and sixty earls. And all the days of the
year, there eat in his household and in his court, twelve
archbishops and twenty bishops. And the patriarch of Saint
Thomas is there as is the pope here. And the archbishops
and the bishops and the abbots in <a name="page183"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 183</span>that country be all kings. And
everych of these great lords know well enough the attendance of
their service. The one is master of his household, another
is his chamberlain, another serveth him of a dish, another of the
cup, another is steward, another is marshal, another is prince of
his arms, and thus is he full nobly and royally served. And
his land dureth in very breadth four month’s journeys, and
in length out of measure, that is to say, all isles under earth
that we suppose to be under us.</p>
<p>Beside the isle of Pentexoire, that is the land of Prester
John, is a eat isle, long and broad, that men clepe Mistorak; and
it is in the lordship of Prester John. In that isle is
great plenty of goods.</p>
<p>There was dwelling, sometime, a rich man; and it is not long
since; and men clept him Gatholonabes. And he was full of
cautels and of subtle deceits. And he had a full fair
castle and a strong in a mountain, so strong and so noble, that
no man could devise a fairer ne stronger. And he had let
mure all the mountain about with a strong wall and a fair.
And within those walls he had the fairest garden that any man
might behold. And therein were trees bearing all manner of
fruits, that any man could devise. And therein were also
all manner virtuous herbs of good smell, and all other herbs also
that bear fair flowers. And he had also in that garden many
fair wells; and beside those wells he had let make fair halls and
fair chambers, depainted all with gold and azure; and there were
in that place many diverse things, and many diverse stories: and
of beasts, and of birds that sung full delectably and moved by
craft, that it seemed that they were quick. And he had also
in his garden all manner of fowls and of beasts that any man
might think on, for to have play or sport to behold them.</p>
<p>And he had also, in that place, the fairest damsels that might
be found, under the age of fifteen years, and the fairest young
striplings that men might get, of that same age. And all
they were clothed in cloths of gold, full richly. And he
said that those were angels.</p>
<p><a name="page184"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 184</span>And
he had also let make three wells, fair and noble and all
environed with stone of jasper, of crystal, diapered with gold,
and set with precious stones and great orient pearls. And
he had made a conduit under earth, so that the three wells, at
his list, one should run milk, another wine and another
honey. And that place he clept Paradise.</p>
<p>And when that any good knight, that was hardy and noble, came
to see this royalty, he would lead him into his paradise, and
show him these wonderful things to his disport, and the
marvellous and delicious song of diverse birds, and the fair
damsels, and the fair wells of milk, of wine and of honey,
plenteously running. And he would let make divers
instruments of music to sound in an high tower, so merrily, that
it was joy for to hear; and no man should see the craft
thereof. And those, he said, were angels of God, and that
place was Paradise, that God had behight to his friends, saying,
<i>Dabo vobis terram fluentem lacte et melle</i>. And then
would he make them to drink of certain drink, whereof anon they
should be drunk. And then would them think greater delight
than they had before. And then would he say to them, that
if they would die for him and for his love, that after their
death they should come to his paradise; and they should be of the
age of those damosels, and they should play with them, and yet be
maidens. And after that yet should he put them in a fairer
paradise, where that they should see God of nature visibly, in
his majesty and in his bliss. And then would he shew them
his intent, and say them, that if they would go slay such a lord,
or such a man that was his enemy or contrarious to his list, that
they should not dread to do it and for to be slain therefore
themselves. For after their death, he would put them into
another paradise, that was an hundred-fold fairer than any of the
tother; and there should they dwell with the most fairest
damosels that might be, and play with them ever-more.</p>
<p>And thus went many diverse lusty bachelors for to slay great
lords in diverse countries, that were his enemies, and made
themselves to be slain, in hope to have that paradise. <a
name="page185"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 185</span>And thus,
often-time, he was revenged of his enemies by his subtle deceits
and false cautels.</p>
<p>And when the worthy men of the country had perceived this
subtle falsehood of this Gatholonabes, they assembled them with
force, and assailed his castle, and slew him, and destroyed all
the fair places and all the nobilities of that paradise.
The place of the wells and of the walls and of many other things
be yet apertly seen, but the riches is voided clean. And it
is not long gone, since that place was destroyed.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XXXI</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Devil’s Head in the Valley
Perilous</i>. <i>And of the Customs of Folk in diverse
Isles that be about in the Lordship of Prester John</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Beside</span> that Isle of Mistorak upon
the left side nigh to the river of Pison is a marvellous
thing. There is a vale between the mountains, that dureth
nigh a four mile. And some men clepe it the Vale Enchanted,
some clepe it the Vale of Devils, and some clepe it the Vale
Perilous. In that vale hear men often-time great tempests
and thunders, and great murmurs and noises, all days and nights,
and great noise, as it were sound of tabors and of nakers and of
trumps, as though it were of a great feast. This vale is
all full of devils, and hath been always. And men say
there, that it is one of the entries of hell. In that vale
is great plenty of gold and silver. Wherefore many
misbelieving men, and many Christian men also, go in oftentime
for to have of the treasure that there is; but few come again,
and namely of the misbelieving men, ne of the Christian men
neither, for anon they be strangled of devils.</p>
<p>And in mid place of that vale, under a rock, is an head and
the visage of a devil bodily, full horrible and dreadful to see,
and it sheweth not but the head, to the shoulders. <a
name="page186"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 186</span>But there
is no man in the world so hardy, Christian man ne other, but that
he would be adread to behold it, and that it would seem him to
die for dread, so is it hideous for to behold. For he
beholdeth every man so sharply with dreadful eyen, that be
evermore moving and sparkling as fire, and changeth and stirreth
so often in diverse manner, with so horrible countenance, that no
man dare not neighen towards him. And from him cometh out
smoke and stinking fire and so much abomination, that unnethe no
man may there endure.</p>
<p>But the good Christian men, that be stable in the faith, enter
well without peril. For they will first shrive them and
mark them with the token of the holy cross, so that the fiends ne
have no power over them. But albeit that they be without
peril, yet, natheles, ne be they not without dread, when that
they see the devils visibly and bodily all about them, that make
full many diverse assaults and menaces, in air and in earth, and
aghast them with strokes of thunder-blasts and of tempests.
And the most dread is, that God will take vengeance then of that
that men have misdone against his will.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, that when my fellows and I were in
that vale, we were in great thought, whether that we durst put
our bodies in adventure, to go in or not, in the protection of
God. And some of our fellows accorded to enter, and some
not. So there were with us two worthy men, friars minors,
that were of Lombardy, that said, that if any man would enter
they would go in with us. And when they had said so, upon
the gracious trust of God and of them, we let sing mass, and made
every man to be shriven and houseled. And then we entered
fourteen persons; but at our going out we were but nine.
And so we wist never, whether that our fellows were lost, or else
turned again for dread. But we saw them never after; and
those were two men of Greece, and three of Spain. And our
other fellows that would not go in with us, they went by another
coast to be before us; and so they were.</p>
<p>And thus we passed that perilous vale, and found therein <a
name="page187"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 187</span>gold and
silver, and precious stones and rich jewels, great plenty, both
here and there, as us seemed. But whether that it was, as
us seemed, I wot never. For I touched none, because that
the devils be so subtle to make a thing to seem otherwise than it
is, for to deceive mankind. And therefore I touched none,
and also because that I would not be put out of my devotion; for
I was more devout then, than ever I was before or after, and all
for the dread of fiends that I saw in diverse figures, and also
for the great multitude of dead bodies, that I saw there lying by
the way, by all the vale, as though there had been a battle
between two kings, and the mightiest of the country, and that the
greater part had been discomfited and slain. And I trow,
that unnethe should any country have so much people within him,
as lay slain in that vale as us thought, the which was an hideous
sight to see. And I marvelled much, that there were so
many, and the bodies all whole without rotting. But I trow,
that fiends made them seem to be so whole without rotting.
But that might not be to mine advice that so many should have
entered so newly, ne so many newly slain, with out stinking and
rotting. And many of them were in habit of Christian men,
but I trow well, that it were of such that went in for covetise
of the treasure that was there, and had overmuch feebleness in
the faith; so that their hearts ne might not endure in the belief
for dread. And therefore were we the more devout a great
deal. And yet we were cast down, and beaten down many times
to the hard earth by winds and thunders and tempests. But
evermore God of his grace holp us. And so we passed that
perilous vale without peril and without encumbrance, thanked be
Almighty God.</p>
<p>After this, beyond the vale, is a great isle, where the folk
be great giants of twenty-eight foot long, or of thirty foot
long. And they have no clothing but of skins of beasts that
they hang upon them. And they eat no bread, but all raw
flesh; and they drink milk of beasts, for they have plenty of all
bestial. And they have no houses to lie in. And they
eat more gladly man’s <a name="page188"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 188</span>flesh than any other flesh.
Into that isle dare no man gladly enter. And if they see a
ship and men therein, anon they enter into the sea for to take
them.</p>
<p>And men said us, that in an isle beyond that were giants of
greater stature, some of forty-five foot, or of fifty foot long,
and, as some men say, some of fifty cubits long. But I saw
none of those, for I had no lust to go to those parts, because
that no man cometh neither into that isle ne into the other, but
if he be devoured anon. And among those giants be sheep as
great as oxen here, and they bear great wool and rough. Of
the sheep I have seen many times. And men have seen, many
times, those giants take men in the sea out of their ships, and
brought them to land, two in one hand and two in another, eating
them going, all raw and all quick.</p>
<p>Another isle is there toward the north, in the sea Ocean,
where that be full cruel and full evil women of nature. And
they have precious stones in their eyen. And they be of
that kind, that if they behold any man with wrath, they slay him
anon with the beholding, as doth the basilisk.</p>
<p>Another isle is there, full fair and good and great, and full
of people, where the custom is such, that the first night that
they be married, they make another man to lie by their wives for
to have their maidenhead: and therefore they take great hire and
great thank. And there be certain men in every town that
serve of none other thing; and they clepe them cadeberiz, that is
to say, the fools of wanhope. For they of the country hold
it so great a thing and so perilous for to have the maidenhead of
a woman, that them seemeth that they that have first the
maidenhead putteth him in adventure of his life. And if the
husband find his wife maiden that other next night after that she
should have been lain by of the man that is assigned therefore,
peradventure for drunkenness or for some other cause, the husband
shall plain upon him that he hath not done his devoir, in such
cruel wise as though the officers would have slain him. But
after the first night that they be lain by, they keep them so
straitly that they be not so hardy to speak with no man.
And I asked them <a name="page189"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
189</span>the cause why that they held such custom: and they said
me, that of old time men had been dead for deflowering of
maidens, that had serpents in their bodies that stung men upon
their yards, that they died anon: and therefore they held that
customs to make other men ordained therefore to lie by their
wives, for dread of death, and to assay the passage by another
[rather] than for to put them in that adventure.</p>
<p>After that is another isle where that women make great sorrow
when their children be y-born. And when they die, they make
great feast and great joy and revel, and then they cast them into
a great fire burning. And those that love well their
husbands, if their husbands be dead, they cast them also in the
fire with their children, and burn them. And they say that
the fire shall cleanse them of all filths and of all vices, and
they shall go pured and clean into another world to their
husbands, and they shall lead their children with them. And
the cause why that they weep, when their children be born is
this; for when they come into this world, they come to labour,
sorrow and heaviness. And why they make joy and gladness at
their dying is because that, as they say, then they go to
Paradise where the rivers run milk and honey, where that men see
them in joy and in abundance of goods, without sorrow and
labour.</p>
<p>In that isle men make their king evermore by election, and
they ne choose him not for no noblesse nor for no riches, but
such one as is of good manners and of good conditions, and
therewithal rightfull, and also that he be of great age, and that
he have no children. In that isle men be full rightfull and
they do rightfull judgments in every cause both of rich and poor,
small and great, after the quantity of the trespass that is
mis-done. And the king may not doom no man to death without
assent of his barons and other men wise of counsel, and that all
the court accord thereto. And if the king himself do any
homicide or any crime, as to slay a man, or any such case, he
shall die there for. But he shall not be slain as another
man; but men shall defend, in pain of death, that no man be so <a
name="page190"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 190</span>hardy to
make him company ne to speak with him, ne that no man give him,
ne sell him, ne serve him, neither of meat ne of drink; and so
shall he die in mischief. They spare no man that hath
trespassed, neither for love, ne for favour ne for riches, ne for
noblesse; but that he shall have after that he hath done.</p>
<p>Beyond that isle is another isle, where is great multitude of
folk. And they will not, for no thing, eat flesh of hares,
ne of hens, ne of geese; and yet they bring forth enough, for to
see them and to behold them only; but they eat flesh of all other
beasts, and drink milk. In that country they take their
daughters and their sisters to their wives, and their other
kinswomen. And if there be ten men or twelve men or more
dwelling in an house, the wife of everych of them shall be common
to them all that dwell in that house; so that every man may lie
with whom he will of them on one night, and with another, another
night. And if she have any child, she may give it to what
man that she list, that hath companied with her, so that no man
knoweth there whether the child be his or another’s.
And if any man say to them, that they nourish other men’s
children, they answer that so do over men theirs.</p>
<p>In that country and by all Ind be great plenty of cockodrills,
that is a manner of a long serpent, as I have said before.
And in the night they dwell in the water, and on the day upon the
land, in rocks and in caves. And they eat no meat in all
the winter, but they lie as in a dream, as do the serpents.
These serpents slay men, and they eat them weeping; and when they
eat they move the over jaw, and not the nether jaw, and they have
no tongue.</p>
<p>In that country and in many other beyond that, and also in
many on this half, men put in work the seed of cotton, and they
sow it every year. And then groweth it in small trees, that
bear cotton. And so do men every year, so that there is
plenty of cotton at all times. Item; in this isle and in
many other, there is a manner of wood, hard and strong.
Whoso covereth the coals of that wood under the ashes thereof,
the coals will dwell and abide all <a name="page191"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 191</span>quick, a year or more. And
that tree hath many leaves, as the juniper hath. And there
be also many trees, that of nature they will never burn, ne rot
in no manner. And there be nut trees, that bear nuts as
great as a man’s head.</p>
<p>There also be many beasts, that be clept orafles. In
Arabia, they be clept gerfaunts. That is a beast, pomely or
spotted, that is but a little more high than is a steed, but he
hath the neck a twenty cubits long; and his croup and his tail is
as of an hart; and he may look over a great high house. And
there be also in that country many camles; that is a little beast
as a goat, that is wild, and he liveth by the air and eateth
nought, ne drinketh nought, at no time. And he changeth his
colour often-time, for men see him often sithes, now in one
colour and now in another colour; and he may change him into all
manner colours that him list, save only into red and white.
There be also in that country passing great serpents, some of six
score foot long, and they be of diverse colours, as rayed, red,
green, and yellow, blue and black, and all speckled. And
there be others that have crests upon their heads, and they go
upon their feet, upright, and they be well a four fathom great,
or more, and they dwell always in rocks or in mountains, and they
have alway the throat open, of whence they drop venom
always. And there be also wild swine of many colours, as
great as be oxen in our country, and they be all spotted, as be
young fawns. And there be also urchins, as great as wild
swine here; we clepe them Porcz de Spine. And there be
lions all white, great and mighty. And there be also of
other beasts, as great and more greater than is a destrier, and
men clepe them Loerancs; and some men clepe them odenthos; and
they have a black head and three long horns trenchant in the
front, sharp as a sword, and the body is slender; and he is a
full felonious beast, and he chaseth and slayeth the
elephant. There be also many other beasts, full wicked and
cruel, that be not mickle more than a bear, and they have the
head like a boar, and they have six feet, and on every foot two
large claws, trenchant; and the body is like a bear, and the tail
as a lion. And there be also mice <a
name="page192"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 192</span>as great as
hounds, and yellow mice as great as ravens. And there be
geese, all red, three sithes more great than ours here, and they
have the head, the neck and the breast all black.</p>
<p>And many other diverse beasts be in those countries, and
elsewhere there-about, and many diverse birds also, of the which
it were too long for to tell you. And therefore, I pass
over at this time.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XXXII</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the goodness of the folk of the Isle of
Bragman</i>. <i>Of King Alexander</i>. <i>And
wherefore the Emperor of Ind is clept Prester John</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">And</span> beyond that isle is another
isle, great and good and plenteous, where that be good folk and
true, and of good living after their belief and of good
faith. And albeit that they be not christened, ne have no
perfect law, yet, natheles, of kindly law they be full of all
virtue, and they eschew all vices and all malices and all
sins. For they be not proud, ne covetous, ne envious, ne
wrathful, ne gluttons, ne lecherous. Ne they do to any man
otherwise than they would that other men did to them, and in this
point they fulfil the ten commandments of God, and give no charge
of avoir, ne of riches. And they lie not, ne they swear not
for none occasion, but they say simply, yea and nay; for they
say, he that sweareth will deceive his neighbour, and therefore,
all that they do, they do it without oath.</p>
<p>And men clepe that isle the Isle of Bragman, and some men
clepe it the Land of Faith. And through that land runneth a
great river that is clept Thebe. And, in general, all the
men of those isles and of all the marches thereabout be more true
than in any other countries thereabout, and more rightfull than
others in all things. In <a name="page193"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 193</span>that isle is no thief, ne murderer,
ne common woman, ne poor beggar, ne never was man slain in that
country. And they be so chaste, and lead so good life, as
that they were religious men, and they fast all days. And
because they be so true and so rightfull, and so full of all good
conditions, they were never grieved with tempests, ne with
thunder, ne with light, ne with hail, ne with pestilence, ne with
war, ne with hunger, ne with none other tribulation, as we be,
many times, amongst us, for our sins. Wherefore, it seemeth
well, that God loveth them and is pleased with their creaunce for
their good deeds. They believe well in God, that made all
things, and him they worship. And they prize none earthly
riches; and so they be all rightfull. And they live full
ordinately, and so soberly in meat and drink, that they live
right long. And the most part of them die without sickness,
when nature faileth them, for eld.</p>
<p>And it befell in King Alexander’s time, that he purposed
him to conquer that isle and to make them to hold of him.
And when they of the country heard it, they sent messengers to
him with letters, that said thus; What may be enough to that man
to whom all the world is insufficient? Thou shalt find
nothing in us, that may cause thee to war against us. For
we have no riches, ne none we covet, and all the goods of our
country be in common. Our meat, that we sustain withal our
bodies, is our riches. And, instead of treasure of gold and
silver, we make our treasure of accord and peace, and for to love
every man other. And for to apparel with our bodies we use
a silly little clout for to wrap in our carrion. Our wives
ne be not arrayed for to make no man pleasance, but only
convenable array for to eschew folly. When men pain them to
array the body for to make it seem fairer than God made it, they
do great sin. For man should not devise ne ask greater
beauty, than God hath ordained man to be at his birth. The
earth ministereth to us two things,—our livelihood, that
cometh of the earth that we live by, and our sepulture after our
death. We have been in perpetual peace till now, that thou
come to disinherit us. And also we have a <a
name="page194"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 194</span>king, not
only for to do justice to every man, for he shall find no forfeit
among us; but for to keep noblesse, and for to shew that we be
obeissant, we have a king. For justice ne hath not among us
no place, for we do to no man otherwise than we desire that men
do to us. So that righteousness ne vengeance have nought to
do among us. So that nothing thou may take from us, but our
good peace, that always hath dured among us.</p>
<p>And when King Alexander had read these letters, he thought
that he should do great sin, for to trouble them. And then
he sent them sureties, that they should not be afeard of him, and
that they should keep their good manners and their good peace, as
they had used before, of custom. And so he let them
alone.</p>
<p>Another isle there is, that men clepe Oxidrate, and another
isle, that men clepe Gynosophe, where there is also good folk,
and full of good faith. And they hold, for the most part,
the good conditions and customs and good manners, as men of the
country abovesaid; but they go all naked.</p>
<p>Into that isle entered King Alexander, to see the
manner. And when he saw their great faith, and their truth
that was amongst them, he said that he would not grieve them, and
bade them ask of him what that they would have of him, riches or
anything else, and they should have it, with good will. And
they answered, that he was rich enough that had meat and drink to
sustain the body with, for the riches of this world, that is
transitory, is not worth; but if it were in his power to make
them immortal, thereof would they pray him, and thank him.
And Alexander answered them that it was not in his power to do
it, because he was mortal, as they were. And then they
asked him why he was so proud and so fierce, and so busy for to
put all the world under his subjection, right as thou were a God,
and hast no term of this life, neither day ne hour, and willest
to have all the world at thy commandment, that shall leave thee
without fail, or thou leave it. And right as it hath been
to other men before thee, right so it shall be to other after
thee. And from hence <a name="page195"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 195</span>shalt thou bear nothing; but as thou
were born naked, right so all naked shall thy body be turned into
earth that thou were made of. Wherefore thou shouldest
think and impress it in thy mind, that nothing is immortal, but
only God, that made the thing. By the which answer
Alexander was greatly astonished and abashed, and all confused
and departed from them.</p>
<p>And albeit that these folk have not the articles of our faith
as we have, natheles, for their good faith natural, and for their
good intent, I trow fully, that God loveth them, and that God
take their service to gree, right as he did of Job, that was a
paynim, and held him for his true servant. And therefore,
albeit that there be many diverse laws in the world, yet I trow,
that God loveth always them that love him, and serve him meekly
in truth, and namely them that despise the vain glory of this
world, as this folk do and as Job did also.</p>
<p>And therefore said our Lord by the mouth of Hosea the prophet,
<i>Ponam eis multiplices leges meas</i>; and also in another
place, <i>Qui totum orbem subdit suis legibus</i>. And also
our Lord saith in the Gospel, <i>Alias oves habeo</i>, <i>que non
sunt ex hoc ovili</i>, that is to say, that he had other servants
than those that be under Christian law. And to that
accordeth the avision that Saint Peter saw at Jaffa, how the
angel came from heaven, and brought before him diverse beasts, as
serpents and other creeping beasts of the earth, and of other
also, great plenty, and bade him take and eat. And Saint
Peter answered; I eat never, quoth he, of unclean beasts.
And then said the angel, <i>Non dicas immunda</i>, <i>que Deus
mundavit</i>. And that was in token that no man should have
in despite none earthly man for their diverse laws, for we know
not whom God loveth, ne whom God hateth. And for that
example, when men say, <i>De profundis</i>, they say it in common
and in general, with the Christian, <i>Pro animabus omnium
defunctorum</i>, <i>pro quibus sit orandum</i>.</p>
<p>And therefore say I of this folk, that be so true and so
faithful, that God loveth them. For he hath amongst them
many of the prophets, and alway hath had. And <a
name="page196"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 196</span>in those
isles, they prophesied the Incarnation of Lord Jesu Christ, how
he should be born of a maiden, three thousand year or more or our
Lord was born of the Virgin Mary. And they believe well it,
the Incarnation, and that full perfectly, but they know not the
manner, how he suffered his passion and death for us.</p>
<p>And beyond these isles there is another isle that is clept
Pytan. The folk of that country ne till not, ne labour not
the earth, for they eat no manner thing. And they be of
good colour and of fair shape, after their greatness. But
the small be as dwarfs, but not so little as be the
Pigmies. These men live by the smell of wild apples.
And when they go any far way, they bear the apples with them; for
if they had lost the savour of the apples, they should die
anon. They ne be not full reasonable, but they be simple
and bestial.</p>
<p>After that is another isle, where the folk be all skinned
rough hair, as a rough beast, save only the face and the palm of
the hand. These folk go as well under the water of the sea,
as they do above the land all dry. And they eat both flesh
and fish all raw. In this isle is a great river that is
well a two mile and an half of breadth that is clept
Beaumare.</p>
<p>And from that river a fifteen journeys in length, going by the
deserts of the tother side of the river—whoso might go it,
for I was not there, but it was told us of them of the country,
that within those deserts were the trees of the sun and of the
moon, that spake to King Alexander, and warned him of his
death. And men say that the folk that keep those trees, and
eat of the fruit and of the balm that groweth there, live well
four hundred year or five hundred year, by virtue of the fruit
and of the balm. For men say that balm groweth there in
great plenty and nowhere else, save only at Babylon, as I have
told you before. We would have gone toward the trees full
gladly if we had might. But I trow that 100,000 men of arms
might not pass those deserts safely, for the great multitude of
wild beasts and of great dragons and of great serpents that <a
name="page197"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 197</span>there be,
that slay and devour all that come anent them. In that
country be many white elephants without number, and of unicorns
and of lions of many manners, and many of such beasts that I have
told before, and of many other hideous beasts without number.</p>
<p>Many other isles there be in the land of Prester John, and
many great marvels, that were too long to tell all, both of his
riches and of his noblesse and of the great plenty also of
precious stones that he hath. I trow that ye know well
enough, and have heard say, wherefore this emperor is clept
Prester John. But, natheles, for them that know not, I
shall say you the cause.</p>
<p>It was sometime an emperor there, that was a worthy and a full
noble prince, that had Christian knights in his company, as he
hath that is now. So it befell, that he had great list for
to see the service in the church among Christian men. And
then dured Christendom beyond the sea, all Turkey, Syria,
Tartary, Jerusalem, Palestine, Arabia, Aleppo and all the land of
Egypt. And so it befell that this emperor came with a
Christian knight with him into a church in Egypt. And it
was the Saturday in Whitsun-week. And the bishop made
orders. And he beheld, and listened the service full
tentively. And he asked the Christian knight what men of
degree they should be that the prelate had before him. And
the knight answered and said that they should be priests.
And then the emperor said that he would no longer be clept king
ne emperor, but priest, and that he would have the name of the
first priest that went out of the church, and his name was
John. And so ever-more sithens, he is clept Prester
John.</p>
<p>In his land be many Christian men of good faith and of good
law, and namely of them of the same country, and have commonly
their priests, that sing the Mass, and make the sacrament of the
altar, of bread, right as the Greeks do; but they say not so many
things at the Mass as men do here. For they say not but
only that that the apostles said, as our Lord taught them, right
as Saint Peter and Saint Thomas and the other apostles sung the
<a name="page198"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 198</span>Mass,
saying the <i>Pater Noster</i> and the words of the
sacrament. But we have many more additions that divers
popes have made, that they ne know not of.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XXXIII</h2>
<p style="text-align: center" class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Hills of
Gold that Pismires keep</i>. <i>And of the four Floods that
come from Paradise Terrestrial</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">Toward</span> the east part of Prester
John’s land is an isle good and great, that men clepe
Taprobane, that is full noble and full fructuous. And the
king thereof is full rich, and is under the obeissance of Prester
John. And always there they make their king by
election. In that isle be two summers and two winters, and
men harvest the corn twice a year. And in all the seasons
of the year be the gardens flourished. There dwell good
folk and reasonable, and many Christian men amongst them, that be
so rich that they wit not what to do with their goods. Of
old time, when men passed from the land of Prester John unto that
isle, men made ordinance for to pass by ship, twenty-three days,
or more; but now men pass by ship in seven days. And men
may see the bottom of the sea in many places, for it is not full
deep.</p>
<p>Beside that isle, toward the east, be two other isles.
And men clepe that one Orille, and that other Argyte, of the
which all the land is mine of gold and silver. And those
isles be right where that the Red Sea departeth from the sea
ocean. And in those isles men see there no stars so clearly
as in other places. For there appear no stars, but only one
clear star that men clepe Canapos. And there is not the
moon seen in all the lunation, save only the second quarter.</p>
<p>In the isle also of this Taprobane be great hills of gold,
that pismires keep full diligently. And they fine the pured
gold, and cast away the un-pured. And these <a
name="page199"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 199</span>pismires be
great as hounds, so that no man dare come to those hills for the
pismires would assail them and devour them anon. So that no
man may get of that gold, but by great sleight. And
therefore when it is great heat, the pismires rest them in the
earth, from prime of the day into noon. And then the folk
of the country take camels, dromedaries, and horses and other
beasts, and go thither, and charge them in all haste that they
may; and after that, they flee away in all haste that the beasts
may go, or the pismires come out of the earth. And in other
times, when it is not so hot, and that the pismires ne rest them
not in the earth, then they get gold by this subtlety. They
take mares that have young colts or foals, and lay upon the mares
void vessels made there-for; and they be all open above, and
hanging low to the earth. And then they send forth those
mares for to pasture about those hills, and with-hold the foals
with them at home. And when the pismires see those vessels,
they leap in anon: and they have this kind that they let nothing
be empty among them, but anon they fill it, be it what manner of
thing that it be; and so they fill those vessels with gold.
And when that the folk suppose that the vessels be full, they put
forth anon the young foals, and make them to neigh after their
dams. And then anon the mares return towards their foals
with their charges of gold. And then men discharges them,
and get gold enough by this subtlety. For the pismires will
suffer beasts to go and pasture amongst them, but no man in no
wise.</p>
<p>And beyond the land and the isles and the deserts of Prester
John’s lordship, in going straight toward the east, men
find nothing but mountains and rocks, full great. And there
is the dark region, where no man may see, neither by day ne by
night, as they of the country say. And that desert and that
place of darkness dure from this coast unto Paradise terrestrial,
where that Adam, our formest father, and Eve were put, that
dwelled there but little while: and that is towards the east at
the beginning of the earth. But that is not that east that
we clepe our east, on this half, where the sun riseth to
us. For when <a name="page200"></a><span class="pagenum">p.
200</span>the sun is east in those parts towards Paradise
terrestrial, it is then midnight in our parts on this half, for
the roundness of the earth, of the which I have touched to you of
before. For our Lord God made the earth all round in the
mid place of the firmament. And there as mountains and
hills be and valleys, that is not but only of Noah’s flood,
that wasted the soft ground and the tender, and fell down into
valleys, and the hard earth and the rocks abide mountains, when
the soft earth and tender waxed nesh through the water, and fell
and became valleys.</p>
<p>Of Paradise ne can I not speak properly. For I was not
there. It is far beyond. And that forthinketh
me. And also I was not worthy. But as I have heard
say of wise men beyond, I shall tell you with good will.</p>
<p>Paradise terrestrial, as wise men say, is the highest place of
earth, that is in all the world. And it is so high that it
toucheth nigh to the circle of the moon, there as the moon maketh
her turn; for she is so high that the flood of Noah ne might not
come to her, that would have covered all the earth of the world
all about and above and beneath, save Paradise only alone.
And this Paradise is enclosed all about with a wall, and men wit
not whereof it is; for the walls be covered all over with moss,
as it seemeth. And it seemeth not that the wall is stone of
nature, ne of none other thing that the wall is. And that
wall stretcheth from the south to the north, and it hath not but
one entry that is closed with fire, burning; so that no man that
is mortal ne dare not enter.</p>
<p>And in the most high place of Paradise, even in the middle
place, is a well that casteth out the four floods that run by
divers lands. Of the which, the first is clept Pison, or
Ganges, that is all one; and it runneth throughout Ind or Emlak,
in the which river be many precious stones, and much of lignum
aloes and much gravel of gold. And that other river is
clept Nilus or Gison, that goeth by Ethiopia and after by
Egypt. And that other is clept Tigris, that runneth by
Assyria and by Armenia the great. And that other is clept
Euphrates, that runneth also by Media and Armenia and by
Persia. And men there beyond say, that <a
name="page201"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 201</span>all the
sweet waters of the world, above and beneath, take their
beginning of the well of Paradise, and out of that well all
waters come and go.</p>
<p>The first river is clept Pison, that is to say in their
language Assembly; for many other rivers meet them there, and go
into that river. And some men clepe it Ganges, for a king
that was in Ind, that hight Gangeres, and that it ran throughout
his land. And that water [is] in some place clear, and in
some place troubled, in some place hot, and in some place
cold.</p>
<p>The second river is clept Nilus or Gison; for it is always
trouble; and Gison, in the language of Ethiopia, is to say,
trouble, and in the language of Egypt also.</p>
<p>The third river, that is dept Tigris, is as much for to say
as, fast-running; for he runneth more fast than any of the
tother; and also there is a beast, that is clept tigris, that is
fast-running.</p>
<p>The fourth river is clept Euphrates, that is to say,
well-bearing; for there grow many goods upon that river, as
corns, fruits and other goods enough plenty.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand that no man that is mortal ne may not
approach to that Paradise. For by land no man may go for
wild beasts that be in the deserts, and for the high mountains
and great huge rocks that no man may pass by, for the dark places
that be there, and that many. And by the rivers may no man
go. For the water runneth so rudely and so sharply, because
that it cometh down so outrageously from the high places above,
that it runneth in so great waves, that no ship may not row ne
sail against it. And the water roareth so, and maketh so
huge noise and so great tempest, that no man may hear other in
the ship, though he cried with all the craft that he could in the
highest voice that he might. Many great lords have assayed
with great will, many times, for to pass by those rivers towards
Paradise, with full great companies. But they might not
speed in their voyage. And many died for weariness of
rowing against those strong waves. And many of them became
blind, and many deaf, for the noise of the water. And some
<a name="page202"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 202</span>were
perished and lost within the waves. So that no mortal man
may approach to that place, without special grace of God, so that
of that place I can say you no more; and therefore, I shall hold
me still, and return to that, that I have seen.</p>
<h2>CHAPTER XXXIV</h2>
<p class="gutsumm"><i>Of the Customs of Kings and other that
dwell in the Isles coasting to Prester John’s
Land</i>. <i>And of the Worship that the Son doth to the
Father when he is dead</i></p>
<p><span class="smcap">From</span> those isles that I have spoken
of before, in the Land of Prester John, that be under earth as to
us that be on this half, and of other isles that be more further
beyond, whoso will, pursue them for to come again right to the
parts that he came from, and so environ all earth. But what
for the isles, what for the sea, and what for strong rowing, few
folk assay for to pass that passage; albeit that men might do it
well, that might be of power to dress them thereto, as I have
said you before. And therefore men return from those isles
abovesaid by other isles, coasting from the land of Prester
John.</p>
<p>And then come men in returning to an isle that is clept
Casson. And that isle hath well sixty journeys in length,
and more than fifty in breadth. This is the best isle and
the best kingdom that is in all those parts, out-taken
Cathay. And if the merchants used as much that country as
they do Cathay, it would be better than Cathay in a short
while. This country is full well inhabited, and so full of
cities and of good towns inhabited with people, that when a man
goeth out of one city, men see another city even before them; and
that is what part that a man go, in all that country. In
that isle is great plenty of all goods for to live with, and of
all manner of spices. And there be great forests of
chestnuts. The king of that isle is full <a
name="page203"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 203</span>rich and
full mighty, and, natheles, he holds his land of the great Chan,
and is obeissant to him. For it is one of the twelve
provinces that the great Chan hath under him without his proper
land, and without other less isles that he hath; for he hath full
many.</p>
<p>From that kingdom come men, in returning, to another isle that
is clept Rybothe, and it is also under the great Chan. That
is a full good country, and full plenteous of all goods and of
wines and fruit and all other riches. And the folk of that
country have no houses, but they dwell and lie all under tents
made of black fern, by all the country. And the principal
city and the most royal is all walled with black stone and
white. And all the streets also be pathed of the same
stones. In that city is no man so hardy to shed blood of
any man, ne of no beast, for the reverence of an idol that is
worshipped there. And in that isle dwelleth the pope of
their law, that they clepe Lobassy. This Lobassy giveth all
the benefices, and all other dignities and all other things that
belong to the idol. And all those that hold anything of
their churches, religious and other, obey to him, as men do here
to the Pope of Rome.</p>
<p>In that isle they have a custom by all the country, that when
the father is dead of any man, and the son list to do great
worship to his father, he sendeth to all his friends and to all
his kin, and for religious men and priests, and for minstrels
also, great plenty. And then men bear the dead body unto a
great hill with great joy and solemnity. And when they have
brought it thither, the chief prelate smiteth off the head, and
layeth it upon a great platter of gold and of silver, if so [he]
be a rich man. And then he taketh the head to the
son. And then the son and his other kin sing and say many
orisons. And then the priests and the religious men smite
all the body of the dead man in pieces. And then they say
certain orisons. And the fowls of ravine of all the country
about know the custom of long time before, [and] come flying
above in the air; as eagles, gledes, ravens and other fowls of
ravine, that eat flesh. And then the priests cast the
gobbets of the flesh <a name="page204"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 204</span>and then the fowls, each of them,
taketh that he may, and goeth a little thence and eateth it; and
so they do whilst any piece lasteth of the dead body.</p>
<p>And after that, as priests amongst us sing for the dead,
<i>Subvenite Sancti Dei</i>, <i>etc.</i>, right so the priests
sing with high voice in their language; Behold how so worthy a
man and how good a man this was, that the angels of God come for
to seek him and for to bring him into Paradise. And then
seemeth it to the son, that he is highly worshipped, when that
many birds and fowls and ravens come and eat his father; and he
that hath most number of fowls is most worshipped.</p>
<p>And then the son bringeth home with him all his kin, and his
friends, and all the others to his house, and maketh them a great
feast. And then all his friends make their vaunt and their
dalliance, how the fowls came thither, here five, here six, here
ten, and there twenty, and so forth; and they rejoice them hugely
for to speak thereof. And when they be at meat, the son let
bring forth the head of his father, and thereof he giveth of the
flesh to his most special friends, instead of <i>entre messe</i>,
or a <i>sukkarke</i>. And of the brain pan, he letteth make
a cup, and thereof drinketh he and his other friends also, with
great devotion, in remembrance of the holy man, that the angels
of God have eaten. And that cup the son shall keep to drink
of all his life-time, in remembrance of his father.</p>
<p>From that land, in returning by ten journeys throughout the
land of the great Chan, is another good isle and a great kingdom,
where the king is full rich and mighty.</p>
<p>And amongst the rich men of his country is a passing rich man,
that is no prince, ne duke, ne earl, but he hath more that hold
of him lands and other lordships, for he is more rich. For
he hath, every year, of annual rent 300,000 horses charged with
corn of diverse grains and of rice. And so he leadeth a
full noble life and a delicate, after the custom of the
country. For he hath, every day, fifty fair damosels, all
maidens, that serve him evermore at his meat, and for to lie by
him o’ night, and for to do <a name="page205"></a><span
class="pagenum">p. 205</span>with them that is to his
pleasance. And when he is at table, they bring him his meat
at every time, five and five together; and in bringing their
service they sing a song. And after that, they cut his
meat, and put it in his mouth; for he toucheth nothing, ne
handleth nought, but holdeth evermore his hands before him upon
the table. For he hath so long nails, that he may take
nothing, ne handle nothing. For the noblesse of that
country is to have long nails, and to make them grow always to be
as long as men may. And there be many in that country, that
have their nails so long, that they environ all the hand.
And that is a great noblesse. And the noblesse of the women
is for to have small feet and little. And therefore anon as
they be born, they let bind their feet so strait, that they may
not grow half as nature would. And this is the noblesse of
the women there to have small feet and little. And always
these damosels, that I spake of before, sing all the time that
this rich man eateth. And when that he eateth no more of
his first course, then other five and five of fair damsels bring
him his second course, always singing as they did before.
And so they do continually every day to the end of his
meat. And in this manner he leadeth his life. And so
did they before him, that were his ancestors. And so shall
they that come after him, without doing of any deeds of arms, but
live evermore thus in ease, as a. swine that is fed in sty for to
be made fat. He hath a full fair palace and full rich,
where that he dwelleth in, of the which the walls be, in circuit,
two mile. And he hath within many fair gardens, and many
fair halls and chambers; and the pavement of his halls and
chambers be of gold and silver. And in the mid place of one
of his gardens is a little mountain, where there is a little
meadow. And in that meadow is a little toothill with towers
and pinnacles, all of gold. And in that little toothill
will he sit often-time, for to take the air and to disport
him. For the place is made for nothing else, but only for
his disport.</p>
<p>From that country men come by the land of the great Chan also,
that I have spoken of before.</p>
<p><a name="page206"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 206</span>And
ye shall understand, that of all these countries, and of all
these isles, and of all the diverse folk, that I have spoken of
before, and of diverse laws, and of diverse beliefs that they
have, yet is there none of them all but that they have some
reason within them and understanding, but if it be the fewer, and
that have certain articles of our faith and some good points of
our belief, and that they believe in God, that formed all things
and made the world, and clepe him God of Nature; after that the
prophet saith, <i>Et metuent eum omnes fines terrae</i>, and also
in another place, <i>Omnes gentes servient ei</i>, that is to
say, ‘All folk shall serve him.’</p>
<p>But yet they cannot speak perfectly (for there is no man to
teach them), but only that they can devise by their natural
wit. For they have no knowledge of the Son, ne of the Holy
Ghost. But they can all speak of the Bible, and namely of
Genesis, of the prophet’s saws and of the books of
Moses. And they say well, that the creatures that †
they worship ne be no gods; but they worship them for the virtue
that is in them, that may not be but only by the grace of
God. And of simulacres and of idols, they say, that there
be no folk, but that they have simulacres. And that they
say, for we Christian men have images, as of our Lady and of
other saints that we worship; not the images of tree or of stone,
but the saints, in whose name they be made after. For right
as the books and the scripture of them teach the clerks how and
in what manner they shall believe, right so the images and the
paintings teach the lewd folk to worship the saints and to have
them in their mind, in whose names that the images be made
after. They say also, that the angels of God speak to them
in those idols, and that they do many great miracles. And
they say sooth, that there is an angel within them. For
there be two manner of angels, a good and an evil, as the Greeks
say, Cacho and Calo. This Cacho is the wicked angel, and
Calo is the good angel. But the tother is not the good
angel, but the wicked angel that is within the idols to deceive
them and for to maintain them in their error.</p>
<p><a name="page207"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 207</span>There
be many other divers countries and many other marvels beyond,
that I have not seen. Wherefore, of them I cannot speak
properly to tell you the manner of them. And also in the
countries where I have been, be many more diversities of many
wonderful things than I make mention of; for it were too long
thing to devise you the manner. And therefore, that that I
have devised you of certain countries, that I have spoken of
before, I beseech your worthy and excellent noblesse, that it
suffice to you at this time. For if that I devised you all
that is beyond the sea, another man, peradventure, that would
pain him and travail his body for to go into those marches for to
ensearch those countries, might be blamed by my words in
rehearsing many strange things; for he might not say nothing of
new, in the which the hearers might have either solace, or
disport, or lust, or liking in the hearing. For men say
always, that new things and new tidings be pleasant to
hear. Wherefore I will hold me still, without any more
rehearsing of diversities or of marvels that be beyond, to that
intent and end, that whoso will go into those countries, he shall
find enough to speak of, that I have not touched of in no
wise.</p>
<p>And ye shall understand, if it like you, that at mine
home-coming, I came to Rome, and shewed my life to our holy
father the pope, and was assoiled of all that lay in my
conscience, of many a diverse grievous point; as men must needs
that be in company, dwelling amongst so many a diverse folk of
diverse sect and of belief, as I have been.</p>
<p>And amongst all I shewed him this treatise, that I had made
after information of men that knew of things that I had not seen
myself, and also of marvels and customs that I had seen myself,
as far as God would give me grace; and besought his holy
fatherhood, that my book might be examined and corrected by
advice of his wise and discreet council. And our holy
father, of his special grace, remitted my book to be examined and
proved by the advice of his said counsel. By the which my
book was proved for true, insomuch, that they shewed me a <a
name="page208"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 208</span>book, that
my book was examined by, that comprehended full much more, by an
hundred part, by the which the <i>Mappa Mundi</i> was made
after. And so my book (albeit that many men ne list not to
give credence to nothing, but to that that they see with their
eye, ne be the author ne the person never so true) is affirmed
and proved by our holy father, in manner and form as I have
said.</p>
<p>And I, John Mandevile, knight, abovesaid (although I be
unworthy), that departed from our countries and passed the sea,
the year of grace a thousand three hundred and twenty two, that
have passed many lands and many isles and countries, and searched
many full strange places, and have been in many a full good
honourable company, and at many a fair deed of arms (albeit that
I did none myself, for mine unable insuffisance), now I am come
home, maugre myself, to rest, for gouts artetykes that me
distrain, that define the end of my labour; against my will (God
knoweth).</p>
<p>And thus, taking solace in my wretched rest, recording the
time passed, I have fulfilled these things, and put them written
in this book, as it would come into my mind, the year of grace a
thousand three hundred and fifty six, in the thirty-fourth year,
that I departed from our countries.</p>
<p>Wherefore, I pray to all the readers and hearers of this book,
if it please them, that they would pray to God for me; and I
shall pray for them. And all those that say for me a
<i>Pater Noster</i>, with an <i>Ave Maria</i>, that God forgive
me my sins, I make them partners, and grant them part of all the
good pilgrimages and of all the good deeds that I have done, if
any be to his pleasance; and not only of those, but of all that
ever I shall do unto my life’s end. And I beseech
Almighty God, from whom all goodness and grace cometh from, that
he vouchsafe of his excellent mercy and abundant grace, to fulfil
their souls with inspiration of the Holy Ghost, in making defence
of all their ghostly enemies here in earth, to their salvation
both of body and soul; to worship and thanking of him, that is
three and one, without beginning and without ending; that is
without quality, good, without quantity, great; <a
name="page209"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 209</span>that in all
places is present, and all things containing; the which that no
goodness may amend, ne none evil impair; that in perfect Trinity
liveth and reigneth God, by all worlds, and by all times!</p>
<p><i>Amen</i>! <i>Amen</i>! <i>Amen</i>!</p>
<div class="gapspace"> </div>
<p style="text-align: center">[<span class="smcap">Here Endeth
the Book of John Mandeville</span>.]</p>
<div class="gapspace"> </div>
<h2>FOOTNOTES</h2>
<p><a name="footnote0"></a><a href="#citation0"
class="footnote">[0]</a> The supplement was not transcribed
as part of the original Project Gutenberg release. The
texts are available elsewhere in Project Gutenberg.—DP.</p>
<p><a name="footnoteix"></a><a href="#citationix"
class="footnote">[ix]</a> Not Mandeville, but an anonymous
sojourner among the Tartars, whose story fills a page and a half
in Hakluyt.</p>
<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TRAVELS OF SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE***</p>
<pre>
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